Two Little Old Ladies and One Big Ol' Truck

 Well, actually, only one of the ladies is little, that would be my sidekick for this ride, Andrea and only one is old. If you haven't guessed that would be  me. I should return more fit from climbing up and down in that mountain of a truck. We're gearing up for a big adventure.  Not being a fashionista, I don't need a big suitcase. Being a voracious reader however is another story. I still have not warmed up to Kindle and honestly, while I do listen to audible books, I don't usually like them.  I read really fast and so far haven't found anyone who reads as fast I can, on an audio, so it sort of cramps my reading style. At home with podcasts at home I yank that speed up and breathe a sigh of relief. 

Don't you think those neck pillows look a lot like those old, awful fuzzy toilet seat covers. Who ever even thought of such a thing. 

Like I imagine the pioneers did, I'm hauling my starter and all the fixings  all the way across the lone prairie to the family hosting us in Anacortes WA. The host's fave bakery  item is cinnamon rolls. Well, I'm going hook him up. 

Food hasn't gotten so expensive and Andrea and I like a lot of fruit and veggies, so I've been busy preparing us some this morning. Carrots for her, celery for me. Sounds like we're rabbits. 

And you know, my camera started getting glitchy.  Of course it did.  I don't like Kindles and the thought of a new techno gadget causes my stomach to clinch.  Pap said I couldn't do an adventure without a trusty camera, so my red appendage will be left at home for a new one, not nearly as cute. 

It was a wild and wooly week between tutoring, Playdate and an hour to and from VBS where I was the designated storyteller.  The things Miss Andrea talks me into. 

It was about battles and so I brought along the Captain's gear, which the children loved.  I promised them at the Sunday closing service, I would share a more modern story involving the Captain and so I did https://www.facebook.com/cantonchristianchurch/videos/803293724457231 at about 36 minutes. Thanks son for sharing your gear, your story and really your life  you've laid on the line that affords me so many freedoms. 

This weather, oh my, glorious. Playdate was too fun. 

We had a three newbies and I loved showing them the fossil bed and their joy at their discoveries. 

Tim and Gwen shared their quail eggs with us. Oh my, how seriously cute. Now those are my kind of eggs. One bite and done. 

I also enjoyed a just lovely visit with several friends on Friday on the porch. 

And one last, most precious gift.  When I first became a Gramerly, the oldest always wanted to take something from here when he left.  He was so adamant about this (and his minimalist papa so frustrated) that I researched it.  It is a thing- at transitional object.   I get it I guess. When you are at Gramerly and the entire time is devoted to your every desire, leaving is hard.  Through the years my gramerlings have drug home the most interesting things.   My girl Rae knows my favorite adventures happen right here  at this Tumbledown Ol' Farmhouse. She knows how valuable it is me to be close to my people, and in fact always try to take a few of them with me on any adventure.  This is the furthest and longest I've ever been away from home.  Hence, a transitional object. A sweet little box covered with my most favorite things. 

Inside something to represent them. Gideon chose a Pokemon card- his love, Finn a man with a weapon- his love, Rae and Michael lavender and wheat, our shared love of flowers, good smells, gardens, and of course, bread. 

I am thankful Jesus goes with me, no extra packing required. Say a prayer for us and if I am able to manage the technology, come along for the ride. 

Opening Playdate

 Well, here we are, year seventeen of Playdates.  So much has changed in these 17 years.  Many former playdaters have moved on to more grown up ventures.

 I had a few things on my mind when I started this adventure.  Number one was for the visiting Gramerlings and friends to notice what was around them and to be screen free and mostly free for a day in the week. I think that happened. 

I think I thought it would surely forge strong bonds between friends and cousins, Gramerly and Gramerlings.  I'm not sure that has always worked as planned, but I sure gave it a herculean effort. 

It has also at times been an opportunity for the Mom's to visit. Even more so now that I have a couple of older ones still hanging in with me and helping out eyeballing the littles. 

If you know me at all, you know if I love you and you love me, I am going want to see your face. Playdate is where that can happen. 

I pulled out the last remaining Playdate tee shirt to wear today, and was wondering just how old it is. 

These were the first Playdaters. I'm not sure where Nick and Syd were at that day.   The youngest one here is 16 months old. She is now 15. I believe I had that shirt before this, but I don't have any digital Playdate pictures before this summer. I look at this and could seriously burst into sobs. I cannot believe they are so grown. 

Same long fuzzy hair, same shirt. 

It was a perfect day to dye tee shirts. We've painted shirts with fabric paint.

Regular sort of tie-dye.

Then we started using found nature objects and spray paint. 

We've kind of fallen in love with indigo dye, so we got that done first thing. 





Gideon prepared an archery lesson for any interested parties. 


Pap supervised.

A handsome tree climber. 


I made flexagons with the girls.





Next we headed to the creek with some cool body markers I found on clearance at Sam's. 

Some did art on each other. Annabelle brought her tiny art supplies with her to watercolor and sketch. 

After scrubbing up from the creek we had Haitian beans and rice, tacos and all the trimmings with sundaes for dessert. 

I rinsed and dyed our shirts and we took the group picture because so many kiddos going so many directions, this is likely the only date we'll all be together. 

I think it was a good opening day!  And at the end of every Playdate, I am grateful for answered prayers of sending everyone home safe and sound! Thank you Lord!

Happy Easter

 Wow, it has been a minute.

As I've noted before, seems like I don't do much but work and some of the same things I've done again and again as the grandkids have grown up, so don't feel like there is much to say.   Someone recently asked me the date of something ten years past. I was able to look here and confirm and it reminded me that I do really enjoy being able to "walk down memory lane" and see pictures and far more detail than my mind can recall. 

So, let me look at my camera and see what I can recall of these past four months. 

Aunt Tish invited us to an evening of lights right after Christmas. It was a big fun time. 

Handy Man, Rae, the boys and I traveled to Indy to celebrate the life of our friend Bob.We also spent sometime at the history museum. I returned the next week to spend some time with Dixie. 

A first time event did occur, Raechel and Tim's 40th birthday. While they went off on different adventures, I took the kids to the local science center. We watched a cool 3D movie and played the day away, made painted glass in the MakerSpace, then headed home for a cook out.  On Sunday afternoon we had birthday dinner. 

A sweet friend constructed and presented me with Chik-nik table. 

I've continued to pursue eating healthier and tried my hands at protein power balls. I like them okay and they are surely nutrient dense. 

These terrible storms seems to have brought down half our woods. Handy Man fought one of the trees and the tree won, though in this picture his eye is nearly healed. 

This year I finally started some music lessons, both guitar and ukulele.  I'm slow to learn, but because I love being part of  jam sessions, I will enjoy sitting in and strumming the very few chords I know now and again.  I continue to be a part of the community choir and have enjoyed hosting a book/Bible study for a small group of lovely ladies. 

It is somewhat strange to not be ruled by someone's doctor's appointments, hospital visits and, well, generally speaking,  the fear that surrounds all that.  At just a year after Uncle Jimi's passing, the kitchen came down, and Phil's Mom continued her decline. Now the kitchen back is together, Phil's Mom has moved to a better place,  and we celebrated Jimi's birthday and anniversary in the new kitchen this year. 

It appears  Handy Man's hip turned in its notice, and will head out and make way for the new one this week.  Prayers for a good outcome for him. 

It is a beautiful Easter and as ever, I am thankful for the reason we celebrate. No matter where I am or how I feel, Jesus remains in my heart and is my eternal hope.