Listening to Granny

I picked up a tub of mementos, from Mom, over Christmas break. Among the treasures...beautiful pearl earrings amy Granny was wearing during her funeral service. I honored her today by wearing them. The whole day, I expected to hear hear speaking to me through the earrings. I have the utmost faith in this. Today was not without anxiety. I anticipated several challenges during the workday. I fretted during the entire drive to work, but felt calmed when someone asked me to help them. Maybe it was Granny, "talking" to me through the earrings at that point. The remainder of the day progressed much more smoothly than I had anticipated, and the ride home was blessedly uneventful.

Blessings and peace to all this new year.

Procrastination

I'm procrastinating a project that I started Wednesday afternoon in the car. Now, at 8:00 this evening, I swore I would get it finished...but then the snowy driveway called to me for a good shoveling before morning. Sigh. Here it is, nearly two hours later, and I'm BLOGGING for crying out loud.

Peace out~

Not a threat...outside of her neighborhood.

Yes, yes, the Laura storm is only sub-tropical now. Regardless, the family and I had a hoot this morning envisioning myself as an actual, Tasmanian devil type of whirling dervish of a storm. Of course, if tropical storms made a "SEE-N-SAY" sound, it would be the following...according to my family, anyway:

"Get out of bed, Mon! Get up and wash the stink from your pits, Mon! Quit picking your nose, Mon! Do you want a fork for dat, Mon? What's wrong wich you, Mon? Can't you see you be knocking me down wich your death breath, Mon? Holy mother of Marley, Mon! For the love of Bob, Mon! Get outta da bed before I get me squirt gun, Mon!"

My, how they've grown

As you will note from the picture, the bunnies have grown quickly in the last week. I checked on the nest early this morning, and it appears as though they have moved on to start a life of adventure! Maybe they will visit during the holidays.....

A moment of wonder

Lately, when I've been cutting the grass, it seems as though the moments have been melancholy. Today, thankfully, was more joyful. We have a small, fenced area in our back yard. Our dog, Lucy, has a favorite tree out there, and can occasionally be found lounging in the shade of the tree.


We've known for some time about the rabbit who hangs out in our yard. Surprisingly, Lucy doesn't bother the rabbit...doesn't chase it, bark at it, or otherwise torment it. Lucy is advancing in years, and hasn't chased little critters for quite some time. Nevertheless, if I were a rabbit, I think I'd stay away from a house with a dog. Just in case.

I cut the grass in a bit of a rush this afternoon. Trying to get it done before hubby starting grilling dinner, and before I had to prepare for my trip this week. The fenced area in the back yard is my least favorite spot to mow. The grassy patch within the fence is round, defying my need to create clean, ninety degree angles in the grass. As I was finishing the last little patch, I noticed a small area covered with a mixture of fur and dried grass. I continued my path, not realizing that piece of earth was moving...breathing, almost...until I finished and had shut off the mower. On my way back through the fence, I noticed some movement under the fur and dried grass. Carefully, I pulled the fur away, and noticed a nest of kits. After I made sure they were okay, I ran into the house to let the kids and hubby know what I'd found.

The bunnies seem to be stacked on top of each other in the nest. We didn't want to move them, so we won't know for a while just how many there are. My daughter ran back into the house to google for more information on litter size, diet, etc. What we learned is that a little can be anywhere from two to ten kits. Mama rabbit was nowhere to be found, but hubby thinks he saw her in the neighbor's yard about an hour prior to finding the kits. My daughter and I are trying to entice the mama to stay with her babies, so we got busy shredding carrots, gathering dandelion greens and clover, and setting out a small container of water. We aren't sure what will happen next, but whatever it is should be exciting.

Thank you, Lucy, for surrendering your favorite shady spot for the time being. We should have named you St. Francis.

Dual funerals and the "cheese touch"

Some of you may already be aware of my maternal grandmother's passing last month. She had been ill for quite a while, and was laid to rest on Mother's Day weekend. On Wednesday of this week, I received a phone call that my maternal grandfather had suddenly passed away. It was quite a shock for the family, as he had seemed to be doing well and keeping busy since my grandmother's death. So, for the second time in a month, the family gathered in Arkansas to mourn the passing of another beloved family member.

Since most of the youngest family members are scattered throughout the midwestern and southern portions of the U.S., the kids were a little shy around each other during my grandmother's funeral. However, they all seemed a little more at ease around each other during my grandfather's funeral. By the time dinner was coming to a close on Friday, my daughter and my nephew had started a game of "cheese touch" tag in the restaurant. For those of you not familiar with the "cheese touch," I believe it is referenced in the book _Diary of a Wimpy Kid_. My daughter and nephew were discussing their favorite parts of the book prior to starting "cheese touch tag." The game of tag made its way through two tables of our family, and even included a couple of confused wait staff at the restaurant. Once everyone at our tables started crossing fingers to show immunity to the "cheese touch," we decided to call it a night.

The next morning, at the funeral, the casket was opened at the end of the service to allow one more public viewing prior to the burial.

My cousin's son, being one of the youngest children in attendance that weekend, gave our grandfather the "cheese touch" before the casket was closed.

My grandparents enjoyed their family, and loved it when we were all able to come in for a visit. They were also both active people, and I belive they would have enjoyed seeing their family playing this friendly game of tag. My cousin's son understood this, I think, and passed on the "cheese touch" so we could all play together in Heaven.

I seem to have aquired matching peace lilies as a result of the funerals. They have been given a places of honor on our front porch. I have decided to name them Granny and Boo. When I water them, or repot them, or mist the leaves, I will also tag them (from time to time) and say "cheese touch" so we can keep the game going.

Evil neighbor, part 3

Quick update: He has, so far this week, mowed his lawn TWICE! I supposed my mission has been accomplished. Or, perhaps, his mission is to get me to mow MY lawn twice. Drat!