Running Myself Ragged

What a whirlwind this trip promises to be! After getting Nikki back to her home and family, her daughter and I made lasagna for their family and Nikki's dad and step mother. In addition to dropping off the lasagna and a "thank you" bouquet for her dad and step mom's help in her daughter's care during her absence, I stayed for a visit with my former brother-in-law, his niece, and his wife. It was a surreal experience sitting in the home where my niece and my sister used to live, visiting with my niece's cousin with whom I share so many early memories of Nikki and her dad, as well as those of my sister and her other three children.

I was invited to spend the night, but became overwhelmed with conflicting emotions and bolted for the door, suitcase in hand. Because I ran too late to arrive at a comfortable hour at my son's home in Mississippi, I woke in a motel close to the home of my son. He's having his Halloween birthday bash tonight, two nights before his birthday, because he "has to" go to the Saints game on Sunday. My son's parties are legendary on the coast, but they're a bit too bawdy even for me. So I come down to help in preparations and childcare. I'm just itching to get my mitts on my grandson and granddaughter.

My niece Melanie still doesn't know I'm in town, as I'm waiting to find out where I'll be tonight with the kids. Melanie's boys have been spirited away for the weekend by their Aunt Marjerrie, so I won't be getting any baby slobbers just yet. Maybe I'll just check us all into a motel with a heated pool, although I'm hoping to spend the evening making lasagna and carrot cake with Miya, Nicholas and their friends.

Tomorrow, I hope to spend some good "girl" time with my daughter-in-law and Melanie, and then I'll be off to New Orleans to see my sister, the Belle of the Bayou. I had hoped to hear her sing, but I don't think she has a gig for this weekend.Maybe on my trip back through...

Nieces and Nephews

I know, I know; I should be very careful what I ask for. I moaned about missing mothering, and one of my nieces arrived giving me a good dose of my past. Nikki is the daughter of my deceased sister that I thought was my twin, separated from me before conception. We were always "other mother" to each other's children. Now, Nikki is going home, and I'm left with none of my babies to bother. There's no way that I could stay all alone with my man in the mountains with winter coming on. So, I'm off to get what Richard calls "baby slobbers."

It is true that my grandchildren are all of an age that old people kind of creep them out, especially if we touch them, but we have great nieces and nephews that I'm just itching for us to interact with. This afternoon, I'll be making my Easy Squeezy® lasagna with Nikki's ten-year-old little girl. I'm hoping to be doing the same and baking her daddy birthday cake with my nine-year-old granddaughter by Saturday.

Richard is the only man I've ever known that can keep a two-year-old quiet long enough for me to get supper on the table. He made these wonderful wooden sticks with which he builds forts around the toddlers. The pay-off for them sitting very still is that they get to bust out with great fanfare after the building is complete. My niece in Mississippi has two adorable toddler boys that are just the right age for Uncle Richard's version of childcare.

Another thing we love to do is cook for our friends. One of our most long-standing friends has emailed us with an SOS to come teach him how to cook for his wife. Let's see, can I handle spending the winter two blocks from the beach with best friends? I hope he has a lot he wants to learn.

Talk about starting off with a bang! Nkki has invited her father and step mother over for supper tonight. It's time to get on the road so we can get busy.

Family Time in a Warmer Clime

On the road to someplace, but I don't quite know where;
I have so many people scattered here and there.
Some I want to laugh with; with some I need to cry.
There may even be some to whom I have to say good-bye.

Will I see my sister sing? I don't really know.
All I can say is that I hope to do so.
My Cajun aunt and uncle are getting rather old;
I'll spend time with them because they accept that I'm bold.

High school friends await our joyful reunion,
Where we revert to sharing our teenage girl fun.
Spiritual sisters to share our souls' delights,
And the wisdom we've gleaned from our various plights.

Be still my heart; you still have to get there.
Calm yourself with a centering prayer.
Get up; get packed; make last minute visits.
For all of this you must keep your wits.

I feel like a prisoner getting out of jail,
With the ending of fall making my bail.
I don't do winter in the higher climes;
I'm heading south for some family time.

When Women Go to War

When women go to war
Our men run for cover,
When we stop the crying
And focus on a plan.

This is the way Eve
Got Adam to change jobs
And is the scariest thing
To any mortal man.

Now, we know it's true of Eve
That she led Adam wrong.
She was not thinking
Of her future child.

She was feeling a bit jealous
Of God's power of creation.
She was tempted to change this,
And she went quite wild.

We've been trying to get back
To our roots ever since
But we are still have problems
With our married men.

It seems that they only hear us
After we've exploded.
The mess they have to face
Is much greater then.

Oh wouldn't it be nice
If our men would hear our whispers,
Instead of their waiting
To be hit with a two by four?

I have stomped the snake to shreds
And girded myself with Wisdom.
It's now time for my mother self
To permanently take the floor.

Pickled Presents

While Jack sold books, I came home and painted the kitchen, not with a paint brush, but with pear butter blurps. My Godchild Gary has one Christmas request; he wants pear butter. There were no pears for pear butter or chutney last year, but this Christmas he will get his wish.

We are also now the owners of several pints of tiny pickled beets that look like jewels in jars. I can't wait to present these to some serious beet lovers; they're too cute for words. Today's tasks include another day of Turning Leaf Fest and a trip to Atlanta to lunch with my daughter and her first cousin. Richard is stepping in as Jack's chauffeur and big beet slicer. More produce processing projects are promised for tomorrow.

There are still carrots to peel and turn into carrot cakes, and with enough time I'll turn our frozen muscadine mash into jam. I'm also primed for creating pastaless lasagna out of the yellow zucchini that I bought from a local farmer at last week's Buzz Fest. Who knew that zucchini comes in two colors?

All this food frenzy is in preparation for my disappearance down south for several weeks. I just couldn't leave all these garden goodies to spoil in my absence; what would we give as Christmas gifts?

Off We Go to Tellico

Off we go to Tellico;
The Leaf Turning Festival calls.
We'll read with the library,
And introduce Jack,
A favorite activity in the fall.

Ginny will be selling
Her inspirational wood burned plaques.
It will be interesting to see
What other crafters
That we met last year will be back.

Living near our Tennessee home,
There are so many talented artists.
Many have moved from far away
Were they this creative
Before moving to the forest?

I think it may be the quiet,
Or the dappled sun in the trees,
Or the mists in the mountains
Bringing our spirits out.
Prayer is not only done on one's knees.

My Niece Nikki

It's so nice to go visiting with my niece Nikki. The people of Coker Creek really love her ready smile and her genuine interest in the things that are important to them. She's added her lilting laughter and talents to every endeavor I've introduced her to.

Her assistance at the queen contest was much appreciated, as was her judging of the chili cook-off. Harriett apparently shared a few wry comments as they waded their way through ten chili samples, much to my niece's amusement. And Nikki was especially sought after by our retired school administrator Wanda who had my niece helping put together the chili award certificates. A good principal has to know how to recognize and recruit good help.

Ninety-year-old Eda not only taught Nikki to purl in addition to her talent at knitting, she is now campaigning to have my niece's family move up here. And Coker Creek's other ninety-year-old Mamie absolutely glowed as she showed Nikki her vast array of quilts made by herself, her daughter, several friends and her deceased mom. As a school teacher, my niece also appreciated Mamie's treasured penmanship instruction books saved from when she attended third grade.

Jack was excited to have the opportunity show Nikki his new solar power set-up and have her try out his manual typewriter. The friend who came up to help Jack at the Autumn Gold Festival so enjoyed Nikki that she wrote us a thank you note regarding their time together. And the Quilts For Kids group so appreciates their photo collage that Nikki helped me create.

Nikki's deceased mama Denice and I spent a lot of time hauling our three little ones to one park to sit by the water and feed the ducks. Nikki and I have even sat by the lake at Kefauver Park, but we forgot to bring any bread. Another of my favorite activities with my sister was eating at casual dining places. We've been to Donna's at least three times, and Kats twice.

We've cleaned, created, coffeed, laughed and cried together. (I have to wait for Nikki's daughter, Corinne Denice, to have a partner for cooking.) What wonderful walks down memory lane, this time with the promise of many good times yet to come.