Counting The Days

Pop’s been gone 4 months yesterday.  Most of my days are pretty miserable.

Clayton’s Big Day

 Clayton definitely has my genes.  He loves to eat.  He tried to decide on his birthday menu and keep saying, “that may not fill me up”.  He ended up choosing coconut shrimp, sweet potato fries, and sweetened green beans.  Laura said all the items had “sweet” in common.  That could describe Clayton too. He let his Mom just make a white cake as along has she used cream cheese icing.  I hope the meal was perfect for him.

Sunning Again

Ada says”hey”.

Happy Birthday, Clayton

Clayton is 12, today.  Seems just yesterday he was tiny.  Happy Birthday.

New Bloom

 Ok, this is the perfect flower for the year....calling it COVID Cutie.  Everyone needs one.   Laura’s friend has this one in her yard.

Guess it’s real name is Sugar Shack, but COVID Cutie fits it.

New Business at Harrison

 I was honored to watch over Ada Mae Wednesday.  Marge will be back in business Monday.  She closes 2 weeks each summer.  Meme Griffin would take over, but Rick D. Griffin had a procedure on his heart yesterday.  He goes to KC to the Dr.  Rick and Gelica Griffin Griffin are wonderful folks.  Erin is lucky to have them as “love” family.  Rick’s next appt. is July 7.  

Greta is usually my helper but today she was an business woman.  She has told me often that as soon as she is old enough she is seeking employment!  Today, she and her neighbor Addison had a lemon ade stand.  When I left Harrison at 4:30, they had sold over 30 dollars worth of lemon ade and icees.  About 2 p m, they relocated to the shade.  Two smart little girls.

Two Books to Read

I love to read and love to find an Arkansas writer who has great works.  I read about Talya Tate Boerner’s book, “Gene, Everywhere” in my Farm Bureau magazine, Front Porch.  Talya grew up on a row crop farm in northeast Arkansas.  “Gene, Everywhere” is about opening their home to her 91 year old father-in-law while his wife is hospitalized and then recovering.  Gene is from Fort Smith.  Her other book about Gracie Lee is fiction.  Gracie decides to ask Brother Brown a few important questions and what better time to talk alone than during altar call.  Rev. Brown thinks Gracie wants salvation but she really just wants a few answers to her questions.  The book calls “To Kill a Mockingbird” to mind.   Gracie Lee views a complicated world through the eyes of an innocent child.  Both were good reads.  I am hoping Talya will write another good book.

Beachcombers

Beachcombers

The first appearance of the word "beachcombers" in print was in Richard Henry Dana Jr.'s Two Years Before the Mast (1840) and later referenced in Herman Melville's Omoo (1847).  It described a population of Europeans who lived in South Pacific islands, "combing" the beach and nearby water for flotsam, jetsam, or anything else they could use or trade. 

Cheers

 Pretty flowers bring cheer.  I am always excited to see a bloom.  Laura has gladiolus blooming.  Clayton and Greta gave them to her.  Remembering where a flower came from makes it even more special.  Laura said the next glad look purple.  It will be spectacular.

And I spied this butterfly yesterday.  It’s called a Swallowtail.

My Triple Delight

These three are enjoying their time in the sun.  They’ll be back to the grind by middle week.

Beach Day 2

 Erin says it’s warm at the beach but there is a nice breeze.   Clayton and Greta are cool as they stay in or near the ocean.  Greg is supervising their activity.  Hope Ada will build a sand castle.

Meadow Life

 I see the deer crossing Galla Meadow daily.  Sometimes I try to take a photo but I often I just watch their movements.

 Phinnie does not like them at all and will bark and give chase.  Over by Astrid's the deer turned and chased her outside dog.  She said it was a funny sight. 

 Today is Father's Day.  I was lucky enough to have a great Dad and not an absent one.  Lots of children have a part time Dad as the family has never truly joined to split.   It's common.  How lucky my six grands are to have a Dad that is there.   My girls had that kind of Dad too.  Many Dads want to be a great father to their kids but if they are not with them daily it just can't be. 

Classic Look

 Sigrid looks like she has manners.  She attended a wedding..

New Nurse

 Astrid is ready for next phase of nursing.  She looks good in scrubs.  Student nurses wear black.

Clayton is enjoying the beach.

Dressing Up

Siggie is going to a outdoor wedding.  It’s a big affair but outdoors so audience can be apart.

Bathing Beauty

Bathing Beauty at the beach 

Has her toes in the sand

Getting a tan

She’s such a peach!

First Vacation

Ada is having her first vacation.  I think she’ll like it cause she likes everything.  Erin had the big kids pack their own clothes.  Five outfits was the instruction.  Poor Greta has only the shorts and underwear she has on. I bet they have to visit a Walmart.  One Time, Siggie only packed Birkenstock’s on a trip where they planned to do mountain hiking.  There’s a moral in this but I am not sure what it is exactly.

Eric and Laura have been married 21 years today. Long time.  Last year they went to Hawaii, this year the trip is scaled down a bit—Eureka Springs!

Flowers

  Certain flowers bring certain people to mind.  Tick weed brings Sister Patsy to my thoughts.  Ditch Lilies make me think of Fleta—tough and still tender.  Tiger Lilies always call up Laura’s image.  See her freckles.  Flowering moss makes me remember Momma.  She loved it.  She planted an old retired wringer washer full one summer—all different colors poured over the white enamel tub.  I sure wish I had more plant knowledge.  I know now don’t feed moss.  I killed the entire plant.  I guess it’s more of a succulent and just likes water.  Rhonda Cole could have told if I’d only asked.   My little Astrid bought me another pot of moss.  She is a precious granddaughter!

Ada Today

Got to watch Ada today.  She’s a very good girl.

Road Block

This is from last year in June.  I had a nice birthday, but it seemed very strange for Pop not to be here.  We always celebrated our birthdays as one because of them being only two days apart. 

Deer In Galla Meadow

“The woods are but the ears of the Almighty, the air is his breath, and the light of the sun is little more than a glance of his eye.”
― James Fenimore Cooper, The Deerslayer

Joy of 70

 My birthday is over.  I loved my pie.  That’s a 7 outlined and a 0.  I was able to blow the candles out but being forgetful.  I forgot to make a wish.  Aw, shoot. Erin brought delicious carrot cake.  Yummy!

Erin brought me cd’s to listen to on the back porch, my perch.  Laura gifted me an Arkansas wildflower book by color and some special horehound candy.  I have friends I write real letters to and I love the notecards she chose.  Plus a flat fanny pack that I can carry my keys and phone in if I walk alone and need to carry essentials.  And....a cup that says “Gigi” with a special Bible verse.  Logan and Astrid gave me a lounging chair for the yard.  Larry’s brother brought me a new bird house.  I am blessed.  Wonderful presents.

I pray this year I can:

Be a truer friend
Be a wiser soul
Display a sweeter spirit
Have a gentler heart.

Life is Good

 Life is good.  Lil’ Red made home baked cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

The Three Sisters

Sisters—Fleta, Betty, and Helen

Three  Powell sisters went for a swim.
The one who was fat wished she was thin.
The one who was curvy wished she was clever.
The one who was clever wished she swam better.
The only good swimmer wished she was witty.
The witty  Sister wished she was pretty.
All three sisters  thought the other two were fine.
And should just let their own light shine.
So throw on your swimsuit if you're fat or you're thin.
Enjoy fun and sun .... love the skin that you're in! "

Saw this and wrote my own version.
Oh, I am the fat sister.