Tiger Lilies

Laura’s a Tiger Lily—her hair and freckles shining with the blue sky the color of her eyes.   And…sometimes the Tiger mom comes out in her, too.  It’s not harsh like the mother in the book, but she wants her girls to succeed by working hard and being the best they can be.  Sprinkle in some fun like the spots on the Tiger Lily.   These beautiful lilies are blooming for me today.

 

Flowers Today

I was excited to see the Wild Potato Vine today.  It is growing near my yard.  It’s easy to see the Wild Potato is of the Morning Glory family.  The Garden Phlox, I saw Lake Dardanelle today.  

Garden Phlox

Wild Potato

Forgotten Dreams Day Lilies

Blazing Star

My Crinum Lily

 

Lilies Blooming

 

My red Day lilies are called Forgotten Dreams.  In 2012 I planted this garden to celebrate my retirement. Soon that will be 10 years.  The timber’s Larry put around them have rotted, but they survive.  

The beautiful white Lily is a cranum.  It usually blooms earlier.  It’s smells wonderful, too.  Luscious blooms shoot from the Lily when it blooms.  

Clayton’s Birthday

 

One of Clayton’s birthday gifts was having the deer he killed last winter preserved.  One deer, one dear!

Rockers

Myrtle Lavey Schilling

Eric and Astrid made it home from Minneapolis.  Glad they are home, but so thrilled they went to visit Eric’s 94 year old Grandfather.  Eleven hours there, eleven hours home, but nothing is more important than family.  Grandpa Howard loves visitors.  With Astrid’s help driving, they spent two days with him.  This time I sent questions and Eric interviewed him for me.  I plan to transcribe what Howard said.  During W W II, Howard enlisted in the Marines at 17.  He was injured during the invasion of Iwo Jima.  He earned a Purple Heart.  The day he got it Howard put it in a little keepsake box.  That night someone came into his hospital room and stole his medal.  Iwo Jima is dear to my heart as Daddy was involved in this invasion.  The photo of the beautiful lady is Eric’s Grandma Myrt.  She served, too, as a WAC.  

Eric came home with a precious gift.  Howard gave Eric Great Grandma Margaret Lavey’s rocking chair.  The rocker by it in the photo I gave to Laura.  It’s a sewing rocker.  It belonged to her great great Grandmother—Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy.  These little rockers were used in quilting.   Two Grandmothers, two stories, two rockers joining Laura’s and Eric’s families.  

"Family is the most important thing in the world." - Princess Diana

 Howard is second from left.  

Minnesota

 

Eric and Astrid are in Minnesota visiting Eric’s Grandfather, Howard Schilling.  Howard is 94.  He joined the Marines when he was 17.  He earned a Purple Heart when he was hit with a grenade during the invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II.  

Mom

 

Some days I still wake up 

on a green plaid couch

To your voice

Singing good morning beautiful

And those days are my favorite

Though always a little bittersweet

Wanting to be five again

With the week’s clothes already laid out for me.

So I go back to bed

And pretend you’re still singing. 

Ingrid 2021

Missing Ada

 

Ada went home yesterday.  I am lost without her.  I understood pure joy when her little eyes spied her Momma.  I was not much of a substitute.  The lord knew what he was doing when he decided old women should not have children and I understand why Sarah laughed when he said she would bare a child and then denied it.  “Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.”  

I started the week with great intentions—a schedule, great balanced meals, fun bath, walks through nature in the wagon, small allotments of TV, but by Friday the TV droned.  We did whatever Ada suggested.  I sat exhausted in the recliner.  I learned if she was quiet I’d better hurry to see what she was “in to”.  Ada learned  to throw herself on the floor with fake crying as I gave in immediately.  I did not watch Jeopardy or Wheel of fortune all week.  My play list was Mickey Mouse and Daniel Tiger.  I was not a good mother.

Dad

 There’s another world

Of fairies, goblins, dragons and such

That only those with magic minds can see.

And there’s a father 

who showed this world to his daughter

And taught her all the beautiful things. 

And even though

She doesn’t believe in pixies anymore.

She still believes in him.

Ingrid 2021

Ada’s Adventure

 Everyone loves Auntie Laura.  She has a kind soft way.  Last night Ada went swimming.  Siggie helped her climb the big steps and go down the slide.  She had a great adventure.  Today, Laura loaded the big stroller and we went for a long walk at Dardanelle State park.  It has a nice playground and Ada tried all the fun play things.

 

New Shoes

 Laura’s bench came from Amazon.  She painted to match Ingrid’s table.  It looks so nice in her new place.

Ada is going swimming this afternoon at Auntie Laura’s pool.

Laura took Ada to Felter’s for new shoes.  They’re sandals but have a closed toe.  I always bought my girls good shoes.  When they were small we went to the New Store.  They wore high top lace up white leather shoes first.  I would use shoe polish to keep them nice.  I recall a brown Buster Brown leather sandal I bought them from there.  Growing up we only had cheap shoes.  It was all we could afford.  

Happy Birthday

 

Back in late May after the Sisters had gotten both virus shots and Helen  put a new tin roof on the home place, I asked my sisters if they would throw me and Brother Gilbert a birthday party.  Helen was all in.  I said I wanted steak.  We invited several and I told Chef Gilbert steaks would be too difficult.  He wanted my wish granted and bought steaks.  Helen cooked all the fixings and desserts.  Many of those who arrived bought extras—Stella Powell’s German chocolate cake, Sarah Powell’s banana pudding!   Jonell fixed Aunt Lois Rudd’s banana muffins.  Fleta supplied lemon aid  and water.  The home place was a big 3 bedroom house when we were growing up, but now it seems tiny.  We think about 25 celebrated a party for the old house, and birthdays of Gilbert and me.

I was born in the front bedroom of this old house.  The night I came my 10 year old brother Richard raced bare footed a mile across the bottoms and brought my Aunt Betty to stay with Mom while Dad went to fetch Doc McCurry.  She assisted my birth.  Daddy named me after her.  Her son Bob Knight attended my old age birthday party.  

Want to thank my brother and sisters and all those who celebrated with us.  God blessed that old house.

Helen gifted Gilbert this quilt with our embroidered names.  Half are gone.  This is an old quilt Mom made.  Used til thread bare.  Still her love shines.