Friday Fragments

I thought I would do a little Friday recap of the week that was. I have not been my usual annoying persistent photographer self lately, so I missed some photo ops but kept the memories.

Memorial Day weekend started at Big Woods, with Courtney (complete with her classroom tattoo) and Adam,

and David and Shylah. Adam's friend Kyle P was there also.

On Saturday morning, the crew was up early to complete a few little chores around the lake. David mowed grass, Shylah, Kyle P, and Courtney cleaned boats, and Adam pressure washed the dock and boat covers. Jim worked on leaves, and I swept the decks. Yay! Many hands make light work!

More guests arrived, including Jennifer and Noah, Dave, Jamalyn, Margaret, and Nathan, with Sister Claudette who was visiting from Haiti. Can you believe I didn't get a photo? Fail.

Adam and Courtney modeled the tanks they got for everyone for Christmas. 'Team Sweetwater' on the front and special nicknames on the back. So fun!

Chellsey, and Kyle and Kristen, arrived on Saturday night, along with Moda and Coco the chihuahuas, and a bushel of strawberries.

On Sunday morning, Jim and I went back to Greensburg to attend the farewell service for Rev. Greg. This beautiful banner, made by Judy Glore, was presented to the church during the service.

Sunday evening dinner on the deck, along with hair braiding.

Later, they lit the pile left from the Saturday morning cleanup. Is that safe? Leaves on fire!

Notice Jim checking his phone. Can't see the fire for the phone. Lol

On Monday, Jennifer, Bryan, and Noah came, and Darci, Matthew, Haleigh, and Ella. 

Ella had fun playing with friend Chellsey in the little pool on the dock.

Kyle P and Haleigh enjoyed the water mat while Matthew took aim with the water cannon.

 I think 'Shy so Fly' and 'Jon (Golfs) Daly' took a hit.

Nana and Boomie joined us on Monday, too, and we grilled some burgers and went for a boat ride, Noah's first. And, again, no pictures.

The troops headed out, in shifts, on Monday, and Jim and I got back to Greensburg in time for me to head for Westfield for my GrannyDay on Tuesday with Noah. We spent the day playing and napping after our very busy weekend.

On Wednesday, I had another GrannyDay, this time with Haleigh and Ella. I cooked up a little pink play dough, and they had a good time making pink 'cookies' and pink 'snowmen'.

Thursday was Matthew's Science Club rocket launch. I'm a veteran of 4th grade rocket launches, and it is always a fun day for the kids. Unfortunately, I was waiting (waiting, waiting, waiting) for the dishwasher repairman, and didn't get there to see it. Fortunately, Darci sent me some photos. 

According to the report, his rocket went really high, and ended up way over by Montgomery Road.

This morning, I added a little wrought iron fence to my New Orleans themed bathroom. Making progress! (Finally!) Now, I just need a shower curtain. Joyce? Hello? :)

Linking up with Mrs4444 at Half Past Kissin' Time for Friday Fragments.

Pomp and Circumstance #TBTStories

In honor of graduation season, today's Throwback Thursday Stories post is a continuation of my last #TBTStories post featuring my three high school besties, this time, at our graduation. Yes, you're reading that correctly, we graduated in 1978. Hard to imagine it was 36 years ago! I know it's cliche, but time does march by quickly, through hills and valleys, trials and triumphs, joys and sorrows. The four of us in that picture have grown through many of the ups and downs of life, and though we thought we were pretty smart back then, with age comes wisdom (hopefully, at least), and we have lived long enough to gain a few pearls along the way.

In 1978, though, we were busy celebrating birthdays at Pizza Hut after ball games, singing all the words to Cold as Ice, driving around in my little green Vega, attending overnights and FCA camp, watching Saturday Night Live, and listening to the Bee Gees, the Eagles, and Dust in the Wind, with a little John Denver mixed in. We played our guitars at camp and campfire to Homeward Bound, Stairway to Heaven, and Pass it On. We brought those guitars to the Senior Banquet to share that we, "don't know much about history, don't know much biology, don't know much about a science book, don't know much about the French I took." (Thank the dear Lord there's no video of that!)

We would spend the summer preparing for the move to college in the fall, packing our stereos and sweaters, posters and popcorn poppers, our cushioned lap desks and laundry bags, a few photos from home, and a bundle of memories tied up in our hearts and minds.

While Jan, Ann, and Amy were the youngest in their families, I was the oldest, and the first child my parents watched walk across that stage in the high school gym on a hot day in May. The photo below shows me with my mom and dad, and my brothers, Ted and Michael. Quite the stylish family, huh? Lol.

Each graduation is an ending and a beginning, filled with pride and possibility. We couldn't know then where the path ahead would lead, but we believed that with friends, family, and the good Lord, we wouldn't walk that path alone. And we were right. 

When you walk through the storm,

Hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm,

There's a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of the lark.

Walk on, through the wind

Walk on, through the rain,

Though your dreams be tossed and blown,

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone.

~Rodgers and Hammerstein

Linking up with Jessica at The Mom Creative, for Throwback Thursday Stories. #TBTStories

Follies and Friends 1978 #TBTStories

I spent much of my high school years with three great friends. We became friends in elementary school, but the four of us really came together our freshman year when we were selected to be Follies directors. Follies was a variety type show put on entirely by students in our small town high school. Each of the four classes had four directors who worked with a sponsor to write a script, select music, choreograph dances, design costumes, and cast classmates for the annual show. The four directors stayed the same for all four years of high school. We were a unit. Our shows were legendary (at least in our minds and memories), and I only regret that the fabulous performances took place before the days of video cameras (which actually might be a blessing).

Anyway…Follies deserves a post (or two) of its own, but the photos I share today are of four special friends that lived our high school days together. We were athletes (well I wasn't) and scholars, a cheerleader, singers, band members and boosters. We lived the ups and downs of high school together, laughing a lot, crying a little, and forging a connection that would hold through the years ahead.

Our class sponsor was Miss Hoffman, and she did her best to keep us on task during late night writing sessions, stressful scenery painting, and rowdy rehearsals with senior boys dancing in diapers. The photo on the steps to the light booth became a tradition, and in this one, we're wearing our super cool personalized senior shirts. (In those days, it wasn't customary to have a t-shirt printed for every event, so these were special.)

Miss Hoffman is retired now, just celebrated her birthday, and is currently recovering from heart surgery. We send our prayers for a speedy recovery.

We took this photo last summer, which is a close replica of the stairway shot, minus Miss Hoffman. Amy and Ann ended up in the same position, while Jan and I swapped spots. 

And just for fun, a side by side look. We haven't changed a bit. Lol.

I give thanks for the blessing of these girls, 

and the friendship that has endured over time and distance 

and the seasons of life.

 "Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call

and I'll be there, yes I will

you've got a friend."

Linking up with Jessica at themomcreative.com for Throwback Thursday Stories. #TBTStories

Hodgepodgeophobia

It's a busy week around here, with Memorial Day sneaking right up on us. We'll be glad to get to the lake this weekend, although I'm sure the water will be pre-tty chilly! Hopefully we can enjoy some sunshine and boat rides.
In the meantime, it's time for a little Hodgepodge, hosted each Wednesday by our friend Joyce. Click on the button to see what she and the others have to say.

Here are her questions and my answers:

1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

In the car. Or maybe in the middle of the night. Any time I can be free of distractions. 

2. Are you a risk taker? What's one big risk you've taken?
I am not a risk taker. Remember that show, Deal or No Deal? I would take the deal and be done with it. Deal.
Since I don't take big risks, the only one I can think of is when I jumped off the high dock our first summer at the lake. You can read about it here.

3. Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightning (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?
I didn't even know it was a real thing, but mine is definitely trypanophobia. I don't like needles. At all. I managed to have 5 kids with only one IV. Total. And that was just because one baby was a teeny bit stubborn about making his appearance on his own. I'll let you figure out which one it was. I had to have a measles shot the day after David was born, and it was the worst part of the whole birth experience. For real.
All this reminds me of Lucy diagnosing Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas. A classic.

4. Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new?
Settled. Definitely.

5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?
Too much cell phone, too little conversation.

6. Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue...your favorite color this time of year?

Beautiful daffodil yellow!

7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?
For me, part of the fun of taking a holiday is having the family come along. If I were to go by myself, I think I would go somewhere I could relax with a good book and no responsibilities. The mountains would be good. Or the ocean.


8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Jennifer and I went to see Jamalyn's daughter, Margaret, in a production of Annie Jr. on Saturday afternoon.

She was the cutest little orphan, and did a great job in her first production.

The cast was made up of actors and actresses between the ages of 8 and 18. They had obviously all worked very hard, and it was a great show.

 Of course, it's one of my favorites. 

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow,

you're always a day away.

After the show, Margaret greeted her adoring public, and posed with her sweet mama.

Of course, I wanted to have a photo with the budding starlet as well. Great job, Margaret!

Fabulous

Last weekend my sister-in-law, Cheryl, celebrated her 40th birthday. It was a great party, complete with the Pat McGee Band playing for the guests right there in the basement. They were great, and you can learn about the band here. Tell them my brother Ted sent you. :)

Speaking of my brother Ted, he did a great job making sure it was a very special celebration for Cheryl.

The party included a screening of this sweet and thoughtful video that he created, featuring appearances by family and friends sending their love on Cheryl's special day.

And because we were all there together, a sibs photo:

Sibs and spouses:

Sibs and spouses with Boomie and Nana:

Sibs, spouses, parents and grandparents:

Hope it was a great birthday, Cheryl! We love you!

Apartment Therapy #TBTStories

I thought I would go waaaaay back in the archives for this week's version of Throwback Thursday Stories. I think Jessica, at The Mom Creative, had a great idea for a way to share the stories behind our photos, and I am thankful for the chance to link up over on her blog and join in on the fun.

This photo was taken on the day Jim and I moved into our married student apartment on Tower Drive at Purdue. That's me on the floor, with my mom and my grandma, who were always there to help with the completion of a project, whether it be moving, sewing, building, or finding a way to make sure the door would swing over the rug in my dorm room.

I little bit about the photo. First, it's a Polaroid. For those of you young'uns out there, it was the only way we had of seeing the photo 'right now'. Can you believe it? We thought it was so cool that the little photo spit out of the camera and developed right before our eyes. We always thought that shaking it made it work faster, but I don't know if it was true. The film cartridges themselves were bigger than my iPhone, and only contained 10 photos, I think. Of course, if I look around, I'm sure that camera is around here somewhere. :) It was a wedding gift.

The carpet on the floor was a remnant we had purchased for my dorm room. We used it in this apartment, in the next house we rented, and in the house we live in now. We actually just disposed of it last year when we had the upstairs floors refinished. I'd say that was a good return on the investment!

The chair in which my grandma (Mamaw) is sitting was included in the 'furnished' part of the apartment. The apartments were university owned, and came with a bed, a desk, and a table and chairs. I believe the lamp was included too. The orange print couch was ours, a hand-me-down from Jim's parents, which we were thrilled to have. That couch was covered and recovered through the years, and now lives in Andrew and Darci's basement. It was always a favorite with our tall boys since it is long and comfy. There were orange chairs, too, which we also still have, but they're no longer orange. Stuff was made to last back then.

The round thing in front of me is a floor fan, which belonged to Mamaw. She brought it along to keep us cool while we were moving. I don't think I've seen another fan like it.

Another memory from this photo is the day we moved out of the apartment. It was about a year later, and we were moving to a little house over on Evergreen Street, just a few blocks away. Same moving crew. The apartment was on the second floor, and instead of carrying things down the steps, Mamaw thought we should just pull Jim's pickup truck over to the stairwell and drop things over the railing. I wanted no part of that embarrassing idea. Turns out they took me over to the 'new' house to start putting things in place there, while they proceeded to start tossing. Clothes, pillows, shoes, etc, were quickly loaded with this method, and I didn't have to see it. I was told they only missed a couple of times. :)

That first apartment was about the size of our current living room, but we were happy and excited and married! We were crazy young and in love, and just like that, we were making our own decisions and living like grown-ups. Thirty-three years later, we still are. :)

Linking up with Throwback Thursday Stories at themomcreative.com. #TBTStories

History in the Hodgepodge

It's a rainy Wednesday here in the 'burg, but that won't stop us from gathering for a little Hodgepodge. Thanks to Joyce, our hostess, who faithfully provides us with great food for thought. Click on the button to hop over for a visit with her!

Here are her questions and my answers:

1. It's still May, right? When were you last in the middle of something that might be described as mayhem?

Our football tailgating might be described as mayhem. Fun and spirited mayhem, but mayhem just the same. Love our tailgaters!

2. When did you last feel dismayed?

I felt dismayed when I learned that our pastor would be moving. I understand that moving pastors is the way of our denomination, but it always makes me sad when it happens before we are ready. I will miss him, and wish God's blessings on their sweet family as they make the move to a new congregation.

3. What's a food combination you like, but other people may find strange?

I don't really eat strange things, individually or in combination. I like peanut butter on bananas, but lots of people eat that. I stick to combining things that are meant to go together: chocolate and peppermint, peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, blueberries and pancakes. Boring, I know.

4. "It is never too late to be what you might have been." Do you think that's true? Why or why not?

True. And not true. Well, it depends. I do believe that we shouldn't give up on our dreams, especially those that we feel in our cores. Determination and dedication can allow us to be all we can be! (or was that the Army?)
A great example of this is my sister-in-law, Jenny, who followed her dream of going to law school. So proud of her!

5. US News and World Report listed the best historic destinations in the US as follows-Washington D.C, Philadelphia PA, Williamsburg VA, Charleston SC, Boston MA, Richmond VA, Savannah, GA, Santa Fe NM, Yellowstone, San Antonio TX, San Francisco CA, New Orleans LA, and Charlottesville VA.

Of those listed how many have you seen in person? Which two sites on the list would you most like to see in person?

Thankfully, I have seen several of the listed historic destinations. We (I?) love history trips! :)
We visited Washington D.C. in 1997.

I visited Philadelphia as a child, and made another trip there in 1991 with Jennifer, my mom, and my grandma, to see my friend Ann's newborn baby. We stopped by to see the Liberty Bell while we were there.

I have been to Williamsburg a few times. I went on a day trip with my mom and my grandma at Christmas time on an Ambassadair trip. That means we flew out that morning, spent the day in Williamsburg, and flew home the same evening. It was quick, but so much fun to see the historic buildings all dressed up for Christmas. Another time, I went with some high school friends after attending the wedding of our friend Jan and her husband Steve. Imagine our (and their) surprise when we ran into them in Williamsburg (on their honeymoon!).

I have been to Charleston, but just passing through for a quick visit.

My family visited Boston in 1975 when I was 15. I planned the trip as my driver's education project. This photo was taken in front of the Mayflower II, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, not in Boston, but it was the same trip. Who wears short shorts?

I was in Richmond, VA for the above mentioned wedding of Jan and Steve, but not for historical touring.

Our family went to California on the train when I was in first grade, and we visited the sights in San Francisco while we were there.

You must know that I have visited New Orleans. Lots of history made there! Who Dat!

We visited Charlottesville, Virginia in 1997 on our way to D.C. We had the privilege of taking a tour of UVA given by our friend Chris, a Greensburg boy who was a student there. He had coached our kids in speech and swimming, and was a wonderful host and tour guide during our visit.

The two (thanks for allowing two, Joyce) that I would like to see in person, are Charleston and Savannah. Yes, I have been to Charleston, but not long enough to know the city. There is definitely lots of history in those two southern cities. And it's just so much fun to spend time in the South.
(Sorry for getting a little carried away with my answer.)

6. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If you had to participate in a single fitness activity for the next half hour, which activity would you choose?

Does walking count? That's it, then, I would choose walking. Preferably on a beach. :)

7. What did you like best about the city, town, or neighborhood where you grew up?

The things I liked best, are the things I like best, since I still live in the town where I grew up. I like the people, of course, and the schools, the farms, the downtown, our little parade on the Fourth of July, basketball games, the county fair, and our pretty courthouse with the tree growing from the tower. (Even better with grandson Matthew posing in front of it.)

I also like that when you can't find your keys after lunch in a downtown restaurant, they're right where you left them. Along with your vehicle. True story.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Just this: