No matter how far (or for how long) we roam........

On the eve of what promises to be another great vacation (we're naming this one 'cars/trains/boats/planes' till we can think of something 'catchier'), as we're finishing up packing, cleaning last little bits of this and that out of the frig, putting our trash in our sweet neighbor's trash cart (with her permission, of course), securing this and that, trying to figure out cruise control and various other nuances on our cute little RED Ford Focus rental that will transport us to Dallas......we've had a heartfelt conversation this evening about how much we truly enjoy this place we call 'home.' 

Now 'home' is really anywhere that we are together and where family is.....that is true.....but this place where we've 'nested' and grown and struggled and loved and laughed and cried and mourned and rejoiced for the last 33 years is really quite a delightful place to be.  And it is with a great appreciation of what we truly have here that we leave tomorrow, anticipating fun times, some new adventures, some good times in some wonderful familiar environs......because, y' know......

See ya.....down the way!

our 'home away from home'

Little did we know when we began making weekend or 3-4 day trips to Branson and Silver Dollar City in 1977 that we'd be cultivating a 'home away from home', a place that we know so well and where we'd feel so comfortable, that slipping into it for a few days, or even a few hours, like we did this weekend, just feels so good and right.

So we headed up there yesterday morning and enjoyed a supremely beautiful fall afternoon at the Arts and Crafts Festival at Silver Dollar City, walking the familiar hills and paths.  The pumpkins, the flowers, the way the breezes caused the leaves on the trees to 'dance', creating shadow artistry along the walkway....it was just so magical!

 

When the Park closed down at six we headed to another lovely spot, The Chateau, overlooking Tablerock Lake, and, after walking around the grounds for while secured a primo spot on the wrap-around deck of the Library Lounge and enjoyed our favorite libations and a yummy chicken alfredo pizza as the sun set on a glorious day.

 

A gesture's worth a thousand words........

A couple of Saturdays ago we spent the day with Silas and Cora while Tim and Ally and friends journeyed to Guthrie for the Gentlemen of the Road Concert.  We always have such a great time with these sweet kids, playing, building (and knocking down), coloring, reading, making forts out of furniture and sheets.....y'know, the stuff of life.

Since it was going to be long day, with 'dad and mom' not expected back till after midnight, Tim's mom, Charlene, came over when it got toward evening and we all enjoyed dinner together and planned to do bath time with the kids and then we'd leave and she'd stay till Tim and Ally arrived.

After Cora's bath and after she was asleep, Silas and I went out front to play as the sun was disappearing behind the rooftops. We amused ourselves for a good bit by drawing a hopscotch frame and playing for awhile and then Silas climbed atop a gravel pile in an adjacent yard where a new home is being built.  We talked through some pretend scenarios (pirate on a ship, king of the mountain) and generally had a very sweet time.

When it was time for him to go in to take his bath, he paused by their beautiful front garden and broke off a stem with a lovely purple blossom on the end, handed it to me and said, "This is for you, Noni."

For a few seconds I couldn't speak, so many things rolling around in my mind and my heart.  I'm sure there was a time in my life when I might have said,  "Oh, honey, don't pick these, they're just for looking at out here."  And for the times that I may have said that to my own precious children, I do ask your forgiveness.

But I knew then that this was a time to RECEIVE and I DID.  I thanked him and told him what a treasure this was and how special it was to me.

So I kept it in a vase for a few days, dried it between sheets of waxed paper and recently took it to Kinko's to have it laminated, along with a slip of paper documenting the event.  The young man at Kinko's was reticent: he could tell it was of great value to me and he was hesitant to attempt the process for fear of the outcome.  But I told him that his 'best would do just fine' and I was willing to take the risk.  We were BOTH pleased with the outcome!

The result is beautiful bookmark (can't wait to show it to Silas!) that I think I'll treasure forever (maybe even as long as I treasure Silas's words and the look in his eyes when he handed it to me!)

nuggets never tasted so good!

We picked up lunch from Chick-fil-A today and met Kady Grace in her school's cafeteria for a special feast together.  Such a sweet time!  This all came about following a call from her last Friday morning at 6:50 a.m. during which she announced, "You're coming to have lunch with me on Monday."  We're certain she meant that she was available to have lunch with us on Monday if that would work out for our schedule.....it just came across a little most enthusiastically than that!  So, although we couldn't make the Monday part happen, we were more than excited to make it happen on this beautifully rainy Tuesday!

She had selected to two friends to 'dine' with us (at a special table, no less)and we enjoyed some great conversation about their favorite school subjects.  The time passed way too quickly, so quickly that Kady had to share some of her ice cream with Pop so we could finish and head back to the classroom!  So admirable of him to 'fall on that sword' for her, don't you think?  We got to meet her teacher, Mrs. Reynolds, and hear about the toad that had escaped in the classroom earlier this morning!  We also got to witness Mrs. Reynolds skillfully handle a situation after 4 young men from Kady's class 'mysteriously' got separated from the class on the short trip between the cafeteria and the classroom (their detour taking them outside in the rain!).  'Pop' sufficiently muffled his chuckle during that exchange!

Thank you, Kady, for inviting us into your world!