tag you're it

    

This week's prompt is- Let's Play your  memories for games you played when you were young.

My summers were filled with glorious days filled with sun, sand, family- the sweetest memories of of our family home at the beach on Long Island. My parents, Aunt & Uncle, brothers, cousins; oh the fun we had.

But just as sweet were the kids on the block...

Oh the games we played! Long days on the beach playing football, playing 'keep away' with a pink pency pinky's (pink rubber ball) in the water until our lips turned blue and our mothers would make us come out of the water. Then we'd stand there on the hard sand with strait faces shivering with blue lips saying" I'mmm noottt ccooolldddd," as they wrapped us in fresh beach towels and made us sit in the sun to warm our cold bodies.

After gobbling down dinner it was back outside to choose sides for whatever game of tag, freeze, ringalevio, T.V tag, hospital tag. ONE- TWO-THREE...... whoever was "it" would call out as the rest of us hid in our favorite hiding places. We scraped more knees then I could count, jumped more fences the I could count, hid in the smallest places I could imagine, played more games of tag the I could count, cried more tears of laughter then I could count.  

Seeing my friends daily, the innocence of being so carefree. I think of those days more than I can count and I miss them more the anyone could imagine.

ah-choo

Today the mold and grass pollen count was thru the roof here in my area and although I don't usually have allergies, I woke up sneezing and by lunch time I was well into a box of tissues and searching my medicine chest  for some type of over the counter medication for my poor runny nose, it was getting sore!

But in any case it reminded me of a cute story about my son M, he was seven years old when this happened......

Eric on left & M on right
my aunt P & uncle R's dog summer

When we lived in NY both my younger boys had allergies and were taking regular allergy shots. When we relocated down here to Virginia we arranged to have their doctor send the ampules to us so that we could get their shots at the medical office here in town; this way they could complete their final year of treatment.

M- our seven year old at the same time was told  by our dentist that his front teeth were very buck and although usually to young for braces we should consider them anyway so he didn't break or damage his teeth. So I made an appointment with an orthodontist up in town; his name was Dr K. He agreed that although M didn't have enough teeth for full braces at seven years of age he was in danger of damaging his teeth. He decided he needed to have his front top four teeth put in braces for safety sake, then he proceeded to take a mold. When all was done M and I got in the car and we were on our merry way home and he looked up with his hazel eyes and said to me with all seriousness:

 "Mommy" he said, "I think you better bring me to the allergy doctor because I'm going to need an extra shot."

 "Why?"  I replied, not understanding allergy shots had to do with his trip to the orthodontist.

 "But Moommmy" he said, " Dr. K just put a mold in my mouth and I'm allergic to mold, I think I'm gonna need that shot!"

my life in the country

When I moved here from Long Island New York there were some startling differences- the slower pace and obvious cultural differences. There were basic things that others may not notice but in fact were rather new to me.

For instance there are no side walks so you can't walk on my road, you either drive or take your life into your own hands by walking in the road where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour. Add to that the issue of the many dogs that hunters use during hunting season and then abandon to the street, they can be a bother to a person walking if they pack up as they frequently do. Dogs like these are responsible for the death of two of my cats, and it makes me soooo mad. There are no street lights so it is very dark here, and it took me years to adjust to driving without street lights on the local roads and highways.

see no place to walk!

When outside even if your just sitting on the deck- dark is really dark. You may not realize just how many stars there are up there until you've taken a trip to the country just what a beautiful show God has provided us by just looking up to His skies. That is until the mosquito's find you and then you have to go into the house and look at them thru the skylights!

No more fire house noise  ( i grew up across the street from one) or police cars racing by on the turnpike or the neighbors yelling or conversing over the fence because the houses are so close together. Here the only thing that keeps us up are the bugs and frogs singing in the night and the troops doing maneuvers at Ft Picket which is located about ten miles west of here- they can sometimes get a bit noisy!

What I did realize today after twenty plus years is that I don't wake up from noise anymore, it's the quiet that wakes me up. We belong to and electric cooperative unfortunately that aren't quite as reliable delivering electric power as Virginia Power although  the bright side is they are cheaper. Early this morning the power went out, it happens frequently and for no apparent reason, hence our generator ownership. Without the hum of the fridge and the ceiling fans the house was so quiet it woke me up. Funny how things and people can change huh?

being with my peeps on easter



front left to right grandson #3 cousin J
back left to right grandson #1 cousin L, grandson #2

I am laboring at my husbands computer to write this post- its like wearing someone else's shoes- not the right fit! It feels funny sitting at a desk!!. My laptop screen  isn't lighting up and one of the hinges snapped.  I think its time for a new one, now all I have to do is figure out is how to get my files on to the new one when I get it. ( I know I know I never backed up!)  I can see a faint outline on the screen so I know it's working. It's a good ole gal but another repair bill isn't in my future. So I guess we'll be sharing for a while until I get a new one and figure out what to do about my files.

In the mean time here's what happened over the Easter weekend...

So I had a wonderful  extended weekend with my family, most everyone arrived here on Thursday night so the festivities started early. Although the cousins did hit a bit of traffic coming from the north- not the ones from the south thought- they all arrived here safe and sound and without the hastles of traffic.

Friday was pretty much a relax and catch up on what was new in our lives while my cousins sons played video games and played with the cats. Did I forget to mention that my son also arrived on Thursday as well? The guys spent hours outside in the sunshine throwing Frisbee, football and baseball with the boys since the weather was really very nice.



from right to left H, Chef G , grandsons #1, 2 cousins L, grandson #3 cousin J



Saturday we all headed up to Richmond to see the Picasso Exhibit, my daughter, son in law and the grandsons met us there. We had the kids dust off my Aunt Winifreds wheelchair for Mom so she could join us since she's on a cane and the walking involved would be way to much and we were on our way. Needless to say, the five boys didn't see the Picasso's, although the VMFA is free the Picasso was $16 per child and that rather costly. My cousins husband stayed with the boys and the rest of us staggered our time into shifts so the children could enjoy the rest of the museum while we viewed the Picasso's. For me it was overwhelming, and we walked  thru 11 different gallery rooms displaying his art according to the year he produced the pieces displayed. Starting at 1900  straight thru 1956. There were prints, paintings, photographs, sculpture, drawings- I really could have spent a week in there but only spent an a bit more than an hour and a half since our tickets were timed.



My cousin H at VMFA



Needless to say I can probably speak for my daughter her husband and my cousins that the right choice was made regarding the children who are all under the age of 13. Picasso who is brilliant had many pieces of art on display that were of a sexual nature. To say it plainly; the man likes breasts and other parts of the female anatomy and it was probably a good call that the kids weren't exposed to so many pieces of art with that subject matter.

Then it was back to the house for more food, boy did we eat! And my cousins husband is a chef so it isn't to shabby to have his help in the kitchen. My Grandson # 2 loves to cook and be in the kitchen and he and Chef G spent a ton of time together cutting and chopping on Easter Sunday after we got home from Mass. We even gave Grandson #2 his own knife which is blue since he's taking cooking lessons for Mother Day with my daughter; isn't that a great idea for a mother and son to do?

My cousin C and her son L had to head out early so that he could get back to Charlotte to spend some time with his Dad later Sunday. My kids- son in law headed out of here on Sunday after dinner since it was back to work for them on Monday, and they are all in public service, one county, one state, one federal. The grandsons were exhausted I came to find out since I was late nights here hanging with the cousins in my den for boys sleep over time. My cousin H and her husband Chef G and their son headed out on Tue to go back to PA.

It's safe to say, my husband and I are pretty tired right now, but always pleased to be with our family. I hope you all had great family time as well over the long weekend.
Do anything interesting? Eat anything fabulous? I'd love to hear about it!

FREAK DAY

It was 71 degrees today here in Virginia, a freak day since most of the country is covered with the feet of snow. One day of nice weather and the daffodils are popping up out of the soil on the side of my garage, I can’t believe it. I have a touch of spring fever and it’s only February. For here it's even really unseasonably warm.

My baby brother is up in New York, part of his job is being “the plow guy” which translates into- not slept all winter!

It’s been a rough winter for all my northern family  Now that I'm in the south and I tend to forget how crappy it can be up there during the long snowy winters. I will however resist the urge to rub it in, simply because the next storm will probably drop 18 inches on my house if I do!

One day of decent sunshine and I’m thinking about beach vacations. That would be in the Outer Banks in April by the way... and gardening. Both things my husband and I are getting to be very good at as our nest is empty for the past few years. That is if you don't count the three cats.

It's still way too early to do anything yet outside. But we're planning, more tomatoes, the beets were great last year so we'll do much more this season. Plenty of cucumbers so I can make pickles, dill and sweet, and of course, the potatoes go in on St Patty's day provided the ground isn't too wet.

OVER MY PIE TONIGHT

We went out to dinner tonight, or I should say supper. And I was thinking of those things that are quintessentially Southern at least in my mind, besides pie. I know Nana liked pie, she made them all the time. But last week when we were visiting the cousins in Charlotte, little Max was loving his pie and it started me thinking. So besides the fried chicken, rolls and slaw ( that's coleslaw ya'll)  & sweet tea there are other things that feel unique special to this place, give it it's own flavor if you will.

There are may things that to me- born a Northerner that strike me as truly Southern. For instance the number of churches that are within a short distance of my house. As a Catholic however I am SOL (Sh__ out of luck) I still have to drive 28 miles to Mass.  However I should say I have been invited ( and have been a guest) to many churches which include most every Protestant denomination as well as Baptist Churches alike. The people here are some of the most kind and genuine people I have ever met. Church supper anyone? A great way to get to know your neighbor.

If I grow tomatoes in my garden and the neighbor has sweet potatoes, or corn it will gladly be shared without discussion, just a bag or a box and a quiet thank you, that's how things are done here. Need fruit? I have fruit tree's ask and you shall receive. Want to fish, if you don't have a problem seeing the occasional snake then throw a fishing poll in my pond, no problemo. Just keep your llama's away from my property, they are  four legged wrecking balls that spit...

Don't laugh it happened once!