Rainy Days and Mondays...

Well, rainy days and Mondays they don't always get me down but our family does have some sad news to report. Neccy and Jack's little baby granddaughter passed away Friday. She was a beautiful little Angel who profoundly touched the lives of many people and she will be truly missed. May she rest in peace.

On a lighter note, we did have a very nice weekend. It was supposed to rain but that never happened. Of course today is another story - it's already drizzling outside. Friday I was able to take Hwy. 100 home and it was such a relief to not have to get on that interstate again. However, seeing all the debris and downed trees and mud residue was an eye opener to all the damage done on one of my favorite roads. It's going to take some time to get everything cleaned up and somewhat back to normal.

The people who suffered all the flood damage already had most of their household belongings out by the side of the road to be hauled off to parts unknown. I'm not talking about a few garbage bags and some furnishings, I'm talking everything inside the house from kitchen cabinets and appliances to bed frames and mattresses. There is drywall, mouldings, framed pictures - all soaked or otherwise damaged. FEMA is on the scene but of course those things take a while. We know a couple of people who lost their homes and have had to move in with their siblings, parents or friends who have space.

The schools are opening again in Nashville but in Hickman County they're still closed. In Dickson, it is at the bus driver's discretion. If the driver can get to the kids, they go to school. If the driver can't get to them, they stay home. Many, many roads are still closed. They aren't flooded but the water did so much damage, you can't get down them. Our favorite road coming home from Pee Wee's place, Totty's Bend, is a complete washout. It was narrow at best on a good day. We're told the boulders slid onto the road and it is impassable. It may never be dealt with as the rock that fell on the road is stronger than the road itself. Time will tell.

Friday we went to Pee Wee's and stayed for a few beers then came home. We watched a little TV and hit the sack. I was tired from being up so early in the morning and working all day and Wally was tired from being on the motorcycle in the sun most of the day.

Saturday morning we were up and at 'em around 5am. We headed over to Claudia's house to help remove a tree that had fallen across one of her paths. I know you don't know her but she's a sweet lady and about the only person I've met who befriended me in a way. She likes to cook, garden, read and burn candles so we have a few things in common. Anyway, we headed over to her place with a trailer and chain saws in tow. Daryl (the bartender at Pee Wee's) came with us and the guys got to work on the trees while Claudia showed me around her garden. What a treat that was! She has so many plants to share that I can't wait for bulb splitting time :) 

She has Hosta's both variegated and regular and she has one that is so dark it almost looks blue. She's promised me some of all types. If you have ever shopped Hostas, you know they are quite expensive, ranging anywhere from $18.00 to $25.00 per plant. I wouldn't want to have to spend that much on a plant so I appreciate her generosity in sharing them.

She has Irises too! Yellow, blue and purple and says she'll share whatever colors I want. Of course I want some of all colors! My plan is for them to be planted around the flagpole along with the mystery bulbs and the rose bush from down at the trailer.  She has Peonies and Lenten Roses all of which she is willing to share. What a dream for me! Not so much for Wally as he has to help me dig. The soil is some tough stuff up here y'all. I'll be building muscles I didn't know I had - LOL  I can't wait for you to see my, soon to be, garden when you come to visit.

When we got home Saturday I got my clothes in off the line and hung up another load - boy do they ever smell heavenly coming in from that springtime fresh, mountain air. I got my cleaning supplies and headed upstairs to get started on the bathroom. In no time I had finished the bathroom and started on the floors. They were in desparate need of sweeping and you would not have believed the dust bunnies I rounded up! I really should have wet swiffered them too but I just wasn't in the mood.

I came downstairs, grabbed my magazine and headed out to the front porch. Wally was taking a nap on the couch so I sat out there and talked to Beverly Sue until my phone kept dropping the calls.
The sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing and it was nice to spend time catching up with my friend. I took a picture of the daylilies as you can see on the post and that's my chair where I sit. They are as tall as the hitchin post so I had to get on my knees to take the picture from under the hitchin post otherwise I couldn't get all the buds in the picture.

Saturday night we went to this bar called Memories. Wally calls it Miseries so all along I thought that's what the name was. When we pulled up to Memories, I thought we were in the wrong parking lot. Well, he got a kick out of that. One of his friends was doing karaoke and most of the people from Pee Wee's were there. We had a lot of fun watching people dance, listening to people sing and using the bathroom outside. They still don't have water because of the flooding. Of course everyone thinks they can sing while those of us listening know otherwise... LOL  just like karaoke anywhere else in the world.  We both agreed Brittany Crites would knock their socks off! For the first time since I moved here we were out until midnight. I was driving so Wally had slightly more fun than I did :)  I'm getting better at driving on these curvy, unlit, unmarked roads. I don't even think he used the brake pedal on his side of the car...ha ha!

Sunday was Mother's Day and the kids called me at 8:00 am. They were at Aunt Neccy's and there was total chaos in the background. We talked for a little while and then they were off to see their Grandmothers and step Mom. I made breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the downstairs bathroom and brought in my laundry off the line. I know it sounds like work and not the sort of thing you would want to do on Mother's Day but I was just fine with it. The bathrooms are sparkling and the air coming through the windows makes the whole cabin smell fresh and clean. Here's another first for me since moving here - there weren't any kids to clean the house for me. In passed years, for as far back as I can remember, Rebecca and Jarrett always cleaned the house for me on Mother's Day. Hmmm, does this mean they owe me one?  LOL

We headed over to Pee Wee's place for a fish fry and hung out there for a couple hours. Someone had given Daryl a 7lb wild turkey breast and he cut it into pieces, seasoned it and deep fried it. Was it ever to die for... oh my goodness, it was juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside - my favorite textures when it comes to food - and I think I ate probably 10 pieces of it. There's was plenty so it didn't even look like I made a dent in it. With hushpuppies, tater tots, cole slaw, great northern beans and FISH - we had plenty to eat for Mother's Day dinner.

We were home in time to see the turkey hens eating whatever they could find in the driveway, the dogs were napping not 100 yards from them but weren't about to go on a chase - they were enjoying a sunny, lazy Sunday instead.

We had tied up Smokey before we left because he was misbehaving when we fed him his sweetfeed so we went over to the horse stalls to set him free. What a show those two horses put on for us!! They were running, bucking, tossing their manes and really showing off. They ran from the side yard by the woods all the way to the gate and back again 3 or 4 times. All the while, they're looking at each other, looking at us and generally just burning off some energy. Wally said they do this whenever the weather gets cool and yesterday it never got over 69 degrees. They were so pretty showing off like that - I'd never seen it before so there's another first! I've seen them take off running when they first get unloaded from the horse trailer but never like this - what a sight! Just listening to the sound their hoofs made it something to behold. I couldn't even imagine what an old timey stampede would have sounded like after hearing just two horses.

We had been outside enjoying the beautiful weather and laughing with the people who we had partied with the night before so once we had our bellies full of good food and a few beers, we were ready to get back home. Night, night termite came around 8pm. With the moon shining ever so slightly in our bedroom window it didn't take long for us both to fall soundly asleep.

I did cook this weekend - just in case you were wondering... LOL I made the okra and bean stew that I talked about in an earlier post. It was the recipe Joe Brack gave me. Saturday was the perfect day for it because it was a little chilly and this stew really warms you up. It's not heavy like a beef stew but it is filling and nourishing with the protein from the beans and ham and the vitamins and minerals from the okra, tomatoes and onions. We both enjoyed a bowl of it and later I had another bowl. If there's any left when I get home, I plan to bring it for lunch tomorrow. Guess what'll probably happen instead? LOL

I have chicken out for dinner tonight. I'm going to try my luck at frying it. No, it's not healthy and yes, it's very fattening but I'm in the mood for fried chicken and even more so, I really want to perfect my technique. For some of you frying chicken comes naturally (Neccy, Ernie, Kelly, Marcia). I, on the other hand, have never been able to master it on my own. The only successful attempt was made with Mom there to guide me along. So wish me luck - if I get it done right, maybe I'll serve you some when you come visit. Mom, you should be remain near your phone just in case... LOL

Enjoy your Monday be it rainy or sunny and I hope to hear from someone with a guess at what my mystery plant (bulb) is. The picture isn't very good because you can barely see the little bud at the tip of the stalk but all suggestions are encouraged and welcome :)  Too bad it hasn't bloomed yet or the mystery would have been solved...

Until tomorrow then -
"Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others." - H. Jackson Brown