We had a pretty good week around here.† PS kids were on Spring Break so we had a couple of issues with that.† One of Kei’s best friends was out so Kei thought she should be too.† I reminded her that we took off the week of her play.† That being said we did find time for sleepovers 2 nights. 🙂

Kei and I went to the “Chicken and Egg Festival” last weekend.† It was ok..mostly food and crafts but we managed to find some fun.

I like these bungee things MUCH better than those bouncing houses.† I was so sick of those things.† She actually flipped for the first time.† I was so freaked I didn’t actually get the flip.

We saw several chickens…some were very unfamiliar to us.† This one was named “Hollywood”.

We found some cool ‘shoes’ for Kei.† I remember having some like these.† We always wore them on the beach.† Kei’s are much more ‘bling’ than mine were.† [Someone needs to polish their toenails….I’m just saying]

After the festival I took Kei by my Grandparents house.† My grandparents have been dead for many years.† When I was little there was no place on earth I would rather be.† This house holds memories and also my heart.† They are in the midst of restoring it so we were able to walk around.

Anything….I would give anything if I could take Kei’s hand and pull her into the time where they were alive.† Mamaw would be in the kitchen cooking her fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread and banana pudding.† Mom would be with her helping.† My Papaw and Daddy would be out in the swing talking or walking the property.† They had cows and chickens and a pond and grape vines and a garden.

My older brother would be shooting birds with his BB gun and my younger brother and I would be trying to nurse them back to health.† We would run into the house yelling, “we need bandages and alcohol”.† We would be having throwing contests to get the old apples that fell from the tree into a small hole on the side of the building.† We would be exploring and creating new worlds.† We would be trying to build a tree house in the big oak tree in the front yard.† We would be playing chase on the wrap around front porch.† We would end the day by arguing which one of use got to sit on the ice cream maker.

My Mamaw was my favorite person in the world when I was little.† She taught me to make paper dolls, cook, sew.† She let me pack her suitcase when she was coming to spend the night with us, it never matter what I picked out, she would wear it.† I remember taking her hand and dragging her back to my room as soon as she walked in the door.† I had things to show her!† “She had a secret stash of candy that she told me about.† I would sneak in there, making sure my two nosy brothers were no where to be found and take a piece, secure in the knowledge that only I knew the secret.† I remember spending weeks in the summer with† her and sleeping with her in her big feather bed.† We fed the chickens, milked the cows and cooked and cooked. I remember walking to ‘town’ with her because she didn’t drive.† She would have her ‘pocketbook’ on her arm and we have such fun.† We would shop and talk and end up at the soda fountain for ice cream sundae’s.

The older I got, the less I wanted to go to their house.† I had my life, my friends, I couldn’t be bothered spending my time with 2 ‘old’ people.† I was a teenager with big plans.† How selfish we can be when we are that age.† And what I wouldn’t give for ‘one more day’….

Liv spent the night and there were puddles to be splashed in.

and spitting contests to be had

Robin nests to be found…

Forbidden Island to be played…

Kei took an online class about Lasers and Lights.† She did many really cool experiments.† Did you know there is an owl on a dollar bill?

Making a telescope with 2 magnifying glasses.

Making memories, learning, laughing…

At the end of the day, isn’t that what it is all about?

Happy weekend,

Karen

A House I Once Knew
Written by Leo VanMeer 1907-2006

There are bars on the doors and walls
Its rooms are empty and wide.

Here and there is a broken pane
Where the night wind creeps inside.

The front porch has fallen to ruin
With vines in possession there.

A shed is tumbled and strewn
And rubbish is everywhere.

Somehow it softens in moonlight
And my fancy wanders free.

That old house is more than a house
It once was home to me.

I can see a place by the window
Where firelight once played inside.

I can picture the porch as it used to be
And grounds so clean and wide.

Doors with well-oiledhinges
Let in our willing feet.

With everything in place as it should
And everything trim and neat.

I see it in mellowed reflection
Until years have changed it to be

A house with a memory; it’s more than a house
It once was home to me.

I’d give so much to live again
In that house when it was young.

Then it knew our laughter and tears,
With its memory only begun.

I was unwise to have left it, I know
All I got for my pains

Was a heap of things I thought worthwhile
And desire to be back again.

It might be made home again, who knows?

I watch the moonlight slant through a tree,
And know that old house was more than a house.

It once was home to me.