Special memories

Aunt Charlene. I think this might have been her graduation picture.

I forgot the time change. I'm here all ready for church and wondering why the Hubs is still upstairs in his recliner chair listening to gospel music when he has to usher today which means we need to be there early. DUH! I guess it must have been all of the Halloween excitement and trick or treaters around here that messed me up. All 25 of them. We live in a mostly older neighborhood with just a few kidsters sprinkled in here and there. Thankfully some kids come over from Sons neighborhood to help fill in. T was a cute little Good Witch and D was some kind of scary looking thing. What happened to princesses and teddy bears?



We moved the boys back to their winter lodging yesterday. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I am not happy. I felt all teary eyed all day and kept trying to think of ways to keep them here just a few more days. It's warm right now so I don't have to worry about their waterers freezing up and pipes bursting but that can change in a blink of an eye so I drained everything and now only have to give their waterer bowls a good scrubbing.



I know they are happy there and get good care but I miss watching them out the kitchen window and being able to walk out at any time to give them a carrot or the apple peelings when I make pies. I love to yell to them to come for their supper and have them come at a gallop and fully intended to have my camera with me to get a picture of that but always seemed to forget. The stable is less then 10 minutes away so I go often but it's not the same. Oh well, winter goes by quickly and then they will be home again. :o)



One of my aunts passed away a few days ago so my sister Jill and I are headed up the pike about 50 miles to go to her wake this afternoon and then tomorrow to the service. It will be good to see family and friends that we haven't seen for a long time but why does it take a funeral to get people together sometimes?

Monday

Well Blogger and I continue to have our issues. This time my whole post disappeared except for the part above this. Sigh..... I seem to be sighing a lot lately!

Anyway, we went to my aunts wake and saw so many folks from the town we grew up in. Some of them I hadn't seen in 40 years. No one knew me as growing up I had long black curly hair and was thin as a stick. Oh how some things change! lol! I recognized quite a few people and the ones I didn't I asked one of my family members who it was and then went over and talked with them.

My aunt was a very special lady. She was a hard worker all her life. She always had a big vegetable garden and I would see her so often out there weeding away. For years she and my uncle sewed shoes for a shoe company down near here but they did it at home, a truck would drop off the shoes, they would sew them together and the truck would come back and pick them up. It was hard work bending over those shoes for hours on end but in our little community of about 400 there wasn't much to do for a job unless you worked in the woods or you wanted to commute down here every day. Her family came first above all, she was devoted to them, they all grew up to be wonderful hardworking people.

She never forgot a birthday. You could always expect a card in the mail with a note written on it. She was so kind to everyone and did so much for those that needed her help in town. Everyone knew they could call on Aunt Charlene when they needed something. I have many happy memories as we lived just up the road a bit from her house and I grew right up with her kids, my cousins. My cousin Glenn and I are the same age and we were just like brother and sister, riding the horses together and playing around our grandparents farm which was right next door.

Speaking of........and I don't think he would mind me telling this story, my cousin Glenn had an interesting experience while we were riding one day. It was in the wintertime and he was on Flicka a little grade mare that we had and they were coming down the dirt road full tilt. They came to the sharp turn in the road and she slipped on some ice. They hit the snowbank, she went down, rolled completely over, jumped back up and he was still on her!!! I was behind them and saw the whole thing and sat there with my mouth hanging open! He wasn't hurt, probably due to the soft snow, and kept right on going! Oh, and we didn't wear helmets back then!

Jill and I will go up today for the graveside service. It will be nice to be back in the town I grew up in. The homestead is still there but my grandparents home burned many years ago. It will bring back many more memories I'm sure. We will miss Aunt Charlene, many people will miss her.

Disney World Part Two

I finally got day two downloaded and it took a good hour and a half. I am not going to gripe about Blogger, I am not going to gripe about Blogger. Do you think if I say that enough I will believe it?

As I was going through the 500 or so pictures that I took a few jumped out at me. Hummmmmmm...was there something in the air at Disney? Looks like we all were really happy doesn't it? lol!! Mimi and Bampie

Grammie and Grampie
Son and DIL I wonder what Miss T is thinking? I think it's good for children to see their parents show affection don't you? I think it makes them feel secure even if they make funny faces and say Yuck! My parents were always affectionate with each other and we kids used to giggle when Dad would give Mom a pat on the be-hind! :o)

We always like to go to Rain Forest Cafe when there is one around. They have the most beautiful fish tanks to watch while waiting to get into your table.

Of course there are always big animals around to look at that move and make sounds. Loud sounds. Very loud....

I wouldn't want to me this guy in the forest! Yikes!

This is more my style, I just love Chip and Dale. :o)

The kids enjoyed the High School Musical Show. What talented young people they had performing.

One evening the Hubs and I took the grands out to walk around Downtown Disney. The street dancers were having fun with the crowd doing the chicken dance with all the kids.



We spent a day at one of Disney's Water Parks, Blizzard Beach. They have amazing water rides and tons of things for kids to do. This sight reminded me of home......

This was new since the last time we were there and the kids loved it. All of them did it even the youngest who is only four!




Kerplunk!
Hey that lifeguard looks familiar!

All the way over the bigger grands talked and talked about the 50 ft. drop waterslide. I never dreamed they would actually come down it but they did. I almost had to close my eyes but I wanted blog pictures. A grandmother has her priorities you know!




Home Sweet Home.

More parades.

The flowers were just gorgeous.

I loved the fall displays.


One morning we went to the Crystal Palace for a character breakfast. There they go again waving the dinner napkins!

Winnie the Pooh. That reminds me, I know someone who has a poodle and her name is Winnie the Pooh-dle. I think that is funny!

That's it for pictures of this trip. Like I said before I took over 500 but you all would never be the same again if I put any more in. This is one of my favorites. Grampie and D. That's what it's all about, the hugs, smiles, waking us up in the morning with giggles, helping with baths and doing T's hair, the look of wonder on their faces when watching some of the lovely Disney Shows like Beauty and the Beast and snuggling in a little bit closer when going through the Haunted Mansion. How blessed I feel!






PS I have no idea why I can't get rid of this big space at the bottom.........

Disney World Part One

We got home Monday about noon time. Got in about a half hour early which is always nice. We LOVE flying Allegiant as we get on at the Sanford/Orlando airport and get off in Bangor, Maine. No stops, no changes, no lost luggage. We had a fabulous time with the kids, grand kids and DIL's family who we vacation with quite often. Here is the motley crew at the Hoop De Doo dinner show. We hadn't been to that show for a few years so thought we would enjoy seeing it again and it didn't disappoint us. There are more pictures of it further down. Blogger still is being a pill but I don't even want to go there............sigh.......

Son and Goofy, I thought they were a good pair.

The grandchildren and cousins. The five of them had the best time seeing all the fun things together.

This is the stage at Hoop De Doo.

We went to the American Idol Show and it was terrific with some really good talent. The gal we voted for won and she was only 15 years old.


Again at the Hoop De Doo playing the washboards. D got right into it.

Son and DIL.


Waving the dinner napkins is always part of the show.

One of the many parades.


D and Cousin K always like to get their face painted.


This is Miss T's favorite form of transportation.

Aladdin's ride.


It was quite cold the first couple of days we were there as you can see by all of the jackets and sweatshirts.

Isn't this a beautiful carriage?!!!!!





Three generations of my men!


With the Power Rangers.

One of the meercats, my favorite little animal in the whole zoo.

More face painting.

The Grandmothers!


How do you like this huge guitar?! It was the Areosmith ride which I don't go on anymore as you go upside down a couple of times.

The grand kids were all dressed alike on several of the days. They loved it and it was easier to keep track of them.




Will continue this next post.