Warning: This post involves some neck stretches in order to view photos. Family Family time really is the very best time! Probably from the day I was born, the value of family has been ingrained into my very soul. My grandma, He, used to always say, “I love having all my chicks in the nest.” I totally…
Warning: This post involves some neck stretches in order to view photos.
Family
Family time really is the very best time! Probably from the day I was born, the value of family has been ingrained into my very soul. My grandma, He, used to always say, “I love having all my chicks in the nest.” I totally get that! Nothing brings me greater joy than to have my grown kids hanging out at my house with no real agenda other than to recharge the relationship batteries!
As I write this post, the only sounds I hear are the tumble of the dryer, the panting of my old dog, Buck, and the clickety click of my fingers on the keyboard. This quiet is both peaceful and lonely, but it’s a quiet I’ve learned to cherish. It’s during these times of silence that I can reflect on the past couple of days and all the fun we had.
All my Chicks (and Dogs) in the Nest
Eric, Caitlin, and Beaux arrived from San Antonio late Friday night. We had our usual excitement when the “kids” walked in. All the humans were hugging and smiling and rubbing Caitlin’s tummy and talking all at the same time; while the dogs were sniffing each others’ butts, growling, and running around like pack of wild coyotes. It’s simply madness, but I love it!
This weekend was a last for us. This will be the last weekend we will all be together in this house without a baby among us! Caitlin will be 36 weeks along tomorrow, so traveling the 5 1/2 hours from San Antonio will be too hard for her beyond this point. Soooo…the next time she is here, I’ll be loving on a precious baby girl!
Learning a New Craft
Caitlin brought her new “toy” for all us girls to play with – a Silhouette Portrait cutter! She learned how to cut heat transfer vinyl to make iron-ons for clothing. I just happened to have a pack of newborn onesies, so we made a few for the baby. Such a cool toy tool!!!
So after Caitlin downloaded the patterns she wanted to apply, the machine cut them out. Here she is ironing on the first one:
(Here’s a little neck stretch for you… Tilt to the right)
Boys Will be Boys
Of course, the men of the family were not interested in the Silhouette…except for Eric’s interest in the cost of the supplies (he’ll learn someday that it’s just not worth it to ask). While Todd was sowing his oats (not wild ones), Eric had clients hunting hogs (wild ones.) After a big hunt, the weapons must be cleaned. Todd cleaned his while he watched Captain America: Civil War. (Streeetch to the right again!)
He might’ve forgotten that our old bones aren’t very forgiving when we do our projects in the floor.
Eric cleaned his guns today. (Stay tilted!)
From the Garden to the Table
(Head back center here.) Much to our sadness, all good things must come to an end. The San Antonio trio left around 2 this afternoon to head south, leaving Todd, Emily, and I to our own devices. My okra crop has been bountiful lately. In fact, I wasted a five gallon bucket of large, tough, overgrown pods last week because I failed to harvest in time, so I knew I needed to pickle what was in my fridge this afternoon.
Now, usually I wait until Todd is out of the house to do any pickling. He is not a fan of eau de vinegar, so I try to find a time when he’s out mowing or filling deer feeders so I don’t have to listen to him gripe upset his delicate sense of smell. Today, he chose to suffer through it. He even snapped this photo of Emily stuffing the jars after I sterilized them.
Reflections
Although there were no baby showers, dinner parties, or other astronomical events, this weekend holds a special place in my heart, right along with all the other times I’ve spent with family. I’ll treasure our coffee on the patio each morning and the conversations we’ve held out there. I love the ease with which we coexist in this house, even with a pack of dogs running around. I cherish the fact that our kids love to be here.
Of all the things I’ve done wrong, there is one thing I know I’ve done right – I created a place worth coming home to; a place where we can all be free to be ourselves and relax. A place where we are forgiven if we goof up, consoled if we are hurting, encouraged if we are down. If home is where your heart is, then family is the lifeblood pumping through it.