Today was a day so good for my heart. Didn't get a thing done.
Don't care.
All the grandchildren came over; Lily and Jessie, too. It was a fun fest. And no, we didn't make the kids all stay six feet apart and I have to tell you that when Lily and her children were leaving, Maggie confessed to her that she had touched Levon which we already knew but we thanked her for telling us the truth.
Levon loves that fox dress. I need to make him another like it.
Maggie's outfit today was spectacular. She posed for me. She'd even put on make-up because she had a bow on.
One cannot create a child like this. One can only stand back in wonder.
Don't let that girly-girl exterior fool you, though. She will pick up bugs and worms like nobody's business.
Lily says she brings her bugs and asks, "Mommy, does this bug sting or not?"
We asked the children if they'd like to pick green beans and they all said they would so we did that. Another plastic shopping bag full was harvested. I opened a jar of my pickled beans and that got eaten in a big hurry. Many thumbs up.
The kids all dug for treasure and then Mr. Moon got out his metal detector.
There was shoveling and troweling galore. August found two huge old nails in the driveway that Mr. Moon paid him a quarter apiece for because they posed a threat to the integrity of our tires.
Owen and August pretend-drove the tractor.
Maggie and Levon played together. They're becoming good little buddies. Maggie loves babies as much as she loves worms. They pulled each other around in various wagons and kept up a good running conversation.
I made sandwiches and we ate those and sliced apples. All in all, it was a wonderful visit. Lily took her kids to the Wacissa to see what was going on there but she reported that there were too many people and they didn't get out of the van.
Jessie and the boys stayed on for awhile. I had known that she was coming over today so when I went to Publix yesterday I bought them some animal crackers in the little red box. They were thrilled. August saved his for later but Levon ate all the animals in his box, asking for ID of each one as he went.
And we read some books. We sat on the love couch in the library and August got closer and closer to me until he was completely smooshed against me and I loved it. We read a beautiful book that Jessie brought with her. Cinders, A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett. The illustrations are beyond glorious.
A unique and lovely retelling of the old story.
After I read that one, I read Levon's choice which is about...Dump Trucks!
It's a board book and we've read it a hundred times but he loves it. After we were finished reading it I asked, "Levon, do you want to drive a dump truck?"
And I swear, this is what he said: "No thank you. I want to drive a front-end loader."
I died.
Then I came back to life and August and I read most of The Jolly Postman's Christmas. August loves that book beyond reason.
And I loved reading it to him beyond reason.
And so that was my heart-filled day.
I did pick some of my beautiful blooming roses.
So tiny and fragile but with such a deep scent. I put them in a shot glass and set them in my bathroom above the sink where I will get the most pleasure from them.
The world is still insane, my country the epicenter of so much of that. But Barack Obama spoke to the nation and although I haven't seen the video I know that with his voice, his calm, his intelligence, his wisdom, he has sent out a message of hope and a way forward.
I am so grateful that he is addressing the nation again because we need his voice so much.
And I got to love my babies a little bit. I sinned and stroked a head of hair or two, felt the sweet pressure of a four year old leaning on my side.
That's not going to kill me.
It has done me good.
Off to make supper. Last night's was unbelievably delicious.
This garden of my husband's and mine is sustaining us in all ways. I feel so lucky.
In all ways.
Love...Ms. Moon
It is heartbreaking that Queen Maggie has to be so concerned that she confesses it must be the most confusing thing on earth for those children hell it’s confusing for me. That spectacular purple tomato oh goodness.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, isn't it? For all the children living through this.
DeleteGlen planed almost all purple Cherokees this year. I am not sure why but we are about to drown in them. Not a bad problem to have.
Any day with grandchildren is a good day.
ReplyDeleteBTW - See General Mattis' statement made tonight. Powerful stuff. Ripped into the orange one, big time. A man who knows history. The Atlantic has a great article about it.
I read that article. VERY good. And maybe some of the dominos will fall now that he has spoken out and others will too.
DeleteYour grandchildren are so beautiful, especially that little woman-child, Magnolia.
ReplyDeleteWas that tomato a Cherokee Purple or some other purple/black tomato? It looks like it. I love homegrown tomatoes with a passion! You're so lucky to have your wonderful garden, not to mention your beautiful family.
Magnolia is absolutely her true self which is a pretty awesome thing.
DeleteYep. You nailed the tomato variety.
I am lucky, lucky, lucky.
Fabulous, in all ways! Have a sweet night!
ReplyDeleteThank you, e!
DeleteWhat a lovely time you had with your loved ones. It has been a long time since you could get so close to them and share your love.
ReplyDeleteDump Truck makes me think of Trump Duck or even Dumb F***! I wonder where he got that Bible.
From his daughter. From her purse. Excuse me for butting in. I read it in my news feed, and pray it's true. Anything less would be sacrilege.
DeleteThanks Joanne. Do you mean Tiffany or Ivanka? Does she always carry a Bible around with her I wonder.
DeleteIt was Ivanka and I doubt that she always carries a bible.
DeleteShe's Jewish. She must have gotten that Bible out of the prop department.
Deleteoh, that dear Magnolia confessing......it makes me smile yet it breaks my heart. this must be so difficult for so many children and families....... your day sounds like it was perfect. Better than food, even. To share with your family...well. I lift my wine glass in a toast to all of you tonight. You are *doing it* right!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
Thanks, Susan.
DeleteAnd you're right about children and families now. This is just crazy times for all of us.
It was a beautiful thing to see those kids.
Maggie was really Feelin' that Amazing Ensemble of hers, too Cute a Fashionista Moment! Levon loving his Fox Dress is adorable too and the Confession made me Smile, but in a bittersweet way, this is so hard for Kids isn't it, not to freely have Touch!
ReplyDeleteMaggie WAS absolutely in touch with the fashion goddess within.
DeleteI can't wait until I can kiss that precious little face of hers.
You are lucky in all ways, that is the truth. Maggie will rule the world one day- I hardly recognized August- Levon must feel comfy and cool in his fox garment. What a most welcomed day after all of this- I yearn to hug someone, anyone will do at this point.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if Maggie grew up to be SOMETHING. She will. I wonder what it will be.
DeleteI still haven't hugged the kids. I want to so much. I often think how grateful I am to have my husband to hug. We seem to hug more these days. We both need that.
Look at all the pictures. Beans and babies and last night's supper you were so pleased with preparing. But your sweet children are best of all. Driving a front end loader. That boy knows his trucks.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked for the township I lived five miles from the town hall/road garage. The road guys often left the mower in our yard, or the front end loader--it took an hour to drive it from the garage to this end of town. My grandchildren loved to come in the summer and see what was in grandma's yard. Don't tell Levon you know a grandma who sometimes had a front end loader.
Ooh! If I had heavy equipment parked in my front yard Levon would never leave here. And yes, he does know his trucks. He fell in love with front-end loaders last summer when Jessie and Vergil had hired a friend to use his to help clear land where they want to build a house in North Carolina. Lindsey, the friend, the front end operator, is still a god in Levon's mind. Probably always will be.
DeleteSo happy for your lovely day. My heart pines for my only grand way down in KY. I'm very interested in the digging that goes on in your yard. I would love to see a post of things you've found. Is it stuff that was perhaps dumped there or thrown out by previous owners? It would be wonderful if I could find somewhere to dig and discover; I'd be in heaven!
ReplyDeleteMostly what we've found has been bits of crockery and old railroad spikes and pieces of glass and hinges and parts of old farm equipment. Things like that. We have found a few unbroken bottles. Of course the kids think everything they dig up is a treasure and I tend to agree with them. And everything here is from previous owners who lived in the house before there were dumps.
DeleteOh doesn't Magnolia look a treat!!! And that chicken Cinderella illustration would have me in raptures, just like I always loved the Beatrix Potter books. Just so beautiful. You obviously had a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteChildren's books can be true works of art, can't they? This one is truly magnificent. I love the Beatrix Potter books too. Who doesn't?
DeleteAnd yes. I did have a wonderful day. My babies...
I'm glad you got to see your grandchildren and thank you for reminding me that there is still goodness in the world.
ReplyDeleteWell, there is goodness in the world, darling. For one thing- you're here.
DeleteWait -- MR MOON HAS A METAL DETECTOR?! How have I not known this? He and I have a whole new topic of conversation to explore! Has he ever detected on Dog Island?
ReplyDeleteI love the chicken Cinderella book. That is fabulous. And I love Maggie's rainbow outfit, and it's so great to see everyone together and interacting as usual. (More or less.) It won't be without bumps but life IS slowly getting more back to normal, if only because everyone has coronavirus fatigue. It may not be the best reason, but we're only human.
I had totally forgotten that Mr. Moon has a metal detector. I can't even remember why he got it. I don't know if he's ever explored DI with it or not.
DeleteYou're right about the Cinderella book. Totally fabulous. And Maggie pulled her outfit together herself. When she put on her dress she remembered a tie that Lily had given Lauren from a pride fest and she demanded that it be fastened in her hair because it "matched."
I completely agree about the virus fatigue and yes, we are only human and I am only a grandmama.
The world as it should be. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteFor a few minutes, it truly was.
ReplyDeletea loving hopeful day. we all need that. and don't you just know Trump is seething in his own juices over Obama addressing the nation? and everybody sighing a big sigh of relief that he did?
ReplyDelete