Monday, July 6, 2020

A Day At The River With Grandchildren Is Better Than Anything


And well, there went my things-to-get-accomplished goals for today.
What the hell? I'll do things tomorrow. Boy oh boy! Did Little Orphan Annie get it right when she sang that song about tomorrow!
I've gotten so bad about this. There are at least a hundred little tiny things that I need to do that because of the pandemic and isolating that I put off doing because I can do them tomorrow! Hell yes! There have been three jigsaw puzzles that August did on the floor in the library for at least a month because
1. I sort of like thinking about him every time I see them and,
2. Tomorrow!

But today we went to the river. We did not put that off until tomorrow even though the weather was quite sketchy. But Lily and Lauren had the day off and Jessie wanted to get the boys out of the house and so we all met down at the beautiful Wacissa. There were a few mamas and babies and a dad or two but there was no crowding or craziness. And oh, what a joy it was to sit and talk and watch the babies play. Jessie knew one of the moms and one of the dads who, it turns out, is the son of a guy I went to nursing school with. I knew his mom, too. She was a teacher at the high school that both May and Jessie went to and they both loved her. So it was friendly and sweet. There were babies and little kids and even a kid about Owen's age that he made friends with. The kids miss other kids so much.
I cheated big time today and hugged and kissed all of them from the back. It was heaven. And when we were leaving, Owen reached over and gave me a side hug and I sure did hug him back.

The water was clear today and cold as always.


That's the boat ramp part of the little park. 

The weather changed by the minute. From the sunniness you see in the top picture to this


and then this.


The children didn't mind- they were already as wet as they could be and there was no thunder or lightening. We kept moving our chairs and bags from sun to shade and finally under the little shelter where the kids could come for snacks. 


That little girl brought me a rock and a dead bug. She is not afraid of anything. Lily said that on the 4th she wasn't worried one bit about the sparklers throwing off sparks as Owen and Gibson had been. She just purely loved it. She brings her mama bugs all the time and says, "Will this sting me?"
They were at Wakulla Springs a few weeks ago and Maggie noticed a snake in the water and instead of freaking out she told a woman standing in the water, "Lady! There's a snake behind you!" 
She may become a naturalist. 
Or whatever she wants. 

Levon is getting so twinkly and friendly. He was always so shy and quiet around other people but now he's comfortable talking to people. He's quite a good conversationalist! While we were in the water he circled me with his little boat in his hand over and over. He knows I love him. They all do. Still, it's incredibly hard not to kiss their faces, hold their hands, stroke their hair. 
But I can make them laugh and kiss their backs and even bite their toes sometimes when the urge overtakes me. 
Which it does at times.

It finally started thundering off in the distance and we all gathered our gear and the children and said our good-byes. It had been a wonderful few hours and I'm so glad we all went. 

I had forgotten to take Levon's dress so Jessie stopped by on the way back and got it along with some field peas. Here's a picture I got from her later. 


August is NOT HAPPY that I haven't made his dress yet. In fact, he recorded a message to me on Jessie's phone that asked me if I could please put some sequins on his dress, maybe like a rainbow, and also some of that wavy stuff down at the bottom so it won't look like Levon's. I think he meant rick-rack. 
I will do my best. 
And I better get to it. 

I did manage to blanch and freeze some field peas after I got home. And pick some stuff for salad. And banana peppers. Glen had already picked cucumbers and a few tomatoes and more field peas and all I can say is- I'm going to need some more canning jars real soon. The bell peppers are coming on and I think I might stuff some of those tomorrow. Eggplants are making their beautiful fruits too. 

Honestly, with all of this garden abundance and the regular small things I do around here to maintain some semblance of order, it is difficult to find the time to sew or clean up puzzles. 
Although I do still seem to find time to do crosswords. 
Throw in a day at the river here and there and my days are as full as can be. Or at least as full as I want them to be. 

And of course there's always tomorrow. 

Love...Ms. Moon

29 comments:

  1. It sounds heavenly. Very good use of time, I'd say.

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  2. Levon looks like an angel! I love that August wants something fancy! Lovely day for you all.
    "will this sting me?" hahaha What a gal that little Rosebud!!!

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    1. Magnolia is fearless.
      They are all so very special, aren't they?

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  3. What a joy to have the river to retreat to with your babies! I love the fearless Maggie. That girl will do big things!

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    1. I love the river so much and feel so lucky to have it right down the road. It is full of magic.
      I think you're right about Maggie.

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  4. Today was a perfect day. So will be tomorrow, with those children in it. You remind me of the joy my mother had in her six grandchildren.

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    1. I had no idea I'd feel the way I do about grandchildren.

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  5. A little Dress with Rainbows, Sequins and Rick-Rack would just make me Smile right now, Kids have such Vision for what they want that will make them Happy, don't they? A day at the River sounded relaxing... so hard to really relax during Pandemic, so anything that has an aura of relaxation in the doing of it is something we should do... the housekeeping can wait 'til Tomorrow...

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    1. I tell you what- August has such an idea in his mind that I am intimidated about this dress!
      I did actually relax at the river. I mean, I was still aware of where all of the kids were but that's just normal, isn't it?

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  6. What a wonderful day! Levon looks so happy with his new dress, August not so much. You better get started on that dress Grandma and don't forget the sequins, rainbows and rick-rack! Love those kids!

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    1. Rainbows! Ooh boy. This dress could take years to make if I don't start concentrating on it more.

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  7. Your day sounds to me like absolute perfection. You're so lucky to have such easy access to rivers and parks like that (and the good weather to go with it). When we had our home in Florida I remember spending the day at a state park (can't remember which) in order to get away from the Disney crowds and it was just lovely. Would have been perfect if they had allowed wine in but you can't have everything can you!

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    1. You had a home in Florida? Where was it?
      The US is so silly about the no-alcohol in parks rule. In Mexico, they have waiters on the beach who come and take your drink order! Much more civilized, I think.

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  8. Your day sounds to me like absolute perfection. You're so lucky to have such easy access to rivers and parks like that (and the good weather to go with it). When we had our home in Florida I remember spending the day at a state park (can't remember which) in order to get away from the Disney crowds and it was just lovely. Would have been perfect if they had allowed wine in but you can't have everything can you!

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  9. A grand day with the grands. What's not to love. So glad you had this time with them.

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  10. POCKETS! Your dresses are so great. And with sequins and rainbows, they'll be unsurpassable.

    My father's lockdown injury is a nasty case of repetitive strain in the tendon below his thumb - apparently from how he was holding his book of Suduko - now, he's in his 70s, now, but still, be careful with those puzzles! :D

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    1. I do the crosswords on the laptop so it's not much of a strain at all. I've come to like that method.
      Of course my dresses have pockets! We shall see about the sequins.

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  11. First, I LOVE that photo of you and Levon in your new header. It says everything about this moment, most of all love. And second, you have convinced me that grandchildren are heaven on earth, and I hope to be as lucky as you in our togetherness, when it actually happens. Levon looks overjoyed by his dress, and it looks breezy and comfy too. And August's legs are getting very long! And I was going to say that Maggie is a budding entomologist (i had to ask the man who the people are who study bugs). What a joyous post. You have left me smiling this morning.

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    1. I am probably almost as excited for you to have grandchildren (someday!) as you are because I know how you're going to feel and I know how wonderful you and your sweet man are going to be as grandparents.
      Aren't August's legs getting long? He has terrible growing pains sometimes and I can understand why.
      Kathleen was an entomologist. I would love to see Maggie continue to be interested in that world.

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  12. Sounds like a great day! I love Maggie's comment: "Will this sting me?" Hilarious! I'm so glad she has an appreciation (or at least not a fear) of nature. The world needs more naturalists.

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    1. She IS hilarious. I wonder if having big brothers helps with her interest and lack of fear in nature.

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  13. I keep telling myself that I'm going to buy a little kayak and go boating down there.

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  14. my Jade was not afraid of bugs either until she got older and then that fearlessness went away. not that she was afraid of bugs after that but she wouldn't pick them up or hold them anymore. so glad y'all got a day at the river without a crowd. and I ain't gettin' shit done either. lot of couch sitting and reading. though today I have taken care of several phone calls and a couple of errands.

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    1. Well, children do grow out of things, don't they? Into and out of.
      I was so happy to be at the river without a crowd too. And then when it started raining almost everyone left.
      Phone calls and errands are a lot more stressful than almost anything I can think of. I'd call that an accomplishment.

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  15. I felt this in my heart the whole time I was reading. I am sure the time at the river did your heart good.

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