16-09-08 (read 2/24/26)

Chelsea: Proud mommy moment ! My baby is 2 weeks old & slept through the whole night !! I was so shocked ! #proudmommymoment  

When she was here for supper last night, she said she'd told Evan that Jaden was growing up too fast, and he'd teased her about that.


Kim: John McMillan! You need this because you are the worst with fidgeting with the remote! Always changing the tv in the middle of everything! I still love you anyway

Beth: I am way too excited about Miranda Lambert tomorrow night. The house that built me.... I tear up every time and it's likely I'll show up at the newest tenants door begging to buy their hall closet door. Those are my my babies beginnings. And the fix your makeup song, Gaga all the day long.... Tomorrow is my brand new birthday! Thank you Rodney for taking me and I apologize in advance if I decide to rush the stage xoxo

Beth (Sept 6) In this life, it truly is about timing. I am feeling very, very blessed. The good, the bad, the ugly, it has all been worth it. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT MY 40'S! Thank you Morgan and Zak for coming to me at an early age so I can enjoy you and this adult life at the same time :D #mygreatestcreations#byegoodyearwefoundgreat #spreadingourwings

Chelsea, Sept 6
My Baby umbilical cord fell off today!! Now time for a real bath !


September 5: 

16-11-16 (read 2/24/26)

I just don't know how to tell you how many times I've gotten the happy heart about Vivian.

Beverly and I went to a march downtown to support Standing Rock. The march iteself --- well, I should have paid more attention to its headline --- Standing Rock was the draw, but there was at least an hour's worth of recruitment for three different organizations. We did, finally, when we walked, at least spend some time saying, "We stand with Standing Rock," Saying that almost brought tears to my eyes. Saying that --- that was my point. 

I talked to Daddy and Kathi. Daddy is doing better and so is she. Daddy said he'd had a nice conversation with Andrew the night before. 

Beverly said in a kind of quiet voice that it was very cool that I wanted to go to the march. I told her that I wanted to, that it seemed disingenuous to send money and send prayers but then shy away from what I could actively do here in my own hometown.

Beth posted that she was excited about taking public transportation to her first day of work.

Tyler said that John told Noah, "There isn't going to be any Christmas, or any presents or any tree," and Kim said, "Oh, I'm getting my tree!" 

Shawn came by yesterday to get his ID and so Tyler got to see him for a little bit. Tyler told me later that he'd tried to keep his face straight but he just couldn't stop his smile. 

Annette sent me a message about Brittany, and Brittany putting up a tree in her apartment, and the Christmas ornaments, and kids growing up. It was a sweet conversation. 

Beverly really prefers quiet prayer walks to marching rallies. Maybe she and I will do some of those, even if it is just the two of us.  

October 14, 2016 (Read 3/5/26)

I don't have any laundry to roll today! I have laundry to put away, but none to roll! 

Yesterday was a good day, part of a week that has been good overall. Instead of trying to devote the whole week to writing, I decided to try to make this week go the way I've been trying to get each week to go. So, I spent most of Tuesday writing and most of Wednesday on Child Advocacy Center type things. Yesterday morning I went to "Stories in the Sand," at Dauphin Island. I don't think they'll be the kinds of events that I've been wanting to take Kennedy to, but the weather was nice, and there was a nice  little crowd, and the it was interesting to hear the history of the island. Mostly, at first, I was happy with myself for going. For not talking myself out of it. 

As relates to the event, the best part came after. 

There was no charge for the event, but donations were welcome and would be used to fund future events. I went into the gallery and looked for the a place to leave a donation, finding it on a back table. A woman thanked me as she saw me drop it in and then said, "You drive the Mini-Cooper, don't you?" So then I knew she drew the little brown Mini-Cooper that I'd seen in the parking lot. I don't know how to explain the friendly kinship, but it was fun. 

At about that same time, another woman walked up and said, "Didn't I see you just the other day?" Suzanne, from the Child Advocacy Serve it Up committee meeting, just Wednesday. And so we ended up looking at her art work, and somehow about Vero Beach, as her uncle lived in Wabasso. It was just a fun, friendly visit, and maybe fun to have someone reach out for me. 

As relates to the morning, the best part was in the middle. Kathi called and I talked to her for ten or fifteen minutes, and then Daddy and I talked. We talked about how he's doing, and some about the kids, and some about what he's doing, and he wished me happy birthday. He said that I am a good daughter, that I make a difference (referring to the grandchildren) in their little lives, "and you make a difference in my life.) His voice is different. I don't think I've ever doubted the sincerity of the loving things he's said to me, but there was something different --- maybe a measure of "I want her to remember this." I told him that he was going to make me cry. That he was a perfect daddy. 

Morgan came over during her lunch break to look for some pictures and it was fun to see her.

Beverly came over after lunch with a beautiful cake. (I took pictures.) She'd decorated the cake cover, and gave me an invitation to my birthday party --- just beautiful. I'll take pictures of it, too. And she wrote me a letter, and I'll have to type it up and save it, because it really touched my heart. 

Andrew and John and Beth all called. Beth had planned on coming to the dinner, but she got stuck in New Orleans. Annette called. Kim sent an email and invited me to lunch. Brittany came to dinner. Skyler wished me a happy birthday when Annette called. Noah got on the phone when John called. Zak sent me a text. Tyler wished me a happy birthday, first thing, as did Barry, and Chris got on the phone when Barry called from the marina. Angela sent me an email Tori called. Kennedy sent me a text. Chelsea and Evan sent a text. Johnny tried all day to call and Mark sent me a text. Valerie sent a text from her and Nick. 

My party was mostly girls --- Beverly, Brittany, Angela, Kennedy, and John W. Beverly treated us all, and we had a fun visit. It made me feel good that they went to all that trouble for me, and took time out on a week night, of all things. Then all of us except for Brittany came out to the house and had the cake that Beverly had brought over, and played a game of nines. Lindsey sent me a Facebook email. 

Before I got ready for bed, I showed Barry my hand, with the opal ring he gave me on my 60th birthday, and said, "I just wanted you to see which ring I chose to wear tonight." You should have seen him smile.

He and Beverly had a lot of fun talking about their hike. 

16-10-07 (Read 3/11/26)

Tyler asking if he could go on my walk with me. He went bike riding with Papa, too. He'd done well on his homework, and his Language Arts teacher was satisfied with our substitute motivator. He made a 98 on his math EQT and he was the first one in his class to see the pattern in the bell ringer. His teacher was impressed. 

Barry is talking excitedly about his hike. His backpack came in and he started packing it last night. It is giving him something fun to talk about and think about. 

Daddy and Kathi made it through Hurricane Matthew last night. The eye came close to the coastline as it moved north, but did not come in. Mark was with them, and they do not seem to have lost power. 

Andrew sent me a text to check on them and see if it was all right to call, and John called me to check on them. 

Annette is healing up from her surgery. 

I think JA is getting more time off with his new job.

Angela sent me a message, and so did Morgan. Morgan and Beth are meeting with the photographer today, and Fairhope has their application, so the date is set! 

16-09-12 (Read 3/20/26)

This computer logged in online, to the home network, just about as quickly as it used to. That's promising. We'll see if it does better than it did on my hotspot, because it kept on freezing up there. 

Second Sunday Supper was last night, and almost everyone was there. We were missing Amber, Kim and Willo. I enjoyed watching the kids as they arrived, greeting each other, heading for the back yard or the game table to enjoy each other's company. 

We celebrated our September birthdays, and Josh was able to be with us this time, so that was fun. We also celebrated Morgan and Brandon's engagement. "What are we going to sing to them?" someone asked. So, we didn't sing. I spoke. Just told them that we were doing this in our usual haphazard way, but wanted them to know that we are happy for them, that we are happy about this, that we loved them both --- and Brandon's face --- just looked like he was happy in the moment, happy to hear the words, in real life. Congratulations on Facebook are good, and short congratulatory words in person are good, but a banner and streamers and a little official congratulations --- that seemed to have an important place, too. I'll have to remember that. 

Kennedy and John W got here early to help me get ready and decorate and Brittany and Beverly and Angela. Tori came but when she went to check on her dad, who was working on Beverly's jeep in the shop, he was bleeding, and she said she'd decided he needed someone to watch over him. I can't remember what she told us he said about his cut, but she said she thought, "Aw, you need a buddy." 

Andrew, John and Rodney, sitting at the table, talking about Dragon Con. 

Some snippets of agreement conversation at the big kid table re: the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

I asked Barry to make the beans, and he did, and they were a hit. 

I used Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Pepper in the macaroni and cheese, and I really liked that. 

Skyler to Noah, as she left, "Be good in school!" 

Annette, coming up behind me as I was at the counter, hugging me, telling me how excited she is about the Purple Rain tickets, "But thing I'm most excited about is hanging out with you guys." 

Brittany's planning on get a double masters --- Business, and Coastal Engineering. Her engineering professor can not only get the Coastal Engineering master funded, she can arrange for Brittany to be paid while she's working on the project. 

Chris helped JA get Beverly's jeep fixed. 

Jaden came to his first official (unless you count the Alabama game at Beth's house) family function. Lots of cuddling and pictures. Beverly took him immediately, and held him until Chelsea was through eating, and then got her own supper. My camera has disappeared, so Brittany took pictures on her phone. 

Friday night, Barry and I went to a Black Jacket Symphony "Hotel California," with Beth and Rodney. They'd gotten tickets for us and his mom, and his aunt Susie and Uncle Jerry. So, we all went to supper together and then the concert, and had a a good time. 

Beverly, re: Chelsea, after they'd watched the game together at Beth's house: "She handled us all really well. I was really impressed." 

16-09-06 (Read 5/15/26)

My computer is up! That's exciting because although it stalled, it did not take the full 30 minutes that it took me yesterday. ....
So, I spoke too soon. I do not know what is running in the background and messing me up. I need to make a list of all my troubles and make an appointment with Steve. Meanwhile...

Beverly and I had a little visit. She talked about how much she had enjoyed watching Kennedy and Angela laughing together, watching them walk along the path together, watching them look for her when she called out, "That's far enough," and then, not seeing her in her up-the-mountain vantage point, go still further. Mostly she talked about how it effected her, on a deep level, to hear them talking about getting her home when she got sick. 

Barry and I had two full days together --- Sunday and Monday, and we had good days. We went off Saturday morning to the estate sale, and enjoyed that, but had other things going on as well. We went back Sunday, which somehow took most of the morning, and then came home watched a couple of movies and part of one of the Great Courses. Our new DVD player is going to be awesome. That kept him off of his feet for a large part of Sunday, which was good. We spent Monday, which was Labor Day, centered on the pottery barn, although we were both working on different projects, neither one of them pottery. He worked on his bee boxes and I worked on refinishing some of the tings I picked up at the estate sale to use over at the writing shack. We also watched most of the game, Alabama's first of the season, Saturday night. 

I thought I needed one more table, but didn't find one. I figured I'd get one later and then --- boom! I walked into the house and the little rectangular end table that belonged to Grandmother, the one I had in the reading room, caught my eye. and I just cleared it off and brought it over here. I always worry a little about whether it will get  ruined in a room where the kids play and sometimes bring food and drink, even if they aren't supposed to. It looks great in here! So, that was a happy note. 

We did get to talk to John on his birthday, and he said he had a good time at Dragon Con.   

I swam yesterday, and tugged at the Carolina Jasmine a little bit. 

I formulated a new plan for the week, and a slightly different mindset. I just have narrowed the Wonderland project list down considerably, and think it is time for me to take a little time off before the new round of taxes and Worker's Comp estimates, etc. And each project that comes up, I'm going to list, because I just am headed for a different kind of life. 

I'm looking forward to "Fitness Fridays." That might collide sometimes with our lunches with Morgan, if I decide to take a day long hike or something, but for the most part, I think it will work just fine. 

         

16-08-29 (Read 6/19/26)

Just enjoyed yesterday, and ended it feel happy --- a sense of well-being. Katelyn, the little girl I've been following on Facebook, had a good week, and is getting stronger. Tyler and I had some good talks. Autumn brought Willo for Goodtimes and we've given her the dates for them through the rest of the year. Faith and Skyler picked Willo up in the pool and played with her, and Tyler played with her a lot. (Tyler said more of the big kids need to come to Goodtimes because his brother just stays in his room, or tries to play with the little kids, which isn't much fun for him.) And we did have big kids yesterday! Angela, Tori, Kennedy, and John W were all here, and we played "Nines" together for a little while, and then Tyler joined us. Zak and Vivian came by around 4:00 or 4:30 --- they had come earlier but somehow missed us --- must have been right before noon --- they didn't see any cars, so I told them mine is usually in the pottery barn now. Vivian and I made up a potion for her grandmother --- played with the essential oils for a little bit --- and I made one for Zak, and Kennedy and I got to refill her Itzahug. Annette hadn't been sure if Skyler would make it, whether or not they would be back from their time in NOLA with Annette's mother, but they were, and so we did get to see her. John was my playground duty, and he sent me a text to let me know they were running a little late. He and Noah got here after we were in the pool, and sat together on the glider at the deep end of the pool. It was fun to watch them sitting there together, talking. Noah was sitting at the table later and when I walked by, he put his arms around me and gave me a big hug. Angela wore her new shirt --- the one Kennedy designed for her. It is so wonderful! Barry cooked a big pot of beans while everyone was here, and had fun feeding them all. 

16-03-30 (Read 7/16/26)

Shawn made the brownies for me last night. ~ Gene and Martha got here before I got a chance to make them, so while Shawn and I were on the doorstep, too far away for Gene and Martha to hear, I put my arms around his neck and asked if he could make the brownies for me. So sweet --- he put his arms around my neck, and said, "I think I can do that." They were perfect. 

I asked Tyler to get the dishes for me early, and he didn't fuss at all but got right to it. Shawn didn't fuss either, when I asked him to help me rearrange the living room and put things back in the lazy Susan, etc. 

So all was relatively calm, or more to the point, I wasn't stressed out at all. 

The living room filled up, and a couple of the kids remarked there were more people here than we have at Second Sunday Supper. Beverly and Beth laughed together. Chris drove over from Fairhope. John and Kim and Noah came, and Noah and Tyler were glad to see each other. Beth and Rodney came and brought Gene some lima beans. Morgan and Brandon skipped supper and came straight to visit after their 5:30 appointment. JA's work left him alone for a minute. Lots of laughter and easy talk. 

I finished the garden stakes and plan, so that's done. 

Kim said that she has told them she's going to be out of town on these days, re: our trip to DC, so I'm excited now --- feels like a definite. 

16-03-22 (Read 7/16/26)

Beverly stopped in this morning for some juice. 

Barry's blood sugar has been in normal range for the last three days. 

His blood pressure has gotten two green lights for the last two days. 

Shawn and Tyler did well this morning. 

Hung out with Beverly last night and had a good time. 

I made it through the part where I gave Maranda a head's up about all of the things that I will begin teaching her as they come up this month. 

I made it through Virginia's delegation work sheet. She can't really get started on hers until she's gotten Jashuna through her things, but I started at the left of the board. 

I saw shadows on the ground yesterday and looked up to see a flock of white birds, long thin necks. Maybe cranes?

Angela texted me back last night. 

Angela overheard John Robert say, "I wonder how far away you have to move to get out of coming to Second Sunday Supper." She mentioned that to Beverly and said, "I don't know what I'd do if Grannie stopped having Second Sunday Supper. That's the only time I see Uncle John." 

Heard from Brittany yesterday, too. She liked her Easter present. 

16-03-15 (Read 7/15/26)

When Barry mowed the back yard, he left the daisies for me. 

Tyler started a dinner conversation last night --- asking me if I could do one thing differently about the day, what would it be. I don't know if that is because of what he and I talked about on doctor day --- the lack of conversation at the dinner table --- or not, but it was nice not to be the one bearing the responsibility of getting the ball rolling. 

Shawn's math teacher got back with me, and he and Theresa worked on his catch up work last night. 

Did I tell you that Daddy called? I keep remembering it. Always makes me happy to talk to him. 

Mark called to tell me that he is sending me a print of the photo he gave Daddy and Kathi for my anniversary. 

I had fun talking to John about DC, at Goodtimes.

Blue jay!

Beverly stopped in this morning for some juice, and Barry and I both got to see her. 

Maranda, re: the vacation request change that she emailed me, "I just want you to know that I knew that was going to be your answer, but they wanted me to ask, so I did." I loved that she had absorbed my reasoning and knew what I would do. 

I got a text from Angela. :-) 

I think I already told you that I got to have a phone visit with Valerie. 

16-02-28 (Read 7/14/26)

Noah archery

We got to have a nice little visit with John. Noah did get in to the magnet school he wanted, but they are sure whether or not they will have an archery team there. I hope so, as he is doing very well with that. Ranked in the top three at his school. 

16-01-26 (Read 7/14/26)

Daniel, big smiles, after going riding to the dirt pit with Papa. 

Faith and Michael laughing in the kitchen, making brownies. Kim helping them.

John, Noah, Daniel and Michael playing minecraft. 

Playing Monopoly with John, Michael, and Noah. 

Getting to catch up with John and Kim a little bit.