strong wind, buckets of rain, and damage

Last night around 8:30 p.m., a doozy of a storm came through the area and it was very scary. I almost went to the tornado "safe spot" to ride it out. Luckily it was a fast moving storm but a frightening 30 minutes. At the time of writing this (September 21, 6:30 p.m.), we have been without power for 21 hours.

We drove around a little today to see the storm damage. Lots of big limbs down and uprooted trees. This is one time I'm glad we don't have large trees in our yard.

My son does have large trees...

To be continued...

autumnal equinox

 

monday's mulling: you know what day it is!

Released in November 1978, this song became a lasting global anthem of pure joy, nostalgia, and celebration. 

Do you remember the 21st night of September?

Love was changing the minds of pretenders

While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing

In the key that our souls were singing

As we danced in the night

Remember how the stars stole the night away

Hey hey hey

Ba de ya, say do you remember?

Ba de ya, dancing in September...

Get up and dance...or at least boogie a little in your chair! 

blue willow china

Last May, Todd and I were in New York City and while he was doing his “conference thing,” one of the days I was exploring the DUMBO neighborhood, just across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan. I found a really cool store there called Fishs Eddy, known for its quirky vintage dishware, glassware, and home accessories.

I wandered around the store, and when I reached the back, there it was, a HUGE display of Blue Willow dishes.

Boy, oh boy, did that bring back memories.

My grandma had a set of Blue Willow dishes, and when she died my mom brought them home with her. Mom loved pretty china and collected quite a few sets over the years, most of them purchased at estate sales. When Mom left this earth, she had nine complete sets of fine china. One of those sets was the Blue Willow that had belonged to her mother.

I was the one who had the job of finding new homes for all those beautiful sets of china. My sister took one set, my two sisters-in-law each chose a set, and my two daughters each said they would like one as well. (By the way, those dishes are still in my storage room). No one wanted the Blue Willow. I advertised the dishes, someone inquired about them, and I took them up on their offer. It was sad to let the set go, but I found comfort in knowing that someone would appreciate and use them, and in some small way Mom’s love of beautiful dishes would live on.

Standing there in Fishs Eddy and looking at that huge display of Blue Willow, I realized how much more than dishes they had been. They were pieces of my family’s story - my grandma’s, my mom’s, and mine, and have become part of someone else's story.

I stood there for a bit, smiled at the Blue Willow china display and walked away with a reminder that sometimes the things we inherit aren’t meant to stay with us forever. Sometimes their purpose is simply to connect us to the people we love and bring back precious memories.

happy birthday to my #4 child

Happy Birthday, sweet child of mine! (This was our song for the mother/son dance at his wedding). He always makes me laugh....even when he was in trouble he could make me laugh and charm his way out of being grounded for life. He always gives me a big hug...even when it wasn't cool to hug your mom he would hug me in front of his friends...and he still does. I've watched you grow from a little rascal to a remarkable young man and now to the best husband and dad. I love this kid. Wishing my fun and forever boisterous boy a happy, happy birthday!

the friday feed: sweet corn

A true taste of summer is now a memory. Sweet corn season has officially come to an end - the last ears were sold on Sunday.

People have been stopping by the stand, asking (and hoping) to find a bin full of corn, but nope. Those days are behind us for another year.

Sweet corn is such a special seasonal treasure. My favorite way to enjoy it? Right on the cob with butter and salt. Simple and perfect.

 

20 points

20 points here! 

Yesterday was my birthday, so I guess, according to this chart, I’m showing my age… but I’m not going to share 😊

Here’s a clue: I’m a Baby Boomer—the only generation in human history to have experienced a fully analog childhood and a fully digital adulthood.

We grew up without the internet, smartphones, or social media, and then watched the world transform into one where those things became part of everyday life. No other generation will ever cross that particular bridge again.

• The first time I used a fax machine was during my first real job after college.
• Rotary phones…the first phone number I remember was when we lived in Owensboro, Kentucky. 683-0669 or MU (Murray) 3-0669.
• I still use my AOL address. 
• I have a film camera but haven't used it for a long time. 
• I send postcards to my grandchildren and friends when traveling. 
• When I was pregnant with our first child, Todd and I had gone to my parents' house for Sunday dinner and I didn't feel well. I laid on my brother's waterbed while they enjoyed a nice steak dinner. We went home and about seven hours later our son was born.
• The car dealers still put a paper mat on the front seat floors when I take my car in for a service. Restaurants also used paper mats.
• I still enjoying flipping through a dictionary.
• VCRs...I think we got one in the early '90s when we had a house full of kids. My girls wore out their Beauty and the Beast video cassette.
• I wish I still had my typewriter. They're making a comeback.
• I use a checkbook on occasion. To show you how much we use it, our current checkbook register dates back to 2020. 
• I still write in cursive but print a lot, too. Schools stopped teaching cursive around 2010. I disagree with the powers that be who made that decision but hey, it's a digital world now so I guess I'm one of those cranky ladies just showing my age.