Tuesday, July 29, 2008

THE MOUNTAIN FOLK WILL GATHER

At my father's funeral, several relatives mentioned how wonderful it would be if all the Shook (paternal)/ Michael (maternal) relatives could come together for a reunion other than at a funeral. I think the last time Daddy's family had a reunion, he was in charge. That would have been a good while back, maybe some thirty years ago. (I have come across photos of an earlier reunion that must have been 52 or so years ago because I'm little in the photo and obviously more into playing than looking at the camera.)

So, in honor of Papa, I've taken it upon myself to be the organizer of a huge gathering that will take place on July 4th, 2009, in Matney, NC, a little spot in the road below Banner Elk and Pigeon Roost, NC. The mountains will be a-crawlin' with many folks who still remain in the area and those who come from places as far away as Japan (hopefully),

Here's a tidbit...Papa's mom and her sister (Ruth & Ada) married two brothers (Hoyle & Tom). Both the girls and guys had one other sibling, so there's a bunch of folks to bring together. In all the information gathering I've done, I've also discovered that Papa's grandmother was married once before she married my great-grandfather. That means there's a side of the family I never knew (most of whom have to be ancient by now) to contact. Additionally, my grandmother's father had 7 siblings who lived to adulthood, so there's the possibility some of them might attend. Something tells me this reunion would make a great PBS documentary since the family is huge and all rooted in the Appalachian Mountains and traditions.

Daddy was the oldest of 10 children. I think this photo is the only one in existence of all ten of
them together with their parents. My mother probably took the picture around 1944. Of the ten children, eight still are living, as is Grandma Ruth (age 106). (Grandma's key to longevity: tell the truth and don't trust doctors! )
The other photos are of my great-grandparents, Green & Etta Beard Michael. Grandma was a good 6 inches taller than Grandpa and a sister to Granny Clampett. :0) :0)

Saturday, July 26, 2008

MOOSE CROSSING!

Eliza fortunately had her camera by her side as she, Bella, and her friend, Ashleigh, were on their way to a waterfall to swim not far from the house where we stayed in Vermont. According to her report, she was driving along, saw this huge "something" saunter across the road, and realized that she was close to having an encounter with a MOOSE! She got uber excited and failed to zoom in before she took the photo. Nonetheless, she captured proof of her sighting, and that's all it that matters. Yeah, Eliza!!



(I think this guy/gal's a juvenile, but regardless, it's a huge, stilty-legged moose!)

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

BELLA

Isabella Rose Tighe melts my heart. She was my best friend and buddy in Vermont, and we did some great hangin' out. She's an amazing child...an old soul in a beautiful, energetic, loving little 8-year old body.

I taught her to knit; she really learned fast and stayed with it the entire week. We did some great imaginary play in the pond, splashing about while she played the "surfer" on her raft. I was the rather slow but reliable "motor boat," pulling her along from my inner tube. We laughed and laughed as we watched "Cheaper by the Dozen 2," and only we were privy to the silly pictures we drew of the family in our sketchbooks (Bella's rendition of her mom was GREAT!).

At night,as we slept together, we snuggled in real close and told secrets and stories. Her little body next to mine took me back to nights with Samuel and Eliza in the bed with me, and her breath as she slept was gentle and peaceful like a baby's.

I'm in love with her.....such a bright, curious, wise, spirited, fearless, sensitive, loving child...


...my Isabella Rose

PARADISE




A week in Danville, VT...no cell phone reception...no TV...amazing vacation house...daily skinny dips in the pond...showers in the waterfall...majestic mountains (very much like NC)...sacred, love-packed family time...great meals...very, very friendly
people...moose (Eliza has the photo)...kayaking...good walks...naps...good reading...good knitting time...lots of laughter...it couldn't have been better! Joe kept saying over and over that he felt like we were in paradise. I totally concur!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

OFF TO VERMONT

Joe's home and ready to go...Eliza's packed...I haven't begun yet...

We're off this afternoon for a week of family vee-cation, as Eliza used to say...

Not sure which route we're taking....

Not sure where we'll spend the night tonight....

Totally free-formin' it....

Meeting Bobbi and Isabella tomorrow at the farmhouse in Vermont...

No cell phone service at the farm....

No TV.....

Lots of music, books, lakes, kayaks, canoes, ponds, loons, flowers, farmers' markets....

Don't plan on doing much connecting with the Mid-Ohio Valley except to check in with Alex, the housesitter....

Wishing all love, peace, and lots of laughter....

T.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

LOOK WHAT THE CAT--OOPS!! I MEAN ELIZA--DRUG IN

Following in the footsteps of her beloved older brother (who brought home not only one, but a mama with four babies--a mama cat who happened to get pregnant AGAIN before I could get her spayed), and knowing that her beloved mother would not turn away an abandoned baby in need of food and water, Eliza, now known as The Most Recent Good Samaritan to Felines, rescued this adorable little bundle of fleas and poop last evening on her way home from spending the day with friends, John and Desiree.

To add insult to injury, Eliza's big sister and partner in crime, LoriBeth, who's in from Maui and won't be here to assist in kitten care, joined in the pitiful chorus of "Oh, we have to find him a home, a place like HERE! Can we please, please, please keep him??"
The firm response to their pleas is a resounding NO WAY!! Eight cats are already pushing the limit, and an additional one, no matter how cute, pitiful, adorable, loving, etc., is out of the question!!!!! (Note Lori's look of disbelief when I held firm to not letting the kitty become the next farm kitty.)

(I must concede, however, that the idea of taking this little fellow to the Humane Society is more than I can deal with, especially since our last experience there was not one that made me feel like the animals were not in good health and not well-cared for.)

DILEMMA!!! WHAT TO DO?? We're leaving on vacation to Vermont in two days, and we have to find a place for Finn (yes, he does have a name) by then.

Any volunteers?? I'll be glad to ship him free of charge to any pet loving individual or family in the continental US who will open his/her/their hearts to sweet, adorable FINN....I'll even throw in a worming from the vet.....

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

AWAY...HOME...AWAY

The holiday weekend found Eliza and me on the road to Boone for a visit with Mom, my Uncle John's memorial service, visits with friends and family, and a trip to Pigeon Roost to see Grandma Shook and my Uncle Bradley and Aunt Mabel. How great to re-connect with our Russell Road neighborhood family, the Harrills, have dinner with the Randalls, and have some hang out time around the house!! Laughter and good times abounded in Boone...yet another reminder of our family's many blessings!

Prior to going , I busted "arse" around the farm, trying to get things in shape for a week's absence. Thanks to my excellent housesitter, Alex, everything, excluding the grass and weeds (which had to have grown 6" in 5 days) around The Farm's in good shape. I have to keep in mind that the chore list has an additional 500 things to add now that summer's in full bloom, but so far, I'm pretty much at ease with this summer as an exception to the rule in terms of outside accomplishments. Give me another year, and I'll be at it full pace again.

The good news at The Farm is that Clousseau, the very sick white cat, is now at home after an extended stay at the vet's, and is quite OK...The car seems to be fixed and happy with all its new parts and battery...We've had enough rain to do me for a while, but at least, we're not in the throes of a drought like last year, and soggy soil makes for easier weeding.... I did find my debit card after whining about it in my last post. At the moment, things are calm and uneventful here....¡¡GRACIAS A DIOS!!

As always, some of my most meaningful moments while in Boone were spent with my grandmother, now 106 1/2. Grandma was alert with me. She knew me immediately, and she told me to "go to the kitchen and get a bite to eat." When I asked her if she was hungry, she told me no, but then told me she'd like a pancake, so we got her one that was left over from her breakfast. I slathered it up good with some blackberry jelly and fed it to her. She ate the whole thing and drank a glass of chocolate milk as well. (I think she associates me with food!!) When I told her she looked "purty," she looked at me with a smile and said, "Am I purtier than you?" Then I told her she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and she replied, "That does make me purtier than you, don't it?" She looked at Eliza and told her, "You're an awful purty girl, too." When she looked at Mom, she said, "You're Steve, Zeb's Steve." Other than those little exchanges, she was pretty quiet, just asking over and over if we were going to stay with her.

I know she won't remember our being there, but it always makes my day when I hear her say she loves me...She still has that twinkle in her eye and warmth in her hand as it rests in mine.

Here are a couple of photos I took while away...Again, Blogger is being cantankerous with posting ones other than these, so I'll keep trying. For the moment enjoy...
a glorious red lily....


and a rhododendron blossom, just a day or so before opening.


In two days, Eliza, Joe Davis, and I take off to Vermont for a week with Bobbi and Isabella. I think I'll have computer access there, so I'll try to post a few photos from there.

Happy summer to all, wherever you are, and as always, thanks for checking in with Namasté!


Tuesday, July 01, 2008

THE LAST TWO DAYS = FRUSTRATION

Cleaning, sorting, organizing downstairs...
Cleaning, sorting, organizing upstairs...

Pause for a Major Interruption...

A sick, white cat requiring a late night trip to the vet..
A sick, white cat requiring an early morning trip to the vet...
A sick, white cat who's spending the night at the vet's office...
A sick, white cat who's going to cost me close to $500....


Cleaning, sorting, organizing again...
Cleaning, sorting, organizing...


Pause for an Interruption....


A sneezy, snotty, wheezing orange cat...
A sneezy, snotty, wheezing orange cat who needs to go to the vet...
A sneezy, snotty, wheezing orange cat who's going to have to wait to go to the vet
because the very sick white cat is already there.


A trip to the mechanics shop on Monday...
A trip to the mechanics shop on Tuesday...
A car that still smells like burning something or another when it's driven...


A lost debit card...
A found debit card...

A lost for the second time debit card...
A not found second time lost debit card...

Irritation, exasperation, frustration..
burn out with losing stuff...

Irritation, exasperation, frustration...
burn out with cat yak...

Irritation, exasperation, frustration...
burn out with car repairs...


I'm done, done, done with this spell of crazy energy,
bad luck...
whatever you want to call it.

I announce,
I pronounce,
and
I send forth to the Universe with every cell in my body...


I'M DONE WITH THIS RUN OF "MALA RACHA" ....I'VE HAD ENOUGH....GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK!!!!!


So mote it be!