Son's Day and boy love

 This week we celebrated "Son's Day" and as I looked at pictures of my son and step sons memories kept flooding my mind taking me back. Wondering how Paige and Beth will experience things with their sons.  There's the first time he grabs your hand and holds on tightly. Then, all the other times he grabs your hand before anyone else's. The way he'll gaze into your eyes when he's nursing and later he'll look to lock eyes to yours before he goes to school, before he steps up to bat. He'll bring you flowers. Sometimes it will just be a handful of weeds, but in his eyes they'll be pretty. It won't matter if he's three or thirty years old, your heart will skip a beat when he hands them to you. You'll feel so proud when he opens a door for you. You'll go crazy explaining how the universe and electricity works.  You'll want to help him all you can because one day he'll be a man and won't ask for help. If your lucky, really lucky you'll get to meet his child. 

Sleeping

 Every have one of those days where you're struggling not to take a nap? Then when it's actually time to go to bed it's just not happening.( in spite of the fact that you've skipped caffeine and sugar for several hours before bed time) That happened to me so I did a little extra sewing, swept the front porch, then watched the sunset. As soon as the sun faded, lightning bugs made their appearance. I love just watching them. Then, the whipper-or-will started his song. I know my head hit the pillow, but I don't remember closing my eyes. 

Nose Art

 Most people that know me know my vehicle. It's pretty easy to spot. It has a "I love Dacshunds" plate on the front. In the back, there's a weiner dog sticker with paw prints going up the back glass.  The outside is colored blue and is respectably clean most of the time. The windows are a lost cause. I gave up on keeping them clean a long time ago-so most of the time they proudly display nose art by my dogs. As soon as I clean them, I find a reason to take someone for a ride and the nose art is right in place.  I admit I've really, really been dragging my feet cleaning them this time. As soon as I clean the nose art off the window, I know that Dixie won't be leaving me any more art. I'd cry if I didn't have so happy memories of her in the car with me. 

How do you say Thank you for Loving me the way you do

 So today Dwight and I have been married eleven years. It seems like just yesterday that I moved in with him and we weren't so sure that we would even get married. But, we did and so, so many things have happened  since then. I know in my heart of hearts that things haven't always been perfect but when I think back, I can only remember the good and the laughter. So much laughter. He gets me in ways I didn't even know I needed gettin'. I'll be greedy and wish for eleven more. Here's to eleven more! Dancing in the kitchen. Walking on the beach. Exploring new places. Meeting new faces (we're expecting more grandchildren). More fishes. More wishes coming true. 

Making the grade

 This year Covid didn't keep me from entering things in the fair. I had ten entries and had seven blue(first place) ribbons, two second place ribbons, and one third place. My peach jalapeno jam got Grand Champion. Over all pretty happy with myself.

Peach Jalapeno Jam-blue ribbon and Grand Champion

Green beans-blue ribbon

Blueberry jam-blue ribbon

Strawberry jam-blue ribbon

Blackberry jelly-blue ribbon

Pink Violet-third place

Picture of sunflowers-second place

Picture of Lauren (portrait)-second place

Picture of sunrise-first place

Picture of swan preparing to take off-first place

Next year I'm going to enter a cake and maybe a quilt and maybe a collection. Maybe a Christmas craft. Who knows? I can tell you I plan on taking a lot more pictures and focus on portraits. Say cheese (or not-that won't stop me from taking your picture)

The last lesson... a lesson in love

 My precious dog Dixie crossed the bridge. There have been lots of kind words and prayers sent my way and all of them have helped in some fashion, but the best came from Dixie herself.

Let me give you a little back ground on her passing. Every night the dogs go out to play before bed. It gives them a last chance to run off a little energy and helps them fall asleep. Sunday night's temperatures were in the low seventies so it was great weather to run and play. They played and played. There was a cool breeze blowing too so I had my bedroom window open. I listened to them run and play for a couple of hours. It was all horse play and something they've done hundreds of times. Then, I heard one of the dogs scream in pain and I ran outside. Four of them came running up to me and it took a second to realize that Dixie was the last one coming up to me. She was in pain and dragging both of her back legs. I immediately picked her up and looked for some kind of puncture mark and could find none. Dixie was upset, but seamed to calm down with her head on my shoulders and me swaddling her like a baby. Typical Dixie move. She loved to be held like a baby. I held her that way and looked for vets open in Harrison. There were none so I went to the internet and found the nearest Emergency Vet open. Springdale-two hours away. I gave Dixie to Dwight so I could change clothes. Dwight had no sleep and there was no way he could make it to Springdale with me(and I kinda needed him to keep an eye on the boys who were still visibly upset).  He couldn't find the source of her pain. So I nabbed Chris to go with me. I couldn't hold Dixie and maintain a good speed so Chris held her and calmed her down. We got to the ER and again Dixie was calm when I held her. 

She went with the vet and it wasn't long before they called me back to a room. There were no viable options. She let me hold Dixie and she snuggled up to me as they gave her something for pain. Then she looked long and hard into my eyes. When dogs do that they're communicating that they love you and accept you as part of their pack. It was such a deliberate stare that there's no room for misinterpretation. Dixie was telling me that she loved me. That she trusted me. So I had to do what was best for her and let her go. I know she heard me telling her that I loved her. I was saying that and petting her when I felt her last breath leave her little body. She trusted me to do the right thing, but damn that didn't make it any easier. She looked at me and put her little head on my chest. She let me know that it was ok.

Our pack is still here, but we're missing our alpha. Harley keeps sniffing where she's been and has a puzzled look on his face. Oscar cried the first night, but is doing a little better. Sampson and Midnight are confused. Dwight and I are taking it slow and giving ourselves a little time to heal, but Dixie will always be in our hearts. 

Dancing the night away

 Yesterday, I ran across a version of the song "You are my Sunshine". It was sung by Willie Nelson and Leon Russell and had a slight jazzy edge to it. I just love it. Love it so much that I was cleaning the kitchen and listening to it over and over. My poor husband happened to walk through just as the song was starting over and I grabbed him for a dance. He told me he can't dance, and I told him that I didn't care and we danced around the kitchen. He can dance but may not like it but you couldn't tell that he was unhappy by the smile on his face. That smile and the way he looked at me...sigh. This dancing thing might be repeated. It was so nice to see his smile and his eyes twinkle with love. That song has always reminded me of 3 am feedings and singing to get someone back to sleep and now I have one more good memory associated with that song. Thanks Willie. Thanks Leon.