m.o.M - mother of Michael

I Scream! Git Ur I Scream

2:55 pm. The halls are suddenly filled with a steady stream of humanity all headed for the lobby. It's almost as mad a rush as the hallways of elementary schools at the last bell on the last day of school. ("Almost" - the operative word in that sentence.)

2:59 pm. The line extends around the corner. Impatient people wait.

3:00 pm. The lights go on! "Chocolate for you today, Millie?" "Hi there Mary Alice. Cone or no cone?" "Harry, if you try to get away again, I'm not going to save you anymore strawberry flavor!"

Yep, it's ice cream time at the nursing home rehab center.

I'm on a diet so I didn't partake in any of these frozen delicacies.

Mom: "I feel guilty eating ice cream and you're not."
Michael: "What's guilty mean?"
Me: "It means that you feel like you did something wrong."
Michael: "Well, I don't feel guilty."

My mom's in the hospital. Again. That just sucks.

A Good Time Was Had By All

Among the many wonderful things Santa brought was a hand-held GPS system!

I've been wanting to participate in the geocaching craze for almost a year now and was just missing this one essential element...the GPS.

Today was finally the day to head out to hunt some treasure. There are many caches in this area, but one in particular had been recommended. Not only was the weather beautiful, but we were outside, together as a family and having a good time. I think this may become something we will do on a regular basis. Next time though, I'll bring water and lunch!

Our first find! Hurray for us!

I can't wait to go again...I wonder what everyone's doing tomorrow?

The First Fire of the Season

Roasting marshmallows over an open flame under a starry, starry sky.

What better way to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah!

Who'da Thunk It!

Most towns have some sort of Christmas tree lighting festivities. We went to ours last night.

I must say that it was pretty amazing! Carriage rides, snow, cookies galore, eggnog and warm cider, singers, carolers...everything one would expect at a holiday festival!

 

And where might all these family-friendly festivities have been, you ask?

Our local hospital! Where else?

A Cracker Christmas

We don't have to travel far to get a taste of the past.

Fort Christmas which was originally built during the Second Seminole Indian Wars (1835-1842) is now a wonderful mix of the past and present at the holidays.

The fort was so named because it was begun on December 25th, 1837. A reproduction of that fort now stands about 1/2 mile from the original site.

As this was our first year to attend this holiday celebration, I was often too fascinated in what I was looking at or watching to remember to take pictures.

There were blacksmiths, weavers, spinners, tatters, wood carvers, basket weavers, caners, syrup makers, bee keepers...all plying their trade as it would have been done almost 200 years ago.

It's Uncle Michael!

And where there's an Uncle Michael, there's a Grandpa Michael, but there is no Grandma m.o.M.! Hmmm, sounds like the fixin's for a country song!

Welcome to the world, little Miss Ava!

Thank You

A Farewell to Sampson

Sampson departed from this fair world today.

When he joined our family he was very much wanted. I even slept on the idea of Sampson before I made the actual decision because I did not want to be impulsive. I read all the books and searched all the websites. I even bought vitamins.

When Sampson arrived his room was made up and the lights were on. We fed him and cleaned up after him. He and Michael were virtually inseparable. He oversaw Lizzy's homework.

His favorite activity was looking out the window at the swimming pool.

Sampson wasn't any trouble, perhaps we should have made more of a fuss over him these past few months. He was the victim of "squeaky wheel" syndrome; everyone else was getting greased and he was being ignored.

He'll be sorely missed. After two years with him, I had grown quite attached and enjoyed talking to him when I worked in the garden. Like me, he loved hibiscus no matter what color the flower was and he enjoyed the gloxinias blooms like no one else. He was a very good listener and kept many of my darkest secrets.

I know he's in a better place now. Somewhere where the tropical breezes blow and orchids sway beneath the trees. Maybe he'll find a Delilah there and they'll live happily ever after for all eternity.

Farewell.

One last note: Last time I thought Sampson had left us, I did the necessary burial only to find him very much alive several hours later. He'd gotten too cold and once he warmed up, he was fine. That was the time his name briefly changed from Sampson to Lazarus.

Stay tuned. One never knows what's in store for a mother of Michael.