Hear that?

If a tree falls in the woods and no one's there to hear it, does it make a sound?  Remember that profound statement that you probably debated in English or Philosophy class?  Well, the other morning, precisely at 1:40 a.m. a tree fell in the woods....................and I heard it...even though I was sound asleep and nestled in my bed.  One of the reasons I love having our bedroom virtually in the woods... I can open the window (which generally remains open 24/7) and hear the roaring of the falls, the trickle of the creek and rustling of the leaves.  And of course, the trees falling. I know our woods are full of deer, turkeys, coyotes and even a stray bear or boar but I love it out there.  Even in the dark, I have no fear.... maybe that's not too smart but sitting out there is amazing.  We sat out by a bonfire not too long ago and listened to two owls talking.  I'm not sure whooooo they were speaking of but they definitely had a conversation going on.  I have never seen a wild owl (other than the zoo).  It's on my bucket list along with a loon.  I have no longing desire to travel to Africa to see giraffes, lions and tigers or to venture several leagues under the sea. I an very content to hear the rustling of the leaves, the gobbles of the turkeys,  the howls of the coyotes and the hoots of the owls. There's something very calming and peaceful about EIEIO.  I've learned the birds' songs and their flight patterns, the chipmunks hiding spots and the squirrels favorite munching branches.  I've even learned to identify the tiny little "handprints" on my den door from the raccoons who thought they needed a peek into MY digs.

So when a tree falls in my woods, I'm planning on being right here to hear it and all the other wonderful sounds!

Sadness

This morning I am filled with sadness.  At breakfast this morning, I learned of the untimely death of a very dear, old (in value not age) friend.  She had begun a battle with cancer that appeared it could be "handled" with a pill... I had not heard that the treatment had been changed to the conventional drip method.  It seems that  possibly an allergic reaction had occurred.  A neighbor had not seen her in a couple days which was unusual for the boisterous gal who rarely rested. The police gained entry and found her....alone and gone....My mind is hoping it was quick and painless and regardless of the circumstances... This is the way it was ! Pam was a HUGE advocate for Owasco Lake where we had grown up and been friends for nearly 50 years.  Her brother, Steve and my brother, Steve were fast, summer friends.  They loved the water and spent their summers in all the water activities the lake provided. She and her friend, Judy initiated the "Swim Owasco" program each Labor Day.  She was a tireless proponent for making and keeping our greatest natural resource as wonderful for future generations as it had been for ours.  Pam had almost seen her dream of living on the lake year-round in their family summer home, become a reality.  This was to be the year of the move until she received a diagnosis of a small growth in her chest.  That changed her plans for this year but not for the future.. The move was just pushed back a season.....I'm never sure what "He's" thinking when someone who is so full of life and giving and caring ceases to exist on earth where she was doing so much good.   I guess I just need to keep the faith and hope that she tells my brother Steve and my Dad that all is well here!...We'll miss you Pam ♥♥

Bailee's ButterFLY-IN birthday breakfast

We started birthday week with a fun, Sunday morning family and friends' breakfast.  I'm always so thankful when everyone takes the time to celebrate another year. Special thanks to those that make the extra effort and travel.. The Dillons from Watertown and Jamie, Christina and Ava from Webster. We really appreciate you being w/ us.  I am also extremely thankful for Jess's Mommy skills.  Bailee was an absolute joy!!  As she was opening gifts, Bailee would locate each "giver" in the room and thank them as well as genuinely loving each and every gift.  She took the time to look at each one and hopefully make those that shopped, happy they chose just the right present.  The appreciation on Bailee's part wasn't a fluke. Her Mom has taught her manners, appreciation for what she has and patience.... All virtues that don't always come naturally....Kudos Jess.. you're an amazing Mom.
We had a wonderful, warm morning and were able to leave the garage door open. Kids had fun riding the golf cart, 4-wheeler and playing in the yard. We had a quick breakfast followed by colorful cupcakes and birthday cake made by Jess.  They looked, and tasted, awesome.
Jeff is on his way home right now. He'll be staying with a friend in Maryland tonight and "home" tomorrow. Wednesday, Bailee's real birthday will be celebrated with her friends at "Stool" (school) while Uncle Jeff and I take her gifts to her house and have them all set up for her arrival. We'll celebrate again with Bailee's favorites for dinner, steak, cottage cheese, yellow beans and rolls....and just maybe an ice cream cake......Good chance there'll be more pix during the week!!!

Busy time....

I like busy time.... My Dad always said,  "the more you have to do, the more you get done".... Pretty simple premise, I guess. The weather has come through and given us a few consecutive warmer, sunny days. Today the garage will get cleaned, the carved pumpkins thrown out for the deer, the dead flowers moved to the trash, and any miscellaneous Halloween decor back to the basement.  Josh is in the H.U.T. finishing up some last details- trim on the ceiling tiles and the flood light "decor" in the downstairs bath.  We need a few brackets hung in the garage to tidy up the rakes, shovels and brooms.
Bailee's birthday breakfast will be Sunday morning followed by Toy Story 3 featured in the H.U.T for the kids and those adults who haven't seen it. The guys may head out to sight in their guns.  The turkey shoot was preempted by the birthday but Papa is keeping his chin up and doing what's right.
Jeff will arrive on Wednesday when we'll celebrate Bailee's actual birthday # 4. Boy, those 4 years went fast!  The next day we're all off to Walden Place to celebrate an early Thanksgiving dinner with Grandma and all the WP families.  Will be a rude awakening for Jeff as he hasn't seen Gram in a few months.  We're just hoping she knows him....Hunting season (shotgun-deer) begins on the 20th.  This is when I hold my breath till I see the whites of their eyes (red for Lee) @ suppertime. Heather arrives on Wednesday the 24th.  Off to Jon and Lisa's for Turkey Day dinner with the family including some reminiscing, some football and a few naps!!  Black Friday will not see me in any stores... I'm done... with the exception of stockings and Santa fills those anyway ;-).  Friday night we'll celebrate Jeff's birthday in the Man Cave with some beer, some poker and some vittles.....Sat (his real 32nd birthday) we'll recuperate and Sunday they'll be motoring back to N.C.  Monday will bring jury duty for Lee..... this could be a life altering adventure...................for the lawyers and judge...I'm not sure how many times they'll like hearing "What", "Excuse me", "Could you repeat that", "did you say Nigger or Trigger?" before they let the deaf man go home..   So, all in all, the next 3 weeks will be busy and fun and should introduce some interesting and memorable stories to our repertoire... Stay tuned!

Stories=History

Originally Armistice Day, commemorating the signing of the agreement that ended World War I at 11:00 A.M., November 11, 1918, this federal holiday was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. At that time, it became a day to honor all the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States.  Consider spending some time on-line learning more about our nation's veterans. The Great War Society has developed a Web site devoted to World War I educational materials. The World War II Memorial celebrates the victory of "the greatest generation" with a design that uses moving water to harmonize with its natural surroundings. Visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial online; this moving memorial, dedicated in 1995, is the latest addition to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. See a registry of all the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington. Learn more about the military men and women who are on duty today.

I hadn't had any knowledge of the armed services through my family until I journeyed to Florida a few years ago to settle my Grandma's estate. In her belongings ,was a written journal accompanied by a photo album of my Grandpa's tour of duty during WWI. Along with his medals, was his infantry helmet "sporting" a rather large dent. His accounting of that day gave me a new and proud insight into war- its soldiers, its casualties and its heroes..Thanks Gramp..till then I never knew!

Traditions=Stories

Boy is it ever tough to try and hang on to tradition.  With so many transitions in life, we really have to work at hanging on to at least some of them.  Monkey wrenches get thrown in the way like family living out of town, divorce and death and tinier ones like no more chimney, in-laws and less time.  I've tried to pass down as many traditions to my kids and Bailee as I can. Most of those traditions came from the Hatfield side of our family as the Hewitt side wasn't quite that "fuzzy!"  My Grandma Hewitt, however; always had games for us to play on holidays like button button, who's got the button. Grandma Iva did likewise....guess the number, Bingo and coloring contests. Christmas dinner at Grandma Hewitt's always ended with dishes of melon-balled raspberry sherbet. Grandma Hatfield's always began with prayer, a tradition we continue today at the Thanksgiving tables at Jon and Lisa's. Growing up, we always waited at the top of the stairs for Christmas morning so Mom and Dad could set up all the picture equipment at the bottom.  Blinding floodlights would greet us as the stair door opened. I still have those lights!  All of our gifts were wrapped..even those from Santa...and I guess I never even realized or cared that it was the same paper.  We always had spaghetti Mom had prepared ahead of time.  It was easy and allowed us more "opening time."  A later tradition started by my niece after a trip to England was the fun of poppers, little cardboard tubes filled with a paper hat, a prize and a fortune. We'd all pull the ends of our poppers and wear the stupid crowns throughout dinner.Now, there are no crowns, no dinner, no family. On the flip side...and thankfully there is one, my kids had popcorn balls, Easter (paint) buckets,birthday goodie bags, and the joy of winning a holiday prize. It made no difference if it was a wrapped box of tissue or a brand new toothbrush. 
It's not so easy to get together now. The next generations have miles to travel,  in-laws to share, babies to pack up, more places to be and less time to be there. So, the biggest traditions we need to keep alive are the memories.  Every holiday invokes a memory of Christmases past and opens an opportunity for new stories to make their way as traditions.  Soon Thanksgiving will be here, the day will start with hunting for the guys and the Macy's parade for me....Bailee will be off to Daddy's...sniff, sniff :-(  We'll gather at Chestnut Ridge, we'll pray, we'll eat, we'll laugh..( sounds like a movie).and eat some more................and lots of the stories will be told! 

Turning Back

I hate (a strong word) turning back the clocks.  I know those that have to get up very early enjoy the daylight but I hate (there it is again) having it get dark at 4:30.  Why, that's right in the middle of Ellen and I'm getting groggy already.  I haven't even thought about supper and it's practically time for bed!  I've never liked turning back much of anything. It seems like such a negative concept. I don't even think turning back time would be a good idea.  Those prior years have made us who we are today.. like it or not.  There might be a couple of things I would have done differently like finish college and acquire a educated skill... Although, I'm not a dummy and garnered a lot of knowledge through life and experiences. When I start a project, I like to see it through to completion and hate to give up and turn back... (although I DID start a wallpaper project yesterday and quit when I realized we had numbered the mural pieces incorrectly last year).  When we're lost during travel, we don't turn back (OK maybe once in Jerome's maiden voyage) and start over....we just plug along and find the right path.  If I haven't picked up my current book in awhile, I must admit that I do "turn back" a few pages and regroup.  I think that might just be an old age thing.  Now that I actually put these turn backs on paper, I guess maybe I turn back more than I realize.  I do know for a fact that the ones I enjoy the most are turning back the pages of a photo album  and turning back the sheets!! We don't get a lot of "do overs" in life so I guess the harmless turn backs aren't really so bad!