Took our annual trip to the little town of Waldron, Arkansas to go to the Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival. Love love love going to this festival! It is a Wednesday through Saturday festival but this year we only got to go on the Friday. We left early Friday morning to get there by 1:00. I have to stop a lot, bathroom breaks or flea market breaks or gift shop breaks, yeah, whatever, but we get there in time...
This year was great as usual, but the whole trip seemed goofy messed up. It was one of those trips we will talk about for a long time and laugh every time we talk about it.
We usually stop at the King's River gas station, and while Bob is getting gas or snacks, I browse through the gift shop. Sad story...many years ago when we stopped there, I saw a figurine type thing I really wanted. It was an old hillbilly/farmer/logger type man, sitting on an open wagon, with logs in the wagon. It was pulled by a couple of mules. I wanted it but it cost $30 and I thought it was too much money to spend. I would gladly spend it now because I have thought about it so much I think it is worth it. It was just a cute little knick-knack, more clutter, but I thought it was cute because it had to do with logging. Well, we have stopped in there several times in the past several years and that knick-knack is there no more. I hunt for it every time I go in there. Someday I will find one.
There was lots of construction on the way there. They were re-building a couple of bridges and straightening some of the roads. Lots of construction. Seemed like it didn't slow us down much. Pretty light traffic. Still got to Turkey Track around 1:15, missed maybe 10 minutes of the first group, The Hartley Family. They were really good.
Anyway....love that bluegrass! We got to see Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Now I love that group dearly, they are the best. Saturday night was going to be Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and I dearly dearly love that band also, but we couldn't stay the extra day this year. Scott was gone to drill and I didn't want Julie and the kids to be alone all weekend. I know she and the kids would have been fine, but I wanted to be there with them.
Anyway...the music was great! We also saw Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers who we also saw back in September at Starvy Creek, and I have really decided I like that group a lot.
We decided to go back out on the highway at Waldron at supper break and rent a room so we wouldn't have to do that at 11:30 at night. It's around 8-10 miles from Turkey Track. We went to the same motel we used before but they were full up for Friday night but had a room for Saturday night. No good, we needed the room Friday night. Sooo....went across the road to another little motel.....oh myyyy. Yes, they had one room left, but it was a smoking room. Did I want to see it? I asked Bob, figuring he would rather go up the road an hour or sleep in the car before sleeping in a smoking room. Sure, he said, let's look. Arggghhh, it was smoky smelling. Stunk. But, we decided to take it. I decided to go to $ General or Walmart and get some air fresheners to freshen it up a little.
I asked the lady where was the Dollar General or Walmart? Was they close? She gave me some silly answer, she said did I like Dollar General better? Walmart was closed, she said, then laughed like it was a really good joke. She never did tell me where it was. We were on the loop or bypass of the town, so we drove up the highway 2-3 miles, and 2-3 miles down through homes and through the business section to find something.......old old town and no Dollar General or Walmart in sight. Bob pulled into a gas station to get some gas and I asked a man where either store was. The Dollar General was back the way we came, turn left at the stop light, and a couple of blocks down. The Walmart was truly closed down...
Anyway, finally found Dollar General. They must really miss the Walmart because it was packed with people. Maybe they always preferred Dollar General, maybe that is why Walmart closed down...the aisles were piled up with merchandise and boxes waiting to be put out. Anyway...got air fresheners, went on out the road Dollar General was on and came out a block from the motel. Was not amused. Well, actually we were. We are easily amused and laugh at ourselves all the time. Sprayed down our room with febreeze and plugged in the freshener thingy and back to the bluegrass we went.
Had a wonderful fantastic time listening to bluegrass. Walked around looking in the little stores at merchandise, had some great "Turkey Milk ice cream" hahaha.
We had eaten a burger and fries meal shortly after we got to Turkey Track and I was still kinda full, but Bob decided he wanted a corn dog and I said I would have one too. He went to get them and stayed gone for a good half hour. He came back empty handed. Said they were out of corn dogs. The lady in the concession trailer said her son was supposed to bring her another couple of boxes of corn dogs two hours before but hadn't shown up. They had chili dogs and hot dogs but no corn dogs.Said to come back a little later she was sure he would show up with the corn dogs. I didn't care, I don't like corn dogs that much, but about an hour later, Bob tried again, said if they didn't have corn dogs he would get chili dogs. Again he came back empty handed again. The son had never brought the corn dogs, and so Bob had tried to get a chili dog, but they were out of all dogs by then...hahahahaha....in the meantime I had wandered over to another concession trailer and got a big bag of kettle corn, which I'd rather have than a corn dog anyway, so we just ate that.
The festival was good. The room smelled better when we got back, so we slept okay. Got up and started out the next morning for home.
Got about 10 miles up the road, and there in the road stood a woman with a stop/slow sign like the highway department uses. I said surely they aren't working on the roads on a Saturday? No, surely they weren't. When we got closer, we saw that there was a marathon being run, right up the highway we were driving on....ugh. I wanted Bob to turn around and go a different way, but at that point we didn't know it was a marathon, thought it was a 5k or something like that, so we went on. Runners all over the road. Going BOTH ways. We got behind a little pickup that was driving really slow with the flashers flashing, and every time it passed a runner, the driver slowed down even more, and was giving the runners a "thumbs up" and shouting encouragement...I think....hahaha. Well we followed him maybe 2 miles doing this and finally Bob had enough. The pickup slowed down even more right in front of us and beside a tent where they were handing out fruit and water to the runners, stopped and started backing up towards the tent. Bob swung out and went around and we were gone like a ruptered duck in a hail storm....
more later......
Rylan
Started babysitting my youngest great grandson in middle September. Courtney decided to work a few days a week so I said I would babysit for her.
Rylan is a sweet little guy, loves to be cuddled, loves to eat, my word, he is a little chunk. I don't know exactly how much the little feller weighs, but he is heavy. I will have to remember to weigh him soon.
I don't know how it is going to work in the long run, I am doing okay handling him right now. He is a big 3 month old baby but I can still handle him pretty good. I have to lay him on the couch or bed a lot and sit or lay beside him because if I hold him too long my arms go numb. That has worked really well so far, as long as he is in a good mood...hahaha
Julie says she will help me on the days I don't feel good or have to do something. She loves to cuddle him and take care of him. She doesn't feel very well most of the time though so I need to be really careful about taking advantage of her.
I think we will get along fine.
Starvy Creek
Went to Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival again this year, first a couple of afternoons in July and then on the Thursday night and all day Friday and Saturday in September.
Such a good festival. Been going several years now, and one of my favorite places to go and spend time.
Saw and heard so many good bluegrass bands. Of course, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver was a favorite, as was Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, and we saw the Grascals, who I thought I might not like, but liked a lot.
Got to visit with good friends and catch up with everybody.
Ate some so-so hamburgers, and some GREAT pie and ice cream. Caramel corn too.
Just getting to be there, sitting outside with all those other people, soaking in the bluegrass, was so good. I needed it.
Everyday People
This song has always been a favorite of mine, sung by Sly & the Family Stone or later by Nicole C. Mullen.
Everyday People
Sometimes I'm right, and I can be wrong,
My own beliefs are in my song,
the butcher, the banker, the drummer and then,
Makes no difference what group I'm in...
I'm everyday people, yeah, yeah
There is a blue one who can't accept the green one,
For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one
And different strokes, for different folks,
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo
Ooooh sha sha we got to live together
I am no better and neither are you,
We are the same whatever we do,
You love me, you hate me, you know me and then,
You can't figure out the bag I'm in...
I am everyday people, yeah, yeah
There is a long hair who doesn't like the short hair,
For being such a rich one that will not help the poor one,
And different strokes, for different folks,
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo
Ooooh sha sha we got to live together
There is a yellow one that won't accept the black one
That won't accept the red one that won't accept the white one
And different strokes, for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo
I am everyday people.....
RYLAN WESLEY LOVELACE
Rylan Wesley Lovelace made his appearance on July 3, 2017. We all thought he was going to be born in June, and Courtney wanted him to be born while David, Amy and Gideon were here on vacation, but the little stink took his own sweet time and got here when HE wanted to.
He is a beautiful baby. Not a lot of hair, but there is some, think it is going to be lighter colored. He looks just like his daddy too, seems to be a pattern with babies born in this family!
I am a blessed woman to have all these grandbabies, and great grandbabies. Now I have 7 grandsons, 3 granddaughters, 3 great grandsons and 1 great granddaughter. WOW
He is a beautiful baby. Not a lot of hair, but there is some, think it is going to be lighter colored. He looks just like his daddy too, seems to be a pattern with babies born in this family!
I am a blessed woman to have all these grandbabies, and great grandbabies. Now I have 7 grandsons, 3 granddaughters, 3 great grandsons and 1 great granddaughter. WOW
Cumberland River-Dailey and Vincent
This Song that gets stuck in my head A LOT is "Cumberland River" by Dailey and Vincent. LOVE their music! If it gets stuck in my head as it often does, I find myself playing it on youtube over and over until it goes away. Sometimes it just makes matters worse and it is stuck longer. I don't mind, because I LOVE the song. Now I also have another thing on my bucket list and that is to go see that beautiful, lazy, long long Cumberland River !!! (I don't really have a bucket list, but if I did, this would be on it!)Here it is for your listening pleasure...
HAHAHA....Just a side note. I need a hearing aid or two. I am not kidding. I have listened to this song over and over the past couple or so years and there is a line in the chorus that says "Shirley Mae's a'waitin', lonely as can be" and I misheard it as "Shirley Mae's a'waitin', bony as can be"...that lyric really bothered me. I thought, couldn't the songwriter think of anything else? I thought, wow, it is a hit the way it is, who am I to tell a songwriter what to write?
Then I decided that the word was "bonny" instead of "bony" and that Dailey and Vincent didn't know the word "bonny" and so pronounced it "bony". I even asked my kids and other family members if they knew what "bonny" meant. A couple had a vague idea kinda what it meant, and some of the others didn't. I was convinced the word was "bonny" and they were mis-pronouncing it...what arrogance on my part. HAHAHAHA....well one night I was listening to it as usual and when it came to that line, I heard "lonely".....LONELY.....LONELY....LONELY....made complete sense. Sure enough, when I looked up the lyrics that was the word. Why didn't I look it up first? I forgot I could....maybe I need some jellyfish for my memory too...I should have known, I have misheard song lyrics all my life. Haven't told any of the kids yet...I might. hahaha
HAHAHA....Just a side note. I need a hearing aid or two. I am not kidding. I have listened to this song over and over the past couple or so years and there is a line in the chorus that says "Shirley Mae's a'waitin', lonely as can be" and I misheard it as "Shirley Mae's a'waitin', bony as can be"...that lyric really bothered me. I thought, couldn't the songwriter think of anything else? I thought, wow, it is a hit the way it is, who am I to tell a songwriter what to write?
Then I decided that the word was "bonny" instead of "bony" and that Dailey and Vincent didn't know the word "bonny" and so pronounced it "bony". I even asked my kids and other family members if they knew what "bonny" meant. A couple had a vague idea kinda what it meant, and some of the others didn't. I was convinced the word was "bonny" and they were mis-pronouncing it...what arrogance on my part. HAHAHAHA....well one night I was listening to it as usual and when it came to that line, I heard "lonely".....LONELY.....LONELY....LONELY....made complete sense. Sure enough, when I looked up the lyrics that was the word. Why didn't I look it up first? I forgot I could....maybe I need some jellyfish for my memory too...I should have known, I have misheard song lyrics all my life. Haven't told any of the kids yet...I might. hahaha
Courtney's Quilt
Okay, here I go again.
I don't think I am a quilter. I don't honestly know if I enjoy it or not. Then again, I have only made 3 quilts if you count my lead blanket I made out of old jeans, and I certainly do count it!
But, since I made Danielle a quilt and she liked it, I decided in my mind to make each grandchild a quilt, even if it takes me the rest of my life, which is entirely possible! HAHA
Courtney loves the colors of mint/aqua/turquoise type greens and gray, so that is what colors I will use in her quilt. She is like me and likes a floppy quilt so I will try to see if June will quilt it with a little less filling than Danielle's quilt. The one I tacked for my bedspread was made with filling from Walmart, and it is very floppy, so I may end up doing the quilting myself although I can't see anything but a mess there.
This will be interesting to see how it goes. I have cut out most of the pieces and sewn up 12 blocks so far.
I am weird I guess but I don't like traditional quilt patterns. I like something more random. When I made Danielle's quilt I used a pattern I saw on pinterest. It didn't look like any pattern I had seen, but I admit I don't know much about many quilt patterns.
I started Courtney's quilt with a random pattern in mind, but when I laid the blocks together I didn't care for the way it looked. Really kinda busy. So, I rearranged the blocks into a more traditional type pattern and they look 100% better! See now, sometimes traditional is better.
I still only do squares, because they look hard to do, I have tried and made a mess of them, and I don't like to sew enough to learn how to do them well. And I doubt I ever venture into triangle pieces or applique, although I already lied, I appliqued some words onto Danielle's quilt...
Anyway, we will see what we will see when I get it done...
I don't think I am a quilter. I don't honestly know if I enjoy it or not. Then again, I have only made 3 quilts if you count my lead blanket I made out of old jeans, and I certainly do count it!
But, since I made Danielle a quilt and she liked it, I decided in my mind to make each grandchild a quilt, even if it takes me the rest of my life, which is entirely possible! HAHA
Courtney loves the colors of mint/aqua/turquoise type greens and gray, so that is what colors I will use in her quilt. She is like me and likes a floppy quilt so I will try to see if June will quilt it with a little less filling than Danielle's quilt. The one I tacked for my bedspread was made with filling from Walmart, and it is very floppy, so I may end up doing the quilting myself although I can't see anything but a mess there.
This will be interesting to see how it goes. I have cut out most of the pieces and sewn up 12 blocks so far.
I am weird I guess but I don't like traditional quilt patterns. I like something more random. When I made Danielle's quilt I used a pattern I saw on pinterest. It didn't look like any pattern I had seen, but I admit I don't know much about many quilt patterns.
I started Courtney's quilt with a random pattern in mind, but when I laid the blocks together I didn't care for the way it looked. Really kinda busy. So, I rearranged the blocks into a more traditional type pattern and they look 100% better! See now, sometimes traditional is better.
I still only do squares, because they look hard to do, I have tried and made a mess of them, and I don't like to sew enough to learn how to do them well. And I doubt I ever venture into triangle pieces or applique, although I already lied, I appliqued some words onto Danielle's quilt...
Anyway, we will see what we will see when I get it done...
PEARLY BLUE
Pearly Blue. Old bluegrass song that Alicia taught Garrett to sing. He loved the song. He won't sing it much anymore, at least not to me. Maybe he sings it to Alicia when he is over at her house.
Here is Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in 1956 singing Pearly Blue (I guess the actual name of the song is "Down the Road").
PEARLY BLUE
Now down the road just a mile or two,
Lives a little girl named Pearly Blue,
About so high and her hair is brown,
The prettiest thing, boys, in this town.
Now any time you want to know,
Where I'm going down the road,
Get my girl on the line,
You'll find me there most any old time.
Now everyday and Sunday too,
I go to see my Pearly Blue,
Before you hear that rooster crow,
You'll see me headed down the road.
Now old man Flatt he owned the farm
From the hog lot to the barn
From the barn to the rail
He makes his living by carrying the mail.
Now every time I get the blues,
I walk the soles right off my shoes,
I don't know why I love her so,
That gal of mine lived down the road.
Leighton Joseph Lauglin
More babies, well one here and one on the way. Kyle and Kassidi had their baby boy on March 7, 2017 and he is a big beautiful baby! He weighed 9 lbs and has a head full of beautiful dark hair.
I had dental work on the day he was born. Had several teeth pulled and dentures put in, but I insisted we stop back by the hospital and see him. I was SO loopy from the pain meds they had given me I couldn't even walk straight. Bob had to get a wheelchair for me to sit in. I was ordering him around, buying gifts in the gift shop and looking back, I probably should have waited until the next day, but I really wanted to see the baby that day...haha.
Kyle and Kassidi are so proud of their boy. I know Kyle wanted a boy, because he already had his little princess, and he wanted one of each. So glad it worked out that way.
Now we also found out that Courtney is having a baby in June so we are excited about that too! Can't wait to see the little sugarbaby!
Can a family have too many babies? Not a chance! Love 'em all!
I Like to Sing...So Sue Me
I like to sing. I really like to sing.
I am not a good singer. I have recorded myself countless times, old tape recorder, old cassette recorder, computer, cell phone. I can hear okay, I just don't sound that good singing. kinda off key, sometimes I hit it, sometimes I don't...
Before I decided I didn't sound good, I was singing everywhere. At church, I'd sing a special, well...I might sing two or three. Go to a singing at a different church, I'd sing a couple.
I always thought I sounded okay, until, I recorded myself. Then there is no way to fool yourself or deny the truth, I stink at singing. I want to sing well. I have always wanted to sing but it just isn't meant to be.
I thought God was leading me to sing. Was He, or was it just me wanting to sing? Which leads to something I have heard discussed a lot. I know you should do things you are lead by the Spirit to do, but I have also heard a preacher say, if you can do something well, and it isn't against scripture or God or the Holy Spirit, do it. So, do you have to be lead to sing, or sing for God if you can sing?
I am not going to sing again at church, unless I get some kind of "sign" from God that I am supposed to. I have a sign I have asked for, if I am supposed to sing, and have never had it revealed to me.
I used to ask for a sign, Lord, if I am supposed to sing, let someone ask me to.....then hint to people about singing. I wasn't fishing for compliments exactly, I just wanted to sing and wanted them to like it.
People would tell me, You sing with a lot of heart...okay, I know what that means...I don't want to be the person that sounds awful, off key, screeching, bellering as one man put it, but puts her heart into it. I can put my heart into something I am good at, like....like....well...nothing comes to mind that I am good at, I am kind mediocre....but....
I would have rather somebody just tell me outright that I wasn't a good singer and shouldn't sing, then let me sing like I did for years.
It does kind of dawn on a person after a few years that nobody is asking them to sing....then I think, oh my how awful I must have sounded...and I know even at my best moments I didn't sound like the better singers at church, or somebody off of Gaither for goodness sake.
But, I still like to sing. There are a few people who like to hear me sing. One of them called a few days ago and asked if he and his wife could stop by and me sing a song they liked that they had heard me sing. Two Shoes...it was Two Shoes...he said he would play the guitar for me.
It was lots of fun. We sung that song two or three times, then sung a couple out of a church songbook, then he had me go through a stack of songs he had written out and see if I could sing any of them. He and his wife ended up singing one of those, to me.
One time at another church, a pair of sisters who are well known singers in our area told me they loved my singing. Was I going to make a CD? I thought they were joking but no! They were serious. Really? Really?
Someday, when I get to Heaven, I will have a beautiful voice. I hope. I'm really not sure if I will or if Jesus will be like some of the people here and say "Just sing it and put your heart into it and it will be beautiful." My heart knows that Jesus loves me just as I am but my mind says no way. BTW Jesus...I want to play the piano and the guitar too.
I am not a good singer. I have recorded myself countless times, old tape recorder, old cassette recorder, computer, cell phone. I can hear okay, I just don't sound that good singing. kinda off key, sometimes I hit it, sometimes I don't...
Before I decided I didn't sound good, I was singing everywhere. At church, I'd sing a special, well...I might sing two or three. Go to a singing at a different church, I'd sing a couple.
I always thought I sounded okay, until, I recorded myself. Then there is no way to fool yourself or deny the truth, I stink at singing. I want to sing well. I have always wanted to sing but it just isn't meant to be.
I thought God was leading me to sing. Was He, or was it just me wanting to sing? Which leads to something I have heard discussed a lot. I know you should do things you are lead by the Spirit to do, but I have also heard a preacher say, if you can do something well, and it isn't against scripture or God or the Holy Spirit, do it. So, do you have to be lead to sing, or sing for God if you can sing?
I am not going to sing again at church, unless I get some kind of "sign" from God that I am supposed to. I have a sign I have asked for, if I am supposed to sing, and have never had it revealed to me.
I used to ask for a sign, Lord, if I am supposed to sing, let someone ask me to.....then hint to people about singing. I wasn't fishing for compliments exactly, I just wanted to sing and wanted them to like it.
People would tell me, You sing with a lot of heart...okay, I know what that means...I don't want to be the person that sounds awful, off key, screeching, bellering as one man put it, but puts her heart into it. I can put my heart into something I am good at, like....like....well...nothing comes to mind that I am good at, I am kind mediocre....but....
It does kind of dawn on a person after a few years that nobody is asking them to sing....then I think, oh my how awful I must have sounded...and I know even at my best moments I didn't sound like the better singers at church, or somebody off of Gaither for goodness sake.
But, I still like to sing. There are a few people who like to hear me sing. One of them called a few days ago and asked if he and his wife could stop by and me sing a song they liked that they had heard me sing. Two Shoes...it was Two Shoes...he said he would play the guitar for me.
It was lots of fun. We sung that song two or three times, then sung a couple out of a church songbook, then he had me go through a stack of songs he had written out and see if I could sing any of them. He and his wife ended up singing one of those, to me.
One time at another church, a pair of sisters who are well known singers in our area told me they loved my singing. Was I going to make a CD? I thought they were joking but no! They were serious. Really? Really?
Someday, when I get to Heaven, I will have a beautiful voice. I hope. I'm really not sure if I will or if Jesus will be like some of the people here and say "Just sing it and put your heart into it and it will be beautiful." My heart knows that Jesus loves me just as I am but my mind says no way. BTW Jesus...I want to play the piano and the guitar too.
Christmas 2016
Been so long since I posted anything, seems I get so busy doing nothing I forget to post anything. Some might say well this blog is nothing but it is something to me. It is a way to remember certain things in life, and to just have fun writing down things I like.
We had a very good Christmas. All the family members were here except for David, Amy, and Gideon. Wish they could have been here too, we all miss them so much.
But, we are going there to visit them in a few more weeks. Gonna spend around 10 days loving on that sweet baby and his mommy and daddy and seeing the sights of Maui. I can't hardly wait!
Back to our Christmas...
We did get to love on Eli Jared, brand new baby boy of Danielle and Jared. He is such a sweet baby, he is already smiling. I got to hold him quite a bit and he snuggled right up with me. Love love love him. He is such a handsome little feller and he looks so exactly like Jared! I see Danielle in there too, but just to look at him he is Jared Jr. for sure! So awesome how God can make a baby look just like one parent but also just like the other parent.
I think everyone had a pretty good time, of course the kids were excited for presents and that is always fun! The little kids got presents and the older kids and adults got gift cards from Bob and me. I hate to do that, I love to find something I think they like, I love to give presents and love to watch them unwrap them. Like to see their faces when it really is something they like. But, as I am older and don't pay attention through the year as to what each one likes, it is so much easier to do it that way. They all say they like the gift cards so I will take their word for it. I still like to get "some little something" so they can unwrap it, but didn't even get that done this year.
They got Bob and me presents and gift cards and I wish they wouldn't and told them not to, but of course they did anyway. Bob and I loved everything they all got us!
We didn't have a big meal this year. Well, we didn't have turkey or ham and all the sides we usually have. We had appetizers but we had a table full of them! I don't know why but I couldn't hardly stand the thought of the same ol' same ol' meal this year. I wanted something different. I felt bad like I forced my wishes on everyone else but I think they all liked it okay. Maybe we will go back to the traditional meal next year, or maybe we have started a new tradition. Either way I am fine with it.
We had a very good Christmas. All the family members were here except for David, Amy, and Gideon. Wish they could have been here too, we all miss them so much.
But, we are going there to visit them in a few more weeks. Gonna spend around 10 days loving on that sweet baby and his mommy and daddy and seeing the sights of Maui. I can't hardly wait!
Back to our Christmas...
We did get to love on Eli Jared, brand new baby boy of Danielle and Jared. He is such a sweet baby, he is already smiling. I got to hold him quite a bit and he snuggled right up with me. Love love love him. He is such a handsome little feller and he looks so exactly like Jared! I see Danielle in there too, but just to look at him he is Jared Jr. for sure! So awesome how God can make a baby look just like one parent but also just like the other parent.
I think everyone had a pretty good time, of course the kids were excited for presents and that is always fun! The little kids got presents and the older kids and adults got gift cards from Bob and me. I hate to do that, I love to find something I think they like, I love to give presents and love to watch them unwrap them. Like to see their faces when it really is something they like. But, as I am older and don't pay attention through the year as to what each one likes, it is so much easier to do it that way. They all say they like the gift cards so I will take their word for it. I still like to get "some little something" so they can unwrap it, but didn't even get that done this year.
They got Bob and me presents and gift cards and I wish they wouldn't and told them not to, but of course they did anyway. Bob and I loved everything they all got us!
We didn't have a big meal this year. Well, we didn't have turkey or ham and all the sides we usually have. We had appetizers but we had a table full of them! I don't know why but I couldn't hardly stand the thought of the same ol' same ol' meal this year. I wanted something different. I felt bad like I forced my wishes on everyone else but I think they all liked it okay. Maybe we will go back to the traditional meal next year, or maybe we have started a new tradition. Either way I am fine with it.
Babies Babies Everywhere!
Well, we have a new grandson, Gideon David, born on November 28, 2016, and a new great grandson, Eli Jared, born on November 29, 2016! WOW! Unbelievable! We are so blessed!
Gideon was originally due on or about December 5, and Eli was due on or about December 13. I kept saying "wouldn't it be funny if they were born on the same day!" They ALMOST were!
We didn't know what Gideon's name would be until he was born. I LOVE his name. Gideon, the story of Gideon in the Bible has always been one of my favorite Bible stories, if not the favorite. And of course, David after his father. He looks so much like David when he was a baby, but I can see his mommy, Amy in his face too, especially when he grins. So proud of all my grandbabies. Wish Gideon lived closer to us so we could cuddle and love on him more, but understand in this day and age that doesn't happen as often as grandparents would like.
We have been very blessed that the girls live very close to us and we have always seen our other grandbabies a lot. It sounds selfish to want Gideon too, or does it? I think it is just normal to want all my babies around close!
I know his parents are some of the best parents a baby could have, even if they are mine, so I have no worries on that part.
We knew that Danielle and Jared were going to have the name Eli, and I love love love that name also, and it fit him so well when we saw him. He also has the middle name Jared after his father. And he looks exactly like his father, Jared. Wow! So much like him. I see Danielle once in a while when I look at him, but he is Jared all over!
We have no worries about this baby and his parents either, they love God and their family so much and are such wonderful young people.
Turkey Track Bluegrass and Mount Magazine
Bob and I took another trip to Arkansas last weekend. Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival in Waldron, Arkansas. It is south of Fort Smith, around a 4 hour trip from here.
We didn't think we were going to go, Garrett had his last "Hoopin' it up" ballgame that day at 11:00 and the festival actually went from Wednesday through Saturday. We wanted to go but didn't want to miss Garrett's ballgame. He only had 4 or 5 and we really enjoyed them, and of course he thought Grandma and Grandpa HAD to come see him play, and we felt the same way. Grandbaby....bluegrass festival....we love bluegrass but grandbaby will always outweigh bluegrass, or just about anything else.
So, we just kinda forgot about it...kinda.
Garrett's ballgame started at 11:00 and ended around 12:00 noon. We were driving out of the school's driveway and Bob said, "Wanna go to Arkansas and listen to bluegrass?" Well....I said "SURE", so we hurried home, threw a few clothes in a duffel bag and away we went! HAHAHA That is one of the things I love about Bob and me, we have always just up and done anything we wanted on the spur of the moment.
So off we went to Waldron, Arkansas. We went down some of the most mountainous, narrow, curvy roads. I figured we would never make it there in time to hear anything, but we actually got there around 4:30.
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage were playing at 6 and she is the one we really wanted to see although we liked all the groups, hers is one of our favorites.
Lots and lots of good music, good food, good people.
It was over around 10:30 and we went back to the small town of Waldron and found a motel room. It wasn't 5 star, but it was clean, cool and adequate. Bob and I have never been very picky.
The next day, on the way home I wanted to go home a different way and go up Mount Magazine, the tallest hill/mountain in Arkansas. This is the Ouachita Mountain Range.
We stopped at a scenic area on the way up and got this selfie of ourselves. The sun was behind us but I kinda like the effect...
We drove to the top of Mount Magazine and went in the visitor's center. We went up the opposite way most people drive up (of course...hahaha) but it was very enjoyable and scenic. We drove a ways down the other side and got a few pictures at another scenic stop area.
We drove on home, coming up through Ponca (where I had absolutely NO phone service for miles) hoping to see an elk or two. We saw nothing but scenery.
We thought about going to Hawksbill Crag and hiking out to the point but I am a little nervous anymore about high places. We used to climb the Hercules Tower all the time but the last time we climbed it I kinda had vertigo and felt like I was going to just fall off the stairway. We will try another day.
On we came through Harrison and up 65 highway to Branson and then home. It was a very nice and very much needed trip. I love our little day or weekend trips and can't wait for another one!
We didn't think we were going to go, Garrett had his last "Hoopin' it up" ballgame that day at 11:00 and the festival actually went from Wednesday through Saturday. We wanted to go but didn't want to miss Garrett's ballgame. He only had 4 or 5 and we really enjoyed them, and of course he thought Grandma and Grandpa HAD to come see him play, and we felt the same way. Grandbaby....bluegrass festival....we love bluegrass but grandbaby will always outweigh bluegrass, or just about anything else.
So, we just kinda forgot about it...kinda.
Garrett's ballgame started at 11:00 and ended around 12:00 noon. We were driving out of the school's driveway and Bob said, "Wanna go to Arkansas and listen to bluegrass?" Well....I said "SURE", so we hurried home, threw a few clothes in a duffel bag and away we went! HAHAHA That is one of the things I love about Bob and me, we have always just up and done anything we wanted on the spur of the moment.
So off we went to Waldron, Arkansas. We went down some of the most mountainous, narrow, curvy roads. I figured we would never make it there in time to hear anything, but we actually got there around 4:30.
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage were playing at 6 and she is the one we really wanted to see although we liked all the groups, hers is one of our favorites.
Lots and lots of good music, good food, good people.
It was over around 10:30 and we went back to the small town of Waldron and found a motel room. It wasn't 5 star, but it was clean, cool and adequate. Bob and I have never been very picky.
The next day, on the way home I wanted to go home a different way and go up Mount Magazine, the tallest hill/mountain in Arkansas. This is the Ouachita Mountain Range.
 |
| our selfie |
We stopped at a scenic area on the way up and got this selfie of ourselves. The sun was behind us but I kinda like the effect...
We drove to the top of Mount Magazine and went in the visitor's center. We went up the opposite way most people drive up (of course...hahaha) but it was very enjoyable and scenic. We drove a ways down the other side and got a few pictures at another scenic stop area.
 |
| overlooking the Ouachita River basin |
 |
| picture a nice man took of us |
We thought about going to Hawksbill Crag and hiking out to the point but I am a little nervous anymore about high places. We used to climb the Hercules Tower all the time but the last time we climbed it I kinda had vertigo and felt like I was going to just fall off the stairway. We will try another day.
On we came through Harrison and up 65 highway to Branson and then home. It was a very nice and very much needed trip. I love our little day or weekend trips and can't wait for another one!
Hoopin" It UP!!!
We got to watch our 5 year old grandson, Garrett, play basketball Saturday. It's a program called "Hooping it Up" and it is a program to help the kids from Kindergarten through the 6th grade learn the basics of playing basketball.
The "coaches" are high school kids and they help the kids get organized into teams, and the coach for the high school girls and a parent or two helps run the floor with the kids and instruct them where to run, what to do with the ball and such. It's very informal and very very entertaining to watch...oh my.
Our little grandson has never played ball before, as most of the others have not either.
The little fellers would just stand there until told to jump for the ball, just stand there until told to run down the floor. Boy, when they understood a little about what they were supposed to do the contest was ON!
Of course we had our eyes on our little feller, and he was very energized. He did jumping jacks, ran with the ball, shot the ball, did a few push-ups....shot the ball some more, it was hilarious.
There is a fine line to walk while watching these little guys and gals. You don't want to laugh so much it is insulting to them but it is so dang cute you can't do much else. There were many many hands over mouths all morning, trying to cover the laughter.
Those that didn't laugh or seem to enjoy it, I don't know, are you dead or what?
The "coaches" are high school kids and they help the kids get organized into teams, and the coach for the high school girls and a parent or two helps run the floor with the kids and instruct them where to run, what to do with the ball and such. It's very informal and very very entertaining to watch...oh my.
Our little grandson has never played ball before, as most of the others have not either.
The little fellers would just stand there until told to jump for the ball, just stand there until told to run down the floor. Boy, when they understood a little about what they were supposed to do the contest was ON!
Of course we had our eyes on our little feller, and he was very energized. He did jumping jacks, ran with the ball, shot the ball, did a few push-ups....shot the ball some more, it was hilarious.
There is a fine line to walk while watching these little guys and gals. You don't want to laugh so much it is insulting to them but it is so dang cute you can't do much else. There were many many hands over mouths all morning, trying to cover the laughter.
Those that didn't laugh or seem to enjoy it, I don't know, are you dead or what?
Football and Bluegrass
Bob and I went to Bolivar Saturday to watch Gavin play football. He is Corey's youngest son and we just love him! I think he loves us too, especially Bob! He is a hoot to be around!
Gavin is quite the ballplayer, we really enjoyed watching him. Although it was the end of September it really got hot sitting there on the bleachers and the little boys really got hot playing football too! I wish I had took a picture of him in his uniform, he sure was cute!
We sat by Lynn and Corey and Corey's dad, Kevin and his wife, Marcy. Very nice people.
After the game we headed back towards Springfield, and on the way, we decided to go to West Plains to the HOBA bluegrass festival. We had talked about going but decided we wanted to see Gavin playing football and probably couldn't do both since he played in Bolivar and the festival was in West Plains....wrong! Of course we could do both! The game was over by noon, so we decided to go ahead and go to West Plains.
Of course, we had to make a quick detour into Springfield and eat at the Golden Corral that was out on N. Kansas. It was okay but we decided it wasn't as good as the one on S. Glenstone or the one in Branson. Bob loves to eat at Golden Corral. I always overeat because I think I need to get my money's worth! HA that is my excuse anyway.
So, we took off to West Plains, got there just in time for the dinner break, so we just sat in our car and dozed for a few minutes.
There weren't any big name groups at this festival, it is just a tiny little festival but the music and singing was good anyway. We enjoyed it a lot.
Here is the only picture I took. I didn't have my camera, only my phone. The back of my ankle was getting a blister on it from my new sneaker....haha
We didn't stay overnight, we figured we were close enough to home to sleep in our own bed so home we came. It was around 1:00am when we got home.
Good times!
Gavin is quite the ballplayer, we really enjoyed watching him. Although it was the end of September it really got hot sitting there on the bleachers and the little boys really got hot playing football too! I wish I had took a picture of him in his uniform, he sure was cute!
We sat by Lynn and Corey and Corey's dad, Kevin and his wife, Marcy. Very nice people.
After the game we headed back towards Springfield, and on the way, we decided to go to West Plains to the HOBA bluegrass festival. We had talked about going but decided we wanted to see Gavin playing football and probably couldn't do both since he played in Bolivar and the festival was in West Plains....wrong! Of course we could do both! The game was over by noon, so we decided to go ahead and go to West Plains.
Of course, we had to make a quick detour into Springfield and eat at the Golden Corral that was out on N. Kansas. It was okay but we decided it wasn't as good as the one on S. Glenstone or the one in Branson. Bob loves to eat at Golden Corral. I always overeat because I think I need to get my money's worth! HA that is my excuse anyway.
So, we took off to West Plains, got there just in time for the dinner break, so we just sat in our car and dozed for a few minutes.
There weren't any big name groups at this festival, it is just a tiny little festival but the music and singing was good anyway. We enjoyed it a lot.
Here is the only picture I took. I didn't have my camera, only my phone. The back of my ankle was getting a blister on it from my new sneaker....haha
We didn't stay overnight, we figured we were close enough to home to sleep in our own bed so home we came. It was around 1:00am when we got home.
Good times!
On the Banks of the Promised Land
Oh my goodness, I love this gospel song sung by Karen Peck and New River. Love Love Love it!
What a thought! Thinking about the morning when I stand in front of my LORD and SAVIOR, and reach for
his NAIL SCARRED HANDS.....
I wanted to sing this song so badly, but Karen Peck is a high soprano, and what I sing could be described as a squeaky wannabe soprano. No, if I had to say what my voice is it is a gravely alto...and not pretty in any way.
But I digress. Great song. Sung great. "Nuff said.
CITY OF GOLD
(Sung in this video by Yvonne St. Germaine)
CITY OF GOLD
VERSE: 1
THERE'S A CITY THAT LOOKS-- OVER THE VALLEY OF DEATH
AND IT'S GLORY HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD,
WHERE THE LAMB IS THE LIGHT--IN THE MIDST OF THE NIGHT
IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY OF GOLD
CHORUS:
WHERE THE SUN NEVER SETS
WHERE THE LEAVES, THEY NEVER FADE
AND THE RIGHTEOUS FOREVER WILL SHINE LIKE THE STARS
IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY OF GOLD
VERSE: 2
THERE WILL BE NO SORROW, PAIN, NOR SICKNESS OR DEATH,
AND THE SAINTS, THEY WILL NEVER GROW OLD
HOW I LONG FOR THAT CITY,
WHERE THERE NEVER COMES A NIGHT
IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY OF GOLD...
REPEAT CHORUS:
TAG:
IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY OF GOLD!!
Dailey & Vincent - By the Mark (Live]
By the Mark
Love this song so much. Probably my favorite song right now. I will know my Savior, by the mark of the nails in His hands...
Dailey and Vincent are such amazing singers.
I guess some would consider them very progressive bluegrass, I know when we saw them at Starvy Creek last July they had a drummer and the owners of the festival would not let the drums be played.
The reason was it was not "traditional" bluegrass...okay, I do understand that and I am not a big fan of drums in bluegrass or gospel songs in general, but they have a drummer so I think if that is what they want in their band, they should be allowed to have that. They are as good and better than most of the other bands.
I also wanted to point out to the owners that they had several groups that sang traditional COUNTRY songs that they tried to sing in a bluegrass fashion, sometimes. Most of the time the group just did it as a country song. And one group even sang "SPLISH SPLASH, I WAS TAKING A BATH, LONG ABOUT SATURDAY NIGHT....(whole song)" which is in fact an old pop rock, bubble gum rock song from the 50s.
Now how in the world is that traditional bluegrass if you want to split some hairs??? Let 'em sing and get out of the way.
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