Water Gardens - Take 2

You may remember about my fledgling water garden last year. Well, it made it through the summer and fall. During the winter it froze and for some reason the fish did not go to the bottom or move behind one of the rocks, so they also froze solid – just under the surface of the ice. During a thaw all the ice melted, but the fish did not revive (so much for cryonics!)

So when the weather warmed and we foolishly thought winter was over, we drained the pond, cleaned out all the decaying leaves that had accumulated over the fall and winter. We re-filled it, installed the pump, and started the fountain. It was very pretty for about 15 minutes or so. I went inside but my 5-year old granddaughter came and told us the pond was pouring water over the sidewalk and was almost empty. My husband caught it just in time to keep from burning out the pump. I re-filled it, reset the fountain, and turned it on again. Fifteen minutes later it’s once again watering the sidewalk. So I gave up. For the time being.

A few days later, on a whim, I bought a water lily (also because the same 5-year old granddaughter thinks I should have one). I sat it in the water, just below the surface and the green leaves have been reaching for air ever since. It was looking good.

Yes, was. We received twelve inches of rain this weekend. You would think that with a water garden that wouldn’t matter. But it does. I think. My water lily is gone, I think it drowned. I’m sure the torrential amount of rain has knocked it off the shelf it was sitting on, but I can’t seem to find it in the bottom of the pond. I was skimming with the net, but I couldn’t find it. Now that rain has stopped I will drain the pond again – just turn on the fountain, because the rain also knocked it over too – and hopefully find a soggy, but semi-happy water lily just waiting to be rescued. And we will start once again.

Music Memories

Lately there have been a lot of reminders about my favorite era of music and the memories from that time. First, a new radio station has come to town. HANK, 96.1 plays country legends from the 1960's, '70's and '80's. Ahh,,,,back when I was cool! I can sing along on almost every single song - and, yes, I do still remember the lyrics!

Secondly, For Crying in the Mud posted about musical memories and what they mean to her. Then today The Pioneer Woman posted a giveaway on her blog asking for your prom memories and what music you danced to. Wow! What memories that brought back.

That was back in 1977 and prom was a mix of soft rock and the beginnings of disco. We danced to the Bee Gee's, ELO, Jennifer Warnes, the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac.

"Looks Like We Made It" by Barry Manilow was more or less the unofficial theme of our graduation. Another hot group was KC and the Sunshine Band. "That's the Way I Like It". The day after graduation we (my girl scout troop) headed for Daytona Beach on our annual trip (yes, we were a very cool troop!). That song was on every single radio station over and over again. We were about to the TN-GA state line and our leader turned the radio off and said, "no more!" So of course we sang it - over and over again. All week.

That fall I started college and Peter Frampton was very hot. Margaritaville was also a top song that year and very popular with the college crowd. That's all I have to say about that, but needless to say it was sung long and loud on several occasion on campus!

Of course, I was always a little more country, so I was happy listening to Rita Coolidge, Mary MacGregor, and Kenny Rogers. However, the very cute guy that I was dating took me to see Kansas, and AC/DC. Tickets were like $15 each and I remember complaining about having to spend $18 to see KISS. I later paid $21 to see them a second time in Lexington.

1977 was also the year John Travolta graduated from Vinnie Barbarino to Saturday Night Fever, Elvis died, Apple was incorporated, Lynyrd Skynyrd looses three members in a plane crash, and the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, KY burns, killing 165 people. It was also the year I graduated high school, watched Star Wars six times in four months, and fell in love for the first time.

Cars and Kids

In my younger days, I was accused (more than once) of being a red neck. I guess I was. I knew what my engine looked like and what most of the parts did. I could change a flat tire and change my oil. I had a very cool car - a 1976 Oldsmobile Starfire that I maintained mostly by myself (well, sometimes Jessi helped).

In the 1980's I purchased a 1950 GMC truck. It was my dream to restore the body, put it on big tires, and a 6" lift. Yes, I would need to use the running boards to actually get in the cab, but it would be so cool...I sold it to take my daughter to Disney World. Still in the same condition I got it in. So much for dreams. Well, sort of....

Flash forward to 2010. My son buys a 1984 Chevrolet that he promised to sell before he leaves for college. The first thing he does is put in a 4" lift kit so the 33" swamper tires clear the body. I need a ladder to get in it. This is what you call living your dreams through your children.....When he goes to college, I'm driving it! (can't you see me at the grocery in this??)

(That's a hook hanging off the bumper - off a crane - but that's a blog for another day. )

Daddy's Hands

I love hands. Hands are always the first thing I notice about people.

I remember my grandfather's hands. They were always tanned from working outside and usually had a cut or two on them. He had long, thin fingers that could do any job. My grandfather was a very hard worker who used his hands to help many people - mostly people who just needed a hand up. And they always had time to hug a grandchild.

My Dad's hands are thick with stubby fingers. They have worked on farms for many years. Even his "regular" jobs involved farmers. He spent 8 years in Brazil teaching them to grow burley tobacco. When he got back to Kentucky he sold insurance mostly to farmers and he worked our farm between sales. I remember Daddy's trembling hands when my grandfather died. I remember Daddy's trembling hands holding my daughter for the first time.

My husband's hands are slim and strong with more than one callus. They've been mashed, cut, and bruised over the years, but they were always ready to reach out to his children. They're very soft as they hold his grandchildren and always ready to pick a flower or build a playhouse.

A friend of mine lost her father this week. It was a sudden and tragic accident that makes the loss that much quicker and painful. There was no time for good-bye. Right now there is hurt and loss, but there is still the memory how much love was in daddy's hands.

Trash

Why can't men find the trash can? My husband went on a rant this weekend because our son left his empty ramen noddle wrappers on the table after creating a midnight snack on Friday. He kept bringing it up all weekend..."The trash can is 3 FEET from the table! Why can't you just throw them in the trash can?"

This morning I tossed the empty toilet tissue roll in the trash can - since it was obvious that my husband wasn't going to - it has been on the counter for 2 days. (The trash can is under the tissue holder and the counter is across the room.) I also threw away his fast food foam cup that he brought in with him last night. Admittedly, I do not have a trash can in the living room where he left the cup, but he passed two on his way to bed. We won't talk about the empty Mt. Dew can on the front porch - I'm not quite sure who left it there, but I don't drink Mt. Dew. Or the vacuum cleaner that he decided was trash, but hasn't quite gotten to the curb. He did toss my toaster oven, with the promise he'd get me another one, because we had a small fire in it and the glass was smoked. (It's been 3 years now, I still don't have a new one.)

He does complain about the way I keep my car. But there is no trash in my car. Yes, there are things that need to be brought into the house, there are things I need to take into my office, things my grandchildren left, and there are things I might need Friday's football game if it rains or gets too cold. There is also my 4 folding, camp chairs that I have in there to safeguard. The last ones I had got into the house, then into his SUV, and then to a campout. The last I heard one had fallen into the camp fire and one was being fished out of the lake. He can keep them now - and I'm sure he will. He won't be able to find a trash can...

The Things We Do For Out Kids

Friday is the big day of our week because it's football night! I could care less about the local college teams or any of the nearby professional teams, but high school football is entirely another story. You see my son is on that team and I live and breathe Cardinal football!

For example, this past Friday night - it had been a dark and gloomy day, with a forecast of rain in the early evening and then clearing. Now, I don't really like being outdoors (my husband tells

people that I hate grass), but what I really hate is being uncomfortable. I don't want to be too hot or too cold, but most of all I don't want to be wet!! Now I was prepared for rain - I had a jacket, 2 umbrellas, and a towel to wipe down the seats. We

waited until just before kickoff to arrive and the rain had stopped - or so we thought.

It was a nice evening - not too hot, not too cold - not too wet.

Until the 2nd quarter.

Then the rain started.

Nice and gentle at first.

We popped open the umbrellas and scooted close together. Everything was fine. Even our granddaughter was happy.

We stayed in our seats during half time because they were dry where we were sitting, but if we got up they wouldn't be dry any longer.

The third quarter started and the opposing team fumbled the ball. Our offense ran out and the coach finally put my son on the field! Yeah!!! Then we fumbled the wet ball and the offense (including my son) left the field. The opponents made one huge play and were within 20 yards of scoring a touch down. My son was sent out to play defense (which is what he wants to play). YEAH!!! They lined up, got into position - and the ref blew his whistle. Everyone stood up, looked at the officials and both teams, the benches, coaches, trainers, and water boys all started running off the field. Parents (who were all that was left in the stands) sat in the rain wondering what was going on. Finally, it was announced that lightening had been spotted and the game was delayed for 30 minutes. Well Lightening is a different matter and so, the parents reluctantly gave up their dry seats and headed for the shelter of the concession stand area. After 10 minutes, they called the game. 40-0 we won. Somehow the joy of a win was lost. My son missed his opportunity to play and I was wet from the knees down. yuk! This had better be the last of the rain this fall!!

Things I Have Learned Recently

1. Color pencils do not scan well. The scanner picks up the wax from the pencil and creates shine that distorts the colors and even some of the shapes. So in order to show my art now I have to find the camera, be able to adjust the lighting without disturbing other family members, and find suitable backdrops for photography. Some day that will all happen at the same time and then I will post my pictures. Don't hold your breath....

2. When the phone rings at 5 am it IS something bad. At 4:55 I sent a text my son, who replied that he was on his way home. At 5:05 am the phone rang. "Mom, I had a wreck." Thankfully he was less than 1 mile from home, so it didn't take us long to get there. He wasn't hurt, but the Jeep is a total loss.

3. We should all aspire to be wrecker drivers. It cost $100 to tow the Jeep 1/2 mile.

4. Panic attacks and stress can make you feel like you're having a heart attack. Only this one lasts for days/weeks. And the more you think you may be having a heart attack, the more stress you are adding to your life. The more stress you add, the more it feels like a

5. The difference between local TV and satellite TV is that now I pay to have nothing to watch.

6. If you live near me be forewarned - you have to drive to another town (at least 20 minutes) to buy a spool of thread.

7. Blogs that aren't updated are harder to write. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!