Author: Rene

You’d think the weekend would have been celebration enough, and yet, we continue today with the joyous remembrance of the birth of our son! Fortunately for us, unfortunately for him, we are home this year and there is no shindig being hosted at our house. Today’s sticky floors are not attributable to him.

His birth day is pretty much ingrained in my head as it snowed that day, his time of birth was the same numerical stamp as my room number, and they whisked him away from me as they worried about a possible complication. I don’t remember being too concerned, but I was antsy to see him three hours later! He was fine.

So there is a saying in our family which originated with my daughter when she was a little girl. It’s called the “Walking down the street thing.” It goes something like this:

“Son, if I saw you with another mother walking down the street, I’d wish you were my little boy.”

It’s still true today.

Someone on that Next Door Neighbor app was advertising, “free pine needles.” ?

I just spent time raking and sweeping millions of needles for the second time this summer, and I skipped a majority of them. What would they be good for? They’re lovely in the mountains, but not on my driveway. Then I started to think, “If I would have advertised that same exciting opportunity would someone have come and raked them all for me?” I guess that’s a consideration for the next mitigation event.

A shout-out to my neighbor who is letting me throw three million of them in her garbage pick up this week. And if anyone wants some of those craft-potential, mulching agent, desiccated, free pine needles, I saved some. Just bring your rake.

Coming across the APAB wire, (Associated Press ala Babs) was this lovely little notice from cleaning guru, Marie Kondo.

I think it’s a typo. She meant to add a zero to that. Or perhaps she meant to say, “Ideally, keep fewer than 30 in any given room.” That’s what I seem to have going on here, and I’m pretty organized.

As a matter of fact, it’s lunch time and I’m considering my book and a nap to follow. Oh wait…I have a list to finish in my attempts to be organized. That nap and good read might have to wait another month.

It’s wedding week here, and in preparation, we are sewing bean bags. Okay, we are doing other things, but that is one little duty to which I had to attend. Whilst sewing and stuffing my daughter and I watched, “Finding Nemo,” for the hundredth time. It just happened to be on and always elicits laughs.

During the scene where Dory is speaking “humpback” to the whale, we start laughing at her attempts to convey her message in different whale-speak. She’s just so matter-of-fact and happy, looking at the bright side and not seeing any downside to trying! My bride-to-be daughter calmly states, “We should be more Dory and less Marlin.”

Going for it! Dory is it!

A beautiful sight – one of the newer buildings in town and pride of farmers – the Farmer’s Cooperative Association. My father managed the Co-op for years, juggling his duties as mayor of the Village, also. The best popcorn in the world is sold through this hallowed institution, and I refresh my stash upon visits.

If you want to try the popcorn, you just have to promise me a good game of Scrabble. The two are intertwined. I finally won a game with my mother claiming two victories and my sister and I each claiming one. (And my mother had both letter v’s, my least enjoyable letter choice.)

P.S. Popcorn and Scrabble fun ala the Co-op.

Recently replaced and newly painted – as in this past year – the water tower is another highlight on the Village tour. The new tower is taller than the old and larger. It is such a promising sight when you spy it as you drive the country roads leading to town. As kids we always wanted to be the first to see it.

I wonder what happened to the old tower? Where would those be recycled?

Yes, the second home of this author is the tour highlight. The first home no longer exists, and apparently was a drafty farm house with no heat and a dog named, “Rex.” This abode came complete with a church on the grounds, and the lumber became the bones for the home. The concrete steps leading to the house are remnants from that first the house of worship. The road in front of the house is actually a highway, of course, and sitting on those steps trying to get truckers to honk was big entertainment for us kids. My sister and I took turns playing house on the steps, too, each having our own concrete living quarters. We probably fought over the wide ones in front?

Can you even imagine letting your kids play outside with a highway in the front yard? Ah – those were the days!

Just around the corner from the local cat is the Veteran’s Memorial. It’s painted on the side of the Post Office and is larger than this snippet. The names of all those from the Village who served in the military and have passed away are painted on a rock. See if you can find my dad’s name.

It’s a beautiful tribute.

Main Street and its businesses comprise one block – two if you count the half block with the Farmer’s Co-op. Along the thoroughfare you may be lucky enough to espy the local cat. You can’t miss the opportunity anyway.

On my ambling ‘round the ‘hood I finally captured him as he tried to avoid detection, and he looks really happy about it.

Next on the tour – the Veteran’s Memorial.

This lovely gem came at the appropriate time. I plead guilty.

My recent book titles involve stealthy animals. “The Shadow of the Lynx,” a love story by Victoria Holt which I began on my last visit here. “The Panther,” espionage at its best from the master, Nelson DeMille. Both are older publications which never made it earlier to my book lair.

Actually, “The Shadow of the Lynx” has been on the bookshelf in “The Game Room” for at least 15 years. The bookcases in there were always filled with past reads, books acquired at auctions, and historical books or encyclopedias. My family has pilfered from there for various reasons: need a new read, need a book slim enough to support a wobbly table leg, need a book with a red cover, need that title for a gag gift, need that set for decor purposes.

Since I just finished “Lynx” and will be closing “Panther” soon, it’s time to go back on the hunt for a new older read. I’ll be curious to know which title I choose this time? Lion? Tiger? Bear? Oh my!