Birthday Beach Party

Part of our trip to spend my birthday weekend with my parents had included a promise to Luke that we would take him to the beach. With my grandfather likely to pass at any minute, my parents ended up spending all of July 24 in Waycross with him, which is completely understandable and appropriate.

However, I knew that sitting around a medical compound waiting around for his great-grandfather to die was not the best way for Luke to spend his time. So, with my parents' blessing and encouragement, we stayed and took him to the beach while they traveled to be with Pa-Paw. I hated for them to miss it, since Luke loves the beach so much (and they love watching him enjoy it), but it seemed the most logical answer since we were not guaranteed any time to get to the beach after this point, with funerals and family clearly coming up immediately. We needed to let him have a little fun while there was time.

Unfortunately, the tides were not being cooperative. Melanoma Girl here can't go to the beach except in the mornings or in the evenings. Unfortunately, that coincided with low or lay tide on both the 24th and the 25th. Tides wouldn't be decent until the 28th or so, and who knows if we would even still be there or have time to get to the beach. So we went, even knowing conditions were not ideal.

Look at how flat the water is! It was more like a lake; it was still enough that Luke could actually go out and swim in the ocean, something he had never really done before due to the currents.



He still managed to have some fun, but I know he was disappointed at the severe lack of wave action, and it broke my heart.

My grandfather actually did not pass away on my birthday but on the following day. That gave my parents time to come home and present me with an ice cream birthday cake they had picked up on their way back to the house. I was really touched, since I had expected nothing with all of the chaos of the day. The next few days were wrapped up in funeral arrangements and the actual burial, with lots of extended family in town. After everyone else had departed, we ended up with the evening of July 28th unexpectedly free.

And with high tide coming in and not due until 7, we packed a bunch of leftovers in a cooler and headed to the beach for waves and a picnic.

Much better!

Currently feeling: having a beachy birthday

Wordless Wednesday - July 29, 2015

Currently feeling: catching some waves

Rufus E. Warren: March 19, 1920 - July 25, 2015

Rufus, Uncle Emon, Daddy, Pa-Paw, Great-Grandpa

Obituary (click for more pictures):

Rufus Emon Warren, 95-years of age, of St. Simons Island, Georgia, passed away Saturday July 25, 2015, at Baptist Village in Waycross, Georgia. Mr. Warren was a member of the First Baptist Church of St. Simons Island, where he was a life deacon. During his 33 years with Delta Air Lines, he served as Station Manager at the St. Simons Island and Brunswick airports before transferring to a supervisory position in Atlanta, from which he retired. He was born in El Dorado, AR in 1920 and graduated from Mount Holly School in 1941. His hobbies included golf and computers, and he relished learning.

Mr.. Warren is preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Jacqueline C. Warren, his parents, Mr. Si Tom Warren and Mrs. Ruby Britt Warren, and his brother, Mr. John Henry Warren.

Mr. Warren is survived by his two sons: Wayne A. Warren (Judith Outler Warren) of McHenry, IL and Mark O. Warren (Rita Y. Warren) of Brunswick, GA; granddaughter Judith A. "JJ" Snyder (Michael A. Snyder) of Myrtle Beach, SC; granddaughter Erin Warren Gaston (Steven K. Gaston) of Atlanta, GA; grandson Wayne A. "Mac" Warren (Carrie F. Warren) of Springfield, IL; grandson Jacob C. Warren of Statesboro, GA; grandson Hunter C. Warren (Emily R. Warren) of Cedar Lake, IN; great grandchildren Blythe E. Justen, Blaire E. Justen, Zachary G. Roberts, Hannah R. Wible, Annelyse R. Warren, Leah E. Warren, Addelyn R. Warren, Amelya R. Warren, and Luke W. Gaston; sister-in-law Melba Warren of El Dorado, AR, nephew John H. Warren (Rhonda) of El Dorado, AR, and nephew Richard D. Warren (Jenene) of El Dorado, AR; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, and other loved ones.

Savannah 2015

June was a pretty busy month for us, and we were afraid the summer was going to slip away without any type of vacation. So, we decided on a long weekend in Savannah with my parents in conjunction with my birthday. Dad really wanted to take Luke to Fort Pulaski.

It reminded me a lot of Fort Warren in Boston, which I guess shouldn't be a surprise, even if this was a Confederate fort and Fort Warren (obviously) was not. Mr. Minecraft couldn't resist the anvil on display (we didn't let him actually strike it, just pose with the hammer).

Great shot of the arches by my father. That's Luke all the way down there by the cannon.

See! (This is cropped from the above picture. Yes, he does have an awesome camera!)

I think one of Luke's favorite things about forts like this is that you are allowed to climb on and touch just about anything! This was taken at the top of one of the far walls.

It was shaping up to be a hot and humid day, and we knew we would be racing the rain. We decided to do all of the outside stuff first and save the indoor museum for last. But first, it's time to eat! Although we did go to the Mighty 8th Museum back in 2009, we never ventured closer to the coast than I-95, so this was really Luke's first ever visit to Savannah. Obviously, there was only one place we could eat for lunch:

Fried shrimp for the men-folk, and broiled shrimp for the ladies. YUM! Then it was time to do something new for everyone, the "new since the last time I was there as a teenager" Georgia State Railroad Museum.

They have several locomotives and cars on display, and they have a short piece of track on which they run either a real steam or diesel engine. We were lucky enough to get steam on our day!

They also have a hand car that guests can pump (with a museum employee running the brake and the reverse lever). Luke absolutely had to try it!

Yes, there's video!



They finished just in time for the rain to start, so we packed up and headed inland to the Mighty 8th Museum. Luke was 5 the last time we went, and he doesn't remember anything at all about it. I did a terrible job taking pictures, but I did get the most important one.

I understand your confusion. It doesn't seem very important, does it? Oh, but it is! For this:

I think he's grown a little bit, what do you think? It's not a perfect match on the camera angles, but given that I had forgotten to look at the original photo before we went, I don't think I did too badly.

We ended the day with dinner at one of our favorite Savannah pizza joints, Lovezzola's in Pooler. We were all hot and tired and hungry, but it was a good day. Thank goodness, because things were about to take a dramatic downturn.

As we left Savannah, the heavens opened and started dumping oceans of water on us as we got on the interstate. I haven't been in rain like that in probably a decade or more. You literally could not see any further ahead than the car in front of you, which in this case was my parents with my son in their vehicle. We just took it slow, but it took nearly 90 minutes to make what should have been only a 60 minute trip, at most.

And in the midst of all of this, the day before my birthday, we got the call we have been expecting for over a year: the care home where my grandfather stays called to say he had taken a turn for the worse and they did not expect him to make it through the night. It was not unexpected, but the timing was still pretty crummy He did make it though the night, and through my birthday as well, but he died late on the morning of July 25. How appropriate that the last thing we did before he passed was visit the museum honoring the airmen of WWII, who he supported during the war, at the last place we all visited with him as a family.

Rest in peace, Pa-Paw. You will be dearly missed.

Currently feeling: up in the air

Wordless Wednesday - July 22, 2015

Currently feeling: snuggle kitty

Cookies: A Conversation With Luke

As we enter the kitchen after dinner at Panera, he spots a fortune cookie on the counter....

L: Can I have this fortune cookie?
Me: No, you had a cookie at dinner.
L: But I didn't have a fortune cookie.
Me (more firmly): You already had a cookie at dinner.
L: But this is super crunchy! It's not even a cookie.
Me: IT HAS COOKIE IN THE NAME! It's printed right on the package!
L: But
Me. NO!
(Please tell me he's going to be a lawyer and that all this arguing is just practice for a stellar career....)

Currently feeling: completely exasperated (and sensing more in my future)

Throwing: A Conversation With Luke

After picking up L from daycare....

DH: Tell Mommy what you were doing.
L: Writing sentences that say "I will not throw things in the classroom."
Me: What were you throwing?
L: A beanbag.
Me: Did the teacher tell you to stop and you didn't?
L: No.
Me: Did you know you weren't supposed to throw beanbags inside?
L: I wasn't throwing!
Me: Did a beanbag travel some distance by leaving your hands and ending up in someone else's hands while touching nothing but air?
L (slightly smiling but sheepish): Yes.
Me: That would be throwing.

Currently feeling: displeased

Wordless Wednesday - July 15, 2015

Currently feeling: good morning, Star-shine!

How Old Is Han Solo?

For one brief but horrifying moment today, I thought I was older than any film incarnation of Han Solo that we have seen to date (remember, Episode VII doesn't come out until December!). Nope, he was 41 in Jedi, so not quite yet. Whew!
Currently feeling: wait, I'm how old?!

Definite Growth Spurt

Copyright: inbj / 123RF Stock Photo

Luke is definitely in the middle of a growth spurt. He's been tripping over his own feet for the last 2 or 3 days. I see new sneakers in our near future (he's about due anyway, though I was hoping to wait a few weeks closer to the start of school).

And then there's this comment: "Mommy, when I get off the bus for field trips at Kindercare, I have to duck now so I don't hit my head." Wait, what?!
Currently feeling: growing too fast

Lunch: A Conversation With Luke

At lunchtime....

Luke: I'm finished.
Me: You only ate one piece of pizza.
Luke: But it was a big piece.
Me: I know, but you usually eat at least 2 or 3.
Luke: I'm full.
Me: Are you sure? I really think you should eat one more.
Luke: I'm sure.
Me: And you won't be asking for more food in an hour?
Luke: No.
Me: (glances at clock and makes mental note of the time)
[1 hour and 4 minutes later]
Luke: Mommy, I'm hungry, can I have a snack?

Currently feeling:   really?!

Wordless Wednesday - July 8, 2015

Currently feeling: made it to the top! (via cable car, but he did walk down)

WIPocalypse 2015 - July 2015, First Moon

I need to hurry up and get this posted before the second July update is due! I had a great June, but I don't have a ton of pictures to show for it. Let's do the topic first, though.

Topic: Reality or Fantasy - Which do you prefer to stitch, figures or abstract?

Funny question. The reason I say that is that, had you asked me that question a year ago, I would have said figures. Maybe not "real" per se (unless you have dragons and fairies where you live), but not abstract. Then I discovered the Glendon Place Dessert Mandalas. You may have noticed that I'm working on a few of them (as in 3 so far). Definitely not figures! So, at this point, it's hard for me to say. I like what I like, and I stitch what I like. Sometimes that's figures, sometimes it's not. :-)

I did a little bit of shopping. I ordered from a new-to-me fabric dyer, Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. She had a sale on select colors, so I thought I would try a few. This is the first time I've ever bought fabric without having a predetermined project for each piece. I have some in mind for a couple of the colors, but the others were to have on hand just because I like them. So fun!

Tiramisu, by Glendon Place

I got quite a bit done on Tiramisu. I did all of that in about 8 days. It just clicks right along. I got to show it off at both of my stitching get-togethers in June! There weren't any pictures taken at the first one; we were too busy talking to get any stitching done. This is what happens when you go nearly 3 years without seeing your friends! One gets married and changes careers, the other fights off cancer. We've had a lot going on! But we're all doing well now, which is the point.

The second get-together involved driving through the Tennessee mountains. It should tell my friends a lot about how much I love them that I'm willing to do that just to see them! I stopped at the Tennessee Welcome Center in Chattanooga for a break. They give out free (tiny) Moon Pies, made right in the city.

And for the record, I do NOT recommend trying to crush your hand between the back of a chair and a metal door frame, especially your dominant hand. It hurts. A lot. For a good 10 days. I found writing, eating with a fork, and typing to be the most painful.

We went shopping, but I didn't buy anything. (Shocking, I know!) I did *finally* start Taj Mahal, though. Here's my first stitch:

My very first stitch in Taj Mahal, by Chatelaine

And my current progress (not much, I know; I haven't stitched since I got back):

Taj Mahal, by Chatelaine

I did also do a little bit of filling in the white on Titania's dress, but I didn't get a before picture. I hope to make some more progress on her before the second July update, and I'll do a "full body shot" of her then.

And with that, I will sign off. I'll catch up with you again at the end of the month.
Currently feeling: ready for the blue moon