Thanksgiving and House Guests

Over the last month I've thought many times of Loretta Lynn's words as she stood on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry and said, "My life's running me..."

"Doo?  Where's Doo?"

Thanksgiving was fine; it wasn't the same without my Pirate Husband but we had a good evening with our family gathered around the table, everyone stating what they were most thankful for this year, and thanking the LORD for bringing us together.  (Which is no small miracle this year!)  

The turkey was a fresh, young bird from Bowman and Landes, where we've gotten our turkey for the last quarter of a century: http://www.bowmanlandes.com/ .  It was juicy and brushed with butter, herbs, and white wine every thirty minutes according to the same Martha Stewart recipe I have always used.  

And then....the "House Guests" arrived.  

Reno at/on the dining room table.

Our son, Michael, is in the middle of a big move and requested, begged, cajoled us into allowing his two pit bulls to stay here with me for a month (or so) while he gets settled.

Reno and Zero (I call her Sister)

Now, I am a dog lover, I really am.  Since my big pooch, Sadie Girl, has gone on to Heaven, I have missed having a big, slobbery, loving pup around.  Or so I thought.  These two grandpups of mine are just about more than I can manage. 

 

Sweet Sadie Girl - beloved friend.

At first things seemed to go well.  Reno is a good boy, good on the leash, halts, heels, and listens pretty well.  Sister (Zero), well, not so much.  The girl is ill mannered, fat, hyper, and because she is a mixed pit bull, her nose is not made for her face and she snorts like a pot-bellied pig all around the yard. But she is just about the cutest thing!  She's loving and sweet but ornery; she's quite the pig stealing every treat from Reno! 

I made a big mistake one night; you know how we can get comfortable and that pride comes before a fall.  I had been out and returned wearing high heeled boots and didn't change to walk Reno.  Well, he saw the neighbor's trash sitting out and took off down the hill of our front yard...with me in tow....in the high heeled boots and a very odd European ski cap...right into the street in front of an SUV.  Humiliated, bleeding, and crawling out of the middle of the street, I cried for him to come back so he didn't get lost.  What a sight for my neighbors!  I called my son as I chased him from house to house - almost had him as he pressed his big red nose against one neighbor's glass door, looking in on them!  Michael ordered me to sit down - just sit down on the ground and Reno would come to me.  That's just what he did.  

I know this slope doesn't look
like much but with snow and being
dragged 30 mph by a pit bull....well.

Now, the SUV drivers, a nice couple from Ireland, must have thought I was drunk or that a pit bull was on the loose in the neighborhood, and called the police.  Here came the police cruiser slowing to a crawl, watching me as I held my head high in that ridiculous ski cap, high heeled boots, torn pants, torn knee, bleeding hand, and pit bull on a leash, marching him home. I smiled and waved hoping he didn't see the tears streaking down my face.  

The Pirate Husband is home now.  He recently told me that if I wanted to get a German Shepherd Dog or an Irish Wolfhound, to go ahead.  That's what I thought I wanted.  Maybe I can make it with the 4.5 lb Chihuahua.  Little dog, little mess.  Big dog, big mess.  As our youngest son said, "No dog, no mess!"  

Please, Reno, go into your kennel
 for Poppi....nope.

What wouldn't you do to help your family, though?  Messes can be cleaned, carpets replaced (I was looking to replace with wood flooring any way, right?), etc., etc.  We love our son and yes, we do love his pups.  He will get them as soon as he can. Prayers would be appreciated!

Michael & his loving pups!

  

Popcorn by Phone

 It's those bittersweet chats that really make me miss that man.  Tonight he called to ask me how to make popcorn.  Such a sweet call.  He lit his tiny alcohol stove, put olive oil in the bottom of his tiny kettle, added the popcorn, and within forty-five seconds he had a nice evening treat.  He added a drizzle of olive oil, dash of salt, and sprinkled it with Parmesan cheese...just like I did today.   

Just made me miss him all the more.  One week and one day since I kissed him goodbye.  Most days I'm good; tonight I'm sad.

He's Gone Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ85n_eyIXo

What wouldn't I do for this man that I love?

My Pirate Husband is Gone Again

November 4, 2013 - prettiest fall day 

to leave Pier 99 in Warsaw, KY on the Ohio River

Goodbye, my Love.

What's a lady to do?  

Shopping and lunch with her sister!

The Pirate Husband Heads Out Again

It's That Time Again

The last six weeks have been great - unlike the previous six weeks.  While Sixteen Tons has been on the Ohio River having repairs made, that Pirate Husband of mine has popped in here at home every couple of days.  

  

  

Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce

Friday afternoon he completely surprised me!  I was so filled with joy to see him come through the door unexpectedly.  

We spent this weekend getting the provisions for the next leg of his journey.  This will be months longer than the first trip from Toledo to the Ohio River.  My heart can't take it.  It's not so much that I don't want him to make this adventure, nor that I want to participate in his adventure; it's that I miss his body and soul, his hand to hold, his blue eyes....well, I could go on.  I don't want him to see me as some wimpy lady so it's time to get my tough exterior back on, or as I refer to it, get my "Angelina Jolie" back on.  (Getting my "Sarah Conner" on is for shooting any intruders!)

Today I'll drive him to the boat, we'll pack her back up, spend the night, then he'll be off again.  

Is there any doubt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_raVBtLYnM

Grandbabies

3 

Psalm 127: 3 "Children too are a gift from YHWH..."

What wonderful days we have enjoyed in our family this last week.

Thursday we were blessed with another new Little Princess in our family.  Her name has not been chosen yet but she is beautiful and loved already!  

Little Princess #5

Saturday was Family Day aboard Sixteen Tons and this is our grandson at the helm:

Ivan wants to be a pirate like Poppi!

What is more romantic....

It has been a great weekend.  Rain pouring from steel-grey skies, wind blowing the first of the fall leaves from the trees, and having my Pirate Husband around.

While his boat is only a little more than an hour away from our home, he pops in every few days.  This weekend, even though he is making his plans for the next leg of his journey, he came home for a special day with me.  This was the weekend we've waited for five long months.  The library book sale!

It's true.  We waited in line in the rain to be some of the first folks through the door and we scoured tables for audio books and children's books.  

Yes, I find this extremely romantic!  We're in a battle to get the best books we can and we're fighting the crowds -our mission together!  Quite interestingly, he decided to help me out getting books for the preschool I own and operate instead of searching for audio books for his trip.  Little did he know that I decided to first search for audio books for him!  When we met up he had huge stacks of children's books and I had as many audio books waiting for him!  You know....who does that for each other? That's what I find romantic.  All in all I think we have dozens and dozens of audio books and about 100 children's books...we spent a whopping $8 for all of it  - wooooo hoooooo!