Of Joy and Light
Today would have been Mom and Dad’s 55th wedding anniversary… and it’s the summer solstice. What a lovely day to celebrate.
A Father’s Gift
Jesse Benjamin Bateman, Jr. 1924-2009
I think of you every day, Dad, and I can still hear that wonderful laugh of yours. What a gift you’ve left me… Happy Father’s Day with much love.
Our Welcome Committee
Yesterday I discovered these props in the hallway at work. They’re being used in our Vacation Bible School next week. Just for some office fun, I assembled the parts, borrowed some clothing, added a Xeroxed image of C (our Thursday volunteer), and Voilà!… an instant greeter. I could hear C laughing as she came around the corner and was greeted by her giant self. Luckily, she has a great sense of humor.
Peeps on the Way
To my absolute delight, I discovered this nest full of eggs a couple of weeks ago while at work, and I’ve been watching it ever since. I’m quite impressed with the moss and mud construction of this cozy little abode. Sturdy and gorgeous… a great combo. Mom (an Eastern Phoebe, I believe) has been very diligent in her nest-sitting. We (as if I’m part of the process) should have little peepers any day now.
At the Races
Here are my mother-in-law, M, and my sister-in-law, C, watching the Belmont Stakes. M was quite disappointed that the horse I’ll Have Another was retired at the last minute because of injuries (she claims the Mafia was involved), but moved on to support the remaining headliners. By the time the race was over, M had given us the lowdown on how much the horses cost, what their racing odds were, and the names of their jockeys. She is a wealth of information… and it’s not just the races. H and I have discovered that his mom is well-informed on many of the great sporting events, including the European and World Cups in soccer, Wimbledon Championships, Olympic contenders, and one of her favorites (coming soon), the Tour de France. Who knew?
Following the Trail
I visited my sister today, and this is a common scene at her home… a trail of stuffed animals in various stages of fluff reduction. The culprits are the family dogs Louie and Gracie. These two goofballs spend a good bit of their days joyfully tugging, pulling, tossing, and blissfully mangling their toys. The depleted shells are sent to the “infirmary” on a regular basis. There, my niece restores the filling, sews them up, and returns them to service. In their minds, it’s a good working relationship.
The Siren Song of the Dutch Pancake
Every so often H’s mom whips up a batch of pannekoeken. These Dutch pancakes are a bit different from their American counterparts in that they are light, very thin, and usually large enough to cover the plate. The ingredients are similar (flour, butter, milk, eggs), with apples or raisins or various other goodies sometimes added. Sprinkle your pannekoek with cinnamon sugar, gently roll it with a fork, slice it, and eat.
These babies stir up warm childhood memories for my husband. As they sizzle in the pan, their tantalizing aroma wafts through the house, drawing H from his office upstairs like the proverbial moth to the flame. (Resistance is futile!) His mom always has an extra plate and a cup of tea ready for his inevitable “spontaneous visit.” I have had the pleasure of joining them on occasion – my goodness, what a treat! A lot of magic goes on in that kitchen
High-Altitude Munching
At any given moment, I can look out our window and see mourning doves wandering around the backyard, heads bobbing as if in deep thought. Being ground-feeders, it’s common to find them under the hanging bird feeders pecking away at the scattered seeds. There are, however, some who like to buck the system… they seem to prefer the challenge of a vertical meal. It must take a lot of effort and concentration to flap upwards several feet and land (usually with a thud) onto the undersized feeding tray suctioned to the glass. Rarely do they land gracefully, but they seem pleased once in place. I imagine they boast to their friends afterwards.
In the Eye of the Beholder
H and I discovered the Big Creek Greenway today, a lovely system of walking and biking trails in the neighboring city of Roswell. We hiked for almost two hours, each enjoying nature in our own way. H spent much of the time expounding on the top-notch job they did on the general construction of the walking trails and bridges, while I gleefully chattered about the abundance of mushrooms. I must say, our differences definitely make for lively conversation.
Forever Mom
Peggy Lee Deese Bateman, 1931-1994
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you, Mom… Happy Mother’s Day with much love.
Tree Fishing 