F is For Friday And Other Favorite Stuff

I have a bunch of miscellaneous moment pictures from last week's hoopla and thought I'd post some of my favorites here today.

F is for funny faces-the mister was way too mobile for a bath in the big tub. I'd seen someone online suggest putting a laundry basket in there to contain his wiggly squiggly self so we gave that a try.

Yeah. He was way too busy to sit in a laundry tub in the big bath, so it was back to bathing in the farm sink Day 2. I love the way he and his Aunt M are making the same funny face. 

2. F is for feed the birds-every morning hubs feeds the bluebirds and fills the bird feeders. 

Last week this little guy was his right hand man and he loved it. Baby boy loved it too.

F is for first taste of a fruit pop-

Dining al fresco-

And fun PawPaws who juggle-



F is for the fab four-

Fish under your feet-

And these free and easy days on the lake-

Fantastical moments with a fabulous baby boy and the mama who loves him-

F is for fast and the way time flies when you're having fun.  
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She Said Yes To The Dress

I think I might have mentioned Daughter2 is getting married, but in case I didn't-

...she's getting married!

And of course she has asked her big sister, the person she's loved best and longest, to be at her side on the big day. She had the most adorable box of personalized goodies made as a way of asking, including this little print-

One of the things Daughter2 has looked forward to the most was having her sister with her for dress shopping. That sounds simple enough, but with the bride in the southeastern corner of the US of A and her sister in the northwestern corner of the US of A, maybe not so simple.

It's okay. We're all used to not simple round here.

We were so excited with the way timing worked out for Daughter1's trip to the lake (note to self: in all things wedding related timing generally works out), and we happily scheduled an afternoon of dress shopping last Thursday.

Our appointment was for 5 PM, but we wanted to pop in to the reception venue just before that so Daughter1 could see it up close and in person. She worked in events and sometimes notices things about a space that I might miss. It was really fun to see the venue again and I'm excited to see it all prettied up for the big day.

Which is still many many days away, but anticipation is all part of the fun.

We dropped baby boy at his other grandparents house then headed to the very lovely bridal shop where we had the nicest afternoon I've had in a long time. This particular shop books appointments so we were the only people there, never felt rushed, and our consultant was so sweet and helpful in understanding the different bits and pieces (fabric, cut, neckline, back, sparkle, etc) Daughter2 was hoping to find in a gown.

Our plan had originally been to have a first look in this shop, then perhaps check a second shop only because Daughter2 wasn't exactly sure what she wanted.

Except she kind of was.

And y'all she's such a beauty. When I saw her in 'her' dress the word that came instantly to mind was breathtaking. As in she literally took my breath away.

She tried on several dresses, but came back to this one every time and it's absolute perfection. As soon as the consultant set the veil on her head she knew.

I knew the minute I saw her step out of the dressing room in it, but that's because I'm her momma.

And now a public service announcement for anyone who's watched too much TV-

I don't believe there's just one dress out there that's right for you. Nor do I think you need to try on  umpteen million to find 'the one'. In fact I think if you try on too many it all becomes a jumble and none feel like the one. There are many, many dresses you can look and feel beautiful in on your special day. My philosophy is choose one you love, one you feel comfortable in, and most importantly one you feel like YOU in.

Then love that dress.

Your dress.

And that's what she did.

Heigh Ho Heigh Ho It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the person linking before you. And anyone else you have a chance to visit today because comments make the blog world go round.

Here we go-

1. What would you say is your biggest day to day challenge?

Hmmm...what's for dinner? I mean seriously, every single day. Or maybe loading pictures onto my blog? In the past year this computer, or maybe it's blogger or perhaps the it's the operator has become persnickety. If I upload photos to my computer I have to shut the whole thing down and restart in order for them to be made available for upload to my blog, even though I can see them in my photos. So annoying! Of course I'm not doing that every day, so maybe that doesn't count as an answer to this question. 

I guess I'm going to say carving out chunks of time for writing or establishing a routine when it comes to writing. I'm all over the map and mostly it feels like snippets are all I can manage these days. I find it really frustrating. 

2. May 16th is National Biographers Day. What's a biography you really enjoyed reading? Is this a genre you read regularly?

One of my all-time favorite books is The Hiding Place. It's classified as a biography even though Corrie ten Boom is listed as one of the authors along with John and Elizabeth Sherril. And yes I do enjoy reading biographies, but wouldn't say that's my go-to genre. 

3. How important is keeping a clean house? Do you need to de-clutter your life?

I like a clean house but am not an obsessive cleaner. I want my home to feel comfortable, like you could plop down on the couch and we could relax with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. A too tidy house makes me twitch. 

My hubs likes to vacuum so he stays on top of that. He's also in charge of (and excels at) cleaning the stove top and the granite. We share the housekeeping chores, and since there's usually just the two of us here not a lot of mess. Dust is another story. Where does it all come from???

4. You're the 8th dwarf. What's your name?

Gabby of course. 

5. What's surprised you the most about your life or life in general?

How fast time moves. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

"It wouldn't be a holiday round here without a hedgehog in there somewhere." What my daughter2 said when she gave me the most adorable Mother's Day gift-

I love it! She gave me the cutest box filled with all kinds of goodies including these glasses, one for her and one for me. 

Hers says 'I got it from my Mama' and mine says 'She got it from me'.  

She's my favorite bride-to-be. 




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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 352

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. What would you say is your biggest day to day challenge?

2. May 16th is National Biographers Day. What's a biography you really enjoyed reading? Is this a genre you read regularly?

3. How important is keeping a clean house? Do you need to de-clutter your life?

4. You're the 8th dwarf. What's your name?

5. What's surprised you the most about your life or life in general?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah

The last of my company pulled away this morning and I'm pretty sure there's a nap with my name on it in the plans for today. Can pollen kill you? Because I feel like I might keel over from the pollen and am so ready for it to cease and desist.

Also it was actually hubs who pulled away with the last of my company this morning, the last being his mama. He's driving her back to Tennessee then turning around and driving back to SC because time and house guests wait for no man. The next wave rolls in this weekend so there are beds to change and groceries to buy and shenanigans to plan. FYI-the next wave will be some of my college sorority sisters and we have a royal wedding to attend. In our pjs, but still there will be scones and Pimms and maybe a tiara or two. Like I said, I need to plan.

And learn how to take a selfie. Still haven't mastered the selfie face. My eyes are half closed and I've got that puzzled expression I save for selfies. Oh well, what matters is the moment, right? Well the moment was magic.

Let's talk about Mother's Day. Mine was lovely and filled with some of my favorite women in the whole wide world. The one who birthed me and the ones I birthed. Women I'm related to by DNA, by marriage, and by my daughter's marriage.

Mamas and mothers-in-law, sisters and sisters-in-law, cousins, aunts, nieces, grandmothers and great-grands too.

How extra special it was to have this little mancub in our midst surrounded by so much love on Mother's Day.

These women are strong and gentle. Generous and creative. Smart and funny and full of opinions and wisdom and life experience. They're readers and gardeners and students and teachers and crafters and cooks and prayers and selfless givers.

They are storytellers and memory makers.

Keepers of the flame and passers of the torch.

Most of all they love so well.
I think when we're loved well we can conquer the world...

...or at least believe we can.
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Mother May I Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I've got a houseful here pretty much all month long, but I squeezed in the HP this week because priorities people. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Wishing all the Mamas reading here today a very happy Mother's Day!

1. What are your ingredients for a perfect Saturday?

Spectacular weather. After that I'm good with leisurely coffee and lake time. If my children and grandson are in the house that will be the cherry on top. 

2. What skill do you wish more people took the time to learn?

Which lane is the slow lane and which lane is the passing lane. Also why it's important not to confuse the two. 

3. What's something you ate as a child you can't stand now as an adult?

There was a short period of time where my sister and I put ketchup on our rice. Obviously I don't do that anymore so I'm not sure it qualifies as something I can't stand, but it definitely does not appeal.  

4. Something parenting has taught you? If you're not a parent tell us one important lesson you learned from your own parents.

Parenting has taught me so much about how God loves. It's given me a glimpse into how God feels about me, his child. Honestly I'm overwhelmed by it sometimes. Motherhood lets us see in part, understand in part, the depth and breadth of the love God has for His children. It's a love that is forgiving, sacrificial, and not dependent on our response to it. 

5. Share a favorite quote or saying about mothers or motherhood.

'I have so much of you in my heart.' 

John Keats

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My grandson is here visiting and I could post one or ten pictures of him in this space, but instead will save those for a post of their own. Another post of their own. ahem. See Tuesday. 

How about a true random? We added stone to the columns on the back patio at the end of last week and we're really pleased with the end result. Technically 'we' didn't add the stone, but rather the stone people worked their magic and voila-

Also, my peony bloomed and there are few things in a garden that make me happier than a peony in bloom. 

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Busy Busy Busy

If you're here for this week's Hodgepodge questions, scroll on down to the previous post. 

Saturday hubs and I drove to Atlanta to pick up Daughter1 and the mancub for a week at the lake. I wasn't happy about it at all-ha!

This was Daughter1's first time flying solo with him and he was an absolute champ. Who can resist this face y'all??? Our son-in-law will be joining Daughter1 at the lake next weekend, then they're taking a little holiday, so lots of gear. LOTS! My girl who is no bigger than a minute dragged a suitcase behind her the size of herself, pushed a stroller in front of her zipped up in its carry case with a car seat perched on top and a diaper bag and tote stashed underneath, and she wore her baby. Whew! 

His aunt and soon-to-be uncle were there to greet him when we got to the house and then Daughter1's in-laws came for dinner. They'll move over to their house later in the week because we all need a turn waking up to his smiling face in our own house. The evening's entertainment consisted of everyone sitting around watching the mancub. We're grandparents. It's what we do. And you'd never know he'd gotten out of bed in the middle of the night, flown five hours cross country, then made a two hour car ride to the lake.

This little guy was the center of attention all weekend long and he just goes with the flow y'all. So sweet and easy and good tempered all the time.

And he is busy! I mean BUSY! Busy busy busy. He sleeps hard all night long, naps twice a day like it's his job, eats when it's time to eat, and the rest of the time? He is on.the.move. If he's not eating or sleeping he is crawling, climbing, pulling up on everything and everybody, and basically charming all who cross his path with those big blue eyes and sweet sweet smile.

Sunday morning started with a stroll to the dock in their pjs because Daughter1 could not get over the warm air and big yellow ball in the sky. What an absolutely beautiful day it was! Her in-laws came for breakfast and baby snuggles then had an event to get to so they left and the next wave rolled in around 2. My sister and brother-in-law drove over from a nearby town bringing my mother with them.

She's in the Palmetto State for a little visit and of course wanted to see her great grandson. And I think me too, but mostly her great grandson. It's okay. We get it. 

My niece and her boyfriend came too, because a baby boy just cannot have too many people adore him.

Also, we can talk weddings and be entertained by the mister all at the same time. Just sayin'.

I think his new uncle is gonna be a favorite. Actually he's pretty crazy about all the aunts and uncles he's met so far. Still a few more to introduce him too, but he definitely loved singing 'trot little horsey go to town...' with his great aunt P.

He's already mastered the game of cornhole.

It was such a fun day, filled with spectacular weather, food, and company. So what was the best part of this picture perfect day for me?

This-

Always this.

 'Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina...