Showered With Love

What a fun, full, fantabulous weekend we've just had, with friends and family here to shower the momma-to-be with love and diapers and lots of baby blue. What a treat to have both my girls and my grandsons in the house all weekend long.

Their husbands were working so it was just the originals for a few days, which is marvelous and rare. The originals plus the grandsons which is also something special. 

The mancub photobombed almost every picture snapped this weekend which was hilarious and precious. Baby Max was having none of it. He was too busy making change and ordering 'cleanup on aisle 4' through the microphone on our Barbie cash register, circa 1990-something. I found it while rifling though some boxes last week and it was a big hit. 

We took a boat ride Thursday afternoon, everyone but the baby momma who at almost nine months pregnant was not up for a cruise. 

The boys took turns playing captain and the mancub did his best to try to talk us into letting him go for a swim. We finally let him put his feet in and he decided for himself to wait for next time. 

Friday we spent the day doing the final prep for our Saturday celebration. Hubs brother and sister-in-law arrived with his mom late afternoon and after an easy pizza dinner we girls got busy wrapping up the food and decor, and laying out the umpteen hundred dishes, serving utensils, tablecloths, bowls, platters, and glassware we were going to haul up to our clubhouse Saturday morning. 

We made twenty two hundred trips to the car to get it all loaded and then another twenty two hundred trips from the car to the clubhouse to get it all unloaded, then did it all again in reverse once the shower wrapped up. Whew! I could not have done this without daughter1 and my sister-in-law who are rock stars when it comes to this sort of thing. 

The shower was darling. I could not have loved this theme more and all the little details came together so sweetly to make a really lovely day. 

the grandmothers

Once I discovered daughter2's wallpaper from the very first house we brought her home to some 30+ years ago I knew I wanted a Peter Rabbit theme. I love the stories and soft colors and the garden setting so that's what we did. 

Daughter1 found the cutest printable on Etsy, a giant book taken from the Tale of Peter Rabbit, but personalized to the mom and dad to be. She ordered a poster sized print, had it professionally mounted on some foam board, and set it on an easel with fresh greenery added both top and bottom. 

We used A Beatrix Potter Treasury as our guest book, and set up a mini-garden, complete with Peter's little blue sweater hanging on a stand my brother-in-law made. 

We used fresh cabbage, radish, a watering can filled with hydrangea, and some marigolds and terra cotta pots to complete the look. 

There was a jar filled with cottontails for everyone to guess the number and lettuce seed packets as favors for our guests. 

Lunch was a 'make your own salad' from Mr. McGregor's garden served on my china, my grandmother's china, and daughter2's mother-in-law's china which all felt extra special. 

We had green salad, pasta salad, chicken salad, fresh fruit salad, and pimento cheese served on a combination of my sister-in-law's beautiful cabbage dishes and my Italian vegetable bowl and platter.

 Guests were also served a cup of carrot-ginger soup and there were yummy cupcakes for dessert. 

We played a fun game and oohed and ahhed over all the cute baby boy clothes and gear she was given. Baby gear has surely come a long long way since I birthed mine and that's a good thing. 

the great-grandmothers

The best part of the weekend was seeing Daughter2 surrounded by so many people who love her so dearly. Friends and family who have supported her, rooted for her, and prayed for this precious little boy she and her hubs are adding to our family. 

We don't know him yet, but we already love him more than words can say.

There Once Was A Hodgepodge On Wednesday

Welcome to another edition of your weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What do you never get tired of? 

watermelon, popcorn, small acts of kindness, a bright blue sky, watching the sun rise

2. My mother made the best enchiladas.

3. What machine or appliance in your home aggravates you the most? Why? 

Besides the computer you mean, because that's a given? Of our home appliances I guess I'll say the TV. The remotes still make me crazy, I guess because they are basically mini computers. I try, but operating the tv like a computer does not come naturally to me. 

4. What are three things that brighten up your day when they happen? 

A facetime call with the mancubs
A spontaneous invitation to dinner 
Checking off my to-do list

5. Thursday (May 12) is National Limerick Day...write a limerick about relating to spring weather, spring blooms, or a spring event (five lines, the first two lines rhyme with the fifth line, the third and fourth lines rhyme together).

There once was a bird on a rock
His eyes on a chipmunk were locked
He swept in for the grab
The chipmunk he nabbed
His dinner he ate on the dock. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Who plays Mahjong? I'm learning and it's a lot of fun. I probably don't need any more games to play but this one requires a bit of skill so good for the brain, right? 

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Pass The WD 40 Please

I'm rusty. I feel like we should catch up here, but what exactly have we been doing that you need catching up on? Not a whole lot. 

Actually a whole lot, but nothing really blog worthy. 

We had friends visit two weekends ago and that was a lot of fun. The weather was delightful so we took the boat out, showed them tiny town, hubs was helping with a car show in our neighborhood so we spent some time there, and we visited our local wine bar and the Italian restaurant in town. 

Lots of talking and late nights. 

And pollen. Can't forget the pollen. It won't let us forget. 

We had our deck railings and all the pillars stained and hubs spent today getting all the cushions and plant pots back where they belong. 

Mother's Day happened. No girls or grands in the house, and raise your hand if you thought my kids would live closer and be here for all the holidays and are actually here for none. Life y'all. One is eight months pregnant and one is just a little too far geographically to make two weekend treks in a row so we pick and choose. 

My girls are thoughtful though, and they sent lovely gifts and special cards and hubs and I went to church then brunch after. Then a nap because Sunday naps are my jam. 

Both girls will be in the house this coming weekend with the grandboys, and I cannot wait. We're having a shower for Daughter2 and are so excited to celebrate baby boy coming soon. Not before next Saturday though because we want to have this shower lol. 

On Monday the mancub called us first thing in the morning and when we answered he said, 'I can't wait to see you soon.' Be still my heart. He is so like his momma when it comes to extended family. 

My mom is coming to town for the shower and will stay for several weeks after. We have some fun things planned while she's here including a road trip to Tennessee so she can see where her grandgirls live. Knowing I'll see my girls and the cutest little men on the planet again next week will make saying goodbye to them on Sunday a little easier. 

My older sister lives nearby so we'll share time with my mom which works out well, 'specially if baby boy decides to come early. If he's anything like his momma he'll hang out well past his due date. 

Also, I hope he's exactly like his momma because she's the best. 

And I guess you're all caught up now. 
Mostly caught up. 

There are always things I opt not to write about here in an effort to keep this space peaceful and upbeat. We live in a world where everyone feels the need to comment on every big and little thing, but more and more I am choosing to keep mum about the train that is today's culture flying off the track. 

Which doesn't mean I don't have opinions. I just  prefer sharing mine face to face, and will gladly discuss all manner of the world's ills over a cup of tea on my back porch. 

Remember when social media felt a little bit like inviting people into your living room? 
Now it's more like inviting them into the ring. Or maybe shoving them in? 

No thanks. 

The sky is a cloudless true blue today and the grass is finally green. Flowers are blooming and our bluebirds are nesting and when I step away from the noise of the Internet I remember the world is a beautiful place. 

Happy Spring! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 462

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. What do you never get tired of? 

2. My mother made the best ________________________________. 

3. What machine or appliance in your home aggravates you the most? Why? 

4. What are three things that brighten up your day when they happen? 

5. Thursday (May 12) is National Limerick Day...write a limerick about relating to spring weather, spring blooms, or a spring event (five lines, the first two lines rhyme with the fifth line, the third and fourth lines rhyme together)

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It May Be Time For The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. May Day! May Day!...last time you shouted for help? Or maybe just asked?

I don't think I've shouted for help lately but I'm sure I've asked. Nothing remarkable comes to mind, it was probably something like asking the hubs to carry something downstairs, or lend a hand with something in the kitchen. 

2. What's something you may do this month? 

I may get my closet cleaned out. It's overdue. 

3.  'April showers bring May flowers'...is this true where you live? What's blooming? What's your favorite springtime blossom?

This saying rings true here. We are in full springtime mode and I've got the itchy eyes and sinus headache to prove it. The pollen here is something else y'all. But there is beauty too. 

Azaleas, iris, and my lily of the valley are all in full bloom in our yard and my knock out roses are opening up too. Trees are leafed out, hydrangea will open soon, and we'll probably try to get some plants potted for the porches this weekend. 

My favorite springtime blossom? Impossible to choose but peonies and lilac rank right up there. 

4. What's something you learned at your mother's knee?

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you' 1 Peter 5:7

5. Share a thought about motherhood. 

Just one? I've written hundreds of words on the subject. Here's a post I wrote back in 2013, and it's a favorite-

K is for Keepers

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Happy happy Mother's Day to the momma who made me Nana-

To the soon-to-be momma...

And to my own much loved momma...

These women have helped make me who I am and are so dearly loved. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 461

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. May Day! May Day!...last time you shouted for help? Or maybe just asked? 

2. What's something you may do this month? 

3.  'April showers bring May flowers'...is this true where you live? What's blooming? What's your favorite springtime blossom?

4. What's something you learned at your mother's knee?

5. Share a thought about motherhood. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Zipping Up The A-Z Blog Challenge

Hello May. Pretend it's yesterday, the final day in the April A-Z Blog Challenge. Thanks for following along this year. Since it's the weekend it's time for a list of 'a few of my favorite things' starting with today's letter which, not gonna lie, is not easy. I may have taken some liberties here and there, but one does what one must to cross the finish line. Here we go-

 Day 26-Z is for a zillion little things

zesty key lime pie
zipping into my favorite little black dress
the waZe app for city driving
being in the (writing) zone
a soft cool breeZe on a summer's day
a nice glass of Red Zinfadel
a nap when I feel zonked
a trip to the zoo with my favorite little men
a choriZo sandwich from that Borough Market stall
zero issues when traveling
one doZen freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
dinner music jazz
a bright blooming pot of zinnias 
zucchini fritters
my comfy zip up fleece
good citiZens
Zoom calls during the height of Covid
a Zen garden
haZe on the mountains giving way to sunny skies
zzz...a good night's sleep

1.