Ingredients for a Successful Party...

Family, Friends, Food & Love.Having two children with February births, exactly 51 weeks apart, has recently developed into a joint celebration. Though I kept them separate through their childhood years, they don't seem to mind sharing the occasion now that they are grown and have children of their own. The only snag being that our long-time family tradition has been to prepare the most favorite meal for the guest of honor. That resulted in a double meal of Shish Ke-Bab and ham with sweet potatoes. I tried a Sweet Potato Salad and you will find the recipe HERE. It was a great hit.

Because most of my guests travel from out of town, a party here is generally a two day affair with plenty of time for hanging out, having fun and catching up. For a time, all of the children seem to belong to all of the adults as rides on a 4-wheeler and

football in the yard

and even bouts of tickling and wrestling take place.

The birthday gift that had most meaning (and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone) was a book made by my son's 4 children. Each had written and read their "story-poem"...one was about a worm that lived in a jar and had a baby worm and went to the store to buy a white horse named Alice. Another was a poem that rhymed on almost every line about a guy named Bill who lived on a hill "way down yonder in Caryville". He had a friend named Phil who took a pill and I can't remember what else but it went on and on and on and we laughed so long and hard that it hurt.

But there was a solemn side to our gathering. An unexpected, but most welcome guest, was my stepdaughter who made a 13 hour drive to attend her dying mother in a nearby town. Under the circumstances, though hugs were abundant and tears were held at bay, there seemed to be an underlying awareness of the value of our lives and the blessings we enjoy. There was a closeness between adults and children as though we were asking ourselves what others would remember of us when we are no longer here. Children snuggled with uncles...

and uncles, lost in thought, considered the miracle in a tiny hand...

and taught a nephew to make a train whistle out of cupped hands.

A dozen pictures must have been taken of one of the toddler twins who had just discovered that pockets can hold many things as he added rocks and twigs to his collection of toy cars and favorite giraffe.

My photographer daughter, Michelle, captured this image as her little niece walked along our country lane and it touched my heart, reminding me of much simpler times.

So, the party and the pictures and the passing of a family member has set me to thinking...I began this blog in an attempt to inspire and encourage others who, much like me, must make do with less than we'd like from time to time. It's curious to me that through all the ups and downs of my life, I've never thought of my self as unfortunate. I suppose it is that being blessed with the richness of family and friends and loyalty and love, I have never thought of myself as poor, even when I have been. Now, the weak economy in so many parts of world has some of us concerned and finds some of us struggling...
and I have an idea...
for years, I've wanted a studio and for years it hasn't happened. THIS YEAR I intend to see it built, not as some grand extension of our home but as a simple out building with the advantage of allowing us to live in it, "off the grid", if need be. In a few days, I'll post my drawings and will update my progress regularly so you can see where it is that my "almost free" garden path leads.