Sleeping Babies

Olivia and Leah are sleeping on their couches. I'm going to sleep on my couch beside them. They are so peaceful and sleeping so quietly. When they wake up in the morning it will be a different story. They will be excited to see each other. Olivia was sleeping before I got back from Bardstown with Leah so she doesn't know she is here. Porch Cat was sickly this morning but was missing by the time I got an appointment with the vet. He hasn't reappeared. I hope he hasn't died under the house. We would have to move. Maybe he will show up tomorrow. He must know he was going to the vet and would probably come back dead. Tonight Mama cooked green beans, fried corn and potatoes. It was so good, the best thing I've eaten for days. I must go to sleep, I'm beginning to see ghosts moving around.   

Four generations

We were four generations at church this morning. Mama, me, John Michael, and Olivia. We range in age from 85 to almost 2. Olivia played in my purse during most of the service. She wadded up the bills and dropped the change on the floor. The chewing gum was hot in her mouth but she wanted 2 pieces which she spit out into a baby wipe. How could we live without baby wipes? She had a really good time with a toothpick she found in my purse. I'm sure the people behind us had fun watching her. Olivia always enjoys the music and she wasn't interested in anything else during the whole music service. With  both the choir and orchestra she had lots of good music to hear. After church we ate Mexican food. But first we stopped at McDonald's for french fries for Olivia. She ate chips too. We had fajitas which were mighty fine. Olivia wanted to visit Mammo, which is what she has named her great-grandmother. So they listened to music, Olivia jumped on the bed and played with her toys. Mama's house is quickly taking on the appearance of a house with children, which it has always been. My stress level is high tonight. I can't seem to get calm. Maybe some quiet music and something calm to read will help. John Wayne is in Louisville until Wednesday attending the KY Rural Water Association meeting. In October we go to Biloxi to the national conference. The sunshine wasn't right for making pictures. Hopefully I can get some shots this week on the road going from Hartford to Livermore. I saw 2 houses that are just perfect. The larger of the two has curtains in the windows and the lawn has been tended. I wonder what stories it will tell me. I didn't get all of my walking done today. Maybe I'll be ambitious and walk early in the morning. Maybe not.

What I'm reading: Kettle Bottom by Diane Fisher

What worries me: John Michael

Who I miss: Susan

Where I would like to be: Jerusalem

Reading

I finished reading A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Michael Cunningham. It took a turn at the end that I didn't like but it had to happen. No happy endings, I guess. I marked several passages where I found pieces of wisdom or just thoughts that I liked and moved me almost to tears but not quite. Olivia is asleep in the house. I sleep better with a baby in the house. I know I have to sleep to be ready for her when she needs me. This afternoon Olivia went to visit Mama, her great-grandmother. She calls her Mammo, I guess that is a close spelling of Olivia's take on Grandmama. She likes to go there to jump on the bed and wade in the branch. She also likes to write, play with dolls, and push a toy grocery cart full of her favorite things. She is never in a hurry to leave Mammo, waving bye-bye until the house is out of sight. Olivia also says bye-bye Honey to us all. That lets me know how many of us call her honey. She's a lucky little girl to be able to visit her great-grandmother. Passers-by would be easily fooled when they see Mama's yard. It has again taken on the appearance of a place full of children. And if they looked inside they would be certain that children lived in the house. What do I read now? I'm catching up with my Bible reading and by tomorrow I'll be back on track. Now I'm reading Ezekiel. Getting ready to read Chapter 37 about the Valley of the Dry Bones. Leah got a bad bump on her head today. Reminded me of the marble top table falling on her, scaring me half to death. The marble is still on the floor where it will probably be until Leah and Olivia are grown. I'm heading upstairs to read and hopefully to sleep.

What I might read: Kettle Bottom by Diane Fisher (for the second time)

What I'm thinking: I have so many books I want to read that I don't know where to start.

What I'm worrying about: My granddaughters and the trials they face.

 

Kafka

On 22 January 1922 Kafka wrote in his journal - Nocturnal resolve.

I understand this all too well. In the middle of the night I can compose wonderful passages in my journal. I can see the broad strokes of green ink on a page of cream parchment. and hear the scritch-scratch of the nib as I record my innermost thoughts. But, in the morning, search though I may, the ink has vaporated and I have lost those pieces of wisdom. I plod through days knowing this journal is neglected. So it has my attention now. I hope it holds me fast.

This past Monday Mama and I went to Owensboro for various meanderings. We ended up on the bank of the Ohio River. We had our sandwiches from Lic's, Mama eating chicken salad and me with my favorite Gourmet Sub, minus the corned beef (shudder, shudder). The day was just right, the river intriguing, reminding me of Bohannan Cartwright, although he navigated the Green River. Mama's stories of her trips to the river bank when she was a child delighted me and made me frantic to get these stories on paper. She related their trip from Fordsville, some 25 miles. It was the rare trip that failed to see flat tires or a steaming radiator. A cloudburst could nearly hide the tires in mud. My mother and each of her three brothers received a quarter for spending money. Mama always spent her money in the first store. Once they stopped at the grocery first and Mama spent her quarter on 2 peaches and a canteloupe. Then she was sad so her Poppa slipped her a dime, since she was the only girl. When they went to the dime store her brothers would play with the toy cars, rolling them all over the floor making motor sounds. Pole, as she called her father, would take a nap on a park bench, covering his face with his hat. Now there is a wrought iron fence that keeps visitors from toppling over the edge into the river. Mama says there was no such protection then and wonders how they all kept from drowning. We left the river bank to make the dreaded walmart trip. The experiences were strikingly different. Down by the river my mother took me into her world during a time that she remembers with such clarity. On our way home we tried to forget walmart!!

What I'm Reading: A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham

What I'm Thinking: I wish all my granddaughters were here with me.

What I'm Neglecting: My Bible Reading (but I'm working on it!!)

Mama just called so we are going to the dollar store. One more in our series of treks.

Shalom

hello this is alice

i go to go clean bye