The Dog Days of Hodgepodge

Well, I have returned safe and sound from our whirlwind trip to Ohio.

It was as hot and muggy as it was down here...no surprise there.

The weekend was crazy fun, running from hither and thither, 

seeing the faces of nieces and nephews I hadn't seen since 2010 at Mom's funeral,

and loving on my siblings, minus one.

We were able to Face Time my brother, Bob, who was. as expected, unable to be there.

One sister took her phone around to every person there, allowing him to talk to (and see) them.

We plan to get a group together soon to go visit him in South Carolina.

~

Meanwhile, back at the pool...

It's always fun to get a photo of all of the grands together.

They are all growing up so fast...Dacey and Dylan are young men already...

...they need to just slow it down a bit!

Oh me...it makes this Mawmaw feel old.

The time went by way too fast as it always does and everyone had a great time!

~

So now, let's get on with the Hodgepodge...

...where Joyce asks the really hard questions and we answer them on our blogs.

Here they are:

1. We've reached edition number 315 here in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So tell us, what were you doing at 3:15 yesterday? Is that typical? On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high) what's your energy level usually like at 3:15 PM?

Wow. Joyce...that is pretty amazing that you have hosted 315 hodgepodges! So, I am writing this on Tuesday and yesterday at 3:15 I was watching Judge Judy, waiting for President Trump to speak. Although I do find Judge Judy rather entertaining, I only watch her occasionally. but I do make a point to watch Mr. President when I can. To tell you the truth, I have never thought much about my energy level at that time of the afternoon. On a normal workday, 3:15 just comes and goes and all I am really thinking is that 5:00 isn't far away. I'm not really tired...or maybe I am...tired of sitting at my desk and ready to get home for the evening.

2. A frisbee, a tantrum, a towel, a party, a punch, or a curveball...which have you most recently thrown or had thrown at/for you? Elaborate.

My brain is still in vaca mode and this is a hard question. The first five are definitely out...I can't remember the last time I threw any one of those things or visa versa. Even though I can't be specific on dates and times, let me just say that life, in general, can throw us all a curveball at any 'ol time. Jesus has certainly caught His share of curveballs for me and for that I am thankful!

3. What are three things that would help you right now. Tell us how or why.

Only three?? Right now...this very minute?? Let's see...how about the willpower, determination and the wherewithal...whatever you want to call it...to lose the extra pounds that have been hanging around way too long. The older I get, the harder they are to lose and becoming more of a burden.

4. Do you think you're strong? Why or why not? What makes you strong? 

Yes, I would say that I'm strong. I've made it through many dark places and I haven't lost hope because I know who holds tomorrow...."and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness." ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10, The Message 
                                                                                                                                       
5. Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What's your favorite book set sometime in the past?

I do enjoy historical fiction and I remember being glued to the pages of East of Eden when I read it a while back. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

August begins next week and Walmart will be filled with Christmas stuff...just one aisle over from the Halloween costumes. Here we go again. 😕

Family Matters

A lot can happen in a week.
Good things and not-so-good things.
A week ago today, we loaded into Jim's Camry and headed for Tennessee.

Oldest grandson, Dacey, rode shotgun and I was scrunched up in the back with Dylan...

...and two dachshunds in a crate between us.
I wish I was kidding but I still have swollen feet and ankles to prove it.

Why? Because my legs are shorter than Dacey's.
~
We always have a great time when we go to Adam's peaceful country place.

He cut down a few trees since we were there last and this is the new view from the back porch.
I wish I could tell you there were cool breezes blowing as we sat on that back porch.

But I'd be lying.....it was hotter than all get out.
Here are some of the highlights of our time together.
~
It has taken him a while but the tree house he built is nearly complete.
There is also a second story with a loft.

Pretty cool, huh?

We went for a short four-wheeler ride down the drive and across the road...

...to the meadow where we plan to build our farmhouse, Lord willing.

Give us a couple of years and hopefully we will have this new zip code.

The "X" marks the spot where we want the house to sit.

Exciting stuff!

We came across these lovely and unique wildflowers growing in the meadow.

I googled "purple wildflower with squiggley tines" and found it!

I discovered it to be Passiflora incarnata L. or Purple passionflower.

We drove through an Amish community and visited some country stores...

...and rummaged through a really cool old general store/vintage Greyhound Bus station.

The bus comes through regularly and it is the sole means of long-distance transportation 

for the Amish folks when they visit far-away relatives and such.
It was a great vintage place with lots to see.

We visited Davy Crockett State Park and it was a perfect day for cooling off in the falls.

There is a small museum there and these beauties were there on display.
The owls seemed to look a little forlorn, yet peaceful and their beauty was stunning.

We also enjoyed the best brisket known to man (or woman) at this restaurant along the way.
Oh. My. Goodness.

And hanging on the wall was an array of tee shirts that can be purchased there.
No offense meant to any vegans or non-hunters, please...I just got a little chuckle out of them.

And I would be remiss if I didn't post a photo of our friend who came visiting on Saturday morning.
I got within a few feet of "Army" :)

And there's always time for a little target practice...

...near bulls eyes for all of them at around 150 yards!

But just hanging out on the back porch (when it cooled off a bit) was most enjoyable.

Parker, especially, just goes to pieces when it's time for us to say goodbye.

The time flies by when we are together but you know what they say about all good things.

And let me just tell you, it was way too soon to be doubling up like a pretzel again for the trip home.

We traveled at night so I was able to sleep through most of it, making it home safe and sound.

The next time, we really must come up with another mode of transportation!

~
And now for the not-so-good...

I received a text from one of my sisters in Ohio shortly before arriving home.

Our next to the oldest sister, Ruby, who was in the hospital with some ongoing health issues,

was given the news that her husband had been brought in with breathing difficulties.

Clyde had several serious health problems but had been recovering somewhat and getting dialysis.

Things quickly went downhill from there and just as we arrived home, 

word came that it didn't look good for him.
That same Monday afternoon, my sister's husband of 56 years passed away.

As God would have it, she recovered and was able to leave the hospital the following day

 to take care of the necessary task at hand.

~

So we will be on the road again tonight...to Ohio this time,
no grands in tow this trip.

There will be dachshunds in a crate though, due to no other alternatives on short notice. 

~
We enjoy road trips but the very last thing we wanted to do was take another so soon.
Arrangements and re-arrangements had to be made in our lives, with our jobs, etc.
Death never comes at a convenient time.
It was nothing that was planned, but it will be a bittersweet family reunion.

All of us will be together to say our final goodbyes to a soft-spoken godly man,
one who was as close as any true blood brother could ever be...

...a father who was reunited with two of his own children that were taken way too soon,
as Jesus ushered him into Glory.

~

Yes, we're on the road again...because family matters.

Stay cool, my friends and love to all.

  
Sharing at:
Mosaic Monday

Hometown Fences

These fences have been around for a long time.

They are on the country road that leads to the house where I grew up in Ohio.

I snapped these shots when we visited there about a month ago .

There's nothing particularly unique about them.

It's just that they give me a warm, familiar feeling that I like to remember.

And I'd like to share them today on Theresa's Good Fences...

...because to me, they are good fences!

~

Happy Friday, everyone!

Bountiful, Beautiful Blooms

While we were visiting our home town a few weeks ago,

we stopped in for a visit at Meadow View Growers,

just a hop, skip and a jump from the house where I grew up.

Only back then it was just a big ol' cornfield.

What started out several years ago as just your normal, run-of-the-mill nursery,

has grown into quite a spectacle to behold.

I took so many photos...

...really just a drop in the bucket and hardly doing it any justice at all!  

 So I'm sharing them with you today on Judith's Mosaic Monday.

~

You can't really tell by the photo but the wreath and these hanging baskets on their main sign are

GINORMOUS!

If I was venturing a guess, I'd say the wreath was at least 6-8 feet in diameter
and the hanging baskets were as big as the hood of that car you see in the photo.
I think they might have been made from red begonias and/or geraniums.

There was just so much to take in...



...and one of the first things I saw was the Bloomin' Bus.
Isn't that just the coolest thing?
This very unique bus is actually quite road worthy!

I was just oohing and aahing at every turn.

I am not a good judge when it comes to guessing the size of a piece of property,

 but I'd say this place stretches out over quite a few acres...
...how ever many quite a few is.
That's an easy way for me to tell you how big it really is.
The fact is, IT'S HUGE, PEOPLE!

I just loved the red flowering "trees" created from hanging baskets.

 

Just scroll and enjoy...

It just went on...

...and on...

...and on!

Can you imagine watering all of these?

 

Luckily, this area in Ohio has had a ton of rain this summer.

I just love the old rusty car, don't you?

Like I said before, the photos don't do this place justice,

but I do hope you have enjoyed just a taste of Meadow View Growers in my hometown!

I hope your week is just as beautiful, friends! 

Also sharing at:
Amaze Me Monday
Roses of Inspiration
Pink Saturday

Going "Home" Again

Making the trip back to Ohio has always been a special time since moving away in 1981.

Getting together with far-away loved ones is the main thing of course,

but then there are those other things...

...like crossing over the bridge.

When my boys were small, this was was the high point of their trip...

...or maybe it is getting a pizza from that favorite place that never changes...

...or taking a trip down memory lane...or the road that led you home...literally.

~

Family reunions...I love 'em.

For as long as I can remember, my family had one every summer without fail...

...same city, same park, maybe a different table.

It started out as the Davis Reunion—my mom's side of the family,

including uncles, aunts and cousins...all six of her siblings and their families.

When large families have large families, that's a LOT of folks!

It wouldn't be unusual if there were well over 100 or more in attendance some years.

~

There is only one Davis of that generation left these days...

...my mom's baby brother who is on the far end of his 90's and unable to travel.

Little by little the crowd dwindled over the years, leaving mostly just us Billheimers.

Dad passed away in 2002, then Mom several years later in 2010.

One of her wishes was that her kids would continue to get together regularly.

 These photos are from our last reunion with Mom in 2009.

Six of my siblings live pretty close to each other, four of them attending the same church.

The eldest, brother Bob, lives in South Carolina and of course I am right above him.

Since Mom passed in 2010, we have been able to get together three out of the five years.

The photo below was taken in 2011 and is the most recent one of all eight of us all together.

Somehow, the group photo from the 2013 reunion didn't get taken...

...too much talking and craziness going on I guess.

 ~

I really had my heart set on getting an updated group photo this year.

Unfortunately, Bob had a health scare and wasn't able to make the trip.

It was very disappointing but we were just relieved that he is going to be okay.

So it was the seven of us in the new photo.

The one taking the picture (a nephew) told everyone to say something...can't remember what.

It looks as though several were caught in different stages of saying whatever it was!

~

And an added blessing this year was getting re-acquainted with a childhood friend.

Polly lived kitty-corner across the street and we played together almost daily.

Here's a peek at us from back in the day.

(left to right) Polly, Rhonda (another neighbor girl), me, my sister Barbara

Sister Barbara (left), me (middle), Polly (right) and big sister Ruby in back.

Polly and her family moved away when she was about eight and we lost contact.  

A little over a year ago, I received a friend request from her on facebook...

...good ol' facebook.

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather since I hadn't thought about her in years.

Now here's were the story gets interesting...
Not only is she a farmer who raises exotic sheep,
Polly is also a published author, her first book written about her father, Paul.

She wanted to get in touch with me and Barbara and tell us that we were in her book!

Over the past year we have rekindled our friendships and knowing that she lived in the area,

we invited her to our reunion!

It was so much fun to see her and reminisce about the old days!

She had also put some of those memories into her book,

memories that either I had forgotten or just blocked out...

...and it seems that I was a little mean girl at times!

Can you believe I did that?

I can't either... ;)

Now that I have a copy, I can't wait to read the rest of it!

~

So on Sunday morning, we seven siblings worshipped together as a family...

then had lunch together before we got back on the road to NC.

Yes, it surely was good to be "home" again.

And home isn't just the house that we currently live in...

...it's any place where we leave a part of our hearts. 

~ 

Have a great week, friends.

Sharing at:

Mosaic Monday 

Roses of Inspiration