Happy Birthday, Mother of Love and Laughter

Here is my mother of love and laughter, as we affectionately have called her through the years.  She is 61 and has never looked better. 

 

We celebrated Mom's birthday in Patricksburg since Zachary and Candice are all settled in at the farm.  They have the house so nicely fixed up.  It's great for everyone to have them living there taking care of the place.  I should have taken more pictures of the inside.  Next time. 

 

Instead I took pictures of the food.....

 

Kyle and Zachary tried out their shooting skills.  They have plans in the works to turkey hunt this fall.  I do my best not to snicker.  Here they are checking out their target. 

 

Mom and I took a walk in through the old house, which is something I like to do every so often.  It's kind of sad, but in a weird way, kind of comforting.  If I stare long enough I can picture Grandma's Thanksgiving spread along this wall....

 

 

...and Grandpa's chair right where that black bookcase is.  I can stand quietly and still feel the warmth from the wood burning stove in the winter, and the cool relief from the air conditioner unit this room would offer during the hot summer months.  I can picture the couch where I would sit and get crochet lessons from my aunts, and the smell of Grandma's fried chicken that would make its way from the kitchen. So many memories fill what is left of this little place.  Happy, wonderful, priceless memories.  

 

We stepped into Grandpa's old CB room and got a kick out of all of the things he had on the wall.  His old CB's are still sitting there.  I remember peeking in this room and seeing him sitting there talking to scrambled voices, and wondering what in the world he was doing.  

 

We found his handle...

 

and his blueprint for peace.

 

Oh, Grandpa, there will never be another one like you. 

It was a lovely, lovely day celebrating my mommy.  She is one heck of a piece of work.  I just don't know what I would do without her.  Happy birthday, dear Mother!!!!