These Men

I have so many wonderful memories of holidays from when I was young. They include warm houses, the smell of good food, and the buzz of many people talking at once. I want my kids to have these same wonderful memories but what it seems like they are getting is a kitchen that has been turned upside down, chaos, rushing, and running from one place to the next. I want so terribly bad for them to have the same memories I had. We (I) try so hard to fabricate these moments and the perfectness of the holiday that I almost miss it in the feverish attempt to produce it. This year that moment came when Tony's Papaw came to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house. This, in itself, was not so unusual but he brought a DVD that he wanted us to watch. I have to admit that the thought crossed my mind that I didn't particularly want to watch this DVD on Thanksgiving. "I wonder how long it is?" "I wonder what it is about?" "Maybe just the men will go down to the den to watch it." Shame on me! It has produced one of my all time favorite holiday memories.

This sweet gentleman...

is a World War II Veteran.

In the town where we live there are several businesses who sponsor a trip to Washington, D.C. - called Honor Air. This trip is only for the Veterans and it's free of charge to them. These businesses collect donations and charter an airplane to make this round trip. They left around 8 in the morning and returned around 8 or 9 that night. When they left the airport in Knoxville, they got a heroes send-off. There were people lined up with flags and balloons and a few speeches were made. When they arrived in Washington, D.C. they were greeted with a heroes welcome with a band playing, and another large group of people to shake their hands or hug their necks.

During the course of the day, they visited the memorials for each of the branches of the Armed Services. They also went to the Iwo Jima Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Korean War Memorial, Abraham Lincoln Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. They drove by many other sites of interest but these were their destinations for the day.

What struck me so fully while watching this video was the raw emotion still so evident in these men. These men who are now in their 80's and were still crying for lost friends and comrades, these men who were talking about the real heroes being the ones who didn't come home, and these men who enjoyed spending time with other Veteran's. These men, who are sometimes overlooked because of their age and increasing feeble nature, and who are sometimes ridiculed for being old or "old fashioned" are the very brave men who, 70 years ago, had our freedom in their hands. Their very capable, strong, and unshaking hands. And they delivered. So, who am I to not want to spend 30 minutes watching a video that encompasses a large part of our history and his history that he wanted to share with me? I should have been THANKFUL that he wanted to share that video with me and my family. And I will try to be from now on.

He had a little trouble keeping his eyes open for the pictures. Trying a little too hard, huh?

Three generations: one Army, one Air Force, and the other one - we're not sure yet - but his Momma hopes his stent in the Boy Scouts will suffice...

Day 2 of Construction Weekend

By the time I got downstairs yesterday, the boys had already pulled out all of the carpet so I only got this picture of it rolled up on the porch. They work fast. Anthony has been pulling up all the tacks (and scratching his name in the wood floors they have not taken out yet). I'm really not sad that I missed the carpet's demise - I'm sure that was a pretty gross endeavor.

Ant is getting the last few wood strips up that the carpet was attached to, then he has to start on the staples that held the carpet padding down.

After all that was out of the living room, they were ready to carry all the wood in so that it could be getting "room temperature." Have I mentioned how handy it is to have a strong teenage boy? Oh, yeah, and a strong husband, too.

That looks like lots-o-wood. It's gonna be a long weekend. Or week. Or month. Our Christmas tree may be in the bathroom this year...

This morning, though, he has started putting the new floor down.

Should I start a pool on how soon this will be done?

Guess What We Are Doing This Weekend?

We are under construction. I HATE being under construction. Tony returned from his trip overseas last night and today started this mess. We have never liked the hardwood floor that's in our dining room and foyer. And we have definitely not liked the carpet in the living room and our bedroom. And we haven't had a construction project in, like, a whole year so we really hafta do it. We have purchased real hardwood for our floors, not the pre-finished sissy stuff, but the kind that you have to stain and sand and polyurethane, and stain and sand and polyurethane, etc... First, we moved all of the furniture out. Having a soon to be 15-year-old son is much more helpful in this area than I ever was. We have furniture strewn in every available space in our kitchen and breakfast room. What we couldn't keep in the house we have in our garage where we are trying to convince our dog that our old furniture is not her new furniture.

After the furniture was removed, the baseboards had to go. When the baseboards were gone the fun really began. I have never heard so much banging and ripping but that old wood floor was coming up. I love the smell of wood. It smelled the same pulling it up as it did putting it down. Smells just like a house under construction. I LOVE the smell of wood.

Next, you have to take up this black paper (I don't know what it's called) and all the stray nails. The nails have to be removed one. By one. By one. Guess who got that job? A young, soon to be 15-year-old back got that job.

Now, one room is ready for the new floor.

Tonight, I think the baseboards and carpet are coming up from the living room. I'll let you know tomorrow.

My First Blogger Giveaway Win!

Quickly becoming one of my favorite blog sites is http://steinwaystreetny.blogspot.com/. I love reading her blog because I am finding an endless number of places to visit, things to do, and places to eat on my next trip to the Big Apple. She takes total advantage of all that NYC has to offer and takes great pictures of the places she visits. She had her first give away and I won. Not only was it her first give away but it was my first win.

I was excited when I went to the mailbox last week and saw that my package was here. I was even more surprised to see how nicely she wrapped everything up. Isn't that pretty?

I won three bottles of spices from Penzey's, a spice store in Grand Central Station, which she can tell you all about when you read her blog. The Peppercorns will definitely be my husband's favorite and I can't wait to try the Herbes de Provence probably on a pork tenderloin. What really excited me, though, was the curry. When I opened that bottle and took a sniff it took me instantly back 20 years to the summer I was in Japan. I was introduced to curry there and wanted it for dinner every night and even brought some home with me.

So, thanks to Steinway Street for some great spices, a trip down memory lane, and a prank on my daughter. (She just knew she had happened upon some early Christmas presents and snuck one open - only to find some Peppercorns!)

End of the Year Softball Party

We were finally able to get our end of the year softball party in. We had a cookout at our house with a fire, a little volleyball, and lots of food.

Along with their trophy, their coach gave them an action shot photo from one of their games.

No one ever wants to be the speaker in front of the group to give the coach her gift, but Harley was eager get up and do the talking for the girls. She did a good job presenting "Jamie" with her gift.

Alex, Lindsey, and Baylee (the 7th graders that were at the party).

After the party was over, a few of the players started leaving but their coach was hanging around a little longer. One of the moms took this opportunity to slip away with three of the girls, (I won't mention any names Alex, Loran, and Harley), and went to the coaches house to roll her yard. Now, if you are not from the South, you may not know what I'm talking about but rolling is when you take rolls of toilet paper to someone's yard and very decoratively place it in the trees and on the bushes in their yard. It occurs very often around Halloween. And the weeks leading up to Halloween. And a few weeks after Halloween. You don't really get mad when your yard gets rolled, it is really a gesture of affection. It was almost an embarrassment when I was growing up if your yard didn't get rolled. Now, if you aren't from the South and this is a foreign practice to you, you may get upset, and you may call the police. Then, you will find that they don't REALLY take these calls seriously. We teach this artform to our kids at an early age. My kids first yard was probably when they were about 5 and 7. There are a few techniques that must be taught. That is one tradition my kids look forward to every year. Do you have a favorite Halloween tradition?

Okay, I digress, not only did they roll her yard, they wanted to go back when she went home so that they could see her see it. Then, they got out of the car, showed her which parts were their handiwork, snapped a few pictures that I don't have access to, and left her with the mess. All in fun, right "Jamie"?

PETA Supporters - Skip Today's Post

Squirrels are pretty little critters. Anthony just loves 'em. We all like to watch them frolic in the yard, scampering about storing up nuts for the winter months.

There is one particular way Ant likes his squirrels.

FRIED!

Sorry, that is what our boys do here in East Tennessee. (After the first frost, of course)

Happy Veteran's Day

Our great country was founded by God fearing men who had a vision of what we, the United States, could be. Many men and women since that time have given their service while some have given their lives in order to protect this vision. For this, I say thank you.

TRAP Team Practice

This is the first TRAP Team practice I have been to. I was impressed, Ant did very well shootin' a moving target. He had a good time doing his thing and us girls had a good time giggling and watching, and practicing our "golf clap." Alex wanted to know if they just shoot those things off the roof of that building. Then, when she saw it hurled through the air she wanted to know who was in there throwing them. She and I have a lot to learn. It doesn't, though, take a lot of knowledge about the sport to appreciate the skill it takes to do this and do it well.

It kind of reminded me of the Beverly Hillbillies when they were shooting skeet and Mr. Drysdale asked Ellie Mae if she was going to participate with them and she said, "I don't use a gun, I use this here sling" (maybe not quoted verbatim but something very similar).