Ordinary Life

St. Marys, GA 

Amelia Island was named for Her Royal Highness Princess Amelia Sophia Elanor of Great Britain, from the House of Hanover, descendant of King George II. She loved to hunt and ride and in later life was a park ranger. She is known for commissioning a bath house, giving generously to charities and having a penchant for the truth. Lady Promfret described the Princess Amelia as: "...one of the oddest princesses that ever was known; she has ears shut to flattery and her heart open to honesty." To those who knew her well, she was known affectionately as   Emily . 

I recently picked up Elizabeth Smart's book at a local thrift store.  It terrified me. As in, check all the closets, lock all the doors, "What was that noise?!" terrified me.  It was not unlike watching a Criminal Minds episode... too late at night... and home all alone.  I finished the book shortly before bedtime and so, I slept with flashlight and pepper spray nearby and I  set up noise traps at RyeBird's windows. She usually eventually ends up in 'the big bed' with us, but for the 45 minutes where she actually slept in her own bed, it was extra peace of mind. I did not sleep in  MY own bed. I just lay there, hyper-vigilant.   ~*~  Sometimes, it is nice to pretend that the world isn't as sick and twisted as it really is, but stories like this deny that charade. The world is broken...very, very badly in some places.  The month prior to this, I had picked up Jaycee Duggard's story at a different thrift store. Also scary. So I am now convinced that...

A Pinterest-y Project  (That I think I can improve upon the next time I try it... if I should find myself suddenly in need of a striped 3D Hand picture... which is pretty much every day in my house..) 

Yes, sometimes I draw on my children. And sometimes I draw on myself, too. It's okay. It washes off. This particular piece is a metaphor about freedom, and letting go of the things you think are helping you to fly so that you can really fly as yourself- with wings spread wide... and also how you take your mom's heart with you wherever you go... so please don't drop it...  Yeah, that's it. 

In a serendipitous turn of events various cousins from various corners converged on Amelia... I was delighted to be caught in the cross-hairs.  Christian is my cousin Joni's baby boy- he's from Augusta. Fisher & Logan are mine. Charley is my second cousin Chuck's baby girl~ she was there with her momma, Donna (and a BOY!). They're all from around Waycross.  Tyler is Joni's oldest girl, also from Augusta. Riley is also mine.  (Chandler was  @ the golf course)  We couldn't have planned it.  But we have proof it happened... Once Upon Amelia.  :)  

Go Gamecocks!

Today marks the start of  Football Season @  BrewCrew Headquarters. .  Specifically Carolina Football.  (some say that's the only kind there is, but I have noticed other fellas in different costumes also having these weekend pagents)  Okay, it never actually ends...we celebrate Carolina Football in Spring and Summer too. (along with Carolina's Baseball, Basketball and Competitive Thumb Twirling if they had a team for that)   This time of year is also known to some of us as "Bring A Good Book" or "Get Stuff Done With The Comforting Sounds of Televised Football as Background Noise" or "Go Shopping" and occasionally "Roam the Stadium and Enjoy Concessions" Season.  It is a time of year we all look forward to (for various reasons).  Okay...alright...those last few are mainly me.  I like football fine- I just think there is too much of it... I prefer to tune in around the fourth quarter (after getting a few chapters read, or errands run, or a...

Rye is all about the Ninja Turtles these days. We haven't seen the new movie, but she has brothers who are more than happy to dig up old media for her. Her favorite is "Mikey" but she's no fan of the color orange, so she often calls him 'the yellow one'

"I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK I KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE, EVEN WHEN I'M TRYING AS HARD AS I CAN."  ~pippi *Let's Get Graphic: Coffee4Lunch Design * 

We were recently in Sarasota for a Hurricane Tour event. Sadly there are very few photos. It was a busy weekend with unpredictable weather. Clay caddied for Chandler (too busy choosing and drying off clubs to snap pics) while I bustled the remaining children around the surrounding area (too busy climbing in and out of the car with 3 kids to snap pics)  As we explored, we discovered something pretty cool: Sarasota has an Amish population. A fact that we hadn't learned when we were in the area for our 14th Anniversary .  True to Florida style, they're their own kind of Amish. They use electricity and often opt for a bike or scooter instead of horse and buggy. Or, so we read. We also spotted a size-able  Mennonite population nearby.   THEREFORE There are three of four Dutch inspired restaurants in the Sarasota area.  We chose Der Dutchman because it was still open when Saturday's round was over.  We intend to try the other places suggested by TripAdvisor on fu...

While pulled alongside  a county vehicle recently, I discovered a lesser known area  attraction: nude sunbathing, apparently.  Also, floating livestock & paper mills- but who doesn't have those?  Nassau County- Coffee4Lunch will donate services whenever you're ready. 

We have resident Fiddlers. They're like friendly little ninjas. Occasionally I will come home to a little ninja sitting on the front door thresh, waiting patiently to be let in. Other times I will walk out to find that one has been crushed by human foot, unaware.  On the day of the Great Ninja Occupation, both invading critters were trapped humanely and returned to the marsh's edge...after a bit of matching  wits. Lil' guys are smart- and fast. I could see their little eyes watching me as I schemed to block or trap them- and in response they would flatten their little bodies and dart to the next corner/hiding spot within reach. This is when I realized I was dealing with ninjas.  The law of dominion eventually prevailed..let us *hope that it persist. * I rarely 'conquer' a lower critter that I'm not reminded of a particular ALF episode:  http://youtu.be/b5DWbVDzitw     

Do Not Microwave.  Not A Mere Suggestion (as Fisher learned while making Maruchan Cup O' Noodles for lunch) The whole house smells of burnt... days later. And inexplicably, I'm craving popcorn. (not burnt)

Chandler's Sub-Regional Qualifier for Drive, Chip & Putt took place in Orlando. He made alternate and won third place overall for putting. There was a lot of close golf that day. And rain. Plus a few frogs. We're proud of our little man- who, as you may have noticed, isn't so little anymore. And as Uncle Nick pointed out- there's no need to pray for another player to fall sick, we can simply pray that one or more are called on a missions trips.  Gotta love pastoral counsel. Here's an assortment of photos and a video. We can talk later about the great idea to have this event hosted just around the corner, @ Annika's Academy... with indoor plumbing and a roof... and all those future students milling about on campus all day ...a win/win for both parties...  Yes, we should talk about that some day soon.  :) A celebratory lunch @ Fudd's was enjoyed afterwards. Chandler receiving medallion: 

I love it when family comes to the island. Rye & Kayden catch up over ice cream.  Kayden is my younger cousin Corey's son (on momma's side.) This is his baby sister Coralyn. She's one of those babies I was privileged to help  pray into the world ;) Before the day was over, they were positively pirates!