Where to begin…
At the beginning?
Who can determine a beginning? Everything always leads back to something else.
Sassy’s four friends were here for what must have been weeks, but it probably only seems that way because the sun’s up more. We said she could have all the friends over because she’d be gone and she’d miss her friends.
Why? Where’s she goin?
You wait.
While Sassy’s friends were here, Shay said, “Stop talkin about this other Shay, or at least call her the other Shay.” I said we could not, as we had Moo’s Shay first, and that makes her Shay One, and the Shay in question was in fact, Other Shay.
Do y’all have this, too?
I’m a name person. I think you find out how much a name person you are when you’re trying to name your children. That’s when I got into names. I’m not gonna delve too deeply into that, cause we all have names, and y’all might get offended if I say Daniels have caused me nothin but grief, and Angelas never like me. I will say, I’ve collected a disproportionate amount of Aprils and Robs in my life, and if you’re anything like me, you should aim to befriend as many Aprils and Robs as you can. Oh, and Jasons make the best lovers. If a Jason isn’t possible, try mechanics and musicians.
Anyway, it occurred to me that Sassy’s friends are like Sassy — and Moo has friends with Moo kinda names. Like, one is called Kitty.
Intriguing, non?
On Thursday, we received a notice taped to our door. The City would like us to mow our back forty.
The City should go suck a dick.
I checked the fucking ordinance and can you believe this is a completely valid request? Nothin special bout not the street side. We have lived here four years and not only have we seldom mowed the back forty, but the entire time we’ve lived here, the field adjacent to ours has NEVER been mowed.
But laws are laws. *sigh*
It’s like The City cares more about how things look that the lives of rabbits, birds, butterflies, and bull thistle. *tsk*
back 40’s major population
Then on Friday, Sassy baked 72 white cupcakes, while I made banana pudding, cucumber and tomato salad, blue cheese tater salad, and sliced watermelon into dainty little triangles. The Mister hacked the watermelon into quarters, because he is a good man who enjoys anything involving sharp implements. Seriously, someday I’ll have to post about his blade accumulation…
Then Saturday morning, I got up at what other people call ‘a reasonable hour’ but what I would call UNHOLY. I was whining and shuffling my way down the back hallway when Master Boombastic came to the door all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the way morning people do. My husband was errant, having decided to shower, and was not available for climbing and cuddling as needed. I was already clean and so Moo hugged me, but it was not the same. I managed to make some decadent icing for the cupcakes. Of course, I was sleepy and disoriented, so I spun the butter and lemon around for quite a long time before I remembered to put sugar and cream cheese in it. I kept looking at it and thinking, gosh it’s not very much and it’s awfully yellow…OH! But that’s our secret, I didn’t tell anyone else that. I wasn’t awake.
Tra-la-la, icing cupcakes did improve my mood and Master Boombastic said, “You seem much more yourself now.” Once people have seen morning me, they can’t unknow it. A moment of silence for those who have sacrificed.
Off we went to the middle of nowhere. I guess reunions must be held in the middle of nowhere on accounta how people who live in the middle of nowhere don’t like to drive on four or six or eight lanes, but it’s so farrrrr. Mercy it’s far.
We had SUBLIME weather. The skies were amazing. I wanted to get out and watch the clouds, but I didn’t. I was the navigation splainer and the DJ after all.
clouds in three parts
in case you think indiana is completely citified, hahaha!
Clouds are one of those things I just can’t capture as I see them. The density was amazing and the way their shadows played on the hills and trees…
I saw ALL the people.
I hugged most of the people. I’da hugged a few more if I’d known who the hell they were, but if you can imagine, people grow up and they look every bit as old as I do.
The boy one DID go, with his auntie and Simon, and over lunch we talked about how there’s some bullshit playin favorites in this house. First it was how we favor Bubba. You may recall how the girls said he’s our favorite because we treat him like an adult. Now Moo says Sassy’s MY favorite and she’s DADDY’s girl. Whatever. I’ve been fightin this favorite child business far too long. My favorite varies from day to day, sometimes moment to moment. I’m just sayin.
Well Sassy asked her auntie who she thinks my favorite child is and without blinking, Drew answered, “Simon.”
Yes. Simon. Always minds me, always a pleasure, never asked me for a pony or a pool or caused me worry in the night. Nephews are the cats of children.
Although, to be fair, Simon did outright bully me over the cheap slowness of my precious laptop, but then, dimples, awww!
Granny called me over and asked me to send her letters like I used to. I must write Granny letters like I used to.
Aunt Marthanne was not feeling well enough to make the sugar cream pie I love, and she came up and told me so. MIL told her I missed the pie. Well, I hope she went on about how much I loved the pie, cause I sure did. I told Marthanne that I hoped she’d be feeling better soon, and not just so she could make that pie, which is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever put in my mouth.
People ate up the banana pudding. All gone pudding.
I sent watermelon and potato salad home with Bubba. I told him if he slipped a lil ham or turkey in there, he’d have a balanced meal. And then The Mister said I sounded like someone’s mother. Can you imagine?!?
The Mister never put the cupcakes in the car. We can speculate as to why that might be, but these things happen, and he claims it was purely by mistake.
Today I took Sassy shopping for her trip.
Why? Where’s she goin?
You wait.
I hate shopping and shopping for Sassy is a challenge I dare any one of you to take up. Seriously, I’ll pay, you go.
Moo may not think Sassy is my favorite today. In fact, Moo warned her father that he should never, ever go Sassy shopping with Mama. This did not surprise him.
May I just say Moo is the best one to shop for? The best. So easy.
*finds a fing*
“Look this so cute!”
“SO CUTE!”
*buys fing*
While Sassy and I drove one another to lunacy and the baby tried on her peacemaking skills, THIS is what The Mister did:
Now, I done told him to call someone out to do it, but he’s a proud man, and we all know no one listens to their Joey.
Tomorrow I will get up at a time no one thinks is reasonable.
All this to encapsulate the reason why I’m posting a blog on Sunday night and why I’ll be later rather than sooner.
I’ll be off, doing too much.
You will, being the thoughtful, kind, caring audience you are, wish for safe travels and hope my body will not notice that I am doing so much.
Also, this, my basketball hoop, is for E.
For I do excel at nonsense and blurry photos.
joeyfullystated 
I’m for the lives of rabbits, birds, butterflies, and bull thistle. When I mow my grass, which there is little of cause of the trees, I start in the middle and work my way out slowly so the critters can run and hide into the edges and bushes. I hope the city can compromise with a bit of natural landscaping. Surely they have more important things to monitor. Safe travels!
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Thank you! And thanks again!
The Mister starts out slow and in the center, so yes, I think your strategy has MUCH merit. He’s had to move bunnies a few times 😦
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A good man moves the bunnies before he mows. He’s a good one for sure!
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I’m going to like this and pretend I really do know where Sassy is going and I must have missed it what with all of the back-forty, banana pudding, and no cupcakes. Yup, that’s the plan.
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It’s an excellent plan. I’ll be more informative at a later date.
I still haven’t forgotten I have the link you sent me the other day. I will get to it 🙂
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No hurry…never a hurry. This stuff is supposed to be fun and not a chore! ❤️💕❤️💕❤️
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So…he “forgot” the cupcakes. Shay is a rather uncommon name, isn’t it? The picking of our first born’s name was easy. Adam; with my middle name. Picking a middle name for kid # 2 (named Jason,by the way) was more difficult. Why do folks have middle names? I’m glad you enjoyed your reunion. When I was in high school I seemed to date a bunch of girls named Linda. Any cupcakes left?
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I think middle names were established to extend family names. Particularly surnames, like the tradition of giving the firstborn the mother’s maiden name as a middle name. You know, when names meant more.
Shay is unusual, I think.
Adam and Jason are good solid names. Never met one I didn’t like.
Gobs of cupcakes left, even though I think we’ve been eating them round the clock.
Linda may be like Jennifer, in certain cycles everyone has at least one, and you had more than everyone else 😉
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… so much to love. The best – or one of the best – “clouds in three parts.” Clever girl.
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Thank so much, Maggie ❤
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I’m glad that the reunion went well Jory, and I think it was senseible of the Mister to ‘forget’ the cupcakes, a lovely treat to come home to!
I wish you safe travels with lots of fluffy, pretty clouds! 🙂
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Thank you, Judy. I did have safe travels and beautiful skies again 🙂
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Sorry about the typo Joey! I am pleased your skies were gorgeous on your travels 🙂
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“Daniels have caused me nothin but grief…” Awwwww. I’m gonna not apply this to me, because I rarely play the Daniel card. It’s Dan, just Dan and if Dan’s have caused you a world of grief, don’t tell me – I couldn’t take it.
Safe travels, wherever you, Sassy or you and Sassy are heading. I like that you care about the critters in the back 40. We mow, but we mow around patches of clover and big swaths of plantain that the bunnies love. I get strict instructions when I mow.
Enjoy the cupcakes!
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Thank you very much, we did have safe travels 🙂
The Mister isn’t going to make his deadline on mowing the back 40, but he did say he’s going to call and let them know he’s made substantial progress. I very much enjoy the bunnies, maybe not as much as Sadie and Maddie, but still…
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Cities should understand not meeting a deadline – that’s what they do best!
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I know, right?!? That’s the truth!
He got an extension to July 10. He’s back at it tonight. At least he has beautiful weather.
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I’m a bit muddled, but that’s OK, I’ll survive. Bummer about the back 40!! I can understand the front yard, but the back 40? Anyway, safe travels. I’m taking short trip to Wisconsin this morning with a friend and two of her friends whom I don’t know. We’ll see how that goes. 🙂 See you in a few.
janet
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Muddled on a Monday morning sounds about right. I hope you had a wonderful day 😀
I’m glad I have your support on the back 40.
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I have a friend who used to live where they wanted her to mow her front 40, but she told them it was a wildlife preserve. Man, were the neighbors glad when she moved! Joey, you never fail to bring me just far enough into your world for me to be happy for your joys and sad for your disappointments but never ewwwTMI. I always wish I knew you better for realz. You are funny and brilliant. Have safe, happy travels!
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Thank you so much for your amazing compliments today. I wish I knew you better ferreals too. ❤
We actually looked into the wildlife preserve thing, cause there are tax credits available, but we'd need a water feature, whether manmade or natural and we do not has. I'd rather the section around the fruit trees be mowed all the time, and I like when The Mister mows a track, so to speak, around it, for playing and dog walking and whatnot, but to have it mowed all the time, A BIT MUCH, methinks. I suspect it has to do with the homes for sale…
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How big a water feature? ‘Cause #4 Daughter and I once dug a hole and put in a big-ol’ washtub and lined it with old pool liner an bunged in some water plants and HAD us a water feature. Wif goldfish. Then winter, and we had to bring the fishies in and Charlie unmade the water feature and that was that. 😦
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It has to be moving, which is why I was lookin into solar bubblers… But The Mister pointed out that I do not have a 500 foot hose and it wouldn’t be the smartest thing… So, for now, no sanctuary.
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Safe travels to you and yours today. I’m anxious to find out where you landed.
As for the name thing, I used to be on a bowling team that I called “The Patty Team.” We had three ladies named Patty on the team. These days I only worry about remembering names, especially when I forget them two seconds after being introduced.
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Thank you, Mary, I did have safe travels 🙂
The Patty Team definitely sounds like an interesting chapter!
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Bull thistle, wildflowers deserve to live, they are beautiful. Forgetting the cupcakes…brilliant ! The last family reunion I went to was at a brother’s home in the middle of PA. Dutch country…we watched horse and buggy traffic all afternoon. Sweet.
Enjoying your weekend wrap-up, very entertaining stuff.
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Thank you muchly, Van 🙂
I really do like the bull thistle, it’s a stunning backdrop and I’ve asked him to leave that which lines the fence. It brings the pollinators, that’s fersure!
Where I went there are also buggies, but not as many as Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
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Fricken city! They had the audacity to demand that my parents paint the exterior trim around their windows, when their house was one of the best kept-up homes in the neighborhood. They ended up investing in maintenance free trim. Suck that dick, city! So sad for the wildlife that you have to mow your back forty. I love your shot of the rear-view mirror! 🙂
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Thank you!
I know! It’s a spare acre, for cryin out loud, nobody’s supposed to SEE it. I can’t imagine why anyone cares. I really can’t. It’s quite nice to look out on the purple blooms and watch the birds and butterflies, but oh well.
That’s a shame about your parents’ trim. 😦 I hate that they spent money on some detail most people would never even notice. It’s such a trifle.
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Glad to see you survived the reunion, and it sounds like it turned out to be a wonderful day. … I love the name Shay. In fact one of my girl’s middle names is that, only spelled Shea. … I do like the look of your back 40, all green and wild. ) Happy Monday!
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Thank you 🙂 Yes, it was a good day.
It’s a good one, Shea or Shay.
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You should post a notice on the city’s door regarding the loss of habitat and further damage to the declining bee population. So there.
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I KNOW! Do you know how many pollinators frequent that back 40?!? And it benefits every single garden in this neighborhood. PBBBTHHTHT! Thanks for your support!
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My oh my, frankly I’m exhausted just *reading* your post. You get extra smiley stickers for this one. Oh, and the city can suck it. You’re doing nature.
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Thanks, Laura. it was a big week. 🙂
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How do you mow a field that hasn’t been tended in a while? Rider mower? Push mower? Hire a company to do it for you? Wonder why the city is suddenly concerned?
Also, good girl making all those white cupcakes. I’m drooling here wanting one of them. 😉
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*achem*
In an ideal, listen-to-your-Joey scenario, a man with a bush hog comes out and swipes through and then he tills and collects debris. This is a bit costly, but efficient, and I would like it done every single April, period.
In The Mister’s proud-man reality he blisters his hands and flattens his ass to bone-deep pain riding around on the mower. I am surprised he is not toting a machete and a chainsaw while he does it, but that’s probably only cause he hasn’t thought of it.
There are 15 cupcakes left now, but they’re cold and not quite the same. As you can tell, I took many of your suggestions as inspiration 🙂 Thank you very much.
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I like the listen-to-your-Joey scenario. It makes sense. However, until proud-man gets over his own sweet self, I imagine your idea won’t happen. But eventually he’ll come to understand your womanly wisdom. I just know it.
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Oh thank you, that is hopeful 🙂
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CUPCAKES!!!! …. and with cream cheese icing!!!
I’ll be right over. Save one for me … or 10.
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Fifteen left 🙂
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That will do. Thank you 🙂
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Those bull thistles are gorgeous. A pity about city wanting you to mow it.
I have a thing for names too. I had quite a few male friends while I was growing up who had the same name as my husband. I distinctly remember thinking that I wondered if I’d marry somebody with that name some day since it kept coming into my life.
I’m glad that you had a great time at the reunion!
Shopping is not on my “fun” list! 🙂
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I think that’s pretty neat. Have you ever read into the Kabalarian name theories? There may be good reason why we attract certain names.
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I had not, but I looked it up. Very fascinating! 🙂
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These local govt people do love telling others to cut their grass. Nice hoop 😀
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We have a neighbor that has lived there for two years and hasn’t mowed her entire front side yard in that time. I called our town, and they have no rules on that. Maybe I need them to call your town and do something. 🙂 We went to a family reunion a couple of weeks ago – great food and good hugs all around. Wherever Sassy is going, I wish her safe and fun travels. 🙂
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Thank you. Sassy is having a WONDERFUL time.
And you live in city limits? With the side yard lady?!? We do. Very. But the back 40 is part of acreage that is otherwise untended on all sides. Not visible from any street.
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I was sad since you left out where you are going buy I am playing a mad and crazy catch up to my friend, Joey’s life!
It is well worth the time and energy.
I love sugar cream pies, satisfied with Der Dutchman version but miss homemade ones! I suppose they consider theirs homemade but the crust on homemade is delicate and flaky.
Reunions aren’t in our family. Sadly, Dad was an only child, Mom has one sister and brother-in-law who live in Pigeon Forge. My three cousins are nice but only one who was close to me and attended BGSU still writes and regularly stays in touch.
My ex had reunions in WVa. Loved them!! Happy trails to you and hope to know more. . .
My oldest daughter Carrie married a Daniel on 7/7/17. He’s a really great man and wants to adopt Micah, also younger but is OK with just sharing Skyler with his Dad. Peace and joy reigned over the City Hall lovely wedding with only one guest (me) and the Mayor. That’s my fabulous news, Joey. 💐 I made the bouquet of silk flowers, looked like a hippie dress but once on was like a renaissance gown for only $17. We have lucky sevens.
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That IS wonderful news! Congratulations!
We have another reunion coming up this weekend, but we won’t be attending the third. I will take another banana pudding and maybe some sorta cold salad.
We just had the local annual fish fry here, and those are another place to get the homemade pies with the delicate, flaky crusts! 😛
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I need to spend a day in your shoes, just one day is all I could possibly handle, but it would be well worth the experience!
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