August 14, 2011

A Family Visit




Despite its innumerable errors, it glows with love.


All morning he sorted through the boxes of trains. I didn’t watch. Train cars, whole trains for each, engines for each, cheep cars the kids could play with for each….all in piles waiting for the nephew and niece to arrive. Our hero: the shirt says: Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”



While I waited, I worked on Zoe’s baby quilt. It was left behind when Lessa fled her violently abusive lover baby in her arms. Over the years, Zoe grew up and the quilt grew moldy. I didn’t know if I could cure it, but I was certainly willing to try. I washed it innumerable times while treating the mold directly. That got most of it out. For a long time it just sat there waiting until I could find some color safe bleach. That didn’t work. Finally, I ruthlessly attacked the worst of the mold in the white areas with straight chlorine bleach. That mostly worked. I made no effort to get rid of the mold spots in the colored areas or the back. Now it’s ready to go to its home again…a wonderful new kind of home filled with love.


Before: The many train cars waited.


After: One pile for each nephew and our niece. As first born, The middle pile has G’s dad’s trains. First we went out to dinner with two wonderful adults, and two out of four kids that were very cranky. Dinner was fun, and G got the tab paid before they noticed.


Hamburgers and hot dogs and chocolate Sundays were the norm with a few chicken tenders thrown in for good measure. We need to remember tho that we took nephew to the Corvette Diner at age 15 and now again as an adult. He remembered; we didn’t. Next time we will pick an adult type restaurant. My Weight Watchers stuff is so out of balance that I know I gained weight.


The balloon man made magic for all the kids.


Then back to the house, they loaded up kids and trains then posed just a moment for the camera. With a toot on the train horn, they were off to the north. It’s a wonderful family, but I’m grateful that I didn’t have four kids.

10 comments:

  1. Is that shirt a comment on yesterday's straw polls?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like y'all had fun!!!

    And I want that shirt!!!! I have one that reads: People like you are the reason people like me need medication and another that reads: Don't make me send out my flying monkeys. I think G's shirt would be a apt addition to my collection.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How wonderful that you can gift the young ones with the trains.....
    And the quilt.....Oh, what a cutie patootie thing it is. I'm sure it will be happily received and treasured.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like quite a day! The trains are going to have a whole new life. How sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like you had a great time! Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  6. ITS so great to pass stuff through the family---I have some things that belonged to my Grandmother..not valuable but Priceless to me!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the quilt! Yes, after a full day such as you had, I'm sure you were glad you didn't have a house full of kids.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like the kind of day that warms the heart and fills the tummy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gorgeous quilt AND gorgeous family! It's very sweet to see those goodies go to new homes with children who will play with them

    ReplyDelete
  10. My daughter had four kids ages all under five at one point. We never went out for a meal without someone knocking over a glass of water. We used to guess who would knock it over and who got wet. I was usually damp. Dianne

    ReplyDelete

postcards

Celebration of Life