A Weekend with the Grandparents

Saturday we did something we have never done before.  My parents had come to visit for the weekend. We watched our HS football game Friday night, but Saturday my mom and I went shopping all day - something we haven't been able to do in many years.  

(Pretty waterfalls along the river.)

My dad and my three boys played golf, something else that hasn't been done in a long time (if ever!), but then we all met at Medicine Park, OK, a neat little town about an hour from here.

(Heart shaped hole in the tree!)

 We ate at "The Old Plantation" restaurant. It was GREAT! The homemade hamburger buns were delicious!  I remember going there when I was a Sophomore or Junior in high school - so a long, long time ago!

 We enjoyed walking along the river - crossing the bridges and seeing the beauty of God's creation and man - made creations.

 My husband had actually performed a wedding here a few weeks ago, so that sparked our interest in the little town.  We had taken pictures here several years ago, but it was Memorial Day, so too crowded to look around much.

 This suspended fishing bobber was hanging in the tree, but it made for a unique picture!

 In a few weeks the fall colors will make this place even more beautiful!  We'll have to go back!

 I could hear the boys mumbling as I took these pictures. For some reason I don't think they were saying, "I am so glad Mom likes to take so many pictures of us all of the time!".  No, I don't think that was it at all! :)

 They didn't complain about this picture, though. I think they were excited to get to be on this special mini-trip with the grandparents.  We all were! It was like we had gone somewhere far away!   But were back to the house in an hour. How nice!  It was relaxing, too.

Thanks for coming, Grandma and Grandpa! We enjoyed you being here! Sorry it had to end so soon!

My Front Porch

We have lived in a 39-year-old ranch-style house for nine years. Little by little we repair old things and add new things. For the next two weeks during his vacation, my husband is putting up a new privacy fence, board by board - 500 total to do - to replace the rotten one that's been up for no telling how long. A few weeks ago he replaced the rotten iron posts on the front porch with these wooden posts. They aren't fancy, but they look so much better than the rusty broken ones, plus I was a little concerned about the safety with the rotten ones.

I painted a special rocking chair (that I rocked my babies in) and put it on the front porch. Also, three days ago I purchased a small wire table and two chairs for half price to set out on the front porch. Yesterday Tyler (a.k.a. Biscuit) and I ate breakfast at that table. He thought that was really neat! The palm-looking plant I bought last year for $7.00. After we got home from Florida, Lauren and I wanted something that reminded us of palm trees. The two hanging baskets have real-looking, but fake Boston ferns in them (half-price at Hobby Lobby). I don't care that they are fake because they really do look real (hee hee!). I'm tired of spending money on real ones to have them destroyed by the extremely hot south winds (you can read more about this problem in this post).

But the best thing about the front porch? Tonight a friend stopped by unexpectedly. She needed to talk to Joe and I about something and wanted to visit alone. We sat out there and visited for at least an hour. With the rocking chair and two chairs, each of us had a seat. Three days ago there was only the rocking chair.

In our hurried lives, visiting on the front porch isn't as common as it used to be. I've heard stories from my parents and used to hear from my grandparents about the past...how people would stop by all of the time just to visit. In fact, I remember some of that when I was little. But now, it's rare. Unfortunately, we're just too busy.

I am grateful for "My Front Porch" and look forward to more times of visiting with friends who happen to stop by or by enjoying a meal at the little table with my husband or one of our children. Oh, and by the way, if you're ever in Tipton, stop by. I would love to visit with you on the front porch!

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