The weather typical for November has arrived. It's three weeks late but it's here, complete with a light snow flurry yesterday. While we went to the parade in short sleeves last Saturday we haven't been able to dress that way since. It has been cold and wet. All the farmers have been scurrying to get their tobacco down.
BEING THANKFUL. Like everyone else we celebrated the holiday on Thursday. We ate over at Pauline's around 3:00. Vicki, Pauline, Mom and Aunt Mar all combined efforts for a wonderful meal. That way we had a lot of food without overwhelming one cook. After that we all watched some home video we had shot with our camera since June. Nate sure has grown!
A SMALL BLESSING. I usually have some chore that takes me outside after dark. I really like to do this on a clear night as the stars are so pretty (Orion and the Pleiades are rising an hour or so after sunset this time of year). About once a week I walk out to hear the coyotes howling in the woods behind the house. Sometimes I'll carry on a short conversation with a screech owl.
Monday evening I went out to dump some table scraps in the field. When I pitched the scraps out of my bowl they almost landed on a small animal. Having seen me coming it was hiding under some leaves but after the near miss with the leftover food it decided to make a dash behind the red house. I got a pretty decent look at it as it ran off and was very thankful that while having black and white fur it appeared to run like a cat.
MOBILITY. Nate is on the move. He is not crawling yet but has perfected his scoot well enough to traverse the house. The other day we set him in his room to play while we were working in the kitchen. He was very content there until he heard Vicki and I start to talk. In just a few moments we were startled to hear him squeal at the kitchen door. He had left his room and scooted through our bedroom and the hall to find us.
Sometimes Nate wants to be picked up, usually when you are trying to get a few chores done. When this happens it feels like you are living inside one of those video games where there is this little robot or something after you. You can always outrun it but you have to stay on the move at all times. It doesn't matter where you go, the robot is always facing you and slowly making its way toward you. And if you are wearing sweat pants the "robot" may attempt to pull them down to your ankles trying to get your attention (at which point you have lost one life and have to start over).
BIG BOY PANTS. We put Ben in underwear this week. I don't think we will tempt fate with him like this at night but he seems to be ready to wear them during the day. He was really proud to have his Bob the Builder underwear on and I explained that it was very important to go to the bathroom when he felt the need to go. He said, "OK Daddy, I not get Bob wet."
A MOVIE REVIEW. We rented Winged Migration this week. If you are looking for a story with a plot, this ain't it. If you are looking for a documentary on birds this really isn't it either. It is a film that shows birds as they migrate over a year's time. There is very little narration but some really neat footage of different birds in flight. Some of the "stars" of the film were raised by the filmmaker's crew since hatching and had "imprinted" with their human parents so they were very tame. These birds were used in the close-up shots of birds in flight. Once they got the birds used to flying with an ultralight aircraft they could shoot some amazing footage for the film. It was entertaining.
A WEDDING. Our pastor's oldest son got married this evening. Pauline and Aunt Mar kept the boys so Vicki, Jenna, Mom and I could go. The wedding was held at First Baptist Nashville and was a beautiful ceremony. The reception was at the Hermitage Hotel. It is really hard to think of Brandon getting married. He was a toddler when Bro. Bill and Cindy moved here.
Jenna was looking forward to going. We thought for a little while she might get sick and not be able to go but she was determined to be well. We called home to check on the adults left behind while on the way to the reception. Jenna got on the phone and told Pauline that Brandon kissed Lesley Ann and, "It was funny." I danced with her at the reception. I don't know how to dance at all but having a scared, shy five year old wrapped around my right leg hid that fact pretty well. I couldn't help but wonder when Jenna would be the bride...it will be here way before I am ready.
OH TO BE IN THIS GOOD OF HEALTH WHEN I GET OLD. The other day we were talking to Mrs. Mary Yates. She mentioned that they had cleaned out the gutters on their house last week. When asked who they hired to do the job she said, "Why, Robert (her husband) did! He climbed up that ladder like a squirrel"
For those of you who do not know Robert and Mary Yates, they go to our church. They have been members at Mt. Carmel for decades. Everyone loves them a whole lot and they are some of the first people who come to mind when I think of our church. Mr. Robert is 91 years old.
Joe
