Quiet Evenings in the Country

As the sun was setting, I walked to the covered bridge and then by the creek, passing friends and neighbors along the way, stopping to say, Hello, how are you? It's one of my favorite things to do. Familiar people, familiar pets, familiar stories shared. They make me laugh, they warm my heart. The first neighbor I passed was walking his dog, Mollie. Now I know that their next door neighbor also has a dog, Jackson, who is never far behind. Mollie is always on a leash, but Jackson is sort of a free agent. I think he knows where home is, but he's the kind of guy who believes that home is wherever he hangs his hat, or wipes his paws. Maybe he's right. I didn't see him, and so I asked, Where is Jackson? He was up there a minute ago, my friend said, as he pointed to a fenced in pasture area. He was rolling in horse poop. When he comes in my house tonight, he's going straight to the shower. I can see why Jackson might have some ownership identity issues. Now that's a good friend and neighbor.


On my return, I stopped at the dock by the lake joining neighbors and friends who were enjoying the water and the warmer temperature today. As the darkness fell, they dwindled to one couple and myself, and they asked if I'd like a ride in the truck the rest of the way home. I said, Sure, I'll ride in the back, that's adventure riding, I've always loved doing that. Just slow down at my mailbox, and I'll jump out... but they wouldn't hear of it and tucked me into the cab with them all cozy and safe.

That's my life in the country, it's nice.

A Beautiful Winter Day

Today was beautiful, still quite chilly, but it's so nice to see the sun again, of course, it is winter, after all. But here in the deep South, we tend to reach for shorts when we see the sun. Usually we can get by wearing shorts and tee shirts nearly half the year, one of the perks of being below the Mason/Dixon line, where we say y'all and drink plenty of sweet tea. Ah yes, sweet tea, the champagne of the South, you gotta love it!!

Today is also my grandson, Jack's birthday. Mr. Jack is nine today, how can it be? Growing up too fast, but this Gram can find some solace in that soon she will have grandchild number eight in her arms to rock and love on. Baby Amelia Dale will be here in a couple of weeks now, and I can hardly wait to meet her. It will be an exciting time for the whole family, especially for her two big brothers. They don't know things are about to change in their world.

Listening to Sirius radio, only the best thing ever invented. Golden oldies right at my fingertips any time of the day or night I can crank it up and dance till my heart's content. Yes, I'm Gram, but there's a fifteen year old girl still living somewhere in this sixty year old body. It's one of the mysteries of life. Some things never change, and that's not a bad thing, in fact.. if you ask me, it's really pretty cool.