Back from Clarksville
We returned last night, after spending time with Dick's five (count 'em, FIVE!) grandkids in Clarksville. We'd planned to leave the 2 chocolate Labs boarded, but at the last minute piled them into their crates in the back of Dick's truck. Sadie Mae, of course, rode like the princess she is, up in front.
Fortunately, the motel was wonderful about accepting Sadie Mae, giving us a first floor room with access to a field. Winchester & Remington were staked out by the truck & slept inside.
We celebrated Dick's 63rd birthday at his daughter's home; I'd brought along a gluten-free chocolate cake mix for her to bake as she'd been unable to find ANY gluten-free products in that military town. Frosting was easy; chocolate fudge with peanut butter mixed in. We took the family out to Cracker Barrel and the kids loved it. Then we handed each of them some funds so they could shop for themselves with their Mom and Dad helping them make selections before we drove back to their home for the cake and ice cream.
The next day, we took an easy picnic to a park near our motel so the dogs could run loose a bit and the kids could walk the trails with their Dad and Grampie. Sunday, Dick & I took the 3 dogs and the Sunday paper to that same park, sitting in a shaded picnic area and enjoying an occasional breeze.
Later, we drove over so Grampie could fix some wiring to plug in the stereo we'd taken to them, complete with old records. They loved it. Grampie also took along an old cedar hope chest that had been his mother's, for Trinity, the oldest grandaughter. Their Mom found an old photo taken when SHE was about 6, at the beach with her Dad. She had it enlarged and framed it for him...what a perfect birthday gift. He got all teary, of course.
For the foodies reading this: (Hi, Amy!)...at one point, Dick & I found the Golden Rule Pit BBQ restaurant, and enjoyed the BEST BBQ ever. Dick had baby back ribs that he said were incredible. By that time, I was ready for a salad, so I ordered their BBQ salad, which came with pork BBQ shredded on top. That, and a nice glass of wine, made my day!
We're glad to be back home in Rocky Mount, though. All that traffic in and around Clarksville was very stressful; Ft Campbell, KY, is right there, and a gazillion fastfood places. Fortunately, the family located in a nice residential area with excellent schools, but traffic in the surrounding areas keeps them off the roads and close to home. Mom misses the smalltown life she grew up in (in northern Maine) and we certainly missed Rocky Mount.
Sadie Mae is SO happy to be home, running and leaping and chasing her toys around.
One kid story: Dick's youngest grandaughter, Morgayne, is just 6 and gets a bit upset when her name is pronounced as Morgan. When Grampie kept saying it that way, she climbed up on the picnic table bench, nailed him with those dark eyes, then reached her finger into his EAR and...turned up his hearing aid! Then she carefully corrected him: It's Mor-GAYNE, Grampie.
He got the message and we all laughed.
Fortunately, the motel was wonderful about accepting Sadie Mae, giving us a first floor room with access to a field. Winchester & Remington were staked out by the truck & slept inside.
We celebrated Dick's 63rd birthday at his daughter's home; I'd brought along a gluten-free chocolate cake mix for her to bake as she'd been unable to find ANY gluten-free products in that military town. Frosting was easy; chocolate fudge with peanut butter mixed in. We took the family out to Cracker Barrel and the kids loved it. Then we handed each of them some funds so they could shop for themselves with their Mom and Dad helping them make selections before we drove back to their home for the cake and ice cream.
The next day, we took an easy picnic to a park near our motel so the dogs could run loose a bit and the kids could walk the trails with their Dad and Grampie. Sunday, Dick & I took the 3 dogs and the Sunday paper to that same park, sitting in a shaded picnic area and enjoying an occasional breeze.
Later, we drove over so Grampie could fix some wiring to plug in the stereo we'd taken to them, complete with old records. They loved it. Grampie also took along an old cedar hope chest that had been his mother's, for Trinity, the oldest grandaughter. Their Mom found an old photo taken when SHE was about 6, at the beach with her Dad. She had it enlarged and framed it for him...what a perfect birthday gift. He got all teary, of course.
For the foodies reading this: (Hi, Amy!)...at one point, Dick & I found the Golden Rule Pit BBQ restaurant, and enjoyed the BEST BBQ ever. Dick had baby back ribs that he said were incredible. By that time, I was ready for a salad, so I ordered their BBQ salad, which came with pork BBQ shredded on top. That, and a nice glass of wine, made my day!
We're glad to be back home in Rocky Mount, though. All that traffic in and around Clarksville was very stressful; Ft Campbell, KY, is right there, and a gazillion fastfood places. Fortunately, the family located in a nice residential area with excellent schools, but traffic in the surrounding areas keeps them off the roads and close to home. Mom misses the smalltown life she grew up in (in northern Maine) and we certainly missed Rocky Mount.
Sadie Mae is SO happy to be home, running and leaping and chasing her toys around.
One kid story: Dick's youngest grandaughter, Morgayne, is just 6 and gets a bit upset when her name is pronounced as Morgan. When Grampie kept saying it that way, she climbed up on the picnic table bench, nailed him with those dark eyes, then reached her finger into his EAR and...turned up his hearing aid! Then she carefully corrected him: It's Mor-GAYNE, Grampie.
He got the message and we all laughed.
posted by Marion | 10:18 AM
4 Comments:
Marilyn,
Sounds like you had fun! I love good BBQ and can usually find a fantastic salad in many BBQ restaurants.
Mor-GAYNE sounds precious. I think it takes guts for a six-year-old (or a person of ANY age) to mess with anyone's hearing aid. I will have to register that detail later for future use!
Ahh,there is nothing in the world like grandparents. My BigDaddy was the apple of my eye - we even had our own song. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" I'm glad you had such a memorable trip and glad you made it back home safely!
Too sweet! It's great the kids have you two to be such comfortable grandparents. Not everyone has that kind of relationship. I remember talking into my Nanny's hearing aid...it was the kind you wore around your neck back then. IT was very important to whisper right into it so she could hear me! Welcome home!
Lovely post! I enjoyed making the trip with you and meeting your family members.
With that confidence and ability to assert herself at six, Morgayne is sure go far in this world!
That fudge-peanutbutter icing made me sit up and take notice. Is it really easy to make?
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