It was pretty nice yesterday but when we awoke this morning, the snow was coming down really heavy. My wife and older boy walked our 2 dogs for the 4th day in a row which makes them very happy. They then stowed the remainder of the Christmas ornaments in the attic (which we’ve never used in 10 years), above the garage. Basketball starts this coming Wednesday for both boys so my 9 your old and I played some ball and worked on various skills while the youngest was at a birthday party.
We had a fun dinner last night with our friends. The food was delicious and the company better. Smaller gatherings (3 couples), are a lot more enjoyable as you have a chance to have some real conversation. At one point we were going around the table with each person having to tell the group, out of all the places they had traveled, where would they want to go back to. All of us have traveled quite a bit so the answers ranged from Bora Bora to South Africa. When it came to my turn, I said Wyoming. You see it wasn’t so much that I wanted to go back to Wyoming for the scenery (but it is very beautiful), but because when we spent a 4 day weekend at our friends ranch there last May, the kids had the time of their life. There was no TV, music, video games or even a phone. They were up at 6am and headed outside where they played hard and explored until dinner. You didn’t have to worry where they were or if strangers (bad people), were in the area. (It’s too bad that as a parent you even have to consider something like that nowadays) Lots of hiking, fishing, horseback riding and general exploring. It was as though we had stepped back in time and become closer as a family ( we actually sat around and talked and played games together, just the four of us!), without all the trappings of modern society. This is why I chose Wyoming.
I took my own advice from the other day and asked my Mother more about her experiences growing up. Yes grandma did can all her own food but to my surprise, my Mom told me, she had never had a meal in a restaurant in her life until high school when she went to Prom! Wow, imagine that, never going out to eat until you we’re 16 or 17 years old. Times sure were different. She also had all her clothes made for her by the local “sewing lady” (must have been the cheaper way to go), who would sew various shirts, dresses or skirts that my Mom would show her. I also learned that my grandpa was an Air Warden during the war. This meant he would go from house to house making sure the lights were off at night in case of air raids. I think she said he wore a black armband. Sounds like something out of a movie. Funny I’m in my 50’s and never knew this about my Mom. It was really fun to hear this story and I think my Mom enjoyed telling it. I’m excited to hear more!
Well time to get some breakfast going as the boys are up. You can always tell as the noise in the house immediately triples in volume. I have a little bit of work this morning and then we’ll bundle up and head to the Stock Show to walk the pens and look at the animals. Before we go, we’re putting on a pot of stew that’ll last the next 2 days. It’s going to be really cold and stew is kind of a comfort food. I asked my Mom to come for dinner, but her beloved Green Bay Packers (she’s from Wisconsin) are in the playoffs today, so they’ll be no prying her away from the TV. Years ago I gave her one of those “cheese head hats” you see on TV. I wonder if she secretly wears it?
Hope everyone has a great day and enjoys reading our blog. I’m trying to get my wife to step in for a few days this week when I’m traveling, so stay tuned.
God Bless,