A Weekend Off Part 1

Another weekend off. The air was crisp, filled with a fragrant autumn breeze. Green grass peppered with the colors of fall, while some leaves still clung to the trees, silhouetting a brilliant blue sky.

Friday evening we went out to the farm. Suzie and I were out at the barn helping Julia feed the cows. Noticing a lighter on the ground I picked it up and tossed it to Chuck. The lighter sparked an idea and Chuck began to organize some wood for a little bon fire... I say little but what you have to realize is a 'fireman' was organizing this project...

Edith and Angel grabbed a few chairs and set them around the fire. Soon Rick came over, then Adam and his girlfriend. The older kids played a game of tag football while Suzie and Gracie watched the fire. After the sun went the down and the air got too chilly, Edith took the girls inside. The rest of us had a great time sitting around the fire telling knock knock jokes and old elementary school jokes. Chuck threw on some tube shaped card board pieces and WHOOSH!! we had some good flames, not to mention heat. The flames died down and so did the conversation so we headed for the house to warm up.... to warm up both sides, that is. Not have one side roasting and the other remain frigid... The girls had on their jammies and we loaded them up and called for the boys to come. We were actually out til almost 10, which doesn't happen very often with me working so many weekends...

Saturday the boys had bowling league and then basketball practice. We piddled around the house then went out to the farm. Not too much to do out there, Chuck has to wait for it to rain again before he can take down any more tobacco to strip..... something to do with having just the right amount of moisture in the leaves. Too much for my brain to comprehend...

Sunday morning we went to church. Being a time change weekend we were all up early, ate breakfast and were dressed with plenty of time to spare. Suzie stayed in the nursery. I sent Josh down to see if she was crying and he said she was being quiet.... a miracle because she usually throws a fit... Gracie sat still, for the most part, and the boys behaved themselves.... Well, Josh had a little attitude problem but got over it...

It was Communion Sunday and the deacons passed around the Communion trays. As they walked back to the front of the church Gracie pointed to one of them. "What's he doin," She asked. Chuck noticed the man she was referring to and said, "Nothing. Shhh." trying to get her to be quiet. The man was of average height, full around his middle, balding with a ring of gray hair and a full beard to match. Gracie's eyes were bright and she wore a crooked smile. Quietly she whispered to Chuck, "Is that Santee Clouse?" Caleb, Chuck and I giggled at her innocent sweetness. Chuck hugged her close, "No. That isn't Santa Clause."

Come back tomorrow for Part 2.....