A to Z Blog Challenge - F

I apologize for writing later in the day, today. I've been a little busy today!

I went to the library today in Columbus, GA to get help with my genealogy research on my paternal grandmother. I knew nothing more than her maiden name and brother's name. I was under the impression that she was born in Alabama, but found out today that not only was she actually born here in Georgia, but she was also born in the same county that I live in now!! I had no idea!!

I also did a little shopping today! **Smile**

Now.... on with the Blog Challenge!

Letter F

Family

Well, of course, this word was my first thought. Family means EVERYTHING to me! My immediate family, my extended family, and my ancestors.

Friends

I have... and, have had.... many friends in my life. When I was little, my very best friend was Chrissy. We met when we were about 3 years old and remained friends until high school. This was when I reluctantly had to move from the home that I had spent most of my life in to a new home, further away, in a different school system. Amazingly (before Facebook!) we reconnected thru mutual friends as adults. This was when I lived in Atlanta. Then, after I moved 100 miles away, to Columbus Georgia, Chrissy and I slowly lost touch. Sadly... she is not on Facebook and I wish that she was. When I was pregnant with Miranda, I met a wonderful friend who was pregnant, too. That was 20 years ago, and we are still friends! Unfortunately, she lives in Atlanta, too. But, our friendship has survived and I can pretty much say that she is my VERY BEST FRIEND. I have friends here, but after 13 years.... I have still not found as good of a friend as she is!   

Flowers

I love flowers, as most women do. When I was little, my favorite flower was the Tulip. Then, as I got older, my favorite became the Pansy. Now, I really like the Gerber Daisy. Flowers make me happy, but I have told David NOT to waste money on buying them for me, unless I can either plant them in a pot or in my yard! Fresh cut flowers are very pretty, but I hate that they don't last very long.

Fish

I thought of this "F" word -- LOL! -- because of something funny that I heard this week. Miranda is pet-sitting for a family that we go to church with. The family has a small catfish pond on their property. One of the "pets" that Miranda has to feed is.... the catfish!! That's not the funny part of the story, tho. The family also has a dog and apparently the dog likes to go fishing for the catfish!!! Miranda witnessed this the other night when she went to feed the fish! Luckily her boyfriend was with her and helped her get the fish from the dog! I would have loved to have been there to see that!!

Facebook

Can't have an "F" list without this word! Ha! As I have said before, Facebook is an amazing creation that I am thankful for. It has been so much fun reconnecting with high school friends, church youth group friends and family. Thank you Facebook creators!!

The Great Pumpkin

Back when I was a little girl.... In the Fall, right before Halloween, I looked forward to watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" on TV. It only came on once a year, as did MANY other great TV shows and movies like ---- Santa Claus is Coming to Town, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Wizard of Oz, Charlie Brown's Christmas... etc. Kids, including myself, were allowed to stay up late on these nights in order to watch these once-a-year "specials".

Now, these shows can be bought on video and watched over and over, anytime we choose to watch them. To me, it kinda' takes away from the "specialness" of them.

One year, when I was in 5th grade, I was very sick on the week of Halloween. I couldn't go to school, which normally... I wouldn't have minded, but this week was going to be fun because I knew that I would be missing out on a lot of fun things at school that week.

My school --- which was right across the street from the apartment that we lived in! --- always had a HUGE Fall Festival with carnival games, prizes, and good food. The festival was held inside the school and then also outside, on the basketball court... which I could see very CLEARLY from my bedroom window! I can still remember sadly staring out that window and watching everyone having fun at the festival.

At some point, during this week of me being sick... The doorbell rang and I was surprised to see my teacher standing there!! She had come to bring me cards that my class had made for me and candy that I had missed out on getting. Her name was Miss Ballard. I will never forget her. In my memory... she looked like Marlo Thomas when she was on the TV show... "That Girl".

On the day of the Fall Festival, as I sadly watched everyone else having fun at the Fall Festival, the doorbell rang again. This time, it was for a flower delivery. I didn't think much about it until the man said that it was for ME!! When I read the card that was attached, it said.... "Hope you feel better. Love, The Great Pumpkin". I remember being excited, but yet... a bit confused. I knew that the Great Pumpkin was NOT real.

I asked my mom if she was "The Great Pumpkin", becaue I just knew that she had sent the flowers to me. My mom (of course) denied sending them. She kept insisting that it really WAS The Great Pumpkin. Then, I started drilling her with questions as to WHO might have sent the flowers. She played her part well and kept insisting that it really WAS The Great Pumpkin.

I decided that it must have been my grandmother. My mom said that it wasn't, but allowed me to call her anyway. -- I can just imagine the confusion that my poor grandmother must have had when I asked her if SHE was The Great Pumpkin! - She said, "No. It's not me." I remember her asking me questions about the flowers and I remember explaining to her about how they came and how the card was signed.

My mother never did let on that she really WAS The Great Pumpkin, but I know now that this was just one of the sweet things that she did for me and something that I will never forget! I only wish that I had a picture of those flowers and/or the card that was attached.

I just had a fun thought!!!! ~~ Maybe "The Great Pumpkin" should return the favor and send HER some flowers!!! Then, I can insist that I am NOT The Great Pumpkin! **Smile**

I don't have a picture from that day, but I do have this newspaper article from when I was in the 1st Grade. It is very special to me. I had to separate it into three pictures. I hope that you can read the words in the article.

Instant Yard

I want a beautiful yard so badly!! I want lush green grass to sink my toes into and beautiful plants & flowers to admire! I want a yard that looks like this....

This "yard" is at Callaway Gardens. It is in the center of what is called "Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden". Just look at those beautiful flowers and trees!! And that beautiful green grass!! My yard is almost the exact opposite of this one, but I have a pool. The pool is a beautiful "blue" and is so pretty to look at, but my yard needs a major overhaul!!

I wish there were a such thing as an "Instant Yard". It would consist of something like...throwing some seeds out there, watering them, and POOF!!!! Instant Yard!! Complete with lush, green grass, plants & flowers. Oh... I would be GLAD to "maintain" it!! I just need to get it started!!! 

But, from everything I read online, it isn't so easy! "Instant Yards" don't exist. Well..... if I were Bill Gates or Oprah, then.... I guess they would! I could just hire someone to come in and.... "POOF!"... Give me an instant yard! But.... since I do not have the funds to even come close to Bill or Oprah, then.... I am stuck trying to figure out how to do it on my own. My funds are more equal to Jed Clampet BEFORE he struck oil!! (Well, maybe not quite that bad!)

And having "funds" is only half the problem!! My thumb is BLACK!! Not "green"! I have no idea as to how to even begin such a project as aquiring a beautiful yard! I need to find a guide called... "Beginner's Landscaping on a BIG TIME Budget!"

Hmmmmm..... maybe I'll check the library.