Seldom is a week as full as this past one was, for me.
The week started off with Brynns’ second birthday party. Mama and I had spent a night there. Brant and Sydney were there with little Ryan-and so were Tres and Sarah.
Lyla decided she wanted to sleep with her Nana and I on the pull out couch. Jenny thought it was an awful idea, but Mama and I agreed with Lyla. It will be a sweet memory. I thought. That night, Lyla wanted to sleep with her soft little bear, who just happened to have a balloon tied to him. Jenny said no firmly, to that. Mama was asleep and I almost was, when Lyla climbed out of the bed and retrieved her bear, from his lonely corner. I didn’t let on, that I saw it. It is a startling thing to wake with a helium balloon looming over you-but Mama laughed later.
On Sunday, more folks came that loved Brynn-and so she had quite a day. This was Mamas’ first venture out , since Daddy died and we were all glad to have her join us.

It rained the first few days of the week-and at last it got cooler. The floss flowers celebrated by opening their delicate blossoms, with all their heart. The loosestrife is fading fast, but the stalwart rose-of-sharon, still blooms. . .and the wild mulberry is starting to don those bright fuchsia berries along the edge of the young woods. Leaves fall leisurely now revealing empty nests and corn fields are a warm tawny brown. There is a different smell for each season. Early autumn has the smell of leaves and in the country there is a faint smell of smoke, most days.
In the farmhouse and barns, we have always done a thorough cleaning, just as in spring, in the fall. Just knowing shortly, we will be shut up in the house, makes me want everything clean. I started early this year, before there was any chill in the air. As it turns out . . .that was a good thing. I got a call last week from a young man interested in the house. I had been thinking, I would put the house back on the market.
The memory of almost selling the farm, had at last dimmed enough, that I could entertain the notion, again. I still have boxes, awaiting their destiny, to prove the thing happened. Of course, Daddy got sick and had I moved, I would never had been able to be with him and Mama as much, so in some way, I really consider the fiasco a blessing now.
With the farmhouse not getting a bit smaller and the territory not slacking a bit, in its’ needs and me not getting a day younger, the thought had crossed my mind, to sell. The young man and I set an appointment for Sunday. With little Ryans’ first birthday party, scheduled for Saturday (two hours from the rabbitpatch) my work was cut out for me. Thank Goodness, I had started early. Christian and I worked diligently every evening . By the time Mama and I left on Saturday morning, the house was in good order, with very little left to do on Sunday morning.
Ryans’ party was at the beach, where Brant had been working on a cottage this past week. All of the same loved ones were there, from Brynns’ party – and Sydneys’ parents and brother, as well. It was a delightful time without a single dull moment. Brant and Sydney asked us to bring things to fill a “time capsule” for Ryan to open on his eighteenth birthday. It seems so far away, to think of that, but I know it will slip up on us suddenly, in the blink of an eye . . .much like his first birthday. Ryan concluded the celebration with his own little cake to discover. He played in the cake and wasn’t interested in eating it. We all had fancy cupcakes. Tres thought I was quite messy, for he saw icing all over my hands . . . but it was really paint, from my work at the house!
So dear Brynn is two and Ryan is one. . .and it is shocking to me-and more so than my hair, which is the color of a silver dollar, since I left it to its’ own devices! I just had gotten used to the fact, that my own children grew up!
Sunday dawned “bight and beautiful”. Christian and I did some last minute things and by the time the young man came, I was having an afternoon coffee. Several family members came with him, and my heart swelled in gladness that he had them to lend their wisdom. They were a friendly lot and it didn’t hurt one bit, that they liked the rabbitpatch. Time will tell if things work out. It always does.





