Big Mama Hollers: Baby Shower, Bonfire, and a Wedding

I haven't smiled this much in years. ?That said, I'm pretty far behind in my chores, having recently had way too much fun to carve out the allotted time in which to, at least, tackle the dirty dishes piled up in the sink. ?No one at all has been here this weekend so much as we've been up at Chuck and Yolie's house, but this morning I best dive in to play catch-up on chores. ?My baby chicks need to be put in a larger galvanized container first thing.

I'd gone to Dawn's baby shower, she's my son-in-law Chuck's baby sister, now in her early 30s, she and her husband are expecting their first child soon. ?Sometimes these ladies events can be tedious, but I had a super fun, great time there, spending time with Sharon, the grown daughter of another large adoptive family who had inspired me many years ago. ?I avoided the cakes and sweets, wanting to remain vegan, knowing I'd fall off the wagon certainly the next day.

My sons had spent the entire day with Jesse and Chuck, making an off-road path of sorts through the woods, building a bonfire for that evening with Chuck's friends and our large family.

Jesse'd gone both to church with me, and later to pick CW up from his Augusta trip, and I trotted off last night to Jordan's wedding and dinner reception at a local Bed & Breakfast venue where I had a total blast. ?I've known Jordan since she was born, her parents longtime friends of mine, her dad my spiritual mentor for 30 years as I've strived here at home, trying to impart values to my children who've fought me tooth and nail.

Jordan's mom, Lisa, and her nearly twin sister, Susan, looking as stunning as the bride, both happily holding their lovely grandchildren, I was thinking how blessed I've been to have known this family through four generations. ?What a wonderful evening it was on every front.

Tabby was flipping through the photos on my phone commenting, "Mari was there?" and then, minutes later, "Even Charlie?" as she noticed him dancing to the music. Pouting for a minute, but also happy that Hazel was spending the night. ?We'd gone many dangerous nights in which spending the night here was out of the question for their own safety.

The two singers on the right? I remember their births, their mom and Grandpa, another of my longtime pastors, up on stage as their little brother danced.

So I've gallivanted and socialized, pigged out and vacationed from veganism with a large piece of home made lemon-raspberry cake that was to die for, knowing Lisa'd made it and it'd be way past delicious on the I've Gotta Have It! meter, exclamation mark super necessary in this case.

A lovely chandelier hanging from the trees as the sun set, great friends, wonderful food, who am I, getting to enjoy all this much fun? ?My residual trauma kicking in, making me wary and prone to fits of hyper-vigilance, but I fought it off, and allowed myself to smile and be super happy.

It's OK Cindy to occasionally let down your emotional brick walls.

Sarah and Preston, celebrating 12 years of marriage, went to ?The Athens Farmer's Market Autumn Harvest Feast benefiting Wholesome Wave, hobnobbing with the likes of Hugh Acheson and other local artisans such as these grits aficionados.

Better Grits?
In a place where grits are practically a religion, it?s not easy to impress. So when some of Georgia?s finest chefs began raving about the grits coming from a small farm in Athens, we couldn?t help but take notice. They?re called Red Mule grits, and culinary heavyweights including chefs Shane Touhy (Dogwood), Hugh Acheson (Five & Ten, Empire State South), and Ford Fry (JCT. Kitchen and Bar) have all become devotees.

Food Freaks R Us - Sarah, too, went non-vegan for the evening, but neither of us would ever even consider one morsel of meat. ?Barfo.

I ate mashed potatoes last night as well, likely it had milk and butter in it, there's no way to know and the fact that I so rarely eat anything not prepared by me allows me to give permission to my own self to indulge at times. ?Sarah quoted a food expert to me who'd said if one eats 90% plants, yet splurges one meal a week being non-vegan, well, calm, down, you got it. ?I'd guesstimate that I do 99.99% vegan a month, as I generally only eat what I've made and/or grown right here.

Wholesome Wave intrigues me, giving me more ideas for the second half of my life.

I've spent excellent time with adults and my grown children, my children at home barely making a ripple in terms of acting out, hardly a flutter of anything, as happy as I, they were busy with Chuck all day Saturday, getting to ride with the other off-road guys, even I jumped into the big tire truck of some young firefighter buck for my own spin through the woods.

Grandma turned down an offer to ride, Daniel and Jesse are veterans of military Humvees, now not easily impressed, Jesse particularly so after two tours in Iraq, Daniel a commander all weekend with his National Guard unit. ?Me wanting to wear a T-shirt announcing I am their very proud mama.

Source: http://thebodiebunch.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-shower-bonfire-and-wedding.html

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