It’s Saturday and — just like all the week days of a retired person’s life — so, why the hurry about getting out of bed early? “Early” means some time before 9 am — if for no other reason to stay in bed, it feels great to turn over and think about all the non-retirees on the road heading for work.

However, this beautiful Saturday morning, BEFORE sunrise, my dear husband of 40 years got out of bed and wrestled me out as well. He had made plans with a clock buddy, Dan, to meet at our house at 6:30 a.m. and ride to Wimberley for Market Days. Now, I love flea markets and antique shows, but this was asking quite a bit of me, I thought. However, once I got some coffee, showered, and dressed — it wasn’t too bad at that time of morning. And . . . I WAS in the back seat of the car for the 30 minute trip to Wimberley, so my eyelids could check for light leaks without anyone noticing.

Wimberley Market Days has certainly grown since the last time we were there — the advertised “free” event becomes a $5 event if you wish to park within walking distance to the treasures for sale. The gates open at 6 am and believe this: we certainly were not among the early bird arrivals. With our sunscreen on, our full water bottles in hand, and our hats in place, we started our August Market Days treasure hunt. Terry and Dan were scouting for clocks or related items. I was not looking for anything in particular, because I’m broke! But, as always, whenever I do spot a bargain (especially for Samtiques) and look up at Terry with sad eyes, he bails me out. So, it was and I came home with a jar of buttons (vintage, that is), a punch bowl set (because the bowl would be great for banana pudding), and two art deco photo frames. The guys did find a good deal on three clocks, so we were all smiling as we headed for the parking lot before 11 am.

Lunch or breakfast at 10:55? Big decision! “Breakfast” won out. Of course, it was still perfectly all right to have a big waffle cone of Blue Bell ice cream afterwards. My favorite flavor now is “Chocolate Covered Cherry” — oh, it’s wonderful.

Made another stop in Wimberley — a new building that contains several shops. I returned to Unique Antiques to look at the old French upright piano again and to check for more estate jewelry that “a little old lady from Pasadena Houston” brings in on consignment. Terry and Dan headed upstairs to Hill Country Guitars, where Cousin Dale bought his Collings guitar and we bought Randy’s guitar last week. Learned that Dan plays a bass guitar and enjoyed looking at the group of old goodies for sale. Also, we were reminded about “don’t throw ANYTHING away.” Old amplifiers are sought out and bring big bucks — especially, of course, Fender brands — as in thousands of dollars.

Home again about 3:30 and the guys disappeared to the clock shop. I disappeared to the grocery store and Wal-Mart for a couple of hours. Enjoyed some rain on me and the car while out and about, but upon return to the house sadly saw dry grass and thirsty flowers.

Sunset and the guys are still working on some clock repairs. Dan brought one of his from home that needed work and asked Terry to help him. About 9 pm they came home for a home-cooked meal (yes, that’s right! — so, there goes my reputation) and then back to the shop for another hour.

Today, for the first time in a LONG time, we saw the sunrise and the sunset — and you know what, maybe we should do that more often. God’s beauty should not be missed!

What a QUIET house we have this afternoon! The grandkids left with Mom about noon. Mom and Dad are probably hearing a lot of “Are We There YET?” from the back seats of the car — family was headed to the coast for a long weekend. We were left in charge of taking care of their pet , REX, a bearded dragon lizard.

Taking care of Rex means that we:

• turn on two special lights each morning about 9:00 and off each night about 9:00
• feed him crickets each morning being sure that they aren’t too large or else he might choke and die (at least we don’t have to hunt for them — they come in a special cricket container from the pet store — but he shouldn’t get more than 10 a day, so we must count them as we drop them into his aquarium)
• chop up some lettuce and/or carrots each morning also so that he gets some veggies with his protein
• change his two water bowls and clean out the itty, bitty “poop” in his cage
• and . . . “most importantly” (says Brielle) “take Rex out and hold and rub him at least twice a day — he really likes that.”

I wonder if Terry got all that down!

Our grandchildren’s parents tell us that it takes them a few days to get “their children” back to normal after visiting with us. Seems we do things to/for/with the grandkids that makes every day living with them a little bit tough. We just chuckle and keep doing things that grandparents do — does it REALLY matter that they get a chocolate malt every night before bed, even if it’s late; or that they can eat on trays in front of the tv; or that they don’t have to take a bath here EVERY night; or that the Tooth Fairy at our house gives $5 for a tooth (the first lost tooth); or that we laugh when we shouldn’t at some comments or behaviors; or that we do just about anything to please our grandchildren?

The question has several answers:

• it doesn’t matter at all when you consider what effect it might have 100 years from now
• it doesn’t matter at all when you consider how special these blessings from God are to us grandparents
• it doesn’t matter at all when you consider some of the special moments and memories these children will have for the rest of their lives
• it doesn’t matter at all, unless you are the parent trying to teach your children the proper ways to eat, to act, and to become responsible adults
• it doesn’t matter at all, if you remember being a grandchild and experiencing some wonderful times with Mamo, Papo, Grandmother, Nanie, Mam, or GranDad (sorry, can’t list them all) — you know it didn’t do any real harm to be spoiled by them.

So, now that THAT is settled . . . back to the quietness at our house.

Hear that noise in the hall? . . . just the a/c unit cycling . . .
Is that someone coming down the hall? . . . no, it’s just our old deaf and blind poodle dog, Beau, bumping into things . . .
Where is that sound of running water coming from . . . oh, the ice maker . . .
The tv has a news program on, what happened to the cartoons . . .
The only things coming in and out the front or back door are sunshine and Beau . . .

While I comtemplate the quietness, Terry and “partners” take advantage of it:

It’s just me and Rex awake, looking around, already missing the noise of precious children . . .

Living outside the city limits and in the middle of several acres allows our grandchildren to do things like “we used to do.”

As a kid in the 50’s, I’d get up in the morning, hop on my bike and be gone for hours. Mother knew I was closeby — just didn’t have to worry about my safety as far as strangers were concerned. So, if we kids wanted to stop playing with dolls, cars, ball, or whatever and ride off on our bikes to surrounding fields, we did. Kids in suburbia don’t get to have that experience today.

So, if the outside temp’s aren’t too high, our g’kids like to go outside at our place. They hunt — and catch — lizards and keep them in Mayonnaise jars for a day. If the lizards are hiding, they look for other “critters.” Continue reading →

Missing “cousin Dale” (as McKenna calls him)! Enjoyed his guitar pickin’ and singin’ so much. Wondering if there are any Round Rock donuts left in his truck — and also the whereabouts of the “plastic bag”?