Mother's Day at Susan's

Today after church, the Grand Mother and Grumpy drove up to the "Sunnyside Farms" to enjoy a day with whom, we did not know; several had been invited, but unexpected situations arise (high water, earthquakes and sick babies are among the well-known disasters!). The afternoon was to be a barbeque "up on the hill".

As Grumpy drove up the driveway and proceeded to start up the road that leads to the top of the hill, Grandma announced that plans had changed: the weather being what it was (threatening rain), the "barbeque" would be "indoors". [I guess women, including Grumpy's wife and eldest daughter, can change their minds and don't have to tell anybody about it! Even the driver!]

Soon after we arrived, Steven and Grumpy (the old woodsman of burnt pancake fame!) proceeded to build a giant fire, the embers of which would serve to roast weinies and marshmallows. In spite of Grumpy's excellent advice about not using wet cedar as kindling, Steven got a good fire going in no time at all. Grumpy was amazed and has decided to do more research on wilderness fire making. Grumpy suggested to Steven that a pancake might be in order, but the offer was unequivocally nixed. [I don't know how a son-in-law can hold a memory of a burnt pancake so long! Actually, it was just burnt on the outside -- the middle was, --well actually kind of doughy.]

Although the "barbeque" had been announced to begin at about 1:00 or 1:30, Grandma and Grumpy were the only ones there at 3:00 p.m., so Susan decided to go ahead with the hamburgers (the salads and fixin's were set out when we arrived at about one o'clock). In the 15 or 20 minutes it took to prepare the hamburgers, including placing them on heated buns with melted cheese on top, Michele and Steve Jr. arrived with baby Gracie-Mae! Perfect timing! Grandma didn't think twice before taking possession of baby Gracie-Mae -- but not until after Mama Michelle had answered Gracie's "immediate demands" to be fed.

After eating way too much good food and Grumpy enjoying holding Gracie-Mae, without objections from her Mother or Gracie herself, we all sat back and had good conversations about music, plants and visits to the midwest. [Ask Rachel about the story she ought to write about her baptismal cross-country driving in Nebraska and South Dakota.]

Although disappointed in not getting to see Ruth and Paul on this visit, Grandma and Grumpy reluctantly left for home at about 7:00 pm. A great day, some good visits and wonderful company! Unfortunately, the pictures Grumpy took were all out of focus, a problem that he has traced to the lack of sufficient light for the auto-focus to function -- older flash pictures are all very sharp. So the photos of Gracie-Mae shown here are of a week or so earlier.