Thanksgiving :Chapter three

Wednesday morning , we all got up and got ready

for a ride over to Marshall county

where Michael W. Hall

would finally meet his Great-grandmother

Mam-maw Kadle.

But first a quick "chore"

putting up the tractor...

Michael investigating Mam-maws phone

We tried to make a picture with
4 generations...

Mama & Baby

Elizabeth came over to the house to see us

& meet Michael..she has been practicing

camera avoidance..

and did a very good job..

we were already back in Rye before I realized

she was not in a single picture..

however,

I do have a copy of a picture taken at Mamas last

Birthday extravaganza!

Elizabeth brought us some Muscadine jelly

she put up this summer!!!

It sure is good and helps add a little

southern sunshine to a cold

Rye day!

She also gave Michael a sack full of books!

Thanks Elizabeth!!

We did not get to see my brother Lawrence

and his wife Jimmie..

Wish we could have!

Lawrence & Jimmy

(Same birthday party)

We also did not get to meet young

Zachary Noah Slaten

due to his being such a tender

young age..

we will catch up with him later..

but, I thought I would also

insert a picture of him on his birthday

with his Granny Slaten

and one of him

during thanksgiving

week.

Mr. Zachary

When we got to Mary & Doyles

we were treated to

pecan pie a la mode

& apple brown betty.

Michael "loved"

Apple Brown Betty!

And Aunt Marys Chicken & Dumpling's*

*(Mary makes the Best Chicken and Dumplings

in the world...

And believe me, I have tried a few!)

Cathy Jean and Eric

came to visit , too.

Uncle Doyle came into a big

Welcome home

from

Michael!

Cathy Jean and Eric brought

Michael a book that the

pictures

"move"

Thank you Cathy!

We had to say "goodbye"

and get back on the road..

Gennifer was coming up to the house that afternoon

and we were behind schedule...

I like the fact that we,

now have,

the George Jetson "stuff"

like the web cam..

however, I still wait with great

anticipation on

"beam me up, Scottie!"

On the way back to Cullman county

I got a phone call from my

niece Cheryl..

she, her daughter Amber, & Richard (Amber's husband)

came to visit...they got there about the same time as Gennifer..

We all sat around ,

some in the old porch rockers ,

some on the futon..

(I had put together on the last trip home...

O.K. so maybe its put together a little

upside down...or backwards, and its hard to get out of..

Hey, at least there is something to sit on...

you can quit snickering now ,Cheryl...)

We had a big time talking and laughing and

telling stories!

Cheryl, Amber and Richard

brought Michael a gyrating reindeer

that sings "Felice Natividad"

if you push his hand..

but, be careful

if you grab it by the ear...

it Squeals like a pig!

Thanks y'all!

And thank you for the pecans, too!

Gennifer grew up across the field..

she was a big help in keeping

"the path"

worn down..

She was like one of my own...

She brought 2 beautiful

scrapbooks

she had made ,

one for Michael & one for us..

of pictures taken of

Michael and Chloe since

Felice & Bill

first got Michael home!!

I will always treasure mine!

Thank you Darlin"!!

Michael was ready to "eat" supper...

Come to find out Mary

had sent Chicken and dumplings

with us!

Warmed up with 1/2 a banana

on the side and

Wa-La

Supper!

Thank you Mary!!!

next time Michael will have

a play Buddie...

Company left..

Ba-ba & Mama went to town,

Michael stayed with Papa and Gamma..

Cheerios makes a wonderful

"sack mix"

Michael, shared some with his Papa!

This entry has seemed quite a bit like a large

Thank you card...

We did have a wonderful trip home and so

enjoyed seeing everyone!

Now I need to jump up , start laundry,

(after all it is Monday)

and move some furniture around

so we can have a place for the tree

and see the fire place...

Next entry will be Thanksgiving Day

with "my other side"

The Ryans!

We had a great time that day, too!

footnote....

yesterday it snowed all day..

turned out to be little more than a dusting,

we went to a local tree farm and cut our first live

tree in years..

(the things you do for children!)

pictures will follow after Thanksgiving is through..

this morning we got up to 9F..with

wind chill -8!!

"OH, I Wish I Was in Dixie...."

Love to all of y'all!!!

Thanksgiving in Alabama, Chapter Two

Chapter Two:

Reaching our destination,

Michael fits Aunt Carries rocker,

noisy toys,and a baby bed.

Uncle Paul, Carousel, and

Dreamland!

Well after the sun sets

on the second day of driving

and crying songs,

well into the dark of night

we pulled into our destination in

Alabama...

We rolled out of the truck
and lumbered
up the porch steps at
Mam-maw & Pap-paw Ryan's..
Backs frozen in a crook,
hips locked,
knees barking..
we went in to handshakes,
neck hugs and greetings called out..
But,
the thing that counteracted
each and every ache and pain
brought on by hours of
immobility...

was the exuberant Glee
heaped upon us
by young
Michael!


A musical virtuoso in the making

Up at the house,
Aunt Carries little rocker

was pulled out and

was a

perfect fit!

A trip to "Wally-world"

always a must!

You will need some milk and other staples

while in town..

and

Don't forget a

Caterpillar truck thing..!

"Can you get it open, Papa?"

"See this button..right here? "

It makes it go

"Caterpillar Power..

Caterpillar Power,

honk, honk,honk,honk,

backup beep, backup beep, beep, beep,beep

varoom, varoom, varoom.."

over & over & over

again..

Little boys sure do like

that

button!!!

A couple of years ago Aunt Fredas

youngest grandchild out grew sleeping in

a baby bed..

So she so sweetly handed down

the bed she kept

for the grand babies to sleep in when

they visited..

After a couple of years of waiting,

we finally got to put it up

in Alabama

for our grand baby!!!

It really tickled Michael when

his Ba-ba and Papa

put up another bed..just for him!

Thank you so much Aunt Freda!!!

The next morning ,

our men,

sit on the futon, eating

Little Debbie dunkin' sticks

accompanied by

assorted coffees and a

sippy of milk!

Making plans for the day...

First, on the list

after everyone has had time to bathe..

Off we will all go

to the local beauty shop...

There, Michael will get to meet

Mary ,

she will cut Papas hair

and then give Gamma the works!

(It sure was good to get my eye brows waxed!!!

even if she did have to go to the

barn after the

bushhog!)
While, Gamma was getting her hair done

off to "Williams" for brunch..

went the other 4..

along the way,so I am told,

Michael kept trying to tell them...

"Gamma! (you left) Gamma!"

After miracles were worked in the

beauty shop...

Gamma was retrieved

"Look , Michael, here she is!"

and off we headed to Birmingham,

Plans included seeing Pat, Gammas long time friend,

Uncle Paul..Papa & Gammas long,long time friend,

going to the Galleria & eating at Dreamland!

Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men,

Pat was unable to meet us,

so we went on down

the road and saw Paul..

He has not changed at all...

a few years older,

but still Paul...

after we left I kicked myself..

for having left the camera in the truck..

so here is a younger Paul..

(28 years and 11months younger)

just add a few wrinkles,

and a few pounds..

(just like all of us)

Next stop, the Galleria,

Where Mama & Ba-ba want to go to

the "Alabama" store..

we also went to the Auburn

store.

Then a ride on the carousel!

Oh, Boy!

Next


What to order?

Is there really a question?

Ribs, ribs and a few more ribs...

some mac & cheese!!!,

beans and slaw.

Michael, is doing such a good job,

not only,

eating real food..

but, feeding himself.

Boy, does that tike LOVE

Mac & Cheese!

What 'cha got there ,Papa?

You think I could try a bite?

Mmmmmmm,

That's Good!

"More"

Mmmm

Mmmm

Hey, Michael

do you want

"Banana Pudding?"

Mmmmmm

"Hey, Baba and Mama I really like this Alabama!"

Here as we leave the 'ham

and drive back to north

Alabama...

I will end chapter 2 of

Thanksgiving in Alabama..

In a day or two..

chapter 3

Visiting

Mam-maw Kadle & Aunt Elizabeth,

visiting

Aunt Mary and Uncle Doyle

Cathy Jean and Eric

Meating

"Aunt"Gennifer

and a gathering of cousins..

Chapter 4

Thanksgiving

and all those Ryan

Aunts & Uncles

and cousins , too!

and

guess who gets to

ride the

tractor?

The first chapter of the Thanksgiving post is published..

but, staying with true form posted..

under the "Please Stand By" posting..

Yes..I have been struggling with this program

for two days trying to get it right..

and have been this close a couple of times..only to

loose the whole deal..

so please bare

with me and just struggle through the wide spacing...

after awhile I am afraid the pictures are pretty far apart..

but, if you will follow it all the way

to the end ..the last picture is

a really good one..

I am going to take a day or two away from this torture device

and have some fun..

dusting and mopping

in order to start decorating for

Christmas..

The next couple of postings..will be pictures taken at

home in Alabama visiting

with family and friends..

and did we ever have a wonderful time!

I just wish we had had more time to see everyone and see them all

for more than the short time we got to spend with each of them..

Oh yeah, and there will also be pictures

of Michael W. Hall

on his first trip to

"Dreamland"

I hope even with all the wide spaces

you see something you like and enjoy it..

We enjoyed the drive..

Good Night..D.

Technical Difficulties

are rearing

their ugly heads

and taking large bites

out of my sanity...

BUT,

I will not be undone,

will persist,

and in a short ,

while

publish a new posting..

Please, bare with me and check back

soon!