3 Men and A Purse

Gotta tell ya, we have this new guy coming to church, he's a fiancé to my 3rd cousin who's younger than Ian but, boy, is he a tall drink of water - if tall, dark, and handsome ever applied to any fellow it would be him.  And, he's sweet.  He's got very kind eyes.

 

Clinton, here at the house, rushing out the door in the cold, snowy weather, carrying his wife's purse reminded me of this fellow at church.  Clinton's wife's purse holds the keys to their car, and he was going out to warm it up, holding said purse out and away from his body.  It's the body lauguage, you know.  

 

So, this 6' 2" fellow's walking around with finacé's purse, and I teased him, "That looks good on you."  

Eyes met, both crinkled with good humor, and he laughed.  This medium-sized pinkish purse has firm sides and sits on its own.  We laughed, he and I always speak, every Sunday, we exit our pews practically at the same time.  

Then I thought of my dad and how he said, "I never stick my hand in your mother's purse."  

Even after mom passed, dad didn't stick his hands in my mother's purse.  He picked it up by two bottom corners and dumped it on the quilted bed. 

 

At church, when I next turned around to look, I saw that purse sitting on the foor near the door, lonely, and "tall, dark and handsome" was 3 feet away!  

I laughed and laughed.  How like a man.

Grandkid Memories May 2023

They all showed up here, after we lunched at Los Maguelles Mexican Restaurant.  Daughter-in-law sat and crocheted, other daughter-in-law sat with earbuds plugged in, I laughed my head off at the kids.

It's March of 2023

First time for Lilly & Jacob in weeks, and first time for all grandkids to be together in ages and ages.  And did they tear up jack!  All toys came out and were reacquainted.  Lilly wrote a love message on the board.  Jayden put together an erector set kit.  Alayna locked two in the outhouse.  Jacob cried until a riding toy was brought in the house from the garage.  Noelle licked mud off a stick.  Ainsley pushed 2 dolls in one stroller. I stood at the stairs to watch out the window and it was like a silent film -- hilarious!  At one point all you could see was Jayden in the tree and a Ty baby bear flying up, falling down, flying up, falling down....at least 4 times.

And boy, did the outdoor air make them hungry, they had go-gurts, ice cream, spaghetti two times -- once darling hubby fixed a batch and once I fixed a batch.  They dived for the pickles, too.  

We were out of shape.  Darling hubby hid upstairs for a bit to recoup.  And I volunteered to hide during Mean Grandma, a hide and seek game where they end up scared, chuckle.  After they left we relaxed with a couple episodes of a tv comedy.  

Hopefully, the day will be repeated soon and frequently.

What Fun I Had In Walmart

 Not My Photo - just reminiscent     

What fun I had in Walmart.

 

This man with his little bitty girls, one walking around, the other in the cart, similar in age, cute as a Rockwell painitng were right where I needed to be to get a flat rubber plug for my tub.  I asked him if he could just hand me one, and I'd get out of his way.

The little daughter in the cart, we were eye level, looked at me and very articulately said, "You're grandma!"

 

I laughed my head off.  All these years I've kept my hair brown because that's the way John, hubby, liked it.  When he passed away I didn't care, didn't care about anything really, and quit coloring it.  It's white.  Well, ombré, the last bit is brown.  

Her words just hit me!  I laughed my head off.  I forget what I look like sometimes, until I catch a glimpse in a mirror, that is.  And I laughed more when I looked up at the dad who had big round eyes, and had slapped his hand over his mouth!  He immediately got on to the little one and looked at me apologetically, "Maddie!  We don't say that!" 

I wasn't offended.  I thought it was a hoot!

 

What I wouldn't give to give her a big ol' hug!

She was standing in the basket of the shopping cart, so I leaned in a bit, looked her in the eye, and laughed.

"Yes, I am, and my name is GrammyPam."

Noelle and Ainsley "Arms & Wolf & Sad"

Rusty, using spinner, 

educates his kids in playing Twister, 

Jayden, Noelle, Ainsley, Alayna

Dec. 15, 2025

I had to laugh out loud, Noelle's only 6, where does she get such thoughts!?

Noelle, kindergartener, helped me load the dishwasher, she was intrigued never having done it before, but after awhile she said, 

"I'm tired.  I have little arms." 

Dec. 23, 2025

Ainsley and Jayden were playing catch with an awful ball.  It was medium sized, blue, and squishy, it needed aired up.  But they were having fun.  He'd toss, then tell her to throw it up high.  She'd catch, but sometimes she'd end up with crossed arms because she didn't catch and it rolled through.  He'd throw easy and right at her and she'd be so excited to "WIN!"

Then she got tired and started wallowing around on the couch, so he engaged me.  We tossed back and forth with him calling for a high one.

Ainsley, is only 4, thin boned, short, shy, and you can barely hear her when she talks.  

About this time she decides to join in when "WHAM!" the ball hits her on the left side of her face, chin area and side of the neck.  I cringed, "Oh, Ainsley, I'm so sorry."

She never cried.

She just turned to me with big eyes, shocked, and hand to face.

"That didn't hurt.  Cause I'm alpha-wolf"

Well, if that doesn't beat all.  Come to find out, her and her siblings watch something on YouTube called Alpha and Omega.  She identifies with the alpha wolf girl Kate.  So, we're in the garage, garage door's open, Rusty's putting salt in the water softener for me, Jayden's putting wood in the woodstove, and we all hear ....

"Ow-ooooo....."

"OW-OOOOO...."

"Did you hear that?"  It was a quiet sound, almost like a howling cat.  Then again.

"OW-OOOOO!"

Then we laughed.  In the house, from the family room, Ainsley had opened the sliding glass door and was howling to the moon.

She affirmed stating.  "I'm were-alpha-wolf."

Jan. 5, 2026

Ainsley was visiting with me in the family room while her family loaded up in Rusty's truck.

I told her, "I will be alone cuz Daddy and Alayna are loading up the truck."

"When you all leave out the driveway, I will be all alone."

She, leaning against the couch, very soberly and quietly said, "Well, that's sad."

Rusty, her dad, came in, "Daddy, when we leave GrammyPam will be sad."

Hum, sympathy?  Empathy?  Either way she showed intelligence giving it deep thought.

Snippets - John, Jeani, Carolyn

 

 Carolyn Webb, will be 91 years old in March 2026.

She and my father, David L. Leeman, were cousins growing up together.

John

It was 5 o'clock in the afternoon and our rooster crowed!

John's quick quip to the rooster was, "You don't get out much."

Jeani

Jeani took a ride (and maybe drove a bit) in Calvin's new blue Mustang.  You should know she has a CDL & teamed with her husband driving a big truck, a semi.

Jumping out of Calvin's Mach 1, "This is not a truck!  It's so much better!"

Carolyn Webb, 90 year old 2nd cousin

She stated she was watching the hulu dancer, prancing around with coconuts for bras.  Then thinking of the end of time, she said, 

"Oh, god, please don't come after me and David right now."

Darling Hubby Sold on Vacation and a Sunday of Happy Campers

Good morning, Happy Campers!

Are we happy campers?  Well, I thought we were until the boys saw John's Spring Break list of to-do's and our Class C Tioga was on there twice.  It's getting quite old and has had lots of repairs, but, it's paid for.  So the boys are trying to talk him into selling it by use of youtube videos showing newer, and more cozy RVs that could be purchased in its place.  Can never tell about DH.  Don't know if he was sold on the idea or not.

But he is sold on vacation.  DH wants to go out-of-state, back to Tybee,  actually. 

I read my friend's girlies are on Spring Break, will there be any camping involved?  Nothing like it.  Hopefully, everyone, at least once, gets to go camping.

Yesterday?  What a day!!!!

First, spritz the house quickly, then head to church.
After church they wanted Mexican food, El Toro Loco.  I wasn't in the mood, had a headache, felt like my stomach couldn't handle it, so fostered boy Jaydden and I drove through McDonalds for a fish fillet and Happy Meal.  

Then we all walked through the nearby flea market to check on some speakers for Cousin Jack.

Would you believe while we were doing that Clint's family piled into my house, made themselves at home which was fine with us, but sis and my 2nd Cousin went in, too.  So we had a houseful when we arrived.  Good thing I had previously made Salad Dressing Cake and cupcakes.  Passed them out with some Cool Whip.

Gave away some of my Herb Garden Teacups, too.  Showed Cousin the bedroom I'd just redone and settled in for a nice bit of a hens party, LOL.  They left and the rest wanted to play Euchre when here came the fostering family of 4!  That was a build up of general noise and hubbub in the house!  

After most everyone went home, Miss Lilly's family was hungry but not happy about any choices set forth, probably because she's expecting, so, and you won't believe this, so Darling Hubby fixed breakfast!!!!!! 

He cooked eggs, fried bacon, baked biscuits, set out ketchup and orange preserves and we all tucked in!  Can you believe that?  Miss Lilly's mom had stated that Pamela doesn't cook on Sundays.  She's half right.  I don't fix suppers.  I might the noon meal if they wanted but they prefer eating out.  So, no, I don't cook on Sundays.  My day of rest.  LOL, Darling Hubby dived right in.  He loves bacon!

They, too, then puttered off to home.  And that was just one day of my busy weekend.
This is how we roll!

Jeani's Funny April '25

 

MONDAY

Jeani asked, "Where are your kleenexes?"

She was headed to the back bedroom for the night.

I said, "Under the Easter Island Nose.  And I have a spare box over here, too," pointing to the lower cabinet.

Jeani responded, "You're just making me feel at home.  I'm here for a month."

"I know," I said, "I knew that when you came, and I'm glad."

And then we collapsed chuckling, me crossing my legs, and her doubling over, in laughter when she stumbled over her next words.  

Supposing she didn't want to be an inconvenience, I heard her say, "I'm here for a month.  I'm sorry.  I feel so ...."  and she ducked and giggled, "wonderful!" 

THURSDAY

Jeani was discussing the jumbo Skippy Nut Roll she'd just purchased.

"I just gotta try this."

Simultaneously her phone did a sing-song.

I was aiming for the stairs to go upstairs, when my mind blanked out. 

I asked aloud:  "Alright what was I thinking of......"

Instantly, she said, "BACON!"

Branson With Cal & Jeani April 11 and 12

April 11, Friday

Last Friday we had breakfast at a convenience store (isn't that weird?) in an eatery called Area71.  I teased about it being Area 51.  The owner only had the place 2 months and plans to change it to LakeVibz, more contemporary.  The food was really, really good - breakfast burrito.

 

Then to Branson Belle Showboat, a big paddle boat, 4 levels, a musical show, and food - green beans, the best gravy and tender roast I'd ever, ever had with mashed potatoes and grilled chicken breast.  The Master of Ceremonies did a rope trick, one number had a ballerina in the background, and I got to be on stage.  The goal was to never answer yes or no.  But, I failed, he slipped in a question while I was still thinking of the last question and I answered yes.  Durn!

 

Jeani had NEVER heard of any of the country-western songs but knew all the others.  One of the performers sang a really high-pitched soprano part when Jeani said, "Dude, your pants are too tight."

 

So that evening I stepped through David's door and I found Jesus - cuz I stepped on him. 

ROFL!  Found out that the crew buy up little bags of him and strew them around for people to find - rubber eraser-like and no bigger than a quarter.

 

 

David was a Sight and Sound play - one year Esther, this year David, and I think next year Noah. FANTASTIC!  FX, props, costumes, songs, skylights and Goliath and his giants that were 22 feet tall made for an outstanding performance.  The place was packed, and the big building was all theatre.  The giants dropped forward on their faces and their bodies scattered like heaved rocks and their fall boomed like thunder.  If ever you want to use the words AMAZING and AWESOME this was the time! 

 

There were live animals, especially sheep, realistic sword fights, King David playing a homemade lute, and at the end the ceiling was absolutely filled with stars, then they came falling down.  In front of us were 2 or 3 rows of kids all in one family with adults that reached up to the sky, with innocent faces turned up, and their little hands outstretched reaching, it was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen in my life!!!!

April 12, Saturday

So, before the trip home from Branson, I'd gotten up 5:30 or so, and I was startled when I walked into the condo kitchen.  There stood a man in black!  It was Calvin.  I thought he was still in bed, LOL.  I fixed him some coffee and we taste tested some Harry Potter beans - not the jalepeno, black pepper, or vomit!   Oh, ear wax and grass and earthworm got our goats the day before!

 

At Springfield at Lamberts, we ordered lunch and it came in a doubly large skillet.  Then the wait staff came around pushing dinner roll carts, and carrying cooked pots of okra and black eyed peas.  We were stuffed!  And ... they still kept tossing us dinner rolls, LOL.

 

Just past the Illinois / Indiana border, before seeing a turned over semi that had lost it's load, we about lost our lives - TWICE!  Due to Jeani's CDL experience, she took evasive meneuvers hitting the rumble strip and we survived.  She saw the semi's trailer come into our lane 3 feet, I saw his tire churning, churning towards me and thought I'd be mincement.  The other one was 3 cars playing tag and last one in line, red, didn't even see us, come racing into our lane!  It was like we were invisible!

 

Needless to say, we were exhausted coming home.  Dropped off Calvin in Lapel, and came here to Noblesville, to thank the Good Lord "and chill."

Branson With Cal & Jeani April 9 and 10

April 9, Wednesday 

Jeani, using Booking.com, said it was cheaper than a hotel.  Well, it sure was nicer.  The couch was a hideabed, and the other beds were massive!

So on Wednesday we were on the road by 4 a.m. and Calvin insisted on driving the whole way - 8 hr. trip!  We called her at 3.5 hours left to travel and would you believe when we arrived she walked out having JUST UNLOCKED the DOORS?!  Amazing timing!

Calvin was interesting because during the ride we talked about political news and his online friend.

Lunch was GETTING BASTED, bbq restaurant, with clever fun sign decor and wood interior.

The event for the evening was going to a well stocked, memory lane, anything you could want shop called Dick's 5 & 10.  It was such fun we went twice, once while he slept and another day so he could check for trains.  I got Xmas - hot-cold mugs for guys and names on handles hairbrushes for grandgirls.  When we got back I squealed because my car had a front flat tire.  NOT.  Turns out Calvin had parked it in a divet, a chuckhole!

 

There would be further "tire" excitement on the way home.

April 10, Thursday

Titanic Museum?  I have to admit that everything we did was quite costly, but it was worth it.  

 

The first thing we did in that museum was touch a wall of an iceberg - extremely cold.  Then they gave us each a pass with a ships passengers name to check at the tour's end to see if that person survived or not.  Mine was a child and she survived.  Calvin's was a man, he said, "If the sinking ship didn't get him, the draft would've."  Jeani was a nun!!!!

 

Guess what?  I got to play the piano on the Titanic!  ROFL.  Yep, a big black rich-toned instrument.

 

We got to see some English dishes, old-fashioned life preservers, dinner menus, captains logs, and all kinds of other memorabilia, very interesting.

 

After that it was a Pink Jeep Tour in and out and up and down in a quarry. 

 And, if this pic comes through, the cliff edge was every bit, if not steeper, than what you're seeing.  The guide said the screamers are usually men!  

At the river bank looking at water reeds, I saw a water moccasin 2 steps in front of me slither and scurry under a rock!

 

Then it was Branson Hobby Center where Calvin looked for model train cars.

 

Back at the condo we lazed at the window watching boats float by - pontoon, gondola-like, John boat, speed boat, and one that was floating away while the man was fishing, chuckle.

 

Such a hearty, outdoorsy day it was.  FUN!