Visit from the 'Grands.'

Today has been a lazy day . I did NO yard work or ANY kind of work - truth be told- but that's ok!

Zach came up yesterday from Orlando to see his cousins and his aunt Tina and stayed the night at their house. This afternoon Tina and Alli came up and Zach came up in his car! Zach stayed and we had hamburgers on the grill. He'll have to be leaving soon for home!

It was good having him here, as well as Tina and Alli, for a few hours. Zach and Alli like to get into our old home movies of when they were all little and spending time here on the farm! It's all fun to watch- but a bit sad too!
Life IS bittersweet!

Zach just called me in awhile ago to see a fun one he had come across! It was the Christmas that I decided to try to tame and bring some sort of control to our opening of presents! I brought a basket in and announced that we would each open our presents ( one at a time) and FOLD our wrapping paper and put it in the basket! This was met with loud laughter all around...all caught on tape! :) If I could get that on a Youtube clip I'd post it here!

You lucky folks....I don't know how to do that! heehee

We also viewed 'Spike's Funeral' today! Spike was Zach's Hamster who died in 1997...Zach insisted he wanted Spike buried on the Farm, so it was necessary to keep the body frozen until they could make the trip up here from Orlando- a week later.

Charles narrated and filmed the whole event. The funeral service was very dignified...with those who wished, saying a few words of remembrance in Spike's honor!
I could only say that I hadn't known Spike that well... (That fact did not keep me from being misty-eyed through the whole service and doing a lot of patting my grandson's back!) Others knew him better and stories were told of many fun times shared with Spike.

At last Spike, still frosty, was covered with wildflowers from the meadow . At this point Zach sent his little cousin, Alli, into the house for one thing he had forgotten to bring out! It was a picture of Zach and Alli. This picture was tucked in among the flowers and the box lid was closed for the final time.

Zach, brave boy that he was, shoveled the dirt in himself. I think he felt it was a duty he had to fulfill!

Today the kids found the whole thing humorous. But it was sad at the time...even tho we played the event up. Still, I knew it was sad for Zach!

When it came time for Zach's family to leave for home that 1997 day- no one knew where Zach had gotten off to-since he knew they were almost ready to go!...I found him at Spike's grave site-taping his recent school picture to the wooden marker Charles (Gabbo) had made for the grave!

It's such a sweet video- bittersweet memories for us!

Here is a picture taken today of my 2 youngest grand kids - Zach and Alli!

***Tina is doing well.***

Love,

Junie