Posted in Sunday Report

Lows and Highs

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

My grandma and grandpa raised nine kids in Grayville, IL, six girls and three boys, my mom being number seven. When they died in 1967-1969, they had 19 grandchildren, but four have passed now, leaving me with 14 cousins. Of those, I’m active friends with four, and those four are pretty darn important to me.

My cousin Jason, who had been in Hospice for about a year, died in his sleep sometime Tuesday morning. I picked up his sister, Kim, whose flight from Florida arrived Tuesday night at 10pm. and took her over to Grayville to her brother, Jeff’s house. That was the first of three roundtrip runs to my ancestral home over the next four days. The rain that had lingered over the last week finally cleared out on Friday, just in time for a private graveside service. The celebration at Jeff’s house spilled out into the yard, as friends gathered to remember Jason Scott Compton. His two sons and his grandbaby were also there, which choked me up a little, but mostly I enjoyed – and exhausted – myself. Funny how funerals bring people together.

My grandies have been being their gorgeous, entertaining selves. Emma went to her school’s Prom Saturday night. I literally gasped when Melissa posted these pictures! My mom always said, “pretty is as pretty does’ and this young lady both is and does.

This year’s Shannon’s School of Dance Recital was Saturday evening and Samantha did great! Nova took the pictures with my Nikon… I particularly like Samantha’s Queen-esque wave as they came out for curtain call!

I’m so ready to just sit out and watch my garden grow, getting up occasionally to weed or water. Having lost track of what day it was for a bit, I was shocked to see that next week-end is Memorial Day. I think we’re going to hit our usual graves, possibly add a new old cemetery up in Lancaster…sounds like another trip to Southern Illinois.

Hug all your People and let them know you Love them.

Peace

Posted in Birthdays

Sweet Sixteen

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Happy Birthday #16 to my #2 Grandie, Nova!

Where have the years gone? As I watched this little imp grow up, I’ve grown old…er.

We did a photoshoot on Sunday when I presented her presents.

About seven or eight years ago, Nova, the artist formerly known as Olivia, was with us on a family vacation to Disney World. In the Germany Pavilion, she put up a request for a Duffy bear, and I quickly shot it down — it was a $50 teddy bear and I was being cheap. She wasn’t happy with me. All of these years, I’ve felt guilty about that and this year I determined to buy her a Duffy while we were at WDW. Duffy, by the way, is allegedly the teddy bear of Mickey Mouse. To my dismay, the only Duffy bears sold today are at Tokyo or Hong Kong Disney.

So I took to Ebay and found a lovely Happy Birthday Duffy that I ordered up. When the package arrived and I opened it, there was a Velveteen Rabbit — very sweet, but Not Duffy. The seller got in touch to say she had sent Duff to the wrong person and if we’d both send them back, we’d get it all straightened out. We did, but in the meantime, I was refunded my money. I tried to get the money to the seller, but according to their rules, I couldn’t send a check. When I told them who Duffy was for, they requested I give the $$ to my grand-daughter alongside Duffy. Sweet. Doesn’t get much cheaper than that, huh?

She loved it…

Obviously, I love this young lady, but I also admire and respect her. She’s a good kid and gives me great hope for the future of our world.

Join me in wishing her a lifetime of Happiness and Peace…

Posted in Sunday Report

May Preview…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

“All Things Seem Possible In May” – Edwin Way Teale

The month of May is always chock full of activities and celebrations, starting right out on May 1 with the aptly named “May Day”, aka Beltane, the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. When I was a youngster, we joined in dancing around the Maypole, but now I’m an oldster, so we just ate honey cakes and worked in the garden.

We’ve got another Derby Day under our belts. Sierra Leone, my favorite horse, gave us quite a show, but Mystik Dan, picked by my son-in-law, nosed her out. It was a great race. What’s more, I had forgotten just how good pecan pie is and kept reminding myself, between drinks, that I love that stuff.

It’s cruel to put Cinco de Mayo so close to the KY Derby — all drinking holidays should be spaced at least a day apart, preferably three for aging livers such as mine. However, I will do my best…

My #2 grandie has a birthday this week–#16!!! This is getting pretty ridiculous, these grandies seem to be going through the years too quickly for my brain to fathom. I’m going to deliver her birthday present today and get pictures for a Tribute Post for her Sweet Sixteenth Celebration. Tune in for that on Wednesday, her birthday-eve.

I’m on call for jury duty from April-June and have to call in on Tuesday to see if they need me. I hope they do, sort of, but it’s kind of intimidating. It would make a good story, though.

Don’t forget Mothers’ Day next Sunday! The following week will find my #4 grandie intensely practicing the choreography for her upcoming Dance Recital on the 18th. She’s doing tap and jazz, got her costumes a couple of days ago, and is super excited.

The Jr girls’ last day of school is May 24, too early for me, but probably not too soon for the teachers. Summer vacation starts with Memorial Day, and I’ll take you on a trip to the cemeteries.

Now is a good day to subscribe to the News so you don’t miss a single scintillating sentence from Sonnystone! Don’t be shy, dear reader!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! You know what they say- Tequila may not be the answer, but give it a shot…

Peace

Posted in Run for the Roses

Hedging my bets…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Before the internet gave me a vast library of information on each horse in the Kentucky Derby, I was happy to believe in luck and was often lucky. I picked the horse that I wanted to win, despite any odds, basing it on the backstory, or how pretty it was, or how colorful the jockey was. Of course, those were the years that we didn’t do any cash wagering, so all I won was bragging rights and that little oomph that you feel when you are right.

There were several years when we’d dress up and go out to Ellis Park for their annual party and that’s when I first began actually putting money on my hunches. I’d usually bet one favorite and one longshot, never more than $2 each, and both to show. I wasn’t there to make money, honey, it was a party.

After working at our local horse racing track, I began to appreciate that some horses are just faster than others, and took a deep dive into pedigrees, pace, brisnet scores and trainers. etc…all very important for a winner, but…

Despite all the stats, the points and the jockey, it really comes down to luck – for both the bettor and the betee. Odds on a horse race are set by how many people are betting on the horse to win. That actually gives you no factual clue as to what his chances are. For the person placing the wager, there is an emotional component that does not factor into the outcome of the race at all. But the enthusiasm for the horse is crucial to the Derby Experience.

My research tells me that there are several horses that could win this race, about 20 of them, so in recent years I’ve struggled to Decide who to choose, resulting in hedging my bets with about a million show bets — trust me, folks, it doesn’t work to bet the whole field.

My approach this year is to go with my gut, as soon as my gut speaks. I’ve listened to the morning calls, watched videos on dang near every horse, and studied up on race results, I’ve chosen one short odd, and one longshot that appeal to me. Now I just have to remain resolute.

Sierra Leone is currently at 3-1 and I like him. He’s pretty and he’s won some big races. He was trained by Chad Brown, and Tyler Gafflione will be his jockey as he starts out from the #2 gate. That gate position bothers me, but I’m not going to keep vacillating — I like this horse.

My longshot is Encino, currently 20-1, and he’s a plucky guy who almost didn’t make the cut for the Run. Trained by Brad Cox, he has two stablemates in the race who are more highly regarded than him, but I like him. He’s in a good gate position — #9 — and I feel good about his abilities, despite his odds.

Okay, I reserve the right to change my mind and bet a couple more horses — 88-year-old Wayne Lukas has entered a contender, Just Steel, so there’s a nice emotional draw…

This year’s Derby menu is pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, and pecan pie. Bourbon of the Day is Maker’s Mark; there may be juleps involved, but on the rocks is fine with me. We might even have some guests this year.

It’s currently forecast that the day will be pretty, the track fast – some of that luck stuff that really affects how well the horses run. I see it as a sign that we’re gonna have a good time.

Peace

Posted in The Gardens of Sonnystone...

Garden journal week #2

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Posted yesterday on my gardening blog, Growing Every Season 2. Not much going on, but nice pictures…

Garden Journal Week 2

Thanks for reading…

Peace

Posted in Weekly Wrap-Up

Sunday Report

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I do my best to keep track of what day it is, I really do, and have a calendar right in front of me, as well as a dated planner open to my right. Still, I am shocked to realize that the Kentucky Derby is now less than two weeks away.

I haven’t been paying attention to the horse races like I used to — too much bad news and suspicious behavior. But just like tuning into March Madness even though I don’t follow college basketball, it’s part of the wheel of year in my traditions, the day to dress up, wear a fancy hat, and drink expensive bourbon. The local newspaper, which we have delivered on Sundays, has a nice insert to get my research started, as it is also my tradition to completely overthink the entire Triple Crown, unless there’s another American Pharoah this year. Check back next week for my tortured take on this year’s Run for the Roses. Sounds like a good way to spend my time waiting for planting weather.

Speaking of planting, if you missed the debut of my new garden blog, there’s a link in the right sidebar. ‘Tis the season…

Here’s another link to Growing Every Season 2. Click on over and subscribe!

Growing Every Season 2 – The Gardens of Sonnystone

Come to think of it, you should subscribe to This Blog, the one you are reading and I just noticed that the Follow Button is missing… I will fix that soon, because I don’t want you to miss a single word of this fascinating stuff. Check the right sidebar to see if I’ve succeeded in fixing it.

Cousin Lana and I are headed over to UE Theatre today to see Waiting for Lefty, and I still need to shower and shave. The weather is cool, so I have to drag a sweater back from upstairs and bundle up. There’s plenty of sunshine, though; sending some rays your way.

Peace

Posted in Growing Every Season 2

The New Blog is Live!!!

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

First Post is up at Gardening Every Season 2, but I’m still struggling with the new site, unable to connect directly to facebook, customize my sidebars, and stuff like that. However, it’s a start and I’m happy to share it with all my Sonnystone followers!

Please Allow me to introduce Myself…

Hope you enjoy following along our Garden path…now, if I can just figure out how to add a subscriber button…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Wow and other words…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We had a great time at WDW with the Jrs. We rode TRON for the first time and it was good. If I were ranking it, I’d put it right behind Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar Rite of Passage, Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog, and possibly 7 Dwarfs. When Tiana opens again, it may fall even lower, but hey, it was good.

I’ll make a movie eventually, but we came home to the most beautiful weather and I got sidetracked by gardening, some BIG Wind, and doctor appointments.

Then, there was the Total Eclipse…I didn’t expect to be so moved by it. There are no words to describe it, but both Casey and I were awestruck, only able to utter “Wow!”. It was just Wow.

Wondering just what Wow means, I checked out an article, “Why do we say Wow? , a very interesting read, that explained:

“Wow” doesn’t act like a lot of the words that make up the English language. It can’t be traced back to some ancient wowus spoken by Romans. That’s because “wow” is not a noun, verb, adjective or any other of those kinds of parts of speech; it’s a natural exclamation, like oof, ouch and ew.

Wow has evolved, especially since the 1920s, into all those parts of speech, but it was a natural exclamation while watching a natural phenomenon we call a Total Solar Eclipse. There was an emotional reaction for me, as well; one of peace and a feeling of belonging. If you ever get the chance to witness the Totality, go for it. It’s a real Wow…

If you’re a long-time follower, you may remember my garden blog, Growing Every Season. I started writing there in 2010 and in 2020 had used up all the free media space. Since then I’ve shared garden updates here at B&B, but I miss Growing and its lush photos taken weekly throughout the season. I am happy to announce that I’ll be starting up GrowingEverySeason2 this week, and I’ll share the link with you this Thursday, and weekly thereafter.

I recently finished editing, and re-published, the bio of my great-grandad, Ben L. Mayne, on my ancestry blog, All My Ancestors There’s a lot of words over there if you’re looking to do some reading.

See you soon!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

3 Thinks

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Where I’ve been…

I’ve been feeling like crap, suffering every side effect of some new medicine — sooo tired, nausea, digestive complaints — and when the headaches started non-stop I tapered off the med and stopped. (Of course, I talked with my NCP about that.) Finally, I woke up the other morning feeling normal and energetic and it’s like I’m baack! Just in time, too, to Welcome Glad Spring.

Where I’m going…

This time next week, we’ll be meeting up with the Jrs. in Disney Springs, opening up the festivities of our Spring Break Disney Trip. Michael and his fam are seriously WDW folks and always keep us moving from fun to fun. We’ve got great dining reservations lined up, five days in the Parks, and the excitement grows with every passing day. We’re leaving earlier than they are, spending a night at Fort Wilderness Campground before we move over to Pop! Century, our homebase. The kids are staying over at Caribbean Beach, just a hop-step-and-jump from us via skyliner.

Where I am right now…

We’ve had such a stretch of Spring-like weather that I fear April may live up to its name as The Cruelest Month. My magnolia trees have fully bloomed without a freeze nipping their buds, the forsythias and quince are beautiful, the daffodils and wildflowers are lush. Our birdfeeders are packed with migrating songbirds, and my Peace/Bird Garden perennials are peeping up. The raised bed garden, newly expanded and improved, is nearly finished. Though I’m focused on getting ready for our vacation, I’m excited to plant new beds and in a tizzy about what plants to choose for where.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We celebrate our Irish roots with corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, listening to some traditional Irish music, and working on perfecting my Irish brogue with Jameson and ginger. All Hail to my Irish ancestors!

A framed print of this Irish blessing was displayed in my home growing up, a gift from my great-grandmother, Kathleen Kinkade… I wish this to you, today and always.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Peace!

Posted in Sunday Report

The Upcoming Eclipse

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

From the barrage of marketing solar eclipse glasses and events planning festivals around the date of April 8, 2024, I can’t help but pay some attention to the phenomena. Evidently Eville will be treated to almost the entire eclipse, but Grayville, IL, home of my illustrious cousins, is right on the spot.

The last eclipse it got pretty dark around here. I was down at my nail place and one of the ladies had some glasses that we passed around. It was just eerie, but we had a little fun standing and watching. I can’t quite see planning a party around it, though a pagan ritual comes to mind.

In fact, I rather worry that my fellow Evillians and Grayvillians may follow the example of their former leader and think, I don’t need no damn glasses, and half of our population will be struck blind. Seriously. I think I’ll avoid the mayhem and do that pagan thing.

The whole eclipse thing reminded me of Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” and I dragged it out to re-read. It is truly Mark Twain at his best, spinning a yarn about an engineer named Hank Morgan, who is hit on the head and transported from 1889 to Camelot, where he remembers that a solar eclipse will happen the next day, thereby convincing the people that he is a powerful magician who can blot out the sun, and that he had saved them from darkness, making them submit to him. He’s not a bad guy, though. The adventures of the Yankee and his sidekick, Clarence, are hilarious and also timeless satire. Good Book.

But Eclipse deeply triggers this: Pink Floyd

We’ve dreamed up a new garden plan, expanding just when I thought I wanted to scale down. That’s what winter will do to a gardener– gives you big dreams of when everything is green and fruiting again. Since the weather’s been so nice, Casey’s been doing a lot of work out there. I’ll share it with you next week.

We’re three weeks out from Disney!

Peace