Tag: Weekly Wrap-Up

Posted in Sunday Report

Cake Pops…& birthdays

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Samantha came by yesterday to help me make cake pops. They turned out tasty, but not too pretty, and we had a lot of fun. My baby grandie will turn 11 next week! I’ll be out of town, so this was our Party…

Nova won 1st Place at her Speech Competition last week! Go, Nova!

My New Yorkers are in Ireland, competing in the All Ireland competition, so I’m sending Radiant Beams of Supportive Vibrations to them as they dance.

There’s a convergence of Holy Days this week – Tuesday is Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan starts at sunset. Oh, I guess Ash Wednesday is the real Holy Day, and Ramadan goes on for a month, but New Year and Mardi Gras are serious Party Days. Bring on the Jambalaya and Hurricanes…and Spring Rolls.

On Thursday I’m meeting up with Dee to see the USI play, “Almost, Maine”. It looks like another good one.

On Friday morning, we’re setting out for Disney World, where I’ll be spending my Birthday #73 week. Arriving on the 22nd, we’ve got Lightning Lanes for TRON that evening, our first time to ride it with the lights on. It’s a great ride, a little short, but the lights should enhance the experience.

To celebrate my actual birthdate, 2/23, we’re spending our day at Epcot, browsing the Arts Festival activities, and riding the Best Ride Ever-Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That evening I’d like to get over to Raglan Road so I can have some tribute songs and dances.

The next morning we’ll rope-drop Hollywood Studios and snag Slinky Dog, another of my favorites, and one that I missed riding last trip. We’ll be sure to visit the Tune-in Lounge and The Brown Derby Lounge later in the day, and to check the queue lines for Rise of the Resistance.

Our final day will be at Animal Kingdom, saying hello to the animals at the Safari, and riding Avatar: Flight of Passage. There’s a new “ride” there – Zootopia: Zoogether – under the Tree of Life, where A Bug’s Life used to show; we’ll be on hand for that. In the past, we’ve been able to snag a table at the Nomad Lounge overlooking the river to watch the character boats float by, waving and smiling, and we’ll try to do that again.

A couple of the days are predicted to barely reach 70, but that sounds Great! It’s been a while since I needed a jacket there, and I’m looking forward to it. All sun, no rain – who could ask for more?

I get a little carried away when I’m planning, but I’m flexible when there are unexpected diversions. We always have fun just being together, and if you know me at all, you know that I love celebrating my birthday. It comes at a time of year that needs light and laughter, and I always take advantage of it. I’ll take you along next week and we’ll celebrate together!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Tiger Radio…& the Epilogue

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Last week, we broke up the monotony of winter with a couple of doctor and dentist appointments–high fliers. In other news, we’re finishing up/cleaning up Project Purge and Look what I found amongst my mementos:

It’s from 1965, our favorite local radio station, WJPS, Tiger Radio coming at us from Tiger Square in Downtown Evansville. If you’re an Evillian, you remember. The week ending August 7 shows Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction at number 1. Herman’s Hermits Hen-er-ee the 8th is number 3. >cue flashback<

Casey wanted to take advantage of the snow, so my Valentine’s Day present arrived early:

Looking out the upstairs window…

I try not to carry on about how great he is because it sounds like bragging, but I sure can’t take any credit (other than being smart enough to marry him). He’s just one of those Nice Guys that are so scarce these days. Actually, they were scarce in those days, too–47 years ago.

I’m sad to leave behind Robert Horatio and the gang, but they will stay in my heart. Thanks for following along!

Part 5 – Epilogue

If you enjoy my stories of shirt-tail relatives, you might also like the tales of my direct ancestors over at All My Ancestors – Climbing the Family Trees.

One week from today, we’ll celebrate Samantha’s 11th and my 73rd birthdays with the Jrs at the restaurant of Their Choice (they’ll make me choose)…

Two weeks from today, Casey and will be checking in at PoP Century in Disney World, ready for Birthday Week. We’ll take you along!

In the meantime, we are glued to the Winter Olympics. Olympic games, whichever season, always unite us in front of the TV, a bit unusual around these parts.

Hope you have a good week, folks!

Peace

Posted in Family Stories, Sunday Report

Weekly Wrap-up & Part 4

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Oh, my. We Evillians are not accustomed to snow that comes to stay and this 12-inches of accumulation is intimidating as it thrives on these ridiculously low temperatures. I’ve lost all sense of what day it is and the kids have been out of school all week, so they must feel the same. I’ve ventured into the outdoors a couple of times to pick up essentials, but mostly we’ve continued clearing un-essentials from the attic. Since the trash guys couldn’t do any pick-up this week, we’re filling up the shed with weeks of throw-aways. There’s another large collection for charities waiting until we can get out and about.

With all this snow, the birdfeeders are in constant use with never less than 50 birds in the mornings and evenings.

We have to chase off the blackbirds if they start bullying, but under the current circumstances, we’ve no choice but to leave everything available to everyone. I’ve tried to get you some pictures or videos, but the sunshine causes a glare that even the smart phone can’t fix.

Inside, my plants keep me company.

I’ve got several basils growing on the kitchen countertop.

Writing is another excellent distraction from the cold and glare, and I’m keeping up. On Thursday, I published Part 4 of the Robert Horatio Story over on Family Stories blog. We’re almost to the end and I’m going to miss those folks. The final episode, Part 5, will be published this coming Thursday.

Part 4 -1898-1901

I hear we’re supposed to have some melt this week, but with lows in the 20s, that doesn’t sound so great. I still have a Lot of boxes to sort through, so it’s as good a time as any to stay home. Seems like the whole USA is under a blanket of sh***y weather and there’s no place to run. I must confess that these archives are making me feel a bit on the old side, and some recollections aren’t so rosy, but my gratitude persists.

February is Birthday Month and as soon as I dig out from under these memory boxes, we’re going to start celebrating. I do like a pre-celebration celebration, don’t you? Until then, take care of yourself!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

The Purge is on! & Part 3

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Snowbound today- looks like 9 inches and still coming down. It’s a lightweight kind of precipitation that can be “easily” blown, so Casey says. He actually misses driving the plows in this kind of weather, or at least waxes nostalgic about it. Though I warn him that he’s an old man now, he will have our driveway cleared asap. Not right now, though, as it is still accumulating.

Inside, all snug and warm, is a big mess that I’ve made going through attic boxes. I’ve reduced so far from 19 boxes to 9. We’ve mostly moved out of what is technically my kids’ stuff and on to what is “our” stuff, and it should be easy to do away with.

There are some Great Stories to tell, memories that were triggered (in a good way), and I can hardly wait to get it all done and cleaned up so I can write them down.

Part 3 of The Robert Horatio Walker story moves us through those years when Robert and his kin were raising their children, years that all parents experience, but I doubt they hoarded their offspring’s mementos. I do wish they’d taken more pictures!

Part 3 – 1869-1898

Remember, you can always subscribe to this blog (or any of my blogs), over there on the sidebar, and receive an email every time I post. I know you don’t want to miss out.

This storm is a booger, isn’t it? I’m thinking warm soup, fuzzy socks and sweat pants, work on more attic boxes. Hope you’re cozy in your neck of the woods.

Peace

Posted in All My Ancestors

Tales of my shirt-tail relatives: Part 2

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It’s cooold out there and we had a dusting of snow last night that has outlined the gardens and walkways. We’re hunkered down tending the fire, keeping warm.

We’re on a mission to clean the excess out of our attic. Back in the far corner there are boxes of keepsakes that we placed there 22 years ago, full of my kids’ drawings and report cards, birthday cards, and who knows what that I would annually gather up and stuff in a big manila envelope with the year written on the outside. If they haven’t disintegrated, there should be about 18 years of mementos that I need to >sob< throw away. This will be a challenge, and we may end up just re-boxing it all.

I hope you’re enjoying the Family Stories . The Robert Horatio Walker series is being posted every Thursday through February 5 and re-blogged here through February 8.

Part 2 – 1861-1869

I’ll let you know what kinds of relics I uncover in the attic.

Bundle up! Pass around the warm hugs!

Peace

Posted in All My Ancestors

Tales of my shirt-tail relatives

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It’s been a quiet week here at the Acres. I had started to write this story back in November, completing what amounts to a five-part series. I put it away during Christmastime and pulled it back out for editing last week, and here it is now for your perusal. I hope you enjoy it and that you will return next week for Part 2.

Part 1- 1818-1860

Have a Super Week, friends.

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

A little News…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I have an announcement regarding my newest blog, “Family Stories” ! I’m getting ready to publish a series of posts regarding my shirt-tail relative, Robert Horatio Walker He is a cousin/uncle who was first brought to my attention in this picture:

The young lady in the center is my great-Grandmother. On the back of the photograph, in her distinct cursive, she identified the fellow third from the right as “Uncle Bob Walker”. Everyone else in the picture is a Kinkade, so that caught my eye.

Soon, he caught my heart, and I feel compelled to tell the tale of this colorful Civil War Veteran. The story will be told in four parts, covering 100 years of Walkers, Kinkades, and McWilliams. I will re-blog it here beginning next Sunday!

The temperatures are trending above average this week, a good time to visit the Penguins, and talk to the monkeys at the Zoo. The penguins had a baby recently, and I think we’re able to watch her now.

The Wilson Auction in New Harmony is this coming week-end, so we’ll probably go to the preview on Friday, stopping by the Yellow Tavern while we’re there. How many days do I have to fast to justify eating some of their bread pudding?

I’m headed to the library today to pick up some books for my new Reading Challenge. The first prompt is: A Food Memoir. Central Library has Anthony Bourdain’s “Medium Raw”, a highly acclaimed tome, so that’s my choice. I never went for Bourdain’s show, but it seems like he has a good story to tell.

That’s all I’ve got this fine Sunday morning! I hope you’re feeling well and staying warm!

Peace

Posted in Christmas with the Sonnystoners, Sunday Report

11 days before Christmas

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

This has been the Most Peaceful Christmas Prologue I’ve experienced, probably because we’re all older and have less expectations. Or maybe I’m just at Peace… Or it could be I’ve lulled myself into a coma eating sweets and savories…

It feels a lot less hectic since I don’t have to cook for a group, and I got my shopping done early. Samantha and I have enjoyed the music at the EPO Peppermint Pops last Sunday, and the ballet at yesterday’s Children’s Nutcracker performance.

I am very appreciative of our Philharmonic Orchestra for their Classic and Pops concerts, and the Dance Theatre that worked with them to produce the Nutcracker. Eville is very lucky to have these organizations.

This week we’ll wrap up the wrapping — damn, I’m funny! — and get the place dusted and shined. I’ve got to get my hair and nails ready, and I’m still looking for boots, but no stress. Samantha will be here next Saturday to help with the baking and we’ll make snickerdoodles and roll out some dough for cookie cutters.

Oh, and my daughter, has a birthday on Saturday. We’ll celebrate appropriately…

Have a great week!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Week-end Wrap-up

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We had a nice Thanksgiving celebration with the Jrs on Thursday. I was graced with the presence of both my Casey grandies, so they decorated the tree for us.

In the days since, we’ve brought it all the decorations down from the attic and schlepped it all around…

We’re determined to let go of anything we don’t use this year (unless it’s sentimental) and we’ve brought out lots of stuff we don’t usually use, just to see if we maybe should keep…

Today is another Holy Day here at the Acres: Casey’s birthday #71. He just will not catch up with me, though I try to dawdle… He was tickled to receive his annual infusion of flannel shirts and socks…

Raise your glass! Here’s to my husband, my companion, my partner-in-crime:

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Long Life!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Evening Edition

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Today was the first time I’ve been to see a production at the USI Performance Center. In fact, I believe it’s been over a decade since I’ve set foot on my old campus and wow, has it changed! When I went to school there, the Nursing building was brand spankin’ new and today it is covered in scaffolding, undergoing maintenance and updating. I guess that’s to be expected after 35 years!

Back in the days when I was an active-duty Mom, I watched Xanadu many times and always loved it, so I had expectations. This little show delivered, making us laugh and clap along, even providing us with glowsticks to wave around. The theatre seating is steep enough that short people, such as myself, can’t have their view blocked, so that’s cool. We have season tickets, and the upcoming plays look good, so I’m excited!

Let’s get in gear, now, folks! Full Speed Ahead! We’ll be watching the NYC Parade Thursday morning and having a light lunch with the Jr. family, as per usual. It has always been our tradition to have Nova and Samantha put the ornaments on our tree in mid-December, but last year schedules got wonky and it didn’t get done. So This Year, we’re going to have the trees up and ready for ornaments on T-Day to take advantage of the presence of Nova. At 17, she’s harder to pin down than the 10-year-old.

I’ve now “finished” my Robert Horatio story and it’s ready for editing. I really have to pull my head out of the late 19th-early 20th century and get with it for the Holy Daze, though. To continue with my writing challenge, I’m writing mostly poetry of some sort or another.

As we prepare for the Day of Thanks, I want to Thank You for reading this blather and balderdash. As Brandi Carlile famously sang (lyric by Phil Hanseroth): All of these stories don’t mean anything if you’ve got no one to tell them to – it’s true.

Maybe I wasn’t exactly made for you, but I do appreciate you.

Have a great week.

Peace