Wednesday Randomness <3

Wednesday. Randoms.

Let’s go…

Random #1

When Rachel graduated from her university, we sat in a bleacher type setting. We were up a ways in the stands and packed in like sardines. Behind us was a proud relative of one of the grads. We assume he was a dad, but could have been an uncle. Because we know some uncles who might just do the same thing if given the opportunity. 

Whoever he was, he was there for a graduate named Lance. 

We know this because frequently throughout the program and then when Lance crossed the stage, this gentleman would burst out with the loudest voice and shout at full volume….

LOVE YA, LANCE!!!!

Once might have gone unnoticed, but this happened frequently enough that our family got tickled. One by one we stole a glance back at Lance’s support guy. He looked like an average, ordinary, nicely dressed businessman. 

Until the urge overtook him and then he would lean forward with the face of a small child seeing exactly what he wanted under the tree on Christmas morning and out would come the declaration of love for Lance. 

Our family will still occasionally throw that out to each other.

Sometimes it’s as we are parting ways. Sometimes it’s when we hear someone yelling to their kid from the stands. Sometimes it’s just in our own heads all by ourselves and we laugh. 

We never knew who Lance was, but we know he was loved and that’s all that matters. 

Random #2

I like to check books out of our library and take to the grands for some new reading material every now and then. 

Recently I found some grade 2 reading level books from the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

Caroline was working on one the other day that was from the Little House in the Big Woods full book that I loved as a child. She likes to have me read to her and so we found ourselves settled on the couch one afternoon reading about Laura and Mary’s first trip to town. Ever. 

They were finally old enough to go along and we read about their special Friday night bath that usually only happened on Saturday night. We learned about their hair being curled on rags. We learned about their calico dresses and sunbonnets and Pa loading them in the wagon.

Caroline sat very attentively through all of this. As they road into the town and saw so many houses for the first time, she seemed a bit surprised. But when I read the part about going into the store and how they had never seen a store before, she stopped me. 

Her eyes were wide as she turned to me and asked if she had heard correctly. Is it true they had never been in a store until this moment? 

Yes, yes. So true, I told her. 

Her eyes filled with compassion as she shook her head slowly. She sighed deeply and told me to continue reading. 

And if ever I wondered if shopping genes can be passed on, I no longer doubt. 

Random #3

In case you didn’t know, lime trees have spike-like things near the leaves on their branches. 

Go ahead. 

Ask me how I know. 

I am so glad you asked. 

My friend Lisa gave me a small lime plant last spring. She thought it would be fun for me to have my own lime supply. 

It was in a cute little container that it outgrew quickly. I transplanted it and put it in the sunniest spot our yard offers.

As winter approached, we debated what to do. I am not a fan of bugs and having brought outside plants in before with unpleasant results, I googled how to winter a lime plant in the Midwest. 

We found out you can attempt to keep it alive in the garage with a grow light. Turns out they aren’t too expensive so Russ played along and now we have a greenhouse in the garage. 

I went to straighten my tropical guest the other day and felt a terrible poke through my sleeve. 

And thus I learned that lime trees do indeed have spikes. 

Random #4

Being a woman of a certain age, I have begun to order kids meals at the fast food restaurants. 

It is just the right amount of food intake and calories for me and I get nifty plastic glasses, a prize and occasionally a token for a free ice cream. 

Get smarter, not older. 

Random #5

Here is something I do to help me remember not to leave a candle burning when no one is around to keep an eye on it. 

After I light a candle, I put the lighter where I will need to be reminded that there is a live flame going somewhere in the house. 

For example, if I light it during the day and will be leaving at some point, I set the lighter by my purse. If I light it on a quiet evening at home, I put it on the counter where I will see it before I close down the kitchen lights. 

This may not be a problem for many of you, but I have been known to receive a warning from the fire Marshall of our home when I have left one burning unattended.

So if you are like me…hope this helps.

Have a happy, safe Wednesday and I will see you tomorrow <3