First, I want to wish the Princess and Johnnycakes a super Happy Anniversary today (Saturday). It is also the Beast and my 51st. Anniversary. They are going to be doing something *family* style with Gunner and Chewlee. The Beast and me? He's going out for a while in the morning with a couple of the people from his church and then we will do....nothing. Sad, isn't it? But the Beast has never been either sentimental or caring. I am just glad I have lived this long....LOL! But I often wonder just what it was I thought I saw in him back when I met him in 1960. I had plenty of time to get smart and see the real him. But, when you are young and in love, you are also very stupid.
My day was just anticipation of seeing Mustachio along with Sheepie and my sister, Cee, in the afternoon. I got up early and started making some beef stew so I could feed everyone after they got here. It turned out great! Really tasty and I also made some baking powder biscuits to go along with it for us. While the stew was simmering, Michael and his family stopped by. Lucy had made us a cake in appreciation for the pictures the Beast had taken and made up for them. They were on their way to do some shopping for their dinner and wanted to drop it off for us since they knew we were having company. Lucy is a champion cake maker and even decorates so awesomely that you cannot tell it wasn't done at a fancy bakery. But, her family are all bakers in her native Nicaragua and that is what she grew up learning. When I found that out, I was no longer surprised at either the fantastic taste of her cakes nor her decorations. She is amazing.
This was one of her own recipes. It was a French vanilla loaf cake that she had split and used this amazing vanilla coconut icing on. The top was simply but beautifully decorated with a coconut caramelized and peanut topping. The cake itself was very moist. All in all, it was a success with everyone when it was eaten later.
Mustachio got here a couple hours earlier than he thought so, after a brief stop to look over all that needed to be moved, they both came over here to join us. Cee had already arrived since I had called her to let her know they would be here about two hours earlier than we thought. It was a very happy gathering. We laughed, we talked and had a wonderful time. But, as the Princess said later, that's normal for our family gatherings. In fact, Johnnycakes made mention that all he can do when those happen, is sit and listen. He said he actually gets tired of listening since we never seem to run out of shared memories and good senses of humor. Johnnycakes is actually a bit on the shy side so he doesn't just *fall in* with the mood.
I gave Sheepie some sheets and a comforter I had that will fit her bed. I have others but said I would just ship them to her later on since Mustachio was only able to rent what is basically much like one of the big service type vans. He had ordered it a week ago but no box trucks were available at the end of the month AND during the summer. This is the time that many families are moving in and out of places. No one had thought about that. Families that are moving into new homes want to do it before the kids go back to school and our schools here start in mid-August. It's the same in most Southern states.
When the Princess came by later, she was telling us a bit about the homes they are going to look at on Sunday now that they think their house may be sold. Originally, Johnnycake's cousin thought he would just buy back the house from them (they live next door and it was their original house that was sold to Johnnycake's mother after her divorce). But they checked and found they couldn't afford to buy it back and pay cash for it so the Princess has a friend that wants the house and they should know tomorrow or Monday on that. They will be selling it under market value and without a realtor's fee involved to the friend. Otherwise, their plan is to rent out the house and place it with a realtor. I understand why they want to get a larger home than they have but I sure hate to see them move closer to Johnnycake's work (and at least a half hour's drive from us). *Insert sad face here*.
When they go out to look at the homes that they have selected on Sunday, the kids will, of course, accompany them since they especially want Chewlee to see them. The move will be hardest for her to make since she has been at her school for three years already and has many friends there. Chewlee, at first, told me she wanted to come to stay with me but, after thinking about it, she's ready to settle for Monday. One of the houses is about double the size of their current house, has four bedrooms, lots of storage and is on ten acres that is completely fenced for horses. If they decide on that one, they will take a couple of the horses from Johnnycake's dad and keep them on their property. I know he chose a horse for Chewlee a long time ago and it's definitely full-size now. Chewlee would adore that. But it also depends on whether the barn is actually habitable for horses, too.
It was interesting to listen to the Princess talk about their plans and hopes. You always want the best for your children and grandchildren (and, in my case, my great-grandchildren, too!). Hell, all you want is for ALL your family to be happy. Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. If they are happy, it makes me happy.
Later, saying goodbye to Sheepie and Mustachio was hard but inevitable. They want to get the van mostly packed up tonight so they can finish it up early in the morning and get on the road. They plan on stopping in Nashville on their way back to Kentucky to spend a couple hours with my other son, Marcus Aurelius and his family. Marcus had to work today but will be off tomorrow so it was a better choice and will give Sheepie a chance to see them, too. It's been a long, long time since she has seen any of them. Of course, their son is in the Marines and stationed in South Carolina right now and their oldest daughter is married and living about an hour away from us here in Alabama. So it will just be their youngest daughter and her Aunt Raven that she will be able to see. But it's still family. That's what matters most of all.
I took a short nap after everyone left and am now up just to do this post...LOL! I had to share both my sorrow at seeing Sheepie leave and the joy and fun we had being together again. My daughter, Buttmunch, had to work since this job she has she hasn't been at long enough to take any days off without a lot of notice. She's working at a Mexican restaurant as a server/bartender. She loves being able to bartend again. It was always her favorite job even if she just does it a day or so every week. She has an easy-outgoing and funny personality and it suits her. She is also living with her boyfriend of a couple years now (he treats her very well and is a real sweetheart). I'm happy for her. She is one of those people that needs someone to love her and is unhappy if she doesn't feel that way. She's met his whole family so it's not something casual and that's a good thing.
Time for me to post this and select another hint for today. Love you all. Keep cool and remember to use Sunblock this weekend while outside. Be happy. ***Hugs***
HINT: Keep pests out of your trash. To keep raccoons and other critters (cats and dogs included), regularly spray the side of your cans with a mixture of one part ammonia and one part water.
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