Play and Work....And More to Come....

I am back from a wonderful visit to Arizona! I was so happy to see my daughter, son-in-law, grand kids and old friend Jacquie! We all had a wonderful time together and I was sad in many ways to have to leave. We spent a lot of time just visiting...which is just fine by me. The grand kids got sick while Max and I were there and recovered shortly before we left. Nevertheless there was much time to play and run around with them.
We celebrated Anna's birthday and her and Larry's anniversary while we were there. I must mention this before I continue my children were raised with very little TV. We played a lot of games and puzzles and reading and running a homestead where I grew all my own food there were many chores that they all took part in. Soooo.... to celebrate Anna's birthday we ordered Olive Garden ( I didn't have to cook a lick....yeah! Even though I thought I might) and played games all day and most of the next...with a few drinks after the kids were in bed. This was the best way she said to celebrate her birthday....!

Well I am here to tell you....I have discovered Wii...! OMG...this is too much fun and what a workout when you really play at it. It appears I and my granddaughter Terinna and grandson Ryan are quite the champs at boxing, knocking everyone out including Max! I am also a super star at sitting down and bowling...which thoroughly put everyone in a tizzy as to how that was even possible. In all fairness...I absolutely suck at Baseball and lag sadly behind everyone in Tennis and standing Bowling....and Golfing....well, I didn't even try to embarrass myself. This game is a great workout and we were all sore. Jacquie came over and spent the afternoon/evening playing too and she is also sold! We all used muscles we didn't even know we had.

If you don't know the game you must create a character that looks like you (or not...your choice). Here is where Max really shines. His art degree came into play but he was also sorely surprised. He had what was an excellent version of himself...and everyone was amazed at how quickly he put it together. The sad surprise came when Larry said...Hey Max you really don't have brown hair....in shock and dismay he changed it to gray.....I must say that wasn't really accurate either. He said they did not have a mousy brown selection to choose from! In all fairness Tennis and Baseball are definitely his games which he did really well at!!!
Anna got helium filled Birthday balloons from Terinna and Ryen which they quickly reclaimed and they each pinned them to me and we played for quite awhile that Grandma Honey was floating away.

First an arm then a leg then all of me! Ryen had the brilliant idea to pile pillows on me that he said were rocks so I wouldn't float up to the ceiling. As a matter of fact I had him so convinced I was floating away that he piled pillows on himself before falling asleep on the couch while his balloon was clipped to his shirt!!!

We did go out the first night...and my daughter and I were like two girlfriends out on the town. First to the Yardhouse for dinner and Anna convincing me I had to try a Strawberry Martini. I did. They tasted like lemonade.....hmmmm good. So we had two more with dinner. Max and Larry looked on hoping we wouldn't hurt ourselves in the haunted house.....which did not compare to those we have up in Kansas City which are excellent and have been in business since 1975 and the other since 1991. I vaguely remember going up to the musician(after being goaded by Max, Larry and Anna) at one place and requesting Just Like Greta by Van Morrison and the piano player biting his finger after I gave him a peck on the cheek. I was told later that was a good thing, a sign of approval as it were. I was also told I had about 8 martinis. Thank goodness I don't do that very often but needless to say we had a blast!

So here we are a week later and after to starting to unpack the living room Max and I have gotten whatever the kids had....not serious but bad enough to feel like not doing a whole lot. I am still making headway in the last room to unpack and redistribute items around the house.
As I mentioned before this house was probably built in the very late 1800's....and it still has wallpaper from that date up till the '40s and is complete with carriage stoop in the front bearing the name Platt. The name is a very big name here in Carthage...Leggett and Platt patented the first single cone bedspring which is still being made till today in some fashion. The home is covered inside with warm woodwork even in the bathrooms and it had two stained glass windows, two living rooms or parlors and a beautiful stairway and banister. It originally had gas lamps and one room has absolutely no outlets and the others have very few. I have traded a painting to a friend to have the wiring done. They raise draft horses and have a draft horse plowing every year. The painting is of their horses and they have always wanted it but never really could afford it. It is by the way an older piece...done about 4 years ago. See every painting finds a home!!! Jack is an electrician and his wife and my friend Verna was my mail lady for years when I lived in Kansas.
There are several pictures of where I live...the house has huge potential. Yes, it is a lot of work...and it is old, dusty and in need of repair.....but for me there is something about the charm and craftsmanship that one cannot find in a new home. I have cut back on dusting..ha ha! By the pictures you can see that wallpaper has started to be removed. There are boxes from the living room in the hallway and many things need to be rearranged and/or removed. The house is filled with memories. Max's toys are still here and you can see them in the pictures if you look closely. There are brown jugs of buttons from his Mom..and the original TV set they owned serves as our dry bar. The paintings are mine that I choose not to sell or have just not sold yet....( I believe there is an owner for every painting I do.....it just takes time to find that person and connect them with their painting). Note the Communist Party Poster for the election of 1932 I believe. No, we are not Communists i is just a unique piece of history. The plants are also mine as I have always had a huge love of gardening. The sculpture on the table is a gift from Jeff Legg an artist friend of mine who is fabulous and is also a wonderful person whom we visited with this past summer. The furniture is a combination of mine and Max's...we both seem to enjoy antiques. Between the two of us we could start a library.....and we have gleaned out many of the books we once owned. There is still wiring to be done....some more insulation....and plaster and drywall work...ugh....not my favorite! Some windows have been reworked and glazed but there are more. There is a slight remodel in the kitchen which will involve large slabs of marble that Max acquired some time ago. It will take some time to finish the house between painting and everything else. That is okay....although I do get a little impatient and want it all done now!!....but I am here on earth to learn from life and enjoy my stay while I am here....and that is exactly what I am doing!! Excuse me if I don't post everyday....in fact they may become shorter for a while in the future. It will depend on how much work is involved here. I hope you enjoy a peek into my life...I have also included a picture of my studio. Cluttered and messy! Which I clean up only to mess it up all over again!
Okay enough blabbing for today..time to get busy!!
More to come...so stay tuned!
Love, Theresa