SNOW!!!!!!

I haven't posted in a few days.  The weather has had me in a "blah" mood....and I just couldn't come up with anything interesting to write.  Well....today "they" are saying we will actually get some snow.  I'll believe it when I see it.....right now, all I see is rain! (Picture is a few years old)

I love snow.  Soo many great memories about fun times that involved snow.  When we lived on Dandridge Drive, Uncle Dicky's yard was the best for sledding....you started in the front yard at the street, down the front yard, a little level off, then down again into the back yard.....and straight into the chain link fence!  Dad and Dicky would be posted at the bottom....their job was to stop us before hitting the fence.  We had one of the old sleighs with runners.....soooo much fun.  Before we moved to the mountain, we went sleigh riding on the driveway.  The drive was almost a 80-85 degree angel going down, and very small dip, and then back up the other side.....Dicky had gotten a piece of rubber that was part of a belt on a machine at the paper mill.....best sleigh ever!!!!!  Dad pushed the snow on the driveway to give us a bank on each side....he didn't want us ending up in the lake or the creek!!  The worst part was walking back up the hill to do it again!!

Another snow memory is going out with dad to push snow off of driveways or to pull people out of ditches.....this one actually almost got dad a felony charge!  I wasn't there....so I'm relying on what Anita and dad told me.....they were out, and a State Trooper had found himself in a ditch.  Anita talked dad into stopping and trying to help.  They hooked the truck up, and started pulling the car out....but the truck slipped, and bumped into the car.....well....in Virginia, if you hit a police car, you can be charged with a felony.  The trooper had to write dad a ticket....but when they got to court...the judge dismissed it....dad had to pay to get the car fixed....much better than a felony!!  (Anita....please comment if any of this isn't correct!!!)

My perfect home would be a log cabin on the hill, overlooking the field and lake.  I would be in heaven on a snow day.....fire in the fireplace, and watching out a big window.  This also brings me to another reason I love snow.  The field and lake, covered in snow, reminds me of God's love for us.  When he died on the cross, his blood cleansed our sins and made us white as snow.  Every time I see snow, and especially a field covered and untouched, how much God loves me!!  I can't think of any better reason to like it!!

Enjoy the snow!!


 

Rosie the Pig

We've had a lot of pets over the years....I'll tell you more stories about that later....Mom and dad decided to get some pigs to raise for the bacon.  Great plan, until you bring home a cute pig, and have 3 girls.....3 girls that love animals.  Dad built a pen out back, and "Rosie" was happy.  However, Rosie was a runt, and wasn't in the best of health...so we ended up keeping her in the house for a while.  I'll spare you the details....let's just say, Rosie never became bacon!!  (She lived the rest of her short life in luxury.)

On one of Grandma Hattie Bell's and Papa Bill's visits....Grandma decided to spoil her new "grand daughter" a little.  Who can say their grandma rocked a pig??  I can!!!!!!  I had to coolest grandparents...and am so thankful I got a chance to know them!!

Sorry for the short post today.....Wrist isn't feeling so hot after my doctor's visit today.  I welcome your prayers!!

Bees, bees, and....well......bees!

As I was sucking up the stink bugs today....I was reminded of a similar situation....

We were living in the workshop. It was a Saturday morning, and dad was not home. He was helping someone....I don't remember who, or what. Anita was on her top bunk, and noticed a couple of honey bees. We killed them.....and thought that was the end of it.

Next thing we knew, there were more and more and more.....Mom, me, and Anita were killing them with everything we could find. Mom finally decided she couldn't deal with it anymore, packed up in the car....and left.

We stopped by where dad was and mom told him, and I quote...."Going to moms, call me when the bees are gone!" and we left! Dad was thinking we were crazy! Why were they so upset about a few bees.

I don't know how long it was before he got home, but when he pulled up, he knew immediately why we were so upset!! The windows were covered in bees!! Dad spent quite a few hours getting rid of them. Evidently the queen bee decided to find another home, and decided she liked ours and moved her family in! We found dead bees for weeks after!

So, dad was a hero, and saves us from the bees....he then decided to close up every hole he could find in the workshop. We got to spend the day with Grandma! Just another "normal" day in the Osborne household!!

I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of people reading my blog....I really didn't think anyone would be interested. I would love comments....and if you were a part of any of my stories, your thoughts would be awesome!! If you have any suggestions for what you would like to hear about.....let me know!!

The Magic Purse

There wasn't anything extra special about the way it looked.....It was white whicker with a pearl handle.  The lining was ripped, and coming out.  So why was it magic??

Lester Hundley!!  He made it magic. 

"Hundley" was Grandma Lil's 3rd husband.  I was little when they married.  Hundley treated Grandma like a queen.  He bought her beautiful clothes, and jewelry, and took her on trips.  (And took me to Disney....see yesterday's post).  And he spoiled me too!! 

I don't remember when the magic purse showed up....I just remember whenever we visited, it would be sitting on the back porch, and would have a surprise for me....a shinny new silver dollar!  That was big money!!  I have a few that I saved.   It was a little difficult when we stopped by without calling first.....when we got there....Hundley would disappear....and after a few minutes he would reappear...and ask me if I'd been to the back porch.  I guess I always knew how the "magic" worked.  After Hundley died, mom said I looked at her and said, "My magic purse won't work anymore!". 

In my foyer sitts a secretary desk.  In my bedroom sits a cedar chest that matches the desk.  They were Hundley's.  Grandma gave me the desk shortly after he died.  The cedar chest, I got when she and Rick sold the house.  The desk isn't in the best of shape....it's missing knobs on the drawers, and the pencil drawer is missing all together.  The writing surface is all scratched and written on.....mostly by me, because I was too little to take care of it when I got it.  The cedar chest isn't the prettiest or in the best of shape either....it spent many many years in grandma's basement.  You could offer me millions for either one, and I wouldn't take it!  Every time I walk past the desk, or open the cedar chest I think of two very special people and wish I could have had more time with both of them!

A Trip to Disney World......

When I was 5, 1972, I took my first trip to Disney World!!  Mom, who was very pregnant with Anita, and I flew to Florida where we met up with Grandma Lil and Hundley.  They had driven down earlier to visit some friends.  We flew out of Lynchburg on a huge plane....well...it was huge to me!!  We made it to Florida.....I don't remember anything special about the flight or the trip....so I'm thinking it was uneventful.  Still....you would think I would remember my first plane ride a little more....

We walked into Disney, and just stood there looking.  WOW!!!!  (keep in mind, the park opened in October 1971....this would have been early 1972....Anita was born in June....)  It was breathtaking!!  We didn't even know where to start.  Luckily, there was an ice cream shop right there on "Main Street"....so we did what any smart person would do.....we got an ice cream cone, sat down and ate it, and just watched and looked.

I remember going to the haunted house.  I don't remember being very scared.....my favorite memory was when you come out....ghosts "sit" on your lap.  I had a ghost on my lap, Grandma had one on her lap....but mom didn't....well...she didn't really have a lap at this point....thanks to Anita!!  (grin)

Another memory that is vivid is a Chinese restaurant.  We had lunch, and I remember drinking the tea out of the tiny cups.  I loved it!!

We also went to the beach, and Hundley and I fed the sea gulls.  It was an awesome time with mom, grandma and Hundley.  Unfortunately, soon after we got back home, Hundley died.  I think they had planned the trip for me to have one last great time with him....and one last great time with mom before our lives would be turned upside down with the new family addition.....but that's another story for another day!!

Daddy's Girl

I thought I would take a break from the history lesson today.  As I've been thinking about what to write about, I was surprised to find most of my memories were with my dad.  This kinda bothered me.....at first......then it dawned on me......It wasn't that I love my dad more, or even

that he spent more time with me.  It was that mom was there with me everyday, doing every day kind of stuff....like going to the grocery store.....or cooking.  These memories aren't less important....they just didn't create "markers" in my mind....because they were every day.  My times with dad were special in that he wasn't there all day, every day.....he was working hard to provide a roof over my head, and food on the table.....So....saying all that.....there will be memories of mom, but probably a lot more of dad.

I am a daddy's girl....and I'm proud of it!  I was his first.  I've gotten to experience more than my sisters....he learned how to be a daddy with me.  (Notice I didn't say a father.....that only takes DNA....being a daddy is much, much, much more!!).

Now, we all (myself, Anita, and Audrey) have done our share of getting dad in some kind of trouble.  My infamous story goes like this.........

It was a beautiful fall afternoon, and dad decided it was time to "burn" the field.  We did it about once a year to get rid of the underbrush, and junk.....this was before we had a tractor to cut it....or the horses to eat it.  My dad is a little bit of a pyromaniac (I am too!!!)....so....it was time to burn.  However, I had heard on the TV that it was illegal to burn after 4 pm (or before, I can't remember......just remember 4 o'clock burn ban).....well, I told dad.  He didn't listen....and started the fire.  Well...the smoke caught the attention of the fire Marshall, and he stopped by to see what was going on.  Dad convinced him that it was an accident....and he was keeping an eye on it....had the hose ready, etc.  Well....the man hadn't even got back in the truck, when I had to do an "I told you so".  I came out of the house, and informed my dad I was right......the fire Marshall turned around, gave dad a look.....I don't remember exactly what he said....because the fear of my life ending was starting to enter my body.  I don't remember what happened next......I don't remember how much trouble I was in...It didn't matter.  Dad still loved me.....at that's all that mattered!!  No matter what stupid things we did (or will do) my dad will always love me.

Where did I come from?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Ok....don't quite need to go back that far, but I did want to give you a little history.

The funny thing is, while working on a project for school, in the LC library, I found the book "Where Did I Come From?".  That's the same book mom used to teach me the facts of life.  I laughed when I saw it.....okay....don't need to go there either.....

Let's start with my family....family is what makes you who you are. 

Preston Eugene Osborne was the 4th child of William (Bill) and Hattie Osborne.  He was born on June 3, 1944, 3 days before D Day!  Papa Bill and Grandma Hattie Bell gave their children everything they could, which wasn't much, but they always knew they were loved.  Papa Bill worked at the paper mill.  He lost several fingers there!  Grandma was a wife and mother.  When I was little, she was working at the Salvation Army as the Social Services Coordinator.  My dad grew up in the Salvation Army, and there are some stories that I will tell about him!!  Dad loved to hunt and fish and tells stories of the trips with his grandfather. He also loved hanging out with his brothers, especially Dickie.  They managed to get themselves into trouble quite a bit!

Barbara Jean Coffey was the 2nd child of Willard & Lil Coffey.  She was born on September 19, 1946.  When mom was little, her parents divorced, and Granny Lil worked hard to keep a roof over her girls heads, clothes on their backs, and food on the table.  It wasn't easy....but she did it.    Mom never really had the "daddy" relationship with her father, and was very close to her mother.

Preston & Barbara were from "different worlds".  He was a bad boy from White Rock Hill, and she was the good girl from the Fort Hill area.  My Granny did not think he was good enough for her....but then what mom or dad thinks that the guy dating their daughter is good enough?  Anyway, they eloped on April 1, 1964.  Mom was only 17, and had to lie about her age!  (Some good girl, hugh?  LOL). 

I think I will pause here for now.

Memories are a funny thing....Sometimes, I'm not sure if what I remember is a true memory, or a story that I've been told so many times, I think I really remember it.  Guess it doesn't matter....memories are memories.

Sign from Granny Lil

This was my sign from Granny Lil. This is her Christmas Cactus. I hadn't seen the blooms till last night. I love the double!! My camera is not the greatest....sorry.

Who, What, Why

Who:  My name is Kim McGuire.  I just turned 46.  I've been married to my high school sweetheart, Brian, for almost 25 years.  We have an 18 year old daughter, Kayman.  You will learn more about me later.

What:  A blog about my life......stories from my past.....insights....and sometimes a rant or two.

Why:  This is the fun part.  I grew up listening to the stories of my granny.  She is not with us anymore, and I truly miss hearing her tell about her life.  Yesterday, I was really missing her, and she sent me a sign that she is still with me.  I decided I should tell my story.  Someone might actually want to read it some day.

So.....I'm not sure I will have anything profound to say, or anything really interesting.....who knows....this may turn into a best selling book someday.  But it is mainly for my daughter, and future grandchildren....to learn a little more about me.

Kim

I wanted to upload a pic of my Christmas Cactus...but can't get it to upload....will try again later.....