Spring 2013...Some Special Times

This spring brought some memorable times to our lives. Knowing we were going to leave on another cross country business trip and that Mom had been showing signs of further decline health wise, we decided to make the trip "home" to see her before we left. Janine had been wanting to go on a memory tour with me, to see places that were a part of my childhood, so she and the three boys joined us there several days later. What a special time we had, loving Mom and then spending some time retracing our childhood points of interest  with her. She took MANY pictures and I am hoping she will do a post someday. I'll share a few of mine.

Saying hello.

Taking Grandma out for some sunshine.

Watching the cleanup crew.

"Thank you, Janine."

A note: During our time in Ripon there was another memorable event. I spent several hours reconnecting with Diane, my best friend from school days, especially seventh grade through high school. I think it had been over thirty years since we had seen each other. Janine took a picture of us but I don't have it to add here. When I receive it I will add it. What fun that was!

We left early one morning and Janine drove us up into the Sierras, specifically to the Dardanelles, where I had been longing to return for years. So much beauty.

I wanted to see our summer vacation destination, a place I had gone from the time I was about two,
"The Willie Boys' Cabin"

It has been painted, the porch in the front is new, and the old creek-water cooled concrete icebox that was between the trees to the right of the front door is gone, but otherwise, much the same as I remembered it. Wish I could have gone inside....  As you can see the shutters were all closed.

Time to see what else remained from my memories:

Yep, it's still there : )

Onward, to find my little stream under the tall trees. The stream with the bulrushes, as I called them, where I spent a lot of time building baskets for a stick Moses and floating him to Pharaoh's daughter.

Aha, my little stream under the tall trees. YAY!

Now, across the road to see if the trail to the river is still there... 

 There it is!

All the way to the river, where I learned to cast my bait of choice, tell the difference between the bait hitting the rocks and a fish taking the bait,  and yes, I caught trout! It was so refreshing to return to a place in my memory and find it as I remember it. So much has changed around the little town I grew up in...this was wonderful! A memorable time.

Then, back home. 

There was a mockingbird nest near the front window, and we were treated to watching the mama feed her children, a sweet Springtime sight.

Inside, however, time has reversed the rolls...

...children feeding Mama.

Thank You, Father of mine, for allowing me this privilege.