Trick or Treat on the Square

Thank Goodness the rain let up, just like last year. I think Main Street had been extended with the merchants, because we walked, I think, about 5-6 blocks and almost all the stores participated with giving trick or treats to the kids, there was free hot dogs, boxes of popcorn, hot chocolate & cider and of course Candy. The Disney Radio station was there with the dancers and music and Lil Orchid got to see so many different costumes. We were able to catch photos of her swoshing and swishing in her hoop skirt. She was really partial to this little baby clown and a Ninja Turtle. And a Big Thank You for no Big Sponge Bobs.!!!

I however, am enjoying this but I am paying for all this walking. (my knee is still not fixed) I am thankful to my daughter's care, the heat packs and the bottle of meds.

Stringing the Beads

Lil Orchid is making Jewelry, stringing Beads and loving every minute of it. It only makes sense to save what she has strung. Otherwise we just keep dumping the beads over and over again, and she keeps stringing them over and over again, everyday. She loves to help flatten the bottlecaps used in Mom Mom's bows and for her jewelry. She will say "Help Tap, Tap, Tap" and goes and gets her little hammer.

A brief background, Lil Orchid was to be adopted as a healthy child, not a special needs. My daughter kept receiving conflicting information and then no information from her agency. When we finally traveled and arrived at the orphanage the nannies placed her into my daughters arms. That moment we knew something wasn't right, she was burning up with fever. Once my daughter had custody we took her to the International Clinic and left with so many prescriptions. We knew she wasn't moving her right side (arm, leg) and when she smiled it was a half smile. Everyone chalked it up to orphanage delay but we knew that wasn't right. We returned home and after a year and a half of tests, doctors, hospital visits, a very smart, small, aged lady doctor diagnosed her correctly. She had Polio. We were told had we even been a day late our Lil Orchid wouldn't be here today. Everything started to make sense. They told us she would never walk and would struggle to use her arm, hand, leg, etc. But we continue love and play with her and never, never accept NO. Then she took her first steps with a children's walker, and they said she would always use assistance. Again Our Little Miracle proves them wrong. The brace on her leg, well you just never know. They are so amazed by her and finally admitted that they weren't really sure about anything because Polio is supposed to be eradicated in our country. So because you keep coming back to read about my beautiful, strong and courageous Lil Orchid. I am leaving out all the tears, nights of crying, anxiety, confusion, heartbreak, the setbacks, and lets not forget the prayers! Needless to say a small part of her daily physical therapy is to work with puzzles, beads, etc for dexterity of her hands and fingers. She loves it and she calls it sewing ....just like Mom Mom and Mam Maw.

So we decided not to destroy her craftsmanship, her hard work and her beautiful beads. We decided to let her sell those items and put the money away. Yes, there are a few things we do, like tie knots, attach clips, seal the items, etc. But she chooses the colors and strings the beads. She is so Talented and very Passionate, just like the rest of her family! ;)

Buckles, Buttons and Zippers

I can always rely on Lil Orchid to bring a smile to my face and make me forget about what makes me unhappy :) She has been fascinated lately by buckles, buttons and zippers. So she ran to sit in my craft chair which had my jacket hanging on the back....the pictures tell the story (another smile)

I hope that you are reading this for the same reason I write this blog...

to remember to appreciate what I have and focus on the good. To forget about the person who stole your parking place and remember that stranger that nodded and smiled at you. To forget that you could only afford a half a tank of gas but remember that half a tank brought you home to your family and friends. These are hard times on most everyone and for alot of different reasons, could be finance, could be health, maybe family or whatever, but look deep everyday and find that time or memory that makes you grin and hold it close or write about it.

What more can I say, It's Monday

Got a lot of great sewing done today.

And Lil Orchid got some mail...from Great Great (a postcard from Great Gram an Ye Ye about the last of the tomatoes from the garden)

Sunday, taking care of baby

After a big day and a late evening at the festival we are definitely having a day of rest. Enjoyed watching Lil Orchid play mommy to her baby Michelle (named after the good friend that sent it to her.

Fall Festival

Woke up tired and wondering what we could do for fun today since the birthday party was cancelled. Read in the paper that alot of the Halloween festivities were starting this weekend. We Love Halloween...it has always been a family affair. Always lived out in the country, so we never really did the door to door trick or treating. We would dress up and join the parades or costume contests. We would have a theme, I was Ghepetto and my son was Pinocchio, or my son was the Prince and my daughter was the Dragon. She would be Cinderella and I walked beside her as a guardsman in a tunic and my brother was Prince Charming. I can't even name them all..but it was worth the $50, $100 or $25 prize money. Yes, we usually won 1st or 2nd place for originality. Then would spend the money on something beside candy, a great Treat wouldn't you say. Today there is a Fall Festival with games, food, rides and a costume contest. Put Lil Orchid down for her nap and began brainstorming with my daughter. How about a Princess , she loves Cinderella (cause she can actually say that name really well). No, there will be to many Cinderella's in Blue. How about our version of a Princess I got all that satin, taffeta and lace at that estate sale? NO, go check out the garage and shop, here's a watering can and silk flowers..how about Mary, Mary Quite Contrary....No...here is an old walking cane and Lil Orchids stuffed lamb. That's It, she's Little Bo Peep. Hurry up, start sewing we gotta leave in a few hours. Okay now lets sew a tail on Mam Maw's white sweats and make a hood with ears, a big bow for the neck...yep, I'm the Little Lost sheep (okay, a Big Lost Sheep). Oh what fun, she got to grab a bobbing pumpkin and did a little fishing. The Disney Radio group was there, but Lil Orchid loved the live Country Band better. We took her picture under the Big Balloon Cat although I think it was a Bat. I know you already saw the Bo Peep photos, but we didn't win..it was NOT a judged contest it was a popularity contests and the other people brought the entire neighborhood to clap and scream. Did make us feel a little better because everyone else said we should have won even other contestants, and even the fair director. Lil Orchid did really good and wasn't scared of the monsters or bloody things. She was scared of the adult man Sponge Bob, go figure. But the hairy legs were really gross. What will next weekend bring???

On the Road again

Friday, we all got up early to begin a full day of errands and visiting. We started putting lil Orchid in some of her many cute October/Halloween shirts and outfits this week. She has a lot because she never grows out of them. Ck out the pics, "Hey Mom Mom is this a size 18 months or 18 YEARS pants?" lol. On Thursday, her Mom Mom and she cleaned out an old chest from when she was a girl, Lil Orchid called it "Crazy Hair"...now I have a new Rainbow Brite. (does anyone remember her?) We stopped by to say Hi to Great Aunt Patti but we couldn't visit long it was busy Friday. So off to the next place, and the next. As you can see Lil Orchid tried to catch a cat nap (Ha Ha yes that's Kitty Cat and Baby Jaguar on her lap)when ever and where ever. By after noon we were in the next County and stopped by cousin Madelynn (5 yrs) and Meredith (18 mos) house, if you remember Lil Orchid was sick and we missed Maddy's Birthday Party. But they made up for lost time and had a great time visiting. By evening we ended the day by visiting good friend Samantha and her Mom (Daddy was in DC). Samantha's 2nd Birthday Party was to be Saturday but was cancelled due to family business. Lil Orchid was so excited all week about seeing Sam that we decided to see her before they left town. Her birthday theme was Clifford so two of her gifts we made her was a great hair clip with Clifford and her T-Shirt she was wearing. They had a blast playing and the energy if bottled could have kept us warm all winter. Happy Birthday Sweet Samantha !

Wonderful Tuesday

Today was a good day because we received an unexpected surprise ! A wonderful Thank You card was received and it was filled with goodies (stickers) for Lil Orchid. I don't think I have went into this but she has her own mail box and loves to get mail...no we cannot put junk mail in it, she knows the difference. So YeYe and Great Gram take pictures of themselves around their home and then mail them as postcards to her. We receive the post card then sneak it into Lil Orchids mailbox, so she can sing and dance to the "Blues Clues" We just got a Letter Song. As you can see the joy it brings, and how tickled she gets. It was a GREAT Surprise and as you can see she totally loves it, especially the Princess stickers. Thanks Sofia and family, our special friends . I can't believe how much older she looks when I fixed her hair in low bull tails. She is 2 yrs and 8 months, barely 20 lbs, and 30 1/2 inches tall (yep, she's MamMaw's Lil petite Orchid)