Changes..Cha Cha Changes..and visitations

Grandma left for an exteneded vaction and the 4 generations got together...

(Grandma, Nana, Me, and my kiddos...)

my bestest friend came to visit

with her daughter

and Sophia started Kindergarten...

In a nutushell, that is it.....

A Day At The Beach

............NOT...............

No, It was not a day at the beach. We live in the Midwest and have never traveled very much outside our city limits.

It All Started When...

K-mart had these "easy set up pools" on sale.

Grandma thought it would be a good idea to get one for the kids

and sprang for the cost, I thought ok, I will buy the sand. (no biggie right?)

I thought 8 bags was enough, Then after opening and spreading the bags I quickly learned it was not. Christopher had a 25 dollar gift card from Wally World and sprang for more sand. another 8 bags was 25.59.

In the morning we spread the sand, it was not enough.

Ran to Wally World again. Like a drug addict I stood at the register buying more sand. I only had so much money.

I initially bought 10 bags..my card was denied.

I told the lady to ring me up for 8 bags. My card went through.

I thought, we need more sand.

I told her to ring me up for one more bag.

I dug up the change for 2.89 plus sales tax

I pushed my luck. I said run me for one more bag and I will use my card, it went through.

Perfect..now with all of this laid we have had a total of 36 bags of sand.

I started to set up the pool, I blew up the ring, formed the circle and put the hose in.

GROUND IS NOT LEVEL...

Really?

Yes..Really.

The slightest incline will throw it all off.

I prayed. My face was cupped in my hands as I asked what I should do. Looked in the yellow pages and found the closest topsoil distributor.

Called The sand man. I asked how much is sand. Well, a ton of sand is only 15 dollars. I was like holy crow, that is great then he said Delivery was 75..

******Sigh*******

Not having a truck I had to have it delivered. Not having money..had to Ask Grandma to borrow some.

The man to deliver the sand was promptly there with in the hour.

He backed in our drive and dumped the sand.

Ok, Now, when you think a TON you think ALOT?

RIGHT?

WELL, let me tell you that a TON OF SAND is nothing. I think he saw the bewilderment on my face. It was about 2 feet high at the highest point and and maybe 3 feet long

Being a gentleman he offered to bring more, but deliver it in his own truck.

Sure, sounded great right? I mean he did seem sincere.

I did not think he would actually follow through, so in the mean time me and the kiddos spread 1 ton of sand.

Put the tarps over the sand and put the pool in place.

We proceeded to fill the pool.

It was still not level..but it was better, so it did not bother me.

THEN LOW AND BEHOLD A GENTLEMAN PULLED IN MY DRIVE WAY WITH ANOTHER TON AND THEN SOME OF SAND.

My jaw dropped.

I was like, I knew you said you would come by..but I thought you were just being nice and saying that. I did not think you would actually come by.

We drained the pool (only a couple of gallons was in there..) moved the tarps..he backed his truck in and started to SHOVEL the sand out of his truck (almost 2 tons of it).

I offered the gentleman soda, tea, coffee, water..Pie..anything..He said he was fine.

I tried to pay him the money for the sand, he would not take it.

He proceeded to say he might not have enough to help people out monetarily..but said you can give more then money. (meaning your time)

He gave his time, He gave his sand...

He conveyed he was 1 of 4 kids when growing up and if someone would have brought sand (and a pool) to his family he would have been so grateful.

He simply just said "pay it forward."

Ole Stomping Grounds...

Grandma and I visited my ole south city stomping grounds the other day ..she was familar with the scene since she had been up many times to visit before we moved away from the city.

Our first stop was to Pho Grand Vietnamese restaurant .


Off of Grand and Arsenal (on the good ole south side. ) Hubby use to work right there at a store called Street Side records when we met. He took Me to Pho Grand for our first date. Back then it was a hole in the wall with about 12 tables inside the restaraunt and maybe 3 outside. An average dish at the would cost around $3.00 ! and you could get a carafe of wine for around $5.00
Now it has grown to be extreamly popular, has totaly been upscaled with a new and improved bigger location and has had a major shi shi artistic overhaul in decor, going from the gaudy polyester asian disco feel to the creme dela creme french influence, and uptown ambiance.

At any rate Grandma and I had lunch...so yummy, love the yumminess of the fresh cilantro, lemon basil and lemon grass, mixed with some bean sprouts and a twist of lime~life is good!


( I had vietmanese beef stew with egg noodle, the first refined carb in 2 weeks!)

Sophia had onion with baby ginger chicken noodle! love the fish sauce(Nuoc mam)!



But what makes St. Louis so great is the DIVERSITY!! Right next door is an Afgan Restaraunt...





and across the street a Martinii bar(ok, not diverse, but fun right?)


loved the play on names!

We finished or day at the German Meat Market
G&W~ only 5 min from the Hill, (the next field trip!~hubbys fam)


they are so popular they even sell the Bratwurst for Grants farm.
I get all of my Andouille from here (the best around) for my Gumbo and Etouffe and such. They have a variety of imported German goods as well

They have many fresh made lunch meats that they produce(they will even process your deer..but won't sell it...).


I remember eating these as a kid when I was in Germany, little chocalate eggs with Toys inside!


home again, home again,Heidi

Knocked DOWN BUT NOT knocked OUT

Well, just in case any of you are wondering, I AM ALIVE!!
Things just went plum crazy. My 83 year old grandma is now living with us. This makes our very small house only seem smaller. But I am so happy that she is here and what a joy it is to hear the stories of the old country and how things were when she was growing up and how things were when she first came to the United States over 50 years ago. (she is from Germany)

Why not post in so long? Well, I tend to go in "recluse" mode when I am feeling in the dumps.

But I must remember I maybe knocked down, BUT NEVER KNOCKED OUT.

I would also take the time right now to thank every and each one of you who has ever lifted me up in prayer, thought and been very kind and considerate through the midst of my crazziness.

It is my "cyberfrinds" who keep going with the dollies when alot of days I am ready to sell of the whole biz.

No gesture to small goes unnoticed. Thank you Thank you Thank you

Wishing you and yours a most Joyous Blessed Thanksgiving. May you and yours really remember the important things in life, may we always be thankful for what we have.

Warmest Regards,
heidi