Monday, September 22, 2014

Fall Has Fell

I blinked..I swear I just blinked, and by golly Fall fell right onto the calendar and cancelled Summer out.  Many around these parts are claiming Summer was never here.  It was a bit cool but I'm not complaining.  It had it's fair share of sun and we had our fair share of pool time.  But today is the first day of Fall.  Many, many folks love this time of year.  I know I do.  I love the colors, the cool, crisp days, the pumpkins and campfires.  I enjoy bringing out the fall decorations and soon....next week...I'll be decorating for Halloween.  I won't even go into what I have in store this year! I'll leave that to other blog posts!  I've been gone for a few days visiting my Mom and Sis out in Chicago.  Jack and I headed out on Friday after work.  By the time we were about there the sun was setting in the West.
Pretty sunsets can happen anywhere! I even got a weird pic on the camera.
Aliens perhaps?  More like a bad photographer!  The main reason we went was to check on Mom.  She's been having back pain and hip pain and I felt we just needed to head out and see what we could do to help.  Jack brings some of his therapy stuff from the office and gives Mom treatments and adjustments twice a day.  It always makes her feel better and this time was no different.  It sucks growing older!  Usually when we visit it's for a special occasion, a holiday, or event that's going on.  This time it was just us and Mom and Midge.  We laughed, talked, ate, watched some TV, did some shopping and had a nice quiet visit.  The only other family time was a quick trip to say hello and celebrate my great niece's 3rd birthday.  It was at a place that only kids could really love....lots of jumping, climbing, sliding and yelling!
Blurry shot of my nephew, Bill and his birthday girl Alexa..
This place had rooms of bouncy houses and even a climbing wall:
The kids had to be tuckered out after all this was over!  This morning before we left I took a walk around my childhood home. 
My Dad built this house in 1951....it was redone in 1963 after a fire destroyed the upper level. (a faulty electric wire in the eves was to blame)  I was 10 and home babysitting for just a short time while my parents went for a quick trip to the store....by the time they were back the house was in flames and the fire department was there.  I got my 3 younger siblings out to safety.  I know 10 sounds young to be given that responsibility,  but in a big family you start early helping and taking care of younger kiddos. 
I remember my Dad planting trees like this pine....I used to jump over it when I was little!  Now it's huge...some of the others he planted had to be removed as time went on.
My best friend lived down this road.
The backyard didn't look like this then. It had smaller trees and a swing set and a garden and grape arbor.  Although it's changed over the years, family and friends still gather here for fun and get togethers.  Some things never change!
The sun was rising in the East...Chicago is about 30 miles east of Mom's.  We had to head out and get back home.  The visit went fast, but we enjoyed it.   It's hard to say goodbye to those we love and each visit is treasured.  It was hard to bid Summer a fond farewell too.  Fall surely has fallen here! As my Mother-in-law used to say: "Happy Fall y'all!"

15 comments:

Kim said...

Happy Fall! I'm sure your Mom appreciated your special visit

joeh said...

I love the fall too. And 10 is too young to baby sit...today... kids in the day especially those from big families were a bit more responsible...but then you knew that.

Laurie said...

Well, several things.....Yes, I do love fall and so happy it has befallen you. I'm still waiting here in the south. Although, I can tell it's coming. Glad you got to spend some time with your mom. Your dad's handy work in planting trees looks great. Everything is so well manicured and green. What a great memory to pass on to your own grandkiddos. And just one more thing, Happy Fall Y'all.

joanne said...

I'm so glad your mom is feeling better. It must be so fun to go back home and remember the good times and some not so good, a fire, how brave of you to step up. Lovely street they live on...I always thought it would be nice to live on a street with sidewalks and manicured lawns! Happy Fall.

betty said...

How neat that your childhood home is still there standing, even with the fire years ago and that your mother still lives there. Lots of history there I am sure! I surely don't know what happened to this summer, it literally did disappear.

betty

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, dear YaYa! Seems like you posted only a few pictures of pool fun at the Pines this summer and now it's over. The only signs of fall here where I live are a few days in the upper 80s mixed with those in the low 90s. As I think I told you a year or two ago, trick-or-treat night is often uncomfortably warm in Central Florida and the kiddos are plagued by mosquitoes.

Yessum, fall has fallen in your neck of the Creepy Woods. It's time for me, the worrier, to remind you, your mother and all your loved ones to be careful not to fall on wet leaves, frost, ice and snow. I'm sorry your mother was ailing. I hope she's much better.

At age five I had fun helping my dad plant rows of seedling pines on the hillside in back of my childhood home. Last time I looked those majestic evergreens stood 30 or more feet tall. I'm glad you had a chance to stroll around the house your dad built and let the memories flow. How frightening it must have been when a fire broke out while you were babysitting. It was a heroic act when you, merely ten years old, rounded up your siblings and led them to safety.

I hope you are having a great week. I've been thinking about Eddy and hoping he's well and happy. God bless, dear YaYa!

Julia said...

So nice to be able to visit your mom every year. i miss those special visits now.

Yes Fall is here and we are having some cool breezy winds and cool nights but daytime are perfect.
Hugs.
JB

Cindy said...

So nice that you were able to go and look after your mom! I bet it's extra nice to be able to visit not only her, but a house and neighborhood filled with childhood memories! Here's to a beautiful Fall!!

Hilary said...

I'm glad you were able to bring your mom some relief. And enjoyed a trip down memory lane while you were at it. Yes, ten does seem young.. clearly you were incredibly responsible for that age. That memory must stick with you more than many.

After reading all this, I have one question: Did you climb the wall? :)

Nonnie said...

I love Fall, too and your pictures are gorgeous! Even the alien pic. What a lovely place to grow up and how nice that you still can return to your childhood home. What memories.
Glad you got to relax and visit with your Mom and left her feeling better. You're right. Growing old is hard.

Rick Watson said...

Happy fall. I saw a V of your geese flying over my house today. Indeed, fall is on us.
R

selvageedge said...

Glad you guys got in a nice visit with your mom. :)

MunirGhiasuddin said...

You were a brave ten year old then and a responsible adult now.
I like fall, summer has left but here in New York we take pride in Autumn leaves and from now until Thanksgiving I love the air.
Thanks for sharing the picture of you home as you grew up. It made me think of my home in India as we were growing up.
Keep up with the wholesome blogs.

Judi said...

You are so lucky to still have your mom. Beautiful pictures and memories...

Kay G. said...

Wonderful post, really enjoyed it.
Can you see, it looks as if there is a white heart on the photo where you show us that your best friend used to live!
And I know what you mean about taking care of siblings, I remember taking care of my little brothers when I was 8 years old!
So glad that you were able to get your siblings out of that fire and at such a young age! The house and neighborhood look lovely. x