Our Trip to Bama

It is always cool when work takes me back home and we sneak in an unexpected visit. I like holidays, but my favorite times are just the ordinary days like today. Amanda used her birthday money to buy a new camera, so here are a couple of the very first pics.

Ginny and I went for a swim. I was holding on tight to keep her from rushing the cows, (maybe one of her top five favorite activities in life.) Yesterday she caught a bunny. A real bunny. For a city dog, it doesn't get much better than a trip to Arab.

Here's lunch.


Mamma whipped up Amanda's favorite buttermilk chocolate cake, from scratch of course, then made sure all 29 candles were lit.


It was, hands down, the best yet of Amanda's birthday cakes. Not quite done in the middle, dark chocolate, pecans from the trees in the yard, hot right out of the oven, you know, perfect.

I was glad Mammaw felt like coming. She has been a true force to be reckoned with for her whole life. She still drives herself to dialysis after four years, but it has taken its toll. She knew Amanda and I were working on a new business, and she had several ideas to share. Her package for Amanda's birthday made it to the house a full two days before the day. If she's still breathing, her wheels are turning, considering ways she can help us grand kids.

We have big, fat, loud, and utterly delicious meals, mules, horses, cats, a new baby calf named Lloyd to bottle feed, enough fresh eggs to fill five Easter baskets, some laughs, some fights, but more love than you can shake a stick at. It's where I come from.