Only Us

As a second part of Jay's birthday, we went out Friday night for sushi and drinks. Ann watched Solon and Tudor-Beach, so we actually had several hours worth of uninterrupted conversation.  Fun night.

Birthday Party-Turning 37!

We celebrated Jay's birthday at home Thursday night.  We had champagne, brownies, pizza and presents.

Complete Chaos

This was my weak attempt at getting a group shot of these two for one of Jay's birthday presents.  Clearly, we are going to need to hire a professional instead.

Cookie B

She had her 5 week check up this past week, and she is getting big! Weight (10 lbs 12 oz) which was 90 percentile and then 23" long which puts her in the 98 percentile.  And she looks more and more like Solon every day.

My Heart's On Fire...Elvira

She made it! Elvira Beach Carre' was Tudor Beach Carre's sister, and she died young of scarlet fever.  Nanna had this large portrait hanging over her dresser in her bedroom, and this was one of the pieces she left my mom.  Sally, Janie and I spent the week prior to our last trip to Greenwood going through the 50 items Nanna designated to my mom in her will, and us three girls managed to sort through what we wanted all via email.  No fights or hair pulling:)  Janie's top pick was Nanna's marble topped dresser.  Sally's top pick was the china cabinet that sat behind Eli in the dining room.  My top pick was Elivra.  I was a nervous-nelly as Jay said until she was hung safely on our wall.

And now she sits in our old school parlor!  Compelte with furniture and finishes from Nanna's home.  Velvet tufted chairs.  Leather studded couch with pillows.   Large oriental rug.  Crystal candlestick lamp. Family pictures. Knick knacks. And Nanna's distinct 'smell.'

I still have piled high throughout the house a lot more stuff..but this was the first piece of assembling part of Nanna's home into ours.  Love it.

Hanging With Muffin

Pretty weather so we sat out front and blew bubbles and made flower crowns.

See If They Take

Solon and I planted a few of the daffodil bulbs that Sally & Janie gave me when Tudor-Beach was born.  Not sure if we missed our seasonal window, so we will see if they come back next year.

Driving Off

It was terribly sad leaving Nanna's house one last time Sunday morning.  I was the first to pull off with my Uhaul, and everyone behind stood there and waved.  I honked as I drove across the bridge over the Yazoo and watched all my girls get smaller and smaller in my mirror..and Nanna's house disappearing.  What a wonderful and special place her home was to all of us.

A Taste of Silly

I think we were a bit delirious after so many days cooped up in Nanna's house, so when it was time to pick through her closet a bit of crazy came out.  Needless to say lack of sleep and some bottles of wine helped us. 

I came out with a red embroidered shirt, and as I was talking slowly put it on.  Then we decided that everyone had to wear the outfit they picked to take home.  There was a fair amount of laughing, and I hope Nanna was smiling down on us having a good time impersonating her:)

The Crown Jewel

I am sure everyone knows of my family's love of the Sanderosa, and Nanna had told me a while back that she still had the floor plans for the house.  One late night last Thanksgiving, she, Jay and I were sitting around her breakfast table drinking wine/tea, and she said we should look for them.  So, here I was at 11 pm with my 93 year-old grandmother, and we were both climbing up into closets and into cabinets on a search for them.  They didn't turn up, and I could tell she was bothered because she was highly organized.

Well, this past Saturday night we were going through last remaining things, and Mary comes up to me and hands me a bag.  She was excited and said she wanted me to open it.  And there they were!  The excitement from all of us was pretty off the charts, as we slowly opened them and flipped through plans, elevations and details.  And the true treasure were all of Nanna's handwritten notes.  "Move window."  "Make window bigger."

So one day when one of us Sanders strikes gold, we now have the documents to rebuild:)