Happier than a Pig in the Sunshine

And now, I present to you today's favorite moment with Peanut...

At Panera Bread:

Katy: Peenie, how's your soup? You need more coffee?
Peenie: Soup's good, coffee's hot, and I got my crackers! Don't need nothin'. I'm happier than a pig in the sunshine!

...and that's just how the little nut is. Happier than a pig in the sunshine! Most of the time. Unless she's talking about French bread, or her foot (OH, FOOT!), or...a few other unmentionables.

I'll leave you with this:

Has anyone seen this "Fabulous Fashionistas" video that's circling the web? "Older women saying NO to drab"? I checked it out! Props to those senior ladies! But I must say, though I may be biased, I think Peenie's more fashionable than any of them: http://seniorplanet.org/dont-dress-your-age-six-inspiring-women-say-no-to-drab/.

So fashionable! Here she is, checking out a pair of Ugglies a few weeks ago:

Check out that color-blocked top!

Goodnight, friends! Or, as Peenie said to me a few minutes ago, "See you in the funny papers!"

Peenie's Birthday

Ok, I was wrong. Peenie is 92, not 93. She was born in 1921. 2013 minus 1921 is definitely 92. Whoops! I've always been bad at math. But hey, I'm sure Peanut would rather be 92 than 93, and 92 is just as impressive, right? I mean, it's only one year of difference. Just don't tell Peanut that.

Peenie had a great #92, though it was her first birthday since she was 19 without Paw. Can you imagine? Paw's absence this year was, of course, grieved by all, but we made sure that he was still part of the celebration. Every year on Peenie's birthday, Paw would go to Vaughn-Russell (a local candy store) to buy the "nut assortment" box of chocolates for Peanut. We did the same. Paw would also give Peenie a birthday card every year and sign it, "Love and Prayers" with a Scripture reference at the bottom. We did the same. She cried at both.

Another thing we did to honor Paw's memory while celebrating Peenie was to go pick up her engagement ring from the jewelry store. It was there being repaired, and had been for quite a while. We picked it up just before going to a birthday lunch at Word of Mouth. She stared and smiled at it the entire time we ate. Just like a new bride. It was adorable.

As far as the rest of the celebration went, we had a big family dinner at the Olive Garden on Tuesday night, followed by a slumber party at the house with mom, and a big family breakfast with lots of coffee and storytelling on Wednesday morning. In my opinion, the perfect birthday, whether you're 92 or 25.

I'll leave you with this:

A picture of Peenie in her birthday outfit! I gave her the jacket. She looks like one continuous ruffle! So cute.

The Ugglies

Peenie sent the Ugglies back. Said they made her feet look too big. I wanted to take a picture, but she "put her foot down". Ha! Back to the drawing board, folks! The hunt for Peenie-perfect shoes continues...

I went home briefly this weekend. While I was there, I went to one of the best, if not THE best, concerts of my life--all thanks to my boyfriend and his parents of equally excellent musical taste. Have any of you ever heard of the Kruger Brothers? I hadn't either, but after hearing them on Saturday night, I'm now a huge fan! Their style is like jazz, classical, and bluegrass all rolled up into one. They're hilariously funny and shared stories and experiences throughout the evening. The banjo player, Jens (they're originally from Sweden), is the best banjo player I've ever heard...incredible, a "virtuoso" (And I can say that with authority because James, who actually has musical authority, was the one who actually said it)!

The first set of the concert was a trio of banjo, bass, and guitar--with only the two brothers (Jens and Uwe) and their friend (Joel) on stage. They played one of my all time favorites "People Get Ready", and brought tears to my eyes:

Kruger Brothers – People Get Ready

"People get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord"

The second set was a presentation of their "Appalachian Concerto", and a string quartet joined them on stage. All I can say about that is it was absolutely beautiful. Mrs. A gifted me with a recording of it, and I listened to it on my drive back to Greenville last night.

The third set was mostly covers and such, with a lovely version of Sting's "Fields of Gold" and possibly their biggest hit, "Carolina in the Fall":

Kruger Brothers – Carolina in the Fall

I really wish there was a recording of Saturday night. Their performance was absolutely perfect, and I'd love to share it with you all! I can't recommend them enough! Here's the link to their website: http://www.krugerbrothers.com/. They also have concerts this weekend and next in Mountain City and in Asheville. If you can make it out to see them, you won't regret it!

Have a great Monday, friends! Make sure to look for those last glimpses of "the color of the leaves in Carolina in the Fall"--won't be around for much longer!

Funnies

Peenie's been really funny this week. I SO must be rubbing off on her...though that may or may not be a good thing.

It all started on Monday morning with her personification of breakfast:

"Katy, I just love breakfast. I just love it to death."

Continued on Tuesday when I apologized for cursing in front of her, to which she responded:

"It's ok, you're my roommate. Our relationship is different now."

Carried over to Wednesday, when she shocked both of us and said:

"Tomorrow's gonna be cold as a bitch.

...I mean, WITCH! I meant to say WITCH! Ohhhhh, Katy..."

And this morning when she began with:

"What do you want to do for dinner tonight, Kate? No pizza. I'm declaring a war on pizza."

I'm wondering what she'll come out with tomorrow!

I'll leave you with this:

We're currently awaiting the delivery of a pair of Uggs. Yes, Uggs. I ordered my 92 year-old grandmother a pair of Uggs. Not because I think it's funny dressing her like a 13 year-old, though. And not because I think it's smart shopping to spend that much money on a pair of ugly boots. Sorry if I'm offending anyone, but Uggs are hideous. Wouldn't be caught dead...

Anyway, I digress. I bought them for her BECAUSE Uggs are really just glorified house slippers and I think they'll be comfortable for her bad foot (OH, FOOT)! And keep her warm, of course, cause she's always cold.

They're set to arrive today, so I'll be sure to post a picture off Peenie in her Ugg-lies tomorrow! Stay posted.

A Favorite Picture and Some Oversharing

Good Monday and Happy Veterans Day to you, friends! Peenie and I are both thinking about Paw today. Here's a picture of him (possibly my favorite, cause it looks like it's from the set of South Pacific) when he was overseas during WWII:

Kinda blurry, but isn't he handsome? Best to all of you on this day, but especially to those of you who have family and friends who are veterans. Our love and prayers go out to you.

So, I know this is oversharing, but there's so much activity at Peenie's house these days that I can't even take a poop. Sorry, but it's true. Between Peenie squalling for me every five minutes and the phone ringing every 10, I can't turn the bathroom light on without having to yell out, "What?!", or turn back around to answer the phone. It's driving me crazy. Think I'm making this up? In the seven minutes it's taken me to type the words above, the phone has already rung twice and Peenie has yelled for me three times. Last night, after I finally got the little nut to bed, I walked into the bathroom, sat down on the toilet, and the phone rang. I ignored it. Then Peenie's cell phone rang. Also ignored it. Then the house phone rang again. I'd lost all focus by then, so I got up and answered it. Uncle Bruce asking for Peenie. Told him she was asleep. Hung the phone up, walked to the bathroom, and it rang again. Walked back, answered it. This time it was Aunt Pandy. Chatted with her a bit, told her Peenie was asleep. Hung up, but by that time, I'd been holding it so long I didn't even have to go anymore. I kid you not. So friends and family, please do me a favor. Peenie goes to sleep between 7:30 and 8:30. Please, please, please do not call at that time...cause I need to poop.

...I hope I still have readers after this post.

I'll leave you with this:

As Peenie and I ate dinner together one night last week, she confessed something to me. Dot Smith, one of Peenie's best friends who lives two doors down from us, used to have a vegetable garden. Years and years ago, Peenie went for a run around lunchtime and saw a big, juicy tomato right in the middle of the garden. She was so hungry, she said, that she ran right over, grabbed it, and gobbled it up as she ran down the street. She's never told Dot.

A Few Shots from the Week

It's been a week of good eats down here in Greenville! Check out some "Peenie the Foodie" action shots!

Peenie chowing down on some of my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies (I'm happy to share the recipe if anyone wants it):

Peenie with two of her favorites, Donna and Steadman, at her favorite lunch spot, Word of Mouth:

My apologies for the brief post! Hopefully the action shots make up for it? 

I'll leave you with this:

A few nights ago, as we were nomming on some oatmeal cookies and sipping our nightly tea, Peanut shared some childhood stories with me. Speaking of her school days:

"Kate, when I was a little girl in school, it was so cold in Kentucky that us country kids would stand by the radiators until 10:00 in the morning. That's why I don't have any sense!"

Daylight Savings

Happy Monday to you, friends! If you're anything like me, you're feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed due to that extra hour of sleep yesterday! Yet another reason why the Fall season is far superior to any other. Love it.

Unlike us though, Peanut ain't feelin' so bright-eyed or bushy-tailed. Why? Well, it could be from all of the sugar she ate last week. But yesterday she missed the Daylight Savings memo and woke up at her normal 5:00, not knowing that it was actually 4:00. Poor Peanut. Needless to say, she hit the hay early last night. Not before she yelled at me for not telling her about the time change, though...which I, in fact, did. She just didn't hear me. Maybe it's time to resurrect "The Great Hearing Aid Debate" again.

In other news, I've been reading more poetry! Dusting off some old favorites, mostly. James and I went for a hike on my birthday weekend at Hanging Rock and spent this past Saturday driving around the mountains. Both were glorious days to be outside, drink in the crisp air and enjoy the Fall color and nature surrounding us. So I've been reading much of Hopkins, a fellow lover of nature, and one of my favorite (or should I say favourite) English poets. I love his sprung rhythms. Here's Pied Beauty:

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;	5
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:	10
Praise him.

Glory be to God for dappled things, yes? YES.

I'll leave you with this:

I'm currently on the hunt for some birthday present ideas for Peanut. She turns 93(!) on November 19th. She claims she doesn't need anything, but I want to do something special for her. Any suggestions, friends? Refer back to "A Few of Peenie's Favorite Things" post for inspiration, if need be!