Happpy Daddy Day

Memorial Day 2014

Jerry had to work this memorial day. So, I took a volunteer opportunity to photo 12 headstones in a local cemetery. Well, that didn't work out - the office was closed and the cemetery way to big to just happen upon the right headstones. I spent over an hour there but even at 9am it was starting to get hot and very sunny. Lots of fire ants too!

I understand it's a municipal cemetery and the employees get municipal holidays off, just as I do as a municipal employee, but it seems memorial day should be the one day of the year that you can count on a cemetery office open. I would even argue they should have extra staff and provide customer service. Enough whining.

I ended up doing volunteer work for Ratbone instead and then grocery shopping and making a cookout type dinner for jerry even though I don't use the grill (scared of the propane tank).



I put together this little collage of my hubby and dads in their uniforms. Luckily they all came back safely. Jerry is on the left, my dad on top, father in law in middle, and step dad on bottom.

We always line our sidewalk on patriotic holidays. So do some of our neighbors. After 911 pretty much everyone did and it looked awesome!

A peace lily at the front door representing my desire for making peace and not war heros.

Loni Ratbone beat Jerry to his chair this morning.lol

Observing Decorating Day

Today we drove up to the Florida National Cemetery near Bushnell. Jerry's dad is buried there and both of us donated our dad's casket flags for them to fly on the appropriate holidays. So, even though my dad is buried in Arkansas, I know his flag is flying in Florida so it's like visiting him in a way.

 

 We start at the flower stand about a mile from the cemetery entrance. Because it's a busy holiday the folks were there but sometimes when we come there is a lock box and they use the honor system for folks to pay for the flowers they take.

The entrance and the entire cemetery is lined with flags that once draped the caskets of deceased vets. It's really a moving sight.

 Jerry at his dad's headstone. Each burial site will/can hold two people. The first to go is engraved on the front of the headstone and the spouse on the back when they pass. When we first started coming the backs were blank but they are starting to fill.

 Each section looks like this - very uniform. The grounds are well maintained. It's a really nice place with an office to help you find graves, restrooms, etc, For someone who visits graves for genealogical purposes, this one is top notch.

We drove out to Bayport after visiting the cemetery and ate at the Bayport Inn & Restaurant. This is a photo of my Fried Fiesta minus the French fries, salad, bread. They do a fantastic job on the scallops.

Thank You Veterans

I recently visited the National Cemetery near Bushnell FL. On special days, such as Veteran's Day, they line the drive with donated casket flags. I am considering driving up there again today (about an hour north via interstate) to donate my dad's flag. I like the symmetry of it flying at the cemetery where my father-in-law is buried.

It wouldn't be Veteran's day without some photos of my two favorite vets. The first photo is hubby Jerry receiving a medal in VietNam. The second photo is my Dad in his army uniform - he served in Korea during that war.
Thank you to all veteran's, current or past, wheither you served two years or an entire career, wheither you came home safely or paid the ultimate price. Many, many of us appreciate your service to keep us al safe. Bless you.

Happy Birthday Dad

I decided to make a birthday cake for day last night to take to work today - Oct 14th is his birthday and he loved sweets. I'm calling this cake "Murphy" because anything that could go wrong in making this cake, did go wrong.

It was supposed to be a flag cake but I was hesitant with using too much food dye that the layers ended up more like pink and aqua. The layers wouldn't come out of the pans so they were broken in the process which is probably a major contributor to it falling apart.

For some odd reason, the middle layer ended up wider than the other two layers (the undyed layer of white cake). I didn't know until I layered it and it hung over the lower level. Tried to fill in the gap with frosting but the frosting had it's own issues.

Made a whip crema frosting but when I folded in the whipped cream it curdled from the key lime juice in the buttercream mixture. I've made this before with those green limes without this problem but the key limes were a problem.

No sooner had I assembled the cake and it began to fall apart in the fridge.

My dad would have grinned, taken a bite, and said it tastes good to him!

I Miss You Dad

I've been feeling blue and dreading this first Father's Day without him. A friend sent me this poem. Sorry, I have no idea who wrote it

YOU ARE MY FATHER

I will not look at this as goodbye

I will not allow the sorrow of losing you to destroy me

I will embrace what you have taught me through

the years and carry that with me.

You will forever be a part of my life,

and through me you will forever be a part of your

grandhchildren's lives as well. We are your legacy.

I am proud to have had you in my life.

You have raised me to the best of your ability

and for that I want to thank you.

Thank you for being kind, thank you for being stronger than

you know, and most of all, thank you for loving us.

You have inspired me too live life to the fullest,

and never back down.

I will not be taken over by the anger and

frustration of your loss.

Instead, I will remember the days when I was young

and you were my hero.

I will see you in my dreams.

There you will forever be healthy and strong.

Sorrow is inevitable, but I will face it with the same

courage you did, because you are my father.

Old Photo From My Dad's House

I got this polaroid photo of me from the box of stuff my step-siblings sent from my Dad's belongings. I've never seenthis photo before. It was taken at my house in Seattle probably 1979/80 making me in early twenties. We had one wall in the family room with paneling, whichI disliked very much, and I bought that chair to help cover it up :)

Notice the clock above the chair - my Dad gave me a bunch of green stamps (remember those) when I was in high school and said have at it. I licked and pasted those stamps into books and whenI was finished he took me a green stamp store. I wanted a scarab bracelet but it would have used up ALL my stamps so instead I got that clock and stars & stripes candlestick phone. Looking back I cannot believe I chose home decor over jewelry! Oh - and I have seen that clock in many a TV show by the way ;)

Here's a recent photo of me....oh, the ravages of time. But I have much better furniture and more jewelry! LOL

Super Bowl

The clock is ticking toward the big game and football reminds me so much of my Dad. My maiden name was Manning yet I lived a couple years in New Orleans. Normally I would cheer for my dad's choice but I can't ask him now.

The night before he died he watched the championship game with Alabama. He was focused on it and I was tired so I left the hospital once it started. Now I wish I had stayed and watched it with him. He had such a good day that I didn't see it coming.

I sure remember the Alabama versus Arkansas game. Jerry and I were visiting hinm in Arkansas for his birthday and we were making so much noise hooping and hollaring that the staff had to come check to make sure everything was OK and eventually they closed his door, LOL. Our team lost but it was still one of the best games I've ever watched.

Carl Richard Manning

October 14, 1928 - January 8, 2010

Visitation - Monday, January 11th @ 5pm - 7pm Griffin Funeral Homes in Dumas, Arkansas.

Funeral - Tuesday, January 12th @ 1pm Bryant Funeral Home in Hoxie, Arkansas.

Burial - Immediately following funeral @ the Manning Cemetery located between Hoxie & Sedgewick Arkansas. He will be buried with a military ceremony (Korean War vet).

Photo is his high school graduation photo. He graduated Walnut Ridge High School (in Arkansas) in 1946.

Dad

Carl Richard Manning 10/14/1928 - 01/08/2010

Dad's Out of Hospital

Thanks to everyone who kept him in their thoughts and prayers. He's had another stroke, poor guy. I can hardly wait for 2010 because 2009 hasn't been so hot for my dad.

Since Eddie & my dad are bonded, I will share new photos of Eddie and the giant BoBo I bought for him at Walgreens. I believe it lasted about 30 minutes, LOL.

My Dad Is In The Hospital Again

If you are a person that prays, please pray for my Dad.

My Dad's Birthday

Dad with his birthday loot

Blowing out the candles

Jerry helping dad

He liked the tower of sweets

My step sister Samantha on the left and my nephew Andrew and his girlfriend on the right

Can you guess how old he is? LOL

Jerry on the left, stepbrother Terrell in the middle, and stepsister Samantha on the right. Dad in the forground wearing his Korea veteran hat that I bought him in Branson.

A terrible photo of Terrell's wife Phyllis but it is the only photo I got of her. We graduated high school together. She was sick that day but came for Dad.

My stepsister Reba

Dad loves his Razorbacks!

Yummy..........

Me after a very long day of traveling to Arkansas and shopping.

Arkansas Visit

Thought I would share some photos from our trip to Arkansas to see my Dad on his 81st birthday. I will save the birthday party photos for a future post.

This was our airport breakfast. It was stuffed with ham & cheese. All the restaurants were open at 8:30 in the morning - even Popeye's serving chicken. I was surprized when I saw that pile of fried chicken that time of morning. Oh, has anyone else noticed that if you have a drink in the gate area that security people walk around and stick something in it to test it?

This is the Monticello Healthcare facility where my Dad is staying. One of my high school friend's mother is also there. They used to be next door to each other but they had to move my Dad closer to the nurses's station so they can get to him faster - when he wants up, he wants up right then. He's taken some falls and one resulted in a broken hip.

He doesn't like it when his hair gets too long (I should remind him of his photos from the 70's, LOL) so we found a barber shop.

After the haircut. I think she gave him an extra short cut because he went so lkong between haircuts that this cut would buy him some time.

A typical meal when in Arkansas - fried catfish, hush puppies, okra, and corn fritters. I don't remember corn fritters when I grew up in Arkansas. Inb fact the first place I ever had them was in Anchorage but they are good. I don't believer Jerry has ever been to Dumas without eating at Catfish Kitchen.