Count All the Bees In The Hive

Christopher Robin and I walked along

 Under branches lit up by the moon.

 Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

 As our days disappeared all too soon.


But I've wandered much further today than I should

And I can't seem to find my way back to the wood


So, help me if you can I've got to get

 Back to the House at Pooh Corner by one.

 You'd be surprised there's so much to be done,

Count all the bees in the hive.

Chase all the clouds from the sky.

 Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh.

It's hard to explain how a few precious things

 seem to follow throughout all of our lives

After all's said and done I was watching my son

 sleeping there with my bear by his side.

 so I tucked him in, kissed him, and as I was going

 I swear that old bear whispered "Boy, welcome home".

Believe me if you can I finally came

Back to the house at pooh corner by one.

Back to the days of Christopher Robin

Back to the ways of Christopher Robin

Back to the days of Pooh...

A day for Jiggy

Jiggy Day...

the day my angel girl would have celebrated her 21st birthday.

 Our family tries very hard to embrace this day with feverish fun and a little bit of nonsense.

Cass surprised her kiddos with brownies for breakfast. Olivia was hesitant at first and then devoured one and then another.

 If you ask Henry...he knows exactly who his Aunt Jocie is and where she lives..."She lives at Heaven!"

The grandbabies are growing up celebrating Jiggy Day. It's a special day that will help them always know about the Auntie they never met.

We spent the afternoon eating pasta, frolicking in the park, and finishing off our fun with chocolate chip cookies from the bakery!

Watching these two in the park, I wish with all my heart that Jocie was here sliding down slides with them, and soaking up adventures. I know she would teach them how to be a little bit naughty...just to annoy her sister.

The day is always a range of emotions for all of us. We laugh, we cry, we miss Jocie immensely. Living in LA, Dione has to face the day alone...so she made homemade cinnamon buns for the attorneys in her law firm to celebrate the day.

While picking up large Diet Cokes at our local McDonald's drive-thru on my way home, I bought lunch for some unsuspecting patron in the car behind me. The cashier asked what she should tell the driver when he pulled up to the window, "Just tell him Happy Jiggy Day!" I'm sure they had no idea what that meant...

With Jiggy Day drawing to a close, we visited the cemetery where a very large pink balloon caught the evening rays of sun and my heart felt the warmth of Jocie's spirit.

And finally, because Jocie was kind of a carnivore...a steak dinner with Chet, the girlfriends, and Lindsay's hubby Alex. Their iconic red lipstick is a tradition on Jiggy Day!

One of the things I love about Jiggy Day is how our friends and family embrace the day with us. You absolutely must see the blog post from my sweet photographer friend Aurora and her beautiful four-year old daughter known as The Wee One. I am so thrilled to have met Aurora. She is such a sweet friend and a fabulous Mamma. Here is how The Wee one spent Jiggy Day. And don't miss the video at the end...it is simply adorable. I love you Aurora and The Wee One...thank you for remembering Jocie and sharing Jiggy Day with us!

And most of all Happy Birthday to my gorgeous red-head daughter Jocie. I miss you more than I can almost stand. I know your 21st in heaven must have been a fabulous party.

Olivia at Three

I turned around and my baby girl granddaughter got big. She talks a mile a minute, wears grown up clothes and knows all her letters and numbers. Olivia spent a weekend with us for Nana Bubba Birthday Fest and we loved every second of our time together. She is growing up so quickly, I'm afraid I'll forget all the adorable things about her at age three.

I want to remember that whenever she leaves a room and then returns, she announces loud and clear "I'm back!" Or when she saw the neighbor girls jumping on the tramp in our back yard she called out with all the confidence you've ever seen in a three year old "Hey girls, it's me Olivia...I'm here!"

Upon waking one morning, I scooped her up in my arms and declared it was time to use the potty before we had breakfast. She quickly placed both chubby hands on each of my cheeks and turned my head to face hers..."First kisses, then potty!" If you insist my sweet granddaughter!

Olivia has this delightful little growling grumbling giggle when she is super happy. Being extremely brave and adventurous...she prefers climbing up the slide instead of sliding down.

When it comes to negotiating this little girl has stellar skills. "Olivia I'll give you 2 gummy bears if you let me take a picture of you." Which she quickly responds..."How about 9 Nanny Goat!" Yes I use bribery/motivation efforts on the grandkids. And yes I even love her term of endearment "Nanny Goat!"

Twirling, spinning, giggling, prancing...life is one big Princess Party for this cherub. Often I'll ask her if she is my sweetheart to which she replies "No...I'm a girl Backson." It's a Winnie The Pooh thing...which incidentally, you should hear hear sing "Deep in The Hundred Acre Woods." Swoon...it will melt your heart!

One shoe off and one shoe on...I can't believe how blessed I am to call this little one my granddaughter and I still marvel at the miracle of her arrival in our family. 

Princess Olivia...Bubba and I love you to the end of forever and back!

CM Photo Walk

Last weekend I met up with a group of local photographers to spend a couple of hours at dawn's early light freezing our toenails off...I mean taking photos. Seriously, I think it was 36 degrees when we started shooting. Photo walks can be challenging...forcing yourself to step out of your comfort zone both in meeting new people and new photography subjects.

We started at Ogden's Farmer's Market at the corner of Grant and 25th street. These are Cakes In a Cup...not Cupcakes!

Yummy fresh Garlic...not Garlick...my mother-in-law once told me that our last name is spelled with a "k" on the end as it takes the stink off.

The last of summer's bounty is piled up to display delicious colors.

Most of the photographers had never met each other. It seems I have tons more online photographer friends than I do local...I looked forward to meeting the local talent.

The shyest golden retriever I have ever met...he was so sweet.

Roosters in Ogden is a delicious place for dinner. I have been there many times and never noticed the amazing neon sign marking the entrance. And if you're into that kind of thing, they brew their own beer...including Polygamy Ale...this is Utah after all! Try one and you'll want another, and another, and another!

Playing with reflections and shadows and such with Joni.

I appreciated this abandoned building that was turned into a cool street-scape.

I felt like we should be singing a Beetles song for this photo...you know the iconic photograph on Abbey Road.

It's still early, so the stores were not open yet...I'm guessing Joni goes back for this bag she found while window shopping.

Friends in shadows...

A water fountain re-purposed...can you imagine the stories this water fountain holds!

Ogden has a rich railroad history as it is the closest sizable city to The Golden Spike location at Promontory Point, where the first Transcontinental Railroad was joined in 1869.

The city was known as a major passenger railroad junction because it was located on major east-west and north-south routes.

The Ogden Chamber of Commerce used to have a slogan years ago "You can't get anywhere without coming to Ogden." Growing up near here and later moving away...I find that difficult to believe now.

But it was a fun place to spend a couple of hours. I look forward to meeting with these talented photographers again someday soon! And next time you are considering stepping out of your comfort zone...just do it!