Albion weekend

Kath and I headed north to Mom’s this past weekend with an extra passenger!  My granddaughter Autmn came along to help and entertain, both of which she did well and pleasantly.  It was good to have her along.  Friday evening was pretty much a quiet night – we put the food away, lugged everything up to our rooms, and chatted with each other and the TV.  Autmn was very patient with John’s choices of The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle.  She’d watch some of her favorite shows scroll past as John channel-surfed, but never said a word.  We were surprised that when we got off I-79 and started over on 6N as there was quite a bit of fresh snow everywhere.  Except, thankfully, on the roads, which were totally clear.  The full moon glistened off the snowy yard and made for a beautiful landscape, even with the super cold temperatures. 

Kath and I, as is our custom, got up at 7am, bundled up, and took our two mile walk out to Route 18 and back.  It was 21* but the road was clear and safe so we did fine. The road was a winter wonderland and the beauty of it was a gift. Autmn got up when we got back and we all had breakfast and cleaned up dishes.  Mom really wanted a shorter haircut so we left John manning the fort and the 4 of us set off to handle the haircut and get some household groceries.  Autmn sat in the salon with Mom while Kath and I handled John’s list.  The haircut was a great relief and a great comfort for mom. (left face, right face!)

We stopped to see Byron and Abby (mom’s newly-wed preacher and his bride!) and their new house before going home to make a yummy lunch.  Autmn scooped Grama Dot up like a trooper and made sure she got around where she needed to be, chatting and talking about things that matter to a 15-year-old.  Mom was thrilled, and I think even John enjoyed her chatter. Now for the work!  We washed clothes, scrubbed the bathrooms, washed the throw rugs, changed the bed sheets, ran the sweeper, and put up fresh towels in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Autmn did all the dusting and everything was fresh and clean and lemon-smelling!  Our reward for the hard work was carrot cake and vanilla ice cream.  We chatted and visited for the remaining time until we loaded the Mazda and headed back down I-79. It was a great relief to find them once again able and stable, taking care of what they needed to do and getting around, haultingly as it was.  Our chipping in to help with the little every day things made a big difference, so we could leave knowing that we’d head back in a month, and in the meantime they could handle what absolutely had to be done.  Every visit is a blessing; every blessing is perfect!