Vicki Lane's Blog, page 55

We Saw Dolly!

                                                               

On Saturday me and my mom and dad and a friend and her mom went to Dollywood! It is one of my favorite places EVER! And this time was extra special because there was a parade and DOLLY WAS IN IT!                                                  

(Of course, you know I'm talking about Dolly Parton. Everyone knows about her.)

We lined up to watch the parade. Everyone had signs about Dolly.

                                                  

My mama loves Dolly too.
Daddy had a sign too.

And then here came DOLLY! In a carriage all covered with flowers! She is BEAUTIFUL! And she looked right at me and waved!
I have always loved Dolly because when I was little, she sent me a book every month till I was 5. She does that for lots of kids because when she was little, her family was poor, and she wished she could have books. So now she makes sure that lots of kids can have books. 
She is like the Fairy Godmother to all of us.

Top of the World

 

One of our old students has recently had a beautiful house built here in Madison County and we went to see it yesterday.

Amazing views--pretty much in every direction.

It's a mile and a half to the  mailbox- up a winding 4WD road.

Winds up here can be fierce--but the house is built with that in mind.

Fine views everywhere.

Just imagine what it would be like on a clear, sunny day!

Just One Azalea

This late-blooming azalea has surpassed itself this year. Not much bloom last year due to a late freeze but this year, WOW!

I planted it around thirty years ago, after purchasing it from Irene Lee--a transplant who'd become a grower of azaleas. 

The one bush produces pale pink, darker pink, and streaked blooms.

And it's a welcome sight after all the other azaleas and rhododendrons have called it quits.
What a super-bloomer!

 

A Must Read--Caste

                                                                      

Like many folks, I am really tired of having to think about the former guy, weary of seeing his scowling face every time I look at the news, and saddened at the number of fellow citizens who support him. It's a bit like "The Body Snatchers"--that classic horror flick where aliens had taken over ordinary people's bodies and you couldn't tell who was infected and who wasn't.
So when I opened my Kindle and began to read this highly recommended and praised book, I was kinda taken aback to find that the election of 2016 and the popularity of the orange one were the opening salvo in this discourse on how racism and caste shape our world.
It's something I've become increasingly aware of--the knowledge that I live in a country that was formed on the ruins of conquered civilizations, that was built with the labor of enslaved humans, and that has yet to come to terms with that ignoble history.
I am struck at how relevant this book is to this particular moment in history. Quoting Wilkerson; "The election (of 2016) would set the United States on a course towards isolationism, tribalism, the walling in and protecting of one's own, the worship of wealth and acquisition at the expense of others, even of the planet itself."
And here we are. Deja vu, all over again. 
This book came out in 2020 and I'm just now getting to it. I haven't yet finished it but wanted to post about it now while the Kindle price is low (under $3.)
An excellent review is HERE.

Dawn Boy's Song (from the Navajo)

                                             

                       “In the house of long life, there I wander.

                        In the house of happiness there I wander.

Beauty before me, with it I wander.
Beauty behind me, with it I wander.

Beauty below me, with it I wander.
Beauty above me, with it I wander.

                            In old age traveling, with it I wander.
                           On the Beauty trail I am, with it I wander.”

   

 

Images

 

In the Reading Room

As on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays, I'm waiting to pick up Josie. Dismissal time is 2:45, but the line begins to form early--around 1. I'm usually one of the early birds--today I'm third in line.

It's a pleasant day, a little warm but there's a breeze. And I have mandarins and reading material. It's a fine way to spend an hour or so. I'll miss this little ritual when school is over--Friday is the last day.

Time to move up to pick up positions. The kids get called out individually--a staff member notes the positions of the cars (she's gotten quite good at recognizing which vehicle is for which kid) and when the first group of five is assembled, out they come to their cars. Each position has a staff member there to open the door/ hold an umbrella if needed/ and probably to verify that kids aren't being picked up by bad guys.

The system seemed awfully unwieldy to me, back when Josie started kindergarten. But I've come to appreciate how smoothly it flows.

Come mid-August when school resumes, it'll be hot, and I'll bring along a cooler with ice and a wet towel or two for keeping comfortable. 

Happy to be useful!

                                                                                      

Foxglove, Azalea, Petunia, Verbena!

 

At the Party

Unicorns! Rainbows! Balloons! Stars! Stuff!




Goody bags in wait.




The look on their faces made me so happy!







Opening presents!



And there was a pinata!

The lone boy knew better than to mix it up with these girls. 
But everyone got some of the treats and it was an excellent party! 





 

Serenity Outside; Semi-Controlled Chaos Inside

Herself asked for a rainbow layer cake for her party

So, I hastened to oblige.

I do love playing with colors.

Six skinny layers and a whole wallop of chocolate icing. The ration of chocolate to cake is at least 2 to 1--which is the way she likes it.
The cake will rest in the refrigerator overnight. I have a whole array of tchotchkes (unicorns, stars, rainbow, clouds) to decorate the top after it makes the trip down to Josie's house tomorrow. There will be pictures.
Right now I'm relaxing with an adult beverage while I wait for the strength to tackle the mess in the kitchen and cook dinner.
UPDATE: John came in from working in the yard and did all the dishes! How lucky I am!