Cookie Jar Sweet Memories-Day4 plus December welcome

Day 4

 

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories

 

 

To his 4 year old daughter: What do you want for Christmas?

Answer: A B-B gun! Shock on Mom's face; Dad tries to recover.

“How about a .22 rifle when you turn 12 years old?” Answer: OK!

8 years later: Beth’s birthday gifts: a .22 rifle

and a Strawberry jumper Mom made.

 

Most daddies were getting their precious little girls Strawberry Shortcake dolls and dance lessons and fancy dresses and etiquette training; my girls had all that and more, but, not many “Little Darlings” had their own .22 rifles and training on safety and accurate shooting. Mine did!

I tried to “guide” my children with a “light” hand, “good” (mostly, I pray) example, a full measure of freedom extolling liberty and freedom and infinite---Love!...all in a blended recipe.

I treated them as “equals”, never talked down to them or belittled their considerations. If, and, occasionally, when, something went amiss, I cleaned it up as best we could knowing they were already mature enough to not commit the same transgression, again. Shooting fit right into that agenda so each of the girls got a .22 rifle for their 12^th birthdays. Seemed reasonable.

Being a “gun” enthusiast and an outdoorsman by way of hunting and fishing and a conservationist practicing “green” policies before it was “hip” (I have planted over ten thousand trees in my time and space). Often I passed on deer and other game and returned many fish to the water to fight another day. Tolerance is a wide berth afforded to all, even those who deny you.

Beth’s quick acceptance of my offer to get her a .22 rifle at an eight-year future date speaks volumes and makes me very proud. At that tender age of 4, she must have recognized that if “Daddy” made a promise, he always kept his word! My word is my bond; it is about all I have.

Becky received a .22 rifle, also; as did Z. Tyler some years later. What a Fantastic! Family!

Our little girls (now, quickly “Young Ladies” with their talent, beauty and intelligence add to our propriety and exemplify the values and virtue of a very fine Christian family! God bless!

 

 

Plus:

 

 

December

 

Embrace love close this holy season near

His birth great cause for Christmas cheer

 

Silent night, Holy night…

 

Born sweet Babe in rustic manger east

Created image honor His salvation feast

 

All is calm…

 

Softly snow on heaven saintly place

Blessed Father, Son and Spirit Grace

 

All is bright…

 

Mother adore this most lovely Infant

God made Man this Holy Child Innocent

 

Round yond virgin, mother and Child…

 

Redemption found under Bethlehem star

Soul transformed must travel afar

 

Holy Infant so tender and mild…

 

Eternal life in heaven above purity

In His presence universal security

 

Sleep in heavenly peace…

 

Celebrate, Christian, His holy Way

Merry Christmas! on this, His holy Day

 

Sleep in heavenly peace! Amen!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories--Day 3

Day 3

 

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories

 

 

“Where is Graig?”

“Where is the nearest bakery?”

Germany has fantastic deli/bakeries!

 

 

When younger daughter Becky married a German citizen, Alexander Baur, they, of course, held the nuptial celebration in his home country and the American contingent trekked (via airplane) to the “Fatherland” for full participation.

Oh! Yeah!---uh!,,,That “language-barrier” thing?

I got along (well! sort of) okay, I guess. With a pocket full of monopoly “funny money” I managed to eke out an existence on German pastries. Wife Candy is most proud of her German heritage and I had often heard her teaching our girls to count in that foreign tongue.

“Ein, Sfy, dri…) Is what I erroneously heard; so, I immediately put my erudite “education” to work on my German cousins (the population in general; what do I know?).

So, off with my German “mark” folding cash and a jingle of small coins,  I go whistling down the strange streets of Stuttgart. Every sidewalk kiosk or storefront displaying pastries, I ventured into. Proudly showing my “native” currency like a four year old with his birthday money, I pointed to a sweet treat in the glass case and suavely proclaimed while pointing an index finger to the heavens (I needed the angels help. Indeed! I just didn’t know it) calling “ Ein! Ein!” thinking that was German for “one!” Wrong! The proprietors smiled, politely, at the stupid American and complied with my barely-intelligible request for one cherry tart.

As they handed over the delicacy, I’d lay some coins or a bill on the counter and off I’d go, just like I had good sense. Once, I got about three shops away from my purchase point when I hear a man yelling behind me and pedestrians are staring---at…me. When he finally got my attention and I stopped, the clerk came up to me with a handful of money as he spoke wildly in German with erratic gestures. People around laughed and made comments which, thankfully, I did not understand. Seems the “idiot” foreigner had overpaid---by…”a whole lot”! Oh! Well!

Oh! Yeah! And, son-in-law Graig? Always lost. He fell in love with German bread and we could not keep him out of the bakery shops or delis. Seems he got the hang of the currency exchange barter much better than I ever did. C’est la vie!

Hmm! Oh! Well! Lesson learned: So much for derogatory name calling: Stupid foreigners!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet Memories!

 

 

 

 

 

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories---Day 2

Day 2

 

Cookie Jar Memory:

 

 

“Horseback riding on Thanksgiving &

a broken collar bone for Beth”

 

“Back in the day”, as the “hip” in-crowd modern-speak goes, we had a precocious four year old helplessly in love with horses. I was twenty-four with some “hobbies” outside my family; in those days, and, for several decades to follow, I did a fair amount of shooting expanding the pleasure into reloading shotgun shells along with centerfire ammunition for rifle and pistol.

Beth’s fourth Thanksgiving Day celebration found our Nanny preparing a family feast and “horse-crazy” daughter wanting to visit the farm and ride her Lady-Belle Welsh Pony. We journeyed to the stable where Dad tacked-up the little white horse, hoisted the “wild” cowgirl aboard and sent her on an adventure while I busied myself cleaning stalls, placing alfalfa in the manger and allocating a  three pound coffee can of pelleted grain into Lady’s feed trough.

I also found time to set up straw bales a hundred yards from the barn to use as a backstop for target shooting as I tested various amounts of different powder charges and bullet weights and designs I had reloaded. I intended to shoot on a day when babysitting did not occupy my mind.

As an hour passed, I kept an eye out for my kittle cowgirl and her steed to return. No sign.

Finally, here comes my little girl in her bright yellow winter coat---leading her white bronc!

Beth was not at all upset. Gee! I must have been a poor excuse for a mature father-figure.

My “Darling” had dried grass in her hair and her yellow garment was garnished with brown.

“I fell off Lady!” She announced, proudly, blonde-hair glowing, white teeth sparkling.

We never did ascertain exactly what had happened, but, the best guess is that Lady bent her head low to munch some freeze-dried grass which caused our Beth to tumble down the old nag’s neck and over her bowed head onto the winter-dried forage; it could be that she might have held the reins too short, not allowing them to slide as the horse stretched forward to graze!

 I put Ole Lady away to feed on her hay and grain as a “reward” and took Beth home to Mom.

Turns out, the little girl had suffered a fractured collar bone. Oh! Great!

So much for her mature babysitter; I truly thought that the kid could ride---like…the wind; not, “in” the wind---literally!

She recovered, nicely, and, before Christmas, she straddled Ole Lady for more adventures, nearly all absent any “serious” repercussions. (Guess they decided not to allow “Dad” to babysit---un-supervised…anymore?)

Focused! She was---and, still…Is! Now, she rides a law desk---from which…she has not been dislodged. She still rides the nags with authority as does kid-sister, Becky, along with our Miss Lauren and Anna Marie, Becky’s girls, and Miss Lexi, Beth’s daughter. Each an accomplished equestrian in their own right. Z. Tyler has “forked” a steed now and then, also. They could ride the wild-wind, if, Dad could only figure out how to saddle it! (If I could; I would!)

What a “Quality” family! Amen!

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories

Day 1

 

 

Cookie Jar Memory:

 

“Hours of horseback riding on the levee”

 

 

That classy Lovely-Lady Candice Leah wed a pauper gypsy-nomad is no secret to those familiar with this rebel, rascal, rogue rapscallion; Candy drew up their imaginations on graph paper and “carpenter”-Carl nailed them fast, each making “changes” to the “plan” as the project evolved. (I once moved a wall five (5) times in one afternoon!

The overall collaborative effort gained rave results; we lived in some mighty fine abodes over the years. Of course, that “gypsy”-man promptly sold each “estate” sooner, if not, later.

Well!---Practice makes perfect!? Oh! Well!...anyway? (Sorry! My “mind” just runs---Wild!)

Fortunately, Beth fell in love with “Fury” of the T.V. show and wanted a horse. Somewhere around her age of four, we found a little Welsh Pony name of Lady. Quickly, the herd grew!

A realtor called one day to say that he had listed a ten acre tract on the bluff just outside New Hanover, a little wide spot “Green Acres”-type Hooterville. (Oh! Home sweet home! To this hill-billy country boy!---It proved to be only the start of his absurdities…all Grand!? In the scheme of things. Okay! So? That is a “personal” conclusion! Secretly, I think they’d all agree.)

The view took in a valley sporting a creek flowing between two bluffs coming together opening a vista to the Mississippi River and on into Missouri. We bought the property and I built our house to take advantage of the scenery adding a pond and a horse barn/stable. Such an “estate” demanded a swimming pool, but, it just wasn’t in the budget (which I never respected nor observed). So, I found a guy who installed in-ground pools as a business, made a deal with him to buy a “kit”, all the hardware absent any labor, and constructed the “swimming hole” myself. Nothing to it: dig a hole, pour some concrete, put the pieces together, hook up the electricity and, as they say, just add water (and “fun” with kids, adults, bar-b-ques!)

Silver Mare Arabesque (Ara, for short) foaled our Spirit-of-’76 in the year of his name. The colt shied from adults but “nosed” right up to Becky, aged 3, and just Spirit’s size.

I gated the back pasture fence opening it onto a ridge which led down the bluff to a county road joining the expanse of levee systems protecting Monroe County from the “Big-bad” River floods; these avenues offered the perfect “trail” riding venue for a community of horse lovers.

Each month’s full moon found the “would-be” cowboys entertaining the “westerners” with a bon-fire and a levee-trail ride; one fine night, we had sixty-three horses trekking the bottom-land.

Beth, about eight or nine, proudly rode her own Lady-Belle steed with absolute authority; kid-sister Becky was only two years old and I cradled her in my arms as we rode for a couple of hours; she fell fast asleep as the alabaster pale full moon orb rose to light our way.

Ah! The “simple” things! Sweet memories! Indeed!

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories and additional posts

Dedication

 

 

To: Family!  To: Life!  To: Love!

(When it comes to “Family!” We won the Lottery-of-“Life” with “Love!”)

 

 

November 25, 2016, in celebration of our 50^th wedding anniversary, a “Golden” jamboree which we managed to spread out over two days (and, then some), our dear girls gave us several gifts: a tri-photo frame for us to complete with family pictures and a delightful “creative” offering filled with a “life-time” of memories: a “cookie jar” stuffed with 365 individual slips of paper, each imprinted with a short inscription reminiscing an event from those half-a-century of “special” events which we turned into awesome adventures to span a lifetime of love.

This book-creation utilizes those “loving” vignettes with added comments by the author.

What a very delicious idea our Caty and Becky-girl came up with for our special celebration.

Z. Tyler punked Chevy Chase’s “Christmas Vacation” with an appropriate instantaneous quip stating: “It’s the gift that keeps on giving, Clark!” while Miss Lauren and Miss Lexi shed a solemn tear at the nostalgic-beauty of the gift and our pistol, Anna Marie, betrayed the tiniest bit of disappointment that the “cookie jar” contained only little notes on paper, No! Cookies! The young lady looked hungry, but, in the spirit of the moment, giggled and laughed adoringly.

I will also use these gentle “nudgings” as a basis for my daily blog: trinitytrace.blogspot.com.

Thanks! Girls! For the focused impetus aiding my blog posts celebrating my cherished mantra: Faith! Family! Freedom! I pray it waves proudly unfurled on a golden-staff gonfalon as a beacon inviting eternal multitudes to emotionally experience: Live! Love! Laugh!

I begin this journey to create a loving “Thank you!” to Miss Beth and Miss Becky the day after our epic celebration, November 26, 2016, in hopes of completing the “tome” within a year ago that we might bestow the effort on our daughters as gifts on Christmas, 2017. Good luck!

The compilation of this work will be a “Blessing” in disguise: a re-living of a fabulous life!

So, let the games begin! I intend to add: excitement, creativity, love, insight with purpose.

 

Some “Rhyme”-thoughts:

 

Good! Is just enough of effort

Better! Is born of focused intensity

Best! Is conquest-love of pinnacle summit

 

 

Live! Love! Laugh! Focus contemplate!

Vigilant be! No one future is ever late!

 

 

Faith! Family! Freedom Might just be all there really---Is!

In one eternal  instant the only mercy-blessing will be…His!

 

 

                                                                   -The Author

Fantastic! Thank you!

 

Spectacular!

 

 

"50" years---complete!...Wow!

 

A two day "official" celebration, in the books.

 

Capped off tonight with an anniversary family meal

enjoyed at Bartilino's in South County. Fabulous!

 

Cake and "bubbly" at Nanny & Bapa's with the

entire entourage in attendance to celebrate.

What a party! What an exciting, perfect jamboree!

 

Thank you to each of our spectacular participants.

 

Catherine, Graig, Lexi, Z. Tyler and Miss Jen;

Becky, Alex, Lauren and "pistola" Anna Marie.

 

You all make our perfect lives---even...better!

 

To think that one little innocent kiss began all this Love!

 

WOW! And---Thank you!

 

So, off to the next "50"---Oh! Boy!...Hang on...tight!

 

I wouldn't have missed any of it for all the world---

And, now comes Santa's season...Christmas!

 

Amen!

 

 



Golden Abbuversary Celebration (a play)

A few more consideration highlights…

 

 

Seven perfect-precious spirit-stones adorn me only golden crown

Lady Candice! Z. Tyler! Caty! Becky! Lauren! Lexi! Annie! Found!

 

Live! Love! Laugh! Focus contemplate!

Vigilant be! Not one future be ever late!

 

Faith! Family! Freedom! Might just be all there really---Is!

In one eternal instant the only mercy-blessing will be…His!

 

 

“Thunder” George

(1968-2014)

 

Sweet heart-chord melody tender-touching Irish folk-song

Reminder true of a single human brotherhood we each belong

Experienced not the pleasure to greet George-“Celtic” in me time

Yet, kindred-spirit caressed me heart-chord with clear loving chime

Away he sailed to live in me spirit-soul real men love-lament forlorn

 

Amen!

 

 

Lyrics from a Jimmy Dean tune locked in me memory…

 

Put on your old grey bonnet

with the blue ribbon on it

while I hitch ole “Zorro” to the sleigh,

through the fields of clover

we’ll drive up to Dover---

on our Golden Wedding Day!

 

Benediction:

 

Elegance thee brought to this vacant vagabond

Thy grace and beauty-faith like magic of a wand

Children-progeny “perfect-quality” for which I longed

In a challenge-cold world thee saw fit that I belonged

Within our Love I lived my sacred “Amazing Grace”-song!

 

Amen! Thank thee! Happy Golden Anniversary!

Love, Carl     November 25, 2016

Golden “50” Anniversary Play

 

A production of: Nanny’s Angels:

 

 

Starring (in chronological order by birthdate):

 

Adonis-Handsome Z. Tyler

 

“Little Professor” Beautiful Lauren Victoria

 

“Curly Lox” Alexandria Elizabeth beauty Lexli-Lu

 

“Wild-child” Pistola beauty Anna Marie

 

 

Presented November 25, 2016 in loving honor of:

 

Nanny & Bapa’s 50^th Anniversary celebration.

 

 

If y’all think the first fifty was nifty,

you ain’t seen nothin’ yet---hang

onto your hats…Bapa’s gettingWild-(er)!

 

Let’s take a peek just to see what he’s up to now!?

 

Some hints (can you guess>):

 

A bee?

A vignette?

A tome?

Eternal rainbow?

A “Big” surprise?

 

 

Hang on, gang---here we…Go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden “50” Anniversary

(a play honoring Lovely Lady Candice Leah)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           -Carl Schuler

Act I

 

George Washington and the infamous cherry tree

 

Scene 1       April, 1960, Bapa chopping down a tree in his grandma’s back yard

 

Bapa:   Oh! Oh! There’s that beauty Candy-babe I’ve heard so much about. Better not let her think I saw her; she’d never give me a second look. (Chop! Chop! Chop!)

 

L.V.     Hey! Big boy! Don’t hurt yourself!

 

Bapa:   Wow! Is she talking to---me!? (Chop! Chop!) Yee-Ow!

 

Girls: (interrupting, laughing)     L.V.: Bapa! Dear! Did you…

                                                     A.E.: chop down Grandma’s…

                                                     A.M.: cherry tree?

 

Bapa: (stammering):     Uh! Er! Um! Okay!  I cannot tell a lie. I was “just watching”. Right? Z.? I learned that from him! But, I actually witnessed that dreaded cherry tree being chopped down by---you guessed it…George Washington!

 

Girls: (laughing and shaking their fingers at Bapa)

 

Scene 2       Soon after, as Candy-girl strolls down Main Street, a red and white Chevy pulls up alongside and comes to a stop. It is Thanksgiving eve.

 

Bapa:     Hey! Good-lookin’! Would you like a ride? Might just turn out to be your lucky night!

 

Lexi:      You bet! Handsome-boy! (And, she hopped right in---and…slid right on over!)

 

     Scene 3       January 11 in a terrible blizzard.

 

Bapa:      I love snow! Sure is beautiful---just…like you. (And, he kissed her)

 

A.M.:      It sure is cold; but, I am enjoying the warmth. (And that one little innocent kiss--Well!)

 

 

Act II

 

Handsome Z. Tyler has a gift offering for his Nanny

 

            Scene 1            Z. gives Nanny a wrapped present. As she opens it, our girls sing:

 

Z.T.:         Remember the hint---A bee!

 

Girls: (singing):

Put on your old grey bonnet

with the blue ribbon on it,

while I hitch ole “Zorro” to the sleigh.

 

Through the fields of clover,

we’ll drive up to Dover,

on our Golden weddin’day!

 

Girls:          A bee in your bonnet! Nanny!

 

 

              Scene 2               Z. gives Nanny another gift.

 

Z.T.:          Second clue, Nanny: A special vignette.

 

Girls: (as Nanny opens the gift):          Your favorite “garden” view

 

 

 

               Scene 3               Z. Tyler offers his Nanny a third present.

 

Z.T.:          “For your eyes only! Nanny!”

 

Girls: (as Nanny open her present):

(all): Golden Anniversary

(November 25, 2016)

 

(L.V.)  Chosen? to be “Blessed”---Oh!...”Simple” me

In “Perfect” Authority He bequeathed Thee

Life-serenity ebb-flow on a turquoise amour-sea

 

(A.E.)  And, should this Rebel! Rascal! Rogue! Gain---Love!

Then, could such thistle in wild-wind ever be a soft glove?

So, would share love-nest thou angelic pure white dove

 

(A.M.)  Darlin’ girl-child twice blessed enhanced perfect-pleasure

Attitude-bright love-life enjoy nature an easy true-measure

Four “children-grand” golden crown jewels glowing-treasure

 

(L.V.)  Confess: Ne’er do well; Transgress: Never amount to worldly much

Forest-floor musty leaves, Morels pop, Red-ear spawn and plain such

Yet, in kind-heart in gentle-soul of spirit-wild sows me true love-touch

 

(A.E.)  Two hearts independent syncopated-beat rising symphony-melody

A sacred promise-prayer forever pure-pledge eternal celestial fidelity

“Green acres” farm-boy honors nature, plants trees; to miss---a vacant pity

 

(A.M.)  Quick-tempted to follow pine-scent wind-born of the purple mountain-call

Climb the summit pinnacle to view an eagle from above to stand proud-tall

My Oregon-blue Pacific mistress beckons seductress to challenge faux-fall

 

(L.V.)  Me gypsy-spirit refuses root-bound be held; the wild wide-world awaits

On a pond winter-frozen grey-steel ice sheen tempts innocent blade-skates

There, in a north-whistling frigid wind I kissed thee into a future never late

 

(A.E.)  Oh! Silver wing-ed unicorn wild-freedom restrained in a tether-halter

Set free me spirit-dream to join adventure-imagined might never falter

Soar yon universe, slide rainbow color, view flutter-by at spiritual-altar

 

(A.M.)  Perhaps? Me Love! Me honored trinity proud-displayed on golden gonfalon

White letters bold-pure on red pennant unfurled proclaims victory fair-won

I delight Live! Love! Laugh! In Faith! Family! Freedom! Perpetual---un-done

 

(L.V.)  Me angel-babe smooth-paves life’s calling lane half a century plus several eons more

(A.E.)  Any map I cast aside, rules defiled; an Independent-Individual seeking a fantasy shore

(A.M.)  Our talented boy and girls, and Thee, scribe sweet notes on me precious serendipity score

 

(all)  Proudly! Lovely Lady Candice Leah

I display, quite honored: I Love Thee!

Then. Now. Forever more: Happy Anniversary!

 

Love, Carl

 

 

              Scene 4:         Z. Tyler gives Nanny a final present---Maybe!?

 

Z.T.:          “Let the sunshine! Nanny! Let the sun shine in! Eternal Rainbow!”

 

Girls:           We definitely want to “see” your rainbow! Nanny!

 

 

Act III (Faux) Epilogue---?

 

 

Bapa:          And, that concludes our little presentation for the evening…

 

Girls: (looking around---confused): Huh? Bapa!? The final hint is a Surprise!

 

Bapa:          Uh!---Oh! Yeah!...(He looks worried, like he forgot something.) Uh…er…

                    “Z”? Do you have another present?---I hope! (Z shakes his head, sadly.)

 

L.V.:          Bapa! Er---Santa Claus! You promised!

 

A.E.:          Yeah! And, you never break your word, Santa Claus.

 

A.M.          Yeah! Old Bapa! Santa Claus always makes miracles happen.

 

Bapa: (embarrassed): But---Girls!...Please! (The three shake their fingers at him.)

 

(Bapa takes a drink of Coke, nervously, trying to think of something.)

 

Bapa:          Oh! Boy! How am I gonna get out of this fine mell-of-a-hess?

 

(Suddenly, he begins choking and puts a kerchief to his mouth as he coughs.)

 

A.M.          Bapa! Are you okay!? I’m sorry!

 

A.E.:          Yeah! Bapa! We didn’t mean to upset you!

 

L.V.:          Gee! (pauses) That’s the name of my horse, too! (giggles) We’re all real sorry!

 

Bapa: (looking in his handkerchief): Oh! Dear Girls! It’s okay. But, I just lost a tooth… (he looks  to Nanny handing her the “tooth” in the kerchief) Will you keep this for me? Dear wife?

 

Girls: (groaning): Oh! No! Bapa! You’re not going to give her your---tooth!? Yuck!

 

Bapa:          Girls! Please! Your Nanny will NOT mind, not one little bit. I assure you.

 

(With that affirmation, he hands the “tooth” in the cloth to Nanny.)

 

(Bapa, Z.T. and Girls yell):     Surprise! Nanny! Happy Golden Anniversary!

 

 

 

Now--- the “real”…

 

Epilogue

 

 

So? All of Lovely Lady Candice Leah’s gifts are delivered:

A grey bonnet! A picture of her garden fence.

A book of love. A prism. A diamond ring.

 

Such Beauty! Grace! Loveliness! Class!

 

With Love!

Happy Golden Anniversary! Lovely Lady Candice Leah

Love! Carl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End?

 

 

Or---Is it truly just the…

 

Beginning!?