After Mass at Wt. William’s in Lancaster, I went back to Kelley Ridge to clean up the holiday debris.Caitlan and her friends were planning on spending New Year’s Eve there, and I wanted it to be inviting. I headed on to the Valley at about 5 and was so tired by the time I pulled […]

We went to THE KEEP around noon to have our annual Hot Wheels race. Usually it is on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, but this year we decided to have it early. It was a raucous affair as usual, and as usual, TwoTrees Racing didn’t win anything. Joshie’s car won first place, but […]

“Sonnet 64” by William Shakespeare When I have seen by time’s fell hand defaced The rich proud cost of outworn buried age, When sometime lofty towers I see down razed, And brass eternal slave to mortal rage, When I have seen the hungry ocean gain Advantage on the kingdom of the shore, And the firm […]

Tonight we went to the Valley for Clan Christmas. Everyone arrived around 6 p.m. Unfortunately Bubba was on the road, so he was late, and Hayley had a ballgame so the Hellyers were not there. We fixed stockings for the kids under 18. This year we hng them on the dining room chairs. Then Rita […]

Today the Willetts came to have Willett-Adkins Christmas at Kelley Ridge. It was so nice to have them here. Andrew couldn’t come because he had to work. So we all missed him. Pat worked on the front porch light. We had lasagna and salad and snacks. Verla brought us her signature oyster crackers. She also […]

Today was the first Christmas at Kelley Ridge with the Adkins-Wood Family. I think Joe would have been proud, although he probably would not have picked the 9 foot tree. He would have wanted to cut our own. We slept in since we had been to Casey County for Midnight Mass the night before. There […]

We decided to go the Casey County for church tonight. Our tradition had been Midnight Mass at St. Mark for many years. Caitlan and I had frequently sung in the choir. Tonight I made porkchops, and Brendan made delicious mashed potatoes. It was cold and kind of rainy. We got to Sacred Heart in Liberty […]

We journeyed to Urbana today to see the North Adkins family. We gathered at Dennis’s house. Jacque, Keith, Madeline, and Logan were in from St. Louis, and Jacque had mae a great lunch for us–ham, twice-baked potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, etc. Chris has to work so we only saw her for a little while. Pops […]

Two years ago today, I woke to find my dear, precious Joe Wood dead in the bed beside me. Aunt Betty, my model true believer, would call this Joe’s Glory Day. KK and I decided that today should be a party since we decorated Kelley Ridge for Christmas for the first time this year. So […]

My dad’s dog, Razor, died yesterday, in the yard, under a blanket. James and Susan had gotten him for Grandy-bo after his former dog, Pirate, died. Razor was at least 18 years old. He was really sick, but it won’t seem the same to come up to the Hall without him greeting me. The end […]