My Old Kentucky Home

Grandma playing for Sassy (on top) and Grace. She was the
church accompanist for many years and plays beautifully.

We woke up early this morning so that we could go to church with Grandma Jarboe. (Dad you'll be happy to know that your granddaughters got a taste of Southern Baptist this morning.)  We were so touched that she introduced us to everyone as her "kin" and her "special grandchildren and great-grandchildren."  I don't think I've explained it on this blog, but Grandma Jarboe is actually Arthur's great-aunt. She and her husband raised Arthur's dad after his parents died.  She has been looking after us as if we were her own, too.

It was a nice service.  Sunday School was a little stressful because we had to figure out which rooms to send the girls and Rosalie has never gone in the nursery before. However, they were all little champs and Arthur and I actually got to listen to a Sunday School lesson for the first time in probably five years. When you're the ones doing the kids' Sunday School, you miss out.

On the way home from church, we stopped at a roadside fruit and vegetable stand which functioned on the honor system.  Grandma actually had to have exact change to leave in the unmanned slot. Boy, that would never happen in California!  She got the ripest tomatoes and the most delicious cantaloupe.  Rosalie spent the entire lunch going "MMMMM" and reaching her hands out for more. I don't think I've ever seen her mouth open that wide.

After lunch, we all laid down for a brief nap before heading on our next adventure.

We were so sad that we were unable to bring the girls to meet Grandpa Jarboe before he passed away.  I've never met him either, but he sounds like a truly wonderful man.  We asked Grandma, if she were feeling up to it, if she would take us out to the cemetery and the farm.  She very sweetly obliged.


The cemetery is beautiful with old headstones.  You can just make out the farm in the distance. It was bittersweet wandering through it with Grandma Jarboe. She knows many of the people laid there and gave us back stories on quite a few.  I won't bare these personal stories here, but it really brought home how closely life and death co-mingled in a farming community a generation ago.  So much beauty and life, but as corny as this sounds, there really is that shadow of death hanging over.  We found Grandpa Jarboe's stone right away and it is so sweet to think - even though he is up in heaven - that he's buried so close to the farm he loved.

The little country church that they used to attend. It
looks to be abandoned now.

After the cemetery, we shook off the melancholy and headed down the road to the farm.  We weren't expecting to do much more than drive by and look at it.  We hadn't called ahead and the owners were expecting a new grandbaby.  When we pulled up, though, Eddie waved us right in and gave Grandma Jarboe the warmest welcome and happily greeted all of us out-of-towners, too.  Two big dogs came galloping up and Jane and Grace scratched them and put their arms around their necks.  Then the girls noticed kittens and were off trying to catch them.  Sure enough, the new grandbaby was born on Jane's birthday!  And Eddie was just home handling a few chores before heading back.  But he spent about an hour catching up with Grandma and showing us the property.  He pulled out the toy tractor and let Grace drive it around.  Best of all, though, he let Jane get up close and personal with his horses and answered approximately 500 questions about each one of them (Cotton, May, Dakota and Babe, in case you're wondering about their names).  He patiently answered each and every question and even set her up on Cotton for a minute, before Cotton said, "No thank you."

Lucy getting love from the girls.

As if that weren't enough, he brought the girls inside for chocolate milk and ice cream!  Mary Lou--jeez--you were not kidding!  Everyone we've met here in Kentucky has gone over and above.  Such sweet people!

I was worried that this visit would be too much for Grandma between the memories and the amount of walking. But she perked up and you could almost see her energy coming back while we were there.  We spent the car ride home talking about the landscape (and she answered my 500 questions) while eating red vines. What a fine day.

Grace hugging the dog while the horses look on.

Petting Babe.

He patiently answered every question they
threw at him.

Riding the John Deere tractor. Uncle Ed - you need
one of these!

Rosalie fussed until I let her down for a turn, too!

Looking west at the cow pastures.

In front of the farm house where Arthur's dad grew up.

Grandma and Eddie

Clarissa put together a delicious spaghetti dinner for us.  I picked her brain about recipes and she has promised I can text her any time about how to make biscuits and gravy, pasta bakes, chili and more.  Little does she know I am going to take her up on that offer.

Cuddles with Auntie Clarissa.

I got the girls all bathed and jammified, at least making the attempt at an early night. They came in and got cuddles from Auntie and the girls.  We all just sat and rocked and chatted.

Grandma read Jane and Grace a story and gave them kisses and hugs.  They love snuggling with her.  Once the big girls were in bed, I sat and rocked Rosalie until she finally drifted off, too. Then, I had another really great chat with Pam, complete with recommended books. I feel like I've known her forever!

Stories with Grandma.