Aunt Booty's Memorial

This afternoon was Aunt Booty's memorial service. It was well attended by family and friends. I was able to meet several of my mother-in-law's cousins. She had mentioned to me throughout the years about her cousins, but this was the first time I got to meet them. It was nice to finally put faces to names! Aunt Booty

Dale played his fiddle at the beginning of the memorial service: "Amazing Grace", "The Old Rugged Cross", "How Great Thou Art" and "In the Garden". I couldn't help but think of my father as I sat and listened to Dale play. Dale played those same songs for my father two weeks ago.

After the service we took some of Booty's flowers and placed them on her mother's grave. From there we went and had a delicious meal at Aunt Booty's church. The pastors were so nice and complimentary over Dale's fiddle playing. The one pastor asked if we already had a church, and if not, we were welcome to join them!

We're back home now and I've got cakes in the oven for a Boy Scout fund raiser we are having Saturday evening. I also need to bake a birthday treat for the Young Women. I'll be away all day tomorrow at a Bluegrass festival with Dale and Saturday will be taken up with the Scout fund raiser and surprise party for a friend of Dale's. I also may need to help at my Dad's house Saturday. I know the baking has to be done now, or it won't get done! Back to the kitchen!

Aunt Booty

Dale's aunt, Beulah Marie (Cullison) Harry, passed away Monday morning August 9, at 8:25 am. We had just been told a week ago that she had lung cancer. Aunt Booty was not married and had no children. Dale, his mother, and his sister Bonnie were Booty's family. Dale was unable to help make the funeral arrangements so he asked if I would go with Bonnie to the funeral home. It was Aunt Booty's request to be cremated. She had very limited finances so this definitely helps with the expenses. A memorial service will be held for Aunt Booty Thursday afternoon in Westminster, MD. Last night we started cleaning out her apartment. In her one bedroom dresser drawer I found a recent 8 x 10 photograph that we'll use, along with photographs of when she was younger, for a display at the service. We ordered one beautiful bouquet of flowers that included yellow roses to help represent her. We will not have an urn with her ashes on display. Aunt Booty didn't want put in a box, or any kind of enclosure. Her ashes will be scattered soon after we receive them. Aunt Booty was known for her delicious peanut butter and chocolate fudge. When cleaning out her apartment we found the little pot she used to make her fudge. Bonnie told me to go ahead and take it. I actually need a pot that size and now I can be reminded of Aunt Booty each time I use it. It's comforting to know that Aunt Booty no longer has to suffer, and she can rest from her worldly cares.

Fox Reunion 2010

Driving on busy highways and byways causes me great anxiety, and since Dale couldn't attend the reunion because of playing music, my brother Dave drove me, using my van, to Mohrsville for the Fox Reunion. Our first stop was to place fresh flowers on Mom and Dad's graves.

Second on the agenda was to eat! This is my Aunt Jean (Dad's brother's wife) with her granddaughter Katelyn.

CJ

Tree climbing while waiting for the adults to finish eating!

My brother Dave and cousin Ken catch up on the latest happenings.

The highlight for the kids each year are the tractor rides given by my cousin's husband.

I had children's games this year. I've actually had them for the past several years, but if my kids are the only ones that show up for the reunion, they don't want to play them. They would rather join in on the adult bingo game. Since my cousin Kurt is a kid at heart, he joined us! Kurt and Kenzie won the barnyard peanut search.

For this game you had to get the root beer barrel at the end of your string to go into the neck of the soda bottle without using your hands. We made an exception for Kaden and Katelyn.

My brother Tim, who also played the children's games, was on the opposite team of Kurt. It was between the two of them for the win!

Katelyn experienced her first taste of bubble gum as part of the balloon bubble gum race. All others were required to blow a bubble with their gum after popping their balloon and retrieving the gum, except for Kaden and Katelyn.

Katelyn, Kaden and Aunt Jean watch to see who can be the first to whistle after eating five saltine crackers.

While I was busy photographing Kurt, Mitch was whistling for the win!

For this game teams had to collect the most pieces of yarn, then tie them together, seeing who had the longest string of yarn for the win. By this time the adult bingo game was over, giving us a few more participants.

Kurt was elected chief knot tier for his team, with Brady as an assistant.

Fern tries to distract Kurt with ice cold water down the back, but Kurt stayed focused!

Kurt and Brady's team had the longer string!

Fern, being the seamstress that she is, made a kite, giving her brother Kurt the opportunity to fly it at the reunion.

Cousins pose for pictures!

Fern is in blue, her sister Faye is on the other side of me.

Second cousins in attendance at this year's reunion. One cousin went home early, missing the photo-op!

The second cousins with any of the spouses that were also in attendance.

It was a good day... lots of good food and good laughs with good memories being made.

Office chair races

My niece is in town from North Carolina. My kids and Dottie's love hanging out together. One day last week the kids were over for the day. Part of their entertainment was office chair racing in our family room!
Bryson and Kodi fighting for the lead!