Happy Birthday Shawn

 Hope you have a great day today and all year long...

A Past Memory

Back a long time ago, when Clyde first started the Stalkerclan, I remember putting tales about every time I stayed all night with somebody. When I got back home the next day. Mother acted like I owed her a whole day's worth of work for it.  Here is a tale that should go along with it. 

I remember Mother taking all four of us girls down to Junice's. While Mother took Michelle into the store, Lucille, Jeffery and I went into the house. 

Sandra said that her hair was too curly. 

Patty said, "I wished I could go around saying my hair is too curly." 

I said, "It is." 

Patty said, "Shoot." 

Lucille went over to work on Sandra's hair for a while. When she did I stood up, and the exact same time, Jeffery stood up also. I was in front of her and both of us ran for the door. Quick as we got to the door Jeffery pushed me into it. I said, "Go stay all night." 

Jeffery said, "I don't want to stay all night." 

When I finally got the door opened both of us ran as fast as we could to the car. We both went to a different car door. Quick as we both opened the car doors and slammed them, out of the house came Lucille. When Mother took a notice on coming out to go home, all of us were already in the car.

Story by Sherry

Happy Mother's Day in Heaven

I remember back when we were young, Mother thought it was all right to cook, wash dishes and make up beds on Sunday. She thought it was against the Lords will for Lucille to do any sewing and for me to do any ironing. I am going to guess it was Lucille and me were down Gibson's doing some Mothers Day shopping. I purchased her a picture frame that held eight small pictures. I don't remember what Lucille got her. 

When we got home we decided not to give her the gifts till Mother's Day. 

That Sunday I think it was Clyde who went out to the car and brought in the gifts in a store bag. When I saw the bag I noticed the frame I got her. I didn't think she should see it today. I just thought it at the last second, "Oh! my goodness today is Mother's Day." She saw the frame and said she was going to put pictures of Michelle and all of us in it.

Story by Sherry

Happy 104th birthday in heaven Uncle Junice

I remember back when I was in the sixth grade. I needed an encyclopedia set. Every Thursday, Mother would send me over to Mrs. Stapleton's house to call off a store order for Junice and Hula's store. I would ask to borrow about two volumes of their encyclopedia sets. 

They will always bring the groceries and the books. When they come I will always have the books I borrowed from them last time and give them back and take the ones I asked for the day. 

They will also take mother to church and bring her back.

One day as I was taking the books back, Dad said, "What's going on here?"

I said , "I am borrowing some encyclopedias off of them to do my lessons." This went on for two years. Dad said, "Gert, we are going to have to get that child there an encyclopedia set." 

Before school started back, I was in the eighth grade, I got the set. Michelle and Jeffery got to use the set also.

Story by Sherry

Lucille's Sewing Years

I remember back when we were growing up, Lucille would do a lot of sewing.  I remember either Jeffery or I would be somewhere around her when she sews. She would ask whichever one of us was around to go and get her something.  

The first question was "What does it look like?" 

She will describe it and the next question was "Where is it?" 

She will tell us where it is and we will always go and get it for her. One time she asked me to get her something. I asked, "What does it look like?" 

She described it and said she didn't know where it was. 

I said, "I don't know where it is either." 

Jeffery entered the room. She asked Jeffery to get it for her and told her she didn't know where it was.

 Jeffery said, "I don't know where it is either."

Story by Sherry

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Follow-up by Clyde

I remember Luci's sewing days too.  I recall asking her to sew me a black vest once.  I had seen movie stars and several cool rock stars wearing them.  Of course, I wanted to be cool too.

She whipped one up for me. It was a pullover made of a faux leather fabric.  It looked really cool, until I put it on.

I don't know why it didn't work for me.  

I wore it a few times and it hung in my closet for a while.  Don't know what finally happened to it.

Charcoal Memories #3

Here's the Coupon Queen before her first Double Coupon Day.

The original photo is HERE.

Jigsaw Riley

 The Bourbon County Senior Citizens recently shared what has been keeping Sherry busy...

This looks to me like a very difficult undertaking for a Riley.

They seemed to be pleased that she had it finished.

Clyde

Sherry's Photographic Memory

 Looking at one of Tiffany's Facebook posts the other day, Sherry noticed a resemblance to an old photo. She commented, "Have you seen Clyde's baby picture? She has a mouth just like his."

There may be some resemblance.  Hopefully, she will grow out of it.

Clyde

Angeline in Michigan

This is a photo that Sherry got from our cousin Edward's oldest daughter Tina.  She thinks Mawline is surrounded by three of our Michigan relatives, Michelle (Thelma's daughter), Beth Ann, and Tina.

I will hopefully add this to the Diggin-Up-Bones website later in a story that I plan to do about Grandmother Angeline.

Mistletoe

 Uncle Clyde tree is growing mistletoe.  Of course it's too high up for anyone to get to.

From Luci

Christmas Memories from 2003

 Christmas memories from 20 years ago...

I had forgotten what a "Sensory Overload" our Christmas gatherings at Road Creek could be.

And how exhausting they could get!

A RILEY for 50 Years

 This is Sherry's fiftieth anniversary of being a Riley...

It's been a wild ride.

Easter 2023

 Someone has been passing this photo around the internet and suggesting a resemblance between the tree and me...

I guess it's because the tree is sturdy, upright and outstanding in its field.  I don't know what other resemblance people are seeing.

Clyde

Easter Morning 1960?

 Sherry shared this photo with me recently and asked that I put it on the Stalkerclan...

How many people can you name?

This is the kind of photo that I normally share on the "Diggin' Up Bones" site so I've posted it there too.

Photo from Sherry

I Found the Doll

Jeffery called and told me that they were six minutes away from my home. Quick as I hung up the phone the Barbie doll I was planning on giving her crossed my mind. I looked all over for it. I thought the doll box had the famous picture on the inside of the box. It was on the back of the box. I looked at this red box at least a dozen times while they were here.

While I was watching Jeopardy I thought I would look at the red box again. I turned it around and there was the picture. I said, "No wonder I couldn't find it." The doll is a 1994 Barbie Doll edition of Peppermint Princess.

Well, Jeffery, next time I see you I will have it ready for you.

Posted by Sherry

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary Michelle and Jim

I remember when Michelle got married on August 5, 1989, I told her to tell Jim he isn't just becoming a husband, he also is going to become an uncle to about ten.

When we got home I asked Shawn whose baby was he? He said, "Maw's."

I said, "Shawn, Maw gave her baby away."

Mother said, "I did not give my baby away!"

I said, "What did you do today if you didn't give her away?"

Mother said, "Not the way you said it, I didn't give her away."

Posted by Sherry

Happy Father's Day Up in Heaven

I can't help but remember the good things about you.  I am trying my best to forget the bad things. I know you were too old fashion. You didn't know a lot about keeping up with the times. When you went to school, you got to go barefooted and very dirty but so did all of the other children. You only had to go to school just seven months a year, cause that was all there was. You only went to sixth grade. You told me when you went to school you didn't have to study for a test and you didn't have any homework assignments to do.

You couldn't understand how it was like to have to go to school nine months a year. You couldn't understand that we had to go to school with shoes on our feet and dressed without big tears, big stains, and bad smells. If we did we were sent home. You didn't seem to know if we didn't go to school every day the teachers will fuss about it and you will have to pay fines for it. You also couldn't understand what it was like to have to wait in a bus line every morning and every evening; cause you got to walk to school.

I have to admit you did keep us all in school supplies and we always had lunch money.  I always wished I had good learning abilities. I would have behaved a lot better. I was so worried that I would fail another year in school. 

I love you, Daddy. I do miss you. I tried my best to see to it you lived past ninety and you did. I tried to see to it that you had it good the last half of your marriage to mother. I felt like I did. I did my best to give you flowers while you lived. Thanks for keeping me with a car when I needed it and a lot of other things.

Posted by Sherry

Headstone Photo

Sherry requested a photo of Mom & Dad's headstone after engraving.

CLICK on the photo to view in FULL SIZE.

Jennie's Mother's Day

Jennie had a memorable Mother's Day yesterday.  

From Bryan, she received a nice card and a pair of pajamas.

From Erik, she got an original, handwritten and heartwarming poem.

From Matt, she got a card, a buffet dinner at Peking and a special gift... he gave her a big hug instead of the usual pat-on-the-back she has gotten in years past.

(No photos of the hug were allowed.)

___________________________________________

I think there are some "StalkerClan Lessons" for all the Stalker, Potter, Coffey, Ratliff, Schell and other kids here:

• First, pajamas are always a great gift for Mom.  When she goes to bed and when she wakes up, she will be reminded of you.
  
• Secondly, anything from the heart will be cherished by her.  It doesn't have to rhyme, but it's especially nice when it does.
  
• Finally, hug your Mom every chance you get.  The day will come when you can't hug her anymore, and that will really hurt.  Believe me, I know.

My First Mother's Day Without My Mommy

I have to admit I miss going to Pikeville and other places with her. I remember we used a lot of sayings like "Kill two birds with one stone". Everywhere we went we tried to get several things done at once. For example, every time we would go to Pikeville we went on Thursday,  'cause that was when Gibson's had their double coupon sale day. We always put our doctor appointments and everything else on that day. 

The first place we mostly stopped was at Reynold's Market, sometimes Sears or Piggy Wiggy's, Rite Aid, Kroger's, Dollar General, or JC Penney's. On the way back home we would stop at Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie and sometimes Staples. We would stop at whatever restaurant I have coupons that say BOGOF, which was mostly McDonald's. If we happen to go on a Tuesday, we always stopped at Domino's to get the Two for Tuesday. If I didn't have any coupons we always ate at Wendy's using her ten percent card. After that, we would stop at Food City and then go home. 

Another saying we kept was "A penny saved is a penny earned". We carpooled, used coupons, sales papers, rebates and refund offers. Together we saved on gasoline and electric. 

Another saying "Two heads are better than one". What one liked to do better got to do it. She liked to cook better than bargain shopping. I liked to bargain shop instead of cooking.

I remember sending her a card and she called me and said, "Why didn't you say, 'I love you Mommy' or something like that." The last cards I send her I always remembered to put that on them. 

The last time I heard her voice was on June 27. I was watching Wheel of Fortune. I didn't know it was going to be my last. I am sorry I could say no more than I did, but I did say "I love you, Mommy."

Posted by Sherry