Sunday Musings

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

My Girls are all grown up now and I'm so excited to be planning my new puppy which will bring a new dimension to our family life.  I'm at the stage where I have now done all the planning I can and am just waiting for my new Puppy to be born safely.  I have met lots of new friends here and am constatnly thinking back to my own childhood which of course shaped and prepared me for adult life.  Here is another memory that flooded back during the week and one that I hadn't thought of for many years.

 

I first met by childhood best friend Sandra when I was eight years old.  Mum had arranged to pick her up as we were both going to the same fancy dress party.   I was dressed as a fairy princess, resplendent in pink complete with tiara and magic wand.   As we drove up to her house a vision in red swung out on a rope from a large tree at the end of her drive way.  It was Sandra, complete in a red cape with hood AKA Little red Riding Hood!  We were firm friends from that day on.  Sandra was the wild adventurous one and I followed in awe.  We planned picnics on the roof of my house which involved climbing out a window and settling ourselves on the flat roof with our radio and sandwiches, washed down by Mum's homemade lemonade.  I lived a little out in the country and our house was behind big wooden gates so finding friends in the local area was a challenge.  Sandra came up with a plan that involved going from house to house with home made leaflets 'advertising' the chance to visit 'Nicky's Pet Farm'.  We spent days hand making leaflets and collecting the rabbits, guinea pigs, two dog's Jet and by that time Buster ( a stray that stayed) and the two  tortoises, Monty and Tilly.  We made big Posters labeling the animals who were now in their homemade pens (bamboo canes and chicken wire) and waited for the potential friends to arrive.  Within an hour my garden was filled with 22 boys and girls.  My Mum opened the Kitchen window to announce she was about to go out to get some ice cream.  How many do you want ?she asked me. ' Twenty Four Golly Bars', I replied.  And so My Mum went to the local shops, arriving back with ice cream ( she made a big plate of banana sandwiches too) and we spent the rest of the afternoon playing in our new Pet Farm with lots and lots of new friends.

It's only looking back on those terrific days that I realise what a wonderful childhood I had and how that was encouraged by my Mother.  It's Mothers Day in Ireland today and I'm reminded of her when I think back on my childhood and how much I miss her.

[Brenda F]

Wow, what a wonderful story and a great memory for you.  Happy Mother's Day (belated!)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Love your story. Your mom sounds wonderful!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

What a wonderful story!  It has the makings of a great children's book.  I can "see" it now!

[Sharon & Monty]

AWESOME!!!!   I sincerely wish more children could recite an experience such as this! What a lovely mother you must have had  :)  You are a very lucky young lady.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I always look forward to your Sunday blogs....

[Lorraine Bromley]

This is such a beautiful story. I am glad that this memory has come back to you. I did not have such a relationship with my mom but was lucky enough to have grandparents that more than made up for it along with my extended family that I love and cherish to this day. To have the chance to have a best friend and a mother to boot is indeed bliss. The saying goes that a person is lucky that makes one good friend in a lifetime, you were blessed.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Nice childhood memory and thanks again for sharing.

[Camilla and Darwin]

As always, love your "Sunday Musings"

[Pat and Traveler]

Lovely blog, nicky.  Took me right back to a time my best friend and I wanted to go horseback riding but didn't have the money to rent horses from the local stable.  We had a neighborhood raffle, selling tickets for an hour of our labor, with her dad helping us and saying he really hoped he won as he had some GREAT chores in mind for us.  We sold enough tickets to go riding, and the woman who won our services had 12 children and really knew how to keep us hustling for that winning ticket!  Sweet memories.

[BG and Gavin]

What a lovely story Nicky.  I can picture the scene perfectly.  So idyllic.