THE TRAVELING ROCKING CHAIR and a SMALL FAMILY REUNION

This past Thursday evening, Mom, Shane, and I traveled down to Sun City Center to visit Aunt Donna and Aunt Tommie. Aunt Tommie just arrived Sunday for a two month visit. We haven't seen her in two years. Cousin Debbie, Cousin Ron, and his wife Ellie joined us for dinner. We brought food from the O.G. (Olive Garden). Our menu consisted of lasagna, salad, and bread sticks of course! Agustin had also thrown in some Tiramasu for Ellie and Ron who LOVE the stuff. I think we should hook them up to an IV for it! This small family reunion lasted a few short hours; sweet and satisfying, with the usual fun banter between us.

This is Aunt Donna's antique china. I just love the fact that it is about 125 years old!

Click to enlarge photo for a closer look at the pattern.

Shane is proud that he is soon to be taller than Aunt Donna!

Aunt Tommie visiting with Shane. It had been two long years since we had seen her.



THE TRAVELING ROCKING CHAIR!
I simply MUST share the story of THE ROCKER with you!
First off, I want you all to know that my Grandpa Booker was a master craftsman. He made a rocker for each of his daughters and daughter in laws. Some of the grandchildren received a rocker from him as well. My sister Rita, as a matter of fact, has her little red rocker still today. That little cane seat rocker has been to the jungles of South America, but is now in Paraguay with her. I guess we could call it a TRAVELING ROCKING CHAIR as well! Grandpa never used nails in his rockers, but made his own wooden 'pegs' to attach each piece together.
Rita, could you please post a photo of your little rocker that Grandpa made? I'll try to remember to post the one that mom has. Mom painted hers PINK! It's beautiful and sits proudly in her office today.
Many years ago, before the passing of my Grandpa Booker Riffe, he cut the pieces of this rocker out of a variety of woods. We assume he wanted to use the left over wood from what was lying around his shop from previous projects.

Back in 1999(?) when my cousin Ron visited Aunt Tommie at her home in Indiana, she gave him the pieces to see if he could fit the puzzle pieces together, to build the rocker. A few years before that day in '99 though, my Uncle Robert had taken the pieces out to California with him to try and put together. Uncle Robert was killed in an auto accident before getting the chair together. That's when Aunt Tommie acquired the pieces. She lived in Oregon at the time I believe. Anyway, when she moved out to Indiana, she brought the pieces with her. She was keeper of the pieces until that day in 1999 I mentioned. Well, Ron has been working on the chair since October, putting it together and staining it with a beautiful walnut stain. The photo here does not do it justice! Looking at that rocker Thursday evening, none of us could have told you that it was made out of no less than four different types of wood. Ron still has to put the seat on it, but he couldn't wait to show it to Aunt Tommie and the rest of us that evening. Ron, I thank you for completing a project that our beloved Grandpa started all those years ago!

I think I'll always call it, THE TRAVELING ROCKING CHAIR!

You can tell, Aunt Tommie was thrilled!

Side Note: Every project Ron takes on comes out wonderfully. It's a family gene I do declare!

And I think Ronnie was a little proud, as well he should be. I asked him how it felt to handle the pieces of wood our Grandpa had handled all those years ago. It was awesome!

I think it's so cute to see that mom and Aunt Donna were holding hands in these photos

with the rocker.

The Motley Crew

Mom, Debbie, Ellie, Ron, Aunt Tommie, Aunt Donna, Shane

Debbie, Ellie, Ron, Me, Aunt Tommie, Aunt Donna

The old ones (oops. I meant the "mature" ones) were allowed to eat at the dining room table.

While the youngin's were placed at the kitchen table. That's Ellie with Shane!

Debbie kissing her mama goodnight. I'm so happy to have caught this on camera!