Random Tuesday Thoughts – Tennessee Pearls and Rural WV

Several years ago, my DH bought me an adorable Tennessee pearl ring.  Are you familiar with Tennessee pearls? This freshwater mussel creation became Tennessee’s state gem in 1979. Our local Pardon’s Jewelers is fairly exclusive in harboring for the wild freshwater pearls from the Tennessee River. For the curious minded, you can learn more about our state’s gem by reading Freshwater Pearling in Tennessee.

My darling little Tennessee pearl ring needed to be repaired.  Last week, while my husband and I were sharing some quality together time, we decided to take it to Pardon’s.  Yesterday, my wonderful husband picked my ring up. Tah-dah! It’s so good to have it back where it belongs…the fourth finger on my right hand.

For some reason, Blogger wanted to flip this photo sideways when I uploaded it. Incidentally, this is actually my hand – a non-professional model’s hand for sure! Also, you can tell a very amateur (bad) photographer took this crummy shot using the camera on her phone.

While my husband and I had together time, our son spent those blissful 16 days with his grandparents in West Virginia.  Don’t underscore son’s time away. He absolutely loves having his grandparents all to himself!  My wonderful in-laws have a nice piece of property where a young fellow can do a lot of things, he otherwise isn’t privy to do. There are limitations with city life.

In the hills of rural WV, he’s able to ride the go-kart his mamaw and papaw bought for the whole family (mainly for the grandkids) for hours on end, undertake building projects, hands-on experience from the jack-of-all-trades(his papaw), shoot his BB gun, spot wildlife, countless games of Dominoes, or watch old movies recorded on VHS (yeah, some people still don’t record on DVD medium).

Thinking about what fun our children have always had with their grandparents reminds me of the time when I was a young kiddo.  My uncle and his wife invited me to spend a week with them a time or two before they became parents.  They always made me feel special in their cozy home in Panther State Forest.

Neal and Sharon lived not far from the heart of every kid’s most beloved recreation, the swimming pool!  We often would walk to the pool.  This seemed like a forever trek for someone so young but in actuality, I’d say it was only a couple of miles from their home.  It wasn’t uncommon for kids in rural WV to get around on foot.  It seemed like the days stretched on forever and night was slow to come. Those were the good old days, right?
Life in the country is different from the city, as you would imagine, but in those days I didn’t know otherwise.  The quietness is almost deafening, except for the sounds the crickets and frogs make, then it seems these noise scream at you.  I loved catching fireflies and placing these little glowing insects into a Mason jar.  Watching their bellies switch on and off always mesmerized me.  How on earth did they do this?  You can learn some interesting facts about these tiny creatures by clicking HERE.

These images locked in my mind forever are a sweet remembrance from my youth that I savor throughout the years.  It’s important to make memories. I know you know this but please use your sacred time with your kiddos or grandkids because to make the most of every moment because they are priceless and it’s never too late to begin.

Interested in participating in this fun Tuesday meme?  Then, click on the button below to link up with Stacy Uncorked – our lovely hostess.

Have a terrific day!

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