A New Path

Perhaps you heard that Lake Texoma got a lot of rain this year.  A couple of weeks ago we drove around to see how the water level was at several of the ramps, marinas and beaches.  You’ll need to make a new path to get to the docks, I’d say.

Notice the light

It’s taken until late July for us to get typical hot summer temperatures.  I’m sure this bunny is enjoying the shade and the cooler dirt in our backyard.  I’ve never seen a bunny that seemed this relaxed.

The pie cooked up a memory

When I told my Dad about the baked apple pie and a cherry cobbler that Keith made for us to enjoy as part of our July 4 meal he immediately recalled how, as a child, cherry was his favorite pie.  Dad said that he must have really loved it because his dad sang “Roly Poly Daddy’s Little Fatty” to him although when he sang it he changed the pie to cherry.  Dad told me that my grandpa played the record and had a big stack of other 78rpm records he listened to as well.

“Roly Poly” was first recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 1946 when my Dad was 8 years old.  All photos of my Dad as a child show that he was stout and healthy but not overweight.  While the title of the song isn’t very flattering, the song is actually about a a very active boy who eats continuously to keep his strength up.   I’m confident that my Grandpa found the song endearing.  Here’s the song with the lyrics below the video.

Roly Poly eatin’ corn and ‘taters
Hungry every minute of the day
Roly Poly gnawin’ on a biscuit
As long as he can chew it, it’s okay.

He can eat an apple pie
And never even bat an eye
He likes everything from soup to hay
Roly Poly daddy’s little fatty
Bet he’s gonna be a man some day.

Roly Poly scrambled eggs for breakfast
Bread and jelly twenty times a day
Roly Poly eats a hearty dinner
It takes lots of strength to run and play.

Pulls up weeds and does the chores
And he runs both ways to all the stores
He works up an appetite that way
Roly Poly daddy’s little fatty
Bet he’s gonna be a man some day

Keith’s cool July 4th apple pie triggered a memory and now I know another tidbit about my Dad and my Grandpa.

Update:  My Dad responded to this post by adding “Memories! I can’t tell you how many times that song has played in my mind.  I loved my Dad! He taught me so much without me even knowing he was teaching me. I wish for every child to have such a Dad!”  And my Aunt said “I remember Daddy singing ‘You Are My Sunshine’.”