JOLEAN

MEET MY LITTLE NEIGHBOR JOLEAN. TIM AND I PLANTED OUR GARDEN YESTERDAY. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE FUN IF WE ASKED JOLEEN IF SHE WANTED TO HELP. SHE STARTED OUT JUST POURING WATER ON THE PLANTS. SHE WATCHED TIM DIG A LITTLE HOLE , PLACE THE PLANTS IN IT AND PUT THE DIRT AROUND IT. YOU KNOW BY THE TIME WE HAD THE PLANTS ALL WATERED SHE HAD IT FIGURED OUT. I TURNED AROUND AND HER HANDS WERE COVERED IN MUD AND SHE HAD HER FIRST TOMATO PLANT IN THE GROUND. THEN IT WAS ON TO THE PEPPER AND CABBAGE. WE WERE LATE GETTING CABBAGE PLANTED BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT.

HERE SHE IS PLANTING SQUASH SEEDS. SHE ALSO PLANTED ZUCCHINI

AND WATERMELON.

TIME TO GET ALL CLEANED UP.

YOU KNOW SHE JUST THREATENED TO GET ME ALL WET.

AND LAST IS HER REWARD FOR HER HARD WORK. WE HAD THE MOST FUN WITH HER TODAY. I HOPE IT'S SOMETHING SHE WILL REMEMBER WHEN SHE'S GROWN AND WE ARE NO LONGER AROUND EXCEPT IN HER MEMORY.

IF SHE SEES US OUTSIDE SHE ASKS IF SHE CAN GO PLAY WITH TIM AND KATHY. WE JUST LOVE HER. IT'S LIKE HAVING A GRAND BABY.

SHE GOT IN TROUBLE TODAY. SHE CAME TO VISIT BEFORE SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULD. HER STEP FATHER TOLD HER SHE WAS IN TROUBLE SHE JUST HUNG HER LITTLE HEAD AND SAID I KNOW. I WALKED TO THE FENCE WHERE HE WAS WITH A TEARFUL LITTLE GIRL. HE EXPLAINED TO HER THAT SHE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL SHE HAD PERMISSION TO PLAY WITH US. AND LET HER KNOW HOW WORRIED THEY WERE WHEN THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS. HE LET HER KNOW JUST HOW MUCH TROUBLE SHE WAS GOING TO BE IN IF SHE DID IT AGAIN. SHE GOT A GET OUT OF JAIL CARD THIS TIME. I THINK HE REMEMBERED HOW MANY TIMES HIS MOTHER CALLED THE HOUSE ASKING IF HE WAS HERE. AND HE WAS. THAT BOY NEVER ASKED. HE JUST CAME ON DOWN AND PLAYED WITH OUR SON ERIC WHENEVER HE GOT READY.