It was so nice to go home to Bell Buckle this weekend, even though everyone couldn’t make it. Betsy is obviously far too ill to travel even a few hours right now, so I brought my 2 nieces (ages 13 and 4) and my nephew, M (age 10) with me.

As for my own offspring, J is house sitting for some folks ’til Tuesday, so she couldn’t come with us this trip, and E was still on his fun NYC trip with a youth group from church. And Jon had to remain at home to get on top of some much needed household repairs back at Casa Hickju.

So it was just me heading down to BB and back for the weekend, with Danger Baby, 2 four year olds (C and NC), my rising 4th grade nephew M, and my super awesome 13 year old niece, El, who was a huge help. It was my gorgeous niece Anna’s 9th birthday, so fun was a-foot.

Here are some pix from our whirlwind weekend sojourn to Bell Buckle.

Princess Charlotte Brittain Hickman, Webb School Class of ’24?

Kimi’s garden just keeps getting more amazing every spring. Now she even has a pomegranate tree!

This is her bed of Buttercrunch Lettuce. I had NO CLUE that thus tasty lettuce looks this awesome while growing. I see some in my near future.

A tangle of Kimi’s bachelor buttons, which I love.

Uncle Robert takes Princess C (and several other of the kids) for a stroll up Maple Street to Uncle John’s house to see the troll’s hand UJ keeps in a special box after UJ had to BITE IT OFF when the troll attacked him while he was out riding his bike. The kids never tire of a peek of the troll hand in the box.

That’s Uncle Robert with 4 year old NC (AKA Super Girl) on his shoulders & 5 year old N holding his hand on our walk.

Future Webbies: 4 year olds Princess C (mine) and Supergirl NC (Betsy’s> with their 5 year old cousin N (Robert’s>.

Two of my fave people on the planet: Kimi and my sister in law Nicole.

My fabulously sweet, future rockstar of a 16 year old nephew (well, he’s actually my cousin, but we don’t really worry with these nitpicky details), G. He’s James and Julie’s oldest and yes, that is a panda hat .

James & Robert on James’ back deck.

G playing at Uncle James & Aunt Julie’s house.

My 13 year old niece El took this one of the Bell Buckle train tracks at dusk.

Uncle John attempting to teach 4 yr old NC how to jump on the pogo stick.

Cousins 5 year old N (Robert’s youngest) and 3 year old L (James’s youngest) eat ice cream while Wolfric patiently lays at their feet hoping one of them will drop SOMETHING for him.

Uncle James & Aunt Julie just got a trampoline, and G looooooooves it

G strolling past where Sawney House once stood. Has it really been 30 years since it burned?

I’ve always loved the tangly mess of perfect that this house’s garden becomes each summer. It’s at the corner of Maple and Webb Rd. Check out the multicolored climbing vine in the second photo. Is that some kind of pink and yellow honeysuckle?

I forced Robert to wear my hat and strike a pose. He kind of rocked it. I may have to give him my hat.

Cousins N and L.

Supergirl NC leads while Princess C commandeers Uncle Robert for a ride.