Hope and a Future

A New Appetizer

2011-12-23T16:39:00.000-06:00

I saw this new appetizer on Pinterest. Since it was so pretty, and I am a sucker for pretty colors on a plate, I wanted to try it. I had also seen another appetizer pin that was sweet potato cubes with a Cilantro-Jalapeno Aioli. I tried that, but we didn't love the combination though we did like the aioli. When I saw this one, and it was just a photo with no recipe,I thought I could use the dipping sauce with fresh veggies. This is the inspiration photo from Martha Stewart.

Here's how I did it: I bought a long, skinny French baguette. Around here, we can only get white, plain ones, but it would be pretty to have different kinds of bread. So, I began by cutting an end off the loaf; then I made a diagonal cut about 1" on the short end and about 2" on the long sides. Then, the next cut would be straight across, which would result in another 1"-2" piece. I think you can see what I am talking about in the picture. Every other cut would be diagonal. I then set each piece on the flat end with the short side facing me. I gently pinched out some of the interior bread of each piece. You want to leave the very bottom intact, but you want enough room to stick in the veggies and to hold the dip. On a couple of pieces, I accidentally went all the way through. No problem,I just put a very thin slice of butter in the "bread cup" to cover the hole. That worked great. Then, I put about 4 sticks of veggies--red, yellow, orange, green peppers, and celery down in the bread cup and added the dip, which helped to hold up the veggie sticks.

Cilantro-Jalapeno Aioli

1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise (we really like the Trader’s Joe brand)
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded (if you like it less spicy) and chopped
Juice of one lime, plus more to taste
Salt, to taste

This is really good. However, with reduced fat mayo, it is a littly runny. Next time, I might add a tablespoon or two of cream cheese to give it a little more body so it will stay in the cup. Isn't it pretty!

A Bookcase: From Drab to Darling!

2011-08-31T16:21:00.000-05:00

I'm working from a new computer. Hard drive crashed on the old one, so now we are a two-computer household again. Dell laptops; we'll see how they perform.

Anyway, I worked on a project several weeks ago, but I couldn't download the photos until recently. This old bookcase has been around a long time. It wasn't really mistreated; it just looked--you know--dull! Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) to the rescue!

I didn't do anything to the bookcase except wipe it down to get rid of the dust and spider webs and such, and I did a once-over light sanding. I painted on a layer of Old White and a layer of Duck Egg Blue on the outside surfaces only. I sanded through to the white and brown layers in a couple of places, but I really like it like it is. I didn't even use the wax. I may go back and add that at some point, but I was anxious to put it in use Our master bedroom is neutral with lots of white and a few turquoise touches, so this piece looks great. Don't you think?

Here's the before:

And the after:

And a little detail:

There is no shortage of projects around here. I still have three great chairs to update!

The Chair--Another Before and After

2011-07-14T22:00:00.003-05:00

I guess the play kitchen awakened something inside me. During my career, I had little time to pursue projects around the house, except in the kitchen. I love to cook and entertain, and I always found time for that. Now, however, in retirement, I see so many things I would like to try.

Slipcovers and upholstery have always fascinated me, and I decided I wanted to try my hand at it. So, when I picked up the entertainment center for the play kitchen, I also saw a chair for $5. It was an ugly thing. I bought it and thought I could practice on it. Here's how it looked:

I bought a $6 drop cloth, and found some white paint in stock. After painting it, I washed and dried the drop cloth, but I did not bleach it like some recommend. I started with the easy part, basically following the existing pieces.

I practiced making double welting; then I worked on covering the arms:

I used the seat cushion cover as a pattern for the new cover. I even made and installed the welting and a zipper--first one of those I had done in a long time.
Here's the finished product. We found a place in our master bathroom for it:

What do you think?

A Play Kitchen gets me back to Blogland!

2011-07-04T19:41:00.049-05:00

Well, hello again. It's been about two and a half years since my last post. I lost interest, I guess, and Life happened. I got busier; our family grew, and my mother was in declining health. But here I am today, older and wiser, and changed. My sweet mother died in 2009; I retired in 2010; and we are trying to adjust to the changes.

My life is a little more orderly and a little more slowly paced now, and I am learning to enjoy every minute of every day. We are busier than ever, but now it is busy with our own interests. We have time to pursue hobbies and learn new things and take care of ourselves and read and enjoy our children and grandchildren. Life is good. That about sums up the last two and a half years. So, on to the new stuff.

I am so excited about a project Tom and I have been working on--a play kitchen for our granddaughter, Anna Kate. She was born just after I stopped blogging in 2009, and she followed the three precious little grandsons that we enjoyed so before her arrival. Now, we have that precious little girl to love as we do Brooks, Alexander, and Christian who came before her.

Anyway, every little girl needs a play kitchen, doesn't she? Even though I was an inactive blogger for more than two years, I have continued to enjoy numerous blogs written by creative women who have inspired me with their shelter, design, and cooking postings. And in the course of reading them, I ran across several play kitchens that inspired me. The Busy Bug Life posted this inspiration. Then, Bonne Nouvelle posted this one. And Fresh Cut Flowers inspired me with this one. So, Granddaddy and YaYa found an entertainment center on Craigslist. It was this one:

You have seen these at yard sales and almost everyday on Craigslist because the new-style televisions do not fit them. Anyway, we brought it to the farm where we began to reconfigure it. We maintained the frame as it was, 54" wide by 48" tall, but we really redesigned the layout. We primed and painted; we nailed and hammered; we made a few purchases and used a little creativity. After lots of hours of work, here's what we came up with:

As you can see, she has a stove and oven on the left side, a sink in the middle, and a pantry on the right. She has a chalkboard door on the front and another framed chalkboard on the right outside, along with a hook for her apron. It was a labor of love. Tom tried out some new tools, and I reached waaaay down inside to get creative. We used a dog bowl for the sink, jar lids painted black for the cooktop burners, and wooden wheels from the hobby shop for burner controls. The curtains are reconfigured from some old ones I found in a trunk at the farmhouse where her granddaddy was born and grew up and now shares with all of us. They belonged either to Tom's mother or his grandmother. For the window, we blew up a photo of our farm, a place that Anna Kate knows, so she would have a familiar sight as she looks "out the window". Anna Kate is too young to know it now, but that little kitchen has some of her history in it. An artist friend of ours recommended that we sign and date the piece and take a picture of AK now and as she grows with it, so we will plan to do that.

Well, we delivered and installed it today---big hit! Though Miss Anna Kate was tired and a tad ornery, we knew she would love it. Big brother, Brooks, was all over it, so we think they will enjoy it together. We hope they have hours of fun pretending in the kitchen.

And, the apple pie will be ready shortly!

I Love My Dressing Room

2009-01-04T15:13:00.015-06:00

This probably sounds like a crazy post for a new year. But don't we get in a cleaning up-throwing out-creating order sort of mood in a new year? Well, that's what I've done today. I have a wonderful dressing room; it is spacious, well-designed, and a really lovely place--when it is in order. Believe me, it was not very orderly this morning. My suitcase was not unpacked afrom the Tampa trip; the remains of Christmas wrapping were everywhere;clothes were strewn about; and I could hardly get in the door. This dressing room serves as my closet, but it is sort of Grand Central for Kay. It holds bed linens, table linens, wrapping paper and ribbons, old photos and memorabilia, my sewing box, clothes and shoes and hats, my Harley gear, my evening bags, decorating fabrics, Christmas decorations, scarves, gifts in stock, and more than a few keepsakes. Here are some photos:

Well, now it is in better order. Not perfect you understand, but much better. One of the reasons it is better is because I discovered a tip on another blog about hanging ribbon on a pants hangar. I have a big drawer full of ribbons of all sizes and colors, so I was in need of a tip. I found an unused pants hangar, and I put just a few of my ribbons on it. This is what it looks like.

Isn't that clever?

Ten Days of Pleasure

2008-12-20T20:38:00.008-06:00

We returned today from ten days in Tampa to help out on the occasion of our third grandson's birth. Christian Thomas Guimaraes Castro debuted on Dec. 11. He is tiny, 6.10, but he is perfect in every way. And, since Mom has more milk than Publix, he is thriving.

Ten days is a long time to visit, but we served as baby sitter for big brother Alexander while his family was in the hospital and housekeeper, cook, chaffeur, nanny, handyman, menu planner,etc. after dad went back to work. We loved helping out, and most of all we loved having such quality time with our daughter.

Her birthday is the day after Christian's, and we were reminded of all the activity when she was born in mid December. A new baby means busy times anyway; add Christmas, and things get hectic. It was our pleasure to help out and to enjoy wonderful times with both her sons.

Pictures? Of course.

A Birth and a Birthday

2008-12-12T12:18:00.005-06:00

What a wonderful week for us! Elizabeth's Christian was born yesterday, weighing in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 20.25 inches long. He is precious and beautiful. And on top of that, Elizabeth's birthday is today. She is precious and beautiful, too, just as she was thirty six years ago.

Christian is Coming

2008-12-07T18:40:00.005-06:00

We have an exciting week coming up. We leave for Tampa to help welcome a new baby to the family. Elizabeth has been very healthy---though tired and uncomfortable---so we have every reason to believe that Christian will arrive in fine and healthy fashion. Our job is to care for Alexander while his family is in the hospital and to help out a few days after they return home. It is a privilege for us, and we are very excited. Elizabeth has a birthday the day after Christian is scheduled to arrive, so I remember what it's like to have a newborn at Christmas time. (It's kind of wonderful that first year; after that, it gets very hectic!)

Long, Dry Spell

2008-11-18T19:29:00.002-06:00

Blogwise, I've just been uninspired. We've been busy---traveling, taking care of family, working, keeping up with the young Roneys and the Castros, playing---oh, always playing---and we have such fun. I don't want to write about the sadness--- Mother's decline and the loss of a dear friend too quickly to cancer.

Here's what we've been doing since late September---in pictures and a little prose. Brooks came to visit. At 32 months, he is a little sponge, and he is pretty cute saying the Pledge of Allegiance! We think he will be reading before long.

And sometimes Alexander gets to visit though he has to come all the way from Tampa. He loves the dogs, and he likes to move very fast! At 22 months, he is saying a few words in Portuguese and English.

We like Alexander's mom a lot, too! She is a little uncomfortable these days as we wait for the arrival of Christian in about three weeks.

These are our two lovely, young, pregnant mothers who were forced by their rambunctious little boys to get up way too early!

And then there was our trip to Apalachicola in early October. Six couples + incredible accommodations + a few motorcycles + a river view + great dining + tattoos + lots of laughter = lots and lots of fun.

And then, there was Cashiers, NC in late October. Seven couples, two beautiful homes, more great food, and lots of laid back time made for a great long weekend.

And then it's Halloween and the party bus and the costumes and the street dance---too much fun. Here's the Biker and Brittany Thirty Years Later:

And the chicken and the processor

And Sarah Palin and "I can see Russia from my Backyard"

And the real cool Blues Brothers and Family

And there was Tom's trip to South Dakota

And then the birthday of an old, old, old friend!

Who says we don't have fun!

This sort of catches up fam and friends on our activities--well, the fun stuff anyway. There's plenty of that other---work, responsibilities, chores---but who wants to write about that!

Pre-occupied

2008-10-10T20:58:00.003-05:00

My mind has been pre-occupied---pre-occupied with three friends who have serious cancers, pre-occupied with a mother who is declining, pre-occupied with acquaintances who lost their only child at 25, pre-occupied with . . . well, the rest of it doesn't matter, does it? Work doesn't matter; the financial mess doesn't matter; the presidential campaign doesn't matter. What matters is that people, friends, and acquaintances are hurting and we can do so little except to pray and to let them know that we care.

October

2008-10-10T07:29:00.002-05:00

October may be my favorite month. We feel the first cool mornings; we see the blue, clear sky. We smell the fields of freshly dug peanuts; we rake the new fallen pine straw; we take notice of the slower growth in our grasses and plants; and yes, we sneeze and sputter a little, too.

Robert Frost liked October, also.

"O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away."

Waaaaaaaaaaaarr Eagle! Hey!!

2008-09-13T13:02:00.002-05:00

Friday Night with Neighbors

2008-09-12T22:19:00.004-05:00

Do you have neighbors? Think about it. You may live in a neighborhood, as I do, but do you have neighbors? We have lived in the same house since 1981, and we have one neighbor. Our driveways are across from each other---is that what makes neighbors? They see us coming and going; we see them. They know when our cars are home; we know when theirs are home. We hear and see each others dogs. We pick up each other's papers on occasion. The guys enjoy quail hunting and Auburn football. She is young enough to be my duaghter, but she is a working girl like me, and, we all enjoy spending time together.

This afternoon---Friday---I noticed that all their cars were in the driveway, so I called, "This is Kay; I know it's late notice, but you know how we are. If you guys don't have plans for tonight,we'd love to have you over for heavy drinks and light dinner. Call me." It was 3:30 pm and I didn't have a plan. The phone rang shortly, "sure, we'd love to come; I'll bring a tuna steak." So, we had the beginnings of a plan.

I didn't buy anything special, didn't even go to the grocery market except to buy two yellow squash. Here's what we pulled together:

Buckwheat Blinis with Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche
Seared Tuna with Cracked Black Pepper and Light Soy Sauce

Romaine Lettuce with Pears, Toasted Pecans, Maytag Blue Cheese
and Apricot Vinaigrette
Yellow Squash Stuffed with Spinach, Barley, Chicken, and Andouille Sausage

Various Wines

Yes, it was an incredible meal--a meal shared with neighbors, a meal planned at the last minute; a meal enjoyed at the kitchen island; a meal consumed with wines and laughter and conversation. What a delightful evening!

Three Busy Weeks

2008-09-11T19:52:00.007-05:00

Whew! I've not come up for air since Napa. Too busy at work. But tonight, the ~~wine~~ wind down begins. For dinner---buckwheat pancakes; Robert E. Long syrup from Two Egg, Florida; eggs; and sausage. How good does that sound! What wine, you ask? A 2005 Rosemount Shiraz from eastern Australia, of course! Now, bring on the weekend.

RR and PLU

2008-08-30T12:26:00.010-05:00

We enjoyed an evening with new friends last night. We had cocktails here then went out to late dinner. The conversation was fast and furious; we had plenty to talk about. We discovered similar interests and mutual friends and different experiences. We also discovered areas in which we could learn from each other. It was just a fun evening. "They are PLUs", Tom said as we returned home.

A friend of mine, a businesswoman who is one of the most dynamic people you'll ever meet, is one who has interviewed lots of people over her career. She interviews to hire for her own business, and she also interviews to give experience to young people who are just entering the job market. She told me that she has some little codes that she puts in the corner of some applications. One code is RR. It stands for "raised right". She uses it when she discovers young people with manners and values and work ethic and respect for others and other traits that she considers essential. Later, when she reviews that application, with RR in the top corner, she knows that person was someone that she would want to hire.

Another code she uses is PLU---for "people like us". Again, she uses that code to identify those people with traits similar to her own and those of her other employees---smart, congenial, hard-working, creative, enthusiastic. It might be a vendor or a potential client or an applicant for a position in her company.

I think those codes work in lots of situations. While it might be a little tricky to define RR and PLU, we all know what those traits look like. At the College, I come in contact with all kinds of students---some young, some not-so young, but I can tell you if I think they are RRs. I know it when I see it. (I surely hope that my friend would use RR to describe our children were she to interview them.)

We use PLU a lot---as we did to describe our new friends last night. PLU has nothing to do with their color or socioeconomic level or education. Instead it has to do with how comfortable we felt with them, how easily the conversation flowed, how many experiences and interests we shared, and whether we wished the evening could last longer. As it turned out, we overstayed our welcome in the small Japanese restaurant. We were talking so intently that we didn't notice that we were the last customers and the staff had begun sweeping up. We apologize, Sakura!

We enjoy meeting new PLUs!

Black Raspberry, Tar, and Earthiness

2008-08-27T21:24:00.013-05:00

Wine tasting was a big part of our Napa trip. Of course it would be. The valley was dotted with acres and acres of grape vines that were loaded with luscious fruits ready to be picked. And in the caves at each vineyard the old oak barrels held even older wines just waiting for their debut. We tasted many. At each winery, we sampled four to six wines. My favorite was the Von Strasser Winery, and there we sampled, among others, the Von Strasser Sori Bricco Cabernet 2005. The steward assisted us with tasting notes. The notes for the Sori Bricco: "the wine is extremely dark and extracted with tremendous depth and concentration. The aromas are of coffee, black fruit, licorice, chocolate, and eucalyptus. Very chewy and viscous on the palate, with flavors of black raspberry, tar and earthiness with a long and impeccably balanced finish."

Did I taste those flavors? Did I catch that hint of eucalyptus? Could I identify the licorice? Could I articulate the sensations on the back of the tongue or describe the delicate finish? Not a chance. But did I enjoy the wines? You bet!

My descriptions of wine, however, would be very different. My description would be something like this: "a hearty red wine to be enjoyed on Sunday night, on the porch of an old farmhouse, with six friends and lots of laughter." Or this: a light red best served with Copper River Salmon prepared in a great kitchen with friends keeping company with the cook." Or this: "a great little Tuesday night wine enjoyed after a long day at the office with neighbors who dropped by to say hello." Or this: "a crisp, refreshing sauvignon blanc just right to enjoy on a hot August evening with grilled cheese sandwiches and a salad and the couple you invited on the spur of the moment."

You see, wine to me is about occasions and friends. It's about good times and hospitality, old stories and laughter. It's about sunsets and cool breezes and moonbeams and stars. It's about good conversation and discussion and poetry and literature. It's about history and shared experiences. And yes, it's about good food enjoyed with others.

I probably won't ever get a job writing tasting notes; yet, somehow, I think lots of folks feel the same way I do.

Our Trip to Napa

2008-08-27T20:44:00.003-05:00

We returned home late on Sunday night, weary and yearning for our own bed, but what a great time we had! Fourteen friends, lots of laughter, plenty of wine and incredible food, great weather,a balloon ride, no logistical or other problems and safe travel. It just doesn't get any better! I'll have reflections on it all a little later.

Where's the Groove?

2008-08-18T21:39:00.003-05:00

I'm a little like Stella. I think I've lost my groove---my blogging groove. Maybe it's the long, hot days of August. Maybe it's being super busy at work. Maybe it's reading all these wonderful, interesting blogs that other people write. Maybe it's just Life interfering. Whatever it is, I've had a dry spell.

Stella took a vacation to get her groove back; well, I think I'll do that, too. We're leaving tomorrow for Napa. Maybe a little cooler weather; maybe new scenery; maybe lots of wineries and wine; maybe fine dining; maybe hot air ballooning; maybe even the fainting goats (Not!); maybe the fellowship of sixteen friends going aross the country together---maybe all that will help me get my groove back!

The Staycation

2008-08-02T14:54:00.011-05:00

We didn't really plan a staycation; it just happened. I had a week of leave I needed to take; it's really too hot to go anywhere. Gasoline is still almost $4 per gallon; and we have a nice trip planned later this month. So, we decided to stick around. Here's some of what we did during Staycation:

We hosted and/or attended five dinner parties.

We spent two nights at the Farm.

We spent one night at the Lake.

I spent one morning at the ER with Mother--after a fall. Nothing broken.

We took a day trip to Thomasville, GA.

I planted more rosemary at the Farm.

I read The Poisonwood Bible; Tom read 1776.

We took Mother to the Lake for the night; got her on the boat for a nice ride.

We swam in the pool with Brooks.

I cooked Copper River salmon two more times. It will be out-of-season too soon.

We took a day trip to Montgomery.

Here are some photos from the weekend:

Beets---Again?

2008-07-26T14:59:00.006-05:00

Okay, so I am sorta stuck on beets. It's like I have just discovered them. I've always liked pickled beets on salad, but that's really the only way I ate them. One of the reasons I like them is that beautiful color. I can't think of any other food that is such a dark, rich, merlot.

Color in food has always been important to me. I don't know when I learned it, but somehow I have always known that a plate with deep colors of food was a healthy, well-balanced plate. Just think about the foods with deep, rich colors----the green of asparagus, broccoli, beans, leafy vegetables, garden peas, zucchini, limes and kiwi; the orange, yellow, and golds of fruits, squash, sweet potatoes, rutabagas; the purple of eggplant and grapes; and the reds of tomatoes, strawberries, and beets. Then, there are the whites that, while filling, aren't quite so nutritious---white potatoes, rice, white breads, and pastas.

A nutritious plate will be a beautiful plate, full of those dark rick colors.
This is a nutritious plate:

And this:

Beets are a storehouse of good nutrition, and that rich, red color--well, it reminds me that color is a great guide to good nutrition. I'm trying harder to make my plates the most colorful in town! And, I'm looking for new ways to prepare those beets!

Friday Night with Friends

2008-07-25T22:47:00.006-05:00

When we want to try out and tweak new recipes, we like to invite food-lover friends to join us. I enjoy having other opinions and suggestions, and I must admit I enjoy having an appreicative audience, too. This was one of those nights. I've been on a salmon and root vegetable kick. See previous post. Anyway, our friends joined us. They brought a wonderful salad and fresh peaches to go along with my blueberries for dessert..

This was a stay-in-the-kitchen dinner. To get us started, I prepared fresh figs with Maytag blue cheese, and I rolled out my beet fritters with sour cream, capers, and green onions again. Here's how that plate looked.

Then, we tried the Copper River salmon again, and I tweaked it a bit. I made the fresh relish that I pictured in the previous post, and it was wonderful. We also had the rutabaga fritters with sun dried tomatoes. One of my guests does not like rutabagas or beets, but he ate both tonight and raved about them.
The Copper River salmon won't be available long, but we have enjoyed it twice now.

Copper River Salmon

2008-07-24T21:05:00.011-05:00

Do you know about Copper River Salmon? Ohmygosh! One taste of this firm red fish, with its rich and nutty flavor, and you will understand why food lovers relish the three to four weeks that fresh Copper River salmon is available each year.

The Copper River flows in the state of Alaska. Almost 300 miles in length, this wild rushing river empties into Prince William Sound at the town of Cordova. Salmon that originate in these pristine waters are challenged by its length and its strong, chill rapids. Consequently, Copper River salmon are strong, robust creatures with a healthy store of natural oils and body fat. These qualities make the salmon among the richest, tastiest fish in the world. Fortunately, fatty Copper River salmon is good for you, as it is loaded with Omega-3 oils---you know, the good stuff.

For several years, the chef at our club, who was a master with fresh fish, had Copper River salmon flown in during May and June each year. It was always a treat that we looked forward to with much anticipation. Hubby is not generally a salmon man; but even he enjoyed those special servings.

Well, that same chef now works for Sam's Club, believe it or not. He catered a cooking school and dinner party last weekend to which I was invited, and he told me that he had Copper River Salmon at Sam's---major shock---and he would call when he got another shipment in. I got that call, and I ran by today. His case was full of those beautiful, red, glistening fillets, and I came home with a two-pound one. Hubby was skeptical---won't be fresh, will be too strong, will smell up the house, yada, yada. What does he know!

Anyway, I rushed home, cut that big fillet into five portions, and began the prep---sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and olive oil rubbed all over. Then I slipped them into my very hot iron skillet--with a few drops of EVOO---and seared them three minutes on one side, then two minutes on the other. Then, I slipped them into a 425 oven for about five minutes. While they were cooking, I whisked up a mustard horseradish vinaigrette to serve over the top. With the salmon, I had rutabaga fritters with raisins and some roasted tomatoes I had in the frig. Not bad for Thursday night dinner. Hubby even had seconds.

I'll get more of that salmon tomorrow! I might do something that looks like this:

Boys or Girls?

2008-07-21T19:13:00.006-05:00

I happened to run across an article today titled Is it Harder to Raise Boys or Girls? You can find it here. We were a family with one of each, so as I read that article I began thinking about my own experience. While I noticed definite differences between our son and daughter, indeed almost opposites, I was never sure whether those differences were gender based or birth-order based or even personality based. I just knew that both were challenging.

However, this article makes some important points, and the author concludes that boys are more challenging early on, and girls become more challenging beginning in the preteen years. Yep, that's my experience, too! The good news is that both children grew up and became wonderful adults.

Now, those children are raising active, aggressive, exuberant, rambunctious little boys who are right on schedule to grow and learn and investigate and challenge the world around them. Parenting is not an easy job, but it is oh, so rewarding!

TT # 18: Ways I Use My Day Planner

2008-07-16T14:07:00.009-05:00

I began using a day planner twenty years ago. At that time my days were very hectic. I had two school-aged children; I was working and going to school; and I had a busy social life. I knew I couldn't keep everything straight, so I selected a planner brand , and I have been using the same one all the years. It is like my right arm. I always have it with me. For this Thursday Thirteen, I thought I would list the uses I have found for the planner.

My work schedule. Not only do I list appointments, I also list tasks I completed, phone calls made or received, and decisions made. By studying that planner, I can tell you just about anything regarding my work. (1999: August 25 I served on a search committee)

Personal appointments. Doctor appointments, dentists, meetings with teachers, curch meetings, etc. Yep--I have them documented. (1998: May 1, son had dental appt.)

Children's school assignments. One child was a self starter, and I never had to ask about homework or tests, etc. The other was a procrastinator, so I wrote down when the tests were, what grades he made, really anything about school, so I wouldn't be surprised. I didn't like surprises. (1992: Sept. 24, son's interim report card, B in English)

Church. I documented our attendance and involvement---meetings, chairmanships, practices, programs, children's activities, etc. (1994: August 26, church supper club)

Volunteer work. Hubby and I were always chairing this organization or PTO or civic club, so those meetings were always on the calendar. (1989: April 25, chaired Symphony Gala)

My doctoral program. I went back to school with a husband, eighth grader, and fifth grader at home (yes, it was a family decision), so I marked the weekends I had to be away for class, important assignments, and important dates like dissertation research and defense.

(1991: April 27, to library for dissertation research)

Holiday events. For years, when the children were small, we had all manner of extended family to join us for Christmas, so I always scheduled the arrival of each family member and noted the names of those who joined us. (1994: Christmas Day--left on family vacation to San Francisco)

Dinner parties. I listed guests and menus. (2005: January 10--Solomon Dinner Party, 11 guests, shrimp shooters, rosemary cornbread with figs and cream cheese, etc, Beaujolais Nouveau)

Big parties. We do that, too. I list the events, the number of people who attended, the menu, etc. (2005: Oct. 23, Biketoberfest (biker party) at our farm, 49 attended, hot dogs and trimmings)

Reminders. I wrote reminders to myself to make appointments, to follow up on projects, etc. (1994: April 20, call Thompson's Floor Covering)

Weather. I document extreme weather--storms, hot, wet, cold. (1995: Oct. 5, 6 college closed for Hurricane Opal)

Deaths. I list the deaths of friends or family members. (2005: April 10, my favorite uncle died)

Trips and Guests. (1999: August 11, leave for Vail)

These planners serve as my memory, my reminders, my journal, my diary, my log. I just don't see how a PDA will work for me. How do you use a day planner?

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Kick-Back Weekend at the Beach

2008-07-13T18:02:00.012-05:00

WHO: Five friends
WHERE: The Gulf Coast
WHAT: Weekend Getaway
WHY: Just because
DINNER: Sushi, Shrimp, Salad, Sandwiches at the condo
BEVERAGES: See pics above
MOST INTERESTING SIGHT: wind turbine generator systems shipped in to Pensacola
WEEKEND PHRASE: Get out that 9 mm Glock!
MINUTES WE WALKED ON THE BEACH: 0
SHOPPING: Publix

TT #17 What MBTI Type Are You?

2008-07-09T17:54:00.003-05:00

I'm a big believer in the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI). It is a personality assessment that I have used at work and at home. It is helpful for work groups and family groups. When our children were teens, we typed each family member, and it helped us to understand and appreciate each other more. Now, we know why Dad is so meticulous, why Son was so consumed with his friends and social life; why Daughter was so much like her Dad, and why Mom wanted to orchestrate everything and everyone. For this Thursday Thirteen, I want to tell you a little about my type---ENTJ. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly about ENTJs:

ENTJs have a natural tendency to marshall and direct. This may be expressed with the charm and finesse of a world leader or with the insensitivity of a cult leader.

The ENTJ requires little encouragement to make a plan.

ENTJs are often "larger than life" in describing their projects or proposals. This ability may be expressed as salesmanship, story-telling facility or stand-up comedy.

ENTJs are decisive. They see what needs to be done, and frequently assign roles to their fellows. Few other types can equal their ability to remain resolute in conflict, sending the valiant (and often leading the charge) into the mouth of hell. When challenged, the ENTJ may by reflex become argumentative. Alternatively she may unleash an icy gaze that serves notice: the ENTJ is not one to be trifled with.

"Unequivocating" expresses the resoluteness of the ENTJ's dominant function.

Improvising on the fly is something many ENTJs do very well.

ENTJs are usually well informed, well read, and they enjoy expanding their knowledge and passing it on to others.

ENTJs are skilled at persuading others, achieving results, making decisions, and conducting long range planning.

ENTJs, representing only slightly more than 2% of the population, are bound to lead others, and from an early age they can be observed taking command of groups.

ENTJs, more than any other type, desire (and generally have the ability) to visualize where the organization is going, and they seem able to communicate that vision to others.

ENTJs are tolerant of established procedures, but they can and will abandon any procedure when it can be shown to be ineffective in accomplishing its goal.

ENTJs have a strong natural urge to give structure and direction wherever they are-to harness people in the field and to direct them to achieve distant goals.

The nickname for the ENTJ is Field Marshall.

I'd be interested in knowing your Type. If you don't know it, you can take a free assessment here. I took it, and my ENTJ showed up again---guess I've not mellowed with age!

I Love Summer Suppers

2008-07-07T19:48:00.005-05:00

We never know what's for dinner at our house during the week. Hubby and I are easy to please; we usually have whatever's in the frig or something simple. It might be a pimento cheese sandwich, cheese and fruit, cereal, or sometimes a full meal if the cook is inspired.

We went to the farm after work---well, only one of us works now---and I raided the fig tree while Hubby took care of some chores. When we arrived back home, we remembered that a neighbor had brought some okra by last night. Hmmm, sounds like the beginning of a wonderful summer supper. So, we had a little fried okra, sliced tomatoes, and fresh figs. I also had some Maytag Blue Cheese that is so creamy which we enjoyed with the tomatoes and the figs. A little left-over wine, and Voila! Yummy!

Back Home Safe and Sound

2008-07-06T20:14:00.023-05:00

To Tampa and back safely---here are the stats:

Route: Dothan, Bainbridge, Tallahassee, Perry, Cross City, Chiefland, Homosassa Springs,Tampa.

Distance: 348 miles---about 30 miles shorter than the I-75 route; 6 hrs., 15 min.

Highest price for gas: $4.09

Sites visited: Tampa Aquarium (the pic at the top was taken from the third floor observatory toward the harbour); Indian Rocks Beach; International Mall

Fireworks: 15 minutes show, from Channelside, watched from Elizabeth's living room window.

Wake up time: 7:00 a.m. EDT---when Alexander arises, everyone arises!

Best sound: Alexander's giggle

Best sight: Elizabeth's beautiful smile because she finally feels good!

Memorable meals: around the Castro table, with Alexander tucked in for the night.

Wines enjoyed: Red Belly Black, Australian Shiraz, 2005

Best times: girl time with Elizabeth while the guys vegged out in front of the umpteen inch, flat screen, LCD, hang-on-the-wall, surround sound, whatcha-muh-call-it.

A few pics:

Worst sight: it had to do with a man and a thong. I've got pictures.

TT #16 What July 4th Means to Me

2008-07-02T18:00:00.003-05:00

As we approach the holiday weekend, I am reminded of the reasons we celebrate and the activities surrounding our celebrations. I've listed some of those below.

Our flag. I love to see the red, white, and blue flag flying.

Merry Old England. I think about England because our dear friends there always congratulate us, the colonists, on the occasion of our separation. Mighty big of them, I think.

Patriotism. I am an American, and I am proud of it. When the going gets tough, we need to pull together.

Fireworks. What's July 4 without fireworks?

Barbecues. All across the country, families and friends will be gathered around grills to prepare their regional specialities.

Hot weather. For us in the south, it's always hot.

Patriotic music. Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, the Stars and Stripes Forever, This Land is Your Land, and God Bless America always stir my soul.

Water. So many of us head to the lake or the beach for our celebrations. We'll be going to Tampa.

Freedom. That's what this holiday is about, really. It is an opportunity to think about those freedoms we enjoy today.

Our troops. How can we celebrate without thinking of the brave men and women, now and in the past, who fought for those freedoms!

Watermelon and homemade ice cream. Is that just a southern thing?

Family. We just like to be together for special celebrations.

Travel. Many of us travel over the holiday, but maybe this year not as many. Whatever we do, let's be safe.

Alexander, Here We Come!

2008-07-01T20:19:00.003-05:00

We're off to Tampa later this week to spend the 4th with the Castros, and we are so excited. Tampa is a wonderful city, and we love to visit. We enjoy the canal and the boats right outside their condo building; the cruise ships arriving and departing just a few hundred yards away; the neighborhood restaurants we can walk to; and the lovely drives and beaches. But most of all, we enjoy seeing our daughter and her family. Little Alexander, at seventeen months, is changing so fast, and we want to see the latest changes. He is saying some words--in Portuguese and in English--and he is expressing himself in so many ways. He will have a little brother by year end, and we are excited about that, too. Alexander, here we come!

Happy July 4th

2008-07-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

July the 4th is just around the corner. At our house, we're already getting in the mood. Brooks loves to play with the small flags that I have stored in the umbrella stand next to the door. I keep several American flags along with a couple Brazilian flags. When the Castros come to visit, I display both flags ouside. Anyway, Brooks like to play with the American flags---and that means we have to march. He hands everyone a flag and we have to line up and march through the house. Sometimes he leads; sometimes we do. But he has great fun! Happy July 4th to all!

Old House, Old Friends

2008-06-30T20:45:00.009-05:00

Is it that the setting was just right for a gathering of old friends, or is it that old friends make the setting just right? No matter---it was perfect.

Gentle rains that lowered the stifling temperatures; cooling breezes; the distant call of the quail; the old house filled with almost a century of memories and love and good times; the rocking chairs that seem to call our names---that was the setting to which ten old friends gathered.

Soon, the sounds of the frogs and cicadas and quail were silenced by the laughter of those friends, the tinkling of ice in refreshing beverages, myriad conversations on the porch and around the table, and the satiated sighs that followed a wonderful meal. Just another good time together in that old house!

You Been Farming Long?

2008-06-29T12:46:00.013-05:00

Tom has a picture of two little boys in their overalls with the caption, "you been farming long?". He put it on the wall at the farm. He has been waiting for our grandsons to get old enough to follow him around and to enjoy the wildlife and the open spaces with him. Well, he has one at that stage. With Brooks this weekend, we saw the "little boy" for the first time---I'm talking the heavy sweating, bee hunting, ant killing, tire kicking, pecan stomping, head-to-toe dirty, yard peeing little boy. He didn't have time for anything but exploring with Dan-Dad-De. YaYa is definite second fiddle.

Lucy's Back!

2008-06-27T06:54:00.007-05:00

Lucy was my mother-in-law, and she was wonderful! She died in 1998. The family called her Mama Lucy. She was a traditional grandmother--her arms were always open; her lap was soft and snuggley; she told great stories; she just couldn't say no; and she would do whatever the children wanted. Coke for dinner, no problem; stay up past bedtime, no problem; sleep with her, no problem. She played games when she was so sleepy she could hardly stay awake, and she cooked big meals no matter what. Our children still talk about the good times they had with her.

Andrew and Brooks are here for the weekend, and I can tell you that Lucy's back---only she looks like Granddad! There were just the four of us here last evening. Brooks, at 28 months, is very comfortable with YaYa and Granddad, so he had himself a big time. The boys first went to the train yard for Brooks to see the big trains; then they marched around the house with flags--Brooks loves to march! Then, he and Grandad played with the tractors--they filled the tractors with gas,they plowed the fields, pumped up the tires, and planted corn, butter beans, and sunflowers---all imaginative of course. Then there was jumping on the bed while singing Five Little Monkeys with Granddad ready to catch him! I didn't hear "No" one single time. Yes, Lucy is back!

TT #15 Books About Three Generations of Women

2008-06-25T18:34:00.000-05:00

I enjoy reading, and I will pick up just about anything. On my bedside table at this moment are Eat, Pray, Love; Oxymoronica; A Walk in the Woods, and Miss Read. But what I often enjoy is a good story about three generations of women. I love to read a story through the eyes of women because their families are usually close by. I have a favorite. Both my daughter and I have read it multiple times; in fact, it is literally falling apart. It is #13 in the list below, but I was surprised to find that there are hundreds of books about three generations of women. I have listed twelve, some of which I have read and some I wish to read, and my personal favorite. If you read the reviews of it on Amazon you will see that I am not alone in my enjoyment of that story.

Circle of Three--Patricia Gaffney. The lives of grandmother Dana, mother Carrie, and daughter Ruth are instantly altered by the untimely death of Carrie's husband, Stephen.

Charms for the Easy Life---Kaye Gibbons This new novel depicts three generations of Southern women living together during World War II.

Wild Swans---Jung Chang. The author recounts the evocative, unsettling, and insistently gripping story of how three generations of women in her family fared in the political maelstrom of China during the 20th century.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water---Michael Dorris. This spare generational novel presents Rayona, Christine and "Aunt" Ida, Native American mothers and daughters bonded by blood and secrets.

Jump at the Sun---Kim McLarin. McLarin (Taming It Down) weaves the stories of three generations of mothers and daughters in astringent prose ("You couldn't be expected to live without them, but you'd better remember at all times, even with the good ones, that it was you against them," Grace muses of the wild cards that are men). Her characters chafe against the bonds of poverty, racism and feminine stereotypes, but their deeper struggle is to resolve their longing for fulfillment with ties of the heart.

Unburnable---Marie-elena John. This compelling first novel traces the fortunes of three generations of women from the small Caribbean Island of Dominica. Matilda, descended from African slaves, was a famous healer and possible murderer.

Three Generations---Yom Sang-seop. Three Generations is a classic work of Korean fiction following the tense dynamics of the Jo family in 1930s Japanese-occupied Seoul.

Moon Women---Pamela Duncan. Set in western North Carolina, this first novel follows three generations of Moon women during the months of granddaughter Ashley's unplanned pregnancy.

Hanna's Daughters---Marianne Fredriksson. Shifting back and forth across time and generations, the story introduces three strong Swedish women: Hanna, her daughter Johanna, and Anna, her granddaughter.

Sweet Mandarin--Helen Tse. a true story of three generations of chinese women and their journey from East to West---from brutal poverty in the village to newly prosperous Hong Kong in the 1930s, and then to the UK.

African Women: Three Generations--Mark Mathabane. This gripping saga presents a truthful, passionate, and illuminative biography of his great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother in South Africa. Mathabane vividly describes the shocking, heartbreaking stories of each generation of women as they struggle for independent incomes to support themselves and their children; while resisting apartheid, they must also resist the traditions imposed by their own society and the oppresion imposed by their men.

Teta, Mother, and Me: Three Generations of Arab Women---Jean Said Makdisi. The author explores the lives of three generations of Palestinian women, deftly illuminating a tumultuous century of modern Middle Eastern history, while raising important questions about the efficacy of ideology, the process of social development and the role of memory.

East of the Sun---Barbara Bickmore. This is one of my all-time favorite novels. It is historical romance loosely based on the tumultuous history of 20th century Africa amid the dismantling of European colonialism. It begins with Lilianne Wentworth who travels to Africa as a medical missionary, and it follows her and her daughter and granddaughter for sixty years. What a story!

I Wish the Quilts Could Talk

2008-06-23T20:52:00.017-05:00

I've been working on a little project. I found a quilt top recently when I was looking through some old trunks at our farm. My MIL left three trunks filled with all manner of memorabilia--old greeting cards, scores of crocheted and tatted doilies, embroidered pillowcases, gifts---all sorts of things. I've left them largely untouched for our two married children if they ever wanted to go through them. So far, they haven't. Too little time; too little room for more stuff; too much stuff of their own. Anyway, we've kept it safe for them.

But, when I found that quilt top, I talked to my precious daughter and said, "hey, why don't we enjoy this; I'd like to display it." Of course, she said. Anyway, I've been preparing it for a wall hanging in our farm house. I already have one quilt hung in the dining room, and one quilt top hung over the bed as a canopy; they are just beautiful works of art to me. This much smaller top will be just right for a wall in the front room. I sewed a sleeve on the back of it and purchased a wood dowel to run through the sleeve. I will cap the dowel with finials, and it should be ready to hang without stressing the quilt.

Anyway, while I was sewing that sleeve here at home, I decided to check on a stack of quilts that were safely--I hoped--stored in an adjacent closet. I began pulling them out and inspecting them, and taking pictures. So many memories and so many questions.

If you have quilts, do you think of the hands that sewed those tiny stitches? Do you wonder when they found the time---was it when the babies were napping, or when the peas were all shelled? Was it after the laundry was done, or when the table was cleared of supper? Do you wonder what they talked about? Was it my MIL and her MIL talking quietly about the activity in the fields or at church? Was it a group of friends who gathered for lunch and an afternoon of quilting? Did they tear up all the worn-out clothes and save even the tiny scraps? I wish those quilts could talk.

I photographed about ten quilts, I think. The oldest one that I can document is one my grandmother quilted for my father in 1936. She embroidered his name and the year on it. I think she died the very next year, at age 54. Another old one is the pink and blue appliqued one; still another is the friendship quilt that includes initials of my MILs friends on each square. I believe most of the quilts were made in the forties and fifties. Some quilts are beautifully arranged with like colors and definite patterns. Others are clearly utilitarian. If there weren't enough of one fabric to make the lining or the squares, another was substituted.

Some of those quilts have been used often; they are worn, and there are weak places in the fabrics. Others appear never to have been used; perhaps they were being saved for harder times.

Oh, I wish those quilts could talk. I wish they could tell me how the crops fared that year and whether the rains came in time. I wish they could tell me if there was money left over to buy a couple of lengths of fabric. I wish they could tell me who made the neatest stitches or who was the biggest gossip. I do wish those quilts could talk!

Pieces of My Quilt

If quilts could talk
I'd like to think I'd hear just what they'd say,
"I'll hold you close within my folds and wipe your tears away.
I'll keep you warm and give you strength to face another day."
If quilts could talk...

If quilts could sing
I'd like to think I'd recognize each tune,
The lullaby or funeral dirge or wedding march in June.
Both sweet and haunting melodies I'd listen to them croon.
If quilts could sing...

If quilts could write
I'd like to think I'd read the words they'd pen,
Of life and love and motherhood, of mystery without end.
And, oh, the drama they could share of everywhere they'd been.
If quilts could write...

If quilts could pray
I'd like to think I'd feel each heartfelt prayer
Of thankfulness or great concern for those within their care;
Petitions to a loving God - the One who's always there.
If quilts could pray...

The quilt of my own life
Finds voice to talk, sing, write, and pray,
As it weaves a hundred stories in its own eclectic way.
And with each stitch of grace and hope my legacy is built;
All fragments finally made a whole...
the pieces of my quilt.
~ Lucinda Secrest McDowell, 1998

What Do You Do at the Farm, Anyway?

2008-06-21T21:21:00.006-05:00

After a date night with friends at Sakura, our new favorite Japanese restaurant, on Friday, we were up bright and early this morning to head to the farm for a work day. What did we do? We did a little of this and a little of that, and we enjoyed every minute. It was hot, and the gnats were irritating as usual, and I don't like to sweat, but I hung in there. As you can see from the slides, we accomplished a lot, and the day ended with a much needed rain.

TT #14 Things I Did at Work Yesterday

2008-06-18T17:45:00.001-05:00

I did my first TT on things I like about my work. This week, I'd like to tell you some of the things I do on a given day. The thing I like best about my job is that tomorrow will be very different. Here are just 13 of the things I did yesterday:

I wrote three thank-you notes to leaders about the Wiregrass Regional Summit that was held at our College last week.

I drafted a letter to a major donor who completed his pledge to the College's Foundation.

I responded to a required survey on the needs of workforce development programs in our state.

I attended a luncheon meeting of a women's group to which I belong. The program this month was from the club president/librarian who provided suggestions for summer reading.

I had a phone meeting with an employee who is joining our division in a new position.

Wearing another of my hats, I met with a college employee who has specific concerns--can't say more than that.

I met with a staff member to discuss a new program.

I signed half a dozen checks for the Foundation.

I reviewed the agenda for a Foundation meeting early this morning.

I met with a group at the Chamber of Commerce to hear more about an exciting new community educational initiative called Yes We Can.

I peeped in on a Kids Kollege class about Legos that meets in my building.

I discussed a hiring issue with the HR office.

I thought about cleaning off my desk, but it didn't happen.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

The Weekend

2008-06-16T17:32:00.005-05:00

I love weekends,and the best ones---for me---are the really busy ones. This was one of those. We spent time with Son; enjoyed adult dinner; spent day at farm with projects; examined our crops--sunflowers, figs, and grain sorghum; enjoyed Father's Day with Son's family, Mother, and call from Elizabeth; ended with dinner party at the farm. Who needs rest!

TT #13 Community Supported Agriculture

2008-06-08T20:52:00.010-05:00

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a term I have just learned. I know about farming. Both my husband and I have roots in farming; in fact we own the small family farm where my husband grew up, and as an avocation we grow pine trees and provide wildlife habitat. We have a fig tree that will be producing in the next week or so---and I can hardly wait. We also have several pecan trees, and we are trying to grow a few sunflowers, both for me and the other wildlife (ha). However, we are far removed from farming as livelihood. Here's what I have learned about a great program called community supported agriculture:

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) originated in Japan (1960s) and Europe (1970s) and began in the United States in the 1980s.

This "movement" encourages relationships between farmers and consumers.

The goal of this relationship is to provide solutions to the problems of small farm survival, food quality, nutrition, community building, sustainability and quality of life.

CSA involves the consumer buying a "share" of or "membership" in a farming operation. For that share, the consumer gets a bag of produce each week during the growing season.

This partnership provides the farmer with capital to plant the crops and ensures a guaranteed market for their products.

As shareholders of the farm business, the consumers share the risks with the farmer. If there is no rain or if some other problem strikes, the bounty for the week might not be so bountiful. In this way, the risks are spread throughout the whole membership rather than falling solely on the farmer.

Another benefit to the consumers is that they become more knowledgeable about the growing of food. Just like a person who buys stock in XYZ Company want to learn something about XYZ's business, the CSA consumer could learn about different varieties of vegetables, how much rain the region has enjoyed, whether there is irrigation, and what "green" techniques the farmer is using. Consumers become involved in the production of the food they eat.

The consumer enjoys a variety of fresh produce, produced locally, and becomes directly connected to the food source.

The consumer will be supporting a small farm and contributing to your local economy.

Consumers can visit the farm and even work there on a volunteer basis.

Another great benefit is the chance to build community with farmers and other shareholders.

The CSA program encourages social responsibility towards stewarding the earth.

Participating in a CSA program is a green thing to do.

I have learned about one CSA farm in our region, and I plan to contact the farmer this week to learn more. Do you participate in a CSA? If so, please tell us about it in your comment.

What You Do When Its Hot---Really Hot!

2008-06-08T16:17:00.007-05:00

We met the younger Roneys at the lake on Saturday. It was really hot---98-100! We stayed in the boat or in the water as much as we could. Brooks was a trooper. He's not quite ready to take on the tube, but he had a great time watching the rest of us tube and ski.

We ended the day with a great meal after Brooks was tucked in for the night. It was a joint effort. Tom prepared the wonderful little filets on the grill just perfectly. Tara made her killer Grits Casserole. Andrew was the showman with his Caesar Salad, and I roasted a little asparagus and prepared the strawberries with balsamic vinegar for dessert. What a meal! What a weekend!

Guess Which City

2008-06-05T18:27:00.005-05:00

We visited this city, outside the US, a couple of years ago. Can you guess which it is? I have the answer posted at the bottom of my previous post.

For more Skywatch Friday, please visit Tom.

TT #12 Thoughts on Leadership

2008-06-04T18:08:00.004-05:00

I did a short post a few weeks ago on Mac Anderson's little book, You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School. It is a compilation of anecdotes, lessons learned, and simple truths about leadership. You can view a short video on the book here. For Thursday Thirteen, I thought I would list some of the lessons learned and simple truths. The words in italics are quoted.

It's the little things, not the big ones, that will earn the respect of your people. Even taking the time to listen---really listen---is important.

Change is good...You go first. The president at our college always says no one likes change except a wet baby.

Accept your Limitations and You'll Expand Your Potential. That one is easy for me. There are so many things I cannot do--but there are probably an equal number that I can do.

If your company mission is to climb a tree, which would you rather do: hire a squirrel or train a horse? This may be my favorite. It is so simple, and it speaks to the wisdom in playing to peoples' strengths.

Attitude isn't everything, but it's pretty darn close. When hiring new people, Anderson says we should notice their attitudes, then ask "is theirs worth catching?"

Customer service is not a department...it's an attitude. Is that ever the truth!

Eat the Frog. Anderson says, "if the first thing you do when you wake us is to eat a live frog, then nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day." I'd say that's right! So, he says, we need to look at our to-do list, identify the frogs, then eat them first---and it's smooth sailing after that.

Less is almost always more. Keep it simple.

Wisdom is knowing the right path to take...Integrity is taking it. Integrity is not what we do as much as who we are. and who we are, in turn, determines what we do." (John Maxwell).

A leader's job is to look into the future and see the organization, not as it is, but as it should be. Enough said.

We aren't in the coffee business serving people. We're in the people business serving coffee. Yep--that's from Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks.

Quality is the Mother...And we don't mess with Mom. Quality is a core value in successful companies.

Turn up the Fun-O-Meter. What companies comes to mind? Southwest Airlines. Google. A little fun at work is a good thing.

This is a good little book to share with your colleagues or your family members.

What do Fish Oil, Vitamin D, and Wine Have in Common?

2008-06-03T20:30:00.006-05:00

Well, I'll tell you in a minute. but first--hear about MY NUMBERS! Blood pressure--great; all the cholesterols--great; bones, good.

One bit of interesting info from the doc. He prescribed heavy doses of Vitamin D twice a month. He says new studies are out which show that D, along with calcium, is important in warding off osteoporosis and that it has shown some promise in fighting cancers and autoimmune diseases. He says that we used to get plenty of D from sun exposure, but since many of us have curtailed that, we do not get enough. Plus, he says, the recommended daily dosage of 400 units is nowhere near enough. He said that in three to five years he would expect that most people would be on Vitamin D because the data show it is effective.

I checked my multi-vitamin--it has 500 units. My prescription is for 50,000 units twice each month. I've done a little research, and it can't hurt. Wouldn't it be wonderful if lil' ole Vitamin D is a cheap miracle.

Another cheap miracle, IMHO, is fish oil. We've been taking statins as a high cholesterol preventive for several years; however, we added fish oil two years ago, and our LDLs,HDLs, and TGs have improved as much as 30%---amazing. I asked the doc if we could discontinue the statins and try the fish oil only. Nope, he said; doesn't work that way.

The real question is--how much benefit does the red wine provide? I bet lots!

Anyway, definitely a cause for celebration!

Roast Pork Loin

2008-06-01T19:14:00.015-05:00

When we cleaned out the freezers yesterday, we found items that we had forgotten about. Among those were a half pork loin, figs I had put up last summer. and a bag of the little white peas that we all enjoy so much. They were to become the backbone of our lunch today.

For the pork loin, I decided to modify Frank Stitt's recipe, Roast Pork Loin Stuffed with Rosemary, Bacon, and Onions. I wanted to use the figs in the stuffing.

I had frozen the figs in a sugar water mixture, so I simply cooked them until the liquid was gone. At the same time, I cooked diced onions and celery in another pan until they were translucent. I added some finely-diced smoked sausage, minced garlic, and salt and pepper, and then I added it all to the fig mixture. Here's how that looked:

I also crumbled some of the cornbread that I made yesterday and added it to the fig mixture. Then, it was ready to stuff.

To prepare the roast, I assembled our tools:

We use a 1" pvc pipe with a notched end (Tom made in the shop) to bore the hole through the middle of the pork loin. I hold the roast steady, and Tom gently twisted the pipe back and forth until he reached the other end. We used the dowel to pack the stuffing in the roast. After we packed the stuffing in, I wrapped the roast in kitchen twine and plugged each end of the roast with a 1/2" piece of the tenderloin that we removed from the roast---to keep too much of the stuffing from cooking out. Here's how the roast looked before cooking.

The recipe said cook at 450 for twenty minutes, then 325 for thirty minutes. I had to cook it about twelve minutes longer. Here's how it looked as we sliced it.

I also cooked the little white peas. Mother ate lunch with us, and one of the things she likes on her peas is a fresh relish of diced tomatoes, onions, and sweet peppers with a little vinegar and water added. It really is good. Here's a peak at the peas and relish.

Cleaned Out Your Freezers Lately?

2008-05-31T22:10:00.007-05:00

I don't know what got into us! I guess it was the oppressive heat--almost 95 today and it's still May. Anyway, this morning we decided to clean out the refrigerator freezer. I won't even tell you what all we found in there. Suffice it to say, we threw away a lot; then we wiped it down good and got it all put back together. Bad job done! Then...TFR says let's clean out the big freezer outside. Same deal--we threw away a lot. Anyway, we have nice clean freezers on the inside, and TFR even cleaned the door on the big one. We even have a little shelf space now.

Well, I guess that got me in the mood, so I began cleaning out drawers, and this afternoon, while he was at the farm "tinkering", I cleaned out drawers in the bathroom---out of date stuff, hairbrushes, makeup, hairspray, toothpaste---and on and on. Three more small garbage bags full to throw away. Feels good!

Back to the freezers; I found stuff I didn't know I had. So tomorrow for lunch, I'll cook a pork loin stuffed with with cornbread, figs, onion, and celery and little white peas. We'll see how that turns out.

So for all that work, I feel like we accomplished something---and I have Sunday lunch planned!

Family, Flag, and Fun

2008-05-29T19:19:00.005-05:00

We spent Memorial Day Weekend at the Lake. It was a lovely weekend--great weather, lots of people out having a good time, and so many flags flying. We did not forget to say a little prayer for our women and men in uniform, both now and in the past.

I took this picture of our flag flying on the deck with the blue sky and trees behind it.

For more Skywatch Friday, please visit Tom.

TT #11 For Better or Worse

2008-05-27T12:40:00.012-05:00

My favorite comic strip is Lynn Johnston's For Better or Worse. I have enjoyed it for twenty years or so, at least since our son grew up and moved us past the Calvin and Hobbes stage.
We have raised our family with John, Elly, Michael, Elizabeth, and April Patterson. I am saddened to know that the story-line, as I have loved it, will end this fall. In this TT, I want to list the things I like about For Better or Worse.

John and Elly Patterson are about the same age as we are. He is a dentist; she, a book lover.

Their two older children, Michael and Elizabeth, are about the same age as our children, but we had the girl first.

The Patterson's have a later-in-life child, April, but we did not.

John and Elly have maintained a very traditional home. John is the primary breadwinner, but Elly has worked much of the time. Ditto, here.

The story-line included grandparents who are invloved with the family. Same here.

Michael's friends when he was growing up had issues. Lawrence, born out-of-wedlock, revealed his homosexuality; Gordon, a victim of child abuse and neglect, couldn't go to college, but he has succeeded in his automobile business and with his family. We didn't deal with issues so difficult, but we learned along with the Pattersons.

Elizabeth dealt with sexual harassment/attempted rape at her work. She grew into an independent young woman, which is how we wanted to raise our daughter.

April is a teen now, with interests in music and preparing for college. She is a loyal friend to a diverse group, and she is not afraid to show her serious side.

Gramma Marian died some years ago; Grampa Jim married Iris and is now recovering from a stroke. We have experienced declining health among our parents.

Grampa Jim helped April discover her love of music. Our children didn't have grampas, but they had grammas who loved them fiercely.

Elizabeth has exerted her independence by going away from home to teach. She has had several boyfriends as she has refined her qualification list, and she is now engaged to Anthony, her high school boyfriend who is divorced with a child.

John has semi-retired from his dental practice, and he and Elly have bought a smaller house just down the street. We have a retirement looming in our house.

Son Michael, a successful writer, has moved in the Patterson home with his own family. Like him, our children are now "happy, healthy, married, and employed with health insurance" for which we are grateful.

I amazed that a cartoonist can communicate so much information in only four frames per day. Ms. Johnston has managed to create characters with whom we can identify, and she has tapped social, personal, and communication problems with a tenderness touched with realism. My morning cup of coffee just won't be the same without the Pattersons.

Have any of you met them?

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Family, Flag, Friends, Fun, and Fresh Water

2008-05-26T09:33:00.016-05:00

What a fun weekend! We kicked it off at the lake on Friday afternoon. The young Roneys arrived shortly after we did, and we headed straight for the boat. The goal this weekend was to acclimate the ever-cautious Mr. Brooks to riding the boat. After thirty minutes or so, he was comfortable enough to help Granddaddy drive. More boating on Saturday, then happy hour on the deck with lake neighbors, followed by fajitas for dinner---Tara's choice.

Sunday brought more boating, a quick lunch, then clean up. The young Roneys headed back to Columbus, and we headed across the river to Georgia for an evening with friends. What an evening it was! Appropriate beverages, good cheeses, and conversation to start; then an incredible meal of local ingredients---cold Vidalia onion soup; salad of watermelon, feta cheese, and mint; then penne with local sausage, green peas, and sun dried tomatoes and a side serving of fresh tomatoes with mozzarella cheese; then a delectable strawberry dish for dessert. WOW!

If you add to that a few bottles of wine, six intelligent, opinionated people, and political discussion, you can imagine the fun. It was one of those magical evenings!

Our weekend ended tonight, back at home, with a group of friends at the country club's Memorial Day Barbecue!

Our Tampa children weren't with us, but they had their own celebrations, and they sent a couple of pictures.

Too many good photos, so here's the slide show:

The Texas Sky

2008-05-22T18:02:00.004-05:00

I visited Austin, Texas last week for a mini-reunion with old friends. We had a lovely weekend. Of course, in the glow of renewed friendships, I thought everything was lovely, including the sky!

For more Skywatch Friday, please visit Tom.

TT #10 Thirteen Things to Take on a Four-Year Trip to Africa?

2008-05-21T17:30:00.002-05:00

I had the pleasure this past weekend of meeting five of my high school girlfriends in Texas for a mini-reunion. It was a lovely weekend. We shared memories of our school days and the turns our lives have taken in the decades since. One member of our group is packing up her life, putting it in storage, and moving to Namibia in Africa, with her husband, for a four-year mission assignment. For many reasons, they will not be taking much with them; the luggage limit is very low. Late one evening, we began talking about what she would take with her to make a new, sparse place seem like home. We came up with a few of these, and I added others:

One or two tea towels. No room in a home is more important than a kitchen, and having a familiar towel that smells like home would b welcome. I would take two that are well-used and that I can remember using on special occasions.

Photos. There won't be much room to pack frames and glass and such; but a few well-chosen, favorites of the children, grandchildren, parents, and friends would be very nice to have. I would take a nice big stack of 4" x 6" pics and hope that my family back home would send new ones regularly.

Art. Again, not much room, but surely one special piece. I would take my painting of young African women playing hide and seek among the trees. It would remind me of home; yet it will fit in the new environment, too.

Recipes. I am sure there would be no room for a library of cookbooks, but what about a few family recipes---at least the favorites. I would take my family recipes for egg custard, grits casserole, pound cake, and macaroni and cheese---all good comfort food---and maybe I could sneak in my favorite cookbook, Frank Stitt's Southern Table.

Bath soap. I would take a few bars. We use Dial at our house, and I would love that fragrance after a shower at the end of a long,busy day.

Books. Okay, we have to take a few---at least the ones that seem like old friends. I would take, in addition to the Bible, East of the Sun, my favorite about three generations of women in Africa, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Emily Dickinson's Poems, and journals for me to write my own stories.

A dress-up outfit. I have this picture of a remote outpost with only utilitarian amenities, and I can understand the reasons for that. However, I know that on occasion I would want to dress-up as a celebration. My mind's picture of African women is that they like to dress up, too---brightly colored clothing, many bangle bracelets, and other jewelry. I would want to bring along my pearls, some sparkly jewelry, a few scarves--they don't require much room---and one pair of to-die-for shoes---you know, the ones about which you might say, "Oh, I just love them, and they don't hurt too much!"

Bed pillows. I would just have to have my own, the one in which I have nestled my head for years and that has absorbed the smells of myself and my room.

Sewing machine. Old fashioned maybe, but necessary. I would enjoy being able to sew pillows or curtains or throws or wall hangings from wonderful African prints. Oh, and I would want my well-stocked little sewing box, too.

A fan of some sort. Whew! My mind tells me it will be hot. A ceiling fan would be wonderful, or at least a table-top oscillating fan.

DVDs and CDs. Again, for a little taste of home. My baser self is evident here; I'd be looking for pure escapism---The Godfather series (can missionaries watch that?), Dirty Dancing, An American President, maybe even Lonesome Dove for my husband. And for the CDs, a little Tony Bennett, Etta James, Willie Nelson, a Christmas CD with the old carols and hymns, and a little classical for balance.

Hubby's tools. Just the basic set---a screwdriver set, pliers, a measuring tape, hammer, and nails.

Duct tape and WD-40. You know---duct tape for the things that shouldn't move, but do; and WD-40 for the things that should move, but don't.

What would you take on a four-year trip away from home?

If you'd like to read my other Lists of Thirteen, go here.

Same Sweet Girls

2008-05-18T15:16:00.020-05:00

I recently read Same Sweet Girls,a novel by noted southern author Cassandra King, a native of my town. My college brought her to campus a few weeks ago to discuss her book about six college friends who meet twice yearly to continue their friendship over their adult lives. Though her book is not autobiographical, the idea came from her own experience with six college friends. She had just met with them the weekend before she visited in our town, and I was delighted to tell her about my impending visit to Texas to meet five of my high school girlfriends. Her eyes sparked as she wished me the same delight in my friendships that she had enjoyed in hers.

I returned today from my Same Sweet Girls reunion; it was magical! Among us were four who had been together four times in recent years; one who joined us last year; and another who joined us just this year. Among us, some could trace their friendships back to elementary school, but all of us were friends beginning in the seventh grade. So, for seven impressionable years---six years in school together and less so the first year of college as we went different ways and weaned away from each other---our lives were closely entertwined. Together, we endured puberty, shared slumber parties, developed and sharpened academic skills, enjoyed extracurricular activities, found boyfriends and lost them, suffered through President Kennedy's assassination, supported each other through often unknown family crises, learned the value of friendship, and then were strong enough to go off to separate colleges. Shortly after that, Life happened---college demands, marriages, jobs, children, moves, and so we were separated by time and space and circumstance. But through it all, the bond was there---the memories, the experiences, the shared youth and discovery, and the strength that formed the framework for who we have become.

This weekend, despite the decades that have ensued, took us back to that place so many years ago. We were girls again at a sleep-over---giggling, sharing, supporting, loving. Yes, we are the same sweet girls---just stronger, more resilient, more balanced. We've experienced joy, happiness, loss, health issues, and family issues, and we have survived. We are better grounded now, less likely to be thrown off balance by Life events---sort of like the Weebles our children played with--Weebles wobble but they won't fall down.

Today, we are six mature women shaped both by our early years together and our own separate experiences since. But we are still the same sweet girls: the pensive, contemplative one---the intellectual one still; the earth mother, always wise beyond her years; the cheerleader---then and now cheering us on, looking for the sunshine; the nurturer who is about to take on one of the biggest challenges of her life; the steady one, grounded in her faith; and the off-the-chart extrovert who can be overexuberant.

Different as we are, we are bound by our common experiences and our need to revisit those experiences. There will be time for other reunions.

Night Music

2008-05-15T18:13:00.001-05:00

I took this photo one night in March at our farm. Our guests had just left, and we were closing up for the night when I saw the moon peaking through those pecan limbs that had not yet put on their leaves. I thought it was beautiful. Maybe you will think so, too.

I will be out of town Thursday through Sunday, but through the new scheduling feature of Blogger, this should post Thursday evening. Please be patient with my visits to you, which I will make when I return.

For more Skywatch Friday photos, visit Tom.

TT #9 Thirteen Oxymorons

2008-05-14T18:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite little bedside books is Dr. Mardy Grothe's Oxymoronica (2004). He defines oxymoronica as "any variety of tantalizing, self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are true, often profoundly true." So today I am listing thirteen oxymorons from his book. (I'll be away beginning tomorrow through Sunday for a weekend trip---please be patient with my delayed visits.)

I hate intolerant people. (Gloria Steinem)

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. (Mark Twain)

I love mankind---it's people I can't stand. (Charles M. Schultz)

Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you. (Carl Jung)

How is it possible to have a civil war? (George Carlin)

It's not that I am afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens. (Woody Allen)

There are some ideas so wrong that only a very intelligent person could believe in them. (George Orwell)

Only love can be divided endlessly and still not diminish. (Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

Scratch a lover and find a foe. (Dorothy Parker)

A girl must marry for love, and keep on marrying until she finds it. (Zsa Zsa Gabor)

The child is father of the man. (William Wordsworth)

Their very silence is a loud cry. (Cicero)

No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut. (Sam Rayburn)

The Circle of Life

2008-05-11T16:13:00.004-05:00

This Mother's Day weekend has been a busy one, and it has indicated to me that, indeed, Life and Time roll on. We began the weekend by taking friends to dinner at a new restaurant slightly out of town. We enjoyed our time together talking about our grandsons--they have three; we have two---our travel plans, our work, and our many good times together. On Saturday, we attended an 80th birthday party for a cousin. We saw and visited with four generations of some families. The party was held outside on the pristine site of another cousin's preserved log cabin and, though the heat and gnats were bothersome, the party spirit was evident. It is hard to believe that ELF is 80 years old, but time marches on.

Our children and the little boys were here last weekend, so their sweet cards were all we had of them this weekend. Elizabeth, our precious and beautiful daughter, who is herself the mother of one and expecting another, sent a card which read, "Mom, who would have ever imagined the day when I'd be the one all stressed out, raising a family and you'd be the one out playing and enjoying life." And my daughter-in-law, in her blog, titled a picture of Brooks and Alexander as "the next generation". Time marches on.

While our children weren't here today, my mother was. We picked her up from the Terrace, and I cooked some of her favorites for lunch--cubed steak, creamed corn, pear salad, and apple pie. She was not doing well; she just couldn't walk. Mother is 85, frail, and challenged by Parkinson's. Time marches on. We can't change that; we wouldn't want to. We just need to enjoy every minute.

We had dinner out tonight with other friends. We talked about travel and remodeling and family. They don't have children, but they have close cousins and nieces and nephews, and they are the most loving people, so we had a delightful evening.

Our weekend was diverse---dinner with friends, family birthday party, and cards and phone calls from our children. It was a lovely weekend.

My favorite gift on Mother's Day is always the same---it is simply knowing that my children are happy and healthy (and employed with health insurance)!

Lazy Hazy Day at the Lake

2008-05-08T18:02:00.008-05:00

We drove up to the Lake earlier this week to find the sky blue, the water calm, and the haze settled in. It seems early for the haze and heat, but this is the Deep south, and the temps have already reached the high eighties. It was midweek, so no boats were out; no people were about. It was just the sky and the water--peaceful and calm.

For more Skywatch Friday participants, visit Wigger's World

TT #8 Things I like about Wine

2008-05-07T18:30:00.006-05:00

I'm sorry; I just had a hard time with this week's theme. I just couldn't think of something "gross" to write about. I looked at all angles, but I just couldn't get it. I know some of you will be very creative, and then I'll have one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.

However, I finally remembered that I have at least 144 bottles of wine in my collection. Does that count? Then how about

Thirteen Things I like about Wine

Vineyards. I have visited one or two in the past, and I will be tripping to Napa in August. That's where it all begins.

Labels. I love wine labels. In fact, I am drawn to purchase sometimes because of the label--or the name. Vintners know that, do they? Some labels in my cellar---Running with Scissors; Sixteen Hands; Red Truck; Jest Red.

Corks. I save them and recycle. I make place card holders and trivets.

Color. I love the colors of wine, and isn't it interesting that some of our favorite colors are named for wine--burgundy and claret, and champagne.

Boxes. I love the box a case of wine is packed in. I use them to transport wine glasses, and they are great for packing books.

Stemware. I just refuse to drink wine from anything else. I have some great acrylic wine stems that I travel with, and I love to pull them out at a picnic, or on the boat, or at a casual party.

Bottle bag. I have this great Reisenthel Bottle Bag. Made of canvas, it has nine compartments. I can put four of my acrylic stems in it, a couple of bottles of wine, a corkscrew, a bottle of water, and a bottle of aspirin (which reminds me not to have too much fun)---and I'm ready for the party!

Atmosphere. There's something about wine that begs for atmosphere, and sometimes wine is the atmosphere. Don't you feel special with a stem of wine in your hand?

Cheese. To the old saying from The Rubiyaiyat, "a loaf of bread, a flask of wine, a book of verse, and Thou", I would have to add a wedge of cheese. For me, it would be a boule of Tuscan bread, an English Stilton, a montepulciano d'abruzzo, and Emily Dickinson's verse.

The buzz in the room. I love the sounds in the room an hour into the party when the wine has put a glow on those gathered.

Corkscrews. Have you ever seen so many kinds? Often, the simplest ones are the best.

Wine quotes. I love wine quotes. Some of my favorites, and shortest, are: In vino veritas (Pliny); Wine is bottled poetry (RL Stevenson); I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines (O Goldsmith); and It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend; one's present or future thirst; the excellence of the wine; or any other reason (Latin saying).

Thou. See #9. Wine is best enjoyed with others.

Big Children and Little Children

2008-05-05T13:04:00.008-05:00

Family time is good time--and we had plenty of good times over the weekend. Elizabeth and Alexander flew in late on Thursday (Papai stayed in Tampa, but we missed him), and the Columbus children, Andrew, Tara, and Brooks, came in late on Friday.

We had several years, before grandchildren, to enjoy our adult children and their spouses, and we always valued our meals together. We tried to make an event out of our evenings---a new recipe, a new wine find, or what we called an interactive dinner where we mixed up the couples and each prepared a dish. Well, those days are over for a while. On Friday night we cooked on the grill, and we opened some good wine, and we ate in shifts. That's about all I remember.

But it was fun to watch the little boys, Brooks and Alexander, learn their way around each other. We saw a little cousin rivalry, but they soon learned to co-exist. Brooks, the elder at 26 months, is learning about sharing, and Alexander, the younger at 15 months, is prone to hairpulling in his enthusiasm. They are two smart little boys; they just approach the world very differently. Brooks, the cautious one, wants to size up everyone and everything, and he seems to love learning. He knows all the colors, most of the alphabet, and he can count to twelve. He is adding new words to his vocabulary every day. Alexander, the fearless one, travels at warp speed and is very verbal; we just don't know what he's saying most of the time. He can approximate mama; he points to a fish and says "peixe" (like pesh, which is fish in Portuguese), and he knows animal sounds for tiger, cow, and dog. I think he said YaYa, but I couldn't convince the others of that. They are so precious.

They both love books, dogs, and being outside, so we spent a lot of time doing those things. We took rides on the stroller and tricycle; we visited the neighborhood park, and we spent one day at the farm. Did I say how precious they are?

Alexander's mother, with another one on the way, isn't feeling too perky these days, but thank goodness, the rest of us were in fair shape. Otherwise, we could never have kept up with the little boys. Whew! But, you know what? They are precious!

A slideshow from the weekend:

Mount Rushmore

2008-05-01T20:02:00.002-05:00

We made a bike trip to Sturgis, South Dakota a couple of years ago. I had never seen Mount Rushmore. It was breathtaking, especially when framed as it was here. I took the photo from inside a tunnel through the mountain. The likenesses had recently been cleaned, hence the whiteness you see. Our country is beautiful!

For more Skywatch photos, visit Wiggers World.

TT #7 Advice from Walt Whitman

2008-04-30T19:59:00.004-05:00

Advice from Walt Whitman

When I earned a doctorate in 1993 from the University of Alabama, the speaker at graduation was Howell Raines, an Alabama native, who was editorial page editor at the New York Times. He delivered a memorable address, and, in keeping with the custom of including advice for the graduates, Raines quoted Walt Whitman. In Whitman's preface to Leaves of Grass, his collection of twelve poems published in 1855 and added to over his lifetime, he wrote (all the words are quoted exactly from Whitman; I added only the numbers):

"This is what you shall do:

Love the earth and sun and the animals,

despise riches,

give alms to every one that asks,

stand up for the stupid and crazy,

devote your income and labor to others,

hate tyrants,

argue not concerning God,

have patience and indulgence toward the people,

take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men,

go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families,

read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life,

re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book,

dismiss whatever insults your own soul;

and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body."

Good advice 150 years later, I think!

Regarding Education

2008-04-29T22:15:00.011-05:00

I don't know about your community, but in mine we struggle with our concerns about education. In addition to our classroom teachers trying as hard as they can with limited resources, the rest of us are trying to help in our own ways. The Governor asked me to chair a regional committee on education, and I am struggling to provide meaningful leadership. What possible new questions can we ask? What possible new answers might we develop? What possible new initiatives might we try?

In the midst of struggling with these questions---and meeting with various groups---and reading more about the problems in education, I was invited to present a program to a local women's group on "Education as a Change Agent." Whew! Talk about another challenge! To tell you the truth, I don't even remember much of what I said. I do remember issuing a disclaimer that I was not speaking for my college or for the Governor's committee---that my comments could only be blamed on Kay.

I think the premise of my talk was that the problem we think is education is not education at all; rather it is poverty. The result of that talk was that I have been asked to present the same program to the Rotary Club. In the original program, I was talking mostly off the cuff, but I can't do that with Rotary, so I've been reading and studying more. Again my blogging acquaintances have come to my rescue. I have discovered several sites which have provided insight and information. My teacher friend over at History is Elementary introduced me to a privilege meme, which brings home the issue of privilege and how we grew up. You might want to try that little exercise. If you are a baby boomer,it will be interesting to answer first for yourself and then for your children. You will see vast differences, I bet.

Then, over at Aha! Process, Inc, I met Dr. Ruby K. Payne and was inroduced to her book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty. I have since ordered the book, and I look forward to reading it. Her web site is incredible, too. Take a look.

I guess I am rambling a little because I have not really written about why I think the issue is poverty. I think I will chew on the subject a little more--and I hope you will, too. Think about the privilege exercise; think about the people you see at the supermarket and at the superstores; think about the people who do business with the pay-day loan companies, the check cashing companies, and the pawn shops; and think about the people who ride the school buses in our town. I would be happy to hear your comments. More on this subject later.

Rollin' on the River VII

2008-04-27T18:09:00.029-05:00

I don't even know how to describe this weekend, except to share the recipe for a successful party. The ingredients:

Beautiful spring weather

Boat rides on the lake

a quaint village in the south

great southern food

international and national guests---Brazil, London, Egypt, New York, Portland

a local saloon

300 local friends and relatives

happy hosts

Mix well. Add a hot band, folding chairs and coolers, hot dogs, hoop cheese and oatmeal cookies, a big dance floor---and get out of the way. That's a recipe for Rollin' on the River VII Weekend. There is just too much to tell. Perhaps the pictures can speak for themselves.

And Tom's favorite photo of the weekend--the one of him and Dani, the Brazilian model:

A Day to Ride

2008-04-24T17:27:00.010-05:00

I took this photo while on a motorcycle trip to Apalachicola, Florida, about 150 miles from our home. We were traveling about 55 mph. Apalachicola is a historic fishing village on the coast of the Florida panhandle where the Apalachicola River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is in a part of the state that has been slow to develop, but it is beginning to boom. It was a beautiful ride through back roads and miles and miles of pine forests. In the photo, you can see a few clouds in the sky; it was a perfect day!

I'll be out of town this weekend and out of touch, but I will visit as many as possible when I return. I love the photos. Thanks Wom Tigley. For more Skywatch photos, visit Wiggers World

2008-04-23T18:12:00.009-05:00

TT #6 Thirteen Top Gun Trips

I wrote a post earlier about our Top Gun Supper Club, which has been meeting about 20 years with the same eight couples. In addition to sharing monthly dinners, somewhere along the way we began taking an annual 3-5 day trip together. We've missed a few years here and there, and we've visited some cities more than once. We call these our "Eat-Our-Way-Across-Another-Great- American-City" trips; we are a supper club, after all! For TT#6, I've listed our trip destinations. We never worry about having a good time because we take the party with us--and what we like best about each trip is the time we all spend together.

Amelia Island Plantation, FL--we enjoyed the Concours d' Elegance vintage car show.

Atlanta, GA--the Walter Mitty Classic car race (one of our members races)

Cashiers, NC--the mountain views and the hiking

Charleston, SC---the food

Chicago, IL---the Talbott Hotel and tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses

Destin, FL---the food

Lake Martin, AL--the restfulness of the lake and the pontoon boat rides

Nashville, TN--The Opryland Hotel and the back stage tours at The Grand Old Opry

New Orleans, LA---the Windsor Court Hotel and the food---everywhere

New York, NY---The Elysee Hotel and the dining

Seagrove Beach, FL---the beach, sunsets, and dining

Vail, CO---the mountains, art shows, golf.

And Napa Valley, CA coming up in August.

Secretaries Day

2008-04-21T21:27:00.003-05:00

Wednesday is Secretaries Day. Some call it Administrative Professionals Day. Whatever you call it--if there is a secretary or office assistant in your life, be sure to say "thank you".

Family Weekend

2008-04-21T20:04:00.015-05:00

This was a family weekend---and was it ever busy! Andrew, Tara, and Brooks came in on Friday night. Brooks was in high gear. He stayed up late entertaining Granddaddy and YaYa! Tara went to the Lake on Saturday for a well-deserved night out with the girls, and the rest of us went to the farm.

Saturday was beautiful. We cooked hot dogs, walked in the woods, kicked the tires on the tractor, swept the floors and did anything else Brooks wanted to do. He was a trooper, and he even remembered his potty training!

Andrew and Brooks left on Sunday morning to meet Tara at the Lake, and Tom and I swung into high gear to get ready for Mother's 85th birthday party. We invited four of her special friends from The Terrace to join us for a picnic supper. That's Mother in blue.

Though we didn't see our Tampa children, we did get pictures--and that's always a treat!

Another view at the Farm

2008-04-17T22:15:00.006-05:00

I took this photo at our farm this afternoon. That's where the sky always looks so beautiful to me. It is about 20 miles north of our home, so it's easy to go up for the afternoon. This farm is where my husband was born and grew up, so it is very special to us. We grow pine trees and habitat for quail. We are fortunate to farm for recreation, rather than livelihood.

Would you like to participate in Skywatch Friday? Visit Wiggers World .

2008-04-16T17:30:00.001-05:00

TT#5 Thirteen Entertainment Tools I Love

We entertain a lot--everything from biker parties to supper clubs to large family gatherings to wedding parties to intimate dinners for six to an annual party for 350 of our closest friends. Over the years, I have come to rely on items that I use over and over. I thought I would list twelve of them plus one new find. This is part of my effort to reuse, repurpose, recycle.

Silver nesting vases. I bought these several years ago. I have used them and loaned them. They are 18, 24, and 27 inches tall. I like tall arrangements on my tables. My three favorite things to put in them are tomato red gladiolas, pheasant feathers, and nandina stalks trimmed like a topiary.

Pheasant feathers. Tom hunted in South Dakota for years . The deal was---he brought me the feathers. I have a great collection, and I have used them in all kinds of ways.

Chargers. I don't like an empty table. I have inexpensive chargers in several colors that I keep on the dining room table with napkins and plates. It always looks inviting.

Odd candlesticks. I have a large pine-topped island in my kitchen, and I like to have an arrangement on it. I change it often, but it usually involves tall candlesticks and silver vases that I use with candles.

Crinkle pillow shams. I have two sets of crinkle pillow shams. I use them on pillows, slipped on the backs of chairs, and to camoflage items. Right now, I have one covering a bowl on my island.

Old bedspreads and quilts. I have several vintage bedspreads--chenille, crocheted, and plain cotton that I often use on tables as undercloths. I spread them casually on a table, and cover partially with a topper. I have one quilt hanging on the wall in our farmhouse. It's is what you see when you walk in the door. I keep a spotlight on it; it definitely has the wow factor.

Shot glasses. I have 16 shot glasses in different colors that I found at Big Lots. They are great. I use them all the time for desserts and appetizers.

Pearls. Big pearls. Big decorating item. I buy them in quantities from a mardi gras supplier. We use them on the girls when we travel, on green wreaths for parties, hanging on arrangements, on towels in the bathroom. It's sort of a theme for us.

Striped napkins. Years ago, my mother made several dozen lapkins for me out of vintage kitchen toweling---red and white striped. Have they ever been used!

Wine carrier. This nine-compartment Reisenthal bottle bag goes with us everywhere. It looks great; and it can carry plenty of beverage material for an evening or two--wine or liquor bottles, corkscrew, acrylic wine glasses, and I keep a bottle of water and aspirin in it to remind me not to over do it!

Vintage tablecloths. I have bought great vintage tablecloths from Ebay--all sizes, but I never buy round. I think square cloths look much better on a round table. I have lots of fifties patterned kitchen cloths and beautiful white linen, damask, and cut work cloths---bought for a song. I call them my "old family cloths"---and they are someone's old family cloths!

Sheeting. I happened in a mill store a few weeks ago, and I found yards and yards of sheeting in several patterns and colors. I paid $10 for about 50 yards, and I have already gotten my moneys worth. I simple tear it in the lengths I need for table covers or other decoration. Easy to wash, no ironing. Great!

Red duvet cover. This is my newest purchase--from the same mill store: a Ralph Lauren duvet cover I picked up for $5. I love the red stripe and the burlap binding. I don't plan to use it on the bed, but I will use as a table cover, picnic blanket, or anything else I can think of.

I hope this encourages you to look around you for items that you might "morph" into something else.

Busy Weekend

2008-04-13T19:35:00.010-05:00

We had a busy weekend. Andrew came in on Friday to stay with us because Tara and Brooks were invoved in "potty training boot camp"---a three-day, intense, prescribed program to result in Brooks throwing out the diapers.

We went to the Club for dinner and had a wonderful time visiting with friends, and watching little children play on the putting green. I take my camera everywhere, and I noticed how beautiful the sky was.

On Saturday, Tom and Andrew headed out for work day at the Lake. They swapped out a refrigerator, washed the screen porch and windows, and tidied up in general on the outside. Mother and I went up for part of the day, and of course I had the trusty camera.

I went alone to a lovely engagement party for the son of some new friends because Tom didn't get home in time; then we joined some friends for dinner downtown at The Bistro,a little restaurant that makes you think you are in some large, sophisticated town.

Today was absolutely beautiful, so we got our buddies together for a bike ride. Though it was pretty it was very windy and cool. The leather felt good today.

So here we are, early on Sunday evening, settling in for another week, which promises to be a busy one.

An Early Spring Day at the Farm

2008-04-10T20:10:00.002-05:00

This is my first effort for Sky Watch Friday. Bear with me as I find my photography legs.

I took this photo at our farm in southeast Alabama one recent weekend. We saw the bluebirds checking out the house, so I grabbed the camera. I wasn't lucky enough to get them, but I tried.

2008-04-09T18:58:00.016-05:00

TT#4: Thirteen Things about Dorothy Parker

I've always enjoyed reading about Dorothy Parker. I use Wikipedia's words: "she was an American writer, poet, critic, and a fixture of 1920s literary society known for her acerbic wit and low opinion of romantic relationships. She became a member of the famous Algonquin Round Table, which was a celebrated group of New York City writers, critics, actors and wits. Gathering initially as part of a practical joke, members of "The Vicious Circle," as they dubbed themselves, gathered for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 until roughly 1929. At these luncheons they engaged in wisecracks, wordplay and witticisms that, through the newspaper columns of Round Table members, were disseminated across the country".

I remember that on my first trip to NYC, in the early eighties, I wanted to have drinks at the Algonquin Hotel. The staff there showed me the space where the group had gathered---and I could only imagine the fun and laughter that emanated those many years ago.

In the quotes and writings below, I have not included the attributions, only contextual explanations.

"She ran the whole gamut of the emotions from A to B." (once said about Katherine Hepburn's performance in a Broadway play).
"How could they tell?" (on being told about President Calvin Coolidge's death)
"All I need is room enough to lay a hat and a few friends".
"If all the young ladies who attended the Yale promenade were laid end to end, no one would be the least surprised".
"That woman speaks 18 languages and can’t say No in any of them."
"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force". (written in a book review)
"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses".
"You can't teach an old dogma new tricks".
"And she had It. It, hell; she had Those."
On Experience: Some men tear your heart in two, Some men flirt and flatter, Some men never look at you, And that clears up the matter. (her poem)
Résumé: Razors pain you; Rivers are damp; Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. (her poem)
"She must have done it sliding down a barrister". (On hearing an actress had broken her leg) And-----my personal favorite:
"You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think". (On being asked at a game show to use the word horticulture in a sentence)

After the April Showers

2008-04-07T17:48:00.015-05:00

Since it rained so much over the weekend, I wondered how my plants, and flowers, and herbs fared. I've walked about a little in the gardens, both here and at the farm, to see the difference that God's water can make. The thyme has grown overnight. I love that fragrance. Baked chicken with thyme?

The oak leaf hydrangea--wow. It will be at peak in a couple of weeks. Do you see how large it is? It's next to the dog kennel. Nuff said.

The fig tree at the farm is putting out. Figs will be ready mid to late June. I can hardly wait. I love fresh figs and Gorgonzola.

The wisteria at the farm is lovely, but the lord of the manor (LOM) doesn't like it because it spreads.

The horsetail fern a friend shared with me will do well, I think, but the LOM may not like it either; it is invasive.

Rosemary loves the farm. This plant is about eight feet across and about three feet high. I have plenty to share.

As I wrote in my "100" I like to garden in April and October!

Rain, Lots of Rain

2008-04-06T19:29:00.003-05:00

We needed it, and we got it. Lots and lots of good, slow, steady rain---about 3 inches here at the house and about the same at the farm. That means we didn't have to use the sprinkler; the seeds Tom planted may come up; and the flowers we planted last weekend got a good soaking.

We were guests at a small dinner party last night; other than that, we stayed close to home. Tom worked in the yard a little, and I worked around the house. Mother isn't doing well, so I checked on her often.

This afternoon, I attended the GED Graduation Ceremony, one of the most moving events we have at the College. We honored about 20 graduates today. These are people who have struggled to earn the basic educational credential. They have suffered many hardships, but they persevered. They bring a host of relatives and friends to celebrate with them, and it is a wonderful occasion. It helps remind me why I do what I do.

2008-04-02T20:21:00.012-05:00

TT#3--Thirteen Things about Motorcycle Safety

We ride a motorcycle, and we enjoy the sport. I’ve written about it before. Just like any other sport, preparation and training are key to success. Though I am the rider, not the driver, I have learned that many accidents are caused when four-wheeled vehicles do not see the bike. Yes, accidents are also caused by bikers who are reckless, unskilled, and perhaps filled with alcohol. They are foolish.

Safety is our first concern. Here’s what we do to be safe.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. Tom took that when he bought the first bike. It is a one-weekend course taught in every state, and he says it is excellent. Not only did it teach him maneuvering skills and increase his confidence, he said it also made him a better 4-wheel driver because he is more aware of other motorists. Only about 10% of those involved in accidents have taken a safety course.

Loud mufflers. I know, some are too loud, but the fact is, bikers use their sound as an awareness tool to ensure that others know they are on the road. Mufflers really are a safety feature.

Leather jackets. Again, not to be cool; well, that, too; but leather jackets are protective. In the unlikely event of an accident, even laying down the bike at zero speed, the leather protects against scrapes and burns. Also, leather is warm. Let’s say the air temp is 60 and the motorcycle speed is 60; I think that equates to a wind chill of about 32. Yes sir, the leather feels good.

Chaps and gloves. Ditto #3.

DOT approved helmets. Our state and our good sense require it. I would love the wind blowing through my hair, but it won’t happen.

Group riding. We like to ride in groups of three or four bikes (all drivers of which are equally committed to safety). We contend that other motorists can see the group better---and its fun.

Riding in lanes. You may have seen groups of riders in what appears to be formation---a biker riding the middle line, the next one in the middle, and the next one on the outside line, each staggered behind the other. Yes, it looks good, but that’s not the reason for it. The first reason is that in formation, the bikes take the whole lane; other motorists are not likely to get confused and try to illegally pass. Another reason is that it gives the riders in the group a little extra room. If the biker on the center line slows or stops unexpectedly, the one in the middle behind him has more room to compensate. Good practice.

No alcohol. Period.

Controlled speed. We don’t ride the bike to get somewhere; we ride it for enjoyment. We are most comfortable at 55 or 60. I don’t do 80!

Retroreflective clothing. At night, we wear a retroreflective vest. If I am riding passenger, I wear the vest; if Tom is alone he wears it. The important thing is that other motorists see us.

Plan. We always discuss our destination, route, and first pit stop in advance with other riders in the group. The lead bike has responsibility for the group. He uses the rear mirror to watch what goes on in the group and hand signals to identify road hazards.

Passenger behavior. It is important for the passenger to be sensitive to the driver. Sudden shifts in weight can cause problems. Also, I always wait until Tom signals that he is prepared for me to get on or off.

Avoid riding in bad weather. It is not fun or safe. On one ride, we had a perfectly lovely lunch outside in Aspen CO; 30 minutes later the snow forced us to find an alternate route. Not fun.

If you are a careful biker, you know all this. If you are not a biker, perhaps this list will help you to understand bikers and to give them a little room and respect on the road. So the next time you see a group of bikers, smile, raise your hand in greeting, and think of your Thursday Thirteen friend.

It's Real Simple

2008-04-01T18:31:00.008-05:00

I am impressed everytime I read something from Real Simple--great information, uncomplicated, and easy to read.

This how-to for a stress free dinner party caught my eye---and the ideas are really good--like using brown craft paper for placemats, using odd stationery as place cards and the fork tines as card holders, and homemade wine tags. Wish I'd thought of that!

Also, how about dinner party seating strategies. Good stuff to know and think about.

And the table manners refresher course is good for even the old hands among us.

These articles are in their Life and Soul section. Have I said that I really like this magazine!

I think my girls might get a subscription for Mother's Day!

A Weekend at the Farm

2008-03-30T19:55:00.016-05:00

After the busy Easter weekend, it was great to throttle back a little. We left for the farm on Friday afternoon. Tom spent a lot of time on the tractor--plowing and discing, and doing whatever you do on a tractor. He loves getting dirty. See photo below. I piddled---that means I had fun getting ready for dinner guests on Sat. night. The weather was absolutely perfect. Warm, but not too warm, low humidity, just a little breeze, and not too many bugs. So, it seemed like fun to dine outside again. In just a few weeks it will be too hot, and we'll have to go in the house and turn on the air conditioning. I love this time of year, and I want to enjoy every minute we can outside.

So we had two couples to join us. Anyway, my fun was preparing our outside "rooms" for the evening.

Here are the weekend photos.

TT #2 My Favorite Books

2008-03-27T06:00:00.004-05:00

Thirteen of My Favorite Books

The Fountainhead---Ayn Rand. I first read it in College. I can't say that I buy the philosophy, but it did make me think.

East of the Sun---Barbara Bickmore. Just a great story---about a nurse who goes to Africa as a missionary and stays there for life.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People---Rabbi Kushner. It helped shape my theology

All This and Heaven Too--Rachel Field. I've always enjoyed historical fiction--this is one of the best, I think.

The Clan of the Cave Bear---Jean Auel. I just loved this series. So much research. It is almost historical fiction.

The Valley of Horses---Jean Auel. Ditto. I read all of them, but these two are my favorites.

A Walk in the Woods---Bill Bryson. This is so funny, and yet poignant, about his walking the Appalachian Trail.

A World of Ideas---Bill Moyers. It stretched me.

A Man in Full---Tom Wolfe. My men are quail hunters, and they say Wolfe "nailed" the plantation hunting.

Mrs. Whaley and Her Charleston Garden---Emily Whaley. Just the sweet musings of a lovely southern lady

The North and The South---John Jakes. Another good story

Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems. I enjoy the American poets, but she is my favorite.

Southern Table---Frank Stitt's cookbook. I enjoy the prose as much as the recipes.

No Time Like Family Time

2008-03-24T18:51:00.005-05:00

We had a lovely Easter weekend. I hope everyone did! The weather was perfect for little children and their spring clothes and egg hunts and for big children and their activities.

The young Roneys joined us for the weekend, and we visited with the Castros in Tampa by video---more about that later. On Saturday, Tom and Andrew went shooting at a plantation in Georgia and had a big day---we have lots more birds in the freezer! Tara and Brooks spent the day with her mother, and I cooked. Mother joined us for dinner. Andrew had ordered another quail supper--fried quail, Alabama Truffles, biscuits and gravy. It's easy to be the hero with fried quail!

Then on Sunday morning, we visited with the Castros via the computer. Both they and we have cameras, so we sat here in front of our computer and camera and they sat in front of theirs, and we had a great visit. We can just about see that precious little Alexander growing. He got to see Great-Grandmother, Aunt Tara and Uncle Andrew, Cousin Brooks, and YaYa and Granddad, and we all got to see them. It wasn't quite as wonderful as having them here, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

Then, later in the morning, off to the farm where John (Tara's dad) and Mott joined us for lunch. We hid some eggs for Brooks, and he did a great job finding them. He got the hang of it quickly, but the real fun of the afternoon was the kite. I found a neat kite that was a helicopter, and, after five adults struggled with it for a half hour---where's a good seven-year-old when you need one?--- we took it over in the big field where there were no trees, and we flew it for about an hour. Brooks enjoyed the kite and the freshly plowed field. Enjoy ours pics--some from Tampa and some from the farm!

TT #1 Things I Love About My Work

2008-03-20T22:29:00.007-05:00

This is my first time to join in on the Thursday Thirteen meme. Click on the title for a link to Thursday Thirteen. I am an administrator at a community college. Here's what I love about my work:
1. My division--the non credit side--is the most dynamic at the college. Something is changing every day.
2. My co-workers are dedicated, enthusiastic, pleasant,and committed to our mission to develop a well trained workforce for our region.
3. My work is three miles from my house.
4. On most days, I arrive first. I like a few minutes of quiet time.
5. I managed a $4.3 million major gifts campaign--the first in the College's history.
6. I have worked at the same college for 24 years, and it is more exciting today than it was in the beginning.
7. It is exciting to work with business and industry and to develop courses and programs to meet their needs.
8. We get off at 2:00 on Fridays.
9. We have a female president who is doing a great job!
10. I think the community college story is a great one.
11. I like to tell people about our mission to provide academics,adult education,and workforce development.
12. I can retire anytime I want to.
13. I don't want to yet.

Top Gun Supper Club History and Evening at the Farm

2008-03-20T19:16:00.020-05:00

Top Gun is one of our supper clubs. Eight couples of us have been meeting monthly since about April 1990. We got started when we all joined in to host a big party that month. We held the party at an abandoned airport in a big hangar, and we invited about 400 of our closest friends. Our invitations were paper airplanes, and we called it a Top Gun Party because the movie with Tom Cruise was popular at the time. We had someone make us a little Snoopy with Top Gun on his scarf, and he was part of the decoration.

Of course the party was a huge success, and we eight couples had such fun planning it that we decided we would just meet monthly and call ourselves a supper club. Eighteen years later, we still meet. One couple has moved to Destin, but they join us for Christmas and on our trips. That's another story--somewhere along the way we decided that we would take an annual trip together--We call it "Eat Our Way Across Another Great American City" Trip (we are a supper club, after all). We have been to Amelia Island Plantation, Atlanta, New Orleans, Charleston, Chicago, New York, Nashville, Cashiers North Carolina several times, Lake Martin, Vail, Seagrove Florida, and later this year we go to Napa.

We meet at the Country Club most of the time. Again, early on, Snoopy became the supper club mascot, and he is always part of the centerpiece. The host for the next month always takes him home and dresses him to suit the season, theme, or what's happening in our lives. Over the years, Snoopy has morphed into everything imaginable--beach bum in the summer, football star in September, witch in October, Indian or Pilgrim in November, Santa in December. He's come dressed as a baby when some of us welcomed grandchildren; he changed to a bride to celebrate our children's weddings; he wore academic regalia when I got my doctorate. If we had known in the beginning how important he was going to be in our history, we would have taken pictures of him at each meeting. As you see, he was a farmer this night!

It was our turn to host, and since March is usually a good month weatherwise, our friends indicated they would love to meet for a barbecue at the farm, and we agreed that each member couple could invite two people. I covered the tables with antique bedspreads and some sheeting I bought in browns and reds. I used red and white striped napkins and broom sage in old tin buckets with Spanish moss.

So, last night, 24 of us gathered for another fun evening. Two couples arrived with their guests in a white stretch limo. I took a photo, declaring that it was probably the first time a limo has pulled up at the farm. Not so, Elizabeth, our daughter, reminded me today; for one delivered her and her groom there on their wedding night.

Anyway, we had a big time---good barbecue and trimmings, lots of beverages flowing, beautiful weather, and just the right mix of great people.
I would say it was a magical evening, but then we think all our Top Gun meetings are magical.

Top Gun has been such an important part of our lives; I'd like to write more about it--what we've learned, the kind of people we are, the blessing it has been.

Friday Afternoon At the Fresh Market

2008-03-14T19:45:00.015-05:00

I ran errands this afternoon; one of those was to the fresh market.

Seeing such nice produce always makes me want to cook. With the nudging from the sight of the wonderful vegetables and fruits and the yummy sounding Carrot Souffle that Tara posted on her site, I was definitely in the mood. I had nice shrimp so I decided on my Shrimp Destin which I have been making for years and years, a Romaine lettuce, tomato, and bleu cheese salad, and the Carrot Souffle. I've learned that if you have a colorful plate, it will be nutritious--red and green in the salad, a beautiful orange with the carrots, and white and pink in the shrimp dish--perfect!

Here's the recipe for Shrimp Destin:

1/4 c. green onions, chopped

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 c. butter

2 pounds large shrimp, peeled

1 tsp lemon juice

1 T. white wine

1/2 tsp salt

coarsely ground pepper to taste

1 tsp dried dill weed

1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped

2 French rolls, split lengthwise and toasted

Saute onions and garlic in butter until tender. Add other ingredients except dill and parsley. Cook over medium heat about five minutes. Stir in dill and parsley. Spoon shrimp mixture over the toasted rolls and serve immediately.

Here's how the plate looked:

And here's my chief food judge---he loves the job!

The Carrot Souffle was a winner, but I think I overcooked it by 5-10 minutes. I will check for doneness a few minutes earlier next time.

A Cute Little Two-Year Old

2008-03-10T20:48:00.003-05:00

You've never heard The Lord's Prayer sung quite like this!

Just click on the title of the post.

CBS Sunday Morning---The best program on television

2008-03-09T15:10:00.011-05:00

Television is just not what it used to be---but then, nothing is, right? Depressing and negative news, silly sitcoms, Law and Order reruns and a few bright spots on the Food Channel, History Channel, and House and Garden channel. Otherwise, dumbed down and dull.

But on Sunday Morning, for an hour and a half, we can watch interesting stories about people, art, literature, music, nature,and other topics. No gratuitous violence, sex, or degradation. CBS Sunday Morning is a magazine-type program with regular features and special stories. I learn something everytime I see it. Check it out one Sunday morning (8:00 to 9:30 am CDT) with your favorite cup o' joe!

A Dilemma in Our Town

2008-03-08T11:06:00.029-06:00

We have a dilemma in our town. Basically, it is an issue of economic development on one hand and values on the other. Nothing is simple, is it? As my friend over at Gray Matters says in her blog title, Life is not Black and White.

Aa couple of weeks ago our county commission and chamber of commerce announced a major new development for our county--a "Branson, MO" type venture to be developed in phases that would include major resort hotels, music theatres and venues, restaurants, theme parks---and "charitable bingo". The developers claim Country Crossings will eventually bring 4800 jobs to the region plus millions of dollars for our economy.

We all know that our world is changing. We do indeed have a global economy, which means that many of our traditional jobs are being moved to other countries. Clothing manufacture, once ubiquitious in the South, is now virtually gone, and other industries are moving as well. Manufacturing in general is streamlining because of robotics and technology. Richard Florida wrote a well-researched book, The Rise of the Creative Class, in which he posits that because many industries will move overseas and because younger generations want more control over their work, the US economy will be centered around "creative" work, such a small businesses providing services--including hospitality. We could use 4800 jobs in our area, most of which would be creative and service. So, the possibility of thousands of people coming to our county to spend typical tourist dollars is intriguing. But for the bingo.

My mother plays bingo several times a week at her assisted-living facility. It provides socialization, a little mental stimulation, and the thrill of saying, "Bingo" and winning a little prize. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing.

A group of ministers and citizens has organized a very vocal opposition to the "charitable bingo" part of the Country Crossings development. They claim it will increase crime, wreck families, and introduce undesirable people and values to our community. As they understand it, this "charitable bingo" will be operated in its own building at the proposed development, with 1500 slot-type electronic machines. I have been to a couple of casinos over the years, and I didn't like them. I felt pretty nasty when I left. It was not fun to watch the people who were playing slot machines. From my perspective, they didn't have the resources to gamble, so I wondered what they were doing without to put nickels or dimes or quarters into those machines. I watched elderly people who might have been using their social security checks; I watched men who might have been gambling away the money designated for child support; I watched women who might have been using the grocery money. On the other hand, who am I to judge or to press my values on others?

I admit that I don't know much about this issue. I know that some in our community think this development, even with the bingo, is a good thing; and I know that others think it is a very bad thing. So, I've done a just a little research. I found an article about the charitable bingo business in a county in the north part of the state, Charity Bingo Goes Unregulated in Walker County. I could not link to this article, but if you google "charity bingo in Walker County" you will see that it has created much controversy. I read that electronic gaming, including charitable bingo, is big business in Canada, so I reviewed several articles about their gaming industry. One is Gambling on the Edge in Alberta. Another is What is the link between gambling and criminal activity?

After reading those articles and perusing a few others, I have come to few conclusions. Could the Country Crossing development be good for our region? Absolutely. Could the charitable bingo operation introduce increased crime and unsavory characters to our region? Absolutely. Can electronic bingo be closely regulated? Yes. Is there room for compromise? Maybe.

Bottom line---there are no easy answers, and I'm glad I don't have to make the decision. I hope and pray that those who do make the final decision will consider all views, will strive for compromise, and will try to do their very best for our region.

Does Wine Count as a Fruit?

2008-03-04T21:08:00.003-06:00

It's almost Spring--and we know what that means. We'll need fewer clothes and short sleeves and maybe even shorts. Uh Oh! The problem is---there won't be any less of me unless I get back with the program. So, back to more healthful eating---more fruits and veggies, cabbage soup for lunch, no more Alabama Truffles, less wine. Wait just a minute--now why doesn't wine count as a fruit? Wine is just another form of the grape, right?

I remember seeing Lucille Ball stomp those grapes. She stomped all of them--skin and all---in that big barrel---and Voila! The grapes turned to wine. Yes, let's call it a fruit!

What a Week!

2008-03-02T20:16:00.013-06:00

When you do so many different things in a week and experience so many emotions--it seems like a lifetime, doesn't it?

We left Dothan, without much notice, last Sunday morning to travel to Tampa to help the Castros who were all under the weather. Both Elizabeth and Afonso were ailing--laryngitis and knee surgery--and we knew they would recover from those ailments. However, our major concern was their concern about Alexander's high fever and neurological episodes. He didn't have traditional seizures, but it was worrisome nonetheless to all of us but especially to first-time parents. We had a few scary days; however, by midweek we had learned that he had no apparent neurological damage and he was beginning to get his strength back. It was amazing what that news did for all of us. We ended the week with a couple of great worry-free days with precious little Alexander and his parents.

Then on Friday we left Tampa about noon to drive to Apalachicola to meet our friends for what we knew would be a fun-filled weekend. We could hardly get there fast enough. It took us almost six hours of hard driving. When we arrived, three other couples were waiting for us, and the fun began. Apalach is a great little fishing village--population 2800--on the coast of Florida. Our accommodations--which were the best ever--had a balcony overlooking the Apalachicola River. We had a huge two bedroom apartment (in a building of just four apartments), beautifully appointed, and two of the couples had one bedroom units just across the hall. Another couple stayed in a different place. Anyway, we had many hours of drinks, conversation, and laughter on the balcony, a wonderful dinner at The Owl on Friday night and an even more wonderful dinner party for ten in our apartment on Saturday night. The girls shopped; the guys scouted the real estate; we watched the tide ebb and flo. We talked politics, real estate investments; economic development back at home; and how fortunate we are. We told stories--some true; some not. We laughed and laughed and laughed. We were loud and rowdy, and the people across the hall asked us to be quiet--we loved it! We did make friends with them later. We were ten people--some of whom were lifelong friends; some were meeting for the first time. Some have been married forty years; some were dating. We had privacy and space; yet we drew strength from each other. We each brought our experience and activities and histories to the weekend; and we each left there a little richer because of the sharing. What a weekend!

As we arrived home today, the young Roneys and Mother were waiting for us. We enjoyed spending a few precious minutes with them--hearing about their last few days and tellling them about ours. And then they were on their way back home, and we began the process of getting back in the routine.

As we look back, we are very grateful: for the ability to respond when our children need us; for the medical professionals who assured us that Alexander will be just fine; for the friends that are such fun; for the charm of Apalachicola; for the family that was eager to see us today; and for a home that was a welcome sight.

The Cavalry deployed to Tampa

2008-02-27T12:48:00.002-06:00

The Castros in Tampa have had a bad time. Elizabeth contracted laryngitis last week; Afonso had knee surgery on Friday; and worst of all, little Alexander had a serious viral infection that presented with high fever and some sort of neurological episodes which scared us all. So, Tom and I left home on Sunday and plan to be here until Friday, when we leave to meet our friends in Apalachicola for a fun weekend.

So, no recent posts, and this is just to say that the Castros are on the mend. After neurological tests and a consult with a neurologist, Alexander was pronouned free of any major neuro problem, but his little body is ravaged by a week of fever. He is slowly getting his strength back. We have provided little except moral support---which is what parents do. More later.

A Dose of My Own Medicine

2008-02-21T17:32:00.002-06:00

Remember my post about Successful Entertaining? Well, I recently had the opportunity to practice what I preached. We were scheduled to host our Gourmet Supper Club (we call it that, but actually we are just four couples who enjoy food and cooking) this past Sunday night. At our last event, on New Year's Day when L and T prepared an incredible New Orleans Brunch, T said he wanted me to prepare quail when it was our turn. That started me thinking and planning---how to prepare the quail. Grilled quail, baked quail, stuffed quail, creamed quail, quail and grits, quail with wine, or what?

The truth is, there is no better way to prepare quail than to fry them. So, I thought well, we'll just lower the formality level a little and have the event at the farm. This group has not been to our farm, so it would be a good opportunity for a different experience for them. I planned for us to meet about 4:00--to give us plenty of daylight--and to eat in our barn. I had it all planned in my mind. I even decided to print menu cards for the occasion and to move one of the "old family rugs" out to the barn to serve as an anchor for the table and to add a little color to the concrete floor. The best laid plans, right?

Well, I could not control the weather, and by the end of the week it looked bleak. On Thursday, I called and changed the venue to our home. Here's how this party stacked up against those seven rules I wrote about from Southern Accents:

Camouflage your flaws. I had to do that; it was too late to enlist my housekeeper's help in special cleaning. Tom and I hit the high spots on Saturday, and I spent time making the sure the dining room had some wow. Here's how the table looked:

Do not be afraid to fake it. My menu was as follows: Buttermilk Fried South Georgia Quail; Yellow Squash Casserole; Grape Tomatoes and Bleu Cheese in Romaine Nests; South Alabama Truffles; Cathead Biscuits and Henry County Gravy; Chocolate Mint Trifle Shooters; House Wines. I knew the quail would have to star in the menu, so I looked for ways to ease the workload. There are wonderful frozen biscuits at the market; check. Gravy, no problem. Squash --can make ahead; Salad, easy. That left the quail, the Truffles, and the Shooters that would require the most effort. Remember, I wrote about the truffles--grits wrapped around crabmeat and deep fried. While I looked for shortcuts, I also needed a little wow in the menu and I knew the Truffles and the Shooters would provide that. The shooters were simply my version of chocolate trifle (starting with brownie mix) served in my colored shot glasses. This was a heavy meal, and I knew we needed just a taste of dessert. The wine we offered with dinner was Cantina Zaccagnini, a montepulciano d'abruzzo, that I had read about in the Wall Street Journal (Weekend Edition). We like it; it's just a good red house wine. One member of our group is quite the wine connoisseur (his wine cellar is bigger than our house), so I never try to bluff my way around wines. We don't know much, but he is gracious about our oenophilic (how about that for a new word?) ignorance.

Be a mix master. You may not see it readily in the photo, but I used three different patterns of stemware and three patterns of demitasse spoons for dessert.

Know when (not) to fold them. You can see in the photo that I used my good old animal print napkins--in the traditional fold. They are so soft and absorbent from many washings, and I knew that the fried quail would be messy. They were just the ticket.

See how low or high you can go. You can easily see in the photo that I used the tall silver vase, this time with pheasant feathers in it. This was another way I saved time. The vase and feathers were in a different setting in the house, and I just moved them to the table. I'm not even sure the vase was freshly polished---do you think anyone noticed?

Break up the couples. Yes, I used place cards so no couples were seated together. They thought my place card holders were great--wine corks with a dime glued to the bottom for weight and stability and a cut about one fourth inch deep across the top to hold the card.

Some rules are made not to be broken. You can see that I maintained the traditional place setting.

A lot of work? You bet, even with the shortcuts. But this group is appreciative. They notice the little details; they want a description of the food and the wines, and they are gracious in their compliments. I love to cook under those circumstances.

Another thought. You know this is all about timing, and this is the time in my life when I can get the creative juices flowing about cooking and entertaining. I have the time, and I enjoy the preparations. When our children were young and at home it was hard to get beyond chicken nuggets and mac and cheese--and add that Andrew didn't want two foods mixed together or to touch on his plate. I remember thinking that we might never have a nice meal again. The key is to do the best with whatever stage you are in and to share meals and your home with friends.

On Being Home Alone

2008-02-15T20:33:00.000-06:00

While I was home alone last night, I found myself poking around in the library, and I bumped full force into Walt Whitman, my old friend from American literature. I've reported that I enjoy the American poets, and while Emily Dickinson shares glimpses of her world in short, staccato-like phrases, Walt Whitman rambles with confidence, sensuality, and a broadly democratic discourse. I reviewed several of his poems, but I found myself looking for something that I remembered from 1993.

During that year, I earned my doctorate from the University of Alabama, and, after five years of travel to Tuscaloosa on weekends, and research, writing papers, and studying, I surely intended to participate in the graduation ceremony. At that time, it was a ceremony that featured the doctoral candidates, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The speaker was Howell Raines, Alabama native, graduate of the UA journalism program, and the editorial page editor for the New York Times. He gave a memorable speech chastising state leaders for selling our state and the future of our children to large landowners--paper companies and others---by giving them a pass on property taxes. At some point in his remarks, he did offer advice to the graduates, and he quoted Walt Whitman---from the long preface to Leaves of Grass, Whitman's lifelong collection of poetry. Here is that advice, written in 1855.

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.

Those words have remained somewhere in the recessses of my mind and I call them forward intermittently to review and enjoy again and again. I invite you to read the passage from one comma to the next and to compare his succinct advice with your own life experience. Comment?

Valentine Dinner

2008-02-14T20:04:00.003-06:00

Tom and a friend left today on an overnight quail hunting trip to one of those fancy plantations---great timing, huh? How did eight or ten men manage to get out of town on Valentines Day? I figure I and the other girls are scoring major points--being home alone tonight. Well, actually, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must report that at least two of the boys took their girls for a Valentine Dinner last night. They actually took us out of state for dinner. We went to The Log Cabin just across the river in Georgia, owned by our friends the Wells, and enjoyed their great fried shrimp and catfish. This is a take-your-own-beverage kind of place--and we took several! Good time as you can tell!!!

Successful Entertaining

2008-02-11T18:54:00.000-06:00

I saw this article on Seven Steps to a Highly Successful Dinner Party in Southern Accents, and I discovered that it meshed almost completely with my own philosophy. The article is short, but it focuses on these seven rules:

Camouflage your flaws. Absolutely. Do the big house cleaning after the party, not before. Dim the lights; create a wow factor as guests walk in--a vase of tall flowers, uplights on a piece of art, twinkle lights in an unexpected place---and they'll never notice the dust bunnies in the corner.

Do not be afraid to fake it. You can't do it all. If you aren't sure about a four-course meal, then plan a big pot of soup and ice cream sandwiches for desssert--who doesn't like those? Just put them on a pretty tray. One of our favorite meals is a Caesar salad put together in front of the guests, a big pot of homemade tomato soup, and a good red wine. You have your own speciality--try it out.

Be a mix master. Don't have eight or ten of everything? No problem. I mix and mingle a few stems of crystal that were my mother's, a few of my wedding gift stems, and a few Waterford water goblets (see # 80 in my list of 100). If people comment, I tell the story about each pattern. Same with china. Though I still enjoy my unadorned wedding china---Lenox Solitaire--I do like to put contrasting salad plates with it--and the ones I use most came from Big Lots. Bottom line--be creative with what you have.

Know when (not) to fold them. Folding napkins is the least of my worries, but I do like pretty ones. Years ago, I bought two dozen animal-print napkins, and I have used those so much that they have faded a little, but they are soft, absorbent, easy to clean, and they look great on the table.

See how low or high you can go. I agree that table decorations should never impede vision. Low is fine, but I prefer tall. If you get the arrangement above the line of vision, that works, too. I often use a tall (27") silver vase, and sometimes I even raise the vase. Years ago, we removed the chandelier from the dining room and replaced it with a recessed can so I could have tall arrangements, and I have never regretted that move. See photos above.

Break up the couples. We've been doing this for years. I like using place cards with eight guests or more (my favorite place card holder is a wine cork with a dime glued to the bottom, but that's another story!), and I usually take the opportunity to separate couples. It eliminates confusion and the "where do I sit" question; it is more singles-friendly; and it enables more conversation. At a table for four, you have four households represented rather than two. And if, perchance, one member of a couple tends to dominate the other---well, you get the picture. Of course that would never happen.

Some rules are made (not) to be broken. Precious few, I'd say. However, I agree that the place setting is one of them. Let's not mess with fork on the left, knife on the right; bread plate on the left, stemware on the right. That system has worked for a long time.

On the Road Again

2008-02-10T17:26:00.001-06:00

If ever a day was made for a Road King, this was it---not a cloud in the sky, cool temps, and a little time on our hands. We left the house this morning about 10:30 and rode leisurely. We stopped at the dam on the way to Fort Gaines, GA to meet our friends, Ann and Ken. From FG, we rode to Shellman, GA for a lunch of soul food at The Back Porch. After lunch, we headed to Plains, GA and looked around, which didn't take long; we saw Jimmy Carter's house, the downtown area, and that was about it. Then, back to Fort Gaines and on to Dothan. We rode 230 miles; for the record, it was real cool. We were all leathered up, and we needed every bit of it. Though the expected high was about 70, when you're on the bike going 60+, the air temperature is really in the mid 30s. It was a great day on the bike!

What I've Learned About Blogging

2008-02-08T19:45:00.000-06:00

I've been blogging about two months. This has been quite an exercise, and I've learned a lot. First, I've learned some technical stuff--how to select the layout, how to get the effects I want in the text (I'm still working on that),how to add the slideshow, links, the site meter; how to change the poetry and the lists; how to leave comments on other blogs.

I've also learned that there is a whole, big, interesting blogging world out there---blogs on every imaginable topic. I saw one today devoted to Post-It art--those people who doodle at work on Post-It notes and share them on the blog. I've read blogs on food and cooking, travel, wine, limericks, memes (that's a new word I've learned--more on it later), and more. You go to one site, see their favorite sites, go to one of those, see another list.

I've learned, too, that blogging is a great way to practice writing skills. The blogs I have read are very well done. You might say that people who blog are probably pretty good writers or they wouldn't be interested in blogging. I guess that is so; however, practice never hurts, and it is refreshing to see that our language is alive and well and dynamic.

There are whole blogging communities built around a common interest--people who have never met and may not know each other's names but who share an interest and a unique perspective on that interest. There are lots of blogs like mine that developed to keep in touch with relatives and friends wherever they may be. There's my daughter-in-law over at The Roney Family who keeps us and others up-to-date on their lives. There's our friend over at Sitting on Top of the World whose blog was the first that I ever read, and I was hooked.

And then, I think there are those who start out as I have, with family photos and personal musings, and who, somewhere along the way, find a purpose or cause. Like my friend over at Gray Matters. She has embraced the movement to reduce, reuse, recycle, and I have learned so much from her. I now take my own shopping bags--there are some neat ones out there--more about that later, too, and I use some of those efficient light bulbs even though they aren't dimmable--someone needs to work on that---and I have joined Freecycle. I am more conscious of our consumption, and I am taking a few baby steps to reduce my personal impact on the environment.

I have not stumbled across any blogs that are offensive--though there may be some. On the contrary, I have found people to be honest, helpful, sharing, and courteous---and oh so smart. They know lots of stuff!

I blog at night. I find it relaxing, and I like to write. I can say whatever I want, or I can say nothing. I can whine, brag, gloat, preach, pray, lecture, explain, convince, joke, condemn, exalt, proselytize, or otherwise ruminate on any subject I choose---and no one has to listen. No one has to agree or disagree. It really is liberating.

Will I continue learning from other bloggers? Definitely. Will I continue blogging? I think so. Will I find a purpose or cause to embrace? Maybe.

It can't hurt me, and it sure beats Law and Order reruns!

Friday Night Dinner Date

2008-02-08T16:10:00.000-06:00

After two busy weekends, Tom and I had a dinner date at home tonight. I shopped a little this afternoon at the fresh market, found local lemons, wonderful Amish butter, and green tomatoes. Then I headed to Sams and found the sea scallops, grape tomatoes, and baby colored peppers. Hmmm? How about Sauteed Sea Scallops with Green Peas, Bacon and Onion; Grape Tomatoes with Bleu Cheese and Olive Oil on Romaine Hearts; and Roasted Baby Peppers with Garlic and Balsamic Vinegar. The wine, A New Zealand Pinot Noir. Pretty good, if I do say so, though I would change the wine next time.

100 + Things About Me

2008-02-06T21:44:00.005-06:00

One of the challenges making the rounds of blogs is to write "100 Things About Me", and then to tag someone else to do it. Well, I decided to try. After the first 10 descriptors, I didn't think I would ever make it to 100. But I hung in there and decided to work on it as long as it took. So, developed over parts of three nights---here is my list:

I have curly hair.
I love learning.
Ellen is my middle name—but middle names for girls are worthless.
The American poets---Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson—oh especially Emily Dickinson---speak to me.
I grew up in Texas, but I don’t have big hair.
I don’t like August and September in the South.
In the first grade, I was the bride in a Tom Thumb wedding.
I like to write—and I’m fairly good at it.
I can’t sing a note, but I am a great audience.
I believe Balance is the key to a happy life.
One of my favorite books is East of the Sun by Barbara Bickmore—great story.
In a group, I am usually the leader.
My Myers Briggs type is ENTJ.
I get together annually with five of my high school girlfriends—they are all in Texas.
My father died when I was 17—heart attack.
I met Tom in college when he called my roommate for a date and she was busy. I was the substitute—that was about 40 years ago.
I helped found the shelter for abused women in our community.
I am a pretty good public speaker—and I have done a lot of it.
I like to use things in a different way than they were intended—bedspreads for tablecloths, old tin buckets for vases, a quilt as art on the wall, an old drawer as a shelf.
I am not the most patient person; actually, I am rather impatient.
I don’t have trouble expressing my opinion.
I see the forest more easily than the trees.
I enjoy lake activities more than beach activities, but the beach does have better sunsets.
My theology was shaped in part by Rabbi Kushner’s book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
I am Republican about fiscal issues and a Democrat about social issues. I live with a banker.
I married at 21---and it took.
I love big cities—NY, Chicago, London.
I don’t like long airplane trips.
Les Miserables is my all-time favorite musical.
The Internet is like having the world at my fingertips.
I am good at telling stories (jokes), but my friend Leslie is better.
I sleep on my tummy with a flat pillow under my head and my right foot uncovered.
I like to cook, but I don’t like to bake.
I’ve been to the Bike Rally in Sturgis.
I don’t have a tattoo.
I like to plan parties. Our last one was an engagement party, Pearls and Pork. We gave big pearls to the girls;we served barbecue;and the guests brought“pearls of wisdom”(advice and tips) for the Bride and Groom.
I like to cook in front of guests, so my kitchen is designed to accommodate that.I give everyone a small task.
I have chaired more committees and organizations than I can count.
I love the world wide web.
I can sew.
I think blogs are a great way for people to practice their writing skills. Just think about it—otherwise, how often do people write these days?
When I travel, I would rather mingle in out-of-the-way places with the natives rather than spend hours in line with other tourists to see an attraction. I figure I can see the attractions on line.
I usually start conversations with, “Hi, My name is Kay. I don’t think I have met you”.
I like to dress up grits. I have made grits with goat, smoked gouda, cheddar,boursin, and other cheeses. I have made grit cakes, grits truffles stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat, and grit casseroles.
I like to try a new dish in a restaurant and attempt to replicate it at home.
I belong to a supper club, 16 of us, that has been together for 18 years. We meet monthly at the club, except for exceptions like next month at our farm.
I belong to another supper club that cooks—eight of us. We meet every other month and the host does it all. It’s my turn next. I think we’ll have quail and grits—dressed up, of course--- at the farm.
I vote.
I need to exercise more and eat less. Just looking at that treadmill doesn’t work.
I love that my children are such wonderful adults and incredible parents.
I’ve learned a lot about Brazil because our son-in-law is Brazilian.
I managed a major gifts campaign that brought in $4.4 million---and lots of friends--- for the College.
I like to read the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal.
I’m learning more about recycling, repurposing, and reusing.
I like sunlight, but I don’t stay in the sun.
I really don’t care about cars except as a way to get from A to B. What kind do I have? A white one.
Jet lag kills me.
Over the years we have hosted several international citizens in our home. One of our young Asian guests, a fashion designer, said, “You Americans wear too much fuschia.” So I try not to wear fuschia.
I buy online when possible—no parking, no lines, no weather, no tax.
When we visit our farm, I pick up trash on the road in front of it—cigarette packs,beer cans and bottles, fast food packaging. I can’t believe people just throw garbage out the window. But they do.
I love porches and rocking chairs and swings.
I enjoyed my children’s weddings, but I don’t want any more.
I love beautiful prose.
I don’t want one of those digital photo frames. What good is it? Your screen saver can do the same thing.
I wish I knew more about photo editing.
I can’t stand having molds—like for a crown--- made in the dentist office. Have to have some drugs. My children, who had braces, have no sympathy.
I’ve had one Valium in my life—see # 66.
I’ve been on some great Harley trips. We trailer the bikes to the destination and ride when we get there. We usually have to take one car—-just can’t get pearls and other gear in those saddle bags.
I love watching Tom play with our grandsons.
I used to watch Law and Order reruns—until I discovered blogging and bloggers.
I like old movies—did you ever see All This and Heaven Too with Betty Davis and Charles Boyer?
I had several great high school teachers.
I like the bathroom tissue to roll off the top.
I squeeze the toothpaste anywhere I want to.
I am right-handed and mostly left-brained—but I am working on that.
I don’t like to chew gum.
I really like happy hour. My favorite cocktail napkin says “It’s always five o’clock somewhere.”
I live in a football crazed state—and there are so many important things to think about and act upon.
Among my favorite books is the Clan of the Cave Bear series.
I’ve bought beautiful Waterford water goblets because they stay on the table and are less likely to break.I buy cheap wine glasses so guests feel comfortable. So what if they break.
I don’t know why all caps is considered screaming in email.I would like to use it sometimes for emphasis but don’t.
My cocktail of choice is Grey Goose and water with lemon, but I love to read about and buy single malt Scotch for Tom.
I have no desire to ride my own Harley; I just love sitting behind Tom.
I need at least one private (as opposed to corporate) social event every weekend. That’s how I fill back up.
I am a terrible proofer. Thank goodness my assistant is a good one.
I have never smoked a cigarette.
I am a Leo—whatever that means.
I like movies and plays that make me feel good. There’s enough poverty, squalor,dysfunction, broken relationships, and ignorance already. I don’t want to pay to see more of it.
I just don’t like cats at all. We have outside dogs (setters) and I like them a lot—just not on me.
I’ve never slept in an unmade bed---and I don’t plan to. Mornings, I make the bed,and Tom makes the coffee.
The camera is not kind to me—or maybe I’m just not as cute as I think I am.
I’ve never had a broken bone.
I’ve had massages and pedicures and manicures,and they are okay,but I generally don’t choose to spend my time that way.
I enjoy collecting and wearing vintage rhinestone jewelry.
I am not much of an athlete—but I grew up before Title IX.
I like to garden only in April and October.
I try to water ski at least once each year.
I love oysters.
I am always on time—except for my purposeful “fashionably late” entrance at parties.
I am thinking about recycling greeting cards—tearing off the cover and writing my own message on the back, then punching a hole in the corner and tying to a wine bottle or gift package. Cool idea, huh?
I’m okay with public prayer if it is inclusive. When I pray in public, it is inclusive.

Well, that's my list. I think I could go for 200--but who would read it! I won't tag anyone just yet, but let me know if you try it.

I Need to Ride!!!

2008-02-05T20:29:00.000-06:00

Whew! January was a busy month, and February looks to be the same. I have been super busy at the College with chairing a regional education committee, managing a big interior design project--with a professional designer, of course-- and preparing to fill a few personnel vacancies. We have a wonderful staff, so it's not that I am any busier than anyone else, but when I am also busy at home, I feel the load. At home, we've had lots of planning and preparation for two big events on back-to-back weekends. All fun stuff, but pressure nonetheless.

What I need is a ride on the Harley--to blow out the cobwebs, to feel the wind in my face, to smell Life--the new baled hay, the smoke from someone's fireplace; the spring weeds, the cow herds, and yes, even the occasional skunk. I love those smells. In the car (the Cage, we call it), we are separated from those smells, those reminders of the life cycle. We breeze down the road with the windows rolled up and the music playing, and we never even consider the miraculous events going on right outside. But on the bike---oh, on the bike--we are part of that Life. We can feel the wind; we see the setting sun; we smell the wild onion; we taste the moisture in the air; and we hear the lowing of the cattle.

The picture of Tom, made this past weekend, on the bike with Alexander--never fear, just posing for the picture--- reminded me of the freedom and the controlled wildness of a bike ride. Yes, yes, I do need one!

Artsy Photos

2008-02-04T20:12:00.000-06:00

I've played with a few of the photos from the birthday party weekend. It helps to have great subjects. Just click on the title of this post; then click Slideshow. Enjoy!

Such Wonderful Family and Friends at the Birthday

2008-02-04T18:26:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all who made the day so special for us!

The Birthday Boys

2008-02-03T21:16:00.000-06:00

We've been looking forward to and planning this event for a year. Almost as soon as Alexander was born January 31, 2007, Elizabeth began talking about a joint birthday party for the little cousins. Brooks will be two on Feb. 6. Some things work out, and this did. This weekend was right between their birthdays; mommies and daddies were able to get away from work and travel to Dothan from Columbus and Tampa; the weather was almost perfect; forty-four friends and relatives were able to join us; and the birthday boys were in rare form. Tom and I enjoyed the preparations, and the farm is such a good location for large gatherings. Our cup runneth over!

Signing the Book

2008-01-31T20:45:00.000-06:00

It's a Southern thing, I think---this signing the book. You know about that, don't you? I had a meeting in a town just up the road today, and Tom said, "While you are there, could you go by the funeral home and sign the book for Blank and Blank"? Sure, I said---so, I stopped by the funeral home and signed two books. The families were not there, but the books were ready, and several had signed ahead of me. And so, on the page headed "Friends", I signed our names.

We have guests coming for the weekend, a big event to host on Saturday, and we did not think we could go to the visitation or funerals. By signing the book, however, we convey to our friends that we are thinking about them and remembering them in our prayers, as indeed we are.