5 More Shopping Days!

A LOT has been going on - definitely posting material - but no time to write.

Let me show some pictures from the past.

These are from Christmas Season 1988.  These girls are in my kitchen making Christmas cookies.  Sarah in the background in the yellow was 2 1/2.  Laura Beth with her hands flared was 6.  In the front with her mouth wide open is Joy Baldwin who was 5.  Kate, not shown, was 10 months.

and Joy, again, smiling.

Here is Hope Baldwin who was 8 and Ann who was 7 1/2.

Here they all are working intently on their cookies.

This year, 2010, in the week prior to Thanksgiving week, Joy, who is now Joy Baldwin Finch,

called me from her home in Athens, TN.

She was remembering another Christmas when I had made lots of dough ornaments and given one each to her and Hope.  She thought it would be fun if my girls and she and Hope, with all of their combined total of  9 children could get together at my house this year to make those same dough ornaments.  Also included would be their mom, and my good friend, Beth.  

We all agreed on December 16.  It would just be women and children - no men - and minimal food.

We stuck with none of those prerequisites. 

Much to my delight, Beth surprised me by telling another close friend of ours, Yonea Chunn.  I had no idea.  Yonea showed up at my back door with her 4 girls (she also has 5 boys - but left them at home). Huge and wonderful surprise.  I was in such shock and surprise that I was speechless.  We also had so much food.  We said all along that the lunch would be very snacky and insignificant.  It was very significant and much more than snacky.  Quite a spread and we did have one man - Jamie Baldwin - daddy to Hope and Joy.  Papa (granddaddy) to Joy's two boys and Hope's daughter and son.  He stayed to eat and play with his grandchildren, but left us all to make ornaments.  

It was all loud and wild and fun and worth every mile they travelled and worth every ornament I had prepared for them to paint - it was worth whatever muscle or bone ached that evening from preparing and from cleaning up later.  

Laura Beth was unable to get there, from McDonough, GA, with Ada and John.  As a matter of fact, on that same day, Charlie was traveling to McDonough to pick up Kate from Laura Beth's house.

Kate had flown into Atlanta from New York City the Tuesday before.  

Thank you Laura Beth for freeing up that much space in my kitchen and at the tables to make room for all the other people.  (just trying to say the right thing so that you won't regret not being there) There will be other holidays and seasons for us all to get together.  Most of the children are so young, they'll have no recollection of this event.

Now for more pictures

Here are grownup Joy and Hope Baldwin.

Now, Joy Finch holding Brennan Finch

and Hope Coon holding Charlie Coon.

In my kitchen on Thursday.

Here is Yonea Chunn (mother to 9 children).

She is the one drinking out of my Christmas Mug.

Her oldest daughter, Mary, almost 19, holding Joy's Brennan.

On the right are Martha Chunn, 12, and Margaret Chunn, 14.

Here is Yonea's 8 year old daughter, Molly, intently painting her ornament.

Anna Beth (Hope's daughter - she's 4) painting her ornament

Hope's little boy, Charlie, painting.

Charlie is 2.

Joy's Brennan, 2 1/2,  I think.

My Ellie Ann's Ellie working on her ornament.

Luke being patient with the whole thing.  He was a bit out of the loop.

Too old for the other boys there, and not a girly girl like Ellie and Anna Beth.

He was patient and tolerant and willing to wear this apron.

I whispered in his ear before I put it on him,

"Luke, are you okay if I put this apron on you?"

In his kind Luke voice he said, "Yeah."

On the other hand, Andrew was quite taken with the whole experience

 and loved the painting aspect of it.

Because of that and because I'm his grandmother and this is my post,

I'll show two pictures of him working on it.

Here's the whole table - serious artwork going on.

(Luke and Andrew were at the small table)

the aftermath

Resulting Artwork

I regret that I have no picture of Beth Baldwin - a major player in this whole event.

Neither do I have a picture of Knox - who was probably playing in the living room with the toys.

We didn't take any pictures of all the food and our eating and conversing.

there was so much going on and so many conversations, it was hard to remember to take a picture.

Honestly - it started out as a small get together - really only expecting Joy and her 2 boys and Ann and her 3.  Never dreamed Beth and Hope could get here with Hope's 2.  Certainly didn't expect Yonea and her 4 girls.  It's a great memory - to add to the storehouse.

Back to 2010 and Scottsboro and some pictures from Italy

I have to stick my head back in 2010 for some fresh air.

All those black and whites and old letters - they inspire me - they're my roots - but I have to come back to this place all along.

I've been out in my yard on this very hot Friday - sweating like all get out - but I like it.  I love it, in fact.

I'll come in all along and inside have been exchanging emails with my friend, Val Carrier...and also, Mary Ann, regarding old family letters.  Val has been showing me her pictures of Florence, Italy.  She traveled with our mutual friend, Sarah Stoner Dodd, to Florence a couple or more years ago.

She told me, at the time, that she was going to Florence with Sarah.  Guess what I thought?  I thought she meant Florence, Alabama!  Seriously.  I didn't question her - just wondered why they were going there and where they would stay - but I did think they could swing by and pay me a visit.  Fortunately I began to think about it and it came into my brain like a light.  FLORENCE, ITALY...of course.

Recently in Sunday School - M Ferry was subbing for Charlie and he opened with this question - it really did have to do with where we were in the Old Testament.  He asked all of us, if we could move anywhere in the world - where would we pick.  Okay, I figured saying Evergreen, Alabama wasn't what he was looking for, so I didn't say that.  People were saying places - nice places - exciting - I couldn't think of anyplace I wanted to move to.  The largest city I could come up with was Birmingham, AL.  Mike said that didn't count.  Then I thought of a place - I had to first ask, "Is Tuscany a place or an interior design style or a type of food?"  chuckle, chuckle - then they said place and I named it.  I had images in my mind of Tuscany - steep narrow streets - houses really close to each other.  White Sun washed stucco walls - red rooftops.  In my mind.  I mouthed something to someone across the room, without saying it out loud, "and good wine".

Guess what?  In all that emailing today, Val sent me pictures from Tuscany.  It is a place, a region, and my friend has been there and her pictures are beautiful.  Just look.

She said that this man is sitting under an olive tree.

And this is Sarah and Val - she sent me this, too.

They're not in Tuscany here.  They might be at a lake in Alabama - like Lake Martin.

Not sure.

Sarah was my first roommate at Auburn, when I transferred my Junior Year.

Val and I were in buds in high school.

And this is Martha who they also see a good bit.

Martha and I were in high school together, too.

Martha and I have always known each other, I think.

...and Martha married my cousin, John.

Here is Mary, Martha's sister - she lives in Dothan with her husband, Pat, who is also from Evergreen.

Fun story which Martha and I enjoy recalling from time to time.

My mother and Martha's mother were pregnant with each of us at about the same time.

I was born in July of 51, and 3 months later Martha was born in October of 51.

A bit later, Mother was visiting with Addie(Martha's mom) and remarked to her,

"Addie, aren't you glad we're not pregnant?"  

to which Addie replied,

"But I am."

WOW!  and that is Mary up there, Martha's sister.  They are very close in age.  SMILE.

I joke about this - but.....  I introduced 2 of my college roommates to Val - Sarah, above, and Mary Emily Heard Mulloy.  Each of them lived in Birmingham for a bit and I had this friend Val who was good to befriend them since they were new in the city.  That was when we were all very very young - as in fresh out of college.    This is the way it goes...I introduce a friend to Val and then they like her better than they like me.  Go figure!  :-)

So - Mary Emily is no longer in B'ham although she was for a year, last year.  She has lived all over as a missionary.  She is so fun and so dear and so indwelled by Him.  Well, so are the others.  I love what God has done in their lives and they bless my heart - but I don't get to see them much.  It's just hard to get from here to there.  We're planning something soon, though.  I have to have my Birmingham fix.

Band Camp, Some More

While we're on the subject

and while my camera is away being repaired

and since I have kazillion old photos - I mean - a lot!

I might as well show anyone who read yesterday's post

what band camp looked like in Auburn, in 1955-56-57

Just a few.

First, a disclaimer:  It is often said that in posting on blogs - the writer will not be transparent about failure, about shortcomings, just about the way "it" really is - perfect mother, perfect friend, perfect grandmother - even when we're making an effort to be transparent - well - who's gonna give the whole story?  I'll tell you right now - you're gonna have to take my word for it - this blogger is so insanely ordinary and not spectacular and, and, and.....well - it's probably gonna stay pretty general.  Unless God gets specific about telling me to "air dirty laundry" - it's not that easy or wise to do - but - I'm willing to answer questions and be honest.  Got any questions?  


But this disclaimer isn't about that - what I wanted to say is - my pride really rears its very ugly head, and this could be a pun, when it comes to bad pictures.  Trouble is, most of my pictures are bad.  I don't mean I always look bad, but just, darn it, not photogenic.  The camera catches me in the weirdest faces. We all know that some people look better in pictures than they do in real life.  Well, the flip side is, and I hope hope hope this is so - that some of us look better in real life than in pictures.  If I look better in pictures than in real life - well - just don't anybody tell me.  Again - my pride - I'm not that broken yet.  I guess I am - I can handle it.  I'm getting closer to heaven everyday and I'll be gorgeous there.


Anyway - do any of us want to put up a bad photo?  Not this girl - and  the good ones are hard to find.


So - out of respect for my dear mom and dad - and for the love of their memory - I hate putting up bad pictures of them - and these old ones  - styles were really different - and - well - I've looked for the best ones.  There were a lot that weren't the best - I nixed them.


Whew!  That was a long disclaimer.  It was a whole post!

So - band camp and what life looked like there, in Auburn, when I was missing Daddy in Evergreen, AL.

Here they are practicing - and yeah - are you like me?  Do those majorettes have on bathing suits?

Next Picture, below:

My Dad is 2nd from the right. 4th from the left.

with band directors from Florala, Enterprise, Anniston and Elmore County.

Wonder what they're talking about and what each one is thinking.

Looks like the BD from Elmore County on the far right is telling something, and their eyes are on him.

But what are they thinking?

It's band camp, it's competition, it's men.

Interesting, the body language.

In the next picture:

The guy looking back, with sunglasses, is Bill Haynes.

During the season when students' parents bought them instruments, 

Bill Haynes was a fixture in our house and at the bandroom.

He worked for Art's Music Store in Montgomery.

Our car went straight to that store in downtown Montgomery during those years - when we made our pilgrimage to Montgomery via highway 31.

Bill Haynes could play the clarinet very well - which I realized in a surprised sort of way when he performed with our band during practice one day.  I thought he just sold instruments. 

Of course he was a musician.  It had never occurred to me.

More practice - again- the majorettes - Is that the earliest version of the stadium, there in the background?

Next,

The 1956-57 band - the one Daddy took to camp - when I missed him so - and all the other ones too -

until I grew too old to think he was the only love of my life.  That would probably be 1st grade, when I became aware of C. W.

And while we're on the subject of bands - below is Daddy's first band in Holly Springs, MS.

He was fresh out of Northwestern University.  December 14th, 1939 is handwritten on the back of the photo, and that is 26 year old Frank Wilkerson (Dad) on the front row, left - in the suit.

for some reason, I love this next picture.

While Daddy is still younger than I ever remember - I think it's 1947 -

I recall the lowered head - when he turned around after a performance, for a slight bow.

In the middle row, 3rd from left is my aunt, Mary.  She probably knew Daddy before Mother did.

She was still in school when Mother met "the new band director, Frank Wilkerson".

and the 1962-63 band.  I know so many of these people.

The head majorette is my cousin, Suzanne.

The one who has been in many of my recent "cousin" posts.

I suppose this is as large as any EHS band grew.

Wasn't big - but for us - in those days - it was good.

Andalusia, we knew, had a bigger band.

T.R. Miller?  I think maybe.

then the city ones - well - and we didn't' even know there was a place called Scottsboro, AL. At least, I didn't.

How can I not include my senior year?  In color!!!

I'm finally a majorette - after 2 tryouts I made it on the 3rd.

I'm on the right - third from the right, middle row.

That's it.

Wonder when they're gonna have my camera ready?  2 to 3 weeks?

Whoa - lots of delving into the past!

A Random Post

My birthday was Monday. I posted that info already.
On Wednesday Mary, my closest friend in Scottsboro, took me to eat in Huntsville. We've been doing that longer than I can remember. Actually that's not true. I can remember when I didn't know Mary - but we've been taking each other to lunch, celebrating one another's birthday, for such a long time that I don't even remember how it got started. Today we took pictures. We should have been doing it all these years. The one other time I suggested we take pictures, was the day I found out Ann was expecting Ellie. That was over 3 years ago. Almost 4 years. I can't post those right now. Wish I could. I need a scanner. So, here are today's pictures. Also, pictures from Monday when Ellie and Ann came over with a gift and candles for my already cut cake.

Elizabeth and Mary at the restaurant in Huntsville

We both look sleepy. What's that about?

Ellie is actually singing, along with Ann and Kate, Happy Birthday to Near.

Ellie is looking at Kate while she sings.

Ann, Kate, and I all had the "just got out of bed" look, so we avoided the camera.

Here is Ellie blowing out the candles on Near's Cake

Lemon Cheese Cake

Recipe belonging to Edith Wilkerson

found in the Sparta Cookbook or Favorite Recipes of Conecuh County

Cream 1 cup shortening and 2 cups sugar. Add 6 egg whites, one at a time and beat for one full minute after each. Add alternately, 1 cup milk, 3 1/2 cups flour which has been sifted with 2 tsp. baking powder.

Stir in 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Makes 2 layers.

Lemon filling:

8 slightly beaten egg yolks, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 4 Tblsp. butter,

1 tsp. grated lemon peel, 1/3 cup lemon juice

Blend egg yolks with the sugar, lemon peel, juice and butter. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until very thick. Cool thoroughly. When cake has cooled, spread filling between layers.

Fluffy Frosting:

2 egg whites, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 tsp. light corn syrup, 1/3 cup water

In top of double boiler, combine the egg whites with sugar, corn syrup; beat well with rotary or electric beater. Place over, but not touching boiling water. Cook about 7 minutes beating constantly until stiff peaks form. Remove from heat; add vanilla and beat 2 minutes more. Frost cake.

This blog is about things I like to remember and my favorite things.

Mother was always a very good cook. She was also a very good seamstress. She took home economics from Mrs. McInnis of Evergreen High School. I guess she graduated from High School in 1937. I did the math. If anyone read my earlier posts, one can remember that I said Mom was a stickler for neatness, order, disciplined care of the homes. Making a bed the right way is something she taught me and I've written about it in that earlier post. I love the fine art of a well made bed. Call me crazy, but I'm glad to admit it. Mother really really enjoyed Mrs. McInnis. When I graduated from high school in 1969, I had the same Mrs. McInnis for Home and Family. Home Economics was still offered, but our culture was already beginning to change. I didn't think I "needed" Home Economics. Big Mistake! In Home and Family we just "talked" about how we would raise a family and live on a budget. It was a fun class and quite the opportunity for "visiting with friends". During my college years, between semesters, I took some sewing lessons, but I've never been able to sew like my Mom. Shopping for clothes, for Mary Ann and me, meant going to a fabric store. It took me a long time, as a single adult female, to learn how to shop for ready made clothes. I still am not very good at it. And Mom's not here to sew for me. My grandmother could sew and my great grandmother, Ada, could sew. I guess every female learned that. Well, my grandmother in Troy wasn't a seamstress or a cook. Probably someone made her clothes for her or she bought them at Rosenberg's in Troy, Alabama - and I remember her cook and maid, Willie. I loved Willie. More about that later.

Back to Mom and Mrs. McInnis. One of her school assignments was to prepare a meal at home, with a properly set table. The student had her night to do that in her home, and Mrs. McInnis would come in and grade her. She came into the female student's home and "checked it all out". I don't know if everyone did that, or if it was for extra credit. Mom did it. I do remember her telling me about it. She loved it. I would have been so nervous.

A properly set table. It's like a well made bed. Not that I do either of those all of the time. But I really, really like both of those disciplines. They each are a pleasure mark in our crazy world.

So, the above recipe:

Mom did some cooking for people, for pay. One of her specialties was the Lemon Cheese Cake. There is absolutely no cheese in it. I have never known why it was called that.

Mother made this particular cake for so many people. It has her signature on it, but I am sure she must have gotten it out of a recipe book or a magazine.

So, there we are. End of Post. I've run out of things to talk about.

I like to remember all my birthday meals with Mary, I like to remember Mom and her cooking, I like to remember Mom's stories about her life, and I like to remember my high school days as well......well, most of them.

Thank you, Kate, for making that cake for me.

Thank you, Mary, for the birthday meal.

and Thank you, God, for all the dear people You've blessed me with.

The Frame Shop

Today I had lunch with my friend, Sue. Her birthday was yesterday, so I took her out to lunch today.

We were destined to be friends. She grew up in South Alabama, and her best friend in high school was one of my closest friends in college. During College I only heard about "Mary Sue" in stories about their high school days, told by Debbie, our friend. Life went on and Mary Sue married Gerald and he went to law school. Meanwhile, Charlie was in law school also. Well, Charlie and Gerald landed in the same town. Gerald as a defense attorney. Charlie as a Prosecutor. We were all very young back then. I soon learned that Mary Sue was now called Sue. Sue and Gerald joined the First Methodist Church. Charlie and I joined Calvary Baptist Church. Because of zoning, their 2 boys attended a different elementary school than my 4 girls. We communicated at Bar functions, and soon saw one another at Jr High events, and then High School events. Their 2 boys were about the age of my 2 oldest girls. Our lives were somewhat parallel, but they were in the "boy world" and we were in the "girl world". Then our children graduated from high school, except I still had two in high school.

4 years ago I ran into Sue at the K-Mart parking lot. We did our "catch up" talk. She was moving her dear mom, 90, the next day to our hometown. The conversation went down avenues, and before I knew it, she was asking me if I would like to work for her, should she actually open up the frame shop she and Gerald had been discussing. I said, "Maybe", with fear and trepidation. I had not worked since 1980. She hadn't held a fulltime job since about then, but had done some office work for Gerald. (Her major was in office administration). (Speaking of which, she knew my sister-in-law, Charlie's sister, before I did. They were in the same major and met in classes there.)

In June of 2005, Sue opened up her Frame Shop. It was called Sue's Custom Framing and Cards. I had learned the basics of mat cutting and matting, in college, and I had that inclination to "frame" and do projects, but I didn't officially know how to frame. Sue and I, in that year of research, prior to the shop's opening, went to a 2 or 3 day Explo thing where all the framers and frame vendors get together in Atlanta at the World Congress Center. It was overwhelming, but inticing. That's a whole other world, the world of framing. It was fun and left us each with our brains swooning. Again, it was Sue's doing. I couldn't have, or wouldn't have known how, to pursue it any further. But Sue did and she opened up her shop, after having gone to a week of classes to learn the basics of framing. She taught me, in the week prior to opening up her shop, what she had learned in her classes. She had bought all this lucious equipment, had wonderful work tables and storage pieces built. It was a dream for one who enjoys that sort of thing. I do. It was a miracle for me to be able to do it. I am much the homebody. I could almost be a hermit, except that I really, really like people. A LOT! We are all fascinating to me - all the varieties.

In the 3 years since she opened the shop, she and I have worked through some of life's biggest events: For me, the marriage of one daughter; the birth of 3 grandchildren; 2 daughters graduating from high school and beginning college; and the death of my mom. For Sue, her youngest son graduating from college, spending a summer hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and beginning a ministry at SIFAT in Lineville, AL; her oldest son completing and graduating with honors from law school and beginning his career; and the death of her mom. That doesn't touch the daily stuff of life that comes up when one is involved in relationships with family and friends.

Sue closed her shop on May 31. For me I prayerfully made the decision to return home fulltime,for maternal reasons. I feel a need to be at home again. For Sue, retail is a tougher row to hoe than she and I realized, and the economy certainly doesn't help. A really good profit is great incentive to actually keep a shop open. But we had the opportunity to do some great framing projects. We were told that we did a really good job, and I know we welcomed everyone with open arms. It didn't matter if they spent money or not, although it sure was exciting when they did. I've been told by Sue that I'm user friendly. She is super duper user friendly. She is wide open to everybody, and I have never met a more positive, hopeful person. She has a tremendous faith in God, through Christ, and loves people.

I am grateful for the opportunity, at this age, to learn a new skill. Just to know that I can.

Another huge thing...remember the wonderful work tables I told you about? Well, in dissolving the business, liquidating, etc., Sue and Gerald were left with 3 work tables. I dreamed of how I could buy one in particular. I figured and figured, but told myself , NO. We still have 2 girls in college, remember? Gerald called me on the first day of my first week at home, not working. He was giving me that work table. I still can't believe it, and don't yet know what I'll do "on it". It's so big and so perfect. I want to do projects, but am not sure yet which ones. It was such a generous gift, and it blessed my heart greatly. Still does.

So, that's my story for the day.

Before I had lunch with Sue, I bought some good dirt for one more container tomato plant, (we have 3 already) plus 3 herbs to plant - rosemary, sage, and sweet basil. Also some plant food. I'm going outside now to play in the dirt.