Guess What?

I have a new cooktop!

Here's the deal.

When we moved into this already built house in 1994 - it had a Jenn-Air cooktop  built into the "island".  Only 2 eyes - a small and a large - with a grill to grill meat? Indoors?  I don't think so.  All that grease?  We prefer to do our grilling outside - on charcoal.  So we just told ourselves we would replace that with a 4 eye cooktop.

We never did.  Neither of us took the initiative and I adapted to only having the 2 eyes.

All these 16 years I've mostly used the grill as a kitchen drain.  Isn't that crazy?  When I have a very large crowd I have used the grill as a heat source to keep things simmering which I had already heated on the two eyes.

But all those years of cooking and with just the two eyes - here in America - where we must have all the luxuries - well, it's been a trial.  :-) Kidding.  I do have a crockpot - a nice one.  I have a Microwave and of course the oven.  Only one oven - not a double oven.  As long as I am going to live in the USA - and be intoxicated with comfort and ease - and demand only the most convenient appliances - well, shoot!  Might as well want for double ovens.  Please note my sarcasm directed toward myself - and read my last post about the awareness of poverty in places like Guatemala.

Nonetheless, several weeks ago, with only two eyes to cook on - my largest one went out.  It quit.  It said, "No more.  I'm not working anymore.  I'm done here.  You should have hired another large eye to help me with this workload. I quit".

and I said, "You've got to be kidding!  Are you sure????  I jiggled with the knob and tried this.  I tried that.  And I realized the truth.  I was now cooking with only one small eye."

So, I thought....yay!  I don't have to cook anymore.  That's my excuse.  I mean - who could prepare a large meal with one small eye?  Plus - I'd already excused myself from vacuuming.

Because see, I've been using a very very very old, what used to be a very nice one when it was new, Electrolux Vacuum.  But that was so long ago - and it had become a monster to use and maneuver and work with, having all of its glitches.  Charlie would have bought me a new vacuum, but I've wanted a really really good very costly vacuum.  Because do ya'll know that just because a vacuum is called a vacuum cleaner, that doesn't really mean it's getting all the stuff out of your carpet?  Do you know that?  That's true.  So who wants to drag a cheap vacuum around the house and feel deceptively good about cleaning, when you're not really cleaning at all.  I don't.  I'm a realist.  I don't want to vacuum if I'm not vacuuming.  So - Charlie has taken on vacuuming for me with our old, but still "sucking it up" vacuum cleaner.  He did that because he's a loving husband.  He has compassion on and for me and it's his way of being my hero and protector.  So he's vacuumed.  It had even, lately, gotten to the point at which duct tape was brought out.  He used the tape to hold together the tuby thing - the part of the vacuum that is flexible and attaches to the hard part.  That lasted a while until finally it completely broke.  We had no vacuum.   And... I have to say, the duct tape was hard on me.  Duct tape?  there is no visually, esthetically  appealing quality about it - none whatsoever.  I just looked away when the duct tape came out.

(I'll get back to the cooktop shortly)

So - it's one thing to be able to quit cooking - but gee, dust builds up.  What to do?  Well, about once a week or every 2 weeks - Charlie borrowed a vacuum - a good one from a very convenient source - just not going into that right now publicly.

Back to the cooktop -

I knew I couldn't cook - but here's the thing.  I forget stuff.  I would forget that I had only one small eye. It was like cooking in a dorm on a hotplate!!  Charlie joked that we could go out and buy 3 more hotplates and then it would be like having a new cooktop.  He thought that was pretty funny.  I just smiled in a cynical way.  I would forget and then I would commit to a meal - mostly with Ann and family, and those are pretty large meals - and I'd turn to cook and remember.  Oops.

I've actually adapted to one small cooktop.  Casseroles and meats in the oven are nice.  That works.  I've used the indoor grill as a heat source.

But now I have the new cooktop and a new vacuum.  From the kind folks at Sears who had a great 18 month no interest plan.  We'll have them both paid for in 18 months - no interest.  :-)  Cooktop was installed yesterday and I used the vacuum in my living room.  It has a clear canister and I can see what is being picked up.  WHOA!!!!  That's cool.  Here's what I think I might do.  Vacuum the carpet once, see what it's picked up.  I'll empty the canister and then vacuum the same area to see if it continues to pull up a lot.  That's a TEST!!  Isn't it?  That's reality.  I like real.  No faking it.  No deceiving myself.

Now - if I could just remodel my house - create more space - have all hardwood floors put in - new paint, inside and out.  Ahhhh.  I mean, I live in America - of course that's what I want.

Oh yeah, and I need a new car.

I write with "tongue-in-cheek".

Where My Mind and Heart Is on This Day, with an edit

I used to only read a very few blog posts.  One thing led to another and, well, I think I've mentioned it before.  There are some amazing people in the world - standing in the gap - stepping up to the plate - being a strong arm for the hurting, the oppressed, the beggars, the hopeless -

I read these two blogs always:  A Holy Experience  and  The Gypsy Mama.  Ann Voskamp and Lisa-Jo are the writers of each of these blogs and have just returned from a trip to Guatemala sponsored by Compassion.  I read their posts as they each told about their trip, about finally meeting the children whom they sponsor, and about how God opened their hearts wide, wide to see and hear the sights and sounds of poverty and hope.

Again, going through the amazing maze of the blog word, I've added two new blogs to my must read list.

As it turns out, I didn't know, Compassion has a blog - I challenge you to read this story - Saving Baby Girls from Infanticide in India.

And then this one - This is a blog belonging to Laura Parker.  You can go to her blog here or you can go straight to her "About Me Story" here.  Again - another challenge to be moved way out of your comfort zone...just reading it.

A small excerpt from Laura's story:

"My husband and our three small children (ages 6, 4, and 2) have just relocated here (jungles of Thailand)  so that my husband can direct Christian orphanage for girls who are targets for the sex industry. 


The site for the orphanage which he directs  is Breanna's House of Joy.  Oh, my goodness.  Explore that site.  If you have 50.00 to give monthly, you can sponsor a little girl and save her from being sold into slavery - imagine that.  


One more.  There's this little girl named Isabel Jones.  When she was 5 she went with her parents to visit a child whom they sponsored through Compassion.  It moved her in such a way, when she was 5, that eventually she began to collect shoes to send children who had no shoes.  She is 11 now and this site tells you all about it and her and how you can help.  Did I mention that she is only 11?


All of this is all I can think about on this day.  


Here's the edit:


I never remember how I got to a new blog/post - but this lady was also on the Compassion trip to Guatemala and here is her post about meeting her sponsored child.  OMG!  My heart!
www.lindseynobles.com/2010/09/my-darling-jenser/  Read this, if you're up to it.


And this one - it completes the list of the four ladies, I think, who were on this trip.  Shaun Groves was also on this trip.  Anyway - here is her blog and September 13th post about that particular day.
www.babybangs.blogspot.com

To New Orleans and Now Home

So - we delivered Sarah's furniture and spent two nights in the city she now calls home.

Monday was a task day - except for eating a delicious lunch on Magazine Street.
and a light dinner that evening, same street, I think.  We did see the heart of New Orleans.  Bumping along on those very narrow streets which aren't freshly paved - and the parallel parking of cars all up and down all the streets everywhere - park anywhere - anywhere - and walk back to the desired eating establishment - it was good and unique - delightful - and we walked.

We walked through Audubon Park on Tuesday

after having coffee and muffin/bar/bagel

at Sarah's favorite coffee shop.

She refers to it as "my coffee shop".

I was beginning to think she owned it.

Don't have a picture of her coffee shop but she does so I'll just steal these two from 

 this post of hers.

And our walk through Audubon Park where Sarah enjoys running and meeting friends for morning coffee and just being there for outdoor time and quiet amongst people and squirrels and city sounds.

After that walk we were hungry and Sarah chose a unique place for us to have a traditional New Orleans Po Boy.  She told us that Obama had been to New Orleans recently and chose this spot for his Po Boy experience.  Ahhhh we drove all the way into Mid City which is away from Uptown.  See?  I can say all of this now and picture it.  And we were a little off on our directions and did several start overs with mapquest off of Charlie's phone - and we finally found the place and we were rather spent - so guess what?  It was closed.  On Tuesdays it's closed.  Why Tuesdays?  Sarah told us that in New Orleans people just close their establishments when they feel like it.  Hence, The Big Easy.

Definitely The Big Easy.

Incredibly relaxed.  No hurry.  No push.

So back to Magazine Street and we ate.

Then we rested at our respective places.

We dropped Sarah off at her house.

and we went back to our hotel...

to rest and clean up.

Then out again to The Columns Hotel, recommended by Sarah.

For some late evening fellowship amongst Dad, Mom, Daughter.

Here it is - so beautiful - we could walk from our hotel -

we tried sitting on the porch - which is the favorite thing to do -

but it was really hot that night with no breeze, plus hard to hear each other talk - 

so we went inside and found a nice couch and table with chairs in this room.

This is our perspective from our couch.

I found these last 3 pictures off of the internet.

Hard to describe the gorgeous hardwood throughout this hotel.

Spectacular!

Also images off of the internet.

We did drive down to the French Quarter on Monday night.

Sarah wanted us to have a classic Beignet from Cafe Du Monde.

We did and it was really delish - as was their coffee.

And a daytime image of the French Quarter.  It's intriguing at night.

When I'm in these places I feel like I'm wearing a Neon Sign with flashing words,

"CAUTION - 59 YEAR OLD FEMALE - VERY DULL - VERY CONSERVATIVE - AND HAS LOST ALL ABILITY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX"

I think I could "loosen" up a bit if I had more time there - but alas - I am who I am.

There was a disturbing scene.  A man - just so destitute - stumbling about on the sidewalk - unusually disturbing - He appeared incredibly soiled - and it's those situation in which I hate myself for being so removed from such broken people.  and the questions - how can I help him - what could I do.  I am totally inept in those moments.  I also have a queasy stomach for yucky stuff - I hate that too about me.

That man was once someone's infant child.  He was a six year old.  He was a teenager.

He was a young man.  What is his story to end up seemingly homeless and addicted to some substance?  I don't see how he could live much longer in that physical state.  

I wanted to put him in a vehicle and get him to a hospital where they could clean him up and get him much closer to wellness than he was then.  I wanted to tell him about the Savior who loves Him and became like him so that this man could have life and wholeness and life and light.

I'm home and I'm still thinking about that man and wishing I helped people in that condition.

There was another funny thing.  Around Jackson Square that night, in front of the Cathedral - there are several benches with what appeared to be homeless people sleeping and also regular people enjoying the night out.  there are also vendors, people set up behind tiny tables selling opportunities to have your fortune told with Tarot Cards and such.  Yipes.  I too want to get to know these vendors and love them and then share the truth ,  but again, don't know or where to start - 

Okay - that's not the funny thing - here it is.  Some guy who didn't appear particularly destitute.  I wasn't just looking straight on at all these folks we passed.  But as we three walked by he began to beg for quarters or some loose change.  We just ignored him - he yelled after us, "I'm addicted to crack!" we continued to walk and he didn't appear to be on crack, actually - and then he yelled after us as we walked still further away, "YOU SUCK!"  Sarah and I got so tickled.  

So - that was my first trip to New Orleans.

We especially enjoyed being with Sarah, of course.  We think she is precious and beautiful and so dear.

Who doesn't think that about their own angel child?  (how I refer to each of my offspring)

Before New Orleans, the Tallahassee Trip.

I have posted this picture before on my blog.

That is Mother sitting on the ground.

Behind her on the left is her friend, Jean Soule, and on the right, is her younger sister, 

Florence Northcutt.

None of them were married.

Look at Mother's Saddle Oxfords on the ground in front of her.

This was in the forties.

They were "goofing" off - hanging out - taking pictures - posing in mock situations -  probably on a Sunday afternoon - 

because they all worked during the week.

I think Florence was the first to marry, and then Jean, and then Mother.

And here is Florence again - appearing to "shake" a bottle - mixing it - for her baby, Rachel.

I think this is my 2 year birthday party - I think - my head behind the cake.

That's Mary Ann standing there, talking to me.

Next picture - 1955
 - Florence with the towel around her shoulders.
Mother with the long, print skirt on.
Rachel with her back to the camers.  Florence now lives with Rachel in Tallahassee.
Mary Ann with her bare shoulders and side to the camera.

Same day, and a lineup of some of us.

I'm on the left and Rachel is on the right.

Suzanne, Florence's oldest daugher, is in the back.

Rusty, Florence's son, is third from the back and third from the front.

Mary Ann is right below Rusty.

And below are some of our pictures from our Tallahassee trip.
We visited Florence who is living with Rachel now.
Her son, Rusty, lives in Tallahassee.
Her oldest daughter, Suzanne, lives in Gulf Shores.

This is Mary and Florence, sitting next to each other.
I caught Florence's eyes squinting in a facial expression.

Florence has suffered through a late in life heart attack, then 2 serious falls on 2 separate occasions.
Both put her in the hospital.  The last one broke her jaw, and she had to have surgery which left her with her jaws wired together until they healed.  She then was in rehab and now is back at home with her daughter, Rachel.  On this trip Rachel was at work, so we were unable to see her.

Here are Rusty and Mary Ann, 

55 years after that black and white photo 

of the cousin lineup in 1955.

The goodbye was tough.  But Florence and Mary have walked through trials tougher

than saying goodbye to each other. I love them both.

When we first walked in the door to see Florence, after our hello hugs,

she said,

"I wish ya'll  had brought Edith and Lucille with you!"

She said it so naturally, but of course was teasing, but meant it.

Mother and Lucille are in heaven.

We wished we could have brought them, too.

It was a good visit.  None of us wanted to say goodbye.

Morning in South Alabama

I just read this blog post by Esther Bratton and it stirs my heart.  Wow.  When we are walking through a trial - a difficult place - and even with our heart hurting - and we cling to Him - our Savior -  well - enough of the pronoun , we - when I see it in others - I see the glow of His glory - when I see others holding on to HIM - it blesses me beyond all blessings.  Esther and Ben have been so blessed with their precious little baby girl, Charlotte - and God has been so faithful and kind to keep her safe with the Spina Bifida she was born with - but there are hurdles to get through in that wonderful NICU in Birmngham, AL - and that fierce, fierce Mother Love and Father Love that is so new and fresh and gripping in the hearts of Ben and Esther - it's hard to walk away from her, even though she is in good hands.

So - speaking of mother and father love.  Charlie and I are down here in Evergreen with a truck full of old furniture - attic worthy furniture - shall we call it shabby chic???  We still have that heart pull toward our baby - well - she's 24 - but still - and we are taking her stuff to her in New Orleans.  She's been sleeping on a tile floor on an air mattress because this has been the earliest we could get down there.  Our calendar has been full.  We cut the trip in half by getting as far as Evergreen.

I never did post pictures of my trip to Tallahassee with pictures of my beautiful aunts, Florence and Mary.  I haven't because I wanted to find some old black and whites of their youth and try to reveal time and how we wear life's experiences like clothing - adornment - if we wear it well with a heart trusting Christ.  I think strength is seen in countenances and expressions and our body language.  I want to write a good story about these dear dear aunts of mine.  It was hard to transition back to North Alabama - I want to be near them and glean from all that I know of them.

We are supposed to be out of here by 7:30.  It's 7:02 and Charlie just appeared in the room and I could see that he wondered how in the world I could be posting on this blog when we need to be getting ready to leave.  I must go dry my hair.

New Orleans, next stop.

More on English

I had two comments on my last post.  One from Laura Beth.  She is all about the incorrect use of the pronoun, "I".  I expected an immediate response from Laura Beth and she did not disappoint me.  She is all about this stuff.

And I had a comment from Hollen who is Ann and Steve's niece.  She is a precious girl with a sweet spirit like the rest of the Barber family.  She is beautiful inside and out.

Her comment was very helpful to me because it was about the word, "like".

I try not to use the word, like, in the slang fashion which is common to teenagers and maybe some college coeds.  But I think I do misuse it.

Part of Hollen's comment reads this way:   She is referring to a conversation she had had with her cousin and another friend.

" Hannah, said, "It was as if...." I don't remember exactly what she said. So, I had been studying in school before the summer about how you aren't supposed to say "It's like..." or anything like that, you're supposed to say "It's as if" because like is a preposition. "


and Hollen went on to praise her cousin for using the correct words.  Funny how we notice those things....but we do.


I'm not sure I always use the word correctly, so I googled it.  The following is what I found.

1

Know how the word "like" is supposed to be used. There are only two correct usage.

• Similarity - "This tastes like chicken."
  
  
  
  
• Enjoyment - "I like this movie."
  
  
  
  
• Note that "It's like we knew each other the whole time!" is incorrect. The correct phrase is 
• "It's as if we knew each other the whole time!"

There were many more rules about how NOT to use the word.    

Thanks, Hollen, for bringing this to my attention.

Surely someone else has some "pet peeves"  regarding sentence structure and certain words

and how the "rules are broken".  

1

English Test

Which sentences are correct out of the following choices?

A.  Will you go with Sarah and I?
B.  Will you go with Sarah and me?

A.  Sarah and I will go.
B.  Sarah and me will go.

A.  Thank you for thinking of Charlie and me.
B.  Thank you for thinking of Charlie and I.

A.  The two selected are Sarah and I.
B.  The two selected are Sarah and me.

Don't forget:  the pronoun, I, is the subject of a verb.  the pronoun, me, is the object of a verb and object of a preposition.

In an effort to be "proper", the pronoun, I, is used over and over as a preposition object - by well meaning people.  Just felt a responsibility to use my blog post to correct that if anyone cares to be corrected.

You know how the majority of "Hollywood" has taken our political climate into their own hands, deeming themselves saviors of our world?  Well, I  hear, even on television and in movies, their misuse of those two pronouns.   It makes me think they were absent the day that lesson was taught in English.

It makes me think the lesson isn't even being taught in English anymore.

In fact, sad as it is, it would seem that the English language is becoming an offense to the world - correct English, that is.  Correct English is beautiful - as is any language.  I wish I knew more languages.  But, alas, English is mine - with a strong Southern accent.  Strong South Alabama - wish I could improve that dialect just a bit.

Answers to the above quiz:

Will you go with Sarah and me?
Sarah and I will go.
Thank you for thinking of Charlie and me.
The two selected are Sarah and I.


Who and Whom are also misused.  Well, mostly whom.  It's slowly being eliminated - the word, whom.  But Who is a subject in a sentence.  Whom is an object.  But I looked up all of this to make sure I was saying all of this correctly and I read that the word whom is becoming obsolete and even the most astute English experts are having to concede.

What a different post this is.

Any comments on the pronouns, I and me?  Have you ever thought about it?