Monday, March 30, 2009
Recipes
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Today's Second Post - This One is Pictures
Those are what will be iris's - in the middle - not in the pot. I have several clumps of Iris all around my bed. Definitely must take pictures when those are blooming.
Saturday Morning
I returned from Auburn on Tuesday - went down to see Kate who has returned from China - she really liked being there and seems to want to be back there, still. Amazing. I think that I might have wanted to do stuff like that when I was her age - maybe - travel - see the world - but I don't remember that very much - I do love home. I love nesting and creating a spot. I love creating. so - enough of that.
I'm glad and grateful for Kate's one week and now as her mom, knowing she's had a taste of it and wants to be there, I won't feel the angst over her returning for a substantial length of time. I know that I had no right to that concrete sense of security - because, obviously, we are often called to "step out" into what we don't know - trusting God for His presence - Kate was willing to do that - I just was so wanting her to have a taste to see how it felt to her. Anyway - the kindness and gentleness of God gave me that, this time. Again, He'll call me to blind faith at another time - so - I'll trust Him.
My favorite things and what I like to remember.....
hmmmmm......
Well, for now - still - my favorite things are the warmth of the sun in this season. Except this whole week has been on and off again rain, but with afternoon sun - so that's good. Still, cool mornings and nights - and I know I haven't posted any pictures showing what I'm enjoying. I don't have a professional yard, but it's mine and I love the "shabby chic'ness" of it - it reminds me of old yards - I like that - cottage yards - I would love better grass, but not perfect grass that I can't touch and walk in - not grass that makes me fret if one weed shows up - I don't want my yard to own me - although it is a responsibility, just having it. Anything we own is a responsibility - like my house and the space that I have - and making the best use of it.
This week I cleaned out my laundry room - I do that all along, like my bedroom closet - both are "hotspots" for clutter and stashing - and I do(stash, I mean) - and it stresses me as it gets out of control - not to mention the lint pileup in the laundry room - I've pulled out so much stuff to get rid of and I am so glad about it. I'm excited about the extra space I'll have, just organizing and throwing away.
Following this project I plan in the next week or so to deep clean the 3 bedrooms upstairs - getting the horrid dust that builds up under the beds. I wish that I never had to use the space under the bed for storage - and that everytime I, or Charlie, vacuum, we would get "under the bed".
Which is why I prefer hardwood floors - one cannot deny the dust when there are hardwood floors - on the other hand, it's easy to pretend it's not there with carpet. Maybe someday I'll have my hardwoods.
Obviously I'm stalling, because I can't think of a thing to write about. I can't imagine anyone being interested in whether I'm writing or not but if there is some random person out there with a question of what it's like to be 57 or what it's like to raise 4 girls or what it's like to trust Christ for 41 years or what it was like being a child in the 50's and a teenager in the 70's and a young adult in the 80's, well - ask - I'm just having a hard time thinking of anything to say - but I do enjoy blogging and posting and going on about something.
Maybe later I'll find something interesting to post - Anyone need a recipe for anything? I've got thousands - well - probably not thousands - but I have a lot.
Until later......
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thursday and Spring Has So Arrived!
Today is Thursday and the weather is beautiful.
I have realized I need to refresh my photos, add color and make my blog page wake up the way all the trees and other foliage are waking up. The colors in the yard are getting ahead of me - Charlie and I(mostly Charlie) have been doing a bit of early spring yardwork, but we need to do still more. The grass needs cutting again - actually it's the weeds that need cutting - but I'm grateful for those green weeds - they cover my lawn, and when the lawn mower goes over them - well - it all looks neat to me.
When I came home from South Alabama I found all the YellowBells in bloom - so pretty - and the Bradford pears have bloomed and are starting to leaf out - I have a snowball bush that is getting ready to bloom, but some of those frosts got one side of the bush - so it's not going to be completely full - :-( I'm just glad to get some blooms - because year before last I had none due to a very late frost. Also my little purple flowers, can't think of their name, not hyacinths, but look like miniature hyacinths - I'll show pictures and maybe someone can refresh my memory.
Ada and Laura Beth left yesterday for McDonough. I miss them already. Ada is so tiny and Laura Beth said that when she saw her daddy, she hugged him so, and wrapped those little arms around his neck. She had missed him so. I can just see her little curly red head and those tiny arms all around him.
I have pictures of her visit and I will take pictures of my yard and post all of that and then try to think of random things to write about - or not - Just as stuff comes to me - things I remember or things on my heart. Spring hasn't totally "sprung", but it's almost at its peak - we made it folks! through another hibernation period. YAY!!! Lord, sorry I complained - sorry I mumbled and grumbled. :-( Isn't it wonderful to break out of the indoors and enjoy the outdoors? Still a bit cool at times, but that's okay.
This morning I was having my coffee in the living room on the couch and I heard the swallows in the chimney. It's the Hotel Chimney on Byron Road for all those swallows. I called Charlie upstairs to ask if he'd closed the damper. We have had a bird or 2 get in our house. Ugh. I think I would prefer a mouse. I don't know. They're both unwanted in my house. He had not, but came down and closed the damper. Our chimney is a bird resort during the spring and summer. We never do get around to putting a screen up there - that's just so us to not get that done.
I have a bit to do and will post pictures later on.
Have a wonderful spring day!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Back in Scottsboro
This first one is Mary Ann's dining room table, set for the luncheon.
Closeup because I "overtake" pictures of the same thing.
Below is Mary Ann's living room from the dining room. We set up 3 card tables for 9 ladies. In the background is the mantle with the family pictures.
An arrangement of pale yellow lilies with a small white flower, can't remember the name.They were our favorite, the lilies. And more family pictures on this table.
In the background of this picture is Mary Ann's piano with the other pix.
Pictures of the old photos, enlarged. Below each picture I'm explaining who it is.
First picture: Our grandparents and Mary Hamilton's great grandparents, Ella and Elbert, in the thirties or forties. Next Picture: Mary Robinson, Mary Hamilton's grandmother at about age 5 or 6, with my oldest cousin, Bert, Mary's first nephew.
Picture on the far left: Mary Robinson aiding my sister, Mary Ann, in walking. Mary Ann was about 1, Mary was about 17 or 18. Next is Mary and John Law Robinson's wedding picture as they are going in for the reception. I've described this house and "playing 'under the house" in a much earlier post.
First Picture: Receiving line for Mary and John Law's reception. That is Vida Law Robinson and Ella Northcutt, the two mom's, MHamiltons great grandmothers. Second Picture: On the couch is my sister, Mary Ann and my cousin Suzanne, sitting at the reception of Mary and John Law.
My grandmother, Ella, July 14, 1955. The next picture is Melissa holding Mary Hamilton as a baby.
Another table setting.
More.
In Mary Ann's den we served coffee and dessert.
Hydrangeas, which I love these too.
The lilies.
The Robinson ladies eating.
My aunt, Florence with her back to the camera, looking at her menu.
Everyone eating. All family members, cousins, sister, daughter, aunt, cousins-in-law.
So here was a bonus. On Saturday night, Martha Robinson(married to my cousin, John, and also friend of mine from high school - I've told about her) and Mary Claire (my cousin - Melissa's sister) spent the night at Mary Ann's. We'll do anything to keep from staying at a motel in E'green. Not the finest of the fine. I apologize to the hotel folks there, but we're a bit picky.
Mary Ann did get up and dressed for church, and so did Mary Claire - but not Sarah, Martha nor myself. We had coffee and visited - all of us until M.A. and M.C. had to leave for church. We even called Val Carrier to come over and join us. Martha called her and woke her up - got her out of bed. Val lives in B'ham and had ridden down with Martha and was having a weekend visit with her mom. I have also written about Val in the same post when I explained who Martha was. Anyway, we all had fun and laughed and talked and analyzed. It's what women do. I guess men do it too.
But I was anxious to see Ada who was at my house - and I don't get to see her very much - so I hurried and loaded my old Corolla and went to the tea at 2:00 and left for North Alabama.
Good to get back - but I miss everyone down there. I wish I was wealthy enough to own a second home down there - so I could just have my spot there....and here. :-)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
It's Been a Long Time
February 25 was the last time I posted. Sad.
I'm actually in Evergreen, AL right now - I travelled down on Monday, leaving Charlie with all the Scottsboro stuff. Sarah arrived in Scottsboro yesterday for her spring break which doesn't really begin until next week, but all her classes after Tuesday were cancelled.
Kate leaves for China tomorrow.
Laura Beth and Ada are travelling to Scottsboro today. The Laura Beth trip was planned several months ago when I knew I'd be away during this time and unable to help Ann during this new baby stage. The plan was for LB to be there to help her. Ada will spend time with her other grandmother who lives not too far away. So - that all works out.
So - here I am. I've written in my blog that I grew up here in Evergreen, with many cousins who were like siblings to me. We've all scattered and have aged quite a bit. When, however, we were very young adults, our parents were all living, and also our grandmother. In those early years Evergreen was still the gathering place for holidays and weekends - giving all of our children opportunity to know each other.
One of my cousins, Melissa, the older daughter of my mom's youngest sister, remained in Evergreen - so her daughter grew up here amongst her great aunts - and in the same church that I've written so much about and even included pictures. When my girls would visit Evergreen with me, they would play with Mary Hamilton who is 2 years younger than Laura Beth - and then I had Sarah and Kate - so Mary Hamilton is sandwiched in between my two "daughter sets". We still call Mary Hamilton by her very long, beautiful double name, but I understand that her friends from college and young adult life now have shortened it to Mary. In this post I'll just type MH as I sometimes do for Laura Beth by typing LB. MH is getting married on April 18th and we all will have the pleasure of being in our beautiful home church where so many memories will be replayed. An additional fun thing for me is - Ellie(my oldest grandchild) has been asked to be the flowergirl. The two sons of MH's oldest cousin will be the ring bearers together. So - we're now into the 3rd level of cousins participating in this family event.
Back to this week and this weekend.
On Saturday Mary Ann and I are hosting a luncheon for MH. It's here at Mary Ann's house and all the female family members are invited. Of course not all can attend due to distance and schedules, but we do have 16 coming. Even with my having 4 daughters, Sarah is the only one who can be here and even that might not happen - but it should be a very pleasant day and event - and I am having such a good time getting ready. I've been polishing silver, which I really enjoy. I've washed napkins and ironed them - I enjoy that - and today I am washing the china that we'll be using. We're using Mother's old china which she inherited from my grandmother in Troy. It is so very old - white with handpainted gold edge and the monogram "W". We are also using some of my china which I selected, when I married, to blend with Mothers. It, too, is a creamy white(offwhite) with gold edge. And we'll be using mine and mother's stemware.
The menu consists of old family recipes with which we are all familiar. The theme is family and reunion and what we've known for so many years. I'll post the menu with recipes after Saturday. Don't want to reveal secrets before the luncheon.
I'm enjoying this rare opportunity of spending 7 or 8 days here in Evergreen - I've written that Mother and her oldest sister, Lucille, have passed away. But Florence and Mary are here. Of course, it's Mary's granddaugher who is getting married - so the "Robinsons" are all into the whole wedding thing right now. Mary Ann and I visited with (cousin) Melissa and (aunt) Mary on Tuesday and we couldn't stop talking about everything - so fun -
I think this afternoon Mary Ann and I will go over to Florence's and see her. We've been rather busy and haven't had much visiting time. But I want to see her before the luncheon to get in all of our visiting - because one on one will be difficult to do on Saturday with everyone here.
I brought my camera and tool for downloading - so I expect to post pictures following the luncheon. Perhaps before the luncheon. Time permitting.
That's my update.
Why haven't I been posting? Brain just went into a fog - during those final dreary winter days - I needed sunshine and warmth to clean out the cobwebs, I suppose. I don't know - didn't even email much - Mary Ann said she was concerned about me, because I was not emailing at all. She and I do email quite a bit - we prefer that to lengthy time on the phone. Finally, we'll just call each other and get so tickled.
I remember in my last post I said I'd type those special passages from God's word, when I couldn't think of anything on my own to write. I didn't even do that. It never works for me to say "what I will post" - because I don't usually follow through. It's always spontaneous for me in this blogging project. By the way - isn't blog an odd word for this thing we do? I don't think it is a very pretty word and would prefer another - but I don't know what it would be. Who thought of blogging? Weird. But a nice concept in our age of computers and cyberspace.
I have to go and wash more China.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sleepless Nights and What to Do with Them.
Insomnia has never been something I've dealt with. Also, I'm not a worrier. Not to say I never worry - but it doesn't describe me. Obviously there are things that are big enough in my life that might weigh on my mind - but I don't "own" worry. Not one of the weaknesses I deal with. So - worry doesn't keep me from sleeping.
So...... at this stage of my life.....I will go along my usual pattern - daytime/awake - nighttime/asleep - good sleep - but all along, even after having fallen asleep on the couch and waking long enough to stumble to bed - eager to return to my slumber - my brain's eyes slowly come fully awake and there is no falling asleep. Weird. It is either hormonal or it is God keeping me awake to commune with me. (that is my 57 year old phenomenon I was talking about - very unpredictable)
An aside - I want to come clean with all of you young women who are believers and read all about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. I know one thing about verse 15. It says that "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens."
Well - I'm thinking this lady is a mature woman and I now, too, rise while it is yet night - but it's because I can't sleep....sometimes, and I get a lot done when I "can't sleep". If I'm sleepy, I sleep - unless I'm helping one of my girls with their newborns. I know that Ann is a young woman and that right now she, too, rises while it is yet night - to feed Andrew. She definitely provides food for him - but she has no maidens and if she did, well, she would have them providing their own food - and probably telling them to forget the food - could they please hold Andrew and burp him between feedings.
Back to if I sleep or don't sleep.
Last night, after many many many nights of being able to sleep - well, I couldn't - when my head hit the pillow. I had already been asleep on the couch and couldn't wait to get to my bed. I now know NOT to get up if I need the sleep - because I certainly wouldn't fall asleep if I'm up and about - I mean, I would get up if there were things to be done - but I needed to fall asleep - not knowing what this new day would hold. So - I lay there with some weird secular song in my brain - not sure where that came from unless it was from my blog. Probably. So - I began to think about God - of course(and I prayed earnestly for wisdom - asking would it be better to get up and read His word or to lay there and pray the scripture I know, in order to soon get sleep as He enabled me) - I've always done that on my pillow at night - focused on God, in a personal way - way back into earliest childhood memories. I believe it is the way He has always spoken to me and what led me to my salvation - another post - okay - so last night - wanting to get that stupid song out of my brain I began to remember praise verses in scripture - majestic ones - but not knowing the complete passages, I determined that I MUST memorize this stuff - something I've never been able to deliberately do - memorize scripture. It's only in studying it over and over that I memorize it without planning to. So - there I lay - and I just want to say that at age 57 - God has done that thing in me - that I now know there is no peace in anything but focusing on the complete holiness of the God of ALL Creation. It dissolves any fears, any worries, any distractions, any worldly wants regarding things one can't have at the present, it pales all other things and answers all needs and prayers. What got under my skin was not knowing the entire passages - so I purposed that I would begin the project that I have so often meant to start.
I love to type. My eyesight is getting worse and worse. I use reading glasses and magnifying glasses to see small print. So - today - I've been working on putting in print my best and most faith strengthing praise scripture and prayer scripture. I need this collection for when I'm really really old and can't see a thing and need really large print. and at that age, the only thing I will need in my life is God's word and someone making me comfortable - but if I don't have someone making me comfortable, then I will only need God's word.
I hate taking scripture out of context - but I've done my best to include the entire passage that wouldn't misrepresent the verses - if that makes sense. Praising God - how can that ever be out of context - and the reality of His Kingdom - it stands alone.
I've said all of this to say, that when I can't think of a single thing about "this world and this life" to post about - then I'm going to share some of that scripture that praises the Eternal God - and encourage anyone reading this to take hold of it - for whatever you are facing on a daily basis.
To be continued. You won't get the verses at this moment. I have run out of "typing time" and will post a praise and prayer passage in the next post. Unless I've thought of something to write about regarding "this world". :-)