The Way I See It

The Other Carolina State

2017-06-06T23:15:00.000-07:00

As I gazed up at the sky tonight I noticed the clouds had begun to thin out just enough to see the stars. I saw Venus to my right, what a beautiful bright star she is! Suddenly the clouds parted just enough to see the moon as it shown down on our dark streets. The night time shadows receded back to tree line behind my house becoming thin gray circles. Bunnies playing across the fresh cut grass brings a smile to my face. All is well in our world.

Late at night when the world is quieter I like to sit on my front porch and ponder on life. It's easier to reflect on the day's past this way than to worry yourself during the day and accomplishing nothing in the long run.

Well I'm back on the canning kick again and so far I have put up 75 quarts of pickles. Next will be green beans and then salsa! Got to do salsa this year, my kids are dying for it and yes I'm using the same receipt I have posted here on a previous post! So if you haven't seen it look back and ye shall find! lol

Well folks tomorrows another day and that's the way I see it here in the Other Carolina State!

I remembered how to write......

2017-04-01T17:40:00.002-07:00

Well now if this isn't a surprise! Me writing again??? Well I've got a story to tell my dears! What a story it is! You see I've been traveling quite a bit since the last we spoke. I've been from NC to ND then on to MS then back to NC back to MS and now we live in SC. Whew! That's a lot of traveling and Baxter the wonder dog has really been a trooper. We even got him a girl friend in all our travels. Her name is Zoey. Of course at first he was not too happy with his new partner in life but he soon warmed up to her. Now all is well in their world. Neither one can stand to be without the other. Although at times when Zoey is acting like a wild puppy, Baxter still gives me that look. You know the one that says " Just wait til you fall asleep I will eat your face off!" lol

Now that we live in SC I feel such a peace here. I'm back in the red dirt country where my roots have always firmly been planted. I'm two hours from my hometown and less than that from Atlanta. Best of all no more flying dinosaurs! lol If you remember those in Mississippi have a wing span of 36 feet??!! Yeah me too! lol But I will forever miss my best friends. Now if we could just figure out a way to set Alabama adrift out into the Gulf just think how much closer we would all be! Something to ponder!

This past year has really been rough for me and da hubs. He's managed to put quite a few gray hairs in my head. You see thanks to his parents he has inherited both of their bad family hearts. Three trips in the hospital to fix the old ticker and he still has bad days. He also likes to pass out on me. They call those Cardiac Seizures. Not too fun to watch. We go back to the Dr. on April 18th and we shall see how his medicine is working. Prayers are always welcomed. Faith is all we have in the end you know.

Well I guess this is enough for one night. Take care my dears and Betty dear Betty you will always be loved.

In The Land Of The Hanging Moss

2015-04-09T20:06:00.001-07:00

It's been quite awhile since I've last wrote you hasn't it? Well a lot has happened! Probably more than I can put here tonight but I'll give you the quick short version! We moved from NC to ND stayed for about a month. Just long enough for the Hubs to declare it was too damn cold up there for him! lol It was only November.... Anywho we pulled up stakes and loaded up ole Goldie and headed south to MS, that's Mississippi for you abbreviation challenged folks! lol Spent Thanksgiving with my BBF1 and went back to NC. Loaded everything we had and put the house up for sale! Yes we finally sold the house this past fall but not before we moved to MS. The Hubs now works at Nissan and loves it!

We got us a cute little place. It needs some work but for a discount on our rent we do the work he deducts the cost from our rent. Can't beat that! I stay busy working with my sewing and quilting. As I do I find myself closer to my mama and grandma. I miss them more and more with each passing day. But sewing is my therapy. Some folks take walks, some folks drink, I sew. It gives me time to clear my mind and plan what my next caper might be! lol I think my Grandma would be so pleased at the progress I have made just by following her examples. You see what everyone thought including me, were scraps, turned out to be pieces sewed together and randomly thrown in various boxes and crates. I'm so glad I figured it all out! I'm sure anyone with an untrained eye would have thrown them away.

It was just a box of scraps.....yet it tore a family apart. I witnessed it all. Sad but true. I remember being told to take pics of everything! Someone said they needed them for closing of the will. So I took all those pictures..... found them the other day. I wonder if they still want them? lol Even after I was told to take them no one wanted them I am still considered a thief or is it because I am Her daughter? Is that it? I bet so! I bet that is the real reason! I have no right to even the scraps because I was Her daughter. Hey growing up was tough when you knew half the family hated your mom! lol You just dealt with it and moved on. But it also separated you from the rest of the family. You know it wasn't until after my mama died that I had a relationship with my grandmother.

She was a special lady and we had a special relationship. It was whatever she wanted to do. I never made the plans. She did. And she loved it that way! Of course a hot dog was first and center to every excursion we took! lol Her wonderful colorful life is what made me write. I miss that.

Memories are a wonderful thing to have and share. You don't have to pack them when you move. They don't take up much room. I like to share my memories and the stories of my family thru my writings. I also like to share them with my beautiful grandchildren. How do you share you family stories?

Well that's the way I see it here in the land of the hanging moss, where secrets are kept and never told.

You just never know.....

2013-11-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

What an adventure we have had in the last 6 weeks! We have really done some traveling across our great nation! We left NC and headed across TN to Pidgeon Forge for a much needed rest of the nerves. So enjoyed the hot tub and the peace and quiet you can always count on in the mountains! Came home and repacked for North Dakota this time! Yes my dears we took a leap of faith and headed out for the unknown! lol

You should have seen us! We looked like vagabonds! All that was missing was a broom sticking out the window with laundry hanging on it! lol Poor Baxter he was such a trouper! He rode the whole way without complaining too much! That is til we made our last stop. He just looked at me like this is it, I've had enough with the riding! lol But we made it there although it took us old folks 4 days!

Da Hubs took one look and said it reminded him of his home town and he wanted to go back to Carolina. Baxter the killer Maltese wanted to leave too. I however, fell in love with the area. It was so quaint! The people are really nice too, but it's a tad bit cold up her in North Dakota. In the words of my dear Hubs, "I'm too damn old to be putting up with frozen pipes and frozen bones". And that was BEFORE our water pipes froze...... But the weather was perfect for me! Why I could strip my clothes off and run naked into a snow bank! Perfect for hot flashes! Alas we had to pack up and move south.

We did however take time to see a local national park. So check out my pick at the top and if you happen to be a friend of mine on facebook check out my other photos I took. Later my dears!

Stress

2013-08-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever watched safety glass break? It shatters slowly when you lightly tap it. Next time you get a chance to break some glass, try it and see. It's really interesting. What's not interesting is how it feels inside when you shatter like safety glass. I should know because that is what I feel like inside. Slowly shattering. Why you ask do I feel this way? Stress. The last two weeks have been excruciating. The last week has been nauseating. I can't escape it. But I have faith it will work out because there is no other outcome.

Life has a way of coming at you sideways sometimes but lately it has been coming at me upside down and throwing up in my lap. Frankly I am just sick of it all. I wish it would just iron back out to normal. I'll write you later my dear when I feel more like myself. xoxo

Lazy Days

2013-04-26T07:10:00.002-07:00

Well here I am again folks! Just when you almost forgot I could write! lol Well life just picks up and leaves me sometimes and other times it just takes me with it! Lately I have been riding with life and enjoying my time with my granddaughter Ella Claire. She is so much a part of our lives now we can't imagine it without her! lol And so smart too! She got a hold of my cell phone yesterday and managed to do something to it. Anywho I ended up restoring it to it's factory settings, thus losing all those videos and pics I have taken of her since birth! I just cried. But such is life isn't it?

Got our garden planted finally! We have potatoes, squash, cukes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and lettuce planted. So far, lettuce is all I have been picking. By the end of May I will have cukes and squash running out of my ears! lol But that is ok by me! I will be canning those babies! Love me some pickles! lol I love to can vegetables. They look so pretty in my pantry. They taste really good in the winter too! lol

Well folks I just wanted to drop you guys a line and let you know I'm still alive! lol I've got to go straighten out my sewing room so I can destroy it again for my next project! Oh what is it you say? Why a quilt of course! But that is a another story isn't it?

2012-11-09T23:24:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been finding it harder and harder to find the time to write. I will get something started only to leave it unfinished. By the time I pick it up again I have lost my train of thought! So much for menopause! lol At any rate I felt the need to write to you all and let you know how life is here along our beautiful coast.

I keep our granddaughter 2 to 3 days a week. This requires me to leave the house by 7 am in order to get to Leland by 7:45. Most mornings I make it on time by God forbid if there is an accident somewhere. Since there is only one way in and out around here there is no plan B! lol I love keeping Ella Claire and I can tell she knows me now! Her little face just lights up and smiles when she sees me. Such a sweet baby and so good! Never were any of mine that good. Of course we all know grandchildren are the best and most perfect right???? lol

We married off the last of our daughters this past weekend. Such a beautiful wedding it was too! Simple, elegant and very sweet, just perfect by my daughters standards. She did everything herself! All the decorations, flowers, everything! I am so proud of her! Can hardly wait til Keith Ketchem finishes the pics too! You can go to Keithketchem.com and enter Client password Dorre to see a sample of the pics when he releases them. I'm sure there is bound to be one of me dancing like a fool but who cares! We were having a wonderful time! lol

Found us a beautiful house that I think I would die to own but alas we must sell our current home in order to buy that one. I'm sure by the time this one sells that one will be gone. Isn't that the way it always works out??? lol Oh well, who knows maybe this one will sell quickly??!!

I've been working and sewing up a storm since Ella Claire was born. There are two local stores that I provide hand goods for sale. I make all baby items, place mats, runners, Christmas stuff, you name it I make it! I also make purses and handbags. So if you get a chance and find yourself in Hampstead, stop by Carla's Too or Miss Carla's Antiques. And let me know what you think! I could use some feedback! lol

Well folks, it's off to bed for me! I have a delivery to make in the morning. Got a batch of fall runners to deliver just in time for Thanksgiving. Next project is Christmas Stockings! xoxo

My Darling Ella Claire

2012-08-07T21:31:00.001-07:00

I have waited so long for this day to come! My first grandchild! My first fruit of my loom has presented me with a granddaughter! Oh and she is so precious! She has stolen my heart and is holding it in her tiny hand. I could just cry every time I look at her. Her face shows the generations of our families. Her little feet and hands are identical to mine and her mama's. Strange how that works out! I so look forward to teaching her how to pick things up with those long toes! lol

When I hear her cry she sounds like my daughters when they were babies. That tiny little sound that you can't hear in another room? Yep she cries like that. So sweet! And some of the expressions that cross her face! Why you just know sweet angels and fairies are playing with her while she dreams. I look forward to telling her stories about everything! Our family, our history and just stories that have been told to me by our ancestors.

My dad told me we make perfect babies in this family. I have to agree with him but it is a shame it took us three generations to achieve perfection. I'll take it anyway it comes! Yes, Ella Claire is absolutely perfect.

I wonder what my mama would have thought about her first great granddaughter? I bet she would have been jumping hoops to be here! I know she would have knocked me down to hold her first! lol I can hardly wait to take her around to meet all of our extended family members. Yes I am already planning our first road trip! Of course we will take Baxter! Can't leave him at home can I? lol

Haven't introduced Baxter to Ella Claire yet, we have plenty of time for that. In the meantime, I'm just going to sit back and saute in the juices of Grandmotherhood and think about all those Grandmothers that came before me.

Well that's what I've been up to lately my dears, enjoy your evening! As for me, I'm planning of having sweet dreams of my little butterfly! xoxo

In the beginning....then there was Swiffer!

2012-08-01T10:41:00.001-07:00

It has been said that with each new beginning there has to be an ending. With that being said I must say I am going to miss my Mater Car. With barely a dry eye I signed her away at the dealership and took possession of my daughter's SUV. I know it will take time to get accustomed to her but I will always miss my Mater car. After all she was grandma's chariot. I took a lot of good trips in that car. Shared a lot of good memories with friends and family alike. Oh well no one can say I'm not a good mother can they? My daughter needed my car to trade for a new one. That's what happens when you love your child, you sacrifice everything. Expect nothing in return. You won't be disappointed I promise.

Well it's the first day of August and we are still awaiting the arrival of Ella Claire. I have never been good at waiting for anything. Patience is hard for me especially when the outcome is such a wonderful thing as the birth of a baby. I have waited a long time for this baby, now if I can just contain my excitement a little bit longer.....Oh and learn to share of course! lol

I have found a new way to use my Swiffer! Several people have told me to write the company and tell them this new idea. I may yet do so but I thought I would share my idea with you my dears first! Recently a mouse dared to poke his head in my house! Yes he did! He made it thru my vast yard filled with black snakes and cats! Amazing I know! And then he met me in my kitchen late one night. I sized him up and grabbed my swiffer! I chased him while Baxter barked! (useless dog!) Ran him into the utility room! And lo and behold there was no cover on the electrical socket! Hehehehehe Yep you guessed it I poked him in the arse til he ran up the wall into the socket and electrocuted himself! Ahhhh Victory! Score One for the Mama! Of course Baxter the dog is still barking! So I took the handle of my Swiffer and drug the mouse out until I could flick him out the back door. I was so happy I failed to notice an American cockroach making his entry into my house. As I slammed the back door there HE sat, staring at me as if to say "What? I live here now what are YOU going to do about it" I never flinched I just smashed him with the other end of the Swiffer. So when in doubt my dears, Swiffer to the rescue!

Well that's the way I see it today.....perhaps you do too? Until we meet again, God bless you all!

Another Dream!

2012-07-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

By now most of you know I "dream". lol So for those of you who don't, I guess you do now! lol Whether you believe in my "dreams" or not doesn't really matter to me. What is important is the message I receive from these "dreams". Like the one I had about my uncle, I will share my most recent two with you, my dear friends. But first you need a little info on how this all works. You see each and every member of my family and friends I have asked to please let me know if they can how they are doing on the "other side". Some I have yet to hear from. I suppose "that side" must be the most wonderful place because the ones I do hear from are extremely happy. Take my uncle for example he died of COPD. When he came to me he was whole again and could breathe like a young man.

Sometimes I dream about people who are still alive. My first dream was one like that I dreamed about her. I could see her face and I knew she was talking to me in that stern voice. That condescending voice that tells me she knows it all and her opinion is far more important than mine would ever be. Again she was dress in her white jacket and dress pants. She hadn't a hair out of place. My mind was not receptive of her words so I cannot tell you what she said. I guess I will have to endure yet another visit before I will learn her message. Woe is me I say! lol I sincerely hope when she does pass she doesn't visit me with that white jacket.

I have discovered that what ever is their favorite color or clothing they tend to wear it when they visit me. My dear mother is still wearing her mint green suit after 12 years! I hate that suit! But I have learned it was her favorite. Imagine my shock when my uncle visited with a baby blue suit on! lol Yeah my thoughts exactly.

I have been accused and rightfully so, of being the one who carries all the emotion in the family. I have no idea why I have been chosen to express my emotions so much but it has a tendency to frighten some away. I cannot control it just as I cannot control my "dreams". I wish I could do both. If I could I would not dream of them. I would change the outcome. Do you understand? Anywho I don't dream in color unless someone has something to tell me and that is how I know the difference.

Well enough of that heady stuff! I suppose you want to know the second dream right? Well it wasn't menacing like the first one. It was really quite a relief to hear from Grandma. I had just about given up! But true to her word she came by for a visit! And here is how it happened.

I'm standing on the threshold of my youngest Aunt's house. I haven't been there in way too many years so I have no idea what they have done to the house. However, I know this is their house or at least that is what I am being told. The room is empty but for two doors. One on the right leads to the kitchen and the other one the the left leads to another room. I am being lead to the one on the right thru a very large kitchen and den area on to an addition on the back of the house where everyone has conjugated . . This room feels like a sun room it is so bright and airy. I see the outline of my youngest Aunt hovering over my oldest Aunt. My Daddy is there and so are a lot of other people. I ask where the 3rd Aunt is and no one answers. I announce I am going in search of her. I end up back in that first room and take the door on the left. This room is so quiet and cool feeling. The walls are a deep green and pictures are falling from the ceiling. As they drop from the ceiling and land on the floor they are in full color. One is my Mama and she is dressed in her mint green suit. Another is my Grandma and she is dressed in pink with a white thin shirt jacket. It has floral print on the jacket I can just make out the Hydrangea print or could it be Hibiscus? I asked Grandma how she was doing and she said "We are all doing fine. Just fine. We are all together and doing fine." I asked mama the same and she smiled and said she was happy. I wanted to go outside but found myself back in the addition on the back house. I remember shutting the door behind me and telling everyone they were Ok and doing fine. My Daddy asked "How do you know?" And I repeat what Grandma and Mama told me. It seems to satisfy everyone. And then I woke up!

To everyone who cares, Grandma is ok and they are all together now waiting for us. Good night my dears.

Wedding Bells and Poka Dots Oh La La

2012-07-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I last wrote you my dears and I am so very sorry for all my neglect! Can you ever forgive me?? You see I have been rather busy of late creating my soon to be born granddaughter, Ella Claire's nursery bedding! I'm so thrilled and honored to be able to do this for my daughter and her husband! And I can hardly wait to hold Ella Claire in my arms! Then I get to do the Granny Dance! lol

I just finished making 3 sets of sheets for her bed and I have so many scraps left over I many have to make another quilt. Five more weeks if she waits that long! lol My Sweet Aunt Patti made a beautiful bassinet skirt for her and I made the blanket and pillow to match. I guess I don't have to tell you a lot of language went into the making of that blanket! Hey! That satin and minky is slippery stuff! lol

Now on to another child! lol My free spirited child has finally decided to settle down and get married! Yes her royal highness has found her shinning knight on a white horse.....well....in this case it's more like a silver Acura. But anywho it looks like they will be tying the knot come November 3rd. They have decided on Brunswick Town as the venue and plan to hold the ceremony in the ruins of St. Philips Episcopal Church. At sundown no less! Should be pretty with all the lights everywhere! Oh what a happy year this is turning out to be for my girls!

Had a great birthday! Might have been the best birthday so far! lol The hubs got me a Nook Tablet! Love it! I highly recommend it to others....of course! lol Got wined and dined by my baby girls and my others called me spreading love and joy my way! I love my kids! Amazing how much they have matured in the past few years. So proud of the fine young people they have become....so glad I learned how to say NO! lol

Well folks my sewing machine is calling my name! I will post some pics your way soon! BTW if you know anyone who wants Custom made baby bedding send them my way! xoxo

l

Things I have Learn In The Last Three Months

2012-03-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well my dears it has been awhile hasn't it? Where should I start? I suppose from the beginning would be appropriate don't you think? lol Well, let's see.....Christmas was somewhat subdued what with Grandma passing and all that sadness. However we did receive a wonderful surprise! Our daughter and her husband are blessing us with a little bean come August! We are so tickled! I just sat and cried when she told us. So did the hubs! Actually I don't think there was a dry eye in the house! lol

We've been super busy working on the house and the yard. Got the "North 40" cleared out and WOW we discovered an artisan spring! Every other day or so we stumble down the slope to see how deep our little pond is getting! We are hoping to get some nice dirt brought in soon so we can plant grass. Something else for the Hubs to mow! Have I told you how he mows? Ah that will be another story! We did discover other things too when we cleared that property. Such as how our neighbors behinds us have been using our property as their own personal dump. Ah the joys of having neighbors! Gotta love them! We also discovered three antique guns. Of course the guns are way beyond repair. One of them dated back to the Civil War. Makes you wonder doesn't it? Especially considering at one time this land was used as a Confederate Ammo Depot.

Baxter and I did take off for a road trip back to my home town in February. Although it was not a happy trip I will say I learned things I did not know about some of my relatives. I guess when the matriarch of your family has passed some people have a hard time dealing with it while others move on with their lives. I pray for those who cannot deal with it. It is hard to lose your mother but you shouldn't push everyone away just to satisfy your own need. Family ties are fragile enough without anger and accusations burning them. Sometimes you should listen to those you cannot hear. Can they be repaired? That is something only one person can answer. As for me I have struggled for years to beat back the negativity in my life. I only wish to keep positive people surrounding me. So as you read this ask yourself, what is negative in your life? What can you do to eliminate it? Of course Prozac helps......

Our baby girl's love of her life returned from Afghanistan and all is well once again. They have traveled to Florida this weekend to seek her father's and grandfather's approval to marry. I wonder will they ask us? The Hubs says it doesn't really matter to him, after all we only raised them. We put a roof over their heads and held their hands thru all the ups and downs in life. The other side of the coin gave them money and had the glory. It's as if we mean nothing to them. Am I bitter? No. Am I hurt? Yes. But I will get over it. Ahhhh Prozac......

We had our reveal party this past Friday night at the "OC". Wonderful food! Wonderful atmosphere! Wonderful company! Reveal party you ask? What is that? Well my dears that is where they reveal what the sex is of your upcoming little bean is going to be. So our soon to be mommy and daddy met everyone at the OC and of course they tortured both sides until we threatened them with death! Actually the Hubs had a cupcake in his mouth and our daughter yanked it out of his hand! Soooo close..... After dinner she said! lol So after we nibbled and stared for an hour we finally got to eat our cupcakes. I was so delighted to find we are having a GIRL!!!! I see lots of lace and pigtails in my future! Love me some girls.....

Well I suppose that just about covers it all for us. I hope you and yours are doing much better. We are looking forward to Spring and what she has to offer. Until we meet again please be kind to one another. xoxo

There's another Angel in Heaven Today

2011-12-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

As I think of all the many years she had with us I smile. I smile because I know in my heart she would not want us to cry. She would say "Are those tears for me?" "Of course they are Grandma!" we would say. "Well don't cry for me! I'm happy! I'm going to see the Lord!" And she would clap her hands and laugh. "You got to be ready for the Lord when he calls your name you know.........." Well he called her name and she answered. With joy in her heart she took his hand and was welcomed into heaven by all who have gone before her. She will be missed by us all. But knowing there is another angel in heaven to shine down upon us is comforting. I for one know I will see her again someday.

She was a lot of things to a lot of people. To me she was my navigator and I was her "keeper of the stories". I would "kidnap" her and take on country rides to visit her sisters and brother or just for a ride. She loved riding in the Mater Car. Of course I would have to bribe her with a hot dog from What-a-burger first you know.... It won't be the same without her. There are so many things we never got to do but I know her loving hands will be on mine when I finally get to do them and her spirit will ride shot-gun in the Mater Car right beside me.

Years ago I found a poem I thought might bring comfort to others. I know it has helped me thru the years.

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland
1847-1918
Canon of St Paul 's Cathedral

Grandma Grape

2011-12-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

I received news yesterday my beautiful Grandmother was sick. She's in the hospital where they can keep her comfortable and see to her every whim. You know what? That's really not good enough as far as I am concerned! She doesn't belong there! She belongs in her little yellow house on the side of the hill not in some hospital. Did I ever tell you how much I hate hospitals? They take people I love away from me. Mama, Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt, Miss Kay, all have left me now. And each time one leaves they take a piece of me with them. I'm not ready for my life to change again so I'm going to be selfish this time and say NO! Pick someone else please!

We have plans, Grandma and I. We have plans to finish a quilt she has been working on for oh so long! Several years ago I bought her a quilt top with a peacock motif. It had been piece together by a group of Amish women. Grandma's mother's maiden name was Peacock so I have always looked for symbols of the Peacock and given them to her whenever I found them. So naturally when I spotted this on one of my travels I bought it for her. She has added to it and enlarged it beyond the initial size. The quilt is a beautiful prize to behold and with just one week we will have it complete! Not 2 weeks ago we made plans to finish it.

We have also made plans for our famous ride. You see I'm suppose to drop in at the local What-A-Burger and pick up a hot dog. Then I drive over and bribe her with a it. Once I get her in the Mater Car we gallivant all over the countryside visiting all her siblings and basically where ever she wants to go! After all I'm her favorite because I kidnap her and take her places no one else does! lol

She a special lady to us all. She is our anchor, the very core of our family. Without her where would we all be? How will we negotiate our everyday lives? Where will we go from here? I pray she pulls thru this because without her I'm not sure if our family knows how to breathe. We love you Grandma Grape! God I know this is selfish of me but you can't have her, not yet.....

OMG!!! I'M Turning White!!!!!

2011-11-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

As most of my friends and family know I generally do not see color. That's as far as the color of one's skin. It's just not a big deal with me. You see my mama always told me it wasn't what the outside looked like that counts in a person, it's the INSIDE. A package can look beautiful yet be filled with rotten apples. So I have never understood what the big hoopla was all about. I understand the struggles. Hell I grew up during those turbulent times. I remember them quite well thank you. What I never understood was really very simple you know.....Why? But that is a very long and difficult question for us all to answer isn't it? It brings out more than we care to admit to one another. It's in the past, we say. We can't change it, we say. Are you sure? I say...... Something to think about.

My kids bought me a tanning bed certificate a while back as a birthday present. As it is I haven't had a chance to use it. However, I have been thinking lately I need a bit of color on my cheeks! And my legs.....looks like my arms could use some too......I guess my summer color is starting to fade. lol The Winter White has arrived in my wardrobe! I am now 51 soon to be 52. I look in the mirror every morning searching for those wrinkles and gray hair that elude me. I have a few lines around my eyes as if from squinting to read something. But other than that no real wrinkles. I see very little gray, maybe some at my temple when I pull back my hair. I want to take naps now, maybe that's why I'm not graying like my friends are. I once read if you eat a lot of nuts that will keep you from graying too. Well folks, I sure have eaten my fair share of nuts so that must be it! I don't bruise and I tan very easily. So imagine my surprise when I looked down the other morning and my hands were WHITE. Uh.....yeah.....my arms are tanned and my hands are WHITE........FREAKY...... At first I thought the gloves I slept in had somehow drained all the blood out of my hands so I commenced to slapping my hands against my leg and rubbing them.......to no avail of course.......then I came into the house and ran cold water over them........they turned GRAY.....and then BLUE.......FREAKY FREAKY......... So I patted them dry.......Now I have white hands and tanned arms.........and you can even see where the glove ended......Yay! It seems one of the side affects of my meds for my hands is loss of skin pigmentation.

My friend Little Bird says I can always learn the moonwalk and grab my crotch while singing Thriller. Can you see that at Grandma's? Uh.....Not happening! So get it out of my head now! Thank you! Hmmmmm I could always wear gloves but then I would look like a fat Debutant so next please! Oh well maybe I'll get lucky and it's only temporary! Hey! I could just tell everyone I'm wearing invisible gloves! Something to think about! I wonder if now would be a good time to use that tanning certificate the kids gave me for my birthday......

Smiles, Giant Ghosts and Triple Christmas Day!

2011-11-17T12:11:00.000-08:00

My goodness what a spell this has been! So happy to report my hands are almost healed! Yes Yes Yes I am one happy person right now! Can you say SMILE!??? lol Well my face my crack from all this smiling I am doing right now! Let's all pray they stay healed! Thanks everyone for all your prayers. The power of prayer really does work and my hands prove that!

Thanksgiving is a week away and I for one can hardly wait to set down and munch on some well deserved turkey! In our family, Thanksgiving is when we get together with my daughter Me-Me and her husband's family. It is a way to blend both families together and not put any demands on either one of our children. Of course it may all change as the other children get married but that is in the future and right now we will concentrate on the here and now!

We got our new roof and now they are clearing out the extra land we have attached to our lot. Believe me when I say I had no idea my property was this large! Neither did we know we had such a drop off on one side of it. Looks like when they finish this weekend we may have a pond at the bottom, now wouldn't that be nice?

Along with scaling down our household to a more manageable size, we have decided to do away with all our outdoor seasonal decorations. We have tons of blow ups and thousands of lights. We are thinking of have a decorations only yard sale next weekend. I wonder if there is anyone out there who would be interested in an over friendly Casper the Friendly Ghost and a Giant Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer? Really? Well what about a Giant Purple Spider? Hmmmmm How about (rummages in a box and pulls out) this! A giant Santa and a mini Santa for the porch? Well they will be here along with all the others including my white reindeer.....Y'all Come! Uh...no I don't have a giant turkey....sorry....

Speaking of Christmas and other holidays.......we are really looking forward to this year as it will be a double Christmas for us, maybe even a triple one! You see our son will not be here for Christmas Day so we will be celebrating Christmas with him and his girlfriend on a different day. Our Wayfaring Son recently asked me what he should do and here is our conversation!
Son: Mom, Her family has all this traditional stuff where they go to her grandma's on Christmas Eve and then everyone comes over on Christmas Morning and opens presents and eats this big meal.....
Me: Well what do you want to do son?
Son: I don't know what to do Mom, you tell me.
Me: Well son, I tell you what, you make her happy. You make her family happy and spend all the holidays you want with her and her family now. BUT if and when you two decide to settle down and have children, Well all of you better come to my house for EVERY holiday. Do I make myself clear? Oh and be sure to tell her and her family....
Son: Yes Ma'am!
Me: (I just walked away with a smile on my face because you see I don't mind not one bit not seeing my kids on Christmas Day or any holiday for that matter but when I start getting grand babies it will be a different story indeed!)

As for the "other Christmas Days" well we all will be celebrating the 25th of course and then when Max comes home from Afghanistan it will be another Christmas all over again. I promised him I wouldn't take the tree down til he came home. Hurry home son we miss you! xoxo

Well I guess that's it for me and mine my dears! So if I don't talk to any of you before Turkey day, Have a good gobble gobble! Oh and Betty, I am so looking forward to seeing you and yours real soon! Love to all!

Seneca Guns, Witchdoctors and Snow!

2011-10-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

Well my dears! It has been such a long while since I last wrote you! Yes indeed it has and what a tale I have to tell you this cold dark night. Seems I let things bother me that I can't control and my body says fooy on you! Sooo it takes it out on my hands my dears! Yes my poor poor hands have suffer so much these last few weeks! I have been to the dermatologist twice and to a few good witchdoctors too! Not to mention a few good home brews I cooked up in the kitchen and at last my fingertips are looking almost new again. It really amazes me how many times you can use one hurt finger when you type! lol I will say thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers! Ahhh the power of prayer it surely works my friends........

Now for all of those who wonder how on earth did I survive not being able to type or text? Well I crocheted the entire time! Yes I did! Looks like someone is going to get a nice Christmas present this year, actually a couple of people will.....lol Oh, I wore gloves......and I still am wearing gloves so the yarn doesn't stick to my hands or dry them out! Save the hands! lol

So we have decided to put a new roof on the house and finish it by Christmas. If all goes well we will be posting the For Sale sign after Christmas. I can hardly wait to move away from this highway. Oh I will miss the wood pecker and the deer. I will miss the fox at night and coyote too. I will miss all the wild iris that bloom in the spring time and the wild azaleas too. There's a lot of things I will miss living up here on our hill but like all things this too must come to an end. You see we are getting to a place in our lives that we have to think of smaller areas with less up keep. We are tired of spending all our time maintaining our property. Sure it was great to raise our brood here but now they are mostly gone chasing their own dreams. It is time for someone else to enjoy the fruits of our labor or bulldoze it down and build four houses here to replace ours.

I heard the Seneca Guns again this month. It always amazes me when I hear them. They sound like a bomb going off in your back yard. They shake your house and everything. However it isn't a bomb and it isn't the military. Neither is it an earthquake or someone breaking the sound barrier. Although sometimes they will sound as loud as that. No one really knows what causes them and stories do abound. I myself have heard plenty of them and would love to hear any you may know. So please dear reader if you know any stories about the Seneca Guns please let me know or post them here for us all to read!

I loaded up the mater car the first weekend of October and Baxter and I went to Mayfaire to watch my daughters run for the Ta Ta's. It was a 5k race held each year for Breast Cancer Awareness. Please Please Please take care of the Ta Tas ladies and guys....you too! My brother in law is a breast cancer survivor this year so check yourself each month and if you don't know how get your wife to show you!

Well dears, it's been 2 years since I smoked a cigarette.....now if I could just talk the hubs into quitting! We were suppose to stop together but for some reason he didn't and I did. I guess if you have the will to stop you will but if you don't want to stop you never will stop. Oh sure I miss it. I don't miss the shortness of breath though...... Did I tell you I can now climb stairs without coughing my head off? Mark one up for NOT SMOKING! lol

Oh yeah, heard from the Wayfaring Son the other day. It seems where he is it is snowing. He rang me up on the phone just to tell me. Me: Hello? Son: Mom! It's snowing! Me: lol get used to it son, you should see 30 inches by Christmas! lol Son: Not me! I'm hibernating for the winter! Me: I can see that.... Such is the life of a transplanted southerner in Rhode Island!

Well my dears, take care and be good to one another! Good Night Betty! xoxoxo

That Elusive Relative and The Need to Say I love You.

2011-09-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

As most of you my dear readers know, I am a great history lover! Of course genealogy comes hand in hand with that doesn't it? Whether researching your own family or another, you must be willing to accept what you find. Sometimes not finding what you need is the hardest to accept. I know because I have been on both ends of that stick. Recently Betty and I have been on a seek and search for a long lost cousin. So if you know of a former garage worker with the last name of Whitlow who once worked in Mt. Mourne back in the 40's, let me know! It sure would make Betty happy. We would love to let them know there is a place at the table set for them. After all family is family doesn't matter where or how you put it together. Y'all come eat!

I come from a touchy feely family. That is a family who strongly believes in hugging and loving one another. I can't tell you how many times I hear those three words "I Love You" when I talk to my aunts or my grandmother. Even my uncles tell me they love me. I even passed this wonderful habit on to my own children. I hear it at least a dozen times a day. I can't imagine my life without hearing those words. So imagine my shock when I trip across someone who belongs to one of THOSE families who does not express their emotions. A family who doesn't say I love you to one another. My Hubs came from a family like that. I have to listen real close to catch the one and only "I love you" from them and usually my Hubs said it. It's not that they don't love one another, they just weren't taught how to say it. I like to say it to them often. My way of reminding them you know. So dear reader be sure to tell those you love everyday how much you do love them. It's really very easy you know. It starts with a hug and ends with you!

Well my dears, I'm off on a mission. Got to find me some cabbage to make my Grandma's kraut. Looks like this weekend might be a good weekend to chop it up! Y'all be good to one another and Betty, keep searching my dear! Well folks until next time, that's the way I see it.

The Spot and A Touch of Lime Should Do It!

2011-09-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

And so we come to Sunday night my friends! Finally we are shedding our re-runs and embracing Fall with it's flying colors all around! I for one simply love this time of year! I have always loved Fall as one of my favorite seasons along with Spring of course. Fall is the time of year I like to begin using all those wonderful foods I stored up this past summer. Like those luscious tomatoes my cousin and I preserved along with the ones I put up here at home. And Fall is the time I start searching for the right cabbage to make home made kraut. YUMMMMMMM I love the crunchy kind and can hardly wait to start chopping it! Once I get my recipe together I will be sure to share it here with you of course.

Here in the next few weeks my cousin and her hubs will appear on the horizon with fishing poles in hand. We will make the yearly trek to the beach to catch our favorite fish THE SPOT. Right now I have been receiving reports that Spots are running up and down our coast. So if you have a hankering for their sweet flavor come on down to your local beach and drop a line or two. Who knows maybe you can haul back a cooler full yourself!

The Hubs and I took off to Pittsburgh, PA for a few days at the beginning of this month. We had a ball of course and we actually got to catch a baseball game while in town. PNC Field is a beautiful baseball field. I posted a pic on here I hope you enjoy of the inside of this field. It's a panorama and I did it using 4 photos! Can you tell? lol

Of course the real reason we went up there was to visit our family. I was so happy to see my daughter and her wife! They look very happy and content with one another. What more could a mother ask? lol Touched base with some of the Hubs siblings. That's always interesting. Of course hugs and kisses all around to them and us. Love my Pittsburgh family! Found some long lost cousins along the way too! All too soon it was time to come home. But promises were made and hopes are we will be returning next year for another visit!

We took the scenic route back instead of the interstate and tolls all the way, we choose to avoid Washington and stay on the back roads. We are so happy we did! Got to stop off at an apple orchard and pick apples in Frederick Co., VA. Thank you Brannon Family! Y'all got the best apples and peaches I've ever had the pleasure of picking! Also got a chance to visit with a little boy named Dare. And what a hunk of love he has become! Smothered him in kisses and tried so hard to "kidnap" him however his mommy and daddy blocked my getaway! Foiled again I say! lol Oh well, like all children when he grows up he will find his way to my house by the sea......

We had some visitors over the weekend. A cute little couple from Rhode Island my Wayfaring Son invited down with him. They only stayed a couple of days, just long enough to catch up with our son so he would have a ride back to Rhode Island. While here they took an interest in all the food I had put up for the winter. So here's one of the recipes I used my salsa with, I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and friends have.

Taco Bake

1 lb. hamburger
1 pint salsa (see July's post for recipe)
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
Crushed chips (touch of lime are the ones we use)
2 cans of re fried beans
1 pkg of Taco mix
1/2 cup of water
Brown hamburger meat and add taco mix, 1/2 cup of water water, add salsa and re fried beans. Mix well and bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and allow to simmer stirring often.
Crush just enough chips to cover the bottom of a dish. Pour mixture over crushed chips, top with shredded cheese and bake at 400 til cheese is melted.

Kids love it, heck the whole family loves it! And best of all you can cook it in less than 30 minutes!

Well that's it folks, that's the way I see it! And Betty, do try to get some rest! Love to all! xoxoxo

The Moonshiner and A County Deputy

2011-09-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

You know I really didn't realize what a privileged life I had growing up in the south until I was well grown! I guess that's pretty much the way it is with most kids no matter where they grow up you know? I was the oldest of three kids my parents had. They themselves were just barely grownups when they started having kids. Why, my mama used to say all the time how they grew up with us kids. She said that's just they way things were then. Everybody got married young and had kids. She used to tell me a lot of things when I was growing up. One of her favorite's require her to shake her finger at me as she say "Now don't forget......." Of course I haven't forgotten mama... I remember everything! Even stupid stuff I wish I could forget!

She would give me a book, wait let me back up a bit. She would BUY a book that no one in their right mind would read and tell me to READ it! Yep she sure did! Of course I read it! I am a good southern girl! And I do as my mama told me to just like every other good southern girl! Jeez how many times do I have to tell you people before you get it! lol Any who, it was like I would have to give her the info she desired but couldn't glean it as well as I could? Something like that I think. lol I retain strange things when I read boring books. Sorry I know all books should be wonderful to read but let's face it some are just down right bor-ing and how they ever made it to print is just beyond me!  So I was her book detective!   I remember one book in particular that must have been 4 inches thick. My only response to her when she handed to to me was "Really Mama? You really expect me to read this book?" And her reply was the same, "But of course, you are the reader in the family my dear...." I never got to finish that book before she died. I still have it marked right where I stopped.

Recently I found my baby book and I saw an entry she made when I was about 2 years old. It simply reads "Donna remembers everything". Through the years my memory has really worked in my favor. I found that all I had to do was pay attention in class and I could ace a test every time. No need to study! I also found if I took notes and re wrote just the notes right before the test I would ace the test even better! Amazed even me once I figured that out! Why I found no need to carry books home just take my notes! lol

As I got older I found that there was no need to remember a person's name just remember what their favorite hobby was or who their kids are or where they worked. Things like that would always lead me back to who they are. My memory has served me well through out the years. I can still recite the entire Hollibaugh Family Tree from memory so I'm good there.

So I guess you could say it is only natural that I became the storyteller. I do love a good story you know. Just makes my heart so warm inside to hear a good story. I have so many to put down on paper sometimes it is hard to decide which one to write first. Here is a little story from my uncle. Of course like any good storyteller you just never know if it's true or not! But I hope you enjoy it anyway!

After James came back from WWII, he found himself a young man with a lust for life! As soon as all the dust had settled his eyes turned toward his childhood sweetheart Edith. Now Edith and James had known each other all their lives, mainly because their parents were best friends.   It wasn't so much that times were hard back then, I guess you could say it was more along the lines of impatience on James part to be married!   All he could think about was getting married and using his GI bill to set himself up in a house somewhere with a picket fence.   But first he had to have a ring. Now a young man fresh out of the Navy with a low paying job would have to wait a while before he could have that kind of money but not James! He had a plan! Yes sir! He was going to hitch himself up with a Moonshiner! What better way to make a quick buck in 1946?

Finding one wasn't a problem in 1946, talking a Moonshiner into letting you run his moonshine down the mountain for the first time was! But my slick talking uncle managed to do just that and how he did that we will never know but he did! But come along a certain Friday night he had a trunk full of moonshine and he was ready to drop it off and collect his money. So he cranked up his 1938 Chevy Master and off down the mountain he went counting his money of course.
What happened next came as a big surprise! Yep you guessed it! He blew a tire and he still had a trunk load of moonshine! And he was almost to the drop off place. As luck would have it, the county deputy stopped to help him change that tire too. Now this deputy had known James since he was a little boy so you can imagine how he must have been shaking in his boots when he pulled up. The deputy kept asking James "Where's yer jack boy?" and "Why in tarn nation would such a smart boy like you leave home without a jack?"  Of course there was no way James was going to let the deputy open that trunk!  So instead he took a stern lecture on how to be prepared at all times especially when traveling alone on "these back roads" at night! All the while James kept sweating buckets of sweat not to mention his underwear probably needed changing too! Why the deputy even took him up the road to get the tire patched. Nice deputy gave him a ride back to the car and put the tire on for him too. Finally the deputy sends him off on his way to deliver his illegal merchandise! Needless to say, James never ran 'shine again but that's not to say some of my other relatives haven't! We'll save that for another time, shall we?
Well folks there's your story for tonight, I hope you enjoyed it! And until we meet again, y'all be good to each other! Good night Betty!

Come Fall into Autumn with Me!

2011-09-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

I have found in my life that God has a way of placing people in your path at just the right time. Recently, I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in many a year and the glow from her face could only be coming from her soul! What a beautiful soul she has! You see she has found God in all his glory. I am so very happy for her. It was such a long, hard, tough, up hill battle for her. I am sure she will continue to struggle against those who place obstacles in her path. But I know she now has the courage and strength to beat down those devils and naysayers. I felt that when I hugged her goodbye. I felt all her strength and I needed that for myself. She was my "shoulder to lean on in times of need" as I had been hers so long ago. Yes, we had come full circle, she and I. For the first time in over a week I truely smiled.

One of our shining stars, one of our pride and joys, my Aunt's son, Pastor Allen as we refer to him, was in a terrible motorcycle accident while riding with his friends from church this past Sunday. He is now recuperating at a hospital not far from his dear family. We wish him the speediest of recoveries. Please add him to your prayer chains. He is a most precious soul to this entire family, his wife and kids and the rest of us too. As I have said before, when it rains it pours in this family. Let's hope this is the last of our rain storm! I know Betty sure will be happy when the rain stops!

Well now I don't know about the rest of y'all but I sure welcomed Fall with open arms! Took my last swim in the pool on Thursday and pulled out my sweater this morning! Should have seen the look on Baxter's face when he went out for his morning walk! He actually thought I had something to do with it! Imagine that! lol Well that's the way I see it folks. Until next time, y'all be good to each other and Bless your Hearts!

Thy Will Be Done

2011-09-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

There is so much I could say today and yesterday but it is best if I keep quiet and to myself. I will say however that I have learned a few things these past few days. One of them is you can't pick your family and thank God above you can pick your friends. Without my friends and my husband I do believe at this point my mind would be gone at this point.....

My heart is broken, it's broken and shattered beyond repair. Apparently I did something so traumatizing and so terrorizing that I was unaware of even doing it. I know that to those of you who know me, you are finding this unbelievable. I find it just as unbelievable. But THEY tell me that I am guilty of this crime. THEY tell me I have a black soul and that I am an animal and should be ashamed of myself. Ok.....but I will pray for THEM and I will continue to love them. After all isn't that what I am suppose to do? In the mean time, I will stay away. I will have no contact with any of THEM. I know in my heart I did nothing wrong.

I have removed all traces and all reminders so THEY are no longer in my face. I did however leave the truth out there for all to see. For all to judge me or THEM. I suppose it is up to you dear reader. But it doesn't really matter does it? Because it's not about me and it's not about THEM, really it never was. It's about prayer and what the power of prayer has done. It has done so much so please continue to pray for him. He's just a little boy and he needs so much prayer. We love him so much. So I ask you and I ask God to please continue blessing him and blessing the doctors as they place their hands upon his body. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.

Green Torpedoes and a Twisted Pretzel but still Good Eating!

2011-08-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness it is the end of August! This has been such a long month for me! Has it been a long one for you too? What with all the birthdays, sad days and then our little Hurricane Irene! Oh what a mess she left behind! Well at least Crabby Mike's is none the worst for wear! Love that place! Good food, good cheer, and good folks! Next time you're down on Topsail Island, stop off in Surf City and check out Crabby Mike's. It's across from Ward Realty. Everyone knows where Ward Realty is and if you don't just email me. Speaking of Ward Realty, they lost their signage during the storm. Irene twisted that sign like it was a pretzel! Yep sure did and BP's canopy flipped over creating quite a stir about town. But other than a few signs down and some shingles sent flying we fared pretty well considering our neighbors to the north were not as fortunate. So come what may, Surf City and Topsail Island is open for business Labor Day weekend folks!

September is the first month of fall and a wonderful month for those of us who call Hampstead home. It's the month we all show the world that yes indeed we are the Seafood Capital of the World! And it's all because of a little fish called Spot. Now it's called that because of a dark spot on it's body. But if you have never eaten Spot before be sure to come to Hampstead the last weekend of September to try our fish! You're sure to want more! Around here we call it "good eating"! So if you find yourself liking our fish, head on over to Surf City and stop off at the Fishing Village. Get yourself outfitted for fishing. Be sure to pick up your fishing permit while you are there! Don't want to forget that. Now you can either fish in the surf like lots of folks do or you can fish at the Surf City Pier. If you choose to fish at the pier be sure to tell Bigun I said "Hello little brother!" He'll know who it was!

Should you choose not to fish at all, any restaurant around here will be more than happy to serve you up a plate full of these sweet delicious fish. Like I said, they're "good eating"! Well Betty, that's about it for now. I guess I better get back out here and pick up some more of these "green torpedoes". Y'all have a nice day! And if you decide to come down let me know, I get up with the folks over at Ward Realty, they have the best rental prices around!

We Survived Irene

2011-08-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Well folks, we survive yet another hurricane to hit Eastern North Carolina. Yes that's another one under our belts! Looks like over all we got very lucky indeed! Not too much damage to my neighborhood but then I haven't ventured out beyond the porches this day.

Lost my two favorite trees, my Sycamore and my over grown Red bud. I planted both of those trees after Hurricane Fran blew through here in 1996 taking out the trees that had stood there before. I guess it is only fitting I should replace my trees every 15 years after all we do renovate our homes why not the trees too! Poor things they have taken quite a beating today my dears! Yes indeed they have. But me made it through without too much damage.

I tried to keep everyone up to date on what was going on down here I hope I did a sufficient job if not by all means please take over! lol As a matter of fact you can stay with me next time! lol I should be going out in the next hour or so to film some more videos for my Facebook page so if you are a follower check it out!

I am thankful we all came out of this without a scratch. God it good folks. Yes indeed!

You can take a nap now Betty all is well.....

A Girl named Irene

2011-08-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

Well by now I hope everyone has battened down their hatches, it's 8:48 pm on August 26, 2011. The entire state of North Carolina especially the eastern half has spent the last few days preparing for this day. We've bought out every C-battery in a three county area, closed down half the gas stations in town and once again there is not a loaf of bread to be had! Oh well I really didn't need it anyway after all there's only me and the hubs staying at home tonight. Yes you heard me right. We decided to ride this one out here at home instead of going to a shelter. We used to go to my parents but those days are over and now we have Baxter which complicates things. Besides this house has taken 125 mph winds before. I just hate it when they come at night. Always the spookiest I think.

You know I'm beginning to wonder if somethings going on around here. In just the last week we have had tornadoes, an earthquake and now Irene. Last week I was attacked by cicadas on my way into the Doctor's office. Frightening! Good thing I was close to a defibrillator! I'm also relieved I remembered to watch my language because I promise it was clearly justifiable had I done so. Those things just give me the freaky deakys bad....
Oh and don't step on them! I can't deal with those Hebe jibes either!

My husband is so funny! He tries to be brave and say this is nothing to worry about! I try to tell him it's ok not to worry and we smile. But I know he's worried. We both are. We know the roof is already popping. I've heard it at least 5 times now and he's got the TV up so loud hoping I won't notice I guess...... I suppose in the morning I'll be calling my agent about a new roof. Such is life.

I hate what this storm is doing to my Sycamore tree. I bought that tree 14 years ago and planted it after Fran had taken out the last majestic tree that stood there. My Red Bud trees are taking quite a beating as well as the Sycamore. I fully expect to find them in taters. I have to prune the Red Buds every year to keep them from breaking so I know I have a lot of breakage from this storm. Hardwood trees don't do very well around here unless they are Gum trees or Bay Magnolia. Both are lovely trees and I have them here as well. The Lob Lolly Pines I have growing here are very resilient in this area. Their tap root is extremely long and can be as long as the tree is tall. We we first moved here we had to clear out some trees. One tree in particular was a pine tree with a very deep tap root. we finally cut it off when we struck water at 8 feet deep! lol Luckily it never grew back!

Since I quit smoking almost 2 years ago, I have notice how keen my sense of smell has become. I have noticed this storm has a smell about it too. It smells of exotic fruits, of vegetation and of salt air. When I was over on the beach earlier I noticed how everything had a salty film covering it. I had to clean my lenses on my camera a few times.

I think I'm doing pretty good staying away from the cigarettes tonight. Yep doing a FINE job. Right this second I can smell the cigarette pack......but I'm doing my best. 2 years that's something....

Ok so maybe that chocolate cake I got in there needs to call my name instead of the Hubs! That man eats all the good stuff around here! lol I have you know I bake him a cake a week! And I don't even like cake! lol And guess what???? You got it! He lost 7 lbs! Now who wants to kill him besides me? Look a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do!

Oh well, tonight dear reader it is what it is as my kids would say! And I feel as though I have been up all night. I am going to try to sleep for a few hours before all hell breaks loose......So I wish you all well and Good Night folks, Good Night Betty!