Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Memories bring back memories bring back you.

FIRST FIG


MY candle burns at both ends;
  It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends–
  It gives a lovely light!
-Edna St. Vincent Millay

First published in 1920, the year both my parents were born, this was one that my father loved to recite. It is from her collection "Few Figs from Thistles". 

***
The decorations are all put up but for the Nativity.
Loads of clothes are washed. Some are already dry.
The house is 2/3 vacuumed.
It is quiet.
We are recuperating from our coughs.
We will ring in the New Year quietly.
Wishing peace for all in 2020.
Shalom.  

 

Friday, December 27, 2019

Peace on earth...

Christmas indeed came in a whisper to our house this year.
A couple of neighbors came over to exchange gifts this year.
I usually go to their houses.
They didn't linger when I told them that 
Macho has been under the weather. 

This is fake news. We went together to pick out this tool he wanted.
I made him wrap and put it under the tree. 

However. I was surprised with this gift. Unbeknownst to me Macho had shopped all by hisownself and procured this new larger print Bible for me. It touched my heart. 

We have watched movies of the action variety. We've watched home videos. 
I think it is the calm before the storm. 
January promises to be uber busy. 

Bring on the storm.
Shalom. 



Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Eve.

For many years I have quoted this poem. Here and other places. Humor me this one time. Just this once I will copy it in it's entirety. I am sorely missing Mom right now and I need to wallow for just a minute. And so. Shalom. Merry Christmas and may the love of Christ enter your heart and remain there.


Rock Me to Sleep

Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight, 
Make me a child again just for tonight! 
Mother, come back from the echoless shore, 
Take me again to your heart as of yore; 
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care, 
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair; 
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—      
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep! 

Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years! 
I am so weary of toil and of tears,—      
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,—   
Take them, and give me my childhood again! 
I have grown weary of dust and decay,—    
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away; 
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—    
Rock me to sleep, mother – rock me to sleep! 

Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue, 
Mother, O mother, my heart calls for you! 
Many a summer the grass has grown green, 
Blossomed and faded, our faces between: 
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain, 
Long I tonight for your presence again. 
Come from the silence so long and so deep;—    
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep! 

Over my heart, in the days that are flown, 
No love like mother-love ever has shone; 
No other worship abides and endures,—       
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours: 
None like a mother can charm away pain 
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain. 
Slumber’s soft calms o’er my heavy lids creep;—      
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep! 

Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold, 
Fall on your shoulders again as of old; 
Let it drop over my forehead tonight, 
Shading my faint eyes away from the light; 
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more 
Haply will throng the sweet visions of yore; 
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep;—    
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep! 

Mother, dear mother, the years have been long 
Since I last listened your lullaby song: 
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem 
Womanhood’s years have been only a dream. 
Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace, 
With your light lashes just sweeping my face, 
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—      
Rock me to sleep, mother, – rock me to sleep!


Sunday, December 22, 2019

Charcuterie.

Having learned recently just what "charcuterie" is...Daughter suggested we eat that on the first night together for our Christmas celebration. The word got explained, described, and over abused until it became hysterical. Competition was started to see who could use it correctly the most times. 
Our smorgasbord weekend...
Charcuterie. 

Meat. 

And cheese. 

Mother and son by the Advent wreath.

Surprise! Beach Boy delivered Nuzzi Gelato for all!

The party.

On Saturday we joined with extended family for food and a quick visit.
In the past we have started early and lingered all day. To facilitate our immediate family celebration and gift sharing we needed to shorten our time at the nephew's house. 
 From now on our Christmas will probably morph frequently to accommodate the needs of the ages. 

I loved the messy fun of the weekend. Scenes with grandchildren all over the house will linger in my mind's eye.

Sunday morning and all made it to church. Even Jesus made the family photo.

I can hear a pin drop right now. 
The children have left.
Macho is napping in his chair.
The first load of towels are in the wash.

Christmas will come in a whisper to us this year. I will feast on the echo of laughter and love in this home. 

Happy Hanukkah.
Shalom. 


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Friday, December 6, 2019

63 and me.

So the birthday has happened. It really was a very good day. I guess I have finally grown up. I am over the fact that Macho doesn't immediately wake up and tell me happy birthday. I really can't decide whether he forgets, or simply doesn't think it matters. This time it didn't have power over me.

This was my first birthday without my Mom. But I felt like she was with me all day. I saw and heard her in the little gems of my day...the cardinal that lit on the hydrangea bush outside Daughter's window, the chimes singing to me as I hung red Christmas ornaments on my front door swag, when I realized that there were exactly nine red ornaments....all significant and meaningful to me. I felt carried with love throughout the day as I heard from all of my children and all of my siblings and in-laws.

Just for fun...





Shalom!

Monday, November 25, 2019

Giving thanks.

I have just written a card to an old friend whose wife died this year. She was such a force and it felt right saying so and hoping that his holidays will be filled with wonderful happy memories of her.
Even with the profound losses I have had this year I am so filled with gratitude for those people. My friend, Mary Pat. Every day I am using her as my standard bearer. I am challenged to do better and be a better me. Mom. I sit here tracing the roadmap of veins on the photo of her hands that I keep on the bulletin board right next to my computer. I am so very thankful for her and all the moments with her. All the moments. All of them. I do feel their love. I do believe in love. I believe it doesn't die. Love is eternal.

The week will march on to Friday. That will be our Thanksgiving celebration. With all the proper trimmings. Adhered to in fear of the tradition police, whom I raised myownself. They hold my feet to the fire. And I am so very thankful for every one of them...children, children-in-laws, grandchildren. It IS a wonderful life.

Shalom.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Cloudy day and cornbread dressing.

Gingko trees in front of our church. These type of trees lose their leaves in a day.
Yesterday we were leaving the neighborhood and a full gingko was raining leaves. An hour and a half later we drove by the same tree and nearly all the leaves were on the ground. 
All the trees don't do it on the same day. But once a tree starts it is over very quickly.

Today was the day. I have used Mom's cornbread dressing recipe for years. And years.
I have kept my own notes every year since about 1999. 
I have started adding comments to the recipes. 
Last year Lauren got her driver's permit that week. 
Tempus fugit.

Shalom. 

Monday, November 11, 2019

3 funerals and a trip.

Good coast trip over a week ago. Got to visit 3 sisters, 2 sisters-in-law, and both brothers. Stayed in this house before. Got to hand out Halloween candy on the street where I grew up. 
This towel is in the bathroom at the rental. 
I love it. 

Sunrise from the rental. 

Sunset. 

Visited Mom and Dad. 

Two sisters and a nephew. 

Four sisters toasting our Aunt Bobbeye. 

****
The next week went by on greased roller skates. 

Voted on the day of the first funeral. 

Good hair day for the second funeral.

Nice table scape at the Master Gardener's fall potluck. 

Obligatory fall tree photo. The neighborhood trees put on a show!

Pumpin hummus with pepitas. 

First camellia bloom. 

Butternut squash - pumpkin soup.
With pepitas. 

I was so thankful that Out of Town Son and family decided to come up on Saturday.
It was a very good reason to stay home and miss the third funeral. 
Granddaddy Macho has some popcorn lovers in training. 
Alice ate it two-fisted. 

That brings us to today. No dance tonight.
Big frost with possible snow flurries early tomorrow.
Bean soup on the stove. 

Shalom. 

Monday, October 28, 2019

Hello. Is it me you're looking for?

Breaking up is hard to do. 
October 28. One month since I posted last. 
Our AC is still in the on position. It did run once or twice in the last week. 
I am finally starting to morph some fall clothes out of the closet.
Which brings me to these two pair of shorts. 
I told myself they would not see another summer here. The denim ones were inherited. The khakis I have had for maybe 20 years. They are both so frayed the draw strings are in jeopardy of breaking every time I put them on. Yet. It is to hard to toss them. 
So I played taps (with my lips) and walked them through the house to our recycle bin. 
I said goodby to these good and faithful servants.
They were my go-to shorts when I was just hanging out at home. 
Now they will reside in old clothes heaven. 
Shalom.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Hot fall.

Fall arrived in the heat. Temperatures remain in the 90s during the day. Weathermen are saying that this might break in a week. Here's hoping. 
***
Last year I looked and looked for my naked ladies in September.  I mentioned it to Macho and he confessed to mowing that corner (not realizing what he was doing). 
This year the girls arrived without delay. Even in the heat. 

Naked ladies and Beyonce. 

Last week we enjoyed Grandparents' Day at the Super Carrot's elementary school. 
The lunch was good - meatball subs!
We saw her classroom and then it was over and we left.
Perfect!
Did some shopping and I found a cute pair of red espadrilles on clearance at DSW. Bought them. Wore them to church on Sunday. Had three blisters to show for it, too. 

Saturday of last week I found a treasure at a local estate sale.
It is a water color of a caribbean beach scene painted in 1956.
(A very good year!)
The artist, Sallie Knerr, enjoyed local fame in North Carolina and Missouri. 
Her paintings appraise well but do not sell quickly.
I don't want to sell. 


Brings me to last night and the fun we had. Top Flight, the Air Force rock band, performed at our riverwalk. They were very good. We sat with some dancing friends and passed a good time.
Macho even danced with me.
Once. 

*****
Pickle ball this morning was followed by pulling up the fading eggplant from the front bed and some burnt up zinnias from my butterfly garden. 
We have not had rain in over a month. Burn bans are popping up everywhere.

This morning I harvested a volunteer bok chop out of the raised bed for a lunch salad. I oven fried some eggplant out of our very own garden, too. 
I have a huge pot of spaghetti gravy cooking for tomorrow.

October will be here in a few days. And with it a new challenge. 
Daughter. 
Inktober. 
It's on. 

Shalom. 





Monday, September 16, 2019

Class of 1974!

A fast good weekend and we are back home. Coast life goes on without me. But for a few moments I was that coast girl again. Friday night we ate at a friend's restaurant. He wasn't there, but his daughter was. Got a quick visit in with Sister Marsha. 
Saturday these cats went shopping with their mom and me. 
They had so much fun in this store with more sparkly things that you can fit in your purse. 

Dippin' Dots were on the menu before we headed home for lunch. 
Saturday evening I visited with other siblings. 

Sunday was the day for my high school class reunion. About 18 out of the 36 classmates attended. We dined at another friend's restaurant then went to his "party" house. We visited and watched football. I was so happy to be with these old friends. Some have grown even nicer. Some haven't changed a bit! 

***
The day marked Mom's 99th birthday. 
September 15, 1920. 
We just might have to celebrate her and dad's 100th next year!

Shalom. 



Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Sweet September

We skipped right into the month. Doing a little of this. And. A little of that. Labor Day found us up in the wilds of Itawamba County. Our friends had invited us to the Tammy Wynette event center for their fall festival featuring old cars and local musicians. The FFA served hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, french fries, cole slaw, and homemade desserts. So for $14 we loaded up. Enjoyed the local flavor of the music. And bid our adieu soon enough to not get caught helping clean up.

We've latched on to another period piece on the Netflix. This time it is Victoria. We did watch documentary on Sunday about the Mississippi Madam - Nellie Jackson. I had never heard of her before I saw it on Facebook that very day. Quite the story, that.

Been catching up on laundry and paperwork today. Garden club and our mass & brunch group reconvene this week. Trying not to get nervous over the club meeting, of which I am the president. It will be fine. When its over. In two years. Ugh. I'm loving it. Really I am. No really.

While telling myself that I'm loving what I am doing I am still harvesting eggplant. I have a big pan roasting in the oven now. Right now. And another bag to give away at the Master Gardener education meeting tonight. I hope I have some takers.

Two special birthdays this month. Millie and Merritt. Two very special young ladies. They put the 'spark' in sparkle. And spark plug. This month also celebrates a brother and a sister-in-law. And. My mom's 99th birthday will pass this earth without her on it this year. Last year she arrived to her 98th birthday in a convertible with balloons flying all around. Those balloons were still inflated six months later when she breathed her last. I'm thinking about her every day.

Shalom.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Can you hear it?

This month. Can you just hear it winding down? I did accomplish more posts for the month than last year. My phone weather told me that it would be cooler and rainier today. So far neither of those is true. It is hot. And humid. And no rain, yet.

I was outside a little while ago and got no less than half a dozen mosquito bites. I was pruning back my fennel to give the milkweed some room to grow and seed. I harvested three pods of seeds this morning. I wait until they are dried and splitting before I cut them off the bush. I have put some seeds in pots hoping to propagate them to sell at the Master Gardener plant sale next spring. I don't see anything growing, yet. But we do have 3 out of 4 figs cuttings that have green growth. And. All 4 hydrangea are green with new growth.

We had a good visit with Out of Town Son and family yesterday. His girls are growing. And so very cute. I know I am biased. But they are. Cute.

That is all for now. Must go mix up some cornbread for the man of the house.

Shalom.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Anniversaries, Grammies, and tamales.

24 hours. Our trip lasted about that long. Short and sweet.
 We started with lunch in town. At Harvey's. 
Macho = hamburger. Me = grilled mahi mahi.
You reach a certain point when traveling west in the north part of the state where everything gets flat. 
We called it The Delta. 
Agriculture everywhere. 

I don't remember what little hamlet is the home of this "cotton boll" water tower. 

Harvesting corn.

We did a drive through at Delta State. It was too hot to do any walking outside.
I told Macho the only sweating I wanted to do was from the truck to whatever air-conditioning I was going into. 

Monday night dinner at the Delta Meat Market. It is located in the Cotton House Hotel in downtown Cleveland. This is where we stayed. This was grilled king salmon from the Copper River. It was not as fresh at the one we had in Anchorage, but it tasted good. 

Breakfast at the DMM Tuesday morning. Sweet potato waffles with sorghum butter and maple syrup, bacon, and Dixie Blues Grits. Best grits I evah ha-ed! Really good. Macho didn't like them because they were so creamy he thought there was cheese in them and that kept him from putting sugar on his grits. Yes. I am afraid he eats grits like a yankee. So sad. 
The restaurant it very a-la-carte, which equates to pricey. 

After checking out of the Cotton House we visited the Grammy Museum.
We spent three hours there and thoroughly enjoyed it. 
It is a lovely facility.

Lunch at the local Airport Grocery. 

I ate hot tamales and turnip greens. Macho ate hamburger steak with onions and gravy and mash potatoes. 

Then it was time to find the Po Monkey. This is a locally well known blues juke joint. The proprietor, of the same name, passed away in the last few years. 
Yes. That is an outhouse in the left of the photo, complete with crescent moon on the door. 
It sits right beside a soybean field in the middle of nowhere in Magnolia, MS. 
This place is closed now. 

Blues marker. 

Road going away from the Po Monkey. 

Then a quick visit to McCarty pottery and a few purchases for which I came home with buyers remorse. Oh well. The deed it done. 


The heat index was a good 6-8 degrees above the actual temperature as we drove home yesterday.
Today is much better. High is only supposed to be 92. Much better.

And so wraps up our 42nd anniversary trip. 
We both had fun. 
There are more fun things in the Delta that we plan to see. 
Next time.

Shalom.