Donnamo

Jack's Cosmic Hot Dogs and Awendaw

2012-02-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

Saturday Hubs talked me into accompanying him down to Mount Pleasant to pick up a mother of a child at a facility in Awendaw. We decided to make a day of it and met our Charleston friends at Jacks Cosmic Dogs. I had never been so I was delighted to see all the neat vintage ephemera and sample their hot dogs.

As you can see it is a humble place with plenty of business.

Don't you love the Cosmic Rocket? I bet it really shows up at night.

Lots of young marrieds with children were there Saturday and every child wanted a turn on this vintage convertible.

It's a good thing the toy plane was hanging from the rafters or the children would have climbed on it too.

They offer more than hot dogs on the menu but we stuck with the dogs, fries, and of course a chocolate/vanilla swirl top cone. I had a true Cosmic Dog which comes with sauerkraut. I know only a Yankee likes sauerkraut on a hot dog instead of chili.

I love the old signage on the door.

Another vintage toy car was inside.

Love all the decor on the way to the bathroom. Even the bathroom had cool vintage stuff in it but I resisted taking a pic. You will have to go see for yourself!

This is the school at the boy's home (Winwood Farm for Children). The boys helped build the building; which is an excellent way to teach building skills in my book.

This is the dormitory at the home. Lest you think this is all too fine for boys who are neglected or in trouble, let me assure you their life is not rosy. But it is better than the one they left behind at home. Please pray for this boys home and my son's, Billie Hardee Home for Boys. It is not an easy "business" to be in at any time, especially during a recession.

100th Day

2012-02-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, Grandson Gates got to go to work with me at my alma mater Plainview Elementary.

The first order of business was putting Froot Loops on a 100 chart. Any misshapen ones were allowed to be eaten. The Gator seemed to have an inordinate amount of misshapen loops, LOL. The children then strung the loops onto yarn to make a necklace. They were allowed to eat the loops off the necklace. Gates' was bare in a matter of minutes.....he said he had grits, gravy and biscuits for breakfast....hmmmm.

Gates and Mrs. Anderson, the Ktg. teacher had quite a conversation.

The children had brought 100 Day Projects which I wish I had taken close ups of....so clever.

All kids wore colorful glasses made with the number 100. How very cute.

Mrs. Anderson baked a 100 Birthday cake and we sang "Happy 100 Days to US!" very enthusiastically.

I missed getting a picture of their ten blocks of ten...each made with a different food item....10 mini marshmallows, 10 pretzles, 10 Skittles, etc....Pop Pop and I helped Gates eat his bounty when we got through playing basketball, golf and climbing Dead Man's Hill, and exploring the "pond" ie old waterhole. Gates thinks Swamp People is filmed there....if it is we need royalties, people.

It was my first Hundreth Day Party....but hopefully not my last!

Glamper or Clampet ?

2012-01-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, Hubs and I went to Harbor Freight for him to return something and he came out with this shiny new trailer jack for Blue. Previously Hubs had to have a worker come over whenever we wanted to move Blue. I must confess as I sat in the car during his Harbor Freight expedition I thought, "I know why it is called HARBOR freight.... everything comes here from CHINA...and faithful readers know how I feel about that.

Wednesday we took off on a license search. Friends had advised us "Do Not go to the Darlington County DMV...go to the one in Bishopville." A very nice and intelligent young lady waited on us. After hearing our complicated tale of the camper with no VIN, no title, and no license she consulted her 4" thick manual and advised us to call the State DMV in Columbia. I did as advised; the worker there advised me to call the Chief Title Officer. I did but she was out. I called Thursday and they kindly told me her child was sick and they weren't sure when she would return. Still not there Friday. All state offices are instructed by our nice polite female governor to answer the phone, "It's a Great Day in South Carolina!" When I get a registration it will truly be "A Great Day in South Carolina!" Not to have the day ruined Hubs and I stopped at Watford's Bar B Que for lunch. Yummo. We would have waited and gone to Westwood Bar B Que but it was Wednesday, Dale.

Yesterday I was hard at work again. Down came the rusty copper stove hood and the dirty "stainless" back splashes.

This is the box of vintage accessories (ie junk) I filled yesterday.

We have more silverware! Under the sink nested in the insulation over the tire well were spoons and forks, even an iced teaspoon. I do think some fancy mice (I refuse to say or think R-A-T-S) lived in Blue once upon a time,long, long ago of course. We even found three utensils on top of the camper. Left from the mouse picnic/reunion I presume.

Much of my time yesterday was spent removing 68 screws and four light sockets. Hubs decided that the ugly rust streaks on the camper's outside walls were caused by the previous owner not using stainless screws. I was to take all the offending screws out while he went to get new stainless ones. Two hours later....all screws out; Hubs no where to be found. When he arrives he explains how there isn't a single stainless screw in Hartsville. He had to order them. I have nightmares of the camper siding collapsing off the camper in the meantime.

Just to leave you on a cheery note...look at this darling paper pieced car and camper. I have decided my next quilt will be a camper quilt....so stay tuned.

By the way the Clampet in the title? My Husband with a very slight hearing deficiency thinks I've been calling Blue a Clampet instead of a Glamper. I think he also thinks we are on the Beverly Hillbillies; but I'm not telling him any different.

Demolition Derby

2012-01-23T14:19:00.000-08:00

Three more wonderful artifacts from the bowels of the Glamper. A nice white Made in Japan Great Dane....he was a worn off brown but I bleached and scrubbed him white. The plastic thingy is a a Memo pad and pencil holder. I am a huge note maker so this will come in handy. Oh, and two "silver" spoons....after I have polished them and put them thru the dishwasher. You can see how well that worked.

This copper thing is a gas lamp. I know that because it is attached to the propane tubing and I read about them in vintage camper blogs. They had a little mantle so you could have light when camping in the great beyond with no electricity. The one on the right is an electric light base. Both are gone now; although Hubs wants to restore the gas one.

Hubs is removing the fridge. I did all the detaching of it from the cabinet but when I pulled it out it was hung up by a cord and I couldn't get it released. There was a strong rat pee odor (similar to cat pee odor) and rat pellets in the insulation under the fridge. It looked like something moved down in there so I called for reinforcements. No mice seen yet....good thing...it might be the end of glamming up the glamper. Snakes, spiders, and wasps I can take....mice not so much.

I got this closet demolished as well as the one holding the fridge.

Here is my BFF Rita wielding the hammer on the closet she is removing. She was all too happy to get in on the glamming. She has signed up for the first glamping trip.

Hubs is disconnecting the gas stove from the propane tubing. Alas I was not strong enough to turn that rust connection.

The glamper is looking nice and roomy with all the closets out. On the right is the tiny sink and the cabinet that the stove sat in. They are next on my list for destruction.

A few more artifacts were found today. The frying pan and pot inside of which is a red metal thingy, some wooden checkers AND a package of Sweet and Low. There were at least a dozen packs of Sweet and Low in the camper which had not been touched by the mice. Makes me wonder if the mice know something we don't know. The dented rusted round thing is a hub cap....for a wheel not for Hubs.

Oh and I must mention my daughter Gabby has identified Andy Gibb of the BeeGees as the handsome young man with pilot hat in the first glamper post. I must say I have looked at 9,102 pictures of the BeeGees on Google Images and not found one of him in a pilot hat but it does seem likely it is him and she wins a free glamping trip for her identification unless she is proven wrong.

Glamper Fix-It Girl

2012-01-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

Today, Saturday has been a big glamping day. Lots of progress. I am learning to use the battery charged screwdriver VERY successfully. (A woman must have invented this handy dandy device!)

I removed the bunk over the "couch". At 68 I am not too old to camp or glamp but I am not interested in bunking anywhere, anytime. For dear daughter's info....this "couch" will be a comfy double bed when I am finished. The other end will have another comfy double bed.= more room than our King size mattress.

This is just some of the junk we hauled our of Blue today.

Yesterday Hubs and I went and scouted around Hartsville for Glamper supplies (electrical plugs). We priced windows etc.... but at Browns RV we saw Hubs dream camper! I taught the owner of Browns, Barry Brown, so Hubs was wheeling and dealing on this Starcraft lollapalosa camper. What is not to like about a fireplace, full size fridge, bathroom and roomy shower, queen size bed, two recliners and a couch? I had to drag Hubs out of there.

Meanwhile here I am under Blue. We borrowed a "creeper" (thing I am lying on, has wheels) from Dean's Service Center for the weekend. Hubs had trashed all protective eye wear he had so my Sally Jesse Raphael Glasses are serving the purpose.

In case you are wondering, and I hope you are, why I am under the glamper....see pic at left. Some vine, it must have been wisteria has embedded itself in the frame and walls of Blue. Unfortunately, I do believe we will have to take the siding off to rid her of this pest.

In case this looks like all work and no fun....these are the artifacts I found so far. Two bird cages (one already gone to the DC Dump) a truck tag from 1981 and a 1972 dime.

Last but not least is a post card from Garden City Beach. There was a fair amount of sand under the bunk mattress so I had already deduced Blue had been to the beach! I didn't read every Nancy Drew for nothin' folks.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures from Glamper Girl and Her Blue Heaven!

Camper/Glamper

2012-01-19T15:38:00.000-08:00

Last Monday Hubs surprised me by getting me a vintage camper. I have been pestering my neighbor, former owner of the camper to sell it to me. No dice. A bit of a hoarder she likes to hold on to her stuff. Having lost most of her sight to macular degeneration this retired 78 year old special ed teacher succumbed to my husbands charms and gave the camper to him.

Here she is folks. Remember this is a BEFORE picture. She will look glorious when "glammed" up.

She has two cute little cubbies over her "dining" area with sliding wood doors. The W stands for "White" the last owner's last name....maybe. There are the remains of press on letters on the back front and side and my best guess so far is "White". (For those who like a mystery....the lady who gave it to me can't remember where or when she got the camper. She does know she never camped in her. This makes getting a title for her (the camper is female) interesting, maybe even challenging. The first mystery we had to solve was what make, model and year of camper was she. The Internet was a huge help in finding out she is a Holiday Trav'ler, 1961 vintage. Hey, no comments,she is younger than me.

Doesn't the site of this stove, sink and rectangular frying pan just make you want to eat a meal cooked in her? One day she will be "state of the art" if my children's inheritance holds out. Do note the stainless steel back splash. Blue, her name, short for My Blue Heaven, was ahead of her time with the stainless!

However her former owner opted for the copper colored fridge. That was big in the 60's. Blue's hey day. My mother-in-law still has her copper fridge, stove, oven, and dish washer.

Under the lovely picture window in the rear will be a sofa cum bed.

Hubs has repeatedly told me he is not working on Blue. He is a liar. Here he is working on her door.

These are two pieces of ephemera that I found in Blue. The kitchen shelf paper so cute. Don't know who the pilot guy is? Anybody have any ideas?

A shout out to Rose, Michael and Megan who helped clean the glamper last Friday. Megan has volunteered to go glamping with me in her. Any other offers? Only the adventurous need apply.

The China Syndrome

2012-01-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 7, I was driving home from Darlington and happened to catch This American Life on NPR (National Public Radio). I used to subscribe to their pod cast and listen each week. Lately, I haven't been able to get in the two other programs I download so I've been skipping This American Life.

Saturday's program will be a life changer for me. Mr. Daisey ended up touring many of China's factories and what he saw was astounding and terrible. Children as young as eleven begin working in these factories, 16 hour days and seven day weeks are normal. The workers are housed in 12 x 12 rooms with bunk beds 15 stories high with only enough room between the bed on top of the them to slip into their bunk. Go to this link to learn more.

Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory

Mike Daisey was a self-described "worshipper in the cult of Mac." Then he saw some photos from a new iPhone, taken by workers at the factory where it was made. Mike wondered: Who makes all my crap? He traveled to China to find out.

I feel so sorry for the Chinese people forced to work in these factories. Want something handmade? According to Mr. Daisey, everything in China is hand made.

I also feel guilty. Why? I don't own a factory here, there or anywhere. But I am an American and we consume more than any other country or people on earth. And we are never satisfied. Got a flat screen tv? You need an LCD! Got an LCD? You need blue-ray or 3-D. Have a 4G phone? You NEED a 5G. You get the picture. And what is worse we are raising even bigger consumers in our homes. New everything for them. No more hand-me-down. Certainly no hand-made by Mama clothes or curtains.

I am worried/ okay concerned to use the Christian euphanism. Have all our US dollars gone to China? Do we owe them gagillions of dollars? Are they going to foreclose and take our country/collateral.

It sure seems possible.

I've been mulling on this since Saturday. Tonight at dinner I commented to Hubs....at least our food isn't made in China. Then I looked at the jar of pears on the table. "Product of China". My heavens the USA used to be the "breadbasket of the world." Our farmers could feed the world...and now we are buying food from China. I astounded.

I am going to try not to buy any products from China. I don't know if that is possible any more. It may mean only buying older used products that were made back in the day when Americans made things. It may mean making my own stuff.....clothes etc.... or paying more.....which will be hard for me because I am CHEAP and want the best buy for the money. Hubs says I can keep my Taurus it is still made in the USA as far as we know.

I'll keep you posted. Let me know how you feel about this and what you think.

H-U-M-I-L-I-A-T-I-O-N

2012-01-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of all of the teams who have given up 70 points in a bowl game: The 2011-12 Clemson Tigers. That's the list. The West Virginia Mountaineers broke a bowl scoring record in their 70-33 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl, embarrassing the Tigers in the process. While West Virginia have a very good offense, it hasn't shown itself to be capable of putting up the kind of points they put up on Wednesday night, even while playing some weak opposition.

The West Virginia Mountaineers had lost their last two bowl games headed into Wednesday's Orange Bowl match up against Clemson.
On Wednesday, they played like they were one of the best teams in the country.
The Mountaineers came into the game averaging 34.9 points per game, but the Tigers couldn't have been prepared for what awaited them. In fact, it didn't appear they were prepared at all.
By the end of it, the Mountaineers had blown out the Tigers, 70-33, ending what had been a Cinderella season for Clemson and making a statement about the heavily criticized Big East.

Needless to say last night's Orange Bowl was a disaster for our Tigers. It got me thinking about humiliation.

noun

an act or instance of humiliating or being humiliated.

the state or feeling of being humiliated; mortification.

Boy am I glad I looked that up, Not.

So I will tell you my idea. I think the root word of humiliation is humility.

I just checked the Blue Letter Bible Website and found these definitions:

tapeinōsis

tä-pā'-nō-sēs

low estate, humiliation, vile, be made low

tapeinophrosynē

tä-pā-no-fro-sü'-nā

humility, humbleness of mind, humility of mind, lowliness, lowliness of mind

I think the opposite of humilty is PRIDE.

ga`avah	gah·av·ä'	pride, excellency, haughtiness, arrogancy, highness, proud, proudly, swelling
H1347	גָּאוֹן ga'own	gä·ōhn'	pride, excellency, majesty, pomp, swelling, arrogancy, excellent, proud
H1348	גֵּאוּת ge'uwth	gā·üth'	pride, majesty, proudly, raging, lifting up, excellent things
H1466	גֵּוָה gevah	gā·vä'	pride, lifting up
H2087	זָדוֹן zadown	zä·dōn'	pride, presumptuously, proud
H1344	גֵּאָה ge'ah	gā·ä'	pride
H1467	גֵּוָה gevah (Aramaic)	gā·vä'	pride
H2103	זוּד zuwd (Aramaic)	züd	pride
H7407	רֹכֶס rokec	rō'·kes	pride
H7830	שַׁחַץ shachats	shakh'·ats	lion, pride
H1363	גֹּבַהּ gobahh	gō'·vah	height, high, pride, excellency, haughty, loftiness

Greek Results (New Testament)

Strongs #	Translit.	Pronunciation	English Equivalent
G5243	ὑπερηφανία hyperēphania	hü-pe-rā-fä-nē'-ä	pride
G212	ἀλαζονεία alazoneia	ä-lä-zo-nā'-ä	boasting, pride
G5187	τυφόω typhoō	tü-fo'-ō	be proud, be lifted up with pride, highminded

I won't belabor the point; I myself am riddled with pride. It shows it self in a critical judgemental attitude. I pray that I will allow the Lord to rid me of it without having to be publically humiliated.

Repentance is the only solution. I pray for a spirit of repentance to come over me, my church, my country, and the world. Will you join me?

What's Your Word, Thunderbird?

2011-12-31T05:52:00.000-08:00

Last week, I was reading an article in Guidepost Magazine by Debbie Macomber. She suggests picking a word to guide you in the New Year. You can pray and ask God what He'd have you pick or look for words that pop out at you in ads or other reading materials.

Immediately, the word Patience came to my mind and I knew it was my word for 2012.

The absolutely last time I prayed for patience I had twins. I saw the correlation. Most Christians will tell you NEVER pray for Patience (because God will send you a trial and you will need Patience to get through it.) But nonetheless Patience is my word for 2012. I can already tell its going to be a banner year for needing Patience and it isn't even 2012 yet.

Last Saturday, December 24th, I stopped by my mother-in-law's house on my way to walk. I usually leave her paper and mail on the rail and ring the door bell. It takes her from 3 to 5 minutes to answer IF she hears the bell at all....so I just sweep her carport and go on my walk. But that day she "caught me".

"Come in," I want you to see something, she said. She had put her microwave on 90 minutes instead of 90 seconds and burned $8.00 worth of peanuts and chocolate to a crisp. I mean a crisp. The house smelled like the inside of a crematorium.

"I feel terrible; I was going to deliver homemade goodies to....and she listed six or seven friends and neighbors." "I just can't do it!" I assured her it was fine the people would enjoy their snack after Christmas. MIL has frequent maladies shall we say, not to use the hypo, word. So I really wasn't concerned.

Christmas Day she came over with more of the same complaints which we all did our best to assuage.

Monday she calls. "I need to go to the doctor." So I call and get the doctor's service who get his nurse to call because he is closed. She wants her vitals etc....so I get my son-in-law, a physical therapist to go with me and check them. Pulse normal, blood pressure normal.....another "malady"?

Doc says bring her in Tues Am for a walk-in appointment at 8:30 am. Off we go. Long story short he admits her to the hospital ICU. Eventually after many taxpayer funded tests they determine she has congestive heart failure due to her pacemaker's weak battery. Going to put in a new pacemaker or battery early the Wednesday am. Wednesday night, 9pm, her nurse calls....they just realized because she is on Plavix, a blood thinner, they can't do the surgery early the next am.

Thursday she has it done in the afternoon. She is sent home Friday morning. The woman is 95, she hasn't walked in five days but she is going home. Medicare no payee....patient no stayee.

Despite my dread; she is home doing well. Hubs has been stellar at running to and from the hospital and to and from her house. Me I am trying to keep from throwing away, I mean recycling, all the clutter, I mean valued possessions. I am going to need some PATIENCE!

Now what about you? Do you have a word for 2012? Let me hear from you, loyal readers.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-22T04:37:00.000-08:00

Our garden club went to Cheraw the other day to visit the Mennonite Restaurant called By the River's Edge.

It was decorated in an old fashioned style. See that dessert counter. The waitress brought a sampler with twelve different yummy looking desserts. We were going by Charlotte Alford's home for coffee and pie or I would have so indulged. One of our members did get four different desserts in to go boxes to take home and savor. Yummo.

Being a quilter I liked the facts that quilts were hung around the restaurant.

This is the owner. She and her husband moved here from Utah two years ago. They had done catering there but when the economy went south they needed to find another form of employment. The Mennonite community in Morvin, NC, promised to help them if they would move here and open a restaurant. Cheraw needed a nice place to eat and now they have one.

I loved this poinsettia quilt. The flowers were 3-D.

There is a lady artist in Cheraw who takes vintage clothes and turns them into paintings. Isn't this awesome. I have 3 vintage dresses I am going to offer her.

I like the chalk board wainscot that they write on.

On another note this is my grandson, Gates the Elf, helping Santa, his Poppy, out of the helicopter that delivered the gifts to the BHHB yesterday. I think he is a pretty cute elf!

Have you been anywhere new over the holidays? Tell us about it!

Walking Into a Winter Wonderland

2011-12-18T15:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my friend Eleanor's oh so tastefully decorated home. Notice the ordinary but lovely rope on her wreath. She had pine boughs tied with the rope in each window and on the mailbox. Now why didn't I think of that?

Her tree is just lovely with white star fish, white snowflakes and garlands of white buttons.

Don't you love the white button wreath, the nativity and garlands of shells and buttons?

This grouping of paperweights and white pttery just pop with the red poinsettia. How about the brown pillows with the white trees on the couch?

A simple wooden nativity that looks like it came from a pop up book is just right in this space.

You can only see a corner of it but she has two Adirondack chairs if front of the fireplace. Perfect in this house.

Eleanor is a retired elementary school art teacher who has a gift for interior design. There were so many more little vignettes I forgot to take pictures of .

It was like walking in a winter wonderland to enter her home. Thanks for the invitation Eleanor!

Holy, Holy, Holy

2011-12-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

Last week I attended a friend, Bernice Teal, funeral. At the end, the congregation was asked to sing the hymn"Holy, Holy, Holy". This is a familiar hymn to me because my husband and I used to sing it with our boys when we put them to bed. I don't remember why this became our tradition.

Today our "boys" are forty-four years old. So hard to believe in some ways (they are still our little boys in our minds) and yet not in other ways (it does seem like a very long time ago that we were young parents.)

My devotion this morning was about Jesus being enthroned as the King of everything. I began to picture Him in my mind as being in the throne room. I really didn't have too good of an idea what a throne room looked like.

This is the image I found on Google images. Then I began to imagine that I wouldn't be able to just run into this throne room and drop off my prayer request and zip out. I would probably have to show some ID to even get in the castle to begin with. And does Jesus live in a castle..... if you know let me know.
This is the image Google had for Christ as described in Revelation. Pretty fierce, eh?

My whole point is that Jesus is not still in a manger. The next time people on earth see HIM he will look like the image on the White horse. And He is Holy, Holy, Holy,.....I need to approach Him as such. Not like my best buddy. What do you think?

It's a Holly Jolly Christmas

2011-12-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks around the old Donnadale Corral. Last week Granny took us on a bus tour trip to Myrtle Beach. First Stop: Ripley's Aquarium Santa Style.

I was glad to see Ol Frosty Out and About in the 75% weather :)

Santa and his elves stopped long enough for a photo shoot.

Even the fish were on their good behavior with Santa around.

Last night Hubs and Granny went to Gates' Christmas Play. Hubs took the pics so blame him if you don't know which one is Gates. His Nana doesn't know either.

Week before last I made this lovely baby quilt for a high school girlfriend's grandbaby due in April. Wasn't I smart. It WAS to be a girl named Maggie and I almost put her name on it. Good thing I didn't............turns out it is a BOY. Back to the drawing board/sewing machine. I really don't mind.....Kathy makes the loveliest hand made greeting cards and sends them to me for every holiday. Hey I need to do a blog of all her cards....because I surely do save them and display them from year to year.

This is a Christmas pin I made using the design of my friend Charlotte and the beading I learned at QSC. It is going in the mail tomorrow for a Very Special Friend to wear during the holidays.
Last but certainly not least, I went to a celebration party yesterday for this lovely talented young lady, Dr. Amanda Polson. She went to Plainview, my school, and got her doctorate in Molecular Biology at USC. She is already employed in their Biology Department....but graduated TODAY! Her Mom taught with me at Plainview and is one of the quality few in our little group called the Beach Bums......and yes we still get together!

Tomorrow we head to Berkeley County for our granddaughter Megan's Chorus Performance.

How Holly and Jolly is your Christmas so far?

My Tribute to Our Son Todd

2011-12-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

Forty-four years ago this December 16, my husband and I were blessed with twin boys.

Todd, the one on the left is the oldest. He got sick in the hospital and has had a visual impairment since then. Here the boys are sitting on the kitchen table in my parent's house having a bedtime snack.

Todd has always loved sports and has always been a #1 Clemson fan.

He was a cub scout and a Boy Scout. He set a troop record by eating 12 hot dogs (rolls and all) at a camp out.

Not only is he a Clemson fan he is a die hard Redskin fan as well.

One time he had a "Clemson orange" cake for his birthday. My good friend Marcia came to the party.

This is him opening a birthday present with my Dad watching. I would almost bet my Dad had tears in his eyes. He was so proud of Todd for overcoming his handicaps.

Here Todd is looking snappy in his sweater vest. My Mom and I and his brother Wayne were helping celebrate Todd's Greatgrandmother, MaMa's, birthday. MaMa pitched a many a ball to Todd despite her advanced age and arthritis.

Looking snappy in his sweater!

Graduating from Coker.

First apartment!

First real job at Santee Canal State Park.

Wedding reception with his bride Rose King Chapman.

First Family Picture with Michael.

A candid photo with Michael.

Coaching basketball at Upward in Columbia.

Todd's family, Megan, Rose and Michael.

I am so proud of my son. He has endured many hardships but still laughs at his Mama's jokes and loves his Daddy's cooking and his Granny's cakes. God Please Bless Our Boy. He has been a huge blessing to us.

I Just Want to Thank You Lord!

2011-11-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

For Salvation
     Redemption
           Adoption
                Family
                      Health and Healing
                            Forgiveness
                                    Loving Kindness
                                           Seasons
                                                 Snow
                                                       Fall
                                                             Leaves
                                                                     Insurance
                                                                             Assurance
                                                                                     Friends
                                                                                            Laughter
                                                                                                   My Husband
                                                                                                           My children
                                                                                                                   Their Spouses
                                                                                                                             Their Children
                                                                                                                                       Animals
                                                                                                                                              Pets
                                                                                                                                                    Oceans
Lakes
         Boats
               Books
                       Libraries
                                Music
                                       Church
                                               Choirs
                                                      Singers
                                                             Movies
                                                                     CDs & DVDS
                                                                               Heaven
                                                                                      Jesus
                                                                                             The Bible
                                                                                                     Christians
                                                                                                              Teachers
                                                                                                                     CHILDREN
                                                                                                                              e mail
                                                                                                                                     computers
                                                                                                                                             cars
My Mother in Law
           My Parents
                     My Brothers and Sisters in Law
                             My Best Friends
                                       My home
                                               Vacations
                                                       Flowers
                                                               Trees
                                                                      Butterflys
                                                                              Bees
                                                                                     Honey
                                                                                            coffee
                                                                                                   chocolate
                                                                                                          forgiveness
                                                                                                                  forgetfulness
                                                                                                                          and the person reading this.

Remagnetized ?

2011-11-20T04:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.science.ca/askascientist/viewquestion.php?qID=61

A few weeks ago I spied a couple of strip magnets hanging on my pegboard behind my computer. Ah Ha I thought I can use these at Sunday School to hold up the Bible Verse of the Week, the Bible Picture and other paraphernalia that goes with each lesson on our white board. Currently we double fold masking tape on the back of each item and stick them up. Very old school for sure.

I took them to church that Sunday and watched with amazement as they fell right off the marker board.

Then I got the bright idea maybe they could be remagnetized. (There is a lot of useless info in this 68 year old brain....mostly half baked info.) But my coteacher Sarah has and i phone so I asked her to look it up.....after I had thrown all the magnet strips in the trash. Yep, she said....just use a higher power magnet to remagnetize the strips. (Back to the trash can I go.)

The next week I spent time moving a big magnet up and down each strip.....letting it sit in one place on the strip for a couple of hours and then moving it down the strip. How long does it take to remagnetize.....I have no clue....But by the next Sunday the strips were sticking to my refrigerator!

Back to Sunday School.....back to the posters and pictures and Bible verses......wallah......I place the strip on a poster and it falls right off again, shoot, I think I said.

I knew the strips worked at home.....what could be the problem? Ah Hah.....the board wasn't magnetized. I researched white boards; some come magnetized and some don't. Who knew!?
All the ones I had at school must have been magnetized because they held all manner of ephemera.

Now I'm begging the Children's Pastor for a magnetic white board!

During my quiet time yesterday, it came to me......I need to be remagnetized.......by spending quality time with the strongest magnet I know......JESUS. He drew people to Him......He drew me to Him....He was and is a People Magnet. Do you need to be remagnetized, too? Let's try to spend some time with Him during this busiest of all seasons. If we don't, we may find ourselves falling off the wall and not being effective Christ followers. Thank you God for speaking my language....teaching me through the every day things in my life....and not trashing me when my efforts don't work out....stay close to me, Lord.... that I may be like you. Amen

Has the Lord taught you anything lately....share with us please.

Hubbalicious

2011-11-14T04:16:00.000-08:00

I am way overdue for a tribute to my wonderful husband, Curtis. I just love these pictures of him growing up. I wish I'd known him in elementary school when he and the boys would ride their pretend horses around the girls on the playground. Or when his Mama dressed him up as a "Sweet Pea" for Halloween; thank goodness she kept a great photographic record of her boy :)

One of his uncles, Bill States, fiddled with photography and I imagine he took this picture since it is lit so dramatically. I love seeing Uncle Ro's pic in the background. Ro was one of my favorite people in the Evans-Chapman family.

As you can see, Hubs was slim as a boy but after he got his tonsils out he blossomed. I love the vintage plaid bathing suit with a belt. Curtis loved the water as a boy swimming in ponds and lakes. Now he'd prefer a hot shower but he will go in the ocean with me; in fact he got me over my fear of the ocean on our first beach trip together. He taught me to go beyond the breakers where you could actually swim and not be beaten to death by the waves. I grew up swimming in the Chesapeake, no big waves or undertow.

Don't you love those little leather sandals and that sweet smile on his face? He is truly a sweet heart who gets emotional over his younguns, their younguns and doggies. I asked him recently to recall an act when he felt he was most courageous....after a long pause he said, "I guess when I faced down that man at the Hartsville football game who tried to take that little game ball away from Fred." Fred was one of our foster children. This gentle man would not challenge some one unless it was over a child or a dog.

I don't know how many dogs he has had (I don't think he does either) but I love to hear about them.
Pee Wee was one of his favorites. His first rat terrier. He had a little cart she could pull. She had lots of puppies (ohhhh puppy breath and peanut feet heaven.) Shep an English shepherd lived the longest, sixteen years. Shep could round up the cows and calves on the farm. Once when he was a young boy, Curtis got between a cow and her calf and Shep charged in and threw the cow down before she could trample Curtis.

Those are just a few of the millions of things I love about my man! In 45 years of marriage, I have only just begun to discover his wonderful qualities. Almost every day I thank God for bringing this little DC girl to Coker to meet and marry him. God is Good. All the time. Even when we don't deserve it.

Good Reads

2011-11-05T09:11:00.001-07:00

This is our Book Club book for November. Sooooo good I read it in one day. About a Chinese Woman and her daughter who emigrate from China to NYC. The mother, a former classical violinist is forced to take a job in a clothing factory (aka sweatshop) owned by her older sister who financed their trip. The daughter is the narrator who endures terrible living conditions and poverty and rises above them. My friend Rita's father had to flee Austria and his upper class life during the Holocaust and endured similar deprivations upon reaching New York. Man's inhumanity to man still shocks me. God giving strength and hope to the disenfranchised does not.

Like me, the main character of this novel grew up reading biographies of heroic American women....Clara Barton, Molly Pitcher, but she followed her dream and became a nurse in an oncology ward. When her brother comes down with cancer in his teens her desire to be a heroine in tested and bent but not broken.

I'd Know you Any Where by Laura Lippman....our October book Club selection is the story of a woman who was abducted by a serial killer at age of fifteen and lives her life keeping it a secret until the day her suburban life is shattered by a phone call from her abductor.

Nothing Daunted is the true story of two wealthy young ladies who decide to leave their privileged upbringing on the East Coast to teach children in the "wilds of Wyoming."
Being a school teacher myself, it was amazing the obstacles these ladies undertook daily to teach in a location where a two hour horse ride through mountains of snow were required to get to their school each morning. The community understood the value of their children being taught and made the school a primary focus in the wilderness where they lived.

Honolulu: a novel by Alan Brennert.
Tells the story of a picture bride that was brought to Honolulu from her impoverished home in China in 1914.I learned a lot about the history of Hawaii and the courage of these disenfranchised women.
I also read Maliki by Brennert which deals with the leprosy victims in Hawaii who were sequestered on that island for their lifetime.

Halloween and Propofol

2011-11-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

It turned into dark and chilly night after the three goblins set out to trick or treat in the haunted forests of Darlington County.

The three Hardee cousins wore their night vision goggles to protect their eyes from bats and vampires.

But this was all that was left of them after midnight.

Hubs and I have been keeping Hannah and Gates while their parents went off "on business" in the Caribbean.
It has been quite a while since we have enjoyed the privilege of staying with them over night for a couple of nights.
Getting them each up and off to school hasn't been too big a challenge since Nana gets up at 5 am. That works real well since she is the designated sleeping person who gets The Gator into the bed by 8:30 pm and lays still as a mouse until he falls asleep :)
The two biggest pleasures for Nana has been hearing each child pray at supper time: Here is a sample: "Dear God thank you for this wonderful day! and Dear God thank you for PopPop making my favorite Chicken Bog for dinner. Amen"
Hannah is becoming a real spiritual friend. She asks me to do devotions with her each night and I am so delighted to share her concerns and joys. We discovered we both have the same life verse from the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11 and she can quote it as well or better than I.

Our Bible study group is reading Anne Graham Lotz book, Expecting to See Jesus. Anne believes, and I agree, that things are lining up very quickly for Jesus' return to earth. She thinks her generation, which is the same as mine, will live to see His Coming. When I read the newspaper or watch the news, I think, "How long, O Lord, how long, will you let this perverse, corrupt world continue to blaspheme your name and persecute your people. How long will 3/4 of the 7 billion people on earth live in abject poverty while we here in Laodicea live in plenty without a thought to those who are suffering world wide?"

Our minister spoke Sunday on suffering for the sake of the gospel. He said if we aren't suffering we aren't following close to The Master. And truthfully folks I am not suffering, yet. My cousin's daughter who is 30 has an inoperable brain tumor and has daily radiation and chemo. She and her family are suffering. The Muslims who have become Christians in Jakarta and see their families disown them are suffering. What will it take to wake me up and get me to live like these are the last days? I truly don't know. What will it take to wake you up? Do you think we are all under the spell of a materialistic proponol that has us sleeping away our last hours? Wake the church, O Lord, sound the alarm!

On to New Hobbies, Old Places, and New Friends

2011-10-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Handmade Beaded jewelry.
I took a weekend class at our annual Quilters of SC Retreat at White Oak.

These are the stiches we learned how to bead.

I learned how to make the bead encrusted button in the middle.

My newest friend Kira Bishop.
Kira's Dad is the new chef at White Oak Conference Center. They moved here two months ago from Long Island, New York. I invited her to join our class on Sunday and she made a beautiful necklace and a bracelet (and threaded my needle a "few"times).

This is the bead encrusted necklace I made. I cannot figure out how to turn the pic. Maybe my blog designer (aka daughter Gabby) can fix it. I have one more chain of beads to add to the necklace rope (for lack of a better term). The things that hang down from the pendant are called fringe.

I bet my granddaughters will like my newest hobby :)

Have you taken up any new hobbies or interests? Tell me all about them in your comments.

Reunion and Redskins

2011-10-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

This is the ballroom where our 50th high school reunion dinner and dance was held. It was fun reuniting with old friends and making new friends. We stayed with a Kathy and Bill Glotzback. Kathy and I met in 10th grade when we were assigned each other as biology lab partners. (I got lucky on that one....she is a smart cookie.) We became high school sorority sisters; were in each others wedding and have attended each other's children's weddings.... Bill and Hubs decided to skip the reunion to watch the Maryland Clemson football game. Bill thoughtfully hired a driver to take Kathy and I up to Washington for the reunion and bring us back. It is a two hour drive each way and involves the DC Beltway and traffic from the Maryland football game so it was very nice to sit in the back of the Lincoln and chat away not worrying about finding the country club.

The best part of the whole weekend for me was getting to go to the Redskins game on Sunday. Bill has season tickets and invited us to share the fun. This is Bill and his son Billy as we arrive and start to set up for tailgating.

I loved walking around the parking lot and taking pics of the tailgaters. This was a happy family group.

A lot of tailgaters had corn hole games but this was the nicest with the Redskin football field on it. I know a certain 5 year old who would love this.

Here I am at the field with hubs and Bill. Kathy loaned me her Redskin garb so I fit right in.

I have video of the team coming on the field and the Redskin Band which I will put on Facebook. My uncle and cousin Ted played in the Redskin Band so I learned the fight song at an early age.

Unfortunately, it was not our day on the football field. The Eagles won; if this Eagle fan would have sold me this hat I would have bought it. The "eagle" that looked more like a seagull flapped his wings as the guy walked around. So me!

This lovely turkey and pumpkins were given to me by my hostess as a b'day present. See how perfect they look on my fall table runner, Kathy. Thank you again for the presents and the wonderful hospitality.... it was a weekend to remember forever!

Celebration Countdown

2011-10-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

This Friday, October 14, is my 68th Birthday. Hubs and I are headed Nawth for my 50th High School Reunion to be held the next night at Columbia Country Club (aka High Cotton).

In honor of these events I decided to polish my shoes. These are not my dancing shoes for the dinner/dance those will be gold sandals :) Do you or anyone in your family polish shoes any more? I thought not. My shoe shine kit was inherited from my father who was an impeccable dresser...his shoes were shined and as long as I lived at home he shined mine every Saturday night. I did shine my weejuns in college but I can't remember when I last shined a pair. Hubs occasionally shines his.

Our quilt guild had its annual auction last week and I bought myself a birthday present....this darling doll who looks like my husband. He is even reading the Major League Ball Scores in the newspaper he is holding. Actually my husband spends hours reading blogs about The Atlanta Braves...in the Atlanta Constitution bc our paper doesn't carry nearly enough info. I smile every time I look at Papa Pootsie :)

Yesterday, "birthday week" officially began. Granny took me shopping for my birthday present. You know you are old when you choose a new pair of slippers and a new mattress pad for your gift.
Today, Hubs made my Birthday Mud Pie...as you can see I have already had one piece....Yummo.

I don't know what else is in store but I do know he is making the apple caramel bundt cake that was on the cover of Southern Living last month. We are taking it with us Friday on our trip to California. Actually, we are going to California, Maryland to stay with my high school biology partner and her husband. Kathy and Bill have remained great friends and we can't wait to catch up. Bill is even taking Hubs to a Redskins game on Sunday. Kathy and I have some other plans....but I do feel a little sad to miss the Skins. My Uncle and Cousin played in the Redskins band when I was growing up and the team often came to our house after the game. I can still sing the Redskins fight song!

All in all I should have lots to report when I return home. So how do you like to celebrate your b'day?

Nearly Insane ?

2011-10-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

This is my nearly insane quilt all quilted......a guild mate quilted it for me....I am not insane enough to try to quilt it myself. She did an awesome job. I pick it up tomorrow and can't wait to snuggle under it tomorrow night. It has wool batting and wool backing......Warmo!

Add caption

This is so true and so nearly insane. I spend a lot of time giving God advice on how to handle different situations :(

Even More Meanderings

2011-09-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

http://keriwyattkent.com/soul/ This is a blog I recommend. I heard Keri on Midday Connection and went looking for her to find the website that has an in depth analysis of words from the Bible. I have emailed her asking for that website and will let you know when I hear from her. But in the meantime she writes in her blog about writing, Mary Bailey, and about being a soccer mom, Gabby. So check it out.

Hubs and I went to visit Ruth Benjamin yesterday. We had company about when we planned to go so it was supper time when we got there. She was lying in bed eating her dinner (tomato soup, pimento cheese sandwich, tater tots, orange juice, tea, water, lemon jello and Shasta cola). My sources had told me she loves Pepsi and Juicy Fruit gum so I brought both.

She no longer likes Pepsi, it makes her itch (who knew) but had me open the Juicy Fruit so I guess it was a hit. I can see that "loving Ruth" is going to be harder than I thought. I can barely understand her....my deafness....her dialect ,lack of teeth and being on her back. She did say she does get to be up in a chair off and on during the day. And she had two visitors besides us yesterday. I didn't catch who they were.

I have had plans to bring her flowers and or plants, send her cards, play black gospel cd's for her, take her to ride, hear her life story. I just thought I'd bring you along on this journey. All of the above may happen or none of the above.....we will see.

We developed a saying or theory in our home when the kids were growing up about "loving other people and ourselves." It developed because we recognized that we often wanted to do something for someone because we loved them.....but they didn't appreciate or want our love in that way. For example we might offer to keep our neighbor's children......but if wasn't "loving them" (they didn't want us to) it wasn't the thing to do. Or if we did it and had bad grumpy attitudes then it wasn't loving us either.

I can see how this Mrs. Ruth thing could go that way. I want to bring Pepsi.....it isn't loving her...it makes her itch. I want to be her friend but she's never had a white friend and doesn't understand why I'm coming.

Have you ever done something to show someone love but it wasn't appreciated? I guess that is why Gary Chapman wrote the 5 love languages. I also think it has something to do with wanting to love someone in a way that is convenient for us not them. Does this resonate with anyone?

More Meanderings

2011-09-22T04:26:00.000-07:00

I just found this beautiful blog. The full title is A Brit in Tennessee. My friend Mary Bailey will love it because of its rich images and quotes and poetry. My daughter Gabby will be inspired to buy her camera and use it in such a beautiful way. Surely....there is such beauty right here in South Carolina, too.

http://abritintn.blogspot.com/

On another note....Tuesday our Garden Club went to The Nursing Home. It used to be Morrell now it is owned by the Wilson Hospital Group. Any way one of our favorite members is there....Mrs. Bernice Teal so we held our meeting there. Pat (creative crafter) Hawkins, made up 15 gift bags for us to deliver to what ever resident we desired. I really didn't know any one but Mrs. Bernice so I just looked for a room with a lady in it.

The lady I found was Ruth Benjamin......from Byrdtown! I quickly discovered she is Luke Benjamin's widow. Mr. Luke worked for us on the farm and was the poorest happiest soul I ever met. They lived in a wooden tenant house (aka shack) but he was always smilin and praisin the Lord. Well, Mrs. Ruth has been at the nursing home 27 years....you heard me right 27 years....both her legs are amputated at the thigh, she has had a stroke and her left arm is curled up on her chest but her mind is fine.

During our visit I found out that Alex Hunter is her grandson. Alex was a good friend of my son Wayne in elementary school. He even went to Santee with us one weekend....when we went over the bridge on I-95 he nearly freaked....he had never seen "big water".

One of the garden club members told me Mrs. Ruth likes Pepsi's and Juicy Fruit Gum.

I'm on it! My heart and mind cannot forget this dear lady who has lain in a bed at the nursing home for 27 years. I'll keep you dear readers posted.....and how about you lift her up in prayer.

Now what do we have to whine about? Nothing.

Crazy Quilts

2011-09-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is an example of a piece of an antique crazy quilt I bought a few years back. Ever since I saw Judy Lily making one at Creative Sewing when I first started sewing again I have wanted to make one.

The other day Graham Baker, a friend and fellow quilter came over and helped me make this block. I have put a few embellishments (embroidery ribbons, lace, buttons and beads) on it but I have many more to add.

The next day I made this block by myself. I think it turned out okay. Again much more embellishing to be added.

Today I made a run to Walmart to get the two empty plastic containers to put my stuff in when I go somewhere. I love me some containers so it was big fun for me to splurge on them. Isn't Graham's crazy quilt gorgeous. And all those lovely embellishments.....maybe one day I will have a post with my blocks looking half so spiffy.

In other news, I worked at Carolina Kids today. We bagged food that will go home over the weekend with children who the school thinks might not get adequate food on weekends. In each bag went: Ramen noodle cup, Vienna Sausage, two packs of instant oatmeal, two fruit drinks, a canned vegetable and a book. Over three hundred bags will go home with students in Darlington County.

While we were bagging, a nice looking high schooler came in with his aunt to get some clothes. He was tall and thin but they found a nice coat and a few other things that will fit. I honestly thought he was picking out clothes for someone else. Turns out his aunt is raising him. When you are looking for people who need help you can't always judge a book by its cover.

Hubs is driving kids for the BHHB Wraps program. Usually they are kids in foster care and he either is taking the kids for a two hour visit with the parent or vice versa. A lot of the families have three and four kids in foster care. I certainly don't know the answer to the problem of parents having kids and not caring for them.....but I do know God would want us to care and pray for them.

Those are a few things on my mind these days.....what is on yours?

Toni Dolls

2011-09-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

This is my beloved Toni doll. Do not worry about the scratch on her neck....she did not try to off herself.

My best friend, Leslie, had a Toni doll, too. They used to write each other letters when I was away for the summer at Bay Ridge. Of course, when Leslie came to visit, her Toni came too. We tried making clothes for them out of old rags. Sometimes they got in fights over boys....even though we had no boy dolls our imaginations were fertile....no not that fertile.

These are some of my Toni's clothes. See the plaid thingy in the back. It was like a big dress bag for doll dresses. When I got my allowance I was off to Murphy's Five and Dime Store to buy clothes for my doll.I found this pic below of two Toni dolls with a background. The dolls are around 8 inches tall so they wouldn't fit in a regular doll house. Here you see the blond and the brunette versions of the dolls. My Toni started out a brunette. The big selling point of Toni dolls was that you could give them home permanents......like the Toni permanents for adults. They came with rollers and permanent wave solution. The manufacturer gave you the recipe so you could make more solution when you ran out......not like today's manufacturers who would send you back to the store for a refill that would cost more than the original doll.

However, the solution formula was very technical.......sugar + water.....no danger there right? Wrong Donnamo laid Toni out on the driveway in the sun to dry her hair while the perm did its magic. It was magic alright....when I went back she was bald!!! Ants had eaten her hair! I probably still have issues due to this trauma.....but my resourceful Mama found a "doll hospital" and had her fixed....and I got Toni the blonde hair I always wanted my Toni and me to have. It took about 10 years before I got my own blonde hair but that is another story for another day.

AN Organizer's Dream Job

2011-08-31T13:09:00.000-07:00

In July our church held a Mission Hartsville Week. Members signed up to work in areas that needed volunteers. I signed up for The Clothes Closet a project of Carolina Kids. The group had to move all of their inventory to a second floor classroom in the abandoned school where they are housed while their normal room was treated for termites. Carolina Kids needed people to help bring the things back down and reorganize them

Did I say I like to organize? I mean I LOVE to organize! This compulsion has gotten me in trouble with daughters-in-law, and teachers who worked for me when I was a principal. But here I can organize to my little heart's delight.

This is what greeted us when we came in to work today. Twice as much stuff as when we left last week!

The good, no great news is that they were donations from the local consignment sale held over the weekend. Every thing was sized! Yee Haw! Every thing was on a hanger....hallelujah!

These are shots of the girls side of the room

Note the lovely green baskets are each labeled as to what is in them
(pants, shirts,pjs) and what size.

This side of the room is prepping for next week when we will begin filling 257 poly grocery bags a week to go home with children on Friday. These are kids identified by their teacher or school social worker as to having a need. Our director went to pick up food at Harvest Hope in Columbia, SC yesterday and were told that "their" food which really belongs to the US Gov't had been pulled and sent to Hurricane Irene victims.

Fortunately, our group has grant money and went and purchased the items needed for next week's bags. But the grant money won't last long if we have to purchase all the items. A food drive is being planned.

I am thrilled that a donated book is included in each food bag.......as a librarian that is some thing I can get into!

Family Reunion

2011-08-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

Erica Gates......Michael's wife...baby boy due in October.

I have two older brothers, Buddy (Herb) Gates and Wayne Gates. I named my son Wayne after ...guess who. (My older brother already had a son and now a grandson named after him and he is named after our father.)

Brother Wayne is a bit eccentric and elusive so I have not seen his family ofter throughout the years. Six years ago his wife, Carmen died and Buddy, Curtis and my son Wayne all went up to Pa for the memorial service. There I got to see my niece and nephews again and meet their spouses.

We have kept in touch a little through email and Facebook since then. And my brother remarried and I did see him and one of his children at his stepdaughter's wedding.

We saw on Facebook that all his children were vacationing at Topsail Beach in NC this week and my son said, "Let's go visit them!" Today we did just that. I am so proud of them for spending time together......with no mom or dad to organize them just be cause they are family.

Just for the record....the two on the second row left side are Michael and Erica and in front of them in red shirt is their son Aiden. To the extreme right, second row is my niece, Stacey Nelson her husband Mike is in the middle of the third row to his right is their son Brian and behind them is Drew their other son.

Second row left is my nephew Paul his girlfriend, Chrissy....beside me is Aislan his daughter and son Jarret is behind me. Chrissy's two children are in front of me. I assume you can identify me, Curtis, my son Wayne, and Gates.

My parents would be so proud that at least part of our family got together.

This and That

2011-08-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

It has been 20 whole days since I blogged. Really I haven't done anything very interesting and when I did I forgot to take my camera :(

This is Caity sewing her little dress to go to Africa with her Aunt Niki for some lucky little girl.

This is our wish for house at Lake Wateree. We went looking for a cheap house on the lake yesterday. We took a picnic lunch and sat right on the deck below overlooking the water. Man so serene and peaceful (does that mean the same thing?)

The house looked neglected. Weeds growing up the steps etc...but still furnished (perfectly)....we hoped for a foreclosure....but alas a call to the owner revealed his asking price $440,000....perfect....he will entertain offers (Um...what about $50,000....that would probably be entertaining to him...LOL)

I took this as our local pool this summer. I think I counted 35 people there that day. So nice to have a pool in our rural community. I always see a friend or neighbor I won't run into any where else. We have had a lot of "new" members in the last few years so I get to meet some new people too.

This is my hunk of a grandson Michael. He is only 12 but looks at least 14.

Megan on the slide. The slide was a big hit with everyone that day.

Megan caught the first fish of the day over at "Aunt Dianne's pond". Actually, Aunt Dianne's father built the pond back in the day and now her three children live around it with their children. They are generous to let my grandchildren fish there when they come visiting.

Michael made a catch, too. In all they both caught about a dozen.

This is another fantasy of mine.....I want a small vintage camper....for cheap. There is a group called Sisters on the Fly; all women with vintage campers dolled out oh so cute and I want to join them. So far the closest old camper I've found has been in Kentucky and I haven't put my money down on it yet. It will show up here when I do!This is a picture of two glamed up campers.

Fun in the Sun on Lake Wateree

2011-08-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

We rented a house at Lake Wateree with our daughter and family for a long weekend. None of us had ever been to this lake but we had heard good things from friends. It did not disappoint!

Fortunately, the house came with a pontoon boat so we spent some quality time on the boat.

Ashli and Marty are chillin here.

Connor,and sister Caitlin (next picture) spent a lot of time swimming and fishing.

I think Caity was top dog in the fishing contest but I wasn't on the pier to photo document her catches.

Do you have a favorite Lake or other body of water you like to visit?

The Treasures of Society Hill, SC

2011-07-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Society Hill, SC founded in 1726.
Although I went there almost every day for a couple years when I was working at the library there; I never thought much about that date. After being in New Hampshire and seeing the towns there brag about their founding dates which were much later I am newly impressed with Society Hill's early start.

My buddy, Mr. Ashton Gandy had invited me to come see the family quilts he had stored in a cedar chest in his house. He only knew they had been made by his father's family. Mr. G is 92 so I know they are old.

This is Mr. G and his faithful dog, Tim who is a standard rat terrier; a good bit bigger than our toy Scout.

This is one of the four upstairs bedrooms in Mr. G's big old southern home. He was raised in this house with his four sisters (all living).

The rest of the pictures are at the new and much improved Society Hill Library which will open to the public in a week. These are librarians who have been working hard to move all the books into the library. We had at least a thousand books stored other places because the former library was only 900 square feet.

It was truly wonderful for me to see this building FINALLY come into reality after MANY, MANY delays!

Home, Home on Governor Beasley's Range

2011-07-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate to attend a birthday party here at former SC Governor, David Beasley's compound near Society Hill, SC. This lovely building is called the club house and is used as party central.

Here are my daughter-in-law, Niki and her Mom, Bill, with my granddaughter Hannah, poolside.

This is one of three log cabins the Beasley's have for guests. They are committed Christians and host get aways for college kids and others.

This is the fireplace area in the cabin.

The downstairs bedroom which opens to a screen porch facing a natural waterfall.

There is a claw foot tub under that shower curtain to the left.

The kitchen.

Upstairs, three beds which Mary Wood, David's wife had embellished.

The barn is as nice as the house.

It even has a little bunk house with a quilt.

One view from the barn.

Chickens in one of the paddocks.

A toy war room for boys.

The view from the porch at the Beasley's own house.

There was much more I didn't show. The pitching machine tent....the skeet shooting range, three more ponds, dirt bike tract etc...

I want to say I taught David and Mary Wood's oldest daughter Mary Hunter and they were more that nice in every dealing I had with them. David goes around the world helping with humanitarian issues. They are just the kind of people you want to have the nice things they have because they share freely (they were in Colorado when the party took place.)

The Bear and Granite State

2011-07-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

This is beautiful Lake Sunapee. It is a perfect day and everyone is enjoying the water.

Mary Ann's is a fifties restaurant here in Derry. Waitresses wear poodle skirts and it is all oldie music. PS.... the food is great as well.

Yesterday we went out to the coast.....NH does have a little bit of Atlantic Ocean coastline. The have a huge sandcastle building contest. Guess who won?

We went on Route 4 following Antique Alley. There were so many antique shops I couldn't visit them all but enjoyed the ones I did visit. I like to look at the old post cards from SC.

This is Diamond the Samoyed dog we are house sitting. Curtis just came up to the fourth floor where the computer is to tell me Diamond has been looking for me all over the house. He has cataracts so it was slow going for him. We will miss Diamond Dog when we head back to SC tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed our tour of NH; we sure did. What is your favorite state to VISIT?

North to New Port

2011-07-05T13:36:00.001-07:00

Today Hubs and I took off North to Newport, NH. We took a scenic route instead of interstate and were well rewarded by picturesque sights. We came upon the lovely campus of New England College....a kind of Coker College of the North. In a small town, except a river runs right by the college and they even have a covered bridge.

On the left is the covered bridge near Newport! And guess what was on Main Street?

A wonderful quilt shop! I was beginning to think there were no quilters in New Hampshire....Alas, I was so wrong, this shop was packed to the gills with everything a quilter could want and lots of fabric on sale :)

...And the Home of the BRAVE!

2011-07-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Hubs and I scouted out a craft fair. On our way there we passed by Lake Winnisquam. Everyone was out in their boat with the red, white and blue flying flags. There was a sand bar with boats moored and people picnicking. The whole scene looked like it was taken from a movie. I would love to rent a cabin on this lake.

The art fair was at a Ski Area. A lot of vendors all with handmade items. When I am home I will post some of the pics. I liked one lady's quilts a lot.

The people here really go all out for the 4th. We have had huge fireworks displays the last two nights here in "our neighborhood." I wonder what they will do tonight?

Several places we have been people are talking about the "economy" and how bad it is. (Personally I wouldn't be buying fireworks but I'm just sayin') There are a lot of For Sale signs everywhere.

Tomorrow we are of to Newport, NH for the trip down memory lane.

How are you spending the 4th?

Follow Along on Our Journey

2011-06-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

Fifty-five years ago, give or take a year, I had the privilege of accompanying my parents on their annual trip to New Hampshire. Today, Hubs and I are taking off to retrace their steps, more or less.

Every year my parents went to NH for ten days. It was the only vacation any one in the family ever took. To be fair, my parents owned a beach house on the Chesapeake Bay and Mom and us kids went there the day school was out for the summer and returned the day before school began in the fall. So in reality we kids had a three month vacation. Dad only came down on Wednesday and Saturday so he did not have a vacation. Mom did not like the beach, did not swim or relish doing without the conveniences of home. (Think dishwasher, washer, dryer and maid.) So our days at the beach were not a vacation for her.

But every summer they made sandwiches and thermoses of coffee and headed out around 3 am for New Hampshire. I remember tales of Mom having to sing to keep Daddy awake as they crossed Hogback Mountain in the early hours of the next day.

They stayed in the home of friends in a little town called Newport. Hubs and I will attempt to find someone who remembers them when we go to Newport,

So stay tuned and follow us on our trip down memory lane.

What kinds of vacations did your parents take? Did you go with them? Did you like them?

The Best of Times

2011-06-21T05:01:00.000-07:00

"It was the best of times and the worst of times"...... Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities.

Those are such great succinct words; that will resonate forever in most of our minds.

It came to mind as soon as I saw this graphic on Laura Frantz's blog.

For Father's Day weekend, son Todd and fam came for the weekend. Dad Dog took Michael to Four Hole Fishing on Saturday. They each caught a bunch of fish....ream, red breast, war mouth, mud fish, catfish.

Four Hole is a lake in southern South Carolina. Hub's grandfather bought one of the lakes and now C's cousin David owns it. Hubs has been wanting to go fishing there, "one last time" for a couple of years.

A month or so ago the planets aligned and he was able to by an aluminum Jon boat and trailer for $100. Two weeks ago he made his first trip....and loved every minute of it. His granddad used to pay an old black man to take him (the FIRST grandchild on either side of the family) fishing in Four Hole almost every day. So now the fourth generation is fishing in those murky swamp waters :)

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Enjoy this trip to Four Hole!

Good Friends, Good Times, Good Memories

2011-06-12T03:34:00.000-07:00

Last night we were invited to our good friend Elbert Warren's 72nd birthday get together. He and Dianne (pictured) are some of our best friends. Their children, Robin, Bert and Becky are the ages of our children and grew up playing together and vacationing together. It was so great to be with all of them as they threw a great fish fry for their Dad's b'day. They retold memories of their escapades with our family !

The second oldest granddaughter, Caroline, led the children in a song they made up to honor Elbert.

She even got the older girls to participate. The building we are in is a huge metal structure where they hold family gatherings etc. All Elbert's children have chosen to build houses around a pond that was their grandfather's. Each family has golf carts and the kids roam around on them like they are at a campground.

This is Robin's husband Robert. My first time being with him; what a fun guy and he makes some righteous onion rings and french fries.

One of the perks of aging is getting to see your own children and your friend's children grow up and raise their children. Elbert's children did all the cooking.........it use to be Elbert and Hubs frying the fish while Dianne and I made all the sides.....very nice to sit back and be the guests!

What have you been up to lately?

God and Nature

2011-06-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hubs called me out to see this cool tree frog yesterday. He (?) was sitting just a few feet from where I normally sit an hour or two each day. I am just blown away by the way God colored him to blend perfectly with the bark of this oak tree. The more I see and learn about nature the more awed I am by the fact God is such a fantastic creator.

These are the first blooms on some new daylillies we set out in our yard last year. The neighbor we bought them from hybridizes them himself. Again this points me to God....not only did He create many wonderful species but He created them in a way so that mankind can have some fun hybridizing them.

I also heard this piece of science on the radio this week. God made tomato plants so they release a chemical when they are attacked by an insect. This warns other tomato plants to respond as well and eliminate the pest. What an awesome God!

Lastly, I wrote about my favorite books last week and today a podcast on Chris Fabry Live (Friday June 3 www.chrisfabry.blogspot.com)gave a list of books for children and young adults to read composed by a Moody English Professor. I printed it to pass along to my grandchildren to guide them into good classic books to read. You might want to do the same and if you haven't read some of them.....check them out..... at your local library :)

Books and DVD's I've Loved Recently

2011-06-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write this for a L O N G time.......so long I may have forgotten what books and DVD's I meant to recommend.....LOL

The DVD's were originally suggested on Midday Connection, a Christan Radio Program produced by Moody Radio. Surprisingly, many were available from my local public library :)

Local Hero
Lars and the Real Girl
Freedom Writers*
Rabbit Proof Fence*
Entertaining Angels
Life is Beautiful
Gospel of John
I Am David *
Songcatcher (recommended by a friend)
A Dry White season
All Good Things

A caveat......just because they were mentioned on Christian radio does not mean there is not an occasional cuss word etc..... it means that the over riding message is thought provoking.

Now for Books:
The Butterfly's Daughter*
Unbroken by Lauren Hilldebran
Mennonite in the Little Black Dress*
The Nineteenth Wife
Half the Church (NonFiction)
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls**
The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis*
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Gordon**
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus **
The Room by Emma Donoghue **
In the Company of Others by Jan Karon***
Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael**
The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips**
In the Woods by Tana French **
Cutting for Stone by A. Verghese***

My library will keep a reading record, if you request it, so I just printed it out to help me remember the books and authors I have loved over the last 6 months. (It also helps me if I am not sure if I have read a book or not :)

I hope you have a readingful summer!!!

The Soldiers Are Coming

2011-05-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I was at school the children began to buzz.....the soldiers are coming....the soldiers are coming!
Fortunately, these were men dressed in reenactment uniforms that had come to talk to the students about the mechanics of the Civil War. I am by no means a Civil War Buff but I have been to a reenactment (faithful readers will remember that blog) and read some historical fiction that takes place during the war. But I did learn some new things yesterday.

The three men were all in correct uniforms of the day. Obviously the navy blue was the yankee uniform but the other two were both Confederate Uniform. The man on the right portrayed an officer....they did not carry rifles....they carried a pistol on their left hip. All three have haversacks or rucksacks on their right hip. Really it was a man's purse. In their they carried their orders, a frying pan, any mail they might have received, their money and perhaps a newspaper or dime novel, maybe even a small Bible. (And men talk about us and our purses....but they were going to be gone four years not an hour or so.)

The small tent was folded up and carried in their back pack. If it was torn or destroyed too bad you slept on the dirt.

The infantry man has only a blanket which wore while marching. The officer had perhaps a pillow in his bedroll.

In the large tent eight adult men would sleep. Believe me I wouldn't want to be in there with more than one other person.

They told some sobering facts about the Civil War which still stun me. Over 100,000 men died in a single battle. Out of 100 men from a county who went off to serve only 8 might return. Hope this Memorial Day you remember the soldiers who fought in war for your freedom.

Donnamo's Ping Pong List Item #1

2011-05-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Done!

Love, Gabby

Moore's Garden

2011-05-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Moore is a woman raised on a small farm in Lake City, a small town in South Carolina. She made it big as a stock broker and has given generously to the University of South Carolina and other entities.

She has a wonderful garden she opens it to the Master Gardeners of SC to visit. I have been twice in the past six years and there are new things to see each year. This is the informal area in her garden designer's office.

One of the interesting things about her garden is the way they use common everyday plants (and weeds). The large "dog" standing by the pine tree is a branch that they found in the garden and saw its potential as an ornament.

The back porch has the waterfall flowing down the steps into an over sized apostrophe shaped pool.

This little cement doggie hiney reminds me of home....this is frequently the view I get of our dog Scout. The dog digs for hours each day and all you see is her rear.

On my last visit architecture students from Clemson were on site laying the foundation for this Japanese style building. The shutters you see are ten feet and can be turned to manipulate the breeze or the shade. All four sides of the building have these woven wood shutters for walls.

This huge stone basin overflows into a trough lined with pieces of ceramics and it spirals around the grassy area.

This is just a small sample of the treats that await visitors to this garden. I was inspired to buy some plants and add to my garden. Have you ever been to a garden that inspired you? Tell us about it.

Sallie's Mountain Garden

2011-05-16T06:05:00.001-07:00

Hubs and I went up to Meadows of Dan (Don't you Love that name?) Virginia for the weekend to visit our friends Sallie and Andy Macauley. Sallie's garden was in full bloom with the lushness that comes from lots of rain. The statue is of St. Fiacre, (http://saintspreserved.com/fiacre.htm) the patron saint of gardeners. He has really done his job with this garden.

The plant by the faucet is a rhododendron; this pic does not do its lovely pastel colors justice. The native rhododendron were also in bloom on the mountain sides...gorgeous!

Sallie was a garden designer here in Hartsville; in fact my English garden was the first garden she designed. These plants look so lovely with the gravel and rocks.

We went to a chili cook off and mountain music sing while there as well as schlepped around a quaint mountain town (Floyd, Va that has become an artist's colony of sorts. Also visited Salem United Methodist Church which was built from a single poplar tree before the Civil War. The tree was given by a member of the RJ Reynolds family before they made their millions in tobacco and moved to Winston-Salem.

I'm Blessed, I'm Blessed, I Am Blessed.....

2011-05-08T03:36:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of having my grandson, Gates, with me Monday and Tuesday. His mom, Niki, was preparing to take her liscensure exam.....(which, praise God she passed). Gates wanted to go to school with me like his sister did. Here he tries out the Star Student Seat!

I couldn't resist taking a snap in front of this part of the mural I had painted when I was principal of Plainview.

This is was taken at Niki's hooding ceremony in Columbia Friday. 300 master's degree of social work grads.....and we need every one of them....Amen? Amen.

Yesterday, hubs and I went on a birding expedition in Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. The three ladies on the left are Candace Holcombe, Ronna Askins and Kaye McElveen. Ronna, Kaye and I were all principals....how rare is that?

This is hubs checking out one of the many ponds. The green building is a photo shelter where you can hide and take pictures of the wildlife. Our guide and teacher, Dr. Bill Alexander has taken many a picture here. He is a teacher at the Governor's School for Math and Science which is located here in Hartsville. I hope one of my grands will qualify to attend here....an awesome opportunity...nice and close to Nana!

You can't see them but there are about two dozen bobolinks perched in these wildflowers. They migrate here from Argentina on their way up to Canada for the summer. They only come by in May and we were blessed to see them.

You can see why my soul sings, "I'm blessed, I'm blessed.... I am blessed!" Truly God has been sooooo good to this orphan girl....He has met my every need and all of my wants....it is my honor to love and serve Him.

How has God taken care of you?

Mother Daughter Tea Party

2011-05-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Today the United Methodist Women of Bethlehem United Methodist Church held a tea party for the women of the community. The younger women did all the prep and let me tell you they know how to throw a party. Almost everyone wore a hat. After Friday's wedding of Kate and William, everyone was really into it. This is a cousin, Dale Chapman Parker looking lovely in her chapeau.

Another cousin Becky Warren Haire is looking lovely.

This is Becky's daughter Lyvian with her grandmother Mama Di.

Dianne Warren's hat looked like it might have been worn at the wedding yesterday.

These two lovely young ladies purchased their fasionista hats at Roses. Who knew?

Several hats were of the fun variety. Jennifer Marshall designed these for her mother, Joy, and niece Alana. You can't see the garden implements on Joy's hat but trust me they were there.

Jennifer's had had file folders, a huge pen, and memo stand.....she works with her husband in their car painting business. Due to the recent hail here they are overwhelmed with vehicles to be painted. I told her she could go into hat designing if she had any spare time. On the left you see Marie Gainey wearing her original wedding veil.

I should have photographed the refreshments as well. Tea, tiny tea biscuits, pettifors, tiny cheese biscuits, chicken salad cups, and other delectables were served.

Have you ever been to a tea party? Have you ever worn a hat?

Post Number 299 Birthday Bash

2011-04-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

My Granddaughter Hannah celebrated her 12th B'day with us last night. She asked Granny to make her a banana cake.

Here are her Mom and Brother eating dinner. (Gates has slaw hanging out of his mouth.)

Her creative Nana made a banner for the occasion :)

She kindly allowed her Bubba to help blow out the candles.

She wanted to do the slicing.....and did such a good job she is now the official family cake slicer.

She was nominated for this position by her paternal grandfather, Pop Pop, who said "this girl KNOWS how to slice cake" He always asks for an acre size slice (you know he was a farmer) and she correctly estimated how much an acre of cake would be.

She is spending Friday with me and I have a surprise for her.....she is going to school with me! This child came out of the womb wanting to be a teacher. (I think that might be classified as a Birth Defect! LOL)
So she will love, love,love.....working with the kindergartners!

What kind of cake do you prefer?

From the Pan Handle to the Frying Pan

2011-04-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

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Hubs and I decided to check out my second cousin's new condo in Panama Beach, Florida while I was out of school for the week. We had never been to the Florida Panhandle. Wowie! These beaches made Hilton Head look downscale.

I was surprised at the waves there; but I guess the ocean causes them in the Gulf. Also very smooth, white sand but no shells did I see.

On our way home our son called to tell us Granny's house had been broken into in the middle of the day. Fortunately, she was out and about and didn't discover it until she returned home midafternoon.
Because she is a better hidder than they were burgler all they took was her flat screen television. They did paw through her costume jewelry but alas they must not have been cross dressers. We got all 500 pair of earing paired back up today. Hubs got the door so secure they will need an gatlin gun to get in the house next time.

The new bigger flat screen tv is installed and running. Granny is still a little in shock so she is staying with us until she feels comfortable going home.

We are all praising God for his protection and mercy! He is truly a Good God.... All the time!

Have you got anything to be thankful this Good Friday?

It has been the Best of Times and the Worst of Times

2011-04-15T04:13:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my quilting buddies as we sat at Tommy Bahama's Restaurant at Market Commons at Myrtle Beach. Another Quilt Guild Member invited us to a luncheon Fashion show fund raiser for the No-Kill cat rescue in Myrtle Beach....Road Trip....we are on it.

I had not been to Myrtle Commons (or whatever it is called). It is a relatively new shopping area built where the old Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was (after the base was closed a few years ago). Surprise it is just like the city center in Woodlands Texas where we housesat a few years ago! Lovely shops and restaurants, movie theater....NON TOURISTY! I got to visit Anthropologie which I had heard of but not visited....very funky cool shop and of course the chocolatier shop :)

On an entirely different note we celebrated grandson Gates 5th B'day April 2nd. Note the cake motif...football, players, ref and goal posts. This boy loves ANY kind of ball game. Golf, basketball, baseball, football, soccer.....and we run through them all when he keeps me :)

The worst of times part came last Thursday when my dear friend and current boss, Beth Melton's husband died in a car crash. Ten years ago he had a brain aneurysm and almost died. It had been a up and down ten years as he tried to return to the work he loved as a house contractor. BUT the best news is about three years ago he went on a mission trip to Philippines and came back recommitted to Jesus....full on....no holds barred..... The funeral was sad and wonderful. Reggie was 47 years old, he left his high school sweetheart, Beth, with two children a college freshman, Haylee and a daughter Kelsey who turned 16 the day before he died.

Beth's family has been plagued with tragedy the last three years.....a cousin who was a senior in veterinary school goes into a diabetic coma and dies in a wreck...an aunt who dies from a brain tumor....the aunt's two sons have been felled by ALS and a stroke.....niece has cancer of the bone.... BUT THESE PEOPLE KNOW IT IS THE DOING OF THE ENEMY OF THEIR SOULS ATTACKING and they are drawing closer and closer to each other and GOD.

Tuesday I took Hubs for his colonoscopy...while he was "enjoying" that procedure I started talking with a family gathered to wait for their mother, age 86, to get her pacemaker replaced. The Lord had told her when her 4 boys were little three would grow up to be ministers......two of them, ages 63 and 65 accepted the call a few years ago and both have church ministries in Camden (where we were at the hospital) We had the best time sharing what the Lord is doing here and now in the End Times. Gene Brown invited us to visit his church Wednesday night and we did with our friends Bobbie and Glen Milsap.

People God is on the Move....he is pouring out his spirit on the 18-30 somethings and the later reign has begun.....Hallelujah! The Bible says as wicked ness increases so will righteousness....these days are dark with sin (pornography, rampant sex, homosexuality, abortion etc....) but God is gathering His People.... I hope you are ready..... are you?

Immortal Life

2011-04-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

This is my latest read....another suggestion from two bookclub members.

It is a non-fiction book about a black woman who is treated for cervical cancer at John Hopkins Medical School, in Baltimore, Maryland. She ends up saving millions of lives without ever knowing it.

One reason the book interested me was because I drove my mother-in-law to Baltimore to visit her sister-in-law, Christine Chapman States at John Hopkins. Christine had leukemia and no health insurance or money for treatment so she went to Johns Hopkins where the treatment was free. I'll never forget how she looked....frightened and alone in a closet of a room.

Books I've Read and Loved Recently

2011-04-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

At our local library book club last week I got some suggestions from fellow participants and I have loved all of them so I thought I'd share them with you.

The Wives of Henry Oades written by Joanna Moran. This book is based on a true story about a man whose wife and children were abducted but turn up alive many years later after he had married again. It is surprising how the community reacts.

Half-Broke Horses written by Jeannette Walls. This too is based on the true story of the author's grandmother's life in the West during the early nineteen hundreds. She led a truly amazing life that helps explain the life of her daughter Rosemary the subject of the next book on my list.

The Glass Castle was also written by Jeannette Walls and actually preceded Half-Broke Horses but I think it would be better to ready them in the opposite order. This is about the life the author led as the daughter of two "free spirits". It is astounding the amount of dysfunction the children dealt with and overcame.

1,000 Gifts by Ann VosKamp. This was recommended by Mary Bailey at her blog Bell, Whistle, Moon.
It has a premise that really has me thinking about my relationship with God.

Enjoy!

More March Madness

2011-03-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

Rita and I stopped at the Bishopville Opera House for her to sing.....I mean to look at the Quilt Show.

This was one of my favorites.

This Iris Quilt would be lovely on my bed.

I won this bunny as a door prize! Isn't she sweet?

March Madness ? ? ?

2011-03-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got the itch to make my first ever pound cake. When I was at my college friend's house she served this recipe and it was so good I decided to try making it.

The lady on the left, my mother-in-love, is a renowned cake maker so I have never needed to do much in the way of making cakes.

We celebrated my son-in-love's birthday with his favorite cake.....Better Than Sex. The grandies were quite scandalized by the name.

Here is my latest list of book suggestions:

The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis.... a Civil War novel.

The Pastor by Eugene Peterson an autobiography by the man who wrote The Message and was a pastor for 27 years.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson... Fiction set in modern day England.

A Passion for Souls by Lyle Dorsett, Biography of D. L. Moody

What have you been reading?

The Sky is Falling....or at least blowing away.

2011-03-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I got a call from my youngest grandchild, Gates. "Nana, you want to go see the Chicken Little Play with me, then we go to your house and play on Dead Man's Hill. What do you think I said? "ABSOLUTELY!" Here are a few of the characters...Ducky Lucky, the Queen and Chicken Little....who kept insisting he was a Chicken Hawk not a Chicken. They were all wonderful and I so wanted to be up on stage in one of those great costumes!

I went by my son's office on the way to pick up Gates. Wayne recently moved into a "new office" in an old building and had this great mural painted on one wall. It has things of significance to the boys home and his life. You can easily see Gates in his Carolina football gear and Hannah in her cheerleading outfit. I just realized she is holding Curious George.....who was Wayne's favorite book character and stuffed animal.

Several years ago I made this wall art for Wayne. The heart is made up of buttons and ephemera from our family. The buttons came from my Mom's button box. The words you can't read are character traits Wayne possesses written in beads.

It was a very windy March Wednesday yesterday and Gates an I stayed out ALL day. We flew a kite I had stashed away ....... Mental note....go to a big open field next time....no trees around :)

Back to Old Virginny

2011-02-28T15:21:00.000-08:00

We spent the last few days up Nawth in Poquoson, Virginia at the lovely waterfront home of our good friends Linda and Bill Pearson. I went to college with Linda back in the day and we remain good old Cokernuts.

Linda and Bill have been married 45 years. They went all through school together until college and started dating in fourth grade. That means they went to the afternoon movie together each paying for their own admission and popcorn.....twenty-four cents each.

Saturday night they had two other couples over for a down home good time reminiscing the good old Coker Days. The gentleman to my right is JUDGE Louie Lerner. Let me tell you he has some tales to tell about the cases he hears in his courtroom nowadays.

This is Jim and Mary Elese Krebs. Jim is a retired Army man who still does his PT every day AND rides his bike. Although coming up on eighty he takes NO PILLS. For you young whippersnappers....any one who doesn't take some kind of medication after age 60 is either dead or a bionic person.

Last but not least here is the Judge's wife Melissa Patrick. She and I took many a roadtrip to UVa in Charlottesville. We even were the witnesses for a wedding on one of our trips.....I can't remember what we were doing in the courtroom, LOL.

The BIG reason we came now was because it was the weekend of the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show.

Linda and I had a great time shopping. There was so much to see and do and we pretty much saw it all.

Except for this quilt (fabric art ?) that raised some eyebrows. The most offensive area has been blocked out.

The creator says it represents a homeless woman and her child living in a cardboard box with no resources.

When a male friend of mine heard I was quilting his response was, "I thought only Puritans and Quakers did that." Au Contrair.

I Heart My Grandchildren

2011-02-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

My grandchildren are getting older. All but one are between nine and twelve. They don't need me to read stories to them any more. But they still like to make sugar cookie and decorate them.

(This picture is out of order. The last time I tried to move it it went into cyber space and I had to start over.) Another thing they still like to do is play games.

Megan and I had a hard fought game of checkers. We started this game of Scrabble and Michael came and we started over with him. Megan was the scorekeeper which was a good way for her to practice her math. Being a grandmother/teacher I have to guard against making every thing a lesson but I am thrilled when some skills are involved in our games. She used the dictionary a lot during our Scrabble game. She found two or three words I really didn't think were words. It was a good thing she did look them up!

They also spent a lot of time hunting with the bb guns we keep here. They did get one starling. Hubs made them bury it :)

I hope you get to spend some time with the people you heart :)

Back to the Classroom

2011-02-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

I got a call last week asking me to come back to Plainview Elementary, where I was Principal back in 2001, to work with some Kindergartners who needed extra help.

How could I say "no" to the sweetest kids at the best school in the universe?

It was surprising to me how many things had changed in ten seemingly short years.

Now children have breakfast in the classroom. Not sure where that idea came from or the whys.

All classroom doors are locked all the time. This is to prevent intruders. It would seem easier to lock the outside doors instead.
Little or no outside recess after their kindergarten year. Not before school....or during school.
Kindergarten is now First Grade. Back in the day when I taught ktg. we played, sang, cooked, painted, etc... Now we are working hard on skills. Reading. Writing. Rithmetic. Why?
First Grade is now Second Grade. Get it?

Not sure what I think of all this....but I do think the children are wonderful. They are happy to come to my classroom, and work hard on whatever I put out for them that day. Some of them have heavy burdens, (two have lost parents this year, one's Mom has cancer) but they have that wonderful childlike resilience....that makes Donnamo happy to go work with them :)

What are your best school memories?

2011-01-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

Customize your own slideshow

God Loves Us SNOW Much!

2011-01-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

Greetings from snowy Riverhead, New York! Rita and I are on a housesit/road trip here.

They have been having snow pretty much nonstop since Christmas. I can't upload my pics from my camera due to camera/computer incompatibility so I grabbed some off the internet.

If you look at the eastern most end of Long Island you will see a light house. This is Montauk. We went there the other day and had 200degree views of the Atlantic. No whales or seals showed up although they were advertised :)

We are in the town of Flanders which is about the size of Byrdtown, SC but Riverhead, NY is a couple miles west. We found an awesome quilt shop there where we got a fabric/quilt fix :)

It is snowing as I write this. Please pray it stops and we can get to our ride (The Hampton Jitney...a tour bus that runs back and forth to NYC) in Riverhead tomorrow am.

The home we are staying at is on the dead end of a road so it will not be plowed. YIKES!

There is a neighbor/friend of the home owner I can ask to take us to the Jitney and pick us up tomorrow night.. If you know Donnamo, you know I will not hesitate to ask her to do it. Pray she will acquiesce!

I am reading The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim, which I am loving. It is set in Korea around 1900 when Korea was overtaken by Japan. I missed that lesson in high school world history so it was news to me. It is a fictionalized account of the author's mother growing up in Korea. In that place and time women had no rights or education but the Japanese changed that and Najin, her mother, was able to get an education. I am always amazed and awed at the way women were devalued and treated in the past in every country and culture I have read about except Christianity. Jesus treated women with honor and respect over and over again in the gospels. Now that I think about it, the Old Testament has a good record as well. Abigail, Hannah, Sarah, Ruth, Deborah, Esther, etc.... are all examples of God's favorable opinion of women.

Hope to get some feedback from my faithful readers.....so please leave a comment :)t

By the way, the title of today's blog came from a church sign in Hampton Bay. Call me crazy but I don't think it will attract New Yorkers who are snowsick to that church :)

Cabin Fever?

2011-01-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

It has been the Blizzard of 2011 here in South Carolina. It began snowing Sunday night and we got nine inches according to the news! Yee Haw! I love me some snow. Hubs and I have not left the compound since going to church Sunday. Yesterday our son asked me if we have cabin fever. I said, "No, honey, we have lots of books and I have been sewing."....And a friend came over to play Scrabble yesterday :)

This morning Scout indicated maybe she was feeling feverish. She ripped open her football and pulled out all the stuffing. Not sure what she was thinking but she looked mighty pleased with herself :) She has missed our daily runs; but she has walked to Granny's house with us....hopping like a rabbit to avoid frostbite on her belly, LOL.

I managed to finish this table runner before Valentines. It was a lot of applique work but I love the way it turned out. Ethel made a run to Florence for me to buy the white background fabric for me and she donated the awesome gold. Most of the rest was remnants donated to me by Burney Byrd. I love making something that cost me little or nothing :)

Sunday I put my Nearly Insane quilt on my bed to see how much further I had to go. Answer: A LOT farther. I needed at least 25 or more blocks. I have now knocked out nine of those. I do love using scraps to turnout some interesting and unique blocks.

Have you been snowed in? What have you been doing?

My favorite dog.

2011-01-10T06:07:00.000-08:00

Once in a while there is a dog that comes into your life that is just a force of nature. A sweet, loving, soft, furry, loveable, big, red, affectionate dog.

This one came in as a grand-dog, but it is by far one of my all time favorite dogs.

I felt I needed to put a tribute up to express my love for Cooper, the Big Red Dog.

Cooper with his favorite toy!

Some Old Some New

2011-01-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

Today I got this Artist Post Card from a person I don't even know from California.... a NEW friend!

I also worked on my Nearly Insane Quilt.....an OLD project.

I also read some in my NEW book, Colonel Roosevelt. It is the third book in a trilogy about Teddy Roosevelt's life. Believe me he had a three book life if his last twenty years is any indication. This book is on the NEW York Times Best Seller List.

Wednesday I got another book from the library, called Leaving Gee's Bend. It is a YA Novel set in Gee's Bend Alabama in the 1900's. Gee's Bend is a pennisula off the coast that is mostly reached by a raft that takes the people over to the mainland. The women of Gee's Bend are famous for their quilts (Google them to learn more) which is why I was interested in reading the book.

The main character, Ludelphia Bennett, is a ten year old black girl who ends up saving the whole community. She is intent on making a quilt for her mother and keeps an eye out for any scraps she can find and add to her quilt. One thing that spoke to me was how little these people had, especially cloth and thread for quilting. Most quilters I know have drawers, cabinets, closets, and storage buildings full of material yet they buy more. The women of Gee's Bend could not have even dreamed of such a wealth of fabric. I hope I remember them and stay out of shops until I sew up the fabric I have! That can be a resolution for the New Year.

I am also trying to get rid of the NEW pounds I put on over Christmas.... and then maybe a few of the OLD pounds as well.

I tried to put a NEW template on my blog but I failed.... so get used to the OLD one :)

1-1-11

2011-01-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

Number One Son, Todd, and family came home for the holidays Thursday.

One of the things our whole family like to do is play Scrabble. So here we are at one of our nightly Scrabble games. Daughter-in-law Rose won every night!

One thing I didn't get a picture of was Todd coaching Rose with her Medical Assistant Studies. She is in school and had to get back to studying after the nice Christmas break. I am really proud of both of them. It is hard to go back to school in your forties and it is wonderful if your spouse gives you lots of support.

Megan got in the dress up cabinet and fashioned this outfit for herself. The orange scarf is for Clemson even though they lost their bowl game.

Rose is good at computer games. I think she was the first pioneer in Frontier Land.

Todd likes to do Crossword puzzles
like I do. Here he is checking out
a word in the Million Word Dictionary.

Megan wanted to sew so we cooked up a pattern

and she did ALL the sewing to produce this pillow.

And now for the H word....no not that.....Happy as in Happy New Year to You!

The "D" Word

2010-12-29T09:29:00.000-08:00

No, NO, not that "D" word..... the word Depression.

I just wanted to bring that out of the closet. I was diagnosed with depression when I was in college and have had several bouts with it in the years since.

Unless you know me WELL it is probably not a word you would ever associate with me. Fun, Funny, outgoing, outrageous, exuberant, Princess of Laughter was what the Garden Club dubbed me. And all that is true, thankfully, most of the time.

But every now and then a cloud comes over my sunshine and this is one of those times.

A few (hmmm maybe 25 or thirty years ago) I did go for help. My OB-GYN told me to go back to work that I was bored at home. And she was right....work does help. Having something else to put your mind on does keep me from obsessing over being depressed.

Later in another "funk" I realized exercise really helped. So I know to get out every day and do some running to clean out my internal carburetor. And that helps!

Still later my GP Doc prescribed an anti-depressant and it has really worked extremely well for me. Only downside is I NEVER cry....unless of course I am depressed.

Hopefully, my experiences will help if you have cycles of depression; at least you know "you are not the only one!" (A tired old line Satan still uses effectively,) Also now you know that even though my blog seems all sunshine and light..... there are times of darkness and sadness as well.

One more thing. I have had counseling and will have it again. I do think everyone should have a counselor they can turn to when things don't turn around or you can't find the way out. As God says in Proverbs 15:22 "plans fail for lack of wisdom but with many counselors they succeed."

I can say there are some beneficial side effects to depression. I am a much more compassionate, caring person when I myself am struggling. Oh, and I definitely need the exercise :)

The Five Days or so Of Christmas

2010-12-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

These are the Girls of Christmas minus two who appear below. (L-R) Nana, Hannah, Caitlin and Niki

Granny (Age 94) and Ashli age (mmm not sure)

In the back the bigget Flocker of all with some small, medium, and extra large Flockers.
Otherwise known as Gates and Connor in front of Wayne and Marty....PopPop in the rear.

The Beach Bums came off the beach for this pic. We all taught together at Plainview.
Marcia Anderson, Sandy Traylor Lindsey, Me and Lesa Polson.

                            This was my holiday sewing project finished Christmas morning.

We did have SNOW Christmas night and it stuck around about 24 hours. It is in the low twenties today but scheduled to get to 70 on Friday.... and that is what I love about the South :)

Our Monck's Corner Monkeys will be coming in Thursday to celebrate Christmas and New Years. In the meantime I've been reading some good books that I stored up to read while the library is closed.

First up is Pat Conroy's My Reading Life. I love Pat's writing. In this book he tells about books that made a significant difference in his life. Many I had read but not all. Now I have a "to read" list. These are heavyweight classics like Robert Ruark's The Old Man and The Boy, Wallace Stegner's Big Rock Candy Mountian and eight more. I will keep you posted as I read them and let you know what I thought.

Yesterday I read Fannie Flagg's I Still Dream About You. It was an enjoyable lightweight read.

I'm starting Peter Jenkin's Across China which I picked up at the library book sale. I've read a couple others he wrote and liked them and thought this would be informative.

I will end with some quotes from Pat Conroy's Reading Life:

"the world of books was a sacred grove to him."         "I came as a thief to the poet's ball."

".....as though he were picking up a live jellyfish from a tidal pool." "Hurt is a great teacher...maybe the

greatest of all."       "...as friendly as a cow turd on an altar step." "She was quiet at a houseplant."

"Fame can be a killing thing."

And finally...."When I (Pat) pick up a book the prayer that rises out of me is change me utterly so I am not the man who first selected it. Turn me into something else writers of the world."

Wow! Are there books that have changed YOU? Tell me about them.

Something to Think About

2010-12-23T03:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I listened to Chris Fabry Live as he and his listeners and guests discussed Luke 1 and 2....Jesus' conception through birth and the things we do and don't know about what happened when God chose to come to earth in the form of an infant.

Of course, I have read and heard and seen the story many times in my 67 years but Chris and his listeners helped me see a back story I had never thought about.

The prelude begins with the angel Gabriel announcing to Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a son in their old age and they were to name him John. Six months later Gabriel announces to Mary that she is going to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and bear God's son Jesus. Gabriel also tells Mary about her relative Elizabeth's pregnancy and Mary goes to visit her right away. The baby in Elizabeth's womb leaps when she sees Mary.

What hit me for the first time, was Jesus and John's relationship. They were related; I think I knew that; but what all does that imply? There was six months difference in their ages. Did their mothers get together and the boys have a first century version of a play date? Was John along when Jesus and his family took that famous journey to the temple? Were they close? The Bible doesn't tell us.

The Bible does tell us they were chosen to be in the same family. Both conceptions were miraculous. Their mothers were very close friends and they were related.

What does this have to do with me? with you?

As I pondered these things in my heart, and thought about who was in the family I was adopted into, I thought about my cousin Dottie. She was the daughter of my Dad's brother. Our Moms got along better with each other than any one else in Dad's family. We probably only saw each other a couple of times a year but Dottie found a connection with me. I was six or seven years younger than she was. I got some nice hand me downs from her. (I didn't have any sisters and I wanted hand me downs.) She asked me to be in her wedding although I was a bratty 14 year old at the time and pretty unattractive.

Dottie's first child, Cathy, was handicapped. Dottie was an elementary school teacher and she was exposed to rubella (measles) during her pregnancy. After many doctor consults Dottie decided to take Cathy to the Institute for Brain Damage in Media, PA. She did a complex program called patterning to stimulate Cathy's brain and regenerate damaged and destroyed brain cells.

Fast forward..... I get married and have twin boys. The boys are exposed to an infection in the hospital. The oldest and smallest baby, Todd, becomes infected, has convulsions and is brain damaged. Eventually, I too make my way to the Institute for Brain Damage and begin the patterning program with him.

Of course, Dottie and I have a bond like no other. We have a history. We both become born again Christians. Our children are pretty close considering we live 500 miles apart. Was it an accident or a coincidence I was adopted into this family and had a bond with this person? I don't think so.

I am not sure what all this means to you and to me today. The Bible says in Psalm 68:6 "God puts the solitary in families." Family is important to God.... He created Family. He placed Jesus and John in families. He placed you in a particular family for a particular reason. And that is something to think about.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Wolf Pack

2010-12-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas God gave me the idea to take my grandchildren To Great Wolf Resort in Concord, NC as their Christmas present. Now our budget for Christmas is very tiny; some might say Scroogelike. But it just felt right when God said it. We couldn't manage to coordinate all six grandchildren's schedules so only four went. I so wish it had been all six but Grandma's don't always get their wishes.

Caitlin Watts and Hannah Chapman are our girl wolves; Connor Watts and Gates Chapman were our resident male pack leaders.

This is Violet greeting our kiddos. Her mate Rowdy was there but I failed to get a good picture of him. He is a Reindeer. I'm really not sure if Violet is a squirrel, chipmunk or ??? I must not have been paying attention.

Our room at the lodge had a cabin built inside it with bunk beds and a single bed. The kids played fast food drive-in window through this hole. In this pic Gates and Connor are working at the fast food place and Caitlin is a customer.

A lot of time was spent climbing up and down the ladder to the upper bunk. There is a flat screen tv on the wall of the cabin. All four cuddled in the top bunk to watch tv for at least a nano second. At bedtime we only had one child willing to sleep in the cabin.....go figure. Daughter Gabby had to take one for the pack and sleep in there.

At 8 pm all guests are instructed to come to the lobby in their pjs and slippers for story time with Rowdy the Reindeer. After his story it started snowing in the lobby. Not that fake paper stuff they use in the movies and on tv but a very realistic looking and feeling fake snow. Kids and adults a like looked up with amazement.

I do recommend a trip to Great Wolf Lodge for those with children or grandchildren under 14. It is pricey $400 plus a night....no meals included. We went across the street to Chik Filet, and Five Guys for meals. There were at least 25 restaurants within a two mile radius. There is a Pizza Hut and a Dunkin Donuts in the Lodge. The Wolf Lodge Restaurant meals were $15 each for children no matter what age and $30 for each adult; they were buffet. They do have an arcade, a magic quest and other add ons you can do for a price but we only did free things and the kids were fine with that. I haven't mentioned the indoor water park which is the Main Attraction. It had many different areas and the kids loved all of it. I enjoyed the Howling Tornado and all the other water park rides. Gates could do all but the Tornado due to height restriction. So think about a trip to Great Wolf Lodge..... I definitely would avoid any major holidays (prices go up on holidays) but it was not overly crowded for us and it was the first weekend after school let out for Christmas. Some people I talked to said their whole family of adult children and kids were rendezvousing there. Ask for a AAA discount when you call for reservation for a discount.

Meet Me At the Manger

2010-12-13T05:40:00.000-08:00

Last night we journey to Bethlehem to see our grandson Gates in the Christmas program Meet Me At the Manger.

It was very appropriate because it was 39 years ago Hubs and I did meet Jesus for ourselves. We had both grown up in the church, been Christened as infants and joined the church after confirmation classes....so we knew ABOUT God.

Then in 1971 our church had a Lay Witness Mission. Couples came from all over SC to our church for a weekend of testimonies, singing, eating and Bible study. A couple from Pacolet, SC stayed with us. I loved hearing the testimonies of the people who came. But when I came home each night, doubts would assail me. Surely this was some weirdo cult; God didn't interact with ordinary people in their everyday lives, or did HE?

Finally, the last night they were here; the kids were in bed and the adults were sitting around our kitchen table and I confessed my doubts to our guests, Joe and Louise McBride. What it really came down to was I was afraid to trust God with my life. He might give me cancer; or send me to Africa.....

Joe and Louise had just gotten back from Israel a week before the Lay Witness Mission. Joe got out a little packet of mustard seeds he had gotten there off a mustard tree. He shared the verses in the Bible that said "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain (of unbelief) move and it will move," Matthew 17:20.

When I saw that teetiny seed I knew I had exactly that much faith....no more....and I put my faith in God as completely as I knew how..... and oh what joy and filled my soul. No more fear; no more doubt....peace at at last.

As I said, it has been 39 years now. Many hills, many mountaintops, many valleys. I have had times of fear and times of doubt but I have come too far to turn back now as the old spiritual song says. God has proved himself to me over and over. He has never forsaken me; even in my darkest hours I have known He was with me and that nothing would change that fact.

I hope dear reader you have put your faith in God and Jesus. Why you ask do you need Jesus if you have God? Because God is holy, and sinless. We are sinFULL we cannot come into his presence in that state. We would be consumed. But God built a bridge that would bring sinful man to Him. He sent His Son to earth to become that perfect sacrifice whose blood would erase our sins and allow us to come into his presence.

Why can't God just wave a magic wand over our sins and Poof they are gone? Because Sin is costly; it has consequences..... only the blood of the Son of God is holy enough to eradicate Sin and Justify us.....which means make us Just As IF I had never sinned.....amazing!!!!

I pray that if you have never taken this Good News to heart; you would do so today.
Test God....tell Him you are doubtful.....ask Him to show himself to you.....I promise He will and you will never be the same.

I hope you meet HIM at the manger and follow Him all the days of your life. If you have questions or comments you want to share with me in private you can contact me at donnagchapman@yahoo.com.

The EVERglades and EVERlasting Life

2010-12-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

While in Florida, Hubs and I went to Shark Valley National Park in the Everglades. The tour guide gave us tons of info and I remember some of it.

Well, yesterday I was listening to a podcast of Midday Connection and they were interviewing two ladies who had do hiking trips showing the hikers the connection between God and nature. They told how to do this at home and I practiced on my walk yesterday. Today I will try to do the same with the Everglades.

We saw a ton of alligators in Shark Valley. They were easily recognizable....they are black (not green). They remind me that the dangerous things in our society are everywhere. They are not always disguised; they can be in plain sight.

The fuzzy stork bird in the middle of this picture is a foot feeder...meaning he feels food with his feet because he has very poor eyesight. A reminder that God can feed us no matter what our disabilities are; He has equipped us!

These are actually huge nine and ten foot alligators. The picture was taken from the top of a 25 foot tower. Remember, big problems look small if you change your perspective. David and Goliath, case in point.

This is the walkway up to the tower. The tower was originally a drilling station built by Mobile Oil when they purchased the land that is now Shark Valley. They were hoping to find oil hidden in the Everglades. They did but it was "dirty oil"; too many impurities to be of use. Mobile gave the land to the US Park Service. God uses our mistakes, too. This Mobile Mistake became an educational opportunity to teach people about the everglades. Is my life producing "dirty oil" to impure to be used?

This a Mama and Poppa Alligator. We think. You would have to turn them over and investigate their "privates" to determine their actual sex. Appearances can mislead.....they look like a happy couple to me....but only God knows what is inside our "private place."

I hope you enjoyed this little trip. I encourage you to get outside; walk around your neighborhood and look for God in Nature. He is there! By the way the name Shark Valley.....was named for the Shark River that flows into the valley between two very small hills.....names can fool you!

A Holly Jolly Season

2010-12-08T05:11:00.000-08:00

This is our son Wayne thanking the ladies of The Swamp Fox Quilt Guild for the quilts we made for the boys at the Billie Hardee Home for Boys. Each boy at the home will get his own handmade quilt which he can keep as a permanent reminder that he is loved and cared for.

Carol Lindler is showing the placemats she made after watching the demo at the last meeting by The Galloping Horsewomen aka Lucy and Ethel aka Donna and Rita. We sold out of the kits we made for making the placemats.

Moving on to Florida.....we arrived late Friday night so we could go to the market on Saturday. My brother, Buddy, and sister-in-law, Diane were our hosts for a lovely visit to Naples, Fla. The Dixielanders Jazz Band lent a festive air to the out door market. I did break into dance a couple of times :)

Diane loves these oils and balsamic vinegars. We tasted quite a few and purchased pomegranate vinegar to make our own salad dressing.

We were really excited to spy a rat terrier at the market. He looks almost identical to our Scout. Rat terriers are not a frequently seen breed even though they are the best dogs EVER!

This guy is a customer at the Best Of Everything a must see in Naples. My silver tongue convinced him to try these on and let me photograph him before his wife came and snatched him away before he could take my picture in the very fun New Years Eve Glasses :)

This is a overview of this fabulous store. I didn't buy anything for myself but I did get a couple of gifties. One is very large and smiling.....guess who gets that?

In a day or two I will give you an up close and personal view of THE EVERGLADES. Let's just say they aren't lying about the alligators. Stay tuned for another exciting episode of Donnamo :)

And a Good Time Was Had by All

2010-11-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

Well the Big Five Day Holiday began with celebrating our oldest Grandson, Michael's birthday.

Here he shows his eleven year old cousin, Connor, his Facebook page, a sure sign of adolescence.

The girl cousins, Caitlin and Megan practice their cursive writing out in my studio.

This is a small part of the Thanksgiving Evening Leftovers Crowd. The Gamecock on the right was from the Boy's Home.

The Big Event as far as the kids were concerned was the bonfire and S'Mores after dark.

Son-in-law, Marty, helps Gates toast his marshmallows. Gates ate about 18 before we lost count. This was Gates first encounter with S'mores and marshmallow roasting.

Then today instead of shopping us girls made a gingerbread house!

Granddogs Libby and Cooper took a nap while the kids were at the movies.

Nana, Caitlin, and Megan worked on learning to thread the sewing machine and wind a bobbin before sewing some crafts.

We did do a little shopping at Belks but very little. This was the first year Ashli didn't have a huge list we had to go to Florence to hunt for. Boy am I glad.

Did you hit the sales? Did you score any thing you want to tell us about?

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

2010-11-24T08:46:00.001-08:00

Grandson Gates' Preschool had their Thanksgiving Program yesterday. It began as all good programs should with the Pledge of Allegiance. So sweet to look around and see all the like 2, 3,and 4 year olds saying the pledge :)

Afterwards Gates got to take home his Thanksgiving finery. This is his turkey hat. Not sure that it is on correctly but who cares? Not Nana!

He is holding his Gates the Pilgrim refrigerator magnet; which I got to take home as long as I promised his mother to put it on my fridge. Was there ever any doubt I would do that? When I asked Gates what kinda man that was he said "a cowboy".....I tried to correct him with "you mean pilgrim" but "Nope, Cowboy!" was his retort. Oh well, they''' go over that in 5K, and 1-5th; not to worry Nana teacher.

Here he is holding his turkey. The legs and feet are two red plastic forks. As a former kindergarten teacher, I admire the crafts...the ingenuity and hard work of getting them complete and to the right owner. Four year olds know which scribbling is theirs!

This is the four year old group. You can barely see our boy but somebody has to be on the back row.

Last but not least we passed this turkey on our way home from the program. He seemed to be saying, "Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!
Ditto from Donnamo and the 'fam'
Let us know what you are doing or did over the holiday!

Cooking and Playing with Donnamo

2010-11-18T03:19:00.000-08:00

Monday Hubs went off to play golf with his buddies at the beach so I invited Lucy over for a play date. She (being the Y word (Yankee) did not know how to make Vegetable Soup! She twisted my arm and I taught her. Being the world renowned chef that I am. I am thinking of sending a tape to the Food Network....I should have my own show....really.....I am all about incompetence in the kitchen. Just ask Lucy who was trying to write down my recipe.

But wonders never cease....the soup was good....so good she stayed for a repeat at supper. I also made cornbread from scratch for the VERY FIRST TIME EVER, I think. I followed Hubs recipe kinda sorta... I added a little sugar and a couple eggs. Lucy put homemade blackberry jam on it (I told you she was a Y key).

In between meals and naps we made Artist Trading Post Cards. Hers are the first and last ones. We had a great time creating these; so much so we are not mailing them to anybody! Her first one of the flower with leaves....the flower came off the lace to my wedding dress. How cool is that! Women have been repurposing (my friend Joy said to call it that) since time began.....Generation X calls it recycling and think they invented it.

Tuesday MIL (Mother-in-Love) Edith and I went on a bus (I mean coach) trip with Kings Sunshine Tours to Myrtle Beach to the Alabama Christmas Show. It was stupendous, wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, and any other wonderful adjective you can name. I HIGHLY recommend you get yourself down there. They will be presenting it until New Year's Day. I have been before but this show was better than ever.

Well, That's All for Today Folks......think Woody Woodpecker's eh eh eh eh eh!