Tag Archive | Georgia

Sunday Grateful- November 3, 2013 : My Husband’s Family

I see people on FACEBOOK writing a “Grateful” every day for November…

Since I’ve been writing my “Sunday Gratefuls” for awhile… I will continue with that…

I went to the grocery today … Besides everyday food and supplies… I bought a few extras for making my Christmas Cookies…

That’s my gift to my husband’s family in Georgia…

Whether they like them or not… ( They say they love them! ) …

I totally enjoy making them…

As I bake… I think of all of them…

Only three sisters, their children and a few cousins of my husband are left from what once was a huge family when we married … which will be 45 years in February …

To have been introduced to this lovely family that came as a bonus with my husband… has been a blessing…

I am so grateful for the love they have shown me…

and in my humble way … that I’m able to show them I love them back at this time of year!

Sunday Grateful: October27, 2013… PEZ Candy (babyjill7.wordpress.com)
Sunday Grateful: October 6, 2013 (babyjill7.wordpress.com)
Sunday Grateful: September 15, 2013 (babyjill7.wordpress.com)
My Sunday Grateful: October 20, 2013 (babyjill7.wordpress.com)
Sunday Grateful- September 22, 2013 (babyjill7.wordpress.com)
Sunday Grateful: Bardstown Festival – October 13, 2013 (babyjill7.wordpress.com)

Don’t Go Away Yet… Summer!

Aug23

I just read a post by “This Blog Needs A Title”… Yes, that is the actual name of his blog… and that’s what caught my interest… the title …

He expresses his statements simply…

and the last being…

Where has summer gone?”… http://thisblogneedsatitle.com/

I don’t know… except it has been an unusual summer weather-wise here in Kentucky…

not as many hot days…

not as many sunny days…

lots of rain all of a sudden…

dry days for weeks…

and then starts all over again…

Things I’ve done…

Went on vacation to Savannah… and Tybee Island… Making me want to move there…

I’m really very serious about this… but, no one really believes me…

Have been on numerous short trips to some Casino Hotels…

They pay for the room and the food… So, we take advantage of that… A night away is always good to clean out the cobwebs…

Have lost a family member… a brother-in-law… so sad for my sister and the rest of us… watching this coming about for over a year…

Have had a few lunch dates with my “girl” friends… Enjoying talking… good food… and browsing in shops…

Have kept up my water aerobics… but, weather has hindered that at times…

Have managed to get husband to YMCA… and he wants to join… An achievement I’m happy about!…

Have met so many nice people as acquaintances… and made a few new friends… Isn’t that grand!

and I have obtained a new job… teaching painting classes… That should help me stay busy this winter…

Things I would have liked to do:

Have my Grandkids more… They are busy with trips… ball games… friends… moved a little further away to a new house… Miss them!

Still haven’t zip-lined through the trees…

Still haven’t made it to the drive-in…

Still haven’t lost those pounds…

Still haven’t opened an Etsy Account to sell purses for kids that I like to make…

Still haven’t done a few things (Repairs) around the house we need to make…

Still haven’t got a flowerbed fixed I’ve been wanting to redo…

Summer! … You just need to give me more time!

Could you just hold on for another month or two?

Our Day In Savannah…

Jul28

Never had been to Savannah… But. I have fallen in love with this lovely Southern City!

So beautiful with the moss hanging from the trees…

We parked under these lovely moss laden trees…

There are 22 park-like squares throughout the city…

Savannah was the first planned city… and this plan is today called “The Oglethorpe Plan“…

and the homes… some huge… but with a classical beauty…

The pastel colors… the laid back atmosphere… the water… the shops… the river traffic…

We watched as this tugboat moved down the Savannah River…

The history… so fascinating…

I will go there again… A one time trip is not enough!…

It was only 20 minutes to Savannah from where we were at Tybee Island…

Loved that!

We viewed the city as we drove through…

I take in all details… the colors, the people, the buildings, the decor…

I knew we wanted to see the Riverfront …

and we found it easily with the directions I had gotten off of a map from the Motel…

We parked… and found the rustic stone/brick steps going down to a lower street level….

As you can see the steps are steep and original…

Immediately… the Savannah River is before you…

One of my favorite photos I took…

We decided to go up one way since we seemed to have come down pretty much in the middle …

We visited several shops… staffed with the friendliest people…

This shop had every type of peanut you could imagine and open cans of each for tasting anything you wanted to try!

I tasted several!

We checked out a Store dedicated to all kinds of Honey… Tasting several as the nice young lady explained where they came from…

Yummy!

We checked out a funky hat store… and It’s there I bought a pair of new sandals… NO, not a hat… I was in for some walking … and my old ones were on their last leg…

I talked to this Artist ( Simba ) who painted on discarded items… Very friendly… origianally from Jamaica and going to school in Savannah…

There were numerous artists along the waterfront and even a lady singing… but, too far away to get a good picture…

We walked and looked in several shops and then decided to quench our thirst at an outside table area of the Dockside Restaurant…

They had Mimosa on special… and so I chose that…

Quite refreshing… Champagne and orange Juice…

Bobby checking out the view as we had a refreshing drink…

We walked and viewed the bridge that crosses the River… and the ships that were docked…

We watched the people and saw two River Paddle Boats…

similar to our Belle of Louisville here in Louisville…

( The Belle )

We viewed a memorial for World War II Veterans shaped like a globe… very pretty!…

We sat at benches along the River… and viewed the Open Air Market… full of all kinds of items for sale…

I asked the clerk at one of the shops I liked , “Where is “The Waving Girl” statue“ …I wanted to see this in particular after reading about it… and he said, “You are almost there… just pass the Open Market and where the greenery starts”…

We found her and I just loved it!… It represents Florence Martus (1869-1943) who supposedly greeted the sailors and fisherman returning home … By day she waved a handkerchief and by night a lantern… for 44 years…The staue was created by Felix de Weldon…

Another statue that was made popular by the book and movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil“… called “The Bird Girl“… is replicated in smaller statues in lots of the shops we visited… Very pretty also!… I found out later it was moved from the “Bonaveture Cemetery” to the “Telfair Museum of Art”… Maybe next trip… I’ll get to see it in person…

A Statue depicting a remembrance of the suffering of Slavery was beautiful…

The words of Maya Anjelou were engraved on the base…

We walked and looked until we finally had to give it up…

Hopefully we will be able to make another trip to this beautiful city of Savannah!…

The Beginning (savannahboundblog.wordpress.com)

Daily Prompt: Seven Days / The Daily Post

Mar9

You wake up tomorrow morning to find all your plans have been cancelled for the next seven days and $10,000 on your dresser. Tell us about your week.

“Oh, my… where did this money come from?” …

Bobby, “Did you win it from a scratch ticket?” …

I know you scratch them sometimes when you go to the store on the corner…

“Did you and Doug win it at Horseshoe Casino?” … You went the other day to play penny slots …

“No, I didn’t win it!… I don’t have that much luck!” …

It came from someone anonymously?… Whoever would do that?…

“You mean it is ours to spend anyway we want?”…

We need to think about this… I’m so conservative… pay a bill???… pay something off???… Stock up on things we could use???…

“Have some fun!” , you say…

“That sounds so good!”…

“Where could we go???”…

“Who would you like to see???”…

Let’s give this some thought!…

I better hurry… or I’ll have used one of those 7 days just thinking… contemplating… going over and over what to do with it!…

Let’s fill the car up with gas… pack a suitcase… and just get out-of-town…

North or South???

I have to admit… South sounds much warmer and I could use some sunshine …

Let’s drop by and see your family, Bobby… We haven’t been to Georgia for a while and it will do you good to see them…

Let’s go by the casino in Tennessee… We might lose a few dollars or we may win some more… Sometimes a chance has to be taken… and you have so much fun …

3 days gone by already…goes too fast!…

After visiting a day… let’s hit the road again … stopping at anything we want to see… trying new places to eat… checking out those things we promise ourselves to do when we are in such a hurry …

I’ll be happy and content to see that Ocean and feel the water lapping at my toes

…

Feeling the sun warming my shoulders… Just smelling the salt in the air…

Our hotel will have a huge King size bed with a big window and patio right on the beach…

We can walk to anything… or just sit and rest… not believing our good fortune… and giving thanks to whoever made this happen…

Realistically, I know $10,000 is not an extraordinary amount of money… but, with my compulsion for getting the most from what I have… We will have the best time… and great memories of our special 7 days!…

We make it home safely…. and with my sparing ways… a bill will be paid off… there will be some stashed for some extra little fun things for us to do… and I will have no regrets in accepting the money… Because I feel I used it wisely… Thanks to our benefactor… He/she has made us so happy for a week… Isn’t that grand!

As you can tell… my desires are small… and my favorite companion is my Bobby…

This is exactly what I would picture as a great time… and what I would do with this wonderful gift!

Daily Prompt ; Seven Days / The Daily Post (terry1954.wordpress.com)
A bird in the hand… (laurieanichols.wordpress.com)
Daily Prompt: Seven Days Share it, Please (linesbylinda.wordpress.com)
One Week And Ten Kay – A Daily Prompt Post (edwardhotspur.wordpress.com)
8:3 Daily Prompt: Seven Days (thebeltanedaily.wordpress.com)
Daily Prompt: Seven Days (thebloggingpath.com)
Daily Prompt: Seven Days (kindofabum.wordpress.com)
Daily Prompt: Teachable Moment (babyjill7.wordpress.com)

Daily Prompt: Teachable Moment

Feb17

You have to learn a new skill. Do you prefer to read about it, watch someone else do it, hear someone describe it, or try it yourself?

Oh, let’s see…

I will have to get right into it …

Get messy… dirty… try it my way… and sometimes learn the hard way…

I remember the time we bought a new car… A little dark brown Chevette… Just big enough for us to get in… with the two boys in back …

It was a hatch back… so it was useful for hauling things… something we could afford… and it lasted us well…

We made many trips in it… some to Georgia… lots to Georgia… because that’s where my husband is from…

That was our only vacation for many years… but, loved it!…

Now to get back to this teachable moment…

We loved the color… the car itself… but, it had no air … Not many did at this time… That was a luxury!…

And then the main thing I found fault with …was that it was straight stick… You know… clutch… and I had never driven one…

Well… I’ll take that back… When I was first learning to drive… my brother-in-law did take me out for a lesson and I had no clue what he meant when he said clutch… brake… and this had to be done in some kind of sequence… After almost running into the stone posts my Dad had meticulously made at the end of our driveway… I had no more lessons with a stick… as they called it…

And now… my husband wants to buy a new car with the same contraption…

He promised he could teach me…

He didn’t know me too well at that time…

I was awful!…

and I began to hate our new little car…

There was this thing about being on a hill … that terrified me!

and then there were railroad crossings … and then there were parking garages that went around and around and up hill…

Bobby kept trying… but, we probably had more “unkind” words during this time than all of our 44 years of marriage…

I decided the only way to learn how to drive this beast… was to do it on my own…

It’s a wonder there was a clutch left in the car before I finally mastered the technique…

The reason I learned finally… was probably because my Daddy had numerous heart attacks and I had to take my Mom to the hospital to be with him every day … and she didn’t drive… Well…only in the country when she was growing up… (never had a license)…

I would pray for no red lights on hills… no one to be in front or back of me on the ramps that led us into the parking garage …

Please Lord…”Let me just get there… park… and then be able to go down without any trouble” …

The Lord and I had many prayers flowing back and forth at this time

maybe it was He who finally taught me … gave me my “teachable moment”…

He was probably the only one with patience to do it! …

Daily Post: A Teachable Moment: The Well (linesbylinda.wordpress.com)
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Daily Prompt; Teachable Moment/ The Daily Post (terry1954.wordpress.com)

Just A Little Preparation

Jan31

A friend I’ve known since I first started working at Thomas Jefferson Middle School has been praising a place called… Tybee Island, GA…

My husband… being from Macon

… had never heard of it… Can you believe that!…

I’ve been checking it out on the internet … listening or rather reading what Pam had to say about this unheard-of little place… and she hooked me!…

I want to see it!…

A small town of around 3000 inhabitants… “Quaint”… seems to be a word I hear a lot…

It’s near Savannah GA… 17-18 miles from what I’ve read…

Refurbished beach houses… some hotels… bed/breakfast places..

We usually procrastinate about going places…

So I made reservations this morning!… 5-1/2 months in advance…

Am I anxious???… Yes!… I can hardly wait!…

Pam is going to get back with me on places to eat… things to see… things to do and shops to visit…

Of course we’ll find our own way to some things…

and touring Savannah is a must!

There’s a new book out about the Hotel Tybee… by Harry George Spirides…

I plan on reading it before I visit…

http://youtu.be/RcHPUClNSAc

Hotel Tybee (tybeeisland.com)

“Goody” Containers…

Nov28

After Christmas is actually my favorite time to shop… I don’t do Black Friday … but, I have been known to get up very early for the After Christmas Sales!…

I’m kind of particular as to what I buy…

Keeping people in mind…

What I’m going to do with what I buy…

Is it really a bargain…

Can I store it for a whole year…

I always bake something… mainly cookies…

or I make candy… and even little loaves of breads…

So I’m on the outlook for containers…

It has to be something I can mail… because my Georgia relatives will be getting homemade goodies from me…and a few neighbors, etc. …

They tell me they love it! … or it could be they haven’t the heart to tell me …

“DON’T SEND COOKIES/CANDY ANYMORE!”…

I will go on believing they like their goodies… as my husband calls them… because I truly enjoy making them.

I collect different containers… to ship in… and also cute plates and boxes…

Ceramic Baking Dishes for breads…

Family and Friend’s Plates will work well for Cookies…

It says:

For Family and Friends,

This plate’s journey shall never end,

Fill with food made with care,

And complete the mission to love and share.

Enjoy and pass it along!

Happy Holidays!

These little plates have recipes right on the plate… So the one with the Tree will get Sugar Cookies…

and the one with the Star will get Butter Cookies…

These Cookie Tray Bags will be great for covering the plates and keeping the “goodies” fresh!

These cute boxes will be nice for cookies…

I do need a few tins for candy if I decide to make any… I’ll keep looking and knowing me… I’ll find them “cheap” somewhere…

None of these items cost me over 50 cents… So that way… I can put more into the ingredients I will need…

Enjoy!… Your Holiday “Goody” Making!

Christmas Cookie Tuesday #1 (teresasthoughtsfortoday.wordpress.com)
Candy Cane Oreo Stuffed Sugar Cookies (asweetbaker.com)
Cookies 101: Pinteresting Cookie Recipes for Christmas (sociableblog.com)
I Love Christmas Baking!! (jackielopina.wordpress.com)
Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Cookies (cantstayoutofthekitchen.com)
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Cheery Cherry Cookies (cantstayoutofthekitchen.com)

“First Footing”… New Year’s Day!

Dec30

A Memory…

Do you have a New Year‘s plan? … I don’t as of now… That is subject to change though… I’m sometimes asked to babysit my Grand-kids… and really, sometimes that’s the best of times… Sometimes we go to someone’s house to play games, drink, eat… and watch the “Ball” on TV drop at midnight and sometimes we have gone to a Restaurant, a Casino or Dance… Afterwards, eating breakfast at a place we find open… All are good things to do… but, as I get older… I really don’t mind staying home and toast in the New Year with a glass of wine , kiss my husband and wish all a Happy New Year who I call or receive calls from… We used to buy fireworks on our trips to Georgia and bring them back just to celebrate New Year’s … The boys loved that!… We lit them and hollered “Happy New Year!” with the best of them… Explosions of bright colors and booming sounds echoing through the night air… The next day being New Year’s Day…was another celebration with the traditional meal of Pork, Sauerkraut (cabbage) and Black Eyed Peas…

Pork: Progress

Greens: Money

Beans: Money and Good Luck

Dessert can be cake, round or circular shaped: Come Full Circle

In Spain 12 Grapes are eaten at Midnight, representing the twelve different months of the year… One eaten on each stroke of the clock… If sweet it will be a good month… If sour or bitter maybe not such a good month…

Scotland celebrates the New Year Day with what is called “first footing“… The first visitor entering your home in the New Year representing the kind of year the residents will have…

When our son’s were young, their good friend… a little boy named Brad… who lived across the street…was our first visitor for at least 5 years straight… It became a tradition in our home to watch for Brad …and yes, the years were a little strange during that time if I recall… ups and downs… Just like a young child’s habits are… “Eerie” isn’t it?

Happy New Year Everyone!

Good Luck Foods (wholefoodsmarket.com)
Black-Eyed Peas for New Year’s Day (organicauthority.com)
Black Eyed Peas For Good Luck? (greenflbroker.com)

“Do You Ever Give Endorsements?”

Dec13

I have to make an endorsement! … I don’t usually do this…but, in this case I am… We were surprised with a wonderful Christmas present! … It didn’t come by sleigh or reindeer, but from a guy dressed all in brown… It came by UPS to our front door… It was in a huge white Styrofoam cooler … My husband gets his insulin from VA in a cooler such as this… but, this was about 8 times that size… I wondered what in the world could it be… I then checked the senders address label… Surprisingly, I knew the names… it was my husband’s sister and husband from Georgia … We opened it and to our surprise we had boxes and boxes of treasures… That’s what I called it…We were elated!… The surprise package came from them of course via “Omaha Steak Company” … That’s who I’m endorsing!… We had boxes of steak , chicken , fish , hot dogs , hamburgers , baked potatoes , pork chops and a very nice set of wood handled steak knives… Well, we’ve tried it all… and everything has been scrumptious!… I use to save things like this for special occasions… Not, now… I’ve learned life can be so changing … that you need to embrace everything as if there’s no tomorrow… So we have truly enjoyed this gift… all during this Christmas Season … Hamburgers with all the fixings of cheese, onion pickles, tomatoes, ketchup and mustard… perfection!… Pork chops baked in the oven with a light seasoning… so tasty… The potatoes loaded with cheese, bacon, sour cream and a little onion… melt in your mouth… So I think you get my drift… This is an outstanding company and their products are awesome… I cooked steaks tonight along with my whole green beans and pan seared small potatoes … Nothing else needed… So good and tender! …If you want to send a nice gift or just order for your own self… I recommend this company highly… I know my son and his wife will have a treat with the gift we sent them… because I took my own advice… ENJOY!

Family /Friends Relationships

Sep12

We’re having company from Georgia … Two of Bobby’s sisters… His immediate family has dwindled to three sisters and himself… Total of 4…When we first met there were his Mother, 5 sisters, 3 brothers and himself… I, myself, have a sister and a brother today…I had Mom and Dad, 2 sisters and two brothers… Now a total of 3… Of course 42 years has passed…Not to say our family’s haven’t grown …We’ve added in-laws, nieces, nephews and grandchildren… But, there has been so many changes… I love Bobby’s family…especially the sisters… We’ve remained very close…Visiting as much as possible …So happy to talk to each other and keep in touch … His family has become mine and mine his… I feel very fortunate with my situation… the combination worked… We will have lots of fun when the sisters get here…We’ve made plans to go to several places…but, what I love best…is just sitting and talking to them … They have memories …we have memories …and sharing all of them is like all are with us just as it was 42 years ago… Thank goodness for family!

“My Kids!”…

I ran into another of my previous students in Wal-Mart yesterday… I knew her Grandmother before Tonya was even born…She was my lady… When she came by the house…we sat and had coffee and talked for an hour or so… We became friends… her daughter was expecting a baby girl …first grandchild… so special…And that she was!… I had started working with Special Ed children by then… She asked me to come out to the car one day and see her precious granddaughter… I knew immediately there was something different about Tonya…I wasn’t an expert by no means…but, just knew…Later she asked me what I thought…She had seen it and I just verified her feelings…Tonya was tested and was found to have a mental disability … And as things happen, at the age of 10 she was enrolled in our classroom at TJMS… We were so surprised… Since we had such a connection… had formed a bond… Tonya is now graduated from school…living with her Mom… and so very close to her Grandma … She is their life… Tonya recognized me but, was shy …has some gray in her hair…unimaginable to me that she is as old as she is…around 35 I would say… I know so much about this family and what their life has entailed… Another combination of relationships that have worked … Thank goodness for this extra addition to my family!