Just Bear With Me, Okay?

I have no clue where this is going. I just felt guilty when I came to this place and saw that it was getting close to a month...yes early July was the last stopover at Gramma's House. If I don't come by and visit with you now and then I fear there will be no one turning into the driveway or knocking at my door.

Since that July 8th post  there have been some pot holes along the way...one more so than the others.

I really don't think it noteworthy to detail  every little or semi serious health issue  but when they are book ends to a real heart stopper ...well that becomes something else entirely.

There's no other way to share this...We had to say goodbye to a 51 year old daughter in law almost 3 weeks ago.  Even stopping to recall it now stops me in my tracks, so to speak.

Now I will back up and give you the story- Their story~ Steve & Carol's story.

Our oldest  waited fifty years for his wife...yes, 50 years.

When they married he was 51 years old. That was almost five years ago. 

Their meeting was a set up by Carol's sister who worked in the same building as Steve. Their first date was intentionally at a very public place...in the early evening at a local Deli and lasted until the doors were locked...closing.

Carol truly became a Harrison when she married our Steve Harrison. in 2011. She was embraced from the start -As they approached ( showing up w flowers always) upon her first meeting with me and Ted she was laughing nervously..we learned later b/c he had just said to her:

"My mom is gonna love you.!"

And I did. We Did. She never forgot, overlooked her new in-laws, always reminding her "husband" to call his parents or schedule a visit. She messaged me regularly and called me... on her lunch walking breaks during the day just to check on me.

I can say no more than: She thought her husband was the greatest and let the world know with such ridiculous enthusiasm . Always noting to new family and friend connections that she was sure she was our favorite daughter in law.

She cherished my son, embraced his family....

I dearly loved her.

Below: Carol with Ted /her father in law.

She loved him. He loved her.

2011

Steve & Carol

I have never seen a woman so thrilled about changing her name -

Collecting & gladly accepting decorative H's until it was time

to say "Enough with the H's Carol."

The Daughters in law...

          

All three uniquely different but a wonderful fit!

Where Carol was...there was fun, laughter,  drama

&

cooking was not a chore.

She wore that  Blue Apron  proudly -always saying

"the more the merrier"

as the guest list grew.

I don't think she taught Steve anything about cooking ...

She relished in being able to throw together a feast for a crowd.

That's what she did!

And did I mention that she loved telling anyone who would listen

what a great  catch her husband was.

One of the things I asked God to find in a wife for my son was

"A wife who thought Steve was the best"

She did!

Mr & Mrs.  -2011

Christmas Eve morning in Brundidge.

Sweet Contrasts - for Hot Summer Days in the Deep South~

Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake

Photo: Hector

 Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Source

Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Source

Transform lemonade in seconds with a handful of fresh mint leaves. Don't chop them--keep leaves whole to avoid murky lemonade (and bits of green in your teeth).  

Source

1 cup sugar

6 sprigs fresh rosemary

2 cups fresh lemon juice, from about 8 lemons

Source

Cilantro Lime Jalapeño Lemonade

Jalapeño adds a subtle kick while cilantro brings grassy, herbal notes to the classic summertime sipper

Oldies- Repurposed

Whaddayado When Things Become Obsolete?

First we discarded them for Washing Machines,

But they just would not go away

People began to collect and display them

Now we're showing off dish garden type designs using these oldies as containers.

We call this repurposing an item.

The Grand Old Flag-

Our Red, White & Blue

Troy, Alabama

What a beautiful sight!

God - Family - Country

USCG 

A special day for our oldest Grandson

I started to say, "If I had a Pool I would do that Flag scene."

Correction:  I have a wooden fence on two sides-

I CAN do the Flag thing!"

Lydia S.S. Class ladies in Montgomery, Alabama

Main Street, U.S.A.

Brundidge, Alabama 2015

The Grand Old Flag

Troy, Alabama

Southern Hospitality with a Patriotic Flare

The View From Pop's Rocking Chair

jwh

Showing Off The Red, White & Blue~

Just For You!

It's just too Pretty -

I Have to leave something  on this

Special Day

Let's Play: NAME THIS S E A S O N ~

My New Life

( I would move this to the head of the line with today's date but I forgot how to do it-I'll remember one night when I can't go to sleep )

R.A.N.D.O.M  Notes

[ Clarification: My reason for going back into my 'draft' notes and pulling out something not quite current :  Perhaps not many people will stop by to read and just maybe a few of those who do can find something personally beneficial or encouraging in some way. If that is you-I'm happy you found me and my pitiful little post today. Please visit again and I promise to be more upbeat most days! ]

My  first priority  is [must be ] physical fitness and health.
Personal safety and security should be at the top of the list these days.

I am not joining a group of Widows- or a group with the word SENIORS in the name-
Laugh if you will- that's not me. I enjoy people younger and older-not just my own age.

[Readers: "Does she not know she's old?"  Me:  "Yes, I know- I can count the neck and wrist rings. Don't email me that  information" ]

Continuing on ~
I am not reliable as I once was- I cannot be counted on to show up when I say I will. I often avoid accepting responsibilities. [Now] That too is not me.

Update:  Progress can be slow...but I am making progress.  The above paragraph/statement is not 100% true today. Yay for me?!

I have always been a wee bit of a procrastinator...but now I  give the word new meaning.

Another Update:  That too is changing-progress! But on  really rough days the procrastinating is shall we say more like "stopped dead in my tracks."

I often said [in another life] that when I found myself  alone [as now] I would not mind because I like me and have many interests...

Oh my, I had a lofty opinion of myself didn't I? I apparently thought I had all the pieces of this "L.I.F.E." puzzle figured out. 

And God was surely 'laughing out loud.'

The hard, smack you in the face reality: 

Being alone is not simply:  

"Life without my love." 

That is. spelled

E. M. P.T .Y. ~

I - had -  no -  idea.

jwh

Tips but No Tricks..A Few Things That Work for Me~

DIY Decorators - DIM  Designers - Making it Up As I Go

(Let's Go Visit with Theresa )

http://shoestringelagance.blogspot.com/2016/06/what-to-do-weekends-179.html#more

[Do It Yourself /Do It Myself]

10 Secret Weapons in Every DIY Decorator/Designer's Tool Box

1. Duct Tape
2. Safety Pins
3. Rubber Bands
4. Razor Blades/single edge & Box Cutter
5. Used Tooth Brushes-small space cleaning
6. Masking Tape
7. Super Glue/liquid Nails
8. Selection of Mason Jars/or small bottles
9. Selection/Variety of Twines
10. Mirrors

Situations-Opportunities-

My table cloths are too large or not the right size- Bunch and wrap w Rubber Bands

My curtains or sheers are not the right length..too long or some long and some short-Rubber Bands

I need to cover an object or cushion fast and easy....duct tape

Table decorations instantly...jars and bottles for WEED FLOWERS

Large room, lots of tables to decorate..Instead of Flowers...get outside and cut branches from anything Green, live and growing..Fill MASON JARS and get creative w lining, bunching  and stacking them (small risers help )


And MIRRORS:  Small mirror squares or long narrow strips use as you would a cloth table runner.
This makes an instant base for a center piece or tablescape and you end the project with a clean, uncluttered, finished table -using a variety of [as few as 3, as many as 5 or 7} interesting bottles with either herbs from your own beds or what I proudly refer to as weed flowers from along the roadsides


.



Some Things I Don't Do ~ Anymore

In this new world I find I am still adjusting to changes-still. 

(Just in case you were w-o-n-d-e-r-I-n-g-)

I don't buy a gallon  of milk anymore.  I pretty much don't even buy milk. 

So what about the calcium my body needs?  I take supplements and now and then-perhaps weekly I will pour myself maybe 2-4 ounces of half and half cream (a must for good coffee) and drink that or add the milk to a bowl of cereal!

I don't eat a lot of meat  either.  However, I do try to keep track of how much or little protein I am taking in  and that's when I decide to eat out and enjoy a small steak or baked or grilled  Salmon.   If my healthy dinner out is one of the local country buffet restaurants that's when I indulge in fried catfish.

Another mental note about protein -I regularly stock great nuts for snacks.  Walnuts, pecans and especially enjoy the little 100 calorie packets of smoked almonds.

Years ago we agreed to bring large cartons of our very favorite ice cream home only if we were expecting company or hosting a party. When we just had to have ice cream we would  grab a small, pint size from the supermarket and share it at home. 

In the past when choosing fruit at the market I would be careful to get no more than 4 bananas to bring home but now- two bananas ...they don't last long.  There is pretty much the same with avacados...am usually sorry if I count out 3 or 4.  The odds are one or two will spoil before they're used up.

And did I mention that these days my bread always goes into the refrigerator.  Now I know why Nanny always had her's in the fridge..  When I have more sugar than my canister will hold the excess is refrigerated too.

Another fyi....While for so many years my basic canisters  will hold close to 5lb. bags of things like flour, corn meal, sugar,etc.....now works best if I buy a smaller ( 1 or 2 lb. ) bag .  Any extra of these grocery staples will store just fine in the fridge.

All my grocery staples now store the same (in glass /closed) canisters in my pantry for the simple reason that I do not use up  these things as in the past.

Changes- who knew ?!!

Things Worth The Wait -

We Made A Garden

by Margery Fish

You can't make a garden in a hurry, particularly one belonging to an old house. House and garden must look as if they had grown up together, and the only way to do this is to live in the house, get the feel of it, and then by degrees the idea of the garden will grow.”

It's spelled:  HYDRANGEAS

 

The back yard scene in Pensacola when I got to visit our David & Rita Mother's Day weekend.

I FOUND a bicycle...didn't say I have done it yet :(

March - early May

Below:  Perry, Georgia's Welcome Home after the trip to Europe in

March 2016-

 Bridal Wreath - March

Yaay Samantha~

Graduation and Post Graduation 

Perry High School,

Perry, Georgia

May 27, 2016

Prom

Honors, etc.

It's getting closer

A few little 'found' things, a little focus & sometimes a little dry run pulls it all together -

(we're talking outdoor graduation party tables)

We will make use of WEED FLOWERS along the roadside, work in distinctive very very Vintage MASON JARS, an antique WASH TUB for ice, and a wooden dough bowl for serving and 3 Antique PIC NIC BASKETS will round out the serving options...Throw in some colorful paper lanterns and a salvaged photo screen. That should do if somebody has the FOOD covered!!!!

(uhhhhh, That's The P.L.A.N.)

High School F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

A few things old, a few things 'saved',

and some fresh, perfect and beautiful

The Celebration

Family

Tim: How long do I hold this pose-I am

a hungry man!

Samantha, Aunt Loretta & Uncle Johnny

Deanna- Directing Traffic

"Because she knows how to get things done...right!!!"

(insider joke)

Just Family

                                       

Dylan- Reagan- Zack

2016

May 28, 2016