Christmas in Mississippi

I am dreaming of a...well it ain't a White Christmas that's for sure.
I decorated and got all my  Holiday Cheer going on.
I made some "What The Fluff?" fudge...you have to have marshmallow fluff for that by the way. 
Tonight I made some delicious soup with some ham, sausage  and veggies and some crusty garlic bread to go with it.

LuLu

The front porch

He waited for LuLu to move so he could have his turn.

The Elf on The Shelf

He is just doing his job.

Veteran's Day November 11, 2011

 Mama and I went to the cemetery today on Veteran's Day and left some poppies for daddy. While we were there, we found many other veteran markers. Beautiful memorials to some well-loved men.

                                                  Hebron United Methodist Church

In Flanders Fields  
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


 By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Eating Persimmons Like a 'Coon in the Fall

That is what my daddy used to say when I would look outside and see him by the Persimmon tree.  He would say,
"I am out here eating Persimmons like a 'Coon in the fall".
Persimmons.

If you have never eaten one, they are an acquired taste for sure, but eating them when I was small made it even better as I get older and realize that they are available for only a short season, and delicious while available. I was surprised to find that the tree is in the Mahogany family, and that they are native to the United States. All this time I thought it was just an Asian import.  They are full of Vitamins and antioxidants and fiber and proteins. Daddy was so smart! He was way ahead of his time-thanks to those Mississippi 'coons of course.

Magical Wedding Day

My son's wedding in September was such a magical event.
  (I got the word "Magical" from my sister, Donna-and it truly suited the occasion)
It was held at the Methodist Church where my daddy is buried.
It was the only way daddy could attend, so we did what we could, huh?
The bride was lovely in her white gown, and the groom was stunned at her entrance.
(My mama never watches the bride she always watches the groom)
A more perfect day could not have been purchased.
The girls all got ready for the event at my house, and of course I loved all of it-the false eyelashes, the choosing of the hairstyles, the hairspray and perfume, and the photos-lots of those.  I wish I could have stayed true to my diet, but I wasn't too scary in the pictures.   I never thought I would get to enjoy the "Bridal" part of a wedding for my son, but this bride was very kind and generous.  She allowed me to be involved as much as I liked.  My husband bought Mint Julep soda pops to go with the old fashioned theme, and the Sunflower bouquets were just so colorful and cheerful!  The Chocolate covered Bacon I made for the groom's table was divine..and it was a big hit.

My son really loves her.

So vintage~with happy sunflowers.

Mr. Walker's Olive Tree

       I have never seen an Olive tree before.  My neighbor in South Mississippi has one in his front yard.

                   It has pretty reddish-brown fruits on it.  They are crunchy and sweet like tiny apples.

                                           Mr. Walker's Olive Tree is covered in the shiny fruits.
                                     They can be pickled just like the ones we buy at the grocery.

                                                                       Beautiful color!

                                                 Mr. Walker, and Buster with the Olive Tree.

Summer Project

My son, Chris will marry in September, and I will have a whole room to play with.
I am thinking about making me a cozy nest where I can sleep on the nights that Big G is snoring, or sometimes I like to read or have hot flashes in peace without some male giggling at me cause I toss the covers back  so often.  I have an old iron bed my daddy bought me when I was little.  It came out of an old hotel...I guess that means it is pretty sturdy and is keeping secrets.  I also had a little dressing table of sorts, mama had a pretty yellow table skirt on it.  I have been using it for a sewing table for years.
We will get back to the iron bed project later.


Here is a " before" table  picture:

The legs look spindly in this picture, but it is quite sturdy.  I always have liked that table.
I saw a really pretty tablecloth on one of my shopping sites,
all ruffles-but a little expensive right this minute.
Shabby Chic tablecloth

                                               I decided to make one. A summer project!
I used lots of ruffles on mine, they started out as a curtain. some material, some lace, some thread and Voila!

 My big sister gave me the silver dresser set a long time ago for Christmas.  She has very nice taste, yes.


                                                                   An "after" picture:

                 I like the price of mine...free! The one I found shopping was $138.00.  I did GOOD!

The Red Roof

I am posting the Red Roof picture, by popular request. I like it.

The Wedding Gift ~ A Keepsake

     We are about to become mother-in-law and father-in-law to a wonderful girl from Alabama.  Chris and Erin will marry in September.  They started dating about 5 years ago, and I never had a daughter of my own, so we consider her very special.  Of course, we wanted to get something useful for her wedding gift, but a keepsake also. We found an antique cedar chest and we gave it to Erin the other day.  I think she likes it.

                                                        It is well made and smells good.

                                               Oh, and there is something sentimental inside...

       When I was pregnant with Chris, I received a lovely gift at my baby shower. It is a baby bonnet that eventually turns into a handkerchief for his bride to carry in her wedding.  He wore it on his sweet little baby head and now she can carry it with her bouquet down the aisle.

A Keepsake
Beginnings are always beautiful
They touch the tender heart
For both babies and weddings
Promise a brand new start.
Little bonnets and christening caps
Are keepsakes, you will agree
Snap the threads, a hanky it makes
For that special bride to be.
So give me the joy of sharing
The high points of your life
The day your precious baby arrives
And takes or becomes a wife.

                                  A Keepsake for a much loved daughter-in -law to be.

What kind of flower are you?

I am a Daffodil     What Flower Are You?

Going to Jackson

                                  ♫ ♪ We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout, ♫
                                   We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out. ♪ ♪

          Just like the man in black, Big G and I headed to Jackson for a wedding this past weekend. 
We attended a wedding for a lovely young couple at Alta Woods Baptist Church, with a reception at the Old Capital Inn immediately after.  It was a terrific celebration.  My husband said it was the first wedding he ever attended where the men cried more than the women. The groom got choked up and emotional.  It was just too sweet for words.When we arrived at The Old Capital Inn, we were staying in the "Shubuta Room"-apparently all the rooms have names, and we were next door to the "ELVIS sleeps" room.  There was a sweet little balcony overlooking a courtyard with goldfish, and a welcome basket filled with Mississippi snacks on the comfy bed.

  It was a lovely celebration with a handsome couple, bridesmaids in the palest pink imported french silk, peonies and lambs ears in the bouquets and a vintage getaway car.

  The band was Coupe De Ville, rocking our night away with tunes from all our favorites.
                                          (Didn't hear any gangsta rap, thank goodness!)
  The food was really good, and the cakes were both yummy buttercreams.

  Did we drink too much wine? Probably.  Traditionally, that is the only way to get white people to dance.