Our 100th Post and Our 1st Giveaway

My Dearest Weblog,

What a good friend, late night companion, and vessel for my venting you have become! It seems like only yesterday that I gave in to the urge to set up an account and exploit my family, friends, and self for all the world to see. And here we are now, 100 posts later. I wouldn’t change a thing, except maybe for the amount of sleep you siphon from me as I succumb to your gentle call in the middle of the night more than I even did for my children when they were still on the bottle.

To celebrate your entrance into my life I feel we must share the joy with those who stop by to browse our reflective wares (i.e. read our family gossip) and have a giveaway. And what is it we are giving away? A $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble Booksellers to one lucky visitor. I figure people who blog and/or read blogs like to read books too and a card to B&N could come in handy.

So I will ask the readers of this, our 100th post, to leave a comment and tell us something that keeps you up at night. In addition to blogs, a good book is also something that siphons my sleep.

Your comment = 1 entry.

A mention of this contest on your own blog with a link back to this post = 3 entries (Be sure to link to the post in which you mention the contest in your comment)

A post to your wall on Facebook mentioning this contest and including a link back to this post = 1 entry (Again, link to your fb page in your comment)

Become a follower of our little blog = 2 entries

Never fear if you don’t blog or Facebook. You can still enter by leaving a comment to the post. If you sign in under the anonymous option just make sure you add your first name/last initial in the comment.

This contest will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 1. A winner will be announced Monday. Good luck!


P.S. The Thursday Three will have to be posted tomorrow (I guess it could be a Friday Four if someone is really anal about that kind of thing). Ren tells me I write more about John-Heath than her and she is jealous. Therefore, I will try to incorporate her into the TT3 to keep peace in my home.

Wordless Wednesday

Morning

Up and at 'em.

Football (water girl duties) 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Volleyball 9 - 11

football, again (more high-quality H2O) 5 - 8

Evening

All tuckered out!

June, July, and August

Summer vacation in our neck of the woods is quickly coming to a close. By this time next week teachers will be officially back and students will be preparing to attend registration day. In our county the teachers return one day, registration is the next day, followed by another teacher day, and then, finally, the first full day of the school year.

I remember when I was in college working on my bachelor’s degree a professor once asked each of us in an education class why we wanted to be teachers. Well, I had kinda had enough of all the usual “I want to be a beacon unto the children of the world” answers and thought we needed a breath of fresh air in the room. Things were getting laid on pretty thick, if you get my drift. Anyway, I was even more of a wild card then than now so when it came my turn to answer I simply said, “June, July and August”. Well, as you can imagine, that wasn’t the desired answer.

Now, I don’t think I was publicly reprimanded for such a foul thing to say. I wasn’t tarred and feathered or anything. I do remember seeing a lot of the white part of the professor’s eye balls, though and I’m pretty sure several jaws hit the floor. Apparently, many a teacher candidate in the early 90s deposited his or her sense of humor at the classroom door each day. That day was not the first or last time my mouth got me into trouble. Do not fret, dear readers. That professor and I became good buddies, I learned a lot from him, and left his class with an A+. Thank you, H. Foreman.

When I made that comment I was, of course, just joking. Everyone knows that we don’t get three months off in the summer, just two (insert rim shot here :>)!Seriously, having that time off is one of the big perks of the job. It is especially wonderful for those of us with young children. However, (and I learned this one after actually becoming a teacher) a summer break is also very vital to the act of teaching itself.

Several years ago there was an article posted on the Coke machine in our faculty lounge by a man who was advocating summer vacations at a time when calls for year-round school and far fewer days off between school years were first starting to get noticed . He did this by comparing the job of teaching school for a year to the production of a Broadway play. It was an awesome editorial on the subject and I wish I had kept it. I have looked for it on-line much of the day with no luck. So I guess I’ll just have to summarize it here as best I can.

Teaching is unlike many other jobs in that it takes a certain energy to do it well. No, I’m not talking about the kind of energy needed just to crawl out of bed in the morning. It requires creative energy, a certain kind of mental steam and vigor which allows the teacher to be at the top of his or her game.

Imagine that Broadway play. It can only run for so long before the level of workmanship of those involved in the project begins to slip or the audience gets bored with it and begins to dwindle. At some point the play will either close or a new crew and cast will be brought in to take over.

A school year is one big production in itself. Good teachers (I say good teachers because we all know there are enough of the other kind out there that, as well) will spend August-May putting on a grand performance for the benefit of their audience, the students. They will play teacher, mentor, counselor, advisor, nurse, proofreader, coach, cheerleader, tour guide, accountant, salesman, statistician, and in many cases, surrogate moms and dads. At the end of this year a break is needed. Both teacher and student must recharge.

And that’s where June and July come in handy.

To be continued....



1ooth post GIVE AWAY coming soon!

Decoration (plus a recipe)

New Hope Cemetery - the 1969 on the arch refers, I think, to when the gate was built. The cemetery itself was around long before then. The white table-like structure just inside the gate is the pulpit from which some outdoor sermons have been preached. Don't you just love the oak tree?

My grandparents.

Yesterday was decoration at the cemetery in which my mother’s father and his wife - Pa Vernon and Mama Beatrice - are buried. In case you are not from the south, “decoration“ is the day set aside each year at a particular cemetery when family members of folks buried there come out to adorn the graves with fresh flowers and spend time visiting with others who have come out to do the same. And usually on these days there is a meal.

Now some decorations include dinner on the ground, in which there is a potluck meal served on the grounds of the cemetery. This is not to say that the food is actually placed on the ground. Usually there are folding tables and chairs. My brother-n-law thinks this is waayyy too creepy and refuses to participate in such meals held at cemeteries. He’s a New Yorker by birth, so we'll forgive him this stubborness.

My mother’s family traditionally gets together at someone’s house for just such a meal after church. These past several years it has been held at my Aunt Carol’s. She recently remodeled and has a very nice garage and sun room in which to set up tables. In fact, her garage seems nicer than some of the rooms in my house.

Everyone brings a little something to contribute to the meal. But most of the cooking (the good cooking, at least) is done by the ladies from the more, umm how should I say this, mature generation. Someone remarked yesterday that when these ladies are gone our meal will most likely consist of Kentucky Fried Chicken and side dishes from some deli. And, it’s sad to say, this is probably true. Does anyone from my generation cook like my mom’s generation? I know I don’t.

It was a yummy meal and I know I was not the only one who was stuffed to the point of being miserable. We had turkey and dressing, ham, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, pinto beans, green beans, corn, deviled eggs, and about 13 different casseroles. Then to top it all off there was chocolate pie, coconut cake, banana pudding, fudge pie, pecan pie, and ice cream. We were taking bets on who would fall into a diabetic shock afterwards.

I think I might try to start compiling some of my mom’s, sister’s, and aunts’ recipes one here. I guess I should start with what I took to yesterday’s lunch. This is a little recipe that my sister gave me a long time ago. It’s super easy and is a nice dessert alternative for those who want something a little less rich than chocolate pies or oooey gooey caramel brownies.

Easy Fruit Salad

You will need:

2 29 oz. cans light fruit cocktail
1 15 oz. can mandarin oranges
Apples (red and green)
Bananas
Fresh grapes, if desired
Instant vanilla pudding
Chopped walnuts, if desired


Cut up apples (leaving the skins on). Peel and slice the bananas. Dip the apples and bananas in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

In a large bowl, mix the fruit cocktail with the DRAINED can of mandarin oranges. Sprinkle on as much of the instant vanilla pudding as you need to make it the consistency you prefer (If you want it really thick and “puddiny” you will want to add a lot. My family doesn’t like it that way so I add just a light coating of the pudding mix). Stir.

Add the desired amount of apples and bananas to the mix.

Chill.

Just before serving sprinkle on a few chopped walnuts.

From this...

...to this in less than 15 minutes.

P.S. Don't forget...we'll be having a little giveaway on our 100th post. Be sure to stop back by. Just so you'll know today's post is #97.

John-Heath's New Friends

Okay - this is kinda creepy but I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

Ren is in volleyball camp this week, with yesterday being the first of three days we will spend at Cumberland University. I will post some pictures from this once it ends (This isn't the creepy part, unless you have some unnatural, Adrian-Monk-type fear of team sports).

Now, to a young lad of five, high school volleyball can be quite the bore. So, in an effort to keep John-Heath entertained and stave off any rebellion for having to sit hours on end in a gym, John took him on a tour of the campus.

Well, the visit to Memorial Hall was such a hit with my son that he just had to take me on my very own tour.

Caution: If you are a member of PETA you will probably be offended, and possibly rightfully so, but my little boy thought this was a pretty cool site to see.

This is an exhibit donated many years ago to the school by a family. John-Heath was in awe of all the animals. I am in awe of people who have this much money and the things on which they spend it.


The grand staircase.

John explaining about some of the animals.




John-Heath was not on board with the idea of having his picture made with this lion until his dad offered to hold him.

As a sidenote - Cumberland is the university where my husband's grandfather and his brothers received their law degrees in the early part of the last century, each attending in turn and then helping a younger brother follow after him. John has always been proud of this story.

P.S. Now on to something more pleasant...I want to introduce you to a fabulous blog of which I've become fond. And if you act fast you can get in on its fabulous perfume and bracelet giveaway. So check out http://www.pinkpreppylillylover.blogspot.com/.

The Thursday Three

I thought it would be neat if every once in a while I pass along to you, my friends, some of my infinite wisdom in the form of tips, facts, or just random information. I do this because I was almost beginning to hear soft whimpers liken to “Oh, my. Another picture of her children.” Fear not, good people. I have an empty SD card so they shant be gone for long.

Now, back to those random bits of information. I will need to do this slowly, so as to not overpower you. Or is it because I don’t have an infinite amount of wisdom and it will take time to compile things that I pretend to know in which to pass along? I can never be sure.

I tried to think of some super clever title for this segment but the best I could do was The Thursday Three, or T3. Brilliant, huh? Anyway, every so often on a Thursday (see how it’s going to work?) I will pass along three morsels of information.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for...(insert drum roll here)...The inaugural issue of


The Thursday Three



A different use for 3 common household supplies.


1. Shaving cream - This tip was given to me by the man who installed the hardwood floors in our new home. We all know it makes our man’s face soft to touch but did you know that it is great at removing hairspray residue from surfaces. I use it on the vanity tops in my bathrooms. Oh, and I buy the cheapest brands I can find. Spray and rub a little on and wipe off with a wet cloth. Kenny, our floor guy, said his wife had even used it on their hardwoods sparingly. I’m a little too afraid to try that but I can vouch that it does the trick safely on tile floors and Corian countertops.

2. Vinegar and newspaper - I learned this one from a janitor one day as I was leaving school. Use plain white vinegar and newspapers to clean windows. For a streak-free shine just add a couple tablespoons of vinegar to a gallon of water, spray on, then wipe off with newspaper. Not only is it easy on your wallet, it’s easy on our planet.

3. Coffee filters - If you have a problem with dirt seeping through the holes in the bottom of your flower pots just add a coffee filter or two before you add the potting soil and geraniums. The water will still be able to flow through but the dirt will remain.

Tyla (Sorry. My signature just up and vanished)

P.S. We're inching ever closer to our 100th post. If you are a lover of Barnes and Noble Booksellers, as I am, you'll want to be sure to tune in for a little give away.

Wordless Wednesdays

So I have noticed the concept of Wordless Wednesdays being used on many of my favorite blogs and thought I would join in the fun - Wordless Wednesdays: being where a simple picture or two convey a story without the use of any/many words. Yeah, I'm sure you have already observed that this post isn't playing by the rules. I guess a more correct name for this one should be something like "The One In Which I Explain Wordless Wednesdays". Sounds like the title to a Friends episode, doesn't it?

Here goes. Enjoy!

Morning

Evening

My Bucket List

I noticed on the internet last night that Bill Clinton has created his bucket list so I thought I might just get started on one too - not that I am anywhere near the age of our former president, or Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson either for that matter.

Clinton mentioned that he would like to live to enjoy having grandkids. This is something I would also like one day - one day in the farrrr off future. Ren is only 14 so I best not be called granny anytime soon.

Well, here goes with the first three things that would make my life feel a little more complete.

1.) Get healthier (so that I can really enjoy the other items on the list)
2.) Visit all 50 of the states in our country. I have 21 left to see.
3.) Spend an entire summer abroad.

Just curious...what would be at the top of your list?


P.S. Pool is growing on me - a little.

Venting Is Good for Your Blood Pressure, Or So I've Been Told

So, we went swimming in our new pool for the first time yesterday. I was not impressed. There were some good things about it. 1.) It’s a pool. 2.) It has a pretty, dark liner that makes the water look very blue. 3) It’s a pool. Other than that my whole experience was ruined by what I felt beneath my feet. Wrinkles. Yes, wrinkleS, as in plural. There were three along the edges, one of which was quite large. At this point I would have rated the installation job as a C. Then I felt a dip, as in left by a worker’s footprint. C-. Then, as if my temper (It’s true. I can get the tiniest bit mad at times) needed a booster shot, a rock. A stinkin’, freakin’ ROCK!!!!!!!!!! UNDERNEATH THE LINER IN ALMOST THE CENTER OF THE POOL!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say the current grade is a big ol' fat F. And if I just float and don’t actually touch the bottom it might pass with a
D-.

I know this is just an above ground and a few years down the road, when the kids are grown and gone, it will be removed. But it sickens me when you pay money to have something done and it’s not done right, be it something big or small. What has happened to quality workmanship anymore? Did the professionals not see the wrinkles in the pool when they first started adding the water? I noticed them the minute I peeked over the edge. Of course, that was after the crew had already gone. Anywhoo, I noticed and pointed it out to John. His response was, “Oh, they’ll all flatten out when it’s full of water.” Well, I got a news flash for ya, babe. It’s full of water and, yet, it still feels like the surface of a prune. A prune with a big zit, aka the ROCK!!!!!!!!

My apologies for such an “uplifting” post, but sometimes you just gotta let it out. Tune in tomorrow for a discussion on the drywall job in parts of my house.

Be on the Lookout!

Happy Friday, everyone!

This has really been one do nothing day and I am bored. Ren had football this morning. She is loving the whole water girl experience. Though I don't think she loved the whole help-clean-out-the-locker-room bit today.

At this very moment she is at a road block with her volleyball team trying to raise funds for new uniforms. Hey, I think I may leave and go snap a quick picture of her. Hold on..............................................................Okay. I'm back. Seriously, I really did just leave and go take a picture.

Doesn't she look cute in her little caution vest? By the looks of her milk jug I'm guessing the uniforms won't get ordered tonight.

Tomorrow the football team has a play day at another school and she and John will be making that trip. John is so not looking forward to sitting in the hot sun all day.

Tomorrow night we are attending the wedding of our friends' son. I think some of the wedding and/or reception will be outdoors. I hope the weather cooperates. It is thundering in the distance here now.

Have a great weekend! See you back here Monday.


P.S. I noticed where I am fast approaching my 100th post. I am thinking that I would like to do something to celebrate the fact that I have actually been somewhat consistent in keeping up with this little online experiment of mine. I'm not sure just yet how I will do that, but I know I want the faithful few of you that stop by from time to time to be a part of it. I'm thinking some sort of GIVE AWAY. More details to come, so check back in the next few days. Unless you check in every day - that's waaaay better.

What a Boy Wants

You wanna know what makes a boy (in the age range of, oh, let's say 4 - 8) happy?

THIS!

A GINORMOUS PILE OF DIRT!

A little boy and his piece of Heaven on Earth.

Like most little boys, John-Heath has always thought it to be a pretty cool thing to have a big dirt pile in which to play. So I told John it would be nice if we could get him one of his very own.

Now, of course, it only made sense to take advantage of such a big hole in the yard . Hmmm. What to do? I knooow. A pool.

The water in our newly erected pool. Feels soooo good. Well, at least it feels good to our hands. That's all we've had in it so far.

I am SO GLAD I have a little boy! Just think...if John-Heath had been another little girl there would not have been a need for a big pile of dirt. And, thus, no pool. :>)

"I'm the king of the world!!!"

At least until dad has all the dirt removed from the yard.

P.S. Guess what? After an exhaustive search I finally found my dear, sweet battery charger. Guess where I found it? In the kitchen cabinet drawer with all the mixing spoons. How it got there? Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose if we ate at home more it would have been found a little earlier.

Lovin' Me a Little Buble.

I don't know about you, but I lllove Michael Buble. The first time I heard his name I was like, "Bu-blaaaay? What kind of name is that?". And then I heard his song Haven't Met You Yet. That was all she wrote. He could be named Castor Oil and I would still be smitten. Oh, and his looks? Well, that's just gravy, if you know what I mean. Dare I say it? He's what my daughter would call hot - which is a little weird to say. But trust me, if I were in my teens again I would certainly be sitting up late to watch this fine fellow on Friday Night Videos.

http://www.michaelbuble.com/media/videos/havent-met-you-yet-official-music-video

A Fairytale

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Dunroamin there went out a decree from the king and queen that each day, following the noontime meal, children far and wide should retire for a periodic state of rest. And this time, during which consciousness of the world is suspended,would forever thereafter become known as naptime. And child-bearers all throughout the land rejoiced, for they saw that this was good.

And nowhere was the law more adhered to than in the royal household. For you see, the young king and queen were of a new, more modern era and unlike the former king and queen, and his father and mother before him, there were no house servants to tend to the daily burdens of the castle. All was now left to the king and his wife to undertake.

Now the youngest heir to the throne was the apple of his parents’ eyes and, as such, he was much beloved. Tis true he was sweet. No child in the kingdom was known to be more friendly and loving. A stranger he never met. Nevertheless, he was also untidy and generally a child underfoot. And this made the duties of the queen hard to achieve.

So each day following his tiffin Prince John would be taken first to the loo for an expeditious washing and then to the royal bed chamber to slumber. And after a story, a kiss, and the tucking of the covers, the little prince would drift off to dream.

And his mother, the queen, was happy. Yea, she was filled with joy!

Mini Moment...John-Heath Dresses for Church

This morning as we were getting ready to go to church John-Heath, already fully dressed, decided to wrap himself with one of Ren's, how do I say this, brassieres. Remember, he will do just about anything for a laugh. When John, unaware of the newly added accessory, gave him a playful swat on the bottom John-Heath replied, "That's no way to treat a lady."

Dear Nikon Charger, Please Come Home. I Promise Things Will Be Different.

As you can tell from the title of this post I have lost the battery charger to my Nikon. And, as luck seems to always find its way to my door, the battery in this particular camera is now dead. So, I am without one. I can't even use Ren's little camera (a nice one she got for Christmas from Ma-Ma and Pa Gene), as it had to be tossed out recently due to some severe damage to the lens.

I tell you, if the girls on Designing Women were the poster children for bad vacations (weren't those some of the best episodes?), you would see my family's picture plastered on a poster advertising Electronic Equipment Abstinence. I just don't think that we have matured enough to handle a serious relationship with anything electronic.

We tell ourselves we are ready, that we've grown and are ready to take it to the next level, that we're committed to see it through. But who are we kidding? The cell is still going to get lost mid-way through the contract, the portable dvd-player dropped and broken only a month after being left under the tree by Santa, and the laptop peed on by the dog. Now, that last one may seem an unlikely possibility for us, as we have no dog. But, I'm not counting my chickens before they're hatched. Things have a way of happening around here. If it has a chip somewhere on the inside, it's outlook for a long and happy life in our home is grim.

The search continues.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. The pictures I had planned on taking of our town's summer celebration this evening will have to be postponed until next year. In the meantime, use your imagination (think small town park, great music, cake walks, hayrides, fire trucks, glow-in-the-dark light sticks being held by children everywhere, and fireworks) and insert pictures here X.

Duck Duck Goose

I really wish I had had my camera handy tonight as I watched my children play Duck Duck Goose in the front yard. It was certainly a humorous site to see this game being played by TWO.

From the front porch I hear John-Heath say to Ren, "Hey, Ren! Let's play Duck Duck Goose" and watch as he promptly takes a seat on the ground. Ren humors him and plays along. Tapping on his head the first time she says "Duck" and then proceeds to tap several imaginary ducks before making her way back to her brother, a goose this time. They played a couple rounds of the game, with each getting a turn as the goose.

I may have to suggest they play it again tomorrow night, and this time arm myself with my camera.

Well, going to turn in now - just a wee bit tired. Ren and I went swimming today. We had such a good time, just the two of us, but I think I might be a little burned - not too bad, more pink than red. We're hoping we can get one more swim in before Jon, Jessie, and the boys get back tomorrow evening. And then, with a little luck, our own pool will be installed and ready to enjoy by this time next week. Goodnight, all.

How You Would Know a Little Boy Lives in My House

A most tiny selection from a much larger collection of fire trucks, dump trucks, and caps.



A classic sign that you have a little boy living in your house. Actually, this pair is not in such rough shape as compared to some others hanging in the closet. Why, these are like new!



The legs beneath those jeans - rusty knees, bruises, and bug bites. I swear this kid gets a daily bath.


And, of course, the gifts of nature that are brought into the house on a near daily basis.

Aren't little boys neat?

100 Facts About Me - The Final Twenty, Finally!!!

81. I had long hair in the 2nd grade. Many times I wore it clipped back with barrettes. During naptime, when our heads were supposed to be down on our arms, I would eeever so slowly reach into my hair and unattach the barrettes. Then the others at my table and I would use them for a game of "spin the barrette". The rules to this game were simple. 1.) A person would spin the barrette. 2.) Whoever the clapsed end pointed to when it stopped spinning was who the spinner liked. I know what you're thinking...it boggles the mind that Parker Bros. never caught on to what a genius game we had going back then and mass-marketed it.

82. I somehow ended up wearing the same shirt for my fourth grade school picture as I had for my third grade school picture. The only difference? A little maturing had begun to take place and a certain undergarment would have come in handy. Boy! Am I glad our school didn't start publishing yearbooks until my 6th grade year!

83. I am not a morning person, as you may already know. Even so, I was nicknamed Sunshine by a fellow teacher (herself not a morning person either from what I can remember) many years ago while at Guild Elementary.

84. This same person and I actually had a contest once to see just how early we could show up at school (as we were typically always late). I don't remember now who won (so it must have been my friend) but I do remember walking in at about 6 that morning with my hair up in curlers and running in to my assistant principal, Mr. Nolen.

85. I am a GRITS (Girl Raised In The South).

86. I also like to eat grits - naturally, with lots of butter and sugar.

87. One of the first books I bought my husband was the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. I purchased it as a Christmas gift for $49.99 in 1989 or 90. The book still resides in our home.

88. The books currently on my nightstand include The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie and Literary Society, Raising the Spirited Child, The Strong-Willed Child, and 1-2-3 Magic Parenting. Hmmm, I am beginning to see a possible pattern emerge with those last few.

89. My husband is the co-author of the book A Celebration of Houses Built Before 1900 in Sumner County, Tennessee. If you were to visit the Library of Congress you would be able to see a copy of the book. Of course, you could also see it if you were to visit the Sumner County Archives in Gallatin or just come to my house. I know, this one is really not a fact about me, but my name is mentioned on the inside of the book jacket so I'm going to count it. Seriously, it is a lovely book full of beautiful homes and stories.

90. The secret ambition of my heart throughout school was to become a playwright or an actor and live in New York. I guess this little blog and a few church Christmas plays will have to suffice.

91. I have passed out in public, to my knowledge, three times. Once at pre-band-camp the summer before my freshman year (you guessed it...I locked my knees), once while working at Burger King (the summer before my senior year) - I was waiting on a customer and just remember waking up on the floor looking skyward at the menu - and finally, once in my classroom in front of my students (or at least in front of those seated close by my desk). I was not feeling well anyway and, from a seated position, reached over to pick something up off the floor and stood up too fast.

92. In addition to being prone to passing out, I am also a little clumsy. ACtually, I am a LOT clumsy. I remember falling twice while teaching at Guild (yes, aaalll the way to the floor) in front of students. The first was in the classroom after allowing the students to bring their trays back to the room to eat with me. Walking toward my desk I stepped in bean juice that had been spilled on the floor and slid like Ty Cobb or Rickey Henderson stealing home right up under my desk. I think my comment at the moment was "WHO SPILLED THE BEANS?". The second time was also during lunch, this time in the school cafeteria. I had just picked up my tray and glass of tea and was walking toward the door when I stepped on something - not sure what, probably a stupid grape - and landed all sprawled out on the floor in front of about 150 students. I did manage to hang on to my tea though and I am pretty sure I remember praying something like "Please, dear Lord, just let me die".

93. My favorite fruit - watermelon. (Yes, I know. I am really stretching it now, but I am running low on things to tell you) Favorite vegetable - my mom's green beans. Favorite food - too many to name but chicken salad and chicken casserole come to mind. Favorite drink - fruit tea. Favorite sweet - again, from mom, banana pudding.

94. Least liked food as a child that I would give $1,000 right now to taste again - my Pa Frazier's biscuits. He frequently made a big batch and kept them on a plate underneath an old metal cake plate lid. Whenever we visited that was one of the first things to do, look under the cake lid and hope for cake. Usually though we were met with the disappointing sight of a mound of flour, buttermilk, and lard in the form of biscuits. On a good day Cracker Barrel serves up a poor imitation. As a side note, I have often wondered what happened to that cake plate lid. I wish I had thought to ask for that. I hope it landed with someone in the family.

95. I would also love to hear Pa Frazier tell a good ghost story again. I love a good ghost story. I think I would request the one told to all the older grandchildren called "Raw Hide and Bloody Bones". As the youngest of the grandchildren I was not privy to as many of his stories.

96. I didn't get to be around my maternal grandfather, Pa Vernon, as much. He died when I was very young. However, I do remember enjoying visits to his house (except for his chicken coop. I was scared of that). Once when my grandfather needed to go to town I asked if I could go and was told no. Not to be left behind, I hauled my little stowaway butt right up on the running board of his truck. Luckily, Pa Vernon did not drive very fast and stopped just a short distance up the little country road to say hello to a neighbor, who happened to see me and rat me out to my grandfather. I don't remember it but I have been told that Pa really burned my backside up good over that little episode.

97. My moral compass is my father, who once made me return a package of crackers to a buffet-style restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida when I was 12 or 13 because a sign posted inside asked that food not be taken from it. We had already driven a few miles up the road when he noticed that I had them. I have failed miserably in my life to live up to his character but I am so glad to have him as an example by which to aspire.

98. I am the proud mother of a beautiful, tall (5'10), talented, and creative daughter who grows more beautiful each year and never ceases to amaze me with her ability to write some really good stuff - most of which I have found secretly stashed away in her room or in random notebooks. Maybe she will take after her father in that area.

99. I am the proud mother of a handsome, funny, and smart little boy who cracks me up just about every day while he goes through childhood as a policeman, fireman, helicopter gunship pilot, ambulance driver, doctor, teacher, preacher, cowboy, Indiana Jones, Barney Fife, and Ernest T. Bass.

100. I never, ever could have imagined it would be so hard to come up with 100 facts to write about one's self. But, trust me, it is. Try it. You'll see.

I really hope you have enjoyed reading all these fine little morsels about my life. I'm sure you feel much more enriched having done so. And if you are joining our program already in session please feel free to go back through our archives and read the first 80. Oh, and overlook any typos or spelling errors. This one was actually written in the wee small hours over several nights.

It's Sprinkler Time

John-Heath with his "sprinklers".

Happy 4th of July!!! Hope each of you have had a safe weekend and have been able to celebrate with family and friends. We spent last evening at Sissy's (by the way, have I ever mentioned that I call my sister "Sissy"? If you see me write about "Sissy" you'll now know of whom I am referring). She had a birthday dinner for Jonathan - her son - who turned 33 today.

The dinner was yummmmy. Megan made two big dishes of chicken casserole and used about two pounds of butter doing so. She uses my mom's recipe as her base and then adds to it. We all are about 5 pounds heavier but was it good! Rounding out the meal was fresh corn, tomatoes, green beans, fried apples, and mashed potatoes with lemon cake and brownies for dessert.

Ren, Weston and Dylan with the "hot air balloon" that landed in Sissy's front yard. We saw two more the next night. They really are a pretty little site to see floating through the evening sky.

The only bad thing about last night was that John-Heath and John were not there. J-H had been running a fever since the day before so he and his dad stayed home and had hamburgers. I promised him I would stop by and buy him some sparklers, which he calls sprinklers, on the way home, and so I did.

And this evening saw us all back at Sissy's for a few fireworks and watermelon.

Again, Happy 4th to everyone! May God continue to bless our country. And a special Happy 4th of July to me nephew. Happy Birthday!

Sissy with the birthday boy.

Dunroamin

The first several late Mays and/or early Junes of our marriage saw John helping his father cut hay on their land, Dunroamin Farms. This process usually took a couple weeks, depending on the weather. They would each be on a tractor and cut at the same time usually, I believe, in different fields. After the hay was cut it was left to dry out on the ground for a day or two. Then when it was ready one man would rake and one would round-bale. I know that at one time they did some square-baling too but I think this had stopped by the late 80's or very early 90's, as I don't remember it.

This schedule would go on from morning 'til dark until the farm was completely cut, raked, baled, and transported to holding areas where it would be covered in large rolls of black plastic to protect it from the elements. Square bales, of course, were stacked in one of the three barns.

For the past several years - up to this one - the farm was leased out. Prior to his death, John's father's health kept him from tending to it like he had done for years and my John was not in a position due to other commitments to do it. Therefore, some other men paid to run cattle on it.

This is the first year in a hundred years that cattle have not been on the farm. But John is trying to rebuild the hay fields from some overgrazing. His goal is to start out small and, hopefully, rebuild the farm into what it once was.

John and John-Heath in front of a newly rolled bale of hay. John didn't actually do any of the cutting or baling this year. Two other men took care of it this year.

Isn't he sweet? He loves the farm and never tires of walking over it with John. He is a true-blooded little farm boy.

Overall, Ren is more of an indoor kinda girl but she does like getting out and going for walks on the farm. As long as no manual labor is involved she's good to go.

This was such a nice, breezy night as you can tell by the hair in Ren's face.

Ever ready to pose for a picture.