Blast from the Past

Mom and I at the K-mart, circa 1981, during what must have surely been a “blue light special” on Kodak Colorburst Instant cameras.

A Sample Post

Hello, all. This is my first time using Live Writer and, as such, this is a sample post. Never will these words see the light of day. Well, I guess they’ll get a little glimpse of it.

Ohhh, I think I’m going to like this.

Yesterday, on Tire Swings...

...As I was saying, this rain is making me miserable and causing problems all around. Our drive (which is the fine, sifted brown creek gravel I just had to have because you know gray limestone would just clash with the color of my brick) is almost non-exsistent anymore. I am two rains at most from knowing how my ancestors must have felt as they crossed the Appalachian Mountains in their bid to settle the west. You know, the first thing I would do if I found out some long lost uncle had died and left me a bunch of money would be to concrete my drive. And I wouldn't give one hoot that concrete is gray.

I don't know about you but I hate how my yard looks during the winter, especially during an overly wet winter. One of the biggest eyesores in my backyard is our pool. You'll remember that we opted for one of the above-ground variety that could be more easily removed should we ever tire of it. Well, there it sets...in all its round glory. There is a deck around much of it but we have yet to put any lattice, etc. underneath to actually hide the darn thing. I had also hoped that we would have added some plants to further soften the look of it by now. In the summer it doesn't look bad at all, what with all the trees around in just the right spots, but during the barren winter...well, it's pretty bad.

When we opened the pool last year we found the cover was in rough shape, as it had been wind-whipped throughout the months it was in use, so John rolled it up and laid it in a nearby tree line. He told me at the time he would put it in the trash as soon as we ordered a new one, which we did within a week or two.

Almost nine months later and after a ridiculous number of requests from me for him to remove it, the cover was still there - staring at me like some stalker every single time I looked in its direction. I was always most aggravated whenever I was driving home and would come around a certain bend in the road from which my whole back yard seemed to be laid out for all to see thanks to the leafless trees. Rarely a time have I seen it that I haven't thought There it is.

Well, Wednesday while I was home with a sick child I decided I was going to do something about it. It was trash day and I was going to accomplish what I had been seeking all these past months. Really, I was just as guilty as John for it being there so long. Am I not an able-bodied adult capable of doing a little manual labor? I think so.

Now, I knew there was no way I could pick it up and carry it all the way to the end of the drive. Being able-bodied doesn't always mean one is strong. I would need my car.

My plan was brilliantly simple. I would drive my car over to the cover, reach down and take hold of it with my hand. Then using the horsepower of my automobile, drive back down the drive and dump the cover amongst the waiting trashbags.

What is it that Burns wrote of plans? The best laid schemes of mice and men often go askew.

I learned a few things that day.

1.) Pool covers are heavy, especially those that are waterlogged.

2.) I am more out of shape than originally thought.

3.) My car is not a 4-wheel drive.

4.) It is not a good idea to drive in certain areas of our yard during a wet January.

5.) Mud, under the tires of a stuck vehicle, reproduces faster than rabbits.

6.) Our truck is a 4-wheel drive.

7.) A trailer hitch and chain are good things to have around.

"Mono y Mono"

Hello there, friends. I thought I would check in with you just so you’ll know I haven’t fallen from the face of the earth or been thrown in jail. Considering my clumsiness and oft short temper John would be quick to point out both those scenarios could be completely plausible.

So, here’s a brief recap of what we’ve been up to at the Tire Swings hacienda.

Ren has mono, as in nucleosis. She has been one sick puppy this week, and as of this writing still is. Poor thing, she can’t even blame it on a kiss from some sweet boyfriend (she’s stubbornly single). Being sick because of love could be tolerable in a romantic sort of way - think Marianne and Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility - but being sick because someone sneezed all over a door knob, etc. just stinks.

According to our in-house specialist Dr. John-Heath, her outlook is bleak. For evidence he produced a Weekly Reader brought home from school showing how germs are spread. He described each step as he pointed to the pictures in the article and concluded with ..."and then, Ren, you die."

Speaking of John-Heath, he is still loving the iPod Santa brought him for Christmas. His favorite games are Angry Birds, Temple Run, and Cars 2. Cars 2 frustrates him to no end and, if it continues to produce the weeping and wailing we hear coming from his bedroom, may soon be accidentally deleted from his menu.

As for me, I stayed home with Ren Tuesday and Wednesday and went back to work for part of the day today. Now, I cannot pretend I don’t like being home from work (high pitched squeals of delight have been known to be produced at the very thought of it), though naturally I would rather it be under better circumstances. I also wish it were drier weather. It seems like it has rained in Middle Tennessee for a solid month. My driveway, what’s left of it, is proof.

I blame that rain, along with my husband and the fact that yesterday was trash day for the minor fiasco I got myself into. TBC...

Chocolate Gravy

Every so often I will surprise myself and cook breakfast. We're mostly a cereal and pastery family even on weekends. However, for the past few days I have been thinking it might be nice to get up one morning and make some chocolate gravy.

I remember my mother making it for me from time to time growing up and also having it at my grandparent's. I have to say I was not a huge fan of it as a child. To me, there was something a little wrong in taking a commodity as great as chocolate and putting it on an ol' biscuit.

Like many things from childhood, though, it becomes more well loved as it becomes more nostalgic.

While it's not something we would want to eat (or could eat) every weekend, we like to have it three or four times a year. So, this morning I made my family chocolate gravy. You all know there's no way I could do it any other morning of the week. I'm late to work and church everyday as it is...throw in something like cooking breakfast and I wouldn't be able to show up until noon.

Now, many of you have probably had this kind of gravy before, especially if you were raised in the south. However, if you haven't you should try it one day.

CHOCOLATE GRAVY

1/2 stick of butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1/3 cocoa

2 cups milk

Heat butter in skillet over medium heat.

Add the sugar, flour, & cocoa in a little bowl and whisk to blend.

Then add the dry ingredients to the butter and stir. Will be clumpy.

Slowly, add the milk. Whisk to remove lumps.

Bring to a boil for just a minute, stirring constantly so it won't stick.

Remove from heat and pour over hot, buttered biscuits.

Enjoy!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

image via

because I was too busy eating my breakfast to take pictures of it. ;)

An Unusual Field Trip

A Facebook friend posted the other night about how the highlight of a grandson's trip to the zoo was being able to see the city's landfill. I am assuming it was viewed from the car on the way to or from the zoo. Let me tell ya, I could sure relate to that.

As the mom to both a daughter and son I can attest to the fact that it is much easier and requires little effort (at least at this age) to fascinate boys. You know how babies/toddlers will play with the box a toy comes in more than the actual toy? Well, that's kind of what it's like raising John-Heath.

My friend's post reminded me of a day we spent in Nashville over Christmas break. We were there to do a little furniture shopping for a new sofa and chairs. Now, if you'll allow me to bird walk a bit here, I have a confession to make. I am NOT a shopaholic. My sister received all the shopping genes and there just weren't any left for me. She loves to shop and can spend hours doing so. Not me. I want to go in, find something I like, buy it, and be done with it. Of course, when you're shopping for furniture it's more prudent to shop around and put a little more thought into the purchase.

Anyhoo, I was afraid John-Heath would just be bored out of his mind, but to my surprise he very much enjoyed the day. By the time we left Sprintz, empty-handed I might add, he was familiar with every nook and cranny of the place. He loves to explore...anywhere and anything. He also loves to ask questions.

As we headed home and because he is interested in all things that deal with the criminal justice profession, John mentioned to him that we would pass close by the old Tennessee State Penitentiary on our way home. Well, he was full of even more questions and persuaded his dad to take a detour, so we ended up taking a little driving tour of the grounds. John was pretty sure we would not be allowed on the grounds due to the checkpoint, but as no one was manning it we made it through just fine.

I must say, it was quite an eerie place, especially in the rear. If it looks familiar to you, it may be that you have seen it as the setting in a movie or two...The Green Mile, The Last Castle, the horror flick Furnace, Ernest Goes to Jail, and a few more.

Afterwards, John and I joked about how a back to school, post-Christmas writing assignment might read written by our son...On my Christmas vacation I visited the state pen.

Ren's Room Redo - Part 1

This project has been/will continue to be a work in progress so Ill have to share it with you in chunks.

Old room. Faux window, as if she doesn't have enough real ones.

Every few years I feel the need to redecorate my daughter's room. As children grow, so do their needs, tastes, & personalities. When we moved into our house Ren was in the 7th grade. The color of her room -Chocolate Mousse- was chosen because it matched an itty-bitty portion of a "Paris" canvas picture I had bought for her the Christmas before. I thought I/we would love it.

The contents of Ren's closet moved to the bonus room while we painted. Yellow arrow indicates the Paris print with itty bitty patches of the soon-to-be-gone chocolate mousse, aka mauve.

Ren's room has four windows. Yes, four…three across the northern wall and a 4th one on the western wall. Believe you me, I still gripe about that fourth one even to this day. I mean, I get codes and all, but it's not like if the house caught on fire she wouldn't have three more to crawl from, not to mention the two other windows in her bath and closet! The most eyebrow-furrowing thing about that fourth window (other than the fact that it killed perfectly good wall space)…it’s all of 12” from the 3rd window. I’m sorry, but I just can’t imagine ANY scenario in which Ren would be forced to exit her room from a window and would have to use that 4th one, instead of the 3rd one. Okay, back to the issue with the wall color.

Because of the amount of light, etc., the color ended up looking too MAUVE. Now, don't get me wrong (especially if it is your favorite color), mauve is a pretty color. I think it's a soothing color. But having had it in our first house in the late 80's/early 90's...carpet, wallpaper, placemats, lacey baskets, you name it...I was done with it. No more mauve. I tried to make it fun and cute but it just never felt like a good fit for Ren, even with all the Paris do-dads.

When I was growing up I had one pair of tennis shoes (Cugas - yuck!) and one pair of Sunday shoes.

So about a year ago we began the process of redoing it. Now, most of the bigger changes were made right away, so it's not like we've been working on it this whole time (I'm not quite that ADD). I'm only a couple steps from being finished/as-good-as-it's-going-to-get. The light at the end of any tunnel is a welcomed sight.

The Beatles and a Barbie Dream house. What more could a girl want?

Chicken Taco Soup and My Sister's Name, Her Real One

Did you know that I call my sister Sissy? Well, I do. She’s almost seventeen years older than me, my only sibling, and pretty much my second mother. Her name is Shelia and I guess I couldn’t pronounce it when I was little so I just called her Sissy and it stuck. I don’t know that I have ever called her by her real name. I do know that I misspelled it once on something kinda important. It was the invitations to our parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary celebration (that was over twenty years ago) and I spelled it Sheila. She was not, I repeat, NOT, happy with me. So, when writing her real name on things, I now always go through a little mental routine…SHE, SHE, SHE.

Anyway, this is Sheila’s, Shelia’s, Sissy’s recipe for Chicken Taco Soup. It is what she served on Halloween (a fun night, both parts) and I served this past Saturday night when my Denver Broncos played against the Patriots (a not-so-fun night). Bon appétit!

You will need:
Canned white chicken meat (2 large and 1 small - I just used the Great Value brand at Wal-mart). I guess you could boil a real chicken, but why go to that trouble?
2 cans black beans (drained)
2 cans light red kidney beans (drained)
2 cans yellow, whole kernel corn (drained)
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 pack McCormick’s original taco seasoning
1 pack McCormick’s chicken taco seasoning
About 14 oz. of tomato juice (I just poured it from a large bottle into one of my empty diced tomato cans)

Directions:Empty all the ingredients (except for the chicken and the seasoning packs) into a large pot and stir.
Drain the chicken, break the chunks apart, and stir it and both packs of seasonings into a skillet and brown/heat for a few minutes. Once this is done I add it to the rest in the large pot.
If you want it soupier you can add a little more tomato juice or water.
Serve with shredded cheeses and Tostitos scoops. Yummy!

Tebow and Tacos

Since this past Sunday the menu in my house for tonight has been set. We will have taco soup, tostitos scoops, an assortment of cheeses, and dessert. And should the Broncos pull off another upset today we'll be eating it again next weekend, too. I know some of you are thinking we would be wise to eat slowly today and savor every bite.

I have had three favorite NFL teams in my life.

Fave team #1: The Pittsburg Steelers. I was given a Steelers' jersey for Christmas when I was in the 5th grade. I can't remember the player, though I am thinking it may have been Franco Harris or John Stallworth because it seems the number 2 was part of the jersey number. Of course, I guess it could have been 12 for Terry Bradshaw. Like I said, I don't remember. I do remember feeling pretty cool wearing it.

Fave team #2: The Chicago Bears. This was strictly due to a teen crush on their "punky QB". I thought the sunglass-wearing, headbanded Jim McMahon was a Cute.E.Pie. Does anyone remember the "Superbowl Shuffle"? So, from the fall of '84 until the fall of '88 I was a Bear. Then I went and fell in love.

Fave team #3: The Denver Broncos. This love affair began by association (my husband John has been a Broncos fan since 1977). I remember John sending me roses the day after his Broncos beat my Bears in 1987 and referencing the game on the card. I still have it (the card) in a box somewhere in the garage.

Well, when we married the following year I thought it best that we not be a house divided and I changed my loyalties. After all, he had been a Broncos' fan much longer (and for better reasons) than I had been a Bears' fan.

I must admit our, well my, interest has somewhat waned in the years since Elway retired but now, thanks to Mr. Tebow, I have renewed vigor in supporting the guys from the mile high city. He may never, ever, ever be a quarterback the caliber of ol' #7 but I like the kid!

And so we will eat Taco soup and hope for another awesome game.


P.S. As of 10:00 p.m. CST, taco soup will NOT be on the menu anytime soon. :(

Vivien Becomes Scarlett

I am a happy girl today, my friends. Good ol' Snow Bird came through. Of course, I would be even happier if bunches of actual snow blanketed the ground. I won't complain though. When you have several snow days built into the school calendar and a winter that's predicted to be warmer and wetter than usual, I guess you can't be too picky about the type of snow day you get.

Anyhoo, since I have the day off I think I may take advantage of the free time and pull out and watch my Gone With the Wind DVD. We're big GWTW fans around here and today marks the 73rd anniversary of Vivien Leigh being signed to play Scarlett. I ask you, can you imagine any other person in that role? For that matter, can you imagine any other actors in any of the remaining roles? Well, great balls of fire! I most certainly can't.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

A sight you would, thankfully, never see in my neck of the woods.

It's snowing here in Middle Tennessee. Well, a little. Supposedly, more is on the way. Let even an inch, heck half an inch, cover the ground and you'd see someone in this house do the happy dance. Come to think of it, you'd see three people do it - my hubby is just waaayyy too mature to groove.

In the south all it takes is a little and people are phoning the schools wanting to know about early dismissal procedures and backing up the lines in the grocery stores. I tell ya, it is a beautiful feeling. Who would believe a grown woman could cry tears of joy over empty milk and bread shelves at the Piggly Wiggly!

Happy Birthday, Dear Tire Swings...

Today, I am celebrating a birthday of sorts. Two years ago on January 9, 2010, I wrote my very first blog post. Like most things I do in life it was somewhat impromptu and off the cuff. I didn’t even make it a "welcome-to-my-blog" post.

I had decided (I think it may have been a New Year’s resolution) to begin journaling events for my children, both past and present - events that is, not children. I had even bought a very nice leather journal in which I had recorded a few entries. There was a problem with that plan, though - I haaaaate the physical act of writing. Yes, I am that lazy, I’m afraid. Plus, I have a terrible handwriting. So, when I came across this great idea called blogging I knew I had found a friend.

I don’t write every day and I have gone through a dry spell or two, but I am just the teeniest bit proud of myself for sticking with it this long. There is no way my very nice leather journal would have ever contained what I have recorded here at Tire Swings. Who was I kidding! It just wasn’t going to happen. I mean, I still have Christmas letters waiting to be mailed.

So, happy birthday to me! And, please...no gifts.

Well, okay. If you insist.

Happy Birthday, E.P.

Reading a friend's blog today reminded me of the fact that it is Elvis' birthday. Last name not required. You don't think I'm talking about your uncle Elvis Blevins, do you? Nope. Today belongs to the king (of rock and roll, at least) himself. 77. Can you believe that? 77. That's pretty close to my mom's age. Now I love my momma, but momma was never as cool as Elvis. Of course, had Elvis spanked me with a switch when I disobeyed or rolled his hair in toilet paper at night he, too, may have lost some of the cool factor.

I don't think one has to be southern to be a fan, just as many southerners are not fans (though I can't really conceive of the notion of true born and bred southerners not liking him - at least a little), but the two just seem to go hand in hand.

It's always been rumored in my family that a certain aunt owns one of the scarves he threw out at one of his last concerts. For her personal privacy and safety I won't reveal her name publicly, but I'll try to get a picture and post it one day :)

Sitting in bed one night when I was about 12 (which was about 5 years after he passed away and a few years into the 80s) I phoned in to a radio request line to petition a song. It was a rock station. The song was "The King is Gone" by Ronnie McDowell. Ohhh, yeahhh...I was a cool one, too.

P.S. Here are a couple more fast facts about me and E.P...

1.) I waited up all night and they never played my requested song. It was one of life's earliest disappointments.

2.) My favorite Elvis is latter-day Elvis (I suppose because this is the one I remember from childhood).

3.) A fellow high school classmate always reminded me of Elvis (which is odd because he was blonde).

4.) My nephew Shane was a HUGE fan and an early impersonator, taking the stage in a high energy, first grade, white rhinestone-studded jumpsuit and all, school performance.

5.) Some of my favorite songs..."Burning Love", "How Great Thou Art", "Are You Lonesome Tonight", "An American Trilogy"...

Now that's Evolution

John-Heath:

(to John upon coming downstairs from watching Pinocchio)

Hey, Dad! I know how someone turns into a jackass!

We're thinking he's going to do well in science.

Reading Through the Bible in One Year

As the child of a minister one might think I would have already read through the entire Bible. Not so (sadly). Although I have heard scripture for forty-one years, I have never actually read and studied through the whole body of it on my own. On more than one occasion I have begun the journey only to get sidetracked somewhere in Deuteronomy. So I was intrigued when I saw a friend's Facebook post about another of her friend's projects.

Patricia Szymanski is the author of the blog Reading the Bible in 365. She is beginning her third yearly trip through the Bible and I'm sure she wouldn't mind anyone tagging along. You can visit her site and find out all about her and her project. In fact, you can easily and quickly go back and read her December posts which lead up to the start of the study. So far, I've enjoyed what I've seen of her site and look forward to learning some things about the Bible I did not know before.

Resolutions

In just a few days I will reach the two year mark on this little blogging adventure. During that time, if you have followed along even ocassionally, you have learned a thing or two about me. I'm southern. I'm clumsy. I have a husband who is a terrible giftgiver. I have two great kids who fight with each other like the proverbial cat and dog. Well, here's another fast fact about me...I am a great list maker. Yep. It's true. I can make the most thorough, organized lists you've ever seen. They're really quite lovely. I guess I just have a knack for them. Of course, if you don't have a knack for marking things off those lists, you just end up with a bunch of paper all over the place.

On that note, I present my 2012 New Year's Resolutions. And the best thing about this list is it's digital...no wasted paper.

1. Be a better person. As overused as the letters WWJD have become, they are nonetheless important for a Christian to remember.

2. Read through the Bible, the whole thing. This should also help with numbers one, three, four and five. More to come on this later.

3. Be a better mother to my children. I don't mean to brag for the sake of bragging but I have good kids. John-Heath can be as hyper as they come but he can also be the sweetest, most loving of little boys. Ren can be much more reserved and has never been as outwardly loving as her brother and as a typical sixteen-year-old can have a fairly sharp tongue on her at times. However, I am truly blessed to have her as a daughter. John and I have often talked (and he tries to remind me of this when I am wanting to jump her case about something trivial, like curling the tips of her hair or putting on lip gloss before going out) but there are a lot of not-such-good things she could be doing. So, while she's not perfect and I really wish she would be a tad bit more studious, I really do need to appreciate this gem I have in my life.

4. Be a better wife to my husband. Ditto.

5. And celebrating its twentieth consecutive entry on the New Year's Resolution list...lose weight.

Do you make resolutions? Wanna share one?

Happy New Year!!!

Well, folks...here we are. January 1. Now, if you are southern like moi you surely know of the tradition of eating hog jowl and black eyed peas on New Year's for prosperity in the coming year. However, if you find your pantry bare of these two items substitutions may be allowed. At least, I'm hoping they're allowed. I ate some ham that was cooked in my Cracker Barrel turnip greens for lunch today and I just watched "Boom Boom Pow" (the clean version) on YouTube. Yep, luck will be coursing through my veins in no time flat!