My Tomato

I grew up with a smallish garden that my parents lived on year after year. I have missed those vegetables for almost twenty years now.

I have tried many times growing tomatoes. This year I have finally tasted one.

This is my little one. Tasted just like it came from my parents garden. It was yummy.

Trying something different can be a good thing right? I think this year it will be a tomato.

Blessings!

Family

David and I traveled to Texas over Thanksgiving.  It was a great drive, enjoyable for both of us. 

Discovering family, meeting cousins - lots of cousins, great food, and conversation of past lives was wonderful for me.  I hadn't realized how much I needed family. 

 David at Andy's home (beautiful patio - beautiful home)

 Josh and Garrett

 Aunt Clariece, Aunt Barbara (Jake's wife), and me.

 Trish, and Allison

 Jordan, David, Susan, Josh, and Cathy

 Garrett and Julie (who is pregnant with twin girls!)

 Andy, Jordan (back of him anyway), Garrett and my Uncle Jake (with Coco)

Sitting out around the fire pit.

me, my Uncle Jake, and David

Sorry about the picture quality ---copied over from Facebook.

This was a wonderful visit filled with regret, love, and new beginnings.

Family is important, years and excuses shouldn't get in the way.

I can offer this from now on...no more excuses for keeping in touch.

 Blessings!

Friendship

Why do you need your bestie?  Yes, best friend.

Phone...I have a bench from my Mom that she referred to as a "gossip bench."  It used to have the phone on it's shelf, and underneath the shelf a telephone directory (all of her family, and important numbers), and a telephone book.  You could sit by the phone (well, you had to - the phone cord was short and connected to the wall), and chat for hours.  This is before cordless phones, and most certainly, cell phones.  I remember sitting there for hours chatting to friends.  I truly can talk for hours, and hours.  Talk about troubles, funnies, irritants, and just general stuff.

Friend. How often do you talk to your friend?  Sometimes I wish that telephones were still connected to walls.  So you would need to sit and think about what was being said.  You took time to talk.  Not always on the way to the store, or later.

I look at my bench, and always think of my friends.  Now it is a spot for things to be dumped, and not ever in its appropriate place.  Or for the cat to sleep away the hours.  I wish there was a phone, and time to spend hours on the phone with my best friend.

Reflections of a Favorite Teacher

I follow Beth Moore's Blog over at Living Proof Ministries.

http://blog.lproof.org/2010/07/a-really-fabulous-teacher.html/

Not sure where or when my comments will post...but I felt like I needed to share on mine as well.


"Oh, my!

I grew up in a small town in Northwest Arkansas (Prairie Grove), graduating class size of 63, graduated 1984. My favorite class began with Home Economics (basic sewing, cooking), Mrs. Phyllis McGinity. I loved that class, and the way she taught. She made learning of cuts of beef fun. She talked with her hands, and would giggle throughout her lecture portion. Her eyes would close and she would smile when comments weren’t correct, but she would let you work it through. I took basic child education classes, to advanced cooking classes. My senior year, I had a free period, and became her assistant.

She really did mean the world to me. As a graduating gift, she gave me “Apples of Gold.” A beautiful little book with quotes, and scriptures for everything in life. The inscription meant the world to me, and all it said was “Thanks for smiling when I taught.” There was more written, but this meant the most.

I did attend college, but never went past the first year due to many things. I still regret not getting a degree in Home Economics, but believe that I have been gifted by her teachings, and carry many with me daily.
I think I will send her a Thank You. Teachers need to know.
Thanks Beth!
Jerry Ann"


If you have a favorite teacher, and they are still around - send them a note.  I think  it would mean the world to them.
Blessings!

Happy Fourth!

Happy Independence Day!

It is a four day weekend for me, 

and I do believe that I love being home.

We are in a place where I need to work, 

but one day I will be able to be at home full time.

Until then...  

I did a little around the house on Friday, but not much.

Yesterday (Saturday), I truly just relaxed. 

Carmen and I watch a couple of movies, and had popcorn.

Today, we stayed home from church, 

but I got up and seemed to get busy.

No one around here likes it when I get "productive".  

I seem to go from room to room, but after a good bit, 

I have accomplished a lot. 

Not anything specific.  Just stuff.  

Hubby and Stephen will be going fishing later at Hubby's parents dock.

Carmen is working again (Thank you God!), 

and will meet us later to watch the fireworks put on by

the City of Fort Walton, and then we will turn directions

and watch the City of Destin fireworks. 

When I grew up, I got sparklers.

Really.  That is it.  Oh, and if I had any babysitting money,

I would get those champagne bottle poppers (with paper streamers).

Those were fun. It was enough.  When I got older, I would meet 

friends and attend the show at the Northwest Arkansas Mall.

That was fun, but the traffic was crazy.

I like this holiday. 

We are blessed to have a home.  

A free place to express our thoughts, 

worship where we want.

Grateful.

Have fun and a safe holiday.

Blessings!

Our beaches

This oil spill is devasting.  We haven't seen the effects yet, but I fear we will soon.

I love this beach.

From my wedding day.  The beach was beautiful.  Precious memories.

A night out...to the boardwalk.  

Last summer...looking at these...I just want to cry.

Is the oil really worth this? 

Happy New Year! Reflections of 2009...

Happy New Year!

Today I made my mother's sauerkraut.  I really did bring back memories, and I am quite impressed with being able to replicate her and my Oma's (grandmother) recipe.  We had to eat it on New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day along with black eyed peas.  I didn't care for the peas, but always enjoyed the sauerkraut.  We have eaten throughout the year when Mom was alive, but I haven't made it in a long while.  It with the peas was supposed to bring luck for the new year.  Not to really believe that, but you never know.

Not everyone enjoys it.  But I most certainly do. It was a good beginning to the year I believe.

2009 brought Carmen to the hospital last January for approximately 9 days.  We are so very blessed that she is doing well, and has grown into a beautiful young woman. We totaled a vehicle by hitting a dear, which sent our finances upside down. It has been a growing experience, one in humility, with our finances.  But I believe that we are much better now than a year ago, without using a credit card, and on the road to get out of debt.  God has been really good to us. 

I am in awe of His grace. 

I am doing okay with my health.  I am tired, fatigued.  My vision seems to go blurry when I am very tired.  I am resting, but still feeling like I am not getting anything done.  I enjoy cooking, and cleaning and, oh, too many things that I can't seem to do on a daily basis.  Once work is done, and dinner cooked, I am exhausted. 

I am blessed. David is a source of strength and my reminder to take things easier than I do.  Carmen is a help around the house, and does more than I ask.  Stephen is as tall as me, and keeps growing.  He is one to give hugs, and snuggles when I need it the most. 

Blessed.
I pray you have a wonderful year.
Love,
Jerry Ann

Memories

The latest news of Michael Jackson passing brought many memories of high school drill team. It seemed we always had a dance to one of his songs. Oh, the 80's. One of my favorite routines was "PYT" - pretty young thing. Snaps, and a head pop back and front. Wow...that's all I remember of that one. ha. Thriller - showing my children that video after seeing "13 going on 30" and realizing how old I am. He is our generations Elvis. Too much in the news. Too many tears for a star searching for importance.

Farrah - memories of being in my parents den, laying on a love seat pretending to be asleep watching "Charlies Angels." It was past my bed time, and I so wanted to watch that show. I so wanted my hair to be like hers, but who didn't. Such a strong lady with her battle with cancer.

Childhood. Wonderful memories.

My Mom's birthday is June 30th...and how I would love to have her for a moment or two...just to sit and hold her hand. I miss her stroking my hair. Happy Birthday Mom. She would have been 73.