the girl from Oakdale

Floating Banana Tree

2009-10-24T09:07:00.003-05:00

We've had lots of rain here at Lake Cypress Springs. The sun came out for a few days, and, then it rained again. Cliff and I took the Presidential Barge out looking for plants that floated away and found the pomegranate tree. It was still in it's pot, 'docked' at a neighbor's. The Banana Tree floated down to Barbara and Pirks, and is still there receiving excellent care, until we retrieve it. We have a beautiful sunny day and are hoping the lake will do down below the dock, again, and we can boat down to the Walton's to get the wandering banana tree. Which, by the way, was a shoot given to me by Dotsy!

Feline Goodness

2009-10-24T08:47:00.005-05:00

We've had a busy summer, and now all of our 'house guests' are settled in, as you can see from the picture. Here we have Ciccino (Big Boy), Mittens(Chittlins), and last Ciccina (Cici). They are spread over my lap and feet and that is about 25 pounds of feline goodness!

Here are some more pictures of our cat happy home:

Rhubarb Pie

2009-06-21T15:50:00.010-05:00

Rhubarb Pie. We love rhubarb pie. Rhubarb is very hard to find out here in Texas and has a very short season. This is our first and only rhubarb pie and we were so grateful to Dotsy for bringing the rhubarb from Dallas. Rhubarb pie makes me want to sing!

Here is what's left after a Father's Day cookout with Dotsy, Troy and Peaches. I guess Cliff and I will have to eat the rest.

Rhubarb grew wild along the railroad tracks where Cliff lived in Wisconsin, and it grew in the north Georgia mountains where Dad was from.

Birthday Cake

2009-06-14T12:55:00.004-05:00

Chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache, from Ina Garten who got it from Devon Fredricks. The recipe calls for a 16 ounce can of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. In that 16 ounce can there are 1 and 3/4 cup of syrup.

Susie's Birthday

2009-06-14T12:14:00.005-05:00

We celebrated Susie's birthday last night with pizza, wine and chocolate cake! Dotsy is now the official pizza dough roller. Perfect circle, and nice and thin. Susie was born in Hinsdale, Illinois in 1973. Again, Peaches made the trip to help out.

Susie is the official ingredient chopper and pizza fixer. I bet she didn't know she was going to have to work so hard on her birthday! We also learned that only mozzarella is used on pizzas in Italy.

The men were in the living room saying where's my pizza? Well, the cooks had to sample it first.........

Cliff

2009-06-12T08:08:00.011-05:00

Cliff grew up in Port Washington, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. This is a picture of Cliff getting ready for his first communion.

This is a picture of Cliff's Mother's family. Hans and Mary Glieber immigrated to America from Austria sometime in the early 1900's and settled in Milwaukee where they owned a restaurant. Later, the Gliebers moved to Port Washington, where their children were born. This picture is of Hans and Mary Glieber and their children. Leona, Cliff's Mom, has a twin sister Loretta and they are in the center, second row. Marian is the baby, Annie is on the left next to Hans, and Eleanor on the right. There was a brother Frank who died when he was 12.

This is a picture of Leona and Loretta's first communion, taken about 1925. Cliff' mom, Leona, grew up in Port, married there, and her three sons were born there. Later, the family moved to Knellsville, just outside of Port Washington.

Coffee

2009-05-18T10:20:00.010-05:00

Coffee is the all important morning starter. For many years Mom and Dad always drank Standard Coffee. Judy remembers seeing the Standard Coffee van coming to the house with the deliveries. Standard is still in business selling commercially. Dad switched to Community Coffee, sometime in the 60s, and would order it by the case. Mom says that in Oakdale, Louisiana, the adults had coffee at 8:00, 10:00 and at 2:00. She was always licking the cream from the top of the milk bottle, and denying she had done so, but the cream mustache gave her away. Lately, we have been buying whole beans and Cliff's job on weekends is to grind the beans and make the coffee. Heather, Cliff's niece, had given us a grinder and beans which got us started, but some friends up the road invited us in one Saturday morning for a cup of coffee and we had coffee better than Starbucks. Mike and Anne shared their secret, and we now have to have freshly ground coffee on the weekends.

Mom and Dad always used a drip pot, which consisted of three pieces. When Cliff and I married in 1988 I was still using the drip pots Mom and Dad had given me. First, boil enough water for the coffee and a little extra. While waiting for the water to boil, put the coffee grounds in the middle section, place that on the bottom section, and then put on the top section. The pots used to have lids, but I never used them. Put the pot in a cake pan, on top of the stove. Pour boiling water into the pot, and pour some in the cake pan to keep the coffee warm. As the coffee is slowly dripping through the grounds, butter your toast and warm up the milk for the coffee. The best way to warm up the milk is to put it into a small cream pitcher and place it in the cake pan with the drip pot, in the warm water. Once the coffee is ready, remove the two top pieces and through the grounds away. Enjoy!

While Dad was waiting for the coffee in the morning, he would put a steaming hot wash cloth on his head and walk around the house getting ready for work. This was so he could get his hair to lie down. He usually only had to do this after a visit to Jack Ash, his barber. Dad went to Jack Ash and got a sort of crew cut. Mr. Ash was the barber in Monroe for as long as I can remember; his shop was downtown near the pool hall, I think, on Broad Street.

After about a month of using the drip pot, Cliff introduced me to Mr. Coffee. The drip pot went into the cabinet as strictly an emergency backup.

Mother's Day

2009-05-08T08:53:00.007-05:00

Mother's Day. We are one of the lucky families. Cliff's Mom, Leona, and mine are well and both turning 90 this year. Leona is settled in with one of her sons and family, Peaches is settled in out here at the lake. Dotsy and I are very fortunate to have Mom so close by. Even though Catherine is far away, and Susie not so far away, they are always close by, in my heart.

Road Runner

2009-05-07T17:54:00.009-05:00

We have a road runner, or maybe a family of them, living in the woods in our neighborhood. Usually he is running across the road as I am walking or driving, and seems to know I'm without my camera. This time, I was ready. Beep beep!

Surprise!

2009-05-03T07:10:00.014-05:00

Happy Birthday to Patty. It was a surprise party, and lots of fun. Pizzas and wine, what could be better?

Cat Stories

2009-04-27T08:15:00.008-05:00

Susie's cats have adjusted to life in Texas. I think they may like it better than life in Italy. Ciccina and Ciccino have taken over the house, except when Mittens is stalking them. Il Ciccini love sitting on the screen porch watching the birds and squirrles, and watching Mittens playing in the yard. Ciccino loves to sit on the "cat perch", that we have to prop up because he is 14 pounds of love and needs a little support.

Peaches in Georgia

2009-04-24T06:19:00.007-05:00

In March, Judy flew Mom to Georgia and then to Biloxi for a wonderful weekend at the Beau Rivage. The Beau Rivage is now Mom's favorite place, but I think she will still go to Shreveport whenever she can. Mom also spent several days being wined and dined in Monroe, visiting old friends, and the Georgia family.

Happy Birthday Cliff!

2009-04-23T17:19:00.008-05:00

Happy Birthday Cliff. We celebrated Cliff's birthday twice. Once

with meat loaf, mash

ed potatoes, Texas cornbread, and pie, and then with Crawfish Cardinale! Cliff received many fine gifts, but mainly love and kisses, and a sunset cruise.

Two Amazing Women

2009-04-23T08:42:00.011-05:00

Last week we went

to Alexandria, Louisiana to see Peaches' sister, Dottie. We stayed with cousin Linnie, and family, which includes a very smart and friendly Bouvier. Some videos of Abbey doing tricks are posted on facebook and vimeo. We had a wonderful trip, and as always delicious food. Aunt Dottie sent her delicious Crawfish Cardinale back with us to celebrate Cliff's birthday. We always have such a good time sharing recipes and talking about old times.

Florence, Italy 2009 part 3

2009-04-18T15:28:00.008-05:00

Mercato Centrale in the heart of Florence

Florence, Italy 2009 part 2

2009-04-17T17:29:00.003-05:00

Florence, Italy 2009

2009-04-11T11:44:00.008-05:00

For fourteen years, Susie has lived in the Tuscany region, the last year in Florence. She had been thinking about moving home to Texas, and this was the year. The move was quite complicated because of many laws regarding her kitties. The end of March, I flew over to 'help' her with her move. At the airport in Florence, we ended up with 4 luggage carts. The kitties, il Ciccino and la Ciccina, had to have special crates and lots of documentation.

We had a week in Florence and it was wonderful. Susie had lots of last minute things to take care of, and I tried to help by going to get breakfast, and, one time, lunch. The pastry bar was two blocks up and one block to the left. I had a note in Italian to give to the people at the counter. Each morning, I would give them the same note, asking for una sfoglia alla crema and get something we didn't ask for. I was told, by gesture and not getting what we wanted, they those pastries were out. So we always got something just as delicious. Then I would move down the counter and the barista would give me due cappuccini da portare via, which was also on the note. The man making the coffee was very nice, and I didn't have to talk too much. Just grazie. He would put the coffees on a small heavy cardboard tray, with two sugars, two spoons, and two napkins. Next, I would pay, and learned after a couple of trips, that it was going to be 3.90 euro each time. I had a hard time juggling Susie's umbrella, coffees, and pastries, but got the hang of it after a few tries. Some of the customers would talk to me in Italian, until they realized my vocabulary was only: ciao, grazie, arrivederci and a few other phrases.

Dotsy/Dottie

2009-03-20T09:34:00.011-05:00

Sitting around Dotsy's dinning room table the other night, we were talking about our grade school teachers, and we started talking about how Dotsy got her name. In the third or fourth grade, Dottie Oakes and Dottie Cleaton were always getting mixed up, apparently distressing the teacher. So, one afternoon after school, Peaches and Dottie sat down and talked about it. Peaches came up with Dotsy instead of Dottie! And, she has been Dotsy ever since. We think it was in the third grade because Dotsy had Miss Evelyn Summers for her teacher. Miss Summers was very mean, and Mrs. Hines, the fourth grade teacher was very sweet. I know Mrs. Hines was sweet, because I had her in the fourth grade, my first teacher in Monroe. We also talked about our fifth grade teacher, Miss Mary Miller. She was absolutely the most hated teacher in the Walton County School system. I don't think we have ever had a meaner teacher.

Another teacher we liked was Miss Nancy Stephens, our sophomore year algebra teacher. She was very nice and if it weren't for her, I would still be in high school. Another teacher that was very kind was Annette Braswell, the home ec teacher. Mom and Ms. Braswell were good friends, as Mom was teaching P.E. at the high school then. I think Ms. Braswell took pity on me and gave me a passing grade even though the bathrobe I 'sewed' , as a required project, hardly resembled a bathrobe.

Spring 2009

2009-03-18T09:10:00.009-05:00

These are pictures from Miss Lee's Daffodil Garden, just south of Gladewater. Be sure to click on the first picture to see the squirrel watching us.

The daffodils were in full bloom. It's the perfect place to take a picnic, and then go to Gladewater for antiques.....
The trees were just leafing out and were very beautiful. There are about 30 acres of blooms. The whole tract of land is over 800 acres.

The web site for Miss Lee's is: www.daffodilgarden.com.

Some of Christine's Camellias.

Camellia japonica "Gigantea" from Barbara's yard.

Edith Blanche

2009-03-17T19:06:00.005-05:00

This last week or so, I discovered that my Aunt Sunny's real name is Edith Blanche! Cousin Nan has done some wonderful work on her family tree, which includes the Tanners. Nanny was a Tanner and when looking at Nancy's family tree, I told her that Sunny's name was not Edith, we had always called her Sunny, and, her middle name was Blanchard. After having Nancy correct Edith to Sunny, it turns out that Sunny's name was Edith Blanche, not Sunshine Blanchard. The source I should have used in the first place was Aunt Dottie. The Bible Mom has, that was Nanny's, was given to Nanny by Papaw in 1956. two years before Nanny died. In it, Nanny writes about "Sunshine" Blanchard. Aunt Dottie says that Sunny hated the name Edith Blanche and changed it to Sunny Blanchard. Once again, a big thank you to Nancy!

Bible Verses from Cousin Nan

2009-03-15T11:40:00.022-05:00

Nancy sent two of her favorite Bible verses. The first is from Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." The second verse is from Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to his purpose." It is so wonderful to have the verses from our friends and family.

When we were very little living in Atlanta, we went to the Presbyterian Church on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Dad and Mom left the Presbyterian church after his Mother died, and joined the Druid Hills Baptist Church, also, on Ponce de Leon. Mom was brought up Baptist and this was a wonderful move for all of us. Both Mom and Dad said they never felt the fellowship in the Presbyterian Church that they did in the Baptist Church. I remember Dad being 'baptized' after we joined. The preacher gave him a good dunking. It was many years later that I found out how the preachers kept dry: wading boots!

Dad always said that all of his friends from high school were attending First Baptist. They gave him a huge welcome, and made us feel right at home. Dr. Louie Newton baptized us. Dr. Newton was a wonderful preacher, and was at the church for 40 years. After all these years, I still remember Dr. Newton, and how beautiful the Church was.

Dr. Newton was prominent in the Southern Baptist Convention for a long time. There is an article on him at www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.

Daphne odora

2009-03-09T12:25:00.006-05:00

Daphne odora was another flower that Dad grew. Both Dotsy and I have tried to grow it here in Texas, but without much success. Daphne odora is one of the sweetest smelling plants around. It is better than a gardenia. Papa also would cut some of the tiny flowers for us on Sundays, to pin on our dresses.

International Women's Day

2009-03-09T11:29:00.006-05:00

International Women's Day is March 8. Usually, Dotsy, Barbara, Lori, Peaches, and I go to Winnsboro to Lou Vinery to celebrate. This year our favorite place is closed. It was a very congenial place, and close by.

The first time I heard about International Women's Day, was from daughter Susie. In Italy, where she has lived for a long time, it is very much a holiday, not official, but celebrated with girl friends going out for dinner, or just getting together. Over the years, here in Scroggins, we have tried different things on March 8, such as collecting canned goods for the food pantry in Pittsburg, or money for a children's advocacy group.

Camellias

2009-02-27T08:21:00.010-06:00

Spring always reminds me of Dad and his camellias. Papa had over 200 hundred camellias when we moved from Atlanta to Monroe. A lot of them were in cedar tubs. These were the cedar tubs with eight sides and two metal bands around them, depending on the size of the tub. I believe the metal was brass. Every Sunday when the camellias were blooming, Dad would pick camellias for each of his girls and all of our Sunday School teachers. He would put florist wire through the stems, and then wrap the wire with florist tape. We would proudly wear our camellias and our teachers were thrilled to receive their flowers. When the tea olive (osmanthus fragrans) was blooming, we would get tiny bouquets pinned to our dresses.

Dad loved to work with his camellias. I can still see him, sitting in the backyard, grafting and air-layering the camellias. He grew many seedlings that over the years became quite large. There ended up being about a 20 x 20, 40 x 40? foot area in the backyard with large camellias that Dad had grown from seedlings.

Of course, his favorite place to get camellias was from Nuccio's in Altadena, Ca. If you are ever in the Pasadena area, it is a must see. Cliff took me there twice while we were in California for his prostate cancer treatment at Loma Linda. Julius Nuccio was kind enough to take us 'behind the scene', to see their operation.

Finding Family

2009-02-25T21:23:00.010-06:00

Today was such a special day! I heard from a cousin on Mother's side of the family. She found my blog while doing her family tree research. Nancy's grandmother, Esther Marion Pollard, and my great-grandmother, Lura Tanner, were cousins. Nancy lives in Seattle with her family, and I would never have known that we have 'family' there if she had not contacted me. It is so exciting to find out about our Pollard family! I've been learning a lot about the Iles, Rutledges, and Tanners, from Nancy's family tree.

Verse from Barbara and Ricky

2009-02-22T09:02:00.007-06:00

Our friend Barbara, really Dotsy's best friend growing up, (but I claim her too) wrote a beautiful comment. If you haven't read the comment under "Bible verses and letter from Neal", please do. She and Ricky also love the Book of Ruth, especially Ruth 1:16. Barbara is one of the sweetest people one could ever know. Thank you, Barbara.

Bible verses from Dotsy

2009-02-21T13:09:00.002-06:00

Dotsy sent these verses:

1 Peter 1: 24-25 All mortals are like grass; all their splendor like the flower of the field; the grass withers, the flower fails; but the word of the Lord endures forever.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one.

Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, nor quick to take offence.

Bible verses, and Letter from Neal

2009-02-21T09:53:00.022-06:00

When Mom moved out here to Texas, about 6 years ago, she wanted to join a Church. We asked our friends Kim and Gwen where they went to Church and Sunday School. Kim told me she had been to every Church around and she found a home at First Baptist Pittsburg. Gwen told us that she and Elmer had been members there a very long time. Both Kim and Gwen invited us to join their Sunday School Class, The Friendship Class, taught by Bo Pilgrim. We've been members ever since. It is truly a class of Christian friends.

Friends and family sent some of their favorite Bible verses to share. I have found that these verses are full of comfort for all of us.

Anne sent these:

"This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1

"I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." Phillippians 4:13

"I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth." Psalm 1221:1,2

Lara sent this:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:3-4, The Message

From Neal and Linda:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Neal also wrote Mom a letter that I want to share with everyone. It brings home how we never know how we will affect someone. Neal wrote:

"Our acquaintance has not been one of great length, but it feels that you have been in my life forever. You have completed a picture that I have carried with me since my mother died when I was five. There were many very loving 'stand-in' moms for me. My spotted mare, along with a couple of ole dogs that I had at the time of her death, the colored lady, who worked for my mother and whom I loved, took me as her tenth kid, and, the neighbors who cared about me, all were good stand-ins for a MAMA, but something was missing. Not being able to remember much about my mother, I created a picture in my mind of how I thought MY MAMA would look and what she would be like, but without a face. You have completed that picture, A REAL SOUTHERN LADY, fun and outgoing, with a sweet loving spirit, with enthusiasm for life, and a face of soft kindness and compassion for everyone she meets. Now I know, that is the way My Mama would have been. Thanks be to God for your coming into my life to help me complete my picture of MAMA. 'May the wind always be at your back and that you shall always be held in the palm of God's hand.'

Neal O'Quinn

February 10, 2009

This is from Nancy:

"Romans 8:18 is one of my favorite verses. It has carried us through many rough times and is carrying us once again: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. "

Nancy and Larry are always in our prayers for, his full recovery. They have never lost faith, with all of Larry's cancer treatments. Their faith has sustained them.

Betty and Jim love Psalm 100, 1-5, as does Elaine:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Catherine said one of her favorite verses is : John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I love this verse from Psalms 55:22

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." When I was going through radiation treatment, the men's roundtable at the church sent this.

Some of Mother's favorite verses are from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Elaine told me that the book of Ruth is one of her favorite books of the Bible. Ruth was Elaine's Mom's name. She also loves the Beatitudes, from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.

I hope to add more Bible verses. Please send them to me, or you can add them as comments. Love, Ann

Peaches gets her Pilot's License

2009-02-10T12:43:00.018-06:00

When Peaches was at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, in Lafayette, a program was being offered to encourage students to learn to fly. This was called the Civilian Pilot Training Program started in 1938. It's purpose was to train a pool of potential military pilots that the country would soon need. This program operated at 1,132 colleges and universities. I've posted a link to the National Museum of the USAF if you would like more information. Mom was one of two girls accepted in her class, I believe the other girl dropped out. I'll have more of Mom's adventures, later!

Saturday Night Pizza!

2009-02-08T13:34:00.015-06:00

Here are two of my favorite pizza dough recipes:

the first one is from Arthur Schwartz "Naples at Table"

1 envelope dried yeast

1 cup warm water

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup warm water

In a 2 cup glass measure, with a table fork, dissolve the yeast in the 1 cup of warm water. Stir in 1/2 cup of the flour, cover with a clean dishtowel and let stand until the mixture foams up to about double - to 2 cups - about 30 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine 3 1/2 cups of the flour with the salt. Stir in the yeast mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of warm water. Stir until the dough masses together. Gather the dough into a ball and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Adding just enough flour to keep dough from sticking. Knead about 10 to 12 minutes, until smooth, silken, and slightly damp on the surface. Dust the dough lightly with flour and place in a bowl to rise, covered with a clean dishcloth, for about 1 hour, or until it is slightly more than doubled in bulk.

Punch down the dough, divide into 4 parts. Let rise, covered. Roll out, top with favorite ingredients. bake in oven preheated to 500 degrees for at least 30 minutes. Be sure to place your pizza stone in a COLD oven. Refrigerate or freeze remaining balls in plastic bags.

Here is my second favorite recipe for pizza dough: Go to Sam's, and they will sell you a case of pizza dough. It keeps in the freezer all nicely wrapped. Each ball of dough will make 5 small thin crust pizzas!!!

Happy Birthday, Catherine

2009-02-06T22:03:00.010-06:00

Today is Catherine's birthday! Happy Birthday!!! Catherine was born in 1971, at St. Mary's Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. She was the most beautiful baby in the nursery. Peaches was there, and so was Catherine's other grandmother: Catherine O'Shaughnessy Herbstritt. Peaches and Grandma Kay were both claiming that Catherine looked like their side of the family. The nurses used Catherine as the 'demo' baby to show new mothers how to bath and dress their newborns.

Peaches was very busy in 1971. She had four grandchildren born that year. OB's youngest son was born in January, Catherine in February, Tim in August, and Parrish in September. Catherine and Tim were born in Illinois, and the rest were Georgia babies.

February is also a month filled with other family birthdays: Lara on the 1st, Lea on the 12th, and, Lauren on the 18th. Happy Birthday to all.

Recipe and Pictures

2009-02-02T07:59:00.049-06:00

The 'girls' were over Saturday and what to serve??? Strawberries dipped in chocolate. Mom's famous ham and cheese puffs. And, of course, Mimosa's. Somehow, the Hors d'oeuvres' taste better when Peaches makes them, is it the hand that makes them? That puts a special touch on them? The recipe is from one of Peaches' cookbooks, appropriately enough,

Hors d'oeuvres' by the Mimosa Garden Club of Atlanta.

Deviled Ham Spread

1 can deviled ham 1 8 oz package of cream cheese Bread

Cut crusts off bread. Cut slices with cookie cutter(use different shape cutter if desired). Spread deviled ham on bread. Then spread with whipped cream cheese. Bake at 375 until brown.

Mom's a very talented woman

2009-01-30T08:39:00.007-06:00

Mom has always been a very talented woman. She learned to play the piano, and, by ear. Whenever I came home, whether it was from school, or to bring my babies, Mom would play the Missouri Waltz for me. It was always my favorite tune she played. This waltz always reminds me of home, growing up in a loving family, and all of the fun we had as children. No one plays it quite like Peaches. This song envelops me with the love of our family.

There is a link I've posted, to a young lady covering Johnny's Cash's version. If you right click on the link, then, right click on "open in a new" window, you will be able to keep reading and, also listen.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T14:49:00.022-06:00

This Christmas Card was taken about 1953. All six of us still, at one time!

Christmas in Atlanta. Judy, me, Nell, and Santa. This was taken about 1954, notice Judy's dog tag. We were going to school at Mary Lin Elementary. The next picture is of Catherine and Susie in 1976. This was taken in Hinsdale, Illinois. The next Christmas card is Michael and Lara, taken in 1987.

Turtle Soup and Fried Rabbit

2008-12-18T09:40:00.005-06:00

No, there are no recipes, but, there are stories. Dad loved to bring home strange food, and would find the recipes for Mom in Gourmet. One time, there was a snapping turtle. I don't know how Papa got the turtle, but there it was, and he wanted Mom to make turtle soup. Dotsy remembers that the turtle hung on the clothes line to dry out; I can see Dad now, getting the older brother to help him hang the turtle on the clothes line.

We wish we could remember more about the turtle, but one thing for certain is that we did not name it. One can never eat anything one names. Mom made the turtle soup for Dad, and that was the only time, unless it came out of a can. I finally tried turtle soup a few years ago and it was wonderful. It was at Commander's Palace, for a rehersal dinner for cousin Janie's daughter, Elizabeth.

Annie Mae, who worked for Mom and Dad for at least 30 years, was a wonderful Southern Cook. At least once a week, usually on a Saturday, she would fry a couple of chickens. The chicken would be left on the stove until dinner was ready. (Dinner is at noon, Supper is always the nighttime meal). One afternoon, Judy came home and saw the chicken on the stove and was eating a piece, or two, and loved it. She says it was the best she ever ate. Dad told her it was fried rabbit. From then on, she was careful to ask if it was chicken or rabbit.

Frying should be done in a well seasoned cast iron skillet, with peanut oil. The chicken or rabbit should be served with greens, collard or turnip, and cornbread and pot likker.

Happy Birthday Mike

2008-12-15T10:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday Mike! When Mike was born, Nannie wanted Peaches to name him after Papaw. So, Peaches did: Blanchard Iles Oakes, but at the last minute, put Michael in front of all the other names.

Ella Bella

2008-12-14T10:17:00.010-06:00

Today, Lara sent a picture of little Ella in a beautiful hat and scarf Ella's grandmother Elaine knitted. I have to have the directions for the hat. The picture also got me to thinking of how all of the grandchildren had such special memories of Peaches. Lara told me about Peaches teaching her to climb the railing, on the house on Walton Circle, up to the mailbox. When she was little it seemed to be so very tall, and she was so proud to be able to do it. Peaches would encourage the children in all kinds of things.

In the eighth grade, Lara had to bring in a recipe, and the food, for a project. That was right up Peaches' alley. They put together a delicious chicken cordon bleu type meal. Peaches made up the recipe, and named the dish "Chicken al la Lara".

Mom was famous for her wonderful parties and fabulous food. One of her best recipes was for "Prune Cake". When asked for the recipe, she always left out some crucial ingredients, and ladies could never understand why their cake was not as good as Mom's.

Next week is book club, and Peaches Prune Cake is perfect to serve for a large group.

Peaches' Prune Cake:

1 Cup chopped nuts 3 eggs 1 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup Wesson Oil 1 cup buttermilk 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon almond flavoring 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped prunes Mix together Cook at 325 for 1 hour.

Icing: 1 Tablespoon white Karo 1 cup sugar 1 stick oleo 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon vanilla Cook 7 minutes

This is exactly how Peaches gave this recipe to me in the 70's. There may be a few who don't know what 'oleo' is, so, ask your Mothers!

Michael

2008-12-07T08:23:00.003-06:00

Today is Michael's birthday. Michael was about a week old when he developed jaundice. He was rushed to Emory and given a complete blood trasfer. Now look at him! Peaches wanted to name him Pearl, if, he had been a girl! Happy Birthday Michael.

Judy and me 1967

2008-12-06T21:50:00.010-06:00

Judy had the best friends: Amelia and Brenda. I always wanted to tag along with them. They were always having such fun and seemed so worldly! Here we are when Judy was a first year teacher. She had the most fabulous car, an MGB, and, wasn't it British racing green? or Black? it was to die for. My sister was always one of the best teachers Walton County ever had. She has a natural talent for teaching.

When we were growing up, lots of times we would walk up town to the Kirkland Theatre to see a show, and Older Brother would run ahead of us on the way home and jump out to scare us! OH! My! How it worked. I wonder what happened to Mr. Kirkland. OB never scared him, as far as I know.

For one of the matinees, Lash LaRue was on stage. I had an autographed 8 x 10 glossary of him for the longest time.

I remember wanting to go to a horror show with my brothers and sisters and Mom saying that we/I would have nightmares. Well, she was right. I think it was about some watermelons that would split open and people would come out looking just like someone else. Then, of course, there was the Blob. Ah, Steve McQueen. That was really a great horror show.

The Iles Girls

2008-12-05T14:20:00.012-06:00

Sunny, Peaches, Dottie. I think this photo, above, was taken at Linnie's wedding.
This was probably taken in 1925 or there abouts. Dottie, Sunny, Nanny, and Peaches

Recipe and Pictures

2008-12-04T08:38:00.014-06:00

Pictures: Lemon Souffle Pie, Thanksgiving 1969, and Peaches about 1940.

This recipe is too good not to share. It comes from cousin Linnie and is:

Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping.

Casserole: 5 lbs sweet potatoes 1 stick butter, softened, 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/3 cup whole milk Bake and mash sweet potatoes, puree in food processor. Mix in butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and milk. Pour into casserole.
Praline Topping: 1/2 cup Heavy Cream 1 Cup light brown sugar 1/3 cup melted butter 1 cup chopped pecans. Bring cream to simmer in sauce pan. Add brown sugar and stir until it dissolves. Cook over medium heat and stir until it reaches soft boil on candy thermometer. Remove from heat and beat in butter and pecans. Pour over sweet potatoes and bake at 350 until hot, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serves 8.

Harry Arnold

2008-12-02T17:12:00.017-06:00

Today, Mom and I drove down to Tyler to shop and go to Sam's. Mostly Sam's. On the way, I asked her if everyone called Harry Arnold, Sr., Puss or just she and Dad. Mom said that our cousin, Judge Frank Holden, had been in WWI with Mr. Arnold, and that's what Frank called Mr. A. What a small world. Frank was a Federal Judge in Atlanta, and lived in the Buckhead area, I believe. It was a beautiful, beautiful neighboorhood. Frank and his wife Grace would visit us in Monroe every so often, and Frank would line us up and say "whose turn is it for a silver dollar". Dad saved them for us, and I still have one. Papa would punch a hole in them and put a wire through the hole. I guess he would attach our names to the wire. We always loved to see Frank and Grace. Frank, Jr. had a camp just north of Atlanta, and one summer, Dotsy went to camp there and mostly worked in the stables taking care of the horses. Frank was a cousin on Dad's Mother's side, Nona Corry Oakes . Nona was born in Siloam, GA in 1887, and died in Atlanta in 1947. Her father was Eugene Reid Corry.

Frank was born in Crawfordville, GA, 1894, died Atlanta, in 1975. He was married to Grace Pope of West Palm Beach, FL. There is a small book of WWI that Frank wrote, called War Memories, published in 1922. This book has been digitized by Google Books. Search for War Memories by Frank A. Holden. Frank graduated from the University of Georgia and was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He practiced law in Athens with his father. Frank's father, Horace Moore Holden, was also a judge on the Federal bench in Atlanta. Frank's mother was Mary Emma Corry, half sister to Eugene Reid Corry. Their father was William Alexander Corry. Mary Emma's mother, William's second wife, was Mary Matilda Stephens Reid... I was always puzzled by the relationships, but with the help of a wonderful book, Willian Corry and His Descendants by Mildred Seab Ezell, I've been able to piece this together.

Sweet Apple

2008-12-01T21:02:00.018-06:00

All of the grandchildren loved to visit Papa at the hardware store. I can still see Papa holding Catherine, when she was about 3, in front of the store on Broad Street. When Papa moved out to Davis St., he planted a field of zinnias next to the store. He painted the store a beautiful red and had a refrigerator in the back for watermelons. Papa could frequently be found on a stool at the front of the store, reading his newspaper, with his glasses halfway down his nose. When niece Lara was just a little girl, her Mom had dressed her in a blue and white striped outfit with an apple on it, and a worm coming out of the apple. Lara remembers running into the store and throwing her little arms up and saying "Papa! Papa!" He always called her 'Sweet Apple' after that.

When Papa had the store on Broad St., W.R. Weaver rented a small space in the front. W.R. would do watch and jewelry repair, and sometimes wait on customers, when Dad needed a little extra help. I think W.R. was there probably for 25. until Dad moved to Davis St.. Julius Adcock worked for Dad for forty years. When I would go into the store to get a hammer, or nails, I would say to Julius, "put it on my account, please!" and, he would say "that NO account!" In the fifties, everyone in town closed on Wednesday afternoons. Saturdays downtown were very busy. People could hardly walk down the sidewalk. It was only a few years after we moved to Monroe that there was a terrible fire down the street from the hardware store. Aycock Brothers caught on fire and burned to the ground. At the time, it seemed like a like a huge department store, wooden floors that were oiled, men's, women's, and children's clothing, and various sundries. Aycock rebuilt, and was a very fine place to shop. When I was in high school, they were still charging to hem girl's jeans, but not men's. Puss Arnold still had his barn on the block behind Broad St. until the 60's, I think. When we were little and would walk by, we could see the animals in there. Mrs. Arnold was a wonderful lady, and sang in the choir. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had a beautiful antebellum home, just off of Walton Street.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T11:19:00.007-06:00

Thanksgiving is full of many wonderful memories. Yesterday we had our very traditional meal. With us five of us, we have to be careful not to get carried away with the cooking. We started our celebration with breakfast at my house: Judy's breakfast casserole, and Judy's curried fruit, and, champagne. Dinner is always planned around the Cowboys' game, and Dotsy HAS to make her dressing, and I have to make my sweet potato souffle.

When we were little, Mom always used her silver, crystal, and the china that her Mother gave her, for our holiday meals. I learned early that the silver had to be counted before it was put up. This way we were able to find any pieces that had gone astray. Maybe into the garbage or in with the every day pieces. Grandmother's china was a set of Haviland she bought in New Orleans from an estate sale. This was probably in the 30's??? 20's? or possibly even earlier.

In college, Mike started bringing some of his UGA football buddies to Thanksgiving dinner. Mom and Dad would cook at least one turkey, a ham, and tons of food. Pop made his famous punch, that had a motor. One of the treats we always had for Thanksgiving, was oysters on toast points. Served with champagne. If the football players were coming, we made sure to eat those early. To this day, there are never enough oysters on toast points to go around when the Oakes' get together.

This year, I did make a different sweet potato souffle: cousin Linnie's scrumptious recipe with the praline topping. I'll never go back to mine. The recipe I used came from Lunnie Broughton in Monroe. It served us well for 30 years. Catherine and Susie liked having Lunnie for a babysitter, and I certainly did. She would iron, cook, and clean. When the family would go off for a vacation or just to Hard Labor Creek, Mom would have Lunnie make dozens and dozens of fried pies. I think the apricot were the favorite. Whenever I make sweet potato casserole, I think of Lunnie.

I'm grateful for many things in my life. Some are: that Catherine had friends in Maui to have dinner with, and, Susie had friends in Florence to have an American feast with, even if it was on a Saturday.

Ducks

2008-11-25T11:51:00.013-06:00

The ducks have started coming in. We're seeing mallards, grebes, and always herons. This morning, when I looked out the kitchen window and saw the ducks, it reminded me of a time when we were on our way home, from Atlanta, and Mom wanted to drive us through Piedmont Park. We were enjoying the park and trees and looking at the ducks on the lake, when she ran over a curb. Not only did we get a flat tire, but, the rim was also ruined. After we limped to a gas station, maybe that is why the rim was ruined, and bought a new tire, we made our way back to Monroe. The only thing we talked about on the way home was "don't tell Daddy". Mom decided that it was best to blame this on wild teenagers driving us off of the road. Papa never knew about this from my lips.

Avondale Estates

2008-11-24T08:18:00.010-06:00

The very first house I remember was our home in Avondale Estates. I don't remember very much about our time in Avondale, but I do remember that I fell into the community pool and my grandfather, Paw, 'saved' me. Our home had two bedrooms, and we were very crowded! Mom and Dad, older brother, sister Judy, me, brother Mike, sister Nell, and, Dad's father, Paw. Mom said she had bunk beds everywhere. Paw's wife, Nona Corry Oakes, died in 1947 and Dad and his brother Walter were going to take turns having him live with them. That, of course, didn't happen. Paw lived with us for twenty three years. Sometimes he would visit other friends, and at one time Dad had a place in Lawrenceville for him.

Back to Avondale. Avondale Estates, just outside of Atlanta, was a master planned community, founded by George Francis Willis in 1924. Mr. Willis purchased the entire village of Ingleside and renamed it after Stratford-upon-Avon. The downtown buildings were all designed in a Tudor style, and many of the houses also. There were tennis courts, a lake, a community pool and clubhouse. The first Waffle House opened in Avondale in 1955.

After the War, Dad had a hardware store, in East Atlanta, and was able to carry a line of washing machines. Washing machines were a rare commodity at that time. The only one he had was a floor model, which he immediately brought home to Mom. (This is not a picture of Peaches.) Mom was very grateful for her new wringer machine, as the maid was probably doing the wash in a wash tub. Older brother was a very inquisitive young man, as Mom and Dad found out. One day, he took her wringer washing machine apart. I don't know if it ever worked the same again. About the only other exciting thing that happened in Avondale was connected to older brother. He tried out a hammer on Paw's head. Paw didn't think it too exciting.

There were lots and lots of children on our street; the war boom babies were just starting in 1946.

Book Club

2008-11-21T10:19:00.012-06:00

Today, book club meets at Barbara's home, which made me remember one of the first times Mom went to book club. We were discussing Cane River, at Barbara's, when Mom made a comment that set the ladies to gasping and laughing. Now, I always sit next to her so that I can pinch and squeeze her arm when I have any indications something is getting ready to happen. Dotsy also helps; or, does she encourage Peaches? The ladies in the club love to hear Mom, hoping for a new bombshell. Barbara always serves great pies.

Reading was a big part of our growing up. Mom and Dad always had lots of books in the house; all six of us have enough of their books to fill our homes. Mom loved Galsworthy, and Dad was partial to Dickens. Dad had a set of Mark Twain that was autographed, by Twain. It was addressed to Cory, only one r, not like Dad's two. In the auction trade it is known as ANS, autograph note signed. For the longest time, it confused me. How could Dad have known Mark Twain in the 1800's? Papa spent a great deal of time reading, and always encouraged us to read. The only book he told me that I could not read was J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Which I of course I immediately read, and did not understand some of the words. If I had only waited a few years, then, I would have understood why he did not want me to read it.

Barbara served a delicious pumpkin and caramel pie, along with many other delicacies.

Red Letter Day

2008-11-20T09:21:00.009-06:00

Red Letter Day! Happy Birthday Peaches!

Today is Peaches' Birthday! She is 89, and looks much younger and dances like she is 20. Happy Birthday, Mom! Peaches was born in Oakdale, LA November 20, 1919. She was born at home, and weighed only about 4 pounds, as she was very early. Her grandmother stayed up all night keeping her warm, rocking her by the stove. Some of the great memories we have of times past are the stories Mom used to make up to tell the grandchildren. Lara remembers spending the night with Peaches and Pop, getting her bath, and Peaches would put lotion all over her little legs and arms and back and tummy! The favorite story Lara remembers is about a fairy that lived in a pool. Mom used to always tell about the little blue bird that fell out of a nest and how (insert name) picked it up and saved it.

From Mom's cooking beginnings with Spam, she became one of the best cooks I've ever known. All of the brothers, sisters, grandchildren and friends will agree. But, don't ask her for a favorite recipe, it will have an ingredient left out. Dad was always bringing home exotic groceries, and getting Mom to try something new. He subscribed to Gourmet from the late forties until, well always, and seemed to have a new recipe for Mom every week. Elaine, my sister-in-law, remembers Mom going to Clout's grocery store in Atlanta and bringing home all kinds of delicious things. Clout's was fabulous long before Central Market. Carpeting and chandeliers. Elaine also remembers how Mom would tell everyone that she couldn't give out her secret salad dressing. Mom finally confessed to her good friend, Myrtle Hanson, that it was Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. Aunt Dottie had given Mom some of the packets, and Peaches was able to keep her secret for about a year. In the early '60's Hidden Valley was just becoming popular in our part of the world. Elaine also remembers Sundays were family cookouts. Dad loved his huge Texas size Weber grill. One of the things Elaine remembers that Dad loved to cook, was a leg of lamb, served with mint jelly, and pilaf, and always a delicious salad. Dad would buy bulgar when he was in Atlanta, and Mom would make her pilaf with it. Saute some onions in butter, add garlic, stir in the bulgar, add broth, cover and simmer until done. Test for seasonings.

Update on the Limoncello!

2008-11-18T08:52:00.029-06:00

Well, I was very surprised, but the limoncello was a hit! Very Tasty! Yes, with a capital T. Dotsy and I made a lot pizzas for Peaches and Troy. The Peach Pits and Sub-Pits were there, and Troy's golfing buds. The Pits are playing bridge again this Wednesday! And, the golfers are out now as I type!!! When we were growing up, there were always a lot of birthday parties. My sister Judy and Older Brother shared a party for many years because they were born one day and one year apart. Mom does like to say that she had 6 children in 8 years and Dad was away in WWII for 2 years. She also likes to say that they all had the same Mother.

Oldest Brother was born in Oakdale, LA, in 1943. Dad was in the army and training in Oklahoma. So, Mom was staying with her parents when O. B. was born. At about 6 weeks old, he had to have surgery for pyloric stenosis. Mom said the doctor couldn't use an anesthetic because O.B. was so young, and, there may not have been any available during the War. Back in Atlanta, Mom was saving grease for the War effort. Nannie came to visit and wanted to know how she was going to get the grease out of all of the Coca Cola bottles.

Peaches and Papa were married secretly for about a year, in 1940, but had an 'official' marriage in 1941 in her parents living room. All the relatives were there and Mom had on a beautiful pink suit. After the wedding, when Mom and Dad were getting ready to leave on the train for Atlanta, Mom asked her sister Dottie how to cook. Dottie told her to get a can of Spam, and open the can, stud the Spam with cloves, and bake it. Dad would tell us that Peaches cooked Spam for him when he came home from the War. He said that was all he had eaten for two years. They didn't have Spam after that.

Papaw and Nannie weren't too pleased with the match, but came around when Dad had a vasectomy after the sixth child, little Dotsy, was born in 1951. Nannie came to Atlanta to help Mom with the latest edition, and while she was there, Dad had his 'procedure', and for the first time Nannie hugged his neck. She also didn't mind if he had a drink in front of her, even though she hated drinking more than the Devil hates Holy Water.

Family History

2008-11-14T08:01:00.019-06:00

Growing up in the South, we always knew that family was very important, not just brothers and sisters, but family, way back to the beginning. At least to the War of Northern Aggression. We still believed that no matter what your bank account said, your family was the important thing. My Aunt Dotty has provided the research for her mother's side of the family. It seems the first person we can find in our family goes back to the 10th generation, and is a man by the name of the Hon. Paul Grimball, born in England, prior to 1682, and died on Edisto Island in South Carolina, 1696. His wife Mary was born in England and died before 1720. Paul Grimball was a Proprietor's Deputy, 1683; Secretary of the Province of S.C. 1686; Member of the Grand Council, 1685-1686; Receiver General & Escheator, 1687-88(Escheat goes back to English common law: a doctrine that operates to ensure that property is not left in limbo and owner less), Surveyor General, 1696. His son, Thomas, born in England prior to 1682, died between 1722 and 1724, married Elizabeth Adams in South Carolina, before 1707. Elizabeth was born before 1690, and died before 1722. Their son, Paul Grimball born about 1700, died about 1750. Paul and his second wife, Mary, were married on Edisto Island about 1740. Mary died sometime after 1780.

Paul and Mary's daughter, Anne Grimball, now our 7th generation back, was born about 1749 and died before 1825. She married Peter Robert, born 1738 and died before 1825. Peter and Anne were married Beaufort District, SC about 1765.

On August 30, 1774 their daughter Providence Robert was born. She died January 14, 1856. Her husband Robert Tanner was born February 14, 1769, and died September 28, 1839. They, also, were married in Beaufort District, SC on February 14, 1793.

Paul Jabez Tanner was born to Providence and Robert on April 22, 1810. He died December 26, 1863. Paul married Esther Providence Bettison, who was born September 30, 1815, and died April 7, 1871. Paul and Esther were married in Cheneyville, Louisiana on June 6, 1833. Because of the date of Paul's death, I wonder if he died in the War between the States.

Linn Tanner was the son of Paul and Esther Tanner. He was born December 31, 1838 and died July 21, 1910. On August 11, 1859, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, he married Fannie P. Pollard. Fannie was born January 30, 1840, and died July 14, 1916.

Their daughter, Lura Tanner, was born June 4, 1866 and died October 30, 1935. She married Joseph Morrison Rutledge in Cheneyville, LA on February 8, 1887. More than likely at her father's plantation. Joseph was born on January 4, 1862 and died October 27, 1940.

Mother's mother, Linnie Rutledge, was born at her father Joseph's plantation, on June 6, 1893, and died of cancer in 1958, Oakdale, LA. She married Dr. Blanchard Iles in Cheneyville, LA on February 8, 1916. Dr. B. was born on December 20, 1891 and died in 1969, also in Oakdale.

Mother's mother,Linnie, was one of ten children. If we were still counting generations, the Hon. Grimball would be the 11th generation, or is it 12 or 13, now.

Baking for Bridge

2008-11-11T14:24:00.010-06:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday, it's Mom's turn to have our bridge club to her house. I've made for the lunch tomorrow: white bean chicken chili!! and a cheesecake. This is the best cheesecake ever, and it comes from a cookbook that Dotsy gave me: Great Cakes by Carole Walter. Since I'm doing the cooking, I picked the menu! Usually I serve Peaches' Texas Cornbread with the chili, but we're having french bread instead. Fortunately, the cheesecake is extremely light. Mom has played bridge as long as I can remember. She played with the same group of ladies for about 40 years. Now, she is in two bridge clubs out here, and substitutes in more. She is an excellent bridge player. We also have a 'club' that meets whenever we can. We call it the Peach Pits, or Peaches and her Pits. We also have some sub-pits! Mom, Dotsy, LarryAnn, Barbara, and sometimes Karen, and I'm always there! We start about 1 at Mom's, the Club House, and finish when the wine runs out. Mom's ladies in Monroe played every Thursday. They all took a sandwich, and played until school got out. PS If you want the recipe, click on the right hand picture..

Happy Birthday Troy!

2008-11-10T09:16:00.008-06:00

Today, November 10th, is Troy's birthday. Troy is one of the most generous people I know, he is always doing for others. He always keeps us laughing, and has a wonderful way of making everyone welcome. My life is richer for knowing him. And, he's an inventive cook!

Many happy returns!

Happiness is.......a cord of wood on a rainy Monday.

2008-11-10T08:47:00.005-06:00

and, it's on the screen porch, nice and dry! Cliff says that I start a fire if it gets below 70. I remember growing up that Mom always had a fire going when there was the least bit of a chill. Dad would come home from the hardware store to get it started. They used big lumps of coal most of the time. I think they stopped using coal about the same time the ice house in Monroe closed. There was a coal bin under the house on Highland Avenue. Also, in the house in Atlanta. If Dad wasn't at home building fires, or serving cocktails to the ladies, he was at the hardware store. It was next to the Farmer's Bank. We all had savings accounts there, and on Saturdays I loved to walk up to the store and get my savings book and withdraw a nickel. For many years until the early 80's the bank would sent me statements about once a year. I know they were grateful when I finally closed that account. It may have had $5.00 in it. The Farmers Bank changed names, moved into a new building, and Dad moved out of downtown also, to Davis Street. He had a huge red building with a front stoop big enough to sit on and eat watermelons. There was a refrigerator in the back of the store and always full of cold watermelons, on hand for customers and grandchildren.

Ghosts and Goblins

2008-11-10T08:23:00.008-06:00

Some of my favorite ghosts and goblins!

Making pizza dough

2008-11-09T09:47:00.009-06:00

Today, I'm going to make my second batch of pizza dough and freeze it for Peaches' and Troy's birthday party next Saturday. Dotsy and Peaches are coming over to help. We all love to cook, and I know that is because our parents loved to cook. Mom always, it seemed, served liver cooked with onions and bacon once a week, and fish once a week. We actually loved the liver! Fish would be a whole red snapper baked in the oven with bacon, or maybe a whole flounder. We also had to have at least two vegetables. When we had bread, it was always cornbread or rolls. Mom did not learn to cook at home because they had someone who cooked for them, Stella. Aunt Dottie gave Mom her first recipe as she was on the train leaving for Atlanta.

We loved visiting our grandparents, Stella, Nannie's cook, always was cooking something good, and, the telephone was a mystery because when you picked up the receiver, the operator came on and placed the call. I believe that if you said "I want to talk to Betty" she would know exactly who you meant. When we lived in Atlanta, our phone number was EVergreen 9-3901, I think! This of course was before area codes and zip codes. We lived at 1360 Fairview Road, NE. My dog tag has name, address, birth date, and a P for Protestant. This was at a time when we practiced 'duck and cover' in case of an atomic bomb attack. When we lived here in the '50's, the house had a beautiful Italian tile roof. There was a garage in the back, and a small two room house also. The porte-cochere led to a beautiful back yard with a rose garden and large spaces for all of our playground equipment. We had monkey bars, jungle gym, slide, swings, a climbing pole, and of course a sand box. Dad was able to get the same equipment that schools had, so all of it was very sturdy. I wonder if it is still there.

Hair Day!

2008-11-06T13:15:00.010-06:00

Thursday Mom's Hair Day. Every Thursday, and that is also our day for the grocery store and other errands. For as long as I can remember she has gone to the beauty parlor once a week. It usually is $10.00, but recently went up to $12.00. Today, our friend Gloria was also having her hair done, and is going to show me how to do a yarn over next week! When we lived in Atlanta on Fairview Road, I can remember going with Mom to Kurt's. I remember he was on a side street somewhere in Atlanta, and then moved to Peachtree St. across from Brookwood Station. There was a wonderful deli next door. the best pastrami sandwiches. When we moved to Monroe in 1954, Mom still made the trek to Kurt's but not every week. Hwy 78 was being widened into a 4 lane and it took forever to get to Atlanta. Kurt eventually moved across Peachtree and down a block, and Mom probably went to him until the late 80's.???

Today my sister Judy is having eye surgery. All of us are wishing her well and a speedy recovery. She will have to be very careful for the next month, lie face down and not move around. Maybe she will start a blog while she is recuperating! Someone told me that she had an 'immaculate hole', but it is really a macular hole. Ah, the scrambler.

Family Pictures

2008-11-05T10:52:00.009-06:00

This is a picture of Dad taken in Oklahoma about 1944. The next one was taken 1951 when we lived in Atlanta. Peaches and Pop about 1941, Atlanta.

Peaches and Pop Monroe, GA

Is this not the most beautiful picture you have ever seen?

Another Beautiful Day

2008-11-05T07:46:00.017-06:00

It's another beautiful day in East Texas. I have the doors open to the screen porch and can smell the tea olive (osmanthus frangrans), which Dad grew in Georgia, along with hundreds of camellias, which always makes me smile. My maternal grandmother, Linnie Rutledge,(1893-1958) grew up in Chaneyville where her mother's family, the Tanners, owned most of the land. I remember Mom talking about her grandfather Rutledge's plantation and how each of the children had someone to take care of them while they were growing up; how at the end of the year, accounts would be settled, and his wife called into question the cases of bananas, which was a code he was using for something else! My grandfather, Dr. B., (Blanchard Iles 1891-1969) was a dentist in Oakdale. He grew up in the Sugartown-Dry Creek area. His father raised goats, and my grandfather knew he didn't want to do that, so he borrowed a $100.00 and went to Atlanta and worked his way through dental school, handling cadavers. Peaches said that all the bachelors in Oakdale would always meet the trains that came to check out ladies that might be arriving. My grandmother got off the train and my grandfather picked her. Nanny was a teacher before they married. She taught Sunday School at the Baptist Church for many years, even though she belonged to the Christian Church.

Here is a delicious recipe from my Cousin Linnie

2008-11-04T11:00:00.001-06:00

CRABMEAT AND CORN SOUP:

1 POUND LUMP CRABMEAT
¼ CUP BUTTER
2 CUPS CHICKEN STOCK
SALT AND PEPPER
1 CUP FRESH YELLOW CORN
¼ CUP ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
2 CUPS HALF AND HALF
GARLIC POWDER OR CHOPPED FRESH GARLIC
THYME TO TASTE (1/2 TSP?)
1 TBL.GREEN ONIONS CHOPPED
1 CUBE FISH BOUILLON
PINCH OF RED PEPPER
½ CUP WHITE WINE

CUT FRESH CORN FROM COB AND SAVE SCRAPINGS AND MILK. SET ASIDE. MELT BUTTER IN SAUCEPAN. ADD GREEN ONIONS, THYME AND GARLIC AND SAUTE ABOUT 1 MINUTE. ADD FLOUR AND BLEND WELL. ADD CHICKEN STOCK AND FISH BOUILLON STIRRING CONSTANTLY. COOK UNTIL THICK AND SMOOTH. STIR IN CREAM, CORN, RED PEPPER, SALT AND PEPPER.
COOK OVER LOW FIRE UNTIL CORN IS TENDER. ADD CRABMEAT AND WINE AND HEAT JUST UNTIL HOT. DO NOT BOIL!

YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH LESS CRAB IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE THE SOUP FOR MORE SERVINGS.

Election Day!

2008-11-04T07:37:00.001-06:00

Election Day!! Cliff and I voted this morning at the South Franklin precinct. Usually, we don't have a wait, but today it was about 15 minutes. There was no grumbling about the wait. We are very fortunate. Peaches, Dotsy, and Troy will go to vote later this morning. I was thinking about Mom and Dad always insisting we vote. From the time I was 18, I don't think I've missed any election. My first Federal election was an absentee ballot. I was in school in Gainesville, GA. In order to vote, I had to take my ballot to a county office, post office? county clerk?, and vote while in the room with someone. I do remember that he was reading his newspaper while I sat across from him and voted. 1964. I'm pretty sure all five of my brothers and sisters always vote, and all 10 grandchildren. We'll see about the next generation, the 9 great-grandchildren. Peaches and Papa believed in being good citizens.

Limoncello

2008-11-03T18:02:00.002-06:00

Today Peaches, Dotsy and I zested lemons for the limoncello we are making. It was a beautiful fall day, so we sat on the screen porch with Buddy. When Mom was growing up, she says she learned to drive a Model T Ford when she was 12, and went to LSU when she was 15. There she pledged KD. In Louisiana, there were only 3 years of high school at the time. After her first year, she transferred to Lafayette to attend Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette. That is where she met my Dad. At the time he was known as Curry Comb, because of his thick curly hair. Dad was on a football scholarship, when they met.

Sunday Evening

2008-11-02T18:00:00.003-06:00

Peaches came over for a glass of wine and we talked about Huey Long. She remembered hearing about the Kingfish having dinner with a family in Oakdale and drinking his soup from his bowl instead of using his spoon.
Mom was the middle of three daughters, and, apparently always hiding under the crawl space of her home as she was quite the little trouble maker! Mom was born November 20, 1919. Her little sister was called Sunny because she was always happy, and happy to let Mom get her in trouble. One time Mom and Sunny cut off Aunt Dottie's doll's curly, beautiful hair Dottie lives in Alexandria, near her daughter Linnie. My other cousin Janie, lives in New Orleans.

Sunday morning

2008-11-02T07:33:00.001-06:00

Daylight savings time is over again. Very confusing. time to get ready for Church. The coffee is made. Mittens is out and about, and the oven is heating up to bake some biscuits.... Back from Sunday School, Bo passed out doughnuts, Pat taught a very good lesson. Troy fixed hamburgers for us! oh so good. All I can do is post a picture of the clean plates!

Happiness is.......

2008-11-01T16:21:00.001-05:00

Happiness is 40 pounds of sweet potatoes from Golden, Texas! These are the best. Don't miss next year's Sweet Potato Festival in Golden.

Peaches

2008-11-01T16:01:00.002-05:00

Mother has been called Peaches since her first grandchild was born in 1966. This year, she, my sister Dottie, and I went to visit my oldest daughter, Catherine, who lives in Maui. Everywhere we went, people were amazed that Peaches will be 89 in November. We especially love to tell everyone that Mom went snorkeling.