As most of you my dear readers know, I am a great history lover! Of course genealogy comes hand in hand with that doesn't it? Whether researching your own family or another, you must be willing to accept what you find. Sometimes not finding what you need is the hardest to accept. I know because I have been on both ends of that stick. Recently Betty and I have been on a seek and search for a long lost cousin. So if you know of a former garage worker with the last name of Whitlow who once worked in Mt. Mourne back in the 40's, let me know! It sure would make Betty happy. We would love to let them know there is a place at the table set for them. After all family is family doesn't matter where or how you put it together. Y'all come eat!
I come from a touchy feely family. That is a family who strongly believes in hugging and loving one another. I can't tell you how many times I hear those three words "I Love You" when I talk to my aunts or my grandmother. Even my uncles tell me they love me. I even passed this wonderful habit on to my own children. I hear it at least a dozen times a day. I can't imagine my life without hearing those words. So imagine my shock when I trip across someone who belongs to one of THOSE families who does not express their emotions. A family who doesn't say I love you to one another. My Hubs came from a family like that. I have to listen real close to catch the one and only "I love you" from them and usually my Hubs said it. It's not that they don't love one another, they just weren't taught how to say it. I like to say it to them often. My way of reminding them you know. So dear reader be sure to tell those you love everyday how much you do love them. It's really very easy you know. It starts with a hug and ends with you!
Well my dears, I'm off on a mission. Got to find me some cabbage to make my Grandma's kraut. Looks like this weekend might be a good weekend to chop it up! Y'all be good to one another and Betty, keep searching my dear! Well folks until next time, that's the way I see it.
Thoughts
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Spot and A Touch of Lime Should Do It!
And so we come to Sunday night my friends! Finally we are shedding our re-runs and embracing Fall with it's flying colors all around! I for one simply love this time of year! I have always loved Fall as one of my favorite seasons along with Spring of course. Fall is the time of year I like to begin using all those wonderful foods I stored up this past summer. Like those luscious tomatoes my cousin and I preserved along with the ones I put up here at home. And Fall is the time I start searching for the right cabbage to make home made kraut. YUMMMMMMM I love the crunchy kind and can hardly wait to start chopping it! Once I get my recipe together I will be sure to share it here with you of course.
Here in the next few weeks my cousin and her hubs will appear on the horizon with fishing poles in hand. We will make the yearly trek to the beach to catch our favorite fish THE SPOT. Right now I have been receiving reports that Spots are running up and down our coast. So if you have a hankering for their sweet flavor come on down to your local beach and drop a line or two. Who knows maybe you can haul back a cooler full yourself!
The Hubs and I took off to Pittsburgh, PA for a few days at the beginning of this month. We had a ball of course and we actually got to catch a baseball game while in town. PNC Field is a beautiful baseball field. I posted a pic on here I hope you enjoy of the inside of this field. It's a panorama and I did it using 4 photos! Can you tell? lol
Of course the real reason we went up there was to visit our family. I was so happy to see my daughter and her wife! They look very happy and content with one another. What more could a mother ask? lol Touched base with some of the Hubs siblings. That's always interesting. Of course hugs and kisses all around to them and us. Love my Pittsburgh family! Found some long lost cousins along the way too! All too soon it was time to come home. But promises were made and hopes are we will be returning next year for another visit!
We took the scenic route back instead of the interstate and tolls all the way, we choose to avoid Washington and stay on the back roads. We are so happy we did! Got to stop off at an apple orchard and pick apples in Frederick Co., VA. Thank you Brannon Family! Y'all got the best apples and peaches I've ever had the pleasure of picking! Also got a chance to visit with a little boy named Dare. And what a hunk of love he has become! Smothered him in kisses and tried so hard to "kidnap" him however his mommy and daddy blocked my getaway! Foiled again I say! lol Oh well, like all children when he grows up he will find his way to my house by the sea......
We had some visitors over the weekend. A cute little couple from Rhode Island my Wayfaring Son invited down with him. They only stayed a couple of days, just long enough to catch up with our son so he would have a ride back to Rhode Island. While here they took an interest in all the food I had put up for the winter. So here's one of the recipes I used my salsa with, I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and friends have.
Taco Bake
1 lb. hamburger
1 pint salsa (see July's post for recipe)
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
Crushed chips (touch of lime are the ones we use)
2 cans of re fried beans
1 pkg of Taco mix
1/2 cup of water
Brown hamburger meat and add taco mix, 1/2 cup of water water, add salsa and re fried beans. Mix well and bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and allow to simmer stirring often.
Crush just enough chips to cover the bottom of a dish. Pour mixture over crushed chips, top with shredded cheese and bake at 400 til cheese is melted.
Kids love it, heck the whole family loves it! And best of all you can cook it in less than 30 minutes!
Well that's it folks, that's the way I see it! And Betty, do try to get some rest! Love to all! xoxoxo
Here in the next few weeks my cousin and her hubs will appear on the horizon with fishing poles in hand. We will make the yearly trek to the beach to catch our favorite fish THE SPOT. Right now I have been receiving reports that Spots are running up and down our coast. So if you have a hankering for their sweet flavor come on down to your local beach and drop a line or two. Who knows maybe you can haul back a cooler full yourself!
The Hubs and I took off to Pittsburgh, PA for a few days at the beginning of this month. We had a ball of course and we actually got to catch a baseball game while in town. PNC Field is a beautiful baseball field. I posted a pic on here I hope you enjoy of the inside of this field. It's a panorama and I did it using 4 photos! Can you tell? lol
Of course the real reason we went up there was to visit our family. I was so happy to see my daughter and her wife! They look very happy and content with one another. What more could a mother ask? lol Touched base with some of the Hubs siblings. That's always interesting. Of course hugs and kisses all around to them and us. Love my Pittsburgh family! Found some long lost cousins along the way too! All too soon it was time to come home. But promises were made and hopes are we will be returning next year for another visit!
We took the scenic route back instead of the interstate and tolls all the way, we choose to avoid Washington and stay on the back roads. We are so happy we did! Got to stop off at an apple orchard and pick apples in Frederick Co., VA. Thank you Brannon Family! Y'all got the best apples and peaches I've ever had the pleasure of picking! Also got a chance to visit with a little boy named Dare. And what a hunk of love he has become! Smothered him in kisses and tried so hard to "kidnap" him however his mommy and daddy blocked my getaway! Foiled again I say! lol Oh well, like all children when he grows up he will find his way to my house by the sea......
We had some visitors over the weekend. A cute little couple from Rhode Island my Wayfaring Son invited down with him. They only stayed a couple of days, just long enough to catch up with our son so he would have a ride back to Rhode Island. While here they took an interest in all the food I had put up for the winter. So here's one of the recipes I used my salsa with, I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and friends have.
Taco Bake
1 lb. hamburger
1 pint salsa (see July's post for recipe)
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
Crushed chips (touch of lime are the ones we use)
2 cans of re fried beans
1 pkg of Taco mix
1/2 cup of water
Brown hamburger meat and add taco mix, 1/2 cup of water water, add salsa and re fried beans. Mix well and bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and allow to simmer stirring often.
Crush just enough chips to cover the bottom of a dish. Pour mixture over crushed chips, top with shredded cheese and bake at 400 til cheese is melted.
Kids love it, heck the whole family loves it! And best of all you can cook it in less than 30 minutes!
Well that's it folks, that's the way I see it! And Betty, do try to get some rest! Love to all! xoxoxo
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Moonshiner and A County Deputy
You know I really didn't realize what a privileged life I had growing up in the south until I was well grown! I guess that's pretty much the way it is with most kids no matter where they grow up you know? I was the oldest of three kids my parents had. They themselves were just barely grownups when they started having kids. Why, my mama used to say all the time how they grew up with us kids. She said that's just they way things were then. Everybody got married young and had kids. She used to tell me a lot of things when I was growing up. One of her favorite's require her to shake her finger at me as she say "Now don't forget......." Of course I haven't forgotten mama... I remember everything! Even stupid stuff I wish I could forget!
She would give me a book, wait let me back up a bit. She would BUY a book that no one in their right mind would read and tell me to READ it! Yep she sure did! Of course I read it! I am a good southern girl! And I do as my mama told me to just like every other good southern girl! Jeez how many times do I have to tell you people before you get it! lol Any who, it was like I would have to give her the info she desired but couldn't glean it as well as I could? Something like that I think. lol I retain strange things when I read boring books. Sorry I know all books should be wonderful to read but let's face it some are just down right bor-ing and how they ever made it to print is just beyond me! So I was her book detective! I remember one book in particular that must have been 4 inches thick. My only response to her when she handed to to me was "Really Mama? You really expect me to read this book?" And her reply was the same, "But of course, you are the reader in the family my dear...." I never got to finish that book before she died. I still have it marked right where I stopped.
Recently I found my baby book and I saw an entry she made when I was about 2 years old. It simply reads "Donna remembers everything". Through the years my memory has really worked in my favor. I found that all I had to do was pay attention in class and I could ace a test every time. No need to study! I also found if I took notes and re wrote just the notes right before the test I would ace the test even better! Amazed even me once I figured that out! Why I found no need to carry books home just take my notes! lol
As I got older I found that there was no need to remember a person's name just remember what their favorite hobby was or who their kids are or where they worked. Things like that would always lead me back to who they are. My memory has served me well through out the years. I can still recite the entire Hollibaugh Family Tree from memory so I'm good there.
So I guess you could say it is only natural that I became the storyteller. I do love a good story you know. Just makes my heart so warm inside to hear a good story. I have so many to put down on paper sometimes it is hard to decide which one to write first. Here is a little story from my uncle. Of course like any good storyteller you just never know if it's true or not! But I hope you enjoy it anyway!
After James came back from WWII, he found himself a young man with a lust for life! As soon as all the dust had settled his eyes turned toward his childhood sweetheart Edith. Now Edith and James had known each other all their lives, mainly because their parents were best friends. It wasn't so much that times were hard back then, I guess you could say it was more along the lines of impatience on James part to be married! All he could think about was getting married and using his GI bill to set himself up in a house somewhere with a picket fence. But first he had to have a ring. Now a young man fresh out of the Navy with a low paying job would have to wait a while before he could have that kind of money but not James! He had a plan! Yes sir! He was going to hitch himself up with a Moonshiner! What better way to make a quick buck in 1946?
Finding one wasn't a problem in 1946, talking a Moonshiner into letting you run his moonshine down the mountain for the first time was! But my slick talking uncle managed to do just that and how he did that we will never know but he did! But come along a certain Friday night he had a trunk full of moonshine and he was ready to drop it off and collect his money. So he cranked up his 1938 Chevy Master and off down the mountain he went counting his money of course.
What happened next came as a big surprise! Yep you guessed it! He blew a tire and he still had a trunk load of moonshine! And he was almost to the drop off place. As luck would have it, the county deputy stopped to help him change that tire too. Now this deputy had known James since he was a little boy so you can imagine how he must have been shaking in his boots when he pulled up. The deputy kept asking James "Where's yer jack boy?" and "Why in tarn nation would such a smart boy like you leave home without a jack?" Of course there was no way James was going to let the deputy open that trunk! So instead he took a stern lecture on how to be prepared at all times especially when traveling alone on "these back roads" at night! All the while James kept sweating buckets of sweat not to mention his underwear probably needed changing too! Why the deputy even took him up the road to get the tire patched. Nice deputy gave him a ride back to the car and put the tire on for him too. Finally the deputy sends him off on his way to deliver his illegal merchandise! Needless to say, James never ran 'shine again but that's not to say some of my other relatives haven't! We'll save that for another time, shall we?
Well folks there's your story for tonight, I hope you enjoyed it! And until we meet again, y'all be good to each other! Good night Betty!
She would give me a book, wait let me back up a bit. She would BUY a book that no one in their right mind would read and tell me to READ it! Yep she sure did! Of course I read it! I am a good southern girl! And I do as my mama told me to just like every other good southern girl! Jeez how many times do I have to tell you people before you get it! lol Any who, it was like I would have to give her the info she desired but couldn't glean it as well as I could? Something like that I think. lol I retain strange things when I read boring books. Sorry I know all books should be wonderful to read but let's face it some are just down right bor-ing and how they ever made it to print is just beyond me! So I was her book detective! I remember one book in particular that must have been 4 inches thick. My only response to her when she handed to to me was "Really Mama? You really expect me to read this book?" And her reply was the same, "But of course, you are the reader in the family my dear...." I never got to finish that book before she died. I still have it marked right where I stopped.
Recently I found my baby book and I saw an entry she made when I was about 2 years old. It simply reads "Donna remembers everything". Through the years my memory has really worked in my favor. I found that all I had to do was pay attention in class and I could ace a test every time. No need to study! I also found if I took notes and re wrote just the notes right before the test I would ace the test even better! Amazed even me once I figured that out! Why I found no need to carry books home just take my notes! lol
As I got older I found that there was no need to remember a person's name just remember what their favorite hobby was or who their kids are or where they worked. Things like that would always lead me back to who they are. My memory has served me well through out the years. I can still recite the entire Hollibaugh Family Tree from memory so I'm good there.
So I guess you could say it is only natural that I became the storyteller. I do love a good story you know. Just makes my heart so warm inside to hear a good story. I have so many to put down on paper sometimes it is hard to decide which one to write first. Here is a little story from my uncle. Of course like any good storyteller you just never know if it's true or not! But I hope you enjoy it anyway!
After James came back from WWII, he found himself a young man with a lust for life! As soon as all the dust had settled his eyes turned toward his childhood sweetheart Edith. Now Edith and James had known each other all their lives, mainly because their parents were best friends. It wasn't so much that times were hard back then, I guess you could say it was more along the lines of impatience on James part to be married! All he could think about was getting married and using his GI bill to set himself up in a house somewhere with a picket fence. But first he had to have a ring. Now a young man fresh out of the Navy with a low paying job would have to wait a while before he could have that kind of money but not James! He had a plan! Yes sir! He was going to hitch himself up with a Moonshiner! What better way to make a quick buck in 1946?
Finding one wasn't a problem in 1946, talking a Moonshiner into letting you run his moonshine down the mountain for the first time was! But my slick talking uncle managed to do just that and how he did that we will never know but he did! But come along a certain Friday night he had a trunk full of moonshine and he was ready to drop it off and collect his money. So he cranked up his 1938 Chevy Master and off down the mountain he went counting his money of course.
What happened next came as a big surprise! Yep you guessed it! He blew a tire and he still had a trunk load of moonshine! And he was almost to the drop off place. As luck would have it, the county deputy stopped to help him change that tire too. Now this deputy had known James since he was a little boy so you can imagine how he must have been shaking in his boots when he pulled up. The deputy kept asking James "Where's yer jack boy?" and "Why in tarn nation would such a smart boy like you leave home without a jack?" Of course there was no way James was going to let the deputy open that trunk! So instead he took a stern lecture on how to be prepared at all times especially when traveling alone on "these back roads" at night! All the while James kept sweating buckets of sweat not to mention his underwear probably needed changing too! Why the deputy even took him up the road to get the tire patched. Nice deputy gave him a ride back to the car and put the tire on for him too. Finally the deputy sends him off on his way to deliver his illegal merchandise! Needless to say, James never ran 'shine again but that's not to say some of my other relatives haven't! We'll save that for another time, shall we?
Well folks there's your story for tonight, I hope you enjoyed it! And until we meet again, y'all be good to each other! Good night Betty!
Come Fall into Autumn with Me!
I have found in my life that God has a way of placing people in your path at just the right time. Recently, I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in many a year and the glow from her face could only be coming from her soul! What a beautiful soul she has! You see she has found God in all his glory. I am so very happy for her. It was such a long, hard, tough, up hill battle for her. I am sure she will continue to struggle against those who place obstacles in her path. But I know she now has the courage and strength to beat down those devils and naysayers. I felt that when I hugged her goodbye. I felt all her strength and I needed that for myself. She was my "shoulder to lean on in times of need" as I had been hers so long ago. Yes, we had come full circle, she and I. For the first time in over a week I truely smiled.
One of our shining stars, one of our pride and joys, my Aunt's son, Pastor Allen as we refer to him, was in a terrible motorcycle accident while riding with his friends from church this past Sunday. He is now recuperating at a hospital not far from his dear family. We wish him the speediest of recoveries. Please add him to your prayer chains. He is a most precious soul to this entire family, his wife and kids and the rest of us too. As I have said before, when it rains it pours in this family. Let's hope this is the last of our rain storm! I know Betty sure will be happy when the rain stops!
Well now I don't know about the rest of y'all but I sure welcomed Fall with open arms! Took my last swim in the pool on Thursday and pulled out my sweater this morning! Should have seen the look on Baxter's face when he went out for his morning walk! He actually thought I had something to do with it! Imagine that! lol Well that's the way I see it folks. Until next time, y'all be good to each other and Bless your Hearts!
One of our shining stars, one of our pride and joys, my Aunt's son, Pastor Allen as we refer to him, was in a terrible motorcycle accident while riding with his friends from church this past Sunday. He is now recuperating at a hospital not far from his dear family. We wish him the speediest of recoveries. Please add him to your prayer chains. He is a most precious soul to this entire family, his wife and kids and the rest of us too. As I have said before, when it rains it pours in this family. Let's hope this is the last of our rain storm! I know Betty sure will be happy when the rain stops!
Well now I don't know about the rest of y'all but I sure welcomed Fall with open arms! Took my last swim in the pool on Thursday and pulled out my sweater this morning! Should have seen the look on Baxter's face when he went out for his morning walk! He actually thought I had something to do with it! Imagine that! lol Well that's the way I see it folks. Until next time, y'all be good to each other and Bless your Hearts!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thy Will Be Done
There is so much I could say today and yesterday but it is best if I keep quiet and to myself. I will say however that I have learned a few things these past few days. One of them is you can't pick your family and thank God above you can pick your friends. Without my friends and my husband I do believe at this point my mind would be gone at this point.....
My heart is broken, it's broken and shattered beyond repair. Apparently I did something so traumatizing and so terrorizing that I was unaware of even doing it. I know that to those of you who know me, you are finding this unbelievable. I find it just as unbelievable. But THEY tell me that I am guilty of this crime. THEY tell me I have a black soul and that I am an animal and should be ashamed of myself. Ok.....but I will pray for THEM and I will continue to love them. After all isn't that what I am suppose to do? In the mean time, I will stay away. I will have no contact with any of THEM. I know in my heart I did nothing wrong.
I have removed all traces and all reminders so THEY are no longer in my face. I did however leave the truth out there for all to see. For all to judge me or THEM. I suppose it is up to you dear reader. But it doesn't really matter does it? Because it's not about me and it's not about THEM, really it never was. It's about prayer and what the power of prayer has done. It has done so much so please continue to pray for him. He's just a little boy and he needs so much prayer. We love him so much. So I ask you and I ask God to please continue blessing him and blessing the doctors as they place their hands upon his body. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.
My heart is broken, it's broken and shattered beyond repair. Apparently I did something so traumatizing and so terrorizing that I was unaware of even doing it. I know that to those of you who know me, you are finding this unbelievable. I find it just as unbelievable. But THEY tell me that I am guilty of this crime. THEY tell me I have a black soul and that I am an animal and should be ashamed of myself. Ok.....but I will pray for THEM and I will continue to love them. After all isn't that what I am suppose to do? In the mean time, I will stay away. I will have no contact with any of THEM. I know in my heart I did nothing wrong.
I have removed all traces and all reminders so THEY are no longer in my face. I did however leave the truth out there for all to see. For all to judge me or THEM. I suppose it is up to you dear reader. But it doesn't really matter does it? Because it's not about me and it's not about THEM, really it never was. It's about prayer and what the power of prayer has done. It has done so much so please continue to pray for him. He's just a little boy and he needs so much prayer. We love him so much. So I ask you and I ask God to please continue blessing him and blessing the doctors as they place their hands upon his body. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.
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