Along The Trail.....

Today, I saw the underside of a blue heron as he took flight. With his long legs straight behind and wings so wide it was breathtaking.


As I moved along the trail today, I felt the fragrance of wild honeysuckle wash over me.



I love to fish the trail….today, at the first hole, I saw a school? of huge carp! I didn’t even cast there! What in the world would I have done if I had hooked one of them? My fish of choice is a “good size” bream. They make you think you have a small whale on your line.

Sunrise on the trail……It is one of those experiences where you keep saying to yourself “if I just had my camera” knowing that no camera could capture what you are seeing, feeling, smelling, and hearing, as the day comes alive on the trail.




How can they hear me? Six turtles sunning on a log, plop, plop, plop, they go in the water as they hear my footsteps on the trail.


August on the trail feels like everyone is having a wedding. Sweet autumn clematis decorates and adds it’s sweet fragrance all along the trail.

Who knew two fourteen year olds could be so much fun!

Our granddaughter Carmen(left) and her friend, Brucie.

They live in Birmingham and for eighteen years, starting with Carmen’s older sisters, their parents have met us at the same place in Cullman for their special visits with us.  
The Lady (my golf cart) was by far their favorite activity.  
They even decorated her!  Wonder where they “gathered” these flowers.  Oh well…

Hangin’ out is always fun too.

We decided to go to the 4:30 matinee.  “The Proposal” and “My Sister’s Keeper” were our choices.  I never go to a movie except when our granddaughters come, so I turn into a kid when we go, right down to “a large popcorn” which was a mistake!  We saw “The Proposal” and it was just so good!  We had dinner at our famous Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Que, always a good choice.  I still managed to make my 9:00 bedtime and they know they can stay up all night if they choose, “just be quiet, please.”
Point Mallard water park was on the  agenda for the next day.  “It was fun but we’d rather drive The Lady.”
We had so much fun!  I love being in the car with them and their music!

First published July, 2009
bcp...my life

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday......
I try to have blooms all summer.  Welcome to my garden path today.  Enjoy!

Tomato Time!

Isn't this time of the year wonderful?  Tomatoes, Tomatoes, everywhere.  Along with cucumbers, squash, and Oh, I can't wait for okra!  And sweet corn is the very best.

Another favorite of mine is Fresh Tomato Tart.  I made this last night and snapped a few photos to share.  I'm going to try and post the simple recipe from memory:
One prepared pie crust
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese 
2 Tbls. fresh chopped basil
4 or 5 sliced tomatoes
drizzle extra virgin olive oil
Salt & pepper

Put cheese into pie crust
add basil
add tomatoes
drizzle olive oil over all
season with salt & pepper
I like to add extra basil on top.

Bake approx. 30 min.  Let crust get really brown.

Now, how easy was that!
So good with fresh tomatoes.....

Of course, my very favorite tomato treat is a tomato sandwich.
I thought it might be fun for everyone to share how they make their tomato sandwich.
Here is mine: 

 2 slices of white bread
 Hellmanns mayo on both slices                 
 Fresh tomato slices

Enjoy!  And thanks for coming by!  Your comments are important to me and I would love to have you as a follower.
                        

My Louisana Grands

(This was first published 7-2-09)







Just a few quotes and stories I don't want to forget..

Just before I "hurt" Matthew, he said, "MiMi, you're my best friend, I can't live without you." He's not fit for dog meat! (my SH's quote)

After I had just given Matthew a lecture on the importance of washing his hands after a visit to the bathroom, this was his comment: "MiMi, if I don't use my hands, I don't have to wash them". Dear God in heaven.....

While fishing with Josh, some great conversations take place. I asked him if there were many black children in his class? "No, ma'am...they are mostly peach!

Some time ago, my sister-in-law's mother died. She was a sweet, sweet lady who had lived a wonderful life, loved children, knew what was important and what wasn't. The boys happened to be with us when this happened. Maybe this was the time to let them experience going to a funeral(their first). I knew this would be a celebration and a tribute.

They were all eyes and ears..."yes, Aunt Kay's mother was very old and sick. Sure, you can see her body, yes, there are rollers on the coffin stand. yes, we can go to to the cemetery when they put her body in the ground, They have a very, big car to put the coffin in to take it to the cemetery. Yes, we can go to the Catfish Cabin for lunch."

Our very last experience flying a kite: Josh and I took our new kites over to Point Mallard where we would have plenty of room. Josh sat in the car with his hands over his ears saying we shouldn't be out in this weather (very windy). Matthew didn't even want to come. He stayed home with Granddaddy. Something was wrong with this picture from the beginning. After about thirty minutes of lame attempts at kite flying, I gathered my tangled string and as

Forest Gump says, "that's all I have to say about that".

A Good Day

I had recently asked for a fishing lesson from Cody, our sweet grandson, This was a test, I think, on my part. We have always enjoyed each other's company and I kinda held my breath this year to see if the "invite" would be accepted.
This young man has become someone I have to look up to physically as he smiles that crooked grin with that curly hair falling down in his face. He usually calls me "Meems" instead of "MiMi."
I guess you can tell I'm in love!.
Next day the phone rings, "Meems, are you going fishing today? Will you pick me up before you go to the bait shop? I need to go too". Yes! After a lesson at the bait shop, we are ready.

Off we go, with our food, his fancy gear, my zebco, live worms, two tackle boxes, all loaded on
"The Lady". (my golf cart)
He shows me what kind of artificial bait might be good, the right hooks, and how to rig it all up.
I know nothing about bass fishing.
I just know I may need another lesson with Cody.

Mother Theresa's Prayer

Mother Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within,
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. 
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content, knowing that you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

St. Theresa is known as the Saint of the little ways,
meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well,
and with great love.

Favorite Porches

The first front porch I remember was my Grandmother and Granddaddy McGuire's. It was a wrap-around that stretched the length of the house. It had homemade, white porch furniture, straight chairs to lean back against the wall, and a big swing on either end. Grandmother always had lots of potted plants lining the edge of the porch. I especially remember the angel winged begonias. The men always sat on the porch with the women folk joining them when it got too warm inside. We kids were "in and out." I was young and life seemed to move at a snail's pace.
I don't remember rushing to do anything.

My next favorite porch was actually a carport. In the house where I grew up, we had a tiny front porch (or stoop) on the front of our house, but the place we sat was the carport. There was always a breeze, and the cool concrete floor felt good to our bare feet. The main activity on this "porch" was shelling peas or stringing beans. Whoever might happen to drop by joined right in.
My Daddy really preferred to sit in the front yard where he could wave to everyone who passed.
(He knew them all.) Mother frowned on this activity. Again, days seemed longer then with a comforting sameness.


Ma Ida's(my sweet husband's mother) front porch was always lively with conversation. Stories were told over and over again, becoming funnier or sadder each time they were told. Her porch also reached all the way across the front with a big swing and lots of chairs to accommodate a large family. The view from her porch was rolling cotton fields with a lane between turning toward her house from the main road. Sitting on the porch, we always knew who was coming before they got there. Ma Ida's porch was a good place to laugh and enjoy being together.

A tin roof, white rocking chairs and a cool breeze brings to mind another special, away from home, porch. The sounds and smells of the Gulf make it difficult to pinpoint any one particular pleasure this vacation porch brings. It could be early morning with a cup of coffee, the newspaper, and the sunrise. Perhaps it is lunch time with a glass of iced tea and a hot dog. The late afternoon brings fragrance to the porch. Magnolia and confederate jasmine sweeten the air. Life does indeed stand still on this porch.

google image

My very favorite porch is my own on Jackson Street. It's not a big porch nor is it grand, but it has a coziness I love. Wicker rockers and an old swing make it a perfect place to relax or take a nap. I love the way we can visit with our neighbors from "porch to porch." Grandchildren have plenty of room for a game of Old Maid or Jacks on the painted wood floor.

Porches are places to enjoy the little things, and life is always slower on the porch.

(This was written in July, 1996, enjoy!)

Finally, An Answer

(Please remember, this was first published  June, 2009)


"No doubt, it is Myasthenia Gravis".



These words were heard from Dr. Oh with some anxiety but mostly with relief. Most people wait much longer for a diagnosis and a treatment plan. We are thankful for good doctors!



From the National Institute of Health:


What is myasthenia gravis?
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and Greek in origin, literally means "grave muscle weakness." With current therapies, however, most cases of myasthenia gravis are not as "grave" as the name implies. In fact, for the majority of individuals with myasthenia gravis, life expectancy is not lessened by the disorder.
The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Certain muscles such as those that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, talking, and swallowing are often, but not always, involved in the disorder. The muscles that control breathing and neck and limb movements may also be affected.