Funny Friday - Happy Easter!

Baseball Season

Whoo hoo - Baseball season is finally here!!

I Am So Blessed

I have been kitty sitting my nep-mew since Saturday and this morning I said goodbye to him because his mommy, my sister, is coming back home today.  He is such a sweet kitty and he is so pretty - his coat is so shiny and healthy.

I've enjoyed spending time with him the past few days.  After I kissed him goodbye, I headed to work.  I have Sirius XM and was listening to 70s on 7 and they were playing such great songs...I was singing along to all of them and I didn't get into any traffic and I didn't have to deal with any jerky drivers....the day was starting out great!

I arrived at work and after plugging my Surface Pro in, I headed to the break room to fix my morning glass of iced tea.  

I thought - boy, I am so grateful that we have this awesome Pebble Ice Machine (I love ice but especially love pebble ice!)

So I poured my tea into my loyal Bubba Keg (if you don't have a Bubba Keg, you need one).  I had ice left in it this morning from a drink I made YESTERDAY morning - keeps your drink cold (or hot if you prefer) all day!!!

As I sipped my first sip, I looked out and admired the wonderful view I have of the Atlanta skyline.  Although it was an overcast day and the sky wasn't as blue and pretty as usual, it is still a breath-taking view.

I actually can see 2 skylines - the midtown skyline (in the photo) and the Buckhead skyline - but I didn't take a photo of that because I couldn't get a good shot without my reflection in the window.

The trees are all at various stages of green as their Spring leaves are coming out.  I love Autumn with all its colors but Spring is even more stunning at times because of all the different shades of green - so pretty.

I thought to myself as I admired the view...what a truly blessed and lucky girl I am.  I have a great job, I work with great people, my boss is wonderful.  I live in this AMAZING city and I live in this AMAZING country - I know it isn't perfect but we truly do live in a great country - we are free and can practice the religion of our choosing, we can speak out and not worry if we will be thrown in jail or killed.  I am so lucky to have been born in America and be an American citizen.

I thought about how blessed I am that I have a wonderful family.  That I had parents that loved me and were so good to me, they helped give me my education so that I could work at a job in such a beautiful building and in a building that is 10 minutes from home - even better.  I'm just so, so, so blessed!!

It is amazing what taking just a minute out of your day and reflecting on the blessings of your life can do - it is also amazing how many blessings you can think of in just a minute's time.

Thank you God for my life - You are so good to me!

Funny Friday

My Presidential Weekend

About a month ago, 3 friends and I headed down to Plains, Georgia to see Jimmy Carter teach a Sunday School lesson.  One of the friends and I have been discussing doing this for 2 years now and we have never gotten around to it and we decided it was time to go!

However, when we arrived that Sunday morning at the church, we found out that Rosalynn Carter had to have emergency surgery and was in Atlanta (where we had come from).  Of course her husband Jimmy was by her side and rightly so.  We were disappointed but totally understood.

We decided to try again this past weekend and fortunately, he was there this time.  He told us that Rosalynn was doing better and that she was almost 91 (he is 93).

Our weekend started out with a stop in Juliette, GA.  This is where the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed.  I have been here a few times before but I always appreciate a good meal here.  Their food is outstanding!!  Good southern food cooked from scratch and using fresh (not canned/frozen) vegetables.  Of course we had to get some Fried Green Tomatoes - they truly are the best I have ever had!!

 

I usually get the country fried steak when I visit here but this time I tried the chopped steak, which was topped with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy and onion rings along with speckled butter beans.  

 

I didn't finish my meal (lots of food) but if you ever visit - try and save room for dessert - the pecan cobbler is DELICIOUS!!

 On the first weekend, we paid a visit to Andersonville, which was a Civil War Prison Camp.  There is a P.O.W. Museum there and it is so worth taking the time to go through.  It is a National Park so it is free of charge.  It is a sad place but an important part of our history.

 

We also took some time, the previous visit, to ride around on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University where Jimmy and Rosalynn both attended college.  Here I am in front of the library with her statue.

 

We spent the night in Americus, GA and the next morning we headed to Maranatha Baptist Church. We got there about 6 am and we were the 60th car to arrive - there were already 150 people ahead of us!!

We were let into the church at 8 am and received an orientation on how to act around a former President and not to clap and such as that, security and such. We met the preacher - a young man of only 23.  During this time, they passed around 4 collection plates so we could look at them.  They were hand made by President Carter (you can see his initials on the bottom).  Of course during Sunday School and during Church services they were passed around for the offerings but they wanted people to get a look at his handwork first.

He has made many things for the church (bookcases, tables, chairs and such) - he even made this beautiful cross that hangs in the sanctuary.

Between Sunday School and Church, we had a small break and I went to the ladies room.  While standing in line, President Carter came walking by with the Secret Service.  He looked me right in the eye and said "Good morning, thank you for coming" - I said "Good morning, Thank you!".  I get chills now thinking about it - we right there less than 2 feet from each other and he spoke directly to me.  How awesome is that?!

He gave a wonderful Sunday School lesson and we stayed for church and heard a good sermon.  Afterwards, we got to have our photo with him - what a gracious man!

 

After church, we went to the only resturant in town for lunch (very good).  The previous weekend we were there we went to the old High School he and Rosalynn attended, which is now a museum.

We enjoyed that so much that we went back there again (also a National Park so free of charge)

We didn't go there this time, but the last weekend we were there we also went to his childhood home.

Along this road is the famous Haunted House of Sumter County.  Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter along with their family lived here for 6 years.  You can see more about the haunted house HERE.  This video includes the the wonderful Ms. Jan, who I was very happy to meet since she is a church member at Maranatha Baptist Church.  She also runs the only Inn in Plains, GA.  We love Ms. Jan!

After seeing all the National Historic places in Plains, I had to stop and get my photo by the big peanut.  I had a photo taken with the same peanut (although it was at the depot then) in 1976!!

(I'm the taller one in the photo)

We ended our day in Plains by enjoying some homemade Peanut Butter Ice Cream - yummy!!

If you are in Georgia and it happens to be the weekend that the former President is speaking - take the time and go - get there early to ensure they don't run out of seats (there are fire code laws that allow only so many people in the building).  You will be so happy you had this experience!!

NOTE:  While there, CBS was filming for CBS Sunday Morning.  We saw the film crew at the church, we ran into them at the High School/Museum, at the train depot/campaign headquarters and at his boyhood home.  I can't wait to see the show when it airs - who knows, maybe my friends and I will be on TV!!

Funny Friday

Local Recipes

Each week, our newspaper has a section called "From the Menu of...." and it features recipes from local (or nearby) restaurants.

You can write in (via email) and request a favorite recipe.  Sometimes the honor it, sometimes the don't but that is understandable (company secrets and all).

I once had the most delicious squash casserole of my entire life at a local place called Thinking Man Tavern in Decatur, GA and days later I was still craving more.  I wrote in for the recipe. 

I got a reply back from the Atlanta Journal & Constitution (AJC) and they said they would request the recipe but they have a big back log because they receive a lot of requests and it could take up to a year but to be patient...so I was.  About 10 months later, I received an email.

They requested the recipe and Thinking Man Tavern was happy to obliged but...the only problem was the chef that developed that recipe was not longer there and he didn't leave behind his recipes (naturally) and they no longer had it but they would be happy to give me their Broccoli & Rice Casserole recipe.  Well..I already have one of those that I like so I gladly replied with "Thank you for trying."

I am sure if I didn't have to wait 8 months I probably would have gotten the recipe because the chef still would have been there...but I totally understand that the AJC fills requests first come, first serve and it just took a while to finally get to my request...at least they tried.

I saw a couple of recipes in today's paper that I thought I would share.

One is for the yummy Macaroni & Cheese that is served at S & S Cafeteria.  There used to be one near my house but it closed about a year ago so Kroger could expand (and now it seems they may not) - there is another location but nowhere near me so I am glad they shared this recipe.

The other recipe is actually is from a resturant in Pine Mountian, GA - a short drive away.  My sister and I ate there back in December, twice (once for dinner and we went back the next day for breakfast) - although in Pine Mountian, there are not a lot of restaurant to choose from - Ha Ha!!

Since I only get the physical copy of the paper on Sunday only, I can't clip these recipes out of the paper and save them anymore so I thought...I will clip the digital copy and save it to my blog...easy peasy!

My mom is coming to visit in a couple of weeks - maybe I will make both of these while she is here - yummy!!

W.I.P. Wednesday

As I mentioned last week, I finished one of my Works-In-Progress.
I have 2 more and I am making a lot of head-way on one of them.  It is a knitted shawl.

I  started this last April and then set it aside because work got too busy and then I was working on
other crafty projects....but as I have said before, this is the year that I intend to complete my WIPs

I am slower at knitting than I am at crocheting so this is taking me a bit longer
but I am impresses with my progress so far.

I am calling it the "Lady Mary" shawl.  I am making it for my mother, whose  name is Mary and she is a fan of Downton Abbey and I am using Downton Abbey yarn (as you can see).  I really like this yarn a lot but sadly, I have found out recently that the "Matthew" line has been discontinued so I am glad I bought it when I did and in the color I wanted (Birch White).

I have 5 skeins and I am almost through the 2nd skein and it is about 50 inches long.  It it supposed to be 72 inches before blocking it.  I will see how long it is after 2 or 2 1/2 skeins because I would love to make another one and hopefully will have enough yarn left over to do so.

I admit there are a few mistakes in this shawl but I hope that after it is blocked, it won't be too noticeable.   I really  need to practice my knitting skills a bit more.  I want to increase my speed and be able to knit more difficult patterns.  I see larger projects that I would love to do but right now, I am still a bit intimidated to take on a large knitting project (I've mostly done hats, dishcloths, fingerless gloves and mittens).

So I will continue to work away on this shawl for a bit and hope to finish up by the end of the month - we shall see.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 10 - Strong Woman

This week's prompt is "Strong Woman" in honor of International Woman's month.

The first person that came to mind is my maternal grandmother.  She was such a strong woman.  I can't imagine living her life - it was so hard but yet she was always so positive and happy.

She was born in 1914 and was the eldest of 7 children.  In those days, the eldest had a LOT of responsibility.  They had to not only do the work on the farm, clean house (if they were a girl), but also had to help raise the younger children.

Here is a very rare picture of her and some of her siblings that was taken in the 1920s. 
That is my grandmother, Jewel Canzada Odom with the white dress and long necklace and her arm around her sister.

 (click to enlarge)

Her family was very poor, as were many people in Geneva, Alabama.  I wish I knew some stories from her childhood but sadly, I do not.

The family later moved to Holmes County, Florida (not far from Geneva, AL).

She married my grandfather, James Josh Mims on 12 Oct 1930, one week before her 16th birthday.  Sadly, one year later, when she was 17, her father died in 1931. 

 (click to enlarge)

She had 6 daughters (and from what I have been told gave birth to 3 other children, who were either stillborn or died shortly after birth).  I can't imagine how hard that was to lose 3 children after you carried them for 9 months. 

She raised her daughters and helped her husband on a large farm.  They had their own farm but before that they were sharecroppers.  She would get up very, very early when it was dark out, would make breakfast for 8 people. She gathered eggs from their hens, she milked the cows and she found a way to feed 8 people even though they had very little money.  They had no electricity, no refridgerator and she cooked everything on a wood stove (which I am sure she probably had chopped the wood herself).

After breakfast and cleaning up the kitchen, she (and the rest of the family who was old enough) would go work in the fields - ALL DAY.  They primarily were cotton growers but of course they grew all sorts of things - peanuts, potatoes, corn, but they could make the most money growing and selling cotton.

Now you have to remember, this was before big tractors and machines like that have now.  It all had to be planted by hand and had to be picked by hand too. Cotton was grown in the summer so it was hot as blue blazes. But she was out there all day picking.

My mom told me a story recently how she can remember my grandma out in the field, picking cotton and she had one sack that she was putting cotton in and she had another sack that she would sit the baby on (her youngest sister) and she would pick and drag the baby along as she went.  She would even be breast feeding while working in the field.  She had to watch 6 girls, make sure the oldest were working, and keep up with them all.

When it was time to plow, she even got behind the plows with the mules and plowed too, right along with grandpa, the strong man.  She did what she had to do.

All of her children were born at home, all natural childbirth - except for one - the youngest was born at a hospital (although still natural childbirth) - that was really the only way to do in those days.  Can you imagine??

After working all day in the hot fields, she would cook supper for all 8 of them and again, she just didn't go down to the grocery store and buy meat - nope, she killed the chicken herself, cleaned it and cooked it.  A lot of times they didn't have meat but she made due with what they had grown or canned.

Of course no electricity or running water in the house meant it wasn't any easy task to do laundry.  She did it though - she would use an washboard, lye soap (that she had made herself) and a big washtub to wash their clothes.  She had to draw the water from the well since the well was the only source of their water. 

Can you imagine washing clothes for 8 people, that had worked all day in the hot sun in the fields using a washboard to get them clean?  She also had to wash sheets and such as that too!   Good golly, and I feel the need to complain when I have to throw in a load of towels while watching the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy.

(not my grandma but just added this photo so you get the idea)

On top of it all...my grandma was the most dedicated Christian I know.  She made sure her girls were in church whenever church was happening.  They had to either walk or when they had one, they would go by mule and buggy.  (There is a whole other story I could tell about this mule and buggy and hopefully will get around to telling it sometime).

My grandma was a prayer!!  She fasted and prayed and she said when she did, God answered her prayers.  I know she prayed for me many times - she prayed for all of her 6 children, their husbands and her 18 grandchildren and all her great grandchildren.  She was a praying woman.

The whole time I knew my grandma, I never, NEVER heard her say a mean thing.  She was always sweet, kind and loving and always happy - she was not a complainer and she lived her life with a grateful heart.

My grandma departed this life in 1998, but I know where she went and I also know that I will be reunited with her one day. 
She was such a STRONG WOMAN and  I am so, so proud to be her grand daughter.

Funny Friday

Have a great weekend!!

Virus Blanket - Completed!

I finished my Virus Blanket!  Whoo Hoo!  It is no longer a WIP (work-in-progress), it is now a FO (finished object).

I love it!  It is 65" x 65" (5 1/2 feet) - which is plenty big enough to cover my short body and it covers the top of my bed. 

This is a fun pattern and I would make it again.  I need to hang on to the pattern though because when I got it, it was free and now there is a small charge for it (totally worth it though).

The pictures don't really do it justice - but you get the idea.  Now onto the next project.......

W.I.P. Wednesday - Virus Blanket

As mentioned last week, I haven't had a lot of crafting time lately.  I am actually a little envious of those that seem to have a lot of time to do so but at the same time...I am so grateful for my busy life, my job, my family, my friends, my church, etc.  While my life is busy and doesn't leave much time for crafting - it is a good kind of busy so I am not complaining...

So...over the weekend, I did have a little time to work on my Virus Blanket (so named because the pattern went "Viral" but honestly, I don't like the name because it reminds me of having a cold).  I wonder if the designer now wishes that she would have called it something else - haha!

Anyway...I am using Caron Cakes in the Rainbow Sprinkles colorway.  I bought 6 cakes and decided that I would use all 6 for this afghan and whatever size it ended up being, then I would be happy with that and I think I will be.

Currently, after 4 cakes, it is 52" x 52" and I am hoping that it will at least be 60" x 60" when I am all done.  I have noticed with this yarn that there seems to be more orange/red than blue/green.  At least it seems that way to  me.  It seems like I only crochet a little blue, a little green and seems like I crochet with red and orange a lot!

I'm happy with it so far - I'll be glad to see it all finished, which hopefully will be soon.

Oscar Ready - 2018 Version

I am ready for the Oscars!!  They are tonight and I love the Academy Awards.  I don't watch many award shows but I never miss the Academy Awards because I LOVE the movies.

As I have for many years in the past, I have seen all the best picture nominated movies and here are my thoughts.

Lady Bird - In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California. You see Lady Bird (as she likes to be called, go through her senior year, have her first romantic relationship, participate in a school play, go to prom and eventually off to collage.

I'm not sure why this movie takes place in 2002 because it could have taken place in 2017 and had the same effect.  My review - very good.  Laurie Metcalf was fantastic as the mom and I would love to see her win Best Supporting Actress.

Call Me By Your Name - In 1980s Italy, a romance blossoms between a seventeen year-old student and the older man hired as his father's research assistant. The young lead, is actually an American, with an American father and Italian mother, they go to Italy in the summer and during Christmas.  This takes place during the summer. 

I can kind of see why this takes place in the 1980s because it was before gay relationships were as widely accepted as they are now - people were more in the closet back then.  The movie was good and I liked it but I am not sure it deserves an Oscar nomination.  But then again, I didn't think Moonlight deserved an Oscar nomination last year either and it won Best Picture. 

I did think a few scenes were uh...odd...such as a self-pleasuring scene with an apricot and Oliver's father basically telling him that he was gay too but back in his day that would have never been accepted so he married and lead a typical life (they didn't use those words exactly but it was heavily implied).

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri - A mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder when they fail to catch the culprit.

I really liked this movie - a lot!  It is billed as a dark comedy but it really isn't.  It is a drama.  Frances McDormand is wonderful and I think deserves Best Actress - as always and Sam Rockwell was fantastic and I hope he wins Best Supporting Actor.  The movie also stars Lucas Hedges (he was also in Lady Bird) and Kathryn Newton, has a small part as his sister and she was ALSO in Lady Bird. 

Of the nominated movies, this one was my 2nd favorite.

Get Out - A young African-American goes to meet his white girlfriend's parents for a weekend in their secluded estate in the woods, but before long, the friendly and polite ambience will give way to a nightmare.

This movie isn't exactly what I thought it would be.  It was creepy and suspenseful.  I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would...in fact, I saw it twice (luckily it was on HBO and I had recorded it).   It is billed as a horror movie and I don't like horror movies but I really wouldn't classify it as horror - the last 5 minutes was a bit of a blood bath but the rest of the movie wasn't like that at all - it was just creepy and kept you guessing.  It is an usual Oscar pick, but it was a good movie so I sort of can see why it was selected.

Dunkirk - Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German Army, and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.

This is the only Oscar nominated movie that I found myself bored with - I kept waiting for it to get over.  I was so looking forward to seeing but there wasn't enough dialogue for me I suppose.  Surprisingly, I found it kind of boring.  Very disappointed with this one.  Too bad.

Darkest Hour - During the early days of World War II, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on against incredible odds. I liked this one. 

I actually saw it just before Dunkirk and I am glad I did because it discussed Dunkirk quite a bit in this movie.   I enjoyed this movie and recommend it.  Gary Oldman is perhaps one of the greatest actors that ever lived and he is fantastic as Churchill.  I love the scene when he was in the London Underground and talking to the people.  Very, very good!

The Post - A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.

I loved this movie but when a movie stars Tom Hanks AND Meryl Streep - you know it will be good.  As I have mentioned many times, I love them both and Meryl Streep is my favorite actress - she is just amazing - I would love to see her win Best Actress but I do think that Frances McDormand deserves it too.  Tough to choose on this.

Great movie and makes you appreciate the media - the way it USE to be - wish we still had people like that running our papers and news programs.

Phantom Thread - Set in 1950's London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.

I really enjoyed this movie a lot - the story was good, Daniel Day Lewis was great (isn't he always?) and the costumes where amazing, of course!  It had kind of sick twisted ending though and I was left kind of going - huh? really?  I can see why it was nominated for Best Picture - very good.

The Shape of Water - At a top secret research facility in 1962, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.

Yet another movie set in another time - if you are keeping count, that is 7 of the 9 nominated movies that were set in the past.

I saved this one for last because I LOVED this movie.  The plot sounds so strange, I know, but it was so good!  I found myself teary eyed a couple of times.  Great acting, great and different story - unique.  I would have never gone to see this movie if it hadn't been nominated for best picture but I am so glad I saw it.  It may not be for everyone but I loved it and while I'm not sure that it will win best picture, I really want it to.

So...there you have it, my annual Best Picture nomination reviews.  Did you see any of these movies?  If so, what did you think of them?

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Weeks 8 & 9

I had a family emergency last week which required me to go out of state, so wasn't able to post to my blog.  Which was okay because Week 8's prompt was "Heirloom".

I don't really have any Heirlooms.  My mother is not a "sentimental" type of person and doesn't keep a lot of "things".  My dad was a bit more sentimental and I did have some things of his, like his army medals but sadly, they are now gone (a story that I would rather not get into).

So I am skipping right into Week 9 - "Where there is a Will"

I have found will's to be helpful when doing family research.  The one I found most helpful was the will of Ezekiel Slaughter, my 5th Great Grandfather (1727 - 1792). 

Thanks to this will, which was recorded in Will Book A, Green County, Georgia, page 192
21 Aug 1792, I was able to find out a lot about the Slaughter family.  I discovered the names of all 11 of his children, his wife, his son-in-laws and the location of his properly. 

It opened up so much for me!!  It can be hard to find will information sometimes but if you dig and locate it - you will hit jackpot most of the time!

Funny Friday - For Goodness Snakes