A Moment in Time

Yep, I had another one of 'those moments' a little while ago. It seems like only yesterday that I was helping dress my little cherub to take her to Vacation Bible School at our church. She has been every year since she was old enough.

Only this year, she is now an "assistant" to the teachers~ something she has always wanted to do. I can't wait to hear what age group she was assigned to and what all happened with the 'little ones' that my Maggie used to be.

Time marches on.

HELP, I'M DROWNING-but not in water...

Junque. Junk. Clothes. Treasures. Trash. Garbage.

Where did it all come from?!?!
The "Neighborhood Yard Sale" next Friday has prompted the cleaning/purging of the house, starting (and possibly ending, due to the multitude of the job and time) with the utility/laundry room.*

During my continued efforts, I have found a 1990 Rand McNally Road Atlas, numerous gift bags and tissue paper, and several former attempts at becoming "organized". Yes, once again, I will strive for organization of art supplies, paper plates, plastic utensils, Tupperware, Pampered Chef show tools and items of business, vintage childrens books, sewing notions, seasonal decorations, yard/garden hand tools and various other items that have landed there. I hope I will find some kind of buried treasure...who knows, it just might be in there!

*Rosy has threatened several times to strike a match to it. He didn't because he said it was attached to the house. lol

Potty Post

Gillenwater Manor is nearing the end of "Bathroom Remodeling". (Pictures of the completed version will be posted upon completion.)

As of yesterday evening, we have two 'used' toilets on the carport. The one on the right has been here since the house was built in 1956. The other (which is way too low) was a hand-me-down from a bathroom job Rosy did a few years ago. We opted to "GO GREEN" and purchase a water saver toilet this go around.

I hope our neighbors and anybody else driving by are not envious of our wealth of commodes. In fact, they are probably saying to themselves...."You might be a REDNECK if you have one or more toilets on your carport!" Well, our true lineage is shining forth...now, you really know us!

Early Summer Bounty

Today, I got a little carried away at our local produce market near our house. My purpose for stopping in was to get grapes to put in my chicken salad. When I walked in, I lost control and proceeded to SHOP for the fresh bounty that lay before me. A friend had already given me fresh turnips so I passed those at the market and went for the 'fresh' 1/2 runner green beans, okra, 'new' potatoes to go in my beans, yellow crook-neck squash, zucchini, Georgia peaches and Grainger County tomatoes, Peaches and Cream corn on the cob, along with a half gallon of buttermilk for my cornbread that will HAVE to be baked with this good ole country grub.

I honestly feel sorry for those folks who never have the blessed opportunity to feast on such. The only thing better is getting the same fresh fare at our "Farmers Market" fresh from the East Tennessee soil. Oh my, this is something to look forward to. Better yet, sharing it with family and friends around our table.

BTW-Guess who forgot the grapes!?!?! I had to go back and get them after I loaded the car and got ready to pull out of the parking lot.

Lightning Bugs

Today has been a scrub the carport and front porch day. I was fortunate to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor this evening and tonight by getting some 'porch time' in.
While sitting there, I saw my first lightning bug! Yes, I got excited! (OK-It doesn't take much...)

I was immediately taken back to the later part of May, 1978 when I was in a mini-term class at Carson Newman College. The two week class consisted of botony, ornithology, geology, and survival. The first week we stayed on campus doing 'class' work, taking short hikes, awakening early to see the birds, etc.

The second week was the most fun. We literally were dropped off somewhere (I honestly still don't know where) in the Smoky Mountains. For three days and nights we backpacked, hiked and camped on the trail eating sea rations and communing with nature. Our destination was the parking lot at Abrams Falls where we were picked up and taken to our base camp at Elkmont for the remainder of the week.

The first day of our trip was highlighted by Major Reed, our ROTC survival instructor, killing a rattlesnake that appeared near his foot as he was pitching his tent. Some of us snacked on the serpent-I knew that would probably be the only time I would ever have the chance to taste it, and it has been, so far.

On the second night of our expedition, Professor Dickenson took us to one of the most brilliant, awesome light shows I have ever seen. He had been to this particular grass-carpeted area right smack dab in the center of the forest several times before. When we arrived at this clearing, he instructed us to turn off our flashlights. Lo and behold, right before our very eyes, we were witness to one of the greatest sightings of bioluminescense! It was a gazillion lightning bugs and glow worms, flashing and lighting up in hopes of courtship and mating! The female glow worms would light up in the grass and the male lightning bugs would swarm to them like a flash of lightning. It was a well-synchronized dance. We all marveled at this creation and I knew then that I had become a member of an elite group who had this opportunity that very few people even knew about.

I think of my childhood summer nights carrying a glass mayo jar with a metal lid that had holes poked in it with a knife to allow the lightning bugs oxygen. Dan, my BFF from across the street, and other neighborhood kids would have wonderful times catching the bugs with a glow-in-the-dark rear end!

To quote an anonymous writer, "God created so much diversity in this world, much more than is needed for mere survival. He made all of this for us, and He wants us to enjoy it. We can get so busy surrounding ourselves with man-made goods that we don't notice the living tapestry that God has laid out all around us. I guess lightning bugs do have a purpose after all. They are a reminder of a creative God who loves us so much, He'd paint the rear end of a bug... just to see us smile."

I'm sure He saw me smile tonight!

Busy Times

I have become very lax in writing here. The days are passing way to quickly. Here we are--the MIDDLE OF MAY!!!! Only 8 more days of school, but who's counting.

Things are very busy this time of year. Friday night I hosted my annual end-of-the-year Class Family Picnic at the city park. All but three of my children and their families came with covered dishes and 2 liter drinks. The children had fun playing after they ate. As I told them that night, I am so grateful to have had such a wonderful year with their children. It seems as though every year is the best and I will hate to give them up to their first grade teacher.

Tomorrow night we will be attending the Academic Awards Ceremony in which our Maggie will receive some type of memento for her efforts this year. Good grief, she is finishing 7th grade. Seems like only yesterday I had her all cleaned and shined for her first day of preschool with Miss April...Mags was 3. Now fast forward----it's 10 years later.

Friday afternoon during the 8th grade students' lunch, I will have those 8th graders that were in my class for their Kindergarten year, to come and have lunch with me in their 'old classroom' and we will celebrate their success in finishing 9 years at our school and reminisce about their days when they were little fellers and gals. Of course, I will take their picture and hang it by their Kindergarten group picture on my wall of fame.

Time is passing way to quickly. I want it to slow down and I don't know how to stop it. Got any suggestions?

Rockin' My World

I just came in from getting some "porch time" in my rocking chair. Our trees now have their leaves and they provide an extra shield from the street lights and give a certain privacy to the front porch of Gillenwater Manor.

The cool spring breeze was very soothing just like a lullaby.

How blessed to have a quiet corner of the world to reflect, remember, and relax.

Yes, "rockin' my world" sure takes on a different meaning than it did 25 years ago. I think I like this kind of "rockin'" better....

Come join me.

A Teen in my house....

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a teenage girl in my house. Where did she come from?

Why it was only yesterday that my birthing skills were put into practice and this little 6 lb. 12 oz. /19 in. long baby girl came into this world wrinkled and red with a perfect shaped cone head! The days and nights have passed so quickly that I make an effort to remember those sweet times of lullabies, the smell of a freshly bathed baby, little fingers and toes, pacifiers, Skinny Scat and blankie.

When did this happen? How did it happen?

All I know, Mom was right (again) when she said to me, "Honey, you're eating your white bread now!" as she referred to the 2 o'clock feedings, the 24 hour watch of the wee one, the dirty diapers, sour tummy, etc.

I sure wish Mom and Dad were here to celebrate our Maggie's 13th birthday with us today. How excited they were 13 years ago today!!!! They loved her so and she loved them...and still does.

Happy 13th birthday, Little Fuzzy! I love you!

April Showers

Our neck of the woods has had a Spring Cleaning....wow, the storms of the day have washed away the pollen, some gardens, etc. I'm so grateful the tornado watch is over. We have friends in Murfreesboro where a tornado touched down and caused much damage....we learned that the tornado was about a mile from their house but they didn't suffer any damage.

How blessed we are to have a good sturdy home --a safe refuge from all kinds of life's storms. My little nest seems to be the place I want to be most. I'm glad that my little corner of the world has a roof, floor, windows, heat and air conditioning and two others to share it with. Indeed, God is good, God is great...

Spring or Winter-Again

The last two days have been absolutely gorgeous! I just checked the weather forecast and there is a very good possibility of the white stuff tomorrow night, Tuesday, and Tuesday night. Clouds are rolling in as I make this entry.

I do remember a BIG snow this time of year in 1987. My cousin, Ann, and I bundled up her daugher, Sarah, whose 1st birthday was April 6th and we put a blanket on the snow and took several pictures to remind her and us of the snow on her first birthday. She turns 23 tomorrow! Happy Birthday, Sarah!

I'm glad I haven't gone to the expense and effort to plant flowers yet. We still have several 'winters' to go through yet. Mom always said that Mamaw Russell said not to plant anything until after Mother's Day....the threat of a freeze was over by then. Once again, Mamaw was right.

Hopefully, Rosy will be coming in here a bit with some fresh wild turkey! Yes, Spring brings the season for the gobblers. He and a friend went hunting this morning and Gary shot a turkey and gave it to Rosy. We had fresh, out of the woods, delicious fowl....YUMMO! You can't get enough of that good stuff and no, it doesn't taste like chicken! LOL

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what the weather brings----snow cream or wild turkey....