Lord make us thankful

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Here's your sign!

Melly Time

Melanie, ready for church on Sunday morning

Remember that line from the movie Cast Away where Tom Hanks's character, Chuck Noland, sets his watch (the one his girlfriend, Kelly, gave him for Christmas), and announces that he's on Kelly Time?

Well, even if you don't, we are on Melly Time.

As in, our granddaughter Melanie is here visiting with us by herself, until Thanksgiving when the rest of her family will join us.

(I haven't forgotten that I owe you more posts about our recent trip, but time is moving quickly and before it gets away from me altogether, I wanted to tell you about this.)

On Saturday TG and I drove up to Fort Mill, South Carolina, on the North Carolina line, and met Stephanie and Melly at the Cracker Barrel.

(Yes, Essie was there! I was able to hug her neck).

We had an early supper and then Melly's stuff was loaded into our vehicle and Stephanie left to drive home by herself and Melanie came with us.

Joel, my son-in-law, let me know recently that Stephanie could probably use a wee break from the constant care of Melanie, who will turn eighteen on the shortest day of this year.

Melly is a joy and we all adore her. The fact remains, though, that she can be a lot of work. Our Steph rarely if ever has a day, or even part of a day, where her eldest child is not serving as her mother's shadow.

Dagny did not get the memo about wearing black and white

So I said well, I would love some time with Melly to myself, which has not happened since the summer of 2017.

(In the intervening years, Melanie developed a few behavioral issues that made her mom reluctant to send her to me.)

But I assured Stephanie that I am not afraid of anything Melanie can or will do, and I said that I would love to have her with me for as long as her parents could part with her.

(As it happens, my first grandchild has behaved like an angel; I think that like most kids, she saves the drama for her mama.)

In fact, she is just about the most agreeable person I have ever hung out with.

She eats (with great enthusiasm) whatever I serve her, goes to bed early and sleeps for twelve hours, and does not talk back.

(That's because she does not talk at all except to say yes and no at the appropriate times. And you have to know what Melanie's yesses and nos sound like, to catch her meaning.)

After a full day yesterday which included going to church twice, today we made a list of all the things we needed to accomplish.

So far we have made the beds, had our breakfast/coffee time, cleaned the kitchen to include sweeping the floor, taken a walk, done some laundry, and tidied up a few rooms that needed it.

These are just a few of the things Susan gave to Melanie

As each thing gets done, we strike it off our list.

One thing was to write this blog post, so write it I am and strike it I will. Melanie gets a big kick out of the striking process.

Yesterday during Sunday morning service, it was noted that all of us girls except Dagny had worn black and white.

(It was not planned; blanc noir is a popular color motif amongst the ladies in our family.)

So after church, TG was pressganged into taking a picture of all of us. For posterity and to mark Melly's fall visit.

On Sunday evening Melly had a surprise. A friend who sits near us with her husband and their own special-needs daughter, Kayla, brought Melanie a gift bag full of crafty things to occupy one such as Melanie.

There was construction paper (to make paper chains to decorate for Thanksgiving), stickers, markers, colored pencils, crayons, glue sticks, small craft kits, and other goodies.

Was that not the most thoughtful thing for my friend Susan to do?

Susan and Melanie

She knows what the caregivers of a disabled adult have to deal with, as she has filled that office for her own child, for thirty years.

Susan and Stephanie have become acquainted and had a few heart-to-heart chats over time, and Susan has been a help to Stephanie.

So now we'll see if I can convince Melanie to engage in some creative play time after our chores are completed.

Wish me luck.

And that is all for now except to say, what are you up to?

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Happy Monday

Virginia sojourn

New Market Battlefield

TG and I have been busy tripping and falling.

As in, we took a fall trip. We've been home for over a week, but in the interim we had a houseguest.

Now I want my own farm in the Shenandoah Valley

Naturally, we were not able to travel to better fall foliage country during peak leaf time. That happy coincidence generally eludes us.

BUT we did go, and it was fall, and there were leaves, and many of them were very beautiful indeed.

It was gorgeous from every angle

Where did the Pirate go? you may be asking yourself at this juncture.

We went to Virginia and points north. I will tell you about it in this and the next several posts.

Sara loves critters, both inside and outside

Let's start with Virginia -- specifically, the Shenandoah Valley.

We went there to visit my old friend Sara and her husband Marty.

If you want homey and inviting, this is it

I first met Sara in 1978 when she was a newlywed (not to Marty; that/he came later) and I was almost engaged, and then engaged, to TG.

We both worked at a ladies' apparel store named Evans, located in Southlake Mall in Merrillville, Indiana.

We talked about sitting by the fire pit one night but we never did it

Sara worked in the office, in bookkeeping, and I worked on the sales floor.

So then, I got married and both Sara and I began having babies. We ended up with a total of ten: six for her and four for me.

Inside, Sara does farmhouse like nobody's business

I no longer worked at Evans after I got married, and neither did she after awhile, but we attended the same church.

Over the years, until Sara moved away around 1986, we hung out a lot. For example, we've taken many a shopping trip to Chicago.

If you know, you know.

Everywhere you looked there were charming collections

Often our men would take in a Chicago Cubs baseball game while we girls shopped, and we'd all meet up later for dinner.

Once, we two couples took a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan. I remember because I ended up with food poisoning.

Bovine units are a favorite motif

Sometimes, on summer nights, we'd all drive to Highland Park, north of Chicago, and attend a concert at Ravinia Festival -- a favorite place of mine still to this day.

We'd almost always take an elaborate picnic meal to eat as we sat on the lawn, complete with candles for our portable Crate & Barrel table, which came with its own carrying bag. Ours was white.

This sign was at one of the stores we shopped in

In the cold months, we got together for family meals and the occasional party with other friends.

I visited Sara a few times after she moved away, and once she came back to the region for a couple of days before we moved away, but until week before last, I had not seen her since 1991.

Here's where we had a lovely lunch

That's right! I had not laid eyes on my friend in person for over thirty years.

We kept in touch though, and always knew where each other were and how we were doing.

If you're looking for the nicest people in the world, here they are

Eleven years ago, Sara remarried. I was so happy for her, as she had been single for many years.

Let's pull over and park her for a mo.

Sara and me back in the day ... as in, 1988 ... as young wives and mothers

An interesting bit of trivia is that Sara's youngest, a daughter, a few years ago married the youngest son of my mother's doctor.

The meeting of Sara's daughter and my mother's doctor's son was sheer coincidence, in no way either linked to or facilitated by me, or as a result of Sara's and my friendship. 

The two kids were married before Mom got sick, hence before I even met my mom's doctor and his wife.

Sara and me now, as senior citizens and grandmothers

In fact, at bridal showers leading up to her wedding, Sara's daughter met and adored my mother, who never realized that the bride-to-be was the daughter of my lifelong friend.

(The doctor's wife/groom's mother, who was one of my mom's besties, believes that my mother never heard or read the bride's maiden name, or she would surely have recognized it.)

TG and me with Sara and Marty, who is a prince of a man

It's just one of those things. My mother's doctor and his wife have ended up being our friends too, as we became close during my mother's illness.

Back to the main story.

Me in the door of the smokehouse on the Bushong farm, beside the New Market Battlefield

Last January, Sara and Marty up and moved from where they lived in another state, to the Shenandoah Valley.

They purchased their dream dwelling: a circa-1887 Virginia farmhouse on several acres nestled between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountain ranges.

Sara has a room dedicated to Civil War memorabilia

Sara is skilled at decorating with antiques and the farm vibe, and she is devoted to that lifestyle. She even has three Angus cows: Daisy, Molly, and Bluebell.

They also have a dog, a German shepherd named Jovie. Jovie and I fell deeply in love during our visit.

Jovie, eyeballing the treat in my hand

We got to the farm around four o'clock in the afternoon on a gorgeous fall day, to find Sara and Marty sitting on their front porch awaiting our arrival.

Once we'd hugged it out with Sara and met Marty, and he had met us, we took a moment to absorb the beauty and peace of our surroundings.

Sara is partial to primitive decor

Then we went inside.

The house smelled like the succulent roast Sara was cooking, and everything looked just as I knew it would.

The parlor with its exposed beams and punched tin lamp

After a delicious home-cooked dinner, we sat around talking for hours.

The next day had been planned by our hosts for doing the kinds of things we all like to do: shopping, eating, and sightseeing. A liberal sprinkling of history was included, because all of us enjoy that.

If God is in the details, Sara has been deputized by the Almighty

Mainly we hung around in New Market, Virginia, where there is all of the above, and then some.

Lunch was at the Southern Kitchen.

Every corner held something interesting to look at

We toured the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and the New Market Battlefield.

Back at home in the late afternoon, Sara made another mouthwatering meal and, for dessert, served her homemade pecan and pumpkin pies.

Another one of those magnificent lamps

I have never tasted such pecan pie. I have asked for the recipe and am assured by Sara that she will share it with me.

More reminiscing followed, in Sara and Marty's comfortable and cozy living room (next to the parlor).

Time to say goodbye

One more sleep, and it was time to go.

After a few more hours of lively conversation over breakfast, TG and I took our leave.

Jovie, waiting for next time

We were assured that there would be a "next time" and I look forward fervently to that.

Maybe we will manage to go in peak leaf season.

Our next destination was special and poignant and I can't wait to share it with you.

Next time.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Thursday

Going and doing and going some more

Baby Rhett on the apple-green bench on a recent perfect fall afternoon

What has the pirate been doing?

What has she NOT been doing?

That is the question.

Answer: very little.

Allow me to elaborate.

A week ago last Friday, some of us traipsed up and the rest of us traipsed down to the line where North Carolina and South Carolina meet, and had supper at the Cracker Barrel there.

It's where Essie works, but we were sad to discover that she was not on the premises that night.

They light the lanterns at this Cracker Barrel

(We asked after her and one of her colleagues called Essie to tell her we were there, and Essie instructed them to give me her phone number, which they did, and I texted to tell her that we love and miss her.)

No; it was not for a birthday that we met. This time, it was just to get together because the time was going to be so long between Labor Day, when we last got together, and Thanksgiving.

At Thanksgiving -- a month from today so you'd best be getting your recipes ready -- we will ALL be together. Every last one of us.

I can't wait. There will be pictures so don't spend any time worrying about missing out.

But a week ago Friday night we just wanted to hang out and talk and visit, so we did.

(It had been planned for two weeks earlier, but Hurricane Ian got in the way of that.)

TG inspecting the damage to Dagny's nose

I took only a few pictures, one of which is of TG inspecting Dagny's face because the day before, at recess, she had been hit on the bridge of her nose by a flying football.

No real harm done, but it left a mark.

Baby Rhett, who as of yesterday is fifteen months old, is marching all over the place. Has been for about three weeks. He knows several words too.

Cue the comments about how your children and/or grandchildren walked at four months and were speaking in full sentences at eight months.

I know that some children walk and talk earlier than others. All four of mine walked at exactly fourteen months. All of them cut teeth at exactly four months, so there's that.

I mean you can either be walking at six months without a tooth in your head, or wait until fourteen months and have a mouthful of choppers.

Allissa walked early and now has braces on her teeth

It's what's known as a tradeoff.

I do know that my kids started talking early and have not stopped since. They must take after me (I'm pretty sure I emerged from the womb uttering full sentences) because TG is the silent type.

Speaking of TG, he is suffering from what is for him a severe head and chest cold. He'll be better in a few days but he sounds awful. Thoughts and prayers appreciated.

The day after our meetup in Charlotte, we had another party planned.

First though, TG and me plus Cherica and Rhett plus Audag all showed up at our church for Community Outreach, which we have every other Saturday.

When that was over, us girls plus our friend Andrea, also from our church, headed over to Five Points and the Starbucks there.

We had each brought a gift and a card for our friend Andrea

The weather was sheer perfection. Warm but not hot, sunny, breezy, with low humidity.

I always say in the fall of the year, this is why people live in South Carolina. 

(We don't say that so much in the summer but nevertheless, that season has its own set of charms. Like when else is your pool water going to approach ninety degrees?)

Once at the venue, we enjoyed fancy coffee drinks and celebrated Andrea, who had turned forty-six the day before.

Andrea is special. She was born with a relatively rare genetic syndrome and still lives at home with her parents.

She is faithful to church and always sits with our family and in fact, she's sort of one of our family. We love her and she loves us and she's often invited to our parties.

Andrea and I posed beside the Five Points fountain

When the birthday festivities were concluded, we headed over to The Gourment Shop, across the street.

We were all looking around when someone put something into my hand. I looked down. It was this.

I was instantly smitten with the pan and started asking where in the store it had been found.

Someone pointed me in the right direction and I looked over the display and became smitten again, but this time with a different pan. TG ended up buying it for me, right then and there. It cost only about a dollar more than that discounted Amazon price.

Later that day he went to Kroger and bought me a can of Baker's Joy and a pound cake mix, and that night I made him a pound cake.

I was nervous about it coming out of the intricate pan but if you spray it well with Baker's Joy and then use a small silicone brush to push it around into all the nooks and crannies, the baked cake nearly jumps out onto the cooling rack.

Dagny marched into Starbucks with her mother's debit card and ordered her own drink

Although I had a scratchy throat which by the next day had turned into a cold, I had fun with my new pan.

Now I want an entire collection of fancy Nordic Ware pans because trust me: they are the best.

The next day, I was feeling so unwell that I had to stay home from church.

Monday (a week ago) I felt dreadful in the morning but better as the day wore on.

On Tuesday, TG and I set out at one o'clock in the afternoon for Hickory, North Carolina, to watch Allissa play in her last volleyball game of the season.

Her team lost that day but she looked good at the setter position. She's on the tall side for a fourteen-year-old.

My pound cake nearly jumped out of the Nordic Ware Jubilee loaf pan

Her mother tops out at five foot nine so I wouldn't be surprised if Allissa does the same.

We got home on the late-ish side that night, but we were glad we made the effort to see our granddaughter play a team sport.

Two days later -- last Thursday -- Erica and I set out at ten o'clock in the morning for Greenville, to have lunch with Henry.

I had not seen him since his ninetieth birthday party on August sixth.

I took along chicken salad that I put together that morning (using canned chicken), tomato soup made from scratch plus Jiffy corn muffins that I'd baked the day before, and a Meyer lemon pound cake that I'd whipped up the night before.

We arrived a little after noon and it wasn't long before I had lunch on the table. It was thoroughly enjoyed, and then it was time to dish up dessert.

I decorated with powdered sugar to show off the cake's intricate detail

Henry had vanilla bean ice cream in the freezer, so he made a pot of coffee and I portioned out the pound cake and Erica scooped up the ice cream.

If your mouth isn't watering, you have not been paying attention. Don't worry about what kind of loaf pan you own; just go get a Meyer lemon pound cake mix and some vanilla bean ice cream, and do likewise.

Don't forget to put the glaze on top. The confectioner's sugar is included in the box and all you have to do is add a tablespoon or so of milk.

You'll never say, I'm so sorry that I took the pirate's advice and did that.

Next on our agenda was a trip to Walmart in Travelers Rest so that I could buy flowers to put on my mother's grave.

(The next day, October twenty-first, would mark the two-year anniversary of her death.)

Mom would have been crazy about this baby boy

From there we drove seven or eight minutes to Coleman Cemetery, also in Travelers Rest, where she is buried. We placed the flowers and enjoyed the bright sunshine.

Baby Rhett had fallen asleep in the car and for a while he snoozed in his carseat with the doors open, but eventually he woke up and we let him toddle (carefully) around the gravesites.

Before leaving, we paid our respects at the graves of a few other folks we know, who are resting not far from Mom.

Back at Henry's crib, we hung out for about another half hour before Erica, Rhett, and I headed back to Columbia. We stopped for a spot of shopping in Greenville on the way, and arrived home at about six thirty.

I'd made a Shepherd's Pie for dinner the night before, and there was plenty left over for TG, so I didn't have to cook. Plus after leaving a sizeable hunk for Henry, I'd brought him back a thick slice of that pound cake.

The next day, in addition to being the anniversary of my mother's homegoing, was Brittany's birthday. She turned twenty-eight.

Andrew in the cockpit of the KC-135 Stratotanker

Several weeks ago, TG had gone to East Tennessee to do some painting in Andrew and Brittany's new house. She is living there now, waiting for Andrew to finish up his last few weeks of pilot training.

I'd sent her birthday present plus a housewarming gift with TG at that time, so she had it there to open on the day.

It was a pretty sweater dress and a necklace, and she texted me to say thank you and that she loved it.

On that same day, Andrew flew the KC-135 Stratotanker for the first time.

The last leg of his training, at Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma, has been specifically to learn to fly the tanker. These are the planes that refuel other planes in flight, all over the world.

They are up in the sky even now, serving as flying filling stations so that military aviators can get from here to far-away there, and fulfill lengthy missions, without having to land for refueling.

It was a beautiful day to go fly a plane ... click to embiggen

Until last Friday, his tanker-flying training had consisted of work in the simulators. The sims are extremely realistic and obviously much cheaper than flying a Stratotanker.

But the very last phase consists of many hours spent in the cockpit, practicing taking off, flying, and landing the plane.

He was exhilarated with the experience and sent all of us several pictures and videos that night.

It's exciting. Every day as you go about your life, young men and women are serving our country in this way. I am more than a little in awe of them -- all of them, in all branches of the military, no matter what their job.

They are genuine American heroes.

Dagny posing with an eraser on her nose, in her studio art room at home

Dagny has started a YouTube channel called Dagny Clare's Art Club. Just so you know. I think that more artistic kids should do this. Instead of staring at a screen, be ON the screen -- being creative.

As I mentioned earlier, this past weekend TG came down with the cold from which I had just recovered.

He felt fine on Friday and Saturday (he had to feel fine on Friday because he played in a golf tournament), even getting about sixteen million acorns raked up from our yard.

But yesterday morning it was obvious (though he would not admit it because he is stubborn) that he was under the weather. He would not shake hands with anyone at church.

I told him when we got home at twelve thirty that he was going to rest for the remainder of the day, and that I would brook no argument and would hide his key fob if I had to.

Henry is doing well

He did not argue and he did rest.  think he'll soon be feeling much better.

Which is good because believe it or not, there is another adventure in the offing. I will bring you up to speed at the appropriate time.

And that is all for now except to say, I hope you have a happy week.

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Happy Monday

You decorated my life

My pirate skeleton recently obtained an equally skeletal bride.

Do you remember that song? Kenny Rogers? Haaahaa.

Anyway.

Brittany and Ember stopped with us for the night last Friday, on their way from Florida to Tennessee.

This is Pepper. He's getting restless.

TG and I saw them during our March visit to Oklahoma and again in June at a wedding, but Audrey and Dagny and Erica and Chad had not seen them since last Christmas.

There were tears shed as everyone hugged it out.

Brittany was still heartbroken over the situation at her grandparents' house, and she'd had to say goodbye to them that morning, and had not been getting enough rest, and it was all a bit much. 

No more feathers, no more meat, but Cassius Crow is still pretty neat.

But everyone relaxed and Brittany told us about her hurricane adventures. I had made a big Crock Pot full of chili, so there was time to talk and just be together.

TG had gone with Dagny on a school field trip to Charleston that day (they toured the USS Yorktown), so we had to wait a little while for them to get home.

(After the school field trip was over, TG, who had driven separately, took Dagny to The Citadel to look around, and then to the home of his old basketball coach, who lives in the area.)

It wasn't chilly outside but we had chili inside.

It has continued warm and summery here, with cool nights and mornings, and lots of sun.

The leaves on our white oak in the front yard are beginning to change in earnest.

But you probably want to know about what is going on in Florida.

Brittany told us that Andrew, together with several men from the church where Brittany's grandfather is the pastor, had thrown themselves into gutting the house.

Go-withs include shredded cheddar, sour cream, and banana pepper rings.

First, everything had to be removed: every stick of furniture and every other soggy thing, is now out in the yard.

Brittany's grandmother, through frequent bouts of tears, was tasked with sorting her possessions, salvaging what she could and parting with what she could not.

Grandpa's late-model SUV was towed away, a total loss.

These are my only jack 'o lantern decorations. Boo.

People were (probably still are) cruising up and down the streets in pickup trucks, looking to haul off anything that has been brought out of houses, and maybe make a few dollars off it.

Brittany had to protect her grandmother's waterlogged and ruined furniture from disappearing, before they even knew whether there was any hope of saving it.

(The answer is, there probably isn't. Everything will have to be replaced. But still.)

Hop in and we'll go for a spin.

Of course, most of the neighbors are in the same position, what with the catastrophic flooding from a nearby canal having been pretty thorough and far-reaching.

At any rate by the time they had concluded what work they could do and Andrew had to leave to go back to Oklahoma, the four-bedroom ranch-style house was empty.

The hardwood floors had been removed and the bottom half of the drywall ripped out down to the studs.

And just like that, she was back in my arms.

Brittany sent me a video; the interior of the house looks like a partial cage, with huge fans running to help with the drying process.

A contractor will still have to assess the foundation and the entire structure to determine whether it can be rebuilt.

Building supplies which were already expensive and in short supply before the hurricane, are even more so now.

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Insurance adjusters are reluctant to give anyone the great good news that they're hoping for.

The last I heard, power was still out and there was no running water.

I have asked Brittany to write a guest post on this blog, to tell about her experience with Hurricane Ian and the havoc it wrought in the lives of her grandparents.

Meet Jerome the Scented Gnome. He has no discernible smell.

Brittany was born in Fort Myers and grew up in that area, so it was hard for her to witness the destruction firsthand.

She said she would do her best to write about it, and I'll encourage her to follow through on that.

Meanwhile it is already ten eleven twenty-two, and I wonder if I have time to turn around twice before it's November.

If you visit before Thanksgiving, you will see this wreath on my door.

I need to show you my October decorations.

Notice I did not say Halloween decorations. I don't do Halloween but I love October decor because I like cemeteries and skeletons and skulls.

I like them year round but in October I let them all come out to play.

We just got these pumpkins and mums on Sunday.

TG said during dinner on October first: I see all the creepy stuff is here.

But it's not meant to be creepy! I said. It's supposed to be campy and funny. Not scary. He took it back.

(If you recall, I had the table decorated ultra-autumn for Labor Day. Those decorations stayed on display throughout September and will make their second appearance for the month of November -- or, until the day after Thanksgiving.)

The orange fairy lights look super cute at night.

(You know what happens the day after Thanksgiving.)

My October table runner is black with silver studs in a spider web design. I got the hearse at TJ Maxx several years ago.

Stephanie and her family gave me the pirate skeleton in 2020; I added his bride just this year, when I saw her at Kroger.

This lantern sits beside the front door. The "candle" lights up on a timer.

Isn't she darling, and are they not adorable together?

I have several sets of graveyard, skull, and skeleton salt and pepper shakers. You know: Here Lies Salt and Here Lies Pepper. Stuff like that.

The sugar skull S&P set was given to me by a friend, who also gave me the silver plastic skull drinking jug.

No bones about it: They were meant for each other.

The heavy clear glass skull, which holds a candle and glows ominiously, has been around for a long time.

Cassius Crow is a bird skeleton that chills in a hanging cage. He's cool.

There's a ceramic bucket, creamy white with black skulls all over it. It sits out on one of my island shelves year round.

Brittany, fresh from the hurricane relief effort.

I have two black pull-back cars, both Chevrolets -- a 1947 and a 1957 model. And yes, the grandkids take those down and play with them when they come over.

(I also have a fire-engine red car and a bright yellow one. We call them ketchup and mustard.)

Yes; you're right. I need a black Cadillac.

A friend got me this at the dollar store.

Speaking of black, there is a sparkly black raven. He's been around a while and is missing some toes but he's still in the game.

In the barest of nods to jack o' lanterns, I have a hollow ceramic pumpkin with the requisite triangle cut-out eyes and nose, that I sit on top of a candle. I bought it at Walgreens at least twenty-five years ago -- maybe longer. The sticker on top of the box it came in says it cost two ninety-nine.

A smaller scary-funny knick-knack depicting two little pumpkins sitting by a tree, also holds a candle.

Because everyone needs a skull pail.

This year I got three new gnomes. One set of two, a boy and a girl, I showed you a few weeks ago. I added Jerome the Scented Gnome and he sits in the wooden tray beside the autumn house and an owl salt shaker.

Have you discovered the salt and pepper shakers on sale in the Cracker Barrel general store? They are ninety-nine cents apiece and they have a bunch of them for every season.

That's where I get most of mine. They're basically irresistible. They make cute gifts too, when you want to give someone just a little something, or to tuck into a gift basket.

These sugar skull salt and pepper shakers contain neither salt nor pepper.

Outside, it's like this: on Sunday TG and I bought two pumpkins and a mum for the apple-green bench that sits beneath the oak tree.

Several weeks ago I found a very impressive lantern to sit beside the front door. It has a fake candle that lights up for five hours each night, on a timer. I love its big brass circle handle.

The black wrought-iron railing is spangled with orange fairy lights. It looks cute at night. We're the only ones on our street who have those.

You might say that I go nuts for skulls.

I was talking to Erica the other day about fall decorations and we were remembering that there was a time when -- for many years, actually -- I decorated for one season only: Christmas.

My house was always kitted out with stuff that (I hoped) was attractive and tasteful, but it was only at Christmastime that I brought out special decorations.

We decided that, pretty much before the year two thousand, fall decorations weren't as much of a thing. In the years since twenty-ten or so, websites like Pinterest and Instagram have helped to propel seasonal home decorating into the retail stratosphere.

There are orange fairy lights on the ledge too.

At any rate, the obsession with fall decorations is pretty intense and no doubt is big business.

All I know is that I like it. I like making a big deal out of all the seasons, especially in the areas of my house where everyone gathers when they come over.

Eventually, last Friday night, we devoured our chili supper with all the trimmings, and there was a key lime pie with a pot of coffee, afterwards.

Dagny loves this little house. I told her that after I am gone (for good), it's hers.

Following a good sleep and a quiet morning, Brittany and Ember left on Saturday a little after noon and made their way to East Tennessee and their new house.

They will be back for Thanksgiving, along with our Andrew.

And that will be here before any of us knows it.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Tuesday

Ian rain

Skies above are blue again

Hurricane Ian gave us a lovely rainy day on Friday. I enjoyed every minute of it.

I feel guilty saying that; so many suffered and are still suffering, and will be for a long time.

Here, it rained steadily for about fifteen hours. Wind was not an issue and I don't know of anyone in our area who experienced property damage or flooding.

Brittany and Andrew drove twenty-two hours from West Oklahoma to South Florida, to help her grandparents. Andrew's military leadership gave their blessing to his being absent from training for a few days.

He will be flying back to Oklahoma tomorrow.

Brittany will stay on until the end of the week, and then drive with Ember to East Tennessee, where they have bought a house.

She'll set up housekeeping and wait for Andrew to finish training and be home in time for the holidays.

The situation with Brittany's grandparents is heartbreaking. They are not young people and this experience is overwhelming.

They need your prayers. Possibly the most urgent need right now is for power to be restored.

Here was my view for the duration of the storm on Friday. I will treasure the memory and I know how fortunate I am that it is a happy one.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Monday :: Happy Week

Up against it

One World Trade Center, New York City :: October 29, 2019

Ugh.

I didn't realize it had been so long since I reached out to you all.

The Queen's funeral sort of knocked me sideways -- was it not poignant, especially at the end? -- and then other events crowded in.

But here we are.

Bad news: Brittany's grandparents live in Cape Coral, Florida.

Their house is a near-total loss. They lost one nice, new automobile too.

They did not evacuate, but rather rode out the storm at the second home of some friends who are still up north for the summer.

This morning, they went back to their house and faced the devastation.

Just about everything they own is under five feet of water and mud.

As of now, they are themselves uninjured and all right physically. But I can't even imagine the mental anguish of the situation they find themselves in.

Of course, nearly all of their church members (Brittany's grandfather is a pastor) are in the same boat.

As are their neighbors and friends, and even some relatives.

A daughter and son-in-law from farther up the Florida coast have managed to reach them today, to help in any way that they can.

Their trip into Cape Coral was iffy because power lines and trees are down, and roads are washed out, and bridges are gone.

Speaking of power, no one has any. Can't use the water, either.

It's a desperate situation and I ask that if you will, pray for Brittany's beloved grandparents.

She is upset and feels helpless sitting out there in Altus, Oklahoma.

Andrew is just finishing up pilot training -- he's in the last phase now, wherein he learns to fly the KC-135 Stratotanker.

In less than two months, he will be a fledgeling tanker pilot. Still rather green, but a tanker pilot nonetheless.

They've already bought a house in Maryville, Tennessee. Brittany will be driving east with Ember to set up housekeeping next week. They have a busy fall planned but if all goes well, they will be with us for Thanksgiving.

As for South Carolina, Ian is working its way towards us. 

We live in the geographic center of South Carolina, so I don't think we have a whole lot to worry about; coastal areas are more vulnerable.

But we've had a gray, windy day, and unless something changes (doubtful), the rain will join forces with the wind during the night tonight and they will both be with us all day tomorrow.

I love a rainy day so I will be moled out at home, burning scented candles and watching the weather from the big windows of my sun room.

There will be a dog on one side of me -- actually two dogs, because Erica's chorkie, Sibi, is staying with us for a few days -- and a cat on the other.

Interesting.

But my thoughts won't be far from the tens of thousands of people who are dealing with the destruction wrought by Ian.

God please meet all of those folks in their trial, and comfort their hearts, and protect them, and help heal these devastated communities!

And that is all for now.

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Happy Thursday

Last bash of the summer

We have transitioned to autumnal decor

We have a family tradition on Labor Day.

Since it is always within the week of our Stephanie's birthday, we throw her a party.

She invariably arrives with her family late on the Sunday night before the Monday holiday. This year was no exception; they got here a little after eleven thirty.

My mother gave me this rooster many years ago

(Joel is a pastor in Western North Carolina. They have to wait until the conclusion of Sunday night services to pack up and head for Columbia.)

I had all of the beds ready and things laid out for breakfast. They always stop on the way for food, so there was no need to feed anyone that night.

We did stay up too late talking. It was nearly one o'clock before we all headed off to bed.

Dagny wanted to pose with the birthday flamingo

The next morning, I was up earlier than anyone else. I wanted to make sure I was organized and had time for quiet during the coffee hour.

This get-together is always about swimming for the kids. The last swim of the summer. Except, this day, it was rainy.

I was so upset! Although I love rainy days, I hastily prayed that the weather would clear up so that the children -- especially Dagny, who missed out all summer -- could enjoy playing in the pool.

New fall gnomes in the home

And it did. The rain moved off and the cousins swam in the morning despite still-overcast conditions. It helped that the pool water, due to a string of hot days with hours of direct sun, was still a perfect temperature.

By afternoon, it was positively sunny. The children had plenty of time to splash and cavort and dive and snorkel and float and laugh and just be kids.

As for my menu, I broke with tradition.

This year we went with baked spaghetti

Our Labor Day spread is usually a lot like our Memorial Day feast: hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and the like.

Plus a great big birthday cake.

This year I wanted to do something a little different, and I finally decided on this recipe for Baked Spaghetti. All of my grandkids love spaghetti and you won't hear an adult complaining either.

Mari's spectacular hot taco dip rounded out the menu

I first tried this recipe two years ago, when we all went to Holden Beach in Supply, North Carolina, where we stayed in a rented house for three or four days.

I'd planned for weeks ahead of time, and took huge pans of frozen casseroles that I had prepared so that all I had to do each night to feed everyone was thaw one of the pans, bake it, make a salad, and add fresh bread.

We got our salad course from Olive Garden

We had things like Shepherd's Pie and of course, Baked Spaghetti.

So I doubled the recipe so there would be plenty for everyone, with some left over for TG later in the week.

I made it in a disposable pan so there would be zero cleanup for me.

All the go-withs

Joel and Stephanie contributed a family-size salad and breadsticks from Olive Garden. Joel went to pick it all up at one o'clock that day.

Olive Garden -- at least the one near our house -- is meticulous about preparing and packing your takeout order. It's done so neatly and thoughtfully, and everything you need besides actual dishes, is supplied.

The salad and breadsticks were fresh and went so well with the baked spaghetti.

There's a black cat gnome chillin' on the ledge

For those who observe a low-carb diet, and also just because it's so good, I made Mari's Hot Taco Dip (minus the black olives) and served it with Mission Carb Balance soft tortillas and sour cream.

I also made my signature salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion, with homemade red wine vinaigrette.

I made it and I decorated it and I even ate some of it

For dessert, I again made the ice cream cake that's created by layering ice cream sandwiches with Cool Whip plus toppings -- I used caramel syrup and crushed chocolate sandwich cookies -- and frozen solid.

It's a winner. You should see their eyes light up when they see this dessert. Dagny even requested it for her next birthday.

Last year I made this same cake for Stephanie's Labor Day birthday party, but this year I decorated it differently.

We sprung for the PW dishes that matched my pan and the Happy Birthday topper

This time I made a banner diagonally across the cake, spelling STEPHANIE in pink sixlet candies.

On either side of her name I put crushed cookies, and added a Pioneer Woman Happy Birthday topper, plus some hot pink candles.

It was pretty impressive if I do say so. And completely delicious.

I can't wait each year to light up the pumpkin spice jar candle

I also switched it up this year by decorating for fall on the first day of September.

Usually, the only thing I change on the first day of September is my door decoration; I take down my patriotic display and replace it with a fall wreath.

I also have fairy lights on my porch railing, and I change those out from red-white-blue to orange.

We had candlelight all day long

And I did all of that as per usual, but this year I decided to ditch the patriotic decor in the kitchen and go all-out for fall.

(Actually, in a day or two I will change it again, to my October display which is not Halloween per se but which is definitely recognizable as being distinctly October. Then on November first, I'll bring back all of the autumn decor and add more, for Thanksgiving.)

I had the pumpkin spice and mulled cider candles going, so the air was scented with the requisite autumn fragrances.

My two-tier tray was decked out in autumnal cuteness

Everyone noticed and seemed to appreciate my efforts.

So it was that after a morning of hanging out, drinking coffee and getting ready and whatnot, I put together the baked spaghetti and the hot taco dip and laid everything out for the meal.

We ate at two o'clock. Sometimes we wait before having dessert, but this time, after clearing the table, I went ahead and made coffee and cut the cake. I'd taken it out to thaw a bit just as we sat down to eat.

Stephanie was pleased but she doesn't like all eyes on her

We enjoyed our cake, and then Stephanie opened her presents. When all of that was accomplished, everyone went outside and the kids got back into the pool.

Everyone had gone home by six forty-five, and TG and I had the evening to relax. 

What did you do to observe Labor Day? I hope that whatever it was, you thoroughly enjoyed it.

There will be blessings

Forward into fall! Just a few more days to wait. Queen Elizabeth's beautiful funeral will be summer's swan song.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Tuesday