DNA and then some...

There are those who have (although hesitantly) asked if my, shall we say "strong sense of humor" runs in my family. The answer is "OH yes!" The Lord used a wide paint mixing paddle when he stirred the thinking patterns into my family's DNA. My Mother's side was more stoic, but enjoyable. I think the "funniness" comes from my Dad and his ancestors. His sense of humor was so dry, with the turn of a word he would have a whole room full of people rolling with sidesplitting laughter!

Here is just a taste of how this drollness has passed down from Grandfather, to Mother to my children, and in particular in this case, my middle son. This is a note he wrote to post in his office to entice people there to purchase from the "goodies" list his daughter sent with him that day!

Hallie's Goal

EXPOSE'/CONFESSION

If I was writing about someone else I suppose this would be a true expose' but since I am the culprit, then I guess it is a confession. On second thought, it is also an expose' because I've decided to include those in attendance with me on this infamous road trip!

Sorry girls (you know who you are) this is a mighty epic tale and needs to be told in full!

My granddaughter, sister and I surprised my daughter on her XXth birthday with a "girl's day out" road trip to Nashville TN. We made a couple of fantastic stops during the day, one in a little country town that has a pharmacy with a large gift shop that sells the dishes she collects. She was ecstatic. She did not know this place existed, and neither did we. My granddaughter found the store on the internet! Of course, we bought her some of the "Fiesta Ware."

Then we were on the road again to the Nashville (about a 2 and ½ hour trip) where, via some hair-raising, crime-ridden hidden inner-city streets, (due to a GPS gone wild) we found the warehouse complex that enjoys a new life as home to high-end, trendy shops and offices. Here, we made a stop at the TN. Home of the "Antique Archeology" owned by Mike as in Frank & Mike, the stars of the History Channel show "The Pickers."We had scored again. Daughter was thrilled, and we wiled away a bit of time here. We then walked down the street to a very neat art gallery.

Hang on for just a bit more, I will get to the expose'/confession in due time.

It was time for lunch, so we visited the Macaroni Grill and feasted.

It was now family time, and we headed to another suburban town nearby where my sister's son's family lives. As an aside; first, we visited him at his office. He runs "The Hands and Feet Project." They have two orphanages in Haiti and hope in just a couple of more years to be raising one thousand children. They are not an adoption agency; the children live there until they are grown and are raised in a Christian lifestyle away from voodoo influence. The HAF Project was started by the former Christian rock band "Audio Adrenalin," that was my nephew's band and he was the lead singer. We went on to visit with his wife and the two children they have adopted from Haiti. The little girl's birth was featured on "The Crystal Cathedral," I will tell that story another time. 

 We had time for one more "birthday thing" before returning home, (here it comes) we chose to visit "Loveless Café" it's located on the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you get on the Trace from the Nashville end get off at the first or second exit and take a right on to highway 100, look down the road to your left, and you can see it!

So, it was only about three hours, since we had lunch, but you cannot be near the Café and not eat there. It is very famous in these parts and has been featured on some of those cooking television shows. Carol Fay Ellison, the Loveless Cafe's beloved "Biscuit Lady," who has made the biscuits for Loveless for over thirty years died last year, but her legendary biscuits live on, and we knew it.

    

We hit the door two abreast and took a table near a window in the thirty's style farmhouse, gave our order and grabbed our napkins. When our order was delivered a fellow sitting in the corner came over to our table and said ,"I'm gonna' be watching you, I don't believe you can do it."

The four of us had ordered a basket of biscuits (14 golden, delicious, fluffy goodness) a bowl of butter, molasses, strawberry, blackberry & peach preserves, and four pieces of pie. We're not talking puny biscuits, but sky high ones, fit for mountain climbers. Ah yes, we scaled those heights, and then it was tine for dessert. Three of us chose different pies, (all homemade), and the granddaughter had banana pudding. I had key lime pie. My sister, coconut and daughter had chocolate chip pecan. The curious fellow sauntered over on his way out and stated, "I can't believe it! Where in the world did you put it?" "Where it belongs!" we answered in chorus.

A memorable birthday celebration was had by all. I know confession is good for the soul, but biscuits are good for the stomach. I fear I am still carrying the effects of the awesome gorging. It has been over a week now, and I haven’t stepped on the scales and I won't as long as this "gut guilt" bothers me.

Carol Fay's biscuit recipe remains a secret, but here is the recipe I used to try to duplicate (I got close, maybe.)

2 cups self-rising Flour
Salt-a half pinch
¾ cup buttermilk (I use milk with 1/2 TB. vinegar in it)
½ tea. spoon baking soda mixed in the buttermilk
¼ cup lard (yes LARD, animal fat!)
In 57 years of marriage, this is the first time I have ever used lard (city girl)
I am now sold on it!

Mix all together, kneed the dough about ten times roll out, leave rather thick. This should make about 6 or seven biscuits if not rolled too thin.
Bake 415-425 according to your oven's hotness(?)
~Bless it...Amen!
~Slather with butter (real) take time to chew.
~Savor!

Forgive yourself ahead of time!

A Little Taste of...

B'zzz...

Yes, I am home from the mountains, but I have been followed here by meandering thoughts and visions that meld and become the whole of my memories of this beautiful time. How can one, using only words, explain the experiences of loving emotions and pangs of empathy mixed together with aromas and excitement, discovery, delight and soul tears for certain persons who tug so strongly at your heart strings?


This is not just a hands on mission work. It involves one's whole being and reflects back to you just who you really are in the sight of your Heavenly Father. There were times when I felt insignificant in light of the work to be done while feeling so blessed to be in that rugged land, so beautifully caressed by the lush hand of God.

There are so many international students at the Oneida Baptist Institute now, and the majorities are from South Korea and Ethiopia, they are from moneyed families and can pay the full tuition. They come for the "beyond" excellent Christian education. Then there are our own, those from the mountain heritage and others from the "flat lands" as they say. These children are for the most part, from poor families, and they pay as they can or nothing at all. They seem to intermingle with their own friends as well as others no matter the skin color. All the children are cheerful and polite. No matter who they are, they all work, have a particular job to do, on the farm or on the campus.

The farm in the valley is so breathtaking surrounded and protected by deep stalwart trees of every hue, size and shape. I awakened to the lingering mist in the mornings, and it gave me the feeling of being in another world, somewhere between dreams and desires to capture this ethereal moment and hold it close forever. However, mist, like life is ever changing, and it lifts and rises and so must we as once again, we began a busy day by lifting our hearts in praise and our bodies to meet the task of the day.

The time to leave is bittersweet; I am so ready to be at home in my space. As I leave the vista of the swinging bridge that hangs like a smile slung between two high banks and swaying in the dappled shade, the tall slender steeple of the church peeking through the tree tops, quaint buildings and sad little homes of the neighbors, their memories are like eye candy that I will taste all the way home.

God has touched our hearts in an unexpected way this week and plans are being made to grow a mission among us of a private nature, it will bind us closer together though we will share with others and allow them to dip into this special blessing also. God will be honored through it, and hearts lightened.

Jesus's presence was with us this week, and we take Him home with us. Yet He remains in Oneida, and His presence is settled on that place that is set apart from this brisk world. His Spirit is intertwined there like the mist in the valley, though He never leaves, He rises, moves, fills and covers each soul and if their hearts are aware they can breathe Him in and be eternally filled, as He, the mountains, valleys and people show forevermore the beauty of God's love.

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GRINS "R" WELCOMED HERE ♥

also read on:
christianwomenonline.net/community/blogs/rheab/

God blessed me with a good nights sleep, so I awakened with a renewed strength and resolve to do the things today that will take good care of this body that He has allowed me to indwell. As I resolutely set out to do this, I find that, in reality, I have already begun.

Upon arising, I find I am breathing in this wonderful August air (no humidity today) in KY., smack in the middle of the Ohio River Valley, this is a rare deep summer morning treat. I realize that I have already started my exercises with my "elbow bends"( drinking four cups coffee .) Moving on to the "buttocks tucks" (constant gripping, to keep my desk chair from rolling out from under me.) Next, prolonged knee movement (activating my porch swing.) So far, an energetic & very fruitful AM (swilling cherry milk shake using "light" whipped cream)...now, I hope I can do as well with the rest of my day!

My desire is that you will grin rather than scoff. My serious side will awaken soon, and as I thank the Lord for this beautiful day, I will celebrate and praise my way through it, there you see I do so love to exercise my heart and soul...

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B'zzz

I'm Getting Personal

Ok! I am getting personal.



Some of my paintings~ my journal with Don's old fountain pen.
 click on picture for larger view



Oh my goodness, here I am again peering out the window on the door by my computer desk this is my favorite spot in the house. The sun is beaming long streaking fingers through the dark roof scraping , and angry clouds that are still hanging around in the west. It looks as though we may have a collision of weather over Kentucky today. As always, "This day belongs to the Lord! Let's celebrate and be glad today." Psalms 118:24 quoted from my favorite Contemporary English Version.





 

The scattered conditions outside mirrors my concentration this morning. A hodge-podge of ideas seems to be refracting my thoughts the way a copper penny in a plastic bag of water refracts light. I am searching for a settled thought. I may just go with the flow and let the idea that pushes to the forefront escape through my fingers.

I think that I am going to describe my current life and interests, and my "now" time pursuits, which I consider "blessings of God". May I introduce you to my town? It helps to know a person better. Many people have rather humorous and varied thoughts about Kentucky. They think of hillbillies, shooting and/or marrying cousins, bare fee; swigging a little "shine" (as in moon), you know the mantra; on it goes. I am not saying this did not happen in other eras and in some venues. We tend to hide those things in the dark valleys and shadows of steep KY hills. I live in a small city on the western edge of the state of Kentucky. We cling tightly to the yellow sandy banks of the Ohio river. Visit my bustling home-town, it is the centerpiece of this clip.




As I grow older, hobbies are remaining an important part of my life. I have a fondness for writing, painting with acrylics, and making jewelry. It seems that I become motivated in the same way for each activity. I experience the desire to express thought, color, and dimension. On any day, it is a toss-up to which craft I will choose.

Friends often ask, "How do you decide what to write about?". I don't. The words find me. How egotistical that sounds; however, somehow they do. I may hear a word, or a phrase, and suddenly the way they sound, feel on my tongue, the thoughts they bring to my mind, I have to write them down. The words become full of meaning, have depth and layers, and completely ensnare me, so I flesh out the words or phrase. I enter an almost ethereal zone; writers, you understand.

I have been painting since I was a young bride. I kept busy taking lessons, and learning the art while my bridegroom served his country in Germany. I still get lost in the paintings. A blend of colors comes into my mind, and the thought of how I could arrange them becomes compelling. I pick up a brush, and it takes on a life of its own. Bits and pieces of color are reflected to me as eye memories kept in a kaleidoscope. It is not a mystery; It is a blessing of God given to help one such as me deal with complexities of my life as it continues.





A few of the necklaces etc. I've made.
click picture for larger view

 

Recently, I began to make jewelry. Again, it is because I love getting caught up in the color, style, texture choices. I like to make pieces that tell of their past, using the stones of the earth, dull, shiny, metal and wood, constructing them in unusual ways. I have the yen to express emotion with my work. I know that sounds goofy, but I don't care for doing the expected, this is due to a little bit of the rebel that lives in my quirky personality, and it shows in the pieces that I have designed. I like to take the ugly and undesirable stones and beads and create something unique and beautiful. I think I may have received this "transforming" desire from a higher source.

I can see God's own handiwork, as I realize that He placed me in my hometown to thrive and grow, and to find the life mate and the church family He chose for me. I thank Him for this personal touch. I am assured that "He knows my name and He knows my every thought", and this being so, I thrive as a child of the King in my own, shall we say "renewed" childhood.

I believe he passed along a wee bit of His attributes through the creative leanings that He has allowed to develop in me. I can worship and pass Him along to others through the blessing of the written word. Not all will enjoy my writings. They are not meant for everyone. Along the way, there may be a heart or two that I can lift or a direction I can give that would bring honor to my gracious Lord. I find that I don't have to understand it, just give thanks for the craving to do it.

As I paint, I gain peace for my days and nights causing me to have a stilled mind and soul that can concentrate more fully on Him. In calmness, I will be inclined to let the drawing power of His reflecting light shine through me. He allows me to see the transformation of a blank canvas by my hand, in turn He may allow me to see my prayers answered and the canvas of lives transformed by His hand.

Jewelry making pleasures me, and I get to pass on happiness to others. It fulfills a certain need for earthly joy and helps to make me a well-rounded person. This art is a little selfish in a way, because I want those who have my pieces to remember me. For some reason, it is important that they smile when they do, and whisper a prayer.

My life is full of the blessings of God, and I thank Him that He has given me the wisdom to know it and the will to believe it, through all times. I especially give thanks for aspects of my being that appreciates color, words and working with them. So there, I've shared a bit it is your turn to get personal.