Happy New Year, Sleep on your Dreams for 2015

Celebrations around the world

The desires in your head

put on paper

in a pie shape

sleep on them

as long as it takes

Penguin love

Sweet

As 2015 unfolds

prepare to check off

your dreams

because

Mighty Reflections

You let your

subconscious

 do the work

I've done it

It did!

Have a Very Merry New Year's

and a fabulous New Year!

©2014 Copy only
Red Convertible Travel Series

Love connects hearts forever

This is a Giesswein boiled wool embroidered jacket I bought in Salzburg, Austria during the Christmas markets in 1997. I've used it for Children's Time at Church, to show how love connects our hearts, Valentine's and bitter cold days. The truth is, love connects hearts forever.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series



.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Pillsbury Cookies

That was a short season!

Thanksgiving was the first time in four years we had guests for the holiday. I haven't been this happy since I cooked for "The Pearl Girls" to fill my home with happy. Niece Dawn brought Watergate salad and a sweet potato casserole. Yum! Her brother, Wes, brought ham, a lot of it. I cooked a Butterball Cajun seasoned turkey breast and made her mom's cornbread stuffing with chunks of the turkey. The recipe's a keeper. Of course we had mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, pecan and pumpkin pie.

Later, Bryce, Braden and Kaylee wanted Rice Krispie bars. We found Kroeger's closed. I have never seen our Wal-mart parking lot completely full. We braved the crowd. One of the kids reached between snaking carts and grabbed a box. We self-checked out and were back to the car in ten minutes. I suspect others waited hours.

Rice Krispie bars need to set and dry. Not necessarily. If there's melted Hershey to dip them in, go for it. And "we" did. I was a kid, too.

Granddaughter Bertlee came Sat. to bake cookies. Thank goodness Pillsbury mixed the dough and sold it in tubes. We made peanut butter with a Hershey kiss on top, gingersnaps, plain sugar cookies and some with bits of red peppermint candy that reminded me of Grandma. We did the Pretzels with Rolo's and a colorful mini-MnM. She had cookies to take to her 1st grade class and to her family. I hope we can do this again.

Thorton Wilder, "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasure." 

Peace on Earth and Goodwill To All

Maeann

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series
















She took some home. I'm giving lots away for early Christmas treats.

Brian Weems wood carving, Schatzie and Madchen

 Mr. Cedar Root,

Master of Focus and Silence 

stood by
holding up the mailbox

while our Maine Coone, Schatzie

was mauled by four, large stray dogs

early 9/12/14.

 We, including Buckshot,
when we buried Schatzie

overlooking the MS River

Sweet Grand Nephew Bryce

gave Madchen a new do.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

A World of Woes

Labor Day. The Bravada died at 237,000 miles. We waited four hours for a wrecker. Usually AAA is great. This day we were west of Batesville. A wrecker company called from Tupelo. Where we were? They were at Pear Rd. Never heard of it. I let AAA know that hauler would be driving 200 miles. They found one closer. When they unloaded it, Buckshot jumped out of the car. The two young men jumped out of the hauler to help round him up. JB left my door open and quietly rode around the lot until Buckshot jumped in. He'll go anywhere with Dad.

The Bravada rests quietly in our backyard. But all has not been well in the neighborhood. Last Thursday night, a pack of four large dogs mangled our housecat. Schatzie.. He had his claws and was street smart, but he was no match for a pack of jaws. Our neighbors heard the ruckus and ran to the door. He shooed them away and found Schatzie unable to move. He quietly left him at our front door. Fri.morning Dad heard him. Something wasn't right. He always came to the side door. He couldn't move his back legs. There were three wounds on his sides. I laid on the floor with him and gently stroked him until we could get him to the vet.

Schatzie had a puncture wound where a dog had bitten him over his back. and two other wounds. Per Dr. Landess,"The dogs are packing." Other mangled cats were brought in recently. Schatzie would be paralyzed, He was the gentlest, quietest kitty for the eleven years we had him. I can't write this without tears. I held him when Doc put him to sleep.

Schatzie was a rescue kitty from the Omaha Humane Society in NE. When Krysia went to find another cat, Schatzie adopted her. He didn't ask for much. Science Diet soft chicken cat food was his favorite, and occasionally tuna. Give him a scratch, a brushing, and a quiet, secret place to nap, and he was happy. He often curled up on a kitchen chair.

Memorial Day 2012, Buckshot barked and growled. I got up and saw a black cat lying down at the curb. No big deal. Buckshot wasn't satisfied. I looked again. It was a panther with his sights on Schatzie. I opened the back door and Schatzie shot in. He rewarded Buckshot by leaving him a little catfood on his plate every day.

Madchen is our other Maine Coon Mix from the same Humane Society, too. Schatzie was black and tan. She is orange with a white ruff, about 20 lbs. and looks like a Norwegian Snow Cat. It was love at first sight for them. They snuggled together and groomed each other. I saw her put her paw across his back and lick out his ear. He squirmed, but she held him tight. Yes, she was the bossy one. Now she's the lonely one that sleeps close to me.

We buried Schatzie overlooking the Mississippi River, and left a sizeable rock to mark his grave.
I ache for him. Maybe we were supposed to sleep through it. We might have run out and been mangled, too. So much for life in Clarksdale, MS where we have more than drugged out gangs to worry about.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Her Heart Was Aimed Towards Me

     There wasn't a time in my life when I didn't know the Miners family. Bill and I were Cradle Roll babies at the First Presbyterian Church. We graduated from high school the same year. Leonard plowed Nadine's garden and brought them fresh fall mushrooms. Over the decades, plates of cookies, garden produce and other goodies were delivered back and forth. Our support for one another is without end.
     Intelligent and well read, they knew Shakespeare as if he were their next door neighbor. They studied and conversed about everything and anything. 
     Nancy is the last of the living. The rest are as near as her next thought. She said, "We genuinely liked each other. We had different ideas. We debated, but we didn't fight. We were always there for each other.
     "When I was small and overly shy, I was invited to a neighbor girl's birthday party. Two other friends were there, but they wouldn't talk to me. I guess they already knew each other. I stood at a distance. The phone rang. The Birthday girl handed it to me.
     "Nancy, are you having a good time?" Mom asked.
     "No," I whispered into the phone.
     "My heart is aimed towards you, Honey. It will be okay."
     "I broke out in a smile. Mom, the foundation of everlasting arms took time to check on me. Her love is the kind that is there all the time, goes all the way, always, all ways. No conditions. No clock. No yardstick. No count-it-out. All loving you for you. Carried all the way 100%.
     "Thank you for thinking of me." I hung up confident I could fit in, and I did."

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series  
   

   

   

Dear Robin Williams,

Thank you for your contribution to life. You touched many hearts with your wit and wisdom, and will continue to do so. You could be counted on to entertain and at the same time, inspire. I love your movies and interviews and you.

By now I suspect you know you have changed form, but your life has not skipped a beat. I do not judge you. I wish you Grace and Peace.

My family has first-hand experience with the thief Parkinsons. It was a minimal tremor in the beginning. Grandma reached for a glass of water and knocked it over. One accident was nothing. But they happened more often. Broken dishes. Dropped silverware and knives. She cut herself more often. When the head shaking started, she lost her spark. The thief held her hostage and tightened the noose on her independence. Depression moved in and overtook her from time to time. She went from a vibrant, hard working woman to being dependent. 

Grandma Mae, my namesake, could no longer live alone. Unable to coordinate a spoon or hold a glass, she lived with my parents and with us. We hand fed her. Applesauce was her favorite. She liked to go for a slow ride. We took her. Her food had to be chopped fine. A survivor of Quinsy, but it left pockets in her throat that caused choking.

She died with P more than ten years later. We lost her twice. Once when the disease advanced and when she died, but we were grateful she was out of P's grip. 

Robin you will always be a part of us. Love connects hearts 
forever. 
















Whole Wheat love,

MaeAnn

P.S.I didn't make this heart. It was in the loaf I bought.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Ruland Junction Toy Train Museum

 Tracks run

around the room

see them in action

I have never seen

so much

 toy train memorabilia

in on place

Grandpa Williamson 

would be in

hog heaven

Father, Big Ed Ruland

Sons, Wayne and Gary

have collected for decades

it's for us, 

the visitor,

to enjoy now.

Corner of 12th & Walnut Sts.

Heber Springs, AR 72543

Fri, Sat, Sun

9am-4pm

Adults $5

Kids under 13 $2.50

Group tours by appt.

501-362-6342

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

An unexpected 💗

I didn't do this 

I found it
when I opened the bag

Peanut butter will stick

forget the jelly

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Sassafras Anyone

This is a Sassafras branch. An Arkansas man with Indian ancestry walked into the woods and brought it back for us. Notice the three kinds of leaves on a single stem, right to left: the mitten, three pointed leaf and a single leaf. Repeat. Repeat.

I have a sassafras twig in my purse. It reminds me of old Western movies where a youngster comes in and can’t order liquor. “I’ll have a sassafras, please.” It gives root beer its flavor.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

How to Tree a Boat

“Do you want to go fishing?” man-of-the-house asks.

Not really. I can do without a gazillion mosquitoes and humidity so thick it soaks through my everything. Welcome to the Deep South. I groan and try to think of an acceptable excuse: I’m sick; I have a deadline; I have someplace to go. Guilt overrides. You should spend time together. What if this is your last day? But I’m a Lucille Ball-type klutz.

To say I am not water savvy is an understatement. Our last jaunt, I tilted the boat within a fraction of dumping us into DeSoto Lake. I didn't hand him the right gear. I couldn't get over the seats without stumbling. And the list goes on. I was so inept I earned, “The most failures” award.

He keeps trying. “Bring your book. I’ll put in a lawn chair for you. Buckshot, let’s go." The guys are off to the truck. Buckshot follows two steps behind at the exact same pace. He’ll even wait to eat when he does, no matter how late in the day it is. They give and receive love and loyalty.

I did what I did not want to do. I got into the truck with that something-dreadful-will-happen-feeling. Buckshot rode shotgun while I clutched my coveted bag of mosquito repellent, reading material, paper, and pens. I prayed we had a sufficient balance in our “prayed ahead” account.

Scene 2: At a bar pit, small lake, the man-of-the-house says, “Mules were the muscle used to haul the earth out to build the dam. The MS River gladly filled it in."

There's green algae inches thick on the water. He backs the boat trailer into the lake, but the boat won’t float off. The rear wheels of the truck are submerged a good 18”. He wades in over his knees and shoves. The boat moves enough to float. “Don’t let it get away."

My stomach is traveling to my throat. My mouth is dry. I'm sweating bullets.

The 16 year-old Bravada eases up the bank. The stern turns toward the bank. I am powerless. "STOP!!!!” He can't hear me over the engine. The trailer wheel catches the boat and shoves it up on the bank. It will take two men to extract it from the trees and launch it.

My gut was right. We weren't prayed up.

He thinks he’s home free, gets out, and sees the damage. He turns his back on the situation and does a perfect and sincere Philo Bedo imitation, "Why me Lord."

Upset beyond words, he glares at me. “Why didn't you let go of the rope? I could have waded out and caught it.”

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Thoughts for Fathers for Father's Day

Father's

Kinds of fathers 

loving, kind, 

happy, strong, 

weak, mean

Their childhood

molded them 

What will Baby be

The father holds his newborn

Speechless, overcome with joy

the responsibility seems staggering

I can't do this 

In his arms their bond is forged

deep, everlasting

Protectiveness rises in him

Gentleness flows from him

Baby trusts him

asleep in his arms

He memorizes baby's lashes,

the all-over scent of Johnson's

Child of my heart

You are the new and improved version

of your mother and I

Be all you can be

The process is subtle

Not just Father's words,

his thoughts, too

Baby believes he's right

Whatever is thought or said

by the bed of a sleeping child,

he or she will become

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Buckshot's Sandcastle

Last weekend, Buckshot was initiated into the Mississippi River. Our trip up the river was the equivalent of a wild bronc ride. My visor flew off. I expected it to float. It didn't.

We pulled up to the sandbar where friends and family gather. Probably more so than in church. (I only mention that because it was Sunday.) The older the ladies, the more their bathing suits covered. I kept my jeans and long-sleeved denim shirt on. As fair as I am, I knew I'd pay for it Mon. I am. My forehead and the tops of my feet are on fire. Plus, I grew up with no more water to play in than the bathtub. I'm easing into this "Big Water" life.

Barges were busy moving up and down the River. The lapping of the wake startled Buckshot. He backed to higher ground. Before the afternoon was over, he waded to the boat and jumped in.

He had great fun digging in the sand. Whatever "soft" items he found, he ate, along with a little extra sand for his gizzard. Monday he pooped a sandcastle.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Memphis, TN VA

When the "Greetings" letter came, the recipient was expected to comply.
Did the VA take care of us after the stint of duty?
Yes, they did.
Recently, our family needed help at the Memphis, TN VA.
We were skeptical. And pleasantly surprised. They were efficient, organized, thorough, helpful, no matter what our need.
When appointments were lined up for two days, we were given a room in their Hoptel within the facility.
Our experience couldn't have been better.
Thank you Memphis, TN VA.

If you have had positive experience with a VA, please tell them.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

USA Memorial Day 2014

I pledge allegiance

to the flag

of the United States of America

and to The Republic

for which it stands

One Nation under God

Indivisible

with Liberty and Justice

FOR ALL

To the Veterans in our family

Thank you

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

The Homeplace Restaurant, Catawba, VA

     If you are in the Roanoke, Virginia area, I suggest you  take time to enjoy the drive up #322 to Catawba. At the top of the old, worn-down mountain sits The Homeplace Restaurant in an enormous two-story antebellum home. Their placemats state, " . . . built by the John Morgan Family in 1907, it sat on 600 acres. The family raised purebred horses, beef cattle, and later ran a dairy farm. The house sat unoccupied for several years before going up for auction October 7, 1978, when 63 acres, including the farmhouse and dairy barn, were purchased by Harold C. Wingate. Renovation on the structure began in July 1981. It opened for business on September 17, 1982. The Wingate Family currently owns 150 of the original 600 acres."
     The average wait-time is an hour. As you can see, no one is in a rush. There was a light breeze, and it was just warm enough to not need a sweater. I sat on the porch and watched all ages come and go.
     Meals are served family-style, or spoon-style, as it's called. All-you-can-eat. The chicken was outstanding. It had been fried, but wasn't exactly crispy. It seemed steamed. Our other meat was roast beef. Bowls of mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh green beans, coleslaw and cornbread filled the table twice. Warm blackberry cobbler was served with ice cream once. We could have eaten another one. Outstanding!

     For more information, Google or Bing The Homeplace Restaurant Catawba, VA.

     P.S. The Appalachian Trail is near enough for hikers to hike over for dinner.

     P.S. P.S. Audie Murphy, America's most decorated WWII soldier, was killed in a plane crash in this area in 1971.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Original Wahoo Weiners are back

Some of the awards celebrating

 Wahoo Locker's award winning retail meats

Frozen meats

smoked sausages

potato sausages

cream sausages

aged meat

Braunsweiger

summer sausage

 The original recipe it is. 

Already cooked. Good enough to eat cold.

Delicious sliced in scrambled eggs.

Great hotdogs. Thin casing.

Beranek's shipped them around the world.

Wahoo Locker ships, too.

©2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Dialogue between Benjamin Franklin and the Gout

     The Oxford Book of American Essays features works that have expired copyrights. I've been having great fun loading my birthday Kindle with free books. Benjamin Franklin wrote this piece at Midnight, 22 October, 1780.
     He prefers a sedentary life.
     Madame Gout, as he calls it, lists his infractions: ... your amusements, your recreation, at least, should be active. You ought to walk or ride; or, if the weather prevents that, play at billiards.  . . . While the mornings are long, and you have leisure to go abroad, what do you do? Why, instead of gaining an appetite for breakfast, by salutary exercise, you amuse yourself with books, pamphlets, or newspapers, which commonly are not worth reading. Yet you eat an inordinate breakfast, four dishes of tea, with cream, and one or two buttered toasts, with slices of hung beef, which I fancy are not things the most easily digested. Immediately afterwards you sit down to write at your desk, or converse with persons who apply to you on business. Thus the time passes till one, without any kind of bodily exercise. But all this I could pardon, in regard, as you say, to your sedentary condition.
     But what is your practice after dinner? Walking in the beautiful gardens of those friends with whom you have dined would be the choice of men of sense; yours is to be fixed down to chess, where you are found engaged for two or three hours! This is your perpetual recreation, which is the least eligible of any for a sedentary man, because, instead of accelerating the motion of fluids, the rigid attention it requires helps to retard the circulation and obstruct internal secretions. Wrapt in the speculations of this wretched game, you destroy your constitution. What can be expected from such a course of living, but a body replete with stagnant humors, ready to fall prey to all kinds of dangerous maladies, if I, the Gout, did not occasionally bring you relief by agitating those humors, and so purifying or dissipating them?
     If I was in some nook or alley in Paris, deprived of walks, that you played awhile at chess after dinner, this might be excusable; but the same taste prevails with you in Passy, Auteuil, Montmartre, or Sanoy, places where there are the finest gardens and walks, a pure air, beautiful women, and most agreeable and instructive conversation; all which you might enjoy by frequenting the walks. But these are rejected for this abominable game of chess.
     Franklin. Oh! ehhh!- It is not fair to say I take no exercise, when I do very often, going out to dine and returning in my carriage.
     Gout. That, of all imaginable exercises, is the most slight and insignificant, if you allude to the motion of a carriage suspended on springs. By observing the degree of heat obtained by different kinds of motion, we may form an estimate of the quantity of exercise given ...
     You can find "the rest of the story" in The Great American Essays.

     And that, dear reader, is a tour of history.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Resorts Casino Pastry Chef Luis, Robinsonville, MS

Luis, the new Pastry Chef's work

 Smooth and creamy. Delish!

 Just the right size.

 Wish I'd tried it. Fruity.

I'm glad serving slices are smaller.

 Fresh Apple Streudel was great! 

Reminds me of the Czech ladies back home.

I ran out of room. Next time.

I could make a meal off his work.

Luis is definitely an asset.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Abe's Bar-B-Q

At the Legendary Crossroads of 49 & 61

Clarksdale, MS

Famous Bar-B-Q-Sauce:

The Come Back Sauce 

 Abraham Davis Founder 1924

"Swine Dining"

Pit Bar-B-Q-Pork or Beef

Hot dogs, hamburgers

Chicken

BBQ Beans

Slaw

Tamales

Soft Drinks

Abe's T-shirts

Frozen grape leaves

Great place to eat!

abesbbq.com


2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Meche's Mardis Gras Donut King Cake

 Before

After

It was delicious.

I could have eaten the whole thing!
Bavarian cream filling in part

chocolate frosting in others

whoever found the tiny doll

buys the next one.
Hurry back!


MechesKingCakes.com
And they ship.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Mother Nature does Valentines

Feb. 8, 2014

It snowed 

in Mississippi

A car turned around 

in front of our house

Turning wheels

created hearts

Love is all there is

Thanks,  Mother Nature

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Biloxi, MS Cemetery behind The Elk's Lodge on I90

Part of the cemetery's monster Live Oak Tree

It takes "a group" to put their arms around the trunk.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Biloxi, MS, Post Hurricane Katrina and Jan '14 snow and ice

It was our first trip to the coast since Katrina. 

Mother Nature brought everything to a halt again
January '14
when she delivered snow and ice
that lingers.

The Gulf is still the Gulf.
Gulls and pigeons are still gulls and pigeons.

that feast on day-old bread.

Post Katrina:

Sculptures of birds and marine life
were created from the

remains of live oak trees along I90
by
chainsaw artists Dayton Scoggins and Marlin Miller

I was moved to tears.

Out of unimaginable devastation beauty arose,

proof 

there are blessings

in the worst

situations.

Go to biloxi.ms.us
find what's "Free"
for pics of the sculptures
and
info on the area.
There's lots to see and do.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Orphan Train

by Christina Baker Kline was published by Harper Collins 2013. I am fascinated by the process, placement and ways of life. While I was waiting for our read, I read "The Orphan Train Trilogy" by Jane Peart, published by Guideposts in 1990.

The first book is set in today. The Trilogy begins in 1888 and follows three orphan girls through school into the first couple of years of their adulthood. Worth the read.

My sister remembers we had an orphan train child in Wahoo, NE. Jim Vanek had one leg about 8" shorter than the other, and yet managed to walk with it. He was a local real estate agent I worked with briefly, but I never heard him talk of his life. My parents had a friend in Omaha that had been on the train, too. Both men were successful in life despite their situations.

I appreciate each woman's novel.. I can imagine the children's angst and the variety of placements. In some cases, they were worse off than when they were in the orphanage.The stories made me appreciate my loving childhood home, the roof over our head and food on the table. I admire people's courage to press forward when all seems lost. I don't know what the rest of my life holds, but I hope I have the faith and courage to live it no matter what happens.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Elvis, John Lennon and Ihop

When we were in Memphis last week, we drove past Elvis' home. His yard had multiple scenes from the Nativity, but he was no where to be found. Someone said he was probably in the bathroom.

Across the street an outdoor board quoted John Lenon: Before Elvis there was nothing.

I had a craving for an Ihop omelet full of veggies and cheese. We haven't been in a while and were surprised we could buy one and get one free. Yum! And I had crepes with Lingonberries. My Swedish ancestors would be happy. We called in and praised our server and the food.

Fast forward to late that night. John came upon a hungry, homeless Vietnam Vet in the smoking room. He started to give him his meal ticket when he remembered the omelet. Thank you Ihop. You  blessed two families. Now that's a fine way to "pay it ahead."

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Sunset Kumato Tomatoes

Chocolate anything gets my attention.

Five chocolaty  tomatoes

were packaged in single file

in a foot long cardboard 

wrapped in cellophane.

Samples were necessary

It was tender but firm

and less acidic

I bought a sleeve

and will buy them again.

The Kumato label is printed in four languages

Unique twice, Unico twice

sunsetproduce.com

I tested the link and found 

Sunset is a Verified Non GMO Project

4th generation Mastronardi family business

Executive Chef Jason Rosso

I will watch for the Sunset label on my veggies

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Beef Neck Bone Soup in cold MS

We've been in the single digits with occasional ice, but our pipes didn't freeze. Our hearts go out to those in the extremes. Does a cold winter set the stage for a hot summer, or is that an old wive's tale?

After the F2 twisted over our house raking up the shingles and laying them down 12/21/13, we noticed our backyard pecan tree was leaning toward the middle of our house, back to front. We are grateful gravity, a sneeze, a feather-weight bird, or a feather, did not fell it, the trimmer did.

After three Deep Southern summers, I understand the need for an outside kitchen or a least a grill. The upside to cold weather is soup. It's twice blessing: when cooked and when eaten. Our Kroeger's is revamping their produce section with more variety, bright lights and mirrors. It reminds me of Whole Foods on a smaller scale. Eat the Rainbow!

The price of a roast was over the moon. I bought neck bones I browned on all sides before putting in the crockpot. The rest of my recipe was by the seat of my pants.

Saute one or more sliced onions
         chopped garlic
         sliced fresh mushrooms
Pour over the roast

Add  1 cup of red wine
         2 cups of beef broth
               
         I didn't add veggies until the meat was near tender.
        Add  more broth if you like.

I cut up fresh green and yellow peppers, zucchini and yellow squash circles, sliced carrots and parsnips, chopped turnips and rutabaga, unpeeled potatoes, and frozen sweet corn. It smelled so good cooking and tasted wonderful!

Happy Soup Saturday to you!

Love,
Maeann

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

I want to see the world, Carl!

Let me introduce you

Carl is the handsome red and black algae eater

Below him is a brown algae eater

In the clay skull

only the catfish's tail is visible

I don't know what the rest of him looks like

One morning we heard a clatter and splash

Carl tried to jump out of the aquarium

He didn't make it

went to the corner and sulked

My heart goes out to you, Carl

Try to bloom where you're planted

The water isn't any better 

on the other side of the glass.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Carol's Baked Fruit

Carol Jasa made this when I stayed with them.

Delish! 

I made it at home in an 8x8 and ate it all myself..

She used a 9x13

All fruit was canned and drained.

In a 9x13 she started at the outside

with a row of apricot halves on each end

the second row was peach halves

pitted plums were the next row

a row of pears were centered

(or make your own arrangement

with whatever fruit you have)

Lay pineapple rings on top

Heat 1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 Tablespoon butter

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

and 1/2 cup pineapple juice

Cook, stirring until sugar dissolves

and butter melts

Pour over fruit

Bake uncovered 350 degrees 20 to 25 minutes

Enjoy!

Tastes great cold, too.

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

The 2013 Cook Off

I moved 800 miles from NE to MS, but my heart belongs with my three adopted grandchildren.



I always visit school when I'm in town. Aja is ten and in 5th grade. Her class was social studies, and the teacher was talking about plantations. I'd been to Seven Chimneys Farm recently and gave them first-hand information.

Ryker, 11, and Alec, 12, were in writing class. I took Leaning into the Wind and read my story, "Tractor Travels". As aspiring writers, I wanted them see it is possible to get published. Principal Harris introduced himself and asked if he bought a book would I autograph it for the school? You bet!

Ryker, Aja and Alec decided to do a cook off the next day and I was to judge the best.

Aja made a smoothie with frozen raspberries, chocolate chip mint ice cream and whipped cream. Delicious!

Ryker cooked Ramen noodles with his roasted red pepper seasoning and topped each serving with a slice of fresh yellow pepper and fresh parsley leaves. Yummy!

Alec made cupcake cookies with Snickerdoodle cookie dough. While they were still warm, he added white frosting and sprinkles. His Mom said, "You can never have too many sprinkles." They were great!

Judging included originality, presentation, flavor and texture. Since all other contestants had been cut, a $1 prize was awarded to each for winning their category. Yah!!!

Hugs to all. No goodbyes. See you later

2014 Red Convertible Travel Series

Twenty-eight minute hours

The year has raced past. If it is true the earth is spinning faster without signs of slowing, will we eventually have 28" hours. Would we get more done or less? Would a break still be 10"? Would the day end after twenty-four 28" hours or would we have over 48 hours in a day. I used to say I needed more time. Is that how we'd get it? I could read more, write more, eat more. Skip the eat more. Would it be easier to set aside an hour to garden, an hour to walk the dog, an hour to nap. Noooo! I want a 60" nap.

Could I visit more countries in December and learn how people celebrate the holidays? Would Denmark's Legos fall faster? Would Santa have enough time to deliver all the toys?

If the world continues to speed up, hours might shrink to a moment or less. Then what? The past, the present and the future would all happen at once. They already do. Unresolved issues sneak into today. Our thoughts wrapped in feelings go into the future to circle back with more of the same.

New Year's Eve we will walk through the lake of Violet Transmuting Flame to erase our unintentional errors for the year - the Grace of God at work. January 1st feels like a fresh start.

Whatever happens, my wish for you is: Peace in your Soul
Love in your Heart
and Plenty.

Enjoy the ride. Take care and God Bless.

Love,

Maeann

P.S. While I was writing this for you . . . there was an explosion in the kitchen. Uh, the eggs I was boiling got through before I did.


2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Christmas and an F2 in Clarksdale, MS

A week ago St. Paul's Methodist Church had an outside nativity with multiple scenes. Two hundred and seventy people drove through. I volunteered for a 30 minute slot and was assigned the position of the Announcing Angel. Oh, Goody, I hadn't been an angel since I was a child in Sunday School. My blog will not upload my pics. Imagine me in my down-filled winter coat and boots. The girls pulled a white cotton gown over my head, wrapped a gold scarf around my neck, attached tall wings with gold trimming and a halo. With outstretched arms, I looked up and smiled. It was a lovely experience. I wanted to keep the halo but they said I had to earn it.

Saturday, the 21st, was the shortest day of the year and the scariest! As they say in the South, You better hope you're prayed up. Mother Nature reminded us who was in charge when She sent an F2 tornado that had worked its way north leaving a fatality at Rena Lara, MS. The west and northwest sides of Clarksdale have the msot damage. Animals are good barometers. Ours were unconcerned. I took that as a positive. High winds raked our shingles up but the house stayed put and so did the pansies. A neighbor's tree fell in our backyard - minor, and the power was off about 12 hours.

There is widespread damage which includes huge uprooted trees at the cemetery behind our house and light poles leaning toward the road to Stovall. Coahoma County High School has roof and water damage. Our street was littered with branches and pecans - the silver lining. We're grateful it wasn't an F3, 4, or 5. Our hearts go out to all affected.

My wish for all is: Peace in your soul, love in your heart and Plenty.

Merry Christmas and may the New Year be your best ever!

Love,
Maeann

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

The Grinch vs Christmas

I tell myself, "Thank you Father for everything, I have no complaints whatsoever." It's been an effort lately, even though I know positive thoughts and feelings benefit me and negatives circle and bite.

I intended to blog every week, but I have not had internet for a month, and my computer still isn't right. For one thing, it repeats what I type - without my permission. My computer guru suspects I have one or more sticky keys. I love honey on my cereal, but I have not fed any to my keyboard.

My fb is sooooo slooooow. I send right-side up pics from my phone and they appear sideways on fb. People comment on them, but I can't find them to "try" to turn them to the right.

The Grinch did it: Someone out of the country tried to make a withdrawal from my bank account. Fortunately the Fraud Dept. caught it. They asked, "Did you charge this?"
"No"
"Have you been to the UK recently?"
"Nope," but my heart flutters at the prospect of travel. "When I go, you'll be notified."
These people need legitimate jobs. I'll put that on my prayer list. I didn't say Christmas list, there's no wishing, I'm taking action. Grinch be gone!

We wanted to go to the hills to cut a little tree, but Mother Nature decided otherwise. She sent rain that turned to ice. Here in the Deep South we don't have snow removal or scatter except for bridges. Improvise! I bought 6' of pine boughs at our Miss Dell's. They smelled so good I wore them home collar-style. Our creche sits`in the center on the tiny kitchen table by the window. That's Christmas.

May the Grinch not get a hold of your Christmas. May your holidays be wonderful and the New Year the best ever!

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

John Pritchard's new novel: Sailing to Alluvium

Mr. Pritchard was in Clarksdale last week promoting his new work, "Sailing to Alluvium". If you're familiar with his first, "Junior Ray", you'll find this, his third, very entertaining. "Yazoo Blues" is second. We especially enjoyed Junior's rendition of the story of Moses. Imagine it spoken by a Mississippi redneck with attitude and opinions he isn't shy about sharing. If you're easily offended by the language, skip the first and last words of the sentence and some of the word's middle. Not all of course, but that's the way it is here.

Gollee Moses

It all got started back a long while
When Pharaoh's daughter was swimmin in the Nile;
She looked in the bushes and saw a little chile
And said, "Gollee Moses!"

One day the Lord said Moses, you're the man
To lead all the Chillum to the Promise' Land.
Well, Moses struck out with Pharaoh at his heels,
Moses on foot, the Pharaoh on wheels.

When they got up to the Red Sea waters,
The chillun ast Moses, "What we gon do?"
And Moses told the Chillun, "Orders is orders,"
And the Chillun of Israel walked right through.
Well, Gollee Moses!

Weeelll, the army of Pharaoh followed after Moses,
But just fo' the waters covered up their noses
The whole army said: Gollee Moses!
Moses on a mountain top thinkin very hard,
Long come a cloud, and out jumped God,
Well, Gollee Moses!
The Lord put the Law in Moses' hand,
Said, Moses,tell the Chillun they better understand,
If they don't do what these things say,
I'll wipe out the world in half a day!"
Well, Gollee Moses!

Moses told the Lord, "It weren't none a me,
Just a big epidemic of iniquity!
I gave the Chillun your Ten Commandments,
And they come up with the First Ten Amendments!"
Well, Gollee Moses!

Moses come down bout an hour'n a half,
Found all the chillun round a golden calf;
He said, "Chillun, Chillun, what's goin on?"
They said, "Laughin, dancin, singin a song!"
Well, Gollee Moses.

Moses told the chillun, "Y'all make me mad,
jumpin round and actin bad,
But I'mo tell y'all one thing now:
You gonna get rid of that golden cow!"
Well, Goollee Moses!

From then on down to this very day,
When folks don't know just what to say,
They open their mouth and bug their eyes,
They take a deep breath and say with surprise"
GOLLEE MOSES!

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Cellar doors and sewers

Nebraska snow on the cellar door was entertainment for the cat, and the cat was entertainment for us. Late one moonlit night, we caught him slip sliding down it. He was having so much fun, he did it again and again. It was a winter of lots of snow, and he did lots of cellar door skiing.

We lived there a year, and I didn't go to the basement unless I absolutely had to. No one entered the house through the cellar door, that I'm aware of, but every time we planned to go to Omaha, which wasn't often, the sewer backed up. Was it afraid to be home alone? Trips were cancelled waiting for plumbers and cleaning up. Tree roots were blamed. Were they planning to climb the stairs, find us in our beds and strangle us? I'd best continue this in the daylight.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

The deer stand and the Book Thief

The conversation went like this: I’m going to work on my deer stand. You can come if you want.
Oh, it’s optional?
You don’t have to. Come on Buckshot.
All four feet are ready for anywhere he can run like wind and fire.
I’m thinking, I could sit in the truck and read.
I go. Buckshot rides in my lap. Our four-wheel drive squishes and squirms 2.3 miles on rain-soaked roads. Buckshot jumps out of the window to chase a jake turkey. It flies off. He goes only as far as the edge of the woods, comesback and runs alongside the truck. It must feel great to run wide open. He's good for a mile or two at 25 mph.
We stop at an enclosed, abandoned stand near the road. I can't wait to read some more of The Book Thief.
Here, he says. Take this window cleaner and newspapers, climb up there and wash the windows.
Rats! There goes my reading time.
He goes ahead with a sling blade to clear a path. At the foot of the ladder, I look almost straight up. No way! He put up 300’ towers. I'm afraid to climb ten rungs. I get no sympathy. Focus. Both hands and both feet are engaged one rung at a time. I get to the top and have to make a choice. Stay standing, grab the rickety door frame and step in, or go in on hands and knees. Hands and knees win.
Here’s the broom. Sweep it out while you’re there.
The stand is about 4’ by maybe 6’ with a lawn chair taking up half the space. My every move is calculated. Plexiglas scratches and does not clean to glass standards. I clean a pair of small glass windows from the inside and reach as far as I can to wash one of them on the outside. He will need a ladder to wash them. You notice, I slipped that job onto him. Two windows were shot out. Not surprising. If a big buck was visible from that direction, the windows were expendable.
We are remote, but still, a man on a bulldozer comes down the road and stops. He asks my guy if he can help him fix blah blah on the dozer.
Sure. He comes to the stand and yells up, I’ll be gone about five minutes.
News flash: Mississippi minutes are not 60 seconds long; they can be hours or days or longer. I fantasize being Rapunzel, but even on a good day, I don’t have enough hair to “let down” far enough for anyone to climb up.
His 5" turned into an hour. While climbing the ladder, his phone rings. He frowns and nods. We’ll be there in thirty minutes. Deer stand repairs are abandoned. We go back to camp and find company. There’s no leaving until all the b.s.ing is done and everybody’s had a beer, except me.
We finally head out, and we can’t find Buckshot. I feel like Chevy Chase’s wife in that goofy vacation movie. We go without him, a first. I bury myself in The Book Thief so I don't worry about him. Twenty-five miles later,we load the piece of machinery. More b.s.ing amongst the adolescent grownups. More beer and I’m driving back as the sun dives below the horizon. Buckshot is waiting on the doorstep. We’re glad. He’s ecstatic.
It’s pitch dark. The outside barrel stove is still hot. The neighbor comes over with a plate. I brought your supper: three hot pieces of barbecued chicken and fries. Yum! All is well.
The guys chat around the fire. I slip away to The Book Thief. Horribly depressing, inspiring, humbling, too. I wish Liesel had kissed Rudy. It had never occurred to me to write a story from the perspective of the Angel of Death. Nice work Markus Zusak.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Seven Chimneys Farm, Clarksdale, MS

Seven chimneys? Yes, seven. The original part of the house was built in 1848 for Colonel William J. Oldham. It's been updated several times, but it has not lost its charm. Before the levee, the MS River came close, which was ideal for loading timber and off loading supplies and passengers. The land around the home was the Stovall Plantation and birthplace of Blues icon Muddy Waters. A few miles north on #1 is Friars Point where County Music Star Conway Twitty was born. I love his "Hello Darling".

The barn is a new addition on the farm. Don't think animals, it's for workshops with a stage for musicians and presentations. Tom Frankllin and Beth Ann Fennelly read from their new book the "Tilted World". I look forward to reading it. We enjoyed a Barbeque after. The proceeds went to the P.O.R.C.H. Society: Preservation of Rural Cultural Heritage.

I mosied out to the bonfire. Guests were gathered around in porch rockers absorbing the warmth and chatting. The man to my right had a camera and an accent. I had to ask where he was from. "The Netherlands." He was photographing the Delta for a Dutch RV America article. The Delta is a popular destination nationally and internationally.

Photographer Magadalena Sole was there for her photography workshop. Google her. The things I see never looked as interesting. She shines capturing life in the now.

Make a reservsation for a Deep South experience.

SevenChimneysFarm.com

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Fire: The Mother of All Fear

I was mesmorized by the flames in the cast iron barrel stove. "Study the fire," our friend Dago urged.

Perched on the cast iron picnic bench, I let myself go into its mind. Primitive. Raw energy. Cleansing. Tall flames licked sticks, then hunkered down, got serious, and had their way with logs. I shuddered to think what they could do to a house, a car, a person. Suffocation or water could stop it, but it would sizzle resistence to its end. Maybe the smoke off it made designs like clouds make shapes. I didn't see what Dago did.

Fire has a purpose. Animals eat ashes for salt and minerals. Ashes and lye make soap. It kept us warm, heated our teakettle on the cookstove, and baked Mom's bread. She knew exactly how many cobs it took to make a perfect angel food cake. My first encounter with fire was when I was a pre-schooler. It was my job to reach into the cob basket and pick out those with kernels of corn left on. Mom lifted the stove lid for me to add cobs one at a time to "feed the fire," she said. All was well until I rested my wrist on the stove. Ouch!!! An inch by 3/4 inch blister shot up. I ran outside to show Daddy, slid face down in the mud, and peeled off my top layer of skin. I have a permanent ID on my left wrist. I learned respect for fire, and I continue to be educated by its blessings and dangers.

Each spring Daddy bought a hundred three-day old chicks and brought them home to the brooder house. Mom caught one and held it to my ear. Its cottony coat tickled me, and the chick talked to me, "Peep." Everyday I wanted to play with them. It wasn't long until they sprouted feathers and we couldn't catch them. One cold morning, Daddy looked out and saw too much smoke rising from the brooder house. He ran out to save them. Mom and I watched him carry the circular stove out and drop it in the snow. He came in breathless. No chicks died, but, the front fell off of his new leather jacket.

District #70 had a program every month. When I was nine, I broke my leg the first week of school and couldn't be in the program. Miss Anderson put a paper napkin bow in my hair, a candle in my hand, and stood me beside the piano. All went well until I turned my head and the napkin caught fire. Mom jumped out of the audience, ran to me, pulled the fire off my head and stomped it out. I was stunned but not hurt. She said when she saw me with the candle, she never took her eyes off me. Thank God!

The most disturbing fire was the one in our upstairs bedroom. Registers were opened to allow for heat rising off the oil stove. When our parents decided it wasn't enough, Daddy lit the fuel oil stove in our bedroom. It might not have bothered me, if I hadn't been able to see the flame through the glass on the front. I couldn't sleep. I was paralyzed. Somewhere in the deep recesses of my soul, I knew I'd been burned alive. A nightmare? My imagination? Or was it another time? another place? Wherever it came from, it is my mother of all fears.

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Harry Truman's advice to parents

From At Knits End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Harry Truman said, "I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

"I have three daughters," he said, "and they all knit. The youngest knits with persistence; the middle one with a passion; and my eldest, now a teenager, wouldn't be caught dead with the needles in her hands. At first I thought it was because knitting wasn't 'hip enough' for her; then I thought she was worried about what her friends would think. Finally, I realized that she doesn't knit . . . because I do.

"I will remember that kids need to rebel to establish their own personalities, and that her rejection of knitting is nothing perosnal. I will also try not to rub it in she takes it back up in her twenties."

And that's my contribution to humor for today. Enjoy!

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series