Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Today, my baby girl turns 19.


I can’t believe how these years continue to fly by at a break-neck pace.

Today is such a reminder of how life ebbs and flows and seasons change. You see, this is the first birthday that we have spent apart from one another…in 19 years. She is away at school and I am sure enjoying her day, but I still miss her being here and all the fun birthdays are (even though we celebrated last weekend with her). Rather than beginning the birthday celebration at breakfast this morning, I sent her a text message. It is a new season, it is a good season, but sometimes I really miss the old season!

“That day, the day you were born, was the most exhilarating day of my life. Ask me how I spent the morning, ask who came to call, ask me anything about that day and I’ll know. Every detail. Most of all I remember how beautiful you looked. I was so proud of you and me. I should have been filled with doubts about whether I could do right by you but, on the contrary, I knew I was ready! I had a plan. I would love you too much; I would protect you for a while; I would teach you how to fly on your own. You might leave my nest, my daughter, but if I did my job well you’d be back, as my friend.”

~Donna Green, To My Daughter With Love

If you have a few moments, please visit my sweet daughter at Tarleton West 
and wish her a happy birthday!

Ladies Who Lunch and Top Hat Special-Teas...

Is there anything better than a lunch with special friends?  When my friends and I get together there is always so much fun!  We laugh more than we lunch, and it is truly a time of rejuvenation on so many levels.    Although, I am "new" here, I have been blessed by so many new friends who have welcomed me with open arms and have kept me from feeling that loneliness that can often accompany a relocation.  It is so wonderful to meet all the wonderful new souls that God is bringing into my life.

 Last week I had lunch with 4 friends at a
new-to-me place here in town

(more of that being a tourist in your own town!).   

We met at Top Hat Special -Teas and had a great lunch. 

Top Hat is tucked away on a little street,right in down town,

but you could spot it easily with the cute pink exterior paint and flags flying (I love flags!).

It isn't a big, but had ample seating and made for a comfortable and cozy visit.

 So many lovely things to look at, which added to the ambience.

 I loved the extensive collection of Royal Albert's Old Country Roses and that it was actually used!  That is my sweet Mother-in-Law's pattern, so I especially love it because it reminds me of her (I think when she comes for a visit we will have to go back to Top Hat just so she can see it all). 

 Isn't this a fun way to dress up the base of a potted plant and make use of those chipped and broken china pieces?

I had a wonderful lunch and know I will be back soon, because there were a few (only a few) of the world's problems that my friends and I didn't manage to solve during our time....ah, next time! 

Temptation...

Temptation comes in many forms, but for Emelda No Shoes, it comes daily in the form of a tiny lizard.  He taunts her day in and day out.  Oh, the misery of being separated from your greatest desire by a tiny pane of glass...

Southern Lit., Pick of the Week: Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West

My read for this week was Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West. West is a writer who lives in Tennessee and I had to appreciate that in addition to writing award winning novels, she also blogs at: Designs By Gollum. I love that she blogs about her life, her farmabilities (hey, it is my post and I can make up words if I like!) and her love of dishes and a beautiful home!


I happened upon Mermaids in the Basement last week while browsing around looking for something new to read. I wasn’t on the lookout for anything overly heavy but wanted my Chick-Lit-Fix and I really wanted a new author and West was just the ticket. How could I not like the leading character, Renata? She struggles with her career, weight, a seemingly horrible love life, and bad hair days and has Daddy issues! Oh, and not to mention her mother recently died and there are layers of secrets to be discovered concerning all the important and overlapping issues in her life and family. She has a Sassy Southern Grandmother on the coast of Alabama with a host of those lovely Southern women friends to keep things lively and her Daddy is engaged to marry someone we all know we would hate on sight!

Although, I got off to a slow start with this book, I warmed to it as Renata explored her Mother’s old trunk and opened herself up to the stories of her Grandmother, her Grandmother’s best friend and her lifelong Nanny. She learns who her parents are from more than one perspective and is able to view them from that of an adult, rather than the child who was limited in her vantage point. Sometimes healing comes only after further pain and that is exactly what had to happen to our leading lady in Mermaids in the Basement. But even with some painful themes, it was a fun book, full of Southern eccentricities. I loved how it closed out sharing recipes for some of the foods that were mentioned because we Southern girls know how important the food is in getting through the tough times! So now I am going to be watching for Michael Lee West’s upcoming trilogy. She is currently working on the first book in the series which is called, Gone with a Handsomer Man, which will revolve around a Charleston “cake lady”. I pretty much love anything set in Charleston so this should be fun!

This post was written as a member of the Southern Mommas Writers

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Southern Mommas

Fall Family Weekend at Georgia Southern University

We just returned from the Fall Family Weekend at Georgia Southern University.  It was a lot of fun spending time with our sweet daughter and seeing where and what she does on a day to day basis. It has been a hard adjustment, having her away from home, so special times like this are treasured.  I am so glad she likes hanging out with us! 

 She was even able to get her brother into some of the GSU rivalry spirit!

 One of the biggest surprises in having her away at school is how much her little brothers miss her.  I didn't realize how much we (all) would  miss the everyday things.

It was a super weekend and the GSU Parents Association and Administration did a great job organizing and making the entire family feel welcomed. 

Go GSU Eagles!!!

Memories of Fall...

Homecoming by Bo Bartlett, III

(permanent collection  The Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia)

In honor of fall I wanted to share one of my favorite works of art. I seem to never tire of looking at this piece, although all I have is a postcard and that doesn't compare to seeing it up close.    It captures my attention and stirs up the nostalgia of days gone by...both good and bad.  It is a uniquely American experience, and felt no more strongly than in the South. 

Sweet Southern Wedding...

Last weekend, I attended a wedding that was simple and southern. It was a small, sweet ceremony and reception held in the Bride's family church with a gorgeous fall afternoon as backdrop.  The Bride, her Mother, her family and friends came together to create a beautiful start to a life time of wedding bliss!

Anticipating the start...

 red roses for love....

 Her Daddy walking his baby girl down the aisle. 

 Beautiful....

 with this ring....

 beauty in the details...

 Mother of the Bride holding the sweet Ring Bearer (her 1st grandchild and nephew of the Bride).

 A time to celebrate...

 My daughter and the sweet Bride...

 The handsome Groom and his Bride cutting that delicious cake.

 She is a beautiful and happy Bride.....

and now they are off for the ride of their lives.