Are You Gonna?

Big thinks I'm awesome right now. Seriously.

Yesterday, he had a 1/2 day so I decided to bring him down to watch basketball practice. Luckily, the men and women were both practicing so he and Lil' got to see a little of both. Coach Cremins introduced him to some of the players. He brought a t-shirt that Tony White, Jr. slipped him at the game on Friday and got a bunch of the players to sign it. He shot some hoops with Casaan Breeden. Casaan told him how and where to stand. He watched Jeremy Simmons get taped up. He watched Andrew Lawrence and Willis Hall try to out-shoot Drew Goudelock from the half court line. He was introduced by head coach Nancy Wilson to the entire women's team. They thought he was adorable and rubbed his little head over and over like a bunch of old women. He shot baskets with Temple Elmore.

Are you going to think I'm awesome when you grow up? Are you gonna say things like, "It's good but it's not my Mama's." Are you gonna remember to call me on my birthday? Are you gonna say, "She always did it this way..." Are you gonna say, "My Mama taught me." Are you gonna visit me often? Are you gonna take me to the beauty parlor? Are you gonna still need me? Still think I'm cool? Are you gonna?

Hmmmm, Good Idea

What do you use your cast iron skillet for? Fried cornbread? Bacon? Country ham? Well last night, I used mine to make a roast beef.

375 or 325? That's the great debate when it comes to a roast beef. Dear Big and Lil', Mama and her Mama both cook their roasts at 375 for about an hour. Your Aunt Emy who is also famous for a roast, cooks her's at 325. It's amazing how much 50 degrees can be discussed in conversation. One thing we all do the same is flip the roast so you cook it upside down. The severity of this is unimaginable so don't forget.

Ok, back to me. I seared my roast last night and then put it in the oven right in the skillet. Would of made my Mama and my Mabel very proud. I'm loving the Neely's lately. I saw them use their skillet for a roast beef the other day and thought, "Hmmmm, good idea".

I'm Done With That

I've come upon another moment in my life where I'm telling myself, "That's it, I'm done with that. I've put it away and I'm not thinking of it anymore." One time was when my boyfriend cheated on me in college. One time is when Daddy really, and I mean really made me mad. Another time was when I got fat and no stomach bug or weekend binger could fix it. This time its over whether or not real estate is gonna back.

I'm not gonna worry about our bills. It's not that I can't handle it. It's just that I have faith that we'll be alright. Someway. Somehow. I'm not gonna worry about what other luxury we can live without. We're down to the bare bones and its not that bad. I'm not gonna worry about stealing my neighbor's paper for her Sunday coupons. I can steal my other neighbor's paper for a while.

I.Have.Faith. I have never really known a life with a lot of extra money so I'm ok. Yea, sure I'd like to get my haircut and shop at Harris Teeter instead of BiLo but I'm ok. We're ok. Big and Lil' don't and can't see how different things were for us and them 3 years ago. They're ok. They're healthy. They're happy and that's all that Daddy and I ever need anyways.

Times like these will show you what's important. They will show you what is necessary. They will show you that life isn't about Harris Teeter and King Street haircuts. It's about BiLo and Fantastic Sams and that is ok. I'm not worried about it anymore. I'm done with that.

How Bout You?

We've got spirit, yes we do. We've got spirit...



How bout you?

Not So Much

Looks innocent enough. Or is it?

Last night when I was getting Lil' into her pajamas, she heard me sigh a little and she asked me what was wrong. I told her my back hurt. She said, "I have some-ting make u feel bedder." "Oh yea, what' s that" I said. She ran over to her little bunny box that one of her friends just gave her and brought it back to me.

"Oh Lil'," I said, "What's that?" She said, "It's boogas." "Oh, where did you get those?" "They came fwom my nose. Cept dis one." "Where did that one come from Lil'?" "That one came fwom yur nose."

Just when you thought a bunny box with beads was safe. Not so much.

Blue Eyes Even Bluer

Big and his Papa have a special relationship. Big has a thing for tractors and machinery; for the woods and for dogs. Papa has a thing for all those things too. Papa wears a blue denim button-up probably 4 days out of the week. He has more than 1 because he loves them so much. They are faded and soft and they make his lovely blue eyes even bluer.

Luke has just come upon a blue denim shirt that he has worn every day for the past 4. He calls it his Papa shirt and earlier today, I noticed a twisty color pencil hanging out of the front pocket. I thought I might know the answer but I asked him anyway, "Big, what's up with the pencil in your pocket?" He said, "Papa always has a pen in his pocket right there."

Since it's been a long weekend with no school, it's been fine that he's been wearing the dirty and stained shirt. He tried to hide it from me tonight before his bath so I wouldn't wash it. He's scared it won't be ready for him to wear to school tomorrow. I have a feeling I'm gonna be washing that shirt alot. Soon it will be faded and soft and it will keep on making his lovely blue eyes even bluer.

You Really Are

I was channeling my inner Martha Stewart this week and I came up with a little diddy I'd like to share.

2-Bite Apple Pie
3-4 Peeled and Diced Red Apples
Butter
Sugar
Cinnamon
Water
Athens Phyllo Cups
Vanilla Ice Cream

Mix apples, butter, sugar, cinnamon and water and microwave for 5 minutes. Sweetness is up to you. I used about 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 pats of butter. Water should just cover the bottom of the bowl. Bake phyllo cups for 4 minutes. Spoon apple mixture into cups and serve w/ vanilla ice cream. Drizzle apple syrup from bowl all over. Let your family tell you how creative and beautiful and smart and important you are. Cause you are. You really are.

L'union Fait La Force

Uggghhhh. The pictures from the earthquake in Haiti are heartwrenching. When I used to ask my Mom questions about why bad things like this happen she would tell me "God has a plan. God always has a plan. Put this question in your bucket and ask him when you get there." My time on earth has taught me this; natural disasters happen every couple of years to remind us of our fragility. Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Indonesia, the tornados in Alabama; all of these are examples to us of how we are not in control. I believe they also simulate a spanking to humanity as if to say, "Get yourself together. Be nice to your sister or your brother. Don't make me tell you again." After all, when these things happen, we are all nicer to eachother for a little while until we get out of hand again.

In times like these, its important to reach out and help in any way you can. Donate. Pray. Whatever. Daddy and I usually donate our money through the Red Cross when these things happen. We make sure to tell Big and Lil' about it so that they know its part of their responsibility as a human who shares the planet to help their brothers and sisters in times of need and struggle. We can't donate much but we give what we can.

We pray to God that he gives those people patience and a sense of calm and peace in the midst of all the chaos. I hope that we all remember the Haitian motto: L’union fait la force (Unity is Strength).

I Just Thought You Should Know

Dear January,

I've got some things I want to get off my chest. I've tried for years to keep this to myself but I can't do it any longer. If I try, I might explode.

I think you suck as a month. You've got a bad attitude, you're cold, you're worried about what you just spent on Christmas, you start thinking about your taxes. Your days have the least amount of sunshine. I think you should try just appreciating that the rest of the months let you in to their year. Enough with the hum dee dum.

Sure, you hold some of my favorite people's birthdays in your lives but you need to get over yourself. You need to realize that we could all do without you and go from December right on into February without thinking twice about you. But we let you in. We let you hang out your 31 rotten days.

I know this all sounds a little harsh but everyone's talking about you behind your back and I just thought you should know.

He's No Good For You

There's an illicit affair going on in our garage and its not between me and my new boots. It's a real life sordid romance. A unnatural story that crosses the tracks and would make any mother shudder.

Last night, Warren (the cat) was out way past curfew. We called and called. He wouldn't answer and he wouldn't come home. A lesson from motherhood told me, "You gotta let go. He's a grown man now. Say a prayer and go to sleep."

I put the rest of the animals to bed. Scout on his homeless-man box bed and Dakota in her crate. She loves her crate and her special blankie and guards them both ferociously. It's her special place and she doesn't share it with anyone. I went to bed with Daddy assuring me Warren would be fine. He would find a warm place he said.

Early this morning while sending Big off to school, I stopped by Dakota's crate to see if she was ready to go out yet. To my surprise, I found Warren snuggled up with Dakota inside her crate. Their hair was all shuffled. Their faces said it all. They had spent the night together and they weren't apologizing for it. I almost felt awkward as I gawked at their brazenness but then I remembered, I was the mother in the situation. It was them who should apologize! Neither one of them did though. I opened the door and in true male fashion, Warren busted outta there like he was on fire.

Poor Dakota. I should've warned her about being too easy. Warren is an old cat. He's been around. She's just a young pup. So naive. Ahhh, don't worry sweet girl. Time is a good friend. Your heart will mend. Next time, maybe you'll listen to your mama when I tell you he's no good for you.

Part-Time Lovers

I can't resist you.
You're tall.
You're dark.
You're handsome.
But you're not my husband.
You're gonna get down.
You're gonna get dirty.
You're gonna be loved.
You're gonna be cherished.

Mes nouveaux amants pas si à temps partiel (because its sexier in french)...

Proud to be a Cougar!

Proud to be a Cougar this morning!

A Little of This and That

Things have been crazy busy since we last spoke. Let me get you up to date a little.

We went here for Christmas...



It looked like this...



He got this...



She got this...



I got these...



He was born...



I made this...



He grew this...



And that's a little of this and that.