THE NOSTALGIA OF AUTUMN

 The Nostalgia and Memory of Autumn

    The Autumn season is deeply intertwined with 
memories I hold dear.



Why do some of us, begin to plan and
gather inspiration for fall when we are
at the moment, still living life in the heat of the summer?



Some may call us dreamers....but we are certainly
not alone in creating our mood boards....

Actually, it makes no difference what season I am in,

I think back on precious memories of my childhood
and younger years of the fall festivities of the past....
After summer vacation, it was time to prepare
for back to school after Labor Day.



We could look forward to a new wardrobe,
football games and school dances...
seeing old friends and making new ones..
cardigan sweaters and riding bikes
throughout the neighborhood....



Fondly remembering all those special moments.....
Mother's Spiced Tea and Apple Nut Cake...
the viewing the Wizard of Oz....



Mother making our Halloween Costumes
and her homemade Popcorn balls.....



A cool October Saturday night
and grilling steaks with Daddy
while he sipped a Scotch cocktail.....
The smell of burning leaves throughout
the neighborhood....

Our wedding and honeymoon....
Our children playing in the yard until
suppertime....in their little corduroy's..

Cheering on the Peanut Festival Parade
and returning home to serve
chili dip and hot cocoa..
Crows flying overhead as we watched
the wind blow leaves of crimson.....



The excitement and anticipation of the holidays..
bringing forth the planning of Halloween and Thanksgiving...

warming up by the fireplace
while the windows were open to the cold night air.....
My grandparents visits....



it's everything precious in life which are
all associated with family, gatherings and traditions.



Yes, it may be summer, and I do live in the moment,
as we are not promised tomorrow,
but my heart belongs to Autumn....how fabulous is that!

PINEAPPLE PIE, THANKSGIVING DINING ROOM AND AUTUMN BEAUTY IN GEORGIA

Well Loves.....Thanksgiving is upon us....rather quickly too!

I just blinked and November is just racing past me.

The California family will arrive next week and we have

two Thanksgiving gatherings planned.

We will all travel down on Thanksgiving Day to spend the day

with son #2 and family, then have a second Thanksgiving on Saturday

to give our youngest a special dinner and family gathering.

They work those guys on every holiday until late into the evening.

I remember and so wish for the time when FAMILY was the important

thing and businesses were closed up tight for the holidays!

Anyhoo.......I thought I would share a family recipe

from Grandmother Grace that was always included at our

holiday celebrations.

She was one of the most giving and thoughtful ladies in the world.

I couldn't begin to count how many of these pies she must have made

and always, always had one ready for my darling and I when we went home

to Jackson.

It really does make a beautiful addition to your

Thanksgiving buffet.

PINEAPPLE PIE

1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

4 eggs (separate one)

1 stick of butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 T. flour

1 small can of crushed pineapple, drained well

Prepare the pie shell and brush with slightly beaten egg white. Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar well; add eggs, one at a time and

beat well after each addition. Stir in the flour.

Add drained pineapple and mix well.

Pour this mixture into unbaked pie shell and bake at 350 degrees F.

for 45-60 minutes.

Shake pan every few minutes during the last several minutes

of baking time. The center should seem firm but still slightly move.

Remove from oven and allow to set on counter top  for pie to continue to set.

I will leave you with the beautiful shades of Autumn
found over in Georgia at the home of Miss M....
God certainly blesses us during this season doesn't he?

I wish each of you a beautiful and peaceful Thanksgiving Day.

I will be spending time with the family and will return

to begin the Christmas Holidays.

DREAMS OF FLORIDA....AND THEN CAME THE HURRICANE

I so admired the decision Miss Irma made to relocate from Ohio

to the sunny state of Florida.

She was leaving behind the long winters and the mountain of snow

that needed to be shoveled each day.

Her new home had been remodeled and updated

all prettied up with new coastal colors and new furniture.....

She has traveled back and forth a few times over the past five months....

Her beautiful Ohio home is on the market currently......

so she still is a homeowner in Ohio....

Her new home is directly in the path of Hurricane Irma

(how coincidental her name is)...whatever happens will happen....

it will be OK.....perhaps the blessing was

she was not in Florida currently and is safe and sound....

God never gives us more than we can handle....

Let us say our prayers for those living in our beloved state of FLORIDA!

TIME FOR TRANSITION....ON THE ROAD TO FLORIDA

Life is about love and loss isn't it?

It is so important to capture the golden moments and celebrate whenever we can....

celebrate the good times....because changes come and the world as

we have known it.....is no longer what it once was. 

This post is about Luke the Duke's Ohio grandparents....

Miss Irma is one brave soul...she is saying goodbye to her Ohio home

and

relocating to a brand new life in Florida.

I will say also, she is in her 80's....looking marvelous

and willing to take on the transition.

The vacation times spent with his grandparents slowly turned into

dealing with the progression of aging and how to best care for

them during this time in their life. 

It has now been a little over one year, since her husband, Pat,

passed away and she was left with a lovely home sitting on

three acres of land, with a barn stuffed full of collectibles

and a pond....now you must imagine what that would be like

to take care of especially during those long, harsh winters.

While visiting her daughter in Florida, earlier this year,

she jumped in with both feet and purchased a home

right then and there. 

She purchased new "second hand" furniture that

would give her new home a coastal feel

and her daughter has already done several updated

renovations to make her new home fresh and airy feeling.

This past weekend with the help of our darling daughter

and most of Jay's siblings, her Ohio home was cleaned out,

auctioned off and prepared for sale.

If you have ever done this process with your own parents,

this can be an overwhelming event...emotionally and physically.

It is what family does.....out of love......

This change in someone else's life, always gives me pause to

think what I would do if faced with this decision....

my answer is,'''I have no idea!"

I think of aging and starting anew in a brand new state

where everything is going to be vastly different

than what you are accustomed to.

I will tell you she will not be totally alone,

as her daughter is going to be with her....

this should make a huge difference....a good outcome I believe.

So, I applaud Miss Irma for making her life choice

at this age and moving forward....

I would love to know how you feel about this coming time in your life.....

 The grandparent visits are now over for little Luke...

I have no doubt he will hold these glorious times in his heart

and carry them through his adult life.....

Life is about change....how gracefully we deal with that change

and hold dear the memories of family.

Happy trails dear Irma.....

SUMMER LIVING WITH WINNING RESULTS

The decision had finally been made after looking

and researching many new updates!

After waiting for six weeks while the transom was being made,

delivery day was finally here!

Let the project began! 

This was a long time coming....

a new front entrance at the

Atlanta house!

Beautiful results..

New front door, side lights and transom.

Stunning! 

The swim team was a fantastic experience

for little Luke.

He celebrated a 7th birthday during June

and his Ohio grandparents were there to experience it all!

I was able to be there when the team first began

and was able to enjoy seeing him learn skilled swimming techniques!

All those lessons were leading up to the big day and this county wide swim competition! 

The competition was held at Georgia Tech in the same swimming pool in which 

Michael Phelps won the Gold Medal! 

This had to have been a little overwhelming for a little seven year old

but wow....did he hang tough and compete his little heart out!

All the swimmers had their names written across their backs!

He came in first in the Freestyle,

and second in the backstroke!

I just love the fact that his Ohio Grandma

got to visit during this time and experience all

his achievements! 

The celebratory dinner......

It's not about making everything perfect...

It's about living in the moment

with family and friends.

This is where the darling and I hang out
when we want to relax and just be lazy.

We find it our perfect oasis
not only during summer, but year round.....

We are going to a big July 4th celebration over

at # 2 son's this weekend!

Looks like they are getting the pool area

ready for a party!

He will be the birthday boy on July 5th

so it promises to be a big weekend!!

Remember to just keep things simple and have a good time! 

REAL HOUSEWIVES AND SUMMER'S PAST

These were 

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES.

My Grandmother Grace is the second on the left....

with her arms wrapped around the porch column.

I love this picture.

Some of these women lived in her small Ohio town

for their entire lives and I knew them all.

Yes, our country is in the fast lane..

and 

not a very pretty place to be at times.

Remember that song..

The Time's.....They Are a Changin'
by
Bob Dylan....

So, those days of childhood long ago
were the best of times.
It was a gift to spend summer months in a small
Ohio town of only 300 residents.

We woke to summer mornings
with Dove calling.
We could hear conversations in the distance
as they strolled down the sidewalk
to the post office to gather their mail.
They delighted in receiving letters from old friends and family.

We could hear the screen door to the post office slam shut over and over.
We could hear Goldie Fay laughing...

We woke to the aroma of a roast in the oven
which was to be served during the noon meal
when Granddaddy would walk home from the sawmill
for lunch.



Miss Judy and I set the table and helped Grandmother
wash the dishes.



There were no toys and her television rarely worked,
so we played outside all day long and into the evening.
We caught fireflies every night.
We played Red Rover and Mother May I with our cousins.

Neighbors shared  their summer garden bounty
by leaving fresh vegetables on her back porch.

It was the way we were
and
it was such a good place to live!