16 things about me

16 things about me 5:28pm
1. Lord Ashley Cooper is my 11th great- uncle. He never came to America and although the family astrologer said he was born under a very favorable star, he died in exile. I just thought I came from Georgia hog growers and tobacco farmers until I found Ashley about 12 years ago~ now I'm SOMEBODY! Ha! So...I like genealogy.
2. My family and I compose- mainly Christian music. Our girls and I have sung all around. It's so fun to sing together. My next song is country- "Any man'll do- how 'bout you?" Certainly not my own personal feelings about my John!
3. I enjoy cooking- today I made 4 loaves of whole wheat bread and 1 batch of monkey bread(cinnamon/sugar wheat rolls). I love bringing Bessinger Mustard Bar-B-Q sauce from home and slow cooking pork loin all day, then shredding it and saucing it and putting it on a bun~ which I am doing right now. I'm hungry! Just wish I could make those onion rings....
4. I lost weight and have kept it off 6 years now. I watch what I eat and exercise. I realized that things were showing up in my siblings- cholesterol, blood pressure- and diabetes from Daddy and saw the road I was on. I want to live while I live.
5. I love running- which is so not me. But running is easier than walking. I just kept going faster 'til it was easier to just run. Not a marathoner- what's the point?
6. I love entertaining- I love parties and wish I'd throw more. Christmas saw about 85 women here and the next week we had 8. Loved both.
7. I'm a info-maniac(!).I seem to know a little about alot. I'm a reference for friends and their children. Things just stay in my head. And timing can be so weird- for example- not a knowledge thing, but this is how it works- my youngest is taking a jogging class at school. We girls were at lunch and she mentioned how far she has to run for the semester and a sister said that Caroline could use a pedometer. "Funny thing", said I. I pulled a pedometer out of my jacket pocket! I"d just come from a hospital open house (they didn't know that) and they handed pedometers out! Crazy! That happens to me with info, too.
8. Apparently I like to talk. Just see how much info I'm putting down here! I make friends everywhere and it amazes my husband. The other day I heard a southern accent and asked the lady where she was from. Texas- but not really. She lived there long enough to pick up the accent. I know tons more than that about her and she about me. We talked about losing our fathers and children and living in Utah and so much more. That is what retail therapy is- I don't have to buy- just connect!
9. I scoffed at alot of alternative medicine and treatments---until I met my own quack! He's caused miracles for me and about 100 other people I've sent to him. Including my 3rd granddaughter, Maya. A miracle for her parents. We're hoping for another miracle for them now.
10. I'm amazed at the love that exploded within me when I became a grandmother. I love my girls so much and always knew I'd be a fabulous gma and love those kids, but WOW! Overwhelmed with love.What a blessing!
11. I love public speaking and teaching. Not the same as #8. For the past 2 years I've been blessed to teach adult Sunday School. I love it! I love class interaction.
12. I love music. I've been the church choir director for 10 years. LOVE IT!! Practice can get old, but performing is such a high! Especially when we're blessed to sing beyond our ability and preparation time! (Which is just about every time!). When they have sung songs I've composed....it just doesn't get better than that! I've been wondering how to get a spiritual into all these Western people! They need some Southern soul!
13. Along with number 12- I love to sing. Most of the time I have to sing tenor, since those are usually scarce. I've been pushed about trying out for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This may be the year. I love all kinds of music..country is my number one now, but jazz, rock, new age, rap-not so much.
14. I love to sew. Don't do it often now, but I've enjoyed it. Made the girls prom dresses and Easter dresses and cute skirts, shorts, tops. Their heights are 5'9 1/2", 5'10 1/2", 5'10 3/4" and 6'1, so you can see that shopping for them isn't always fun- nothing's long enough! And a few quilts and drapes.
15. I love decorating our home- it's a house plan from Charleston. Wrap around porch, white siding, wood floors. Would be common there, but is unusual here. Here it has a balcony and a basement- no basement in Chas! Love it.
16. I love John. He is an amazing man. He's so unselfish and is so supportive and complimentary and caring of me. Heavenly Father was truly good to me when our paths crossed. We just celebrated 30 years in September and I'm hoping for 50 more!
There's more I love but that's more than you probably wanted to know!

Time Flies

Today is Mama and Daddy's 61st anniversary. I know, he's gone, but they are still a couple. Mama had a good day and actually didn't think about it. Lots of family around this weekend to have fun with. 61 years is a very long time. I've been married 30 and although that also sounds like a long time, it feels so short. I guess that's because misery lasts forever! and I'm happy.

Here's the first thing I can remember cooking, followed by rice with butter,yummmm, grits, oh baby,......
BROWNIES
1 stick butter/margarine, melted
2 eggs
1 c sugar
4 T cocoa
3/4 c flour
Dash salt
1 tsp vanilla
Stir together. Add nuts, if desired. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes.
I like my brownies done,not fudgy, so adjust your time according to your preference. Also, I added 1 T of cocoa to the recipe for a little deeper, fuller flavor. If you are using European cocoa you don't need more.
When done and still warm you can add a layer of mini marshmellows, return to oven to toast. When cooled frost.
My frosting is not defined but it goes something like this:
3 T cocoa
1/2 stick butter
2 c powdered sugar
A few drops of milk
1 tsp vanilla
See if it works and add whatever you need. You can top with more nuts while the frosting is still wet.

New Year

I watch a few blogs in the blog world and many of them are writing out their goals for the new year. That's something I gave up a few years ago. I can start a new challenge ANYtime- why wait until January? But do I? Something to think about. Some took the year and divided it into "focuses" like balance in January, meditation in February, inspired in March,.. I thought that was a good idea, one that gives a year's growth in different areas. I could even do that with the house projects- 2 bathrooms in January- do they need paint? caulk? cleaning out drawers? More of the deep cleaning than the surface cleaning... I like that.

Now, will the rest of the world stop running crazy so I can get something done??

Holy Cow! As in Holy City Cow!

Do you recognize this cow? She is one of the most memorable icons of my childhood- the Coburg Dairy cow. She has been dancing around this sign for all the years I can remember. She's got on her holiday outfit, looking cheerful! (Drinking all that eggnog..!) I had to take her pic this past November when I was home. I always wanted to climb up there and go for a ride.....

Here are the beautiful fall colors right by my favorite Market Store- Market Street Sweets- better pralines than New Orleans! Gitcher free samples!

And a beautiful fiery sunset- ending another perfect Charleston day- there are so many!