Day 48 of 365, Dinner Bell

Day 48 of 365, Mom and I met Jeanita at Ryan's for lunch.  Mama had copied an old black and white photo of her cousin, Claude along with his brothers and parents.  Claude was Jeanita's husband.  Sadly, Claude recently passed away due to a heart attack.  Jeanita wanted Mom to enlarge the print so that it can be framed for display at his memorial service to be held Saturday.  Jeanita is doing remarkably well.  I was laughing at her silliness as we took this picture.  I handed our waitress my little point and shoot and asked her to snap the pic.  You see Jeanita's lips are pursed because she is saying "Chicken, Chicken" to the camera.  She is on the South Beach Diet.  She was on Weight Watchers but she said she is doing South Beach now because, "it's almost summer!"  She is so funny.  She has the best outlook and a gift for joyfulness.  Even though, she now has to adjust to a new way of living without her husband, she is still joyful.  I love and adore Jeanita.  I loved Claude too. 

I remember that as a sixth grader, I spent the night with Jeanita and Claude because my mom was staying at the hospital.  Mama was at the hospital because my great grandma was likely to slip away due to cancer.  The cancer came on suddenly an rabid.  It makes me so very sad that I didn't get to communicate with MawMaw Irene in those last couple weeks before she died.  She knew I loved her.  I knew she loved me too.  MawMaw loved her family and thought "the moon and stars hung on each and every one."  The night that she died, I had stayed with Jeanita and Claude, as I mentioned.  I woke up the next morning and Claude was at my side to tell me in his dear, sweet way that MawMaw was gone.  I remember this as if it were yesterday.  We loved MawMaw Irene so much.  The entire, big ole family would meet at MawMaw's for Sunday dinner.  Not just once in a while Sunday dinner, but EVERY Sunday dinner.  She cooked these big wonderful meals for all her family, three generations.  I can't even imagine doing that.  I think I am way too lazy.  But, she did.  And, she did it so happily.  If any one of her kids didn't show, it would make her so sad.  After dinner, we would roll around and hold our stomachs because we were full to the brim.  Eventually, we would all spill out onto the front porch and lawn.  Oh, it was so fun to play and run around in the front yard because the MawMaws, PawPaws, Aunts & Uncles would tell us kids how fast we could run or high we could jump.  For me, I always felt special because that's what they told me I was.  Isn't that a wonderful gift to give a child?  The feeling that they are the best, most unique, talented, athletic & special kid in the whole world?  Yeah, it was a gift that I will always treasure. 

As a little girl, my MawMaw Irene lived on a Louisiana plantation and she was raised by her Mammy.  She was stricken with polio as a child, so she wore a very tall stacked shoe and she had a serious limp.  That did not stop her at all.  She was absolutely the best!  I remember one time, Mama told her, "MawMaw, you do not have to wait on these kids."  MawMaw emphatically replied, "I will wait on them if I have to crawl."  And, that was exactly what she did.  I loved her so much and miss her still today.  

So, this is what I believe.  I believe that Claude has been reunited with his three brothers, Darrell Ray, Wayne and Harry along with his parents, Aunt Yvonne and Uncle Harry.  Plus, there is MawMaw Irene and PawPaw Jack, and other loved ones who have gone on before.  As a Christian we have a beautiful promise that gives us peace that passes all understanding..."In my Father's House there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2.

I wonder what a banquet table looks like in Heaven and who will be there?  Who will be waiting for you?

This dinner bell stands outside the kitchen quarters of an old plantation establishment. The plantation grounds are on display as a museum of historical artifacts in Baton Rouge, La. Back in the day, no cell phones, no IM's, no text messaging needed. When the workers heard the dinner bell, the message was delivered. Dinner was ready, so, "Come and Get It!"

Day 47 of 365, seven curveS

Uploaded for Daily PHoto Challenge, Subject: Something found on the floor, Feb. 24, 2010
At first. I took the picture of the umbrella by the front door.  Then, as I backed up, I saw how the arm of that chair had a similar curve rhythm as the handle on the umbrella.  When I downloaded this image and began to work with it, I noticed a repetition of the S curve.  Can you find the seven curves?

HOLD THE PRESSES!    I just got a note from one heck of an eagle eye, nit picker...:), there are actually eight curves in this picture, not seven.  So, can you find the eighth curve?  hint:  the eight curve is a shadow on the floor cast by the umbrella stand.

cooking w/ the cajun trilogy

Feb. 23, 2010, Self Portrait, as Emeril calls the trilogy of cajun cooking, celery, onions, bell pepper - makes everything tastes sooo delicious. Bam!

Day 46 of 365, Empty...or, Not? You decide.

Day 46 of 365, Daily Photo Challenge Subject:  Empty.

"Y'Reckon God's In This Church?"

I remembered this question scratched into the church pew of this little old historical church.  It stands on display as part of the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge, LA. 

To the question quipped by an anonymous graffiti artist, I have a very simple one word answer. 

Omnipresent. 

Omnipresent would be the operative word for me.

What do you believe?

To continue with the Empty challenge theme, I took this picture of Terry's empty cologne bottle.  I thought it needed a little masculine vibe so I added some textures that were so generously offered by Jerry Jones at http://shadowhousecreations.blogspot.com/

Reflections of Scarborough Fair

I am posting this image again to my blog because I am entering it in a fun challenge from a great blog that encourages me with inspiration and ideas. This challenge focus is HANDS -ON FUN! Check out http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/.

{Self Portrait using 10 sec Timer}:

When I was in the 6th grade, I performed Scarborough Fair by Simon & Garfunkle as my clarinet solo. That was 33 years ago. For my first year of music, I used a clarinet that had actually been my mom's. It was an old wooden clarinet with deep, rich tones. The next year, my mom bought me a modern shiny black clarinet. This is it, 32 years later.

Real Simple

I like the title of this magazine. The older I get, the more I appreciate the simpler things in life. I appreciate having a steaming hot cup of coffee to sip at the start my day. I appreciate the luxury of being able to write my morning pages with my little Mia on my lap. I appreciate having my parents and Terry's parents to call and talk to when I want. I appreciate my daughters, who are becoming so independent. I appreciate my husband's patience and pride in me. He allows me to follow my dreams, always. I appreciate having the finest sisters and brothers-in-love that I could ever ask for. And, I do love each and every one of them dearly. I appreciate having the best nieces and nephews too. I could squeeze and hug each one of them. They are precious to me. I appreciate having a cozy home to live in. I appreciate Terry's willingness to work hard for our family. He has always been a great husband and father. I appreciate the friends that I have made throughout my life. I appreciate my aunts & uncles. I appreciate growing up visiting and playing with my cousins almost everyday. We have always had a very close knit southern family. I appreciate my childhood. I appreciate my baby brother who grew up to tower over me physically. But, he will always be my baby brother. I appreciate my education. I appreciate my music. I appreciate my love of the arts. I appreciate my memories. I appreciate my loved ones that have passed on. I appreciate that my grandparents loved me like crazy and let me know it. I appreciate that I still have one living grandpa. I appreciate the way I was brought up. I appreciate that my parents made sure that I knew I was loved. I appreciate that my parents always believed in me. I appreciate that I have been able to allow my girls to follow their passions. I appreciate that I have been able to raise my children. I appreciate that Terry and I are quasi-empty nesters, ready to do our own thing and follow our own interests. I appreciate that one day, we might be grandparents. I appreciate my life. I appreciate my Real Simple life.

Day 45 of 365, Catch of the Day

Day 45 of 365, While visiting at my mom's, my Uncle George came over to deliver something to her and to show her his catch of the day. George goes to the fishing camp at Lake Verrett every chance he gets. Today, he caught a 25 lb. catfish. Yes, that is a 25 lb catfish! He caught this monster on an Ultra Light Ugly Stick using night crawlers for bait. He has caught about 10-15 catfish that weigh at least 15 pounds and up. Wait till you hear this...the biggest catfish he ever landed weighed in at an astromical 49 pounds. I got a picture of it somewhere. I remember that its length was up to his shoulders when he held it up.

George and his wife, Judy love to fish. Some years ago, Judy was into photography, big time! She has taken some amazing pictures of birds. My mom has a gorgeous photo of an eagle that she made. She captured a beautiful moment of my PawPaw in his boat on the lake. The picture of my PawPaw is a treasure to our family, to be sure. My PawPaw has spent his life on the lake. He and my MawMaw loved to spend time at their fishing camp together when she was alive. I used to enjoy fishing with MawMaw & PawPaw. We would stay on the lake all day. At night, when I laid my head on the pillow, the bed was rocking with the rhythm of the slapping waves. Then, when I closed my eyes, I saw my little red & white cork bobbing on top of the water. Can anybody relate?

As George was leaving, I told him that I wanted to go fishing with him one day. I want to bring my camera and catch some lake images. Perhaps, I will get to capture him landing another one of those monstrosities! He told me I could come fishing as long as I bait my own hook. I certainly will. But, I will bring my gloves. :)