Hot Chicks in Rector: Girl Weekend

             Are there any topics that Kelly and I left untouched in our brief visit Friday evening and Saturday, July 27-28, 2012?   Hmmmm.  Nope.  We covered them all.  Don’t get too nervous, girls, everyone was treated fairly: we did not overlook anyone or anything. You should have been here to join us! 

While we had terrific conversations when we both worked at BHS, we never had time to get it all talked about. We talked like men and “cut to the chase.” We’d be in one or the other’s office conducting business, gradually begin to share a few girl-talk moments, and the radio would page one of us or the phone would ring, and off we’d go. Regardless of the age difference, as in “my older son is your age,” we are friends and respect each other’s opinion and insight. 

Marvin said he did not realize how much more talking I could do with a girlfriend than I usually do each day.  Thanking Kelly for coming up, he joked that with every topic she and I talked about, that was one less he had to hear about!  (Ha, Ha!  He’s so funny.)  He was astonished that we rarely took a breath and had no silences.  Don’t worry about him, as he has been exposed to my life and times for 7 years now, and there is not much he has not heard. He knows all the major players and their stories. 

Saturday, after breakfast, we headed for the pool and he went off to do good deeds around town, spreading good will and cheer, 5 months ahead of Christmas.  I had bought Hershey a one-piece “swim suit” – actually a pink and brown life preserver, size XS, when I was at the Doggie Duds shop in Chattanooga.  She looked so cute in it, but regardless, frantically dog paddled at the side of the pool and wanted out.  Then, she was so upset, she tinkled on the pool deck.  Poor Hershey – sacrificing for fashion.  When Marvin came home for late lunch, he said he could hear us talking and laughing when he pulled into the driveway.  I’m actually not surprised, at all.

Kelly mentioned a road trip. So, what do ya’ll think about Charlene’s up near Dyersburg in Halls, TN? The experience at Christmas is one of a kind and Kelly has been there, really enjoying it.  More to the Colony now and updated (new and improved!). http://www.charlenes.net    Kelly mentioned doing a day over there during Fall Break.  Ya’ll check out your calenders!  “Life is always better with friends by your side. I’ll go if you’ll go….” 

Wouldn’t it be fun to enjoy a Charlene’s shopping and tea room experience and then, come on over to my place for a “bunking party!” The more the merrier. Check on it, girls! The pool will be closed, but everything else will be open for the business of Good Talk and Good Times.

Country Living: By the Side of the Road

CT Gordon/ Horne Home 1932

     The side of the road carries a fascination to me.  Richard was embarrassed, but he and I dragged home a blue “pleather” Queen Anne chair to provide extra seating for the Cordova den. It had a short shelf-life. A Peabody hotel key fob and other treasures are apt to be unearthed by adventuresome trash-pickers.  Though not a dumpster diver, I have found excitement in digging for buried treasure. As a disclaimer:  treasure does not include road-kill. One of our favorite programs is “American Pickers” on the History Channel.      
      Another treat often found on the side of the road is the Roadside Fruit and Vegetable Stand.  Growing up in south Arkansas, I experienced the delicious beauty of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables that my mother, my grandmother and her sisters brought home.  We often drove to the “meeting place” outside El Dorado, AR, on the road to Ruston, LA, to exchange produce between Camden and Ruston.  We often brought muscadine jelly and plum preserves, made in my grandmother’s kitchen at The Big House. These muscadines were picked from vines on the old Gordon homeplace in the Mt. Holly area of Union County.  Mamie (our long-time family cook), Mother, and Nana would make the jellies and preserves and put the delicious concoction into Ball jars, add paraffin to the top for sealing, then add the lids so they would form a seal to keep all the goodness in.

1932 Dec. Newspaper protects radiator.

I did not help, but would watch in fascination. After the day-long kitchen adventure, they’d store the multitude of jars in the cool room under the back staircase.  Some of the jars would be placed into a handled long basket for “Sookie.” We’d also take tomatoes and some beans and peas. Depending on the season, we might share some pecans that fell from a multitude of trees on the CT Gordon home site, the CG Horne Home location where I lived until 4th grade. 

Dec. 1955 Trip to Florida Sookie and Nana

      At the meeting place, Sookie would unload Ruston Peaches from the trunk of her car.  She’d usually have other goodies, cakes, etc. that her cook had made and even some Shipley’s donuts that were incredibly delicious when warmed up. I looked forward to these road trips.  We got to see Jack, Dot, and Sookie (my great aunt Susie Gordon Ritchie). This was also the place we’d meet if Mib (Nana) was going to spend a week with her sister in Ruston, or vice-versa.  These sisters were the best of friends.
     To continue the tradition, I always have my eyes open for good roadside fruit and vegetables.  One such place is Brinkley, Arkansas, behind the Exxon and the McDonald’s.  Going to or coming from Camden, I always stopped at Brinkley.  They have wonderful peaches, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and new potatoes.

      When my route to south Arkansas changed and I-40 was no longer heavily traveled, I had to find another place to get peaches and other fresh fruit and vegetables.  Living here in Rector, that quest is not a problem.  Here’s the scoop:  Campbell, MO for peaches.  Local farms and gardens have roadside stands for tomatoes (Warren Tomatoes!!) and cantaloupes.  Outside of town is a large garden to get green, yellow, and red peppers, tomatoes, and sweet corn. Our yard has 3 cherry trees but the apple tree is not doing well.  The grape arbor has lots of grapes, but I did not get into grape picking this summer. During the fall, Marvin’s mother’s yard is the site for gathering pecans. Nothing like fresh!  Nothing like “side of the road” or your own back yard.

 Marvin and I have sliced tomatoes with supper at least 4 times a week.  We love stuffed green peppers and pork chops smothered with colorful peppers and tomatoes make a delicious entree.   Peaches are the main fruit July – August in a large bowl of fruit salad (strawberries, bananas, grapes, and peaches).  We enjoy the fruit salad for dessert or served on cereal or oatmeal for breakfast. The fruit is also a great side for Mother’s Pound Cake. Don’t forget peach cobbler (all my men love this dessert) and homemade peach ice cream.

          I did not realize how significant are my fruit and vegetable experiences, such that they form memories that celebrate my family.  With every purchase at the side of the road, and with every meal I prepare with fresh produce, I salute Mother, Nana, and Sookie, and of course, Mamie!

2 Sons, 2 Days, Much 2 B Thankful For

     The trip to see Rich in Chattanooga, with David driving, was super, especially in comparison to how the trip began, with me leaving Rector before 7AM, driving to Memphis to have breakfast with David and his girlfriend, Colby. 
     You see, the Michelin Man, wearing a dark navy traffic control uniform and sitting in an all black, unmarked police cruiser, chased me down at 42MPH to give me a speeding ticket in Lepanto, Arkansas.  You've heard of Lepanto:  setting of John Grisham's The Painted House.  I knew I was going to get a ticket when "Fat Bastard" flicked a droplet of sweat from his nose as he slowly waddled to my vehicle.  It was well before 8AM, so if he had already exerted that much energy, I was going to get a ticket.  And I did.
   But, that is not indicative of the 2 days I spent with David and Richard in Chattanooga.

Meeting Colby was a treat.  She is a precious girl and quite cute.  Very much David's style:  long brown hair and great smile and personality.  Very prettygirl.

The affirmation I wish to share with you is this:
 My 2 Sons have grown up well.  For every positive vibe any of you gave as they grew, I sincerely thank you.
  ALL Moms should have this opportunity and live the rest of their days affirmed that they raised good guys who tip their white hats to ladies.  Both sons have grown into the men I could only have dreamed of, with God's help, and with all the good influences from friends and relatives that they have had, including my mother and daddy.

Rich is a most wonderful success story. Not that I did not think he had it in him.  I did. He does.  It's just so dramatic with Rich.  The short version is that he has been accepted into school at Charleston, SC.  He and his girlfriend, with her parents blessing and mine, are going to school there.  Rich is finishing up his schooling by earning an associates degree in horticulture and tree management and turf maintenance, including golf course specialty.  The work he did with the tree people in Bartlett trained him to climb and work specifically with residential tree services and his job in Chattanooga has been with a golf course. He has a job with a national affiliated tree specialty company in Charleston.

   He has an apartment, has his school grant, has classes lined out, has arranged for everything. 

I invite you to Google "Charleston, SC."  I have learned a lot.  Also, Google "Ocean Isle, NC" about 2 hours north.  Gosh.  I am almost jealous.
     Both Rich and David told me that they loved their childhoods and have appreciated having me love them and nurture them and support them. Even when I was all "up in their business." They both said, in their own ways, they were especially grateful that I have recognized that it is now time to let them fly. (I will say that Marvin has cued me in that it was time.) If we give them wings, they will fly.  That's what we raise them to do, and then they do it.
   When the military thing did not work out for Rich (hearing loss), he was so disappointed, because the school at UT Chattanooga was just going no where. Here's the scoop on that:  the UTC folks have admitted so many students that they can not move everyone along in their major fast enough, fulfilling all the requirements so students can graduate in a timely fashion.  Rich was looking at at least 1full year and another semester, trying to get all the course work when the school would not hire additional faculty to fill the need for the courses.  Rich says that every room at UTC Place now has BUNKBEDS!  That's how croweded the school now is.  Rich had enough.  He was wasting his time.

   His girlfriend, Maurene, is going to finish her course work at College of Charleston.  She is a dynamo and she and Rich are making a good team.  They have a blue-tick hound, a "smokey dog" - named Lincoln.  He's a very cool 4 mo. old dawg who is also going to Charleston.
I am so proud to have witnessed Rich in this proactive role as a young man in charge of his life.

David has learned to drive since I last spent a weekend with him in a car. He has also learned not to fuss with me. We actually had nothing at all, whatsoever, to fuss about.  Miracles do happen.

He is doing well and is happy, actually considering grad school in Sports Management and Marketing, and considering getting back into that field in the near future.  He has finished all his coursework for the Sports Management and coursework for teaching with this past semester at U of M.  Colby is finishing at U of M in fashion design and home interior design.  She has internships already lined up. 
My young men and their girlfriends are the berries.
So, for me, today, I am all smiles and All is right with the world.
AND, David has just about convinced me to join Facebook!

Wedding of the Century in Rector, AR

     A marvelously designed celebration for a daughter and a welcome to her husband took center stage in Rector on Saturday evening, July 21, 2012, beginning with a 20 minute exchange of vows at the First Baptist Church.  The couple departed in a coupe from the "waaaay distant past."

    The understated color scheme of taupe satin with black accent with white florals set the formal tone for the wedding of Jessica Hill to Michael Graham.  Jessica's dad is the local pharmacist and former mayor of Maumelle, Arkansas.

    Across "Gatewood-Crockett Pond" on a hill soon to be the construction site for the bride's parents' (Keith and Jan) new home, was erected an enormous Party Tent with manicured, lush green sod under foot.   This 'happening event,' cooled, lighted, decorated, and catered, began just before 7PM and concluded at 10PM sharp.

 A new focal point in wedding trappings was kept busy:  the photo booth.  A throw-back to carnival photography "friends and lovers" booths, this one processed 2 copies of 4 separate poses.  One set was pasted into a photo album for the bride and groom.  Always popular, both a punch fountain and a chocolate fountain dominated center segment of the dessert table.  The bride's cake was traditional but the groom's cake was red velvet shaped as an IPad, complete with about 12 APPS, completely edible.  A cold food table graced the south end of the tent along with an open wine bar. 

Shannon Freeman, a lively and entertaining star of the Rock 'n Roll shows, served as DJ and the band played mid-range music for dancing.  During breaks, CD tunes for group dances reminded me of Proms I had supervised.  What a trip!

   This exceptional party will probably never be equalled in Rector!


That's hubby and me all dressed up for the event. 
You can see more Photos and read my Wedding Favorites expose' on the Pages Section to the right.

A SPUDNUT Encounter - My First

Oh, Spudnuts!
        I grew up in south Arkansas, about 25 miles north of the Spudnut Capital of the Universe:  El Dorado, Arkansas.  Ok, so not the universe.  But, what was once a national franchise is now saved for 38 stores, ranging in location from Washington and California on the West Coast to Virginia and the Carolinas on the East Coast.  Along the way, in 1948, and currently in 2012, Arkansas fell into the mix.  Never had I encountered a “spudnut.”  That’s right – never.  While I have been to El Dorado so very many times, I was oblivious to the Spudnut phenomenon. 
          On 4^th of July, my sparklers often “Spudder(sic).”  And I have searched until I found a “Spud(sic)-muffin!”  I even share the observation with Sarah Palin that Spudnuts could fit in with a conversation about Sputnick. She said we needed a Spudnut Moment not a Sputnick Moment.  “We need free market ingenuity of ordinary American entrepreneurs, both great and small -- whether they make high-tech gadgets or potato donuts," Palin wrote. We need American Ingenuity and hard work.  We need “SPUDNUTS!”
         "Spudnuts are hilarious until you eat one, and it shuts you up real quick."  
          Spudnuts are different from doughnuts. For one thing they're made from potato flour and for another, they just plain taste better. They are lighter and not as greasy as a doughnut (donut). Shop owners state, “spudnuts are habit forming. Eating just one could turn you into a regular customer and one of our life-long friends. If you're not careful you could find yourself coming in to the shoppe on a daily basis to chat with friends or just to relax with a cup of coffee, a spudnut and a newspaper.”
         “It is hard to think of El Dorado, AR, without thinking of Spudnuts,”says one patron.  Personally, I think about oil wells when I think of El Dorado, but to each his own.

            This place (Spudnut Shoppe) is an El Dorado icon whose history goes back to the 1940's when its founder brought the POTATO style donut, also known as the "Spudnut," back home from California where he was stationed in the Navy during the war.
            After hearing that my cousin was looking forward to a trip to El Dorado to get some “Spudnuts,” Marvin and I had to experience what the the unique culinary hubub was all about.  So, before we drove back to Hot Springs from Camden, we drove 25 minutes south to El Dorado and pulled right up to the Spudnut Shoppe.  There we stood in line and bought a dozen “spudnuts” which we ultimately shared with Pam. 
          It was definitely worth the drive and constitutes yet another culinary adventure in Arkansas, this time in South Arkansas.

Community Salutes Our Military, Past and Present

      One of the most wonderful aspects of a small town that boasts a "throw-back" value system is the citizen's pride and gratitude to the US Military.  Being home of a very active Army Reserve Unit which has experienced at least 4 deployments into Iraq and Afghanistan, the town does not ever want any military or service personnel to feel unappreciated.
     Today, Rector First Baptist Church celebrated Independence Day and orchestrated a salute to the US Military.  Slide shows, videos, uniformed officers and enlisted men along with songs honoring our country were a part of the service.  The sermon was entitled, "Pledging Allegiance."

     Marvin's years in the US Navy during the years 1965 - 1969 were recognized along with the service of all service men and women in attendance today.
     I got in line to shake their hands, and as a bonus, I got to hug a handsome man who used to be in uniform.