Saying Goodbye

Happy Retirement Hensrule!

Saying Goodbye is hard enough when you've enjoyed working with folks; but most times, the person doing the leaving will still be seen around town, or home, in the marketplace, at church, etc Then, you've got those that leave and go elsewhere--really do retire! Then, you realize that life is changing! For Real! We threw a party this morning for one of our favorite employees! I do know that life here will never be the same! We'll miss you! No, I'll miss you dreadfully! Yes, we'll still be blogging, and facebooking, swapping recipes and craft ideas! But you won't BE HERE! We've had two retirements this year! Man! That's Hard! New faces will be here, I'm sure, and we'll get to know them and learn to work with them; but let me tell you right now, new folks--whomever you are--you got some mighty big shoes to fill!



 

Getting Creative

I've been getting creative with paper; from the ideas off Pinterest, and scraps of anything I've got! So, found these cute little house designs for creating some tiny houses out of printables found on Pinterest! I made a couple for a display in the kitchen here in the library--they're so easy! You just print them off, cut them out, fold them on their fold lines, glue and put together! Voila! It's done. I'm going to see if I can create me a tiny walkway for them to sit on, from some candy designed scrapbooking papers and make me a little village! Then, maybe I might get creative over the months of winter (as long as I have a heater at my feet) and create some tiny houses and stuff made out of felt--saw this too! Reminded me of when I used to create all the time!

Santa's Watching You

Santa is watching you!
And, I guess it's true...at least if it's not Santa, it'll be the 'elf on the shelf!

Take a look at your Christmas tree and see who is peeking from the branches--after all, we seem to be a very visual generation these days--once, as a young child, all my daddy or mother had to say, is 'Santa's watching you' and I believed in the magic! I didn't have to see him or hear him or feel his beard, to know that he was definitely keeping up with me! Whatever I was doing, how I was acting--you can bet that He WAS WATCHING ME! My EVERY MOVE! Mama and Daddy didn't need a silly little elf--though I still do have one that made its' appearance many years ago--not just one of those 'elf on a shelf guys' either! Santa Clause was always in our household--thru the long winter and short springs, and long, hot, dry and humid summers! He was always keeping an eye out and probably a hand over our mouth!

Apple Cake for Fall

 Fresh Apple Cake....Tastes Like Fall

1 c vegetable oil 2 c sugar 3 eggs 3 c flour 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp vanilla extra...ct 1 c chopped pecans 3 c peeled and chopped apples Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13" pan. Combine oil, sugar, and eggs. Stir in flour and baking soda. Add vanilla, pecans, and apples. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 2 hours. Then prepare frosting. Frosting 1/2 c butter 1 c brown sugar, packed 1/4 c evaporated milk 1/2 tsp vanilla Boil all ingredients in a small saucepan for 2 minutes. Set pan in bowl filled with ice water. Beat icing until of spreading consistency. Spread over top of cak

Fall is in the air, and it makes me so happy!

My sweet children in their Senior Portraits and some of my books! You will see my Grandmother's Iron used as a bookstop; and a jar 1/4 full of pennies--I keep having to grab some!

Little Golden Books illustrated by Eloise Wilkin~~some of my favorites!

Antique dresser is my 'coffee table' in my den--as you can see, books are everywhere! I love decorating books; gardening books; birding books; you name it, I love books!

A Fall Centerpiece for my coffee table in my den, and in the background, yep, you guessed it! more books!

Rambling along the Old Federal Road

Old Federal Road

The Old Federal Road between Middleton Cemetery and Holley's Store

Elizabeth, daughter of Luke Derbin, wife of Eli Stroud, slain by Indians in the Ogley Massacre; buried in the Middleton Cemetery, along the Old Federal Road

Historical Marker for the site of Price's Hotel on the Old Federal Road

John Lemley walking a portion of a branch of the Old Federal Road

Middleton Cemetery

Site of Holley's Store on the Old Federal Road

Maps

Conecuh & Surrounding area Maps
I do love maps, and especially those that feature our historical sites and this one does just that!
See what all you might recognize.

Life Changes

How true this is--that life changes--there are changes that occur every day in our lives, that we truly have no idea how much they do 'change' us until one day we realize in restrospect how much they did. The changes occur in simple every day ways, in events that take our breath away, or life changes that occur in either our own personal lives or those we love, and take care of or work with. Those changes are the life changes that will affect you far longer--until death.

Fourth of July 2013

It's already time for fireworks, bbq, picnics and hot weather all the way around. You just can't avoid it, and who wants to really? If I don't do anything but find a kiddie pool and stick my feet in it, think I'll enjoy doing that very thing! Only because I can! Going to pick up my Boston Butt that the local service organization is selling for their fundraiser; possibly slice some off for my Fourth holiday and put the rest of it in the freezer for when family comes home! I miss having someone to share the holidays with! Seems when I am off for a few days, I work my 'buns off' and it's back to the grind!~ Oh well, maybe I'll find something to 'play with & create' instead this time! If so, I'll post pics! Find so much inspiration on these blogs!~ Need to join in!

2013 Family Reunion

Spring has nearly sprung into summer

Life sure has been passing by rather swiftly lately. Have you noticed? I can't seem to catch up! Was looking at blogs this morning and realized that I'd not posted in awhile! Crazy days--crazier me! Let's see if I can't do better--since spring has sprung since last I wrote and now it's Summer Solstice time again!

Creating a Heritage Scrapbook

 If you're interested in attending a class on how to create a Heritage Scrapbook, let me know--I've set up a date and time for a 'first class--how to begin' for Saturday May 4th from 4-7 pm at my home. Space is limited to 10 participants. Cost will be minimal, less than $10, some supplies will be available. You will need to bring your photographs, memorabilia, your choice of scrapbook album--I will have scissors, pens, stickers, die-cuts, paper, etc I will show you how to create a themed scrapbook, and what to do when you don't have photographs for a particular time period in your ancestor's life. We will have a special guest the day of the class; someone who has been busy creating Heritage Scrapbooks for some time--I love her work! For more information, get in touch with me! You might leave a message here or email me!~ Hope to see you on Sat. May 4th, 2013! Light refreshments will be provided!

Marching into April and onto May

It's been a busy couple of weeks--work-wise and home-wise, as the weather hasn't cooperated very well in getting outdoors to garden, I've stayed in and been cleaning out closets and drawers! I've found more junk I need to do something with, than I ever thought I'd poked back! Omigosh! Dresses I'll never wear, tops I couldn't squeeze into if I wanted to; and shoes? Where did it all come from?! LOL! Since I'm into organizing at the office, thankfully, it's carrying over into the home life! I've put away files, sorted information that folks have called me about, and located more photos and documents I'd love to scan and get online! I'm getting ready to host some heritage scrapbook classes, so have also been doing some family history and photograph sorting of my own! I decided that if I died tomorrow, my kids wouldn't need or want to deal with all my 'junk' so think I'll do what I can while I'm living, so they don't have to! We three girls have been dealing with alot of that over at mama's house, and as we have been working on various projects over there, we look at ourselves and wish we were home doing the same thing! Ha! Nothing like visiting, and realizing you want to go home and clean house, literally and figuratively!
I'm the proud recipient of a 'new' washer and dryer! A really sweet friend got her a new set, and decided she'd give me her old set. It's definitely needed at my home, as I've been without a laundry since moving back to be close to my mom. It will be wonderful to get it all set up, and since I've been clipping photos and ideas for my 'dream laundry room' from Pinterest, can't wait to get started! Hence, the clean-out! I have all these wonderful ideas! Ideas but not skills to carry them through! Will be calling on some of my skilled friends!

Wrist Cuff Bracelets

Some people have 'bucket lists' of places they want to go; or people they want to meet; or foods they want to try; or, like me, things they want to make. So, several months ago, I saw on a blog I subscribe to: wrist cuff bracelets. I thought to myself--I could do that--and since I love anything vintage, old buttons, materials, and I was into recycling--why not! My favorite places to shop include Goodwill; Flea Markets; and someone else's closet! Ha! I also checked Pinterest to see some examples, and kept thinking I was going to 'get around to it' before Christmas. That didn't happen.I also ran across all my daddy's old ties, and played around with those for cuff bracelets, and that's still a "work in progress".  Sunday afternoon, after a really good worship service at church, I pulled out all my 'goodies' to see if I could come up with something. My first one wasn't too terribly hard, simple in appearance--and thought I'd share it with you here. I already have ideas floating around in my head for future cuff bracelets--and am looking thru the closets, the drawers, the boxes for Goodwill, and everywhere in between for more shirt pockets, trims, buttons, snaps, lace tidbits, and assorted 'stuff'! Take a look and tell me what you think.

Finished wrist cuff bracelet

Work in progress showing tiny rosebud trim

before putting it together--fabric is red, with a man's shirt pocket, black lace and rosebud trim.

Now, if you have some old shirts--I'm looking for white or off-white shirts for their pockets or cuffs. Or, for that matter, any color! Also thinking about cumberbunds or old fashioned neckties--hmm.

Research and Reunions

These two documents are about our Benjamin Mellinger, and his military history. He was our Yankee soldier during the war, the story goes that he went AWOL, and came to Alabama. It is his granddaughter that was my grandmother, Lillie Prinzillian Mellinger. The Mellinger line is related to the Perrett line--from Crenshaw County, AL there comes a story about a French Indian Trader named Perrett who had an Indian squaw for a wife; she'd tended to him when he was ill, when he recovered, she stayed with him. How much truth there is to that, we still have yet to prove. However, half the fun is the journey!

Family and Reunions



M.H. Beasley and sister, Charlene Beasley Sasser, b. 6 Jan 1927




Mellinger Hancock Beasley
b.23 August 1916




M. H. Beasley and Sherry (Sasser) Johnston














A few years ago, mama's only surviving sibling, Mel Beasley suggested to her that we start having family reunions again like in the 'old days'. We all discussed it quite a bit, and settled on a date. I decided to host it at our home in Evergreen: the Old Pritchett Place, a farmhouse smack dab in the middle of Evergreen, just off AL 83/Liberty Hill Drive--very conveniently located off Exit 96 of I-65. The house is spread out with lots of room, a front and back porch and plenty of yard space for the children we hoped would come. It was a wonderful location and so many families came--we could tell that this was going to be a big hit! With Mel and his family coming up from Mobile; Malcolm and his family also from Mobile, as well as others in the family; those coming down from Montgomery; Birmingham; and some from Pensacola, this proved to be just what everyone needed to reconnect and share their memories of family with each other. We hosted one at the Bolden Cardwell Hall of Evergreen First United Methodist Church over on Desplous Street; we hosted twice at Hampden Ridge United Methodist Church in the Hampden Ridge Community where our ancestors went to church and many are buried; we also hosted one at the old homestead on County Road 23. We had decided to include the children and grandchildren and all the allied families of the Ancestor: Charles W. Beasley & Thirza Northcutt Beasley--this included Mel and Charlene's parents: Charlie Samuel Beasley and Lillie Prinzillian Mellinger Beasley--so we had Beasleys, Barlows, Etheridges, Hendersons, Johnstons, Broxton, and in between the families that these folks had married into. We have met so many wonderful cousins in branches of the family that we knew nothing about. I've met many of them online, through research, whether their queries or mine. The Beasley Family migrated from NC to AL--and settled in Conecuh County way early--and it's been fun to discover all the connections to other Beasley families far and wide! I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the photographs of our family reunions. The next reunion will be held once more at the Pritchett House the weekend of Mother's Day--we're going to celebrate our family once more.

Memories of the 23rd Alabama by Henry J. Beasley

MEMORIES OF THE 23RD ALABAMA REGIMENT

(By Henry J. Beasley)

After a lapse of 44 years it is difficult to remember names' and dates, but I will try and write something of my company and regiment. I was in the 23rd Ala., Co. H. We went out in the au­tumn of 1861; we were mustered into service at Montgomery about the 16th of November. F. K. Beck was our colonel. From there we went to Dog River near Mobile and were there for a while. From there we went up in Tennessee and Kentucky. We were under Gen­eral Bragg in the Kentucky march. It was a hard march, with but little to eat--parched and raw corn for several days--but we had a large quantity of bacon stored at camp. When we retreated it was fired and burned up. I saw the light of it for several miles, but we managed to get several pieces; so we had meat for several days. Some of the boys threw theirs away; and they were so worn out and footsore they could hardly march empty handed. Our Regi­ment did not do any fighting of note on this trip through Ken­tucky. We came through the gap of the Cumberland Mountains in the fall of 62 and wintered in portions of Tennessee and Missis­sippi. In the early spring of 63 we went to Vicksburg. While there we went for a day's march up the Mississippi River and got lost in the swamps. We were lost three days and nights and it rained the whole time we were there. We had nothing to eat while in the swamp. Our good Colonel Beck offered us his horse if we would eat him. We declined his generous offer and told him we would share the pangs of hunger with him; that we were true soldiers and wherever he went and suffered the 23rd Regiment never flinched from duty when in the face of danger or suffering. We all loved our officers, especially Colonel Beck.

On the day that we got out of the swamps the sun rose clear and bright. We knew Vicksburg was east of us so we marched in that direction. A short while after we started we came in sight of a house. I said to Ed Mock, "Here is where we can get some­thing to eat." So we stopped and they began preparing something immediately. But Ed became impatient and would not stay, so I was left to enjoy my feast alone. I was not alone either for there were two pretty girls, there, and this hungry "Reb" enjoyed himself immensely, and I thought of my comrade Ed Mock. I remained with those good people for hours and rejoined my command at Vicksburg about 11 o'clock that night and the boys had my rations drawed and cooked, so I happened to good luck at last.

We went next to Port Gibson; there we were engaged in a hard battle. The boys fought well, but we had to fall back. Lost several, killed and wounded and some captured. E. W. Pettus of the l0th Ala., was captured, but escaped from the enemy by swimming.

The next battle was at Big Black under General Pember­ton. There was some desperate fighting done there. The artillery roared all day long. The loss of life was terri­ble. We fell back to the trenches at Vicksburg where we remained for 40 days.

The closest place I was in was while I was on picket duty all alone when about four Yanks centered their fire on me, but I stood my ground and had the satisfaction of see­ing the litter bearers carry off several of them. We had a hard time in the siege of Vicksburg. We held them in check until we had nothing to eat and were in a famished condi­tion. We surrendered on July 4, 1863. The Yankees were very kind to us; they gave us hungry "Rebs" plenty of ra­tions, and we all came home on parole. After spending some days at home, we went to Demopolis in parole camps, and after the exchange we went to Tennessee. The next battle was on top of Lookout Mountain. This was a peculiar battle, as er fought with rocks part of the time by rolling them down the mountain side on the yanks. The next engagement was at Missionary Ridge. This was a bloody battle and the yanks outdone the "Rebs." At this time the 23rd Ala. Regi­ment was in E. W. Pettus' brigade to the surrender; we were in Stevenson's division. If I am not mistaken, our regi­ment went into quarters at Dalton Ga.; then we were in the tights from Dalton to Atlanta for nearly 100 days. In a charge near Marietta' one of my brothers was killed, and at Rasaca we lost our colonel, F. K. Beck. My captain, B. L. Selman, was wounded at this time, and Lieutenant John Mc­Donnell, our second Lieutenant took charge of our company. He was a brave and true soldier. I would be glad to tell of all the brave deeds of our soldiers in Georgia, but I have not time.

At New Hope Church we had a bloody battle, at which I was slightly wounded in the leg, but I did not stop fighting. All through northern Georgia I saw plenty of Sherman’s monuments in shape of lone chimneys and blackened spots where he had burned the houses. I saw women and children left without shelter or anything to eat and no prospect for the future. On our retreat we could tell the way Sherman's march was going by the smoke of the burning buildings. He burned everything--houses, barns, fences, etc. In the two days fight at Atlanta there was some hard fighting. The Yankees fought well. I think they had about fifteen pieces of artillery right in front of the 23rd Ala. Regiment and the fiendish screams of the shells was terrible.

About this time Johnson was relieved of his command from the Tennessee army and Hood placed in command. We all had sad faces the day Johnson left us. We hated to give up our leader. The boys said goodbye Old Joe, we all love you. I think Davis made a great mistake when he relieved Johnson from the Tennessee army and placed Hood in command. But the boys never flinched from duty when ordered by Hood. When he said charge the boys would raid the Rebel yell and charge even if it was against superior numbers. I will relate a funny incident which happened among that picket fight. As we fell back to line of battle we had to go through an old field. We were trotting along at a lively pace. The many balls were going "zip" "zip" around us when one hit one of my company; he hollowed Henry I'm killed! killed! and he said if I'm not killed I am going to get away from this place. He outran me and beat me back to the line of battle.

After we left Atlanta on our march back into Tennessee we had a spat or two with the Yankees. E. W. Pettus brigade had to cross a creek. We had to throw pontoon bridges across to get over and then we had to charge the yanks so we could cross. This incident was in our march to Franklin, Tennessee.

The 23rd Ala. was not in the battle at Franklin, but was held in reserve and on the night of the fight we slept on our arms.

Early next morning we marched through the battlefields and here a terrible sight met our eyes.

The dead was strewn everywhere and just to the right of the locust orchard, it seemed to me, was the hardest part of the fight, the dead being in heaps.

We marched right on toward Nashville.

     The 23rd Ala. was nearly all the fighting around Nashville.

Here at Nashville was the first time we had encountered Negro troops, two lines of Negro troops charging on our lines.

     If you ever saw Rebs shoot, we shot them.

     Our fire was too hot for them and they fell back.

     Some of our boys jumped over the breastwork and captured two of their flags.

     In this fight our Lieutenant Colonel was wounded by a piece of shell.

After we fell back from Nashville, we went up into North Carolina.

Our boys were in no condition to fight; they were worn out, hungry, footsore and nearly naked, and from now we did not do any fighting of any interest.

Here I will give a little of my Hospital experiences with the sick in Tennessee.

In Powell’s Valley near Clinton our boys were nearly all killed. I was detailed to take the sick to Knoxville and we put them on the boat at Clinton that came up the Clinch River. We were a day and night in getting into the Tennessee and to Knoxville.

After I got the boys in the Hospital that night one of them died.

I dressed him and saw him buried, and the next morning I said to myself I was not the boy to stay in the Hospital, so I slipped out and went to my command.

Some of the boys ask why I did not stay that I would have been out of the range of bullets.

I said I was no hospital rat, that the front was where I wanted to be.

In these memories I can state all the brave deeds the boys of the 23rd Ala. accomplished in their fourth years service.

They were as true as any Regiment that went to that cruel war.

     I am proud to say that I am an old Confederate Vete­ran.

After the war, we came home and found everything in a ruined condition.

     It seemed that everything was gone but honor.

We went to work with the determination to build up all our country and the result has been marvelous.

The old boys are now rapidly passing away and in a few more years there will be no more.

At the State Reunion at Montgomery in 1907, I was going along looking into the faces of the old boys seeing if I could recognize any of them when I noticed an old man looking about on the crowd like myself.

     I took him by the hand and ask (what Regiment)?

     He replied 23rd Ala. Company H.

     And I said "Bill Siggars." He said, "Henry Beasley" and then everything was forgotten in our Happiness.

     I had not met him since the surrender. He was eighty-two.

.

At the Birmingham Reunion in 1908 I met our drummer boy who I had not seen since the surrender.

     We sat down on the grass at the Court House and chatted a long time about our war experiences.

Since the war it has been a great pleasure to me to meet our old comrades. They seem like brothers. I know the hardships they endured for the lost cause.

Time will fail me to tell of all the courage and fortitude of the private soldiers who endured the cold, the hunger, and the strife following their leaders to the end.

Each year our ranks grow thinner,

Veterans of 61 to 65;

Soon life's sun will sink forever

On those wearers of the gray.

One by one they answer roll call,

One by one they pass away;

Pass beyond this vale of tears,

The noble wearers of the gray.

Supplied by: James H. Wood

12601 Long Cove Drive

Charoltte, NC  28277-4029

Flamingos Flocking to Evergreen

Flamingoes flocked to Evergreen on Liberty Hill Drive

Yes, you're seeing pink flamingos in yards in Evergreen! I arrived home from work yesterday to see four of these beauties near my drive! My poor little pooches wanted to know where they came from and when they were leaving! A colorful site to behold! This is a wonderful fundraiser for my beloved library: The Evergreen Study Club will help these flamingoes to their next destination and in the meantime, it's a lovely way to help support the many programs that we have for the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library! Who knows, they may flock to your yard next!

February is a special month for me

The month of February, the second month of the year, a pretty special month for me: God chose this month for me to be born to special parents: Jones B. & Charlene (Beasley) Sasser on the 23rd in 1955. I enjoyed birthday parties at home with cousins and friends most of my growing up years--birthday cakes and singing the birthday song--cake and ice cream--punch--all precious memories. As I grew older, of course, the parties were fewer and cakes were less, as we did other things to have fun! Mama almost always baked my birthday cake, though, and even if that's a small thing--to me, I wish mama could make me a birthday cake this year! I miss my Mama being in the kitchen! She did love to cook once upon a time.

Then, I get married in 1973 about two months after my high school graduation--and it was nearly 6 years later, that we were blessed with an adorable little girl born on the 19th of February 1979. Jennifer Claire Johnston we named her, and she was indeed the apple of our eyes! She was the first grandchild for my parents and yes, they doted on her, and my mama still does! My two sisters spoiled her incredibly rotten and we allowed that, I think! She's a beautiful young woman today, a wonderful mother to two of the most precious grandsons I could ever imagine, sister to two incredibly smart siblings who we love dearly: Katie and Kyle, loving cousin to my sister's boys who came later: Josh, Jacob and Jared;  intelligent and smart and funny and a hard working young woman. Claire has always had goals and gone after them--excelling in her achievements in every direction. Daddy would be so proud of you, Claire, and he would have loved these wonderful boys! Can you imagine him taking them fishing!?! What fun! I try my best to have fun with them in his memory!

My parents: Charlene Beasley & Jones Branton Sasser wedded on 20 December 1947; Three daughters: Lillie Maureen b 1949; Sherrell Elaine b 1955; and Mary Janet b 1961.

Dewdrops in the garden remind me of the freshness of an early morning; all the exciting possibilities a day holds, much like a child: Imagine the places they will go!

The month wasn't always kind to me, and Valentine's Day has been my least favorite day of the year, but when I compare what I might have lost on a Valentine's Day so long ago to what I've gained from then since, I know that God has blessed me beyond comparison! I love knowing that Claire and I share our birthday month of February, as we do with others in our family and communities. It's a blessed month! Happy Birthday dear Claire! I hope you will have a wonderful birthday and even if I can't be there to celebrate it with you, my heart will be there!

Share the Love--Share Your Stories

Share the Love--Share Your Stories

     A few months ago, I created a series of programs for the Library Archives Department entitled: The Canebrake Oral History Series: A Window into Our Collective Past and each month, planned something special to share with others. The first one we held is described in an earlier post, and it was honoring the memories of Sallie Ellis Weekley. We did one in December about Sharing Christmas Memories, and had great participation. January we skipped because of the flu outbreak, and February--well, today it flooded! So many were kept away from the event because of the weather, but two friends did drop in for a little bit, and between Diane Sosebee, our co-worker, myself and them, we managed to share a few stories for just a bit before they had to get back out and home before the next front comes through. I heard marvelous stories about how their parents or grandparents met; stories about their life together; and just in general about their childhood! We laughed at some till we nearly cried! We also realized how similar our childhoods were, even with an age difference! Take the time to share with your children, grandchildren, and other family members about your own childhood or that of your parents and grandparents. Share the Love and Share YOUR Story!

Let's Paddle!

One of my favorite pasttimes is taking a canoe out on the waters of our rivers and creeks here in Alabama--I would have never guessed that I would enjoy it so very much! But I do! Since doing history and genealogy and all the research of the places our ancestors lived, I enjoy getting to visit and explore them, if at all possible. Late last summer, a friend and I decided to put the canoe in on Pigeon Creek, and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Quite different than the Sepulga which I have done about three times now, and look forward to doing it again one day. It was so pretty that I kept forgetting to take photographs of the scenery! So, most of my photos are of the beginning of the trip down the creek! Come with me as we paddle down Pigeon Creek!

This view is of the creek at Lloyd's Mill--up the creek from where we actually put in at. The creek was incredibly low here and would have been terribly hard to negotiate, as more walking would have been done than paddling!

We walked into the woods from the old mill site to see how much depth there was to the creek here and once there, and seeing the numerous log jams, we knew we'd have to go in down the creek further.

This is the view as we started, we'd loaded the canoes, and set off, an wow, what a journey--didn't take as long as we thought it would to paddle down to the US84 Bridge.

This photo is also of the creek right by the old mill site. That in itself was an adventure that day!

You can see that this is where we put in and the front of the canoe, as we start our journey.

Waterfall

Ready to Paddle!

Our island

Genealogy and Pinterest

I have this blog, that I barely understand how to operate, and then, there is what I do, which is what some refer to as work--and that's genealogy research--I'm trying to combine the two here but tis hard to do. Then, there's Pinterest, which is where I can have some fun and also combine both! My love of gardening, genealogy, scrapbooking, blogging, cooking, baking, companion animals, crafting and all kinds of things--I wish I had been the one to come up with the Pin Your Interest! Ha! If you've made anything, whether it's a craft, or wreath, or special dish, or painting or house idea from Pinterest, how about sharing it on here with me?!

Wintry Nights and Spring around the corner!

Daffodils are pushing up and starting to bloom in my home gardens. Makes me excited for spring--know it's coming!

This little daffodil is trying hard--coming up thru the hole in this tiny flowerpot!

My friend, Mimi, is curled up tight on the end of the bed--she's my companion on cold wintry nights!

Gypsy is happy to have the suitcase bed these days--she's been a 'good girl' and gets to sleep in the kitchen without the crate!

Lulu enjoys sleeping in on cold wintry nights.

Rainbows and Promises--a daughter's memories

It's already the 11th of January, and would have been my Dad's 90th birthday had he been living. He passed away in August of 2004, just about a week or more before Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast region--what a mess it was, we were reeling from his death, and learning to cope without him, and all of a sudden, there were bigger problems on the horizon. Just when life seems to hand you all you can seem to stand, something or someone appears to come along and yank the rug out from under you--that's how we all have felt at one time or another--I just try to look for the good in every little thing no matter what, and this morning as I was preparing to go to work, decided I needed a little bit more pick me up than a bowl of grits--so headed towards BK first for a biscuit, and wow!! I was feeling down and sad, and looked up and there was the prettiest rainbow! Just arcing overhead! So beautiful and I thought of my Dad smiling down on me today! Just like Our Heavenly Father promises to see us thru the dark times as well as the bright times, that little rainbow seemed to beckon to me and say--hey, Sherry, it's all gonna be all right! I promised you!
If I can figure out how to post my photo on here, I'll post it for ya'll to enjoy too, and remember the promises God gives us everyday!