Simple Southern-Comfort Food...

"Soup Beans" (pinto beans) and ham, fresh homemade slaw, cornbread, and buttery pound cake with cherry topping. . . A good meal for those days when I especially miss Mama!

MAMA'S QUILTS...

Hand-cut, Hand-pieced, Hand-sewn, Hand-quilted... Star of Bethlehem & Wedding Ring:

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE...Moist, delicious, and EASY!

Grandma made this cake every year at Christmas. It is so easy! The recipe will be featured in our local community holiday magazine for 2011.

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE

Moist and delicious, and so easy!

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

dash of salt
1 1/3 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 can fruit cocktail (do not drain)

Mix all ingredients well, adding fruit cocktail, last. Bake at 350 degrees in a bundt pan, 9 x 11 inch pan (metal or glass), or 2 loaf pans. Bake time is 40-45 minutes. Set aside and cool.

ICING:

(Just as moist and delicious without icing...)

1 cup sugar (Grandma used white, but I like to use brown.)

1 12-oz can evaporated milk

3 egg yolks

1 stick margarine

Cook until thick, constantly stirring.

Remove from heat and add the following:

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp orange or lemon juice (optional)

1 cup coconut

1 cup nuts of your choice (I like to use walnuts.)

Spread over your cake, or if you have used a bundt pan, drizzle around the tops and sides. Garnish with RED cherries, or other garnishments. Other options that I sometimes add, are: 2 over-ripe mashed bananas, or cranraisins. ENJOY!

TIME FOR GHOST HUNTING!

This is one place that we rookie ghost hunters always try to visit around October. It is creepy, even during the day. The upstairs bedroom did have a noose in it, but last year when we returned, it was gone. We always get some strange pictures and hear some strange noises when we visit this place! BOO!

Special Avon Items...

I have always been fascinated by Avon items. Some of the older items were very beautiful, and actually well-made. I always wanted a collection of the Ruby Red glassware and plate settings, but as a young mother, I was never financailly able to buy more than a few pieces. My dear departed Mother-in-Law collected Avon Bottles and had a collection that numbered over 600 items. For special reasons, the two items above hold significant meaning to me. First, the green stocking bottle, with the red lid, was given to me by my mother-in-law when she was very sick, and very close to death (several years before she died.) She told me to save it for my son, and give it to him when he grew up (which I did). The second item, the Stetson-Hat smoker's candle, was a gift from me to my dad back in the early 80's. He hardly ever used the candle, but he displayed it on his side table for many years. He was a man of few words, so I knew that by keeping the candle beside his chair, it meant something to him, and THAT meant something to me. Funny how certain things can mean so much to one, and be so insignificant to others. I suppose the old addage of, "One man's trash, is another man's tresure," holds true. (Miss you and love you, Caleb.)

Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton - Local Legend

R.I.P Popcorn. . . Offering sincere condolences and prayer to his family and friends. "THE LAST AUTHENTIC MOONSHINER!"

Marriage "Bond". . .

This is the marriage "bond" that my Great-Grandfather, William, had to post when he married my Great-Grandmother, Joanna "Josie". William had to post this $100-dollar bond before he could marry Josie. Josie's parents were killed in a horse and buggy accident, so her grandfather, one H. J. Anderson from Whitley County, KY, required that William put up the bond so her wouldn't back out on the deal. Apparently, that was common practice back then. . .

Josie was 16 years of age, and that was considered OLD-maid age at that time. William was 29 years old, and I guess my GGG-Grandfather, H. J., wasn't going to take a chance on William changing his mind! But William was more than happy to post the bond, and looked very happy in this wedding day photo of he and Josie. Josie, on the other hand, looks scared and bewildered. Sadly, they were only married for 2 1/2 years, before William reportedly "fell off of a bridge" and developed "scarfulous". (Our family has researched "scarfulous" and can't find anything remotely similar, so we assume he acquired gangrene in his leg.)

Now, just imagine if men were required to post bond, today. . . ! LOL

Old Signs Found!

My brother found these old signs in the attic. One sign is metal and the other is wooden. My dad used to repair televisions and radios, back when they used the old picture tubes and transistors. His "shop" was inside my grandmother's old country store, and the metal sign hung below the Kern's sign that read: Marshall's Grocery. Good memories. . .

Red & White Quilt Bear. . .Dogwoods everywhere!

My nephew, Caleb, and I, went to visit my son, yesterday. It is an hour commute, but we still enjoyed the ride, because the Dogwoods and Redbuds are in full bloom, and are SO lovely! Yards, were neatly mown, in preparation for the upcoming arrival of Easter Sunday. Today, we went to see the new Teenage Mutuant Ninja Turtles movie. It was very good--Caleb LOVED it. However, I'm a little confused about the title. Seems the turtles have grown up since my son, Jake, was a loyalist turtle. . . They are now grown MEN. Okay. . . I guess it's about time, since they have been teens for several years, now. But, why are they still calling them "teenage". Why not, "Ninja Turtles All Grown UP!", or, "Ninja Turtles--The New Alpha Dogs!" Or, simply, "Mutant Ninja Turtles". . . Why do I care???? The kids don't care, so why should I??? Jeeeeesh!

Here's a lovely quilt bear that my friend Cornie T. made for me. It was made from a quilt Mama made for me when I went off to college. The quilt was used so much (and, of course, being young I didn't take very good care of it. . .) that it was tattered and torn, and really beyond repair, without changing the pattern. So, after Mama died, Cornie suggested she make a bear out of it, and so she did! She buys old faded and tattered quilts at yard sales, and make lovely bears, hearts, etc. . . out of them. Thanks to her for saving my quilt!!!

Baby Mikey. . .

My great-grandmother, Josie, died on my 12th birthday. I loved my Granny Edwards. We all called her "Little Grandma" to distinguish her from our Grandmother, whom we called, "Big Grandma". (Uh, not sure why. . .) Anyway, Little Grandma wore her long white hair in a little granny bun. She was so sweet and SO interesting. She would tell us stories about growing up in a coal mine in Kentucky. Baby Mikey was given to me by Little Grandma. She named him "Mikey", and told me to take care of him. She treated him like her baby and I loved it, because to me, she was playing house with me. I realize, now, of course, that she was probably in the mild stages of dementia. Still, she charged me with the welfare of little Mikey. She made the little red outfit he has on. And, as always, Mama made me put him up, and would not let me play with him (thank goodness), like I did my Baby Boo, and Baby Thumbelina, who both ended up getting haircuts and ink-pen tattoos.

The picture in the background is of my Great, Great, Grandmother. Notice she is wearing a long black dress. This was her "burying" dress. It was a tradition for a Southern Woman to make her own funeral dress, and then have her picture taken in it. I always thought that was strange. . . but then, a LOT of southern country traditions and folklore are strange.

Life is good. Today my little nephew, Caleb, and I are going to visit my son, Jake. I'm always in a good mood when I'm around my family. OOPS! Just about forgot-- TENNESSEE VOLS/ NATIONAL CHAMPS 2006-2007 !!!

Lovely Lady. . .

It's not only people who have a story to tell. . . This little lady was a gift to my mother, from an elderly country lady. Daddy was an old-fashioned Baptist Minister, and we visited people on a regular basis--both church members, and those who did not attend church. I remember the lady telling Mama that she just wanted to give her something to let her know how much she loved her. I will forever remember the lady's hands as she handed the little lady to Mama. They were obviously aged and worn, but I somehow knew that they had lovingly and skillfully served her family well. She gave Daddy some old fishing lures that belonged to her late husband. It was such a lovely gesture, and it taught me a lot about the gift of love. Mama, of course, would not let me hold the little lady, but she would take it from the shelf and gently hold it for me to LOOK at! There were a lot of things Mama would only let me look at. . . Mama cherished everything that was given to her. She loved everyone, and treated all with dignity and compassion. Not sure where this little lady came from, but on the bottom it looks like a handwritten serial number: A1949 (copyright symbol) Wadel 1956 / See, I told you I was a nut for old things!

ALL THINGS OLD. . .

As I walk through my house, going from room to room, I am surrounded by a mix of eclectic, family momentos and keepsakes. This is a comfort to me. Sadly, as a young girl, I did not appreciate the beauty and character of "old things". Now, I love those "old things", and I cherish them for their sentimental value. I love everything old. . . cars, clothes, hats, photos, plates, postcards, and on, and on, and on. Oh, and of course, old people! (Which by some standards, may include myself!) Here are photos of just SOME of my plates. The oval, yellow, platter, belonged to my mother, and my grandmother. My grandmother gave it to my mother when she got married (at the tender age of 17!). It wasn't new--Mother and Daddy's families were very poor, so they donated whatever items they could possibly spare. It held sentimental value for my mom, but she never considered it to be expensive, or particularly showy. I love it. All things old. . . they are a comfort, indeed. Just like "comfort food". . . soup beans and cornbread, fried potatoes, fresh green beans and tomatoes, homemade vegetable soup, fried apple pies, and on, and on, an on! OH, YES -- TN WOMEN PLAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT AGAINST RUTGERS. GO VOLS!!! More old photos to come!