On The Road Again...

As it looks right now, we are planning a trip to Dunedin, FL, leaving on Thursday Feb 23 and returning on March 3. We hope to be at the house a couple of days, then drive down to Naples to visit Badi and Jean. We would like them to come back up with us to Dunedin for a couple of days and then we will come home.

I have to get mentally prepared for this. I have so much to do and I do not want to haul it down there with me. I don't work on it any way. So I am now preparing to leave and getting finished what is necessary. I want to do very little "packing" since we already have every thing we need down there. I may take a little food because whatever I buy there, I just have to haul back. I try to not keep much there in order to limit bugs. So, some fruit and veggies (Nasser just went to the Farmers' Market so I have a lot)...oh, I just remembered...he bought a "ton" of fresh herbs to put into the Torshi (sour relish) he made with eggplant. I have to wash and chop all of that!! Well, there's a project for today...

Grandma's Apron

I received an email this afternoon from a friend that included a version of the following poem. It brought back memories of Grandma Warfel and how she always had an apron on. I also thought about my first Home Econ project in high school - an apron! I actually liked that apron and used it. I wonder whatever became of it? It was turquoise and white checked material...Too bad I don't enjoy sewing like my Mom, sister, and niece do. Well, we are all given certain gifts and talents. Mine just doesn't happen to be sewing, but I am grateful that I can sew if should choose to. I remember it being fun to go shopping with Mom and Melanie to buy a new pattern for a project...the choices were overwhelming!

I think aprons are a great idea and I would love to have one like Grandma used to wear, especially one of hers. Collecting vintage patterns and aprons could be a fun hobby. The below pattern might have been the one we used in Home Ec!

GRANDMA'S APRON

By Tina Trivett, Aug 26, 2007

The Poetry of Tina Trivett, tinatrivett.blogspot.com

The strings were tied, it was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.

For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.

The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;

the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.

She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she'd found.

Or to hide a crying child's face when a stranger came around.

Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.

Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.

She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.

To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.

When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.

You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.

She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.

Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.

When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.

I'm sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.

I think Grandma is wearing an apron here. I would be very surprised if she wasn't! Another good use for an apron is to keep baby's spit up off your dress! She is holding Andy on his first outing. He was 2 weeks old so this was taken in Grandma's house on 7th Street in July 1982. For the memories-ah!

The Hobbit! I Can't Wait!!!

Here is the movie trailer...I am so excited! I am reading the book again in anticipation. Part One will be released in Dec 2012 (a whole year!) and Part Two in Dec 2013.

Moonlight in the Pines

The other night I went outside and saw the beautiful moon through the pines...

Here is a beautiful rendition of "Georgia on My Mind" by Michael Buble'. Relax and enjoy...

The Daffodils and Red Bud Trees are in Bloom!

"Daffodils" (1804) I wandr'd lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

The weather has been so Spring-like that the daffodils and Red Bud Trees are blooming! These don't usually bloom until the end of March or April, so it certainly lifts the spirits in the middle of February. Yes, I miss the snow - the beauty of it and the fun of it...taking a night-time stroll with huge, soft flakes coming down...sledding...skiing. But I also love where I live with the moderate weather and the beauty of the flowers. Spring is breath-taking in Georgia! "Bloom where you are planted"!