Doing with out each other??

   This evening Sarah and I loaded the last box, cleaned the floors and sacked up the last of the trash. We were finally done and her house is empty and ready for the next family. There were days all of us were there packing things up. She loves to cook so the kitchen took the longest. Sandra wanted to know if there was a gadget that she didn't have.
  Sarah and I was busy in the bath room and she said, "Mom, what would I do without you." Not wanting her to see the tear in my eye I replied quickly, "what would I do without you."

Sarah like many of us has been through a storm. There were days when she didn't know which end was up. But at the end of the storm she came out dancing. She is a strong, determined lady. I'm so proud of her in all that she has accomplished. She has found her prince charming. Pat is perfect. When they look at each other their eyes glow and you can feel the love  they have for one another. As a mother you just want your children to grow up to be healthy and happy.
As we drove up to Sarah and Pat's home Pat came out the door to meet us and Sarah and I said together, "Honey we're home", he looked at Sarah and said, "Welcome home baby"

Persimmon Puddin.....

   As I stepped onto the porch this evening Thomas meet me with a hug and a kiss. He stated that he had a surprise for me. I looked around and didn't see anything at first, then I smelled it......Persimmons. We had been talking the other evening about taking a drive and checking out our favorite places. We have a few places around Jackson County that we visit each year.
   I made a puddin just a few weeks ago from a batch dated 2004. They were as fresh as the day we gathered them. We vacuum pack ours, two cups per package. Back in 2001  I experminted with my mom's recipe and I changed the measurments of a few spices and came up with my own recipe.
   After supper I processed them and we had four cups enough for two persimmon puddins. Just smelling them made my mouth water for a puddin. I just might have to make one for tomorrow. If Daddy finds out he'll be headin my way for sure......... 

Chickens.....

9/11......

   It was a normal day for me just like every other morning. Getting a few things done around the house before I headed into my flower shop. Arrived at the shop, turned on the lights and prepared for the day. Turned on the TV to finish watching the morning news and just as I did I heard the announcer start to panic but doing his best to stay calm. At that point I was glued to the TV for the next few days. He stated that reports were coming in that one of the towers had been hit by a plane and just as he finished his sentence I noticed another plane heading to the other tower, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Both towers were now on fire from the impact. I continued to watch and for the next few minutes I don't think I moved, I was in shock, what was going on, was it Pearl Harbor all over again? Were we under attack? Were other cities going to be hit?
  All Americans were in shock, some were afraid to leave their homes. Hospitals and federal building were put on lock down. As the day went on folks called the shop to talk about what they had seen on TV.
   I was suppose to attend a design show in Louisville later that evening. Thomas called to see what my plans were. He said he believed it was safe to go, just keep him informed. I wasn't about to hide in my house  afraid of what was to happen next. As an American I will not live in fear in my own country.

This past spring I was able to stand at the foot of both towers. The bus had to unload us three blocks away for security reasons. As we walked toward the entrance I could feel my emotions over take me. I was tearing up from the feelings that were coming over me. I could feel the presence of those who had lost their lives. I have tried to explain it to a few people and I just can't. As we approached the first tower I layed my hand on the names...all I could hear was the sound of the water. I rubbed my hand over the words.......Engine 82. I stood there and could no longer hold back my tears and I cried.

There were names of office workers, firemen, first responders, police men. Men, women from every walk of life. People just like me who woke up did what they needed to do that morning then headed to work just like every other day. Little did they know that when they closed the door to their home, they would never return. When they kissed their family good bye, it really was good bye. I walked over to the other tower and it was the same. Names, Ladder numbers, Engine numbers. I started to look up to the direction that the plane had come from and wondered if any of those working at their desk had seen the plane coming. I looked to the buildings that were around the towers. You could see where they had replaced bricks and made repairs. We made our way down to the church where ground zero workers would come to rest. This was also the place where folks put up posters and pictures of their loved one who were not accounted for.

Inside the church there were different memorials from pictures, necklaces, American flags to hand written notes. It was a very quite place, folks only whispered. The one thought that you were left with as you walked back to the bus.........never forget

The 40 hour week......

   Tomorrow we celebrate, Labor Day. I remember those days working at the US Shoe and Thomas was just down the road at Mastersbilt. We looked forward to a day off. We would make plans to take Sarah and Sandra to Brown County State Park. We  packed our lunch and made a day of it.
   The country band, "Alabama" sung a song titled, "40 Hour Week".........you work a 40 hour week for a living, you work hard every day, from the auto worker, waitress, mechanic, the coal miner, to the one who drives the big rig up and down the road. To the one who brings the mail. You see them every morning in the factory's and the fields. Hello America, let me thank you for your time.
   All of you who work hard at your job day after day just to get the product out and a pay check in your pocket, thank you and I'm sure America thanks you to. So take the day off. Put your feet up, your cap down and rest from your 40 hour plus week........