December 31, 1949

Yep, it's that time of year again!

No pics this morning, maybe later.

Keeping it simple this year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

December 25, 2016

to all y'all on this day,

whatever y'all are celebrating,

all the best from the plantation now and always!

we love all y'all.

10 years!

There seems to be a wave of nostalgia floating around Blogville these days and I am not immune to its call.

Today, November 28th, marks my 10th anniversary as a blogger!  It was only a line or 2 then, but it was the start. I'd been reading blogs, but didn't have one, so thanks to e@l and Indy (who seems to have quit Blogville) here we are!  Along the way the content of this place has evolved into something more than an embellished tale of life in a small southern city and become much closer to reality. 

Somewhere/somehow during the past 10 years wrong impressions caused distress that resulted in hurt feelings (mine), a flame attack on me and mine that almost caused me to walk away, but what kept me here was all of you! Every single name on my sidebar, those still blogging and those who've stopped, and sadly, those who've passed away, has shown me love and kindness that has stayed with me to this day. I hope to continue to share this corner of Blogville with y'all for many years to come!

(Yes, I know, many of us are spending more time on that other social media site, but this will always be home for me!)

So, here's to all of us, our stories, our adventures, but most of all our friendships!

I love all y'all! xoxoxo

Time for an old school blogger game!

It is called the “Game of Fours”, Mago tagged me. I'll leave it up to you to play along on YOUR blog! 

Remember, Four questions, four answers each.

1. What is your favorite food?
2. What are your favorite drinks?
3. Places you’ve been?
4. Names that you’re known by?

My answers

1. Favorite food
a. shrimp and anything/everything
b. soft shell crab
c. pasta with anything/everything
d. baked/steamed/mashed/garlic/stuffed potatoes (in any/every form)

2. Favorite drinks
a. Bourbon
b.Whisky
c. Champagne
d. Sweet tea

3. Place you've been
a. France
b. U.K.
c. K.S.A.
d. Netherlands

4. Names you're known by
a. Savannah
b. Honey
c. Ma Kettle
d. Mom

OK, there y'all go. Play along, or don't, that's up to you! But promise me a smile and a chuckle, and that's more than enough for me!

And because Mago included a great song by the Rolling Stones, I'm going to do the same!

Thursday, Novemember 24, 2016

It's Thanksgiving Day here in America.

Families and friends gather together to share in a traditional meal. Of course, those traditions can vary from family to family, friend to friend, but somewhere on most tables there will be a turkey as the centerpiece of the meal. But the food isn't really what it's all about. It's giving thanks for each other and the gifts we have been given.

At least, that's what it's supposed to be.

Today, our family will gather in a few different spots across this huge land, to share a meal, to bring comfort to each other, to laugh and to cry, but most of all, to be together.

This has been a tumultuous year (she said ever so understatedly) and many of us are still reeling at what has happened and what lies ahead. So, forgive me (or not, that's up to you) if I'm not shouting from the rooftops, Happy Thanksgiving, but as the poem said,

"Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out."

I'll see y'all on the other side.

last minute addition:

Here's to all who aren't at our table this year. We'll love you forever.

The day after...

I went to bed last night thinking that the tide would turn and HRC would receive the required Electoral votes to become our next president.

I went to bed last night with my phone charging on my nightstand so I could see the triumphant results as soon as I woke up.

I was wrong on both counts.

One of the first emails I read was a comment posted by our dear friend Mago:

"I said it first : All will be better under President Trump !
I just did not believe that America would follow suit. Most Americans seemingly can't do with sarcasm ..."

Today is not a finger pointing day for me (ok, maybe not in print, but mentally is another question).

Today is not a day for depression.

Today is a day for my own reconciliation  with the reality of life in America as we know it.

But I have to be honest with you because you are my people and we have spoken truth to each all these years,

I CANNOT FUCKING BELIEVE THIS IS FUCKING HAPPENING! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?

I believe in democracy. 

I respect the Office of the President.

I believe that we will survive the next four years.

I am NOT going anywhere.

In the immortal words of Cedric, the Entertainer...

"I wish a muthafucka would..."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUPER NANA!!!

This picture was taken this past week on one of those rare slightly cooler, but still sunny days, when super nana had an hour break from her supersecretifitellyouwellyouknowtherest gig!

TODAY, OCTOBER 23RD, is her birthday!!  

She almost forgot that it was this weekend. In that respect, she's just like the MITM because he never ever remembers his birthday either. (some funny stories there, but that's for another post)

What I can never remember is how old she is and I was there when she was born! The MITM thinks she's 31...

I hope y'all will join us in wishing super nana a very, very happy birthday no matter what the number is!!!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUPER NANA!!!

Matthew & Savannah

Realized that not everyone is on that other social media site and might wonder how I fared here on the plantation! I bugged out early Friday morning to higher ground. A neighbor who stayed rode around on her bike after the storm and shared pics of homes if you gave her your address. We were very fortunate to have no damage, just leaves, Spanish moss, and a small branches on the yard. Thanks for the concern and good wishes left on an earlier post. 

The MITM is in deepestdarkestafrica again, but will be back home soon and The Krewe is out on the west coast, so everyone was relieved when I sent this picture to them. I came home on Sunday and I've never been happier to be home.

Keep good thoughts for sister Hope up in the Carolinas. Their home got hit a lot harder than ours.

I love all y'all! xoxox

Post #Hermine (see what I did there?)

For those of you not on that other social media site my little town was in the path of Hurricane Hermine this past Friday. We were fortunate that all we experienced here were high winds and rain. There was considerable property damage in other parts of our town, but no fatalities as there were in Florida. We can only hope that the rest of the eastern seaboard is spared that loss as well.

The MITM is outside cleaning up the debris that feel during the storm which, luckily for us, was just leaves, small branches, and Spanish moss.  On our street all the guys are out doing the same thing. At some point, you half expect them all to gather in the middle of the street to 1. fire up  a grill and 2. start drinking beer!  

I'm just glad we took the 40' tall water oak that had been struck by lightning a few weeks ago (it was dead) because many of the trees that came down were the same variety! The good thing about the tree being taken down by professionals is that we'll be able to use some of the cut wood (logs? stumps? whatever they're called) to fashion stools and tables out of! Thank goodness for youtube because as many of you know, DIY ain't exactly my forté. (Hell, I just learned how to do that accent mark over the e!)  We shall see what happens. Right now, all of the wood is stacked (firewood) or standing and soaked from the rains. I've posted in our local social media site page that we have free firewood since we don't have a wood burning fireplace, but the 2 people that expressed interest didn't shown up.  The MITM is now thinking about looking into the possibility of converting our gas fireplace into a wood burning one. I'll leave that to him....

Our pal further up the coast, hope, was under/is under the same threat, so I'm hoping she's OK! We're still keeping an eye on the weather channel until Hermine spins out to sea!

************

The Kid has started her sophomore year of high school! Baby Boy Chaos and Baby Girl Matrix  both started pre-K this past week. BBC and BGM are now in "real school" and wear uniforms every day! There will be pictures! 

Stay safe and I'll be back soon with photos.

xoxox

I know it's August and I have no excuse

I'm still here. 

Just haven't been inspired?

Just haven't had time?

Just don't know WTF is my problem?

Take your pick.

I'll love you no matter what.

See you soon.


I PROMISE!!

I'm in a sharing mode today....

For The Mistress

Cake For Ms Scarlet!

sometimes bigger really is better!

so here we are with a big monitor connected to my little MAC! can we say, "Mind Blown!"???

thank you. mr matrix!

Some people you haven't seen in a little while!

Baby Girl Matrix at the zoo

Baby Boy Chaos is 4!

there's a pic of The Kid floating around, but she's 14, so unless she says it's OK to post  it, just know she's doing fine in high school and happy summer is here!

Happy Birthday, MITM!

 He asked for "No pictures, please" but did I listen? I originally had photos of the MITM with the members of the Krewe, big and small, old and new, but he nixed that, so here's a favorite that I took a couple of years ago. He's still the same guy I met when we were both kids, just older and funnier and smarter and handsomer and a ton of all those things that come with age!

Please join me in wishing the MITM 

a 

Happy 67th Birthday!

xoxox from me to all y'all!

May the 4th Be With You (plus a few thoughts, you know, for added value)

Thanks, xl for reminding me of the significance of today! Our pal, xl, is also taking a shortish break, but will be back, as he said, soonish.

I've been on a sort of blogging break that, yes, I know, I forgot to mention to all y'all, but you know I love all y'all the same way bees love flowers and honey is sweet!  (I know, I've been in The South a tad too long.) But, I digress....

**************

Sunday is Mother's Day here in the USA and I've always been a non-believer in Hallmark holiday sentiments and encouraged the celebration with the Krewe of their grandmothers and great-grandmothers BECAUSE those lovely and truly delightful ladies grew up in a culture that expected it. I think the Krewe understood that we celebrated those Grand Old Gals because we loved them and respected them. Plus, the parties usually were pretty damn good! Anyway, one of the things we tried to pass along to the Krewe was remembering to say I love you whenever you could and mean it! In our house (and yes, in saying this I do not wish to deny or denigrate or demean any practices by others) it was neither expected or demanded by ME that the 2nd Sunday in May had to be observed any differently than the 1st or 3rd Sunday in May.  (Birthday celebrations were and still are a TOTALLY different thing.) 

So, why this post today?

A commercial.

Yep, I got hit with one that brought me to tears.

It wasn't about Mother's Day directly, it was about children growing up oh so quickly. It was about knowing change/growth happens, but wishing/wanting it won't happen as fast as it does. They are with you for such a short time and then, they grow up and move on, as you want them to, but you know and hope that your relationship with your children grows and matures as well. But, when it doesn't it breaks your heart in ways you never knew possible. So, today, we should all just take a deep breath or as my friend, DeeDee always said, just breathe and enjoy everything and anything and everyone!


Here's the commercial:

(Yes, I am moved very easily to tears by commercials.)

(don't judge.)


xoxoxoxox

Holy Moley! It's April 5th already?

wow! 

seriously, what is going on? minutes, hours, days, weeks and now it's already APRIL? 

time seemed to stretch so far just a little while ago and now, i blink and The Kid is 14, BBC is 4 and BGM is 3 years, 9 months old! i've watched other bloggers children grow up, dogs go from puppies to BIG dogs, people move on, stop blogging, and sadly, stop living (and those deaths miles away have touched me as much as deaths nearby). we been through a lot together and as long as we keep putting words to paper/screen, we'll continue to share our days/nights/lives.

this isn't a going away post, nor did it start off as being anything sad, just an observation from that other social media site and thoughts about absence, loss, distance (literal and spiritual) that seem to surface more often these days.

is it because the boomer generation is/was that elephant inside the snake slowly moving towards digestion that things seem to be closer to the end than before? 

*shrug* 

or maybe i just need to be in the sun more?

onward.
 
 

We need to do something like this again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOC!!! Mar 13, 2016 UPDATE

Our darling boy is now 43! 

Join us in wishing him the best today and always! 

Happy Birthday, Doc!!

TODAY'S UPDATE:

From that other social media site:

The Doc said:
 

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes everybody! I love and respect you all with the white hot intensity of a 1000 suns.

 

47

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MITM!

Whisky Tango Foxtrot

Two words:  Why, Georgia?

The Republicans here in Georgia gave Drumpt 40 delegates because of 501,707 votes or 39% of the total Republicans votes cast.  I think John Oliver sums up Drumpt the best.



There will be no more politics from me here. I think all y'all know where I stand with regard to the November election for President and it ain't the orange guy.

the cake or what's left of it

Home made chocolate bundt cake! 
I've included the recipe and it is very, very, VERY good. Not too sweet and very moist. Evidently, this type of cake was made popular during WWII because of rationing. 

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3 eggs

1 2/3 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mayonnaise

1 1/3 cups water

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour two 9-inch round cake pans; set aside. (I used a bundt pan, but followed the instructions for prepping the pans.)

In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder; set aside. In large bowl, with electric mixer at high speed, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in mayonnaise at low speed until blended. Alternately beat in flour mixture with water, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour into prepared pans.

Bake 30 minutes* or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire racks. Remove from pans and cool completely.

Frost, if desired, or sprinkle with powdered sugar.

*Since I used a bundt pan, baking time was increased by about 15 minutes. After the 30 minute mark, I set my timer fro 5 minute intervals and did the toothpick check until it was done.)

Leap Year or hey, it's monday and i'm doin the best i can

so, here we are the 29th day of february or the 60th day of 2016!

i felt that it was important to post today, but for the life of me now at 16:28, i no longer remember why i gave this day significance.

on an up note, i have a chocolate bundt cake in the oven AND i made it from scratch!  those who know me know i am a lazy baker who if given half a chance would BUY her cakes from a baker and not make a mess in the kitchen.

on the downside, i noticed that i have somehow lost 7, yes, SEVEN followers here on the blog! who knew, right? i mean, i've been trying my best to entertain everyone!  

i am distraught. 


(yes, that's my story and i'm stickin to it!)

BUT, i shall endeavor to do better in the future.
i promise.

(why is this starting to sound like the beginning of a drinking game?)


cake time.
back later. and if the cake is good, i'll post a picture.

Say Goodnight Gracie

The day after...

Yesterday we watched the returns from South Carolina and by the end of our viewing both of us were more than saddened. I know we were unreasonable to have faith in the intelligence of voters, but I am nothing but optimistic and try to think the best of people.

Was I surprised? Yes and no. I know there are many, many good, reasonable, thoughtful, (yes, I'm looking at you sister Hope and her Hubby), but Sweet Mary Sunshine! I would have felt a hellva lot better if the results had been different. OK, no, there's no way the GOP in it's current configuration can make me feel warm and fuzzy. 

Anyway....

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY

The MITM has spent the day listening to music, watching movies, and generally reminding himself that our culture, our American culture is far more than the rantings of the clown car currently filling our television screens, press, and social media feeds. The Plantation has been rockin' out to the sounds of rock and roll, latin jazz, cool jazz, smooth jazz, salsa, blues...you're getting into the groove, I hope!

We've spent the day with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Al Green, Mel Torme, Etta James, Celia Cruz, Fred Astaire singing the Gershwin songbook, the ENTIRE American songbook, so to speak. And then, there were the movies...and the comedians...and then, back to the movies. All of this to remind himself (and me because I needed it, too) that in this country there are more people who value each other BECAUSE of our differences than live in fear and hatred of the other.

I'd post some youtubes, but I leave all y'all to imagine your favorite tunes and movies.  Right now, he's watching the third installment of the Bourne trilogy and having dinner!  We opened our last bottle of Reynolds Family Winery, Stags Leap District, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 to celebrate all the good things that we know to be true.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a good ending for this post! Super nana just sent this to us.

UPDATE: there's more! the Cap't, BBC and if you look closely, BGM!

Saturday

So, I didn't get back yesterday and as MJ said in the comments, Umberto Eco died. Two of my favorite authors have passed away. I am fortunate to have their books in my library. It's probably time to re-read them. 

Given the politically charged atmosphere here in the USA, both locally and nationally, it's a good time for me to find solace in literature again. Or, if nothing else, turn off the tv and stop getting notifications on my phone from a gazillion news outlets!  The MITM can follow international news as it relates to his business, but I think I need a breather.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news (for lack of a better word), BBC aka Baby Boy Chaos, is now 4! Time flies (a truer cliche was never written) and I wish we could have been out there for the party, but we'll fly out when we can. Great that we could Facetime and see everyone.

The MITM is talking about moving to Pasadena because it would be closer to the Krewe and their response has been, "NOOOOOOO! Stay on the Plantation because we LOVE it there! And because: seafood!!!"  I say we stay here because FRESH SEAFOOD not 10 minutes away from my front door! Besides, I am not packing/moving house again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Right now, I have headphones on and I'm listening to instrumental acoustic tracks on spotify because the MITM is on a conference call and the only way to block it out is headphones and music.  I've tried other rooms in the house, but as the song said, voices carry. Besides, there's nothing more frustrating than being in the peanut gallery and not being able to chime in! (I'm very opinionated! Who knew, right?)

(I just realized, I've gone from not writing anything to absolutely going into TMI country!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I'll quit while I'm ahead, so here's BGM aka Baby Girl Matrix and The Kid (she's 14 now!!) and BBC!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, sweetpeas! xoxo

Friday

Harper Lee has passed away at age 89.

That isn't how I had planned to start this post, but it was on my mind.  May she rest in peace.
Others have written obituaries and there will be blog posts written by far better writers than I, but the world is less for her passing.

I'll be back later today.

Still the one

Yes, I'm still around, just not writing. I will soon, I promise.

It's just a tiny bit hectic/insane/rocky/slightly off for a little while around here,

all will be revealed in time.

on death and dying

I found this on that other social media site and that is how I found out that David Bowie had died.

He was 3 years older than I am right now.  The questions he asked are echoed by many of us today because we are not promised tomorrow. Hell, even the next minute, if you think about it, but what do you do? 

Keep on keepin' on because as the man said...I don't know where I'm going from here....


Remember to tell the people that matter to you that you love them. Or as the MITM's Aunt Loys said, Don't send me flowers when I'm dead because I'd like to see them now!

Life repeats itself or "Yes, we are clients of the Cloning Institute, as well"

super nana & Big Red as diana and anne of green gables  BGM and Lil Red

the picture on the left was taken maybe ***REDACTED*** years ago. the one on the right are the daughters of super nana and Big Red! the pic of BGM and Lil Red was taken last week!! 

mad crazy, right?

i'll be back soon!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We've all been given another chance to make it better!

Here's to all of us, now and always...

CHEERS, MY DARLINGS!!!

2016