SATURDAY:
Saturday dawned bright and early…well actually, EVERY day dawns early, doesn’t it? But not all dawn bright. I like the bright ones best…don’t do the cloudy, rainy ones as well. Great and leisurely breakfast. Took our time getting dressed. Visit a while…dress a while. With 1 bathroom, we all had to hurry, and not use TOO MUCH HOT WATER!!!This is the back of Aunt Marie’s house. I think it is so neat. It is a tiny house…but always big enough. The house was built by her husband and his father. They chopped the trees and made them into lumber and built it themselves. It has 2 bedrooms, a living room and a dining room and kitchen. Also a den and a small screened porch. And, see that carport over there? That is the choice place for shelling peas, butterbeans, zipper peas…shucking corn, cutting and eating watermelon…anything that needs to be done outside. In all our time together, I have NEVER seen anyone come in her front door. There might not even be a front door, for all I know. This is the kind of house where everyone who comes in feels like they are at home. That doesn’t just happen…it comes because of the people who live here and have lived here. My Uncle Arthur Lee died quite a few years ago. He was a dear man. Gruff and tender at the same time. No nonsense…but full of fun. I miss him, and I love him still.

My Aunt Della came over to visit…she lives a few miles away. It was good to catch up on her children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren! She’s a very sweet lady…so glad we got to spend some time with her.

OK…on to Saturday night. My Uncle Charles,pictured here, is a hoot and a half! He’s always loves to give me grief. Do you see all his grey hair? He’s gotten really old since the last time I saw him. And, when he laughs, he makes the funniest sound…kinda like “Hee-Haw-Hah…Hee-Haw-Hah” Strange I’ve never really noticed that about him before…hmmmmm…

Well, in spite of his ornery ways, he DID take us all out to dinner on Saturday night. We went to a long standing restaurant in the Clinton area, The Sandpiper. They served seafood…and it was delicious. But, the dessert was so tiny, it was really just 1 bite! Left you wanting more!

Here is a cute picture of Uncle Charles and Pop. Looks as if Uncle Charles is telling some joke…that’s normal!

And here is Joy and I with Uncle Charles and Aunt Evelyn. Isn’t she pretty. Mom always thought so, too. She is Mom’s baby sister. I can remember Mom talking about her and saying how she always had such a neat home. Always in order. She is a saint…she’s put up with Uncle Charles all these years. 🙂 Mom loved her dearly…and I love her dearly. I wish we lived closer and could spend more time together.

Here are Mother and daughter, Annie and Ada! Thought I had a pic of 7, the black donkey…must have lost it. Hmmmmmmmmm… Annie and Ada…those are his mother and mother in law’s names…no disrespect intended.
Now, I like to learn things. Isn’t the world so full of things we’ll never know about? I just feel like I want to know everything about everything that I can. So, here’s what I learned about donkeys. Girls are jennies…boys are jacks. Uncle Charles says they are very smart. They come when he blows the horn of his truck…as they come up, 7, the jack, started talking, and Uncle Charles talked right back to him! Hmmmmm guess he speaks their language! Anyway, he has the donkeys to keep the cows safe! The donkeys will run and kill any varmit that gets in their pen. Like what? I don’t really know…but if it is a small varmit…7 and Ada and Annie are on the job! And, the cows will not come if he is on the brown truck…they will only come if he is on the white one. The horns sound different, and the white one is the one with the feed. Isn’t that amazing? Well, it is to a city girl. They also raise teeny, tiny miniature horses. Can carry only about 50 pounds. So cute! I need a picture of them…sorry.

After dinner, we came back to Aunt Marie’s to visit. We had a delightful treat. My cousin, Chris and his wife, Lori, and children, Heather and Brian, all come to visit. I was so glad to see them all. The children were so young last time I saw them, and now they are in HS and College! Chris is Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Charles’s son. Also, they have a daughter, Lisa. The teeny horses are hers. Sorry, no pics here either. Sometimes I just lose myself, and forget what I need to do. And, when I find me again, I don’t always remember what I should have been doing! Ever happen to you?
Well, as we talked, I learned Uncle Charles and I have something in common. He’s a collector, too. And, he likes to display his collections in his office and barn. He has many pump somethings, and little tractors, and about a hundred old cast iron skillets! AND…crocks and jugs! Well, that peaked my interest! I have a wonderful collection over my stove in my kitchen. They are all old. Shirl and Tina got several for me last year, and several I already had. We hopped in the truck and went down the road to see. How interesting! He has everything displayed so nicely. He is an auctioneer and knows everybody in the county…on account of he’s been around for so long…and people just call him when they have the stuff he likes! Neat, huh? He gave me a rusty skillet, and a jug. Actually, I think it’s a whiskey jug. I’m certain he never used it for that, however!!! He had some wonderful big crocks, too. However, since I already had a chair in the trunk, I figured I better not push my luck and try to bring one of those home…so the whiskey jug came home with me. See it, to the right of the picture! It’s great! And, I loved adding it to my collection! Never mind that I nearly broke my neck when I climbed up on the cabinets and tried to heave it up there! Hey Lisa, save me that tall crock with the flower on the front…I’ll be back one day!

This was a wonderful day! Full of fun, family, laughs, and new memories!

SUNDAY:
And, it’s Sunday. A light breakfast, because we all know what’s coming for lunch…a FEAST of epic proportions! We can hardly wait.

To pass the time, Pop, Joy and I go to the cemetery to look for the grave of Pop’s Navy buddy and life long friend. After they were discharged, Pop went to NC to see Lafayette and ended up staying and working in a restaurant they owned. His Mom took him to church with them, and while he was there he spotted a cute young girl in the choir…she turned out to be the girl he married…my Mom. And, the rest, as they say, is history. My history.

While driving over to the cemetery where my grandparents are buried, I spotted this sign at the end of a road…why is there another stop sign on the fence, when there is already one on a pole?

Getting up close, we see ‘WHOA’ instead of ‘STOP’. We thought that was so funny. I don’t know if you can tell or not, but there are horses inside the fence it is posted on! Pretty smart!

Now, back to that lunch we were waiting for…Country ham, Chicken and Dumplings(chicken pastry round these parts), corn, peas,candied yams, congealed salad, tomatoes, biscuits, cornbread,tea, lemon cheesecake, pumpkin roll, pound cake…and she forgot the okra. Delicious…Wonderful!

This is my cousin, Harry, Aunt Marie’s son and his wife Charlotte. Dear people. Harry had a heart cath the morning we left, and had a stint implanted. Get well, Harry! Do what the Doctor says!

And, these are Aunt Marie’s great-grandsons, Landon and Tanner. These are delightful boys, who I had not seen since they were very small.

We ate, and visited, and before we turned around good, Aunt Marie had prepared a big pot of chicken and rice…with cornbread. When Joy was a little girl, she told Aunt Marie she wanted her to cook some ‘loose rice’…so that name has stuck and I suppose it will forever more be ‘loose rice’ in this family.

MONDAY…
And, so it ends…our time with the family, at least. Big hugs all around! I always dread this part. The getting in the car and driving away. It is just so far away…and I love them all so much.

Me with sweet Aunt Ree…
(Yes, I do have another shirt, but this one had already been stretched out. And, since I knew I was going to be undergoing tremendous stress in the backseat…I thought it wise to dress as comfortable as possible)

A quick hug from Joy

One last wave….a prayer by the road…and away we go!

FROM CLINTON TO DOTHAN…coming up in Part 3…

I have proof of the story I will tell…I even took pictures. Why, O Why can I not upload them? I am going to pretend I have the pics here, in case a miracle occurs… EDITED TO ADD: I figured it out. But, I still don’t know why it is doing what it is. Such is life.

Try your best, and you can make out that the time on my clock is 1:42…in the morning. I do not know why I am up. I should be in dream land…instead, I’m doing things that are not usually done at this time.

First, I head to the kitchen to get some tea. I hear Alex’s TV, so I go down to visit him. We are starving and decide that Toaster Strudel sounds like a tasty treat…because there is NOTHING else to eat here. They are ‘Wildberry’ flavor. What exactly IS a wildberry? I think it’s probably the leftover blackberries and blueberries and strawberries and raspberries all mixed together…making a new and inventive flavor called…’WILDBERRY’!

Alex went on to bed and I head to the laundry room to see if I left anything in the washing machine. Sometimes I forget that I washed an item. Then it will dry there in the washer…where it should only be washed. It dries all clumped together and with huge, deep wrinkles set in for eternity. Depending on how soon your memory returns…there may be some damp spots deep down in the wrinkle…that probably smell the teensiest bit sour. Then, of course, you have to wash it again. This has only happened to me once…as best I remember!!!

There is nothing there…BUT, there IS something in the dryer. NEW SHEETS! So, I pull them out of the dryer to fold them. Because they need to be folded and there is not alot else to do at this time of day…ummm…night. Do your sheets ever get that little wrinkle just at the verrry top? Right at the spot that you need to fold over the coverlet or duvet or quilt? You can NOT smooth it out with your hands. It seems permanently folded. And, it just makes the bed you spent time trying to make beautiful…not.

So, I decide to iron the creased sheet…but my ironing board is otherwise engaged. It is holding clothes that need to be hung up and dried…not put in the dryer. How on earth could we have built a house with a laundry room the size of a bedroom and NOT HAVE A PLACE TO HANG WET CLOTHES????? Well, we managed to do just that, so I have them hanging on door knobs, and along the edge of the ironing board. Some of them are sorta dragging the ground. This is due to the fact that the ironing board I have is the same ironing board I have had for at least 30 years! I bought new one when we moved…it lasted a week. I have had plans since last December to buy another one, but I just never remember when I am at the store.

ANYWAY…I thought of my Aunt Marie…and her ironing style. I have known her for as long as I have known that there are other people in the world besides me. I have NEVER seen her use anything to iron except a sheet laid on the bar. And, that’s the way she irons…everything. If it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me. So, I get a big beach towel and lay it on the cabinet, and proceed-in a very small area-to take care of that dastardly little wrinkle at the top of the sheet. These are the pillowcases in this pic…they were unsightly as well.

This reminds me of my good friend, Monty. As we were preparing to leave for one of our Ladies Mission Trips, she kept holding her stomach. I thought maybe she was just nervous because of a speech she wanted to give. No, it was something much worse. She had a burn on her stomach. I asked her how she managed to get a burn on her stomach. She then explained that she was dressed and ready to go when she realized her shirt needed ironing. It would have taken waaaaay too long to remove the shirt(like most sane people would do) and iron it. So, she just pulled the shirt over the end of the ironing board and proceeded to iron out the wrinkles. But, she got just a little too close to the tummy area of herself…and burned the mess out of her belly!!!! Way to go, Monty! Good friends, good memories! (I guess that would not be considered a ‘good memory’ for her, but it sure was good for lots of laughs for the rest of us!) 🙂

Oh, that big basket in the corner?… that is the HOME FOR LONELY SOX…those that are ‘missing their mates’. We have actually been able to facilitate several reunions. But some are doomed to the single life for the remainder of their lives. Isn’t that one of the great mysteries of life? Where DO those other sox go? Two go into the washer and only one comes out. And you can search, and occasionally find a mate that has fallen to the floor, but for the most part…they are gone forever. This, I think, is called an enigma. So why do I keep a basket for all the singles? I’m just the kind of girl who likes to hope things will eventually turn out for the best. I want all the sox to get back together with the one they were mated with originally. I want all the sox with the ‘gold toes’ to be with their buddies, I want all the tube sox and the ankle sox, and the crew sox to be happy living folded together forever. The eternal optimist…that’s me.

Once, when Ian went to a junk store, he came home with this bottle. It’s an old Dr. Pepper bottle. Dr. Pepper—the second best drink on the planet. What’s first? Sweet tea with lemon, of course! ANYWAY…he also had this little sprinkler top. I remember when Mom used to sprinkle clothes and store them in the refrigerator. Why did folks do that? Do wrinkle fall out better if they are chilled? Or is it that the ironer is so hot from the heat of the iron, the cool clothes lower their temps?

Please notice that there is a mystery object on the refrigerator. This one is new. The old one, which I have had since I married, is in the pantry. I use this can opener everyday for something. And, actually, hardly ever for it’s intended use. You know those aggravating little bands of hard plastic that are put around so many bottle caps now? Just a quick flick of this opener and it pops right off. I also use it to pry lids up when I need to break the seal on on a jar, too. It is handy for me because it has a magnet on it and I can keep it on the refrigerator.

Since I am obviously not going to sleep anytime soon, I decide to put in a load of clothes. These front loading washer and dryers are very quiet, so I’m not worried about waking anyone. Besides, if I do, I can just tell them how hard I am working…”Nigh…even into the dark of night”…to complete my duties as a wife and mother and “see to the needs of my household” even as they are sleeping peacefully. I am sure they will believe me.

Over my washer and dryer are these shelves where I have a few of my favorite things. Nothing of value, but sentimental memories and gifts from treasured friends. I did some of the needle work in the samplers.

And, a little sign that’s helps me remember to ‘go the extra mile’.

That puts me in mind of that line from the famous poem”…and miles to go before I sleep…”. But, sitting here and writing, my eyes are beginning to cross, and I feel the yawns coming. Sleep is near, I feel it. This laundry will keep…I’m heading back to bed! Nite-Nite. Shhhhhhh…….

Thursday morning dawned bright and clear. I made my way to Joy’s house (just the teensiest bit behind schedule). We loaded the car, and then this sweet angel, Addison, dropped by to tell us “bye”. She is the granddaughter of my good friend, Patty.

Pop, Joy, and I…ready to head out on our ‘great adventure’. We took a minute and had prayer for safety. THEN, I read them the RULES! (see back 2 posts) Joy tried to give me a little ‘yah-yah’ about some of them, but deep down she knew who was in charge.

We travelled well. Even though the back seat is where they put all their mess…expecting me to keep it all straight. The cooler, the snacks, my books and magazines, a blanket, 2 pillows,tissues and various other things that might be needed. Let me say here that the car we were driving was new to us all. Joy is in the process of getting a new car. So, the owner of the car dealership graciously lent us a brand new V*lv*, like the one Joy is getting. It is a fine car. However, in case there are any V*lv* manufacturers out there reading this…the seat belts in the back seat do their best to CHOKE YOU TO DEATH! I had to use my blanket to try and hold it off of my neck! It was determined to strangle me. Got in the way of me having a really good nap, too.

We had decided to just go part of the way on Thursday, so we checked into a motel in Walterboro,SC for the night. We found a Cr*cker B*rrel nearby, and enjoyed a good meal. After we got back to our motel, Pop wanted to take a walk. Well, I knew he needed to walk (cause that is in his routine), but I did not think it safe for him to walk around in a strange place, right next to the interstate, and it dark, and who knows what is lurking behind every tree, and it’s dark, and he isn’t familiar with the area, and …you understand. And, I’m the big sister, and in charge, and all, but Joy said, “No, he’ll be fine. Pop, just leave your wallet here so you don’t get robbed and then we can’t go shopping.” And, he said, “Well,I need to walk. I’ll be just fine. I think I’ll go to the little store right up there and pick us up some candy.” Well, I could see my protests were futile…and he WAS going to get candy. So, I acquiesced. He left. Joy went on to bed…oblivious to the danger. But, I was the ever vigilant big sister…I waited and watched and prayed for my Pop…out hunting some candy in the wilds of SC. In a few minutes, there was a knock on our door. Pop came in and said, “I’m sorry. That was a dumb thing to do. What if I had fallen (which he has before)? I had no identification with me. No one would have even known who I belonged to. I shouldn’t have done that. Not smart.” And, I said, “Well, that was a good lesson learned, Pop. We just won’t try that little adventure again.” Joy looked up and said, “Yeah, yeah, good lesson learned…where’s the candy?” And Pop got this little grin on his face and said, “Well, I got to the store, and picked us out some delicious chocolaty goodness. I took it up to the register to pay. But, SOMEONE suggested I leave my wallet here. So I did. All I had in my pocket was 42 cents. And the clerk said 42 cents was not enough to buy all this delicious candy. And, so I had to walk home, all alone, thinking how I messed up and not even having any candy to show for it.” He kinda hung his head, and I went over and hugged him and told him just to go on to bed, it had been a hard night, and Joy was really too hyper to have candy right before going to sleep…what with her sleepwalking and all…who knows where we would find her in the morning? Joy was over in the corner pouting and rummaging through her purse and suitcase in search of some sugar laden treat. I finally found a lifesaver in my bag, she took that and cried herself to sleep. And that’s the truth, as well as I remember it…I could have gotten a few details wrong…but you understand now why I must INSIST on being in charge!

The SC Artisan’s Guild is housed in Walterboro. Here, artists from all over the state display and sell their work. Mom always loved to stop here, and I had been a few times before. So there we went first thing Friday morning… after breakfast at H*rdee’s. They had moved several old building onto the grounds and were in the process of restoring them. There was also a few antique stores nearby. Didn’t find anything in the artisan’s store, but did find this darling little chair in the antique store. It is a handmade child’s chair. We got it into the trunk, with room to spare.

Here is a better picture of it. It has been well used and I have the perfect place for it.

A bottle tree ‘growing’ outside the entrance to the artisan guild.

One of the buildings they are restoring on the gro

We travelled on a little further, and came to the cute little town of Sommerville, SC. This is their downtown area. Joy and I explored some of the little shops…ending up with a new shirt each. Pop happily sat in this beautiful park between the streets, and read the paper. And, then we were on our way to Clinton, NC.

Just look at these two…they are thinking up ways to drive me bananas…

We drive out of town, and get on the road to Clinton…then they start! There is a new fangled cruise control on this car. (It happens to have every bell and whistle available). Somehow, they manage to fume and figure, try and tinker, wonder and work on this cruise control for TWO SOLID HOURS!! How can anybody talk about the same thing for so long? Then they had to extol the overall intricacies of the vehicle. They set about figuring out the steering wheel, does it telescope? Does it raise and lower? Does it say ‘hands off’ and do the driving itself? Back to the cruise control. The car actually senses when you are too close to another car and lowers your speed. While I agree this is a wonderful feature for a car…it only bears repeating 2 or three (at the most) times. But, NOOOOOOOOO…we must talk about it EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we come up behind a car. FYI: It is 583 miles to my aunt’s house. Can you even fathom how many times one would come upon another car while driving that far? There and back? It is more than a few, let me tell you. But, it amazes over and over and over and…
And, then there is another little feature that blinks when a car is coming up beside you. You know that blind spot? Well, this car knows all about that and makes sure you know it, too. Good for about an hours worth of discussion. Occasionally, the car would just alarm for some reason or the other and they still have not figured out what they were doing to anger the beast. AND, they(manufacturers) say that the car will stop itself before it runs into something in front of it. So, Pop and Joy wonder if it really works and a few times they try to see how close they can get to another car. They want to see if we can all get a good case of whiplash when the car slams on brakes because the genius at the wheel isn’t gonna do it? Doesn’t that sound like fun? I suggested they find a brick wall and try it out…after I got out to watch!!!

We arrived in Clinton, and it was so good to see my Aunt Marie. She had a meal of NC barbecue and cole slaw and hush puppies. It was wonderful! I love our barbecue here in AL, but I REALLY love the barbecue in NC. I do not even know how to tell you about it, except it is chopped up very fine, and has a touch of vinegar taste to it. And it is served with coleslaw. And, it is FINE! We visited a while, and then turned in.

And so ends Day 1 and 2 of The Great Daddy/Daughter Adventure of 2009. Fun was had by all. And, if my reporting is not 100% accurate, it is because my brain is rebelling against recalling some of these moments…scarred as I am by the events I was forced to witness and hear!!!
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Thursday…

And, we travelled. And, we visited. And, we ate. And, it was good. It was very good!

Monday…

And, we travelled. And ,we visited (just with each other). And ,we ate (just not as well).

And ,we are tired. Very, very tired. 600 miles today in a car, tired.

Tomorrow…

is when you will hear from me about my trip. (Or the next day)

PS…The RULES worked very well !

Bright and early tomorrow morning, Joy, Pop, and I are leaving on a trip to visit family in NC. Here are the rules:

1. Don’t keep the car at 32 degrees.

2. Keep plenty of Diet Dr. Pepper chilled and ready to use on a moments notice.

3. I call the back seat…by myself…with no body touching me.
(Why, yes, Joy, I realize that it would be hard for me to drive from the back seat…near impossible, I’d say!)

4. I am the older sister, so I am still the boss. (Pop doesn’t get a vote, this is between the sisters)

5. This should be a cultural experience as well as a family visit. Therefore, we should pull quickly into any Shopping Mall or interesting looking shop that we pass. It is perfectly acceptable to turn the car around and go back. Many times there are new and exciting things to discover when you just take the time to go inside and look around. And, remember, they may be closed when we come back by, so we should always stop at first sight.

6. Do not tell me to “get my head out of that book.”

7. It will be the driver’s responsibility to keep a CLEAN restroom in sight …at all times!

8. I am prepared to use my tender, little hands to pump the gas into the car. I will do this out of the goodness of my heart…AND…because my sister is 54 years old and still does not know how to pump gas!!!Honest!

9. Any and all other questions about anything concerning this trip can be discussed by the folks in the front seat. As long as you remember that the back seat passenger retains all veto power!

10. “Pop, keep your hands inside the car!!!”