Awwwww........today is absolutely beautiful! That one perfect day in the middle of winter that makes you long for warmer temps, greener trees, and colorful flowers....better known as Spring!! Hubs and I took the big girl (who has been very naughty lately) for a long walk at a local state park. It seems everyone had the same idea. Who couldn't get out on a day like this?!
January itself is a special month. Many folks in my life, past and present, celebrate their dates of birth during this cold month. For one....my daddy. He would have been 77 yesterday. Instead of being here, he and mama are celebrating his birthday in heaven. I have a nephew who's birthday is tomorrow; he will be a teenager.....wow! Time DOES fly!!! I have a dear friend who would have had a birthday earlier this month, however, she too will be celebrating in heaven. There are others....special wishes to all of you. May you have a little Spring during your winter, too!!
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
First Snow
This morning we were greeted by winter's first snow; first real one, that is. We had a little snow dust a few weeks ago. I was like a kid yesterday. Looking out the window and checking the weather intermittently...actually frequently! First flakes began to fall as I laid my weary, blond head down for peaceful slumber. It is always so beautiful when it is untouched; it looks like a white blanket covering the landscape. It won't be near that pretty tomorrow as it turns to slush.
I remember the first snow I actually saw and played in. I was 21 and had flown to West Virginia to visit a great friend. They were actually experiencing, what I think is referred to as, a whiteout. Couldn't see your hand in front of your face!! So exciting. And as I bundled up with 50,000 layers of clothes and set out to take a walk, was told I was crazy and way over dressed. How could that be possible?! I soon discovered that all the body heat I was generating was being held in....started shedding clothes. It sure was beautiful and SO much fun. Snow angels, snowmen, snowball fights. But the most memorable were the inner tube rides with the feller down the big hill!!!
For now, I will enjoy the gift of the natural beauty....
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
I remember the first snow I actually saw and played in. I was 21 and had flown to West Virginia to visit a great friend. They were actually experiencing, what I think is referred to as, a whiteout. Couldn't see your hand in front of your face!! So exciting. And as I bundled up with 50,000 layers of clothes and set out to take a walk, was told I was crazy and way over dressed. How could that be possible?! I soon discovered that all the body heat I was generating was being held in....started shedding clothes. It sure was beautiful and SO much fun. Snow angels, snowmen, snowball fights. But the most memorable were the inner tube rides with the feller down the big hill!!!
For now, I will enjoy the gift of the natural beauty....
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Perfect Timing
The year is off to a fantastic start! Have completed the first week of the new job. It's been a great week!! Funny how we have to look back over the years to realize that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. The last 26 years have been spent molding me to do exactly what I am now doing....teaching. I am absolutely going to love teaching. Now I can pass on knowledge, encouragement, and kindness to folks that want to be awesome nurses.
I want to thank a very special friend for all the encouragement, patience, and love during this process. I needed it....you knew it...I love you!!!!
I am exactly where I'm supposed to be; professionally and personally!!
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
I want to thank a very special friend for all the encouragement, patience, and love during this process. I needed it....you knew it...I love you!!!!
I am exactly where I'm supposed to be; professionally and personally!!
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
Monday, January 3, 2011
Desk~dolls~doors
What an awesome start to a new year; a new decade. Today was the first day to, hopefully, achieving my long dream of becoming a teacher. It's sad that we don't realize during our lives that we are being prepared and molded for certain things. Some of us eventually come to this realization as we look back over the course of our lives; some, unfortunately, never see this. Maybe it's possible if we new these things as our lives move forward we would make different choices, and if we made different choices we would not get to where we need to be or were destined to be. Is everyone with me? I'm not even sure I'm with myself!! However, I do believe I have reached the destination for which I've been long prepared through life's experiences. And it all started with a little roll-top desk that belonged to my daddy, a bunch of stuffed animals and Barbie dolls, and closet doors that served as my chalk board! .....it's ALL good!!!
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
"Skippin' Jenny"
Happy New Years to all of you.
I have just finished our annual traditional meal of Hoppin' John. For those of you who are from the South, you probably know exactly what I'm referring to. Nevertheless, I thought I'd share a little educational snippet from Wikipedia:
Hoppin' John is the Southern United States' version of the rice and beans dish traditional throughout West Africa. It consists of black-eyed peas (or field peas) and rice, with chopped onion and sliced bacon, seasoned with a bit of salt. Some people substitute ham hock or fatback for the conventional bacon; a few use green peppers or vinegar and spices. Smaller than black-eyed peas, field peas are used in the Low Country of South Carolina and Georgia; black-eyed peas are the norm elsewhere.
Throughout the coastal South, eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck. The peas are symbolic of pennies or coins, and a coin is sometimes added to the pot or left under the dinner bowls. Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, chard, kale etc. along with this dish are supposed to also add to the wealth since they are the color of money. On the day after New Year's Day, leftover "Hoppin' John" is called "Skippin' Jenny," and further demonstrates one's frugality, bringing a hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year. During the late Middle Ages, there was a tradition of eating beans on New Year's Day for good luck in parts of France and Spain. The European tradition mixed with an African food item to become a New World tradition.
One tradition common in the Southern USA is that each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to assure that the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition holds that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck (or wealth) that the diner will have in the coming year.
I am not a fan of black-eyed peas, so we use the field peas grown in our garden. And, we choose collards as opposed to the others. I do have to admit, that I had never met "Jenny" until I did this little research. Have had annual dates with her, just didn't know she had a name!! I also learned of the other traditions associated with this annual feast. I feel new traditions headed our way next year. To top is all off, hubby cooks the absolute BEST collards and peas. My job is the rice and cornbread. I'm stuffed!!
Nice to meet you, Jenny. See ya' tomorrow.
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
I have just finished our annual traditional meal of Hoppin' John. For those of you who are from the South, you probably know exactly what I'm referring to. Nevertheless, I thought I'd share a little educational snippet from Wikipedia:
Hoppin' John is the Southern United States' version of the rice and beans dish traditional throughout West Africa. It consists of black-eyed peas (or field peas) and rice, with chopped onion and sliced bacon, seasoned with a bit of salt. Some people substitute ham hock or fatback for the conventional bacon; a few use green peppers or vinegar and spices. Smaller than black-eyed peas, field peas are used in the Low Country of South Carolina and Georgia; black-eyed peas are the norm elsewhere.
Throughout the coastal South, eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck. The peas are symbolic of pennies or coins, and a coin is sometimes added to the pot or left under the dinner bowls. Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, chard, kale etc. along with this dish are supposed to also add to the wealth since they are the color of money. On the day after New Year's Day, leftover "Hoppin' John" is called "Skippin' Jenny," and further demonstrates one's frugality, bringing a hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year. During the late Middle Ages, there was a tradition of eating beans on New Year's Day for good luck in parts of France and Spain. The European tradition mixed with an African food item to become a New World tradition.
One tradition common in the Southern USA is that each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to assure that the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition holds that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck (or wealth) that the diner will have in the coming year.
I am not a fan of black-eyed peas, so we use the field peas grown in our garden. And, we choose collards as opposed to the others. I do have to admit, that I had never met "Jenny" until I did this little research. Have had annual dates with her, just didn't know she had a name!! I also learned of the other traditions associated with this annual feast. I feel new traditions headed our way next year. To top is all off, hubby cooks the absolute BEST collards and peas. My job is the rice and cornbread. I'm stuffed!!
Nice to meet you, Jenny. See ya' tomorrow.
Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)
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