Easter Party 2023--At Last!

Lady Spring smiled on us, and we had a gorgeous sunny day for the Easter Party after a 3 year hiatus.  Lots of folks I hadn't seen in years, lots of kids, and lots of food.

                                                       

                                                                                  

The young uns did a great job with the set up and throughout the day. I sat in the sun and talked to old friends.

What follows is a somewhat random assortment of pictures--the editing feature on Blogger isn't letting me cut and paste as I usually do so the pics are not in order and there are maybe some repeats. 

The egg hunt was a great success . . .

Josie had a basketful of azalea blooms and was offering folks a choice of red, pink, or dark pink.

 

Easter Greetings!

 

Passing the Torch

After a three-year hiatus, we are having the Easter Party again--but now Justin and Claui are in charge. I handed over my notes and lists and am enjoying my role as only a consultant.

Friends and family began arriving on Friday and, despite almost steady rain, helped with some necessary jobs.  It's forecast to rain today as well but mercifully Sunday is slated to be just cloudy.

There was excellent food and drink and good company. It was a treat to see some of Justin's friends from the Science and Math (high school) days --folks who've been a part of the Easter Party for over twenty years.

Older (and more affluent) now, some of them rented a camper rather than opt for tents or the barn floor. (The camper was delivered and set up and will be picked up on Monday--how cool is that?)

That was the pre-pre-party. Today (Saturday) is the pre-party with more good food.  I will try to get some pictures of Josie who is having a great time with all the visiting kids and cousins.

Below, the handrails on the ramp to the workshop--built by Justin and Josh and much appreciated by me. 

 

Extra-Special Grits

Once again my grandmother's cast iron skillets are called into use. They are so well seasoned that they are like Teflon and I can and do let them stand with soapy water in them --in this case to get rid of the fish taste.

Grits cooked with cheese, a skillet of onion, garlic, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and a tad of collard greens, and in a larger skillet, fried fish (flounder) and a few shrimp--all previously, rolled in seasoned flour, dipped in beaten egg, and then rolled in panko for a delicious crunch. 

 

Pile it all on the grits. Yum!

 

Wordless

 

The Rewards of Teaching

 Such a nice feeling! I received a copy of a book that grew out of a class I taught ten years ago.  Catherine sent me an e-copy some while back so I could blurb it--which I was happy to do. 

I'm always thrilled when one of my students completes a novel and even more when they successfully pursue publication--a whole other marathon. Kinda like a proud grandma.

The Mountains Under Her Feet is a well-told, moving story. Recommended for all you strong women (and for the men who love them.)

Spring Break for Josie

I am on Spring Break this week! Yesterday I stayed with Meema. I showed her the fancy necklace my friend gave me. I also have a bracelet I made myself. 

Also I brought up Candy so she could play with the babies.

We read about a million books and I did lots of the reading. I also wrote my name in some of them and Meema was amazed because I used an apostrophe. I know lots of stuff because Mrs. V has taught us it in kindergarten.

Bailey came with us back to the room. We have to watch out because she steals stuff and chews it up.

I helped Meema with the laundry and brought the laundry basket upstairs so it could be my pirate boat. I put a cookie tray in front for a shield.

I also got one of Meema's walking sticks for a sword. I really need a pirate flag. 

Then I helped Meema make granola. We did some math too. The big measuring pitcher only holds 4 cups and we needed to measure 6 cups of oats. So we measured four cups and put it in the bowl and then Meema said How many more cups do we need to make six? She held up some fingers and I got the answer right away and we measured two more cups because 4+2+6. 

There was a lot more measuring and then stirring which is my favorite part.

 Then I had to spread the granola out on the cookie tray so it would cook. It smells very good and it has honey in it.

We did lots more stuff-- Meema made strawberry ice cream for me and I got out my tambourine and showed Meema what I have learned in music class. And I found a little book with no writing in it. Meema said it was mine, so I started to write in it but what I wrote is private.

It was a good day. And tomorrow I will go to Grandma's. 

Spring in the Air

 

At Sherrill's Inn

                                                          

On Thursday I was the guest of a book club that meets at the historic Sherrill's Inn in Fairview, NC. It was one of the best such meetings I've ever attended. Wine on the porch, a five-star 'pot-luck' candlelit dinner, and a lively discussion of Crows. And the venue!

                                                                                                           

Built in 1845, Sherrill's Inn has served as a family home, a stagecoach stop, a drover's stand, and an inn. Today it is still a family home, but it also serves as an event venue. (See more HERE--the About Us contains an excellent history of the house and its owners.

A maze-like path leads through century-old boxwoods to the house which boasts stunning views of the property and beyond.

Inside, the house is a completely charming accumulation of family treasures. A fire was burning in the dining room fireplace, and candles on the table and in the chandelier added to the feeling of stepping back in time. 

On the walls of the sitting room are mural-like paintings of the inn as it was during the early days. They were a wonderful labor of love executed by Elizabeth McClure, one of the previous owners, whose descendants still live here.

I'm sorry I didn't get better pictures due to low light and limited time, but they are worth a look, especially if you can enbiggen them.

Rabbit, Rabbit