Skip to main content

Friends

Yesterday was a good day.


First, I went to church, which always makes it a good day. 

 Afterwards, I joined my friends Lynn and Gene to hear Peggy Allen-Downs present a program at the Tennessee Valley Historical Society meeting. Mrs. Allen-Downs has thoroughly researched and wrote a book called Duty Driven: The Plight of North Alabama's African Americans During the Civil War. It tells of Mrs. Allen-Downs ancestors who fought for the union after emancipation. One of them stayed with his former master; he was offered his own grey mule if he would stay and work.

It was about supper time when it was over so we toured Tuscumbia, looking for a steak house, which was closed when we found it. We came back to Legends in Florence to celebrate Gene's birthday. We were also celebrating my birthday, which was two weeks ago but Gene and Lynn were not able to celebrate then.


It was a sweet celebration, because for several weeks, we did not know if Gene would ever be able to celebrate with us again. He has suffered multiple health issues, staying in the hospital for more than eight weeks. He had Smoky Mountain spotted fever, then meningitis, then transverse myelitis, plus a few other things thrown in. Gene still has to move about in a wheelchair, but he's working on it, and getting better every day. We are so thankful for his progress.

The good people at Legends were happy to help us celebrate. They gave us one of those gigantic chocolate cake thingies with ice cream and chocolate syrup and whipped cream with a cherry on top. The three of us were not able to finish it, but we did what we could.

Next year, we are going dancing to celebrate our birthdays. Yes, we are.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee.  It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures.  We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything.  Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

Holy Smoke Pie

I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie.  It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house.  After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there.  I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then.  I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important.  It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things.  We call it Holy Smoke.  Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan.  It helps to use your hands (or hand, if you have t

Cedar Trees in Cemeteries

If you ever wander in old cemeteries, and I know many of you do, you are bound to see some cedar trees. The tradition goes back to the early days of the United States and even earlier  in Europe.  Cedar trees were not always used, but some type of evergreen trees were planted because they were a symbol of everlasting life.  Some  Cherokees believed that cedars contained powerful spirits, including the spirits of the departed buried beneath them. Perhaps because they are known as burial trees, there are many superstitions that surround cedars.  My grandmother told us in no uncertain terms that if we planted a cedar tree, we would die when it was large enough to shade our graves. Some others are: Never transplant a cedar tree; it will bring bad luck. If you transplant a cedar and it dies, you will die shortly. Planting a cedar tree in your yard welcomes poverty. Some say Christ was crucified on a cedar tree, and will bring bad luck if you burn it. If a cedar tree com