Fashion - or necessary protection?

"The times....they are a-changin'...."  One thing is inevitable, and that is change.  Think about aprons! Once a daily necessity, how many of you rely daily on a favorite apron?

Mother wore aprons daily, as I remember.  Sister may have a different memory.:-)

These are some aprons from Mother.  The one on the right is even reversible!

This was a gift from City Girl one Christmas.  She was in Seattle five years while doing her postdoc.  

Sister brought this one back from a trip to Berea, KY.  Strawberries are a favorite of mine, and we grow blueberries, so this one is very appropriate.

Of course, these need no explanation.:-)

If I am going to be making new recipes from my cookbook library, perhaps I need to give new thought to wearing an apron.:-)  I'm hoping to feature at least one new recipe - maybe even two - from the various cookbooks that are lining my shelves weekly.  Let the cooking begin!:-)

  

Up for the challenge....

Cookbooks!!  What a wonderful item to collect!!  Do you have cookbooks from which you have never prepared a recipe?  What about those you once used regularly, but haven't used in awhile?

Marcia Ferguson, author of North of Supposed to Be, has issued a Twitter challenge!

I pulled out my favorites - plus a new one from the Internet - for all the festivities of this past holiday time.  Next, it will be on to others that will offer something new to try.

Do you want to join me?

On the menu....

Memorial Day has arrived - the unofficial beginning of summer!  

Do you have picnic plans for today?  Perhaps you will grill at your place.  Either way, nothing is better than a bowl of potato salad!

Although I had made potato salad for many years, the recipe in this book has become a favorite.

A dear friend gave a copy of this book to City Girl upon her graduation from college in 1995.

Susan Branch has created works of art with each of her books!  

Incidentally, Susan is now in the midst of a cross-country book tour, stopping along the way for book-signings and giving those of us who follow her a chance to meet her!  Check out her website - susanbranch.com - to see if she will be near your area!

Have a happy day!

An early start....

A week ago we attended a dinner at our church.  It was a perfect opportunity to put ourselves in a holiday mood a few days early.

There was lovely patriotic decor on the tables.

Doesn't this platter look just like summer?!?

Oven fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs, and biscuits!  A perfect summer menu!

The week-end is ahead for us - Memorial Day.  I send you wishes for a good holiday time.

Kids Hope USA....

Have any of you heard of this program?  It is a mentoring program for elementary school students that has sponsorship of a church.  The program was begun in 1995 and is now in existence in over 31 states in all different types of schools including rural, urban, and suburban environments. 

A church in our community has sponsored a Kids Hope program at the nearby elementary school for seven years.  I had not been aware of this until last summer.  Although I am not a member of the church sponsoring Kids Hope, I was able to be added to the list of mentors.  

The student I was assigned was in the third grade!  That is the grade I taught for 20 years, so I felt "at home" with this student.  I went only one hour a week to spend time with him.  Sometimes we worked on class work, sometimes we played games, and sometimes we just talked.  

School is over here for the summer.  Before the end of the year, the guidance counselor assisted the Kids Hope students with this thank you gift....

The students painted the frame, made the card, and made their handprint on the tile.  Also, that's a really cute clip that can be used to clip papers, etc. together as needed.

For each of the Kids Hope children, I wish a happy summer.  It will be several weeks before there is a chance for us to begin again with mentoring.

I encourage you to consider serving in some way with children.  Perhaps there is a Kids Hope program near where you live.  It is truly a way to make a difference.

On to Louisiana....

One of the reasons for our recent trip south was to attend a wedding.  A former third-grade student, with whom I had kept contact, issued us the invitation to the very joyous occasion of her marriage.  We had not seen one another in nineteen years, and it was the happiest of reunions!

It was the highest honor to be asked to do one of the scripture readings during the ceremony.  

We were also very glad to bring home two of the center pieces used on the reception tables!

We send loving wishes for a long and happy life together to the newlyweds!!

One last look....

Before leaving Mississippi, here is one last look at a few items of interest.

This is where we met Sister and her Husband, along with Nephew and his Wife. It was actually the 20th wedding anniversary for Nephew/Wife, so we had a great celebratory meal together.

I have shown the grounds surrounding Mary Mahoney's earlier.  Isn't it amazing that it was built in 1737?!?  The restoration following Hurricane Katrina was undertaken very carefully.

This is something that we never have to worry about where we live.

Nephew's family has had to prepare three possible routes they would take in the event of an evacuation order.  That is a requirement of those families who are in the Air Force.

This was another chance to enjoy some of those specialities of the area.  I had wanted to have some gumbo, shrimp po'boy, jambalaya, oysters, and other seafood of the area, and that's what happened!:-)

More from Louisiana next!

Along the way....

Although the trip south that we recently took was probably possible to be done in one day's drive, we decided to make it a little simpler and stop along the way for an overnight.

It was great to have a reason to spend the night with a college friend.

This is the view down the street.  It is two lanes (one lane in each direction), divided by this wonderful grassy area.

No cars park on the street in front of the houses.  Instead, they use this alleyway to reach their individual parking spaces located behind their homes.

This is a view across to the water where the gazebos are located.  We were able to see some wonderful wildlife on a ride around the area the night before.

We crossed many bridges, of course.  These pictures show two instances why bridges are necessary.

There were times when the water was much closer than this one picture indicates.

I know that some people have a fear of crossing bridges.  I just try not to look downward!:-)

Have a wonderful week!  'Tis the last full one of May already!

With not a lot of time....

....what does one do on the very first trip to the New Orleans area?

We were actually in the area for a wedding in Baton Rouge, and I was to read scripture during the ceremony.  That involved rehearsal, so we had very few hours on the morning of the wedding to make a hurried trip to New Orleans.

Off we went, found a parking place, and began walking!  Lots of walking!:-)  Our goal was Cafe Du Monde.  From where we were, this was our closest location - 

Not exactly the original site; however, still those delicious beignets!  I was too involved in the powdered sugar covered delicacies to remember to take a picture.:-(  I am able to tell you, however, that they were wonderful!

Had to bring some coffee home with us!  What a great souvenir!

And....we made it back to Baton Rouge in good time!

In the area....

While in the Biloxi/Gulfport area, we paid a visit to the Visitor's Center where we watched a video presentation regarding Hurricane Katrina.  One of the displays featured an amazing carving from some of the wood from the trees damaged by the storm.  (I hope that's correct, Sister!)

We ventured to a restaurant in the Gulfport area for lunch.

Are you able to see the tasty items on the menu?

Fried oysters and a cup of gumbo were my choices!  Wish I could have brought some back home with me.:-)

The Half Shell has a gorgeous interior.  This is an example of some of the decor.

As we are fans of seafood, we had great difficulty making selections!  Everything sounded very appealing.  

More to come....

Stopping in Mississippi....

One reason for our recent trip south was to stop in Mississippi for awhile to catch up with Sister!  We planned to meet at a very special restaurant.

Lovely courtyard....

A bit of history....

Lovely gardens....

An old tree, a survivor of many storms, the most recent one being Katrina.  This region was devastated by that storm.  If you peer closely, the white sign on the building indicates the water level reached by Katrina.

Mary Mahoney's recovered and was a charming place for our lunch.

Tempting menu!  I actually could have selected anything that was on this menu and been happy!:-)

Others have found Mary Mahoney's the place to be!  The food was wonderful!  I was so taken by all of it that I forgot to take a picture!:-(  Never fear!  There will be a food picture in the next post!

Only one of many....

Hello, friends!

On a recent trip in a southerly direction - what should we see ahead of us but this?

This is from a distance....

....and this is as we drove nearer - only one of the many bridges we crossed as we traveled from southern Alabama into Mississipi.  This one was by far the tallest that we saw.  Lots of water - many bridges!  

More of the trip coming up in the coming days.

Last week....

If you have been keeping up with the blog, you may remember that last week was a birthday week around here.  Often there are some surprises that appear.  This is one such surprise.

The Husband quipped how appropriate it was, especially with that number in the upper left corner corresponding with the age of the "birthday girl." That Husband - trying to be funny!  He was a "younger man" only two days!  His birthday is two days following mine.

So, I got right to work on it!:-)

This first attempt was a huge success!!  Now - to decide on the next one!  I'll keep you informed!

Taking time....

I'm taking time today to request your thoughts, kindness, and prayers for a dear friend who follows this blog.  Her husband has become a victim of pancreatic cancer.  I first mentioned this on the blog almost two years ago after his diagnosis.  Sadly, the treatment did not bring a cure, and he is greatly missed by all those who have loved him.    

The Merry Month of May....

....often gives us flowers - along with showers, of course.:-)

The David Austen Rose is in bloom!

Soon, the hollyhock (thanks to Kim in CA for the seeds) will be full of blooms!

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea is ready to burst forth!

May in East Tennessee!