Mamaw's Place

6/12/11

A rose by any other name....

According to Holiday Insights today is National Red Rose day, although they say the day does vary according to who you ask. But we will stick with their thoughts and honor the rose today. My mom had a beautiful rose bush when we were growing up. This is a blurry picture but here is the only picture I could find of it.

Yes, that's me and yes you may laugh. Check out the crazy clothes and the pony tails, not to mention the silly "look at me" pose. I was 16, what can I say. Anyway, I digress. The rose bush was so pretty and it grew to be huge. It inspired my love of roses.

In honor of Red Rose day, I thought I would post what the individual color of roses represents.

The red rose represents love, beauty, courage and respect.

The white rose represents purity and innocence. It also represents reverence and humility.

A pink rose represents appreciation, admiration, gratitude, grace and perfect happiness.

A yellow rose represents joy, gladness, friendship, delight; the promise of a new beginning.

The orange rose signifies desire and enthusiasm.

I present to you, my faithful followers, this assorted bouquet of roses, representing my love and respect for each of you and my enthusiasm that you each have a life filled with joy, love, gladness and friendship.

6/11/11

What's wrong with this picture?

This is my new Pampered Chef pie pan. What's wrong with it? It has no pie in it. Do you know why? I don't know how to make a pie.

Yes, that's right, the Mamaw who can bake any sweets she can find a recipe for does not know how to make a pie. For years, I've loved to bake and have become pretty well known for someone who can always bring a good dessert to a get-together.

I don't eat pie (except graham cracker pie, which hubby always makes) so therefore I've never learned how to make a good pie.

I need your help dear readers. I want to make a good old-fashioned homemade apple pie for my hubby. Does anybody have a recipe that will guarantee me a good flaky pie crust with a wonderful apple pie filling?

I would love your help on this. Thanks. You can post it here or email me to mamawsplace@gmail.com .

6/10/11

Five Question Friday

http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?

I always wanted to have a loving husband, a little boy and a little girl and work in an office. I have the best husband in the world. He loves to cook and clean and he always helps around the house. Thirty-three years ago, I gave birth to twins...a boy and a girl. I've worked in an office ever since I graduated high school and moved up the ranks, learning as I went until I was finally able to open my own business. So I would say I am definitely living my dreams.

(My twins as adults, Diana & Chris)

2. What is one must have item for the summer?

A new grill. We cook out all the time, even with snow on the ground. Our grill has finally worn out and the replacement parts will cost more than a new grill so we are in the market and just trying to figure out what we want.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)

When my kids were little, I never had them stay up on school stuff. I always felt like summers were for relaxation and fun since they both worked very hard during the year. They made very good grades and kept up their homework so I gave them a break over summer. That's how my parents were with us so I guess that's why I was the same way.

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?

Not really. I'm not much for canning. Although, every September when the Rome apples come in, we put up about 80 jars of homemade apple butter. Since we don't garden, any fresh produce we get we just eat.

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?

I am an early riser and I work from home. So I usually get up, have breakfast and plan my day. Then I do my Facebook and blogs before I get dressed and ready for the day. I have to be careful or I would stay in my jammies all day.

Farewell old friend....

I sit here with mixed emotions. About a year ago I bought a Cadillac Deville. About one month later, I regretted my decision. I just was not happy with it. It was a very good car and ran so smooth. It was very clean and was a one owner. But for some reason I never did "bond" with "her". She has been a good car and has gotten me where I wanted to go. But still I never did "feel the love" for her. I have contemplated on more than one occassion the feasibility of just trading her back in for a different model, but I just kept driving her. She was very dependable and was always there for me when I needed her.

In our hail storm a couple of weeks ago, she took a severe beating. Major damages to the hood, roof and trunk as well as some minor pings on the doors and fender panels. She has some busted trim and a cracked windshield. Mr. Adjuster Man came to visit last week and took a gander at her damages. He passed his findings on to the Insurance Dude. Bottom line, they are totaling her and she'll go to that great salvage yard where all beaten and trodden vehicles go. I thought I would be so glad for a chance to get something new, but now that it is time to bid farewell, I find myself a tad emotional and realize that I must have been bonding with her all along. So farewell old friend and thanks for the miles and the memories.

6/9/11

Beyond Exhausted....

One of my favorite lines from The Cosby Show was when Cliff came home from a long delivery shift, he fell on the bed and said "I'm old, Clair. And Clair, you're old too." That's how I feel today. I am beyond exhausted. Just two more nights of VBS to go, IF I survive. I was able to have a clear calendar today so I'm going to play hookie and go to Walmart with hubby and let him buy me some KFC for lunch before heading back to the church tonight.

I did spend some time outside this morning and it has helped rejuvenate me. I had a fuzzy little friend relaxing with me.

The morning mist was hanging heavy on the river this morning. It was so peaceful. The birds were singing and chirping. I just sat and did nothing. Then I grabbed the camera and video taped my morning of solitude and thought I would share it with you.

I dedicate this peace and quiet video to my dear friend Missy who has shared our nightly adventures in VBS. (make sure you have your volume on to hear the beautiful birds)

6/8/11

It's okay to be different....

I have struggled for about a month with a situation that was causing me to rethink some of the things that make me, well, ME! I was criticized and made to feel inferior simply because I do things differently, feel things differently and react to things differently. It has taken me several weeks to realize....It's okay to be different. I am the best "me" that I know how to be.

Someone's ideas and thoughts do not have to match my ideas and thoughts. Someone's anger and bitterness does not have to become my anger and bitterness.

Someone's blue mood does not have to become my blue mood. I can still smile through the sunshine or through the rain.

I don't have to become a victim of gloom and doom simply because others do.

I prefer to be someone who stands tall and faces problems head on, not someone who droops with the "woe is me" syndrome.

It's okay to get straight to the point and not circle around a situation until you worry it to death.

There is nothing wrong in deciding to swim in another direction.

We don't all have to look the same or act the same. Our thoughts do not have to mirror the thoughts of others.

We can take pride in who we are and what God has made of us. We can stand strong and tall and say gladly that "I am me. And it's okay for me to be this way." When you get right down to it, God didn't make no junk and He didn't make any of us exactly alike. And it's okay.