"National Hot Tea Month"....which is now pretty much offically .....over.

In "Honor" of this "National Hot Tea Month," which is nearly over in about 40 minutes by my time zone....I have a couple items I want to share with you quickly.

I've been meaning to say something on this all month....but I kept delaying it and now here we are in the last "minutes" of it. HA!

We can always.....extend it......say.....for 11 more months. That works for me because I really do celebrate "Hot Tea" all the time actually.

My favorite all time tea is....."Twinings English Breakfast Tea."
Of course I have other teas I like and drink, but this is my all time tea "standard" and my "comfort" tea for when I need warmed up, or don't feel well, etc.....

Last month I found a new Tea Blog that I liked and have been reading and you might want to take a peek at it as well.....it's called "Steph's Cup of Tea."
Steph is a kindred spirit to me already on many things....but especially in the area of her love of TEA too! Check out her site.

I have found TWO more "Tea" sites that I want to pass along to you for your viewing pleasure......one as recent as yesterday even!

This first one I found via "Steph's blog" and it is......
Angela McRae's blog called "Newnan-Coweta Magazine's Tea With Friends."
I think you will enjoy this site as well.
I checked it today infact and she had some wonderful looking "White Chocolate-Cranberry Scones" she had made and photographed on there along with the recipe that I WISH I could be eating right now! Yum!

"Tea in my Cup" is a site I just found last night that is ran by "Alice" and she had some very good recipes and interesting information on her site as well. I think she is worthy to be looked up too!

This is my "main" Tea Cabinet that holds some of my most precious Tea Treasures....China cups from Ireland that I brought back, my Grandmother's China dishes, Silver Flatware from my Great Aunt...all sorts of fun things..most of which relate to putting on one mighty fine Tea Party.
This Antique French Cabinet was a Mother's Day present to me from my sweet husband a couple of years ago.

We had spent the Saturday before Mother's Day out in the Antique shops outside of town walking around, windown shopping, having lunch, just spending a special "date day" together. THAT is what I wanted for Mother's Day. To have this time alone with my husband doing something we didn't get to do often, that was still also relaxing and fun.

While we were out I spotted this cabinet and fell in love with it upon seeing it in one of the shops we visited.
Later that week....my husband was unloading it at our backdoor with two of our sons as a HUGE surprise for me.
I was SOOO BLESSED can I tell you!

Now it contains various items that are all "memory filled" for me.
Things from people that no longer are alive and things from people I have loved dearly. It is a virtual "reminiscent experience" every time I open the doors to it to pull something out to use or to put something new into it.
At this point....it's pretty well stuffed full of things so much so that I can't get anything more into it.

That is unless it is tiny, like the miniture "Limoges, hinged Teapot box" that my good friend Diane gave to me for Christmas. That was a real surprise and a great gift to put into my cabinet. You can see it on the top shelf on right side near the middle of the cabinet.

One day I may take a few closer shots of specific things inside of the cabinet.

I have more tea things to share with you but they will have to wait for another time.

But for now my friends......"Hot Tea month" is about to pass in close to one minute and my computer may turn into a pumpkin and my "Hat and my beautiful Tea gown" may fall off and I will be wearing sweat pants and a long sleeved tee shirt that says....
"Louisiana State University, BCS Champions."

I need to scurry for now because it "won't be pretty."
Good night!

About me and "Writing"....and photos of my Middle son.

I did some calculating and counting on my fingers....and figured out last night that we have "family members" in "EIGHT states" and "friends" in just as many.

This isn't counting the friends we have and stay in touch with "World Wide"......so this is one MAIN reason "why I blog."

The second reason is well, because I have a love for "Writing" and I've always done that as well all my life.

As a child even, I always wrote my Grandparents in Missouri once my Mother and Stepfather moved to Iowa. I wanted them to know I loved them and was thinking of them. I didn't want to loose touch with them.

Later after my Grandparent's died (my Father's parents)and we were going through things in their home....we found a this amazing drawer AND a box FULL of letters....and they were allfrom me.

Stashed away since I was EIGHT years old only for me to "find" years later. I had never known she'd even done it.

My Grandmother had KEPT THEM ALL. She was so unwasteful and kept alot of things so.....that shouldn't have surprised me but that was such a interesting "find" to all of us. And so sweet of her.

Blogging is actually a "Godsend" in many ways for a person like me because I am able to use this form of communication to fulfill both my gifts.

This is one of the best ways I have found to stay "connected" to those we love and miss and want to stay in touch with.

And it's fast.

I mean you can get immediate attention to your cause or situation.....as in when people are in need of prayer and such. Or you need to raise "awareness" to an issue.

I love that part.

Now, I don't just write on my blog nor via e-mail. I am a FIRM believer in the "Handwritten" letter and notes, and such.

I myself STILL write many letters and cards that way. I think it's becoming a lost and dying "Art" form unto itself now days.....But I don't mind using modern ways to stay in touch as well, especially for long distance and saving of time AND if someone won't do the other but WILL send an
e-mail or will call me. I'm all for it.

Besides....most any and all means of "staying in touch" is good. Especially compared to where "communication" has come from compared to now..say....
"The Pony Express Days."ugh....can you imagine it taking so long for a letter to reach you or a loved one?

Please consider not giving up on sending "personal" handwritten notes and letters if you can.
I think it's speical to the person who sends it as well as the person who recieves it.

I always love to hear back from everyone as in any form.

However, some people are not "Communicators" or "Writers" and I never get bothered by that because I TOTALLY understand people's....."giftings and talents" and sometimes...it's not in their "gift mix."
So who can get upset about that? Surely not I.
Got to run for now.....

Please...."Stay in touch you all...if you can!" :-)

Here are some recent photos of Caleb......and his new friend.
Caleb and Phoebe at her "Winter Formal." Last weekend.

Photos.......

I was able to get new batteries (I can't believe they were DEAD again already!)put into my camera a few minutes ago so I wanted to post these photos on here quickly.

I have a million other things I SHOULD be doing...even at this moment.
I am having a horrible "time management" problem today. I'm totally distracted for some reason and am not getting much of any one thing done.

It's okay though. It will get better I think..... I'm hoping that it will anyway. HA!

Here we go........cabinets first.


My husband did all the painting and work....although our middle son who is a "high end" cabinet installer by trade helped his Daddy put in the cabinets. Mainly help hold them in place while my husband did the instillation. HA!

Next up "Gumbo"....and I will have to explain the first photo for you because it will look.....well....odd.What do YOU think is in the bowl along with the gumbo??
IF you guessed...."a hard bolied egg AND potato salad" you guessed right and let me now explain. I know.....it's weird. But they do that here.
Sort of......depending on where you live.

We lived in a small South Louisiana town for several years. The people there really ARE "Cajuns" much unlike many of the people in the big cities here in LA.

When I first learned to make gumbo in the city we lived in before moving......I was taught with a "mix" and to add "okra"....which is more of a "New Orleans flair"...and they don't do that in the area we used to live in. HA!
IT was in fact...nearly appalling to them.

So....a lady came to my house when we lived in the smaller town, and TAUGHT me how to to make the....."real gumbo" not one from a mix. I used to make it in a MUCH larger pot when my family was larger..now with only 4 of us...there is no need to make so much. It still will last us two days or more. I used "ANDOUILLE" sausage in this gumbo. I usually don't because those sausages have "scary" things in them.
I normally use a low fat turkey or chicken sausage but I did it different this time and the Andouille was spicey HOT...even for my husband. I'm going back to the other sausage. It works for us.

You ALWAYS have potato salad with gumbo in those parts of Louisiana and they do it as well in the restaurants here where we live. Served on the side usually.

However in some parts of the state, like where we lived before....they put it right into their bowl. Which is how I learned to like it.

Another thing......the hardboiled egg came into play because "if" you ran low on "meat" in your gumbo pot say....on the second day of serving it or whenever....they "stretched" it by adding "hardboiled eggs".....so I also got used to that as well.
Believe me I thought it was VERY FREAKY at first.

Now I like my gumbo with an egg and a dollop of potato salad....in the bowl.

Hey.....I HAVE seen worse so this isn't bad at all and the tastes are all quite good together actually.

Now..."Chicken legs, chicken necks, gizzards, livers, hearts." That's some really scary stuff when it's dished into your gumbo bowl at someone's house....but.....
it isn't all that bad at times.
And let me say that "Cajun" people are highly resourceful "food wise."

Cajun food is VERY good and it is world reknowned...you better not ask what is in it though and IF you do....just be prepared. HA!

"Blackbird jambalaya"......yeah, I'm SURE not into that.

Many things.......

Who doesn't just love sweet little violets? They have no pretenses to them at all.

I couldn't resist using this photo tonight because the violets look so pretty and calm and peaceful and well.....purple.
Purple is good.
Plus the sight of them sort of "carries one away" from where your at and take you to someplace else. I felt that while looking at the photo.

They take me back to my Grandparent's backyard in Missouri. I used to pick them as a child and then run with a tightly squeezed, handfuls of them into the house only to hand them off proudly to my Grandmother.

She would in turn, put them in some water in a tiny vase and proudly set them on the table or some other very visual place.

That's a fun memory on a chilly January day. It's good to think back at times and smile. :~)

Many things have been happening. Not just for me but for many people I know personally and "know of."

I'm going to update you all on a few items and push some of my cheesy photos off on you as well at the end of this writing.

Let me state several updates first.
My good friend Nora......firstly....thanks so much to everyone who has prayed.
It has made a difference and it really helped her today.

She went to her Oncologist today.
The report was as we knew it would be....Cancer is back. That is definite.
However, she was told it was probably a "new type" of cancer last week.

It isn't. It's the same one she had previously. She was clear of all cancer in October, now it has "metasticized" and is in some new parts of her body.

She feels "really good" about her report. She told me FIRST thing on the phone when she called me today....."it's the BEST report I could have hoped for."
I feel good that SHE feels good and we will continue to pray for her.

It's still not all roses but you know what.....we are looking at the cup HALF FULL!
Not half empty.
I think that is the biggest part of a battle in most cases of anything.
How you look at it.

It's still "Stage 4"...it's still a "rare" cancer that creates tumors and it is agressive.
Her two Dr.'s (she saw her other Dr. next) told her......
"Your going to be fine."

So...She's pressing onward already!
They will know in two months....what's happening as far as growth and if the going back on the chemo pills are helping or not and if not they will switch things up a bit.
They did not order radiation nor intravenous chemo. They don't treat this particular cancer that way.

They treat it with the pill form of chemo. She already started her new chemo pills today.

Tonight we received word that the Pastor of our church and good friend, is having a consultation with a special "Dr." on Wednesday.
I can't go into great detail right now as you can probably understand, but it is a serious situation and he needs prayer.

Deena. Continue to pray for her she's got a very good disposition in a hard situation as well. I think she's doing great actually!
Check out her blog.
And I don't think I have mentioned to you all of the
"Two Ethan's" that we have been lifting up in prayer.

They are both children.

One "Ethan" is a baby in Arkansas....many people have learned of him or know of him.
He's at St. Jude's right now. Please pray for this family and for Ethan.

The second "Ethan" is a young boy who lives in Iowa in my sister's neighborhood....I think he's 15 years old. He's in a huge battle as well.

These things are ALL very serious.

But we must keep our spirits UP so as not to come under the load of them. That way......we stay "on top"....and that is important.

Sooooo....."Cheesy photos" coming right up now......

Cheesy photo number one is my hick version of some of the very cool photos I see online. It's what I like to call my...."computer desk setting 'Valentine's Extraordinaire.
Ummm......cool tee towels I got for the kitchen for Valentine's....ummm....cool cupid canvas artwork painting that I had...resting on a cute Bettina "Fleur Des Leis" easel that I bought in St. Francisville.

Glitter "Love" banner I found at Target in the "Dollar bargain bin" thing that is in the front of the store.

"Very pretty" glitter gift bag I bought about 4 years ago and had shoved somewhere in a hall closet.....and just found the other day purely by accident....just in TIME for this Valentines Day. Because I've forgotten all these other years.

And here are some other tossed in pink or red items that I thought would match.

Little teapot with red detailing....tissue paper, some shoe "wallies"... silk roses in a tiny vase. Woodwick candle I just had purchased too. They are supposed to "Crackle" when you burn them. Interesting.

Sorry......no fluffy boarders for that shot either.

Next...Gumbo shots.....made it yesterday. Should have done it FRIDAY or SATURDAY when it was sooooo freezing here. But I didn't feel good and was crabby so....I made it yesterday when I felt better and wasn't crabby.

Well.......your going to love this.
I didn't download the "gumbo and cabinet" shots like I thought I had and now my wretched camera is dead so....it won't download.

Guess we will show those photos tomorrow once I check the batteries in the camera.

Please stay tuned.

This is making me happy......

I've had this "Print Shop" program all this time that I've been blogging. It's been a nearly a year now since I started this little garden plot.

Someone gave me that program as a birthday gift a few years back and ...DUH!
"Silly me." I never once thought to try to use it on my blog.

Tonight, it came to me though.

I wanted to make a nice label for a package I'm sending off to my Mother so I went to my Print Shop program, which I hadn't used in a while. I have some nice "printed" mailing labels so I had been using them but tonight I wanted to change things up a bit.
Then I started to wonder if "I couldn't make this program work for me on my blog as well."

Of course, I began to play with the program right away and believe me...I'm no pro with any type of computer stuff and yet, I FIGURED out that I "could indeed" use this for this site. BRAVO!!!!

I'm sure it isn't "Rocket Science" to many of you, but to me it is! HA!.
I am sooooo thrilled.
I have opened a whole new "art scheme" for my blog. HA!

It's the "small things in life" that THRILL me usually.

Sometimes though it's....say....something a bit more and costly even at times.
I am trying to be "content" in life with things other than "stuff."
This worked out nicely in that regard.

Sunday....sunny and warm.

I love that saying.

We pray and comitt our situations and others onto God and then we and everyone must "press onward." We don't give up.It makes so much sense to me. Especially since I do it myself every day as well.

Today was such a very nice day here.

I was glad of it too. My body does SO much better with sunshine, I mean it's so amazing how this "weather factor" works into my life.

My friend Nora is going to meet with her Oncologist tomorrow morning at 9:00am.Please pray for her for help. She needs strength and wisdom to deal with what will be laid before her and to choose whatever options they may present to her.

I went with her today so she could go purchase "Valentine's Day" cards and candy for her daughter's and Grandchildren. She said she "may not want to go after tomorrow" so I said...."let's go do it RIGHT NOW!"
So we did.

That worked out. We went to a few stores and were able to get most of what she needed.

It was a "GOOD start" as she called it. HA! She still needs a few more things for the Grandchildren. We will get it though, I promised her. Even if I have to go get it for her.

Tonight I am looking forward to watching "Mansfield Park" on PBS.......the series has been VERY GOOD thus far on Masterpiece Theatre, therefore I am expecting tonight's show to be just as wonderful.

My husband and middle son were able to hang the cabinets in the laundry room and put down the new baseboard. I will post some photos of this later.

I also made a gumbo today and had to leave it to run out with Nora. I just finished it up and we are about it eat it now......so I will bid you "Goodnight" for now.
Cheers!
Joyce

Hey Everyone Please pray for Deena........

~Deena~
Check out her "story" at "Can I Be Pretty In Pink."

This is Deena as she's "Bounding the stairs ready to take on the world."

She's on an incredible journey right now.

I so admire her spirit and her courage. She's never damper at heart, even though she's been through quite a lot the past few months and has even received startling news even as recent as yesterday.

You see Deena went to begin her very first "Chemo" treatment......it was to have been a long "5 Hour" process however, they weren't able to give her the treatment because they found she has an "infection" somewhere and they have to administer antibiotics to her first now before she can start the chemo treatments.

They also gave her some more reports on her current physical condition while she was at the treatment center and.....
I will let her speak for herself at this point.

Please....read on:

"I couldn't play chemo..as my white blood count is too high
somewhere there is an infection..so antibiotics
this week and back Next Friday..2/1 at 8:15 AM for
blood work and try it again.

The cancer is in stage 4..in more lymph's thru my body
my adrenal glands, another 1 cm node to the left of my aorta,
in my 9th rib..rib is breaking down..in my spine and
numerous areas of my skeleton (bones).

Well I just lost it!! Rich looks sad and scared..but
as I read before..and my BFF Marcia reminded me
today.

EVERY CANCER IN EVERY STAGE has been survived..and
I intend to fight the fight..
God's will be done.."


I am determinded to continue to stand on behalf of not only Deena but also for the countless others that are in need of urgent prayer.

I'm asking you to add her name to your prayer list please.

I know alot of you read this site although you may not comment on it because some of you don't have accounts and such. Many of you write me personally via e-mail but never comment on this page so I know your reading and I thank you for that and all your impute.

The web can do amazing things if we allow it to and I have learned it is a
"quick link" to many people all over the world.

It's a great tool for information and encouragement, prayer and whatever else we need or want "IF" we allow it to be.

That's what I want this "Secret Garden" to do for you and for others and for me. To be a safe place of refuge, a place of care and concern.

Yet, we can join forces for the common good of people.

I'm just here to help "Cultivate" the soil.
I rely on the "Master Gardener" for all the rest.....
especially the "BIG STUFF"....I've learned in life that "you can trust Him."
He's a pro.

Brrrr.......nasty weather.

Check out the nasty storm we've been getting. We had a terrible "thunderstorm with lightening" for about two hours this evening with pounding rain. Even in the wintertime we get thunder and lightening. Odd isn't it?

I can't get warm tonight. It's been sooooo WET, cold and windy, all day long.

I had a cup of tea to try to "warm" me up a bit when I got in this evening but I still have a chill. I think it's time to get UNDER the covers.
That might work.

I called my sister in the Midwest a little bit ago.....where it's probably "SUB ZERO" right now.
I told her I was FREEEEEEZING and she said....."right...what is it...in the 40's there?" To which I said...."YES!!!

How many times must I tell her that being in the "40's" is COLD to us on the
Gulf Coast. Besides....it's actually not in the "40's" even....it's currently..."40 degrees but it feels like 33 degrees" I reported to her. :~)

I was tired and laying on the couch waiting for my husband to get home when I turned the TV channel onto "QVC" and they had that lady from the "Quacker Factory" on.

My sister and I always call each other one another whenever we see her on TV that and joke and tease that "we are going to be like her possibly one day and wear those funky headbands that she wears" I think that is her trademark.

I'm not sure I don't know her story. I only know that those crazy headbands make me and my sister SMILE :~)I've never bought any of her clothing before but they were showing a cute "Rhinestone Jean Jacket" on in Pink that I thought was cute.

I called Jenny to tell her that the lady was on and about the jacket and that I was freezing.....but she was at a very nice "Chinese Restaurant" in Omaha eating supper with my nephew, her youngest son.

I said..."what are you people CRAZY?" Because I can't imagine being out in the cold and at night when the sun is down and it's even colder.
I can't even believe I used to live up there.....brrrrrrrr!

So she missed the entire "Quacker Factory" presentation....and the headbands.
Oh well....."her loss."

She did however get to enjoy a lovely date with her youngest son.
That was way worth it. Even in the "frozen" North.

I bought all the things I needed to make a lovely "Gumbo"....but I was too tired to make it tonight so that will be the "menu" for tomorrow.

That should knock out the chill....hopefully.

The "Weather" people here say it's going to be in the "60's" tomorrow....no wonder we all have colds and the sniffels.

Hot one day, cold the next. Pick a lane please.

Oh and I feel bad for the people where that "white stuff" is hitting on the weather map....stay indoors people...for "my sake."

I am SUCH a cold weather WEENIE now that I've lived here in the South.

Dreary Friday....but the sun will shine again!

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5


It's still yucky out this morning, but it is to warm up this weekend.
You can never really tell though until it gets here. This is a "wet" region no matter what time of year it is due to the extreme humidity we have living on the coast.

When it is damp in the winter...it somewhat chills you to the bone.
In fact, I want to get back in bed....but I can't. I have places to go today and things I have to get accomplished.

Today Deena is STRONGLY on my heart and I have been praying for her all through the night as she begins her chemo treatments today. PLEASE everyone that reads this pray for her. This is her first treatment. It is a bit scary and that is totally understandable. She's been through alot.

My friend Nora had her biopsy this week and is now awaiting (nervously I might add) the results of those tests. We are asking for "grace and favor." I will let you know what becomes of this.

My friend Susan did not get a good report at all this Wednesday as she went to surgery on her breast. They found the issue to be worse than they expected and ended up doing more than they had thought they would and removed 7 lymph glands under her arm. They are being tested and they are looking for further invasion.
She had to stay the night in the hospital and wasn't supposed to.
I know she's overcome by all this.

The Dr.'s discussed chemo and other treatment situation's with her. They are now just waiting on further outcomes of the tests they ran and the tissue/lymph glands they removed.
Pray for her.

I have another friend I talked to yesterday that is in SEVERE depression. I don't want to say much more about this. But please pray. We need wisdom on this situation with her. She needs some help and someone to intervene and we thought something had been done to help remedy the situation and it's gone from bad to worse actually.
Much, much worse.
I have to go for now but I say THANK you to all my friends in "Blog land" who involve themselves in to so many other peoples lives and care "for" and "about" them.
Even though many of you aren't near...some of you are.....but many of you aren't which makes it very special to know that you are still concerned no matter the distance.

You all are awesome and I am so grateful for a "world wide" connection of ladies that have hearts bigger than the ocean.

Thanks for all you do!
I'll write more later..
Joyce :~)

Rainy Day.....ouch.

“May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.”
~An Irish Blessing~

We need our walls, a roof, some tea and some warmth today because it's rainy and chilly here.

It was drizzling a bit last night too. I hear we are in for COLD temps the next two days then.....it gets WARM this weekend. It does that here, first it's hot then it's cold. You really never know what to expect from week to week.

I woke up today and could hardly move and thought..."what's going on?" Hummm.....could it be the weather? It usually is if I am really bad in the mornings when I wake up.

Upon finally getting out of my warm bed to come in to make a cup of tea and the very LAST "Crumpet" that I have in the house.

I had already felt the coldness, but now I could see the overcast skys, rain puddles and the dreary day that lies before us.

It's okay though. I will warm up and so will my joints.....ummmm.....at some point.
Today is "injection day"....every Thursday I do the shots myself....into my stomach. Gross I know. But it should help... hopefully.

I will know when I get back to my Specialist the first of February. We may need to choose a "new game plan" if he feels this isn't working properly yet and he wasn't too happy last time I was there.

"But GOD"......as my good friend Diane always says. And He is who I am placing my trust in more than any shot or any Dr.

Good thing I ran and got some things we were needing for the house last night. Now I don't have to get out in the damp weather. I have many projects to work on inside the house today. Including making a a hearty vegetable stew.

I wish it were "Green as Ireland" outside. But it's not.....it's a drabby "brown" here...except for the bushes and thank goodness that gives us some life to look at.

When I went to Ireland a few years back....it was cold and it was June. And it rained EVERY day. Sometimes for a few hours....sometimes all day long.
I was there for 10 days. But you adjusted to the rain, it wasn't the tormenting rainfalls that we get at times here with these crazy storms that blow upon us.

It was "kind" rain. Very light.

And it is so worth it because you have NEVER seen a "Greener" land.
It's unbelievable.
They say there are "50 shades of Green" in Ireland.

Well...maybe in Kentucky possibly. It's a pretty green there.

I used to LOVE rainy days. Now they are a bit of a hindrance for me physically.
But emotionally....I still like them. We get alot of rainy days here in Louisiana.

However, it sure doesn't look like Ireland here at all.
Sigh.Ms. Mary sent me an e-mail with this photo in it yesterday, it had rain falling in her e-mail but it wouldn't transfer to this site.

Just imagine the rain "gently falling." It's peaceful.

Time for another cup of tea.
~Cheers~

Sad Hollywood Ending

"Miss Priss" and I, were very shocked and saddened to hear about the death of "Heath Ledger" tonight.
I hadn't heard the news and neither had she when I went to check my e-mails at about 6:30pm and saw the "headlines" stating that he had been found dead.

I called Miss Priss at her little job and she was absolutely shocked and kept saying "No!"

That was exactly what I said in my "heart" several times when I saw the news headlines. I kept thinking...."this is final, this life is over."
Now, not that we are HUGE fans of his.
Nor have we followed his career really or were advocates of his personal lifestyle or acting roles.

But I think his death bothered has us for a few reasons.

He was young.
He had a highly visable acting career.
His life ended fast.
My middle son resembles him greatly.
And he has a baby daughter.

I'm a Mom, so several of those things listed above touched my heart.

We had liked "a few" of his movies....namely....."A Knight's Tale" and of course....."The Patriot."

A few years back when the movie "The Patriot" came out, a friend took me to the movie "for my birthday."

I bawled through the whole movie
so did the other person I was with and they had already seen it once.
I still cry if I watch it.
For a few reasons again......It's a very emotional movie first of all.

And Heath Ledger played the oldest son "Gabriel".....ummm.....my first born is a "Gabriel."

And his little sister looked JUST like "Miss Priss" at the time. Ugh! I hated that when she was telling Mel Gibson in that one scene "Papa, don't leave Papa." Rip your heart out you know?

Don't misunderstand me I think the movie was fabulous, but sad.

My family loved "A Knight's Tale" because it was the typical....."fairy tale" where the underdog comes out on top thing.This now brings an end to another young "Hollywood life."

Honestly, I would have seen the death of some other Hollywood young people coming before his. I hope they ALL take notice of this death.
This proves once more...."we are NEVER guaranteed one more day."
No matter WHO you are!

My friend Nora and others...

If you would, please remember to "lift up" my friend Nora with a prayer.
She will be having a biopsy of her sternum tomorrow at 7:30am. Her Dr. did confirm to her last week that that horrible "C" word is back.....but it's in different places and they aren't sure what kind it is.

Thus the biopsy.

I talked to her once today and told her I would "call her back tonight and pray with her before she went to bed".....she called me at 5:00pm and when I answered the phone she blurted out....."I'm ready for my prayer!"

I said "are you okay?" She said she was. And we prayed for "intervention and divine favor" tomorrow.

I will let you know how things go for her.

Wednesday my other lady "Susan C." that is a friend of mine and another friend of mine, is having a "Lumpectomy"......and possibly more. They won't know until they "get into surgery."

I've read many items lately especially on blog sites of people, especially "ladies" that are struggling right now with health issues.
They need to be lifted up in prayer and encouraged and many of you are doing just that. For that I thank you and I KNOW in my heart they do as well.

A lot of people are on some "difficult journeys" right now. They want to be on the "right path" and are doing the best they can to maneuver the narrow, and rocky roads.

It's always good to "be there" anytime we see people on those hard paths that....possibly we can help them stay steady.
It may be a prayer, or a word of encouragement, a sweet card or even a package you may send to them in the mail.
It could just be holding their hand.
Every situation is unique.

We must remember....our pathway could become "rocky" or crooked just up the way too.
It's good to have someone walk with us. Especially in the hard places.
~Thanks so much for all you do~

IT IS SO WORTH IT in the end!

My good friend Chantelle,

Me holding the baby and Chantelle on the right.

One of our family's "GOOD" friends came into town this week from Birmingham.

Chantelle was a girl of 18 when God brought her into our lives.

We all went to the same church and knew each other from there. There were many young girls her age there at that time and they really needed people in their lives. Especially older women. I was a "younger" older woman then. HA!

But it was that "Titus 2-3" thing really and it worked out good for us all. Now we have a long lasting relationship that spans time and state lines.

Miss Priss was just a new born when Chantelle called and asked me "could she come over and talk to me." She felt as if the Lord had impressed on her to be a part of our lives and that we had things we could teach her.
She was a pre-school teacher at our church's day care at the time and ended up working there for many years.

So my husband and I became "mentors" to her and she became like a "sister" to us, and an Aunt to our children.

She was a big help to us in our lives with our kids and would babysit them while we went to events or away on missions trips, just whatever.

She's all grown up and moved away and married now and has a new baby of her own!
I can't believe how the time has flown by.I can still see Chantelle rocking "Miss Priss" in our big ol'lazy boy chair.

We used to watch every romantic movie there was and we LOVED "Anne of Green Gables" and we used to wear hats for fun and we used to go to tea all the time.

WE loved shopping together and doing crafts. She was an avid reader like I was.
We loved going to Hallmark and reading the cards and laughing until we nearly wet our pants. We used to go to St. Francisville and shop, well, none of us had any money back then, we mainly "window shopped".....going to Zachary at Christmas time and cut our own Christmas trees down.

We have so many wonderful memories together.

Chantelle says she has a very BAD habit of calling her baby.....by "Miss Priss's" real name. Can you imagine that! HA!
Here we are at a "Greek" restaurant.

I myself was a "stay at home" Mom for nearly 19 years. Chantelle now has to go back to work and is concerned about where to place her baby for childcare. I wish we all lived closer and I could help her out.

Mom's today have a hard time staying home with their babies because things are so expensive and it is VERY hard to live on one income any more.

I totally understand how the economy is now days with gas being so high and groceries being expensive. I don't know how we ever did it financially except for the GRACE of God along the way through the years.I pray she finds a proper place for this baby to go to for daycare and they will love her and teach her good things like we were all taught and passed onto others.

It's a good thing when we let people into our lives.
I really MISS Chantelle.....and being near her little family.

100th post giveaway at a new site!

Hey you all,
Suzanne, at "Painter of the Past" is having a giveway marking her 100th post on her blogsite! Check that out if you'd like to. She's got some very pretty things on there.
I need to do some kind of posting giveaway but this is all so new to me. I have to ponder that first, but lots of ladies do it and I think it is pretty COOL!
Cheers!
Joyce

Shopping in St. Francisville....

Alot of people wanted to know about the shops we went to while in St. Francisville this past weekend. They have some really great shops and there are more antique places further up the road as well.

But before I go any further let me say this first....
I feel sorry for small towns.......because I am from one originally and I know how they can struggle economically.
But I LOVE them. They are so romantic and full of history usually.

Many times all they have to rely on is "Tourism."
IF they have "something" to boast about that is.

My hometown did a famous writer by the name of Mark Twain lived in my town for his childhood. So that is what they rely on to keep tourism alive.

Small towns sometimes loose what industry they have had and some little towns won't let other industry into them. Because they don't want to hamper their tourism. Thus ruining their "quaint, small town image."

In the fall of last year, St. Francisville just lost one of its major employers left in the area.
A paper mill.
I believe if my memory serves me correctly....it employee around 500 people. That is a huge economic loss to those people and that area of the Feliciana's. And nothing has come in to help them regain jobs.

Shops come and go in these types of little towns.

I told my husband that "you have to have some DEEP pockets and or "OLD MONEY" to keep your business alive" in these types of situations. Out of all my years of going to St. Francisville....and we have gone there for many years.

Usually every Plantation has some sort of "gift shop" in it as well.
With postcards and items bearing the namesake and possibly the image of the plantation.

The smaller "Antebellum" homes most often don't have a gift shop although they may carry a few items to sell at their registry counters where you check in at.
"Grandmother's Buttons"

Only THREE main stores have remained open that I can recall. And of course......
I like to shop in them all. HA! HA!
Other little stores seem to "come and go."
That is the high price of being in a little town that is dependent on tourism.

This trip we saw a few new stores....and a few new "antique" stores this trip and we went into them but nothing struck our fancy.

But of course.....I like those three the most that I mentioned earlier.

"Grandmother's Buttons" is a one of kind store. They carry unique "handcrafted Antique Button Jewelry" and other various decorative items in their store.You must read the "history" of the store on their website. This explains how they started (I'm sure you can guess by the name huh?) and all those good things.

Now....I don't know about you all....I see photos that people take in shops on their blogs all the time....maybe they know the owners or whatever...but I for one feel very WEIRD taking "photos" in stores.

Especially some of these little stores. Especially this one forsure because I didn't want them to think I was some person coming in to "STEAL" their ideals.
So I didn't even ask to do it.

I DID however.....find some photos on the web and of course again....they show alot of their jewelry on their website so check it.

Victoria Magazine just featured some of their jewelry for sale in their latest issue. These photos are from them.....this will give you some ideal of what they are all about.Something "Red" to wear for Valentines Day. Hummmm.....Lovely pearls. Do you see the buttons?

I didn't buy any jewelry this trip. But I did buy some clearance items "something SHINY" for later. :~)Yes, that is the SAME "Red with Gold" table cover on my table from Christmas.....I kept it on for "Valentines Day." Red and all you know.

Next.....my husband decided to try to "find" this Wildlife Refuge near the river that he wanted to check out (he's a hunter)...called "Cat Island"...Miss Priss and I went along "for the ride" like good girls.....yawn.

UNFORTUNATELY.....we came to a "Y" in the road and he took the wrong turn (no signs were up) and we ended up going on this very LONG and scary ride on a one lane dirt road...ugh....out in the Louisiana backwoods. Not good.
FINALLY he found his way out of that. But we didn't get to see the Wildlife Refuge...much to the JOY of Miss Priss and myself.

After that excursion into the unknown, we were BACK on track for the shops. We hit a few other places....antique stores and such. Then onto our next FAVE store.......
"Hillscrest Gifts"....sorry no photos again. AT this point Miss Priss was "accusing us of looking like 'tourists' because of the camera around our necks." So we backed off of photo taking totally. I did find this cute little "Fleur Des Leis" picture stand in there. I'll show you that later in a photo.
Last but not least AT ALL....
The "Shanty Too"....me and my friends and Miss Priss LOVE this store. They have cute ladies things....clothes, shoes, purses, vintage cotton sleep ware, kids things and nice, nice decorative items. Oh and a candy shop. Yuummm.

After all that we stopped for a late lunch at our FAVORITE cafe.....
"The Magnolia Cafe"...it's soooo good. You have to go there!
I had the "Butterbean and Shrimp soup" and the "Sunday afternoon baked Chicken dinner special" and Miss Priss and DM both had "French Dip sandwiches with fries."

That soup is to DIE for and they don't serve it often so I told them both to get some and they didn't believe me..until they tasted it..so you know what happened. They ATE mine! I should have gotten the BIG BOWL of it. Oh well.

There you have all the scoop on St. Francisville.
IF you have any thoughts or questions.....please let me know.

Natchez (my other favorite town) is just up the highway from St. Francisville so if you are in the area. TRY to do both.