I’ve had so much fun this week in Hilton Head hanging out with Mason. He knows more about lizards than anyone I know. And he’s always careful to release them to go back home to their families, as he tells me.
Category Archives: Family Stories
Nana LeAnna Tastings With Austin
Easter Rabbits
Rose and George Come To Town/Country
Fun In The Mountains Of Tennessee
Our friend/Sister by choice
When my sister and I were in junior high and our mother was teaching school there, a terrible thing happened to one of her students. Her family lost everything in a home fire! Mom knew how hard it would be for a junior high student to change schools in the middle of the year so she arranged for her to move in with us. There was no money involved, just love. My sister and I were used to having extra people stay with us. It might be family members down on their luck, or grandparents who could no longer maintain their homes, or long distant friends who often came to visit. So a young girl moving in with us was a treat. She came from a family with eleven children, and you’d think to loose one for a little while would be a welcomed change. After all, that would be one less mouth to feed, a little less laundry to wash, and one less voice you’d hear arguing with siblings. But it was just the opposite! Even with all those other children around, she was missed terribly. It was the love of her parents that gave them the courage to allow her to stay with us for awhile so she could finish out the school year and start fresh in the fall at her new school. Mother and her teacher friends arranged for clothes to be given to her and, of course, my sister and I were more than happy to share our things as well. Her name was Darlene Adams, and with so many sisters and 2 older brothers, she knew exactly how to get along with all of us without any jealousy. She admired Mom so much and appreciated what she was doing for her that when Saturday’s came and we had our chores to do, she willingly joined in and made it so much fun. The time flew by.  She was always laughing about something and had us laughing, too.
Since Darlene is one of my best followers and a dear friend, I wanted to share a couple of her recipes and her own memories with you.
Here’s one of Darlene’s family favorites:
Continue reading
My younger sister, LaDonna
Her name was LaDonna, and she surely lived up to her name, which in Italian means “The Lady”. She went through life abiding by the rules. She didn’t break the speed limit or  eat food past its date. She worried way more than she should have about her three boys or as the announcement of her third son said “My Three Sons”. This is her fourth birthday she in heaven. How does a young woman who exercises, eats right and has everything to live for die so young? She never took drugs or smoked, like the saying goes, “life isn’t fair”.
Eggs Benedict/My sisters signature dish
I’m not sure when Rose Carol learned how to make Eggs Benedict, all I can remember is ever since I’ve visited her in California she has made it. She serves it for most of the holiday mornings because her family insists and lucky for us she does it when we come to visit. She makes it look so easy but I’m sure by now she could make it in the dark! First she puts the melted butter and real lemon juice in the blender then she places the Canadian bacon on a pan and puts it in the oven to heat. Now she is ready to make the poached eggs. While the eggs are cooking she toasts the English muffins.  When everything is ready is puts it together and everyone enjoys eating this wonderful breakfast. The secret I think is in the sauce. I can remember my brother and I going out for breakfast one morning and since he had lived in with her in California for a while and he saw eggs Benedict on the menu his mouth started to water and he had to order it!  Well, when it came to his disappointment he took one bite and sent it back! Then he said to me  “I guess I shouldn’t have expected it to taste like Rose’s, after all she makes the best!”
Once a flourishing garden/Now just a bed of dirt
My little brother grew up to love nature. When he was here everything grew to its potential, but a year ago today it all ended. I believe that the things you enjoy on earth will be even greater when you get to heaven. So when I open those golden gates I will see gardens as far as my eyes can see. He won’t have to use his wheel chair to tend to it either. One of his favorite things to make was fresh salsa. All he did was chop onions, peppers, tomatoes and a few hot peppers together and the juices would all blend together to make a perfect salsa. Add a little salt and pepper to bring out the flavor and squeeze a lemon or lime for taste and to help hold the colors. Some fresh celantro is good, if you like it. 
French Crepes/any kind you like!
On a recent trip to New Orleans my niece, Ashley Tomlinson, introduced me to these cute little crepe carts. Not only can you watch the crepes being made, but you can choose from a large variety of fruits and sauces, even grand marnier and other liqueurs. Ashley’s favorite is filled with just butter and sugar. I added cinnamon to mine.
Years ago my sister bought me a small crepe maker but it does just as well, and the crepes are actually easier to eat by putting them on a plate and using a fork. Adding a little more batter makes the crepe thicker and leaving it on the griddle longer will make it crispier.
I also saw people ordering them as sandwiches using cheese topped with bacon and tomato. Turkey with Munster or Swiss plus a little mayonnaise or spicy mustard also looked good. And of course the all time favorite of pepperoni and mozzarella cheese with a little pizza sauce is always a winner. I like to add a little hot pepper flakes to mine.🌶
Food Tells Its Own Story 