Don't forget your coat and hat!

As long as time has faithfully tick-tocked on the universal clock, mothers around the world have had one thing in common. Their children have tried darting out the door without coat and hat in the coldest of winter -- and they've had to call them back in.

I know my Mom did, and I know I did with our three children! I suppose the anticipation of playing in the snow or kicking through the leaves on a frosty morning overrides all thoughts of proper clothing. This came to mind yesterday while babysitting my friend's 3-year-old granddaughter.

Mary came to spend a few hours with me and visit a pup that has taken up residence at our place. (That's another story for another blog.) It was bitterly cold out, but she desperately wanted to befriend the lil' guy... so we went outside a bit to run and play in the leftover leaves.

The pup was curious about our little visitor, but he gave her a wide berth. Probably because three-year-old children don't usually walk around. They dash and dart, squeal and holler, arms waving and legs flying. I suppose it scared him to death!

Back inside, we read books by the fire awhile. "Time for a Rhyme," a Rand McNally publication from 1966, was a favorite. The realistic children rendered by the artist were intriguing, and the enchantment of rhyming words relaxed Mary. Her long lashes began to droop.

I was feeling quite proud of myself at that point. If she got a nap, Mary's mommy and grandparents would have a lovely evening with a well-rested child. But I'd forgotten what her grandmother told me usually happens when she gets sleepy. To keep from dozing off and taking that dreaded "nap," Mary relies on a sure-fire cure. Activity!

She suddenly jumped off the sofa and announced, "I want to see Sport again!" The child who was nearly out like a light was now out the door hollering for the dog. With no coat and no hat, her long blond curls were flying in the frigid wind. I called her back in to get bundled up properly, lest she get sick on my watch.

We had a good day together, and just before her Papa Joe came to pick her up, we scrolled through photos on my computer. She loved the pix of Jason Cody, our two-month-old grandson, modeling hats at the mall for his Mommy and Nana Linda.

Here in Alabama, we often get by with a light jacket in winter and sometimes none at all. But little boys (and girls) in Virginia need coats and hats in winter! In fact, Jason Cody saw his first snow this past week -- five inches! A friend teased, "Oh! He can make baby snow angels!"

To tie this story together, here's my grandson, parental paparazzi in tow to capture the moment. Which hat do you think they chose? I've given each a caption.

Nah, too many snaps and flaps.




Dad's right -- I am one handsome dude!




You've gotta be kidding me.




Oh, yeah ... this one has "ME" written all over it!



I'm glad they're keeping that sweet little head warm. He's loved, he's happy and he's a joy to us all. I'm sure there will be times -- in the future -- he tries to dash outdoors without a coat and hat, just like his Daddy did here at home.

I'm also sure his Mommy will call him back with a phrase that's stood the test of time in every century and every language. "Don't forget your coat and hat!"

Winter's muse ...

Here in the south, we're excited to hear the word "snow" being batted around in the forecast. Okay, maybe not everyone is excited, but I certainly am!

Having grown up in Illinois where cold weather arrived in October and camped out until April, winter in the south has been quite an adjustment for me.

In our corner of Alabama, snow is a rarity -- in fact, extremely rare! The last time we got enough snow to cover the ground and pile up 2-3 inches high was oh, about five or six years ago. Now, I understand 2-3 inches may not be "piling up" to your thinking, but it is in this area.

I miss having snow! It brings with it a pristine beauty that blankets the neighborhood in silence. Fallen and frozen in place, it transforms eye-sores overnight. Even an old auto junkyard becomes a fascinating work of architectural wonder when snow-kissed.

With or without snow, winter becomes a welcome writer's muse for me. Looking out my window on the bare branches and frosted ground, I contemplate our blessings. We have a warm home and enough food to eat. We have family and friends that love us. My plush pullover keeps the chill away, and a fire on the hearth sets the mood. For a moment, I am back in the neighborhood of my childhood ...

When snow fell on Oakwood Avenue, our neighborhood was transformed into a winter wonderland. I loved waking up to fresh snow, but when school was in session, it was particularly difficult to dash to the car instead of to the back porch to grab a sled.

Slumping in the backseat, I'd be unhappy with the ugly tracks our tires made in the new-fallen snow. Gazing out the back window as we pulled away from home, I'd sigh and resign myself to sitting inside a stuffy classroom on a perfect winter day. By the time we got back home again, the lovely snow would be crisscrossed and slushy from dozens of tires.

But not the woods! They were all ours when we returned, and they would still be untouched. Bundling up, we neighbor kids would meet up and head into our own magical kingdom. What made it especially wondrous was the fact we weren't ever allowed in those woods at any other time of the year...

That's when the threat of poison ivy, briars, ticks, mosquitoes, spiders and the occasional snake caused our moms to throw down the gauntlet. Hands on hips and eyebrows raised, their faces were set and their words sufficed. "No going into the woods!" I think some of us were secretly afraid there were monsters lurking down there in the shadows, so we gladly obeyed.

But winter snow -- with all its purity -- meant that spiders, snakes and all things sinister couldn't co-exist with its loveliness! So we donned our snowsuits and boots. Freed from parental regulations and our own fears, we dashed, trampled, twirled, climbed and eventually lumbered along-- in heavy boots with frozen toes -- through the mile or so of woods that backed up to neighboring yards.

In the hour or so of daylight left to us, we sang, hollered, teased and laughed, our voices ringing out in the stillness. We designed forts, threw snowballs, explored uncharted territory and reveled in our personal winter resort. Towering, bare branches, frosted with ice crystals, provided a canopy that completed our winter castle.

Around here in Alabama, our own three children delighted in the infrequent snows we've had. One year we actually had six inches piled up! A bit better description of snow piling up, eh? Another year, an ice storm shut down everyone's electricity for days.

Thankful for a wood stove, we stayed warm and cooked enough stew on it to keep our bellies filled. We also fried eggs in a black iron skillet and tried our hand at "fried" cookies, which turned out quite tasty! During that power outage, we read Laura Ingalls Wilder's books by kerosene lamplight and considered our plight an adventure.

By day, all that ice came in handy for skating and sliding across the pond. In the evenings, when the kids brought the cows up to the barn, they would approach the frozen pond in fearful confusion. Once a couple of them stepped on the edge, a great rush of water popped through the hole they'd made, and others would crowd around to join them for a drink.

Ahhh ... winter's muse ... It reminds me to reminisce, to write and to rejoice in the simplicity of fresh-fallen snow. I hope we see some in Alabama this year. Just give me an inch or two for a couple days, and I'll be glad to go back in memory to Oakwood Avenue once again!

Pumpkin Pie Memories!

Thanksgiving and pumpkin pies just go together, in my opinion!

I remember watching Momma make pumpkin pies for the holidays -- especially at Thanksgiving. While she prepared the homemade crusts, I'd sit on a stool near the counter and watch. Her hands would work the dough as the rolling pin flew back and forth across it. Then she'd flip it and do it again.

When the crust was big enough 'round to cover the inside of the pan and come up over the sides, Momma gently laid it inside -- almost like putting a baby to bed. Then, with one hand, she'd twirl the pan slowly while with the other, a sharp knife would slice off the extra dough hanging over the edges. Last, but not least, she'd "crimp" the edges to make pretty patterns like those pictured below.

The scraps that fell from her knife were all mine -- and I knew just what to do with them! When my enthusiasm with the rolling pin threatened to tear the tender dough, Momma would remind me to handle it ever-so-gently. It took more than a few tries, but after I rolled it out just-so, I'd slather butter on it and sprinkle a cinnamon-sugar mix on top of the entire piece.

We would then cut it in 1-inch-wide strips and place it on a cookie sheet for baking. I could hardly wait for it to come out of the oven! Those baked cinnamon strips were a melt-in-your-mouth home made experience ... but one that had to be shared with all my siblings.

Momma's pies were always made with just the right mixture of Libby's canned pumpkin, eggs, milk, butter and sugar, along with the perfect balance of nutmeg, cinnamon and all spice. Our electric mixer would whip it to a lovely height while the smell of spices tickled my nose.

After the filling was in those lovely crusts, Momma would decorate them with a cookie-cutter pumpkin shape made of scraps of dough she'd reserved for that purpose. Then, with all the love and care of a domestic goddess, she'd slide her pies into the oven.

Once that happened, we children were reminded not to run or jump in the kitchen. Pies in the makin' must not be shaken! The whole house smelled like Thanksgiving on those days, and I could hardly wait until it was time for our special holiday meal. Momma's pies were the crowning touch after a chicken and dressing meal complete with all the trimmings: Mashed potatoes, homemade gravy (always made with giblets), homemade yeast rolls, corn, beans and of course, the cranberry sauce.

When our children were growing up, we carried on the same pie-baking day traditions. Just like me, they enjoyed rolling out scraps of dough to sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Once in the oven, they watched through the glass door or sometimes called from another room of the house, "Are they done yet?"

While I finished preparing the pies, they would decide on a special shape for the decorations on top. I've collected a lot of cookie cutters over the years, and during the holidays, the kids enjoyed dumping them all out on the table to sort and admire. We made lots of tea-cake cookies of various shapes and sizes with those cookie cutters, but when Thanksgiving pies were baked, the children chose a thematic topper -- a pilgrim, turkey, pumpkin or leaf shape.

This year, our daughter, son-in-law and grandson Ethan are coming home for Thanksgiving. Our son Kevin will be here for dinner that day, too, along with one of my four sisters AND my Momma. I'm planning to make pumpkin pies again, just like she used to make.

She's altered her recipe through the years, but I don't think you can improve on perfection. So I stick to the original ... the one I remember Momma making when I grew up. No matter how you cut it, you just can't beat a homemade pumpkin pie that's full of just the right combination of ingredients ... and pleasant memories to match.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Some down-home country decor ...

Welcome! So glad you could stop by for a little tour of our place. This is where we raised our three children, where we made lots of happy memories and where hubby and I are now in our empty-nest years. We look forward to having our grandchildren come with their parents for visits! Hopefully, Ethan and Jason Cody will learn to love the place where their parents grew up.

This little pilgrim couple greets you when you enter our front screened porch. Hubby built the porch, which runs almost the length of our place, and put a basement storm shelter room under it. That's a very important thing here in the south where tornadoes are common.

I've had these little pilgrims for over 10 years, and they come out every autumn to keep us company from mid-October and on into the Thanksgiving holiday. They're still smiling right now, because the weather is lovely. When it turns colder and the winds start whipping, I may have to bring them indoors to warm their toes by the fire!

When you enter the front door, our fireplace is the first thing you notice. It brightens up our small living room and welcomes you on into the rest of the house. I love making the mantle a display of seasonal things. Here, you'll notice my autumn angel, a favorite pumpkin and a clock my parents had when I was a teen. It has a lovely tick-tock sound that soothes the heart and soul.

The floral in the middle was done by yours truly when I visited my sister in her home-decor store. She taught me how to make something pretty with leftover silk flowers and stems. I just kept piddling with it until -- voila! it came out like this.

On the other end is a photo of dogwood leaves I need to frame. It was entered in the county fair this year and is a colorful piece. In front of it is a cute little squirrel I've had about 12 years now. He comes out of hiding each fall, too, and is still nibbling on the same acorn!

Beside him is a favorite fabric frame that holds a picture of our three children when they were very young. In it, they are running across a grassy field toward a huge Indian mound. It speaks to me of youthful energy and happy memories.

The candle behind that is a cherry wood spool shape I found at a thrift store (it's one of a pair). I brought it home and polished them up, then adorned them with scraps of fabric ribbon. The little "welcome" blocks have been around for 20 years now! And the tall candle sticks behind the floral are a gift from our daughter-in-law.

Here's a quick peek at the kitchen and dining room wall above a long buffet. The decor for this area was settled when I found a cute little ceramic rooster 7 years ago and brought it home. I now have roosters everywhere -- on rugs, walls, counters, serving trays, dishes, etc.

If you could have seen this room before we redecorated in 2003! It was so dark and dreary looking and my former cabinets were hanging by their hinges (almost). What an improvement and blessing to have a pretty kitchen. It's not fancy, (and neither are we) but it's a place people can feel welcome to relax and pull up to the table. That's what matters.

Our kerosene lamp goes back 35 years -- a gift from a wedding shower. I like the globe with it's "Home Sweet Home motto. About 10 years into our marriage I broke one just like it and later found a supplier who made the exact globe. What a thrill to have it back to the original style.


This photo frame features my cute husband as a child with his parents. I treasure this photo and love the perky frame that makes it stand out as a special addition to the dining room. My mother-in-law was a very precious lady who died in 1991. We still miss her! At Thanksgiving I always make her sweet potato casserole and angel-flake biscuits. They are yummy and help us remember a very special Mom.

Before we go, I'll take you out back to show you two items I found at thrift stores. Hooter was lovingly made by hand with a patchwork overlap design. The chair is old -- very old -- and someone painted it green, then accidentally spilled some purple paint on it? Anyhow, I love old chairs with character and brought it home. (My hubby doesn't understand my need to rescue old chairs with a history...)

Hooter has been sitting in this chair the past eight years, faithfully guarding our sun porch. So why is he in the yard among the leaves? I thought he might like to get out for a bit of fresh air.

Okay, you're not buying that story, so I'll be honest -- the sun porch is a mess with dear hubby's "stuff" that will go in our future shop. Poor Hooter has been guarding the power saw, golf clubs, plumbing supplies and everything else you can imagine!

We're anxious to get started on that shop. Over the past several weeks, some concrete guys gave us the run-around and then the heavy rains came, delaying any hopes of pouring a pad. Finally -- we've found someone who is planning to start soon. I think when I look out and see that pad, I'll feel like there really will be a shop in our future!

Well, that's about it for now -- I had my camera out today and took photos of the autumn decor to share. Maybe others will come later, who knows? I hope this little peek in my window helps you know me a bit better. I'm just a country gal at heart!