The Making of the Stew

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will recall that JR and I went to his niece's home last year to make Brunswick Stew.  Well, it's a long trip down there so we decided to do some ourselves.  So, we invited my sister Judy and her husband to come for the weekend and make some.  Now, making the stew isn't that hard...you just have to pay attention to it, but the prep is tedious and time-consuming.  Judy and I each did a batch prep before the stew day.  By the time I was finished I didn't care if I ever saw a cow, a pig, or a chicken as long as I live.  Judy expressed similar sentiments!  But we got our stew pot out and tried to set it up on the patio.  However, the wind was blowing (not an unusual thing up here), and kept blowing the propane fire out, so JR and I had to move the pot to the covered porch where there is some protection from the wind.  Our batch was a little soupy since I guess we put too much liquid in it.  Judy and John's was a bit thicker, but it wasn't as thick as the stuff we made with Neal and Fran last year.  Nevertheless, it was delicious and we are going to enjoy it all winter!  It reminded of the stews that the men of the church made when we were girls.  Mama says they still make it every year. JR and I are going to make another batch this fall.  Judy says she "might" do it next year!  Wuss!

John doing his stirring.

Jim with Chester batting cleanup!

We had a great weekend with Judy and John.  It was fun to spend some time together.  Judy does a lot of work for Mama (for which we are all grateful) and I know it was good to get away for a couple of days.  Mary picked up the slack that weekend.  Mama is doing much better, and I think she is as good as she is going to be.  We have some plans for later when she needs more help.  It is hard to watch one's parents age.  I know most of you are familiar with that.

The picture below is of me and Judy on stew weekend.  One of our Facebook friends expressed shock that I am so white headed!  No respect!!

Lynn and Judy, November 6, 2011

 Happy Thanksgiving!  We'll be Charlotte with Jon and his family as well as some of Patti's family.

Once Again, It Ends

Autumn on Bobcat Ridge 

 

 The mountain "season" lasts from May to October.  And a glorious season it is!  Pleasant days followed by cool nights, nature abounding, many opportunities to be with friends and family.  But, inexorably, the trees dress in vibrant reds and yellows, the days are cool, and nights bring the need for heat.  And when the trees drop their beautiful foliage, unveiling their bare branches, it is time to accept the frost and snow and move into the slowness of winter.  I'm really ready (thought that would never happen), but would like to share some of the fun.


First, there is the plethora of wild life.  Jim and I love to watch it, and we have even made some of the little critters part of our family by naming them (more or less).  There were "Daddy and the Girls"...a small family of grosbeaks.  For one reason or another the female adult was absent, but the two adolescent females ran their father a merry chase.  He nearly wore himself out feeding them, but it was almost poetic to watch him teach them how to care for themselves.  The two red squirrels, Junior and Freddie, were tiny, tiny little things.  Unlike gray squirrels, they didn't run...they just hopped from place to place.  They visited the bird feeders everyday until one day they were just gone.  The hen turkey, Mamalade, lived in the yard for weeks until she disappeared, perhaps to hatch a brood of her own.  I saw her last week, though, so I guess she is still around. Rackayla, the mother raccoon, still brings her brood onto the porch nightly, looking for whatever the birds and chipmunks leave behind.  Chester (our dog) wakes us up wanting to get at them.  We decline to allow him to do so.  And then there is Scooter...about the most industrious chipmunk I've ever seen.  We can all learn a lesson from him.  He is on the porch looking for dropped bird seed at first light and makes many trips before dusk.  Tuning in to wild life is easy up here, and provides many hours of enjoyment for us.

But we're never willing just to let the good times go, so we've had our annual "Big Chill" with our college friends.  This year there were 8 of us, the Teasleys, the Shopes, the Blaylocks, and JR and me.  We missed the Brooks', but I held true to my promise to stick pins in their dolls.  This is always a fun occasion and we act just like college kids ...not always a good thing!

The girls:  Claudia, Jane, Marti, Lynn (rear)

The boys:  Jim, Bob, Ken, Dave

I promised!!!

 And, other than my sister and her husband coming to make brunswick stew in a couple of weeks, we finished up the season with our Charlotte-made friends, Jim and Eileen (who live in SC now), and Jim's niece Fran.  Jim and Eileen have been good friends since Eileen and I taught together in the 70s.  Our children are about the same age, and we used to play cards at each others houses while our kids socialized.  Fun!  All the kids are grown and have families of their own, but we still have fun!!

Old Friends:  Jim R, Lynn, Eileen, Jim P

Jim's niece lives in Louisburg and decided to come for a few days.  We missed her husband Neil, but do appreciate her helping us season our stew pot.  Now perhaps we won't burn our stew when we make it!

Fran and an interesting "guest"

The leaf season has long since passed its peak, we've had our first dusting of snow, and cool nights are the norm, though the days are still generally pleasant.  JR and I go to Charlotte for a wedding this weekend, and we hope to spend some time with Jon and his family.  They're so busy that I have to get on their schedule early!

Love to all!

Bev, Friend Extraordinaire

Bev and Lynn in the 80s

 

My exceptionally good friend, Bev, left us on September 28, 2011.  She was a sweet and gentle soul, and the world is less without her.

I first met her when she and her husband, Joe, moved in next door to us in Charlotte in March of 1976.  Adam was two weeks old.  Although I didn't notice any action over there that day, Jim came in and said he thought there was somebody in the house next door.  So, while Adam slept, I ventured over and knocked on the door.  Bev answered, carrying 18 month old Joey on her hip.  (I can still see that picture today.)  When I introduced myself, she immediately invited me in for refreshment and a visit.  I did go in briefly.  Bev had a cooler, a lawn chair, and a diaper bag, but she was generous enough to offer hospitality to me!  As it was clear that she was waiting for the movers, I made an excuse about the baby sleeping, but invited her over after the movers left.  She came, we had tea, and a wonderful friendship sprouted that day.  It endured over great time and great distance, but we always picked up where we left off...giggling like school girls; musing about husbands and children, parents and siblings; lamenting the state of public education; and all those other mundane matters that weave the fabric of life; and which cement the love that friendship brings.

Bev had a sweet and gentle nature that calmed even the most restless, but that gentleness belied a constitution of steel...the consummate "Steel Magnolia", despite her northern roots!  Her unrelenting devotion to her family was reciprocated in their unrelenting devotion to her.  Husband Joe calls her "my beautiful Bev", and is as clearly in love with her today as he was they day they married in 1972.  Her children have basked in her love and have observed the strength of character that it takes to rear a loving and productive family...with uncomprising love and support, while allowing each member to grow in his/her own way.  They have each established strong nuclear families of their own, and are a testament to the power of "Mama".

I bid her farewell reluctantly, for she has enriched my life beyond measure, but her spirit will always live in my heart.  I will always love you, Bev.

Things that are IN

Katie is IN middle school.  Her extra-curricular choice was cheerleading.  Having chosen that, she had to go to a cheerleading camp before school started.  It was, to my understanding, a week long 8 hour a day camp.  Katie's mother, Patti, called it the "cheerbeast" camp.  Here is a pic of Katie after a day of "camp".  She had used muscles that she didn't even know she had!

Mama has been IN the hospital.  She had (has?) a condition known as atrial flutter, and she had a procedure that shocked her heart back into rhythm.  We haven't been back to the cardiologist for a check yet, but we are hoping for good news and a continuation of a regular heart rhythm.  Otherwise, she remains weak and wobbly, so we are taking turns caring for her.  I go tomorrow for the rest of the week.

There was a new cat who was supposed to be IN my house.  He is a little, sweet, black and white kitty named Oreo.  He had a brother named Cookie that disappeared from our friend, Jaime's house.  He lived outside and proceeded to grieve himself, and since Jaime is allergic to dander, she could not keep him in the house.  So, we agreed to take him.  Then Mama got sick, so that's on hold for a bit.  I really am looking forward to him, but don't feel like I can take him and then abandon him.

And then, there are things IN the pantry.  While it hasn't been a great gardening season, we have managed to put up some things in the larder.  Some things we bought from the farmer's market, but some things came from our own garden.

And the BG's were IN the mountains! We had a bridge weekend that was SO MUCH FUN!!!  Four of the 8 members of my Charlotte bridge club came for the weekend...Vicki, Susan, Ann, and Gayle.  We had to take turns playing, and JR filled in as player and "Butt Boy", even cooking us omelets on Sunday morning!

The BG's...Ann, Gayle, Susan, Vicki, and Lynn

 

I leave in the morning to go back to Mama's. Will let you know how she is progressing.  Love to all.

The Invasion of the Green-Tongued Chickies!

Gracie and Avey...green-tongued chickies!

Ok, invasion is not a really good term...it was actually a much anticipated visit from our youngest grandchildren as they were on their way back to Texas.  We actually allowed their parents to visit also.  It was short, but was packed with lots of "Mimi and PapaJim" things.

One of the things they did was to ride in the tractor with PJ...I, unfortunately, was tied up with fixing some meal or another and didn't get pics.  Shanna did, though, so maybe she'll send me some.  The other thing was eating watermelon flavored popsicles...you know, those that leave an obnoxious color on your lips, tongue and teeth? 

Shanna, two-fisted s'more eater!

Adam, serious fire-cooker!

It was a short visit, but we all had fun around the fire making s'mores.  I think Shanna particularly enjoyed them!

Today JR and I put up peas...13 quarts of Lady Peas, and 12 quarts of limas.  So you won't think that we did this as speed demons, I should let you know that we bought them already shelled...a much easier and less stressful proposition.  After we did the arithmetic, we figured that we saved $75 off the usual price of 25 quarts of peas, and we will have fresh peas all winter!

This weekend we will be working in a community bazaar.  If I remember to take my camera, I'll send you some pics.  Love to all.

Katie and I do Cherokee and the Habitat House

Katie, our oldest granddaughter, came to visit us for a couple of days.  I had these grandiose ideas of taking her to Cherokee (which I did), and educating her in the uniqueness and oldness of the mountains.  Well, we went to Oconoluftee Indian Village where we got a tour guide who had NO idea of what he was speaking...full Cherokee though he was.  Consequently, we spent most of our time hanging out at the rear of the pack, laughing!  We did learn a couple of dances that we intend to teach the family at Thanksgiving.  Though the village was interesting in many details, it was hot and humid.  Following that we went to the Museum of the Cherokee, which was very interesting if the exhibits that were supposed to be narrated with a motion detector had worked.  We spent a lot of time trying to figure out what particular portions of the exhibits were about...another BUST!

Katie at Cherokee

After leaving the museum, while waiting for "Unto These Hills" to start, we decided that we were hungry.  Bad mistake.  We found one place that had food, so we got the world's worst hotdog.  I mean, really, no slaw, no onion, just chili and mustard.  After that we went back to the car to cool off. While there we talked about the review of the play...mixed.  We were tired, and finally decided to blow it off and come home! There we watched "The Green Hornet", a lame and stupid movie that was, nonetheless, funny.

Katie behind the waterfall!

The next day JR and I decided to take her "waterfalling"...an interesting pastime in the mountains that consists of driving all over hell and half of Georgia to see water falling over rocks.  We first went to Silver Run...a totally underwhelming fall which neither JR nor I had ever seen.  Then we went to Whitewater which is a spectacular fall that is one of the most revered in the eastern US.  Then we went to the new Gorges State Park where there are trail heads to three other spectacular falls on the Horsepasture River.  However, the roads leading to them were closed for some undisclosed reason.  We finally just gave up and took her to some property that we own in northern Jackson that had waterfalls and creeks.  There she played in the falls, and searched for garnet and quartz in the creek.  We all had a good time...best of the visit.
 

Queen Lauren

Patti, Jim and Jonathan

Jon and Patti brought Katie up. and of course, the other children were here.  We cooked out and then made S'mores over the fire.  Too cute!!!

Katie enjoying the fruits!

And then, I spent a day with Habitat for Humanity, doing a Women Build project.  It was fun, but I think I've aged out of hard labor!
There were seven or eight people in our crew and our jobs were to build walls and put in windows.  I actually started out on the roof crew, but found that I didn't have the strength to be a good worker there.  So, I changed to the window crew.  Most of the time, I read the levels, but I was instrumental in putting a window.  Wow!  It was fun, I met new people, and felt that I had made a contribution to society in some way.  Below are pics of the whole crew and of the "window crew".

The Window cCew

The Whole Crew

Next up.. a birthday party for Jarleth and Lynn in the mountains!  All of J.J.'s family will be here...such fun!

We love you guys!

MiMi Does Austin!

In late May I went to Austin to keep Adam's two girls for a week while their parents worked.  Their school was closed, and they aren't really old enough to stay by themselves...5 and 3!  I was so excited!  Of course, since I have an artificial knee, I set off the metal detectors in the airport, resulting in a "pat-down".  The female TSA agents were very polite and explained everything they were going to do.  It wasn't so bad, really, and I guess if I'm going to fly I should get used to it.  On my return trip, though, a male TSA agent was very rude to me when he yelled at me "Don't touch your things!"  I started to use my power as a white headed grandmother to ask him if his mother had taught him to be that rude, but, in the end, decided that it wasn't going to change anything, so I (uncharacteristically) kept my mouth shut.

It was all worth it as I had a wonderful time with the girls!  They were very good, and we spent time in their pool, went to the library, went to the toy store, and out to lunch; rode bikes and read books. I learned to drive Adam's hybrid Prius, and didn't get lost or have a wreck!

Avery the Fish

Avery turned 3 while I was there, and on Saturday the family had a party with adults and children.  It was fun, and I was able to help Adam in the kitchen.  He made the BEST hamburgers.  I'm still waiting for him to send me his recipe.

Gracie gets up really early (wonder where she got that?) and I was usually upstairs when she appeared in the living room..  On Saturday I stayed in bed a little longer and when I got upstairs about 7 a.m., she asked me why I was late.  She can't tell time, but she KNEW I was late!  I laughed out loud!

Gracie and "Chicken"

I arrived on a Sunday and left the next Sunday, very early, so I told the girls goodbye on Saturday night when they went to bed.  We all three cried, and I cried again the next morning when I kissed them goodbye, though they were still asleep.  Shanna said that Gracie teared up when she got up and realized I was gone.

It was a great trip.  They are coming to NC next week.  Shanna and the girls are going to stay for about 6 weeks.  I'm not yet sure when they will get up here, but we'll see them at some point.  Also, we are planning to go there at Thanksgiving.  It seems that Jon and Patti and their family are going to be there also.  I can't wait.

Jon and his family are going to be up this weekend to bring Katie.  She and I are going next week to Cherokee to see the Oconoluftee Indian Village, visit the Cherokee museum, and see the outdoor drama, "Unto These Hills".   She will be in the 6th grade next year, and is growing up.  She paints her nails, and wears lip gloss, and is absolutely beautiful.  She won an award at her school (I can't remember what it is called), but it is one that is voted on by peers.  It was quite an honor, and we were proud.
 
Somewhere in here are some pictures I took in Texas.  I'll update you on the Cherokee trip next week (or sometime).  We love you guys!

A beautiful family!