Whatcha doing?

Not doing much here but always busy!

1.  After three long years, we have finally sold Mother's house back in Hometown. What a tremendous relief it is since we were just about to have to do some maintenance work.  I'd much rather that the new owners do their own thing.  It's hard to manage something like that from two hours away. It's a sweet house full of lovely memories, but Hometown is far from a booming center of commerce.  Not a lot of new folks moving in.  I understand that the buyers are retiring to the community.

2.  We spent last weekend at the summerhouse, joined by Will and Meg. We were so sad that Louis and Sue couldn't join us. On Saturday, we ventured into Beaufort and ate lunch at our favorite place..Wren, before returning back to paradise where Hank built a fire out by the water.  We sat laughing and talking until way after dark.  Will and Meg's son is getting married in May so we talked about rehearsal party themes and will all be together again for a party out at Folly Beach on March 10.

3.  Lorelai started her student teaching last week. I had to smile every afternoon when she called to tell me how TIRED she was.  Yes indeed...five year olds can give a gal a run for her money, although one little boy did draw a picture of Miss Southern, the princess.  She's happy that at least one of the children recognized her true inner princess.

4.  We found out last week that Mother has diabetes.  It isn't horrible and will be handled with "a pill" each day.  Bless her, she does love sweets and we've noticed as the dementia worsens that she pushes regular food around on her plate, taking a bite here and a bite there.  But sweets??!!!??  She loves them.

5.  Now I have possible genetic predispositions to dementia AND diabetes to look forward to. 

6.  I told you I'm reading the Happiness Project...haven't read a chapter in three weeks.  Maybe this afternoon since it's rainy and chilly.  Where is Hank???  I need him to make a fire in the den.  Let me go find him...

Hope everything is going well for you and yours.

Lorelai Update and Other Stuff

THANK YOU...a million times THANK YOU for your kind words, prayers, and offers of assistance for our little Lorelai.  At her appointment this week, the doctor told her that she should wait until after student teaching and graduation for the surgery on her foot.  Student teaching in kindergarten, combined with the three flights of stairs to her apartment provided too may opportunities for her to injure herself worse during recovery. She is being fitted for a special insert for her right shoe which will give her extra support and she shouldn't have to endure any more discomfort than a couple of ibuprofen can handle. In the meantime, our prayers are that between now and mid-May, the problem may resolve itself.  Wouldn't that be AWESOME?

I don't generally make new year's resolutions but I am setting out to try and improve upon a couple of points in my life.

#1- I consider myself to be a kind person...not that I don't employ tough love...that is a job requirement for a high school principal. BUT...tough love does not have to be mean-spirited, although from time to time I find myself making biting remarks that are unnecessary. In other words...my  mouth gets ahead of my brain. I want to do better. When I'm nice and thoughtful, things just go better. When I'm not...karma likes to nip at my heels.  For instance...for a first week back to school after winter break, this was a pretty good one.  I kept calm and took one issue at a time...until Friday...when I got a little aggravated with somebody (outside my work) who was not cooperating with my time line and I kind of (sort of) implied (maybe...OK, I did) that I might possibly consider placing a call (OK..I name dropped and I HATE it when people do that) to somebody (with a lot of clout) who would solve my problem once and for all. My problem did get solved, but my day went downhill from there. I was mean and impatient and karma GOT ME for it.  Lesson learned...here's to doing better this week.

#2- I'm on a two week gluten-free challenge. Turning 50 has made me acknowledge a number of things that I won't detail for you, but a fuzzy brain is a big one.  I've always blamed sugar; however, it was suggested to me that I might want to consider gluten as the culprit (along with a good many extra pounds!)...not celiac or anything like that, just a sensitivity to gluten. I am at day 5 and maybe it is all in my mind, but I think I feel better...fuzzy head-wise. For sure, I haven't had to pop a Pepsid or Tums since Tuesday afternoon. We'll see.

#3- The Happiness Project
I'm reading the book and we'll see how it goes.

What has happened in the first week of YOUR new year???

Our New Year's Eve Celebration

Legare and friends have headed back to Charlotte. All of the holiday decorations are put away and I'm trying to wrap my brain around going back to work tomorrow after eleven workdays off.  Lorelai still has a couple of weeks at home...please continue to pray as we work toward the decision about the foot surgery now versus after student teaching.

We had a nice evening here with friends and family on New Year's Eve.  My camera, when set for night photography, did some wild things with the giant sparklers.  On New Year's Day, Hank and I were so pooped that we sent the young folks down to Peninsula Grill and we stayed home and watched TV.  NUTS is what that was...but we were tired.

Hope that your first two days of 2012 have been fine and dandy. A post on my goals for the new year coming soon.

We thought we were missing a parade...

Hank, Lorelai and I sitting around talking when Lor noticed that a "wagon full of people" were riding in front of our house.  They meandered down the lane on the side of the house (and met a dead end). I grabbed my camera so that you could see what we saw as they made their way back.

We encounter all sorts of things in these parts.  For one thing...we live in South Carolina...the lowcountry of South Carolina...Berkeley County in the lowcountry of South Carolina.  I believe they were Episcopalians. I don't know what else I can tell you...other than a part of me wanted to go jump on that wagon with them. I know who was driving and I don't think he would have minded...

It kinda looked like fun!!

For your prayer list...

Please put our Lorelai and her poor foot on your prayer list.  As you may know, she's been in a "boot" for some time with a fractured sesamoid bone.  From Wikipedia...In the foot - the first metatarsal bone usually has two sesamoid bones at its connection to the big toe (both within the tendon of flexor hallucis brevis).[2] In some people, only a single sesamoid is found on the first MCP.


She begins student teaching in kindergarten on January 17.  To have surgery on January 12, or thereabouts, would only give her four days to get rested and back to Clemson. She would not be able to put weight on the foot for six weeks. She would likely have to depend on the kindness of others to drive her for six weeks. That is a lot to ask people who aren't family to do for you.  In her apartment, she won't be able to count on but one of her roommates for any support at all and they aren't in the same major.  Her apartment is on the third floor with no elevator. We live three and a half hours away.

I know she's tired...this has been going on since October.  I know she's frustrated as can be about not being able to exercise...she loves to run and that option has been (and will be for awhile) off the table.  This isn't how any of us envisioned her senior year of college.  I have her an appointment this morning with a personal trainer and plan to engage one when she gets back to Clemson...hopefully they can design an exercise routine for her that will give her some relief and not hurt the foot.

Hank and I feel like it might be better to wait until after graduation in early May to have the surgery. Yes, she will have to endure some discomfort and prolong the exercise dilemma BUT that way she will be home for the recovery and able to completely stay off the foot.  She wants to go ahead with it now because she is sick and tired of the whole mess.

We covet your prayers as we support Lorelai in making the right decision about what to do...

Thank you so much...

On the 4th Day after Christmas...

1.  Hank is with Lorelai at the orthopedist. We are praying that her foot has healed and she can take off that awful "boot." (Before I could post, Hank called and the broken foot has not healed...surgery scheduled for mid-January...Lor is a VERY unhappy camper right now.)

2.  I'm paying bills...ICK and DOUBLE ICK.

3.  On a brighter note, I have a hot stone massage at 2:30. 

4.  I declared that I would not be entertaining much during the holidays, but we've had SO much fun that we're throwing together a Saturday night shindig.  Not a huge crowd...10-15 folks.  Nothing like an oyster roast to ring in the New Year.

5.  Since we're going out for New Year's Day dinner at Peninsula Grill, I'm keeping our good luck lunch simple.  BBQ, Hoppin' John, Collard Greens, Hot Rolls, Artichoke Relish and Sweet Tea.
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...seems that I am having trouble completing this post. Have returned from my hot stone massage and after a glorious hot shower could just melt into a puddle....SO INCREDIBLE.

Christmas 2011

We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Gifts were opened on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morn, there was no rushing around.  There were eight around our dining room table for a 1:00 pm dinner and I hope that our company enjoyed it as much as we did.  Legare and Lorelai are real troopers when it comes to my picture taking. Hope you enjoy...cannot wait to see your photos.

In the above photo, Legare threw his first handful or oats so high that it came back down on top of his head.

The gift cards on top of the candle box are to Dean and Deluca and Brooks Brothers.

Since neither Legare no Lorelai wrote letters to Santa, they got ALL surprises. 

Boy howdy...Santa sure does have good taste!

 Hank and Legare were in charge of the roast.

Thankfully, I'm still on vacation...no work for me until January 3. 

Hank and I could not ask for any greater Christmas treasure!

Counting down...

Hank and I spent some time with Mother and Ned yesterday. Legare stopped at Green Grove on his way home for the holiday weekend and we all went to Dukes BBQ for lunch. We adore Dukes.  

Mother was in rare form. She had her little living room all decorated and we arrived loaded with gifts that she and Ned will open tonight when he spends the night with her. They will enjoy tomorrow with her sister Elizabeth and assorted nieces and nephews, while we entertain "Hank's people" here.

As we were riding to the restaurant, Mother kept telling me to look at the clouds, saying she'd never seen such a beautiful sky in her "whole entire life!!"  After the 4th or 5th time, I said, "Really, in your WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE?  Are you positive??" 

"Well yes," she replied.  "My whole entire life...at least what I can remember of it."

BAZINGA!!!!!!!!!!!        Mother = 1             Belle = 0

Last night, we went over to visit our friends Tom and Ann and have some dessert.  Ann has not one, but TWO grand pianos.  I don't have but one...BAZINGA!!!!!!!!!!!!   Ann = 2        Belle = 1

We played piano while our families oohed and ahhed over how wonderful we were. Lord love them...they love us!! Smarty pants Legare documented a few seconds of my rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...of course, I'm talking while I'm playing.

FOOD!!!  For Christmas Eve supper, Hank's famous shrimp and grits.

Christmas Day!!   Butternut squash soup, iceberg wedge w/ blue cheese, tomato and bacon, rib roast, roasted potatoes, sauteed brussel sprouts w/ caramelized onions and balsamic vinegar, a vegetable casserole (courtesy of Hank's aunt and uncle who will be joining us, along with Hank's mom and half-brother), hot yeast rolls, fruit cake, pecan pie, and ambrosia.

What does a high school principal do on the first morning of Christmas vacation?

1.  She sleeps until 8:00 a.m.
2.  She is still in her pajamas at 9:00 a.m.
3.  She catches up on reading her beloved blogs.
4.  She realizes that she did not dream about work at ALL the night before...not one bit!!  How awesome is that???
5.  She plans her day.
6.  The plan for the day is NOT to leave the house...maybe do a little baking...a little decorating...a little reading...a little napping...
7.  Seriously...HOW AWESOME IS THAT?????

What are you doing today?

An itty bitty tour of my decorations...

Goodness Gracious...I haven't posted since December 5.  Getting school closed up for the holidays was time consuming to the max but I do have a bit of decorating done.  I spent a lot of this afternoon in the dining room.  Minimalism is the word of the year in the sunroom and living room.  My lowcountry-themed tree is up and while I have a few up close photos of the ornaments, I couldn't seem to get a good one of the whole tree.  The mantle isn't done yet so hopefully there will be additional photos later this week.

Lorelai is home...Legare, being a working man, won't be in until the end of the week.  All of our gifts are purchased and the Christmas Day menu set...more on that later.  Enjoy the photos...I've surely been enjoying yours. Off to happy hour across the street...best neighbors in the world!!

Wish I'd had my camera...

So, last Friday night Hank and I went to a Christmas party at Ned's house. We picked up Mother to driver her across the street and she protested that she was NOT going because she was NOT invited. We played it cool...said, Oh well...you're welcome to go but if you don't want to, we'll see you later.  Cool works...wish I could be that way with her more often. She promptly got up, combed her hair and got in the car.

She spent the next two hours thinking that it was Christmas Day. Hey...she was happy. Ned sat beside her and let her hold his hand.  He's a good son.  A new fellow moved in on Friday and I'm sure he was a bit overwhelmed with all of the merry making.  Like Ned, he's lived at home with his mother his entire life. He's 52 and doesn't speak.  Mother kept trying to ask the poor guy questions.

After supper, there was an sing along.  One of the wonderful women who takes care of Ned and his buddies has a gorgeous voice...I contend that if given a chance, she could take on Susan Boyle. She sang White Christmas and Silent Night for us. When the group started with The Twelve Days of Christmas, Ned went to his room for his guitar.  He's been "playing" guitar since he was very young and is never without one.  Since everybody attending works at the home or has a relative living there, his performance was accepted with joy and love.  Hank did his best to get a photo with his phone. You'll see Ned toward the back strumming along.  What he lacks in playing the actual tune of a song, he makes up with steady rhythm and enthusiasm.  Scott (in chair) was celebrating his birthday along with our holiday party which explans why his dad is wearing a birthday cake hat.  We're QUITE a group...

We got our tree up yesterday...Lowcountry theme.  Hope to finish up the decorating tonight and concentrate on being Merry and Bright!  Have a good week..

And what a night it was!!!!

Orange Bowl HERE WE COME!!!!!

It appears that they took my advice this week. 

The Duke Building Bathed in Orange and Purple!!!



My Inquiring Mind Wants to Know...

Where did the week go? 

I'm finishing my Christmas shopping tomorrow. How 'bout you?

My brother Ned is supposed to take a HANDMADE gift to a Christmas party.  I just hot-glued twine to three silver spray-painted pine cones.  Is that bad?

When Hank came downstairs at 5:45 this morning, he walked into the kitchen to find me holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a bottle of bourbon in the other.  Whatcha think about that??? 

In my defense, I was mixing up a sweet potato casserole for a dinner we're going to tonight...it called for 1/4 cup of bourbon.  You didn't really think I was drinking bourbon, did you?

Ten more school days until Christmas vacation!  Who's excited??

I need a good book to read...my "to read" shelf is bare.  Any ideas?

Have a fabulous weekend...I know I deserve one.  Don't you?

Hmmmmm

Looks like I might have to move to Clemson and become a FOOTBALL COACH!!!!!!!!

For PETE'S SAKE DABO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Holiday in Review

So much going on that I feel compelled to make a list...

1.  We're thankful that Lorelai's foot is healing but it isn't quite there yet.  Our Charleston orthopedist has her continuing to wear the "boot" for another month and has forbidden her to give Clemson tours, one of her favorite activities.  Hopefully when the new semester starts in January, she'll be back at it.

2.  Hank is on his way back to the Aldersgate House via the farm with my brother Ned. We're going to start calling him Prince Ned because he absolutely expects to be waited on hand and foot. I was drinking coffee and looking at the paper this morning when he came in from the guest house.  He said "good morning" and walked on through the house.  After about 10 minutes, Hank said, "He's sitting at the kitchen table...I think he's waiting on somebody to come serve him breakfast."  So...I went on in there and made him some delicious cheese toast on my new Cuisinart griddle/grill.  When I put it in front of him, his response was, "this'll do." The boy s ROTTEN, I tell you! :)

3.  Legare picked up Mother and Ned on his way here Wednesday evening. We've decided that this will be the last time Mother leaves Green Grove to spend the night elsewhere. Our house is by NO means a mansion, yet she kept getting lost. When I took her back to Green Grove on Thursday afternoon, she told me at least 25 times (in an hour drive) that it was too much for us to come get her that morning and take her back in the afternoon, i.e., she did not remember that she'd spent the night.  Every time we rode by a house with a bunch of cars parked around, she'd wonder out loud why there were so many people there.  And every time, I'd tell her it was Thanksgiving Day and remind her that she'd just eaten turkey, dressing, and the works. As little as three minutes later, we'd pass another house and have the same conversation again. I honestly believe that at this point, we are not doing her any favors by disrupting her routine for holidays.  She also asked me a number of questions about a COUSIN who I rarely see and don't know too much about.  When I told her that I didn't know, she said, "You should be ashamed of yourself not knowing more about your grandchildren."  She thought I was her sister, Elizabeth. 

4.  Mother and my aunts used to go shopping every year on the day after Thanksgiving, LONG before anybody coined the term "black Friday."  It's not my cup of tea. I've found quite a few good deals online in the last 24 hours...all with free shipping.  No traffic...no crowds...(in most cases no sales tax), all from the comfort of home sweet home. By the time I go back to work on Monday morning, I'll have all of my Christmas decorations out, with the exception of the tree,  which will be next weekend's project.

5. Clemson vs. South Carolina state rivalry game tonight.  I'm not feeling good about it...sad to admit, but for true.

6.  Legare had to go back to Charlotte last night to work today and tomorrow.  Ah...the life of a first year associate.  He got his business cards last week...Legare Southern, Attorney at Law.  SWEET!!

7.  I got a little sad yesterday afternoon when I was packing up Legare's Christmas ornaments.  We've collected at least one ornament every year for each of our children since they were born, with the idea that when they and had their own Christmas trees, they'd not have NAKED trees like Hank and I did the first few Christmas after we were "grown." This was the year for Legare to take ownership of his ornaments (which he returned to Charlotte without, as they are still sitting in the bags at the bottom of our stairs). I guess his tree will be naked until I can get them to him.

8. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.  I know I intend to...

Thanksgiving Eve

The fresh cranberry relish is cooling on the kitchen counter.  The black walnut apple cake just went in the oven.  I'm drinking my second cup of D&D Manhattan Blend.  Lorelai made it home safely. Legare is going to collect Mother and Ned late this afternoon on his way down from Charlotte.  It's a bit dreary outside...a bit warm and muggy, but tomorrow is supposed to be nice and clear and cool.  I really don't mind a dreary day when I don't have to go anywhere.  And today....TODAY...I do NOT have to go anywhere.  I believe I hear a third cup of coffee calling my name...

Congratulations to my University of South Carolina Friends

Congrats on your big win against state rival (and MY team) The Clemson Tigers.

Wait...the game isn't until NEXT Saturday???

Like I said, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Regarding Ned

Hank wanted to do a little hunting Satuday morning so we headed over to the farm on Friday night, picking up some Duke's BBQ and Ned along the way.  Ned loves going to the farm. 

Ned also likes to talk to himself...sort of.  He's done this since we were children. He doesn't talk too loud but when he thinks nobodyis listening, he sure enough talks to somebody.  Sometimes it appears to be our daddy, who passed away in 1981.  Other times, he seems to converse with our granddaddy, who died in 1967 and Ned wasn't born until 1968.  In any event, he has a big ol' time and chuckles from time to time. Ned has a special way of seeing the world so shoot, who am I to judge who may or my not be there even if I can't see them. (We don't think he does this too much at Green Grove, but boy howdy does he get going when he's over at the farm or here with us.)

He can also get going when somebody makes him mad...usually that would be yours truly. We got up on Saturday morning and had a pancake breakfast (made on my new Cuisinart griddle/sandwich grill...I ADORE this new toy of mine).  When I informed Ned that he was going to dry the dishes, he got disgruntled in a hurry...

Ned: Belle!!!!! I'm not drying dishes. Don't you know the rules???  At Green Grove, the STAFF washes the dishes.

Me: This is not Green Grove and I am not your staff.  I cooked and I'm washing dishes. You're more than capable of drying dishes. Get busy!

Whew...he got a frown on his face like you wouldn't believe, but started drying nonetheless. He took his time and when I finished washing and started making beds, I could hear him talking...and answering back.

Ned: She's always telling me what to do...she can't tell me what to do.  Just dry the dishes you can do it. She's not the boss of me. I'm not supposed to dry dishes, my job is to sweep the porch not dry the dishes. Nooooo, be nice now and dry the dishes. I wish she'd go home and leave me and Hank here at our farm. This place is not for girls. Be nice now, be nice.

I was saved from any further insult when Hank walked in and told Ned they'd go for a ride to check out the fields when he finished his chore. Hank is most definitely Ned's favorite.

Maybe I should move to Green Grove...I'd sure love to have "a staff!"  How about you?

This and That

1.  I have a holiday from work tomorrow.  First one since school started.  Yippee!

2.  It's nice and cool here and I'm in an organizing for the holidays frame of mind, much to Hank's dismay.  On my day off tomorrow, I plan to run lots of errands, plan menus, and perhaps purchase a few Christmas gifts.

3.  My Tigers played STUPID football last night against Georgia Tech.  So...we're 8-1...surely not looking at any National Championship.  Hopefully the ACC and a decent Bowl game.

4.  Tune out now if you don't want to hear me whine for a minute or two.  Along with planning for holiday fun, this is also the time of year that Hank and I have to start grappling with how in the world we are going to deal with our mothers. My mother is getting worse by the day.  It's getting more and more difficult to be patient and harder to get her out of what I call "a loop"...i.e. when she asks the same question over and over (times 10) in an hour's time. Taking her away from Green Grove makes it worse.  Our children drive 3-4 hours one way to get home and they don't want to run the roads when they only have two or three days here.  Plus, Hank's mother, you may recall, left Green Grove after six months to go back home so she is 1.5 hours away from us one way while Mother is an hour in the opposite direction. Hank and I feel overwhelmed trying to accommodate everybody.

Last year, we went away for Thanksgiving and had a marvelous time. Just us and the children, while we relied on others to accommodate the little old ladies and Ned.  We consequently ran up and down the roads between here and there and there and here over Christmas. I guess I'm selfish but I want one holiday at home.  They can all come here...I'll cook and clean and all that...I'm a hard worker.  The more the merrier.  I love to entertain...especially during the holidays. Here's the dilemma with that.  On said holiday morn, one of us has to drive 90 minutes to hometown to get Hank's mother...then 90 minutes back here. Another person has to drive 60 minutes the other way to get Mother and Ned (although he'll probably be here already)...60 minutes back here.  THEN, the entire process has to be done AGAIN in the afternoon to take them back.  That's what...ten hours of driving all total? Heaven help us...it's frustrating.  Very very frustrating.  I know...I'm a bad bad person.

5.  OK, I'm done whining.

6.  Did I mention that I have tomorrow off???  DOUBLE YIPPEE!!!

My brother Ned throws a Halloween party...

Y'all remember my brother Ned, right?  He and his buddies at the Aldersgate House threw (with a lot of help) a Halloween party last night.  We stopped by last Sunday on our way home from Clemson to help him decorate his room.  The pictures aren't great...he wanted it "spooky" and the light was so dim that the iPhone didn't get a good shot of all of the lights.  Anyhow, it was a good time for all.  We were supposed to dress up and good golly, I'm so beat on Friday afternoons that I wore my regular Clemson game Friday outfit straight from school, declaring myself to be Clemson's Number One Fan!  Hank wore a Clemson shirt and cap, so we were quite a pair.  Ned was a hunter...

The photos aren't great, but I hope you'll enjoy them. Ned is always "up."  Never sad or depressed.  We are so blessed that he has such a lovely home and so many wonderful people to care for him.

SO...how are you loving this last one.  Mother told me to find her a costume and the little devil that sits on my left shoulder kept saying, "Buy the witch hat...buy the witch hat...buy the witch hat."

Hope you have a safe and happy Halloween.