Chapel Hill...Crooks Corner...Il Palio

I'm so perturbed with my new phone...the photos won't send...I'm taking that thing back tomorrow.

Anyway...Hank and I headed up to Chapel Hill for the weekend to get a few things in order for Legare's upcoming move to his own apartment. No more roommates...he found himself in a "three's company" situation this year and the honeymoon was over after about a week. As Hank told him, "Son...the only way a man can live with a woman is if he really REALLY loves her." I chose to ignore the clear implication that he thinks that ALL women would be hard to live with and that I'm SO lucky because he loves me. (OK...I am...hard to live with AND lucky that he loves me.) But I digress...

Friday night we ate at Crook's Corner. Lesser critics (unlike myself) have said...

"Crook's continues to live up to its national reputation as a temple of Southern cuisine."
— Raleigh News & Observer

"Sacred ground for Southern foodies."— The New York Times

I, Belle, concur! You'd be able to see fabulous photos if the stupid camera phone would upload.

It was casual...VERY. We ate out on the patio. Hank had the most gorgeous summer bean salad and shrimp and grits. Crooks claims to have come up with the original shrimp and grits idea. I don't know about that, but it WAS tasty. Legare had blueberry soup and the shrimp and grits. I had the best caesar salad ever and the tomato tart. I think I like my tomato tart better but theirs was very good. For dessert, we had the homemade sorbet, homemade peach pie (lard and vodka crust), and homemade banana pudding with meringue.

Saturday night...well...Saturday night was STELLAR! We ate at Il Palio Ristorante in the Siena Hotel. When the meal was over, I told the sommelier to bring out the chef so that I could give him a hug. AND HE DID! And I did (give him a hug)! Hank and Legare had the Best Dish in North Carolina Tasting Menu with the wine pairings. The majority (85%) of the ingredients and ALL of the wines were from the state of North Carolina. Here was their menu...

salad
summer bean & Goat Lady ‘Old Liberty’ salad, spring onion, Sicilian oregano
and extra virgin olive oil
Riesling, Chathem Hill 2006, Yadkin Valley, North Carolina

soup
five local onion and Ayrshire Farm rosemary soup, Chapel Hill Creamery
‘Hickory Grove’ and house-made focaccia croutons
Carolina Brewing Company, Summer Ale

starter
Pope Farms lamb and Elodie Farms chevre stuffed ravioli,
asparagus tips and morels
Cabernet Franc, Restless Soul, Old North State, North Carolina

entree
roasted Cane Creek pork loin involtini, Elodie Farms ‘Market Cheese’,
spinach, red and green cabbage, house-smoked Cane Creek bacon,
and apple cider balsamic reduction
Bordeaux blend, Category 5, RayLen Vineyard,
Yadkin Valley, North Carolina

dessert
“mixed summer berries” raspberry crisp, blackberry caviar and strawberry gelato
Childress Vineyards Starbound Blueberry Dessert Wine

I had the heirloom tomato and fresh mozzarella salad, homemade ravioli with lobster, veal marsala, and a chocolate expresso pudding. I'm not so much a wine drinker, although I did enjoy a little taste of a dessert wine that was offered. I'm going back on the diet tomorrow morning.

Run as fast as you can to Il Palio...Fit Crooks Corner in when you can.

You know....

You know...I could really get into being a lady of leisure. I spent last weekend at the summer house. I didn't leave my house on Monday at all. Tuesday, I only left to run to the grocery store. Wednesday...you guessed it...stayed home ALL DAY! It was glorious.

Today, I took myself out for a relaxing pedicure and by Starbucks for a lovely iced passion tea/lemonade and a catch-up visit with a pal from work. Ahhhh... No phones...no complaints...everybody was happy. A quick run by Target and back home. Easy Peasy.

Just one more week of vacation...back to work on July 13 and that will be here before you know it. Oddly, I'll be happy to get back into my regular routine. I'm fortunate to have a job that I enjoy and good people to work with. Now, if they'd just let me work in those spa treatments and visits to Starbucks during the work day, I'd have it made.

More exciting news....

Monday, we got the fabulous news that Lorelai's request to change her major to Early Childhood (one of THE most competitive majors to get into at Clemson) had been approved. We were happy dancing all over the place.

Last night, Legare called to tell us that he'd gotten a call to let him know that he had made Law Review at the University of North Carolina School of Law. MORE happy dancing here in the Land of Belle.

What wonderful blessings both of our children are.

Blissful Escape

I am enjoying two BLISSFUL weeks away from the office. Not doing anything special...more of a "staycation" if you will. When I go back to work on July 13, I'll be in a new office...well not NEW new...it's an old building...but new to me. Bigger, with four real walls AND a door. I'll also have a new boss...a wonderful good old southern gal who I've known and worked with for many moons. Best Boss in the World will still be in the picture but I'll report directly to Southern Gal. I also will have a new secretary...the fabulous Miss Evette, who is the sweetest lady EVER.

I'm puttering around the house, watching some television (the DVR was at 97% capacity), going through some of the things we've brought from mother's house...nothing brain draining AT ALL!

OH...Ned's first new housemate moved in last week. His name is Scott and so far, so good, thank the GOOD Lord!! Scott isn't as verbal as Ned, but Miss Vernelle (the housemother, sort of) reports that they are getting along very well. Mr. Herman took them to the Watermelon Festival back in our hometown on Saturday and I think Ned might have gotten a little homesick, but he wanted to go worse than ANYTHING. I'll have to ride over there one afternoon later this week to check things out for myself...maybe take Ned and mother up to Columbia to do a little clothes shopping. I've taken her 14 pairs of shoes to try and NONE have suited.

BIG NEWS...Clemson approved Lorelai's change of major request, so she is now officially an Early Childhood Education major. I'm so proud of her!! She is going to be a wonderful teacher and/or guidance counselor. That's my girl!!

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia- A Life in Poems

I received a lovely e-mail the other day from Patricia Neely-Dorsey asking if I might be willing to feature her new book on my blog. I was VERY flattered and happy to oblige. A click on her name will take you to her website.

In her own words....

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia- A Life in Poems

My book Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia is a true celebration of the south and things southern. Using childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life. There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. I want to show a flip side of the coin.There is much to love about this much maligned and misunderstood part of our country. I would really love for you to get to KNOW Mississippi in a different light and I want to introduce you. I invite you to Meet Mississippi Through Poetry, Prose and the written word in my "little book of southern poems."

Here is just a little taste of what is in the book...

SOUTHERN LIFE
If you want a glimpse of Southern life,

Come close and walk with me;

I'll tell you all the simple things,

That you are sure to see.

You'll see mockingbirds and bumblebees,

Magnolia blossoms and dogwood trees;

Caterpillars on the step,

Wooden porches cleanly swept

Watermelons on the vine,

Strong majestic Georgia pines

Turnip greens and.hot cornbread,

Coleslaw and barbecue

Fried okra, fried corn,fried green tomatoes

Fried pies and pickles too

There's ice cold tea that 's syrupy sweet

And cool, green grass beneath your feet

Catfish nipping in the lake

And fresh young boys on the make.

You'll see all these things

And much, much more In a way of life, that I adore.

Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Another Rowdy Girls Weekend...

Meg and Will couldn't join us but Sue and Louis didn't let us down. They met us at the summer house for the weekend and, as usual, we came back relaxed and renewed. Hank and I enjoyed our lunch at the Beaufort Inn (BI) so much a few weeks ago that we talked Sue and Louis into going over there this morning for brunch. DIVINE!! Just DIVINE! Lor had my camera and I tried to take photos with the camera phone but they didn't turn out well at all.

I did have a chance to talk with the chef, Christopher Hewitt. Do click on his name to read some more about him. The catering company that he and his wife own do lunches and the Sunday Brunch at the BI. He is QUITE accomplished. I'm so sad that the photos didn't turn out. I don't think I can remember everything on the buffet but here is a try...Sweet Potato Hash with Chicken, Lowcountry Eggs Benedict, Omelets (best I've ever had), Almond Brioche French Toast (again, best I've ever had), Roasted Vegetables in a Balsamic Glaze, Scalloped Sweet Potatoes, all sorts of pastries, fresh fruit, the best grits I've ever had IN my LIFE (and that's saying something), Prime Rib, an assortment of desserts to include chocolate cake, white chocolate pudding, red velvet cupcakes, and much more. Top all of that off with a mimosa and coffee and PRESTO...happy happy people in the Land of Belle.

Why the next few camera phone photos came out, I have not a clue. Anyhow...You might remember that we inherited one quarter of the summer house from Hank's dad and share it with two couples and one widow, all our parents ages. We don't always agree on decor, which is why I've never showed photos of the entire house. I'm trying to make a difference a little bit at a time. This trip, I took on the two large tables in the kitchen. Each table sits eight people and the setting was the blue gingham cloth with the plastic place mats in the photo left.

I replaced said plastic place mats with the woven chargers and an arrangement of shells in a clear glass container in the middle with plain glass salt and pepper shakers. Better, YES???

Why Can't We Get Lorelai To Work Like This At Home???

Lorelai is on a mission trip this week, chaperoning a group of middle schoolers at a Homeworks event in Aiken, SC. They're sleeping on the floor in a school gymnasium at night and working all day. No Lilly dresses this week...and she's going to be worn out when she gets home but I'm figuring it's going to be a GOOD kind of tired after spending a week making such a big difference in the life of a sweet little old lady who REALLY needed help.

Lor is second from the left on the front row in the photo below. Look how dirty her knees are!!

She's our little sweetie pie!!

Merciful Heavens Mark Sanford...

Our governor has done it again and it's not good. He ran away for a week and nobody knew where he was. Instead of "Where's Waldo? " we were playing "Where's the Governor?"

QUIT CRYING, you big baby.

He was in Argentina with his girlfriend. His wife was at the beach with the boys. She asked him to leave two weeks ago. His "people" thought he was hiking the Appalachian Trail all alone. A reporter figured it out and met him as he got off of the plane in Atlanta.

Put your family first, man...RESIGN, be a strong example for your boys and go heal your marriage, if indeed that is possible.

Go here to read about it if you can stomach it...oh...now I hear on the news that there are E-MAILS!! Good grief...

A Review: High Cotton

I'm in Greenville for a conference and felt like a nice meal tonight, even though I didn't have a dinner companion. Right around the corner from my hotel (a very nice Hampton Inn...I usually stay at the Westin but didn't know I was coming before all of the government rate rooms were gone at the Westin...boohoo) is a lovely restaurant...the sister restaurant of one by the same name in Charleston...High Cotton.

I enjoyed a Greenville Cocktail...Firefly, lemonade, Madeira, and a mint-infused simple syrup. Yummy. A nice hot roll accompanied a Caesar Salad, followed by Sauteed Carolina Trout with Grits, Green Beans, and a Tarragon Aioli. It was all very tasty. I tried to be strong for about five seconds before succumbing to the Grand Marnier Creme Brulee and a cup of coffee.

The service was great and I was entertained by listening to (OK...eavesdropping on) the table of four men right beside me. One of them is getting married and the bride-to-be and spouses/girlfriends of the other three are driving them nuts. One has to "report in" after dinner on the plans. It was TOO funny!

If you're in Greenville...or Charleston, for that matter...give High Cotton a try.

Calling for some bloggy wisdom...

Here is the issue. In the process of moving things out of mother's house, I've brought home her good china and her good GOOD china. The everyday stuff was icky...it's still in the cabinet at her house. Anyhow, when my grandmother passed away in 2001, I inherited her REALLY GOOD china. In addition, I have my own china. Yes, I'm keeping all of it...I can mix and match and have a really good time.

Since I now have something like 60 dinner plates and rarely (LOL) have 60 people over for dinner, I want to put my grandmother's monogram on one of her plates, mother's on one of hers, and mine on one of mine, then display the three together. Good idea, don't you think??

Here is the problem. I consulted with the art coordinator at work and she says that she doesn't think finding someone to paint the monograms on will work...she thinks that the paint will peel off if the plates aren't "fired" or something like that, after being painted.

Anybody out there have any ideas or expertise in this area?

Dining in the Land of Belle

Henry’s Restaurant, my favorite place to eat in the Land of Belle, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. When you eat at Henry’s, you can rest assured that most of the people eating there with you are true blue locals. To say that I LOVE HENRY’S is almost an understatement. It makes me very very happy!!

Miss Bertie is the owner. She and Lynn do the cooking. Vonda is Bertie’s right hand and is usually the waitress. If you go to Henry’s on a regular basis, you become family. They know all of our children…children who are as (if not more) dedicated to them than we adults are. If the kids go in and see a table that needs to be cleared, they clear it. If Vonda is busy, they go fix their own drinks and get an order pad and write down their own orders. I myself have taken orders AND served dessert once or twice. I’d do it more often if they told me to!

Miss Bertie and Lynn accommodate my quirkiness beautifully…when I wanted a bigger cheeseburger than the regular cheeseburger but didn’t like the shape of the bun on the “hungryman” (it was oblong and that just ain't right) they came up with a special creation on a round bun just for me….a belleburger, if you will. Then when I switched to the smothered chicken because I wasn’t going to eat bread OR french-fries anymore, they fixed smothered chicken even if it WASN’T on the menu…just for me and my work/lunch friend Ed.

Let's discuss the Boston Cream Pie…let me tell you…the Boston Cream Pie is a masterpiece. Miss Bertie makes every dessert from scratch with an extra dash of love mixed in for good measure. I can usually be strong and walk away…EXCEPT on Boston Cream Pie day. The photo doesn't do Bertie's justice....hers is covered all the way around with a thick chocolate frosting!!

For you to FULLY understand the special relationship we have with Henry's, I can't end my post without telling you about what we all fondly refer to as The Birthday Boston Cream Pie Debacle of 2008. Last year on my birthday, naturally, I chose Henry’s for lunch. A belleburger, fries, Pepsi, and Boston Cream Pie. There was a whole pie in the dessert case when we got there and I immediately asked Wanda to save me a piece. She looked at me all pitiful-like and informed me that the people in the front booth had just bought the whole thing.

Everybody in our party of six looked appropriately horrified. First of all, we did not know these strange people who sat there looking all high and mighty waiting on MY pie. When I recovered my voice, I looked over at them and sort of whined, But it’s my birthday…Boston Cream Pie is my favorite. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!!! I just stopped short of wailing!

By that time everybody in the restaurant was focused on our little brouhaha. The man in the booth glanced my way and said offhandedly, “Hap.py.birth.day.” I was stunned at such ungentlemanly conduct. STUNNED, I tell you. One table over, the preacher leaned toward the deacon and said, “Ohhhhh NO!…now he’s gone and made her MAD!” There was not a sound in the place and all eyes were on me.

Thankfully, before I could respond (OR CRY), Vonda placed a generous slice of pie in front of me. They was playing a practical joke on me and probably figured I'd had about all I could take. I took a big bite and smiled REAL big…nobody can get aggravated when there’s pie for goodness sake.

I hope you have the equivalent of a Henry’s in your town. If not, come on over and visit us here in the Land of Belle. Just make sure it's a pie day!

Did You Miss Me?????

I has been a week since we had an internet connection here at home...and no time to go to the local coffee shop to partake of their free wireless. Finally, the friendly repair man graced us with his presence.

DID YOU MISS ME?

I've missed you AND have 856 posts waiting for me to read in Google Reader. I've got a great new post almost ready for you about my favorite hole in the wall restaurant here in the Land of Belle...hopefully you'll see it tomorrow.

We have BIG news about my brother Ned that is going to require lots of good thoughts from all of my friends. Ned has been the only resident in his group home since March. THREE new men are moving in by the end of June. This is going to be a big adjustment for Ned as he has been King of the Hill and has the staff wrapped around his little finger. I guess it will be an adjustment for them too!

Hank and Lorelai are fine. Legare will be coming home tomorrow for Father's Day weekend.

More soon!!

not lost...dsl out...aaarrrggghhh

Joyful Laughter

I'm sitting here in the kitchen roasting beets...I have no idea what I'm doing so we'll see what happens. But I digress...

Lorelai and four of her friends are in our family room eating veggie pizza, drinking diet coke and having a glorious time. I'm chuckling just because they're laughing with such JOY. Just now they're discussing every boy that EVER did any ONE of them wrong and the laughter has turned joyfully WICKED.

I'm all of a sudden recalling once when Hank and I had a little falling out LONG before we were dating exclusively. I was probably 18 and he was 21 or so. My best friend Karen called him and let him have it...NOBODY treated HER best friend like THAT was her message and he got it loud and clear. Being the fast learner that he is, he never made THAT mistake again.

SO...BOYS...Tom, Dick, Harry...hear this! Don't mess with this group of petite belles. You'll be taking on a fight you can't win.

I Get My Best Material at Bi Lo

Truly, I get good blog material when I go to Bi Lo. I went in yesterday afternoon with my reusable shopping bags. (If you didn't see the post about the Cooper River Bridge Run debacle, click here.) I put the bags on the conveyor belt first and then the groceries. When I walked to the keypad with my debit card, I noticed that the young man bagging had placed my shopping bags in a plastic bag and was also putting the groceries in plastic bags. I said, No no NO, I'm not buying these reusable bags, I brought them from home to carry my groceries.


OK, he said...I'm sorry...I didn't know. I took the reusables out of the plastic and set them down by the groceries. While I was making sure that the checker had not charged me for the bags, he CONTINUED putting my groceries in plastic bags. Do you think, I suggested, that you could put the groceries IN the reusable bags?


OH, sure, he replied...I'm sorry. I don't usually bag groceries.

SO...I stood there and watched him continue to put my groceries in the plastic bags THEN put the plastic bags inside my reusable bags. I was too tired to offer any further direction.

When I got in the car, I called Legare. Son, I said, this is what happens when the brightest and best kids in town go away to school and never come back.

Bless the bag boy's sweet heart!!

Image from greenbagamerica.com

Random Fun

Our little party was fun yesterday afternoon. No photos. Lorela's camera in on the fritz and apparently she believes that I intend to share mine with her as it was nowhere to be found. We had a great time!! Good food...conversation, as you might expect, centered mainly around the goings on at work BUT the Cosmo Punch helped take some of the edge off and we were able to have a few chuckles. No takers on the bikini and speedo challenge.

We did a little shopping today. I talked Hank into going downtown with me and we had a fabulous lunch at Virginia's on King. The Tomato Pie was slap your grandmama delicious. I'm thinking that Virginia's might quickly become one of our new favorites.

After shopping at M Dumas and Sons for some shoes for Hank and Pottery Barn for some drapes for our living and dining rooms, we lugged a suitcase down to Mori in Charleston Place. Hank and I borrowed Legare's large Hartmann when we went to Washington in April and wouldn't you know, US Air RIPPED the handle right off. They weren't even sorry either...not one little bit. Anyhow, they're sending it off to be fixed...I hope we get it back sometime this year.

To top off the afternoon, we headed over to Mt. Pleasant to my favorite store, Gwynn's of Mt. Pleasant. You'll find the link over on my sidebar. Lorelai, who had been at Folly Beach all day, naturally found time to meet me for some shopping. She updated her "look" with some new Laura Mercier and got a FABULOUS pair of Tory Burch Miller Thongs in Poppy Coral. Here's a photo, but in black. The best news is that they were 50% off, today only.

Today is Mother's 81st birthday. We'll go over tomorrow morning and pick up her and Ned for lunch at the farm. They love spaghetti, made with my grandmother's recipe, so I have a pot of sauce simmering on the stove now. I sent this gorgous flower arrangement yesterday afternoon from all of us.

That reminds me...I need to call Legare and remind HIM to call her. Gotta go...

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY

YAY...It's Friday... Can you give me an AMEN??

I'm SERIOUS...leave a comment and let's see how many AMENs we get!

I came home early from work to get ready for company. I invited our department over for some FUN since we aren't having much of that at the office just now.

I don't know if they'll let me take photos of them but we'll see.

The pool is ready for anybody brave enough to bring a bikini or speedo. I've mixed up a nice Cosmopolitan Punch and we'll have an assortment of yummy dishes to try. Sweet tea for those who don't want a kick to their beverage. My best in the world Red Velvet Cake and likewise Banana Pudding are ready for those with a sweet tooth.

Wish you were here to join us!!

COLLEAGUES: "Keep Calm and Carry On"---PLEASE, at least TRY!

Why, you may ask, am I blogging at 3:00 AM?

Work is giving me a massive case of indigestion and I can't sleep, so I'm bringing to the table a ONE Quotation Thursday. Doesn't have the same ring to it as Three Quotation Thursday, does it now? Here it is...

"The greatest mistake you can make is to be continually fearing you will make one."

Elbert Hubbard

I think this sums up pretty well how a lot of people in our organization are feeling right now. Being a Southern Belle, I'm reasonably certain that everything I do is absolutely THE WAY that things should be done, but I have to agree with my colleagues in one very important respect...Not only do we not know what the RULES are...we aren't even clear on the GAME! There is a MASSIVE communications issue right now as we reorganize. In the ten years I've been in this office, I've NEVER seen such low morale. I keep saying, "Keep calm and carry on" and have ordered a sign for my office printed with this sentiment. A lot of people are not keeping calm and IT'S GIVING ME INDIGESTION. Perhaps this implies that my attempts at outward calm are causing my insides to rebel!! (poster image from KeepCalmandCarryOn.com)

The secretaries got reassigned on Tuesday, which caused much angst. Lily won't be my secretary anymore. I'm sad... BUT she has been given a wonderful new assignment which I believe will be a good stepping stone for her to the next level. My new secretary, Yvonne, is as sweet as she can be and I love her to pieces. Put her on your prayer list...keeping me straight is not for the faint of heart!

Office space was reassigned...just about everybody is moving to a new location in the building. More angst. The saddest thing is that it's starting to show in some of our relationships with each other. We're generally a very cordial group but the changes, along with not knowing exactly what the new boss expects and preparing to bid farewell to a good number of our co-workers, are taking a toll on the way we interact with each other. Yes, even on me...while I'd like for you to believe that I'm perfect (OK...stop laughing...really, stop it....you're hurting my feelings), I wouldn't be sitting here blogging in the wee hours of the morning if I was completely calm.

Tomorrow is another day...oh wait...it IS tomorrow...

Is this a ton of fun? No it is not. Will we get through it? Yes we will. As unpleasant as it is, none of us are going to find ourselves standing in the unemployment line, at least not right now. For this, I am thankful.

"KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" Sorry, I didn't mean to yell.

Life of a Southern Belle Award - TWIRL and TASTE

It's been quite some time since I gave out a Life of a Southern Belle Award.



For those of you who aren't familiar with the award, sometimes I read posts that inspire me or tickle me to no end and I say to myself....now that gal is a Southern Belle. Southern Belleness transcends geography....it is a philosophy...a state of mind...style and substance...wit and charm...joy and sunshine...grit and determination...love...respect, and so much more. The standards for receiving the award are high indeed. This isn't an award that one passes along to someone else. It can ONLY come from ME!!!

This post from Twirl and Taste just made me feel ALL happy! Take some time to read it for yourself because I'm reckoning it will make you happy too! Congratulations Libby Murphy!

Lightning Bugs, Magnolias, Rhett Butler, Mint Tea, Pimento Cheese and Buttermilk Pie
What Southern Women Know and Love

Reality TV--Jon and Kate Plus Eight

Admittedly, Hank and I have only ever really watched reality TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and American Idol. I did have a brief love affair with Big Brother about four years ago and more recently Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

I have never watched Jon and Kate Plus Eight. Last weekend there was nothing on that interested me but there WAS a J and KPE marathon so I tuned in, having seen some tabloid reports of unhappy things going on. THAT led me to watch the first episode of the new season last week. I was curious.

I surely hope that I don't offend any fans of the show...BUT...If those two parents don't put a HALT to the taping of the show right now, well, I just don't know what to say about their abilities to determine what is appropriate parenting. It would seem to me that the last thing those poor children need right now are television cameras and photographers in their faces, not ONLY at home but everywhere else they go...Target, for example, to buy birthday party decorations, while Kate complains the entire time about "having to do all of this by myself...but I will...because I love my kids." And Jon sits around like a bump on a log talking about how much HE loves HIS kids. Who the heck are they trying to convince...I certainly HOPE they love their kids. As a matter of fact, it never occurred to me that they wouldn't...why in the world did they have to keep saying it over and over and over. It just hit me ALL wrong.

Face it...few of us lead perfect lives or have perfect families (does ANYBODY??), but this seems to have gotten out of control...in my opinion, that is. I'm sure the show DID start as a way to chronicle the goings and doings of an unusual family dynamic, but a good idea today is not necessarily a good idea tomorrow.

So who agrees with me? Who DOESN'T agree...I want to hear from everybody.

Lily's Husband Buys a Boat

My secretary Lily, as you know, keeps me straight at work. She also has her hands full with her two daughters, Miss Priss and Song Bird. Then there is her husband Michael.

Michael is one of those guys that the exclamation "oh my goodness, boys and their toys" applies to very well. No sooner did the family sell two jet skis than Michael caught a BAD case of boat fever.

He looked around all last week and found just the right boat. On Friday morning, he went to the bank to get a check to take to purchase the boat. (It's important to mention right about now that Lily handles all of the bank accounts and paying of the bills.) Michael walks up to the teller (remember we live in a small town where everybody knows everybody's business) and says, OK...I'm here to get the check to buy my boat...what do I need to do? The teller looked up from what she was doing and hesitated for just a split second. Before she could speak, Michael said, OH...I promise it's alright. Lily knows ALL about it and she said I could!

You can't make this stuff up...I'm starting to think I need my own reality show.

Three Quotation Thursday

"We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for."
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

I wonder why that is?
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"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself. "
Mark Twain

Isn't it a shame? Of course we can't lump EVERY member of congress into the idiot category but it seems like we hardly ever hear anything positive.
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"I really didn't say everything I said. "
Yogi Berra

Remember I mentioned that we are having a reorganization at work? It's still going on and rumors are FLYING. Good heavens, it can't ALL be true. I heard four different things today about one individual. My mantra is to "keep calm and carry on" but honestly...I'm going to have to start doing SOMETHING to amuse myself and my colleagues...people are getting more distressed as days go by. I'm thinking of going with a sticky note system (thanks Susan S.) to write down each individual rumor, color coded by person, to see just how ridiculous things become before everything plays out. What do you think?
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My Kind of Busy...

Yes...Hank and I were very busy last weekend. Busy taking a break from REALITY! We were getting ill tempered and desperate for some downtime...

We were VERY busy sitting in the screened dock house at the summer house listening to the rain and watching the tides roll in and out.

We were busy reading......... I highly recommend both of these books. The Kathryn Wall books are a series featuring her super sleuth Bay Tanner of Beaufort and Hilton Head. We started with her first book, "In For a Penny" and just purchased "Covenant Hill" at the Beaufort Bookstore on Saturday. Hank and I have both enjoyed all of them.

We were also busy riding over to the Beaufort Inn for a quiet Saturday lunch. The name of the restaurant is Southern Graces. Doesn't that just sound like the perfect place for a beau to take his belle for a leisurely lunch? We were so hungry that I neglected to take photos of the food. They started by bringing us popovers fresh from the oven with strawberry butter. Hank had a swordfish club, while I had she crab soup, a green tomato, applewood smoked bacon and pimento cheese panini, and chocolate cake. Before you start thinking I'm a little piggy, I took the soup and half of the panini back to the house with me for my supper. The soup wasn't the greatest but everything else was FABULOUS. Hank was disappointed that they did not serve wine. Sunday brunch bloody marys and mimosas are the only exceptions to the no alcohol rule.

While we read and relaxed we took a few little tibbles ( I don't know if that's a word or not...) of Maker's Mark Mint Juleps. This premix is AMAZING...I'm told that it will only be sold during Triple Crown season so it won't be available anymore after the Belmont Stakes on June 6. I'm going to need to stock up because I don't ever intend to make a julep from scratch again.

Hope that you and yours had an opportunity to relax a little over the holiday weekend! Summertime is upon us....and the living is easy (or at least it OUGHT to be!)

It's FRIDAY!!!!!

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY for FRIDAY!

Didn't lose any weight this week but I didn't gain. I'm thankful for not gaining. I did a TON of stress eating this week. Next week will be better.

Hank and I are BUSYBUSYBUSY this holiday weekend. So much to do and so little time.

I'll see you in blogland in a couple of days!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

Three Quotation Thursday

"Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I've ever known."

Chuck Palahniuk (from Wikipedia....Charles Michael "Chuck" Palahniuk (pronounced /ˈpɑːlənɪk/;[1] born February 21, 1962) is an American transgressional fiction novelist and freelance journalist. He is best known for the award-winning novel Fight Club, which was later made into a film.)


I got to thinking about Chuck's words. (Chuck, who I have never heard of before which is why I included the wiki blurb just in case you hadn't heard of him either.) Mother tells me I act like Aunt Zoie, and I do indeed have a lot of her qualities. Sometimes I feel like I'm channeling Mother, which scares the you know what out of me. I have my daddy's temper...it simmers for a long long time and then KAPOW. I quite often consider Miss Peggy before I make a move and my maternal grandmama and her commitment to her family. Hank has probably had the greatest influence and I suppose I've influenced him too. Not to mention pastors and school teachers and friends. Then there are the people from whom I've learned what NOT to do. I guess I disagree with Chuck a little bit though, because while all those people have influenced the person I've become, I DO like to think of myself as an ORIGINAL!!
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"Some days you're a bug, some days you're a windshield." Price Cobb (from Wikipedia...Price Cobb (born December 10, 1954) won the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans together with John Nielsen and Martin Brundle in a Jaguar XJR-12. He also owned an Indy Racing League team in 1998 and 1999 for Roberto Guerrero and Jim Guthrie. He also has authored a number of books on auto racing.)

Didn't know this guy either but I definitely agree. I've nothing more to add... -------------------------------------------------------------------

"There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family." - Jerry Seinfeld

We used to be able to occasionally come up with things all four of us could agree on, but here lately...forget it. On a good day, two of us can agree, but all four of us...forget about it. It AIN'T gonna happen. From television shows, to where to go for dinner....heaven forbid a vacation.

How does it work at your house??

Idol Finale

Why in the WORLD did they make those two talented boys sing that AWFUL last song??? Kara DiGuiardio or whatever her name is and her co-writers should be run out of town on a RAIL for writing such a travesty...and whomever made the decision to USE that song RIGHT along with them.

And Simon....BUTTON UP YOUR SHIRT! Good GRIEF man...give us a break!

Hank's Shrimp and Grits

Hank has one or two specialty dishes that he likes to make and we love to eat. Shrimp and Grits is one. He found the recipe in an old Charleston Receipts cookbook, which was published by the Junior League of Charleston in 1950. The finest ladies of Charleston published their best recipes (or receipts as they were called).

Hank has modified the original recipe, which was contributed by Mrs. Ben Scott Whaley (Emily Fishburne). As fate would have it, we currently live on the property (and next door to the house) where Mrs. Whaley was born and raised. Her daddy was a country doctor and a few years before she passed away, she wrote a couple of books which I highly recommend.

Mrs. Whaley's Charleston Garden and Mrs. Whaley Entertains...No southern belle's library (or kitchen) is complete without these books. I was fortunate that she was able to autograph mine before she went to her great reward. Mrs. Whaley reminded me of Aunt Zoie...just chock full of life and love! You'll love her, her stories, and her recipes.

SHRIMP AND GRITS (use whatever kind of grits you prefer...stone ground are our favorites, made with lots of heavy cream and butter. Plain old "quick" grits will work too. Throw some cheese in if you want)

1 pound (or so) peeled raw shrimp

1 medium sized chopped onion

1 medium sized chopped green pepper

4 or 5 slices of bacon

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon ketchup

1 1/2 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup white wine mixed together (Emily Whaley just used water)

Fry bacon and set aside. Brown onion and pepper in bacon grease. When onion is translucent, add shrimp; turn several times with onion and pepper. Add enough of the water/wine to make a sauce--about one cup. Do NOT cover shrimp with water or the whole dish will be bland. Simmer 2 or 3 minutes and thicken with flour and a little water made into a paste. Add salt and pepper to taste, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup. Cook slowly until sauce thickens. Serve over grits. Serves 4-6

Shrimp and Grits

Lots of folks are asking for our shrimp and grits recipe. When I say "our," I have to admit that I mean "Hank." He is always the chef when we have shrimp and grits...it's is specialty (and I'm one lucky gal, let me tell you.) I'll post it tonight.

It's a rainy Monday morning...Hope everybody has a good day!

I'm Rambling Again...

I don't know when I've been SO happy for a weekend to arrive (OK...so it was probably last weekend, but indulge me).

The contract thing worked out well for me, but at the last minute, my next door office neighbor got bad news. Her job was eliminated and her only option is to go back into a classroom. My two office doors over neighbor still has a job, but not the one she had before. It was unsettling for all of us, and once again, those of us who were not voted off the island are feeling incredible relief and extraordinary guilt. It's very difficult to know what to say to our friends...

Lorelai went to visit Hanks' mother last night and accompanied her to the local Relay for Life.

Hank and I stayed home, ate shrimp and grits, and watched the season finale of LOST.

Legare finished up his first week of work in Chapel Hill but is bored out of his mind. His friends have mostly scattered for the summer. The boy needs a hobby...everything for him has to have a noble purpose. He reads all the time, but hardly ever just for pleasure. We never could interest him in collecting anything. I told him that he should expand his repertoire of what he knows how to cook...call Habitat for Humanity or any other organization and volunteer. He could start watching LOST on DVD from the first season...

Speaking of LOST...Is anybody else out there saying, GOOD GRIEF!!! How can there be a living John Locke and a dead John Locke all at the same time? Is the living one supposed to be the guy who was sitting on the beach with Jacob as the episode began? If the dude Jacob has been alive for years and years and more years and didn't age, how could Ben kill him? Gracious Goodness Me!

Mother and Ned are still happy as can be. We saw them last Sunday and haven't heard a peep all week. Life is good!

So, what have you been doing??

I signed it FAST

Contract at 2:47 PM...

Friday Facts

I lost four pounds this week. Probably mostly because I cut way back on salt but I'll take it.

Today is May 15 and is the day that they MUST give us our contracts for next year. It is 11:54 PM and I have not seen said contract.

I am screaming inside my head.

That's all I have to say!

Three Quotation Thursday

It's been awhile since we had a Three Quotation Thursday...See what you think...
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You cannot be mad at somebody who makes you laugh - it's as simple as that.
Jay Leno

I started thinking about the people who make me laugh as opposed to those who don't. This is kind of true in my life. I might get ANNOYED but I never truly get full blown mad. I got perturbed with somebody the other day and now I realize that I don't find one single thing amusing about that person. Nothing...nada...
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Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.
Lord Byron

Ain't this the gospel truth? Laughter always makes me feel better. Seems like great big belly laughs don't occur as much as they used to. I wonder why? A great big belly laugh feels SO good...
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Thou should eat to live; not live to eat.
Socrates

This quote seemed especially appropriate this week. Friday is weigh in day. (Thanks, friends for the advice about a small piece of dark chocolate...IT WORKS!!!)

Weight Watchers Day One

I'm not going to post about my weight loss brouhaha everyday but Day One bears a short story.

I got up this morning ready to go...ate my Special K (dry cereal 2 points) breakfast, drank my black coffee and headed out to work with great energy and enthusiasm. Two people commented on the pep in my step as I bounced up the stairs. My secretary, Lily, always appreciates it when I forewarn her about my new projects, be they exercise or diet or yoga or whatever, so I told her first thing about the new life plan for losing the 20 pounds I've gained. We made some coffee and got to work.

The morning flew by...busy little bees were we. I was still feeling pretty energetic at lunchtime so I took my coupons and sale papers and ran to the grocery store, then home to eat a Lean Cuisine. Delicious...some kind of BBQ chicken pizza (7 points) and an apple (1 point).

I bounced back into the office about 12:45 pm and got right back to work.

About 2:00, things started going downhill. The pep in my step and every bit of willpower VANISHED. I wanted chocolate...by 2:30, I was ready to plunder and pillage through every desk drawer in the whole building but got hold of myself and decided that coffee would help. WE WERE OUT OF COFFEE! As Lily returned from lunch at 2:30, I grabbed my purse and said, Call the coffee shop and tell them I'll be at the drive through window in three minutes...they need to have a LARGE coffee ready to go! (You can do this sort of thing at the locally owned coffee shop in a small town)

Bill, the coffee guy, was standing there at the window when I drove up. I don't know what Lily told him but his hands were shaking just a little bit as he said, I'm SORRY, we're out of large cups!!!! Bless his heart, he had filled that medium sized cup up as full as he possibly could.

I got back to work with my coffee and retreated to my little corner to shake off the "I need chocolate right now" twitches. As I walked by Lily's desk, my colleague Susan was asking about the fax machine and the fact that it was blinking automatic redial...she wanted to know what it meant. I chimed in...It means that you're in the seventh circle of fax machine HELL...that's what it means. It's going to dial and dial and dial and dial and never EVER connect. NEVER!

Lily followed me to my office and asked...What in the world happened between the time I left for lunch and now? You were in such a good mood! Do you need chocolate?

Another colleague, Barbara, helpful as ever, offered to go find me some chocolate...an offer that Lily quickly REFUSED on my behalf. NO...absolutely not...Belle cannot have any chocolate. We just have to hang in here for three days. She will fine after three days. We've been through this before. It will pass in THREE DAYS!

I'm not sure who she was trying to convince...me or herself. But you have to admit...I'm a lucky belle to have Lily watching out for me!

I decided against dressing like Paula Abdul...

I was privileged to adjudicate the vocal auditions for our new district magnet high school for the arts on Saturday. I decided NOT to channel my inner American Idol judge and went as myself, and not Paula Abdul.

It was a fabulous day. We saw a group of VERY talented students...I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had. The program will open with ninth graders and build each year until 2012-13 when it will be at capacity with 360 students in grades 9-12.

It pains me to say that I have unfortunately put on a few pounds since last year this time. When the trainer quit last November, I took that as a sign for ME to quit and I haven't been back to the gym. I ate like a crazy person while we were moving Mother and Ned ...top all of that off with the recent upheaval at work and if I have to be honest, a "few pounds" is more like 20. I was so proud last year when I lost 20 plus....it's embarrassing to admit that I've lost control.

Now that I've confessed, I'm going to do something about it. I'm going to give Weight Watchers a whirl starting tomorrow. Telling you my weight is NOT an option, but I am going to use the blog as an accountability tool. Fridays will be the day I report pounds lost. I won't go overboard, I promise but dang...I've GOT to do something. I'm not even going to show any Mother's Day photos of me because the dress I wore added at least another ten pounds in the pictures. I'm getting RID of that dress.

More on Mother's Day later...

Ramblings...

There was an odd dynamic today in our office. I can't put my finger on it precisely but I think that the reorganization is really taking a toll on just about everybody. It's going to all be alright in the long run, but the not knowing...that is tough. People are starting to make things up again...crazy things. I guess the joke will be on me if those crazy things end up coming to pass.

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I am finding it hard to believe that Legare has just finished his first year of law school and Lorelai her freshman year at college. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were doing all of that shopping and moving. Wow! BIG WOW!

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Legare starts his research job at the university on Monday morning. Lorelai is still looking for a summer job but isn't having any trouble filling up her days with lunches downtown and afternoons on the lake. What a tough life she has.

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I get to play "judge" on Saturday at the vocal auditions for our new arts magnet high school. You all haven't forgotten that I was a music major, have you? Should I dress like Paula Abdul?

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I really need a vacation. In a hotel. On a beach. With a spa. This one at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island would do just fine.

I work in EDUCATION, not IMMIGRATION

The same day that Ned and I had the discussion about his job opportunities, I stopped by to see Mother but she had already gone to the dining room for supper. I walked on down there and sat with her and her friend Miss Adeline. As the whole "small world" thing would have it, Adeline worked for my daddy in the Post Office for many years. Her husband passed away around 1972, and about '75, she remarried and moved away. Who would have imagined that she and Mother would be reunited 39 years later at Green Grove.

Anyhow...a few minutes after I arrived, Adeline said, "Your mother tells me that you work in immigration." Now I KNOW good and well that mother knows I work for the school system but she sat right there and didn't say a word, so I replied, "No ma'am, I'm in EDUCATION...I work for Coastal County Schools. Adeline continued, "See that man over there in the red shirt...his daughter works in immigration up in Columbia...You probably know her. Her name is Karen. Go over and ask about her."

Now I didn't want to be disrespectful but NO WAY was I going over there and ask this man about his lovely daughter Karen who I might perhaps know IF I worked in immigration. "Miss Adeline," I said, "I'd hate to interrupt his dinner...I'll be sure to talk with him next time." She let me off the hook. Mother never said a word.

If the whole education thing doesn't work out.....Immigration, here I come!

Wisteria

I recently received a catalog that I wasn't familiar with. Don't know how they got my name but I'm sure glad that they did. It's a company by the name of WISTERIA. They are having a Mother's Day sale but as usual, none of the things that I want are on sale. Go figure. Take a look at what I'd LOVE to order. I'd keep the planter here and take everything else over to the farm.

These flyswatters come in a set. I might get them, keep one and give two for gifts.

I could probably justify that.

A pair of these planters on my front porch would make me SO happy...VERY VERY HAPPY!

Isn't this the prettiest vintage file folder you ever did see?

Maybe one for here AND one for the farm

This would be really cute at the farm and I don't think that it would be too hard to recreate if I could just find the cute little chicken clips. Anybody know where I could find some???

I added the books box below as an afterthought. It opens for storage and would be useful AND be just the right accessory for the coffee table in my living room. I love the color.

I'll keep on dreaming (until some of these "wish list" items go on sale then I might make one or two of the dreams a reality).

A Southern Belle Does Derby Day By Way of Hell Hole Swamp

Hank and I enjoyed a wonderful Derby Day party in McClellanville on the porch of the James Hibben Leland House (1852), affectionately called Island Breeze by it's owners, Ellen and Bob. Ellen works with Hank. She and Bob threw a great party and we met so many interesting new people. Y'all know that I don't like just any old body but I'd love to cross paths with these folks again...of course they might not have liked me. Oh...who am I kidding...who wouldn't like ME! I probably ate a pound of boiled shrimp and really enjoyed a perfectly mixed mint julep (or two). . And yes...we did watch the race.

McClellanville is a perfectly delightful little little place. It just so happened that yesterday was also the Shrimp Festival and there were quite a few parties going on. I would venture a guess that there probably weren't very many people in town NOT attending a party.

On the flip side of the coin...we had to drive through the little town of Jamestown to get to McClellanville. Jamestown was having its own festival...The Hell Hole Swamp Festival. (Seriously, click on the link to read about "spitting kids and Miss HH Swamp...I am NOT even kidding you). They had everything from a free blood pressure screening to a whiskey still display. There was also a tobacco spitting contest and I'm hoping that tobacco was NOT what the kids were spitting. Unfortunately, it had just started to rain as we got there and I wasn't able to stop and buy my T-shirt. I'm thinking that next year we might want to enter Lorelai in the Miss Hell Hole Swamp contest. Hey...a tiara is a tiara. Click HERE to see a slide show from last year's parade. It's really quite good and I think captures perfectly what small town southern festival parades look like.

I'll tell you more about the ghost later...

Pictures of Our Friends' Beautiful Home

We've been back two weeks from our trip to DC and I haven't even had time to upload my pictures. I promised you a tour of a gorgeous home and this post won't disappoint. Hank says that trips like this always cost him money because I come home with all sorts of home improvement ideas. I tried to make a movie in Picasa but clearly don't know what I'm doing. Maybe next time. So...here we go...Our friends said they'd prefer that I didn't give their names or exactly where they live and I completely understand that. They didn't mind; however, if I showed photos.

All children are grown and gone and the grandchild, nieces and nephews live away. This house...let me tell you...no dust, no clutter. Ahhh....bliss!

One of the couple has lived all over the world in the past 20 years. He's a Charleston boy and a great college friend of Hanks. He was in our wedding and was brave enough to let us stay with him about ten years ago when we and our then young children traveled to Europe. He was in Brussels at that time. We stayed there a few days, then he went with us to Paris for a few days, then we dropped him back off in Brussels and headed for Amsterdam. Later he moved to Paris and stayed there several years. Prior to the Europe years, he was in Africa.

Above left and the next two photos below are of what I supposed you'd call the great room. They also have a living room as well as a den. For some reason I didn't get a picture of the living room. There are orchids all over the house.




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Formal Dining Room

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Two Views of the Staircases...one from the foyer and the other from the great room. You can see that Hank was checking everything out while I was playing photographer.

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The Breakfast Room and the Den

--------------------------------------------------------------- There was something of a shopping spree right before the move back to DC from Paris and this lovely console and the two lamps were purchased. Also the smaller chest in the second photo. There are several other pieces as well. -------------------------------------------------------- Several of the guests who were invited to the dinner party on Saturday evening are members of a car club and they drove their refurbished prize-winning cars over. Hank was bitten by the car bug. It appears that he is going "vvrrrrrooooommmmm vvrrrrrooooooooommmmm" but thank goodness he stopped short of that. Here's a funny little reflection that I had. You'll notice that on the other side of the car that Hank is sitting in is an honest to goodness incredible, immaculate, and very expensive Bentley. Nobody...not one single person was oooh-ing or ah-ing over the Bentley, but they were all over the older cars.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!!