In Honor Of .......

A soldier from the 101st Airborne Division of Ft. Campbell died Thursday of injuries he sustained while fighting in Afghanistan.

 

Sergeant Jeremy R. Summers was injured in small arms fire while on dismounted patrol in Paktika province Tuesday. Summers, 27, was from Mt. Olivet, Kentucky.

 

He was a fire support specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He joined the Army in March 2005 and arrived at Ft. Campbell in August 2009.

 

Summers is survived by his mother, Laura Jo Summers, and father, Kenneth M. Summers, both of Mt. Olivet.

Musical Mondays - Happy Pie Day

I have never been much of a cake person, unless of course you are talking about a traditional birthday cake with yummy butter cream frosting. Of course my favorite is a tres leche cake which I honestly believe I could eat until I was swelled up like a tick and would literally pop if someone touched me.

A wonderful friend of mine once had one made for my birthday and it completely blew me away. It was by far the biggest cake I had ever seen. When she presented it to me it actually brought tears to my eyes. First because I grew up in a home where birthdays and such were seldom celebrated and second when I took my first bite I actually thought I had went to cake heaven.

But cake is not what I wish to discuss today. Today it is all about Pie. I honesty will say that I am much more a pie person than a cake person. I cannot resist the wonderful taste of fresh homemade pastry crust out of the oven. When I was young I worked in a small restaurant that was known for its homemade pies. I often would help the cook prepare them on Saturdays and remember vividly how any leftover pie crust would be rolled out and carefully cut into smaller pieces and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar for treats. The only thing that made it better was the occasional leftover coconut cream filling that you could spread over the top and enjoy.

Speaking of coconut cream, this is by far my favorite kind of pie. Homemade of course. Warm cooked coconut pudding filled with lots of coconut. A meringue that is at least 3 inches high, then sprinkled with more coconut on top and browned just right. Makes my mouth water just to write about it. Of course there are so many other kinds of pie that are just as good.

I remember my grandma's fresh apple pie. She was always one of those women who believed in a nice thick pie, not a thin meager one. A trait she passed on to me as well. Plenty of fruit and/or filling was always present in any pie she prepared. Her apple pie was always served warm with a little milk poured over it. Once again yummy.

Yet it was her Lemon pie that moved me more than any. It was a treat that often she would make just for me. She knew how much as a child I loved it. Just the right tartness and plenty of meringue. There are still times when I feel her presence and the faint smell of Lemon pie is in the air. It always makes me smile.

I could go on talking about pie all day as there are not any flavors I can think of right off that do not make me smile and wish for a piece. Whether it be custard, peach, cherry, or rhubarb, it is all a wonderful thing. So happy Pie day.

Ok I will admit it is not actually pie day but pi day. Pi as some of you may know is the ratio of circumference to the diameter of a circle. Yet with my love of math (which lacks in all areas) I had to place some positive spin on things. Thus I figure if I placed it with pie which I love to eat and music which I love to listen to... it had to spruce it up somewhat.... So sit down with a nice cup of coffee or tea if you prefer and enjoy the musical interpretation of pi (or pie as I like to think of it). If a slice of pie is readily available enjoy it also.

Note to ponder: March 14th is also Albert Einstein's birthday.. How fitting don't you think. A man with a mind above all of us... So I lift my cup and fork to you as well Albert. Happy birthday... enjoy your day along the string of time that I am so sure you exist on.

A Welcomed Visit

The last couple weeks have been anything but normal for me. I have had little time to do the things that I normally do each day such as tend tediously to my garden so that it is free of pests and any weeds that may attempt to creep in, or be as diligent in blogging as I normally am.

However the time has been well spent. My grandkids paid me a visit last week and I have to say I loved every minute of it. I will admit that the 700 mile trip each way (to and from) their home has left me not wanting to climb into a car anytime soon. Yet sometimes we do things in order to obtain things we really want.

Although the drive is close to 11 hours each way, it always seems to go by quickly. I love the scenery. The short stretch in Tennessee where we exit the interstate and drive until we reach their home is one of my favorite areas. From the very first time I traveled this road I felt a kin to it. I must have experienced it in a past life or something because it is so much like home to me. No matter how many times I experience this stretch of land it never seems to become old to me. It is the trees that speak to me more than ever. The majestic pine line the road towering straight up to the sky. An array of weeping willows, holly, and various types of oak and elm are also everywhere. The fragrance of some flower can be found always. Whether it is a constant smell of honeysuckle or the spring daffodils which seem to grow wild everywhere, it is a calming beautiful piece of Mother Earth.

We had received ample rain previous to the kids arrival and also a good downpour the first day they were here. This kept us inside yet that was fine. We made meringues and brownies and watched “Alice In Wonderland”. It was a wonderful relaxing first day back and much welcomed after the long drive.

Throughout the week, we worked in the yard as the rains had made it a necessity. My little grandson was a true helper. He was always ready to lend a hand outside with weeding, mowing, or anything that was asked of him. Although the mosquitoes sure seemed to like him and we had to be sure and spray him down with off before he ventured outside for too long or he would be eaten alive. I hope he keeps that trait as when he is a bit older I may want to hire him for the summer.

My granddaughter on the other had preferred to stay inside away from the extreme humidity. I can not say that I blame her that much. It was terrible last week with the returning heat and the rains before. I did manage to get her out once yet only because she realized that her brother was getting paid for his efforts. After a short time even the extra incentive did not make a difference. She was safe and cool inside.

My favorite time by far with my grandkids was each evening when I would put them to bed. After tucking them in and reading a story, I would sit on the bed and talk with them for a bit. We would talk about all sorts of things. Many times my grandson would fall asleep during this time as he was always going full steam 24/7 and once he stopped it did not take long for him to nod off. Yet my granddaughter and I would continue. She is 7 and the questions are endless in her little mind. It was a precious time indeed, for both of us.

I hated to see them go home and of course wished they could have stayed longer. Yet I cherish the time that we did have together and know that it is quality not quantity that truly matters. They will be back up in October for my son’s wedding and I found out the other day that this is also my granddaughters fall break from school so they will have a bit longer visit. Considering the distance between us, we have been truly blessed with the opportunities to see each other several times each year since they have moved.

There has been nothing that has blessed me more in my life than the opportunity to be a grandmother, or GG as they like to call me. It is the best gift I could have ever been given.

Blessings.

The Long Weekend -

The weekend is here and most people are off involved in family gatherings and such. It is the weekend of the fourth of July. It is a time when we as Americans celebrate our countries birthday. I myself have always loved the fact that it is the time of the year when there are plenty of fireworks. For the past week I have enjoyed my evenings on the back porch watching the shows nightly.

I remember summers growing up. My mother was not too keen on fireworks. In a situation where boys will be boys, my brother accidently lit some firecrackers near my sister and she was burned. It was nothing serious mind you, yet mom being mom felt that we should not have anything to do with such things from that point on. Needless to say I made my way to friends homes frequently at this time of year so that I would still have the fun that this time of summer brought.

Today is not different. Fortunately Vincent feels much the same as me and each year on the 5th of July we visit the local firework stands for their 50% off sale the day after and stock up on what we feel we may need throughout the year. You will always find a stash of fireworks in our garage for any special occasion we may have. Living in the country has a lot of perks and shooting fireworks off at any time is one of them.

The rain which we have received the last couple days will help tremendously with keeping the threat of fires down. Although I have a feeling it may put a damper on a few of the shows which are scheduled for this evening. Winston has gotten his first taste of fireworks this year. Not sure what to think of them really. The booms that are heard each evening as the homes encircling ours ignite their treasures keeps him on his toes. Although he will have to learn, to be part of this family he will have to acquire a love for the activity.

It will be a quiet 4th of July here this year. No summer parties at our home, no fireworks in the back yard. Winston and I will spend it together and hope that Vincent will make it home. We had thought that we would be able to go to Vegas and meet up with my middle son and his fiancée and her family yet Vincent’s job was longer than expected and those plans were squelched. Although I will say it is odd spending holidays like the 4th in different places. I spent a 4th in San Francisco one year and the fact that I had to wear a heavy jacket down by the bay while I watched fireworks was just wrong.

The grandchildren will be here next weekend and of course we will shoot a few off then. Kylie fell right into the tradition at a young age and was helping Vincent light the big ones when she was just a little over 3. We have learned of the precautions that need to be taken when such activities are executed. Safety is something that we do not take lightly and we would never allow anything which is not safe to be done.

I wish all of you a safe and happy 4th of July weekend. Here is hoping that it is filled with fun friends and family. And above all in whatever you do, be safe. blessings

Memories of Christmas Past

One thing I have always tried to do in regards to my writings within my blog have been to keep it neutral and somewhat upbeat.  I am one of those people who attempt to eternally be optimistic and look on the bright side of life... Find the lesson in all occurrances, smile even when I'm beaten down.  Yea.. you know the kind of person that some people just want to kick in the butt at times... I understand, I do, yet it has been the way I have learned to survive and will defend it till the end.  When it comes down to dealing with some of the wonderful trials and tribulations we all seem to have the wonderful pleasure of experiencing, it is this positive attitude that  helps me to pull from if any positive energy there is to find; As sometimes it is all the goodness that may come from it.

You are probably saying what the heck does that have to do with Christmas past.  Well yesterday I wrote my Tag blog.  Answering all the Christmas questions about preperation and such.  Memories, traditions and so on.... Many of the questions were not the easiest for me to answer.  As the cupboard I had to extract answers from was limited to say the least.  Yet I put on the good front as I always do to make it sound festive and pleasant... Like I said earlier... I am the tough girl... Yet after I wrote, it kept nagging me that in a way I was not portraying an honest picture.  In saying that, this is my attempt to reveal a bit of myself.  No specific reason except that there are some of you in blog land that I have grown quite fond of.  Your friendship and daily words have been a true gift to me.  As with any good friend I would have, I would want to be upfront and open as that is what I am.  So I figure it was time to let a bit of myself be shown. 

I think I have a love hate relationship with the holiday season.  What I mean by that is that my early memories as a child are vague and not what one would call pleasant.  I do not have an abundance of Christmas family memories to fall back on.  There were many years when my father was still at home when we did not even recognize the holiday.  No tree, no presants, no explanation.  It was odd being young and seeing all the other children with their family traditions and their gifts.  Their homes filled with lights and tinsel and the wonderful smells of Christmas goodies and mine dark and quiet.  For so many years this puzzled me as I would explain it as a child would explain it, having only themselves for any clues. It was somehow my fault.  Yet in later years I would understand a bit more, learning that my father was raised Jehovah Witness (although he was not a practicing one) and they do not recognize the holiday.

When my father left the home (via a divorce), my mother being the full blooded German woman she is, began what I would know as the start of my Christmas traditions.  A little bit of history to help you understand this a bit better.  My mother met my father in Germany while he was in the Korean War.  She married him and later came to America.  She has a past of a strong independant East German woman, yet when she met my father and came to America she left all that behind her.  My father being the alcoholic he was did not make life easy or pleasant, yet all of that is truly another story. 

His departure from our family did not take place until I was well into my teen years.  Thus most of those young years for me;  when most kids are in awe of Santa and are anticipating  the gifts to be left under their tree. such things were not part of my life.  Even back then I loved to cook and all I wanted was an Easy Bake Oven... The dearness is that when my father was gone and my mother began our Christmas ways, one of the first gifts I received from her was an Easy Bake Oven, although I was 14 years old and already cooking in the kitchen it was special to me. 

It was not until I began a family of my own that I truly began my holiday traditions. I was hell bent on having the perfect life.  Perfect holidays, perfect family, perfect everything...Mainly because I just did not want to let any bad in.  Still the little girl mentality.   I attempted to give my children some of what I did not have.  The one bad thing about that: I did not really have an example to draw on except for the perfect examples that I had read about.  I wanted a "Bobsey Twins Christmas".. (If you remember this series of books, then you are definately telling your age).  Needless to say I had to learn the lesson that this perfect ideal did not exist.  There is always a little bit of life out of place and many times even more. 

 Through time and much trial and error I have gotten to where I am today.  I still dread this time of year (beginning at my birthday November 19th through the end of the year) as it holds so many bad memories; but it is far from the dread I felt in years past.  It seems that each year that passes brings something new to me that adds to the goodness of this season.  Eventually I know that the scale will lean towards the good memories more than the bad, in truth it is already there. 

I have lost the desire to raise a huge tree with massive decorations.  Much of this is due to the fact that little children do not run around my house on a continuous basis.  I have devided up the old ornaments and have them ready to give to each of my children for their remberance.  I am happy with our little pre lit tree Vincent and I purchased a couple years ago.  I just have to take it out of the box each year and stand it up. So easy yet still it gives a little of the Christmas glow.  There are not massive presents under the tree each year as I have learned that there is more to this season than presants.  I will admit that I love to give and do not really worry if I get anything in return.  Sometimes I thank my lack of presents as a child for that.  I had so much time when I did not get any gifts that I truly do not expect them as much and am wonderfully surprised when I do get them.  Yet on a strange other note, I give because I remember what it was like not to receive... go figure...

This will be the first year for me that all my kids are not around me at Christmas time and the grandkids as well.  It is an adjustment to say the least yet I am trying to fall into my ever changing role as best I can.  The quietness this year has given me time to reflect.  Something that although we do not like to do it can be very rewarding.   In my life I have not focused on "me" much.  I am learning that this is the dawning of me.  It is a time to search out myself and tend to the things that make me who and what I am.  A new thing but a good thing.  As I settle back and watch as Yule time unfolds I can not help but smile.  No it is not a "Bobsey Twins Christmas" but it is becoming my blessed Yule.