So Easy A Caveman Can Do It

If you thought cavemen only existed thousands of years ago or maybe in a Geico commercial, think again. It appears I have been raising one all this time. Who knew? So here is how the conversation went that led me to this realization. Zane and I are getting ready to spend some time at the park...just the two of us, which is the best time for us to have our heart to heart's.
Zane: Mommmmmmm....(him dragging my name out more than a few seconds is never a good sign)
Me: Yes?
Zane: When I get married, my wife is going to stay home and raise babies and do housework.
Me: Well, good luck with that. That marriage should last...oh about 2 or 3 minutes.
Zane: Why is that?
Me: Becuase women today don't want to be told they can or can't have a career. In fact, it is most likely your wife will want to have a career.
Zane: Yeah, that's stupid
Me: Why more stupid than you having a career?
Zane: Because women are supposed to stay home and work.
Me: And you learned this where? Never mind, how do you suppose you will be able to take care of your wife since you don't want her to work.
Zane: I plan to be a pro skater (stop with the spandex jokes...he is referring to skateboarding, not ice skating haha)
Me: Really now? When will this dream be fulfilled?
Zane: I should be on the pro circuit Christmas after next.
Me: Hmmm...that makes you almost 13...planning on much homework while you are on the road?
Zane: Oh I will finish school because I will need to be able to manage my finances.
Me: (trying not to giggle or show my skepticism) That's great...so being a rockstar is SO last year?
Zane: I haven't ruled that out. I will need to make a lot of money to be able to take care of my family and finally build you that big house with the wrap around porch.
Me: Carry on, Son....you follow that dream and never mind what your wife wants. Mama wants that house....

One Year

It has been a long year. Today it feels like a very short year. I'm referring to the one year anniversary of losing my brother. My big brother. There have been moments I honestly didn't think I would remember how to smile and enjoy my life and the wonderful family and friends that I have been fortunate to have around me. I am quite positive there have been moments that those same family and friends have questioned if they would ever enjoy a minute around me. Yet, here I am and they are still here. Saying it has been a roller coaster of emotion is possibly the understatement of the year. I still, even in this moment I am writing, can't think about Dewayne being gone without choking up but thankfully I have managed to smile and even laugh over the memories I have of him. That is the best part of all of this. I have so many wonderful memories. Many of those memories are more recent but I tend to think of our childhood more than anything. We were not 'dirt poor' growing up (even though I probably thought so at the time) but we were 'financially challenged'. Despite this, we never stayed idle for very long. Our life was filled with family and church activities that brought us all closer. The thing that stands out in my memory more than anything is that no matter how much Dewayne and I might have fought as brother and sister while growing up, he never failed to be my big brother in every sense of the term. He fought off the bully in elementary school that tortured me and looked after me and worried over me. He introduced me to his 'rock and roll' music and the books he loved. He used to love the Alfred Hitchcock series that was written for kids, 'The Three Investigators' and read those books to me. I read them again as I grew older and still love them. I laugh when I think about Dewayne's romantic adventures. Goodness, he loved girls and they usually loved him right back. One of my very favorite memories with him was when we (Dewayne, me, Anne and Mike) all sang together in church. Almost every weekend, we traveled to a nearby church somewhere to play another singing and we always got back for church on Sunday morning at Papaw's church. Dewayne was our lead singer and was wonderful. I miss hearing him sing. Thankfully, he recorded at least one CD so we can all still hear him but I do miss those live sessions. I miss talking to him more than anything. We had the most comfortable talks. Any subject we found to discuss was easy. I miss the way he loved my kids. The way he would come in, smile with that one eyebrow raised and give you the best hug. I miss those stories he would tell describing something he had seen on a recent trip on the road, playing golf or singing or running into an old friend. I really miss how much he loved me. I miss that most of all. I know he is in Heaven now and he is not in pain so for that I am thankful. Selfishly though....I wish he were here. I love you Dewayne!

My True Hero

My Grandfather happens to be the greatest Grandfather that ever lived. Now, I know most of you will argue that point but I am making the declaration anyway. At the age of 87, he is still just as sharp minded as I can remember he was when I was just a tot. (yes, eons ago). Brian tells me often he hopes to be that sharp when he gets up in age, to which I respond...I wish I was that sharp now. Back to Papaw...I know he gets his 'sharpness honest because his Mom was razor sharp right up until the day she passed away at the age of 90. She raised 11 children, more or less on her own as she had outlived 4 husbands. Just to give you an idea of how great Papaw's memory is still..Just last fall, we were visiting him and he told us about several childhood stories. One was about the last time he saw his Dad before he died. He told of this story with such great detail, I could close my eyes and picture it as if I had been there myself. Papaw was just over the age of 4 when he lost his Dad. He wasn't much older than that when he saw his Stepfather die after saving two of his siblings from drowning. It was believed that his Stepfather might have had a heart attack but was never known for certain. Papaw tells so many great stories about growing up. How he teased and tortured his younger siblings, all in good fun...how his Mother wanted things quiet while they enjoyed the evening meal. It was not unusual for him to use this known fact to his advantage. Often, he would just stare at his younger brother, Uncle Walter, until Uncle Walter would screech 'Maaaaaaamaaaaa...make him stop!" Her response was usually a back hand without ever looking up. Uncle Walter has told us about Papaw hanging him on the clothes lines by his overalls. So many great stories. My favorite part is the way Papaw gets tickled every time he tells one...several times before he ever finishes. He also described to me several times the loneliness he felt as his ship left New York taking him to war. It was night and for the longest time he stared into the darkness at the Statue of Liberty until it fell from the landscape. I am so thankful he came back home. My Mother was 2 the first time he ever saw her. Papaw and Mamaw raised 6 children while he was a pastor and did construction on the side to supplement his family's income. He was never formally trained but he could build anything or fix anything that needed repair. He is so easy going and has more patience than anyone I've ever known. Even with Anne and me when we would tag along with him to Philadelphia so we could see our 'boyfriends'. We once changed all the clocks in the house so we could steal a little extra time. The next day nothing was mentioned up until it was time to leave again that evening. All he said then was "Now, you can change those clocks all you want, but I'll still know what time you get in." How did we ever think he wouldn't notice? I have learned so much from him and usually by watching his actions. He has remained faithful to God and the church all these years and has never wavered from his beliefs. He still has as much patience with my children as I remember he had for us. He still teaches me things. Things about being a parent, things about being a better person. He told me not long ago that our greatest task as a parent was to save them from themselves. I had to think about it but it made complete sense. He taught me when Haley was just a baby that children truly belong to God and it was a gift to be given the chance to raise them. It's something I have never forgotten and often when I say my prayers, I still thank God for this gift. I thank him for my Papaw for being such a great teacher. His love and wisdom are a blessing in my life and I am so lucky he is my Papaw.

God Bless America...Land That I Love!

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July celebration! We had a enjoyable weekend with family over on Saturday. The parental units joined us Saturday evening. Brian cooked up his famous ribs on the grill....oh my they are yummy and I made baked beans, potato salad, and rolls. We both pitched in on the jalapeno poppers. We made 44 and there was not one left afterwards. Ice cream and fresh fruit was dessert. Later, we watched the fireworks from the park which were breathtaking. Sunday was a lazy day recovering but nice just the same. I couldn't help but think throughout the weekend how blessed we are to live in this great country. It's not just a cliche. I can remember when I was very, very young my Mother telling me often how lucky we were to have been born in America. Often times I would wonder why it was I had won the lottery of sorts. Now I understand that those decision are left up to God and for that I am thankful. We are so very fortunate to enjoy the freedom we have and owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women AND their families who serve our country and those that have given their lives for our freedom. It's so easy to take freedom for granted. I know I have been guilty of that myself...but just stop and think once in a while that while we are free to walk and talk and go about our lives as we choose, there are people around the world who are not so fortunate. I am proud of the men in my family that have served although I chuckle when I remember a story about my Grandmother and a certain phone call she received from the Army recruiter when my Uncle Mike was a senior in high school. She quite sternly informed that recruiter that she had already given three men in her family to the service and there would not be another one going so just to back off. Keeping in mind that those three men came back home safe and sound but she fully believed she had done her part. I can't say I blame her but it still makes me smile to think about that sweet, soft spoken lady getting tough with the Army.
XXOO
Lisa

Poppin' Peppers!

Just a week or so ago, B and I tried something new on the grill so I thought I would share with you guys. Caution..only try this if you are all about the 'hotness'. It was really simple and turned out quite tasty. Since we planted the jalapenos, I was doing a little research on how to make chipotles. In the process, I came across several how to videos on YouTube. (Yes, it's true, you can find ANYTHING on youtube...just ask Zane) There were videos on how to make a version of jalapeno poppers on the grill or you could make them in the oven but the grill sounded nicer. You need fresh jalapeno peppers, cheese, onion, bacon and brown sugar. We used feta and extra sharp cheddar and it turned out wonderful! To begin, you need to slice the peppers in half and clean out all the seeds and the white meat or membrane. Keep in mind this is where the heat is so clean it out well....you will still have plenty of heat, trust me. Once this is done, wash and dry the peppers. In a bowl, mix your cheeses. We added minced onion for flavor. At this point, you simply stuff the peppers as full as you can. Cut your bacon in half and sprinkle with brown sugar. You can rub it in just a little to keep it from falling off. Wrap the half slices of bacon around the peppers and get ready to grill. Note...the bacon will stay on the peppers without any help but if need be, you can slide a toothpick in to hold it down...just remember to take them back out. Cook on the grill for about 15 to 20 minutes and let cool before you try to eat. Now here are a couple of steps I didn't do the first time but will 'definitely' do next time. First...use latex gloves when handling the peppers, especially if your skin is sensitive like mine. Trust me on this one ;-) Also, next time I plan to roast the peppers in the oven before I stuff the cheese in just to make them a little more tender. The peppers were great and even though that packed the heat, it didn't stop us from clearing a tray.....Let me know how they turn out!

xxoo

Lisa

This and That

It's been a great week! Zane returned from his 'Travels With Grandpa" on Monday. He really had a great time visiting with his Grandpa and seeing a few states he had not visited before, including making it to Laredo, TX where he was able to at least see the gates of Mexico. He thought that was pretty cool. Other cool sightings included....large cactus (or is that cacti? lol), oil wells, and one of the trucks from CMT's 'Trick My Truck'. He learned a lot from Grandpa too. We should all learned to listen to the 'older' folks more often. Where else can you find this much knowledge and plain common sense wrapped up in a loving package like Grandparents? The picture above is one Zane took. I thought it turned out pretty well.....

My nephew, Kyle, is visiting. What a loving and handsome young man he has become. I am so proud of the level of maturity he has and how strong he is both physically and spiritually.

Friday I planted Lantanas by the mailbox. If you aren't familiar with those, they are a 'shrub like' flower that is available in several colors. Lantanas are wonderful for attracting butterflies too, which is a bonus. The real beauty of these flowers is that they tend to grow well even in poor soil and full sun. You don't find that often. In addition, they are annuals so once the planting is done, you simply have to sit back and watch it grow and come back bigger and better every year. I read that you can also start new plants in the early spring from cutlings. I fully intend to learn more about that and give it a shot next year. While I'm on the subject of my planting projects, I can give you an update on the 'Garden on Wheels'. In just a few short days, the plants are already showing growth and look wonderfully healthy. The cart has proven to be a very handy investment as well. I know once these plants get larger, it would be too hard to move without damaging the plants, but for now, I have simply pulled the cart around to the faucet for watering.

Haley went to Hattiesburg Sunday to see her 'Friend-Boy" Cameron receive his promotion at an awards ceremony on Monday. She went with Cameron's Mother. Cameron will be deployed to Iraq soon so be sure to keep him in your prayers, as well as all of our other service men and women. We owe a huge debt to all these wonderful and brave souls for the work they do. Sunday was D-Day but we should all take a moment to remember the ones who have given their lives for our freedom every day. When you say a prayer, don't forget their families who also make the sacrifice. God bless them all.....

Lastly, I just wanted to share a new search engine I think is worthy of a mention. www.bing.com is powered by Microsoft and appears to eliminate a good bit of those sites that usually pop up with no relevance at all. Give it a shot and let me know what you think....
xxoo
Lisa

Veggie Tales

Sunday I planted veggies. Hubby and I are trying a new approach that I'm just a wee bit excited about. First, let me tell you the soil in our yard leaves a LOT to be desired. So, with this in mind we are trying out the "5-gallon bucket method". This method apparently has proven quite successful for many as I have found in my Internet research. Ideally, I would like a small garden with some of my favorite veggies (squash, cucumbers, okra, tomatoes, peppers...maybe even a few beans or peas) but given our limited amount of space and the crummy dirt, I have decided to go with this new method. Well...new to me. We have 6 buckets that we are going to try. Saturday, we purchased 2 jalapenos, 2 Big Boy tomatoes, 1 Roma Tomato and 1 Cherry Tomato plants. Brian drilled holes in the bottom of the bucket for drainage. In addition we placed 2 or 3 inches of washed river rock in the bottom for better drainage. Then...the planting began. (insert dramatic music ha) I can't wait. I am planning on a bountiful harvest for which I have many ideas. The jalapenos I plan to smoke for chipotles. The tomatoes I will use for several things and hopefully there will be enough to make a salsa. I can use the jalapenos for that purpose also. After an extensive Internet research, I decided to plant both jalapenos in the same bucket. The 'experts' say that planting 2 to 3 plants together produces far better results. This decision also left a bucket open to use for pumpkin seeds I purchased for Zane to plant. He has visions of a successful roadside pumpkin stand because of the high yield....Go Zane :-) The final step was buying a utility cart to put the buckets on. This allows our plants to be mobile which is beneficial in a couple of different ways. One, we can control the amount of light the plants receive much better and secondly, we don't have to worry about the buckets killing the grass beneath them. Trust me, this is all trial and error, Anyway, if this works well this year, we may add more next Spring and possibly a raised bed type of garden. Regardless of the outcome, I truly love to dig and get my hands dirty. I'll keep everyone updated on the progress. Wish me luck......

xxoo

Lisa