Summer Tomatoes

When Chuck got back from Florida, we set out one day to Eva to pick tomatoes, up on the mountain.  It was a very hot day but it didn't take us long to pick 3/4 bushel of tomatoes and we were on our way home.  Now what to do with all these tomatoes.  Since I had used almost all of the ones I had canned last summer in soups last winter, it was time to put some more up in the pantry.  Six quarts should do it.  I might be wishing that I had canned more but I know these sure will be good in soup when it's freezing outside as we wish for it to snow.  As time flies by so fast, it won't be long before it's soup making time.

Favorites

Lunch at Moe's

Finding treasures at the Thrift Store

Hobby Lobby is always fun!

The last few days that Genavive was in Alabama, we spent our time going to her favorite places for the last time before she went home.  I think she would have eaten lunch at Moe's every day if she could have.  This child loves Mexican food!!!  The Thrift store was one of her favorites because we found so many treasures  like sun dresses and jewelry.  Of course everyone has fun at Hobby Lobby.  It's a sewer/crafter's dream come true store.  Just some places that Genavive doesn't get to go to in Florida.  That's one of the things that makes Alabama so special.  ....that and Oona and Papa live here.  ( and Aunt Shell is just 2 1/2 hours up the road).

Good Bye Brambly Pines

Papa and Genavive...travels to Fla. 

On their way to Birmingham....to the airport

Our "seven bears summer" came to an end.  It was fantastic having Genavive here with us for a month and four days.  A summer none of us will ever forget.  When I became sad from  Genavive leaving, I just remembered one of the fun times we had. Chuck flew home with Genavive so he could visit with his Dad for a week.  He drove his truck to Carmichael Hall and left the truck.  Melanie took them to the airport and picked Chuck up a week later so he could drive the truck home.  A heart felt thank you to Lady Melanie for making our summer so special also.  

Finishing " Florida Breezes" Quilt

Hand stitching the binding on 

IT'S DONE!!!!

The back

The label

The last few days of Genavive's visit we were busy finishing up her quilt so she could take it home with her.  Teaching her how to hand stitch the binding down was one of my favorite parts.  I just like doing " hand work" and besides that....when you are done....IT'S DONE!  I'm so proud of Genavive for finishing a quilt in such a short time and I'm so happy that she is now interested in " quilting" as it has been in my family for generations now.

Firsts!

Genavive's first time driving a four wheeler

Pretty Peach on the tree

Fun picking peaches

Beautiful freshly picked peaches



Genavive had a lot of " firsts" this summer with us.  We took her out to our friend's farm  where he has a peach orchard.  Like me until I moved up here. Genavive had never seen peaches growing on trees.  When we started out to the orchard to pick, Larry asked Genavive if she had ever driven a four wheeler.  Of course the answer was " no".  Well, no doing but Larry to move over and had Genavive get behind the wheel.  After a little instructions, we were on the way to the peaches.  I think peaches are my favorite thing to pick.  They are just so pretty stuck to the branches.  

Grand daughters luncheon

Melanie, Jeanne and I had our grand daughters with us
for a special grand daughter luncheon.

Yummy salmon lunch

Mushroom burgers with fries

One of our Birmingham days, we were invited to have lunch with one of Melanie's cousin's...Jeanne, who is married to Melanie's cousin Pete.  Each of us were lucky to have one of our grand daughters to attend lunch with us.  I think the place was called Gallery and Garden but not sure right now.  Everyone makes up names for things in the South and we were calling it Guns and Garden just to be silly.  Any ways...it was an elegant place with valet parking.  We had our own little dinning room and the waiter even put your napkin in your lap for you.  I know!  The food was just as wonderful.  Everyone got the special mushroom burger.  All but Genavive and I.  We got the salmon.  It was so good, we wanted to pick our plate up and lick it clean.  Of course we didn't.  Not in this fancy place.  The dessert was to die for!  We all shared a plate of different chocolate items.  In the corner of the plate was a dab of " rose jelly".  Yes, it was made of rose petals and we all died and went to heaven when we each tasted it.  It tasted like roses smell!  A big "thank you" to Jeanne for treating us to this wonderful memory of a lunch in Birmingham.

Curly Locks

You know the saying....everyone hates their hair and wants what they don't have.  I'm one of them.  I was born with curly, curly hair and have hated it my whole life.  I've done everything there is to do to curly hair to make it straight.  Putting all kinds of chemicals on it to laying my head on the ironing board and letting my best friend iron my hair.  Then there were the six pack of beer cans with the ends cut out that I rolled my hair on and attempted to sleep on.  Well, lucky Genavive was born with straight, straight hair.  She doesn't know how lucky she is ( yet).  Of course she wants her hair curly.  It's so straight that it won't hold the curly no matter what you do to it.  Well, that is until you let Lady Melanie get a hold of it.!  One of the nights we were staying at Carmichael Hall, we were watching the movie Beatrix Potter and it showed her hair rolled in rags when she was a little girl.  Melanie grabbed some fabric and ripped it in strips, got a glass of water and a comb.  Next thing we know, Genavive had her hair rolled up in " rags".  She slept on it and the next morning...TA DA!  her hair was curly!!!!  and it actually stayed curly all day.  By night fall it was getting pretty straight though.  A day of having your hair the way you want it, is a " wonderful day" no matter what happens.  Of course every day spent at Carmichael Hall with Melanie is always wonderful! Straight or curly hair.