How Sweet The Sound

Pink Saturday

Welcome to another Pink Saturday. 

***Quite a few have asked me about Pink Saturday.  It is just an idea I had to feature something of mine that is pink on my Saturday posts.  If you are interested in doing "Pink Posts" on Saturday, just let me know and we'll play together.  Just do your Pink Saturday posts, send me a link each week you want to participate, and I will posts the links on my Saturday post.  Sound like fun?  After all, all girls need a bit of pink in their lives.***

This week these two ladies are participating in Pink Saturday:

• Donna at Donna's - In The Attic has decided to participate in Pink Saturday.  Please link over to see her addition to Pink Saturday, and take the time to get to know her and leave her a comment,
• Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor.  Jeanne is back from her visit with her sisters, and she has something lovely and pink to share.

Today I am sharing this pair of salt and pepper shakers.

These were one of our wedding gifts, and were given to us by my mother-in-law.  They were given to my husband's parents by her mother when they were married in 1948.  My mother-in-law was a very practical woman, but she treasured these.  We are glad she shared one of her treasures with us.

We never have used them, but they hold a special memory for both of us.  They sit on a shelf in our breakfast room, and they were the first of a very small collection of salt and pepper shakers.  Well, we needed somewhere special to display them, so we had a shelf made.  Then it wouldn't have been right to have these be the only thing on the shelf.  And so on, and so on, and so on.  You all know how things get started, and then take a life of their own.

Did you see this in my post yesterday?
*** There's a great contest that is occurring in blogland.  Head over to visit Donna's - In The Attic.  Donna is a relatively new blogger, and take my word for it - she is lovely.  And, she wants to get to know you and make friends.

Donna is an incredibly talented quilter, and as a way to become acquainted she is sponsoring a contest with the prize being one of her lovely quilts.  I've already shared with you that I have zero talent when it involves needles and threads, but even someone like me can participate in this contest.  Apparently all you have to do is mail Donna a Fat Quarter in a color and pattern that blends with the originating fabric.  I never even knew there was such a thing as a Fat Quarter, but I already bought mine, and it went out in the mail today.

Do yourself a big favor.  Head over to Donna's - In The Attic and get to know her.  Leave her a comment, make a new friend.  And, jump at the opportunity to be the lucky winner of this beautiful quilt Donna will be making. ***
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Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses is hosting her First Annual Front Porch Party, next Thursday June 5.  Rhondi says:

All you have to do is leave a comment on any post between now and then. Then on June 5, post photos of your front porch and my post that day will include links to all your blogs so we can all visit each other. If you don't have front porch, feel free to show us your "dream" porch!

You can be certain this party will have a big turnout because we all love front porches.  I'll  take some pink lemondade to share.  See you there!!!  (This is not my porch, but it is a lovely porch and it is the one Rhondi is using to designate her Front Porch Party.  I'll share pictures of my front porch at the party Thursday.)
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Barbecue

Barbecue seems like such a simple word, yet it is anything but simple.

• First of all let's look at the word.  Is it Barbecue, or is it Barbeque, or is it Bar-B-Q?
• And is it a noun, or is it an adjective, or is it a verb?
• Then what kind of meat is it?  Is it beef, or is it pork, or is it chicken?

Not being raised in an area where this was such an issue, it was a big adjustment to move to an area where they draw regional lines concerning barbecue.

There is no issue around here about the word.  It is Barbecue.
Nor, is there an issue about the part of speech.  It is a noun.
And, there is no issue about the type of meat.  It is pork.

But, there is a big issue about what part of the state cooks the best barbecue.  Is it the eastern part of the state, or is it the western part of the state?  People around here are quite opinionated about the way they prefer barbecue.

This issue goes much deeper.  Which cut of pork should be used for barbecue, or maybe it should be the whole hog.  And, should it be cooked over wood or gas.  And, should it be season with a vinegar-based sauce or a tomato-based sauce.

And, then there are the side dishes.  Most people seem to agree that you should serve cole slaw with barbecue, but should the cole slaw be mayonnaise based, mustard based, or tomato based.  Now bread - should it be hush puppies or cornsticks.

Really, how is it that there are so many different opinions about what to prepare, how to prepare and how to eat?  Should it be coarsely chopped, finely chopped or pulled from the whole pig.  Do you even know what a pig-pickin is?  I didn't when I first moved here, but for my own good, I have learned.

Earlier this week my husband, my mother and I drove to a town a little more than an hour away to meet my aunt and two cousins for lunch.  We decided on Parker's which is famous for their barbecue.  I mean this place is well-loved, it has even been featured in USA Today.

Now,  just so there are no questions, they serve barbecue pork - chopped - vinegar-based - mustard-based cole slaw - hush puppies and cornsticks.  Don't tell anyone, but I don't know how it is cooked, but that is because I don't really care.  But, I do acknowledge that it is of extreme importance to many people.

We ordered family-style, and here is a picture of what we were served.  From the left there is chopped barbecue, hush puppies and cornsticks, cole slaw, Brunswick stew, boiled potatoes and fried chicken.  Now that is some clogged arteries waiting to happen.  And, please overlook that Diet Coke on the table because you are supposed to drink sweet tea.

And, how do I feel about the subject of barbecue?  Shhh!  I prefer Memphis style barbecue.

Just for fun, tell us what you think about barbecue.


***************Does anyone want to play Pink Saturday with me tomorrow?  If so, please send me the link to your blog, and I will include your link in my Pink Saturday post tomorrow.  Come on and play - show us your pink!!!*****************

*** There's a great contest that is just occurring in blogland.  Head over right now to visit Donna's - In The Attic.  Donna is a relatively new blogger, and take my word for it - she is lovely.  And, she wants to get to know you and make friends.

Donna is an incredibly talented quilter, and as a way to become acquainted she is sponsoring a contest with the prize being one of her lovely quilts.  I've already shared with you that I have zero talent when it involves needles and threads, but even someone like me can participate in this contest.  Apparently all you have to do is mail Donna a Fat Quarter in a color and pattern that blends with the originating fabric.  I never even knew there was such a thing as a Fat Quarter, but I am heading out today to buy my contribution to the quilt.

Do yourself a big favor.  Head over to Donna's - In The Attic and get to know her.  Leave her a comment, make a new friend.  And, jump at the opportunity to be the lucky winner of this beautiful quilt Donna will be making. ***

Close Your Eyes

and don't peek because I have a surprise.  Oh, wait a minute.  You can't read this with your eyes closed.  So, you can keep your eyes open, but don't cheat by scrolling ahead.

Do you remember my post about our sunroom?  And, do you remember that at the end of the post I said

We have something very special coming for our sunroom.  I know it is going to be beautiful, and I promise to share it with you as soon as I have it.

Well, the something wonderful came yesterday, and I have been dying to show you.  But, I had to wait for my husband to hang it (hint, hint), and of course I had to take pictures.

So, are you ready?

You know our own wonderful, sweet, incredibly talented mosiac artist Penny of Lavender Hill Studio, and you all know about all of the fabulous pieces of art she creates.  Well, from the moment I saw Susan's (of Blackberry Creek) The Yellow House sign, I knew I wanted a sign for our sunroom.  (Sorry, Susan.  I wanted to link to your post about your sign, but I couldn't locate the post.)  Susan's sign is just perfect for her beautiful home, and I loved it instantly.

In my usual fashion, I had to muddle around in my head to decide exactly what I wanted.  I e-mailed sweet Penny with some ideas and questions.  Penny patiently answered all of my questions and offered suggestions.  Then after I was almost certain what I wanted, I phoned Penny to finalize my ideas.  Let me tell you, Penny is a sweetheart.  She made me feel as if I had known her forever.

Now presenting my own amazing Penny creation -

Isn't it gorgeous?  I love it!!!  It is perfect for our sunroom.  The dishes are patterns that I love, and the colors are perfect.  Of course, you recognize the wording from my blog name, but remember the significance of those words to me.  They come from my favorite song, Amazing Grace, and additionally they reflect the beautiful sounds we hear from the birds and chimes when we are in our sunroom.  And, the roses signify our rose garden which our sunroom overlooks.  The 1970 represents the year we were married.

I just keep sitting and staring at this beautiful piece of art.  It is okay to be in love with it, isn't it?!

These last two pictures aren't great quality, but I wanted to give you an idea where it is placed and how perfect the colors are.

Thank you, Penny.  You took all of my wishes, and created this beautiful piece of art that is even more perfect than I could have imagined.  This is a forever treasure.

A Morning Out With My Honey

My husband and I are both taking this week as vacation, but we are staying around home.  Today we had plans to go to breakfast and shop for some plants.

While I was having my morning coffee, I had to take a picture of our American flag which hangs from our deck rail.  Doesn't just looking at our country's flag make you smile?

This next picture is another one of our rose garden.  I keep trying, but I just can't get one showing all of the beds.  My husband is edging some more of our beds in brick, and the brick looks so new compared to those that have been there for years.  I sure hope they age quickly.

Then we hopped in my husband's SUV, and we headed over to Pam's Farmhouse for some yummy (but not necessarily healthy) breakfast.

I had eggs scrambled with sausage in them and cheese grits.  My mother used to cook eggs like this when I was a little girl.  Her's were better, but these were good.

My husband had eggs, pork tenderloin and grits with red-eye gravy.  We shared the delicious grilled biscuits in the basket.

You see I told you it wasn't all that healthy, but it sure was a delicious indulgence.  It was quite a while before either of us wanted anything else to eat.

Then we headed downtown to Logan's Trading Company.  Logan's is this incredible garden center built along the railroad tracks at what used to be the train station.

Logan's is quite large, and there are many beautiful and fun things to see.  This statue greets you when you arrive.

There are lovely fountains and beautiful plants as far as you can see looking forward and backward.

Inside you could find exotic orchids, bromeliads, fresh produce and many other wonderful things.

We left with a beautiful Encore azalea, a star jasmine, two Irish moss plants, a new bracket and a new hummingbird feeder all for the bargain price of *#@#*.  Oh never mind!!!  Nothing was a bargain, but we had a great time, and hopefully our new plants will flourish.

Back in the SUV we headed over to our State Farmer's Market.  We only looked at plants, but there are plenty of plants, produce and other goodies to feast the eyes.

Lovely baskets.

Pink Hydrangeas.

And, just about any kind of plant or flower your heart desired.

We left the State Farmer's Market with beautiful pink Asiatic lilies.  I'll show you pictures of everything we planted another day.

After going home to plant, I thought we might need to do something else fun.  So, we headed to Home Goods - the store of dreams.  That just might have to be another post.  I'm really enjoying time off of work and hanging out with my husband.

I Thought I Had Died And Gone To ...

heaven, but I was actually at The Kitchen Open House at BJ's Sweet Nothings.

There is a big event occurring in blogland this week.  Treat yourself by linking over for a visit.  There are kitchens aplenty - real kitchens, small kitchens, large kitchens, dream kitchens, and lots of kitchens where good food is prepared and where lots of love lives.

It is the place to be if you love kitchens - and don't we all love kitchens?!!I  Haven't we all been dreaming of our own kitchen since we were children?

Lest We Forget

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is a national holiday which is observed on the last Monday in the month of May.  The day was originally to honor Union soldiers that perished while serving the United States in the Civil War, but after World War I it was expanded to include casualties of any war or military action.  Memorial Day was originally observed May 30, and some feel that the observance is discredited because the day of observance was changed to allow three-day holiday weekends.

Many have come to think of Memorial Day as the beginning of summer and Labor Day as the end of summer.  People visit graves and memorials out of respect and honor, and many communities hold parades and place flags on graves.  The day is also celebrated with picnics, family gatherings and sporting events.  The most famous sporting event associated with Labor Day is the running of the Indianapolis 500.

A national moment of remembrance is observed at 3 p.m. EST on Memorial Day.  Please stop to remember and thank those who have gone before us.  God bless America.

 

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There is a big event occurring today in blogland.  It is the Kitchen Celebration at BJ's Sweet Nothings.  Give yourself a big treat by linking over for a visit.  There are kitchens aplenty - real kitchens, small kitchens, large kitchens, dream kitchens, and lots of kitchens where good food is prepared and where lots of love lives.

God In Our Home

Who has not found the heaven below
Will fail of it above.
God's residence is next to mine,
His furniture is love.

Emily Dickinson

 

It's Pink Saturday Again

Featured today for Pink Saturday is my very own, made especially for me, Nantasket Basket.

Isn't it beautiful?!!!

My very dear, talented genius friend Dawn at Dawn's Daybreak made this for me.  Dawn and I met years ago in the Old Timers Forum on Two Peas In A Bucket.  Now, don't you be getting any ideas that Dawn and I are oldtimers.  We just participate in that forum because we are both in the first 10,000 people that registered to the site.

Anyway, back to my friend Dawn and the Nantasket Basket.  Dawn is like so many of you, she is mega-talented.  Honestly, I think she can do anything and everything.  Even though we have never met in "real life", we talk on the phone frequently (due to my fabulous phone plan), and I feel like I have always known her.  And, another good thing about Dawn is that she loves me despite my lack of needle and other various skills.

For those of you that can actually create marvelous things like my Nantasket Basket, Dawn has supplied me with the instructional link.  My basket is eight inches in diameter and five inches high (not counting the handle).  It is made of the prettiest shade of pink and a soft gray, and it has been felted.

Thanks again, Dawn.  You gifted me with this lovely basket which is now the Pink Saturday feature.

***Quite a few have asked me about Pink Saturday.  It is just an idea I had to feature something of mine that is pink on my Saturday posts.  If you are interested in doing "Pink Posts" on Saturday, too, just let me know and we'll play together.  Just do your Pink Saturday posts, send me a link each week you want to participate, and I will posts the links on my Saturday post.  Sound like fun?  After all, all girls need a bit of pink in their life.***

The Old Farm Bell

This old farm bell belonged to my husband's paternal grandfather.

This grandfather purchased what became known as the family farm in approximately 1915.  My father-in-law was born there, and he lived there until he passed away five years ago.

My husband's grandfather was quite prolific.  He fathered six children by his first wife who died when the sixth child was born.

He was left with quite a few very young children to provide for, and a very young infant that needed to be fed.  He inquired through the community searching for a wet nurse, and found a woman who was nearby and had just given birth herself.  She took the baby in to nurse, but since she was so busy she had her own fourteen year old daughter take care of the baby.

My husband's grandfather spent time with this very young girl, asked her to marry him, and she accepted his proposal.  He was thirty-five at the time they married, and she had just turned fifteen.

The two of them raised the six children, and had thirteen of their own.  Almost all of the children were born on the farm, and they were all raised there.

My husband was only three years old when his grandfather died, and he only remembers him as a very old and sickly man.  His children remember him as a very strict disciplinarian, and a man that worked each of them very hard on the farm.

My husband lived on the farm from the age of six until he moved away to go to college.  Our family kept the farm a few years after my father-in-law passed away, but we have since sold it.  But, it does remain in the family because one of my husband's cousins purchased the land from us.  Sadly, the old farmhouse fell into bad shape, and has since been burned to the ground.  It is a beautiful farm with rolling fields and an eight acre pond.  Several of the farm buildings still remain.

This bell was used every day to wake the family, call them to the fields to work, call them to meals and any time there was a need to gather everyone together.  I would say the bell spent many busy years on the farm, and I dare say it could tell us many stories.  It must seem like retirement now that it lives here with us.  We only ring it a few times a year, but we look at it and recall years of family history.

H is for ...

Hosta


 

and Hydrangeas.
 

 

Two hardy plants in our habitat that make for a happy heart.