tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60701215115275700242024-03-13T07:39:15.376-04:00Knick KnacksCamella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-56943013384670436672017-02-17T22:53:00.000-05:002017-02-17T23:07:23.680-05:00Memories of Barnwell Part 1Barnwell has changed a bit since I first saw it in 1978. My dad was considering a permanent position with Chemo Nuclear and my mom, brother and I came for a visit.<br />
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The office at the site was a trailer and Chem Nuclear had a road tech department that staffed outages. This is what my dad was doing for them.<br />
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Snelling had a couple local hangouts, Billy Moore's Store and Harry and Sarah's Bar which was small, crowded and friendly.<br />
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Barnwell had a world of places to shop in for a small town. Macks, Dollar Store, Staffords, BC Moore's, The Sundial,Factory Outlet and a place by the old post office. Much more choice than we have now.<br />
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We fell in love with this small town, dad took the job and we moved the summer of 1978 into Colony West.<br />
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In 1979 Harry and Sarah Rotz built a new bar and cafe across the street of what is now Moore Drive and later that year mom and dad bought it and renamed it Jack and Jeans.<br />
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It was neighborhood and family friendly, even the preacher came by for a lunch and coke.<br />
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Daily specials included Black Beans and Rice which became a local favorite once they tasted them. Mom and Dad's take on the Cuban dish we learned to love in Florida.<br />
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Mom often made Bisquick Pizza, Chicken Casseroles and Pepper Steak. These meals sold out so quick, people would call and reserve their lunch.<br />
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Jack and Jeans had two pool tables, a jukebox, bowling machine and the first PAC Man and Space Invaders games in the county.<br />
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Many a pocket full of quarters were spent in trying to beat those games. One of our biggest players was a gentle giant of a young man named Herbert Ingram who spent many quarters allowing my daughter Beth to play to her hearts content.<br />
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He and I were great friends and when my second daughter was born my family shielded me from his death as they knew I couldn't leave the hospital.<br />
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Herbert drowned nearly 37 years ago while trying to rescue someone at Lake Edgar Brown. This is the type of man he was. A sweet, kind and heroic soul.<br />
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Tonight as I sit here in the home my parents built from that empty bar they closed in 1981, I am surrounded by the memories of the people who passed through the door into our lives and helped shape who we are. Many are gone, some moved away but they left a piece of them here and in my heart.Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-32428830022398699832015-09-16T18:26:00.001-04:002017-01-11T21:49:38.383-05:00From Point A to Z<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was greeted by a group of Titmice who had discovered the new seed I had out out and one scolded me profusely as I walked upon it feeding.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Clipping the Thyme I brushed against the Rosemary and was engulfed in its wonderful scent.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I headed back towards the house I caught a glimpse of something red where red should not be.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Upon closer inspection I was delighted to discover one of my favorite flowers had been transplanted either by a Squirrel or Mole. A Spider Lily blooming and welcoming Fall.</span></div>
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<br />Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-55166735966183931262015-08-29T23:19:00.001-04:002015-08-29T23:19:30.399-04:00How My Garden Grows<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J9y_P6RNalc/VeJ2QMVfj9I/AAAAAAAAGeM/QBYbGtpMRKI/s640/blogger-image--776903142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J9y_P6RNalc/VeJ2QMVfj9I/AAAAAAAAGeM/QBYbGtpMRKI/s640/blogger-image--776903142.jpg"></a></div>Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-31010496125588590692014-03-07T13:55:00.000-05:002014-03-07T13:55:10.346-05:00Rainy Day Ain't Got Me DownBlogging!!! Again. Finally.<br />
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Started today off with rain, rain, and rain. Went to town, got wet and said to hell with it I ain't letting this get me down. Time I walked into the feed store I could feel the old me kicking in, bought dog feed, 2 books on raising goats and wished I still had them old cowboy boots, lol<br />
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Left there, came home and between the Bee Gees and Adele threw on a pot of homemade with fresh veggies and burger some of the best smelling soup ever. Moving on to Annie Lennox ( yep love this lady) I decided to blog again and man I miss it!<br />
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Spending this rainy day by self, cooking, listening to my style music waiting till later to roll and cut out homemade from scratch yeast doughnuts, what the heck could make this day any better? Painting class? <br />
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Oh yeah I am SO ready. Have missed it more than I knew, I am like a kid on Christmas morning. I promise myself I am gonna chase those blues away and focus on the sunshine, even if ain't shinning here its dang where shinning somewhere.<br />
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Speaking of sunshine, daughter Beth and her hubby are off the Daytona next week, then it'll be time for my reunion trip back to Gulf County Florida, can't wait to see old friends, new friends and some long lost cousins.Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-31514539583310076062013-11-03T18:58:00.003-05:002013-11-03T18:58:59.437-05:00Passing of the Heart<br />
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As the holidays are just around the corner I have been reflecting on the past and the future of the holidays and just for a few short hours I enjoyed a good pity party because my plans of a wonderful family gathering with all my children was falling apart. But after a good cry and virtual hugs from my hubby I shook it off and went on with the planning and daydreaming.<br />
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A family tradition I started several years back among the women of my husband's family is The Passing of The Heart, I never knew when I purchased that simple silver plated ornament years ago that things would turn out the way they have.<br />
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The tradition was that each bearer of the gift must pass it on to a woman in the family every Christmas going from generation to generation, no strings attached just a note or small gift if you desired. It was suppose to be a way to bond us women together and allow us to tell each other favorite memories of each other.<br />
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Little did I know that fateful day 12 years ago that this little heart would loose its shine, not from the tarnish of age but by the actions of many. I realize that I placed too much on that heart and although it did its best at bonding us together and although it may have held the same rose colored dreams I did for the future, it just wasn't meant to be.<br />
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Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-54901211333843477182013-03-08T23:23:00.000-05:002013-05-06T02:02:16.616-04:00Going Home To BamaI could write for hours about this trip; no maybe days. I won't overload you know with words, but would like to confess that I am ashamed and sad that it took me so long to do it. It had been more than 11 years since I went home for a visit other than a funeral and really longer on a decent length trip.<br />
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Tonight I will just upload the photos so that all my friends and other family can enjoy them.<br />
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Family</h4>
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Andrew, Camella, Cynthia (my dad's cousin) and Virginia (my 2nd cousin).</div>
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Three generations looking at old photos.</div>
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Althea taking photos.</div>
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Cooking on the deck.</div>
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My Uncle Putman (dad's brother), me, Virginia, my Aunt Barbara (dad's niece) and Andrew.</div>
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Cousins.</div>
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Connie, Barbara, Cynthia, Virginia,Camella</div>
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Uncle Putman in the back.</div>
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Ann Brown, my beautiful cousin.</div>
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And her husband, Bud Brown.</div>
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And his younger brother John Brown.</div>
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Doing Stuff</h4>
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Papa explaining fishing scissors to Althea.</div>
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Lake Smith</div>
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Julie, Andrew and Althea at Great Grandma and Grandpa Barton's grave.</div>
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Union Chapel</div>
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Althea at her Great Great Great Grandparents Grave</div>
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Things and Places</h4>
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Daffodils at Smith Lake House.</div>
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Daffodils</div>
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Althea at Posey's Hardware.</div>
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Althea and Papa.</div>
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A trip to Jasper just ain't done until you stop </div>
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Andrew and Julie</div>
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Frank looking for a rock for me.</div>
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My hubby getting me a gift for the yard!</div>
Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-29622375690367390282013-01-30T15:45:00.000-05:002013-01-30T15:45:06.628-05:00Alligator Point Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sunrise on the bay. Alligator Point.</div>
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Sunrise hitting the beach gave it a warm pink glow.</div>
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Thunderstorm rolling in over the bay.</div>
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The beach after a storm.</div>
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Driftwood trees.</div>
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Sea turtle at the Gulf Specium Marine Lab in Panacea.</div>
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Flower blooming outside the lab.</div>
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Little shop outside of Carrabelle.</div>
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Boardwalk at Bald Point State Park.</div>
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Ghost crab.</div>
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Laughing Gull at Carrabelle Beach.</div>
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<br />Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-36266336362660791132013-01-25T15:59:00.000-05:002013-01-30T15:50:00.769-05:00How Does Your Garden Grow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well we had a taste of Spring this past week with temperatures hitting 80 in January! My garden is as confused as I am, not only have the Spring bulbs popped up overnight but some of them have budded out. I hope the cold doesn't get them.<br />
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The Spirea I got from Patsy's garden so many years ago is putting on flowers and so are the Forsythia and my one lonely Azalea. As I was looking for photos for this post I ran across last years pictures of Mama's Apple tree; oh how I will miss it this Spring.<br />
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I hope you enjoy looking through some of my favorite flower photos, many were taken here at home but others were taken at gardens throughout the country including the The Victory Garden at Callaway Garden.<br />
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The Violets were transplanted years ago from Mr. Black's garden, they have spread throughout my front yard and while many people now consider them a nuisance, I love them and look forward to them spreading more and more.<br />
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From fields of wildflowers to a singe bloom, I have been obsessed with photographing flowers for decades. I have been known to crawl out of a bank onto a muddy shore, scramble and yes even fall down hillsides for the perfect shot.<br />
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Field on Reynolds Road Barnwell SC</div>
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Flowers from my garden here in Snelling. I started out with one Four O'clock given to me by Frank's daddy long time ago. I fell in love with them at first sight and have grown, pink, yellow, stripped and even polk dot ones that the fairies must have painted.</div>
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Four O Clocks from my garden</div>
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Water Hyacinth in Frank's pond</div>
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Althea in front my one lone Azalea</div>
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My mom's Rebel Yell Camellia</div>
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Dorie with a wild Dogwood bloom, Upstate SC</div>
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My beautiful Dogwood tree that Mama gave me. It was but a mere stick when she brought it home from the flea market and I swore it would never grow. I believe it did so to prove me wrong. I remember driving through Alabama once and the Dogwoods were in bloom, the woods were white with them. Mom and I were amazed. We live on the beach and they didn't grow there.</div>
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Branch in full bloom </div>
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Mama's Apple tree in full bloom. I cried when we cut it down but it was diseased and suffering. Perhaps we will plant another this year...</div>
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Queen Anne's Lace growing by the fence.</div>
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It took me forever to get one my favorites to finally take hold. </div>
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Wildflowers I have photographed throughout the South...</div>
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Native Azalea, Fair Play SC</div>
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Wildflowers on the hill in Fair Play, SC</div>
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and yes this is the shot I was after when I tumbled down that hill!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then there are things that just caught my eye:</span></div>
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Not a flower, but a precious little cedar growing in the shadow of a majestic old Magnolia.</div>
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A bouquet of roses.</div>
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Strange plant I saw in Panacea, FL</div>
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Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-13126785534555881642013-01-17T15:20:00.000-05:002013-01-17T15:22:34.586-05:00Cow Girl Rodeo<br />
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<em>Althea</em></div>
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Believe it or not I became one of <em><strong>those</strong></em> grandmothers this past year... I along with my daughter Becki spent an amazing short 8 months or more in planning a Cowgirl Rodeo birthday for her daughter Althea who was turning 4. Yes, we spent as much time but thankfully not money on planning a birthday party as many people do on a wedding.<br />
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After watching the movie Rango for the umpteenth time, we really felt she would enjoy this party as much as we would. So we hit the Internet with a vengeance and strolled through sites such as Pinterest, eBay and Etsy along with Oriental Trading and Google.<br />
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With many items we borrowed or made ourselves along with the great products we found on line we came up with a Rodeo birthday party theme that could be used for a child age 1 to 100.<br />
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<em>This bunting is made of cardboard flags covered with card stock and stick on letters. </em></div>
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We didn't make invites to send as we opted to use our Facebook Event and word of mouth to get the word out and put the money saved into thank you cards that will include a photo of Althea on it.<br />
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<em>Fabric scrap bunting that I made in about an hour. I simply pinked the fabric and knotted it on a piece of thin rope and strung it on the porch railing.</em></div>
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The food menu was easy as we live in South Carolina and any time is the right time for pulled pork, so my husband took care of the main event and smoked up Boston Butts with a little Hickory and Apple and we added some Althea's favorites to go with it.<br />
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<em>Cardboard letter with card stock cover took less than 5 minutes to make.</em></div>
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Vittles included Buckaroo BBQ, Cowgirl Cucumbers, Golden Corn Nuggets and Home on the Ranch Beans. We also fried up several batches of homemade Tortilla Chips and served them with Salsa. We found this charming shop on Etsy that makes paper party supplies and had custom food tags made for the tables.<br />
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<em>Custom table tags, cupcake decorations and paper decorations on cake by</em></div>
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<em>WeBringTheParty on Etsy.</em></div>
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We greeted each child with a pink or brown bandanna that came from eBay and cost less than $1 each, all the men wore straw hats I found there as well and we women wore pink bandanna slap bracelets found at Oriental Trading.<br />
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Games included, pony races, calf roping, pinning the star on the new sheriff and playing the Corn Hole game that my husband Frank put together in a couple of hours. Everyone was so excited with riding their handmade wooden stick ponies that they stayed well occupied.<br />
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<em> Saw horse cattle. </em></div>
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<em>The lasso's are made of old ropes I found on eBay. I cut the rope to the length to make a good circle and duck taped them.</em></div>
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<em>Each child took home a handmade stick pony.</em></div>
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We set up a photo area by the barn shed. I simply took down a metal star I had inside and placed it in the hay feeder hanging there, bought several bales of wheat straw and stacked them up. Added a quilt, a tin bucket, old chair and a rope I purchased off of eBay.<br />
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<em>My niece Phoebe and her beautiful girls Danielle and Hannah.</em></div>
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<em>Althea</em></div>
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There were several ideas that I would like to do at our next shindig when the girls are older including decorated old horseshoes. And even adding pony rides which we declined as Althea is still not sure if she wants to saddle up just yet.<br />
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Thanks to everyone who made this party a huge success; my husband Frank Black for making all the ponies, the calves and the corn hole game. Debbie Beasley for making what is surely the finest Chocolate Cake I have eaten anywhere. And to the shops of ThatRocks (Custom Ordered Cowgirl Necklaces) and WeBringTheParty (Party Paper Decorations for cake, cupcakes and food table) on Esty for their wonderful party supplies.<br />
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<em> Cake by Debbie Beasley Barnwell SC</em></div>
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<em>Custom necklaces by ThatRocks shop on Etsy.</em></div>
Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-21918885651312056982013-01-14T12:54:00.001-05:002013-01-30T15:50:34.277-05:00A Day at Bruce's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-17924321406674991762013-01-14T12:44:00.001-05:002013-01-14T12:44:56.382-05:00I should have been a cowgirl.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love horses. The smell of hay, clean tack, and even their breath blowing out in greeting... My great Uncle Earl Gunnels raised Tennessee Walkers and I always begged for one, but my parents didn't share my love of all things equine.</div>
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I never fulfilled the dream of owning a horse and I haven't ridden since high school and I thought I had left childhood dreams behind until a trip year to stay with my husband Frank outside of Charlotte. His friend Bruce owns five horses, and at the first sight and smell of themI felt the longing return.Looking into big brown eyes I felt a connection I had not felt in ages, a sense of familiarity, of knowing and kinship.</div>
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I will most likely ever own a horse at this stage of my life, but </div>
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maybe in the next one I can be a cowgirl roaming the range with an old friend.</div>
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Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-70981606373957045322012-12-24T14:09:00.002-05:002013-01-30T15:51:12.594-05:00Brad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been three years since Brad died on Christmas Eve morning. I will never forget the look on Frank's face when he got the phone call. Even know I feel the tears welling in my eyes as I remember him saying he didn't know if he could tell me what was wrong. My first thought was of our children, never did I imagine that I was to soon learn the my baby brother, my best friend through childhood and onward into adulthood was gone.<br />
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It has been a long and hard road in dealing with Brad's death and the betrayal of lifelong friends and the hurtful things that people often do or say following a death. Thank God for my husband and children as without them I would never had made it.<br />
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I can look backwards now and remember good times and goods days like this one above. He was so in love with Dorie and treasured each moment with her. He was a good Unc to my children and a wonderful Unc Unc to her. I wish that Althea had been able to experience just one big bear hug!<br />
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I miss you Boo Boo and I always will, but I feel your spirit when ever I catch of Sweet Grass or see a bottle of Makers Mark. Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-29831494760076876582012-12-24T13:57:00.000-05:002012-12-24T14:09:52.431-05:00BloggingI signed in today and discovered it had been wayyy to long since I last blogged. Where did the time go? To say that I have missed it does not begin to touch how I feel. I guess I got lost in the everyday life of a stay at home Granny.... speaky of Grannies I was talking to Althea about when I was a little girl and she said " Granny you not a gurl ( her way of saying it ) you're just a Granny!<br />
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<br />Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-22396372337976568092012-09-12T21:40:00.000-04:002013-01-30T15:51:55.424-05:00Heirloom Tomato Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fresh Heirloom Tomatoes</div>
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Fresh herbs such as Basil and Oreagno</div>
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If desired a a few drops of Basalmic Vinegar.</div>
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<br />Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-19157177783310994782012-07-01T19:38:00.001-04:002013-01-30T15:52:38.182-05:00The Road Less Traveled: Alligator Point<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a mere two weeks since we packed up to leave Alligator Point, but it feels like a lifetime... when I began to look for a small, remote place to spend Summer vacation with my grandchildren I had no idea of the things to come.<br />
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Alligator Point sits out in the Gulf about and hour south of Tallahasse FL and an hour east of Apalachicola. I had never heard of it, but the beach looked great and the prices even better. Having spent my early childhood living on nearby St. Joe Beach I knew the area and looked forward to being in Florida far from the crowds of tourist and bright lights!<br />
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We fell in love with the little house on Fiesta Drive called Viola House and after the first two days we were all pros and climbing the stairs and waiting on the landing for someone to open up the door. Early mornings were spent out on the deck breathing in the fresh salt and air and being suprised at the Dolphins coming into the bay to play!<br />
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Mid week brought us a scare as our granddaughter, Dorie decided to see Tallahassee first by car and then via ambulance as we sought out emergency medical care for what turned out to be pnemonia. She was in better spirits than we adults, especially with her mommy and daddy not being with us. After a couple of days she was back to her old self except for a lingering cough which she still has.<br />
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The little private beach behind the house brought us hours of fun as we chased first Fiddler Crabs and then Ghost and Blues at night by flash light. Althea, the three year old could have spent the rest of vacation right there, but we finally pulled her away and spent a few days exploring nearby sights such as The World's Smallest Police Station in Carrabelle and Wakulla Springs in Wakulla. The water at the Springs was refreshing I was told, as Frank and I stayed on shore and watched the youngsters play as we ate icecream cones and toured the old inn and the grounds.<br />
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We spent half a day in Apalachicola doing some window shopping and picking up a few things, I could have spent a million had a won the lottery at the Tin Shed, a mangirie of nautical items both old and new! We had a fun photo fest with the pirate statues and both Becki and I grabbed a few items to add to our decor.<br />
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We didn't eat out but once while on vacation as we tried to stick to the theme of old school vacations without all the glitz and stress that so many suffer through in todays fast paced world. The wait to eat out on Saturday was worth it I might say. Having read about Spring Creek in Southern Living, I was looking forward to taking my family to a local place that served local food... Frank and Andy both ordered Quail, fried up and served with cheese grits they did look good but I ordered a seafood platter so I could try the fried Mullet and see if it was as good as I remembered in my 54 year old mind... it was!<br />
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Less than a week after our vacation ended, tropical storm Debby visited this area and many suffered the loss of homes and business and thousands ended up with damage. All the turtle nests weree destroyed by rising surf and even the road to the point was washed away. I pray that things soon return to normal for the area and look forward to taking another trip in the near future.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/1554/Florida/Florida-Panhandle/Alligator-Point/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: currentColor;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/1554.jpg" style="border: currentColor; height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 102px;" /><br />Alligator Point on Dwellable</a></div>
Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-59534986861803109842012-02-28T15:27:00.000-05:002013-01-30T15:53:02.262-05:00A Fresh StartIt has taken me several years pouring over catalogs, fabric samples and web sites but I finally found new living room furniture... my old stuff but with new covers. I just couldn't find anything I really liked it either didn't sit right, was too cheaply made or too costly for my pocketbook.<br />
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I looked at slipcovers, browsed a couple shops and finally found a gem of a place over at Park Avenue Fabrics in Augusta GA. From the moment I walked it I felt at home; the staff didn't know me but they seemed to want to. They were eager to please, didn't look down their nose or treat me as if I had no taste, money or social standing... they treated me like me!<br />
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I look forward to updating the process as my living room changes... for now we've added a leather recliner and got rid of the big green monster, had my arm chair recovered (I am so in love with it), added new windows and are waiting for the couch to be slip covered...<br />
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Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-35210048464937899922012-01-15T02:41:00.001-05:002012-01-15T02:41:13.899-05:00Chasing DreamsIt has been weeks since I've slept well; as of this minute I am running on 4 hours of sleep over the past 40 hours... I have tried the sound of rain, the news, exercise,and a boring book. I have finally given up and am listening to a wonder mix of rock,blues and country music that spans several decades and genres. <br />
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From Adele and Joe Cocker to The Band, John Anderson,Coldplay and Guns and Roses; the words rushing through my head and heart bring back memories of days long ago or stir in me feelings of longing for dreams lost, trips not taken and people long gone. They make me want to fly west to see Dawn, time travel back to high school, hug my daddy one more time and hold my babies now grownup... <br />
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As the first notes of More Than a Feeling come out of the phone I am drawn back into the arms of my young husband and the lazy days of youth spent laughing and traveling the country with friends and family from job to job. Frank, me and three kids in a Pumpkin orange Ford Fiesta on the way to Connecticut and a new life... Chasing dreams, looking for a future. Where did the time go? <br />
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The haunting voice of Zola Jesus weaves around me in the still and silent night of the house my parents built dreaming of joyous days of family gatherings and growing old together; another dream lost but found as I pass along their memories. Chasing dreams is hard work. I am weary but content to listen and remember and let The Band take me back to long, long ago.Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-34346520104184607892011-10-05T12:54:00.000-04:002011-10-05T12:54:21.392-04:00Althea's Question of the Day : Why Did You Crack The Egg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Baking Cookies today, pumpkin sugar cookies with green sprinkles and pumpkin white chocolate for the adults... as I cracked an egg into a bowl I heard a little voice ask "why did you crack the egg?" Suddenly we are having a discussion with a 2 year old about baby birds, baby eggs and nests... needless to say after 10 minutes it became clear we would never convince her there weren't baby chickens in the eggs... this explains her sudden dislike of scrambled eggs.Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-74854670471885278672011-10-01T22:50:00.003-04:002013-01-30T15:54:19.769-05:00Up Stairs Down Stairs - I'll Take the ElevatorI'm not much on climbing stairs, or mountains heck not even the bleachers at the football game. It's not the climbing part that bothers me, its the view from the top and the trip down!<br />
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As a long sufferer of vertigo you won't find me off the ground much of the time; however I have made several treks skyward this year with the help of my loving and understanding family.<br />
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Back in late winter as I was visiting my son Andrew and his wife Julie in Alabama we took a trip by The Vulcan that has stood guard over Birmingham for generations. As a young child we always drove by on our way home for family reunions or vacations and Andrew and Julie thought I'd enjoy seeing its new home and the museum. They were wonderful.<br />
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When I found out there was an elevator that took you too the top with a short bridge I thought okay I'll give it a shot... noone told me it was open gridwork and although I did cross over it I wasn't too happy doing so.<br />
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Andrew and Julie</div>
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The Vulcan tower and the elevator with bridge.</div>
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Skyline of Birmingham AL</div>
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The bridge we had to cross and the Vulcan with sun behind.</div>
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My next trip skyward was not so bad and I am proud to say I made it half way up the 129 steps of the Saint Simon Georgia lighthouse before the heat of Summer and the fear of climbing any higher grounded me on the second landing... I didn't mind waiting for the rest of my family to make the climb as I had a beautiful view and a some what cool breeze through the small window.<br />
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When Dorie (who climbed all the way up and down on her own) came out of the door she told me her legs felt "weird", I bet they did....<br />
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The Saint Simon Light</div>
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Saint Simon Georgia</div>
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View from first landing... so I climbed some more.</div>
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View from second landing... my resting place.</div>
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Dorie and Althea in front of the light.</div>
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Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-82706226924654559862011-09-27T18:15:00.000-04:002013-01-30T15:55:20.138-05:00Summer Vacation Part II Saint Simons Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Warning! Saint Simons is addicting... if you've never been and you have a few days it is well worth a trip. Our granddaughters, Althea and Dorie fell in love with it at first sight and two months later are still talking about the lighthouse and the beach. I look forward to making a trip there every year to explore old favorites and discover new places of interest.</div>
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Dorie and Althea in front of the lighthouse.</div>
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A view from the second window of the lighthouse.</div>
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I made it this far and stopped but Dorie, Althea, Frank and Becki made it to the top.</div>
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When they came down Dorie said her legs felt weird - I bet they did!</div>
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The light at Saint Simons.</div>
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The girls trying on sailor caps at the Coast Guard Museum.</div>
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Althea under an ancient Live Oak at the waterfront park.</div>
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Dorie, she looks so much like her mom in this photo.</div>
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Becki and Dorie just chillin.</div>
Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-24457200373556344842011-09-25T16:59:00.003-04:002011-09-25T17:01:13.401-04:00Summer Vacation Part II have missed blogging; I have tons of stories and photos piled up around me and just have not had the time to share them. Finally fall is here, kids are back to school and the heat is slowly, very slowly leaving us here in the South.<br />
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I had the wonderful experience of spending two long weekends back to back with my granddaughters Althea and Dorie along with Althea's mom Becki and my husband Frank this summer. <br />
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Our first trip took us girls to the upper state where we stayed at the cabin, spent time at the lake watching fireworks, visiting Hollywild a animal preseve for retired show animals and getting back to nature.<br />
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Along the way we stopped for photos with the Turkeys in Edgefield SC and some beautiful topiaries in Greenwood, SC.... hope you enjoy the photos as much as we did our little trip.<br />
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Dorie and Althea with Tom</div>
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Dorie and the Dinosauer</div>
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Feeding the baby goats</div>
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Feeding a Water Buffalo</div>
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Beautiful Fallow Deer</div>
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Mother Zebra and her baby Zedonk</div>
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Blowing Bubbles</div>
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Waiting for the fireworks to begin....</div>
Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-27517402890021178222011-06-14T11:20:00.004-04:002011-06-14T11:42:31.696-04:00FMTSO - Fishing<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwrKzpwMbXc/TfaNMycUL3I/AAAAAAAAAyM/yOpsVl-kDxU/s1600/1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwrKzpwMbXc/TfaNMycUL3I/AAAAAAAAAyM/yOpsVl-kDxU/s400/1+%25282%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Frank)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"></span></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I grew up fishing with my dad...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Most weekends of my youth were spent at a creek or river in North Florida fishing for Bream but often we would head to the pier on the beach and fish for Red Fish and whatever else we could catch. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Growing up on the Gulf of Mexico we had our pick of what to fish for and fish was a staple of our diet.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"> (Buoy from our time in Maine)</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dzlCdBhrw0g/SKis73ERywI/AAAAAAAAAAY/ai_azfcq5fM/s1600/dunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dzlCdBhrw0g/SKis73ERywI/AAAAAAAAAAY/ai_azfcq5fM/s320/dunes.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was taught at an early age that <em><strong>respect</strong></em> for the <strong>land</strong>, <strong>water</strong> and <strong>catch</strong> were a priority and we were always encouraged to leave a spot cleaner than how we found it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(The dunes at Port St Joe on the Gulf of Mexico)</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My dad not only taught us how to bait a hook, but how to remove the same hook in a humane way. We always cleaned our catch and never wasted a fish that we caught.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFBhD-v_YLo/TfaNexa8fGI/AAAAAAAAAyU/me7j-hP8beU/s1600/2+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFBhD-v_YLo/TfaNexa8fGI/AAAAAAAAAyU/me7j-hP8beU/s400/2+%25282%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Crappie we sent back to his Momma.)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can honestly say I was a fair angler on land but I never developed my sea legs... </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sadly I grew up in a family that owned a 30-40 foot cabin cruiser and no trip to Boca Grande was complete without a trip on the open ocean. I spent more time chumming than I ever did fishing and was quite glad when my grandfather finally sold the last boat. I have found that I can tolerate fishing out on the lake as long is the water is calm but still don’t do open water.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4GTcD1i4L7g/Tfd7uaSXi9I/AAAAAAAAAz0/-HPNsloAqpQ/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4GTcD1i4L7g/Tfd7uaSXi9I/AAAAAAAAAz0/-HPNsloAqpQ/s400/14.jpg" t8="true" width="266" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Fish basket holding the catch of the day...)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yx5_Slgm9Yw/TfaQ4DxylBI/AAAAAAAAAzM/YyUgTieA97g/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yx5_Slgm9Yw/TfaQ4DxylBI/AAAAAAAAAzM/YyUgTieA97g/s320/2.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In 1979 I met a young man whom I later married. To say he was a fisherman does not come close… many of our dates were spent at the local lake in Barnwell, SC and I still treasure those few times we are able to get away from it all and fish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some times I fish, many times I take a book or better yet my camera and I enjoy the day, the catch and the quite time. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Frank again, on the dock at Fair Play and in the boat at Hi-Ki Pen.)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All our children fish or have fished at some point in their lives, we were known to pack the play pen and 3 toddlers up and head out to the lake or even for a weekend trip camping and fishing somewhere… nearly 3 decades later we find our selves doing the same thing...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0J35idUSTBs/Tfd3SnIDbuI/AAAAAAAAAzg/kjvLeJ2cAK4/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0J35idUSTBs/Tfd3SnIDbuI/AAAAAAAAAzg/kjvLeJ2cAK4/s320/6.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Dorie's first catch.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ec_3_2GSe1I/Tfd3Z2o0VyI/AAAAAAAAAzk/87e5yiEm7CQ/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ec_3_2GSe1I/Tfd3Z2o0VyI/AAAAAAAAAzk/87e5yiEm7CQ/s320/11.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Althea in her fishing hat!)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some of them have kept up the tradition with their families and although Becki does not camp or fish, her daughter Althea is a born angler. At 2 years old she already knows how to hold a rod and cast it and loves fishing from the bank with Dorie and their Papa.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQr6GUJznsg/Tfd3d8xN-AI/AAAAAAAAAzo/QvaW2-X091A/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQr6GUJznsg/Tfd3d8xN-AI/AAAAAAAAAzo/QvaW2-X091A/s400/3.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(Fishing on the bank with Papa.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My dad would be proud....</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-48889646874742473962011-06-13T18:03:00.000-04:002011-06-13T18:03:35.956-04:00Out of The Office<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgOEpnfGlrw/TfaJKMyEp5I/AAAAAAAAAyI/mdY6Z7ZJxhQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgOEpnfGlrw/TfaJKMyEp5I/AAAAAAAAAyI/mdY6Z7ZJxhQ/s320/006.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>So, for those of you who follow my blog I must say I am sorry as I have been away from it and the computer for way too long. Family emergencies have kept me busy... <br />
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Miss Althea cutting her finger on a can of green beans sent us to the doctor for liquid stitches and bandages and then Miss Dorie decided she was going to scare 10 good years off my life and her mothers too when she woke up last week and was paralyzed from the waist down... <br />
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She is all better now but had what they call Tick Paralysis and gave us all a really good scare. Thanks to all those involved in her care at Barnwell County Hospital and MCG Children's; we couldn't have asked for better staff at both places.<br />
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I am ready to get back in the swing of things starting with this week's FMTSO - Fishing!Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-31743486068895997852011-05-19T22:38:00.003-04:002011-05-20T13:37:20.771-04:00Floral Findings - FMTSO<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uLPsGIR0mKE/TdXUtzLE87I/AAAAAAAAAx0/T4WNDnnsy10/s1600/purple%2Bfield.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608622794255692722" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uLPsGIR0mKE/TdXUtzLE87I/AAAAAAAAAx0/T4WNDnnsy10/s400/purple%2Bfield.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Field of Wild Verbena near our home</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I remember as a child watching my mother plant seeds she had ordered from a catalog... the thought of seeing a green flower filled me with hope and wonder. My brother Brad, our mom and I waited for those first little buds to open and to our surprise, yes they were green. Those little green Zinnias sparked something in me and from that moment I was hooked on flowers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My love for flowers and plants grew as I was just getting ready to leave high school; finding myself needing a class and seeing nothing I wanted to really take I followed the advice of my younger brother and signed up for a class in agriculture. Under the guidance of Mr. Christmas and Mr. Myers I learned about many things, cattle, various types of seeds, insects and soil judging to name a few. That same year our dad built my brother and I a small greenhouse and we grew seedlings to sell to the public.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My father also Roses throughout his life and I never see a yellow rose that I don't think of him... as a farewell tribute we covered his casket with a spray of the most beautiful yellow roses I've ever seen; years later our florist said that it took her 3 calls to find enough to fill the order but she loved our dad so much she wouldn't give up. I have a piece of an old climber that he moved 4 times to where it now sits at the side of our house and I treasure its scent and the memories it evokes when I see and smell it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our yard is blessed with flowers from various family members, some of them long gone such as my parents and my grandparents. Crinum lilies that were moved 30 years ago from Florida, Wild Violets and Four o clocks, Iris and day lilies. Then there are those that the birds gave us such as the beautiful Pear tree and a Magnolia in the front yard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I carry not only my camera, field guide and seed collecting kit in my car when I travel, but a small bucket and shovel as well because you just never know what you can collect on the side of the road. I have saved Jonquils, Lilies, Butterfly-weed and more from a cruel death by a piece of road equipment and given them a new home in my yard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And although my yard seems full and overcrowded at times (think Cottage Gone Wild) I always seem to find room for more...</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55dA7eDWRpg/TdXPvZoz7kI/AAAAAAAAAxU/jQlpyHlYwgo/s1600/apple+blo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55dA7eDWRpg/TdXPvZoz7kI/AAAAAAAAAxU/jQlpyHlYwgo/s400/apple+blo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apple Tree Blossom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We planted this the Spring my mother died... I remember her singing that old song...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drAaqwU4QiQ/TdXP72cnWRI/AAAAAAAAAxg/yFlioLscR2o/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-drAaqwU4QiQ/TdXP72cnWRI/AAAAAAAAAxg/yFlioLscR2o/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Queen Anne's Lace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bought from the local Garden Club </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VyYUGM4N610/TdXQG6bSe9I/AAAAAAAAAxs/SUxjqoS0iu4/s1600/violet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VyYUGM4N610/TdXQG6bSe9I/AAAAAAAAAxs/SUxjqoS0iu4/s400/violet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of <b>MANY </b>of the Violets that bloom in our yard each Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqJnoolVxrw/TdXQE-P4LAI/AAAAAAAAAxo/9SH648zHOyM/s1600/sweet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqJnoolVxrw/TdXQE-P4LAI/AAAAAAAAAxo/9SH648zHOyM/s400/sweet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An Apple Shrub/Sweet Shrub I found blooming in the South Carolina Mountains</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VpE1z8bO1oA/TdXQKBQnSrI/AAAAAAAAAxw/Mz3MrFRi_lA/s1600/wild+az.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VpE1z8bO1oA/TdXQKBQnSrI/AAAAAAAAAxw/Mz3MrFRi_lA/s400/wild+az.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A native Azalea I found in Fair Play SC at Carolina Landing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2N3viD4dAI/TdXPtRNcnqI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/807C_o43HLY/s1600/a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2N3viD4dAI/TdXPtRNcnqI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/807C_o43HLY/s400/a3.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Althea in her flowered Easter dress holding one of my Daisies she just picked</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tzc8qiZK5Eo/TdXP1xR0h3I/AAAAAAAAAxc/Z03FerLsI_g/s1600/d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tzc8qiZK5Eo/TdXP1xR0h3I/AAAAAAAAAxc/Z03FerLsI_g/s400/d.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dorie holding one of the largest Dogwood blossoms I've ever seen, we found this specimen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at Issaqueena Falls near Walhalla, SC</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070121511527570024.post-66622891866024659572011-05-07T00:46:00.000-04:002011-05-07T00:46:56.923-04:00Change is GoodI keep telling myself this as I order new carpet and shudder at the price; clean out my cupboards and streamline my baking/cooking collection of pans, pots, etc; and redesign my blog... which has been the hardest, lol.<br />
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I have now spent 45 minutes changing background, templates, colors, etc and well I hope you like it. I believe it reflects what I am attempting to find - a simpler, calmer me.Camella Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00394321776828612459noreply@blogger.com1