Memories of Barnwell Part 1

Barnwell 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.

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.

Snelling had a couple local hangouts, Billy Moore's Store and Harry and Sarah's Bar which was small, crowded and friendly.

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.

We fell in love with this small town, dad took the job and we moved the summer of 1978 into Colony West.

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.

It was neighborhood and family friendly, even the preacher came by for a lunch and coke.

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.

Mom often made Bisquick Pizza, Chicken Casseroles and Pepper Steak. These meals sold out so quick, people would call and reserve their lunch.

Jack and Jeans had two pool tables, a jukebox, bowling machine and the first PAC Man and Space Invaders games in the county.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From Point A to Z

Working on supper of Pommes Anna I headed to the garden for some fresh Thyme.

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.

Clipping the Thyme I brushed against the Rosemary and was engulfed in its wonderful scent.

As I headed back towards the house I caught a glimpse of something red where red should not be.

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.

How My Garden Grows

Rainy Day Ain't Got Me Down

Blogging!!! Again. Finally.








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




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!




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?




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.




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.

Passing of the Heart

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.

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.

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.

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.

Going Home To Bama

I 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.

Tonight I will just upload the photos so that all my friends and other family can enjoy them.

 Family

 

Andrew, Camella, Cynthia (my dad's cousin) and Virginia (my 2nd cousin).

 

 

Three generations looking at old photos.

 

 Althea taking photos.

 

Cooking on the deck.

 

My Uncle Putman (dad's brother), me, Virginia, my Aunt Barbara (dad's niece) and Andrew.

 



 

Cousins.

Connie, Barbara, Cynthia, Virginia,Camella

Uncle Putman in the back.

 



 

Ann Brown, my beautiful cousin.

 

And her husband, Bud Brown.

 

And his younger brother John Brown.

 

 





Doing Stuff

Papa explaining fishing scissors to Althea.

 

Lake Smith

Julie, Andrew and Althea at Great Grandma and Grandpa Barton's grave.

Union Chapel

 

 

Althea at her Great Great Great Grandparents Grave

 

 

Things and Places

 

Daffodils at Smith Lake House.

 

Daffodils

 

Althea at Posey's Hardware.

 

Althea and Papa.

 

A trip to Jasper just ain't done until you stop

at Posey's Hardware.

 

Andrew and Julie

 

Frank looking for a rock for me.

 

My hubby getting me a gift for the yard!

Alligator Point Photos

Sunrise on the bay. Alligator Point.

 

 

Sunrise hitting the beach gave it a warm pink glow.

 

 

Thunderstorm rolling in over the bay.

 

The beach after a storm.

 

 

Driftwood trees.

 

 Sea turtle at the Gulf Specium Marine Lab in Panacea.

 

 

Flower blooming outside the lab.

 

 

 

Little shop outside of Carrabelle.

 

Boardwalk at Bald Point State Park.

 

 

Ghost crab.

 

 

Laughing Gull at Carrabelle Beach.

 

 

How Does Your Garden Grow?

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

 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.

Field on Reynolds Road Barnwell SC

 

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.

Four O Clocks from my garden

 

 Water Hyacinth in Frank's pond

 

Althea in front my one lone Azalea

My mom's Rebel Yell Camellia

 Dorie with a wild Dogwood bloom, Upstate SC

 

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.

 

Branch in full bloom 

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...

 

 

Queen Anne's Lace growing by the fence.

It took me forever to get one my favorites to finally take hold.

Wildflowers I have photographed throughout the South...

 

 Native Azalea, Fair Play SC

 

 Wildflowers on the hill in Fair Play, SC

and yes this is the shot I was after when I tumbled down that hill!

 

And then there are things that just caught my eye:

Not a flower, but a precious little cedar growing in the shadow of a majestic old Magnolia.

 

 A bouquet of roses.

 

Strange plant I saw in Panacea, FL

Anyone know what it is?