Mr. Clarence Tangles with Mother Nature
There was a time during my growing up years in Melbourne Community when Mother Nature started taking her best shots at us country folk, sending big angry tornadoes roaring our way. After surviving a number of these storms, Papa became one of the first men in our community to install an underground shelter in our back yard. It was a big white prefab unit, sunk
Jack Greene in the Southern Quote
He was born on January 7th, 1930 in Maryville, Tennessee, picked up the guitar at eight, and made his singing debut on the radio as a high school freshman. Soon he was performing regularly on the Tennessee Barn Dance on WNOX out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Jack’s next move took him to Atlanta, where he put together a band called the Peach Street Boys. Almost a
Welcome to my Birthday Month!
Welcome to my birthday month! I decided long ago that a birth day was too short a celebration. I usually try and stretch it out for a week, but this time I’m thinking a full month is in order! Friends, I will be half a century old on the last day of April, which just seems crazy, but you can’t mess with math. Of course,
Wined and Dined Mushrooms
Welcome back to the All Things Southern kitchen, folks. I found some big gorgeous mushrooms at the store earlier, which made me think about a nice thick steak sizzling on the grill, which led me to twice baked potatoes, a fresh garden salad—oh, and French bread with garlic butter… Holdddddddddd it…..I'm afraid I was getting ahead of myself. Here, let me show y’all how to
Story Stacking on a Lazy Dazy Sunday
The man is zeroed in on the Masters. I can see his blond head from here. I'm back porch writing in my new Swingasan. (LOVE this thing!) Just a little while ago Papa and Mama came by for a quick cup of coffee. While they were here our conversation turned to Mama's parents, my beloved grandparents and their camp on the Old River. It didn't take us long
Don’t Ask Me to Roll An “R”
I’ve never made a secret of the fact that I couldn’t talk well when I was young and I’ve freely admitted that traces of my childhood speech impediment can still be heard. I honestly don’t know whether or not I’ve told y’all about the dreaded speech therapist who used to hold my tongue while putting me through his little regimen, but that’s the gospel truth,
George Brett in the Southern Quote
He was born May 15th, 1953, in Glen Dale, the second youngest child in a sports loving family in Glen Dale, West Virginia. George grew up dreaming of becoming a major league baseball player like his older brother. He was eighteen years old when the Kansas City Royals gave him a shot, picking him in the second round of the 1971 draft. He was a sure-handed,
Renea’s Dilly Beans
Hey Y’all! Welcome back to the All Things Southern Kitchen! Several months ago I was at a book festival when an author friend asked, “Did you fly or drive?” When I told her I had driven she said, “Great! I have something for you.” And boy, was I glad I had not flown in! Renea Winchester gifted me with a glass jar of Dilly Beans. Just
The Thrill of Public Weigh-ins
"Clare and Miss Abs" One of my good email buddies is trying to get in shape for the summer. Clare and her husband bought each other a year’s membership to a local fitness club this past Christmas. They haven’t been there a handful of times, but Clare recently decided it’s time to get her money’s worth. She signed up for their diet and nutrition class that