Goodbye Grey Skies

Wednesday morning I woke to a beautiful clear blue sky. As I drove from Indiana to Kentucky last night, I could almost feel winter peeling away and signs of spring breaking free. Brown grass began to be replaced by fresh green, daffodils waved their yellow petals and trees were budding.
We left Berea heading east and took Hwy 421 south. The road winds through the foothills of the Appalachia, passing through towns that time has forgotten. We drove through Jackson county and Clay county, into Leslie county. As we drove through the Daniel Boone National Forest, it felt as though the hills were closing in on us. Before leaving KY we drove through Harlan county. Just south of Harlan is Black Mountain, the highest peak in Kentucky, with an altitude of 4139ft. This is actually privately owned property and an incredible natural preserve.

Heading to the Mountains

After a fairly snowy winter in Indiana, I'm ready to hit the road in search of signs of Spring. After considering several different possibilities, Emily and I decided to head to the mountains.
We will start our road trip at Berea, KY and head south on SR 421 through some beautiful foothills of the Appalachian mountains. In the spring, the morning dew tends to hang in the hills waiting for the sun to get high enough in the sky to burn it away.
Continuing south, crossing into Tennessee, we will head to Sevierville/Pigeon Forge - entering into the Great Smoky Mountains. Before lunch, we hope to do some horseback riding through the woods. (http://www.smokymountainridingstables.com/)
Then we'll enjoy a lazy drive through the Smokies, stopping here and there to catch some great photos. We may stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, near Cherokee, before heading over to Asheville, NC.
The following morning we plan to visit Black Mountain College Museum. (http://www.blackmountaincollege.org/)
Emily is writing a contrast paper regarding Black Mountain College and Berea College, compared to the traditional colleges in the late 1800's - early 1900's. These two colleges had a radical vision and mission that departed from the traditional expectations of higher education.
After lunch we will leave the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains and drive south into the Chattahoochee National Forest. We will spend the night in Helen, Georgia - known for it's pseudo-Germanic architecture. (http://www.helenga.org/)
In the evening we'll drive over to Dahlonega, Georgia to enjoy the local arts and music. Maybe even have time to hang out at the Crimson Moon Cafe - www.thecrimsonmoon.com
After a fun-filled evening, the next morning we will head over to Amicalola Falls (http://www.amicalolafalls.com/) for a vigorous hike. This is where the Appalachian Trail begins. During this time of year there are hundreds of hikers that begin their adventure at Amicalola and hike all the way to Maine, following the Appalachian trail from one end to the other! From what I've read on blogs and such, it takes 5-6 months to hike the entire trail - depending on how far you hike each day! Anyone want to give it a try?
In the afternoon we will head down to Atlanta and check out the Museum of High Art, as well as the Dogwood Festival at Lenox Square. More arts, music and food! Atlanta has so much to see - we had to keep it simple this time around.
Finally on our last day, we'll hike up Stone Mountain - http://www.stonemountainpark.org/ - which happens to be celebrating it's 50th anniversary! The forecast is for sunny skies, high of 71F. Hopefully we'll get a great view of the city and surrounding areas. Then it's time to start our drive back to Berea, KY. This time we'll be taking I-75 straight north.
So, check back after a few weeks - we should have some great photos to share!

Until then, happy trails to you...until we meet again...

LBYM in 2008

LBYM - Living Below Your Means
I recently ran across a blog on Fools.com about this topic. It looks like people have been sharing their ideas and suggestions since 2000 - which is pretty cool. Definitely check it out http://boards.fool.com/Messages.asp?bid=100158&mid=26240484
So, I thought it would be worth sharing some of my own tips fwiw:

1. Last year I learned about the "Locks of Love" - available in most areas - you receive a free haircut, if you donate your hair (at least 10") to the charity. It's a win-win.
2. Michael "found" quite a loot in the dumpster behind his work. There were purses, Trader Joe spices, oils & mixes, several shampoos, body wash, etc. We sold some of the purses to friends, gave some to Friends of Paint Lick and have enjoyed the spices. It looked like someone had to dispose of things last minute.
3. Living close to a college campus provides good opportunities at the end of the semester. As you walk/drive around campus, there are always tables, sofas, chairs, bookshelves, etc - sitting out - left behind as students leave for the summer.
4. Over two years ago we went cellular - no more LAN lines. We have a family plan and have added phones as needed. It's great - no regrets.
5. Most of our lunches are either brown-bagged or skipped. We may order pizza every few weeks and Chinese take-out once a month. I save eating out for special dates:).

I was incredibly impressed by Judi's cooking, when we saw her last Spring Break,and have tried some new recipes. Most of our meals involve ground beef or chicken. Nothing too complicated.

In terms of purchases here's my two-cents:
Is it for the right reason? In other words, will it add value to your life and fit your goals.
Is it the right time? Timing is everything. Are all your ducks in a row or should you wait a few more days, weeks, months. Don't start a project you can't finish in a timely manner - adding unnecessary stress and don't purchase a gadget you don't have time to learn or use for it's maximum value.
Is it the right purchase? Research, research, and more research. Make sure what you get is what you thought you were getting.

OK - that's my thought for the day. Feel free to add comments or share your LBYM stories.

Kentucky in November

Studying requires alot of energy & focus - so they say...

Alex - staying warm

Diana & Emily - Paint Lick, KY

Three generations: Loraine Stoughton Todd; Diana Todd Morris and Emily Morris - 2007
















Michael's chopping wood for a cozy fire...

Enjoying the farm in Paint Lick...chilly outside, cozy inside.


My father's family settled in this area over 120 years ago...Although most of the farm has been sold over the years, my parents own a little over 30 acres of beautiful bluegrass country - in the foothills, just outside Berea - folk art center of the country.

Class of 2007

Congratulations! May God be your guide every step of the way! May you always be a Christ follower, always loving others and growing in faith.

I hope you always have an inquiring mind, to learn new things and new ways of doing things. I hope you never settle for less and live each day to it's fullest. Live big, love big and give away as much as you can.

Remember, you are never alone and you are a delight!


Love always,

Your Mommy

Friends

A Night To Remember

PROM 2007

PROM TICKETS, AFTER-PROM & DINNER $$$

SHOES & DRESS $$$$




















HAIR, MAKEUP & JEWELRY $$$$$

A WONDERFUL NIGHT THAT YOU'LL ALWAYS TREASURE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE...PRICELESS!!!

Enjoy your special NIGHT! You deserve it!

Spring in Indiana

So, Emily talked me into getting my hair chopped off. It's been about five years, so I did it!
I went to Great Clips and donated my long locks. They use the hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Pretty cool idea.
What do you think?
This will be a busy month. Emily has her Senior Prom, finals and graduation! Wow! This is it. Alex has been hanging out with his buddies that have their own apt and he can't wait to have his own place. He's great! Being their mommy has to be one of the best parts of my life!

Family Fun

Riverwalk, San Antonio

The drive to San Antonio wasn't too bad. I was surprised that the road signs weren't helpful at all in knowing which exit to take, but we found our way. Downtown reminded me so much of some old cities in Brasil. There were lots of trees and squares with benches and fountains. Once you get to the Riverwalk, it's like entering a private garden. The street noise is gone and the trees, flowers and shrubs are wonderful. The walk is shaped like a "T" and part of it is much busier than the rest. Once you get close to the restaurants and the shops, it gets really crowded and noisy.
After enjoying the Riverwalk, we walked over the the Alamo. Then we stopped at a great little cafe for a snack. Heading back to the car, we enjoyed some of the old architecture. Back in the car, we headed East to Winnie, Texas for the night. Poor Michael had to drive through several hours of heavy rain. I'm so glad he was driving!

Wednesday, Caverns of Sonora

What a beautiful morning! We checked out of the hotel and drove about 7 miles west to the Caverns of Sonora. This is privately owned and has camping facilities, as well. There are deer all over. The caves were not developed for tours until many years after they had been discovered. The original opening led to a huge opening that dropped down so far, the explorers were afraid to attempt going further. I'm glad they finally found a way to get through, it's really an interesting site. Very different from the Mammoth caves in Kentucky. That's Michael, to the right.
Their website is www.cavernsofsonora.com
The tour lasted about 1 1/2 hours and the guide had alot of info to share on the history of the caves. One of the most incredible formations in the cave, was shaped liked a butterfly - but someone broke off one of the wings, so it doesn't quite look the same. What a shame!
After visiting the caves, we headed east to San Antonio. SPEED LIMIT 80 mph!! I guess because the roads are fairly straight and the distance is so great, you can really make great time.

Tuesday in Sonora, TX

Arriving late Monday in Sonora, we were soon faced with small town facts. Everything shuts down by 9:00pm. In other words, no supper. We checked in and fell asleep pretty quickly. The next morning we headed out to The Enchanted Rock. This is about 17 miles north of Fredricksburg, TX. I'd like to come back to spend a few days just visiting this quaint town and climbing the rock some more. Photos cannot do justice to the scope and magnitude of this mountain of stone. It was incredible. If you look closely to the picture up in the right corner, those little specks at the top are people. It is ginormous! It started to rain while we were up on top, so we climbed down very carefully. The flora growing on the rock was incredible. Well worth spending several days exploring. There is a campsite at the bottom of the mountain with plenty of sites and clean facilities. We drove back to Sonora and stopped by the Eaton Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. You can check it out at www.sonoratx-chamber.com
That evening we did catch supper at the local Pizza Hut and had ice-cream at Dairy Queen. Yum, yum!

Monday in Shawnee

After visiting the college, we drove down to the old Shawnee Depot. We took several pictures of the depot, the old train and an oil pump nearby. Next, we headed over to the original Van's BBQ. Delicious! Brought some sauce home with us. Their website is www.pigstands.com
We also stocked up on baking mixes from Shawnee Mills, they have great muffin mixes, corn bread and brownie mixes. With much reluctance, we said our good-byes and headed southwest to Sonora, TX.

Fun in Shawnee,OK

Sunday was such a lovely day. We spent time catching up on the news and playing with the girls. Late lunch was delicious, at a local Mexican Restaurant - huge portions! Perfect!
In the morning, we headed over to see Saint Gregory's College, where my oldest brother, Phil, works. As you can see, the campus is beautiful.
Here's another shot, Phil walking across campus after his morning class. We didn't get up early enough to sit in his class. That would've been so amazing. He has a great way of helping his students think through things that most of us take for granted.

Road Trip 2007

Wow! We are in Sonora!
We left home around 8 pm on Saturday, as soon as Michael. Loaded everybody up and headed west on I-70. it was after midnight when we drove through St Louis. The Arch was beautiful, lit up against the skyline of the city. No time to stop, so we headed southwest on I-44 to Springfield, and then onto Joplin, Mo.
I took a detour in Joplin, following the old Route 66. Parts of the road were so old, it felt like a gravel road. There were old abandoned buildings that hinted to a more prosperous time gone by, but no touristy spots along this stretch. We arrived in Miami, OK around 5:30 am. It was still pretty dark, so my photos are questionable. it appears that work is underway to spruce up the old downtown. There are several interesting buildings, but I didn't see the courthouse.
My parents were married in Miami, OK in 1962. How fun!
We jumped back on I-44 and headed towards Vinita. Stopping at the "Nation's Largest McDonald's" - a restaurant that straddles the Will Rogers Turnpike. It used to be the Glass House Restaurant. I was able to get a photo of the sun coming up(see photo above right), from the restaurant. Well, no one was quite ready for breakfast, so we headed down the road, through Tulsa and toward Chandler. There were signs of storms in the distance and Phil called to let us know we might run into rain. The rain was refreshing and lasted about the last hour of the drive. Arriving in Shawnee, we grabbed a bite to eat, then made our 1st stop - Phil and Kristen's home.
We were welcomed by happy girls, playing on the porch, watching the trees bloom and the rain fall. It was wonderful to breathe Spring fresh air and sit outside.

Road Trip 2007 - Part I

It's been almost a year since my last road trip, so it's definitely time. The last time we were all on the road together was in 2001. Two weeks. From Connecticut to Oklahoma, through Washington DC, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and back again.
This will be a special road trip for many reasons, so we're packing in alot of sights in just 8 1/2 days.

• We'll be heading out on a Saturday, by 6pm. From Indiana we'll be driving west, through Illinois to Saint Louis, MO. The Arch will welcome us, just as all the pilgrims that have gone before. That will be a good place to take a quick break, before heading southwest to Springfield, MO. Birthplace of Route '66. Coffee will come in handy about now. Continuing southwest thru Joplin, MO, where we may take a small detour on "Old Route '66" to Miami, OK. A quick drive thru Miami to get a photo of the courthouse (that's where my parents eloped, back in 1962.) We'll catch breakfast somewhere in the area, then we'll continue on thru Vinita, OK (the nation's largest McD's - it stretches over the Will Rogers Turnpike), pass by Claremore, OK (home of Will Rogers) and Catoosa, OK (home of the Blue Whale). On through Tulsa, OK until we get to Chandler, OK (there are murals on the town's buildings and an old Phillips 66 station). From Chandler, OK, we'll head south to Shawnee, OK (home of OBU and St Augustine University). About 750 miles. Time for a break. ETA 9am Sunday morning.
• Sunday in Shawnee, OK - best BBQ ever at Van's, and Shawnee Mills has wonderful muffin mixes. Load up on BBQ sauce and muffin mixes. Hang out with family.
  
• Monday morning in Shawnee, visit St Gregory U and head out after lunch. Drive through Oklahoma City, then catch 44 south to Wichita Falls, TX. Take a quick break before heading south through Abilene, TX to San Angelo, TX on 277. We'll be crossing the great Colorado River and drive by the Twin Butte Reservoir. Between Abilene and San Angelo, the terrain will start to change as we get closer to the Edwards Plateau and The Hill Country. Our stop will be Sonora, TX. About 477 miles. ETA 9pm Monday evening.

I'll be posting pictures and notes along the way, so keep checking back!

No Greater Love

Love.. what is love? Is it merely an emotion that comes and goes like the rain? Is it proud or conceited? Or is it subtle and enduring?

When I think of love, I think of long hot hazy summer days in Kansas - when the heat rolls off the pavement and sand hills, like ocean waves breaking on the beach. I think love is like the wide open blue sky that spans across the golden Kansas wheat fields and it flutters like the windmill in the late afternoon breeze.

Love takes me back to a very special place. Love leads the way past the old family farm, lost so many years ago. It leads past the empty school yard where only memories linger and on down the lane past the old gas station...Love is no longer here. It hasn't been found here for quite awhile.

Love moved on. So we followed. My mother and I. We drove past buildings, past cars, past open fields... Love led the way. It led the way down a dirt road to a small family cemetery. On this hot hazy summer afternoon, I was given a gift of love. As we sat in the cemetery, my mother shared her beautiful love story.

The story is of a young lady, born and raised in the sandy hills of Kansas. Oh yes! There are sandy hills in Kansas. One day this lovely young lady, her husband and their four young children moved far, far away from home. She left behind her sisters and brother, her family and friends. But, the hardest thing to leave behind was her beloved mother. She was her dearest friend.

And so this lovely young lady traveled far, far away, across the sea to another land. This land was very different from Kansas. With love, this young lady set about making a new home for her family. She studied hard to learn the new language and embraced this new culture. She worked hard to help her children adjust to their new home. She did it all with amazing love. Love not only for her family, but also for the millions of people in this new land who had never heard about the Greatest Gift of Love. That was her purpose for being there.

Not long after the young lady had arrived in this new land, she received news that her beloved mother was dying. Cancer was slowly taking away her life. There wasn't much time left. The young lady had to borrow the neighbor's phone, since they had none. She soon discovered how hard it would be to leave this new land. But love would find a way.

The lovely young lady packed a few things and got on a bus, all alone, and traveled for many hours to request permission to leave this new land. She would go every day to the Consulate begging for permission to leave. Days turned into weeks. No one understood the odds stacked against her. No one could see the battle that was raging. Each day her beloved mother would ask for her and wonder why she had not come. Each day she would pray and ask for help. As time drew on, the lovely young lady, who loved her mother dearly, prayed that her mother suffer no more. She couldn't bear the thought of her mother lying in pain just waiting for her to come home.

Finally, after six long weeks, the papers were issued, granting permission for the lovely young lady to fly back home to Kansas. She had her papers, she had her ticket. Love had prevailed. Or so it seemed. For when the lovely young lady called home to give them the news that she was on her way, the answer came back..."it's too late." Her dear mother had passed away.

Love... what is love? It is sacrifice, it is letting go, it is enjoying each precious moment you have, it is as deep as the blue summer sky. So I wanted to pass this on to celebrate the love my mother has given so freely in her life. Her love has been unselfish, not holding a grudge against those who could not understand why she went so far away and why she could not come back so easily. Her love has been gracious, accepting and sincere. Her life is a beautiful reflection of her Heavenly Father.

The Red Spiral Notebook - "Cake, Cookies, Pudding"

Later today, I'm going to a Coffee party at a friend's house. She asked us to bring a treat that would go well with coffee and tea. My first thought was to make a run to Starbucks for some yummy Biscotti. How ridiculous! This is a great opportunity to try out some recipes from Grandma Daisy's notebook! So, I retrieved the notebooks from my cabinet and started looking. These sound delicious:

Crunchy Coffee Cake
(looks like this was cut out from an old magazine)
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Calumet Baking Powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Chiffon Margarine
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup Post Grape-Nuts Cereal
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, the soda, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl; mix well. Add sour cream, margarine, eggs, and vanilla. Blend at low speed of electric mixer or by hand; then beat1 minute at medium speed or 150 strokes by hand.
Combine cereal, 1/2 cup sugar, and the cinnamon; mix. Pour 1/3 of the batter into a greased 9-inch square pan; sprinkle with 1/3 of the cereal mixture. Continue layering, ending with the cereal. Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
NOTE: If desired, this recipe may be doubled and baked in a greased 13x9 inch pan at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean.

Newspaper clipping circa 1969 (Jewish month of Tishri and the start of the year 5731 in the Jewish calendar)...Apple, honey and carrot dishes in different versions are served at the Rosh Hashannah dinner. Here are a few of the best known recipes.

CARROT CAKE
1 cup carrot pulp
5 eggs seperated
1 cup sugar
1 pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 pint cream, whipped
Cook and strain carrots; squeeze dry. Mix egg yolks, sugar and salt and beat lightly. Stir in carrot pulp and fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Add chopped nuts and vanilla. Bake in spring-form pan 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool. Serve with whipped cream.

HONEY CAKE
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup honey
1 cup boiled coffee
2 Tbsp salad oil
3 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp each: baking solda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg.
2 Tbsp chopped nuts
Beat eggs well, adding sugar gradually. Mix honey and coffee, add oil and dry ingredients, sifted together. Add to beaten egg mixture. Reserve chopped nuts.
Sprinkle bottom of greased pan with nuts. Pour in dough. Bake in 350 oven 40 minutes. If desired, add 1/2 cup chopped nuts to dough.

Cut & Paste Recipes from Grandma Daisy

One of my most precious possessions is a collection of three small 9 1/2 inch x 6 inch spiral notebooks. One is red, one is blue and one is green. Each one is worn from decades of use. Each one is bulging with hand picked recipes from across the span of my Grandma Daisy's life as a new wife in late 1930's, mother in the 1940's, hostess, Grandmother and active member of many committees, including DAR.
Although I have also inherited my Grandma Daisy's Good Housekeeping CookBook, Third Printing, 1955, and her Betty Crocker's Picture CookBook, Seventh Printing, 1950, these are not nearly as dear to me. When I think of her putting these spiral notebooks together over the years, testing out different styles and tastes, I feel like a piece of time has been preserved.
The red spiral is titled "Cake, Cookies, Pudding" across the cover and she taped a vintage drawing by Louise Howe Ewing that depicts a cheerful lady rolling out dough on a simple table, surrounded by various baking supplies. I believe it was part of a greeting card.

The Red Spiral Notebook


The blue spiral is the fullest one, newspaper clippings hanging over the edges. This one is titled "Bread, Candies, Soups, Pickles". The green spiral is titled "Meat, Chicken, Fish, Sauce, Salads, Vegetable". Although each spiral had it's own title, I have found that several recipes are mixed around in other spirals. You just may find a wonderful recipe for "Chinese Chicken Livers" in the blue spiral, which you would expect to find in the green instead. I guess that's one of the benefits of compiling your own recipes, you make the rules.

Twisted turns on the Path

So here the path takes another twisted turn. The way is rough and dark. I've had to sell my home and close my business, letting go of dreams. In times like this I hold tight to the essentials of life, my children, my story, my faith. It's hard not to loose a sense of who I am and where I'm going. Stumbling along, grasping for something solid.
A faint voice across the years reaches out to say I have not been forgotten, that I do matter. Somehow I'm getting up again, dusting off my knees and focusing my sight on tommorow. Re-energized to never give up and never give in. It is only high noon and there's still so much to see and do.
Another voice invites me to consider other options, helping re-build confidence in my abilities. Yes! I do have alot to offer. I do have compassion and empathy, love and tenderness. Life is callous at times, but I don't have to become that way. I would rather suffer because of my kindness and generosity, then have abundance through greed and selfishness.
As I venture out looking for new opportunities, I can already feel revitalized, full of possibilities and a smoother path.