Soaps and The New Year

Here it is, at the end of another year. A time for looking forward and also a time for looking back. I find myself looking back on the changes brought by 2009. I must admit that one of the saddest was the passing of Guiding Light. Yes, you read that correctly, I am lamenting the passing of America's longest running Soap! I don't even watch Soaps, but I used to watch and still occasionally read up on my favs. By far, Guiding Light was always my favorite. I fell in love with the above pictured Grant Aleksander as Phillip Spaulding long before DH came into my life.

Though my adult devotion to the Soaps has been luke-warm, my dear grandmother (Ma Jones), who died several years ago, was a die hard Soap fan. It was known far and wide that you didn't interrupt her "Shows". She would even say less-than-positive things about any newscaster or President who saw fit to interrupt her daily visits in Genoa City (The Young and the Restless), LA (Bold & Beautiful), Oakdale (As the World Turns) and the final stop being in Springfield (Guiding Light). Honestly, even if the world were ending, it would have been well advised to do so before the beginning of her Shows or afterward...otherwise, she was NOT participating!

I am not sure what exactly I find so sad about the slow, winding down of the Soap Opera genre. Maybe it is the nostalgia that comes with seeing much beloved brands pass away (Pontiac comes to mind). I guess it is just seeing something that was so intrinsic to my childhood era end. My Mother and her friends watched Soaps. It was the background noise of our home every afternoon. As I became a teen, and into my college years, it became a shared experience among my friends. Who remembers where they were when Luke and Laura got married (the 1st time)? Were you huddled around the TV at home, or in a dorm room or sharing it with friends in the Student Center? Oh, and then there was the wide spread popularity of VCRs...to record and watch it later. No, I am not kidding!

Soaps always have beautiful people, with beautiful homes, and of course, beautiful clothes. The idea for my Christmas Wedding was inspired by Tom and Margo's (As the World Turns) Christmas wedding in 1983. Oh, and don't forget, no one ever ages poorly on Soaps...how cool is THAT? And now the news is, not only have we seen the death of Guiding Light in September of 2009, but 2010 will bring the execution date during September for As the World Turns, as well. I am just glad Ma Jones isn't here to see that...it would have killed her.

RIP, Oakdale....

Merry Christmas and where is our snow?

I really think snow would complete my pictures!

Breakfast with Santa

This year only 4 of our 5 family members wanted to have breakfast with Santa. My 12 DS was, apparently, too cool for such shenanigans! Hrmph!!!!!!!
DH and I enjoyed it, though!
So did my silly pants youngest DS!

I just can't understand anyone wanting to skip out on breakfast with the big guy...

even DD wasn't willing to risk not telling Santa what she wanted!

Even Christmas Town isn't safe!

Or maybe it is the safest place around....

Southern Living Idea House - Christmas Style

21!

Here we are....21 years after our young, naive, idealistic selves walked down the isle in a church, on a cold December night to say "I do". We were able to celebrate 21 years of (mostly) blissful marriage in much warmer circumstances than we began. It was a much needed and wonderful time for the two of us. We haven't been away, without children, in years and years and years and years (well, you get the point!). So, to think it has been 21 years is pretty amazing. I remember thinking, when we got married, that people who had been married 20+ years were old people! Oh, how time flies and taunts your younger impressions.

Even if I know we aren't "old people" it does feel like we have spent our entire lives together. We thought we were adults and mature when we got married, only to discover that we didn't have a clue. In the past 21 years, life has twisted, stretched, and often tried to slice us to pieces but a gracious, loving God has kept us together. DH and I have walked this path together, sometimes closer than others...but still together. We are becoming "grown ups" together...
I love this man more today than ever before.

So, since I have been neglecting blogland recently, this is my 1st trying to catch up post! Hopefully, in the next few days I can share more about what has been happening in the Southern Somedays world.

Jugtown Ware Pottery and Seagrove, N.C.

Look what I just received! This is a collection of very old Jugtown Pottery. It has been in my family for 50+ years and my family was under the impression it was from Mexico ~ WRONG! When it came into my eager hands (I am sort of an odd ball in that I tend to want things others don't) I was thrilled to see a potters mark clearly on the bottom of each piece. I was even more thrilled to find out information about the pottery and the potters that created these wonderful pieces of art. These pieces aren't from Mexico but are wonderful examples of the southern potters located in Seagrove, NC by Jugtown Pottery http://www.jugtownware.com/. Knowing how long they were tucked away in a cabinet in my family they must be from the late 30s/40s (possibly early 50s?). I can't wait to find out for sure. Don't you love treasure that comes with a hunt?

This is the mark on the bottom of each piece.
I would love to hear from anyone who might know more about my little treasure!

Happy, Happy Birthday

18

I have been melancholy the last few days, wondering where the time has gone. Today may be the last time she sits at my table for breakfast on her birthday. She is charting a course away from us and though we support her an are proud of her, I can't imagine her not being here. Just yesterday I sat at the mall eating lunch and watched a Mother with a small daughter riding the Merry Go Round. I wanted to catch her sleeve and say breathe it all in, grab every moment, because sooner than you can imagine you will be me.

We mothers are learning to mark our mothering success by our daughters' lengthening flight.
~ Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Football and baking...

Yes, this week we finally got a dose of the allusive autumn! It has been in the high 40s/low 50s every morning and then will warm to a heavenly 75-80 humidity free day. It has been FABU (yes, that is my new word...FABU; pronounced FABOO...just to drive my DD crazy)!


Anyway in the spirit of Fall, (did you like that lead in?)... this week our Football Team has an away game that is really quite a hike, so the Cheer Squad (DD is a member) is doing little goodies bags for the ride for each of the players.



What does all this have to do with me, you ask? Well, that means this morning I am baking Chocolate Cookie Bars. You remember those, don't you - think Toll House Cookie Bars, with my fewer ingredient recipe twist:


Chocolate Cookie Bars (like Toll House Cookie Bars!)

2- 1/3 self rising flour
1 cup butter
¾ sugar
¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnut pieces

Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add flour; mix well. Stir in chocolate pieces and walnuts. Spread mixture in greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan. Cut into 2 inch squares. Makes about 35.

Guess where I will be on April 24, 2010?

http://www.BethMooreAtlanta.com

and I can't wait!

An Open Letter to Old Navy...

Dear Old Navy,

I am trying desperately to like you and your budget priced, fun and trendy clothing. Really, I am. My kids love you and I want to be part of the fun. See, a few weeks ago, I even blogged positively about you: http://southerness.blogspot.com/2009/08/good-deals-to-be-had-at-old-navy.html!

After my glowing experience with you, I signed up for your weekly emails which promised to include coupons for additional encouragement to part with my slim amount of cash. Coupons...now that got me excited! You tickled my thoughts with that one. I had visions of us sharing many hours together as I carefully chose items in which to trade you my hard earned cash. http://www.oldnavyweekly.com/ .

I envisioned our future to be about regular time spent together and me making sure to keep up with your teasingly great Deal of the Week. In return, I only expected that you would put out just a little love by giving me a coupon. But, no, Old Navy, you have taunted me - and challenged my limited early morning email reading/checking skills. Through blurry eyes I have scoured your weekly email ads and tried to play your evil, self esteem killing game "click around to find the coupon". Ha! I have clicked and reclicked, and spoken not favorably under my breath about you, and still NO coupon. I have given you my email address, freely at every turn - just in case, that might provide me with just a little coupon ecstasy. What a one sided relationship this has been. I feel used, lied to and tricked for your own fun and games. Is this really what we were supposed to be about?

Regards,

Couponless in the South

(BTW, The point is made better if read out loud in an emotion-filled Antonio Banderas voice or possibly as Jack Black in Nacho Libre!.)

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Hey, it is the 1st Day of Fall! Though, my calendar says it is officially fall, I am not seeing it. For the past week (plus a few days),we in North Georgia, aren't seeing signs of fall or feeling a few crisp breezes to get us excited about the upcoming season... We are trying to determine if we should just throw down the gauntlet and start building an Ark. For those who live in overcast and rainy climates, I don't know how you do it!!! Honestly, I think everyone I know is a bit testy due to lack of sunshine - and it is not in the least bit becoming. I know I am...grumble, grumble, grumble.