News from the Hooch

I took a walk in God’s living room on Mother’s Day with Duke Boy and Rock Man.  You can go too.  It’s convenient, free, and gorgeous.  I’m talking about the River Park in West Point, GA.  There are a number of well- marked trails.  Wear your good walking shoes, take a walking stick, stay on the trail.  There is poison oak—and even the Garden of Eden had a snake-- we saw a baby one.  He was on the way to visit his Momma so we let him be and he returned the favor.   Several really gorgeous trees, huge, tall—sorry Rock Man—I can’t remember the names.  Lots of native plants.  My favorite spot is the boardwalk over the beaver dam.  This was an Eagle Scout project that Rock Man helped complete or vice versa.  Get a picture from under the trestle where there is new shelter.  This keeps the debris kicked up by the passing trains from knocking you in the head.  If you get just the right angle from the shelter you can see rails in the river from the Civil War era where a bridge was blow during the Yankee aggression on our neighborhood.  Geography, history, herpetology, botany, and just plain fun and good exercise all in a couple of hours.   Take a friend and a stick and check it out.

Rock Man & Duke Boy

Convertible therapy was also part of my Mother’s Day outing.  It was a little chilly but it was so good to feel the wind in my hair.  We veered off Highway 29 to Lagrange so we could drink in some of that lush green pasture land on Old West Point Road.  Sunset made us let up the windows to block the wind, and the ride home after supper was definitely top up weather. 

We have a new semi-resident in our garden.  NN.  Mr. NoName.  He is furry, striped, and sweet.  He even got to sit in Duke Boy’s lap one night. Duke Boy forgot that kind of fur usually makes him have sneezing fits.  NN is trying to rub his way into our hearts.  He’s even trying to rub noses with our house pet, BW.  NN has a home.  I’m not giving in to his bird eating, garden soiling—not in a good sense of the word—ways.  Perhaps he is a snake eater? Hmm?  Maybe the Garden of Eden could have gone differently for Eve if one of these had lived there??   

Get mooving if you haven’t purchased your Chick-fil-a tickets for the May 21^st fundraiser for the Pastoral Institute.   Friday is your absolute last chance.  Duke Boy made the cookie dough this weekend while I was using up by bend-overs in the garden.  Our homemade cookies really make our sacks very special.  There are only $6.00 for a chick-fil-a sandwich, chips, and our signature chocolate chip cookie.  Call 334-768-2341 to buy a ticket or contact one of our Advisory Board members: Lessie Beck, Bill Edwards, Marshall Sapp, Shelly Hunter, Lucy Royster, Sandra Thornton, Mary Susan Underwood, Christine Simpson, Marilyn Stokes, John Samanie or Donnie Erwin-Brown.

Karen Erwin-Brown is the director of the Valley office of the Pastoral Institute.  She offers individual, marriage, and family counseling by appointment only.  Call 334-768-2341 for an appointment or more information.

Mother's Day Tales from the Hooch

Great little Mother's Day jaunt last evening.  River Park in West Point. Expert guidance from Rock Man who helped create the trails.  Wear good shoes.  Take a walking stick.  Remember you're in God's living room and not yours. The board walk over the beaver dam, an Eagle Scout project, is quite impressive.  Lots of lovely ferns and other native plants to view.  Stay on the trail...lots of poison ivy too.  Only saw one no shoulder creature. Rock Man said might have been a water moccasin. A baby one but their venom is more powerful than their momma's so I hear.

Then convertible ride to Lagrange for supper at Country's. What a day. 

Divine Ms. M and I at Gibbs Garden in 2012. Part of our Mother's day feast.

My beautiful Mother probably a la 1943 before 4 children.

 

Maw Maw with Baby Jake 2012

Lovely lunch a la Duke Boy.  5 star dining experience.  Lemon chicken, roasted potatoes, fresh green beans with basil, watermelon/tomato salad, sour cream rolls.  Dessert: Swiss chocolate cake prepared by one of the woman from my Naomi group for widows.  We had half leftover from group and she gifted us .   

Almost forgot...my annual Mother's Day nap , wonderful.  Duke Boy and I were knocked out for a couple of hours in the sweet afternoon coolness from our open window. 

Maw Maw got to hold the latest addition to our family yesterday.  Baby Ryan, who thanks to many prayers is home from the NICU in Columbus. 

Must be a traffic jam on the river this morning.  Lots of honking from the geese.  No Name, the cat visitor spent Mother's Day with us yesterday.  Got in my lap twice on the patio--sweet and persistent. I'm still not naming him.

Peaceful Monday.

My best Mother's Day present from the late 80's.

Mother's Day, Aleve night

Wonderful day in my garden makes for an Aleve night.  Used up my bendovers  for the week spreading pine straw.  Garden hat and oak trees made for good day with light rain .

Mother's Day celebrated early at the beach with my Mom and sister.  Beach trips aren't complete without a little time in the beach chairs. Doesn't matter that the wind is near gale force, the flag is red and standing out like cardboard, my sister is holding on to the umbrella, my mom is a covered in a blanket, and I'm covered in goose bumps.  Did I mention that is was Bike Week? Mom and I listened to lullabies on my Pandora to try to drown out the cyclists who zoomed by our condo Friday night.  Never  drive on the back beach road near the Harley place on Saturday of bike week.  Can you say parking lot? Despite all the obstacles we had a great time and managed to eat some wonderful food. Grilled shrimp at Captain Anderson's--yum. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you.  Looking forward to lunch with my baby and her sweet hubby tomorrow.  Also the Divine Mrs. M. coming.  more Yummy food this time prepared by Duke Boy. 

Who are you and why are you in my garden?

It's gonna be one of those, "I meant to do my work today, but a brown bird sang in the apple tree.." kind of days.  Who said that? Emily Dickinson?  Elizabeth Barrett Browning?
 Neither..Richard Galienne...look it up.  Are you kidding me.  I knew that was too light hearted and easy to understand to be Emily. 

Outside my window --a new resident--a striped cat that I've been trying to get out of my yard.  He or she followed me around crying while I put out ant poison--I think he thought I had cat food.   go away  I didn't want to like or poison you.  He eats songbirds and I just noticed that none are singing at this moment--hmm.

 They are smarter than Duke Boy ...the cat sat in his lap last night while he was outside.  Are you kidding me? "Sweet cat. "  HE DOESN'T EVEN LIKE CATS!

 OK, I admit I didn't try real hard to make him leave.  I think he probably also eats snakes or at least toys with them.  I am Not naming him.

Unlike J.R.  For Jack Russell.  He's our newest tree frog who sounds exactly like the Jack Russell dog across the street when he gets his knickers in a knot.  J.R. likes to get up at 5 A.M.  He did that this morning.  I know why you'd want to shoot J.R.

Little stripy NO Name must have moved out--no meowing and birds are singing again. 

Where will you see God today?  It's easier to see Him when they have names.

Ungeeked and unconnected

Frustration--should have geeked out several hours ago and called those guys to help me connect my email.  Bull-headedness prevented me from giving in.  Kept thinking I could figure it out. Now I'm too tired to comprehend instructions.  Tomorrow is another day.

Also gotta figure out how to get pictures to blog.  My garden has some lovely flowers right now.
Maybe by summer I'll figure this out so you shall continue to be charmed by my surroundings. 

Thought I'd lost you.  Just hit some button that sent everything to whirling.  Think I shall go to bed.

Hot diggity day

Hot diggity in the dirt.  What a day.

 New nursery for plants in Newnan.  Highway 29.  Southern Roots.
 Great owners :Bob & Sherry Lott.  Check it out.  Bought Black Cow to make my dirt feel nourished. Yes, it's what it sounds like.  I wore gloves. 

Troup County Master Gardeners Sale was today.  Put lime on your iris to improve the blooms.  This is the year of the iris at my house.  Apricot, purple, lavender--we bought a purple and white last night, and a salmon today.  Amazing how much you can cram in your car.  Cute young man pulled our plants to the car.  He said "your azalea is beautiful".  He stole my heart with his cuteness and plant knowledge! He was right it's an orange native.  So gorgeous. 

Another Newman nursery on 29, the Veggie Patch also has beautiful flowers.

Duke Boy dug my holes and I black cowed them and planted.  We are a good team.  He was kind when I was a little picky about the holes.

Tomorrow after lunch I'll finish planting.  Hoping for another gorgeous day. 

Peaceful river day

Easing into this Windows 8 thing---I think I can...I think can!
 
Another beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Gotta dig in the dirt.

Great Bunco night with the girls.  Fun, silliness, and great food.  I was not the biggest loser.  Sad. No cash. 

Who are you helping today. Look for the opportunity.  Good advice from Mrs. Rogers.

Peace today.

Windows 8 Yikes

Windows 8.  Pray that I will be able to master this.  My old computer crashed.  Geek squad saved some of my stuff @ Best Buy.  I need more tutoring on this stuff. 

Lovin' a faster connection.  My HP was great but from 2005.  Time to come into the 2000s. 

April in my garden is great.  DukeBoy hard @ work.  I've been out of town so I've only gooshed over his endeavors.  Tons of flowers. 

Pray for peace.  People in Boston and West Texas need healing.  as do we all.  Pray for all those in transition. 

Looking for the helpers

Mr. Rogers' mom told him whenever something scary happened on TV to" look for the helpers". Good advice with all the scary stuff on TV this week.  Sad for the family in Boston who lost their son, their daughter who lost a limb, and the mother with a head injury.

 Seems almost impossible to see beyond the awfulness to the helpers but they were there.  They were who kept alive the rest of that family.

  How can we help?
 What can we do?
 Sometimes it's easier to do nothing and hope that someone else will. 
Thanks to all of you ...the helpers. 
You know who you are and you just keep on doing it and never make it to TV for your efforts.
 We can all help by praying for the healing of those injured in Boston and those injured by the vote on gun control today. 

Peace from the Hooch. 

Land of the Eagles

This is my article that Shall appear in the Valley Times-News  West Point Times-News this week.

Some of it may look familiar if you follow my blog.  Check out the earlier posts for the pictures of the fire.

Land of the Eagles

What an amazing day on the Hooch: blue sky, birds singing, owls hooting, geese floating by, and Rock Man playing with fire.  Just  had the annual brush burn and “this girl was on fire”, literally, burned a hole in my hoodie with a spark.  Rock Man warned me to wear cotton.  You can be really late to a brush burn event if you search for something you own that has zero(0)  “other fibers” on the label.  Fortunately, I caught it quick since I thought it was a dreaded, could be deadly ,yellow jacket stinging me.  Yellow jackets have cured my snake phobia.  I don’t even think of snakes now—I’ve only seen three living ones in the nearly twelve years of river living—but yellow jackets are another story.  Those things are mean, can fly, and come in groups to attack.  I’m so glad that the three snakes I’ve seen didn’t fly or appear in a group.  They weren’t even mean. 

Back to my river day… April is definitely going down in the books as a favorite month.  How about that blue sky? I have a tulip that bloomed. Yes, I said “a tulip”. Of course, I haven’t planted any in several years. This isn’t Holland.  I do have many sets of beautiful tulip leaves.   Our yard is filled with things Duke Boy has moved around to give them a new lease on life.  We hope that changing their “feng shui” will encourage new growth—like moving your chair to a new place in the room so you can see the TV better.  Packets of zinnia seed and a two new ferns for Duke Boy are our only flower purchases, so far.   We do need to visit the land of Frankie & Frank for pine straw soon.  A delivery of about 20 bales will be a good start if you’re reading this. 

Another highlight of my weekend was seeing Eagles.  The kind with feathers was flying over the river while we were burning brush.  I also saw one yesterday flying over near the trestle while I was eating lunch at Roger’s.  Great view from the front window while I ate my yummy steak sandwich.  The rest of the Eagle story is my nephew, Matt, who’s Matthew to me but when you have a popular Boy Scout name then you have to become Matt in your troop, received his Eagle pin on Sunday.  Neat to see the young man he has become and the bridge that was his Eagle project for his community.  It was also great to have a family gathering that didn’t happen due to a funeral.  It’s easy to see why the Eagle was chosen to represent the level of accomplish for Matt since he will surely reached heights equal to those of his feathered namesakes. 

Our Advisory Board asked to share with you that the Pastoral Institute has contracts with many companies in the area where employees can come for counseling services at no cost to the employee.  We also offer Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) to companies where stressful incidents occur: bank robberies, deaths at the business, and shootings just to name a few.  Last year we provided this service to a local company after an incident. If your company is interested in learning more about these services you can contact me for more information. 

Go out and enjoy these beautiful days on our beautiful river and remember to look up and out because you might see an eagle flying or walking by.

Karen Erwin-Brown is the director of the Valley office of the Pastoral Institute.  She provides individual, marriage and family counseling by appointment only.  Call 334-768-2341 to make an appointment or for more information.

This Hooch girl is on fire

Beautiful day, eagle in the sky, owls hooting, Rock Man with diesel and matches, geese floating by on the Hooch.  Wait what?  Yes, time for the annual burn pile whoosh.  Life on the river required me to be helper this year.  Our own burn pile accumulated due to numerous dead trees near the river.  Got my bend overs in for the month picking up more limbs and sticks while watching the fire. 

Rock man making fire

Also had a moment of "this girl is on fire".  Rock Man warned me to wear all cotton.  OK I had 2% spandex in my hoodie.  Enough to feel like a yellow jacket stinging my arm...now there's a cigar sized hole in my hoodie.  I quickly extinguished myself.  This is why one needs company and a hose while attempting to fool with Mother Nature.  Cell phone in pocket is another must in case things don't go as planned. 

Pre-fire on the Hooch

Rock Man with more fire--one that got my Hoodie

No Eagle scouts were used in the building of this fire

Got to see two Eagles yesterday.  One in the Hooch sky and the other on a stage. Matt, his scout name, due to the excessive number on Matthew's in his troop, had his Eagle ceremony yesterday.  Very proud for he and his parents.  His Mom, my sister, got a medal--well, a pin, for her  Eagle Motherhood.  I've never gotten a motherhood pin or medal.  What a great idea.  I can think of several times when one would have been appropriate--here's your baby girl, and your medal; great job at breast feeding, here's your medal; SHE SLEPT IN HER BED--ALL NIGHT!!!Here is your gold trophy!! You moms and dads out there get my drift. 

peaceful day to you from the Hooch. 

go outside! Have a great day in the Sun!!

Too beautiful to be inside writing.  Have a fabulous day.  Get out there soon.  Peace from the Hooch.

Older friends

Enjoying a visit with GG--a since 8th grade friend.  She's in the friend group with Miss Sunny.  She too shall celebrate one of those decade birthdays soon. I play the "you're older than me" birthday game every year.  Miss Sunny is leading the pack now--I am the baby and the cutest--just like in my family of origin.(The cutest that is.) You can say things like this on your own blog.   I hope we play the birthday game for many years to come, and I shall remain the youngest and cutest. They shall have to blog to challenge my position.

God is good and continues to put good people in my path.  I am still the cutest of all of them but not always the youngest.  Look for the gift of lives in your path today.  Sometimes they may not look like who you expected or thought you needed.  Sometimes they are more. 

Peace from the Hooch. 

Don't let the rain do a number on you.

Rainy,chilly day on the Hooch. Grateful I don't have to water any of my newly emerging plants.  Love all the surprises.  Groups of lilies--I think?rising from a corner bed that I struggle to keep weeded.

Rock Man mowed down a year of weeds growing in-between our yards.  Those big boy toys are so handy sometimes.  Good thing I don't own one.  Could get dangerous on areas I get impatient with. 

Just remembered my little wooden weeding chair is still in the garden.  Oops.  It's just the right height to weed a flower bed and the high back is useful if you've got a back ache from too many bend-overs.  It's an old Sunday School chair. Gotta get it before the rain" does a number on it".  Just looked up that expression--means "does something bad to" .  From the 60's---for instance, bad relationship breakup and you mourn for weeks, your confused friends say,--"he really did a number on you".   Trivia for the day.

Time to make the donuts.  Have a wonderful, peaceful day.  Don't let the rain do a number on you.  Shake it off, man!

Post # 200. If you like these posts please become a follower and share with your friends.

. Garden update from the Hooch

Happy Birthday to Hank, my brother.  You are officially 5 years older than me--for a few more months.  Hope you have a super day even though you are older than me.  Hope you have a good day to golf or do something that old guys do.  :)

Yesterday was a great day--actually evening--worked my real job during the day---to haul stuff to my burn pile.  Think I'm gonna rename my blog--"life with the dead trees on the hooch".  Glad we give the woodpeckers such a fun place to hang out.  One got up close and personal with me while I was in his hood.  Looked like Woody Woodpecker for those of you old enough--Hank?--to remember that cartoon.  Brown with a red cap.

Wandering my garden and wondering what that plant is that's emerging from the soil is such fun this time of year.  Happy to report that all my lilies I planted last spring are popping up in the front house garden. Duke Boy has outdone himself raking leaves out of the beds.  So proud.  I HATE to rake. I will sit on a stool and shove leaves in a bucket for days--please don't ask me to rake.

Watched the sunset with Duke Boy after log hauling.  Geese honking up the river to the WP Lake. Ducks paddling down to Columbus to shoot the rapids. Gentle cool breeze with birds everywhere singing.  Just one question--God, what are mosquitoes for? Wish I wasn't so sweet.  I just can't help it.

Beautiful hydrangeas in my house from Easter.  Purple surprise from Duke Boy and pink in memory of some special guys.  Think they will go into pots for their first year.  We have great luck with potted hydrangeas producing an abundance of flowers.  Wish I could say that for those in the ground.  Probably don't pet them enough?

Time to make the doughnuts.  Hope the day is beautiful. Take the time to soak in it. 

A new Day--Easter Monday

Spring cleaned the office today.  Not a moment too soon for a corner or two.  New clients won't even know what they missed.  I had help.  Mr. M., who wants to remain semi-anonymous. He not only vaccuums, he can fix the vaccuum. Who says you can't get good help?  They haven't met Mr. M. 

Time to pack up the bunnies and chickens at the Hooch.  40 days.  They went by in a flash.  Particularly yesterday.  Woke up at 3 AM?? What?? The sunrise service was at 7.  Perhaps it was the Easter Bunny with his big feet who woke me? 

It was kinda neat being awake to help prepare the church for the Easter service.  It was dark, tomb- like, Duke Boy and I were alone carrying flowers, getting the oven warm for breakfast... then the first woman showed up.  She is like the Mary who showed up to look for Jesus.  She is there to make sure the place is ready for those coming to breakfast.  Coffee, warm casseroles, should I got get more juice?  can I wash your feet?  She is there to serve you and tell you  that she is glad to see you.   She won't mention if she hasn't seen you since last Easter.  She will just hug you and smile.

The risen Lord is always glad to see us.  Not counting the Sundays we didn't show.  What are we doing with the days to come? Who are we telling about our Easter experience.  The 40 days are over until next Lent.  Easter has begun.  Light the lights, decorate the altar, celebrate, tell everyone!

Peace on this Easter Monday in the Valley. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter.  Two  church services, in nursery for one, wonderful lunch, long nap.  Great day.

                                                                   He is risen!

Sweaters, robins, Shazam :Easter

Air is nippy on my arm (covered in a shirt and favorite wool sweater) as I write near my open window.  Birds are up trying to wake the sun. Plants still under their black plastic blanket. Another bird just joined the chorus. They probably want my sweater.  "Over here", "me first", "I saw it first". 

 I had a first, recently...Coffee with Duke Boy in our river garden and I witnessed it...
I've seen enough Disney and Animal Plant to know that this happens but it was a first for me....

• A robin hopping around near by us, put his head down, and quickly pulled up a worm about an inch or so long, and gobbled it up. 
•  You know you don't spend enough time in nature when your first thought is --wow--just like TV. 
•   Shazam... I don't have to work for National Geographic to see this happen!

I have seen owls swoop out of the night sky from my patio and then I've heard their "snacks" last cry, but I'd never seen, with my own eyes, a robin pluck a worm out of the ground.  It was beyond cool. 
Don't judge.  Go see for yourself.  All you need is day light, a chair, coffee, quiet, a pair of eyes , trees, birds--preferably robins.

The women at the tomb told the guys, "Go see for yourself", if you don't believe us. 
Invite someone to come see for themselves what this Easter stuff is all about.

 More than egg hunts and bunnies even though you gotta love a little kid hunting eggs.  "Look down" you gotta tell the 2 and 3 year olds.  "Don't run" because all the eggs fall out of your basket.  "Your eggs are in this basket" those are you friend's.  Let's keep it that way--friends. 

Duke Boy has 4 sermons this week.  God bless him.  I mean that in the most literal way.
 Duke continues to play basketball at the oddest times for this preacher. 

Don't forget : Elizabeth Smart in Columbus on April 9th.
 Check out http://www.pilink.org for the details.

Great buys at Bluffton Antiques and Collectibles in Lanett.
 All your Easter baskets goodies are available except the chocolate bunnies. 

Wonderful church services at Shawmut United Methodist in Valley, AL.
 Sunday : 7 and 11AM eastern time. 
Thursday, tonite 6PM and Friday  6PM.  Join us, you are very welcome.

Counseling services at the Pastoral Institute in Valley, AL and Columbus, GA.
Info: http://www.pilink.org

Y'all have been great this month.  Almost 700 hits. Please become a follower by clicking on the appropriate spots.  Leave some "raisings" in the comment section. 
Peace, love, and Happy Easter.

Time for a raising

This article will appear in the Valley Times-News this week.  If you read the paper then you'll get a double helpin'.  Thanks for sharing your Holy Week with me.  Hope this will inspire you to get "raising".

Women participating in a "raising".

“You raise me up to stand on highest mountains…you raise me up to more than I can be” by Josh Groban is a beautiful song.   We are called to love one another as we love ourselves.  Yesterday that happened to me and I was “raised up”.  Holy Week service at First UMC West Point with preaching, singing, and lunch was gracious plenty… and then I got another helping—no—I didn’t get back in line—it was tempting—but my plate was already overflowing from the first trip.  If you remember I invited y’all in my last article—sorry if you missed it.  OK, back to my “raising”.  Several people there made it a point to stop me or come by my table to tell me how much they enjoyed my articles.  Some even called it my “weekly column”.  I do aspire to have a weekly column in true Erma Bombeck style.  I also aspire to get to her workshop so I can give y’all better words to ponder, cherish, mull over, tell your friends about…I’ll stop.  Obviously, I need more training.  Send a check to the “please get this girl some Erma fund”.

Yesterday’s evidence; I need love and encouragement to keep writing.  I get that from birds singing, beautiful flowers, my river with the moon reflecting in it this morning, and pats on the back with kind words from all of you.  The song about “raising up “is about God’s power but that power to “raise” others up is in the hands of all of us.  I experienced that yesterday.  I did not “get the big head” over it either.  Do you remember those words from childhood? “ If you tell her that she did well then she’ll get the big head”.  My head did get bigger since I was kid but I think it’s because I have such a big brain.  Ok, that’s another article. 

Who needs a “raising” this week?  Most of us need several daily.  My job is about figuring out how to help folks who need a “raising” so they can do the same under their own roofs with those others who are longing for a “raising”.  I’m going to miss “raising” from some of y’all today because I’m doing a lunch time appointment with folks who are desperate to find “raising” under their roof.  I will miss the fellowship of the meal, the sermon, and the pats on my back from a Holy Week event.  I will be diligent in seeking out some “raisings” from other sources this week and trying to be more aware of where I can offer them.  Last week I wasn’t very patient with a customer service employee at a company. I attempted to make amends by returning with a box of Girls Scout cookies.  I hope my peace offering was accepted?

Our Valley Pastoral Institute Advisory Board  comprised of Bill Edwards, our chair; Christine Simpson, Marilyn Stokes, Lucy Royster, Donnie Erwin-Brown, Shelly Hunter, Brenda Andrews, Mary Susan Underwood, Micky Underwood, John Samanie, Lessie Beck, Sandra Thornton,  and Marshall Sapp. We met last week and they asked me to share with you that we had over 800 hours of service last year to the community.  Hopefully hundreds of those hours were about “raisings”. 

Karen Erwin-Brown is the director of the Valley office of the Pastoral Institute located in Shawmut United Methodist Church in Valley, AL.  She offers individual, marriage, and family counseling by appointment. Call 334-768-2341 for an appointment or more information.

Night out off the Hooch

I could write about the weather forever because it's such a story.  My yard has tarps and sheets over the
plants that were in the basement last week.  Shocking and some awe --had a pot of bulbs that I was supposed to plant--picked a beautiful narcissus that bloomed from that pile.  So cool.

Tried to take a pix of my first EVER bloom on my cherry tree.  Of course, you can't see it but the trees --the oaks, were awesome behind it. Probably too intimidated to bloom before.

Great night in Columbus with my children and Ms. M. Treated to a great evening of "Cotton Patch Gospels" and supper at Hulihans.  Both I highly recommend. The show was soooooo good.  I saw it many years ago in B'ham with Harry Chapin's brother--I think--?? in the show.  It was at Samford.  Jesus served biscuits at the last supper.  Amazing acting and musicians --great vocal--WOW. The Wednesday night show has tickets--go. 

Girls just wanna have fun!

Happy customers!. This is how you spell where we ate.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.  I will "walk in the footsteps of Jesus" in the nursery. 

Peace to all.

Valley daily living

There is a reason those little guys who pooped on my patio travel in flocks.  "Tufted Titmouse" .  I think that's who they were?  Difficult name for the ones who fly with jets.  Very cute and excellent poopers.

Hail--looked like snow on our front lawn--size of big gumballs here--I haven't examined my Sorrento. I'm guessing Hedgie Girl's car was doing it's signature beeping to "please" be let in the house--Beeping for hail, thunder, and when Hedgie Boy's monster truck cranks up.

Proud to say all our living trees are still standing--haven't looked near the river.  My Mom lost a pine tree in her yard to the storm.  Glad she doesn't own a chain saw--she'd be crankin that bad boy up.

Be safe today as you travel to your destinations.
 Gorgeous day.
 Singing birds.
 Cool breeze. 
Treadmill time--OK--some things aren't golden.  How did it make the list?????

Patio avoidance

My house is so D- vined!! What a job.  Only 2 small lizards, 1 big red wasp--that was disoriented and now dead, lots of tiny black now homeless spiders and 2 Aleve so I could sleep last night. 

Watched an amazing scene yesterday morning. A flock of birds--which I've now failed to ID with the website---hundreds of them in my trees--over the patio--ick. They swooped down and lined the edge of the wheelbarrow--filled with water--and all dunked their tiny beaks in tandem to get a drink.  Reminded me of the drinking bird toy that I had as a kid.  It would drink from a glass--I know you had one or envied  a friend's.  This flock hung out along time while Duke Boy and I had coffee together near the house --far from the patio. 

Peace and safety to all as we have another rainy Monday--""Rainy days and Mondays always get me down"--don't let that be you--we know what that did to poor Karen Carpenter. If you don't then Google it.

Peace from the Hooch

Rites of spring

The outside is calling so this post will also appear in The Valley Times-News next week.
 Sorry.  I know that you love to read my stuff twice and I appreciate it. 
peace from the Hooch.

Rites of Spring--or the tangled adventures of Hooch living

Birds are singing in the dark even though it’s 7:30 AM here on the Hooch. I’m loving the light at the end of the work day, and I’m an early bird too so the dark is ok with me.   God did a great job with the weather last weekend and I hope He has another fabulous one up his sleeve this weekend.  Ventured into my flower bed in the back last Saturday; I only go there during this time of year.  It’s my jungle spot… filled with two kinds of vines, ferns, and hyacinths—go figure—none of those planted by me.  In 12.5 years of residency I have not managed to tame it.  There is one precious vine, so innocent looking, I think it’s a creeping fig for those of you who know your vines.  This sweet thing would choke us in our bed, left to its own devices.  Loves to creep it’s little figgy self into the siding and run up my gutter.  One beautiful, charming piece is very close to my 2^nd story bathroom window—right outside our bedroom.  Could be curtains for it today and not the ones on my bathroom window.  It’s on the opposite side of the house from the Hooch jungle bed.  I still have an entire section of house to de-fig today.  Me and Aleve are best friends this time of year.  Wish me luck.

Elizabeth Smart held captive ten years ago is going to speak in Columbus on April 9^th.  You know her, she is that beautiful little girl taken from her parents’ home during the night.  She is a now a beautiful young woman, and advocate for children, who has a wonderful story of courage and redemption.  Tickets are available in our Columbus Pastoral Institute office at 1-800-649-6446, just ask for Brandy.  The proceeds from this event will help fund counseling services in the homeless shelters in Columbus.  You will also get a fabulous meal.  You can also go to www.pilink.org for tickets.

Noon luncheon Lenten services during Holy Week begin on March 25 at local United Methodist Churches.  We love having all of our brothers and sisters who are hungry for The Word and food join us.  All of the preachers know you’ve gotta prayer, sing, listen , eat, and get back to work or your other daily tasks so it’s just for 1 hour-- tops.  The schedule is Monday: West Point UMC, Tuesday: Hopewell UMC; Wednesday: Goodsell UMC, Thursday: Huguley UMC and Friday: Langdale UMC.  If you have just been waiting for an opportunity to visit Shawmut UMC we will have communion on Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 6PM.  Good Friday service at 6PM, Easter Sunday sunrise at 7 with breakfast and an 11 for all of you who will be hunting eggs and your snooze alarm until then.  I can’t think of a better way to celebrate God’s presence and redemption than joining together with others in our community to sing, pray and eat!  Hope you will come.

Time to go outside and sing with the birds.  They’ve gotten the sun up so I’ll be able to see that creeping little vine.  Peace to all of you from my beautiful spot on my river.

Karen Erwin-Brown is the director of the Valley office of the Pastoral Institute.  She provides individual, marriage, and family counseling. Call 334-768-2341 for an appointment or more information. Visit her blog at www.rivgarden.blogspot.com for more river musings.

A Hooch view from my bank. 

Tarzan on the Hooch

Duke Boy invited us to the party yesterday during worship.  Complete with balloons.  Sermon was on the party for the Prodigal son.  We didn't have any fatted calf.  Who needs to be invited to the party?  Who needs to know about Jesus?  This morning my devotion that comes from the Internet was on the Good Samaritan.  Hmm...I'm sensing a theme here.  Good thing I work somewhere where I can talk about Jesus. 

Birds are feeling spring--y . Chirping up a rain cloud or two.  I'm sure they are singing compliments to Duke Boy on the ease they had finding worms since the leaves are raked off their dinner plates.  Only the early birds are singing though..he,he, he.

The air on my arm is much warmer than the last time I had this window up.  I just love Spring!  I can hear 3 different birds singing.

 Last evening Duke Boy and I walked down the steps and sat on the bank of the Hooch.  What a beautiful evening to watch the sunset.  Ducks honking down the river, a flock of blackbirds --about as many as from the movie "The Birds", something big--huge wings--an owl? hawk? our eagle? Love my life. 

A neighborhood cat is in my yard.  Hunkered down near a chipmunk hole. Time to do my Tarzan yell from the porch.

Not this green yet, but our seats were just beyond the tree at the bottom of the pix. 

Peace from the Valley.  Ignore the yell.

Spring forward and pull weeds!

I love a night of Aleve sleep when I've earned it in my garden.  Ventured into a flower bed that I only go into this time of year.  Ferns, 2 kinds of vines--one house eating, the other looks sweet and timid--not to be fooled.  It will eat the siding of your house and loves wood.  It's a rite of spring to stop the onslaught.  Still lots more on the other side of the back steps. 

It was all I could do to make myself leave the garden to go to a baby shower for an upcoming new family member.  Sweet baby Ryan.  Very entertaining to watch his big sister help open his presents.  Also got to hold Baby Jake--he was born on my birthday--he will be 1 and I will be 59 years older than 1 on that day.  What a cutie.  He and I both!

The birds are singing.  Time for coffee in the backyard with Duke Boy. 

Then another wonderful Lenten message at Shawmut UMC.  Join us.  Don't forget the time change.  Move it!

Redundancy and sleepless

I am awake in the night.  I long for freedom from worry about all of life woes.  I have discovered a new group on Pandora .  The Waillin' Jennys.  Love the name and love their music more.  I hope I will be in their section in heaven so I can be sung to sleep by them.  Even better if sleeping isn't an issue and chocolate chip cookies and Vanilla Almond milk are on the 4AM snack bar. Just Goggled them and asked for a local tour to benefit the Pastoral Institute.  Pray.  They are three lovely women who have appeared on Prairie Home Companion. Bucket List spot.  Also many awards.  They are currently touring but keep West Point and Valley open as a possible venue.  The Langdale Theatre in Valley, AL is a lovely facility for performances--hint, hint. 

OK time to read me back to sleep.  Jodi Piccoult, a favorite author, The Storyteller. 
She never ceases to amaze me with her characters.  I did not expect this story when I bought the book.  It's on my Kindle.  As are Free samples of books I'm reviewing in preparation for a group.  Wow--talk about an easy life...

The Valley Times News/West Point Times-News is kind enough to publish my writings --for the last ten years or so .  Today I'm posting an article I sent to them yesterday.  Excuse the redundancy for those who follow me there or who are fortunate??enough to be on my email list.

                                                      Bunnies and Stretchers

I’ve taken up more time to study during Lent. Lent, for those of you who don’t practice it, is the 40 days leading up to Easter. Most folks chose to deny themselves something during Lent. I’ve been reading more scripture, and studying a book from our church Bible study.  I’ve also taken up writing more notes and cards.  I’ve done this because “giving up” something has never been a strength for me. Someone in my women’s circle said that I was giving up the time to do the things I would be doing if I wasn’t studying and writing.  OK.  Maybe so?  Maybe I’m enjoying it too much...Not enough self denial.  There’s always next year …

I also flipped my home from winter to spring.  If you follow my blog, www.rivgarden.blogspot.com then you know I seriously dust my house about once a quarter when I change the decor according to the season. Winter and Valentine’s are done—winter doesn’t know that it’s done but inside the four walls of my home, I have banished it.  Well, the faux fireplace with the heater is still there and was going strong last night as was our furnace, but I am in denial about winter.  Easter bunnies grace my stairs, mantle, kitchen window, and small Easter tree which also has palm crosses from Palm Sundays of the past.  The bunnies have stories as do my Santas but most of them are connected to Lucy.  She has already taken the ones to her new home for decorating  but I got to keep most of the bunny family.  Many members of the Bunny family were made by a church member from a previous congregation.  Those bunnies became Erwin-Brown’s during Lent and attended many worship services.  I’m sure they could quote lots of scripture if brought to life.  Of course, that could get messy and I did dust already…

Lent is a time of remembrance of Jesus’ suffering.  Banishing winter is my way of shaking off the coldness and looking for life to come from the ground and from within.  Suffering …no snakes in the desert… no need to get to the Promised Land.  God allowed his Son to be defeated so we wouldn’t have to be—getting through feeling defeated is difficult.  The book I’m reading talks about being stretch bearers for those who need our help much like the man lowered through the roof in scripture.  Google it if you aren’t a Bible person.  I’m hoping that notes can count as stretching bearing because I can’t always be present for those who I know feel defeated, sick, or sleepless.

Who are your stretcher bearers?  Who do you know that needs one?  Maybe you are it??  One of the hymns that can send me to weeping  is “Here I am Lord.  Is it me, Lord?  I can hear you calling in the night.  If you need me, I will follow.  I will hold your people in my heart.”

The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus - 40 Days of Reflection

By: Adam Hamilton

Abingdon Press / 2012 / Paperback

I’ve listed the name of book that’s been a good read for me this Lent. The song is “Here I am, Lord”

Nanny 2 is 90. Happy Birthday.

Shout out to Nanny 2 who is 90.  She is Mom to Ms. Sunny and Great Grandmother to future Miss Sunny.
Hope the party was a blast! 

This is me with purple hair.  Pre-pneumonia.  Fun.

Flipping the house to spring today was fun since outside was too cold to venture out into.  Did go to church where Duke Boy had a great Lenten sermon.  Got to wear my long black warmest coat in the world.
Back to the closet until next year.

No snow here.  Just a few flakes yesterday. 

Peaceful Sunday night.

NO Name Tags necessary

Great meal with friends without name tags. Since 1999 meals with these folks..Always much laughter. Preachers, counselor, teacher, accountant, nurses, marketing expert, doctor,and engineer.  We can discuss it all . Alabama, Auburn and Troy.  Nothing off limits.  We even have an official recognized storyteller.  During our meal the waiter unknowingly contributed one liners to the storytelling.  One thing I did learn --do not drink a cappuccino at 7PM unless you plan things to do until 2AM.  Write that down. 

No snow here.  BW is under the blankie.  She sat on the floor staring at me until I arranged the couch so she could snuggle her way back to sleep.

 Grateful to have time to nest today.  Flip my house from Valentine's and winter
                                  to spring and Easter.
 Seasonal decor helps me remember to dust. 
                                      Almost quarterly.
Getting out Easter bunnies is almost as much fun as looking at my Santas.  I don't have 400+ bunnies. 

Salty day to all and peace,

We did it!

5029 hits on this blog.  Hurrah.  Thanks.

Beautiful cold March 1st here.  Little BW wanted to lay in the sunshine instead of sniffing ever single blade of grass in the yard.

Lots of new items in my booth at Bluffton.  Take them home with you.

Elizabeth Smart is the speaker for the Women Helping Women luncheon in Columbus in April.  Check out www.pilink.org for the details.  It's always a wonderful event. 

Time to go see those old friends so we can have lots of good laughs about what it's like to get grayer or have to see the beautician more often to do something about those roots.

Peace and get out and enjoy this great day.

See ya in a KIA ?

Lovely day--slight chill--clean, serviced car  to ride home in ---thanks to KIA Autosport in Columbus.  Good place to do business.  Did I mention they picked up my car and serviced it while I was working? Felt special. Thanks Alie and Wayne. 
The big hamsters or is it guinea pigs? don't pick up your car--sad but true.

19 hits away from the 5000.  Bob was right.  YOU CAN DO IT!!

New items coming to the booth at Bluffton Antiques and Collectibles this week.  Come have a look see.

Get to see friends this weekend who we missed seeing at Christmas because he was in ICU. 
                                            God is Good. 

Where did you shake salt today? 

Gibbs Garden, Ball Ground, GA 2012
Go and check out the daffodils

Peace from the Valley.

Salt and Miss Sunny days

Rain is a good thing.  People hang out with their computers and are hungry for stuff to read.  If this rain continues I will make it to 5000 hits by the end of the month.  Bring it on!  Tell your friends.  Let's accomplish something BIG in this short month!!!.  You can do it.  Bob told me so. 

Got to finally spend a little time with my Mom over the weekend while attending the ALAMFT annual conference.  She was glad to see me--cupcakes, hugs, music and a clean bed.  Told her she had the best hotel in the town.

ALAMFT connected me with old friends---OLD-- and previous supervisees who are now family therapists.  So cool--especially to see those I supervised who are now supervisors.  May the circle be ....
The great thing about workshops is the name tags--really cuts down on the awkwardness except when they are pinned under a scarf or stuffed in a pocket.  I was able to remember all the names especially those that were at eye level.

Wonderful dinner with Mumpsey and JimPa--guess what they are about to be?? Yep--we did a baby age guessing thing with all the little ones who were sleeping or waving at us while their folks ate Mexican.  JimPa had a picture on his cell of the sonogram of little Baby Hannah's head--amazing.  Hannah, you are already so loved. Mumpsey is the former Miss Sunny from the Gulf Shores Seafood Festival if you are a follower of mine.  Little Hannah will get to dip her toes in the Gulf soon.  She is probably a future "Miss Sunny". Good genes for it. 

Lenten lesson today on "salt".  We are called to be salt.  Bring out the flavor or the best in those around us.  Look for a place to sprinkle that goodness today.  Savor the moment with those who share their day with you.  You might even lower a blood pressure or two.

Laura, my niece in NYC. Love this pix.

Peace and safety for the day.

Footprints on the cross, rainboots in the yard

Crispy outside again this morning.  More rain coming our way.  Whew.  I need me a pair of those cute rain boots.  They'd get a work out around here.

Little BW is restless and wants me to get my yogurt and cereal.  She wants to lick out the leftovers in that little carton.  Just a minute or two more...

The young lovers are planning a Charleston wedding.  I'm excited for them.    I'm also excited to return to Charleston.  I've only been there for an afternoon in 1996 or so.   Work trip where we stopped for a brief break from the car. 

Put my name on a footprint for the cross yesterday at Shawmut UMC.  Saturday night I'd been the cutter outer for all those footprints.  It was neat to watch people leave the altar and make their mark on their footprint .  I literally had a hand in that--fear and wonder--thambeo.  Check out yesterday's blog if your curious and it all seems Greek to you.

Peace from the Valley.

Fear and wonder on your journey

Thanks to all of you who've followed me this year and to all my new readers.  This began as an attempt to connect with all those who don't subscribe to newspapers any longer since that's where my writing was happening.  I'm approaching 5000 hits on my page.  Wow.  Y'all never cease to humble me.

New Greek word--"thambeo".  Greek for "astounded".  According to Adam Hamilton in "The Way". When Jesus spoke he was instilling fear and wonder.  The enhanced meaning of "thambeo".  Look for Jesus with fear and wonder today.  It's outside in the cold--need a big coat---morning.  Just picked some hyacinths for my foyer.  Fear and wonder in my front yard.  Where will yours be today??  Where will you see God?

Great visit with the young lovers yesterday.  Such an exciting time of fear and wonder. 

Gotta run--have the nursery today at church--fear and wonder for sure.  No bumps or bruises on my watch combined with play dough mystery muffins.

Peace and frost from the Hooch.

Lenten reflections

No snow here.  Chilly.  There was a flock of lost seagulls that flew up the river a little bit ago--or perhaps birds from a recent snow fall.    White and lovely flying by. 

The couple willing to risk loving each other for life meet with Duke Boy today.  They are coming by the house.  I'm excited to see her...many years have passed...gives me goosebumps and some tear-filled eyes to think about her beautiful mother and silly, funny, sweet daddy in heaven.  I have no clue how that works?  Folks talk about the saints surrounding us.  I prefer that image over my Daddy knowing every thing I do on a daily basis.  Surely, there is peace and you get protected by God's hand from humanness once you are just with Him?  Another question for my list when I have my own personal conversation.

Twin love
Precious children of friend
Too cute not to share

A question I've encouraged parents of children having problems in school to lead with when they do school pick up is "Where did you see God today?"  So much nicer than "you didn't move to red, did you?"  The first question is a conversation starter--we all know where the other leads...

Prayers for all of you today as you journey through the first Saturday of Lent.
 Reading : The Way--Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus   by Adam Hamilton.  Good book for those going on a Holy Land trip or if you just want to take one from your cozy chair--like me.

Peace from the Valley.

Love, love, love

Lovely evening last night with my Valentine.  He outdid himself in the kitchen as always.  Hope you have eaten today because this menu will make you hungry.

Beef tenderloin with brandy sauce

Dill roasted potatoes   Heart of romaine salad

Cheese a la Duke Boy biscuits

Chocolate Mousse

We then watched "Flight".  What an intense movie.  Worth a look see.

Love my Duke Boy!

It's a lovers' weekend here.  A couple from our past life is coming from way out of town to do premarital counseling with Duke Boy.  The young woman is a grown up now from our second church home, East Lake.  Her parents were our friends there but have since died.  Donnie is privileged to be a part of this couples' love story. More to come...


Peace from the Valley. 

Sunny Valentine's Day to All

Happy Valentine's Day.  My sweetheart sneaked an orchid into the house somehow yesterday?  Lovely purpley color.  The greatest part of this gift is that I mentioned on Sunday that I saw the orchid in Kroger--are you getting the greatest part--he heard me and remember it for several days.  So lovely.  A gift of the heart, a connection, ---should have mentioned the cute pink Mercedes that I noticed in downtown West Point this week--hmmm.  I love my orchid. 

He's also cooking us a yummy Valentine's supper today. I purposefully didn't work late tonight--I also mentioned that earlier in the week.  Perhaps Hedgie Girl and Boy will join us?

No rain this morning.  That is my Valentine from God.  Thank you.  The birds are singing up a --started to type storm--stopped myself---sunny day.   There.

My good looks are attributes of these two folks!

Time to make the doughnuts.  Hope all of you have a moment with someone you love today.  Valentine's are gifts from the heart that come in unexpected places. Got a sweet card from my Mama yesterday.  Thanks Mom even though I know you have a computer to read this.

Some of the folks I love are featured above. 

Taking up for Lent

Too quiet. Gladys isn't singing. No rain on my roof. Weird.

Today is Ash Wednesday.  The beginning of Lent. I am "taking up" more time in prayer and reading. Someone said at our women's circle that meant "giving up" time to do other things.  Maybe it's my own bent to excess that likes the other approach. Could be just an excuse to allow myself more time to read. 

Peace to you this Ash Wednesday as we walk to the cross together. 

Medicine in laughter

Sing it Gladys, "it was a rainy night in Georgia". Willie is sad because "it's nothing but grey sky coming my way".  I can't help it. Woke up singing--OK--not really but why not?  Etta James hopes everyone was safe during the "stormy weather" last night.  Mitch Miller wants you to  "follow the bouncing ball" and stay with me. Who is old enough to remember that one?  Singing with the TV.  My family did it. 

Duke Boy and I watched Betty White's bawdy celebration of her 91st BD celebration. Many celebs don't live that long.  The ones that came to mind that did  have long lives where comics: Jack Benny at 79 "Modesty is my best quality",  George Burns and Bob Hope were both 100, and Lucille Ball was 78.  Maybe all those studies about laughter are right??  God must have one and I pray that he'll keep it so he won't have to resort to smoting again--Old Testament style.

www.rethinkchurch.com has a Lenten activity involving pictures that sounds like a good one for youth.  Check it out. 

Pray for safety for those experiencing storms today and those who suffered from them yesterday. 

Scripture from on high

Lovely evening beside my fake fireplace.  Rainy outside.  Little BW is pouty and not even attemptng to beg any apple and cheese from me.  She hates any weather except sunshine. She shall never be asked to be a body double for the Groundhog.  She will maintain her spot under the ottoman or in front of the fake fireplace that blows out heat. 

Had a novel experience in worship today.  Duke Boy read scripture from atop a ladder.  I was trembling most of the time since I still haven't paid all the medical bills from my pneumonia.  One of the youth upon hearing the scripture for Sunday asked Duke Boy for a new look at that scripture.  It was about Jesus on the mountain with his disciples trying to stay awake.  We were all awake today. Gotta love that man and the God he serves. I have a picture of this that  Hedgie Girl sent to me to me--it's on my phone--we all know how challenged I am by technology. Wait for it!  ( I was afraid to snap a picture with my phone--"Jack fell down and broke..."

My sweet flowers have brought a lovely scent into my home.  Thank you, God. 
Today's gratitudes : 1) Husband UP for the challenges of ministry to youth and beyond
2) sweet scent of flowers in my home 3) little BW curled at my feet in front of our fake fire.

Hope you will find a spot to walk thru Lent.  The ending is definitely UP.

Peace from the Valley.

Almost forgot --got a great pre-Valentine gift from sweet Hedgie Boy.  Hoda Kotb's new book about people overcoming adversity.  Great snuggle under the cover for my Sunday nap read.  Thanks HB.

Duke Boy and BW

Reclaiming the lost

I'm involved in a reclamation project--my garage. New shelving, new plastic containers, new floor--no wait--same floor just able to see it now.  OK--parts still aren't visible.  Good news--buried treasures.  Wag these treasures back into the house --soon the floor will become invisible there too--bad plan.  Instead I wagged a load to my booth at Bluffton Antiques.  Easter bunnies are ready to greet you there. 

My house is also filled with flowers--daffodils, lilies of the valley, and hyacinths.  Picked while watching the sunset over the river.  Chilly,but lovely.  Afternoons like this tease me into thinking that spring will soon be here. If I thought that was true I'd have picked up all the limbs and sticks in the yard.  Instead I picked up some cushions and headed for a seat to continue enjoying the show.

This week Lent begins.  I love Lent.  Today while putting items in my booth I was talking with a friend about Lent and Easter.   Her child said, "I'm gonna give up baths for Lent."  We got a good laugh out of the that one.  I don't usually "give up" anything for Lent.  I like to "take up" more  intense studying of scripture during Lent by using the book that our church studies. I miss the Lenten study  because I work out of town on Wednesday night but since I live with the preacher if I have questions I have my own theologian available 24/7. I try not to wake him up...much.  Find a place to walk through the 40 days of Lent.  Get ready for the Resurrection. Maybe it can be your reclamation project for the next 40 days.  Who knows what treasures await you?

Beautiful day on the Hooch