I've fallen in love again--with my porch.

This is the article that will appear in the Valley Times News this week.  Hope u enjoy.

I have fallen and I can’t get up.  I’m on my new porch and it’s cool, pleasant, the birds are singing, The Hooch is reflective as glass showing off the beautiful green still on the trees.  Double N is stalking a mid-morning snack.  He brought me a baby mole last week.  The workmen were surprised to see me grab my dead gift by the tail and do a perfect two pointer into the trash can below.  Double N is not deterred by my rejection of his gifts. He continues to be as regal as a tiger purposefully stalking the perimeter seeking his next victim.

I promised the Baptists that I’d write about them.  They put on a feeding that was something to brag about…a low country boil with shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn.  Then they had the audacity to serve dessert…I had homemade ice cream with a scoop of peach cobbler. Wow.  Unfortunately, I can’t lay claim to the reason for the festivities at Riverview Baptist Church.  Paul Coker was named their man of the year so the party was in his honor.  They did get a little scoop of something unexpected with their meal though since I was their speaker.  We had a little chortle about the wisdom of having someone like me speak to Baptist men.  I am a cradle Methodist with a brief year spent in the Episcopal ranks.  When I was debating over what I’d say to Baptist men I decided to share my own story about important men in my life.  Duke Boy, his Dad and of course, my own Dad are all on my list.  My Dad left a rich legacy for me to drawn on with his life story of loss of his Dad at age 10, and heroism at age 23 when he received the Medal of Honor.  Riverviewans, male and female, to whom, I feel a kinship due to my own view of The Hooch, got to see pictures, read the “Helen Keller” letter, and hear my version of my Dad’s heroism to country and family.  Thanks to all of them for their gift of hospitality.

While writing a hummingbird buzzed outside the screen to see what that pink T-shirt was all about.  I’m looking forward to adding some bird feeders to my yard.  I haven’t had one in a while because I haven’t wanted to make snacking too easy on Double N.  Still working on a plan for the best spot.  Squirrels here were raised watching old Tarzan movies and they can swing, leap, and bound from amazing heights to strip bird feeders bare. I have a bag of sunflowers seed in my laundry room.  I’m truly surprised every morning to not see the door chewed off from their latest discovery of my hiding place. 

Little BW isn’t quite sure about this porch thing. We are in the air with the squirrels after all.  Double N is ticked because he isn’t allowed into the screened part of the porch.  He has to deposit his gifts at the door.

Thanks to all of you who made our Pastoral Institute event a success. We had lots of laughs with a clown, balloons, laughter Yoga, beautiful songs from the Signature Singers from Point, catering by Railroads, and great door prizes.  Thanks to all of you who sponsored tables.  Call Bradley Bonner and ask him to show it on HPTV if you haven’t seen yourself yet.

Karen Erwin-Brown is the Director of the Pastoral Institute in Valley, AL.  She provides individual, marriage and family counseling by appointment.  Call 334-768-2341 for an appointment or more information. 

I have fallen and I can’t get up.  I’m on my new porch and it’s cool, pleasant, the birds are singing, The Hooch is reflective as glass showing off the beautiful green still on the trees.  Double N is stalking a mid-morning snack.  He brought me a baby mole last week.  The workmen were surprised to see me grab my dead gift by the tail and do a perfect two pointer into the trash can below.  Double N is not deterred by my rejection of his gifts. He continues to be as regal as a tiger purposefully stalking the perimeter seeking his next victim.

I promised the Baptists that I’d write about them.  They put on a feeding that was something to brag about…a low country boil with shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn.  Then they had the audacity to serve dessert…I had homemade ice cream with a scoop of peach cobbler. Wow.  Unfortunately, I can’t lay claim to the reason for the festivities at Riverview Baptist Church.  Paul Coker was named their man of the year so the party was in his honor.  They did get a little scoop of something unexpected with their meal though since I was their speaker.  We had a little chortle about the wisdom of having someone like me speak to Baptist men.  I am a cradle Methodist with a brief year spent in the Episcopal ranks.  When I was debating over what I’d say to Baptist men I decided to share my own story about important men in my life.  Duke Boy, his Dad and of course, my own Dad are all on my list.  My Dad left a rich legacy for me to drawn on with his life story of loss of his Dad at age 10, and heroism at age 23 when he received the Medal of Honor.  Riverviewans, male and female, to whom, I feel a kinship due to my own view of The Hooch, got to see pictures, read the “Helen Keller” letter, and hear my version of my Dad’s heroism to country and family.  Thanks to all of them for their gift of hospitality.

While writing a hummingbird buzzed outside the screen to see what that pink T-shirt was all about.  I’m looking forward to adding some bird feeders to my yard.  I haven’t had one in a while because I haven’t wanted to make snacking too easy on Double N.  Still working on a plan for the best spot.  Squirrels here were raised watching old Tarzan movies and they can swing, leap, and bound from amazing heights to strip bird feeders bare. I have a bag of sunflowers seed in my laundry room.  I’m truly surprised every morning to not see the door chewed off from their latest discovery of my hiding place. 

Little BW isn’t quite sure about this porch thing. We are in the air with the squirrels after all.  Double N is ticked because he isn’t allowed into the screened part of the porch.  He has to deposit his gifts at the door.

Thanks to all of you who made our Pastoral Institute event a success. We had lots of laughs with a clown, balloons, laughter Yoga, beautiful songs from the Signature Singers from Point, catering by Railroads, and great door prizes.  Thanks to all of you who sponsored tables.  Call Bradley Bonner and ask him to show it on HPTV if you haven’t seen yourself yet.

Karen Erwin-Brown is the Director of the Pastoral Institute in Valley, AL.  She provides individual, marriage and family counseling by appointment.  Call 334-768-2341 for an appointment or more information. 

Monday thoughts

Pulled for the winner last night.  Ms. New York became Ms. America. Special connection that'll I'll brag about.  My niece, who is a reigning "I now live in New York City" designed the interview dress for Ms. or is it Miss America?  It was an exciting evening running back the show every time they showed her cheering section trying to catch a glimpse of my niece who was in the audience.  She claimed some TV time but I never saw her.

I'm guessing my biggest "to do" this week won't be as monumental as helping Ms./Miss America achieve the taking of the crown.  I'm too chicken to help the U.N. with Syrian peace keeping.  No skills in helicopter rescue for those poor folks in Colorado who are getting washed away. ( So glad my Colorado niece, who I visited there last year, is safely in Samson, AL sleeping this morning. ) Perhaps I can achieve 10,000 steps today all in the right direction for my health.  According to my pedometer that's almost 5 miles and 500 calories. 

Porch sitting is not quite as guilty of a pleasure after having achieved my steps goal.  Here's the latest view of that experience....

I couldn't get my other picture to cooperate so this is the next best one.  We watched the Bama game from the porch.  Duke Boy was barefooted though.  Roll Tide!

Rest from Renovations

Hoping for company this weekend so I can show off my new renovations.  Calm and lovely here today.  Snipped off a few dead heads in the garden while BW was engaged in offering "Good morning" to every blade of grass in the yard.  So gorgeous mums yesterday at Lowe's. Want them SOOOOOO bad but am trying to wait to make sure all workmen are gone from my home first. 

Here is a pix of my Roll Tide door with it's new roof to give me and it a little shelter during the rain.

Pleasant, gorgeous day on the Hooch.  Peace.

Changing my view of the world---- with Ms. Georgia

Mr. T celebrated his 62nd birthday in heaven.  Not quite sure how that works.  I'm sure we must quit having birthdays and that if we have bodies they are restored to their youthfulness where we all look the same and no one snickers in the locker room.  Even better there AREN'T any locker rooms. Heaven! You won't have to have your initials on your tennis shoes and no one will care if your gym suit isn't ironed--you won't have one with bloomer legs that make your thighs looks like elephants' and your butt ALWAYS big.  I know where the designer of those now resides--in a special place!

I digress--Mr. T--had a front row seat for a Bama victory.  Duke Boy wasn't happy with the playing of the game so I'm sure Mr. T was schooled in Heavenly demeanor for Bama fans.  You are missed Mr. T but it's good to know you are among the Bama saints--my Daddy, Glover, Bob Burnside, who could forget the Bear...oops. 

My morning began with a trip to the new location of my treadmill.  My new laundry room in front of my new window overlooking the river garden and the Hooch.  Super.  Duke Boy, Hedgie Boy and Euro Dirk got it there. It's previous residence was upstairs in Hedgie Girl's old room.  No window and out of sight and MIND!  Yes, I could close the laundry room door in the morning so I wouldn't have to look at it.  Today!! I didn't do that!  30 minutes with the last 30 SECONDS on a little run. No difibulator  ( not in dictionary) in there.  Didn't want to push it.  Also have to sit some this afternoon for appointments.  No leg or bloomer butt cramps later in the day.  Those guys did a fab job and I really appreciate it. Ms. Georgia loves her new view. 

Reading "The Butler" on my Kindle. Great movie.  Cried through most of it. 

Hot, hot, hot

The da Vinci surgical robot is now in law suits--the Jetsons would never consider subjecting Rosie to such torture.  I'm sure she occasionally dropped their sandwiches on the floor.  I know that seems random but a commercial just came in my ear while I was trying to think.  Never a good thing. 

Hot here.  Had to bathe after watering the yard due to all the itchy bug bites.  No rain in sight, just thunder.  It's the first day of September.  I was spoiled and became lazy during most of August where I didn't do squat in my garden.  The hydrangeas are droopy and sad.  However I do have a few amazing zinnias. 

Our remodeling projects are almost at an end. Except one...more on that one later.  Waiting on the plumber to come and connect up some essential parts.  Trying to restore some order and dust . What a lot of dust!  What a lot of fun to see it all come together. 

Roll Tide.  Good start even though Duke Boy wasn't happy with how the Tide played.  So picky.

Peace to all from the Hooch.

Thanks to all who made the Pastoral Institute event a big success.

This is a random shot while the Point University singers were performing.  I'm the girl on the left in the orange pants rocking out.