Say It With Flowers

FTD florist uses the slogan 'Say it with Flowers.'  I never realized just how important, amazing and versatile this saying is.  I was swimming in my pool the other day and I looked up and saw the beautiful orchid that my dear friend, Ginny, gave me.  For no reason.  It touched me in ways I can't explain.  And that is truly what prompted me to write this blogpost.

Several years ago my friend, Diane, passed away.  I don't remember the year, but I remember the phone call.  I was sitting in the very place I am sitting write now....in front of my computer.  It was an appropriate spot as Diane was a computer whiz and she shared a lot of her knowledge with me.  I feel like I am fairly computer savvy, and I attribute some of that to Diane.
Diane was one of those quietly wonderful friends.  She didn't seek the limelight and when she became ill she didn't want anyone to fuss over her.  I think that is why I was so distressed when she passed away.  I knew she was ill, but at that time I thought she was doing 'okay,' considering the circumstances, and death did not seem so imminent.  She apparently had a quick turn for the worst and her disease took her far sooner than I was ready to give her up.
But I write this post not to be sad or to dwell on those things, I write it to talk about plants and flowers and the significance they have had in my life.
I write it to show the life that is in God's glorious flora.

My friend, Susan, really touched me one night at bridge.  She was the hostess and she gave each of us a small potted plant with a personalized note attached.  It was around Valentine time and she said she did it in honor of Diane.  I thought that was sweet and memorable and I cherished not only the plant, but especially my personalized note.  I don't remember the exact words but they went something like this: 'I admire and envy the wonderful relationship you have with your daughter and it makes me strive to have a better relationship with my own daughter.'
That spoke volumes to me and I thought to myself that it is what I have always wanted in every aspect in my life....to be that 'light.' 
I like to think I had a wee part to play in Susan's relationship with her daughter, because I know it improved.  Her daughter got married and Susan was a great Mother of the Bride.  Her daughter had a son and Susan quickly became the World's Best Grandma! 
So my little potted palm (appropriately named 'The Diane plant') not only reminded me of Diane every time I looked at it, it also reminded me of Susan, her daughter, and my own sweet Madeline.  And most importantly it reminded me of the importance of relationships and the preciousness of life.

After Martha died, my friends rallied around and did everything they could to help ease my hurt and pain.  My bridge group gave me a potted Hibiscus tree.  I love Hibiscuses and think of them as Florida's 'flower."  Although the orange blossom is the official state flower of my lovely state, the hibiscus is certainly an important species around these parts!  I nurtured this hibiscus and I think of my bridge friends when I look at it.  It reminds me of friendship and it reminds me of life and love and all things beautiful.  Sometimes it renders me speechless.

Flowers are such interesting things.  They are simply one of God's creations, but like my title says 'you can say it with flowers.'  It is amazing what impact they can have on life's moments....sort of like music and particular songs.
I carried yellow roses and daisies in my wedding bouquet.  I have grown and matured and learned about lots of other flowers through time, but I have never ventured from my love of these two flowers.  I think from the moment I realized that I was a girl and flowers were supposed to be important to my sex, I have loved daisies.  I like the colors of them and the simplicity of them.  I love art and drawing and painting, and one of the first things I managed to perfect in my art training was the drawing of a daisy.  I loved that they were often wild and free and that you didn't have to pay a fortune for them.  The yellow roses story is a bit more embarrassing.  I love roses.  Most females do.  They are synonymous with romance and they are beautiful, delicate and they smell good.  Although pink is my favorite color, I chose yellow roses for my wedding bouquet.  I chose them because they matched my number one flower:  daisy.  I also chose them because I was totally and completely obssessed with Barbra Streisand....in particular her role in "Funny Girl."  Omar Sharif gave her yellow roses and I thought that (along with the blue marble egg...which I also had) was so very romantic. 
It all worked, and my wedding bouquet was lovely.

Jim is not a huge flower-sender.  We definitely don't fit that sterotype of getting flowers for every single occassion or whenever guilt sets in!  When I receive flowers from Jim, it is meaningful and special.  I have to say, I sort of like it that way.
On our 10th wedding anniversary the florist arrived at our door with an  arrangement of yellow roses and daises.  I was touched that Jim remembered that detail and I thought they were more beautiful than ever!  Talk about saying it with flowers.....

Madeline is getting married in 8 months.  We have already made a lot of plans and are getting really excited about the event.  One day she told me she was going to carry yellow roses and daisies in her wedding.  I don't know if she really will, but the sheer fact that she even thought of it and mentioned it was enough to send my heart soaring.

Mom has never really been a flower person.  She sort of doesn't fit into that female mode of expecting flowers on various occasions.  However, if asked, she will tell you her favorite flower is tulip.  On more than one occasion, she has been surprised with beautiful tulips.  I can say that Mom drops that practicality and throws caution to the wind when she sees beautiful tulips.  I know whenever Martha and I threw birthday parties for Mom that required centerpieces or some sort of flowers, we always got tulips.
I remember a time when we bought potted tulips and sort of just squished them into beautiful decorative bowls that Martha already had on her table.  We then scattered moss or whatever looked okay on top of them and people oohed and ahhed over them!  Little did they know that they were thrown together in moments.  The important thing was that Mom loved them.
One time there was a more formal party for Mom and Homer and Martha paid a florist to create a spectacular arrangement of tulips for the dining room table.  I have always cherished the photos that were made with that centerpiece.  They are amazing photos and the tulips really 'spoke' to us!

This past Easter (and Mom's birthday) I had everyone over for lunch after church.  Since it was Easter Sunday and Mom's birthday was the next day (and Jimmy's the following and Jim's the following), I decided to play up the Easter/Spring/Birthday theme.  I bought a pink tulip in a pot with pink foil wrapped around it.  I used that as a centerpiece.  I simply stuck the whole pot into the Waterford punch bowl (that was Mom's and is now a fixture on my dining room table) and used that as my centerpiece.  Talk about easy!  The potted tulips were Mom's birthday gift.  She threatens me to buy her anything, so I used this ploy disguising her gift as the centerpiece decoration.  She happily took the tulips home and I felt as if I got to tell her with flowers how much I love her!

I digress back to the beautiful orchid on my lanai that truly inspired me to write this.  My friend Ginny and I were playing bridge one day at Anita's house.  Anita keeps her house spotless and beautiful and between switching tables Ginny pointed out to me the orchid on Anita's mantle and asked me if I thought the orchid was real. This led us into a huge discussion of orchids and I think I expresed that I had never had a live orchid and I really wanted to try to raise one. Long story short, Ginny arrived on my doorstep several days later with this amazingly beautiful orchid!  I honetly didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  I chose to be stoic and we talked for a bit and she left.  She had threatened me that I should not say 'thank you' because it wasn't necessary.  I did write Ginny a note, but I never used the forbidden "thank you" words.
I just hope Ginny knows how touched I have been about her attempt to 'say it with words.'  My orchid is absolutely perfect.

Recently in my bridge group I won the deuce prize.  This is a prize we only do from time to time, which makes it special.  It is sort of a hostess choice sort of thing.  The deuce prize is when you actually take a trick with a two.  All my bridge friends reading will understand, the rest will appreciate!  This prize floats around from person to person and the last one to win the notorious deuce prize is the one who actually takes it home.  I must say, I felt weird taking it from Susan...who took it from Anita....because I had just won the Yarborough fund the hand before.  This is a cumulative fund in our group that is won when someone is dealt an honorless hand.  And this means not even a 10 in your hand!  Well, this particular night I had a hand with one 9 and the other 12 cards were 9 or below!  I was sort of in shock as I laid my hand down.  It doesn't happen often.....in fact, I won over $200 that night!  It was one of the largestest funds we have seen!  That is a lot of weeks and months considering 8 women (not including the subs who don't contribute) putting in one dollar per time played (which is normally twice a month).

The deuce prize that I won that night was a potted plant....a Christmas cactus that was created from clippings from a huge Christmas cactus from Diane  This is the same Diane who passed away several years ago.  I love having something that originated from her.  It is displayed with pride on my lanai along with some other Christmas cactuses that I have.  I am sure this Diane plant will receive a lot of special attention from me.  The plant means a lot......and I can't wait to see it bloom come Christmas time.  Thanks, Sally, for saying it with flowers!

We have an orange tree in our back yard.  Jim planted it many years ago.  It was just a tiny thing and now it is a full fledged tree that requires attention and it does produce delicious oranges.  I love it when the tree blooms....there is nothing that says 'spring is in the air' like these beautiful and fragrant orange blossoms.
One year we were hoping the oranges would be ripe when Porter was here for Thanksgiving.  Porter likes oranges and we knew he would appreciate having an orange from our tree.  We felt like it was a bit early for the oranges to be sweet and juicy, but they 'looked' ready.  So, Jim took Porter out the orange tree and told him to pick THE orange to test.  They brought it in and washed it and Jim sliced it in half.  The orange had a brown, rotten center and it made a perfect design in the middle of the orange.  Jim was taken aback as the orange didn't look like it would have that inside of it when it was cut open.  Jim, being the teaser that he is, took an orange half in each hand, held them up on his chest, and turned around to face Porter.  He got tickled and Porter started roaring and this joke has continued year after year!  It doesn't take much to amuse us, sometimes.  And I guess you just had to be there!

Jim has really taken to plants, flowers and gardening.  He looks forward to retirement when he can have more time to 'play in the dirt.'  When I was in Shelby helping Mom get ready to move, Jim surprised me by buying a lemon tree.  It is in a pot on our lanai and it is flourishing.  Mom and I both love lemons.  The first ones we got off our tree were the best and juiciest lemons we had ever tasted!  Mom was blown away by them.  We are now (im)patiently waiting for the next round to ripen.  The blooms on the lemon tree are not as fragrant as those on the orange tree, but the sign of those flowers says that a juicy and tasty lemon is soon to follow.
We have since added a small pink lemon tree to our collection.  I love pink grapefruit, but I have never heard of a pink lemon.  I am very anxious to see what the fruit will be like.  The little flowers on the tree are very attractive, and like our other citrus trees, these blossoms to say a lot to us!

When I see Jim out messing with all our plants and flowers I always think of Homer.  He was a true gardener and I think gardening is what brought him the most pleasure in this world.  He loved to work in the yard, plant a vegetable garden and grow gorgeous flowers.  The lawn on Lynhurst Lane never looked as lovely as it did during the years when Homer was out in it from sun up to sun down tending to all the flora in the yard.  Mom always teased him about his car.  The trunk was always filled with empty, dirty pots and there was mulch and potting spoiled spilled all in it.  But, Homer truly had a green thumb!
One of my favorite Homer stories regarding his love of gardening had to do with the vegetable garden he had for many years.  Mom never claimed to like to can or 'put up' fresh vegetables in any way.  She just wasn't into those farm-house types of things!  Homer knew this and it was never an issue.  He just quietly went about his business of gardening.  One day when I was visiting, Homer brought in some yummy fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden for my daily tomato sandwich that I can only truly enjoy in Shelby. And he also had some squash and eggplant.  When I saw the eggplant I commented to him that I didn't realize he grew eggplant in that garden.  He just laughed and said he did grow it but he always had to give it away and had never tasted it.  Then he continued to say:  "your mother has never cooked it for me!"  So, that afternoon I cooked some eggplant, squash, onions, and tomatoes for him.  He was delighted and I made enough so he could freeze some and heat it up at another time!
I miss Homer and his beautiful flowers, yummy vegetables, and dry wit.  He had a plaque that said:  'Old gardeners never die, they just go to seed.'  I know Homer is growing something wonderful and beautiful in Heaven.

On Mom's birthday this past April, she received fresh flowers from Gene and some from Bob and Porter.  They were lovely and I know she loved getting them.  I don't care who you are, when you hear a knock on the door and someone is standing there to deliver flowers to you, it is a wonderful feeling!
The arrangement Bob and Porter sent looked like they were made to go in her little den where she likes to sit and read.  The arrangement Gene sent matched her living room perfectly.  These lovely creations brightened up her apartment for a couple of weeks.
I know she felt the intention of the love that these two flower arrangements 'said' to her.

Our next door neighbors have all sorts of beautiful roses growing in their backyard around their pool.  Sometimes they cut a few and bring them over to me.  I am always amazed by the unique varieties of roses that they grow and I always appreciate this neighborly sentiment.  A couple of years ago most of the neighbors from our street were hanging out in our cul-de-sac on New Year's Eve.  We broke out the champagne at midnight.  I went into my house and got some champagne glasses for this occasion.  After our midnight toast and hugs and kisses, most of us went inside to go to bed.  (Staying up past midnight was a feat in itself.)  My next door neighbor carried her champagne in with her and the next day she arrived on my doorstep with my champagne flute filled with water and one of the beautiful roses from her yard.  I loved that simple gesture!

Poinsettias are always used around advent.  They have become such a symbol for the Christmas holiday season.  Poinsettias are indigenous to Mexico and the legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to bring anything to the altar to honor Jesus' birthday.  She was inspired by an angel to gather weeds by the roadside and place them on the altar.  The weeds turned to crimson and green and this is what we now know as the poinsettia.
I will admit that these flowers known as the Christmas Star or the Christmas Flower really move me and speak to me.  The previous owners of our house must have planted their old poinsettias on the side of the house.  Each year they grew taller and taller and each year they turned red around Christmas time.  We have a picture of Madeline standing in front of these poinsettias and it looks like a full backdrop surrounding her and extending far above the top of her head.  She was about 12 or 13 years old when we took the photograph.  Unfortunately, we lost these poinsettias a few years ago when we had an unusual and terrible frost one winter.
The poinsettias that we used for decoration this past Christmas are out on our lanai.  They still have some red on them, but they are about to turn all the way green.  They are quite healthy and I look forward to them coming around so that we can use them as decoration again this Christmas.
Jim has a way of keeping these types of plants and flowers alive and in fact, he has a way of bringing the plants and flowers that I think I have killed back to life!  I just put them on the side of the house and I never know when they may reappear as a beautiful and thriving plant.  We have a tomato plant that is now producing and it is one of the ones that I thought for sure was dead.
We have some impatiens in our yard that were ones I killed, and they are now huge 'bushes' that are almost up to my waist and as wide as my arm span!  I think Homer must have rubbed off on Jim somehow.

I laugh about this when I think of our friends Dick and Anita.  They live in a townhouse and when you approach their front porch there is a brick walkway that Anita always has lined with plants or flowers.  She says Dick calls it their plant hospice because it is where Anita sends plants to die.  I know that sounds a bit irreverent, but it is not intended that way.  It is really that age old joke that so many people feel about their green thumbs.  It's like they have the 'curse' when it comes to plants.  It's almost as if they know when they buy them that they are going to kill them.  I like to call the side of our house The Plant Hospital where Jim is the physician in charge!

My cousin, Ellen, recently wrote a post on her wall on Facebook that said her gardenias were blooming and she'd be drunk if their fragrance was wine!  I do believe the smell of fresh gardenias blooming is one of the most heavenly smells in the world.  Those flowers know how to talk with not only their beauty, but also with their fragrance.

Sally likes hydrangeas and she has beautiful ones in her yard in Shelby.  She also recently posted something on Facebook about the hydrangeas.  They are such a unique and beautiful flower.  I remember that my sister loved hydrangeas, and she always comes to mind when I see them or read about them.  God certainly knew how to expound on beauty with all the different flowers He created.

I was telling Madeline recently that I remember on Mother's Day we used to wear a carnation to church.  You wore a red carnation to honor your mother if she was still living, and you wore a white carnation to honor your mother if she had already passed away.  My Dad always proudly pinned our red carnations on Martha and myself while he sported a white one on his lapel. I love any kind of tradition and that is one of those I can just see and feel whenever I try to conjure it up.

My cat, Leo, loves flowers.  It amuses us!  He is a great cat and we try to keep him off of furniture and counters.  He will jump up on the counter if we have a vase of fresh flowers on it!  He doesn't jump up for anything that you would think a cat would be interested in.  We finally figured out that wherever there are fresh flowers, Leo will find them and 'visit' them.  I guess he is attracted to the beauty and fragrances just as we are.  Sometimes I think Leo has a little bit of 'human' in him!

I was thinking about how significant flowers are to so many moments in our lives.  They can be simple moments such as our kids picking a little wildflower or weed and running in to bring it to us.  They are usually overcome with excitement and we become suddenly overjoyed with love.  Tell me this isn't 'saying it with flowers?'
People send flowers to you when you are sick or in the hospital.  I guess at these times when you are just feeling down, what better way to cheer you up than to receive flowers?  Often an illness or operation prevents you from being able to eat what you want, so food isn't a good way to cheer you up.  You might be tired or groggy so reading or watching tv might not be the best way to forget your pain or discomfort.  But flowers.  Now what better way to say "get well soon?"
When someone dies, it is a tradition to send flowers to the survivors' homes or to the church or funeral parlor.  These flowers are just a small symbol of sympathy towards the loved ones.  It is often such a sad and perhaps awkward time and people are often at a loss of words.  So why not just show your love and concern and say "I'm sorry" with flowers?
We are in the midst of wedding planning so of course, flowers are on our list of to-dos.  Although Madeline doesn't want tons of flowers for her wedding, she wants some flowers and the bridal bouquets are of importance to her.  We are in the midst of looking for florists and trying to decide what to do in the way of flowers.  Madeline has something to 'say' about her wedding and what it means, and the proper choice of flowers to go with everything else she has planned is another important aspect.
With Madeline being a dancer and with us being involved in theater, we have been the recipient of many bouquets of flowers that say to us 'brava!' or 'break a leg.'  This act of saying it with flowers is a long time tradition in the dance world and the theater world.

There are so many flowers in this universe and so much beauty within them.  It is hard to see flowers and not be moved by them whether they be wildflowers along a busy highway or beautiful roses carefully arranged in a bridal bouquet. We can see a wreath of flowers lovingly placed on the grave of a loved one or an arrangement of flowers on the center of a Thanksgiving table and feel the sorrow or the joy that accompanies them.  There can be a rosebud on the altar at church signifying the birth of a baby or a basket of freshly cut daisies just waiting to be arranged in a vase.  There can be a wilted plant awaiting some TLC from a caring gardener or a blooming tree waiting to bear juicy fruit to be enjoyed.  There are roadside stands selling fresh flowers grown by local farmers and gardeners and there are fancy florists waiting to help you create the perfect bouquet to send to your sweetheart.  There are so many times in our lives when we can truly say it with flowers.
And memories are made of this.

Thanks, Madeline, for the amazing Amarylis.
I missed you too while you were living in Philly!

Say it with flower magnets made from coquina shells

Philadelphia in the springtime

Say it with flowers in paintings
(by me)

(by me)

(by me)

(by me)

(by Phyllis)

Old Philly church and beautiful wildflowers
(painting inspiration.....?)

Break a Leg!

Congratulations on your amazing Senior Show ("Grown Ups")
from Mom and Eric
BRAVA!

There's a little creature hiding in my African violet pot!

Say It With Flowers!

Happy Birthday to Daddy

I got my penchant for parties and celebrations from my Dad.  He loved all things about holidays and and get togethers.  He enjoyed being with friends and family and any excuse for this type of fellowship was okay with him.  He often had good ideas, but that's what they were....simply good ideas.  He didn't always stop to consider all the work Mom had to put into his 'idea' for a get-together, dinner party or holiday celebration.  I know he appreciated everything about them, however.....including all her hard work to make things come together.

Mom really jumped on the bandwagon in October of 1986 when Daddy turned 65.  She planned a wonderful birthday party for him.  Little did she know that this was truly a significant surprise, as Daddy only had one more birthday after that.

Mom invited Daddy's golf buddies and their wives.  It was going to be a surprise.  She told Dad that they were going to dinner with one other couple to celebrate his birthday.  That couple (I don't remember which one it was) arrived first and he still didn't suspect.  Then friend after friend arrived and he was truly surprised.  I think he really realized the surprise when I rang the front doorbell.  I was living in Raleigh at the time and I drove to Shelby for his birthday celebration.  I stayed with a friend so that he wouldn't know I was in town.

I arrived the Friday evening before the scheduled party on Saturday.  As soon as Daddy left for golf on Saturday morning, I hurried over to Mom's to help her cook and get ready.  We made a few pans of lasagne (one of Dad's favorites) and salad and bread.  We actually hid the pans of lasagne in the cabinets so that Daddy wouldn't see them.  I remember how tickled Mom and I got as we were thinking of which cabinets Daddy would never open so that we could hide the 'evidence!'  That was the first time I ever had to hide prepared casseroles in china cabinets and other such places!  I assembled the salad and heated the bread at the last minute after the guests arrived.  We left behind no evidence that a dinner party was about to take place!

I left Mom's house before Daddy got home from golf.  He never saw my car and had no idea I was in town.
Jim was a good husband and father and stayed in Raleigh.  The boys had things going on (probably soccer games) and Jim didn't want me to have to worry about what they were up to as I helped get the party ready.  As much as Daddy would have loved to see 'his boys,' I think we were all thrilled that I got to be there and share this special day with him without my usual distractions.

The lasgane we decided to make for the party was something we knew we could make in advance and then just heat up when it was needed.  I also thought of it because it was Daddy's favorite thing that I cooked.  Whenever Mom and Dad would come to Raleigh to visit I would make lasgane for dinner.  I can actually picture Daddy coming into the kitchen in my house on Hemingway Drive in Raleigh and watching me cook.  I can still 'hear' him as he would come up behind me and whisper in my ear "put lots of cheese in the lasagne."  I always made it extra cheesey, just like he liked it.  I think that was such a treat for him.  I'm sure it wasn't great for his cholesterol, but a splurge here and there isn't always such a bad thing!

Once all the guests arrived we served wine, peanuts, and shrimp cocktail.  Dad wasn't a wine drinker, but he loved dry roasted peanuts and shrimp cocktail!  Those are two things I love too.  Jim often teases me when I get into the jar of dry roasted peanuts that we always have in our cabinet and he calls me 'Joe Porter.' 
As everyone was enjoying this cocktail time it gave everyone a chance to talk and a chance for Daddy to get over his shock!  Meanwhile, Mom and I took turns sneaking into the kitchen to finish up the meal....after we retreived the pans of lasgane from their various hiding places!  We not only hid the lasagne, but we also hid the loaves of Italian bread and the cake.

Daddy always had a huge grin when he was really happy.  He had the biggest grin I had ever seen that night!  I think Mom was thrilled that she managed to pull this off because she saw that giant grin too.  Daddy was truly in his glory.
Being surrounded by these wonderful friends (the golf guys) and his wife and one of his daughters represented love to my Daddy.  He never wanted for anything more than happy and healthy friends and family.  Sharing moments with these people meant the world to him.  While it is never possible to be surrounded by all your loved ones at one time, Daddy knew how to embrace the moments with those who were there at any given time.  He always knew that those who weren't with him then would be with him at another time, and I know that they were always there in spirit.

While everything was heating up in the oven and everyone was enjoying their appetizers, some people wanted to honor Daddy in some way.  Dick Hardeman read a poem he wrote that was just wonderful.  It brought a lot of smiles, laughs and maybe even a tear or two.  He has a way with words.  I know we have a copy of that poem around somewhere and I look forward to uncovering it someday and re-reading it.  I know he covered a lot of topics and really hit the nail on the head!  Daddy loved it.

Some of Dad's other friends made toasts and had nice or funny things to say about him.  I don't think I made a toast....I was busy taking pictures (as usual) and I was also busy soaking up all the joy that was in the room.

Mom, too, has a way with words.  She wrote a brilliant poem for Jim and me that she read as a toast at our wedding rehearsal dinner.  I cherish it and have it saved for prosterity.  She was a hit then and she was also a hit at Daddy's birthday party.  She read her poem and Daddy loved it so much.  He gave her the biggest hug when she finished the poem.  I am sure it ended with their favorite line:  "Come grow old along with me, the best is yet to be."  My parents had such a wonderful relationship.  It saddens me that it was cut short.  But there is a saying that goes something like 'it is better to have lived and loved than never to have loved at all.'  I know there is truth in that as Mom tells me at least once a week that her life has been wonderful and she knows she has been blessed with a wonderful family and has always been surrounded by love.

Dinner was great and fun.  The hidden lasagne had survived and everything turned out fine considering the odd and sneaky way it was all put together.  Dinner conversation usually led to laughter every few minutes.  Dad had some real 'joksters' as friends.  You put George Corn, Bernard Harris, Tom Moss, Dick Hardeman, Bill Campbell and several other 'golf guys,' (along with their wives) around a dinner table and I can assure you someone will crack a joke or tell a funny or embarrassing story at any given time!

After dinner we went back into the family room to bring out the cake and have Daddy blow out the candles and make a wish.  We made a pound cake with caramel frosting....always a family favorite.  Mom had gotten these tall skinny candles so that we could fit several on the cake.  I am sure we didn't put all 65, but the fire was burning bright nonetheless!
Daddy blew out the candles and made his wish.  Just as we were about to cut the cake, in walks George Corn with a birthday cake shaped like a woman's body in a blue bikini....no head, no legs....just  the body (yes, complete with 'boobs!')  I thought Daddy was going to fall over laughing!  It was really a funny cake and it was a perfect touch to end the evening.  I think we ate the pound cake and saved the bikini cake to show some people the next day.  I don't know who made the cake or where George came up with the idea, but it was a real hit at the party!

Bernard M. Baruch was a financier who left Wall Street to become an advisor to Woodrow Wilson during the first World War.  He advised him on National Defense and then became a special advisor during the second World War.  He worked with FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. 
He is quoted as saying:  "I will never be an old man.  To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am."
He lived to be 95 years old.  I guess he felt like he was 80!
Although my Dad never really got to experience old age to this extent, his mantra was always 'you're as young as you feel!'  I think had Daddy lived to be older than 66, he would have had the same sentiments as Mr. Baruch.

The years come and go.  The older I get the faster they seem to go.  I was having lunch with a friend of mine recently who is quite a bit older than I am.  We were talking about this very thing and she said to me, "Just wait!  Each year seems to go faster and faster."
This spoke to me.  I don't like to think about life coming to an end, but just this week I have heard the news of 2 of my very good friends' moms passing away.  I learned about the death of Eric's aunt who was close to my age.  I also learned about a friend who has terminal cancer.
Knowing that my Dad only lived to be 66 makes me sad.  Knowing he embraced life and lived it to the fullest makes me happy. 
In fact, Daddy's last words to the nurse who held his hand were:  "tell Mama and the girls I love them and I've had a good life."

So as every year seems to pass quicker and quicker, I am trying to vow to make each of my moments here on earth count.  Although I look forward to an eternal heavenly life, I know that we were put on this earth for some purpose.  We were given the capacity to love, to live, to embrace life.  I know I have always tried to be this way, but I vow to try even harder.  When people say Life if Short, they aren't kidding!

I plan to make my moments count.  To love deeper.  To experience more.  To forgive.  To continue to learn.  To think broader and to savor everything.  I plan to get out my 'to- do' list and my imaginary 'bucket list' and start crossing things off of them!
I hope everyone I know and love looks forward to hearing someone say to them Happy Birthday!  That day is a significant symbol of one more year of life and a nudge to move forward through the next year with a loving and caring attitude and a new zest for life.

So here's to one more 'Happy Birthday' to you!

And memories are made of this.

Come Grow Old Along With Me

    

Make a Wish!

   

More Please

I was thinking about my blog and the things I wanted to write about.  As I think of these things, I jot them down.  I have a long list of ideas I hope to eventually get written.  But I recently got side-tracked.  All of this is thanks to my cousin, Ellen.
I posted my last blog and Ellen read it and made a comment that she always enjoyed reading my blogposts.  Then she wrote:  'more please'.
That sent my mind on a tailspin!  (It doesn't take much to make my mind wander.....)

It's funny.  When I hear the word "more" now I automatically think of the commericals that are currently on TV from AT&T.  It took a while for me to even realize the sponsor, but I knew I loved the commercials.  My family quotes them all the time.  The commercials show kids sitting around a table talking about various things and there is an adult who reacts to these kids.  His reactions are subtle and priceless and sometimes I wonder why I can be so easily amused by these simple commercials yet so distracted by the TV shows that are on nowadays.  I often find it hard to find any shows worth watching.
In one of the first of these series of commercials is an animated little girl who talks about MORE....she always says "you want more."  I don't think we can hear the word 'more' around here without quoting this girl....'you want more!'

So rather than the normal things that I like to blog about, I thought about this.  I was thinking, "more, please."  (Thanks, Ellen!)  (And thanks AT&T commericals!)

This led me to the things in my life to which I say "more, please."  There's so many things that make me feel like saying this, but I decided to concentrate on the people who make me feel this way.  There is no way I can touch on all of them, but I can write about a few of them and hope that anyone reading this will know that you have all made me say "more please" at one time or another.

I guess I'll start with the culprit who started my mind wandering in this direction.  Ellen.  I can, (and have all my life), say 'more please' to her.  I don't know if anyone  has a person in their life who always makes them smile.  A person who is funny and witty without even knowing it.  I feel blessed to be able to chuckle over things Ellen says or to remember fondly and with laughter things Ellen has said and done throughout my lifetime.  To this I say 'more please.'
I don't know anyone who truly cares more about everyone related to her than Ellen.  Truly and deeply.  I don't think any of her cousins feels more special than the next, because Ellen has that way about her that makes us each know we are Porters (or Alexanders) and therefore we matter. 
This is a gift and it is a gift that keeps on giving.  Anyone who knows Ellen can always say 'more, please.'

Another person who pops in my mind as someone to whom I can say 'more, please', is my nephew Porter.  Porter is a 17 year old boy who is wise and mature beyond his years and equally as goofy and silly as any little kid.  To this I can say 'more, please'. 
I told Porter recently when he sent me a birthday card that I was laughing and crying all within the 30 seconds it took me to read the card.  That is because Porter has the ability to tug at your heartstrings and make you feel special and loved at the same time he cracks jokes and lists all kinds of fun/special/funny memories.
Porter has never been dull or boing to me.  He has always been interesting and intriguing.  I am always left guessing and wondering what will be 'next' with this kid.  He is as wildly unpredictable as he is predictable.  He will always love to live, laugh and be around his family.  He will always strive to do his best.  But he will change his obssessive behaviors like the wind, and he will love salmon and want to eat it every day to being totally grossed out by it.  He loves passionately and fiercely and if you are lucky enough to be in the line of his affections, you are just that....lucky.  I have told Porter on more than one occasion that I love him like one of my own children.

To this I can say 'more, please' to my first-born, Joseph.  I always want more from him.  I want more time with him.  He is the only one of my children who lives away and I feel cheated sometimes.  But that is selfish.  He lives in a place that he loves and with his wife whom he loves.  I can enjoy him from afar and I always remember how my own husband married me and suddenly had to leave his family behind.  He spent Christmases with my family because he knew that was very important to me.  He never woke up on Christmas morning with his Mom, and I do now totally appreciate and respect his willingness to please me.  So, with that in mind, I understand Joseph not being here with me all the time.
To Joseph I can also say 'more, please'...more art and music and writing.  Joseph is a talent and I hope that he can see the beauty of his talents and use them to his best ability and to the good of his life which he now shares with his beautiful wife. 
I know that he understands that sometimes the things we love most must be put on the back burner in order to take care of the necessities at hand, but where there is desire, passion and talent there will come a time to exercise these things.  And that is when we can say 'more, please.'

My son Jimmy leaves me saying 'more, please'.  I remember Jimmy as my child who was always snuggling.  He always wanted to know where Mom, Dad, Madeline and Joseph were....even when he was in high school and beyond.  I know he cared about his family more than he might like to admit.  I miss those days of a wild-haired bug-eyed little boy with a thumb in his mouth and a raggedy blanket in his hand.  I always want to go back to those days, but I know that is not a reality.  So to that, I say 'more please'....more memories and more time to spend with my son to talk about those days and those memories.   And more time to create new pleasant and lasting memories.

I always want more of lots of things with Madeline, please.  Madeline being the youngest and the only girl did fare well with her mother's attention.  Her brothers were old enough not to need my attention as fully and so I spent a lot of time with Madeline and her dance passion.  Sometimes I look back on those times and wonder how I wasn't sick of it.  But in all honesty, I never tired of it.  I always wanted more.  And if I could turn back the hands of time I would definitely say, 'More.  PLEASE.'  Madeline is just months away from being a married woman, so I feel those words of 'more please' getting caught in the back of my throat very often these days.

My husband has been such a part of my life for so many years.  I cannot imagine many things without him.  So to him I just ask for more of everything...please.
We just celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary and I wrote on the card I gave him 'Come grow old along with me.  The best is yet to be.'  I told him that my Dad used that line on my mom for as long as I can remember.  I believe in that.  We always need to believe that the best is yet to be.  And because of that we are left saying "more, please."

My dad told me when you marry someone you marry their family.  In my case, this is a good thing.  Jim has 5 siblings.  I love each of them very much.  They all have great spouses, and whenever we get together, not only does the noise level multiply by 10 times, but so does the fun!  These are a great bunch of people, and I never cease to enjoy their company.  They are not only fun to be with, but they have your back and help you out whenever you need it.  I know that we can count on any one of them at any time.  I only wish we weren't all over the country.  It's hard to spend as much time together as we'd like.  All I can say to this is 'more, please.'

Ellen is not the only cousin that I want more from.  All of my cousins are special people in my life.  I can't imagine never hearing Janet's beautiful voice sing again, or never baking cookies or talking about cats with Nancy again.  I can't imagine not looking at Scott and thinking what a wonderfully sweet guy this man has become, or thinking of Bill as sort of the 'man of the house'.  He is, after all, the older male cousin and the one who offers up blessings at family functions and takes over as the patriarch of the cousin clan when necessary.  I think about Patty and all of her beautiful kids and her calm goodness.  I think about Shelia, Kevin, Tony and Bobby and I can't imagine not having the memory of all the fun Humphries get-togethers we had growing up in Shelby. 
I really have some amazing cousins.  To them all I say, 'more, please.'

I can say 'more, please' to Mom every day.  I know she feels she is getting older and that her life has been lived.  But I hope she knows I still want more.....please.  She has yet to experience the wedding of her only granddaughter or the birth of her first great-grandchild.  She hasn't experienced the pride of knowing her youngest grandchild has graduated high school and is going off to college. She doesn't know that she still has stories to tell and advice to relate to all of her grandchildren, her daughter or her two sons-in-law.  I think all of us who know her can say we want more, please.

I have so many friends.  Sometimes I feel like God messed up and sent me more good friends than I deserve.  I know that no matter what the circumstance....good, bad, or ugly....there is a friend available that I can call on to share the moment with me.  I don't know when I will ever be able to stop saying 'more, please' when it comes to my friends.

Jim and I were talking recently as we sat out on the lanai on one of our early evenings before dinner.  I was telling him that my life doesn't really have regrets.  Yet, my life is sort of filled with a lot of 'more, please.'  I want more time to do all the art and craft projects that are swimming in my head.  I want more time to read all the books on my ever-growing book list.  I want to finish organizing a lifetime of photographs.  I want to make a bunch more scrapbooks.  I want to perfect my photography skills.  I want more time to write all the ideas for blogs that I have.  I want to re-learn  to play the piano and I want to try my hand at golf again.  I want to grow an orchid and harvest more juicy lemons from my little lemon tree.
Forget that big bucket list.....going to Paris.  Owning a beach home.  Writing a novel or visiting The Holy Land.  (Or fitting into a size 6 again!)  I just want to do more of the things that are easily within my reach that  need a bit of time and a bit of attention.  I wonder if I will ever be able to stop saying 'more, please.'
I doubt it.

But memories are made of this.

Have a Seat at My Table

"A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books."  Wise words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  I've always loved the sentiment of live, learn, and pass it on.  What better way to impart the important (or mundane) life's lessons?

This conjures up so many images in my mind of sitting around a table.....in conversation, dining, game playing, crafting, working, or whatever we like to do at a table.  I was thinking of all the tables in my life that have significance of some type or another.

I have written before about sitting around tables.  I suppose if I think about it, so much time is spent doing just this.  My kitchen table is very multi-purpose.  We purchased the table with the purpose of dining in mind.  And we do use it for that.  However, this very table has taken on many different functions.  I don't think Jim could drink his morning coffee and read the paper anywhere but at this table.  It has also become Jim's office.  He does his work at this table.  The desk back in our bedroom that was set up for this purpose is never used for his work.  He claims the internet speed is much slower back there and he wastes a lot of time waiting for attachments to download and open.  In respect of his job, I am fine with him sitting at our kitchen table to work.  If he feels he is more productive there, I am all for it. 
I have noticed that the older I get the less I worry about things like that.  So what if the table is cluttered with papers, business cards and a lap top computer?  It really is no big deal.

But not only is our kitchen table also an office, it is a bridge table.  When I host bridge we always use that table as one of our tables at which to play.  It is really a bit big for bridge, but again, my old age has me not worrying so much about having to stretch a bit.  It makes it so much easier than getting out the folding card table!  (Maybe I am actually just getting lazier.....)
My friend, Susan, taught me the 'placemat trick.'  When you are sitting long ways at the kitchen table and you have to lay down your dummy hand, we pull out one of the placemats and put the dummy hand on it.  You can then slide it as close to your partner as you need to, and voila!  No one has to stretch or become contorted in any way.
I always snicker when I think of this brilliant idea as I recall one night we were using it a lot.  I sat at that table for several rounds and the placemat was being used almost every hand.  That night the placemat I had was one that is covered with flowers and butterflies.  It is really pretty and springy and I love that set of placemats!  I use them often.  We played several rounds and my friend, Anita, came in to play at that table from the other room.  When it was her turn to be the recipient of the placemat dummy hand, she calmly turned the placemat over to the plain fabric side and was not distracted by the busy-ness of the butterflies and flowers!  We all started laughing because hand after hand, no one even vaguely thought of that.  Anita just looked at us like we were a bit off our rockers as if she couldn't imagine such a simple concept going unnoticed.  Leave it to Anita!
I have said before, it doesn't take much to amuse us at bridge and send us into fits of hysteria.  That was one of those times.

My kitchen table is also a craft table from time to time.  I will spread a plastic table cloth or a bunch of newspapers on it and pull out some of my craft supplies and go to town.  I usually do that when I need more room than my folding card table gives me or when I have someone over doing crafts with me.  Linda and I have done shell crafts, card making and painting at that table.  Trina and I made Christmas ornaments at that table, and I recently made napkin rings and a centerpiece for a tea that the women's ministry at our church recently hosted.

We sit at this kitchen table to play hand and foot, Flux, rummy, GOLF, or a multitude of board games.  We have played there many times with Tommy and Linda, Lindsey, Madeline, Eric, Porter and Grandma.  Linda and I usually beat Jim and Tommy at Hand and Foot, but if you ask them, I imagine they wouldn't admit it.
Madeline swears she loses every game she plays no matter what the game or against whom.  I think she exaggerates......but I DO seem to win more often when I play games with her!

The kitchen table we moved here from North Carolina was bigger than the table we have now.  We needed it.  We had 3 kids who ate all their meals around that table.  We had a lot of birthday parties that culminated with cake and ice cream around that table.  We studied for spelling tests, did school projects and filled out forms at that table.
Madeline coerced me into playing Monopoly at that table more times than I'd like to admit.  She still asks me to play Monopoly with her, but I find it easier to say no to a 23 year old than I did a 7 year old.  I don't know what it is about Monopoly, but I just seldom find myself in the mood to play it any more.  I think I just got burned out from playing it over and over and over again.  I'll bet I have been playing Monopoly for 50 years!
I did recently play Monopoly with Madeline.  We had Mom sleep over one night and she wanted to learn how to play the game.  Madeline wore herself out being the banker, playing her own game, and teaching and helping Grandma with each of her turns!  It was fun......3 generations of women enjoying an afternoon of game playing.  Good times.

We are in the midst of wedding planning right now.  It is a wonderfully exciting time, but sometimes the details can become overwhelming.  There is even a lot to think about regarding tables for a wedding.
First of all, the Barnes are planning a rehearsal dinner.  I know they are considering the guest lists and who will sit where and what function will they have.
Madeline and I have been to Dunedin Country Club on several occasions to envision the set up for the reception.  We have thought of several things such as the food serving tables, the high top tables to be used for the cocktail hour, and the tables on the patio where guests can go to get some fresh air.  Then there's the set up of the dinner tables which also comes with not only placement of the tables for the best flow and the best use of space, but also the seating charts.  Who will enjoy sitting with whom?
You have to consider the color scheme and table decorations.  When people come to a wedding reception the hope is that they will eat, drink, dance and enjoy themselves, but their 'home base' is their table.   A lot centers around that.

Many important events are centered around a table.  I can envision Leonardo da Vinci's 15th century mural painting of The Last Supper.  This painting represents the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples as it is told in the Gospel of John 13:21.   This is truly a monumental event that has been captured by an artist for people throughout the centuries to embrace.
This mural is 180 inches by 350 inches and covers an end wall of the dining hall at the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.  I think when most of us hear the words The Last Supper, a visual of this work of art comes to mind.
I have never been to Italy, but seeing something like this is another good reason to add that trip to my Bucket List.

The Round Table is King Arthur's famed table in legend around which he and his knights congregate.  There is no head to this table implying that everyone around it is equal.  This symbolism has developed over time to represent chivalric order.  I like that thought of everyone around a table being equal.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood."
Pretty powerful and wonderful words from this visionary.

Another tidbit of information that I love because is shows the versatility and good use of a table is that Ping Pong was invented on the dining tables of England in the 19th Century.  It was then called Wiff-Waff.
I guess my idea of using our dining table for many different functions is not so original!

Recently I was involved in a wonderful event at my church.  The women's ministry holds a high tea each year. It is a time of fellowship as well as a fundraiser.  Various people sign up to host a table.  This means you bring all the things in to decorate the table and serve as hostess for that table during the tea.  The event is so popular that there are two seatings.  They have done this for the past 14 years!
I went to the tea last year and took my Mom.  Trina and her mother-in-law joined us.  We were amazed when we walked into the room to see how lovely and creative the tables were.  Everyone had chosen a theme and color scheme for their table.  We sat at a table entitled Winter Wonderland.  It was decorated with snowflakes and white and silver china.  It was really lovely.
This year Trina and I decided to host our own table.  We decided the best place to start was to choose which china we would use.  We decided upon my china which is beige with a small floral design.  There is some pink in the flowers.  Since Trina and I both love the beach, we decided we would go with an elegant "beachy" theme and use colors of beiges and pinks.  We entitled our table "Seaside Serenity."  I made a centerpiece for the table and Trina located a three tiered plate stand for our food.  I decorated this with beige ribbon and scallop shells.  Trina found some teapots for us and had cookies made to look like starfish that we gave for favors.  I painted sand dollars that said "Seaside Serenity" and the name of the guest.  I made napkin rings out of shells and we stuck some small pink wildflowers in with the pink napkins and napkin rings.  I think our table turned out lovely, if I must say so myself.  Although this wasn't an actual table of our family's, the items on the table were mine and the guests around the table and the enjoyment of the event were quite memorable.  I am already thinking of next year's theme.....

Mom's antique oak breakfast room table has been used for many things as well.  I know she always kept it round without the leaves, but whenever we came to town, we pulled it apart and added two leaves.  We needed a big table just to accommodate my crew, not to mention the Yeltons, Gene and whoever else might be included in dinner that night.

Mom's breakfast room table was the location for the daily gin rummy games that she played with Gene.  I think she misses that, but I am thankful that she had those years with Gene to enjoy this.  It is a fond memory that she and Gene will always have.  He came and won his $2.00 off her almost every day!  Occasionally she won, but it wasn't about the winning.  It was about the companionship and the pleasure of doing something fun during the day.

Mom often did her bill paying at the breakfast room table.  She would pull out her checkbook and plug in (yes, plug in) her calculator.  She wrote letters and addressed birthday cards there.  But I think her favorite use (mine too) of that table was morning newspaper reading and coffee drinking.  I wish I had logged how many hours we sat there doing just that.  We had some of our best conversations at that table.

Mom didn't move that table to Florida.  She didn't have any room for it.  I love my breakfast room table, so I didn't need or want it.  It still sits in her almost empty house in Shelby.  One day while I was talking to Madeline about her home she will share with Eric come March 1, 2014, she mentioned that old oak table.  She said that come to think of it, she might like to have it!  So, next time we decide to clear out and move the rest of Mom's things, I guess I can add  that table to my garage to save for Madeline and Eric.  What's one more piece of furniture out there?

I think one of my favorite tables is the patio table we have on our lanai.  It isn't my favorite because it is beautiful or valuable.  It is my favorite because sitting out on the lanai in the evening with my husband has become the highlight of my days.  He loves it too, and we were talking about it just the other night as we were sitting there listening to the birds, watching the sprinklers in our grass, commenting on the palm trees swaying in the breeze, and noticing the sun setting off to the west.  We realized that our best conversations take place there more than any other place.  We also realized the peace in just sitting there saying nothing.  Quiet time can speak volumes.
I love living in paradise, and when I am out on my lanai, I have a reminder of that.

When we lived in North Carolina, Jim and I bought a black wrought iron table set.  We were very proud of it and we actually moved it to Florida and used it here for many years.  Sitting outside in North Carolina was pretty cool too.  It was quite different, but I can think of that table and think of so many memories.  We sat there and watched the kids play soccer in the yard or basketball in the driveway.  We watched Madeline ride her little orange and yellow car up and down the driveway.  It was mobilized by using your feet.  She loved that car and it seems like yesterday that she was cruising around in that instead of her little blue Kia (Baxter).  Time flies.  And I realize that more and more each day.  Truly there is a reason to embrace every moment you can because in a blink of an eye you can miss something special.

Our black wrought iron table was also the location for birthday cake and presents.  I particularly remember one of Jimmy's birthday parties around this table.  He always liked to have his parties at home. Basically a group of sweaty, smelly 10 year old boys played basketball and soccer and then wanted to be fed lots of sugary foods.  When Jimmy opened his gifts I can remember hearing the noises and the silly comments.  Little boys can be very loud and obnoxious!  And I really miss that sometimes.

Another fun table to remember is the dining room table at the Yelton's.  Martha and Bob loved to entertain, whether it be big fancy cocktail parties or family dinners of Bob's famous grilled hamburgers.  No matter what the occasion, we sat at their big glass-top table. 
Martha was such a good hostess.  She always had things 'just so.'  She did a good job with any type of hostessing duties.  It saddens me to realize that I won't be setting that table with her as we prepare for some sort of event.  However, I praise Bob for trying to keep the traditions alive.  He still makes a killer burger and Porter has perfected my macaroni and cheese recipe.  Martha would be proud of them.

When we were growing up on Woodside Drive, we had a round wooden kitchen table with a lazy Susan in the middle.  I thought it was cool then, but I didn't realize the wonderful functionality of it until I fed a husband and 3 children (and their friends) for years and years.  There was not a lot of 'pass the salt' or 'is there any more bread' when you have a lazy Susan.  If you want or need something, you just reach up and turn that little thing around and there you have it!  Whoever invented that was really quite wise.
As kids, we didn't always appreciate the lazy Susan for what it was.  I remember putting my stuffed cat on it and Martha would spin it around and tease me!  We had a lot of fun with it.  I guess for Mom it was a helpful tool.  For Martha and me it was a plaything.  Talk about versatility!

Tim Scott, a South Carolina republican senator said "If our message reaches the kitchen tables, we are in good shape."  I don't really know much about this guy or what message he was talking about, but it is true that our kitchen tables are known to be the center of conversation in American homes.
Ronald Regan said "All great change in America begins at the dinner table."  I really love that quote.  Leave it to Ronald Regan!

Along those lines, a lot of humor has also been written about what goes on around the dinner table.  The crudely hysterical George Carlin said "The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant.  Every table had an argument going."  I guess that is a sad but true commentary.

I love this quote from Voltaire also:  "Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument."  I don't think there is much need to add to this comment!

I guess the most versatile table of all is the folding card table.  In the past, I used my folding card table strictly for bridge.  Now it is my main crafting table.  I actually have more than one folding table and Madeline has set one up in her room.  She is working on some projects and with limited time for doing these projects, she has found that just setting up a table and having it readily accessible is the best way to work on a project when you have a few minutes to spare.  She has a table set up in her room right now, and although her room is crowded, she is ready whenever inspiration hits!  I have another card table set up in our back bedroom.  I was in the midst of making cards and never finished.  Several days have passed and this table is just as I left it.  No matter.  I am sure I will have some spare time and some inspirational moments and I'll jump right back in!

This is not to say that I don't still use the folding tables for bridge.  I do.  But mostly it is just easier to use the kitchen table and the game table in the living room.

My dining room table is used mainly for special dinners like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas or someone's birthday.  Sometimes we eat there when we have company and need that extra space or want it to be quieter and more special.  I love sitting in my dining room.  I guess I love it because it usually  represents a fun time and also it usually means there are friends and relatives with us.  I like to use my china, silver and crystal in my dining room, but I also enjoy eating in there with my everyday stuff.

                        

When I made Mom's huge scrapbook for her 80th birthday surprise, I sat at the dining room table.  It was the only place in my house big enough to spread out and have all my supplies and a working space.  It took me a long time, so we just lived with the mess on the dining room table.  I don't think it mattered....rather it was a reminder of this special gift I was making for such a special person!

Jim uses our dining room table when he has his poker group over.  It is the only place big enough to accommodate the group.  I have to take off all my pretty things and put a plastic tablecloth on the table and clip it down with plastic clips.  It is the way Jim likes it for the cards and the poker chips.  Whatever works for him is fine with me.  I am pretty sure the guys are coming over to see who can win the poker hands, eat some pizza and junk food.  I don't think their concern is what the table looks like.

Paul Newman says:  "If you are playing a poker game and you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you."  Maybe I should share these words of wisdom with Jim!

I suppose my dining room table is actually used more than I realized and is more versatile than I have been giving it credit.

I love to do jigsaw puzzles.  I don't do them as often as I would like, but every now and then I just get a hankering to do one.  I usually do it on the game table in my living room, but I have to be sure I am not hosting bridge any time soon because I use that table for my bridge group.  Once I start a puzzle, it always lures me in, but I really don't have a lot of time to spend on it, so it often takes me quite a while to do one. 
When I was recuperating from my second foot surgery, my sweet husband rented a wheelchair for me.  I remember wheeling in to the game table in the living room and working on jigsaw puzzles.  Two that I remember doing at that time were preserved and framed and are hanging in my laundry room.  One was very large and it is a puzzle of all types of seashells.  I was proud of myself for finishing that one.  The other one is a scene of an open door leading out into beautiful tropics.  They were both too big and pretty not to preserve!
I have also been known to do puzzles on my folding card table and at Mom's (that one didn't last long....she didn't really care much about doing it).

The tables in our family have been bought and shared and traded and sold and donated to charity.  The game table in my house right now used to be at Mom's house in Shelby.  The game table I had that I replaced with this one from Mom's is now at Jimmy's place.  The oak table that is still at Mom's house in Shelby will hopefully be in Eric and Madeline's house soon.  Jim and I bought our breakfast room table on a whim.  We went into a furniture store to buy a chair and came out with the table, chairs and a hutch!  It was about two years or more before we finally bought the chair we were out looking for (but that is another story to come later.....). 
There is no telling what can be done and accomplished sitting around a table.  It is a great time for conversation, dining, gaming, creating and just all sorts of things.  If you stop and think about it, the tables in our homes are the prime location of so many different kinds of events. 
And memories are made of this.

Game Table as birthday gift holder

Mom's foyer table now as her dining table

Lunch at Mom's



GOOD TIMES AROUND A TABLE:

with cousins

Mom with the Porters

Jessie's birthday at the Yelton's

Madeline's Birthday celebration
with Mildred and Homer at our house

Mildred's birthday at Mom's