When I was a little girl, my grandfather "Boppa" would push back his chair from the Thanksgiving table and make his way to the record player. And every year, when I heard those first few notes, my heart always began to pitter patter.
"By now in New York City, there's snow on the ground"
Christmas Gifts In Dixie:
On Monday I recieved the gift of Acomplishment! A Toast to the One Hundred & Fifty of you who came out (on such a gloomy day at that) to enjoy Spa Medical's Open House. A Toast to Barbara Loyd for flowers that made me want to sing Christmas Carols on the spot. A Toast to Fountain of Juice for the best . . . THE BEST . . . everything! There wasn't a miss on the entire menu. Not a single solitary slip.
Wednesday I recieved the gift of History and Pride. As I listened to the One Hundred Year History of L.E. Schwartz & Son, I was overcome by a sense of Pride in our community being one that is the birthplace of such a respected business. The words of Louis Ervin Schwartz so many years ago, "Our company must stand for unquestioned integrity, prompt service and quality workmanship to our clients," convey a sentiment that is timeless & reminds all of us of the way business should be done. A Toast to the Kruger Family! Happy, Happy Centennial!
The gift-bearing Thursday brought far too many to list in their entirety! Tracy Benton and I headed up to the Billy Reid & Bearings Evening of Bourbon & Bluegrass. A Toast to GQ's 2010 Best and Cover Gentleman! And a special Toast to the Nutria Collar that tugged firmly at my purse strings as I reminsced about the BEST birthday party I've ever been to: Party Trolley to the Audubon Zoo Swamp Exhibit, Nutria Cake followed by feeding said cake to live Nutria, an old-fashioned photo booth, and lil' silver-tonguing Zoo Security out of having my dear friend Linds arrested for "borrowing" a Golf Cart. Oh the days . . . to be young, fearless, and below sea level again!
Anyhoo! I'm positively Over the Moon for this roguishly tousled Alabama boy's brand of Shanty Chic. Our post Bourbon & Bluegrass activities led us to Holeman & Finch where the Belle Starr (H&F infused grain spirit / disaronno amaretto / luxardo bitter / brut sparkling wine / lemon) stole the show. And to Five Paces Inn where the State Capitals reciting young man gave us something to smile about. Especially as I explained to him that he could definitely NOT come visit us at the condo. I guess you can't blame a fellow for trying? A Toast to my chaperones Tracy and AT.
Enchantment was my gift on Friday. I took Tucker to the Junior League Pajama Party and Annie at Macon Little Theatre. He was beyond adorable in his Nick & Nora PJ's and (after a quick change) I cried three times at the sentimentality of sharing live theatre with him for the first time. Annie was spectacular! Don't miss it. Period. Ever his Aunt Ashley's little boy, he was dying to grab a post show bite to eat. A Toast to Steak & Shake! Every time we go somewhere he wants to know "do they have crayons?" And boy did they ever . . . and a hat, and a car to put together, and mini milkshakes, and stickers. Definitely a win.
How do you end a week filled with so many gifts? Celebrating the gift of Friendship with Little Miss Walden and Shuga D over margaritas, that's how. They're going to have some news to share when they get back from New York! But that's not my story to tell. So you'll just have to get the scoop from Little Miss "Candy Lou Who" herself. For now, check out Miss Jane Savvypenny's New York Minutes. And treasure your own gifts. Because (just south of) . . .
And the year that he died, I got up and put the record on after we ate. But I haven't done so since. Perhaps I felt that it was a little too much for the rest of the family. Or maybe I realized that it just wasn't the same without him to dance with. But I still hear it - playing every year in a memory that comes back to me just as clearly as if he were still here.
And so that's what Thanksgiving has become for me - a time when, after slowing down to give thanks for our blessings, we open our arms wide to recieve the gifts that come with the Holiday season. And this past Turkey Day was not a drop different.
I spent the holiday at my Mother's on the Edisto River. With my baby sister, my brother-in-law, and the two most precious gifts God's ever given me: Tucker & Katie Grace Mullinax. There was ham guzzling & turkey scarfing (or was that the other way around '-), there was boat & four wheeler riding, there was duck hunting, there was great big gorgeous fire building and there was GAME playing. In fact the very first after Thanksgiving gift that I recieved was from my sister. That's right . . . wait for it . . . I have been crowned "The Game Whisperer."
Christmas Gifts In Dixie:
On Monday I recieved the gift of Acomplishment! A Toast to the One Hundred & Fifty of you who came out (on such a gloomy day at that) to enjoy Spa Medical's Open House. A Toast to Barbara Loyd for flowers that made me want to sing Christmas Carols on the spot. A Toast to Fountain of Juice for the best . . . THE BEST . . . everything! There wasn't a miss on the entire menu. Not a single solitary slip.
Wednesday I recieved the gift of History and Pride. As I listened to the One Hundred Year History of L.E. Schwartz & Son, I was overcome by a sense of Pride in our community being one that is the birthplace of such a respected business. The words of Louis Ervin Schwartz so many years ago, "Our company must stand for unquestioned integrity, prompt service and quality workmanship to our clients," convey a sentiment that is timeless & reminds all of us of the way business should be done. A Toast to the Kruger Family! Happy, Happy Centennial!
The gift-bearing Thursday brought far too many to list in their entirety! Tracy Benton and I headed up to the Billy Reid & Bearings Evening of Bourbon & Bluegrass. A Toast to GQ's 2010 Best and Cover Gentleman! And a special Toast to the Nutria Collar that tugged firmly at my purse strings as I reminsced about the BEST birthday party I've ever been to: Party Trolley to the Audubon Zoo Swamp Exhibit, Nutria Cake followed by feeding said cake to live Nutria, an old-fashioned photo booth, and lil' silver-tonguing Zoo Security out of having my dear friend Linds arrested for "borrowing" a Golf Cart. Oh the days . . . to be young, fearless, and below sea level again!
Anyhoo! I'm positively Over the Moon for this roguishly tousled Alabama boy's brand of Shanty Chic. Our post Bourbon & Bluegrass activities led us to Holeman & Finch where the Belle Starr (H&F infused grain spirit / disaronno amaretto / luxardo bitter / brut sparkling wine / lemon) stole the show. And to Five Paces Inn where the State Capitals reciting young man gave us something to smile about. Especially as I explained to him that he could definitely NOT come visit us at the condo. I guess you can't blame a fellow for trying? A Toast to my chaperones Tracy and AT.
Enchantment was my gift on Friday. I took Tucker to the Junior League Pajama Party and Annie at Macon Little Theatre. He was beyond adorable in his Nick & Nora PJ's and (after a quick change) I cried three times at the sentimentality of sharing live theatre with him for the first time. Annie was spectacular! Don't miss it. Period. Ever his Aunt Ashley's little boy, he was dying to grab a post show bite to eat. A Toast to Steak & Shake! Every time we go somewhere he wants to know "do they have crayons?" And boy did they ever . . . and a hat, and a car to put together, and mini milkshakes, and stickers. Definitely a win.
How do you end a week filled with so many gifts? Celebrating the gift of Friendship with Little Miss Walden and Shuga D over margaritas, that's how. They're going to have some news to share when they get back from New York! But that's not my story to tell. So you'll just have to get the scoop from Little Miss "Candy Lou Who" herself. For now, check out Miss Jane Savvypenny's New York Minutes. And treasure your own gifts. Because (just south of) . . .
"Atlanta, Georgia - there's peace on earth tonight"
xO, aS
(Oooh Girl It Is Sooo) Hot This Week:
My Low-Fat Sea Island Cornbread Dressing Recipe - I promise to share next time.
Doctor Turvy Suggests:
Lucky Duck, a $4 bottle of wine that's a Toast to frugality AND taste.
Save the Date:
12/9 Head Over Heels Holiday Trunk Show
