By the Sea - South Padre Island

click to enlarge

A few photographic glimpses of our recent trip to South Padre Island, Texas.  Granddaughter (and Grandma) really likes the water.  I know that seagulls are pests, for the most part, but I enjoyed watching them.

Tomorrow is also a day.

How Could I Have Skipped This One?

(flag image from PatriotIcon.org)

Something else, of great import (to my family), occurred on January 26, about which day in history I wrote yesterday.  Perhaps it slipped my mind because it was of such recent history, said event actually occurring only yesterday.

My granddaughter is married to a fine and brilliant man who was born and educated in India.  Shortly after coming to this country to work in his chosen field (about 12 years ago), he finalized all the requirements to obtain a Doctoral degree in Neurotoxicology.  He and my granddaughter, who met here in Arkansas,  have been married for over 10 years, and have two beautiful, highly intelligent and adorable children (and that's not just a great-grandmother talking.)

Yesterday, January 26, 2011, my grandson became a citizen of the United States of America.   Everyone in our family is pleased --no, delighted -- and very happy.

The nearest U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office is in Memphis, Tennessee, and it was to that location that he traveled early yesterday morning to finalize the process of becoming a naturalized citizen.  Unfortunately, my granddaughter was not able to go with him to witness this momentous occasion.  She was in the hospital recovering from unexpected and necessary surgery which occurred late Tuesday afternoon.  Grandson stayed by her bedside until 3:00 a.m., when he was relieved by his father-in-law, my son,  then drove to Memphis  for the 8:00 a.m. official ceremony.  He returned to Little Rock in time to take his wife home that afternoon (laparoscopic surgery is a wonderful thing.)

I understood that becoming a citizen of the United States was not a 'snap-your-fingers'-easy thing to do, but I had no idea, until I started doing some online research, what a lengthy and sometimes tedious process it is.

I heartily congratulate him, and all the people, young and old, who also became U.S. citizens yesterday.

For additional information on the process of becoming a citizen, I invite you to watch this short video.

or, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzRxQfsMMSk&feature=related

Tomorrow is also a day.

Yum! Yum!

Lemon-Pear-Basil Tart

This past Sunday afternoon, I accompanied Gardening Daugher, her husband and 16-yr old daughter to my sister's home in Hot Springs Village.  Sister had asked GD and hubby to assist in realigning some closet doors which had jumped the track.  She and brother-in-law are, like me, getting a bit physically challenged when it comes to manhandling stuff.

Mission accomplished, Sister served us a delicious late lunch/early supper of Portugese Kale Soup and bread, followed by a heavenly dessert.

The base of the tart is lemon cake, made from a mix, topped with sliced firm, but ripe, pears (Bartlett's, I think - Sister will let me know), covered with a thickened lemon sauce (juice of one lemon, sugar, cornstarch and water) and then chilled.  The unexpected and utterly delicious additon to this sweet was fresh basil leaves, shown, and the expected whipped cream (not shown.)  Basil, lemon, pears and cream in combination made my taste buds sing!  I had a second bite and would have had thirds, but all those present at the table thought it was wonderful, too!

Your pear tart is a winner, Sister. Are you making another one anytime soon?

Early Autumn Jaunt

Yesterday I took the day off from card-making activities and drove to Hot Springs Village, about 70 miles southwest of my home. It was an absolutely gorgeous day: sun shining brightly, a slight breeze and temperature just perfect! I opened the sun roof of my car and rolled down the side windows just to let the wonderful, crisp early Autumn air wash over and through me. I took big, deep breaths as I drove through the still-green countryside and became almost giddy during the drive. Must have been all the fresh air that made me feel that way.

My journey was made by traveling on one of Arkansas' lovely scenic by-ways, a sometimes narrow two-lane highway that winds its way over the gentle hills of central Arkansas with more than a few 25- 35 mph curves. We have several beautiful scenic drives in the state, but this is one of my favorites, perhaps because loved ones are waiting at the end of my drive.

The reason for the trip was to help celebrate the 86th birthday of my brother-in-law, who is an absolutely wonderful guy (even if he is a Yankee), and who is looking quite robust for a person who is even older than I (see photo below). In the interests of home safety, we didn't put 86 candles on his cake. I don't think the delicious chocolate cake (his favorite, of course) would have held them all, anyway, and the one we lit did quite nicely.

Happy Birthday, Dear Leon!

Before we arrived at birthday cake and present-opening time, we had driven a few miles outside the Village to a small home-style restaurant for a pleasant and most satisfactory lunch. In the restaurant's parking lot, we spied an interesting vehicle. When I questioned our waitress, I was told that it was the property of the restaurant owners. After our meal, I approached them to say how much I admired their unusual looking car. They told me it was a replica of a 1929 Mercedes Gazelle. Of course I had to get a couple of photos! I love the headlights and the trumpet- shaped horns on the front.



On such a lovely Autumn day, I certainly would have enjoyed jaunting about the countryside in this little beauty!

Yesterday's euphoria will have to last for a while. This morning brought a heavily overcast sky and the threat of rain -- which materialized this evening. Ah! How grateful I am for memories!

The Redoubtable Aunt

re·doubt·a·ble (r-dout-bl)

adj.

1. Arousing fear or awe; formidable.

2. Worthy of respect or honor.

---

[Middle English redoubtabel, from Old French redoutable, from redouter, to dread : re-, re- + douter, to doubt, fear; see doubt.]

My mother was one of eleven children (nine surviving to adulthood.) Mama was the oldest girl; she had 4 sisters, and 4 surviving brothers.

Aunt "M.," the youngest girl in the family, would have been about 14 when I was born, and it is about her that I tell the following story. Oh, let me say, in beginning, that definition 1. above is the one I apply to her for the purposes of this story, although she actually was eligible for definition 2. In later years, she was a dedicated mother to her only child, a son who was severely brain-injured at age 16, and consequently never able to live an independent life.

The date was about 1944. I know that V-E day (June, 1945) had not yet occurred, because my daddy was still with the U.S. Army at Ft. Lewis, WA. during Aunt M.'s visit to our home in Albuquerque. Aunt M. was a member of, and an officer in, the Women's Army Corp (W.A.C.) , and at the time was stationed at a base in Big Spring, Texas. What possessed her to drive to Albuquerque to see us, I don't know. I can't bring myself to believe that our mother actually invited her, but of course, she very likely did so.

We four children, 10, 8, 6, and 4, must have been a rowdy lot, having been under the care of paid babysitters or left pretty much to fend for ourselves, since our mother, from financial necessity, worked 5-1/2 days each week. As blood relatives, Aunt M. found us absolutely unacceptable, as we were (in her eyes) undisciplined and, even worse, uncivilized, especially when it came to our table manners!

Aside: Perhaps Aunt M. was not an officer; perhaps she was a drill sergeant, at least she had the voice and attitude I associate with drill sergeants!

"Patty! (that's me). Sit up straight! Elbows off the table! Napkin and left hand in lap! No, no, no -- that's not the way you hold a fork! Ye gods!"

"Meg! No slouching! Napkin and left hand in lap! Close your mouth completely when you chew!"

"Carol! Get a cushion to sit on; you can not rake the food off your plate into your mouth! No talking with food in your mouth! Napkin and left hand in lap!"

"All of you act like heathens!"

As you can see, Aunt M. was fixated on napkins and left hands.

At age 4, my brother might have been the only one to escape her sharp tongue, but perhaps not. I just don't remember any thing specific directed toward him.

I well recall her saying, "Pat" (my mother's nickname), "have you taught these children no manners at all?"

I don't remember exactly how long Aunt M. stayed with us on that visit, but it was too long! * The drill in table manners (which I don't dispute were needed) occurred at every meal, whether or not my mother was present. We were completely cowed but, admittedly, had slightly better table manners when she left.

How my mother felt about having her children constantly corrected (and I'm sure Aunt M.'s corrections didn't stop at the table) I have no idea, but we girls all breathed a sigh of relief when the dust settled behind her car as she made her departure.

* As I've thought about this story and the following years, I don't remember that Aunt M. ever came to visit us again, although we saw her at family reunions. We must have traumatized her as much as she traumatized us.

My Father - Post 20

Today would have been my father's 122nd birthday. He was born on May 20, 1886, in Elk County, KS, first child and only son of his parents. He died at the age of 78, on January 8, 1965, when I was 31 years old.
I don't have many records of my father's early life. My mother was his second wife and early-years records may have remained with his first family. The first photo of my father that I have was taken when he was 18. Among the documents in my possession is his 8th grade report card of 1904; he was an exemplary student. The eighth grade was as far as the local educational system went, I suppose, but presented no barrier to his becoming a teacher. At some later date, he was the principal of the High School in another Kansas town. Our memory box contains several very formal studio portraits of the senior class students at that school, given to my father as mementos, I suppose. We have no idea who they are, but the portraits are lovely.
I believe that my father was raised in the Methodist denomination but at some point became a Baptist and a preacher. He later attended Texas Christian University and received a degree in Theology. He was by that time single, and was holding a good old fashioned "revival" at a small-town Texas Baptist church where my mother happened to be the pianist. The rest is history, as they say.
I have many tales to tell about my father, but this is enough for now.

I've been thinking about you today, Babba.

Mothers' Day 2008 - Post 17

I had a lovely Mothers' Day with the two of my four children who were close to home on that day. My eldest daughter was taking a long-overdue vacation with her husband and having a good time in Gatlinburg, TN. My youngest daughter lives with her husband and son on the island of Okinawa, Japan. I had telephone calls from both on Sunday. Not quite like having them here, but much appreciated.

I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday dinner with my middle daughter and three of her four children after church, then shared an evening meal with my son and his family.

Edited 5/17/08: The photo is of four generations of my family gathered at my son's home: my son and his wife; their two daughters; the husband of the elder daughter and their two children; and some crabby old woman who insisted on being in the photo.

I am most pleased to have a four-generations snapshop; it's not often enough that we are all together, since my elder granddaughter and her family live in San Antonio, TX.