Posts by Leslie Anne Tarabella
If only Buddy Ray had only known cursive
Tara used her most carefully constructed cursive handwriting to express her sentiments of deep love and devotion to her beau, Buddy Ray O’Hara, but alas, the young lad didn’t know how to read cursive handwriting, so he thought it was another garbled note from his aging granny and tossed it in the garbage. Unaware of…
Read MoreAnnie Sloan made me do it
One of my first stories for the newspaper was about how I would never, ever, ever give in and paint my grandmother’s china cabinet, even though Annie Sloan paint was all the rage. Well, guess what? I caved in, so here’s the updated story. Have you given in to the trend? It was the early 1960’s…
Read MoreThe Gulf Shores & Orange Beach project
Several weeks ago I told you I was working on a big project with a deadline. I’m happy to say I’ve completed the assignment and enjoyed every minute of it. My task was to write the copy for the 2017 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Convention and Visitor’s Official Vacation Guide. At around 100…
Read MoreGo to church or the Devil will get you
Yes, it’s a real sign in Alabama on private property. And we all pretty much have grown up seeing it every time we go to Grandma’s house or the beach. Living in a state that literally has a sign on Interstate 65 that says, “Go to church or the devil will get you,” has often…
Read More(Not) The greatest generation
T-Anna and I were making floral arrangements for our Ladies Circle luncheon when her daughter, D-Anna called in a panic. Apparently, the 25 year old college graduate was experiencing great angst because she couldn’t assemble a new bookcase. “There’s a nail with little swirls around it and a plus sign on the end, and I…
Read MoreWhich comes first, the column or the blog post?
Well, usually, the column comes first, then I share it here on the blog. But this week’s article for al.com came about a bit backwards. My column appears in the Sunday edition of The Mobile Press, The Birmingham News and The Huntsville Times and after it appears on the al.com web site, I finally…
Read MorePretty (big) ‘ole blueberry pie
What to do with all these lovely blueberries from Robertsdale? Hmmm. I think I’ll make PIE! The recipe itself isn’t important. You can find any blueberry pie recipe on the internet. (There’s a link to the version I based this on at the end). I wanted to do something really pretty for my family’s 75th…
Read MoreZucchini: the gift that keeps on giving
Southerners are the givin’est bunch of people you’ll ever meet. Anytime we visit one another, we always want to “take a little something.” And even though the “little” is often quite small, it’s truly the thought that counts. Unless of course, it’s zucchini. No one wants to look out their window and see you…
Read MoreTime to choose the gift wrap
I realize we’re celebrating Independence Day, but as a good Southern woman, I have to get my act together and decide on a wrapping paper theme for this coming Christmas. Last year, I foolishly believed my husband when he offered to take care of wrapping the gifts, and as God is my witness, I ended…
Read MoreTo be 16 in the summer
Summer in the South for a 16 year-old consists of parents who bother him more than the heat, and days filled with friends, food and future adventures waiting just around the corner. Too old to stay home with his mama, but not yet old enough to be set totally free, it’s a summer for finding…
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