Alabama
Dianne Bentley is a class act
While Alabama’s Governor and his former advisor are caught in the turmoil of their recent naughtiness, there’s at least one character in this tragic tale that has come out smelling like a rose. Former First Lady Dianne Bentley is the example of a classy Southern lady who has remained steadfast in the midst of the…
Read MoreFrito Pie is now classy!
I’d like to take a moment and give my sincere thanks to Chef David Bancroft from the celebrated Auburn, Alabama restaurant, Acre, for properly serving Frito Pie in a bowl and thereby taking the stigma out of eating the . . . how do I say it, “uncouth” dish. The first time I’d ever…
Read MoreStep Sing!
Step Sing! It’s a 67 year old tradition at Samford University in Birmingham where my son is a student. When my parents attended school there (then, Howard College) Step Sing was a much smaller production, literally done on the steps of one of the buildings, although my Mother said she remembers Step Sing being held…
Read MoreA Dinah Washington Valentine
One of my favorite Alabamians is the Queen of Blues, Dinah Washington. Born in Tuscaloosa in 1924 as Ruth Lee Jones, Dinah rose to fame in the 1950’s with her earthy voice that thrilled fans, but baffled and often irritated the critics because she was able to bounce from one genre to the next with…
Read MoreMy first office party
I submitted my first story to the Press Register on Friday. Talk about stress! They have a computer system which at first seemed so intimidating, I was afraid I’d click the wrong thing and accidentally delete their entire newspaper! I must have done an okay job, because later, they sent an email from the…
Read MoreFinally!!!
Here’s the big news I’ve been waiting to share with you . . . Starting soon, I’ll be a weekly columnist with the Press Register! For those of you who live out of our area, the Press Register is a great newspaper based in Mobile, Alabama and is owned by Alabama Media Group, which…
Read MoreKnights of Ecor Rouge
The sunny afternoon temperatures in the high 60’s led to a slightly chilly, but crystal clear night, perfect for The Knights of Ecor Rouge to claim the streets for their popular 2016 Mardi Gras parade. “The Force Unleashed” was this year’s theme, pleasing all the Star Wars fans. , The birthplace of American Mardi…
Read MoreHomegrown Bananas
I first noticed them this past summer, around June, just hanging around up in the banana tree about 8-9 feet off the ground. Baby bananas! Even though banana trees are common in this area, most people use them as a decorative, tropical addition to their yard because it’s rare for them to actually produce fruit.…
Read MoreGranddaddy ain’t no haint
The book was first published in 1969, but it didn’t become widely known until several years later. I remember my Daddy sitting with his Daddy and brothers beneath the pecan trees, passing it around, each reading for a few minutes, then with exasperated looks, shaking their heads and passing it on to the next person…
Read MoreHaunted Baldwin County Alabama
Hey, look! I have another talented friend who wrote a book . . . I have the coolest friends! You may remember meeting Harriet Outlaw in my story about her wonderful house, Benulee. As if she weren’t fascinating enough with everything else she does, Harriet has now filled a book with her knowledge of…
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