Articles
Hats off at the table
This story can be found in the book, The Majorettes are Back in Town Bless her heart, my long time friend, Fancy Faye is out there in the dating world again. The stunning beauty is smart and successful, but totally out of luck when it comes to love. She’s rather picky, which can be a…
Read MoreIf 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 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 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 MoreTrue love found in the cafeteria
My college son returned home for the summer and I could tell he’d found a new love back at Samford University. It was a shock to realize he’d actually become quite fond of not one, but several ladies on campus. It’s true. The cafeteria staff has stolen my son’s heart. It’s difficult for me…
Read MoreA Father and a (Southern) Gentleman
If your father is a gentleman, consider yourself blessed. And if he’s a Southern gentleman, you won the big prize. But more frequently, we’re seeing a new kind of Southern daddy. One who migrated here from parts unknown. I was introduced to a regular, run-of-the-mill gentleman when I was in my twenties and first…
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