Springtime in Elba, AL

Lady Banks rose 

Bridal wreath in back yard

Springtime means two things:  pretty flowers and lots of pollen in the air.

Music is good for the Soul

Southeastern Community Band (click to enlarge)

Last night we attended a free concert by the Southeastern Community Band, held at Elbe High School auditorium.  (This photo came from their website and is not the EHS auditorium stage.)

This 60 member band  is comprised  of musicians from all over the Southeast and is conducted by Dr.Johnny Long, Troy Univ. Band Director Emeritus. Their repertoire features marches, Broadway show tunes, jazz and classical music. 

 The concert was  FREE and under the direction of Dr. Johnny Long.   Music performed included: Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever


What a great evening and great music.  We especially enjoyed the 1812 Overture and they preformed it exceptionally well.  The drum wasn't quite as loud as cannons that they usually shoot off when the music is played at outdoor concerts.


We were disappointed that not many people showed up to hear the band.  Many of them traveled a long distance to get to Elba to play.  


Elba's own Tom Maddox, retired band director of Elba Elem. school, directed the band in two numbers, and did a fantastic job.   Shawn Hammond, Elba High School band director, also conducted one of the marches.

Super Moon

Extreme Super Moon March 19 Expect Earthquakes, High Tides, Extreme Weather  


Today is March 18.  The moon is unusually large and bright tonight. The first photo was taken at 7 p.m. CST, as the moon was rising.  It was very big and bright.  Click photo to enlarge.


The photo below was taken 30 minutes later from the same place in our front yard.  

It will be interesting to see what unusual weather patterns we have on

March 19.  Nothing unusual predicted for our area.  It was in the 80s today.

From the news today:  "This Super Moon will occur on March 19 when it is in its closest position to the earth this year. This one happens to be a full Moon, so it is time to prepare now. Full Moons in general can cause havoc, and this one for sure will not go unnoticed by anyone.

Get ready for what could be moderate to severe weather patterns, increased seismic activity, tsunamis and more volcanic eruptions than normal. This phenomenon includes the days leading up to March 19 and the days after until around March 22nd."

Seems we've already had lots of unusual weather in March, especially in New Zealand and Japan.

We'll just sit back and see what takes place around the world tomorrow as the moon is close to the earth.  Maybe we can see "the man on the moon".

On Receiving a Standing Ovation

Blue Bear wins state and regional honors

A couple of months ago I had a telephone call from the AL DAR Chairman of the American Heritage Committee, asking if I would be a speaker on the program at the state conference at Auburn in March.  She wanted me to share photos of my bear I made from an old baby quilt.  I entered the bear under the Fiber Arts category, and won first place in the state contest, and then 1st place in the Southeastern Region.  My friend Elsie also won 1st place at the national level for her china painting entry.  We both spoke at the American Heritage  breakfast program, along with 2 other winners.

Neither of us prepared any notes; just spoke about our project, why we select those particular items and how we felt they tied in to the topic for entries.  We were so relaxed, standing in front of all those DAR ladies that morning.  Elsie went first.  She talked about her hobby and her interest in herbs, which she paints on her china items.  When she finished, the ladies all stood and gave her a big round of applause.  We both were so surprised to think they really thought we were so good!!

Next it was my time to speak.  I walked up to the microphone at the front of the room and told the story of the baby quilt I used to cut the pattern for "Blue Bear".  I had photos of the bear and remnants of the quilt, plus a photo of Caroline holding the bear when I gave it to her for her 15th birthday last September.


 I also had a photo of our 3 boys sitting on the quilt when Bill was only 6 weeks old, the father of Caroline.  It wasn't just a bear I made that made my entry so interesting; it was the history behind it. The quilt was made for my cousin's little
 boy  in 1942 (he was a "blue baby" and only lived one month; that's how Blue Bear got his name).  Then my aunt used the quilt for her 2 boys, later giving it to me for our 3 boys.It kept passing along to others in my family and used by a total of 10 children before it finally wore out. My sister returned the ragged quilt to me to dispose of it.  I kept it for awhile and one day decided to make the bear for Caroline.  I had previously made bears from old worn out quilts for the other 4 granddaughters when they turned 18.  Caroline asked me one day if she would get a bear when she turns 18.  I decided to go ahead and make hers while I could still see how to sew!!  
   Click photos to enlarge.

At the meeting, I displayed a bear I had made earlier for a friend, using an old family quilt, so they could visualize the size and shape of "Blue Bear".  I also made a bear of dark brown cotton print and gave it to our State Regent at the end of the program.  When I finished talking and started back to my seat, everybody stood again and there was a loud round of applause.   I was so surprised. I had never had a "standing ovation" before.  I thought what I had done was so simple, and that anybody could enter if they would just try.  You just have to use your imagination to come up with something that fits in the theme of the contest.

I won the  fiber arts contest at the state level a couple of years ago with an oval  rag rug I made from some old, worn bed sheets.  I created a design in the rug by using different shades of green and white.   My entry was designed to talk about how our ancestors made rugs from worn clothing.  Preserving the past was a theme that year.

Pass the syrup at Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) supper

Al Smith at the pancake

Jim Gilmer on the right

Ah, pancakes with butter and syrup for dinner tonight at Elba United Methodist Church where we had have a Fat Tuesday dinner.

Mardi Gras Celebrations include lots of feasting, partying and parading on the big day just before Ash Wednesday - when the Church rules of fasting and sacrifice take effect in preparation for a joyous Easter.

Fred Smith cooking pancakes

 I have been trying to decide what to give up for lent (that I can leave off for 46 days!).   I am thinking I will not eat any slices of bread (does not include pancakes and crackers).  This will be difficult since I love sandwiches. Especially Subway sandwiches and banana or pineapple sandwiches.  All this begins TOMORROW, March 9th, which is Ash Wednesday.

G.R.I.T.S. (Girls raised in the south)

I am proud to be from the South-
Where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter;
Summer starts in April; 
Front porches are wide and words are long;
Macaroni and cheese is a vegetable; 
Pecan pie is a staple;
Y’all is the only proper pronoun;
Chicken is fried and biscuits come w/ gravy;
Everything is darling 
And someone is always getting their heart blessed. 
Have a good day y'all!


(I received this in an email from a friend today)




We have tickets to go to the G.R.I.T.S. musical on March 17 as part of the Coffee Co. Arts Alliance.


I saw this group several years ago and they were so funny.  Hope I'm not disappointed this time around.

Visiting Mama and Papa Smith when they lived in a log house

L-R: Alice, Perry, Billy, Judy
Back row: Christine, Nell, Inez Rowell and Sue

Mama and Papa Smith moved often when I was growing up.  This log house belonged to Willie Spurlin and he rented it to them.

I remember helping them move to this house from a place they were renting in Liberty community.  It was in the summertime and so hot. I was not yet 14 and would be entering the 9th grade that fall. Our neighbor, Sara Foley, used her husband's truck and she and I helped Papa Smith load all their furniture and move it to this house.  It took several loads.  We helped him set up a bed and get the lamps filled with kerosene. There was no electricity or water in this house when they moved there.  It was so dark and spooky inside. The walls were made of cedar and smelled so good.

I think the occasion was getting together for Sunday dinner because Aunt Faye and Uncle Marty had come for a visit from Washington, DC.  Aunt Ida and Uncle Tommy were there from Brewton.  I can see their daughter Susan on the porch in the background, with Papa Smith (with his hat on). Perry had his cousin Billy Cannon with him and Sue had her neighbor and friend, Inez Rowell with her.  Alice was not quite 2 and Carolyn wasn't born until 2 years later.

Mama Smith with Alice and cousin Susan Liles

Mama Smith was 62 years old in this photo.  I thought she was really old.  She had arthritis really bad and couldn't use her hands to do very much.  I remember she had to wear felt house shoes because her toes were so arthritic.  Papa Smith did much of the housework and cooking.  He was 70 when they moved to the log house.  He died 6 years later. Mama Smith lived to be 90 years old.

I don't remember how long they lived in this house before they moved back to Elba.  Papa Smith didn't have a car so I guess they were too far removed from everything and they must have decided it was too isolated for them.   I didn't like to go there.  Lots of wild animals roaming around, especially at night.

Years later the house burned and our friends Patsy and Foster Bane bought the land and have a nice home there today.  The road is now paved and called Airport Road.  I sometimes take the road to get to Curtis or to go to Opp, and as I pass by where their home was located, I remember the times I visited them there.