Tag Archives: traditions

Everything Else, Southern Hospitality

Funeral Food

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The hours after Adam’s Granny’s funeral were filled with fellowship and laughter, play and stories.  She would have loved seeing all 14 of the great-grands out on the gym floor chasing balls and each other.  She would have laughed with her grandchildren as all 6 of the cousins shared stories of raising their children, reminding them how each acted the same way.  She would have been proud to know that the ladies of her church blessed us with such hospitality.

What is it that makes the meal after a funeral so delicious anyway?  While I’m certain the ladies at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church are wonderful cooks, I have a feeling that their fried chicken had a few special ingredients.  Love and Prayer.  The ladies set out a simple meal with pasta salad, mac and cheese, black eyed peas, and fried chicken that filled our extended family with much more than just nourishment.

Thank you ladies of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Sardis, Arkansas for blessing us with a wonderful meal and a time to relax and visit, remembering Granny just a bit longer.

Everything Else

Finding the Perfect Sibling Outfits

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Why do Moms love to dress their children alike?  Who knows, but obviously, this is not a new phenomenon.  My Momma dressed us alike on occasion.  With the spring here, and then summertime beach pictures, I know many families are planning sibling outfits.

Sibling Outfits in gingham

Shopping for girls is fairly easy.  Shopping for little boys is easy too, if you know the right shop!  Finding sibling outfits is a little trickier when you have girls and boys.  Finding a custom shop helps. 

But, what do you do when your children range from newborn to 12???

Here’s an idea.  Work for coordinating outfits instead.  Put the baby in a seersucker jumper.  Match big brother’s shirt to the jumper applique and add a seersucker touch.  Finish off the set with a seersucker flower headband for big sister to wear with a white shirt and khaki shorts.

Another idea:  Put the baby in a fun print.  Find big brother a polo one of the colors from the baby’s dress.  Big sister can add color with a bright scarf over her favorite white tee.

Etsy is an excellent source for coordinating accessories.  Here are few of my favorites from EtsyKids Team members:

$7.50

$7.50

$27.00

$15.00

$11.00

$39.30

$12.99

$14.00

$20.00

$12.00

$30.00

$12.00

$6.50

$18.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Work with your seamstress to develop the perfect color scheme for your growing family’s portraits!

*updated 4/24/12 to included more etsy finds!

Everything Else

Introductions in the South

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**Apologies to my Daddy in advance!***

My Daddy, the kids and I went to a swim meet this weekend in Baton Rouge.  We sat with other families from our team, but Daddy hadn’t met most of them.  Of course, I introduced him to the other parents following the rules in this fabulous book.  Our conversations went something like this :

Me:  Daddy, this is AH’s husband CM.  CM, this is my Daddy SR.

Daddy:  Oh, so you’re H’s son-in-law.

 

Me: Daddy, this is  KK.  KK, this is my Daddy SR.

Daddy:  How’s your Dad?  I haven’t seen him since last week.

 

Me:  Daddy, this is LD.  LD, this is my Daddy SR.

Daddy:  How’s your father-in-law?

 

Me:  Daddy, this is AC.  AC, this is my Daddy SR.

Daddy:  And who are your people?  (SERIOUSLY!?!?!)

AC:  Um…you probably don’t know them.  They are from Tennessee.

Daddy:  Oh, so I might have met them in a Cracker Barrel.

 

Yes, in the South, we do introduce our elders first.  And…apparently EVERYONE knows my Daddy.  :rolling eyes:

 

Everything Else, Good Food

Southern Traditions: Black-eyed Peas on New Years

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What’s the plan for your house this New Year’s Day?  Are you serving black-eyed peas, greens, and pork?

I think we’ll be doing a little of this:

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Since I’ll be in the city with some of the greatest food in the world, I know I’ll be able to find my New Year’s bowl of black-eyed peas, some greens, and some type of pork!

While these foods are stables in the South year ‘round, they hold a little extra significance on New Year’s Day.  Some say that black-eyed peas are eaten for luck, others for good fortune as the peas could symbolize coins.  The greens are a bringer of money (not wealth, just enough to do).  And pork, well who doesn’t want pork anytime of year!

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I’ve got a few heads of cabbage out in the garden and some black-eyed peas in the freezer (but originally from the farmer’s market).  I may have to make my own batch of New Year’s Day Goodness when I get home Sunday night.  If you’re looking for a fun way to prepare your black-eyed peas and cabbage, try this recipe from The Homesick Texan or this recipe from Southern Living?

As you prepare for the New Year, don’t forget our Mardi Gras season is almost here!  I’m can’t wait to make a King Cake!  Wonder how that’ll fit with my healthy eating goals for the New Year!

Monogrammed Mardi Gras Mask JumperThrow me something Mister tee shirt