Sep 29, 2011

Chuck's Spaghetti Sauce


"Pap" Sarrio
  
In 1972 when I met this man and his family I quickly learned one thing. I had better love tomatoes. Oh, not the way we southern girls love them, sliced, on a sandwich, on top of rice, or fried. I had better love them with tons of garlic, oregano, basil, and preferably in a sauce.  These sauces covered every imaginable kind of pasta and pizza.

Chuck from a very young age lived in Pennsylvania.  His Great Grandfather came to the U.S., Ellis Island to be exact. Chuck called him Pap.  He spoke very little English I am told. Chuck says he never spoke English to him, but they did communicate. I think he must have been quite the character from what I have been told.  I really would have loved to meet him.

Sep 23, 2011

Sep 21, 2011

We Did It!




Catie has decided that she needs a dog.  Her choice is going to be a dachshund. We have a few little dilemmas. I own Chewy you know the Great Pyrenees and all dogs must be kept outside, because of allergies.  Well anyway here are some pictures of the little fellow.

Sep 20, 2011

My Story: Little Martha Richburg Dimery

I find that in talking with someone you learn the most interesting things. People walk around in their daily lives, most with smile on their face and you never know what their lives have been like.
Everyone does indeed have a story to tell. Most of us have lots of stories to tell. I find it amazing to see how people react to their circumstances. Most do so with such grace and wisdom.
This story is told by one of our Spotlight individuals "Banjo Martha Richburg Dimery"
Thanks for sharing with us.


In 1948, at the age of 5, I was stricken with poliomyelitis..a virus that affects the nervous system and the spinal cord.  . Dr. Hart had just joined Dr.Julian Price's practice and he was summoned to Kershaw St., T'ville,S. C., to a little girl ..Martha Ann Richburg who was suspected to have polio..On a soft feather bed,  lay a scared 5 year old girl waiting to have fluid drawn from her spine...She cried and  could not be still during the procedure...but Dr. Hart prevailed and  removed the fluid that he needed....


After 3 months in the Columbia Hospital, I was fitted with a brace and crutches and was able to start the first grade on time...Mama was so worried....She didn't know how I would get to school, but God intervened and put it up on the heart of Jack “Smack” Fryer to stop and pick me up on his way to  high school.  I will always love “Smack” for helping me. 


My brother, Tommy, was one year older than me and he died with polio the year before I was stricken.....Mama had such a great loss that she never got over it. In later years.I was priviledged to bake cakes for Dr. Hart..after his retirement and he really seemed to appreciate them..He was a wonderful doctor and friend and all through his career and he would mention the little girl from T'ville...one of his first polio patients....Here are two thank you notes that he sent to me:


Martha's New Blog!

Sep 18, 2011

Vacation 2011

photo property of Hibiscus House

A picture is worth a thousand words.
Sometimes if you stop long enough to see the beauty.
God has given us such an amazingly beautiful place to live, and enjoy if we only take the time. 


photo property of Hibiscus House

Psalms 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."


Until next time,




All photos are property of Hibiscus House

Sep 16, 2011

Spotlight: Debbie Hayes


Debbie, thank you so much for sharing this very endearing story with us. Your love of family really shows. Frankly your loving nature shows with everyone.

Now in her own words:




Farewell to Summer
Another summer has come to an end...or at least by the calendar. The beginning of school and the time for harvest takes me back to my grandmother, Bonnie. Bonnie lived in Florence most of her life. She loved old-timey things. I learned so much from my dear sweet grandmother.

I remember coming home from school to find bushel baskets full of all sorts of vegetables or fruits that needed tending. We would sit and shell beans and peas for hours. As a child, I thought of this as drudgery. For what seemed like forever, we would tackle bottomless baskets. I never dared to complain, for somehow, that just would not have been right. I learned so much from her and about her during these endless sessions of “putting things up.”
Grandma would talk about how things used to be. How they would work the fields of her family’s farm planting crops for feeding their large family. There were no stores nearby to go grocery shopping. All foods had to be put up for the future. There would be many hungry mouths to feed all winter.
Grandma loved her mother, who would be taken away from her way too soon. She would tell me many stories of how beautiful her mother was, and how she worked so hard to provide for her family. I had visions of her beauty and kindness. It wasn’t until years later that I was able to obtain a picture of lovely Beulah. All family pictures had been lost in an unfortunate fire. Yes she was beautiful, and I am sure she would have been proud of her daughter Bonnie. I know I always will be.
I am sure that the countless methods for canning, preserving, and other handy skills taught to me by grandma were also taught to her by her mother. I would give most anything to come home to her and bushel baskets of produce now!

So as I spend time with my grand-daughters, teaching the same things, even though there are stores in abundance, I hope that they realize that it isn’t about putting up the vegetables and fruits, but more about the wonderful times and stories that will last a lifetime. Farewell Summer!


Webby Debby
Making It Grow
www.mig.org

For those of you who do not know,  Debbie is a Master Gardener and has been on SCETV' S  Making It 'Grow for twelve years. I might add that she is a pretty spectacular person as well.

  
Until next time,






HOUSE AND GARDENS