THANKSGIVING

Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice, 

An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice; 

An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that they 

Are growin’ more beautiful day after day; 

Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men, 

Buildin’ the old family circle again; 

Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer, 

Just for awhile at the end of the year. 

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door 

And under the old roof we gather once more 

Just as we did when the youngsters were small; 

Mother’s a little bit grayer, that’s all. 

Father’s a little bit older, but still 

Ready to romp an’ to laugh with a will. 

Here we are back at the table again 

Tellin’ our stories as women an’ men. 

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer; 

Oh, but we’re grateful an’ glad to be there. 

Home from the east land an’ home from the west, 

Home with the folks that are dearest an’ best. 

Out of the sham of the cities afar 

We’ve come for a time to be just what we are. 

Here we can talk of ourselves an’ be frank, 

Forgettin’ position an’ station an’ rank. 

Give me the end of the year an’ its fun 

When most of the plannin’ an’ toilin’ is done; 

Bring all the wanderers home to the nest, 

Let me sit down with the ones I love best, 

Hear the old voices still ringin’ with song, 

See the old faces unblemished by wrong, 

See the old table with all of its chairs 

An’ I’ll put soul in my Thanksgivin’ prayers.

by Edgar Guest (1881-1959)

"the poet of the people"

Resurrection Pines

upon the burial of W.D. Jordan

beloved grandfather

The wind in the pines

begins a whisper,

a hushed refrain, the murmuring hymn

of an age-old tune -

Creation's song with muted words

proclaims;

from dawn of time to dusk,

from rising and the setting sun,

familiar chorus echoes through

the trees:

life waits to be made new,

renewed,

yearning, striving, aching, pining;

Already-not yet, whole.

Anticipating greater winds,

the movement grows,

as breezes blow,

bending stubborn branches,

unveiling whence the true Light

shines.

Inspiring, showing, glowing,

brushing back the dark, and 

Drawing brightened gazes higher,

Lifting up, still lifted to the

clear and open skies, arise -

Soon no more tears, nor sighs.

Until with shout triumphant,

blasts the heavenly gate

of unearthly choirs,

fills the reborn firmament,

bends the hearts, the heads, the knees

of men.

And raises up the dead in Him

alive with life unending,

Life!

No longer bent and broken,

rushed, pushed, prodded,

tossed, twisted, turn, then -

in a moment changed.

The wind in the pines

reminds

of Resurrection coming.

Margaret Jago McCarthy

Link to story about crosses and pine trees (esp loblolly & longleaf )

Eggs

 Top ten ways I like to eat eggs ~

1)  Benedict-style - pictured is Sunday's deliciousness but you can't see the crab cake

2)  Scrambled with cheese

3)  Hard-boiled with lemon pepper

4)  Poached 

5)  Quiche

6)  Shakshuka

7)  Omelette-style

8)  Deviled

9)  French Toast

10)Lemon-cheese Cake

Recipes to follow ~

Family is Forever

 Photo take 23 March 2019 on back deck of our parents' home on Kingsland Ct Atlanta GA

at weekend gathering

L - R; Grey, Noel, Dana, Amanda

Here's a favorite quote from the Downton Abbey television series in which Lady Edith explains to her older sister Lady Mary why she continues to engage.  

“Because in the end, you’re my sister. And one day only we will remember Sybil...Until at last our shared memories will mean more than our mutual dislike.”

Siblings

Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply ~

Jane Austen, Mansfield Park