Summer in the City

One of my all time favorite songs is the one about "Summer in the City". I love that song. Of course, the Hot time in the song is probably about going out on the town. However, the hot time in my mind is the HEAT and the humidity of Savannah G-A!!  haha
I made it to the beach during the first week of summer vacation! Yeah!! I hope to get there more this summer than I have in recent years. I do not go in swimming, but I do enjoy just sitting on the beach watching the hours go away. haha Time passes pretty quickly out there, too. We have to pay those pesky parking meters, so we must keep track of our time. Now, I'm out of date. We don't pay parking meters anymore, we "pay to park" at the little machine that takes...get ready for it...DEBIT CARDS!!  My, oh, my, what in the world is going on here!? haha
 I was very pleasantly surprised to find that there were new plastic 'runners' going from the little bridges to the beach. The new walking bridges make it much easier to get from the car to the beach. We used to have to trudge through all of the deep, soft, HOT sand to get to the water. Tybee has built little 'ramp bridges' for us, and this year there are even little hard runners from the bridge to the first part of the beach. The sea oats are still thriving. I'm glad they haven't disappeared. Through the years, there has been a lot of drudging up of sand from out in the ocean that has been brought up to the actual beach. The project was to help the beach from eroding. What it did was to take away all of the shark teeth that we used to find all over the place! Oh well, the beaches are much nicer and not as muddy and dirty. Yes, I said muddy. The river water going into the ocean causes some of the 'muddiness'. Anyway, we had a grand time. Little Dora loved the water. She especially like the sand. She was digging in it, eating it, and putting it in her hair!!  She was fun to watch. Of course, I took tons of pictures.
So, summer is here and that means that I am being rather lazy right now and enjoying not having to get up and go anywhere. I have begun a strange tradition, though, of getting up early every day. I used to love to sleep late, but in my old age I have become an early riser. Also, I have bad dreams in the morning, and that prompts me to get up!  Crazy, I know.
I hope to take a few short little trips this summer to visit. My mamma, granna, grandma, daddy, aunt, and all of my older relatives always went visiting. People nowadays do not visit much, and that is a shame.
Well, I will get off of here and make some sweet tea. Yes, that is another southern tradition. Sweet tea! These days, though, I make DECAF sweet tea, so that I don't stay awake all night. Another sign of old age, DECAF!! hahahaha
Have a great summer's day!!

Almost Summer

I am getting excited about the fact that summer is almost here! School is winding down for the year, and I am grateful for that. Hopefully, this summer will be uneventful and relaxing. It will be the first summer in a very long time that I will not have to worry about studying or anything tense like that. Maybe, I will get to the beach a lot! I hope so, anyway. The beach has eluded me for the last few years. Although I do not go in swimming much, I do enjoy being out and about on the beach. After being stung pretty badly by a jellyfish about ten years ago, I do not exactly run and jump into the water as I once did. I do not exactly want to go 'tanning' either, but I do enjoy just sitting there on the beach, relaxing, with the world and it troubles all gone for a day.
I finally ordered my doctoral robe, tam, hood, etc. Many times before, I have gone online and clicked on all of the things to order, but I never finished it and hit submit. Now, I will expect my regalia in about one month, and that is an exciting thing for me! Attendance at graduation may not come to fruition, but I will have my doctoral regalia to wear, and that is important to me.
My dissertation is now published and copyrighted through ProQuest Publications. I ordered it in book form, and the book is really nice. I could have had it placed on Amazon for people to buy, but I decided not to do that. While doing my research, I was able to find many dissertations and other articles to use without paying for them. So, I want others to be able to use my research for their dissertations without paying for it. If I ever decide to do further research on my topic and publish it, then Amazon can sell my work! HA!!
I am optimistic about this coming summer, and I hope to have a great time doing nothing, maybe a little cleaning up around here, going to the beach, and maybe taking a short trip or two to nearby locations.
Have a great weekend!
 

Meanderings

Why do some people have to be so ugly to other people? Why do some people think they can just run all over other people? I have no clue as to why there are such mean people in the world. I was raised in such a warm and loving environment that it is beyond my comprehension to understand people who are so self absorbed, only care about what is good for them, and just plain mean. Can you say, passive aggressive? Those who make snide, ugly remarks just waiting to get a 'rise' out of someone are just pitiful. Why are people so dad blamed ugly?  I was raised by some very selfLESS people who would bend over backwards to do anything they could for me, or you, or anyone else on this earth. Our family has always had the God given spiritual gifts of giving and serving. I am glad that we are bessed in that way, and I feel sorry for those who just think of themselves and what they can get out of life only for them. Life is too bad, too sad, for them, because they are sad, ugly, mean spirited, spiritless, lonely people.
 

A Saturday Afternoon

I had a nice Saturday. First, I got up rather early...crazy for a Saturday.
Then, I decided to go visit my brand new grandniece. Yes, I am now a Great Aunt. That title makes me feel old. Being a grandma doesn't make me feel old, but being a Great Aunt does! haha
I visited for a while, and then came home. My friend had called me earlier in the day, and she wanted to take me out for my graduation. First, we went to "the big park", which is what our family has always called Forsyth Park, which is downtown. Savannah College of Art and Design had their yearly Sidewalk Chalk Art competition yesterday. Cathy is a graduate of "SCAD", and she had her work displayed one year. Cathy is a portrait artist, and she is really good, too. She said that she had drawn a picture of herself looking in the mirror at herself as she was creating the art. That sounds really interesting. She had a mirror on the sidewalk to look at herself as she drew. My brother has a sketch that she made of little Julia, and it is remarkable. The park was full of people, and the day was beautiful. Luckily, it didn't rain and wash away the art! Many times, the rain pours down on it. This year is the first time that I have seen the actual work before it faded, or washed, away, and I really enjoyed it. After seeing all of the art, we went to the Firefly Cafe for supper. I had never been there, but I have heard a lot about it. This cafe is downtown in a small basement type of setting. The food was terrific, and I had my first taste of cous cous! I had a delicious Southwestern Chicken and Cheese soup and a Pork Loin stuffed with goat cheese, walnuts, and basil, and some asparagus. Cathy had a delicious chicken dish, with cous cous and vegetables. YUM! Thanks, Cathy!! I had a terrific day, and I didn't even worry about all of my responsibilities at home. That, my dear friends, is an epic wonder!!
So, I am here today waiting for this afternoon when my roast will be finished and my gravy will be ready to put on the rice I will cook. I will also cook some of the fresh vegetables that Daddy bought yesterday. Let me tell you something. Daddy went out by himself yesterday in his truck on a trip to the base. He shouldn't have done that, but he did! At 91 years of age, he is determined to keep on keeping on! Although we discourage him from driving, he took off on his own yesterday without anyone knowing it. I was out visiting the grandniece, so I wasn't aware that he did that. Well, he came home safe and sound, so I guess it is okay...just this once! haha
I will go for now. I just wanted to write about my wonderful day that I had, thanks to my friend, Cathy!!

Have a great Sunday!

Rutabega Bug

I have gotten into the habit of cooking fresh vegetables lately. Daddy always buys them: squash, zucchini, onions, potatoes, and whatever is fresh. Anyway, my mamma always loved rutabegas. I ate some one time, and I kind of liked them. I never tried cooking one, though, until last week. Boy, those things are hard to cut!! They are so hard, almost like a rock...Anyway, I cooked my first one, and it was mighty tasty. I invited my cousin, Mina over for Sunday dinner, because she loves rutabegas, too! My son, Adam, decided that he likes them now. Daddy likes them, too, so I bought another one the other day. The sun was shining so nicely this afternoon, that I took my "bigger" rutabega outside, sat in a chair, and started peeling and cutting. It took me a while, because it is so 'hard' (like I already said), but it smells pretty good right now! Well, good isn't exactly the right term. Rutabegas do not smell 'good', or sweet, or anything like that, but they do have an enticing aroma. So, my chicken is baked, the fresh corn on the cob is almost done, and my fresh-right out of the garden-cabbage is just about ready. Rachel's mother in law gave me fresh lettuce and a fresh head of cabbage that a friend of hers had given her, fresh from the garden, so I've been eating lettuce for lunch, and I'm having cabbage for supper!
The days are getting to be very nice lately, and I just do not like to be stuck inside. My new school is all in one building, and I do not get outside any during the day. When I get home, I go straight to the kitchen to cook, so I don't get outside in the afternoon, either. I do not like that, Sam I Am!! So, I decided to sit ouside and "peel and cut" today.  I have been remembering that we all used to sit out on the front porch a lot. I see people on their front porches downtown and different places. I suppose we sat on the porch in order to be outside. I remember snapping beans on the porch and things like that. I still see older people or people who have no means of transportation sitting on their porches. Back in the day, if you pardon that much used expression, people didn't run the the mall every second or to the store or wherever, they stayed home and had family time. Much of family time was preparing dinner, 'snapping beans', or doing simple things like that around the house! I miss those simple days very much! 
So, my new way to be outside will be to go into my backyard and sit for a while. I wish I had a swing to sit in, like we used to have on our front porch. That would just make my day! Maybe I can get one and find a frame to put in on. I bought a swing once to put on my glassed in porch, but the swing was too big. I think that my next purchase will be a swing. There, I said it, so now I need to make sure that I get it done!  I love being outside. Now that I am not studying anymore, I am going to spend a lot more time just sitting outside and enjoying the simple time of just...sitting outside!!
Have a great day!!

A Parade, Spring Break, and Stuff

I went to the St. Patrick's Day parade last month, which is something that I haven't done in a couple of years. I only went this time, because my little granddaughter was going to be there. I had to park one mile away and walk to our 'spot'. Yes, one mile. I found out that the parking lot at my school was empty, so I parked there. Now mind you...this location is not the safest in town, but I am there every day and do not even realize that it is a not so safe place. Anyway, I was by myself and walked down the main streets to the parade. Many people were walking miles to get there, so I was just one of the crowd, really.  After waiting for the parade to get to us and seeing only a few entries, Rachel and Don decided to leave early. So, I hitched a ride with them back to my car and came on home. March 17th was the day that I was supposed to be in Long Beach, California graduating with my Ph.D., but I was in Savannah! There is another graduation in Minneapolis on August 10th, so maybe I will be able to attend that one. I received my official transcript in the mail, opened it, and read: Degree Confirmed - Doctor of Philosophy: Area of Concentration: Curriculum and Instruction: Grade Point Average: 4.0~~!! Whoopie!! That average honors me with graduating with Distinction! I am very proud of myself. The road to this degree was long, but I enjoyed it. There were many obstacles along the way in my personal life, but the work and study kept my mind busy and diverted from the various crises that were going on in my life.
My diploma has come, also, since I started writing this entry. Yippee!!
Now, I await my my 'cap' and gown. I will really receive a little 'tam' like hat, rather than a cap. I am happy to finally get a robe with the stripes on the sleeves!! I am not bragging. I am just very excited and very, very happy to have finally achieved this goal that I had set for myself my entire life. This year will be my 40th year being out of high school, so it took me quite a while to finish my education!! HAHA!! 1973 - 2013, Whew!!

I planted flowers this year!! I love to plant flowers, but I have not had the time to do it in recent years. I have lots of pansies and violets, and they are very pretty. I LOVE THEM!! I got all sorts of colors, too. I went to the dollar store one day and found some cute little pinwheels, so I put them in the garden and on the walkway to the house. They blow furiously in the wind!
I started writing this entry on March 18th. Today is April 6th!! Am I behind a little bit, do you think?

 

Easter Sunday with Dora!!

 I had to add this one of Dora playing with the pots!  All childrens' favorite playground!

Spring Break has come and gone. We go back to work tomorrow.
We took Dora to the Jacksonville Zoo Wednesday. She enjoyed it pretty much. This picture was taken on the train ride, and she enjoyed looking out of the 'window'.

 

On the way out of the zoo, she started walking. She was laughing the whole way!!



Spring break 2013 was one of a kind. We go back to school/work tomorrow. Have a great day!

Dora Is ONE!!

Dora Morel Watford turned one year old on February 27th!! There has been so much going on around here, that I haven't had time to post anything. Rachel and Don had a party planned for the 23rd, but they postponed it. They are going to reschedule it, I hope, and all of their friends will be there.
So, they had an impromptu spaghetti supper/party on her birthday!

Ballons on the light

 I gave Dora a set of Mega Blocks, and she loved them! She is saying, "Here, take this. Uh, oh, I tricked you!" She hands you one, and then she pulls her hand back really quick. She is a stinker!

 I know if I reach my hand in there just far enough, I can grab a bunch of blocks!

 Isn't she a cutie pie!~

 Uh, oh, I got CAUGHT!!  haha

 Rachel had little pinwheels and tissue paper in the glass vases.

 Dora finally got the hang of grabbing the icing and eating it! Notice that the dress is now on the chair. We didn't want spaghetti sauce all over her birthday dress!!

 She LOVES spaghetti!

 I made the cake for Dora. Rachel saw one on pinterest with white icing and colorful sprinkles up the side. I attempted to make one. It is heart shaped. The writing says, "Dora is 1!"
I will make a bigger cake for the 'big' party.

 Look at little Miss Priss posing for the camera!

 Dora's cake with her candles!

We had a terrific time with Dora on her first birthday. She is the greatest little girl in the whole, wide world!! Of course, I am not partial at all!!