Table Talks

While Daddy and Mama were in Williamsburg this past June for their 26 anniversary, they visited the Williamsburg taverns~They were talking about how our founding fathers would gather there and just talk, and discuss things together, in manly conversation. So, Daddy got a vision for a time that the men in our area could gather together in an undistracted, relaxed setting and fellowship, eat, talk, laugh and discuss things as men of God.

So...on the 10 of this month, God allowed us to host this "tavern table talk" in our home~We moved furniture around, brought in tables, and made a restaurant style setting for the men to enjoy supper at. After the meal was eaten and the dishes cleared away, they moved into the living room, or stayed at their tables and talked, shared and learned together, the last man pulling out of the driveway around 1:40 leaving the Calathora men very blessed, uplifted, inspired, and looking forward to the next table talk. Our wonderful host...Ready and waiting...Some of the things we served that night were the same things that were served to the founding fathers in the Williamsburg taverns 250 years ago."As iron sharpen iron, so one man sharpens another"Michael Jr...Listening....Talking...Thinking...

Praise God for our brothers in Christ.

Tomatoes

Below are a few 'artsy' pictures of some of the tomatoes Daddy grew in the garden, ripening out on the back porch. He is such a good gardener!! They are so pretty there, all lined up, one after the other. Looks so "oldie". ;) Most of them are pretty and red now, and we're enjoying them immensely!!! Ah...sliced raw, with just a pinch of salt...
Glorious.

Woman in the Military

"Persuading thousands of young mothers to go out to work and to abandon the care of their children to others is one of the most disastrous things at the present time. What is it going to profit the nation if we gain the dollors-or even the whole world-but lose the souls of our children? Now that the State is lifting so much responsibility from the parents, the bond of love between parents and their children is in danger of being loosened. It is when the mothers of the nation begin to fail in their duty to their children that religion disappears, moral standards fail, and the nation begins to go down."
~Enid Blyton, discussing woman in the military during WWII

Of Amanda and Blueberries...

Blueberries...fat little raindrops in dusky blue skins, bending down the delicate, dew soaked branches with their flavorfull goodness...just waiting for someone to come along and drop them into a big basket... And, this lovely July morning, it looks as if that is what that foursome of girls traipsing down the dirt lane at this very moment are going to do, for they have large baskets on their arms, among other things, and are all laughing heartily over something I can't quite make out...they look like they are having a fine time of it, too, except they are missing the oldest sister terribly. They, the three who live at the place in which the aformentioned berries are growing wild in the wood, have had for the past evening and this whole day to spend with their dear friend and companion, Amanda. The other three in our story are Dorothy, Adeline, and Martha, who are obviously quite happy to have finally persuaded their friend to come for a visit and breakfast in the woods together on a little blanket. Indeed, I do think that is what all of those extra packages are for...As they walk closer, I can make out more of what everyone and everything is. They all have on big practical straws, and are all kicking up the dew in almost the same manner. I can hear more of what they say....That tall one is saying how she"Wonders if we can find that especially good bush, you know, sister, that the large ones grow on?"

To which the odd looking one in a striped frock replies that she "was sure it was right near our breakfasting spot" and that she "does hope that they aren't all dried to smitherines." However, directly after having said the previous, she barly kept all her bundles by nearly falling pell mell over a stump. The dimpled girl in the yellow blouse and that pretty thing in a blue skirt and the tall one all erupted into laughter, and the concern over dried berries was forgotton... When the girls arrived at the desired location, they set up their picnic, poured coffee, and ate their French toast, lost the syrup cap, and talked about all sorts of things The breakfast being wrapped up after a time because of uninvited ant guests, they began to fill their berry baskets...

If you were to stand just on the outskirts of the woods after they had finished their meal, you would have heard four hearty voices singing at the top of their lungs every good song you could think of, and then even some you could not. One, if you listen closely, is well trained, while another one {I can only assume the one who nearly tripped over that stump} is slightly off key in a brave attempt to harmonize, while the other two are quite nice sopranos...They sang for hours and hours, talked for some time, and sometimes they were quiet, picking all the while. When they had filled their baskets, they went home and hemmed dresses and hand quilted while they watch a moving picture show called Cranford, and drank ginger ale with ice. Oh, and that odd one did spill half her berries in the wood, and the pretty one really did have to drag the ant-covered picnic blanket home by the very corner, and the dimpled one finally found the breakfast syrup lid in the bushes. And yes, the tall one did find her large bearing bush. And, no, they were not all dry. The berries, I mean. They were plump, and sweet and beautiful... fat little raindrops in dusky blue skins...

Come again soon, dear. The girls had a precious time...

Tennessee Family Reunion

Hello, Y'all!!
This past July we had the great joy of going to a big family reunion {on Daddy's side} up in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee!! We just had a wonderful time, and many precious memories were made...Hope you enjoy the pictures!
~Adeline
I love this view...Thank you Daddy for driving for everybody! Quiet thoughts...
On the way to our cabin, we stopped by Mr. John Sevier's, the first Governor of Tennessee, home and grounds~It was quite an interesting place, and the cabins were so cute! I belive they said that Mr. Seviers often had Davy Crockett over for dinner! Wow...
The sweet lady at the gift shop played a little penny whistle for us~it added an authentic feel to the place...
Cabin #1Cabin #2As soon as you walk in the door, you get a nifty look at a very creative and frugal use of hooves...Old tools...I thought the stone fireplace was so pretty...The lady at the store also showed us her hatchet throwing prowess, which was actually really amazing...All right after the other...Simple newel posts...The most picturesque little bridge ever! When I went over to take a picture of this lovely flower, {hollyhock?} this fat bumble bee flew right up as soon as I zoomed in...Nice touch...One wonders how many balls of dough were rolled out and by whom...Drying herbs..."Hang them for treason!!"

For lunch in Knoxville Daddy took us all to olive garden!! I do believe that is now a general favorite...Thanks so much Daddy!One of the most bizarre things I've ever seen~unbelievable!!We're here!!! Ahh...That little speck of a cabin right between the pines, across the Vally, is where most of our extended family stayed~it was nice to be so close.What happens on a windy mountain road.... ;) We each "grab a sister on your left" and hang on! Well, anyway, it makes us feel safer... One we arrived at our lovely cabin {which I should have gotten a picture of~just forgot to, sorry.} we unloaded our colossal amount of luggage and settled in, and then Daddy, Mama and Dorothy headed off to the local "Wally World" for some sustenance...the little boys thoroughly enjoyed the hot tub while we waited for Alan,Katie, Michael, Kressant, Cleveland, Andrew, who had to stay back for a day to finish a job up, and Wesley and Rachel, and all the precious babies to arrive!!

"Quick, take it, 'Aline, ith's in my eyes!!!" LOL...