Grape Love in a Jar...

It has been said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease...well in this case it is the JELLY...Grape Jelly right from Texas.   Made with love for sure!

It all started with one of my favoritest people saying she had sent her famous "Aunt Jimmie Miller's grape jelly" to the Crumrine's.    Well if you are wondering...these are off the branch of my Grandma Bessie...my mom's mom!     You see Reedie was Grandma Bessie's sister.   They looked a lot alike.   However, actions might have been a little different between the two sister's...but I loved them both dearly.    Reedie married one of the sweetest men you would want to meet...A Frank Miller...though sweet with just enough sass to make him that much more lovable.    Anyway...Frank and Reedie had a son and daughter.   It seems the seed might have split a little there...and the daughter...Kay Crumrine seemed to take all the sweet...and ole Everett Miller (Big E) might have taken a little extra of the sass...but he seemed to inherit that Miller trait of just enough SWEET!    And he married well...a beautiful Texas girl...Jimmie...

So I give you a little bit of the background...but I also share that Kay...who could be one of the most amazing saintly women I know...seemed to have to pay her dues or someone's dues...her dues being five "more than sassy" sons!   Two of which a pair of red headed twins...who did sort of instigate this whole cycle of events...to which I guess I owe them a Thank You as well...I tried to claim being a Crumrine...and was told perhaps I was the long lost triplet...though I am YOUNGER...just throwing that out there...and I am sure I must be Jimmie's FAVORITE!!!

And so I suffered and perhaps "whined" a little about their pictures of how they were eating their grape jelly...I promise I was doing it out of fun.   But in the spirit of a true southern belle...I opened up my mailbox from my day of work...and though it was a good day...even had some home grown beef and tomatoes...It got even better...There it was a cute little brown box that fit perfectly in my mailbox...

I seen the return address...and wondered...could it be.    However, I thought all of the jelly had gone to those Crumrine's!    But upon opening it up...the cutest two jars of  that explained from "my private stock of grape jam"...LOVE Jimmie...and my mouth began to water...and my heart just breathed it in.

So I tried to take a picture of them on my kitchen table...but didn't appreciate the light as much as on my front porch rocking chair...and what better connection than a front porch...

I remember many a warm summer days...on a front porch in Gridley, Kansas where my Grandma called home...even if only during a summertime visit...listening to laughter of these two branches of the tree...and now they have gone on ahead...but their "fruit" continues on...love between one branch to another.   As though a hug from heaven...showing up in two jelly jars...and for sure LOVE from Texas!  

So Jimmie (and Big "E" who helped)...who unselfishly shared from her private stock...boxed up some love and sent it my way!   And so I wait to finish this until samples were made...and yes it meets and exceeds the "hype".    And I think YES this is Miller Jam...you see it is sweet...with just enough "sass".   And though I did just have some wheat toast (not the homemade bread or biscuits that a couple of red heads spoke of)...but an AMAZING treat all the same...made with love indeed!

And this is a reminder of how special it is to have someone just let you know that they are thinking of you...that they love you!     Jimmie Miller...thanks for being the special amazing woman you are...and you too Ev...

I think of the last family reunion we went to...and Jimmie and Everett singing "FAMILY TRADITION" along with Bessie's bunch and though I have not spent a lot of time with them...there is a connection...a connection of love and family!  Though sometimes Facebook gets a bad wrap...it also helps keep us connected...and without it I probably wouldn't have known those Crumrine's were getting a jump on me!   AND I wouldn't have gotten to experience some delicious homemade jam!   Yes I must say...Life is good...

lyp

You know I've always loved you Shaner!! Happy 5-0

Today...my baby brother...turns the big 5-0...I always feel like he is gaining on me when we are in the same decade...though he always seems and looks so much younger!   Though he does tend to play and work hard...a combination I have seen another Lance do...that tends to rack up the miles on the old body!

I sit here thinking about him in between coughs and think just how blessed I am to have Shaner as my brother!   People talk of having sisters and how wonderful it is...of being brothers...but I would not trade my sibling for no other!!   

I have loved him his whole life...and though a mountain separates us most of the time...there is a thread tethered to our hearts...there is a Bob Seger song Beautiful Loser...when I hear it I always think of him.   No he is as far from a loser as you might get...but there is a line in the song..."He's your oldest and your best friend...if you need him he'll be there again...of course you realize...you just can't have it all..."     But you know I can't include it with out adding Traveling Man...Live Bullet...I remember listening to this at the lake with Kelly...and I think...and those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul...tell you that make me a wealthy soul!!!  (So you know Bob is getting up there and he just keeps on rockin!!!)  

There are people that are in different parts of your life...they know the you now...they know the you from when you were little...the you from when you were a teenager...but there are not many that have had so many of the life experiences that you have....though we might not remember them exactly the same...we were together through them...playing trucks...playing ball...just playing...riding bikes (with and without motors...with feet up and without feet up)....riding wheelies...at some times not appropriate times...I can still remember you on the back of your 550 as we popped it in the air and saying, "Pen, it really isn't made for wheelies!"     Of silly times...of sad times...of being the family to each other that family is supposed to be.   Sharing the love of a mom and dad who though not perfect...nor are we....loved us and didn't fail to let us know!

I talked to my brother this morning...we both not feeling well...me probably more whiney than he...me taking a sick day...he still working.  I talked to him of sickness...of funerals...and thought boy how is that for a HAPPY birthday call!!!   But even though we talked of such things...I think of how blessed I am to have a brother...who is just as Izzy described her playhouse...AMAZING!    Perhaps I am prejudice...but that is my right as the big sister...and I pity the fool who tells me otherwise.

There is a Keith Whitley and Earl Thomas Conley song that is called Brotherly Love...though it is about brothers...and actually through most of my childhood...I was probably more a brother type than a sister...well at times ;)   Except when I would make you dress up or some such thing...but I remember an old blue bike...I found the video and I thought of when I got married...a hard time being separated...though we spent many a weekend together...making more memories and more good times.   I know we aren't brothers but you are mine!

This morning I seem to be a little nostalgic and think of the soundtracks of our lives...our younger years...and begin looking at songs...perhaps ones that will trigger memories...I always admired and noticed that our sons both seemed to get the gift...of hearing songs and being able to quote them...or in some instances...make your own words...I remember many a miles or many an hour listening to this one...I happened on this one and thought it might be something you and your son would do...though my son does love this song as well..

We did have Bill Cosby on an album...not sure if this was it...but remember laughing and listening to it over and over...Just sitting around with dad listening to Bill Cosby talk of Fat Albert and of course RUSSELL!!!

The old blue truck...with the 8 track playing...in wanting to listen to a song again...you had to go through some others...I LOVE this song...and I love YouTube...

And though we had many more years of country...with Peg as your mom...what you gonna do!   But then we began to catch a little of the disco era...you had the hair...and I think of your prom and your date...

And an 80's song that perhaps could remind of you...as I remember you singing it...of course not disco...Actually not sure you ever went through disco...

 
And I remember us talking of going to see the Allman brothers in Springs when Dad was in the hospital...and those...days that seemed to go in slow motion at times...yet went by so fast...and I can remember riding in your Z-car and listening to the next song...and it became a favorite that I made my kids listen to...this version even as I recorded it on a cassette off of the tv...and I know you went through a time of searching...

And then as time does it passed by and after we lost dad you crossed the mountain...by way of Kelly Don...giving you  a hand up the hill...and then you found what you were looking for...looks quite similar to that prom girl...the love of your life...or should I say "loves"...

And though probably other songs...I remember a ZZ-top soundtrack and one little B-Bop who would sing Cheap Sunglasses...and I don't think any of us can hear Hard working man and not think of you!!








And then....you had your own little guy come along and though many songs...I remember him staying with us and riding to Granny's house while the kids went to school and I was going to work.   He was half asleep...but just sitting there and then this song came on and as he was sitting there almost asleep in complete silence...he belts out...I LIKE IT...I LOVE IT...another glimpse into yes this was your son...

And I think of you and your baby boy...who is now 21...and there is a pic of you two at his birthday...that I treasure...and I smile this morning as I see he used another pic I took from that night...and said you were his best friend...Because perhaps the reason why you are is you make him laugh like that and you touch his heart...now that's a gift!    Even if he is taking your birthday trip...I guess we go back to the hard working man song!   Just remember...don't work too hard!

 

 

And I have watched your faith...your love for others...and though this song is meant another way and I believe it...know I have always loved you as well...

So I know that you might be feeling your age as of late...it seems like only yesterday not 20 years ago...I was sending dead flowers and now here another milestone...and I am sad that I do not get to spend your birthday with you but I pray for you a day of Joy!     And feel my love cross over the mountain!!   Happy Birthday my brother...and I add one of my favorite songs...and hey maybe even take that Harley on at least a 3 minute cruise...and go for the fu man chu...we got all year!!!   Hope you are feeling better...this getting old stuff...Happy Birthday my brother I love you like no other!   God go with you this day and always!   Cause you know...part of the reason great...is because of you!

lyp

Shalom...

This morning at my kitchen table...a cool breeze blows through...an overshadow as if a promise of rain...but I think of the coolness of the day...and am thankful...and I see the date and think of my friend Mary...It is her birthday!     Though far away...she remains close in my heart.   I think of her working away on her little piece of paradise...side by side with Ted...

And this morning the word Shalom came to me...well that and manifest...but I feel Shalom is the word for Mary's birthday...

I find a definition for it...you know when you Doogle it...and I think the page says the Refiners Fire to give credit...but I read...

Most know that the Hebrew word shalom is understood around the world to mean "peace." However, "peace" is only one small part of the meaning. "Shalom" is used to both greet people and to bid them farewell, and it means much more than "peace, hello or goodbye"....

Hebrew words go beyond their spoken pronunciation. Each Hebrew word conveys feeling, intent and emotion. Shalom is more then just simply peace; it is a complete peace. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being and harmony.

According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full.

 

And I think of that as such a birthday wish...to have that peace...Mary much like many...in midlife...a mother fighting health and the battle scars of old age...but on the other end of the spectrum just finished having a wedding...and so for this birthday blog...I pull up maybe a few wedding pics...of this special friend of mine.   Who I must say has went through quite the workout program in the gym of "working your butt off"...

But I think of one picture that I love...that shows that she is not getting older...she seems to be new...she hopped up on the chair with the father of the bride...and the bride joined in giving a handkerchief...but I LOVE the way Ted looks at her and I think of love...

And so I add another where they switch places and I say HAPPY Birthday...love to see that smile!!

 

Happy Birthday my friend...I think I may have got distracted with some pics....and loved getting to see your mama...I see where you get your special...and I see you are passing it on...

 

Nope didn't add any other wedding pics...maybe tomorrow...

 

lyp