What Leslie (my sister) Is Reading

This modern morality tale by gifted writer and speaker Andy Andrews teaches seven fundamental strategies for creating a successful life.
Much like the bestselling books by Og Mandino, this unique narrative is a blend of entertaining fiction, allegory, and inspiration, with just a touch of self-help. Gifted storyteller Andy Andrews gives us a front-row seat for one man's journey of a lifetime.
David Ponder is at a crossroads. Having lost his job and the will to live, he has been supernaturally selected to travel through time, gathering wisdom for future generations. Visits to historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, King Solomon, and Anne Frank yield the Seven Fundamentals for Success that will impact the entire world. A visit to the future reveals the result of David's journey, the fruits of his labor.


synopsis-Borders

Happy New Year's Eve!

Wishing all a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed New Year!!
I will be slinging open the front door at midnight to let in the New Year and opening up the back door to let the old out! Listen hard and you may hear us ringing it in!

photo-Martha Stewart

Winter Wonderland

Our white sand here at the beach can double as snow. We'll just squint our eyes a little and we are in our own winter wonderland.

A Day at the Sea

We have a house full tonight. Leslie and Sydney have come down for a few days and we are looking forward to some great shopping and sales.

DH has escaped back to Tennessee for a while and poor Dad is here in the cottage with 5 women. His escape is to watch old movies in the bedroom. Today it was Robert Redford in 'Jeremiah Johnson'.

The day was sunny and cold but the sea was wild and beautiful. We watched one kyak/canoe that had flipped its occupants as they waded to shore in their soaked pants and down jackets. We felt sorry for their walk back to where they came from, but their voices still held laughter.

Dad made two huge batches of his Chex mix with extra seasonings today and Sav, Mom and I made our traditional trek down to Rosemary Beach to the quaint Patchouli's. Picked up some lovely scented whipped shea butter for dry spots and Savannah had a scent mixed. Her choice....green tea and strawberry. It actually smelled really fresh and nice.

There's A Bear Down Here

Last year I blogged about a huge alligator being down at the beach in the surf. Well, guess what was in the newspaper this week! I can not believe there has been a bear hanging out in Grayton Beach where I have taken out the trash many a time. You should have seen the look on my mother's face when she read it...eeek! to her, hilarious to me. Dad says that it has been spotted around here for quite a few years. Why didn't someone tell me? I said, "What if he shows up when we are out?" Dad said, "Give him the trash." Mom said, "...or take a picture." Only if you are on the 2nd floor.

Bear a resemblance: Resident snaps photo of Grayton bear

December 22, 2009 6:45 PM

By Deborah Wheeler

Craig and Nancy McLaughlin have lived at Grayton Beach for nine years. They had heard the reports of a giant black bear being seen there, but had not personally encountered the animal — until last week.

“I heard something in our trash can Wednesday night and it was making too much noise to be a raccoon,” said Craig. “I went out on our second-floor, screened-in porch and there he was!”

Craig said his 11 p.m. visitor was pretty good sized with his back reaching about 3 feet off the ground when he was on all fours.

“He had gone to our garbage can and pulled it out of its caddy and taken the lid off,” Craig said in amazement.

The bear saw McLaughlin and his friend and ambled off into the back yard and into the adjoining woods, but not before posing for a couple of photos.

“I had never seen a bear before except on TV,” said Craig. “I was surprised.”

The McLaughlins have a 6-year-old child who was asleep and missed the visitor.

This is not the first bear sighting in the neighborhood. In September, a Barton’s Way resident recounted her brush with the bear and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told The Sun that they had received about a dozen calls from the area.

Harvey is excited when we tell him we are almost to the beach!

Christmas Day

Wishing all of my friends and family a warm, wonderful Christmas Day with the ones you love.

photo-Christmas Day by Carl Larsson

Art I Am Loving

Art by Charlie Roberts

From Another Time

Today I thought I would share one of the blogs that I enjoy checking on regularly.

Hollister Hovey is one half of the Hovey sisters, Porter being the other. They live in Brooklyn, New York together and both enjoy a love of the old, odd and unusual beauty of things from another time. They have exquisite taste and a talent for photography.

photos-all Hollister Hovey

Happy Birthday

Jane Austen-December 16, 1775

8 More Days Until Christmas Day!

Lots of wrapping, taping, snipping and packing going on here. Sav is finishing up exams and is getting anxious for Christmas to be here. We are ready to get on the road and get to the beach and just "veg". The ocean is calling to me and I tend to have withdrawals if too much time passes.

DH will be traveling back and forth and we will take advantage of the time he is with us. He has his favorite places to go and eat and we have our favorite places that he doesn't like that we will go to while he is away.

The only snafu is that poor Dad has pneumonia in Georgia and Mimi is trying her hardest not to catch it. He is on a super-antibiotic now, goes back to the Doctor on Thursday for a check-up and hopes he will get the okay to head to the sunshine state. I have been checking on them daily and preaching to them what he needs to do to get well. I am sure they are getting it from both ends...me and Les. Mom was very worried at first and that is what scared me. She is usually a pretty cool cucumber, so he probably was in bad shape. I am so thankful for the correct medicines!

Loving the Christmas season!

-Julie

photo-Pam Garrison

Current Reading

Saturday 10-5

Sunday 12-5 In Historic Franklin, Tennessee

A Monteagle Christmas

Saturday night six couples headed south-east to the Tennessee/Georgia mountain border for some incredible company and great food. It took us about an hour and a half to get there, but the drive was well worth it. High Point is located in a beautiful stone mansion that once belonged to Al Capone's mistress on the top of Monteagle mountain. It was the half point between Capone's run from Chicago to Florida. The new owners were so friendly and the food was delicious! Lots of Suwanee/University of the South parents keep it filled with reservations.

A great time was had by the Beaty, Dycus, Harris, Erickson, Bean and Cottrell families. The crowning star of the evening was the beautiful snow on the ground to make it really feel like Christmas. Thanks for a wonderful evening!

High Point Restaurant Monteagle, TN

The Festive Friends
Lots of football talk

Kate, Julie, Kimberly and Melissa

Kimberly and Melissa- Two of the sweetest and funniest

gals you will ever meet. They are cousins, so that explains

the great genetics.

Elizabeth's beautiful plate

The best 'banana's Foster' I have ever had!

Alicia and Mark's grilled pound cake with caramel sauce

Lipscomb's Lighting of the Green

"Annie Moses Band"

Brenda Lee

Amy Grant

Savannah (middle back)

Thanksgiving in Georgia

"Turkeys" frying a turkey

Holiday News

I have been so remiss in blogging! But lots of good stuff and photos coming. So many things have been going on and I am dying to share all! Thanksgiving was wonderful in Georgia with all the relatives and friends. The children are growing up and seem to really enjoy being with each other. Lots of turkeys and not just of the edible variety.

Cooler days are finally here and very welcome. This week we were entertained once again at Lipscomb University's "Lighting of the Green." This was Savannah's 4th year to sing with her choir and Amy Grant. This year was extra special since country legend Brenda Lee sang "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" also. Her grandson is a student on campus. Fabulous entertainment to get us in the Spirit of Christmas. It's here!

Mom and Dad are in Disney World with Les and Sydney and she is sending back texts of all the crazy rides they are going on. (Space Mountain roller coaster, Test Track, Expedition Everest roller coaster,etc...) I was letting Les have it at first for encouraging them, but I have since calmed down. I think I have the youngest/craziest 74 year old parents ever! I know I shouldn't be surprised considering they let their 16 year old (Me!) get a motorcycle license and ride their motorcycles all over Peachtree City, Georgia! Gotta love them! They always keep things interesting around here, that's for sure. The apple never falls far from the trees.

This weekend we are heading with Kimberly and Truman to Monteagle mountain for a special gourmet dinner at 'High Point'. The home/building was the home of infamous Al Capone's mistress and he spent time there entertaining his friends. Escape tunnels and trap doors are supposed to abound in and around the house. Should be fun!

Christmas parties with friends, church, book groups, ornament exchanges are coming the next two weeks and then Savannah will be out of school and we will be escaping to the beach for the holiday and new year.