Making the effort ...

Photo Credit: Nancy Gaudet

Be completely humble and gentle; 

be patient, bearing one another in love.  

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit 

through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:2-3

I've decided something about friends. They all have good stuff and bad stuff. Things you like and things that really annoy you. Friends are a package deal. And sadly, not all friendships will stand the test of time. Some friendships are for a season. But other times, we have to be willing to deal with the messy stuff to fight for our friendships. From time to time, we experience riffs, misunderstandings, hurt feelings or frustrations. Parts of us want to distance ourselves because it's hard to sift through the hurt.  We must pray through it and remind ourselves this person is a package deal and that we also have flaws and imperfections and do things that annoy others. We all have issues.  We must be willing to work on our not-so-fun stuff and be fully aware we're going to hit some muddy little potholes along our friendship path.

Otherwise, one day we're gonna end up lonely because we're so picky.
Pray for your friends as you pray for your family ... blessings, security, joy.

♥ terri


Note: the above (italics) is taken from an email 
I received which was passed on from one to another.
I'd give credit if I knew where it originated.  

Random photo of the property across the street.

Reminded me of the Fall Season when scarves come out of the closet.

Those vines are always first to change colors.

They look like scarves draping the shoulders of the trees.

Happy Sunday Y'all!

       I wandered around the garden this morning admiring the colors of Fall all around. The leaves were falling like snow while the "front yard" kitty rolled in the pine straw beneath the Camellias, w hich are covered in their sweet baby pink blossoms.  I made a quick trip thru the backyard to gather a bunch of young collards, which are sauteeing in the iron skillet as I blog speak (smells heavenly).

  I have a small pile of "Yummy Bells" on the counter awaiting stuffing for dinner.  Last week, a neighbor friend shared her pepper recipe with me after generously inviting me to pick some things from her garden, which included peppers and a fall bounty of Satsumas and Lemons, as well as a sackful of pecans that had fallen to the ground.  I bestowed a couple of  "Thank You" foodies upon her today when we made a second trip to pick Satsumas and juice oranges!  I spent the late afternoon peeling and de-webbing Satsumas!  Then, before finishing dinner preparations, my dh and I put away some pork cutlets from a wild boar (250#+!) and some venison tenderloin for stew!  You should see the monstrous pot in my oven ... slow cooking chunks of wild boar for BBQ!  I smell pork sliders in my future!



"Yummy Bells"  These babies are gonna be stuffed for dinner!
Gorgonzola, Feta, Cream Cheese and Bacon!

I've been busily canning and re-vamping my pantry (since the canning needs the heavier shelving) by relocating the bulk items (I♥Sam's) along the available shelving in my studio.  All the "canned" items (why they call it canned instead of jarred, I dunno) look so pretty on the shelves.  As a friend says, I get that Stepford Wives smile on my face when I gaze at these fruits of my labor!



Pickle Relish (Cucumber sale at Jimmy Lowes!)



Collard Greens from my Garden!



Pineapple Sage Blooms!

My "Go-To" Women

Okay! I did it already! I changed the blog description from "slightly left of mid-life" to "slightly right of mid-life" 'cause I turned 50 about a month ago. Technically I won't reach mid-life til 52. I've always told my husband I wanted to live to be 104....as long as I could still reasonably take care of myself. It's been great thus far. Can't complain! Been married most of it to my wonderful husband, Tony. Of course, it hasn't been all roses. There have been some rough spots and some gut wrenching feelings come and go. But I would re-live it all over again to be in the exact spot I am now .... well, minus the nerve pain. Though even that has taught me to be kind to myself.

I recently went out for an evening with some girlfriends from high school. We had a great time! Went to dinner and saw a movie. Eat, Pray, Love. It was fabulous! I'd already read the book by Liz Gilbert twice and gleaned so much from it. I read it closely behind A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. Both spirit moving works. It's taken me years to feel comfortable in my own skin and these books helped nudge me more into that general direction. Though I'm still not totally at ease injecting my opinions ... especially in opposition, into conversations, I'm more confident I won't be dropped from the "A list" before the next social event if I do!

I've also made a new circle of friends over the last three years as I have been on this art adventure of mine! They have all be willing to share tips and shortcuts and opportunities with me, the new kid on the block. Again, our opinions and our tastes in art may be different but I've been accepted into a group of wonderful, talented artists and that is both comforting and exciting at the same time! Another great circle of virtual girlfriends exist on Facebook as well! I may not have personally met each of you but rest assured it brings a smile to my face exchanging greetings when I log on! Love you gals too!

I certainly must mention the friendships that have been ongoing most of my life. Those I have interacted with over the last thirty-five years. Several who are also neighbors. Many I see once or twice a year at Mardi Gras functions or on the Island. Especially one who has been my closest friend since highschool. I've had a couple of very meaningful friendships that have simply fizzled out....wasted really....either because of misunderstandings or which simply slowly drained the joy from my life.

I love reconnecting with old friends, getting together with new ones and spending time with long time friends. I miss my "go-to" women. The ones I talked to for hours about everything under the sun. One especially. My great-aunt Pete....affectionately called "Petie" by our family. She was my rock. We lost her a couple of years ago within two weeks of a cancer diagnosis. I still miss her terribly. I also lost my mom last year and another close aunt earlier this year. They were all mentors to me and from each relationship I brought away something valuable. How to be a wife, a mom, a friend. How to keep house. How to just listen. How to love unconditionally. How quietly observe. When to keep my mouth shut. How not to be. When to just let it be.

I thank God he placed these women in my life. And I thank God for the women he has brought back into my life since each of them passed away. All of my girlfriends fill a spot that can't be filled by my husband, my daughters, my pets, my art. All of these factors complete me .... for lack of a better phrase!

God bless you all and I look forward to sharing life's ups and downs and in betweens with each of you!!! Thanks for being my "go to" women now!