It Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree: August 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The "First" of Many "Lasts"

Jim class of 1981; Carolyn class of 1982

ok....so I ventured into the hallways of not only mine and Jim's alma matter....but also the alma matter of my oldest children and the soon to be alma matter of my youngest child for our Last "Back to School Night".....
Needless to say, there were many emotions at play! At first I thought I would just be glad to be done with my upteenth "Back to School Night"....but as usual, I got there and loved seeing friends old and new...loved getting to see Miller's teachers and love, love, love getting to see who all is my child's class!!!

Holly and Brad class of 2005

Mitch and Britney class of 2002

Chad, Roy and Miller class of 2012

How shallow!!! But...fun!!!
You have to admit you do want to know who your child sits by in English or Math... or who he has Sr. Lounge with!!! You know what I mean....it's a glimpse into their life that you don't get unless you GOOOO to "Back to School Night"!! You get to see their teachers in their own element...and to me, that is fun! It is special! I'm always overwhelmed at the love they have not only for Briarwood as a school, but for the students and for the subjects that they teach! Tonight I learned that Mr. Carter also meets with Samford students on the side! Students that have no ties to Briarwood but basically need a "biblical world view!" That's exciting stuff...I don't care who you are!! The fact that I actually heard him say that he realized that our students are getting to their University of Choice and not knowing how to handle what a professor throws out there because they've only been in a Christian School environment! Hey...I like that!!! I wish I had had that at their age!!! Our kids need to know how to handle other views that will be thrown upon them on a daily basis next year...and the next!!! They need to know why they believe WHAT they believe!!! I was also struck by how much Mr. Carter had grown up!!! LOL!!! I think Mitch had him his first year of teaching...or close to it!! I was so glad he didn't remember me or the fact that I cried alot back in those days!!!

I was also so very glad to see Coach Matthews and get to tell him what a positive impact the Senior Retreat had on our students!!! No matter if they snuck out or not!! ( I know NOTHING!!) But our kids truly love him and he is going to be such a great leader along with all of the faculty at Briarwood!!!
As we entered the AP Calculus room....I sat on the back row!!!! I barely passed Consumer Math my Senior year at Briarwood so I was a bit overwhelmed!!!! Until sweet Mrs. Martin began talking...then I remembered all of the years of knowing her and saw for myself that maybe even I could've been taught Math under her!!! Ok...that might be a stretch but I know for a fact that Miller will do great with Mrs. Martin! I'm so thankful that he is in her class this year!

"Friends" Class of 2012

As we were leaving...and I was truly turned around in the building because so many things have changed in that school over the years....I was still struck by the overwhelming fact that God has blessed Briarwood Christian School tremendously! And that will never change as long as we are faithful to pray for and support the school and it's administration. I know we all have our gripes at times...and sometimes I think I'm "entitled" to them in a way since I have truly lived them. However, had it not been for the loving, nurturing environment of Briarwood....there is truthfully no telling where I would be today...So....although this was my "Last" Back to School Night....It's definitely not the end....it's just the beginning...the first of many to come with our grandchildren and hopefully great grandchildren! In fact...our oldest son Mitch went to their daughter's First Back to School Night with his good friend Cameron Hogan!!!! If you had told me this would be happening back in Mitch and Cameron's Senior year of high school....I probably would've laughed till I cried!!! But it DID happen!!! and it's BECAUSE of God's faithfulness!!! Nothing else!!! God's faithfulness to His people....God's faithfulness to a school that seeks to honor and serve Him above all else.

Layton with Poppy....past and future generations!

Layton, Class of 2025!!!

Who knows??? Maybe I will go sit in on some of Layton's future Back to School Nights!! Or, if God sees fit to bless in this manner...to help sweet Holly have another Back to School Night of her own!! My only regret is that I didn't help her with her first one!!! She was a very good teacher!!! A chip off the old block from all of the teaching she received from such a wonderful school!!!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Grilled Club Sandwich with Raspberry Honey Mayonnaise

A long time ago....Jim and I loved to go to a restaurant downtown and get their incredible Monte Cristo sandwich! Then...maybe 2 years ago we went to Higlands, N.C. for our anniversary and ventured into Brevard, N.C. for a day trip...while we were there we had the most incredible sandwich I've ever tasted!!! I've wanted to recreate it ever since that wonderful lunch but never got around to it.

before grilling....just the turkey and the cheese

now the top slices are on

Finally, due to the fact that we were both so full from my mother in law's incredible lunch of beef stroganoff over rice, squash casserole, green beans and fried okra....and of course, a homemade 3 layer chocolate cake with chocolate icing that is to DIE for!! I knew we wouldn't want much dinner! On top of that, Miller is gone to the Senior retreat so it was just the 2 of us for dinner....glimpses of life next year...can't say I'm glad or sad....at this point, I'm just trying to enjoy the moments that God gives us!

grilling away!

After we walked the Parkway for over an hour and did a little bit of work at the shop, we came home and decided that a Turkey Sandwich was all that we wanted....however...this wasn't just "Any" turkey sandwich!!!! This turned into a replica of the Monte Cristo of long ago lunches downtown as well as a mix of the sandwich we experienced in Brevard!!!!
Hope you enjoy it!!! Feel free to switch it up to your likings!!!! You certainly can't go wrong!!!

Raspberry Honey Mayo

Here is my version of a made up, inside out Monte Cristo sandwich....or just the best toasted club sandwich you've ever had!!!!

and of course, never, ever skimp on the side of Raspberry Honey Mayo!!!!

Grilled "Club" Sandwich with Raspberry Honey Mayonnaise

Slices of ham and turkey....depending on what you want or have on hand!!! I only had turkey so that's what I did!!! Wish I had had ham as well!

Plenty of grated Swiss Cheese....recipe called for Brie but I didn't have it, and not sure I would've loved it....if you prefer Brie...than by all means....use Brie!!!

Enough slices of Aritsan Bread or Homemade Sourdough which is what I used.....

I buttered the bottoms slices with I can't believe it's not butter spray...recipe called for unsalted real butter....I was just too full from lunch to splurge in this area!!!!

I sprayed my bread, layed it on my George Foreman...can also use a plain skillet, topped each slice with the turkey and the shredded cheese. Placed top slice of bread on and buttered it as well and grilled it for about 5-7 minutes or until done....take off the griddle or skillet and add sliced tomato and fresh lettuce and generous amounts of the Raspberry Honey Mayo!!! I also served more of the sauce on the side!!! Was delicious!!!!! and oh so easy!!!!!

Raspberry Honey Mayo:
2 T mayo
4 t raspberry preserves
2 t honey
1/2 t sea salt
1/2 t pepper
mix all with wire wisk and refrigerate

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Never before.......

Never Before......have I linked my two blogs together....this time... I just had to...it embodies everything I've been doing...everything I want my friends to see, and everything I care about!!!!

A long time ago...when I first started my blogging adventure...a dear friend told me that she wished she had never started 3 blogs!!! I had written her and asked her for advice, how to do certain things on blogger, etc....and I will never forget Shannon telling me that she truly wished she only had one blog!! You see...she had a cooking blog, a devotional blog and a blog that simply was there for her to talk about her "Southern Heritage".... I also remember thinking that I could do it all!! How silly was that now that I can look back on it a year or so later!!!!

Which is why now....my two worlds are meshing into one....simply due to time restraints and the fact that my life embodies who I am...and who I am is reflected in my shop! I've let it go for several months because of other issues in my life...like my children!!! at this very moment...my creative side is wanting to blog away about our Sip and See and my heart is aching to hear about our incredible win in Georgia against Eagles Landing.....but I'm coping....and it's ok!!! I'm loving everything I'm doing!! I'm especially loving the fact that my precious daughter Holly surprised me with a plane ticket and came
HOME!!
She came home to help with... and enjoy our wonderful "Sip and See" event yesterday with Emily Ozier and Caroline Reehl....what a fabulous time we had!! It was only enhanced by the flowers that Alison Kynerd Thomas did and made everything look "that much better"!! Thank you so much, Alison!!!!!

thankfully, several months before.....

Holly convinced me to buy this chalkboard that I had been eyeing on one of our visits with them...and I'm forever grateful that she did!!!!!

Sweet Ellen makes it come to life... not only with our "events" but just with everyday life!!!

The shop began to prepare for this wonderful event many weeks in advance....in fact, while we were visiting Holly and Brad in New Orleans, Pattie and Ellen carried out our dream of having our very own water bottles!!! I know it seems silly to most people...but to me, it was heaven!!!!

just for the record...these days, it's heaven having anybody do anything to make life easier at the shop!!! I'm running myself ragged and I don't mind telling you!!! Obviously!!! If I didn't love it though, I wouldn't bring it up!!!! which is why having Alison offer to do the flowers for our Sip and See was just an extra added bonus!!!!

just look at how beautiful they are!!!!!

sometimes, the things that you love the most....are what you work the hardest for.....

to me...that includes family, friends and flowers......and "f"nomenal.......ART!!!!!

and.....the "f"act......that Alison is a forever, family, friend.....and I would do anything for her!!! and then of course....there are......

color coordinated jelly beans!!!! Who doesn't love that??!!!!

we began by setting the tables early.....and trying to think of the best colors possible to enhance the paintings, the pottery and the flowers.....hopefully showcasing our new runners for holiday entertainment!!! We have them in so many great colors!!!

as well as.. to show off our fabulous cake stands!! Once again, when I went to market they forbid me to buy anymore cake stands with domes...because we shipped a million of them when we had them...but I simply could not resist these beauties!!!! In fact, they made me order more once they saw them!!! My daughter wants one as a "stocking stuffer"!!!!

finally, when the day arrived.....we had so much fun with Emily's art, Caroline's pottery and Alison's flowers!!!

Here are some of the pictures of the fabulous artwork from Emily.....

In my "humble" opinion....these 3 trees should be bought together!!! I have some smaller versions of Emily's trees...and I wouldn't trade them for anything!!!

and of course....Caroline's pottery.....the pieces I have I adore so very much!!!!

and delicious food....if I do say so myself!!!! so wish you could have all been there!!!!

It was one remarkable day!!! And it's still going on!!! People are still flocking in to see all of the art...
and not wanting to miss out on anything!!!!

Aren't Alison's cards the cutest???? Her work is incredible....just wait till you see her work at our shop at Christmas!!!!

hopefully, this painting will still be here for the B'ham Home and Garden's Inspiration Home......so glad Doug @Tracery Interiors was admiring it!!!

here is a "replica" of the piece that my precious husband gave me!!! It sit's proudly in it's very own shelf on our new bookcases....we love it!!!!

when we first started carrying Caroline's pottery, Pattie and Patti gave me my very first piece....they gave it to me to take to our beach house and that is where it has been to this very day....every time I see it I want to bring it home because of the special memories it brings to me...the special thoughts that were behind it and the special people that gave it to me!

that's what this kind of talent does...it allows us to enjoy a God given gift...it allows us to share it with others and it certainly allows for alot of special memories when one is given the piece of a lifetime!!!! I know that art is different to each individual...I also know...when I see a wife get that special piece of pottery or that perfect painting...she is radiant!!! When I see a mom or a mother in law get a piece of pottery for being a first time grandmother...it is so very special!!! You can't "buy" these memories....they aren't a Visa commercial...they are real, and they truly are priceless!!! I wouldn't trade anything for getting to be a part of it!!! I'm so very grateful to Emily and Caroline for allowing Mulberry Heights Antiques to carry their art...to be a part of something so incredible and to experience the joy of art...a true, God given talent......

and then there was food!!!!

pork tenderloin with two sauces,

incredible chocolate chip cookies with sea salt

sangria

black eyed pea caviar....

and friends and family!!!! thank you all for coming to our Sip and See!!! I'm already thinking ahead to the Holidays and trying to
plan another!!! ( much to Jim's dismay!!!) LOL!!!