It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Fall?

I've been back in my Deep South for 16 years now.  Seems like just yesterday.

Photo by Tyler Edic on Unsplash

We hit the Savannah, GA area in October 2004 and said who needs a coat?  Not us!  That's why I named this post - "It's Beginning to Look..." since our "Winter" is more like other's "Fall".

I was really pleased to see this display of pumpkins recently.  It definitely made me feel "Fall-ish".

With our weather this week still in "A/C running" temps - I'm thankful I can diffuse this "Fall" blend - real Clove, Cinnamon Bark and Orange.

"Mulled Cider" - 2 drops each of Clove & Cinnamon Bark/4 drops of Orange

Now it's beginning to "Smell a lot like...Fall"! 

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Sweet Southern Comfort ~ I'm home

My growing up years were in Central Florida.

My young woman - raising a family years were in Northern Virginia.  The first time I glimpsed the view of DC - my breath was taken away.  What a magical place.

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

Then it was Nashville - didn't think I'd like Nashville but I knew I could make it there as a single Mom.  (I did like Nashville and I met my Bill there.)

Photo by Tanner Boriack on Unsplash

A few other moves and we landed back in Northern Virginia.  Girls were grown and I kept feeling the call to get back to my "Deep South" roots.

Every time I heard Buddy Jewell sing "Sweet Southern Comfort" I wanted to get "home".

Sweet Southern Comfort

We've been back nearly 15 years and it feels like yesterday.  It's my "Happy Place".  I drive by and can say, "that's where Traci was born" and "that's where Ginger was born".  Yes, my "Happy Place".

Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

Small town - Magnolia trees - hot, hot, hot days - 6 weeks of winter - beach 90 minutes away - SEC - I'm home!

Thank you, Lord, for the many journeys I've had and all of the people I met to include my Bill.  Thank you even more for getting me back to my "Deep South"!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Rabbit Holes ~ and Faith

I've been in a lot of what I call "Rabbit Holes" during my life.  The place where you're not exactly sure where you are, why you're there and how long it will take to get out...but you know...if you hold on long enough and hang on to your Faith - you will get out!

"Down the Rabbit Hole.jpg" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Mountain Roamer

During some of those times, my husband and I would repeat the words from one of our favorite movies, Memphis Belle.  Now what?!?

So - while I think about the various "Rabbit Holes" we've found ourselves in over the decades, I always come back to - 

I'm thankful for my family, I'm thankful for the way I earn my living,
I'm thankful for the friends that know just when I need a smile and a kind word.

I'm blessed beyond measure with the love of a Heavenly Father that reminds me of the good that is in my life while I climb out of the "Rabbit Holes" of life.

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

The Songs of My Life ~ God Bless the Broken Road

There are several people I care deeply about going through a patch of "unknowns" right now.  They trust God, they pray, they follow the Bible's teachings.  I know that all will turn out "just right" for them but it's an unknown and unknowns can be stressful.  I've experienced more unknowns than I ever wanted to experience.  I've always found a Bible verse or quote to hang on to.

  by  Exothermic 

After my divorce, I moved my girls, my mother & myself to a new state - no job, no home, just knew it was the right place to go.  The Scripture I held on to was Abraham traveling to a place God would show him.  (Gen. 12:1, Heb. 11:8).  I'd done my homework - I knew we could survive there - maybe even be successful.

I met my husband (of 20 years now) in this new place.  I had no idea exactly how it would turn out but knew we needed to go there.  I wouldn't give anything for our time spent in Nashville, TN!

I discovered Rascal Flatts' song "God Bless the Broken Road".  It summed up so many things in my life.

My journal entry for this song was..."The broken dreams, the pain, the disillusionment strengthened the person I was and made me so thankful for my present and

future."

  by  akabane_hiro2 

For those of you going through a time of "unknowns" - it may not seem like it now, but...if you take a step at a time and do your best with each step - you'll look back at this "Broken Road" and know that it made you a stronger and better person.

I often think of the "you" in this song as the "you" I am now - the "you" I'm becoming.  "God Bless the Broken Road" that led me straight to "you".

I've had many more challenges - some tougher than others.  My "Broken Road" is still being traveled and I'm becoming a more compassionate, loving and prayerful person.

May your "Broken Road" become a path that leads to a stronger, braver "you".  A "you" that is more compassionate and more empathetic with others' struggles.

Still putting one foot in front of the other...Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Extreme Christmas Trees ~ a "Must See"!

My Ginger of Literally Inspired "liked" something on Facebook today that reminded me of a show I recently watched.  If you love Christmas like I do, I bet you'll enjoy the show. (I streamed it on Netflix but I believe TLC is going to show it again soon.)

It's "Extreme Christmas Trees" on TLC.  A sneak preview can be found here.  (I took a screen shot of my Netflix account page to get the picture to show you.)

One of the places featured is just 60 miles away from us.  It's Brunswick Manor in Brunswick, Georgia.  I really want to visit it now and at Christmas, of course!

Hope you enjoy the show and thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Thanksgiving and the "Mess Hall" (aka Dining Facility)

We live in an amazing area.  We have old trees with Spanish Moss, Coastal Beaches and Ft. Stewart  - home of the 3rd ID -"Rock of the Marne".

  

Every year we enjoy our Thanksgiving Feast at one of the Dining Facilities on post.  This year was just like years in the past - a pleasant time with good friends - an excellent meal and great decorations!

They had the largest Cornucopia I've ever seen!

So - from Bill (and me) - Happy Thanksgiving!

and...thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Blue Skies over Coastal Georgia

Sometimes the skies where I live are just breath taking.  Yesterday was one of those days.

After my piano lessons were finished, I ran into Walmart looking for more notebooks to finish the choir's Easter music notebooks.

When I came out, I was greeted to this beautiful sky...

I've never seen clouds look quite like this before.

  Anyway - I wanted to share a small view from my part of the world - the South.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Some Southern Sayings...

I try my best to live by the "Golden Rule" and the other one, you know, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."  

However... there are times when some of the Southern sayings I've heard all of my life just pop into my head and nearly out of my mouth.  I thought I'd put a few out there and see if you can add any yourself.  (Feel free to ask what they mean in - "Southern".  Granted, I've said them all of my life and I may not know what they mean either.)

• This happened just the other day - I was driving home and saw someone walking along the sidewalk and I immediately thought - He just isn't "right".  (Said in my slow, Southern drawl while shaking my head in wonder.)

• When my children had tantrums, they "pitched a fit" and sometimes it was a "hissy fit".

• It took several years to help my Midwestern husband (of nearly 20 years) understand that citrus grows in "groves" and peaches grow in "orchards".  He kept discussing the "orange orchard" I'd grown up with as my front yard.  He finally understands - my front yard was an "Orange Grove".

• After dealing with a troublesome person, "They could make a preacher cuss!"

• One of my favorites things to say when I'm talking about someone fun to be around is, "They are a Hoot and a half."  I have no idea what a "Hoot" is, I just know it's fun.

Okay - now it's your turn - what sayings do you say or hear frequently?  (They don't have to be Southern either.)  Thanks for visiting!  Reia

PS - my daughter Ginger from www.literallyinspired.com wrote about one of my favorite books plus her life/heritage as a GRITS (Girls Raised In The South) here.  (Pictures of grandparents, etc. are included.)

Santa Claus, Georgia

Recently I took Mama for a Saturday drive.  We decided to check out "Santa Claus, Georgia".  It's located near Vidalia, Georgia (yep, the home of the Viadalia Onion but that's another post).  

So we visited Santa Claus, GA & it was a couple of blocks of wonderful!

My absolute favorite part of visiting Santa Claus, GA was "Santa's Mail" box.

I really must write a letter to Santa and post it here!

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Observations from Today's Journey in the South

Here are a few things I observed while I was "out and about" today.

1 - While at McDonald's I realized... if you sit under the TV, it feels like everyone is looking at YOU!  Mental note:  choose a different seat next time.

2 - When in a rural area of Georgia, the conversations heard will range from Shrimping to Fishing to NASCAR to College Football to Wrestling (Wrastling) and all within a 10 minute time span.

3 - People love their GA Bulldogs!  A nice elderly gentlemen at the bank today was sporting his GA Bulldog Flip Flops.  It's one memory I'm trying to forget.

4 - 25 miles away from my home can make a big difference when you're in rural Georgia.

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

FL Gators vs GA Bulldogs

Game's over so I can write now.  Whew!

My parents started taking me to the University of Florida Gator games when I was in Junior High.  They kept season tickets until my Daddy died in 1990.  You'd think we were die-hard Gators and we were until...the FL - GA game each year.  At that point my Atlanta born & raised Southern Belle Mama couldn't deny her Georgia roots.

Of course Mama and Daddy always attended the FL - GA game every year.  Mama even had signs made for the car.  A Georgia Bulldogs sign for her side and a Florida Gators sign for Daddy's side.  That's just the way it was in our family.

My first husband graduated from U of F and I attended for one year after we married.  When the girls came along...yep, we started them off right.

My Traci at a Gator game - sitting with her Papa Frank (my Daddy)

My Ginger (of www.literallyinspired.com) at a Gator game - sitting with her Papa Frank (my Daddy) & me 

Now we can't leave my Atlanta born & raised Southern Belle Mama out of this.

Just before Ginger was born (one month to be exact) we visited my dearly beloved maternal grandmother in Atlanta.  I guess you can see what my Atlanta born & raised Southern Belle Mama is wearing.

All I can say is...it's in the blood - Southern blood at least.

This fall my nephew (my Gator sister's son) crossed the "great divide" and left their home in the Atlanta area to become a freshman at...Georgia.  

I'm very proud of him!  With us surrounded by Red & Black GA Bulldog everything living in Coastal GA - I'm secretly delighted because I can cheer for the Bulldogs every now & then - you know, for my nephew's sake.

Hope you're having a Super Saturday!  Reia

Today's Southern Journey - Pembroke, Georgia

Today I was able to visit one of my favorite local Southern towns - Pembroke, Georgia.  About 25 miles from our home and yet I feel like I've entered a different era each time I visit it.

Pembroke is the county seat of Bryan County.  According to http://pembrokega.net/history.html - "As was true for so many small towns of the rural South, Pembroke's inception was dependent upon the railroad.  It was one of the lucky sites, inasmuch as the 'train stopped there.'"

I was able to get a photo of the caboose that sits in the city park downtown.

    

I also took photos of a painting I love. 

Every time I visit Pembroke and see this painting, I smile.

Thanks for letting me share Today's Journey to Pembroke, Georgia with you.

Reia