Being an agoraphobic, I rarely "get out" anymore and join in with the rest of the world. But a few months back, I received the annual invitation to an "end of summer" BBQ. I tucked away the invitation in my mind, honored but knowing in my heart that I'd probably do the same as in the previous years and not attend. I WANTED to go, but I just couldn't "make" myself go. Friday rolls around and I FINALLY told Hubby about the BBQ and that we MIGHT go. Of course he was skeptical. He of all people, knows me only too well. However, he went ahead and made a dish to take, just in case. Since starting this blog, from the very beginning, I got the feeling that this little blog of mine, silly though it may seem to others, would help me in a lot of ways. I'm not a "people" person, I'm not one where the conversation can just flow freely from me. When I'm talking with someone, the thoughts running through my mind are in the nature of " they must think I"m so stupid" or they wish they were anywhere but talking with ME. Writing this blogs MAKES me want to get out and take pics, see people, so I can get ideas on things to write about. I enjoy it. With writing, I can express how I feel. I can say what I want without worrying about how I sound to the other person or deal with the feelings of insecurity and inadequacy that I'm faced with when I'm around people. So....Saturday, the day of the BBQ arrives and I was completely surprised because for once, I was so excited about actually GOING somewhere and THAT just never happens to me at all. I couldn't wait for 5:30 to get here quick enough!! Shoot, I even shaved my legs and put on new panties :) When we got there, we lugged our food and lawn chairs (and my camera, of course), up the hill and found us a huge shade tree to park ourselves under to start enjoying the night. Linda and John have hosted this annual summer event since around 2000. For 14 years they've invited family and friends to come out and help them celebrate the end of summer and the start of a glorious Autumn. Their beautiful home sits on top of a massive hill and as I stood up there looking out across the land, the views from every direction was nothing short of breathtaking. The blue sky had lingering traces of white, wispy, ribbon~streaked clouds, evidence that a plane had recently roared overhead, leaving in its wake, an almost child~like drawing of the letter "A" in an otherwise, clear blue sky. Cattle grazed in the distant fields....totally undisturbed at all these strange people who were invading their nearby space. They seemed perfectly content to go on doing what they were doing....chewing! As Linda gave her welcoming speech to the crowd over the microphone to get the evening going. I couldn't help but think that this woman is a born entertainer. She could give ANY comedian out there a run for their money. She's quicker with a comeback and one-liner that would put even Roseanne Barr to shame (and she's prettier too!). She's a wonderful, warm woman who loves to laugh. I grew up thinking of her as "one of the family". My step~dad, who was never overly~fond of TOO many people, thought the world of Linda, so that should tell ya something right there! Linda and my great~aunt Carolyn used to work together, both were/are beauticians and my step~dad would go there for a haircut and he just LOVED it cuz they always talked about how pretty his hair was and he got such a "kick" out of them trying to find a gray hair. They have a knack for making people feel special. John, who I still refer to as MR. because he was a teacher at my high school "wayyyyy back in the day". It's a title of respect that even years later I can not and will not break. He was without a doubt, one of THE best teachers that school ever had. He made each student feel special and was such a great role model for the guys who took his class. My brother, Dean, had him in Ag class and in FFA and I know that he looked to him for guidance AND thought of him as a good friend. You'll never see him without a smile and a kind word, definitely a TRUE southern gentleman. As the "shindig" got under way, Hubby and I decided to just walk around. Linda and I both have the same passion for "junk stuff" and breathing new life into it. Only SHE makes it look GOOD! We walked around to the back of the house, and there were numerous plants and gorgeous flowers.... I would have been content just to have stayed behind the house with all those flowers! The landscaping was out of this world... Take for instance this old iron gate with a happy little yellow mum...my heart melted and I was in heaven! There was just sooooo much to look at...another favorite (and there were many!!)...was this piano, covered in Sweet Potato vines...absolutely gorgeous!! Another fave....This old dinner bell on top of an old fence post. Everywhere you looked you could see kids smiling, laughing and playing. For just a few hours, there was no TV, no video games...just pure, innocent fun. I loved watching the kids play. Some were running around with glow sticks, finding delight with the oncoming dark of the night... Some held races to see who could run the fastest.... Many were fascinated by the little playhouse ....oh be still my heart!! It was amazing! What child OR grown~up, wouldn't love this. I seriously need one of these for myself! And then there was those who set out to find their own adventure. I couldn't help but smile as I watched them slip through the fence.... As Hubby and I made our way back around to the front of the house....The long front porch boasts several huge ever~so green ferns, spaced between each of the tall white columns. Now THAT is pure SOUTHERN and I loved it! The porch is definitely something that needs to be on "Pinterest"! I could just imagine sitting on the swing with a glass of lemonade and a good book. Underneath a huge pine tree they have displays of gorgeous plants and "antique stuff" that looks like something out of a country magazine. LOVE the old toy car and bike! Soon we headed back down the hill to join the rest of the crowd.... Earlier this year a storm came through and destroyed the famous "party shed" and they had to rebuild. Inside the building, there were 2 long tables lined with food and against another wall, a table was set up for all the desserts, which I tried my best to stay away from! The meat and drinks were provided by Linda and John and the guests each brought a dish or 2. (Hubby made scalloped potatoes ...yummy!) Another favorite part were the beautiful chandeliers....they were about the only things Linda and John were able to save out of the old shed when the storm destroyed it. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!! One of the highlights of the night was the entertainment which was provided by the very talented Jeff Johnson and his band. My biggest regret of the night was that I was too shy and that kept me from going up front to get GOOD, close pics of the band.(I need to work on that!) I'm just not good enough with a camera to take great , far away pics. They were absolutely wonderful, playing a mix of country, bluegrass and gospel. An extremely talented group of guys! We had Oran Bowlds playin' on a beautiful upright [doghouse] bass (pictured below) while Kevin Bowlds was playin' a MEAN fiddle. Then there was Steve Simmons showing us his talent on the mandolin, as Gary Evans was doing some FINE pickin' on the banjo and during all this, was Jeff Johnson, displaying his own brand of magic on the guitar. If you EVER get a chance to hear these guys perform, please do, they were amazing! Jeff Johnson sung the beautiful song, "Beulah Land" at my grandmother's funeral a few years back and I will be a forever fan of his... Y'all will NEVER know how bad I wanted to turn this lil beauty around so I could get a good shot of it, but it was facing the shed and there just wasn't enough room for me to squeeze my lil fat body between it and the shed. All I could think about the whole night was wishing I could get a decent shot of it. It was absolutely beautiful...the gorgeous wood grain just GLEAMED in the sunlight earlier. I WAS however, able to get a close up of the headstock and tuner keys....LOVED it. The lil details is always where the beauty is! I'll post a pic of the band but it's so bad I almost hate to. Music speaks to the soul...and children are no exception. I watched a lil boy, as he sat close to the band, listening to them as they played. He seemed to be in total awe. Such a delight to watch and in the very front was a lil girl, in a long dress, dancing to the music, twirling around and around with her arms spread out in total abandonment as the music spoke to her, her dress flowing in the wind.... It was a wonderful night and I'm SOOOOO glad I went! I thought about all the hard work Linda and John put into this event each year and wondered (and hoped) they could see, what we, the guests see. I hope these pics and blog might show them a little. To let them know that they are indeed greatly appreciated and thanked by us all. Their hard work did NOT go unnoticed! They showed us all the meaning of the words....True Southern Hospitalityღღ Can't wait for next year to hurry up and get here now!! Thank y'all for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed it!
Be good and be pretty and as always..... ✻ღϠ₡ღ✻ God Bless ✻ღϠ₡ღ✻ |
HI! My name is Lori and I am a self~ proclaimed agoraphobic and rarely leave my home. My blog is a place for me to come and embrace my Edith Bunker tendencies and to share a few of the things I love. Stories, recipes and crafts, all with a little humor thrown in along the way! ღღ
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