The New Campus

I just want to take a minute and express how incredible this new College of Central Florida Levy Campus is.  As we were walking down the halls, being given the grand tour, my heart beamed with pride.  The building--the classrooms--are incredible.  It makes me truly proud that our small community has a campus of this magnitude…right here. I am so proud for the students in the surrounding area to have this right down the road. What a blessing for our community!

Wordless Wednesday

A not-so-great photo of August's Hen Party Cards

A Bit of Local History: The Black Diamond

A bit of a History lesson for you folks, as it was told to me from Mrs. Cindy Jo:

If you're driving on Highway 19 from Chiefland to Fanning Springs, you will see a little, unassuming, abandoned building on the left-hand side a few miles South of Fanning. This used to be the Black Diamond Restaurant. In my early teenage years, it had reopened under the same name.

Originally, it was called the Black Diamond Restaurant. During WWII, the Cross City Airport was used as a training facility for Pilots. On weekends, all of the eligible girls from the Tri-County area would congregate to the Black Diamond restaurant. Why, you ask? They all went there with the hopes of finding themselves a Pilot, of course! And the Black Diamond was the local hub.

Mama Says Monday: Tales of a Seamstress

Image found on so-sew-easy.com

I love to sew. I don’t always get to do much sewing these days. I cannot see as well as I use to, but hopefully my new glasses will help. Also, when your serger gets out of whack, I don’t have the patience any more to fiddle and fiddle and fiddle with it to get it back to sewing properly. I went to sew the other day, and broke the needle on the serger. When I replaced the needle, of course, the stitch was altered. I rethreaded all 4 cones of thread, and it still didn’t sew properly. I lost patience and quit.

My love of sewing started a long time ago, when I was in the 7th grade. My Home-Ec teacher was Mrs. Mary Ann Windham. It seems like we spent half the school year learning to cook and the other half sewing. I had been doing some cooking at home so that didn’t interest me quite as much. My mother could sew, but she had not tried to teach me. We started out making an apron. Each step had to be approved by the teacher. So, we laid out the pattern on our fabric and Mrs. Windham had to approve it before we cut it out. Then we pinned the pieces together and got approval before we sewed the seam. There was only a few sewing machines in the classroom, so we had to share. But I loved that class. Our second project in the class was a garment. I made a dress. I decided that I would be taking Home-Ec every year until I graduated. I sewed that summer. I made most of my school clothes for the next year. My mother was thrilled that I loved to sew, and helped me when I ran into problems. She had an old sewing machine, which only had a forward and reverse stitch.

Then came 8th grade. I couldn’t wait for sewing class. But it was such a pain. Having to get each step approved slowed the whole process down, having to share the sewing machines, and taking six weeks to complete a project that I could do in one Saturday was so unsettling. I decided that Home-Ec classes were not for me, but I continued to sew and make clothes. Soon, I was doing most all the sewing for me and my mother. I also made my father and brothers western shirts. It was so much fun to create the clothing. I learned to alter the patterns. I sort of surpassed my mother’s sewing ability. My father was supportive. When I got frustrated with my mother’s machine, he promised me a new sewing machine. He told me if I helped my mother to cook and feed all the watermelon workers, and that if he had a good year he would buy me a new machine. 

I didn’t get it that year. He didn’t have a good crop that year and he felt bad about promising me and not being able to follow thru. The next year he told me that as soon as he sold the first load, I could get my sewing machine. He let me order the one I wanted. It did almost everything a sewing machine could do at the time. I was so proud. I sewed many a’mile on that machine. I had a lot of people ask me to sew for them, but I discovered that people did not want to pay for the time you spent. Also, homemade was considered inferior for some folks that had worn homemade when they were younger. So, even if the garment looked and fit wonderfully, it was still inferior and therefore, they didn’t want to pay. I soon learned that everyone wasn’t honest and didn’t feel that they had to pay me, simply because I was a teenager. I learned that I didn’t have to sew for everyone. So, I only sewed for the few who appreciated it.

In the summer, I worked in tobacco. I think that I have mentioned this before. But when I got paid, I spent my money on fabric. Saturday, as Aleta and I were going to Fannin Springs, I pointed out the old building on the west side of Hwy 19, which at one time had been a fabric store. I mentioned that I had spent a lot of my tobacco earnings at that store. I had not thought about that store in a long time.

Aleta and I both have bought a lot of fabric that we have not gotten around to using. My sewing room overflows with fabric. Some of it I will probably never use. Some of it I look at today and wonder what in the world was I thinking. I have tried to go thru and sort and maybe get rid of some of it. But mostly, I just refold and put it back, ‘cause you know, I might just still find some use for it. I had thought that I would sew more when I retired. But I guess that I’m still trying to figure out, after 3 years, just what retirement means for me.

Sunday Obsession: Zenni

Image from openclipart.com

Okay…as I've mentioned previously…it truly is the small things that excite me and make me happy.

Last weekend, I made the trip to Walmart to have an eye exam (BTW, I really like Dr. Finger. If you're looking for a good eye doctor, he's really good--And yes, that IS his name).

Now, I need to back-track a little. The last time I was at the Coalition's main office, Mrs. Wendy told me about a website to buy eyeglasses. She said I would just need my prescription and my PD (pupillary distance).

I had my eye exam. I asked Dr. Finger for a copy of my prescription, and asked him to write my PD down for me (You do need to have that, and that's something they don't normally give on your prescription).

I DID end up buying new glasses through Walmart. I do have eye insurance, but like so many, I am only allowed one pair of frames a year (now, every two years), and lenses every year. Now, that's great…but I'm also a woman who loves options.

As Mrs. Wendy had suggested, I went home and checked out Zenni.com. Now, to give y'all a little idea on cost: At Walmart, on my one pair of glasses, WITH INSURANCE, I spent a total of $76--Not terrible--($10 for the eye exam, $66 for my glasses--which included my $25 copay and the remaining balance that my insurance didn't cover on my glasses/lenses). On Zenni, I ordered another pair of eyeglasses AND a pair of sunglasses for a total of $75. To boot, I have to have prisms in my lenses…and on Zenni, that only added $10 to each.

Please note, there are a plethora of additional options of things you can get on your lenses…and I went very basic, because it was my second pair of glasses…I didn't feel like I needed all the bells and whistles.

One might ask how user-friendly it is, and let me just say: it is VERY simple. All you have to do is plug in the prescription numbers (make sure to check double check the + and - amounts). And again, I will mention, you must make sure you know your PD number. But ordering glasses from the website was very easy.

It is helpful to know what shapes work best with your face shape. It helped that I had just tried on glasses at Walmart. And something else I will mention is…I have a very wide face. I knew that my current glasses fit really well, so I measured the frame width on my current glasses to find glasses that had a comparable measurement before really choosing my selection. When you click on a pair of glasses, note the measurements off to the left-hand side of the screen.

If you, like me, identify as "ol' four eyes," you should definitely check out Zenni.

Saturday in the South

Shady Grove Road (Where else? Lol)

Sunset over the Oaks Mall.

Spanish Moss

I was walking to clear my head. There had been so very much had been thrown at me lately. I felt if I encountered much more, my head would just spontaneously combust.

The air was so thick; as it often is in the midst of Florida Summer. It would rain this afternoon. One could nearly set their watch by it. The morning was hot and muggy. The early afternoon was unbearably hot and humid. And in the late afternoon, the clouds would open up. Today would be no different. I took comfort in that routine.  

I got to the area of the road that I loved so much.  It had become my meditation spot.

I stood there watching the Spanish moss sway in the wind. The rhythm was soothing. I stood there for a long while staring at the trees.

After several minutes, I started back towards the house. A rain drop hit my cheek.  I looked up at the sky.  Then another raindrop hit, then another.

Double Fudge Fantasy Bars

Y’all ever have those weeks where you start out ten feet tall and bulletproof and then the week just gets you down?  That’s kind of the week I’ve been having.  It started off wonderfully, and somewhere along the lines I just kind of crashed.

I had intended on doing a video for today.  But I’ll be frank…I just didn’t feel like doing it.  Being in front of the camera just didn't appeal this week.  And I currently have writer’s block.  So…alas, y’all will just have to settle for a recipe today. 

These are a staple in the Sheffield household.  An easy make for a potluck or party.  And they are DELICIOUS (for all of you chocolate lovers out there). 

Double Fudge Fantasy Bars

Ingredients:

1 package of chocolate cake mix

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 cup chopped nuts (I typically use pecans)

1 (14 oz) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT EVAPORATED)

6oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dash salt

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, oil and egg; beat on medium speed until crumbly.  Stir in nuts.  Reserving 1 ½ cups crumb mixture, press remainder on bottom of greased 13x9 inch baking pan.  In small saucepan, combine remaining ingredients.  Over medium heat, cook and stir until chips melt.  Pour evenly over prepared crust.  Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Cool thoroughly.  Cut into bars.  Store loosely covered at room temperature.  

Wordless Wednesday

Train tracks in Newberry.

And in other news...

So, I've been holding back a little. I know, hard to believe, right?

I've told y'all about my new job at the County…but I haven't told y'all about my other new job…

Tonight marks the first night of classes…and I'm teaching Adult Education at a local college!

Will this be a challenge? Yes. Of this, I am positive. BUT this is an opportunity to learn new things AND help people.    I am so excited about this new challenge--this new chapter!

Mama Says Monday

Mama’s lesson # 3,10,15,21…..1073, 2542,…1,302,579. You get the picture. This is something I had said, and reiterated many, many times. When you make a decision, think it through carefully--because there are consequences to most every decision. Apparently, other parents forgot to mention this to their little angels. 

I am so sick of seeing all these public figures that think they can decide to take a stand that is against the norm, then cry foul when things go badly. It’s fine if that is something you feel so strongly about that you are willing to take the consequences. Good for you, you are standing for your principals. But when you have to face the consequences, and you cry foul--you “didn’t know this would be what happened,”--I don’t feel one ounce of pity for you. Did you think there would be no consequences? 

 
But I get even more upset when I see other adults saying “oh, he really shouldn’t be facing these things just because he took such a stand. It’s not fair.” Fair? Why is it not fair? I have made stupid decisions, and I certainly have had to face the consequences. It’s all part of adulting. 

Until next week,

Cynthia Kay

Sunday Obsession: Mud Pie

I am a sucker for the Mud Pie brand.

Now, if you've never heard of them, you simply must check them out on https://www.mud-pie.com/.

I first found their items at Twisted Sister in Fernandina Beach. I bought the cutest navy sun hat, with a navy chevron hat band.

I've gotten an assortment of little home/entertaining pieces over the years. They have some adorable baby clothes, and really cute accessories for women.

 
My past visit to Fernandina yielded these two items: A little bag to go in my purse (to hold all of my essentials that I don't want to lose in the bottomless abyss of my big purse); and a little scoop for my mama for her birthday (No, that's not all I got her…but how cute is it??!) 

 

Saturday in the South

Driving down 129, I saw this photo op this week...

I have always loved this old house.

Frazzled Friday

Image from Pinterest

Have you ever had one of those weeks….where you've got so much on your plate that you feel like your failing at even the simplest of tasks? That is precisely where i found myself this past week. 

I've been running around, trying to prepare for my two new jobs, trying to prepare the girls at my old job, dealing with the first week of school, trying to get VPK stuff caught up, trying to get everything in order for the transition, trying to plan, trying to write, trying to read, trying to spend time with family and friends….

It's just been a lot the past couple of weeks.

So, Monday morning, I had a meeting at the School. I ran to my old office to pick up a package and some of my things, ran to the grocery store, picked up lunch. Drove home, cleaned my old office stuff out of my car. Went inside, had lunch, wrote a little, typed up something for my coworkers….

Annnnd...Around 3 hours later, I realized I'd left all my groceries in my trunk….

Here's hoping I get my memory back when the storm dies down.

As my grandma used to say, "Lawsy Bee."

Assumed Familiarity

One of the most gratifying compliments I have ever received is when a person tells me that they relate to something that I post or write about.   Heck, sometimes I need that validation. I need to feel like I'm not the only one in world that is experiencing something.

I bear my soul, I sometimes "overshare," hoping that it might help someone else who is facing that same battle in the end.

I have gotten emails in the past, I have had people come up to me in public, and thank me for saying things that not just anyone would be willing to share. That blesses my heart.

The one problem with this is, there are some unkind folks out there who are eagerly searching for all of my flaws.

To them, I say: Search me, you will find a plethora of flaws. I am made up of them. I am nothing if not human. But do not merely read one section of my life and assume that you know me completely.  And shame on you for making me question sharing with the world.  And shame on you for making me feel censored.

Wordless Wednesday

Planning for classes. Pumpkin decided to join in.

First Day Jitters

So today is my first day with Gilchrist County. I’ll be honest, I’m a bundle of nerves.

I am so appreciative of all of the words of encouragement and congratulations that I’ve gotten from all of y’all. I am truly excited.

As with anything new, my tummy is full of butterflies. I’ll be starting out again as the “newbie.” I’ll be learning a plethora of new things, and that fact excites me.

I am so very happy to be trying something new…learning something new.

Here’s hoping the first day goes swimmingly!

Mama Says: Unwelcome Guests at the Family Reunion

Image taken from Pinterest

You know how everybody loves going to the family reunion? Well, not me. My father’s family always had a reunion the first week of August. As a child, I always loved to go. It was sometimes the only time during the summer that we got to go to the springs. We would see relatives and cousins our age that we didn’t to see except at the reunion. And the food at the reunion was always so good. The tables would be laden with so many fresh vegetables from the garden, lots of home fried chicken, and lots of desserts. Every woman there had a specialty dessert that she was so proud to prepare. The desserts were wonderful and the compliments would scatter around the room. Wonderful memories!

I went back to the reunion for the first time in a long time last year. Things had changed, faces had changed, lots of people were not there. I mentioned that I had not been there in a long time. In fact, it had been over three decades. I had a hard time going back, in fact, I really had to push myself to go. Let me explain why…

I was married, but my children weren’t born yet. I went to the reunion and was unloading the food I had prepared. As I placed some of my food on the table, one of my relatives came up behind me, placed her hand on my shoulder and greeted me with “Why don’t you lose weight?” I didn’t get “Hi, Cindi, so glad to see you,” or “I’m so glad you came!” just “Why don’t you lose weight?” To say that it shocked me would be an understatement. Now let me explain that this lady had always been a little on the hefty side. Why she felt the need to be so rude that day is beyond me. (I did own a mirror after all.) I had fond memories of going to her home as a child. All that was lost at that moment. I made it through that reunion, but told my mother that I wouldn’t be back. And I didn’t for over thirty years. I never spoke to that relative again.

My oldest daughter turned 31 this year. She has never been to that reunion. There are relatives there that neither of my children have met. Some of those relatives know nothing about my children. Kind of a shame isn’t it.

All this to say how one remark can change your life. No, I didn’t automatically go on a diet and lose weight. But it built a lot of resentment and bitterness in my life. I weeded out a lot of relatives from my life that had no part of that remark. I missed fellowship with some of them for years. That relative?? She died years ago, and still I didn’t go to the reunion.

The moral to this story?? There are several. I have tried to teach my children to think before you speak. Words can’t be taken back. You can ask forgiveness, but it doesn’t mean that your words will be forgotten. (case in point, my 30+ years of boycotting the reunion.)

I can’t tell you how many times in the past that my advice to others is to “get over it, move on, forgive and forget.” Unfortunately, I forgot to apply this to my life in this instance. I found that I had not moved an inch forward, I was still living in the past. Forgiveness is not easy.

I have been dealing with this forgiveness issue for a little while now. Maybe I should say that God has been dealing with me. A while back, one of our Sunday School lessons was on forgiveness. In that lesson, we were told that we should forgive even if that person does not ask for forgiveness. Hmmm…
Did I say that God was dealing with me? Today’s Sunday School lesson was about being a channel for God’s comfort, but in the middle of the lesson guess what? It talked about Nelson Mandela, how he had served 27 years in prison for his fight against apartheid. It said that he knew the importance of forgiveness. He said that as he walked out the gate of the prison toward freedom, he knew if he didn’t leave his bitterness and hatred behind, he would still be in prison. What did this tell me? I was living in a prison that I had made. Was this enough? Nope, later in the sermon, our preacher likened unforgiveness to setting yourself on fire and hoping the other person died from smoke inhalation. Ok, so I hope I am getting the point, Lord.

Ok so at the beginning I mentioned some unwelcome guests at the reunion. I was talking about my unforgiveness and bitterness. I hope next year, I can go and those two won’t be there.

But there was one more unwelcome guest as far as I was concerned. Remember how I reminisced about the food and desserts. Again, there was an abundance of fried chicken, most of which arrived in a box. Now I’m certainly not knocking the store-bought chicken, when we have fried chicken at home, it comes home in a box from Hitchcock’s or Church’s. That is one thing that I hate to cook. We have a lot of chicken, because Aleta is a poultertarian, but it is most often baked. But I was most shocked when I encountered Little Debbie on the dessert table. I am well acquainted with Little Debbie, my husband loved Little Debbie, but she just doesn’t belong at my reunion. I want to see a carrot cake, red velvet cake or homemade brownies, not a cosmic sprinkled Little Debbie. I must say for the most part, Little Debbie was shunned at the reunion and almost all the three boxes went home.

I hope I can make it to next year’s reunion. I don’t plan to take my two tag-a-longs, and I hope that I see some of the old-time specialties and not Little Debbie.

Sunday Obsession: Too Much Chocolate Cake

I haven’t posted a recipe lately. And the sad thing is, I’d kind of promised myself that I would bake more this summer. (Shakes head)...Well, that didn’t happen.

This recipe is one of my go-to’s. It is so moist, and oh-so-easy. I’m all about the “semi-homemade” life. While some may gasp at the thought of using a cake mix…you can surely soup-up a cake mix, and make some wonderful cakes. I will never, ever be a “from scratch” snob. If something makes my life a little easier, and doesn’t require me using 45 ingredients to get nearly the same product, well… I’m surely going to simplify.

I originally got this recipe on allrecipes.com.

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

1 box devil’s food cake mix (I am a firm believer in Duncan Hines)
1 (5.9oz) package of instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
½ cup warm water
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12-cup bundt pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Saturday in the South

There's just something about an old backroad.

Bus Stop

 I am overwhelmed by this moment. A moment that I’ve known was coming for months. A moment I’ve dreaded for months. And yet, here we sit. At the bus stop.

The sun has just risen and there is a briskness in the air today. We are on the brink of Fall. Finally. It’s been hot for far too long. This morning, my nose and fingers are cold. I shiver as the wind brushes my neck. Ironically, perhaps the changing winds are an indication of the changes on the horizon.

You’re standing there, bags at your feet, bag at your side. Ticket in hand. You tap your foot steadily, a release of anxious energy. You have and will always be a bundle of energy.

 
Adventure is on the horizon; and that is what your eyes are set on. You have always had wings, and I have always had roots.

Words are on the tip of my tongue. There is so much to say.

I’ve never handled emotions well. I look at my feet and blink back tears.

You look at me for a moment, searching my face for something. I swallow. I fumble with the hem of my dress.

You point towards the distance. A bus is coming over the hill. The moment has come.

Wordless Wednesday...on Thursday.

Okay, so Cynthia Kay’s birthday post, wonked up my normal weekly posts. So, today, I’m doing Wordless (or not-so-wordless) Wednesday…on Thursday.

I’d sworn I would never become the crazy cat lady. I’d never really even liked them a whole lot. Of course, I’d only ever experience the crazy ones. But honestly, I’ve grown to love cats the past few years. And these two kittens, our latest additions, have my heart. Meet Pumpkin and Pretty Ricky. Pumpkin is the sweetest little kitten, and Pretty Ricky is about the most dramatic kitten you’ll ever meet.

Pumpkin

Pretty Ricky

Happy birthday, Cynthia Kay!

So y'all, today is the big day.  It's Cynthia Kay's birthday.  I'd tell you how old she was, but she'd probably kill me.  

Long, gushy posts aren't our style.  So today...here's to the one-of-a-kind, oh-so-sassy, Cynthia Kay.   Here's to many more sassy years to come.  May your eyebrows always be dark and may your driving skills improve with age.  

My Modern Day Mayberry

I wrote this in April of 2013, about seven months after I left Trenton to come and work in Chiefland.  I re-read over it the other day, and all of these sweet faces and memories flashed through my mind.  This is what I have missed for so long.  This is what I'm coming back to.  :)

My Modern Day Mayberry

Main Street

There was a question posed to me the other day: Do you miss your old job?

What a loaded question.  Of course I miss my old job. My first thoughts were completely work-related.  I missed the creativity of my old job.  I enjoyed making up the newspaper; I honestly felt pride in the finished product every week.  I loved my coworkers.  I loved my Journal babies.  I loved that there was a fairly definite schedule to my work week.  There were VERY FEW things that I didn't like about my old job.

Then my thoughts began to wander...

You know what I really miss?  I miss Trenton.  Now, I can vividly remember wishing aloud several times that I could leave the town.  And granted, I only moved 11 miles down the road...but truthfully, it might as well be on the other side of the planet, as I never seem to get over there anymore.

See, Trenton was my modern day Mayberry.

The Journal

I miss having a "hen party" with Mrs. Cindy Jo each week and hearing all the latest gossip; hearing about Carrie's latest thrifty find or about Allie Claire or Whitt's latest funny story.  I miss hearing Mr. John say the same phrases over and over again; and Chris telling me something about the episode of South Park that was on the night before.  I miss seeing Mr. Mark's newest, beautiful orchid sitting on our counter.  I miss playing ball with Gus at the front of our store. 

The Courthouse

I miss walking into the Courthouse and seeing Mrs. Sabra and Lyndsay; and gabbing with Mrs. Cindy Chadwick.  Or seeing Lisa Renee or Mrs. Connie Sanchez's smiling face.  I miss taking a newspaper to Mrs. Dale Bryant at the Courthouse and having her give me an encouraging word.  I miss being able to have lunch with my friend Crystal Rodgers, and getting to hear about the crazies that have crossed her path recently. 

I miss selling a newspaper to that little, sweet, old lady that walks all over town, even the heat of Florida summer, with her cane and a dip of snuff tucked in her lip that has kept up with me since my Hitchcocks days. 

I miss having D. Ray come in, and sit in the chair that I deemed my "D. Ray chair" where he would always have a joke or a comment about me being his "streetwalker."  I miss his feisty wife, Mrs. Diana Harrison. 

The Cracker Box

I miss walking into the Cracker Box (or Crack Shack, as I lovingly called it) and seeing the Pine Grove Pastoral Staff to my right, Mr. Thomas Bryant and friends to my left and Mrs. Julie Kincaid smiling at me from the register.  Mrs. Julie is gorgeous and her personality is just icing on the cake, she always ready with a compliment to brighten your day and put a little pep in your step. And of course, I miss the Crack Shack's peach cobbler.  lol. 

I miss seeing the old man driving his lawnmower around town in his American Flag pajamas.  I miss seeing Mrs. Clara Nell riding her bike. 

I miss seeing a lemonade stand on the corner in the summer, set up to raise money for school supplies for less fortunate children.

Hitchcock's

I miss running into Hitchcocks and hearing Ryan singing or humming down the aisles as he stocks shelves; or hearing a dirty joke from Robyn in the deli and having Mrs. Karen just shake her head.  I miss catching up with Ren as I wait to check out.  I miss Mr. Gray Schofield walking around with his diet coke bottle. 

I miss the small town politics. 

I even miss being asked about my pedigree.

The truth is, y'all...I miss Trenton's familiarity.  I miss its warmth that just sucks you in.  I miss my Modern-day Mayberry.

Mama Says Monday: Cynthia Kay's Commentary

One of my favorite things to do, and I do it quite well, if I do say so myself, is to give a running commentary on whatever is on the TV. Now let me point out, most of the time I’m just stating the obvious, or at least what seems obvious to me. One of Aleta’s favorite movies, that I have apparently totally ruined for her is ConAir, starring Nicolas Cage. She won’t let me watch it with her anymore. It has been so long now since I have viewed it, that I can’t remember everything. But his over-the-top Dixie drawl bugs the daylights out of me. And while he’s been in prison for a number of years, he’s really a good guy. And he’s so looking forward to being reunited with his wife and little girl. The last 15 minutes of the movie is action packed, loaded with gunshots, flooded streets, fist fights and guess what? Nicolas Cage comes out on top as you would expect. He’s a hero. And standing nearby is his wife and little girl. He walks over to them and holds out a bedraggled stuffed rabbit, dripping with sewer water, and drawls out “here, darlin’, I brought you a present.” Are you kidding me? Go throw that stupid rabbit in a dumpster and wash your hands with bleach before you touch me or my daughter!! Maybe it’s just me, but that gesture is just totally lost on me.

Reality TV- everything is drama! Staged, I tell you. Of course, it wouldn’t make for major Hollywood dollars without drama.

I am so thankful for a life filled with normal, everyday stuff with little drama. And my kids wonder why I just like to watch the news. Although, come to think of it, the news has almost as much drama lately as those reality shows.

Until next week....Stay Sassy,

Cynthia Kay

Sunday Obsession: Townie's

The Sheffield girls, while on vacation, try very hard to find restaurants that are not chains.  We like to find the local digs.  So, a few years back, we stopped into this little unassuming pizza joint.

We found that a bunch of the employees looked to be local skater kids.  And as we sat waiting for our food, we heard the kids in the back singing to their heart's content.  It was the coolest experience.  And the food was AMAZING.

Also, random fact....we all had to run to the restroom when we were there waiting on our food...and they had THE coolest bathroom.  A map of Fernandina was painted on the walls, with all of the characters from Mario Brothers all strewn throughout the map.  It was the neatest thing.  I will say here that I was the weirdo taking pictures of their bathroom.  I will admit it.

The last time we went through Fernandina, we saw that Townie's had closed down.  Now, I'm going to be honest here...my heart sunk a little.

This trip, I found myself in the midst of memory failure, as I so often do.  I could not remember the name of the place.  I sat there for about 30 minutes telling KW about it, and I could not for the life of me remember the name.  So, I finally broke down and called mom.  I decided to look them up...and y'all, I'm so glad that I did....

Townie's had moved to another location.  They are actually on the same block as the Walmart.  My heart rejoiced a little as we drove up to it.  The new location is colorful, and it just screams "Townie's" now. 

I took some photos while I was there.  And now, the bathroom is painted with sea turtles.  Lol.  Y'all know I had to check.  The food was just as amazing as I remembered.  And they've added several new items to the menu.  If y'all are ever in the area, please check it out.  It is incredible.

The new colorful restaurant

A bench made out of skateboards

The sea turtles that adorn the bathroom walls.

Encouragement

Sometimes we just need a little encouragement.  I will be the first to admit that.  Some days, I'm 10 feet tall and bulletproof.  Some days, not so much.  Encouragement is so incredibly important.

Encouragement is something that I now struggle with.  It used to come so freely from me, but in the past year, at times, I've found it difficult to be an encourager.  I'm working on that.

I wanted to share two bits that were sent to me recently, because they truly blessed my heart.  I am thankful for you two.

---

"You is kind...you is smart...you is important."

"I didn't let you know that enough when you were here.  I think you and I are a lot alike because it's easier to be sarcastic about everything.  And it's way fun, but seldom do we let people know they are appreciated...the ones who need to hear it.

Maybe you and I rub people the wrong way, because they don't know how to take us most of the time, but given time, I think they'd find out we're pretty dang cool.

Sometimes it takes longer for people to notice what's special about us, or even that we have something that makes us special or unique.  Sometimes it takes longer for people to look a little bit deeper than the outer shell that we live in and see what's really there.

Having said that, sometimes as tough as it is, sometimes the most positively active thing we can do is wait.  Wait on what?  Wait on people to notice that thing, whatever it is about us?  People are idiots when it comes to recognizing what is truly there in a person.

You might not think you are the most beautiful person in the world, I know I don't think that about myself.  But given enough time, someone will think so.

So like I said...'You is kind...you is smart...you is important...you is beautiful...you is funny...you is loved!"

---

"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we'll ever do."--Brene Brown

"I want you to know that I appreciate you.  I am grateful for the person that you are.  There aren't many who are brave enough to share their vulnerability the way you have--it's so flattering on you, my friend.  Thank you for choosing to be you, even when it's hard and it turns into a 'sunglasses' day.  I love how you look life straight in the eyeballs--and appreciate you sharing all aspects so that people know they're not alone.  You are so loved, deeply loved.  I hope that on the tough days you can find the strength that you possess.--You are enough.

Thank you for sharing your bravest moments, as well as your falls, and especially those experiences that are the integration of those two.  You are enough, AKS.  You are, you always have been, and you always will be." 

eighteen.

eighteen.

I am no good at this.

Being hopeful, and so full of self-doubt,

all at the same time.

I am not eighteen anymore;

when I was so young, and dumb,

and loving and trusting.

It has been so very long,

since last feeling this way.

Warm, and scared;

happy and nervous.

I thought this was lost on me,

forevermore.

And I have to remember that:

Patience is a virtue.

But I am not patient.

There is risk.

But I am scared of risk.

I am trying.

But this is new, again, to me.

I am no good at this.

Being hopeful, and so full of self-doubt,

all at the same time.

I am not eighteen anymore;

when I was so young, and dumb,

and loving and trusting.

---

This was written on September 21, 2014.

Wordless Wednesday: Photos from Fernandina

KW and I at Fernandina Beach

Centre Street

Amelia Tavern

Quite possibly the largest pretzel ever.  LOL.  I'd ordered this thinking it would be pretzel bites and beer cheese dip.  When this came out, I was like "Please tell me that's not my pretzel."  But alas, it was...hanging on a banana hanger...in all of its glory.

Fort Clinch

Taken from the Beach at Fort Clinch State Park

The Beach at Fort Clinch State Park (truthfully, this was the nicer beach)

Oh how I love Little White Churches.  This one was in St. Marys, GA.

KW.  We were eating breakfast at Jack and Diane's on Centre Street (The Coco Chanel Crepe was heavenly).

Making It

Photo from etsy

The phone rings.

It's him calling. I’m taken aback. What in the world?

I answer.

He says “What’s up?” like there has been no distance between us. No time has passed.
We talk for a minute. I try my hardest not to blurt anything out.

That’s a struggle.
So much I am wanting to say. So much that I can’t let pass through my lips.
I babble. As always. We talk over each other. Both nervous.

He interrupts my senseless babble and says “So have you been okay?”
“Yes, I’ve been great.” I reply.
I lie.

Great? Ha. How about “Missing you terribly?”
How about, “I’m smiling and wanting to cry right this very second?”
Alas, I can’t say these things.
“How are you?” I say without missing a beat.
“Good.”

I say something stupid. I hear him smile into the phone.
I HEAR him smile into the phone.
Yes, I know him well enough to know these things. To hear these things.

We chat for a minute more.
Deciding we’re both okay. Making it okay.
We say our goodbyes.
I press “end.”

And that’s the life we live.
A check-in ever-so-often, and on we go.
Both just “making it.”

---

This was written January 22, 2014.