A Grown Up Christmas

Last week was Thanksgiving, and the always entertaining Black Friday, and it got me thinking…

You know, my mom, my sister, and I used to love to go to Crystal River and shop every Black Friday. It was so low-key, y'all. The worst fight we ever saw was between two senior citizen ladies with grocery carts in the Waldenbooks. Crystal River was awesome: you could get a close parking spot, there were no brawls, no one got tazed. Unfortunately, most of the stores in Crystal River closed down…much to my dismay. We then tried Ocala one year, which was insane, and we came home with a nice-sized ticket from the Marion County Sheriff's Department. The next year we tried Lake City, which was much more enjoyable…But the last several years we haven't partaken in Black Friday festivities.

I won't lie, I did online binge shop a little for myself over the past weekend. Dang Torrid sales and emails. They were killing me.

Truthfully, I have been picking up Christmas gifts since around April. I am almost through, with the exception of a few small items. I have only had one true "Aleta freak out" moment where I forgot what I'd bought Mom as her big gift. I knew I'd gotten her one. I knew I'd already paid for it…but try as I might, it took me several days to remember WHAT I'd bought her. After I finally remembered, I laughed and laughed, because how could I have forgotten THAT?

You know, there were years when I was younger, and I had certain must-have items…items I'd put on my wish list that I wanted/expected under the tree. Nowadays, what I want is something that can't be found under the tree. I want time. Rather than a gift, I want time with my loved ones. I would trade an expensive gift for a night spent sipping hot chocolate, in my pajamas, watching Christmas movies with my loved ones. It's the small things, like that, that truly matter.

Perhaps it wasn't the great deals that meant so much all those years spent Black Friday shopping…but more the time spent with Mom and Rheba.

Not Too Wordy Wednesday: Christmas Movies

I know that I'm not alone in loving all of the Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channels. So, today, for those of you who may have missed some of my personal favorites, I wanted to share their airtimes and the channel that they would be on. 

Journey Back To Christmas.  Image found on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries website.

Last year, one of my new favorite movies aired. Journey Back to Christmas is about a nurse who lives in the 1940s, and during a snowstorm she seeks shelter in a barn. The next morning when she gets out of the barn, she finds herself in current time. She meets friends that attempt to help her find her way back to the 1940s. I absolutely love Candace Cameron Bure, and this is one of her best Christmas movies yet. The outfits are darling, too!

This will be on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Wednesday, November 29 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, December 2 at 11 a.m.

Another favorite of mine is The Christmas Card. A soldier that seeks out the woman that sent him a Christmas Card while he was overseas. He meets and falls in love with both her and her family.

This will be on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Wednesday, November 29 at 9 p.m.

Christmas Under Wraps, about a Doctor that goes to a rural town in Alaska, which is the farthest thing from her original plan.

This will be on the Hallmark Channel Friday, December 1 at 10 p.m.

My Alabama Friends

Karli, Me, and Wyatt

One of the best parts of this Thanksgiving was…my Alabama friends came down! I say "Alabama friends," but actually, they're from here they just live in 'bama now. Anytime I get to spend time with these two, I know I'm going to be in stitches the whole night. What, with Karli's stories…and I can't look at ol' Wyatt without laughing. They are hilarious! 

Karli & I

Karli is one of my nearest and dearest friends. I cannot believe she has been up in Alabama now for nearly a year and a half. It seems like just yesterday I was helping her box up her things.

I may not get to see them as much as I'd like, and I surely do miss them when they leave, but it makes me cherish the time I get to spend with them while they're down that much more.

Mama Says Monday

This weekend I stayed busy at home. I spoke with my cousin Marilynn this afternoon and she was surprised to find out that I didn’t leave the house on Black Friday. Aleta and I always got up early on Friday and off we went. Now by early I mean we would get up and be to the store around 6:00 a.m. Now to get the best black Friday deals you have to go on Thursday and shop all night. All those hard-core shoppers are getting home at the time we used to get up. I’ve decided it ruins my Thanksgiving and it’s no longer fun. I enjoyed going to my sister-in-law’s on Thanksgiving day and being with family.

After that, I stayed home and alternately played with my stamps, made cards, organized some of my stamp sets, and shelled pecans. I have now stashed almost 5 gallon bags of pecans in my freezer. And I think I have permanently stained fingernails from the pecans and stained fingers and hands from the ink pads. But, all in all, a productive weekend. I use a lot of pecans in a year with my cooking and I have some new cards to send to friends. Life is good!

Sunday Obsession: That Little Shop In Juliette

I've written about this before.  And y'all who've been following me for a while will know this about me.  I have a deep love of pewter.  My Hannie's pewter pitcher sparked that love, and I have forever been in search for one like it.  

Alas, I still have not found the pitcher that my heart so desires….

However…upon our visit to Juliette this past weekend, I did find two pieces to add to my collection.  You see, it never fails, every single time I go into this little store in Juliette, they ALWAYS have a piece of pewter.  This time was no different.  Look at the beautiful serving dishes that I found. 

Merry Christmas to me!

Now, I feel terrible, as I have no idea what the name of this shop is…but it's the yellow shop that is across from the Whistle Stop.  You can't miss it.  This store has everything from milk glass to old records.  It's the neatest little shop.  If y'all are ever in the area, be sure to stop in!  

Saturday In The South

Covered Bridge Trip 2017

As Mom was saying on Monday, the start to our trip surely did not go as planned! But overall, we had a wonderful time! When we FINALLY got on the road, we shot up to Juliette first. Yes, we were trying to make it to the Whistle Stop before they closed. We ate there twice this weekend. Don't judge. Lol.

Then, we were off to Commerce, Georgia. The trek from Juliette to Commerce was beautiful. Full of farm land, and small towns. It was breathtaking. We decided to stay in Commerce after our experience in Athens, previously. While Athens is beautiful, it's full of one-way streets and metered parking. Both of which don't mesh well with the Sheffield girls. Commerce is just a hop and a skip away, and there are is a nice outlet mall there, and it has a privately owned movie theater, which was cool.

The next day, we started our treasure hunt of covered bridges. Y'all, as I've mentioned previously, in 2014, Mom and I had one of the coolest trips ever. We literally spent days driving around Mid and North East Georgia, searching for all of the covered bridges. I took some incredible photos on that trip. Since then, I have been dying to go back and see the bridges in the Fall. Unfortunately, it was hard to time it right. There was an early freeze this year, which effected some of the trees, and we went kind of late, so many of the leaves were starting to fall. Still, it was beautiful. 

Cromer's Mill Bridge

First, we went to the bridge in Commerce, Georgia: Cromer's Mill Bridge. This was a bridge that we hadn't actually been to before. It was so cute. And although you can't see many of the leaves in this photo, the leaves around that area were beautifully colored. 

Watson Mill Bridge

Next, we went to Watson Mill Bridge. This is the longest covered bridge in Georgia. It has a beautiful little waterfall on one of the sides of the bridge, and makes for some lovely photos. 

Howard's Mill Bridge

Howard's Mill Bridge is only maybe 10 minutes from Watson Mill Bridge. This is one of my favorites. This bridge had more of the color of the leaves visible around it. And the road leading to it was incredibly beautiful. 

Elder Mill Bridge

On our way back to Macon, we made one more stop at the Elder Mill Bridge in Watkinsville. I was disappointed with the photo here, because it simply did not do it justice.

Saturday night, we spent the night in Macon. We went shopping, at the Shoppes at River Crossing. A nice outdoor mall, really. The next day we went back to the Whistle Stop….I know, I know. But listen, around here the Fried Green Tomatoes just don't compare. I have to get 'em while the gettin's good. We enjoyed lunch, and then hit the road.

We made a stop on the Lane Orchard exit. A barn I'd once photographed was summoning me back. It even had an antique car underneath it. A little trespassing later, and I was a happy girl!

Our final stop was at Carrol's Sausage on Exit 82, I believe. Mom and Rheba are hooked on it. We'd made a stop there on our trip with the Hanchey's, and they just had to have more!

Our trip was great. Such sweet memories were made. The places were beautiful, but the time spent with Mom and Rheba was the best part!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This week I have been reflecting on everything that I am truly grateful for. While a seemingly endless list, I wanted to share a bit.

I am thankful for my mom and sister, and their unwavering support. I am thankful for Karter Lee, and being able to take care of the chunky chocolate lab that my dad loved so much. I am thankful for my family, who are always there when you need it most. I am thankful for the friends who have laughed with me, cried with me, and stuck by me through thick and thin. I am thankful for rekindled friendships. I am thankful for a wonderful job, that I enjoy coming to each and every day. I am thankful for an awesome boss, and amazing coworkers. I am thankful to be back in Gilchrist County, the place that has always held my heart. I am thankful for the lessons learned this year, both the good and bad, as they have made me grow. I am thankful for each and every person that has crossed my path, as they have taught me something.

I am thankful for breathtaking sunsets. I am thankful for sunrises and second chances. I am thankful for laughter, and how good it makes one's soul feel. I am thankful for Hallmark Christmas movies, and the time I get to enjoy them with my mom. I am thankful for mini-trips, and seeing new sights. I am thankful for photographs, and being able to freeze a moment in time.

I am thankful for my blog, and being able to share with you. And I am thankful for you, yes you, reading this.

I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Not So Wordy Wednesday

For those of you needing a little pop of color in your lives...

Was this someone's house?  Possibly.  Was I in their yard taking pictures of their tree?  Yep.

Simple Words

I've been sitting on this post for a little while. Trying to put my emotions into words.

I'm curious. Do you have those people in your lives that always seem to just show up when you need it the very most? They say the most perfect thing at the most crucial time…and it is PRECISELY what you need to hear.

A few weeks ago, I was passing out candy at the Courthouse parking lot at the Trunk or Treat. A person very near and dear to my heart walked up. We hadn't seen each other in a couple of years. Time hadn't changed him at all. He looked the same. He yelled "Leeta!" in his deep, booming voice. We hugged. I told him that I was now working back in Gilchrist County and that I was loving it. He looked me dead in the eye and said "Aleta, just be you. You'll be successful. Just be you."

These might sound like the simplest of words, but they were what my ears so desperately needed to hear at that very moment. At that exact moment, I had some things going so wonderfully in my life, and some things going so terribly wrong. And at that very moment, I just needed an encouraging word.

This isn't the first time that he has been there with the right words at exactly the right time. I'm not sure how, but he always just seems to know. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Mama Says Monday: So Goes My Life

We made our second fall excursion into Georgia this weekend. We went last month for the apple festival. We didn’t see a lot of color on that trip. We went this weekend to see if there were any colored leaves left on the trees. 

We had a wonderful trip… after a bad start. We planned to leave right after Rheba made it home from work Friday morning. This was to be another quick weekend trip. We had everything packed. Actually, let me go back to Thursday…

When Rheba came home from work she discovered that I had a very flat tire on the back, passenger side. Are you kidding me?? That tire was less than a month old. I had my nephew come over and take off my flat tire and put on the little donut that Nissan very nicely provides to Altima owners. I drove to Walmart and was told it would be a 2-3 hour wait. And I had so much to do on Thursday, getting ready for the trip. Well, when Walmart finally got around to my tire, they discovered a screw and a nail about an inch apart in my tire. My new tire had to be replaced. Thank goodness, I had gotten the road hazard warranty. Got my new tire and was on my way, running about 3 hours behind. 

So, there we were, all packed and ready, waiting on Rheba about 8:30 Friday morning. She gets home and informs us that we have a tire going flat on the back on the driver’s side. I, once again, call on my nephew. He fills the tire with air, and I head to Chiefland. That is the one tire that wasn’t replaced last month. I must say I am really blessed. I have a wonderful nephew who always comes to my rescue and I have a neighbor who runs an automotive shop. Val takes care of the Sheffield girls’ vehicles and keeps us on the road. I decided that I didn’t want to wait 2-3 hours on Walmart, so I called Val’s Automotive and told them what was up. I got to the shop and they took care of my tire right away. I had a screw in that tire but thankfully, that tire could be repaired. (I really need to find the guys who is losing all these screws, nails, and drill bits and see if he will pay for my tires.)

On the road once again, we headed toward Lake City to get on I-75. But to give you an idea of how our luck runs, right after we get on the interstate, my warning system comes on and flashes “Maintenance-Oil and Filter” and “Maintenance-Tires”. It’s time to have the car serviced and the tires rotated. I had to watch these two warnings flash the whole trip. And so goes my life!!

Sunday Obsession: Sara's Blankets

Y'all…I know that it's the holiday season…a time for giving. But last Sunday? I had to buy myself something…But I didn't feel an ounce of guilt…I was buying local.

An old 4-H friend posted the cutest blanket that you ever did see. It's a "Happy Camper" blanket. How freaking cute is this?

Meanwhile, she has been toiling away making full-size blankets and baby blankets. They are the cutest thing ever. If you are still trying to find "the perfect" gift for a loved one, and they have a favorite color, favorite past time, etc, I highly suggest you messaging Sara Spivey. Also, for all of my out-of-towners, she IS willing to ship. And she DOES take special orders. 

You can message Sara at star_barrelracer2@yahoo.com.

As a side note, I hope this season that you will consider buying local.  The money spent locally directly goes back into our local economy.

Saturday in the South: A Hodge Podge Post

This is a bit of a hodge podge post, today.

I remembered about a little church that I'd taken wedding photos at the other day, and made the jaunt to Otter Creek to capture it before sunset.  I love this quaint, little church.

As I was rushing to get to the church before sunset, I did have to pull over to take a few photos of this field of sorghum.

Some of these photos you may have seen in the TDC post, but alas, I just love our little town.

The Streets of Juliette, Georgia

The Streets of Juliette

Okay, so, last week I began my love post about Juliette, and now, now y'all get to see all of my pictures.  I hope that you will enjoy.  This little town is so beautiful, I'm simply amazed that more movies depicting small, town Southern life have not been filmed here.  If we're in Georgia, and within--say 100 miles--we're going to Juliette.  This town has won my heart.  

The Box

Image found on theartzoo.com

We were young, you and I. Admittedly, we knew "nothing about nothing." You with dragons to slay and lands to conquer. And me with stars in my eyes. And yet, there was a whole lot of love there. Even though we were young, and idyllic and dumb, that love has seemingly transcended both years and distance.

I have to store you in a box, now. Not you literally, but your letters, our photos, the baubles you gave me. A box of momentos that, upon the opening of the box, take me back 15 years.

I don't open it frequently. I simply can't. It makes me miss you far too much. But every now and again, I allow myself that. I open the box, and a flood of bittersweet memories wash over me. Reminders of how loved I once was.