A Southern Accent

Growing up, we got our fresh fruits and veggies from our garden, or my grandparent's garden. Now that I live somewhere I can't have a couple acres for my garden, I realize that the rest of the world gets their fix at the local farmer's market. The Durham Farmer's Market is one not to be missed. Filled with local vendors, sweet and savory goodies and scents from heaven, you can spend hours there just looking at everything. Some of my favorite vendors are Angel's Nest Bakery, with their wonderful baked goods and sweets that always sell out, Lil Farm, with beautiful vegetables and flowers, Emma's Desserts, serving fried pies and tarts and Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm, which has wonderful sausage and steaks. Walker loves it too. I give him his own money and he picks how he wants to spend it. Typically on a cookie on a stick or a cupcake, then lemonade and whatever else he can squeeze out of his leftover change.  This past Saturday included a cooking competition...

While doing some light plumbing Sunday (trying to replace a faucet in the upstairs bathroom), I pulled up on the existing faucet after loosening it and I suddenly heard a horrible noise. It was kinda like Niagra Falls from a distance and I knew this wasn't good. Walker and I ran downstairs screaming to Mike, who had fallen asleep in his chair watching golf. I told him something had broken and I could hear water rushing in the walls. Me: "How do we turn the water off to the house???" Mike: "I don't know...what? Why? What happened?" Me: "HOW DO WE TURN THE WATER OFF TO THE HOUSE???" Mike: "What did you do?" Then as water begins to gush from the light fixtures and the ceiling, around the hall door, he finally understood why I was asking. And neither of us had any idea how to stop it. It was an awful feeling. I was hysterical for about 4 minutes - couldn't find my cell phone, didn't know what to do, imagining the floor jus...

Ask for a mohawk and yee shall receive! I contemplated saying no on this one, but I figure, hey, it's Friday and it's just to preschool, let's have a little fun. Inspired by the multitude of mohawks on "So You Think You Can Dance". Yet more proof I'm a cool mom (at least in my own little world). 

If my husband brings home one more pack of these things to surprise Walker with, I'm taking away his check card. No, really. Silly bands are taking over my house - they're everywhere! At least I was able to use one the other day to pull my hair back when I couldn't find a rubber band.

It's amazing watching a child develop from an infant to an almost kindergartner. It's crazy to think I haven't always known how to read, because it comes so easily now. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to want to read, but not quite be there. Walker has always loved books, but he's starting to take a true interest in reading, and I hope it lasts. I was in my room the other day straightening up and it got really quiet in his room. I peaked in and there he was surrounded by his "I Can Read" books , flipping through the pages. I sneaked a couple of shots of him because he was so focused. If you've never seen these books, they are great for children. I guess they are this generation's version of Golden Books (remember those?) which are actually starting to pop up on shelves again. The "I Can Read" books feature popular characters, colorful pictures and different levels for children depending on their reading abilities. We ha...

A fun trend I've seen in recent decorating and design magazines is the use of trays to add a pop of color and organization to a room!They are great for grouping collections, making a room look more put together  and organization a mess (think clutter in the bathroom)! Here are some great pictures for inspiration and some resources where to find your own!

I finally finished reading “The Help" and it was a wonderful book – one that makes you think about how different things used to be and wonder how much they will hopefully continue to change for the better in our society. I called my mother-in-law to get some real-life stories of growing up with the help. She’s read the book too and said her experience was much more positive because the help were viewed as part of the family. “No one was ever unkind. They worked in your home.” She said her mammie was always in the kitchen cooking alongside her help, Sak. Grannie had “Willie”, who did all the cooking. “Grannie was not one to get into the kitchen and didn’t mind telling you that. Willie made the best food in the world. The crispest pie crust you ever tasted.” This picture of my mother-in-law and her help Christine, was taken on her back steps. She says she can’t remember much about Christine, because she was only there when she was little, but she was mostly there to take care...