Stood in the kitchen this morning watching through the side door and marveling at the goldfinches perched on the bird feeders. Cold and damp, with rain pouring down, and God’s little song birds were flitting and flirting around the feeders just like they do on sun filled days. Today’s sky is T-shirt gray, spitting rain and wind. Spent yesterday opening a few of my 103 year old windows but quickly realized when I got up I should have wrestled them down before I went to bed. It’s feeted pj weather. Hope in a weak moment I don’t feel the need to turn on the heat! Penelope and I are ensconced under a bird patterned blanket in the lady den. I can hear the song bird singing symphony even with the tv playing music from the 1970’s.

The bamboo are line dancing in the back yard, swaying side to side, and dipping their partners. My niece, who spent the night with us, loved the bamboo. Told her she could take them home with her. I got up this morning and cooked a big country breakfast. I’ve always thought cooking was a gift of love. Chief always said our meals tasted better when they were cooked with love. If we’d had a squabble he thought that affected the cooking.

He had some funny thoughts, we called them “Chiefisms.” Every time we had car trouble he’d blame me and ask me if I was using the air conditioning when the trouble started. He’d never even turned the air conditioning on in his car till we married. Nothing is worse than being dolled up for church and then sweating in the car on the way. Had to have new brakes once and he told me I used the brakes too much!

He hated a used car, never bought one, because the previous owner might have “pooted” on the seats. One of our oldest son’s friend and his wife came over as newlyweds to show us their new “used” car. They were so proud and the car looked brand new. I’m laughing as I write this. This would embarrass Chief, but it’s the truth. Soon as they left Chief started grumbling about used cars. When they bought their first brand new car they sent word for Thomas to tell Chief nobody had pooted on their new car seats but them! I’ll be buying a used car when my car reaches 200,000 miles. I’ll hear Chief grumble but I’m on a fixed budget. Bless his heart!

Loved having spend the night company. I got up this morning and cooked for her. Had a few tears when I started breakfast. Chief loved a big country breakfast and we enjoyed them on our weekends here and always when Thomas and his family were visiting. On the menu were biscuits and blueberry bagels, bacon and sausage, melted cheese, scrambled eggs, grits, a bowl of cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries, and a plate of little white donuts. We all chowed down and had a pleasant conversation interrupted several times by laughter.

It’s a gesture of love to show people we care about them by sharing food with them. When a family sits down together it’s tightens the bonds of family. Dinner is better when we all eat together. My family celebrates often with large family dinners. Some of my fondest memories are when my whole family was gathered around the dinner table.

When Chief and I got married we had a seated dinner following our wedding. My mother cooked everything and it was delicious. Mr. Tom and Mrs. Julia Russell asked Chief if they could come to the wedding. They loved him and he said yes, of course. After my mother got over her heart attack, she sat down in every chair in the dining room to be sure when Mrs. Julia looked up she wouldn’t see a crack in the dining room’s plaster wall. We laughed about that for years.

Eating together as a family helps us stay together and gives us comfort. Our families’ children love celebrating with cousins and maintain close relationships. Some say cousins are our first friends. I think that’s true in our family. My favorite childhood memories revolve around my Grandmother McMurray’s holiday dinners with all my cousins.

I took Thomas’ family out for ice cream after the boys’ band concerts and after their Beta Club induction. These little celebrations help them realize I’m proud of them and gives them and me happy grandmother memories.

“Bless the food before us, the family beside us, and the love between us. Amen.”— Copyright, Old Barn Rescue Company