My Mother, My Cousin, Our Home

A few weeks ago, my favorite cousin sent this picture to me, and although it may be worn, and tattered, it brought back memories that made me smile as I saw my mother as she looked when I first remember her, the house we lived in, and the fun I had playing with my cousin, Patricia, in that time. The old cars in the background attest to the time period, probably around 1953, guessing from memory, because my brother Greg, born in September 54, is obviously not on the way when this was taken! If you look closely, in the background, you'll see mother's old wringer washing machine, which was electric, but had to have the water loaded into it by a hose, because we didn't have indoor plumbing. Mother would wash outside, and she would let us push the clothes through the top wringer to squeeze the water out--that is, until one day when Brenda's hand got caught in the wringer and mother had to stop the machine and get Brenda free, fearing that her arm might be permanently damaged. It wasn't, but that was the end of our wringing the clothes. I can remember the feel of feeding the clothes through it, but I wasn't allowed to very often. We would beg for the chance because it was facinating to watch. The tiny back porch had a porch rail with a wide board and the water bucket sat on that, with a dipper, for us to drink from. There was a water faucet there, and the well pump was beside the porch, in the small enclosure just behind the car that shows only the headlight. I think that was Uncle Jessie's car, Patricia's dad. I just thought it might be interesting for you to see where I lived when I was small. I've recently visited Clanton, and I went to two other places I lived and took pictures of those homes, so I'll share more, later. I'm including a picture of me, at the age I was around the time this photo was taken. That's my sister, Brenda, sitting in the chair! It was a gentler time when it was OK for little girls to leave off their shirts! I was such a tomboy its no wonder!

Charli Robertson
I figured out what was wrong with the system (McAfee) and got it working again! YEA!!!! We had little Charli this weekend, and she is such a good baby! She seldom cries, and she grins when you talk to her. I didn't know where her red bow was, so I had to use a white one! My "grands" are so wonderful! Last weekend we went to see Julia and Sam, and then had this precious one this weekend. Her daddy had sprained his foot, and is on crutches right now, so MeMe did most of the "baby chores". How pitiful for me!!! I could just "eat her up" she's so sweet! I read on Amy's blog that we are nearing the final divorce hearing for Matt. I think all of the Robertson family (Rutland's included) are ready for a more "normal" life to return. As Matt told someone the other day, Charli is the bright spot in a relationship that never should have been! God works miracles out of chaos. We look forward to God's plan for this little one! Alyssa hasn't visited since the weekend of July 1st & 2nd. She had been promised a trip to the beach with our family, and her mom changed her mind at the last minute and refused to allow the vacation visit that she had agreed to in court. Since that time, it has broken Matt's heart that Alyssa doesn't visit, but she cries when he leaves with Charli. Keep all of us in your prayers as the divorce hearing is Sept. 7th and it is our prayer that God will lead the judge in making the best decision for the children. Matt and Jessie are adults and can take what comes, but there are two little girls who never asked to be in the middle of this and who deserve to be cherished and brought up to know the Lord, and to know that they matter!!!!

Well, its been a while since I've posted, and part of the reason is I haven't been able to get the blog to allow me to post a picture and that frustrated me! Oh well! Work continues, and I have little time for anything else! I hope to figure out the photo issues soon and be back in the spotlite with my little ones!

MOON FLOWERS

Yes, you're right, it looks as if the sun is shining, and it is! This was made early one morning, last summer! The flowers grow on a vine and blossom at night. They fall off during the day, and new ones bloom the next night. The shoots you see at the top right of the picture are ready to bloom. Moon flowers are very special to me, and I hadn't seen any since my grandfather passed away in 1967--until a co-worker asked if I'd ever heard of them, and she brought me some seeds. She said she'd never gotten them to come up, so she thought I'd like to try! I've had some every summer since then, for about 5 years! Now, let me explain why they're so special!
My mother's dad and stepmom lived in rural Butler County outside a small town named Garland, Alabama. He had retired, and gardened to raise food for canning and freezing and EATING (WOW was it ever good). Our family usually went down for a couple of weeks each summer, and the summer of 1967 was no different. I had graduated from high school and was to begin my college career soon, as it was late August. Early one morning, I awoke before daylight and went to the bathroom, which was located at the rear of the house. I had to walk onto the back porch to reach this "wonderful" addition to the original house, a beautiful addition my grandmother took great pride in. (I can still smell how clean it was when I remember their home.) When I left the bathroom my grandfather "Papa" was sitting by the kitchen door, on this porch, quietly watching the moon. He asked if I was OK, and then told me to come to him so that he could show me something. Papa never talked much, but that night he showed me a beautiful plant in his backyard, a large cluster of vines with huge white blossoms all over it! MOON FLOWERS!!!! He explained how they bloom nightly, only to close and drop off during the day. After a few minutes, I sat in a cane-bottom chair beside him and we talked until after sunrise--about lots of things, school, my friends, my family and about his life and things he'd done. It was the most I ever heard Papa say, and I loved having that special time with him. As one of six children, there was seldom a time for anyone to have alone time with Mama and Papa! I felt really close to him after that night, and really enjoyed having spent that special time with my grandfather. At the end of the vacation, as we said goodbye, plans were made for a Christmas visit, even a suggestion that we might get to come back for Thanksgiving! There was no warning, no way of knowing as we left, that two and one-half weeks later, early in the morning, before sunrise a phone would ring, in the dormitory at my new school, and I would learn that Papa had died suddenly, of a heart attack. I cherish the memory of that night we shared, so happy and so full of caring! As we were leaving, after his funeral, Mama took me aside and told me that she had something for me--Papa had canned some fig preserves, and she wanted me to have them, because he had told her how much he enjoyed talking to me! It thrilled me to get them and to remember him so fondly.