in response

Very Bridges of Madison County of you. That was a good book.

mixed media

Day 8

You at breakfast. Yes, Crisco shortening. Shawnee's Best is the flour. It can only be purchased from the Southern Market in town. When I was trained she used all purpose Martha White and added the salt, baking soda and powder. Buttermilk always. If you make the biscuits once a week you only need half a gallon to use it all before it expires. Those biscuits, scrambled eggs from the chickens across the road, perfectly seasoned you won't add a thing grits and three proteins: ham, pattie sausage and smoked then seared venison.

It's the only day of the week that I end up drinking whole milk out of a tall glass. That stuff is good.

Today I am grateful for a breakfast at her table. 

It is my weekly cheat though I did grab some of my brother's gumbo last night.

Jemba sent us a playlist.

The Pointer Sisters

Kelis

Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello ~ Senorita

Lizzo

Tash on repeat

David Guetta ft Akon

Jason Derulo ft 2 Chainz

Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

Nelly

Mary J Blige

Corey Smith

Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell

Tom Zanetti ft Sadie Ama

Zapp

come by here

You are certified as in: in possession of a digital certificate which could imply that you are above average in the art of standing your ground. I do love a strong man who speaks his authentic voice with focus and determination but sometimes including this time I simply want to share an excellent meal with you.

When I said, "Be kind."
I feel like you agreed.

Today I am grateful for a deer in the field and the company of Mia. I am grateful for the opportunity to rest my body and settle my soul for the long ride and some reading.

day 11

Today I am grateful to be reminded of talent and dedication and laughter and math and her and music.

summer 2020

Let's take a moment to give it up for the catfish of the world.
Sweet fear, be my first. Please.
You may say no.
It's likely that you should.
But maybe,
just maybe,
we both have a nice lunch.


Today I am grateful for plans of a parade,
how we're getting closer to the beach,
a looming countdown,
and a magazine.


Here's hoping we get another playlist from Jemba this weekend.

the possible

It's like walking through a large room filled with every guy you've never met and seeing faces and smiling and wondering and every now and again chatting in a "hey" way. Until, you know, something clicks on the keyboard and maybe just maybe is all I need. Maybe not.


Today I am grateful for a question and a late afternoon swim.

distracted

39 miles in 3 days averaging 13 miles per day but five each swimming almost feels like cheating. Consistent double digits is what I'm calling it. You suggest we talk and I guess but don't know for certain and wonder since I don't know for certain that maybe I should say no

now
before all whatever could be is so close that I can't run away anymore.



Today I am grateful for work and time while I got some.

remembering today

It's as good a day as any to mourn and celebrate,
discuss and most likely cuss,
walk some miles,
up hills,
in a park,
with people.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to live where I live and do what I do.





In response - I couldn't love you if you could.

lights on, candles lit

You're spent and asleep but I have to escape to the porch for some Sunday gospel.
I'll have your coffee ready,


Today I am grateful for double digits and homemade biscuits.

Jemba - for Us

Ours.

I love that you sing to me.

first date

I imagine we meet in Brandon and sit in one of those high booths. At some point in the evening you'll have to brush up against me. I want to sit close to you. You're quiet, and it feels correct to be quiet with you.

Then I'll reach down and pick up the book I was carrying because you asked about it earlier and yes I think we have to read at least a paragraph to each other. But we'll have to whisper in Georgia Blue.


Today I am grateful for a man to be quiet with, to whisper with.

two for the price of one

Now you know that I have a column growing out of my head.

She likes the second one but it almost looks too pleading. Maybe online dating is not for me.

Today I am grateful for time.

day 5

Priscilla

for two to three hours in a series of twenty-four

he will replicate a face

one each, one hundred days

you and me, we're grateful to be a witness here

don't go numb

Last night you missed Ranch with a side of broccoli for dinner.

Today I am grateful that Hazel sent groceries.

rainy morning

I F    Y O U   L I S T E N    C  L O S E L Y    E N O U G H  (you shouldn't),  Y O U   M A Y


                        H E A R     A     P A T T E R N   (there isn't or maybe).





He says, "Things are not as they seem."


Today I am grateful for 13 miles, math on video, a meeting and a Monday drummed in by rain.

Jemba's Weekend Tunes

Muddy Waters
Deja Vu
Gov't Mule
Days Like This
Eagles
I Second That
Get Born
Buffalo Springfield
Happy
Johnny Nash
Use Me
Blues Traveler
Misirlou
Hey Ya!



Today I am grateful for a road trip, 8 miles and a couch to sleep on.

punctuate

"Look. Smoke coming off the water."

"I think it's evaporation or condensation or you'll learn about that in science."

"Why you have to do so much?"

"Cause I have to make money so I can buy food so I can get strong so I can go swimming with you."


Today I am grateful for evaporation and dark waters, two of which go together quite nice. I am grateful for collaborators and understanding and a meeting which could be rescheduled.

it's about the kids

It's Friday and somewhere I need to write about the guy with the bad knee who I obviously harass by asking questions of and feeling close to and possibly delusional about but it's his answers which calm me. It's his answers that I love.

Today I am grateful for his answer.

she is a dancer

This is a spontaneous Sheryl Crow type throw down with young ladies who could possibly need to be introduced to her. They were. They have been. Checked off the list of impromptu parties you have with your sisters.


Today I am grateful for a sous vide then seared salmon, the last of the avocado, broccoli, celery,  asparagus and a late afternoon swim with the girls dancing under the lights

Jemba's Playlist - One

21 songs, 1 hour 23 minutes of the one girl at the party who we agree needs to choose the music.


Grand Funk
The Who
B.B. King
The Temptations
Merle Haggard
He loves everyone
Home
Going there
David Allen Coe
Bill Withers
The Marshall Tucker Band
Wheeland Brothers
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Lyle Lovett
Ben *sigh*
Carrie Underwood
The Commodores
Don Williams
Jake Isaac
Pretty Lady
Slow Up



Today I am grateful for Jemba.

M&M Florist

The shame was only worsened by the statement I made when I entered the store. So obnoxious, "Georgia, I'm buying something for me today. This ain't for nobody else."

Other than the obvious grammar issues I went ahead and told her that nothing I was going to purchase would be a gift other than to myself. In my defense I didn't realize I was exchanging money that daddy gave me as a Mother's Day present for what I didn't necessarily need but thought was a sweet wind chime that had written on it a sentiment I can easily apply to my life.

May you cherish every moment spent creating your love story. 

Honestly.
I did not know until I get home and took the box containing my very own sweetly sentimental wind chime to discover I bought a dang wedding bell. Now excuse me while I proceed to the dang wedding porch. I think I have to balance it out with a mural.


Mural coming maybe.


Today I am grateful for a woman to walk with, plans to celebrate our kids, fresh fish and shrimp and Canadians.

no treat yoself

Four sweet shrubs later I told him to go look out the back kitchen windows. He agreed. This was his grandmother's. Her name was Alma Griffin, after she was a Dunham and a Miller. Rumors have it that Mr. Griffin put down the fiddle to ask for Alma's hand in marriage but daddy says that ain't the case. He knew the man.


Today I am grateful for a company that is going to kindly cancel my request and allow me to back out of a specialty sized screen door order. Two hours after I placed that order I looked up at that back door and realized after all this time that the roof starts slanting downward there.

treat yoself

Screen tight 5-bar finger joint wood frame hinged 5-bar screen door is what Lowe's calls it, and I figure everyone needs one of those.


Today I am grateful for lights on the porch, Cranium Cadoo, and the sound of a screen door.

it's contagious

I can't tell anyone.
It's a secret,
but I tell her
that she better tell me
when I can tell my mama
that she's going to be a momma.

Today I am grateful that she put God and momma together when writing to me.




Don't tell anyone.
It's a secret.
I'm having a baby.

party

We throw her a party with a canvas print and magnets and cards
(both handmade and store bought and chicken chili, cake and pizza).
And it's good to be with family. Her family, that's who we are.


Today I am grateful for my mom, for your mom, for our moms, for mamaws and memaws, nanas and grammies, grannies and lolis and sisters and women.

Lianne takes us there under the tiny lights of a porch.

not a breakthrough

It's concerning, this appropriation of concern, and I don't want to give my attention to it. Because it's a hard problem to solve. One I have yet to find a solution to but also one of those where someone loses his life by what appears to be hate caused by the color of someone's skin. It happens viciously, down a road, he's jogging or trying to get away and there's shots, I think. It's hard to watch.

I remember one time driving and praying and crying and begging for God to take the hate from my heart because I felt it like I had never felt anything before except for maybe the love I continue to feel for my son.

It is layered, this energy of this earth. There is hate, and I don't know how to solve it. How to take that hate away. How do you do it? We gotta do it for our kids. Yes.

Today I am grateful for another chance to not solve the problem or solve it or what can I do?


I am grateful for a swim with two children and my mother and for a walk with the kid of a friend. I am grateful for video and a day spent in the sun with beautiful women.

I am grateful for Mother's Day 2020.

approval

He likes it. She likes it. He likes it. They like it.


Today I am grateful for video and so much extra footage of how could I leave that out and why couldn't I do something about the wind.


We need some music. Thank you for turning me onto those guys.

the miles

day o' mom was this past Sunday for us

Sleeping on top of a mountain is like sleeping near the ocean.  Get in your tent and listen as the wind becomes powerful waves, so powerful that the next night in your home, on your couch, under your cover, head on your pillow, you'll notice it's missing.


Today I am grateful for an essential trip, a stairway to heaven, huge rocks, the absolutely correct night temp and a wind I won't soon forget.

sharpening the saw

Today I am grateful for a walk, a climb, a morning drive.

essential travel

It's a push of planning, packing, driving, meeting, seeing, laughing, sleeping, morning at their place with it's garden and pool and sun on the barn and today I'm grateful for time with friends.

in response

They are good just when I think you can't get any better.


Today I am grateful he killed a turkey, for a phone call, an essential trip, a climb.