Until Next Time Farewell, final part

You see, Andrews had made another big mistake. Remember that he had stopped to tear up the tracks south of Adairsville, stopping the William R. Smith? It seemed like a good idea at the time but think about it, readers. If the tracks had not been damaged, the William R. Smith would still have been running northward. The Texas was certainly running southward. Get the picture? Crash! Crunch! Kaboom!!!! And then a few minutes later: Kaboom! Crash! Crunch!!!! as the Catoosa added herself to the pile of tangled wreckage. Tracks blocked, pursuit ended, raiders free to burn bridges at will. Hindsight is 20/20 they say, but Andrews did not have time to worry about what should have, or could have been. Had he known what Mr. Fuller was up to he would have been amazed. With his train stopped south of Adairsville, Fuller and Murphy again ran on foot, hoping to get to the Adairsville station for help. Before the station was reached, they saw, coming toward them, the Texas. As soon as Engineer Bracken heard their fantastic story, he backed his train to the Adairsville station, dropped his freight cars on a siding there, and set his train flying after the General in all haste....backwards. Now you probably know that backing a train is nothing like backing a car. There's no real steering involved. You don't have the control with the train that you do with a car. The train follows the tracks....wherever they go. So, while running the Texas backwards may have been a bit confusing for some, it was no problem for Cpt. Fuller and Engineer Bracken. They could have turned the train around on the turntable at the Adairsville Station, but there was no time for that. At Calhoun the Texas had to pass the Catoosa. Fuller told his story and was quickly let through. The Catoosa crew dropped their passenger cars on the siding at Calhoun and joined the chase behind the Texas. Also at Calhoun, Fuller picked up a young assistant telegrapher from Dalton, named Edward Henderson. Though some sources say he was thirteen years old, he was actually eighteen. Fuller wrote a hurried message on a scrap of paper and gave it to Henderson with instructions to send it to Chattanooga as quickly as he could when they got to Dalton. It advised that the train had been stolen by possible Unionists with intent of destroying the bridges. It concluded by saying, If I don't catch them in the meantime, see that they do not pass Chattanooga. The first bridge to be turned was the Oostanaula Bridge at Resaca, Ga., just above Calhoun. Had it been destroyed, Andrews train would have been completely free, and all the other bridges, about 16 in all, would have quickly followed. However, rain had been falling, off and on, for the past ten days and all the wood they picked up along the way was wet. The bridge, itself, was wet. The Texas was so close behind them that they had no time to stay and nurse the flames, so they simply dropped an empty boxcar on the tracks hoping to slow their pursuers a bit. Since the Texas was running backwards, and their tender was now in front of them, they, just coupled the empty car to the Texas and never slowed down. The men on the General, meanwhile, were pushing ties out the back of their last remaining box car as fast as human hands could work. While they had no hope of damaging the tracks in this way, it did cause Fuller to have to run slower so that he could watch for obstructions. This gave the raiders time to gather a small load of wood at Green's wood yard, near Tilton, Ga,. and supply of water at a water station just a short distance further on. During these stops, the Texas approached almost close enough to fire on the General, but each time the precaution of obstructing the tracks had caused the Texas to have to stop, giving the General a bit more time. Many of the men wanted to stop and fight their pursuers, but Andrews had always preferred strategy over fighting, and so they pushed on. They worried that they might have trouble getting through Dalton, for they were now way off schedule and the switches might not be set right to let them by. They stopped only long enough for Andrews to ascertain that they could indeed get through, then they roared through the Dalton station like the Devil himself, was after them. A few minutes later came the Texas. Fuller slowed just enough for young Henderson to jump from the train to the platform. Henderson was immediately sending the vital message. The Raiders did cut the telegraph lines above Dalton, but about half of the message got through. The tunnel at Tunnel Hill, Ga. gave Fuller a bit of a fright. As the General sped through the tunnel, her smoke filled the opening. Upon arriving there, Fuller couldn't tell if the General had passed through, or if it was still inside waiting to ambush him. He took a deep breath and pushed on through at full speed. He felt that the danger of the crash was far outweighed by the danger to the bridges ahead. Imagine his relief when he saw the light at the end of the tunnel and realized that he would live a few more minutes, at least. At the first Chickamauga covered bridge, Andrews tried a last ditch effort to set it ablaze. He had his men start a fire in the last remaining boxcar. They used every bit of remaining wood they had. This was all or nothing. If the bridge could be fired they were safe. If not, they were lost. All the wood and the boxcar were extremely wet due to the down pouring rain that was falling by that time, and the fire burned poorly, but at last it caught up. The Texas was coming on fast and Andrews had no time to waste. He had the car uncoupled inside the bridge, hoping for a miracle, but as had been his fate all his life, the miracle didn't come. But the Texas did and pushed the burning car out of the bridge, on to Ringgold, Ga. just a little distance up the track. There it was left to burn itself out on a siding while the Texas charged on. Finally, realizing there was no way they could succeed with the bridge-burning mission, and with the General's power growing less and less, Andrews gave his men the order to jump and scatter. Every man for himself! A few did as ordered, but others could not believe what they heard. Had not Andrews himself told them only a few days before that they would come through this thing together or die together? None of them wanted to be separated, nor did they want to leave their leader whom they so much loved and respected. Again Andrews gave the order in a much more demanding tone and so all began jumping, one or two at a time, from the train where they had had the most amazing adventure of their lives. After all were off except himself and the engine crew, Andrews gave the order to reverse the engine in effort to send the General flying back into the on-coming Texas, thereby buying some time for his men to escape. As the General's power was now so low, the crew of the Texas was able to slow enough to absorb the shock of impact, doing no damage to either train. The Raiders fled in all directions. Some were captured only minutes after leaving the train, but most managed to make the woods. During the next few horrible days they would be subjected to innumerable hardships: rain, cold, hunger, men with dogs, men with guns. Everyone in the area was hunting them. Eventually all would be found and imprisoned. Eight, including Andrews, would be hanged. All would be hailed as heroes by the North, and cursed as villains by the South. Most would live to fight another day. The author has relied heavily on the book, Daring and Suffering, written by one of the survivors, William Pittenger, and published by Cumberland House, Nashville, Tenn. Many websites were also consulted. I have worked long and hard, dear reader, to give you some insights and side lights to the Great Locomotive Chase story that you may not have gotten from your history books, nor from other accounts, but please don't take my word for it, and don't think this is all there is. You will do yourselves an injustice and all the Chase participants a slight by not researching this fascinating story yourselves. Visit libraries, visit museums, visit historic sites, and read read, read. Until next time, farewell.

Listen Closely And All Will Be Made Clear Part 2

It was Monday night, April 7th, and a stormy night it was. Twenty-three men met with James Andrews among the trees beside the Wartrace Rd., many seeing him for the first time. He explained the extremely dangerous nature of the mission, telling them that if they should be captured they would most surely be hanged as spies. He gave each a chance to refuse the mission and go back to the camp but none left. He answered their questions. What do we say if someone asks who we are and what we're doing there? Tell them you're from Kentucky and you're looking to join a Confederate regiment. What if they don't believe us, then what? Well, then, join up and escape at your earliest opportunity. As it happened two men did run into someone who asked this very question. They had to join the Confederacy in order to protect the mission. Both eventually escaped and returned to Union lines. This left twenty-one men to travel on to Marietta where they were to join Andrews to begin their adventure. While enroute to Marietta, they traveled in small groups of twos or threes so as not to arouse suspicion, and they had changed their military uniforms for civilian clothes. During the trip the weather was a constant problem, rain, swollen streams and rivers, mud and wind. Andrews felt sure that General Mitchel wouldn't be able to capture Huntsville by the expected time and he was equally sure that some of his men wouldn't make the appointed Thursday, April 10th deadline in Marietta, so he postponed it by one day to Friday, April 11th. The first four to arrive took rooms at a hotel a short distance from the tracks. The rest of the crew took rooms at the Fletcher House (now known as the Kennesaw House) that was much nearer the depot. The next morning, very early, everyone met in Andrews room for a final briefing....everyone except the four in the other hotel. They had failed to pay the attendant to wake them up and so they overslept. Two of them never made it to the train in time to board, leaving nineteen men to accompany Andrews on this daring mission. The other two almost missed the train, managing to arrive just as it was pulling out. Had they missed well, the Great Locomotive Chase would never have happened for, you see, they were the engineers!! Now, why did Andrews choose to steal the General? Well, it wasn't for its beauty, though the General was a fine looking engine. We have no evidence that he knew of the speed or quality of the machine. No, in actuality, Andrews stole the General simply because it was there. He needed a train that was leaving Marietta very early in the morning (about 5 a.m.) and it was absolutely essential that the train be northbound. The General fit the bill nicely and was also carrying several empty freight cars, another necessary ingredient. As for the reason why he chose to steal the train at Big Shanty, that's easy: Big Shanty had no telegraph key. Andrews knew that in order for pursuit to be organized, someone would have to ride to Marietta to send out the message. That takes time, time enough for the Raiders to cut the telegraph wires north of Big Shanty so no warning message could be sent up the line. Time enough to tear up some rails to stop any train pursuing from the south. He also knew that the train always stopped in Big Shanity for breakfast, and that all the crew and most of the passengers would leave the train and go into the cafe. Piece of cake, right? Not exactly. Read on. At this time Big Shanty was also the site of Fort McDonald, a Confederate training camp with hundreds of soldiers all about. Maybe it was an ego thing or maybe it wasn't but it must have been quite a kick knowing he was stealing a Confederate train right from under so many Confederate noses while everyone was enjoying their twenty minute breakfast break. Andrews had all the cars on the train uncoupled except the tender and three empty freight cars. It was customary at that time for northbound trains to carry empty freight cars so that they could bring back needed supplies on their return trip from Chattanooga. The Raiders guards standing only a few dozen yards away were watching yet not realizing what they were seeing so no one sounded the alarm. Andrews thought he had covered everything. His men had complete confidence in him. Nothing could stop them now....except maybe a spunky little conductor named Captain William A. Fuller. Fuller was twenty-six years old, already a seven year veteran of the railroad business and very serious about his job. When he heard his train firing up and moving away without him, he was heard to shout, Someone who has no right to do so has taken our train!! Whereupon he ran out of the cafe followed closely by Engineer Jeff Cain, and Anthony Murphy, foreman of railroad machine shops. Murphy sent a man to Marietta to send a message of alarm, then the three men began to run up the tracks after the train. Ah, another big question: Why would any man in his right mind think he could catch a steaming train by chasing it on foot? In those days, the Confederate government had imposed upon her citizenry the disagreeable practice of Conscription (the Draft). Many men fled conscription by any means possible to them. Captain Fuller had been warned to watch for those fleeing conscription on his train. When the General pulled out, he simply believed it to have been stolen by a group of draft dodgers. Witnesses reported only four men on the train. This was Andrews, the two engineers Knight and Brown, and the fireman Wilson. The witnesses in question had not seen the other sixteen raiders board the empty freight cars. Fuller believed the escaping conscriptionist would take his train only around the first curve, then abandon it, fleeing into the woods for freedom. He ran because he didn't expect to have to run very far. Not finding the train where he expected it, he ran on until he found a pole car near Moon Station. He mounted the car and then poled back to pick up Cain and Murphy who were not as athletic as he and had fallen behind. Together they poled their way back up the tracks. Near Moon's Station, Andrews stopped to borrow some tools from a gang of workmen. The Raiders were trying to look inconspicuous as they were traveling south before the raid, so they had not been able to bring any tools with them that could be used in tearing up rails. Here they were able to get a large pry bar that, though not the very best for their purposes, was better than no tools at all. Andrews stopped the General long enough to damage the rails just north of Moon's Station. In their haste, Fuller and his crew didn't see the damage in time and were thrown, pole car and all, down the bank into a deep ditch. Quickly putting the car back on the tracks, they rushed on, having gained the reinforcement of two more men, Stokley and Smith. They soon saw the smoke of an old engine that was just up the line at Etowah. The Yonah belonged to the Coopers Iron Works and was just firing up, getting ready for a good days work. Fuller commandeered the Yonah, gaining even more reinforcements, a number of armed Confederate soldiers. Roll on, Mr. Fuller, roll on!! Whoa!!, you say, if the Yonah was there and ready to roll, why didn't Andrews destroy it to prevent pursuit? The very question Andrews men had asked, and Andrews said it really wouldn't make any difference to their mission. It should be understood that, at this time, the Raiders had no idea they were being pursued. After all, Andrews plan had allowed for that problem and they had complete confidence in their leader. Stopping at Cassvile Station, the General took on wood and water. Andrews was so persuasive as to convince the station tender, William Russell, to furnish him a railroad schedule. Andrews told the tender that he was running much needed powder to General Beaureguard at Corinth Mississippi, and must get through as soon as possible. Russell was a very loyal Confederate and was only too glad to help anyway he could. Armed with this schedule, Andrews thought he was home free, he would have no trouble negotiating the oncoming trains and rail yard switches. Think again, James. You see because the rails were busy on this day with unscheduled trains, all rushing south to Atlanta, they were moving all their rolling stock out of Chattanooga to prevent the Union forces from capturing them. Had the raid taken place on Friday, as originally planned, everything would have worked to Andrews advantage, but not this day, Saturday April 12th, 1862. The Kingston, Georgia's rail yards were a mess. Extra trains were blocking the tracks. Everything was in an uproar. Andrews told the powder story again and insisted that he be allowed to continue right away, but still there was a delay of just over an hour. The elderly switch keeper was in a very bad mood that day and refused to change the switch to allow the General out of the yard until Andrews could prove the truth of his story. So Andrews changed the switch himself and finally got his train back in motion. Meanwhile Cpt. Fuller and his squad were catching up, and arrived at the Kingston station only five minutes after the General pulled out. As the Yonah couldn't get through the congested yard with any speed, Fuller and Murphy jumped out to find a way to proceed. Murphy wanted to take command of the New York, an engine that was waiting in the yard, but Fuller opted for the William R. Smith, a train that had just come in on the Rome Railroad. Fuller started out in such a hurry that Murphy, seeing what Fuller was doing, had to run to get on board. In fairness to Mr. Murphy, the New York was a fine train and would have been much faster than the William R. Smith because it had bigger wheels, but the William R. Smith was headed in the right direction, and the Rome Railroad connected to the W&A north of the crowded yard. It was simply easier. After leaving Kingston, Andrews told his crew to throw open the General's throttle and let'er fly. He needed to reach Adairsville quickly in order to pass two trains that the schedule showed were already overdue. One was the Texas, a southbound freight. The other was the Catoosa, a southbound passenger train. They should be waiting at the Adairsville station for Mr. Fuller's mail train. Fearing pursuit from Kingston, another stop was made to damage the rails just south of Adairsville. Meanwhile other Raiders were taking on board a large pile of ties that were stored nearby. It was while lifting a rail, that a most fearful sound was heard by Andrews and his men: the sound of a distant train approaching from the South!! Giving an extra effort, the rail was finally removed, and everyone again on board. The General was now running flat out to Adairsville. Sure enough, the Texas was waiting at Adairsville for Mr. Fuller's train. The General was stopped and Andrews attempted to gain information about the southbound passenger train that was still to come. No news was forthcoming, so Andrews advised the Texas that Fuller was probably waiting for them at Kingston and that it would be safe to precede, Andrews knowing the track was damaged just south of town. Hurrying on to Calhoun, Andrews ran the risk of meeting the Catoosa in a head on crash, but he had no time to worry about that now. He was praying the Catoosa would wait at Calhoun. His worst fears almost realized, as the Catoosa gave up waiting for Fuller's train to arrive as scheduled. She was already pulling out on the main line when she heard the General's whistle blowing frantically. Her crew backed a short ways back up the tracks to allow the General to enter the sidetrack, but the Catoosa was so long as to block the General's exit at the other end trapping the spies again. Andrews tried every kind of persuasion to get the Catoosa to move but the conductor refused so Andrews told the powder story again and explained his urgency, but no go. The conductor would not move his train. Finally Andrews ordered him, in no uncertain terms, to move that train!!! The conductor complied and the General was again on the way. Ok now where does that leave us? The General is finally rolling northward, thinking there are no more southbound trains (according to the schedule, at least). The Texas and the Catoosa are between Andrews and the pursuing Cpt. Fuller. It's clear sailing now, boys! Well, maybe, maybe not.

38th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Festival

Where I live in Adairsville they are having the 38th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Festival this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They will have craft booths, food booths, amusement rides, singers, dancers, a parade, plays or reenactments, story tellers and a fireworks show. There is a really cool story that goes along with this festival, it is a true one but very long so I am going to put it on my blog in about 3 parts starting tonight and finishing over the next few days of the festival.

The story starts if your from Adairsville you've heard the story, I hadn't until I read it tonight but then again I'm not from Adairsville, I just moved here 6 months ago but the story goes something like this. Spy steals train; conductor chases train; train stops; conductor catches spy, saves train. That's the short version, they tell the longer version in the paper if your interested read on.

This guy James J. Andrews was originally from Hancock County, West Virginia. Well he had a big falling out with his family and moved to Kentucky. He wanted to get a job as a school teacher but no work like that could be found so he became a house and ornamental painter and was very skilled at it. He also had a very fine singing voice and began to teach singing classes in the evenings. He was well educated, had a refined way about him, was considered very handsome and seemed to have a knack for gaining the confidence and respect of everyone around him. This last trait would serve him well in his roll as a master spy.

As the Civil War came, Kentucky did not succeed as the southern states had, nor would they declare conclusively for the union army in the conflict. But they raised an armed militia for their own protection. Andrews was a very strong Unionist and when the war brought a temporary end to the house painting business Andrews offered his services to the Union Army and his offer was accepted. He became a contraband runner at first. And it was in doing this that gave him the greatest, and most terrible idea he had ever had.

The Western and Atlantic Railroad ran from Atlanta to Chattanooga. It was a vital supply and communication pipeline for the Confederacy. The Union Army was marching toward northern Alabama intent on capturing Huntsville, and then moving on to Chattanooga but the railroad could bring hundreds of reinforcements from Georgia to Chattanooga in a matter of hours. Therefore the railroad had to be stopped!! In March of 1862, Andrews and eight soldiers from General Buell's brigade penetrated the southern defenses as far as Atlanta with the mission of stealing a train and destroying the railroad. Andrews had made friends with a Union sympathizer in Atlanta who worked as an engineer on the railroad and who had agreed to drive the stolen train but when the big day came, Andrews couldn't find his friend anywhere and discovered he had been drafted into the Confederate Army. The mission was abandoned and everybody went home.

Immediately upon arriving back in the Union lines, Andrews approached General O. M. Mitchel with the same idea, except this time he would carry more men and include those with railroad experience. He chose twenty-three men to go. Among them were three engineers and a fireman. Less than twenty-four hours after reporting the first raid a failure, he was ready to make another attempt at destroying the W & A. Wait a minute. Did I just say twenty-three men??? That's right, twenty-three. OK you say, I thought there were only nineteen, what happened to the other four? Read tomorrow to see.

Rings and Things

Well today I ordered Matt's senior ring, announcements, cap and gown and all the other stuff you have to get before your kid can graduate. He actually should have gotten his ring last year towards the end of the year but he didn't want a ring at that time, said he wouldn't wear it but changed his mind this year which is fine because I really would like for him to have a senior ring. He ordered a computer put under the stone and a gaming system put on the side with his name then the school mascot on the other side, the Chiefs. Plus we got his senior shirt. This is such an exciting year for your kid, a big step towards adulthood. He is debating between going to college or the Air Force. He is all set for college but everytime the Air Force guys come to his school he starts thinking about signing up all over again and I have to spend weeks trying to tell him why college would be so much better. I know that is probably wrong but I don't want him going to Iraq. If I felt like that was a war that was really to protect this country I would say son I love you but it is your duty to go but I don't feel that way nor do I trust our president enough to have my son sign up. My daughter on the other hand brought home a note saying she could not stay in her seat in class so she gets to stay after school tomorrow for 45 minutes. So tomorrow she gets to sit in her room for 45 minutes when she gets home from school. She has no TV or stero in her room as of last week for getting suspended from the bus for 3 days because she could not sit in her seat on the bus. Do ya'll think super glue would keep her in her seat? I told her one more note from school and I will be going to school with her every day, sitting in her classes with her and eating lunch with her, after all she is in high school, not 2nd grade. She learned how to stay in her seat a long time ago but I think because they have more freedom in high school she seems to think the rules have changed. But she seriously DOES NOT want mama at school with her so maybe she will straighten up. I will leave ya'll with a joke I received today. One of the best marksmen in the FBI was passing through a small town. Everywhere he saw evidence of the most amazing marksmanship. On trees, on walls, and on fences there were numerous bull's-eyes with the bullet hole in dead center. The FBI man asked one of the townsmen if he could meet the person responsible for this incredible accuracy. They were introduced and the FBI man quickly realized that man was the village idiot. "This is the best marksmanship I have ever seen," said the FBI man. "How in the world do you do it?" "Nothing to it," said the idiot. "I shoot first and draw the circles afterward."

Ever have one of those days where you just knew it wasn't going to work out the way you wanted it to? Like you really wanted some peanut butter toast for breakfast only to discover you were to late for the peanut butter. So then you thought you would just grab that last cookie only to find someone else already had dibs on it. On those kind of days especially if it is a Monday I suggest you just go on back to bed and start your week on Tuesday. Have a good one and may you always have a peanut butter jar stashed somewhere and that last cookie hidden under the mattress.

Helen Georgia

We were really wanting to go back up to Helen GA again this year to do some tubing (it's probably to chilly for that now) and mess around the quaint little town but time just got away from us. We went up there last year, tubed the Chattahoochie, went to a train museum and a bear habitate. This is a picture of my family standing in front of the bear habitate. Bryant (Lacy's friend), Lacy, Michael, Christy (Michael's girlfriend), Matt and Jerry. Once you got inside you could buy food to feed the bears. I'll see if Jerry can show me how to put some of the pictures of the bears on my computer tomorrow and then I can put them on my blog spot. We rented a cabin last time in Helen and it was a real nice vacation. The town is really a friendly place. They are having Octoberfest up there right now, we may go one weekend for that. Here are a couple of sites on Helen http://www.helenga.org/ and http://www.habershamwinery.com/ Like I say it is a fun place to visit and there are hundreds and hundreds of little stores to go spend your money in. If we do make it up there in October we may stop by the winery also because we have been wanting to go to a winery and fine a wine we like anyway. About the last wine we ever drank was Boones Farm and we're a little old for that now but there are times when you are celebrating something where a good glass of wine would be nice compared to coconut rum or pina coladas.

"Thanks, I had it done at that fabulous new salon downtown!"

Here's the recipe

Kitty Litter Cake is one of my absolute favorite Halloween desserts to make! It looks very realistic, but if you can get over how disgusting it looks it actually tastes really good. mary Kitty Litter Cake 1 German chocolate cake mix 1 white cake mix 1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix 1 package vanilla sandwich cookies Green food coloring 12 small Tootsie Rolls 1 new (unused!!!) kitty litter pan 1 new (unused!!!) Pooper Scooper Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions. Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often (I put them in a ziploc bag and crushed them with a rolling pin before putting them in the food processor). Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix. When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. (Mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. Combine gently). Put mixture into litter box. Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable (only takes a few seconds). Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls and bury in mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top. (This is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.) Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top; take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Take a picture, then show your guest, then dish it up and enjoy.

I Just Can't Wait Until Halloween

Well Halloween will be here before you know it and I am so excited, for the first time in 15 years (since we moved to GA) we are living in a neighborhood where we can pass out candy. For the first 10 years in GA we lived off a very busy road so no kids ever trick or treated over there and for the last 5 we lived in the boondocks so no one ever trick or treated there. I just love passing out candy to the kids and seeing all their outfits. We are going to decorate the yard and front porch the end of September, I told Jerry I wanted Halloween decorations for my birthday present (Sept. 30th). I have been saving this cake in my files for about 4 years, this year all my kids are older so I think I am going to make it for them and just surprise them when they come home from school and work. It is called a kitty litter cake. Ok I may have a weird sense of humor but I love it.

And then I may make these and these

First Kiss

Got this one in the mail today and thought it was just so cute. Lacy is at that boy crazy age of 14, if she isn't careful she is going to end up kissing a pig.

Our Storm Pictures

See our little funnel coming down looking like a tornado? We really had bad weather hun. That is actually the rain running down the front window of the van, we were just leaving the house and Jerry was still playing with the new camera.

How We Met

Well today is our 24th anniversary, that is why 918 is our lottery numbers. We met 25 years ago on Sept. 30th my birthday. We both worked in the same store, it was a store like Walmarts just on a smaller scale. The name of the store was Howards if any of you remember that store, it has long been out of business now. Anyway Jerry had been seeing me at work and really wanted to meet me and go out with me but he was VERY shy. I was so lost in my own world that I had never even noticed Jerry at work. Anyway he finally got a friend of his (and mine also) to tell me he wanted to go out with me. I said sure we are having a party at the Cotton Club tonight for my birthday, tell him to come up there. I still didn't even know what he looked like. Well he showed up at the club and the friend introduced us. We danced one dance, then another, then another (neither one of us was great at dancing but it was slow country and western so that made it pretty easy). Then after the club closed we were taking the party over to another friends house to continue. They sent Jerry and I over to the next town to pick up alcohol cause the town we lived in was dry. We talked and talked the whole way there and back, then we droped the alcohol off and went driving around and kept talking. We finally stopped in the parking lot where I had left my car and talked until 4:00 AM that morning. We talked about everything, what we wanted out of life, what kind of life we wanted, how many kids we wanted, how we wanted our marriage to be after all we weren't boyfriend and girlfriend so it was like we could be totally honest with each other. Jerry was a real straight laced goody two shoes and I was rather on the wild party girl side but guess he saw something in me he really liked cause we started dating every day after that. Like I said he was very shy around most people and I was his opposite, I never met a stranger and back in those days I kept everyone laughing all the time. The laughter was to hide some very painful things that had happened in my real life but that was the way I handled it because everyone liked to laugh and didn't look much futher, Jerry did. And I was more honest with Jerry than I had ever been with anyone except I still had not told him the Big ugly secret that I had been running from and hiding from. Six months from the time we met he gave me a ring and asked me to marry him, I was so excited and I said yes. Then I got scared, marriage was for a life time is how I saw it, not a as long as it is working good thing and split up when it isn't working thing. And the longest I had ever stuck with a boyfriend or job or nearly anything up to that point was about 6 months so my fear took over and I got into a big arguement with Jerry and made him really mad (probably hurt his feelings more than anything) so he would break up with me. Well he did and I went back to my partying and friends that required no real commitment or honesty on my part. Jerry moved to Tyler Texas as he had gotten on with the phone company at that point. He came to town one day and came up to work and asked me out for lunch, I went, we talked and parted as friends, him telling me if I was ever in Tyler to stop in and see him. About a month later it so happened I was out riding around by myself and ended up an hour from home in Tyler Texas at 12:00 midnight. I went and knocked on his door and surprisingly he answered the door with a paint brush in his hand, he was painting his apartment. I came in and we sat down and started talking, we talked all night and by morning we were setting a wedding date. We got married on Sept. 18th a couple of weeks away from my 23rd birthday. I eventually (about a year into the marriage) told Jerry the deep dark secret and he loved me just as much then as he does now. I started going to counseling and he stood by my side and I got pretty crazy at times, pretty depressed at times but as I worked through my problems he stood by my side. I'm not sure I would have ever found a more perfect guy than Jerry, he is so gentle, kind and loving. I often wonder how I got so lucky, why God decided to bless me with him. I sure don't think I deserved him and we were so opposite in the beginning. Of course the party girl wasn't really who I was, it was who I was pretending to be but I ended up with a guy who totally loved me. We complete each other, we enjoy the same stuff and after 24 years we love each other as much today as we did the day we said "I do". I still can make him laugh but the difference is it is real now and not me just pretending to be someone I'm not.

A Good Day

Well yesterday was a really good day, the Falcons won, the Braves won, the Cowboys won and even the Saints won. All my teams were on a winning streak, plus the Amazing Race started, I should have played the lottery yesterday. When I saw the numbers for pick 3 yesterday it was my numbers 9-1-8. I really only play the lottery with money a few times a year when I think about it, mostly I just play by checking my numbers on the computer and thinking I'm glad I didn't buy tickets cause I would have lost my money. Now I have to think "dang I wish I would have played cause my numbers finally won". I'm going to Atlanta today for a little while, going to see a few friends and have a late breakfast with one. We are suppose to get some intense rain stroms this evening coming in from Ark. and TN area. Anyway if it isn't so intense that we have lightening and such I will get back on here and tell you how Jerry and I met since that seems to be the theme on several blogs I read yesterday and this morning.

All In a Day

It's a really nice day here today, it is 74 outside right now. We filled all the bird feeders and the birds are flying around having a good time eating and singing.

Lacy got a bus note yesterday saying she talks to much on the bus (especially over railroad tracks) and won't stay in her seat. I wanted to write the bus driver back and say "Gee ya really think so?" But I didn't I just signed the note The parent whose child can't be quite.

Here are some tips I got in the mail, thought I would pass them on. I haven't tried any of them except the trash bag one and it does work pretty well, at least with the bags in the trash the kids will put a new bag on the can where gee if they have to walk over to the cabinet to get a bag it isn't going to get replaced by them until I tell them to put a bag in the trash. DEFOG YOUR WINDSHIELD WITH A SWIPE Keep a blackboard eraser in your glove compartment. Just a few quick swipes can remove the fog that obscures your vision without leaving streaks. BYE BYE SHOWER LINER GRIME Set the washing machine on warm and toss in the liner with 1/2 cup detergent 1/2 cup baking soda and a few towels. Add 1 cup vinegar to the final rinse. NO SWEAT TRASH BAG REFILL TRICK Store a whole roll of trash bags at the bottom of your garbage pail. This way when you remove a full bag, you'll have a replacement right at your fingertips. THE PEANUTS THAT HELP PLANTS THRIVE Use styrofoam packing peanuts in place of rocks to line the bottom of your pots. The peanuts hold moisture well so you dont have to water your plants as often. ERASE PESKY CARPET DENTS Place a ice cube in the rug indentation. As it melts, the moisture sinks in and plumps up the fibers, so your carpet will become smooth and dent free again.* I got a new cell phone yesterday, mine was starting not to work about half the time. Gee I love my cell phone but I just HATE when I have to get a new one. They advance faster than computers do, all I need is a cell phone so I can call people and set an alarm but heck nowadays the phones take pictures, let you use the internet, an address book which will hold up to a 1,000 names (heck I don't think I know a 1,000 people and I'm sure not going to be calling them all if I do), a do to list, picture caller ID, have something called bluetooth which is suppose to be like a walkie talkie, send e-mail, instant message and before long they will probably call your mom once a week to see how she is doing. So my new phone does all the above stuff but I can't even figure out how to find the alarm or set a number on it, can't erase the numbers that have called me that I don't need to keep. I have figured out how to make a call, that option they keep pretty simple. It took me an hour to set my ringtone or rather to try and set it, I finally gave up and Jerry set it for me. Tonight Michael is going to read my instruction book (he enjoys doing that kind of stuff, YUCK) and explain to me how all my stuff works. The one thing I really do like on this new phone is I can close it and set it down and still talk and hear the person talking (speaker phone). Oh yea they also have a place on there to check my minutes used and to pay my bill. Gee I just can't wait until someone invents the machine that will load and unload my dishwasher, hang the laundry and remind Lacy a 100 times in the afternoon to do her homework.

Life Goes On

We are home, the kids went back to school yesterday and have lots of make-up work to do. Matt had a interview at the library yesterday, hope he gets the job. He said they seemed to like him and were impressed with his skills but the one drawback was he can't speak spanish so I don't know if they will call him or not. He is thinking about going to Coosa and taking a business spanish class because now he see's how important that is going to be in the future. I don't think it is fair because if I went to Mexico I would not think they should know English for me or even have English on the grocery ads and such like they do up here in Spanish but fair or not it is the way it is. Anyway we should know in a few days if he got the job or if the not knowing spanish kept him from getting it. Jerry is back at work already, he had to work all night last night. We did tacos, mexican beans, nachos and such for dinner last night, it was good. Been awhile since we did taco's and such instead of running to Taco Bell. It is really cool in our area this morning 56 degrees, but even though it is fairly chilly it feels really good. Of all the seasons fall is my favorite.

The Flag

The funeral was really nice if you are allowed to say that about a funeral. Linton and Ruby have so many friends, there were a LOT of people there. Ruby held up so strong, I couldn't believe how strong she was being but after they had folded the flag and gave it to her (he was in the Air Force) and then she went up to the casket one last time to say good bye she broke down and gee you just wanted to hold her so tight and make all the pain and sadness go away. Jerry was standing next to her and I was standing behind her and there were a few others standing up there but I can't even remember who. But at that point everyone just broke down. I think it was a combination of saying good bye to Linton and Ruby's tears because everyone just loved them both so much. Then at the end she turned and gave the flag to Jerry and said your dad would want you to have this and I want you to have it to and man then Jerry really started crying because he was just so touched and Ruby started crying again and that made me start crying again because they were both crying. It was tough but at the same time it was so nice to be able to honor him today and hear so many stories about Linton that I had never heard before and to even meet some family that we had never met. You left feeling really good about the whole thing, you knew Linton was in a better place and was no longer hurting. And you knew that somehow Ruby as strong as she is will make it ok.

Jerry is going to have the flag put in a shadow box and we will hang it on our wall.
Until next time.

The Bates Motel

Well the first night we got here we arrived at 3:30 AM and my sister had found us what she thought was a real good deal on a motel room for 5 nights. The price was really low, something we would have paid and been looking for 10 years ago but we have matured and are better off financially nowadays (isn't everyone when they reach their 40's). Anyway the only problem with this place was it was a little like the Bates motel in that scary movie, can't think of the name of it right now but there was a window in the bathroom that led outside and it wouldn't lock, there was NO coffee pot in the room (a big shortfall where hubby is concerned), no DSL, nothing really for breakfast except cereal (rasin bran or cornflakes) and toast, no swimming pool, no ironing board and no cot. Anyway Lacy slept on the floor the first night and found a bug by the bathroom the next morning and went crazy soooo the next morning we went down the road and paid a little more but got this really nice room. It is big enough for the whole family, has a indoor pool and hot tub, TV with Nintendo on it, ironing board, coffee pot and a really good breakfast. So everyone is much happier. The funeral is today, not looking forward to that. Don't get me wrong, I love Linton I am just not so good at funerals. It kills me to see the people I love hurting and crying and I just want to do something to take away the pain but there is nothing you can do really except hug them. We went with Ruby yesterday to the funeral home where you talk to the guy about planning the funeral and what you want said, pick out the caskets and such. That is the first time I have been on that side of a funeral, (he has a beautiful casket) I have not lost anyone close enough to me that I have been on any side of a funeral except attending it. Well my grandparents but my parents did all the planning and did not take us. It was for sure a different look at things and I started thinking wow when some man ask me some day what do I want said about my mom or dad or husband what would I say?? Because when he was asking all of us I couldn't think of a thing at first and there is so much to say about Linton but my mind was just blank.....sorta like he was a really good man, what else do you say? We did end up with about 3 pages, a lot more than the funeral director needed I'm sure but it sure got me to thinking what would I say, what would quite Jerry say if we had to answer those questions? We should start writing stuff like that down and live a really full live because you never know when your time is up and you sure wouldn't want no one to have anything to say about your life except "Well she stayed home all the time and watched TV or played on her computer and that is about all she did, oh yea she could cook pretty good also." Well I have to go guys, it is time.

Heading to Texas

Hey guys we are heading to that great state of Texas, just got word that Jerry's dad has passed away. We were expecting it but that doesn't really make it a whole lot easier except to know that he is in a better place right now and he is no longer in pain. Anyhow I am taking my laptop but don't know if I will have time to get on it or even if the motel in the little town we are going to with have a hook-up. So I will be seeing ya'll in a week or so.

Mexican Cornbread with a Twist

Mexican Cornbread with a Twist 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef, cooked and drained 1 onion chopped 2 or 3 jalepones chopped (I skip this in the kids pan or use green chilis) 16 oz of Mozerella cheese, shredded 16 oz of Cheddar cheese, shredded 2 boxes of jiffy cornbread (mixed according to directions) 1/2 cup of bacon grease or oil 1 can of cream style corn 1 can of whole kernal corn, drained Mix jiffy mix up in bowl, pour bacon grease, cream style corn and whole kernal corn in bowl. Stir well and let it sit a few minutes. Get a 9x13 pan out and turn oven on to 400 degrees. Chop your onions and peppers. Cook your hamburger meat. Now pour just enough cornbread mix in bottom of pan to cover the bottom. Then cover the bottom with the cheddar cheese, use the whole package (trust me you'll be glad you did). Next add the hamburger meat, then the onions and jalepones. Add the whole package of mozerella cheese on top of that. Now pour the rest of the cornbread mix on top and spread it out. Put it in the oven for 1 hour. When you take it out let it sit for about 5 minutes before cutting it. And yum you have a bundle of cheese and good tasting food. I usually make two pans, one with jalepones for Jerry and I and one with green chili peppers for the kids. When I do the green chili peppers I just mix it in with the cornbread mix instead of trying to spread them out. If you try it I hope you enjoy it. Leftovers the next day or so are really good heated up for about a minute and a half in the microwave or a little longer in the oven. Wish I had taken a picture.

Friday Night Football

It was a game between my two kids schools, Gordon Central and Adairsville. The score when we left with 3 minutes left in the game was Gordon Central 41-----Adairsville 7. Lacy not understanding the first thing about football (she's the one that told us Adairsville won last week when actually they lost big, but she didn't understand the difference between home team and visitor) kept saying with 6 minutes left in the game that her team had a secret player that they were going to put in and win the game. Guess that secret player never showed up. She goes to the games for the social aspects of being seen and seeing her friends anyway. Gordon Central has a girl on their football team, she is the kicker and a very good one. Gee I loved football so much as a kid (except it was flag or touch football) that I use to think I wanted to play on a boys team, since all the neighborhood boys are who I played with anyway. But as a kid I just don't remember the football players being so BIG. I would hate to think today that I could get tackled by some of those boys. Of course today I also realize I am not near as tough as I though I was as a kid.