TINGLEY'S BED & BREAKFAST

As you know, we have company from Australia this week.   We had never met this couple.   Elaine and I got to be friends on Facebook.

She was looking for an Ellen Tingley only I wasn't the right one. (story of my life).   Anyhow, she mentioned one time they were coming to the U.S. and had never seen Nashville.   Well, those of you that know me can write the next paragraph.

I said, "Well, if you want to see it, you can stay with us" and so here they are. 

I have to admit last week I was getting very nervous about this visit and wondering what on earth I was thinking of.   BUT...we were committed and would follow through.

It has been a whole new chapter in our lives, meeting this couple.   They are both Australian and sometimes I have trouble understanding what he says but part of that is because I don't hear so well.  AND...he's a tease.   We had a great time yesterday and they seemed to too.  

Not sure what we will do today since we visited the Carnton House in Franklin yesterday.  It was used as a hospital in the Civil War and there are several other homes we could visit but think it would be repetative.  Whatever we decide to do I'm sure it will be entertaining and fun.  I'm really glad we have a chapter on The Visiting Australians in our life's book.

A GOOD WEEK-END

Yesterday was almost 90 here and we had lots to do to get ready for our guests from Australia.  But...it was SO darned nice and we'd waited long enough for this weather so Ted said he was going to mow.  He has a self propelled mower he uses and it takes a long time to mow 1.3 acres with it.  I told him after I got some things done in here I'd help.  

We took turns (he took two turns around the yard, I'd take one).  It's good exercise and there was a little breeze.  YEs, it was good to be outside in the sunshine.

We were both pretty worn out when we finished.  I had washed the car too and planned a couple of meals in my head for this week. 

We were to meet a former minister and his wife in Franklin for dinner.   We told them we'd pick them up and what time we'd be there.

We got up there and couldn't find the darned motel.  I said if this next attempt doesn't work we'll call them and tell them where to meet us and we'll just go alone.   (Nice way to treat someone you haven't seen in YEARS)   But we did find the motel and none of us  could remember when the last time was we had seen each other.

When Drexel was my minister another gal and I did some really ornery things to him.   I told him I was surprised he even had anything to do with me.   The evening wasn't long enough to cover all the lost time but it was great seeing them.   They are both retired now and love traveling and having their grandchildren too.

I always feel like a new person after an evening like that.   I came home and called my friend in Alaska that used to be in on all the tricks we played on him.   She is bedridden now and I hated to tell her we had actually gotten to see them but by gosh she was a trooper.  

This morning I got up and things are as ready as they are going to be for these house guests that we have never met from Australia.  If they were expecting the Hilton then they are in for a real shock.   I don't think that's the case and I'm looking forward to a fun week.

Before I went to church I saw the first hummingbird of the season so BRING LIFE ON

A Bit of Nostalgia

Yesterday I woke up way too early.   I played a few computer games, answered a couple of emails and realized it was still too early to get the day started.

So...I decided to clean out my recipe drawer.   It was well past time to do this.  I have a large drawer in my kitchen that all my recipe books are stored.     I seem to have a bad habit of tearing a page out of a magazine with a recipe I like and tossing it in that drawer - LOOSE.   I keep old magazines too.   One of my readers was afraid I was having a mental problem one time because I had given her some magazines she thought should of been tossed a long time before.     Oh well, some of us are just packrats.

I found cook books from every church I had ever belonged to I think, cookbooks from some churches of friends, a cook book from the Telephone Pioneers of America, the GTE Wives of Indiana, a few that came from our home town from the Legion Auxillary or Home Burear Extension office of either my mother or Ted's.  I found a set of place mats to use on a picnic table a nephew sent me from somewhere in the world a long time ago.  

I also found two cookbooks I had when I was in 4-H about 60 years ago.   I looked through these books yesterday and if I had ever read them at the time I might of learned to like to cook.

This book was my favorite.   It tells the correct way to measure things and I remembered giving demonstrations on how to measure flower.   Oh, gosh, I must of forgotten that over the years.    It tells how to make sour milk and what soda does in a recipe.   HMMMM    Too bad I never read this book.   I didn't know there were two kinds of baking powder.   Golly    If I had read this book I might of been able to make "light as a feather" biscuits.  

Well, anyway, you get the idea.   It was fun to read these and one was on OUTDOOR MEALS.   I really wish I'd read that one because I could of built an outdoor fire pit when Ted and I started camping and I'm sure he would of been impressed that I knew such a thing.   Maybe not, maybe he wanted to do that and it was better that I didn't know all that stuff.

I now have a clean, organized recipe drawer that is so easy to close.   I heard one time that if your underware drawer was all clean and organized when you die people realize you were very bored and lonely.   HA HA HA

GOOD MOVIE

We got a movie from Netflex the other day and it had been laying here all week.   Tonight I figured I'd better get it out  and watch it so we could send it back.

I'd even forgotten what I ordered.   It turned out to be "Pete Seeger - The Power of Music".   While watching it I realized I had sung all these old songs when I was in high school.   I LOVED them and still do.  I never kept up with the news but had heard rhumors about actors being Communists, but never pulled Pete Seeger into that group.   Of course I was young and thought whatever our government said was the gospel.  AND...in those days some of it was but what a terrible thing they did to these people.

And I never realized he first sang the song "We Shall Overcome".    The movie has a lot of other people in it and his son, daughter, and a grandson or two.   It's a great movie.  I wish there were more people like him.  We need to see people for what they are, not what we THINK they are.   He loved ALL people and I do believe we could change the world with his philosophy.   Together we can make a difference and we can come together through music.  

I used to sing but my voice is worn out from too many cigarettes and too many ball games and band concerts but when I'm in the car alone I can still sing along with people like Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, and many others.

Guess I'll be looking for some Pete Seeger music now.

Dilemma of Where to Live

I heard on the news Prince William and his "bride to be" cannot decide where to live.   Must be terrible trying to decide on which castle to claim.  Poor babies, I do feel sorry for them.    Please excuse the sarcasm, I really think Kate is a lovely girl.  I do worry about what will be come of her though when I look at the History of that family.

ANYWAY...we don't have to decide which castle to live in, just which state.    We lean toward Illinois, then think of the winters and lean toward staying here in Tennessee.   Then I look at places in Franklin and there is nothing I want to buy there - well, there is but we can't afford them.   Kate isn't the only one with good taste.

Then Ted says we should live in a camper for awhile and I'm willing to do that but something doesn't feel right not having a "home base" with an address.   

I guess we should probably wait till we have a sale of this house before we get all in a wad, right?   AND the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day.    Think I'll take a walk.

MULE DAY IN TENNESSEE

Well, we missed Mule Day AGAIN.   Every year the first week-end of April is MULE DAY in Columbia Tennessee.

They come from all over.  There will be Mule Trains along country roads and one time I was coming back from Winchester when all of a sudden we got stopped.   No one could tell what the problem was but soon a policeman motioned us to proceed on the opposite side of the road.  

About a half mile down the road we came upon this whole long line of Mules pulling wagons, buggies, some were being ridden.   They were not like the mules my dad had when I was a little girl.   These were big, strong, beautiful mules with golden manes and tails.   I wanted to park my car and get out and jump in the first covered wagon I could. 

We did go to the big parade they had one year.   We asked another couple to go with us but he said he worked enough mules as a boy plowing fields that he didn't need to look at another mules BEHIND.

I meant to invite all of you to come down and we'd all go over this year but alas, my good intentions went out the window.

SLICK PIG BAR-B-QUE

Yesterday the sun was shining.    I couldn't believe it after a week or more of clouds and rain.  AND...I had a date for lunch.   I was set to go to Murfreesboro and meet Meagan.

So...off I took and found a brand new area of Murfreesboro that was neat.   All new shops and went into the Hallmark store as I needed a card or two.   Before I left the clerk gave me a piece of good chocolate.  Not the stuff Walmart sells.  YUM

Meagan was go call after her early meeting and I found a place I could park the car and sit where no one would notice an old gray haired lady sitting alone in her car.   You never know these days, some guy might come by and want to talk or something.   

I was hoping Meagan's meeting was close to me but she said to get back on the Interstate and head toward Chattanooga and where to get off.   It took me awhile but soon I found one of the main roads she had directed me to and I drove and drove.   Finally I pulled over and called her and asked if we were meeting down in Winchester.   But, no, I was on the right road and to just keep driving.

I was to go to East Main, turn left and behind the Marathon was a "hole in the wall" but they had good food.

I found the Marathon station and she was right.   This place looked like a dump but at 11:30 you had to park next door there were so many there.

It was called "SLICK PIG BAR-B-QUE".      People kept coming in all the time we were there and it was no joke, the food was great.

SO...if any of you ever find yourself in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and are really hungry go to the SLICK PIG Bar-B-Que