Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Mama's Lemon Meringue Pie


                                             My mother, Blanche, sitting on the front porch.  

Each afternoon when my sister, Barbara, and brother Harold, and I, got off the school bus; Mama served us a snack.  Sometimes she made a lemon meringue pie from scratch.

"Wash your hands, kids," she said with her sweet voice.  "Come to the table.  I've fixed a snack to tidy you over until supper."

Even today, my favorite dessert is lemon meringue pie.  I've tried to follow Mama's recipe, but I can't duplicate her scrumptious dessert.  It never tastes right.

She made snacks for years, until all her children finished high school.  I was the youngest, and the last to graduate.  She prepared delicious food when snow twirled like feathers, and as the redbud trees danced in breath-taking blooms.

I cherish the memories of my devoted- mountain mama, who reared me.  She worked in the kitchen, and garden to nourish the body and soul.

Mama could hardly wait to grab a hoe each spring, and dig in the dirt.  She enjoyed watching plants pop up in the garden.  She loved nature and green was her favorite color.  As she worked outdoors, Mama listened to the mourning doves, Bob whites, and whippoorwills trilling in the hills.  The music of the songbirds soothed her soul, and tension melted from her body.

At times, I can still see my mama, her snow-white hair shining in the sunlight, or glowing under a lamp as she pieced the Cathedral Quilt.  Her sky-blue eyes sparkled, and her face glowed with love, as she smiled at me.

Mama's been gone for four years.  She passed at spring, when the dogwoods wore dozens of white crosses.  I think that's when she would have chosen to enter that "Pearly-White City."

I wish all my blogger friends a very

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

EASTER


 After the storm,
peace falls upon the earth
like an emerald scarf.

After the fog lifts,
a sunrise sets
the mountains afire.

After all the obstacles,
creation gives birth
to a season of hope.

After being trounced,
tulips burst forth
from a borrowed tomb.

After the death,
a purple hyacinth unpins
fragrant blossoms.

After the fear,
yellow bell bushes ring
a golden melody.

After the sickness,
songbirds lift joyful tunes,
jet streams form a cross.
              --Brenda Kay Ledford


I wish my blogger friends a blessed Easter!


Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Monarch Butterflies


 Monarch Butterflies

Deep in the forest of Mexico,
an internal clock wakes

the fairies from a winter's nap.
Monarch butterflies savor

the sunrays ricocheting
through a timbered choir.

Slowly, the magic unfolds,
a thousand wings flutter

like fans on the wind.
Butterflies lunge upward

soaring as an orange cloud
northward through the azure skies.
              --Brenda Kay Ledford

I watched the NBC TV series, "The Americas," narrated by Tom Hanks, and was fascinated by the photographs of the Monarch butterflies awaking from hibernation to make their long journey back to the North.  If you haven't seen this series, it appears on NBC on Sunday evening at 7:00 PM EST. I think you would enjoy this beautiful series on the Americas. Nature is truly amazing!




Thursday, February 6, 2025

Happy Poems


 HAPPY POEMS

Sunshine breaks through the clouds,
the robins relish this day,
a cheerful greeting.

Lesley was a Bliss,
she sparkles with happiness,
my beautiful niece.



The thrill of desserts,
enjoy the simple pleasures,
chocolate chip cookies.

The delight of kids,
their cheerful laughter playing,
the tulips bursting forth.


Gladness in my heart,
humor is my medicine,
dry bones live again.
             --Brenda Kay Ledford


Wishing blessings and joy to all of my blogger friends!

Thursday, January 16, 2025

AMARYLLIS


 An Arctic Blast socks
the Southeast, wildfires
consume the "City of Angels."

On the coldest day
of winter, an amaryllis
bursts forth in my kitchen.

Divine order of the universe
is turned upside down,
Mother Nature confused.

When the frost sparkles
like gems on needle-like-grass,
a blood-red flower shoots

from a bulb reposing on gravel,
and lifts a cup of grape juice
to toast the golden light.
          --Brenda Kay Ledford

I hope my blogger friends are staying warm and safe.

I am enjoying my amaryllis blooming in my kitchen. On a cold, snowy day, I sip a cup of hot apple cider, gaze at the beautiful flower and count my blessings.

  May we remember our neighbors in California who have lost their homes due to the wildfires.  One man who was a resident of our county, lives in California.  The fire is now five miles from his home.  May we remember Greg and thousands of other people who have lost their homes.  Also, please keep the firefighters, National Guard members, and first responders in our thoughts and prayers.


Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Happy New Year

 


Nobody knows what the new year will hold, but I choose to face 2025 with hope and faith in my heart that according to the Holy Bible, "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord."

I was blessed in 2024. I faced some trouble, some disappointments, some sickness, but through it all; I was never alone.  The Lord brought me through.  We discussed in our Sunday school class on Sunday if anyone had made any resolutions for 2025.

Every person in our class reflected that they just wanted to be kind to people, spread a little love in this sometimes very harsh world.  This is my desire, too.  I think if everyone did his or her part spreading kindness, it would be a better place to live.

So what are my plans for New Year's Day?  First of all, a little country church in my community holds a watch service.  This is an old time mountain tradition where people gather on New Year's Eve at the church.  They hold a singing, prayer meeting, until midnight.  They herald the new year praying and giving thanks for another year.  Then we gather in the fellowship hall for refreshments.  This is a joyful celebration and faith that God will be with us and take care of us no matter what we may face in 2025.

On New Year's Day I plan to have the traditional meal:  collard greens, corn bread, and black-eyed peas.  Some folks include hog jaw with their celebration.  The old saying goes black-eyed peas represent round coins, collard greens bring paper money, and cornbread brings gold.  Most folks wouldn't take a chance messing up any dreams of good fortune for the new year.  As for myself, I could just take the cornbread and a glass of ice cold buttermilk.

However you choose to observe New Year's Day, I wish all my blogger friends a:

          Joyful &

Blessed New Year

Friday, December 20, 2024

Jolly Librarian Technician


 Our wonderful computer technician at Moss Memorial Library delights the patrons with his fantastic festive costumes at Christmas.  He's original and fills our local library with jolly, holly, celebrations.  I just go to the library often during the holidays to see what wonderful costume he's wearing.  Ben is a brilliant young man who is very creative and makes the season merry and bright!


Mama's Lemon Meringue Pie

                                             My mother, Blanche, sitting on the front porch.   Each afternoon when my sister, Barbara, and b...