TODAY I AM 76
Perhaps this should be a day of reflection. My husband and many of my friends have already passed away. I know I am blessed. I had a wonderful mother and father. I am close to my sister and brother. God blessed Joe and me with three children and five grandchildren all of whom I am extremely proud.
My youngest daughter has decided I am (OCD) because I obsess over things. She lists:
1. PHONICS-- I must admit that was a serious focus of my life--to get Systematic, Direct, and Early (SIDE) phonics back in our schools. I ran for chairman of school board twice. I lost once to a doctor who "had a heart for education" (and the backing of the school system which had "too much invested" in the current methodology to change). And once to the president of the university in Dothan who hired the professors who trained our teaches in what they had based their careers upon--Whole Language. Not much hope for change there. One principal told me "they would laugh the teachers off the playground if taught not to say "aint." (And that relates to reading how?)
2. FRENCH HANDSEWING--I did manage to create two Christening gowns and several smocked outfits (Mary Strickland and Elizabeth Wheelock were excellent instructors).
Lily Claire Butterworth in the Christening gown made for her.
My children, Cecily and Drew stand in front with Lucy Lee and others whose parents names I remember, but I cannot remember theirs. As I said, I am 76 with an atrophying brain. I am told that is normal. 
Lily on the balcony at Wakefield. There were many of us handsewing at that time. So, as chairman of the Girls Club Board, I decided that a good fundraiser would be a fashion show of heirloom garments. It was beautiful and quite successful. And it was the beginning of a series of fashion shows that became a bit of a tradition for awhile.
3. QUILTING--Great hobby for when one is recuperating from hip or knee surgery.
4. GENEALOGY--So, now my sister and I are members of the the Shawnee Heritage, Magna Charta Dames, Jamestown Society, Mayflower Society, Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Confederacy, and if there were such an organization, children of WWI and WWII patriots. Though I have tried to get a historical society started, most of those interested have passed away.
5. WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (Creek Indian family saga), COSY MYSTERIES (MINT JULEPS SERIES), CONTEMPORARY WOMEN'S FICTION (CHOICES AND SECRETS), WAKEFIELD PLANTATION: HISTORY AND COOKBOOK, AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES mainly for lifestyle magazines. Oh yes, my website (southern-style.com) and this blog.
CONTEMPORARY WOMEN'S FICTION
7. GARDENING-- And now, in my declining years, I am obsessed with gardening.
I am growing Amaryllis from seed (they take two to three years to develop bulbs). Yesterday, I started a new flower bed in the back yard by dividing one amaryllis. My shaded, patchy grass is dwindling.
My granddaughters love to go to Dothan Nurseries and the Botanical Garden. When my oldest, Lily, comes again, we are going to take a field trip to Ozark to the Neighborhood Daylily Farm. My mother (Jean Gillis Burson) and my grandmother (Eunice Jernigan Gillis) were both gardeners. My mother could do anything but always felt inadequate because she did not go to college. She went to nursing school and won a battle ribbon for her service at the Battle of the Bulge. Then she joined mail order book clubs and read about anything and everything. She was self-educated with intellectual things as well as gifted with creative endeavors. Mother started a children's garden club for me and my friends--the Daffy Dillies. We met in my playhouse a former air conditioner container. She took me with her on her yearly visits to the daylily farm in Headland. I guess that jumpstarted my love of plants.
I am trying to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Currently, I have only seen a very chubby squirrel, a redbird and his wife.
Do you think the signage with the metal butterfly and caterpillar is enough of an invitation. Maybe the lantana and butterfly weed.
6. One of my favorite Magazines must be SOUTHERN LIVING. Their recent one, April 2026, I guess, is my favorite. It presents Southern food so well! ENGLISH HOME and ENGLISH GARDEN follow a close second. It presents Southern food so well. Now inspired I think I will start cooking these old favorites in my
my newly painted Blue Kitchen.
Redesigned and painted Pantry/Utility 
