Dianne

updated on April 18, 2022November 6, 2019My Southern Heart Reflections

Growing older…

I remember the beginning. Fifty-three years ago, when we were all young, life lay stretched out ahead of us. Children in our future…grandchildren beyond that. A path we were laying out in neat little stones leading to what we thought would be our future. Even then, time seemed like it would go on forever. I know you’ve said it: “if only I had known then, what I know now”. I wish I had known then that I didn’t have all the time in the world. We thought we did of course. There’s something to be said for surviving the storms …

updated on April 18, 2022October 14, 2019Decorating Family Reflections

The bench…

I saw an advertisement in our local Facebook Marketplace the other day for a red bench. Amish made, sturdy, in excellent condition and only three twenty-dollar bills. The memories started flooding in. I’ll have a birthday soon and my memory isn’t always that reliable but I just knew that, somewhere in time, we’d had a red bench. I contacted the owner and we picked up the bench right after my eye doctor appointment last Friday. It was perfect. The color is a gorgeous burgundy red. It is sturdy and I have no doubt Amish made. She said it used to …

on October 10, 2019October 10, 2019Family Grandchildren

Thirteen years…

Thirteen years have passed between these two photographs. This little angel is now fifteen and a half years old. This cute as a button toddler turned into a beautiful young lady with a giving, tender heart. She’s very smart, quite talented and a whole lot taller than her grandmother. She plays the piano and the marimba beautifully (it’s an instrument that looks like a gigantic xylophone and sounds amazing). And she swims competitively. Yes, I know I sound like a proud grandmother! Today was grandparents day at her school. Grandpa Doug and I were so very happy to be there …

on October 7, 2019October 7, 2019Family My Southern Heart Reflections

My Southern Heart again…

If you read my blog, My Southern Heart, from May 2008 to August 2012, then you’re going to think this looks totally different. You’re right – it does. All the entries from my time in Oregon have been archived and I’ll have a book printed just for me. Five hundred pages full of reflections, photos, family, farm life, gardening, travels, the Pacific Northwest and so many delicious recipes. But it was time to put it all away and start My Southern Heart all over again. (The posts that you see in the pages and archives here are from My Southern …

on July 23, 2014July 23, 2014Family My Southern Heart

“I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You”…

The year was 1975. My sweet, gentle Dad had heard this song on the radio and asked me if I could find the record for him. He loved my Mama dearly and he loved this song. At the time, I was not a fan of country music – and definitely not a fan of the Statler Brothers – but I bought a tape player and the song for him (and a few others). I watched as he listened to the sweet harmony and the words of the song…and his eyes teared up. The next thing I know there’s a …