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My Southern Heart

From the heart of a Southern girl living in the Midwest

Family

The bench…

Decorating, Family, Reflections

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 belong to her parents.  They’re probably about my age.  We’re the right generation for the Colonial America look.  I love the bench.  It’s sitting in the dining room right under the framed photo of Terrace Hill, the Iowa governor’s mansion.  The print is addressed to Doug’s parents and personally signed by a former governor of Iowa

.

 

Below:  After some looking through old photographs research, I have some answers.

We did have a bench, probably purchased 50+ years ago when Bill and I bought our first sofa and chair.

First, it was painted black with gold trim around the wooden legs.

When we moved to the little house on Cherrydale, the bench went in the hallway.

Here’s Christy playing dressup with her little high heels and earrings walking by the bench.

 

 

A couple of houses and a few years later, the bench has been antiqued blue and it’s sitting in the kitchen in Ellendale.

Christy holding her baby brother Justin.

And with four of us (Bill, Justin, Christy and me) sitting on the same bench…

Below:  Quite a few years later…and I was right.  We DID have a red bench! 

The same one painted red this time, sitting on the porch of our house in Terre Haute, Indiana! 

Bill with his mom, Bobbie.

Guess my memory isn’t so bad after all!

 

 

October 14, 2019 · 1 Comment

Thirteen years…

Family, Grandchildren

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 with her today.

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2019 · Leave a Comment

My Southern Heart again…

Family, My Southern Heart, Reflections

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 Heart…the Stories.  These blog entries were compiled in a book and copies given to my family one Christmas.  The personal stories are here if you’d like to read them…and for my safekeeping.)


There are so many things I want to write about.  A lot of the categories on the righthand sidebar.  I’ve been working on family history for two decades. I can’t think of any better place to chronicle those stories of the South than here. That’s just a start. Right now, I’m in the midst of laying out the website and working out the kinks, so it will be a work in progress for a bit.  I’ve purchased a few photos with a personal license (like the beautiful magnolia) and I plan on taking lots of photos with my new Canon EOS Rebel T6i. For the moment, it’s over my head but I will learn.  One is never too old to learn.

I appreciate those of you who noticed I’m writing again and reached out to me. Thank you.  If you’re following along, welcome!  

October 7, 2019 · Leave a Comment

“I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You”…

Family, My Southern Heart

MAMAANDDADDY1968

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 tear trailing down my cheek.  He did go to his grave loving Mama and his four daughters and all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren…four years before Mama.

I think about this song from time to time…and about Daddy’s love for and commitment to his family.  I’m thankful for that legacy.

mamaanddaddy
The photo below was taken about 1952 at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  I wrote a post entitled “All Too Soon” and the years on Mamie Road about it here.

July 23, 2014 · Leave a Comment

The sixth day of August…

Family, Family History/Genealogy, My Southern Heart, Reflections

There are some days in life that are just bittersweet…today is one of those days.

On a sweet note, today is Cindy’s birthday.  She is my sister Gerry’s firstborn.  Cindy is beautiful with a heart of gold…just like her late Mom. She has an ever ready smile and a wonderful sense of humor. We are always laughing when we’re all together. An amazing pianist and wonderful teacher, she must bless the hearts of the students at the college where she teaches. No doubt, she blesses the hearts of our entire family…just as she blesses mine. Happy Birthday, Cindy! I love you. Wish I could be there to celebrate with all of you!

Love this photo from about 1957. Cindy was almost 5 and I was 12. 
(just guessing at the year and ages) 
Apparently, I’d propped her up in the car window! 
I was a really good baby sitter!
sch_noitems_leaf

Sadly, today also marks the ninth anniversary of my beautiful sister Dot’s death. She fought a courageous battle against AML (Acute Myloid Leukemia) but Heaven needed her. She had such strength and optimism. She believed in FAMILY more than anyone I have ever known. Dot remembered special days with a card, a note or a call. She organized family reunions and made sure that we all got together. She had a gift for staying in touch. Dot had the burden/privilege of being the oldest…maybe that comes with the territory. As I shared in the previous post, searching for our family roots was Dot’s inspiration and I will honor her by finishing it. She would like that.

How I would love to answer the phone and hear her quip one more time, “Hello! What’s going on besides the rent?” with that smile in her voice. I miss her every single day…but I will see her in Heaven.

I love this picture of my sister when she was about 21 years old.

August 6, 2013 · 3 Comments

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Like the rest of you, I have a story.  Peaks and valleys along the way make up each of our stories.  Thankfully, I have a deep, strong faith.  A close walk with the Lord has seen me through some hard times.  God also gave me a sense of humor.  It helps.  I just don’t usually […]

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The photographs

The photographs in My Southern Heart are either old family photos, photos I’ve taken over the years or photos for which I have purchased a license.  Please do not copy without asking first.

My Southern Heart. Dianne Allen-Rieck. Copyright 2007 - 2023. All rights reserved.