Sunday, November 27, 2011

May I Introduce Myself....

I have the distinction of having "Superwoman" for a daughter.  Now it is hard for me to call her that, because I am just a girl myself, so how could she be a woman?  Last week was a prime example of her amazing abilities.

We don't have birth-days in our family.  We have birth-weeks.  Susannah Logan Metzger will be 16 years old as of tomorrow.  Her celebration began last Tuesday with a party for an indeterminate number of her closest friends.  It was a western-themed party featuring line dancing and hot tubbing, as well as Wii dancing games, ping-pong, Ms. Pac-Man, indoor basketball toss, etc., etc., etc.

Superwoman decorated the house beautifully (with the help of Superman Rob.)  She made the cutest, neatest poster that said "Oh, Susannah, is Sweet Sixteen," which was on the front door.  (Don't tell Susannah, but I have a vintage copy of the Oh, Susanna sheet music for her birthday!)  The tables, yes, plural, were great looking.  They served the best grilled hot dogs (I know because I got some left-overs.)   There were three cakes and ice cream, of course.

The evening was a resounding success.  The house and yard were filled with kids having fun.  Susannah had a great time.  Look for pictures on FB. 

Was it time for Superwoman to rest?  Well, it would have been nice, but she had a quick turnaround to set up for Thanksgiving for 15!  Table arrangements changed.  Decorations changed.  Food changed drastically.  If that sounds manageable, factor in that the Metzgers have a Thanksgiving tradition of  participating in the Arlington Turkey Trot.  They were up and out at 7:00 A.M. Thursday morning.  That's not all...delivering dinners for Mission Arlington is also a tradition for their family.  Check, check, they got it all accomplished and were back home to host a wonderful Thanksgiving day for our whole family.

Wait--we're not through.  We had a lovely day after Thanksgiving, too, arranged by none other than SW!  Eleven of us trooped down to Waxahachie, had lunch at the Dove's Nest, then took a home tour.  We had another great day.

Now by this day--Friday--I had "one wheel off and the axle draggin'." Actually, I think I was already in that condition by Thanksgiving night.  Superwoman was still perky.  She had popped something out of place in her knee, but it didn't slow her down one bit.

I do not know anyone else in this whole world of millions and billions of people whose claim to fame is that they are the mother of Dolly Levi, Patsy Cline, Superwoman, and best of all, Susan Lynn Stovall Metzger.  I am one blessed and very proud Mom.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Mimi's Part of the Tradition

I am sitting down resting and drinking some real Coke after finishing up my cooking.  Here is what I am taking to the Metzger's house:







That is enough cornbread dressing, corn, and cherry-Coke salad to feed an army.  I'm just hoping there will be some leftovers!

My contribution always looks just like this--if Jay and Terri are here.  The reason?  Cherry-Coke is the only Jello salad Jay likes, so I never make anything different if he will be eating!  It was my mother's recipe, and there's no telling how many times I've made it in my life.  Kroger is now the only store which carries the black cherries.

The dressing was Jack's mother's recipe.  If I do say so myself, and I do, it is mahvelous!  Everyone's dressing is different, of course, so Shirley (Rob's mother) brings her family-favorite dressing, too.  It is also mahvelous!  Do you think we'll have enough?

The corn has a life of its own.  It all started with the Shawnee pottery corn dish--two of which are pictured here.  (I removed the lid of one so you could see the corn.) One of those was given to us when we married.  It was a shower gift from a friend of Jack's mother in Forest Hill Baptist Church, where he attended.  I used to buy one package of frozen cream style corn and one package of whole kernel corn (in multiples) to create my corn casserole.  Then Green Giant changed the cream style to more of a whole kernel with cream sauce.  So now, it's just buttered up cream style.  But, a holiday would not be a holiday without this corn in these dishes.  And talk about something hard to find, I have to go to Super 1 in Forest Hill to find this essential corn!

There's a funny story about the corn dishes.  One Easter we had brought Madeline and Susannah home from church before going to lunch at their house.  Jack placed our food, including the two filled corn dishes, in the back of his Navigator, having raised the third seat and fastened it with a seat belt to keep it up.  We got everyone and everything loaded.  Unbeknownst to us, Susannah unfastened her seat belt  (the one holding the seat!) and fastened it back properly around her.  We made it a block or so before the seat crashed down on our food!  The amazing thing is this: Only the base of one dish broke.  Not the fancy lid!  And what's even more amazing?  Later Rob's sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Pat, found a base--minus its lid--in Arkansas when they were there on their motorcycle!  They schlepped it home, and I was back in business!

We have countless things for which to be thankful, but one of them has to be the traditions of our family--and a family that loves traditions.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

What Will I Think of Next?

I may be qualifying for the Guinness Book of Records.  Can you guess how?  Believe me, you can't.  It's not my athletic accomplishments (I'm sure someone can sit in a recliner longer than I.)  It's definitely not my cooking prowess.  It's sure not my dog training ability.  Here it is: at age 74 I am having my teeth straightened--yes, wearing braces.

Here was my first stop this morning:



This was my first check-up on my Invisalign braces.  Dr. Barbre comes with great credentials--he's the one who made Susannah Metzger's smile so beautiful!

Now I can't get Dr. Barbre to say I'm the oldest patient he's had.  But...this morning I did get him to admit that, in order to get my teeth straight, I have the most Invisalign trays he's ever seen!  These trays are supposed to be worn two weeks, then changed.  But if, like me, you have 52 trays, the length of wear needs to be shortened to 10 days, or you (I) would never finish!  (I'm guessing about half that number is required for a reasonable age person--seriously!)  At best, calculating 52 X 10 equals an awfully long time. 

Which brings up a question some of my dear friends have asked.  Will I be around long enough to really benefit from this?  Isn't that a sweet thought?!!  I haven't told my girls yet because I think it just might freak them out, but I may want to be buried with a "smile."  A tooth-showing smile.

These things are really supposed to be worn 23 hours per day, removed only for eating and brushing and flossing and brushing the trays!  Shoot, all that takes almost an hour!  I was o.k. until someone pointed out to me at lunch the first day I had them that that was 20 minutes per meal.  My family will absolutely guffaw when they think of me eating a 20-minute meal.  I am ALWAYS the last one to finish.  Not to mention my morning coffee which I re-heat 15 times as I sip it.  (Or used to.)

I was prepared for everyone to say that they had never noticed my teeth being crooked.  So don't hesitate to say that if you feel called to.  But I have two kinda "fangy" ones on top, and the bottom ones are really a mess.  (To be truthful, there are actually 55 trays for the lower teeth.  See, I told you they were  bad.)  Some of my friends really got a charge out of how I determined that the lower ones were a problem.  I talked into a mirror to check to see if they showed.  They do!  No, I did not make a video.

I experienced the very worst, most awful repercussion of these braces after I left Dr. Barbre's office today.  I went to Costco!  There were all those wonderful samples, and I couldn't have a one!  I wasn't going to spend any of my precious hour popping these things out and in and brushing!  

Well, here I am with Dr. Barbre.  We're going to be seeing a lot of each other.

 


Saturday, November 5, 2011

No matter where I roam...

there's no bathroom like home!  I'd like to give you a peek at what just might be the world's most beautiful bathroom.  Yes, in all modesty, it belongs to me.  And, with equal modesty, I designed and decorated it my very own self!

This project began eons ago when I purchased a beautiful new, free-standing, double sink unit.  A dear friend took me to the Dallas Market where I found just what I wanted.  This gorgeous thing was delivered to and stayed at the office warehouse forever and a day!  Finally, Rob called one day and said, "Linda, I've got two guys who can come tear out your bathroom."  Since procrastination is my middle name, I hesitated, but then said "Let's go."

Here's what started the whole thing!



I found the perfect mirrors to hang above it, and I love the oil rubbed bronze fixtures!

I then faced a slight complication.  Madeline and Susannah had loved bathing in our old tub since they were babies because it was a jacuzzi tub.  It had also developed some mold, and if there was the tiniest visible speck of black, they wouldn't stick a toe in it.  So...not wanting another jacuzzi, I was faced with the prospect of disappointing my little angels.  I told Rob of my dilemma, and he told me about a bubble tub.  It has small openings evenly spaced near the bottom.  It requires a motor (not easy to hide), which pushes air through the vents without re-circulating any water; therefore, no mold!  We took out a bank loan (anything for the girls) and bought one from a fancy place in Dallas.

Here it is:




The girls are too busy to stay with me often any more.  However, I LOVE this tub with a passion!  The electricians (Parish Electric) went through the wall and placed the motor in the closet in the adjoining bedroom.  So only a guest staying in there is bothered by the noise!

This picture also shows my fabulous vanity, if I do say so myself, and I do.  I found a photo of this vanity in a magazine.  My talented nephew, Mike Stovall, constructed it for me in unbelievable fashion.  It has multiple drawers and is exactly what I wanted--exactly!  I then took it to Billy Childress in Dallas for the fabric covering.  It turned out exactly like the picture.  Then I found the little mirror and stool!  Voila!  The fabrics are a beautiful green which is not done justice by the picture.

The gorgeous leaded glass window was constructed by Ronnie Beauchamp.  I met his wife, Donna, at The Stitch Niche, invited her to Bible Study Fellowship, and we became good friends.  I can't remember how I found out that Ronnie could do this.  Again, it was exactly what I wanted, with Donna's and Ronnie's expert help.

Here it is at night:  (Oh, and don't miss my chandelier!)




I love every single big and small thing about this bathroom.  Here's the rug atop the 12 x 12 tiles laid diagonally.  Rob's mom, Shirley, suggested the tile size and arrangement, for which I am so grateful!




There is a reason my bathroom is on my mind.  I did all this changing, but I left the old shower enclosure for, well for a long time!  It still looked like new.  Jack dried it off perfectly after every shower.  But, it was the only remaining shiny brass!



 
Here's how it looks now!  It is frameless with oil rubbed bronze hardware.

         

In the interest of good taste, I'm having a debate with myself about whether or not to show you the remaining outstanding feature of my "new" bathroom.  O.K.  I've decided to show you.  It is a Toto commode.  We stayed in a lovely hotel in Tokyo that had one of these.  I came home with this unorthodox item on my wish list.  Among its outstanding features is a heated seat!



So, there you have it.  I'll bet I'm the only person in this whole world of millions and billions of people posting pictures of her potty this Saturday afternoon.