Sugar:

There are several definitions for the word sugar, but I am referring to the colloquial Southern term in this photo of me:




In the South the term sugar means kiss. So whenever family members see each other they might say, "Come give me some sugar". This is my grandaddy Bill with me at Christmas time.


Background paper from Chocolate paperz and Sugar Alpha by Anna Benjamin at Paper_Moon
Borderlines 3 by Sande Krieger, Calendar by Misty Mareda, Vintage Frames by Nancy Comelab, Really Big Bow by Natalie Braxton

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I was able to do a marathon read at my mom's house on Saturday and a hour nap! COOL! Here is my review of the book Passionate Minds about the relationship between Emilie du Chatelet and Voltaire: David Bodanis does an admiral job relating this unorthodox relationship of Emilie du Chatelet who possessed a brillant mind for math and science and the life of Voltaire who became a renowned poet and writer, best known for Candide. Their story begins in early 18th century France where most marriage were made for political and financial alliances. "Love" was kept for relationships that were kept "discreetly" separate from the city your spouse was staying in. Emilie du Chatelet was married to an older man with the military and had 2 children. He was often away on duty and had relationships with other women and it was accepted by both of Emilie and her husband that she, too, would have her own diversions. Her longest lasting relationship besides her marriage was with Voltaire. They acted as each other's muse. Emilie could use Voltaire as a sounding board to figure out how to write more exactly what she wanted to say. Voltaire used Emilie has his inspiration for several of his characters and, for the most part, appreciated her critique of his writings. She often participated in his plays that they put on for friends.

My moral code is different from these two characters, but my serious ethos bent didn't keep me from respecting the talents of these two brillant people. The time in which they lived put them on the cusp of The Enlightment and dying before the French Revolution. They lived in an era of rampant corruption in the Catholic Church, a stagnant class system that created feelings of rancor from the lower classes, marriage was not based on love, which led to clandestine relationships that left both participants statisfied in the short-term, but bankrupt in the end as their deeper emotional needs were never met.

Emilie was able to help Voltaire with his science experiments, while at the same time working on her own experiments on light. They both entered their research for the Academic Prize. Though Emilie's was superior to all other entries she was given 6th place and Voltaire recieved 7th. Emilie also translated the Principia by Newton. Emilie was trying to bridge her understanding of the work of Newton and Liebniz, which was a Herculean effort because, at the time, you were in Newton's camp or Liebniz's camp. Bodanis points out Emilie, because she was a women, and was not allowed into the scientific circles of the men could see from a perspective that saw how these two, who both claimed to be the creators of Calculus, had research that could both gave useful information. Emilie leaned more into the Liebniz camp because he saw a Supreme Being's hand in the creation of the things she was understanding in the amazing calculations.

This book interweaves the bizarre political machinations of the time as Voltaire gets involved with Fredrick the Great of Prussia and the court of Louis XV. Voltaire and his friend Richelieu are the ones who introduce Jeanne Poisson to Louis XV. She later is given the name of Madame De Pompadour. Voltaire was hoping for control and influence through Jeanne Poisson because the mistress was a way to get the King's ear. His hopes were dashed when she had her own agenda.

Emilie and Voltaire's relationship becomes extremely strained after the Academy competition. The both get into separate relationships and Emilie gets pregnant at the age of 42. Emilie realizes she will probably die in childbirth. This is when she stays up for hours each day to translate the Principia. Her husband comes home to cover for her pregnancy, and Voltaire stays with her, too. Unfortunately, Emilie's foreboding feelings were correct and she and her baby daughter die. Volatire goes on to live to a ripe old age and write Candide.

I found this excerpt, especially, interesting:
"The British critic William Empson liked describing the power of ambiguity in literature. If an author insists that only one view is true, there's little we can do but accept or reject that view. It easily gets tedious, like a prose article we can read only once. But when the author holds two contrasting views and weaves a narrative where both are somehow true, then we're pulled to it more. (Good music is similar, being both powerful yet also evasive, so that we can listen to it over and over, our mind approaching it afresh each time.)"
I wonder if that is why the Bible and other books of scripture bring such lively discussions. There are so many different interpretations of any given passage.

Though there was a sad outcome for Emilie she wrote this passage in a manuscript she on "Happiness": It's rare to admit it, but we all secretly like the idea of being talked about after our death. In fact, it's a belief we need." It is kind of interesting to think that somewhere Emilie might be happy because I write this, today, 258 years after her death.

::::::::::::::::::::::::Hilarious:::::::::

I grabbed this from Julie P.'s blog
Pick your birthday month:

January: I kicked
February: I loved
March: I karate chopped
April: I licked
May: I jumped on
June: I smelled
July: I did the Macarena With
August: I had lunch with
September: I danced with
October: I sang to
November: I yelled at
December: I ran over

Pick the day (number) you were born on:

1: a birdbath
2: a monster
3: a phone
4: a fork
5: a snowman
6: a gangster
7: my cell phone
8: my dog
9: my best friends’ boyfriend
10: my neighbor
11: my science teacher
12: a banana
13: a fireman
14: a stuffed animal
15: a goat
16: a pickle
17: your mom
18: a spoon
19: a smurf
20: a baseball bat
21: a ninja
22: Chuck Norris
23: a noodle
24: a squirrel
25: a football player
26: my sister
27: my brother
28: an ipod
29: a surfer
30: a llama
31: a photographer

Pick the color of shirt you are wearing:

White: because I’m cool like that.
Black: because that’s how I roll.
Pink: because I’m NOT crazy.
Red: because the voices told me to .
Blue: because I’m sexy and I do what I want.
Green: because I think I need some serious help.
Purple: because I’m AWESOME!
Gray: because Big Bird said to and he’s my leader.
Yellow: because someone offered me 1,000,000 dollars.
Orange: because my family thinks I’m stupid anyway.
Brown: because I can.
Other: because I’m a Ninja!
None: because I can ‘t control myself.


Mine is: I jumped on a birdbath because I think I need some serious help.

I've Been Invited:

by Cindy Irvine at Elemental Scraps to be part of her Guest Creative Team. Cindy was very complementary.


_{Sunlit Whispers kit by Cindy Irvine at Elemental Scraps, Cardboard Flip by Linda Gil Bildal, Rusty staple from Softly Softly by KSharonK, Font: Powell Antique, Hello Sark}

This photo has my mom standing in the front yard of the house built by her father. She and I both loved to wander around and collect rocks. She told me she had quite a quartz collection, but her mother disposed of it on a day of thorough cleaning. The street that fronts the house is named Doris Street after my grandmother.
The house is still there, but with a subdivision all around it. I practiced driving whenever I got a chance when I would visit my grandmother. I loved the way the pebbles and the sand would sound as they ground under the tires. It was an interesting crunching and sliding sound.

::::::::::::::::::Girl Scout Cookies Aftermath::::::

Mom, Michael, Rachel and I combined to sell 220 Girl Scout Cookies. The cookies we purchased were gone in 4 days because Michael put them up high and told the kids they had to slow it down. I went to the credit union to exchange small bills for larger ones so that the "Cookie Mom" wouldn't have to count $770.00 in ones, fives and tens. I also had to allow time for the checks written to me to clear the bank.
When I presented the money to exchange to the teller she said I could count it out to her however I wished, but that she would have to re-count it. I counted everything into piles of $100.00 for convenience. When she did her count she came up $20.00 less than my total. I just stood their without saying anything and allowed her to re-count. She came up $20.00 less, again. I just kept standing there (I had counted that money 7 times, so I know what I had given her). On her third count she caught her mistake. I smiled, politely.
The money is now in the hands of the Cookie Mom and I am left with 35 boxes of cookies to send to the troops. Now I wait to find out the address of where the brigade is to be deployed so we can send the boxes.

***After all of the fundraising my mother does for my children...EVERY YEAR...I jokingly told her that when she passes on the title of the obituary should by "Death of a Saleswoman". She laughed and hardly agreed.

:::::::::::::::::::Sick::::::::

Aaron felt yucky all day yesterday. When I returned from Girl Scouts he leapt from the couch and ran passed me screaming, "Mom, I don't want to throw up!" I dropped everything on my desk and ran up the stairs after him. Unfortunately, his lack of desire to throw up was unconvincing to his stomach. He was able to relax enough to lay down and go to sleep. He fell asleep in his glasses, but I left them on encase he needed to be sick again and I didn't want him running head long into the wall, or kill himself on the mound of Legos on the floor.


:::::::::::::::::Spring Weather:::
is here and I need to put down some pre-emergent on the lawn. I also would like to get a gas trimmer, so I can get the weeds in all the areas of the yard.

:::::::::::::::::Cuba:::

My dad should be coming back from his mission trip from Cuba soon. He usually gets some good photos and he always has a great story. He has been all over the world doing service.

:::::::::::::::::Tie Shoes:::
One day it is exciting and new and the very next day it is common place. Amazing!

WOO HOO...More Frig. Art and My Daddy Bill:

"There is an infinite number of worlds, some like this world, others unlike it...For the atoms out of which a world might arise, or by which a world might be formed, have not all been expended on one world or a finite number of worlds, whether like or unlike this one. Hence there will be nothing to hinder an infinity of worlds....And further, we must not suppose that...in another sort of world there could not possibly be, the seeds out of which animals and plants arise and all the rest of the things we see."

Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.), Greek philosopher, "letter to Herodotus"


_{background paper by Kim Hill, Studded Ribbon from "Birthday Blitz" by Gina Miller, overlay and glitter brackets from Studio Chic by Shabby Princess, Font: Ash94, Old Style Italic}


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If you think some kids go to school these days just to play football...think again:





A.A. (Goat) Harris, as he is listed in this 1974 article featuring the 1938 football team of Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, is my maternal grandfather. I knew him as "Daddy Bill". His full name was Arthur Aaron Harris, but he received the knickname "Goat" because he would chew on his tongue and sleeves. He only attended high school during football season, then he would quit and go back to work for his father's furniture store. I suppose he moved onto the knickname "Bill" as it is linked to "Billy Goat".
During his infrequent schooling he defended a couple of his classmates from the school principal and a teacher. My grandfather grabbed the principal and tossed him in a ditch for abusing a student. I wonder if the principal ever picked on the other boy again? On another occasion he had a friend whose arm was broken and a female teacher hit him on that arm, so my grandfather chased her down the hall to the principal's office.


Background paper from "Good Karma" and Brush Stoke Alpha by Michelle Coleman
Scrapbook and corners from Mo Jackson's Primitive Scrapbook
Title Alpha and staples from Shabby Princess' Fall Freebie
Font: Marcishand

They're Climbing the Walls!

_{Urban Monkeys kit by Lizzie Grace, popsicle sticks (Modified) from Susan Long, Film strip (modified) by Jen Wilson, paper from BYOBB Kit Add-on by Gina Miller, Banana and monkey background paper by Ping Designs, fonts: arial, Pea Jane}

Climbing the molding is a passion for Noah. He climbs daily...shinnying (sp?)up the molding in the living room kitchen and bedroom. Rachel enjoys climbing as well, but doesn't do so as much as Noah. Aaron doesn't bother and Eve hasn't figured it out, yet! I'm pretty sure that this is an unacceptable deed in many homes, but we find it pretty cool! Michael built a climbing wall in our garage several years ago and Noah is the only one interested in climbing it. Noah is built kind of small and squarish, like a line backer in football. I think he most resembles the build of my maternal grandfather, "Goat" (Bill) Harris. My grandfather only attended high school to play football. (I will post a layout of this soon. I have a cool newspaper article with him suited up). As far as, climbing the molding our only injuries are the kids that think it's funny to hang out underneath the climber. Gravity and Darwin at work here!..."He fell on me!"...
"Why were you standing underneath him?"...
"He did it on purpose!"...
"If that makes you feel better!"

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Michael asked me to make a video slideshow presentation of the most recent "Supercamp" activity. I'm using Easy Media Creator 8 to put the show together. My problem is being able to stop. I love pictures and music, and I enjoy putting the two together. I haven't figured out the songs I want to use, yet. I have great photos of camping, rock climbing, biking and caving. Michael was in charge of the "High Adventure" stuff. So, if there are any songs that strike you as good for these activities please let me know:)

Mama Doris

_{I used Paper Moons kit by Anna Benjamin called "Cuppy's Room" and Gina Miller's BYOBB Kit Add On Kit. Font used: Mama Script}

Text: What I see know when I look at this photograph is that
Mama Doris Harris came to visit us at our little apartment off Shallowford Road in Decatur. Mama Doris always used this same color of red to dye her hair for as long as she lived.
My brother, Denny, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of four used to smile for the camera. He would smile until right about the time he reached puberty, then he only smiled a forced smile when instructed to do so. Before I came along he kept his room very neat and clean. One day when I was playing when I was very young he gripped the top of my head tightly and told me to "Go Away.' I feel bad for messing up the world he needed to keep in an organized way.
My mom says my birth helped her keep things in perspective and that it was nice to be able to talk to someone.
I would spend summers with Mama Doris and Daddy Bill in Phenix City Alabama, where she would ply me with all sorts of treats: Pringles, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Reese Cups, vanilla ice cream, Coca Cola, Loorna Doones and Sugar Wafers.
From Mama Doris I learned sarcasm could be honed to a fine art, one my husband doesn't particularly want me to use. She also kept her home immaculate and always presented herself in an elegant manner whenever she left her home.
Single photos can illicit so many memories....

Doris and Bill

I had a great relationship with these two people. My maternal grandparents were wonderful. I looked forward to my grandfather coming home after working at his Shlitz Malt Liquor franchise, so we could play cards. We would play poker, black jack, and war usually. He always smelled like English Leather. He wore wingtip shoes and black trouser socks. We would make a treat out of a tall glass with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and milk poured over it. I liked the ice crystals that formed on the ice cream. My grandfather always let me drive the golf cart clearly labeled not to do so. I still have a thing for wanting to drive golf carts, I think a move to Peachtree City where they use golf carts would be cool, but definitely not for my husband. I loved to go with him to the golf course. He didn't play much he usually would just make a bet on how many yards he could hit the ball. If he won he took me to lunch.

My MamaDoris was ALWAYS immacuately dressed. Everything looked matched perfectly. The only thing that drove me crazy was her smoking. I often chastized the cigarette man for selling her cartons of Pall Malls while we were eating lunch at Mrs. Lane's on the bypass in Columbus, Ga. I used to stare at her while she ate because I wondered how long denture adhesive actually worked. (This is very impolite, so I am not recommending this behavior). I was also fascinated by the amount of hair spray she used to keep her hair in place. It was teased rather big and she loved Ms. Clairol, but I can't remember the shade of reddish brown she used. I'm sure she was pleased when I would turn my attention to a book or my cross-stitching and leave her alone already! She had the most beautiful handwriting. I always wanted to write like she did. One of the traits I admired most was that she didn't run to catch a phone call. She always said if they wanted to talk to her badly enough they could wait for her to get to the phone. I believe 14 rings was not uncommon.

I really miss these two enormously. They kept me safe, they loved me and enriched my life beyond measure!




Text:"My grandfather used to help my grandmother skip school. He would buy her ice cream and take her for a ride in his car. They met at school. He was much older than her and still attending school because he only attended school during football season, then he would quit school and work for the rest of the year. He was on Central High's first football team in Phenix City, Alabama."

"Behind the bar is my grandfather, Arthur Aaron Harris, also known as Bill, or "Goat". The Ace Chili bar was on Broad Steet next Kirven's, a locally owned department store. The former owner was Mr. Odom. who employed my grandfather as a bookkeeper and sometimes bodyguard. Mr. Odom would play cards and get drunk, so my grandfather was there to ensure no one took advantage of Mr. Odom. Next to the bar was a liqour store owned by Charlie and Ruth Murphy who were friends to my Daddy Bill."

This layout was completed using Mo Jackson's Dorothy's Kitchen elements and Primitive Scrapbook. The font: Michele/Old World Script/Mama Script

Persimmons in Summer

This page is done entirely with the new kit "Persimmons in Summer" created by Sandra Boddington

The quote on the layout is: "The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." ~Erma Bombeck

Erma Bombeck is one of the most honest and funny human beings. I miss her insights! I love to work on family history!