Family Time

I thought I’d take a break from history and share a little family time from my recent trip back east. Even though my family is small in number, we have a difficult time getting everyone together. However, a few of us were able to meet for dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant (I forgot to take pictures) and visiting in Fairmont, West Virginia. My cousin, Chris, his wife, Jane, their two daughters, son-in-law, and baby came from Ohio, and Jenna drove from Baltimore to meet with us. We weren’t large in number, but we managed to enjoy our share of laughter while we shared stories about the “good old days.” That's a picture of me, Chris and my sister, known as the "three cousins." I also have a brother, but he was older when the three of us were spending summers together. I have so many fond memories of summer vacations at my cousin’s home and it was fun to once again return to the house and remember sitting on the porch eating fresh tomatoes straight from the garden—after we’d dipped them in a bucket of water to remove a little of the dirt, of course.

Just as I was writing about tomatoes, an e-mail from Christy Jordan at http://www.southernplate.com/ dropped into my mail box with a recipe for tomato pie. Don’t you love it when the Lord hands you something you can use at the exact time you need it? Sure makes me smile when that happens. Here’s a picture of Christy’s tomato pie. Making one of these has been officially added to my to-do list.

Okay, so I’m going to move from tomatoes to ice cream. Those who know me pretty well, know that I like ice cream. I come by this love of ice cream genetically. That’s a picture of my mother sitting in her little kitchen eating ice cream out of the half gallon container! My sister lives in a very small town, but one evening during my visit I asked if there wasn’t a Dairy Queen anywhere nearby. She shook her head and said, “No, but we have a Dairy King.”

Believe me, when it comes to ice cream, I’m not choosy about the name of the establishment. I was off on a hunt to find her car keys and after one look at a large cone at the Dairy King, I’m wishing we’d get one here in Topeka. I realize it was dark, but take a look at the size of this ice cream cone.













Most people would have been aghast, but I could barely contain my excitement. And most people wouldn’t have eaten the whole thing—but I did, and enjoyed every bite. I’ll even tell you that the cone you’re looking at is the second one I had that week. I didn’t have my camera the first time around and decided I’d have to have another because I’d have to have a picture to share with all of you. Good thinking, right?

During my time away, we also went to visit my niece and her family in Virginia. She has two fun-loving kiddos, Ethan and Ella. One morning they decided it was hot enough that they should have a lemonade stand, but the lemonade supply was minimal.

Ethan was a little distraught that their plan wasn’t coming together, but his younger sister was determined to find a solution. The night before their father had purchased several large bunches of bananas that were sitting on the kitchen counter. Need I say more? Ella declared they should have a banana stand. Low traffic kept sales to a minimum, but once Ella waved her pink cast and shouted to the men who were mowing and the few passersby, they made out pretty well. I think they may have both inherited their father’s entrepreneurial skills!

Next week I’ll share more of the historical sites, but thanks for letting me share a little family with you today.

May you find joy as your celebrate the gift of family. ~Judy