There Goes Connie

Alabama Weather. God’s Word.

03/30/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

There’s a fun (and scarily accurate) saying around here: “If you don’t like the weather, wait an hour.”

Yes, there are days that are just hot, hot, and hotter, and others where it seems to rain forever. But, at the same time, Alabama weather gets four very distinct seasons with wide variations within each one.

In a four-day period just last week, we had 80-degree temps with unstable air that produced 10 tornadoes in North Alabama alone, widespread property damage, but thankfully no fatalities, and hail described as both golf-ball-sized and grapefruit-sized. The next day was cold, overcast and windy. The one after that brought freeze warnings, and yet the next one saw temps back up to the 60’s. Similar variations have occurred this week, without the tornadoes — hallelujah!

When we’re not particularly happy about the weather we’re experiencing on any given day, I think it’s helpful to remember that God is the Creator of weather . . . and everything else, for that matter. HE’S in charge, and HE has His reasons for whatever may fall from the sky or swirl through the atmosphere.

Read this passage in The Message paraphrase where Job explains WHY certain weather-related events occur:

Job 37:1-13 – “Whenever this happens, my heart stops—I’m stunned, I can’t catch my breath.
Listen to it! Listen to His thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of His voice.
He lets loose His lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole.
In their wake, the thunder echoes His voice, powerful and majestic.
He lets out all the stops, He holds nothing back.
    No one can mistake that voice—
His word thundering so wondrously, His mighty acts staggering our understanding.
He orders the snow, ‘Blanket the earth!’
    and the rain, ‘Soak the whole countryside!’
No one can escape the weather—it’s there.
    And no one can escape from God.
Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens,
When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land.
It’s God’s breath that forms the ice, it’s God’s breath that turns lakes and rivers solid.
And yes, it’s God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way.
He puts them through their paces—first this way, then that— commands them to do what He says all over the world.
Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, He makes sure they make their mark.”

What an amazing passage of Scripture!

In the last line, did you catch the reasons Job gives for God’s actions? For discipline or grace or extravagant love. In the King James version, the words are: “for correction, or for His land, or for mercy.” The New International Version reads: “He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water His earth and show His love.” We all remember times in the Bible when God withheld rain for a time or even caused fire to rain down from heaven. After all, He has the whole of creation at His disposal to use as He sees fit.

Jeremiah 10:12-13 in the NIV explains it this way: “But God made the earth by his power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses.”

And probably my favorite passage about God and the weather is in Luke 8:23-25 which describes Jesus commanding the raging storm to obey Him. Awesome.

He IS in control. The weather on any given day might not fit my agenda or be “convenient” in my finite view of things. I can’t change it. I just need to remember what The Word says, be patient and trust.

2 New Culinary Choices in Nashville

03/26/2018 By: CCPearson1 Comment

Both of these restaurants have opened within the last 6 months. Both are developing loyal dining fans. Both fit their neighborhoods. Both take their menu offerings to new and creative levels. Both focus on local ingredients. But, there the similarities end. Deacon’s New South is located in an iconic downtown Nashville landmark, the L & C Tower. Cafe Roze is almost hidden away in East Nashville. Deacon’s New South would be great for an upscale business lunch or a night-on-the-town dinner, while Cafe Roze attracts Millennials and Gen-Xers and is a hip place for coffee, tea or a simple breakfast, lunch or dinner 7 days a week.

DEACON’S NEW SOUTH

401 Church Street, Nashville

Deacon’s is owned by Andy Marshall, who also owns all of the Puckett’s restaurants. The name is derived from a nickname Marshall earned while he was in college. Chef Travis Sparks has a strong background in farming and butchering, explaining the emphasis on dry-aged meats, done in-house and robust vegetables. Read a full description here in an article I wrote for TheYums.com recently and in this one for Epicurean-Traveler.com.

Deacon’s sleek exterior.

Deacon’s dark, modern interior.

Steve and I visited for Saturday brunch and found the food to be delicious, the service extremely attentive and the decor very visually appealing.

Deacon’s dry-aged meats.

More meat at Deacon’s.

Deacon Burger with fries, sprinkled with nutritional yeast.

Where there’s meat, there has to be catsup, right? I love these one-person sized bottles.

CAFE ROZE

1115 Porter Road, Nashville

We were introduced to Cafe Roze by our granddaughter Allie who lives about a block away. She thinks it’s cool and likes the atmosphere, so we were pleased she wanted to share it with us. Again, we enjoyed brunch. The food was very good. There are lots of super-healthy choices on the menu. It’s small, and since it’s so popular with the neighbors, it tends to be rather noisy. Don’t go for intimate conversations, but DO go if you have a granddaughter who suggests it. You’ll be able to read more in an upcoming article for Edible Nashville.

Cafe Roze breakfast sandwich with fresh arugula.

Waffles, mascarpone and berries.

The Nashville area has many wonderful restaurants, cafes, diners and bistros. I just wanted to let you know about two I discovered recently. Please share some of YOUR great discoveries.

The Reason We’re Reminded to Number Our Days

03/23/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Psalm 90 verse 12 begins: “So teach us to number our days . . .”

Last Sunday morning we were worshiping at The Church at West Franklin where our son Matt is the pastor. It was Baby/Child Dedication Day. As Matt addressed the parents, he started with the sobering statistic that there are 936 weeks from the time a child is born until he turns 18. A scant 936 weeks. Matt continued by calculating, according to the present age of each child, how many weeks those parents could expect to have with their child before he/she was ready to leave the nest. The faces of the parents of the five-year-old, the two-year-old, the four-year-old, looked very much like the faces of the parents of the twin girls who were only a few months old. Sobered. Startled. Challenged. In the midst of sleepless nights with newborns, potty-training with toddlers and temper tantrums with youngsters, these parents were reminded that their days of influence and training were limited. How important it becomes to avoid wasting even one of them on worrying, misplaced priorities, meaningless activities and prayerlessness. How crucial it is to seize every moment for loving, speaking words of encouragement, modeling godliness and instilling truth.

Matt continued by showing all of us the rest of that verse, the “why” of teaching us to number our days — “that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Not only must we keep learning and studying God’s Word, but we must APPLY the wisdom contained in it. When we are likely in the busiest, most stressful days of parenting, we’re reminded to spend time in the Book to find the answers and to get the guidance we desperately need.

The Living Bible paraphrases it like this: Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.” Priorities. Valuing each one.

The New Living Bible puts it this way: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” One of my Momma’s most frequent quotes was “life is short.” So true.

The part about “growing in wisdom” continues, I believe, even when our children are launched and our nest is empty. A couple of days ago, I did one of those things that my parents used to do. (How many of you can relate to “becoming your parents?”) I was scrolling through the online edition of a local newspaper and came to the obituary listings. Age 69, age 65, age 62, age 66, age 88. Whoa. Only one name had lived past 70. Steve is 70 now. I’ll be 68 in less than 2 months.

Parents of preschoolers are not the only ones God reminds through the psalmist to “number their days.” Many of us have spent decades studying God’s word and mining it for nuggets, even big chunks and boulders full of wisdom. We never get to stop applying the wisdom that we’ve learned, and there’s still time, as long as we’re still breathing, to find and apply more.

Some thoughts for all of us on the first week of spring, 2018.

Visit Jasper AL – It’s All Jazzed Up!

03/19/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

If you’re like me, you’ve seen the sign pointing toward Jasper every time you’ve driven I-65 between the North Alabama state line and Birmingham. I knew it was there, but I didn’t know what treasures it held that would make me want to detour off of the interstate or, even more, to take Exit 299 just for the sake of visiting Jasper. Now I know.

A few short years ago, the business side of downtown Jasper was on the verge of distinction. Big box stores were luring shoppers to the outskirts of town, and storefront after storefront was abandoned and becoming dilapidated. What sounded hopeless to some was exactly the kind of situation Main Street Alabama loves to find. That organization recognized that Jasper had the very ingredients it needed to be restored, revitalized and promoted — history, architecture, established businesses and dedicated townspeople. In 2015, Jasper became a recognized community of Main Street Alabama. To implement Jasper Main Street, city leaders chose a team led by Mike Putman, a slogan of “Flourish With Us!”and the hard but rewarding work of bringing Jasper back to life began.

Posing with Mike Putman, head of Jasper Main Street.

With a goal of putting a thriving business in every storefront in the Main Street district (consisting of 18th, 19th and 20th Streets), the progress to this point is remarkable. You can easily spend a whole day shopping, eating, finding art and exploring Jasper’s unique history.

EAT

As of right now, there are six eateries within a couple of blocks of each other. Depending on your dietary preferences, you can choose Mexican (Los Reyes Grill), Italian (Johnny Brusco’s), Japanese (Rock n Roll Sushi), Southern (Danny’s Downtown Barbecue) and a broader range (Black Rock Bistro and Warehouse 3Nineteen).

Fabulous fried green tomatoes at Black Rock Bistro.

Los Reyes Grill for Mexican.

Johnny Brusco’s for pizza and Italian dishes.

Danny’s Downtown Barbecue.

SHOP

I only had time to check out a few shops, but I will definitely reserve time soon to go back and peruse all of the offerings in each store soon. So much appealing and beautiful merchandise. Maybe I should leave Steve home next time for a less hurried chance to look. (Sorry, hon). Be sure to include Bernard’s Store for Men, Shmic and Boo’s, Bare Bones Cargo, Elizabeth Garner Interiors, Lavish, Young Jewelers and White Tulip Antiques, but I’m sure others will be added soon.

Lavish Boutique. A Coffee Bar is adjacent.

A glimpse of the merchandise in Shmic and Boo’s. Let the lovely storeowners explain the quirky name.

A peek inside Bare Bones Cargo.

ART

Take time to notice the interesting murals that have been painted throughout the downtown area. Especially notice the one showing Jasper’s namesake in action.

One of several painted murals in the Main Street district. No, this is not Jasper’s namesake, but he does represent a part of Jasper’s history.

If you take children or grandchildren with you, a scavenger hunt looking for all of the painted mules would be fun. A Mule Trail map is available at the Arts Alliance office in the basement of the First Bank building. Mules are the chosen symbol of Jasper in reference to their role during the town’s mining days.

One of about 50 painted mules. This one is in front of the Walker County Courthouse.

HISTORY

How many towns do you know of the size of Jasper (population approximately 14,300) that can boast of visits by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and notable citizens born in Jasper, such as Tallulah Bankhead, her father William Brockman Bankhead (former Speaker of the House in Washington, DC), George “Goober” Lindsey and Polly Holliday. Visit the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church where Roosevelt attended William B. Bankhead’s funeral and the Bankhead House and Heritage Center. In the church, you will see magnificent stained glass, and at the Heritage Center, you’ll learn about many famous people with Walker County connections.

Bankhead House and Heritage Center.

Stained glass in the First United Methodist Church.

Exterior of the First United Methodist Church, once visited by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

Two yearly events might interest you. The Tallulah Bankhead Tribute Weekend on June 9 and the Foothills Festival on September 8-9. Make a note of those or click on the links above that sound appealing and plan a trip very soon.

And, by the way, if you’re from a small town, you might find yourself asking: What symbol could we use to represent our town? How can we bring more businesses back to Main Street? Who are some notable people who were born in our town? How can we incorporate art and repurpose and refurbish historic buildings? Who would be good leaders to promote our town? At least, those were some of the questions I asked myself.

P.S. Athens folks, check out my article in the March 2018 Senior Scene Magazine for more details and photos. It’s on pages 24-25.

47 and Counting

03/16/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Next Tuesday, March 20, the first day of spring, Steve and I will celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary. It would be easy to just skip over this one and start planning for the Big 5-0, but I’ve watched my friends long enough now to realize that no anniversary can be taken for granted, and, instead, each one should be savored.

You’ve read about past anniversaries here and here. In the second link, Steve chimed in with an excerpt from his book that was finally published last week. I am SO proud of him. Feel free to check it out through this link to Amazon. And, your positive reviews would be most welcome.

This past year has brought some blessings, some surprises and some challenges, but aren’t most years like that?

Under the category of Blessings, we added another beautiful grandchild (Enoch Jonathan Rodgers), we took a fabulous trip to Alaska and Washington State, and we spent some precious times with friends and family. Under Surprises, we sold our house in Athens and moved back to Hartselle. And under Challenges, we started building what we hope will be our final earthly home. For the past 7 months, we have basically been camping out in a little rental house with most of our worldly goods in storage. Laura hosted Thanksgiving. Julie hosted Christmas. And we have been “making do” with a skeleton stash of stuff while every delay imaginable (most of them weather-related) has seemed to impede our progress. They say that building a house is a harsh test for the durability of a marriage, and that’s true. Frustrations mount while dollars diminish, and you have plenty of tense moments. We bicker, negotiate, disagree and compromise, but the one constant is that we love each other, so all decisions are made with that underlying theme of commitment and security.

I was thinking about our marriage recently, and desserts popped into my mind. Yes. Desserts. We each have our own preferences when we’re choosing for ourselves. Steve will always name blackberry cobbler as his favorite followed by yellow cake with chocolate icing and coconut or chocolate pie from Bob Gibson’s. I tend to lean toward lemon icebox pie or strawberry pretzel salad. But, when we’re in a great restaurant together and see Key Lime Pie or Bread Pudding under desserts, we can easily agree to share one or the other.

Key Lime Pie at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille on Captiva Island in Florida. (No, we didn’t sample the rum).

White chocolate bread pudding with blueberries from Grille 29 in Huntsville.

It’s kind of the same way with seafood. He loves salmon, and I love scallops, but we BOTH love raw oysters.

Raw oysters from King Neptune’s in Gulf Shores, AL.

After all of these years, we are still very distinct individuals, and yet we can agree to share some very delicious foods and incredible experiences. We delight together in our children and grandchildren. Their accomplishments and antics fill us with pride and bring us joy and laughter. We love worshiping God together. When a praise song causes him to respond by lifting his hands, I am likely to shed tears — happy, God-loves-me tears. We love traveling together — he drives, I navigate, but we both explore new places and meet interesting people. Even though we probably have a pretty good idea what the other one is thinking and about to say, we still listen and do our best to understand.

So, here we are. We’ve agreed on the house plan and location. We’ve found paint colors, flooring, countertops and plumbing fixtures we both like. We’re probably still about 2 months away from making our new nest, and once again, everything will feel unfamiliar for a while. We’re so eager to share our new place with family and friends that our patience often wears pretty thin. But that “one constant” is still present. We love each other.

Happy Anniversary to my Silver Fox.

My Silver Fox and the great smile that I fell in love with a long time ago.

Our marching orders for the coming years? — Ephesians 4:2-3 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Alabama Gulf Coast Discoveries: Part 4 – Zoo, Walking Trail, OWA, Welcome Centers and Museums

03/12/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

So, you’re planning a week of vacation at Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan for spring break, summer or fall break. We’ve already covered some lodging possibilities here, some great restaurant choices here, and an amazing Art Center here. Now let’s assume that you’ve been on the Alabama Gulf Coast for a day or two and you’ve gotten that first sunburn, just enough to let you know that you need to do something besides sunbathing all day. What then? What are other possibilities for fun and recreation in the area? Here are a few of the amazing possibilities:

OWA in Foley, AL. OWA is actually a Creek Indian word meaning “Big Water.” It is a new amusement park operated jointly by the Poarch Creek Indian tribe and the City of Foley. In addition to shops and several eateries, OWA now features 21 rides — 7 for thrill-seekers, 7 of a medium level, and 7 specifically for the very young set and their parents. Of course, many people visit the Tanger Outlet stores for bargains and throw rolls at Lambert’s while they’re in Foley, too, so you can certainly “make a day of it” if you like.
Both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have excellent Welcome Centers. They are filled with information and knowledgeable staff members. Ask your questions and gather brochures. You can even attend craft classes and lectures if you watch the schedule and time your visit accordingly. I attended a wire-working demonstration at the Orange Beach Welcome Center recently, and Steve and I both enjoyed a lecture about the Holmes Medical Museum and the Foley Alabama Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit. Both of these could be good rainy day learning adventures.
Orange Beach Welcome Center

Tara Gifford of Blue Girl Beading demonstrates wire-working at the Orange Beach Welcome Center

Gulf Shores Welcome Center
Are you a history buff? Then, you’re sure to enjoy driving out to Fort Morgan to walk around the grounds of the State Historic Site and take in the exhibits in the museum.
Display at Fort Morgan State Historic Site
Do you like nature trails? At the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, you can get exercise AND bird watch simultaneously. The Jeff Friend Trail is actually a one-mile wheelchair accessible path if you want both the outdoors and a flat walking surface. It’s very peaceful and relaxing. The Gulf State Park is another great place for walking, jogging and strolling, plus the facilities are getting a major facelift.
Jeff Friend Trail at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Gulf Shores has a ZOO!! Yes. For some reason, I had missed this fact in past years. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo — often referred to as the “Little Zoo That Could” — is near Waterville USA and Zooland Mini Golf on Gulf Shores Parkway. The present facility is showing some signs of age, but a brand new zoo is under construction and is set to open in its new location very soon. Here is a link to an update on the new zoo.
Tiger at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

In addition to these suggestions, visitors can always find souvenir and beachwear stores, ice cream shops, bumper cars, fishing piers, shopping centers and boats offering charter trips. There is absolutely no reason to be bored. You can find plenty to do. Follow all the links in this post to get the details. OR you can just soak up the sounds of those waves, build sandcastles and eat fresh seafood. By all means, at least CONSIDER a vacation on the Alabama Gulf Coast. It’s stunningly beautiful and has something for everyone.

All the Best, Brother Earl.

03/09/2018 By: CCPearson5 Comments

Tomorrow I have the privilege and honor of playing for a wedding. That, in itself, is not particularly remarkable or blog-worthy. I have, after all, played for dozens of weddings. The number might actually be closer to 100. Each one has featured a blushing bride, a nervous groom, smiling well-wishers and a pretty cake. What makes tomorrow unique is not that it’s a wedding, but who the groom is and what this wedding represents for him.

Steve and I joined First Baptist Church in Hartselle in July of 1973, when I was about five months pregnant with our first child. Earl and Irone Jacobs and their two daughters Patricia and Erlene moved to Hartselle the last weekend in September of 1973. They immediately joined First Baptist because Earl had been called to be the Minister of Music for the church. I went into labor with Laura about three weeks early, and she was born November 1. I understand that I was one of Brother Earl’s (we Baptists almost always refer to our ministers as “Brother”) first official ministerial hospital visits. What makes the visit unforgettable was that he very thoughtfully brought me some Babe Perfume when he visited that day, in honor of my brand new baby. 🙂 Remember this was in the early 70’s. Times were simpler, more innocent. No one conjured up innuendos. It was just a sweet gesture that brought a big smile to my face.

A couple of months later, Miss Evelyn Howell, who had been the long-time pianist at First Baptist, became very ill and subsequently died. Brother Earl knew I was a musician and asked me to fill in until Miss Evelyn could come back. I accepted. Miss Evelyn was never able to return, and Brother Earl and I ended up working together for the next 14 years. Every Wednesday night for choir rehearsal, twice on Sunday for services and for innumerable weddings, funerals, revivals and VBS opening worship times, Brother Earl and I were a team. Several organists came and went during those years, but we forged on with choir anthem after choir anthem and solos, duets, trios, quartets, cantatas and offertories of every description and genre.

One rehearsal that Brother Earl instituted with frazzled young mothers in mind was a weekly morning handbell practice. He had a babysitter lined up for our kiddoes, and we walked in to find fresh doughnuts and orange juice. Yes, we got around to ringing those bells at some point, but mostly we had a happy relaxed excuse to get together and laugh awhile. Our ringing skills were NOT legendary by any means. . . with the possible exception of the time he convinced us to play our way down Main Street on the back of a flatbed truck during the Christmas parade. Whoa.

Brother Earl’s wife Irone sang in the choir during those years and was always his partner in ministry. She had quite a few illnesses but kept going as well as she could. I played for both daughters’ weddings and taught Erlene piano lessons for several years. Suffice it to say that bonds of mutual admiration and respect were formed that have continued for over 44 years.

The last few years of Irone’s life were difficult with her serious health limitations that were extremely confining for both of them. When she died in December of 2016, they had been married for 65 years. Brother Earl was a role model for husbands everywhere in his devotion and commitment to Irone and to the vows they took in June of 1951.

Afterward, Brother Earl needed to get out and stay busy — understandably so. He accepted a position as an interim music minister for a small church in Morgan County and met Margaret Tatum. They developed a friendship that turned into love, and their’s is the wedding I will have the privilege of playing for tomorrow.

Brother Earl will be 87 on April 10th, and Margaret is 76. All of us who love Brother Earl (and I’m sure Margaret’s family and friends feel the same way) are praying that he and Margaret will be granted good years to travel, laugh, and savor this time in their lives together. Love at this stage of life couldn’t come to a nicer guy.

All the best to you and Margaret, Brother Earl.

1 Samuel 26: 23a – “May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness . . . “

2 Chronicles 16:9a – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

Alabama Gulf Coast Discoveries: Part 3 – Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach

03/05/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

It has been a long time since a place impressed me as much as the Coastal Arts Center did during a recent visit. I had no idea what to expect but drove up to an absolutely beautiful setting and a building bustling with activity on a Monday morning.

On the grounds of the Coastal Arts Center.

View from the back porch of the gallery.

Rear veranda of the gallery, overlooking Wolf Bay.

The actual Arts Center Gallery overlooks Wolf Bay and sits on the spot where the first hotel in Orange Beach once stood. Some of the elements of that 1923 building are still visible today. Former bedroom doors are now bathroom vanities, octagonal columns have become display pedestals, heart pine flooring is glimpsed in the Conference Room, and the original front door and some of the windows are now in the Gift Shop. The rest had to be torn down because of severe structural damage. The present structure is Southern to its core and perfect for extending Southern hospitality for weddings, concerts and corporate, public and private events of all kinds. What is even more remarkable is the fact that the facility is run completely by the City of Orange Beach (with the generous help of the Friends of the Arts non-profit group), and staff members, as well as teachers for various classes, are employees of the city. What a commitment the City of Orange Beach has made to its permanent residents, property owners, snowbirds who spend a few months each year AND the thousands of vacationers who flock to the Gulf coast for a week every summer.

Inside the gallery looking toward the entrance.

Chandelier inside the gallery.

Looking out the back windows of the gallery.

On the day I toured, the gallery, gift shop and offices were open and greeting guests, while classes in glass, ceramics and painting were in full swing in separate buildings on the grounds.

Gift shop in the Coastal Arts Center.

Pot of glass flowers created in The Hot Shop.

The Hot Shop offers Hot Glass Blowing under the expert instructions of Kerry Parks and Dan Rush, Glass Artists in Residence. The student in my photos was Jean Kocher.

Glass-blown ornaments in The Hot Shop.

Artists-in-residence with their student.

Student trying a new skill.

The Clay Studio is overseen by Maya Blume-Cantrell, Ceramics Artist in Residence. She offers students instruction in wheel-throwing or hand-building, or visitors may choose pieces that have already been created and paint them to their liking — called “pick-n-paint.”

Maya Blume-Cantrell in The Clay Studio.

Jane Sellier and other talented colleagues teach classes in acrylic, watercolor and oil painting.

Art Education Cottage where painting classes are held.

Students gathered around Jane Sellier during an acrylics painting class.

I urge you to visit the gallery and maybe schedule a class during your next trip to Orange Beach. This would make a great Girls’ Getaway while the men are off playing golf. How about a gorgeous new ornament for your Christmas tree that you made yourself?? And, by the way, I have my eyes on a lovely piece of art that I hope will find its home in my new house before long. I promise you’ll find temptations of your own.

More art works for sale in the gallery.

Art pieces for sale inside the gallery.

The Center is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you hurry, you can make it for the Festival of Art to be held on the grounds this coming Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11.

Learning from Passionate People: Thomas Edison and Henry Ford

03/02/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

When Steve and I were in the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island/Captiva Island part of southwest Florida recently, we spent a very enlightening morning at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, strolling around the gardens, homes and museum. I highly recommend a visit to this historic place. You’ll be inspired, and it will give you a great sense of pride that these two men were Americans who contributed their genius minds to enhancing the lives of others. Thomas Edison once remarked that he wished he could live 300 years, because he had enough ideas rolling around in his brain to stay busy for that long. In the “short” 84 years that he lived, he was granted 1,093 U.S. patents. It’s startling to think how many more could have been issued if he had lived longer. The friendship that was formed between Thomas Edison and Henry Ford (who had hundreds of patents of his own) was significant and striking in its nature.

Children’s book about Edison and Ford.

Can you just imagine the conversations those two might have had?!

The wide porch of Thomas Edison’s home.

Here are just a few of the facts I learned that day:

Thomas Edison had 6 children – 4 sons and 2 daughters – three with his first wife Mary who died unexpectedly in 1884 at the age of 29, and then three with his second wife Mina who outlived him by 16 years. But, out of those 6 children, he only had 4 grandchildren. They were the children of his daughter Madeleine who married John Eyre Sloane, so their last name was Sloane and not Edison. BUT, they all had the middle name of Edison — John Edison Sloane, Michael Edison Sloane, Thomas Edison Sloane and Peter Edison Sloane.
Thomas Edison really hated the winters in New Jersey and loved fishing. He bought the 13-acre plot of land in Fort Myers while on a trip with his friend Ezra Gilliland, when Fort Myers only had a population of 349 people. The property had waterfront access to the Caloosahatchee River.
Caloosahatchee Riverfront at the Edison-Ford Winter Estates.
Thomas Edison had a boat dock built first, so supplies could be ferried to the property, then had a house and laboratory built. He and Mina spent their honeymoon on the new estate in 1886.
View of the Edison home.
Edison only slept 4-6 hours per night. His brain was filled with too many plans, designs and notions.
Authentic furnishings in the Thomas Edison home, except for the light bulbs which are modern.
Henry Ford was an employee at the Detroit Edison Illuminating Company when he and Edison met at a conference. They partnered to develop an improved storage battery for the Model T, and later included Harvey Firestone while forming the Edison Botanic Research Corporation (EBRC) to do rubber research.
The Ford and Edison families enjoyed a camping trip together in the Florida Everglades in 1914, and that’s when Henry Ford was introduced to the idea of owning property in the Fort Myers area. In 1916, Ford purchased the property adjoining Edison’s.
Henry Ford’s winter home, adjacent to Thomas Edison’s property.
Ford didn’t like Florida quite as much as Edison did and only visited for a couple of weeks each year. He did, however, manage to time his visits to his Fort Myers property for Edison’s birthday (February 11) for a number of years.
Ford gave Edison a Model T, but Edison was unsuccessful in learning to drive it. A chauffeur had that honor for many years.
Henry Ford with one of his trucks.

The docents and tour guides are extremely knowledgeable about all-things-Edison-and-Ford, particularly as it pertains to this property, so you will learn MUCH more when you visit. These are just a few interesting facts that were on my mind today.

When I think about creative people in the Bible, Noah comes to my mind for building the Ark. But, of course, God gave him the exact plans and dimensions to use. I also think of David, who creatively and expressively wrote so many Psalms (songs/poems).There were two men in the Bible who were specifically mentioned for their creative abilities — Bezalel and Aholiab. God, as is always the case, is the One Who weaves intelligence and special tendencies into each of His people. I don’t know very much about the spiritual beliefs of Edison and Ford. I hope they had faith in Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the talents God gave them and for the inventions I have in my life today as a result of their work.

Exodus 35:30-36:2

³⁰And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; ³¹and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, ³²to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, ³³in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.

³⁴“And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. ³⁵He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works.

36 “And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded.”

²Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.

Alabama Gulf Coast Discoveries: Part 2 – Let’s Eat

02/26/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

For those of us who visit the Alabama Gulf Coast often, we tend to return again and again to our tried-and-true eateries. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, because the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores/Fort Morgan is full of outstanding cafes and restaurants. On a recent visit, however, I was determined to try some new places that all turned out to be outstanding. You might want to consider one or more of these in a future trip. Two for breakfast, two for lunch, two for dinner and two for calorie-laden vacation splurges.

BREAKFAST

(Both of these are likely on their way to becoming chains because the formula for success appears to be working very well. However, as of right now, there are only a handful of locations and all are in the Gulf Coast area — some as far away as New Orleans).

RUBY SLIPPER

Located at 24151 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach, Ruby Slipper opens every morning at 8:00 a.m. to serve breakfast, brunch and lunch. The concept started in New Orleans. According to a plaque on the wall: “The Ruby Slipper Cafe was inspired by a powerful sense of homecoming when we returned to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. To be back with family and friends in the city we love, well . . . Dorothy said it best: ‘There’s no place like Home.’ We feel that gratitude every day for our home, New Orleans.”

That sense of love for New Orleans is reflected in the menu: Catfish and Grits, Grilled Fish “St. Peter,” Chicken St. Charles, Bananas Foster Pain Perdu and Bacon Praline Pancakes, to name a few. I was in the mood for a fairly “normal” breakfast when I visited, so I ordered the Southern Breakfast (eggs, applewood bacon, grits, a fried green tomato and a biscuit). Just LOOK at the size of that biscuit!!

Look at the size of that biscuit!

As the crowds flock to the beach, Ruby Slipper, right across the street from several large condominium complexes, will likely attract a crowd. Arrive early or wait to have a late brunch or lunch. You WON’T be alone.

BRICK AND SPOON

Brick and Spoon is located near The Wharf at 24705 Canal Road in Orange Beach. It is open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., also for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Travel and Leisure included it on its list of “Top 10 Breakfasts in the U.S.” Wow! A pretty high endorsement, don’t you think?

By all means, get a side order of beignets. They will be smothered in powdered sugar (leave your black pants back in the condo) and accompanied by a seasonal marmalade. Steve had an omelet while I chose the Oyster Bed — Poached eggs on an English muffin with a slice of tomato with succulent fried oysters and pecan smoked bacon. Amazing! Where else can you get fried oysters, poached eggs and beignets for breakfast?

Beignets at Brick and Spoon.

Poached eggs and fried oysters — called The Oyster Bed – at Brick and Spoon.

Fluffy omelet at Brick and Spoon

LUNCH

(Both of these recommendations are very popular with the locals. They look quite unassuming from the outside but have great food served in a casual, back-home atmosphere inside).

KING NEPTUNE’S

King Neptune’s is located at 1137 Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores, very near Zoo Road and within sight of Waterville U.S.A. It is open 7 days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with lunch specials ($4.95 to $8.95) every day from 11:00 – 2:00. Seafood is featured prominently on the menu, but non-seafood lovers can find burgers, sandwiches, steaks, chicken, pasta and a very reasonably-priced kids’ menu ($5.00 and $6.00). One of their made-in-house desserts is fried cheesecake. Sounds positively decadent, but I’ll need to wait until my cholesterol numbers are much, much lower.

Shriimp with boiled potatoes and corn at King Neptune’s

4-vegetable plate at King Neptune’s.

We were extremely happy to find a half-price special on raw oysters the day we were there. The ones we were served were what I call “2-bite oysters” because they were so plump and juicy you couldn’t get them down with just one slurp. Ha! (Apologies to those who just can’t see the allure of raw oysters).

Raw oysters at King Neptune’s

DOC’S SEAFOOD SHACK AND OYSTER BAR

Locals flock to Doc’s for lunch. That’s no surprise when you see the vast menu selections and the huge portions! Shrimp, oysters, burgers, hot dogs, soft shell crabs — you name it. Doc’s will even let you create your own platter choosing 2, 3 or 4 from 8 different seafood and chicken options. A very special touch found at Doc’s is “U-Catch-Em. We Cook Em!” In other words, if you’ve been wetting your hook in the surf or the bay, or if you had good luck during one of the many fishing charters running every day, then just bring your haul to Doc’s. The cooks will fry your fish and serve them with the normal fixings for only $13.99 per person.

Shrimp salad at Doc’s

Ribs plus 3 sides, cornbread and roll at Doc’s.

Popcorn shrimp at Doc’s.

You can find Doc’s Seafood Shack at 26029 Canal Road in Orange Beach, and it opens every day at 11:00 for lunch and dinner. Don’t look for a sleek modern eatery. Doc’s has been in business since 1984. They proudly proclaim that “flip-flops are welcome.”

DINNER

BILL’S BY THE BEACH

Located at 300 West Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores, the upstairs dining room at Bill’s By the Beach has a great view of the Gulf to enjoy while you dine, so you might want to time your visit to arrive before sundown. Monday through Thursday, Bill’s opens at 11:00 to serve its lunch guests, but on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can arrive at 9:00 a.m. for brunch. The owner is Bill Henry, and the culinary magician is Chef Rudy Rudolph. Chef Rudy placed in the Top Ten of the Chef competition in the World Food Championships held in Orange Beach last November. He knows how to prepare seafood very well, but according to our server and some reviews I’ve read, he also is a wizard with steaks.

View of the Gulf from the dining room at Bill’s By the Beach.

Bill’s offers an Early Bird menu Monday-Friday for under $10.00.

Steve and I shared the 4 Cheese/Spinach/Artichoke/Blue Crab appetizer and the Wild American Shrimp Platter with sides of gouda grits and a glazed sweet potato. Both were outstanding!! The tomato jam drizzled on top of the cheese dip was a special surprise. So good.

4 cheese, spinach, artichoke, blue crab appetizer at Bill’s By the Beach

Shrimp, gouda grits and glazed sweet potato at Bill’s By the Beach.

VILLAGIO GRILLE

Villagio Grille is at 4790 Main Street at The Wharf in Orange Beach. It opens every day at 11:00 for lunch and dinner but also serves Sunday brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cuisine is described as Italian fusion. Guests may order appetizers, sandwiches, steaks or seafood, but they also offer “flats,” which are pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven right in view for diners to watch.

Wood-fired oven at Villagio Grille

We were in the mood for something extra special. Steve chose the night’s special — Blackened Grouper with Bacon, Spinach Gnocchi — and I order the Brown Butter Group with Truffle Mashed Potatoes and Squash Succotash.

For dessert, we shared a slice of Florida Orange Cake, one of the newest desserts on the menu. It consists of 5 luscious layers with cream cheese frosting and a strawberry coulis. We had enough to share and STILL took half of it home with us.

5-layer Florida Orange Cake at Villagio Grille

SWEET VACATION BONUSES

When you’re at the beach, enjoying all of the luxuries of a vacation, you might just want to plan one extra-special, calorie-laden, visual-masterpiece for dessert at THE YARD MILKSHAKE BAR, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway (#330 in Pelican Place), Gulf Shores, AL. They have a large selection of ice creams that can be made into all kinds of edible works of art. Check out The Turtle, one of their milkshake specialties. This is the pint-size and is most definitely shareable. You even get to keep the jar. 🙂

The Turtle, specialty shake at The Yard Milkshake Bar in Gulf Shores.

And if you need “just a little something sweet” to give you a burst of energy, stop into the Chocolate Corner at 200 West Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores.

Chocolate Corner in Gulf Shores

Chocolate makes everything better. 🙂

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is calling your name. Make your plans to visit SOON!!

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