Scenes From My LIfe

Be Calm and Winter On

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

Despite the fact that the weather predictions called for a mild winter this year, it’s been cold. And snowy. There hasn’t been any in my neck of the woods yet, but there are places even further south that have.

I used to love it when it snowed. These days, though, I’m content to sit under a blanket with a cup of tea or coffee. Or at the window in a warm house, watching the Cardinals make a mad dash for the bird feeders.

But I have lots of memories.

I remember the year we moved to East Texas. It snowed so much that schools were closed for a week. The kids had never seen snow before. They had a ball making snow angels, snowmen, and snow ice cream. They played outside until their noses, cheeks, and fingers were rosy red and then came in for cocoa, soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches. I made a lot of stew and chili.

I walked two blocks to school in the snow to pick up the kids because I couldn’t get the car out of the driveway.

My husband would go to the grocery store and bring home grocery bags full of snacks. Pig Skins or a big bag of peanuts to roast in the oven. Marshmallows to make cocoa. Sometimes, I made a big pan of caramel popcorn.

One year, we spent all afternoon sliding down the hill at my sister’s house on old pieces of paneling. It was great fun until the kids ran into my sister and knocked her off her feet. Then we all went inside, removed our coats and shoes, and propped our feet on the hearth to warm up (and recuperate) Lots of memories. Right now, I think I need a nice hot cup of coffee.

A Starry, Starry Night

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I logged onto Facebook yesterday and found something I had shared on November 16, 2013. Stories about my grandchildren are always special.

Today, I’m making up for lost time. I intended to spend my entire Friday evening with my nose to the grindstone, writing and editing. Instead, my daughter invited us to sit around the fire pit with them, drink coffee, and visit. I danced under the stars with my seven-year-old grandson, Caleb. “Follow my lead!” he said when he grabbed my hand. What could be better? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

How time flies. Today, that grandson is all grown up. He turned eighteen in June and will graduate from high school in a few months. But I’ll never forget those special times we spent hanging out together.

Comfort Food

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Bologna browned on either side between two pieces of sourdough bread spread with lots of mayonnaise, potato chips, and a glass of milk.

I remember having it for lunch when I was growing up. Or maybe supper when my Daddy was out of town, and Mama didn’t feel like cooking.

Other favorites were peanut butter and banana sandwiches mixed with a spoonful of mayo, a grilled cheese sandwich with a bowl of tomato soup, and chicken noodle soup with crackers on sick days.

After playing outside all morning, we came running the minute Mama called us for lunch. We might sit at the kitchen table with her while she drank iced coffee or eat at the picnic table or playhouse.

Afterward, we’d have cookies or ice cream from the truck that drove through the neighborhood in the afternoon. I’ll never forget hopping from one bare foot to another on the hot pavement while waiting in line to buy my treat and eat it before a drop melted.

As the years went by, my list of comfort foods expanded. Hamburgers. A bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, a bowl of pinto beans and cornbread. A Coke float on a hot afternoon. Nothing fancy. Nothing special. Nothing better.

Never fails to fill me up with nostalgia.

My Friends

/ Susan A. Royal / 1 Comment

It’s January 2022. The beginning of another year. Time to put 2021 away and make plans for the months ahead. A time for self-reflection. One filled with regrets for the things I didn’t accomplish in the past year and renewed determination to finish them this time around.

I spend a lot of time at home during the winter months for all the obvious reasons. It can be confining at times. Even depressing. But I have people close to my heart who keep tabs on me. And daily visitors who never fail to give me a lift.

Birds show up at the birdfeeder outside my window every morning. I watch from my desk while they eat, occasionally squabbling over the birdseed or staring at me indignantly when it’s run out. Their presence reminds me of the beautiful world I live in.

LONGHORNS IN EAST TEXAS

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Before I moved to this part of the state, I never realized there were longhorn cattle here. I always assumed they were in the western part of the state. I found out otherwise.

This is Blaine. She’s one enterprising teenager. She will be 17 in October, a homeschooled Junior in the fall and is currently attending PENN Foster in the Veterinary Tech program.

She is the current International Texas Longhorn Princess and the Winnsboro 4H President

She works at Pittsburg Vet Clinic and owns Circle B Longhorns and Longhorn Legado. She raises longhorn cattle and markets the beef. I’ve tried it. It’s great. Tastes like hamburger meat used to taste before they started adding all the fillers. Check out her Facebook page: Circle B Longhorns.

A PRIZED POSSESSION

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You’re probably wondering if I’ve lost my mind. Why I’d be gushing about a ratty looking Club Aluminum Dutch oven that’s seen better days. Especially when I have a fancy stainless steel set that cooks just as good or better. I bought it years ago at a garage sale for next to nothing. It was used, so all I had to do was keep the inside clean. The wear on the outside gave it character.

I can’t count the pot roasts it’s held. Or the cold winter days when it simmered on the back burner all day, filling the air with a heady fragrance of chili, stew, pinto beans or potato soup. It’s been used to make popcorn, caramel corn, fudge, cream pies, and mountains of mashed potatoes. Or potato salad.

When I moved to a smaller house, I thought about getting rid of it. I didn’t really need it anymore. But here’s the thing. I couldn’t let go. Too many memories. Nights when the family gathered around the table and ate together. Holiday meals, parties, barbecues and family get togethers.

Yeah, I think I’ll hang on to it.

~Into the Unknown~

/ Susan A. Royal / 3 Comments

Daylon Jones Royal February 15, 1945 – October 20, 2015

While channel surfing a while back, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. Never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why.

In the movie, Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an average middle-class guy who loves his family and works hard to provide for them. Only there’s another side to his character. He still believes in magic. In the movie, when Roy experiences a close encounter, he doubts his sanity. But he can’t let it go, because deep down inside he wants it to be true. So he makes up his mind to prove it.

My husband was the same kind of man. He worked hard, took care of his family and lived a quiet life. But like Roy, there was more to him than met the eye. The casual observer never saw his keen sense of adventure. He had a fascination for the mysterious, the unexplained. The idea of travelers from another world was intriguing to him.

He would have loved the chance to do what Roy did. So it isn’t hard to visualize him standing on the runway at the end of the movie, all smiles. Reluctant to leave his life on earth, yet filled with nervous anticipation at the thought of going on an adventure beyond the stars.

I like to think that’s exactly what he’s doing right now. And I’m certain he’s enjoying every minute.

And someday, I’ll join him.