Aundree

Aundree Coker Brewer

Aundree was affectionately known in our family as MeeMaw. She was the mother to my father in law, grandmother to my husband and great grandmother to my children.

Aundree passed away last week.

While there were a lot of painful memories and situations surrounding MeeMaw in her last few years, we have committed to reflect on only the bright and funny times we spent together with MeeMaw and the wonderful things she brought to our life.

Now, I have to start out by admitting that I didn't know MeeMaw all that well until after her health started to decline. My idea of her personality may be a little tilted in favor of "Happy Go Lucky" (you would be to if you took some of the stuff they had her on :) but even when everything was on kilter, the vibe that Aundree put out in this world, as the minister said at her funeral, was much more "ragtime" than "waltz"

MeeMaw loved to cook. I first encountered garlic in a jar at her condo.

MeeMaw made Cherry Yum Yum.While it is easily recognized as a cherry cheesecake, commonly found in the South, her version is legendary in the family.

MeeMaw made warm ham & cheese sandwiches for my beloved when he was just a little scoundrel. They were just ham and cheese, but the way she did it made it special and they too are legendary. Chandler has declared he will have at least one MeeMaw sandwich a day forever from here on out.

MeeMaw loved to paint.She mostly painted the ocean.

MeeMaw loved the ocean.She used to live in Myrtle Beach. She had been to see Hawaii.

MeeMaw played the piano.She once played for us, giving God all the credit for giving her a song right there on the spot. She was all over that keyboard.

MeeMaw loved grandkids.She used to babysit my stepson when he was just a baby and still talked about those times with fondness when he was a pre-teen. She always had little gifts for them and someday I'll tell you about the 4th of July cake...

MeeMaw loved to dance...especially line dance!She once told us about her line dancing and let on that she enjoyed the activity with a new found boyfriend.

MeeMaw was feisty.She once called me an old fart!

MeeMaw was in inspiration. I once based a character on her in a writing contest :DEIDRE

A few years before she died, while placing an upside down hair band on my head, to resemble a crown, MeeMaw christened me Queen of the Family- a title that is far better than Old Fart to be sure. Though this was quite obviously an 'off meds' moment, I believe in a very real sense it came from her heart. She went on to explain that I got the title because I had so many children... a commodity which held great value to her. If you don't believe me, ask any one of the children who called her Mee Maw and they'll tell you just how special she made them feel.

MeeMaw's funeral brought all the family together in one place for the first time in a long time, just the way I know she'd want it. Photos will follow.

Greener Grass

Sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side... our side to be exact. There are a few perks to owning your own landscaper...er, um, I mean being married to a landscaper :)

(y'all know I love him)

SPOTTED

I recently had some difficulty uploading photos to our local newspaper's online Bluffton Today feature . I promptly sent up smoke signals for help and just as promptly received help from BT's web guru Lisa. It was quickly discovered that I mostly just need to curb my enthusiasm with the shutter button and lower my Free Gallery expectation level from Limitless to Three. That and quit being so impatient, stop with the multiple clicks per second, etc

However, due to my over abundance of pictures and desire to categorize and sub-categorize them all, Lisa asked if I'd like to be a SPOTTER- translated: volunteer community photographer with galleries to spare

I wasted no time with my "Heck, Yeah!" and went in to their offices (despite rainy conditions) the following day ,to get things all set up. They took a head shot for my official "She's With Us" press badge (how exciting, no?) and gave me box of "You've Been Spotted" business cards to hand to those I shoot. (So they can go online and give us traffic...er, um I mean, see themselves :)

I've got more reason to seek community events now, and haunt them from set up to clean up time (which I can conveniently take pictures of rather than participate in :).
I can even call the paper and request they get me tickets or access to events too-- I can't imagine an event that would require such string pulling in our community, but is IS nice to know all I gotta do is ask.

I'm most excited about my little badge though, because I tend to feel very in the way or like I'm stealing something whenever I've got the camera out... a sniper may be the best picture for you to visualize here because that is how I feel... sneak up and shoot. The badge not only entitles me to be in the center of the action with my camera out, it demands I use it, often and in as many locations as possible.

I imagine this wonderful sense of freedom must be shared by concealed weapons permit holders... "I am allowed to carry this, and shoot you if necessary"

Other interesting points to note- the Savannah Morning News is Bluffton Today's mommy and William "Billy" Morris is its daddy.

Morris Communications is reportedly responsible for the creation of the SPOTTED software/platform and it has been incorporated in all of their newpapers' online editions.

I grew up in Augusta, GA- home to the Augusta Chronicle, Morris Communications , and all the wonderful by-projects of Mr. Morris. (The Augusta Futurity, anyone? Morris Museum of Art, perhaps?)

When working, playing or living in Augusta, it is hard to play "6 Degrees of Billy" without getting tagged around degree #1

Have you ever read the newspaper? Tag- Billy gotcha! Have you ever been to the Futurity?Tag-Billy gotcha! Have you ever been to The Morris? Tag-Billy gotcha! Have you ever eaten a steak? Tag! Billy gotcha!

See?

Really just a bit of trivia there, but I like the little way it links me back to both Augusta and Savannah.

My Profile: Muddy Britches

Galleries I take will be tagged with "MuddyB" but otherwise fall under the "WE Spotted" section- lumped together with the newspaper's ID.

Knowing me, I will upload it all there, here and @ Flickr too.

My first galleries as a spotter are of last week's Week of Champions sports clinics (old news, I know) but can be seen here: Muddy B Gallery

Baseball Clinic Day #2

Day 2 of the Week of Champions baseball camp was also our final day. The same pros were in attendance, Chad Ogea, Chris Snopek, Anthony Telford and Roger Mason. Bluffton Township Firemen connected to a nearby hydrant and ended the day with a blast.

Cheeburger Cheeburger

After our last day of sports clinics with the Week of Champions, we decided to try one of the restaurants in town that we haven't been to yet: Cheeburger, Cheeburger.

"Big is Better"

It was BIG in calories, fat and carbohydrates. It was also very yummy.

We all ordered grilled cheese sandwiches except Fisher who always opts for PB&J if it is on the menu (and sometimes when it isn't)

Next time we'll try one of the 88 featured milkshake flavors.

Kids' favorite had to be the cardboard cars that served as baskets for their sandwiches and fries. (which they smuggled home and I in turn smuggled to the trash)

The air conditioned, retro themed diner with attentive wait staff, bottomless iced tea and ever present management was the perfect way for these sun zapped campers to end the week.

Baseball Clinic-Day #1

Wednesday brought the first day of Baseball Clinic.
Former pro athletes leading the Bluffton clinics were:

Chad Ogea from the Cleveland Indians

Anthony Telford from the Texas Rangers

Roger Mason from the Philadelphia Phillies

Chris Snopek from the Chicago White Sox

*read Wikipedia with a grain of salt, obviously.

**team affiliations based on personal introductions and jersey choice

These fellas were wonderful with the kids. They took care to call them by name and give them direction with firm but caring tones.

My hat is tipped especially in "Coach" Ogea's direction for taking Fisher under his wing and making it, in Fisher's words " a lucky day"

(there was an 8 and Up stipulation but Fisher was included as an "assistant" and eventually full fledged participant thanks to Mr. Ogea.)

Football Clinic-Day #2

On the second day of football camp, the tie game between the "Carolina Gamecocks" and "Clemson Tigers" was resumed.

The game would manage to end tied, albeit with a higher tied score than before.

The fire department dispatched the tanker truck for the best 15 minutes of the day (unless you are the mom with muddy kids climbing in your Jeep, then well... it was entertainment with reservations)

The day was closed out with a talk about God. Several little football players repeated a prayer after "Coach Moore" and raised their hand to talk further with FCA counselors about Christ.

Clay came out both days and acted as "official" then ultimately became "Coach Brewer". He went on to meet these guys for golf and guy talk and accompanied them to the Wednesday night sports banquet for all the players, staff and community. Future get together dates have been planned...
While I had an appreciation that these were great men, doing great things for our community's children, Clay had the greater appreciation as he lives and breathes sports and was able to recognize these men for their career accomplishments. The fact that their career highlights do not define them, rather this greater sense of purpose and higher calling from God was evident and made a lasting impression on all.

Football Clinic-Day #1

On the first day of the Week of Champions sports clinics, we met Derrick Moore and Harry Colon.

Harry Colon is a former Detroit Lion, New England Patriot and Jacksonville Jaguar. He is currently coaching high school ball for Reagan in Houston.

Derrick Moore currently serves as the team chaplain for Georgia Tech. He played professionally for the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers.
This video may give you an idea what two days under his leadership was like: GT Pre Game Pep Talk Video HERE.

(He's the Man.)

* Derrick Moore has recently completed a book entitled " It's Possible!"- I haven't read the book yet, but I can vouch that the title fits his personality perfectly. You can check it out at Amazon.

Week Of Champions

For the last 30 years, Hilton Head has been home to the Week of Champions, an FCA sponsored event that brings former pro athletes into the area to host sports clinics and share God's love with the children who attend.

This week was the Champion's choice for 2008 and there were clinics of all sorts on the island and in surrounding communities.


We were fortunate that clinics were being held just a pace or two up the road at Bluffton High's athletic fields.


We attended football on Monday and Tuesday and then baseball on Wednesday and Thursday.

Former Pro's in attendance @ Bluffton included Derrick Moore, Harry Colon, Chad Ogea, Anthony Telford, Chris Snopek, and Roger Mason.


Tuesday and Thursday were a blast for kids as the Bluffton Township Fire Co. (on site as stand-by paramedics) doubled as cooling agents.

Photo galleries are immense and frankly, overwhelming. They will be posted individually with, or possibly without, much description.

Related Links of Interest Include:

• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Week Of Champions
• The Goal

Cricket

Father's Day we did lunch at this little Asian/Sushi bistro near the cinema...what I found in the ladies room was funny, ironic and a wonderful diet pill all at once... (it had a twitching leg, I offered a little help-flipped him over and made a bee line for the door...)

Spiraling

So, I should be getting recent pictures uploaded for family members, but through some channel or the other I've ended up on Spiral Frog again (after about a year? something like that)

Spiral Frog is still pretty scant on what they offer, but what they offer is pretty reasonable for a tracking cookie and once a month survey completion.

What I've found this evening is I am STILL a sucker for Reba. And George Strait. And Carmen ( yeah, Lazarus Come Forth Carmen... not the other, more sophisticated one)

While I might not be scoring a whole bunch of current chart toppers, I've got a whole slew of "feeling nostalgic" tunes as well as " can't wait to play these for the kids" ditties.

Occasionally, I will be in Wally & Marty and hear an old country tune that I have buried under the sands of time (probably on purpose) I'll be filled with wistfulness and intend to claim it as my own once I get home- which I typically forget or neglect to do. Probably because subconsciously I realize that paying for country music is like buying depression in bulk....at least, for me it is.

Free Depression, on the other hand, who can pass up?

Pool Day 2

After the movie on Thursday and a quick trip through The Pig for PB& J's we hit the pool again for a few hours. The clouds that seemed to threaten rain in the early morning held off all day, allowing the kids more playtime with some of the same pals from Wednesday. This time, we brought our own noodles and goggles and even snorkel gear... which is just a fancy way to drown oneself in a goggle mask, if placed in the right hands ( Fisher's!)

Chandler made it to 7 Mississippi and showed of his swimming like a fish. Logan put her face in the water and even let go of her noodle for a few minutes. Fisher thought the snorkel mask made him part fish and nearly drank the pool dry on several occasions
( all while wearing a smile; of course)

Book & A Movie

The library and cinema have teamed up to reward summer readers. Every week the kids read a book and fill out a book report form (or draw a picture if they're pre-writing stage) and turn it in for free tickets to Thursday morning's previously run movies for kids. This week's was Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium and as usual, I got all weepy watching it. When we came out, a local dance school cornered us with an impromptu dance exhibit... very clever marketing and pretty impressive dancing. Now, all three of my kids want to sign up and as impressive as they were I'm pretty sure I'm going to invoke the Nazarene No Dancing Law in order to prevent my daughter's learning how to shake her little tush like that!

In the theater and waiting for the movie, plus various library visits:

The dance display afterwards:

Pool Day

We decided to try the neighborhood pool on Wednesday-- only a handful of neighbors were blinded and/or traumatized in the process. Each child found a play pal and just as we were leaving, the Lord himself put a homeschooling mom in the chair right beside me-- just happened to be the mom of the little girl Chandler played with most of the day, who just happens to be entering third grade too (these are indeed small miracles that only the recipient can appreciate)

Following are some snapshots of the day:

Scrumptious Stress

Tuesday was a particularly taxing day, and so, to set moods aright, we got into the kitchen and beat up on the food we found there. What resulted was a pestoed pasta, broiled baby carrots, eggplant casserole, fried apples and a quite undrinkable punch. Oh, and happier little people just in time for bed:

Love Vettriano

... it started as a mild infatuation with his "The Singing Butler" then grew as I saw more of his work. I can name a precious few artists by their work (it helps if they've been mass merchandised somewhere along the line) but Vettriano became easily identifiable within ten minutes at the art rack in Michaels. Sorta like that Norman Rockwell fellow (love him too) , you just know one when you feel it. The paintings are just my style (yeah, even some of the naughty ones). The scenes are rich with some of my favorite worldly objects- suspenders, hats, red dresses, cars, suitcases and umbrellas - in all the right hues and with a stab of nostalgia in even the most modern depictions.

I have since learned that Jack is considered quite the renegade artist amongst those with noses high enough to snub, not that this dampers his popularity (or bank account) in any way. It's probably one of those "living artist" prejudices.

Apparently some feminists are miffed too, because he shows the way men-some men-- not you of course-see women without their politically corrected lenses (naked)

I am sure they have a point (as they often do) I'm just not sure I agree with it (as I often don't). I say, if you gotta choose, roll with the rule breaker at least for a quick spin and decide for yourself as you make your way around the block.

SO- how is this part of Kelly's "ordinary life" ? Well, I have all these new, blank walls to decorate and though I plan to slap some of my own imagination on canvas, I think I'll share my creative space with this fellow rebel, too- now that I have discovered the many possibilities. Though probably not the naughty ones (not yet anyhow- maybe once the children leave home and we start employing our Ray Stevens' Retirement Plan :)

I swore that we would not, not, not decorate all seaside and beachy just because we are on the coast, but that was before I discovered someone out there who could paint something a little more interesting than a flock of pelicans or that lone sand piper winding its way down the shore. If I want to see that sort of stuff, I can go outside and see it for real. On the other hand, Vettriano's scenes on the beach and otherwise, make me wish there were an accompanying novel or reminds me of one I've already consumed.

So, anyone wishing to write a check, take out a mortgage or sell a major organ to contribute to Kelly's "Gotta Get Vett's" fund please contact me immediately (before I succumb to the temptation of poster prints!)

Perhaps, they offer those paint by number copies... ya think?

:)

Logan's 7th Birthday

Logan's Birthday was in March. She turned 7. I am running a little behind here as we are just coming from a little "internet siesta"- but I thought friends and family alike would appreciate the "better late than never" approach:

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybrewer/sets/72157604576216549

Library Love

We haven't officially moved into a place until we have library cards. We got ours last week and have been faithfully putting miles on them ever since. The kids are participating in Summer Reading and have already met the 5 book minimum- though their personal goals have been set to 25 or more completed by July's end.
This library is one of my favorites- I hated to lose it when we moved from here before, so it has been wonderful to be back in it. All around the building are reading porches with rocking chairs and fans-- it's kinda like Cracker Barrel without the food (or pressure to eventually get out of your chair and go inside)
Library hours are much friendlier here than Wilmington Island-- til 8 PM every night and Sunday hours,too(after church, of course, this is the South)
There is a home education bulletin board in the corner, which leads me to believe we'll meet plenty of other home scholars when there.

Chandler and Fisher met a set of brothers similar in age to themselves yesterday, so each one had a pal his own age to talk with about sports and superheroes, respectively.

Finding new pals was great timing when, from out of nowhere, a gullywasher kept us in the library a full hour or more than we had planned to stay. Not that we minded.

Library Love

We haven't officially moved into a place until we have library cards. We got ours last week and have been faithfully putting miles on them ever since. The kids are participating in Summer Reading and have already met the 5 book minimum- though their personal goals have been set to 25 or more completed by July's end.
This library is one of my favorites- I hated to lose it when we moved from here before, so it has been wonderful to be back in it. All around the building are reading porches with rocking chairs and fans-- it's kinda like Cracker Barrel without the food (or pressure to eventually get out of your chair and go inside)
Library hours are much friendlier here than Wilmington Island-- til 8 PM every night and Sunday hours,too(after church, of course, this is the South)
There is a home education bulletin board in the corner, which leads me to believe we'll meet plenty of other home scholars when there.

Chandler and Fisher met a set of brothers similar in age to themselves yesterday, so each one had a pal his own age to talk with about sports and superheroes, respectively.

Finding new pals was great timing when, from out of nowhere, a gullywasher kept us in the library a full hour or more than we had planned to stay. Not that we minded.

After the Rain

See it? We spotted a faint rainbow yesterday, after the gullywasher that held us prisoner at the library for an hour or more.

Still Life

Clay gets fancy with the fruit display:

Exploring

We took a walk on Sunday to explore the new "back yard". There were plenty of squirrels, birds, turtles and a bunny rabbit.

We have spotted an alligator once or twice, but never when a camera was in tow...

CHEC Conference

This weekend, I had the privilege to attend the Coastal Home Educators Conference in Beaufort, SC
The event was hosted by Community Bible Church both Friday and Saturday. (we visited on Sunday as well, very grounded church and probably a home base for us in the coming days)

There was a used curriculum sale, a vendor hall for new curriculum and supplies, workshops and key note speaker Lou Priolo.

I was able to attend Priolo's talk on The Heart of Anger: How to Avoid Provoking Your Child to Anger... it was especially enlightening and I took plenty of notes.

I came away with re-charged batteries and even a little excitement to get our next school segment rolling.

Moving across state lines has been unnerving and somewhat confusing at times, but attending the conference really helped equip me for what lies ahead.

Most of the photos are just a boring tour- but I arrived a bit early Saturday morning and spotted some baby ducks in the parking lot while I waited for the doors to open.

A Visit with Friends

Just as we moved back into the Hilton Head area, some friends that vacation here annually arrived for the week. We were able to coordinate some time to just shoot the breeze, not to mention herd roley poleys and bob for golf balls!

The Theakers were my youth leaders when I was in high school. DeAnna went on to become my English teacher as well-- but I would never let her take the blame! I figure Mrs. Wyatt deserves that more :)

()~Only teasing, Mrs. Wyatt-put the eraser down~()

Now they are friends and we are more or less in the same age demographic- their children are younger than mine-but I still feel like I'm breaking some sort of rule by using their first names.

The children played mini golf , or something like it, and then we all had ice cream afterwards. It was a couple of hours well spent.

Look on: