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