Betty’s Week
By Betty Shearer
When we were at the museum recently we enjoy having Vallians Ann and Carroll Crenshaw stop by the Print Shop. They seemed interested in what we were doing and it was great to visit with them. As always, I encourage anyone going to the Jackson area to check out the museum and if you just want a great outing go on down specifically to spend time there. For just a few dollars you can have a full day’s entertainment and history lessons. Food is also available at the museum cafeteria for a nominal charge and it’s good.
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After work on Thursday, I decided to put in a few plants. Dug a hole for the second surviving Encore Azalea. Am happy to report that it survived and is actually growing. This is a miracle since the two plants in my bed are over three years old, having lived in their original little gallon containers all this time. Also put in a couple of Knock-Out Roses, with the same lack of care, and they are even blooming.
However the best plant I have is compliments of J. C. Womble. He put a Lantana in my dirt pile earlier this year. It is a mass of blooms and has doubled in size already. Ed and I tried for years to make a Lantana grow on our hill, to no avail. J. C. does have the touch. He was in yesterday and I hinted that I’d like another on the other side of my walk—just to balance the landscaping. He gave me instruction on how to take cutting from the plant he’d already given me. “No,” I told him, “ I don’t want to touch my plant, it looks to pretty.”
Also rescued some coleus, but still have my double petunias and several other plants that need to go into pots. Pots are there, as is potting soil—but it was much to hot and humid. When the sweat got into my eyes so badly that I couldn’t tell whether I was planting flowers or weeds, I decided it was time to go inside and wash my face. Inside I found that I was woosy, probably close to a heat stroke, so the other plants got left for another day—which is still in the future.
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Chad was in the sunroom Friday, doing some final touch-ups. He found a critter, which he originally thought was a large earthworm (they are plentiful on the hill). However after he killed the thing, he realized it was a baby snake, about the size and length of a pencil. He brought it in for me to see and I yelled, “Get that thing out of the house.” He says, “If you want it for supper, I’ll skin it for you.” He is a clown. He had the doors open some during the day and I made sure he did a diligent search for any critters.
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Sat with Betty Gurner Friday night at the Music in the Park Program. Enjoyed catching up on her children and grands. She has two already in the war zone (Grand Roy and his mother, civilians serving) and Roy’s father, Bill, with the National Guard, to be deployed soon. Son Benji, who recently retired from a military career, is in Huntsville, still serving in a civilian capacity. Three Gurners are here—Hugh, Melissa Burrell and Joe – along with several grands. Richard is nearby in Abbeville.
Hunter Moore came by to tell me I had to come see his lizard (a chameleon). Told him that I was not coming to visit him if he had a lizard. He just laughed.
Joe Fonte and Terry Lyon, “Mid-Life Crisis,” presented a very entertaining program of music. Both are excellent musicians. The weather was perfect for an outside event and I heard the food, served by First Christian Youth, was very good. I never stopped talking and listening long enough to try it. There was a big crowd, probably over 200 in attendance and no one wanted to go home. Joe and Terry played overtime and then folks still stood around talking. My final visit of the night was with Clay and Mr. John Ashford. Clay brought me up to date on his performances and it sounds like he’s given up sleeping. He says, “Mother would have enjoyed this so much and I wish she could hear me play with all the talented people I am now associated with.” And we both acknowledged that Ed would have loved Music in the Park—it was one of his dreams.
I said, “He’d have played every Friday night—sitting in with all the bands.” Clay agreed. He knew that the sax was always in the van. He says, “Usually my drums are my car—just in case someone needs a drummer.” Think Ed rubbed off on this kid.
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Finally heard directly from Jim last night (Monday). He, Wife Celeste, and Performance Wife Martha, are off to Houston, Texas this weekend, where they will help with a clinic and give a performance. Then Celeste will go for a visit with her aunt in Miami, Fla., and Jim will be at home working on the production of two new CDs and the revision of a book. Should be busy enough to keep him out of trouble.
Was telling him about the Bruce Channel 7 (Cable 57) replays of old Country Music World Shows. Arneal Lakey called on Thursday afternoon to say she thought Ed was playing with a group. I could hear him in the background and says, “That sure is Ed.” She was amazed that I could recognize his sound. Told her it was like knowing your baby’s cry or your dog’s bark – Ed had his own sound.
I found it on Saturday night and on Sunday night Barbara Barbee called to tell me they were playing. I watched until after midnight. It was so much fun to see a very young Ed, Garlon Maynor, Hubert Sanders, William and Bill Morgan, Ron Pollan and others. Never knew who the Vallie Echoes Drummer was until Sunday night. Couldn’t see him, but Garlon introduced Bill Forsyth.
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Don’t forget Music in the Park Friday night and the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. I was going to stop at the market last week, but forgot. I’m forgetting lots of good things, lately—maybe I am getting old. No, can’t be—must just be overload.
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If you like to attend yard sales, check out this weeks class ads. There are an abundance in the Valley this weekend. One of special interest to me is at Woodland Hills on Saturday from 7 to noon.
