~The Old Porch Swing~



~Looking for good conversation? Needing a little encouragement? Come on in sit a while~

Christmas has come and gone, the New Year has arrived and with it thoughts of goals, plans resolutions and dreams for a brand new beginning, a fresh start.

I've been making my plans for quite some time now, plans and hopes for  finishing another degree and starting that long-awaited dream of writing a book, several books in fact. My interests and subjects vary from adult inspiration to children's stories. I have plenty of ideas for both. I began writing as a child at the age of 8 years old. Summers spent at Grandma's house, writing underneath the Old White Pine or Weeping Willow trees. Writing out in the backyard of my parents home, while my brothers busied themselves playing with their Tonka trucks and other toys, or playing Cowboys and Indians.

 Wasn't life so much simpler back then? I can recall Grandma's Old Porch Swing where aunts would sit and swing, and the rythmic sway would lull me to sleep as a young child. Company would come and most of the time those visiting would head toward that old porch swing.

 Thoughts of  those wonderful bygone days now bring a smile. It seemed that swing possessed a little magic all its own. Family and friends a like would gather around with Grandma's Homemade biscuits and preserves or Brown soup beans with sauerkraut with wieners, fried potatoes and cornbread and could my Grandmother bake cornbread! All that down home good Southern Comfort food, Mmm all the aromas coming from her kitchen were simply divine :) Just before Christmas;  I had an appointment in a neighboring city, certainly it isn't the size of  Lexington or Louisville, but it's a nice size and has a variety of shops, restaurants, malls. Including two fairly large medical plazas, and two hospitals within a short driving distance of each other.

 After visiting my medical practioner, I ran a few other errands while there, did some shopping and then stopped at a smaller restaurant close to the Ohio River. In fact I could see the river while looking out the windows  while I was waiting for my lunch. I had placed a small order of fried apples with my waitress and when she brought my plate, I tried the apples and found them to be nothing like my grandmother had once made. Before thinking I voiced my distaste out loud when an older lady behind my table overhearing, replied. "There aren't too many people who can cook the way Grandma did." She said with a huge smile lighting up her face.

 When I turned around feeling rather sheepish, she smiled at me I grinned and replied. Yes, it is very true, my grandmother had spoiled me I guess. She said there was nothing like a grandmother's love with a little wistful smile. I agreed with her., wishing her a good day as I got up to pay for my half-eaten meal, leaving the restaurant for my long drive back to the cabin here in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky. Making my way over rough mountainous terrain, at last turning down the long graveled driveway, I could see my own porch swing here at the cabin.

I got out of my four-wheel drive pickup,  glancing around, turning the key., I put my packages inside the kitchen door, then went back outside sitting for a few minutes on the porch swing, remembering.....simply remembering.  family, friends neighbors come to visit., they can sit in my own swing, feeling the genuine warmth and welcoming anytime.  If you are feeling a little discouraged, if you are looking for good conversation.,

Here you will find there is peace and serenity....It's a place of encouragement, uplifting----

Come on in, sit with me a while....

Be encouraged & be blessed~