A Bridge Called Love . . . Crossing it Again

Tuesday - February 7, 2012

While Mom was at The Hospice House, a wall down the hallway caught my attention. It was of a bridge. It made me think back to this poem that had been sent to me by a former student when my twin, John, passed away. There is "A Bridge Called Love" that is there for us all. A bridge our loved ones cross when going Home, and a bridge that takes the family and friends through a life time of memories.

As a family, we would like to thank all who helped with Mom's care; spent time with us as we stood watch as she was about to "cross the bridge" to be with Dad; and sent food to nourish our bodies; but especially for all the prayers.

A special thank you to the organization of very caring, compassionate, and an understanding medical team from Hospice. Not only were they caring for Mom, but for the family too. We crossed this bridge together and were never alone. We, the family, crossed the bridge of knowing we had to let Mom go, and we need to continue on until it is our time to cross over to our heavenly home.

A Bridge Called Love

It takes us back to brighter years,
to happier sunlit days
and to precious moments
that will be with us always.
And these fond recollections
are treasured in the heart
to bring us always close to those
from whom we had to part.
There is a bridge of memories
from earth to Heaven above...
It keeps our dear ones near us
It's the bridge that we call love.
Author Unknown


The wall at The Hospice House

The words beneath the bridge

Looking out the door of the room Mom was in gave us a view of yet another bridge . . . it was a peaceful and soothing site.

We all will miss Mom, but we know she is in a far better place than we. The memories we will always hold dear and will share with one another.

Those who mourn for Mom can take comfort in the words of Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians; "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:8.

We love you Mom!

Staying Busy in the Kitchen

Tuesday - January 3, 2012

For the last six weeks my head has been spinning with grocery list, menus, how much, how many, what do they like, what can they eat, and how in the world am I going to get it all completed!!!! Staying with Mom most of the week was an obstacle that I was going to have to overcome if I wanted to prepare the food for at least four family gathering in a time span of five weeks! With the aid of my nieces, nephews, and my brother - who took over staying with Mom - I was able to go to the store, clean, and prepare the goodies for each gathering.

The first gathering was Thanksgiving. There was eight of us who gathered around the table for a day of giving thanks. We enjoyed turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry salad/sauce, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, green bean casserole, potato salad, broccoli and cauliflower salad, pumpkin pie, and cherry cheese pie. There was enough that the food was divided and sent to four different homes as an extra meal. I really love cooking and seeing those I love and care about enjoying the results of my work in the kitchen!

The second gathering included all of my nieces, nephews, and their families to surprise Mom on December 17th! I couldn't prepare food for all without telling Mom about all of them coming in to see her. So, I told Mom I was putting a big crock pot full of lasagna for her and Mike over the weekend. Mike was to turn the pot on early Saturday morning. He told Mom it would be better than Wendy's! She never suspected of the bombardment of nieces and nephews! Rhonda said she would fix a big pot of chili to bring down, and some of the others said they would bring in home made goodies too!!! So we ended up with lasagna, chili, veggie tray, fruit tray, cheese ball/cheese chucks/crackers tray, chicken squares, pig-in-a-blanket, chicken nuggets, and cookies that were oh so good!! We had a great day wit all 28 there have more than enough to eat!!! Very little food was left over for any of us to take home! :):) I guess that was a good sign!!!!

Christmas was our third gathering!!! Nine of us gathered together after church for a family feast. Since we had turkey for Thanksgiving, Mom decided we were to have ham. I didn't really want the ham because the high BP we all have, but she won out and ham it was!!! We had ham, baked beans, mashed potatoes, veggie tray, fruit tray, crescent rolls, banana pudding, chocolate pudding, and cherry cream pie. Again it was another great day being with family!!!!!

The last gathering was this past weekend when David. Jeni, Cora, and Ben came for a visit. Due to the gluten free, no grain diet they need to be on, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fix something that was tasty and good for them!!! They can have meat, veggies, and fruit - I just needed to watch how it was prepared. We had organic eggs, bacon, sausage patties, biscuits, and fruit for brunch. Jeni had to watch what to eat - no biscuits - but I think (and hope) all had plenty and enjoyed it. Cora loved the fruit - especially the blueberries! for supper, I prepared a pork loin in the crock pot, fresh green beans, and roasted veggies that included zucchini, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, snap peas, carrots, red/yellow/orange/green peppers, onions, and a few cloves of garlic which were tossed in olive oil infused with basil and garlic seasoning, and cherry pie!

Four different gatherings with four different ideas as to what to prepare. Yes, some of them had the same dishes, but I tried to make something special for each gathering . . . and I didn't want them to eat the same thing each time we were together!

Following are some of the dishes I put together for the four family gatherings, while the others were for a regular supper at home and/or Mom's. Hope they spark your imagination for your next family gathering!!!!

Sewing Again!

Wednesday - December 21, 2011

This summer I got into sewing again. I didn't realize how many little dresses I had made until I was looking through the pictures on my computer! Wow, I made myself tired! :) I really enjoyed making all of the following for some very special little girls! Some of these little girls I have never met - I made them at the request of their mother and/or grandmother. The other little ones included my grand-daughter, great-nieces, a cousin's grand-daughter, and two special little girls of a dear friend!

Ham & Cheese Quiche

Sunday - August 28, 2011


We had some special company this past week, and as I always do, I tried to fix something that didn't require me to be in the kitchen all day! :):) Since I figured they had already eaten breakfast, I opted to fix something that could be a brunch style meal! I try to keep all who eat at our table happy, which sometimes means I tend to overcook! :):)


When shopping for our company, I came across some really nice storage/measuring containers!! My plan was to have what I needed to prepare already to add to the dish!!! I came across the following containers! They hold the amounts of one cup to four cups, and have a lid to seal the ingredients. When not in use, the larger container will hold the smaller ones!!! Love these new little containers, and I see using these a lot in my future!!!







The recipe I chose was one I have used many times, especially when we had Sunrise Breakfast at church on Easter Morning. I would do the preparation the night before and then bake it "early" Sunday morning!!! It is easy and delicious. I got the recipe from one of my "Taste of Home" magazines years ago!!!!! It isn't that difficult to double or even triple the recipe - it all depends on the size of pan you use! I have included the recipe and pictures of the process I used!


Even though the recipe called for Swiss Cheese, I chose to use Mild and Sharp Cheddar!



Before adding the veggies and ham to the plate, I sauteed them for a couple of minutes.

The first layer - veggies - I used onions and red/green/orange/yellow sweet peppers . . .

. . . now the diced ham . . .

. . . added the crumbled bacon bits . . . .

. . . now it's time for the cheese :):) . . .

. . . . what made this dish even more special was the help of a special granddaughter . . .

(picture courtesy of her mother!)

. . . once the milk, eggs, milk, salt, and pepper have been blended, we poured it over the ingredients already layered in the quiche plate without stirring . . .

. . . and the final product after about 30/35 minutes of baking . . .

. . . what made the dish even more special was the help I received for my special little girl . . . Mammaw loves you Cora Ann!!!!!!

Davis Family Reunion - August 20, 2011

Thursday - August 25, 2011

A family reunion is a time for the extended family to gather together and catch up with what has taken place in the past year. It is also a great time to eat some great food and enjoy everyone's company! From the time I was young girl, I can remember Dad and his siblings, along with their children going back "home" to where they were raised to visit for the day with their parents, brothers and sisters, and all the nieces and nephews! This "Layne" family was large by today's standards in that there were so many of us who would invade the "holler" on the Left Fork of Lick Creek.

My grandparents, William J Layne and Virginia Belle Davidson Layne, had seven children - all of who are pictured below!

Left - right front row: Uncle Pak (Palmer Layne); Aunt Hammy (Thelma Lane Scaggs); Aunt Oma (Oma Lane Blevins); Pappaw (William J Layne); Aunt Dean (Gladys Faye Lane Davis); Mammaw (Virginia Belle Davidson Layne);

Left - right back row: Uncle Pete (Eskow Lane); Dad (Elmer J Layne - Uncle Buck); and Uncle Son (Aubry Layne)

Since the passing of my grandparents back in 1970-1971, the reunions weren't the same, especially for their children. Eventually they ceased to happen. Each family group's family was growing and the family was busy doing things with all of the new little ones. The brothers and sisters were also starting to have some health issues which prevented them for doing things they had done in the past! Dad for one had several massive heart attacks!

But as the years past, some of the "grandchildren" decided to have their family reunions. Most years this was the only day out of the year they had a chance to see their siblings as well as their nieces and nephews. Dad's youngest sister, Aunt Dean's family, started gathering together years ago toward the end of August! They would change the place of the reunion with each sibling taking a turn in hosting the reunion. These reunions have been held in Waverly, Carey, and Findlay, Ohio. Most of the family have been able to attend. When Dad was alive, he and Mom went several times to the "Davis Reunion!"

Aunt Dean and Uncle Boyd had seven girls and four boys . . . . now that's a large family!!!! Sadly two of the children Eva Jo and Adorn have passed away, but eight of the nine remaining children were able to be there on Saturday. This year it was held in Waverly, which is a lot closer for us to have been able to take Mom! The weather was perfect and Mom was feeling like a road trip, so we got in the cars and headed North!!!

The picture below tells you what kind of a day Mom had! A GREAT DAY!

One of the older sisters, Geneva, made a special trip to see her Aunt Irene!!! she is talking with her "tall" nephew Jimmy, and her brother Boyd Jr.!

Two of the sisters - Glenna Faye and Peggy (the baby of the clan) were and are close!

Group pictures are a must! However, Geneva and Peggy had already left. Wanda lives in FLA and wasn't there, but six of the nine surviving siblings along with their Aunt Irene and two cousins, Mike and Sue were there for a group picture at the end of the day!

Life has a way of keeping us apart from some of the people we love the most. We get busy with our immediate family and all the activities they are involved with as well as activities we may be involved with from church, work, and even community happenings!!! Sometimes our health or the health of one close to us may hamper us being able to travel as much as we would like to see those we love.

We are so thankful to have had the opportunity, the health, and the great weather to make the trip to Waverly. We are sad that Dink didn't feel like making the trip and that Wanda didn't make it up from FLA. Thank goodness for FB because we can see one another on there.

You Are Now Man and Wife

Friday - June 24, 2011

June 20, 1988
The day had come in which we had chosen to become man and wife. It wasn’t the easiest of decisions for several reasons, none having to do with the fact of the love we had for one another or the commitment we were about to make. I was an older bride; a person many people thought would never marry. I was marrying a man who had been married and had a child. We wanted this day to be special, but not flamboyant. We wanted it simple! It would have been wonderful to have had his eight -year old there as part of our special day, but it wasn’t meant to be. I definitely wanted Mom and Dad there, and with Mom’s feeling of losing a daughter, I wasn’t sure that was going to happen.

Bill’s parents and Granny had already said they couldn’t come; my siblings and their family would have been there for me had I asked, but when wanting to keep it small, the question was how do you keep it small in my family??? Since we knew Bill’s family would not be there, I asked Mom and Dad if they would be there when we said our vows. It was at that point Mom knew I was really getting married. It had nothing to do with Bill . . . . She adored him . . . . I really think it was the fear of losing me, the last of her four children who was at home and there to help if Dad were to have another heart-attack. She had never been left alone with him since his first attack in fifteen years! Once she realized it was going to happen, she was all for it . . . at least on the outside!

Along with my cousin Pat, we went shopping for dresses. Mom was looking for a new dress that would double as a church dress . . . . Nothing too fancy, but something she would definitely keep wearing. As for me, I was looking for that special dress or suit that would make me feel like a bride. I didn’t want to pay an outlandish price, and I wanted the dress to be my wedding dress. We went to Charleston and found what I wanted . . . . A two piece dress that was a cream color and was not too fancy, but fancy enough to make me feel like a bride!

We were set . . . . We had the marriage license, rings, my dress, Bill‘s suit, and the witnesses! I went to local florist and order a bouquet for me with “blue” ribbons, a corsage for Mom and a boutonniere for Bill. No hair appointment was needed as I would do my own hair and Mom’s. The ribbon would represent something “blue,” and something borrowed was the set of earrings I would wear – they belonged to Mom!

Bill would come by the house and pick the three of us up, and we would drive to Boyd County, Kentucky to be married in the Court House by a judge. That wasn’t meant to be; the judge had gone fishing!!!! However there was a church across the street in which the minister was available for such unexpected circumstances. Bill went to the church and located the minister in his office and explained to him what had happened. He graciously consented to perform the marriage ceremony. Mom was thrilled because I would now be married in a church. When she and Dad married, they went to the pastor’s home! My oldest brother was married to his wife in her parent’s home with a pastor presiding, and my other two brothers had a very nice and large ceremony in a church setting.

At a little past 10:30 AM on June 20, 1988; the Reverend Paul Cropper pronounced us man and wife! The few pictures we have of that day were taken by Dad, who was not familiar with the camera, and was emotional about his “little girl” getting married. Both he and Mom love Bill, and they knew that deep down I was going to be okay!

Mom and Dad have wonderful neighbors. The Keyser’s decided Bill and I needed a cake. So, while we were getting married, they went out and bought a small cake with a bride and groom and had it set up when we returned. We actually had a very small reception with the neighbors, Mom, and Dad before heading off on our new life together.

We can watch one of the reality shows on TV called “Bridezilla” and see what the pressure does to the bride, family, and all helping with the wedding; and it sure isn’t pleasant in some cases! I have even seen some where the groom became a “Groomzilla!” Nothing like that took place for our preparation or wedding, but we did have an interesting thing happen. While inside the church getting married, a police officer came by our car and gave us a parking ticket. Yes there were meters outside the church; and no, we didn’t feed the meter; so we started off our marriage with us having to go in and paying a parking ticket!! Mom says, “I didn’t see any meters there when we went into the church!” Dad always shook his head and laughed! Bill and I accepted what had happened and not let it ruin the first day of being man and wife!

Mom and Dad's neighbors came out to watch and to get a glimpse of the "bride and groom!"

The dresses we had bought for this special day!

Mom and Dad weren't really "upset" . . . we were facing the sun!!!!

The "I Do's"

Mr. and Mrs. William H Hardin!