What's On TV

I've been wanting to do a post for a while now about our favorite TV shows right now, and since nothing exciting is happening at the Haywood House, then now seems to be the perfect time. 

Back in the spring, we enjoyed TV shows such as Flash Forward (couldn't finish it, but Brent did), Project Runway, Modern Family, Cougartown, and Big Bang Theory.  But one afternoon I turned on Bravo, and got sucked back into the world of the Real Housewives.  Now, I must give you a little back story on my love of Bravo.  I had this channel when I lived in Little Rock, but when I moved to Cabot, I quickly realized that Suddenlink didn't carry the channel. WHAT?  How in the world was I going to make it without Bravo?  Surprisingly, I did make it - somehow.  But about six months ago, we switched from cable to Direct TV, and it had Bravo in the line-up.  We love the dish - it is very reliable, has plenty of channels, and is about the same price we were paying for regular cable.  Plus, there's a DVR, which has totally changed my outlook on watching TV.  I had resisted the DVR as long as possible, but it really is a lovely modern amenity to TV. 

But I digress.... The Real Housewives of New York City was showing episodes from the first season, and since I had only seen the Orange County show, I was interested in seeing how these New Yorkers interacted.  I really did love this one - they were my favorite (until New Jersey came around), and there was plenty of drama.

You've got Ramona, Jill, Countess Luann, Bethenny, and Alex.  They have more money than they know what to do with, but the most interesting thing to me has been the differences in cultures.  I swear if I was still in grad school, I would have written a paper about this.  First of all, these women are all about the fashion and going to parties, and very rarely to you see them stay at home (unless they're going to the Hamptons).  Of course this is mostly due to editing, but you only see the dramatic snippets of the life.  One thing that has struck me funny is the fact that if someone does something to wrong another housewife, at the next event, she will tell the other party that her feelings were hurt and why.  It is my personal opinion that women in the South would NEVER do that. Oh no. Now, we will talk behind their back and ask everyone why we weren't invited, but to their face, a Southern lady would just smile and be polite. This obviously isn't the Christian thing to do, but hey - I'm being honest.  We Southern girls can hold grudges, but these NYC women seem to get it off their chest and move on.  So Kudos to them!

So after the drama with NYC was over, it was time to move west a little and catch up on the women of the New Jersey franchises.

I think these women were my favorite because they're more relateable, even though they have way more money than I do.  Most of them have young families and they're often seen taking care of them.  With the exception of Danielle, I would want to be friends with all of them.  Now, Dirty D is a big ole freak, and I really do wish they would kick her off the show. The previous episode showed the altercation between her and Teresa, and she said "Teresa attacked her."  LOL! When you see the episode, you see Danielle run away like a child. Seriously - if you're in the right, why not man up and stand your ground.  Makes you wonder if she really is hiding something (I think she is a big ole vat of crazy). 

I think with any of the Real Housewives, one thing that you have to remember is that money can't buy happiness and it won't get you into heave, so we have to keep it all in perspective. This is just for entertainment, but I think sometimes we forget that. We take TV for it's face value, and we should definitely not do that.  My least favorite housewives are in Atlanta, because let's face it - they are G-H-E-T-T-O and do not represent Southern women at all. 

So my newest favorite Bravo show is a spin-off of the Real Housewives of NYC.  Bethenny Frankel is know for her comedic one-liners on the show, and was always so funny.  In the RHNYC show, she was always defending herself from "attacks", but on her new show "Bethenny Getting Married", she seems to be very normal.  Now, getting married at 7 months didn't seem to shame her in the least, but that would not have worked where I'm from.  I am going to chalk that up to another cultural difference.  Bethenny and her now-husband Jason genuinely seem very happy together, and they're hilarious together.  Good for them and best of luck with the new baby. She also seems very relaxed and more funny in this show than the other one. Maybe it's because it's on her terms, and not has to rely on the other crazies. 

Some of our other favorites right now are: 

Memphis Beat

Which I just found out was filmed in New Orleans, which I think is sad. Apparently Louisiana offers better tax breaks for filming than Memphis does, and film crews go where it's cheaper.  That being said, it is a pretty good show to look forward to watching.  Can't say it's the best ever, but it's getting better.  Plus, I do like to have some Memphis pride since my sis lives there.

Police Women of Memphis

And speaking of Memphis - this show really is shot in Memphis. These women can kick some serious butt and take names! They try to keep a dangerous city safe, and there are some interesting characters that you get to see as well.  

Hot in Cleveland

This show is pretty funny and is much like a sitcom was back in the day. And when I say back in the day, I mean 10 years ago. Betty White is hilarious, but the show is a tad predictable.

True Blood

I read the first Sookie Stackhouse book, and then wanted to watch the first season on DVD.  Brent didn't really want to, but he got "sucked" in. (pun intended).  We watched season 1 and 2 back to back, and we love it.  It's not for those who are easily offended, so viewer beware. But seriously - Eric is my new celebrity crush (he's the one in the middle).  I like the Twilight series, but True Blood is SO much better.  It's much less cheesy and more dark. Plus, the writer is from Magnolia, and it's good to support our local people!

Tomorrow I'll try to post a garden update....let's just say things are looking kinda sad out there.

70 Years of Marriage

In 70 years, this could be Brent and I...or at least I hope it will be if God lets us live that long.  This has brought me to tears this afternoon.

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Amer-I-Can!

It is an annual tradition to go see the symphony and fireworks at the Riverfest Amphitheater by the river. It was warm this year, but once the sun went down, it wasn't too bad.  There was a lot of people there this year, and some really annoying kids light toys, but all in all, it was a good holiday.  I'm still on vacation, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

Happy 4th everybody!

My First Vegetable Garden

When we had the veranda built, I also decided I wanted a flower bed/vegetable garden along the outside of the patio. In my mind, I wanted vegetables and flowers and shrubs, and after a few trips to Lowe's and Home Depot, I finally got it the way I wanted it.  One section was specifically for the vegetables, and I planted green bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, okra, cilantro, and basil.

Well, I was amazed in the beginning when I noticed every few days that all of the plants seemed to just take off. I really think they grew inches over night - it was really awesome to watch.  I thought to myself, there's nothing to this gardening. Maybe I do have some of the talent that the rest of my family possesses. Little did I know when I planted everything in early May that this summer would be one of the hottest summers on record. That means that my small garden is probably going to cost me $100 in extra water over the summer. All for a few batches of okra and some big tomato plants that aren't producing. ha!

So here's my garden has looked over the past month.

Baby okra

The squash didn't make it. It got really hot and I forgot to tell Brent to water while I was gone to McGehee for the weekend. I was really disappointed when I saw this cooked squash on the dead vine, but Mom assured me that Nannie's squash didn't make it either because of the extreme heat.  

I bought a soaker hose, but the jury is still out on how useful it really it.  It at least saves me some time - if I can now just remember to turn it off! 

Baby bell peppers

Medium-size bell pepper

Not-so-baby squash

My first okra bunch!  Gonna cook this tomorrow night for dinner. 

I found this beautiful butterfly in the garden this afternoon. So pretty! 

Here is my basil plant.  It has just blossomed, so if anybody likes to make pesto, please call me and I'll get you some. I like to get a few sprigs off at a time to make caprese salad.  

It's funny that the okra plants looked so puny when I planted them, and now they're the best things out there!  

When I get July's water bill, I will let you know if the garden will be continued.

120 Years of Serving the Lord: 1890-2010

The bible says that one second in heaven is like 1,000 years on earth, so its hard to imagine what 120 years is like in eternity.  This past weekend, I went home to see my family and also to help celebrate the anniversary of Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church in Wells Bayou, Arkansas.  Brent needed to spend some dedicated time on his school work, so this was the perfect opportunity to leave him at home and let him study. 

Sunday morning was a hot one. I think the temperature was about 100 degrees, which also includes 95% humidity. Nothing like south Arkansas in the summer time! The service opened with three stanzas of "Blessed Assurance", and then "I Am Thine, O Lord."  What a joy it was to sing those old hymns, and I wish we could sing these more in our church.  The last time I was at Smyrna was for Pa's funeral, and I really had to bite my lip so the flood gates wouldn't open up.  After some fun statistics and trivia, we got to hear specials by the Faraboughs, and then my dad and aunt sang "Holy Ground."  My aunt said it best when she said we were taught that the church isn't the building, but the people. However, this place is holy ground in that it was the place where the gospel was preached and salvation was received. Former pastors preached about endurance and running the race just as Paul had instructed.  After the message, we sang "Have Thine Own Way" and then got in line for the potluck. I swear there is nothing like a good old-fashioned potluck after church --fried chicken included! 

Even though this wasn't my home church, I feel like it was my home-away-from-home church.  Sarah and I would go spend the weekend with Ma and Pa, and of course that meant going to Smyrna on Sunday morning, and sometimes on Sunday nights in the summer time.  They didn't have a big congregation, but we always had cousins to play. Sometimes Ma would lead the singing, and sometimes they would ask Pa to pray. He always let me sit on his lap and give me a piece of Wrigley's Spearmint gum.  He wouldn't sing very loud, but he'd try. Pa was the adult Sunday school teacher, and on Sunday, everybody who spoke, talked about what a good teacher he was and how he challenged them to study God's word. I'm tearing up right now thinking about seeing him study the bible on Saturday night after dinner. Oh how I wish I could sit and listen to him teach now.

In the bulletin, there was printed a note from my grandmother on her memory of the church. For my future reference, I wanted to share it here. From Mary Norris:

I came to Smyrna by letter in 1951. Smyrna has been and is still a great blessing to me. Our fellowship is like a family. It was in this church I learned how to study God's word from sitting in my husband, Edgar Norris' Sunday School class and also studying in Ladies auxiliary. When I was elected teacher for the Ladies Auxiliary class it was more a blessing to me than the other ladies because I had to study to be able to stand before them.


I remember the first Vacation Bible school we had. The reason I remember is because our pastor Brother Levi Cooper stopped by where I was sitting and said "We are going to have a vacation Bible School and you are going to be the director." I didn't know anything about Vacation Bible School, but I learned really fast.

I was able to serve as church clerk for 45 years. I have been called out of retirement and am now church clerk again. I don't think it will be 45 years this time since I am 80 years old. I can remember a time when we didn't receive enough offerings to pay our bills and we did not contribute to mission work. Our member started giving more. God has blessed us tremendously and we are able to pay our bills and to help support local, state, and foreign missions and help people in need. We have also improved our bookkeeping system over the years.

I know the doctrines that are taught here at Smyrna are true and according to God's word. I am thankful and blessed to be a member of this congregation. Brother Steve Hoskins, our pastor, preaches God's Word to us every Sunday.

 

The inside of the church has gone through a few changes, but the seats are a pure delight from the past. This was definitely a homecoming, and my dad said it was just a glimpse of what heaven would be like. I can't wait!

Here's our side of the family sitting in our regular spot. The story about my great grandmother Martha Elizabeth, is that her seat was on the second pew, the second seat. If someone was sitting in her seat, she would say "I'm so very glad you came to worship with us today, but you're in my seat and you're going to need to move." Can you imagine such an outspoken personality? No? Do you think it's genetic? Ha!

This picture was taken 20 years ago, and please see if you can find me. We laughed at how everyone has changed in that short amount of time, and cried over the ones who are no longer with us. 

I kept thinking all day about how special this place called Smyrna is to me.  This is where my Christian heritage began and oh how I'm so thankful that God called these people together 120 years ago. God was good 120 years ago, He is good today, and He will be good 120 years from now! And while the faces of the church have changed over the years, Smyrna is most definitely Holy Ground.

When I walked through the doors,

I sensed His presence,

And I knew this was the place

Where love abounds.

For this is a temple,

Jehovah, God abides here,

And we are standing in His presence,

On holy ground.

We are standing on holy ground,

And I know there are angels all around.

Let us praise Jesus now,

For we are standing in His presence on holy ground.

In His presence I know there is joy

Beyond all measure.

And at His feet sweet peace of mind

Can still be found.

For when we have a need,

He is still the answer,

Oh, reach out and claim it.

For we are standing on holy ground.

Dr. Sarah Norris Farmer, DDS

On May 27 and 28, we celebrated the graduation of my sister Sarah from Dental School.  I am so very proud of her and can't wait to see what great accomplishments she does next. She will be starting a pediatric residency in July, and I know she will be awesome with children.
 

Here she is getting hooded. 

She received the Pediatric Denistry Alumni Award for Excellence.

Josh and Sarah Farmer, and Sheryl and Tom Farmer

With Mom and Dad

There was a lot of people graduating from the UT Health Science Center. This is the bottom of the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis. We did not stay for the entire thing.

Nannie and Ma got to come too. We all agreed that Pa had the best seat in the house.

Of course my husband has to make faces.  He left his air horn at home, thankfully.

Sister Cunningham and Bro. Tommy even made it!

Before graduation, we got together at Sarah's new house to enjoy brunch, and they had some 

presents to open.

A new sign to hang up!

And Josh got one too!

My sister did a great job playing hostess too.  The food was yummy and her house is so cute!

Sarah, we are so proud of your determination to accomplish this major goal. I'm proud to say that you are a dentist, and can't wait to see what the future holds for you and Josh.

I love you very much!
Sister

The Inn at Hunt Phelan

Last Thursday, Brent and I went to Memphis to see my baby sister graduate dental school. We left Little Rock late due to work issues, and when we got to West Memphis we got stuck in traffic so we weren't going to make dinner at the restaurant with the rest of the family. I was really aggravated about that, but we decided to go to the hotel and check in and then maybe meet up with the family later.

Josh found us discounted rooms at the Inn at Hunt Phelan. I had heard about this place and thought it looked pretty cook, so I was thrilled when we pulled up to this antebellum home. I love houses like this! And then when I read the history behind it, I was even more excited.  Here's the story:

The Hunt Phelan is one of the oldest and most historic homes in Memphis.  This antebellum home was built between 1828 and 1832, and was originally a relatively modest two-story home, built in the popular Federalist style architecture of the time.  It was built by George Wyatt and designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington monument, US Treasury building, and parts of the White House.  In 1830 it was purchased by Wyatt's cousin Colonel Elijah Driver, great great great grandfather of the current owner.  Driver expanded the house before his death in 1851, by adding the grand two-story Greek revival portico facing Beale Street.  After Drivers death, the home went to his daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, and her husband Colo. William Richardson Hunt, who resided at the home throughout its most colorful period during the Civil War and the yellow fever epidemics of 1870s.

The Hunt Phelan has the distinction of hosting several presidents, including Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, and Martin Van Buren. Confederate president Jefferson Davis (a close friend of the family and godfather to William Hunt Phelan) was a frequent guest in the home.

In the early months of the Civil War, the house served as headquarters for Confederate General Leonidas K. Polk. After the Battle of Shiloh, General Ulysses S. Grant occupied the house as his headquarters, where he planned the siege of Vicksburg from the library. Grant respected the home and insisted the Union soldiers remove their shoes when entering.  Because of this, the library still has the original floor from 1828.

A tunnel under the house, originally used as a shelter from the perceived threat of Indian attack, was later part of the Underground Railroad.  There was a schoolhouse located behind the mansion; it was the first school to educate African Americans in Memphis. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, the family left Memphis. They left the house in care of trusted servant Nathanial Wilson, said to be a ghost in the home.

Following the war, Colonel Hunt successfully petitioned the US government to have the home returned to him. The house was passed through successive generations until 1975 when Stephen Rice Phelan took possession following the death of his brother Admiral George Phelan.  Mr. Phelan willed the home to his great nephew Bill Day.  Bill immediately began restoring the house with the goal of turning it into a museum. Unfortunately, this was not a commercial success, and in 2000 the house and all of its artifacts were offered for public auction. In a last minute deal on the auction block, Mr. Day partnered with a local restaurateur, and the Hunt Phelan home was again renovated and reopened as a small hotel, restaurant, and special events venue.

The Inn at Hunt Phelan is once again used for its original purpose; to entertain, celebrate the pleasures of the table, and to welcome guests from all over the world.

It's just a short drive down Beale Street...on the quiet end. They were setting up for a wedding that weekend, so there were tents around the property.

This was our room - the original guest room. Apparently Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson both stayed in this room a very long time ago.

The ceiling was painted, and this light was very authentic, but we would have preferred a ceiling fan. It got very warm in our room early that morning. As it turns out, the thermostat for the room was in the room across the hall. I'm certain those people turned it up before they went to bed.

We didn't see any ghosts, but I was sure I would see something in these pictures. You know, like orbs or faces in the mirror. Only thing I did see was a goofy man in the corner making faces. He also said that the wallpaper reminded him of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Here's mom and dad's room. This was much more our style - I loved the green walls and dark furniture.

That afternoon when we got there, I walked in the foyer looking for someone to help us check in. When I couldn't find anyone, I walked to the bar area and that's where we met Park, the bartender.  He was so so SO nice and offered to help me, but when he couldn't figure out the coupons, he took us back to the bar and offered us drinks while we wanted on the Innkeeper.  Brent and I spent the next 90 minutes at the bar visiting with Park and the other waiters there.  Let me say this again - they were SO NICE!  There was only one other party there having dinner, so we decided to have some shrimp scampi and dessert as our meal. The other cool thing about this area is that they had 40s music playing and it really felt so Southern and old.

The downstairs of the house is very similar to Trapnall Hall, where my wedding reception was held.

I highly recommend this place, and we want to go back soon and stay in the slave quarters. Josh's mom and dad stayed in that room, and it was so swank. They had a huge bedroom, sitting room, and a huge new bathroom. It was at the back of the house and had its own staircase, which was for the servants so they didn't have to come to work through the front door.  This place is a tad pricey, but we had discount coupons which didn't make it so bad. Definitely worth the price for a weekend staycation in Memphis!

Up next...Sarah's Graduation