Inspired Southerner

Working and Living in the South

Wordless Wednesday: The Christmas Song that Drove My Mam’maw Crazy

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There was no grandma I knew or know that was too happy with the Christmas song that was released in the late ’70s: ‘Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer.’  In fact, my mam’maw Kennedy despised the song, so much so she would leave the room when it came on! It was common for her to have music playing over the speakers at her house all year, and especially during the holidays.  She loved Christmas music, but when the above mentioned song came on she would roll her eyes and leave.   Whoah be unto us grandchildren, if we started singing it to her, and we did.  We would run after her singing the song, she would laugh because she had a fabulous sense of humor. Oh how I wish I could sing that song to her now. I miss her everyday and even more so during the holidays.  I can see her now, giving me that look when the song came on, but lest we forget, she drove me crazy playing the Alvin and Chipmunks Christmas Song over and over.  The Chipmunks song and Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer make me smile every time I hear them, and I hear them often during the holidays because they always are a part any Christmas playlist I create.

Here is my 2016 Christmas Tree Decorating Playlist:

 

Reflections of Thanksgiving

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Fall Trees

When I was a little girl, I didn’t give much thought to Thanksgiving except that it  was those agonizing 30 days before Christmas.  Now as an adult, Thanksgiving has more meaning.   As a child, we spent every Thanksgiving traveling between my mom’s and dad’s parents’ homes.  I spent a large part of my childhood growing up in Opelika, Alabama so we would have to travel to Birmingham to visit my grandparents during the holidays. Holidays were a big deal for me.  I wanted to live in Birmingham  because I considered it the big city but even more important I would be closer to my mam’maw Kennedy.  Living 2 ½ hours away from Birmingham meant I couldn’t see my mam’maw regularly.

In the morning, I would always watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my mam’maw and my dad.  To this day, my dad loves that parade, and so do I.  Our family tradition included lunch at the Kennedy house and dinner at my mom’s parents’ house, the Chandlers.  The traditional southern dishes were served including casseroles, turkey, dressing and a plethora of desserts.  My granddaddy Kennedy was known for his cornbread dressing, something I looked forward to every year.  He also cooked his Japanese fruitcake and mincemeat pie.  My grandmother Chandler cooked the turkey, cornbread dressing and pecan pies. My aunts would typically bring the Thanksgiving sides of green bean casserole, sweat potato casserole and so, so on and so on.  It was quite a feast!

As a child I was happy go lucky and very excited to be out of school for a few days at Thanksgiving.

As I have gotten older, I understand fully the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday.  You learn very quickly as an adult what really matters and what is truly a blessing in your life. Life is not always easy and it does from time-time deal you blows.  Thanksgiving 1999 was one of those lessons in life.  The day before Thanksgiving I lost a cousin I was close to in a helicopter crash.  We had gotten closer that year because I was helping him with his public relations strategy for his company.  He was kind and he had a sweet soul.  He would help anyone who needed it at any time.  He gave to others without hesitation and he was very appreciative of what others did for him. He was always very complimentary of my work and help. His death was devastating for me.   By no means is this story meant to make anyone sad or depressed, however, my intent is that we really need to examine what or who matters most in our lives  so that we can truly reflect on what we are thankful for. Life truly is short and taking chances on people and making changes in your life are very important; not just during the holidays.

Now more than ever we need this reflection in our lives because we live in such a fast pace, technological world.  We also need to show our gratitude for our blessings and for the people in our lives who help make us a better person.  Reflections of gratitude and the blessings we receive are the true meaning, as I see it, of Thanksgiving.

Trick or Treat Anyone?

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Halloween with nieces and sister

Halloween signifies the beginning of the holiday season, which I consider a fun and festive time that carries us through to the end of the year. My love for Halloween stems from my childhood memories. Mother would take my sister and me to the fabric store weeks before Halloween so we could pick out a pattern for a costume that she would make. As far back as I can remember, she always made our costumes. In fact, she still sews costumes for my younger nieces when she can. When Halloween arrived we would rush home from school, do our homework and after dinner we would put on our costumes for Trick Or Treating. Family dinner on Halloween night usually was chili or some other quick meal. My sister and I would eat quickly so that we could dash out of the house for the night’s big event. My dad would take us to every house in the neighborhood and our Halloween buckets would be filled with good candy. When we got home with our treats we weren’t allowed to eat any of it until my parents went through it to “make sure it all was wrapped and ok to eat.” I believe that was just a ploy so that my dad could pick out his favorite candy from our stash. He’d never ever admit that though.

When I was in 7th or 8th grade it was no longer cool to Trick or Treat or dress up. Instead we went with a group of friends to a haunted house in Auburn which a fraternity hosted in order to raise money. I remember thinking that it was not a big deal and there was no way I was going to show I was scared. The fraternity on the other hand had something totally different in mind. They wanted it to be as frightening an experience as it could be. It was a terrifying experience. I didn’t cry, but some of the girls in our group did. I was scared and when one of the monsters followed me out of the house I was really frightened.  To this day I have a love/hate relationship with haunted houses.

My grandmother Kennedy also helped make me love the holiday because she would decorate her house for Halloween and it was complete with a pumpkin that she carved. She would put a candle inside it to make it extra spooky. Her decorations were not that elaborate but they were fun and festive.

As I have gotten older and just like my grandmother did, I now like to decorate my home for Halloween. It gives me a sense of nostalgia to do so. I have even been known to dress up my dogs up in costumes, which they hate.

On Halloween night, I love to see what costumes my sister has come up with for my young nieces. Modern trick or treating involves fall festivals with tricks and trunks. It is sort of sad that traditional trick or treating has gone away.

As for me, I have been known to dress up on occasion to celebrate Halloween. I don’t always dress in a full costume, but most people get that I am celebrating the holiday.   As for the day, it marks 60 days until Christmas. As I child I would ask my mom why Halloween couldn’t be Christmas and she would get frustrated and say that “it will be here soon enough.” Now as an adult I understand why she was so frustrated with my asking that question because it’s only 60 days until Christmas.

Happy Halloween y’all!

Finding My Christmas Spirit at the Whacky Tacky Christmas Light Tour

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Wacky TackyIt is truly unbelievable that the end of 2015 is almost here.  My mam’maw used to say that “Time passes so quickly the older you get”.   I never wanted to believe it, but she was right.  I have struggled this year to get into the Christmas spirit, I guess it is because it arrived so quickly.  So I decided to volunteer to host the Whacky Tacky Christmas Light Tour.

This is a fundraiser for Fresh Air Family.  The money raised from this event is used to send children to their “Gross Out Camp” which is a math and science camp held during the summer.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to give back to the sommunity.  When I was asked to be a bus host for the tour, I didn’t hesitate.  The event started at the Avondale Brewery.  We met to there for dinner and then boarded our bus to begin our tour through Birmingham, Homewood and Crestline.  Volunteers were to wear the whackiest, tackiest Christmas attire that we could find. So not to disappoint I wore my merriest Christmas sweater with my Santa leggings.  

I was in charge of reading the script on the bus to point the various sites. It was fun and at times I had to ad lib.  One particular part of the tour the bus driver made a wrong turn and we somehow managed to get through a tight narrow road without damaging the bus or the parked cars.  I had to divert the passengers attention so I really had to think on the spot and explain some of the unexpected sites.  We saw some of the most decorated homes in the Birmingham area. We took a break in Crestline at the La Paz restaurant.

As the passengers were leaving the bus and heading over to the restaurant was where I found the reason I was meant to volunteer for the event.  One of the riders on the bus was having difficulty dealing with a personal issue and needed someone to listen.  It only took a moment in the scheme of things.  Even though this person was a stranger I opened my heart and listened.  Standing in the cold parking lot the spirit of Christmas came over me as I listened. This stranger only needed to be heard and validated and I was there.

 

Happy Thanksgiving! My Southern Corn Casserole Recipe

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CasseroleIt’s Thanksgiving again, and most southerners, including me, love to serve casseroles at holiday dinners.  Whether it’s the famous green bean casserole my sister makes or the sweet potato casserole, topped with marshmallows, my mom makes, casseroles are a quick and easy addition to any meal.  I found a corn casserole recipe last year that I love, and have cooked it again for this year’s Thanksgiving feast. Once I find a recipe I like, I typically add it to my book and use it over and over.  This casserole is quick and easy to cook!  Enjoy!

Here’s the recipe:

Corn Casserole

(6 – 8 Servings)

  • 1 pkg of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
  • 1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
  • 1 can (8-3/4 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 can (8-1/4 oz.) cream style corn
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.

Pour margarine or butter and corn into dish. Blend in sour cream. In separate bowl, beat eggs and stir into casserole. Add muffin mix. Blend thoroughly. Bake 35 – 40 minutes or until center is firm.

 

“Join us on a journey to inspired southern life and work.”

–Kara Kennedy