Is there Anything that says, ‘Forward Motion’ like a Bicycle? I had one bicycle as a young girl, this one looks like it. I tried to back up that Bicycle.. let’s just say, it wasn’t pretty. I might have avoided wheelies and skinned knees, though my clean, almost new Tennis Shoes got scuffed, and the bike tipped over. Yes, with me on it.
I recall telling you that I am Uncoordinated, practically from birth. Okay, by first grade, it was obvious. Sadly, publicly obvious. So, just the Act of Moving can be dangerous for me. And..
I think I recall telling you about Pit Barbeque, though, did I mention Real Pit BBQ isn’t throwing something on the backyard grill? No, real pit BBQ is getting harder and harder to find. And, really: I think those places don’t want New Customers coming around. As a girl, riding in the backseat with the windows rolled down.. the scent of Loblolly Pines, the crunch of an old chert road.. I knew when the scent began to change.. I smelled it. That distinct Hickory Smoke… ‘It’s just on down the road..’ could mean Miles in Alabama. It’s true.
Though, here’s the thing. I’m not taking you on a bicycle ride to get Pit BBQ. I am not even suggesting we take a Car. For one thing, it’s dangerous. Those places are notoriously waay back in the woods.. and I will admit it, I could get us lost. I would have to think about it long and hard.. because learning how to Drive, practically made my driving instructor want to quit his job!
No, I’m movin’ on.
Wait, don’t call the Funeral Home yet! I’m just going to get historical on you, first.
For 10 years, I have been writing Camellia’s Cottage. First, under the pen name of Camellia. My hands literally shook before I hit ‘Publish’. Do you know that feeling?
Back in 2020, we had that pandemic. My voice, as Camellia , began to crack. Stuff wasn’t as funny to me as before. I was concerned about Small Shops and Small Business owners surviving. So, I shifted the Messages here, on Camellia’s Cottage, to Inspiration and Marketing, and there’s this: shhh… the po-lit-ical landscape for southerners was starting to be as hot as freshly poured asphalt.
That’s not my style- to get in heated conversations or into hot water for that matter. So, I kept Writing to You about Marketing- selling what you Do, Create or Offer. *I still do that Weekly in my Newsletter. The signup form is here: Brenda Wyatt.
Meanwhile, expect this here: I’m Movin’ On to a Shift here. I miss writing Southern Lifestyle, Southern Food and Southern Humor. It’s generally ‘bygone era’ stuff. Why? Well, I’m pretty ‘bygone’ myself and to be honest, that kind of writing is nostalgic and funnier.. I plan to write more of that.
I’ve already planned the Funeral. Wait! not my funeral.. I’m not going anywhere. I have more to say about ‘bygone era’ Funeral quirks and customs. It will be at least a 3 Part Series. Here’s a taste of what you will read, in the Funeral Series:
- The Flowers. Don’t use Plastic. Do let the Garden Club ladies scour roadsides and gardens. Yard Flowers. Great on their own or as Fillers. Let Uncle Fred sit and fret over the exact shade of Pink Roses ‘she loved’.
- The Food. We must talk about the Funeral Food. It’s an Encyclopedia Volume 1 and 2. Let me just say one word. Casseroles. ‘Really, Mabel who would’nt want Elbow Macaroni laid to rest in that egg and cheese custard? Though, don’t you dare add that Cayenne Pepper that Lucille insists on! It’s not fitting, to bring the heat on for the Bereaved, who Do Not, I repeat, Do Not want to even think about how hot the Devil’s Back Door Knob might be!’
- The Restorative Cocktail. Now, don’t get up on your abstaining High Horse. I won’t elaborate on this just yet. Here’s the Thing. A discreet ‘after the funeral is over, Restorative Cocktail’, isn’t a Celebration for heaven’s sake! – it’s for Medicinal Purposes only. If St. Paul allowed for it, who are we to question Apostolic Advice? No, siree, we will not.
So, yes, I will be movin’ and backing up carefully towards Southern Lifestyle, Southern Food, Southern Humor. *again, the Inspiration and Marketing Advice will still be in my Weekly Newsletter!
Love y’all, Brenda aka Camellia
Don’t forget to sign up for that Marketing and Inspirational Newsletter!
And, if you’re interested in finding a Writing Community, here’s the one I created, it’s the Writing Sanctuary. I would love to have you!
Remember:
If you sign up- I will never sell your information, I will never talk about you behind your back, I won’t mention that weight you’ve gained over the summer, I won’t even get mad if you unsubscribe.. it would break my heart, though.
I’m gonna talk southern to you a minute before I get carried away here… Southerners will do or say almost anything rather than say ‘goodbye’. Do I hear a sigh of relief? Not so fast there, I’m not going anywhere, I’m just trying to tell you something you might not know. A lot of us, okay, most of us, have a superstitious streak and saying goodbye is just one of those unlucky things we try to avoid. For instance, I always end these missives with ‘Love y’all’ because it seems nicer than saying – ‘That’s all she wrote.‘ Though we do say that when it’s appropriate. Many of us say at the end of conversations- ‘Take care of yourself.’ Isn’t that a nice way to say goodbye? And that’s not all, southerners say- ‘Y’all come back now’ even if we hope you won’t- at least not very soon or for very long; it’s just the nicest thing we can think of, when you’re leaving. We also prolong the actual farewell… We do it by walking you to the door, on out to the car, truck or tractor, then we stand outside waving until you’re out of sight. (Even if you live less than a mile away.)
I’d have to feel like something was wrong with you if you didn’t like Sweet Potatoes! a lifelong favorite- these are high in C,E and Beta Carotene! 
I’m never really sure who’s going to show up at our Garden Party here at Camellia’s Cottage…it’s such a fickle dance. Who’ll show up early or be fashionably late? Will they be effusive and bring extra guests or volunteers? Or stand around halfheartedly, even look bored. Perhaps they’ll chat like magpies or huddle together shivering and complaining. Spring is more like a house party that begins in fits and starts- gets rained out, stalls or lasts for weeks on end. 
Cookbook Therapy, I highly recommend it- all year round, though most especially when it’s cold and dreary. Most southerners put up with chilly days in a good natured way, some even going so far as to say- they love cold weather or that frost is a ‘good thing because it’ll kill off the bugs’. More than a few days? The novelty of wearing wool, goose down or cashmere has worn off- we put on Bermuda shorts with heavy socks and fake fur lined boots as if to defy the unwelcome visit of Jack Frost.
Cookbooks give me a window into other kitchens, other times and in most regional cookbooks there are stories, methods, hints and tips that are priceless. I do not buy these cookbooks new, oh no, I want the recipes with stars beside favorites, a note to improve it- even the ones who say- ‘This one isn’t worth the time to make it’ There’s something therapeutic about reading those notes. Here’s what I’ve found:
Camellia's Cottage 