And the winner is.... and more...

Today was the drawing for the "Breakfast in the Bag"

I put all of the names on strips of index card and then put them in a large bowl and had my hubby draw a name....and the winner is....

KAY from "Cottage Ramblings"

Congratulations Kay!

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First of all I wanted to talk a little about friendship..and how that I have been fortunate to find a few wonderful women folk online...and it seems that we are all kindred spirits indeed.

I so very much enjoy the fact that you all visit here with me, as well as over at Mary Jane's Farm..and also take the time to email with me once in a while.It is a real treat and a blessing to me. Thanks so much!

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One of those dear friends shared her favorite poem with me..and I must say I love this poem also.

(thank you Miz Frannie from "Freedom Valley Farm-Kentucky)

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For, so swiftly it flew,

the sightCould not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For who has sight so keen and strong,

That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward,

in an oakI found the arrow,

still unbroke;

And the song,

from beginning to end,

I found again

in the heart of a friend.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Here are some of the "Odes to the South" that some of you entered in the contest..some of you were so very creative. I enjoyed all of the input. Thanks so much!

from Laura:

1- sweet tea 2- lazy summer days 3- grits( girls raised in the south)4-saw mill gravy 5-porch sitting 6-boiled peanuts 7-the blues 8-farmed raised catfish 9-tomato sandwiches 10-banana sandwiches 11-black-eyed peas 12-magnolias in the spring 13-the gulf 14-b.b.king 15-redbuds in the spring 16-best cornbread on earth 17-overalls are business casual 18-moon pies 19-where else can a blue tick hound sit at the dinner table(lol) and the last 20- ELVIS!!!

from Angie:

Grandma's porch swing and buttermilk biscuits. Talking "southern" when I am tired or mad, because it's always in your soul.

from Denise S.:

They have a way down South we could all take a lesson from at one time or another.Manners, most southerners still have wonderful manners and aren't afraid to use them.Accents, the most melodic sound in the world to me,my relatives live there.Food,oh baby the list is endless but a few favorites are catfish,shrimp,slow & low BBQ,hushpuppies,berry cobblers,black eyed peas and greens,crab boils,pecan pie,and beautiful woman wearing aprons.So much to love about the South!

from Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe:

Southern kindness~ gentle men~ straw hats~ gracious ladies~ sweet tea~ kudzu~ ocean breezes~ buffalo rock gingerale~ fried green tomatoes!

from Bright Meadow Farms:

Bare feet on red clay.

The lake has alligators.

Georgia, five years old.

Big farmhouse -iron beds

Family's arms spreading wide

Biscuits feather-light

from Aunt George:

I nteresting museums

L ittle shops

O ld magnolias

V iolets

E arnest folks

T arheels

H ot Cornbread

E everything Fried

S unrises

O cean

U ptown Richmond

T acos

H am

from Janet:

Catfish fries,

Pecan pies…

Kudzu jelly,“Miss Melly…

”Storytelling, Quite compelling…

Mansion ghosts,Sugar coasts…

Yakkity-yak,“Y’all come back!”

from Miz Frannie over at Freedom Valley Farm:

AN OPEN HEART ..

AND GENTLE MIND ...

THE SOUTH'S SOUL CAPTURES

THE ESSENCE OF "KIND"

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Thank you all so very much! I enjoyed all of the input and the poetry that sprang forth from your hearts.

~The Garden Goose~