Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Alphabe-Thursday - H is for Homecoming

Good morning Mrs. Matlock! I'm back from my trip and ready to turn in my essay on the letter H. For me, H stands for Homecoming. (Thanks Anna at Anna's Adornments for the idea!)

Last week, I told you that G stood for Going Away. We made a whirlwind trip this past weekend to Columbus Mississippi for my cousin's wedding. It truly was coming home for me. I had not seen some of these family members in over 30 years. I'll be honest, I was afraid that I wouldn't recognize anyone. Didn't happen. Most of my cousins look exactly as I remember them, just older. Of course, I haven't aged a bit lol.

We made a stop at my grandparent's farm. The old home place has long since been torn down, but the farm is still going strong, thanks to my cousin Chuck. He has changed production from dairy to beef, but most of the old buildings remain. They have quite a little family compound there. My Aunt still lives on the property, and 4 cousins have homes on our family land. Join me on a little tour . . .


Boys will be boys - notice the holes in the sign. I doubt they are from hail ...

Bricks from the old home place. Chuck left these at the site of the old homestead, the rest were used to face his new home. I think that's a wonderful idea!




Are you talking to me???



Ever wonder what to do with old campaign signs? Patch the old milking barn! I was so happy that Chuck didn't tear this down when he changed from dairy to beef production. It was my second favorite place on the farm - the first being my grandmother's kitchen lol!

DH asked why the cows were so noisy. The vet was there. And they weren't getting vaccinated. He turned a bit green when I explained ...


Soon it was time to return to our room and clean up for the wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony, and the church was packed. There were only about 3 empty pews. When I looked around, I realized that I was related to about 85% of the people there! After the ceremony, there was a small reception in the fellowship hall.

A group of the "cousins". I have 21 first cousins on my daddy's side. While not all could attend, a good number did. But trying to round everyone up for a group photo was like herding cats! A little funny - the very tall gentleman on the left is my cousin Joe - his nickname when we were growing up was "Little Joe" If we'd only known...

There was no way this group was going to stay serious for long. The twins directly behind me were my best friends - we are 3 months apart in age. And boy did we ever get into some pickles! Pam was telling tales on Tammy and I and everyone just cracked up.

A very small group of the second cousins. I don't even know how many of them there are. I don't think I can count that high. We took over a BBQ joint Saturday night, and when someone told the waitress that we were all cousins, she couldn't believe it.

Hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. I've got more pictures of Columbus, but I'll save them for another post. You must be bleary eyed by now!
Make sure to stop by and say hey to Jenny and see what everyone else has come up with for the letter H. (Note to Muse: I did not milk a cow, and I sure as heck didn't offer to help the vet lol!)

36 comments:

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

You can always go home again...I don't care what they say!

Those crimson bridesmaids dresses were soooooooooooooo gorgeous!!!

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

Beautiful homecoming on the farm, Kathy! Everyone looks so fine at the wedding too..

Unknown said...

What a fun homecoming! And wedding receptions really can be quite a hoot! Looks like you all had a wonderful time!

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Sweetie...
It is alway so special to go home. Some things never change, and when you get a group of family together, don't the old memories fly through pages? I love it. You all look so happy. Love the farm, and I too am happy your cousin kept the milking Barn. It wouldn't be the same without it? Just imagine if those walls could talk.

Now sweetie I am so surprised you didn't just march on over and offer your services to the Vet. Ha! Ha! Ha! No way.

I so enjoyed my trip on the farm and the wedding was beautiful. What a gorgeous bride. Thank you for sharing sweetie.

Have a beautiful Thursday. Country hugs and much love, Sherry

Unknown said...

Wow, a homecoming and a wedding, how great is that!

Happy Thursday!

hugs

shakira

HOPE FOR GREAT LAKES NOW!

THEME THURSDAY-HATS

Maggie said...

Looks & sounds like a great homecoming, glad you got to go home again after all this time.
~Maggie~

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post! Love it that you've shared the photos and memories of your childhood. Your family looks like they are a lot of fun!

xinex said...

Oh what a fun family reunion and wedding, Kathy! Everybody looks so happy. I can imagine how wonderful it felt to see the old farm and childhood hometown again, makes me want to go home in the Philippines.....Christine

Red Couch Recipes said...

I hadn't been home for a long time and when I did go "home," even though most of those I loved had passed away, the feelings were so strong. And like you, I like things at "home," like the old barn to stay the same. Glad you had such a nice time. Joni

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

Lovely pictures! What a nice gathering!

The Muse said...

LOL LOL LOL
I have to say first...welcome Home!
Next, I have to tell you I am in the hospital lounge (dad doing better :), filled with people...sipping cranberry juice.
WELL I WAS! lol

This is relevant HOW?
Because in the midst of this quiet...I read your lines in the note section...LOL...
And perhaps lack of sleep has added to my mood of jocularity...
but cranberry juice threatened to shoot out my nose (eewwww) lol and I could not refrain from laughing aloud and with a bit muse Hysteria. LOL
Just picturing you in your wedding finery...sitting on a 3 legged milk stool and chanting, especially for Ms Jenny's H day...
HEAVE....HO.....
Heave...HO....
LOL
Here a heifer ...
There a heifer ...
As you aided the vet in his vaccination and possible castration farm venue!
HUGS HUGS
lol lol

Loved your family photographs, Kat and you look so very lovely and genuinely HAPPY :)

Helen said...

This Homecoming was special indeed!

Betty said...

What a wonderful homecoming! It sure sounds like you had a lot of fun.

laterg8r said...

fantastic pics of the homestead :D

Viki said...

Wow, that's a lot of cousins LOL. Glad you had such a wonderful time.

Lois said...

What a great time you had Kathy! You have as many cousins as I do. I have a set of twin cousins too and my sister and I look enough alike to be twins, so when we were teenagers we would go places together and everyone thought we were 2 sets of twins. We are still close. I love the pics of the farm too. My son is getting married on his fiance's family's farm up in Havana (about 10 miles north of Tallahassee). I plan to get some pictures.

Diana Ferguson said...

Great times! Great memories.

MrsJenB said...

How cool! So glad you got to do that, and to see your family again. I know I have about a million cousins on my mom's side who I probably wouldn't recognize if I fell over them on the street, so I can only imagine how cool it was to get together again!

Deb said...

Happy Homecoming....

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Kat! It sounds like you had a wonderful time! Your family looks like a big, happy group! I love the shots of the old barn! Also...loved your cemetery post! Have a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie

Unknown said...

it is always nice to go Home.....Glad you had such a good trip! Happy H day...melinda

Sarah said...

How lovely to have all your family together. Thanks for sharing the photos of your Homecoming! Great post for today's lesson.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

What a beautiful story. It made me want to plan a trip back home..maybe next year....

JennyMac said...

What great pics, and love the wedding pics especially. How awesome to see your family!

Jo said...

How wonderful to come from such a large family and to have a chance to reconnect with so many of them

Anonymous said...

nice H post......

easternsparkle said...

Really glad you enjoyed your trip - great photographs as usual!

Unknown said...

What a great family! I can see you had a wonderful time.

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

HOMECOMING is a great choise for the letter H! Seems many of us were thinking of HOME on alphabet day! And...there's no place like HOME and FAMILY. Great post! HUGS, Coralie

The Muse said...

xo Hey there !
Today is son's wedding... :)
Im going to have such a wonderful time.
Stopping in to say hello :)

Julie Harward said...

Thanks for your visit to my blog and for the kindness. Come say hi any time :D

jeff campbell said...

Such a wonderful post about Homecoming. I do love to retrace old steps and in the process usually find something new, previously hidden. Thank you for your kind comments about my haiku post. The last picture was taken at the old Confederate Cemetery in Chattanooga. It spoke to me as well:-) Peace and blessings

Steph said...

What a wonderful visit home. Thank you for sharing the photos. I especially love the old bricks from the homestead and the way your cousin mended the barn. The wedding pictures are so special too.

Jenny said...

Mrs. Matlock must be H ormonal this morning becasue that pile of bricks made me start crying.

That was the most evocative, poignant picture.

I loved the barns and the bride and the happy faces and the history in the buildings!

Thank you for this lovely, lovely H post!

A+

Kathysue said...

Kat, what a wonderful experience to see you family and the family farm. What a wonderful heritage and what a tribute to your grandparents that so many came to get together. I love this and by the way you look so cute, Can hardly wait to meet you in person, Hugs Kathysue

La Dolfina said...

Hi Kathy,
Loved this post... what a beautiful family you all make!!
Thank you so much for your sweet comments on our big news, you are always so sweet and supportive and I appreciate you so very much :)
Wishing you a beautiful week ahead!