My Baby Turns 60!

This Celebration started with the love of a good woman who prepared a wonderful feast for the one she loves...then together, they shared it with us...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUGH!

Hugh's 60th Birthday Celebration from Merry Croft on Vimeo.

Syracuse: Sharon, Old Ivory, OH MY!

My brother took me china shopping, and I must admit I'm excited, but I have to pick between the following two!

Top two pictures are the Sharon

pattern, Old Ivory, Syracuse China.

One Hundred Twenty nine pieces.This one features

the Demitasse Cups and saucers.

The second two pictures is the Selma pattern,

same Old Ivorty, Syracuse China, with

One hundred fifty nine pieces.

My favorite feature of the Selma is the

Bouillon handled cups and saucers.

****************************************

Thanks, Kenneth for all you do...
I've always loved dishes!!!

Rerun...An Archive Favorite

As Time Goes By from Merry Croft on Vimeo.

(The blogger video site is down and I just couldn't stand for this not to play, so Merry uploaded it to her video web account to use while mine isn't working.)

He can do it, Nicholle, see.

These two cuties will keep things in order and there

won't be anything funny about the whole wedding.

Enlarge to see those innocent faces.

Zoe was even ring bearer at this wedding.

I believe Ozzy could do so for you.

He, Michael, did a beautiful job for Jahnna.

Now all you have to do is practice.

SHE DID IT HERSELF

SAID THE LITTLE RED HEN

Happy Birthday, Kirill

Monday, January 11, our Navy Grandson will
be 23 years old. This will be his last year in the Navy, unless
decides to make a career in the Navy. Our family all wish you
great day and wish you quick recovery from the "accident"
Be careful in the snow. Does a plane have a pilot? Well our
Nikolayev boys are going to experience every exciting adventure
available. Enjoy your life, Kirill and HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Nana

Counterclockwise: L top USRR docked back in SanDiego

Kirill in the deep

The plane he keeps in order ready to go

Back home after 6 months at sea

Kirill's plane ready to go

Big conversation

Snow Boarding, best part of the Navy

Click to enlarge, better view

Miss Macon's birthday 1/8/05

Yesterday would have been our beautiful mothers

105th birthday. She would have been an

agreeable, uncomplaining lady if she were l05 today.

She loved her Lord, husband, children and families,

her neighbors and friends. She was true

and faithful to her church.

What a lady!

The Christmas Mantels at N.Church...

,

In the words of the Little Red Hen..."Oh, who will help take the Mantels Down?". (Well, something like that.) Tell you what, I'll serve the bread if you want to come and join me in the putting away of Christmas, anytime between now and Valentine's Day. :)

(What did you expect me to say, "I'll do it myself'", said the Little Red Hen?)

My Girls and Their's

Leigh, Abby, Judy, Kate, Merry, Gwen, Kimberly One pictures can speak volumes of words.

Can you see the love this Christmas brought to view?

The house was bursting with scenes like this one. I am a blessed mother/grandmother/great-grandmother/friend. It was indeed a very, Merry Christmas.

I enjoyed a great visit with # 4 Grandaughter, Becca

a couple of days before Christmas.

Sad that she could not stay for the Christmas

holiday, but great to see her for a couple of hours.

Happy Christmas Darling.

I love you.

A bride from Africa with Kentucky roots...

Parents, Sally and Brad proudly give newly graduated and creative artist, Emily away in marriage.

It's been a big month for Emily! Emily was born to God loving, passionate, missionary parents and raised in Africa. A combination that produced a wonderfully creative, sensitive and capable young woman for her new husband, Bobby.

SISTERS in attendance.

Geraldine and Phyllis...Leonard's sisters, (on right, Mother of Sally and Nancy and Grandmother of the bride)

Sally and Nancy...Mother and Aunt of the bride

Mary Beth and Emily...Sister of the bride and Bride

Audrey and Abbie...Bride's cousins

It was an exciting week-end for this great aunt

of the bride. So exciting to spend time

with this little family after 20 years of just

reading about them as they served

In Africa.

Sorry about the handsome brother of the bride,

now 12,

also the other sister the maid of honor.

Just did not get a picture, he was

having too much fun on the dance floor.

and Ruth's intended got there and

somehow occupied her time.

Those of our family who follow the Wombles

blog, "Because we swam with Hippos",

I am sure the entire wedding party will

soon appear.

Have a wonderful honeymoon

than back to work.

150 YEARS SERVING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURTS

The Christmas season brings us back together once more. This year Ellie opened up her house and culinary talents to the retired co-workers of the Murfreesboro Court House.

The above photo is the first of Ellie's six beautiful trees. It was a wonderland of color and sweet hospitality. Not to mention the delicious dinner!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time" Ecc 3:11

I shared a comradeship with beautiful Max.

When she moved to NY in 1968, I "tried to take her desk". When I was ready to retire in 1989 she was returning from NY and took her desk back again!

I worked with Ellie from 1968 to 1989 and off and on three more years.

What a great boss!

Lindy Lou . . . I worked with Linda at M'boro Pure Milk, then many years in Clerk's office.

Gail calls me her, " teenager idol".
(I am so glad I am not!)
She is our morale booster,
makes you feel great and
strong.

Just a guess, but I am thinking almost 150 years of service from these fantastic gals. We knew all the criminals in town and of course all the wonderful Attorneys, Judges, Law Enforcement Officers and the great fellow workers that we had the priviledge to serve with.

It is my prayer that those who took our place will continue to work tirelessly to keep the judicial system working fairly and serve with dignity and honor.

Merry Christmas, Ladies. Thank you for making my working years as good as they could have possibly been. I love ya!

gp

A Season of Joy

For years my Atlanta grandchildren pack up their children and make their annual pilgrimage to Mufreesboro, the day after Thanksgiving, to help jump start my Christmas Season. How can one help rejoicing when such an event occurs. They go down to the basement, haul up the enormous 12 foot tree, boxes upon boxes of ornaments and mantle decoration then joyously began to work. Mike, Mary, their children Joe and Isabelle, Kim, Tom and their children, Andrew, Emily and William, work tirelessly to give me back a glimpse of Christmas past.

We work until hungry and then we're off to share a meal together. What a joy, what a pleasure...my first gift of Christmas each year. How can I not carry on when given this kind of love. Love that is filled with replacements; when something happens and some can't make it, others fill in. I am blessed. I am blessed. I am blessed with the greatest gift of all...LOVE!

When the children are gone, it is once again very quiet, and I am alone with the familiar sights of Christmas at 600 N. Church. I feel comfort, gratitude for years gone by and grateful that I will again celebrate the birth of my Savior with those whom I love.

Now it's my turn! I will enjoy the wrapping and the
memories and the promise of Christmas!
Thank you to all who make this such a special time. I am looking forward to, once again, having the house filled with those I love. Merry, Merry Christmas!

Gwen

GREAT WAS HIS FAITHFULNESS

My Beloved
5/4/24 - 12/8/05

Five/four/twenty four, means nothing-
Twelve/eight/zero five, also means nothing,
but Oh! Lord! his dash! The years he gave us between life and death.
To us that was everything.

We continue to pull from his dash, every day.

Proverbs 20:29

Go on ...look

The Sailors

There is little doubt why we have a sailor in our
family and would have had a marine but for an accident

Old Friends

Friends are indeed a rare piece of gold for which I am so grateful. I pray for you to be one and to have many. Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends. gp

Happy Birthday, Margie

Tomorrow will be my lovely sister, Margie's birthday.

I am happy to know that her son is home from Oxford,

England and she will get to celebrate her birthday and

also Thanksgiving with both her sons and families this

year. Have a wonderful day tomorrow, Margie and know

that I love you.

Daddy 1902 - - - - -1976

1902 - 1976

My wonderful Dad would have been 107 years old today

had he still been with us.

No one was ever loved more and no ever did more for

his fellowman than Dad.

He is pictured here with his "Miss Macon" whom he

loved and adored.

Bless my mind tonight Lord, as I have some exciting

thinking to do, and I know that all finite creativity springs

from the Infinite Creator.

Bless me and my sibblings tonight as we remember

Dad

ARMISTICE DAY

I for two reasons celebrate

The lovely great Armistice date.

We heard the news - A peaceful sign

Sixteenth birthday of that boy of mine.

Each year the glad Armistice Day

Comes first - then we lay the tray.

We think of all the boys that gave

Their lives - and did their country save.

And then we think of those that's here

Who also served without a fear

We fall right back then at our own

We must not leave our boy alone.

For on each grand Armistice Day

Our boy, he has a glad birthday

We raise our eyes to God in prayer

For Mothers of the war graves there.

And always think of what may come

An awful war may claim our own.

Ethel Mai George

The Poet Ethel Mai George was the mother of my

father. This poem was found amoung

hundreds she had written down during her

lifetime, leaving us amazed at her

talent.

Remembering Betty

Flower Girl 1955

At last the pain in me subsides
and lets the joy in me abide,
as I can now celebrate the life,
not death, of my little drummer.

5/2/46 -10/30/02

Reunion of Patton/Chastain Cousins

The Chastain/Patton cousins recently gathered in South Pittsburg, Tennessee for a long over due reunion. Cracker Barrel generously gave us a private room to break bread together and for three hours to reminisce and reconnect over coffee.

Our coordinators.

Nine first cousins (some by marriage), five children of those cousins and one adorable baby representing the next generation, participated in the joyous occasion.

All agreed that our time shared was wonderful and we would meet again in the Spring. Oh, how Leonard would have enjoyed this day!