The Mary Ward Brown Trilogy

At J-Day this year, I had the amazing pleasure of meeting and listening to a reading by Mary Ward Brown. I had previous read her second book of short stories and was really interested in getting to meet her (and possibly buying her two other books - which I did.) I loved this lady before I met her and listening to her read and speak about her writing and life sealed the deal.

Mary Ward Brown has published two books of short stories and one memoir. Tongues of Flame, Is Wasn't All Dancing and Fanning the Spark (the memoir). She has an amazing way of crafting sentences and weaving amazing thought provoking stories about life, race relations and the black belt.

Plus, she's a Judson girl. That makes this 93 year old lady my sister. And as weird as it sounds, I love her. I'd like to put her in my pocket and carry her around or even better bring some pecan pie to her house and enjoy a chat for as long as she'd have me.

After reading her story "Amryllis"

My favorite story from Tongues of Flame is probably the first one: "New Dresses" It's about an aged Mother-in-Law and her young Daughter-in-Law. They have a strained distant relationship, but the DIL volunteers to drive the MIL (who is dying of cancer and needs a new dress(es) because she's lost so much weight) dress shopping. While there, the DIL sneaks away to a more stylish shop to look for a new fancy dress for herself for an upcoming dance. Both women make a purchase and on the way home the DIL is surprised is find the MIL picked a very fancy dress even though what she needs are every day dresses. (I think MIL bought the dress to be buried in)

My favorite story in It Wasn't All Dancing is "The House Asa Bulit." It's very much a "the grass is not always greener" story.

I loved MWB's memoir too, but I'm not going to lie, I wish she'd written much more about her time at The Judson. I love how raw and honest it is. And also so conversational. I could almost hear her saying the words as I read them.

I'll admit, I'm wasn't a fan of short stories in middle school, high school or even college. To the point that I only really liked "The Lady or the Tiger," "Gift of the Magi," and "A Rose for Emily" before I started reading Mary Ward Brown. Short Stories always left me wanting more. I always felt there was more story to tell. More of the characters to get to know. But the way she so painstakingly chooses words and lays out her stories, I always feel satisfied when her stories are over.

She signed Fanning the Spark "For Christy, a Judson sister. My Best, Mary Ward Brown 4/2/11" She asked if I was a student or an alum. I told her she just made my day by asking if I was a student because I'm 30 years old!

Wordless Wednesday: Old Cahawba

Wordless Wednesday: Greensboro at Night

Wednesday Part 3: What happens when we try to take a family photo

After Pie Lab we decided to stretch our legs a little and walked a few blocks in downtown Greensboro. Husband mentioned trying a family photo.

Sure!

We tried. These are the results. The first one is the best in regards to everyone at least looking at the camera.

great memories.

Wednesday Part 2: Pie Lab

I've been wanting to visit Pie Lab in Greensboro for months.

I follow them on twitter.

I like them on facebook.

I visit their website.

I've even read about them in Southern Living. twice. (June is linked, but I can't find the May mention online)

but until yesterday, I have not been there.

Daughter patiently waited for her pie.

pie is $2 a slice (and extra $1 is you want vanilla ice cream) and coffee (or lemonade or tea) is $1.

After careful deliberating, Husband and I decided on one slice of spicy sausage and sweet pepper quiche for our savory (I really wanted to try the spinach and feta quiche too but they JUST put it in the oven when we walked in) For the sweet, we got a strawberry rubarb slice and a chocolate pecan bourbon slice. And washed it down with sweet tea in Mason jars.

Daughter liked the quiche. heck, we all liked the quiche. It would have only been better with more sausage and more red peppers. I almost got another slice.

Husband wolfed down the strawberry rubarb almost entirely on his own. He loved it. (It was pretty fantastic) Son ate pecans.

I ate most of the pecan slice. The filling was great. rich but not too rich. I compare the crust to Husband's pie crust, and pie lab fell a little short. But really, Husband uses butter and lots of it for his crusts. I know they are superior. It didn't taste like whole wheat flour, but maybe wheat germ. The pecan pie crust was more flat and not flaky at all. But the strawberry rubarb was lighter and more flaky -- clearly not the same crusts.

I definitely enjoyed it and want to go back. (without my kids) they didn't have any children's seats which makes it harder to hold on to your kids. I imagine Husband and I could've sat there for two hours talking if not for constantly trying to keep the kids entertained and out of trouble.

And the women working there had on the cutest flower print aprons. I was slightly jealous. I want an apron. I wish I would've asked them where they came from.

Wedesday Part 1: driving in the Black Belt

Wednesday was spent driving. and driving and then there was more driving. The whole family, snacks, drinks and a full diaper bag headed out. This is some of the fun pictures I took while driving.

Nice view from the passenger's seat

wild black eyed Susans (I'm pretty sure that's what they are, anyway)

A bale of hay that has been transformed into my favorite college football team's mascot (He's roaring WAR EAGLE!)

That's a tin man. A HUGE tin man. You can use the bales of hay as a reference point on height.

Memorial honoring the Confederate Dead in Demopolis, Alabama. You see these in old Southern towns. I highly doubt you see them in "Yankee States" We saw 3 other ones in other towns, they all look the same except for the city name. (the frame of the picture cut out the two canons on either side of Johnny Reb. Plus the canon balls stacked up in a pyramid.

Bill Mackey. Brooke and I love him. In fact, most of the pictures I took made me think, "I can't wait until Brooke sees this."

Greensboro encourages Pepsi drinking. Or at least Lyle does.

Greensboro, they are known for catfish.

Daughter nosing around in Greensboro.

Daughter and Blue Bear taking a rest at the Greensboro Court House.

A house in Greensboro that I'd love to renovate and live in until I die. (If they build a Target or Publix next door)

The Judson. unfortunately there was no time to visit. But I did get to see a big old truck parked behind the library.

The Edmund Pettus Bridge. A Pretty big deal in Civil Rights History. Husband and I decided to do a little googling to find out who Mr. Edmund Pettus was. He also has a street in Demopolis named after him.

UPDATE: according to the ever correct (haha) wikipedia, Edmund Winston Pettus was a Confederate brigadier general and later and U.S. Senator. He was born in Limestone County, went to Tuskegee to study law, became a lawyer and judge. He practiced in Selma.

Wordless Wednesday: campaign season

wordless wednesday: Greensboro fun