One of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes is when Lucy modeled the wool suit right after she got a major self-induced sunburn. You remember, she burned herself to keep Ricky from killing her for buying the expensive Don Loper dress. But the pain she was experiencing from the sunburn, while very comical, was felt by everyone who watched. Prior …
My friend John Croyle is the founder of the Big Oak Ranch. Rising to recognition as an All-American defensive end at the University of Alabama during head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s tenure, John had to decide whether to play professional football or to start a children’s home. In August 2014, John and Tee Croyle will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the …
There are people in your life that you have always hoped you would get to meet, and it is a beautiful thing when your paths actually cross. I got to meet one of my dream ladies: Annie Sloan! Annie Sloan, who developed the decorative paint Chalk Paint® over 20 years ago, is one of the most creative women I know. …
Neal and I just love Alaska! If you haven’t been, let me suggest taking a cruise through the glaciers. In our hurried world, a cruise allows us to retreat to tranquility and to observe the untouched shores where glaciers touch the water. Now I had heard about glaciers my whole life and really never expected to see such a splendid …
Decoration Day…only if you are Southern will you get this one. If you are not Southern, then you need to know about this to appreciate what we Southern children know down deep in our souls. Decoration Day is a Sunday in May or June when your family gathers at the cemetery where all your relatives from generations past (kinfolk) are …
What is it about a cast-iron skillet that makes food so good? As we were working on our new cookbook, Southern Cast Iron, I was pondering this very question. You just knew growing up that when that black beauty came out something great was happening in the kitchen. Through the years, the iron cookware has given way to more modern …
When Maggie Smith delivers her lines on Downton Abbey, the world stops to take in every tiny word. As the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey, she has stolen the hearts of people all over the world by delivering her lines in a most witty way. Don’t you just love her? Backing up, when Downton Abbey premiered no one could believe …
The response to the Easter perm was so wonderful. I loved reading your responses and hearing your stories very similar to mine—great stories and memories. As I was thinking about women and their hair, I remembered another spring hair moment that I thought I would share. It was a beautiful spring morning many years ago, and I was making my …
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of the Easter dresses my mother would make for my sister and me. It was the spring ritual that we loved. But along with our beautiful dresses came the ritual we didn’t love: getting a permanent in our hair….ugh. That is the worst curse for a child, getting your annual Easter permanent so …
My first tea party changed my life. On the menu was a pot of Prince of Wales Tea, Walkers Shortbread Cookies with lemon curd, and wonderful conversation with my best friend. In my mind, it was equivalent to being in the Royal Family! We knew absolutely nothing about the proper way to have tea, but we were off to a …
