What a sweetheart, Ann!

I was thinking a few days ago that I've written about most every plant I ever learned during those years, yet there'll be a sudden scent and my mind takes off down memory lane and I'll remember another incident. Funny how that happens.

Somebody recently asked me the name of a weed that was growing rampant and I couldn't recall the name, so I broke off a fragment and tasted it. Smartweed! Burned my tongue like pepper. I couldn't for the life of me remember its botanical name nor much about it, but I remember taking a few bites of it so I would be smart enough to get out from under the wrath of my third grade teacher all those years ago.

At any rate, all those 'learnings' have led me here, right in the middle of a bunch of very dear friends I would not have, if it weren't for Aunt Bett and Ninna. Funny how that works, too

You are a special jewel to all of us.

Awwwwww, Bubbles.
Now whattya want?

All that sweet talk, you're bound to want somethin'.

Ya gotta know Bubbles to understand, Ann!!

flaflwrgrl said: They were your and caring people. I would love to have known them & considered myself fortunate if I had. But I consider myself fortunate to know you whom they taught. So they live on.

Thank you, Chelle.
I think I'm the fortunate one to have such great friends.

I am not a reader of books Sharon, but I love the stories about people I can relate to. I am so touched each time I read one of your writings, you bless me. Thanks to Aunt Bett and others who shaped your outlook on life, your vivid memory, and your quest for the answers to questions.

Well.
How can I type through tears? Sometimes people will say things that just simply reach in and grab my heart. You just did that, Sheila.

What amazing friends I have here.
Thank you.

Sharon, here you are a retired school teacher and you are still teaching us.
You bring such joy in learning, it's like going on a field trip every time I read your articles. Your Aunt Bett would truly be proud of who you are.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...

There it is, Smartweed!
Don't eat it, it's just like a mouth full of pepper.

And I never did get along with that 3rd grade teacher, no matter how much of the smartweed I ate.

Thanks, Lynn, now I know its proper name.

Cool Lynn!

I love reading the what Sharon writes, I always learn something new and interesting.

Peppered by sprinkles of nonsense.
Just remember the important stuff, like don't eat smartweed.
Forget the nonsense, like throwing rocks at Virginia.

Uh-oh, that was nonsense? (whoops....guilty.)

Nice write-up, Sharon; pleasant to read! Any trip "back to the mountains" that I read about is icing on the cake.

Shoe (wonderfully rained in today, much different from being reigned in!) >)

You throw rocks at Virginia, Shoe?
I must have left piles of rocks on top of that mountain, I threw so many of them. Every time it snowed, I threw a rock. Of course not knowing the ways of the winds at the time, it probably would have to be snowing backwards for it to come from the direction of Virginia, but I blamed Virginia anyway for icy slick mountains.

"Don't talk to any strange dogs if you see them on the mountain, chile, they might be rabid."
"You reckon those strange dogs came over from Virginia, Aunt Bett? I heard tell that Virginia has rabies."

"Don't climb that locust tree, chile, them stickers'll hold you six ways from Sunday."
"It's a trap, Aunt Bett, it's a Virginia trap. They put stickers on that locust tree just to trap us."

And so it was.

It's dreary rainy here today too, reckon I'll just blame Missouri, or maybe Tennessee. Ya just never know these days. Alla time havin' to watch your back.

Hah! How true. I reckon as a young'n I threw rocks at South Carolina though, from an open-air chapel at that. It sits, to this day, high on a mountain with a massive overlook behind the podium, the perfect place to gain extra distance for rock throwing. Who knows what those rocks hit, disturbed or perturbed when they landed.

If I was you, don't blame Missouri, it'll send floods your way; don't blame Tennessee, it was once part of NC and we're the good guys; stick with tradition and I'm sure Virginia won't mind after all these years.

Shoe - off to see if chickens are wading like ducks or if they're tucked in cozy lazily working in the nest boxes.

Yup, as usual, you're right, Shoe.
I don't believe I have anyone to rightly blame for this dreary day.

'Coulda been that rain dance I did last night, though, when I went out barefoot and stepped on something slimier than wet leaves. I never did figure that one out.

Slugs, I bet it was slugs, they are horrible to step on.
I lived in Missouri, we blame Kansas.
Husband born and raised in Georgia, he blames poor old Alabama. I love Alabama.... Always the next state over.....

Thank you for sharing another wonderful story, Sharon. We have a beautiful fringe tree in our yard, and I shall always think of you and Aunt Bett now whenever it blooms. I had no idea it had any medicinal properties. I guess Aunt Bett is still teaching, imparting her wisdom through you.

Linda