Girls With Grandmother Faces

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Spring Fling ~ 2001
(latest saga in the "Where in the World are the GWGF" series)

May 21-24

Ann's home ~ Montgomery, Alabama
(Playing ~ "I'm Alabamy Bound")

Ann welcomed us with open arms !!!

This year's "lucky 13" enjoyed a wonderful Fling at Ann's home in Montgomery (actually a suburb called Pike Road). We "rolled" in, and we flew in ~ Wanda, Yolanda, Charlotte, Mattie, Kitty,
Anna Joyce, Barbara B., Barbara G., Marian, Nellie Faye, Carolyn, Earlene and, of course, Ann.
Some of us stopped off at Earlene's and spent Sunday night on the way (a delicious supper prepared by both Earlene and Jewell), but most everyone had arrived at Ann's in time for lunch on Monday.
Two of Ann's daughters, Jama and Connie, and her granddaughter, Hannah, daughter of Jama, were there all day pampering us, preparing sumptuous delights and surprises and serving us. (Ann and Harrell's other daughter, Charlotte, is a missionary in Mozambique ~ with her husband and children.)

the whole bunch
Back row ~ Kitty, Barbara G., Anna Joyce, Charlotte, Mattie
Middle row: Wanda, Ann, Carolyn
Front row ~ Marian, Yolanda, Nellie Faye, Earlene, Barbara B.

(see link at end of page for more pictures)

What an enjoyable lunch we found waiting for us on the patio! The weather could not have been
more perfect during the entire visit. The swimming pool looked inviting and all the flowers in her
garden were a feast for the eyes. We especially enjoyed the hummingbirds and all the other birds.

Of course, that first afternoon was spent "catching up," constant chatter and laughter,
room assignments and unpacking. I have heard it said that if you placed a microphone close by,
you could not distinguish any one voice as everyone always talked at the same time !

Hannah, Jama and Connie busied themselves all afternoon getting ready for a surprise dinner for us, which was both delicious and beautifully served by candlelight. Just before dinnertime,
I was allowed a peek so that I could make pictures before our forks destroyed the surprise. The girls had prepared Chicken Alouette and placed C N (cut-outs from the pastry) on top of each bundle. When baked, the letters browned nicely and really stood out ~ a delight for both the eyes and the palate. Another treat was Tangerine Chess Pie. I plan to add these recipes, which have been shared
with all of us, to my web site's Recipe Pages as soon as I can.

Monday evening, we spent a relaxing and pleasant time listening to Marian play her dulcimer
and then "singing along" to some old hymns. That night, and again on our last night together,
we especially remembered our wonderful friend Onita Jones Gleaton, who had planned and
so wanted to be with us this year. Onita died on April 16 and will always be lovingly
remembered as a special and good lifelong friend.

On Tuesday, after a leisurely breakfast (featuring Marian and Mattie's famous sour dough bread),
we departed for a little Montgomery sight-seeing. We rode the trolly and had a lovely lunch
at an upscale old house, Young House. We also toured Ann's beautiful church, First Baptist,
and sang "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" while in the sanctuary.

Having enjoyed the afternoon a little too long, we had to postpone supper until very late.
Ann had made previous arrangements for us to attend the famous Alabama Shakespeare Festival
in Montgomery. It was like stepping into another world: the location and surroundings, the atmosphere, the wonderful theatre "in the round" and the marvelous production of "King John."
Barbara B. had to leave us at this point for her return home as she had a class the next morn.

Wednesday found us relaxing on a gorgeous sunny day, with a nice breeze, in ~ if you can
believe this ~ bathing suits !! Ann's girls had left us still one more surprise: colorful flip-flops,
decorated with flowers, for our bathing beauty day at Ann's pool. We also enjoyed another
relaxing lunch on the patio. The afternoon found us relishing in Ann's "tea time" with definite
reminders of the days she and Harrell spent in the Orient. A few (with sun-burned noses and cheeks)
decided to "put on the dog" with hats and matching attire. It was a special day !

After supper this last night, we sat around the den before bedtime, as usual, for a devotional.
We shared memories, caring and support and sang as Marian once more played her dulcimer for us.

Thursday morning, everyone was up early to pack and prepare to leave. Wanda, Charlotte and
Yo had to leave by 7:30 to drive back to Birmingham for their flight back to North Carolina.
We all left soon afterwards and drove to Sharpsburg to visit and shop at a fascinating place
we remembered from our 1996 Fling at Earlene's ~ Collector's Corner. Ann drove up a little later also and met us for a refreshing lunch in their Tea Room. We left Ann there as she wanted to
spend a little time to look around before driving back to Montgomery. Mattie, Kitty and
Anna Joyce then left for the drive back to Kitty's and, we learned later, they spent more time "partying" in the Gatlinburg area until Saturday.

Nellie Faye, Barbara G., Marian, Carolyn and Earlene drove on to Earlene's in Carrollton
where we had planned to stay until Saturday morn. We enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing time
unwinding, napping, chatting, resting and snacking (no cooking allowed this time)!! Marian headed
for home Friday morn for a grandson's graduation. On Saturday morn, Carolyn and Barbara
headed out as Earlene and Jewell left to take Nellie Faye to the Atlanta airport for her
return flight to Philadelphia.

Spring Fling 2001 was indeed memorable for all of us. Those who could not come
were missed. A few who had planned to come were forced to cancel at the last minute.
Our special thanks, of course, to Ann for making our Fling special and fun. Thanks also to Harrell
for his willingness to leave their beautiful home and grounds for a visit with his daughters
in Birmingham during the Fling.

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again" ............. "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"

(more pictures on page 2 ~ click here)

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