Bologna Sliders & Sweet Tea

Recently, I visited a place that reminded me of my childhood, that took me back to a time when the pace was slower and folks sat across from one another to talk...a place with a purpose to feed hungry and hurting people.

The place...Grave's Grocery, a local country store in Lacey's Spring, owned by Pam Graves, single mom of five, lover of God, family and community.  The logo on her shirt reads...

                                             Community Rest Stop
                          A Place To Satisfy Your Hunger And Your Heart


 Yes, indeed!  Pam's store represents that which is simple and good...uncomplicated food, all the sweet tea you can hold and friendly, down-to-earth service.  You will definitely have your hunger satiated in more ways than one and if you stay long enough to get to visit with Pam, consider it an extra treat, no charge!

Pam not only cooks and serves...she shares her life with you.  Where else can you go for a bologna slider and the possibility that the one who made it might just pray with you before you leave?  Pam bought the grocery store as a means to provide for her children, but it's more than that.  You see, I believe Grave's Grocery is like a church and Pam is the minister.  She preaches every day in the way she smiles and speaks and shows an interest in the people who walk through her door, but she also takes every opportunity to let Christ's love emanate through her.  Thing is, Pam's message is palpable whether she's working the cash register or serving up her delectable chicken salad.  She's genuine, unassuming, guileless, humble...a living, breathing sermon!

On Saturday, July 27th, Pam hosted River of Life Market, her first open air event for artisans and vendors selling their wares.  The morning was a success and the pictures below were taken by me, an amateur photographer just trying to capture the essence of this most charming place. When I arrived, the parking lot was full, as was the diner.  I ordered the special of the day: a pulled pork sandwich with hot slaw (it was listed on the menu handwritten on a chalkboard...*sigh).
All the food that is sold at Grave's Grocery is fairly priced and worth every penny.  Plus, you can eat in peace and you.can.not.put.a.price.on.peace~ 

Grave's Grocery is as unique and full of personality as it's owner (and, no, she did not pay me or coerce me in any way to write this post!)  So, if you could use a rest from life's journey, stop in to sit a spell and shoot the breeze...you might get a hankering for Pam's homemade grilled pimento & cheese sandwich, a big glass of sweet tea and of course, a smile and a prayer on the side~

  

                                                              A Wonderful Place

 

                                                                      

                                                                  Open Air Market

                                                            Gotta Love A Front Porch

 

                                                            Come Inside to Shop

                                                    The Community Bulletin Board

 

                                                          

 

                                                           Head Honcho, Pam Graves

                                                                    Her friend, Pat

                                                             

                                                         My mouth-watering lunch

Happy Customers 

 

Kid's Zone

The Art of Losing

The little dog, Dawson, mentioned in the previous post, was found dead today in our pond on the farm.  We think he died on May 27th, the day that Eric took me to the airport.  He returned home thinking that Dawson would come to the house as always, but he never showed up and Eric found him a few days later.

I started to feel attached to the little guy and it was apparent that he felt the same about me.  He followed me everywhere...maybe because I gave him treats and occasionally got down on the floor to play.  I was the main person who kept his food and water bowls full and let him outside to potty.

Life consists of losses, big and small.  A dog annoys you, then you begin to actually care about the dog, adjusting to living together in the same house and BAM!, you lose the dog due to an unfortunate accident.

We lose husbands, fathers, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Some people lose children...my mind and heart cannot even go there.
These losses are the saddest, hardest, the most significant.  But other things we lose can rock our world in a different way.

Sometimes we lose a friendship, an opportunity, a job, a favorite book or someone's trust.  Other things we might lose: our resolve, our personal identity, our much-needed space or our reputation.

I've lost many insignificant things...umbrellas, keys, appointment cards, coupons, books, a shoe, jewelry, money, etc.  Most of these losses are easier to accept, although inconvenient and irritating.

Things that I sometimes fear I'm losing are my mind, my respect for certain people, my patience, my ability to show mercy, especially with the ridiculous, my free spirit, my desire to take risks, my voice and my childlike heart.

The aforementioned list may be the result of losing some of the "real" stuff of life, rendering me cynical, skeptical, angry, aloof, anxious, less vulnerable and more fearful.

The thing is...losing the significant and insignificant can make us softer, more resilient, aware, compassionate, forgiving, but only if we surrender to it.  If we just leave our hands open instead of clenching our fists trying to hold on to things, we might learn to accept loss, even lean into it.

This is what I've learned....losing conditions you, trains and prepares you to handle other losses because that is the reality of this earthly life.  But, there's another life, our real life for eternity, where we'll never have to lose another thing precious...be it person or pet or prized possession.

So...let your heart be calm and your trust be in the One who suffered the greatest loss. Ever.  

It's A Dog's Life

Okay...as much as I love being married to Eric, I am still adjusting to farm life and all that encompasses.  So, here's what stands out in my mind as most memorable so far.

One morning before work, I was informed by Eric's mom (she was staying with us for awhile) that Lucy, our huge outside dog, had left Eric a little surprise.  I inquired about it and she told me that the dog had found an intact, dead, frozen deer and had graciously laid it in front of my car door.  I turned on my heel and headed straight to the bedroom where I preceded to request a removal of this item (by Eric) so far away as not to see any evidence of said deer.  My sweet husband granted my request and off to work I went.

Seven hours later, I pulled up to the farmhouse, looked to the left as I was opening my car door and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but the big head and neck of said frozen, dead deer.

I walked inside, choosing the highroad, and went about the rest of my day.  The next morning, as I sat down in my car to leave for school, I looked to the left and in place of the deer head and neck was a thigh and leg.  What could I do?  I needed to be on time and I was not about to move that disgusting thing myself.  So...out of sight, out of mind!

In the days ahead, I would find a bone here, a bone there...you know, body parts, some of which I will not mention.  Much to my chagrin, I realized that Lucy was indeed feasting on the deer and getting fat with each bite.  I swore I would never touch that dog again and she and I would go our separate ways.

However, after a week or so had gone by, I walked into my bedroom after school and low and behold,  a deer hoof was right smack dab in the middle of my carpeted floor.  Black, sharp, disgusting...pretty as you please. Thank you, Dawson!! (our inside dog) Again, I turned on my heel and stayed in the other rooms the rest of the day.  When Eric came home, I asked him to remove that last evidence of carnage, but alas, it wasn't there.  I got busy with dinner, lesson plans, etc. and forgot about it.

That night, as I was calmly and quietly reading in bed (my nightly ritual), I hear Dawson gnawing on something.  (Yes, he sleeps under our bed.)  It suddenly occurred to me that he was going to town on that deer hoof.  But, weariness took over, off went the light and I settled in for a good night's sleep.

Somewhere around 5 a.m., I made my early morning trip to the water closet.  The path is a straight shot from my side of the bed and as I took my first few steps, my right foot landed on something hard.  In my groggy state, I wasn't able to process what had happened until I started back to bed.  To my dismay, I realized that I had stepped on the hoof.

Enough said...

Beginnings

Eric and I got married on a Monday night, December 17th, (my parent's anniversary).  We drove to Asheville, NC the next day and came back on Friday.  Eric kept forgetting to carry me over the threshold (what is that, anyway?) and then too much time passed.  Who cares?  I was home!  I love the way Luther Vandross sings A House Is Not A Home..."a chair is still a chair, even though there's no one sitting there. But, a chair is not a house and a house is not a home when there's no one there to hold you tighter and no one there that you can kiss goodnight."  Eric and I are at home with each other and that's what makes this house truly a home.  Beautiful ceremony, loving family and friends, the best wedding cake, a match made in Heaven...thank you, God~