Threads of August and Summer’s End: Woven with Memories of Joy, Hope, and Growth
August has been hot, hot, hot with the weather and metaphorically with the goings on here in the country and around the world. Even still my meditations have centered around strength, resiliency, and hope that better days will come.
Joyful moments always spring from my garden. Okra must be picked about every other day. I’m grateful for the small harvest and gorgeous flowers. Gourd flowers have blossomed and I keep a watchful eye out for budding gourds. The critter appears to have left the garden and sweet potato vines are thriving. Can’t wait to harvest them. And just when I thought the Rose of Sharon were spent, one popped up.
My heart was filled with lots of joy when my 3 J’s visited. It was Jon’s first visit to Mississippi. Jeremy has been here a few times. While Jakari had visited once before, it was his first time to this homeplace. We talked, laughed, ate, enjoyed the outside and did a little sightseeing.
On August 17, the Cookbook Club Sunday Dinner was held in-person and virtually. There was lively conversation around the book, “Bibb Country: Unearthing My Family Secrets of Land, Legacy and Lettuce" by Lonnae O'Neal, a senior writer for ESPN/Andscape. The menu included: Ruth’s tuna macaroni salad; spicey chicken wings from Dodge’s gas station; a tossed green salad; okra and the last sweet pepper from the garden roasted with mushrooms, marinated with oil and vinegar, and sliced red onion was our modified okra salad recipe from Guadeloupe (Iron Pots & Wooden Spoons by Jessica B. Harris, p. 91); and a pear cobbler with pears from Thishya’s garden. Grateful for the gathering with Dianna, Cassandra, Thishya, and Benita.
Last but not least and the beginning of new growth for me as a fiber artist, was the first Home Place Quilting Bee Community Project workshop held on August 25. Joyfully, I was funded by the Mississippi Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts to hold a series of 8 free workshops once a month through May 2026 and create twin-size quilts for a local shelter. Five wonderful ladies joined me and it was truly a beautiful beginning for the project.
As the sun sets on this month of August, always remember to do what’s best to nurture you, family, friends and your community. Peace, wisdom, gratitude be with us all.
