My Mother always taught me and my daughter, Veronica, honesty, courtesy, social graces, manners - all those Southern values we would need to become properly prepared women.  Imagine my horror (ok, surprise) when I discovered my Mom had taught my 6-7 year old daughter how to play poker and cheat at "Old Maids".  Looking back, obviously, Veronica spent too much (actually, lots of) time with her Grandmother!!!!!  And, when I would go to pick Veronica up, I was told to sit down and "zip it" (Mother's way of saying "be quiet" because she would never had said "shut up"- not proper lady-like)- they were not finished playing their cheating card game.  So, I'm going to turn one of Mother's favorite sayings back on her.  No one seems to know what the exact definition of it is, but, everyone knows one when they see one.  Mom, you definitely were a "Cat Bird".

Everyone knows that Ethel was not very tall (I mean really short!).  When I first met her she drove a full size sedan (Caprice or Mercury or something like that?).  Anyhow she coulld barely see over the dash and the seat was as far forward as it could be but she still had to slide down even more so her feet could reach the pedals.  On more than one occassion I put the "Yellow Pages" on the driver's seat when she couldn't see me.  I don't know if she was acting but every time she seemed surprised and would say a few choice words in a low voice and throw the book across the seat to the passenger side.
  

Every year Ethel would gather the family together for a meal of stuffed peppers and tomatoes when they came into season.  It was an annual holiday in her house.  They were good but nothing topped her fried chicken! 

Ethel had a dogwood tree in her front yard that she dearly loved.  However, for those of us who had to mow her front yard it was a real nuisance due to the low hanging branches.  She refused to let us trim the tree in any way.  Her house has since been sold and the tree is now gone.  I always threatened that when she passed that I was going to bury her under that tree.  Of course, I did not mean that literally but I think she would be amused that I bring it up again.