It's Break Time...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Hello,
 I am currently taking a break from writing my blog.  Hope you have a great day.  Make Every Day A Gayla!  :-)

Thanks for reading...



2014 Year in Review...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 2014 started off... COLD!  I was in full training mode to run the 10K portion of our Little Rock Marathon the upcoming March.  It was very difficult running in such cold temps, but critical if I was going to stay on track.  But, first...
 

February 2014

I adopted Camille from a poodle rescue organization...She is the sweetest girl!

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March 2014

The Little Rock Marathon 2014 ... Blair flew in to run the 10K with me. It was cold and raining - we ran in garbage bags except to cross the finish line and for photos.  But, in spite of the weather, it was a great day and a great event.

 

Collage of Blair's photos

Collage of my pics

 

May 2014
Camille and I ran our first official "Dog Jog" at MacArthur Park, LR 

 June - July - August 2014

The summer months were spent continuing my backyard gardening and getting new plantings in the ground for the pergola as well as watering. 

September 2014
Runway for a Cause!

Gearing up for Breast Cancer Awareness month - which is October.  I started early by participating

in Susan G Komen-Arkansas' Runway for a Cause event.  It's the annual luncheon with breast cancer survivors walking the runway in fashion outfitted by local retailers. 

 My favorite photo from the event.

 AY Magazine shoot...part of the Runway for a Cause.

KARK4 Live TV segement...also part of the Runway for a Cause.

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AFA
My new motto:  Strong is the new Skinny!

AFA - Arkansas Fitness and Athletics came into my life.  I met the owner, Jim, at a birthday party of a mutual friend.  I visited Jim's place - Arkansas Fitness and Athletics - this is not just any "gym" - his philosophy for fitness / working out for someone my age and fitness level were impressive.  I joined!   After working out at AFA 3 times a week, for about 4 to 6 weeks, my running improved dramatically.  My pace increased significantly and I definitely could feel and see a big difference in my overall strength.  Stronger muscles made a big improvement.  Hence, my new motto - Strong is the new Skinny!
 

October 2014 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and, of course, the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Little Rock.  I participated in the competitive run this year - had a great run!



 

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 Soaring Wings Half Marathon

October 25, 2014

Blair traveled here for a visit and, together, we ran the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in Conway as a relay team. 

October 26, 2014 - My Dad's 80th Birthday Party!

 My family with my parents. 

R to L: Randy, me, my Mother, my Father, and Blair.

 

November 2014 - Thanksgiving...

My parents joined Randy and me for Thanksgiving.  Blair wasn't able to fly in from NYC to join us.  This was my first official holiday without being with Blair.  However, she was able to fly in for Christmas.

 

Christmas at HOME!

Blair flew in for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The three of us had Christmas Eve brunch and my parents joined us Christmas Day.  We had our traditional Beef Wellington dinner.  I loved spending the two days with Blair at home.  It was a whirlwind of travel but worth every moment.  Blair was very sick so no photo ops with her and Camille wouldn't get in front of the tree!  Neither girl cooperated with me for great Christmas photos - but, I got lucky with a couple of Camille with me. 

 

Our first Christmas photo

The highlight of my year?  Yes, you know it!  Adopting Camille!  There's no shortage of photos of her, to say the least.  Here are a few of my favorites...

"The photo!" 

The one the rescue organization sent to me.  One look at her and I knew she was the one!

 

Two weeks later - Camille and Blair meet for the first time!

 

She is soooooooooooo beautiful, to me!

Camille's first Christmas!

I think we rescued each other! 


Farewell to 2014 and Hello 2015...



 



The Child in me at Christmas...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Everyone's a child at Christmas, right?    While getting out the Christmas decorations - stacks and stacks of plastic tubs neatly stacked in the garage - I wonder whether it's time to grow up about my Christmas decorating.

I mean, I began my Christmas collection some years ago.  I started decorating everywhere.  I like my house decorated for Christmas. I admit, with each added year, I don't necessarily like doing it - but I love it once it's done.   Kind of like my running - I don't always like doing it, but I love having done it. 

I have always enjoyed collecting special ornaments for the tree, for the table, and for the garlands.  I marvel at the splendor of my first European glass ornaments as well as the inexpensive cardboard reindeers from years past.  I admit I have amassed a large collection over the years.  My tree still adorns ornaments from my very first tree.  They might be in the back - you know, the spots where less fortunate ornaments often hang. They have a place in my heart.  I can't abandon them just because they aren't now as beautiful to me as I once thought. 

I always enjoy unwrapping my treasures. There is a real ceremony to it, unwrapping each one, unfolding the tissue paper or unpacking the cotton wadding that has cocooned the ornaments through the year. And, I remember so many special moments by looking at the ornaments, one by one, as I hang them on the Christmas tree. 

The garland above the sideboard in the dining room.

Back to the classic - red velvet ribbon!

Ribbons change sometimes but the ornaments remain.

Years ago, I began to focus on my collection of christopher radko ornaments as well as enhancing the garlands and tree with three or four times the strands of lights.  I expanded to decorating the dining table and chandelier lavishly. 

Back to growing up -  Is it time to discipline myself to a more restrained appraoch to my decorating.  Will the child in me at decorating for Christmas disappear?  I don't think so.  I love my aging collection of Christmas ornaments and decorations.  Enjoy being in my home, my holiday decorated home, soaking in the ready for Christmas spirit that ornaments and decorations and hospitality can genuinely create. 

I enjoy admiring my many years worth of decorations in the spirit of Christmas.  My house full of ornaments, garlands, trees, and lights to create my child like holiday spirit at Christmas.

 

The beautiful tree, twinkling and glittering, wearing its lovely burden of memory.  Every year the Christmas tree is the most beautiful tree ever, to me, anyway!   The memories and delights of my Christmas traditions, that I myself have created over the years, will remain. The magical garlands, lavish lights and ornaments remain. The music will still play and although I'll miss the three of us not sitting around the tree with tissue paper covering the floor, the Child in me at Christmas remains.


Tis the season,
Gayla

Reminiscing about my Momma Dee...

 

Thinking of my grandmother today - no particlar reason - just because - or perhaps because the holidays are approaching - it's getting close to Thanksgiving.  I ponder about my menu for this year's Thanksgiving and remembering past years.  Many thoughts of my grandmother run through my mind. 

This photo ornament of Momma Dee

hangs center front each year on my Christmas tree!

 

We called her Momma Dee.  Oh, how I'd love to eat one of her homemade rolls right now!!! Instead of retyping many of my thoughts - I'd like to share the eulogy I wrote about her when she passed away in 2009.

 

As I stood before her friends and family and spoke about her, I felt both pain and sorrow - yet, peace and love. 

 

Momma Dee

(Gayla’s notes – Momma Dee’s eulogy)

I was almost grown when I realized her name was Gladys Dee.

 

 

She was known as Momma Dee by almost everyone in our community – I never thought anything about it - the neighbors called her Momma Dee -- our friends from school called her Momma Dee -  people at church called her Momma Dee.  She was not their Mother.  She was not their grandmother but she was Momma Dee to them also.

 

Everywhere you turned you heard the name – Momma Dee.

 

 

What a compliment – I cannot think of a better compliment than to have almost everyone you know refer to you by this endearing name beginning with Momma -- Momma Dee.

 

 

Well, Momma Dee – as many of you know – was not my mother either.  She was my grandmother and it was indeed a pleasure to call her Momma Dee.  I knew she was special – not because everyone called her Momma Dee – but because of her laugh, giggle, smile, and kindness - but most of all her love.

 

 

I worked with her at the shoe store from a very early age.  Most of you would not believe how young I was when I would go with her to the shoe store and my job was to watch to make sure no one stole anything.  I was in the 3^rd grade and she taught me to count money back to the customers.  We didn’t have cash registers that told us how much cash to give back either – we had to count it back the old fashioned way.  I was too young to be paid – but I would usually get a free pair of shoes.

 

 

How could I not become a shoe horse – after all – my Momma Dee sold shoes.  She could just look at your foot and she would know what size shoe you wore.  She could also visit with you briefly and know the kind of shoe you would like. 

 

 

The admiration and friendships she acquired during her tenure as a shoe clerk were remarkable.  It seemed as though everyone walking down the street either stopped in to say hello or waved as they walked by the store window.   She was interested in everyone – whether it was that homeless family walking down the street with dirty and torn clothing or that well to do woman with expensive clothes who lived in a fancy house – Momma Dee offered her kindness all the same.

 

 

I worked with her at the shoe store all throughout my young life even after graduating from high school and attending college - I still worked with her on Saturdays and holidays.  By this time I was paid – but – I probably would have done if for a free pair of shoes.

 
 

At Christmas everyone in the family got a new pair of shoes.  She would have every person come by the shoe store and pick out their shoes for Christmas – she would wrap them in Christmas wrap – did not write anyone’s names on the packages – but she knew which shoe box belonged to whom.  I will admit some times she got it mixed up – not often – but I am sure most of us can recall opening someone else’s shoes at Christmas.

 

She taught me to wrap Christmas gifts – As I wrap Christmas packages today I see her standing at my shoulder showing me how to wrap those corners neat and crisp.  I did it just exactly as she told me.  I admit today – mine are not nearly as neat and crisp as hers – but I do try and most of all I think of her as I wrap them.

 

 

Momma Dee and I always worked Christmas Eve.  When we would get home all the family would be at her house waiting on us.  It would be dark outside – excitement in my heart – her face smiling because it was Christmas at her house and everyone was waiting for her – and her cornbread dressing and homemade pies.  I still feel the cold air on my face – tired from working at the shoe store – but renewed energy would fill my body when I stepped out of the vehicle and walked into her house.  The smell of her fresh cedar Christmas tree.  Aunts/uncles/cousins gathered in her tiny house – it was shoulder to shoulder people.

 

 

I was always impressed with her energy, her dedication, and loyalty, but what I was most impressed with was her spirit and laughter and joy she brought to me every single time I was with her.  Her smile – was infectious – her laughter - contagious – her giggle familiar.  My father used to say it was something to see if you ever got Gayla and Momma Dee to giggling.  It was even better to get Gayla, Vickie Sue, Mack and Momma Dee giggling.  Well, once it started it was hard to stop.

 

 

 

I recall what a wonderful time I had with her when it was just the two of us at the shoe store – talking and giggling.  What a wonderful Saturday for me to be with her all day – watching her do what she did best – make everyone feel good – make everyone feel important and I think she made most people who walked in the store feel her joy and laughter.

 

 

 

Well, you have to be pretty confident to claim to be the best – at anything – but around here we claim that Momma Dee made the best pies in the world.  Fried pies, cream pies, custard pies, fruit pies, cobbler pies, any kind of pie you can imagine she could make it and it would indeed be the best you ever tasted.  Her flaky crust – the perfect texture and the taste in your mouth – words cannot describe it.  If you never tasted Momma Dee’s pies – you missed out!  If you did taste her pies – then, you know  what I’m talking about.

 

 

Divinity candy was another specialty of hers.  Many could make fudge and peanut brittle – but not everyone could make divinity.  She could tell which day was best for divinity by the humidity in the air.

 

 

Home made ice cream is another memory which sticks vividly with me.  Us kids sitting on top of the old crank ice cream maker.  I can hear the noise from the cranking with the ice and ice cream salt.  Everyone loved her home made ice cream.  I liked the taste of it – but it gave me a headache.  She said I ate it too fast – but that was the only way I knew to eat it.  

 

 

Popcorn balls and caramel apples at Halloween.  The front door open for kids to freely come in for their popcorn ball.  They were not individually wrapped either – we didn’t think anything about it – it never entered our minds that someone might put something bad in our Halloween treats.  And those popcorn balls were definitely a treat for us kids. 

 
 

Many years ago – and a couple weeks before my birthday – she asked me what I wanted for my birthday.  I said “chicken and dumplings and homemade rolls”  Well, you know it – the morning of my birthday she calls me on the telephone and tells me to come get my chicken and dumpling and rolls.  I drove from Little Rock to Greenbrier to get them, too.  I still taste them as though I ate them yesterday.  To this day I can not order chicken and dumplings at a restaurant because they do not come close to tasting like Momma Dee’s.  Words cannot do justice to her rolls.  They were wonderful – that is all I can say about them – absolutely wonderful.  A lot of people can make rolls – but they didn’t taste like Momma Dee’s.

 
 

I think of the many times when I visited my parents she would call and tell me to come over – and when I would get there – she would have a care package for me to take home.  Yes, it was HOMEMADE ROLLS!   The best homemade rolls ever.  When I would get home my husband and I would sit down in the kitchen – get the butter – and eat almost the entire batch.

 

Through the years I have very proudly told many of my friends that – my grandmother played the church piano – my mother at the church organ – and my sister and I as very young kids sitting on the front row.  Looking back on it today – what a blessing. 

 

Many times as I stepped upon the front porch of her house - I could hear Momma Dee playing the piano.    Yes, it would be a church hymn.  Her door unlocked and I would open the front door, walk in and yell “Momma Dee.”  She would stop playing and greet me with her fabulous smile and kindness….leading me to the kitchen to see what she was going to feed me.  Guess what is usually was?  Rolls – Yes – those famous rolls.  If not rolls, then pie.  Many times both.  I ate them both too!

 

 

During the last years of her life – as I sat in a chair with her in her room – she would look at me and just smile from cheek to cheek.  She told me almost every time I visited how pretty I looked – how skinny I was – well, we knew better than that – but she told me anyway!  I refuse to remember her in the recent years as she reached the age of 92 plus – yes – that is remarkable – but you know – she was remarkable all throughout her life.

 

 

I’d like to read a message that I think Momma Dee would like a lot.

     

       You can shed tears that she is gone

       Or you can smile because she has lived

       You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back

       Or you can open your eyes and see all she has felt

 

       Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her

       Or you can be full of the love you shared

       You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

       Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

 

       You can remember her and only that she is gone

       Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on

       You can cry and close your mind

       Be empty and turn your back

       Or you can do what she would want:

              Smile, Open Your Eyes,

              Love and go on

 

Momma Dee was a remarkable woman with her years of devotion and love to her family and friends.  She treated her friends like family and her family like friends. 

One of my favorite songs talks about the good we get from other people and though I don’t recall the exact words – it describes how I feel when I think of how Momma Dee influenced me for the good –

I have heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason – bringing something we can learn – and we are led to those who help us most to grow –  but I know I’m who I am today – because I knew you – Momma Dee

So much of me is made of what I learned from you – Momma Dee

 

You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart – I love you - Momma Dee

###

By Gayla Tapley Sybert

February 2009



Soaring...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month-Get a Mammogram-Do Self Exams!
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Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite

and send it soaring... 

That's just how I felt Saturday (October 25, 2014)soaring down the streets of Conway running in the Soaring Wings Half Marathon. 

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Blair and me after our run!

The atmosphere of a well organized running event is just fantastic. On this particular morning - the air was clear. The morning a beautiful fall temp, but instead of flying a kite, it was my heart flying to the highest height. Okay, enough of the song. By the way, I love Mary Poppins! 

A soaring day...

Blair and I ran the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in Conway as a relay team.  This means I ran 6 miles and she finished the remaining 7.1 miles to complete the 13.1 miles of a half marathon.  You've heard the saying many times -  there's no "I" in team and a team we were indeed. 

Repeating myself can't be avoided when talking about the joy and pleasure it is for me to run with my adult daughter.  Words escape me to express what a gift it is to me, to have had the opportunities I have had, to run with her.  The Soaring Wings event added another page to my memory book/heart.

Soaring Collage

One interesting tidbit...after passing the timing chip to Blair at the exchange point, I meander over to the water table.  I hear this voice yell "G A Y L A" --- my eyes, naturally, glance up and there stands one of the girls I met at Runway for a Cause a few weeks ago.  Yes, indeed, I remembered her and I even knew her name.  Wendy and I were in the same photo shoot for AY magazine as well as walking the runway on event day.  Now, how cool is that!!!

 

My husband and I made our way to the finish line to wait for Blair.  While watching runners cross the finish line and listening to their names called out, and I hear "Brooke Mc Collum" - OMgosh, that's my uncle's daughter.  

Gayla and Brooke

I  knew Brooke was a dedicated runner and we've been at the same events several times, but never saw each other.  I just had to make my way over to her and say hello. 

You may recall, I often run very early - like 5 a.m. - with Linda and Janie.  They were running the half marathon while I was running the relay portion. 

Mandy, Janie, Linda and me at the starting line.

Since I ran the first leg of our relay, I was able to start at the starting line with these ladies, as well as watching them cross the finish line.  

Camille models my medal!

When we get home, this sweet poodle doodle is, as always, so proud to see us.  Of course, she wears my medal beautifully.

My heart was soaring,
Gayla

p.s.
I ponder whether to share my true thoughts about this event.  Frankly, the event is indeed a NICE event, but it's not as great as I had been led to believe. 

First, the website is difficult to obtain current information.  Secondly, the running lane is way too narrow; and lastly, the packet pickup the day before (Friday) was a waste of my time. A critical item was missing from relay packets.  The strap to the timing device didn't get put in the packets.  A required item - it's not like I had a choice.   I was told I'd have to get it at race day registration.  Well, why did I drive to Conway and get my packet the day before if I still have to go early the following morning. 

Oh, one more thing - the relay exchange point wasn't at all as we were told it would be.  It was poorly implemented.  We were told one thing would happen - yet, arriving at the exchange point - it didn't happen.   I will have to think long and hard before I do Soaring Wings again. 

G







 



"80"

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

My Dad...

My Dad and me - his birthday celebration a couple years ago.

My Dad's actual birthday is October 31st - Halloween!   He will be 80! It fascinates me that his initials are CAT and he was born on Halloween. How ironic!!!

My Dad riding his cute little tractor.

He is a country man and proud to be identified as such! You will most likely see him out and about in the community like this - in his overalls!

My Dad and Me (2013)

We decided to celebrate his 80th birthday with a little/big party instead of a small family kind of thing.

 

The party...

The invitation plus his picture inserted for this blog!

My Mother, Sister, and I spent the last several weeks coordinating and planning my Dad's 80th birthday celebration. 

My parents

We wanted the party to reflect his masculinity more so than the femininity of us three girls/women.  Therefore, we added a rustic masculine touch - well, as rustic and masculine as we three ladies can get, anyway - we are pretty feminine. You could even say we are quite girly girls!

It's an "8"

We used round tables for the food creating the numeral "8."  Round guest tables circled the food table creating the numeral "0."  I doubt anyone noticed that little detail - I didn't expect anyone would - that's ok - but, you have to admit, it's pretty creative, clever, and cute! 

Oak logs serve as pedestals for a variety of cakes.

Black tableclothes serve as a backdrop to the authenic oak wood logs as pedestals for the food/cake presentation. These logs were actually cut from an oak tree on my Dad's property. I like the contrast of the rustic and silver punch bowl. I call it a little bit country and little bit fancy - mix the two and it's JUST RIGHT!!! Pots of zinnia garden flowers serve as centerpieces.

A fruit tray always make the table pretty!

Mock Champagne Punch

Basket of mixed garden plants

Guest tables finish the decor with black table cloths and suede fabric scrunched around baskets of mixed garden plants --- ornamental cabbage, yellow and purple pansies, black ice, salvia and purple ornamental pepper plants.

My Dad and Me at the party.

My Dad with my sister, Vickie, at the party.

It was nice to see so many friends and family together to celebrate Charles, Daddy, and last, but not least, aka Grandad! 

Here are family photos taken at the party...

The four of us...L to R:  My Mother, Sister, Daddy, and Me.

My parents and my family

L to R:  my husband, Randy; me; Mother; Daddy; and my daughter, Blair

L to R:  Blair, Daddy, and Me

My sister, Vickie, and her family with our parents.

My parents with their grandson, Nick, and his family

L to R zigzag: Grandad, Mack, Shannon, Arden, and Nick

Nick is the only grandson.  He and his family live close to my parents.  Their only child, Arden, brings a lot of joy to my parents - she gets off the school bus at my parents house - where she waits for her parents to pick her up after they get off work.  

My parents with grandaughter, Natalie, and her family

L to R zigzag: Grandad, Mack, Wesley, Alex, Natalie, and Ethan

Natalie, and her family live in Dover.   It was wonderful seeing them.

Blair and Grandad -- The youngest grandaughter, my Blair!

Blair lives in NYC and just happened to here for the party!  Well, maybe, I did sway the date in favor of this particular weekend because my daughter was going to be in town...just maybe, I did!  Oh well, you don't blame me, do you?  You would have done the same thing, right?  

Grandad and the great grandchildren.

L to R: Alex, Grandad, Arden, and Ethan

Many close friends and relatives celebrated with us.  I regret not getting pictures of his brother and sister, etc.  But, in my defense, I was a tad busy during the party and only took photos of our immediate family before guests arrived. 

 

All in all - the day was great - about 100 friends and family members celebrated my Dad.  He definitely doesn't look 80 years old. 

 

Cheers,

Gayla