January 14, 2012 I miss mama

treasured. Mamanier's house smelled like Vick's salve, Olde English furniture polish, Pine oil, and a forever fresh pot of Louisianne coffee. Those aromas were often dwarfed by the heavenly smell of her hot biscuits, a pone of corn bread and the best tea cakes ever. Jan at WKNG also makes a tea cake that reminds me of Mamanier's. She used White Lilly flour and Perkerson's corn meal that was ground in Austell. I remember her simple suppers of pinto beans, cracklin corn bread crumbled up in Miss Georgia Diaries buttermilk were filling especially when topped off by her peach or blackberry cobbler. Nobody has ever never been able to match her ability to fry a chicken. Her fried chicken was absolutely the best I've ever had. I think she bought Crisco in the 55 gallon drum. Fried chicken was usually Sunday after church fare. My mother also knew her way around the kitchen. She was in the restaurant business when I was in about the 7th grade as she ran the Southern Cafe. She was an early riser getting up at 4:30 to open up for her breakfast crowd by 5:30 a.m. She'd work all day and finally close up the cafe around 8 or 9 p.m. She worked 7 days a week. Her work ethic was strong and she taught me that hard work never hurt anyone. My mother left me 23 years ago just before her 65th birthday. I miss her everyday. As Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant said, "call your mama, 'cause I sure wish I could call mine." I got a very nice email from Amanda Haralson of North Little Rock, Karli Patterson of Oklahoma City, and Rachel Walters of Dover, Arkansas still raving over the great time they had at the Possum Drop. Rachel grew up in a small town and she has a deep-seeded love of Georgia said the Possum Drop was a great fit for a New Year's celebration. "Thank you, Tallapoosa, for reminding us what Southern hospitality is all about. This New Year, we resolve to take a page from your book-to reach out to others and embrace the unexpected if somewhat zany time. Becuause when you keep your heart and mind open to new experiences, the world will always be your oyster." they wrote. It made me proud that my hometown was recognized by some college students from half-way across the United States chose our town to celebrate 2012. We're a couple of weeks into 2012 and seems that we have a lot to be thankful for. Tallapoosa has a place where you can get ground goat and other organically raised meats at the new Hillcrest Farms store. The kids and I went in there just before the end of the holidays and bought some honey and some fruit jars on wine stems. They told me they were made right here in Tallapoosa. They have all kinds of jellies, jams, and other wonderful high quality food items. I need to get up there and buy me some all natural soaps like the Buckhead swells have in their homes. Tallapoosa's coffee shop next door to Hillcrest Farms has as good a cup of coffee as you can buy at the big Seattle chain. I would love to see Tallapoosa get a bakery. Teresa Jackson makes the finest yeast bread as I've ever tasted. I think Teresa needs to open our town a bakery. Any of y'all remember Pat Patterson's bakery on Lyon Street back in the '60s. Tallapoosa also need a dry cleaner. I remember when we had Otis Smith's dry cleaners next door to Essie Mae's, Adam's dry cleaners, and Smith's dry cleaners both on Lyon Street. I can remember Betty Jo Bentley Newman's smiling face as I'd drop off cleaning for mother. Dear hearts I sure miss my mama today.