Girlfriend, It's Just a Storm

 

I had the opportunity of attending a church play that had a friend and her daughter as part of the cast. The title Girlfriend, It's Just a Storm was performed at The Star once known as New Rising Star Baptist Church. 

The play concerns four friends who meet for lunch just to catch up after a number of years being apart. Each friend is experiencing  "a storm" in her life. None share their storm out loud in detail to  the others. Later, we see each one of the characters in her own vignette revealing what her life struggle is.

 Will  Jane's *  breast cancer surgery and reconstruction be successful?  Will her fiancé still want to marry her after such a body and life altering experience?

pictured  l.to.r. : Jane, Jane's, fiancé and  mother.

Between scene changes we were treated with humor by, 

                                                      Two Ladies and a Pocketbook

                                                                            ***

As a self-employed business woman, Diane is facing bankruptcy due to the pandemic and a backlog in shipment of merchandise.  This predicament finds her plagued by creditors, utilities in arrears and  repossession of her car.

 Since the death of his brother Shirley's  husband  no longer attends church service  or spends time with her, 

                                          Two Ladies and a Pocketbook

***

 Mary is a hospital worker whose mother has dementia.  The in-home caregiver's own mother has fallen and she'll be leaving immediately to take care of her. This leaves Mary in a dilemma. Who can she get to care for her mother on such short notice? 

In each scene, unseen by the characters, an angel comes to them with news of hope and trust in God telling them they're only going through a storm in life.

The Outcome

Jane*  is cancer free, her reconstruction  a success and her fiancé  still loves her

Diane receives  a letter stating that a rich relative has died leaving her $650,000.

Mary receives a call from the Home Care Service agency stating that they'll be sending out a Home Health Aide the next day along with improved meds for her mother.

Shirley's husband is visited by the angel. He prays and decides to reunite himself with the church and his wife.

When Shirley returns because she forgot her purse, her husband decides to attend church services with her.

                                                         ***

When the women reunite each one tells the storms they have experienced and how God made a way and saw them through.

 The cast of,  Girlfriend, It's Just a Storm

***

Playwright, Mona Dilworth, author of Girlfriend, It's Just a Storm, accepting flowers

* Jane- I was unable to remember the character's name so I named her Jane.

That's it ⛪⛪⛪

Digging Sweet Potatoes

 I have to admit that when I saw this Facebook post,

the first thing that came to mind  was 1965 and the extremely popular tune  by Jr. Walker and the All Stars singing "Shotgun." * 

There's a portion in the lyrics that  says, 

" We gonna dig potatoes. We gonna pick tomatoes..."

After arriving it was determined that I wouldn't be digging any potatoes and that most had already been done.

I did come  prepared. 

I can't tell you the friendliness, warmth and welcoming I felt from the people associated with this church. It was if they'd always known me and I was one of their members.  

The weather was beautiful and cooperative. Here's a 360 of the surrounding area.( < :30 length)

What a tranquil site/ sight. Pews and tables located underneath this towering tree. I'm told that services are held here whenever weather permits. In case of inclement weather services are held at the Urban Ministry building located on the block diagonally east to this site. (<:30 length)

   DIGGING UP THE POTATOES  (click the link for video 1:23 length )

OTHER  GARDEN ASPECTS

I was gifted this bag of sweet potatoes by the good people at Community Church Without Walls.

DISCLAIMER:   To my knowledge, no shotguns, red dresses👗 or high heels 👠were involved with harvesting these sweet potatoes.  Although, I can still do the Jerk and the Twine.😊

S'Mores were to be roasted over the campfire later.

*Shotgun was the "Electric Slide" song of the time. You could be sure you'd have a crowded dance floor when Shotgun was played. Years later after reading the lyrics ,they seem to have been made up as the musicians were playing.   Most songs tell a story. This one did, but with some unusual characteristics.😧 Still, it was #1 on the Billboard chart for weeks.

     

Street Fair, Tailgating

In addition to coffee ⛾ I enjoy street fairs.
The Woodlawn Market takes place about four times a year. It has become a popular place because of the revitalization that is and has taken place in the area. Rehabbing of desolate buildings into updated homes or into new uses such as businesses, clinics, child care and growth initiatives.

Booths at the Woodlawn Street Market

On market days vendor tents abound.  Food, produce stand, artisan clothing, art, jewelry, human interest groups. There may even be a few freestyle dancers.

I always accept the business cards of the various booths I visit. Here are just a few. Many of the artists dislike having their work photographed and so I never do unless I ask first. 

Below are some of the items I did buy

I was told that the green tops of radishes are edible. I found a recipe online, cooking them the same way as turnip greens are cooked. They have a little more bite than turnips greens. I remedied that by adding a little sugar.  They were good but unpleasantly aromatic. I also took some of the bottoms and baked them in the oven the same way I've done other root vegetables in the past. Make sure you wash  everything well because they were pretty gritty.    

Radishes before cleaning

Radishes before baking

Cooked radishes and radish green

The bowl cozy comes in handy when removing hot foods from the microwave .

Next day tailgating

A friend invited me to her church for their annual tailgating event. Church service is first held inside. Afterwards congregants flood the church grounds where tents, food and activities abound.

There were car  and motorcycle exhibits .

Children enjoyed the whirly car rides

Train rides around the property were enjoyed. There were other 

attractions also. Inside there was even a Cake Walk.

Line dancers (I don't remember the name of the group.)😞

This will be my first attempt at trying to upload a video on Windows 10😐 I've got a feeling it's not going to show. 

That's it***