If ya'll have a hankerin' ta know
a lil' sumthin' more 'bout me
this page purty much describes
who I am & my views on life.

I ain't never been nuthin' fancy.

I've always just been
a simple country girl

I clean up real good
and that's 'bout all
I can say about that.

I believe in
good old fashioned
country values,
love of friends & family,
and lookin' at the world
as a pretty durn fine place
to pass through.

My Grandma & Grandpa
came from the hills of Tennessee,
nestled between the Appalachian
and Great Smoky Mountains.

As a child, I was fortunate to visit
the old homesteads
where my Grandparent's were raised.

It was very much like
the words of the song
playing on this page.

As a young girl,
Grandma didn't go to the store
when she needed a slab of ham -
she was sent out to the smoke house.

Sunday's fried chicken
was caught in the yard
the Saturday before,
while freshly baked pies
were cooling on the windowsill.

Butter & cream were kept cool in the spring house.

The aroma of home baked biscuits
and cast iron skillets full of cornbread
and simmering sausage gravy
filled Grandma's house.

I dedicate this page
in memory of
my wonderful Grandparents,
John & Lula Pridemore,
who taught me to appreciate
the simple things in life.

I love you Grandma & Grandpa.

*THINGS MY GRANDPARENTS USE TO SAY*

Well, shut my mouth!"

"Gooder n' grits"

"Do go on."

"Chugged full."

"Don't bite off more than you can chew."

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

"Too big for yer britches."

"That dog don't hunt"

"That takes the cake."

"Slow as molasses in Janaury."

"Sitting pretty."

"Sight for sore eyes."

"I do declare."

"Holler like a stuck pig."

"High on the hog."

"No axe to grind."

"Got your feathers ruffled."

"Go whole hog."

"Don't buy a pig in a poke".

"Got the short end of the stick."

"Fly off the handle."

"Don't let the tail wag the dog."

"Wild as a peach orchard hog."

"So buck toothed he could eat
corn-on-the-cob through a key hole."

"Slicker than a chased greased hog."

"Full as a tick."

"Fat as a tub o lard."

"Just as happy as if he had good sense."

"So dull he couldn't cut hot butter with a knife."

"Tougher than a one eared alley cat."

"Faster than greased lightning."

Better than snuff, ain't half as dusty.

"Limber as a dishrag."

"Nervous as a long-tailed cat
in a room full o' rocking chairs."

"So ugly she'd run a dog off a meat wagon."

"Took off like Moody's goose."

"As scarce as hen's teeth."

"Like two peas in a pod"

"Purty as a speckled pup."

"Done gone and got yankee rich."

"Sorry as a two dollar watch."

"So poor he'd have to borrow money to buy water fer plantin'."

"Plumb tuckered out."

"Older than the mountains and got twice as many skunks."

*TEN SOUTHERN ENDEARMENTS*
~ Commonly used to address yer
mate, waitress, and dog ~
1. Sugar Pie
2. Honey Bunch
3. Sweetie Pie
4. Punkin'
5. Sugar Plum
6. Honey Bun
7. Dumplin'
8. Darlin'
9. Sweet Pea
10. Sweet 'Tater

*CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOUTHERN LADY*
~ Otherwise known as things
that were passed down to me
from my southern grandmother.

Because of my fine upbringin'
you could describe me as....
*strong willed
*soft & gentle
*purty as a picture
*charmin'
*mannerly
*romantic
*hard workin'
*non complainin'
*delicate as mornin' dew
*lady like
*stubborn
*cranky as a rooster
*happy as a pig in mud
*God fearin'
*flag wavin'
*mind speakin'
*neighbor helpin'
*tender & lovin'
*perseverin'
*feisty as a pole cat
*smart as a hound dog
*and just plain spoilt

*I am vain in the best sense of the word.

*I am able to spit 15 feet & still maintain my dignity.

*I am able to throw a royal hissy fit.

*I am able to aim objects at males with alarming accuracy.

*I am able to manage men without appearing to do so.

I can make soap, churn butter,
sew a quilt, shuck peas,
pick berries, pickle and preserve,
tap a maple tree, flip flapjacks,
pluck chickens, bake biscuits,
cure meat, plant maters', spin wool,
weave a basket, catch a pig, milk a goat,
crochet a doily, throw a hoe down,
tan a hide....[all kinds, just ask my kids],
and still dance 'til the cows come home.

I love the fiddle, the banjo, the dulcimer,
the juice harp and all mountain music.

I owe it all to my Grandparents.

*OTHER INTERESTIN' FACTS ABOUT ME*

I know enough not to go snipe hunting twice.

I always roll long sleeves up past my elbows.

I know the difference between
"pert' near" and "a right far piece"

I consider my customers as "kin folk".

I know how many fish make up a mess.

I know the meaning of "gimme sugar".

I know the true meaning of "sorry".

I know penny candy shouldn't cost a nickel.

I think that the Grand Old Opry
really "is" Grand.

Minnie Pearl is my kind of people.

I know how good a cold grape Nehi tastes at a country store.

I know there ain't nobody's biscuits like Grandma's biscuits!

I know a good dog is worth his weight in gold.

I know real gravy don't come from the store.

I never start a fight ~
never back down from one neither.

At one point, I learnt what happens
when you swallow tobacco juice.

I can shoot 30 bottles
off of a split rail fence,
in less than 30 seconds,
bouncin' a baby on my hip,
stirring a kettle of apple butter.

I know that a belt serves a greater purpose
than just holding Daddy's pants up.

I know that rocking chairs and porch swings
are guaranteed stress relievers.

I know white lightin' is guaranteed ta curl your hair.

I don't do "hurry up" ~ Reckon I never will.

The only place I know that sells sushi
is Uncle Roy's bait shop.

I always end an insult with "Well, bless your heart".

I know that all soft drinks
regardless of color or flavor
are always called COKES!

I believe in southern hospitality.....
it don't matter where ya live.

I never lend out my tools, pick-up, dogs or shotgun.

I enjoy people who are "just down home folks".

I use the phrases
"fixin' to," "might could," or "usetacould"
at least once every ten minutes.

I believe there is a "sweet by & by"
and that the "roll will be called up yonder".

I come back from the dump
with more than I took.

I can entertain myself
for more than an hour
with a flyswatter.

I think bacon grease is a staple.

I think cookies should come from an oven...not a package.

I put flea shampoo, bakin' powder,
and long johns on my Christmas list.

I know how many bales of straw
will fit into my car - with me,
a fiddle, a juice harp,
a big bowl of tater' salad,
and seven full grown dogs.

If you want to get on my worst side ~
just try callin' me a yankee.

My friends tell me
that my personality reminds them
of Scarlet O'Hara...
but just between you & me...
I'd be the first one to say...
"Frankly my dear, I don't give a durn."

I say............
"The heck with that wretched Rhett Butler."

If you need to know more about me ~
just send me an email.

I'll be relaxin' in my bare feet,
drinkin' sweet tea from a mason jar,
rockin' on the back porch,
throwin' sticks for my dogs ta fetch.

Some durn smartie pants
just sent me an email
and said to tell ya....
"If you don't stop reading
these here wurds and git back to work,
your baws is gonna far you!."

Ya'll come back soon
and sit a spell!

Be back right soon....
Now where'd them fool dogs git ta now???

Thanks for visit'n...Bless your heart!

GRANDMA'S FEATHER BED
Written by Jim Connor
Sung by John Denver

When I was a little bitty boy
just up off of the floor
We used to go down to grandma's house
every month end or so
We'd have chicken pie, country ham,
homemade butter on the bread
But the best darn thing about grandma's house
was the great big feather bed

CHORUS
It was nine feet high and six feet wide
and soft as a downy chick
It was made from the feathers of fourty 'leven geese
took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick
It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs
and a piggy we stole from the shed
We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun
on grandma's feather bed.

After supper we'd sit around the fire,
the old folks would spit and chew
Pa would talk about the farm and the war
and granny would sing a ballad or two.
I'd sit and listen and watch the fire
till the cobwebs filled my head
Next thing I'd know I'd wake up in the morning
in the middle of the old feather bed.

CHORUS
It was nine feet high and six feet wide
and soft as a downy chick
It was made from the feathers of fourty 'leven geese
took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick
It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs
and a piggy we stole from the shed
We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun
on grandma's feather bed.

Well, I love my ma, I love my pa,
I love granny and grandpa too
I've been fishing with my uncles, wrestled with my cousins,
I even kissed Aunt Lou (oo!)
But if I ever had to make a choice
I guess it ought to be said
I'd trade them all plus the gal down the road
for that great big feather bed
Yes I'd trade them all plus the gal down the road
(mumble: "well maybe I'd better reconsider
about the gal down the road")

CHORUS
It was nine feet high and six feet wide
and soft as a downy chick
It was made from the feathers of fourty 'leven geese
took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick
It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs
and a piggy we stole from the shed
We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun
on grandma's feather bed.

Be sure to visit our other pages.
Our puppies are as cute as a bug in a rug!

A TOUR OF MY CLUTTERED KITCHEN
OUR SUMMER FUN PAGE

TRAINING YOUR PUPPY

RETURN TO MATEER LABRADORS HOME PAGE
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