ABOUT

Hey, there!!  I am so tickled you are here!  Are you curious about the name?  I would love to tell you the story.  Here we go!  

 

Grits are a staple in the south.  Made from stone-ground corn and slow cooked to perfection, they can be finished with a big heap of butter and sugar or cheese, and heavy cream.  I like them cheesy and spicy with a bit of garlic.  Don’t let this mislead you, I am not gonna be talking about grits all day long.  😀   Let’s look at a different meaning of “grit” and how it came to be a part of the name. 

 

To have “grit'' means you have a great deal of passion and perseverance toward your goals despite being confronted with obstacles and distractions.  A person who works really hard to follow through on commitments and meet their goals has true grit.  It is not a word you hear very often in that regard.  When I was throwing around names for this blog, my long-time friend, Kim (a.k.a Sister Golden Hair - that’s a story for another day) and I talked about my goals for this blog and overall goals for the next several years.  As we reminisced and planned, she suggested using “grit” because when she thinks of someone who has “grit”, she thinks of me.  That might have been a bit of an emotional moment. ❤  Just sayin’. 

 

Just like everyone else, I have had some obstacles, hurdles, losses and disappointments in life.  Determination - I have never had a shortage of it.  When I decide what I truly want - I do whatever it takes to make it happen.  I am even more determined when someone I love wants or needs something.  It’s just how I am.  Like most women, I ignore my own health and needs from time to time to care for those I love.  

 

I suffered for many years with digestive issues, never even considering that there could be something seriously wrong with me - just discounting it all to nerves, etc.  🤔  A few years ago, it was so bad I could barely function and had to seek professional help.  Kim got me into a specialist, and I immediately was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.  Which is kinda rare in my age group, but let me assure you, it can happen.  It took 2 years to find the right gastroenterologist for me but with Kim’s help, I did.  She and Doc Adams have got me pretty much on the right track - feeling better than I have in a great many years and living a pretty normal life.  😀  It is a daily battle and I know how dealing with autoimmune can affect all aspects of your life.  But grit will get me through.  👊

 

“Dash” came from the fact that I want to share all these different aspects of my life with you.  (This was another great suggestion from Kim when we were brainstorming on names.  It is a true blessing to have people in your life that know you so well and “get” what you are trying to do.)  In cooking terms, a dash is a small amount of a substance you are adding to a certain dish.  I want to share a dash of a lot of different recipes and food.  👩‍🍳  A dash of DIY’s and decor.  A dash of dollar store (and other) deals.  A dash of all my southern traditions and customs.  A dash of inspiring entertaining ideas.  A dash of our adventures – motorcycle and otherwise.  I want to share laughter and encouragement with all of you and watch our community grow as we get to know each other and cheer each other on!  I love helping people see that they can do whatever they truly want to do.  It may not be easy or quick, most things in life aren’t, but YOU can do it!  I am living proof.  

 

That brings us to why “Southern” is a part of the name…well that’s kinda a no-brainer.  😅 Growing up the daughter of a farm equipment dealer and a creative entrepreneur on a lovely farm in East Tennessee surrounded by beautiful lakes and the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains and living a southern lifestyle with so many wonderful “Framily'' members in my life definitely helped to mold me into the woman I am today. Now, please don’t sit back and imagine a beautiful colonial home with a perfectly landscaped lawn and tea parties and casual brunches being served – like a beautiful cover story in one of my all time favorite magazines – Southern Living.  It was much more like Green Acres.  🤣  We live(d) on a true working farm.  The yard was minimal as the land was used for growing hay and baccer (tobacco).  We had cows all the time.  A few pigs, one sheep and even a goat.  Whew – goats are a lot of work.  We had a 4-room house – the only indoor plumbing was the kitchen sink.  We had a wringer washer and an outhouse. To say the least, I was country when country wasn’t cool.  🤠  Thanks, Barbara Mandrell.  Over the years, Daddy and Mama upgraded our home with a LOT of hard work and perseverance.  My Home Sweet Home is built on the exact site where that little 4 room shack was.  I wouldn’t change a thing about my southern farm upbringing.  It was full of love, laughter and support and definitely helped me to develop grit and make me appreciate life and the people that I love.  

 

So, there you have it, Friend!  That’s how I decided on A Dash of Southern Grit.  Thanks so much for being here.