Pretty is

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It Has Been EIGHT Years

March 10, 2025, marks eight years since I began this blog.

Which means today is my
BLOGIVERSARY!

When I started, I had no idea what I was doing—I just knew that if the bloggers I admired could do it, so could I. My original intention was to ease into fashion blogging because that’s what I loved. So, I registered with WordPress and started brainstorming a name.

The title “Pretty Is” came from a quote my Mama often repeated:

“Pretty is as pretty does.”

She had heard it from her own mother, and it stuck with me. I registered Prettyis.me because “pretty is dot com” and “pretty is dot net” were already taken—plus, I thought it had a nice ring to it!

My first post was short and sweet, and ironically, had nothing to do with fashion. It was a Friday, and I had taken the day off to spend time with my GlamBaby, Lydia, who was 20 months old at the time. You can see that post [here].

As time passed, I realized that fashion blogging wasn’t as easy as it seemed. While I love reading fashion blogs, my reality includes working a full-time office job and commuting to another city each day. Life moves fast, and rather than focusing solely on fashion, I found myself writing more about my daily life and the people who make it special—and that’s okay.

Today is also special for another reason.

On March 10, 1925, in Buffalo, New York, Bettelou Ellen McCarty was born.

She later met and fell in love with George S. Duckworth, they married and she became Bette Duckworth—my Mema, aka Mema Duck.

I spent a lot of time at Mema Duck’s house through the years.  I was close to all of my grandparents, but especially the Memas.

She left us on January 14, 2010, but her sweet face is one I look forward to seeing again someday.

Here’s to eight years of blogging and to the people who inspire the stories I share.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Dear Daddy

 

Today would have been your 79th birthday.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you.

A lot has happened in the 24 years you’ve been gone.

Sydney was born shortly after you left.  You didn’t get to meet her, but I know you would love her.  She looks so much like Gina.

Now you have seven grandchildren.

They have all graduated from high-school.  Some have gone on to graduate from college…with the highest distinction.

You would be very proud.

~

Recently Kyle added some wedding excitement to the family when he married Christella.

This photo shows how loving and protective Kyle has been.

All your grandsons have been very protective of Mama.

Clay has been true to his word.  He takes good care of his Mema.  He has a manner about him that is remarkably familiar.  I always think of you when I see him.

Clay married Chynna; now they have a little boy and three little girls.

Richard had a hard time after you left; we spent many nights consoling him.  He had just turned 11.

You would be so proud of him today.

He is a preacher.  Richard married Emily… and now they have two little girls and a little boy.

Lydia is Richard’s oldest; she looks a lot like her mama.

And this one looks like her Glammy.

Can you believe I’m a Glammy???

Richard Ezekiel is namesake #2.  We call him Zeke.

Zeke and Glammy

 

You might find it hard to believe, but all your grandchildren remember you vividly;  And your great-grandchildren know you from the many photos they’ve seen.  They know you as “Granddaddy Richard”

You have 7 Great Grand-babies!

I know you would enjoy seeing photos of them too:

Lydia, Levi & Thea

Lydia & Rory

Adrian, Thea & Levi

Rory
Levi

They Are So Sweet

Mama is crazy about them…

you would be too!

Rory, Eden, Lydia, Thea, Adrian Levi
Levi & Zeke
Eden, Rory, Adrian, Zeke, Thea, Lydia & Levi
Eden, Thea, Lydia, Levi, Adrian & Rory

~

 

Although our family has continued to grow, many loved ones have left us since you’ve been gone.

Just this week we were heartbroken to learn that your cousin, Robbie has passed away.  The news made me think of the stories you told about when you were kids; you and Robbie were both so adventurous.

I came across this 1970’s photo of the two of you. Robbie told me many times how much he loved and missed you.

My simple mind likes to imagine that you were standing nearby to welcome him when he came your way.  Maybe that isn’t exactly how things work, but since no one really knows specific details, I’ll think what I want.

I hope you’ll be waiting to welcome me someday.

~

You would be HAPPY to know that Mama is doing well. 

And we are all fine.

You are missed more than you know.

We know that we will see you again Daddy, and thank you for showing us The Way.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites have been Few and Far between (don’t you just love alliteration?).  With that, I’m here to share a few recent faves…

Favorite # ONE

CAKES

I’ve been busy making cakes in 2025.

Mama’s Birthday Cake,

Mississippi Mud Cake requested by my girls,

German Chocolate cake for LB’s birthday,

Rory’s Chocolate Stitch cake.

Speaking of Rory…

Favorite # TWO

Rory!

Happy Birthday to my favorite little 7 year old!

You’ve come a long way baby!

~

Favorite # THREE

SHOES

Monday was a delightful day off work, so LB and I went shopping for a pair of shoes I had been eyeing.  Sadly, they were not available at my local Target, but happily, I found these and liked them even more

~

Favorite # FOUR

EGGS

When you can’t find organic eggs, they quickly become a favorite!  This carton from Vital Farms was purchased from a store that we never visit… Publix in Avondale.  $11.  SMH.

~

Favorite # FIVE

Only 20 more workdays until shutdown!

Along with a photo of my team celebrating Christmas, I mentioned in this post that “it may be the last one”.  I didn’t elaborate, but I wasn’t talking about Christmas and I wasn’t talking about “this post” being the last one.  I’ll now share that we were called into a MS TEAMS meeting on December 13th to hear the announcement that our company has chosen to close our office.  We have all been impacted by a surplus.  Once the date of separation takes place, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to share about what we as a group have endured 😇

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Happy Birthday Gina!

My sister Gina is four years younger than me.  I was a surprise to my Mama and Daddy, but Gina was planned.  I consider her to be their gift to me.

Her name is Georgina Grace.  She is one of my favorite people.Given that, I dedicated this post to her a few years ago.

~

At the beginning of the month, my brother-in-law, Stuart posted this in our family group text:

“Today is August 1st and it’s the first day of the birth month of my beautiful Gina! I plan on celebrating her everyday this month! I love you Gina!”

Stuart shared some of his August celebration in honor of Gina with our whole family.

He started with this then and now photo:

~

On August 2nd Stuart shared this fun photo with the caption:

“Today’s memory of Gina!  I love her so!”

~

The following week Stuart shared this tidbit:

In Greek mythology, Georgina is associated with the goddess of agriculture and fertility, Demeter.  Georgina was on of Demeter’s many epithets, and it was used to refer to her as the goddess of the earth.  In this context, Georgina is often associated with growth, abundance, and prosperity.

~

Then he shared this interesting information about Gina’s birthstone…

 

Later he would share more about the peridot/chrysolite from Revelation 21:19-20:

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

~

Stuart also shared the “how do I love thee” [sonnet 43] written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning…

It is obvious that he loves her dearly.

I do too.

Happy Birthday Gina!

🎂

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Thirsty Thursday

  Since I’ve been working from home, there hasn’t been much to blog about.

Having made it through last Thursday, I now have something to blog about.

The day began when the clock sounded at 7 AM: I put on clothes and crawled back in bed to wait for my 8 AM log in time.  I was too tired to do anything to my hair or put on my makeup.  What did it matter anyway, I’m working from home.

LB and I had been invited to go out for dinner and a show the night before. 

 Apparently we had stayed up too late.

~

Every weekday at 10 AM I take the first of 2 of my required breaks.  As I headed to break just after 10 AM, my phone rang.  It was Mama, so I answered, but she did not reply.  I said “Mama?” and then she responded, “Kim I need a diet coke, do you have a diet coke?”

Boy she must be THIRSTY

And that is how it started.

Being that I do not support Coke, I said, “I have a diet Pepsi and a Zevia diet cola”.  As we continued to speak I could tell something was very wrong.  I told her I would be right there, grabbed the 2 cans from the refrigerator, told LB I was going to Mama’s and headed next door.

I called my sister Gina while I was walking to Mama’s house and told her that something was wrong and I was walking next door to find out.  She stayed on the phone with me and I put her on speaker. When I opened the door to go in I set off the alarm, of course.  I tried to get to the closet to talk to the Safe Touch lady, who had been trying to get someone to respond, but she had disconnected and called Gina.

At this point I’m already a nervous wreck

Walking into Mama’s room I saw that she was in bed, on Daddy’s side, wrapped in a blanket, and shivering.  She was shivering and shaking so forcefully that at first I thought she was having a seizure or a stroke.  But she wanted that diet Pepsi and she wanted it ‘NOW’.  So I helped her have a drink and tried to figure out what was happening to her.

Mama thought she might have an infection and fever which cause the shivering/shaking, but there was also extreme pain.  Since she felt it would be best to call the rescue, Gina dialed while I gathered some of her things.  The 911 operator called and told me rescue was on the way.

I don’t do well in a crisis.  And it didn’t help that I had on NO makeup and my hair was balled up on top of my head.  I remember at one point my aunt Sharon coming in to see what was wrong, but the details are fuzzy.  The rescue fellas arrived quickly and took Mama to the ambulance.

I grabbed Mama’s things, ran to my house to grab my things, and LB and I followed the ambulance to the Baptist ER.  My friend and co-worker Kathy took care of everything for me at work and let the company know what was going on until I was able to follow up.  I’m grateful for her.

When the hospital staff finally let me in to be with Mama, I understood that this was even more serious than I had previously thought.  The shivering/shaking had stopped, but she was clearly in pain, enough to make her cry.  So I cried too.

Then Gina called.  “Are you okay” she said.  “Yes”, I replied.  “No you aren’t, I’ll be right there.”  What would I do without her?

A couple of things are embedded in my memory forever…

First I thought we were going to lose her

and second, she was so thirsty.  She wanted something to drink, but they would not let her have anything.  If we were going to lose her it would be tragic if she was thirsty too.  I did what I could for her, but I won’t go into detail for fear of coming across as a complete idiot.

It was A LONG DAY!

After the CT scan it was determined that she had diverticulitis.  About 40 minutes later we were informed that she had sepsis and they would need to keep her to administer “aggressive” antibiotics.  Apparently that’s a thing.

I’m not sure exactly what time it was when they took her to her room, but she would spend the next three days there.  And we would be there too.

She was still in bad shape on Friday, but sometime on Saturday afternoon she seemed to perk up.  And she told me to go home lol.

And on Sunday, the doctor released Mama to go home.

We were relieved!

She was so happy!

And still a bit thirsty!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday

…is an excuse to muse over days gone by and the enjoy resulting good feelings.

I enjoy seeing sentimental posts/pictures from “friends” on social media. It’s always fun to see a high school classmate post their senior picture and I love it when my kids post a collage with pictures of themselves as babies.

Throwback Thursday is all about sharing posts and pictures that bring back memories. Memories of our childhood, old friends, past relationships, past pop culture trends, anything that evokes nostalgia.
I enjoy sharing such posts as well.

Enjoy my photos from decades past and the happy thoughts that follow

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Mother’s Day Weekend

Would you believe my Mama didn’t want to have a family gathering on Mother’s Day?  She must have been anticipating being exhausted from her Saturday outing.

My kids still wanted to get together like we always do, so they asked me what we should do to celebrate the day.  I thought about having them to my house right away because is always nice to get to feed them. lol

Steph wanted there to be a theme.  LB and I thought a Kentucky Derby theme would be fun.Right away I started working on dessert.

Lemon Chess Pie

Brownie Bourbon Bites

On Saturday morning, after Mama left for her lunch date with the sisters, I walked over to her front yard and trimmed her rose bushes for her.  Our party menu included Southern dishes inspired by the Kentucky Derby official menu.  When the kids got to my house at 6, we ate dinner: Brisket, Mac & Cheese (thanks girls!), succotash, rolls, and all kinds of good stuff.

After dinner everyone picked a hat…

And at 6:57 we were dressed in our fancy hats and poised to watch The Run for the Roses.

Although we didn’t place bets, we all picked a horse to root for and Richard’s horse won.  If you haven’t seen the last leg of the race, featuring Rich Strike coming from behind to win, watch this

It was very exciting!

And a wonderful time was had by all!

~

On Sunday

Amanda came by and took me to get a pedicure.  We chatted the whole time and I completely forgot to take a picture!  You don’t want to see our toes anyway.

Sunday evening LB took me to see Troubadours Tribute: the music of Carole King & James Taylor @ Alhambra Theater & Dining.And once again, a wonderful time was had by all.

~

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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