Friday, April 24, 2009

Tommy’s Turn

Thanksgiving 016 My “little” brother Tommy, pictured here with granddaughter Morgan, turns 60 today. Welcome to the club. LBeau and I are at my sister Margie and her husband Alan’s condo in Destin celebrating with Tommy and his wife Susie (the famous Susie that Laurie writes about).

I used to tell everyone that Tommy was three years younger than I because he was three years behind me in school. The truth is that he is only about 2 1/2 years younger, and at our age that six months makes a huge difference.

Crestwood gangKBeau, Kathy McGuire, Tommy, David Law

Our early years were spent on Crestwood Road in Camden, Arkansas. The McGuires lived next door and the Laws lived across the street. We spent most of our time outside building pine straw houses, playing cowboys and Indians or playing Kick the Can under the street lights. Notice the clothesline complete with clothespins in the photograph above.

When I was in sixth grade and Tommy was in third, we moved to our new house on the Chidester Highway. We were sandwiched in between our grandparents, Grancy and Poosie, and Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe. Uncle Bob and Aunt Chris live on the other side of Grancy and Poosie. There we could ride horses every afternoon after school or fish in the pond behind the house.

Tommy had his own room while Margie and I had to share. Tommy, however, had to sleep with the deer head hanging over his bed, which I’m sure didn’t bother him at all. He had a BB gun at a young age and got his love of deer hunting from Daddy. Every Thanksgiving he makes sure my boys get a chance to hunt.

Thanksgiving 2003 015Tommy helps Brent skin an 8-point, Thanksgiving 2003

In honor of Tommy’s birthday I made Grancy’s Devil’s Food Cake. This was the birthday cake we always had when we were kids. Here’s the recipe from A Pinch of Salt, published by the Camden Junior Auxiliary in 1971. Susie suggested that I link to Foodie Friday. This will be my first time to participate. Be sure to visit Gollum for more delicious recipes.

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14 comments:

Soosie said...

Thanks, Kathy, for posting such a great tribute to your bro and my husband,,I swear that looks like a Dan'l Boone rifle in his hand with his party duds on..one thing Kathy didn't mention was that Tommy was a kindergarten dropout..he chose playing cars in the dirt to organized socialization. I can hardly wait to eat Grancy's choc cake today-my very favorite too!Susie,at the beach with the sisters and the bro

susan said...

Kathy, that is the cutest picture ever! It looks like Spanky and Our Gang! Hope the weather is great in Destin. I am going to try to keep the tone of envy out of my comment :) Great recipe and Happy birthday to your brother!

Unknown said...

My favorite cake, topped with some ice cream...yummmy!

Beth at Aunties said...

I agree what a great picture! It does look like Spanky and the gang.
My own Mr B turned 60 two days before your brother! Happy Birthday to your handsome bro! Ek he doesn't want me to say how OLD he is to anyone...silly man it sure beats the alternative!

The cake recipe looks yummy-but then again ~it is chocolate!

Joyce said...

Happy Birthday to you loving Brother. Sounds like you kids had so much fun growing up and riding horses and deer heads handing over the bed etc. I do remember kick the can and cloths lines and wash flapping in the breeze. Where did the time go? Wish I could go back some days to an easier life. The cake sounds wonderful thanks to Mrs. R.N. Reynolds. I hope you have a fun time celebrating and hope to see you around FF again. Thanks for sharing.
Joyce

Chandy said...

Love that recipe! Great pictures for your memory books!

Domestic Designer said...

Happy Birthday to your brother! The cake sounds wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Welcome to Florida and Happy Birthday to your brother. I see that you are a few degrees cooler up there in Destin, but it is shaping up to be a great weekend. It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood growing up so close. I was always afraid of those deer and moose heads hanging in my Granny's house in Eastern Canada. What a wonderful handwritten cake recipe; enjoy every morsel.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Happy Birthday to your brother. This is such a loving tribute to him. I so enjoyed the pictures. They remind me of my own childhood. Great post and the recipe looks wonderful. I will definitely try it. BTW I have something for you on my blog. Please stop by and pick it up. Hugs, Marty

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMMY! I guess all of those women are taking good care of you in Florida! I KNOW they are having a great time at your b'day party. Hope you are too. laurie

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Happy Birthday to Tommy, How wonderful to share such a great time with him. He sounds like a great Brother and friend and that is the best kind of brother.
Molly

momma said...

i hope your brother had a happy birthday! i would always say i was 3 years older than my brother, but he would point out that i was just 2 yrs 11 months and 3 days older!! sounds like you all are great friends!

Robin said...

Such great memories!! Thank you for sharing with us!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Robin :o)

The Walkie Talkie said...

Oh, the fact that y'all are all celebrating together as siblings gives me hope for Ben, Whitlee and Annie Grace. One day they will like each other!

SO glad you posted those recipes. Family Heirlooms!

Enjoy the beach!