Charlotte's Eats and Sweets

This summer's Southern Living issues have been full of useful information for people who love a good dessert. On the cover of one issue, was a picture of a fabulous Pecan Peach Cobbler that I had to make. It was a lot of work, but oh, so tasty.

In another issue (or possibly the same one?), they had a multi-page article on the "Best Pies in the South". Featured for the best coconut pie was Charlotte's Eats and Sweets in Keo. Now, there are a few things in this world of which I consider myself to be a connoisseur. One of those happens to be coconut cream pie. My late Granny made a great coconut pie. I remember one time when my uncle Kelly and I sat down with 1/2 a pie and 2 forks and finished it off directly from the pan. It was that good!

If the best coconut pie in the South was just 40 miles from my house, then I had to try it. (Yes, we drove nearly 80 miles round trip for pie!) They are only open for lunch Tuesday-Saturday, so today was our chance to give it a try. Keo is a tiny farming community east of LR, and Charlotte's is a true hole-in-the-wall. This little sign is all that would catch your attention:

Inside, it looked more like an old pharmacy or antique store than a diner/bakery. But as we were seated in the back, there were some delicious smells wafting through the air.

We ate lunch first. They had a better-than-average sandwich selection, and good sweet tea according to Jeff. Nathan and Ashley had a cheeseburger and a grilled cheese, respectively. The kids meals were served with chips, animal crackers, and "pickle pops" - baby dill pickles with popsicle sticks in them. Nathan renamed them "pickle-sicles".

After we ordered our sandwiches, the waitress asked if it was our first time to eat there. When we told her that it was, she was quick to inform us about the most important menu - the dessert board. I asked if we needed to order dessert right away, because I had read that they sometimes run out of pies. She said that they were surprisingly slow today, so it should be safe to wait. Apparently, they've had an explosion of business following the SL article.

I, of course, ordered a slice of the coconut pie to share with Ashley. Finally, someone else in my house likes coconut! Jeff and Nathan shared a slice of caramel pie. They thought their choice was a little too sweet/rich. Ours however was heavenly! Perfect crust, delicious filling, and even tasty meringue. (I'm not even a huge meringue-lover.) I have to say that it was the best coconut pie I've ever eaten. (Sorry, Granny!) I will definitely be making a trip back to Keo.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Brotherly love

I cant figure out how to flip this but it is too funny not to share.


The kids were playing outside trying to use tape and cardboard to make an actual boat (that's a whole other story) I was listening to them but not really paying attention to what they were up to and when i looked up this is what i saw. Brandon wanted to leave her like that until Josh got home but sense he was not due home for five hours we settled for a picture.

"There's 104 days of summer vacation...

...and school comes along just to end it."

If you didn't catch that reference, then you must not have watched as much "Phineas and Ferb" as we have this summer. And by we, I mean the whole family. We all love that show! Where else are kids going to learn words like "aglet" and "doppelganger"?

Anyway, today was the first day in our new school. Ashley started Pre-K and Nate's in 2nd grade. Jeff and I both took them this morning, and the drop-off went really well. No tears were shed! I psyched myself out by thinking, "It's just Pre-K, it's just Pre-K." Some of mom-friends with actual Kindergartners were not faring so well. Believe me, I know how hard it is! (Click here to flashback to Nate's first day.)

They don't have to wear uniforms this semester (but that's likely to change). Nathan just wanted to wear his new school T-shirt, so Ashley did, too.

Walking in together

One more picture before we went inside

The new school is HUGE, but so nice, clean, and fully-equipped with modern technology. There are smart boards and computers in every room, a science lab, impressive art and music rooms, and a gym with a rock climbing wall. We know lots of parents already from church and our old school, and a group of about 25 moms got together this morning for brunch and to pray for our kids and the new school.

They've already told us that there will be LOTS of fundraisers to start the new PTA. So, family, friends, and co-workers consider yourselves forewarned!

Nate looking through the telescope outside the science lab

Ashley with her teacher


Nate with his teacher

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Added just for Amanda: A visual on the aglet (see comments)

Look out, Heaven. Here comes Cookie!

Sadly, we lost Jeff's grandmother, Georgia Cook "Cookie" Barnes today. She was air lifted yesterday morning to St. Vincent with a suspected pulmonary embolism and multiple complications followed. When it was determined that nothing else could be done for her, they took her off the ventilator. True to her nature, Cookie stayed with us for hours after it was removed determined to do things her own way.



Though her death was unexpected, her health had been declining in the last couple of years. A stroke earlier this year had limited her driving abilities. And, oh, how she loved to drive! She made frequent cross-country trips and spent lots of her time "taking those old ladies to the doctor". She spent her life doing things for other people, but if you heard the way she talked about them, you would never know what a kind heart she had deep inside.



When Jeff and I started dating, he made the connection that his grandparents and mine were old craft show friends. He told his grandma about me, and she went on and on about what wonderful people the Fischers were followed by, "You know they're staunch Catholic". After Jeff assured her that I was a Baptist of like faith and order, I guess she gave her blessing. I wasn't sure what to expect when I met Cookie. I had heard some stories, but much to everyone's surprise she greeted me with a big hug.



One of my personal "Cookie Stories" happened a few years ago at her 80th birthday party. Nathan was little and didn't want to have anything to do with the distant relatives and other guests at the party. Cookie loudly proclaimed, "I don't know where he gets that from. Jeff never acted like that." Hmm, wonder where he gets it from? Maybe the other half of his gene pool?



I grew to love Cookie over the years. I guess it's because we were both kindred spirits not to mention fierce card players. When I reach my eighties, you all better look out! I might have a little bit of Cookie Barnes in me.

Happy Anniversary, Amanda & Josh!

Ten years ago today, Amanda and Josh got married. That made the 3rd Fischer wedding in just 2 years and 11 days. It was a hot, Saturday in the South, but fortunately the outdoor wedding was early in the morning. That was most fortunate for Missy who was just days away from having Grace (who will turn 10 on the 18th!) and my friend Amanda Yowell who brought her newborn baby Anna to the wedding. It's hard to believe that I have friends with 10-year-olds! Of course, it's also hard to believe that our boys will be 8 this fall and that my baby sister will be 30. How time flies!

Quick Visit with the Johnsons

Renee, Aaron, and the kids made a quick trip through Arkansas after spending last week in Oklahoma. Though we only spent a couple of days together, it was a really good visit. Mom, Renee, & I went to Hot Springs on Monday, and that night, Jeff, Aaron, Renee and I went to dinner and a movie. It was like old times...laughing, talking, laughing some more.

It was nice to have some grown-up time without the kids, but we wanted to let the kids spend some time together, too. On Tuesday night, we went to dinner at Chick-Fil-A, and then the Johnsons spent the night at our house. The kids did their usual things: costumes, dance party, movies, etc., while I beat the other grown-ups mercilessly at a game of Nertz (sp?).

Renee and Aaron were supposed to leave this morning to go back to PA, but they decided on the spur of the moment to head back last night so that the kids would sleep most of the trip. They made it home safely (but exhausted!) this afternoon.

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Dirty Kids and Dump Trucks

Dear Mom and Dad:

While you were in Wisconsin this week, we came out to water your plants. Well, let's be honest here. I should say "Dad's" plants. We all know that Mom has a brown thumb! ; )

As soon as we arrived, the kids discovered the huge dirt piles for your landscaping project. I assume since you left the Tonka trucks right beside them that playing in the dirt was not only allowed but encouraged.

It was about 105 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, so it didn't take long for them to start asking for the water hose. In no time, my kids went from reasonably clean to utterly nasty! I did make them change into old swimsuits first.

There's a reason why they are usually only allowed to do this kind of stuff when Fisch is around: the clean up! It took me half an hour to hose off the kids, the dog, the porch, and the dog again! They even got mud all over the trampoline!

So, Mom and Dad, I do apologize for the muddy mess, but you did kind of asked for it!

Love, Racheal