"never be ashamed of your tears"

 

Cowpens Calvary Baptist celebrates 60 years Oct 12 2025

 Cowpens Calvary Baptist Church was founded (planted) by my parents,  Rev. Gene and Martha Franklin in 1965.  My sister Deborah and  I  were  one of the founding members. This Oct 12th, will be the 60th anniversary Homecoming Day service.  

The church's 3rd pastor will be preaching, Pastor Jeff Jones.  The current location is at 451 Pleasant Valley Rd Spartanburg, SC 29307  (click to view map)

Good old southern sayings

 A most unusual "Southern Saying" is "Big ears in the cornfield"  

I have to admit , I had never heard this saying until after our children were born.  On one of our visits to my wife's family in Arkansas, we were talking about some issue (cannot remember that issue now) and Cindy's mom (Winnie Baggett) would remind us to be quiet because there were "big ears in the cornfield".

Meaning that our kids were around and be careful what you say (and what they hear)!   I have used this expression over and over since then.   

Musings from my life in South Carolina

After my first year of college, my Aunt Earline was able to help me get a job at the cotton mill in Chesnee, SC.  I worked three summers there, after my freshman, sophomore and junior years of college.  My first summer there was in the first room of the mill , putting cotton into the bins to start the process of producing yarn.  This is where I first heard the southern saying " I feel like I have been rode hard and put away wet!".  Our mechanic at the mill was called the "fixer" and he would drop by to visit with me and rest awhile.  Many days he would use this expression and I would smile or laugh - even though I had never heard that expression before and had no earthly idea what it meant. HaHaHa I just pretended I did and carried on...  Well , later that year  I was back at college in Chattanooga and was at my job at the Chattanooga Public Library.  I repeated this expresstion to the security guard and he just smiled and said , "do you know what that means?" I honestly admitted that I did not, so he explained the meaning, that it was bad for the horse's health if you rode the horse and then put the horse in the stable without wiping him down (all the sweat) first.  To read more about this phrase click here... 
 

Why we love watching "Leave It to Beaver"

 

Baggett Family get together July 27 in Sheridan AR

It was great to see many of Cindy's family is AR on July 27th.  We met for lunch in Sheridan AR at Wright's Ranch House restaurant - they recently purchased the Ice House Cafe and remodeled it.  The Ice House Cafe (fish restaurant)had been closed for many years so it is great to see a new place to eat.  Also they had plenty of room for all 34 of the family ( on the spur of the moment) and food was great and service was great!    

Down Memory Lane with Leave It To Beaver

  

Check out this digital magazine,  Leave It To Beaver from TV Guide.  Great memories of one of  my favorite childhood TV shows!