{Giveaway is Closed} The winner is Susan from NC!
I’ve met so many fascinating, talented and creative women since I started blogging all those years ago. One of them is Leslie Anne Tarabella, who is as Southern as I am and lives in Fairhope, AL. I’m trying to remember when we first met and it’s been in the last 4 years, I think when she came here to Georgia for a visit and we got together with another mutual friend (who Leslie Anne introduced me to via email, if I remember right). She was longtime friends with Rachel, who I’ve shared here on the blog with her beautiful Victorian house off the Marietta Square, the Trammell House. I’ve shared the Trammell House two times, so check this one out too. Leslie Anne lived in Marietta for many years with her husband and then they moved closer to home in Fairhope, AL.
{the 3 of us 4 years ago touring another local house: me, Leslie Anne, and Rachel, 2 of the most charming Southern girls I know!}
So, back to when I first met Leslie Anne online. She used to use a fake name when she left comments on my blog, because she was nervous about putting her real name out there. She started her blog, Fairhope Supply Co. several years ago and when she would visit from the blog and leave a comment, I think she called herself Hope. I thought that was hilarious once I found out her name wasn’t really Hope. It wasn’t until years later that she finally started using her real name and I got to know her as Leslie Anne. She’s so cute and witty and a great writer. I’ve met up with her in Marietta and Fairhope and always have fun with her. It’s no wonder that her book is entertaining and funny too, since Leslie Anne is such a happy positive Southern gal!
Leslie Anne has been writing her blog for over 5 years and she’s also a contributor to AL.com and her blog is filled with her Southern stories about home, family, church, and more. Leslie Anne says she’s an accidental author after her blog was discovered and she was asked to be a newspaper writer. The book is a compilation of her most popular blog posts and columns, with witty stories and fun anecdotes.
On a side note, I have to ask her though if she makes up these Southern names woven through her stories. Southerners are known for their 2 name handles, but some of hers are a little suspect. There’s Great Aunt Vina-Mae, cousin John-Jack, Rosie Belle, Billy Mac, and many more. I have to get to the bottom of these Southern styled names! Are they for real? I honestly don’t know anyone with names like this. But Leslie Anne has a fun way with words and you’ll enjoy her short stories.
Leslie Anne and her rescue dog, Doug. Go read the Doug story, it’s cute! She has another dog, a beagle named Lois Lane.
There’s a whole section on Our Charming Southern Ways….oh how fun these are! I relate so much to these Southern ways, since my family is Southern to the bone too. From Are Southern Women Prettier to Humidity Threatens our Crowning Glory, these humorous Southern anecdotes will have you chuckling along and nodding your head, especially if you’re Southern too.
The other book sections involve our Precious Southern Families, Our Darling Southern Manners, Our Delicious Southern Food, and our Divine Southern Churches. And by the way,Leslie Anne married a guy from New Jersey and calls him her Yankee husband.
If you’re Southern (or even if you’re not, you’ll enjoy Leslie Anne’s cute and witty book. She does have a Fannie Flagg style of writing, with humor and hilarity. It’s definitely a feel good book that will have you smiling as you’re being entertained with words. She reminds me a bit of the old newspaper columns here in Atlanta and two of my growing up favorites, Lewis Grizzard and Celestine Sibley. I loved reading their columns in the newspaper when I was young and looked forward to their columns every single week. They are both gone now.
From Leslie Anne’s blog….Although my viewpoint is from my life in a small Southern town, I’ve learned that people everywhere love their families, dogs, good food, God and a good story . . . not necessarily in that order, of course.
If you’re in Birmingham, Leslie Anne will be signing books at Barnes and Noble at The Summit at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feburary 17th, so mark your calendars!
Here’s a little snippet from the book about being Southern:
Some folks call themselves Southern just because of where they were born or where the moving van dropped them off. Others know they are Southern because the South lives within them. You can see the sparkle in their eyes when they see a friend walking they way or someone mentions a fish fry with hushpuppies and grits or suggests, “Let’s go out and sit on the porch.” The answer is never “I’m watching my cholesterol,” or “It’s too hot.”
Rachel and Leslie Anne’s friend, Beth, hosted a really nice book signing party in Marietta before Christmas and Mark and I went. It was so fun to meet Judy (above right) who is a faithful reader of Leslie Anne’s and my blog. Hi, Judy, great to see you that night. She was so sweet!
Rachel set out a beautiful spread of food in her dining room and it was such a fun night. You can see I was noshing on the goodies in this pic.
Back to the book….you’ll also hear a few Bless Your Hearts along the way. I also see on Leslie Anne’s blog that she’s not a fan of sweet tea either…just like me. I get the strangest looks when I tell people I don’t drink sweet tea. Like how in the world could I possibly be a real Southern girl?! For some reason, when I was growing up in a house that had sweet tea in the fridge at all times, I just never acquired a taste for it and never did drink it. I see some of you mentioned peach tea and oh my yes, I love some peach tea. Totally different flavor!
Today I’ve got an extra copy to give away of Leslie Anne’s book, so please leave a comment below and I’ll choose a random winner in a week to send the book to.
Tell me where you are from and if you are Southern or Northern (or Midwestern or from the West Coast) and what do you all think about the South? If you’re Southern, I know you’re proud to be a Southerner, but it’s fun to hear what the rest of the country thinks! And while you’re answering, do you drink sweet tea?
Leave a comment to be eligible to win the book!
If you’d like to order the book, you can find it here:
I am originally from Birmingham, AL (ROLL TIDE!). I moved to North Carolina when I was 10 and now live right north of Charlotte, NC. So I am Southern born and bred and it runs through my veins. My family was not big sweet tea drinkers so I’ve never been a regular consumer of sweet tea, however, I do love it. Man, I miss me some Milo’s sweet tea! I make sure to swing by the Milo’s whenever I’m back in Birmingham. I really cannot wait to read this book. I know I’ll be laughing and nodding along!
Hey there Carrie,
I actually mention Milos tea in my story because everyone loves it so much. I just announced on my blog today that I’ll be signing books in Birmingham on February 17th. If you are in the area, stop in!
I am a New York girl born and raised but have always loved the south. I have visited every southern state and love them all! My plan is to retire in Ocean Springs Mississippi. I have never tried sweet tea I don’t even like tea in general. Love your blog Rhoda.
Good morning! Born and bred in South Carolina and I was a majorette! My husband’s family still calls him by two names…John David. Sweet tea, wine of the South! LOve it and drink it every single day. I am definitely reading this book!
Hi Rhoda,
I am a Southern at heart as I went to school at UVA and fell in love with the Southern hospitality. No sweet tea for me but bring on the grits, monograms etc. Love to get a copy of this book and relive my southern memories.
Hi Rhoda! I’m born and raised in Savannah, Ga. You bet I’m southern! And yes ma’am, I drink sweet tea.
I grew up in a Southern farmhouse, from Southern South Dakota that is. I grew up in the country listening to crickets chirping at dusk, cows bellering in the moonlight and roosters announcing the break of dawn. Running by the farm , a ribbon of asphalt known as busy Highway 46 took us to town in our ‘53 Chevy. Many trips up that road paved the way to family and friends houses where every Sunday after church and dinner we went visiting. Dinner was at noon and supper was always in the evening after the cows were milked. There was no hot running water or indoor plumbing gracing our 5 room farmhouse but the living room oil stove glowed brightly in the heart of it. The stove served as a place to warm your hands and toes after playing outside in the snow. There were always wet socks and mittens toasting on the top grates. Mom dried winter laundry laundry and perched a warm tea kettle on top of that stove. I remember my dad’s frozen striped bib overalls often stood by the stove eerily frozen, thawing but drying after being hung outside to “freeze dry.” On more than one occasion, a straw-filled bushel basket housed newborn baby pigs needing a little extra warmth to survive. Today’s farmhouse decor just doesn’t hold a candle to what I remember from my Southern South Dakota Home.
Southern born & bred! I lived in Loxley, AL briefly which is near Fairhope. Love yours and Leslie Anne’s blogs & would enjoy her book, I’m sure!
Hi Sheila,
Everybody in Loxley is talking about how much they miss you! Thanks so much for reading!
I am from Pa.but visited southern states and enjoyed them. I like sweet tea!
We had sweet tea at every meal. I grew up in OK, but also lived in Mississippi. I consider myself southern and would eat okra, black-eyed peas and cornbread at every meal.
This book sounds perfect for me:)
I live in NC and always have- I love everything about the south, but mostly the people. I grew up eating pintos and cornbread, livermush with rice and eggs for breakfast, definitely sweet tea at every meal! I grew up next door to my grandparents and have such sweet memories! I wish all children could have that experience! Love your blog!
Kim J
Hey Kim,
You know Jan Karon (one of my favorite authors) writes about Livermush. I got to meet her and asked her about it and was totally amazed I had never heard of it.
I am from Texas (and I know it is up for debate as to whether or not TX is really “the South”!) but my husband of 28 yrs. is true Southerner. His family has lived all over the Deep South and my in-laws still live in Mississippi. Right after we married, we moved to South Carolina where we lived for 10 years. So, I feel like I am truly an indoctrinated southerner now!
I absolutely love southern culture and love reading about the south. Lewis Grizzard is a family favorite!
I love Leslie Anne and have read her blog since it was Fairhope Supply. I can’t wait to read her book!
I am not that crazy about plain ol sweet tea. I really prefer a peach flavored tea!
Peach tea? Why Sally, I think you are a Georgia Belle deep down inside. Very clever, and I’ll have to try it. Thanks for reading!
Now peach tea, I can get behind!! I do love that version of Southern sweet tea!
Oh, Rhoda, how I love reading these comments from fellow Southern gals. Such memories they share! I was born in South Carolina and lived there until my marriage at age 23 sent me north…to North Carolina…where we’ve lived for 40 years now. I married a Yankee, too…we met at Clemson! I think he loves the South as much as I do, though. The cover of Leslie’s book brings back a wonderful memory of watching the Christmas parade in my small S.C. town every year. The majorettes leading the local high school band were my favorite part! Oh, how I wanted to be a majorette like them when I was old enough. Santa even brought me a majorette outfit complete with white boots with snowball tassels! Oh, and yes, I love sweet tea!
Hi Susan,
So glad you like the cover of the book. The young ladies are the 1961 Decatur (Alabama) High School majorettes. I actually had someone contact me and let me know the girl second from the right is her mother. They surprised her with a book for Christmas and she struck a pose and sent me a photo. So cute! Thanks for entering the contest!
What an ADORABLE story (from Susan and your reply)!!!! I was a majorette in the Russellville (AL) High School band beginning in 1969 for 9 years! (Yep…. town was so small, if you wanted to learn how to play an instrument and march with the best.. you could join at any age!) Can’t WAIT to get my hands on this book 🙂 Except for a 2-year stint in Indianapolis /Washington D.C., I’ve nested and am invested in the true South!
I was born and raised in Florida as were my parents. Their parents were born and raised in Georgia, so I am definitely a proud Southern girl! Love my grits and sweet tea, though I’ve had to start drinking it without the sugar for health reasons. And I love our hot, humid summers! Wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂
Still Southern even after living in the midatlantic for over 30 years! Yes I too dislike sweet tea even as a child! My sweet Grandmother’s name was Ida Lee. She disliked the Ida part and preferred to be call Lee.
I started reading your blog about 2 years ago mainly for the references to your wonderful loving family.
You had one post where you showed pictures of the food your Mom cooked straight from her garden.
It brought tears to my eyes because it so reminded me of the dinners my sweet grandmother cooked for us.
I just wanted to be at that meal with your family so I could taste that food one more time!
Hi Debora,
I too love Rhoda’s family food because it is so similar to the meals we shared at my grandparents house in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. I miss that food and recently learned to cook my own collard greens! Thanks for commenting!
From Indiana but southern at heart. I have the pearls to prove it and I love sweet tea. Love all things southern.
Would love to read Leslie Ann’s book! I grew up in a small town in north Louisiana. Our grandparents played an important part of our life as well as the church. We live in Franklin, TN and are surrounded by Civil War history. I do not drink sweet tea but love grits and black-eyed peas!
I would love to win this book as I am an avid reader. I am born and raised in East Texas in a little community named Coke. Does it get more southern?😎 And I do not drink tea, sweet or other wise.
Why, Rhoda Rae, you know everything I write is true (ish)! I actually do know a lot of people with double names like Vina Mae and Harlan Ray. Many are actually relatives from up in the country in the North Florida/South Alabama area. I also have family in North AL, and would you believe they all think their area is very different than the others? Even their accents are different!
No sweet tea? Well, that’s another thing we have in common! By adding my name in the same breath as Celestine Sibley and Lewis Grizzard is a high compliment and I deeply appreciate it.
You are a sweetie-pie for telling people about my book. I’ve been stunned than it is selling all over America and not just in the south, proving people love a good story no matter where they are.
Love you girl!
I was born in NJ and lived in Eastern Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. I went to college in Delaware and lived in Atlanta for 2 years. I’m a East coast girl who loves the South, New England (and the West Coast to visit), but if I ever move it will be South!
I currently live in Maryland, but my family is moving South within the next year. I need to get a jump start on all of my Southern ways.
I was born in St. mary’s City/Lexington Park. Where do you live?