I’m sorry to tell you that Adamsvi
lle has lost a lovely lady. Kathy Royal went to be with the Lord on July 14.
I’ve known Kathy all my life. I couldn’t help but like her. She had a contagious laugh and smile. She loved her children dearly and was always willing to have my sister, Amy, and I visit her daughter, Kim.
Kim, Amy, and I were very close friends as kids and teenagers. I spent hours playing dress-up with Kim in her basement. Kathy saved a lot of her dresses from childhood, and Kim and I loved dressing up and pretending we were at tea parties. Sometimes Kathy would bake lemon bars while I was there. All I can say is, yum…Her lemon bars were the best.
Kathy loved swimming. Amy and I often swam with Kathy and Kim in their pool. She was equally gracious about letting Kim come swim at our house.
She was a fine Christian, too. She attended church regularly and raised her kids at Fallowfield United Methodist Church. After the 1985 EF-4 tornado blew our church off the map, she worked with two other ladies to compile recipes contributed by church members into a cookbook. The proceeds from the cookbook helped us rebuild our church. I still have a copy and use it often. Her recipe for lemon bars is in there. They’re still the perfect addition to tea parties.
But when I think of Kathy I also remember how helpful she was. Growing up during the days before cell phones, my siblings and I sometimes got into binds when we were away from home. Kim, Amy, and I often walked together. On Good Friday 1994 my sister decided to take a walk. That year Easter fell on April 3. Amy left for her walk in late afternoon. Remember: it gets dark around 7:15 p.m. in early April.
Amy walked from Rocky Glen Road all the way to Route 58, near Rodgers Auto Body. It’s about a five-mile walk. By the time she reached Rodgers it was dusk. Amy knew she’d never make it home before dark, and my parents weren’t home. She was in a real bind.
So, who do you think she called? That’s right: Kathy Royal. Kathy jumped into her car and picked Amy up. Crisis averted. Maybe it didn’t seem like a big deal to Kathy, but it surely saved Amy’s hide. That’s how Kathy was. She’d drop what she was doing to help you if she could.
Kathy battled several illnesses in her lifetime, but she never grew bitter. I know she’s with Jesus today and is in her perfect heavenly body. I’m so happy for her.
Please join me in praying for the Royal family.
In case I’ve made you hungry, I’ll share Kathy’s lemon bars recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 2 c. flour and ½ c. powdered sugar. Cut in 1 c. butter or margarine. Pat into a 13’x9”x2” pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until light brown.
Blend 4 eggs, 2 c. sugar, and 1/3 c. lemon juice in a blender until thick. Add ¼ c. flour and ½ tsp. baking powder. Blend again. Pour over the crust. Bake 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into squares when cool.
I’m telling you, these are the best lemon bars ever. I recommend serving these with tea.
Crawford County Fair season has begun at Fallowfield. We picked 100 pounds of blueberries on July 17. We’ll use these in blueberry and Summer Harvest pies. Summer Harvest is a blend of blueberries, cherries, and peaches.
We’ll have our first pre-fair pie make at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 24. We’ll also make and freeze pies at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 31, August 7, and August 14. As ever, you are welcome to join us at any pre-fair pie makes or at pie bakes and shifts at the fair booth. Let me know and I’ll sign you up. Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!
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