When I was a kid, the big event on Saturday mornings was Dad mixing up Bisquick pancakes. I suspect that he enjoyed doing this because we had a blender built into the counter. It was 1960s high-tech, like our intercom system and central vacuum. If he had had to mix them up with a hand-held electric mixer, I don't think he would have done it. But the blender was cool, and my sisters and I appreciated the novelty of having Dad cooking on something other than the charcoal grill. He poured the batter out on the griddle that occupied the middle of Mama's big electric range. Perfectly browned and delivered to our plates, we poured on the Alaga cane syrup. It was strong, dark, and yummy, and I loved studying the label, which featured hands clasping in front of a sheaf of wheat. These hands represent the joining in marriage of the company founder, Louis Whitfield, with his true love, Willie Vandiver. He was a Georgia boy, and she was an Alabama gal. Miz Willie coined the company name and designed the label to reflect their personal story. If you think that sounds awfully sweet for a commercial label, read the story here. The company is still in business in its Montgomery, AL, birthplace.
When I went to visit Nanny and Papa, my maternal grandparents, Nanny would cook the best-ever French toast for breakfast. Before she started, though, she always made sure and told me what a "good bedfeller" I had been the night before. This was an essential step to the whole French toast experience. Nanny cooked the French toast on a square alumnium skillet and would serve it, steaming hot, on a pale yellow plate that had a picture of wheat in the center. The slices of toothsome perfection glowed golden on that yellow plate and shimmered under a thick coating of refrigerated light Karo syrup. The contrast of the hot French toast with the cold syrup charmed my tongue, closed my eyes, and demanded that I hold that bite and SAVOR the goodness. Estblished in 1902, Karo became famous in the 1930s when the wife of a Karo corporate sales executive created the recipe for pecan pie.
Now my Grandma Somerset, she didn't hold with any fancy stuff, but she knew tricks that made a little girl's heart glad. She would bake a batch of biscuits and say, "Let's have some "Pokey Hole" biscuits, and gleefully, I would jab an index finger into a hot biscuit and fill the resulting well with a liquid column of Yellow Label syrup. Grandma's was the only place I ever had Yellow Label. That made it extra special. My dad always told me that during the Depression they ate salt cod with syrup for breakfast. I bet the syrup was Yellow Label. As good as it was, I doubt it could make him look forward to the salt cod. Yellow Label is a honey-based syrup that was bought by the Alaga company in 1975.
Now I cook a lot of waffles, pancakes, and biscuits for my children, but Nathaniel and Emma only like mild-tasting syrups. Not me. I still get hungry for something that can make my tastebuds stand up and salute. You know that's cane syrup. Luckily, during the many years that we lived in Louisiana, I discovered Steen's syrup. Mr. C.S. Steen established his syrup business in 1902 to salvage his frozen cane crop. Steen's still uses the same recipe today. It reminds me of the Alaga from long ago. I love to slice open day-old biscuits, spread them with soft butter, douse them with Steen's and warm them in the microwave until the butter is flowing like a river through the syrup. I also stir it into my coffee with some half 'n' half. Yum!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Papa, I Can Hear You
Although he died while I was still in high school, my maternal grandfather, whom we called Papa, has been with me every day for a fortnight.
Several times a day, he has been telling me, "Be pa-tickler".
It was his favorite thing to say to us "grandchillun" as we left his country store in 1960s and early 1970s Wicksburg, AL. Translated from the Wiregrass dialect of that region, it becomes "Be particular". It is a deceptively simple admonishment.
Soberly, I have pondered his advice and why he has chosen this time to advise me.
Papa, I think I understand.
"Be pa-tickler" is the opposite of "Don't discriminate". It tells me to be discerning about everything that I do; it is an antidote to relativism. When the radio, the TV, the movies, the internet all scream, "Anything goes," Papa whispers:
"Be pa-tickler."
Several times a day, he has been telling me, "Be pa-tickler".
It was his favorite thing to say to us "grandchillun" as we left his country store in 1960s and early 1970s Wicksburg, AL. Translated from the Wiregrass dialect of that region, it becomes "Be particular". It is a deceptively simple admonishment.
Soberly, I have pondered his advice and why he has chosen this time to advise me.
Papa, I think I understand.
"Be pa-tickler" is the opposite of "Don't discriminate". It tells me to be discerning about everything that I do; it is an antidote to relativism. When the radio, the TV, the movies, the internet all scream, "Anything goes," Papa whispers:
"Be pa-tickler."
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Big Ag + Big Oil + Big Government = Big Trouble
Kudos to Acres USA for publishing the most important article that I have read in a long time. It points out what I have been considering for the last few months--that we Americans are on the verge of a major paradigm shift in the way that we live. Most importantly it digs down to reveal the roots of the crises that we face.
Cool Clothes
You learn the most interesting things at the beauty shop. When I was getting my hair cut last week, the topic of ironing came up, and I joined in with my recent experience of using liquid starch in my front-loading washing machine.
The customer next to me said that she still uses doilies on her tables and upholstered furniture and always starches them.
She explained the starching process that her family used to practice: freshly-washed clothes were dipped in liquid starch, squeezed out, and hung on the line to dry. Once dry, they were taken back inside the house and sprinkled with water. The lady doing her hair confirmed that this method was used by her mother.
At that point several ladies jumped in with their memories of the "sprinkling" bottle--usually a coke bottle with a perforated aluminum top stuck in it. The part that stuck down into the coke bottle was wrapped with cork to keep it from leaking. I have tried sprinkling my clothes and was never too impressed. The reason why was revealed to me as I continued to listen to the experienced ladies. They said that after the washed, starched, and dried clothes were sprinkled, they had to be rolled up and "seasoned" to wait for the moisture to permeate them. No wonder sprinkling never worked for me! I wasn't starching or seasoning!
This is not the end of the story, though. In those days before permanant press, the battle was to keep your sprinkled clothes under optimal conditions until you could get them ironed. The ones on the bottom of the basket could mildew; the ones on the top could dry out.
The surprising solution was to pop them in the freezer. The two ladies who remembered this step said that the clothes ironed beautifully once they were frozen in amongst the butterbeans and blackeyed peas. How refreshing it must have been in the sultry South to pull some frozen clothes out of the freezer on a hot summer's day and iron them crisp as perfectly-fried catfish.
Alas, this golden era of laundry tricks was doomed to a short life of about 35 years. Frigidaire invented the chest freezer in 1929--though I doubt its use was widespread until after World War II--and Ruth Benerito invented the permanant press process in 1964.
The customer next to me said that she still uses doilies on her tables and upholstered furniture and always starches them.
She explained the starching process that her family used to practice: freshly-washed clothes were dipped in liquid starch, squeezed out, and hung on the line to dry. Once dry, they were taken back inside the house and sprinkled with water. The lady doing her hair confirmed that this method was used by her mother.
At that point several ladies jumped in with their memories of the "sprinkling" bottle--usually a coke bottle with a perforated aluminum top stuck in it. The part that stuck down into the coke bottle was wrapped with cork to keep it from leaking. I have tried sprinkling my clothes and was never too impressed. The reason why was revealed to me as I continued to listen to the experienced ladies. They said that after the washed, starched, and dried clothes were sprinkled, they had to be rolled up and "seasoned" to wait for the moisture to permeate them. No wonder sprinkling never worked for me! I wasn't starching or seasoning!
This is not the end of the story, though. In those days before permanant press, the battle was to keep your sprinkled clothes under optimal conditions until you could get them ironed. The ones on the bottom of the basket could mildew; the ones on the top could dry out.
The surprising solution was to pop them in the freezer. The two ladies who remembered this step said that the clothes ironed beautifully once they were frozen in amongst the butterbeans and blackeyed peas. How refreshing it must have been in the sultry South to pull some frozen clothes out of the freezer on a hot summer's day and iron them crisp as perfectly-fried catfish.
Alas, this golden era of laundry tricks was doomed to a short life of about 35 years. Frigidaire invented the chest freezer in 1929--though I doubt its use was widespread until after World War II--and Ruth Benerito invented the permanant press process in 1964.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Building the Bee Hive at Last
A week and a half ago we returned from the 4-H Fashion Show just in time to receive the long-awaited Honey of a Hobby beginner bee kit. I had been counting on Nathaniel to put it together, but something else arrived on the UPS truck with the bee kit. . .new golf clubs. Golf won over bees, and Emma stepped in to take up the slack.
First, though, dear husband tried on the hat and gloves.
He helped Emma get the tools that she would need and supervised her first frame-building.
After that she took off. First she marked drill spots with pencil.
Then she drilled the holes
and glued the pieces together,
being careful to wipe off the excess glue.
Next she nailed the pieces together.
She did call her daddy at work for tech support one time.
Working diligently, she got proficient in the steps needed and had about five frames done when we had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Haught. Magically, hive-building became a multi-generational affair.
On the downside, now there was lots of free advice. After that Emma couldn't hammer a nail straight.
So Nathaniel joined the project.
Even Grandpa Haught succumbed to the lure of building the bee hive.
Now Emma is painting the box. We can check off some more things on Mr. Burger's list.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
More Modesty
Tea at Trianon is featuring this article on modesty by Regina Doman. It is called "Modesty and Beauty--the Lost Connection" and "covers everything" (pun intended).
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
From the Circe Institute Newsletter
I received this essay by Mr. Kern in an e-mail and can't provide a direct link, but I can get you directly to the Circe Institute. Click on the title above.
A Sense of Humus
by Andrew Kern
There seems to be some debate about the etymology of our word humor. Some argue that it comes from the Latin "umor," for moisture. Some take it even farther back to the Indo-European root “ghom”, for humus.
Both are intriguing. The wisdom of etymology provides endless food for contemplation. Surely, there can be no accident in the common stems of humor, humility, humus, and human. We are of the dust, and when we forget that we forget who we are, we lose our sense of humor, we lose our fitting humility.
This brings up an issue related to the process of decision-making. Wendell Berry wrote an essay, included in his book, The Gift of Good Land, called Solving For Pattern. In it, he comments on a theme I have been contemplating for some time now. I would express it like this: we cannot make right decisions when the decisions we make don’t consider the consequences of those decisions on everybody concerned and when we don’t humble ourselves before the nature of the things we will affect.
The preceding paragraph is probably so alien to our conventional way of making decisions that it came across as either petulantly obvious or ridiculously obscure. Let me direct your attention back to the title of the essay and encourage reflection from that point:
Solving For Pattern.
What does he mean? He is writing about agriculture in 1980, but he immediately recognizes the wider application. Allow me to quote his opening paragraph.
Our dilemma in agriculture now is that the industrial methods that have so spectacularly solved some of the problems of food production have been accompanied by “side effects” so damaging as to threaten the survival of farming. Perhaps the best clue to the nature and the gravity of this dilemma is that it is not limited to agriculture. My immediate concern here is with the irony of agricultural methods that destroy, first, the health of the soil, and, finally, the health of human communities. But I could just as easily be talking about sanitation systems that pollute, school systems that graduate illiterate students, medical cures that cause disease, or nuclear armaments that explode in the midst of the people they are meant to protect. This is a kind of surpise that is characteristic of our time: the cure proves incurable; security results in the evacuation of a neighborhood or town. It is only when it is understood that our agricultural dilemma is characteristic not of our agriculture but of our time that we can begin to understand why these surprises happen, and to work out standards of judgment that may prevent them. (emphasis mine)
Thus we have a farming problem in America that is a part of a wider problem in the way we think and order our lives. We come up, Berry suggests, with two kinds of solutions: “First, the solution that causes a ramifying series of new problems, the only limiting criterion being, apparently, that the new problems should arise beyond the purview of the expertise that produced the solution… Second,… that which immediately worsens the problem it is intended to solve, causing a hellish symbiosis in which problem and solution reciprocally enlarge one another in a sequence that, so far as its own logic is concerned, is limitless…”
Many a marriage has fallen into this second solution. I once coined a clumsy term for the first type of solution: “the law of the catastrophic continuum.” Berry’s use of the term “ramifying” expresses the idea wonderfully. Ramifications are not understood, appreciated, measurable, predictable, so the new problems ramify.
Then he comes to the heart of the problem:
Such solutions always involve a definition of the problem that is either false or so narrow as to be virtually false. To define an agricultural problem as if it were solely a problem of agriculture - or solely a problem of production or technology or economics - is simply to misunderstand the problem, either inadvertantly or deliberately, either for profit or because of a prevalent fashion of thought. The whole problem must be solved, not just some handily identifiable and simplifiable aspect of it.
With these problems and ramifications describes, he then begins to hint in the direction of a manner of thinking that offers potential solutions, and then he states the heart of the heart of the problem:
A bad solution is bad, then, because it acts destructively upon the larger patterns in which it is contained… A bad solution solves for a single purpose or goal, such as increased production. And it is typical of such solutions that they achieve stupendous increases in production at exorbitant biological and social costs.
Berry is able to discern these patterns because he has a sense of humus. He understands that humans do not live specialized lives in which it is alright not to know what one is talking about beyond his area of specialty. He understands that our lives are lived in wider patterns even than we can see and perceive ourselves. He is seeking man’s place in the cosmos, so we can know and fulfil our duties, two bits of information we lost with the rise of fragmented and specialized “knowledge” in the late middle ages.
A Sense of Humus
by Andrew Kern
There seems to be some debate about the etymology of our word humor. Some argue that it comes from the Latin "umor," for moisture. Some take it even farther back to the Indo-European root “ghom”, for humus.
Both are intriguing. The wisdom of etymology provides endless food for contemplation. Surely, there can be no accident in the common stems of humor, humility, humus, and human. We are of the dust, and when we forget that we forget who we are, we lose our sense of humor, we lose our fitting humility.
This brings up an issue related to the process of decision-making. Wendell Berry wrote an essay, included in his book, The Gift of Good Land, called Solving For Pattern. In it, he comments on a theme I have been contemplating for some time now. I would express it like this: we cannot make right decisions when the decisions we make don’t consider the consequences of those decisions on everybody concerned and when we don’t humble ourselves before the nature of the things we will affect.
The preceding paragraph is probably so alien to our conventional way of making decisions that it came across as either petulantly obvious or ridiculously obscure. Let me direct your attention back to the title of the essay and encourage reflection from that point:
Solving For Pattern.
What does he mean? He is writing about agriculture in 1980, but he immediately recognizes the wider application. Allow me to quote his opening paragraph.
Our dilemma in agriculture now is that the industrial methods that have so spectacularly solved some of the problems of food production have been accompanied by “side effects” so damaging as to threaten the survival of farming. Perhaps the best clue to the nature and the gravity of this dilemma is that it is not limited to agriculture. My immediate concern here is with the irony of agricultural methods that destroy, first, the health of the soil, and, finally, the health of human communities. But I could just as easily be talking about sanitation systems that pollute, school systems that graduate illiterate students, medical cures that cause disease, or nuclear armaments that explode in the midst of the people they are meant to protect. This is a kind of surpise that is characteristic of our time: the cure proves incurable; security results in the evacuation of a neighborhood or town. It is only when it is understood that our agricultural dilemma is characteristic not of our agriculture but of our time that we can begin to understand why these surprises happen, and to work out standards of judgment that may prevent them. (emphasis mine)
Thus we have a farming problem in America that is a part of a wider problem in the way we think and order our lives. We come up, Berry suggests, with two kinds of solutions: “First, the solution that causes a ramifying series of new problems, the only limiting criterion being, apparently, that the new problems should arise beyond the purview of the expertise that produced the solution… Second,… that which immediately worsens the problem it is intended to solve, causing a hellish symbiosis in which problem and solution reciprocally enlarge one another in a sequence that, so far as its own logic is concerned, is limitless…”
Many a marriage has fallen into this second solution. I once coined a clumsy term for the first type of solution: “the law of the catastrophic continuum.” Berry’s use of the term “ramifying” expresses the idea wonderfully. Ramifications are not understood, appreciated, measurable, predictable, so the new problems ramify.
Then he comes to the heart of the problem:
Such solutions always involve a definition of the problem that is either false or so narrow as to be virtually false. To define an agricultural problem as if it were solely a problem of agriculture - or solely a problem of production or technology or economics - is simply to misunderstand the problem, either inadvertantly or deliberately, either for profit or because of a prevalent fashion of thought. The whole problem must be solved, not just some handily identifiable and simplifiable aspect of it.
With these problems and ramifications describes, he then begins to hint in the direction of a manner of thinking that offers potential solutions, and then he states the heart of the heart of the problem:
A bad solution is bad, then, because it acts destructively upon the larger patterns in which it is contained… A bad solution solves for a single purpose or goal, such as increased production. And it is typical of such solutions that they achieve stupendous increases in production at exorbitant biological and social costs.
Berry is able to discern these patterns because he has a sense of humus. He understands that humans do not live specialized lives in which it is alright not to know what one is talking about beyond his area of specialty. He understands that our lives are lived in wider patterns even than we can see and perceive ourselves. He is seeking man’s place in the cosmos, so we can know and fulfil our duties, two bits of information we lost with the rise of fragmented and specialized “knowledge” in the late middle ages.
Studying the Tea Leaves of My Past
Lew Rockwell has a link to this article on the anniversary of the tea bag. I confess that I have always taken the tea bag for granted. I never considered when its use became widespread or why.
My Hall's teapot has an infuser, but I just stuff a bag inside it. I guess my tea habits are a trifle on the unsophisticated side.
I haven't been a morning tea drinker since I was a teen. At that time I converted my bedroom into a sitting room, complete with a wicker "tea" table from my grandma's house. I purchased a blue and white Japanese tea set from an import shop and eventually collected the matching openstock dinnerware. Every morning before school I would have my mother join me for green tea. It seemed perfectly normal to me then. Now I realize the truth. I was a strange child. Mom never let on, though. What a good sport! And she had probably had three cups of coffee before she "took tea" with me. She kept an electric percolator on her vanity, beside the makeup mirror. I guess she had to fortify herself before she could step out of her bedroom each morning. Being the mother of teenaged girls during the '70s demanded regular fortification.
Nowadays I usually sip coffee from a plain old white Corelle mug. All of my style comes from what I add to it. I don't go for any of the exotic additives that you'll find at Starbucks. My two favorites are Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk and Steen's cane syrup. One or the other, mind you. If I'm doing Steen's, I add half 'n half. My hair may be limp, but my coffee has body!
My Hall's teapot has an infuser, but I just stuff a bag inside it. I guess my tea habits are a trifle on the unsophisticated side.
I haven't been a morning tea drinker since I was a teen. At that time I converted my bedroom into a sitting room, complete with a wicker "tea" table from my grandma's house. I purchased a blue and white Japanese tea set from an import shop and eventually collected the matching openstock dinnerware. Every morning before school I would have my mother join me for green tea. It seemed perfectly normal to me then. Now I realize the truth. I was a strange child. Mom never let on, though. What a good sport! And she had probably had three cups of coffee before she "took tea" with me. She kept an electric percolator on her vanity, beside the makeup mirror. I guess she had to fortify herself before she could step out of her bedroom each morning. Being the mother of teenaged girls during the '70s demanded regular fortification.
Nowadays I usually sip coffee from a plain old white Corelle mug. All of my style comes from what I add to it. I don't go for any of the exotic additives that you'll find at Starbucks. My two favorites are Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk and Steen's cane syrup. One or the other, mind you. If I'm doing Steen's, I add half 'n half. My hair may be limp, but my coffee has body!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Help for the Faint of Hat
I just visited the Art of Manliness website and found a helpful article on how to choose a man's hat according to his head shape. Click here: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/28/the-perfect-hat-for-your-ugly-mug/
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Entering the Golden Age of Eligibility and Wooability
Where are the Simple Joys of Maidenhood? This is Maiden Emmaline's song of the week. Every time she sings "Shall I never be rescued in the wood?" a celestial smile lights up her face.
I heard it for the first time at the Texas 4-H Roundup Vocal Contest last week. When we got home we looked it up and fell in love with it. It’s from the musical Camelot and suits Emma perfectly. If only her voice teacher understood her as well as I. She wanted her to sing "Simple Little Things" from "110 in the Shade". She had Emma read through it first, and when Emma got to the line that says, "No shining knight must kneel," she stopped and told the teacher, "I disagree,".
Here are the lyrics to The Simple Joys of Maidenhood:
Saint Genevieve, Saint Genevieve!
It's Guinevere, remember me?
Saint Genevieve, Saint Genevieve!
I'm over here beneath this tree!
You know how faithful and devout I am
You must admit I've always been a lamb.
But Genevieve, Saint Genevieve
I won't obey you anymore.
You've gone a bit too far.
I won't be bid and bargained for
Like beads at a bazaar.
Saint Genevieve, I've run away,
Eluded them and fled,
And from now on I intend to pray
To someone else instead!
Oh, Genevieve, Saint Genevieve
Where were you when my youth was sold?
Dear Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve
Shan't I be young before I'm old?
Oh shan’t I Saint Genevieve?
Why must I suffer this squalid destiny,
Just when I’ve reached the golden age of eligibility and wooability?
Is my fate determined by love and courtship,
Oh no: Clause 1 fix the border;
Clause 2 establish trade;
Clause 3 deliver me;
Clause 4 stop the war;
5,6 pick up sticks.
How cruel!
How unjust!
Am I never to know the joys of maidenhood?
The conventional ordinary, garden variety, joys of maidenhood?
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Where are all those adoring daring boys?
Where's the knight pining so for me
He leaps to death in woe for me?
Oh where are a maiden's simple joys?
Shan't I have the normal life a maiden should?
Shall I never be rescued in the wood?
Shall two knights never tilt for me
And let their blood be spilt for me?
Oh where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Shall I not be on a pedestal,
Worshipped and competed for?
Not be carried off, or better still,
Cause a little war?
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Are those sweet, gentle pleasures gone for good?
Shall a feud not begin for me?
Shall kith not kill their kin for me?
Oh, where are the trivial joys,
Harmless, convivial joys
Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?
Happy Father's Day!
It's time to report on the responses my menfolk gave to my posting of the hat etiquette information.
Herb: No comment.
Nathaniel: I hope nobody I know reads your blog.
Am I discouraged? No!
I did put off ordering a hat, though. Last Sunday I talked to Herb's Schola buddy, Mickey, who is my style expert in everything. He does the flowers on the altar at church every week. He is going to help me choose a hat for Herb's birthday which is coming up on June 30. Generally, if Mickey recommends it, Herb says, "Sign me up". Mickey even said that he may get a hat, too. Maybe the Schola will lead the way in bringing hats back to the heads of American men. It would be fitting.
Herb: No comment.
Nathaniel: I hope nobody I know reads your blog.
Am I discouraged? No!
I did put off ordering a hat, though. Last Sunday I talked to Herb's Schola buddy, Mickey, who is my style expert in everything. He does the flowers on the altar at church every week. He is going to help me choose a hat for Herb's birthday which is coming up on June 30. Generally, if Mickey recommends it, Herb says, "Sign me up". Mickey even said that he may get a hat, too. Maybe the Schola will lead the way in bringing hats back to the heads of American men. It would be fitting.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tea and Tree: Something for Everybody
On our way home from the 4-H Fashion Show, we stopped just north of Navasota on Hwy. 6 and visited Martha's Bloomers . Their sign said that they had a tea room and offered landscape design services. Wow! Somebody opened a business with my two children in mind. How wonderful!
We were excited to find that they have a whole lot more than what I had thought from the sign. Visit their website to see for yourself: http://www.marthasbloomers.com
I loved this rustic waterfall at the entrance to the main store.
Emma, always on the lookout for a place to cool her heels, spent a good ten minutes relaxing by this pond.
Nathaniel and I were impressed by this incredibly lush raised bed garden full of veggies.
Here is the Cheshire Cat minding the entrance to the tea room. We first saw him outside the door. He beseeched us, very politely, to open the door. He is the biggest cat that I have ever seen, but you can't tell his size from this picture.
How do you love to go up in a swing? We loved it exceedingly. Nathaniel took this picture of us. I took pictures of him, but he deleted them.
We were excited to find that they have a whole lot more than what I had thought from the sign. Visit their website to see for yourself: http://www.marthasbloomers.com
I loved this rustic waterfall at the entrance to the main store.
Emma, always on the lookout for a place to cool her heels, spent a good ten minutes relaxing by this pond.
Nathaniel and I were impressed by this incredibly lush raised bed garden full of veggies.
Here is the Cheshire Cat minding the entrance to the tea room. We first saw him outside the door. He beseeched us, very politely, to open the door. He is the biggest cat that I have ever seen, but you can't tell his size from this picture.
How do you love to go up in a swing? We loved it exceedingly. Nathaniel took this picture of us. I took pictures of him, but he deleted them.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Anticipation: It's Keeping Me Waiting
Tuesday we drove to Texas A&M for Emma's participation in the state 4-H Fashion Show. She didn't place, but she had a lot of fun and made lots of new friends.
The trip took only 2 1/2 hours, so we had time for a swim in the hotel pool and a touch-up ironing session before we had to be at Rudder Tower for orientation at 7 p.m.
What a crowd! I never heard how many participants there were, but it was plenty. There were also plenty of changes to the schedule--just to keep things interesting. Thankfully our 4-H agent, Alexis Cordova, and 4-H leader/secretary, Glenda Lowe, met us there to help keep it all straight. The orientation ended with a tour of the important places the girls (and three or four boys) would need to find on Wednesday. Our guide was a lovely girl named Elizabeth from the Beaumont area of our 4-H district.
Wednesday morning Emma had to dress in her costume and interview with the judges. When we entered the dressing room, the first person we saw was a girl from Comal County named Sally Rath who was wearing a costume made from the same pattern as Emma's. Sally, bless her heart, was as surprised as we were. Both girls handled it well, though. Nathaniel and I left Emma to wait for her interview and hurried over to the Rudder theatre with Alexis and Glenda to listen to the Roundup vocal competition. We wanted to support a local girl who was competing. She sang the Patsy Cline song, I'm Always Walkin' After Midnight and did a great job.
Another young lady sang a medley of songs which included The Simple Joys of Maidenhood. I did not know this song, but I made a note of the title so that we could look it up at home.
Our favorite, though, was a duet by two brothers. They wrote a song for their dad to tease him about his New Year's resolution to lose ten pounds. The boys said that he makes the same resolution every year, so they wrote a funny song extolling the virtues of liposuction. (If they think dear old Dad needs liposuction for a mere ten extra pounds, I hesitate to imagine what they might prescribe for someone who is actually obese--chainsaw sculpting?) Their song reminded me of some of the silly songs written by Jim Stafford and Ray Stevens in the '70s. It garnered huge applause from the audience. Luckily Emma joined us in time to hear it.
After a half-hour, Emma had to leave to go to the fashion show rehearsal. Alexis went with her. By 1:00, the rehearsal and the vocal contest were over, and we eagerly joined Alexis and Glenda for lunch at Olive Garden. I left nary a noodle on my plate.
Then it was back to our hotel room for a siesta followed by more touch-up ironing. Emma has determined that her next contest entry will be made with a wrinkle-free fabric.
The nap did Nathaniel a lot of good. He "pressed his luck" teasing Emma with the iron.
At last it was time to go back to A&M for the fashion show. Emma wrote in her journal. . .
while Nathaniel sang "You Were Always on My Mind" with Willie Nelson on the radio.
Nathaniel dropped us off in front of Rudder Tower, and I left Emma with the other contestants. 
After the fashion show was over, Emma changed clothes, and we checked out the Roundup dance. Alexis showed Nathaniel and Emma some dance steps, and they enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Never underestimate your 4-H Agent's talents.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the grocery store and treated ourselves to a box of Nestle's Drumsticks ice cream. How incredibly wonderful mine tasted, and I am not an ice cream fan.
The trip took only 2 1/2 hours, so we had time for a swim in the hotel pool and a touch-up ironing session before we had to be at Rudder Tower for orientation at 7 p.m.
What a crowd! I never heard how many participants there were, but it was plenty. There were also plenty of changes to the schedule--just to keep things interesting. Thankfully our 4-H agent, Alexis Cordova, and 4-H leader/secretary, Glenda Lowe, met us there to help keep it all straight. The orientation ended with a tour of the important places the girls (and three or four boys) would need to find on Wednesday. Our guide was a lovely girl named Elizabeth from the Beaumont area of our 4-H district.
Wednesday morning Emma had to dress in her costume and interview with the judges. When we entered the dressing room, the first person we saw was a girl from Comal County named Sally Rath who was wearing a costume made from the same pattern as Emma's. Sally, bless her heart, was as surprised as we were. Both girls handled it well, though. Nathaniel and I left Emma to wait for her interview and hurried over to the Rudder theatre with Alexis and Glenda to listen to the Roundup vocal competition. We wanted to support a local girl who was competing. She sang the Patsy Cline song, I'm Always Walkin' After Midnight and did a great job.
Another young lady sang a medley of songs which included The Simple Joys of Maidenhood. I did not know this song, but I made a note of the title so that we could look it up at home.
Our favorite, though, was a duet by two brothers. They wrote a song for their dad to tease him about his New Year's resolution to lose ten pounds. The boys said that he makes the same resolution every year, so they wrote a funny song extolling the virtues of liposuction. (If they think dear old Dad needs liposuction for a mere ten extra pounds, I hesitate to imagine what they might prescribe for someone who is actually obese--chainsaw sculpting?) Their song reminded me of some of the silly songs written by Jim Stafford and Ray Stevens in the '70s. It garnered huge applause from the audience. Luckily Emma joined us in time to hear it.
After a half-hour, Emma had to leave to go to the fashion show rehearsal. Alexis went with her. By 1:00, the rehearsal and the vocal contest were over, and we eagerly joined Alexis and Glenda for lunch at Olive Garden. I left nary a noodle on my plate.
Then it was back to our hotel room for a siesta followed by more touch-up ironing. Emma has determined that her next contest entry will be made with a wrinkle-free fabric.
The nap did Nathaniel a lot of good. He "pressed his luck" teasing Emma with the iron.
At last it was time to go back to A&M for the fashion show. Emma wrote in her journal. . .
while Nathaniel sang "You Were Always on My Mind" with Willie Nelson on the radio.
Nathaniel dropped us off in front of Rudder Tower, and I left Emma with the other contestants. 
After the fashion show was over, Emma changed clothes, and we checked out the Roundup dance. Alexis showed Nathaniel and Emma some dance steps, and they enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Never underestimate your 4-H Agent's talents.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the grocery store and treated ourselves to a box of Nestle's Drumsticks ice cream. How incredibly wonderful mine tasted, and I am not an ice cream fan.
Some Like it Hot
Peas porridge hot.
Peas porridge cold.
Peas porridge in the pot
Nine days old.
Some like it hot.
Some like it cold.
Some like it in the pot nine days old.
Never mind about peas porridge, when it comes to starch, I like it hot.
We spent Monday afternoon preparing for the trip to the Texas 4-H fashion show. Remembering how much trouble Emma had with wrinkling at the District show, we decided to try rinsing her dark green cotton outer skirt in Faultless liquid starch.
The first step is to cream 1/2 cup of starch powder in 1 1/2 cups cold water. Then you add the starch "cream" to two quarts of boiling water and stir. Make sure you remove the pot from the heat before adding the creamed starch. I didn't. The mixture started popping, and I got burned.
Emma had a scrap piece of her fabric, so we threw it in the pot, stirred it around, then drained and rinsed it. I squeezed it out, and Emma took it to the ironing board and pressed it dry. As I said, this was a piece of scrap fabric. For clothing the directions say that you should cool the starch before use by adding 2 cups warm water for each quart of starch made.
We were impressed with the results--much better than spray starch. The liquid starch gave a lot of body to the fabric and a polished finish. And there was none of that annoying flaking that you often get with spray starch.
Since the test went well, we followed the directions for using the starch in the washing machine. After you add the starch cream to the boiling water, you set your washer to "deep rinse" and add the starch solution. The directions state that the machine should "agitate for at least 3 minutes." Afterward, set the machine for the final spin cycle.
I had some problems getting my machine to stay on rinse. My machine's electronic brain thought it knew better than I what needed to be done. I ended up letting it go through a quick "wash" cycle, then rinse. I think the extra water from the washing diluted the starch's effect, but it was still good. It didn't quite have the body that the test fabric had. We'll definitely work on perfecting this method. Herb wants me to do his dress shirts this way.
Peas porridge cold.
Peas porridge in the pot
Nine days old.
Some like it hot.
Some like it cold.
Some like it in the pot nine days old.
Never mind about peas porridge, when it comes to starch, I like it hot.
We spent Monday afternoon preparing for the trip to the Texas 4-H fashion show. Remembering how much trouble Emma had with wrinkling at the District show, we decided to try rinsing her dark green cotton outer skirt in Faultless liquid starch.
The first step is to cream 1/2 cup of starch powder in 1 1/2 cups cold water. Then you add the starch "cream" to two quarts of boiling water and stir. Make sure you remove the pot from the heat before adding the creamed starch. I didn't. The mixture started popping, and I got burned.
Emma had a scrap piece of her fabric, so we threw it in the pot, stirred it around, then drained and rinsed it. I squeezed it out, and Emma took it to the ironing board and pressed it dry. As I said, this was a piece of scrap fabric. For clothing the directions say that you should cool the starch before use by adding 2 cups warm water for each quart of starch made.
We were impressed with the results--much better than spray starch. The liquid starch gave a lot of body to the fabric and a polished finish. And there was none of that annoying flaking that you often get with spray starch.
Since the test went well, we followed the directions for using the starch in the washing machine. After you add the starch cream to the boiling water, you set your washer to "deep rinse" and add the starch solution. The directions state that the machine should "agitate for at least 3 minutes." Afterward, set the machine for the final spin cycle.
I had some problems getting my machine to stay on rinse. My machine's electronic brain thought it knew better than I what needed to be done. I ended up letting it go through a quick "wash" cycle, then rinse. I think the extra water from the washing diluted the starch's effect, but it was still good. It didn't quite have the body that the test fabric had. We'll definitely work on perfecting this method. Herb wants me to do his dress shirts this way.
100 Years and Still Stylin': Highlights of the Texas State 4-H Fashion Show
After all the anticipation, the 2008 Texas State 4-H Fashion Show finally began Wednesday night, June 11th, in Texas A&M's Rudder Auditorium.
Texas 4-Hers Amanda Jo Laurent, Rachel Taylor, Michael Edwards, and Rebekah Richter shared the narration duties.
Nathaniel, Alexis Cordova, Glenda Lowe, Laurie and Katie Byrd, and I all represented District 9 in the appointed seats.
Beginning with all the contestants in the "buying" division, participants showcased outfits they purchased in the "Casual", "Dressy", "Formal", and "Specialty" categories.
Emma and I loved the Czech outfit that was modeled in the "Specialty" category by Angela Gremminger from the City of West. West is famous for its Westfest. Happily, Angela garnered a second place finish.
We visited with Angela and her mother before the show. It turns out that we were familiar with the work of the woman who made Angela's dress. We had visited her booth at the Czech Spring Fest in Houston. Her business is called Maggie's Fabric Patch: Czech Costume Creations. Jordan Meador of Dallam County captured first place in Buying: Formal
The end of the "Buying" portion of the show flowed effortlessly into the "Construction portion.
Emma's tour guide friend, Elizabeth Maxwell of Jefferson County, took second place in Construction: Casual.
Ellese Castillo of Williamson County took first place in Construction: Formal
From Parker County, Clarin Gniffke, took second in Construction: Formal.
Her sister,Cameron, got second in Construction: Specialty, the category that Emma was competing in.
Third place in Construction: Specialty went to Stephen Wallace of Cooke County.
Julie Kircher from Nueces County created a fabulous pirate costume and sailed away with first place in Construction: Specialty. She even made her hat, which the photo does not do justice.
Although, she, like Emma, did not place, Lauren Craig from Ellis County made a dreamy pink confection of a dress that Emma adored. It featured a three-layered skirt with butterfly accents. Lauren designed the skirt and sleeves herself, and used a pattern for the bodice.
From Ochiltree County, Laura Burandt made her top, jeans, and leather chaps.
Here is Sally Rath,
and here is Emma in their Celtic costumes.
With the options that both girls chose, Sally and Emma could have been the models for Simplicity pattern 3623. Look at this:
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I Bee Happy: My Bee Kit Arrives Thursday
http://inhaughtpursuit.blogspot.com/2008/06/restore-christendom-order-your-bee-kit.html
Now what do I do to prepare? Follow Mr. Burger's list!
Mr. Burger is a Houston bee expert. I found him through Leisure Learning. He offers a one-day beekeeping class. From there I went on to find his website. He has lots of good information, including the list I copied below. It looks like I can schedule the bee removal from my parents' house for four weeks from Thursday.
Oh, boy! I get to check off the first one on the list.
Getting Ready for Your Bees
compiled by Donald Burger, Attorney at Law
http://www.burger.com/beeindex.htm
Four weeks before bee pick up:
_____ Order hives and equipment.
_____ Buy two bags of Quikrete and a mixing tray for same.
_____ Buy two 2 x 4's for foundation frames.
_____ Buy lattice materials for beeyard fence
_____ Buy at least four foam paint brushes (two inch size) to paint hives.
_____ Buy a two inch nylon paintbrush for feeding package bees.
_____ Buy the paint for your hives.
_____ Build and paint hives.
_____ Glue and nail the frames.
_____ Begin to think about decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.
Two to three weeks before bee pick up:
_____ Pour concrete foundations for hives.
_____ Fence in the beeyard.
_____ Make final decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.
_____ Buy and spread the mulch for beeyard
_____ Finish up building and painting hives.
_____ Finish up gluing and nailing the frames.
One week before bee pick up:
_____ Place hive stand, Rossman SHB trap, one deep, inner cover, telescoping cover, Boardman feeder with empty jar and fully closed entrance reducer in the beeyard at its permanent location.
_____ Practice lighting smoker.
One day before bee pick up:
_____ Make up two gallons of 1:1 sugar syrup and bottle in one quart jars.
Just before leaving to pick up bees:
_____ Bring receipt or confirmation as to bee order.
_____ Bring clean nylon brush to brush off stray bees.
_____ Bring newspaper-lined cardboard box(es) of sufficient size to hold the package(s).
Things to take with you to the beeyard to hive your bees:
_____ Small pen knife.
_____ Ice pick or small nail for queen candy.
_____ Jar of 1:1 sugar syrup with Boardman jar lid in place.
_____ Package of bees.
Last revised March 12, 2008
mail comments to burger@burger.com
Now what do I do to prepare? Follow Mr. Burger's list!
Mr. Burger is a Houston bee expert. I found him through Leisure Learning. He offers a one-day beekeeping class. From there I went on to find his website. He has lots of good information, including the list I copied below. It looks like I can schedule the bee removal from my parents' house for four weeks from Thursday.
Oh, boy! I get to check off the first one on the list.
Getting Ready for Your Bees
compiled by Donald Burger, Attorney at Law
http://www.burger.com/beeindex.htm
Four weeks before bee pick up:
_____ Order hives and equipment.
_____ Buy two bags of Quikrete and a mixing tray for same.
_____ Buy two 2 x 4's for foundation frames.
_____ Buy lattice materials for beeyard fence
_____ Buy at least four foam paint brushes (two inch size) to paint hives.
_____ Buy a two inch nylon paintbrush for feeding package bees.
_____ Buy the paint for your hives.
_____ Build and paint hives.
_____ Glue and nail the frames.
_____ Begin to think about decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.
Two to three weeks before bee pick up:
_____ Pour concrete foundations for hives.
_____ Fence in the beeyard.
_____ Make final decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.
_____ Buy and spread the mulch for beeyard
_____ Finish up building and painting hives.
_____ Finish up gluing and nailing the frames.
One week before bee pick up:
_____ Place hive stand, Rossman SHB trap, one deep, inner cover, telescoping cover, Boardman feeder with empty jar and fully closed entrance reducer in the beeyard at its permanent location.
_____ Practice lighting smoker.
One day before bee pick up:
_____ Make up two gallons of 1:1 sugar syrup and bottle in one quart jars.
Just before leaving to pick up bees:
_____ Bring receipt or confirmation as to bee order.
_____ Bring clean nylon brush to brush off stray bees.
_____ Bring newspaper-lined cardboard box(es) of sufficient size to hold the package(s).
Things to take with you to the beeyard to hive your bees:
_____ Small pen knife.
_____ Ice pick or small nail for queen candy.
_____ Jar of 1:1 sugar syrup with Boardman jar lid in place.
_____ Package of bees.
Last revised March 12, 2008
mail comments to burger@burger.com
Monday, June 9, 2008
Essential Oils and the Varroa Mite
In researching local bee organizations, I stumbled across information on experiments that used essential oils like wintergreen, spearmint, tea tree, and patchouli to combat varroa mites in bee hives. The varroa mite problem is one of the main reasons I didn't start beekeeping several years ago.
So I was really excited to learn about the essential oils remedy. We use tea tree oil a lot on ourselves. Most recently we tried it on Emma's thumb when she got stung by a bee. She was trying to get a picture of the pollen sacks on the bees' legs. They did not want to be photographed. Anyway, tea tree oil didn't help in this case. Neither did holding a penny on it. She read that toothpaste would help, but she never tried it.
The essential oils treatment works by feeding the bees a sugar syrup with the right essential oil. It is left at the entrance to the hive and is eventually passed on to the larvae by the nurse bees. It doesn't hurt the bees, but it disrupts reproduction in the mites.
There is another method whereby the mites are killed by direct contact with the oil. I didn't read up on how that is done.
Some researchers at West Virginia University came up with their own essential oil mixture to feed the bees. They used lecithin as an emulsifier to mix the essential oils thoroughly with the sugar syrup. If the oil is not mixed well, it can kill the bees. They determined that spearmint worked really well in reducing parasitic mite sydrome, but the bees didn't find it tasty. Experimenting further, they hit upon adding lemongrass oil to the oil of spearmint and syrup. I'm guessing the lemongrass oil masks the spearmint flavor. Their recipe is called Honey-B-Healthy. Here's a link to the information. http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/honeyBhlth.htm
For more information on the Varroa mite, here's the entry from Wikipedia:
Varroa destructor can only replicate in a honey bee colony. It attaches at the body of the bee and weakens the bee by sucking hemolymph. In this process the mite spreads RNA viruses like Deformed Wing Virus to the bee. A significant mite infestation will lead to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring. The Varroa mite is the parasite with the most pronounced economic impact on the beekeeping industry. It may be a contributing factor to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is threatening hives throughout North America.
I have never done much research into using essential oils for human healthcare, but this information on how it is helping the bees prompts me to start.
So I was really excited to learn about the essential oils remedy. We use tea tree oil a lot on ourselves. Most recently we tried it on Emma's thumb when she got stung by a bee. She was trying to get a picture of the pollen sacks on the bees' legs. They did not want to be photographed. Anyway, tea tree oil didn't help in this case. Neither did holding a penny on it. She read that toothpaste would help, but she never tried it.
The essential oils treatment works by feeding the bees a sugar syrup with the right essential oil. It is left at the entrance to the hive and is eventually passed on to the larvae by the nurse bees. It doesn't hurt the bees, but it disrupts reproduction in the mites.
There is another method whereby the mites are killed by direct contact with the oil. I didn't read up on how that is done.
Some researchers at West Virginia University came up with their own essential oil mixture to feed the bees. They used lecithin as an emulsifier to mix the essential oils thoroughly with the sugar syrup. If the oil is not mixed well, it can kill the bees. They determined that spearmint worked really well in reducing parasitic mite sydrome, but the bees didn't find it tasty. Experimenting further, they hit upon adding lemongrass oil to the oil of spearmint and syrup. I'm guessing the lemongrass oil masks the spearmint flavor. Their recipe is called Honey-B-Healthy. Here's a link to the information. http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/honeyBhlth.htm
For more information on the Varroa mite, here's the entry from Wikipedia:
Varroa destructor can only replicate in a honey bee colony. It attaches at the body of the bee and weakens the bee by sucking hemolymph. In this process the mite spreads RNA viruses like Deformed Wing Virus to the bee. A significant mite infestation will lead to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring. The Varroa mite is the parasite with the most pronounced economic impact on the beekeeping industry. It may be a contributing factor to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is threatening hives throughout North America.
I have never done much research into using essential oils for human healthcare, but this information on how it is helping the bees prompts me to start.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Future Egg Layers of America Meet, Discuss Corn Prices
DAYTON--Thirty members of the Future Egg Layers of America (FELA) convened an emergency meeting Monday to decide how the group would deal with the skyrocketing price of corn and corn products. Unanimously deciding that families should grow their own corn, they immediately implemented a program to facilitate the move away from the factory farm model.
The members spent time Thursday and Friday on their community service project: "Don't Poo-poo the Benefits of Manure", fertilizing the boxes where future crops will be planted.
Nathaniel and Emma Haught represented 4-Him 4-H at the FELA community service project. Miss Haught dug a miniature pond and filled it with water to keep the FELA members hydrated and to allow the two duckling guests to go snorkeling.
At a press conference today, Ima Biddy, FELA president, announced that FELA is funding a marketing campaign called, Splendor in the Grass. The goal of the campaign is to heighten consumer awareness of the benefits of pastured poultry.
In other FELA news, Seetha Cutechick joined Biddy to confirm market reports that local goat milk is selling for the same price as the rest of the Houston-area, $10 per gallon, more than twice as much as diesel fuel but much more soothing to the gizzard.*************************************************************************************
Mourning for our last flock is officially over. We got 15 Barred Rocks and 15 Aracaunas on Monday, plus 4 1/2 ducklings. The feed store had one duckling in a plastic dish waiting to die. He was the 1/2. The chicks had been pecking him. Emma wanted to take him home and nurse him if they would give him to us. They did. Then we felt sorry for four other ducks that looked puny compared to the rest. We decided to take those, too. We had to fork over $4 apiece for them.
Emma fed the 1/2 duck with a syringe, got him warm and let him experience grass and sun. He died about 4 hours later. Two of the puny $4 ones died by the next morning. The other two seem to be thriving.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Keeping the Ball Rolling on Hats
UPDATE: After consulting with my Mom, I've decided to look for a cooler hat. The one I had picked is probably too hot for Houston summers.
What can you do to restore the culture? Along with printing and posting the men's hat etiquette guide that is at the bottom of Dr. Horvat's article I posted yesterday, you can buy your husband/father a hat for Father's Day! Have him wear it to church.
I'm purchasing this gray fedora hat for Herb's Father's Day present. Luckily, he never reads my blog! It's $68 from Hats in the Belfry. You can spend a lot more, but I think this is a great start.
http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/page/H/PROD/fedora_hats/0110grey
Getting the Ball Rolling on Hats (for men)
A tip of the hat to Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D., who has written the article linked below.
When men start wearing hats again and employing the traditional etiquette that goes with wearing them, I will know that we have a chance at restoring Christian culture. I especially love the how-to graphics at the bottom of the article. I'm going to print them and post them on the fridge. I'll report back with the comments from my menfolk. You do the same and let me know! http://traditioninaction.org/Cultural/A045cpCivility_Hats.htm
Thursday, June 5, 2008
In Her Bower, Enclosed
We recently converted our old portable building from a school room into a craft room for Emma. Her projects were taking over the house. We had referred to the building as "the schoolroom" for so long, though, that it was hard to stop. Finally, I asked Emma what she wanted to call it. She thought for a moment and said, "Call it my bower,".
"What is a bower?" I asked.
"It's a room in a castle where ladies go to sew, spin, and weave," she said.
I copied this definition from Webster's online. (I think.)
Main Entry: 1bow·er
Pronunciation: \ˈbau̇(-ə)r\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English bour dwelling, from Old English būr; akin to Old English & Old High German būan to dwell, Old English bēon to be — more at be
Date: before 12th century
1 : an attractive dwelling or retreat
2 : a lady's private apartment in a medieval hall or castle
3 : a shelter (as in a garden) made with tree boughs or vines twined together : arbor
— bow·ery \-ē\ adjective
So far Emma has her loom, spinning wheel, serger, sewing machine, ironing board, and work table in her bower. She also has one of those tables that conceals four chairs inside a cabinet. You can keep the table folded up and out of the way or open it, set your four chairs out, and host a tea party. This is Emma's plan.
Upstairs is a loft retreat, in case bower life gets too stressful.
Tuesday we bought three garlands of various flowers to decorate the windows. Yesterday Emma went with our friend Lee to a class at the Crosby Community Center and learned how to paint stepping stones to look like flowers. She will paint a whole series of them leading up to her bower porch.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Precious Mem'ries, How They Render!
My big sister Beverly recommended that I visit a blog she just discovered called Homesick Texan. She found it while searching for a good refried bean recipe.
Well, as usual, she was right. I really like this blog. I read the strawberry shortcake post, then scrolled down and found How to Render Lard http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-render-lard.html
Homesick Texan mentioned how repulsed she was at first by the mere idea of lard, a.k.a. pig fat.
Immediately I had a Vietnam-era flashback!
I was standing in the midst of a warzone, only it wasn't in Vietnam, it was an oh-so-nasty, burned-out, trashed-up trailer, not far from my childhood home in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. I was about ten years old, and I was staring in fascinated horror at a gallon jar clearly labeled "LARD".
I think Beverly was with me; we trespassed regularly in those days in search of adventure. At any rate, I know I returned to this dump--ooooh, yuck! I just had a smell memory--just for the cheap but delicious thrill of seeing THE LARD JAR one more time.
Thank goodness I grew up in a neighborhood without zoning! Otherwise my life might have been as bland as original Crisco.
Well, as usual, she was right. I really like this blog. I read the strawberry shortcake post, then scrolled down and found How to Render Lard http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-render-lard.html
Homesick Texan mentioned how repulsed she was at first by the mere idea of lard, a.k.a. pig fat.
Immediately I had a Vietnam-era flashback!
I was standing in the midst of a warzone, only it wasn't in Vietnam, it was an oh-so-nasty, burned-out, trashed-up trailer, not far from my childhood home in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. I was about ten years old, and I was staring in fascinated horror at a gallon jar clearly labeled "LARD".
I think Beverly was with me; we trespassed regularly in those days in search of adventure. At any rate, I know I returned to this dump--ooooh, yuck! I just had a smell memory--just for the cheap but delicious thrill of seeing THE LARD JAR one more time.
Thank goodness I grew up in a neighborhood without zoning! Otherwise my life might have been as bland as original Crisco.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Restore Christendom; Order Your Bee Kit Today
Last Friday, I ordered Dadant's M58101 HONEY OF A HOBBY BEGINNER KIT NO 1, (for background, read http://inhaughtpursuit.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-dream-of-hidden-treasure.html) which "contains everything necessary for the beginner to start that first colony of bees except the bees themselves".
I received this response via e-mail: "Due to an increase in seasonal orders, we are experiencing longer than normal shipping time for our orders."
O happy day! May bees increase and prosper. May flowers bloom, pollen proliferate, and honey flow thick and heavy. May we learn God's order, understand his plan, and restore Christendom.
Whew! I feel better now. Just had to get that off my chest. In the meantime, you may want to read Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop. It tells about bees in a charming story format. I tried the "textbook" approach and was bored, bored, bored. Robbing the Bees is delightful.
Here's what I'll get in my Dadant kit.
Hobby Kit No. 1 . Unassembled. Bees not included. • 1 - standard beehive • 1 - all purpose hive tool • 1 - reversible entrance reducer • 1 - bee smoker to calm bees • 10 - 9 1/8'' wedge top bar frames • 1 - protective bee veil • 10 - sheets plastic based foundation (Plasticell or Duragilt) • 1 - pair sting resistant gloves • 1 - book First Lessons in Beekeeping • 1 - assembly instructions As your colony grows we recommend the Hobby Kit #2 for the additional items needed to produce and package a honey crop. Ship Wt 39 lbs.
I received this response via e-mail: "Due to an increase in seasonal orders, we are experiencing longer than normal shipping time for our orders."
O happy day! May bees increase and prosper. May flowers bloom, pollen proliferate, and honey flow thick and heavy. May we learn God's order, understand his plan, and restore Christendom.
Whew! I feel better now. Just had to get that off my chest. In the meantime, you may want to read Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop. It tells about bees in a charming story format. I tried the "textbook" approach and was bored, bored, bored. Robbing the Bees is delightful.
Here's what I'll get in my Dadant kit.
Hobby Kit No. 1 . Unassembled. Bees not included. • 1 - standard beehive • 1 - all purpose hive tool • 1 - reversible entrance reducer • 1 - bee smoker to calm bees • 10 - 9 1/8'' wedge top bar frames • 1 - protective bee veil • 10 - sheets plastic based foundation (Plasticell or Duragilt) • 1 - pair sting resistant gloves • 1 - book First Lessons in Beekeeping • 1 - assembly instructions As your colony grows we recommend the Hobby Kit #2 for the additional items needed to produce and package a honey crop. Ship Wt 39 lbs.
Monday, June 2, 2008
In Recovery From the Church Picnic
Sunday was the church picnic. Yesterday Herb and I could barely escape the covers of our bed. We literally felt our age.
My dilapidated state came from hefting cases of canned drinks. Herb's was from playing softball all afternoon.
Four teams of men competed. Father S. played and kept "real score", according to Herb. I guess Herb was trying to emphasize the seriousness of the recording. Father does take baseball seriously. Actually, he probably takes all sports seriously. He loves to compete. At a picnic last year, Fr. was up to bat and was about to get walked. The next ball zinged in high and far from the plate. Father leaped up and out, cassock and all, and whacked that ball. I shan't soon forget that one.
Father goes to bat for our souls, too. He teaches from the pulpit, but he also constantly plans activities that teach us the traditional Catholic way to do things. For Corpus Christi we always have a procession. This year we had 13 flower girls strewing petals before our Lord. Father carried the monstrance under the gold canopy and was followed by 19 first Communicants, then the Schola, choir, the parishioners, and all the visitors who were there for the First Communions. We stopped for Benediction twice. I couldn't help but think of the powerful testimony this gave to the visitors. Before I began attending the traditional Mass, I had only read about Corpus Christi processions.
The best teacher is the Mass, and Father takes full advantage of this by planning high Masses for important feast days, sometimes having the choir learn a Mass by one of the great composers like Byrd or Palestrina. This week, for the Feast of St. Boniface, we will have a German festival with a German band, German food, and German dances performed by the girls of the Academy. For St. Joseph's there was a corresponding Italian day; for Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Mexican Day, etc. On Laetare Sunday we have a dinner theater. We have regular chess tournaments. After the most recent one, Fr. realized that there were a lot of parents milling around without anything to do. So the August chess tournament will be rounded out with a family square dance. All of this is done to offer us an alternative to the world, to teach us the Catholic way.
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.
The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians, 4:8-9
My dilapidated state came from hefting cases of canned drinks. Herb's was from playing softball all afternoon.
Four teams of men competed. Father S. played and kept "real score", according to Herb. I guess Herb was trying to emphasize the seriousness of the recording. Father does take baseball seriously. Actually, he probably takes all sports seriously. He loves to compete. At a picnic last year, Fr. was up to bat and was about to get walked. The next ball zinged in high and far from the plate. Father leaped up and out, cassock and all, and whacked that ball. I shan't soon forget that one.
Father goes to bat for our souls, too. He teaches from the pulpit, but he also constantly plans activities that teach us the traditional Catholic way to do things. For Corpus Christi we always have a procession. This year we had 13 flower girls strewing petals before our Lord. Father carried the monstrance under the gold canopy and was followed by 19 first Communicants, then the Schola, choir, the parishioners, and all the visitors who were there for the First Communions. We stopped for Benediction twice. I couldn't help but think of the powerful testimony this gave to the visitors. Before I began attending the traditional Mass, I had only read about Corpus Christi processions.
The best teacher is the Mass, and Father takes full advantage of this by planning high Masses for important feast days, sometimes having the choir learn a Mass by one of the great composers like Byrd or Palestrina. This week, for the Feast of St. Boniface, we will have a German festival with a German band, German food, and German dances performed by the girls of the Academy. For St. Joseph's there was a corresponding Italian day; for Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Mexican Day, etc. On Laetare Sunday we have a dinner theater. We have regular chess tournaments. After the most recent one, Fr. realized that there were a lot of parents milling around without anything to do. So the August chess tournament will be rounded out with a family square dance. All of this is done to offer us an alternative to the world, to teach us the Catholic way.
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.
The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians, 4:8-9
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)