My pre-school years were spent in the country with my parents. I loved my upstairs east bedroom. Sunny mornings sunbeams streamed through my window all the way to my bed and bathed me in happy. It's one of my best childhood memories. One spring morning my peaceful waking was shattered when I heard loud, excited voices outside. I wanted to peek out the window, but I was too scared. The voices didn't stop. I huffed and puffed, climbed out of bed and stomped to the window, pulled the curtain back, and saw Dad clubing something. It moved. I screamed and yelled "Stop it!" through the closed window. I wanted to go down and make him stop, but what if Dad came after me? I threw myself on my bed and sobbed. If it was in his way, why didn't he just walk around it. He's bigger than it is. What can I do? I pounded my little fists into the pillow. What did the thing do to him?
Hours later my mother explained a snapping turtle was in our yard and it was dangerous. I wasn't satisfied. "Why didn't you just take it back where it came from? The mean red roosters don't like me. You don't do anything to them." I backed away from her attempt to comfort me. She didn't defend its life; would she defend mine? Would Dad?
What did I learn? Children relate what happens to something else as something that could happen to them. Mom and Dad had never done me wrong. I hoped they never would. At the time, I didn't know we ate the mean red roosters. Maybe that's why when I cook chicken, I also maked deviled eggs.
Tell us what you learned from your fear.
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Pecans then and now
The 9/20/13 Clarksdale Press Register stated, "George Washington liked ‘Mississippi nuts so much he planted his own pecan grove at Mount Vernon and they are still producing.'
“Pecan trees were here before we were. The Algonquin called them ‘paccan,’ which means ‘food from a tree that is so hard, it needs to be cracked with a stone.’
“On a mid-nineteenth century Southern Louisiana plantation, Antione, a slave, grafted trees until he got a softer shell pecan. In 1876 the name ‘Centennial’ was given to the variety to commemorate the nation’s 100th anniversary.
“The U.S. produces over 80% of the world’s pecans. According to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the 2012 pecan crop totaled over 150,000 tons.
“Heaton Farm Manager Brian Fyfe said, ‘If Georgia doesn’t have a good crop, prices could be low.'
"The pecan price is also influenced by the international market. If China buys millions of pounds, the price rises.
“In the 1960’s Heaton’s planted two varieties: Desirable and Stuart variation. Customers can buy them in the shell, shelled, roasted or chocolate coated, to name a few." heaton-pecans.com
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
“Pecan trees were here before we were. The Algonquin called them ‘paccan,’ which means ‘food from a tree that is so hard, it needs to be cracked with a stone.’
“On a mid-nineteenth century Southern Louisiana plantation, Antione, a slave, grafted trees until he got a softer shell pecan. In 1876 the name ‘Centennial’ was given to the variety to commemorate the nation’s 100th anniversary.
“The U.S. produces over 80% of the world’s pecans. According to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the 2012 pecan crop totaled over 150,000 tons.
“Heaton Farm Manager Brian Fyfe said, ‘If Georgia doesn’t have a good crop, prices could be low.'
"The pecan price is also influenced by the international market. If China buys millions of pounds, the price rises.
“In the 1960’s Heaton’s planted two varieties: Desirable and Stuart variation. Customers can buy them in the shell, shelled, roasted or chocolate coated, to name a few." heaton-pecans.com
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
Mississippi Sesame Crop
According to the 9/20/13 Clarksdale Press Register, Mississippi farms are planting sesame for the first time. “Thomas Jefferson said the sesame seed ‘is among the most valuable acquisitions our country has ever made.’”
I love them. We eat a lot of hummus with fresh veggies and sauté with it. I see them on hamburger buns and crackers. I’ve bought jars of toasted and plain for salads. Halva is worth traveling miles for. We bought it in the refrigerated section of a Middle Eastern store in Omaha, NE. Krysia and I would slice off tiny slivers and eat them unadorned. La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame Oil is in my cupboard. The label states, “Handcrafted in Japan with 270 years of tradition.” I could leave a bowl of oil out all the time. The fragrance strikes a deep note of satisfaction and reminds me of hot dry days, something we don’t have in Mississippi, simplicity, minimalism, natural fibers, dates and figs, huge tents with Persian rugs on the sand, Sultans, belly dancers, and camels - a mini-vacation.
CPR, "In Middle Eastern and Asian countries sesame seeds are a staple that is hand-picked. The US has few growers which requires importing 75%. McDonald’s is looking for American grown seed. Thanks to some recent engineering, a new variety of sesame that was developed around the turn of the last century now exists and this variety has a thicker pod that doesn’t easily break apart. They are drought tolerant, so it didn’t matter that the summer was long and dry. They can be harvested by machine."
One of the growers brought a sesame plant to church this morning. It stood about 4' high with numberous branches covered with pods about 4" apart. A pod has four chambers of 10 seeds each. He said he will harvest them with the same combine head he uses for soybeans.
Go growers! I am crossing my fingers and stacking up prayers for you.
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
I love them. We eat a lot of hummus with fresh veggies and sauté with it. I see them on hamburger buns and crackers. I’ve bought jars of toasted and plain for salads. Halva is worth traveling miles for. We bought it in the refrigerated section of a Middle Eastern store in Omaha, NE. Krysia and I would slice off tiny slivers and eat them unadorned. La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame Oil is in my cupboard. The label states, “Handcrafted in Japan with 270 years of tradition.” I could leave a bowl of oil out all the time. The fragrance strikes a deep note of satisfaction and reminds me of hot dry days, something we don’t have in Mississippi, simplicity, minimalism, natural fibers, dates and figs, huge tents with Persian rugs on the sand, Sultans, belly dancers, and camels - a mini-vacation.
CPR, "In Middle Eastern and Asian countries sesame seeds are a staple that is hand-picked. The US has few growers which requires importing 75%. McDonald’s is looking for American grown seed. Thanks to some recent engineering, a new variety of sesame that was developed around the turn of the last century now exists and this variety has a thicker pod that doesn’t easily break apart. They are drought tolerant, so it didn’t matter that the summer was long and dry. They can be harvested by machine."
One of the growers brought a sesame plant to church this morning. It stood about 4' high with numberous branches covered with pods about 4" apart. A pod has four chambers of 10 seeds each. He said he will harvest them with the same combine head he uses for soybeans.
Go growers! I am crossing my fingers and stacking up prayers for you.
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Bears and Bait
North Central Arkansas
Note the dark spot
upper center
About an inch down
About an inch down
there's a 2' ledge
black bears walk
to their winter den
not now
closer to winter
Cubs are born
while the mother
sleeps
such a deal
Bears trapped with donuts
and collared
and collared
Some Canadians
use popcorn bait
use popcorn bait
An Alaskan hunter
used Oreos
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
Monday, September 02, 2013
Laboring and Labor Day
America the beautiful!
Toe tickling cold!
Peaceful waters.
Wherever you are, a blessed Labor Day to you and yours.
The Midwest work ethic lives in my blood and bones. I love the feeling of accomplishment. I sleep better. Yesterday I declared war on dust and dirt and labored cleaning house. JB went dove hunting and came home with muddy boots. Oh, well, what's one more cleanup? Two cupboard's contents are organized! I'm working my way to the kitchen. We have closets, but no pantry or basement. Today I sorted a stack of handwritten notes. I could spends hours in a stationery store. Maybe you've received one of my handwritten notes. I like to send news, encouragement, thanks and congratulations. Crane cards and stationery are classy. So is wheat grass paper. I watch for artist's work transferred to cards and sometimes make my own.
Here in the Deep South, hunting is work. Yesterday I learned we now have an "alligator season". Ohhh!!!! An 11'3" gator was taken along the MS River about 15 miles from here. The man who told us was wearing a belt from the one his son got. We are currently in dove season. Our frig has bitty dove breasts soaking in salt water. They'll be marinated in Thousand Island or Zesty Italian dressing, wrapped in bacon and grilled. A couple of bites worth. And then in Nov., hunting season starts. Our guys are good providers. They work at it. It was 105 degrees in the truck yesterday. Buckshot opted not to go. So did I.
However you spent your day, I hope you are happy, healthy and safe.
2013 Red Convertible Travel Series
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