Southern all the way

This past Friday night, I had the pleasure of having dinner with none other than the vivacious and what's-not-to-love-about-her Christy Jordan, Miss Southern Plate herself, along with her sweet mother Janice, and their gracious friend Shannon Kozee who is the Social Media Director at Big Idea (Veggie Tales, gotta love that). We met at Loveless Cafe and it was a delightful evening.

 

Do you see Carol Fay's picture on the wall to the right? She was known (and still is) as "The Biscuit Lady" here in Nashville. For years, she made anywhere from 4,000 - 7,000 biscuits a day! Can you imagine? Miss Carol Fay passed away in 2010, but her memorable touches still linger all over the Loveless Cafe.

Christy and her mom, Janice, ordered the Oatmeal Raisin Pie (I think that was the name) for dessert, and it was delicious! Shannon ordered (or I think we might have ordered for her, LOL), the Coconut Pie. But alas, we failed to capture a picture of that delightful and delicious creation. 

I ordered the Banana Pudding. A standard favorite that Loveless does so well!

And this is adorable Shannon with a copy of A Lasting Impression. We were goofing around in the parking lot, even though it was freezing!

I love meeting new friends, and I gotta say… Hanging with these women was fun and "just the ticket" after a full day of writing. The writing is going very well, btw. Had a 2,000 word day yesterday, which is great for me. And I'm hoping for––and am well on my way to––the same today.

Btw, if you're a recipe lover, be sure and check out Loveless Cafe's recipes posted on their site.  Christy's new cookbook is a winner for the recipes alone, but the family stories she intersperses make it a real treasure.

And finally…

Do you remember Preston Leatherman, the guy who danced around the mall before? Robin shared one of his videos a while back. Well, he's just released a new "Dancing with an iPod in Public--Valentine's Edition" that he filmed guess where... Right here in Nashville at the Cool Springs Galleria. So we're keeping this post Southern all the way.

 

Judy, is that you I see in the background shopping at Victoria Secrets? Just sayin'...

Now, be honest...did you "chair dance," even a little, while watching this? (I did.)

Blessings on your day, 

Tammy

Tammy cooks. Robin knits.

Like all the ladies of Writes of Passage, I'm on deadline. The good news at this moment is, I am on schedule instead of running behind. Still, we all need to get our heads out of the WIPs every now and then. So when you read this post, I will be frolicking in the mountains of Idaho.

Idaho had no snow less than two weeks ago. Our mountains were bare. The ski resorts couldn't open. The specter of drought was lifting its ugly head. Then in one week's time, Idaho got dumped on. Brundage Mountain near McCall (100 miles north of Boise) got five feet of snow in that one week and the mountains are getting more snow every day.

I am not a cold weather person. So I plan to enjoy the snow mostly while looking out the window as I soak in the hot tub in our suite at the romantic hotel where we'll be staying. The McCall Winter Carnival, complete with 30 different ice sculptures scattered throughout the resort town (photo above left is from 2011), opened on the 27th. It is crazy on the first weekend, so we're waiting until Monday to go look at the sculptures. I promise to share photos in a future post.

Back to the title of this post. When Tammy is writing up a storm, she posts pictures of yummy recipes. I relax with my knitting, which means I can never share as many photos. At least not as fast.

The funky scarves I made for my brainstorming buddies in 2008

My first prayer shawl that I started after cancer surgery in 2010

Another funky scarf for a writer buddy

My second prayer shawl, to a friend who had an accident

My 3rd prayer shawl, to a friend who suffered a loss

The start of my 4th prayer shawl, very different from the others

I've got both my laptop and my knitting with me on this little jaunt, but I'm not setting any writing or yarn goals while I'm away. I'll check in with you all when I can.

~robin

Eye Get the Point!

God used the very first needle.

Yup. In Genesis, it says He sewed animal skins into clothing for Adam and Eve!

After that, sewing took a dive.

The very first needles known were made of bone. Many didn't have an eye; a split in one end held "thread" (animal tendons were dried, pounded, separated, and soaked to become thread.)

Copper, silver, and bronze needles were used in Ancient Egypt and Armenia

300 BC oldest known iron needle (found in present-day Germany)

30AD Jesus talks about the eye of a needle

60 AD Phrygier is credited with discovering embroidery

Middle Ages Hog bristles are waxed, twisted, and used as needles and thread by shoemakers and bookbinders

(Soooo-ie! Pig pigpig. This won't hurt...)

1000AD Spanish Muslims perfect metal needle making and used them for sewing and surgery (I'll take a tent, not a tonsillectomy.)

1200 AD Needles are advertised in China

(These are sewing needles. I don't know when they came up with accupuncture ones.)

1400s Muslims driven from Spain to Arabia, Arabian traders take needles to Europe

1496 Leonardo da Vinci constructs a machine to make sharp ends on needles

(is there anything that man didn't dabble with?)

1500-160o Blacksmiths make needles--very crude

yet Englamd starts using the same technology for making high-quality fish hooks.
(Hmmm. I know a few men who still think fishing is more important than clothes)

(FYI--Those are boar bristles on this!)

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE:

Native Americans use porcupine needles (as sewing needles and other tools)

BACK ACROSS THE ATLANTIC:

1615 Fine steel needs manufactured in Aachen, Germany
the needle making process: cut wire, sharpen both ends. Flatten the middle, punch out the eyes, then separate the wire to create two needles. (This is still the way they're made, but machines do all the work.) Pins are much cheaper--but needles are so labor-intensive, bone, ivory, and even wood are still used.

Remember the old "like finding a needle in a haystack" saying? Impossible as that feat might be, I'm starting to see why someone might try. It would be cheaper to search for days than to buy a new needle!

1730 First needle factory in Aachen, Germany

1755 First patent ever awarded for a needle with an eye (WOW, no one did it until now. Wasn't anyone reading the Bible? Jesus gave them a great idea. Wonder if the patent made the "inventor" rich....)

1800 Crochet is invented by adding a hook to the end of a needle to make tambour lace. Crochet is a rich woman's leisure activity until the Irish Potato Famine. Poor Irish women fashion hooks of metal with cork handles and make lace to support their families. (Neccesity may be the mother of invention, but mothers invent in the face of necessity.)

1811 Machine to press eyes in needle invented by Abel & Michael Morall

1845 Elias Howe invents Singer sewing machine (they won't be available to housewives or awhile yet)

1850s Needle making machines begin to turn cottage industry into a major business

Needles were prized possessions. Because of their value--both in cost and in need--special holders called etui were made. Viking, Egyptian, and Chinese needle holders have been excavated. Victorian women often wore their etui.

BTW-- Jesus said it was easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.

Some scholars say "camel" is a mistranslation of "Rope".

Others point out that the thin, artistic doorways built into ancient walls were nicknamed "needles."

All three images are vivid, though.
And no matter which needle you use, unless you don't have eyes to see, the point doesn't matter.

Cathy, ...preparing for puns...

Learning to Tat

I've decided that I didn't have enough to do so I've been learning to tat. Tatting is an ancient art and one that many fear will disappear. So I thought as a person who loves history, it was up to me to help save this wonderful artform.

Tatting has a varied history. Many people think it relates back to fishing nets. In the Victorian age it was considered unlady-like to sit idle. Ladies often occupied themselves with tatting or some other form of needlework. Tatting was easy to carry with them to visits and resulted in beautiful pieces of lace.

There are all sorts of styles and every country seems to call it by a different name. The German word for tatting is Schiffchenarbeit meaning 'the work of the little boat'. Since the shuttles used in tatting are boat shaped this makes sense to me. The Italians call it occhi meaning 'eyes',
referring to the rings which make up the lace; the Turkish say
makouk which is their word for shuttle; the French call it frivolite
and the Swedish word is similar - frivolitet.

But no matter what you call it - tatting is a wonderful craft to learn. I have an incredible teacher I meet with from time to time. Her name is Pru and she is one super smart lady. She has a passion for keeping tatting alive and I have great admiration for her.

Tatting requires a shuttle,
thread and a lot of patience. There are special ways to hold your hands and position your shuttle and thread, and of course there are specific patterns to follow and stitches to learn.






The result can be all sorts of projects from bookmarks to lace trim to clothing and










handbag decoration.

and today antique tatting is highly sought by collectors. Who knows maybe 100 years from now - collectors will be fighting to buy my tatting--but at this early stage of learning - I kind of doubt it.
God Bless You
Tracie

Fingerprints

My goodness, Judy is a hard act to follow. Something I can usually count on when I open one of her posts is that she's going to make me giggle. But I know from my long-standing relationship with her, as funny as she can be, she can also be serious. We've had some indepth conversations that ministered to my heart. I guess it's safe to say Judy's left her imprint on me in a variety of ways.

My birthday was Monday, and my girls gave me the sweetest gift--a "Legacy Album."

Each of my girls wrote a note, and they invited family members and friends to contribute. Such joy reading people's birthday wishes and specific memories.

Reading the entries made me so much more aware of how important each of us are. Every person who contributed to the album matters to me, and--if they wrote honestly (and I have no reason to doubt them!)--I matter to them. That makes me feel pretty good. And accountable. What we say, what we do, how we behave...it all matters. We have the opportunity to leave an imprint on people's hearts...and those imprints can be positive or negative. It's up to us.

At the very beginning of the album, my daughter included part of a song called, "I Want To Leave a Legacy" by Nicole Nordemann. (The video of all the words are below.) I think every Christian has the goal of one day standing before our Father-God and hearing Him utter those words from Matthew 25, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"

Take a peek at the video and consider the meaning behind the words. And then, since January is National Thank You Month, why not let someone who's left a positive imprint on your life know part of their legacy is you? I know they'll appreciate it.

God bless you muchly as you journey with Him! ~Kim

P.S. -- January 31st, I'll be hosting Book Banter on the Bethany House Facebook Page. Yes, there will be give-aways, and I'll announce the winners next week right here at Writes of Passage. Pop by my Facebook Page for the details! I look forward to chatting with you. :o)

A Salute to Rosie and our Friends Down Under

Since Australia Day is January 26, I wanted to post a bit about the country. After all, Rosie is one of our loyal Writes of Passage readers, and she lives Down Under. So I've posted a number of facts about the country that I thought you might find interesting. Of course, I couldn't resist adding a few comments of my own.

Australia is made up of five mainland states and one island state, and two mainland territories. There are also seven offshore (external) territories. (We should test Rosie and see if she can name them without peeking at the map).

Christmas in Australia is held in mid-summer, as that is the season when December 25 falls. Christmas can be celebrated on the beach or around the backyard pool, and does not need to involve a full roast dinner. (I don’t think anyone told Rosie she didn’t have to cook a big meal on Christmas—it sounded to me like she prepared a huge meal and plum pudding to go with it!)

Australia is where the world's only egg-laying mammals (echidnas and platypuses) are found. They are known as monotremes. (I didn’t know that. By tomorrow, I will have forgotten. That's what old age does for you.)

It is home to the world's two largest monoliths, Mt Augustus and Uluru/Ayers Rock. (Oprah and her group went to Ayers Rock—not sure if they went to Mt Augustus since she didn't invite me along.)

The Australian accent has been scientifically proven to be the most difficult to accurately mimic. (That guarantees I won’t be trying to talk like Rosie.)

Most marsupials of the world are found in Australia. A well-known marsupial is the kangaroo, and there are over 60 different species of kangaroo in Australia. (I’m fond of koalas and they should have mentioned the wallaby, don’t you think?)

Australia is the only place where dasyurids, or carnivorous marsupials, are found. These animals include the quoll, Tasmanian devil, kowari, ningaui, antechinus, planigale and phascogale--among others. (Not interested in coming face-to-face with any of these.)

Towards the end of 2009, Australia's population reached a milestone of 22 million. This population is one of the smallest, given that Australia's land mass is sixth largest in area. (That means there’s room for all of us if we want to live in the desert.)

Australia was the second last country of the British Empire to be discovered--New Zealand was the last. (Don't tell the folks in New Zealand. We don't want them to pout.)

Australia's national capital is Canberra, which comes from an aboriginal word meaning "meeting place". (I always think of cranberries when I hear someone mention Canberra--which isn't very often.)

Australia was founded as a penal colony. (Hmm. Rosie???)

There is almost no noticeable seismic activity on the mainland continent. (That's good because I'm shaky enough.)

Vegemite, a salty yeast spread high in vitamin B, is a popular food. (I’ve never heard of this, but I did see a Lucille Ball show where she sold vitameatavegamin—maybe there’s some connection.)

Like New Zealand, there are more sheep than people in Australia. (See? I knew there was a reason I was drawn to the country—you all know I’m fond of sheep.)

Pancakes may be served for dinner as well as for breakfast. (I do that too. What with the sheep and the pancakes, it must mean I’m part Australian.)

Australia is home to the Great Barrier Reef which is amazing to snorkel or scuba dive in, not to mention for its abundance of tropical fish and marine life. (That would be great once I slim down after eating all of those tasty recipes of Tammy’s.)

Australia has no current volcanic activity. (That’s good because I’m not fond of having hot lava coming my way.)

Australia is the largest producer of wool in the world. (There you go—those sheep are busy making sure they produce wool--nothing lazy about Australian sheep.)

Australia is the driest continent in the world, apart from Antarctica, where precipitation is actually lower than that of Australia. (This surprised me since there has been extreme flooding in the country. Right, Rosie?)

The world's longest earthworm, stretching up to 4 metres, is found in Gippsland in Victoria. (I’m thinking someone in Victoria has too much time on their hands if they’re out measuring earthworms.)

I probably shouldn't have left you with that earthworm as the final picture in your mind--so mentally erase it and look at that sweet kaola bear instead.

May you find joy as you discover new things about Jesus and His love for you. ~Judy

Cooking is good medicine

Y'all are always ragging on me (okay, well Kim is) for making sweets and nothing else. Well! Last week a sweet gal from our Bible Study had surgery on her feet, and some of us decided to take dinner to her and her family.

I don't know about you guys, but I have some standard "go to" favorites. They're dishes I've made forever, I know the ingredients by heart, and they're "no fail" recipes. They always turn out. No exception to the rule. Love that.

Here they are...

White Wine Chicken with Herb Dressing

Mom's recipe and sooo delicious!

Dirty Rice with Mushrooms

Again, Mom's recipe and out-of-this-world good!

Green Beans with Butter and just a hint of Garlic

No need to ward off Edward Cullen

Frozen Strawberry Salad in Mini Muffin tins

Yes, this counts as a fruit, Kim

Southern Plate's Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Well, since pumpkin is technically a fruit too... : ) 

Oopsie, how did this get in here?

Cherry Dump Cake

A 27+ year Alexander Family Favorite, and another fruit!

So easy to make! Literally, all you do is dump the ingredients

in and pop it into the oven

And the beauty of these dishes? They take less than ten minutes each in prep time! Some of them only five. And they're mistake proof. You cannot mess them up. UNLESS it's your first time making the Cherry Dump Cake and you don't read the directions, and instead of sprinkling the dry cake mix in the dish like it says, you (and your college roommate, Polly) mix the cake according to directions on the back of the box, and and THEN dump it in.

Oh. My. Gracious. What a mess. 

Thankfully, we were using the dorm's oven. Just kidding! Well, we were, but we cleaned it up! But it was a mess! So if you make the Cherry Dump Cake, DO NOT make the cake batter. Just dump the dry mix and run! 

But my favorite pic of all was one that Linda sent me not long after I'd left her house...

LOL! It's her eating dinner!

Gotta love technology and the instantaneous culture we live in

As I was making this dinner, I was reminded of three things:

* Preparing food is such a comforting thing to do, and it's so much a part my childhood memories. I remember Mom cooking meals for families at church. I'm reminded of Jesus cooking fish on the beach for his disciples. And I'm anticipating the day we'll feast together with him once we're all Home.

* I'm so grateful for friends. And specifically for the Bible Study group that meets in our home.

* Cooking is good medicine, it relaxes the brain. As I was stirring and mixing, I actually worked through a scene in this book I'm writing now that I was really stuck on. Maybe it was getting away from the story for an hour or using another part of my brain, who knows. But BAM! I saw how to fix the plot issue and dove back into writing...as I ate a Pumpkin Spice Muffin that must have fallen out of the basket somehow.

So this is one of my standard "go to" meals. What's one of yours?

Tammy

P.S. And yes, you can tell I'm on deadline because this post is about food. But hey! At least it's all protein, and fruits and vegetables this time. 

WANT THE RECIPES? I posted them on my Facebook Page under Southern Baking.

As Time Goes By

By nature, I am not much of a saver. If something doesn't have a use, if I haven't worn it in five years, etc., give it away or throw it out. And because of that tendency of mine, I have actually gotten rid of a few treasures.

My grandmother Madge, about 25

When I was still a kid, my mom had an old treadle sewing machine out in the garage. It had been her mother's. Mom had an electric sewing machine in the house. The one in the garage was junk in her mind. Oh, I wish I had that old junk sewing machine now. Not because it would have great monetary value, but so I could look at it and remember that my grandmother used to sit at it and make clothes for her daughters a hundred years ago.

My grandfather Walter, about 21

But I have managed to hang onto a few possessions that matter. Two of them reside in my lighted curio cabinet, among my china and crystal and collection of Cherished Bears. One is the pocket watch that belonged to my father. Dad was killed in a plane crash when I was 4 months old, and I like having something that was his. The other is the wrist watch that belonged to my maternal grandmother. She was a tiny thing. Just barely 5 feet tall. And she still wore a corset in her 70s (I remember watching her put it on).

My grandparents w/3 daughters (Calif.)

My mom had few possessions by the time she passed away at age 96. She'd divested herself again and again, first when she sold the home where I grew up, next when she sold her last home, next when she moved in with me in her 80's, and again when I downsized from a large, two-story home to a smaller one-level. But I discovered a few gems as I went through her things after her passing, one being letters written in Swedish from my maternal great-grandfather to my grandfather.

My mom & aunts (Idaho)

But I think what I love most among the things I kept from Mom's keepsakes are her dad's property tax receipts from 1909 (Iowa) through 1914 (California) because they revealed something I hadn't known before. The stories I knew about my maternal grandparents were mostly about their lives in Idaho where they moved around 1920. They rented homes and farmland while raising their daughters. It wasn't until their nest was empty that they bought a 40 acre farm with a teeny-tiny house on it. Anyway, I thought they'd always been poor.

Well, it turns out that Grandpa owned land in Iowa, then moved to California where he owned a lemon grove. My one surviving aunt told me that it was her illness and hospitalizations as a child that nearly bankrupted the family and forced their move from California to Idaho. More info I hadn't known before.

Grandpa was 25 years old when he made his last tax payment in Iowa in February 1910 (almost 102 years ago!). The receipt (different from the one shown above) includes a list of taxed personal property. What a treasure for this history-nut! Grandpa owned and was taxed for: 1 colt (2 yrs old); 3 horses (3 yrs & older); 3 heifers (2 yrs old); 4 cows; 1 steer (2 yrs old); 5 swine (over 6 months); and 1 other (musical instruments, watches, jewelry, threshing machines, engines, old grain, etc.). Net value of the personal property listed was $644. Quite substantial for a man of 25 in 1910.

My paternal grandparents and my maternal grandfather were all dead before I was born. My maternal grandmother lived with us until her passing when I was 12. But she left something I prize most of all. An example of her faith. The most persistent memory I have of Grandma is of her seated in her chair near the fireplace with her Bible open on her lap.

Time rushes by. Those old watches no longer keep time. The land my family once possessed belongs to someone else. Only what's done for Christ will last.

~robin

A Kiss for Luck...

"A kiss for luck, and we're on our way..."

Remember that line from the Carpenter's, "We've Only Just Begun?"

Years ago, Chris and I kissed our baby daughter and prayed for guidance and maybe a little dumb luck. I softly sang the first song I wanted our children to hear: "Jesus Loves Me." Kelly cried. Chris laughed and told me I'd better stick to praying. Admittedly, I can't sing so I stuck to praying and kisses. Last week, we gave our daughter a kiss and gave her away.

Tracie and Jim Peterson came down for the wedding. (Tracie looks mahhhhhvelous!) and Tracie took these pictures at the rehearsal and wedding. Here are Kelly and Shannan dressed in their matching bride and groom aprons for the rehearsal... and then in their wedding finery as they were introduced as husband and wife.












Ahhhhh.... Love!

During the rehearsal, Mom's grief welled up when the pastor reached the vows of "In sickness and in health." Never once did she regret that vow, and she missing Daddy so much. A quiet hug, a kiss of understanding... and the next day at the wedding, Mom and I reveled in Kelly and Shannan's happiness.

There is a beauty to each stage of love... whether it is new love, mature love, or remembered love.

But it never hurts to pause, live in the moment, and relish the love we have.







and to cherish the friends and family who care, support us, and pray for us.

It's odd to think that we "gave away" our daughter. Truthfully, I feel we've been given the additional gift of a son. But I'm going to pray for wisdom for them--and us.

I'm grabbing a few kisses for luck, myself. Still, I can't help wondering if Chris kissed me just to insure that I wouldn't sing...

I'll write it, though. Jesus Loves Me. He loves us. And God sings over us as we sleep. I'll bet He leans close, His breath ruffling our hair, and in the quiet, He blesses us with a kiss, too.

Cath