Today’s post is Part of a 31 Day writing series where I will choose moments from my life and let them be my writing prompt for the day. On Weekends, I do a Weekend Toss, which is a combination of links to blogs I have enjoyed, or random updates and sometimes a scripture for Sunday. Today’s I am sharing the links to other bloggers from the #Write31days group. I hope you click on the buttons below from their series and check them out. Today’s bloggers are from the Inspiration and Faith category. Even though these are all from the same category, I think you will find that there is a variety of subject matter and writing style. Please leave them a comment to let them know you stopped by. For all the post in my Prompted to Write series, click the button, top left. These are all blogs that I have been visiting during the past 10 days.
Meeting house at Shaker Village, Pleasant Hill, KY
I discover new things. I think. I hope. But, I don’t always remember the little interesting things that I pick up here and there. Which means most months, it is time to share over at Emily’s and I realize I don’t have a list. I do try to write things down as I go, but I usually forget, or think that I will remember later. You know how that goes. Right? So, I wanted to share this month and I did write a couple or three things down on the back of an envelope so that I would be able to wow you with my knowledge. Whatever!
1. I took a trip recently and on the way discovered a new to me restaurant in Lexington, KY. Shakespeare and Company. It was a great atmosphere and the food was wonderful.
2. I discovered a new vegetable that I had never heard of. SALSIFY. Truly. Salsify is a root vegetable somewhat similar to a parsnip. I had it served to me on a trip to Shaker Village. It was in a cream based casserole that involved cheese and a crumb topping. It was wonderful. When the waitress was telling us the vegetables we would be served with our dinner I kept thinking she was talking about some kind of salsa dish. She finally spelled it for me. I googled it. Here is a link to a Washington Post article that talks about Salsify as well as other obscure veggies.
3. I discovered Salsify at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill near Lexington, KY where I went with a friend on a much needed girls getaway. I think I may have been there once as a young girl with my family for a brief visit. But that was so many years ago, that this was like going for the first time. It’s only about an hour and a half from where I live. While there, I learned a few things about Shaker history that I did not know before. Like the fact that they wrote over 20,000 songs. They also had “dance” moves in their songs, such as a sweeping motion when they sang about sweeping, which was a metaphor for keeping your heart clean. Of course, the turning around for one of their most famous songs, Simple Gifts, was one of their “dance” moves as well. They were known for shaking and moving, or as others call it “ecstatic dancing”, thus they became known by the name “Shaker”. If you want more history you can go here.
Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, KY The far house in the picture is the East Family House where we stayed.
4. Ok, this next thing I discovered is just a little creepy, but I just couldn’t not share. Did you know that there is a Home For Wayward Baby Dolls. I kid you not. And even more astonishing, it is practically in my back door. The next county over. Deep in Rowan County, Kentucky. While at aforementioned Shaker Village, I was reading a magazine called STORY, which is full of stories about Kentucky folks and what they are up to. It seems they focus on the quirky or unusual stories. In this particular issue there was a story about a couple in Rowan County that have quite the “display” of dolls, doll parts, mannequins etc., scattered around their farm. They even have doll heads on tobacco stakes. Cecil and Bet Ison, the creators of this bizarre state of misshapen, wayward dolls, refer to it as “research”. Whatever. There is a Facebook page and a Flicker page, if you need to know more about these shenanigans. Or, you could check out this article written by a student of Folk Studies at Western Ky University. Did I mention that this is really creepy? My friend thinks this would be a good October trip. I’ll keep you posted on the developments. If I dare to venture into the land of wayward dolls.
This picture came from the Facebook page of Home For Wayward Baby Dolls.
5. Finally, I discovered that you can need a last minute dish to take to a family gathering and just start throwing things together and come up with a pretty good bean dip that everybody raves over (unless they were just being nice). This is my adaptation of similar recipes I’ve seen here and there. Disclaimer: due to the use of processed cheese this is probably not the healthiest dish to eat. I wouldn’t call it gourmet either. But it was a big hit, so here you go. Makes a great game day snack.
In a large, heavy pan, melt about 2T BUTTER on Med heat Add 2 cans (approx 15 oz ea) REFRIED BEANS ( I used El Paso) Add 1 Jar WHITE CORN / BEAN SALSA (I used the Sam’s/Great Value brand) Add 1 packet TACO SEASONING (I used El Paso) Mix to incorporate taco seasoning, then: Add approx 1/2 box of VELVEETA CHEESE, cut into cubes. (You could do more cheese if you like it really cheesy and I loosely call this cheese ) Stir cheese into bean mixture, let melt, then: Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of MAYO (I used our local store brand) (start with the smaller amount and then add more if you think it’s needed – shhh, this is my secret ingredient!) Continue cooking on med to low heat until all cheese is melted, stir often to keep from sticking. Serve with your favorite TORTILLA CHIPS and enjoy! Makes a great game day snack. Although I haven’t tried this, I’m sure it would probably work well in a crockpot too – just grease the crockpot with a little butter to prevent sticking. My husband suggested that this would also be good with taco seasoned ground beef added – he’s probably right, so I may try this the next time I make it.
6. I guess this is technically the finally, but I didn’t discover this in August, more like April-ish, and I felt the need to share the info with you now. You may or may not remember that I shared back in March (#7) about how it’s ok to eat GMO foods. I’m not sure I agree with that, and in the spirit of telling both sides of the story, I wanted to point you to a documentary that I found interesting. It is called David Vs. Monsanto. It is well worth watching and gives you food for thought.
Ok, thanks for bearing with me as I share my August discoveries. At least the one’s I remembered. Please pop on over to Chatting at the Sky and read what other people discovered in August.
Discovering in Grace,
Teresa
Note: All pictures used in this post were taken by me, with the exception of the baby dolls, it came from the Facebook page of Home for Wayward Baby Dolls.
1. I learned that I need to enjoy the journey as well as the destination. Literally and Metaphorically. I am not the best traveler. I love new places, but getting there is not so much fun, especially when it involves rain, hills, curves and big trucks. This truth also hit home metaphorically, during my visit to the Barn with Emily and company. I Learned so much at this event. Still processing.
2. I also learned that I need to accept where I am on the journey. This lesson came via Renee Swope in the words she spoke to me about learning not to “resist or resent”.
3. I learned from my cousin, Tim, that sometimes when the hurt is too much we can soften it with humor.
4. I learned that I like my November to be warmer, rather than colder. The cold weather hit sooner than I would have preferred.
5. I learned that I have too much stuff and should really consider purging. In all honesty, I already knew this, but was given the opportunity this month to learn this lesson again. It is a work in progress.
What I’ve learned in June. A reflective list of realizations, some new, some rediscovered. Join the party hosted by Emily over at Chatting at the Sky and see what others are sharing about June lessons.
1. I like cool spring days better than hot, humid summer days and we were blessed with several of those early in the month.
2. Hydrangeas need lots, lots, lots of water. They wilt at the first sign of too much heat. But they are beautiful and worth the extra maintenance. I hope the one I planted this month survives. And I hope it retains the beautiful blue color. There is much I don’t know about Hydrangeas yet.
3. Speaking of high maintenance, my brother would rather I call him once with a list of all things going on, instead of calling him randomly. Then he can get back to me. Whatever! Today’s list for him (a list within a list if you will): I love you. How is your foot? Have you seen Dad’s new building yet? Aunt C is in the hospital. Aunt K is in the nursing home. B is going back to Texas for a week and then she’ll be back here for a while. Come see us sometime. Tell T and the kids we love them. If you need me I’m only a phone call away! Come to church with us sometime. So, when I called him, he actually answered. Turns out I’m supposed to mail the list every Friday. I just might do that. I know he loves me and I think he was just joking about the list. Bottom line – he doesn’t like to talk on the phone. I don’t either, but I do like to keep in touch with my brother once in a while. So, I call him sometimes. He’ll get over it. If I didn’t call he’d think I didn’t love him anymore. And, a list is very efficient, the call lasted less than five minutes.
4. I did not learn this in June (I’ve always known), but was once again reminded that I love my sister and I love having her home from Texas, she fills in some gaps that are missing when she is not here. I think I’ll lasso her, tie her up and keep her here. Can you tell I’ve been catching up with McLeod’s daughters on Netflix? Sisters are a gift to be treasured.
5. They killed Claire McLeod off on McLeod’s daughters. I know this is old news to most people who remember this show. I just discovered this last night and I’m still in shock. She was the pivotal character. I hope I did not spoil this for anyone, I realize I may not be the only one ten years behind. (it was just as depressing as Matthew dying on Downton Abbey – oops, hopefully you already knew that).
6. I should remember that if you attend church business meetings, you will be elected to be the clerk or something like that.
7. I’m discovering that as much as I love people, I really need a lot of quiet time to reflect and regroup.
8. I like the idea of owning a first edition book over the idea of selling it for big bucks. That is a true book lover. I also have too many books, but I did not learn this in June.
9. I read lots of blogs in June rather than doing a lot of writing on my blog. I came to some conclusions that I’m formulating into a post. I’ll share my thoughts once they are in line.
10. I’ve been seeing that depression is a topic that we need to speak out about. I have some thoughts brewing about this too that I want to write about on my blog.
11. I’m so over all this equality stuff. I will not share my thoughts on my blog. There are already too many voices out there espousing opinions. OK, I will say one thing: God knows the truth of everything and he knows his designs and plans. I need to trust him and follow his lead. OK, two things: words have meanings and those meanings should not be changed. It is what it is. That is all I will say. You have to choose your own opinion about all this stuff. Hopefully you will do that prayerfully.
12. Prayer, even in the little everyday things is vitally important. It builds our faith. Praying daily helps prepare us for the bigger issues. It makes us more grounded when they come. And come they will.
13. After 29 years I love my husband more than ever. We celebrated our marriage this month – not a new thing I learned, but a good reminder of where we’ve been on the journey to where we’re going.
So, what have you learned or re-learned in June? You can link-up here to share , or if you want to read what others have learned, just pop on over and read some of the other blogs.
Today’s post is Part of a 31 Day writing series where I will choose moments from my life and let them be my writing prompt for the day. On Weekends, I do a Weekend Toss, which is a combination of links to blogs I have enjoyed, or random updates and sometimes a scripture for Sunday. Today’s I am sharing the links to other bloggers from the #Write31days group. I hope you click on the buttons below from their series and check them out. Today’s bloggers are from the Inspiration and Faith category. Even though these are all from the same category, I think you will find that there is a variety of subject matter and writing style. Please leave them a comment to let them know you stopped by. For all the post in my Prompted to Write series, click the button, top left. These are all blogs that I have been visiting during the past 10 days.
Teresa L Hardymon 
