This holiday season I was once again blessed with the duty of dragging all of the Christmas decorations down from the attic and into the living room. I assembled the pre-lit artificial tree, a far cry from the tree of ole we used to buy with a root ball and plant in the back yard or the "live" cut tree we would burn in a ditch around the first week of January. Since I can remember we have decorated the tree with all kinds of things. White lights, mutli-colored lights, multicolored over-sized burn-your-house-down lights, a rainbow of satin thread covered polystyrene balls, paisley ribbons, gold ribbons, strings of real popcorn (yes, I nibbled some) glass balls from gold to gray, cloth and paper decorations made at school, Peanuts wooden decorations made at home, stencil (I'm not sure how to spell that but it is the shiney bits of mylar that was supposed to look like snow... I think... it burns well too) and so many more from years of trees. In the past years parents have put up a tree that looked like anything you might find in the aisle at a department store. Fake tree, ribbons, gold grapes, some ivy and a big flowing ribbon on the top. In her defense she did have a dress store for several years and did the same there during the season. But I remember something else, making that tree shine with my siblings and talking about each and every decoration we put on a metal hook and placed with love on that tree. If I wanted to see the ribbon tree... I can go to Belk or Macy's. I want our tree... the one with pretty decorations and even more goofy, "Where'd we get that" ornaments. So this year I hung them. As I was hanging I wanted the tree to tell a story of Christmases past. The ornaments made with sequins and styrofoam balls; Santa in a hot air balloon, a young married couple in a cuckoo clock, and a little stocking. My dad made these probably more than 40 years ago. We also have the balls my grandmother got from Hallmark about every year in the late 70's and early 80's. My other grandmother knitted little snowflakes and angels in white and sprayed them to keep them stiff for the tree. And then there are the "German Decorations." Those I find in an old Mikasa box with worn masking tape on the top. "German Christmas Oraments Fragile Do Not Store In Attic!" Of course they are among the rest... in the attic. the extreme heat in the summer has ruined a few, but most of my favorites are still intact. There are little wooden hobby horses, little wooden angels, little wooden nativity scenes, little wooden trains and... well you get get the picture. And in more recent years we have collected ornaments from the City of Boaz, the Girl Scouts and various medical institutons. As I hang each of these... from the boughs I remeber the Christmasa long gone but always remembered by these little tokens of the season.
Happy Christmas y'all.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Cobs in one basket
Corn.
We "discovered" this wonderful veggie when the Europeans were welcomed by Native Americans in the New World. It now is said corn has more than 3,000 uses. Cellulose, fuel, livestock feed, pet food and yeah we even eat it from time to time. I grew my first corn in 1983. I "saved" six corn stalks which my neighbor had thinned out of her row of corn. I took those six stalks and planted them on the edge of her garden and got about 10 ears from the lot. The next year I had my own 3 rows in her garden followed by many more in the years to come. (More on this later.) That being said, I love corn. Especially the sweet summer corn the likes of Garrison Keillor goes on and on about. But in recent times I have seen the evil of corn as a whole. We get so much from this useful and tasty vegetable. To my mind, too much. You all know the old adage about "putting all you eggs in one basket." I see what we are doing with corn these days and it scares me a little. What happens if some bizarre blight takes over this rich American product and we are without corn for even a week? No fuel, no biodegradable plastics, and no summer sweet corn. We can get these things from other sources. Just about any high oil plant can make fuel; Hemp, Soy, Canola etc. The same goes for eco-friendly plastics. I like corn... to eat. Let's leave it there. And because of our dependency on the kernels we also now make a sugar from it. Maybe you have heard of it: High Fructose Corn Syrup. There are commercials out now from the corn farmers saying it is okay in moderation. Sure, but go to another country where the bottlers still use real cane sugar and you will see what I mean. Real sugar is good and better for you in a way. HFCS tends to trick the body that it is not as full as it is... therefore we eat or drink more... pumping high calorie syrup into our systems. And we wonder why Americans are fat? Yes corn seems like the miracle veggie and again it does have more than 3,000 uses. But we rely on it too much. Beef gets a mad cow scare and we eat more chicken, fish and pork. Corn gets a bad year and we are out of plastics, fuel, feed and one of my favorite foods. So please keep working on wind power, wind doesn't get diseases, geothermal energy is safe and utilizes what the earth gives us for free, use other plants for oil and feed. My horses always liked oats. They cost more but fill up the same. Please leave the corn for the table and find something else to grow in America's fields and farmland.
We "discovered" this wonderful veggie when the Europeans were welcomed by Native Americans in the New World. It now is said corn has more than 3,000 uses. Cellulose, fuel, livestock feed, pet food and yeah we even eat it from time to time. I grew my first corn in 1983. I "saved" six corn stalks which my neighbor had thinned out of her row of corn. I took those six stalks and planted them on the edge of her garden and got about 10 ears from the lot. The next year I had my own 3 rows in her garden followed by many more in the years to come. (More on this later.) That being said, I love corn. Especially the sweet summer corn the likes of Garrison Keillor goes on and on about. But in recent times I have seen the evil of corn as a whole. We get so much from this useful and tasty vegetable. To my mind, too much. You all know the old adage about "putting all you eggs in one basket." I see what we are doing with corn these days and it scares me a little. What happens if some bizarre blight takes over this rich American product and we are without corn for even a week? No fuel, no biodegradable plastics, and no summer sweet corn. We can get these things from other sources. Just about any high oil plant can make fuel; Hemp, Soy, Canola etc. The same goes for eco-friendly plastics. I like corn... to eat. Let's leave it there. And because of our dependency on the kernels we also now make a sugar from it. Maybe you have heard of it: High Fructose Corn Syrup. There are commercials out now from the corn farmers saying it is okay in moderation. Sure, but go to another country where the bottlers still use real cane sugar and you will see what I mean. Real sugar is good and better for you in a way. HFCS tends to trick the body that it is not as full as it is... therefore we eat or drink more... pumping high calorie syrup into our systems. And we wonder why Americans are fat? Yes corn seems like the miracle veggie and again it does have more than 3,000 uses. But we rely on it too much. Beef gets a mad cow scare and we eat more chicken, fish and pork. Corn gets a bad year and we are out of plastics, fuel, feed and one of my favorite foods. So please keep working on wind power, wind doesn't get diseases, geothermal energy is safe and utilizes what the earth gives us for free, use other plants for oil and feed. My horses always liked oats. They cost more but fill up the same. Please leave the corn for the table and find something else to grow in America's fields and farmland.
The Youth in Asia
If you are looking for the David Sedaris essay of the same name about putting down family dogs please search elsewhere, otherwise I offer:
I have long since lost the awe and wonder of the "show" at any Japanese steakhouse. You know, big flames, singed eyebrows, shrimp tail tossing, egg breaking, big flames, Japanese Dr. Pepper, a cook who is from no where near Japan but tries his darndest* to fake the accent, and did I mention the big flames? But earlier this evening I rather saw something new! My advice is now:
1) Go on a Monday night (you don't have to sit a table with other people you don't know)
2) Bring at least two adorable children (and one of their parents if the said children are not yours, otherwise the law may get involved. Kidnapping is a federal offense I am told.)
3) Enjoy the fun!
One child will like big flames, the other small flames, that will be guaranteed. Yes, while you will get the onion volcano, the flaming grill and hand, which you will have to remind the children: We Do Not Try At Home!, and the clickedy clack of the knife, fork, spatula-thingy (that's the official name. . . I know because I asked.) But, the little guys will get to do some egg flipping (albeit not perfect but really people, we just want to break the eggs, it doesn't matter if the land just right) they also get to toss shrimp tails at the hat of an authentic Japanese chef named Pedro. But the real fun is the giant pile o' fried rice. Using it along with , ginger sauce, a few chopped green beans and a little cube of carrot I, and I assume the kids, got quite a show. It started out simple with a heart shape (I know, "Yeah so what?" Just wait for it you impatient people!) Then into a certain mouse (name not mention fearing copyright infringement) and then a bunny, complete with carrot. Then the topper, the grande finale, the piece de resistance. . . SpongeBob SquarePants in fried rice, true art my dear friends, true art! And thrilled children, one of whom finished her meal for the most part, the other loved the prep just not the product. But i ain't namin' names.
If you offer me money I might tell you where this magical kingd-- I mean, place is located, and no, it is not in Florida. And be sure to ask for extra salad dressing when you sit down. . . it's to die for.**
*SpellCheck catches this word, I have no idea why.
** for all the grammarians out there "For it, is to die." But really? What since does that make?
I have long since lost the awe and wonder of the "show" at any Japanese steakhouse. You know, big flames, singed eyebrows, shrimp tail tossing, egg breaking, big flames, Japanese Dr. Pepper, a cook who is from no where near Japan but tries his darndest* to fake the accent, and did I mention the big flames? But earlier this evening I rather saw something new! My advice is now:
1) Go on a Monday night (you don't have to sit a table with other people you don't know)
2) Bring at least two adorable children (and one of their parents if the said children are not yours, otherwise the law may get involved. Kidnapping is a federal offense I am told.)
3) Enjoy the fun!
One child will like big flames, the other small flames, that will be guaranteed. Yes, while you will get the onion volcano, the flaming grill and hand, which you will have to remind the children: We Do Not Try At Home!, and the clickedy clack of the knife, fork, spatula-thingy (that's the official name. . . I know because I asked.) But, the little guys will get to do some egg flipping (albeit not perfect but really people, we just want to break the eggs, it doesn't matter if the land just right) they also get to toss shrimp tails at the hat of an authentic Japanese chef named Pedro. But the real fun is the giant pile o' fried rice. Using it along with , ginger sauce, a few chopped green beans and a little cube of carrot I, and I assume the kids, got quite a show. It started out simple with a heart shape (I know, "Yeah so what?" Just wait for it you impatient people!) Then into a certain mouse (name not mention fearing copyright infringement) and then a bunny, complete with carrot. Then the topper, the grande finale, the piece de resistance. . . SpongeBob SquarePants in fried rice, true art my dear friends, true art! And thrilled children, one of whom finished her meal for the most part, the other loved the prep just not the product. But i ain't namin' names.
If you offer me money I might tell you where this magical kingd-- I mean, place is located, and no, it is not in Florida. And be sure to ask for extra salad dressing when you sit down. . . it's to die for.**
*SpellCheck catches this word, I have no idea why.
** for all the grammarians out there "For it, is to die." But really? What since does that make?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
