Good morning friends,
In another place and time, I'd have picked up the phone last evening to call my mother and tell her about my day. Since that's no longer a possibility, y'all are the 'lucky' recipients. (*rueful smile*)
So, the Plan was, Tom and I would get up early and tackle the yard.
When daylight arrived, however, I realized he was in no shape to move about.
My mind was abuzz with possibility. Blame it on Mother Nature's benevolence, but I felt led to go out and do something.
First stop: Nearby St. Mark's Episcopal was having their annual 'Angel Fest' -- arts/crafts, baked goods sales and smoked butts. I hadn't pre-ordered but was early enough to get one; thankfully, the 'butt-masters' had planned for such an eventuality.
Loved their sign: "Grouchy old men giving free advice. It may not be good advice, but it's free."
We got to chatting and discovered friends in common. "Yep, F's preaching here tomorrow. We're gonna make a Whiskey-palian out of him!" (Not so sure, they hadn't already been sampling, but it felt good being around such jovial folks.
Naturally, I couldn't refuse a container of their spicy hot boiled peanuts!
Next stop, Prattville's Grits festival.
Before we do, however ...
'Not sure why, but I've not listened to the radio in my car in years.
For some reason, however, I turned on what I thought was the local Country station only to hear THIS.
It may be going on 50 years since Sideshow was popular, but yep. I remembered all the words.
If I hadn't had both hands on the steering wheel, there's a good chance I'd been doing the wave.
Anyway.
I don't mean this in a sacrilegious way, but there's times I think my family might get weary of me repeating the same old story:
My father seriously loved his grits. Unfortunately, living in 1950-60's northern New Mexico it was not only unavailable -- but largely unheard of.
Only when our summer road trips took us through the deep South, could he find grits.
His pleasure was palatable -- almost a religious experience.
... That's why, when I'm served a steaming pile, I'm likely to hear a little voice in my head, "Eat this in remembrance of me."
What to do but turn on my blinker.
Smoked meatloaf
There were also booths featuring shrimp-and-grits, jalapeno-and-grits, Rotel-and-grits, etc., etc.
Unremarkable, but delicious -- made simply with chicken broth, onion and garlic.
There are times I wonder what my son might say about me.
Just curious -- what would you say you'd like your loved ones to enjoy eating "in remembrance."
Well, there's weeds calling my name.
Y'all have a blessed Sunday, and thank you for visiting!
Y'all have a blessed Sunday, and thank you for visiting!
Hugs, Myra
An interesting read, Mevely, even though I must confess a lot of foods you mention I don't know what they are because we don't have them over here. Butts, grits, and boiled peanuts. Of course we have salted peanuts and peanut butter; but I've never heard of boiling them.
ReplyDeleteIt's good when some foods, (or music or places), remind us of our loved ones. Of course we do them honour when we enjoy such foods in their memory. When we miss someone it proves that their presence had a positive effect on our lives.
God bless you and yours always, my friend.
Thank you, Victor! I don't know exactly how to describe the peanuts, but they come out of the shell quite soft. And salty from the brine. Gotta watch out for the squirt when one cracks the shell, tho.
DeleteI just found and added a couple images (above from the web), to show what I mean by 'smoking butt.' (*grin*)
DeleteMany thanx for taking the trouble to show the pork photos, Mevely. Much appreciated. I think over here it is called pork shoulder. I've seen it at the supermarket referred to as pork shoulder. It comes tied with string as in the second photo. Very tasty with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and also parsnips. All together in a big tray and in the oven.
DeleteGod bless always, my friend.
P.S. - But I have never seen boiled peanuts over here. We have them roasted in their shells. Or roasted with salt not in the shells. Or covered in chocolates.
DeleteGod bless.
The first time I took a trip south was also the first time I tasted grits. I liked them and it seems they come with every meal too. I don't remember what kind they were, but they were tasty. They do make a tasty side dish for any meal. I learned a lot going south. Every town we came to had houses on different sides of the tracks. One side would be poor and run down and the other side prosperous and pretty. I had my first experience of seeing a drinking fountain marked for only whites. I didn't realize there was so much segregation left in the south. Up north we didn't have those things. We were traveling to Biloxi, Mississippi to pick up my DDH when he retired from the military. It was a fun ride! Thanks for bringing back some good memories! Love, ma
ReplyDeleteI remember those segregated drinking fountains in 50's America. Even in 1957 when we got off the ship in NYC. How far we've come!
Deleteyou had me at the grits festival. my dad would love that, he had grits almost every morning, grits, eggs and toast with bacon or sausge. i love grits with just about anything in it. i would find it hard to pick. maybe 2 spoon of each of them. as long as no one tried to make me eat it with sugar and milk. ugh. just butter or cheese if how i eat it. now i am longing for hot cider. oh yum.
ReplyDeletewish i could have tagged along and i have never heard that song before. no uncommon since i was in the midst of raising two sons, working and fighting with a hubby 50 years ago
Ours dads would have loved eating together. The only difference, my father's had to include cereal with half-and-half. He declared it, "the most important meal of the day."
DeleteI have learned to love grits but Joe could never eat them. Glad you got out and enjoyed the two festivals!! And I haven't heard that song Sideshow for years. So fun listening to it again!! Have a happy week ahead!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it, tho'! I was 'hum-muttering' it all weekend.
DeleteI absolutely love grits, Myra! Danny makes a shrimp and grits to die for.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think there's anything wrong with remembering someone when you are eating/drinking a food item that reminds you fondly of someone you love. I love remembering the Lord every time I take communion.
Have a blessed Sunday!
My Tom loves shrimp and grits -- I'll bet Danny's is delicious.
DeleteThank you for understanding my 'take' (borrowing a line) from Holy Communion.
I'm so glad you found that festival! that sounds like so much fun. ❤️
ReplyDeleteYes, it's been a long time since I took myself on an excursion 'just because.'
DeleteI grew up in Alabama and grits were a staple food, but only for breakfast with lots of butter and without what some heathens put on it___sugar!
ReplyDeleteWhenever I bake chocolate chip cookies I eat one in remembrance of dad, and anytime I have eaten yellow cake with chocolate fudge icing I have to look to the sky and tell Mom it does not hold a candle to hers.
Hahahaha ... my DIL constantly gives my son 'heck' for sprinkling sugar on his grits.
DeleteI love your private remembrances.
I enjoyed the daytrip with you. I smiled at your thoughts of your dad, "Do this in remembrance!' loved that. Oh yep, we have been a few places that have no grits. Funny thing I had to move to Florida before I heard of cheese grits. [-)
ReplyDeleteLoved the line used by the Free advice. LOL
SWEET entry Thanks for the trip
Sherry & jack
Thank you so much! Have yourselves a blessed day.
DeletePS I do forget to tell you, but thanks for the shout out of the book on the side panel. SWEET of you.
ReplyDelete😉
DeleteSt. Louis is north enough that grits are a novelty, but it doesn't take a long drive south to find them at every restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why that is?
DeleteI suppose I'm in the catagory of grouchy old men, but I only give advice to myself.....
ReplyDeleteI'm hesitant to ask what smoked butts are - - hopefully they aren't anything that my unwholesome imagination concieves *smile*
I don't get excited over grits - - or any southern cooking.
But I'd rather eat grits than tackle weeds.
Funny fella! Boston Butts are pork -- not from the animal's hindquarters but the shoulder area. Smoked low and slow over aromatic wood and falling off the bone good.
DeleteI just added a couple of (web) images above to 'splain what I mean by smoking butt. LOL!
DeleteThanks for informing me
DeleteIt sounds delicious!
I love smoked butt and grits (not necessarily together, however! LOL) Not a big boiled peanuts fan, although you can buy them everywhere around this part of the country. My mother never cooked grits or black eyed peas. She was a "yankee cook" and considered the above items "pig food". (her words, not mine). Trying to think what I would eat in her honor or memory...no one else makes them like she did...orange cookies, apple pie, and coconut cream pie. Homemade ice cream. I probably wouldn't go somewhere to eat them in memory of her because they couldn't be as good as hers. My dad liked just about anything, so I can't think of anything in particular for him either. Now, picking fresh apples from an orchard or fresh cherries, that would remind me of my mother. She loved them, but they didn't have them in Florida after we moved here, so it was always a dream in her mind, that and lilacs. I loved your day's adventures! You really had a great time. Thank you for sharing it with us. Wish I could've come along!
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish you might have, too! Except for the holidays, we never had many desserts around, but how she loved fresh fruit. That and on the rare occasion, spumoni. A few years back I ordered that "in remembrance" but didn't care for it at all. Sorry, mom!
Deletei enjoyed reading this post. You certainly went on an adventure. Oh how I wish I could talk to my dad. The boiled peanuts sound good. I'm not familiar with that song. The rotel and grits sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes, I may try making that. I love to experiment with my food, lol.
DeleteI imagine our kids would drink a Diet Pepsi in remembrance of me. They might actually eat grits in remembrance of Mark!! He loves grits!
ReplyDelete😋
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