Don't Get Hooked

1-888-SOS-

A regular at the VFW pier-- which is open-- told us hooking turtles is not unusual. He said the folks at the Institute for Marine Studies respond promptly, usually within 30 minutes. (That's a quicker response than Humans in Detroit get!) 

We did not hook a turtle today.

Rosemont Isn't So Rosy

We're on the road. I don't have my shiny things about me my crappy old library at hand, so what follows will be light on historical detail, for now.

This morning, we headed down I55 South toward the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our plan was to make it past Jackson, and then pick our way on back roads to the coast. Plans change. We decided to visit the Mississippi "frontier." Recall the old Maverick theme song, "Natchez to New Orleans."

Riverboat, ring your bell,
Fare thee well, Annabel.
Luck is the lady that he loves the best.
Natchez to New Orleans
Livin on jacks and queens
Maverick is a legend of the west.

Riverboat, ring your bell,
Fare thee well, Annabel.
Luck is the lady that he loves the best.
Natchez to New Orleans
Livin on jacks and queens
Maverick is a legend of the west.
Maverick is a legend of the west.

Neither Mr. Big Food nor I had ever given any consideration to the Mississippi Frontier. 

 

So North of Jackson we picked up the Trace-- The Natchez Trace-- and headed to Natchez. Not to go to Natchez, but to have a look see what was south west of Natchez. (By the way, it's Louisiana-- and yes, Mississippi & Louisiana have CC reciprocity. We pay attention to such things.)

Blah Blah. Insert some reflections on what widening a highway does to local culture. Blah Blah. 

We found ourselves at Rosemont, boy hood home of Jefferson Davis, first and only President of The Confederate States. 

 

Yes. 14 years on we are still having fun.

 

What the heck? It was early in the day. Let's drive up the drive.

 

Mr. Big Food commented that the place could use some bush hogging, and in fact there was someone bush hogging. I thought the road could use some work.

Okay. Fair Enough. They didn't have bush hogs in the 19th century.

They had horsies in the 19th century.

Well. If that's your attitude, no wonder there was no on in the parking lot but us.

Anyone who knows anything about dirt roads in Mississippi knows that that road leading up to Rosemont is not well traveled. No one is beating down a path to see Jeff Davis' boyhood home. 

The Visitor Center. Buy your Tour Tickets HERE.

There is a gazebo where you can learn all about Jeff.

Mr. Big Food and I opted to not disturb the non-existent Rosemont gatekeepers and just move along.

 

I don't know anything about horses.

But I don't think this horse looks well. Again, I don't know anything about horses, but I know about rats, and dogs and humans. I can extrapolate.

It's disturbing that I can see clearly so much of this animal's skeletal structure. Look at those back legs. Look at the hollowness between the lower ribs and back legs. There's no back up energy reserve to support running. 

Suek. Am I wrong?

DANGER KEEP OFF

Pier closed

We knew this. We just wanted to see it for ourselves. 

It's a shame, too. It was a very nice pier and the fishing was good.

The lady I talked with a while back at the Hancock Co. Sheriff's Office blamed it on the Feds. 

It shouldn't take a year to re-open a pier damaged by a hurricane that made labdfall with 80mph winds. I get there was a significant storm surge, but come on. It never used to take a year to reopen a pier that's till standing-- as you can plainly see (click to zoom). 

This Day in History

July 24, 1999. Mr. Big Food & I were wed.

I leave it to my co-bloggers to post some things. 

(STEP UP GIRLS! It's not that hard. See the little thing up in the right hand corner that says "sign in"? Sign in using your gmail account and blog away. Picture posts are fine.) 

Mr Big Food & I are goin' fishin'.

BTW, C, if you could find that ana-er-paper photo and post it, that would be awesome. 

Unedited | Uneducated

These photos were not edited in any way, not even in Gimp.

The Truck, the Trailer & I spend a considerable about of time in a parking lot at State today. 

I dropped Mr. Big Food off before 9, ran my errands, and had time to spare. You know what that means, don't you? 

I spent my spare time at the Palmer Home Thrift Store where all proceeds go The Palmer Home for Children and the crappy old books are just one United States Dollar. 

I seldom look at the paperbacks-- which are 1/2 dollar-- but since I had time to spare... . 

I began reading the paperback revised and expanded edition of Quarrels that Have Shaped the Constitution [1] before the rain began. That John Marshall was a real piece of work, wasn't he? (The Wikipedia entry on him is too kind.)

I scored a paperback collection of The Federalist. [2] Roll over, Alex, John & Jim. Your papers are worth fifty cents in 2013 cents. From the Preface by the editors:

Despite the fact that The Federalist has been standard fare for numerous generations of college and high school students, no edition specifically designed to facilitate their understanding of its teaching, principles, and relevance has heretofore appeared. This new edition is designed to fill this void.

Our experiences in teaching freshmen and sophomores in introductory American government courses at the college level have convinced us of the need for such an edition. The vast majority of our students have entered our courses woefully ignorant of the legacy of out Founding Fathers.

... ignorance of out Constitution and its principles is widespread.

Yeah. What was your first clue? [Hint: John Marshall]

[1] John A. Garraty, ed. Quarrels That Have Shaped the Constitution: Revised Edition. Harper Torchbooks, New York. 1988

[2] Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison. George W. Carey and James McClellan, eds. The Federalist: A Collection of Essays Written in Favor of the New Constitution As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, Debuque, Iowa. 1990

No Place Like Texas

"From A Ranch Near George West, Texas"

Sent to me from Mr. Big Food's Dad my wonderful Father-in-Law!

Royally Ignorant

The Little Prince has arrived!

I happened to be driving around in the truck listening to various satellite radio folks opine on the blessed event. 

Good Lord.

Before I begin my rant in earnest, I'd like to note that the birth of The Little Prince shouldn't be a surprise. There is some forewarning with respect to births of commoners and royalty, alike. Even if you expected a Little Princess, as a "journalist" you had time to prepare-- i.e., read a spot of history-- for the Little Princely contingency. 

But instead, you, the journalists who where there at the hospital were caught unaware.  And so you cobbled together the most unintelligible Royally Ignorant strings of gobbledygook about something happy and decidedly apolitical I've heard in a long time.

To paraphrase what I heard:

Isn't it wonderful that two people who are so in love... .

Little Prince will be raised as Kate was... .

A close loving family... .

William calls Kate's father "Dad"... .

Poor Diana... .

And Little Prince's name? 

Queen must approve... .

Historical significance... .

Familial significance... .

"George" is naturally a forerunner in the betting. George is, of course, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth's father. George never wanted to be king. He was thrust into the throne when his brother, the former King Edward VIII, ran off with that woman, the American divorcee, Mrs. Simpson.

He did not "run off" with that woman. 

What a profoundly and Royally Ignorant thing to say. 

Prince Edward, Formerly Edward VIII, A Farewell,  December 10. 1936

At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.

...

You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the thrown. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the Empire, which, as Prince of Wales, and lately as King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve. 

But you must believe me when I tell you I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.

...

This decision has been made less difficult to me by the sure knowledge that my brother, with his long training in the public affairs of the country and with his fine qualities, will be able to take my place forthwith without interruption or injury to the life and progress of the Empire. And he has one matchless blessing, enjoyed by so many of you, and not bestowed on me-- a happy home with his wife and children.

 ...

God save the King! [1]

According to a very quick perusal of the entry on Edward VIII in The Encyclopædia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge (1955) [2], Prince Edward spent his entire life preparing to be King. By the time he assented to the Throne, he had personally visited just about every star on the Empirical Flag. 

When all is said of the value of King Edward's intimate knowledge of foreign courts and of his personal popularity in foreign capitals, it is essential to insist that he undertook no formal negotiations, nor did he act except upon the advise of his ministers. While helping to win for his country a high place on the councils of the world, he kept careful watch upon the course of events at home.

And you, Royally Stupid Fox News Contributor who didn't know an heir to the British Thrown was about to be born and thus didn't have time to read an encyclopedia entry on George and his brother Ed tell us that Ed ran off with that woman. And that's why The Little Prince should be named "George." 

I think they should name the kid Ed. 

There's more in the encyclopedia entry about the part the US press played in all of this.

I'm searching my memory banks for my closing line. 

Ah.

Jane. You royally ignorant slut. 

[1] Ashley H. Thordike, ed. Modern Eloquence Volume X: Historical Masterpieces European. P.F. Collier & Son, New York. 1941

[2] The Encyclopædia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Chicago, London, Toronto. 1955

Hang Out with Mr. Big Food Himself!

Mr. Big Food will be an invited participant on GOOD's Friday morning Google+ Hangout. 

Friday, July 26 @11:30 PST (that's 1:30 in Mississippi and 2:30 for you city mice back east).

He'll be talking about guns and the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. 

A refresher for those who have not yet committed the Bill of Rights to memory: 

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

~~

Now to the nitty gritty. I have a vague sense of what a Google+ Hangout is. Details to follow as soon as I know more. (I would welcome your help.)

This Week: July 22-29 Some Interesting Differences & A Glaring Omission

As you may recall, I have two editions of Mary Emogene Hazeltine's Anniversaries and Holidays: A Calendar of Days and How to Observe Them. The first edition was published in 1928; the second, "completely revised," in 1944. I have the second printing of the 2nd ed., published in '65.

As I noted last week, there are interesting differences between the two editions.

July 22

Gregor Johann Mendel born 1822. "Austrian priest and botanist; discoverer of Mendel's law of heredity. ... See also Priestly, clergyman and chemist, Mar 13." (1928)

... "Austrian botanist and Augustinian monk, originator of the Mendelian law of heredity. ... See also Hugo de Vries... who brought Mendel to public attention." (1965)

Mendel was not a priest. He was a monk schooled in mathematics and the natural sciences. [1] He was the schoolmaster at the monastery in Brünn. He did his pea breeding experiments in his leisure time. The results of his experiments were published in an obscure journal (to be rediscovered by de Vries and others). In 1868 Mendel was appointed head of the monastery. Soon after, the Austrian parliament sought to tax monasteries-- an idea that was thought menacing. Mendel fought against this for 12 years, 

defying penalties and warrants of distaint, but finally he broke down completely under the struggle, contracting a sickness that resulted in his death in 1884. Thus fell one of the pioneers of modern biology as a champion of Catholic clericalism-- in its way an irony of fate. [1]

July 24

Alexander Dumas born 1802. "French romantic novelist." (1928)

... "... of Negro decent; creator of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. (1965)

Amelia Earhart born 1898; "American aviator, writer and lecturer; one of the first woman pilots in the United States." (1965 only)

July 25

The Netherlands declared their independence from Spain 1581. (1965 only)

July 26

New York ratified the Constitution (1928, 1965)

July 27

Laying of the Atlantic cable successfully completed 1866. (1965 only)

Thus, the world becomes smaller. 

July 28

Austria declared war on Serbia 1914. "The actual beginning of World War I." (1965 only)

National Joseph Lee Day "honors the founder of playgrounds." (1965 only)

July 29

Benito Mussolini born 1883. "Italian patriot, leader of the Fascisti; prime minister 1922- " (1928)

... "Italian Fascist leader; as premier, he was dictator of Italy 1922-43." (1965)

What a difference a war makes! 

And now for the glaring omission.

Sunday Visitin'

Daughter C and Mr. Bow Tie came to visit! 

Good times, though this isn't the best picture of Rocky.

This is a better photo of Rocky, vicious Pit Bull.

We had Polish Meatballs with Sour Cream Sauce for Sunday Supper.

Mr. Big Food had planned on having a cabbage dish also, but as it turns out, the little bit of home grown cabbage we discovered in the back of the fridge from more than a month ago had seen better days. Too bad. 

We watched "The Trouble with Tribbles" episode of the Original Star Trek. What fun.

Man. Those Kingons sure did evolve a lot physically between 2269 and 2364 A.D. (or, if you prefer, between Stardates ~30000 and 41000).

As you know, the world is going to hell in a handbasket. "They" are coming for our guns, our freedoms, our rights, our lives. And so, below, please find the chronology of 23rd Century History, according to Star Trek-- complete with alternative timelines-- courtesy, some geek who contributes to Wikipedia.

I have a great photograph of Daughter C and Miss M standing at a marker commemorating the future birthplace of Jame Tiberius Kirk in Riverside Iowa, 2233. I took it in 2000, maybe 2001.  I cannot find it. 

So here's where you can help me out, Mr./Ms Low-Man-on-the-Totem-Who's-Tasked-with-Reading-My-Little-Blog. I know I've posted this photo before. It's a classic. So if you have a few spare minutes, could you look around and find it? I've already checked Picasa on line-- nothing. I did dabble with Photobucket but can't for the life of me remember what my password was. Check your records.  

I need help and it seems to me you are the only one I know who has the resources to help me find this photo. 

It shouldn't be too hard. You have multiple face scans of Daughter C and Miss M. Turn the faces into teenagers and go look.

What am I paying you for? Go find me the photo.

23rd Century below.

A Hike in the Much Cooler Than it is in Mississippi North Woods

American Grouch has some beautiful photos of his gear, hike, wildlife, and even a crappy old book or two. Tag along here.

P.S. Lunch looks delicious!

Sunday Supper: "One of the Most Traditional Meals in Our Country's History"

As you prepare for family and friends to drop by to visit late tomorrow afternoon, consider how you are preserving a crappy old national tradition.

Indeed.

From Modernistic Recipe-Menu Book of the DeBoth Homemakers' Cooking School by Jessie Marie DeBoth (Michigan Agricultural College, Chicago, 1929). 

My little newspaper's "Time Capsule" column only goes back 75 years. I don't think too many things had changed here in my little county between 1929 and 1938, culturally speaking. Of the 14 "visits" from 1938 re-reported in this week's paper, six were Sunday visits. For example,

Mr. Elsie Little and Mr. Harry McDonald of Memphis visited Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Shaffer on Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Claude Hood and children and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Shaffer spent a while Sunday night with Mr. and Mrs. Pervis Shaffer.

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Graves and baby were Sunday evening visitors in the home of their bother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Noel Pogue. 

In 2013, hoping

Miss Daughter C will spend an enjoyable Sunday evening visiting the home of Mr. and Mrs. Big Food.

Recipe: Green Bean Casserole I

Fresh!

We cut the recipe in half and used fresh green beans. I picked the beans this morning, threw them into a pot of boiling water and cooked them five minutes. Bonus? We have bean water, also known as vegetable stock, for next week's cooking. Waste not want not.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE I

2 lbs French style green beans, cooked or canned, drained

3 Tbsp butter

2 heaping Tbsp flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

4 tsp grated onion

8 oz sour cream

6-8 oz shredded Swiss cheese

Small can French fried onion rings OR buttered corn flakes (for topping)

Preheat oven to 350^o. Spread green beans in a lightly greased casserole. Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in flour to make a smooth roux. Stir in salt and sugar, and stir to make a paste. Remove from heat, and stir in grated onion, sour cream, and cheese, then spoon mixture into beans and spread evenly. Top with French fried onion rings or buttered corn flakes, and bake 20-30 minutes.

Recipe: Chicken Beer Bake

Believe it or not, this is the first time we've had this. Believe it or not.

-->

Saturday supper on The Farm.

CHICKEN BEER BAKE

3 whole chicken breasts, split, skin removed

4-5 Tbsp flour

Salt, pepper, to taste

Oil

2 cans cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 Tbsp soy sauce

¼ C slivered almonds

½ C beer

4 oz sliced mushrooms

Preheat oven to 350^o. Combine flour, salt, and pepper, and dredge chicken breasts in mixture. Brown breasts in heated oil. Place chicken in shallow pan. Combine soup, soy sauce, almonds, beer, and mushrooms, and pour mixture over chicken. Bake uncovered for 1 hour.

Recipe: Cream Pancakes

Unbelievable!

CREAM PANCAKES

Makes about 10 pancakes

2 large eggs

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp sugar

1 C cold water

½ C cream

¾ C flour

Melted butter (for rolling and serving pancakes)

Maple syrup (for serving pancakes)

Beat eggs until thick and lemon colored, then beat in salt and sugar. Add water, cream, and flour alternately to egg mixture, beating after each addition. Let stand 30 minutes, then beat again before making pancakes. (The longer this batter stands and the more it is beaten, the better and lighter these pancakes will be.) Fry by spoonfuls on hot greased griddle. Butter as soon as cooked and roll up. Serve with additional melted butter and maple syrup.

Recipe: Baked Round Steak with Bacon Sauce

No photo. Sorry.

BAKED ROUND STEAK WITH BACON SAUCE

1 lb round steak, bone and excess fat removed

1 package dry onion soup mix

5 slices bacon, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 350^o. Line a casserole or baking dish with bacon pieces. Place steak on top of bacon and sprinkle steak with onion soup mix. Cover and bake 1 hour or until steak is done. Remove steak from casserole, slice, and keep warm. Return sauce and bacon to oven. Cook uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes. Stir steak strips into sauce and serve.

Recipe: Rump Roast and Vegetables (in the Crock Pot)

In a Crock Pot (I can say that b/c it was cooked in a Crock Pot, not a crock pot)

Mr. Big Food used a chuck roast rather than a rump roast. 

RUMP ROAST AND VEGETABLES

Serves 6

2-2 ½ lb boneless beef pot roast, cut to fit slow cooker if necessary (round rump, round tip, or chuck roast is especially good in this)

2 Tbsp oil

1 ½ lbs small potatoes (about 10) or medium potatoes (about 4), halved or quartered

2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½ inch slices (about 1 C)

1 small onion, sliced

10 oz package frozen lima beans

1 bay leaf

2 Tbsp quick-cooking tapioca

10 ¾ oz can condensed vegetable beef soup

¼ C water

¼ tsp pepper

Click for prep instructions

Recipe: Old Fashioned Texas Style Chicken Pot Pie

So very good!

OLD FASHIONED TEXAS STYLE CHICKEN POT PIE

CHICKEN

5-6 lb hen

Water (to cover hen)

1 medium onion, quartered

1 stalk celery with a few leaves

1 bay leaf

Salt, to taste

1 tsp peppercorns

Simmer chicken, covered, in water to cover with all other ingredients, about 1 ½ hours or until tender. Remove chicken from pot and, when cool enough to handle, cut up all the meat in bite-sized pieces, discarding skin and bones. Strain and reserve stock, and skim off and reserve chicken fat. (If not enough chicken fat re mains, substitute an equal amount of butter for the chicken fat called for in the recipe below.)

Sauce, crust recipes and assembly instructions below

Recipe: Barbequed Pork and Baked Beans

with Stuffed Squash I

The lemon (not pictured) adds a wonderfully zesty flavor.

BARBECUED PORK AND BAKED BEANS

2 1 lb cans baked beans in tomato sauce

Mustard

1 ½ Tbsp brown sugar

1 ½ Tbsp catsup or chili sauce (preferably homemade—see recipes in Basics section)

6 lean pork chops

6 slices onion

3 slices lemon

Salt, pepper, to taste

Parsley (for garnish, if desired)

Preheat oven to 350^o. Place beans in a lightly greased 13x9x2 inch casserole. Blend together mustard, brown sugar, and catsup or chili sauce, and spread over pork chops. Place chops on beans, and attach 1 onion slice and ½ lemon slice to each with toothpicks, Season with salt and pepper, and bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until tender. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Recipe: Stuffed Squash I (Veganizable)

The garden's bounty

To veganize, omit bacon and cheese; fry onion in oil

STUFFED SQUASH I

Serves 6 (generously)

6 squash, cut in half lengthwise

1 medium white onion, chopped fine

3 slices bacon, fried crisp, reserving 3 Tbsp bacon grease

1/8 tsp pepper

¼ tsp sugar

1/8 tsp salt

Cracker crumbs (Ritz or comparable)

(Optional—Shredded cheese, any variety)

Preheat oven to 350^o. Boil squash in water to cover for 10 minutes. Drain and allow to cool enough to scoop pulp out of half-shells. Mix remaining ingredients (except cracker crumbs) with squash pulp and then stir in enough cracker crumbs to make a stiff mixture. Fill squash shells with mixture and place shells (mixture-sides up) in lightly greased baking dish. (If using shredded cheese, spread over squash.) Bake until brown (and cheese has melted).