In my elementary school days I recall saying the pledge each morning-in some grades-but not all. In high school-I don't ever recall saying the pledge-unless is was at a special assembly.
Chitter and Chatter tell me their 4th and 5th grade teachers led the class in saying the pledge every morning-but since they hit middle school they don't say it at all-unless it's at a special event.
On this day, July 4th, my thoughts are of the flag-of what it stands for-of those who fought to give birth to our great nation. I believe I should dwell on these things more often.
Yellow Squash has been a favorite veggie of mine since I was a child. This year's plants have just started producing what looks to be a bumper crop.
As you can see from the photo above-our plants are huge this summer. I think it must be the chicken litter-as well as the extra rain we've been getting.
I ask Pap and Granny if their parents grew yellow squash when they were kids. Granny said the state took their garden to build the new 4-lane, and she couldn't remember what her mother planted before that.
Pap said-they grew a different kind of squash. By his description-I'd guess it was a Cushaw. He remembered it lasted longer than yellow squash, was a light orange tan color and seemed tougher like a pumpkin. His mother cubed it then fried it with sugar and water-kinda like sweet potatoes.
Seems everyone in our area grows yellow squash now-Pap said it was in the early 60's or 70's when folks here started growing yellow squash.
In the follow days drop back by the Blind Pig to:
See how to cook squash in the traditional Appalachian way (fried)
See how to make old fashioned Squash Relish (so good in the winter)
Come along with me as I try frying squash blooms for the first time ( I keep hearing about folks who do this and want to see if it's worth the trouble)
Come along as I try drying squash for the first time (when I was a little girl-I so wanted to be a Cherokee Indian-I know they dried squash)
Do you plant Yellow Squash? Have you ever planted any other varieties of Squash?
Tipper
p.s. If you know someone who might be interested in the upcoming posts-please send them to the Blind Pig-I'd truly appreciate it!
Do you have air conditioning? We do-however at the moment-it's broken. Back in the day, when The Deer Hunter built our house-we couldn't afford central air-but 7 years ago he could stand the heat no longer and he and a friend installed central heat and air in our house. Apparently-I've grown very used to it-cause for the past 2 days I have been quite miserable. At bedtime last night-it was 84 degrees in our living room-not the best temperature for sleeping.
When I was growing up, Granny and Pap didn't have central air-actually they still don't. (they do have 2 window units-one in the living room one in the bedroom) The girls can't remember the days when we didn't have air conditioning and they have complained much about our current situation. I've been trying to convince us it really isn't that hot-and so what if it is-didn't we live without air conditioning before? Aren't we tough? But I haven't won any of us over. It's funny how you get used to things-how fast our bodies become accustomed to the good life.
In the hot summers of my youth-Granny's kitchen was like a sauna-canning and cooking intensified the heat and gave the air a steamy heavy quality that made it difficult to breathe.
As I cooked super last night-and fretted about how hot I was and how hot I was making the house-my mind begin to think back to my Granny Gazzie-and other women of her era. Once I turn my stove off-the heat dissipates fairly quickly-can you imagine using a wood cookstove? By the time you got it fired up enough to cook on it-you'd be sweltering to say the least. But those little ladies like my Mamaw Marie and Granny Gazzie-cooked every meal on a cookstove-and canned on them too.
Last night as we readied for bed, my mind begin to think of how we could cool down the house. Growing up we had fans situated all over the house. You know those old metal fans that sounded like a helicopter starting up? It seemed someone was always screaming "be careful or you'll get your fingers cut off". Paul and I tormented Granny by putting our faces inches in front of the fan and screaming-the fan blades made our voices vibrate into a true staccato.
Hopefully I'll be back to the cool side of life soon-but until then-got any keeping cool tips?
Although most of Appalachia has been experiencing record high temperatures during the past week-today is the Summer Solstice-the official beginning of Summer.
Our Summer Solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is most inclined or tilted towards the sun. The longest day of the year occurs on the Summer Solstice-as the sun shines longer than any other day of the year.
Interesting Summer Solstice Info:
~Folks who live in the Southern Hemisphere have their Summer Solstice in December-while we are having our Winter Solstice
~Summer Solstice is also referred to as Midsummer-cause it occurs during the middle of the summer
~The Druids celebrated the solstice as a wedding celebration between Heaven and Earth-June is still the most popular month of the year for weddings
~In Ancient times the Solstice Moon was celebrated with bonfires-couples would jump over the fire to symbolize how high their crops would grow
~Flowers and Herbs gathered on the Solstice are thought to have magical powers
~Garlands of flowers were made to ensure good health for your household and to ward off evil
I've never gotten over the wonder of knowing-while we are celebrating the beauty of summer-the other side of the world is enjoying the beauty of winter-and vice versa. To ponder how large the Earth is-truly makes me awestruck.
Another event occurs today-National Hike Naked Day. If any of you decide to participate-I hope you'll beware of the Monster's on the trail : )
Tipper
p.s. To all the Father's who are reading-HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
This Sunday is Father's Day-which always makes me a little teary eyed-I am a true Daddy's Girl-I always have been. Anyone who reads my writing knows I think Pap hung the Sun and the Moon.
Ever since I can remember-I've thought he was the wisest person I knew-not only the wisest but the kindest as well.
Like many Fathers, Pap imparted wise counsel on living a good life to my brothers and me. But sometimes it's the little tidbits of advice that stick in my mind. For example:
*Never go home without at least a half a tank of gas in your car-cause you never know what might happen during the night. (you don't know how often I hear Pap's voice in my head when I drive my car into the garage with the needle sitting on E)
*Use your best first-that way as you progress forward you'll always be using your best.(seems Pap has a different outlook than folks who say 'save your best for last')
*If you hurt yourself-rub it has hard as you can and it'll get the soreness out. (One time when Paul was about 10, the mayo fell out of the frig and landed on his foot, as he went limping into the living room-Pap put his foot on Paul's and started pressing down hard-at first Paul resisted but then he agreed it made if feel better and let Pap continue to put pressure on his sore foot)
Summer is the best time to see the 'blue' of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch from North Georgia all the way to Pennsylvania where they eventually peter out (become smaller and smaller until they simply disappear).
The Blue Ridge Mountains were named by early American settlers who journeyed west from the Coast of North Carolina. The mountains have a blue haze that seems to hover over them-making them appear a hazy blue color. The phenomena is said to result from a chemical being naturally released by the trees. One of my favorite books, To The Far Blue Mountains by Louis L'Amour tells the story of one of those early pioneers.
Even though I've lived smack dab in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains my entire life-each summer when the trees have leafed out to their full glory- I'm still awed by their beauty and shocked by their overwhelming presence.
Years ago I came across an interesting debate in a book and I've never been able to get it out of my mind. The gist of it being-folks who live in the mountains feel protected by the high ridges and mountain tops-but people who are'nt native to the mountains sometimes feel smothered and confined by them. On the other hand-folks who are native to the plains of our great country are comforted by the wide open spaces where there is plenty of room to see what's coming-while mountaineers who visit the plains often feel naked or unprotected by the landscape.
I guess it's a Prairie vs. Mountains mentality. Since I've never been to the plains I can't say for sure how I'd feel-but it does seem I would feel like looking around for a place to hide. Hide from what-I haven't a clue. Here where I live-it consoles me to know I can run behind the next ridge over into the next holler and be gone from sight. Sounds like I need to be debating what I feel the need to hide from-instead of the mountain vs. prairie mentality.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Prairie vs. Mountains debate-hope you'll leave me a comment.
This is the view from my favorite sitting spot on our front porch. Summer has arrived in Appalachia. I see green wherever my eyes look-my world is hot-I hear birds tweeting, bugs bugging, and bees buzzing.
I'm not sure what it is about summer-but it always takes me back to childhood-makes me feel like I'm a skinny barefoot girl again (me and Paul in the pic above). There is just something magical about summer here-it's as if the outdoors beckon you like a seducing siren. The woods-the land simply comes to life. I'm sure others feel the same calling the same awakening in other parts of the country-but I can only speak of what I know-and summer in Appalachia is something I know.
The word summer makes me think of- barefeet, slamming screendoors, being sent to the garden for something, sending someone to the garden for something, katydids, lightning bugs, warm tomatoes, canning jars, hard work, swimming, sunning, watermelons, blackberries, flip flops, cotton night gowns, warm dirt, baseball, sun kissed faces, corn on the cob, fried squash, fresh cucumbers, guitar picking on the porch, clotheslines, honey bees, orange day lilies, red hot pokers.
For this week's Pickin' & Grinnin' In The Kitchen Spot- Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow Tree. The first song The Carter Family ever recorded-in 1927. Even though the old bluegrass standard is about an unfaithful lover-somehow it shouts summer time to me. (don't forget to stop the music player before you start the video)
Hope you enjoyed one of my favorite summer time songs. What does summer make you think of? Is there a song that shouts summer to you?
Tipper
p.s. There were some outstanding comments left on the post about the economy and education if you didn't read them-you should-click here to read them.
Chitter and Chatter finished up the school year this week-and are quite happy about it. During their summer vacation they are hoping to do things like:
While the Blind Pig family is excited about summer and the fun it holds-everyone in our county isn't as thrilled. Our state government has made drastic cutbacks in education funding due to the economic downturn.
Cherokee County has approximately 3,300 students and approximately 150 teachers. Our student population has decreased by about 100 students over the past year-from families being forced to relocate in an effort to find work.
In the last week, 44 teachers have been given notice that their jobs no longer exist. While folks were expecting some layoffs-no one was prepared for 44 teachers. I can't imagine what the individuals must be feeling-but I can speak as a parent-and I'm left wondering how they will educate the children of our county without those 44 teachers?
I know all of the counties in NC are facing similar education cutbacks-but what about where you live? Has the economy effected education spending in your neck of the woods?
I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well and doing tolerable well hoping that these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing I was out on scout day before yesterday and got in last night It snowed a right smart snow while I was out It is very muddy here at this time there has been right smart of rain here lately there is a good many sick men in camps now I think there is between sixty and one hundred men down with the measles in the battalion there is a not very many in our company Dan Ledford and Arch Henson both have had them but are a getting better We are a going to move to morrow about 8 miles and station for a while but I do not know how long I have not drawn any money as yet but I think that I will draw soon we are a getting a plenty of corn and hay for our horses and a plenty of beef and cornbread to eat ourselves I can do better on the fare than I thought I could I am as healthy at this time as I ever was in my life there has been the most snow in this country that I ever saw at this time of the year but it looks at this time like we might have some right nice weather but it clouds up and snows the quickest it seems to me that I ever saw it I have never heard a word from home since I left there it seems to me that you haven't been a long time a writing or the letters have been misplaced I begin to want to hear from home I do not know when I will come home but I expect I will be there sometime this winter but I do not know Franklin Brown has been to Knoxville and there is no letters there for us he has gone back and I do hope that he will bring us some news if he does not I will think that I will not get any soon I have wrote about five or six letters to you and one to Uncle Charles Penland and have never got any answer tell Mr. Sherman that John Sherman is well at the present time Cousin Robert Alexander is well also and has been ever since he left home I would like to be at home to get some good apples as I have not got any good ones since I left home everything is the highest that I ever saw it leather is worth $7.00 per pound and every thing else in proportion We are about twenty five miles from the salt works and salt is worth 20.00 per bushel at the works as it is getting late I will bring my letter to a close sure and write soon and give me the news of the day
Address Taylorsville Johnson Co Tenn 7th Battalion NC Calvery Co B in care of Capt Moore
so no more at present but remain your affectionate son to his father and mother
so fare you well
W C Penland
My favorite line of the letter is 'I begin to want to hear from home'. As WC writes of missing home-and wondering why he hasn't received any letters from his family-you can peek into his innermost feelings and sum it up by saying he was surely homesick.
All week we've been discussing the theory of planting your garden by the signs of the moon. In Appalachia the folklore of the Zodiac Calender goes way beyond when to plant your corn-it sometimes serves as a guideline for everyday activities as well.
Schedule your next hair cut under the sign of Sagittarius, Aquarius, or Libra-and your hair will grow back faster and thicker.
Plan your next hunting trip during the sign of Taurus and you'll have better luck.
Cut firewood in the old of the moon-it'll dry faster-and burn better.
Leo is the sign for love.
Fence posts stay tight if set during the old of the moon.
Other sign advice:
Paint during a dry sign like Leo-and the paint will last longer
Wean a child from it's bottle or pacifier during Capricorn, Pisces, or Sagittarius
Quit habits on the 2nd day of Sagittarius-the new moon-or in Pisces
Never shingle a roof during the waxing of the moon or the ends will turn up
Always slaughter when the signs are in the knees or feet-in the last quarter of the moon
Cut hay in the old of the moon-in the waning days
Got anything to add to the list? Ever try any of the ones I listed? I'd love to hear about it-leave me a comment.
Tipper
p.s. Signs also dictate when you do your canning/preserving-I'll discuss that whole issue later in the summer.
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