Country Ham

 

A North Carolina friend sent country ham. Or as my cousins used to say, "coun'ry" ham. We served it up with grits, red eye gravy and fresh squeezed orange juice. Delicious!! The only thing missing was biscuits but Dean had his usual pecan sticky bun and, as you can tell, I had my usual English muffin. So yummy!

So here's a Southern breakfast story for you. We were in North Carolina a few years ago and this friend and his wife took us for breakfast at a restaurant for a real Southern breakfast. I mentioned I was going to have the ham with poached egg. His wife said that North Carolinians may not know what a poached egg is. I tried to order it anyway and our server didn't blink an eye and my egg came perfectly poached and all was well. 

A little over a week later we took cousins to a diner for breakfast. Again I ordered country ham with a poached egg. The server looked at me like I was nuts. "Poached?" she said with a wrinkle in her brow. Quickly I remembered my friend's previous comment and said, "over easy, please". The eggs came perfectly done over easy and all was well. 

My childhood summers were spent in North Carolina where my uncle would also have a Smithfield county ham that he parceled out over the summer both for breakfasts and dinners. I miss having it readily available and am grateful for a friend who knows me well enough to send a care package occasionally. So good regardless of how my eggs are done. 

Shopping Basket Art

 For years I have admired the woven shopping baskets for sale at the Farmers' Market and watched women carrying them as they gather their purchases. I always wanted one but thought that my tote bags and lately my grocery bags were sufficient and I didn't need to add to my collection. This week I decided I really did want one and they didn't cost that much and so I bought one. It is lovely

It is light weight and big enough to hold tomatoes, potatoes, grapes and spinach, strawberries and peaches and one very special cookie that I indulge in at the market. 

Now, here's the fun thing I didn't know. The company that makes them was started by a young Kenyan woman who came to this country to go to school bringing with her a suitcase of souvenirs to give to new friends. She soon realized that she just might be able to  sell such products, made by the women of her village, and help support the work of the women from home. And so she could. You can find these lovely baskets and other woven goods at https://www.gitzellimports.com/

Air Quality Index

 I have become fascinated with the Air Quality Index

Early this morning it read 282 (Very Unhealthy). Now it is 315 (Hazardous). Without reading it, I know that my eyes are dry and itch, my sinuses are stopped up, and I have a smoky headache. And at the same time it is rather interesting to know what weather science says about all that. 

Yesterday was gorgeous! The sky was blue. I could breathe outside without a mask. At the Farmers' Market, strangers talked about the blue sky and the view across the lake. Dean and I ate lunch on the deck for the first time in a week. Before we did, I wiped the table which was black with soot from smoke. It was lovely. And then things began to change. 

We say the smoke will come or go depending on the wind shift. Well, yesterday afternoon there was no wind. The sky was blue ~ and then it was sort of grey-ish. And then a bit darker grey. The West Shore disappeared from view and the forest had pockets of grey between the trees. No wind blew. There was no creeping in like fog. It just ~ changed. The full moon rose like a blood orange with nothing else visible in the sky. And the Air Quality Index crept slowly upward. 

Even as I write this, I am so grateful that all we have is smoke. Blessings to all those who are in the fire's path. Please, hold thoughts of safety for all our fire fighters both in the air and on the ground. 

"For what we are about to receive . . ."

 Years ago I went to a women's meeting in Japan. I was the only American there due to being national President of Church Women United. Our lunch the first day was a box lunch. I opened mine to look on raw fish, something I didn't recognize, rice and a sort of cabbage slaw. Oh dear. And then I realized this was food that had kept these people healthy and well for centuries and yes, there were a few things in the box I could eat. Then we were asked to bow our heads for the grace before the meal. The woman praying prayed in Japanese of course which I did not understand. Into my head came an ancient Anglican/ Episcopal prayer that has become practically by osmosis a part of Christian tradition no matter what our denomination. "Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us well and truly thankful." And I prayed that even over raw fish because I was being fed. 

Today an article in the NYT California section told about folks living in one of the richest counties in the state who have had to apply for food stamps and go to food banks because of the pandemic. I know this happens. I know people are suffering. And the article made me very aware that Dean and I are so blessed. We have continued to have an income and food on the table. At every meal we talk about how blessed we are and how grateful we are for food. "Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us well and truly thankful."

With Liberty and Justice

 When I was in elementary school in the 50s, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Even back then something sounded a bit off to me although I couldn't have told you what. When my daughter was in the 8th grade (I think) they were going to say the Pledge and she came to me and said, "Mama, I can't do it. What do I do?" Giving it very little thought I realized she was having the sane questions I had had years before. I suggested she say the Pledge to the country as envisioned by so many good people: people, like her father, who marched for Civil Rights; people, like her grandfather, who fought in WWII; people, like her other grandfather, who defended a black man in the white courts of the South in the 30s; people of all times and races who knew that there wasn't liberty and justice for all yet ~ and there could be! 

We aren't there yet. In many ways we are slipping back from where we were even when she struggled with  what to say. Racism is rampant. LBGTQ folks struggle with acceptance of their identity. Immigration policy is chaotic with no sense of it being about human beings. We still have a problem with seeing the other as the same as we are. The right to vote is just now being restricted in such a way as to block people of color and economic diversity when every citizen should have access to a ballot and a way to make their voice heard. 

I may be disappointed and I am hopeful. White police who murder black citizens are finally being brought to account in the courts. Same sex couples are finally allowed to marry and adopt children. Women are finally being heard when they speak out about consent. 

I continue to be optimistic that one day, in this amazing country where the struggle continues,  there will indeed be liberty and justice for all. So - on that note, I wish you all a happy 4th of July! 

Family Time - Finally!!

After more than a year of COVID lock down, we all were vaccinated and Michelle's family came to Tahoe. It was a Delightful week ~ and here we are!!

Activities included shopping at Savers in Reno for wonderful vintage clothes and cooking. Cooking included: 

Michelle and Marc made kabobs and Marc made Chicken Adobo.

Trinity made crepes.

Akira made pudding.

Trinity made designer French bread.

And we all feasted well for five days. 

To prepare for more feasting later in the summer, Trinity helped Dean plant tomatoes, rosemary and basil.

Just for fun, the kids went kayaking and one night even battled a bat. 

Woke to this note on a paper towel. Orkin will arrive tomorrow if we haven't gotten it out yet. 

Grandson Carter from the McKay side of the clan 

came to dinner and a really good visit one night. 

Neighbors also came to dinner and to visit.

It was a wonderful week of lots of visiting and activities and just

being together as a family. Michelle took one last selfie as she and I 

prepared to say good-bye. This time, however, we have a date for

our next visit. Family love is very special and we have had the 

good fortune to have most of ours come this summer - three down,

one to go. Much love. 

I'm Spoiled

 We have a large portion of the McKay side of the clan visiting us this week. Due to a dietary issue in the family, they had hired a nanny who cooks for them. They brought her with them to Tahoe where she has not only continued to cook for all of us but also clean up after the meals. Wow!!

Son Rob has actually banished me from the kitchen for the duration of their trip and after deciding against all my Southern upbringing, I could do that, I have left it to Coco. Oh we are eating well. 

Even for meals that are not technically Chinese, her vegetables are brilliant with a flavor that is different to what I would prepare. For lunch today, she cooked veggies that we mixed for ourselves into a stir-fry: carrots, cabbage, onions, rice and left over pork shoulder. Yummy!! Like I said, I am spoiled. 

Dean said to his son, "What will you do when she leaves?" I said, "What will we do when she leaves and we've only had her around for a week!!" 

We will miss her when they leave and in the meantime, I will enjoy being spoiled and relish the delicious food laid before me and be grateful for Coco's arrival in our lives for a week.