It’s Amazing, the Things We Recall That Happened in Our Yesteryears.

It’s amazing, the things we recall that happened in our yesteryears. Many thoughts of childhood for me  tend to center around food. Having a grandmother that grew up on the coast of North Carolina was a large influence in my life. She could cook country food, and I mean anything from fried chicken to black eyed peas & cornbread, beans, greens and everything in between. I don’t believe I could pen a better meal in one of my novels than my grandmother could produce on her stove.

When it came to seafood, she was adept at preparing shrimp, fish, crabs, oysters, clams, soft-shelled crabs and a multitude of aquatic fare. Her family earned a living off of the sea and we could count on the freshest of seafood along with the pinnacle of preparation.  

My dad introduced me to good cuts of steak; the ribeye being his favorite and lobster, thankfully, another of his specialties, and you would not believe how much of a difference cutting your own potatoes for french fries makes.

To think, this post originated from the thought of two apple trees I remembered from my childhood. They were no more than fifty feet apart. One was a golden delicious which ripened in late May. It was a tasty way to start off the summer.

The second tree was a red apple; I’m not sure of the species. It would ripen in September and its fruit would rival any apple flesh that ever passed these two lips.

To say the least I had a wonderful childhood in many ways, including dining fare.

Have a great week, May God bless you and keep you, and don’t be afraid to try something different in your diet!

Who is this “Chad” and why is he hanging?

US Capitol Building Front New (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m going to do something I promised myself I would not do when I started this blog–that something is talk about politics. Now here is what I know (which I admit is not very much) about the aforementioned: It is a necessary evil; it can be cutthroat; it can very rarely be polite and gentlemanly; and the saying, “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” holds true.

I have found that most politicians are interchangeable, although there are a few that I trust totally… Unfortunately, all of these are dead.

As you all know, we are in the midst of an election year. All I can say about that is get out to vote if you can, and most importantly, God help us all.

It just so happens I am on vacation while penning this post. Now being at the beach and thinking of politicians draws my thoughts surf-side, where many bottom-feeders dwell. Unless you’re in the tropics, most ocean water seems murky so that while swimming you are unable to see the bottom. Please allow me to inform you that this is another gift from God.

I have only seen beach water clear once. I was on vacation in the Outer Banks, and even after wading out up to my neck, could easily see the bottom. There were more creatures running from me as I walked than I thought lived in the ocean…and they were staying just inches ahead.

Now back on the beach in the sand, we see the pounding surf roll in and as it recedes, it deposits another layer of compressed sand, shells, and other oceanic leavings. As beautiful as this menagerie of crushed, ancient, sea-life is, this is not something you want to incorporate in your writing.

Keep your story concise and clear, and not muddled with attractive refuse. What might first appear appropriate may later prove to distort the narrative.

…so now you know my view on politics, politicians, and crabs.