ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
OCTOBER 12th, 2011
It's WEDNESDAY!
OLD FARMERS DAY
Old Farmers Day honors the hard labor of farmers throughout American history. Early American culture was heavily a farming culture. Early settlers cleared fields and pristine woods, to farm the rich land. They brought seeds and farming methods with them. They found new seeds, and learned new methods along the way. Many of those new farming methods came from Native Americans, who were already farming the land.
The month of October is a very appropriate month to celebrate and honor farmers. At this time, the harvest is largely complete. It means that farmers can take a break from their labors, to enjoy this celebration.
A farmers' work is long and hard. It certainly doesn't make a person rich. It has its good years, and its bad ones. There is no guarantee of a good crop. Weather, pests, and disease problems often prove disastrous. But, through it all, farmers have persevered. And, their ceaseless hard work sets an example for all.
As Americans, we tip our hat to all farmers for their contributions to American culture, values,society, and the economy. Happy Old Farmers Day!
A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead and dreams of a faraway place. A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse below and dreams of home.
NEW IN THE KITCHEN
NATIONAL GUMBO DAY
A Creole adaptation of French bouillabaisse, gumbo typically contains celery, onion, green peppers, and perhaps shrimp, crawfish, sausage, or chicken. Like many imports to arrive in New Orleans, this spicy stew has gone from Southern specialty to national prominence.
QUICK PORK AND PEPPER RICE GUMBO
6 Pork center cut loins, fat and bones removed
2 bell peppers of any colour
2 celery sticks
2 large carrots
1 cup rice, cooked
2 cups flour, separated
1/2 cup corn oil or any other oil, separated into tablespoons
salt
black pepper
Cajun seasonings and spices of your choice
Using 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil, warm up the skillet to medium-high or high temp. Lightly bread the meat with seasonings and flour. With tongs, laying the pork cuts AWAY from you, sear the meat. Allow to brown for a minute or so. Remove and set on paper towel to absorb the grease.
With the remaining flavours and oil in the skillet, add an additional tablespoon of oil and reduce heat to a medium-high. Stirring with a wooden spoon constantly, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups flour, slowly and consistently. This is the roux. For lighter flavors and heaviness, stir until a very light brown appears. For increased flavour and body, stir and darken into a chocolate colour or a deep reddish-brown. At this point, unless you are very familiar with making roux, do not take the mixture to anything beyond a deep reddish-brown.
Reduce heat to low and add remaining spices, cooked rice, and water if needs be. Stir slowly. Cut pork into bite-sized pieces. Add vegetables and meat into the stew. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Lord, hold our troops in
your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the
selfless acts they perform for us
in our time of need. I ask this in the
name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters
and Paramedics and EMT's
GOD BLESS YOU!
AROUND HOME
Life on a farm is a school of patience; you can't hurry the crops or make an ox in two days
Henri Alain
When I was a child we often visited my grandparents that lived on a farm. And when we would leave on the trip to head there, my mom always said we were going home. Home to her was always that farm. That is where her parents were and still today, I think often about the old home place. It's no longer there, but the land is.
Today we should be to see the full Moon of October which is referred to as the Full Hunter Moon. We probably won't be seeing it here as it's to be cloudy and possibly raining too.
Many moons ago, Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because the fields were traditionally reaped in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to glean from the fallen grains.
Thankfully though this past weekend was beautiful and we got to see the almost full moon in the sky as we sat around the campfire. Soon there will be more cloudy days than sunny ones for sure.
COUNTING THE DAYS
The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways
1 comment:
We saw the moon last night but today is raining. I'm just checking a few of my regular friends, as I am going on a visit this weekend. Enjoyed the post, as always. Hope your weekend is good too.
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