Remember that boyfriend you had back when you were young?
"She slid out of bed and padded softly down the hall to the kitchen. Lulling him back to sleep also meant that she assumed the job of barista. He usually brewed the first pot and offered her a cup with just the right amount of cream."
We do it every day. Whatever it is.
To borrow some lyrics and ideas from Brett Dennen, "When the sky is falling from up above you . . . and you want someone who truly loves you . . . I will be the one who loves you the most . . ."
Yeah . .
"Failure keeps up humble . . heaven . . love will come set me free . . I do believe . . "
Shelby's Cafe Playlist of the Morning (click here for actual musical sound sufficiency). Today's selections feature Brandi Carlile in Turpentine, Eric Clapton in Promises, and Christian Fennesz with Ryuichi Sakamoto in Abyss.
HEY - HaPpY fRiDay !!!!!
This morning's playlist brought to you by the sounds of Michael Buble and Julie London - that sultry, dusty, vintage sound that transports me into the dream world of yesteryear and all that was glamorous and exciting and adventurous . . . my escape-ful moments.
Sometimes the moments are needed - and are just the ticket to bring reality more in focus.
And begin, the day.
Hello world.
I did not grow up eating grits - and I am from the South.
What I did grow up eating was biscuits and chocolate gravy. I sure did.
"I'm gonna walk with the Prince of Peace down by the riverside . . . " You know this song? Well, you aughta - 'specially on a Sunday morning.
Think New Orleans jazz meets Alan Jackson.
"I'm gonna try on my starry crown down by the riverside . . . gonna study war no more." Here's a link to the playlist I found this morning where I heard it (again, after a very long time of having not heard the song in a while).
And now for your listening pleasure on this morn' of my favorite day of the week .. Friday.. here's a link to some feel good music by Bill Ricchini, from his album (do we still call them albums?), Tonight I Burn Brightly - featuring the song, A Cold Wind Will Blow Through Your Door (recognize it from Gray's Anatomy?).
The night will not last for much more.
Happy Friday and cheers!
Read this. It's a post by Bone, my north Alabama blogger friend. Public options* are exactly what we need - exactly. And my friend Bone is just the one to implement this one.
There is no one else to lead us. He is the one - the czar of what is needed. He knows of what he speaks. He has spoken of this* before.
Go ye therefore and lead our nation, in the name of all that is publicly appropriate* - and here's to good health* - that is after all, our united social and global goal.
Bone's goal* - my goal - all our goal.
Health, public*. Public health that is.
*indicates 'in the public bathroom scheme of things' (I do not, repeat do not - support most other forms of public options).
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This post brought to you by Shelby of the Duprees and is next in her series of one thousand posts to read before you die. Here are the others.
Last night I had a vivid dream of the title of my novel. I'm not saying what it is yet, but it was a magical dream .. my book is actually talking to me.. it is a wonderful experience.
I googled my book name to make sure it doesn't already exist - and it doesn't.. and then I googled something else closely akin to it.. and happened upon this kitchen photo in a real estate listing in South Carolina.
Isn't is fabulous? I like how the copper pots are hanging on the wall. I can do that in my kitchen. Yes I can.
Enjoy the video below - and here's a link to more Catherine Feeny (wonderful music).
Here's a playlist of Mary and the boys -- for your listening pleasure on this day that she is very much missed. Thank you for the beautiful melody and harmony Mary, and all the beauty you shared.
But who cleans carpet? And how often? And how do you do it? I found humor this morning at Ad Hudler's blog.
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And please, don't lick the author's face (it's a link to a post about something that happened to Ad Hudler - bet you can guess what it was).
Yesterday, I went treasure hunting - and I was successful. My hunting ground was the local thrift store. I caught some gems to be sure.
One treasure was a somewhat cheap looking and battered cookbook compiled and published for a group of church ladies south of here about an hour or so. The book looked interesting - the pages looked like they were typed with a typewriter and then photocopied and spiral bound.
Recipes from real cooks from around here. They had to be good. Bought the book, brought it home, handed it to 19 year old son who doesn't ask a whole lot of me (precious son that one is). Asked him to look through it and pick something that sounded good - and I promised to make whatever he chose for supper.
He did and I did - and it was Mexicali Casserole. It was pretty good! I would suggest adding a few more spices to the recipe and some cheese - but it was good, and he liked it (which was the goal). Thanks goes to Florence Golson Bateman, whoever you are out there. She is the church lady who submitted that particular recipe to the book's compilation.
Another great find yesterday was this book, Funeral in Blue, by Anne Perry. I actually have no idea whether this is any good or not, but when I opened up the front cover to find out, a picture postcard fell out. I jumped with the joy of excitement - a card from the past with a note on it! Oh what could it be?!
I turned it over and read the note. It was one of the loveliest precious notes I think I have ever read. More about that later.
Anybody recognize the art piece on the card?
Last, I finally found a copy of Beach Music (I've apparently lost the copy I had somewhere).. I had never had a chance to read it - and now I'm reading it.
In it tho - were some more treasures: A photo of two little girls (one about 6 or so, and the other is a little infant - sister perhaps). Nothing was written on the back of the photo. Also, along with the photo, was a little red coupon for a discount on Santa pictures. To my utter delight, the address to the photo place was none other than Coligny Plaza in Hilton Head, South Carolina! That is the place we just spent a week of pure vacation heaven not too long ago.
That is the place I fell deeply and utterly in love with the low country of South Carolina.
I felt like my newly found treasures were telling me something. What tho? Some of it, I have begun to figure out.
The note on the back of the picture postcard is adding to my novel. Oh it's gonna be good.
Darrell Huckaby, I don't know anything about you - aside from the fact you read Pat Conroy's writings and you had tears related to that reading (and I know you write for a Georgia news outlet, Online Athens dot com, linked to the Athens Banner-Herald).
But I know you get it - and I'm glad. Thanks for sharing what you know about what you read.
To blog . . .
This is a great post on what it feels like to blog. Right on point for me, anyway - and to steal a line from her (Franzine Kafka at Quarter Life Crisis), just so you know.
Thanks to David McMahon who highlighted Ms. Kafka's post on his blog - Author blog.
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The linked post is one of a thousand to read before you die (and before you blog).
Remember the compost beginnings from - oh so long ago (this past Wednesday)? Well, the man in my life, my husband, my ... well, you get the picture - he made this compost bin for me!
Made it just for me.
I love that man.
The first thing I put in it, to compost, was a beautiful black day old filter and leftover coffee grounds. I plopped it over into the compost bin onto the ground and grinned.
'This is history in the making', I said.
We are now flaming liberals. Kidding. We have gone completely and utterly green (OK it sounds good).
There have never been more beautiful black day old coffee grounds. Never. Not in the history of mankind. These grounds will bear the mark of what will be someday come to be known as the beginning of the sustaining of the children of Shelby Dupree and her family and all those after her.
Wow - what passion!!
(I'm now seeing myself doing the intro on Saturday Night Live .. sarcasm and truth and humor all rolled into one.. this is great).
Meanwhile, back on planet earth...
In the kitchen now: Husband decided to take a picture of me yesterday whilst I was in the midst of pie making. Do you see this pie crust? This has to the best pie crust ever made (by me). I made four of these suckers Friday night, chilled them overnight - and then yesterday (Saturday), I brought them outa the fridge and into some pie plates and made some pies.
The recipe for the pie crust came from an old Country Living magazine article. Seems it is/was/will be/has been/had been - the recipe from some Farm Chicks. Here's how I came upon it:
See, I was reading an old magazine (I have literally hundreds of them piled around my house). Specifically, I was reading the letters to the editor - is that what you call them .. the little blurbs at the front where people write in what they liked or didn't like about the previous issue(es).
Anyway, I read a letter from two sisters who looked to be about in their sixties (seventies?) or so - lovely ladies - who had written in (and they had included their smiling picture) to say after having used their own mother's recipe for pie crust for 50 years, they would never again use it, but instead - they would now be using the recipe from the Farm Chicks - the one that had been in the previous issue.
Incidentally, I didn't have the previous issue - and hence, did not have the recipe.
Well - I had to have the recipe now didn't I? I mean, come on! If these two lovely ladies were ditching their mom's recipe after 50 years, it must be a recipe worth something.
I googled it and found it. (If you want it, you can google too.. or ask me, and I'll post it).
The two lovely sisters were right - it's the best pie crust ever made (again, by me). It didn't tear. It did everything it was supposed to do. Now that's a good pie crust.
I found an old recipe for fudge pie, followed it to a 't' - and it was delightfully delicious - and easy.
I love pie. And, as you can see, so do others in my house (hence the missing link / piece).
Bon Appetit!
Here is a video of footage - research for Jon Krakauer's new book, "Where Men Win Glory." Seems Krakauer embedded with a notebook and a camera with real combat forces back in 2006 - and his publisher, Knopf Doubleday provides some of his video.
This book about Pat Tilman is a must read on my list. I blogged about it several months ago when I first heard it was coming out, but haven't actually seen the book yet.
Jon Krakauer's Afghan Diary - Long Form from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on Vimeo.
Music .. sounds of the soul .. happy, joyous, soulful, sad, reflective.. all of it.
Here's more of all that, set to the symphony of notes - it's a playlist over at swaddlecottage. It's all good.
Remember this song? .. "Papa said to Mama as passed around the black eye peas.. well Billy Joe never had a lick of sense .. " Mama said it was a shame about Billy Joe ..
"And now Billy Joe McAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie bridge."
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Yet another playlist I enjoyed this early morning is here at Rose Tea Cottage's blog. The piece, Stranger on the Shore, takes me to a place of absolute nostalgia and rest (it's next to last in her playlist).
Have time for one more playlist? Try this one.. it's posh, jazzy, makes me think of a city cafe and it's oh so dreamy. Here's the link .. over at Dust Jacket Attic dot com. Her post today has the most beautiful dress I think I've seen in years.
It is lusciously serene.
I can't promise there won't be more. Here's the playlist from Edie Marie's Attic .. currently listening to Memories of Paris. Ah, c'est la vie.
And another place to get lost in the sounds is here. Found it at Cafe Chatelaine.. such beautiful New England scenes.. pumpkins.. flowers. Fall is everywhere. Fall is the first spring you know.
Want a great playlist for the morning? Found one here.
Go ahead, try it. It's at Cute as Pie Cottage .. there's Etta James, The Platters, Floyd Cramer. Glen Miller too.
Love that sound.
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Cute as Pie Cottage's most recent post is about the new movie Julie and Julia.
I saw the movie too - last week. It was f a b u l i c i o u s!
I cried. I laughed. I was inspired. I learned things about Julia Child (and her husband) I would never have known - yes, I know some of it is fiction ... but there are truths in it.
As far as movies go, I give it my highest recommendation. Here's the trailer:
This is Great. It's from a Good Blog is Hard to Find. It's called Writing 101. And here's what I liked (because it's how I think):
The things that help me birth each new book. First, of course, comes the idea. My ideas can come from anywhere: Mother, roadside signs, playing the “what if?” game, newspaper and magazine articles, or just out-of-the-blue. Once I get the idea, the Muse, or whatever it is, grabs a hold of me and will not let me go. I get obsessed, literally. I scribble a few sentences so it won’t slip away from me.
Young Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek sings one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a very long time. Take a moment and be transported ..
My books are among my closest companions. These are but a few. Do you see my favorite? It's The Pat Conroy Cookbook, right below PrairyErth (another favorite). And on top of that is Sullivan's Island (I was so enraptured with that book - is that a word by the way).
I have some legal thrillers too.. so exciting they are.
Then I have my cookbooks, old ones, new ones, predictable ones, off the cuff ones (those are my favorite). This is just a sampling.
I "decorated" my little black baker's rack this weekend with some of my companions and beauties. I like it.
The compost story continues from yesterday. They made it out of the back of the truck and into the back yard. Progress!
I've been dreaming of a garden of my own. A couple years ago, right after I left my law school dream, I began a garden of my own, with tomatoes and herbs and peppers and such.
Long time readers may remember it.. I recall blogging about it a bit.
I desperately needed to succeed at something after having my world crash around me. My wee garden was a salve to my soul. At the end of the summer, my garden went the way that summer gardens do.. and was no more.
Now, I'm ready again - but it is Fall.
A Fall garden I shall have.
I shall. Thanks to blogger, Life in Forsyth, I now have a place to begin.
Shhhh... don't tell Al, but I'm going to start a compost bin.. yes, I've decided to go green (just a bit).
My husband picked these pallets up for free at the local grocery store. I asked him to ask and he asked and they said yes - you can have them.
So, what I'm going to do is wire them together and make them into my very own compost bin. Go here and you can see the "how to."
I'm so excited I can't stand it.
Yesterday, I pretended to be a class A biscuit maker. I think I succeeded.
The first thing I did was to wake up and say to myself, 'today, I shall make biscuits' (I say this a lot in the mornings to myself, but never make the biscuits).
This day though, was different - because I was going to actually do it (and I had the day off from work in honor of Labor Day). 
My husband, who also had the day off, is already a class A biscuit maker. You see, he had paid very close attention to both my grandmothers as they would make biscuits in the mornings. He loved their biscuits so much that he wanted to do everything they did so that he could have biscuits like theirs for his very own.
Smart man he is.
So, on this morning of yesterday, he was my chief consult and director.
Ok, what do I do first?
Step one: Measure 3 cups, plus a smidgen, of self rising flour.
Step two: Get a stick of butter and about a tablespoon or two of shortening. Stir it (with a pastry blender) into the flour. This takes a while, because you want to cut through it really really good. It should be about like Bisquick (why not just use Bisquick I asked-you may think it too).
Step three: Add milk (buttermilk is best, but use what you have). I used about a quarter cup, maybe a half a cup. If it is too dry, add more. If it's too wet, add more flour. Stir it up in a ball.
Step four: Flour your cutting board (I did this first before step one, simply because it is so darn fun). Roll out your dough (not too thin tho -see picture).
Step five: Cut out the biscuits. I used a cookie cutter.
Step six: Place your biscuits on a baking sheet. I used a non stick and non greased variety. My husband says that's the best way.
Step seven: (which, really should be another first pre-step) Have your oven already preheated to about 450 degrees F.
Step eight: Let 'em bake about 10 minutes. But watch them.
Step nine: Take them out when they're golden brown.
(Before you read what I wrote here below, please read the post linked here .. it's a short post and picture from my favorite Wisconsin law professor blogger, Nina Camic).
Her photo and prose go nicely with my post for today - on this day of labor remembered.
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Thank you to the men who drive the tractors, the ladies who cook the food, the children who make me smile and dream of the future.
Thank you to the grandmas who shucked the corn, the grandpas who hooked the worms, my sister and brother who remember them too.
Thank you to the teachers who introduced the spinning globe, tuned in to the moon landing and told the shy-est of the shy that I could write a story.
Thank you to the lawyers of the world who are passionate about their jobs - it leaked out to me late in life that arguments are where "it's at."
Thank you to the brick layers, the bug men, the lawn guys, the bakers, the cobblers, the dry-cleaners, the mail men, the vets, the nurses, the doctors, the store clerks, the coaches, the ministers, the soldiers who fight for us, and to the people who sent guys to the moon.
Thank you Dad, Mother, husband and my own precious children for reminding me who we labor for.
Happy Labor Day.
This is one of a thousand posts to read before you die. It was posted over at Claudemathews dot com in April of last year. He indicates it was by Pat Conroy in June of 1973.
I read it in September of Two Thousand and Nine.
Note to Mister Conroy if you ever read this - I believe your soul purpose was to write. Your momma was right about that. I'm not sure which story I like best, but the one about your daddy in the chair flying the imaginary last flight of the Great Santini - that's mighty powerful stuff. You have a gift. And you have shared it with us - the world and me.
Thank you sir.
You may know I'm compiling a list of 1,000 posts to read before you die. They're not my posts - they're yours (well, a small number of them are mine) - and I'm picky. You can read them all here. They're adding up, so get some coffee or tea or whatever, and read them.
Here's the most recent find . . .
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Blogger, Life in Forsyth, wrote of the sea - and a book, and a birthday and a remembrance - a bittersweet longing. I happened upon her post this morning. Here's a taste of it (you should click over and read the rest).
" . . . gave me a Maine book yesterday, a birthday present she bought months ago, knowing the moment she saw it that I would love it. And so last night instead of tucking the boys in from the side of the bed, I elbowed my way in, made room for myself between them, and read . . . "
This site is intriguing (literary agents who blog list) .. will check it out after work today..
now I'm late ..
as usual.
Remember a few posts ago when I wrote of my reading some of Pat Conroy's writing? Well, I ended up having to go buy the cookbook of his.. I'm holding off still on South of Broad, only because I first am compelled to read his earlier works.
I'm telling you what - after I spent that hour or so in the bookstore just reading some stories from his cookbook, I would wake up at night and crave that book.
I would drive back and forth to work and simply need that book.
Those words and stories called to me like nothing I can describe - yet.
Needless to say, I bought the book. Read it out loud to all my family at various sittings. We laughed and we cried (well, I cried).
In between there, I also was simultaneously sorta reading Sullivan's Island - different author, from same place Mr. Conroy hails from (South Carolina coast / low country / Charleston). That also, is a good book. And I cried when I finished that book too - not because it was sad, but because it was over.
Anyway, after thoroughly consuming the cookbook, I ran to the store and bought The Water is Wide. Read it through the night til I was done. Great book. Gave it to my son who is 19 years old and told him, "You are therefore, required - to read this book."
Today, I bought My Losing Season, also by Pat Conroy.
Here's how it went down at the bookstore:
Parked the car (it's a lovely day by the way).
Walked in the store (two nice older gentleman open the door for me).
Proceeded to the back of the store where I knew the exact location of Conroy's books (because I just bought one the other day)... in Fiction, under "C" for Conroy.
Not there. His new book was there, and another copy of the one I recently bought was there. Prince of Tides was there (I saw the movie, I don't want to read it), Beach Music was there (I have the book somewhere--had it in Mississippi a few months ago meaning to read it--might've left it there--anyway, I'm not going to buy a book I already have). Lords of Discipline was there, but not the one I want.
I want My Losing Season.
Sigh to myself.
Purse my lips in that "gosh I'm so disappointed but I guess I'll live - kinda squinched up frustrated look" that people give to themselves (because I guess they can't see themselves).
Trapse (spellcheck me will ya? I don't don't know how to spell that word) ever so slowly back to the front of the store because I guess I'll have to leave now.. after all, what is the purpose of my being here if I can't get what I want.
Stop midway and look at the hyped up stack of the new Pat Conroy book -- oh look self, that is the guy who you're currently obsessed with -- I know self, I know.. but it's not the book I want.
Thinking to myself, go ahead, pick one up .. look at it.
So I do. Pick it up.
Put it down. It's not time yet. I want the other one.
Look around, like, 'well, what the heck do I do now.'
Lunch I guess.
Suddenly notice young lady employee is walking toward me briskly and a little too eagerly for my normal comfort level.
Before I can walk away, she asks, "You look like you're searching for something - can I help you find what you need?"
Yes (but thinking, I've already looked and you don't have it). I am looking for Pat Conroy's book - but not this new one - it's one of his earlier works called My Losing Season (then I told her I have already looked in the back where it should be and it isn't there).
But, she's undeterred.. punching away on her computer keypad.
Her reply, 'oh yes.. we have it in stock.. in Biography.'
Biography?
Yes. I'll show you.
We walk together to a different part of the store - more to the right and not nearly to the back of the store.
Yes, here it is.
She hands me my book.
I said to her. I think I love you.
She smiles and says thanks (like people must tell her that all day every day).
Today, I am a happy woman.
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Later this evening while blogging, I found this guy's blog. And he has links/posts on Pat -- looks like he knows him.
Well, I am really a happy woman now. This guy actually typed the last third or so of the book (the new one I can't read yet) - and there's a picture of it! A picture of the handwritten manuscript.
I'm in heaven.
Some have said, and it is true - all that glitters is not gold.
Sometimes tho, gold really does glitter. My parents made vows to each other before family and friends 49 years ago.. The vows were to love and cherish each other in sickness and in health, in richer and in poorer, and in all of life .. until death.
They have honored their vows.
This coming year, we (my sister, brother and I) will look forward to their celebrating 50 years together. It is and will continue to be a year to celebrate so much.
It is indeed golden - valuable, a treasure. Their marriage has glittered and still shines so beautifully.
