The Pumpkin Patch

Country Pumpkins in Caledonia, Mississippi

Comfort Food

One of the things I love about fall is that my family and I start cooking comfort foods. As soon as the first cold snap (which, in Alabama, really isn't that cold - but you would think it was ten below from seeing the girls walking around everywhere in over sized sweatshirts and Ugg boots), my mother starts cooking soups and stews and all kinds of cold-weather dishes.  Here are a few of my favorite fall comfort foods:

Hamburger Hash for Two

This is one of my favorite quick dinners.

2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 pound ground beef

1/2 small onion, chopped

Garlic Salt

Seasoned Salt

Spray a saute pan with cooking spray. Put ground beef, onions and potatoes in pan and heat on high. Stir in garlic salt and seasoned salt to taste.  Cook until beef is browned and potatoes start to get crispy. Drain off grease before serving. We eat this as a meal by itself, or sometimes we will cook cornbread and tomato soup to go with it.

 

Buttermilk Cornbread

When I was a freshman in college, one of the guys in my Freshman Composition class was talking one day about how much he missed home and his mother's home cooking. He said that he'd been craving some good cornbread all semester. I should have cooked some for him (maybe I would have snagged him up - he was pretty cute), but instead, I told him that I could tell him how to make cornbread because it was easy. He seemed skeptical, but I wrote down the recipe for him and told him how to pick out a black skillet, and he decided that he would try it. He came back to class the next week and told me that I was a genius. He said that he'd made cornbread better than his mama's (I hope he never told his mama that). Cornbread is one of the easiest things to make. I have friends who are so intimidated by cooking, especially cornbread, because they think it is hard. Trust me, it isn't. Anyone can make good cornbread. The guy from my Freshman Comp class is my proof (He had never cooked anything in his life, ever. I remember telling the same guy how to do his laundry and how to get grease stains out of his jeans. Which really makes me wonder why he never did snag me up...maybe I reminded him too much of his mother? I guess I'll never know...).

2 cups of cornmeal (yellow or white - I like yellow, but either will work)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 egg

Pinch of salt

1/2 stick butter

 

Spray a black skillet with cooking spray and place 1/2 stick of butter in the bottom of the pan. Place pan in an oven heated to 400 degrees to melt the butter. While the pan is heating, whisk together the cornmeal, milk, egg and salt. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little extra milk. Once all the butter is melted, pour cornmeal mixture into the hot pan and bake on the top rack of the oven at 400 degrees until golden brown.  Allow to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then turn out onto a plate.

Note:  If you don't want to buy a whole carton of buttermilk, you can use regular milk - just add 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise to the mixture as well and you'll never know the difference.

They call this senioritis...

I should not even be online right now.  I have a paper due at 3:00 this afternoon and another due on Monday that I need to get finished before this weekend starts, but I am just not in the mood to be writing academic papers.  I think I have officially hit the wall.  I have gotten to that point where college is just a chore.  It is no longer something I enjoy.  It is my senior year and things are getting serious and this is now just a means to an end.  This is my attitude about writing this paper right now:

So, instead of doing my work, I am going to take a little break to daydream about the future...

I am so ready to graduate.

If you know me, then you know that I have waffled a lot when trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up, but the closer I get to graduation, the more sure I am that I made the right decision choosing Secondary English Education as my major.  I hate all the paperwork that accompanies being a teacher (it is totally ridiculous), but I absolutely love being in front of a classroom and teaching.  It is a good place for me - I love the students and the subject that I will be teaching, and it is a job where I can have financial security and stability and still have tons of time off in the summers and on holidays to write and travel and do the things I want to do.

Deciding to be a teacher was not easy for me.  I have a lot a friends who are teachers, and, although I love them, I have to be honest here...teachers get on my nerves.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard teachers gripe about their jobs and complain about their pay and go on and on about how unappreciated they are.  That bugs me.  As a future educator, I am going into this understanding that it is a career that I chose.  I decided that it is what I wanted to do.  I believe that teaching is a gift and a calling, but it is not forced upon anyone.  It is something that a person willingly decides to pursue as a career.  So I don't understand all the complaining.

I am not going into teaching to become wealthy.  I am doing it because it is a good, reliable career that will supply me with enough money to live comfortably while allowing me to do something that I enjoy.  I don't expect to become rich, and I don't expect to be treated like a hero for teaching a child how to read.  Yes, I hope that I will have a positive influence on my students, but I know that teenagers rarely tell you that you made a difference in their lives (mostly because it is not until later in life that they realize that the lessons you taught them were actually important).  I don't need to be praised just for doing my job.

One of the things that I am most excited about when it comes to teaching is interacting with my future students.  I love to see the look on a child's face when he or she really gets the point of a lesson.  You can literally see the light bulb come on when you look into their faces and you just know that they are getting it.  That is a great feeling.

I also want to show my students that learning can be fun.  I am an English nerd, so I love to read and I even love a good lecture, but I know that most students do not like either of those things.  With the help of one of my art professors, I have been creating active, art-integrated lesson plans to really help my students connect with the material that I will be teaching.  I am so excited to actually get into a classroom and put all these plans into action.  If you have ever seen the movie Freedom Writers with Hillary Swank, then you have seen the kind of teacher I want to be.  It won't be easy to teach like that, but it will be so worth it.

I am also ready to graduate because it means that I can do a little traveling and a lot more writing.  I love to write, but academic papers are not my thing.  Creative writing is so much more fun, and it is hard to do that when you have so many other things on your plate and so many other due dates and deadlines to juggle.  Hopefully, this summer will be my chance to get some major writing done (I am working on a novel, after all, and I need some time to dedicate to that.  Gotta cross that one off the Bucket List!).

I have a huge list of things that I want to do, but here are the top ten things I am most looking forward to after graduation:

1.  Going to the Memphis in May BBQ Competition with my Papaw
2.  Reading a book of my choosing by the pool, just for FUN
3.  Finishing my short story collection
4.  Going to Atlanta to see the Braves play
5.  Going to the beach
6.  Finally running that 5K that I am always talking about
7.  Finding a teaching job!!!  (I should probably have this in the #1 spot, actually...)
8.  Paying off my debts.  I didn't have to get many student loans, but the ones I did get are not going to be around long, if I can help it.  Trying to live as debt free as possible.
9.  Landing a freelance writing gig with a newspaper or magazine.
10.  Sleeping late.  I can not wait to sleep late.

What A Girl Wants

When it comes to relationships, I hate to feel like I'm super high maintenance or needy.  I am a giver, and it can be hard for me to accept things (help, presents, compliments) from others.  I try to act like I don't care about the sweet little romantic things that my friends' boyfriends do for them.  I act like romance drives me crazy, like I think it is totally unnecessary and slightly sickening.  Most of the time, my faux disgust is just a coping mechanism to cover the fact that I am turning into a bitter, jealous old woman (seriously, I am concerned about myself.  I am SO on the road to being a cat lady.)

So, Dear Future Boyfriend (if you even exist), no matter what I say or how indifferent I act about the mushy stuff, know the following things are really the truth:

1.  I want you to tell me that I'm pretty, especially when I'm just wearing jeans and a t-shirt and my hair is in a messy ponytail (so, basically, every day).

2.  I like it when you call me princess, sweetheart, and baby.

3.  Pandora beads for my bracelet are always, ALWAYS a good gift idea.

4.  I actually do expect you to remember things like my favorite soft drink, candy, movie, baseball team and author.  I know all those things about you, and we've talked about them, so you should know them about me.

5.  Send me sweet good morning and good night texts.

6.  Pay for dinner.  Hold the door open for me.  Pull out my chair at the restaurant.

7.  I like buying you things, and I love that you appreciate things when I get them for you (so say thank you!).  But never tell me that you can't accept a gift because it is too much or because I shouldn't have bought it.  I bought it because I wanted to, and you not accepting it is insulting.

8.  I will give you your guys' nights to go to the game and play poker or whatever, so I need you to give me my space for girls' nights every once in a while, too.

9.  Picnics in the park or at the lake are my absolute favorite.

10.  I love when you hold my hand in public and let me wear your coat or hoodie.  It tells everyone who sees us that I belong to you, and I love that.

Also...
If/when you get ready to pop the question, I want it to be a special moment just between the two of us.  No hidden photographers, no surprise parties, no asking on the jumbo tron at a ballgame (although those things are cool, I think a moment like deciding that you are going to spend the rest of your life with someone should be private). Got it?  Good.

Last thing...do you think you could hurry up a little?  Or maybe ask someone for directions?

Published

I had one of my short stories published in the local newspaper, The Lamar Democrat, this week!  I am pretty excited to see my writing in print. 

It looks pretty good, doesn't it?

Girls' Day Out - Canton Flea Market (Bucket List #74)

On Thursday, my mother, my cousin Michelle, and I went to Canton, Mississippi, for their annual fall flea market.  If you have never been, you should go.  I've been one other time, and I hope to get to go back next October.   Going to Canton is #74 on my Ultimate Bucket List.

Canton is a really neat little town in central Mississippi.  They have a really neat downtown area.  It is actually where the movie A Time to Kill (based on my favorite John Grisham book) was filmed, so there are some pretty cool little tourist spots to check out on a normal day.  Here is a shot of the courthouse (Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock have stood on these courthouse steps!)...

On flea market day, the entire town works together to host one of the biggest flea markets I have ever seen.  They even let school out on that day.  The entire town caters to the thousands of people (mostly women) who come out to see what all the different vendors have to offer each year.

It starts at 8:00 a.m. and lasts all day.  Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, because you are going to be doing a lot of walking.  The vendors set up all around the courthouse square and move out a few blocks in each direction from there.  They have crafts, food items, furniture, antiques, home decor items, clothes, jewelry...pretty much everything you can imagine.  There are also food trucks and food vendors set up (you have to try the food at Penn's - they are famous for their chicken on a stick, which is a skewer of chicken pieces, dill pickles, onions and potatoes that is deep fried and definitely worth the calories).

Here are a few of the treasures that we found on this trip...

I love the grey chevron on this elephant.  And, of course, I LOVE that it says Roll Tide!

My mother got this wood sign for the front door of her new house.  When she finishes remodeling it, she's planning to paint the front door this color blue, so it will look great on the grey brick next to the bright blue door. 

I love old things, and I was super excited to find this antique tool box for just $10!  I snatched it up fast.  I have no idea what to use it for, but I'm sure that I'll think of something.

We actually found this old toy bank at an antique store on the square at Canton and got it for my dad.  It hold nickels, dimes, and quarters and counts them as you deposit them.  It won't open until you have saved $10 worth of change, which I thought was pretty cool.

Please Wipe Your Feet: Confessions of a Doormat

I have a problem.  I am a doormat.

 It’s not that I don’t have a mind of my own.  Believe me, I am fully capable of thinking for myself and making decisions.  I usually make good decisions, although I have my share of lapses of judgment where there is no explanation for the stupidity of my own actions.  But I guess that’s the only way you learn, right?

My problem is not that I let others tell me what to think.  My problem is that I an almost incapable of saying no in social circumstances.

This is a real, legitimate problem.  It effects my relationships with people.  I never ask them to do things for me, but they always are asking me because I am dependable and I almost NEVER turn them down.  People call me all the time asking for my time and my money, and most of the time, I give it to them.  It has caused me to be irritated, frustrated, and broke.  Sometimes, I really wish I could just say no!  And I wish that I didn’t feel guilty for doing so.

I have always been taught that, because I am a Christian, I should put others first.  I should sacrifice myself and the things that are going on in my life to help and serve others when I can.  I really do believe that helping others is important.  It is a principle that Jesus taught us about by example.  He cared for others.  He was never too busy to stop and help someone in need.  

But at the same time, Jesus doesn't want Christians to be doormats.  He never let people take advantage of Him, and He doesn't want us to do that either.

You want proof?  Check out the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42: 

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Martha was a lot like me.  She wanted to help people.  And she was doing her best to do that.  She enjoyed doing that.  (I know it doesn't say that in the text, but from other stories about Martha in the Bible, I am pretty sure she was the original Martha Stewart.  She loved to throw a party.  And she was good at it.)  But Martha had a problem.  She didn't know when to stop.

I can absolutely identify with Martha.  I know how it feels to be the busy one.  I know how it feels to see a friend enjoying a moment and to feel jealous because I can't just sit down and enjoy myself.  And for people like Martha and myself, it is easy to put the blame on that friend (Mary).  We see her, just sitting there, and we think that she should be up doing something.  She should be helping.  After all, there is plenty to do, right?

But instead of scolding Mary, Jesus scolded Martha.  He doesn't want us to get so busy helping other people that we don't take time to appreciate the blessings He is trying to give to us.  If we always neglect ourselves, we can't really do any good when we try to help others because after a little while, our attitudes and good moods will wear thin.  We will get overworked and cranky.  And then we turn into bitter women who bark orders at other people and seem uptight and mean (NOT the image we need to portray as Christian women).

It is really all about finding a balance in our daily lives.  We need to help people, but we can't allow people to take advantage of us.  We need to sacrifice our wants sometimes, but we also have to take time to take care of ourselves (Jesus taught us this when He took the time to go pray by Himself - even HE needed alone time with God!).  Each of us needs to be part Mary and part Martha (which is hard).

We don't need to be doormats, but we do need to own a welcome mat, if that makes any sense.

We need to be willing to help others, but we can't let them walk all over us.  That's a hard balance to find.  So, how does one do that?  I still have no idea.  But I am trying to figure it out.

Step one?  Learning to say no.  We'll see how that goes...  

English Major Problems

I do not share Calvin's enthusiasm for academic writing.  #EnglishMajorProblems