More turkey than you know what to do with?

In true redneck foodie fashion, I enjoyed a deep fried turkey this Christmas. It was the first time I had been there for the whole process of frying a turkey, and let me tell you...nothing smells better than that coming out of the oil! This blog, however, is not really about the fresh turkey. It's about the leftovers. That's everyone's biggest complaint about turkey, right? Too many left overs. So here are my three best suggestions for left over turkey:

Tip #1 turkey freezes. In other words, none of these recipes have to be done immediately after the holidays. In fact, you're likely to enjoy the flavors more if you freeze the bird for a while.

Recipe #1: Turkey and Dumplin's
The quick and easy version is to put carrots and onions into chicken broth and bring it to a boil (add turkey first if raw). Reduce to a simmer and, when the vegetables are getting soft, add precooked turkey, salt, and pepper to taste. When everything has combined, cut raw biscuit dough into strips and add to broth. When the dough floats and is cooked through to the middle, it's ready to serve.

Recipe #2: Turkey Salad
This is a great one for lunches. I like to cube the precooked turkey into 1 inch pieces. Add mayo until all the pieces are well coated and there is enough extra to make it spreadable. I like to add a little bit of little olive oil to make it spreadable without being overwhelmed by mayo, but it's up to you. Next, season with salt, pepper, garlic (tiny amount and optional), and rosemary to taste. The rosemary is the key here. You don't really need much else. It is important to grind the rosemary leaves so they don't keep a course texture. Of course, this makes a really simple clean taste. I kind of like that, but it's likely too plain for regular sandwich bread. This is the sort of thing you put on left over dinner rolls, crackers or really good, fresh bakery bread (slightly toasted).

Recipe #3: Turkey Pot Pie
This is the more complicated of the three recipes, but it makes a nice big meal. Peel and cube 1-2 white potatoes and chop 1/4 of a yellow onion. Put these in a shallow corningware-style dish with a few teaspoons of water and microwave for 2-4 minutes (until soft). Add precooked turkey (chopped), frozen sweet peas, frozen carrot pieces, 1 small can of mushrooms (drained), salt, pepper, and parsley flakes. Mix in 1-2 cans of cream of chicken soup, and 1/4 to 1/2 can of chicken broth as needed for moisture. Cover with a sheet of frozen, thawed pastry dough (stretch dough from rim to rim on the dish) and bake at 400 F for 30-45 minutes (until dough is lightly browned).

Gobble, Gobble!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas....

"What kind of Christmas music do you have?" my mom asked as we prepared the Thanksgiving Day meal.

"Let me check....[reading] Bing Crosby's White Christmas...Bing and Friends Christmas with the Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald...Seasons Greetings from Frank Sinatra & AMP; Bing Crosby..."

Noticing a pattern yet? It's pretty obvious and probably a bit unusual for someone in my generation to be so hooked on Bing Crosby and other greats of the jazz age. But it was this conversation that got me thinking about why my taste in Christmas music is so specific, and I came to two conclusions. The first is that Christmas is such a limited time of year that I don't see the point in buying a bunch of music for it. As a result, I only buy Christmas music I really like, and why do I like Bing Crosby so much for this time year? The answer to that one is actually pretty simple: White Christmas and Holiday Inn. For those of you who don't know, both of these are classic movies starring Bing Crosby and a host of glamorous icons from Hollywood's heyday. The soundtracks are both Irving Berlin masterpieces, the costumes are classic, and the stories are clever.

Holiday Inn was filmed in 1942 and stars Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, and Walter Abel. The movie opens with Crosby, Astaire, and Dale giving their last performance as a song and dance trio. Crosby and Dale are supposed to be getting married and moving to a farm, but everyone is trying to find a way to break the news to Crosby that Dale's character has changed her mind. She's decided to stay in show business (and love) with Astaire. Finally, it's Walter Abel, playing the trio's slightly ridiculous manager, who lets the news slip. Crosby moves to the farm by himself, only to discover that he's a wash in the agricultural business. He decides to turn the farm into a inn/restaurant/theatre that is only open on holidays. After an awkward meeting, he hires Marjorie Reynolds to be the leading lady of his shows. Meanwhile, Dale's fickle character has left Astaire high and dry. Astaire shows up at the inn, drunk and looking for sympathy. He wakes up hungover and caught in another love triangle, this time with Crosby and Reynolds. In the end, the romantic problems get hashed out, and all four characters manage to find happily-ever-after by the following New Year's Eve. There are some amazing dance scenes along the way, including the awesome Fourth of July tap routine pictured below. I feel that I should warn my readers that there is one very politically incorrect song and dance routine in this film. Anyone who knows me, knows that I would be mortified to be thought culturally insensitive for recommending it. Having said that, I feel confident that this particular scene was not meant to be hateful but can be chalked up to a time period when standards were very different.

While Holiday Inn is a good year-round movie, White Christmas is a purely yule tide event. Filmed in 1954, this movie stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. It begins with Crosby (a well known musical performer turned soldier) and Kaye (no name soldier with theatrical aspirations) performing a makeshift Christmas show for their fellow soldiers and retiring commander in a World War II army camp. Kaye ends up saving Crosby's life after the show and uses the leverage to become his professional partner when they return state side. After considerable success, the two end up watching a duet of sisters (Clooney and Ellen) as a professional courtesy, only to acquire matching crushes on the girls. They use an elaborate scheme (including a random bit of drag seen to the right) to get the girls out of trouble and end up following them to an inn in Vermont. They find the inn down on its luck due to unseasonably warm weather, and its insolvent proprietor is none other than their beloved, former commander. The guys move their entire Broadway-style show to the tiny inn, incorporate their new love interests, and try to drum up business. Along the way, they encounter a few romantic misunderstandings, but everything gets worked out. And the commander's spirits are boosted just in time for an iconic Christmas Eve show/blizzard.

The story sounds charming enough, but the real thrill of this movie is the dancing. Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen break the ice with one of my favorite duets of all time. Kaye is best remembered as a funnyman, but that's only because he lived in the age of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. He was a decently talented dancer in his own right, but you might have to watch the movie twice before you notice. That's not due to a lack of skill on his part, but who can take their eyes off of Vera-Ellen?? As the actors prepare for the big show, you'll also witness two of the greatest tap performances set to film and a very nice example of modern dance (the "Choreography Number" and the "Abraham Number"). Anyone with a background in theater will appreciate these, but I think everyone will appreciate the Christmas cheer.

So, I'll be the first to admit that my taste in Christmas movies isn't exactly National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (a favorite of my hubby) or Dirty Santa. Mine is a little old fashioned, but then again, Christmas is a good time for that sort of thing. If you haven't seen these movies for yourself (and you like musicals or classic movies in general), I recommend you give them a try.

Merry Christmas!!!

Be My Only

(FM Radio by Schuyler Fisk & Tim Myers)

I can tell by the way you look at me, you need to be mine
We could sit, watch the stars all night
Til they disappear into the sky

I am yours, and I know that you're mine
You're worth waiting for, you're worth waiting for
Be my only, be my only, be my only
Your hand in mine
I swear love speeds up time
And when the southern skies, like a lullaby
It wasn't hard to fall
You're love's wrecking ball

Watch your hands move along my face
They trace all the lines I've lived
It isn't hard to love your scars
Cause that's everywhere you've been

I am yours, and I know that you're mine
You're worth waiting for, You're worth waiting for
Be my only, be my only, be my only
Your hand in mine
I swear love speeds up time
And when those southern skies, like a lullaby
You're tearing down my walls
You're love's wrecking ball

You're the one I'll compare all the others too
Like sunny weather
You're the one I'll always come back to, forever

Be my only, be my only, be my only
Your hand in mine
I swear love speeds up time
And when those southern skies, like a lullaby
The good, the bad, I take it all
You're love's wrecking ball

(Please note these lyrics were not written out for me. So, if I misheard the song, please correct me)

A Redneck Foodie Thanksgiving....

Have you ever noticed how different Thanksgiving Day menus are between families? Nearly everyone thinks that theirs is "traditional," but the minute you grow up and visit other families, you realize that there's no such thing as "traditional" really. As a child, Thanksgiving in my house always started with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and a pan of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. The day progressed with the preparing of a large turkey...no frills. The bird was cleaned, giblets removed, inside rubbed with salt, and placed in a flour dusted roasting bag for the allotted time. I've had some really dry turkey in my day (no names...) and seen a lot of fancy, shmancy stuff done to a bird, but for me, nothing tops my mom's traditional version. The bag never lets it get dry, and the flavor speaks for itself. It's really what turkey was meant to be in my opinion. Along side this prince of poultry, which incidentally is called "suka ta" in the Osage language -- literally translating to something like "meat chicken," was always a spread of baked stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole with a scattering (not smothering) of marshmallows, gravy (both giblet and plain), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce (both gelled and whole berry), whole kernel corn, and rolls. My apologies to Dr. Atkins.... At some point during the preparation of all this, the men in my family usually came back from hunting to skin things on the back porch before cleaning up and sitting down to the meal. Last but certainly not least, we ritualistically finished the festivities with my grandmother's world famous pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and my mom's pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing.

Since I moved away from home, I've had a couple of different versions of the "traditional" Thanksgiving. My in-laws celebrate this particular holiday at deer camp, a tradition I really enjoy. Being in the woods lends itself to this particular day. Being a house full of guys plus my sainted mother-in-law, the spread usually consists of fewer sides and at least three different kinds of meat. The thing I like best about Thanksgiving at deer camp (other than the nature) is that leftovers rarely make it out alive.

Since moving further away from our families, my husband and I have enjoyed a couple of Thanksgivings just the two of us. This has the charm of being romantic and very low key. The first year I roasted turkey legs and made smaller portions of several of the usual sides. The next year, we had steak....THANK YOU. Despite enjoying these forays into the noticeably nontraditional, it was nice to digress a bit this year. We returned to some old favorites while enjoying a few new comers to the table...both people and dishes. Part of my new step family joined us this year and brought with them a couple of new requests that made very nice additions to the feast. This year's menu in all of its gluttonous glory included -- Turkey made mom's way but rubbed down with a little butter on the outside for flavor and color. Mashed potatoes and gravy, both plain and giblet as before. Baked stuffing with fresh sage added to onions while they were being carmelized. The green bean casserole had to compete head-on with a crispy green bean and bacon combo of my stepbrother's. In cooking as in business...a little competition proved beneficial to the consumer. The usual sweet potato casserole took a different turn by being topped with marshmallows on one half and brown sugar and pecans on the other. What was the vote for the official topping? Right down the middle! My previously blogged about cheese grits made an appearance. They were a nice addition that worked well for breakfast leftovers to boot. My only caution is that I forgot how grits expand....they're like those sponges you put in the water that just keep growing and growing and growing. You never need to cook as many as you think you do. Two kinds of cranberry sauce and rolls topped off the meal. There was a sad little bowl of corn, but I don't think anyone ate it at all.

As you can guess from this list...the food was wonderful, but we could have fed ourselves four times over. That, of course, did not deter our dessert love: pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and Italian cream cake. A couple of notes about desserts, I did forget that layer cake has to cool before being tipped out of the pan. Please learn from my mistake so you will have a lovely three layered cake rather than our vertically challenged version. Having said that, the recipe below is the best Italian creme cake I've ever had. The icing alone is amazing if you need a cream cheese icing for anything. I tried to get fancy with the apple pie by cutting leaves into the upper crust. The good news is that the left over leaves were beautiful on the pumpkin pie. The bad news is that the leaf holes were too big and caused the top of the apple pie to wilt. Thankfully, slouchy apple pie is still apple pie... The pecan and pumpkin pies were pretty much perfect.

(As a postscript...you can find my recipes for pecan and pumpkin pie on my Thanksgiving 2011 blog.)

Italian Cream Cake
1 stick butter
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
5 egg yolks
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
5 egg whites

Cream the butter and shortening. Add sugar and egg yolks beat well. Sift and combine flour and soda and add slowly to creamed mixture alternating with buttermilk. Stir in vanilla, coconut, and nuts. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks (I like to add a little cream of tartar to make this work better). Divide the egg whites into three portions. Fold the first portion into the batter until well blended. Fold the second portion into the batter mixture being careful to maintain as much "fluff" as possible. Fold the last portion into the batter mixture using the fews number of folds possible to thorough combine.

Pour batter into three greased and floured 8 inch round pans. Bake at 350 F for 25 min or until done. COOL cakes, turn out, stack and frost with...

Cream Cheese Icing
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
chopped pecans
milk

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar and mix well. Add vanilla and beat vigorously until smooth. Spread on cake and sprinkle the top with pecans.

The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me show love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
and where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
to be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

A Quick Entry

It's been a while since I've been able to post something to my blog. My redneck foodie ways have not faded, have no fear. I'm just a little crunched for time these days preparing for my Board Examination (all prayers welcome). So, just a quick recap...the redneck foodie menu for the week has included:

1. Wild turkey and dumplings: this is of course a reference to the gallinaceous bird and not the famous bourbon...that would be a weird combination. In the intended form, it's a wonderful comfort food to celebrate the coming of fall. I did discovered that boiling the turkey in a chicken broth rather than water adds richness and depth, but even at a 1:1 broth/water ratio, it risks being a bit salty. I'm voting for a 1:2 ratio next time. I'll let you know how it goes.

2. Wild duck wrapped in bacon and grilled: a really nice way to celebrate a special occasion (Filet Mignon with a little twist). You can hold it together with tooth picks for an appetizer or put several in a row on small kabob skewers for an entree. We tried adding cheese but most of it melted away. Canned jalapenos on the other hand, stick around just fine and add a little spice (as my old Tech wildlife buddies may remember). Great with a red wine...

3. Deer Meat Pizza: as always, I live by the motto that where beef works, deer works better. It's a lean, organic alternative that is easy to come by in my house. On this occasion, I used it in place of ground beef on two Chicago style deep dish pizzas (baked in a cake pan with a thick crust and fresh mozzarella on the bottom. Deer meat, mushrooms, goat's cheese, and spinach made up the middle; and I topped it off with pizza sauce and sliced tomatoes from the local farmers market). Naturally, the toppings are your choice, but the style creates a very different pizza experience.

Bon Appetit!

Invictus
William Earnest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
black as the pit from pole to pole.
I thank whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
my head is bloody but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
looms but the horror of the shade,
and yet the menace of the years
finds me and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate
how charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.

Legends of a Redneck Foodie...Recipes that Make You Say YUM!

This week my husband and I received an unexpected gift from our southern homeland...shrimp. Ever since moving to the Midwest, one of the things I've missed most has been fresh, reasonably affordable seafood. I can't deny that Arkansas is a landlocked state, but it's still within a day's drive of the gulf...Missouri, not so much. To celebrate this unexpected ambrosia, we revisited a southern classic that I have been working to perfect for some time now: shrimp and grits. My mom happens to be known for her world famous cheese grits. Unfortunately, the type of cheese that made her recipe so unforgettable has been discontinued by the Kraft company (tsk, tsk). I've been working on something comparable, and this week, I came darn close.


Southern Cheese Grits:
Preheat over to 350 F
Prepare 3/4 cup of instant grits as directed on the package

When the grits are cooked, remove the sauce pan from the heat and add:
2/3 lbs of Velveeta Cheese cubed
Note: This is 1/3 of a normal 2 lbs block, and the kind made with 2% milk works fine to help with calories
1 Tbs unsalted butter or margarine
3 Tbs sour cream (light works fine here too)
4-5 dashes of Tabasco Sauce (or to taste...)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Stir the ingredients until they are thoroughly blended, and then, transfer the mixture to a square baking dish. Add a light sprinkling of paprika across the top for color and bake until the top has a thin skin across the surface and a light crush around the edges. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool until reasonably firm. It should have the consistency of pudding not soup. Don't try to dish it up too early! This service 4 people for a meal (breakfast or dinner) or 6-8 as an appetizer.

Southern Barbecue Shrimp:
In a large saute pan, heat:
4 Tbs unsalted butter
4 Tbs canola oil

When the above are melted and hot, add:
2 Tbs mince garlic
2 canned green chilies, chopped
2 Tbs dried rosemary (thoroughly chopped/pulverized - whole leaves ruin the texture)
1 Tbs dried thyme
1 Tbs dried oregano
4 leaves fresh Thai basil, chopped
1 Tbs ground paprika
1/4 Tbs ground Cayenne pepper
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 lemon - squeeze the juice out over the pan and then thinly slice one half and add the slices

Cook the above ingredients until they are well combined and then add:
1 lbs of shrimp deveined but shells on (the larger and fresher, the better)
Cook until all shrimp are pink through and then remove from heat

This recipe is a modified version of one by Cheryl Smith posted to foodnetwork.com. Thanks, Cheryl, for getting us started!

We like to combine these two dishes for a dinner, but it can get a bit rich.  I recommend a good vegetable and some plain bread to balance it out.  They are also great the way my friend Beth served them for her wedding reception: a dollop of grits in the bottom of a martini glass and a couple of shrimp perched on the side...gorgeous appetizer!

Hope ya'll enjoy this Southern classic. More recipes, book reviews, travel blogs, and reflections on life are on their way. In the mean time, I want to see your best recipes. Show-me what ya got!

Legends of a Redneck Foodie Part I

I'm here to confess what many of my friends and family have long suspected...I am, in fact, a redneck foodie. What is that exactly? Well, I'm pretty sure redneck isn't a word that needs much explanation. I'll only say that coming from me, it's an affectionate term for those (myself included) who lack a certain "citified" facade while possessing a few charmingly rough edges. On the other hand, a foodie is defined by the urban dictionary as "a person who spends a keen amount of attention and energy knowing the ingredients of food, the proper preparation of food, and finds great enjoyment in top-notch ingredients and exemplary preparation." I'll be the first to admit I'm not a food expert, not by a long shot. I guess that makes me more of a foodie-in-training, but lets not split hairs. I live and eat by two rules: I know what I like and life's too short to eat anything else.

So how does it work, this redneck foodie thing? Truthfully, it's a bit of a ramshackle mishap that occurs when you combine loves for southern cuisine, camp food, smoked food, fried food, food you have killed yourself, and a touch of international flare.  Of course you can't forget about the other key ingredients: watching too many cooking shows, growing your own ingredients, and having a big appetite for life. The result is an oddly perfect combination of new and old. Dishes that frequently surprise and often concern, but in the end, hit the spot.

I'm starting this new blog series because I love food. I also think that foodies are on the rise in this country, and I'm betting there are more than a few of us with a tinge between our shoulder blades. I'm hoping these blogs will spur conversation, a few confessions, or best yet, some new recipes and tips for my collection.

To kick things off with a laugh, my husband and I have put together ten criteria to help identify a redneck foodie (maybe even the one sitting in your chair).  You might be a redneck foodie if....
10. You fully appreciate the fact that nothing (and I mean nothing) cooks great food like cast iron
9. Your favorite seasoning after salt and pepper is camp fire smoke
8. You've ever had to tell your vet that your dog got sick because it ate a [insert odd wildlife species here] off your plate
7. Your grandmother and the Iron Chefs hold equal positions of influence on your culinary style
6. Your most closely guarded family secret is a biscuit recipe
5. You have trail cam photos of the food in your freezer
4. You have side by side shrines to Paula Deen and Johnny Cash
3. You've ever collected shotgun pellets on the napkin beside your dinner plate
2. You agree that vegetables (and everything else for that matter) are better fried
1. Your idea of food safety is killing it and eating it on the same day

On the Osage...

I've spent the last week and a half preceptoring for a veterinary clinic in Osage County, Oklahoma. My grandmother lived in Pawhuska with her family until she was sixteen. She talked about this place and the Osage Nation with a certain reverence that always fascinated me. Maybe it's silly to arrange a trip like this around something so simple, but I what can I say? I'm a romantic. Really, I just wanted to spend some time here, and I haven't been disappointed. I've gotten some great experience with a local vet and put some real large animal work under my belt.

As for Osage County, I'm completely in love. You can see for miles and miles across the rolling prairie. The valleys and river bottoms are full of trees and wildlife that conjure up images from the works of John Joseph Mathews and the like. When I was younger, I remember thinking that this part of the country was too flat and barren compared to my home state. This visit has completely changed my mind. Arkansas will always be home, but I've got to tell you, Oklahoma is quickly becoming my new number two.  This place has a beauty that is subtle. You  have to stop moving to see it, and once you do, you find yourself holding your breath so it won't change. You certainly miss it if you never get off the interstates.  One of the best things about working for a vet is spending so much time on ranches and back roads.  I've been staying at a bunkhouse on a local ranch, and I've spent a good deal of time just sitting on the porch there.  In the last week, I've watched storms roll in on the horizon. I've seen a parade of the most beautiful watercolor sunsets I could imagine, all the while listening to coyotes howling in the distance and cows bellowing from across the yard. It makes me wonder what Osage County must have looked like through my grandmother's eyes so many years ago or her mother's before that.

"Drummond Ranch" Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Photo by Jenn Ballard

If you do find yourself visiting Osage County, let me make a couple of suggestions. My family came to visit during my time here and stayed at a local inn called the Wah-Zha-Zhi House (http://www.wahzhazhihouse.com/) (Wah-Zha-Zhi is the name by which the Osage Nation refers to itself in the traditional language.)  The inn was really vintage and well kept. I would definitely recommend it.  Another great, local establishment is Bad Brad's Bar-B-Q for lunch or dinner.  I especially recommend it on steak night, because they cook everything on the grill outside.  There are locations in Pawhuska, Yukon, and Stillwater (http://www.badbrads.com/).  After you find food and a bed, you'll want to see the sites. I recommend checking out the Osage Nation's Museum and Library while you're in town (http://www.osagetribe.com/museum/). It contains a lot of really interesting records, artifacts, and art from the history of the tribe.  My last recommendation is to head north of town to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. There is a lot of history and ecology here, including great birding and a free-ranging bison herd. (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/oklahoma/placesweprotect/tallgrass-prairie-preserve.xml).

Happy Fathers' Day!

 

"African black-footed penguins" Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa 2009

Photo by Jenn Ballard

 

Happy Fathers' Day

to all the dads out there who help make their kids' dreams come true

On the road again....Part II

Continuing my trip from the previous posting, I woke up on the morning of June 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. I headed south out of music city, and, egged-on by the famous "See Rock City" signs every half mile or so, I decided that it would be a good day to make a couple of detours.

First, I stopped at the University of the South, affectionately known as Sewanee. Technically, I believe Sewanee is the name of the town, but having driven around, I can testify that it's hard to tell where the town stops and the college starts. Not that it matters...they're both very beautiful and more closely resemble an old fashion summer camp in the mountains than an institution of higher learning. (If you ever wondered where they got ideas for Hogwarts...I may have found the answer.)

You might be curious why a person would want to visit a university where they don't know anyone.  The reason I wanted to make this stop is because the University of the South was famous among my friends and I in high school.  We were curious about the rumor that the honors students still wear academic robes to class. Since it was summer break, I did not get to witness the robed masses for myself, and their website keeps its secrets. The truth behind this rumor is still a mystery, but I got some great pictures, please enjoy. http://www.sewanee.edu/

"University of the South" Sewanee, Tennessee
Photo by Jenn Ballard

Next, I hit the road again very briefly before taking another detour to Lookout Mountain. This historic landmark is the home of world famous Americana tourist stop: Rock City. This lovely little mountain side amusement park was opened to public in 1932. It advertised by painting the simple slogan "see rock city" on barns across the state. That image, and the place itself, have become legend. If you've never been there, I suggestion you "See Rock City" at least once in your life. http://www.seerockcity.com/

"See Rock City" Chattanooga, Tennessee
Photo by Jenn Ballard

Finally, I got back on the road, promising to keep moving this time. I rolled into Atlanta not too long after that and was quickly reminded why I hate driving in any city that requires six to seven lanes of interstate traffic at a time. I did get cut off by a real life, bonafide Lotus. I had a momentary flashback to the movie "Pretty Woman," but once I confirmed that neither Richard Gere nor Julia Roberts (Circa 1990) were driving, I was forced to honk and move on with my life in bitter disappointment.

I arrived in Athens, Georgia just as my nerves where wearing thin. I found the house where I will be staying and settled in for the next three weeks of training....ah the life of a student. Wish me luck!

On the road again....Part I

I started this blog to discuss topics rather than myself. However, for the duration of the summer my whereabouts will be periodically mysterious and my lifestyle somewhat nomadic. In honor of this rare scholastic fermata, I'm planning to actually write about myself and my various adventures (hope I don't bore you to tears). Consider it an ode to the all-American road trip.

I started on Saturday, June 12, 2010, leaving America's heartland just after a trip to the farmer's market, a quick lunch, and some frantic searching for misplaced odds and ends. I headed east toward the big STL. I made it through a small patch of lightening laden rain to "enjoy" the remaining 5 hours of my 7 hour drive in a hot, muggy fog of ickiness. I crossed over into Illinois before continuing on a more southerly course. Let me summarize Illinois for you...corn! I did pass the turn off for Cahokia Mounds, one of only twenty world heritage sites in North America. The civilization that built the mounds between 700 and 1400 A.D. represented the largest, most sophisticated pre-settlement culture on the continent north of present day Mexico. I had the pleasure of visiting this spot last spring, and if you've never been there, I highly recommend it (http://cahokiamounds.org/).

I passed into Kentucky around the time "A Prairie Home Companion" came on the radio. It seemed somehow fitting to listen to the bluegrass music as I headed south, Nashville bound. This radio program, if you haven't heard it, is a reproduction of sorts. It was started in 1974 and continues to this day as a live radio broadcast, produced in the style of an old fashioned variety show. You can find it on your local NPR station on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Check out: http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/

I rolled across the state line and into music city as the sun went down. I quickly cleaned up and was taken out on the town by my newly acquired cousin-in-law. She showed my Music Row, Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, and a great little local restaurant called "South Street" (http://www.pansouth.net/southstreet/index.php). It's apparently known for its oysters and the tree that it's built around. The atmosphere was funky and the food was tasty...totally worthy of a repeat. I had some terrific onion rings and a seafood steam pot. We had a couple drinks after that...nothing fancy. I went to bed and got up the next day ready to continue my travels....I could tell you about them now, but where's the suspense in that???

Pictures to come...

Happy Mother's Day

"Osage River" Photo by Jenn Ballard

Happy Mothers' Day to my mom and all the great moms out there!

Hippie Holidays

I like to tell people that I'm really just a hippie in disguise, but these days, the definition of this label leaves much room for interpretation. In days gone by, hippies were young people speaking out against war, racism, and other social issues with music, art, and yes, more than a few mind altering drugs. They weren't really the kind of people to like any labels come to think of it. Did I mention the sex?  Moving on.  In today's society the definition of "hippie" depends entirely on who's using it. People of all ages use the word in a positive fashion to describe themselves or others as being generally free spirited, artistic, and culturally sensitive. Others use it to describe those who are generally liberal (and frequently democrat) in a tit for tat of politico name calling.  This more derogatory use primarily serves to prevent exhaustion of the phrases "left wing nut" or "tree hugger."  After all, over use of these latter phrases might lead to mind-numbing monotony, and that would really be a shame. It is, however, the fact that this term has become synonymous with a certain level of environmental awareness that has caused me to dub two of my favorite demi-holidays as "hippie holidays."

Earth Day and Arbor Day have both come and gone in the last few weeks. They were surely celebrated by some and completely ignored by others, the latter being a real shame as environmental issues need our attention at this time more than any other in the history of mankind.

Earth Day was founded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 to inspire environmental awareness and education...education being his key point. In its founding year, the event was organized as an environmental "teach-in" similar to those being held regarding the Vietnam War. His idea came when he witnessed the devastation left by a 1969 oil spill (a theme that should hit close to home for all of us right now!!!) Originally, it was only celebrated in the US, but in the 1990's, it officially went international. At present, it is celebrated around the world in various ways every April 22. The spirit of Earth Day is sustained year around, as well as considerable global planning, by the Earth Day Network. From their website, the Network appears to be an advocacy group with a multifaceted agenda, but I'll confess I don't know anything else about the nature of their work. They likely do wonderful things, but I always urge caution when aligning one's self with an NGO of unknown origin. Some have terrific sounding names and kooky agendas (cough*PETA*cough). I'm not at all trying to imply that this is the case here; it's just a disclaimer.

Arbor Day, on the other hand, has a much older history. Founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, the primary objective was to encourage pioneers to plant trees on the previously shadeless Nebraska landscape. Since that time, the holiday has taken on a new importance due to the mass clearing of trees globally and the deterioration of worldwide air quality. This holiday is celebrated in multiple countries around the world, but on different days because of the variability in appropriate planting seasons. In the US, the holiday is usually the last Friday of April. The Arbor Day Foundation was started in 1972 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the holiday. It's goal is to "encourage people to plant, celebrate, and nurture trees." Two of the big platforms listed on their website are urban tree planting and rain forest loss. The Foundation is one of the world's largest nonprofits and assists in the planting of over 10 million trees annually (with the assistance of numerous federal and state foresters). Since I know a little more about this organization, I feel comfortable openly giving my support. Check out http://www.arborday.org/ (and It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown for a real treat!)

Many of you will read this blog and say that our world has bigger problems than losing a few trees...hunger, disease, war, and perhaps you are right. However, I appeal to you with this thought: less than 1% of the water on planet earth is able to be cleaned and consumed. Our global society is currently using that water at an unsustainable rate. Many people have predicted that future wars will be fought over both food and water, and if you look at the agricultural industry in our western United States, you will realize that this war has already begun. Our planet is a closed ecosystem, and we cannot rely on technology to make for us what simply does not exist. We must conserve and protect that which is necessary for life. You may say our world has bigger problems. You may say that environmentalism is a luxury, but I ask you this: if not now, when?

With that in mind, I leave you with this one request: plant a tree, turn off a light, recycle a can, or simply mark your calendars for April 22, 2011 (Earth Day) and April 29, 2011 (Arbor Day).  Anywhere is a good place to start!

"Wild Sweet William" Taken at Rock Bridge State Park

Photo by Jenn Ballard

Books that Change Your Life

I'm not sure I was ever told point blank that reading would open the door to an extraordinary life. I'm not sure that the phrase "you are what you read" ever actually came out of my mother's mouth, but lets just say that the not-so-subliminal messaging was everywhere. In short, I was brain washed. Maybe it was the book-of-the-month club in elementary school or the summer vacation to Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in junior high. It could also have been the Friday night family outings to Barnes and Noble in high school. I was lured in with coffee drinks and cheese cake only to find myself, with the rest of my family, paying homage to the written word. This is by no means a complaint. That's why it seems fitting to make this, my first actual blog, a book review. But it's not just any book....I would like to share with you my very favorite book: A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold.

Originally copyrighted in 1949, this book has undergone more publications than I care to guess. To this day, it is the undisputed foundation of modern conservation ethics. I'm not just saying that; it's actually true. I was first introduced to Leopold by my college roommate, but I didn't delve into it until required to do so by my wildlife management professor.  From then on, I was hooked.  I have met a few so called "wildlifers" who aren't big fans of Leopold, and I don't claim that it's by any means a requirement of the profession. None the less, I do think that this book articulates with unique grace what many of us feel about nature and conservation. That's not to imply that this book is for the professional wildlife manager only. No, this book is for every land owner, nature lover, and voter sharing planet earth; because, as Leopold noted, conservation is affected by both the pen and the axe.

The first twelve chapters of A Sand County Almanac are relatively light reads. They are a month by month account of Leopold's observations of nature on his weekend farm in rural Wisconsin. They are beautifully written narratives of the natural environment, past, present, and future. The book progresses to a series of essays written about Leopold's experiences working in other ecosystems.  These experiences would indelibly shaped his land ethic and management practices later in life. If you can't "connect" with the Midwest landscape described in the first twelve chapters, there's bound to be something for you in these latter works. They all have the unique quality of subtly adding ever progressive undertones of ethical theory. One of my favorites quotes comes from the section titled Chihuahua and Sonora:

"Man always kills the thing he loves, and so we the pioneers have killed our wilderness. Some say we had to. Be that as it may, I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?"

And finally, the reader comes to the Upshot. This section of the book summarizes with both eloquence and force the meaning and importance of a sincere land ethic. Leopold tells his readers "We asked the farmer to do what he conveniently could to save his soil, and he has done just that, and only that. The farmer who clears the woods off a 75 percent slope, turns his cows into the clearing, and dumps its rainfall, rocks, and soil into the community creek, is still (if otherwise decent) a respected member of society...Obligations have no meaning without conscience, and the problem we face is the extension of the social conscience from people to land. No important change in ethics was ever accomplished without an internal change in our intellectual emphasis, loyalties, affections, and convictions. The proof that conservation has not yet touched these foundations of conduct lies in the fact that philosophy and religion have not yet heard of it. In our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial."

Need I say more? This book moves me every time I pick it up. It never gets old. If, however, you have already read A Sand County Almanac and are looking for something new to check out, I do have one more suggestion: Wilderness and the American Mind by Robert Nash. This book is in its third edition and makes a chronological study of the views of North American society toward the concepts of wilderness and conservation. If you like Leopold, I practically guarantee that you'll like this one too.
I would also like to note that there is a program called the Leopold Education Project. Much like Project WET, Project Wild, and Project Learning Tree, the Leopold Education Project is about training teachers to instruct their students in environmental (and in this case land ethic) topics. The program provides information, training, and activity guides for all levels. I've been to trainings for all of the above mentioned programs. I'll admit that the LEP wasn't quite as flashy as the other three, but there is definite substance, especially for secondary teachers and students. Of course, homeschooling parents and instructors are always welcome at these trainings, and I would encourage anyone and everyone to check them out. Go to http://www.lep.org/ for more information.

And So I Begin...

I keep asking myself why I want to start this blog.  It may be that, as of next week, I will be officially unemployed. This isn't a feeling I'm used to since I've had a job of one sort or another since I was 15.  I may be hoping that sharing useful information with society will make me feel like I'm still an actual participant.  On the otherhand, it could also be that I've watched Sex and the City or Julie and Julia one too many times. I freely admit that it is little silly to start this project now, considering that I quit my job (which I loved) to focus on my last year of graduate school (no comment). Needless to say, finding things to do isn't exactly the problem, and I don't really need a new hobby. None the less, I've always enjoyed writing, and I feel compelled to throw myself into the mix of cyber-civilization. I find myself spending way too much time yelling at radio shows, the evening news, and generally wondering why no one values the things I value. Maybe it's time that I share my thoughts in a more productive way.

I'm sure that the contents of this blog will end up being as uniformly unpredictable as I am. To summarize: I love to do just about everything. I used to think of this as a problem, but I've come to the conclusion that I only have two true hobbies...art and life. "Art" as in I love to find the beauty in the things around me.  This includes writing, cooking, gardening, decorating, "real" art projects, crafts, music, fashion, and whatever else comes along to inspire me. "Life" as in I'm glutton for experience - rich, meaningful, awe-inspiring experience. My favorite place to look for both of these things is in the outdoors.  I really enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and anything else that gets me outside. I also love to broaden my horizons with new music, books, friends, and travel. These inevitably inspire me to create more art or to experience more things and so the cycle continues...

As you read all of this, you may be wondering what you can expect from this blog.  At present, I'm planning to share my art work, review recent literary conquests, record interesting aspects of my trips, and share the scenic views as I live my life along a road less traveled. I do not pretend that my road is the only (nor the most interesting) avenue of its kind, but it is the only one I know. Whether this road will lend value to the lives of others or just give me an excuse to express my all too numerous opinions, only time (and with any luck, readers) will tell. I ask that you stay tuned and feel free to share questions or suggestions along the way.