Here is today's entry from the One Year Bible devotional on the Church of the Highlands website, written by Larry Stockstill. I so often want to shrink instead of use what God has given me. It seems so hard or like it takes too much energy and risk sometimes. I know I need to get past this to fulfill my purpose.
Joshua rebuked the seven tribes who had not yet asserted their victory over the Canaanites. Why? Like many of us, they were waiting for God, while in reality God was waiting for them! Joshua's rebuke to the Israelites was that though God had already given them the land, they refused to pay the price to possess it.
Similarly, the lazy steward of Luke 19:20 demonstrated no initiative to become involved in the risky, dangerous world of investment. He simply took the money his master had given him and hid it away. Though he blamed his master for his lack of effort, the real fault lay with him.
God has given you certain talents and gifts, but He will never force you to use them. Yes, it will cost you something to use your talents, and you may even fail once or twice. You will have to practice, sacrifice, and learn, but you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).
Step out of the boat and onto the water as Peter did. Your eternal reward depends upon your assertiveness, so stop being passive and go take a few cities!
Monday, April 18, 2011
I want these
And yes, I understand the difference between "want" and "need", so I'll probably leave them at Pottery Barn where they came from. But a girl can dream.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A Day in the Life
I had one of those surreal family days. One of those days that is nervewracking and perhaps annoying at the time, but that you know is a family moment you'll look back on and smile.
I was supposed to go visit my parents for just a few hours. But my mom always has other plans. Today, it was a quick jaunt to a plant nursery she'd heard about. Granted, my dad had been sick all night and felt absolutely terrible while I had to bake a cake for a bridal tea and still needed the groceries. But this plant nursery was just a 20 minute drive, right? And my mom had kinda died and came back and has only left the house to go to the doctor, so I should go, right? It was time for me to head home by the time we actually left for the nursery. Then we had to stop by McDonalds for beverages. Then we had to keep going west because surely it was just over the next hill.
We finally got to our destination to discover that this plant nursery was closed, and not just for Saturday. It had gone out of business. This is when my mother realizes that we have, in fact, gone to the wrong nursery. So she calls her friend to see where she was talking about. When she doesn't answer, she makes me drive to a general store/gas station/auto repair/flea market to ask for directions. We drove up just as the proprietor was zipping up his pants from peeing behind one of the car sheds. Lovely. After a brief introduction, he says he could get us there because his sister knew where everything was, but he'd have to wait on his customer before he called her. We realize his customer is the elderly Pentecostal woman that has pulled her baby blue cadillac up to THE gas pump. By this time, my dad is seemingly in-and-out of consciousness and very uncomfortable in the back of truck. Yes, the giant man is sitting in the back because he was in no state to drive.
The man's sister does know where it is - it's about 5 miles past the state line if we go down the highway and cut towards (insert butchered Indian name of a town in Mississippi here). My mom says we've gone too far to turn back now. My dad grudgingly agrees and somehow manages to not throw up in the back seat despite his condition. I start clocking 5 miles immediately at the state line and tell Momma we'll just have to look for this another day once those miles have past. Too bad there wasn't a place to turn around at the 5 mile marker and I had to keep driving until we go to The Old Country Store and Gas Station. And too bad the friend calls back with directions to the nursery, which are to drive to the Old Country Store and ask for directions because that's how she found it the first time. At this point, my dad is awake and really not happy but I go ask for directions to avoid World War III.
After another 10 minute drive through nowhere, we arrive at a truly wonderful plant nursery that is covered with shoppers. In The Middle of Nowhere. (How did all of these other people find this place with no signs?) It was an oasis of plants, folk art, porch swings, and rocking chairs - and they were open for 20 more minutes.
I've drawn this story out long enough already - but it is important to note that my mother is basically in her pajamas with mustard all over her shirt, and the ground is all stone gravel that is not wheel-chair friendly, and my mom quite clearly told me to "Not tell her no" when I asked if she please wouldn't walk the 50 yards or so the vegetable greenhouse potentially containing heirloom tomato plants. Thankfully, the women at Bloomers in Caledonia, Mississippi are absolutely wonderful and stayed after hours to serve crippled pajama lady, her high-strung nervous daughter, and her husband that was walking around like Joey in the hernia episode of Friends.
After a trip to another Alabama town for Wal-Mart, dinner from my Aunt's restaurant, and my two offers to take Daddy to the ER - we made it back. I arrived at my home around 8:45pm. I finished icing the cake around 11:30. And I finished writing this around 12:15. Thus is a day in the life of a Yerby.
Did I mention how fun it was to drive my dad's new truck?
Check out some of my iPhone pics from Bloomers. (Sad I couldn't use my hipstomatic app at the time)
I was supposed to go visit my parents for just a few hours. But my mom always has other plans. Today, it was a quick jaunt to a plant nursery she'd heard about. Granted, my dad had been sick all night and felt absolutely terrible while I had to bake a cake for a bridal tea and still needed the groceries. But this plant nursery was just a 20 minute drive, right? And my mom had kinda died and came back and has only left the house to go to the doctor, so I should go, right? It was time for me to head home by the time we actually left for the nursery. Then we had to stop by McDonalds for beverages. Then we had to keep going west because surely it was just over the next hill.
We finally got to our destination to discover that this plant nursery was closed, and not just for Saturday. It had gone out of business. This is when my mother realizes that we have, in fact, gone to the wrong nursery. So she calls her friend to see where she was talking about. When she doesn't answer, she makes me drive to a general store/gas station/auto repair/flea market to ask for directions. We drove up just as the proprietor was zipping up his pants from peeing behind one of the car sheds. Lovely. After a brief introduction, he says he could get us there because his sister knew where everything was, but he'd have to wait on his customer before he called her. We realize his customer is the elderly Pentecostal woman that has pulled her baby blue cadillac up to THE gas pump. By this time, my dad is seemingly in-and-out of consciousness and very uncomfortable in the back of truck. Yes, the giant man is sitting in the back because he was in no state to drive.
The man's sister does know where it is - it's about 5 miles past the state line if we go down the highway and cut towards (insert butchered Indian name of a town in Mississippi here). My mom says we've gone too far to turn back now. My dad grudgingly agrees and somehow manages to not throw up in the back seat despite his condition. I start clocking 5 miles immediately at the state line and tell Momma we'll just have to look for this another day once those miles have past. Too bad there wasn't a place to turn around at the 5 mile marker and I had to keep driving until we go to The Old Country Store and Gas Station. And too bad the friend calls back with directions to the nursery, which are to drive to the Old Country Store and ask for directions because that's how she found it the first time. At this point, my dad is awake and really not happy but I go ask for directions to avoid World War III.
After another 10 minute drive through nowhere, we arrive at a truly wonderful plant nursery that is covered with shoppers. In The Middle of Nowhere. (How did all of these other people find this place with no signs?) It was an oasis of plants, folk art, porch swings, and rocking chairs - and they were open for 20 more minutes.
I've drawn this story out long enough already - but it is important to note that my mother is basically in her pajamas with mustard all over her shirt, and the ground is all stone gravel that is not wheel-chair friendly, and my mom quite clearly told me to "Not tell her no" when I asked if she please wouldn't walk the 50 yards or so the vegetable greenhouse potentially containing heirloom tomato plants. Thankfully, the women at Bloomers in Caledonia, Mississippi are absolutely wonderful and stayed after hours to serve crippled pajama lady, her high-strung nervous daughter, and her husband that was walking around like Joey in the hernia episode of Friends.
After a trip to another Alabama town for Wal-Mart, dinner from my Aunt's restaurant, and my two offers to take Daddy to the ER - we made it back. I arrived at my home around 8:45pm. I finished icing the cake around 11:30. And I finished writing this around 12:15. Thus is a day in the life of a Yerby.
Did I mention how fun it was to drive my dad's new truck?
Check out some of my iPhone pics from Bloomers. (Sad I couldn't use my hipstomatic app at the time)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Don't mess with me
I don't get upset very often - and sometimes the things that do upset me are out of the ordinary. For example, when I had to hold my tongue to stop a kerfuffle at today's research luncheon. But, I think I was justified. Here's how it went down:
I got in my car and drove all the way to the next big city to be the only person from my university at this luncheon. I was very excited because the lunch was catered by the local culinary school and it looked delicious. They even had cuban sandwiches, which are a rare indulgence for me. I was so excited to get to the end of the buffet and see some gorgeous cookies (forgive me for not taking a picture!). I was so excited. One cookie was totally unlike anything I had seen before, and I audibly exclaimed "Are those dried blueberries?!"
The lady to my left said "No. I'm a dietician. Those are raisins." It took all I had to not say "I'm a health educator. And a baker. And a food blog addict. And why would anybody with good sense combine raisins with white chocolate chunks in a sugar cookie? If you look here at this seperate stack of cinnamon raisin cookies you will realize that these clearly do not contain the same dried fruit. Clearly a culinary genius has invented the Blueberry Muffin cookie and I want to find that person and shake their hand."
I got mad again. Just now. Typing that out. Maybe I'm transfering my anger over the Congressional budget crisis to snotty nutrition researchers, but I don't think so. I think I actually care that much about baked goods. And you might be thinking that the woman was actually talking about the cinnamon raisin cookies - but she wasn't - I was pointing and bent over and a tad too enamored with these cookies - so she knew exactly which ones I was talking about.
Was the cookie good? Yes, it was delightful. Totally a blueberry muffin cookie with a center that tasted like streusel. I love you, Culinary School Genius that created this.
I got in my car and drove all the way to the next big city to be the only person from my university at this luncheon. I was very excited because the lunch was catered by the local culinary school and it looked delicious. They even had cuban sandwiches, which are a rare indulgence for me. I was so excited to get to the end of the buffet and see some gorgeous cookies (forgive me for not taking a picture!). I was so excited. One cookie was totally unlike anything I had seen before, and I audibly exclaimed "Are those dried blueberries?!"
The lady to my left said "No. I'm a dietician. Those are raisins." It took all I had to not say "I'm a health educator. And a baker. And a food blog addict. And why would anybody with good sense combine raisins with white chocolate chunks in a sugar cookie? If you look here at this seperate stack of cinnamon raisin cookies you will realize that these clearly do not contain the same dried fruit. Clearly a culinary genius has invented the Blueberry Muffin cookie and I want to find that person and shake their hand."
I got mad again. Just now. Typing that out. Maybe I'm transfering my anger over the Congressional budget crisis to snotty nutrition researchers, but I don't think so. I think I actually care that much about baked goods. And you might be thinking that the woman was actually talking about the cinnamon raisin cookies - but she wasn't - I was pointing and bent over and a tad too enamored with these cookies - so she knew exactly which ones I was talking about.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Chocolate Fix
I'm watching 5 Ingredient Fix on the Food Network right now. Mostly because a pastry chef is showing 101 things to do with chocolate ganache. It doesn't get better than chocolate and cream.
One of the many things you can make - truffles. That you can dip in anything. So, I just created my own recipe for S'mores truffles - chocolate ganache center, covered in marshmallow cream, rolled in crushed graham crackers. Not sure if the marshmallow part would actually work, but let me know if you try, ok? :).
I could make up truffles all day. What would you create?
Here's the recipe:
Easy truffles
Here's the video how to:
5 Ingredient Fix How-To Truffles.
picture from here: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/bakers-one-bowl-chocolate-53520.aspx
One of the many things you can make - truffles. That you can dip in anything. So, I just created my own recipe for S'mores truffles - chocolate ganache center, covered in marshmallow cream, rolled in crushed graham crackers. Not sure if the marshmallow part would actually work, but let me know if you try, ok? :).
I could make up truffles all day. What would you create?
Here's the recipe:
Easy truffles
Here's the video how to:
5 Ingredient Fix How-To Truffles.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Food, glorious food.
Despite my dislike of fish heads, mushrooms, veal, and snails - I can relate to her craving for REAL & GOOD food that actually has flavor. And that was prepared without the use of robots, conveyor belts, or freezers before I ate it. The book will make your turkey sandwich and microwaved broccoli in fake reduced-calorie butter sauce seem way less appealing. It makes me want to cook an actual - wait for it - Meal! Like, with an entree and 2 sides and everything. I spend a lot of time daydreaming about cooking meals, but it rarely happens. Somehow, the tired single career girl on weight watchers thing gets in the way.
She took it up as a hobby and was judged for being a middle-class housewife that wanted to learn to cook instead of having the housekeeper do it for her. Imagine.
I was also struck by the fact that Julia Child became so enamored with food in France because she did not grow up eating tasty meals. She grew up wealthy in California and had only eaten whatever their cook at the time provided for them. She had no "food roots". I cannot conceive this because 1.) I'm Southern and 2.) I grew up in a family of excellent and resourceful cooks. I have too often taken that for granted.
The book is also interesting because it goes into detail about being a former spy/expat diplomat in post-war France. It's a viewpoint and part of history that I'm not very familiar with. You quickly realize that Julia Child is not merely the tall lady with a weird voice that cuts up chickens on PBS.
The end :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)