Encouragement, affirmation, and something to smile on

Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning...
Such a beautiful one after our stormy Friday! Soak in the goodness and light ♡
Alki ~

South Charleston, West Virginia in 1945. A broken place

 in a broken land,

a broken place within my heart.

A couple of traffic jams in Appalachia

I do miss it every day...

A Living Prayer - Alison Krauss

 

Jellied Pigs Feet

If you follow this blog then you probably knew this was coming. Jellied pigs feet!

I think that most folks will turn away from this one, and that's okay. But it's better to have a recipe and not need it, than it is to need a recipe and not have it.

In defense of jellied pigs feet, let me just say that this is one of those foods that brings some different peoples together. When I was a kid I thought that only elderly Italians of my grandparent's generation ate them. Then I discovered that the parents and grandparents of some of some of my Black friends ate pigs feet. And still later I met Cubans, Serbs, Hungarians, and white people from the south and in Minnesota who ate them. This is a nearly international dishes and argues against the point of view that says we all live in separate spheres. 

On the other hand, no one is going to tell you that these are good for you. Pigs are mostly nice animals and don't deserve the suffering we put them through. Your internationalism may not extend to jellied pigs feet. This recipe takes a little bit of work, and you're going to have to keep the kitchen fan on and the windows open as you cook them. Get your kids and your partner out of the house on cooking day.

If you still want to go ahead...

Get yourself  6 pigs feet, 1 stalk of celery, 1 clove of garlic (at least), 1 hot pepper (at least), some black pepper and any powdered spices that you like.

Cut the pigs feet in half and clean them. Clean them up again. Place them in a large pot of boiling water. Take them out of the water and throw that water away. Clean the feet again. Clean the pot, put the pigs feet back in the pot, and add water to 2 inches above the feet. Add some salt, the celery, the garlic, the hot pepper(s), and any other powdered seasoning that you really like. Cook on low heat for about 3 hours. Turn of the heat and let it cool. Remove the bones and place the meat in a casserole. Strain the broth through a sieve and pour it over the meet and put that in the fridge Sprinkle your pepper and whatever else you have over it. Enjoy!

Photo from Pinterest, I think.

 

Encouragement and affirmation for today---along with some humor and something to make you think

From The Midnight Mom Devotional:

Tonight we pray for the momma who loves her own momma. Lord, she remembers all the times that her momma came running when she called for help. Whether it was a broken relationship, or a difficult diagnosis or needing help with a newborn, or any other thing, her momma answered the call. Tonight we pray that you would please grant her a good night's sleep. Please help her to know how much we appreciate everything that she has done even as we try to find the right words. Please bless her tonight. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists is one of many working-class groups working hard this weekend to protect everyone's rights and get out the vote.  This matters, or should matter, to all of us. There is nothing that Black trade union members don't want that doesn't benefit every working-class person. CBTU is fighting for all of us.

Some words of encouragement---and some humor

 

From the Midnight Mom Devotional:

Tonight we pray for the momma raising a fiery daughter. Lord, You know how carefully these girls must be led. You created them with fierce passion that shouldn’t be put out or contained. Their determination isn’t a strong will or a disobedient heart but a passion put there by You, God, to ignite movements, to kindle hope, and to warm the lonely. Lord, help these mommas lead their daughters. Give them wisdom, patience, tenderness and compassion. The world needs girls with fire in their hearts more than ever. You knew these mommas were the ones for the job. Give them rest tonight. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.

Kiss of Life, 1968

"The path to peace is never easy..." Another great poem by Stewart Acuff

I posted a poem from Stewart Acuff the other day. Here is another great poem and photograph from him. He's a deep thinker and a great poet. Look carefully around you with love. There is lots to learn in the world around us.

The path to peace is never easy
Love is action not just feeling
Justice requires vigilance and not letting go
Watch two or three songbirds mob a crow
To drive it from their eggs, babies and homes
The egret stands still and silent on stilt like legs waiting
Till its neck straightens from its snake curl striking
All day the egret waits and watches for every bite
Just as a hungry owl hunts through the night
Sometimes an entire people can act as one
When we act to defend our children and our folks' freedom.

The Tug Fork in all her glory...

 

This appeared on the Friends of the Tug Fork Facebook page yesterday with a captions saying "“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” and "In all her glory." I believe that the photograph and caption came from Andrew Ace Gess. Please "like" Friends of the Tug Fork on Facebook and please love where you live and keep it healthy and clean. Andrew Ace Gess put it well: there is glory in our beautiful rivers and in our environment.