Syrup Day

On the first Saturday after Thanksgiving every year there is a day dedicated to making syrup near Calcasieu, a small town in Louisiana. My parents invited us and we followed their lead to the farm where this celebration takes place. It seemed we kept going and turning and going down a long curvy road, until suddenly I saw the sign "Syrup Day". Throughout the entire day the air sounded with music and old time gospel singing. I quickly found the syrup vat and saw that it was boiling over a fire. The cook and owner of the property said that at 1:30 or there abouts, the syrup would be ready. In the meantime, we watched corn shucking, hay baling and corn being milled into corn meal. Turnip greens and pork cracklins were cooked over an open fire and other helpers were demonstrating how sugar cane is processed to make the syrup. There was a small cabin set up with a dog-run, old time kitchen, and the wash tub on the back porch. There were probably over 300 in attendance. We were all served a lunch of gumbo or taco soup, corn bread, dessert, and drink around noon. The demonstrations continued and I was able to get lots of pictures. The owners/organizers asked for only a monetary donation to help finance the following years Syrup Day. This is an annual event and a wonderful experience and education. We bought several jars of syrup to share and enjoyed watching all the demonstrations.

A Thanksgiving to Remember

This Thanksgiving has to be the topper, the one I can say is the most memorable, and the one that truly captured what Thanksgiving is all about. We gathered together (about 35 in all) some traveling from as far away as California, Arkansas, Georgia, and Louisiana. There were surprises, family photos, games, stories, singing, and of course food.... food that represents the abundance of blessings that we have had over the past year, the abundance of love that we all share, the abundance of faith and thankfulness in the power greater than all, friendship, and memories be what they may. It was especially nice for me because members of my side of the family were there enjoying the same camaraderie that I have been around for over 30 years. And my 2 sons and future daughter-in-law made it to this occasion making my family whole again if only for a couple of days. After eating until we were as full as a tick, we sang songs mostly from memory and definitely from the heart about our love and thankfulness to God. All 4 singing parts were represented plus some extra harmonizing. A few of us enjoyed a campfire with some abstract intellectual thinking and problem-solving conversation that many of the Smith clan seem to have. We shared stories and plans and heartaches. A family this large, this loving, this dedicated to God and to each other is probably a rare thing and something to be cherished and praised and says a lot about the matriarch and patriarch of the family (D&C). It was time to leave and go our separate ways all too soon.

A National Thanksgiving Day is established

Today will be an adventure and heartwarming time for our family. Today we celebrate Thanksgiving, a time we pause and do the things that George Washington and Congress established for Americans in 1789.

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness":Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplication to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, AD 1789" ---George Washington

copied from http://americanrevival.org/documents/other/thanksgiving.htm

Meeting Congressman Gohmert

Sometimes a topic is so dear to one's heart that you cannot put your thoughts on it to paper or even talk about it in such a way that does it justice. However, I will try. Representative Gohmert spoke Sunday evening November 22 at the Center Middle School auditorium in a special community church service. He had a message that I wish could be heard by students in our schools. I never heard the history and quotes that he shared from older history books concerning the heroes of our country's past. I left with the feeling that God definitely had a hand in our heritage and worked in the lives of our past soldiers, leaders, presidents, scholars, and universities, just as he worked through David, Moses, Paul, and other heroes of the Bible. Sure there were unchristian actions that are a part of our history, but we are human. Why does that negate the Christian heritage our country was founded on? Why does that mean leaving out the important facts that kept us on the right track so that my generation and future generations do not even know God's mighty hand continues in our governments today. It seems we have shut him out and chiseled even his reference out of our history. We will one day forget the sacrifices so many have made to make this country a good place to live. Goodness is being descriminated against and twisted in its meaning. The problem is bigger than me. I just pray about it regularly and use my votes which seem lost in a sea of political correctness and add-ons to bills.

Congressman Ghomert and others like him are special people remembering our heritage and passing it on. After the service, I introduced myself and shook Congressman Gohmert's hand and thanked him for his insight and tireless work for our country.

Enough Said, Snakes are Dead

I had so much fun watching the kids at West Sabine Independent School District participate in the Frogs and Snakes contest. The entire district and community were involved in this exciting event. Fifth graders (frogs) and Sixth graders (snakes) competed against each other in several events including sack races, tire pulling, egg carrying, and tug of war. The gym was full to capacity and the kids did their best running back and forth working as a team to win this year's trophy and claim to the winner of the Frogs & Snakes 2009 championship. High school kids cheered for their team which in some cases included their younger sibling. They remembered when they were part of the competition in the not so distant past. I did some video for the organizers to remember the day, but had to leave before the end. When I asked some of the kids "who won"? "Snakes, of course!" was their answer. Better luck next year, Frogs! This was an exciting day for everyone! Then, school was released for the Thanksgiving holidays!

Best in Show

These are the pictures I entered into the Sassafras Festival photo contest. Bench Kitty, my cat, won best in show. The Echinacea flower, growing wild in my yard, won 2nd in the flower division and the flag scene taken at Abilene Christian University, "Waving Proudly in the Snow", won 1st in the scenic division. The Amaryillis was given to me by a dear friend (SP) and has multiplied into 50 or more bulbs that I have given away over the years. It won Honorable Mention at the Fall Festival in Jasper a few weeks ago. I love to take pictures as many of you know. Entering the contest means I like sharing my work and winning means that I did a decent and appreciated job. I thank God for the confidence and talent he has given me to share this blog and all my pictures with you and I hope that I convey my excitement and the beauty of the world we live in.

I'm Country with Tracy and Earl

Tonight I feel filthy country after attending the Tracy Byrd concert at the Shelby County Rodeo Arena. You have to understand I am not strickly a country listener, so I haven't heard so much country, back to back, live music... well never. Local talent from Shelby County including Kelli Wilburn and Megan Welburn warmed our hearts and took up time waiting for "the big guys" as Mrs. Wilburn put it. Kelli had us sing along with "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Then Zona Jones from Beaumont, TX showed his talent and ease on stage gearing up the crowd for Tracy and Earl. Earl Thomas Conley is a legend with 18 No. 1 songs in a row on the charts. "What she sees is only what she wants to, What she has, she thinks is enough. What she does is just look at the good things. And what she is, is a woman in love." The band members for ETC entertained us on their own with their singing and playing. Their live music becomes a part of you. I will probably feel that drum and hear that strum for days. And Tracy has not even made it on stage yet!! Did I mention that it is freaking cold out here?

"Welcome" is all he said and got right down to "we're from the country and I like it that way", "lifestyles of the not so rich and famous", "Holden Heaven in my arms tonight". Some couples could not help but dance the two-step on the sidelines and lots of photographers and admirers, young and old, lined the stage. "If I met God tonight, I'd slap him a high five.... Who am I to say what's wrong and what's best."

Someone once jokingly made the comment that they tried listening to country music once and lost IQ points. I can see their point what with all the drinking and bar songs out there, but country music is an art not for people that are intelligent about science and math, but it is all about expressions from the heart and the heart is what makes beautiful heartwarming fun music. East Texas is country. Thank you Tracy Byrd for such a wonderful evening. Thank you Los Margaritas in Center, TX for having this concert. BTW, we figured out how to stay warm. Get up and move with the rest of 'em!

Sassafras Excitement

I have looked forward to this year's festival for some time now. The promise of over 100 vendors lining the square of San Augustine, Bonnie and Clyde reinactment, wheel chair races, live music, pet show, dunkin booth, ... I shared this day with many friends that I have met over the last year and I met more friends during my rounds through the excitement and goings on. I had the courage this year to enter several photographs in the photography contest and actually won "best in show" and 2 other ribbons for my work. Children were being pulled by wagon, dogs were accompanying many festival goers including a large Mastiff or gentle giant, jellies and canned goods and homemade goodies were for sale along with handmade walking sticks, purses, carvings, paintings, and so on. This was a day that reflected the full culture of San Augustine. Watch out Clyde! The sheriff is hot on your trail!

Horse Apples

When I asked if anyone knew what these were, their answer was that they had always called them "horse apples" or Bois D'Arc. They are actually the fruit of the Bois D'Arc or Osage-orange tree. They are not edible though sometimes squirrels will open them to eat the seeds inside. When I cut the bumpy fruit open,the milky sap stuck to my knife and it was solid and spongy all the way through. They are native to this area and when the wood is cut and dried it burns clean and long in a fireplace. The wood was used by the Osage Indians to make their bows and is good for tool handles and such. The sap can be used to deter spiders, fleas, and roaches which makes it an unusual, but good plant in my book.