And make no mistake...it has been a DARK week for America.
The Boston Marathon Bombing...Ricin sent to Congress and The President...The Explosion in West Texas...and, of course, the Fanatics and Conspiracy folks which creep out of the woodwork...The Westboro Baptist "Church"- a category of evil themselves. Shrill media and much misinformation. And forums filled with hateful rhetoric.
Still, amidst the darkness the stars shine brightest.
Strangers who reached out to one another seconds after the bombs exploded.
Bostonians who opened their homes and hearts and wallets to people trapped in an unfamiliar city after the unthinkable.
Americans who vow to shelter the deceased's survivors from the protests and pickets of Fred Phelps and his heartless clan.
An office worker who recognized the MO of the Mississippi man who mailed the Ricin tainted letters and made the call...which resulted in an almost immediate arrest.
Americans who surrendered images on their cell phones and recordings to assist the FBI in apprehending the terrorists...regardless if they are foreign or domestic.
Texans who open their hearts and arms to grieving families today
by being FAMILY...whether or not they are related.
And the ghost of Fred Rogers...reminding us that:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Heroes come in many shapes and sizes. Some wore old comfortable sweaters and welcomed you to their neighborhood.
At Depauw yesterday a hero of a different sort lectured.
A mild graying woman of 79 who at age 26 left London for Africa to follow a dream...lived with the chimps...and has spent her life enlightening the rest of us. She is known world-wide.
She is Jane Goodall.
Yesterday's lecture entitled "Sowing the Seeds of Hope" reminded me of the often quoted Ghandi reflection...that WE must BE the CHANGE we hope to see in the WORLD. That the future of humanity is in our hands. An amazing woman. An incredible lecture and a personal hero.
After this week we need all the Jane Goodalls, Maya Lou Angelous, and Fred Rogers we can find.
(Currently reading her Harvest for Hope...now signed!)
Spreaking of HARVEST.
Yes...it is THAT time again with the warm rains and sunshine beginning to coax the grays up at last.
Although the yellows appear to be late this year...and the sporing was not as effective as at the Cottage thus far. Perhaps the late winter snow and (now) relentless rains. And the only fungus we scouted out in Tennessee shown below
(...actually they are edible...they just aren't morels...)
~sigh~
Not to worry...a local market always has a few pounds available...just in case...and yes...bought morels taste almost as good as fresh picked in a pinch. And the Mushroom Festival and Car Show is coming soon!
If my sporing has proven iffy this year...and there is always next...the bluebells propagated by sectioning a single root last year are thriving. From a single root cut into one inch sections I have a beautiful area beginning to fill in with bluebells. After they bloom I am going to dig one out and section the roots to propagate even more. One of my favorite wildflowers.
No planting today, though. The beds look a lot like rice paddies. Cox Nursery thinks I have abandoned them. Hoping to plant most everything next week.
And last, but not least...you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Or at least an "old cook".
After finding a sign that "Idgy" and I had a good laugh over
"Of course I have a kitchen...it came with the house."
Tongue in cheek commentary on the fact that I am "the cook" and she is:
"Damn it Jim, I'm an Artist...not a chef."
She proceeded to teach me to make the most amazingly simple (and delicious) Chicken and Dumplings I have ever ate.
I will never fix them from scratch again.
So without further adieu...and keep the "ohmigod...that is so obvious" to yourself.
"Idgy's" Amazing Chicken and Dumplings
Boil chicken and reserve broth. Set meat aside. If chicken is skinless/boneless add can of chicken broth to water.
1 tube GRANDS butter flavored biscuits. Cut biscuits in quarters.
Drop quarters (dumplings) into boiling broth for 3-5 minutes. Turn them once.
When dumplings are done use 1/4 cup flour sprinkled over broth to thicken then add shredded boiled chicken back in.
Season with salt and pepper. Serve HOT and don't forget the Sweet Tea."
I am STILL shaking my head.
