Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
Hello to all my porchers, new and old! It's a beautiful day here
at Coon Creek and I'm happy to see y'all. Please make yourselves
comfortable and let's catch up. ~smile~
I love working at my desk and watching the birds feed outside my
window. At least I did before the entrance of one arrogant squirrel
I've nicknamed Smirky. I know y'all are going to tell me that I can
get a different birdfeeder that he can't get into--but that's not
the point. I like my pretty wrought iron feeder and by all that
is southern, I'm gonna keep it.
It began the day Smirky ran up the feeder's half-inch pole and
settled in like an overweight slob at an all you can eat buffet.
At first, any movement from inside ran him off. Then I had to
holler. Before long he just giggled when I pounded on the glass
and threatened him.
Fine, I thought, so that's how you're gonna play it. I greased
the pole with Vaseline. It was fun watching Smirky run up that
pole, hang on and slide all the way down. Then he regrouped,
grabbed the finial attached beneath the feeder, chinned up and
flipped over into the feed bowl. I gave him a ten on technique
before going out and greasing the knob. Back inside, I watched
Smirky take a flying leap from the ground directly into the
buffet. This ain't over. I have a new Cajun seasoning named "Slap
'Ya Mama" and I'm fixin' to test his heritage--the birds will
have to forgive me...
Guess what? I've gotten a good start on the "Yellow Ribbon
Gallery" here on the porch, http://www.allthingssouthern.com.
Just scroll down and click the animated flag on the left side
of the homepage. If you want to see your folks included, send me an
picture by email or snail mail. (My snail mail address is 2007
Island Point Drive, Lake Providence, La. 71254).
That's about it for now. I hope y'all enjoy this week's emag. I
had a lot of fun with it. Take care and come see me on the porch!
Hugs,
Shellie
*****************************************************************
~~Chuckles~~
"Maybe Two's the Charm?"
Hey porchers, I just got back from Mrs. Cecilia Davidson's funeral.
Actually, it was her second funeral. I know, I'm gonna have to
explain...
Ten years ago Mrs. Cecilia apparently died of a heart attack. That's
the best way I know to describe it. You see, at the end of her funeral
service when the pallbearers were leaving the church with her casket--
they accidentally hit the far wall. To the surprise of everyone there,
the jolt brought a low moan from the casket. Come to find out, Mrs.
Davidson wasn't dead after all.
Unfortunately, her heart problems continued to plague her. Last Friday
she went home for good. Which brings me back to the funeral. I was
there and I still can't get over the nerve of that no-good husband of
hers. Would you believe that when the pallbearers picked up Mrs.
Davidson and headed out of the church, Mr. Davidson hollered out,
"watch that wall!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~A Taste of the South~~
Hey porchers! We're cooking "Garlic Cheese Biscuits" in the All Things
Southern kitchen today. Stir these up and you'll think you're at Red
Lobster--at least until you notice that no one is cleaning up the
kitchen. Now, sit back and let me tell you how it's done. You can print
my recipe out later at allthingssouthern.com. Let's get cooking!
"Garlic Cheese Biscuits"
• 2 cups Bisquick
• 2/3 cups buttermilk
• ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• Dash of red pepper
Stir together 2 cups Bisquick, 2/3 cup of milk and ½ cup shredded
Cheddar cheese. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees
until golden brown, about fifteen minutes, depending on your oven. When
you take 'em out, brush the tops with 2 tablespoons melted butter
seasoned with 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder and a dash of red pepper.
That's good cooking.
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~~It's Been Said...~~
He was born in an Indian village in Tennessee. His father, a white
trader, abandoned his Cherokee mother before he was born. As an adult
he became intrigued with the written words of the white settlers. He
called the books and letters "talking leaves" and marveled at their
ability to record thoughts, dreams and intentions. Sequoyah was
determined to provide this advantage to his own people. By the year
1809, this extraordinary Indian succeeded in inventing an easy system
of reading and writing known as the Cherokee alphabet.
Perhaps it is my love of books that endears this southerner and his
quote to me. I know that many times I have to write about something
that I've seen or heard before I really understand how I feel about it.
Listen and consider the truth of Sequoyah's motivation. He said...
"When a talk is made and put down, it is good to look at it
afterward." --Sequoyah, Tennessee-born Native American
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~~Southern Comfort~~
"When the Lights Go Out"
Even though my kids are grown, I can easily recall their childhood
fears. I remember them calling out to their Dad and me when a storm
would hit and knock the electricity out, sending their rooms into
pitch darkness. They tried to sound calm, but you could always tell
they were on the verge of panicking. "We're here," we'd call to them.
"Just stay where you are and we'll come to you." Our voices soothed
them instantly.
Most of us are too grown up, now, to be scared of the weather. And
yet, none of us are above panicking during a personal crisis. Maybe
you're hearing the crashing thunder of financial woes or health
problems, or maybe the flashes of war on our horizon frighten you.
I'd like to encourage you to stop and holler for your Heavenly Father,
but before I do, let me give you something to think about. My children
were comforted by our response because they recognized our voices
when we called out to them. In the same way, we need to pursue a
relationship with our Heavenly Father and learn to recognize His
voice so that when the storm hits and the lights go out, we can call
out to Him in confidence. And the best part? God sees in the dark.
~Shellie
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~~Southern Exchange~~
Your letters:
Dear Shellie,
Your political views make me hoppin' mad, but I still like All Things
Southern.
Craig
Austin, Texas
(Dear Craig, Sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad, huh? Thanks
for hanging in here. ~Hugs, Shellie)
_________________
Hey Shellie,
Just had to tell you this incredible story I heard on the news yesterday.
Feel free to pass it along to the other porchers so they can shake their
heads in disbelief as I did.
A woman in Hong Kong jumped from a building to commit suicide. But, she
landed on someone's car, which prevented her from carrying out her death
wish. The guy who owned the car sued the woman for the major damage to
his car. She in turn sued him because his car was illegally parked!!
My first reaction was "This sounds like something that would happen in
America!" Sad that we live in a generation of "take 'em to court and
sue their britches off!".
Keep up the good work. Looking forward to hearing more of your good
Southern charm! God has truly blessed you with such talent, and I thank
you for sharing it with others.
Charlotte Weasel
Downsville, LA
<*}}}><
(Dear Charlotte, Thanks for the chuckle! I wish I knew who won! I'm with
you--the only real surprise was that it happened in Hong Kong. It doesn
sound like the sue happy folks here in the good old U.S.A! By the way,
did you notice that I liked your fish so much that I surrounded today's
"Southern Comfort" with it? Thanks for sharing! ~Hugs, Shellie)
_________________
Dear Shellie,
I haven't taken the time to respond with a thought or two about recent
ATS letters, but as Mama always told me "better late than never!"
Olivia of IL recently asked your input about how she should respond with
a teenaged daugher and her temper tantrums; your response was, in effect,
"Don't respond by giving her an audience...she'll get glad in the same
pants she got mad in." Boy! How many times have my two gals heard that
when they were growing up? Now, as a mental health professional, I even
have an appropriate "label" that you and I can put on our technique; it's
called, "Therapeutic Ignoring"! It's a grand day when those psychological
professionals catch up with good ole timey Southern common sense, huh?
And, on another note, Carl from AL sent in a pearl of wisdom about some
folk being "educated beyond their inteligence"-- I loved that! It reminded
me of a jewel I picked up a few years ago at a Christian School convention
out West. The featured speaker was a giant of a man, a very distinguished
and educated black brother who had more earned degrees than I can remember.
After a l-o-n-g introduction about his accomplishments, pursuit of higher
education, etc., the distinguished Dr. stepped to the podium and said
humbly, "I finished high school and went to college and got me an education
so people wouldn't look down on me. Then, I went on back to school and got
me some more education so I wouldn't look down on people." Is that not an
understatement of great magnitude? I've discovered that some folks are just
smart enough to be dangerous. Ha!
Janis
Winnsborro, Louisiana
(Dear Janis, I'm feelin' pretty sassy finding out I was using a parenting
trick with a label all these years. *grin* And your doctor's statement--
what a beautiful picture of humility. Thanks for sharing his quote with
the rest of us. ~Hugs, Shellie)
_________________
Dear Shellie,
I've never written you before...and it's long past due. The recent issue
wasn't a duplicate...but even if it was, then I'd have just been doubly
blessed!
I love getting your mails with the warm feeling that comes with them. I'm
not from the South, although I've spent many a day there, but I am the
daughter of a former Oregon hillbilly, (yes, darlins...they DO exist), and
an Oregon houseboater who taught me the joys of "down home livin' " and
the values I hold dear...values that you continue to pass on through your
chats and thoughts. I've been living in northern Germany for 14 years now
and I appreciate more than ever the joy and "little bit of home" you share
through your newsletter. May God bless you for all you do!
Hugs from a far-off porcher,
Sara
Lubeck, Germany
(Dear Sara, How wonderful to hear from a German porcher and one that
so closely identifies with our southern values. I'm truly happy to be your
connection to home. Thanks for droppin' by. ~Hugs, Shellie)
_________________
Hi Shellie,
I have been lurking for some time on your web site. I get to read your
column on the web occasionaly. I found you last summer after I stopped by
the LA Cotton Museum in Lake Providence. I saw your brochure on the wall
and asked Ms. McKenzie if it was you.
Reading your columns reminds me of you during our high school days. Your
writing style and portyral of life in the LA Delta are true to form. What
a relief to know that although I have moved on, that some things do not
change. You haven't changed a bit. I can remember your wit and humor from
that long ago. Bet you can still play a mean game of basketball?
I enjoy the farm pictures from down there--nice family pictures. Where
I live in central Arkansas, there is very little cotton and corn grown
here. I live in Carlisle along I-40. Rice, soybeans, and wheat are the
main crops here. Keep up the good work.
Stephen Bariola
Carlisle, Arkansas
(Dear Stephen, I'm glad you finally quit lurking and spoke up. It's always
nice to have an old friend on the porch. And yes, I can still play basketball,
but I don't think "mean" describes my game. Let's just say there have
been some changes. *grin* Y'all drop by when you can. ~Hugs, Shellie)
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ATS NEWS AND NOTES:
I'm happy to be able to introduce everyone to the newest station
carrying the "The All Things Southern Radio Show". Click here:
http://www.thebackroads.com/KWCL.mpg to meet Irene and Ivy and
the rest of the gang at KWCL in Oak Grove, La.
---------------
With the new format, if you see your letter in the exchange, that means
it was also in the radio show this week, (although sometimes condensed
to fit the time frame.) If you'd like a copy of the show, I'll "burn"
you a CD for $7.00, and that includes shipping and handling. (Louisiana
residents will have to include tax.) Just send your check or money order
to ATS at 2007 Island Point Drive, Lake Providence, La. 71254 and let
me know which show you're interested in.
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All Things Southern Sponsors:
If you enjoy All Things Southern on the radio--or by internet, please
let my sponsors know. ~Thanks,Shellie
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