Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
'Bout ye, porchers, you're looking powerful well. That's my new
multi-cultural greeting. You'll understand more when you get to
the Southern Exchange. Hey, don't scroll down now, I'm talking
here. ~smile~
So, how's your summer going? Mine's going fine, thanks. The only
thing I could probably complain about is my lack of lake time. There's
been so much going on, that I've only been out on my Seadoo once,
and that's highly unusual. I plan to correct that problem though, very,
very soon.
Speaking of the lake reminds me, I'm working on some ATS screen savers
for y'all. (Yep, they're gonna be free to download.) I plan to have
one of just lake scenes, one with farm pics and then a fun one.
Click here
for a sneak preview of the fun one. Don't expect too much, now, it's
a work in progress,
but it makes me smile every time I see it. One of my techy friends
created the "Star" of the show and I'm building the screen saver
around it. :-)
I hope you enjoy this week's issue. The Exchange is longer than
usual because my feedback box tells me it's one of your favorite
features. How's that for a piece of humble pie? I work hard to get
our little southern celebration together each week, and your favorite
part is each other's letters! Just kiddin', I think that's great, I
promise. Y'all put your feet up, now, and enjoy yourselves--it's time
to whistle Dixie...
Hugs,
Shellie
P.S. The ATS album is finally catching on. ~grin~ Folks are figuring
out they don't have to do anything but smile in their ATS t-shirt and
mail me a pic. Florida and Kentucky are both sending representatives--I
hope to have their pages up in the next few days. And there's an ATS
t-shirt bound for South Africa! Wouldn't it be fun it they joined in?
Right now I want you to meet Marleta--the host of the great state of
Mississippi
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~~Chuckles~~
"More Southern Rules"
A while back, we printed Rules for those
visiting in the South. I recently ran
across a few updates. I hope you enjoy the "addendum".
ATTENTION ALL VISITORS TO _________! (Please insert the southern
state of your choice.) HERE'S THA RULES!"
1. Any references to "corn fed" when talking about our women
will get you whipped...by our women.
2. Let's get this straight. We have one stoplight in town. We
stop when it's red. We may even stop when it's yellow.
3. We don't do "hurry up" well.
4. Grits are corn. You put butter, salt, and maybe even some
pepper on them. You want to put milk and sugar on them then you
want cream of wheat -- go to Kansas. That would be west.
5 The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season or dove
season. Both are holidays. You can get pancakes, cane syrup, and
sausage before daylight at the church on either day.
6. Yeah, we have golf courses. Don't hit in the water hazards.
It spooks the fish and bothers the gators -- and if you hit it
in the rough, we have these things called Diamondbacks, and they're
not baseball players.
7. We have lots of pine trees. They have sap. It drips from them.
You park your Navigator under them, and they'll leave a logo on your hood.
8. You burn an American flag in our state -- you get beat up. No
questions. The liberal contingent of our state legislature (all 4
of them) enacted a measure to stop this. There is now a $10 fine for
beating up the flag burner.
9. We do not ever, ever, ever say the word you all, contrary to what
Hollywood may lead you to believe. The word is y'all and it could be
either 1 person or 101.
10. Tea--yeah, we have tea. It comes in a glass over ice and is sweet.
You want it hot--sit it in the sun. You want it UN-sweetened--add a lot
of water.
~Special thanks to Kathy from Columbus, GA for today's chuckle.~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~A Taste of the South~~
"Cherry Cobbler with Crumb Topping"
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 2 tablespoons light margarine
• 1/2 cup raw one minute oatmeal
• 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• butter flavored vegetable spray
Spray a 2 quart casserole with cooking spray. Open can of cherry
pie filling. Pour into casserole. Mix light margarine, oatmeal,
flour, sugar and pecans. Crumble over cherry pie filling. Bake at
350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
~special thanks to Jen and Kathy for today's recipe. You can
find their cookbooks, "Gone with the Fat" and "Southern but Lite"in the Bookstore.
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~~Spotlight on the South~~
SPOTLIGHT ON THE GRAND OLD OPRY
I remember my trip to the Grand Old Opry years ago. It was the highlight
of one of our family vacations. Monday afternoon I stumbled across this
site and fell back in time. I was a little girl again soaking up all
the history and entertainment that is the GRAND OLD OPRY! Maybe you're
all way ahead of me, but if you haven't found the Opry on the web before,
you're in for a treat!
The GRAND OLD OPRY is a music phenomenon, born in 1925. One of radio's
pioneer announcers, George D. Hay, who proclaimed himself "The Solemn Old
Judge" at the ripe age of 30, launched the WSM Barn Dance. Legend has it
that the featured performer for that show was Uncle Jimmy Thompson, an
80-year-old fiddler who had the reputation of knowing a thousand fiddle
rounds. Three years later, the Judge gave the show a new name, one that
would last through generations--"The Grand Old Opry". Seventy-five years
later, and millions of happy fans later, the Opry is going strong.
The Opry entertains with music, comedy and pageantry, bonding artists and
audiences like no other show has ever done. At
the Grand Old Opry's website you can
hear performances recorded live on the Opry Stage from stars like Alan
Jackson, Brad Paisley, Travis Twitt and Vince Gill, and of course, my
personal favorite---Loretta Lynn, singing her hit song, "Country in My Genes".
I wish I could print all the lyrics, I just love 'em, but here's a
couple of lines to get you warmed up: "I've got country in my genes,
country in my blood, it goes back generations, it's something I'm proud
of..."
There's also a journal section from stars like Bill Anderson, and a virtual
tour that's just a tad flashier than my farm tour. ~smile~ Search the archives
before you leave and watch the Opry Video Music Box come alive with
country's brightest stars! Everyone should experience the Grand Old Opry
in person, at least once. I hope you can make it there one day. Until
then, you're just a click away from a fabulous mini-show. Surf's up!
~Shellie
The Grand Old Opry
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~~It's Been Said...~~
"There are some people who, if they don't know, you can't tell
'em."
----Louis Armstrong
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~~Southern Comfort~~
"Cajun Ten Commandments"
For those new porchers out there, this is the devotional feature
and it's normally a little more serious. That being said, I think
the Good Lord likes to see us laugh. He even said so in Proverbs
17:22, "A merry heart does good like a medicine", and I thought this
one "fit" even better in the "Southern Comfort" than it did in
"Chuckles". Special thanks to Bob Barrett for sending it to the porch!
"Cajun Ten Commandments"
1. God is number 1...and das' all.
2. Don't pray to nuthin' or nobody...jus' God.
3. Don't cuss nobody...'specially da Good Lord.
4. It's Sunday...pass youself by God's house.
5. Yo folks done did it all...lissen to dem.
6. Killin dem duck and goose, dat's OK...people, no!
7. God give you a wife...sleep wit' jus her.
8. Don't take nobody's pirogue...or nuthin'.
9. Stop lyin' -- yo tongue gonna fall out!
10. Don't go wantin' somebody's stuff.
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~~Southern Exchange~~
Your letters:
Dear Shellie,
"Bout Ye", is how we greet friends here in Northern Ireland,
followed by "Hows it Goin". We also like to say, "You're looking
powerfull well."
Bout ye, to all my new friends at ATS, I hope and pray you are all
well. It's summer here in Northern Ireland which means heavy rain
and cold winds, but so what, the birds still sing each day and God
is still in his heaven,what more could you ask for?
I've really enjoyed reading your magazine, and I know God will bless
it. I have two young children and I am trying to bring them up the
right way. In this country it can be hard, please pray for us.
Well, must go, it was nice talking to you,
See y'all soon,
Stephen Nesbitt
Northern Ireland
('Bout ye, Stephen! It's great to hear from Ireland. Thanks for
writing in. It sounds like your kids have an involved dad--that
alone gives 'em a great head start. Hugs~Shellie)
___________
Hello Shellie,
Good for you for putting a mention of the Abraham Lincoln book
in your newsletter. We can't allow unopened minds to allow us to
create history the way we are most comfortable. This is fascinating
info and we should at least hear it. It reminded me of when I read
the book about Nixon. I was no fan of his but there's no question
it was a thoroughly interesting read. I applaud you for this.
Sam Knight,
Lithonia, Georgia
Editor/Publisher of the "BOOMER BRIGADE!" Newsletter
(Dear Sam, thanks for the words of support. I lost a few subscribers
over spotlighting the book, but I'd counted that cost before I
did it. Maybe they'll wander back one day. :-) Hugs, Shellie)
____________
Dear Shellie,
JUST visited first time ----from cool site of the day----WHAT A
GREAT SITE!!!!----I'm originally from the eastern shore of maryland.
I'm in Topeka, KS now---thanks again for a really nice place to visit!
Dennis Mitchell
Topkea, Kansas
(Dear Dennis, thank you for the sweet words. You are very welcome!
I just realized that there's a reference to Kansas in the Southern
rules, but it's all in fun, 'ya hear? Hang around. We have a lot of
fun on the porch and we eventually poke fun at everyone. Hugs, Shellie)
____________
Dear Shellie,
I wanted to drop you a line and let you know how much much you warm
my heart each week. I was born and raised in Charleston, South
Carolina and was transplanted to cold Conneticut in September 1999.
My husband is in the military and we are now preparing for yet another
move. I assured him that I would support him where ever we end up, but
could he pretty please request the South again? ~smile~ It has taken
me almost 3 years to adjust to the north, and each time we go home to
visit I appreciate the South more and more. Thank you so much for
bringing a little of the south here to me each week.
Sherry
Groton, CT (for just a little bit longer!)
(Hey Sherry, You must be southern to use a term like "pretty please"!
Or do they say that up north? Surely they don't put sugar on top?
I hope you make it back to the south soon. Hugs~Shellie)
__________
Hello Shellie,
Just a note to tell you how much I really enjoy your web site and your
emag. I'm not sure which portion would be my favorite as I like them
all. I might note that I do enjoy reading the emag from your ATS web site.
Your "Southern Comfort" is so refreshing each week. I suppose you did
inherit a bit of your Grandpa Stone's "preaching!"
It was exciting to see the pics of the crops and "their progress." I
can't wait for the pictures closer to time of harvest. However, on
any future pics, puh-leeze avoid including the snakes. ~grin~
Much love,
Aunt Peggy
West Monroe, LA
(Dear Aunt Peg, thanks for writing in. I'm smiling all over myself
with your comparing me to Papaw. I guess we should tell the rest of
the porchers that he was one fine Bible-thumping Baptist Preacher.
Right? Right! BTW, you might want to skip the next few letters, there's a
lot of snake stories coming up. Hugs~Shellie)
__________
Dear Shellie,
A friend of mine just sent me your site and I subscribed right away.
I noticed that y'all grow soybeans and corn. Where do your crops go
after you harvest them? My husband works for Bungee Grain Elevator in
Southeast Louisiana, so you can see why we were happy to see your site.
By the way, I love Lake Providence. We're from Southern Arkansas
originally and we go through there sometimes on our way home. Stay
safe in the arms of God.
Peggy
Destrehan, LA
(Dear friend Peggy, I'm think I'm having a case of de 'javu. I just spoke
to Aunt Peggy. :-) Our rice crop goes in various directions, but most
of the corn and soybeans go to Bungee here in L.P. It's a small world,
isn't it? I appreciate your saying something nice about my home-town.
We take a lot of hits in the news because of our economic trouble, but
there's another side to the story of Lake Providence that's never told.
Maybe I'll tell it one day. Hugs~Shellie)
__________
Hey there Shellie,
Thought I'd pass on something to you and all the porchers that I was
told as a kid. By the way the porch looks great! When you go fishing
or you're around water, if you smell watermelon, start looking. My 6th
grade science teacher, Mrs. Fields fished all the time with a cane
pole from the bank. Any time it was pretty, she was fishing. Somebody
asked her if she ever saw any snakes. She said that if you ever smelt
watermelon to be REAL STILL and start looking. There will be a cotton
mouth somewhere close. Ever since then, I always pay extra attention
to the smells when I'm outside. It has proven to be true several
times. And whose to say that when I don't see them, they aren't
there hiding. I'm not gonna poke around to prove it wrong!
Would you pass along a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! to Ms. Mary Ellen Ramsey
of Tucson, AZ for me? God bless anyone who makes it to 90 years
young! And she uses the computer to boot! What a life story I bet
she could tell. What a blessing. I also wanted to pass along an e-mail
that I received about breast cancer:
The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to
click on it daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free
mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a
minute to go to their site & click on "donating a mammogram" for free
(pink window in the middle) their corporate sponsors/advertisers use
the number of daily visits to donate a mammogram in exchange for
advertising. Here is the website! Pass it along to all your friends!
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
God Bless Us All!
Lisa Patterson
West Monroe, La
(Dear Lisa, Even though your watermelon story is a first for me, I'm
not going to test it anymore than I did the cucumber version last week.
:-) I'll be happy to trust my readers on this one. BTW, I appreciate your
thoughts on Ms. Mary Ellen. I'll make sure she sees them. She does
sound like a real special lady, doesn't she? Hugs~Shellie)
_________
Dear Shellie,
It's me again--one of the newer porch sitters. I was reading the
latest issue of the mag and I found I could relate to the snake stuff.
It reminded me of a "was my face red" incident way back in early
1980-something. First, let me tell you that I am deathly afraid of
snakes. I mean, one won't have to bite me. I'll die of a heart attack
before it gets a chance. And everyone who knows me, knows this.
Now, for the incident:
My husband had, earlier that day, mowed the back lawn. So the grass was
nice and short, making it easy to see anything laying on it. Well, I
happened to look out the patio door, towards the back fence and saw the
biggest, blackest snake I had ever laid eyes on! And it was headed for
the house! Well, it happened that my husband was not home. So I called
next door (my best friend lived there) and frantically asked my
neighbor's husband (Danny) to come over and get that thing out of my
yard! And HURRY!! So he came over and went out in the back yard. He
carefully neared the snake, all the while yelling for everyone to stay
back. No problem for me...I was in the house with the patio door closed
and locked, up on a chair with a baseball bat, ready for that monster
in case he over-took Danny and came after me! Danny knew I could see
him so he stealthily walked up to the "snake" and picked it up and threw
it! (What a man!) Well, turns out it was the rubber stripping off
someone's patio door! I have never lived that one down.
Kathy Sandoz
Nederland, Texas
(Dear Kathy, A girl can't be too careful can she? *giggle* I'm sorry but
I can see why you've had a hard time living this one down. Thanks for
sharing. Hugs~Shellie)
________
Dear Shellie,
Over here in Farmerville, we have an art club. We meet ever so often
for a workshop. This particular day we met at one of the members home
to paint on her deck. As we were carrying our supplies out, one of
the ladies spotted a water moccasin curled up on a bed of sticks in
the water near the bank. The owner of the home went into the house,
and minutes later after we had sufficiently admired the snake (for
the benefit of those snake lovers), the owner handed a gun to the
workshop teacher and she shot it! This was over and beyond her call
to duty as an art teacher, but it made for a very exciting workshop!
June Ivery
Farmeville, LA
(Dear June, Your art teacher sounds like a real all purpose teacher.
I know you mean well describing how y'all took the time to admire the
snake before you killed it, but I've got to tell 'ya--this story might
get you in trouble with Environmentally Aghast Kathy! Hugs~Shellie))
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~~A Southern Definition~~
"If you never tried to entice a grub worm from his hole with a
wad of spit dangling from the end of a broom straw...you could have been a girly girl."
--Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
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ATS NEWS:
There's two new cookbooks chock full of good southern cooking in
the online store. Click here to check 'em out and meet the
authors, Jen Bays Avis and Kathy F.WardJen Bays.
http://www.allthingssouthern.com/books.html
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A note from http://www.blazingheart.org :
Are you hungry for God's presence? Are you desperate for an
outbreak of His Spirit in your life? We are a website and E-Zine
dedicated to those who hunger and thirst after God.
http://www.blazingheart.org
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WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL THEIR DAUGHTERS...
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THEIR DAUGHTERS...
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