Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
Hey everybody! I'm glad it's Thursday. I'm really beginning
to look forward to our weekly visits. It's actually kind
of addictive on this end--I just hope it's becoming a
nice habit for you as well. (she smiles)
First things first: Please know that my heart still aches,
and my prayers continue for the victims of last Tuesday's
tragedies. Life has changed for us all. And yet, I very much
want to comply with our president's request to return to as
much normalcy in our lives as possible. I support the tone
Mr. Bush has set for this great nation. It is a very balanced
message--emphasizing honor and respect for our fallen Americans
and patriotism to our country, all forged with a commitment and
determination to the job at hand.
So, with those thoughts in mind, ALL THINGS SOUTHERN is back in
its entirety. Please, pull your chairs on in closer and sit a
spell.
It started innocently enough...I never set out to do an
alligator issue. It just so happened that it was time to
announce the winner of the GREAT GATOR GIVE-A-WAY. The lucky
winner is named below and posted on the website. Now don't peek,
stay with me...( I know, you couldn't help it.)
After that, well, I guess I was on a 'gator wavelength because,
I found this neat web site to profile in the "Southern
Spotlight". By then it was 'Gator Mania--full steam ahead. I hope
you enjoy yourselves. I'm sure I'll shake this thing before
I see you again.
Until next week...
Warm regards,
Shellie
=====================================================
"Chuckles"
Did you know?
The Louisiana State Department of Fish and Wildlife is
advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, and golfers to take
extra precautions and keep alert for alligators while in
St. Tammany, Jefferson & Orleans Parish.
They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such
as "little bells" on their clothing to alert, but not
startle the alligators unexpectedly. They also advise
the carrying of "pepper spray" in case of a 'gator
encounter.
It's also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of
alligator activity and be able to recognize the difference
between young alligator and adult alligator droppings.
Young alligator droppings are small, contain fish bones
and possibly bird feathers.
Adult alligators droppings have little bells in them
and smell like pepper.
====================================================
"A Taste of the South"
"Alligator Dumplings"
(Gotcha! Nope, there's no alligator recipe to
go with the theme, although I can personally vouch for
fried 'gator. I've had some, and it was good! Still,
alligator meat is hard to come by in the grocery store.
And what's more, I had a bad vision of some of you more
headstrong folks trying to wrestle a big granddaddy
'gator from a nearby bayou. Yes, I'm sure none of you
would go that far, and even fewer of you would sue, but
Mama always said, "better safe than sorry.")
Quick & Easy Baked Chicken Dish
-------------------------------
• 4 Chicken breasts - skinned
• 2 cans string beans (drained)
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Tony Chachere's Seasoning (optional)
• Salt and Pepper
Arrange chicken breasts on shallow baking pan (cookie
sheet is good). Pour string bean around chicken. Drizzle
worchestshire sauce over chicken and beans. Season.
(If you use the Tony's, you do not have to salt and
pepper). Cook in 350 degree oven about 20 minutes, or
until chicken is done. (You may turn chicken after 10
minutes). Good with baked potatoes and salad.
This recipe was submitted by June Ivy from Louisiana. June
says, "My husband and I just love this dish. I can paint
all day and have supper ready in 30 minutes!"
Thanks, June!
****************************************************
"Spotlight on the South"
I admit it--it's obvious anyway; I find alligators
fascinating. If you don't, you might want to skip the
spotlight this week. I stumbled across a really cool website
with neat pics of my favorite reptile.
Just outside the Everglades National Park is one of
South Florida's best kept local secrets, EVERGLADES
ALLIGATOR FARM, drawing tourist and camera crews
from all over the world.
Although the Everglades Alligator Farm is located at the
edge of the Everglades, it's not a part of the Everglades
National Park. The owners, Charles and Deborah Thibos, have
endeavored to keep a rustic atmosphere representative of the
first settlers to the area, while at the same time living in
harmony with the Everglades' pristine environment.
If you have vacation time coming--consider a road trip to
Florida. Or if you're like me, and too many obligations
have you tied at home, then surf over to
and enjoy a mini
virtual tour.
Shellie
P.S. Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your little cyber
vacation! Sure, they aren't as cuddly as teddy bears, but
if these ancient looking guys steal your heart, too--you can
find a souvenir 'gator for your deck, patio or bookshelves
at my online store, http://www.allthingssouthern.com. Look under
Ag Products and get yourself a great conversation piece!
**************************************************************
"It's Been Said..."
I doubt Ms. King was talking about alligators. But I think
this quote helps to explain the southerner's affection for
the green guys.
~Shellie
"Southerners have a genius for psychological alchemy...
If something intolerable simply cannot be changed, driven
away or shot they will not only tolerate it but take pride
in it as well."
-- Florence King
********************************
"Southern Comfort"
No 'gators here. I wrote this little analogy about
the condition of our faith. It's meant to underscore
the necessity of spending time in Bible study and prayer:
My house is built on solid ground. I had the land surveyed
before I started building. So, when it started shaking I
was greatly disturbed, for I knew the problem lay not with
the land. I called in my architect and he came and took a
solemn look around. Imagine my surprise when he took me
aside and shared with me the seriousness of my problem.
It seemed my house was in terrible shape, no upkeep, no
repairs, there was dust everywhere. That day he helped me
clean my house. We repaired the walls together and cleaned
the rooms. Then he set me down and taught me a very special
truth.
"Your home," he said, "is built on solid ground. The
land will stand the test of time. But, unless you keep it
fortified against the storms that come, your house will fall
and you will be to blame."
Shellie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Southern Exchange"
From famine to feast... Last week I complained that you
weren't writing in and this week my email cup runneth
over. I couldn't decide between giving this week's spotlight
to a transplanted Southerner writing in from Missouri, or
following up on the Canadian article I sent you all last week.
And then I remembered, "Hey, I'm the boss"! So, I'm including
both. Sure this makes the Southern Exchange lengthy.
You'll need to surf to the site to read them both. But,
please do...it's good stuff.
~Transplanted Southerner~
This piece is from a weekly column Barbara Madden writes for
her hometown paper, the "Willow Springs Community and
Business News".
In the past few months, my family has lived through a
lot of changes and the resulting displacement of our
collective comfort zones. A new job, new address, new
friends, and everything that goes with it, which
includes the inevitable new doctors.
When our son reinjured his knee during a Willow Springs
scrimmage, Dr. Shaw, the team physician, was standing
on the sidelines. After an MRI and a consultation, he
recommended we make an appointment with a specialist
in Springfield. I could feel my comfort zone getting
smaller and smaller.
Dr. Robert Shaw has practiced medicine in Willow Springs
for years and is known and loved by many, but we knew
very little about Dr. Pierre Clothiaux when we arrived
in Springfield for that first appointment. My husband
accompanied our son for this visit and returned home
with high praises for this doctor. He sensed my
apprehension and assured me everything would be fine.
"Besides", he said, "He's a Southern boy from Alabama."
Though I was duly impressed, it really did not matter
so much that Dr. Clothiaux had arrived in Springfield
via the Mayo Clinic and Harvard. He was a Southerner.
(To read this article in its entirety,please
surf to
www.allthingssouthern.com" and click on:
"A Southern Exchange" Readers Write In.)
~More on Gordon Sinclair~
Last week after I impulsively sent out the article on
Gordon Sinclair, I got an interesting email from Ray, a
reader who calls himself a New Yorker by birth and habit.
Tons of letters followed on the same subject, prompting
me to return to this hot topic, beginning with Ray's
original email:
"As you may have surmized from the reference in the Sinclair
piece to the American draft dodgers, this is from an old
broadcast (the 70s and during the Viet Nam War) and has
appeared periodically whenever America has suffered
man-made and natural disasters, Nonetheless, your suggestion
that it be more widely disseminated - and especially in
the schools - is well taken. America has given the world
much in the past and generally its reward has been abuse,
ridicule, and scorn. Not a fitting return for the
investment"...Ray
Followed on the heels of this email was a polar opposite
response from my friend, Jason Pierce, who happens to be an
Englishmen.
For Jason's response, more FYI from Ray and a website link
on the subject sent in by Peggy from Monore, Louisiana, please
surf to www.allthingssouthern.com and click on:
"A Southern Exchange" Readers Write In.
====================================
Info on my memoir "LESSONS LEARNED ON BULL RUN ROAD"
can be found at http://www.allthingssouthern.com
It will be available to order in a few short weeks
in a glossy paperback or, if you'd prefer, in e-book style
to be downloaded immediately. Won't you visit and check out
the FREE sample chapter?
====================================
Okay, here it is. (Could you please imagine a drum roll
here? Thanks!) The winner of the first Monthly
GREAT GATOR GIVE-A-WAY is Diane Bethel from Rainbow City,
Alabama. Congragulations Diane, your 'gator is in the mail.
A note to everyone else--about half of you sweet readers
haven't filled out your registrations. What gives? It's free!
====================================
Coming soon:
WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL THEIR DAUGHTERS...
A friend's mother gave her this advice on her
wedding night: "Honey, when you're late with supper, or
just plain tired, remember to have the Holy Trinity of
Southern cooking (onions, celery and bell pepper)
sautéing in a dab of bacon grease when your man
comes home--it'll put him in a good mood and you can feed
him anything." I want your southern mom's advice about
love, marriage, relationships and life in general. Write
to me at tomtom@allthingssouthern.com to have your mom's
advice memorialized in my new book,
WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL THEIR DAUGHTERS...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Check out the following ezine. I think you'll like it.
~*~ Homefires Hearth ~*~
We're the weekly zine and community for Christian homemakers!
Each Tuesday you'll receive your issue packed with creative, fun,
and useful homemaking helps, such as tips, advice, ideas, humor,
recipes, cleaning hints, web links, inspirations, and more. To
subscribe, visit www.homefireshearth.com or send any email to
homefireshearth-subscribe@homefireshearth.net.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
If you enjoy ALL THINGS SOUTHERN, please forward it to your
friends and family! (You can also email them the parent
site by going to http://www.allthingssouthern.com
and clicking on the link that says "email this site to a
friend.")
=====================================
To UNSUBSCRIBE :-( from AllThingsSouthern.com send any
email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject box to:
tomtom@allthingssouthern.com
To SUBSCRIBE :-) send any email with SUBSCRIBE in the
subject box to: tomtom@allthingssouthern.com
© Copyright All Things Southern Publishing Co.
All Rights Reserved Volume I, Issue IV
======================================
Home
Advertise • Archives • Policies • Terms of Use • Email Shellie and All Things Southern • Link to All Things Southern • Eternal Help • Email Promotion and Sales
