Cooking, Culture, Food and Drink

Potatoes are Good for You. Who Knew???

Anyone who isn't a gullible moron, that's who. Crimenutely.  A new Telegraph article, calls the humble potato "our new carb hero," and points out that potatoes are loaded with key nutrients such as potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber.  Eliminating them, or just "staying away from them" in our diets hurts us more than… Continue reading Potatoes are Good for You. Who Knew???

Cooking, Culture, Family, Food and Drink

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal–UK Style

Those of you who’ve been here a while will know that I’m a staunch defender of my birth country’s cuisine.  I love “stodge,” best exemplified by a main course like “steak and kidney pudding,” and puddings such as “spotted dick.” I also love lighter desserts such as “summer pudding,” and sausages like “black pudding.”  (If… Continue reading Traditional Thanksgiving Meal–UK Style

Beauty, Culture, Music, Womanly Feminism

Adding Spice, and Sexiness, to Life

In digging around for something to post about today, I see that it's exactly sixteen years since The Spice Girls released their upcoming Greatest Hits album, announcing that it would be exclusively available at the Victoria's Secret lingerie chain for two months before it was released anywhere else. https://youtu.be/ot_hI9m95pE Never really been a fan. (Yawn.)… Continue reading Adding Spice, and Sexiness, to Life

Beauty, Culture, Rural Living, Seasons

Autumn Equinox, 2023

From Miles Davis and John Coltrane: https://youtu.be/9Zyr0IDaRXQ I shall not be dancing naked in the fields, or widdershins at midnight around the church tower, or anywhere else for that matter.  I will be out looking at the sunset and appreciating the changing of the seasons (anyone who doesn't think summer's over wasn't standing with me… Continue reading Autumn Equinox, 2023

Culture, Family, Friendship

What Else Happened on September 20?

Well. In addition to the birth of the "One-Woman Positivity Machine" which I've previously mentioned, your humble correspondent was born 69 years ago today. But, enough about me.  What do you think about me? LOL.  Someone actually said that to me (not sarcastically or ironically), once. In other news: Virgil, the Roman poet best known… Continue reading What Else Happened on September 20?

Culture, History, Music

The Wabash Cannonball–On Relatives and Crazy Hillbillies, if not Much Else

On what would have been Roy Acuff's 120th birthday (September 15, 2023) here's his greatest hit, from 1936.  A much-loved family favorite, one which I've lost count of the live performances of which (by so many others) I've viewed over the years: https://youtu.be/kpQBiyNCeXc When it comes to "Crazy Tennesseans" I can't help noticing that many… Continue reading The Wabash Cannonball–On Relatives and Crazy Hillbillies, if not Much Else

Culture, History, Literature, Quote of the Day

Unlike Francesca, I Always Remember the Happy Hours with Gladness

Nessun maggior dolore Che ricordarsi del tempo felice Ne la miseria--Dante Alighieri, The Inferno It's been translated six ways from Sunday over the years.  A few examples: Oh! how grievous to relate Past joys, and tread again the paths of fate--tr. Henry Boyd, 1802   There is no greater pain than to recall a happy… Continue reading Unlike Francesca, I Always Remember the Happy Hours with Gladness

Culture, History, Plain Speaking, Rural Living, Truth

Washington Pennsylvania, the First City Named For the First President

Today, September 9, 2023 is the two-hundred-thirty-second anniversary of the naming of a new city, built on federal land, as the capital of the still-very-young United States of America. The city was named after the country's first President, and the District was named "Columbia," a name still occasionally used at that time for the country… Continue reading Washington Pennsylvania, the First City Named For the First President