Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West

Ernest Hemingway lived for several years in Key West with his second wife, Pauline. This is where they lived and fought before Ernest ran off to Cuba with number three.

To the chagrin of tour guides today, as soon as they moved into the house, Pauline had all the fans removed and replaced with crystal lights from Paris.

Their bed was made from a centuries-old hand carved wooden gate that Ernest found on his travels in Europe.

Medieval birthing stool.

The grounds were beautiful. Several of these shots were made while I was standing on the second floor balcony.

The tour guide was full of stories about Ernest and Pauline, but I spent most of my time trying to get some pictures of the cats that were everywhere.

While the Hemingways were living in Key West, a ship's captain gifted them with a polydactyl (6-toed) white cat. The 40-50 cats living there today are descendants of that cat. All the cats are named for famous people.

The Old Man and the Sea is my favorite Hemingway book, but I liked him a lot better before I learned about his personal life. Still, the house and grounds are worth a visit if you are in Key West.

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Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

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I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie. It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house. After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there. I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then. I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important. It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things. We call it Holy Smoke. Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan. It helps to use your hands (or hand, if you have t

Cedar Trees in Cemeteries

If you ever wander in old cemeteries, and I know many of you do, you are bound to see some cedar trees. The tradition goes back to the early days of the United States and even earlier in Europe. Cedar trees were not always used, but some type of evergreen trees were planted because they were a symbol of everlasting life. Some Cherokees believed that cedars contained powerful spirits, including the spirits of the departed buried beneath them. Perhaps because they are known as burial trees, there are many superstitions that surround cedars. My grandmother told us in no uncertain terms that if we planted a cedar tree, we would die when it was large enough to shade our graves. Some others are: Never transplant a cedar tree; it will bring bad luck. If you transplant a cedar and it dies, you will die shortly. Planting a cedar tree in your yard welcomes poverty. Some say Christ was crucified on a cedar tree, and will bring bad luck if you burn it. If a cedar tree com

Faith, Folklore, and Friends

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