Faith, Folklore, and Friends

But now,  God ’s Message,      the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,      the One who got you started, Israel: Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.      I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.      When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place,      it won’t be a dead end— Because I am  God , your personal God,      The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you:      all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s  how much you mean to me!      That’s  how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,      trade the creation just for you. Isaiah 43:1-4  The Message

The lilies are blooming all over North Alabama, and I love them. The ones pictured are from my back yard. I especially love close-ups, where you can see the pollen and the connections and how everything our Creator made is so right. Take some time this weekend to slow down and see the tiny, latent, and pure beauty that can be found in common lilies.

The Atlantis resort/casino is the first thing you see when the ship is approaching Nassau in the Bahamas, even before you see any land, and it looks like a building rising right out of the sea. Atlantis is on Paradise Island, a ten-minute ferry ride from the port where the cruise ships dock in Nassau. You know you want to go.

Music in the Park this week featured the Browns, a local family group. Unfortunately, their show only lasted fifteen minutes. We love Wilson Park, and we were there early and got to visit with several friends before the music started. Music in the Park lasts from 11:30 until 1:30.  Those of us who watch the weather knew that rain was on the way, predicted to arrive after 2.  So we're good, right? The clouds kept getting darker and heavier, and by 11:45, the rain came. It went from sprinkling to pouring in about three seconds. It is amazing how quickly the park can empty in pouring rain.  We were parked close by, and I was already in the car when I made the photos below. We will try again next week.  Music in the Park will continue every Wednesday in June. 

Yesterday, I told you that I was going to make a Key lime pie like the one we had in Key West.  I found a recipe in a magazine that sounded promising. To make it,  I used the zest of two limes, about 1 tablespoon, (I realize these are not Key limes, but what difference would it make?  It was raining and I didn't want to go to the store.) and mixed it with a can of sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl. The limes I used were not very juicy, so I ended up using seven limes to get a half cup of lime juice. I added three well-beaten egg yolks, and 1/4 cup buttermilk. I mixed it all together, then poured it into a graham cracker crust from the store. I baked it on 325 degrees for 22 minutes until it was almost firm.  Then, it stayed in the frig about three hours before we tried it. I added some whipped cream to the top before serving.  Looks yummy, doesn't it? Actually, it was so sour that the first bite caused...

Long before we arrived in Key West, we had decided that we wouldn't leave there without sampling some of the food they are famous for.  We chose  the Two Friends restaurant, and we were not disappointed. Key West is known as the Conch Republic, so you know we had to have some conch fritters while we were there.  I thought they were extremely tasty, especially when I double-dipped. The fritters were spicy and that was what I tasted most, so I still can't tell you exactly how conch tastes. We also ordered Buffalo wings, just in case we didn't like the conch fritters.  We were stuffed after a dinner of various items,  but we had to order some of the Key lime pie that Key West is famous for. I make Key lime pies using sweetened condensed milk, whipped cream, and frozen limeade. I rarely  never have to throw any out.  However, my pies can't compare with this one.  It was sweet and tart and creamy and so good!  I have been com...

Don't forget to remember. Play Have a safe Memorial Day.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone  and to be holy ;  without  holiness no one will see the Lord. ~Hebrews 12:14

If you are looking for an exciting road trip, you can begin one here at 490 Whitehead Street in Key West, where US Highway 1 starts. After about three hours, you will get to Miami, and you will already be tired of bridges.  Continue north, and you may visit Washington, D. C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston before Highway 1 stops at Fort Kent, Maine, on the Canadian Border. You will have traveled 2369 miles, making Highway 1 the longest North-South road in the United States. If you aren't too tired by then, you can turn around and return to Whitehead Street in Key West, where U. S. Highway 1 ends across the street from where it starts. After driving nearly five thousand miles, you may be in need of food and refreshment.  You can find plenty in Key West. The Green Parrot Bar, established in 1890, was already 40 years old by the time Highway 1 was completed in the 1930s.  It happened to be in the right place at the right time to be...

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...