Beech Tree News Network

I love to cook, and fall is the time we seem to start eating ‘heavier’ foods. I enjoy trying new-to-me recipes. My daughters helped me select the following recipes to share (Each one has been tested in at least one of the Craig girls’ kitchens.). In the near future, I’ll also be trying those I haven’t yet personally cooked.

The removal of statues and monuments to history, especially the Civil War, really upsets me.  We learn from our history, and if we don't remember it, how can we  learn?  I copied these words, they are not mine, but I feel they are very appropriate right now.

I think I’ve told you about that little church on Ashes Creek my sisters and I used to walk to.  It was a Pentecostal Church.  Before we moved to Ashes Creek, we lived in Mt. Washington, where we attended a Methodist Church.  There were people in that Methodist Church who encouraged my parents to take us, so they did.  When we moved to Spencer County, all of that fell by the wayside.  I don’t know why my sisters and I decided to try the Pentecostal Church, but I’m glad we did.  

We hear many excuses and justifications for the sins men commit today. One common justification men offer for engaging in sin is, “It’s entertainment”. For example, I heard a man justify watching certain movies, reading certain books, and watching certain television shows with controversial and sinful content by saying, “It’s entertainment.” Whether or not he intended it in this way, he left people with the impression that since it is “entertainment,” it has little or no impact on the lives of men and women today.

The colors are taking over and the world is a more beautiful place.

 LET INSPIRATION REIGN

I would like to start off with a few verses of a song, if you readers would please indulge me. I will come back to how it all ties is to the title of this particular column in just a moment.

My Country tis of thee;

sweet land of liberty,

of thee, I sing

land where my fathers died

land of the pilgrims pride

from every mountainside

let freedom ring

Let freedom ring

Great God, our king

Sometimes, I like to play the game of which tv character do I identify with the most.  There’s an easy answer that I didn’t really realize until awhile back: Sherlock Holmes.  I’m not saying I’m a super-sleuth.  To further clarify, I’m speaking specifically of Sherlock as played by Jonny Lee Miller on Elementary(of which it looks like we have to wait until next year for the new season).

I believe fall break was designed for us to take a break from our routines. So, I did. I went to Tybee Island and Savannah, Georgia, for a few days. I had never been to either location, so I saw some new territory.

You noticed?  We hardly hear the word “problem” any more.  Folks don’t have problems; they have “issues.”  The word “trouble” is also a big No-No.  “Trouble,” is along with “problems?”  Not politically correct.  That’s the trouble, pardon the pun. 

Recently, I was watching an interview with a nominee for CNN Heroes.  He worked with young kids who came from troubled back grounds.  He said of his goal, “We’re not striving for perfection here, we just want better than yesterday.”  Coming from a long line of perfectionists, I understand exactly what he means.  Perfect is a hard task master.  Better is a patient, benevolent soul.  Perfection says, “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.”  Better says, “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.”  That doesn’t mean doing it half-way or starting it then throwing in the towel.  It means a