My mother-in-law made it over to the house a couple of days ago. One of the good things about her coming over to visit is that she brings vegetables from her garden. We love home grown vegetables, so it's a treat when we get them.

She usually grows enough to feed half the neighborhood and then has enough left over to freeze or can for those months when they won't grow.

She brings such things as sweet corn, purple-hull peas, okra, and one of our all-time favorites, turnip greens.

If you've never had a big ol' mess of turnip greens and cornbread, then I don't think you can say you've actually lived.

When she drove up to the house, the first thing we did was unload the cooler and admire all the loot from her freezer. In there were several packages of turnip greens. She even put some chunks of turnips in there for a bonus.

For New Years Day we always cook up a big batch of greens, purple hull peas with okra and a couple of pans of yellow cornbread. So, I was happy to see we'd have plenty for that coming day. Although, I don't know if I can wait that long.

Anyway, all that thinking about greens caused me to remember an old story about a man who loved his greens. I think it's a good one. Here goes.

An old man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig his yearly turnip green garden, but it was always very hard work for him because the ground was hard. His only son, Junebug, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

Dear Junebug,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my turnip green garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me.

Love
Dad

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Daddy,
Whatever you do, don't dig up that garden. That's where I buried the BODIES.

Love,
Junebug

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Daddy,
You can go ahead and plant the turnip greens now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.

Love,
Junebug

I guess necessity truly is the mother of invention.

posted by Dash | 12:13 PM | |

I'm headed out for my South Texas Brush County hunt, but I thought I'd leave you with a poem.


Twenty four days before Christmas, in a state in the south,
Les Miles was pissed as he opened his mouth.
"Miles to Michigan," was reported as fact.
To which Miles responded, "Herbie you don't know jack!"

The Tigers had suffered a gut wrenching loss,
At the hands of McFadden and the rest of the hogs.
And Bo in his sweatshirt, and Miles in his Hat.
Were determined to prove they were better than that!

When the Tennessee Vols ran out on the field,
There was ruckus applause from the mentally ill.
Still in the locker room, Les told his team,
"This season ain't over. We still have a dream."

The hurt throwing arm of QB Matt Flynn
Meant Ryan was the man they put their faith in.
Then the fans all heard, what Les said in the Dome.
"I ain't goin' anywhere. I'm happy. I'm Home!"

The fans were still thinking "This might be a trick."
'til someone pointed out "Hey, this guy ain't Nick!"
The Hat took the field for this championship game,
And he brought all his Tigers, and called them by name

"Now, Hester! Now, Early! Now, Highsmith and Putt!
Let's let 'er rip and shut these guys up!
Take to the field Men! Give it your all!
Then later we'll watch numbers 1 & 2 fall."

The fans still weren't sure as to what team would show,
The Virginia Tech game seemed like so long ago.
But there in the stands, the fans they did cheer,
As Perrilloux played his game of the year.

While out in Ar-Kansas, the hogs claimed the Boot,
The Tigers were focused on far better loot.
With the game knotted up, Ainge threw a quick out
But Zenon was ready and took six to the house.

He wore an LSU jacket, and a white turtleneck,
The same as he wore when his team beat La Tech.
With the hat on his head, and a childish grin,
Les put his team in the title picture again.

His smile-how it widened! as Pitt won its game!
He cheered Oklahoma, when it did the same.
The stars were aligning, it couldn't be true.
Turns out Miles WAS destined, to play O-S-U.

With a month to prepare and a month to heal up,
We're all pretty sure which team will show up.
He ain't going to Michigan, and we're sure of that.
But Tressel and the Buckeyes should still Fear the Hat.

On December first, he called L-S-U home.
Then set up the Tigers, to play again in the Dome.
It soon will be legend, how Les started that day,
"Can't talk now. . . . I'm busy. . . . Y'all have a GREAT day!"

H/T to my BR boy Cooper

posted by Dash | 8:02 AM | |