There Goes Connie – A Christian Travel Blog: Trip info on Monday and devotionals on Friday.

The Queen of Questions Recognizes THE Perfect Role Model

10/20/2017 By: CCPearson3 Comments

My title as the Queen of Questions was given to me during my children’s teenage years. Believe me, I asked a LOT of questions. Those teenagers didn’t always answer me truthfully, and there were times when I didn’t ask nearly ENOUGH questions. But, I, at least, demonstrated my interest and my concern about where they were going, who they would be with, what they would be doing, and when could I expect them back home, etc. etc. etc. Any parent reading this can relate.

In my present role as a travel writer, my questioning skills come in very handy. My husband smiles every time he’s with me and a tourism representative, a chef or a B & B owner says, in response to one of my questions: “I’ve never been asked that before.” I hope I’m not annoying. I just want to know the details. I want to know what lies beneath the surface. I want to know a person’s motivation or inspiration.

A granddaughter recently paid me a very high compliment without even realizing it, I suppose. She said, “Momma says that if I want to learn about the Art of Conversation, I should talk to YOU.” Wow. That made me feel warm all over. I do love a lively, give-and-take, everyone-gets-to-participate conversation. And I know that oftentimes good conversation flows as a result of good questions that lead a person to talk about his/her passions.

So, how does all of this relate to THE Perfect Role Model for a questioner such as I am?

Once again, I have to give Preacher Matt the credit for pointing me toward a book he found recently. Jesus is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and the 3 He Answered by Martin Copenhaver. Here’s a link if you want to check it out or order one.

How many times have you heard the phrase “Jesus is the Answer”? This book goes in a different direction and proclaims that Jesus is the QUESTION. So, Jesus ASKED 307 questions, but He only answered 3. Why hadn’t I realized that before? That means He was (and IS) THE ultimate King of Questions, wouldn’t you say?

Matt went on to point out 3 questions Jesus asked that are critical for us to answer in order to have a deeper relationship with the Savior (verses are from the New King James Version).

“What are you looking for?” John 1:38-39 “Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” ³⁹He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
“What do you want Me to do?” Mark 10:36 and Mark 10:51 “³⁶And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ⁵¹So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
“Do you love Me?” John 21:15 “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
I think it would be a very revealing thing for all of us to do — to imagine Jesus asking us those 3 questions and pondering how we would answer Him. (Insert your own name, of course) Connie, what are you looking for? Connie, what do you want Me to do? Connie, do you love Me?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some thinking to do.

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Belle Chevre in Elkmont, AL – Where Goat Milk Becomes Amazing

10/16/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

We’d seen the billboards along I-65. We saw some of the products in the cheese case of several grocery stores. But, even though it was a short drive away, we had never gone to Elkmont, AL to really check it out. Then a Groupon popped up. Who can resist a good Groupon? Finally, we had a free weekend to use it, and we’re so glad we did.

Belle Chevre Cheese Shop and Tasting Room is located at 18849 Upper East Hampton Road in Elkmont. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 to 3:00 and on Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00. The sandwich board boasts some mouthwatering choices for lunch, plus there are several flavors of ice cream and Belle Chevre’s scrumptious lemon cheesecake. You can buy goat-themed merchandise, in addition to the breakfast and artisan cheeses. Breakfast offerings are: honey, cinnamon, coffee and fig. And, artisan choices include: Greek kiss, pimento, Southern belle and original.

Storefront of the cheese shop and tasting room.

Goat-themed merchandise.

Inside the sandwich shop.

Sandwich menu board.

Behind the back parking lot, you’ll find a much larger quonset-hut style building which is the actual cheese making plant. Tours are only given two days a week — at 10:00 and 1:00 on Friday and at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 on Saturday.

Exterior of main production and office building.

Tours have 4 main components. First, you get to meet some of the well-tended, milk-producing goats. In reality, the curds to produce about 2000 pounds of cheese each week come from a farm in North Carolina with 900 goats that are milked twice a day. Consider the logistics and the commitment of such a farm!!

Nubian and Nigerian pygmie goats.

The source of the goat cheese.

Second, visitors are escorted back inside to watch a short film called “Tasia and The Cheese Revolution.” This is where you get an overview of the history of Belle Chevre (which means “beautiful goat” or “beautiful goat cheese”). Tasia (pronounced “tuh-shee-uh”) Malakasis is the present owner and president. She is a native of Huntsville, AL with blood ties to Greece. After she finished school, she headed off to New York to seek her fortune in a high-tech career but was always drawn to food and cooking. One day she walked into a Dean & Deluca store in Manhattan and noticed a cheese made in Elkmont, AL. That intrigued her, because she was surprised a product in that store came from such a small town near Huntsville. She tasted the cheese, fell in love with it and started trying to find out how she could be involved in the company. After quitting her New York job, moving back to Alabama and working for free for six months, she bought Belle Chevre. At that time, Belle Chevre goat cheese was well-known OUTSIDE of Alabama. Ms. Malakasis began a marketing strategy to make it better known in North Alabama and surrounding areas. Judging from the demand for so much cheese each week, it is obvious that she has become a huge success.

In the third part of the tour, you will look through glass partitions into the production room and see some of the processes that take place.

The production room.

And, finally, you will get to the delicious climax. Everyone on the tour will taste at least 8 different cheese varieties, plus the cheesecake. Then, each person gets to choose a cheese container to take home. Warning: it will be very hard to stick to only one!

Belle Chevre’s original spread.

A sample of pimento goat cheese.

Preparing a sample of Greek kiss.

A cute taster at Belle Chevre.

The Belle Chevre website has quite a few recipes for using the various goat cheeses. If you enjoy cookbooks as much as I do, you might want to order the cookbook written by Ms. Malakasis called Tasia’s Table.

It is available through the website or on Amazon.

You will need to call and make a reservation if you want to take the tour — 256-732-4801. Steve and I enjoyed it a lot. It was informative and SO tasty. 🙂

This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon.

Reminders from Two Little Girls

10/13/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending the day with two little girls. On the surface, they may seem completely different. One was prayed for, planned and welcomed joyfully into the world. The other was also prayed for and planned, but spent most of the first five years of her life in an orphanage in Ethiopia before being welcomed joyfully into her forever family. One attends a public elementary school in a large metropolitan area of Tennessee. The other is homeschooled in a moderate-sized town in Georgia. One is the only brown-skinned person in her family. The other is the only extrovert in a family of introverts. But, somehow, in God’s divine plan, both of these beautiful girls are my granddaughters, legally and emotionally, with equal amounts of my love.

Birti and Megan checking out the merchandise.

Thinking about our day together, I believe I was reminded of 4 very important life lessons.

It is truly good to laugh. There’s something that lightens your heart when you hear the innocent giggles and chuckles of young children. The Bible says that “a merry heart (a laughing, joyous heart) does good, like medicine.” Proverbs 17:22 John Cleese is quoted as saying, “Laughter connects you with people. It’s almost impossible to maintain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you’re just howling with laughter. Laughter is a force for democracy.” And Paul Lowney said, “Laughter has no foreign accent.” I just know that I observed for hours on end during that day that laughter was a great equalizer. It came so naturally to those little girls and certainly did me more good than any medicine.
It’s not that hard to get along with another person. In the case of Birti and Megan, they share an interest in soccer, electronics and mint chocolate chip ice cream, but they also have plenty of diverging activities and foods that they enjoy. Yet, they got along beautifully without a single cross word. When they saw the birthday cake I had waiting for them, they quickly swapped candle colors to make sure both were happy. When they were shopping in the stores, they eagerly pointed out treasures they saw on the shelves that they believed would be appealing to the other person. And they found the most fun out of buying the same things with just a touch of individuality thrown in for good measure, such as in Build-a-Bear when they bought the same stuffed dog but were careful to give them different names. Why don’t adults make that much effort to work together to improve relationships? Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
Wise money management can be taught from an early age. Their granddaddy would have LOVED seeing how much time and thought these girls gave to how they would spend a portion of their birthday money. I see it as a tribute to the careful teaching and examples of their parents and also as a reflection of their personalities. Birti wanted to make sure she still had some money left, and Megan wanted to be sure the item she was buying was something she really wanted. For my part, I was just very glad to have the luxury of time to allow them to shop the way they wanted to shop. Proverbs 13:18 “Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.” Children watch everything we do and say. Lessons about money should be carefully taught.
A different kind of music is leading them to a knowledge of God and to an experience of worship. Both of these young granddaughters LOVE contemporary Christian music. They listen to it a LOT and have many songs memorized. It speaks their language. Their voices are pure and clear, and I had several chances to hear them singing with complete abandon when they thought no one was listening. But when we attended a very traditional worship service on Sunday morning filled with music that I had grown up with, they stood there mute and told me afterwards that they didn’t know a single one of the songs. These are girls who attend church every week, but they are worshiping in a completely different atmosphere and style. The songs they shared with me have powerful, biblically-based lyrics. In my own personal “perfect world,” a worship experience would interweave both the old and the new using lots of instruments, but very few churches have that. I would LOVE for them to cherish “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” and “Glorious is Thy Name” as much as I do, but that is unlikely to happen. I am determined to embrace what works to teach them the truths about God and His Word. That doesn’t mean that I have to abandon my own heart language of hymns, but it does mean that I should enjoy learning THEIR music, too. Ephesians 5:19 “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,” Psalm 105:2 “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”
Birti and Megan relaxing on the couch and eating nacho chips after our shopping trip.

Thanks, Megan and Birti. Without your knowledge, you reminded your Grandmomma of things she needed to remember.

The Mall and Taco Mama with Grandmomma

10/09/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

It’s a Grandmomma’s dream day when Granddaddy and a gang of grandboys are off for an Auburn football game,

Granddaddy and 4 of his grandsons in Auburn.

and I have some time to just concentrate on a couple of granddaughters. Except for Cousins Camp, it’s rare for Megan in Georgia and Birti in Tennessee to have a day together. It’s extra-nice that their birthdays are 1 year and 9 days apart, so they had birthday cash burning a hole in their purses and a Grandmomma happy to give them the time to spend some of it. Shopping and lunch were our primary objectives.

When we arrived at Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville and they realized it had a Claire’s, a Justice and a Build-a-Bear, they declared it “the best mall ever!” I discovered that these girls were very careful and savvy shoppers. One of the stores had a buy one/get one free deal going on. I’m pretty sure they looked at ALL of the possibilities. In this case, it’s so much better to be the GRANDmomma instead of the Momma. Grandmommas are much less likely to be in a hurry, don’t you think? I asked them as we were leaving, “When’s the last time you got to spend more than 2 hours looking for only your kind of stuff?” Their response: “NEVER!” And there you have the reason Grandmotherhood is SO awesome.

Claire’s and Justice are great places for a couple of 9 and 10-year-olds. Jewelry, purses, iPod cases, small stuffed animals, hair accessories, cute clothes and much, much more.

Unlimited time to make decisions in Claire’s.

Hurray for birthday money and some time to shop.

Both girls LOVE soft, cuddly stuffed animals, so Build-a-Bear was perfect. It just seemed natural to “be twins” in their choice this morning. Here are the results.

Fluffing their new puppies at Build-a-Bear.

Creating birth certificates for their new stuffed animals at Build-a-Bear.

Twin puppies with AU shirts.

Happy with their purchases in Build-a-Bear.

After all the serious looking, it was time to have lunch. Here’s where Grandmomma gets to “gently lead” in interesting directions. I had been wanting to check out Taco Mama. They thought the idea of “building your own taco or burrito” sounded good, so off we went to The Village of Providence. Of the 11 Taco Mamas currently in operation, 9 are in Alabama, 1 is in Nashville and 1 is in Greensboro, NC. The weather was great for enjoying the outdoor tables and atmosphere. Custom-designed glass garage-type doors allow the whole place to be open-air when possible. At other times, they are closed and everything is dry and climate-controlled.

Exterior of Taco Mama in The Village of Providence.

Colorful interior of Taco Mama.

Always on the lookout for bargains, I was glad to see a Ninos (A.K.A. Kids) Menu. Megan happily selected the cheese quesadilla with a side of tortilla chips. ($3.00)

Megan with a kid’s quesadilla at Taco Mama.

Birti wanted to build her own beef burrito with a side of queso. She made short work of it! ($8.00)

Birti with a beef burrito and queso at Taco Mama.

I enjoyed a chicken burrito with lots of veggies tucked inside with ancho chile slaw. It tasted very fresh and flavorful. ($8.00) There are a few items that go up to $9 and $10, and the ahi tuna is $13, but everything on the menu is very affordable.

Chicken burrito with ancho chile slaw at Taco Mama.

Speaking of “building your own,” in the list of meats, you will see the normal ones of beef or shredded chicken, but you could also choose chorizo, pork, barbacoa, steak, grilled shrimp, flounder or a few others. And the list of other add-ons is extensive: rice, refried beans, black beans, onions, cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, jalapenos, corn, sour cream and more. Actually, I believe you could have ALL of the free add-ons, if you walk in with a huge appetite. Then there are 7 different sauces. The key words are “lots of choices” and “have it the way you want it.” Sounds like a good business model to me.

Taco Mama at The Village of Providence opens 7 days a week at 11:00 a.m. This is a place where you walk up to a counter to order and get your own drinks in plastic cups, but once you’re seated, the service is prompt and courteous. If you enjoy Mexican cuisine, I recommend that you try Taco Mama.

Another great day for this Grandmomma. Read more about my time with these little girls on Friday.

SUDDENLY!!

10/06/2017 By: CCPearson8 Comments

Our lives can change drastically in an instant.

When I got to Sunday School last Sunday, I learned that a good friend fell down a flight of stairs at her daughter’s house the night before and broke her hip. For the next weeks and months, she will deal with the aftermath of that fall. Suddenly, her plans for that night and the days ahead were painfully rearranged.

Two weeks earlier some dear friends got the phone call no parent ever wants to receive. Their daughter, after tucking two young children into bed, got overheated while exercising, collapsed and was unresponsive. Over the next days, they helped their grieving son-in-law make arrangements for a funeral, all while being devastated themselves. Their lives, on this side of heaven, are forever changed.

I got one of those life-changing phone calls in January of 1986. An unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line said that I should come as quickly as possible, because it appeared that my Mom had suffered a severe brain aneurysm. The succeeding days were a blur of tears and shock. The heart of our family was gone, the glue, the communicator, the fun-planner, the true life of every gathering.

Then, this past Monday morning I awoke to the scenes of death and chaos in Las Vegas, NV. More than 50 lives were snuffed out in the middle of attending an outdoor concert, and 500 others now had injuries, healing, recovery and rehab to face rather than just a happy drive back home.

These verses in the Bible are on my mind this morning. Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-52:

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Did you get that? “In a flash,” “in the twinkling of an eye,” WE WILL ALL BE CHANGED. You may not have faced a sudden, life-altering event YET in your life, but one is coming. The Bible tells us over and over. For some, it may seem like a warning, while others see it as a promise. Either way, it’s a fact.

But, what are we supposed to do about it in the meantime? How do we live our lives after receiving one of those bad phone calls or having that sudden fall/accident? What does God want us to do while we wait for His return that will most certainly happen at an unexpected moment?

My son, Preacher Matt, often looks at what the Scripture does NOT say in certain passages. Let’s do that for a moment.

1) No place in the Bible are we told to put on sack cloth and ashes, get in a fetal position, wring our hands, gnash our teeth and become consumed with worry and dread.

2) No place in the Bible are we told to sell all of our worldly goods, gather some like-minded friends, go up on a mountain and sing “Kum-Bah-Yah” while we watch for the end to come.

3) No place in the Bible are we told to browbeat every non-Christian we know, hit them over the head with our Bibles, shame them into repentance and drag them down the aisles of our churches.

So, what ARE we supposed to do?

Hosea 10:12 says “Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.” Look at all of the verbs suggesting that we continue to work with diligence — “sow,” “reap,” “break up your fallow ground.” In other words, keep doing the things we know we should be doing. Continue to work, live and relate to others with integrity.

Mark 13:33-37 admonishes us to be alert. “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. “Therefore, be on the alert–for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!'” Be ready. Be prayed up. Ask for forgiveness from those you’ve wronged. Mend relationships that have been broken. Build relationships with people who need to hear the Gospel and ask God to send the Holy Spirit to prepare their hearts and to divinely orchestrate opportunities to share with them. Say the “I love you’s” now, so there will be no regrets later. Be kinder than usual. Be gentler than usual. Enjoy your friendships and cultivate others. Laugh and smile more. Reflect the presence of Christ in your life.

1 Corinthians 16:13 says “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” Take courageous stands based on your faith in Christ.

Colossians 4:2 reminds us to “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” So, we should pray more and stay thankful.

All of these verses remind me that there is much to do while I wait. What do they say to you today?

Old Consulate Inn, Port Townsend, WA – Let Me Tempt You to Try a B & B

10/02/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

First, let me confess that I know there are times when you just want simplicity, uniformity, normalcy and predictability. I get that. I really do. During our recent packing/moving/legal-paper-signing days, Steve and I stayed in a hotel for two nights. Yes, gasp, in CHAIN hotels. In both cases, we were dog-tired and just needed a comfortable, anonymous, place to stay. We were in no shape to be social. We just needed a good night’s sleep.

But, that was the exception. Generally, when we travel, we are there for the EXPERIENCE. We WANT to find unexpected pleasures, and we WANT to meet the locals. We enjoy the quirks and the perks of bed and breakfast inns. In our opinion, we’d rather just stay home if we’re not going to learn, see, taste and feel something new. Does that make sense? You are certainly welcome to voice your own opinion on the subject and your reasons for differing. One I can think of right off the bat would be handicap accessibility. Most B & B’s don’t have elevators, and their architecture doesn’t lend itself to wheelchairs, etc. I understand that completely. But, if you are physically able, I urge you to be a curious, adventure collector. And, B & B’s can be a great place to try that mentality.

Are you going to be in the Seattle area in the future? Maybe a few days before or after an Alaskan cruise? The rest of the blog post will be very photo-heavy as I introduce you to a wonderful inn we found a ferry ride away from Seattle — Old Consulate Inn. You can read some of the details in my articles for Trip101.com and MilesGeek.com, but here are more photos that might tempt you even further.

First let’s look at the views on the outside.

Entrance gate to Old Consulate Inn in Port Townsend, WA.

So many great places to sit and soak up the view.

The clock tower in the county courthouse across the street from the inn.

A view of Puget Sound from the wraparound porch.

More beautiful flowers.

A meticulously-landscaped yard.

Gazebo in the side yard with great views of the water.

Now, take a look at the rooms inside.

The front entry parlor inside the front door.

Notice the period wallpaper and furniture in this guest room.

A fun surprise on the front door.

An honor I didn’t expect but found to be true. 🙂

Another fun surprise hanging on our doorknob before bedtime every night.

Fresh fudge in a small basket attached to the guest room doorknob.

And, the star of the show?? BREAKFAST!!!

Innkeeper Cindy Madsen is also the breakfast chef who plans and prepares the scrumptious 3-course breakfasts served at 9:00 a.m. every morning.

A menu of the next morning’s breakfast.

Innkeeper Nathan Barnett, lover of history and the fine arts.

Grilled oranges with a sherry cake.

Eggs Benedict, a typical Sunday morning breakfast.

Lots of china, crystal and silver.

Fresh fruit with homemade muffins.

Egg blossoms with sausage.

Cherries Romania with pecans.

Check the inn’s website or book your stay on Booking.com.

3 Ingredients for Spending a Few Hours with a Teenage Granddaughter

09/29/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Proverbs 17:6 – “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”

Psalm 128:5-6 – “May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
⁶May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.”

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 – “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, ²so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”

Steve and I are so very blessed to have 13 beautiful grandchildren — a Baker’s Dozen of Delight! It is a blessing beyond all we could have ever asked or imagined. Our children bring us unimaginable joy, but, oh, our children’s children. My goodness.

Their ages range for 5 days old to a granddaughter who will be 17 in about 6 weeks. We spent a fun afternoon with our oldest, teenager Allie Grace, recently, and as I planned our time together, I wanted it to include 3 ingredients. (Maybe these ingredients stem from what I would have enjoyed with my own grandparents. Their circumstances were far different, however. Even though I never doubted their love for me and their pride in my accomplishments, both physical and financial limitations prevented them from spoiling me. Grandparenting has as many different “looks” as the number of grandparents trying to fulfill the role.)

In addition to getting inside our grandchildren’s world, I believe it’s important for us to share our own passions, interests, and hobbies with them. Yes, we go to band concerts, soccer games and baptisms. We ask about schoolwork, friends and pets. We want to know their favorite colors, books, foods, sports teams, movies and TV shows, but we also want them to know some of our favorites as well. Steve, for example, is their go-to expert for all things related to fishing or animals, while I (hopefully) spring to their minds in the areas of music or food. 🙂 And, always, always, always, we want them to catch our commitment and enthusiasm for God, for the Bible and for church. We had a chance to worship with Allie at her new church in Nashville and (hopefully) affirmed to her all of its positive aspects. Later, she showed us her new school, and we loved hearing her tell all of the good things happening for her there.
GoodPasture Christian School sign.
Good food is a must! Don’t we want our grandchildren to associate us with happy times around a table with delicious tastes in their mouths?? Well, this was a perfect time for me to share my enjoyment of being a food/travel writer with Allie. I researched a restaurant with a great chef that I was pretty sure she had never tried before and made reservations for brunch. We arrived at etc. (yes, that’s the name of it — no capital letters or anything) and walked into a lively place with a sleek appearance and an intriguing menu. Allie suggested fresh croissants to begin our meal, and “her wish was our command.” 🙂 Then, since she’s both “into health” AND a teenager, she chose a breakfast quesadilla with bacon, eggs, cheese, onions, black beans, avocado, salsa, tomatillo jam and micro greens. When we made our way to nearby Green Hills Mall afterwards, I introduced all of us to a heavenly goodie known as a macaron. No, not macaroon of the coconut variety, but macaron of the many-colored, many-flavored variety. They were in a little kiosk called Woops! Again, this combined my foodie interest with my “once a teacher, always a teacher” trait. Now, she has something new to know about and mention to her friends. And, maybe I can find a recipe we can try together the next time she visits.
Breakfast quesadilla at etc. in Nashville.

Woops! – a place to buy macarons in Green Hills Mall.
A little shopping — within reason, of course. Teenage girls — and their grandmothers — love to look and sometimes buy something new, right? We found a store that was new to both of us called Charming Charlie. There is actually one at Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville for those of you who live in North Alabama. It is filled with colorful, fashionable jewelry, purses, scarves and clothes (mostly tops, it seemed), and the prices were very affordable. We both got a couple of items and spent only around $30. (Steve, I should mention, was very glad to see some nice benches outside the store for resting and watching the world go by).
Shopping bags from Green Hills Mall.

It was a nice afternoon. We didn’t spend a lot of money. We just invested some time. We learned more about Allie, and I believe she learned more about us. Allie, along with her siblings and cousins, are most certainly “a crown” for Steve and me. Thank you, God.

Selfie in front of macarons.

Two Hidden Mennonite Businesses in Morgan County AL

09/25/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I have recently moved to a part of Morgan County that puts me within a 10-minute drive of two unique businesses — one a bakery/deli/grocery store and the other a buffet restaurant open only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Both are owned by Mennonite families, and both are very popular in this part of the county. People even detour off of I-65 to find them.

For me, it was a short drive down to the end of Barkley Bridge Road to Lebanon Baptist Church. I turned right onto Highway 55 and was immediately greeted by signs at mailboxes saying things like “Repent and turn back to God” and “Keep Yourself Pure.” It was as if I’d entered a different world, a less “worldly” world.

I continued to McKendree Methodist Church. To turn left, means you’re a short distance from Dutch Oven Bakery, Home of Anna Mary’s Cakes on Evergreen Road, and a right turn will lead you to The Old Cookstove on Reeder Road.

If there are smells in heaven, I imagine cinnamon and rising yeast bread will be two of them. Oh my! In the front door of Dutch Oven Bakery, you will immediately encounter a newly-added deli station offering sandwiches and salads. To the left are shelves of freshly-baked breads and gourmet coffees, and through the opening, you can see more bakers hard at work in a spotlessly clean area. If you turn right, you will find a large selection of baked and canned goods, candies, jams, pickles and spices. All made by the Mennonites and their Amish associates. They are open Tuesday – Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and I promise it’s worth the trip.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between Mennonites and Amish, especially when you notice the white caps of the women and their simple, traditional skirts and blouses. From what I’ve read, Amish people hold to the old beliefs and live without electricity or motorized vehicles, while the Mennonites have found those conveniences to be a useful part of their livelihoods and homes. Both believe in simple living and in salvation through Jesus Christ. I find no fault in either of those things, do you? I really liked seeing Bible verses on many of the products. What a delicious way to share God’s Word.

Here’s a look at the items that ended up back in my kitchen. You’ll probably notice the scales tipped in favor of sweets.

Steve and I had dinner at The Old Cookstove last week. It is open for lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday (11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., but only for dinner on Thursday (4:00 – 7:00 p.m.).

On the buffet you can expect to find anywhere from 6 to 10 different meats and 15-20 different vegetables, in addition to a salad bar. All kinds of homemade desserts are ready and waiting (go early for the best selection!), with homemade ice cream probably heading the line-up. Friday nights feature a seafood buffet. Children ages 1-4 are free, ages 5-7 are $5.00 each, ages 8-11 are $7.00 each, and everyone 12 and over will pay $12.95.

The motto at The Old Cookstove is “Delicious Home Cooking in a Delightful Rustic Home,” and I believe that paints a true picture. It is not a hip, trendy kind of place in any sense of the word. They even sell quilts, candles and assorted jams and pickles.

A church busload of senior adults was just finishing supper when we arrived. We could see why it would be popular with that age group. It was cooking very much like my grandmother used to do.

Desperate to Be Free

09/22/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

I’ve never experienced it. That overwhelming urgency to be free to the point of being willing to risk death to achieve it. The closest I can remember is during my high school days when I desperately wanted to go off to college and escape the rules and domination of my parents. And that is a pitiful excuse for a comparison. After all, my physical needs were generously met, and my parents made sacrifices to help me reach my goals and dreams. No, I’ve never known a hunger for freedom so deep that it caused me to take drastic actions and beg others to help me along my way.

I THOUGHT I knew what I’d be seeing when Steve and I visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati this past spring. I studied the Civil War during elementary and high school years. I had a rudimentary knowledge of what the Underground Railroad was and how it worked. But, at this amazing facility I had the chance to see some of the details more graphically. It was intense and powerful. The Ohio River Valley area was a major location when the Underground Railroad was in operation. Now, at 50 East Freedom Way, along the banks of the Ohio River is a multi-million-dollar building designed specifically to educate others about the journeys some endured to find freedom.

Moving display at the Freedom Center.

Three large pavilions make up the first and second floors of the building — The Pavilion of Perseverance, the Pavilion of Courage, and the Pavilion of Cooperation. In the Perseverance section was an authentic slave pen which housed slaves on their way to be auctioned and sold. It was found on a farm in Kentucky less than 60 miles from the Freedom Center.

Slave pen.

Two large RagGonNons created by Aminah Robinson dominated another wall. These quilt-type wall hangings took her 35 years to complete and tell the story of slavery and freedom from her own perspective. Many materials are used in these hangings, and Ms. Robinson did all of the drawing, painting, quilting and sewing by hand.

RagGonNons by Aminah Robinson

Closeup of a RagGonNon.

In another display, part of a house was used to show the places that slaves were hidden on the journey north after they escaped the plantations of the south.

House along the Underground Railroad.

A traveling exhibit on Nelson Mandela was being shown during the days we were there. Again, I have to plead ignorance. I didn’t understand what Apartheid really meant, and I’m ashamed of myself for not being better educated about it. The blacks in South Africa were treated terribly. Mandela’s raised fist had such passion and meaning. The questions he asked stirred my heart. “Lay down your rock. Lift up your fist. What will you forgive? What will you fight for?” Such a powerful message for his people.

Nelson Mandela’s raised fist.

7 Pillars of Apartheid.

If you have a chance to go to Cincinnati, I would highly recommend that you plan to spend a few hours at the Freedom Center. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you can’t go that far, then consider a drive to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Ignorance is no excuse. Freedom is a cause all Christians should champion.

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

1 Peter 2:16 “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.”

The Fish Market Restaurant — On Highway 280 OR Near the Galleria in Birmingham

09/18/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Steve and I have eaten at The Fish Market Restaurant on Highway 280 in Birmingham twice now and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. There are probably 2 main reasons: 1) We were with friends we have known since our newlywed days in Auburn, and 2) We really enjoy fresh seafood. The location on 280 is great if you are coming or going from a football Saturday on the Plains in Auburn or if you have a day of shopping at The Summit. There’s another location near The Galleria on Highway 31 which is also convenient for shoppers coming from all over the state.

If you choose to “dine-in,” there are two options. In one case, you can be seated by a hostess and have your order taken and brought to your table. The other choice would be to walk right up to the counter and place your order. In that case, you get your own drink, napkins, etc. but your order is still brought to your table, and a server offers to help with anything you need. You save a little money in the category of tipping by choosing to order that way. The Fish Market also offers a full catering menu, which is mighty handy if you live in the Birmingham and want to have some guests over for a nice meal WITHOUT having to shop, chop and spend a couple of days in the kitchen. In addition to seafood selections of all kinds, the menu at The Fish Market also features quite a few Greek selections: Greek salad, Greek coleslaw, Athenian style fish, Greek island style fish, Athenian Greek pasta, spanakopita, tyropita, to name a few.

Small fish platter with oysters, shrimp and scallops.

Rich, thick gumbo.

Fish tacos.

The seafood at The Fish Market comes from some well-known places: Bon Secour Fisheries near Mobile, AL and Bama Shrimp of Bayou La Batre (think Forrest Gump), plus Harbor Docks in Florida and Halpern’s Seafood in Georgia among others. Steve and I like the fact that you can order your fish fried, grilled or blackened. At least you have a chance to eat healthy, right? And for healthier sides, you can choose steamed cabbage or grilled zucchini, squash and asparagus from among all of the usual sides you normally find. The prices are moderate — probably in line with Red Lobster — and they open daily at 11:00 a.m., so you can enjoy lunch or dinner there. We didn’t try any of the desserts, but the homemade bourbon bread pudding and the baklava sounded tempting.

Fresh fish on display at the counter — ready for the chef.

Check out the website. Even if you aren’t a seafood-lover, you could very well find a salad, soup, sandwich or chicken entree that would make you happy. . . . and don’t forget dessert. 🙂

Many thanks, Cindy and Hugo, for the recommendation . . . and the great company!

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