Columns

“A name (…), as I might name my cat,” says Sam Sifton who is the Editor of the NYT Cooking section and a pretty funny guy when he was writing about a new dessert he created. It is what he calls a no recipe recipe and sounds real good, in fact I just might try it this weekend.

Most of you know I love to cook and to try new recipes but just am not good at pastry or gravy or desserts. However, Sam’s sounded so simple that I thought I would share it with you and give it a try, too. He starts his column by stating, “I like canned peaches, and if that bums you out, I don’t know what to tell you.” He goes on to talk about mayonnaise sandwiches and other good things that aren’t good for you but ends with, “These are all defensible positions – but I get it.”

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While reading earlier articles and thinking about assembling them into some kinda book form this writer remembered that he had an unfinished portion on ‘Patriotic Questions’. The twelve that were discussed in the earlier article used all of the available space then so be patient as we finish the rest.

14. Name the 13 original states: N.H., Mass, R.I., Conn., N.Y., Penn., Del., Maryland, Virg., N.C., S.C., and Ga.

15. Who was the oldest delegate to sign the Constitution? Benjamin Franklin at 81.

16. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Freed the slaves in the Confederate states.

17. Who was Susan B. Anthony? Fought for women’s right to vote.

18. Who did the United States fight in W.W.II? Japan, Germany, and Italy.

19. What was the main concern during the Cold War after W.W.II ended? Communism.

D e a r Christian H i g h School Graduate, You’re about to walk into a world filled with people who are anti-Jesus, anti-Christian, and full of mockery about your faith in God.

Inevitably, a college professor or colleague is going to be an atheist or from a false religious system. Are you armed and ready? Or do you just know superficial reasons for your beliefs based on feelings, emotions, or other people?

In this column, I can’t go into all of the things that you’ll be ultimately be faced with regarding Christianity and the Lord Jesus Christ, but you can see my full letter to you at www.MindsetoftheSpirit.blogspot.com.

However, for now, let me give you a few things to carry with you, things to hopefully get you started on a track of learning more about your faith so that you are “always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is within you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Most everyone has heard of the importance and great benefit of compost. It is a vital natural addition to any garden, whether you are growing flowers, vegetables or herbs. But what exactly is compost? The simple version is it is a balanced mixture of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ that when mixed together creates heat. That heat begins to break down the pile, and after a couple of turnings, ends up a granular mixture similar to dirt. It is loaded with great nutrients that will feed your plants and help them to grow.

Greens are your wet materials - food scraps, manure, grass clippings, and the dead remnants when you clean out your garden. This is the nitrogen producer in your bin. Browns are your dry materials -hay, leaves, sawdust and straw. This is the carbon, as well as a ‘wick’ for excess moisture. When layered, moistened and left to sit, heat begins to build up and break down the solids.

OR Happy May 1st Eve – What?! Oh yes, let me tell you about another treasure excursion that Susan and I had last week. I first heard about Walpurgis Night years ago when I read Bram Stoker’s excellent book ‘Dracula’ - The book that started the whole Vampire myth in Western Europe. Everyone knows all about that so no need in rehashing the legends and so on BUT early in the novel when a mysterious coachman takes Jonathan Harker, our brave lawyer on his way to get some legal documents signed, to Count Dracula’s castle something mysterious happens. Jonathan notices that the coach stops several times and the coachman jumps down, runs toward a strange green light and leaves a marker. Over a late dinner Dracula explains that the lights were traces of evil spirits out on Walpurgis Night that were drawn to hidden treasure.

The history of DeSoto Parish is intimately connected to the men and women of the past years. Yes, they made DeSoto with their dedication and hard work. Several men and women have been written about in this column most of whom this writer knew and felt should be remembered. Of course, there have been hundreds of people who should be remembered but you understand all cannot be written about – only a representative group.

If religion were just an “opiate for the masses,” or if it evolved primitively to help people cope with things out of their control (such as death, illness, natural disasters, etc.), then it is reasonable to say that anyone could come up with any religious theory from the depths of their imaginations and that every theory would be equally valid.

No theory would be right or wrong, good or bad.

And none of them would be absolute.

However, Jesus Christ made this type of theorizing obsolete.

When Jesus walked this Earth, He made two major radical claims: He said that He was God in the flesh; and He said that He was the only way to Heaven.

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Grow Your Food!

There is just nothing that tastes better than vegetables harvested straight out of the garden. We know that the first line of self-sufficiency begins with growing your own food. But an added benefit is that there is no comparison for fresh. The produce you find in the grocery stores have been hybridized for certain qualities – size, color, and shipping. Notice that taste and health aren’t on that list.

Instead of depending on the grocery store, grow your own vegetables. Even if you choose a hybrid variety, they don’t all ripen at the same time, and they do have some distinguishing shapes and colors. Better yet, try growing heirloom vegetables. Especially with tomatoes, you won’t get two that look the same. And rather than eating food that tastes like cardboard, you will get rich, delicious flavors.

(Editor’s note: Due to the recent storms in our area, Allison Carpenter’s internet was knocked out, so we at The Enterprise have picked one of our favorites that was written by Mrs. Carpenter in 2013. Please enjoy this article from our files. Hopefully, things will return to normal with internet service by our next issue.)

Prayer Life Will Change Along With Our Lives

My mom once told me that your prayer life changes as your children get older. An older child’s desire to begin attending sleepovers, spending time with friends, and going away to camp help prepare parents (especially mothers) for the things to come, such as the increase in time away from home in high school and, ultimately, leaving home for college.