Remembering Sunday Mornings with Grandmother

Sundays always make me think of my grandmother. We would go to church with her and then later have dinner with the family at her house. Every Sunday was almost like Thanksgiving – there was always so much food – good, home-cooked food.

We lost grandmother in 2007, but I have her Bible. She recorded births and deaths as well as marriages. By those of use who divorced later, she put a small letter d by the names. On the first page of Genesis, where it starts with “In the beginning...,”  she has written “I believe.” It gives me great comfort to go through her Bible and notice the passages she marked and the notes she made. And she did all this back when it was considered sacriligious to make marks in the Bible.

I took a poetry writing class a few months ago and in memory of my grandmother on this Sunday morning, here it is:

Sunday Morning with Grandmother

Sunday morning before church,

her lips freshly painted pink,

pearls adorn her neck,

her hair is perfectly coifed.

But she wears only her slip,

so as not to mess her dress.

With self-manicured fingers,

nails the same shade as her lips,

she sifts the flour, the handle

squeaks with every turn.

A small mountain of powder

rises in the aluminum bowl,

battered from years of daily use.

She adds a small scoop of Crisco,

kneading the mealy mixture

with her left hand

while adding buttermilk

with the other, molding

it to a ball of dough.

She plops it on wax paper,

rolling it flat, lightly

sprinkling flour across it. She

takes the biscuit cutter

twisting it in the dough

forming perfect circles,

placed side by side, edges

barely touching.

As they bake,

she slips on her dress,

the green one

with the paisley print,

then slides into her best

sensible shoes.

She glimpses her reflection,

coats her lips again

and pats a strand of hair

back into place.

She takes the biscuits

from the oven, placing one

on a plate with a little butter

and apple jelly, my favorite.

She places it before me,

an unexpected treat

I delight in.

She hums

How Great Thou Art,

while preparing the dinner

our family will enjoy later.

As we walk into

Beaumont Baptist Church,

the organ howls as she places

two shiny quarters in my hand

for the collection plate.

I wish I had the courage

to keep them for myself

as my little brother

so often does.

©connie thompson kuhn

What I Learned at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference

I have been to several writing conferences since I decided to pursue my dream of writing. I was so excited to find that this one was extremely affordable and would be hosted in my hometown. 

Some of the information I’ve heard before. Writers write. Write what you know. Perseverance is the key; you must show up. Writers read. After all, how can you write if you never read?

The keynote speaker was Carolyn Stoddard Goss. She was amazing. Three questions you should ask yourself if you want to be a writer.

1. Are you an observer?
2. Do you tend to your mind?
3. Do you write?

The answer to all three for me is yes in varying degrees. Most of the time I feel like I am an astute observer, but the other day I was passing through town only to realize that the old movie theatre is no longer there. I’m not sure when that happened.

I try to tend to my mind. I do read quite widely. While contemporary women’s fiction is my favorite genre. I read across many. I also read writing books, biographies, memoirs, and just about anything that catches my attention. I love the fact that with e-books I can sample several pages before committing to a purchase.

I have been writing a good bit lately, but I am preparing my senior thesis. My novel in progress is beckoning me, but I jot ideas down and throw them in the box. One thing at a time.

And time management is something I feel is important for every writer. It is easy in this day of technology to get caught up in other things. Sometimes you have to turn it all off and just write.

So if you want to be a writer, go to writers conferences. As Vonda Skelton said, “It is wonderful to be around other people, who are weird like me.” For if you’re a writer, you take no offense for you know exactly what she means.


And then there was Edie Melson. Thanks to her, I am no longer terrified of twitter, Facebook, or blogging. I came away with some valuable information and I can't wait to put it to use. She also has a wonderful ebook that you should check out for the bargain price of 99 cents and it is perfect for newbies, who are just beginning to dip their toes in the social networking pool.


My blog is a work in progress. I have several changes in mind for the near feature. I plan on implementing scheduled topics and some design changes. I am also navigating hoot suite to make better use of Twitter and Facebook.

What If I Won the Lottery?

Like millions of other Americans this past week, I bought a lottery ticket. The jackpot beckoned at 640 million dollars and the things I would do with that kind of money. Well, it was fun to think about the what ifs? What I would buy? Where I would go? Who I would give money to?

Even in discussing the what ifs, I was really surprised by people. One woman said if she won, she wasn't giving money to anyone. I couldn't help but think it a little selfish especially since it was unlikely to really become a concern.

The statistics I heard were surprising. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning twice than winning the 640 million jackpot. Ninety percent of lottery winners are broke within five years. One city boasted that they were selling over a million lottery tickets an hour. There was a ninety percent chance that someone would win last night. To buy every combination of numbers would cost you a little under 176 million.

Many lottery winners claim that the lottery ruined their life. There is even a tv show about it.

I fell asleep before the numbers were revealed last night. I woke up around midnight and thought about checking, but decided to go back to sleep with the possibility of what if until morning. Pleasant dreams of traveling to exotic locations and buying extravagant homes and cars filled my night.

This morning, I checked my numbers. I didn't have the right combination, but it was still fun to see that I had three of the winning numbers - none of them on the same line of my $5 worth of tickets.

There were three winners last night who will share the jackpot and unfortunately I was not one of them. So I guess I will return to my job on Monday morning thankful that I have one to go to.

Family Favorite: Hamburger Casserole

This is a family favorite that is easy to make. We often have it for Sunday dinner, but it is easy enough to make on a weeknight and it is great reheated.

You start by peeling potatoes and cutting them into 1/4"slices. You also cut an onion into strips and break it apart. Since some of my family detests onions, I only place them on half.

Next you brown some ground beef and add a can of Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup, and 1 cup of grated Colby and Monterrey Jack Cheese.

You bake for 35 minutes at 350° or until potatoes are done (check to make sure they are tender by piercing with a fork). Remove and add a 1/2 cup more cheese and return to the oven until the cheese melts.

You'll have a yummy casserole that is also great as a left over. (The potato on top on the side was to let me know which side did not have onions). 

Mama's Hamburger Casserole

4 potatoes (or enough to cover the bottom of baking dish)

1 small onion

1 1/2 lbs ground beef, browned

1 can of Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup

1 1/2 cup Colby Monterrey Jack cheese (reserve 1/2 cup)

Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Remove and add reserved cheese to top and return to oven until melted. 

Sunday Favorite: Macaroni & Cheese

My grandmother grew up during the depression. She was a very frugal person and that was apparent in her macaroni and cheese. Grandmother's version was mostly macaroni with only a little cheese. After Grandmother left for church my Mom would grate more cheese and add it to the casserole. It was always a favorite among all the grandkids. It is simple and tasty.

Macaroni & Cheese

2 cups dry elbow macaroni

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper

Butter

Directions: 

Boil macaroni noodles as directed. 

Pour hot cooked macaroni noodles into casserole dish.

Put half cheddar cheese into macaroni noodles and stir.

Beat eggs and add milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over noodles.

Cover with the remaining cheese.

Add a few pats of butter over the cheese.

Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes.

I prefer to grate block cheddar cheese, which seems to give it a better flavor.