What IS chili?

 Tonight was the Civil Air Patrol Christmas party.

Nathan graduated his first group of newbies

out of Tango flight.

 

Including Cadet Airman James

The cadets made 10 different types of chili

and the Sr. members (including my husband)

were privileged to be the judges,

giving points for taste, smell and chili name.

 AJ dug out the recipe from long ago

that came from a generous soul

who gave up any claim to fame should

this chili become famous.



We didn't know she would need to present a name

so our chili was simply #7.

Looking back, the lack of name could have led to our demise

in the chili cook off.

Consider this:

3rd place: Roadkill Chili

2nd Place: Fire and Ice

1st place: Hot Costa Rica Chili

Frankly, I thing that for most people,

"chili" must have certain ingredients to qualify,

those being

A. Ground meat (even possum)

B. Kidney beans (light or dark)

C. tomatoes or tomato product

 

Ours had none of the above,

is called White Bean Chicken Chili,

has cumin and sage in it,

and tonight it was even vegetarian

(for the few of us who don't eat meat. Or roadkill)

 

The condition of the Sr. member judges

shall remain confidential

after sampling 10 different chili recipes including condiments

and Cherry Coke.



Jesus Wept

The kids are learning various stylistic techniques

to use in their writing.

One is the vss (very short sentence).

 

I love to read.

 I adore words. 

I read a ton.

Words, like music, can stir me in places that are difficult to reach.

 

I've made sure that the kids have been exposed to lots and lots
of good books, beginning early in life.
Living books are such a vibrant alternative to dry textbooks.
I'm so hoping that the love of books stays with them.

 ********

Friday night I was online reading the headlines

and within all of the horrendous details,

I was most touched by a vss.

This sentence describes the actions of one of the courageous

teachers in the latest tragedy,
 how she protected and  loved on her kids.

 

I'll paraphrase here to save time citing.
 

 

..."There, (she) read to the children."


Oh. That I would be that brave.

 

 



Addition to Blog

I'm starting a new dynamic to this digital journal.

The Guest Blogger who will occasionally

share something on their heart.

 

I have one brave soul working on a draft

so I thought I would retell a scene from yesterday which involves someone

who refuses to have anything to do with story telling on paper (or word processor).

We're working on it though.

Thus, the guest blog idea.

(photo from months ago
this is not the hair culprit)
 

 Several days ago set against the backdrop of loud footsteps marching to my bathroom:

 

"Mama, I am so sick of finding hair in my food.

 

Remember those scrambled eggs a long time ago?

 

And now this hot chocolate. I just swallowed a piece of hair.

 

And last night when I was baking cookies

and pulled them out of the oven,

they had a LONG piece of hair on them

straight from the oven.

 

This is gross"

 (pouring out entire cup of freshly made hot cocoa in my sink).