Field Trips

October 10field trips;new orleans;french quarter;horse drawn carriage

I am thankful for field trips. I'll define a field trip as a within-day trip to a place for pleasure, sight seeing, or with a particular assignment in mind. I enjoy making the occasional side trip. They are a relief from the routine but don't carry with them the hassle of a longer vacation.

This photo was taken in the French Quarter in New Orleans of a horse drawn carriage. I thought that it represented the idea of a field trip very well. 

field trip

my name is mark johnson

or farmer johnson as i am known

i’m a farmer from way back

i cultivate the plants from the seeds i’ve sown

not much time for much

no time for a cruise ship

but i can ride my tractor through the rows

for my own personal field trip.

© rt tulley

Gumbo

October 9gumbo

I am thankful for gumbo. Gumbo is a very thick soup, composed of a thickened base, a roux, and a meat or seafood. Gumbo originated in the 18th century in south Louisiana. It's thick, dark texture is further enhanced and thickened by adding rice prior to eating it. The name of gumbo is probably derived from similar sounding words West African Bantu and Choctaw Indian words for file' (ground sassafras) or okra, both of which have been added to many gumbos. Gumbo is a very tasty soup and can be quite wonderful if spiced correctly. It is the official food of Louisiana.

Because gumbo was generally composed of whatever was on hand in the kitchen of the chef, and because it was derived from the merging of several different cultures, the name gumbo also came to represent a mixture of cultures, which occurred in Louisiana. Therefore, gumbo can mean a tasty food or a mixing of different cultures to form a new and unique culture of its own. I like that.t

While we were in Gulfport on our anniversary trip, Bebe and I ate at a cajun restaurant, surprisingly, of which there are many on the Gulf coast. While I got oysters, she ordered gumbo. This is a photo of hers.

gumbo

when it comes to food

i am no dumbo

give me some french bread

and a bowl of gumbo

dark and thick

steamy and spicy

i love my gumbo

a little bit ricey.

© rt tulley

Gifts

October 8gifts,physical gifts, spiritual gifts,christmas,sabrina

I am thankful for gifts. It is nice to give and receive physical gifts. Gift giving is one of those great celebratory acts they we humans do. They say it is more blessed to give than receive. But it's not as fun! Actually, I am joking because there is so much pleasure in giving something that the receiver really appreciates.

Physical gifts are great but their useful lives are usually temporary. I can attest to that by the many toys that I had taken apart as a kid on Christmas day or shortly thereafter. The spiritual gifts that we receive are more permanent. We are all blessed with one or more gifts with which we can use to make an impact on others and to serve. Of course, no one person can have all gifts. As they say, for the complete set of gifts, "it takes a village". One working in harmony with others, each using their own unique gifts, together complete the whole. We should make it our goal to hone and fine tune those gifts we have been given by reading, studying, or practicing.

This photo is my niece, Sabrina, with a gift that she and I got for my wife Bebe for Christmas. Sabrina is smiling because she knows that inside the wrapping paper is a huge jar of cheese puffs, one of Bebe's favorite snacks. Bebe appreciated the gift and it also brought a smile to her face. It was a funny but useful gift. But, let me say this: it didn't last long! 

gifts

every person

no matter who they be

has gifts

that everyone can see

you are a gift

a great gift unto me

and in return i give of myself

for you to use for free.

© rt tulley

more blessed to give than receive

if it is more blessed to give than receive

i would not want to anyone deprive

the blessings from showering me with gifts

that they certainly would thusly derive.

© rt tulley