Getting to Know Joe

Made this soup several weeks ago. It is sort of like a gazpacho soup, but all the chopped vegetables are floated on a toasted slice of bread. Regardless, it was an absolutely delicious bowl of soup! Perfect for summer and great with those excellent Alabama tomatoes.

Wrapped up a project for Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park several months ago, but failed to mention it here. I really am enjoying working with WordPress. Just wrapped up several newsletters today as well; one for an insurance company and another for AIA Birmingham (both web-based). Now I've got to finish up a website for an engineering firm, The University Center for Economic Development at UA and several other projects.... Lots to do. At least I don't have to venture outside in this unbearable heat!

Still a work in progress, but have been adding attractions from around a lot of counties in the Black Belt over the last two weeks to the site. Take a look at the new tourism website: www.alabamasfrontporches.org

Dinner Saturday night:

Potatoes sliced thin and crisped in the oven, panko breaded okra, cucumbers soaked in rice wine vinegar and spinach sauteed with garlic and shallots. And the steelhead trout, brushed with Alabama honey, soy sauce and ground peppers.

Just finished putting together a new website for the Alabama Byways Program. It will continue to grow as more information is added, but here's a start. Designed in Wordpress!

Had a great trip to Florence, Tuscumbia and along the Natchez Trace (pictured above) last week with my friend Ben Burford. What a beautiful part of Alabama.

Finished this invitation several weeks ago, but thought I'd go ahead and post it on the blog today anyway. The artwork is really pretty amazing--Alzheimer's patients created it in a collaborative environment. I have been lucky enough to go and take photos of some of these folks working on art here in Birmingham and it has been a wonderful experience.

This is part of a larger project I've been working on with several folks. The larger project takes place in the Lower Cahaba watershed (www.lowercahaba.com). I'm actually in the process of changing the website over to a drupal based website (but that's not public yet). Here's the brochure:

I've been really excited about this since I first heard about it this fall. We loved "Band of Brothers" and can't wait to watch "The Pacific" tonight!

My dad was in WWII and in the Pacific theater. He didn't talk about it much, but he did write letters home regularly--the last letters I think he ever wrote, I think! There is a box of letters from his time in WWII, but none afterwards...

Here's one:

Philippines
April 10, 1945

Dear Mama,

I rec. several letters from you and Gladys today sure was glad to hear from you.

I don't guess you have thought about it, but this is my Birthday. One year ago yesterday, I was home, but it feels like it has been several years of course it is not so bad here I like it here ok. You asked me if I had been to Manila. Yes I have been there on pass. I know it was a nice place before the war, but now it is not much left there.

I have had some pictures made and they came out ok, so I sent them back to have some more made like them and I will get them tomorrow and send you some I want to send you one of each.

Is Bobby going to get to finish this year of school or are they going to take him on to the Army?

Does Natalie think as much of Bobby as he does her and will Mrs. Cogle let her go out with Bobby or don't she like him?

Do you ever see Edward Agee now?

I guess Antoinette still gets everything she wants.

Well I guess I had better close now but I will write again soon. P.S. Did you send Virginia's pictures to her.

Love Clark

[for reference, Gladys was my father's sister--my Aunt Gladys who lived in Alaska for years before finally retiring in Linden, Alabama. Bobby was my father's brother: the youngest of the family. Antoinette was my father's first (I think) niece, born to my Aunt Margaret.]

Ann and I always love to go to the Garden Art Party every spring. We seem to manage to come home with more great stuff every year. (Last year, we got a great 3 night vacation to Florida and several really nice pieces of original art from local artists--all at a bargain price.) And the best part is that ALZCA uses their money as well as any other nonprofit I've seen.

Here's the Save the Date card I just finished (complete with art painted by Alzheimer's patients):

Have been getting some great fish from Snapper Grabbers lately. Last night's black snapper was amazingly fresh and delicious. Simple preparation.

I learned a great trick from Cooks Illustrated--I should have thought of it myself, but oh well: sprinkle about 1/8th to 1/4 of a teaspoon on each filet of fish along with any spices to help it brown better in a skillet. The small amount of sugar caramelizes on the fish and adds a nice little crispness. This fish has a sprinkling of sugar and a bit of Cajun spice blend and was seared in a cast iron skillet with just a splash of olive oil and a bit of butter. Served over mashed sweet potatoes with simple steamed asparagus over that. Simple and tasty.

Wow. It has been three years. It seems forever, but also just yesterday when Mama was taken away. It somehow makes it that much harder that it is one week from her birthday. I miss her so much.

I've been going through old letters she sent (I promise not to continue to post them), and found the following one she sent me when I turned 25. It is VERY self-indulgent on my part to post, but Mama's not around to say such nice things about me anymore, so thought I'd put it out there anyway.

Here it is:

My dear Joe,

It seems impossible that you are to be 25 Saturday! How proud we were of that tiny bit of love--Dr.  Henry's "pea mite." Since then you have been my "raison d'etre." It has been our pleasure to see you mature--and with many uncompromising traits. Just thank you for being you, for showing tender love and true caring for your family. For whatever we have done, over protectiveness included, it was done in the name of love.

Have a happy birthday and please know that I love you with all my heart.

Mama

October 27

I Miss her so much. She really was such a wonderful person. If half the things in her letter to me were accurate, I'd be delighted. But it all came from having such a loving and caring family. Mama, you were the greatest!

Mama would have been 86 years old today. I miss her so much. She brought a lot of good into the world, including all 6 of us. Below is  part of a letter she wrote a few years ago just after her birthday. I wish I had inherited her letter-writing abilities (or at least took the time she always managed to find to write)...

Dear Joe,

It's 11:15 and can you believe that I have a few minutes to call my own! (It's because I've left the kitchen porch "as is" for the time being.)

It's so pretty here--the redbuds are in bloom, all the white bushes and the daffodils, plus the hyacinths are so pretty.

Billy Milstead just stood and looked around and remarked, "Everywhere you look you see pretty!" He also talked about so many pines in general everywhere else, but hardwoods surrounding us.

You want believe this, but it is now nearly two o'clock as I've had to stop at least a dozen times for some incidental thing, but for Papa it can't wait! For instance, "The mail came. Reckon my medicine is there?" A walk to the mailbox, of course I must get the scissors to clip the end of each piece of mail--mostly junk, but it must be taken care of!

I must stop now as I need to get ready to take Papa for a drive after he finishes lunch.

I love you,
Mama

February 26

Happy Birthday to the person that made me the person I am today (at least the good parts!)