From A Post from a Blog

Mississippi has been hard hit over the years for being a backwards state. Having lived there, I can say that it can be but there are some very wonderful things about the area as well.

I remember  actively discussing homeschool on the internet back in the late 90s. I often heard how I was doing my children a disservice for homeschooling where they would not be exposed to multiple cultures and other beliefs.

In a small town of Mississippi? Did they really think a town of less than 2,000 was going to produce a rich and varied group of people?

In regards to this article post, it should be noted that many of the towns in Mississippi have a small number of residents, this increases the odds of people having the same beliefs, race or lifestyles.

It is not uncommon for a whole street to be occupied by one family consisting of only parents, siblings and their children. It is also not uncommon for a whole neighborhood to consist mostly of people who are loosely related. This vastly increases the chance of whole areas being one race, one faith or of similar views.

If school lines are drawn around these areas then yes, the chances are you will see high percentages of one race in a class or school.

Should people be allowed to transfer outside of zones to attend a different school? I don’t think the majority who do this have any racial issues in mind.

Mississippi itself is a poor state that struggles to fund it’s schools properly. Also, over the years Mississippi towns have suffered the same fate that many small towns are in becoming drug centers. The lower income towns are not the laid back, wholesome towns they once were. They are ridden with drugs, violence and poor education for their children.

Any good parent wants more than this for their child. Perhaps some began using transfers as a means to grab something better for their own.

Perhaps instead of pasting a racial label on this issue, people need to ask why parents are wanting different schools or classes and solve the real problems for the benefit of each and every child.

These vampires don’t sparkle!

The main character has a human lady friend, a strip club to run and a war with werewolves on his hands. There is a plot against him to unravel which has some surprises in it.

Staked

*** This book contains adult language and themes, graphic descriptions and violence ***

My Summer Reading List:

1. Antiques Maul by  Barbara Allan
2. The Companion by Susan Squires
3. Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
4. Slay It With Flowers by Kate Collins
5. Grave Intent by Deborah Leblanc
6. Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
7. Cause for Alarm by Erica Spindler
8. The Duggars: 20 and Counting by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar
9. Staked by J.F. Lewis

The Duggars need more than two hands to count their family. How do they manage with so many children and what has their life been like?

In their book, you will meet them and each of their amazing children. They share their triumphs and their failures as a family and in business ventures. They offer some interesting tips on organizing and share some favorite recipes.

Get to know the Duggars yourself by reading their book!

My Summer Reading List:

1. Antiques Maul by  Barbara Allan
2. The Companion by Susan Squires
3. Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
4. Slay It With Flowers by Kate Collins
5. Grave Intent by Deborah Leblanc
6. Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
7. Cause for Alarm by Erica Spindler
8. The Duggars: 20 and Counting by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar

If you are familiar with Mandeville, Louisiana then the last thing you expect is to hear of a professional assassin stalking and murdering residents.

That is what happens when a young woman pregnant for a killer thinks she can hide from him in a southern town. Daddy comes looking and comes killing.

This is a tale of secrets, twists, professional hit men and an innocent baby on the Northshore.

You need to get the book if you want to know how it ends

My Summer Reading List:

1. Antiques Maul by  Barbara Allan
2. The Companion by Susan Squires
3. Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
4. Slay It With Flowers by Kate Collins
5. Grave Intent by Deborah Leblanc
6. Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
7. Cause for Alarm by Erica Spindler

I enjoyed the third book in the flower shop mysteries.

Abby glides into Jillian’s wedding garbed in a hideous floral ensemble and right into another murder mystery. Someone took till death do us part a little too far.

Buy Dearly Depotted Today!

My Summer Reading Log:

1. Antiques Maul
   
2. The Companion
   
3. Mum’s the Word
   
4. Slay It With Flowers
5. Dearly Depotted
   

Never steal from a gypsy, even a dead one…..you will pay.

Check out Grave Intent at my Amazon store!

My Summer Reading Log:

1. Antiques Maul
   
2. The Companion
   
3. Mum’s the Word
   
4. Slay It With Flowers
5. Grave Intent

This is the second book in the flower shop mystery. It follows Mum’s The Word.

Abby has been hired to provide the flowers for her cousin’s wedding along with serving in it. When groomsmen go missing, she isn’t just going to miss being in a wedding, she will be out of the money she is putting into the decorations. So she puts herself in danger again to track down the men and some answers.

Check out Slay It With Flowers at my Amazon store!

My Summer Reading Log:

1. Antiques Maul
   
2. The Companion
   
3. Mum’s the Word
   
4. Slay It With Flowers
   

• $1.33 – 1 1/2 packs of hot dogs, bought on sale
• .22 – quarter of a bottle of barbecue sauce, bought on sale

Total cost:  $1.55

Recipe:

1. Pour desired amount of barbecue sauce into a deep frying pan, I like to use about a quarter of a bottle
2. Add quarter of a cup of water to sauce
3. Add one to two tablespoons of cornstarch to sauce (or use more sauce or less water if you prefer)
4. Stir sauce and turn heat to medium high heat
5. Bring sauce to a boil
6. Slice hot dogs into medallions and add to boiling sauce
7. Lower heat to simmer hot dogs in sauce
8. Cook until the barbecue sauce is thick again.
9. Taste test, you may need to add a little more sauce if you prefer a stronger flavor.

Serve With:

• Salad
• Southern Green Beans
• Cornbread

Centsible Tips:

• Always watch for sales on hot dogs and vegetables to stock them when they are cheaper.
  
• Plan to eat southwestern hot dogs when you have the ingredients on hand.
• Watch for coupons for your favorite hot dog brands and for barbecue sauce.
  
• For the southwestern side dish of cornbread, you can use a cheap mix like Jiffy’s mix on sale or make it from scratch.

Like any good command center, it should suit our needs. It sometimes falls short since it’s a more modern kitchen, it lacks the space for serious food storage and it’s short on space for our homeschooling.

It’s a cute spot though with golden cabinetry, granite counter tops, white stone floors and walls painted beige. I have decorated it in a country cafe theme in colors of white, red, chocolate, cream and black. Even if some of the space isn’t exactly what I need, it reflects my tastes and our lifestyle.

This evening, I am sitting at the farmhouse table sipping my coffee and planning to tell you about my meal planning.

Did you know I have an obsession with organising food, planning budget shopping and preparing meals? If you didn’t, you soon will.

I am very southern and use many techniques that have been handed down in my family. We enjoy southern, homestyle, Italian, Chinese and some Mexican cuisines.

We try to have a low sodium, lower carb diet. My dream would be to have a diet rich in natural foods but sometimes realising the dream is out of the budget.

Most of my meals follow a plan that consists of salad, main course/meat, vegetable/fruit and  a starch.

If you enjoy food, looking for some new frugal meals to try or want ideas on budget shopping and stocking food, check back here through the summer. I will be sharing my lists, menus and recipes!

Book Read:  Mum’s the Word
Author: Kate Collins
Publisher: Signet
Genre:  Cozy mystery

Kate Collins is the author of a flower shop mystery series. The first in the set is Mum’s the Word.

Abby Knight, owner of Bloomers, has not had any luck in walking down the aisle with flowers in hand herself but her blooms are attracting customers for all sorts of occasions.  In this first book Abby also has had the fortune of not tripping over a dead body as many other cozy mystery characters do. She does however, see what she believes to be a murderer fleeing the crime that happens near her shop.

Abby’s concerns quickly go from selling enough flowers to being in great danger. You have to read the book too if you want to know if her chances of survival and love blossom.

Check out Mum’s the Word at my Amazon store

My Summer Reading Log:

1. Antiques Maul by  Barbara Allan
2. The Companion by Susan Squires
3. Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins

]]> http://satorihouse.net/blog1/2010/06/12/mums-the-word-by-kate-collins/feed/ 0