Sam Houston

Do you ever have things to do that you intend to do as a tradition and never quite get around to it? I'm funny like that. I have things that for years I have planned to do as a tradition and never quite get around to it. Like playing Michael Card CDs on Sunday morning. I haven't done that in years but if you ask me, it is still my tradition. Also, I have a tradition of eating Chinese food on my oldest nephew's birthday - don't ask me why. I have never eaten Chinese food with him but on the anniversary of his 1st birthday, I was sitting in a Chinese restaurant at the exact moment he was born. Traditions are funny things - they do not have to be observed to be remembered.

Another thing that I have never done and intend to do someday is bake a cake for Sam Houston's birthday. Sam Houston's birthday is March 2nd and coincidentally, March
2nd is also Texas Independence Day. For all you non-Texan (ummm, heathen) folk out there, Sam Houston was one of the greatest of Texas legends. A giant of a man, he had many faults, some private and some very public. At one point in his life, he was called 'Big Drunk' by the Indians he lived with. Later in his life, he sobered up and married a Baptist preacher's daughter (second wife - the first wife left him mysteriously and neither of them ever talked about it). Anyway, he was a Tennessee governor who basically left the office in disgrace and came to Texas. History was waiting for him. He came to Texas just in time to get involved in the sticky politics between Texas and Mexico. At that time, Texas was under Mexican rule. Sam Houston was the hero of the Battle of Jacinto and the first president of Texas. He died during the Civil War, opposing slavery but never seeing the end of the story.

In memory of Sam Houston, here is a recipe for Sam Houston Cake. I have not tried this recipe so if anyone does make it, please me know how it comes out - another March 2nd will be here soon and there are traditions to be observed.

SAM HOUSTON WHITE CAKE

3/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups granulated sugar
3 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 teaspoon almond flavoring
6 egg whites
Cream butter until soft and light. Gradually add granulated sugar and continue creaming several minutes to incorporate as much air as possible. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; sift three times. Add flavorings to milk and water. Add flour alternately with liquid to creamed mixture; beat well after each addition. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry; fold immediately into batter, blending well but do not beat. Pour into three greased and floured 9-inch layered pans. Bake at 350 F., 25 minutes. Cool five minutes, then turn onto cooling racks and remove pans. When cool, fill and frost with:

SHINY CHOCOLATE FROSTING
Melt three 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate over hot water. Remove from water and stir in 3 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup hot water. One at a time, beat in 3 eggs’ yolks. Beating well, add 1/4 cup melted butter, a little at a time, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spread between layers and over cake.

Hosanna, Hosanna!

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The Spirit of Adventure

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The Weaving

The Weaving

The weaving that made me
from the cradle
was a wondrous thing
Tales of ancient days
And times beyond the years
Troubadours of word and song
sagas of legend thrilling
beyond imagination
of great houses
that rose and fell
on a sovereign’s sigh

Stories of giants and shepard boys
Of prophets that could whistle
chariots from the sky
A vineyard stole and a king rebuked
A God who could make people see
And then weep for their blindness

And now I am old
Old than my years, it seems
Yet the stories have never
Become child’s fancy
A God who interferes in human affairs
How quaint!
Yet a lame man stood tall
And a boy named Laughter
Rode his old father’s bony knee

And I believe
Oh, I believe
Every jot and tittle
And I crave the day
When I can hear the story
From Tamar’s lips
And see Paul’s eyes blaze
and to see Moses point his finger
In majestic command
I long to see Job throw back his head in laughter
And hear the poetry dance in Isaiah’s words

And the reminisces will be long
And deep
And the words will roll on forever
And forever
Slow and steady
Majestic and stately
A little funny
And a belly roaring good time
And finally,
My head pillowed on folded arms
As I fall asleep to the story,
A child again

rrw
Winter 2007

I'm Back

All,

I am back in my city from Thailand. I arrived late Monday night. The last couple of days have been rather low key - I have been recovering from the vacation :)I now have a working camera so I will posting pictures on my blogsite more often. Corbin is doing fine - feisty as ever!

Painting Pictures of Egypt

I found a song that so perfectly describes my feelings right now. It is a lot of Houston and a little bit of Thailand. It is by Sara Groves and off of her 'Conversations' CD. Here are the words:

Painting Pictures of Egypt

I don't want to leave here, I don't want to stay
It feels like pinching to me either way
The places I long for the most are places where I've been
They are calling out to me like a long lost friend
It's not about losing faith, it's not about trust
It's all about comfortable when you move so much
The place I was wasn't perfect but I had found a way to live
It wasn't milk or honey but then neither is this

The past is so tangible, I know it by heart,
familiar things are never easy to discard.
I was longing for some freedom, but now I hesitate to go
I am caught between the promise and the things I know

If it comes too quick, I may not recognize it.
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
If it comes too quick, I may not appreciate it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

Chorus: I've been painting pictures of Egypt, leaving out what it lacked.
The future feels so hard and I want to go back.
But the places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned,
and those roads were closed off to me while my back was turned.