Does Heaven Have a Phone Number

Mommy went to Heaven, but I need her here today,
My tummy hurts and I fell down, I need her right away,
Operator can you tell me how to find her in this book?

Is heaven in the yellow part, I don’t know where to look.
I think my daddy needs her too, at night I hear him cry.
I hear him call her name sometimes, but I really don’t know why.

Maybe if I call her, she will hurry home to me.
Is Heaven very far away, Is it across the sea?
She’s been gone a long, long time she needs to come home now!
I really need to reach her, I simply don’t know how.

Help me find the number please, is it listed under “Heaven”?
I can’t read these big words, I am only seven.

I’m sorry operator, I didn’t mean to make you cry,
Is your tummy hurting too, or is there something in your eye?
If I call my church maybe they will know.
Mommy said when we need help that’s where we should go.
I found the number to my church tacked up on the wall.
Thank you operator, I’ll give them a call.

My Go To Perfect Morning Oatmeal

I love oatmeal. For years I used to eat  Quaker Instant Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal.  Loved the stuff. Then I noticed all the stuff that was listed as ingredients on the side of the box. Junk I never heard of, must less able to pronounce.  I wanted a change.

Luckily, I remodeled my apartment and now have a full blown kitchen. I like to cook everything from scratch with natural ingredients. One of the first things I tackled was oatmeal. First, I had to find the best oatmeal that had nothing but oatmeal as the ingredients.

While many people swear by McCain’s, I found the real oatmeal connoisseurs loved Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats. It has just  one ingredient-whole wheat oats. I tried it and was blown away. Unlike any kind of oatmeal I’d ever tasted. No artificial taste. Just pure oatmeal. Now it was on to take this oatmeal up another notch devising the perfect recipe.

You can cook oatmeal any number of ways, including in a rice cooker, slow cooking overnight, double boiler, microwaving and the traditional boiling on the stove.

My favorite and quickest, not to mention the easiest is boiling them for about 10 minutes.

Here’s my recipe

Serves 1 or 2

1/2 cup Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats

1/2 cup Milk (I use vanilla soy milk, coconut or almond milk, use whatever you like)

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon sugary spice (i.e. cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice)

1-2 tablespoons pure honey or molasses

A few nuts (I like pecans or walnuts)

1/2 cup blueberries or any other fruit

Want to take your oatmeal to the next level?

I got this idea from Cook’s Illustrated and it really adds to the flavor and unfortunately- unhealthy.Before you boil the oatmeal, add a dable of butter to a saute pan over medium high heat, then throw in the oatmeal and cook for 1-2 minutes. Man, this really gives it a nuttier flavor. I do this once a week on my “free” eat anything I wanna day.

How I Learned to Make Mouthwatering Bread

If there was one food I could not do without, it would be bread. Give me some wine, cheese and bread and I’m happy. I’ve alway wanted to bake bread, but my results have always been lacking.  I don’t mean those soft wonder bread types. I  want want  big crusty european kind of breads like a crusty french baquette or a big round pain de campagne (country bread).

Years ago I experimented with Julia Childs recipe for french baquette in her classic book “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”.  I even bought some scrap tin to make special molds to bake the bread in. The results were just so-so.

To make really great crusty bread you have to have a super hot oven. Most home ovens top out at around 500 degrees, while commercial ovens can reach 1000 degrees or more.  If you wanted great bread you had to go to a bakery or restaurant.

I remember reading an article few years back in the New York Times about a baker named Jim Lahey who came out with a revolutionary way of baking bread that took no more than 5 minutes to knead and resulted in a crusty bread that could be done at home. He wrote a book called “My Bread” that showed home cooks how to make crusty European style breads that takes hardly any effort, 5 minutes worth of work and presto-phenomenal bread.

For the past few weeks I’ve been working my way through the book using the no-knead recipe with amazing results. Mouthwatering, crusty bread. I’m hooked. Never again will I buy store bought bread.

Here’s  a picture of this delicious bread hot out of the oven.

The only problem I have is I’m baking so much bread I can’t gobble it up before it goes stale. A  huge advantage in most European breads is their long fermentation process which give the bread several extra days shelf life. In fact, this bread will taste better the second day. The bread develops a tangy taste. I’m learning all kinds of ways to use stale bread. Lip smacking crunchy croutons that make those store bought  stuff taste like sawdust. Using breadcrumbs in place of Parmesan cheese in salads and pasta dishes,  a great low fat alternative and surprisingly good. One of my favorite ways to use stale bread is when I’m making my rustic french onion soup by putting a few slices in the bottom of the bowl and pouring the soup on top. Oo la la!

My ultimate way to use stale bread is in just about my favorite dessert-bread pudding! Love the stuff. Made a batch last night and ate two  whole bowls. I was in bread heaven.

Scrumptious bread pudding

“Bread is the king of the table and all else is merely the court that surrounds the king. The countries are the soup, the meat, the vegetables, the salad but bread is king.”
Louis Bromfield, American novelist  (1896-1956)

Facebook Rosy Business Contest

How would you like for your business to have a free rose arrangement? At Knight’s Flowers we think free prizes shouldn’t just be for individuals. Businesses deserve reconition too. Each Friday Knight’s will anounce the start of our Rosy Business contest. The winner will be announced Monday morning. Simply enter your business name in the comments section and the business with the most likes wins.

Rules:

1-Business can only win once

2-Business must have a storefront or name on a door if in an office building

3-Flowers will be delivered to the business

4-Business must be in Anderson County

5-In case of a tie, a random drawing will be held

6-Knight’s Flowers reserves the right to disqualify contestants at their decretion

Poinsettias Myths and Care

History and Legend of the Poinsettia

Joel Robert Poinsett, who was an amateur botanist and the first ambassador to Mexico, first introduced poinsettias to the United States in 1825. He introduced the plant to the United States when he brought some cuttings to his plantation in Greenwood, South Carolina.

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, an official day set aside to enjoy this symbol of holiday cheer. It was established upon the death of Mr.  Poinsett to honor him and the plant he made famous. He died in 1851.  Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they grow wild. The enchanting legend of the poinsettia dates back several centuries, to a Christmas Eve in Mexico when a little girl named Pepita had no gift to present to the Christ child.  Her cousin Pedro urged her to give a humble gift. So, on her way to church she gathered some weeds she found along the road. As she approached the altar, a miracle happened: The weeds blossomed into brilliant flowers. Then they were called Flores de Noche Buena – Flowers of the Holy Night. Now they are called poinsettias.

Poinsettia Care Tips

Poinsettias are one of the longest-lasting blooming plants available to consumers.  To choose the perfect poinsettia and keep it blooming all year long, follow the care tips listed below:

Choosing the perfect poinsettia:

• Pick a plant with small, tightly clustered buds in the center.
• Look for crisp, bright, undamaged foliage.
• Avoid plants displayed in drafty or crowded areas.

To keep the poinsettia blooming:

• When surface soil is dry to the touch, water thoroughly. Discard excess water in the saucer.
• To prolong color, keep a temperature range of 60 degrees for night and 72 degrees for day. High humidity is preferable.
• Place plant away from hot or cold drafts, and protect from cold wind

To rebloom for the next season:

• During winter, continue to follow holiday upkeep tips.
• March 1 (St. Patrick’s Day): When bracts fade, cut stems back to eight inches above soil line.
• Continue to water regularly.
• Lightly fertilize with a balanced all-purpose plant food every three to four weeks.
• When temperatures are warm, place plant outdoors; first in indirect, then direct sunlight. Avoid temperatures below 50 degrees throughout the summer.
• July 4 (Independence Day): Cut back new growth stems. Repot if needed.
• Early September (Labor Day): Move plant inside. Provide six or more hours of direct light.
• October 1 through December: Confine plant to complete darkness for 14 hours, giving it 10 hours of natural light daily. This will set the buds and cause bracts to color

Poinsettia Toxicity Myth

The poinsettia is the most widely tested consumer plant on the market today, proving the myth about the popular holiday plant to be false:

• Scientific research from The Ohio State University has proved the poinsettia to be non-toxic to both humans and pets. All parts of the plant were tested, including the leaves and sap.
• According to POISINDEX, the national information center for poison control centers, a child would have to ingest 500-600 leaves in order to exceed the experimental doses that found no toxicity.
• A study from the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University found that out of 22,793 reported poinsettia exposures there was essentially no toxicity significance of any kind. The study used national data collected by the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
• As with any non-food product, however, the poinsettia is notmeant to be eaten and can cause varying degrees of discomfort; therefore, the plant should be kept out of the reach of young children and curious pets.

The World’s Greatest Dozen Red Rose Arrangement

Over the years at Knights we’ve striven to carry the world’s finest roses. With red roses, we feel it’s very important that we sell only the best, since it’s the most popular color among consumers. During the last 20 years we’ve only sold 3 red rose varieties in our shop-Kardinal, Charlotte and Forever Young.

Our red roses go through rigorous testing before they are ever sold to our customers. We look for vase life, head size, aperture and beauty, plus how well it stacks up against other roses in its category. Sometimes these tests can take months before we add a new rose to our collection.

For the past 10 years we’ve used Forever Young as our premium long stem red rose. We were one of the first florists in the United States to carry this rose. It has truly held its own against every red rose that has come out during this time. It has a phenomenal vase life, doesn’t droop and has a beautiful bloom. Rarely ever did we get a complaint when we sent these out to our customers. There have been a slew of new red rose varieties that have be introduced since we started carrying Forever Young, and we’ve tested many of them, but in our opinion, Forever Young always came out on top.

A Star Is Born

These past few months we have been testing a new red rose that has blown away everybody here at Knights. It has consistently passed every test we’ve thrown at it. ‘Amazing’ is the only way we can describe it. It’s grown for us by the world’s most discriminating rose grower- Rio Roses. We introduced this new red rose Valentine’s Day this year and since then we’ve not had 1 single complaint. Astounding!

The name of this mindblowing rose? It’s called ‘Corazon” . It’s Spanish for heart. If this rose doesn’t stimulate your heart, nothing will. Without a doubt it’s the most breathtaking red rose we’ve ever introduced in the 57 years Knights Flowers has been in business.

What makes Corazon so spectacular?

• Vase Life-It lasts for up to ten days. We’ve even had some customers that have said it has lasted for them 3 weeks!

• Doesn’t Droop-The vast majority of roses droop after a certain length of time. It’s normal. Not Corazon. No need for Viagra for this baby.

• Huge Bloom Size-Corazon has one of the largest bloom size of any red rose on the market. 2.5″ bloom size and a gigantic 5″ across when full open.

• Opens Fully-Unlike our previous red rose star Forever Young, Corazon opens fully. Nothing worst than a rose that never opens.

• Beauty-Opens to a classic circular rose shape with a timeless true red color. Petals are firm, almost velvety and leaves are a dark rich green.

We’ve taken these awe-inspiring Corazon roses and created what we call ‘The World’s Greatest Dozen Red Rose’ arrangement. 12 of the most fabulous red roses you’ve ever feasted your eyes on. Arranged in a garden style glass vase with a mixture a classic greens, accented with vibrant waxflower blossoms and ribbon. Sure to set your love one’s heart aflutter.

The World's Greatest Dozen Red Roses Arrangement

Knight’s Flowers Goes Mobile

Knight’s Flowers is excited to introduce our new mobile website. No matter where you are at or what time of day it is you can shop at Knight’s Flowers. Our mobile site can be accessed on any smartphone including the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and many other smartphones that can connect to the internet. Plus, it free!

No more belated birthdays or anniversaries. Just found out at the last minute that you need to send flowers to a funeral, but not near a computer to see pictures of what you might like to send? Our mobile site is just a click away.

On our mobile site we display the top selling items for just about any occasion. Just scroll down the list and look at the images for the occasion that you’re sending flowers for, then click on telephone number and you’ll be immediately connected to one of our wonderful salespeople that will assist you in taking care of your order.

No matter where you are, in a car, at the airport, walking down the street, the Knight’s Flowers mobile site is available. When you have have that last second idea to send your loved one some flowers Knight’s Flowers is just a click away.

It’s simple to use. Just type in knightsflowers.com in your web browser on your mobile phone and you’ll be automatically directed to our mobile site. While you at it go ahead and bookmark the page for quicker access.

Knight’s Flowers mobile website. Ordering flowers on the go couldn’t be any easier.

Roses for Relay

Two years ago in June my Dad died of bladder cancer.  It happened all at once. It wasn’t one of those long drawn out battles that some people experience. Doctors diagnosed him with cancer, gave him 6 months to live and he lived 3 1/2 more weeks.  He lived to be 84. Some people get cancer early,  some later in life. Some folks don’t smoke, don’t drink and they do all the right things to avoid cancer and still get it. Cancer is an equal opportunity killer.

Alarming Facts About Cancer!:

• One in three people will contract cancer, and one in four will die from the disease.
• Within five years, cancer will surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death, according to the American Hospital Association.
• In 1994, 1.2 million new cancer cases were added to the more than eight million people in the U.S. who have already been diagnosed with cancer.

• Since 1950, the overall cancer incidence has increased by 44 percent; the incidence of breast cancer and male colon cancer by about 60 percent; testis, prostate and kidney by 100 percent; and other cancers, such as malignant melanoma, multiple myeloma and some lymphomas, by over 100 percent.
• Th e e stimated annual cost of cancer to the United States, excluding incalculable psychosocial costs, is $110 billion, approximately 2 percent of the GNP.
• An estimated 80 million people have health insurance insufficient to cover the costs of a catastrophic illness such as cancer.

Relay Roses

For the past several years Knight’s Flowers have participated in the East Anderson County American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. We’ve run a promotion that has been very successful. We call them Relay Roses. Simply put, for only $75 you get a 1/2 dozen roses each month for a full year. We donate $20 of this for to the American Cancer Society.  This year’s dealine for ordering them is June 20, 2010.

We have gotten lots of folks that say this is one of the best promotions we’ve ever run. They originally intend to keep the roses for themselves, but many times end up giving them away to someone in need or for a friend who is having a special occasions.

You can also purchase Relay Roses as a gift for a friend  or relative. They are great birthday presents!

I can’t think of a better way to help support Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society, plus you get roses every month for a whole year. All for just $75!

Download a copy of the Roses for Relay: Flower renewal sale form-2010

Quack Quack Stories

Just when I thought I heard it all about the Quack Quacks, I stumble across a person that fills me in on the facts, plus a few interesting stories to boot. The person prefers to remain anonymous, so I keep it that way.

Where They Lived

Some facebook posters have called them the Quack Quacks of Lake City and some have thought they lived in a part of town called the “Iron Curtain” across the railroad tracks behind the old hospital. They never, to my knowledge, ever lived in Lake City, but in Clinton.

They lived in South Clinton, near the river in the area where the Carden Farm is. They drove around mostly in  Clinton and Lake City in an old dilapidated Studebaker.

Update: The Quack Quacks DID live  in Lake City in the area know as the “Iron Curtain”. They may have lived in other locations since they moved around a lot.

How they Got Their Nickname

Their surname was Hickson.  One day they stole a bunch of ducks and put them all in a big ole burlap bag and while walking down the railroad tracks in Lake City the ducks ate a hole in the bag and they all got out,  quacking and scurrying every which way down the railroad tracks. The Hickson’s (they all traveled as a group) started frantically chasing after these ducks down the railroad tracks. That’s how they got the name Quack Quacks!

A He or a She?

Many people wondered if one the main characters in the group was a he or a she. Shirley, a daughter, dressed like a man, which is why every one got so confused. She had a sister named Dootsy Mae, who had a hatchet jaw that looked like Dick Tracey.

Lil, who was the matriarch of the family, was a big heavyset woman who always kept a huge wad of cash between her boobs.

One of the sons was named Ed. He fell in love with a Ms. Reynolds.  Ed wanted to marry Ms. Reynold, but she said “no way am I going to marry a g.d. HIckson”. So what did Ed do? He changed his last name to Reynolds and they got married.

The Other Quack

It seems another person in Clinton has the nickname Quack and he got it from the Quack Quacks. Any you know Everette “Quack” Nelson? You’ll see him every day during school season directing traffic at the school crossings in front of the Clinton Elementary & Middle School.

Everette, used to work at Martin Funeral Home (now Jones) in Clinton. Kim Farmer, who also worked at the funeral home, and Everette were sitting outside the funeral home one day when the Quack Quacks were walking down the street to go to the post office across the street. Everette thought he’d play a joke on them. He ran inside the funeral home and came back out a side door and hid behind some bushes. As the Quack Quacks were passing by, Everette started yelling “quack, quack…quack, quack!” Well, the Quack Quacks, didn’t take to kindly to that, so they looked in the area of the funeral home and saw Kim Farmer sitting out there all by himself and thought he was the quacker. They started throwing rocks at Kim! Whew!

Ever since then, Everette has gotten the nickname “Quack” Nelson.

Everette later on worked for the Clinton Cab Company.  Sometimes he would have to take the Quack Quacks home. When they got there, Lil, the big fat momma, would pull out the big wad of cash stashed between her boobs and hand Everette some money. Everette would take the money and on the way back into town  hold it out the cab door because it stunk! The Quack Quack’s smelled something awful and if they ever took a bath, no one was aware of it.

So there you have it. Just about everything you ever wanted to know about the Quack Quacks of Clinton.

Got any other interesting characters in Anderson County you want to know about?

The Quack Quack’s of Lake City

Recently, I posted a picture of Shag Branch on my Facebook page that generated a lot of discussion about not only Shag, but other characters about town that lived in Lake City, Lois Irwin commented about the Quack Quack girls and asked if anyone had heard of them. No one really had, including me. So I did a little research and found some bits and pieces of information about them.

I came across an ancestry research site in which someone had been looking for some of their ancestors that might have lived in Lake City. The posting on this research site was back in 1993. The post was from a James and Barbara Kesterson. They were responding to a post by a Rebecca Parker, who asked if anyone remembered the Quack Quacks of Lake City. Here is part of her recollection:

When I was growing up there, they were always around town during my childhood in the 1950's-1960's, particularly the 4th of July. They always walked together down Main St. as part of the 4th of July parade (I'm sure unsolicited ... they just sort of joined in, but always a fixture). They always intrigued me as to who they were, where they came from, whatever happened to them, etc. They were very poor people, dressed in long dresses, with an apparent "leader", who I "thought" was a man (found out later from my parents "he" was a "she") who always walked in front as this group of approx. 10-12 followed him. They did have an old car, a Studebaker "convertible" that had a red checkered plastic tablecloth as the top. They apparently lived across the railroad tracks in a poor area everyone referred to as "behind the Iron Curtain" ... a shanty town of plywood & cardboard !"

James and Barbara Kesterson responded with some recollections of their own:

We were never allowed to venture "behind the Iron Curtain", but my church used to take food and clothing to this group of people. They were just local characters of town with no known names that I recall (just cruel nicknames), but I often think of these colorful, interesting people. The nickname apparently came from (one story) a pet duck that they always carried with them. The only surname I ever recall was the name "Hicks" (sometimes called "the Hickses"). Anyone else know about/wonder about one of the many "Characters of Lake City" (we had many). With fond memories and much intrigue, I would like to attach names to these people and know more about them.

Well I’ll be a duck. I lived in Lake City in the 1950′s and 1960′s and I can’t remember these unusual characters. I guess I must be quacking up!

Does anyone remember these people? Any recollection? I wonder what their real names were?