There Goes Connie

Old Friends

06/23/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

I met Talitha Putnam Culver when she was Talitha Etheridge. We were both in the same youth choir at First Baptist Church of Huntsville in the early 1960’s and were both selected for an ensemble group called “The Voices.” We didn’t attend the same middle school. Back then, our social life happened at church, and we were both there whenever the doors were open. We both later went to Samford University, and even though we had different majors, etc., we were still connected. Then, we lost touch, married, both had three children, lived in different towns and reconnected thanks to Facebook. In the last couple of years, we’ve shared a girls’ lunch, a couples’ dinner, and Steve and I even had the privilege of staying in her home after an Auburn game last fall. It was so much fun to sit beside her in church and sing together once again.

Right after church in Auburn, AL with Talitha Culver.

I met Sandra Minor Smith (probably in 1969) when we were both students at Samford. Some day when we have more time, I’ll share some of our college conversations and antics. But, the bigger bond was that we both ended up in Hartselle, AL with our husbands who owned businesses, and we reared our children within close sight of each other — close in age and members of the same church. Sandra and I owned a business together for a couple of years, and then both taught at Hartselle Junior High School. Even though we might go six months between lunch dates, we can always pick up where we left off without missing a beat.

Lunch with Sandra Smith.

Steve and I met Donna Bennich Rushen when we moved to Hartselle, and she was a junior in high school. I had the privilege of being her Sunday School teacher for her junior and senior years. Not long after Donna married Jim, he was ordained a deacon at First Baptist Church of Hartselle, and Jim and Steve served together in that ministry. We’ve known Donna’s family since 1973 — her parents and brothers. About six years ago, they moved to Summerville, S.C., right outside of Charleston. We arranged a lunch rendezvous during a recent visit. We enjoyed a couple of delightful hours together and could have easily stayed for many more. We love each other’s children (she even taught our daughter at Hartselle High School) and have hundreds of mutual friends.

Jim and Donna Rushen with Steve and me in Summerville, S.C.

I met Cindy Honea Sparkman when she joined First Baptist Hartselle as a single mom with a beautiful young daughter. Those were busy, challenging days for both of us, but we always loved interacting and visiting with each other whenever our paths crossed. And we shared a love for music. She now lives in Albertville, AL, was on a committee for the Spring Women’s Brunch and recommended me to be the speaker. I loved getting that invitation, and it was wonderful to watch as she introduced me to all of her new friends and told me special things about everyone of them. She has a great job. She’s in a great church. And, she is obviously greatly loved in her new environment.

Cindy Sparkman with me at a recent brunch at First Baptist Church of Albertville, AL.

There are dozens of other old friends that I touch base with often (thanks, in large part, to Facebook), but unfortunately, I don’t have any recent pictures of any of them posing with me. Ha!

The point of today’s post is that just in the last 6-7 months I have had the happy privilege of spending time with each of these dear friends, and they are STILL important in my life. Each of them enriches my life immeasurably. I gain wisdom and perspective when they share their life with me. They sharpen me and challenge me. I am inspired by each of them. As always, the Bible shares Truth about the value of friends. Thank you, Talitha, Sandra, Donna, Jim and Cindy.

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times. . . .”

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”

Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise. . . .”

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” I can assure you the people pictured about are the opposite of “bad company.” They are positive company in every sense of the word. Rather than corrupting me, they keep me pointed in the right direction.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”

Summerville, SC: An Unexpected Treat

06/19/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I love it when I think I’m going one place and along the way there or heading back home afterwards I find an unexpected treat. That happened again as we were leaving Charleston a few weeks ago. We discovered the pretty town of Summerville, South Carolina.

A view of Central Avenue in historic Summerville, SC.

It is only 24 miles northwest of Charleston. With a population of about 47,000, it is one-third the size of its more famous neighbor. Considering the housing prices in the big city, it is easy to see why many find financial refuge in Summerville.

The plan was to meet our friends at Five Loaves Cafe at noon (read more about it here), so we checked out of our inn (read about that wonderful inn here) a little early and drove on to Summerville, reasoning that we would snoop around a little before lunch. In less than an hour, we found a place we would love to have had more time to explore — historic downtown Summerville.

Five Loaves Cafe, Summerville location.

It’s a short block lined with shops, and other shops are behind the ones on this main drag. You have to find a parking place on the perimeter. Some of the most interesting shops we found were: Four Green Fields at 117 Central Avenue (that’s where we saw Sweet Tea Jelly), Bey & Eloise, a ladies apparel store at 143 Central Avenue, and The Village Knittery, one block over at 219 S. Cedar Street.

Four Green Fields.

Sweet Tea Jelly sold in Four Green Fields.

Bey and Eloise, womens’ apparel

The Village Knittery.

We spotted a beautiful mural painted on the side of a parking garage near Four Green Fields and learned later that it was painted by Hitnes, a Roman artist. Hitnes describes himself as being inspired by nature and John James Audubon. His mural is a part of the efforts of B.I.R.D.S., which stands for Birds in Residence: Downtown Summerville. Read more about that organization here.

Bird Mural by Hitnes.

I urge you to explore unexpected places to mine them for gold nuggets. So many places. So many enthusiastic business owners. So much loveliness and civic pride.

Charleston – “America’s Most Friendly City”

06/16/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

The city of Charleston has received numerous accolades in recent years. Both Travel and Leisure Magazine in 2011 and 2013 and Conde Nast Traveler in 2014 ranked Charleston as “America’s Most Friendly City.” Southern Living Magazine described it as “the most polite and hospitable city in America,” and Travel and Leisure even proclaimed Charleston to be the World’s Best City in 2016.

I will have to vouch for Charleston’s friendliness. It seemed that in every store we entered, the staff in restaurants, in various attractions and in the inn where we stayed were very outwardly focused. By that, I mean that when we crossed paths they genuinely appeared to want to know where we were from, what had brought us to Charleston, how they could help us, and how we were enjoying our visit. Now, I’ve been indoctrinated in Southern hospitality for all of my 60+ years, but I do believe that Charleston folks take it to an even higher level. It was refreshing and invigorating to be wanted and welcomed at every turn.

One place in particular exuded the polite and hospitable way of life in Charleston. We were strolling and browsing along King Street and wandered into the Rick Reinert Studio. The vibrant colors of his paintings drew us in, but we also spotted the outdoor courtyard in the back of the studio and paused to be refreshed and enjoy the beauty. As it happened, Mr. Reinert was busy on a painting, so we stopped to chat and watch as he worked. I learned that he has close ties with the Montgomery Museum of Art right here in Alabama!! He could have been a temperamental, grumpy artist, but he was the very opposite of that. And, I believe his warm personality comes out in his art.

Courtyard behind Rick Reinert Studio on King Street.

Courtyard behind the Rick Reinert Studio on King Street.

Painter Rick Reinert adding careful touches to another piece of beautiful art.

What are the lessons for me, for us, this week?

Friendliness is attractive to others.

Friendliness allows conversations to take place, and that, of course, leads to opportunities to build a relationship that could result in a true friendship.

Proverbs 27:9 “Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”

Proverbs 17:17 “Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.”

I am drawn to smiles and people who are genuinely interested in what is going on in my life as much as flies are drawn to honey. I also love it when a person feels free to share what is going on in their own life. Don’t I want to be “the honey” to others?

Looking for a Day Trip? Consider Guntersville

06/12/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

It’s an easy drive to Guntersville. Take the Governor’s Drive exit off of I-565 and that road becomes Highway 431 South which will lead you right into town. It’s a beautiful drive over Monte Sano Mountain and then the views of the river begin.

View from the Lake Guntersville Lodge.

Don’t miss Bakers on Main on the right when you come into town. Park once and enjoy several dozen shops and the Cafe 336 deli or venture on down Gunter Avenue for antiques and boutiques.

I discovered the Guntersville Museum on a recent visit and was very favorably impressed. It’s in the former armory building at 1215 Rayburn Avenue. In addition to the permanent exhibits — which are VERY well-done — a large collection of heirloom quilts will be on display until July 16th. The museum has free admission, but make a note that it is closed on Mondays.

Intricate quilt on display at the museum.

Of course, Lake Guntersville State Park is a popular attraction. There has been much refurbishing since the 2011 tornadoes. The park lost thousands of trees, but they’ve begun replanting and the views from the lodge are spectacular. You might even be lucky enough to spot one of the bald eagles who nest in the park. The lodge restaurant has a good rating on Trip Advisor, as does Top O’ the River and Rock House Eatery, so the eating aspect of a visit is well covered.

Inside Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge.

A bald eagle and a black bear.

Eagle Awareness Weekends are held in January and February at Lake Guntersville State Park.

Pinecrest Dining Room at Lake Guntersville Lodge.

Top O’ The River — popular seafood eatery in Guntersville.

Albertville is only 7 or 8 miles down 431 South from Guntersville. A popular lunch place is The Chocolate Moose for salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts. I hear that the servers and kitchen staff are prone to break out singing. That sounds like a happy work environment to me, don’t you agree?

Sign for The Chocolate Moose in Albertville.

The Chocolate Moose at 700 Horton Road in Albertville.

Luscious, warm, blueberry turnover at The Chocolate Moose.

If you’re looking for a new day trip destination, Guntersville might be just the place. You are bound to enjoy a good lunch and the wonderful scenery.

Charleston, SC — The HOLY City?

06/09/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

I was surprised to learn that Charleston is often referred to as “the Holy City.” So, I’ve been trying to find the reasons for that reverent nickname.

St. John the Baptist steeple at sunset.

Unitarian Church built in 1772.

St. Philips Church.

Here are a few of the possible justifications that I have found:

Originally called Charles Towne when it was established as a colony in 1670, it was based on principles of religious tolerance.
In its early days, church steeples were useful landmarks guiding ships into Charleston harbor.
The sea level topography of the area makes church steeples very prominent.
Charleston (Charles Towne) was one of a few original colonies to tolerate ALL Christian Protestant denominations.
There are over 400 churches in Charleston.
And this quote written by Charleston Harbor Tours in Ahoy Charleston: “Throughout the years, after building and re-building, after fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wars, Charleston has remained an open-minded city, incorporating all thoughts, beliefs, and cultures with open arms.”

Cemetery across from St. Philips Church.

Sign refers to the Ghost Tours that are popular in Charleston.

But, are THOSE the reasons why a city is holy? Furthermore, is that the kind of thing that makes US holy?

Let’s look at what God’s Word says.

Revelation 21:1-2, 10 “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. . . .And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.”
Let me just say that Charleston is a beautiful, fascinating city, but there is no comparison to the Holy City, the new Jerusalem. We who are children of God have been promised that we will see THE Holy City on that Great Day. Hallelujah!

And, then, of course, the Bible tells us that WE are to be holy. A tall order indeed!

1 Peter 1:15-16 “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

I’m glad that Charleston is known for its many churches, but I believe it is far more important for God’s people to be known for their inner holiness. I’d love to read your thoughts on this subject.

View of St. John the Baptist Cathedral from the balcony of John Rutledge House Inn in Charleston.

John Rutledge House Inn: Fabulous Historic Lodging in Charleston

06/05/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

I wrote about it extensively for Trip101.com in an article you can see here, but I want to continue enticing you to stay at John Rutledge House Inn the next time you visit Charleston. It is quite possibly the most luxurious place we’ve ever stayed. It at least ranks in the Top Five. The rooms are large with wonderful, sleep-inducing beds and modern bathrooms. So, don’t worry about that when you hear that this was originally the home of John Rutledge who was a signer of the Constitution and one of the first five Supreme Court Justices appointed by George Washington. Yes, Rutledge’s former home has been standing for over two centuries, but the present owners have spared no expense to provide exquisite accommodations for their guests. Read more about the inn’s history here.

Front exterior of John Rutledge House Inn.

Large guest room inside the mansion.

The completely modern bathroom.

Breakfast is full of options, as you will read in my article. Time, place and menu can all be selected before sliding into bed and turning off the light the night before. Both the second floor ballroom and the outdoor courtyard are extra-special places to start your day, in my opinion.

Courtyard for breakfast when the weather is nice.

The ballroom where afternoon tea takes place, and it is a location choice for breakfast.

A few of the breakfast choices available every morning.

A lovely afternoon tea is laid out in the ballroom everyday and can be enjoyed right after you check in. Since Charleston is often warm and sultry, iced tea and lemonade is served most of the time, rather than hot tea. And both sweets and savories are available. These are gourmet treats. Not cookies and crackers out of a box, I assure you. The added pampering of a nightly turn-down service with a delicious chocolate on your bed is great way to end the day.

The inn sits on Broad Street, and its parking lot backs up to King Street — THE premier location in Charleston for blocks and blocks of great shops and restaurants. Charleston City Market and other significant historic buildings are within easy walking distance. The neighborhood, with its ornate homes and churches, begs to be explored during a morning or afternoon stroll.

View of St. John the Baptist Cathedral from our guest room window.

Home in the neighborhood near John Rutledge House.

Home in the neighborhood of John Rutledge House.

Home near John Rutledge House.

There are a couple of handicapped-accessible rooms in the Ashley Carriage House between the courtyard and the parking lot, but there are no elevators in any of the buildings, so be aware of that before you arrive. That truly is the only thing that might be considered lacking, but when you remember the inn’s historical significance, it is completely understandable and forgivable. Try this inn. It’s wonderful.

Lining Up the Dominoes

06/02/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

It’s been a heavy thinking kind of week. Can you relate?

Have any of you sold a house and/or bought one lately? Attracting a buyer is just a tiny first step, it seems. The buyer has to look AT LEAST TWICE at your house and choose your house out of all the other possibilities AND provide proof that he/she is financially qualified to buy your house. Then, the buyer looks at your list price and all of the “extras” inside your home (drapes, certain furniture pieces, equipment specific to your home’s maintenance, etc.) and decides how much to offer, which of the extras he hopes to keep AND when he wants to take possession of your home. And, in the best case scenario, this buyer has the money in his pocket or a buyer lined up to buy HIS house. If not, the process of getting a mortgage begins.

In the meantime, you have to decide where you want to move when the deal on your present house has been completed. You find one, and the negotiations begin on the future house. You make an offer. The owner makes a counter-offer. You make a counter offer, etc. etc.

If all the dominoes line up, you have a wonderful process of buying, selling and everyone getting what they want. If the dominoes DON’T line up, you get a big ol’ mess. When one deal falls through, there are others down the line falling through as well.

What one person decides ultimately has an effect on a lot of other people, and the realtors are caught trying to make everybody happy. If only all the “players” were playing by the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 New Living Translation Wouldn’t it be amazing if everyone involved in a real estate transaction, OR ANY TRANSACTION for that matter, was committed to fairness, transparency, honesty and truthfulness?

As of this morning, my dominoes are not lined up as they should be. Is this when a “leap of faith” is in order? Should I assume that the buyer is a gift from God and a sign of some kind that it’s okay to move forward even when the unknowns outnumber the knowns? Or, is this one of those times when I’m supposed to “watch and pray” or “wait patiently on the Lord for He cares for you.”

That last paragraph sounded mighty “churchy” even to my own ears. Sometimes the next step just isn’t illuminated clearly. Sometimes the decisions we make have unintended, uncomfortable consequences. Sometimes WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW.

Reverend Junior Hill, popular evangelist from Hartselle, AL used to say, “When you don’t know what to do, just keep doing what you KNOW to do until you know what to do.”

I know I’m supposed to ask God to guide me.

I know I’m supposed to search God’s Word for biblical principles that apply.

I know I’m supposed to be fair, transparent, honest and truthful.

I know I’m supposed to treat my fellow humans (and those involved in any business deal with me) as I would have them to treat me.

Oh for a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night!! Exodus 13:21-22 “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

SpringHouse: Upscale Dining near Lake Martin

05/29/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

We finally made it to SpringHouse. I had been hearing about it for months and tried to go on earlier trips to Auburn. At last, when it was time for Steve’s 45th reunion from veterinary school (yes, you read that right. 45th.), I realized we’d be driving home on a Sunday morning. Eureka! Just in time for Sunday brunch at SpringHouse. The occasion was everything I hoped it would be. No wonder SpringHouse is on the list of “100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America for 2017.” The food was wonderful, and of course, the surroundings are breathtaking.

I chose Spring Onion Dumplings (because I’m always eager to try new things), and Steve had Pancakes — which he declared were out-of-the-ordinary pancakes. In fact, he raved about them. My dumplings were surrounded by crabmeat, which added yet another layer of exquisiteness. Really, really good.

Pancakes with Vermont maple syrup.

Spring Onion Dumplings with crabmeat.

A scoop of caramel popcorn ice cream.

After our meal, Daniel Goslin, Front of House Manager and Sommelier, graciously gave us a tour of the wine cellar and Well House and was good about answering my many questions. His picture is on the About page of the SpringHouse website. Thank you, Daniel.

Outside the Well House.

The grounds of SpringHouse and all of Russell Crossroads are well-planned and very aesthetically pleasing. A distinctive windmill is near the entrance and the first building on the right is Catherine’s Market. Folks who live or visit Lake Martin are glad to have it for buying fresh ingredients and gourmet foods.

Distinctive windmill at the entrance to Russell Crossroads.

You will need to follow the road on a little farther before you come to SpringHouse. When you see a beautiful, rustic building with lots of timber and stonework, you’ll know you’ve arrived.

View from the parking lot.

View from the upper porch.

View of the upstairs dining area and bar.

Chef Rob McDaniel is a cousin of a long-time Hartselle friend, Jane Ann Fields. He grew up in Haleyville, and he doesn’t forget his Southern roots when he’s preparing great meals. Those meals are SO great, in fact, that he has just been nominated for the FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW for a James Beard Foundation Award under Best Chef South. He, along with fellow nominees David Bancroft of Acre in Auburn and Bill Briand of Fisher’s in Orange Beach, are bringing plenty of culinary recognition to the state of Alabama.

Maybe I’m becoming a foodie snob, but I love menus where I need to use a dictionary. In recent weeks at SpringHouse, the following items were listed:

Braised Rabbit Pirlou — According to a description in FostersMarket.com — “A Charleston classic, pirlou (a.k.a. purloo or pilau) is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink rice pilaf that is the lowcountry contribution to the family of rice dishes, including jambalaya and gumbo, hailing from the rice-growing regions of the Southeast.”

Over Roasted Gulf Cobia Pistou — According to FoodandWine.com — “Pistou is an olive oil—based basil sauce from the south of France that closely resembles Ligurian pesto.”

Hickory Grilled Beef Coulotte — A Coulotte is a cut of beef from the sirloin cap.

Crispy Duck Confit — According to Wikipedia — “Confit comes from the French word confire which means literally “to preserve,” a confit being any type of food that is cooked slowly over a long period of time as a method of preservation.”

So, now you have my confession. I had no clue what those 4 words meant, but I looked them up and will be better-educated when I encounter them in the future.

Here is my article published recently in Epicurean-Traveler.com if you’d like more information. I do hope you will consider this wonderful restaurant whenever you are in the vicinity. It’s even worth going out of your way.

Big Bob Gibson’s Pie Lady: Delicious Consistency

05/26/2017 By: CCPearson6 Comments

It is a well-documented fact that Big Bob Gibson’s pork, ribs and chicken have won major awards for excellence. You can read through a list here and be very impressed. When you walk into the 6th Avenue Decatur location, the trophies and plaques are EVERYWHERE! And, a display of prize-winning sauces is on sale for customers to take home or ship to former Decaturites who are scattered around the world, longing for some of their favorite tastes. My Silver Fox salivates at the very mention of a pork sandwich from Big Bob’s, and I love the stuffed potatoes and Brunswick stew. But, one menu item deserves trophies, too, in my opinion — THE PIES!!!! Oh my, the pies!!

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jo Ann Gunner, chief pie lady at Big Bob’s, and hearing more about her very important work.

Jo Ann Gunner holds one of the popular coconut pies she just finished making.

How long have you been making pies at Big Bob’s?

43 years. My mother worked at the old location next door, and I started out by coming in to help her with the pies. I used to be the youngest. Now I’m the oldest.

When you arrive in the morning, how do you begin?

We get started at 6:00 a.m. EVERY morning — 7 days a week. And the first thing we have to do is decide how many to make. The least amount we make every day is 25 each of coconut, chocolate and lemon and 10 each of pecan and peanut butter. But, we also look at orders that have already been made and make sure we have enough to cover those, too.

Who created the recipes?

I’m not sure where the recipes came from, but I assume that Big Bob’s wife chose them.

Do you use local products?

Purity Milk makes regular deliveries, and we get our eggs from Woodruff Produce.

I have always been in awe of the meringues. How many egg whites do those meringues take?

Probably 3, but we use a product that isn’t available for household cooks. It’s a meringue stabilizer called 7-11, which is actually a sugar substitute. (At this point, I felt a great sense of relief because I had tried so many times to duplicate that meringue with NO success. Of COURSE, they would have a great product in order to consistently have those mile-high meringues.)

Look at the meringue on this slice of chocolate pie!

A granddaddy and granddaughter get ready to share a piece of pie. I wonder who ate the most?

When are the biggest times for pies?

On a weekly basis, the Friday and Saturday night crowds probably order the most slices of pie, but the day before Thanksgiving is BY FAR our biggest pie-making time. I remember one year that we made 725 pies!! We started the night before and worked through the night until about noon the next day. We had pies on top of all the tables in this restaurant and on every available surface. Christmas is also a very busy time, but Thanksgiving is the biggest.

Have you ever had a pie failure?

A few years ago, we could NOT get the filling to thicken. We tried adding flour, but when we poured it into the shells, it just liquefied. We finally concluded (after almost a month) that it was a defective batch of cornstarch. In my opinion cornstarch is probably the most critical ingredient.

What special equipment do you have in the kitchen that helps with the pies?

We can put 12 pies at a time in the oven, so that’s good. But, my favorite is the big Hobart mixer on a stand. It’s a very important part of our process every day.

Which is the best-selling pie?

Probably coconut, but chocolate and lemon are pretty close.

A whole pie made just a few hours ago ready to be enjoyed.

Have the pies ever been entered in any competitions?

No, but they are served at many of the big competitions.

Are you thinking about retiring? It must be hard to be at work seven days a week at 6:00 a.m.

No, I don’t have any plans to stop. I’m 62 now, and I plan to keep going. (I thought to myself — Jo Ann obviously enjoys her job and is very good at it. That’s a blessing for her AND for Bob Gibson’s owners and customers).

During my few minutes with Jo Ann, I was struck by an overarching aspect of her life — her consistency. 43 years. 7 days a week. That’s a lot.

So, in today’s category of “God Continues to Teach Me,” I was reminded of the importance of staying consistent. After all, God Himself, His nature, His plans, His purpose, and His plan of salvation are consistent and unchanging. He sets an example for believers to live lives that are consistent with the faith we profess.

God blessed and protected Daniel because he continued being obedient even when an ominous decree by the king was made.

Daniel 6:10 — “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

And Paul admonished the Corinthians to “give themselves fully” to their work.

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Jo Ann Gunner’s consistency provides delicious desserts for hundreds, even thousands, of people during the course of a year. Let’s pray that our lives will be consistent blessings to those in our own sphere of influence.

Five Loaves Cafe: Affordable Charleston Area Eatery

05/22/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Healthy. Fresh. Locally-Sourced. Sustainable. Colorful. Comfort food. Affordable. Those are all words to describe the menu choices at Five Loaves Cafe with three locations in the Charleston area. 1) In Charleston itself at 43 Cannon Street 2) In Mt. Pleasant on Johnnie Dodds Blvd. and 3) In Summerville at 214 N. Cedar St. We had a great lunch at the Summerville location on the way home from a recent trip to Charleston. It was easily found right off I-26.

Five Loaves Cafe exterior, Summerville, SC

Attractive, quirky lights on the front porch in Summerville.

Five Loaves Cafe was founded in 2003 by Chef/Owner Casey Glowacki, who actually stood on the street corner in front of his first Charleston location offering soup samples to people passing by. Those tasters must have liked that soup. By 2004, Glowacki was joined by Partner/Owner Joe Fischbein, and they have become a very successful team with Glowacki working culinary magic and Fischbein overseeing the service and inner workings.

Eating out in the Charleston area is often a big-ticket item in a vacation budget. At Five Loaves Cafe, you can enjoy a nutritious, well-prepared meal at a great price. And there are numerous vegetarian options, if you are so inclined.

A handy-dandy way to list the daily specials — a roll of brown butcher paper.

Five Loaves Cafe was recently named in an article titled “8 Charleston Restaurants Perfect for When You’re Feeling Ill.” That makes logical sense considering the house made soups that are made fresh each day. Just yesterday, the daily soup specials, for example, were: Minestrone; Chicken tortilla; Asparagus, goat cheese and dill; Potato broccoli and cheddar; Mexican chicken chili with avocado and cilantro and Tomato tarragon with crab meat. Surely there was one on the list to suit pretty much ANYBODY.

The All-Natural Chicken Caesar Salad made the list of “27 Things You Need to Eat in Charleston Before You Die,” according to writer Rachel Labarre. Have you SEEN how many restaurants there are in Charleston? Can you imagine how many mouthwatering menu items could be found in that number of restaurants? It’s quite a compliment to be mentioned in such a category.

The lunch menu offers a 1/2 sandwich/soup or 1/2 sandwich/salad combination, and the sandwiches can be made from any of these breads: sourdough, croissant, multi-grain, rye, baguette or a spinach tortilla.

Check out the photos of the lunch choices enjoyed by the people at my table last week.

She crab soup and chicken salad on a bed of greens

Cucumber soup with a tuna sandwich on multi-grain bread

Roast beef on a croissant with a veggie salad featuring pickled carrots

Sandwich on multi-grain bread with a side of fresh fruit.

Maybe another great reason to give Five Loaves Cafe a try is how conducive it is to an enjoyable reunion of old friends.

Jim and Donna Rushen, current residents of Summerville, SC, with my Silver Fox and me.

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