Roots | M. Suzanne Terry

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Drink the Wild Air

Posted in 31 Days, Beauty, Roots on August 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Emerson

I am playing catch-up with my 31 Days of Beauty posts. Sunday was supposed to be Day Three and the third installment of my Emerson inspiration. Then my car decided to freak out and stop working on my drive back to Denton.

I don’t even have a picture.

I suppose it would have been very easy to grab a selfie in the wind (because West Texas…and trucks speeding by at 75 miles an hour WITHOUT GETTING IN THE OPPOSITE LANE) while I was waiting on Dad to come rescue me. But I was not feeling beautiful. I was feeling annoyed and stranded. Also, after the car completely shut down, the air conditioner didn’t work so well, so I ventured into the grass on the side of the road, and most of my attention was focused on looking our for rattlesnakes (because West Texas. The struggle is real.).

Suffice it to say that I did not get a picture in time for this post.

I am actually pretty surprised that I don’t have a picture of me with my hair all wild and swarmy around my head in the wind. I love that. My love of strong breezes comes from growing up on the farm, where the land is so flat you can actually see the sides of the roads meet at the horizon in the distance. Mesquite trees (bushes – let’s be real) are no match for that wind. There’s nothing to stand in its way. Think Chicago – only not knife-like and stabby in its frozenness. Imagine warm gusts whipping around your body, throwing hair, clothes – basically anything not pasted down (and even some things that were) – into a frenzy.

And yet you stand. Embracing the wind but withstanding it as well. Strong. Grounded.

Beautiful.

Drink it in. Drink the wild air.

I’m writing about personal beauty for 31 Days.

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31 Days of Beauty

Posted in 31 Days, Beauty, Roots on August 1, 2014| 4 Comments »

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This weekend, I am hanging out on my parents’ farm. The first thing I did after petting all the animals was check out the garden. If the picture above looks a little fuzzy, it’s because it was taken mid-duck as I was trying to avoid the dive bomb by some sort of flying insect.

I have a love-hate relationship with sunshine. I am fair-skinned, so my skin is pretty sensitive to the sun’s unforgiving rays. A day spent outside means bathing in a vat of high SPF sunscreen, as well as multiple reapplications throughout the day. My shoulders are freckled from the day nineteen Mays ago when I spent the day at a Duran Duran/Deep Blue Something concert to raise money for the families of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. I didn’t reapply the sunscreen, and I walked away with water blisters.

Not pretty.

But if I take the necessary precautions, the sun is my friend. I love the feel of it on my arms and face when I’m driving or out for a walk. I love watching the sun rise (well, at least when it’s not coming through my office window, stabbing me in the eye). It means a new day.

This month, I’m writing 31 Days of Beauty. Every day, I will discuss a different aspect of personal beauty.

Day One – Live in the sunshine.

Day Two – Swim the sea

Day Three – Drink the wild air.

Day Four – At the club

Day Five – Badass boots

Day Six – Beauty is hard

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Nostalgia is a Liar

Posted in Food, Getting It Together, Roots on July 1, 2014| 3 Comments »

When I went through my mom’s recipe collection in order to find things to make, I told her, “I want a variety of things – comfort food, desserts, main courses, side items, etc.” I came across the recipe for Western Salad, and I remarked, “Oh – Western Salad – good! This gives me a healthy option, too!”

She gave me the oddest look. I was confused at first, but then I read the recipe.

It started well:

1 head of lettuce
1 cup chopped onions
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 can ranch-style beans

But it derailed from there:

2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup Catalina dressing
bag of corn chips

You mix everything except the chips. The chips are added as you serve, to avoid sogginess. And you end up with this:

I did leave out the onions, because when there are raw onions in something, that’s all I can taste, and I doubled the amount of tomatoes. But I followed the rest of the recipe exactly.

Calling it a salad is an exercise in willing suspension of disbelief. I can picture the creator of this marvelous foodstuff debating whether or not s/he could actually call it salad and get away with it, finally ending with the deciding factor – “Does it have lettuce? Yes! Okay, then – salad, it is!”

So I’m giving in to my nostalgia, deceptive as it might be, and sticking to the name Western Salad. Just nod along, everybody. Be cool.

My memory of this dish is that it was light and healthy. The reality of this dish is that it is the sort of thing one might buy from a concession stand. This explains why Mom never actually served it as a meal but as a decadent side item in an otherwise healthy, balanced dinner.

As I have mentioned before, I am not my mother. Totally ate a large bowl of Western Salad as a meal.

I regret nothing.

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Pretty Little Summer – June Beauty Update

Posted in Beauty, Roots, Seasons on June 19, 2014| 4 Comments »

I have a hard time getting enthusiastic about summer. This summer is not so bad, for two reasons:

It’s hot. No – you don’t understand. I live in Texas. It’s HOT. We’re having what we call a “mild” summer. I am grateful for this. Unfortunately, “mild” in Texas means it’s only supposed to get to 97 on Monday. Yippee.
Summer usually means less money in the bank because I usually don’t teach. This unfortunately also coincides with having all the free time in the world to daydream about traveling and other expensive luxuries…because I usually don’t teach. But I managed to pick up a class this summer. My student loan corporation will be happy.

But even during the worst summers, I have to admit – it’s certainly pretty:

So I am thankful.

I am keeping track of beautiful moments and words this year on my Beauty board on Pinterest.

I am also linking up with Amy Young’s Trusting Tuesdays – check it out!

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How The Bangles Saved Me From Purity Culture – guest post for Jane Halton

Posted in Church, Music, Roots on April 15, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I love it in your room at night
You’re the only one who gets through to me.

My sister and I grew up with a family friend (we’ll call her G). She was a few years older than I, and we both looked up to her. She taught us how to put on makeup the cool way (glitter shadow, shiny lip gloss – basically everything sparkly). She kept us informed on who the hottest heartthrobs were.

She introduced us to The Bangles.

Jump over to Jane Halton’s blog to read the rest.

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Days Three and Four (Ahem) – Roots

Posted in 31 Days, Food, Roots on October 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Today, I’m on a bit of a high, because a couple of lines from my post for the “I am from…” synchroblog were chosen to be part of SheLoves Magazine’s September zine. Also, my parents are coming into town this weekend, and I haven’t seen them since July, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m thinking a lot about heritage today.

Food is in my roots.

Growing up, we didn’t eat at restaurants very often. We were the sit-down-at-the-supper-table family. We were the five-kinds-of-pie-at-Christmas family. We were Baptist potlucks. We were homemade candy at Christmas and homemade jam in the summer.

In many ways, we still are all those things.

We grow food. Apple pies and canned peaches come from fruit on the trees out back. Pecans are picked and shelled, not bought. And some glorious day, I’m going to find a farm near me that grows Cream Crowder peas, which, until about two years ago, I knew only as MeMaw Peas.

Yesterday, I didn’t have a lot of time. I had a sandwich for lunch, and a frozen dinner at Kim’s that I ate while watching Parenthood.

But tonight, Mom and Dad are bringing tomatoes and peppers from the garden. They’re bringing Mom’s apple cake (dairy-free, so I can eat it without taking a pill). Tonight, we feast on foods that are homegrown and homemade.

That’s where I come from. That’s the place I’m rooted.

That’s what I miss every time I eat food out of a bag or carton.

Themes, observations, and lessons:

– The food I choose affects my sense of place in the world.

– In a pinch, frozen tikka masala is still pretty tasty.

– Even when I just have peanut butter and jam, at least the bread is good, and the jam is made from Mom’s blackberries.

I’m going 31 days without eating fast food.

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I Am From

Posted in Roots on September 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Linking up with She Loves Magazine

I am from Bunn coffeemakers,

From hair gel and stacks of well-loved books that tell stories and have stories of their own.

I am from a small reflection of the farm where I grew up, from the aroma of newly picked onions and fresh-shelled peas,

From dusty air and the big, big sky.

I am from cotton and wheat, from lavender and basil,

From the mesquites of homestead giving way to the redbuds of home .

I’m from homemade Christmas candy and stubbornness,

From MeMaws and Aunts pronounced like ants.

I’m from disagreeing (but not in front of company) and sharing recipes and really loud silent treatments.

I’m from look at me when I’m talking to you and be good and Rocky Mountain Rain.

I’m from Texas pride and the stoicism of being English, Irish, Dutch, Creek, and Cherokee, all at the same time,

From Southern Baptist discretion and cavatini and steaks cooked over mesquite or charcoal and chocolate pie with perfect meringue that I still refuse to eat because it is the texture of calf slobber.

I’m from conspiring to move MeMaw Sharp’s garden inside, from learning the hard way that people can’t kiss their elbows, no matter how much I wanted a brother,

From silly songs and fighting over the sweet spot on the couch and tattling and learning to be friends.

I am from heirloom quilts and solid furniture,

From twenty-four place settings apiece bought with green stamps,

From tractors and dirt bikes and so many cats,

From the remnants of family that follow me home and remind me that I am more than tolerated, that I am loved and kept.

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What I’m Into (July 2013)

Posted in Books, Denton, Food, Memes, Resolutions, Roots, TV on July 31, 2013| 8 Comments »

July was the month of long-time friends. I attended my 20th (!!!) high school reunion, so I got to catch up with who-is-where-and-doing-what and meet their kids (I repeat – !!!). I had dinner with a few people I hadn’t talked to in a while, even though they live right here in town, and I had some friends over for margaritas and build-your-own nachos. I saw my friend Michelle, who is stateside for a couple of months before she heads back to China. I had dinner last night with two of my former roommates Sharon and Margat and their kids. I said farewell to my friend Tomomi who moved back to Japan.

Good friends. Good times.

General Highlights:

I applied and interviewed for a full-time teaching position at the school where I teach, but it went to another candidate. It did me the favor of thinking about what I like about what I do and what I want to change about it for the classes that I do have, even if I’m still teaching in a part-time capacity. So while it was not the outcome for which I was hoping the most, it’s still okay.

I love wearing pearls.

I also love Ravelin’s black pepper and prosciutto loaf.

Denton. Just all of it. I’m so in love with this town in the summertime.

My Maggie is engaged! Yay!

And I love finishing summer conferences! I will be back in my building next Monday!

Books:

I loved The Paris Wife. I read it, then I promptly watched Midnight in Paris and bought A Moveable Feast. I just wasn’t ready to stop hearing this story.

I also read Snapper and The Cookbook Collector, both of which I enjoyed. I got a solid kick in the pants from You Are A Writer, so I wrote a lot this month as well.

My favorite book of the month, however, was Bread and Wine. In fact, this might be my favorite book of the year so far. Food-infused memoirs are my best book friends, and this one resonated with pain and joy and life and abundance and…I just want to read it over and over again and buy it for everyone I know.

I have started so many books (ten, in fact) that I hope to finish within the next couple of weeks, so I’m sure I’ll have something to say about them. A little Neruda, a little memoir, and some Blood, Bones, and Butter.

TV/Movies:

I started Season 5 of Doctor Who. I know Matt Smith is the Doctor, and he’s good at it, and he brings his own special something to the role. But did anyone else just keep waiting for the moment when he turned back into David Tennant? No? Just me, then? Okay. Never mind. I’ll just be over here, wearing my “I ❤ David Tennant” sandwich board.

Then She Found Me was a cute movie. I also heart Colin Firth.

Then I stopped watching Dr. Who because, again – why bother when there’s no David Tennant? – but also because someone sent me this video, forcing me to immediately go back and re-watch all of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Such a good show.

And I know this is not a TV show or anything, but the Hump Day camel is my dad’s favorite commercial. You should see how he acts when it comes on.

Food:

Breakfast quinoa, specifically with good maple syrup and blueberries, is pretty much my favorite thing right now. It’s so delicious.

This cobbler was a big hit with Michelle, Tammy, and Matt. It was a big hit with me, too. I love peach cobbler, especially with peaches from Mom and Dad’s trees. Also…bourbon.

July always seems to be pie month (observe from back in the day). I made three different pies this month – strawberry rhubarb with gin in the crust, blueberry pie, and icebox lemonade-coconut milk pie, which turned out a little weird but still good, on account-a the coconut.

Pampered Chef’s Raspberry Habanero Sauce as a salad dressing. I can’t even…I’m getting teary just thinking about how amazing this was. I can hook you up if you want to experience it for yourself.

And the Twitter just informed me of something else I need to make immediately. Homemade honeycomb, dipped in chocolate!?!? WHAT?!?!?! I NEED IT!!!

The Intrawebs:

Clearly, this month I’ve gone from occasionally seeing Joy the Baker repinned on Pinterest to following everything she does online. I’m going to have to take up running again. Maybe kickboxing, as I can do that inside and thus avoid risking heat stroke. At any rate, something will have to be done to counteract this sudden spike in calories.

In other late-to-the-party news, I love Feminist Taylor Swift.

And I have loved Grumpy Cat since the beginning. But this one makes me laugh and laugh. And laugh and laugh. And…well, you get it.