Nibby Priest -Life On Purpose

Living at Mile Marker 803.9 of the Ohio River in Downtown Henderson KY

Happy 13th Birthday River Priest

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River Priest Today (January 16, 2010) is my one and only nephew River Thomas Priest, 13th birthday.  

Happy Birthday River and welcome to pre-adulthood (aka teen-ager). Yes, I have a niece –Sister Kally-and more on her later.

I can’t begin to describe what a blessing this special boy (now a teenager) continues to be.  He’s a sweet, compassionate and caring kid.  Although I don’t want time to fly by I can’t wait to see what he is going to do during his adulthood.  He is a one of a kind blessing to others.

One of my most favorite stories I love to tell about River come from a trip that Greg and I took him and his sister Kally on Spring break 2009 to St Louis Missouri .  

We were walking in the downtown area towards the St Louis Cardinals Baseball Stadium for a moment, I lost eye contact with River and looked to see what he was doing.  I looked back and River and was giving money to a stranger, a homeless beggar.  He did it totally on his own.  Not asking permission, not telling what he was doing- he just did it!

What an altruistic act  for a then 12 year old.  He is just like that.  He gave without thinking.  He didn’t try to reason in his mind before the giving act- what was the beggar was going to do with these coins- he just gave because he felt the man’s need.  River has a spirit we all need to have!  

Many times in my life I have often used the excuse before giving to someone “They are just going to buy more alcohol or drugs with that money” and I did not give.   I have learned (thanks Pastor Tim) we have to give unconditionally.  Thanks River for showing us all that too!

River & Nibby Priest Today’s Grace for the Moment sends me to Galatians 6:4 “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.”  River is on to doing just that.  God never prefabs or mass-produces people.  He makes all things new.   God didn’t hand you (River) your family’s bag or your parent’s life; he personally and deliberately packed YOU!  So make a deliberate exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and sink yourself into doing just that! 

Lori and Neal (my one and only brother) have done a great job raising a special young man River Thomas Priest!

I love you River!

Uncle Nibby

Mezzaluna Poppy Seed Dressing

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mezzThe recipe for a deliciously sweet dressing for baby spinach, mixed salad greens or fresh fruit.

Personally, I think it is best with spinach, mandarin oranges, sliced toasted almonds and a thinly sliced red onion.

1.5 Cups of White Vinegar
1.5 Cups Sugar
3 tablespoons poppy seed
1 tsp salt
tablespoon dry mustard (a powder)
1 tablespoon graded white onion

Mix all ingredients above together in Blender
Blend in slowly 3 cups of Canola Oil

This recipe makes a lot, but will be consumed quickly.

Mezzaluna was a restaurant on the riverfront in downtown Henderson KY owned by Diane Utley.  Mezzaluna opened it November of 1994 and closed the last of September 1999.

All my life I appreciated great food from a mother who cooked three meals a day.  But it wasn’t until Diane Utley opened Mezzaluna in 1994 that I became a total foodie.

Diane taught me that good food does not have to be fussy or complicated to be good.  Oh how Henderson Kentucky was blessed to have Mezzaluna for those few short years.

Diane and Mezzaluna introduced me to many foods that have become staples in my cuisine.  Some of them are:

*Chicken Marbella
*Beef Medallions
*Chicken Marsala
*Crab Cakes
*Merlot Wine (GiGi Diane’s mother really taught me that)
*Pesto and all the wonderful things you can do with pesto
*Mixed Greens (probably in 1994 it was the first time I saw them)
*Black Bean Salad

Since Mezzaluna closed there has been no other restaurant in Henderson Kentucky that served up the kind and quality of food that Mezzaluna did.

What was your favorite thing to eat at Mezzaluna’s ?

Cynthia Clawson "Ain’t It The Gospel Truth"

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With out a doubt  Cynthia Clawson is my favorite gospel singer and “Ain’t It The Gospel Truth” is my favorite of her songs!

The words are like this:

“Ain’t it The Gospel Truth that God still loves you!  and if you need more proof just look to Jesus and I believe you will see what perfect love can do ain’t it the gospel truth. 

Oh what a statement.

In the early 1980’s late 1970’s my growing up church youth puppet team had a puppet named "Betty" that sang to this song (Ain’t It The Gospel Truth).  The puppet was an African American puppet.  :)  (oh we didn’t know better)

It was so funny. It was as just about as close to "getting down" then youth (1977-1982) could do and get by with it in church.

Cynthia just re-released this entire Album “It Was His Love” recently.  This is one album that I know every word to every song.  As I listen to the words some 30 years later I realize how much ahead of her time Cynthia really was.

Listen and enjoy this song in this video below.  Cynthia wasn’t happy about how the song turned out so she made her backup singers and  the  accompanist do it over.  You get the song twice in this video.  I didn’t think the first one was bad at all, but then again,  I really enjoy the words Cynthia Clawson.

It’s hard to believe Cynthia is 61 (2009) years old.   Her words, melodies and legacy will always be special to me.

What is your favorite song Cynthia Clawson sings?