Reaping What We Sow

by Jimmy Johnson

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(Cartoonist’s note: I’m repeating another post today, from 10 years ago. It’s a busy week, and I’m doing this instead of simply skipping a day, as is my wont. I do go to some length to show you something I consider worthwhile.)

I don’t know about the rest of the country, but the American south not long ago was littered with what were generically known as “sewing plants.” It wouldn’t be much of an exaggeration to say most towns had one, an almost invisible manufacturing facility tucked away in a second- or thirdhand warehouse where an endless array of sewn goods, from baseball caps to shirts to throw pillows, were produced. Mostly women worked in these places, for not much money, but the plants did provide a significant number of jobs in a lot of towns. We’re not talking long ago, but sewing plants are mostly gone now, to other countries. I don’t know the moral of this story, but I do know having a low-paying, unappreciated job does not mean it won’t be taken away from you.

(addendum: There was a sewing plant in an old cotton warehouse, visible from my front porch. About the time I originally posted the above , it closed. A few years later, the roof fell in. A couple of years ago, they tore it down. I guess I get my ideas on my front porch.)
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71 responses to “Reaping What We Sow”

  1. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    aGot my shipment of books from Goodwill yesterday. Besides the Li’l Abner, there was a collection of Beetle Bailey’s first two years. There was a good quote from Mort Walker on the first page: “The comics medium is fantastic…you have a piece of paper, some empty panels, a pencil, an eraser…and a healthy dose of imagination! You don’t need more. Then you rule the world with the help of all your characters…”

    Does that sound right, Jimmy?

  2. Symply Avatar
    Symply

    In my haste I had been reading of the demise of the village, yet here I return and many of the normal denizen/citizens are still Symply here and posting. So happy I have a place on the interwebnet to skulk, lurk and post with familiar friends. This is still the Fargone place to be. Have a great week all of you.

    @Jackie n Ghost,

    Glad to see you guys are still eating, had missed posts on FB and was missing and worried about you guys.

    Regards to all the gents and ladies I’ve come to know here in this genial reserve JJ has created…the most peaceful, least divisive participatory blog I have ever encountered. Credit to us all…

  3. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Symply, good to hear from you. I don’t think the Village is dead, but more dormant and waiting on some topic to stimulate a broader range of response. Too bad, because Jimmy has given us some good material.

  4. emb Avatar
    emb

    I’m going to be at a Summer Theology Workshop, with iffy wi.fi [learned elsewhere that FDR coined or at least popularized iffy, and that the great Warren G. Harding coined, popularized more terms than most other prexxies. Yay! Harding.] Will be back if appropriate and if iffy wi.fi cooperates.

    STW doings would make great copy, but most of it would be verboten here. Looks like rain for the drive down there, but it’s a highlight of my summer.

    Peace,

  5. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    emb:

    And I found out the other day that Wi-Fi is (or used to be) a trademarked name and that it was an invented, such as Kodak and Camaro.

    Before, I thought that it might have meant “Wire Fidelity,” but it does not.

  6. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Thanks, Rick. I didn’t know that. After reading your post, I looked up Wi-Fi online, and Wikipedia says it is still a trademarked name.

  7. TruckerRon Avatar

    Even better — it’s a pun!

    Phil Belanger, a founding member of the Wi-Fi Alliance who presided over the selection of the name “Wi-Fi”, has stated that Interbrand invented Wi-Fi as a pun upon the word hi-fi.

  8. emb Avatar
    emb

    Elohim is letting Thor take over for my drive S. 90% tunnerboomies at least through Motley [where I will buy a smoked “goldie” (= whitefish) at Morey’s on the way home. By the time I reach Koronis Assembly Grds., it should be better. I have a Kodachrome [sob] of Elaine sitting at one of the picnic tables “down at Morey’s.” Don’t know if the New Haven Morey’s still exists. I know Theodore Zinck’s in Ithaca does not. One [probably long since forgotten] Cornell song says, “… Those days were the best I have known.” Mine started there. Peace,

  9. emb Avatar
    emb

    It’s Mory’s in New Haven, & seems to be a private dining club where the Wiffenpoofs [stupid speelczech] still sometimes sing. YU is smack in the middle of a port city. Think I prefer high above Cayuga’s waters. BTW, that’s ay, as in cay, not igh as in kite.

    https://www.yelp.com/biz/morys-association-new-haven

    Peace,

  10. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Words on teaching from a former cartoonist:

    https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35043510_901650646703361_167213947395506176_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=efcd390b4cffc6285fc5080f186606a3&oe=5BA9214C

    By Jake Vest, who used to do the comic That’s Jake and who wrote a column for the Orlando Sentinel. He took up teaching elementary school and recently retired from that.

  11. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    The commenter got it wrong – they look like tan peas.
    There are 75 acres out our back door.

  12. Judy in Conroe Avatar
    Judy in Conroe

    As usual I’m late in reading the posts – but here in SE Texas we eat a lot of TexMex and I grew up in Oklahoma so I know how Ghost and Jackie must be missing it. So here’s a recipe for Mexicali Stew from the Better Homes and Gardens “Eating Healthy Cookbook” that will calm the cravings, and have enough leftovers so you can skip cooking the next day.

    Mexicali Stew (I have to watch my salt intake, so sodium content is listed)

    ¾ lb lean boneless stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces (165 mg sodium)
    ½ c. chopped onion (80 mg sodium)
    1 clove garlic, minced
    1 tsp. cooking oil (I usually just spray the pan with Pam)
    2 14½ – oz cans sodium reduced or no salt added tomatoes, cut up, undrained (175 mg sodium)
    1 Tbsp chili powder (get the chili powder that does not have salt)
    1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
    ½ tsp. ground cumin
    ¼ tsp. salt (omit)
    ¼ tsp. pepper
    1 15 oz. can chick peas (garbanzo beans), undrained (low sodium = 875 mg)
    2 large carrots, cut into ½-inch pieces
    1 4 oz can diced chili peppers, undrained (add some jalapeno if you want more heat) (262.5 mg)
    1 10 oz package frozen whole kernel corn, or 1 can no salt added whole corn, drained (50 mg)
    ½ c shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz) (350 mg or about 45 mg per Tablespoon)
    2 Tbsp. snipped parsley or cilantro

    In a large kettle or Dutch oven cook beef, onion and garlic in hot oil until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.

    Stir in undrained tomatoes, chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat, then simmer, covered, for about 1 hour.

    Stir in undrained chick peas, carrots and diced chilis. Return to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer, covered for about 30 minutes more.

    Stir in corn. Cook, covered, for a few minutes (for canned corn) up to about 15 minutes (for frozen corn) until meat and vegetables are tender and corn is heated through. Serve in bowls with cheese and parsley sprinkled on top. Makes 6 servings. Freezes well.

    Nutritional content per serving (without toppings):
    Calories: 283 Vitamin A: RDA 91%
    Protein: 21 g; RDA 32% Vitamin C: RDA 101%
    Carbohydrates: 33 g Thiamine: RDA 11%
    Fat: 9 g Riboflavin: RDA 15%
    Cholesterol: 44 g Niacin: RDA 21%
    Sodium: 495 g. Calcium: RDA 18%
    (Omit salt, use no-salt chili powder and no salt added canned goods for tomatoes, chick peas and corn and sodium reduces to 270 mg per 1 c. serving. Top with 1 T shredded cheese for 315 mg per serving)
    Potassium: 768 g Iron: RDA 30%

  13. Llee Avatar

    Judy, that sounds great. Ad in some cornbread and mmmmmmmmmmmm.

  14. Judy in Conroe Avatar
    Judy in Conroe

    Here’s another TexMex recipe that is not as healthy, but takes a lot less time to cook

    Enchilada Casserole

    Adapted from Taste of Home

    1 lb ground beef
    ½ onion, chopped (I usually use less ground beef, about 3/4 lb and a lot more onion)
    1 can Enchilada sauce (use the spicy variety if you like more heat)
    1 8oz can tomato sauce
    1 tsp. oregano
    1 tsp. marjoram
    1 tsp. rosemary (or thyme)
    1 can corn (drained)
    Grated cheese
    2 large flour tortillas

    Brown ground beef with onions in 2 qt. pan. Drain fat. Add ½ can of Enchilada sauce, ½ can of tomato sauce and spices. Mix well and remove from heat. Mix remaining sauces in the Enchilada sauce can and reserve.

    Top mixture with a layer of grated cheese. Cut tortillas to fit pan and layer on top of mixture & cheese. Add a layer of grated cheese. Pour mixed sauces over top of casserole.

    Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Serve. Makes 4 – 6 servings.

  15. Judy in Conroe Avatar
    Judy in Conroe

    Another faster but not so healthy TexMex style recipe

    Wolf Cornbread Chili Casserole

    1 box (8.5 oz) corn muffin mix
    2 eggs, beaten
    1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with peppers, drained
    ½ c. sour cream
    2 Tbsp. sugar
    PAM no stick cooking spray
    1 can (15 oz) Wolf brand mild chili
    ¼ c. diced green chilies
    ¼ c. sliced black olives
    2 Tbsp. chopped red onion
    1 c. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

    Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

    In medium bowl, combine corn muffin mix with eggs, corn, sour cream and sugar; mix well. Spray bottom of 8x8x2 in baking dish with PAM; spread cornbread mixture in the bottom of the dish. In separate bowl, combine chili with green chilies, olives and onions. Spoon chili mixture over cornbread to within ½ inch of sides of pan. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 35 minutes or until bubbly and edges are browned. (Chili will be runny in the middle)

    Serves 6

    (my husband is not fond of olives, so I usually omit those)

  16. Llee Avatar

    I may have to cook this week. 🙂

  17. Judy in Conroe Avatar
    Judy in Conroe

    Thanks Lee, for your comment. Enjoy the TexMex!

  18. Mark in TTown Avatar
  19. Ruth Anne in Winter Park Avatar
    Ruth Anne in Winter Park

    Galiglo announced on FB that she has a new great-grandbaby!

  20.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Thanks Judy. We will try them. I am cooking tonight, my turn. I am ashamed of my failed effort last night. Something I have never done before. The meat was bad and I didnt realize. Cooked beautiful smoghered pork chops in mushrooms to find out inedible.

  21. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Judy: Seconding Jackie’s thanks for the recipes. I just printed them for her, and we will be trying them soonest. She guesses she will like the Mexicali Stew best, and I think the Enchilada Casserole will be a winner, also.