Show & Tell Friday: the Southern Edition (with November Quotes)

I hope everyone had a fun, safe and festive Halloween last night!

Some good stuff to share to welcome November:

1.) Divided and United: the Songs of the Civil War

On Nov. 5th, ATO records is releasing Divided and United: the Songs of the Civil War, an album of 32 Civil War-era songs (both Confederate and Union) sung by contemporary bluegrass and country artists. I stumbled upon this album over at Garden & Gun magazine. The artists included reads like a list of greats, and up-and-comers: Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, Loretta Lynn, Ralph Stanley, Vince Gill, Steve Earle, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Lee Ann Womack, T Bone Burnett, Taj Mahal, and more.

Hearing these songs, sung by these artists in particular, makes the music seem fresh--and the longing, joy and sorrow, bravado and bravery that moves through each tune is instantly recognizable. Karen Elson and The Secret Sisters, particularly, sing a haunting version of "Dixie" in a way I've never heard before. I plan to purchase the CD, and listen to it while I type away at one of my works-in-progress. (Notice I said "type away." I'm an optimist.)

It doesn't matter if you're a Civil War buff. If you are, you'll adore this album. But if you aren't, there's no way to hear these ballads, sung by these particular people, without being moved. It's a reminder of how close we came to destroying the dreams of our forefathers and foremothers, to ending in a bonfire of tragedy the great "American experiment." After all, the Civil War (or the War Between the States, as it's called where I'm from) was only 153 years ago. And that's nothing in the grand scheme of time.

To listen to Divided and United in its entirety, click here.

 
2.) The Southerner's Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life

I swear, Garden & Gun magazine isn't paying me for the advertising. They're welcome to, though. Curated by the editors of the magazine, the book's a compilation of stories, essays, and instructions on how to get the most out of all aspects of Southern life: sport, drink, food, literature, home and garden, music, art and more. I've not read it, but I've become a fan of G&G despite the fact that from their ad pages I can tell some of their readers exist in a financial stratosphere I'll never see. Mainly, I read it because of the stellar writing, and so I'm adding the book it to my Christmas wish list.
 
 
3.) "10 Hilarious Southern Expressions"

This article over at HuffPost Books reveals 10 of the funniest Southern expressions I've ever heard, and growing up in South Carolina and now living in the mountains of North Carolina, I've heard a lot. Most I've actually used. It's a quick, enjoyable read. I dare you-- especially those of you from above the Mason Dixon line, to use one in conversation today. Just for the heck of it. And I want to hear about what happens!
 

4.) Quotes to welcome November

No, this has nothing to do with the South, but I love me some quotations. And since it's the 1st day of November, for your reading pleasure:

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."
~ H.U. Westermayer

Some hae meat and canna eat, -
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.
~ Robert Burns

"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls."  ~ Aesop

“October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces.”
~ J.K. Rowling, from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix    
 
“But there is always a November space after the leaves have fallen when she felt it was almost indecent to intrude on the woods … for their glory terrestrial had departed and their glory celestial of spirit and purity and whiteness had not yet come upon them.”
~ L.M. Montgomery, from Anne of Windy Poplars 
   
Over the river and through the wood
to grandfather's house we go;
the horse knows the way
to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow
~ Lydia Maria Child, Thanksgiving Day, 1845

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice."
~ Meister Eckhart

A Little Steel Magnolias for Your Thanksgiving

So, it's Thanksgiving Week. A time for gratefulness. A time for family. A time for laughing at (I mean with!) family.

One of my favorite movie "families" has to be the cast of ladies from Steel Magnolias.

Without a doubt, some of the movie world's best one-liners come from that iconic Southern movie.

Allow me to share:

"He so confused, he doesn't know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt."
"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize."
"Miss Truvy, I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair."
"The nicest thing I can say about her is that all her tattoos are spelled correctly."
"Men. You can't live with 'em, and you can't shoot 'em."

And those, my friends, are only a few. Nearly every line of that movie is perfection. Not to mention populated by some of the finest, most talented actresses around, including the incomparable Dolly Parton.

I was reminded of Steel Magnolias yesterday, when I finally had a moment to dip into my December/January issue of Garden & Gun magazine. I love this magazine. I've mentioned this before. Mostly, it's because of the writing.

Page 33 immediately caught my eye. "Man of Steel: The untold story of Steel Magnolias," read the title, and after noticing the byline was the wry Julia Reed's, I read on.

It's an interview with Robert Harling, who wrote the original stage play "Steel Magnolias." I'd no idea one of my favorite movies began as a play! The story is based on his life in Natichoches, Louisiana, and about losing his sister. And the movie was actually shot in his hometown--as Harling says, "... in the houses and churches with the family and friends who inspired it in the background."

It's a fabulous interview, full of Harling's anecdotes about filming, about the actors (he and Dolly apparently rode around town in search of the best fried okra). But what I found most incredible are Harling's observations on the Southern women in his life, on whom the play was based. It's totally worth checking out.   

I advise buying the whole issue. But thankfully, Garden & Gun has posted the interview in its entirety online:

http://gardenandgun.com/article/interview-robert-harling

So as we all head out to be with our own crazy, wonderful families this week--or, heavens to Betsy, have them come to us--here's a chance to laugh. Laugh and be thankful that we've got each other.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!