Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair August 2015 "Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." -- John Barrymore. Here is a happy thing: Beginning a feature article to highlight persons in Art, Music, and/or Crafts has been on the back burner for awhile. This month puts the spotlight on Phil Hennessy, one of our long time friends and regular contributors of quality reading material in this ezine. Plans include frequent presentations of other outstanding artists in their various fields, and gives your editor a chance to expand the informational and educational quality of Pencil Stubs Online, while having fun doing it. Thomas F. O'Neill ("Introspective") put together a lesson plan for his students in Suzhou International Foreign Language School in Suzhou, China. The class is designed to show how religiously diverse America is and how freedom of religion is an important part of our American culture. Mattie Lennon ("Irish Eyes") shares details from Listowel's annual literary event, and adds some fun from the Hillbilly Tractor Run, the second year for the event. The Cooking Column now has a new author, Roderick Cohenour. Rod, as he prefers, has enjoyed culinary arts for many years, beginning at a tender age, but we'll let him tell about that. He brings us the How to for one of his specialties: Rod's Stacked Puerco Adovada Enchiladas. We will be looking for the return of Nancy Park and John Blair, both who let us know Summer activities were at the top of their priorities for the August issue, but expect to be refreshed and ready for writing soon. Blair, who wears many hats though basically retired, stays busy but managed to send us this poignant poem, "Vacant." Reminded your editor of seeing her grandparents former home space. Bud Lemire's six poems are: "Love Beyond Compare," "Blowing Bubbles," "Childhood Memories," "Make It Your Own," "What You Deserve,"and "The 4th of July". Bruce Clifford shared "Summer Has Come," "Have You Given Up On Me," "Event Horizon," and "Where Are We Now." Mark Crocker penned an elegant tribute to his grandfather, "For My Gramps" after the recent loss. Frank Ponsford had achieved the venerable age of 100yrs 3 months and 2 days. Rebecca Morris' serial "The Adventures of Ollie Dare" continues with Chapter 4 "Ollie-Dare Meets Samual The Balloonist" for this issue. Share this with your reading youngsters. Thanks again to Mike Craner for his expertise and patience that allows this little ezine to continue its mission of encouraging writers, experienced and beginners, and to promote reading. TV has done a lot to discourage reading as a pastime, but we are holding fast. Click on author's byline for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online. This issue appears in the ezine at www.pencilstubs.com and also in the blog www.pencilstubs.net with the capability of adding comments at the latter.

By Rod Cohenour

Food! Glorious food!

One of my earliest memories was following my mother and Louella around the kitchen. At first, it was strictly to get the opportunity to be the resident "taster." But then on my eighth birthday I asked Louella if she was going to make my favorite birthday cake - Chocolate Raspberry Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting. Much to my surprise, she said, "No. You are going to make your cake." 

She smiled at me, set me upon her lap and said, "Ole Louella ain't gonna be around forever, child. You need to learn how to cook for yourself and we're going to start now." 

That was the beginning of my lifelong love affair with food preparation. 

For me the spicier, the better. Growing up in New Mexico it's easy to understand why my favorite cuisines are Nuevo Mexico, Mexican, Tex-Mex and the like. But I also adore Italian, Cajun, Thai, Chinese, and of course All American dishes such as barbecue - brisket, ribs, kabobs, grilled delights.

I have a lot of wonderful recipes that I have obtained from the wonderful cross section of people that I have been blessed to know over my lifetime. I look forward to sharing some of them with you with the hope that you will have as much enjoyment in preparing food with family and friends as I have over the years. 

Bon appetit!

Rod's Stacked Puerco Adovada Enchiladas

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless pork ribs, lean part cubed (about 1/2" cubes)
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 3 Tbsp ground cumin (reserve 1 Tbsp)
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp Mexican oregano, ground (reserve 1 Tbsp)
• 1 pkg. (14.5 oz.) frozen red New Mexico Chile (hot or mild, your choice)
• 14.5 oz. Water
• 1 tsp all purpose flour
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 12 fresh flour tortillas
• 2 Tbsp Chile powder

How To

Prepare cubed pork. Whisk together dry spices and Chile powder. Add to bowl of pork cubes, tossing with hands to ensure all surfaces are coated.

Heat vegetable oil in skillet. Add pork cubes and saute until browned on all sides.

In large bowl place frozen red Chile and equal amount of water. Add reserved cumin and oregano. Add flour and minced garlic. Whisk, bring to boil, lower heat and simmer about 20-30 minutes until flavors are blended and sauce is thickened. (Substitute corn starch for flour, if desired.)

Stage bowl of shredded cheese, bowl of diced onion and tortillas near stovetop. Add browned pork to thickened Chile sauce. Place stack of serving dishes within reach, must be oven-safe.

Heat oil in skillet. Flash fry tortillas one at a time, 2-3 seconds per side. Dip in Chile-pork mixture and put on plate. Top with onion and cheese. Spoon small bit of red Chile on top. Repeat 3-4 times per plate.

Keep plated stacked enchiladas hot in oven until ready to serve. Work quickly to prevent enchiladas from becoming greasy.

Serve with Spanish rice and refritos garnished with green onions, cilantro and shredded cheddar.

These puerco adovada estacada enchiladas may be served with crisp hot tostadas and guacamole, a chilled salad of tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, mixed greens with pico de gallo as the dressing, and a pitcher of iced tea or lemonade. Classic New Mexico cuisine. Or pico de gallo on the side and Chunky Salsa roja dressing drizzled over the salad, is good too.
  See pic below

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Irish Eyes

By Mattie Lennon

From LISTOWEL to VALLEYMOUNT

I promised you in June that I would give you an update on Listowel Writers’ Week, the greatest literary festival in Europe if not the world.
Well, where do I start?

It was opened, to a packed house at the Listowel Arms by Ireland’s Inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction, Ann Enright. Prizes were presented for categories too numerous to mention.

Christine Dwyer Hickey

Reading by such literary celebs as Christine Dwyer Hickey, (see above) Colm Toibin and Paul Durcan was an education in itself. Shows such as Celebrating Yeats 150 were not to be missed. Lunchtime drama was top rate. A couple of shows stood out.

Down and Out in London and Paris, a one-man show performed by Phelim Drew, left, son of the famous Ronnie, was a brilliant piece of theatre.

And the highlight of the evening theatre was John B. Keane’s The Year of the Hiker. The Open Door Theatre Company certainly did justice to the great Keane. Space doesn’t allow me to even touch lightly on the contributions of singer/songwriter, Declan O Rourke, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Danny O Mahoney, Diarmeid Ferriter and Michael Murphy.

It rains, even in Kerry during Writers’ Week, and along with 749 others I got wet going to see Rick O Shea’s interview with Graham Norton. The multi-talented Graham too the audience on a step-by-step account of his latest autobiographical work The Life and Loves of a He devil. It was well worth Getting soaked to the skin to attend.

The grand finale the, 22nd Healing Session in John B. Keane’s, on the Sunday was everything that one could expect as far as talent is concerned. Poets, singers and performers of all sorts were in attendance. And the host, Billy Keane was at his best. Kerry is the second most beautiful county in Ireland. Speaking of which; It’s 75 years since the sluice-gate at Poulaphuca was lowered to flood the valleys to make what is now the beautiful Blessington Lakes, in County Wicklow. Between 1938 and 1940, 76 houses were demolished, and the bridges at Humphreystown, Baltyboys and Burgage blown up, in anticipation of the flooding by the Liffey Hydro-Electric Scheme.

The Blessington Lakes

But not everybody was pleased. I told you some time ago about my own father’s approach. When the price offered for the land, by the ESB, was flatly refused by indignant landowners it went to Arbitration; the democracy of which Tim Lennon was not convinced. Years later, in a radio interview, he said, “The arbitrator was the Devil and the coort was in hell.” And now a local man has dug, from the archives, a notice of a public meeting in Valleymount, in 1936, where those affected would defend their interests.

Not everyone was pleased

The reservoir is sometimes known as "lakes" due to its shape, which arises because it lies in not one but two river valleys - that of the Liffey and, primarily, that of the King River. The King's River joined the Liffey at Inchiclare, at which point the King’s River was the larger flow, and when the Liffey was dammed downstream of the confluence, A ridge of land, on which the village of Valleymount lies, divides the “lakes”. The people are Valleymount haven’t forgotten and as part of the annual Hillbilly Festival a commemorative event was held in Valleymount on Friday 26th June. Christiaan Corlett gave a very informative talk. Christiaan is editor of Beneath the Poulaphuca Reservoir. This tome is taken from a comprehensive pre-flooding survey which was carried out in 1939. It is available from Government Publications, 51 Saint Stephens Green Dublin2. Price €35.

Irish TV 191 came out and interviewed Dick Byrne and Harry Farrington and singer/songwriter Batt Kinane played his new song Ballinahown at Humphreystown Bridge. Batt is including it on his next album due out later this year.

BALLINAHOWN
By Bat Kinane I lived in a stone cottage my family and me
Kept a few cattle and worked in the fields
one day bad news came from the ESB
they needed a reservoir for electricity

I remember the day my eye filled with tears
For the memories I had there over the years
As the water came closer I gathered my things
I left with my pony and trap for the hills

They flooded the valley in Ballinahown
and if you weren't quick you surely would drown
the ghosts of the village lie under the lake
and rest there for ever in a watery grave

I moved with my family to Ballinastockan
for work in the quarry where men cut the rock in
I made a good living I hadn't a worry
but for the loss of my home still I am sorry

There are the days when I look at the lake
Its beauty eludes me I know its man made
the memory still haunts me draws tears from my eyes
the day my home vanished as the water did rise

They flooded the valley in Ballinahown
and if you weren't quick you surely would drown
the ghosts of the village lie under the lake
and rest there for ever in a watery grave

©2015 Bat Kinane

Keep an eye on his website; www.batkinanemusic.com

Francis Duffy introduced the acts and was compere for the evening giving some historical background. The Hill family played some trad tunes on Bodhran and flute. Then the play started at 9pm. The Mary Byrne school of dancing and Laura Foster did some Sean Nos dancing. Batt Kinane then played six of his local ballads and told the stories behind them and after that a 15 minute video was played on a projector that Batt put together with footage of Boden Well from 1978 and photos from Chris Corellets book.

The Flood of the Forties, a play, about the “flooding” written by John Holmes and George Guing and directed by Maria Murphy was staged. It proved to be very moving and brought back mixed memories to many older members of the audience. This also was recorded by Irish TV.

on 3 wheels

And of course the 11th annual Hillbilly Tractor Run- for charity- was, once again, a roaring success. With all the usual terminology to be heard, “Crawlers” “Rippers” and “Drawbars” were discussed at length. “Cock-lifters” were in plentiful supply and you can bet there were a few “Fast-hitches”. And as for “Grousers” sure there’s no scarcity of them around here.


The documentary/DVD on Irish Famine Pots is almost complete and will be on sale before the end of the month.
Details from:
Irish Famine Pots
Contact: irishfaminepots@gmail.com

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Arts, Music, Crafts

By Mary E. Adair

Featuring Creative People

So many artists have appeared in our ezine through the years that it is difficult to pick out anyone who excels - but Phil Hennessy is one of them.
Phil Hennessy, aka phillipo, is a writer of poetry, music, and life experiences. A musician, in the late 1990's he belonged to, and co-established the musical group "The Common People." A cd by the same name was released by RedMan Records.

June found him honored because his poem "God Only Knows" was set to music, and as such placed Phil with the top song in the month of May on the Clay County Radio, CCR, The home of Independent Country Music Promotions ! Here is the youtube link to the song:
Link: clayscounty.com

To date, 97 of his poems have been published with us since 1998. Many of his poems have been chosen by various bands to re-present as songs. Some of his compositions began as songs. Recently Phil contacted us with the news that another poem has become recognized as a song. (See link to uTube below.)

This particular one was co-written by Darren Sims and him. He and 'Daz' also wrote "The Common People" and performed on the CD that was issued then, called, by the same title as their song.
This song by Phil and Daz, was begun by Daz while he waited for his daughter Scarlett to be born. The name "6:03" is the time when she actually arrived.

6:03

6:03, I can hardly believe,
the moment I've been waiting for, is Here
Seems to be, that some part of Me,
was knowing this sensation so clear

Who ever knew THIS kind of Love...?
Who ever knew This kind of Love...
You,
making me Sigh,
making me Cry,
Making me High

Trusting eyes, and Scarlett skies,
I hold you, in my arms, for Ever
No moatter how tears that you cry,
I won't be Leaving, you, Never.

Who ever knew THIS kind of Love...?
Who ever knew This kind of Love...
You,
making me sigh,
making me Cry,
Making me High

I'll always Love you,
Always think of you
I'll always Love you,
Always think of you
I'll always Love you,
Always

©Darren Sims and Phil Hennessy

Link for the music performance of this song 6:03 on youtube

From time to time we will feature various artists in this space, so watch for next month.

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Introspective

By Thomas F. O'Neill Every semester, I put a lesson plan together in my Cultural Diversity class at the Suzhou International Foreign Language School, here in Suzhou, China. The class is designed to show how religiously diverse America is and how freedom of religion is an important part of our American culture. Every American has the right to communicate their religious or non-religious beliefs it has become an intricate part of our American heritage. The majority of Americans are in fact Christians but the United States is not a Christian Nation. Our country is religiously diverse a microcosm of people representing every man-made religion throughout the world. It has been estimated that there are approximately 100 million Christians living in China. But the Chinese government has given many people the impression that it’s pro-Buddhism. The Chinese are well aware that for thousands of years Buddhism has been interwoven into China’s rich cultural heritage. The Chinese government does not want its citizens to lose their cultural heritage from western influences. Most of China’s tourist destinations have Buddhist temples as part of their attraction designed to draw in the tourists. On the other hand, Christian churches are restricted from being erected near those tourist sites. This has caused some tensions in China among Christian fundamentalists who feel their being persecuted by China’s pro-Buddhist attitudes’. Some human rights activists backed by various Christian denominations, claim that the Chinese Government is running a campaign to strip Christian churches of their crosses. They proclaim in their literature that 1,200 churches in the Zhejiang province in eastern China had their crosses removed by the Chinese government. By their estimates, China is home to 100 million Christians, compared with the Communist party’s 88 million members. Those same human rights activists believe China’s communist party perceives the growth of Christianity as a threat. However, Buddhism is the most favored religion in China, favored by both the Chinese people and by the Chinese government. This has not stopped Christian leaders from filing complaints with the Zhejiang Province’s ‘Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau’. They claim hundreds of places of worship have had bright red crosses removed. Some churches have been completely demolished, while civil servants have been banned from practicing their Christian faith. Those same Christian leaders suspect that the anti-Christian campaign has the backing of the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and could be a “pilot project” before a nationwide crackdown. Officials from Zhejiang’s ‘Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau’ responded to the complaints. Stating the government had “merely relocated the crosses out of safety concerns”. “Generally speaking, the church staff and people are very supportive [of the removals],” an official added. Christian communities both protestant and Catholic are extremely angry over the removal of the crosses. A group of Catholic clergy – including an 89-year-old bishop – took to the streets to protest. “What they are doing feels like something from the Cultural Revolution era,” complained one religious leader from Zhejiang. Catholic leaders have also circulated an open letter claiming the removals of crosses from churches have gotten “completely out of control”. The letter went on to say, “our diocese has been patient and reasonable – again and again we have shown tolerance, prayed, communicated and observed, hoping that the haze would clear.” “But they have not stopped. Rather, they have escalated the campaign and have rushed to attack the cross, the symbol of peace and love,” the letter said. Addressing China’s Christian population, the letter concluded: “Let us speak out.” A five-story church in the city of Wenling was demolished recently; the government claims the Church was demolished voluntarily. A government report states, “the church had expanded without going through the proper approval process.” The report also goes on to say, “the building not only affected city planning but also posed a severe threat to road safety.” Christian leaders are also claiming that the Chinese government’s “anti-church” campaign has gotten so far out of hand that government officials’ are deploying groups of incense-burning Buddhist monks to “provoke” Christians who are trying to defend their cross. Protestant ministers are complaining also they believe Chinese officials’ – by sending monks to chant sutras in front of Protestant Churches is nothing more than a ploy to get Christian congregations riled up. One Christian fundamentalist stated, “they’re trying to make us angry so that we retaliate against them.” I tell my students that I’m not a religious person and I don’t particularly believe in religion. But we all can learn a great deal from Buddhism it has intrigued me for many years. I understand why the Chinese government would endorse the Buddhist belief system - over all other religious beliefs and practices. Buddhism after all is ingrained in China’s culture and heritage. For many in China, especially, among the youth, Buddhism is more of an intellectual pursuit rather than a religious practice. The majority of the Chinese do not have fundamentalist attitudes when it comes to religion. That is a good thing because I for one would not want to live in a theocracy. I like to tell my students, - fundamentalism in any form is dangerous - it forces ill-willed people to live their lives ignorantly due to a lack of spiritual insight and a narrow minded belief system. You can find these extremists in every religion throughout history. Religion is shaped by one's parents and by their parents' parents, but our spirituality is what we are born with. Spirituality is the spark, the essence, and the spirit that sustains us and all things. It's beyond rituals and religious symbols because it's the core of our existence. True spirituality is the torch that lights the way not religious principles that are imposed or mandated on others. It is lived and expressed freely in ones character for others to emulate and embrace. Growing up as an American, I recognize the importance of having a separation of church and state in our democracy. Americans can worship as they choose without government intrusions. That is certainly a good thing for our democratic way of life. America is far from being perfect but it has always been a beacon of light for people throughout the world. People from all parts of the globe have sought to come to America. They do so in order to emulate and embrace our American way of life and that is why I’m proud to be an American. Always with love from Suzhou, China Thomas F O’Neill U.S. voice mail: (800) 272-6464 China Cell: 011-86-15114565945 Skype: thomas_f_oneill Email: introspective7@hotmail.com Other articles, short stories, and commentaries by Thomas F. O'Neill can be found on his award winning blog, Link: http://thomasfoneill.blogspot.com Click on author's byline for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.