Annie and Mazzy Have a New Home!

Beverly's beloved Yorkies, Annie and Mazzy, have a new home.  They will be living in Danville on five acres with a fenced yard an a Yorkie sister to keep them company.  Their new parents are school bus drivers, so they'll have the next couple of weeks to get full-time snuggles.  This is the picture that made the couple fall in love with the girls :)  I know Beverly would be thrilled that they are going to a loving home together, and that they will be pampered nearly as much there as they were with her.  Merry Christmas, and hug your loved ones tight - furry and non-furry!  Angie

A Celebration of Beverly's Life

I wish all of you could have been there for Beverly's memorial service Saturday.  In a way, you all were.  Beverly's pastor, Scott, must have spent the entire week between her death and her funeral reading her blog.  He said that in many ways she'd written her own eulogy with the scriptures she selected each week for her "Saints and Scripture Sundays" posts.  He read comments from readers he'd found on her blog as well as emails readers from around the country had sent to him.

Edie's good friend Scotty made this beautiful arrangement for the altar.  I wish my photography skills were better so that you could see that the arrangement includes not only lilies and roses, but kale, one of Beverly's favorite vegetables to cook with :) And yes, her urn is a covered casserole dish - what could be more appropriate for a food blogger?

These were the pictures we had on display of Bev from childhood through adulthood.  The one in the center is her senior portrait and the black and white ones are from when she was crowned Prom Queen.

 Here's the altar with everything in place, including her picture from the blog, her leather vest from the Harley-Davidson 'Bike Week" in Daytona, and a sign that hung on her front door reading "How can I miss you if you won't go away?"  The church was decorated beautifully for Christmas, and the pews were full of people who loved her.

 Scott had the brilliant idea of creating his own version of "prayer cards" for Beverly.  The backs didn't have prayers on them, though - they had recipes.  There were four different recipes, and once people realized that not everyone had the same recipe there was a bit of a scuffle as women made sure they had one of each.  The recipes included were for Hot Mess Brownies, Hoppin' John Savannah Style, Hot Brown Panini, and Turnip and Potato Soup. David Biddle was mentioned specifically in the Turnip and Potato Soup recipe, and he played and sang two lovely hymns for us with his autoharp, speaking briefly about Beverly in between.  It was heartfelt and beautiful.

After the service it was standing room only downstairs where the ladies of the church had put together a spread of food unlike anything you'll ever experience outside a funeral at a small Southern church.  At the far end of the table you'll see Scoot, the pastor, and his wife.  If you're looking for a church filled with loving people and led by a practical, charming, and devout pastor (and you live somewhere within driving distance of the Fayette/Bourbon County line in Kentucky) check out Old Union Christian Church at 11 a.m. on any Sunday.  I guarantee your soul will be nourished.  It's at 6856 Russell Cave Rd, and you can call (859) 293-6192 if you need directions ;)  Mention you came because of Beverly's blog and you're sure to get some good "Beverly stories" - there are plenty to go around.  I'll be sharing more over on my own blog, The Jammie Girl.  Angie

Saying Goodbye to Beverly

I am so sad to tell you that Beverly passed away Thursday the 6th.  She died peacefully in her sleep.  I was blessed to be able to spend the last few days of her life with her, and for most of that time she was coherent and was her usual funny, irreverent self.  She enjoyed hearing the blog comments and emails I read to her.

I gathered a few mementos I found in the house while looking for things that were important to Beverly near the end, including her baton from when she was a majorette (she was also Prom Queen) and a motorcycle vest from the Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson Bikers' club to which she belonged.  A patch on the front reads "I'm perfect just the way I am."

When we met with Beverly's pastor, Scott, in preparation for his composition of her eulogy we laughed and cried and told "Beverly stories" for two hours.  My favorite story, though, was Scott's.  He said that when he told his daughter of Beverly's passing a deeply spiritual women (but, obviously, one who had never met Beverly) was standing nearby and said, "Now she's singing with the angels."  Scott's quick response was, "No, she's probably having a cigarette and telling God what she's cooking for supper."  That is Beverly in a nutshell.

Thank you all so much for your comments, your emails, your thoughts and prayers.  We have all lost someone special, whether we knew her through her blog or "in real life" as we bloggers say.  Every time you cook one of Beverly's recipes think of her and smile.  She'd like that.  Special thanks go to Joyce at October Farm, who I know grieves for Beverly with her whole heart.

For those of you who live near Lexington, Kentucky and would like to attend her memorial service here are the details:

Saturday, December 15th

Old Union Christian Church

6856 Russell Cave Rd.

Lexington, KY 40511

Visitation 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Memorial service at 4:00 p.m.

Supper to follow in the church basement

If you need directions or have something special about Beverly you'd like Scott to include in her eulogy he can be reached at OldUnion@earthlink.net.  And if you do come it's likely you'll get to meet David Biddle, who grew nearly all the vegetables Beverly cooked with.  Rumor has it David may even sing.  You'll probably also meet Betty Rose and Louise Charles.  And you will certainly eat a delicious meal, because the ladies of Old Union will be pulling out all the stops and making their best dishes for Beverly, as is only right and proper.  The food for her funeral was one of the few details Beverly was willing to discuss - a food blogger to the end!

A memorial fund has been established in Beverly's honor through Traditional Bank in Paris.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the fund with checks being made payable to Larry Swetnam with "Beverly's Memorial Fund" on the subject line or on a note enclosed with the donation.  Their address is 3333 Lexington Rd., Paris, KY 40362. Please mark the envelope "ATTN: Cecilia".  And thank you, Cecilia, for helping us set this up for Beverly when we were too overwhelmed to think clearly.  ~Angie

Beverly is at home with Hospice.

Beverly has been home for a few days under Hospice care.  She decided against a feeding tube, and for a hospital bed.  Either my Dad or his wife, Edie, have been with her constantly since she came home.  As soon as I'm done with a test of my own I couldn't reschedule tomorrow morning I'm heading to Lexington, and I'll pass along all your wonderful comments if Edie hasn't already read them to her.

I'll also pass along all the hugs.  She's taking pain medicine around the clock to stay comfortable and is sleeping much of the time, but when she's awake she's her usual self :)

Thank you all again for all your thoughts and prayers.  Hug someone you love today and tell them how much they mean to you in case you don't have the opportunity tomorrow.  Angie

The Latest From The Back Porch

Beverly is still in the hospital, so she asked me to fill you all in.  There's no more chemo planned for the immediate future, and no PEG tube, either.  Her hospitalist, oncologist, and palliative care doctor are working together to improve her nutritional status and make her more comfortable so that she can come home to these two adorable pups:

Thanksgiving day, after visiting Beverly, we took Annie and Mazzie down to their Mama's house for a short visit and a photo shoot.  They weren't particularly cooperative, but at least you can see how adorable they are!  Hopefully this is the view Beverly will soon be seeing as she heads home:

She is exhausted, and has asked to limit her hospital visitors to family only for right now, and her immunosupressed status keeps her from receiving flowers, but she has loved the cards so many of you have sent, and the blog comments I have passed along.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Angie

An Update From the Back Porch

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

~Isaiah 41:10

This is Angie, Beverly’s niece, posted on her behalf.  I know many of her faithful followers have been wondering why they haven’t seen any new recipes for a while.

Beverly is quite ill.  She has non-small-cell lung cancer, which is treatable, but not curable.  She is exhausted, and the road ahead is hard.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

She has touched the lives of many, and if you’d like to leave her a comment wishing her well we’ll make sure she gets all your messages.  Hopefully she’ll be strong enough soon to be posting on her own, but until then, think of her when you prepare one of her recipes, and say a little prayer.

White Turnip Soup With Rice

This is a wonderful soup that I found in one of the books Joyce sent, Italian Soup Cook Book.  I made a few changes because of available ingredients.  Nothing major.  And as I've mentioned before the turnips are marvelous this year.

I need to mention I may be missing in action for a few days.  There is lots to do before our church auction on Saturday. 

servings 6-8
print recipe

3 large white turnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 4 cups
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 ounce pancetta or bacon, finely chopped
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 small red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice
8 cups basic homemade beef broth or canned low-sodium beef broth
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Salt (optional)
1 1/4 cups rice, preferably Arborio
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1.  Cook the turnips in a large saucepan in salted boiling water to cover just until tender, about 10 minutes.  Drain and set aside.

2.  Melt the butter in a large skillet over low heat.  Add the turnips and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 7 minutes.  Remove from the heat and set aside.

3.  Saute the pancetta in a large soup pot over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.  Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.  Add the broth and black pepper.  Taste and season with salt, if needed.  Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.

4.  Add the rice and reduce the heat to a very slow but steady simmer.  Cover and cook until the rice is al dente, about 15 minutes.  Stir in the turnips and parsley and remove from the heat.  Lade the soup into warmed bowls and serve, passing the grated cheese alongside.