Dormant Squash

This is a story feature going back over a year. But this bizarre end-of-season harvest seemed a good time to send it out into the world. I am not the biggest fan of squash. But since it is in abundance this time of year, I have been trying to find unusual ways to make use of it. (what an odd turn of phrase - "make use of it") After endless recipes for bland zucchini, I just found one that uses it instead of cukes for a good hotdog relish. I have a butternut sitting on the counter to be cooked up into either risotto or a mac n' cheese bake. There are so many varieties out there.

Well here is one from Winnipeg CA. An extinct variety unearthed going back 800 years! It was found during a student archeology dig on sacred land. Somehow the seeds had been hermetically preserved in a clay urn. Even more astounding, is that they harvested said seeds and grew it into a crop of large orange gourds. I have heard similar stories of apple breeds and certainly tons of flowers. It is not unusual to cross pollinate for new strains of a crop. But it is highly unusual to bring a species back from extinction. This leaves something to be said about seed depositories. The most renowned is the Svalbard Vault in Norway. But closer to home is SeedSavers down in IA. Fascinating!

 

 

Nasty Girls

I am asking this as an honest inquiry. What makes a woman NASTY or BITCHY?

I'm reading a large handful of threads where women are trashing their peers and labeling them nasty, trashy, mean.... on and on. So I am truly soliciting some incite from my female connections on how this term is "earned." I am wanting to hear from only women and hoping they can clearly articulate what it is that rubs one another the wrong way.

I know this is certainly driven by politics with Kamala in the spotlight. But for years there have been Hillary, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren. The lists are endless. But what makes one disgusting rather than strong? There seems to be a very fine line coming around the corner from confident to catty. Why is Margaret Thatcher or Ruth Bader Ginsberg a hero while Hillary is trashed for having the same strength? I am truly asking.

And outside of politics, it ventures into every other realm of celebrity. Why are the women of The View vixens but yet Tomi Lahren can spew the same venom? Why were old Hollywood stars like Bette Davis and Kate Hepburn, who were known to be bitches, idolized. But modern stars like Jane Fonda, Bette Midler and Cher thrown to the wolves for publicly speaking their consciences? You can rattle off music greats down to C-list celebs on DWTS. I'm confused why it is okay to laugh at any of the Real Housewives shows and yet slam a strong woman on a national debate stage.

So I am throwing this out there. As a male I can certainly have a perspective and an opinion. But it is not my journey or place to mansplain. I am hoping to get a bit more insight on the ground rules for the labeling and name-calling about name-calling. I would think you would all celebrate achievements of peers rather than facing off in dodgeball games with colleagues. Educate me! 

 
I am guessing I will know a few 15 or 20 that will respond. But am more cusrious as to what you will say.