Author, Wife, Busy Mom, A Woman after God's Heart.
I had the wonderful experience of writing for Relatable Voice Magazine’s December 2023 edition. Inside on page 50, you will find my article: “A Red Suit; A Patron Saint; A Baby in a Manger. A Quest for Christmas.”
You can download the FREE magazine and read many, many other articles in this AMAZING ISSUE.
Click here.
Hello everyone,
I had an opportunity to participate in Lucia Matuonto’s Catch the Story via Relatable Voice Podcast. Catch the Story is where authors, speakers, and artists of all kinds get to share a story, a testimony, or anything inspirational and encouraging to audiences who love listening to podcasts. Another one of Lucia’s creative endeavors.
I wrote a little story called: “If the Roux isn’t good, then it’s the Pan!” Click here to listen to the podcast. After my story, you can listen to Linda Drattall’s tale.
For transcript readers out there, you can find the written prose below. Enjoy!
***
Wisdom often comes through experiences. Whether those experiences have been good or bad, it’s what you do with that learning which propels you for failure or success in your next life adventures.
I say all that to tell you this: Winter is coming. A season filled with hot drinks and soups. We can’t control the upcoming season, but we can prepare our attitude and the direction to go.
A good French chef will always be very particular about their Roux when making such dishes as mac and cheese, potato leek, beef stews, gravies, lasagnas, gumbos, bechamel, Creole, and Cajun cuisines.
A Roux (pronounced roo). France is often regarded as the birthplace of the Roux. It’s deeply embedded in the country’s gastronomic identity. From the elegant boulevards of Paris and moving across the Atlantic to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, roux has woven its magic, becoming an integral part of many culinary traditions. Understanding “how to make a roux” is more than just mastering a recipe; it’s about appreciating its cultural significance.
Our lives are like a Roux. You need special ingredients to take care of yourself, mentally, spiritually, and physically.
However, life throws you curves and sometimes things don’t always turn out like you hoped. For me and I’ll digress a bit. I can cook a meal, no problem. I actually enjoy cooking for my family. When it comes to baking, eh forget about it. For one, I know I have a problem with following cooking instructions. I grew up in an Italian household where you taste everything, and your palette is the measuring tool. So, you either put less salt, more pepper, or add a pinch of something else. With baking, well, it’s all about the measuring and that’s not me. I applaud you bakers out there.
Anyhow, back to the Roux. I did some research and found that making Roux requires precise measurements. Each ingredient has to be perfect. You also have to have the right utensils and a good pan.
At its core, a roux is a simple combination of:
What makes roux universally appealing is its ability to:
Now I know why dishes are so yummy.
Steps To Making A Perfect Roux
Close your eyes and pretend to make a Beef stew using 1lb of Beef Chuck Roast cut in cubes, and an assortment of delightful vegetables. We start with the Roux. Adding 4oz of butter and 6oz of all-purpose flour.
But then, wait. Something goes wrong! The roux is lumping. Oh no! That’s a cardinal sin, and suddenly the roux is ruined. Maybe you should have added duck fat instead and less flour? So, you change your ingredients and start again. Same result. Hmmm ….. what’s going on? Finally, after some whisking soul searching per se, it dawns on you. It’s not the ingredients. It’s the pan!
You see, there are people that have stuck themselves in your pan. Stuck like week-old, caked grease. No matter how many times you’ve changed the roux ingredients, it always gets ruined. You change your life, get in shape, quit smoking, move to another part of the country, get a new job, etc. Whatever, you’ve tried to do to cut ties, and change for the better, as in the roux ingredients, you’re mixing your NEW roux with a tainted pan.
Ouch, I know that’s rough; I get it. We have to learn to move away from toxic relationships. Like changing your outfits when the seasons call for a sweater instead of wearing a tank top. So, what do you do with this sticky and greasy situation? Get rid of your pan. Clean out your pantry.
Your roux should not be ruined by the pan you’re forced to use.
Happy cooking! Live joyously!
References
https://www.authentichospitalitygroup.com/recipes/how-to-make-a-roux/
This is an encouragement to myself. A declaration of knowledge to the universe. I use “universe” loosely because it’s not to the universe, but to the One who created the universe, God.
This Thanksgiving and each and every day, I’m thankful for:
Turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans comes one day of the year. But being thankful should be an everyday practice.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photo by Wallace Chuck: https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photography-of-folded-eyeglasses-2097085/
Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA: https://www.pexels.com/photo/roasted-turkey-on-black-ceramic-plate-5702776/
Why is it that we are so focused on the prayer request but then stumble during the prayer process?
In Mathew 14: 22-33 we read about Jesus walking on water during a storm toward a boat that was carrying the disciples. One of the disciples was Peter. He asks Jesus to command him to come out of the boat to meet him. Jesus’ response was, “Yes, come.”
When we pray, often it’s an ‘ask’, such as, “Lord, please can you heal my loved one from whatever is ailing them.” Another is “God, please get me through this day without no problems, etc.” Why are we so focused on the asking? What is Jesus going to say, no? The prayer request should be a declaration, a decree; you need to have assurance that the Lord will provide and make a way for you. (Jehovah Jireh). Where’s the faith, friends? What has Jesus told us before in Mathew 7:7. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
As you continue reading you find that Peter goes over the boat and into the water. He’s doing okay walking on the sea until he notices the winds and the waves around him. Fear strikes him. Rather than keeping his attention on Jesus, he gets distracted and slips into the water, crying out to the Lord to be saved.
Hence, the faltering when our eyes are taken off Jesus during the process: the waiting, the testing, etc. Yes, it’s our human impatience that gets the best of us. If only we could endure till the end.
You know the expression that says something like this, “It’s the journey, not the destination that counts.” There’s a lot of truth to that. In this particular scripture, one of the many lessons learned (and there are several in these ten verses) is making your prayer requests focused and staying focused. Most importantly, believing in God’s timing that He will provide.
Photo by Atahan Demir: https://www.pexels.com/photo/anonymous-person-in-clear-water-7204553/
This morning I woke up out of a deep dream. I was playing tennis with Novak Djokovic. Yes, the world’s best tennis player right now. We were in an enclosed court with a tall black fence all around us. We weren’t playing per se, or volleying back and forth. Rather, we were serving the ball to one another. When Novak served, his balls often went over my head and got caught in the fence. My serves tended to curve to the left. For some reason, I was winning the serves.
When it was my last serve, which I didn’t know that it was going to be my last time, I approached the line. Bouncing the ball twice, I was getting ready to hit it, but instead, I let the racket swing down. Like a fake swing. From the corner of my eye, I saw Novak shift and move side-to-side. He readied back into position, and I bounced the ball again, once this time, and hit it. It curved to the left again. I was hoping it would land in the center of the box on the other side of the net, but it touched down in the upper-left-hand corner of the box, instead.
Novak returned the serve, and the ball flew out of bounds over my head, falling behind me. As I turned around to retrieve the ball, a woman with a ponytail and dressed in white tennis apparel approached me. She was all smiles. The court suddenly brightened, and she congratulated me on winning. I wasn’t shocked or surprised, but I thanked her anyway. It was then I noticed a couple of people folding a dark gray canopy off of the net. It’s one of those canopies or coverings on a patio set, at least that’s what it looked like to me. I realized the challenges of my serves and Novak’s serves were a result of that canopy hovering over the net.
Novak Djokovic ran up to me and congratulated me as well, and then he hugged me. My last thought in his embrace was … “I didn’t break a sweat.”
As I think of this dream and what I can glean from it, is that I had the assurance of winning, thus, not breaking a sweat or fretting about it. I felt peace. Novak is a good representation of the world, hitting back at me, and making me run for the ball all over the court. And the canopy can represent God’s hand in everything. He removes the darkness, He removes the pains, He removes our sorrows, etc.
So today, rest assured that whatever you do, God’s got this. Our job is to show up and serve, using our gifts for His glory. So, don’t break a sweat.
Until next time. Be well. Be safe. Be happy.
In a world where books are readily available online, one sometimes has to ask, do readers buy books at library events?
I’ll start by saying bookselling as an independent author is a real thing. I remember reading years ago the author of the book, The Shack, by William P. Young, selling his books out of the trunk of his car. That story inspired me, as I always carry books in my car too because you never know when someone needs a good read.
As for the answer to the above question, I say yes. There are those who do come to library author events. It’s tough competition, a ton of genres out there. But many don’t know what goes into preparing for a bookselling gig. Let me enlighten you.
Whether your indie published or traditionally published, you are still the number one marketer of your products (books). You are responsible for business cards, bookmarkers, posters, and any other marketing paraphernalia. I hear t-shirts with the book covers are gaining ground.
Usually, the library or hosting venue provides tables. Most authors bring their own tablecloths. It just looks better on the table. Don’t forget the communication promoting the event, months before, weeks before, the same week, etc. Some authors even do a “live” video, or they post pictures. All this takes time.
Most readers who buy these books have an advantage. It’s autographed, and you can meet the writer behind the book. At least for me, it’s a cool thing. For others, not so much. As my teenage daughter says, most readers don’t like to interact with the authors, they just want the book! Hmm… maybe true. Also, most writers will discount the books at an event. That’s a plus too. For the authors, it’s a chance to mingle with other writers, learn their process, check out how they present their products, and learn about prospective readers’ literary interests.
When I prepare for an author event, I make sure all my materials are presentable, I have options for payment, like the Square, have candy or mints for the table, and a good suitcase to lug all my contents.
I’m often asked, is it worth it to do these events when you know you may not sell anything? My answer is always yes. If you don’t know and try, how will you learn? Writing and bookselling is a BUSINESS.
Most writers have full-time jobs. I’ve heard people comment. “Oh, what a wonderful hobby you have to write.” Some choose it as a hobby, but I can tell you, for others it is a job. If you’re with a publishing house or small press, you have a contract, and the writer needs to fulfill the obligation of writing another book or several books in a series, etc. So, yes, bookselling is a thing.
Please support local authors, go to their events, repost their blogs, read their books, review them, and share their writings. Word of mouth is still a thing too!
Photo Credits:
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-brown-crew-neck-t-shirt-and-blue-denim-jeans-holding-black-and-white-book-4865737/
Poplar Creek Public Library (Author Event)
As I got in the car this morning I realized I was running really low on gas. So I drove to the gas station. It was a cool morning, and I could feel the autumn season coming around. The leaves have also been changing colors.
While filling my tank, I yawned. I yawned again, and then again. My mind was worn down. A short, fit, older gentleman in a tan jogging suit trotted by and said, “Looks like you can use some rest.”
I nodded and replied, “Yes sir. Yes sir indeed.”
At that distracted moment, I was feeling overwhelmed going over the never-ending to-do lists and tasks to be completed. They circled my thoughts like a swarm of blackbirds. I was just as empty as my gas tank, while my backseat was crammed with burdens, obligations, follow-ups, consultations, and on and on…
After fueling up, I went on my way. I drove through miles and miles of construction and traffic, which were everywhere, and I even caught every single red light. Argh… I hate that. My car felt sluggish, unable to move the heavy load occupying my back seat, or maybe I couldn’t get my foot to press harder on the pedal. Either way, I was running empty because I’d been trying to solve and haul everyone else’s burdens along with my own.
The Bible tells us we are to help carry one another’s burdens as written in Galatians 6:2 and Philippians 2: 3-4. There are misinterpretations and debates over those scriptures, and I’m doing additional research to discern the differences (a good discussion for another time).
The Bible also tells us in Hebrews 12:1-2 to run our own race. We aren’t meant to run someone else’s race but our own. We have to lug our own cross, not someone else’s. I recognized that I have been neglecting my spiritual time in the secret place where I can get in the presence of the Lord and be refreshed and lifted up. We all need this.
Jesus even said, Come all who are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (Mathew 11:28)
He also affirmed that busyness and checklists don’t matter. Rather, taking the time to lay everything at His feet. A good example of that is the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary chose to sit with Jesus, while Martha fussed with petty duties. (Luke 10:38-42).
With the driver-side window down while I drove, I felt a fresh wind come across my face. My responsibilities won’t diminish, but I know now my load is shared with my Savior. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
So, go into your secret place and pray. Get into God’s Word. May it comfort your mind from the worldly chaos, while not letting your tank run empty.
In the end, we have to finish the race that God has set before us. (2 Timothy 4:7).
I hope this encourages you as it did for me.
God bless…
You ever wonder about wild mushrooms or how they grow and thrive anywhere? I’ve seen them in yards, our lawn, on tree barks, sides of the road off of busy highways, under fences, you name it.
I personally find them pesty and downright nasty-looking. Wild mushrooms are oddly shaped and often have a peculiar shade of color. I’m not talking about edible mushrooms, such as Portobello Mushrooms, Shiitake Mushrooms, and plenty of others, either.
In my curiosity, I decided to research how wild mushrooms grow. First, though we need to ask, what is a mushroom? According to Microsoft Bing’s definition,
A mushroom is a fungal growth that typically takes the form of a domed cap on a stalk, with gills on the underside of the cap.
Mushrooms grow from spores (not seeds) that are so tiny you can’t see individual spores with the naked eye. In the wild, mushrooms grow on both soil and other substrates like wood. No soil is necessary for growing them. Instead, they’ll grow on substances such as sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips for nourishment. It’s also because mushrooms do not contain chlorophyll, therefore they cannot produce their own food using the process of photosynthesis. Mushrooms use the substratum that they grow on or have a symbiotic relationship with, in order to create the nutrients that they require. Isn’t that crazy how mushrooms have that capability?
Mushrooms can also grow in damp, dark places, and in wet, humid climates. Mushrooms are very sturdy, and I’ve seen them affixed firmly onto things.
My daughter took the above photo for me because I was fascinated by this particular mushroom and how it grew near a rock. Yes, there was soil and woodchips around it, but it awed me to see its strength and durability considering its surroundings.
The wheels in my brain began to turn as I stared at this mushroom. We live in a world where there is a fix for everything. Take this pill for this, drink this concoction for that, do this particular thing and all your anxiety and pains will go away. It goes on and on.
The culture also tells us to rely on our feelings, thus taking offense to everything. We avoid getting grounded in our faith, we avoid discussing our spiritual desires. The Bible tells us that if we don’t have a solid foundation, we are like the wind, tossed to and fro, and can be seduced by evil doctrine very easily. (Ephesians 4:14, Ecclesiastes 1:14)
We’re expected to keep up with the latest fashions, music, bestseller lists, and technology. But nowhere are we encouraged to speak Truths to one another.
I have a better appreciation of wild mushrooms now. They are brave fungi! No matter what’s around them, they attach themselves to something grounded and their roots flourish because of their strength on the inside.
We should all focus on cultivating our inner selves more so than our outer selves because…
How are you growing?
Resources
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/where-do-mushrooms-grow.html
I’ve spent a good amount of my life doubting my decisions and often living in a hesitancy to failure. Now that I’m older, have much gray hair that I color every seven weeks, and have experienced things, I wish I had had someone tell it to me straight and be truthful. It is why I’ve taken a moment to accumulate nuggets of wisdom to pass along to my children, as if I was talking to my younger self because if tomorrow never comes, then I know I have spoken my truth today.
Dear Younger Me,
I know I can’t go back in time. But if I could have sent you a message, a note, spoken to you in a dream, I’d tell you these words:
Practice makes progress, not perfect because when you practice something long enough, you are really making progress. Perfection is not a mass finality, but rather an individualized, personal goal.
Gentle words, gentle play.Thru calmness, comes clarity.The best conversations are with myself.Don’t put words in the air that don’t belong there.Pain always follows the wanting.Get in front of the problem.
Fight the problem, not the people.
There are simple answers to difficult questions.
Turn your fear into a friend, not a foe.The decisions you make today affect you five years from now.Limit distractions. Stay on course.Don’t live for anything; stand for something.If you don’t stand for anything, you’ll truly fall for everything.Friends are people of passage. Find your people.You can only grow where you plant good seeds.
Grow where you are planted. And if you get replanted over and over again, dig your roots, and keep growing.
Don’t be a troublemaker, be a truth seeker.I’m temporarily closed…. forever. (Love the oxymoron)
I need God to pour into me so I can push out the overflow to others.Some questions have no answers.Love is love, but love is better when you love in truth.Love is love when it is done in truth.It’s how you overcome; not how you succumb.You either die suffering or suffer in dying!Test everything. Discern all.Everything good that comes out of me is from God, Everything bad in me, is from me.Lord, direct me to move out of the way, so You can make a way.Some people don’t want to make peace with you, rather they want a piece of you.Forgiveness is really for you to let go.The hardest people to love and pray for are the ones who persecute you.Rather than scold or talk badly about a person, pray blessings over them.You can’t control the passing on of generational curses, but you can stop them from being activated in your family.Wisdom, revelation and knowledge of Him, Jesus Christ is far better than all the education of the world.Be friendly with everyone, doesn’t mean you have to be what they are.It’s okay to feel that you don’t belong. It means you are growing in maturity. Put away your childish behavior and grow up.Not everyone is going to like you.Don’t stress about fitting in when God made you to stand out. Be separate from the culture.You’ll always going to have people jealous of you.Your biggest enemies are usually the ones closest to you.Family is blood. You can’t change that. But toxic blood often resides within the family. Get it out! Cast it out of your life!
If you don’t love in truth, it isn’t love.Stop appeasing those who keep using you.If someone doesn’t like you, no matter what you do, it won’t change their dislike of you. It’s because they’re threatened by you.Friends and family don’t always want you to succeed.No one friend can be your everything. Have many different friends with different interests.
Dream.
Be a risk-taker, not a regret-maker.
Pay someone’s bill.
Dress up for no reason and go to the grocery store.
Wear lipstick just to go for a walk.
Rather than watch a movie, turn on the television and watch cartoons.
Dance in front of your mirror.
Sing!
Work. It will teach you responsibility.
Learn to manage your money.
Go out to dinner alone every once in a while.
Love yourself.
Love God and love people.
Read. Read everything.
Get into God’s Word. Really read the Bible. IT IS a blueprint for living this earthly life.
Fretting and worrying all the time is really overrated.
Really watch a sunrise and a sunset.
Sleeping enough does help.
And it’s true. Never grocery shop when you’re hungry.
Never make big decisions when you’ve been drinking, are tired, or hungry.
Be true to yourself because no one is going to do it for you.
To be continued…
NOTE: This blog post was inspired by the song, “Dear Younger Me” by MercyMe. Check out the video here.
I’m delighted to share that for this month of May, I had an article showcased in Relatable-Voice Magazine in celebration of Mother’s Day. It’s a FREE magazine filled with inspiring and creative artists who are living out their passion and dreams. This particular issue focuses on Motherhood.
Download the magazine at https://www.relatable-media.com/online-store/The-Relatable-Voice-Magazine-Issue-9-May-2023-p550939787
See page 19 for my article “Motherhood – God’s Chosen Profession.”
Until next time…
Be well. Be safe. Be happy!
© 2025 Chiara Talluto
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑