Mrs Murphy was a short, twiggy, slightly bugeyed, firecracker of a woman who lived across Diamond St from my grandparents Elbridge and Hannah Barrett.  She took a few drinks and talked loud, but mostly she was famous for her Gumbo, which she would cook right out in the front yard. Back then neighbors really new how to make a good party. I remember "MizMuafee" shoutin' out to my grampa one forth of July morning. "Elbridge...Brotha Bahrit...get me suma dem baby blue gumbo crabs when ya comin bak, da sweet wuns and sum shreeump. Imo cook a gumbo! I need dat ritzo sawsidge too." As you are reading this, you are benefiting from years of the translation process, because at the time MizMuafee was talking to my grandfather, I really had no good idea what she was saying to him, but I knew it was going to taste real good.

Those were some seriously fun times in Texas. No one seemed to be worried about a thing, the way I remember seeing it through my eyes. They were the days when I could eat a much meat as I wanted, drink "soda water" to my hearts delight, and bang firecrackers till I was tired of them.

Now Elbridge Barrett had a green thumb, and his back yard was a serious garden, with everything you'd ever want to eat. He had pecan and fig trees, plum, pear, lemon and orange trees. There was okra, kale, turnip and mustard greens galore. He grew tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, peas, beans and more. All that goodness would come from the back yard to the dinner the table. From field peas to black eye peas, the south was and still is wondrous place for food.  

On the 4th of July at Elbridge Barrett's' house he would wake up early and start a fire in the barbecue pit. He had one of those big oil barrels cut in half, one side the pit and the other the lid. It could hold an amazing assortment of meat and vegetables, like corn, grilled onions and peppers. There was beef brisket, ribs, red hot sausages, chicken, and even a goose. Neighbors would come from various places, saying, "brotha Barrett, please put dis on yo grill"

Shonuff, MizMuafee's gumbo was a sight to behold. Imagine a wood burning fire in the front yard of a multi-pastel colored low rise southern shack, that looked more like a children's play house than anything else. On that glorious fire was a huge pot filled with my first but still the best tasting gumbo I can remember. All other gumbos have paled in comparison since then. After MizMuafee got the spices and flavor stock going she started to add the goodies. I can really taste this gumbo as I write. God gave me the taste that goes right to my waist. Muafee added in chunks of fish, shrimp, chorizo sausage, onions, celery, okra, garlic, corn, carrots, and the star of the show, the flavor kicker, the piece de resistance, sweet baby blue crabs...hand size...sugar sweet, baby...blue...crabs. She may have even tossed in a couple shots of that whiskey she was drinking too.

After cooking for what seemed too long to me, it was finally ready. The smell was so divine, I was gonna eat those crabs despite the fact I was a bit afraid of them while they were crawlin' around in the truck. Now, to eat gumbo properly you certainly cannot be in a hurry, in my opinion. You need to make plenty of comfort space if you have it, then savor and ladle yourself up some gumbo into a large wide bowl. Dig on down to the bottom of the pot to get the goodies, but please don't hog my crabs. Prepare yourself a crab shell plate, and make sure to have toasted French bread with garlic butter. Get yourself a bunch of napkins, then load up some pork rice and field peas. I suggest you drink peach ice tea or the southern classic, ice cold lemonade. After this first course, you go take yo sef  a breather, or go on down to the store to get a couple bags of ice, cuz your gonna need em. The barbecue will wait, you're off all day long anyway, so relax, enjoy, dig in. If you should choose to plop down in front of the television, or go pray, remember you got more eatin' ta do, so don't fall asleep.

Remember I mentioned that my "Daddy Elbridge" had a lemon tree in his back yard. We've all seen lemons, those nice lemons you buy in the grocery store. They're pretty aren't they? However, you have to use so many just to make a mere few gallons of lemonade. Why not try the fruit from my Grampas lemon tree...the one from Jurassic Park. This tree of mouth puckering fruit burst with lemons the size of grapefruit. I remember saying, "nice grapefruit Grampa", and his reply was "this is Texas, those are lemons"! You surely could make a couple gallons of lemonade with one lemon from this tree.


My next course is simple and basic to 4th of July eating. It's portable and goes well with anything cold to drink. Although the heat from it may tingle your mouth, the flavor is sublime. Grab yourself a large soft bun, and poke a red hot link pork sausage in between. Get a couple "grape crush" soda waters from the cooler and follow me. We're gonna blow up some stuff.

"Black Cat Brand" firecrackers on the 4th of July in the 70's in America were every boys dream. To be blowin up stuff all day and experimenting while the adults had their groove on was great fun. But this very last thing I'd like to share with you is one of the prides of Texas for sure. I would always help my gramma Hannah make the pride of all southern desserts, piping hot peach cobbler. It's so very simple, just layers of dough, peaches, sugar and butter cooked till bubbling hot and slightly brown. On top of that bubbling goodness, add a big delicious scoop of the Texas' own "Blue Belle Ice Cream", vanilla bean of course.  Lord Jesus, Father in heaven, this is surely the ice cream I'd serve you. It's simply the best tasting ice cream in the world, and with that peach cobbler under my belt, I think I heard something about cheddar cheese burgers coming off the grill.

Stay tuned for more anecdotes from "The Life And Times Of T'terman"

I thank my parents and grandparents for providing me this excellent memory. I thank my Lord Jesus for protecting me all the days of my life.

Blessing Boy©2007

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