Fearless…

fearless Fiction Faith & Foodies Blog Tori Kayson Dora Hiers

Has fear ever taken hold of you? Gripped you with its icy talons? Stolen the very air from your lungs?

I can think of a couple times FEAR has held me hostage recently, both incidents involving our grandson. The first time he was walking our puppy at the park using one of those extendable leashes, within sight, but a little distance spanning between us. Bolder recognized the spot where we always stopped for a water break and took off running. Now, Bolder’s not a huge dog, but he’s incredibly muscular. Rather than letting go, our Little Man kept hold of the leash and actually did a forward flip off the edge of what seemed like a cliff. FEAR squeezed my chest until we confirmed that, other than a few scrapes and bruises, he was all right.

A few months later, we were standing outside on the back deck of our cabin, which is actually the second floor and a very long drop. Little Man hopped up on the rail and bent over at the waist like a gymnast hugging a parallel bar. Oh my stars! Talk about sweaty palms and a worried meme screaming for him to get down. I might’ve frightened him more than he frightened me.

FEAR, once it takes hold, doesn’t like to loosen its grip. 

It sinks its teeth into your soul, keeps you hostage, chaining you to the same spot forever.

Unless you recognize it. Unless you rebuke it. Unless you call upon your faith to rise up, to release your fears.

What about you? What happened to make fear hold you hostage?

 

 

 

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Cornelius, NC and to Harp & Crown Pub Kitchen. This warm and comfortable pub features Irish favorites such as Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips, and Bangers & Mash.

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Rather unassuming from the front, but just wait!

Dora here. This front entrance does not give you a clue as to what to expect. Wait until you see the patio. Soooooo wish it hadn’t been raining. I would’ve loved to sit outside here. I counted three fireplaces!!

excited about eating, ernie & dora hiers, fiction faith & foodies, harp & crown

So wish it hadn’t been raining. I would’ve loved to sit outside. I counted 3 fireplaces!

The interior was nice and cozy. And packed for 11 AM on a Sunday!

excited about eating, fiction faith & foodies, ernie & dora hiers, harp & crown

The inside was nice and cozy. And packed for 11 AM on a Sunday.

For my brunch, I chose the Shrimps & Grits, a combo of Charleston style grits, shrimp, bacon, and chorizo sausage.

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Shrimp and Grits, outstanding!

This dish was outstanding! Creamy grits, tender shrimp that melted in your mouth, ample sauce, and the sausage packed just the right amount of heat.

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Are you drooling yet? Shrimp & grits, outstanding!

Dora here. Ya’ll know by now that I’m a huge fan of Shepherd’s Pie. If it’s on the menu, that’s what I’m picking. And since I’d seen an intriguing picture on Yelp, I already knew what I was ordering. Shepherd’s Pie. 🙂

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For those of you who haven’t tried Shepherd’s Pie, it’s basically a layer of mashed potatoes smothering a blend of meat and veggies. In this case, hamburger and peas.

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Shepherd’s Pie, what’s underneath that top layer of mashed potatoes

This particular version was not as thick as other variations, and, for me, it lacked a bit in the flavor department, nothing deep or complex in those layers. But that’s all good. Sometimes, like on this rainy day, you just want a dish to warm you up, comfort food, and Shepherd’s Pie is always a good choice. 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! What’s your favorite Irish dish?

We rate this pub 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.

The Harp and Crown Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato