I Love Soup

Out of the clear blue sky, Eddy says:

“I love squash soup.”

Well, not completely out of the clear blue. 

We had it for dinner last night.

Several years ago, Brent taught us how to

brown the onions to a luscious flavor to make squash soup.

It’s been one of our favorites ever since.

Especially this year,

when DeRay’s garden yielded at least 85 butternut squash.

A little later, Ed declares:

“I love beet soup.”

We enjoyed beet soup last week.

Ahhhh.

DeRay raised a few beets.

We decided not to pickle them; no pressure cooker;

freezing them instead.

Beets are dangerous in a deepfreeze:

If the power goes off or the door gets left even slightly ajar –

Oh, what a mess.

Amy remembered having chilled beet soup on a cruise

so she looked up a recipe on the Internet.

Delectable.
We prefer warm to chilled.

Who would have thought?

It was then I knew I was worthy of my Soup Town Heritage.

It may not be true,

but I’m pretty sure the rumor started in Kanab

that during the United Order days in Orderville,

they served the soup in a slanted

community trough.

Painting of original United Order by Elbert Porter.

In truth, there was a community dining hall.

After the children were finishing eating,

in order to be excused,

they had to say:

"Please, Auntie Harmon, I'm done."

Esplin siblings Lynn, Jeanette, Jerry & Shirley in Orderville Ward church for LaNard Johnson's funeral.  2002

The higher your position in the Order,

the higher up the trough you slurped soup.

The lowest generally got only broth –

all the meat and vegetables being consumed

by the higher church officials.

In a nutshell,

that’s where the Soup Town nickname originated.

To retaliate,

we call Kanabites, “Canned Rabbits” because –

I have no idea,

To counterattack the Soup Town myth?

We were sure they were insanely jealous of us because

we had an original school song, both lyrics and score.

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SONG

1^st Verse:

Hail to our High School,

The one we love so well,

Down in the valley, where

Friendship ‘ere shall dwell.

Home of our school days;

Of work and study one,

Dearest of all schools beneath

The western sun.

Chorus:

At Valley High School,

As friends we’ll ever be;

True to our friendship

Of days that are so sweet.

Onward and upward, our

Courses we’ll pursue,

With teachers to lead us

Who are valiant and true.

--As it appeared in the 1954 yearbook.

2^nd Verse:

Ever we’re striving more

Knowledge to obtain

True to our motto

Success shall be our aim

We’re one in purpose

We’re striving round by round

Rich gems of knowledge

In each bright day are found.

--from Memory

  Mr. Salter was still teaching when we went to school.

Bessie Heaton was a housewife whom we didn't know could do anything else. 

We had no idea who wrote the words or music when we sang it a zillion times
or played it in band.

Kanab sang their school song to the tune of

O Christmas Tree.

We used to belt out mockingly

as we marched down the street,

Oh KHS, our Christmas Tree

Come to MIA with me.

(Remember the old MIA song to that tune?)

Back to soup.

I’m addicted to Immunity Surge Soup

for breakfast each morning.

We make big batches and freeze it.

We’ve always loved Aunt Shirley’s tomato soup

with secret combinations.

Clam Chowder was once a Christmas favorite

until clams because too expensive or

unavailable all together.
We've long savored Verla's Taco Soup.

We like Chili on Halloween.

We even make tuna and broccoli soup.

The possibilities are endless for a staunch Soup Towner.

(BTW, I married a Canned Rabbit guy!)