Mustard

So today we started out at a mustard mill. It's the mill where they used to produce all the mustard that was made to pack all the sardines in. But now there aren't any more sardines. So Raye's makes fancy mustard. Good fancy mustard. We bought a case of all different kinds. Yes, most of you will get to taste it. If you're very nice to me. Even if you're mean ... you all know I like having you all over for dinner alot. And ... LightHusband likes mustard.

Here's a picture of one of the old stones that they used to use to grind the mustard seeds. It's out in front of the factory. They still use stones just like this. It weighs half a ton. One thousand pounds. The seeds get ground between two of these. Actually there are 4 sets of them. And the seeds have to go between each of the sets ... it takes 8 stones. EIGHT. Each weighing one THOUSAND pounds to grind mustard seeds to make mustard.

That gives new perspective to this bible verse from Matthew 17 - "Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." I always thought of a mustard seed as just being tiny ... now I see it's also really sturdy and tough. After all ... it takes 4 TONS of stone to grind it into dust and that only after being soaked in a water and vinegar solution.

Funny ... the things you learn on vacation.