Day Trip !

A day trip to Branson is always a fun day. Beautiful drive thru the mountains - good shopping - good food. We get up early, make a stop at Ed's Bakery in Conway (to check on the Spit, Whittle & Piddle Club that hangs out at Ed's every Saturday morning), and then head for the hills. Then it's shopping, lunch, a little more shopping, and supper in Harrison at DeVito's. And back home before bedtime. This trip was a shorter version due to some major highway work between Clinton and Harrison. Since the travel time was a little longer we had to cut out some shopping. We left Branson mid-afternoon - so we missed having dinner at our favorite spot. But settled for Market Place in Conway. And still got home in time to pick up a few necessities at Drug Emporium before it closed.

Downtown Branson has seen a few changes since last spring. No more hanging out on the dock, dangling your feet in that dark, bone-chilling Taneycomo water, and watching children feed breadcrumbs to the ducks while you rest from shopping. Now its just an ordinary promenade between the lake and the mall parking lot. Pretty, yes. But I can't help feeling a little nostalgic about the old dock. Wish I had a picture of that somewhere!

spam

I think email and internet are some of the most wonderful inventions of modern man. But also has its evil side. Everybody has to be as sick of junkmail as I am. What a waste. Does anyone really benefit from it? My junkmail filter catches 200-300 every day. But here’s a sampling of the ones that got thru (with my sassy comments):

“Singles matchup” – ain’t single (thank you, Lord)
“Save thousands” – by clicking on junkmail???
“Confirmation of your order from Sony” – uh, I’m boycotting Sony because it is a sucky company, so I’m certain this is bogus
“Online degree program” – if I’m gonna spend time and bucks, I’m gonna get a REAL degree
“Get a higher education” – i dun been to hi skoo
“Find your soulmate” – I did (thank you, Lord)
“Find dates” – I have a whole calendar full of them, now run along
“Bad credit” – um, no thanks
“Don’t be lonely” – I’m not, dammit, now leave me alone
“Dream vehicles” – got one
“Love chat” – uh, how about a little prayer time, now there’s some love chat!
“Scholarship award” – ok, first off, I’m not a scholar
“Discount health insurance” – now there’s an oxymoron is I EVER heard one
“Talkshow trip” – sounds like a trip to hell if you ask me
“Money for you” – just for answering your stupid survey? Is “naïve” written on the ceiling?
“Attract any woman” – uuk, excuse me I need to go throw up
“Vacation to Las Vegas – participation required” – what? The government is requiring my attendance? They better buy my ticket and pay for meals and accommodations, too.

These are just today’s selection. But at least I don’t get the ones about “Please your girl” or “Enhance fill in the blank”.

There’s another group of junkmail that is either from illiterate people or people who have English waaaaaay down on their communication skills – like not their primary (or secondary language):
“Appeared than print”
“Get more better”
“Check our latest rintonges”
“Check out our latest ringotes”
“Check our our lastest ringtones” (these came in succession – not sure if they ever got it right)

Then there are the intentional emails from friends / co-workers that leave me wondering, can’t you find a hobby? Or maybe a second job so you don’t have so much free time?
“Describe me in one word” – umm, I ain’t steppin’ in that
“Make a wish and forward this to 14 people and you will get your wish in 14 days” – Firstly, why would I want to annoy 14 of my best friends? And secondly, if I want something that is out of my power to accomplish, a prayer would be the needed thing (not a wish - and a wish and a prayer are definitely NOT the same thing).

Sometimes I just try to think of junkmail as someone’s poor attempt at providing entertainment – like bubblegum music. Mostly I just DELETE. Okee, rant over. Back to more productive activities.

that's how it is in Arkansas

One day everything is cold and brown, and the next morning you wake up to vibrant color - everything in bloom. Saturday was a beautiful day; warm enough to wear shorts on the bike trail. I saw turtles sunning on logs in the river, and even a guy waterskiing! But not much blooming. Just a few small wild flowers - violets and bluets.

THEN . . . Sunday was like a burst of sunshine on the landscape. Suddenly, everyone's flowerbeds are full of daffodils and forsythia. and all the Bradford pears are blooming. Ahhh - spring.

signs of spring

busy soccer fields ...

activity on the bike trail is increasing ...

Iris peeking thru the leaf litter and mulch ...

Julia, i miss you... MOMOXOXOXOX

men in black

... at the UALR BBall game last Saturday evening.
The men did a great job. The boys - not so good.

and here's the menu (aka autograph)

One of my co-workers said she would like to have some of that sexy chocolate.

Too bad. It was not on the menu.

Now that’s some rims!

Out to lunch with “the team” today. To a little place called Burger Mama’s. Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor is in town for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. How did I know when I suggested Burger Mama’s that he would show up??? And be happy to give me his autograph!

I'm old, but not that old!

I've just been updating my blog template and a few of my links. I got a really good laugh when i took a look at my profile.

SURPRISE! It said my age was 250!!!
Don't believe it. Really! Oh, well, I got a good laugh out of that.

It seems the year got weird when i updated the template.
Never trust technology. It can be v-e-rrrr-y random.
:)

Hey, Andrew! I love your flash pirates project. I'm looking forward to seeing your new creations. Remember, even Bill Gates started small.

a cold day in January

Call your Daddy! It's his birthday!

you probably won't like it

Here, let me have that. You prolly won't like it.
:)

Well, I was off to a good start on a diet last week. Lost 4 pounds in 4 days. Then Mr. Dad got home from the India trip. The stop-over in Zurich was a perfect shopping opportunity, it seems.

I did not eat all the empty spots! HONEST!

It's a busy Saturday morning. I finished removing the "cottage cheese" from the breakfast room ceiling, and Mr. Dad has finished the repainting. Maybe we will tackle the wallpaper soon. NO PROMISES!

The clothes dryer is "dead". I guess I will spend the afternoon at the laundromat. Good thing I have a book in progress and some knitting to take along. Book-wise, I am trying to finish up one I save just for traveling. It has short chapters (easy to pick up and put down), and has kept me quite entertained. The Man Who Ate Everything. Now we know who ate the chocolate! :)

in the kitchen

My efforts in the kitchen this week have been decidedly UN-culinary. Cooking has been replaced by "redecorating". Patching and painting.

Almost done with the kitchen, then I will move on to the breakfast room.

Excuse the quality of this photo. It was taken with my Palm - as the REAL camera has taken a trip to India! It will be back tomorrow :)

"jammie" cookies

The "kitchen event" of the weekend was sort of a non-event. I got off work Friday afternoon and went to the grocery store for the first time since New Year's Day. The "thawed freezer" episode sort of helped me postpone the usual weekly trip.

So I got home from the grocery store, and turned on the weather channel just to quickly check - is it going to be warm or cool this weekend? GOOD GRIEF - A SNOW STORM IS BLANKETING TULSA - AND IT'S ALREADY 36 DEGREES IN FORT SMITH. I BETTER GO BACK TO THE STORE FOR MORE FOOD!!!

So, back from the second grocery store, with enough food to last AT LEAST another month - and feeling that happy feeling when the cupboard is stocked, I settle down to wait for the snow that was not to be. Like a kid anticipating a day out of school. But, no snow. Just rain, rain, rain all weekend.

My cooking exercise for this weekend consisted of swiss steak (always a favorite) and a cookie recipe that has been in my recipe box since high school that I have never made. I spent a summer with Aunt Lottie when I was about 12 and we made these cookies (more like I watched). But I saved the recipe and then last week I got inspired by a cooking blog I read, and thought of the "jammie" cookie recipe in my archives. The blog made a similar cookie, but they suggested using Nutella - sooooo - walla! I made half with red plum jam and half with Nutella. I clearly need a new name for the recipe.

Here is the link for the food blog which provided the inspiration:

http://creampuffsinvenice.typepad.com/cream_puffs_in_venice/2006/12/best_wishes_for.html

those pesky new year's resolutions

One of my "goals" for the new year is to cook more. I have already tried several new recipes since Christmas, and got up this morning ready to try a couple more. I made some oatmeal cookies this morning, and then some "tofu salad" (just think egg salad or pasta salad - but - - - you know...)

Well, both of those turned out pretty good, and i was feeling very - hmm - satisfied. So far - so good.

Shortly after noon i started thinking about supper plans, and went to the freezer to pull out some pork chops or something. Uh-oh!! The freezer accidentally got unplugged and there was a puddle of water. All the frozen foods sitting there thawing - but fortunately still very cold. I started grabbing towels and pans, and PLANNING DINNER!! Woo-hoo! Let's have a party tonight!!

So, call the grandparents, call the kids, tonight we're having:

Vegetable Soup
Roast Pork Loin
Turnip Greens
Lima Beans
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Black-eye Peas
Sister's Rolls
Apple Pie
Strawberries (and ice cream that was in the house freezer)

I do much better with impromptu parties, anyway. No time to get in a flutter!
Wish you were here!
:)

Little T-Bone and Baldy

I got to see a bald eagle and feed a calf yesterday. Good start for 2007. A day of pure joy.

No fireworks display or parade has ever filled me with such pleasure and excitement!
(click on the picture to enlarge for a better view).

I used the telephoto and got as close as i could before he flew away.

i almost forgot

Since i was out of town most of last week, and then recovering from a cold and too overwhelmed with last minute holiday preparations to post about the trip to Orlando, here are a few trip photos. Most of the lights are from the Osborne display. Pretty, yes, but I am glad they are now at Disney and not between my house and the nearest hospital (or the doctor that needs to get to said hospital). That is probably a "scroogie" thought, but I lived that nightmare - or at least the fear of it.


Hope you are having a Merry, Mellow Christmas . . .
























End of a long day . . .




AAAANNDDDD --------------


Saturday (mid-morning) - December 16 - Main Street - Small Town, Mississippi

this morning's newspaper headline . . .

Gunman steps into bank, kills teller, exits with cash

A gunman burst into a west Little Rock bank branch Saturday morning, shot and killed a teller and then told another teller, “Merry Christmas,” on his way out the door, police said. The Metropolitan branch is in the Colony West shopping center near Interstate 430.

“The suspect then stated to [the teller] ‘Merry Christmas’ and exited the bank,” according to a police report.

http://epaper.ardemgaz.com/Daily/Skins/Arkansas/

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As you know, this is less than a mile from our home. I feel a personal loss when reading this story - because of the proximity and because of our own recent vandalism experience. My heart is breaking for the family of the man who was shot. My prayer is for swift and merciless retribution to the man who committed the crime.

Cornbread Dressing - Part 2

1 pan of cornbread, (about 6-10 cups crumbs)
3 cups bread crumbs (an egg bread like challah is a good choice, or use purchased “breadcrumbs”)
2-3 eggs
2-4 cups chicken stock and / or turkey drippings (canned or homemade – I sometimes also use low sodium canned vegetable broth)
½ cup green onions, minced (use the green tops – some people call these scallions)
1 onion (white or yellow), chopped
1 stick butter (use to sauté the white onions)
2 teaspoons rubbed sage (or poultry seasoning)
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper

Mix all ingredients, and bake in a buttered casserole dish at 400-450 F for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The more liquid you add at the beginning will determine cooking time and final texture of the dressing. If you want a firm dressing, cook a little longer at a lower temperature – 350 or 375 – to prevent burning.

This is a very rough recipe – so you will have to taste and see if it meets your expectation. Sometimes you can bake a small amount to test before you actually put the whole batch in the oven. Use more of anything you like or that sounds good to you – pecans, celery, parsley, cranberries, chestnuts, mushrooms. Tweek the seasoning, then go for it. I acknowledge that some people do not like sage – although I cannot imagine why. Very well, leave it out. If you take the short cut with the onions I suggested in the cornbread recipe, just add the butter without adding extra onions.

SAVE ME SOME!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Cornbread Dressing - Part 1

Everyone in my family knows Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. And cornbread dressing is an absolute ESSENTIAL. To satisfy a recent request - here goes!

CORNBREAD DRESSING – PART 1
(THE SOUTHERN STANDARD)

Well, it is obvious, but must be said: To make cornbread dressing you must first make the cornbread. It should be made from scratch, not a mix, as all the mixes I have tried have sugar, and sweet cornbread just does not make a good base for dressing. So, we begin at the very beginning (a very good place to start). And the cornbread is best if made at least a day before your big event, so I am giving you a head start! Go ahead, make the cornbread, then you can go to the head of the class!

This is a simple, eggless cornbread. The miracle of cornbread is that if you do not have buttermilk you can easily substitute yogurt (plain, unsweetened) or plain milk (any kind – skim, 1%, 2%, whole) with a little vinegar OR lemon juice. Can it be any easier? Keep your cornmeal in the freezer, sealed in a Ziploc bag, if you don’t use it often. This is a very forgiving recipe, and after you have made it a couple of times, you can almost make it with your eyes closed, just a dash of this and that, then add milk till it “looks right”. Cook it in a hot oven, preferably in a cast iron skillet that has been greased with butter (or –whisper - bacon drippings).

Sometimes, when I need to "fast track" for dressing prep, I will chop the onions I plan to use in the dressing, and add them to the cornbread batter to bake in the cornbread.

CORNBREAD

1 1/2 cup white or yellow cornmeal (white is our family tradition)
½ cup flour
½ tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Before adding the milk to the dry ingredients, turn the oven to 425 F, and put your skillet on a top burner (or in the oven as it preheats). Heat the skillet on medium, and melt 2-4 tablespoons butter, margarine or “drippings”. Watch it while you mix the cornbread, and take it off the heat when the fat is melted. When you preheat the skillet, it gives the cornbread that nice crisp exterior!

To the mixed dry ingredients add:
1 cup buttermilk (or yogurt thinned with milk, or plain milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice

Stir thoroughly, and pour in the fat. Wipe the edge of the skillet with a paper towel, set the skillet back on the burner (turned off), and quickly mix the fat into the cornbread. Immediately turn the batter into the skillet, give it a shake to rise the bubbles, and put it in the already-hot oven. Bake approximately 25 minutes.

Test it for doneness (toothpick or whatever – like a cake). Turn it out into a heat-proof bowl or plate to cool. Once cool, you can begin to break it up for the dressing. Do not cover it until cool. If you are making it several days in advance, keep it covered, and freeze or refrigerate. Sometimes I just crumble it up and put it on a cookie sheet, then place it in the oven (cool) to dry out a little, so it will absorb the flavors of the chicken stock when I make the dressing. Just don’t leave it more than about a day without covering and refrigerating.

If you just want cornbread, you can easily half the recipe, or make little corn cakes (like pancakes) fried lightly in oil. When I make corn cakes, I do not put fat in the recipe. If you absolutely must have a sweet cornbread, add about a tablespoon sugar to the dry measures.

A PERFECT DAY - Part 57 (!)

As always, I could have predicted today’s weather report! Mild and sunny with azure skies and a light breeze. Ah! What a day it has been. My birthday again - A PERFECT DAY!

I got my new bike late yesterday afternoon, so my first ride was today over the Dam Bridge. We forgot the camera, so had to go back later in the day to take the pictures. A very busy place on a PERFECT Saturday afternoon ;)

I rode 8 ½ miles today. WOO-HOO!






The "big rock" downriver from the lock and dam .....






Looking west toward I-430 and Pinnacle from center of the Dam Bridge .....





Little Rock hillside overlooking the river .....






And saving the best for last .....

National Geographic, part 1

Ok, so this is Julia, and I'm living in Thailand. I've been here about a year, and sometimes my life here seems normal, no big deal. And then, we'll have the most random things happen or see something odd and I just think, "I'm definitley not in America." A few months ago, we kept hearing this really loud animal noise in the middle of the night...every night. We started telling some of our American friends about it, and they knew immediately what it was. A tokay gecko. They proceeded to tell us horror stories of trying to get rid of tokay geckos. They smell horrible if you make them mad, they'll bite you and not let go...you get the point.

Then we went home a did a little research (aka Google) of our own. And after seeing how big and ugly they are, there's no way we can just be ok with it living in our backyard. We tried various methods of getting rid of it. We moved everything outside that could have been its home. We turned on outside lights in the middle of the night to try to make it leave. We even found an mp3 of a gecko call and played it really loud at night to make it think it had some competition. I'm not sure exactly which method worked, but it's gone now. No one got bitten, and our house never reeked. So that episode is resolved. But, there have been several adventures since then, and I'm convinced that as long as I'm living in Thailand, there will always be new episodes!