Neighbors & Cooking

For all those who felt I probably came from the 'wrong side of the tracks' - here's your proof - washing machine on the back porch - that should say it all.  All I need is an old couch on the front porch and I'm in the club.  Actually I'm getting a new floor in my laundry room but seeing the machine on my back porch just made me wonder what my neighbors would think.  Lucky for me I've got some of the best neighbors in town - one of the reasons we could never bring ourselves to look for a larger house and just kept adding on.  Since we were the 'younguns' when we moved in here all our older families keep moving to condos and such but so far the 'replacements' have been very nice but the close knit feeling just isn't the same.  Our first neighbors when we moved here (with one exception) was as good as growing up in south St. Louis.  Good neighbors are quite a blessing.

What does that have to do with cooking?  Nothing at all.  I went to my friends blog to check out her version of last night's episode of 'Food Star Network Challenge' - (her version always gives me a chuckle) but instead I found her "I Came From" blog.  It was fun reading and I may attempt to do my own but it probably won't be as organized and poetic as hers. 

 Anyway - back to cooking.  As I watched the show last night I kept thinking "there's no way in the world I could do what they are asked to do"  If you gave me 6 items and told me to make a dish from them I'd have to go to a recipe search engine.  If you gave me a dish to taste and had to describe it - I could never pick out all the different spices - I don't even know what saffron looks like much less how it tastes and smells!  And if you tell me I only have 45 minutes to cook & plate a meal - well, let's just say I don't work well under pressure.  

I understand that these people are claiming to be chefs and they've asked for this challenge.   Although, I think several have found out they bit off more than they could handle.  I agree they should have more than my basic knowledge  - they should know all about food and how one compliments another.  They should be able to whip up dishes more easily than I and without a cookbook handy.  They should even be able to make the plate look appetizing.  So - my question is - for the rest of us, what makes a good cook.  I've always admired friends and family who know what a dish needs or has too much of - or can tell you how to cook something without looking it up first.  I don't consider myself a good cook even though people have been very kind and complimented what I've prepared.  But I have to plan ahead, make a list, use a recipe and all my measuring instruments (none of that 'eyeballing' it for me).  And there have still been a few times when we just choked down our meal or sent out for pizza.  The closest I've ever come to creating a dish is when I combine several recipes using the ingredients that my family likes.  So, just for fun, I have a little poll set up to see what you consider a good cook.  

Well, I'm gonna go whip me up some gourmet lunch - yeah, right - ha :)

Summer Overdone

I know that most of you are loving this heat and lazy days of summer -

 but I for one long for the crisp cool days of autumn.

The bad part is - it's still only JUNE!!

Mama would say I'm wishing my life away - so I'll try to endure and delight in the pleasures of summer - like fresh tomatoes and watermelon - lots of green and various flowers - no coats and lighter laundry.  Actually, summer just doesn't do much for me but it is easier to delight in what it means for others that I care about: like more golf and baseball games for Steve and the guys; lots of backyard and water playtime for my grandkids and their mommies - and they love Grant's Farm and the zoo.  Summer is worth it just to see them all have so much fun - but I think I'll stay hibernated in the AC and look forward to long walks in the falling leaves and drinking coffee on my back porch.

Dreams, Beans, & Other Things that I don't know what they mean

Steve & I went out to eat last night and then to see The Producers at the Muny.  As I looked around the restaurant I noticed that out of the 10 occupied tables - 7 of them were really old couples - I'm talking upper 80's here.  For some reason this really bothers me - am I being gently shuffled into an old folks home without my knowledge.  Steve says it's the economy - young families can't afford to go out to eat as often anymore.  But I don't know - it seemed kinda 'twilight zoney' to me.  As for The Producers - it was a beautiful night to be outside but I wish they would have quit making so much noise on the stage - or in other words:  it was bearable but nothing I would recommend.

Dreams have always intrigued me.  My mama use to have some of the craziest dreams ever and I've known several to dream of events that actually happened later.  I saw my niece Meredith in my dreams before I knew she was born - looked just like her.  My dad had a second middle name (which he always denied but it was on his birth certificate) because his mother dreamed a great aunt visited her in a dream and reminded her this baby was to bear her name - so Alason was added to his James David.   I know everyone dreams and we all have those weird 'what did I eat before I went to bed?' dreams - but lately I'm dreaming in snippets.    The first night it was like I was dreaming in snippet flashes - I kept waking up in between the dreams (at least I think I was really waking up) but I was very aware the dreams were all the same sort but just quick flashes that really had no connection.  Last night the dreams were like I was watching movie previews or commercials - I never got to see the 'feature presentation'.  Any dream experts out there to tell me what this might mean - maybe I just need to go live in the woods for awhile away from technology.

And just in case you're wondering - I have nothing to say about 'beans' - it just made my title flow better.  :)

Have a great day and sweet dreams!

Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day.  I had a wonderful daddy and I miss him so much.  He was one of those people you just enjoyed being with - even when he was 'trying' to be hard to get along with - he loved to tease and always put me in a good mood. 

 Happy Father's Day Daddy!

I have a son and 2 son-in-laws that have proven to me that they are fantastic fathers already.  It's fun to watch them goo at their babies and I know they will raise my grandchildren to be amazing people and they will bring them up to know and love God.

Happy Father's Day Karl, Stevie, & Nate!

Nate & Gracie (yes I stole this picture from Becky's blog)

Stevie & Ayden

Karl & his boys - Spencer & Coen

And then there is the father of my children.  Thank you Steve for being a good Christian example for our children and for all the fun you brought into our lives.

Happy Father's Day Steve - And Happy Belated Birthday Party!

Just Thinking Out Loud

Two Thoughts:

# 1 -TV Reality shows

I know lots of people that truly love all those reality shows - but I have a tough time with them.  I'm not really sure what characterizes a "reality" show, but I see 3 different groups.  There's the 'out on an island' or 'let's all live in one house' group - I really have no interest in watching people swat bugs and argue about who's side who is on.  I'm not sure that sentence makes sense - but you get my drift.  

Then there's the very worse group - I'm not sure if there's more than one show of this sort but I caught the last 2 minutes of Moment of Truth - these people are crazy.  I'm guessing it's all show and they're all really lying- but still - who want's to watch that?

Then there's the 3rd group - and I can understand the attraction to some of them - Idol and Can you Dance type shows.  By a friend's encouragement I actually watched the Food Network show about finding a new 'cooking star' and it wasn't too bad.  I know I'm just too wimpy but it hurts me to see those people get put down.  

I guess I'll just stick to the bloody, violent shoot 'em and cut 'em up shows like NCIS, CIS, and House.  I really don't like the blood and violence but I enjoy the drama and  chemistry between the characters.

 #2 - Books of a 'spiritual' nature:

I just finished reading "The Shack" because I had heard so many people talking about it.  It was ok but not one I'd recommend to anyone - too wordy & preachy for me.  But I noticed as I read this book - sometimes the author says things that IF he really knew what he was talking about, he would have answered some question of mine.  I have to stop and remind myself that he's not receiving this by inspiration - he's just another guy with his own opinion, regardless if I happen to like that opinion or not.  Which made me think about all the other books that I've read that had the same effect on me - sometimes about heaven, miracles, angels, or the 'last days'.  We have the Left Behind series, 5 People You Meet In Heaven, This Present Darkness, City of Angels, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, Peace Like a River, and even Stephen King's Last Stand.  I'm know there are plenty more.  I figure God is shaking his head and just laughing at us.

One final thought for the day: I know most of you are loving this summer weather - But I would really love to have a summer of 60- 70 degrees - but I guess that's just me.  Everyone have a good week and all you daddies have a great Father's Day.

Someone is 59!

Doesn't look a day over 58 does he?  

And he'll always be a little kid at heart!

We will have to wait until kids return from trips 

and the dust settles before we can really take him out to celebrate.

But that doesn't mean he's not already another year older.

Happy Birthday Steve!  Love you

High School Reunions

My daughter was mentioning that her 10 year class reunion was this summer - although I know that can't be true because it was bad enough when her older sister had hers (4 years ago!) and I know I couldn't be that old.  

Anyway, as it would happen, I also found myself perusing that Classmate website - which led to them sending me emails.  You know the ones "See who's checking up on you by giving us money - yada, yada, yada"  But they did email me that I could check out someone's photo album for free.  It happened to be a girl I went to grade school & high school with and it was pics from out last reunion (guess how many years) which I did not attend- so of course - I checked it out.   WHO WERE THOSE OLD PEOPLE?? :)

I've never been very good at recognizing someone I've not seen in years but I did actually pick out a few familiar faces - but most of them were just total strangers to me.  Which got me thinking - if they have another one next year (which is another landmark year for us) should I go?  I can't imagine what I would have to say to most of them - if I could even figure out who they are.  Oh I know there will be name tags but unless they are written in about 50 font - I will have to stand very close to read them.  And even then - can I be sure I'll remember who they are.

The truth is - I don't think I really like reunions as such.  I know I'm probably the odd one -Steve would probably enjoy mine even more than I would but that's because he has never struggled to find something to say even to a total stranger.  

I remember the 10 year reunion - everyone still recognizable but a few shocking changes and we were just starting to get on with our own personal lives.  The 20 year was a little harder and the 25 - except for a few old friends I really wanted to see, I couldn't wait to leave.   And I think that is my problem - I'm not a party person - I prefer one to one get-togethers.  I've only kept in touch with a couple of friends from those years.  I tried to do better but you know how life gets in the way.  So I can't decide if it is worth my discomfort to try and catch up with a few people I really would like to see - or should I just skip it and save myself the grief (you know what I mean - there's the diet - the right outfit - the haircut, etc. etc.   Any suggestions?