I love Feedjit. Scroll down and you'll find it on the right side of my blog. It tracks where your visitors are from or at least near because when I check in, I'm always from someplace else...I think because we have satellite hookup... It also tells where they clicked from...like HGTV or a link on the local newspaper or via a search or even direct.
Eighteen hours ago, someone in Holy See, Vatican State, did a search for Jambalaya, crawfish pie, me oh my oh...or something like that. And they hit on MY blog! Took them straight to a jambalaya recipe I posted.
Isn't that just neat-o?!
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Friday, June 5, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Doing Nothing!
Yep. June 1 has been a holiday. Actually, since I've returned from Arkansas I've been on holiday. We rode our Harley's to Paris Saturday for servicing...mine got its 1,000 service at 1,400+ and Sam's got its 15,000 mile service...remember his is almost 2 years older than mine. I doubt very seriously that I'll have that many miles on mine in 2 years though. 
When I opened the front door this morning, a bird flew out of the hanging fern. Birds have laid eggs in the old nest in the hanging fern (it had four or five babies in it early this spring. That poor plant may not survive if it doesn't get to the point where I can fertilize and water it in a consistent manner!
When I opened the front door this morning, a bird flew out of the hanging fern. Birds have laid eggs in the old nest in the hanging fern (it had four or five babies in it early this spring. That poor plant may not survive if it doesn't get to the point where I can fertilize and water it in a consistent manner!I tried to cut out a pair of scrub pants for Jonathan...half yard too little fabric.
The last top I made him had palm trees on it. His girlfriend liked the fabric and I have enough left over to cut a back and the "skirt" part of the front. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough of a piece of solid yellow to cut the bodice and sleeves...well, not enough to cut even one of those out. I'll be taking Mama to the doctor Wednesday for a checkup so will drop by Hobby Lobby and/or Hancock's to see what I can find.
I took a few photos of flowers today. Thank
goodness I've planted things that can pretty much take care of themselves 'cause I sure haven't been doing anything for them this year!
The French hollihocks survived the weedeating! Carol (who gave me my start originally) asked me about them. We found a few outside the flower bed and a few inside. I pointed her to some throw-away flower pots and the trowel so that she could dig some up and take home. I prowled around a bit and found a stash of seeds too.
Remember all those beautiful bluebonnets? They are pretty scraggly now.
They can't be mown down until the seed pods have completely dried. There's a pretty bad weedy looking mess down by the road, but Sam hasn't complained about them (at least not in my hearing). I certainly don't like how they look. I talked with Carol about planting some other type of wildflower seeds in the same area that would be blooming next year while the bluebonnets are drying out...coreopsis maybe...
They can't be mown down until the seed pods have completely dried. There's a pretty bad weedy looking mess down by the road, but Sam hasn't complained about them (at least not in my hearing). I certainly don't like how they look. I talked with Carol about planting some other type of wildflower seeds in the same area that would be blooming next year while the bluebonnets are drying out...coreopsis maybe...
Hopefully this year I can catch my mother-in-law's tongue/snake plant/sansaveria when it actually blooms. I recently divided them and shared with the ag department at school. Actually, I gave the head of the department a whole potfull and half of the other one. This is the second time since moving back home in 2004 that I've divided them. They multiply very quickly filling the pot in no time.
Sam and Elton started on our metal building today. Foundations for ours and Elton's were poured back in November. After the first of the year, they erected the red iron (framing) on Elton's. Then, having to wait for time when the wind wasn't blowing, they eventually were able to put up the wall insulation and the metal sheeting. The roof was put up by a hired crew one weekend. Sam, Elton, and Carol installed the windows.
Now, here's ours going up:
They didn't get started until after lunch and worked a couple hours more after these photos. Carol and I grilled steaks and squash for supper. Finished it off with a Sara Lee pound cake topped with strawberries. I meant to bake a pound cake this morning...but forgot. :o(
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Ozark Getaway Part Three
We did have so much fun around the Courthouse Square in Mt. View. I've mentioned the music. I haven't mentioned the food.
First though, you've got to drive/ride out to Fifty-Six for one of their hamburgers. Always. ALWAYS delicious. Oh. Fifty-Six is the name of the town.
While listening to the music on the Square, you must get a scoop of ice cream. I did. Three different days/times. Black walnut - in tribute to my dad. Chocolate. Then again, chocolate. I am assuming that the brand was Yarnell since that is an Arkansas brand, but I didn't ask. The chocolate was so creamy.
Changing subjects...have you seen the fabric sleeves that look as if you have a real tattooed sleeve? I have a t-shirt with tattooed sleeves. I put it on one morning. Sam said that when I got off the bike at the restaurant for breakfast that a man sitting in a rocker on the 'front porch' looked disgusted. And when we walked into the restaurant a few heads turned and gawked. (I loved it!) ...You can see similar sleeves here http://www.prankplace.com/tattoo.htm ...mine were actually attached to a short sleeve t-shirt.
So...we are at the Square that afternoon. Standing... since we don't carry folding chairs with us on the Harleys. This guy in front of me stands and moves his lawn chair out of the way so that two older ladies can maneuver around and out of the way (Sam and I are patiently waiting cause we are going to claim the rockers that they vacated.) This guy moves his chair back in place and proceeds to sit down. Unfortunately he has placed his very nice straw cowboy hat in his chair. I nearly panicked for him, saying "No! Your hat!" As I reach out and grabbed him. Well. Actually I grabbed his butt. ;o) Never pass an opportunity to grab a nice man's butt...or a man's nice butt...I always say. About the time I did it...I realized what I'd done. I said, "OH!" and jerked my hand back. Too late. His wife saw. And she laughed.
We sat down in the recently vacated rockers and laughed along with the couple. I have to say that the wife enjoyed it so much more than her husband. She said she really had a hard time keeping him in line and just wait until she got home to tell the grown kids. ;o)
Sam and I eventually walked across the Courthouse Square to eat Mexican food at El Tres Amigos. (Yes, I know enough Spanish to know that it should be Los Tres Amigos.) Remember, I have on the tattoo sleeve t-shirt. Two Hispanic young men, employees, made a beeline for me. When the first one got closer, he was still smiling, but his face fell a bit. He and his buddy wanted to check out my tattoos. That shirt is so much fun!
Saturday night we went to the White River Hoedown. We sat beside a couple from northern California. We talked and laughed before the show even started. He started it...he 'saved the seats for us and would've baked a cake but he didn't know how long it would take us to get there.' I replied that I'd bought the ice cream that afternoon but he never showed up so I had to eat it all. After bantering back and forth a bit I advised him not to get up and leave his cap/hat in the seat. He gave me a closer look then smiled. 'I saw you! You had on the t-shirt that looked like you had tattoos. You're the woman who grabbed that guy on the butt to keep him from sitting on his hat.'
Geesh. Can't do anything any more without somebody watching!
First though, you've got to drive/ride out to Fifty-Six for one of their hamburgers. Always. ALWAYS delicious. Oh. Fifty-Six is the name of the town.
While listening to the music on the Square, you must get a scoop of ice cream. I did. Three different days/times. Black walnut - in tribute to my dad. Chocolate. Then again, chocolate. I am assuming that the brand was Yarnell since that is an Arkansas brand, but I didn't ask. The chocolate was so creamy.
Changing subjects...have you seen the fabric sleeves that look as if you have a real tattooed sleeve? I have a t-shirt with tattooed sleeves. I put it on one morning. Sam said that when I got off the bike at the restaurant for breakfast that a man sitting in a rocker on the 'front porch' looked disgusted. And when we walked into the restaurant a few heads turned and gawked. (I loved it!) ...You can see similar sleeves here http://www.prankplace.com/tattoo.htm ...mine were actually attached to a short sleeve t-shirt.
So...we are at the Square that afternoon. Standing... since we don't carry folding chairs with us on the Harleys. This guy in front of me stands and moves his lawn chair out of the way so that two older ladies can maneuver around and out of the way (Sam and I are patiently waiting cause we are going to claim the rockers that they vacated.) This guy moves his chair back in place and proceeds to sit down. Unfortunately he has placed his very nice straw cowboy hat in his chair. I nearly panicked for him, saying "No! Your hat!" As I reach out and grabbed him. Well. Actually I grabbed his butt. ;o) Never pass an opportunity to grab a nice man's butt...or a man's nice butt...I always say. About the time I did it...I realized what I'd done. I said, "OH!" and jerked my hand back. Too late. His wife saw. And she laughed.
We sat down in the recently vacated rockers and laughed along with the couple. I have to say that the wife enjoyed it so much more than her husband. She said she really had a hard time keeping him in line and just wait until she got home to tell the grown kids. ;o)
Sam and I eventually walked across the Courthouse Square to eat Mexican food at El Tres Amigos. (Yes, I know enough Spanish to know that it should be Los Tres Amigos.) Remember, I have on the tattoo sleeve t-shirt. Two Hispanic young men, employees, made a beeline for me. When the first one got closer, he was still smiling, but his face fell a bit. He and his buddy wanted to check out my tattoos. That shirt is so much fun!
Saturday night we went to the White River Hoedown. We sat beside a couple from northern California. We talked and laughed before the show even started. He started it...he 'saved the seats for us and would've baked a cake but he didn't know how long it would take us to get there.' I replied that I'd bought the ice cream that afternoon but he never showed up so I had to eat it all. After bantering back and forth a bit I advised him not to get up and leave his cap/hat in the seat. He gave me a closer look then smiled. 'I saw you! You had on the t-shirt that looked like you had tattoos. You're the woman who grabbed that guy on the butt to keep him from sitting on his hat.'
Geesh. Can't do anything any more without somebody watching!
Ozark Getaway Part Two
Riding a motorcycle puts you up front and personal with everything around you. The heat. The cold. The wet. The steep, narrow, curving roadways. (Yep. Had to throw that in again.)
The aromas wafting from the roadsides can be so intoxicating...honeysuckle, ligustrum. Oh! One fence was just covered with an antique rose bush...and the bush was filled to almost solid white with blooms. It may have been a Lady Banks.
In addition to the sweet intoxicating scents from flowers, several hazards abound.
18-wheelers hauling cattle
Dairy farms
Chicken houses
Roadkill
Now, roadkill falls into two categories. Fresh or putrid. Ah, yes. There is a difference. As you approach and pass fresh roadkill, you detect a metallic coppery scent. Putrified...well, that needs no explanation.
I learned. When I saw something in the road, or a cattle truck headed my direction, or chicken houses in the pasture, I would take several deep breaths. Then hold my breath as I approached the offending object. As I passed it, I would slowly release my breathe. Worked most of the time to keep the lingering scent from hanging around.
The aromas wafting from the roadsides can be so intoxicating...honeysuckle, ligustrum. Oh! One fence was just covered with an antique rose bush...and the bush was filled to almost solid white with blooms. It may have been a Lady Banks.
In addition to the sweet intoxicating scents from flowers, several hazards abound.
18-wheelers hauling cattle
Dairy farms
Chicken houses
Roadkill
Now, roadkill falls into two categories. Fresh or putrid. Ah, yes. There is a difference. As you approach and pass fresh roadkill, you detect a metallic coppery scent. Putrified...well, that needs no explanation.
I learned. When I saw something in the road, or a cattle truck headed my direction, or chicken houses in the pasture, I would take several deep breaths. Then hold my breath as I approached the offending object. As I passed it, I would slowly release my breathe. Worked most of the time to keep the lingering scent from hanging around.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Ozark Getaway
On motorcycles. Yes. I rode my own this time. So proud of myself! Last year about this same time we got rained on going 'up.' This time rain wasn't predicted until Sunday...the day we planned to head home.
Observations:
Texas roads are better (straighter and flatter)
Damnable grooves during an Arkansas road construction that went on ... like ... FOREVER it seemed. Try that on just 2 wheels! I dare ya! chatter...chatter...chatter
Repeat after me..."Never, ever. And I do mean NEVER attempt Hwy. 9 from Clinton AR to Mt. View AR. Never, ever, NEVER, EVER AGAIN!"
Have you ever in your entire life heard of a 15 mph curve? FIFTEEN MPH CURVE?! That's not a curve! That's a 45 degree or tighter TURN. Now listen up people. 15 MPH is NOT A CURVE!! I rest my case!
Do you know what is at the bottom of an "Oh, SHIT!" downhill 25 MPH curve? A BRIDGE! In the curve, aka turn! And they are also in just about every other 25-40-50 MPH downhill curve. A bridge! A narrow bridge at that!
Do you know what the double yellow stripes down the center of the road mean on those narrow pigtrail roads in Arkansas? NOTHING! NADA! ZILCH!! Which means you better stay on your side of the road because there's no guarantee that the car/pickup/18-wheeler that's coming atcha is gonna stay on his/her side of the road.
We hit the road between Clinton and Mt. View eight hours after we left the house. We stopped several times to walk around a bit, get a drink of water or a 'coke,' to eat lunch. So it wasn't all eight hours on the road, but it was still EIGHT HOURS...then get hit with those tight turns and curves. I was petrified! I took them at the recommended posted speed, but the locals in their cars/pickups didn't like it very much. TOUGH! I didn't want to get scraped off the pavement or untwirled from around a tree trunk. Eventually there was a straight (LOL) stretch of road where four or five cars and pickups could get around me...the last...a woman...laid on her car horn...like I could give a care! ;o) I didn't try to keep up with Sam and I didn't let the vehicles behind me 'push' me. I'm telling you! I could've crawled around some of those curves/turns faster on my hands and knees than I was riding around them!!
I talked to God. I told Him that I would not ride 'over my head' and He could take care of the rest. AMEN!!
Sam pulled over one time to let me catch up with him...I didn't stop...I just kept right on going. So, now I am in the lead. I had two or three more vehicles behind me when I noticed an 18-wheeler back there. Since I'm from a truck driving family...I didn't want him mad at me. Lo and behold! Thank you God! A convenience store! I whipped my turn signal on faster than you could blink and pulled into the lot...right in front of the pumps...hit the kill switch...put the kick stand down...got off the bike and looked Sam square in the eyes when he stopped beside me. "I am NOT having fun!" I wanted to cry. This narrow, crooked, steep road was 38 miles of sheer white knuckle terror!
Sigh. I made it to the Red Bud Inn in Mt. View and parked my bike. I didn't move it until we got ready to leave...rode two-up with Sam the whole time we were there.
I love the winding narrow twisting roads when I ride with him. You know something? Hwy 9 north of Mt. View going to Melburne Arkansas (where NASCAR racer, Mike Martin, has a car dealership) is just as crooked as the southern part?! What WERE they thinking. Okay...it started out as a game trail. The Indians walked along the trail turning it into a path that the first trappers followed. Somebody got the bright idea to go over the mountains in a wagon and they continued to follow the game trails or the path of 'least resistance' whenever they could. Then the Model T's followed behind the wagons. My question is when somebody finally went to college and got the 'engineer' diploma...couldn't they figure out a better way to build a road besides following a long ago game trail? HUH?! ;o)
Mt. View was so enjoyable! YOU've got to go there if you like music at all. Old-time music now! Mountain music, some country, some bluegrass...acoustic guitars, fiddles, mandolins, banjos, bass fiddles. You can find just about anything you like on the Courthouse Square. If you play, take your instrument, they will scoot over and let you pull up a chair!
Two groups worth mentioning:
The Turner Family from Mt. View. A wonderful gospel group. A dad, two grown daughters, and a young son. The youngest daughter caresses that banjo and can make the most beautiful music flow from it. http://www.myspace.com/turnerfamilybluegrass
Cross Creek is from Paris Texas! They will be playing at the HWY 80 Mission in Longview TX June 6. (I think that's what we were told.) - Hmmm...can't find their MySpace page...But I did find a photo. http://m.wayn.com/waynphotos.html?wci=photo&photo_key=28099052&ref_id= The three women are sisters. The man with the fiddle is standing almost in front of his wife. ALRIGHT!!! Back to edit again. Finally found their MySpace page! http://www.myspace.com/crosscreek08
We went to the Cash's White River Hoedown Saturday. The show was good and hilarious at times! We laughed so hard during the comedy. http://www.whiteriverhoedown.com/
I asked Sam to ride out to Leslie...Yes, it's a town just like Shirley. BTW, those of you who don't know me personally...guess what my parents' names are? Leslie AND Shirley. ;o) Anywho...the road to Leslie was not as winding and treacherous. Same 38 miles but only the last two miles are tight curves. So, that's the direction we headed Sunday morning to go home. Only problem...it's raining. Not storming, but a steady rain. Yuck. We have all the appropriate riding gear so suited up and headed out at a nice leisurely pace.
We stopped at Clinton for fuel and breakfast. Waited and rested a bit then started out again. I didn't get antsy until Morrilton. Like...PULL OVER SAM! He's in front. I turned my blinker on in plenty of time for him to see...only he didn't. We get out of Morrilton and cross the Arkansas River bridge. It RAINING harder and the wind is gusting. And I'm on a bridge WAAAAYYYYY up in the air. I can barely see Sam for the rain. I WANT TO STOP NOW! Lo and behold. Thank you God! I see a convenience store. Deja vu' (more of them French words). ;o) I turn my blinker on and turn in. I watch as Sam continues down the road. I park and walk to the front and wait for the returning lone rider. When I see a bike, I wave, point to the side where I'm parked, and walk into the store...dripping water everywhere. Yep, it was Sam. We pulled off wet gear...and I do mean wet. My feet are sloshing my gloves are wet and yucky. I'm not cold though...ah...always a silver lining in the cloud.
Get something to drink. Go back out to the bike to get my paperback. Read until the rain slacks off...some...potty break...head back out yet again. When we got to Mt. Ida, somehow I'm in the lead again. LOL Sam's probably afraid I'll pull over without him knowing again. ;o) I pulled over and looked at him when he stopped. "I'm tired. Find out if there's a motel, a B&B or if someone will rent a bedroom or their camper for the night." We survey our surroundings and guess what I see? No...not a convenience store...a MOTEL!!! Mt. Ida Motel. Remember the first motels? Motor courts? That's what this was. Older than dirt! A bit run down. But clean and only $40. LOL
We slept late this morning. Although it wasn't raining, it was still dreary looking. Suited up. Again. Headed out. Again. Somewhere down the road we stopped for fuel. A car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down and I thought..."Ah-oh. Irate because I was going too slow to suit him." An older couple looked at me. "You were lucky back there. We've followed you since Mt. Ida. A deer ran out right behind you and in front of the car right in front of us. It slipped and scrambled around on the wet pavement. Got it's feet back under it, then headed back the way it came." I know I looked at him blank-faced. That's not what I was expecting to hear and it just didn't register. I didn't think to tell him about the promise I made to God about not riding over my head and He would handle the rest. Well...He did!
We ate lunch...headed out again. Had just a few sprinkles on us the other side of Dierks then the glorious blue sky started showing. We stopped at the next town and shucked the rain gear off and put on sunglasses. The rest of the ride home was sweet! We stopped in New Boston for David Beard's Catfish King...catfish of course.
So. There's the saga. Photos? Yes. I took my camera. No. I didn't take it out of the bag...not once! Like when was I going to have time? Going around those 15 mph TURNS? I'm truly surprised that I didn't get one single photo.
Hopefully this make up for the lack of photos and for this post being like the Energizer bunny...going on and on and on...
Observations:
Texas roads are better (straighter and flatter)
Damnable grooves during an Arkansas road construction that went on ... like ... FOREVER it seemed. Try that on just 2 wheels! I dare ya! chatter...chatter...chatter
Repeat after me..."Never, ever. And I do mean NEVER attempt Hwy. 9 from Clinton AR to Mt. View AR. Never, ever, NEVER, EVER AGAIN!"
Have you ever in your entire life heard of a 15 mph curve? FIFTEEN MPH CURVE?! That's not a curve! That's a 45 degree or tighter TURN. Now listen up people. 15 MPH is NOT A CURVE!! I rest my case!
Do you know what is at the bottom of an "Oh, SHIT!" downhill 25 MPH curve? A BRIDGE! In the curve, aka turn! And they are also in just about every other 25-40-50 MPH downhill curve. A bridge! A narrow bridge at that!
Do you know what the double yellow stripes down the center of the road mean on those narrow pigtrail roads in Arkansas? NOTHING! NADA! ZILCH!! Which means you better stay on your side of the road because there's no guarantee that the car/pickup/18-wheeler that's coming atcha is gonna stay on his/her side of the road.
We hit the road between Clinton and Mt. View eight hours after we left the house. We stopped several times to walk around a bit, get a drink of water or a 'coke,' to eat lunch. So it wasn't all eight hours on the road, but it was still EIGHT HOURS...then get hit with those tight turns and curves. I was petrified! I took them at the recommended posted speed, but the locals in their cars/pickups didn't like it very much. TOUGH! I didn't want to get scraped off the pavement or untwirled from around a tree trunk. Eventually there was a straight (LOL) stretch of road where four or five cars and pickups could get around me...the last...a woman...laid on her car horn...like I could give a care! ;o) I didn't try to keep up with Sam and I didn't let the vehicles behind me 'push' me. I'm telling you! I could've crawled around some of those curves/turns faster on my hands and knees than I was riding around them!!
I talked to God. I told Him that I would not ride 'over my head' and He could take care of the rest. AMEN!!
Sam pulled over one time to let me catch up with him...I didn't stop...I just kept right on going. So, now I am in the lead. I had two or three more vehicles behind me when I noticed an 18-wheeler back there. Since I'm from a truck driving family...I didn't want him mad at me. Lo and behold! Thank you God! A convenience store! I whipped my turn signal on faster than you could blink and pulled into the lot...right in front of the pumps...hit the kill switch...put the kick stand down...got off the bike and looked Sam square in the eyes when he stopped beside me. "I am NOT having fun!" I wanted to cry. This narrow, crooked, steep road was 38 miles of sheer white knuckle terror!
Sigh. I made it to the Red Bud Inn in Mt. View and parked my bike. I didn't move it until we got ready to leave...rode two-up with Sam the whole time we were there.
I love the winding narrow twisting roads when I ride with him. You know something? Hwy 9 north of Mt. View going to Melburne Arkansas (where NASCAR racer, Mike Martin, has a car dealership) is just as crooked as the southern part?! What WERE they thinking. Okay...it started out as a game trail. The Indians walked along the trail turning it into a path that the first trappers followed. Somebody got the bright idea to go over the mountains in a wagon and they continued to follow the game trails or the path of 'least resistance' whenever they could. Then the Model T's followed behind the wagons. My question is when somebody finally went to college and got the 'engineer' diploma...couldn't they figure out a better way to build a road besides following a long ago game trail? HUH?! ;o)
Mt. View was so enjoyable! YOU've got to go there if you like music at all. Old-time music now! Mountain music, some country, some bluegrass...acoustic guitars, fiddles, mandolins, banjos, bass fiddles. You can find just about anything you like on the Courthouse Square. If you play, take your instrument, they will scoot over and let you pull up a chair!
Two groups worth mentioning:
The Turner Family from Mt. View. A wonderful gospel group. A dad, two grown daughters, and a young son. The youngest daughter caresses that banjo and can make the most beautiful music flow from it. http://www.myspace.com/turnerfamilybluegrass
Cross Creek is from Paris Texas! They will be playing at the HWY 80 Mission in Longview TX June 6. (I think that's what we were told.) - Hmmm...can't find their MySpace page...But I did find a photo. http://m.wayn.com/waynphotos.html?wci=photo&photo_key=28099052&ref_id= The three women are sisters. The man with the fiddle is standing almost in front of his wife. ALRIGHT!!! Back to edit again. Finally found their MySpace page! http://www.myspace.com/crosscreek08
We went to the Cash's White River Hoedown Saturday. The show was good and hilarious at times! We laughed so hard during the comedy. http://www.whiteriverhoedown.com/
I asked Sam to ride out to Leslie...Yes, it's a town just like Shirley. BTW, those of you who don't know me personally...guess what my parents' names are? Leslie AND Shirley. ;o) Anywho...the road to Leslie was not as winding and treacherous. Same 38 miles but only the last two miles are tight curves. So, that's the direction we headed Sunday morning to go home. Only problem...it's raining. Not storming, but a steady rain. Yuck. We have all the appropriate riding gear so suited up and headed out at a nice leisurely pace.
We stopped at Clinton for fuel and breakfast. Waited and rested a bit then started out again. I didn't get antsy until Morrilton. Like...PULL OVER SAM! He's in front. I turned my blinker on in plenty of time for him to see...only he didn't. We get out of Morrilton and cross the Arkansas River bridge. It RAINING harder and the wind is gusting. And I'm on a bridge WAAAAYYYYY up in the air. I can barely see Sam for the rain. I WANT TO STOP NOW! Lo and behold. Thank you God! I see a convenience store. Deja vu' (more of them French words). ;o) I turn my blinker on and turn in. I watch as Sam continues down the road. I park and walk to the front and wait for the returning lone rider. When I see a bike, I wave, point to the side where I'm parked, and walk into the store...dripping water everywhere. Yep, it was Sam. We pulled off wet gear...and I do mean wet. My feet are sloshing my gloves are wet and yucky. I'm not cold though...ah...always a silver lining in the cloud.
Get something to drink. Go back out to the bike to get my paperback. Read until the rain slacks off...some...potty break...head back out yet again. When we got to Mt. Ida, somehow I'm in the lead again. LOL Sam's probably afraid I'll pull over without him knowing again. ;o) I pulled over and looked at him when he stopped. "I'm tired. Find out if there's a motel, a B&B or if someone will rent a bedroom or their camper for the night." We survey our surroundings and guess what I see? No...not a convenience store...a MOTEL!!! Mt. Ida Motel. Remember the first motels? Motor courts? That's what this was. Older than dirt! A bit run down. But clean and only $40. LOL
We slept late this morning. Although it wasn't raining, it was still dreary looking. Suited up. Again. Headed out. Again. Somewhere down the road we stopped for fuel. A car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down and I thought..."Ah-oh. Irate because I was going too slow to suit him." An older couple looked at me. "You were lucky back there. We've followed you since Mt. Ida. A deer ran out right behind you and in front of the car right in front of us. It slipped and scrambled around on the wet pavement. Got it's feet back under it, then headed back the way it came." I know I looked at him blank-faced. That's not what I was expecting to hear and it just didn't register. I didn't think to tell him about the promise I made to God about not riding over my head and He would handle the rest. Well...He did!
We ate lunch...headed out again. Had just a few sprinkles on us the other side of Dierks then the glorious blue sky started showing. We stopped at the next town and shucked the rain gear off and put on sunglasses. The rest of the ride home was sweet! We stopped in New Boston for David Beard's Catfish King...catfish of course.
So. There's the saga. Photos? Yes. I took my camera. No. I didn't take it out of the bag...not once! Like when was I going to have time? Going around those 15 mph TURNS? I'm truly surprised that I didn't get one single photo.
Hopefully this make up for the lack of photos and for this post being like the Energizer bunny...going on and on and on...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Parlez-vous du français ?
Aujourd'hui nous avons pris notre Harleys à Paris.
Better that I say, Hey, y'all! Today we rode our Harleys to Paris...TEXAS!
Now I used one of those online translators so please don't scream at me for using incorrect French grammar. Thank you.
I really, really enjoyed the ride. It was about 150 miles round trip. I've been 'riding' in my mind...stopping...starting...making turns. And the 'practice' paid off! I stopped beside Sam most of the time not two lengths behind him. Didn't make the bike die any time that I started off. And while I'm still not as zippy as Sam is on the start, I am soooo much better than I was last fall when I stopped riding for the winter.
I admit. I am a fair weather rider. As my confidence builds I can't help but improve. Now. Turning in a tight spot. roll eyes
Better that I say, Hey, y'all! Today we rode our Harleys to Paris...TEXAS!
Now I used one of those online translators so please don't scream at me for using incorrect French grammar. Thank you.
I really, really enjoyed the ride. It was about 150 miles round trip. I've been 'riding' in my mind...stopping...starting...making turns. And the 'practice' paid off! I stopped beside Sam most of the time not two lengths behind him. Didn't make the bike die any time that I started off. And while I'm still not as zippy as Sam is on the start, I am soooo much better than I was last fall when I stopped riding for the winter.
I admit. I am a fair weather rider. As my confidence builds I can't help but improve. Now. Turning in a tight spot. roll eyes
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I Won a Door Prize!
I went to Women's Garage Party at the Harley Shop in Longview this evening. http://www.theharleyshopinc.com/ This was their first time and it was a great success. We were divided into four groups and went to four stations...finishing with a fifth station to fill out a survey. We were shown the Harley's, appropriate riding gear, parts department told of several things that can be done to make 'your' Harley a better fit for 'you,' and how to pick up a 500+ pound bike. I did it! I've been wanting Sam to lay my bike down and let me try to pick it up...well, not pick it up, but set it upright. My bike is another 200 pounds heavier though. I still need to give it a try.
AND!!! I won the big door prize! They gave away two t-shirt celebrating May as Ladies Month. Then a basket with a bag that can be worn over the shoulder or clipped to the belt loops on a pair of jeans, a pair of shades, a disposable camera, a photo frame, and a doo-rag. YEAH ME!!
On to more sedate things...this is what I've been working on with the ribbon yarn.
Rats, the cables don't show up very well. This is the first time I've ever attempted cables.
And, look at this. I read someplace that when doing stockinette stitch, that the purl side looks looser on the right side. Mine does. Look just above the ribbing at the thick and thin rows. I am now making a concerted effort to tighten the purl stitches and make looser knit stitches. The stitches closest to the needles are more even. I am NOT going to ribbet what I've already done. I am still learning how to knit...and I am extremely proud of what I've accomplished so far.
Monday, May 11, 2009
This Week...
Not much has been going on around here. Too much rain to get on the motorcycle...which I haven't been on mine since last fall. The weather has been so odd...cooler and wetter than a normal May. But, hey! This is northeast Texas! So...it really is normal.
Returning from the Aggie reunion in San Antone I found these in bloom.
I've been cooking. For a week now, I've been thinking about banana pudding...made of course with Nabisco 'Nilla wafers. The recipe is on the box. The only thing I do different...the recipe calls for 3 eggs separated. You beat the yolks into the pudding and make a meringue with the whites. I use two whole eggs. Whisk them with the milk for the pudding. Instead of meringue, I top with Nilla wafers.
Do you like spaetzle? I do. Sam doesn't care for it. But I found a recipe in Emeril Lagasse's book From Emeril's Kitchen. Sam like this better than the original.
Creole Mustard Spaetzle
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 ¾ teaspoons salt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup milk
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon Creole mustard
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Combine flour and ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk, then add to the flour, whisking until smooth. Add ¼ cup of the mustard and the oil and mix well.
Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl; set aside.
Bring 4 quarts water and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt to a rolling boil in a large pot. Pour half of the batter into a colander and with a rubber spatula, force the batter through the holes into the water. Cook, stirring, until the dumplings rise to the surface, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a long handled slotted spoon to the ice bath. Repeat with remaining batter. Drain and place in a large bowl.
Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter is foamy, add the remaining 1 tablespoon mustard and swirl to blend. Add spaetzle, parsley, and lemon juice and stir to mix. Cook until spaetzle is warmed through, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
My recipe for plain spaetzle comes from a 1950 Mennonite Community Cookbook.
Spatzlein (Little Sparrows)
1 egg 1 cup water 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt
2 quarts boiling water 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Beat egg throughly. Add water and beat until well blended with egg. Mix flour and salt and add to liquid. Beat until smooth. Bring salted water and drop spatzlein into water. To do this, tilt bowl containing batter in a position that it can be cut with the edge of a spoon as it purs over the edfge of the bowl. The spatzlein should be an inch long and 1/4 inch in diamter. Cook for 3 minutes after batter is all in the water. Drain in colander and top with brown butter. Makes 6 servings.
I have a double boiler. The top portion has holes in it similar to a colander. I hold the insert above the boiling water while I mash half the batter through the holes. After 3 minutes, I ladle the spaetzle out and into a bowl. Then mash the remaining batter through the holes in the double boiler insert.
You can serve these with plain butter or herbed butter.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Adios Vertigo
I forgot to update about the vertigo. It's gone. I did take Benadryl. Tried Dramamine but within 30 minutes I had to go to bed to sleep it off. Next time I can't sleep I know what do. LOL Thanks to all who were concerned about me.
God bless!
God bless!
Monday, May 4, 2009
A Pair of...
Okay. I understand a ...
...pair of socks. I mean, after all, there are TWO socks. Two separate generally matching entities.
I don't understand a...
...pair of slacks. I mean, who would wear two 'slacks'? Yep, two legs, but one waist, one back, one front, one butt, etc. Oh, wait...a butt is a pair of cheeks isn't it? ;o) But still, why a 'pair of slacks'?
Oh, well. Not worth losing sleep over.
But this is what made me think about it...I completed another pair of socks. I finished the second toe on the way back from San Antone yesterday and grafted the toe closed with a kitchener stitch.
They are made with Knit Picks Peruvian wool sock yarn. Yep, hand wash...lay flat to dry.
They are made with Knit Picks Peruvian wool sock yarn. Yep, hand wash...lay flat to dry.
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