Update From The Compound

A few days ago when we had our regularly scheduled afternoon monsoon, the Old Man noticed water dripping down from a corner of the gutter by the fireplace.  I texted Neighbor Nick and asked him if he could come check it out when the weather cleared up and when he had time.  He came over yesterday morning with his ladder and fixed a sagging part of the gutter. He also went around the whole house and cleared out all of the downspouts.  I will say this again - we have been blessed with great neighbors. 

Flashback Friday

 Way back in the day, Friday nights meant I could watch the Dukes of Hazzard and then Dallas. It was a highlight of the week.  It meant Saturday was the next day, and that meant watching Buggs Bunny et al cartoons for a couple of hours.

That's about all I got today. 

Garden Update

 This morning when I went out to water the Large Marge Memorial Garden, I counted 9 golf ball sized tomatoes on my biggest tomato plant.  You can't imagine how happy that makes me.

Stay tuned. 

Garden Update

 

I am beyond happy to share a picture of my first harvest from the Large Marge Memorial Garden.  Yesterday morning, I picked a mini cucumber. It was about four inches long, and as I was peeling it and slicing it for the Old Man's supper, I'm here to tell you it smelled wonderful.  I'm not a cucumber fan unless it is shredded in Benedictine or in dill pickle form, but the Old Man loves them and said it tasted great.

Stay tuned.

I'm Calling B.S.

 For the third time in a month and a half, I intended to stop at McDonalds for chocolate shakes for me and the Old Man for our noon-time treat.  And for three times, I had to go up a block to Burger King to get our shakes because McDonald's ice cream machine was "not working."  I've read a lot of reports over the past few years about McDonalds ice cream machine being down.  I'm calling B.S. on that.  If they took the time to clean it, or have corporate come and repair it, their customers would be happy with shakes, cones, and their much advertised McFlurry.  

Nuff said. 

Something You Don't See Everyday

 I went through the drive-thru at the corner liquor store yesterday to get my Powerball tickets, and as I drove off, something caught my eye.  At the end of the drive-thru at the back corner of the store is a big garbage can.  It's usually full of empty beer cans, liquor bottles and fast food bags.  Yesterday, the big garbage can had two empty Blue Bell half-gallon ice cream cartons.  There are no words. 

Flashback Friday

 

Back in the late 60s through the 70s, there was a very cool hamburger place here on Dixie Highway called the Red Barn.  Use your imagination and you will be able to see the reason for the name.  But I digress.  It was a typical fast food joint, with tables for dining in. It was my favorite burger place to go because they had something "new" - a toppings bar.  The toppings were nothing out of the ordinary - pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard and mayo.  But you could put as much on your burger as you wanted.  

Our neighbor Alice, aka Muggs, would take me there on Fridays.  Friday morning was her weekly trip to the beauty parlor and I would go with her. Afterward, we'd go about five minutes away to the Red Barn for lunch.  Good times. 

Cooking Update

 I am thrilled to report that my zucchini fritters and potato salad turned out great according to the Old Man.

The fritters were crispy and had a great taste; I even went out of my comfort zone and added some finely chopped green onions to them.  Martha Stewart knocked it out of the ball park with this recipe. My potato salad turned out just like I wanted.  The Old Man told me to be sure and put the leftovers in the fridge to have again tonight.

Stay Tuned

 I was surfing online at recipes while I was doing my stepping today on our Elipse electric stepper, and printed out half a dozen recipes I want to try.  A couple are out of my comfort zone, but I am going to try them.  A couple of weeks ago, I bought a small fryer from Amazon, and I am going to make some hushpuppies in them later this week.  Today, I am going to make Martha Stewart's zucchini fritters, and tomorrow I am going to try my hand at potato salad again. 

Stay tuned for reviews on the dishes I fix. 

Happy Day After Fathers Day

 I've said it before and I will say it again - I think everyday here in this house is Fathers Day. The Old Man agrees.  Nuff said. 

Happy Fathers Day

 TWIT and I would like to wish a happy Fathers Day to all of the fathers that are my faithful readers. 

The Old Man said he wanted cereal with a banana this morning for breakfast, and that's what he got.  He will be getting a glass of Moscato wine shortly, and then tonight he will have Impossible Zucchini Pie and beef tenderloin tips for supper, followed by vanilla ice cream with strawberries for dessert.

Enjoy - and celebrate and embrace your fathers.v

Fathers Day Eve

 Celebrating Fathers Day has already started.  I got the Old Man his favorite bakery's jelly donut for breakfast this morning.  And I got him his favorite Mexican place's quesadilla and awesome cheese dip for supper tonight.   And as I type this, he is rared back in his Lazy Boy sipping on some Scotch.  You can best bet we will continue the festivities tomorrow. 

A Better Wednesday

 Yesterday was better, and today is better than yesterday.  That's all I can ask for.  

I Hope Today Is Better

 Yesterday was truly one of the worst days I have had in years.  I can't get into it, but suffice to say I screwed up bigtime.  I felt conviction as soon as I did it, and I asked the Lord for forgiveness.  I even slept better last night than I have in a week or two.  Now it's up to someone else to forgive me.  

New To Me Product Review

 

Yesterday while buying our favorite coffee at GFS, on my way up to check out, my eye caught this black cherry berry tea on the shelf next to the coffee.  I had to buy it, being a big cherry fan.  I was sure not disappointed.  Earlier this afternoon, I made a cup of hot tea for the Old Man, and let my cup sit for a while and put ice in it. , and sweetened with local honey.  We both were impressed at the cherry flavor.  The Old Man said for me to always make sure we have a box on hand. And better yet, it is decaffeinated.  

Celestial Seasonings Black Cherry Berry Teat most definitely gets two thumbs up from TWIT. 

An Odd Day At The Compound

 I was outside today a few times, running errands and going out to check my garden.  Each time I went out, it still seemed odd not to see Tiny in the carport.  But I had a few texts today from my old boss, saying again and again how much they love Tiny.  That makes the oddity worth while.  

Happy National Donut Day

 TWIT and I would like to wish you,, faithful readers, a very happy National Donut Day.  We celebrated by getting donuts from one of our favorite donut shops, King Donuts.  We sure enjoyed our jelly donuts. 

Happy National Cheese Day

 TWIT and I would like to wish you, faithful readers, a very happy National Cheese Day.  In few minutes, the Old Man and I will have some Brie, pepper jack, along with grapes and crackers to celebrate. Enjoy your cheese today. 

My Favorite Day Of The Year

 Ode To Billy Joe 

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and we walked back to the house to eat
And mama hollered at the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said she got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge
Today Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Papa said to mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billie Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
Mama said it was shame about Billie Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know it just don't seem right"
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billie Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billie Joe
Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now mama doesn't seem to want to do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge

And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Update From The Compound

 Yesterday, our very kind neighbor Marvin from across the road came over to ask if we would mind if he came and weed-eated all of the grass and weeds growing up in the cracks on the driveway.  I told him we would be grateful for him to do it.  But he didn't stop there.  After he weed-eated, he came back and sprayed weed killer in the cracks.  But he didn't stop there.  He used his backpack blower and cleared all of the grass off, and also cleared out all of the leaves that were around and under the back porch ramp.  But he didn't stop there.  He cut down a big bush at the end of our driveway that obscured my view when pulling out of the drive, and he also pulled out saplings that had grown in some big flower pots by the ramp.  That prompted me to go out this morning and get two more tomato plants to add to the Large Marge Memorial Garden.  

We have always been so blessed with such good neighbors.  For that, we are so grateful and thankful. 

Mullet Watch

 It's been quite a while since I spotted a good mullet, but I sure enough saw one yesterday at the grocery store.  A little boy came out of the store with his parents, and he was sporting a great mullet.  It looked to have been recently cut, but it was long in the back and short on the front - or as mullet aficionados say, it was all business in the front and a party in the back.