Beautiful Springtime in the Panhandle

One morning I had my morning tea out on my parents' deck.  I don't know why we don't eat out there more often.  We have the same view from our dining table, but it's so nice on the deck. Here's a pic:

Every day has been so gorgeous.  The azaleas and dogwoods are exploding all over.  This week I will get more pictures on.  We have been very busy around the place.  My main job has been watering 100+ white oak trees spread over a couple of acres and watering the okra, citrus trees, and pear trees. 

I have lots of pics to post involving Chipley "things to do", Chipley Garden Club garden tour and tea I attended last Saturday, and the above mentioned beauty of all things Spring.

I'm contemplating applying for some state jobs in the Chipley area.  I love it here so much and have literally been trying to live here for 5 years.  Still praying for a rheumatology appt.

Happy Spring!

Peace...

Crazy, busy, fun day!

There are lots of peeps on the place today (farm) which makes for a delightful day. 

Today I found out how much I can do, which is quite a lot.  I did "peter" out a couple of times, but chillin' wit da fam for a bit took care of it, and I was able to continue with stuff I wanted to do.  YAY!  No really, YAY!  When I look back on the last 5 or 6 years I see a pattern of illness.  I called in sick more than I ever had in my life, tons of sinusitis and dizziness, and increasing fatigue over the years.  For exampe, last Thanksgiving I got the upstairs of my parents all cleaned up, for company, after putting it off for months.  It nearly killed me to get it all spic and span.  I was just so fatiqued.

I digress.  Here's a list of what I did today:

• Walked to Aunt Lorraine and Unle Tom's and visited a bit.
• Cleaned the pool with cousin Susan.
• Walked around the pond with Coco.
• Took down my mom's curtains for her to fluff and de-dustify.
• Had Tea and cake with Aunt L and Uncle T, Aunt Genie, Mom, Levi, Susan, and Tommy (I live for these spontaneous afternoon teas, ok).
• Washed aproximately 3/4 of our outside windows with cool Windex sprayer gizmo (works very well).
• Blogged

What a splendid and satisfying day!

Tomorrow I'm off to lunch with cousin Bonnie in Dothan and head on up to camp with Dad at Lake Eufaula.  Coco and I will be staying in my tent, not the enormo travel trailer.  I can't wait! 

It looks like my period of convalescence will soon come to a close.  Seasonal job in Navarre or census job in Navarre, here I come.  Just think, only ONE month ago my health was careening downhill.  My walking was starting to be affected, I was in constant pain, and I was so dizzy I couldn't drive.  What an amazing drug Prednisone.  Hopefully, there will be one for me with fewer long term side effects.  Here's prayin' for a rheumatology appt through Santa Rosa We Care and continued health.

Pic from Wikimedia Commons. Pic Description: Tea of different fermentation: From left to right: Green tea (Bancha from Japan), Yellow tea (Kekecha from China), Oolong tea (Kwai flower from China) and Black tea (Assam Sonipur Bio FOP from India) Date 29 December 2009(2009-12-29) Author: Haneburger

Peace...

What's for Lunch Mama Gladys?

Mama Gladys pulled out all the stops for Easter lunch. We had steak, baked potato, salad and a roll.

This is Dad's plate. Dad likes steak a little bit.

My more meager allotment (blasted blood sugar!):

Peace.

South Walton County - 30A

What a great place to spend Holy Week and part of Easter day.  Part of my family has been coming to this neck of the woods since the 1950's.  In fact their house was one of the first, if not THE first in Seagrove.  We always had a grand time as kids living in our swim suits, swimming, making sand bottles, collecting shells, crabbing, and just wreaking general havoc.  Before Seaside came into being, it was all dunes, jeep trails, sea oats, and scrub oaks.  Our general consensus is that if the place had to be developed, we're extremely glad it was Seaside, Watercolor, Rosemary Beach, etc and not homogenized condos!

I'm off to the farm for the week!  Dial up will be slow, but I really want to post every day.  Here's a video of 30A:



Peace!

Serendipity

Because of a mix up with their condo, Cousins Win and Rene and son Wint bunked with us last night at Old Charcoal!  We had a dandy slumber party.  They are now off to create the Holy Week, died Easter Eggs and all experience for the big Mr. eight year old Wint.  Don't you love that age?  He shared his art, his understanding of the Eucharist (9 days 'til 1st Holy Communion) and his fort making skills with us. Nice!

Happy Easter!

Here's a purdy Easter egg pic from Wikimedia Commons (Traditional painted easter eggs in Croatia. Picture taken in April 2006. Slunj, Croatia. User: Neoneo13)

Peace!

Introducing new nwflgal site - Northwest Florida Catholic Gal

Invariably most of the traffic from all the cool, exotic places all over the world that visit my blog are heading to my Good Friday post from 2009 http://nwflgal.blogspot.com/2009/04/good-friday.html .  Sometimes I think the purpose of this blog is that one post.

I basically want to start posting something daily about my faith and have decided to add Northwest Florida Catholic Gal to the lineup.  It will be under construction for a while but I'm going to post something daily this week, since it's Holy Week and all.  So head on over if you're interested. 
Link:  http://nwflcatholicgal.blogspot.com/

Photo is from Wikimedia Commons.

Peace.

Sea Shell City and my Sea Dwelling Doppelganger

Cousin Joan has been with us a few days (This has been the best Holy Week ever), and after some errands we had a little time to kill.  We paid a visit to Sea Shell City, a local tourist spot.  It's been open for something like 27 years!  The friendly lady at the counter told us their shells come from world food banks and are essentially a by product.  I think that takes the three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to a whole new level, don't you?   Loads of shells, t-shirts, mugs, knick knacks, etc make up "a little something for everybody" our lovely hostess spoke about.  Their particulars are:

Sea Shell City

8771 Navarre Pkwy
Navarre, FL 32566
850-939-8210

Note: a "Sea Shell City" website comes up when you google it, but the google maps site doesn't match the Navarre shop.  Some kind of glitch in the matrix, I reckon.  After a very less than exhaustive search, it doesn't appear they have a website.

Here's a pic of their shop:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
While at Sea Shell City, I found a perfect example of my alter ego (my prednisone self).  I think you'll see what I mean:
 

 
Peace!

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough and Hummus (AKA I am Garlic Girl)

I am having to eat like a diabetic thanks to my new buddy Prednisone.  Whole grains, lean proteins and lots of fruits and vegetables are new to me, but it's been fun experimenting with some new recipes.  Yours truly is the original junk food junkie.  Cue music:



Wow, that was random and hokey, but strangely appropo...

Here is the great whole wheat pizza dough recipe link: http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/recipes/view/47382/Whole-Wheat-Pizza-Dough .  I'm not going to copy the whole recipe here because it's easy to print from the Wolfgang Puck website.  One thing about the recipe: It doesn't list temp and time.  I baked it on 425 for 10 to 15 minutes.  It makes 4, 9" pizzas.  With one of them, I stretched it out, brushed with olive oil and dusted with Italian seasoning.  Crispy pita type chips were the end result and were great dipped in some homemade hummus.  Here's a pic of one of the pizzas topped with chicken, broccoli and onions.  Oh, with the pizza dough, it uses ALL whole wheat flour, no white flour, AND it is yummy - who knew?  I ended up adding a tiny bit more water than called for to pick up the wheat flour bits at the bottom of the food processor and thought I botched the whole thing.  After the rising process though, it just all melded together and was actually a really nice, easy to work with dough, unlike other times I've handled whole wheat flour.

AUNT RAE'S HUMMUS

• 4 or 5 cloves of garlic (BAM)
• 1 can of chick peas
• 1-2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter (I live in the Panhandle of FL and therefore rarely have Tahini on hand but Tahini is typically used)
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon - more if needed
• Salt to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Cumin (optional)
• Olive oil
• Water

In a food processor (you have to have a strong one or it can burn up your motor) process the garlic first.  Dump everything else in except the olive oil.  I imagine I use 2-3 tbsps of olive oil but I've never really measured.  Turn the food processor on and drizzle the olive oil in until processed well - usually looks a little grainy at this point.  I then add a little water, like 1/4 cup and more if needed until it looks smooth.  I think I read somewhere that water is the secret to a creamy consistency. Garnish with a little cilantro or pine nuts and a bit of olive oil in a happy puddle on top: Ok, I never do this but like when I have bought it at the store that way!  Dip in with corn chips, pita chips, celery, carrots - use your imagination.

2 pics: One of the hummus fixin's and one of the hummus and pizza dough pita chips.

Peace!