Saturday, June 20, 2009

Pink Saturday on the River!

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Wow, it is already Pink Saturday!  You can find all the participants at How Sweet the Sounds and our wonderful hostess is Beverly.

Well, it is Saturday morn and we have arrived at the river and there is our Pink canoe.pink canoe 1

I have brought all of the necessary things.

 

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I have on my pink attire.

 

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So we are off down the river, praying this doesn’t happen to us!

 

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Opps….it wasn’t my fault, I am sitting still as a mouse.

Hope everyone has a great Pink Saturday and stays cool and dry where ever you are.

Pink Hugs,

Barbara

PS.  I did get to go to one shop after we got here today called  The  Cottage and wow ….some gorgeous things, I will show you next week, they are not pink.

Be sure and check my blog on Blue Monday, I am starting a give-way.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

ADVENTRUE AHEAD/ HAPPY FATHER’S DAY/OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

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Thanks to Susan@SouthernDaydreamer for hosting this day . You can find tons of other posting for today at her blog.

Many thanks Susan!

I have been looking for an event that Roy would really enjoy and I found one. He does so many things I enjoy, I wanted to return the pleasure. I checked the Texas Events Magazine and found the perfect Father’s Day gift.

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Paddling the Forks

At the Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, just outside Jasper, Texas in the piney woods of deep east Texas, you can take a guided canoe trip from Bevilport (7:30am)paddle down the Angelina River, navigate through Bee Tree Slough and encounter the forks. This is where the Angelina and Neches Rivers come together. We will then paddle (I guess) back and arrive about 3:00pm.

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OUR GUIDE??????

When discussing with the lady at the park about the size of the canoe, she stated that a third person could ride in the center seat of the canoe, but would not be paddling……hehehe…… neither will the person in the front seat, ME.

Roy said it would be better if I just sat still..emphasis on still and took pictures.

AAhhhhhhhh a day on the river!

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When discussing what to bring the park attendant said, lunch, snacks, water, sunscreen, bug spray and toilet paper. That last item made my day!

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I found a nice Bed & Breakfast in Jasper and we are going to stay for 2 nights. There was only one restaurant listed besides fast food places….oh well, Roy is so excited, I will not complain.

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He is an outdoor person, hunting and fishing and kayaking, etc.

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Think of me on Saturday when the temperature is predicted at 100 degrees, paddling down the river with a smile on my face. Do you think my makeup will melt?

I know you all will be waiting impatiently to hear about this wonderful trip and see the pictures next week, assuming we don’t turn over and lose the camera.

Bon Voyage!

Happy Father’s Day

Lots of Hugs,

Paddler Barbara

Friday, June 12, 2009

PINK SATURDAY

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VISIT  BEVERLY AT HOW SWEET THE SOUND! I am not sure how she manages to do this week after week with everything  else she does, super lady, but thanks Beverly.

  These are a few of the pink flowers blooming in my yard.

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This is a Bada Bling Bracelet, we learned to make at the jewelry class, Thursday nite.

 

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It is hard to see, but each bead is wrapped at least one with silver wire.

 

Happy Pink Saturday!

Double Post….Happy Birthday to Me and Foodie Friday!

Today is my Birthday and I was trying to decide on a cake….

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Birthday

 

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Of course, I would choose the last one… You will notice there are no candles on my cakes, they wouldn’t fit and if they did, I couldn’t blow them all out….so have a piece of the cake of your choice.

Roy is working today, but we celebrated before he went to work and he gave me some beautiful turquoise jewelry he got in Sedona.

 

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Sharon treated me to a wonderful lunch yesterday at a darling Tea Room and have already received cards from friends and family.

So far it has been a great Birthday…hope you have a great day!

Barbara

Classic Cajun Food on Foodie Friday

Many, many thanks to Gollum at Designs by Gollum for sponsoring this great food event each and every Friday.  You will find all the participates on her blog.

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I love to cook Cajun food.  I remember standing over the stove for at least an hour making roux when I was younger.  Now the roux in a jar is great.   Roy loves gumbo and I cook a lot of it, we keep  at least 20 + pounds of shrimp in our freezer all the time plus crab meat and crawfish.  Most people only cook gumbo in the winter, we eat it all year long.

You usually can buy crawfish frozen in the grocery store, just be sure you wash it and wash it, there is usually lot of fat in the packages. 
I think the secret to Cajun food is the seasoning..and what we call the “holy trinity” onions,  bell pepper and celery.  Most Cajun food is not real hot, it is seasoned and there is a difference. So I hope if you are not familiar with Cajun food, you will try something.

 

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Crawfish Cornbread

1 box Jiffy cornbread mix

1 pound crawfish tails

1/2 tsp. soda

1 stick butter

1 cup grated cheese

1 egg

1/2 cup green onion

1/2cup onion

Melt butter and sauté onions: add crawfish.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Mix with cornbread, egg, soda, green onion, and cheese.  Season to taste with salt & pepper.  Pour into 12x12 pan; cook in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

 

 

 CRAWFISH--ETOUFFEE 

Crawfish Etouffee

1 cup onions, chopped

1 cup green peppers, chopped

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup butter

1 pound peeled cooked crawfish tails

1 (10 1/4 oz.) can condensed cream of celery soup

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce

1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley

1 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper

3 cups cooked rice

Condensed cream of mushroom soup may be substituted for celery soup.

Cook onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic in butter in large skillet until tender crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes.  Stir in remaining ingredients except rice; simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes.  Serve over hot rice.  Makes 6 servings.  You can also use shrimp in place of crawfish.

Real Cajun etouffee is made with the fat of the crawfish, but I like using the soup better.

Bon Appétit  and Happy Foodie Friday!

Barbara

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sharon and I are off on another Adventure……

 

We are headed to Bryan/ College Station to go” thrifting”, take some things to Sharon’s son, who has a furniture and resale shop, have dinner and then on to our main reason for going…..a jewelry class at the Bead Fountain.

 

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We are going to spend the night there, driving home on the back semi-highways in our area are very dangerous at night because of the deer on the roads.

I am really looking forward to our outing, we usually have a great time, no matter what we do. See you Friday.

Barbara

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Triple Post. Outdoor Wed. WW and Meet Farida

Meet Farida

 

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This is Farida and me.  Yesterday Roy and I went to Houston for me to get my hair cut and have lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.

When I arrived at Visible Changes, I found her station all decorated and that huge bouquet of flowers.  Saturday had been Farida Day.  Farida is a Director ( the highest class of hair cutters) and she had sold one million dollars worth of products.

She has been cutting my hair for 1 1/2 years and we have become friends sharing ups and downs in our lives.

I wanted to honor my friend, so I am introducing her to all of you.  She is a kind and caring lady. I wish all of you could know her as I do.

Thanks Farida for your friendship.

Hugs,

Barbara

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Wordless Wednesday/Flag Day

 

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Thanks To Dixie at French Lick, Texas for her time and talents and sponsoring Wordless Wednesday.  You can find more blogs at her