BB & KK - Adventure Blog

I would like to promote Bo and Kaysha's adventure blog 

centered around their vacation to Ireland.

http://bbkkadventures.blogspot.com/

Beautiful pictures, and wonderful stories ... Kaysha is awesome.

For those who do not know,
Bo (Brayden) is my little brother ...
and Kaysha is his girl.

He finally made it official ... heehee.

All I Did Was Smile

I was near the end of my long drive "home" last night ... from my 5/6 idyllic days in the beautiful, peaceful and safe Ozarks.

I was on the west side of Fort Worth, and hungry, so I made my final stop on the final stretch that would take me back into Abilene.

I have fond memories of Waffle House, ever since I was a child, and whipped into one. 

I remember smiling at the small handful of patrons looking my way through the small glass cubicle of the empty restaurant as I got out of the car and stepped onto the curb.

I placed my regular order ... patty melt with scattered, smothered, covered and diced hashbrowns.  Extra crispy, please.

Then I went to the restroom while I waited for it to be served.

When I came out of the restroom, I smiled again at the small handful of patrons who looked my way as I sat down at my small booth next to the cash register ... propping my feet onto the empty booth-bench across from me.

Then a table paid and left, with a cheerful round of goodbyes throughout, and my delicious meal was served. 

A brief (but open) exchange of "how hungry and tired I was after such a long journey, and how thankful I was for this fond meal, and how Abilene was not too much farther away" ensued with the waitress.  

I was into my first few bites, and a lone man had gotten up to pay.  The whole time he stood there for the transaction, he looked down upon me smiling.  Of course, I smiled back and continued eating.  He collected his change, or whatever.

Then he leaned over my booth and said something presumptuous and silly like, "I know I know you. We've met before. Your name slips my mind, but your face is etched in my memory" and then he sat down at my booth/table with his gaze pinned upon my chest.

Now, for those that know me, y'all know I am a friendly and loving soul and I give of myself freely to strangers.  On my terms.  These were not my terms. Those that know me also know that when I am uncomfortable or nervous, I laugh.  And that is exactly what I did.  Which, evidently, fueled this man's brazen pursuit ... he must not have seen the fear and/or fire flicker across my eyes. Or, if he did, it fanned his own wicked flame.

I tried to hide my discomfort by being jolly, and I also tried to be vague by laughing off his direct questions.

He asked for my name ... and I can't believe I felt awkward for lying ... to which he replied, "Yes, of course, Suzy, how could I forget" as he picked up my cell phone, and asked for my number, and started pushing buttons on it. As I reached to take my phone from his hand, his other hand touched my foot on the bench next to him.  I dropped my feet instantly, and remember looking around incredulously to see if anyone was witnessing this happening.

The cook and waitress behind the counter were busily engaged in chores, and seemed to act as if nothing was awry. 

I continued to try eating while fending off this man's persistence to come join him for a drink ... to tell him my number ... to whatever (it's not good) ... and in walks two police officers to grab a quick bite to eat while on patrol. They sat down at the other end of the empty space. 

God is good.

What I didn't know is that the waitress must have whispered something to them while taking their order.

God is real good.

I found enough courage and strength to give the man the ultimate brush-off ... which was kinda rude, and embarrassing for me to recall, even though he deserved it, and then some ... to which he amusingly replied that he just happened to have family in Abilene, too, and that he was also heading that way, and maybe we could follow each other the rest of the way of the journey and see what the future has in store for us.  

Oh how I regretted being so forthcoming earlier with my travel information!  Something so innocent ... such a friendly exchange could be used against me ... lessons learned the hard way.

He stood up, took my hand, and told me we would definitely meet again ... it was fate, he said ... and then curtly nodded at the policemen in acknowledgement as he walked out the door as if everything was perfectly normal.

I wanted to puke.

One of the policemen, without even looking at me and never even lifting his head, asked loudly, "Was that man accosting you?"

To which I barely managed to utter a simple "Yes sir."

The other one, before I even finished my reply, was out the door.

My half-eaten meal was free, and the staff of Waffle House profusely apologized to me.

We all watched the man drive off ... headed, you guessed it, west toward Abilene ... and all I could think is "that man is crazy enough to slip in behind me and follow me home, and I'd never know it because of the dark."

I waited a few extra minutes to leave ... and sent out a vague tweet into cyberspace: of which can be found to the left of this blog entry in my tweet column.

And now you know what was behind  the seemingly odd "red dodge neon ... name is larry ... las vegas trail waffle house ft worth ... ugh."

If I never made it home, I wanted there to be clues of, at least, where to start looking.

We live in a sick, sick world ... and all I did was smile.

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Asparagus and Yucca Roots

Fresh Asparagus

roasted and smothered

in butter and garlic

with sea salt.

Yucca Root

boiled in

NOTHING

but plain'o water.

A naturally buttery and semi-salty dish

that is very similar to potatoes ...

but better.

Thick, juicy medium-rare sirloin steak ...

grilled on open flame

three minutes each side.

Put it all together, and you have ...

supper time at Mama's.

Voila!

Thought of the Day

Actually, two thoughts.

1)  When we are trapped in a dark space (externally or internally) sometimes all we need is a small candle.  Don’t underestimate the power of just a little bit of light.   Even a tiny flame can grow bright enough for you to see clearly, and for you to change your situation.

2)  The "feminist attitude/spirit" makes us popular with other females, yes, but unpopular with the males ... well, except for cheap sex, of which they take much delight.  So for you girls who embrace this attitude, enjoy your fleeting glow.  For you will never be seen as an eternal flame ... by either sex.

Sick Soup, and Green Chili Stew

My oldest miracle is back at home, and sick.

She finished her first semester in college today ... I guess

the nerves of final exams finally caught up with her.

She asked me, this morning, to make her some "sick soup."

This has been a special memory for my bigger girls since toddlerhood,

and it is becoming a special memory for my smallest girl now.

It's a very simple soup in a thin tomato base, and it is delicious and soothing.

Saute onion and bell pepper and diced tomatoes in a bit

of real butter or coconut oil, and then add

a large can of tomato juice, and top the pot with water.

(You don't HAVE to saute the veggies, but it does add a unique flavor.)

Salt and pepper to taste, and let slow simmer all day.

It smells wonderful.

Shortly before serving, add elbow noodles.

Nani had five bowls ... count FIVE BOWLS ... of this soup.

It's that good!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Then tonight, after the house got quiet, I started a large pot

of green chili stew for tomorrow.

Two pounds of beef, browned and drained.

Two cans of Hatch green chili enchilada sauce

Fresh anaheim peppers, chopped

One large onion, chopped

six to eight large potatoes, chopped

garlic, salt, and pepper

Fill with water

(If you don't have fresh green chilies, just use three big cans of diced.)

There's a secret ingredient I also add, but I can't tell you what it is

... sorry ...

the above listing is still out-of-this-world.

(I know, I know ... LOL ... slap me)

Like I said, I started the green chili stew tonight ... and after it cools

it will go into the frig to absorb all the subtle flavors. 

In the morning, I will peel off the yucky fat layer on the top.

And then I'll season it just a little bit more

(to replace what was skimmed off with the yucky fat layer)

before I slow simmer all day.

Serve with grated cheese, chips and salsa, and warm tortillas ... yummy!

She Said "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino ..."

... to decorate our home.

(Who remembers that song?)

So I've been collecting wine bottles.

I have several in storage.

These, ten, are from, ahem, Thanksgiving ... yes,

my family had a lot to be thankful for.

My initial inspiration was to use the dark green glass

to hold, and preserve, my homemade

colloidal silver someday.

I need to get a colloidal silver generator, first,

and then that'll be another fascinating topic ...

but for now I'm thinking I will use the dark brown glass

of beer bottles for that endeavor instead.

Anyway, I remembered something I saw a couple of years ago.

Drinking glasses, aka tumblers, made out of wine bottles!

I remember trying to research how to cut the glass ...

but I seem to remember it's arduous.

I also remember something about blow-torches

and some kind of special cutter thingy

and files and vices and water

and all sorts of intimidating things.

And it all seemed so very complicated.

But now my interest has been revived, and I think

I will look back into it.

Some fancy-smancy magazine was selling a set of four

for, like, $200 or some crazy price like that.

I'm thinking they'd make great gifts ...

after my shelf is full of various sizes

for my own pleasure and use :)

My little brother is a bartender at Copper Creek

(a fine dining restaurant here in Abilene)

and I can get access to all kinds of bottles

of all different colors ... woo-hoo!

Australia Comes to Texas

Laura is Abilene High Eagle's Varsity Men's Basketball Manager.

She made three batches of cookies for this special event ...

I had to go see what all her fuss was about.

I'm glad I did.

Australia came to Texas to play some B-Ball.

Our boys looked small next to them ...

our starters ranged from 5'9 to 6'3.

The Aussie's, on the other hand, were giants.

Their starters ranged from 6'1 to 6'8.

And they were aggressive ... I'm talking, AGGRESSIVE.

But they were the friendliest, funniest, jolliest, aggressive giants

I've ever had the pleasure to meet, and watch.

We trailed behind 15-20 points the whole game.

Until the last three minutes.

Then our small boys showed how big their heart was.

My Tweets over there pretty much say it all.

* I love high school basketball ... love it ........

* We're losing pretty bad but its still an aussie awesome game ........

* Well we farted around and won ... from 20 points behind last 3 minutes of game !!!!!!!

We won 59-56 ... or something like that ...

major, successive three-pointers there toward the end to catch up,

and then to take the lead in the final .084 seconds. 

It was exhilarating.

There I am under the green arrow.

A fine group of mates, they were.

It's Time for Bo to Go Back to Europe



So my little brother (who has lived in Europe the past ten years) has been home for about six months now, and is ready to go back.  He is leaving in one week. 

This time he is taking his beautiful friend, Kaysha, with him.

The good news is:  he is only going back to Europe for a visit, this time, or so he says ... and he is coming back home ... to stay ... for good! 

I think.

He was only going for a "visit" when he left ten years ago .... but anyway,

Bo and Kaysha are setting up a traveling blog so they can share their wild adventures with us.

If you've been following my blog, at all, you probably have the accurate impression that my little brother is a little eccentric, and fun to be around ... never a dull moment ... uncensored ... so this ought to be fun.

Real fun.

Here is their blog ... http://bbkkadventures.blogspot.com/ ... The Adventures of Brayden and Kaysha.

Follow at your own risk, and for your own vicarious delight.

It is probably safe to assume this one will be rated PG-13 for mature content ... actually, to be safer, make that an assumptive R rating.

Bo Has Cajones ... I mean, Huevos!

Now THIS is huevos rancheros ... right here, baby.

My Dad
MY LITTLE BROTHER
is a Mean Cook, he is.

LOL

Bo, seriously, that had Dad's writing all over it ...
you done good, boy :)

Nevermind - Blog and Name will Remain

I think the issue of wanting to start a new blog with a new name 

stems from several reasons ... probably all irrational, and silly, since I am a girl.

I've been known as "Mama Crow" online for a long time ...

goodness, going on six years now ... food forums, gardening forums,

health forums, homesteading forums, parenting forums,

political forums, religious forums, etc

And it was just easier to keep the same "username"everywhere I went

so I wouldn't get confused by having different log-ins for

all the places I went to ... to wreak my winsome havoc. 

  I have the same unique "voice" all these places but, of course, 

I have changed/grown a little over the years.

I guess I should have thought long-and-hard about what

"online name" I wanted to be known as for the rest of my life ...

I had no idea this one would "stick" so well.

I have made many friends from this online persona,

and I have made many enemies, too.

It occured to me recently how easy it is to trace this "name"
and that made me feel scared and vulnerable.

But then, what in the world am I doing sharing myself all over the Net

if I don't want to be seen and heard?

And then I thought about the irony that ... I don't mind if y'all know
where I am PHYSICALLY ... shoot, my home is open to anyone.

I'll feed anybody, and give someone a place to rest, without any thought to it.

But the realization that people can track my whereabouts
online ... "emotionally/mentally"  ... is weird.

You'll never believe that I am a private person ... never ... but I am.

I share dang-near everything ... I am an open book ... except with
those things I don't want to share.

Which are many.

I have control over what I'll share about my children, and my family,
and our homelife.

I have control over my most precious and private details, and thoughts,
for very, very few know the REAL me.

Dare I say that not many at all - even in my own family - know the real me?

ANYWAY

Changing my blog's name, or location, won't accomplish anything but chaos.

I've had too many personal messages asking me not to change anything.

I started this blog for family.  It grew to include old friends.

And it is now growing to include new friends.

My legitimate readers (private and public) are way more important

than the few mean people that track "MC" down to harass me.

They better back off, or else I'm gonna have to sic my dogs on them.

Seriously.

I think all of this is just a temporary inner-struggle ...

a time to define "what" it is I am doing, and "why" I am doing it.

I suppose it bothers me that I don't have a clearly defined

subject matter or theme.  Does it bother you?

I am a passionate girl who has many interests and loves,

and I want to share them all.

I really AM a babbling brook.

If I talk about everything that fascinates me ... then I will exclude or offend

someone, somewhere.

If I talk about my beliefs and faith, then the off-gridders

will be thinking to themselves, "This is not what I signed up for." 

If I talk about my zeal for holistic health and natural healing,

then my family and friends who are conventional doctors and nurses 

will roll their eyes at my ignorant naivete and quackery.

If I talk about alternative building and composting toilets,

 and all the bonafide old-fashioned homesteading topics that intrigue me

... and so many others here ...

then my beloved Gucci-carrying, McMansion contemporaries will think

"Brooke done lost her mind, and has gone barefoot-hillbilly-redneck on us."

If I want to talk about my new haircut, or a new shade of eyeshadow,
or a new dress I bought ... then my Urban Homesteaders will wonder
"What does all this froo-froo crap have to do with
wanting to learn how to have backyard chickens in the city?"

And the minimalistic enthusiasts, of which I am one, will think to themselves,
"Hypocrite! This has nothing to do with Voluntary Simplicity!"

If I talk about my "Three Miracles" too much

... yada yada yada ...

I mean, come on, do you really care to know about my children?

Of course, my scattered family loves to read about them
 and see their photos ... but do YOU?

Yes, I am a girl ... and in typical feminine fashion,

my dreams, and passions, are many and are all over the place.

But I feel compelled to have a blog that is streamlined ...

a blog that sticks to ONE main topic.

 

I thought that changing to a new blog with a new name

would give me a clean slate from which to work off of.

I guess I was wrong ... y'all seem to like this one

just exactly how it is.

Can I at least change the color, again, and rearrange it a little bit? 

I love to decorate ... and make things perty :)

Thought of the Day

There is an explosion of miracles happening every moment.  The ceaseless motion of the ocean; the Earth rotating around the sun; the way our heart circulates blood throughout our body without us even thinking about it....

Today, be aware of the miracles happening all around you and celebrate the awesome power of God.

Wall of Books

So this same local B&B

that did the copper penny backsplash

... which, by the way, I found out took 2700 pennies ...

also got creative with old books.

2700 pennies is only $27 ... right?

I am friends with these guys on Facebook,

and follow their recycling/renovation projects.

They have several properties

in Abilene's affluent, historical district.

This project used to be an old dance hall.

The wall is covered was 30 feet long, and 10 feet high.

It took 350 book covers .

Interesting project, but not for me ... I don't think.

Too busy looking ... but maybe it's all the stuff.

I'd stick with soft browns and creams if I were to do it,

and have very minimal decorations and furniture.

I think the busyness takes away from the art of the wall.

But, that's just me.

I am more of a minimalist ... I don't do "clutter" very well,

and don't need a lot of "stuff."

I do LOVE the cubby-hole bookshelf though ...

love, Love, LOVE IT.

I can sooo see my collection of special rocks,

and Nani's retired boots

in there.

You can see the penny backsplash in this photo.

You can click on the photos to get a larger view.

Love y'all.

Copper Penny Backsplash

I so, totally, want to do this someday.

These photos are from a local B&B, off of Sayles Boulevard, here in Abilene.

I think I can imagine how it was done ... just regular adhesive?  Regular grout?

Any ideas or pointers?

Baby Brother: Classical Guitar

My baby brother is a classical guitarist.

He has been playing since he was ... shoot, what ... five years old? 

Six? Four?

It's how he made
"a little drinking money"

as a pub hopper and street bum
in Europe.

^^^ LOL ... ducking for cover ... HEY PICS DON'T LIE ... ouch! ^^^

Mercy, mercy!

I better stop before I REALLY get in trouble.

Just kidding, y'all ... seriously.

He is a world-class bartender

who provides outstanding entertainment

for his patrons ...

and that is how he made/makes

his money.

Ta-Da!

Standing on a bar to receive his standing ovation, he is ... love the look

on his face.

Kiss me goodbye now

for someday, soon, shall find me, somewhere, with

a white chalk-line around my body.

ANYWAY ... what was I talking about ... ?

Oh, yeah, classical guitar and my little brother.

I need to get a my own camera ... one that digitally records

so I can post some of his music.

Until then, here are a few songs that he absolutely rips apart,

 and puts back together.

Flawlessly.

Please take a moment out of your hectic day to listen.

I can shut my eyes, and hear him ... I listened to these a lot when he was gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

^^^ If this don't get your heart pumping, I don't know what will ... dang. ^^^

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oh, and one more thing,

my, oops, OUR dad taught him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I adore their "blues" jam sessions.

Here's some pool shootin' music right here, darlin ... mhmm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They can kick Jimi Hendrix all over the place, too ...
but, goodness, this sounds lame
compared to what I am used to hearing.

Wow.
Can't believe I just said that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Um, nevermind.

Yes, I can.

I stick my feet in my mouth all the time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~