St. Louis & Waterloo In A Nutshell

I love my friends. I really love my friends who have become my family. Camellia, Mama Bea, Lil Lexi & Bradley live in a small town outside St. Louis, across the state line into Illinois. Waterloo is where Mama Bea has lived for several years. I was excited to see Camellia and her kids.

We had planned to take the children to Six Flags over St. Louis for some roller coaster fun. I am terrified of heights but I got charmed into riding the scary rides with Lexi who is 11 and unafraid.

We also made dinner. Mama Bea's husband Norm had gone to a butcher shop and came home with a pork loin wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cream cheese and jalapeños. Camellia and I decided to make our own version. It was amazing.

I took a pork loin and cleaned it. I butterflied it open and filled it with seeded and deveined jalapeños and cream cheese. I rolled it up and with the seam down, I wrapped it in thick slices of bacon. I baked it at 350F covered in foil for 30 minutes, uncovered for another 30 minutes and then turned up the heat to 425F for another 10-15 minutes to better brown the bacon.
I can't tell you enough how good this dinner was. You need to make it!

Pleasant Surprises

The little things that happen to me have such a huge impact on how I get thru and am able to enjoy my days. In never ceases to amaze me how surprises keep happening. Previously I was so excited when a bunch of tulips came up in my front yard.

While I was in Paris I visited the infinitely famous Shakespeare and Co. bookshop. They have an area upstairs for writers. It's a really cool area of the shop. You can feel the history as notes from visitors around the world adorn the bulletin board. There is a little nook that houses a manual typewriter. Inside the enclosed desk area where it sits, there are notes pinned to the walls and Christmas style lights hanging. It's a great little place to escape.

The typewriter was so neat. I took several photos and thought how great it would be to write a story on it. I was inspired by so many things on that trip but that typewriter stood out to me for some reason. When I returned home, I was told that an area of boxes remained untouched by the Estate Sales people. They assumed it was personal because there were slide carousel boxes in the area. I had placed those boxes there at least ten months ago and hadn't really gone thru them.

I pulled the boxes out as I'm getting organized for my move. Inside there was a black case which I had assumed was the slide projector. Uncle Bob figured out how to open the case. He was as surprised as me when he removed the lid. Inside sat a Royal Manual Typewriter. Pristine in its condition and a beautiful blue color. I have never seen it previously. I have no idea what it's history might be. The color is what baffles me most. I am hoping my Aunt Toots will know something about it.

Regardless, I am so excited about it. The strange series of events that led to finding it and the fact that it's discovery happened after the sale is just truly a blessing. Had it been discovered prior, I don't know that I would have appreciated it or have been around to decide wether to keep it.

I'm so inspired by it, and can't wait to use it to write stories and letters. Such a special surprise for a writer. I'm so lucky!

You Know You're In TN When...

This evening, I was enjoying a chat via text with a friend of mine when all of the sudden I saw something in my yard about twenty feet from my back deck. A possum, I thought. I hadn't seen one so close to the house before. It was rubbing it's face in the grass almost playfully for five minutes. It appeared as if it wasn't coming any closer, just working around the area it was. It went in circles almost playfully and looking as though it was eating the grass. At this point I felt it necessary to take a photo to send to my friend. I zoomed in and snapped a blurry shot. I decided to retake the photo. Just as I was doing so, it dawned on me, possums don't have fluffy tales!

I'm so smart sometimes it amazes me. <- insert sarcasm here.
I quickly realized it was a skunk not a possum and began to panic. I'm no expert in animals but my first thought as it came closer to the deck was to throw something to make it go away. It was also the point where I changed my conversation from text message to a phone call. I needed support.

As my friend was now laughing at my situation, we agreed that throwing things was a bad idea. I don't shoot animals so that was also out of the question. I asked for another suggestion and the response was to just leave it alone and hope it goes away. This was said to me as Pepe was staring at me and drawing even closer. I said out loud, "Go away!". My displeasure growing rapidly. Pepe continued in my direction. I repeated, "Go away!" this time convinced he would listen to me. In frustration I stomped my flip flop clad foot on the wood deck, a lemon in hand to throw just in case. Pepe stopped. I got his attention, my friend still giggling on the other end of the line. I stomped my foot a few more times and firmly demanded he go away. He promptly turned around and ran down the yard towards the barn! Mission accomplished.

Note to self,
Just because it's black and fuzzy with white around the eyes and nose, doesn't mean it's a possum.

French Food At Home: Mussels in White Wine

I haven't been cooking at home. My house now echoes of a life once lived here. If you don't believe me you can google my real estate agent's website and see photos. My apartment has been delayed as it is new construction and has yet to be approved by the city for residency. So I sit in an empty house watching season after season of Mad Men on my iPad to pass the time.

I went grocery shopping and purchased cheese and baguette's as I clearly only want Parisian style meals since my trip to Paris. I have eased up on the wine, much to my dismay. I happened to come across frozen mussels at the store. Knowing what a pain it is to clean fresh mussels and remove the beards, I thought it best to try the frozen version. At $3.50 for a package of two, one pound bags, I couldn't go wrong. If they were terrible I would make a meal of the bread and cheese and have a glass of wine.

Much to my surprise, the instructions were to boil the mussels in the bag for six minutes or until heated thru. I just discovered the easiest thing ever. I chopped up part of an onion and sautéed it with a bit of butter and some fresh thyme and sage. I added a little garlic and anchovy paste before dumping in some wine and white mushrooms. I let it simmer as the mussels heated themselves in their plastic home.

I cut open the bag of now opened mussels and drained off some of the liquid. Topping them with the white wine concoction, the seemed as good as the fresh ones. Plump and tasting of sea water, I am impressed. A ten minute meal from start to finish and under five dollars. I think I will make this again.

Saturday Morning Laugh

My nickname at one point was Grandma. I always fancied myself a hip girl with old fashioned interests. I'm not ashamed of my crafty abilities. They keep me busy and no one needs idle hands. A friend had posted this cartoon on the Facebook. I couldn't help but laugh. I bet you can guess which character I see myself as...

The Sky, The Summer Games

Sometimes the sky doesn't even look real to me here. No smog. It appears like a scene from the Simpsons cartoon. A day like today while productive, make me still take a deep breath and be grateful for all that this past year has offered. I don't know how many times I looked out of my car in California and was just awed. I doubt I ever realized how gorgeous the days were there. I worked next to the Pacific Ocean and would go to work while it was dark, and leave in the dark. I now know the effect sunshine and humidity can have on a smile and your skin. It does something magical. So cheers to the very hot days of Summer sun in East Tennessee.

Cheers to the Summer Olympics and sports all over the world!

Meet Bubba The Great

He almost needs a cape! I was leaving my house and as I was driving I saw something that looked like a stone in the road. Quickly I realized it was a turtle so I pulled over to avoid hitting him. I snapped a photo and realized he was going to get hit if I didn't move him, so I moved him into my car :-)

I had every intention of taking him to Uncle Bob's and letting him go there. All along I was hoping he wasn't a snapping turtle. As a child I found a pet turtle on a golf course in North Carolina. I named him Joey. Joey was adorable. I was asked to show him to some family friends after dinner and Joey must have been hungry. He clamped down so hard on the fleshy part between my left thumb and forefinger. Nothing to that point in my life had hurt more. My grandfather had to hit him on the back of his shell to make him let go after he dangled there for what seemed like forever. I learned my lesson, and threw him in the lake and watched as he swam away. I haven't had a turtle since.

As it turns out, Bubba is an Eastern Box Turtle. Not dangerous like my almost pet snake Boots.

Bubba was colorful and seemed friendlier. We ran some errands and then ended up at Uncle Bob's. I decided to take him for a bike ride. He seemed to enjoy it and then got wild and attempted to jump from the basket. He jumped off my back deck also. I think he's just spirited and adventurous.

We then came home and since it's very hot out, I thought he might enjoy the Slip-N-Slide. I was correct! He ran down the length of the slide and splashed in the water.

Next we went for a walk in the yard and admired my now overgrown garden. We came inside for a snack of some grapes. I then decided Bubba should live free. I placed him at the bottom of the deck stairs to live the rest of his life as he chooses. He hasn't moved since then. I am sure he will remember what a fun day we had together! I know I will!