Lavender Love

My very dear friend gave me a bar of soap for Christmas, and no, she wasn't trying to drop a hint. I love soaps and lotions and such. Anywho, I decided it was time to unwrap it and use it. The bar of soap is a light purple color and has a lavender fragrance to it.

A few nights ago I noticed the bar of soap was positioned differently than the last time I used it. I quizzically looked at my husband and asked, "Did you use my bar of soap?" I was by no means upset, just curious.

My husband looked at me and replied, "Yes. That is the biggest bar of soap I've ever seen in my life!"

I asked him if he realized the fragrance was lavender but that didn't seem to phase him. Does the size of the soap outweigh the smell? LOL!

I wonder what would happen if I placed a bar of soap scented with rose petals in the shower next......

2nd Gear

Here are the facts:

-My husbands truck is a manual
-My car is an automatic
-The front of my parked car faces a dog pen

My husband pulled up behind my car blocking me in this morning. I casually teased him saying that someone had parked their big red truck behind my car and that I was going to have to call the police. He then asked me if I had anywhere to go this morning.

I said, "No, I don't, but if I do I'll just throw my car into 2nd gear and push that big truck out of my way."

He then shot back with, "You'd be in the fence."

Why must he be so quick with the wit?!

Those Ones

This Arizona girl has been living in Mississippi for about six months now. I personally don't think I talk with an accent, I mean, be honest with me folks. Do I? I always thought I talked rather normal. Once in awhile I come across someone out here in the south that has that Mississippi drawl and I know I don't talk like that.

On one occasion I was told that my voice was too cultured to be from these parts. Made me laugh but it made me realize that the Mississippi locals hear something in my voice that I don't. While I was at work last week one of my co-workers brought to my attention that I say "those ones" and they thought it was funny enough to tease me about it. Then today I was working on selling a pair of boots to some men and I pointed at the boots and asked if "those ones" were a good fit. The older of the two immediately said, "Those ones? You must not be from around here. Where you from?"

What is the deal? Do people not use the words "those ones" in these parts? I'd sure like to know what they DO substitute for those words. I'm confused. Pahhhh!

Nut Job

The other night I was feeling a little homesick so I decided to make an old family cake recipe of my grandma's. I had been craving the taste of this simple chocolate cake topped with walnuts and chocolate chips and I set to work creating the cake. From upstairs I was peppered with questions from my husband about what I was doing. He was in bed due to an ailing back that night.

Him: "What are you doing?"
Me: "I'm making a cake."
Him: "What kind of cake?"
Me: "It's a chocolate cake."
Him: "That sounds good."
Me: "It might not be what you're expecting. It's an old family recipe."

Minutes pass by and I bring the cocoa pink cuplets cake out of the oven. I'm still hesitant as to whether he will want a piece so I only cut one, for me, and take it upstairs with my glass of milk. As I walk in the doorway I notice his eyes are searching to see what the piece of cake looks like so I lean the plate down towards him.

Me: "Would you like a piece of cake?"
Him: "No thanks, my stomachs uneasy."
Me: "Okay, that's fine babe. I'll eat it up."
.....a few seconds pass by........
Him: "Can I try a bite of your cake?"
Me: "Sure."
......eating a forkful of cake........
Him: "I don't really care for nuts."

That was all he said and I figured I was going to get the whole cake to myself. After I finished my cake I went downstairs to clean the dishes and when I turned around I noticed he had followed me to the kitchen.

Me: "What are you doing?"
Him: "I think the cake will make me feel better."

Apparently nuts on the cake weren't enough to repel his desire for a piece. He's a nut!

Turnips & Collard Greens

I was holding up a clothes rack at work today during an uneventful afternoon when one of my 71 year old co-workers came up to me. I was pulling myself out of a daze when I heard her say something about collard greens and white teeth. I kindly asked her to repeat herself and she said to me, "You must eat a lot of collard greens and turnips because your teeth are so white. You have pretty teeth." I think it kind of shocked me at first but I smiled and said thank you in reply.

Little does she know I've never tasted a turnip and I've only had collard greens once in my life. Collard greens and turnips mean white teeth.

Must be a southern thing. HA!

Mississippi Gumbo

I enjoy eating fish and maybe a shrimp here and there on a rare occasion but that's about the extent of my seafood dining. We were invited over to a couples house after church this evening for some true Mississippi gumbo. I have never experienced gumbo but knew it included plenty of sea life and went with an open mind and an open appetite.

The gumbo smelled tantalizing and I asked her what was in it. A combination of okra, crab, chicken, sausage, shrimp, and a handful of seasonings to top it off. I served myself some gumbo over a few scoops of rice and began my authentic gumbo experience.

I actually enjoyed the flavor of all the ingredients, however, there were a few times when I would look at my spoon and couldn't figure out what I was about to put in my mouth. I decided to stop looking at the spoon and just eat. The combined flavors were warm and tasty.

Nearing the bottom of my bowl I happened to look down at the contents and saw a gray round thing in the remaining gumbo. It was light gray in color and a little smaller than a petite sized pea. I reasoned that it had to have been a seasoning of some sort but all I could think about was a shrimps eye. In my mind I pictured the look on a crawfish cooked whole and how similar they are to shrimp. How many had I already consumed?! My mind was telling me one thing while my imagination was telling me another. I had to push the image from my mind in order to finish the remaining gumbo in my bowl. I couldn't help but nudge the round balls to the far side of my dish and finished off my gumbo.

Despite the mysterious gray balls I truly enjoyed the gumbo.                                              

(Come to find out they were just cooked okra seeds.)

Uninvited Guest

We just moved to a new trailer park this weekend and as I was sitting at my desk enjoying the fall colors outside my window I noticed some kind of HUGE hornet/wasp thing flying around. He continues landing on the window and flying around the trailer and I'm truly hoping he is not planning on making an extended stay here. I'm already on edge about it and when our dog Benny's foot touched me underneath the desk I nearly went into a spasm thinking I had been stung. I quickly reminded myself that the wasp was outside, not inside.

I can just imagine the trials I would face if he chooses to make a home at our trailer. I see a purchase of wasp and hornet spray in my near future.