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.

Creatures of the Forest

The other night I let my imagination get the best of me.

Benny was pacing and I knew he needed to take an emergency run outdoors. I quickly threw a coat on over my PJ's and headed out with Benny into the dark of night. I clutched the flashlight close to my chest as I listened to Benny munching on grass. Despite a few lights twinkling from the surrounding trailers I felt very alone out there in the black of night and quickly turned the flashlight on. My imagination was running at warp speed with thoughts of what might be out in the woods behind our trailer. The night was alive with forest noises and I swung the beam of the flashlight up into the trees.

I moved the flashlight left to right as I searched the woods, half expecting to see a pair of glassy eyes reflecting back at me, let alone another person out there staring back at me. Just the thought of coming across someone or something watching me out there was enough to set me on a path of freak out mode. I kept the flashlight pointed at the woods letting my imagination get the best of me as I'd throw a cautious look over my shoulder every now and then. As soon as Benny was done we hightailed it inside. I couldn't make it up the trailer stairs fast enough and practically stumbled through the front door.

As if I didn't freak out enough with just the thought of what might be out in the woods I know I would have flipped a lid if I'd actually seen something. Me and my wild imagination!

Three Flights Up

I went downtown today towards City Hall to find the local school district office. Even though I had mailed my resume I wanted to go down there in person and fill out an application. I found the old historic building and parked about a block away. I began my trek to the building and after seeing a man in green and white striped pants sitting nearby I soon realized that the Sheriff's Correctional Facility was connected to the building I was about to go in. I came across two sets of double doors, one reading something about booking and the other reading the name of the building. I shot for the doors that had nothing to do with the Sheriff's department and walked into a large and very empty lobby.

Feeling very out of place I quickly began searching for the directory and found I needed the 3rd floor. Rather than take the elevator I opted for the stairs thinking it would be a healthy choice to hike rather than ride. Upon reaching the 3rd floor stairwell door I realized I was panting ridiculously from the climb and figured I would have a moment to compose myself in a hallway of some sort after exiting the stairwell. Wrong. As soon as I opened the door I found myself standing directly in front of the receptionist's desk with boxes all over the place. I walked in with a look of shock, I'm sure, not expecting to walk right into someone's personal office after exiting the stairs. I looked to the right and there was another prisoner in green and white striped pants emptying the floors garbage cans and spraying down counters. I quickly looked to the woman sitting behind the desk and between panting breaths I asked her if this was the district school office. Needless to say, I was in the right place despite it looking like a makeshift command post for juvenile detention offices.

I was pointed to a small desk in the corner where I was directed to fill out the BLUE application form. When I was finished I handed my application and resume to a blonde lady sitting behind the desk as the previous lady was MIA. As I looked around I noticed that the stairwell I had come up had a huge sign on it stating "Emergency Exit" so I decided I would make a quiet exit and take the elevator down. Feeling as though I stuck out like a sore thumb the skinny elevator doors finally opened and I stepped inside. I stood there staring into the office for what seemed like many awkward minutes waiting for the doors to close. The MIA lady came back to the front desk and asked the blonde, "Did she fill out the back of the form?" Uh, ya, still here, still hearing every word you say about me.

All I can say is that's the last time I try to be healthy and take the stairs. LOL

There's a Snake in My Bed

I woke up in the middle of the night to find my husband holding the covers of the bed up in the air while he looked underneath. I had no idea what he was doing but soon got concerned when he started talking. Here's how the conversation went:

Him: "What is that?"
Me: "What is it?"
Him: "What is this?"
Me: ...speaking in a panic, "What's under there?" (now thinking that there is a bug or snake in our bed)
Him: ...still holding the sheets up, "This is carbon wire!"
Me: "What?"

I soon realized there was nothing to fear. No spiders, bugs or snakes in the bed. After hearing my husband talk about carbon wire I knew it was safe to roll over and go back to bed.