How Y'all Are?

When we heard "how y'all are" it was a sit down and watch PBS for 30 minutes every Sunday afternoon.  Justin Wilson the Louisiana chef entertained us for quite a few years.  I learned some good  everyday  tips from this guy.  One thing when making a rue for thickening patience is a must, slow and low.  Justin had that great Cajun accent and when he told a story it was mesmerizing.  Our kids were quite young when we watched his show.  Remember back then not many choices for tv shows but this one was a 5 star rating in our home.

In 1993 Bart was in the Army and had to go to Louisiana for training.  He heard Justin Wilson was going to be at a Cajun Festival and went to see him.  Lucky for me Bart remembered how much I liked Justin.  Not only did he see him,  Bart bought me his cookbook and an apron........signed!  I use the cookbook frequently.  Today I made French Beignets to take to Ambers for her 4th of July celebration.  I guess we have come full circle, Amber is doing the holidays and entertaining now and always with great enthusiasm.  Beignets are similar to what I call a fried cake or old-fashioned doughnut rolled in powdered sugar.  There are several versions, one being a cream puff pastry and the other a raised doughnut recipe.  I have made all 3 at one time or other.  Today I used Justin's version, it is less time consuming.  Left overs are great with a good cup of coffee, little dunkers!

 0

After Bart gave me the gifts and told of the delicious Cajun food I was on a mission to go south and taste the real deal.  A few years later I had my chance.  A guy by the name of Eddie DuBois called.  His family moved to Shinglehouse in our high school years and became friends with Dick's family. They lived here 3 years and moved back to Biloxi, Mississippi.  I could barely understand what Eddie was saying other than, "is Dickie there?"  They had a long talk in which Eddie invited us to come visit.  He didn't know Dick's parents had passed or who Dick had married.  Pack our bags we are going Cajun!  What fun to see the DuBois family!  They put on a wonderful Cajun meal for us that will never be matched by the best restaurants. We stayed at a beautiful hotel on the Gulf, casinos everywhere. I'm not a fan, they are all the same to me.   Lose  $.  The food was simple, spicy hot and delicious.  Beingets and pecan Bread Pudding with a Rum sauce were my favorite deserts.  Poor Boy sandwiches and shrimp gumbo my favorite of the lunch and dinner menus.  We toured New Orleans which was fascinating in every way imaginable ;) .  Actually it was plain for residents to know we were tourists, a little eye popping with some of the sights we saw.    I do love listening to the Cajun bands.  Free spirited people for sure.  Will we go back, no.  It was fun and interesting but also one of the places we consider, "we saw it, enjoyed it, but once is enough'".

Independence Day was on the chilly side at Clara, PA, the sun was warm, family fun, good food and blessed with life.  ☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆

♪ It's a Beautiful Day in Clara, P.......A ♪

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!  THANK GOD SO MANY DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN KNEW/KNOW WHAT A VERY WONDERFUL LAND WE HAVE AND LOVE IS WORTH THE FIGHT.  NEVER GIVE UP

When my grandson was little we would go out side and sing ♪ It's a Beautiful Day in Clara, PA ♪ as loud as we could.  Fun times for sure.  Once our kids had left the nest we were lucky to get grandchildren to fill the void  Now 2 of the 3 grands that live close have spread their wings and soon the 3rd will be taking flight.  Hard to believe we have reached chapter in our life but it's here, like it or not.  We try to keep busy and so far are doing a good job of it.  Every summer the garden gets bigger which keeps us very busy in between the rain storms.  The chickens, horses and wild animals are the entertainment, the quiet beauty of the valley gives us the rest we need either setting on the porch or by a bonfire.  Yes times have changed.

Dick had is morning visit with the McCleaft boys for coffee this morning.  Tough time for them, their dad passed away 2 weeks ago.  They worked every day at the garage with their dad, it's going to be tough but Ed raised some good guys.

Once breakfast was over went to the Amish stores.  That 2# rolled butter can't be beat!  I need bread flour, sugar canning jar lids and what ever else looks good.  The sign was up for their home grown strawberries.  Very beautiful deep red berries this year.  Every family has their own specialty store.  Grocery, leather shop, furniture, greenhouse, trusses and feed store.  We go to a couple of the stores once a month.  Then we stop at the  Corner Cafe in Ulysses, great home cooked food with a very nice salad bar and the homemade pies and desserts are delicious!

This afternoon was lawn mowing.  The rain this week as made the grass grow, unfortunately so much rain the back lawn had puddles in it and is still mushy!  Speaking of back lawn, I saw a snake back there! Lucky I was on my lawn mower and not on crutches, that would have been a nightmare.   If that's not bad enough Dick saw 2 in the back lawn first thing in the mornings.  He said they are out in the sun to get warm!  He has started carrying a large stick to the barn just in case he sees them again.  He did kill one the next day.  Two down two to go.  I have no idea what is up with seeing so many but this is not a good thing for me.

There is breakfast, salt rising bread topped with
blueberry rhubarb sauce!

Twice a year Dick has his favorite fresh fruit treats.  Strawberries
 with fresh cream and next month peaches & cream.