No, not the bucket.
Music.
There have always been those certain songs that make me get jiggy with it.
Ones I always turn up the volume for.
Ready?
and
and
and
and one more
Am I dating myself?
Probably … the thing is, there are hundreds more I love just as much. Rock, Pop, Classic Country, Funk, Big Band, Classical, Soul and of course, Elvis (yes, he gets his own category, heh heh).
Hello, Handsome! google.images.com
So tell me, what songs make you wanna reach for the volume?
Cobbler’s made and the cake’s are done. Salad’s chilling and coolers are stocked.
Oldest boy smoked up two pork loins last night and I’ve got chicken soaking in buttermilk*, ready to be slow-fried shortly.
My tune’s are playing and the house is shining.
We can hear songbirds singing and I’m sure I saw Frankie smile.
Yep, today’s the day: Aunts and Uncles, cousins and friends. And birthday doings for grand-daughter MJ who just turned 3.
Summer gatherings are what summer’s all about!
“The most important thing for having a party is that the hostess is having fun.” ~Ina Garten
MJ’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken:
delicious!
Soak chicken pieces in buttermilk overnight. Don’t keep buttermilk around? Make some, it’s easy! Measure 1 tbsp of vinegar into a 1 cup container and fill the cup with milk. Stir, let stand for 5 min, then pour over chicken pieces. Double if necessary.
In a separate zip-lock bag or bowl, pour in a generous amount of “Kentucky Kernel Seasoned Flour” and dredge one piece of chicken at a time, coating all sides. Remove and place the pieces on a cookie sheet covered in waxed paper. When all are coated, place chicken pieces one by one into hot oil. (I prefer Canola oil and use a large electric roaster set at 400.).
Generally speaking, I use enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan but not enough to drown the chicken. Next, add sliced onions, fresh garlic and seasonings. Cover the pan with the lid, crank up the Bee Gees and return about 30 minutes later to turn the chicken. Once both sides are browned, lower the heat and let the delicious goodness simmer for up to 3 hours. The chicken will be tender, crispy and fall-off-the-bone good. And if that doesn’t make you get up and dance, I don’t know what will!
How about you … do you have “fun with it” when you entertain?
Ta Da!
Renee over at WritingFeemail gave me a blog award recently and today, I accept (via this post!) Renee is generous and kind, well traveled and lovely. She embodies what this is all about and I’m touched that she feels I do, too. Check out her writings here and thank you, sweet friend, for the honor.
Rules of acceptance:
*thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post - done!
*share 7 things about yourself
*nominate 15 or so bloggers you admire
*contact your chosen bloggers to let them know (this might take me a bit so please bear with me)
I’ve done up a few of these “about me” posts before so I am not sure how many amazing and enthralling facts I have left. To that end, I’ll do my best to share something I haven’t yet before:
1. I once wrote a fan letter to the Bay City Rollers and tucked my sister’s picture in with all my gushiness; she was older and far more sophisticated than the dorky 12 year old doing the writing. I thought her picture would seal the deal and that Woody would write back professing his undying devotion. Surprisingly, I never got an answer.
why Woody, why?
2. When I went back to the farm last fall, my brother directed me to a box of stuff from my university years. Mixed in with the textbooks, class notes and cassette tapes was something that didn’t surprise me in the least — a photo book on Elvis. He was my first crush and I still think he was the hottest man that ever lived; now that I think of it, I might have mentioned this before … heh heh.
Lawdy Lawdy Mizz Clawdy!
3. I met Donald Trump at NYC’s Plaza Hotel; he was polite and kinda hot. He had a lot of bodyguards.
Why hello, MJ, and thank you for visiting the Plaza Hotel. You’re not bad yourself.
4. I flew on the corporate jet a couple of times; other than the ease with which we boarded & took off, it was a little over-rated.
meh!
5. My sister’s boyfriend landed a two-seater propeller plane on our gravel road and my parents let me go up for a spin. Seeing our farm and all my favorite places from up, up there? Way cooler than the corporate jet, I can tell you that.
not quite this rustic
6. Two places I’ve visited hold the most appeal for a return visit: Walt Disney World and Washington D.C. You can draw your own parallels … hee hee!
it’s a small world after all …
7. It’s my birthday today! I love my birthday ~ always have and I always will 
. Usually today is the first day of summer, but I learned from Renee that it can change from year to year. Really? Ah, the stuff you learn out here. Regardless, celebrate with me, won’t you? Join Hubbs who affectionately refers to this day as … the longest dang day of the year. HA!
a few years back, good friends made me the BEST birthday cake ever!
And happy birthday to H.R.H Prince William who turns 30 today. It’s wonderful to know that he’s found joy in his life; when I see a photo like this one, it’s hard to miss the body language of his parents, isn’t it?
And now to 15 bloggers I want to share the love with today — please visit and tell them I sent you on over. Everyone on my blogroll is there because I love their work but I am listing those bloggers that I know think might enjoy receiving awards. Cheers!
Thank you again to Renee for the love; I sure do do appreciate it!
Extra Elvis shot b/c it’s my blog and I can! Hunka hunka hotness!
Sometimes, despite the progress made, there still is a part of me that resists the changes I heartily embrace.
I’ve been following a particular way of eating that’s working really well for me because 1) I feel great, 2) I feel great and 3) have I mentioned I feel great?
And, I’ve lost lbs and a bunch of inches. Clothes are looser, I have more energy, and, most of the time, I follow “the plan” very closely. I still go out to eat with Hubbs sometimes, but I know what works for me and I like how I’m feeling too much to blow it on foods that aren’t worth it.
Also I’ve been exercising and am seeing uexpected benefits … when I have to scuttle under the deck to wrangle pool equipment, I have more stamina to kneel down there than I did in summers past. Thank you Melt it off with Mitch! I can chase, catch and lift the grand kids with ease. Thank you The Firm! Clothes are looser; I sleep better than ever and I’m enjoying shopping in my closet again. Thank you to my Treadmill!
But every once in a while, your body gives you a message that you can’t ignore. It’s a craving, a little voice that says, “I need this.”
Normally, I ignore it. Usually I just push through. But today, today I indulged.
No, it wasn’t chocolate, ice cream or anything from the sweet category.
It wasn’t chips, salsa or popcorn either.
What was it?
Pierogies with sauteed onions.
I made them, I savored them and I enjoyed every last morsel-age of them.
And I’ve learned that it’s OK to indulge in a craving now and then; it won’t derail my progress, I won’t gain back the 15lbs I’ve already lost and, contrary to past beliefs, my pants won’t explode in the morning.
What have you indulged in lately?
Brown paper packages tied up with string ….these are a few of my favorite things…
I rec’d these questions in an email and thought they would be fun to share here in the blogosphere. I’m posting the questions (and my answers) and hope you’ll consider “playing along.” Just for grins, I’ve answered in pictures because I’m goofy like that.
1. What’s a movie you’ve enjoyed more than once?
… a delicious little movie …
2. What recent book has been impactful on you?
by Laura Schroff
3. What chore would you happily pay someone else to do?
pulling weeds … ugh!
4. What song will you always crank up the volume for?
mmmm… Elvis
5. What’s a food you loved as a child? Do you still eat it?
mmmm black licorice !!
I’ve told you a few of my favorite things … Tag, you’re it!
Happy Memorial Day, everyone. On Monday, I celebrated four years as a citizen. I’m grateful for the sacrifices of many … Land of the free, because of the brave!
*all images from Google.images.com
Smile often. Smile hard.
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.” ~Mark Twain, Following the Equator
I’m smiling because I love this song and I think I love the video just as much.
I loved it so much I’ve added it to my MP3 player for the drive to work today. But first I am going to stop and vote, and if that’s not something to smile about, well I don’t know what is.
What are you smiling about today?
Let them see your brokenness; let them see the cracks in your armor – for that’s how the light gets out.
Will you let us see your brokenness?
So there I was, working for local Houston radio station, KFMK, when I found myself signed up to staff our booth at an industry trade show. I was about 21 at the time and you could say I was a bit green to the ways of the world. Oh I thought I was all that and a bag of chips, but now I can only look back and chuckle. What I lacked in experience, I made up for in moxie.
Taking a break from our booth, I noticed a line forming in front of competitor station K-Lite’s booth. Wondering what all the fuss was about, I soon found out.
And there they were – two handsome look-a-likes posing with fans. Finishing up my duties, I grabbed a spot in line with the others. Probably could have taken my KFMK name tag off, though.
The funny thing is, more than 27 years later, I still sing Elton John’s songs, Robert Redford still makes me swoon, and royal blue is still my favorite color.
Dreams really do come true! An emjayandthem photo
How about you? Ever met a doppelganger?
There’s a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier place in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
Macrorie United Church. No longer open and never brown but still dear to my childhood.
Oh, come to the church by the wildwood
Come to the church in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
inside our Church
How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning
To list to the clear ringing bell
It’s tones so sweetly are calling
Oh, come to the church in the vale
me & my cousin, Deb, at the guest book for an anniversary "come & go tea"
Oh, come to the church by the wildwood
Come to the church in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
* * *
Sunday school, Easter service, Confirmation classes, Christmas concerts and bridal showers. Anniversary celebrations, retirement parties, funerals and luncheons. Church was an anchor: a place to gather, to worship, to sing, to cry, to laugh, to live.
It doesn’t take much effort to still smell the hymnals, coffee perking in the basement kitchen and the combined fragrance of Lemon Pledge and Pine Sol – a fragrance that said this place is clean, this place is holy; something so deeply ingrained that just a whiff today can transport me immediately there.
I still can hear the creak of the entry stairs, shared greetings between friends and neighbors and inner doors closing reverently as services began.
Mary Jane's: image superstarbabies.com
Smiling, I remember the clickety-click-click of our Mary Jane shoes as we cantered down the aisle and into our seats. Trying my best to be still, my hands recall the feel of the polished oak pews beneath them.
I remember the nerves that threatened to overtake us as we stood in line on the back staircase leading up to the choir stand.
But mostly, mostly I remember the warmth of the congregation and the soft presence of dear ones who left us years ago.
Do you have a childhood church living in you?
In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and as a tribute to all the “Mc’s” and “Mac’s” in my lineage, I give you this traditional Irish Blessing:
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain,
tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
To bless and to keep you …
And, of course, some Rovers to liven you!
* Have fun * Be Safe!
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