Hooked on Houses

Looks Tasty! Redhead Drink!

Red drink
Ingredients
3 pounds strawberries, hulled and coarsely chopped
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons citrus vodka
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Ice
1/3 cup chilled Riesling
Directions

1. In a bowl, toss the strawberries with the sugar and let stand, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries release their juices, about 10 minutes.
2. In a blender, combine half each of the strawberries and their juices, the vodka, and lime juice with 1 cup of ice and puree. Pour into a pitcher. Repeat with the remaining strawberries and juices, vodka, and lime juice and 1 more cup of ice.*
3. Fill 10 collins glasses halfway with ice. Pour the cocktail into the glasses, top each with about 1/2 tablespoon of Riesling and serve.

Serves 10.
*Since I dislike blended drinks, I pureed the strawberries with the lime juice in a blender. Then I combined the puree with the vodka in a cocktail shaker and shook to combine. I strained the mixture into collins glasses filled half way with ice and topped with the Riesling. Delish!

Christmas in Mississippi

I am dreaming of a...well it ain't a White Christmas that's for sure.
I decorated and got all my  Holiday Cheer going on.
I made some "What The Fluff?" fudge...you have to have marshmallow fluff for that by the way. 
Tonight I made some delicious soup with some ham, sausage  and veggies and some crusty garlic bread to go with it.

LuLu

The front porch

He waited for LuLu to move so he could have his turn.

The Elf on The Shelf

He is just doing his job.

Veteran's Day November 11, 2011

 Mama and I went to the cemetery today on Veteran's Day and left some poppies for daddy. While we were there, we found many other veteran markers. Beautiful memorials to some well-loved men.

                                                  Hebron United Methodist Church

In Flanders Fields  
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


 By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Eating Persimmons Like a 'Coon in the Fall

That is what my daddy used to say when I would look outside and see him by the Persimmon tree.  He would say,
"I am out here eating Persimmons like a 'Coon in the fall".
Persimmons.

If you have never eaten one, they are an acquired taste for sure, but eating them when I was small made it even better as I get older and realize that they are available for only a short season, and delicious while available. I was surprised to find that the tree is in the Mahogany family, and that they are native to the United States. All this time I thought it was just an Asian import.  They are full of Vitamins and antioxidants and fiber and proteins. Daddy was so smart! He was way ahead of his time-thanks to those Mississippi 'coons of course.

Magical Wedding Day

My son's wedding in September was such a magical event.
  (I got the word "Magical" from my sister, Donna-and it truly suited the occasion)
It was held at the Methodist Church where my daddy is buried.
It was the only way daddy could attend, so we did what we could, huh?
The bride was lovely in her white gown, and the groom was stunned at her entrance.
(My mama never watches the bride she always watches the groom)
A more perfect day could not have been purchased.
The girls all got ready for the event at my house, and of course I loved all of it-the false eyelashes, the choosing of the hairstyles, the hairspray and perfume, and the photos-lots of those.  I wish I could have stayed true to my diet, but I wasn't too scary in the pictures.   I never thought I would get to enjoy the "Bridal" part of a wedding for my son, but this bride was very kind and generous.  She allowed me to be involved as much as I liked.  My husband bought Mint Julep soda pops to go with the old fashioned theme, and the Sunflower bouquets were just so colorful and cheerful!  The Chocolate covered Bacon I made for the groom's table was divine..and it was a big hit.

My son really loves her.

So vintage~with happy sunflowers.

Mr. Walker's Olive Tree

       I have never seen an Olive tree before.  My neighbor in South Mississippi has one in his front yard.

                   It has pretty reddish-brown fruits on it.  They are crunchy and sweet like tiny apples.

                                           Mr. Walker's Olive Tree is covered in the shiny fruits.
                                     They can be pickled just like the ones we buy at the grocery.

                                                                       Beautiful color!

                                                 Mr. Walker, and Buster with the Olive Tree.