July Fourth Fried Chicken

July 5, 2017

Although it isn’t frequently on the menu at my house,

I Love Fried Chicken!

I know that at least one of my Memas made fried chicken during my lifetime, but I cannot remember witnessing this process first hand. The Food Network is my go-to place for cooking instruction these days. Recently I have watched several episodes of chicken frying and have been bitten with the chicken frying bug. Since allowing myself the experience, I can safely say I have it out of my system. Here is my attempt at frying chicken:

Because I made the mistake of not purchasing a chicken that was already cut, I began by cutting up this whole chicken. Then seasoned the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and I’ll spare you that horrific photo. Let me just say that I do not ever want to cut up a whole chicken ever again.

My Recipe

Taking tips from several different Food Network cooks, I began by combining 2 cups of buttermilk with 1/2 cup of Tabasco, a beaten egg, and my chicken pieces. Apparently the buttermilk mixture is what will tenderize the chicken. Good to know. All of this goes into a zip top bag then into the fridge for 2 hours up to overnight.

In my Le Creuset French oven, I added about 2 inches of canola oil (because it has a high smoke point) and heated until it reached 350°F. I’m learning a lot from the Food Network!Next I mixed together flour, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a large zip top bag to easily coat each chicken piece in the seasoned flour. It reminded me of Shake and Bake. Sort of. Then I placed 3 or 4 pieces of the chicken in the oil (you can’t do more than 3 or 4 at a time without causing the oil temperature to drop) put the lid on, and fried for 5 minutes.Next I removed the lid, turned the chicken, and fried for another 5 minutes. Then removed the chicken from the oil and placed on a wire rack.Once every piece was fried, I put it into the oven at 375° for 15-20 minutes. It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. LB thought so too!

Enjoying a Little Light Music

July 3, 2017

Sunday was a lazy day… to start. A typical Sunday of Breakfast for a King, then treadmill, followed by an hour by the pool… Then LB said, “Do you want to go somewhere?”

Well of course I want to go somewhere. Who doesn’t want to go somewhere?

LB had a plan. The Little Light Music Concert Series at the St. Simon’s Island Lighthouse.Every summer from May to September this concert series provides the residents and vacationers of the Golden Isles with a place to picnic from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM while enjoying musical entertainment. (source)

Tickets are $12 for adults and children under 12 are admitted free of charge. Again… if you plan to attend, bring a picnic as there are no vendors. People have come to this event prepared… some even bringing furniture resembling small coffee tables to set with picnic treats. Everyone will be noshing and you WILL be jealous.

Sunday July 2nd featured Still Cruzin’… a band with members who have played with muscians such as James Brown, Percy Sledge, and the Temptations. They present Motown and R&B hits including “My Girl” and “Crazy Love”. The Attendees enjoy dancing on the lawn to these hits and others. It is an entertaining event if you enjoy relaxing outdoors, people watching and even more fun if you like to exhibit your moves on the “dance floor”.

Reminiscing

July 2, 2017

Tonight we attended a family gathering in honor of my brother-in-law Stuart.

On June 29th of June he hit the big 5-0 milestone.

Happy Birthday Stuart!

We gathered at my Mama’s house and enjoyed pizza, spaghetti, and, of course, salad.We sang the Happy Birthday song, enjoyed cake and ice cream, and the company of family. This will be a moment worth reminiscing.

Speaking of reminiscing

…recently my Mama has decorated a bedroom in her house. She loves chalk paint and has taken a collection of bedroom furniture that was handed down to her from my great-grandmother and transformed it. During the birthday festivities she looked at me and exclaimed “you haven’t seen my new bedroom!” Until tonight I had only seen pictures, but now I’ve experienced the new room first hand.

As she showed me around the newly decorated room there were

stories to be told…

When they visited their grandmother, Mama and her siblings used the finials on this bed post to serve as pretend telephones. Reminiscing about life as a little girl, she described having to reach up to take the finial from the post.

The portrait on the wall is of my great-grandmother when she was sixteen years old.The bed is decorated with throw pillows, one of which is a portion of the feather pillow that belonged to my great-grandmother. My extremely talented brother-in-law took the pillow and divided it into smaller pillows for my Mama and each of her siblings to treasure. Mama has kept hers in the case that is in front on the right.

She spent time telling me about

The Mementos

on the dresser

A little glass shoe that was a gift given to my great-grandmother by my maternal grandfather on the day he joined the military. It was well taken care of and eventually passed down to Mama. A box of Coty Airspun loose powder and a bottle of Evening in Paris cologne have a place on my great-grandmother’s dresser as they did when my Mama was a little girl.

And it has an interesting scent.

She has placed a temporary mirror on the beautifully refinished dresser until she completes painting the original dresser mirror. Her plan is to place it above the singer sewing machine table, that is reminiscent of her grandmother’s.

The tour of the newly decorated bedroom was delightful…

…and the tour guide, even more so

Friday Favorites

June 30, 2017

What an easy Post… Friday Favorites is a collection of things I’ve enjoyed this week that I want to share with you! From love notes to delectable dishes, I hope you have experienced some of the same…

Favorite # ONE

Morning love notes written on my breakfast napkin

Life with You is Sweet!

The ONLY ONE for Me is You!

Baby It’s You!

You make Me Smile!

I’m So Glad You came into My Life!

I don’t know if it was breakfast or lunch, but at some point when we came to live together, LB set a table for me and wrote a love note on my napkin. It made such an impression on me that he hasn’t stopped. I get a breakfast note every morning and I have been saving them for 5+ years. Precious.

Favorite # TWO

This Rock-A-Billy Jive Dance by Marty & Miss Dee. Music by the Cues.

LB and I took a 6 week dance lesson early this year in preparation for the Rock-A-Billy Prom that took place in February (more about this next year). This couple has inspired me to learn dance more than any I’ve found on YouTube. If you can find better… I challenge you to submit.

If this doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, I don’t know what will!

Favorite # THREE

Grits

Sunday morning found me out of town and checking out of a hotel room to head for home. Because the continental breakfast in the hotel was not worth… whatever… LB and I went to the Gypsy Cab Co. for brunch. If you have never enjoyed an Eggs Benedict Brunch, get out and go enjoy one. Typically you will have a choice of hash browns or grits for a side. I do not want to discount the Eggs Benedict in any way whatsoever, but when I dipped into the little bowl filled with grits (plain grits, no cheese) I was taken home. SO GOOD! Does anyone else appreciate grits? You can’t get this from a Quaker packet. I Declare that my Favorite # Three this week was my Grits Experience. Yeah.

Favorite # FOUR

I’m going to sound like a PIG after the whole GRITS thing, but… another favorite is the box of Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins that was presented to my group this week. I am a perpetual dieter, so bear with me as I ask… WHEN was the last time I had a munchkin????? OR a donut for that matter?

Since life is short, I let myself enjoy several of these little delights this week. Believe it or not, blueberry, not chocolate, was my favorite. Thank you for the Munchins. This girl really enjoyed them!

Favorite # FIVE

You will be hard pressed to find me not having this little Lovely as one of my Favorites. Once again, my sweet Mama has captured a moment as she typically does. This precious little GlamBaby is expressing herself in song. We have no idea what is the name of this song, but [as my Mama explained] Lydia knows. Although it is likely the opening song to Peppa Pig or Curious George, I like to think it is her own sweet rendition of “How Great Thou Art”

I haven’t figured out how to properly present this yet… but you must see this little musician in the making…

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Click below for the full version

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Happy Friday!

Johnny Cougar

June 26, 2017

This weekend we had the opportunity to enjoy a mini-vacation in St. Augustine with the intention of seeing a concert at the Amphitheater. When it comes to attending concerts, LB and I have spent the last few years making up for lost time. Our first concert experience together was Toby Keith in 2011. Since then we have attended more concerts than you can imagine. Some may think we are crazy, but we always have a fun time.

Since parking has become ridiculous, we decided to walk to the venue from our hotel.

According to google, it was 1.3 miles. Luckily there was a nice breeze.My FitBit logged 20,188 steps that day.

The subject of our concert quest was a long time entertainer and a remarkably talented singer/song writer. At age 66 the man still has GREAT hair and a lot of spirit.

(source)

There he was… a 1980’s teenage dream… John Mellencamp… live on stage.

You may remember him as John Cougar Mellencamp. He was dubbed Johnny Cougar by his manager in 1976 for fear that nobody would buy a record from someone named Mellencamp.

The 80’s brought a change for him after the release of his fifth album in 1982 “American Fool” as the albums that followed were released under the name John Cougar Mellencamp.

Saturday night we had the opportunity to hear him sing some of his greatest hits such as “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town,” “Rain On The Scarecrow,”

and

“The Authority Song”

Another great weekend and memorable experience with LB!

Shops in St. Augustine

June 25, 2017

St. Augustine is a place that we travel to often. Although it is nearby, it is far enough away to make it seem like a mini-vacation. There are so many places to explore. This weekend we found three new shops and one restaurant that I thought were interesting and wanted to share.

Located on Anastasia Blvd. near the Bridge of Lions, is “St. Augustine’s Iconic Fashion Boutique”

Rochelle’s

Featuring clothing by Free People, Ella Moss, Velvet by Graham & Spencer, and Bailey44, this trendy boutique offers high end items. Although there was a $29 Sale rack at the front of the store, overall this is a name brand boutiquePrice Tag Pic

Toward the back of the shop are some sale items, a fitting room, a sitting area, and some VERY interesting artwork

If you are not familiar with the name brands, you may not appreciate the items that you find at Rochelle’s. There are some bargains to be found and the shop itself is worth the visit. When in the area, you need to check it out for yourself.

Abbey Road

Featuring clothing styles for young and the young at heart, swim suits, jewelry, accessories, and even bike rentals. Abbey Road is located on A1A and is adjacent to an ice cream shop (great idea)

This was My favorite item and I think my youngest daughter (Amanda) would likely fight me for itNotice the Cold Shoulder application. Love it

She would like this too

Vintage Warehouse

There is lovely furniture here that my Mama would love, and could paint to look equally as lovely.I LOVE this lingerie chest and would have LOVED nothing more than to take it home with me today…

along with this…LOVE!

If you happen to be in St. Augustine driving down Anastasia Blvd. and you seeI highly recommend a walk thru. You will likely find something that you want to take home with you!

Gypsy Cab Co

Last but not least is the Gypsy Cab Co. because Sunday Brunch has to happen when you are away from home for the weekend I enjoyed the California Benedict with grits and fruit

LB enjoyed the East L.A. Burrito with cheesy grits and fruitDon’t you love watermelon?

In the end, LB ate half of my order and took half of his home for leftovers this week. It was SO GOOD! I HIGHLY recommend Brunch at Gypsy Cab.

They open at 10:30.

You can do it, and You will be glad You did!

Fitbit Fever

June 24, 2017

The package arrived on Friday, June 15th… and I’ve been wearing it ever since…

It’s my FitBit Flex 2!

The Flex 2 is a fully waterproof fitness tracker. This smart little device tracks activities like swimming, biking, running, and walking.

Fitness trackers can help with improved habits and overall health. It also helps with motivation to move, which is why I have been wanting to get one. My job involves a LOT of sitting which apparently can have long-term effects on your health and body. As I stare at my computer for 8 or more hours a day, I don’t think about the fact that I’ve been sitting for too long. My little FitBit is programmed to alert me to get up and walk away from my PC. When I feel it vibrate and see the purple light flash, I know that it is time to move.

Instead of a display, it has a row of colorful lights that blink to indicate your progress and provide alerts.Because I am not permitted to have any personal devices (such as smart phone, tablet, etc) at my desk, the tracker with this display is the best option for me.

There’s no built-in GPS or heart rate monitoring, but given the price point, that is understandable.

The Flex 2 is slim and can be placed in a variety of different bands and bangles. This bangle is on my wish list for styling my FitBit in the near future

Now for the part that is perplexing.

At least four days a week I log 3 to 5 miles on my treadmill.

The FitBit Flex 2 is NOT accurate in mileage tracking.

Case in point: This first screenshot shows that I have walked .44 miles before getting on the treadmill

After logging 5 miles on my treadmill, I captured this second screenshot. As you can see it indicates that I added much less than 5 miles.

LB did some research and found that it may be helpful to put my FitBit in my pocket, instead of wearing it on my wrist, to get an accurate mileage reading. We both agreed that this suggestion didn’t make much sense. And I don’t have a pocket in my running shorts.

So I decided to put it in my shoeAnd here are my results:

This first screenshot shows that I have walked 2.13 miles before getting on the treadmill

This second screenshot was taken after I completed 5 miles on the treadmill.

It shows that I have added 4.17 miles to my day. I feel a little less cheated.

So it isn’t perfect, but I’ve learned a lot about my habits and I’ve had a pretty good time playing with my new toy this week.

I’m thinking I’ll keep it!