August 29th

                                           Today is a rather sad reminder that 14 years ago,
                                           we went through the grim reality of what a major
                                                                 hurricane could do.
                                                         I choose not to dwell on that.
                                              I only pray that I never live through another.

                                  ********************************************

Hazel

Isn't she a cutie?

Lucy

She's our curious one.

Always getting in trouble.

Boy, did we name her correctly!

Although I came across a better name for her...

Hugh Jass!

(take a minute, it is kinda obscure...)*

Pepper

She always gives us 

the stink eye.

She's our follower.

They were crowding and jumping around me like

a bunch of peppy cheerleaders at a benefit

car wash!

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Another cucuzza.

They taste great.

I love that crazy shape!

Purple Bell peppers

Tomatoes

A late summer crop.

Ours didn't do well this year.

We are hoping that these turn out better.

Twins!

The 3rd life of this onion.

I mean, we initially grew it from a cutting like this.

It was from one bought at the grocery.

I used the top half and cut off the bottom with the root.

Then I put it in water and waited for it to grow.

This is the stage that's best for planting.

This one is ready to plant.

I'll get 2 onions from it.

Put it in a simple pot in good light and it'll grow!

The rainbow colors of our Bell Peppers.

Beautiful!

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This segment I'll entitle,

"Is It Just Me?"

In the last few weeks we've had an abundance of

veggies from the garden.

That's a really good thing, right?

In most cases I'd agree,

BUT

I've been eating A LOT of veggies!

A lotta gas producing veggies.

So...

Here's the scenario.....

I'm in the car driving to pick up the

kids from school.

I noticed that my stomach was "acting funny".

By funny, I mean, gassy.

OK

Well,

 I usually don't have these issues,

but today it seemed that my small and large

intestines were at war.

The sounds I was making sounded like

dogs growling!

AND,

I'm still about 30 minutes from my favorite

toilet (my own!)

That old adage kept coming to mind,

"Never trust a fart!"

Now..

All my 5 senses shut down, 

I guess to prevent any outside stimuli

from distracting my

 "lock down" mode.

Then...

I began sweating.

I'm sure I was flushed red too.

I think it was so bad that,

 if someone had pasted a white sickle and hammer 

on my forehead, 

I could have passed for the

Russian flag!

My bowels were close to rebelling

in an explosion of biblical proportions,

so....

I started to pray.

Yay!

I made it to my toilet!!

Thank you Baby Jesus!

Ahhhh!

 I exorcised those gastric demons

in surround sound,

Only to realize that the CEO hasn't fixed the 

     exhaust...….

Woe is me.

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Food, my favorite subject

and,

Recipes!

I've got some great ones from my daughter.

She's a wonderful cook!

This one is for her 

"Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup"

Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef

                  1 small onion diced

                                1(29 oz) can diced tomatoes

                           1 large bell pepper diced

                                          1 (14 oz)can chicken or beef broth

                1 can tomato soup*

                 2 cups cooked rice

                1 tablespoon sugar

                             1 tablespoon garlic powder

                 salt/pepper to taste

                                             shredded cheddar cheese for topping

          Instructions: In a large pot, brown and crumble ground beef.

                        Add diced peppers and onions, then drain after cooking.

                             After draining add tomatoes, broth and tomato soup.

*(or tomato sauce can be substituted)

Then add the rice.

Stir in seasonings - sugar, garlic, salt & pepper. 

Cover and simmer for 30 min or so on low.

Serve with cheese topping.

She said that one of the restaurants on Bourbon Street

asked her for the recipe and now they use

it every once in a while as their soup of the day!

How cool is that??!!

I'll post more of her contributions....

Many thanks to her creativity....

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Musings...………

People who, after it rains,

pick up earthworms on the sidewalk

and throw them back in the grass or dirt,

are the cornerstones of society.

We should all strive to have that

level of compassion for each other

and the natural world,

just sayin'

Coming from a grateful worm...

Always Hugs!

* Huge Ass