My last post was about how God works in our lives, and the day I had Sunday in regards to feelin kinda down and out was so inspiring in that sense. Honestly, everywhere I turned I was getting the very same message.

It truly was amazing to me how the frustration I had been feeling was literally crushed out by the messages I was getting from different people. Again, all were basically telling me the very same thing.

It was uncanny how all this came together and I felt I really needed to share that with you. I’ve never experienced anything like that before in my entire life, and I’ve been around a few years.

I have to emphasize once again that I’ve never been what you’d call a devout Christian. I’ve always believed in God, and through the experience I shared with Deb during her ordeal, it became very evident to me he was a very loving and caring God.

Once more, on more than one occasion while talking to Deb she’d make a statement to me and I’d ask, “Where did you hear that,” or “Who told you that?”

Her answer would be simply, “God told me,” or, “God showed me.”

Deb was rock solid in her commitment to God, and from her talks with me, there was absolutely no doubt that his commitment to her was rock solid as well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it to the day I die, “God walked with Debbie, and I saw with my own eyes he smiled on her daily!”

I believe that with all my heart.

I had seen all this joy in Deb, yet I could never put my finger on it. Sunday, I lived a little of this…the power of God. I tell you guys, it was amazing.

Now…let’s talk about the garden some.

First off…MAN, I’m getting a late start! LOL! Slow but sure…that’s me. I believe most everything will come off if we have pretty much a typical fall and winter. But again, you factor in my luck and this could get interesting! LOL!

What’s in the greenhouse I’m sure will be fine throughout the entire winter so we’re lookin good in that sense. This is also the reason I need to somehow find the time and the moola to get those other two set up as well.

I set out some eggplants today, and like our tomatoes we’ll put the overflow from the greenhouse grow area into the garden out front. That poor ole thing hasn’t been a producing garden in a while. It won’t know how to act!

I’ll take in our radishes tomorrow, and set out some more seeds. I juice these daily as well, so between that and a dern salad or two, they don’t stand much of a chance round here!

The beets are doin pretty good too, and looking through them today the beets are forming up well. You all know I’m a firm believer in the nutritional values of those guys. Still surprised though of how hard to find they are down here??

I set out about 30 or so He Shi Ko onions we’d grew off from seeds, and they’re doin well. I have about 60 more of them in seed trays getting close to bein set out as well. They’re a bunching onion if you guys haven’t tried them before, and I love em.

But, once again that’s not really a good recommendation comin from me…I LOVE everything when it comes to groceries! They are good though.

I also have set out about 20 of the Crimson Red bunching onions as well. They too are good, but I prefer the other. With these we also have maybe 30 more that are pretty close to being ready to set out. Won’t be long.

Let’s talk just a little, actually very little, about the okra I set out next to the greenhouse. Why do I want to just brush on this subject? Simple…thinkin I was bein very smart, and getting out of some work, I decided I’d herbicide around those little fellers.

Well, evidently while I was herbiciding “around them,” after about a week it became quite clear that not only had I herbicided “around them,” BUT also I’d herbicided between them, over them and ON them! Tore there rear-ends up!

Most of my okra will now come from the garden out front, and NO, I won’t be herbicided near them anytime soon, thank you! LOL!

The “maters” better look out though…I’m thinkin bout givin them a good fertilizin tomorrow or the next day! LOL! I figure if a little goes a long way, shoot, a handful or two around each plant outta make those suckers jump! What cha think??

In the next week or two I’ll set out some different lettuces, and that’ll pretty much finish me up. I MIGHT set a few greens out front too, but we’ll see.

All in all though, everything is doin pretty good, cept that dern okra, cause it for some reason just kept jumpin out in front of that dern spray nozzle. Craziest thing I ever seen!

I THOUGHT I kept hearin faint cries of “Banzai,” while I was sprayin it??

I hope the dern turkeys don’t get in there and eat some of those things. The herbicide do them like it did that okra, I’d be in BIG trouble they started havin thoughts on the art of…Kamikazee attacks!

Phew!
Anyway, here’s a video of how things are comin on.

Well, as “ole Bugs” used to say, “That’s all folks!”

You guys take care, God Bless, and keep a smile on your face and one in your heart!

Dub

First off, I have to tell you a quick story on ole Bob. Bob you know works with me here on the place. Well, Bob rides his bicycle EVERYWHERE! You may be 5-10 miles from the house and look out your car window and there pedalin away, is ole Bob.

Anyway, I asked last week if he’d like a ride up to Publix, a grocery chain here in Florida, and he said that he’d appreciate it. So, off we went.

On the way we were just talkin and Bob said that he had heard Jeff Foxworthy talkin about people that ride bikes, and said that Foxworthy had indeed “pegged him” in regards to bike ridin.

I had no earthly idea as to what he was talkin about, although I was definitely goin to hear about it whether I wanted to or not.

So Bob rambles on about Foxworthy declarin that if you saw a man out ridin a bike, it was…exercising. BUT, if you saw a man ridin a bike with a cigarette in his hand, it was…TRANSPORTATION!

I almost fell out of the truck. Bob is so dry most times in regard to his sense of humor, when he told me this story I almost cracked up. It was absolutely hilarious to me! Ole Bob…he never ceases to amaze me!

Some of you guys know that Bob has only one ear, and most around here have designated his handle as… “one-eared Bob.” I believe Bob had a growth on it and they took it off slap even at his head. He’s a great sport about it and comes up with all kinds of tales about his situation.

He was tellin Red and I once that when they first lobbed the dern thing off, the hardest adjustment he had was simply walkin down the road, the sun at his back…and seein the shadow he was castin. Said it kinda made him feel…unbalanced!

He’s a “sports-model” for sure though.

He talks SO soft most times, and although it’s soft…it’s NON-STOP! It is aggravatin though cause you’ll be TRYIN to work, but at the same time…TRYIN to hear what Bob’s jabberin about now. You’ll be like, “BOB, speak up buddy, OR…shut-up!

He’ll look at ya a minute and go, “Sorry, but I can’t hear that well, and honestly I can’t tell that I’m talkin so softly. To me…it sounds loud! The one good ear I got left don’t work that well either.”

We just crack up!

In all sincerity though, he is one great guy, and I think the world of him. We all do.

Also, most of you guys know that our oldest daughter Michelle, and our oldest son, Josh, bought me a new puppy (before it’s over they’ll be gittin a little payback for that deal!) whom I christened… “Gyp.”

Gyp is a Catahoula Leopard Cur, and it wasn’t but just a day or two after she “landed here” at the place that I found out where “the leopard” handle came from in her breed of dog.

Her, Cheyenne, Susie and I were out up under an ole oak just hangin out one afternoon shortly after her arrival.

We’re just sittin around coolin it, and all of a sudden Cheyenne sees or hears something out in the woods behind us, lets out a growl, starts barkin and immediately runnin towards the woods behind the house, Susie carryin on right behind her.

It LITERALLY scared Gyp to death!

One minute all’s quiet, all four of us are bout half asleep, and Cheyenne just startles the heck outta the rest of us when she lets out that first bark.

I swear, Gyp jumped straight up in the air! Straight up! BUT…she never came back down! Gyp was in the oak tree, literally sittin on the first low hangin limb. That’s when it dawned on me for the first time… “LEOPARD” cur…of course! Now I git it!

She’s since gotten much better and doesn’t startle quite so easily now, although it still happens once in a while.

She’s beginning to “feel her oats” a little as well now, and thinks at times she’s just as big as the other two. That is until feedin time!

I feed everybody at the same time, scatterin their food bowls out plenty far enough that no one feels threatened. Yet, no matter HOW far apart I feed em, little Gyp just has to go and check out what the others two have for dinner!

She’ll run over to Cheyenne’s bowl and stick her head in it. That’s just about the time Cheyenne will ROLL her! Gyp shoots off yelpin…straight to Susie’s bowl! She’ll then stick her head down into that one as well. Same result!

It’s at this point that she decides what she has in HER OWN bowl kinda suits her just fine!

This happens every day, and I swear I believe that if somebody kicked my butt daily, I’d soon realize I just didn’t want to aggravate that feller again. Not Gyp though!

I was told her breed of dog was very, very intelligent, yet between us…I’m beginning to have my doubts! LOL!

Our garden is taking shape again…finally. We have gotten the okra, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, radishes, a few onions and some squash replanted. The squash though are probably not going to make it.

I didn’t allow them enough “hardening” time in partial sun, and by this the dern things are getting their butts kicked. I’ll end up just planting them from seed in their garden spot instead of growing them off in the greenhouse first.

I knew better than to do this, BUT, I did it anyway. Hardheaded is a pretty apt description of my personality. LOL! It comes back to haunt me on occasion and the squash are a fine example of this. Deb always called it hard headed, but I call it…job security! LOL!

How bout a “Little Johnny” joke for you guys today? If anyone knows anything about ole “Little Johnny,” you know Johnny is quite the character, and most times quite risqué in his choice of adjectives when speaking. Today’s joke is pretty much along those same lines though I have “toned em” down some.

Uncle’s Bull

Little Johnny left the big city to spend a week with his Uncle, who happened to be a rancher.

Johnny had been there a day or two when all of a sudden he comes bustin through the door hollerin, “Uncle, Uncle! That dern bull of yours is screwin one of your cows!!”

His Uncle comes down the hall, sets Johnny dawn and declares, “Now Johnny, I want you to understand a thing or two. First, I know that you were born and raised in the big city. With this being the case, I know as well that you guys talk dirty at times. BUT, by us living rurally like we do, we just don’t use, nor condone such language. So if you see such as this again, PLEASE, just say that my bull is SURPRISIN one of my cows, okay?”

Jonny knods his head and goes back outside.

The next day Little Johnny comes flyin back into his Uncle’s house just a screamin, “Uncle, Uncle! That dern bull of yours is surprising EVERY cow ya got!”

His Uncle again sets Johnny down in a chair and states, “Now Johnny. Once more I understand that by you livin in the big city, you guys just might have a tendency to lie a little bit ever once in a while. With that bein the case, you and I both realize that that dern bull, as you describe him, CAN’T surprise but only ONE cow at a time, right?”

To which Little Johnny declared, “Oh no Uncle, that dern bull IS surprising EVERY cow ya got….cause he’s screwin your horse!”

Since I’ve already gotten started with the “Little Johnny” jokes, here’s one more…

The New Baby

Little Johnny’s next door neighbor had a baby. Unfortunately, the little baby was born with no ears. When they arrived home from the hospital, the parents invited Little Johnny’s family to come over and see their new baby.

Little Johnny’s parents were very afraid their son would have a wise crack to say about the baby. So, Little Johnny’s dad had a long talk with Little Johnny before going to the neighbors. He said, “Now, son…that poor baby was born without any ears. I want you to be on your best behavior and not say one word about his ears, or I’m really going to spank you when we get back home.”

“I promise not to mention his ears at all,” said Little Johnny.

At the neighbor’s home, Little Johnny leaned over the crib and touched the baby’s hand. He looked at its mother and said, “Oh, what a beautiful little baby!”

The mother said, “Thank you very much, Little Johnny.”

He then said, “This baby has perfect little hands and perfect little feet. Why, just look at his pretty little eyes. Did his doctor say he can see good?”

The Mother said, “Why, yes, his doctor said he has 20/20 vision.”

Little Johnny said, “Well, it’s a damn good thing, cause he sure as hell can’t wear glasses!

You guys have a great day, and God Bless! As always…keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub

Finally, we have gotten the garden out front cleaned up. Talkin bout a jungle, this thing had become exactly that. Weeds were almost head high in spots, but yesterday we finished pullin those mutha’s up.

They had gotten so bad in spots that we’d have to take the grubbing hoe and bust the roots up some. But, besides possibly an hour or so this morning, we’re be ready to till the soil, and start planting it back the first of the week.

We’ll have a couple of spots in our irrigation lines to splice back, “that dern grubbing hoe,” but it won’t take 20 minutes to do that. We’ll run it some to make sure all our heads or jets are working properly and we’re back in business.

I’ll probably go with a couple rows of okra, and finish most of it out with 2-3 types of peas. Probably black-eyes, cream 40’s and zippers or purple hulls.

I wasn’t going to plant peas this fall but after thinking on it some, as we’ve got a BUNCH canned and put up, but so many of our family and friends like them, I thought, you know, they can come and pick em a dern mess or two then I don’t have to give them my peas already shelled and canned!

It’ll be interesting to me this go round cause I’ve never set out things like peas, okra, squash and such this late in the year before. I’m curious to see how everything does. I do normally plant my peas in August, but this is usually around the first week. We’ll see??

With this storm that’s brewing, and the course they think it may follow, at this point I’ve had a few reservations in regards to, hopefully for sure there’ll be no “big winds,” but simply the amount of rain that could be generated from it.

We’ve be getting rain steadily the past week or so, and we’re not inundated by any means, but with these types of storms capable of dropping bucketfuls on ya in their passing, I do have a little reservation in regards to going ahead and settin out my garden. BUT, no guts, no glory, huh?

Plus, I try and use the moon favorable times to set out the garden, and if I wait for the storm to pass then I’ll probably miss the good plantin dates this go round.

I’d like to hear from some of you guys in your own experiences about moon favorable dates. I know my Granddaddy Troy used to tell me all the time, “Use the moon, son. If you don’t, using peas as an example, you’ll have the prettiest big bushes, but they’ll produce few peas.”

I always liked to listen to these “old timers,” in regards to gardening, but honestly, I haven’t tried it on dates the moon wasn’t favorable before. You know, above ground producing crops go in on a growing moon, while underground crops go in on a declining moon. Again, I’m just kinda curious in your own experience on this.

After we finish the de-grassin in the garden, we’ll turn into planting the grow areas around the greenhouse. This we should have completed by tomorrow.

Oh, before I forget…I bought me some new britches! Yep, ole Dub in new britches! I gotta say it was out of necessity…ALL my old ones were fallin off me, literally. I swear, this juicing daily, getting some good exercise each morning, doin the gardenin, and watchin what I eat more closely is really paying off!

I’ve gone from a 44 waist, sounds crazy to me now that I’d let myself get into that kinda shape, to a 38. Look out 34, I’m headin your way. I weigh 255 now, down from 317. If I hit a 34 waist, this’ll be the first time I’ve worn that size britches, I believe, since pre-school. LOL!

Anyway, I feel great! One thing that helped to get me on this “health kick” is one of my trips to KFC…ya know, the chicken place. The FRIED chicken place.

I’m standin in line waitin to order, and once I get to the register I ordered a bucket. Now ya got to realize that I’m standin there by myself, just me, and the young lady takin my order asks, “Is this for HERE or to go, sir?” LOL!

Again though, what a difference in the way I feel now, versus then. It’s incredible!

Back to the grow areas. We’ll be settin some tomatoes, though I haven’t hardened them up yet, but I’ll be settin them out today to start letting them become accustomed to the full sun.

I will be planting some okra, squash, and cucumbers, and I have some eggplants and peppers that I’ll be hardening as well. These, like the tomatoes I’ll be planting in earnest next week sometime.

Well, that bout brings ya up to date on what’s goin on here at our place so, let’s end up with something to ponder on a minute or two…this from our ole buddy, Gary.

The Coyote Story

California :

The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A
coyote jumps out and attacks the Governor’s dog.

The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie “Bambi” and
then realizes he should stop because the coyote is only doing what is
natural. In the process the Governor is bitten by the coyote.

He calls Animal Control. Animal Control captures the coyote and bills the
State $200 testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.

He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State
$200 testing it for diseases.

The Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases
from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.

The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a
$100,000 survey to make sure the area is now free of dangerous animals.

The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a “coyote awareness
program” for residents of the area.

The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies
and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.

The Governor’s security agent is fired for not stopping the attack. The
State spends $150,000 to hire and train a new agent with additional special
training regarding the nature of coyotes.

PETA protests the coyote’s relocation and files a $5 million suit against
the State.

TEXAS :

The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote
jumps out and attacks his dog.

The Governor shoots the coyote with his State-issued pistol and keeps
jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge and about $500 of his personal money on his gun.

The buzzards eat the dead coyote.

AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS WHY CALIFORNIA IS BROKE AND TEXAS IS NOT.

Then, last but not least we have a tongue in cheek from our ole buddy Bill, who LEFT California, and resettled in…ole Kaintuck…

A mother and her very young son were flying West-jet Airlines from Ottawa to Calgary. The little boy

who had been quietly looking out the window, turned to his mother and said, ‘If big dogs have baby

dogs, and big cats have baby cats, why don’t big airplanes have baby airplanes?’ The mother who

couldn’t think of an answer, told her son to go ask the flight attendant. So the boy walked down the aisle

and asked the flight attendant who was busy serving drinks.

She smiled and asked, ‘Did your Mom tell you to ask me?’ The boy ‘Yes, she did.’ ‘Well, then, you go and

tell your Mom that there are no baby airplanes because West-jet always pulls out on time. Have your

mom explain THAT to you.’

You guys all have a great day and God bless! Please remember to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub

How bout today, we talk about blind dates. You guys remember them right? Yeah, me too. I don’t know about the rest of ya’ll, but my experience had never been too good in regards to a…blind date. But, at my age you pretty much take what you can get.

Last week I went out on my first date that had been set up by a couple I’ve known for years. They too went along. You know how it works, they took me over to pick this lady up at her home, introduced me to my date and…her seeing-eye dog, “Ray C.”

Yep, here I am goin out on a “blind date” and the woman I’m goin out with WAS…literally blind!

As soon as I could, I cornered my buddy and exclaimed, “For God’s sake man…the woman’s BLIND!”

He quietly said, “Dub, it’s okay, she’s as nice as they come.” I’m like, “Well, that’s all fine and good, but she cain’t see a lick!”

My buddy, by then becoming a little aggravated with me, says, “Look Dub, I know she’s blind, but great day buddy, ya looked in the mirror lately? I mean ya ain’t Brad Pitt, my friend! You’re older than dirt to boot! I mean the options my wife and I had of even FINDIN somebody to go out with you were very limited to say the least! Now just take ole Helen Keller over there and have a nice time, okay?”

Friends…aren’t they great?

Well, after dinner they went back by their house, dropped my date and I off at my vehicle, and I got to take her back to her home.

Well, I got her home, walked her to the door and was asked if I’d like to come in, talk and have a cup of coffee. I felt it the right thing to do and replied that it would be fine.

Honestly, this woman was very nice and I kinda got to enjoyin myself. After 30 minutes or so I asked if she liked to play cards and she said that yes she did, so I went out to the truck and as luck had it…I had a deck of cards in the console.

I asked when I went back in if she’d ever played 5 card draw and she said that no she hadn’t, but if I’d teach her, she’d play. I’m like…okay.

So I explained that when I normally played we’d have a fifty dollar limit, and she agreed to this. So after I explained the rules ,hee-hee-hee, and we’d played a couple “practice hands,” we got down to business.

In my entire life I’d never seen anyone with such luck. It was incredible, the hands just kept fallin her way. I couldn’t believe it.

I mean we’d play the hand, then call and lay out our cards. I’d tell her after each hand the results, and that she’d won, AGAIN!

Well, if you know me at all, you know I’m a pretty conservative guy, though most use the term…tightwad.

Anyway, with the price of gas today, along with I’d bought everyone’s dinner earlier, and with what I was losin to this lady, my evening was becoming very, very costly, very, very, quickly, and it was obvious that her luck…was NOT goin to change.

Then…the light-bulb came on.

I was out a couple hundred at least, and the losses were adding up quickly by now. All I could hear in my head was…Ka-ching, Ka-ching!

Honestly, I kinda hate to admit it, but really, ya do what ya got to do, and the reality that she couldn’t see a lick became too appealing for me to overlook any longer, so…I started lyin!

The next hand, after playing it out, we once again laid our cards on the table. Once more, the dern woman throws down a fullhouse! Well, I’m sittin there with two pair.

She asks, “Hey Dub, did I win again?”

I replied, “No Ma’am, I’ve got three of a kind and you just have a pair of Jacks. Boy, it’s about time my luck changed! PHEW!!”

Well, this continued for the rest of the night, with my letting her win one out of every four or five hands, just enough to keep her interested! Plus the hands she’d win I’d fold or call before the pot started growin too large.

Well, by the time we threw in the towel, I’d paid for my gas, dinner, and was about three hundred and forty five in the black. Not a bad night’s work, huh?

I honestly can’t say that I was too proud of myself, but if you look at my wording I just stated that I wasn’t TOO proud of myself, and not at all, NOT proud of myself! LOL!

Well, none of this actually took place of course, but I was thinkin this past weekend that something like this would be bout par for the course in my regard.

Datin at 56, sure doesn’t have the appeal that it did when I was 26, or, at least it doesn’t seem too.

I don’t know nothin about nothin when it comes to datin anymore, and that thought in itself is kinda uncomfortable. Then there’s the “time frame” equation. When is it time to even start datin again? I mean, I’d never even considered this…didn’t think I’d ever have to??

Deb and my life together was not always “peaches and cream,” but it was filled with love and respect for each other. What I experienced in our regard was absolute, total conviction of two people being in love. It was wonderful.

Then the wheels came off so to speak…I was lost.

Now though, my heart is healing, my life is pretty much back together again, and in all honesty, life is good! Time, I can see already, is a great healer, and I gotta say I truly believe my Deb has and is, a major part of this…she told me would be, and once more, her word was her bond!

I still love her, and that will never change, but I’m beginning to understand life does go on, and I know in my heart she wants, even expects, me to be happy.

THAT, brings us to the set of 38 year old twins down the street a couple miles…with 38 not only being their age, but also their IQ’s. So at the moment…I’m very, very happy!! God IS great, isn’t he?? LOL!

In truth though, our God is a great and a very loving God, and he has blessed me in so many different ways throughout my life.

How I could ever be deserving of the blessings he has bestowed on me through the years is totally unfathomable. So I guess what I’m saying at this point is simply this. You have a problem? Trust in God, he’ll see you through…thick or thin!

I hope each and every one of you guys have a great day, a great week, and a great life. So many of you walked with Deb and I through her ordeal…right alongside of us. I’m forever indebted to you all for you love, concern and prayers…they meant so very, very much to both of us.

One chapter of my life has closed, yet another lies ahead. I now am ready for this one to begin…wish me luck!

God Bless you guys, and remember always…to “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Dub AND Deb

As you guys know, we’ve been getting rain, rain, and more rain coming off the storm in the northwest gulf.

I dumped 5 inches out of the rain gauge last night, so I really don’t know how much we’d had. Then this morning I dumped another inch and a half. I haven’t checked it this afternoon but I’d be shocked if we haven’t had another inch and a half as well.

This could keep up for another few days, but hopefully it’ll start moving out soon. We’ve not had any strong winds here, possibly gusts of up to 25 mph, but nothing bad at all. Like many others along the eastern seaboard or the gulf coast areas, once one of these storms starts heading in our general direction…we keep our eyes peeled!

The name of this particular storm?

Debby. Yep, that’s what they’ve gone and named the dern thing! The weather center spelled it wrong but, Debby is still Debbie no matter how ya cut it!

You believe that? I was like…dern woman, I’d been begging for rain all spring and son-of-a-gun, you’re seeing I get it all at one time! We’re drownin here how bout it!!

No, actually even with the rain we’ve had, as fast as we’ve gotten it, you look out it’s standing, you look again in 30 minutes or so…and its gone! We have been terribly dry this year but seem to be makin up ground quick.

Our pond is up at least a foot or better, and this will continue to rise even after the rain stops. We dug it fairly close a dry creek-bed, it’s a creek when its wet, and dry when it ain’t, so the pond will leech water from the creek until it dries back out again.

This could be a while now though…we’re into our rainy season now, and water shouldn’t be a worry to us anymore this year. Unless we have a season with several storms, then it’ll be another type of problem…too much water!

Sounds as if I’m a guy that’s pretty hard to please, huh?

I’ve been around enough years now that I understand that many times in life its feast…or famine. Lookin at my picture still though, you’d have to come to the conclusion that I’d been experiencing in my life way to much of feastin, and maybe not quite enough of famine! LOL!

Although I have to tell you that in all reality that’s not the case, but once Deb and I had gotten to the point we COULD feast ever once in a while, I swear I just didn’t know when to quit.

We’d get past the feastin and start back on the faminin (is this a word fam-a-nin) again, and I’d still be feastin away on what I’d put up while we WAS feasting! Thank you Food-Saver!

I believe I was the only one in the Country that when the economy took such a downturn…I was PUTTIN ON weight! LOL!

Then ole Deb, bless her heart, showed me a new road to travel. A road of good healthy eating, choosing the right foods to nourish our bodies with, and, oh my God…exercise??? I thought she’d lost her cotton pickin mind!

You can’t imagine the things that were coming into my mind! I began having nightmares!

Me and my big mouth had told her, “Honey, whatever you do…I’ll do too!” You see, that’s been my biggest problem all through my life. Opening my big mouth instead of listening, grasping, and thoroughly understanding what was just said.

Then, knowing Deb like I did, I KNEW once she started all this healthy this, and healthy that, she’d never go back to the way it was…the GOOD life.

Fried pork chops, mashed taters and gravy, cat-head biscuits, corn bread, fried okra, peach cobbler, fried chicken, cube steaks smothered in…grease, fried green tomatoes, well, ya’ll get the picture. She dropped all this just like she’d been snake struck. I was in denial for weeks.

All of this in itself could lead to many other things that I had always found…belittling, even un-masculine!!

Things like putting conditioner in my hair, bathing regularly, trimming my toenails, takin off my cap and partin my hair (what’s up with that), using a napkin, washin the dog (believe that), even liftin the lid on the toilet, these things all became…routine. I was a wreck!

Many times after a hard day in the garden, I’d come in and sit down at the table, oh yeah, she got me to washin my hands prior to that too, and here she’d come, sash-shaying from the kitchen.

She’d have a big plate of…bean sprouts, cottage cheese (YUK!), ice water and one dern THIN tomato slice laid up on a big ole thick bed of lettuce. Makes my mouth water just thinkin about it right now!
I’d ask, “No dressing honey,” and she’d hand me a slice of lemon. She’d say, “Just squeeze some of this over it Dub, it’ll help it, AND, it’ll be SO healthy for you!” “God Bless you honey,” I’d say…

I’ve waken up before in a cold sweat, raisin straight up in the bed dreamin about tryin to get into the front door of Wal-Mart, yet I can’t. I’d lost so much weight the door just wouldn’t open??

I’d climb up on the handrail beside the door and jumped off…right onto the mat, but still the door wouldn’t open…I’d lost TOO much weight. In my dream I’d keep climbin back up on that handrail and I’d jump again and again, hopin that just one time, the dern door would open where I could get inside.

I mean after all, all I wanted was one of them Nathan hotdogs with ALL the trimmings, just so maybe the next time I come I’d be able just to walk through the door like everyone else!

THEN the kids from down the road got into the act, although I’m not so sure Deb didn’t have a hand in this deal. She had to or they couldn’t have gotten in through the gate…I’d locked it.

BUT, here those two young’uns would come, everyday bout 6 in the evenin, peddalin them bikes around the circle in front of our house, hollerin, “Mr. Dub…Mr. Dub…look what we got!”

I’d raise up in the swing, look out in the drive and they’d go whizzing by, each with a liver cheese sandwich (my favorite) strapped to their backs! Off the porch I’d go, chasin them little suckers right out the gate (which was mysteriously open again…go figure) and down the hard road they’d go.

I’d walk back to the house and by now Deb would be sittin in the swing. “Dub,” she’d holler, “that was a nice little run you just took…very good! I’m proud of you!”

So as you guys can see, healthy eatin, good nutritious food, and livin right may indeed be good for you, but there sure is a whole lot of work and sacrifice to be put into it.

I’m thinking this weekend of possibly making some of that good ole Georgia link sausage, made into a casserole with about half a dozen onions, a #1 washtub full of taters, plenty of cheese, whole milk, plenty of salt and pepper, a pitcher full of sweet iced tea, and maybe a slice of hot apple pie with a big scoop or two of vanilla ice cream to wash it all down good.

Naw…I’m tryin to watch my figure.

I hope you guys enjoyed this little bit of nonsense cause I sure did. I had a chuckle or two putting this down this evenin, and boy it felt good to laugh. I can honestly say that while doing this I indeed had a smile on my face and one in my heart…I hope you did as well!

I hate to run but I gotta get a shower, wash and condition my hair, put a nice part in it after I dry it off some, trim my toenails, brush my teeth…

God Bless!

Dub

The wind though blew the squash around pretty good. We lost two, just broke em off at the ground, but surprisingly we have maybe 3-4 more that need a couple broken stems cut out, and I believe the rest weathered pretty well.

Watching those things blow around brought back memories of my killing those 50 + plants to get our growin season off to a great start! LOL!

I was talking to our good friends, Bill and Sandy, from Mobile Alabama, who by the way are… “Auburn Tiger” fans (hee-hee-hee Sandy), and she’d sent us some pictures of what’s goin on gardenin wise up in their “neck of the woods.”

Their garden was looking great, and I believe Sandy said they’d just brought in 50# of potatoes! They, like us, love piddlin around in a garden.

Both these guys have green thumbs. The proof in the pudding of their having green thumbs was evidenced to me last year. I called them in January, it was about 15 degrees out up there and I ask, “Sandy, where’s Bill?” Her answer, “Oh…he’s out in the garden pickin some tomatoes.”

“???? 15 degrees and Bill’s in the garden picking fresh tomatoes???”

Sandy’s like, “Yeah, he’s been a little disappointed with em though…he don’t think they’ve done quite right.”

“Okay…”

I have to tell you guys, although I hate to, they’re actually Alabama Crimson Tide fans. Gotcha Sandy! Roll Tide!

Anyway, I’ve got about three videos for you guys to look at if you’d like. One is our other garden we’d just prepped for planting, and one is of the greenhouse and grow area. Honestly, all these plants are doing well. We’re pleased.

The last video, which in reality will be the first was sent to us by a friend, this being Wayne, from Alma, Georgia.

Wayne’s a sport-model in his own right, and that scoundrel grows some great blueberries, but he’s pretty stingy with the dern things.

L:ast year as an example he told Debbie and I he’d send us down some blueberries by my brother, and he did. TWO! When I called he told me, “Shoot, that’s one apiece!” LOL!

Here Wayne’s video…

Not a bad idea actually, huh? If I still drank, I’d be takin a ride up to Ace Hardware!

The next is of our garden are we just prepped, followed by the grow area. Hope you enjoy them!

You guys all have a great day, and God Bless! Deb’s hollerin for ya’ll to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

You know, ole Deb and I kinda like piddlin around a cook stove ever once in a while, and we do pick-up, or somebody will send us a cookbook. Actually in today’s cookbooks, many times you can also read up on the “back in the day” lifestyles, and some are very entertaining, and good reads to boot. We enjoy them.

Anyway, we’ve shared some other recipes from the cookbook we’ll be using today, and it falls into the funny, “back in the day” category. But it also has some very good, “down home cookin” recipes as well.

Its title once again is, White Trash Gatherings,” and was written by Kendra Bailey Morris. It was published by Ten Speed Press.

I’d come back in this morning after a couple cups of coffee, sat down in my easy chair and picked up this book once again. Yep, you guessed it, ole Deb was still sleepin…how else could I have possibly sat down in my easy chair? Once Deb gets up, there ain’t much takin it easy after that!

So, while Deb’s sleepin in, and our “little girl,” girl, Cheyenne was gnawin on a bone in the floor beside me, I flipped through the “White Trash Gatherings” once more. Readin through it, I came upon those dern “Drunken Weenies” again and thought to myself…I’m gonna post them rascals today, so, let’s get started!

Drunken Weenies

The author states in her book that “these little weenies really pack a wallop. Made with a good amount of bourbon, these little guys are as liquored up as YOU”LL be after eatin em! (Caution: Keep away from children unles you want their game playin to consist of “Quarters” and “Keg Stands!”

• ½ cup bourbon
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 cup brown sugar
• Cocktail weenies

Mix all your ingredients in a pot and cook, uncovered, on low for 30 minutes. Transfer to your favorite crockpot and serve right outta the pot with a toothpick.

Remy and Max’s Dried Apple Snacks

• About 12 tart cooking apples, peeled and quartered
• 2 cups apple cider
• ½ cup honey (use more or less to suit your own taste)
• 45 cinnamon red hot candies (again, use more or less to suit your own taste)

Put your apples and cider in a big ole pot and bring up to a simmer. Stir every now and then so it doesn’t stick. Cook your apples on low-heat until you get a sort of watery apple butter. Then cool the mixture and throw it into your blender(if you have a fancy food processor, now’s the time to pull it out). Mix it up good. Then throw it back in the pot and add your honey and candies. Cook until your mixture starts to look like thick apple butter.

Put some parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread out your apple mixture about ¼ inch thick. Then stick the mixture in the oven on real low heat (about 120 degrees) to dry it out. Keep the oven door just a bit ajar so all the moisture can escape. This will take about 14 hours.

Take it out of the oven, let it cool, and then peel it off the paper and roll up jelly roll style. Cut into slices. Store in a Ball jar.

Big Butt Bea’s White Trash Nachos

• ½ box buttery crackers
• ½ pound sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (use more if you like it cheesy)
• ½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Pickled Jalapenos (optional)
• Sour cream, for serving
• Salsa, for serving

Turn oven on to about 400. Line up a casserole dish with buttery crackers. Sprinkle with some cheese. Top with crumpled bacon and jalapenos. Bake it until your cheese is good and melted. Serve with sour cream and salsa. Play a little mariachi music in the background for added Mexican flavor.

Devil’s Delight

Beat your cream cheese with an electric mixer and then add the rest of your ingredients. Mix it up real good. Then put it in the fridge and set back and relax while it chills. Serve with chips or Melba toast.

We hope you guys enjoy these. Before we take off today, our good friend Gerry, up in Western Canada, sent us a story about curtain rods. Deb loved it, but then again…it sounds just like something she’d do!

Thanks Gerry, and God Bless ya buddy!

Curtain Rods…

On the first day, she sadly packed her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company, pack everything up to take to their new home ……. and to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods!

You guys have a great day, and God bless. Despite the curtain rods, Deb still says to tell you all to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

It had gotten SO dry down here…the trees were bribing the dogs!

It had been SO hot and dry, the birds were pullin worms outta the ground…usin potholders!

I was tellin Deb that it had been SO dry, I saw our neighbor Skeet feedin his chickens crushed ice to keep em from layin hard-boiled eggs.

Her response, “If Skeet’s brains were made of gasoline, he wouldn’t have enough to ride a motor scooter around the inside of a doughnut.” I left fore she could start on me!

Anyway, tonight we’re supposed to have another couple good batches, and we’re sure needing all we can get.

Well, the grow area is planted, and irrigated! YES! We like 1-1/2 rows, but that for the black tomatoes. They’ll be out there too, before long. The start off is just about behind us, and I gotta tell you guys again…I’m havin a ball watchin this stuff grow. It’s a little different, but we’re getting the hang of it.

Changing gears, we sure hope all ya’ll are doing fine. We’d seen where there were some areas that had been having some really nasty weather, and we hope you, and all your loved ones, are all in good shape.

Today’s recipes come from a book very similar to our last post’s recipes. They were from “White Trash Cooking,” while these come from… “White Trash Gatherings!” I think I recognized some of ole Deb’s people in this one…. “GATHERIN!” LOL!

It was written by, Kendra Bailey Morris, and published by Ten Speed Press. We’ve used some of her recipes before, and have gotten a kick out of her book, plus some pretty dern good recipes. Get ya one!

Miss Motley’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken With Torpedo Gravy

• 1 frying chicken, cut into pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• Flour
• Salt and pepper, as much as you’d like
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup shortening
• Paprika
• ¼ cup water
• 1-1/2 cups evaporated milk, more1-1/2 cups whole milk
• Reba May’s Creamy Mashed Potatoes (below)
• Angel Biscuits (below)

Make sure your chicken pieces are all the same size, and are all on the small side. If the breasts are too large, cut em into halves. Two to three hours before you plan to fry, rinse the chicken and put it into a large sealable plastic bag with the buttermilk. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.

Take a brown paper bag and put enough flour to easily coat the chicken in it. Add salt and pepper, as much as you’d like. Remove your chicken from the buttermilk and put it in the paper bag. Shake your chicken up good and get ready to fry it. Save your flour mixture foe making gravy later on.

Melt equal parts butter and shortening in a cast iron skillet. Have your heat at medium to medium-high, but be careful not to burn the butter. When the pan is hot, drop your chicken in the pan and brown on each side. Sprinkle paprika on each side along with salt and pepper the way you like it. Cook for about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium –low, add the water, put a lid on the pan, and steam the chicken for 15 to 20 minutes. Take off the lid and continue to cook the chicken on each side to crisp it up again. Place the chicken on a rack to drain.

Scrape up the little crispy pieces from the bottom of the pan. Add 2 to 3 heaping tablespoons of the flour mixture from the paper bag. Stir, scrape, and cook for about 3 minutes. Add equal parts of the evaporated milk and the whole milk to the mixture and stir real good. You should have about 3 cups of liquid. Bring up to a low simmer. Continue stirring until your gravy thickens (the secret to a first-rate gravy is good drippings and fast stirring). If you find your gravy is getting too thick, add a little evaporated milk. Add salt and pepper the way you like it. Serve up your gravy with a mound of mashed potatoes and hot biscuits.

Reba May’s Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Peel and cut enough potatoes into chunks for your group. (I always make a little extra, so there will be leftovers for next-day tater cakes). Cover your potatoes with water and cook until tender. Save your potato water to use when mashing.

Heat your mashing liquid, which should be half evaporated milk, half potato water, and a big chunk of butter. Using your potato masher (NO electric mixers!), smash the potatoes and add enough hot liquid to make them fluffy. Add salt and pepper the way you like it. Pile the potatoes in a big bowl and make a well in the top of your potato mound. Add a generous spoonful of butter into your potato well while your potatoes are good and hot. Let it run down the sides like a tasty, buttery volcano.

I gotta tell you guys, while I’m posting this…I’m slobbering at the mouth!

Angel Biscuits

• 1 package active yeast
• 2 tablespoons very warm water
• 5 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 egg white, whisked

Turn your oven to 400. Grease up a baking sheet.

Dissolve your yeast in a bowl with warm water. Let it stand for about 5 minutes, or until foamy. If it doesn’t foam too much, use it anyway. Your biscuits will still be delicious. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt together in a big bowl.

Cut in your shortening using 2 knives. Make sure you have small grains of shortening. Now, add your buttermilk and yeast mixture. Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead gently for a minute or so. Don’t worry if your dough is a little sticky. And be sure to go easy on the flour.

Roll out your dough to about an inch thick and cut your biscuits with the open end of a clean tin can or with a biscuit cutter. (My Granny once told me; avoid twisting off your, can or biscuit cutter when you’re cutting up biscuits as it can keep your biscuit from getting a good rise). Brush the tops of each biscuit with a little egg white. Put your biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Heavenly!

Reba May’s Next-Day Fried Tater Cakes

Take your cold leftover mashed potatoes and shape em into ½ inch thick cakes about the size of a Ball canning jar lid. Dip both sides of the cakes lightly in flour. Fry over medium-heat in shortening in a cast iron fry pan till both sides are browned and crispy. (Cast iron fries up the best cakes). Season them with salt and pepper the way you like!

You’re probably sick of hearing me ask it, but I swear I don’t know where the day goes anymore? The weeks are just rolling by. Shoot, it seems like Christmas wasn’t that far back, and you might as well say its April already.

Maybe it’s just me?…yeah, right! I KNOW I’m not THE ONLY person out there, “getting old,” or maybe I should say, getting older? Sounds better doesn’t it? Almost………nice, huh? Well it ain’t! But you know who you are, so just face it…we’re getting old. Ain’t that right JC?

JC’s a buddy of mine, and a great guy too! I met him while we were going to different schools together. Actually, we DID go to the same school, it’s just that we were like on…different schedules.

His schedule had him AT school, every day of the week, ALL day! Ya believe that??? ALL day, EVERY weekday, the man was IN school! I know, I know, it’s hard for me to believe too…and I WAS there! I saw it! LOL!

I was more like, hmmm…let’s see, what’s today…Monday? You know, I think I just might take a ride out to Rock Springs, which is a State Park that has a large spring flowing out of the ground and is the origin of the Rock Springs River. So it boiled down to school…or Rock Springs? In my eyes, back in “the day,” this was literally a no-brainer! LOL!

Anyway, I’ve know this guy for years and years, not only him, but his entire family. I’ll always remember his Dad, Harry Haskell, hollerin for his son, JC, to, “Hit em a lick,” back when we played football. I mean you could hear his Dad over everybody, “Hit em lick, JC!”

You know, they have PA systems announcing the game, but when Jeff’s Dad went to hollerin, I swear…the man WAS the PA system! Once he yelled out from the stands…it got quiet for a moment or two.
People were like, “WHAT was that?” Then somebody would speak up that had been to the Apopka High school football games before and heard Harry Haskell yell, and they’d say, “Aw, it’s nothing, sit back down and watch the game! It’s just JC’s Dad!”

His Mom and Dad, shoot, when I was over there, they WERE, my Mom and Dad. Same with his brother and sister, Ronnie and Tina, also.

In reality, we were really, just family. Well, cept for JC, he was always like family too, but more like, a Cuzin. Naw, not like your Mom and Dad’s brothers and sisters kids, but something a lot farther removed, kinda like great, great, great, great….great, great, great…great uncle…or aunt’s children!

JC’s one fantastic guy, and I’m just pickin at him this morning. Growin older and thinkin back on “the good times, with friends.”

I remember my Grannie Margaret, Granddaddy, and Nannie Murphy, bless em all. I can only fantasize of them coming back through the door, or goin out to their house and spending the weekend, or Granddaddy taking me down to the camp with him for the week.

Me and him in my eyes we were equals. God I loved that man, and there’s no question that he cherished me…I was the first-born grandson, and that man was proud of that fact.

So there was so much bond or love between us, that it literally exuded out of him at times, so that in itself, to me, was almost as if…we were just buddies…equals! Just being around Granddaddy were some of my most enjoyable times in my whole life. Plus…he taught me to work.

Nannie Murphy, God rest her soul, loved me just as much, but no more, or no less than any of her other children and grandchildren.

She never had a driver’s license, yet worked her entire life as a nurse, and raised 5 children, right by herself. How’d she get back and forth? She walked.

4 of the children were hers, and one she raised on account of the child’s bad home life. Nannie took her in, and raised her as one of her own! That was how Nannie was.

Nannie, till her dying day, NEVER once called and didn’t ask, “Son, are you warm? Do you have enough underwear and socks? Have you got plenty to eat?” Then, after I assured her that I was fine, we’d talk about any other thing that happened into our minds.

Grannie Margaret, for some reason, I was always tryin to aggravate her, and in many cases was successful in my attempt! She was Granddaddy’s wife, and it seems Granddaddy had taken it upon himself to teach me a few things. One of which was…how to cuss!

I have to say that evidently I’d learned how pretty well, because from the time I was 3-4 years old, man, I could sling em out at ya! I guess I talked so dirty around Grannie was that, simply…Granddaddy wouldn’t let her whip me! LOL! I had…a free pass out at their place!

Grannie told me several times that while I was out at their place she’d be in the kitchen cooking supper. Their living room sat kinda catty-cornered from the kitchen, and although she couldn’t see me physically, she COULD, hear me in there just cussin up a storm.

Well, she said she’d gotten to the point that she figured if she just ignored me, I’d eventually…just shut up. Not me, she said. They had a rocker that if you rocked hard enough, you could bend forward in it, and see into the kitchen.

Grannie claims, and since she’s now gone I consider that all it is, is “a claim,” that I’d get that dern chair rockin as hard as I could, and when it rocked forward far enough, I’d holler out, “Sh..”
She’d be in the kitchen tryin her best to ignore me, hopin I’d get tired of her showing no response, and once again, I’d just shut-up.

She’d say at that point, I’d go to rockin even harder, all the time peerin around the corner, getting louder and louder, just a hollerin, “Sh..!” Once she finally had enough, she’d come flyin into the living room givin me “the what for!”

At that point, I’d stop. Mission accomplished. I’d… “pis… Grannie off, and it showed! Now, on to something else!

My reasoning behind sharing this with you guys today is simple. I used to dread the thought of growing older. That’s no longer the case. I cherish growing older now. It allows me the opportunity to go back in time, and relive my favorite memories.

Yes, these memories are just that…memories, but, my God, at all the wonderful people I’ve known that are no longer here, but still today, they can put a smile on my face, and because of this, I keep one in my heart as well.

I have truly been blessed, by the people our Lord saw fit to put into my life, to share those wonderful times with.

I love them all, and yes, I do miss them!

I also like the opportunity of enjoying the truly simple things in life that age, furnishes us with. I guess a word that while younger didn’t seem to be in my vocabulary ,but has become now, not just a word, but a virtue…it’s called, PATIENCE.

I look at many things today from an entirely different perspective than when I was, “still wet behind the ears!” LOL!

The beauty God put here for us to take note of. 20 years ago, I couldn’t give a hoot about the birds singing, or watching the rain roll off the roof while sitting in the porch swing during an afternoon shower.

Deb and I were in the greenhouse just this past week, and we must have spent 10 to 15 minutes watching a butterfly work. Can you imagine that at age 25? Me either! Yet, what a pleasure it is anymore to take the time and just…observe. Life truly is a wonderful gift, isn’t it? Growing older is a gift as well!

Well, that’s about all I have to say for today, and I hope possibly, it inspired a few of you guys out there to stop, smell the roses, and to give thanks to our creator for blessing us with this truly tremendous gift…the gift of life!

Oh, I almost forgot. Our good friend, Gary, asked for Aunt Ann’s Squash pickle recipe, so this is for you Mr. Gary! Along with an added bonus…her pickled okra recipe too! Enjoy, my friend!

Squash Pickles

• 2 POUNDS YELLOW OR SUMMER SQUASH
• 3 MEDIUM ONIONS
• 1/4 CUP OF SALT
• 2 CUPS WHITE VINEGAR
• 2 CUPS SUGAR
• 1 TEASPOON CELERY SEED
• 1 TEASPOON TUMERIC
• 2 TABLESPOONS MUSTARD SEED

Wash squash and slice thin. Peel onions and slice thin. Cover both with water and add salt. Let stand one to two hours. Drain

Bring vinegar, sugar and seasonings to boil and pour over vegetables. Let stand 3 to 4 minutes. Bring to a boil, stirring and boil 4 minutes.

Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.

Aunt Ann’s Pickled Okra:
• 2 pounds tender, small, fresh okra
• 5 pods hot red pepper
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 quart white vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon celery seed

Wash okra and pack in 5 hot sterilized pint jars. Put one pepper pod and 1 garlic clove in each jar.

Bring remaining ingredients to boil. Pour over okra and seal. Let stand 8 weeks before using.

Serve chilled.

Note: If pepper pods are not available, use 1/4 teaspoon crushed, dried, hot red pepper for each jar.

Yield : 5 pints

We want you guys to have a great day, and God Bless! As always, my better half Deb, advises to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

My Mom’s brother, who is my Uncle Harold, is a sport model. There’s no one, and I do mean no one, who likes to laugh, joke, cut-up, and just have a good time than ole Uncle Harold.

He’s married to my Aunt Ann, who is one great lady, mother, and cook. Man, she can put some groceries on the table. She gave Deb and I a recipe last year for squash pickles, and I swear, those dern things are delicious. They’re my pickle of choice now, hands down!

Anyway, Aunt Ann calls Uncle Harold, Pop, as do many of his friends, as well as his kids. They have 3 boys.

The oldest Danny, is a workin Trojan, and just like his Dad when it comes to laughin and cutting-up. Actually, Larry and Gary are funny as well, but when it comes to Danny and his “Pop,” well, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree with those two.

He told me at a family reunion once, when I’d asked if Danny could make it, he says, “No Dub, that guy’s workin again. That dern boy works all the time. Matter of fact, I asked Ann once, ya reckon that they gave us the wrong baby when we left the hospital?”

That’s the kind of guy he is. You never know what’s fixin to come out of his mouth!

Anyway, I’ve told this story to you guys before, but it’s been many moons ago. I think that it’s funny enough to share with you again…

My Mom has a brother who is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. He’s my Uncle Harold. Harold owned and drove a cattle truck quite a few years. He’d pick up a load of cows from a market here in Central Fla. and haul them to Texas, wherever.

He looked at me a minute, laughed and said, “You know Dub, after considering the situation for a moment or two, I felt that I just might be…killing an innocent man!”

That’s Uncle Harold to a tee! Again, you never know what’s fixin to come out of his mouth at any time! What a guy, and we all love him! You too, Aunt Ann!

Today’s recipes come once again from the cookbook, Taste of Home…Casseroles & One Dish Meals.” It can be purchased at your local supermarket, where Deb and I got our copy.

It has some really good recipes for economical, and easy to fix meals. Check it out, you guys may find it’s helpful to you in putting some good groceries on your own table!

Let’s fire off a dern cook stove!

Alfredo Chicken-N-Biscuits

• 2 cups chopped, fresh broccoli
• 1-1/2 cups sliced, fresh carrots
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
• 1 carton (10 oz.) refrigerated Alfredo sauce
• 1 cup biscuit/baking mix
• 1/3 cup 2% milk
• ¼ teaspoon dill weed

In a large skillet, sauté the broccoli, carrots and onion in oil until crisp-tender. Stir in chicken and Alfredo sauce; heat through. Transfer to a lightly greased 8 in. square baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine the biscuit mix, milk and dill just until moistened. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto chicken mixture.

Bake, uncovered, on 400 for 18-22 minutes or until bubbly and biscuits are golden brown.

Cheryl Miller, Fort Collins, Colorado

Chicken Nugget Casserole

• 1 package (13-1/2 oz.) frozen chicken nuggets
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 can (26-1/2 oz.) spaghetti sauce
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Place chicken nuggets in a greased 11 x 7 in. baking dish.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Layer with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese and Italian seasoning. Cover and bake on 350 for 30-35 minutes or until chicken is heated through and cheese is melted.

Tylene Loar, Mesa, Arizona

Garden Vegetable & Chicken Skillet

• 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½ in. cubes
• 1 medium yellow summer squash, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup uncooked instant brown rice
• 1-1/4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

In a large skillet, sauté the chicken, squash, onion and carrot in butter for 5-6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink; drain. Add the spinach, garlic, salt, thyme and pepper; cook 2 minutes longer.

Stir in rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in lemon juice.

Taste of Home Test Kitchen