Cousins' Reunion

I just returned from our annual "Cousins' Reunion," that was held this year in the small town of Andrews, North Carolina. It is a peaceful little town located in a scenic valley in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

We really enjoyed this little town that is the perfect combination of the past and the present. There are beautiful mountain vistas and nostalgic old homes, shops, markets, country music and best of all friendly and gracious people. It was the perfect place to visit and enjoy one another's company.

We arrived on Thursday and spent some time catching up on the rocking chairs out in front of our hotel. On Friday, we went rafting on the Nantahala River. The day was beautiful and we really enjoyed ourselves. We had two groups rafting down the river and no one fell out into the frigid water, and we went injury-free. In the photo above we ended our rafting trip by going over Nantahala falls. Eric, at back, did a great job steering us down the river and the rest, Wilma, Jerry, Judy and I, at front, spent more time enjoying the beautiful scenery along the river than paddling the raft. If you could find a way to warm up the water, which was freezing, it would have been perfect. We all loved it!

The third time is the charm?

It's the middle of July and we still don't have any corn. We have planted corn three times and the first time it was too cold and wet and as soon as any of it came up, crow swooped in and ate it.

The second time it came up just fine and then the crows came in and ate every bit of it.

My friend Kim gave us some corn she had purchased and decided not to plant. It was a variety I had heard of, Silver King and I was anxious to try it. We decided to try planting one more time. This time it came up really quickly and looked great. Then the crows came again and picked a little from each row. They came back again and then one more time.

Now the corn is finally tall enough and has deep enough roots so I think maybe, just maybe, we will have some corn after all. From the five rows we had, we probably have one and a half to two rows left.

Maybe, before frost, when the price of corn is much higher, we will have a corn harvest. I don't think the idiom I should use is "the third time's the charm." It isn't totally appropriate. I think the better idiom would be, if at first you don't succeed, try again and again and again.

Sometimes it's the presentation

I made a salad the other day and my husband really was wowed by it. I decided that the salad really wasn't so special but it was just presented in a way that created interest and looked really pretty.

It had all the regular ingredients of a grilled chicken salad. In reality it was pretty plain, but there was something nice about this salad. My theory is that people really like how food is presented. We are all used to some beautiful food in magazines and a chef can really make food into an experience. In fact, magazines hire food stylists to make sure those photos look great.

I am not saying that you should spend hours at each meal dressing up your food, but I do suggest you try to occasionally present dishes that make food special to family and guests, but especially your family. You are creating memories that will last a lifetime so some effort should be put forth on occasion. They might get tired of it every day but every now and then, it is a real treat.

To make this Cobb salad start by chopping all the ingredients and arranging them on a platter. A white or glass platter is a nice start. Arrange the chopped food and then provide a serving spoon. This is kind of like a build your own salad bar because if you don't like one of the item you don't have to get it.

I used tomatoes, finely chopped lettuce, cheese cubes, grilled chicken breast, chopped boiled eggs, green onions, cucumbers, bacon and avocado. Serve a choice of dressings -- a vinaigrette, honey mustard and ranch are good choices. Let everyone serve themselves and enjoy. This makes a great meal.

Garden blooms

A few days ago I went to our garden to do some work and I was captivated by the blooms that were everywhere. There were all kinds and sizes and the colors were brilliant and lovely. Some were even ethereal. It is a little surprising because most of the blossoms were from vegetables.

At the edge of the garden, my sister planted these brilliantly colored zinnas.

The tomato blooms are spikey and pale yellow. I like the fuzzy stems.

Cucumber blooms are small and bright.

Here is a baby cucumber with the blossom still attached.

These pepper plants and blooms are still dripping from the morning dew.

I love these twin Waltham butternut squash blooms.

Green beam blooms look like mini white sweet peas or lillies.

Okra blossoms are large and pale yellow with burgundy centers. They look exotic to me.

My parsley is just beginning to blossom. I think I like this photo best, even though it is not as colorful as the others. I like the way the grass behind the parsley is blowing and it looks soft, almost like a waterfall.

Another zinnia completes our tour.

Discovering my grandmother's china

My sister game me a very nice present for my birthday, back in March. It was a few pieces of china that had belonged to my grandmother. They included a teapot, a lidded serving piece, a cup and saucer and a demitasse set all in a pattern called English Garden. I was really excited to have something my grandmother once used.

Granny really loved dishes and I think I inherited that love from her.

Last Thursday, my friend Angela asked if I would like to go to an estate sale and I told her I would love to go. It was an interesting sale because they had quilts and linens. I really didn't expect to find much, but you never know.

We looked all through the house and in the last room we discovered a set of seven cups and saucers and seven plates in the same pattern as my grandmother's English Garden china.

The price was $20. What a bargain!

I know this is a little odd but I feel very much like this is all my grandmother's china -- even the pieces she never touched. I would really love to have a tea party to celebrate this "new" china ... I think my grandmother would approve.

Can a simple tomato sandwich prove your lineage?

There are a number of things that southerners hold dear. One being sweet iced tea, and I guess grits would be one. Biscuits are right up there but they aren't strictly southern anymore. I am thinking the second most revered southern treat (after tea) would have to be the tomato sandwich. I know it is simple but aren't the simple things often the best?

My favorite tomato would be a huge, vine-ripened beefsteak tomato that is at the perfect stage of ripe. You know that glorious color is is almost Coca-cola red. Just a little redder than fire engine red. You know that color! It is best, of course when one slice of tomato fills the whole sandwich.
I prefer whole wheat bread. Growing up it was white bread (usually Sunbeam bread -- remember little Miss Sunbeam?). Then there is the mayonnaise and about this there is an ongoing debate. Some prefer Hellman's or Miracle Whip but in my family it is without a doubt Duke's. In this economy, though, I get the BOGO Free with a coupon which in this case was Hellman's. Then top with plenty of salt and pepper. Top with the second piece of bread and bite into a little piece of heaven!
Now if you don't get home-grown or farmer's market tomatoes it is not going to be good enough.

I have talked to people who don't hold the tomato sandwich in awe and reference as my family members and I do, but I just can't help but believe they aren't truly, authenticly Southern. I might be wrong. I guess you could test out this theory and let me know.

Gone fishing

Children love to go fishing. It is so much fun to watch them. I will admit they get tired of it pretty quickly if the fish aren't biting but seeing the joy on their faces when they catch even the tiniest fish is worth a thousand photos.

You don't have to have fancy equipment. A cane pole will do but the pink worms are a little pricey.
Click on the photo and you can see the fish. I wouldn't recommend the sundress and pink sandals for all fisherman but we each have our own style. All I know is this was by far the best catch of the day.