Coffee and...Part 17! :-D

Hooray!

Hey Hap, recluse is good! We follow the same drummer in that respect.This summer will be 31 years in the same home. 'Taint a house no mo, tis a home. Have seen all but 2 neighbors move,one more "oldie" in the cul de sac that I've never met is still here. Know a few well enough to wave or say hello, but thats it. I think there are 20 houses in our subdivision. The party sounds great. Darius knows where to get the best strawberries for that ice cream.I can bring some Swedish Baked beans, Jarlsberg cheese and a couple loaves of warm baguette. There's probably a 5 gal pop keg of Scotch Ale thats ready to drink too. Great to have Darius here again.Here'd a toast to you all. Skoal!

Hey, great photo, Robert! Nice to know what you look like : ) LOVE the Jap. Maple behind you!!

I may swear off strawberries until I can grow my own again. I read today that strawberries are the single most pesticide-contaminated produce in the U.S.

I'm with you Happy_1, I used to feed mobs and then one day it dawned on me that we weren't getting invites in return, so I made myself a new rule. I feed you twice, and if you don't return the gesture, you don't get fed again. Even for holidays now, I suggest that the kids and spouses bring a dish so I don't end up doing all the cooking. Sounds a little cranky, but really, whatever happened to good manners? We were the first house completed in this subdivision, neighbor alongside and across each got a loaf of fresh HOT home made bread. Most times we don't even get a hello from them, but the neighbor across doesn't hesitate to ask us to get his mail for him if they go away for a few days. Next time, I'm going to say we are also going away, so sorry.

Home made Ice Cream, Mary! ! Woohoo!! I have both strawberries and raspberries in the freezer, let's have more than one kind. We have plenty of hands to crank! Marcia, get those cookies done so we can have them too. I think we better fire up a grill or two and make something other than dessert and booze, or we'll all be asleep by noon. How about we put some sliced raw potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and cheese in foil packets and toss them on a grill to sizzle up and brown. A little smoked bacon on the bottom will add flavor and that new no stick foil is fabulous. What shall we have for protein? Any one like brats? Or italian sausage??? Darius, come on, you always have delicious recipes....

Mary, I became a gardener because I am an eater!! Nothing beats fresh picked anything from your garden. Kind of spoils you for the super market stuff.

Dunno what you're going to do about that fence, Sarv. I suspect you need to get something that will kill the rust, or it will just bleed right through paint. Gahhhhhhhhh painting a chain link fence has got to be the rottenest job in the world. Maybe you could use some kind of plastic under and behind it, and spray it with Rustoleum paint.

Sarv, since this is a cyber party, bring the pool!

DH has been slaving over the yard all day. Think I'll reward him by making dinner. LOL

How about some salmon filets on the grill to go with Hap's steaks?

M5, I love to do onions in foil on the grill. Peel small onions, cutting off top and bottom. Take a square of foil, dab a pat of butter on it with salt & freshly ground black pepper, add the onion (one per foil). Twist the foil together at thge top like a handle. Roast slow and long... the sweetest onions you will ever eat!

Yeah, I've done my share of entertaining where I spend all day (or 2-3) preparing and cooking, with few return invitations. So I mostly quit except for close friends who reciprocate.

Brots, with mustard and horseradish sauce, wow! A little Norwegian Spekemat to appetise on would be OK too. (salted and dried lamb shank,sliced paper thin).

That looks yummy!

Oh...homemade ice cream-haven't had that in over 40 years. Last time I made mimosas-forgot to put top on the blender-gosh that stuff is sticky,,
Will make the cookies, chocolate is fine, tasted it again at room temp-not meant to be used on ice cream..glad that I found out before I complained.
Know what you all mean about neighbors, I neighbor with a couple of families, but ,as for the rest-I either wave-if they look familiar or absolutely nothing. Things have changed a lot over the years, and I tend to stay to myself-other than dragging folks off the road to see the gardens-don't have to get names to do that..just have to make sure that they aren't screaming about the crazy lady in the muddy jeans!! :)
MMMM..holiday with friends, may even try to find a photo so that you know who I am at the table..
Hugs to all.

Hey can I come to the Memorial Day Bash. DH and I have nothing to do. Got some fresh leaf lettuce and green onions. I have fresh strawberries, will bring them for the ice cream. Been picking about 2 gallon a day. A plain old hamburger or a hot dog will suit me fine. Just here for the companionship. . Mary E. keeping a Jack Russell from rolling in something stinky is a real accomplishment. I have great neighbors, but come to think of it, I have eaten at their houses 1time, Ihave had numerous cook outs, fish frys, pot lucks, everyone comes seems to have a good time, but cannot or will not return the invitations. Our neighborhood women go out to lunch together, one lady and I go to the casino together, all are yard sale nuts, I am the only gardner. Everybody wants some kind of plant I have. Give starts or plants, or seedlings. Have offered to help them, but it is easier for me to do it and then they don't have to. Looking forward to Monday.

Boy, darius....are we going to have a party....or what???????????????

Where's posy? She's always good for the white wine.....

Now that all sounds great, Welcome back Darius.! I have some tomatos and bell peppers fresh from the garden I can add to the feast, and I have the odd bottle of white wine as well. Looking forward to the party!!
Carol

OOps - forgot to add I could 'bring' the pool along too. Its not very big, but we can all get wet anyway.As its only 5ft at the deepest , no one should drown!!
Carol

Sounds like the makin's of a good party to me! AND EVERYONE is invited!!

Fresh lettuce, tomatoes and other salad fixin's sound really good this time of the year. My tomato plants are only a foot tall.

Anybody got corn on the cob to add to this party? And how about nachos with lots of avacado? Might as well dream big avacados are priced like pure gold around here and I have only splurged and bought 2 this year. I have tree growing in my greenhouse but I have no idea if it will ever produce fruit. Anybody have any experience with that? My sister gave it to me as a 2 foot tall plant that her son started from a pit. How old do they have to be to produce fruit? I guess I could look it up in the Plant Files if I wasn't so lazy.

Time for bed, I'm a pooped pup! It was a warm, muggy day and I was busy all day.

Did the 4th of July bash and the Labor day bash and several in between and finally wised up - If I didn' have it , it didn't get done. Well folks, it didn't get done for several years!!! We still love to have people over, but just don't have the oomph or the $$ to host everything. Now that the kids are grown and have their own places, we go to their houses (should say their house - one son never invites us over to eat, but he is here at least one time a week!)

Summer is supposed to arrive in Mich next week - a week full of 70 deg weather. Our garden is all in except for the cukes - trying to trellis them this year. DH planted the pumpkins in the middle of the garden between the corn and the peppers - will that man ever listen??? grrr I told him I didn't even want pumpkins this year and we didn't get a one that made it. Had several big ones, but everything rotted. Rather just buy a couple. But the DGS won!! He loves to watch them mature.

I'll bring the veggie pizza to the gathering - just can't leave it alone. I'd bring the rhubarb pie, but I just finished off the last piece...LOL Had it for breakfast

Got the primer and paint for the chain link fence. Could we change venue and have the party over here? We could use a few extra hands!!! Brushes are all set for ya'll!!

Good morning everyone. Posy spent 8 hrs picking up a fountain in Michigan yesterday! Sarv48 I froze my butt off there yesterday! ( well not all of it) It was a great idea to pick it up on a holilday weekend. Today I'll spend the day looking for tubing and trying to fiqure it out. She is a beauty though. I'll bring wine and a couple bottles of bubbly to celebrate Darius return.

We'll be right there, paint brushes in hand!! Won't take long. This menu is getting better and better, never had the lamb done that way Robert, my mouth is watering! My maternal grandmother came here from Sweden, but all I know how to make is kropkokkor, and I'm not even sure of the spelling of it. They are little potato dumplings with salt pork, onion, and allspice in the center. She used to make us salt cod in a cream sauce too.

Two nice days in a row! Was supposed to rain yesterday but nope, but the deck was wet this morning so we got some. DH moved all kinds of rocks yesterday, lining the drive down to the lower garage. He's the one who will have to trim around them .... we're in the kettle moraine area of Wisconsin so there is no shortage of nice round rocks. Some people have to go out and buy them! I suspect that's what they grew on this former farm land!

Looked for some wave petunias yesterday and found some for almost $4 a pot, with ONE plant in it. I left them there and walked away mumbling under my breath, which I seem to do a lot lately! Geeeez, you'd think they were avocados!!

I think I'd paint the fence with a roller with a 3/8" nap... That should get halfway into the chain link on each side, touch up and missed spots with a brush.

How about some BIG Morel Mushrooms for that steak and Salmon grill? Yummy...all fried up with garlic butter? In fact, I'll skip the steak and salmon and just have a BIG BIG plate of mushrooms! Baked beans? Oh boy! Homemade Ice cream and cookies? Oh WOW! what a party! (Hide that homemade bread...or there won't be enough for anyone but ME! hehehe

WELCOME HOME, DARIUS!!

I've lived on the same block since 1977...my only neighbors now are my own kids (They've lived on the same block for the same length of time...at least now they're in their own houses. :-D) No other friends or neighbors (at least not neighbors that I'm interested in calling by that name...mostly "neanderthals" as my husband dubbed them. (Welfare junkies and drunks...get the picture?))

Robert...I LOVE that picture! What great smile you have. And you look just like a guy I used to work with...no problem remembering *your* face when you post now. (He's a nice guy, too. ;-))

Sarv, I *finally* got ALL my cannas in the ground yesterday...did you get yours all planted?

I worked in the yard from about 8:30 yesterday morning until nearly 9:00 last night. Only took short breaks for 'coffee in/coffee out' purposes. My 14 yo DGD was sitting on the picnic bench on the patio with my dog just before 8:30 and that little kid was ready to move bricks! Which is exactly what we did. We got one *large* bed bordered, plus another 'corridor' bed along the north side of my house. HOLY CATS!!! she just walked in the door AGAIN! (It's way too early for ME to be *ready* to do anything just yet. I sent her home to 'take a nap' and get rested up for all the work we have to do today. Geez, when you *want* a kid, they're nowhere to be found. hehehe)

We did get a lot accomplished yesterday...those greenhouse units are beginning to show a little floorspace...but not much. :-D I think today we'll concentrate on getting a bunch of seeds sown, and get the window boxes for the decks planted up and set in place.

I'm really pushing 'full steam ahead' trying to get everything in the ground (or at least potted in larger containers) before I have the second eye surgery a week from tomorrow. The yard is really looking nice now...and next year it's going to be *beautiful*. (I hope!)

Guess I'd better get off here and get my clothes on (and get the bed made...hehehe). The 'kid' will be back at leat 1/2 an hour before I'm ready for her. :-D

Y'all have a GREAT day...and keep that menu growing!

~julie~

darius,....I hope that fence is not more then 2' long.........painting a fence like that is like painting holes.....UGH...You'll be done before your party.....huh?

Have fun today....it's back in the garden for me. Did 6 hours yesterday...it's never ending....I got a little hairy about 1ish,,,,too much heat, sun, work...I actually did an old folks thing....I sat down to water my new plantings....I laughed at myself while I was doing it. Guess there's a first time for everything in one's life.

See ya soon.. ps...any more thought about visiting down here?

Darius, guy at the paint store said to use a 1/2 " nap roller - we got one. Gonna tackle it next week when the warm weather is due to hit.

Julie - I am embarassed to admit, but I just dug out my cannas yesterday and they are in sad sad shape - all black. I left them in the bags they came in and shoved them in a corner. Shame on me. I am gonna plant them and hope for the best - I could just kick myself in the butt - you wouldn't believe how many plants I buy and then they die before I get them in. I am disgusted at myself.

Since we are due for a rainy day tomorrow, I am gonna spend today getting everything planted (how many times have I said that??? LOL)

Since everyone is bringing so many goodies , I will bring the paper products (that's the line my sister pulls...she can't cook worth a toot, so guess that's a good thing for her to bring!)

It was MIL's birthday yesterday. DH wouldn't give her a call even - bad blood between them. I took her up some pastries I picked up at the store (we all had one and she said she didn't like them) They weren't very good, but jeeze oh petes - keep it to yourself!!! She prides herself on always telling the truth....

I bought her a basket full of dahilias for mother's day. I noticed she took them all apart and planted them. Gosh, had I know she was gonna do that I could have saved myself $15 bucks and picked up a $1 tray of them. I will probably turn into her when I am her age, so I just laugh at the things she does (most times...)

Gonna drink down another cup of java, read a couple of chapters in my current book and then HIT THE DIRT!!!

Hap, not my fence, it's Sarv's, LOL.

Visiting is still on my agenda but have things to do here first, like sell 10 DR chairs, oriental rug, armoire, and other big stuff both to reduce storage charges and to raise some money to help pay off hospital bills (no insurance) and then travelling money.

I had coconut shrimp at the Pisgah Fish Camp with my spousal unit. He doesn't like any meat or seafood that is sweet so he just got Calabash shrimp and fried oysters. On the table was some Tiger Sauce which I thought would be way too hot but it wasn't. Had a nice flavor, too. I think I'm gonna buy some .
Welcome home darius. I think I'm gonna "hunker in" and not go anywhere until fall. It's so busy here with tourism really cranked up.
Within a week I have had to man a table at a festival, meet and show historic photos to a 50 -year high school reunion, plan 4 display cases at the library for the month of June, write 2 gardening articles for a local newspaper (still working on a 3rd article on our first local historic designations in our county seat, Brevard) and try to garden a bit. All this while still working 1/2 days all week. Tomorrow, I'm going to garden a little and take 2 naps!!

Well, I'm back...almost amoung the living....oh, it hurts when I breathe.....

darius....I knew someone was painting....at least it was on this thread..LOL

Party-time is gearing up.........ready??????????

Yeppers!

Happy Welcome Home Darius Day Everyone.......It's time to PARRRRRRRRTAAAAAAA.YYYYYY

Well, I' ready......what time shall we start the party.....NOW!!

I'll have some wine....and maybe some cheese...did anyone bring the cheese?

Hap, I think everyone's sleeping late. DG has been pretty vacant this morning... so far!

Robert was bringing some Jarlsberg! No wine for me... I'm dieting and don't need the calories.

Do the Scarlet thingy with the diet, darius....."I'll think about that tomorrow." This is my mantra.

Hap

I think you're right...all still in bed..

Nope... once I started it, I HAVE to stay on track or I will lose my initiative, LOL. (I'm down 6 lbs. already... the easy ones, and 16 more to go).

I'm brewing some lemon zinger with a teabag of mint thrown in. It's cool, overcast and wet here. : (

And everyone feels a lot better when they stay away from alcohol. It really saps your proteins and B vitamins.

Okay, it's AFTER 4 PM on the East Coast... WHERE is everyone? We have a party planned!!!

Well, I'M Ready!!! Sarv, got those plates and napkins?? Pass me a mimosa and I'll put the brats on the grill....I even decorated the top of the potato salad with fresh chives and minced hardboiled egg, the other salad is chicken with shells, grapes, apple and celery. Help yourselves to some munchies while I get the brats grilling....Darius, I hope we don't have to eat this up all by ourselves.....

M5,

Put that catsup away. Blasphemy to bratwurst. Mustard is the ONLY way to eat a Johnsonville Brat, even way down here in the south. LOL

:^))))

M5, Looks like too much unless everyone shows up! It feels good to sit down. I spent my morning "finding" my living room and the bedroom, did the kitchen yesterday.... haven't done any of the floors yet but the apartment got bigger, LOL

I know I said I'd bring salmon filets but I ate them Friday and yesterday. Sorry.

Guess I'll have a brat, not enough teeth to chew a steak. Nicole (NCGardenAddict) brought some of this Beer & Brat Horseradish Mustard to the recent GARU. Man is it good!!! You should try it if you are unfamiliar with it. Hers came from Sam's but I found this small bottle at the grcery store.

Darius,

What a great idea, that sounds like just the thing for brats!!

Yum yum

:^)))

'Tis!

Hey, where's Hap? This was her idea!

*sneaks in with a spoon and carefully takes a sample of the chicken salad*

Oh, WOW!!! This is great!

*quickly replaces the plastic and runs now that she messed up the stealth part*

Donna, why ya running away?

Here I am......too much running today and then forgot to put my order in for the kitchen at work....I guess I figured if we had enough, They will have enough for next week...LOL

I would like to try those BRATS.....in Rochester

this got left off:???

we call them white hots.....They are made by Russer's or Zweigler's and they, to my knowledge are only made in that area...boy are they good.

So, darius...............whasssssss up.?

This message was edited May 30, 2005 5:39 PM

I know catsup is a mortal sin.....but some people insist. I like some chopped up vidalia onion and yellow mustard......