Morning Walk

It seemed that for a bit my morning walk had gone by the wayside but this morning I was back at it. I got up at 4:30 and did my three miles. It is sure a great way to start the day. I listen to my Ipod and have time to think about what I need to do. The weather this morning was a bit muggy but at least not as oppressive as trying to walk in the afternoon heat.

Sunday Supper

In the south we eat supper after five in the afternoon. Sunday Dinner is often associated with dinner on the grounds at the church though the big Baptist churches like ours now have kitchens and hostesses and we never eat Sunday after Church.

Tonight for supper I joined with Cheryl, which I do often and helped with the meal. I did a squash dish in which you split the yellow squash and then hollow them out. Save the innards and mix with spinach, sour cream, Italian blend cheese, and a bit of flour and water to thicken the stuffing for the squash. Top them with Italian blend cheese and then bake until the squash are tender.

Next, I did Armadillo Eggs. They are jalapeno peppers halved, cored, then stuffed with sausage and cheese (Fiesta Blend) and put back together and then wrapped with bacon. Bake them until the bacon is browning and the peppers are cooked.

I used the balance of the sausage and cheese mix and made sausage cheese biscuits. Just dump in a bag of Wal Mart's biscuit mix and a half cup of milk and stir it all together and spoon out in an iron skillet and bake until done.

My next contribution was Tomate al Riso. We had that in Italy and I came home and re-created it. You start by cooking rice in a pot and potatoes in a skillet in Olive oil and salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Then mix the rice and potatoes in the iron skillet you cooked the potatoes in. Core tomatoes on the stem end carefully and be sure to leave some body of the tomato to stuff and bake. Trim the good stuff off the cores and mix with the rice and potato mixture. Lay a bed of rice and potatoes in the bottom of a glass baking dish and then place the tomatoes cored side up and then finish filling them with the rice and tomato mixture. Then bake them at 350 and when they are about half done put Italian Blend Cheese on top and finish baking them.

I also grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts with some squeeze margarine, salt, lemon juice, and lemon pepper.

Cheryl cooked baby carrots and Fordhook Lima beans. I love those both. She at the last minute parsleyed potatoes and they smelled good.

Now it is time to eat.

Hot Pepper Jelly

Cheryl and I made hot pepper jelly today. It is made purely from Habanero and Caribbean Reds (the red version of the Habanero). It has the most beautiful color, a rich amber/orange. We made three batches which yielded a total of 24 half pint's of the most delicious jelly known to mankind. Cheryl says it is hot, really-really hot! I had the dregs from the pot and it was delicious.

For supper I had a ham and cheddar sandwich with sliced tomato and pepper jelly as the condiment on the bread. It was one of those perfect, to die for sandwiches. It was home baked ham and a home grown tomato.


By the way, You can buy the jelly for $25 per jar. I cut all the peppers and stir it as it cooks and so I can tell you my time is worth that. Frankly, the jelly is too.

Hot Day for Yard Work

Today was a day a 52 year old man should be riding around on the lake or staying in the AC and not doing yard work. I did the rest of what I had at the lake and then came home and before I got un-sweaty I did the yard here and picked blueberries.

I edged the drive and flowerbeds including using this little pointed hoe I have to make the edges really nice and distinct. Mowed, blowed (blew didn't rhyme), hoed... the works.

I had lost my little camera that I carried for blog pictures and all and when I got ready to take pictures of the yard for my blog with our newer camera guess what i found in the camera bag. That is the last place I would have looked for my camera.

Well, here are pictures that show our yard after I finished. As a rule it gets cut and edged every week and gets a bit more detail every two weeks or so. I am proud of how our yard looks and growing up always hated doing yard work. Come to think of it I still hate doing yard work.

Panama City

I really enjoyed having Cheryl and Erika and Jason in Panama City with me for part of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. I got to work in time with them. Jason and I did some beach time and pool time. He is the sweetest little boy. His demeanor is just another of God's blessings for Erika and also for us.



Jason has a thing for bowls. He loved playing with them. I guess I will get him a three set of stainless mixing bowls for Christmas.





Jason didn't seem to be fond of any hat we tried on him but he sure liked Grandpa's new hat. What a cool dude.

Speaking of cool dudes look at his new shades. He is just too cool. He loved the water and especially the breaking waves and the waterfall in the pool. I wish I had had a lot more time with them but it was a working conference.

Panama City

Today was our fist day in Panama City and when I finished with Debra who is our main contact for the Growers Conference I went to the pool with Erika while Cheryl stayed with Jason who took a really long nap. Then I came back to the room and cleaned up and Mama and Daddy got here a bit after that.

We did pictures on the beach this afternoon and then went to Supper at Pompano's. It was really a nice evening and family time.

Now tomorrow it is back to work on the Conference more diligently.

PC Beach

I had a meeting in Albany today and came to Panama City this afternoon in prep for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Normally, I would have come tomorrow but I decided to personally pay for another room night and Cheryl and Erika and Jason came down after they got off work. I went shopping when I got here about 4:30 and was here when they got here at 8. Jason is so sweet and Erika is a really good mother. She has been sick and seemed really tired so I hope she just gets some rest. It will be nice to have some time with them tomorrow before things get rolling for the conference. I have to meet Deborah and go over VIP's and other things sometime tomorrow so I will probably leave it to the heat of the day. I am glad that they are here. I love family time.

Trip to Panama City for the Growers' Conference

I leave Wednesday after a meeting in Albany to go to Panama City for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Cheryl, Erika, and Jason will be coming that evening late and will stay through Sunday. I will have a bit of time Thursday and Mama and Daddy are coming to visit and to go with me to Southport to see where my Great Grandfather William Henry Taylor is buried. It will be nice for them to see Erika and Jason. Though I will have work to do the free time will be nicer with family there.

Back from the Lake

I have had an enjoyable week. I needed a vacation really bad. The only thing that could have been better was if Cheryl could have taken the week off, too.

Saturday started with a visit from Erika and Jason and an early morning boatride and swim. Jason loves the water and he would splash and then just laugh. He laughs so funny. Erika is doing very well but I am certain that she will always grieve the loss of Brad. Her grief is tender and personal. She is very protective of Jason but with what she has been through you can understand that.

The weather cooperated pretty much all week. I had my yards cleaned up, the house cleaned, mopped, and dusted when everyone got there. Bart and Kip were there just a short time but left the boys and we brought them home tonight. They stay so busy and told us tonight that the first time they will be able to spend the weekend will be after school starts. I so look forward to that. We will have Labor day together but that will be the 60th anniversary celebration for my Mom and Dad so it will not be much quality time because there will be a lot to do for that celebration.

We ate Friday night with Roger and Linda and he fed us really well. Boiled shrimp and Blackened Tilapia.


Yesterday we had a family day including Roger and Linda coming for lunch and fireworks last night. Lunch was hamburgers and french fries and Salt Lick's medium smoked link sausage.

Tonight, we ate at Zaxby's before taking Conner and Cole home. We had a fun day at the lake today, just the four of us.

Here are few pictures from the lake house and lake.