Sick Chicken

Well, sad news in our house…
Dinner, Max’s pet chicken, went to the great scratching ground in the sky.
Dinner as a Youngster

She had been sick for over a month.  I tried EVERYTHING to get her well. 
(My family really thought I was nuts, believe me.)  It was so strange.  At first she started acting weak, then in a week or so acted like she’d hurt her foot.  Then, a few weeks later both feet totally didn’t work.  My theory is that she had a genetic disorder where she was TOO GOOD of a layer (she would lay two eggs a day on average) and it leached all the calcium from her body.   Even with me giving them enriched food, veggies, and oyster shell…  I tried home remedies (spoon feeding yogurt, shredded apples, oats,)  tetracycline just in case, vitamins.    Her sisters didn’t pick on her or bother her much.  They were only a little jealous that she got to be spoon fed.  I swear they have been singing a little dirge at night in her memory.  Very sweet.
Cole Looking at Dinner

R.I.P. Dinner the chicken

Sundays in My City

New Murals On the River Trail

Max on the “Secret Trail” He Found- We met the artist that designed the mural above while exploring!

One of The Many Monsters in Town

You Never Know Who’s Looking

Rock Monster

Pretty Cliffs

Mimosa In Bloom (They remind me of Panama)

My Guys By the Arkansas River

Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo with White Rice on the Food Network

I made this recipe last night with some okra and peppers from my mom’s garden.
*The recipe doesn’t call for okra, but I like it and had it. Also I am allergic to celery and left
that out.   The sausage I used was a turkey andouille.  I short-cutted and used a rotisserie chicken to save a bit of time. Was delicious!
Sorry, no picture…

Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo with White Rice on the Food Network

My first attempt at gumbo and not the last!

Homemade Marinara

Some good friends of mine have a tomato farm and raise phenomenal heirloom tomatoes.  
They were cleaning out their hothouses and gave me some of the spoils…
Yay!
I peeled and seeded the tomatoes last night and made some homemade marinara sauce.

To peel tomatoes:
  1. Bring a big pot of water to a boil
  2. Have a bowl of ice water handy.
  3. Drop tomatoes in boiling water for about 10 seconds, then plunge in the ice water. 
  4. Take core out with paring knife and then slip off skins.  
  5. Slice tomatoes in half and squeeze out seeds (or just slide them out with your finger, I don’t mind some seeds.

For Sauce:

  1. Slice a few onions very thin.  (I used two onions for the amount of tomatoes I had, maybe 15 lbs?)
  2. Sautee onions and garlic (I used 5 cloves) in olive oil until translucent. 
  3. Add chopped fresh basil, oregano, pepper, bayleaf (whatever spices you will use.)
  4. Chop tomatoes in blender or food processor and add to pot.  I save some and chop them to add texture. 
  5. Cook and add red wine, salt, pepper to taste.

*Mine was still runny after cooking last night so I think I’ll let it cook down more today and then taste again for spices.
Will be good on some homemade pasta!

On Ballgames and Hot Nights

Wow.  It’s hot in Arkansas.  
We have tried to stay inside but couldn’t stand it any longer
and ventured out to see our local team, The Arkansas Travelers, play Frisco last night.  
Go Travs!
 Here are a few shots of my over-heated kids all sugared up on cotton candy 
(which they aren’t supposed to have,) 
frozen lemonade, popcorn, and peanuts…
Enjoying the forbidden

Ice Rings

Cracking up at Dad’s Heckling

Arrows to Show Us The Way to the Car  (Chalk is a Handy Thing)
When we came out of the game it was probably 9 PM (almost dark) and the car thermometer said 104!
School starts this week and we are all in mourning.