Homemade Ham & Split Pea Soup

Noisemaker states - this is the best soup you have ever made!  Trust me, it was delicious.  A beautiful ham bone left from the Easter Ham simmering with vegetables for hours made this soup spectacular!  Oh, I have made my Mom proud for sure.

The Easter ham, we had many, many meals.  The main Easter dinner was ham with mashed potatoes and all the trimmings.  Next day was a ham/broccoli/cauliflower cheese dish ~ in between that ~ ham sandwiches and breakfast omelets.

This was the best!  Hope you and yours had a good Easter - now on with Summer!

It Took Me Years. . .

Finally, after 8 years, I have a blossom.  Beautiful it is!

Brings a smile to my face and warms my heart.  I am hoping it is a good omen. 

Spring has arrived on the mountain side.  Easter is just around the corner.  Easter baking is done and will be delivered tomorrow.  Ham is thawing in the fridge.  Curling is on television so the Noisemaker is on the side of quiet - so far!  lol.  No snow, no rain - all is well.  Hope same for you folks that read this.

Al Bunetta

Al Bunetta and Reeda Buresh

Photo - Reeda Buresh

A sad, fallen time has come to the Prine Family - the passing of Al Bunetta.

A friend to John Prine, a business partner in OhBoy Records and truly a loss for the city of Nashville and the music industry.

Al Bunetta was instrumental in the formulation of OhBoy Records.  I had never met the man but from the folks I know that did, he was caring, happy-go-lucky-kind of Prine person.  

Funeral Services will be held in Nashville.  He is survived by his wife, Dawn.  

He is now with his son, Juri.  

Happy Spring!

I have been knitting my heart out and enjoying it very much.  Friday Crafts is so much fun!  The dishcloths will make great christmas presents and will be easy to mail.

My dishcloths will be going to friends and family.  To my friend, in Memphis - Tennessee via my friend in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Lordy, international dishcloths - lol.

Happy 1st day of Spring - hope you all have some bounce in your step.

Breville Deep Fryer

Recently, I was able to cash in some loyalty card points for a Breville Deep Fryer.  Oh my word, it is a great product.  Nothing taste as good as homemade french fries!  Reminded me so much of my Mom.  Years ago, she made us kids homemade french fries and fish.  It was one of her best meals (she was a good cook), the french fries were truly a delight.

Much preparation goes into making homemade french fries, but it is worth it!  Nothing more comforting than sitting down and eating homemade french fries.

We also did wings.  Had a great recipe for a marinade - gave it a try and it was delicious.

This year, a must for the garden, is russet potatoes.  I will need a great supply of them - lol.    

For anyone looking for a deep fryer, I would recommend this product.  Easy to use and easy to clean.  

  

I Have Been Busy. . .

I have been busy knitting, my new hobby.  Oh my it is great fun!  The ladies on the mountain side meet on Friday morning, chat - have coffee, quilt and knit - but most of all - we giggle!

I am not the best when it comes to knitting.  I do dishcloths - they will make great, easy to mail - christmas presents.  It is pure fun, I enjoy it very much!

Mrs. Prine And Her Son, Johnny

Thank you, Billy Prine ~ this is a great photo!

Love the flowers in the background.

Hugs abound.

Why...

Yesterday, I was eating a delicious After Eight Mint - I love those.  They melt in your mouth like a Melting Moment Cookie.  After I ate my mine, naturally, I have to get a glass of water.  I did, and thought oh my, something has gone A. Miss in the location of my upper denture.  Yes, I have worn dentures since I was 19 years old.  Oh my - big ouch - not painful - but I have lost a portion of my denture - it will be passing to the sewage plant very soon.

This morning I call to the village dentists'.....anyone out there help me with a simple repair.  Answer - NO.  The dental mechanic is on vacation, the nearest one to me is a two hour drive.  Thank god, my missing piece does not constitute pain - only slight aggravation.  

Living rural is much a hardship, at times.  Other times it is a beautiful piece of the world.  Now to get a good weigh scale and compare.  

That could well take me to some parking lot dirt.  lol

...well. I leaned on my left leg in the parking lot dirt...John Prine ~ Far From Me

In The Parking Lot, Again. . .

Recently, my noisemaker was to his monthly doctors' appointment.  I do travel with him but smucksville I hate going into the actual building.  A room filled with germs.  I had to this time because I had to pee.  I went in and out as fast as my feet would travel.  

I walked around the parking lot singing Paradise (John Prine) waiting for my noisemaker.  I knew it was going to be a time of long because the waiting room was filled with sick, ailing people.

I stopped and lit up a cigarette, smoked along - singing along and then I heard a voice say...your song is nice.  I looked around and found an elderly lady swinging her legs and sitting in a parked vehicle.  I walked on over, cautious - because I am smoking a cigarette.  Hi - I said and saw, she too was inhaling the undesirable.

She says to me, I can hear you singing.  I laughed and replied yes, I come out to the parking lot, sing, smoke my cigarette and wait for my husband.  Well, there, there, she replies - I too, am waiting for my husband, I smoke but I do not sing.  

Sure, I said - anyone can sing.  I kind of danced the Luke up a bit and got her to laughing (me too).  We spoke of getting old - she is 83 - her husband is 84.  I told her well hells bells I will never live that long but don't you think a person that lives that long should receive commendations/award/medals.  Oh my. . she replied with a great spiel from her take on the government of the day, the politicians of the day, and ended with why in the hell are we in the parking lot talking of this.

We laughed.  I told her times change and you really should learn how to sing. Tsk, Tsk...you know how to sing already - just sing!  We laughed again.  It was heart warming to me to see her smile and giggle.

We finished up our cigarettes, she lit another.  I saw my noisemaker coming out.  He walks over and the lady says to him - oh my, I heard you when you got out of your truck - yes, there is a big puddle of water on your side - you best get inside the passengers' side....then you don't have to curse.  We all laughed.

Another day in Paradise and the parking lot. . .

Spurtles

The Spurtle

Oh my, this tool has so many uses.  Stews, soups, and any homemade cooking can use a spurtle or two.  Sometimes when I am in the kitchen I pretend I am in concert and leading a fine orchestra, I am the conductorette!  Spurtles abound!

With my new hobby of knitting I came across another use for the good old spurtle.  When needing to have another hand/arm and you do not but your yarn needs to be in ball formation.  Simply place the yarn skein on the spurtle, place the spurtle in between your between feet and whip up your yarn like there is no tomorrow.  

Everyone should have a Spurtle or two!

I Have Been Busy. . .

My first knitting project.  lol

It is a fun to remove myself from our abode on the mountain side.  Relax, take five, learn to knit -and most important - giggle.  I partake in the Friday morning social with the gals, it is great fun.

People Do Not Giggle Enough!