Miss Sunshine becomes Mrs. Skeeter

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is completely official now! Miss Sunshine and I are married. I love her very much. Life is very good indeed.

Duck a l'Orange for grins

Duck a l'Orange is a favorite treat here and there's none better than Julia Child's take on the classic French recipe. It's not hard to make, but it does take a long time to prepare correctly. If you get good ingredients, a nice duck and plump, sweet oranges, you'll do just fine. There are some special things you will need like some cooking twine, spices, liquer, etc., but they aren't expensive or troublesome. It's a great meal and the kids love it too! A little expensive, but every once in awhile, SPLURGE!

It's just too HOT this summer!

It's way too hot this summer. Even the animals at the Zoo have to take a breather in this this weather. When was the last time you went to the zoo? It's fun ... but be prepared to sweat!

Some days ...

Good grief! Have you evr had one of THESE sorts of days?

Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas

This is the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas. It doesn't look lik much on the outside ... or the insde ... but this where Dr. Pepper was bottled when the concern went commercial way back when. Of course times have moved on, machinery become more sophisticated, and corporate realities require FAR bigger building, BUT this is still something to stop by and see. The best part of the museum tour may be the ice cream and soda parlor on the first floor. Ask fo a Dr. Pepper milk shake. They'll put heaps of ice cream into a metal cup. Then they'll add a spalsh of milk. Next will come a super big shot of Dr. Pepper syrup - yep, the same stuff the add soda water to make Dr. Pepper that everyone knows and loves. Then they'll put all the ingredients into a mixer and blend until it's creamy and smooth. They'll put it into a large cup and hand you a straw, but it's best to scoop it up with a spoon. It's THAT good!

They'll let ANYONE drive these days!

Hey! Share the road buddy!!!

Sheba in the Storm Shelter

Yes, Sheba Kitty, that WAS a tornado!

Schilo's Delicatessen in San Antonio

After hearing so much GOOD being spoken about Schilo's Delicatessen in San Antonio, I decided to give it a try. Schilo's is a little place just off the fabuluous Riverwalk. It's famous for it's ham-heavy split-pea soup. I'm told that the best way to sample the split soup is with a "Polish neighbor" which is deli-speak for a side order of polish sausage. The waitress came took my order and sat a big frosty German beer down beside the silverware. A little while later the food came ...


Yes, an underwhelming presentation. Are looks deceiving??? NO!!! Maybe if my "Polish neighbor" wasn't required to swim for its life ... maybe if even a crumble of ham was visible ... maybe if it didn't vibrate like that when it hit the table ...

I had to ask the waitress what happened. Was someone new in the kitchen? Tears came to her eyes. Yes, the kitchen staff was new and she was a bakery person drafted into waiting tables. I told her that the beer was good and tipped as I left - vowing not to come back until the kitchen staff had actually learned the recipe that I'd heard so much about.

In Lotus land and loving it!

Just one of those kinds of days!

Dog Taunting

Sheba, my naughty kitty has a new hobby ...

Bread al-Carbon

Don't you just hate it when that happens?