Random Thoughts For A Great New Year..

Greetings to all!! Where in the world is some warmth?? Oh well, on with the blog. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of my friends and family who have either prayed for, dropped a kind note, or otherwise been worried about me. The past year has been a personal struggle for me physically. I've had several health issues, and they have almost gotten me down. But I will say this.. Trust in God 100%, and things will only improve from there. I have enrolled at Morehead State and am currently pursuing a degree in addiction counseling. I will start to post more here in the near future. I am blessed with many positives in my life now, more so than I have ever had before.. My life is a miracle and a true blessing.

Spring Has Sprung On The Farm!!

Hey everyone.. Spring has sprung on the farm.. Everything is green, including the cow poop:)  Sorry, had to throw that one in there.. The garden is finally set and there is one tomato growing!!  The garden this year consists of multi color peppers, carrots, Vidalia onion sets, green beans, multiple sizes and varieties of tomato plants, cucumbers, cabbage, watermelons, parsley, thyme, rosemary and last but not least.. Big Pumpkins....

Not to outdo the Judge, but the tomatos, cabbage and pumpkins are going to be a little bit larger and special this year!!  Judge Foley, the challenge has been issued!! :)

Jerk Chicken & Other Recipes..

Recipe for Jerk Chicken:

2.5 lbs reg size chicken wings or thighs (can be used with breasts also)

Jerk Sauce (any sauce will do)

1/2 large Vidalia onion

1 tsp each of Basil, oregano, celery salt, garlic powder (or 2 cloves of fresh garlic)

pinch of salt

fresh ground pepper

olive oil

Preheat oven to 325.  Line 13 x 9 cake pan with heavy duty foil.  Sprinkle pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper in botton of pan.  Place chicken in pan on top of salt pepper base.  Brush jerk sauce on chicken.  Sprinkle spices on top of the chicken (chicken should be skin side up to hold heat).  Cut onion in big pieces and lay over top of chicken.  Add salt pepper over top of chicken and then drizzle about 1-2 tsp of olive oil on top of chicken.  fold foil over the chicken (may need to add extra foil to top) making sure the chicken is completely sealed in the foil.  Bake for 1 hour and 50 min.  Take chicken out of oven and let it rest before opening.  

Creamy Potato Salad:

10-12 new potatoes

1 pkg Philly Cream Cheese

1 container Sour Cream

2 tbsp sweet relish

1 tsp each of garlic powder, celery salt, white or ground pepper

Miracle Whip

salt and fresh ground pepper

6 hard boiled eggs

1/2 vidalia onion chopped

Cut new potatoes any way you like and boil.  When tender, remove potatoes from heat add to ice water to shock and stop cooking.  Drain water from potatoes.  Place in large bowl.  Use 3/4 pkg of cream cheese, 3 tbsp sour cream, 3 boiled eggs (easiest way is to crush them up in hands), 2 tbsp Miracle Whip, Relish, salt and pepper, chopped Vidalia onion, and the spices placing them all on top of the potatoes.  Stir gently with wooden or plastic spoon, folding all ingredients together.  Add sour cream or miracle whip to the mix if consistency is not creamy enough.  Slice remaining eggs and place over top of potato salad.  Then top it off with fresh ground pepper.  Cover tightly and chill in refrigirator.

Vidalia Tomato Salad:

2 large vine ripe tomatoes 

1 large Vidalia onion

Kraft Vinagrette dressing of your choice

salt and fresh ground pepper

Dice tomatoes to the desired size you like.  Chop onion where pieces are fork size.  Place in bowl.  Salt and pepper to desired taste.  Add vinagrette dressing until the veggies are barely covered.  Toss with wooden or plastic spoon to prevent bruising tomato pieces.  Cover and chill in fridge..

April 3, 1974.. A Day I Will Never Forget..

Tomorrow marks a very important anniversary in my life.  Not only is it my parents 44th wedding anniversary, it marks the very first time I ever remember being scared.  A day that sometimes I have dreams about, and hope and pray it never happens again.  April 3, 1974.  The day of the killer tornados.  On that day, 148 tornados struck 13 states in 14 hours.  Many were killed and hundreds injured.  At one time that day, there were 11 tornados on the ground in Ky.  

I remember being absolutely terrified.  My parents and I spent the late afternoon when the storms hit hiding in my closet.  It was my parents 9th wedding anniversary.  No power, and storms all around.  We were all three listening to my Mickey Mouse AM radio. 

When the storms died down, we loaded up in the car and went to Cynthiana to check on my grandmother.  She lived on White Oak Pike at the time, and the tornado that struck there passed not far away from her house.  It took 90 minutes to make a 30 minute trip.  The roads were blocked everywhere.  She was OK when we got there.  She raised 9 kids before, during, and after the depression, so she was already pretty tough.  

This memory will always be with me..  The first time you are really scared usually does..

The Waiting....

I must say, this is an anxious time in the state of Kentucky.  Is it what impact the Obama stimulus package will have on the economy? No.  Is it the current threat of voilence from the drug wars in Mexico that could spill over into the Southern U.S.? No.  Is it the continued threat of Islamic terrorism affecting Americans that travel abroad or even here at home? Nope.

The biggest question that has the entire state holding it's breath and making my father stay glued to every local sports show he can find on the AM dial (all the while, giving his two cents worth rather boldly, every five seconds) is this..  Will Billy Gillespie stay or go, and who will take over the helm of the basketball clipper that is known as The Big Blue Madness!! The University of Kentucky Basketball Program.

Billy-Gate is in full swing.  Some local sports programs all claim to have their own "Deep Throat" within the Ky. Basketball dynasty.  That, at my father's count, is three different "inside sources".  This calamity would even make W. Mark Felt, the original Deep Throat of Watergate fame,  say, "gee, that's kind of strange..:

Folks, let's look at it this way.  We will know whenever it's time.  Not before.  Take all of these "sources" with a grain of salt.  Friday March 27th will more than likely be the big day when we find out if Billy G. will finally be on his way out of town.  

Who will be the successor?  Billy Donovan? Johnny C. from Memphis? Pitino? Who knows!! Here's a sugestion.  Pat Riley.  I'll leave that name out there for everyone to, as Andy Griffith says, "study on"....  Andy

Spring Musings..etc.

I am very happy to see Spring has arrived.  Time to frolick in the meadow, stop and smell the flowers, embrace the warmth of the sun...  UGH!! Yea, right!  Time to get the farm in ship shape, not dress in layers, check all of the hay equipment to make sure it's in proper running order.  Boring I know, but such is life on the farm.

I am very glad though, the cattle are happy and weaning themselves from the hay to the green grass.  They are very playful and happy when they have a little green to munch on.  Spring on the farm is really a beautiful time.  Walking outside to get the paper first thing in the morning, having that first cup of chocolate coffee, and during the week, watching the news starting at 5 am.  

I start my day with Bill, Barb, Todd and Officer Don (who I happen to know is a very congenial person).  Watching them start the day laughing and joking with each other would make even the grumpiest man on earth (my dad) crack a smile..

Then comes breakfast..  Some days bananas, some days just java.  It's all good.  I am very sporadic in my eating early in the morning, but rest assured, the cows are not.  They like their breakfast every morning right on time.  And,  I happily oblige..

So, that pretty much sums up a country morning.  It may sound repititious, but it is the best routine to be in....

Meghan McCain....

This blog is hard for me to write..  Being a lon

g time listener of Laura Inhgaram, this is especially difficult for me..  Growing up as an obese child was hard for me.  I had no older brother or sister to talk to or take up for me.  My weight was always an issue for me.  After graduating college, instead of going to law schol like I had planned, I joined the fire department.  I became a paramedic in this time, all while having to try harder and go the extra mile because of my weight.  It seemed to me as if the horrors from my youth followed me into adulthood.  Comments about my weight were plenty from co-workers, and that made me work much harder and always be defensive.

I  had many awards in my fire/EMS career.  Going that extra mile paid off.  In 2002, my weight soared to 505 lbs.  I STILL did my job.  I was blessed with a big frame.  But, my health suffered.  I had gastric bypass surgery.  I lost 200 lbs. in 6 months.  I now weigh 254 lbs., and am in the best shape I have ever been.  I had the surgery to save my life, not for vanity.

Meghan McCain was unfairly targeted by Laura Ingraham.  The comment about Meghan being "plus sized" was totally uncalled for.  That comment made me lose all respect for Ingraham.  It was tasteless, classless, and totally uncalled for.  Meghan is a beautiful, intelligent, and very well versed woman.  She is a welcome change for the independent movement within the republican party.  A fresh voice, if you will, for the future.  She represents us..The future of the party.  

Hearing Ingraham make those comments hurt me and probably hurt many others who continue to struggle with their weight.  How can people continue to make these type comments, whether they be about weight, race, or gender, and expect to move this country forward.  This is a sad statement on our society today.  Just when we think we have gone forward, someone tries to take us a step back.

But, hold your heads up everyone.  This can only make us stronger.  Remember, we will get past this mindset eventually..  Andy Gilkison