Some Things Never Change

I've been asked to share some memories of a person who is certainly one of the strongest people I know, as well as one of the most sharing, who takes all that life throws at her and laughs it off. She always has a way of making others feel good, weaving her stories and giving us new slogans to live by. I would give her the shirt off my back if I felt she needed it, and all I possess if she asked.

I think these memories are to take the form of a specific memory, a story.  There are so many it's hard to choose just one. Plus, I am not the best storyteller around. I thought I'd share one about a birthday, but there have been at least 220 birthday celebrations since our little tribe has formed a family. Not to mention that any day is a day to celebrate our family. Saturday, Tuesday, Ground Hogs Day....you get it. Mostly we celebrate each other through food and our shared lives, and did I say FOOD!

One of my favorite thoughts comes from one of our early beach trips. There is a photo of it somewhere around the house. I am in it with the subject of this composition and I think two others? We are all packed in the back part of a Subaru station wagon looking like a can of sunburned sardines. (We were much thinner then, did I say FOOD!)  It makes me smile every time I look at it.

Another memory of how good these folks are has to do with me. I was working on learning to play flute. I arranged to hold a recital in my living room. These wonderful people supported me and helped with the food. Did I say FOOD again! As I recall, I sucked as a flutist, but they were there and smiled and clapped and passed the tea and sweets they made for me and my event. Oh, what a joy they are!

Of course we had fun times too! My brother came to visit once and my partner (now ex) was out of town. I hosted a come as you are pajama breakfast. (Gee, imagine that, FOOD again!) These folks raced through my house taking pictures of each other in all the forbidden places. You see my ex partner tends to be a private person about his space. They left the photos around the place for him to find. That was fun! But the best memory of the day was when I went out of the house, I think to take some trash....my sweet brother locked me out of the house in my nightshirt. Of course my tribe played along and as I remember it wasn't really cold and after a bit they let me back in. We all had a laugh. It was a fun time.

I tend to think of many of our times because of a camera. Jene loves her camera and the pictures she takes with it. Well that is when she doesn't leave it behind. She tends to 'help' the not so good ones these days with Photoshop and she deletes the bad or totally unflattering ones. THANK GOD!  She couldn't do all that in the 'old ' days. I think she is still hiding a butt picture of mine in the eaves of her house somewhere.

I could go on and as you can see I don't have a story....I have a lifetime of memories that have become the fabric of my life. And to think it all started (and I well remember it) some 23 or so years ago when my subject walked down the alley and looked over the neighbors fence and asked "Whatcha cooking?" and the very first Supper Club bell rang. I count her as the center of this group and bless her for being who she is. 

The Mayor of Beaverdam

October 22, 2012

Dear Jene,

There is a wide range of public opinion in regards to the value of Facebook as a means to connect to people. My own opinion has run the gamut from complete openness to never again. The one thing I am sure about is that I'm most grateful that it has given me the opportunity to connect with you.  I don't mean to be sappy but growing up you were one of the PVHS girls I admired and wished I was closer friends with. You were something special then but now your are truly amazing and a constant inspiration. I admire your creativity, your full speed ahead approach to life and the love and attention you give those you love. You are a cheerleader of life!

I was so touched that you and Claude came to the Antique Shop that day.  So wonderful to see you. You really made my heart sing when you both came out to Heritage Day. Thank you for your donation, your support and your fabulous, now published, photo of my victory.  It is a  great moment in my life.

I look forward to visiting you and visa versa in the future. Maybe for the grand opening of the She Shed.

Thank you for your daily words of wisdom. I think you speak for a lot of women and Lord knows, we women need to support each other at every opportunity.

I admire you very much and I remain your friend,

Billie

P.S. I think I missed sending you Birthday wishes on your most special birthday.  You are like a fine wine-you only get better with age!

Movin Day

I started writing this...the day they moved...but just couldn't get around to finishing it.  Every morning when I wake up and each night before going to bed, I look out my front door and "check on" this house.

When I bless ours...and ask for safety through the night, I include this house.

There are just some houses...that no matter who has owned them in the past...or has temporary custody of them...they somehow keep the spirit of the cherished friends you come to associate with "the house".  This one, will always be Lynn Lloyd's,  even though there have been four owners since she and Ron left...it's still...Lynn's...her colors, her fence, her patio..remain...there have been few changes.   


I think  houses choose...and release...their inhabitants.  I certainly know mine did.  They keep us for a spell and when the time is right...they release us...to our dream job in another state, or our dream house just three blocks over.  They coddle and nurture us and like the nest they represent...eventually send us on our way.

Who leaves the village...only the guests...the houses live on, keeping the memories and the stories associated with all that was created within.

Best of luck Lisa and Chris on your new home...your dream house!  It popped up when you least expected it...and maybe weren't so sure you were prepared.  Thing is ...you have to go...trusting...and sometimes carrying your heavy... yet happy heart along with you.  I think you have truly found "Lisa's House".  Now it's on to another adventure!

As the crow flies....

How far is heaven?

The Friendly Villager

There is a tradition here in the Village, and that is...no matter what Pat purchases, one of the Neons, or now the Teenas, would get first dibs on it.  We know if "the Manager" purchased it, he had spent a year thinkin' about it and researchin it and makin' sure it was safe.  He always bought big cars too, cars built for haulin the hood to dinner, or the beach, or just about anywhere we wanted to go.  Bein' from Chicago, you also knew he was gonna have something that would plow through the snow or at least a set of snow tires he would dutifully put on in September and keep on though March (now he tells me he just took them off the other day...but that's another story) .  The long and short of it was, his philosophy was that somebody had to have a car big enough to carry us all if need be.  I have a picture of nine of us scrunched in tighter than sardines in the back of La's Subaru, headed to Pawley's Island for dinner, Not pretty let me tell you...but it was more about bein together than bein' comfortable...and in that case "safe". 

But I digress...thing is, The "Friendly Villager" passed from Mr. Pat to me and now nearly 200,000 miles later she has gone to be " rein-car- nated."  Safety first...I couldn't let her back on the road.  She clicked, and thumped and had stopped lockin' her doors on one side.  She didn't like to hold a charge and would even yell at me when I turned on her radio.  Like all women, she ran hot after a certain age and just couldn't get cool.  Time and again I put out to have her cooling system updated..until finally, it just went. 

Her last few years were spent hangin' out in front of the house, acting like a true guardian.  Puttin' up a good front sayin' stuff like, "Yeah, they're home...inside...don't even think about goin' near that house..I'm a car and if I'm here, they're here so back off"!  That's my girl!  She was my "Alpha Car" and I'm so grateful for her miles of laughter, her safe trips to Chili-Beach, Chicago, New York,  Florida, the Easter Shore and Buckin' ham to name only a few.

She has hauled Neons, Teena's, Mullets, Grey Hounds and Grandmothers.  She took Myra and Claude and Momma to the hospital in a very "laid-back and out" position.  We would take her middle seat out, throw pillows on the floor and groove on the way to some ball game or bowling birthday.  She was a trooper..with many names. 

The Manager, liked to to name his cars...like I said, he was both detail oriented and at the same time "poetic".  Loving all things French, he searched for something that would identify this Friendly Villager and represent her purpose...and so he came up with the touching....translation for ten friends...

Dix Amis

Ummmm...need I say more.  What man...in his right mind would have a license plate that reads like somethin' that ain't hittin'?  Unfortunately, I was the one who had to break that one to him.  Seven shades of red he turned and he was no more good...as I like to say.  I don't know what he replaced it with...probably just numbers, but that plate was gone in no time.  I felt bad about that...but somebody had to tell him.

Once she was passed to me, I didn't keep her as clean as the Manager, but I did look after her and she got a new plate...

One Crow

She was good...acceptin' her new role as a work horse and with a shiny new trailer hitch on the back she carried lumber and sheet rock, sofa's and beds, lawn tractors and kayaks.  She still toted Teena's and once raced the Bee to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, on the way home the tunnel police pulled me to the side and suggested I "slow down and have a safe trip home".   I promised to do so....How far is heaven?

She was spunky to the end...she was red!   She went "as the crow flies" here and there and returned home hot and hummin! 

Thank you dear one, well done...until we meet again. 

Dancin with the Deep Fried Demon...Again

It’s just not right to wake up in the mornin’ cravin Sugah Chicken.

There are just some things that are so addictive they make me crazy.  General Tso’s Chicken might as well be crack, cause I would drive over the fool crossin the intersection between me and “Red House” Take Out to get to my fix.

This one dish contains all my devilish pleasures. 

Deep Fried - well...heck yeah!

Sweet – (3/4 cup of sugah goes in that glaze…I saw him throw it in when the wok was hot and I must say that  it was both disturbin’ and titillatin’ at the same time.

Salty, goes without sayin, my hands look like I’m wearin ‘a catcher’s mitt after I’ve finished a single servin and you know I'm gonna have more. (crack) and last but not least...Fire...chili pepper fire in the belly and on the lips..and on down the goozel. 

Maybe I just like things I can’t spell or pronounce…or powerful and exotic men with an Asian flair…maybe all of the above.  All I know is I wish I had never met the General.

 Even when I manage to eat just a single helpin', just knowin’ it’s in the house….I can hear it call my name.  It’s double wrapped and put in the back of the fridge and I can still hear it, it's in the freezer, oh I can zap it in the microwave in a flash…I can hear it outside in the trash, even after I have poured dish washin’ detergent on it to drown it…I can hear it and wonder if the liquid had gotten to the bottom…wonder if I can wash it off.  Wonder if Red House is still open.  It's that bad...that sad.

I have no shame, no control over my  sweet-salty-spicy-deep-fried demons. 

I told VerDell, I know, sure as they placed additives in cigarettes (which I put down without a blink over 25 years ago) there must be something in General Tsu’s Chicken that weakens the mind and poisons the soul.  Don’t get me started...I can't put the bad boy down.

I memorized his faults:  Here's the ugly truth

Nutritional Facts for General Tso's Chicken

 For a single servin, and you know you can't have just one....

•  Calories 434.6
•  Calories from Fat 48
•  Cholesterol 132.2 mg
•  Sodium 1893.0 mg
•  Total Carbohydrate 45.8 g
•  Dietary Fiber 1.2 g
•  Sugars 20.4 g 
•  Protein 41.5 g 

and yet I crave him still!

If you love him...perhaps you can somehow fix him...turn him into someone you would share with others...I know there is a way...but it's always better when it's bad!

General Tsu's Chicken

Ingredients

3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks

2 cups green onions, sliced

8 small dried chilies, seeds removed ( bird pepper or thai chilies are good)

Cornstarch slurry

1/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium preferred

1 eggs, beaten

1 cup cornstarch

Sauce

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup sherry wine or 1/4 cup white wine

14 1/2 ounces chicken broth ( a can)

Directions

1. Place sauce ingredients in a quart jar with a lid and shake to mix. If you make this ahead of time just refrigerate until needed, shaking it again when you are ready to use it. This also keeps your dirty dishes down.
2. Mix cornstarch slurry in a large bowl- the mixture will be strange but trust me it works. It will be VERY thick almost paste like. Add chicken pieces to coat. Using a fork remove ONE chicken piece at a time and let the excess mixture drip off. YES even though the mixture has a weird consistency it will not stick like paste and the excess will drip off. Add chicken to the hot (350 degree) oil and fry until crispy. Only cook 7 or 8 chicken pieces at a time. You do not want to lower the temp of the oil by cooking too many at a time. You can use a simple cooking or candy thermometer to judge the temp of the oil.
3. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm- I just put them in the oven with the oven off. Repeating until all chicken is fried.
4. In a separate wok or large skillet add a small amount of oil and heat to 400 degrees. Again, a candy thermometer works great. You can fry all the chicken, drain the oil to the desired amount and use the same pan if you like.
5. Add green onions and hot peppers and stir fry about 30 seconds.
6. Stir sauce mixture, and then add to pan with onions and peppers, cook until thick. If it gets too thick, add a little water. The thickness of the sauce should be similar to what you get when ordering this at a restaurant.
7. Add chicken to sauce in wok, and cook until all is hot and bubbly. The quicker this is done the crispier the chicken stays.
8. Serve over rice. (Preferably Bubba's Fried Garlic Rice)

The Fine Line

When I put this up this mornin as a little piece of "wisdom" from the Book of Lurlene, I have to say that I thought it just about said it all.

A couple of hours ago...I was sure that determination, was a virtue while bein' stubborn was just arrogance . 

I admire somebody who has a "stick to it" kinda attitude.  It's about mastery, like knittin' good enough to finish a sweater or  speakin french good enough to order exactly what you want to eat.  But then nobody ever told me I couldn't - or wouldn't ever do those things.  

 Maybe that's the key.
 Is stubborn what happens when folks get angry cause you keep on when they thought you never would or could or should? 


I'm startin' to see stubborn in a different light now...a lot depends on what side of the line I'm on.

Judgin' ....get you in trouble every day of the week!  No question about that!