Plans for the Fourth!

Happy July 4th!!

As usual, Poppy and I will watch the fireworks and celebrations on TV tonight. We had planned to drive up the road a piece, 15 miles, to the town of Castalia for their fireworks show, but just found out we missed it. It all happened on Saturday the 1st. ??

Castalia, population 268, is kind of well known for it's fireworks show. The town became even more well known after July 4th 1995 when about 4,500 people had come to watch the show and lightening struck a metal fence there. 36 people were taken to the hospital. Glad we were not there.

How to turn a nice healthy purple eggplant into this...

I put the sliced eggplant in salt water for about thirty minutes, drained them, dipped the slices in a batter of flour, milk, a little salt and an egg white and fried them in oil. 

Mama used to say, "I can't stand an old eggplant", so I had never eaten one until I married Poppy. His mom told me how to fry eggplant. Next time, however, there is a really good sounding recipe at Allrecipes.com that I want to try. It uses breadcrumbs. Sounds tastier.

Sharon at Rivercrest cottage asked how I freeze bell peppers. Well, I simply wash them, pat dry with a paper towel, cut, remove the seeds, slice, and freeze. They keep really well this way. 

I'm no expert at anything though. Hey, for somebody with about a third grade vocabulary, I sure can use a lot of words. :)

Better get moving. I do appreciate your friendship. 

Love,
Henny  

The 4th

Hope you all had a happy 4th of July!!!  Around here it was like any other day.  We didn't grill out, or have friends or family over, we didn't go to the beach or cut a big watermelon, we didn't watch a parade, or even go watch the fireworks!!  Later in the evening we did hear the distant boom of some fireworks.  I walked out on the porch but couldn't see anything.  Late afternoon Poppy said, "this doesn't seem like the 4th of July".  Well, course not, out here in the woods!!  We need to put forth a little effort to feel the 4th!!  He did ask if I wanted to go somewhere to see fireworks and I said,"not really", I enjoy watching the celebration on PBS.  Well, it just so happened that Neil Diamond was singing when Poppy turned on PBS...his response, "I'm not  sitting here listening to Neil Diamond all night"!!!   What's wrong with Neil Diamond??  Now if had been ZZ Top, Mick Jagger, or Bob Segar...oh well!!!  I do love July 4th, I love this country, and all things patriotic!!!  When my son-in-law was stationed at Seymore-Johnson AFB, we were invited to come on base for a July 4th celebration and fireworks...oh my...talk about feeling patriotic...I loved every minute!!!  Okay, didn't mean to get carried away.

Little Fiona Ling Ling (I know you're smiling) is still with us and hanging with the other ducks.  She tries so hard!!  It is cute to watch her run, keeping a few steps ahead of the big ducks.  She doesn't completely trust them yet and keeps her distance.  She likes my bucket of feed so she is trusting me more.  That makes me happy.

After all my complaining about the garden, (the squash bugs, wet ground, etc.) we are getting some really good tomatoes.  Not only are these tomatoes big, these are sweet and delicious.  Last year our tomatoes were very tart.

On the menu for tonight...Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches...

Better get busy.  At 7:45 this morning I had finished what needed to be done inside, and was headed outside with my work basket.  All the recent rainy days put me behind.  The  yard has been a mess with sticks, limbs, overgrown mint, and flowers beaten down by the rain.  This has been my fun break for the day.

Thank you, if you managed to stay this long... :)  Hope to be back soon.

Love,
Henny Penny