Let Not Our Travels Be in Vain

What is the best part of travel? It is preparing and looking forward to the trip? Could it be the actual trip itself? Or could it simply be returning home with our cameras and heads full of new visions.

We always hope our family and friends will want see our photos and hear narrations. Why? This gives opportunities to relive the trips over and over. Bless them ~ if not for them our travels would seem in vain.

Was last year's Super Bowl Party when I see a group surrounding an older gentleman who is telling of his recent trip to China. Someone whispers he and his wife have just returned.

We, at the time, were just back from a most impresive 3 weeks in Africa and China is next on our travel agenda. I want to hear what he is saying about the trip.

He is articulate in relating interesting stories and experiences throughout the country. They apparently had learned so much and had a wonderful time. Now, to nail down the important part ~ What month is the best time to travel China?
When did they go?

When I ask him, he looks puzzled. Thinking about it, he scratchs his chin...looks around as he works on remembering. At this point, I consider his age... probably about 70, I decide. Finally he comes up with an answer of sorts.....wasn't summer, he says, as it gets very hot there in summertime...he gives it more thought and finally said he thinks it was this past fall. I am happy with that, however, he goes on explaining he is still unsure, he recommends asking his wife Linda, she would know...she is the lady across the room, behind Ben wearing the green sweater, he tells me.

I wade through the group and find Linda standing watching, of all things, the Super Bowl game.

Introducing myself...and briefly tell her that her husband had given us such wonderful information about their trip, etc......ending with..."Was wondering what month you went to China?"

As she is trying to remember, I assess her to be in her 60's...I wait as she thinks and thinks and thinks ...finally, "maybe in the Spring...no...could have been August....no, that would have been hot there......hummmmmmmmm....maybe in August and Sept...no...maybe later in the fall....hummmm ...she finally tells me "I really just can't remember."
I thank her, adding "nice talking with you..."

I walk away wondering about travel. Is travel something we always dreamed of doing but now that we are doing it, we can't remember even when we go? Is it only a way to get out of babysitting? Or a way to spend our time and resourses? Is it all in vain? I walked away saying to myself..."We went to Africa in January, we went to Africa in January, we went to Africa in January 07."

Let not your travels be in vain. Blog 'em.

iJune

Peanut Brittle

How I love my friendship with a Chef. Retired now, he was Chef at the White House for 4 Presidents. Beginning with JFK. As much as anything, I liked the fact that he keeps secrets from those days although I long to invade his memories.
Jon is a fabulous Chef. Learned from him that presentation is everything.

One day Jon was visiting and as usual, we were in the kitchen trying to decide what we wanted to make. Ah! Peanut Brittle.
"Jon, I have the greatest recipe for Peanut Brittle...let's make Peanut Brittle."

Looking at the recipe, I asked, "Do you think we can double this recipe?"

"Don't see why not," he replied.

Had only one problem...the recipe calls to spread the hot candy on to buttered platters to cool and pull out making thin and brittle candy. We needed large platters to pour up and work with so much candy.

"Do you think we could just use the kitchen counter? Butter it real well and pour the mixture right on the counter?" He couldn't see why not.

We eagerly prepared the counter, using a couple sticks of butter...PERFECT I thought. Space to work from both sides. Satisfied, we went about making the candy. Our mixture was soon thick bubbly and very, very hot...perfect, we thought.
Carefully I poured this mixture right onto the perpared surface...refresed our glasses of wine and retreated to the living room to wait for the candy to cool a bit.

Talk and more talk...we kinda forgot the candy, leaving it not only to cool, but to bond itself to that counter top. We were panic-stricken. Looking back am sure it bonded as it hit the counter.

Desperate attempts to lift an edge failed...the counter top was some kind of material unwilling to give up this new coat of candy. It looked as if it had permentely adhered.
"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

We were in big time trouble with this...questioning eyes staring into questioning eye coming up blank...then...

Ah Ha! A hammer would break it up and that would help, we thought.

Banging the shinny hard candy began to splinter and send little bits of candy flying out in all directions...more bangs...more splinters of candy, ...all over the kitchen...but not really making a dent in the thick coat.

Not being able to think of another solution, we both were banging and banging when my husband came home...little bits of candy all over the floor and in our hair.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?????" he demanded as he saw what a mess in front of his eyes.

Jon put down his hammer and said, "Well, June, think I will be going.....bye."

Wet towels and lots of scrubbing was my chore for the next week. The only damage done was to my confidence as the counter top was ok...lucky it didn't melt. Was a good lesson. In our new house, we put in Silstone.

Have you ever done anything like this? LOL LOL
iJune

Snow day~

Today is a snowy day in Northern Virginia, USA.
The wet snow clings to the trees, outlining each branch against pure white backgound. We have about 6 inches and still falling. Made Taco Soup and a big pan of cornbread.
YUM~ PERFECT and makes a large pot to share or easy to freeze.

Taco Soup
2 # hamburger
1 large onion (chopped)
1 bell pepper (chopped)
Brown hamburger and sauté onion and bell pepper.

Add:
1 can whole kernel corn (16 oz.)
1 can diced Rotel tomatoes (28 oz.)
1 can great northern beans (15 oz.)
1 can pinto beans (16 oz.)
1 can peeled, diced tomatoes (28 oz.)
2 cups chicken broth
1 pkg. ranch salad dressing mix
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Bring to boil, simmer for about 30 minutes, enjoy!
Don't forget to make plain cornbread ...

iJune