Sugar Bend Farm

A Wonderful Book

Well, I have decided that I really miss this community of homesteaders.  I come visit often, but decided to continue to blog occasionally about things related to the site.  I have also moved my main blog from http://dlynthomas.spaces.live.com  because the only ones that can leave a comment is other spaces members, and I have friends that aren't a part of that blog space.  So I  found another place for my main blog. This is the link http://www.dlynthomas.blogspot.com .  I hope some of you will come there and visit and leave me a comment.

Okay, now that the housekeeping is taken care of on to the blog...

I found a great cookbook.  It has some great recipes in it and also some wonderful stories.  Because of the setting in Louisiana, it feels like home to me.  I grew up eating so many of those things and the stories remind me of family and memories of my childhood.  Although I do have cajun french in my heritage, my family lived just north of the traditional south "cajun country" in Louisiana.  However, due to my dad's job, I spent many years living in cajun country.  We lived in Patterson, La-south of Lafayette, when I was a little older, we lived in Moss Bluff, just out of Lake Charles, LA.  Then we moved to Oberlin, LA which is near Kinder and the Coushatta Indian Reservation and Casino.  Anyway, In all of those areas I grew up around the cajun culture and learned more about my own heritage.  I enjoyed the food especially.  I still cook that way for my family, and my husband who is from Tennessee, loves it!  So if you are interested in learning about cajun cooking and a peek into the cajun culture check out this great book.  In A Cajun Kitchen by Terri Pischoff Wuerthner.   All the recipes are wonderful, but I suggest you try the Boudin Ball Recipe on page 90 of the book.  If anyone is interested in my posting the recipe on my blog, just leave a message and I will be glad to post it for those who can't find the book or don't have access to it.  I love Boudin, when I go back to La for visits, I buy it up and bring home with me.  I could almost eat it every day.  This recipe is the version that is put into balls and fried, instead of the casing and eaten like sausage.  Either way, it is great!

Well, I sold some of my gourds.  I still have a few large ones left and several medium sized ones, and plenty of small ones.  I was thinking of going to the farmers market with them, but haven't done it yet. 

I got called to work starting Friday of this week through Sat of next week.  So I am going to be very tired all week.  I may have to work the full eight days straight with only Sunday off between.  My supervisior said she would try to get me a day off, but I may have to work it all.  I could use the extra money that the over time will bring, but I know I am going to be soooo tired.  It isn't so much the work that is so tiring, but the heat is so bad, that it wears you out.  I am out in the heat driving the mail truck for about four hours straight.  And for those of you who don't know; there is no air conditioning.  And in Arkansas it has been in the 90's.  In an un-air conditioned vehicle, that translates to HHHHHHOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So by the time I get home, I am hot, sweaty, smelly, and full of grit from having the windows down.  I come home and jump into the shower immediately!!!  Anyway, thank God for the opportunity to make the extra money.  Lauren, my oldest will be turning 18 the 12th of August and we wanted to do something special for her for her birthday.  So this little boost in my income right now will be great!!!

Well, I need to go for now.  My husband and I are going to lunch together today.  We had planned to have a lunch date every Friday, but every Friday, something has come up.  And tomorrow I have to work, so we decided to try for Thursday's.  Today is our first Thursday lunch date.  We are going to Shorty Small's to eat.  It is a pretty good place to eat, kinda gimicky.  I prefer small quaint places that the crowds don't flock to, but to be honest, I got a coupon in the mail yesterday for a free $10.00 entree from there, so we couldn't pass up that deal! 

Hope to see some of you over at my new places soon. http://www.dlynthomas.blogspot.com