IowaDee

Another vote for Bryson's books. Love everything he's written but Lost Continent is tops. My SIL grew up a couple of house away from the Bryson family in Des Moines and dated Bill's younger sister. Okay, back to your regular programming. Sorry.

Still reading and very much enjoying this.

I see the anger and hear the gnashing of your teeth. Far be it from me to get between you and the smallest morsel of food. Aside from that, thanks for taking us along. I will never get to Hong Kong other than via blogs so this is wonderful. Happy eating and soon I hope.

I too love the murals. The style reminds me so much of the WPA ones often found in Post Offices and other public buildings. Our local P.O. has a wonderful one, a view of the town and our beautiful courthouse. I'm loving this trip.

Oh just in time. After all the politics, I'm so ready for a little R&R with you! Been caught more than once with a corked bottle of wine and no way to open it. Even went so far as to break the bottle neck once. Desperate times do indeed call for desperate measures.

And licking that dasher made all the work worth it!

Remember your tricks to get rid of your extra zucchinis? Well do the same thing with the eggs but call it a "Pullet Surprise" How's that for a real groaner?

I would like to suggest Prairie Lights Book Store in Iowa City. It is a fantastic place. They have been doing author readings for years. Being a college town, they attract a wide selection of buyers. From what I know, it seems right up your alley. I think you would be a natural fit there.

Maybe a molinillo? I got a large one many years ago. Don't really use it but it is a great conversation starter as in, "What the hell is that?: Not cookware. but I have found beautiful table linens as well.

Maybe he won't look too hard and just think they are poblanos? Either way, I would be happy to eat his share. That is a beautiful breakfast!

I would like to order a pair of those in women's size 6 please. So unusual and cool.

Last week was our anniversary and we had that TJ chicken liver moose, brie and champagne to celebrate. Spread it on little toasted cocktail breads and it was so tasty. Had an assortment of olives as well. Never met an olive that I didn't like! And small pickled onions too. With a spread like that, we may start celebrating our 6 month anniversaries in addition to the annual ones.! We are still working on the kilo of imported French brie I snagged for $1.99 from our Mennonite store. Yup, that was the price of the entire wheel... We have another mousse hidden in the back of the refrigerator. Intending to celebrate the outcome of the election with t. If the wrong person wins. we will use it and lots of champagne to drown our sorrows. Either way, it goes on Nov. 9 or sooner if the race is called earlier.

Outside, the south side of our house is plastered with box elder bugs today. They are harmless, don't bite or eat plants but I hate finding them in the house. We also getting a goodly number of Japanese Beetles. They pinch and, if stepped on, stink something horrible. They look like cute little ladybugs but they are anything but.

Oh how I love persimmons. As a little girl, I would have them when I visited my "nice" Nana. I never saw them anywhere else. For a long time, I thought she arranged for them just for me and no one else ever got to even taste one. Yes, she was that special to me. I still associate the taste with being a loved grandchild. Perfect breakfast!

Looks like brie that failed the good cheese test.

No, a replacement won't be necessary. Paper tape to the rescue. I repaired enough library books to secure the cover but thanks for the offer.

I shall get my husband to take a couple of photographs as soon as he has time . He has yet to master shooting a close-up. Since the book is for my own use and not a gift, the damage isn't critical but you should be aware for future mailings. Just looking through it, has made me look around the place with different eyes. I remember my daughter having a friend spend the night here many years ago.. She was so excited to gather some purslane from out yard. She was a real cutting edge little kid.

Thank you, I am happy to say that all the extras were with the book.

My book arrived yesterday. Unfortunately the flap was completely open and all I had to do was reach in pull it out . The book got banged up a bit so I suspect it fell out at some time on the journey, Can you tell me what the extras were so I'll know if everything was there? On the plus side, yes it is just beautiful and looks very intriguing. Damn post office anyway.

I believe that at one time the Hampton Inn chain would only build where there was an established restaurant within walking distance of it. The ones we most often saw were Dennys that were open 24/7 .I think they have relaxed that requirement now. Arriving late at night, it was nice to grab dinner and hit the sack before an early flight the next day. Fancy food was low on my list then.

Shelby, I too am an only and I totally agree about sharing. What is mine, is mine but what is your is ours....right? And that includes paychecks as well. I've never worked in a place where the sharing issue came up but I would have second thoughts about taking in my expensive toys to share. Which is to say that Kerry is a much better person than I am!

Trick or treat Smell my feet Give me something good to eat

Oh we wiffit all the time but never had a word for it. ...thanks for expanding my vocabulary! Have a safe trip home and thanks for taking us along on your adventures.

Well I guess that made her an official bitch then didn't it?

My in-laws were farmers and raised beef cattle. In later years,when they had retired from that, they rented out pasture to a friend who also raised cattle, Black Angus. His "rent" was to provide half a steer annually, butchered per their instructions at the local locker. Imagine, eating beef that was raised on grass in your own backyard so to speak. Dream about the steaks, roasts, chops and more. Now dash those dreams, they had every ounce of that wonderful beef ground up and packaged in two pound packages. Dreams of burgers, meatloaf and meatballs just aren't the same. To say my MIL;s cooking was in a rut is saying it all. The cookbook, 365 Ways to Cook Hamburger was her kitchen bible.