Epic Failure

That’s one of “Baby Girl’s” favorite sayings.  My “Dude Gene” was in gear tonight and as a result, tonight’s dinner was an epic failure.

After deep-frying those delicious treats on Sunday, I decided to try my hand at some chicken strips.  After all, I had that little fryer already full of oil.  So I gave it a try and it was nasty.  That’s right I said nasty!  In the middle of the process I saw it was going so poorly that I called Matt and instructed him to stop on the way home at the local chicken spot and pick up a box of chicken strips.  Yeah, it was that bad.

I sliced, cleaned, dredged in floured but wound up with what looked like naked deep fried chicken.  Every stitch of flour just fell off the meat as it cooked.  I later learned, via a dear friend, that I should have soaked the strips in an egg wash before dredging in flour. 

There will be no picture posted or handy link to the web sight that I used as a guide.  Nor will I mention the friend whom tried to give me advise on the matter.  We will simply forget that this ever happened and pack that little fryer back in the box, set it high up on a shelve in the pantry and forget that its there. 

I’m a grill guy I guess…

Beignet Breakfast

I decided to wrap up spring break with a treat for the kids.  They have been begging me to make Beignets for weeks now.  I have been reluctant and have been putting it off for as long as I can due to the huge mess that I wind up making in their production.  I finally gave in this morning and made a double batch.

Lisa and I discovered Beignets a long time ago, before we had the kids.  We had taken a trip to the gulf coast and found a little breakfast place that served them along with very strong chicory coffee.  We fell in love with the little treats and visited the tiny hole in the wall restaurant for many years to come.  That was the only place we could ever find them.

I learned how to make them, some years later, and the kids fell in love with them also.  While I don’t mind making them I do hate cleaning up the mess.  The deal was that if I made them, Lisa agreed to clean up behind me.  Of course, now I get to deal with the cooking and the cleaning.  It’s funny how something as simple as a food brings back memories.  Beignets are like that for me…  They bring back memories, many happy memories.  I’ll have to make them again soon…

It’s been a good week with lots of naps and down time.  I’ve enjoyed my time with the kids.  My batteries are recharged and I’m good till my next break.

Lizard Boy

One of the things that I’ve really tried to get across to my kids is that we can’t blame any of our problems on Mom.  We can’t use her death as an excuse to fail at something or blame loosing her for our own failures or mistakes.  In other words, if you screw up you just screwed up, end of story.  We also make our own destiny and what we decide for our futures is up to us.

Granted, God has a plan and we don’t know what that plan is but he still gives us the free will to make a future or curl up in a ball and cry woe is me… Yeah, I know that’s all easy to say but a little harder to do.  In fact, I’m pretty bad at following my own wonderful advise.  However, I do try.

Matt being accepted to GHP and the news that he will be gone for most of the summer has made me once again start thinking about the future.  I once again see our lives changing and all three of us moving toward a yet another chapter in our lives.  I continue to remain positive and look forward to these changes.  I continue to feel myself healing and getting stronger again.

I still don’t know where life is taking me.  I still don’t have a master plan.  I do know that I am moving forward.  I do know that I want a life beyond yesterday.  A new life that will once again be filled with comfort, joy and love.  There is much I miss with my old life but I think that’s what I miss the most.

We spent our last morning of fishing on the most beautiful stretch of river I have ever been on.  The stream was narrow, only about thirty feet wide in most spots.  However, it had many deep holes with soft rapids and plenty of fish.  The river was dappled with sunlight from over hanging branches of flowering dogwoods, hickory and oaks.  When I was finished and worked my way back up the stream I found Matt asleep on the bank sunning himself like a lizard.  I guess he had his fill of fresh air and fishing.  I couldn’t think of a better place to fall asleep…

We’re back home and Matt took off early today for a morning of turkey hunting with our buddy JC.  Hopefully he won’t fall asleep with a loaded gun in his lap.  As for me, I have chores to catch up on and I’m not getting them done here at my laptop.

Tractors, Guns & Fishing Rods

Three days into spring break and the weather has been just fantastic.  I have succeeded in playing a bit more than I have worked this weekend.  I feel my batteries recharging and am reaping the benefit of more than five to six hours of sleep each night.  In fact, I have surprised myself in that I have not been automatically waking up at four or five each morning.

I had something good happen on Friday...  My housekeeper, Janet, returned after about a three month hiatus.  While I don’t mind housekeeping Janet had spoiled me rotten.  Not to mention, I think she tends to do a better job of cleaning than I do.  I think that might be because I attack it with the mind set that I want to finish it as fast as I can so I can move on to the next task.  And, of course, while I don’t mind it I really don’t like it much.  Anyhow, I was thrilled to have her back and very happy to have the extra help.  In particular, considering its grass cutting season and the outside chores and projects are starting to pile up.

It’s been nice to spend some down time with the kids.  Abby’s road-race on Friday night and shooting clays with Matt and his buddies.  Matt and I did take some time today to get a little work completed down at the barn.  I jumped on the big tractor and dragged the riding rink to knock down the weeds and Matt jumped on the mower and cut the grass.

Tomorrow we hit the river for a couple of days fishing.  I can’t wait to get out there and snag a few trout.  Who knows, maybe we’ll have a pan full of fish about this time tomorrow.  Maybe I’ll take a few pictures to share with you…