StringGrrl sees the World

1930's "spam" pitching seed sales and sweepstakes a homemade valentine, seed order forms, and stamp collection catalogs the inside of the Valentine Sweepstakes entry forms "TREASURE"! Sales premiums for seed resellers VSO "violin shaped objects" for only 24 packets @ $0.10 each more premiums for selling the seeds. Wonder if that is licensed Mickey and Minnie swag? oops, upside down. Stamp collectors bait

As we approach Mardi Gras in our house our minds start to simmer with thoughts of Gumbo. Our family favorite is Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Gumbo Ya Ya).  Loosely adapted from versions listed in Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen, Online recipes by Emeril, and experience in our own kitchen. Unfortunately, I have never been one for getting all the measuring just right. But here is an effort. 1 lb boneless chicken breast diced (1 pouch from Costco pack) 1.5 cups flour 2-3 tsp Cayenne (might be more I roughly measure generous palm full) 2 tsp Cumin (might be less, shallow palm full) 1 tsp Black Pepper (eyeballed) 1 tsp White Pepper (eyeballed) 0.5 tsp Sea Salt 1 baseball sized onion (minced) 1 green bell pepper ? Celery (no body in my house likes it so we skip part of the "trinity") 2 quarts home made Chicken Stock  3-5 cloves garlic 2 links Andouille Sausage diced (smoked sausage will do in a pinch) 0.75 pound okra Chicken cooking in oil, "e...

Night vision image captured of median on Vernier Road near Mack  Numerous wild animal sightings in the area have caught the imagination of residents. Coyote sightings often result in home owners restricting the bathroom habits of their dogs and cats. regular exposure from the Mack Avenue toward Vernier and Lochmoor CC Coyote Sighting: 2009 Detroit News Coyote blog Coyote attack in GPFarm s Attack in the Woods However, these very real events could not have prepared local residents for the arrival of Tigers in their neighborhoods. Most recently spotted near the corner of Mack Avenue and Vernier Road, the tiger(s) seem to be lurking in the cover during dusk and dawn. If the photographic evidence captured by local residents waiting for the Bus are to be taken at face value, the tiger would appear to be an adolescent possibly in the 200 pound range. As seen stalking a pedestrian near Peters Funeral Home, Mack and Vernier "I guess the thing woul...

little Alice and Caterpillar The 2012 production of the Parcells Middle School Drama Club,  Alice in Wonderland  the musical  featuring Music from Disney. Playing favorites here is a clip of IssaK performing as the Caterpillar with Little Alice. IssaK and Uncle Paul The international sensation and her Italian Fan Club (Fabrizio)

StringGirl at a Beach in Michigan (yep the US for a change) Digging through the photos to find other pix that StringGirl has not posted to the photoblog yet we find pics from Andy's Birthday and the day at the beach that preceded it. The state park at Grand Haven was the first stop that morning. To enjoy a day at the beach before heading over to GR for Andy's B-day picnic. View Larger Map A great beach with inviting sandy beaches and just perfect fresh water was a treat that day (though wind made for a nasty rip current). Then over to Andy and Melissa's house for AJ's birthday party. turning 31 (I think, since I am 40 now). StringGirl and the Birthday boy Now yer famous bro. StringGirl and her 10 blog viewers all send you another belated birthday greeting. (I know you'll probably get the Google update on this so I guess I better make it worthwhile.) Next stop on the StringGirl World tour (another stop to beautiful Dortmund Germany and Zurich). Will ha...