Wow ...have things changed...okay ME!

So today we are in Walmart and I walked by a mirror and got a glimpse of myself and gasped.  I was wearing leggins, Joe's Marine Tshirt, and his jacket.  I was wearing muddy cowboy boots...my hair was up in a clippy, (I did have make up on). I reached in my pocket and pulled out a hand full of nails!  I won't be posting pictures...I was the girl who took my kids to the grocery store always dressed in a skirt and heels! Am I just getting old or just really happy and content in my life, huh...have to think about this :)
Okay...I think I am definetly getting old.  The kids ask us to go to Jacksonville to a country bar tonight...we canceled...because it didn't even open til 8pm and we like to be in bed by then.  Tomorrow night, New Years Eve...we are staying in, getting pizza, renting movies and turning the clock ahead... so Chloe thinks it is midnight much earlier!  Okay, I answered my own question...it's both old and happy:)

Southern Tradition Black Eye Pea Stew

A Southern New Year's Tradition

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups finely shredded Napa cabbage
• 1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 pound ham hocks
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• salt to taste
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen black-eyed peas
• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, well rinsed
• 3 cups water

Directions

Heat the oil in a deep pan or stockpot set over medium-high heat. Stir in the onions and garlic, and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the Napa cabbage; toss and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the ham hocks, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, Cajun seasoning, and salt, stirring for 2 minutes more. Pour in the chicken stock and black-eyed peas. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 2 hours.

• 
  1. Meanwhile, place the rice and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until all liquid is absorbed and rice is light and fluffy, about 20 minutes.
  2. Before serving, remove the ham hocks from the pot. Coarsely chop the meat, and return to the black-eyed pea mixture. Serve hot over Basmati rice.

Yea...Construction!

Chloe's gotta gun...and she is a great shot (like her mom)

Well, Gunny is always surprising me...didn't know he was so talented, he has begun expanding our store area.

 I am tilling the soil to get ready for our spring planting.  I was also hosing out the store today, and it is scarying there, but I felt pretty confident with my hard squirter and gloves on.  I was caring out these huge spindles when I looked down and there was a snake in it...Gunny poured lighter fluid and lit it up.

 It gave me the creeps that I was holding it so close to my face.  Needless, to say I left the other 18 spindles in there.  All in all, it was a nice day.

 We had a big fire in the evening, Brittney and Hunter stopped by to have a glass of wine with us and toast there one year anniversary.  So happy to have Hunter as part of our family, could not ask for a better son in law!

  Oh and Britts not to bad either...

Chance -Our Jack Russel

Tucker-Lab  My Favorite

Our doggies ...I am so tired of everyone telling me a dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans!  There is nothing about this that I believe.  I have never licked my butt, thrown up and ate it or ate flies.  So basically the dogs disgust me...but I do love Tucker...he is the perfect Farm dog.  He has such a great personality...we take him everywhere with us.  I am not the kinda of person that likes dogs in the house.  Both of them sleep in the house...I spray lysol everywhere...it kills 99% of all germs ;)

My Daughter, Tara

She is such an amazing photographer!  I love the way she captured the true essence of this abandoned house which is next to us! 

My Tara...

Little to much country...

On Saturday I had a little to much country for a day (maybe a week)!  First thing in the morning Gunny was out taking care of the animals...when Tucker ran up to Gunny with a treasure that he dropped at his feet...It was the leg of a deer!!!  On our way home from the Dover Christmas parade a little later, as we were driving down our little road.  A stray dog ran from our land with a rabbit in his mouth ...a very bloody rabbit!  Chloe and I screamed.  Later that day I ran into a fly strip which stuck to my face with dead flies on it...I am sure I can leave it at that ...but needless to say I was livid.  BTW...putting bleach on your face HURTS!

The parade was 10 minutes long :)

Time for Tea

I cannot sit and chat with you,
the way I'd like to do.
So brew yourself a cup of tea,
I'll think of you, you think of me...

Did you know that after water, tea is the most widely-consumed beverage in the world?

Why is it that so many people love tea? Is it the taste? The aroma? The relaxed feeling it gives you when you sip it from your favorite cup in the early morning?
Tea does more for us than we actually know. Some beneficial effects of tea consumption is the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.  The beverage normalizes blood sugar, prevents heart disease and diabetes.

-Black tea varieties include the Assam tea, the Darjeeling tea and the black Ceylon tea.

-For the mornings, I recommend English Breakfast (Black Tea) It has a robust flavor, and is amazing with added cream. Perfect with a slice of toast with butter.

-Red and white tea are the rarest types, but are the best for you health wise.

-In the afternoons I recommend something a little lighter, like a jasmine tea or earl grey which has a very floral taste.

-Finally, at evening I prefer to have a chamomile to relax, or an herbal tea with lemon and honey to soothe my throat.

Tea tip:
Did you know you can decaffeinate a cup of tea yourself? 85-95% of caffeine is released in the first 45 seconds of steeping. Therefore, simply steep your tea bag in one cup for 45 seconds, then transfer the tea bag to the cup you're going to drink for the rest of the steep time. There you have a decaffeinated tea.

So why not take some time out of your busy day and sip on a cup of tea. Your body and brain deserves it. After all, it's not a drink. It's a state of mind.

By Brittney Hogan (middle child)

Holy Cow!

As a mother...most of us have absolutely no down time.  There should be that time in the evening where noise, screaming, craziness stops so all of us can wine down...especially me! Uh, No such thing in this household.
I feel like I want to ...well as I am writing, Gunny...is banging on the window outside pretending to be a monster and Chloe is pretending to be Lady Gaga...singing ...I was born that way, wearing my black boots that go over her knees and some crazy outfit. She is home schooled, how does she even know that song!  I am screaming at both of them with what voice I have left...STOP IT OR ELSE!  Or else what... they laugh!
When it's bed time they both fall fast to sleep and I lay for hours, thinking are you kidding me...

I think I am allergic environmentally to North Carolina...I got sick three weeks ago and can't get over it.  Now they are doing there self defense lessons...the screaming continues.

They like the playdo...can you tell?

They look so sweet and innocent here...

Ouch!

We are off to continue clearing our land this morning...both of us in a lot pain.  Gunny's feet and back and my back, went to cross my legs and I couldn't.  Should be another fun day.  The girl's are meeting us at the land today.  Tara wants to go in the abandon house and take pictures.  Joe and I finally ventured in two days ago.  It looks like the last time someone lived there was around 100 years ago.  Two fireplaces, no bathroom.  The furniture in there is amazing...I found a very old water bucket...that I will plant flowers in.

Hopefully, we will make it through today.  This is the first time I wish I would have had boys...strong, big boys!  This is what Chloe does while we are working!

Things I learned today...

This is what I was thinking about all day...

Gardening in OC is much different than clearing farm land in the South!  Just because I like lady bugs and butterflies...does not mean I can handle the scary lions, tigers and bears here.  Okay...maybe I exaggerated a little but I have never seen spiders and weird bugs like this in my life.  Except for that spider in Arizona!  I wanted to call 911...actually I think I did.  So Gunny (my sexy marine) was busy clearing the land with a sickle mower, I raked and used the hedge clippers...when we were done we stopped at the little store so I could put a bag of ice on my back on the way home.  I have to say Gunny is actually very sweet to me.  He is use to telling young Marines what to do and he is pretty easy on me.  Because when he forgets and starts ordering Chloe and I, around we look at him and laugh. Last but not least I looked at what God gave us...and this song came to my mind all day..."Then sings my soul, my saviour God to thee...How Great thou art, How great thou art"...

Holiday Punch

holiday punch - cranberry juice, apple juice, ginger ale, and ice. Add Vodka if you are looking for a Cocktail.

Vendor Spots still available! $25

Vendor Information

Project Farm...Moving along!

After a couple of days of visits to the Craven County planning, electricity, water, septic...

things are all going well and in place.  We will go to our land to place little flags out for them to see.  So they will know where to put meters and things!  Excited about going tomorrow...because in the little shed on our land they left...a... well a room full of antiques :)  Joe thinks I am not going to be able to do this... I will show him.  We will start clearing the land soon...which makes me happy because there is a bug problem there.  When we were there on Friday we saw deer prints...so hopefully we will have pics of Bambi soon.

Awe...life...

I haven't been able to share my thoughts for a couple of days due to no computer connection.   I have to admit I feel a little lost without the internet.  Not that I am so computer savey but that I love the wealth of information I have access too.  Also, I love

the connection it gives me to the outside world.  I think about how we survived without it...How far we have come in the last 15 years.  How as a mother, I left my home without a cell phone...oh, ya...I didn't.  I would try, it was good in theory...as I would drive away, I went through every room did I leave anything out, was there anything they could get hurt on...so I would end up going home and taking them with me...yes medication was recommended...thus the invention of the cell phone was very welcomed :)  I am sharing to much ...

God is Good!

I got to talk to my best girlfriend today, we have been friends for over 30 yrs.  In the last couple of weeks both of our lives have changed drastically.  But that 20 minute conversation always makes everything okay.  Our prayers are with the Merlino family.

We found out today they accepted our offer and we got our land to build our farm on...a dream come true.  I am so excited...but a little scared.  All that wildlife and bugs...lions and tigers and bears :) But I don't hyperventilate around nature like Trisha :)

I made meatball sandwiches tonight...they were really good!  They were lowfat...my goal is to make southern food a little lighter.  Anyway, back to the Italian menu...I used ground turkey, and 40% less fat ground pork.  Yummy!  Chloe said it was better than Subway...uh duh!

ooops!  Not us but close!

Here we are...

Dinner

Fall in Love

We did this complete wedding in September...I love Fall wedding's!
The menu was BBQ Pork and Chicken, Garden Salad, Gourmet Mac n Cheese,
BBQ Beans with crumbled bacon and an array of Fresh baked country breads.
The guest began with cocktails and appetizers.  Harvest Granny Smith apples, distinctive whole grain crackers, sour dough breads and warm brie, accompanied by spinach parmisean dip, an assortment of marinated olives.  The guest drank Chardonnay, and the favorite of the night Spiked Lemonade!

Getting Married?

Need a Venue?

Need Catering?

Gone Southern Events

Dover, NC

gosouthernwithus@yahoo.com

Like...Ya'll need to join us...Dude, in our journey from Coastal California to the Deep South!

Well, I couldn't be more excited to be in North Carolina...I guess in some ways I have waited my whole life to be here.  People here find it so obvious that we are from California.  However, my whole life I was asked if I was from the south.  Of course, I proudly said "well all my family are from Kentucky!"  Yes, they are... as a child I remember visiting twice.  My Great Grandpa Grant Creech...I remember him fondly, sitting on the front porch of a very humble home, whittling, where he and my Great Grandma, Pearl Creech raised twelve children in a two bedroom home with an outhouse out back.  There was a little creek to the left side of the house where black berrries grew.  Then there was my Grandpa, Louis Miller..."Papa"  The greatest man I ever knew...He worked in the coal mines...I don't ever remember him telling me he loved me, but I never felt so loved by any man...he fixed every problem I had, he made everything okay for me.  In his own way...a man with very little formal education made my world and made me feel so loved...No man ever lived up to him until I meet my husband, Gunnery Sergeant, Joseph Restivo.