Tag Archives: NanaBread

Oh, hail. It’s finally raining in Houston!

Love the rain, but those white blobs are pea & marble sized hail. Yikes!

That’s right, people. For the first time since January of this year (I’m not making this up), we finally got some rain in south Houston. In fact, we got about 40 minutes of rain and about 5 minutes of pea to marble sized hail. TCP and I were so excited about the rain, we didn’t even care about the hail. Not at all.

This pile of pea-sized hail stones pooled by our front door.

Then we looked out the back door and yelled, “The baby pineapple!!!” at the same time. By then, we were getting pummeled, and there was no way to stage a rescue without getting beat to death. Luckily, those big wide fronds did a great job of deflecting the hail stones. A few did land around the pineapple fruit and roll down to sit at the base, but there is no apparent damage to the fruit. The fronds didn’t fare so well. As you can see in this next photo, they suffered substantial hail damage. You can see the white pea-sized dents on the fronds.

The hail left white dents on the pineapple fronds. Ouch!

We’re expecting more storms this week as our record high temperatures meet waves of moisture blowing in off the Gulf of Mexico. Rest assured that I will be crafting some sort of shelter to prevent our baby pineapple from suffering any more trauma, and TCP and I from suffering any more pineapple-based heart palpitations. On the bright side, we finally got some rain!

Normal year-to-date rainfall for the Houston area: 20″
Year-to-date rainfall since January of this year: 1.33″
Average temperature in Houston this time of year: 90F
Previous record temperature for this week (1980): 98F
New record temperature for Houston set this week: 105F
(data courtesy of the Houston Chronicle website)

Is it just me, or does it seem like we’ve had some of the wackiest weather ever this year? Record breaking floods and draught, a record-breaking number of wildfires, late snows and tornadoes. What gives? I’m nervous to think what the hurricane season may bring. I mean, c’mon…. Massachusetts had a tornado! When is the last time anyone heard of a tornado in the Boston area? Feel free to throw in your 2 cents worth. Are you experiencing wacky weather in your area?

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A “Versatile Blogger” Award? Cool!


Katie at Broken Resolutions has seen fit to bestow a Versatile Blogger Award upon me and for that I say, “Thanks, Katie! That’s cool!” I’m honored you think my little blog is award worthy, and I’m thrilled you’ve found inspiration here. Or at the very least, some entertainment value. The Complete Package will be happy to hear that his steak sandwiches with soy-ginger mayo have become a staple in your home. They are fabulous, aren’t they? And addictive.

And now, on to some award business. I’ve linked to Katie’s site above so you can check out her blog and photos of her adorable little munchkin, Bugaboo. Katie writes about her life, family, and job and the daily struggles & victories she faces each day as she tries to balance them all with grace. I hope you’ll drop in and visit her very soon. When you do, tell her I said hello!

Next up, sharing seven things about me that you may not already know:

1. I rode in the Goodyear Blimp as a child. Mom still has a photo of me and Big Sis to prove it. I was wearing my Brownie uniform. It happened sometime around 1969 to 1971, and I still remember how awesome it was.

2. I played the french horn in junior high & high school. Yes, I was a band geek.

3. Some of the movies I love: The Princess Bride, Forrest Gump, Benjamin Button, Mr & Mrs Smith, Sleepless in Seattle, It’s a Wonderful Life, Up, Fantastic Mr Fox, Everything is Illuminated, that last Diehard movie, Shindler’s List, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Rango… well, there are just too many to list.

4. I love pancakes. Fluffy, homemade pancakes. And breakfast for dinner.

5. Born in Dallas; raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Big city girl, that’s me.

6. I once had to have my car towed when it slid off the highway during a hailstorm. I was dressed in a full chicken costume.

7. I’m a “glass half-full” person, always trying to find the positive in any given situation. My usual mantra is something along the lines of “S#!t happens, so you may as well laugh about it.” It has served me well.

For my last order of business, I will share two blogs I love. I won’t be redundant, since I’ve mentioned a few others before, but I will share two more I adore.

Jenna’s Everything Blog – Jenna hails from Chicago where she shares an apartment with her husband and a burgeoning window garden. Her blog is filled with recipes (her pasta pomodoro made my blog last week – it’s fantastic), family stories, and lots of photos. If I had to pick one thing about Jenna that I love the most, it’s her enthusiasm. She tackles everything with gusto and a sense of humor. I found her through comments she posted on The Pioneer Woman’s website. She was one of a lucky few women who won a weekend at PW’s ranch, and her stories of that experience with her lovely mother at her side, hooked me. Thanks for sharing so fully, Jenna. I always look forward to what you’ll do next!

Lucky Girl Sweets n’ Stuff – Katie is a fellow Texan, calling the hills northeast of Austin home. She’s a school teacher by day, and food blogger by night. Girlfriend loves to cook. Along the way, she throws in interesting stories about her life with her trademark spunk. She’s getting ready to launch a new website, The Hill Country Cook, so visit her now and get to know her, but stay tuned to see what the new website will bring. She’s destined to do great things. For now, check out her video series of recipes she submitted for the “Real Women of Philadelphia” cooking contest sponsored by Paula Deen and Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Oh, the things Katie does with cream cheese!

A note to the bloggers mentioned above: you are under no obligation to pass this award along. You may exercise your free will at any time and simply smile and pat yourselves on the back, if you so choose. Or you can join the fun and pass it along to those you admire. Your choice. That’s the deal. Free shipping & handling. Limited time offer. Thank you for calling Time Life Books.

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In Honor of Mother’s Day

Sunday is Mother’s Day, and in honor of my mother and families everywhere, I’m re-publishing my “Tale of Five Sisters” page. It’s a glimpse into my childhood with four sisters and a mother who is our touchstone and our heart. Here’s to her and to mothers everywhere. Thank you for all you do!

“A Tale of Five Sisters”

I have four sisters.  Yeah, I know.  I don’t know what my parents were thinking, either.  They look so young and innocent, don’t they?   

Mom & Dad on their wedding day

My Mom & Dad - Their Wedding Day

 Actually, we all blame Dad.  He had that “I Want A Boy” syndrome that drives women to drink.  After five daughters, though, even the old man had to give it up.  I don’t know how my parents survived it.  Well, Dad was in sales and the Bass Club of America, so he was away a lot when I was little.  In truth, I don’t know how Mom did it.  I’m not even sure how some of us girls survived it (especially the teen years).   

Growing up, we were naturally divided into two groups – the “big kids” and the “little kids.”  Sister #1 and I (yes, I am #2 – keep your comments to yourself, Peanut Gallery) were the big kids.    

"The Big Kids"

"The Big Kids" - NanaBread & Sister #1

 We were born 15 months apart, and grew up with that “we were friends first” bond that first siblings share.  Sister #3 came along almost 4 years later and started the “little kid” explosion.  Every 18 months or so, Mom gave birth to yet another girl.  We started to think she was in the “Baby of the Year” Club, like the Weekly Reader program, but for infants.  What can I say? Mom’s initials as a kid were M.O.M. – she should have seen this coming.    

Sisters 3, 4 & 5

"The Little Kids"

 She finally threw in the towel at 5 daughters, and who could blame her.  Not to be graphic, but do you realize how many feminine hygiene products that woman had to buy over the years?  It’s insane!  She should have invested in Kimberly Clark and Midol.  Dad invested in MGD (Miller Genuine Draft) and fishing gear.  That was his escape.  But we made it.  We all made it through.   

The Five of Us

 Years have passed now and we all have families of our own.  It amazes me that we all grew up in the same house with the same parents and yet we all are different and unique.  I like that about us.  We all have different interests and tastes.  We all had different experiences in school and participated in different activities.  We had separate interests and hobbies.  We played different sports or practiced different arts.  We picked completely different types of men as spouses (or no spouse at all).  We all raised our children differently.  And yet, we all click when we come together.  All those differences are like pieces of a worn, favorite puzzle.  All that diversity makes us all fit.  I still don’t know how my Mom pulled it off, but she raised five smart, independent, creative girls who love to laugh.  Sarcasm and humor are part of our DNA.  It’s our coping mechanism.   When we’re together, hilarity always ensues. 

Our Mother

 In closing, I’d like to say “thanks, Mom!”  You are our rock and our foundation.  You taught us to cook, clean, sew, do laundry and dishes, fish, dig a camp toilet, fend for ourselves, pay our bills and be fiercely independent.  You showed us how to use common sense to solve life’s challenges.  You taught us to love things like coupons, greenstamps, Tupperware, chocolate, fresh vegetables from a garden, homemade jelly, handmade quilts and antiques.  You also helped us find the humor in everyday life, and that’s really important.  Thanks for being honest with us when we screw up and cheering for us when we soar.    

For good or bad, you left an indelible mark on the world when you unleashed the five of us.  Sorry, world.  No take-backs!

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Pioneer Woman Photo Contest: Sisters

A photo I submitted has made it to the finals in the latest Pioneer Woman Photo Contest. I’m stunned, but thrilled to pieces. The photo assignment theme was “Sisters” and I submitted this photo of Sister #1 and I, taken on our grandmother’s porch in the summer of 1963. We were sharing a bowl of berries with cream. I’ve always loved this photo. I love the colors, the clothes, the sweetness of us sharing a special sisterly moment. But I also love the concentration on #1’s face, and the fact that she’s sharing, but keeping that bowl close. If only we’d known there were three more sisters to come. We might have eaten faster.

The end of the summer berries - Sister #1 and NanaBread

If you’d like to see the other finalists, all of which are fabulous, you can go to:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2011/03/sister-photo-finalists/

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Wishing You A Very Happy Halloween!

Carved pumpkins at NanaBread's house are even better after dark!

The Complete Package, Ziggy and I wish you a safe & happy Halloween with no tricks, all treats, no mosquitos, great weather and all the chocolate you can eat!

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