Granny Bird's Birthday

I have a grandma who is too special to just be called grandma, and so I choose to call her Granny Bird. She doesn't always seem to love this name, but I think it's, for sure, growing on her. . . How could it not?! This name is hers for two reasons:

1. Something I think of when I think of my grandma is good food. Many of our family traditions and gatherings are centered around the kitchen and some of the best food a person could ask for. Our own iron chef behind much of the delightful delicacies is my Granny Bird. What does this have to do with the name? Well, her kitchen, where many feasts and parties have taken place over the years, is decorated with roosters. Grandma told me it is good luck to have a rooster (decorative, not real) in the kitchen.

2. The topic of chickens brings me to reason two: Some chickens are extremely protective of the things they love most, their chicks! I know that my grandma is always there for me. She is compassionate and giving and always willing to take a person under her wing if they are in need.

(I know you're hanging out with grandma Grimes today

so here's a pic. for both of you cool chicks!)

Happy Birthday to the lady who has never missed any of my Birthdays, who doesn't like her picture taken, who loves flowers, big sunglasses, and driving fast, and who can wrap a gift prettier than anyone I know!

I hope your day is the best day ever, you deserve it!

- Mandie

Delicioso Guacamole

One of the first songs I learned to play as a sixth grade trumpet player was The Mexican Hat Dance. Ever since then, there has been a taste bud in the back right side of my mouth that requires me to feed it Mexican food once in awhile! One thing, however, that I have always disliked is guacamole! Actually, I had never even tasted it, or even smelled it for that matter, but I convinced myself that it was disgusting and therefore there was no need to even be in the same room with it! Julie told me once, (or probably several times when she was trying to get me to try cottage cheese) that everyone's taste buds change every seven years, and since I believe everything she tells me, I decided to take my brand new taste buds for a test drive! Experience #1: Guacamole! Not just any guacamole, Dean's Guacamole!

I realize this is not the most flattering picture of this scrumptious dip, but I couldn't stop eating it long enough to get a glamour shot of it!
This guacamole does not have huge chunks of avocado in it, and to be honest, I haven't read the ingredients to see if it is even real avocados it's made out of. The container says "Dean's Guacamole Flavor" and that's the only reason I'm questioning the authenticity of its origins. Now, back to the chunks. I'm grateful that it is a creamy dip and not a chunky dip because I did try a small piece of avocado once and I was not a fan. This dip does have pieces of tomato in it, but the texture of a tomato is not one that gags and chokes me up. The flavor is really great. I have tried it on a taco and on a fajita, both were good, but this guacamole really shines when it is simply placed on a tortilla chip! One crunch of the guacamole coated chip and I suddenly became uncontrollable! I wanted to sing Feliz Navidad (because that is the only Spanish I know) and dance around in my sombrero while shaking a maraca! Unfortunately I was unable to do that, because I don't own a sombrero or a maraca, but in my mind, that's what I was doing!

See the crazed look in my eye, I was overcome by the guacamole!

For months, the only place I could find that sold this one of a kind guacamole was Main Street Market in Ferron. They still have it, but just a few days ago I was at Stewarts in Castle Dale and I began a full fledged run to the end of the aisle and turned in to the roller derby queen throwing elbows and jumping over people after I spied Deans Guacamole sitting on the shelf like a lovely green angel!
I don't know what fresh made, real guacamole tastes like or if a true guacamole eater would enjoy this product, but I sure do and would definitely recommend it to every person on planet earth!

Guacamole de Dean es tan delicioso. Ve a buscar el suyo hoy!

-Mandie

 

Happy Birthday Sugar Gut

Three years ago, we found out that my niece was going to be a big sister! Everyone put their guesses in as to what kind of baby we would be welcoming in to the family... Boy or Girl? The day finally came to put all guesses aside, and find out from the pros what the little bundle would be. We found out that another girl was on the way! How exciting!

Fast forward to delivery day. . . IT'S A BOY! Wait, what?! Our minds were boggled as we thought about the pink clothes, flowered blankets, and frilly little nursery set the new baby boy would be coming home to!

Our little Porter has proved that he is most definitely tough enough to wear pink and sleep in pink! Three years has made him into a fun loving, sugar loving, rambunctious, sweet, wild little boy. I'm proud to be an aunt to this little nephew of mine, and wouldn't have it any other way!

Happy Birthday to you, Sugar!

- Auntie M

Disruptions Are For the Birds... Or Not

I looked out the window this morning and found a million blackbirds making themselves at home out in the yard. They were everywhere! I watched about 5 minutes of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" a couple of years ago, and that 5 minutes was enough for me to realize that movie and swarms of birds is not really my thing! I wasn't going to go outside, but I was happy to let Winston go out into the flock!
Some of you know Winston, some of you don't. Winston is the worlds biggest chicken among dogs. He is afraid of everything and had no idea what awaited him in the great outdoors this morning.

It started with just one little bird. 

Once Winston realized he had feathered strangers in his territory, he suddenly became the bravest dog in the world! He chased the bird, and then he chased a group of birds and then he found the flock, and the flock was not scared! 

Had Winston been a real dog, he could have easily sprung into action and one of the birds could have met a drool covered fate. However, today was the birds' lucky day, and they got the best of the "predator" in the grass. They are probably still laughing!

I learned a lot from the birds vs. Winston scenario. Most importantly I learned that as I sit atop my post in life, I need to be ready to react when acted upon. Winston was not very stealthy and surely the birds heard him coming, but the things that are sent to disrupt my life usually hit when I am least expecting them! They come quietly, but forcefully! I am learning that I cannot sit and just wait for the disruption to leave, that just doesn't happen! 

-Mandie