Nice Lunch at the Oar House

Sometimes, you take a day off and enjoy yourself before the oil comes and, um, basically ruins everything (Yes, I'm talking to you BP). 
So here's my idea of a nice lunch on a day when you don't have to do anything or care about anything either. MotH and I had a nice corner table on the most western part of the deck over Bayou Chico. It was breezy, but not annoyingly so and we were in the shade  - pretty perfect seats in my opinion. The beer arrived and we ordered our late lunch.

It's fun to people watch and boat watch - esp. for boats with creative names. I just don't think I could own a boat because I would never quite find the right name for it and it would just be embarrassed to be out there in the water with a sub-par name. There are the occasional dogs on boats which is nice too. The Oar House allows pups in their outside eating area (basically the front bar side near the beach volleyball courts) and that's a cool thing to do. Though the list of rules involved for allowing pups is about as long as a politician's speech.... blah blah blah. That said, it's progress for this little town that has to over think and over worry most things that would make their constituents happy, while bulldozing through large project that are fluid at best and likely to never end up how they were promised to us. I digress. 

So there were some (few) interesting boat names. Aqua holic, Jane says..., holy Spear-it.

There were also several curious boat out in the water that suspect have something to do with the impending destruction of our fishing, diving, and beach going fun. Now here's the thing. I don't fish - allergic to all seafood; I don't dive; and I don't much care to go to the beach - though we do have a beautiful beach. But BP still has me pissed off and the government isn't far behind on my list of groups to blame and label as stupid. Again, I digress. 

One of the best things about the Oar House --  and this has been going on as long as we've been going there. Even before the fire. There are three birds that hang out together and we always see each time we go - lunch or dinner - they just always there.  I call them the triumvirate (although the little white duck is female). 

Happy relaxing way to spend part of your day  - if fact, I could probably spend a whole day that way as long as it was with the MotH. 

Getting Back in the Kitchen...

Haven't written here recently - been occupied with my other more unfortunate new journal in a vain (and possibly silly) attempt to feel better (BTW - it's not helping). But will have to Keep Calm and Carry On. Made dinner for the first time since the 15th of May. That's a long damn time to be out the kitchen and it showed. M-i-L came over - that was a plan on my part to make sure I didn't back out at the last minute. Made a new pasta sauce recipe from America's Test Kitchen ** that I doubled (I like lots of sauce) and added mushrooms as well.  Just a caesar salad with bread and spaghetti. MotH said it would be a good base sauce for homemade pizza (guess that's a hint). 
I still felt out of place and pressured and just jangled. Thank goodness for the MotH - I don't know what I would do w/out him.


** It's worth joining their website... really. 
May 31, 2010

Farm Tour - Barnard Farm Pensacola - More Photos

Farm Tour - Barnard Farm Pensacola

We went to the Barnard farm during their open weekend. What great fun and it raised dead presidents ($) for the local Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, which conincidentally, we had a need of just last week. A baby dove fell from the nest in the small oak in our backyard - not a very far fall, but enough so MotH took the baby, under the glaring(!) eyes of the Mama and Daddy dove off to be helped. Good News: baby will be fine and raised w/some other doves and eventually set free (to likely be eaten by a hawk because doves are stupid). Bad News: Mama and Daddy Dove still glaring at MotH - it's made him a bit paranoid, I think.


Back to the farm which is just off Blue Angel Parkway, but a nice 20 acre tract of land (I would not say it was a huge tract of land).You would never know it was there. The family purchase in 1998 and the place, by that time had been abandoned 10 years - would like to know who (wife or husband) convinced who that this would be a good idea. This place would be ideal for me if I didn't have to do the 8 - 5 thing. Purely charming... all of it, and whimsical without being twee. The only thing it really needs is a donkey (or two). 
This is the second year that the tour has happened and it is well organized and all aspects are well thought through. (Somehow we missed last year). The drive onto the property is lovely - lined with trees with slight curves in the dirt road.


We parked and wandered over to the bee hives - first how damn cool is that you're own honey. The hives were cordoned off, but I'd like to get closer to see more. Avoiding fire ant hills (Ubiquitous, I realize), we walked the short distance to the veg garden - it was simple, neat, large enough, and there were climbing roses on two of the corners of the fence. The roses were covered in flowers and also buzzing with bees. 

Just beyond the veg garden, was the chicken coop. Now I no next to nothing about chickens, but I do love the ones with little feathers on their feet. I should have asked about laying capacity, but since I can have chickens in the city limits (bit me, City of Pensacola) it doesn't  matter. The hen house was cute, but also seemed very functional and provided plenty of room for the chickens to roam. 

And then there were the goats - or goat I should say since only one was interested in being um ...zoo animals. All the ten-year olds thought the goat was preggers, but our golf cart tour guide later informed us, both the goats are girls. To give the kids credit - the goat was on the fatty side. 

We walked in the cool and shady flower garden near the entrance and the large oak trees. Just lovely. We met a man who knows the Barnards and learned that he (Mr. Barnard) would bring back interesting things from his demo jobs such as the church steeple over the pet cemetery. Sad but sweet.

The garden was nice and shady and had some neat art. This seems to be under the direction of Mrs. Barnard. Nine years in the works; there are many areas within the garden that provide different views. 
We took the golf cart tour directed by a niece of the Barnards. It was nice to get a picture of the entire place and get some details about the farm. We went by the pond and saw the mallards, and also the peacock and peafowl. The wooded area was so cool and comfy. It amazing how many oaks that are still standing on the property considering the numbers of hurricanes we've had in the past few years. 


What a great visit! I'm looking forward to next year (the Saturday before Mother's Day) and then have the nerve to introduce myself and ask questions and encourage the additions of a donkey.   

When things go badly ....

That's all you can do.

So have a post I want to post....

but I can't. It's for the MotH - I'll never make it to his birthday, but perhaps I can hold out till our anniversary. Maybe. *
Tom Petty's right - the waiting is the hardest part. 










*  Likely not. bugger.

Daylilly Day - 10 May 2010

First Daylillys of the year - at least for me. This seems really late to me, but I'll check the books and see what I have*.  They opened early this morning so they are not quite at their best at 6:00pm, but finally the first one. I have hundreds of daylilies and know not a single name - I'm not that type of gardener -- there are some plants I bother learning the botanical name, but not many - maybe that's a new project for me... Like I need another one. 
I have daylilies that sprout baby plants off their stems when they bloom - proliferations. It's a super easy way to increase your population easily. I also have decent luck planting the little black seeds and I've never needed to refrigerate them - that seems silly for a plant grown on the gulf coast.  Other things in the garden (top to bottom, duh): Stokesia, low roses (Katy Road I think), Oregano in the Herb Garden


*4/15/2008; 4/8/2009

Beer Garden: Magic Hat Summer Wacko

Billed as a crisp summer beer, I had great hopes for Magic Hat Summer Wacko. There was also only one six pack left so I had to buy it even though it was Cinco de Mayo and save it for a few days. It was certainly cold enough, but the finish was just too sweet for me. "Big malty aroma," I get it and "a subdued hop bite" (as described on the website), but, "slightly sweet finish?" How about overly sweet finish - almost like maple syrup.  And for the love of pete, did it have to be pink?*
Okay maybe the over the top packaging should have given it away but different often times is better, but I was going for the "crisp summer beer" that I went for and I just don't think it was there. The front was nice, but it was the finish that did me in. 
Never know until you try - who knows when you'll find something that pleasantly surprises you. 


* I did not know it was pink until I was um, pouring the last bit out - so it has no impact on my thought. Besides, I rather like pink. 

Currently Blooming

Rose from my next door neighbor who took a cutting from her grandmother - how cool is that? MotH dug this up as it was a runner that had rooted itself. Lovely purple.
Top = Apple Blossom Amaryllis; next Easter Lily and last purple Clematis (whose name I never remember)

Cinco de Mayo

Excellent excuse for a cerveza hecho en Mexico. That is the extent of my Spanish and it's probably wrong.  
I've been keeping up with the different beers we've been trying - actually writing them down and making notes, so I plan to put them here w/photos to help me remember better. 
I'm a fan of Tecate - it's simple, smooth and easy to drink - a good beer for warm weather - it's inexpensive too, which isn't bad either. No it is not complex, not fancy, but it works for us. A great choice for 5 May 2010. 
Our local paper started a column today with a local review of beers - finally, but I notice it's never on the front page of the food section where the wine is.... hm.