Taro Bubble Tea

One nice thing about our area there are several Vietnamese who have settled here in the Ozarks. One thing they have, bubble tea. It is a fruit shake mixed with large tapioca pearls. We got to try taro bubble tea- tasted like the best vanilla shake ever with the gummy balls at the bottom. Now I understand why so many people in other countries stand in line for these. Americans do not realize how tasty these shakes are. No weird synthetic flavor nor aftertaste. Fresh and tasty. If you live around a Vietnamese restaurant go in and try bubble tea. Worth it!

Spring Farm Visitor

A good friend from El Salvador flew in just to spend the week with us.

He is moving to London soon and we will not see him again for a while.

He worked on his family farm and wanted to help with chores. So he got to tractor around, feed the farm and fish in our pond.

He wanted to spend one whole day just fishing and he got to do that.

He caught a lot of bluegill but released them after. It was so nice to have him stay with us. Farm life is not for everyone. But he had fun and will be missed.

Single White Duck and Farm Goodbyes

Last week a single duckling hatched under a chicken. I thought they were all chicken eggs. This big guy hatched- no others did from that clutch. My hens will not raise a duckling. So into our house it goes. It thinks I am its mama now. So I am looking for some siblings for it. Not an easy task around here as most are geese and chickens in these parts.

This guy will be raised outside soon with a foster older mama duck. It will not be easy to do. But if I can locate some siblings it will be a lot calmer raised as a duck and not a pet.

Yesterday I helped our farm neighbors host a farm moving sale. This was bitter sweet. He just retired from AC repair to raise cattle full time, but his wife has Alzheimers. He sold all 800 acres to another cattleman. But the house and all had to be sold as well. Everything liquidated for when she needs full time care.

It cost $5 grand a month to house a person in a nursing home here. But she is not ready for that yet. So they are moving into town in a smaller home near the hospital and the nursing home. Their adult children are supportive but the husband is stressed. This was not the plan they had for retirement. She was so full of life and now with the drugs she is a zombie. The stress of moving away from home, new home and selling off everything has her very anxious. But it has to be done. Everything sold except for a tiny table, a bed and some chairs. The farm house has become empty even down to the last barn kitten. 

These were our best friends here. They came over in a heartbeat to help with farm emergencies. They will be greatly missed. Alzheimers is a horrible disease. It is taking away the thing that make us who we are. Our personality, knowledge and experiences until we become a vegetable. I have seen over 6 people in my life die from this. Each one was different, from different walks of life from people born in 1930's-1950's men and women. What is lost in incalculable. So I listen to those I love. I pay attention to their stories, foods and music. So when they are down I can pull up a memory they connect with. We are so lucky to have portable computer/phones now. We can share photos, music and more instantly. And just for a moment, make someone engage with us once more.

Praise for them Springing...

Back from vacation and everything is in bloom. All the heavy spring flooding rains and this is the result, flowers abound.Iris remind me of Metarie, Louisiana. The old New Orleans gardens in the old part of town before hurricanes and urbanization destroyed them.

My iris gathered and given to me over the years have settled in and taken over my beds. Can't beat their scent coming in open screened windows.

Our apple trees in bloom- the deer will be happy and full this fall.

Clematis growing huge blooms in spite of my moving it several times.

Best Sunscreen Stick Ever! I kid you not!

We both used this for all 7 days of our vacation to the Universal Studios and the beach. This stick is the best protection from sunburn. We put on our arms, face, neck and legs and no burn after 12 hours a day for 7 days of all outside activity. It is TSA friendly, small enough for a small purse, is invisible on your skin, no scent and not sticky and it works. This is all I am ever going to use from now on.

Once in a decade VACATION!

We flew to Orlando to do Universal Studios Theme Parks last week. A friend watched our farm all week long so we did not have to worry. Only 1 hen was DOA along with 7 armadillo, but our ark was fine.

After 2 days of Harry Potter rides and all that Universal had to offer, we hit the beaches and Winter Park scene in Florida. Have to say that Universal beats the crap out of Disney. Universal Studios is cleaner, nicest workers ever, no trash, lots of food options, easy to get to and clean bathrooms, wonderful rides, well organized handicap friendly, easy parking. You will have to walk a lot but they make it fun. Highly recommend the Express passes worth the money and no waiting.

We hit the New Smyrna area Cape Canaveral National Seashore and marine science center. The National Seashore is clothing optional. Which is wonderful! There are no buildings, no bars, just you and the sea and sand. No kids! It was the most wonderfully quiet beach. There were dunes, snakes, armadillo, turtles, pelicans and a handful of humans. 

Husband at the raptor rescue in N. Smyrna.

Lighthouse at Ponce Leon.

Love these restored lenses.

Cape Canaveral National Seashore. No noise, no buildings, no clothing, just you and the sand and sea. The best beach ever for us.

After a full day of beach we tracked back to JB's Fish Camp restaurant in N. Smyna. The best damn seafood ever! The Rock Cakes are over the top along with the catch of the day. Very nice staff has been there since 1979 and been rebuilt several times.

This is what we saw after the sunset at JB's a pod of dolphins.

The last day we went to Winter Park to the Morse Museum to see the Tiffany exhibit. This is what I truly loved seeing. Lots of guards but you can get very close to the exhibits.

From the Tiffany Chapel- my favorite!

"Knock and it shall be opened unto thee"- puzzle door on the entrance to the chapel. 

The the Winter Park - Park Avenue shopping. Was not all that hot. Most of the shops were out of business. What was open was one trick pony overprices stuff. I think Winter Park used to be a grand place but it is in the decline. All retired snowbirds from NY, RI and NJ- not very nice tourist there. But I did meet a trio of happy bookies at the Briarpatch cafe. There was a wonderful Italian eatery there called Pannullo's that is very good. Get the red wine olives appetizer and the meatballs pasta dish. You will thank me. All the rest of the shops were old expensive or closed. One bakery only sold one kinds of puff pastry in about 12 flavors. But there was a newish Spice and Tea Shop worth stopping in. Here you can find truffle salt, ginger tea, organic spices, unique tea blends and the best lemonade ever.  We took our lemonades down to the Rose Garden. That was the best!

Roses and Gardenia garden in Winter Park. I spent an hour sniffing every rose and flower there.

Gardenia Tree!

Bamboo Botanical Gardens were the last place before we headed for the airport. We love bamboo!