Moral of the Story

A pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won. He was so pleased with his donkey that he entered it a 2nd time and it won again. The local paper read: “PASTOR’S ASS OUT FRONT.” The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the Pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headline read: “BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTORS ASS.” This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey.

The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent. The local paper, upon hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day: “NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.” The Bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read: “NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.” This was too much for the bishop so he ordered the nun to buy back her donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild. The next day the headlines read:”NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.”

The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is – being concerned about public opinion can bring you grief and misery and even shorten your life. So be yourself and enjoy life..  You’ll be a lot happier and live longer.

 

National Stress Awareness Day

Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here –

Keeping his paws on the nuts of the world –

Today April 16th is a day that Bacon’s mom can definitely wrap her arms around – National Stress Awareness Day.  This day was created in 1992 sponsored by  the Health Resource Network (HRN). They started this holiday to increase public awareness of the causes and cures of stress.  And we all know that stress can come from a variety of different reasons:  paying bills, work, children, schedules, car problems, friends – you name it and stress can come from it.  And here in the United States with taxes being due yesterday, what better day to have this holiday then today?

Today is the day to acknowledge that you are stressed out and then do something about it.  Go for a walk.  Try some meditation.  Try some exercise.  Do some yoga.  Just lay down and relax.  Just for a bit, don’t concentrate on the wrongs in your life but concentrate on the things that you have to be grateful for.  Shrug off this stress even if it is just for today.  I know this afternoon me and Bacon are going to try yoga.  Wish us luck – his downward pig pose is not something I’m looking forward to – chitter chatter!

 

National Stress Awareness Day

Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here –

Keeping his paws on the nuts of the world –

.

Today April 16th is a day that Bacon’s mom can definitely wrap her arms around – National Stress Awareness Day.  This day was created in 1992 sponsored by  the Health Resource Network (HRN). They started this holiday to increase public awareness of the causes and cures of stress.  And we all know that stress can come from a variety of different reasons:  paying bills, work, children, schedules, car problems, friends – you name it and stress can come from it.  And here in the United States with taxes being due yesterday, what better day to have this holiday then today?

Today is the day to acknowledge that you are stressed out and then do something about it.  Go for a walk.  Try some meditation.  Try some exercise.  Do some yoga.  Just lay down and relax.  Just for a bit, don’t concentrate on the wrongs in your life but concentrate on the things that you have to be grateful for.  Shrug off this stress even if it is just for today.  I know this afternoon me and Bacon are going to try yoga.  Wish us luck – his downward pig pose is not something I’m looking forward to – chitter chatter!

 

Travels in the South

Welcome friends to another week of Travels in the South.  This week it’s not a highlight of a restaurant.  Oh no.  It’s a highlight of a product that mom found in the store that me and dad can’t get enough of – can you say yummy!?

Mom has seen commercials on the television for this item – Skippy P.B. Bites – don’t they look awesome?  And you know that me and dad are *huge* peanut butter fans.  Neither one of us can get enough of the creamy or crunchy stuff.  We love both.  Mom had a coupon for a bucket of these bites.  With the coupon and them being on sale, mom paid right around $1.50.  It is a small container but there are lots of creamy balls in it – licks piggy lips.  I know that so didn’t sound right.  But take my word for it, these are delicious!

AND they come in two different flavors that mom saw at the market.  These which are double peanut butter and then they have pretzel peanut butter.  Right now, mom has learned something really important about the double peanut butter.  Me and dad can be bought with these balls of wonder and bribed to do anything in the Hotel Thompson.  Just give us peanut butter!

So the next time you are at the market, look these bad boys up on the peanut butter aisle.  Let me know what you think ❤

 

Travels in the South

Okay friends – today’s Travels in the South is brought to you by daddy.  He likes to think of himself as a professional eater.  I’ll admit it.  He’s *almost* as good as me at packing some food way.  Almost.

Now there is one restaurant that is open seven days a week 365 days out of the year.  I’m sure a lot of you will recognize the name – Waffle House.  This is a southern restaurant chain that opened in 1955.  You walk in, the waitresses and staff get to know you and call you by name.  You order and can then watch the cook prepare your breakfast right there in front of you in their kitchen at the grill.  All of the food is prepared fresh – from waffles to omelets and everything in between.

Daddy has the craving lately for a new dish on their menu.  It’s called the Philly Cheese Hash Brown Bowl.  It starts with hash browns (cooked however you want them), topped with cheese and Philly steak.  Sometimes, dad even adds add a couple of scrambled eggs.  It’s a bowl that has everything.  You can also get the bowl with other breakfast meats…. but we won’t mention them okay.  Snort sand oinks.

 

Travels in the South

Hello sweet friends.  How was your Valentine’s Day yesterday?  In honor of the sweetest day of the year, mom/dad shared a little love yesterday as well.  They went out to dinner and afterwards enjoyed this delicious concoction.  And hey, splitting a dessert means half of the calories, right?  But who’s counting calories on Valentine’s Day – snorts.

This lovely creation is called a Margarita Cheesecake which is seasonal special at a local steakhouse called Logan’s Roadhouse.  Now, it’s like other cheesecakes made with cream cheese but it has Logan’s signature margarita blend on the graham cracker crust.  And don’t forget about the sliced strawberries all over the place.  Mom said it was – what was the phrase she used – delightful to the fullest!

So, if you are near a Logan’s Roadhouse, make sure you check it out for this wonderful dessert.  You won’t be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

Travels in the South

Welcome my friends to another week of Travels in the South.  Today we wanted to share with you one of mom/dad’s favorite appetizers.  A couple of weeks ago, mom/dad was craving this delicious dish and went to the restaurant ordering and splitting just this plate.  What is it you ask?

Let me present to you Carrabbas Italian Grill Calamari.  It’s hand breaded to order and normally served with a marinara sauce.  But mom/dad, they like to get the lemon butter sauce on the side with the sliced peppers for just a little heat.

For those that don’t know what calamari is – it’s squid.  Now before you go eeww, don’t know it until you try it.  Honestly.  Even I have tried it and I like it.  Like in this dish, it’s fried crispy and is wonderful.  Sometimes it can be a little salty but for the most part it’s an awesome dish.

So the next time you are at  Carrabbas Italian Grill, give it a try.  I bet you will fall in love with it as well.

 

31 Days of Spook – Poveglia Island

I saw a special on my television about this island.  It’s called Poveglia Island.  It was so spooky, foggy at night and mysterious.  Would you stay on the island overnight?

 

Travels in the South

Hello sweet friends and welcome to another great edition of Travels in the South.  This past weekend, my mom/dad had to go to Alabama for a quick trip.  While they were gone, they stopped at a restaurant called Top O’ The River in Gadsden, Alabama.  Now this restaurant has special meaning to mom/dad.  You see it was over 20 years ago that dad and his family ate here.  They then told mom about it and mom and  her family ate here.  But mom/dad together have never been here.  So going to this restaurant was kind of like a coming home if you will.

When mom/dad arrived at the restaurant, there was not a single available parking space in the entire lot.  It was barely 5:00pm and there were 100’s of cars.  Mom says this is a sure sign of good food to come.  Finally mom spotted a parking space, they parked and entered the restaurant.  That’s when they saw lots of people waiting in line.  Mom/dad knew they were going to be in for a long wait so they put their name in and started looking at the menu.  You can see the menu here.  Amazingly, mom/dad might have waited less than 15 minutes and their number was called.  Mom/dad were ecstatic to say the least.  There were lots of big parties here that night so thank goodness it was just mom/dad.

Mom/dad got a fantastic seat at a booth next to the windows which was what – overlooking the top o’ the river.  Cute huh?  And what a view they had that you can see from this picture.  Beautiful and serene, lots of green trees and there were some ducks swimming around in the water.  Can you imagine what these trees are going to look like when Fall finally decides to get here?

The sweet little waitress came to the table and mom asked her what was good to get.  She said that there platters were awesome and way more food than one can eat… although the platters say for one.  So mom/dad said why not and went with the platter to share.  Boy, were they surprised when the waitress came back with some starters in the form of cole slaw and cornbread.

If you have never had southern cornbread, you are in for a treat.  Cornbread is one of mom’s specialties and dad says she makes the best. In fact here in the south, a good cornbread  will get you a good man… so says mom/dad – snorts.  But mom said this cornbread was fantastic!  Cornbread is made with cornmeal, milk, eggs, some people add a little sugar although mom doesn’t, and this cornbread had corn and jalapeno peppers.  This cornbread was served with a delicious creamy cole slaw and sliced onions on the side.  Mom/dad said they could just eat these starters and be just fine.  That’s country folks my friends – simple food for a fantastic experience.

But mom/dad ate all they could and before they knew it, it was time for the main course.  Remember the platter was suppose to be for ONE person? Well here is that platter in it’s glory.  There is boneless catfish fillets, popcorn shrimp, fried shrimp, chicken fingers, hush puppies and french fries.  Doesn’t that platter look simply amazing!  And the size of it compared to dad’s hand.  Remember, the platter was for one person.  There is no way!  Mom/dad were so glad they decided to share the meal.

They ate to their hearts desire both of them afterwards being so full and happy.  That’s what this experience was all about.  Enjoying each other, sharing a wonderful experience and just enjoying the time and scenery.  For a while, time stopped and mom/dad sat for a while and just relaxed for a bit away from everything.  And of course, you all know my daddy.  He’s never met anyone that he can’t talk to.  Today was no exception.

On the way out of the restaurant, he met the restaurant mascot, Mr. Catfish at the exit door.  They had a moment to discuss politics, the secret recipe for those wonderful catfish fillets and dad got directions home… that is after they visited the back deck of the restaurant for one last final view.

And that final view is what I leave you with today my friends.  A reflection of a great meal with some wonderful memories made.  And I have to ask you.  When was the last time that you had a dinner with family that you just sat in comfort with each other, laughed and just let everything stop for a moment.  Enjoy my friends.

 

Travels in the South

Today we continue our travels in the south series.  I’m going to take you back to Tybee Island, Georgia.  Why?  Because that happens to be one of the places in the entire world that mom/dad can get to for an escape of reality to find inner peace.  You believe that, right?  Snorts with piggy laughter.

So there mom/dad was in one of the many stores on Tybee Island, wondering around aimlessly looking for ‘it’.  You do know what ‘it’ is, right?  When woman know they need something but can’t quite put their manicured finger on what it is they need.  You follow me now?  So there they were in this store, mom looks up and says to dad, “There it is!”  Oh dear have mercy is what I think dad mumbled.  What was it?  Take exhibit A in the picture to the left.  For a moment mom thought they were in the South Pacific on Easter Island.  Where else would they be finding this ‘dude’?

You know Easter Island – There are mysterious moai statues that are huge – averaging 13 feet and weighing 14 tons.  Although they stand silent reaching for the stars, they speak volumes on how did they get there and how were they constructed which to this day is a mystery.  So was mom surprised when she found “Junior” here on Tybee Island, Georgia of all places.  Now, mom thought Junior would be awesome standing either on her front porch here at the Hotel Thompson or on the deck.  See, mom’s weird like that.  And I’m sure us anipals would have endless nightmares of Junior chasing us in our sleep.  So, this is the one time that I can say dad talked some sense into mom… this time.  But if Junior is still there the next time mom/dad visits the island, I can’t promise it won’t come home… yay.

 And another “it” that mom found while shopping endlessly for nothing, was a treasured Tybee Island rock.  You know this rock did make it home to the Hotel Thompson and is now treasured with our other pet rocks.  They all get along and have been talking non-stop about the beach and the fantastic water.  I foresee a pet rock excursion taking place to Tybee Island in the near future.  Do you?

Now, I’m stepping away from this part on food – take it away mom/dad ❤

For obvious reasons, Bacon doesn’t need to see this.  This creation is one of mine and Jim’s favorite breakfast foods while visiting Tybee Island.  We even introduced it to Jean/Bill from Canadian Cats and to Fozziemom/Fozziedad from All Fur One and One Fur All when they visited.

It is hash browns well done crispy sprinkled with chopped up fried bacon.  See, that’s why Bacon didn’t need to see this.  It is insanely evil and so delicious.  You won’t look at plain hash browns the same way.

Hope you enjoyed this week in our Travels in the South series.  Until next time