This year’s hat winner was so outrageously great, it deserves a little blog action. 

Yep, that’s a lamp shade, very nicely covered with fabric, red roses and a crown on top. But wait, not only does it light up, it also SPINS, sending seahorses racing around the head of the wearer. 

I think the hat contest should be retired. Nothing short of wearing a live horse on your head could ever top this. 

Congrats to Tommy Puckett

I am grateful for my parents and for having been brought up in a loving home!

Several times I have expanded that list to specifics gifts from each parent. I’m sure I have those lists tucked away in books and journals, but the point is, I have never shared it. Mother’s day seems like the perfect time to let my Mom know that she has been the best Mom I ever could have hoped for.

Mom, I’d like to thank you for teaching me:

• to sew, and decoupage and embroider and make Christmas ornaments
• to cook (and to enjoy it instead of finding it a chore)
• to take food to people when they are sick
• to try new things
• how to be a Grandparent
• that sometimes a whole new day starts at 9pm
• how much fun it can be to spend time with your family
• how to plan things 

Thank you for:

• letting me paint my bedroom hot pink and green to look like a slice of watermelon
• helping with my homework
• letting me have cats and dogs growing up
• letting my cat visit when Mark was in the hospital. (I know you secretly love him – the cat I mean, well Mark too.)
• making birthday’s special
• a few hundred home-perms and hair-frostings.
• telling me (and meaning it) that I could be anything I wanted to be.
• showing me I could do anything I wanted. 
• making me fearless, by example.

As soon as I hit the “Publish” button on this, 3 dozen other gifts that I should have mentioned will pop in my head. There are just to many to name them all. 

But you get the gist. I have a GREAT MOM. 
Love You Gigi.

mo

By the way, the Zentangle above was done with things that are specific to my Mom. Woven looking stuff because she loves baskets, bamboo motif for the stand of bamboo in her backyard. The “O” looks a little like a piece of jewelry because she loves her baubles. A feather because she feeds the birds year round, a shell for the beach and a vine and something that looks a little like a bean pod for her garden. 

 If you want to use the art for your Mom, please do. I would be honored. 

Shrimp & Crab Dip
Served with Pita Points. 8.95

Grouper Bites 8.95
Fried crispy. Served with our fresh made Cajun Tarter Sauce.

Buffalo Shrimp 8.95
Fried Calabash Shrimp tossed in Chris’ Buffalo Sauce.

Buffalo Wings 8.95
Choice of Chris’ Buffalo Sauce Bar-b-que, Jamaican Jerk or Cajun.

Costa Rican Plantains 7.95
Fried and served with Honey Orange Dip.

Mucho Nachos 8.95
Tortilla Chips smothered with Chili Beans, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Sour Cream & Jalapeños.

Mozzarella Sticks 7.95
Served with our Marinara Sauce.

Fried Dill Pickles 6.95
Fried crispy, served with Ranch.

Hushpuppies 5.95
Served with Honey Butter.

Chicken Tenders 7.95
Batter fried to order.

You remember the way to Paradise don’t you?

I once had the tune to Rawhide stuck in my head. Not that it is a bad song, but after two hours of this repetitious little ditty running on a loop in my skull, I was about to loose it.

Most of my colleagues were no help, being too young to even know the song. (OK, I was too young to know Rawhide from the first time it was popular. But I had a mighty love of old westerns and brand new cable TV with 31 channels. There wasn’t a John Wayne, Gary Cooper or Clint Eastwood flick I hadn’t seen. Twice)

 I was pretty sure that my husband had hummed the tune in my ear while I was dreaming, thus planting the musical torture in my noggin on a grueling day of studio hopping. (Damn, that was a pie job.) I called Mark at his office, asked them to get him out of a meeting, sang “Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin.’ Keep those dogies rollin. Rawhide,” into the receiver and hung up.

He retaliated several days later with a Jimmy Buffet favorite “Why don’t we get drunk and screw. I just bought a water bed, it’s filled up for me and you.” Unfortunately, I had him on speaker phone. Very romantic.

What’s the worst song you ever had stuck in your head.

Which version of Rawhide do you like better. The original from the TV show or Blues Brother rendition? You have to listen all the way to the end to decide. Listen at your own risk. (If you don’t see the videos, hit your refresh button.)

Catch 22 departs from Provision Company Dock.

Don’t forget to make your catch a little sweeter with this coupon from Salt Aire Living:

When I took this shot I was thinking it might make a nice subject for a blog.  I was going to tell you how “Chuck” the cat seems to find a different place every week or so to take his naps.  Behind the sofa.  In the bathroom.  I was going to explain the thoughtful look on his face.

It occurred to me that if you’re a dog lover you really don’t care and if you’re a cat lover you really know there’s never much going on behind a cats face.

The composition, lighting, subject … yeah.

How ’bout a poster with a caption: “WHAT R U LOOKIN AT?”

I had a good friend who would invite us over for dinners.  The food was always wonderful and always plenty of it!  The food was so exceptionally good we began to take pictures along the recipes.  (above – actual photo from the table of Terry & Pauline)

This was one of my favorite meals and I’d like to share it with you:

Thai Chicken

Ingredients
2  Tbsp Peanut Oil
2  Garlic cloves, chopped
4  Chicken Breast or Thigh Meat, cut into thumbnail cubes or little finger slices
1  Onion, sliced (or 5 scallions)
    Red Pepper, sliced
1 Can Coconut Milk
2 Tsp  Red Curry Paste (Or 1 3/4 tsp of Green)
1 Tsp  Salt
1 Tbsp  Fish Sauce
1 Cup  Green Beans, frozen snapped in half (or fresh cooked 6 min)
1 Can  Baby Corn, drained
1/4 Cup Fresh Basil, chopped (and some for garnish)
2T  Fresh Lime Juice, plus wedges for garnish

Directions
Heat 3 qt sauce pan and add oil garlic and chicken, stir till chicken is well browned.
Add onion and cook and red pepper.  Cook till onion is clear.  Dump out and Set aside.

In same pan you used above, heat the coconut milk, red or green curry paste, salt and fish sauce.

Bring to a simmer and add the chicken and onion mixture.

Cover, simmer slowly until chicken and beans are tender – about 5 minutes (till chicken is heated through).

Stir in Basil and Lime Juice.
Serve with Rice or Noodles.

FYI:  We went noodles.

From my dinners with Terry I learned 3 things:
(1)  I learned to prepare food other than putting it between 2 slices of bread.
(2)  There’s more to cooking than heat ’n eat.
(3)  The extra effort, done properly, can make a simple meal a feast.

Give this recipe a shot and you’ll see what I mean!

If you want to eat inside and still feel that Holden Beach breeze, Castaways Raw Bar & Grill is a great choice. Dine in their open-aire screened dining room with a view of the ocean. On summer weekends, you’ll enjoy live music from the oceanside porch.

Castaways has a broad menu to satisfy a wide range of cravings – fresh shellfish & seafood, low-country entrees, sandwiches and salads.  Visit Castaways website.

When visit Castaways don’t forget to take the coupon with you!

I used to start my Christmas shopping while I was on vacation.  That way I never got somebody the same thing they got from everybody else. (My family is laughing uproariously as they read this, as I have been on permanent vacation from Christmas presents for a few years. Hey, you never know, this could be the year I bring back the tradition.)

If you’ve never been to The Lighthouse Gifts click here.  And when you show up in person take this with you:

Cape Fear Surf Shop also has a location in Shallotte at the Shallotte Crossing Shopping Center (where Belks is). Definitely worth stopping in.  DON’T FORGET THE COUPON!