- Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

Jambu Surf Terra Marine Sandals

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I received a pair of Jambu Surf Terra Marine Sandals to review. I have to say, even though they were given to me, I would buy them in the future. They are soooo comfortable! These shoes were made for the outdoors–hiking, walking in water, walking. They are rugged and will stand up to those kinds of activities, but they are also cute. Cute not be a quality most people look for in an outdoor shoe, but it sure does help in my mind that they are.

The Jambu Surf Terra Marine shoe is an ultra light weight open toe sandal that has a built in drainage system so that water can escape from under your feet. Now that I am not living the glamorous life of a park ranger anymore, I don’t often have to worry about that sort of thing. But, last week I was at a produce stand, and there was an open fire hydrant up the street. Walking in the water to buy my veggies was never more comfortable! The shoes didn’t get “heavy” or water logged.

Other features of this shoe is a criss-crossed velcro closure for an easy on-adjustable fit. This works great for me, as once they were fastened, I could take them off, and them slip them right back on without Fabgrandpa having to help me. It is so nice to be able to put these shoes on by myself without having to depend on someone else to help me. Oh, and the memory foam footbed is wonderful!

Surf

The Surf Terra Marine sandals retail for $79.95. Check out Jambu’s other styles today!

The 2013 Locavore Challenge

Karen · 3 Comments

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On Saturday, I was surfing the net, looking for local farmers so that Fabgrandpa and I can start buying local foods direct from the farm. During the time that we were traveling around the country, we always looked for roadside stands, farms, produce for sale signs, every where we went. It is amazing how much better tasting fresh from the farm foods are. So, when I found the website for the 2013 Locavore Challenge, I was just so happy!

This table had pulled pork and a peach barbecue sauce. Yum!

Fabgrandpa and I drove over to Carrollton yesterday to go to the Locavore Challenge Kick Off. It was held in the Ampitheater in town, just off the square. There were lots of local farmers, cheeses makers, sausage makers and chefs from restaurants in town that buy from the local farmers.

OH MY! Locally grown watermelon, cantaloupe, blackberries, blueberries and peaches.

In addition to meeting lots of farmers, there was lots of free food! Samples of local produce, pork, bratwurst, fruit, jams & jellies, cheeses—and maybe more. All of it was sooo good! My favorite was the tomato and goat cheese salad with balsamic vinegar. To die for!

It has been way too long since I was able to get out and just enjoy a day outside. This event was so much fun, and so tasty. We signed a pledge to try to eat 50% of our diet from locally or regionally grown foods. Let’s see how we do!

Are You A Locavore?

Karen · 10 Comments

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During the years that Fabgrandpa and I were traveling, we always sought out the local farmers to buy our fruits and veggies. Once in North Georgia, we came upon a pickup truck filled with sweet silver queen corn for sale. It was unattended, but had a hat on the front seat where you could place your money. Even in the desert southwest, we were able to find a farmer in Kanab, Utah, who farmed his plot in the desert and provided us with some of the most delicious tomatoes and corn we have ever found.

Now that we have settled down in West Georgia, I have spent quite a bit of time searching out local farmers and places to go to buy their produce. Yesterday, I found a website for The 2013 Locavore Challenge, and immediately knew I had to join in with this group of people.

Eating local is so much better for you, for the local economy, and for the environment. Eating locally produced foods cuts down on transportation costs, and lets you know exactly where your food is coming from. I know it won’t be possible for me to eat 100% local due to my gluten free needs, but I am certainly going to try eating at least 50%.

I am going to the 2013 Locavore Challenge Kick Off today at 4:00 p.m. in Carrollton, Georgia. I only wish I had known about this sooner that last night, so that I could have let everyone know sooner. You don’t have to live in my corner of the world to do this. Just find a place to get at least enough locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, poultry, cheese, or whatever, to eat at least one serving a day of locally produced food. Anyway, now that you DO know there IS such a challenge, who is going to do it?

I Haven’t Really Gone Anywhere But I’m Almost Back

Karen · 1 Comment

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For the last week or so I have been so sick! There is some kind of intestinal virus going around our neck of the woods, and it hit me hard! The symptoms of this one are nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, stiff muscles, mild headache, and sore throat. I felt fine one minute, and then the next I was so exhausted I could barely move. Last Saturday while I was in the shower is when it got me, and I did not think I was going to be able to get out and get dried off without falling down.

I laid in bed for three days, only getting up to go to the bathroom and get things to drink. I didn’t eat anything at during that time, and have lost 16 pounds since this started. I finally went to the doctor today because when I woke up I had a headache and sore throat, and my ears felt like they were getting infected, and I was afraid I was getting strep.

The doctor said it is something that is going around, and will just have to run its course, which is about seven or eight days. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, but told me to hold on to it and not get it filled unless I don’t feel better by Monday. Ugh! I hope none of y’all get this, it is not fun at all.

GlutenFree Homemade Peach Cobbler Recipe

Karen · 30 Comments

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When I started eating gluten free, I thought that I would never be able to eat a good peach cobbler again. Last week, I found a roadside market where they were selling fresh fruits and vegetables. They had the best smelling peaches I have found in a very long time. Today, I decided to use the peaches to make a gluten free home made peach cobbler. Oh, was it ever good! Here’s my recipe. Let me know if you like it.

Here is the recipe so you can make one for yourself:

Gluten Free Peach Cobbler
6-8 fresh ripe peaches (about 2 to 2.5 cups canned or frozen)
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup water or milk
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix

Peel and slice the peaches. Put them in a medium saucepan with 4 tablespoons butter, the corn starch, and the cinnamon. Stir until sugar is mixed in well with the sliced peaches. Cook on medium heat until peaches are hot and the corn starch has thickened the sauce in the pot.

Meanwhile, melt the 6 tablespoons of butter and pour it into the bottom of an 8X8 inch pan. Mix together the water or milk, the 1/2 cup sugar, and 1+cup of Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix. Mix well, and pour the batter over the melted butter. DO NOT STIR. Pour the peach mixture over the batter in the pan. DO NOT STIR. Put the pan into a preheated 400° oven. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. I like to sprinkle mine with a little bit of sugar before baking.

This recipe works with just about any fresh fruit. What is your favorite?

Traveling With Grandkids: Day Trip Ideas

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One of the best things about being a grandparent is that you get to take them on all the fun car rides and can leave the boring stuff up to their mom and dad! If you’ve got a road trip planned with the little ones this summer, you might be looking for some tips on where to take them.

In this partnered post, the guys from Passsmart share some fun and family-friendly ideas for taking the grandkids away.

Beach drive

If you live near the coast, a day trip to the beach can be the perfect way to spend some quality time with the grandkids. We all know kids love building sandcastles and paddling in the sea, so they’ll spend all day there if you give them the chance! All you’ll need is some towels, buckets and spades and you’ve got yourself the perfect road trip destination!

Zoo trip

Drive down to a local zoo to visit the animals and enjoy watching the kids be amazed by all the different species! Zoos can be expensive but if you pack your own lunch you’ll be able to cut down on costs. Play some animal related in-car games on the way down there to get them even more excited. In the alphabet game for animals, for example, you start by saying, “I went to the zoo and I saw an anteater”, then the next person has to say, “I went to the zoo and I saw an anteater and a baboon” and so on, until someone forgets the sequence! On the way back you can play it again, but this time with animals which you really did see.

Road trip to the city

If the kids are a little older, you might want to take them on a trip to the city. There’s often so much to see and do in the city that you might struggle to fit it all into one day, but look for museums and local attractions which are usually quite affordable. Of course, your activities will depend on what city you’re visiting, but you can take a look at what’s on in the area online beforehand to plan your itinerary.

You might need to leave the car on the outskirts of the city to avoid traffic jams and high parking rates, but public transport links will usually get you right to where you want to be.

Del Real Foods Review & Giveaway

Karen · 140 Comments

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Oh, My goodness! I have to tell you about these delicious foods from Del Real Foods. They sent me a Party Box assortment to review. I sort of expected average taste. Since we lived eight miles from the Mexican border for two and a half years, it has been hard for Fabgrandpa and I to find authentic tasting Mexican food in restaurants, much less in the grocery store. Let me tell you, though, that these dishes from Del Real Foods are just fabulous. They are the most authentic you can get without driving south of the border. OH! Did I mention that all of these Del Real Foods are Gluten Free?

The package that we received included included a six pack of Beef Tamales, a six pack of Pork Tamales, and packages of Carnitas, Arroz, Chile Verde, and Barbacoa. There was also a package of Pulsas, which are corn meal patties with chile cheese inside.

We started out our first meal with the Del Real Carnitas. I love carnitas when I go out to an authentic Mexican restaurant, and these were very good. The best part of it is that you just heat and eat. There is no cooking and no mess to clean up. And there is a generous portion in the package. Fabgrandpa and I ate dinner twice, and made breakfast burritos once with the meat in this package of food.

Beef and Pork Tamales — Del Real Pork Tamales

When we lived in South Texas, we had a lot of Mexican employees. They brought us the traditional tamales for Christmas every year, and I loved them. These tamales from Del Real are really comparable to home made tamales. I think you will agree once you try them.

One of you is going to get the chance to try these tasty Mexican treats yourself. One winner will receive a Del Real Party Box. To enter to win, use the Giveaway Tools Form below:

Entry -Form

These Boots Were Made For Stomping

Karen · 3 Comments

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My daughter-in-law sent me this picture of Amelia in her Princess rain boots, stomping in puddles this week. Seeing this, it made me think of a day from my own childhood over 50 years ago.

We lived in the country, on a dirt road. My house was about mile one way from my aunt Sarah’s house, and about a mile the other way from my grandmother’s house. My mother worked outside the home, and left us kids at home by ourselves while she was gone. There were five of us: my three brothers, and my baby sister.

It was my responsibility each morning to walk my sister to the baby sitter’s house, about a mile in a different direction. When I got home from taking Linda to the sitter on this particular day, my cousins Jimmy and Phillip, and my brothers Bobby, Preston and Richard decided that we would go on an adventure.

We packed sandwiches in a paper bag, and set off on a trek through the woods behind our house. I have no idea how far we went before we found the creek. When we got there, we all striped naked and waded in the pool created by a small waterfall. I also have no idea if any of us could swim, but we all jumped right in.

The water was up to my neck in some places, but I had no fear on that day. No fear of drowning, no fear of being naked in the woods, no fear of being abducted. We stomped in that creek most of the day, taking time out to eat our sandwiches. Late in the afternoon, we got dressed and hiked back home. Life was good, even if I did not have princess rain boots.