working/ daydreaming

more memories of Paris 2011 / Paris 2011-3

click HERE to see photos

I hope to post daily to this blog while I travel later this summer....stay tuned....

Gale

Memphis In May Championship BBQ Contest 2012

Pork - pork - and more pork! Beautiful weather (no storms this year) contributed to a grand time among team members and guests at the 2012 Memphis in May international BBQ Contest. The blisters on my feet were painful reminders that I should have paid closer attention to the map before setting out and also worn appropriate shoes. Regardless, I wasn't the only one trying to find my team among the 100's of contestants. I always enjoy reading the names of the teams---everything from The Pit And The Pigulum...Pork Fiction...The Other Team...Natural Born Grillers...Smoky Bones...and the list goes on. This year the festival salutes the Philippines. Tents are up, cookers smoking, music playing, and team members are pulling together to showcase their creativity and delicious cooked pork. Shoulder, Ribs and Whole Hog are the categories for judging. A few of the teams are small privateers and others are large and corporate sponsored...all with the same goal...hoping to pull off a win while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow teammates and other teams. Friday night cooking before Saturday's judging is an all night affair. Constant monitoring the grill is a necessity and can't be overlooked. Too much of a good time the night before could result in an entry's disqualification if the meat is not properly cooked. It's not going to have a good ending when a team learns their cook fell asleep and woke a few hours prior to judging...the pork is not the only thing that's going to get cooked--if you know what I mean! Since I'm not one of those who can stay up all night, I leave the park, climb the steps to the bluff and take one last look. The mighty Mississippi is upstaged briefly while in it's darkness, reflections of twinkling lights, forceable streams of music, and exhilarated merriment are contained within gentle breezes. Good Night and Good Luck to You All! Posted by Valerie

Le Palais des Thes

Soon restocking my pantry.

Click here to see another series of photos from Paris 2011-2

enjoy!

counting the days

Here's a link to some of the photos from Paris 2011

enjoy!

Bread Pudding

Didn't have to go far for delicious bread pudding...thank you Olivia! It was delicious!!

KY Bourbon Trail

(an adventure remembered)
Valerie and I traveled along the tree lined, wooden fence bordered, winding country roads of the KY Bourbon Trail one fall weekend in September 2010.

In honor of today's KY Derby Day 2012, here's the link to pictures from our bourbon adventure.

(PS: we enjoyed the chocolate bourbon balls more than the bourbon itself....thus, we are dessert junkies!)

Click HERE to see KY Bourbon Trail pictures.

Our version of a 'self portrait' 

Valerie in window reflection; Gale-one of the few times in Front of the camera

Soon.....very soon

posted by Gale