No fair

The rocket was behind me as I took this lame picture with my iPhone

OK so I still need to work backwards through time and tell you about a trip we took in September, and about our Labor Day celebrations.

I will get around to it.

But we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to tell you about our trip to the South Carolina State Fair last night.

You have no choice but to allow me to elaborate -- and you know that I will -- but let me preface my remarks by stating unequivocally that I despise fairs of any and all type.

Then why did you go? you have every right to be wondering.

Well. You probably don't remember but two years ago we went to the South Carolina State Fair for the first time since 2002.

We went in 2002 because it was our first October living in South Carolina, and in South Carolina in October, you go to the State Fair.

It's a big deal.

Then why didn't you go back every year? you may be asking yourself because I'm not there to ask.

Because I loathe fairs of any and all type. 

Then why on earth did you go last night, and why did you go two years ago? you may now be screaming at your screen because I'm not there to scream at.

Simmer down, haha.

We went two years ago because I had entered a photograph in the competition.

This was the ride that made Dagny cry

I didn't win anything, but I sold my picture to a fairgoer.

And I had actually forgotten this but my own blog reminded me: Three years ago, TG took Dagny to the fair. If it weren't for this post, I would not remember a thing about that.

Last year's fair, I recently learned, was strictly drive-through. I know; right? Doesn't that sound stupid? I'm sure it was but I took no notice.

(Apparently the entry fee was waived and you could drive on the fairgrounds and there were no rides, but there were concessions, and you could get out of your vehicle and buy food, which you were obliged to consume in said vehicle.)

This year the fair is back to normal. I entered two pictures. I didn't win anything and so far I have not sold either of them.

But while there's life two days before the fair shuts down, there's hope.

Anyway because my framed photos were on display in the exhibit hall set aside for such things, and because Dagny is seven and kids love the rides and so forth, we all went.

There was me, TG, our friend Andrea from church who occasionally hangs out with us, Audrey and Dagny, and Cherica along with baby Rhett in his stroller.

We met at the rocket and set out to buy tickets and ride rides and eat overpriced junk food.

Seriously you would not believe the prices.

You've heard of the supply chain issues we are having right now? And how it may affect the availability of turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner?

Well I am here to tell you that if you can be happy with a turkey that has no legs, there should be plenty of those running around.

Because one of the delicacies on offer at the South Carolina State Fair is smoked turkey legs. Sixteen dollars apiece.

Dagny got in line for this one but could not bring herself to get on

Sixteen dollars for a single smoked turkey leg.

I went slack-jawed when I read that on the sign. Can you imagine parting with sixteen dollars for a smoked turkey leg?

As we were leaving the fairgrounds last night at around ten, I noticed one purveyor of smoked turkey legs stacking his leftovers, each wrapped in tin foil. It looked as though he had at least fifty unsold legs.

I sent TG over there to ask the young man what they do with the turkey legs they don't sell.

He replied that his dad does not let him have any unsold turkey legs. The job is, sell them all.

I looked down the midway, nearly empty but for stragglers heading for the parking lot. 

Stragglers full to groaning of pizza and gyros and chicken tenders and ice cream and funnel cake and hamburgers and french fries and fried candy bars and sausage-pepper-onion sandwiches and cotton candy and corn dogs and tacos and shrimp and grits and cinnamon rolls and popcorn and so forth and so on.

Chad thought the fair was open until midnight, but nobody was queueing up at that hour to buy a turkey leg, I can assure you.

Is it possible there would be a run on smoked turkey legs between ten and twelve?

I don't know because we left, but it seems unlikely.

The young man attempting to peddle the legs told TG that at the Minnesota State Fair, they sell thirty thousand smoked turkey legs in twelve days.

He said that at our fair, on a busy day they sell one thousand legs. Do the math!

He claimed that yesterday they'd sold about four hundred. That seems low; let's pick up the pace.

Audrey riding the elephants with Dagny, who you can't see

I reckon that today, he is working hard to sell extra legs and I sincerely hope that he meets his goal.

But you still haven't told us why you hate, despise, and loathe all fairs of any type, you are wholly justified in thinking at this point.

I don't know if I can explain it any better except to say, the whole thing is a rip-off.

TG and I spent fifty dollars on two hamburgers, a bucket of fries to share, and two soft drinks.

We are not rich people. Especially not now that we've been to the fair.

Because in addition to that, TG got a slice of pizza and a second (five-dollar) soft drink because he was still thirsty, and he bought Dagny a slice because she was still hungry after sharing a ten-dollar bucket of fries with her mom, who was still hungry also and later bought the two of them some ice cream. It's relentless.

The rides are so scary that the only thing I got on was the little benches that move slowly across the fairground, suspended from cables high above the action.

Dagny and Audrey rode several things but one of them terrified the child so much that when she got off, she ran straight into my arms, crying,

It wasn't anything that threw you around up in the air or anything. You sat in a little car and went round and round on a wavy base, pretty fast. Then you did the same thing backwards, while singing Sweet Caroline at the top of your lungs along with Neil Diamond on the stereo system.

It looked like a fairly okay ride except that Dagny does not know the words to Sweet Caroline.

But Dagny did not think it was fun. She did, however, enjoy the giant slide and some whirling dogs and a boat that swung back and forth, and the flying elephant ride. All of which she did with her mom by her side.

We did not ride the Ferris wheel this time, or the jerky little roller coaster that practically sent Audrey to the chiropractor two years ago.

I'm pretty sure that we spent less money than most people. I think TG parted with well over one hundred dollars, between ride tickets and food and admission and parking, but we met a friend who said his first two hundred dollars were a distant memory and he was well into a third hundred dollars.

The view from on high

I nearly fainted. It's the experience, he told me.

Haha well if it's the experience, I'd say he got rooked. And so did we. But I suppose it is a matter of perspective.

You just need to get in the swing of things, you may be thinking. Don't worry about the money! Just relax and have fun.

I can't. It's not fun. I will not go back. It's too noisy, too busy, and too expensive.

Too many turkeys gave their legs for that nonsense. Turkeys we need! For Thanksgiving dinner!

My assessment may not seem fair to you, but it's the truth.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend

Upon reflection

Our Confederate Soldier monument has survived ... so far

The days since Labor Day this year have been a blur for the pirate.

I will endeavor to tell you all about it but let's work backwards.

Time, after all, is not really linear. That's all in your mind. Trust me on this!

Bronze statue of General Wade Hampton also survives ... so far

Last Thursday, our home was honored by a visit from TG's sister, Ruth.

Ruth lives in Ohio, in the house where TG and she and their brother, Ron, grew up.

Encouraged by her five children to branch out following the August wedding of her youngest daughter, Ruth decided to take a few days off from her job, and go on a trip.

TG, Ruthie, and Dagny checking it out

She had never been to our house where we have lived for the past sixteen years.

Ruth -- TG calls her Ruth Anne and I call her Ruthie -- is a treasure by any name, and a precious friend to me.

So you can perhaps imagine how excited I was to prepare the guest room for her, even making a little welcome sign to put beside her bed.

A splendid sight to see

Her plane arrived in Columbia on last Thursday afternoon at five thirty.

Since Cherica live a scant mile from the Columbia airport, we had planned a cookout at their house so that everyone could visit with Aunt Ruth.

The weather was rainy so we had to scuttle our idea of s'mores by the firepit after supper, but that was okay.

Impressive from every angle

I had brought marinated chicken breasts together with smoked sausage, for Chad to cook on the grill.

There were baked beans and carrot-apple slaw and cornbread muffin tops, and an assortment of chips.

For dessert, we had pumpkin pie with ice cream.

Truly a magnificent building

After taking Ruth back to our house, getting her settled in, and having a good night's sleep, we woke up on Friday to more rain.

TG went to work. Ruthie and I had breakfast and two pots of coffee, then talked all day. In our pajamas.

At five o'clock we got ready and at six thirty we met the family at Papa Gio's, a local Italian restaurant.

Ruthie loved the palmetto trees of the Palmetto State

But, all of the restaurants are experiencing shortages in staff. After managing to be seated at a table, our party of eight waited patiently for thirty minutes to be acknowledged.

It didn't happen -- not a fork or spoon or napkin or drop of water was brought to us, much less a menu -- so we decamped for Luce, another Italian restaurant that has even better food than Papa Gio's.

Let's pull over and park here for a mo. I understand that, thanks to creeping socialism in our country due to Democrat policies, people are finding it more lucrative to stay home than to work.

Dagny beside another statue that endures despite all odds

Naturally, restaurants like Papa Gio's are hard pressed to provide the kind of service that they were able to make happen, oh, roughly eighteen months ago.

But people are more understanding and forgiving than they may think, and it would take so little to not lose them as customers.

Acknowledge that they are there. Greet them as though you're glad to see them. Bring glasses of water and perhaps some bread. Invite them to study the menu and promise that their server will get to them as soon as possible.

Monument to Confederate Women

But ignore them completely for thirty minutes? No. That won't wash and I'm sorry but we will not be back.

At Luce, our server was behind the eight ball as much as any other server in town, but she was courteous and competent (for the most part). She took our drink orders, at least.

Once the Cokes and sweet tea had been distributed, and we'd had our salads, however, it was a long wait before our entrees were brought.

Take the long view

But our orders did eventually come, and every bite was hot and delicious, and that went a long way towards upping our gratitude level, despite the feeling of frustration that threatened to dominate the whole dining-out experience.

Back home for the night, again we all slept well.

The next day, after breakfast, I made my big Crock Pot full of chili. For later.

TG and Ruthie beside our replica of the Liberty Bell

At around one o'clock, we set out to take Ruthie on a tour of downtown Columbia.

We started at our State House, one of the most impressive in America.

The weather was ideal -- seventy-five degrees and sunny, with an abundance of fluffy clouds that floated on the delightful breeze.

Dagny had to get in on that too

We walked all the way around the State House, studying the statues and gorgeous trees and flowers, enjoying the splendor of the architecture and of the day.

Dagny was overjoyed to be outside, in the sunshine, with all of us.

She was posing up a storm, and taking pictures of her own, using her mother's phone.

The dome means home

Ruthie is the sort of person who appreciates a simple family outing with lots of beauty -- both natural and manmade -- to contemplate in peace.

After the state house, we went across the street to the breathtaking Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, to walk its jewel-like graveyard.

Ruthie said she'd never seen anything like it.

The sky was dramatic

We did a few other things and then had to face the fact that we were all worn out.

It had grown warmer than expected and the sun was hot. 

Back at home, we tucked into bowls of chili embellished with Frito Scoops, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and banana pepper rings.

The Gervais Street side

I need to interject here that my chili recipe is extremely simple -- three pounds of extra-lean ground round, three cans each of chili hot beans and chili ready tomatoes, and one packet of chili seasoning.

Normally I use store-brand chili beans and tomatoes.

But this time the store did not have what I needed in its own brand, so I bought Hunt's chili tomatoes and Bush's chili beans. They cost more and I was sort of complaining about that.

Autumn comes slowly in the South

But wow. Never again will I use generic tomatoes and beans in my chili. The flavors in those two brands were so rich and good. Especially together. It really made a difference.

You live and learn.

After our chili feed, we sat in the TV room, ostensibly to talk, but we all had to concentrate on staying awake.

We were plum tuckered out.

I couldn't stop taking this picture

Ruthie's flight left Columbia at seven o'clock Sunday morning. TG and she pulled out of the garage at five thirty.

I was not able to go back to sleep, so I made coffee and stayed up until time to get ready for church.

Not gonna lie ... Sunday was a long day what with being more tired to begin with after a three-day visit which involved lots of talking.

It's all good

I mean, Ruthie and I probably exchanged one million words or so.

I'm currently still in recovery but I think I'll make it.

Because upon reflection, the memories we made were worth the effort.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday

Playing Favorites :: that's a wrap

They're almost too good to be true

So what you need to know here is that most of the time, I make a better-than-average effort to consume fewer, rather than more, carbs.

Not all of the time; I love bread too much for that.

Now for some backstory.

In the late spring, we all went together one night to a local Mexican restaurant that is known to be outstanding. Even so, it was a departure from our normal dine-out haunts.

We are so bourgeois that we're just as likely to land at Cracker Barrel as anyplace else.

But at this restaurant, I had chicken fajitas and they were so good, I was instantly obsessed.

Subsequently, when I was craving chicken fajitas practically every day, I decided to make them from scratch, for the whole family.

(I used a packaged version that first time, but now I concoct my own fajita seasoning ... from this recipe. Low carb, sugar free, and tastes a lot better.)

At any rate, it was on the occasion of our family fajita feed that Audrey brought Olé Xtreme Wellness! high fiber, carb lean tortilla wraps to the table.

Keto friendly, with four net carbs per wrap.

That's nearly nothing when you consider that a regular tortilla contains at least twenty-six carbs.

(I should point out here that the package pictured above is of the large size, which I picked up by mistake and which have seven net carbs each. The smaller ones, which I normally buy, have four.)

If you know anything about counting carbs -- which I'd bet a still-warm sopapilla, heavy on the cinnamon, that you do -- you'll realize that a four-carb wrap is a really nice thing to have in your low-carb arsenal.

But what if you don't want chicken fajitas every day? Will these awe-inspiring tortilla wraps languish in your fridge for weeks on end?

Not if you're smart. 

Because they are incredibly versatile. We use them in a meal at least twice a week, and they're great for snacking too.

Here are a few things of the many that you can do with them:

Get out a skillet that the wrap can lie flat in. Butter one side of the wrap with real butter.

Slap it in the skillet butter side down. Let it brown.

As Erica says, buttering and browning this wrap is a game changer. Next level and then some.

Commence adding stuff to the top side.

Try scrambling a few eggs first, then putting them inside the wrap, along with some bacon or even pepperoni.

Add cheese and salsa, or whatever you want.

Wrap it up and enjoy with a dollop of Daisy.

Or if it's a sweet tooth you've got, to the browning wrap in the skillet add cinnamon and then hot berries. Maybe some whipped cream and the first one to say that defeats the purpose, is a rotten egg.

I've made my version of the Chick-fil-A cool wrap by shredding chicken and adding shredded cheddar and shredded lettuce, and having several dipping sauces.

Also they're a great stand-in for the bread on a bacon-lettuce-tomato (don't forget the cheese) sandwich.

If you try these and come up with more uses for them, let me know.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy October