Have the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year, ever, friends! xoxox Paula

Tea Anyone?

Had a lovely time Friday afternoon with my daughter, Robyn (who refused to be photographed with us-teehee), Anita, Laura and our Belles from Louisiana, Karen and Rhonda; we had High Tea at Rose Cottage Tearoom...as always, the strictest code of lady-like decorum was followed...teehee...

It's Official!

Sadly, I am selling my little 1968 Shasta Compact camper, the "Queen Bee"... BUT, I am buying another one! It is also a '60's Shasta, just not a Compact. I decided I needed more room, in case I wanted to bring along my daughter, or a friend; my teeny little camper just wasn't big enough for that! I am excited and am thinking of another theme and name...any suggestions?

Ride 'em Cowgirl!!!

Here's my friend Nan, riding her horsie at our campout...

Queen Bee

Well, here she is in all her tacky glory...the Queen Bee! She's my little 1968 Shasta Compact camper...My Sister on the Fly friends, Anita, Susan and I dry-camped with our little vintage campers at McIntosh Reserve Park in Carroll County, Georgia. We had a great time and it was cold, cold, cold! My daughter Robyn and our three doggies slept in my little 12' home away from home...too much fun!

Above is my tiny little kitchen (pix turned out a little dark, I hope you can see it)...My favorite pink Melmac sugar and creamer and my vintage perky coffee pot is ready for my morning coffee! My trusty southern crinoline is at the front of my camper and holding up my little Adoption Doll "Bee"...as always, more is more to me!!!

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one; I have so much to be thankful for. I don't want to end this post without asking you, my online friends, to pray for my little great nephew Colby who was fighting for his life on Thanksgiving Day in the hospital with a bone infection in his lower leg...he had emergency surgery the next day and is in great pain with a long road ahead...some of you have responded to my Facebook request for prayer for Colby and his family and I so appreciate it...check my Facebook page for updates on Colby.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...more pix to come.

Crafting In The Country

I had a wonderful day crafting with friends outside in the country today at Laura's. The leaves were beautiful with the weather in the high 60's. Laura really has the gift of hospitality and has a beautiful setting of an outdoor kitchen and dining area. She also has a large covered area adjacent to that for us to craft. There were eight of us and we each brought a dish to share for lunch. Laura provided gift bags with the cutest aprons inside! Mine was a pink polka-dotted bib apron with with strawberries on it! I brought King Ranch Chicken (recipe below)...later in the afternoon we had a lovely tea. Each of us worked on something different...Heidi made small wreath ornaments with precious buttons of every shade of white to ecru from her mother and grandmother who have both passed on. Laura covered a lamp shade with peacock feathers from her sister Bridget's peacocks...beautiful! Bridget gave us a demonstration of making flower pins with different layers of material pieced together... you slightly burn the edges with a candle...it looks lovely and vintage. Anita showed us poncho's and the pattern she made from fleece. I knitted in short spurts! Nan was crocheting a beautiful afgan for a friend. All in all, it was a good day...Lord thank you for and bless my friends...

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken (I used breasts which I like to buy on sale and cook up and freeze)
  
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers (I used Rotel mild)
  
• 1 large package tortilla chips with lime
  
• 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 (6 ounce) can black olives
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup cooked chopped onion
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place chicken breasts in a pot of boiling water. Cook until meat shreds easily with a fork, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from water, and cool slightly. Remove meat and skin from bones, and shred.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup sour cream,Rotel tomatoes, and onion and mix together.
3. Lightly coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. In dish begin layering: 1/3 of the chicken, 1/3 of the soup mixture, shredded cheese, then crumble tortilla chips on top. Repeat layers twice, ending with tortilla chips and a sprinkle of cheese on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
4. Top casserole with chopped tomato, olives, a couple of dollops of sour cream. Yum-yum good!

I Couldn't Sign On!!!

I have had a terrible time logging on to Blogger in order to post on any blog! It just would not accept my password and I got into a FRUSTRATING loop... I fixed it, but have no idea how I did it! I just went into Blogger and signed up again and it said that this user name and account was already taken...somehow I got to the change password page! Anyway, hopefully I can keep posting again...Thank you all for hanging in with me!

Retirement has been GREAT! The weather here in Georgia has been just beautiful and I sit outside and drink my coffee every morning...sheer bliss! I have really enjoyed several camp-outs with my wonderful Sisters on the fly friends...the latest at Stone Mountain for the Country Living Fair...the leaves were just gorgeous and the Fair was so much fun. They usually do not have it in the South (last one in Ohio), but it will be here again next year, I believe...two of our Sister's vintage campers were on view at the Fair and will be featured in an upcoming feature of Country Living Magazine...I can't wait to see it!

I have had a good time re-naming and painting my little 1968 Shasta Compact camper...her name is now "Queen Bee", paying homage to the plight of the honey bee. Bees have always been one of my favorite things and my little camper shows that love off! Pictures to come...we have a photo-shoot of some of our campers at McIntosh Park by a local magazine...of course, another excuse to camp with my buds... this is my favorite time of the year!!!

The One That Didn't Get Away!

Here's a picture of my Sister on the fly friend Swanee holding a big 'ol trout she caught in the creek behind her house! Wow! I bet that was some good eating!

Back from the Mountains

This is my friend Anita on the bed she set up outside her camper, 'Ida Claire'...as you can see we had a great time with a Nature Hike by a famous Naturalist, Horseback Riding on the beautiful trails, a Bass Fishing contest, (GiGi won), a catered catfish fry, and too much fun to mention! As you can see, 'we have more fun than anyone'...

I'm off to the doctor for my last post-op visit and I am sure he will release me! Life is Good!

This is my new little 16' Sport Airstream camper! We just love it! Hubby thinks it is his, too, heehee...I am taking her to the mountains this weekend on a Sisters on the fly campout...can't wait! I am almost healed from my diskectomy...thanks for all your kind words, cards, and prayer...

I Am Doing Great!

It has been 23 days since my surgery and I am doing very well...thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and prayers! It was pretty hard at first, but I got the best care possible. My hospital stay was a piece of cake, thanks to good meds-heehee-then after I got home the fun began! It was pretty painful for a while, but my family took such great care of me...I just feel so much better, now...I want to thank the Lord for His answer to prayer...

The cards and calls from my Sister on the fly friends were so numerous, I couldn't believe it! What a wonderful group of Sisters I have...I am already getting ready for my next campout in mid-September in the mountains of Georgia...my friends Swanee and Anita are hosting that one! I sure hope it will be cool...it's been so hot here. I also have a new camper...a 2010 Airstream Sport; it's 16 ' and a little jewel. I named it Hissy Fit, although that is the name of my RV I traded in for it. Since I had a 'hissy fit' to join Sisters on the fly and get a camper, that name has to stay!

After that one, the next one is the Country Living Fair in October at Stone Mtn., GA. It is a really great fair with wonderful handmade crafts, etc. Country Living Magazine is featuring two of our Vintage Trailers that weekend. This will be a great campout and we will be enjoying the Laser Light Show, along with lots of other things to do in the immediate area...

Stay tuned for lots of photos to come!

It's All About Me!

Well, so much has happened, I don't know where to start! I haven't been able to post much in such a long while because of the nerve pain in my right arm from 3 bad discs in my C-Spine...I retired from my job thinking that would help, but it's gotten worse (good days and not so good days)....so, I am having surgery next Weds., July 28, 2010...your prayers are appreciated!

I am still involved in and having fun with Sisters on the fly...you know "we have more fun than anyone!" Check out our site and the Southern Sisters site, too! We will be going on a campout in the mountains in GA in September...I am barely going to be out of my recovery time of 6-8 weeks from surgery, but my Sisters will help me set up my trailer...by-the-way I have almost finished decorating my little 1968 Shasta Compact...her new name is the "B-Hive"....you know how much I LOVE bees!!! I will post a picture later...

The latest news is that I have a new Airstream 16' Sport!!! We love it and her name is "Hissy Fit"! Will post more later...it's time to go to my pre-op appointment in Atlanta for the surgery!

Hugs,
Paula

Giddy-up 2010 (185 photos), by Paula Bush

Giddy-Up 2010 in the awesome state of LOUISIANA! For those of you who are Sisters on the Fly members, I'd like to share my Snapfish photos of Giddy-Up 2010 with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Sisters on the Fly

The Learning Tea

Our friend, TK, Katrell Christie, has a wonderful website you all need to visit... http://www.thelearningtea.com/. TK is the owner of a delightful little shop in Atlanta, GA, called Doctor Bombay's Underwater Tea Party. She sells tea, of course, as well as her home-made soups, sandwiches and desserts. On a visit to India in 2009, she found herself wanting to help the children she met in an orphanage and elementary school in Darjeeling, world famous for it's tea gardens and exquisite teas. These children face a future of sexual exploitation, forced labor, and child trafficking without the chance for a higher education. Young girls are forced into prostitution in the area, or even transported to work in brothels in other regions of India when they leave the orphanages at age 16 or 17. With a university education, these girls have a chance to leave their dire circumstances behind. Young boys face a terrible life as well...visit her website to see the breathtaking photos of her journey...we all want to help "our own" at home, but this opens your eyes to the fact that our poorest have a better chance than these poor children. They are so grateful for any tiny thing and are so grateful for the chance to go to a school without even a toilet on the premises. As one who works in a school all day as a school nurse, I can tell you that we have much to be thankful for....

Nawlins!

I was in New Orleans last week, shopping in the French Quarter, and who did I see, but Grandpa Elliott! I stepped out of a shop and couldn't believe my eyes...I crossed the street and talked to him for awhile. What a gentleman he is! I bought his new CD, "Sugar Sweet", and it is indeed sweet listening!!! It's well worth the money! You can see him on YouTube or go to his website... www.youtube.com/user/GrandpaElliott check it out...

My new blog

For those of you who love Sisters On The Fly, vintage campers, and lots and lots of fun...check out the new blog - Southern Fried Sisters...we are a gentler, more refined group of ladies...yeah, right! I am the administrator of this blog and will be posting about upcoming camping trips, etc., and if you know me very well...some nonsense as well! With my quirky sense of humor-I just can't help myself! Check it out http://www.southernfriedsisters.blogspot.com

Busy As A Bee

I have been too busy to post...I am painting handbags for Giddy-Up #3 in New Orleans in April and also getting ready to retire from my job as a School Nurse...I will hopefully have more time to spend on blogging, which I love! Does ANYBODY not know what day it is? Yes, you are correct! SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!!! I am rootin' for the
SAINTS in honor of my friends Karen and Marvene in Louisiana!!! GO SAINTS!


Here's a great SuperBowl recipe from my friend Sherree Nichol's in Texas.

Sheree’s Taco Soup

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef
1 cups diced onions
2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans
1 (15 1/2-ounce) Ranch style beans
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Rotel tomatoes
1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
Tortilla chips, for serving
Sour cream, for garnish
Grated cheese, for garnish
Chopped green onions, for garnish
Pickled jalapenos, for garnish
Avocados cut into chunks (optional)
Fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:

Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet; drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix – combine well. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions and jalapenos. I love some avocado thrown in too!
You can change it to suit your taste. I’ve used black beans, hominy, &/or kidney beans, extra green chili’s. I love to make it with chicken too. I throw in a can of cream of chicken soup sometimes. I’ve also thrown in some cubed Velveeta….. it’s good any way you make it!

Backyard Birding

I love feeding the birds in my front and back yards...I have a lot of windows, so I can see them from most rooms. My finch feeder/socks are full of Eastern Goldfinches...they eat tiny Niger seeds. I also put out cracked corn on the ground, as well as Black-oil sunflower seeds in feeders and some on the ground. A big hit for the Cardinals, Carolina Wrens,Titmice, and Blackcapped Chickadees is my bird cakes I make from scratch. I don't buy suet, it's too expensive and I like to use up what I have in the kitchen. Here's the recipe:

hamburger grease
cornmeal
a little flour
generic peanut butter, crunchy

I use 4 parts cornmeal to 1 part flour placed in a large bowl. I heat the peanut butter with the grease (the amounts don't matter-just use what you have) in the microwave to soften...watch it that it just BEGINS to soften! Then I stir it all together. I sometimes add some chopped raisins, any other chopped nuts; whatever I might have left over. Mold these in little cakes, according to the size you want=bigger in the winter, smaller in the summer, due to becoming rancid fast. Then, freeze them on a platter- when they are hard, put them in a Ziplock bag and keep them in the freezer, taking out what you need. Sounds simple, but my birds eat them up as fast as I can make them...

I love Chickens!

My new issue of MaryJane's Magazine came in the mail today, and as usual, I am enthralled and have to read it from cover to cover! One of my favorite things was in it...Chickens! I adore chickens from vintage chicken art to live chickens! I have several friends who keep them in their backyards and I buy the most beautiful big brown eggs from them! This is my dream...I used to have some little 'banties' many years ago, but they were free range and I did not know where their eggs were.

To show you how serious I am, I entered The Chicken Whisperer's - www.blogtalkradio.com/backyardpoultry -contest to win a free chicken coop...keep your fingers crossed for me!

My New Year's Resolution

Bologna - buh-loh-nee - noun

A large seasoned sausage made of finely ground meat, usually beef and pork, that has been cooked and smoked.

You may slice it thick or thin and fry it lightly on both sides, or not, as you wish...then apply mayonnaise on two slices of loaf bread (preferably Arnold 12 grain or any 'lite bread' )and chow down. Best served with Diet Coke or 'sweet tea' and barbeque potato chips.

There you have it...my New Year's Resolution; broken already on January 2, 2010. It was no more bologna sandwiches, barbeque potato chips and Diet Coke...only quinoa with various toppings, salads and unsweetened tea until I get this 30 pounds of lard off! Oh, well...tomorrow's another day and I have four pieces of bologna left...I PROMISE I will not buy anymore! Ever! At least I hope I will try...maybe will try...burp!