Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Vacation, Bloggers Meet.

On our journey south, we stopped at Angola’s rest station in New York State and had lunch. I wanted a coffee so went to a coffee bar there and asked for a large decaf. $3.58. I nearly flipped. A ridiculous price, I still paid it, I wanted a drink for the next part of our trip.
I am not sure how far along, I could see what I thought were a couple of dogs crossing the hiway. Turned out it was a mother deer and her baby. I had never realised they were so small. Bit later I was looking at a flock of hawks in the sky, couldn’t believe there were so many then I noticed some parachutes in the same area, there were quite a few of them. We figured there was some kind of air show in the area. Then we saw a bi-plane doing loops etc. Not sure where the show was. A few minutes later, saw a large hawk at the side of the road enjoying a meal. He really was a big bird. It all made the trip more interesting.

Friday night we spent at a Super 8 in Winchester, VA. we went next door to the Chinese restaurant where we had eaten before. The food was still as good, but the ambience was gone. Matt didn’t like the place at all this time. I had some Hot and Sour soup, very good. Then garden rolls which were shrimp and veg wrapped in rice paper, and some dumplings. Deeeelicious. I forgot to take my camera of course. I really am a lousy photographer. Our second day on the road was pretty uneventful. Once we had unloaded the car we went to a nearby restaurant and had a lovely fresh flounder. Afterwards we headed for the grocery store

CornholeOn Monday afternoon on we went for a walk along Bogue Pier, one of our favourite places to be. Nobody was catching much but pinfish and the odd blue. Blues are delicious to eat, but pinfish are all bones and best used for bait. I took a few pix which somehow didn’t register in my camera, I have no idea what happened. Pity because we came across a game on the beach which was being played by four guys tossiCornhole2ng bags at a board with a hole in it, a bit like horseshoes. They had a board either end. I took some shots of it from the pier and then someone asked if we had ever seen the game before, we said no and so she explained it to us. It is apparently called Cornhole. Looks fun, I was never any good at horseshoes as the shoes were too heavy. These were like small bean bags. Maybe everyone knows the game, but we had certainly never seen it before. I am not sure what was wrong with my camera, but when I checked it out the date wasn’t set, I don’t know if that makes a difference. I took a pic and that seemed to come out OK so I am puzzled.

Monday evening we had dinner with friends we hadn’t seen in 12 years which was a fun event. So nice to see them both.

Tuesday was the great day, we went to MacDaddy’s in Cape Carteret and there we met Jeff Hargett. I had so been looking forward to this meeting.  Much to my MacDaddysdelight all three of us seemed to get on so well. I don’t think Jeff and I ever stopped talking. We had lunch and then went in to bowl. Father Dragon had declared that the winner would be awarded the dwarf tossing championship due to the lack of dwarves in this area of North Carolina. To our shame, Matt beat the pair of us making him the new champion. Part of the way through the first game a woman came up to us – I looked at her and said I know you, but who are you. She looked at me as though she thought I had gone bonkers. I had, it was L. Diane Wolfe – idiot that I was, I had assumed she wasn’t going to make it and didn’t click when she arrived. I was delighted to meet her as well. Her husband hadn’t been very keen on her coming because not being internet savvy, he had thought we were murderers and rapists. Diane took photos of us to prove we weren’t like that at all. I didn’t get any pictures myself, camera in the car this time.  Diane was unable to stay very long, so we carried on bowling and it turned out that Matt won, I couldn’t bowl at all, worst I have ever done at 10-pin. Bowling again on Thursday, hope I do better.

We then decided to go to the Golfin’ Dolphin which is part of the same complex, and play miniature Golf. Matt and I have played there Bogue Pier2a number of times over the years. It was there quite a long time before the MacDaddy’s building was erected. This time Jeff won, Matt came second, and there I was, last again. Not my day at all. We then decided to take Jeff over to Bogue Inlet Pier which is one of our favourite spots. He agreed and found it very peaceful sitting there in the sun. Sadly it was getting latish and Jeff wanted to be back at his rental before it got dark so we said our goodbyes and off he went. Such a pity we couldn’t have met up one more time, but he is only at the coast for a week. By the way, the fishing was still bad at the pier as there were still sharks swimming around.

It was really great meeting these two blogging friends and I’m only sorry it wasn’t possible for us to have more bloggers there. I am only waiting for them to post their pictures.

I love crèpes or what we English call pancakes, I would eat them a lot more but…. I am doing enough damage to my weight now I think. I’m not sure what classifies these as Swedish, they are the same as the pancakes I have been making all my life. Never eaten lingonberries, but I imagine any berries would be equally delicious. I, by the way, would use cream.

Swedish Pancakes

Source: Taste of Home
20 pancakes

Served with lingonberries, these super-thin pancakes are truly elegant.
Swedish Pancakes
INGREDIENTS
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Lingonberries or raspberries
Seedless raspberry jam or fruit spread, warmed
Whipped topping

DIRECTIONS
In a blender, combine the first six ingredients. Cover and process until blended. Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet; pour 1/4 cup batter into center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Repeat with remaining batter, adding oil to skillet as needed. Stack pancakes with waxed paper or paper towels in between. Reheat in the microwave if desired.
Fold pancakes into quarters; serve with berries, raspberry jam and whipped topping.

Have a great day.
Jo_thumb[2]

25 comments:

  1. It sounds you're having a great time, even when you seem to forget the camera a lot, hahaha. I'm just like that. When I think about taking a picture, the moment has passed. So now, Matt's name will be carved in the dragon cave as the second human to ever win a Tossing the Dwarf Championship. Pass on dragon and dwarves congratulations on to him. :)

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    1. Sure are having a good time. Was great to meet the dragon's knight yesterday too. Even if it wasn't I who won the championship. I have passed on your congratulations.

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    2. Really did have a good time, Al. Jo and Matt are delightful. Myra would really have taken a liking to them.

      Now about that championship title... I must confess that I tried my dead-level best to devise some scheme that would disqualify Matt, anything to strip him of the title, even on a technicality, but alas, he bested the knight. However, if those bowling balls had been actual dwarves... :-)

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    3. You should have been there on Thursday Jeff. He got beaten by our local friend. Not sure what would have happened had they really been dwarves of course.

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  2. How cool to meet up with blogger friends, Jo! Sounds like you had a great time. It will be good to visit with friends in your second home their in the Carolinas.

    I love Swedish pancakes. My mom used to make them all the time and many times would add homemade cinnamon applesauce--which was more like something you could use in pies but still wonderful.

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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    1. It was cool Sia. Wish we could meet too. Diane wasn't more than half an hour, but Jeff was with us for about 5 hours which was great.

      I still don't know what makes them particularly Swedish.

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    2. It was great. Wish we could meet up as well. Maybe one day. Spent the day with local friends today.

      I still don't know what makes them Swedish.

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  3. That's cool you got to meet Jeff and Diane! Sorry it wasn't your day for sports. And cornhole is fun game.

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    1. It was cool Alex.

      Jeff knew cornhole as well, I have never heard of it before. looked fun. Matt used to be a good horseshoes player but the shoes were too heavy for me, this looked as though I might be able to play.

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  4. I'm totally jealous you met Jeff and L.Diane!!!! How wonderfully fun. I forget my camera all the time too, but then I just use my iPhone. Not as good quality of pictures, but at least a record of the time. Sorry about your bad sports day...The only bowling I can do these days is Wii bowling, but I'm amazingly good at it. My boys have never beaten me! I'm also a decent miniature golf player, and usually win when the four of us play.
    Those are authentic Swedish pancakes, and yes, very similar to crepes. Lingonberries are a staple condiment over there, almost ketchup status. It's used for savory dishes too. Meatballs with lingonberries, new red potatoes, and fresh dill is almost the national dish. We sure enjoy it a lot. The Engineer has even learned to appreciate the berries with the meat. Took a while...
    Tina @ Life is Good

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    1. Yes it was wonderful to meet Jeff and Spunky. My phone doesn't take pix - it's a very simple one. We love bowling.

      But those pancakes are exactly the same as English pancakes, no difference whatsoever. Matt isn't keen on fruit and meat.

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  5. Yes, and I showed him pictures to prove it! He's cool now.

    It was a delight to meet up with you even if only for 20 minutes. Next time longer. Or we'll schedule a time to meet on your trip through town.

    There were lots of sharks? Now I know why I don't go swimming in the NC ocean.

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    1. Good. Glad to hear it.

      It was great. I wish it could have been longer, as you say, maybe another time.

      LOL about the sharks.

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    2. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any JAWS movie stars down at Topsail, but we had a number of jellyfish come visit for a day or two.

      I too agree about the time, much too short. We must allot more time when the next opportunity presents itself.

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    3. I am not sure what kind of sharks were around, they were at the end of the pier rather than nearer the beach. Jelly fish can be bad too.

      I hope we can find more time another year.

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  6. Hi Jo - what a great chance to meet with blogging friends - and what fun you had .. I too am useless at those horseshoe sort of games ..

    Pity about the shortness - but sometimes life is like that .. at least you met!! The Carolinas sound a lovely place to visit ..

    Cheers Hilary

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    1. Yes it is fun that we met both Diane and Jeff. I think the corn hole might be easier than horseshoes, would like to have a try.

      We love the Carolinas.

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  7. The game is a bit like "Washers" which we were introduced to in Canada and had never heard of before. Were the leaves changing yet? The East coast can be so beautiful in the Fall. Sounds like your trip has been worthwhile. So terrific of you to meet your followers.

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    1. Not heard of Washers either. The leaves are beginning to change both in Canada and on the east coast of the US.

      Great meeting Diane and Jeff.

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  8. What fun to meet blogger friends in person! Sounds like you had a great trip.

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    1. We're still having a great trip Cindy. Another week to go yet.

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  9. Sounds like a truly lovely time! So wonderful to meet blogging friends in person! I hope to do that someday soon too! Love crepes! So light, so airy, soooooo goooood!

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    1. It was great Yolanda. I love to meet friends whom I already know so well through the internet.

      Me too.

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  10. Around here that game is called bags. It has seemed to come out of nowhere the last few years. I've never played, but I know people that love it.

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    1. Never even heard of it before, looked fun.

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