a very southern new years

Twas a great celebration. Craig was here, and seeing as how I knew I'd want to make it into a post, we kept a journal, or really more a bulleted list along with my stupid drawings. Now that I know how to add those, here it is.

After I picked him up at the airport, we had a snack. Quinoa tabouli and spicy hummus "tacos" with goat cheese in a whole wheat pita.

Before any real anything could get done in the kitchen, the sink needed fixing. So we spent a couple hours disassembling and reassembling in the rotting mess that is otherwise known as my cabinets.

Eventually we got it replaced. The hose sprayer thing doesn't work anymore, but it's a small price to pay for this kind of happiness.

Now, here comes the fun stuff. Since it's a Southern tradition to make collard greens for wealth in the new year, Craig and I made African Peri Peri smoked goat and ate our collards on the Eve for wealth in Africa in 2011. Then we went to the Islander, where an old man bought us a pitcher because Craig knew the words to some country song. I believe it was Merle Haggard. Go figure.

There were also mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini,
which look like they are hugging.

The goat came from Split Creek Dairy Farm, right by the lab. I love that place. And I want a goat. The bunch of collards came from Denver Downs Farm a little further down the road, and was enormous (made enough for Eve and Day).

The smoked ham hocks I got at Publix were really the stars of the weekend. Not only were they delicious in the collards, but they really made the black eyed peas we ate on New Years Day, for luck of course.

Ok, we did more than eat. We also raked my front yard. There were so many leaves we ended up just making big piles and running through them. And putting Kitty on top.

And for dinner that night, more collards, more black-eyed peas, and a delicious squash dish. Every time we make this casserole (the only casserole I will admit to making), we get a little more clever. This time we sauteed all the veggies in bacon grease, put the chard in a layer in the middle (the rest is just all mixed together), and added goat cheese. Yum.

This is nothing what it actually looks like, but you get the idea.

When Sunday rolled around, we decided to go on a little road trip to avoid the Sunday blues. We ended up eating at a brunch buffet (Fletcher's: The place to eat). Awesomely filling, and it stayed with our Southern theme.

Then we made our way to Athens to look around. We went in this store called Junkman's somethin' or other. As expected, it's just a bunch of silly shtuff. I loved it. And I bought a coloring book with different kinds of trucks, tractors, and trailers in it. Too fun.

The last day Craig got to experience Taco Loco. It was a good visit. Viva Mexico.

yes no! yes no! yes no! (mom, you know)

Play time. But none of the creatures seem interested.

Does anyone know how to take little screen shots on a PDF and make them into some sort of picture file? Help a sister out.