tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72005504400773303402024-03-13T17:28:32.963-05:00As I was Saying ...Thoughts that are probably of no value to anyone but myself, and that's all that matters ... I am the boss of this here site.Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-90774777877133054432013-06-10T19:30:00.001-05:002013-06-10T19:30:50.845-05:00Mushroom Swiss Stuffed Peppers<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Mushroom-Swiss-Stuffed-Peppers">Mushroom Swiss Stuffed Peppers</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-58166351242746996002013-05-01T15:37:00.001-05:002013-05-01T15:37:44.104-05:00Easy Peasy Chicken Stock & Chicken AlfredoThis week's recipe Hub ...<br />
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<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Easy-Peasy-Chicken-Stock-Chicken-Alfredo">Easy Peasy Chicken Stock & Chicken Alfredo</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-6476580929490719202013-04-25T17:55:00.001-05:002013-04-25T17:55:49.202-05:00Crunchy & Delectable Fried Okra Salad This week's recipe ...<br />
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<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Crunchy_DelectableFriedOkraSalad?done">Crunchy & Delectable Fried Okra Salad</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-16835324957678381262013-04-20T15:17:00.001-05:002013-04-20T15:17:16.108-05:00Taste Tepmting Turkey TetrazziniToday's Hub recipe, by me! <br />
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<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Taste-Tepmting-Turkey-Tetrazzini">Taste Tepmting Turkey Tetrazzini</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-31209148837480500282013-04-13T16:44:00.001-05:002013-04-13T16:44:04.922-05:00Savory Cheese Stuffed Chicken BreastsMy recipe Hub for this week ... <br />
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<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/SavoryCheeseStuffedChickenBreasts?done">Savory Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-33285644890119423782013-03-30T18:14:00.001-05:002013-03-30T18:14:06.472-05:00Annie's Pico de Gallo<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Annies-Pico-de-Gallo#.UVdxrOaUH0o.blogger">Annie's Pico de Gallo</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-33484534244964614862013-03-25T16:06:00.001-05:002013-03-25T16:06:00.139-05:00Eggplant Stir Fry<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Eggplant-Zucchini-Stir-Fry?done#.UVC8KfyXopA.blogger">Eggplant Stir Fry</a>JimTXMillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914403886500865985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-52878002975582390942013-03-23T15:00:00.001-05:002013-03-23T15:00:30.935-05:00Slow and Low Beef Stout Stew<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Beef-Stout-Stew?done#.UU4JxB0dq40.blogger">Slow and Low Beef Stout Stew</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-71744834695826357382013-03-18T18:37:00.001-05:002013-03-18T18:37:26.137-05:00Shrimp and Pea Pasta Salad with Cashews<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/Shrim-and-Pea-Pasta-Salad-with-Cashews#.UUelJZvOUR8.blogger">Shrimp and Pea Pasta Salad with Cashews</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-49932553189283940272013-01-26T13:57:00.001-06:002013-01-26T13:57:06.569-06:00A New Favorite!<a href="http://anniemiller.hubpages.com/hub/A-New-Favorite">A New Favorite!</a>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-64632369050884671912008-08-25T18:08:00.010-05:002008-08-25T18:59:02.958-05:00Flowers, Kites and Porkers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBSEMKVBuzQ4myK4FZUuTxImlW3cTj3c0SDLO-HiQ7TGu1kA_txtuJXfLBZJEYtCuwPBu5QNYOv28cTnhq2S_As_PpxwERsN3VP0OoxXsnMVVRH3mU_uzs3EhrcweMsBcHhU7M9ER3y4/s1600-h/cement+piggie.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238609074445107906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBSEMKVBuzQ4myK4FZUuTxImlW3cTj3c0SDLO-HiQ7TGu1kA_txtuJXfLBZJEYtCuwPBu5QNYOv28cTnhq2S_As_PpxwERsN3VP0OoxXsnMVVRH3mU_uzs3EhrcweMsBcHhU7M9ER3y4/s200/cement+piggie.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It would be nice if we all loved our jobs. Couldn’t wait to arrive in the morning (or whatever your shift) and get down to it. Some people are lucky enough to love what they do. Bless their hearts.<br /><br />I, for one, work simply for the wage I receive. I am not complaining about the amount. Nope, I feel very blessed to even have a job, really. I do look forward to my home time, but there are a couple of bright spots in my trips to and from work.<br /><br />I would like to publicly thank the people who maintain the areas I am about to tell you of.<br /><br />On the corner of Kell West and Taft there is a wonderful, cheerful garden right at the curbside. Beautiful flowers grow in abundance and a delightful mural has been painted on the fence; butterflies and fairies – it’s absolutely wonderful. And there is a trellis … I’ve always loved trellises. It’s a fanciful spot that always makes me smile and look forward to the drive to work.<br /><br />On my way home we turn onto Harrison from Taft and follow it around to Hempstead. There on the corner circling the driveway is a parade of costumed, cement pigs. The time of year dictates their apparel. For instance, Christmas finds them in Santa hats; at Easter they all wore fuzzy rabbit ears and right now they are decked out in bicycle helmets including various types of two-wheeled vehicles with flags announcing Hotter’n Hell Hundred. These outfits replaced bathing suits, sun visors and umbrellas. Always good for a chuckle and I think the neighborhood Mississippi kites summering in the area like them too. There are always a couple either perched or soaring high above this corner.<br /><br />Today, after driving past the piggies and feeling almost euphoric about their presence we turned onto the 2000 block of Harrison - right past the park. On the opposite side of the street there is a house with a fantastic chainsaw sculpture. The tree it used to be had been torn down during a whopping windstorm and the owners had the large trunk carved into a couple of dogs looking out at the street. I made Jim turn the car around so we could pass by again. I would love to give the artist a thumbs up or some acknowledgement, but have no idea who he is. Nevertheless, it was one more inspiring site to brighten an otherwise typically chaotic Monday.<br /><br />Thank you all for your sense of whimsy and desire to share with us. I appreciate it, more than you know.</div>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-21597283423405083832008-08-24T13:12:00.006-05:002008-08-24T13:23:00.900-05:00Roadside CrossesYou see them everywhere<br />Quiet neighborhoods and super highways <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Tzl59phRy9cYixuBdIpsds7kGJ-oBeNgYozCb6mrkIp518ksIN_FZ2zuYUHT_7jpjbLRugR1tWJ7y_Axv4PN1fcMUf8YlpZWkYcP7u-3ZEg2FINA7AvY8YaelTNmlhXHP7K0ilUlhAU/s1600-h/roadside+crosses+IL.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238151042645191538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 249px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" height="238" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Tzl59phRy9cYixuBdIpsds7kGJ-oBeNgYozCb6mrkIp518ksIN_FZ2zuYUHT_7jpjbLRugR1tWJ7y_Axv4PN1fcMUf8YlpZWkYcP7u-3ZEg2FINA7AvY8YaelTNmlhXHP7K0ilUlhAU/s200/roadside+crosses+IL.jpg" width="229" border="0" /></a><br />Embellished or plain<br />Visual reminders of loss<br />A need for others to remember someone loved<br />A need to share pain.<br /><br />Festooned with flowers,<br />Wreaths or<br />Birthday balloons …<br />Some etched with names and dates<br />Personal yet public sorrow.<br /><br />My eyes search them out now<br />Say a silent prayer<br />In memory of a life lost<br />Lost love.Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-5290937412482216912008-08-24T08:18:00.004-05:002008-08-24T08:41:51.983-05:00Sidekick<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">If at all possible, marry your best friend.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Annie's<em><strong> Kudzu</strong></em> came from our trucking days, hauling freight all over the country. As I've written elsewhere, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I was the solo driver with Annie as my running mate responsible for keeping me relatively sane in an insane job.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">All said and done, however, those two years spent trucking were the ultimate road trip. Annie captured a good portion of it in her poems and other journal musings. With a little encouragement she may be persuaded to share more of her writing here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I've always considered writing to be a craft, something a person--like me--has to work at, hone and polish from the first moment of picking up a pen to the final period on that last recorded sentence. Writing is a process, and no matter how much work any given writer has published, that process is never finished. Writers, I still believe, are made, not born.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Annie is the only exception to the rule that I have been blessed to know. </span></span>JimTXMillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914403886500865985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200550440077330340.post-7748007021101519542008-08-23T20:47:00.004-05:002008-08-23T20:53:47.082-05:00Kudzu<span style="font-family:verdana;">In the Deep South<br />When the summer air is<br /> Hot<br /> Heavy<br /> Humid …<br />The moss drips from the trees<br /> And kudzu threatens to overtake<br /> Everything.<br /><br />There is a quiet beauty as it envelopes<br /> An abandoned farmhouse,<br /> Softens the dead woods,<br />Vines over stumps and shrubs …<br /> Changing the appearance of the roadside.<br /><br />At night,<br /> Large, looming Kudzu clothed figures<br /> Stand watch over dark corridors<br /> As weary travelers hurry on<br /> To snug destinations.<br /><br />As the days grow shorter<br /> The heat less oppressive …<br />The plant life cycle enters its winter phase and<br /> Kudzu<br />Shows it’s suffocating nature.<br /> Bereft of foliage<br />Everything that it beautifully covered<br /> in lush green<br /> A few short months ago<br />Is left dead in the Kudzu’s wake<br /> Beneath tight<br /> Dark,<br /> Tangled vines. </span>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401018538161841904noreply@blogger.com1