You'll Have to Excuse Me...

I am sorry I have been such a bad poster, noter, reader, blogger in general. I am currently going through a massive overhaul in my life that is not allowing me to keep up with things I normally do. So I would ask that you all bear with me as my posts are erratic and my reading and noting almost non-existent. Please know that I will come back when my life is all straightened out (temporarily straight anyway) and catch back up with you all!
Until then...

Have a wonderful day!!

Friday Food File- Don't go all the way PA...

For today's Friday Food File, I would like to instroduce a Restaurant in Augusta called Village Deli. It is a long-time local favourite and has been in the Daniel Village Shopping Center since right around the time I was born.
I don't think I started eating there until I was in college though, maybe I ate there once or twice in high school, but not really. It is a family restaurant for sure, but something about it feels just a little exclusive til you walk through the doors. But once you go in once, you go back often.

Most times I get a chicken taco salad from their hugely extensive menu. Mostly because it is one of the few places you CAN get a chicken taco salad in the area that is dry (all the local Mexican Restaurants like their chicken VERY saucy, which makes a salad very soggy, ew.) Sometimes, I will get their specials. They have YUMMY specials, the ones I have tried anyway (the poppyseed chicken casserole is divine, and looks probably super easy to make).

So today was a trek to the Village Deli, let's see what I had to eat!

Photo: Rhiannon Martin 2009.

This, my dear readers, is a chicken Philly. I have never had one from Village Deli, and frankly I was never going to order one when all their menu said was "Philly w/chicken" previously. Because the listing for their regular Philly included something I was NEVER going to willingly eat... bell peppers (ick, sorry, just are). So this time when I opened the menu looking for my chicken taco salad, I noticed they had redesigned the menu. So I quickly scanned over it, seeing if I could tell if anything had changed. Then... I saw it. Chicken Philly- mushrooms, onions, provolone cheese. What?! No bell peppers?! I am not a total fan of the onion either, but I will certainly eat an onion before I conceive of letting a bell pepper cross my lips. So I ordered it.
This was SO good. I mean really really good. The chicken was grilled completely through seperately it seemed, then mixed in with the mushrooms and onions after they had been sauteed as well. This meant that the chicken wasn't too tough or the mushrooms and onions completely mush. Everything was cooked to its best advantage and then set on the hoagie roll and covered with a huge layer of provolone that was then melted. It was SOOO good.
The sweet potato fries are also super delicious, probably the best I have ever had. They are thin but not crispy. Crunchy outside, smooth, sweet potato-y inside, I love them. I don't even use ketchup or any sauce at all, they stand alone.

So basically these are the points I am trying to make with this Friday Food File...
-If you are in Augusta, GA and need a good place to eat, ask someone to point you in the direction of Village Deli.
-Even if you are a red meat eater, try a chicken philly sometime if you get the chance.
-Don't knock sweet potato fries, they are delightful!

I hope you enjoyed reading this Friday Food File, I enjoyed eating the food to make it!
Have a happy day!

Vacation Slide Show 3, one more to go!!

Well today we have come to another important part of the Vacation Pictures Slide Shows- The Flora.
I love taking pictures of plants. They generally don't move or screw things up and most times you can get right close to them without the plant really caring. Which I like. Then there's the chance to use the camera's Macro setting, which always makes me happy.
So here is a slide show of the various plant life that can be found in and around Destin Florida, mostly in Four-Mile Village.

**IF THESE PICTURES ARE GOING BY TOO QUICKLY, HOVER YOUR MOUSE OVER THE SHOW TO FIND MANUAL CONTROLS FOR SLOWING DOWN THE SCROLL. IF THIS SHOW IS NOT WORKING PLEASE LET ME KNOW!**

Enjoy!!

There is only one more Vacation Pictures 2009 Slide Show to be had... which is good I guess if this is not your cup of tea.

Have a lovely day!

Horscope Spree this week, Two Signs!

This week, on Monday, it seemed Etsy had done the Horoscope Spree for me. I was hesitant about reusing the Etsy newsletter finds, as I know so many of you see the newsletter yourselves. But then I figured, why not? I will just highlight the items in the newsletter I found to be most appealing. I am neither a Leo nor a Virgo, but I have friends who are both and I think my Leo friend would definitely enjoy all of her picks, as would be Virgo friend enjoy hers. Now I hope you enjoy them all!

Leo:

Random Ruby Ring Size 8 1/2 by blackbunnyjewelry** Fabulous Custom Striped Swing Party Dress by audreyandgrace** A N D I - Handmade Mix Plumage Feather Headband With Shell and Beaded Accent Treasury Featured by bethanylorelle** stiletto cacti planter made from a platform heel by giddyspinster** Pink Rose Scented Crown Soap by soapychica** Fingerprint signet ring in Sterling silver by fabuluster on etsy.

Virgo:

Pride and Prejudice by itsbeautiful** Slate Blue Crew Neck T Shirt - Rock Steady by sealmaiden** Algae green Red Violet and Teal Hand Dyed Silk Velvet Scarf Over 7 ft long by ** by madlight13** Fabulous Fonts Wood Tray by CarolinaCottage** Cut Grass Soap 5 Oz. Bar Vegan by sherrisscentsandsoys** 2010 CALENDAR - Mini Deer Series (Printable) by alidesign on etsy.

I think perferably, just from what I know, if I could choose my sign between these two, i would pick Virgo. But I sorta like the Leo items better. What do you think?

Have a wonderful day!!

Destin, Florida 2009- Vacation Slides Part 2!!

So, the second set of Vacation Slide Shows will showcase the Family Beach House in Four Mile Village- Destin, Florida.

This house belongs to my mother's Aunt and family. My mother and her cousins, siblings and extended family children would play on the beach (previous post's pictures) there in the summer when they were young. My mother has not been back to Four Mile Village since like 1977 or 1979 something crazy like that. She became quite emotional at some of the things they'd changed and so forth.
I wasn't initially going to post these pictures, I feel a little weird since we were actually staying in the house. But the house is actually very nice, and I didn't close up on anything that is too terribly personal, so I think I can go ahead and post them here.

Again, the captions should answer some questions about the photo content.
**NOTE: IF THE PHOTOS ARE GOING BY TOO QUICKLY, you can hover your mouse over the pictures and controls to stop the slide show and manually scroll through the pictures will appear. If this show is not working please let me know! END NOTE**

That is my second installment of Vaction 2009 pictures. Please stay tuned for two more installments and this week's Horoscope Spree as well as clear potential for the long-missed Friday Food File to finally return!

Have a fantastic day!!

Back From Vacation, let the Slide Shows Begin!!

I am back from Vacation! We visited the beach at some extended Family Property at Four Mile Village while staying in Destin Florida. Four Mile Village is a nature preserve on a WWII site. I took lots of good pictures in various categories.

I am going to do these vacation pictures in installments and see if I can let the captions speak for themselves. I'll add in some background filler information where I think it is necessary.
What is the best bit about vacation?!
Vacation Slide Shows!!

Destin Florida, Vacation Slide Show #1: The Beach!!

We managed to see a Nurse Shark (example here) in the water that first day. About five to eight feet in front of my dad and I. The shark was really scared of us and swam away cause we made a huge mass... but I was not having it any more for the rest of the day and didn't get in further than my knees after that. Cause on that beach we were the only three people, no lifeguard, and while seclusion seems fun and stuff... then were was a shark. Ya know? But that is the lovely beach where we spent some time.
**NOTE** You can hover your mouse over the slideshow to find controls that will let you stop the slide and manually move between the pictures. If this slideshow doesn't work, please click View All Images to see them and please let me know it didn't slide. I will try another one next time. Thanks! **END NOTE**

Enjoy these photos and look forward to more pictures this week!

Have a happy day!!