Foxy Fox

My Best Friend

Charcoal

To My Best Friend
by Kiah K. Chonko

I was sitting here thinking
of the words I want to say,
but they just wouldn't come out right
so I found a different way

I got a piece of paper
and I wrote this poem for you,
but there's no way to thank you
for everything you do

For always being nice to me
and staying by my side,
for helping fix my problems
and never leaving me behind

For accepting my thoughts and feelings,
though you do not understand,
for never giving up on me
and being my best friend

For making me laugh
and letting me cry
and saying you'd miss me
if I were to die

Everything you mean to me
you could never know
In all the ways you've changed my life
I could never show

The way you take care of me,
you're my shining star
and though it's so incredible
that's just the way you are

Before I get too mushy
it's time for me to go,
but before I leave this ink-filled page
there's one thing you should know

As long as we are living,
no matter when or where,
if you ever need me
just call and I'll be there

I'll climb a thousand mountains
and swim a thousand seas
anything to be there
'cause you've been there for me

Happy Birthday Aubrey

Family Thanksgiving

Some of the special women in my life

View of my sisters home from her front window

Traveled to my familes homes in the Smokey Mountians for Thanksgiving.Nothing like family.I miss them all so much

Sunday Dinner

Baked Sweet Ham

Turnip Greens

Cornbread Dressing

Sweet Potato Casserole

Baked Sweet Ham

1 cup maple syrup
1 cup orange juice
1 cup ginger ale
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherriejuice
1 (12 pound) ham
1 (15.25 ounce) can pineapple slices in juice, drained
1 box round wooden toothpicks

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.In a medium bowl, mix together the maple syrup, orange juice, ginger ale, brown sugar and honey. Stir in the juice from the maraschino cherries, and half of the cherries. Score the outer edge of the ham with a sharp knife in a diamond pattern. Cuts should be about 1/4 inch deep. This will allow the ham to soak up the juice. I like to get my butcher to slice my ham so it is much easier to serve.
3.Place the ham into an oven bag, and carefully pour the juice mixture over it, keeping all of the juice in the bag. It may look like there is too much juice, but the ham will soak it up while baking. I let it soak over night.Place the pineapples onto the top of the ham, and secure with toothpicks. Place cherries into the centers of the rings, and secure with toothpicks also. Tie the end of the bag closed with the ties provided, place in a large roasting pan, and cut a few small slits in the top of the oven bag.
4.Bake the ham for 30 minutes per LB. in the preheated oven. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees F (80 degrees C) when done. Be sure not to touch the bone when taking the temperature. Remove ham from bag to a serving plate, and let stand for 10 minutes before carving

Sweet Potato Casserole

•3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
•1 cup sugar
•2 eggs, lightly beaten
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1/2 cup milk
•1/2 cup melted butter
•Topping:
•1/2 cup brown sugar
•1/3 cup flour
•1/3 cup melted butter
•1 cup chopped pecans
Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and browned.

Bebop

Red

Seduction

Beignets

Beignets

(ben-yey)

French for fried dough

Ingredients:
1/2 cup boiling water
2 tbsp. shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 package yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg, beaten
3 3/4 cups silted flour
Confectioners sugar

Pour boiling water over shortening, sugar and salt.
Add milk and let stand until warm.
Dissolve yeast n warm waater and add to milk mixture with the beaten egg.
Stir in 2 cups flour. Beat Add enough flour to make a soft dough.
Place in a greased bowl; grease top of dough, cover with waxed paper and a cloth; chill until ready to use.

If using a bread machine, select dough setting and press Start. When dough cycle has finished, remove dough from pan and turn out onto a lightly oiled surface. form dough into an oval, place in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until well chilled (3 to 4 hours) or overnight.

Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
Do not let dough rise before frying.
Cut into squares and fry, a few at a time, in deep hot fat (360 F); brown on one side, turn and brown on other.
Drain on absorbent paper.
Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Now all you need is a cup of coffee and you are set to go!

Chicken Pasta Casserole

Chicken Pasta Casserole

Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup each chopped onion, green pepper and sweet red pepper
1 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano and parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
8 oz. carton of mushrooms
1-1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 cup chicken broth
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

Directions
In a large saucepan, saute the chicken, onion, peppers, mushrooms and seasonings in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Add can of tomatoes and tomato paste to chicken mixture. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Drain pasta; toss with chicken mixture. Spoon half of the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Repeat layers.

Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15-20 minutes longer or until heated through.

Heartache

Carefree

(click image)

Carefree

(Watercolor/Acrylic)

Sitting here today wishing I was back home in Florida on a boat or scuba diving.

Better yet ....sitting on the beach in St.Petersburg watching a beautiful sunset.

Brunswick Stew

Brunswick Stew

First the sauce:
1¾ cups Catsup
¼ cup French's Yellow Mustard
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 oz. Worcestershire Sauce
1 oz. Crystal Hot Sauce or ½ oz. Tabasco (to taste)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup dark brown sugar

Blend until smooth

Then The Stew:
In a 2 gallon stock pot or larger, over low heat melt ¼ lb of butter

add prepared sauce

8 reg size potatoes diced
1 large diced onion
3 cups chicken broth from boiled chicken
1 lb boiled chicken (white and dark)
2 lb smoked pork (I used leftover from any BBQ even the smoked chicken along with boiled chicken)
2 14 1/2 oz. cans diced tomatoes liquid also
1 (14 ounce) bag frozen baby lima beans
2 14 1/2 ounce cans whole corn
1 14½ oz. can creamed corn added about an hour before ready or it will stick on the bottom

Slow simmer all day and make sure you stir the bottom of your stock pot often so it will not stick

The Dance of the Daisies

(clicking on image is a must)

I have posted this one in the spring but as it seems the frost for the past week

has zapped every bloom in my yard and long for some flowers.

Dad Feeling Better!

Papa Mike Leone

Centro Asturiano. Tampa/Ybor City Fla 1975

(My Step-Dad)

This was in the Waynesville paper in Aug 2009. I just wanted to share it again Im so proud of him and he should be out of the hospial in a few days.

Legandary trumpeter is part of community band
Written by Ron Rookstool
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 20:15
Do you remember the movies “West Side Story” and “The Music Man?” How about Henry Mancini or the Beatles? If so, you are in for a treat.
The Haywood Community Band will be performing its monthly free concert at the Maggie Valley Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16.
The pavilion is located between the Maggie Valley Town Hall and the ABC store. This month’s concert consists of the bands favorites, which include the songs from above plus more.
How about the song “Stormy Weather,” first sung by Ethel Waters in 1933? This song will feature a short trumpet solo by Mike Leone, the Haywood Community Band’s lead trumpeter. To hear Leone play his solo in itself is well worth attending this free concert.
Leone was born March 22, 1922, in New York City. He started playing trumpet at the age of 10. He has been a professional musician most of his life.
He played his trumpet at the New York World Fair in 1938. Leone was a Navy SEABEE during World War II and formed a band, which played to entertain the troops. In 1945, his band was playing at the famous USO Club at the Hollywood Canteen in California. Here he met Jack Carson, an up and coming Hollywood actor.
After being discharged from the Navy, Leone played trumpet in several renowned big bands in the late 1940s. After Glenn Miller’s untimely death, Tex Beneke, saxophonist and singer, led the band.
Leone played under the direction of Beneke in the Glenn Miller Band. Some of Miller’s signature songs included “In the Mood,” “Tuxedo Junction” and “Moonlight Serenade.” Leone played with the Artie Shaw Band. Artie Shaw, “King of Clarinet” had such popular hits as “Begin the Beguine” and “Moonglow and Stardust.”
Many noteworthy musicians/singers performed in this band at one time, to include Buddy Rich, Mel Torme, Ray Conniff and Billy Holiday.
Leone also played with the Bobby Byrne Band. Byrne was best known for his mastery of the trombone and his arrangement of his signature song, “Danny Boy.”
Another band Leone played in was the Vincent Lopez Band. Lopez was a famous pianist and director whose signature song was “Nola.” Some famous musicians got their start in Lopez’s band to include Artie Shaw, the Dorsey brothers and Glenn Miller.
Finally, Leone played under the Cuban director/composer Gilberto Valdez’s Mambo No. 1 Band in New York.
Following his career with the big bands, Leone moved to Elkhart, Ind., and became technical director for the Selmer Bach Company (1952-1973).
He and his wife, Phyllis, relocated to the Tampa, Fla., area for 33 years where he had his own business and continued playing there in local bands. Mike and Phyllis now reside in Franklin.
Leone has a strong love of playing the trumpet and still practices daily. He commutes from Franklin to the Waynesville area to perform in the Haywood Community Band, the Frog Level Philharmonic Dixie Land Band (under the direction of Charlie Alley) and the Haywood Swing Band (under the direction of Dick Trevarthen).
There are regular articles in this paper regarding the Haywood Community Band, their monthly concerts and what they do for this community.
The band performs free at 6:30 p.m., on the third Sunday of each month May through October. Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a beautiful Maggie Valley sunset. There is plenty of room for lawn chairs if the pavilion seating is full.

Spot

Tenderness

Kitty Photo Session

Selma Alabama Public Library

As requested for two more weeks my art will be displayed at

the Selma Alabama Public Library
Thank You Selma

Come Get Me

Haunted Hayride Plantersville Alabama 2010