The Secret Is Out

by Elizabeth Posted on November 11, 2010

A couple months ago, I got a direct message from the Pioneer Woman on Twitter. That was just a tad bit surprising by itself, but she and I chatter back and forth there a bit, so nothing that knocked me out of my chair.

Not until I read it, that is.

Please put afternoon/evening of Sept. 21 on your calendar for a fun (secret) food-related function at Lodge. Will follow w/ an email soon!

Whaaaat? My ears perked up higher than my terrier when she hears the guinea pig squeak.

Basically the only response I had to that was, “Get outta town!” but then I immediately started the paperwork to ask for the day off. And when I found out I could bring my husband and a friend then it was even more exciting, cause I don’t know about you, but a long drive up to northeastern Oklahoma all by my lonesome didn’t sound like the greatest idea, given my terrible nigh blindness. (Kevin knows by now that part of this marital agreement is that he drives at night.)

I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be this (from the Food Network site):

Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
What happens when you combine a pinch of city, a dash of country and a scrumptious Thanksgiving Feast? You get Pioneer Woman. Meet Ree Drummond, former city slicker turned cowgirl. Do not be fooled by her sweet face — Ree makes a mean, hard to beat Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings. We’re sure city slicker Chef Flay has his work cut out for him in this exciting Thanksgiving Throwdown!
Airing Nov 17, 2010 at 9:00 PM ET/PT

So tune in! It’s going to be a great episode and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll see my nervously smiling face, along with those of my husband, my pal Jennifer, Laurie, Meseidy, and Vivian.

Also note that this episode is an hour long, not your usual 30-minute Throwdown.

(I’ll be sharing a post that details my experience that day, but not until after the episode airs, so check back next week!)

Posted in Bloggers, Daily, Friends & Family, Holidays, Oklahoma, TV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

My Corn-Fed, Deep Fried Okie Romance – Part 1

by Elizabeth Posted on November 10, 2010

My parents shut the door to my dorm room and headed toward the elevator.

I cried.

I’ve always been the emotional sort and this was big for me. Away from home for the first time in my life, I was sitting on my new bed between two stacks of clothing in room 701 of McCasland in Adams Tower at the University of Oklahoma.

dorm - freshman yearHow on earth I ever thought I’d make it at Chatham or Smith, the two choices I’d cut my list down to just one year before, I’ll never know. My dad had suggested that I “try out” OU for at least the first couple of years, to see if I liked it. If I didn’t I could move on to all the things I had planned.

And there I was, not 60 miles from home, bawling like a baby. Thankful that my roommate was out for a welcoming event with her family, I calmed myself down a little and headed across the street for a religious club meeting set up to welcome all the freshmen.

That first weekend was a blur. My roommate and I figured out our way around our dorm and part of the campus. We bought books and I wrote the largest check I had ever seen up to that point in my life. dorm - freshman year

On that first Friday, the BSU was holding their annual Pizza Bash and I had agreed to go with Heather and Colt (roommate/cousin and her then boyfriend/now husband). Colt arrived at our room with a hallmate in tow. We invited them in to our spacious (not) suite and Colt’s hallmate promptly seated himself.

Himself. On my bed. My bed.While I was on it.

I don’t know about you, but that was way, way inside my personal space.

We headed off on the walk up through campus to the Baptist Student Union, Heather and Colt hand-in-hand and this young guy trying to chat me up. I wasn’t having it, but at that point in my life I didn’t really know how to put my foot down or send “I’m not interested” vibes (I would learn a few months later). Once we arrived at the BSU we were swallowed up by the crowd and I was glad to disappear into the group of freshman and volunteering upper-classmen. There was music and so many great people. I met people that night that are still in my life today.

Leaving that evening, with the crowd still buzzing behind us, I felt more at ease. There was a sense of community in that place and though I wouldn’t be a part of it for a few years, something about that night reassured me — I was going to be okay.

And somewhere in that crowd there was a tall boy who looked barely past 18, wearing nametag that read simply, “Crumpy.”

Posted in Corn-Fed, Deep Fried, Daily, Features, Friends & Family, NaBloPoMo, The Husband | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Climbing My Family Tree – Anne Knollys

by Elizabeth Posted on November 8, 2010

I promised this a long time ago. It’s probably been a year. Sue me. (“Well, there’s the usual things. Flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t intend to keep.” Name that movie!)

Anne Knollys West, Lady De La Warr was my thirteenth great grandmother. She was the granddaughter of Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne. On this limb of my family tree, Anne was one of the last to be born and live in England. Her son, John West, would travel to the new world and become a Crown Governor of Virginia and serve from 1635 to 1637.

There’s not a lot known about Anne. It seems her connections are what place her in the history books. She gave birth to 13 children, many of whom went on to do great things in England and in the Colonies.

I don’t know how the lady handled those high collars. I’d be clawing at my neck constantly. Tad bit claustrophobic over here!

This is the first of many. I’ve located the graves of a number of my relatives who lived and died before and during the American Revolution. Hopefully, I will be able to visit some of them in the future. The thought that some of my family lived on sprawling plantations in eastern Virginia is so…foreign to me. We’ve been in Oklahoma a really, really long time. In my mind, anyway. I had no idea just how long we’d been in America though. Turns out, with every single branch I’ve checked out, we have been here since almost the first colony. For a person who has never been very concerned about the history of the American Revolution, this was just the thing I needed to stoke the fire of my interest.

Psst…see any resemblance?

Posted in Daily, Features, Friends & Family | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Sunday Evening Cup of Hot Cocoa

by Elizabeth Posted on November 7, 2010

No sugar added, of course. Extra cream.

Ah, the sacrifices I make for this low-carb lifestyle.

  • My husband has a blog. Can’t say I ever saw this one coming, but I did encourage it.
  • On Saturday I went to The Girlie Show. Christine Sharp-Crowe of weather & noise had one of my favorite booths there. I’m keeping one of her creations in mind as a Christmas gift for one of my brothers.
  • Speaking of Christmas, all I really want right now are some quality, instrumental tunes of the season. I got nothin’.
  • See this gem by Élena? *tucks away into homeschooling file* Yay, Squirrel Scouts!
  • The story of my life in two acts OR Hypoglycemia
  • Melissa posted this in regard to the election, but it was sort of a reality check about my own attitude lately. Thanks for sharing. I needed it.
  • Myra shared her recipe for Pumpkin Dip. Gah. I’m doomed with all these impending holidays.
  • So many important, heartbreaking truths in this post over at (In)Courage…I don’t know where to start. And it’s a little too painful to touch right now. But it’s inspired something that I want to talk about, so watch for that soon.
  • Thanks to EatAroundOKC, the 4U Cafe is now on our list of restaurants to check out. A cafe inside a gun range? 1) If you knew how I was raised, you’d understand that this just sounds like it belongs in my life and 2) How have I never eaten there? Do you KNOW my family?
Posted in Bloggers, Daily, Features, Sunday Morning Coffee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments