VALENTINES DAY - JIBBER JABBER

 "He did not go to Jared, he went to 7-11."

I am a "dyed-in-the-wool" fan of Valentine's Day. An "I love you card" and a small gift to follow up on that sentiment. My wife is always able to find a Valentine's Day card written just for us. 

She never ever wants any sweets/chocolates as a gift. She never ever wants flowers or an indoor potted plant which requires over watch to keep alive. And I know better than to try to get her a jewelry "geegaw." 

But this year I hit a home run. At least on our game field of life and living. She loves Fritos chips. We both do, but Fritos are off-limits on our diet and we have been steadfast in not cheating. We talk about it, but stay true to the "off-limits" of such treats. But it is was Valentine's Day and the rules are different. I thought she would get a kick out of a card placed on a bag of Fritos greeting her when she got up that morning. 

And it did. That little kid giggle and laugh. "He did not go to Jared, he went to 7-11." She stood there in front of me, holding that bag of chips with a smile on her face. "Ya hit a home run this year, mister."

It so happens that Fritos have always been our go-to road trip snack. Share a cup of coffee and a half a bag of chips alway gets us further down the road.  Took the edge off an appetite and always a welcomed treat. So why not give into a few chips over the next few days, I explained to her. It's Valentine's Day and I just knew you would enjoy getting off the diet wagon "for old time's sake." 

She was kind enough to share, too. Win win!! 

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 JIBBER JABBER 

Fresh hams smoked for Easter by a local fraternal organization on order and paid for. Local boys with serious smokers gather overnight not too far from where we live and they spend the long hours smoking fresh hams for pick up early Saturday morning before Easter. 

It is a "drive-through" pickup passing a dozen or so smokers. We present our receipt and in return, a fresh ham hot off the racks, is placed in a box and set in our car.

Hands down the best fresh cooked hams anywhere. A mild, smoked flavor that I cannot adequately put into words. So this is set into the annual queue and checked off our "to do" list.

Yard guys due this coming week. Trimming shrubs, leaf blowing, pine needle removal, gutters cleaned and a few small damaged trees from the mini-tornado a year ago to be cut down. A small dumpster will arrive soon for us to fill with "stuff."   

Thanks for the visit this week.