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Bits of Home

October 16, 2013by SymoneFLeave a Comment

Last weekend I had what I’d call a Bajan weekend. On Saturday, I decided to try my hand at coconut bread (we call it Sweet Bread) and I felt like if I was going to do something so reminiscent of home, I could only carry on the theme for the whole weekend. Needless to say, my first time at Coconut bread was a hit as I did several mini loaves and posted a pic of them on Facebook alerting my other Caribbean people up here and that it was a first come, first serve.

I wasn’t ready for what was about to ensue. Four were collected by the end of the day and everyone who tasted it, loved it.

Now I’m not a chef, (I’ve ruined quite a few meals recently and in the past, ask my husband @davidfowl) but my mother passed on enforced some of her cooking skills upon me. I’ve managed to work up a reputation that if I say I’m going to try cooking something or give someone something to taste that I’ve cooked, it’s greeted with open hands, that reach out for more.

It’s always a good compliment and you want to do more even when the recipe calls for a lot of work.

I hadn’t done a “Sunday Lunch” for a long time for my husband as I’m trying to work on my diet for health reasons. But since I’m not supposed to have coconut I figured this weekend I’d just take a break as I just needed to have this reminder of home. Needless to say my husband was very excited. He loves to eat. I started Saturday evening (yup after all that baking) so that I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed on Sunday. I invited a couple that we spend most weekends with to enjoy the food and company as we recently went by them for dinner and they gave us a some traditional Armenian food that was amazing! I didn’t get pics of lunch (sorry! I just dove in and ate). But the spread included flying fish, macaroni pie, rice and peas, gravy and my husband’s cucumber salad. It was good!!!!!!!!!

I won’t be sharing my own recipe for the Coconut bread but I can research one if you want. We’re keeping certain recipes within the family and I love it that way. I’ve been here for 5 years now, and my love for home grows every time I try to recreate a dish I grew up on especially after having to hunt for ingredients that are close to what I get from home.

Barbados will always be home :).

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It Can’t Hurt

September 13, 2013September 13, 2013by SymoneFLeave a Comment

I was in dire need of retail therapy today. We had a lovely day yesterday for our anniversary but we went to an appointment this morning that didn’t leave me in the best of moods.

When I dropped my husband off at work, I said: “gonna be a retail therapy day…” He smiled and went on his way. Little did I know how much therapy I was about to receive.

I went to Neiman Marcus to see if they had any bags I may be interested in and as I was ready to leave, this lady pops up and asks me if I’ve seen the “it” bag for Fall. I said no and followed her over to it. She was bubbly and full of life I couldn’t resist. She wasn’t the average salesperson trying to get a sale out of you. I sensed that.

Long story short – we ended up speaking for about 45mins (could be less or more but it was long) after she helped me decide on a bag that they didn’t have in the color I wanted.

We spoke about things that people who’ve known me for longer than 45mins don’t know about. Therapy. Most of all, it was the connection felt and shared over life stories. She is a little older than I am but her words weren’t maternal in nature and she brought comfort to me.

Kristen, you’ve given me that push to Let go and Let God. That the average American isn’t atheist nor a Pentecostal pushing their beliefs down my small Catholic throat, but that where there is that common understanding that He exists and you’re not alone, we can get through whatever life throws in our face.

Thank you.

Sometimes, it can’t hurt to open up to strangers. You never know what may come your way.

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Fall

September 9, 2013by SymoneFLeave a Comment

It seems like this week is going to be THE week to enjoy before Summer comes to an official close. I woke up and saw this picture from King5 News on my Facebook timeline:

Thank you Jesus!

As much as I’m looking forward to my uniform of leggings and boots and maybe jackets and pullovers, there’s nothing better than seeing one last week to rock out in short shorts (minus tights), to get in one last tan and drive around with the windows down to cool off from the heat. I hardly used my a/c in the car this Summer. I think I use it enough when it’s cold so unless I’m baking I won’t turn it on. And even then, once I cool off, it’s back to windows down.

I’m happy with the Summer we had here (weather wise) despite being sick for most of it but I still had a good one. The nights have begun to get shorter already but a nice evening stroll in the crisp air will be done almost every day this week. I’ll put my t.v. shows aside to take in the last bits of Summer. In terms of fashion, you can read about what I’m looking forward to here. I would like to experiment more with Fall recipes and I’ll share those as well.

I *really* hope that the temps just drop a bit and it remains sunny for some time. If it’s a sudden change to the gloomy, misty rain then I can see I won’t be moving from my couch very often during the day. That’s life in the Pacific North West… But school is back out. Fall clothing is everywhere. Pumpkin and figs and Halloween decorations and candies are on the shelves. I’m slowly beginning to like this time of the year but it can’t beat Spring and Summer just yet.

I’m just being thankful for what a wonderful year this has been so far. We’ve been to Florida, San Francisco, seen Rihanna in Concert, Dominica, home (Barbados), Norway, my sister visited, my husband’s family and college friends visited, went to two weddings and who knows what else is in store for the rest of the year?! My other blog is doing well and I’ve got an opportunity coming up with that that I’m very excited about. I got my camera to take more and better quality pics ~~(and maybe videos)~~ and I’ve been feeling more self-confident. I don’t know if thinking of Fall and Thanksgiving has me in this pensive mood but either way I’m grateful.

I’m *really* going to try to post more on this blog. I’ve fallen back on both blogs being so busy but I will definitely try to pick back up.

Thanks for reading my random thoughts.