Dragon Palace - Pretty Food, Nothing More

Yesterday was my boss's birthday so we surprised him and took him to his favorite restaurant for lunch - Dragon Palace on Daniel Island.  He loves the place, his wife hates it but she is a trooper and said he is worth it so she joined us and we were eight in all.  It was a good time and the restaurant is decorated beautifully and the food looked gorgeous but - I really didn't like it that much.  The chicken had so much breading on it that I could hardly tell it was chicken and the rice - oh, my goodness the rice was terrible! I ordered the fried rice and it was hard and flavorless.  Rice is not that hard to do, how did they mess it up so badly.  I guess I just like my own cooking too much but I was saddened that this food was so, well, just not good.  Pretty, yes! Very pretty food!  Not good food.

Folly Beach and Taco Boy

We took a trip to Folly Beach today for lunch.  Long trip....took 45 minutes....and it was worth every minute!  I only took about 100 pictures and I love each one...lucky for you I am not going to share each one of them!

We met my daughter, Christie, her husband Michael and the two boys there (Casey and Brendan) and went to Taco Boy.  There is one closer to home (in Charleston) but we had heard that the atmosphere was better in Folly so decided to drive the extra distance.  It was just great!  Very funk and fun.  The food and draft Mexican beer were great.  The prices are way too much for Mexican food but at least it was good Mexican food....a difficult thing to find in the south.  I had a fish taco that was very reminiscent of the ones I used to get on the streets in Mexico.  And a Pacifico beer on draft.  Whenever I drink Pacifico or Corona I am transported right back to the Pacific beaches of Mexico.  Ah, but I did love Mexico!

Lunch over - I made everyone pose for a picture outside the restaurant.  The boys left to do their own thing and the older folks went for a walk on the pier.  (You can see that Christie has thrown away the crutches from her knee surgery and is just using the knee brace).

It was a cool and overcast day but the crowds were quite thick because of a fishing tournament that was going on.  We had such a good time watching the people catch just about everything except the fish they were supposed to catch.

We saw a sting ray and a very old and very large horseshoe crab.  (that is what Kirby and Michael called it anyway)  Can you see his little claws under him.  They were working very hard to get him untangled from the line so he could go back to the sea.







Isn't this a pretty scene?  I am not one for sitting at the beach but I know lots of people who love it.  They were enjoying it a lot today - even if it was not very warm!

First Tomatoes

Yea!  The harvest has begun!  Kirby grows wonderful tomatoes!  We have already had his fresh Swiss Chard also!  Just wish the garden was larger.  One day......

Porcupine Meatballs

I have ALWAYS wanted to make these porcupine meatballs and never had done it.  This week I noticed a lot of leftover rice in the refridgerator and also some ground beef in the freezer.  I had cheddar cheese too!  Ah, all I needed was time - which I didn't have.  But - Kirby did!  I kind of pleaded with him and he agreed to make them.  What a great job he did!  We both love them!  This is so simple it would be a good recipe to make with your kids and they will be so proud!  Most of the recipes I looked at used uncooked rice.  I had rice already cooked that I wanted to use.  Guess what?  It works just fine!


Give this one a try if you want something simple and easy that is very tasty!

1 pound ground beef
3 cups of cooked rice - give or take some
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning (or use cumin instead for a whole different taste)
1/ 2 tsp salt

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix gently with your hands.  Press into about 6 or 7 balls.  Place the balls on a greased baking sheet and bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.  Meatballs can be made early in the day and then baked at supper time.  Add some cooking time if they are right from the reefer.  Kirby liked these with barbeque sauce but with the cheese, they are really good just as is!  Kids love them!

Precious Children

I have a grandchild in this video!  I think they are all so cute.  And the teacher is so smart!  Wear them out!

Shooting Range

On Saturday we had a Girl/Guy day.  Christie came over and spent the day with me and we talked as we made pretty beaded things.  We used to do that most every week but now that we don't live so close to each other it is more difficult and we just don't do it as often as we would like.  (Plus we don't really need much more jewelery!)  But the time together was priceless!

And, the guys had their day out too.  They took Kirby's collection of firearms out to the firing range and tried them all out.  He has guns from as far back as the late 1800's when his great uncle was a cowboy.  (they didn't fire that one!)  When the came back the boys got a lesson on cleaning the guns and we all just hung out in the garage and had a good time together.  Fun day!

Progressives

I started this last winter when I couldn't even decide what pictures would be good for progressives.  But I knew I wanted to somehow mark the changing of the seasons.  There is a train track that runs next to my building at work.  I really like it when there is a train there and once they even tooted me and THAT was really cool!  But mostly I like this picture because it is weeds and just stuff growing.  (or NOT growing as in this winter picture)

The picture above was taken on Feb 28th and the one below was today.  (the hard part was always standing at the same place and getting the same picture.....no two are exactly alike.  I tried.........)

I always park at the same spot so the first picture and this one are taken just across the street from each other.  This one will get more green as the summer progresses.  They mow the part along the street but the lot is sitting empty ready to build on - someday...so the weeds are allowed to grow and grow until the end of the season when they will turn brown again.

Hope you enjoyed my little progressive display!

Painted Bunting - part 2

I am so excited!  I had a painted bunting in my birdbath today!!  I just stood where I was and bless his heart, Kirby ran for my camera.  This picture is not very good but I was shooting through the glass with my everyday lens and very excited.  As you can see in the picture, this beautiful boy just had a nice bath!

One Day Vacation

We headed out this morning to go to the Farmer's Market downtown Charleston but it was so crowded and parking was a problem that we decided just to "get our of dodge"!

I seem to be getting into the habit of taking pictures of the Ravenal Bridge whenever we cross it and I have my camera.  I never tire of it.

If you are looking for a little fixer upper here in Charleston, I have one already scoped out for you.  (remember - I am taking pictures out the window!)

And another picture out the windshield.  This is a draw bridge but I have never ever seen it open.  If one of my readers has seen it open, please leave a comment!

All the way out Maybank Highway - Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island we went and we deadended in Rockville. What a gorgeous drive through the marshes and the forests of pine and oak.

This is Cherry Point Landing and lots and lots of people were launching there boats there.  I loved this view of the shrimpers.

There were even a few sailboats around which of course warmed our hearts!  In fact - it warmed our hearts so much that we felt the need to go to Red's Ice House and cool down.  It was Jake's idea of course as it is his favorite restaurant!

A cold Corona was what worked for me.  And I added a nice chicken sandwich made with Old Bay seasoning and I agreed to the cheese and bacon but I didn't eat the bun and not TOO many of the fries!

See why Jake loves Red's so much!  He gets his own bucket of ice water with the cubes floating - all his own!

And then this afternoon we got to see our next door neighbor, Anne get dressed for her prom.  Just look at that dress!  She surely will be the bell of the ball!

Family Time

My sister, Joan, and her husband, Red, came for a visit this week!  We hadn't seen each other in years and had a fantastic time catching up - it took a lot of talking which of course women do so well!

We also had fun showing them around the Charleston area.  We started with a carriage ride downtown which I think is the best way to get to know the city and find out what you want to see more of.

 Of course we had to have lunch at Tommy Condon's.

 We also had a great evening with my daughter, Christie, and her family.

 On their last day we were going to visit a plantation but the rain got in the way.  We visited the visitor's center at Fort Moultrie and then went on to Red's Ice House for lunch.

Kirby would NOT cooperate at all with getting his picture taken!