Some PEOPLE at the FLORIDA STATE FAIR 2010

Sometimes people watching at any fair or show is worth our fee to be there.  This fair was no exception.

 

Supposedly there were 4 STATE FAIR SUPER HEROES walking around the fair too.  This is COTTON CANDY.  Never found out who the guy is.  We regret we did not get a photo of LARK MAN, who was around alot and very committed to his duties!

  

We love coordinating outfits and this man had our admiration. Even orange shoes.  I suspect if there were orange jeans he would have them too. We have some shoelaces that would match perfectly. Herbscraftsgifts eBay Shoelaces

 

 

One of the street entertainers are WASHBOARD WILLIE AND WISHBOARD WANDA.  They are the cutest couple, he sings and pulls a little wagon while playing different instruments and a washboard.

 

And since we are in Florida, we think there are those that only own shorts, so when it gets cold they have to improvise with long johns!

Some ANIMALS at the FLORIDA STATE FAIR 2010

Besides all the animals the FFA and 4 H'ers were showing, there were several other animals, shows and displays featuring large and trained animals.

HOLLYWOOD RACING PIGS
They were across from our booth and had 3 different races several times each day.  It is a local company who have been in the circus and stunt business for many generations.

GIRAFFES
I took a stroll one night and came across a building with unusual animals in it, including this pair. 

SPLASH - performing SEA LIONS
They were near us too and I tried to go over to see most of the performances.  There were 3 sea lions.  Bruce is the big one in the middle and then 2 girls on either side.  They did the typical ball on nose tricks and catching rings, but the trainers added little twists to make it more involved.

One trick, done to the Olympic theme music, was Bruce doing a hand stand on one flipper and then he carried the girl across the stage, on his nose.

The end of the show was a conga line. Too, too cute.
Those 2 shows were free and always had a crowd.

OTHER ANIMALS at the FLORIDA STATE FAIR 2010

OTHER ANIMALS
And then next to us a was huge display of the largest ALLIGATOR (Big Al), PIG, HORSE, STEER and PYTHON and the SMALLEST HORSE. 

I really dislike snakes but this python really fascinated me.  It was so big and long. 

  

 

 

The head is pretty close to the front glass, but what is really interesting is the circumference of the body.  It had been awhile since it had eaten so that is just it's normal size.  One day the sun was shining on the skin and the dark, dark spots were a beautiful navy blue. The "handler" told me it was probably just the oil on the skin that was making it look like that. (No, he really didn't handle it!)

 

The thermometer is kept in there to keep the glass cage around 115 degrees.

Some of the FOOD at the FLORIDA STATE FAIR 2010

ELEPHANT EARS
These are not the real cookie we knew as kids as elephant ears.  They are just flattened, fried dough, sorta like a funnel cake with no spaces and done as one solid piece.

In New Mexico it is called Indian Fry Bread.  These had a ton of powdered sugar and no cinnamon.  The fry bread, we are well acquainted with, is served with honey or as a Navajo taco with all the taco makings on top. 

 DEEP FRIED BUTTER
This sounded awful until it was described on TV that made it sound more tastful than biting into a hunk of butter. They mix the butter with cinnamon and brown sugar and using an ice cream scoop make a ball.  Freeze it and then dip it in funnel cake batter.  Fry it. The butter melts inside the dough so when it is bitten into it, the melted butter drips out.  It is probably pretty hot too so caution has to be taken not to burn the mouth.

DEEP FRIED PEPSI is just that Pepsi is mixed in the batter.

KRISPY KREME BURGER
This was voted the #2 most popular food at the fair.  It is made with 2 sugar glazed donuts as the bun and then all the hamburger fixin's. It has over 2000 calories. 

Thanks to a very nice man who had just bought one and let me take the photo.  There was a line to buy them on the busy days.  

And we wonder why this country has a weight problem. Yikes!!!

EURO BUBBLES / Bobbles at Florida State Fair 2010

 EURO BUBBLES
  .   

Never saw these before and the kids seemed to love them.  See link below for video!

They are huge inflatable balls with a zipper.  They are blown up for each person, they get inside and then tries to walk around in it in a shallow pool of water. 3 minutes = $7.00. 

There was always had an audience and it looked like everyone who tried it had alot of fun. The helpers were always in the pool to help the ones in the bubble get around because they always fell down after a step or two.

 

Guess I should have given them some of our rubber ducks to float around in the pool! 
Herbscraftsgifts eBay Rubber Ducks

Added 9/27/10  Just found this video on YouTube -  Video EuroBubbles

TRIP TO FLORIDA, JAN. 2010

Wow, it took a lot but we finally got gone on Wed. 1/13. After a lot of help from my son, Sean, the car got up on the trailer but it was too late on Tues. to leave so the plan was to head out early on Wed. That turned into 12 Noonish after another few delays.

Driving out of Colorado there were these snowdrifts that looked like waves frozen in time (which they really are– LOL). I kinda liked the colors; a lot of them were pinkish.

It is not often there is a town with the same name as an acquaintance so I took this photo for Suzie.

We have passed through Dodge City about 2 years ago on our way to Branson. The road was under construction and still is. Last time we checked it out and it looked like old buildings that were newly constructed with new paint – all hype.

Lots of feed lots along the way too. If you don’t see them you can certainly smell them.

Somebody likes wind spinners and yard decorations. I bet there were about 200+ feet.

I read that since it is so cold that some birds will be flying further south. This is one of 4 flocks of geese we saw, all at the same time. H-U-G-E is an understatement.

We passed through Rock, OK and saw a sign in front of a house said - You are between Rock
and our house!!

There was a tiny, rural post office here too, where we stopped to mail an international package. The lady behind the window said she does not do these very often, so Gene had to tell her how.

A dear friend is from Shawnee, OK and knows people there. We waved at them at we went past!!

The whole 3^rd day was foggy and this was one of the worst sections just east of Shawnee.

We woke up this AM in Checotah, OK to these beautiful Cardinals in the tree next to our window. We hardly ever see pretty or different birds at our house in CO, so this was a treat. A huge blue jay visited too.

It rained all last night and is raining east of here in Arkansas, so we are staying put until tomorrow. The weather says sunny all the way to FL.

Am I Glad I Was Dismissed from JURY DUTY?

Heck yes.

The questioning of the potential jurors started with the assistant district attorney Jeff Harwood. I think this must have been his 1^st trial since the analogy to get things started was almost funny.

He was trying to get us to understand that what the judge says is law is law and we are to abide by that no matter what we think. So he said – this table (and tapped the table) – if the judge says it is a chair you have to treat it as a chair. – HUH!!!??? He even apologized it was a stretch but it was so poor we couldn’t even laugh at it.

Mr. Harwood also apologized for not memorizing the seating chart and calling us by our names. He made several excuses including a long holiday break and not enough coffee. And this dude is a professional? Hardly.

He stumbled around for a while and then it was the defense attorney’s turn – Josh Toloni. Now thinking about it, it was like we were on trial with the way he was firing questions at us and the route he took, to make his evaluations.

At the beginning Judge Kelly told us that either attorney or he could dismiss any of us without giving a reason. This guy said he was going to ask us questions to help him and the other attorney decide which one of us to “THROW OFF”. Wow that is classy talk but I guess to be expected from a public defender. .

One good thing he took the time and effort to memorize the chart, which gives him positive points but not enough to overcome what was coming.

1^st was did we know that CO spends more on prisons than on education. Why did we think that? He got all sorts of answers. Then he went on to the death penalty, even tho’ this was not a death penalty case.

Mr. Pepper is African American and so the next fact was - did we know that 20% of the prisoners in CO are of the same race with only 4% of the population being the same. Why did we think that was? There were all sorts of answers like racial profiling, lack of education etc., But then one woman nailed it – she asked him “Why is this an issue? I though we are all people and what does race matter? It seems that in the last year that is all we have heard.” If we could have stood an applauded her, we would have.

Some of the things he asked me were to tell him about the 2 Crimestopper programs I help to start in NM. Next - why there were so many prisoners in this country as compared to other countries? My answer was “lack of respect for the law. There is nothing to deter them from going to jail when prisons are like country clubs. I like the sheriff that makes his prisoners wear pink and that all prisoners should help to grow their food and if they don’t grow it or raise it, they don’t eat it.” When I got done he said, “ You scare me Mrs. Sanchez”. Oh yippeee.!!!!!!!

He was questioning other people too but he came back to me again and asked about the % of African Americans in jail. My reply was WHY and he said that is what I am asking you. SO I said I have no idea, since I have not walked in those shoes.

When his time was up, they had an off the record, whispering meeting with Judge Kelly. Everyone around me kept hearing Mrs. Sanchez; Mrs. Sanchez – so we knew I was going. The man next to me told me not to be jumping up and down as I left. LOL

This was the first time I have been called as a juror. I believe in the system, but no wonder lawyers are regarded like they are. Sleazy manipulators.

But when all is said and done, he had every right to be scared of me, because after reading the article I would not have even needed to get out of the chair to find him guilty.

The question that haunts me tho’ is – if he was on parole – he had been found guilty of something else. Then he murdered 2 people and put on trail found guilty, sentenced and now they are trying him for the escape. Huh?? Why? What a waste? Guess it boosts the district attorneys numbers and wins. And they wonder why the state is poor.

Will I be anxious to be called again? Ahhh NO

The Trial I was Dimissed from details in next blog

Convicted killer facing more prison time for escape
January 06, 2010 1:09 PM
JOHN C. ENSSLIN
THE GAZETTE
A jury this week found Darneau V. Pepper guilty of escape for fleeing Colorado Springs while on parole shortly after he killed two men and wounded two others.

The jurors returned their verdict Tuesday after deliberating for less than an hour.
Pepper faces a potential punishment of up to 48 years in prison, on top of the two life sentences plus 908 years he is serving for his role in the Feb. 9, 2008, shootings at the Whitney Young Manor apartments in the 2100 block of Delta Drive. The shootings were triggered by a dispute over rap music.

Jurors in this most recent trial were not told of the double homicide. Instead they listened to about six prosecution witnesses who described how Pepper had been on parole and wearing an ankle monitor to ensure he was home each night at curfew.

After the murders though, he fled to Hopkinsville, Ky., where police arrested him six days later.
During his two-day trial, Pepper refused to answer routine questions put to him by 4th Judicial District Judge Patrick Kelly.

Before the trial, Pepper’s defense attorney, Josh Tolini, criticized prosecutors for seeking to pile more jail time on his client who already is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. Tolini called the trial “a gigantic waste of the taxpayers’ money.”

Deputy District Attorney Jeff Harwood declined comment until after Pepper is sentenced.

A habitual criminal and sentencing hearing have not been scheduled yet.

Tea at Glen Eryie Castle, Colorado Springs, CO

Our Red Hat group has the tradition of dressing up and going for tea for our December gathering. The short drive was like driving into a Christmas card with the snow on the mountains, and the rocks of the Garden of the Gods plus the bluest of skies.

This year our tea was at Glen Eryie Castle the former home of General Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs and now home to the Navigators – a Christian group.

We had taken a tour prior to tea so we had entered the building into the entry hall that had a glowing fireplace.

The plaster ceiling in the entry way was done by Italian craftsmen.

Our server poured us our 1st cup of tea – either the Glen Eryie special blended Black tea or the Herbal Roobios Crème au Caramel tea. Then came the warm Brie cheese in a small chafing dish with a cranberry / orange chutney that we put onto small heart shaped Lavosh crackers.

This was a tea so we were not really served a meal but the next ‘course’ was several small portions, served to each guest on one plate - a salmon pinwheel; mixed mini veggies on puff pastry; fruit salad with poppy seed dressing and a tiny artichoke bite.

And of course, there was then a dessert plate served family style – white chocolate peppermint bark; Italian pizelles cookies; nutty filo fingers; a Glen chocolate from Patsy’s (a popular chocolate shop in downtown Colorado Springs) and Queen Anne’s currant cake.

The food was fine, the tea tasty and it was a nice affair in elegant surroundings and would recommend it as a place to go and then say been there, done that. Cost with the tour was $32.95 (the tip was included because we were a group of 8). Will I ever go back? Probably on the right occassion!!

Glen Eryie Castle – Home of General Palmer / now the Navigators

General Palmer moved from Delaware to Colorado and was the ‘founder’ of Colorado Springs. He was the 2nd youngest General in the Civil War (Custer being the youngest!)

The General made his money from starting the Rio Grande Railroad from Denver to Santa Fe. There was a railroad war between the Rio Grande and the Santa Fe RR but General Palmer continued operating his RR in CO moving the gold from the mountains around Colorado Springs.

He married and the couple had 3 daughters and built the family home in a little valley on the west side of Colorado Springs and at the north end of the Garden of the Gods.

He always wanted a castle and went to Europe for many of the furnishings, 20 of the 21 fireplaces and even bought a whole 800-year-old church, just for the red roof tiles. Only a few remain on the castle to this day, which makes them over 900 years old. – Amazing.

His wife had heart problems and the doctors advised that she move to sea level. Eventually she and the girls moved to England where she died at age 44. She never returned to the Castle to live.

One of the daughters did tho’. She had TB and the altitude and clear, clean air of Colorado was what was needed for her to heal. Actually that is still true today. Through the years there have been many tuberculosis hospitals and sanitariums in and around the city.

The General also built the Antlers hotel in, what is now, downtown. In the late 1890’s the hotel burned down which led the General into installing several inventive fire protection units in the castle. 1 being metal doors that pulled down to separate 2 of the wings. Another was water pipes and fire hoses hidden behind paneling and in separate closets.

These wooden panels cover a lot of the walls throughout their home. Notice how they go from large at the bottom to smaller at the top. That is to create the illusion of higher ceilings.

He was pretty advanced and innovative. He was putting in electricity the same time New York City was. After he had a telephone installed, he was annoyed that he could not hear very well when there were many people around, so he put in a ‘phone booth” - the 1st one ever.

He didn’t want anyone downstairs to hear folks walking around upstairs, so the wooden floors are covered with felt and then a second layer of wood.

The arches into the servant’s quarters are lower so there was no confusion, for guests, on which hallway or staircase to use.

This shower in his room has vertical pipes all around so he could be surrounded by warm water and still works today.

When he was in his late 60’ he was thrown from a horse and was paralyzed from the 3rd rib down. He wanted to have a reunion of all the men that were under him during the war. Since he was not able to travel it was held at the Antlers. 250 were able to attend in the 1900’s. He died a few years later at the age of 70.

Great Room

The castle sold 4 times. One of the earlier owners sold all the furnishings except for a few chandeliers in the Great Room. Only the Generals bed was recovered in an antique store in Pueblo, CO.

Every castle has its dragon and this one is in the fireplace in the great room.

This loft was used to project movies onto a screen at the front of the room.

The building is also a bed and breakfast where guests can stay in any of the rooms including the Generals, the daughter’s rooms and the room his doctor lived in while he tended to his patient, after the riding accident.

In 1953 the final sale was to the Navigators a Christian based group whose mission is to spread the word of Jesus. They have restored the castle and hold conferences, marriage retreats and many meetings and parties as well as weddings in the castle and on the grounds.

During the holiday season the Castle hosts Madrigal dinners and performances in the Great Room. It looks very elegant and would be a great way to start celebrating the Christmas season.

Gifts using Herbs and Spices

We have been in the herb and spice business for over 13 years and our customers have given us some great ideas for gift giving.

A gift basket full of just herbs and spices themselves for a bridal shower, a student moving out on their own, a new homeowner, or for anyone who loves to cook and experiment with some of the more uncommon culinary herbs like juniper berries, lavender, turmeric, or cardamom in several forms.

A gift basket combined with cooking gadgets, like a nutmeg grater with the whole nutmeg or a stainless steel tea ball with teas.

Themed basket suggestions – Add prepared sauces; gadgets; dishes; linens; and many other creative items to enhance a most thoughtful gift for anyone of any age.

The herb and spice shop  Please check our listings often because we are always revising and adding new herbs and spices and healing botanicals.

Worldly Spice Blends – BBQ Spice; Curry Powder; Taco Seasoning; Apple Pie Spices; Italian Seasoning; Garam Masala; Herbes d’ Provence; Chinese Five Spice Blend; Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend; Maui Onion Salad Dressing.

Basic Baking – Poppy Seeds; Anise Seed; Ginger Powder; Cloves Powder; Ground Nutmeg; Buttermilk Powder; Allspice Powder.

Elegant Gourmet - Whole Nutmeg; Decorticated Cardamom; Saffron; Four Peppercorn Mix; Blue Juniper Berries; Smoked Paprika; White Peppercorns; Crystallized Ginger; Horseradish Flakes; Coarse Pink Himalayan Sea Salt.

Whole Chinese Fives Spices – Blend your own – Star Anise; Fennel Seed; Whole Cloves; Whole Peppercorns; Cinnamon Sticks 1”.

Just Herbs – Sage; Basil; Thyme; Oregano; Rosemary; Chives; Parsley; Tarragon; Dill Weed; Bay Leaves.

Pickling Spices – Dill Seeds; Celery Seed; Ginger Pieces; Whole Coriander; Bay Leaves; Whole Black Peppercorns; Yellow Mustard Seed; Small Cinnamon Chips or Sticks.

Whole Classic Curry - Make you own – Fenugreek; Fennel Seeds; Ginger Pieces; Whole Cumin; Cayenne; Whole Allspice; Turmeric Powder; Whole Coriander; Yellow Mustard Seed; Ground Cinnamon; Ground Cardamom.

Beginner’s Best – Basil; Oregano; Black Pepper; Parsley; Coarse Grind Sea Salt; Onion Granules; Garlic Granules.

Culinary Seeds – Anise Seed; Celery Seed; Caraway Seed; Cumin Seed; Coriander Seed; Dill Seed; Fennel Seed; Black Mustard Seed; Yellow Mustard Seed; Black Sesame Seed.

Pleasing Powders (Ground / Granules) (- Allspice Powder; Basil Powder; Cumin Powder; Celery Seed Powder; Cloves Powder; Coriander Seed Powder; Cumin Seed Powder; Ginger Powder; Garlic Powder; Lemon Juice Powder; Lemon Peel Granules; Lime Juice Powder; Yellow Mustard Seed Powder; Nutmeg Powder; Onion Granules; Paprika; Smoked Paprika; Rosemary Powder; Sage Powder; Stevia Powder; Thyme Powder; Turmeric.

Italian Fare – Basil; Oregano; Rosemary; Parsley; Anise Seed; Onion Granules; Garlic Granules; Coarse Grind Sea Salt, Chile Flakes.

Magnificent Mexican – Oregano; Anise Seed; Ground Cumin; Cilantro Leaf; Epazote; Onion Granules; Garlic Granules; Chile Spice Blend; Chipotle Salsa; Chipotle Peppers; Cayenne; Annatto Seed; Ancho Chile.

Holiday Heaven – Sage; Whole Nutmeg; Apple Pie Spies; Pumpkin Pie Spices; Ground Ginger; Ground Cardamom; 6” Cinnamon Sticks; Mulling Spices.

Tasty Teas – Chinese Black Tea; Chamomile Tea Bags; Chai Tea; Mulling Spices; Orange Spice Tea; Peppermint Tea Bags; Spearmint Spice Tea; Rose Buds.

Accessories – Small Muslin Spice Bags 3” x 5”; Large Muslin Spice Bags 4” x 6”; Small Sealable Tea Bags ; Large Sealable Tea Bags.

Herbs & Spices Names in English to Spanish + Uses/ Yerbas

We have been in the herb and spice business for over 13 years and have over 150 different Culinary (cooking), dried botanicals and Mexican healing herbs and spices in our inventory. This is just a list of translations and not a complete list of our entire inventory with some of the Herbs and Spices used by New Mexicans and other Hispanics.

As always please consult a doctor before using any alternative healing

Anise Seed = Anis - Gas; digestion; cramps; stomach weakness.

Anise / Star = Anis Estrella - For new born babies when they can't stop crying.

Basil = Albahacar - Digestion; good luck.

Boldo Leaves = Boldo - Liver; scars (face); cramps.

Chamomile = Manzanilla - Stomach; to start menstration

Chaparral = Gobernadora - Clean the system; helps with urination

Cinnamon = Canela - Digestion; can be used as a tea after strong emotions

Comfrey – Confrey - Bones; muscular pain; arthritis.

Corn Silk = Barbas de Elote - Lungs; circulation

Dill = Endeldo - Internal pain

Elder Flowers = Sauco - Skin conditions; lung infections

Epazote – Removes gas from gaseous foods. Add to pot of beans ½ hour before they are finished cooking. Good in gaseous veggies too. It is the same enzyme used in Bean-o!

Eucalyptus = Eucalipto - asthma; cough

Fennel = Hinojo - Gas; indigestion; cramps

Hibiscus = Jamaica - Lungs; stomach; fever. Great added to lemonade to make it pink and give it a kick. Especially yummy with lavender added in too.

Horehound = Manrubio - Cough; cold

Lavender = Alucema - Infections; sleep aid. Boil some in water ½ hour before kids bedtime. Will quiet them right down.

Linden Flowers = Tila - Nerves; cough; asthma

Mexican Tea = Epazote de Comer - Removes gas when cooked in food (last 30 minutes); worms; parasites

Mugwort = Estiafate - Stomach ache

Mullein Flowers = Gordolobo - Cough

Marjoram = Mejorana - Circulation; gas.

Mustard/Yellow = Mostaza Amarilla -

Nutmeg = Nuez Moscada - Appetites

Passion Flowers = Pasiflora - Best herb for sleep

PennyRoyal = Poleo - Colds; stomach ache

Peppermint = Menta - Aids digestion; stomach ache

Rose Buds = Rosa de Castilla - Skin; baby cramps; help to relax. Luxurious as a pampering cup of tea.

Rosemary = Romero - Menopause; head ache; asthma; chronic colds

Rue = Ruda - Head ache; ear

Safflower = Azafran (Mexican Saffron) - Used in cooking to add reddish color, very little taste - Spanish rice

Sage = Salvia - Menopause; digestion

Sarsaparilla = Zarzaparrilla - Veneral disease

Senna = Hojasen - Liver; parasites

Seven Blossoms = Siete Azahares - Nerves; sleep aid

Shave Grass / Horsetail = Cola de Caballo - Lungs; menopause; diahrea

Spearmint = Yerba Buena - Stomach ache

Wintergreen = Axocopaque

Window Washing Colorado Springs A BETTER VIEW

Todd and his wife worked in the private sector after they retired from the military. It was also a dream to own a business. A friend retired from washing windows and so 5 years ago A Better View was born.

They have taken care of our house several times and wash inside and out along with vacuuming the sills and tracks.

A Better View is recommended by the Better Business Bureau and is very trustworthy. Their clientele includes a large warehouse store, movie theaters, a new homebuilder, a property management company and many, many homeowners. No job is too big or too small.

They work all year around except when it is very cold that the water will freeze on the glass. Estimates are free.

If you are in the Colorado Springs area, we highly recommend this company. 719- 390-7849