Blooming Bougainvillea's

d

These beautiful flowers are all over my neighborhood in many beautiful colors.

So lovely to look at.

Best Blooming Wishes,

Joyce

Thrift Store Heaven

Yesterday Nana and I went to her favorite place, the Red, White and Blue Thrift Store. Nana has been going there every week since it opened. It's been at least fifteen years, probably more. It's a grand store, and it's the thrill of the hunt that keeps you coming back, if you like hunting that is. You never know what you may find. They have toys, games, books, figurines, vases, paintings, dishes, household items, luggage, picture frames, sporting good, rugs, clothes, shoes, furniture, lamps, appliances, electronics, skates, bicycles, and most anything you can think of, even Louis Vitton purses.

Nana sees things very differently than most, in that, she can look at something and with her great imagination and artistic mind, decide what she can use it for other than what it was made for. Did you get that? I mean in a matter of seconds she will tell you what she can do to it, and what else she can use it for. For instance, I'll say "Mom, what will you use that for?" And just like that, in a split second she'll say "Well, I'll paint it this color, and put it in this room, and I like it, and I want it, and it only costs two dollars, and that's a good price, and that's that!!!!

You have to understand, most of my mom's life she lived on a budget, not always able to buy new things for the house. She is very artistic and became very creative. All my life, I have watched her make the most beautiful things out of almost nothing. Surely with the talent she possesses she could have easily become a famous interior decorator.

It was so crowded that you could hardly get down the isles. People literally pushing and shoving. We have witnessed them fighting over items. They stand by the back stock room door just waiting for the big rolling carts full of new(used) stuff coming out and literally start grabbing. So, a lot of the stuff will never make it to there proper place in the store, because these people start grabbing it before the stock person can even get it completely out of the stockroom doors. The stock people are always yelling excuse me and trying to get by them to put the stuff on the shelves, but to no avail. Sometimes I get really pissed off because you try to get around them and they won't move, because they a guarding their position. No really, they are! You can't get past them, you either push your way through or go around. There have been times in the past when we have said "excuse me", and they will not move an inch. When this happens I just say, "You ARE going to be polite and let us go by, AREN'T YOU?" I explain that we just want to get through, "just let us fraking through." Nana says to me, "Baby, just stay calm and be pretty." And because my mama asks me to, I let it go.

I know I digressed and I'm sorry, but this is real and we are trying to make it real aren't we?

Anyway, if you can get past the commotion and the "village idiots", and do some looking around and hunting, you can find some really cool stuff, and have a lot of fun at the same time. And every time after we finally get out of the place with our stuff, my excited little mama always says, "Well, we sure had a good time, didn't we." And I say, "Yes, we sure did."

Very truly yours,

Joyce

Love Me Tender

My parents took me to see Elvis in person at the Olympia Theatre downtown on Flagler Street on August 3, 1956. It was one of seven shows. He left one show with his pants torn, ooooooohhhh nice. I didn't do it. I was one month shy of my 4th birthday. I don't remember seeing Elvis at all. I don't remember being there. I don't remember anything about that day, dang it!!!! My parents told the story that they kept having to take me to the bathroom because I was so excited about seeing Elvis, I had to "tee tee" every five minutes. Wow, imagine that. Well, I can attest to that, because I still do get excited when I see him. And, I guess that's why I love men with dark hair, slicked back, and if they can moved like Elvis, even better. Whenever I see him or a picture of him it does something to me, I get butterflies in my stomach, I want him. What a hunk of a man. Oh well, he is the best lookin man that ever lived, as far as I'm concerned. Not to mention the good ole boy could sing!!!!!!! I have seen every movie he ever made and I know the words to most every song he sang. I am still in love with Elvis!!!!!

I couldn't help falling in love with him,

Cookie

The Many Faces of Nishelle

Nishelle

She put on her shoes and grabbed her bookbag
It was time to go home
Her homework was done and her stomach was full
"Mimi I love you" were her departing words
How wonderful for me
A seven year old filling my heart with joy
Saying she loves me
After she left I cried like a baby
She had touched my heart so deeply
The love I feel for her is indescribable
No one can ever know how I feel
She touches my soul

By Joyce N. Matta

Avocado Tree Cross

My mom gave me this avocado tree that she planted from a seed from her backyard tree. The most wonderful tasting avocados I have ever had. At harvest time that's just all we think about is avocados. We eat them as a side dish with everything, we salt them , we salt, pepper, oil & vinegar them, we put mayo on them, we throw them in our salad, we make guacamole, we smash them up and make a mask for our face. Wow, isn't it funny how it's growing, like a cross, like it's facing my back door, like maybe it's blessing my house. Kinda weird don't you think. I can't help but think this every time I walk out my back door and see it. It's just right there looking like a cross. It's been like that since I planted it, and just continues to grow this way. No other branches are coming out yet. I don't know, just me, justjoycee!!!!!!! Whatev..................J

P.S. Anyone who wants an avocado plant, go see Nana........she's got a whole bunch started! And, I know my fence needs painting, we have it on our list of things to do around the house. Whatev..................

Real Good Chili

Okay, here's my Chili Recipe for all of you complaining about how "chilly" it's been the last two days. It'll warm you up, I guarantee!!!!! So here goes, this is what you'll need.

Ingredients:

4 medium-size yellow onions, peeled and chopped

3 cloves garlic, peeled and diced

1/4 cup olive oil

l teaspoon oregano

2 bay leaves

2 pounds ground chuck

1/4 cup chili powder

1 (1lb.12oz) can tomatoes(do not drain)

3 (1lb.4oz) cans light red kidney beans (do not drain)

Note: Chili beans instead of the light red kidney

beans also work well with the recipe, and will

add a bit more spice to it. It's up to you.

2 teaspoons of salt

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed hot red chili peppers

I forgot to put my "Good Luck Bunny" in the pic with the ingredients, as I always want to include the cutie, so here he is. I must think of a name for him soon. Maybe someone out there can suggest a name for him???? Please give it a try at least!!! Okay sorry, I'll get back to the recipe. Now, the first thing we need to do is chop up the onions like this. Watch those finger tips please :)

Now, saute the onions in the olive oil in a large heavy kettle like this one that my mom gave me, and her mom gave her, and so on and so on, over medium heat. About 10 minutes until golden.

Meanwhile, chop up the garlic.

Add the chopped garlic to the kettle.

Back to this kettle for a moment, which is called Guardian Ware. It's as old as the hills. This particular kettle, belonged to my Grandma Daisy, who after many years of use, broke down and gave it to my mom, and then I had to beg my mom for it, because she just didn't want to part with it either. So I would say that the thing is probably about 50 years old. And for 50 years old, it's in damn good shape. I just want to know where the rest of the set went. Nobody wants to talk about it.

Add oregano, bay leaves, and beef and saute, breaking up the meat, about 10 minutes until the beef is no longer pink.

Add 2 tablespoons chili powder, tomatoes, 2 cans of the beans and simmer, uncovered, over low heat, 1-1/2 hours. Give it a stir every now and then.
After it has simmered for 1-1/2 hours add remaining can of beans.

Add the vinegar.

Add the remaining chili powder.

Add the salt.

Last, add the "crushed hot red chili peppers".

Isn't there a band named something like that??

Now stir it up and let it simmer for another 15 minutes.

After that, you can serve it up, with saltine crackers. I know some wonderful people who would tell you to put a nice piece of cornbread at the bottom of the bowl and top with the chili, and shredded cheddar cheese. I made white rice, and my munchkins had a little rice at the bottom of the bowl, then a nice scoop of chili, and sprinkled some shredded cheddar cheese on top.

However you you want to do it is fine and dandy with me.

This chili does not come out very spicy, so if you like it "spicy hot" just add more red peppers or whatever you like to make it more spicy. I hope you enjoy it.

And, for all ya'll who can't take the little bit of chilly weather we've been having lately, make this chili and stop complaining, it's gonna be back in the 80's by Monday.

All My Love To You And Yours,

Joyce aka Mimi

More Places You'll Remember

This used to be "Lum's"

The "Bottle Cap Inn"

Lakeview United Methodist Church

Lakeview Elementary

115th Street and 13th Avenue

Name This Building.....

Do you recognize this building? Take a good look...

I thought I might take some pics of places around the old neighborhood, so you could see how things have changed down through the years. This is now a church, but everyone who is from the old neighborhood will remember "Bennett's Drug Store". When I was thirteen my dad would let me drive our car to Bennett's and back all by myself. I'll never forget it because I would get so excited, first that I could drive, because I loved driving, but also that he would let me drive all the way to Bennett's by myself, no one else in the car. I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I felt so grown and it gave me a lot of confidence. There wasn't much traffic back then, and he could almost watch me the whole way since it was straight down 13th Avenue. But he would hide behind the bushes and I wouldn't see him until I got closer to 112th Street. When you think about it, it was pretty cool that he had enough faith in me to let me do it. It was a very cool thing for a father to do.

I hope I have rekindled some good memories you have of Bennett's.

My Love To All Of You,

Joyce

Zeigler Little House

This is Grandpa Quinnie and Grandma Daisy sitting in front of their house on 112 Terrace, and behind them on the right is the frame of the "Little House". This was before I was born, so don't even go there......

Lala says that in 1951, nine months before I was born, at 6:15 pm, I was conceived in the "Little House". She and my dad lived there after they got married March 25, 1950. While living there, they built the bigger house in the front. And there began the legacy of the "Little House". So you could say it started with me. Ooohbababeebee. If it started with me, it had to be good. If walls could talk, is what I always used to say. Thank goodness they can't. I have my story. What's yours? I promise I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. I lived there two different times, first when I was eighteen and attending Miami-Dade North, then when I was twenty when I first got married. That was when my dad chased my ex down the street with a big ole BB gun, threatening to kill him. So, I know you have something to tell. Don't be shy now, spill the beans. Oh, btw that beautiful baby is me.

Love you guys,

Juicy Joyce

Mack's Fish Camp

Did you ever go the the fish camp?????????

Please tell me your story?

Click on comments below and spill your guts, you can do it, I promise I won't tell anyone!!!!!

"In rememberance of Danell & Johnny"

All My Love,

Joyce