Life at Willis Creek Ranch

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Shari

I love this picture of my cousin, Shari. I can almost hear her voice saying, "Bye y'all!" as she headed out our grandmother's door. Shari was always filled with energy and had places to go and things to do.

As a kid I looked up to Shari and figured she was the toughest girl I knew. (she was) She could do anything she put her mind to and was an adventuress at heart. She was incredibly kind to me, her (annoying) younger cousin. She would take me out in the bayou on her boat, drive me down to the beach to walk along the white sands of the gulf, and let me hang out with her in the office of the campground her family ran. She introduced me to Barq's root beer and to shrimp po-boy sandwiches. She loved the music of Jimmy Buffett and Hank Williams, Jr. which meant that I, too, loved them. I cannot hear "One Particular Harbor" or "A Country ~~Boy~~ (Girl) Can Survive" without thinking of Shari. She was a lover of animals - all kinds. She was one of the hardest working people I have ever known. She took good care of the people she loved, always.

Shari and Laura - 1981

Shari died of breast cancer on September 19. She was far too young at 54, but she lived those years out to the fullest. I am going to miss her. Shari and I grew closer as adults. I (hopefully) stopped being the annoying younger cousin (although that is debatable!) and we became true friends. Particularly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when, for whatever reason, Shari's cell phone could call out to my cell phone even when it couldn't reach anyone else. She told me that I had felt like her lifeline during that time, but I remember being so honored that she called and so thankful for the long talks it afforded us. When her Mom got ill and then when Shari was diagnosed with cancer, our conversations changed some. Deeper in many ways. We talked about fears, hopes, what heaven would be like. Shari was clear-eyed, but never gave up hope. I hoped alongside her.

I have been thinking about writing this post for almost 3 weeks now. It has been a hard one. How to put into words Shari's life and beauty and determination and strength and light? I treasure these good memories of Shari and am thankful for the mark she left on my life and the lives of so many.

This picture is all the more poignant now...
Grandmother, Aunt Aleta, and Shari - together again.

Shari with her life-long best friend, her brother Jeff.
1994

Johnny and Shari

Daddy and Shari - June 2004

Laura and Shari - 2014

Jonathan, Aleta, Charlie, Mama, Daddy, Shari, Johnny

Shari's wonderful business - Creature's Comfort Pet Lodge

Shari made it all beautiful.

Charlie, Shari, Johnny

Hannah, Jeff, Shari, Julie, Daddy, Mama, Jackson, Laura, Marvin, Jonathan
July 2017

Shari with her camper - July 2017
Go read about Shari's brave journey last summer.

Shari, Daddy, Jeff, Mama, Hannah - at Truman State University

Shari shared some precious family heirlooms.

Shari loved Julie's gardens!

Julie and Shari

Matthew, Anna, Julie, Shari, Jeff, Mama, Daddy, Hannah, Marvin, Laura, Jonathan

family photo before Aleta's funeral - December 2017
Shari, Steve, Charlie, Jeff, Daddy, Mama, Cindy

Johnny, Shari, Daddy, Mama, Jeff, Cindy, Steve, Charlie, Laura
at Aleta's funeral

I am so very thankful that Shari and Jeff were able to come to the Missouri State Fair this summer. Shari enjoyed the fair and got to meet Hank Williams Jr backstage before attending his concert. A precious memory.

Shari, Hank Williams, Jr, Jeff

Jeff and Shari at the concert

Marvin, Zack, Laura, Jack, Sue, Jeff, Shari, Jackson, Brianna

Shari wanted to ride the ferris wheel.

I love this photo so much.

Daddy gave Shari some gifts for the road.
She ended up LOVING that little lobster and named him Louie.
She sent me photos of Louie several times. :)

Jonathan, Daddy, Mama, Marvin, Jeff, Shari, Zack

Laura, Shari, Mama - Aug. 2018

How do you say goodbye?

Shari and Jeff sent this photo on their way home from the fair -
saying Louie was ready to stop for the evening. :)

"Did I send you this pic before? This lobster keeps following me around." :)

Shari's husband, Johnny, also had cancer. His was diagnosed only this year, but incredibly, Johnny died Tuesday evening, October 9. Just shy of three weeks after Shari's death. It makes this photo Shari sent me (the last one of Louie) especially poignant. She and Johnny had been at MD Anderson for appointments.

"Be glad to get home, Louie is waiting on the bed for us."

Love you, Shari.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
½ cup honey
½ cup prepared yellow mustard
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. paprika
½ tsp. dried parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste. Place in slightly greased 9x13 baking pan. In small bowl, mix honey, mustard, basil, paprika, and parsley. Pour ½ of this mixture over the chicken and brush to cover. Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Turn chicken over and brush with the rest of the honey mustard mixture. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Coconut Rice and Black Eyed Peas

This recipe needed more flavor. I am storing it here on the blog because I want to revisit it again - but will have to figure out how to give it more seasoning. (thinking some onions, garlic and perhaps some garam masala?) I really liked the idea of this recipe...

Note - since it didn't have a lot of flavor, I used it as sort of a rice pilaf. Wouldn't have been the exact kind of rice pilaf I would have chosen, but it worked okay.

Coconut Rice and Black-eyed Peas
½ cup coconut milk
2 cups water
1 can black eyed peas (15.5 oz)
1 cup brown rice

In a saucepan, combine the coconut milk, water, and black-eyed peas. Stir in the rice. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until rice has absorbed all of the liquid, about 40 minutes.

Garlicky Parmesan Sweet Potatoes

Garlicky Parmesan Sweet Potatoes
3-4 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds total) cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced (can also use garlic powder)
¼-½ cup shredded parmesan cheese (could use grated)

Place the potatoes, oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss to combine. Transfer to a baking sheet or pan and spread into a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes, then flip potatoes and continue cooking 10 more minutes or until the potatoes are lightly browned.

Remove the baking sheet/pan from the oven and set the oven to broil. Sprinkle the potatoes with garlic and half the cheese then stir well to coat. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top of the potatoes. Broil until cheese is soft and melted - just a couple of minutes.

Stuffed Peppers (IP)

This was pretty good. I wasn't sure about using raw hamburger but it worked great.

Stuffed Peppers in the Instant Pot

4 large bell peppers
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound ground beef
2 cups cooked rice
1 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 ½ Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt (I used Jane's crazy salt)
½ tsp. black pepper
2 garlic cloves (I used garlic powder)
1 tsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. breadcrumbs
1 can condensed tomato soup, undiluted
½ cup water

Rinse the peppers, cut off the top parts and remove all membranes and seeds. In a bowl, combine the onion, ground beef, cooked rice, worcestershire sauce, and all seasonings, breadcrumbs, and ¾ of the can of tomato soup. Mix well with your hands. Fill each pepper with the mixture.

Add a cup of water and the final ¼ can of tomato soup to the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Insert the steam rack and place the stuffed peppers on it. Lock the lid. Turn the valve to Seal and press Manual Pressure cook for 10 minutes. Allow for natural pressure release for 5 minutes then turn the vent and quick release any remaining pressure. (if you have any sputtering through the vent, close it again and wait a bit to release) Gently remove the peppers to a plate or you can place them on a pan and sprinkle with a little shredded cheese - then put in the oven at 400 degrees for about 3-4 minutes.