Flea Market Saturday: Cranky Comforts

Update on Cranky Computer: it'd cost nearly as much as a new machine to make her 100% again. She wasn't the fastest, nor did she have many bells and whistles (okay, none). Still, she has been dependable, and even though her replacement will arrive this week, the demise of an old, faithful friend makes me a bit sad and in need of comfort food.

Sylvie's Chocolate Mud Cake and a pot of tea.
The UK's Sylvie of A Pot of Tea and a Biscuit says peppermint tea and a biscuit (cookie) will always make her a happy bunny. Her Chocolate Mud Cake would do it for me, mostly because it's a variation of Kansas Dirt Cake, a staple at church suppers and family reunions over here. Some have even baked and served it in a large clay flower pot. ("Dirt" - get it?)

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Jonathan and Cowie of Around Britain With A Paunch take food seriously, but delight in taking us along to places like the Saltoun Supper Club, a "secret restaurant" in Brixton.

They also delight in showing off Cowie's outdoor clay oven she dubbed "Cassius" and how it makes pizzas unlike any other. (Hint: semolina flour and a cast iron pizza "stone".) But be forewarned, the photos of those pizzas are almost as good as the real thing.

If secret gourmet restaurants and pizza-to-make-you-swoon aren't your thing, perhaps reading about Jonathan and Cowie's upcoming holiday through Somerset and Cornwall is.

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Jeanie of Genii In The Lakes and I sort of have have much in common. First, she's from the Lakes District of northern England (above) where some of my people sort of hailed from (the non-Lakes side, actually). Second, we sort of share a name (Genii & Genie). But what really makes us kindred spirits is back in June she too had a Cranky Computer. 'Nuff said, right?

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Once upon a time, Ree Drummond was a Spoiled City Girl.
And then she met Marlboro Man...

Grab your coffee and Kleenex, get comfy, and enjoy
Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: Chapter by Chapter,
the rip-roaring true tale of how M.M. turned her
into Pioneer Woman, Domestic Ranch Wife.
After you've laughed and cried through their
courtship, check out the rest of Ree's blog,
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman!

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Even though it's been joked about on late night talk shows "forever", I never understood the meaning of "Flyover Country" until I came across Flyover People several months ago.

Cheryl Unruh's columns are a delight, and Dave Leiker's photographs - found throughout the site - are a visual feast. If you've ever wondered if people really live "down there" as you're flying over Kansas at 30,000 feet, this is one place to find out.

The other is Flint Hills of Kansas, where Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith regularly posts the dates and details of upcoming events in towns in "the Hills" as well as other items of interest. Whether you live around here or are just passing through, Dr. Bill's blog is great resource when you're at a loss for what to do!

As long as we're in the neighborhood...

"Oh, give me a home....where the buffalo roam..."
When I hear that song, I think of western Kansas, and more specifically Smoky Hill Bison Co., near Assaria. But then I'm partial to Assaria (a few miles south of Salina) because my Swedish ancestors settled (and died) there and my grandmother grew up in the area.

So imagine my surprise on learning Pennsylvania has bison (buffalo) too! Lisa tells all about it at Life on a Bison Farm, which is also home to an assortment of other interesting animals.

Have a great week!