The Ultimate Oyster

I'm not a fan of raw oysters so going to the cradle of Florida's oyster industry didn't really excite me. Franklin County (Apalachicola) produces 90 % of Florida's oyster crop and 10 % of all the oysters consumed in the U.S. I made sure that I ate plenty of seafood -- shrimp particularly -- at every meal except breakfasts. And I did eat fried oysters and baked oysters and oyster chowder. Then, on one of the boat trips, Justin anchored the boat, jumped out and picked oysters right off the bottom of the bay. He shucked them right then and passed them around -- also providing crackers and hot sauce. At first, I declined, then decided I could be a good sport. Wow! Talk about fresh and tender. Even my friend Mary from Baltimore swore they were better than Chesapeake Bay oysters. They were really good. Not good enough that I'll order raw oysters in a restaurant but if I'm ever on a boat in Apalachicola Bay again.....

Crabnapping!

Last Saturday afternoon I went on a bay/ocean cruise where we headed to a couple of uninhabited islands to shell. Sand Dollar Island was a bust as far as its namesakes were concerned -- a few were found offshore but on the sand it was mainly bivalves and angel wings. I did find a cool skate egg case. Our next stop proved a bit more fruitful although unbroken shells were few and far between. I found a (mostly whole) fig shell and a slipper shell, more angel wings, a bright yellow coquina and one I couldn't identify -- either some kind of murex or whelk.

In my closets, I have boxes and boxes of shells that I've collected over the years so I didn't bring too many home. This morning (Tuesday) I was unpacking my travel tote and put my plastic bag of shells on the kitchen table. Not long after, Jack came into my office and said, "Your shells are making noise and moving." Naw! But I went into the kitchen and opened the sack, moving the shells around. Nothing. Then I saw the murex/whelk wiggle. Pulling it out of the sack, I was just in time to see little hairy claws retracting into the curled recess.

Yep, the stowaway was a hermit crab. He's very shy -- but probably very hungry and thirsty! I carried the shell out to try to take his picture -- unlike Miley Cyrus, he wasn't interested in exposure! We took him over to our grandson Alex who is the animal kid in our family. Then we took Alex to the pet shop. Thirty-five dollars later, we have a terrarium, sand, soil, a water dish, water conditioner, food, sponge, spare shell and an instruction book for the free crab! What a deal!

Wet and Wonderful

Just a quick note to share a photo I'm very proud of. I've been in Apalachicola, Florida for the past several days -- having a marvelous time -- but now I've got a lot to catch up on, including sleep. I've been up about 20 straight hours now and I'm fading fast. One of the highlights of the trip was a bay cruise with Justin McMillan and Journeys of St. George Island. The dolphins in the bay like to body surf in the boat's wake and Justin's dog, Blue, likes to dolphin watch. I think I got this one just right!

Getting High -- Part 2

I love it when I get comments on my blog but I haven't figured the best way to reply. So -- this is for Mell who asked a very good question about my ballooning experience -- "How did you get in the basket?" The answer -- "With great difficulty!" Because I am short -- and quite round. There are foot holes in the side of the basket but not close enough together for me. I got the first foot up but it took a couple of strong people to hoist me high enough to get the next foothold. There was major shoving on my posterior region until I was able to get one leg over the side of the basket, then I sat on the side and slipped down. I believe there are several unflattering photos of the whole process. I haven't seen them and I don't think I want to. Getting out was just as unattractive -- just in reverse. Next time I want a ladder!

A Museum=A Muse eum=Amuse eum

I just finished my article for next Sunday's Edmond Sun and got excited all over again about the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. My plane arrived in Albuquerque at 7:30 in the morning and there were no scheduled press tour activities until afternoon so my time was my own. I planned to visit the NMMNHS, the art museum and the atomic energy museum -- and I did -- but almost didn't. I couldn't get myself away from the science museum! What a treat to have leisure time in a great museum. Usually we're limited to about 45 minutes before we're on to the next venue. I spent HOURS there and could have spent longer. This museum is really best for elementary school ages and up -- lots of hands-on things but such great information and graphics that adults won't get bored, I promise.

They have a model of the Mars Rover and a great exhibit on space. I spent a lot of time with a device designed to estimate the chance of intelligent life in the universe using Drake's equation - N=R(x)fp(x)Ne(x)fl(x)fi(x)L. R=the rate of formation of stars like our sun; fp=per cent of suitable stars with planets; Ne=number of planets and moons per star capable of sustaining life; fl=fraction of moons and planets on which life actually develops; fi=fraction of planets or moons with intelligent species developing interstellar communication; and L=the typical lifetime of advanced species on a planet. Of course, there are no definitive numbers for any of the variables! Putting in my guesses (influenced by the range of guesses by scientists) I came up with 375 advanced alien civilizations in our galaxy. Makes you feel less alone, doesn't it?

I loved the display of minerals -- kind of stuck in a corner and not as large and impressive as the exhibits in Dallas and Houston -- but there were some really unusual and beautiful specimens which I hadn't seen before.

As much as I enjoyed these exhibits, the Walk through Time blew me away. From the Big Bang to the Big Freeze, I moved from room to room past great exhibits -- a fabulous tour of geologic change and biological evolution. New Mexico was home to some of the coolest dinosaurs -- T. rex, Pentaceratops, Brachiosaurus, Parasauralophus! Exhibits on the Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction were fascinating.

WARNING: Soapbox ahead. I really worry about our education system kowtowing to fundamentalists who insist on injecting religion into science. I happen to believe that God created the heaven and the earth -- and the amazing information scientists have been and are discovering confirms this for me. My problem is with literalists who insist that these discoveries must be denied or contorted to conform with their interpretation of the Bible. Questions of the big Why? are for philosophers -- leave the How? to the scientists.

Photos: This turquoise nugget weighs 152 pounds -- parts have been polished. The museum was given permission by the Jet Propulsion Laboratories to build an exact copy of the Mars Rover. In the "Age of the Super Giants" -- the Jurassic Period -- huge animals like the Saurophaganax and the herbiverous Seismosaurus roamed ancient New Mexico.

High Times in Albuquerque

Wow! With an altitude of 5280 feet above sea level, visitors to Albuquerque start out high. With the Sandia Mountains, you can quickly get even higher. But the ultimate way to get high in Albuquerque has got to be in a balloon. Our flight was scheduled for Monday morning -- we met at 6:45 a.m. to get to the field where the balloon trucks were assembled. It was cold -- in the low 40s -- and we huddled together waiting for the final decision on whether or not we could fly. Rainbow Ryders has a great safety reputation and they weren't going to jeopardize it by taking off in iffy conditions. The winds were light on the surface. Several small balloons were released to see what direction and speed they would travel. Is this the origin of the phrase "trial balloon?" The signs were not auspicious. The sun rose -- we didn't.

Next morning, we tried again. This time conditions were right. How lucky we were because April is Albuquerque's least predictable month and the days following turned windy and chilly. There were five balloons up on Tuesday so I got great chances to shoot balloons from our balloon. There were twelve of us, including the pilot, in our gondola -- we were literally cheek to cheek! The ascent was as gentle as taking a breath, the flight amazing and the landing smooth. A perfect day, a perfect flight! On the ground, we shared champagne with other balloonists and raised our glasses to pilot Mike Collins' toast:

"The winds have welcomed you with softness,

The sun has blessed you with his warm hand.

You have flown so high and so well

That God has joined us together in laughter

And set us gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth."

On the Road Again -- Almost

What a busy week!!!! Lots of catching up to do and a quick trip to Stillwater where I visited Woodland Park Winery -- they'll be featured in my first Sunday in May Edmond Sun column. I've also spent the week trying to recover from my foodie trip to Fredericksburg, Texas. Fredericksburg was always fun but they have really kicked it up a notch in the culinary department. I went to two cooking classes, sampled cheese, wine and sausage, ate at some exciting restaurants and delved into one of my not-so-secret passions -- chocolate. Fredericksburg is the home of Quintessential Chocolates. Lecia Duke learned the secret of enrobing liquid in chocolate. I don't mean thickened liquid; I mean pure-dee liquid liquid, most of the alcoholic kind. My favorite was toffee liqueur in dark chocolate. The non-alcoholic black cherry was pretty yummy, too. Visit Lecia's store, Chocolat, on Main Street and check these amazing confections for yourself. I'm off to Albuquerque in the morning -- oh, the tempting Mexican food. If Fredericksburg was dangerous to my diet, Albuquerque could be disasterous. Wish me self-control.!
Photos: Before being enrobed in chocolate, the liquids are encased in a thin sugar shell, or zuckerkrust. In addition to making the liquid-filled chocolates, Lecia also creates other chocolate treats.

Flight of Fancy

Flying into the airstrip at Fredericksburg, Texas, is like flying back to the 1940s. Dick Estenson has created a little fantasy world with all the modern conveniences. No, that's not a hangar -- that's the Hangar Hotel. And next door is the Diner. Through the diner is a great conference space decorated with a 40s-style movie marquee and a mural of a plane landing. Entrances to two smaller meeting rooms are through quonset hut facades. In another part of the building is a nightclub that would have been right at home in the South Pacific -- they hold regular USO-type dances here. You don't have to fly in to enjoy the Hangar Hotel but what a great place to stay if you pilot a small plane. Or you can just sit in a rocking chair on the hotel's observation deck and watch the planes taking off and landing.

Cool Beans

When there's a gap in my google -- it's usually because I've been out of town. And I was. I just got back last night from a great five days in Fredericksburg, Texas. There's so much to write about but I have so much to catch up on! So just a quick note and a picture from Fredericksburg which inspired what's on my stove for tonight!

The Brown Palace

I've discovered an interesting reaction when I mention the Brown Palace to someone else who's stayed there. They immediately begin to smile. It's a secret code. To stay at the Brown Palace is to love it. By today's standards, the outside is unprepossessing. However, it must have caused jaws to drop when it was built in 1892. Henry Brown built it in a field he'd used for grazing his cows. He spent the unheard of sum of $1.6 million on the building and another $400,000 on the furnishings. Glowing golden Mexican onyx dominated the lobby which was crowned eight stories above with a glorious stained glass ceiling. Lacy cast iron panels topped with a brass railing trimmed each balcony. Arches around the mezzanine held bulbs with metal floral reflectors mounted on hand-painted panels. And guess what -- all that beauty remains. For 116 years the lobby of the Brown Palace has signaled an elegant welcome to its guests.

Tours of the hotel are given each Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 and provide a great way to see the sights and hear the stories of the hotel. Don't miss the antique silver water fountains which provide water from the hotel's own artesian well 750 feet beneath the hotel. All the hotel's water comes from this source. Antique silver pieces are on display by the entrance to the Palace Arms, the hotel's premier dining room. Inside, you'll also find a small private dining area, the Independence Room where chef's tastings and private parties are held. The wallpaper, created in 1834 in Alsace-Lorraine, is the same paper that hangs in the Diplomatic Receiving Room at the White House.

Every president since Theodore Roosevelt -- with the exception of Calvin Coolidge -- has stayed here. The three presidential suites honor Roosevelt, Reagan and Eisenhower. The Eisenhower suite is the largest. The first lady, Mamie Eisenhower, grew up in Denver and had family here so the Eisenhowers visited Denver often and stayed for weeks at a time.

For the town that's about to host its second Democratic National Convention (the first was in 1908) I was feeling a distinct Republican theme here. I was, however, taken to the Gold Room, an intimate and elegant meeting space, which once served as the Oval Office for President Clinton. I didn't ask if he made use of the Churchill Room -- the hotel's cigar bar!

Tea Party

I just returned from Denver where I was a princess. It can happen to anyone staying at the Brown Palace Hotel. What a marvelous hotel -- one of America's great historic hostelries. My ultimate indulgence was the afternoon tea -- a 115-year tradition. Seated at a small marble-topped table in the lavish lobby, I pretended I was a Victorian lady (sans corset, thank you) as Catherine Rogers poured jasmine tea into my lovely Royal Doulton cup (shades of Hyacinth Bouquet!).

In the background, pianist John Kite provided a beautiful soundtrack of music from classical to romantic favorites from "Phantom of the Opera" and Rogers and Hammerstein (I'm not bothered by anachronisms in my fantasies). Next to my table, a group of girlfriends celebrated a birthday while at another table two young mothers enjoyed a relaxed moment.

This was my final memory of a memorable trip. I'm back in the real world -- not a princess here -- but it was fun while it lasted!

Photos: Tea included Devonshire cream and (clockwise around the plate from upper right) chicken salad with walnuts on honey wheat bread, watercress with tomato butter on brioche, sliced cucumbers with pesto sauce on sour dough, a nine-layer chocolate and mocha centennial cookie, a vanilla plum petit four, the Brown Palace's signature almond macaroon and, in the center, raspberry chocolate mousse tart and berry cheesecake.

Birthday party

A peek at a bit of the lobby -- John Kite at the piano.

Power of the Pen

I'm sure historians bemoan the use of email. Think of all the wonderful things we've learned about our ancestors from their letters. To our descendents, we won't even be a flash in the cybersphere! When I was at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, I found the most marvelous letter. It was a fan letter to Henry Ford reading "Ford has got ever (sic) other car skinned and even if my business hasn't been strickly (sic) legal it don't hurt eny (sic and more sic) to tell you what a fine car you got in the V8." And as one to whom a fast getaway was important, Clyde Barrow knew what he was talking about!

The Henry Ford Museum is full of interesting items -- not just car history -- including the bus that made Rosa Parks famous (or visa versa), George Washington's camp bed and the chair Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot. If you're anywhere near this great museum, do not miss it.

Gracious Host

I get to stay at a lot of great hotels in my travels but every once in a while I find a place that really stands out. The Saint Paul Hotel is the newest name on that list. I arrived late at night, tired after a two-hour flight delay then two-hour flight and I was cold -- my usual winter complaint. I opened the door to my room (an Ambassador Suite) and the knots in my neck began to loosen.

The room was suffused with a warm glow -- peach taffeta draperies with elegant valances with peach, blue and gold stripes brought a summer feel to the room and kept the cold outside. A beautiful basket of fruit and cheese sat on the coffee table -- plump, juicy strawberries, grapes, apples, oranges and brie and crackers. The temperature was perfect, the furnishings plush and comfy and I was definitely a happy camper! French doors led to the bedroom where a massive four-poster, plush with a goose down duvet and pillows, promised a great night's sleep.

Before I could go to sleep, I had to play photographer with the night scene outside my windows. Below, twinkle lights covered the trees in Rice Park like dew-spangled spider webs. The castle-like Landmark Center was just to my right and in the distance, St. Paul Cathedral sat majestically on a small rise.

The rest of my experiences in the hotel -- touring some of the other rooms, hearing about the history, dining in both of the restaurants -- only confirmed my opinion. The Saint Paul Hotel is a very special place. I can always count on a great stay in one of the members of Historic Hotels of America -- this was one of the best!

Bummer

I picked up the business section of the paper this morning and -- RATS -- Expressjet has announced it is cancelling two of its Oklahoma City non-stop flights -- Austin and San Antonio. Apparently ridership was not adequate. I'm doing a series for Southwestern Publications on cities that can be reached from Oklahoma City by non-stop flights. Cancel those two! But most of all, I hate it that Expressjet won't be flying there. I LOVE Expressjet!!!! Expressjet is the closest you'll get to old-fashioned fun flying -- and they feed you.

Gold in Them Thar Hills

I'm working on an article about the Mother Lode country in California and I'm ready to pack up and go. With gold at over $970 an ounce, I think we're ready for a new gold rush. When I was in Sacramento last fall I toured a closed gold mine and was told that if the price rose high enough, the mine might reopen. California has a lot of environmental regulations that make the mining and processing very expensive. I'm writing about the area south and east of Sacramento -- around Sonora and Columbia. Going over pictures from my last trip, I found one of Linda Clark in her persona of Hard Luck Lin. At the time, she was a docent at Columbia State Historic Park. A lot of research went into creating her character. She got so involved with Lin that she's writing a book about her. Imagine -- a young girl in the California gold fields in the 1850s. It's an adventure I'm looking forward to reading.

Photo: Linda Clark a.k.a. Hard Luck Lin, "My clothes is clean but I ain't done my personals yet 'cause it ain't May!"

Nothin' Says Lovin'

My valentine and I were apart on the big day. I ate a chocolate in his honor. Not just any chocolate -- a Tenor's Temptation from Just Truffles in St. Paul. Chocolates here are an art form -- started almost as a joke. Kathleen O'Hehir-Johnson always enjoyed making candy. Working for Northwest Airlines two decades ago, she brought a platter of her truffles as her contribution to a company party. Stunned co-workers wanted more -- deluging her with orders. And Just Truffles was born. Her treats became so legendary that she was asked to create a truffle for dessert at a dinner for Luciano Pavarotti on one of his visits to the area. Working with his secretary, she determined that the perfect combination would include milk chocolate, coconut and Malibu rum enrobed in milk chocolate. She topped the creation with a decorative "P" for the maestro. She and husband Roger attended the concert and Kathleen was puzzled by the fact that the tenor seemed to be trying to show her something. The next day, Pavarotti and his entourage entered her store and his manager explained. Pavarotti had worn the band from the truffle box as a good luck charm at the concert! Luciano was not the only one enchanted by Kathleen's magical treats. Oprah included them in her Favorite Things. Not that she needs my endorsement -- but they're definitely one of my favorite things, too. I hope my husband appreciates that it's the thought that counts because there's no way that chocolate was going to make it back to Oklahoma City!

North for the Winter

Whoever thought it would be a good idea to go to Minneapolis and St. Paul in February? Well, actually, I did. I'm doing a series of articles for Edmond Monthly/Nichols Hills News/Norman Living/Northwest Style on cities that are a non-stop flight away from Oklahoma City. Since each city means a trip and I already have a busy trip schedule for spring, a two-fer seemed like a no-brainer. My complaint about the temperature -- I spent more time being too hot than too cold! It was 11 the night I arrived, a balmy 20 the next day then a slow slide down to 8 when I left. I really bundled up -- long johns and all. I often wear long johns here in Oklahoma in the winter -- have them on now -- and I'm perfectly comfortable. Well, let me tell you, those Minnesotans keep their buildings warm! It felt good to go outside! Actually, the trip WAS a good idea. I had a great time. Now I want to go back and see both towns in their summer greenery. More about the trip in the next couple of blogs.

Photos: The shot of St. Paul featuring the Landmark Center -- a turn-of-the-center courthouse turned venue for several small museums -- and the lovely Cathedral of St. Paul was taken from my window in the St. Paul Hotel. The skyline shot of Minneapolis was taken through a window at the Guthrie Theatre. The glass in the window was yellow. I color-corrected as much as I was able and I think I did fairly well, though the sky is still a bit green!

Last of the King Cake

The King Cake tradition of Mardi Gras really celebrates Epiphany. The shape of the cake represents the circuitous route taken by the Magi to find the baby Jesus. Paula Stevens of Delicious Donuts in Lake Charles prepared cakes for each of the journalists on our press trip. We got to ice and decorate the cakes which were then boxed and shipped to our homes. Mine got home before I did! I chose the pecan praline filling -- excellent choice -- but the other flavors including chocolate, Bavarian cream, and fruit looked equally tasty. Paula ships cakes all over the country. I'm pretty sure I'm going to continue the tradition next year. The cake was fabulous but now it's all gone. I found the little baby doll hidden in the cake. That means I get to host the next King Cake party. I know where I'm getting it!

Busy Day at the Birdbath

Cedar waxwings are among the world's most beautiful birds with their bands of yellow across the end of their tails, just a touch of bright red and their little black masks. I rarely see one around here, so I'm always excited at a sighting. They usually travel in groups so where there's one, there are often more. I spotted three on this birdbath by my front door and ran to get the camera. By the time I got back, they were gone but I was patient and was rewarded. And, in the meantime, I spotted a yellow-rumped warbler and a nuthatch. Did you know that birding is one of the fastest growing sports in America?

Guys Gone Wild

Now I've seen it -- the Courir or chicken run -- and the trick is to describe it! Apparently, it was quite common in French areas of Louisiana in the 1800s. Most towns gave it up -- it is a rowdy custom -- but a few either retained it or revived it. Elton is a revival town. Each town has its own rules. In Elton, the celebration starts in the country and moves toward town. Only men are allowed to participate. The group is led by the Capitaine and participants are called Mardi Gras. Many of the Mardi Gras are on horseback; the others run or ride on a flatbed. Rows and rows of fringe cover the costumes and capuchons. Beer is a major lubricant for the festivities which start at sunup. The group follows a set route, visiting several homes, begging for ingredients for a communal pot of gumbo. Riders dismount and all wait for the host to release a chicken which sets off a free-for-all as the Mardi Gras race to catch the chicken. I have to say I was rooting for the chickens -- but, though caught, the feathered victims didn't seem to be worse for wear. And though in the past, they would have wound up in the pot -- the gumbo was already in the works for this celebration, so the chickens will live to lay another day. It's traditional for the Mardi Gras to dance for the residents in thanks for the contributions. As the day goes on and the beer continues to flow, the celebration gets wilder. Included in the procession, a cajun band kept the beat going. The whole thing looked like the Cajun counterpart of the Bacchanalia!