Feeling poorly, training call, visitors, cooking lessons

Neither Mama nor I felt well last night so we did not do much. I helped her feed when I got home but I was coughing throughout the exercise. The cough bothers the animals some. I guess it sounds like shouting to them. It made one of the baby goats stiffen up and almost fall over. I had had the opportunity to spend an hour working on the county lists during a break at work, so we are up to speed on where we need to be in our research. So, I got into my email and launched a recorded training phone call Mama and I could listen to. It was a very helpful, informative hour.

The only challenge was that the two conversing were from Australia and England respectively. They made a point to speak more slowly than they normally would have but Mama still had trouble keeping up with the conversation. They did bring out some very interesting points that Mama and I made note of – for future reference. One such point was to look into staying in an Air B&B when we travel to an auction. That way you can get a feel for the local flavor and perhaps some insights into the properties you are interested in purchasing at the auction. Also, the locals may know who to recommend when it comes to rehab being done on a property. One other point Mama and I had not considered is leasing commercial property we could purchase. There are some pretty good returns on those types of investments. It was an hour well spent. Thought we may not get to do much in the way of research tonight or tomorrow, I will have several hours Friday evening while Mama is with the school kids at an award ceremony somewhere in the DFW area. She will not be home until about 9 pm.

This afternoon, Alex is coming to the farm so that Mama can teach him how to make Banana Bread. They like all the varieties of sweet breads we have taken to share with them; Zucchini Bread, Pumpkin Bread, Banana Bread, etc. But they are not bakers. Baking is something that does not lend itself to Chinese cooking and with the restaurant, almost all their cooking time is spent it he kitchen at the restaurant. That kitchen does not have an oven. Mama is nervous about the baking lesson, but I think it should go well. That is tonight – along with church. Tomorrow Kim Cantrell is coming to the farm to get the chicks Mama has been raising for her – all twenty-three of them. It will be good to rehome them. It has not been a bother, but it does take Mama’s time twice daily to care for them – and they are getting big, so they need a bigger space than what we are currently providing for them. Then, Saturday morning, Lin and the girls are coming over so Mama can show Lin how to make macaroni and cheese.

Our Mac & Cheese last Sunday afternoon was an epic fail because we only had egg noodles and Mama insisted on putting the chunks of cheese directly on the cooked noodles. It is what she always does. However, with egg noodles I had suggested that she melt the cheese separately and pour the melted cheese over the noodles. It would have worked better but that was not the way it was done. The Mac & Cheese looked like globs of cheese buried in noodles with buttered noodles around the globs. It was not eaten by us. But the chickens enjoyed it. We have been giving them a lot of leftovers lately; mostly from church dinners last week. They rarely turn anything down.

Tonight, it will be a challenge to get ready for church in time. With Mama’s baking class, we will need to time the bread so that it comes out of the oven in enough time to allow all of us to still get showered and dressed. We have to send Alex home with a finished product.

It’s all good.