I have another few posts from Barbados to share yet but thought we'd jump to some Fire Island postcards first. If the first leg of the trip wasn't enough, and granted, that was very relaxing, Labor Day found us back in the US and on Fire Island with most of the Clan for some debauchery. For many of the clan, it was meeting Warbucks for the first time. All went well, and he fit right in with my crazy circle, and he loved Fire Island. I didn't make Fire Island last year and hard to top the last visit what with getting scolded by Patti Lupone herself for the Lad and I making out by an exit. I adore Fire Island and think it should be mandatory for every gay to experience it at least once. I love it. SO GAY...the drag queens, the beaches, the gay antics and flirting, the Meat Racks, the boardwalk paths, the deer everywhere, and seeing many of the Horace Gifford houses of the Pines, and the campy and quaint Cherry Grove. Finding the perfect spot to get nude and catch some rays. We had a blast and at least one party to attend. One nights dinner consisted of about 24 queens!!!!

Sorry for the blur, but these deer were jumping.

Not deer.

MM#1 Fan and the Mistress catching some rays.

 

Preston and MM#1 Fan up to something.

Shadow puppets. Can you even believe such lewd acts going on???? Who'd do such a thing???

Pansy...a drag legend and a past Empress of the Imperial Court of New York.

Your Mistress's comfort shoes.

Impromptu boardwalk parade!

And this was seen walking the day we arrived from the ferry. Like I said you never know what you may see!

BUT BREAKING!

 I was HEARTBORKEN from news after our visit, when I got a text and picture from my friend Jamie who stays in Fire Island all summer. The text included a picture of the flags on the dock in Cherry Grove all flying at half-mast. Below the picture it said flags flying half-mast in honor of Kirk. I thought it was a joke and said this better be for William Shatner as Captain Kirk? He said no you dope; it's for Charlie Kirk. The CGAA dock master decided after he was threatened by officials from Brookhaven county with consequences if he didn't follow the national directive. I was aghast. It felt like a gut punch to the stomach. It was one thing to lower the American flags, but the gay pride flags too? For a man who's hate speech against our community caused so much suffering felt like an assault, a hate crime, a gay bashing, with our very own flag!! Cherry Grove and the Pines Fire Island has been a huge safe haven for the LGBTQ+ for decades, a refuge from an intolerant world. And now we were honoring a man whose very ideals are like acid and being thrown in our faces. This person would NEVER step foot in Fire Island and yet there he was, even after his death, his presence being seen, his menacing presence flaunted over our sacred little town.... the flags... half mast, all of them. But there is a dark underbelly to this town. There are a few trump loving business owners there who love him, just waiting to take our beloved rainbow flag and rise it at half-mast for a rancid, homophobe. I don't know how we come back from this. Our sweet, fun and safe Fire Island has been violated by their wickedness.

One of the few things I enjoy about being back in this area is some of the PA Dutch earthly delights...and one from when I was young this time of year was my grandmother always making chicken corn soup in the late summer into early fall. She was famous for many of her culinary delights, and this was one of them. Corn this time of year is at it's best, and this year it's has been downright delicious. Oak Grove Farm where a go has been having good prices. Last time there I got 24 ears for $9! I froze some on the ears and made my first batch of soup with the rest. I am getting ready to go get more to make even more chicken corn soup for more friends and myself. I use some of the corn also for a baked corn casserole dish for thanksgiving. Some of you commented about wanting the recipe for the chicken corn soup so here it is. Now I tripled this for my huge stock pot up above. The recipe is for a regular batch, probably around 6-8 servings. 

4 Chicken Breast or 8-9 chicken strips, 3-4 bone chicken broth boxes, 7-8 ears of corn, 4 TSP of green onion, parsley and dill, 2-4 tsp of pepper, and a half-minced onion.

I boil the chicken to almost done. Once cooled, I cut the chicken up into small bite sized pieces. I also save two cups of the water the chicken was cooked it.

While the chicken is boiling.....meanwhile, there is also rivels in the soup which are easy to make. It takes 2 cups of flour and 2 eggs and mix together well. Once mix and bonded together dough like, I pinch off pieces into little balls and shape and pinched into little crescent shapes. Once done save them for the next step.

Once the corn is husked, I then take the corn off the cob to boil it. Makes it easier. Once boiled after about 15 minutes, I add the corn in the stock pot, with the 3-4 boxes of bone chicken broth, the chicken, the onion, the herbs and pepper, and the two cups of water from the boiled chicken, and the rivels, and let it cook on a medium for about an hour. Everything continues to cook in this hour. I then let it cool in the stockpot till I divide it up into containers, letting it cool further before storing and placing in the refrigerator. It freezes great too, to enjoy down the road.

Some people like a thicker soup, more corn and chicken, in which case just cut back on a box of the broth. I like a brothy soup myself and tend to keep it as close to my grandmother's recipe. I also don't add salt as I find it doesn't need it, but you can. It's not long after it's done that, I'm enjoying a crock. 

It seems like forever since we last had drinks and talked! It may still be a few days for me to get caught up and make my rounds. The vacation was overdue and very much enjoyed and relaxing. I would have to say most of the time was spent being a huge near naked, beach bum. Some of my friends give me flack for traveling abroad all the time, but for me, I have seen most of what I want to of the US for now. And as I told Travel Penguin on his blog, the world is a big place, with many places. It's nice to get out of the four walls so to speak. This was my first foray into the Carribean, and I was not disappointed. For a hot minute, I gave up gin for the legendary rum which they are so famous. Barbados is small enough that you can easily get around to anywhere you want in an hour, as it's a mere 21 miles long by some 14 miles at its widest point. Located in the heart of the Caribbean, Barbados is popular for its crystal waters, dynamic culture and very warm hospitality. It certainly delivered good times and some fond memories. The colorful and lively capital of Bridgetown which lived up to my expectations. Bustling streets are full of life and noise, fresh foods markets, and boats unloading their catch of the day, charismatic bars, and sensational restaurants. But most of our time was spent on what Barbados is famous for...it's white sandy beaches. The views were spectacular. Our hotel was at Sandy Lane Beach...a ten-minute walk through what seemed like a small rainforest...and then volia....on the beach. The other beach was a more rugged beach, that of Bathsheba Bay.