One thing I notice about myself while out on the road is that I live very easily and light. I eat from my fridge in Rosie for the most part because I absolutely hate eating alone. And on top of that, when I do eat out, I really dislike getting stuck next to that one driver at the counter that runs for $2.50 a mile or higher, every mile, his truck also out pulls every truck on the road, and can of coarse outrun each and every truck. It’s all bullshit, but once you order your stuck listening to said bullshit. And it always seems to me that they wait until you’ve ordered your meal before they really start laying it on thick. It’s either that or they are in awe I’m a trucker, and then assume I don’t know jack shit about trucking, and go on to try and teach me everything I need to know about the industry while I’m trying to inhale my meal.
It just ruins it for me, so I just don’t do it anymore.
When I come home it’s a different story though. I love to make meals (you guys probably got that right?) and when Hubs is gone I like to make something special just for myself. Honestly, I secretly love being home during the week when he is gone just so I can have lazy mornings that are spent only on me.
This morning was my morning. I thought I would share it with you in hopes of you doing the same or something similar for yourself. I especially think as drivers, since we are away from home for sometimes long periods, we should be spoiling ourselves a bit. For me, it makes going back out on the road a lot easier although I am very guilty of coming home and going right back to work on billing, taxes, truck repair, gardens, lawns, taking care of Hubs, animals, etc. that I don’t take care of myself as much as I should.
Sometimes though you have to make yourself slow down and take the time. No matter what job we do in life, we all deserve a bit of downtime.
Now I know everyone doesn’t live in the country but here is my morning in a nutshell. I hope you can find a way to enjoy a morning or day just for yourself!
When I got up this morning the birds were singing and the sky was blue, which is a treat in itself, since it has rained every dang day I’ve been home so far! I walked downstairs and started coffee, then I threw on my flip flops and headed for the barn. I grabbed two warm eggs from a nest box and headed towards the garden in search of the flavoring for my breakfast in my *pajamas.
Although I was hoping for spinach so I could make scrambled eggs with fresh goat cheese, I found Dill & Parsley and thought chipped beef over toast or (SOS) would be good with herbed eggs. I grew up on SOS and it always gives me that homey feeling when I make it although I still cannot make it taste as good as my moms.
My mother always made sure we had a hot breakfast before going to school, and SOS was a regular in her kitchen. I’m pretty sure I would have eaten that meal everyday, if she would have obliged. She still makes it for me every time I go to visit! I love, love, love SOS over toast, but also slathered over whole wheat noodles, mashed potatoes or rice for supper! Yum!
With herbs in hand I headed back to the house, and as I got close I could smell the coffee which made me smile. I walked in, poured a cup, grabbed a sip, and then I grabbed my cast iron skillets for SOS and eggs.
I made my SOS and then heated up my other skillet for my fried eggs. They were still warm, or hot off the hen as I like to call them and to me it is always such a cool thing, to pick a fresh egg that has just been laid and hold it in your hand. You really cannot get any fresher! All in all it took me about 20 minutes to make a damn good meal and then I get to sit at my kitchen table that is set with a cloth tablecloth and flowers and then plan the busy day ahead!
Chipped Beef over Toast
- 1 2 oz. pack Budding Beef-cut into ribbons
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup Flour
- 1 1/2 cups Half and Half or milk or both
- 1/2 inch slice Velveeta cheese
- Pepper to taste
Cut beef into ribbons or slices and set aside. Melt butter over medium heat until melted. Add flour & pepper, mixing with a whisk or fork until incorporated. Cook your flour/butter mixture for a couple of minutes making sure not to burn. The trick here is to cook your flour, since you do not want a flour taste!
Slowly add your milk while whisking and bring to an even simmer. Add your velveeta cheese to the mixture allowing to melt. Serve over toast, mashed potatoes, noodles or rice and enjoy!
***If you live in town, or have close neighbors you may want to put on more than your pajamas to walk out to the garden! I don’t have anyone too close so I don’t bother!***
About Bethany
Beautiful photos Bethany. I love to walk my yard when home, picking flowers for the kitchen along the way. So relaxing! Thanks for sharing, and the reminder!
Thank you Sades!
Thank you. I read your article with a smile on my face and in my heart. I,also, live out of my truck. I find that my dog is by far a better dinner partner than many of our drivers.(he smells better and has better manners). My youth was also spent on a farm and I greatly miss those days. Reading your posts remind me of how wonderful life can be if we just block out the …..(for lack of a better word) bs.
Mary thank you for the comment. I so miss my dog! She was awesome company, and I always had someone to share with!
I miss my “Precious” kitty. She trucked with me for 11 years of her 17 and she loved the lifestyle because when we were in the truck she had me all to herself. I don’t think she even knew she was a cat.
The sun? Was that what that shiny thing in the sky was this morning? I hardly recognized it! I am visiting up here in Minnesota, and when I left Chicago it was dark and gray and cool and we were into 48 hours with out power…
I like SOS too, but never had it with Velveeta cheese in it, so now I’ll have to try it that way. My grandma used to make us doughpa (spelling?) which was pretty much just sidepork gravy on white bread, but there was nothing better…
I live in the city and go out in the backyard (not the front!) in my pjs, as long as they cover me better than my swimsuit!
Your breakfast sounds so wonderful, and every hard-working woman deserves a day to her self, I think having the morning to myself is the best.
I’m looking for the doughpa recipe up, haven’t come up with one yet so I may have to wing it! That sounds great! Isn’t it funny how some of the things we grew up on, that really were so basic were the best ever?