Thursday, March 31, 2016

Folger's Black Silk Coffee

Good Morning Everybody.


Another fine morning in Oklahoma after a little rain last night.  Amazing what a dash of rain can do for the yard and for my spirits.  I've just had my breakfast and my morning coffee and I'm not quite ready to start my day..............so I blog!  


A few years ago my family (brother and sisters and their spouses) met at Table Rock Lake in Missouri for a little family get together.  We all had cabins and/or trailers parked next to each other so that we could easily walk from one to the other and visit.  It was always fun to walk outside in the early morn and see one of my family members up and about, stretching and enjoying their steamy cup of coffee before the rest were dressed.  Soon everybody was up and dressed, refreshed, smiling, and excited to spend another day together.  We'd walk from cabin to cabin inquiring what was for breakfast and making plans for the day.  You see, up till that point we had no plans!  And folks, that is the best way to vacation.


I consider John, my brother-in-law, the aficionado of coffee.  If John liked it, then I knew it was good.  John introduced me to Folger's Black Silk coffee on that trip to Table Rock.  I asked him if he had any coffee and he came bringing me a steamy mug of the black stuff.  I thought it was the best stuff ever and told him as much.  It felt velvety on the tongue and was so rich......and that was before I knew the name.  Certainly appropriate calling it Black Silk.  Maybe what I liked best was the fact that he brought it to me.


I had my Folgers's Black Silk coffee this morning.  I don't buy it every time for it is a little strong, but when I do I always remember John.  And just like this morning, I have vivid memories of he and I sharing a cup of coffee, I see Brenda preparing breakfast at their camp site, I see Teresa straightening up their campsite after breakfast, I see Kay with her laptop catching up on work, I see Tara and Rhonda polishing fingernails, I see Robert having his coffee at the outdoor table, I see Bill sneaking a bacon, I see Chuck walking the dogs, I see Johnny and John discussing "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", and I see me frying 2 pounds of bacon each morning.   


I hope we have more family vacations.  They were the best!  Maybe because I have the best family!  I miss you, John.


I love you.



Saturday, March 26, 2016

Mom's Easter Advice


Just in case tomorrow turns out like this picture...........and most likely it will if you have more than one child, remember that one day you will look back and smile.  Keep calm and remember just exactly why we are celebrating this special Christian holiest of days.

Back in 2007 I wrote a letter to my daughter which I never sent her.  I published that letter a few years back and thought it might be appropriate to republish it.  The link is below. 


Friday, March 25, 2016

Layered Iceburg Lettuce Salad

Good evening everyone and I hope you have had a nice Good Friday. 


Well...........I am through with the Senior Trip memories.  My hubby is as sentimental as I am and thought it was really neat that I found my old story.  He thought I ought to share with all you since this is the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation.  I am not so sure, even after posting it, that it was a good idea.......nonetheless, it is out there!  So.........let's get on with life.  Easter is coming............and coming in rather chilly this year, rain and high of 56 degrees!!!  Where are the little dusters mom made us all those years ago?


I have been searching websites and particularly Pinterest looking for some special recipes for my Easter dinner with my family, my sisters and their families.  I just couldn't find anything that rocked my boat.  Then I saw it.................my old green recipe file box................the tried and true or in some cases, the recipes from 1975 that I had cut out to make some day............sort of like my Pinterest pins of 2016.  You know, the ones that I know some day I will make, but down deep I know I never will.


Anyway............back in the box, I found a layered lettuce salad.  Remember those?  Iceburg lettuce on bottom and layer after layer of vegetables, English peas, a good thick layer of mayonnaise/sour cream dressing, topped with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese.  I think I will have to make this for Sunday.  Besides how good it is, I can make it the night before.  Probably not on my diet plan, but maybe if I scoop off the dressing, it will be alright. 


There will be a lot going on for me tomorrow, baseball game, cleaning, and cooking......probably in that order.  So just in case I don't get back with another blog, please have a very Blessed Easter.


I love you.


My Layered Lettuce Salad

Layer next 9 ingredients in 13 X 9 X 2" pan.

1 small head iceburg lettuce, torn
1/2 medium head cauliflower, cut into flowerets
1/2/ green pepper, chopped
1 (10 oz) pkg frozen English peas, thawed
1 c. chopped celery
6 green onions, sliced
6 radishes, thinly sliced
1/2 lb bacon, cooked & crumbled
6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 (8 oz) carton sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (1 oz) pkg buttermilk-mayo salad dressing mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine sour cream, mayo, & dressing mix.
Mix well.  Spread over top of vegetables, sealing to the edge.
Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover and refrigerate 24 hours
before serving.  (You can substitute or add ingredients.)
I sometimes add sliced water chestnuts.


 

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Reliving Prague Senior Trip - Part III and IV

Days 3 and 4.


                                                                 3rd Day  Friday


Coach came & woke us up & made us eat breakfast because we were going to Barren Fork for the day.  We loaded on the bus.  Karen Ellis had to go home today.  We stopped & got some stuff for a picnic & Coach bought us all something.


We had to wade across the creek to get to the swimming hole.  The girls were shy about going in because the water was so cold, so Coach decided to throw each of us in.  He threw me in once & decided he wasn't going to do it again, so Joyce & I were going to look at the fish & the first thing I knew Coach was behind me.  I screamed like bloody murder because there was a huge rock in the water & I was afraid I would land on it.  I had on Mary's windbreaker, too.  She told me not to get it wet.  He threw me in & it made me mad.  I was getting out of the water & him & David Flick threw me in again.  That was the last thank goodness.  We ate & Nancy, Joyce, Mary & I went up this mountain & we saw an old tabernacle looking thing.  Crazy.  It looked spooky.  So we went down.  Coach told us we didn't need to go up there.  Nothing new tonight.  We just all feel good.  Coach & Mr. and Mrs. Flick thought there would be trouble so they walked around quite a bit of the night, but they had no trouble from anyone.


                                                                 4th Day


We got up & ate breakfast again today.  We walked around & got a coke & took pictures.  We finished packing.  Phyllis' folks came after her.  We left at 10:00 a.m.  Stopped at Gore to gas up & at Checotah for Coach.  We had all kinds of food to eat.  I think most of it ended on the floor.  Sardines.  Got to Home (PRAGUE) about 12:00 a.m.  Everyone had a nice time but everyone anxious to get home.


                                                           END!  Dear Ole Prague




You know I wrote this way back when never ever expecting to let anybody know about it.  Here I am sharing with the world.  I even have my high school diary, but it shall remain private.........maybe.  Nothing in it that would shock anybody, just silly little tidbits that were so important at the time, but now 50 years later they are so insignificant.


I love you.



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Reliving Prague High School Senior Trip - Part II

(Second day of our trip.)


                                                                        2nd Day


Joyce and I didn't go to breakfast this morning, but Nancy, Mary & Phyllis went.  Coach came and told us it was time to go to breakfast.  This morning we took a boat ride in a great big cabin cruiser.  Almost all seniors went.  The deepest we ever measured was 135 feet deep.  I would like to ride all day but we came in just before lunch.  We came back and ate lunch then Nancy & Joyce rode the Hondas.  Mrs. Flick was thrown from her Honda and she rested all evening.  Mary, Phyllis, & I stayed at the cabin & rolled our hair.


Nancy & Joyce got back & we all went down to get a coke and on the way we stopped at the boys cabin.  All their beds were unmade.  (Such a site)  Then we continued on our journey.  We were sitting around at the pool hall & all of a sudden there was screaming.  All of Prague's girls were being drowned by shaving cream from our boys, so, of course, we had to join in on the fun.  We went up to our cabin & our beds had been striped by our boys.  Then we went in to stay out of the firing line & they started in our back window.  We tried to hold them but couldn't.  Then Eddie came in the front & got me with shaving cream!  That stuff stings!  Then everything calmed down & everyone was happy.  We went to supper & as we were going home Nancy & I had the idea we would throw Joyce in.  So the guys in the pool were going to help us & just as we were getting ready to throw her in we were pushed in.  Clothes 'n all.


We got ready & just sat around.  Noone wanted to do anything.  So Nancy & Joyce & I went walking around.  Ronnie wanted me to go over & watch TV with them, but I didn't, & I am glad I didn't because we met these four guys in a car from Connors (a college at Warner).  They went to the dance & so did we.  Carl Dale Jones asked me to go with him to walk me home.  I did.  I danced 3 dances with him.  The guys graduated that night.  We danced to "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Bros.  Had fun. 


Oh I forgot!  We also went swimming at the pool this afternoon.  We had a big water fight.  Had lots of fun!!


And that's the way it was back in 1966.


I love you!
 

Monday, March 21, 2016

Reliving Prague High School Senior Trip 1966 - Part I

I have loved to write for years; maybe I should have been a writer; maybe I should have taken journalism; maybe I should have gone to college!!!  But I didn't and here I am pretending that I am a writer.  From what I found today, it looks like I wanted to be a writer a long, long time ago.


This year is my 50th high school reunion and I have been digging up memories....sometimes from the windmills of my mind....sometimes from old pictures.....and sometimes from a scrap book.  Today it was my scrapbook and in it, my senior trip diary.  What better time to transcribe it than the 50th year anniversary of that trip.  It is a little long so rather than type the whole thing in this post, I will stretch it out over a few days.  Here goes (transcribed as written in 1966 by a boy-crazy girl).


1st Day                                                 Senior Trip                                                                   1966


May 25, 1966, I got up at 3:30 a.m. and got dressed.  Karen and Aunt Azelee came down & we went to Prague with them.  We went up by Mrs. Ellis' house & then on to the high school.  It was very cold.  We left from the high school at 5:00 a.m.  Everyone took pictures & slept on the way down.  Cye Kahanek was the only parent on the bus.  Coach drove.


At about 6:30 a.m. we stopped at the Patty Ann restaurant & ate breakfast.  Everyone was beginning to feel good about that time.  Henryetta looked pretty at that time of day.  We continued on & arrived at Fin 'n Feather about 8:30.  Our cabins weren't ready so we got out & stretched.  Mary Duncan, Nancy McGinnis & I walked to the lake which was about 1 mile away.  By the time we got back, everyone was on the bus ready to go swimming.  It was very embarrassing to have them wait on us.  So we climbed on and went to Strayhorn to swim.  The water was cold but clear.  It would wake you up.


We came back to the lodge about 12:00 and ate our first meal.  We had hamburgers.  The dining hall was very pretty (blues & greens).


We finally got moved into our cabins at 2:00.  We lacked one cabin having enough so Mary Duncan, Phyllis Nicholson, Joyce Edmond, Nancy McGinnis and I got the extra cabin.  The cabins were in duplex style and our neighbors were 4 boys from Amber-Pocassy.  Every night we would talk through the wall.  After we got moved in we went swimming at the pool to cool off.  By the time we got back & got dressed it was time to go to supper.  It was a cold supper & tasted good, although I didn't feel too good.


After supper we all fixed up & fixed our hair to go to the dance. There was a skating party but we didn't go.  I danced 5 times that night.  I danced 3 with John (from Amber-Pocassy), 1 with another Amber-Pocassy boy and 1 with Ronnie Sykora.  Had a good time.  Then we went to bed & slept great.  We talked through the walls a long time.


                                                                   GOOD NIGHT



Saturday, March 19, 2016

Good Saturday Morning

Good Saturday morning folks.  I must tell you that Saturday mornings are NOT the same once you retire.  They sort of blend in with the rest of the days of the week.  I remember the time when Saturday mornings were chaotic.  There was a lot to do on Saturdays as a wind-down to the week and getting everything done that was put aside all week long.  Like:  mowing, trimming, weeding, planting, curling daughter's hair, getting the guys' haircuts, shopping, and CLEANING!  You just had to cram a lot in one day.


Just last evening the hubby and I were discussing how different our Friday nights are now than 15 years ago when we worked.  We relished our Friday nights out back then; not that we don't now, but it is different.  Before we retired Friday nights were our nights to celebrate the fact that we had the next two days off.  Sometimes we even started on Thursday nights as a celebration to the fact that the next day was Friday. 


So enjoy your Saturday everyone.  Today will not be the same for me as it was in 1990, but it is going to be good.  I have buttons to sew on a little girls' dress.  And as a throw-back to 1960, I think I will make burgers for supper (notice I said supper not dinner.  That's because it was supper in 1960.).


I love you.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Pretty Boring

Good afternoon everybody.  Pretty boring day!


What a dreary, cold, cloudy day in Oklahoma City.  It's the kind of day where I just can't get comfortable.  The house seems chilly despite turning the heat back on and my tootsies are cold.  Maybe all my discomfort is somehow related to this head/chest thing I have going on.  No matter if it is or not, I am ready to be warmer, feel better, and have a smile back on my face. 


I don't have a lot to say today.  I just wanted to get something down on my blog.  I love writing and so here goes nothing.


Random thoughts:


1.  Who teaches the proper usage of the words 'me' and 'I'.  They are used improperly most of the time, so much so that when they are used correctly I take notice.  I wonder if one of these days, the incorrect use of the words will become correct.  (I could rant about this for days.)


2.  Have you ever had someone post something tongue in cheek and you respond in kind (tongue in cheek) and they reply back like you are stupid and you didn't catch their tongue in cheek comment, BUT actually you did and THEY didn't catch your tongue in cheek rely?  At that point, you just let it go, Louie. 


3.  I just want 2016 elections over......NOW.  No, I am not going to comment further.  Can't make me!


4.  First baseball tournament is tonight and it is 55 degrees and windy at 2:15 p.m.  At what temperature does Nana decide to brave the weather to watch her grandson pitch his first game?


5.   I need two weeks of sunny, 75 degree days.  That is 14 days without any wind, nothing but sunshine.


6.  If the hubby expects to take me out to dinner tonight, he probably ought to start giving his wife a makeover..........not good, I tell you.............not good.


7.  I want to take a trip with my family.


8.  I love fall, but the spring blooms are gorgeous.  Maybe spring is my favorite.......nope summer!!


Well, that's all the random thoughts I have.  Pretty boring.


I love you.





Wednesday, March 16, 2016

So Long Mrs. Sutterfield

Over a week ago one of my favorite teachers passed away at age 97.  That's her third from left on the top row.  After our grade school finally closed, we were all shipped off to Prague, and everyone went their separate ways.  It was sad in a way, to be separated from those other kids that we sat next to even though they may have been a couple of years younger or older.  Our little family was gone.  Here are a few memories of my 5th, 6th, 7th grade teacher, Mrs. Sutterfield, that I have stored away over the years.

1.  She was strict, in the strictest sense, but I always felt that she liked me.
2.  She gave us gifts each Christmas.  One I particularly loved was a set of Blue Waltz perfume and talc.  I had never had such a grown up gift.  Since she didn't have children of her own, I always felt like we were her own kids.
3.  Once a year we had a carnival to raise money for our school.  One year we bought all kinds of games.  She piled us girls in her car and off to Shawnee we went to buy games.  Some I remember are Clue, Cootie, Mr. Potato Head, Uno.  Clue was one of my favorites.
4.  She was our 4-H director and she wrote all our 4-H demonstrations for us. 
5.  She also directed all our 4-H plays for us and we were always a winner.
6.  The cafeteria was next door to our classroom with a folding floor to ceiling divider.  If we were caught up with our studies, she'd let us slip between the divider and go help our one and only cook wrap the silver or whatever needing doing.
7.  She always wanted our margins straight.  She wanted the left margin to start at the light blue vertical line and the right margins at the even lighter blue vertical line that shadowed through the paper. 
8.  She had stunning handwriting and I always tried my best to copy her.
9.  Her husband came and entertained us on his accordion once in a while.
10.  She played the piano and I always will remember her playing "Country Gardens" for the 8th grade graduation ceremony.  A nice little rendition can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RTIRFbarxw

That's just a few of the memories I have of her.  What a wonderful teacher.  When we all went to Prague, I remember that I was a little jealous that she was teaching other kids and not me.  I hardly saw her after that last year at Garden Grove, only catching a glimpse of her now and again at the cafeteria.

So long Mrs. Sutterfield.

I love you. 

Sunday, March 13, 2016

He Just Makes Me Laugh

He just makes me laugh.  My husband and I talk a lot and our conversational topics are diverse and can range from toenails to atomic bombs, but our car conversations in the car are the best and the funniest.  Today as we were driving these are some of the words that came about. 


(Husband stops car right in the middle of our street.)  Hubby says, "Yes, that is horse poop!  Very distinguishable."  I say, "See I told you so.  We should have stopped last night to see."  Dead-panned, he says, "Well, I never lost one minute of sleep wondering."  I laughed until I coughed.


Driving on the conversation turned to water, specifically water in glasses, specifically water in glasses at Cattlemen's.  Last evening we went to dinner with friends and since I have been a little under the weather my mouth has been extremely dry.  Today, I happened to mention that the water glasses at Cattlemen's were very small.  His response, "Well, they don't expect you to drink like a horse at a trough."  Again, I laughed until I coughed.


His quick, dry-witted, one-liners are what endeared me to him when we were dating and he's still got 'em.  See why we talk a lot?  I like for him to make me laugh.  He just makes me laugh.  And secretly, I think it makes him laugh that I laugh.


I love you.







Saturday, March 12, 2016

Donuts

Good morning everybody.  Donuts, anyone?  I want a donut.  I've already had my coffee so a donut, if I had one, wouldn't be the same without my coffee.  Don't they just go hand in hand; donuts and coffee?  I have had my small handful of blueberries and three strawberries, but I am here to tell you, THEY ARE NOT DONUTS NOR CAN THEY REPLACE DONUTS when one wants DONUTS.


Isn't it odd the strange urges one gets for certain foods.  Last evening my hubby was craving fried chicken.  Now the man couldn't stand chicken when we first married........"too much chicken in Arkansas", he told me.  But last night, his craving sent us straight for a fried chicken place...and not a national chain.  Actually, he had been talking about mashed potatoes and gravy all day so I think his need for chicken was actually a need for gravy............so..................he got two orders of mashed potatoes and gravy as his two sides. 


His little (said in gest) wife sat opposite him eating her grilled chicken salad becoming more and more envious as he tore into his chicken dinner.  So I did what any good wife would do and grabbed the other piece of chicken right off his plate..........albeit a wing.........and devoured it without even a thought as to the fat in that chicken wing skin.  I must tell you, it was just about the best thing I have eaten in a year.  And the potatoes and gravy..............gravy was almost as good as I make at home and I admit I make a delicious gravy.  It was so good, I abandoned my salad.


Yes, a beautiful drizzly Saturday morning but donuts are what I crave.  Not a piece of reduced calorie bread, not blueberries, not strawberries, not even another bite of hot chicken and gravy........DONUTS.  (I used to work with a girl who ordered donuts for her breakfast at the Tinker cafeteria and had gravy put over them.  I kid you not!)


I love you.



Friday, March 11, 2016

It's Just a Cough

Hello everybody.  It's been over a month since I've posted and all I can say is I hope to do better in the future.  Lately, I have had my fair share of ailments, nothing serious, just the kind that makes one feel blah.  I have a persistent cough and my entire body aches from coughing.  I suppose I would be better able to cope with the aches if I were in better physical shape.  I hope to start walking again soon..........as soon as I get over this cough.  It's just a cough.


Since my cough gets worse when I move about, I have mostly been on the computer, not feeling like writing or corresponding with emails, just stalking Facebook and Pinterest.  I am here to tell you that I am sick of Facebook; a lot of drivel and a lot of politics.  Oh.....I feel a rant coming on so I'd better close for now and say that I think I am going to LIVE. 


I've got lots of rants/raves/memories and suggestions for future posts.  Maybe even a few grandchildren pictures.  I hope you come back to check.  Stay healthy.  I keep telling myself it's just a cough.


I love you.

Autumn

Cherri

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