Perhaps It is All of These Things

 Do you have a favorite book or magazine that you use every year?  This is mine.  1967 Farm Journal Christmas Book. Despite the fact that the cover and back page have pulled away from the book, it remains intact and readable.  Take a look at what made me happy in 1967 and every year since.

This is my favorite recipe for anything cranberry, but nothing beats the basic relish recipe which I make each year.  I made 8 pints this week; ready for Thanksgiving and beyond.  Since it freezes, thaws, and refreezes well, a jar is almost always in my freezer.  A scoop of this delicious ice cold relish is always next to the turkey on my plate....and it is so pretty and red.  Make it, you will be amazed.  (You will need a grinder, but I bet you could use a food processor--not yet invented in 1967.)

That Yule Log Cake!  Need I say more.  I served this at my Christmas get-together way back in about 1978.  The room was warm even in December, but the cake was ice cold and refreshing.

 

I will admit I have never made the salad pictured here, but these type salads were the rage back in those days.  Thought I'd just throw this in for this look back.

This vegetable Christmas tree--I've made it many times over the years.  It is a pain to make, but it is quite cute.  If I make it again, I can see ways it could be improved. 

If you enlarge the photo, you will see the three dip recipes I made to have at the party when I served the cold cake. 

DIY was even popular in the 1960s.  Paper mache--remember?  1967 might have been the year my mom made a decorative item for my grandmother and herself.  I will try to describe it.  It was a pretty shaped larger vase, topped by a plate, another smaller vase, another smaller plate, and an even smaller vase--all covered by paper mache and painted.  It stood tall and majestic on the floor next to our front door.  It looked very expensive to me....back in the day.  The effect was quite nice.  Grapes and greenery adorned it.  I am still amazed at what a wonderfully talented woman my mom was.  I wonder whatever happened to it.  Probably threw it out.  Shame. 

And the candy...........safe to say I have made several of the recipes on these pages.  The Apricot Nugget was a pleasant change to all the chocolate.

I have bought many Christmas books much more elaborate than this thin little book, but none has brought me more smiles of satisfaction than this one.  Perhaps it is because the recipes were simple, perhaps it is because the pages remind me of certain parties, perhaps it is because I remember the day it arrived in the mail and my mother and me poring over it, perhaps it is all of these things.

I love you. 



Cookie Baking Questions

Good mid-day friends.  Here it is almost lunch time and the hubby is going to lunch with a friend and guess where they are going.  Chinese food!  Ask me how often the hubs has suggested Chinese food in the last year.  Zero!  Exactly zero........but I digress......


This morning I made cookies for my grandchildren.......can't say grandboys as I now have a sweet granddaughter.  I have a few questions I want to ask you about cookie baking.


Question number 1.  Why does every tray take eight minutes to cook, but one?  Yes, one takes nine.  Why?


Question number 2.  Why does that one minute take so long when one year passes so quickly (thinking Christmas....it is approaching.........I can see it looming in the distance...or at any store in town........not to mention all websites.)?  Why?


Question number 3.  Where does the oven mitt go in between batches of cookies?  I mean between EVERY batch?  Seriously!  Where?


Question number 4.  Why does the last batch ALWAYS burn even with the timer set?  Every time?  Why?


Question number 5.  Why don't my grandchildren like nuts?  Seriously.  What's wrong with them?


Well, the hubby has left and I am here contemplating cookies and eating my gruel (okay, not gruel...cottage cheese and tomatoes). 


Hope you have a wonderful cookie-filled day.


I love you.

So.....Your Dressing Never Met the Chicken Before the Plate

Hello everybody.  Just a little note to tell you about our meal last evening.  We were at our favorite local diner having some comfort food since it had been raining two days and nights.....cool and rainy = comfort food.  Nothing sounded better to me than the daily special:  ta-da  Baked chicken and dressing!! 


Let me just say..................they cannot make dressing like I do..............so my craving for Thanksgiving food is still lingering on the taste buds of my mind.  Can you say boxed dressing, boys and girls?   


On the way home, straight-faced, the hubby says, and I quote, "So.......I guess it is safe to say that your dressing never met the chicken before the plate."  He always catches me off-guard with his humor every time which makes everything he says even funnier.  I burst out laughing...............and that's the reason I love him.  He has the most fantastic sense of humor which makes a marriage so enjoyable.


So...........I guess it is safe to say that your dressing never met the chicken before the plate.


I love you.   

Pampering at the Mall

Pampering at the Mall





Good evening.  Last post, the hubby and I had gone to the mall.  Last Saturday my daughter and I also had a trip to the mall alone...a very rare trip these days.  Just the two of us like the old days. 

Nothing like visiting and catching up with my daughter.  We have so much in common....wonder why?  We spent almost the whole afternoon just browsing through Dillard's, stopping to admire the shoes, the purses........

The hubby would find no thrill in that!  We only stopped our shopping for lunch at the Mexican restaurant right outside the store.  Oh what a fun, simple time.  We didn't even spend that much, we just browsed and talked about the fashion.  When a lady pulled my daughter aside and suggested a quick makeover, she had to take advantage of a little pampering.....doesn't get that much being the mother of three.  She certainly deserves it.

Pampering at the mall............  AHH

I love you.

 



He's One of the Good Guys

My hubby--he's one of the good guys.


Yesterday, the hubby and I went to the mall.  I had to pick up my wedding rings which were being repaired.  Wow, my engagement ring sparkled like a diamond, oh wait, it was a diamond.  I couldn't believe how pretty the set looked.  I kept admiring them all afternoon.


So.........being at the mall............we decided to take a look around since neither of us had been out there for months.  It was quite a treat and we both had a good time.  BUT I have to tell you going to the mall with my husband is NOT going to the mall with my daughter.  This is how it went with him and how it would go with my girl.


Hubby:  Man......what is that smell?  That stinks.  (This coming from a man who doesn't have the sense of smell anymore.)
Daughter:  Doesn't that smell wonderful, Mom?


Hubby:  Why are we going in Mrs. Sees?
Daughter:  Mom, let's get our free sample.


Hubby:  Hubby walks on by Pottery Barn not even noticing that I have stopped to window shop.
Daughter:  Mom, let's go in.


Hubby:  Why would they put tattered jeans in the window?
Daughter:  Look at those, aren't they cute?  Mom, you really should get you some.  We can find you some that are classic, but slightly tattered.


Hubby:  Nah, I don't want a frappe.
Daughter:  Mom, let's each get a different flavor and we can swap.


Hubby:  There are too many shoes in this store.  How do you weed through all this stuff?
Daughter:  I'm in shoe store heaven.


Hubby:  No, I'm not very hungry.  Let's split something at the food court.
Daughter:  Let's go to Pepperoni Grill and relax a bit.


Hubby:  I've seen all I need to see.
Daughter:  Mom, wouldn't it be fun to be locked in the mall overnight with all the stores open?


I love him, but he is not a girl.  He was sweet and let me browse around Williams-Sonoma for quite a while even admiring the new fall dinnerware and a new (to us anyway) brand of cast iron cookware called Staub.  Pretty stuff........you need to see it.  AND he insisted I buy a glass pumpkin at Pottery Barn that I was admiring.  HE'S ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS.


And happy fall, y'all. 


I love you.

Tomato Basil Soup Recipe using Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato Soup





One of my favorite grocery stores in the whole wide world is Trader Joe's.  I discovered TJs back in 2000 when I was traveling to the LA area on business trips.  At first I was confused because almost all the products are the Trader Joe's brand.  There were none in Oklahoma at that time and it was many years before they were even in Texas. Finally, they made it to Dallas and ever since when traveling to Texas there has been a stop at Trader Joe's.  

Finally, a couple years ago they made it to the Oklahoma City area.  Now I go there at least once a month.  A couple weeks ago I bought a carton of their Organic Creamy Tomato Soup.  While this soup is delicious heated right out of the carton, I wanted to up it just a little.  I experimented and found a WINNER!!!!  This is a keeper and both my husband I loved it.  Even reheated, it was delicious and a recipe I will making all winter.  Before I forget, I want to get it in print for my recipe box.  I thought I would share it here for all you Trader Joe soup fans.

(Pictured above)

Regina's Almost Homemade Tomato Soup

(using Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato Soup)

1 large clove of garlic (diced)

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

1 14.5 ounce can whole tomatoes

1 carton Trader Joe's Creamy Organic Tomato Soup

1/4 to 1/3 cup garlic basil butter

In a medium saucepan, sauté the diced garlic in the olive oil; making sure to watch closely so it doesn't burn.  Yes, it happened to me.  Add the can of tomatoes, juice and all,  breaking up the tomatoes into small bits as you add.  Cook a bit to meld the garlic with the tomatoes.  Add the carton of TJs tomato soup.  Heat slowly.  Add the garlic basil butter.  Heat, but do NOT boil.

Ladle into bowls.

Garnish with shredded parmesan cheese and basil leaves. 

(I had frozen garlic basil butter on hand that I made.  Just soften some butter, add shredded basil leaves and crushed garlic to taste.  Make into rolls, refrigerate until set.  Cut into slices, wrap and freeze for later use.  I will be making more garlic basil butter for soups this winter.  My basil still looks wonderful this year.)

Sweet Friend

I had lunch today with a sweet friend.  We had a nice time catching up on family and mutual friends.  Sometimes I forget how refreshing it is to visit with long-time friends.  I tend to get in a rut, almost a woe is me rut.  After a two-hour lunch, I immediately felt better about life, about my home, about my family, about my future, immensely better.


So don't forget your friends.  Even though you may have many friends, each friendship is unique to the two of you;  whether it be work related, family related, relationship related, school related......a friendship based on the experiences the two of you have experienced together.


Remember the old Girl Scout song?


Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver and the other is gold.


So thank you, dear friend, for sharing, letting me share, and all the laughter.  I needed it.


I love you.


    

A Long Glimpse Back

We had a nostalgic night.  Johnny decided he wanted liver and onions so 4:30 p.m. off we went.  We pulled into the diner parking lot along with four other cars so I guess we aren't the only seniors that eat so early.  The waitress told us to seat ourselves which is right down my control freak alley.  The feature of the days was goulash and since L&O didn't sound all that great, I decided to try it.  What a kick back in time............and it was good...............reminding me of the good old days when macaroni and ground beef could make a great meal for a lot of people.  Simple times, simple meals.   


Still in this "nostalgic mood", a drive up to Heritage Park Mall seemed in order.  It was here that my little family spent many happy hours when our lives were ahead of us.  So much of Oklahoma City to explore and the world awaited us.  Now, the mall is no more and the only remaining store is Sears...........BUT WAIT...........WHAT IS GOING ON?  Tons of cars there.  We hadn't seen that many cars since Christmas, 1988.  We must go in!


Sadly, we found out that they were closing their doors forever on 3 September 2017 and I guess people suddenly thought they were going to discover the bargain of a lifetime, but my thought ran along these lines; if you people (we) had been shopping like this all these years, then the store wouldn't be closing.


We took a long glimpse back taking time just to look around, not for bargains, but looking back...remembering.  There was a display of folding trays and a lump formed in my throat remembering the time when my parents had them on their Christmas list.  What a wonderful memory.  Looking at the clothes I was reminded that when I was a child, Sears was pretty much the crème de la crème.  Another lump.  Craftsmen tools were purchased every Christmas for at least one man since I started shopping on my own.  Appliances were never purchased until we had compared them with the Kenmore.  A new Sears school coat was a must for our children until they got old enough pick out their own.  We poured over the Sears catalog for days at a time with my sisters and me picking one outfit per page.  Even mom had fun doing this.  We didn't start our Christmas wish list until we'd seen the Sears ad in the Thanksgiving Day paper.  When I was a child the Sears Santa was the best......and did I tell you that my Grandpa Dawkins knew him?  Huge lump!! 


Johnny said our little walk through Sears reminded him saying goodbye to an old friend who you no longer have much in common.  So with that we will say goodbye to our local Sears store. 


I love you.


The mall has been closed for years now, but if you go to Sears before 3 September, you will see a glimpse of the mall through the curtains.  A tiny sliver that draws me......oh I wish I could go through that sliver, walk the mall even with the dust and cob webs before the cob webs cloud my memories.  So tonight we had our last glimpse of the mall, we had our last glimpse of the Midwest City Sears, we had our last glimpse back. Soon the curtain will be closed forever.



After we left Sears we drove slowly around the mall.  Why couldn't somebody save it?  The huge parking lot that used to be completely filled at Christmas now has grass and weeds in the cracks.  The glass windows and doors boarded up.  How could anything so vibrant now be just an ugly eye sore?  Sad. 


“But I also knew that there was no going back.  One can never go back; nothing and no one is ever the same.  All that remained was an occasional evening of sadness, the sadness that we all feel because everything passes and because man is the only animal that knows it."  "Shadows in Paradise", a novel by Erich Maria Remarque.

She's Okay.. I Liked Her.

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something?  Have you ever wanted to tell someone that everything turned out okay?  Today I ran into my deceased friend's son and his new bride.

Joyce, she's okay.

So many times over the years my friend (especially after she was diagnosed with breast cancer) would lament about her son and fact that he hadn't married.  "Was he was ever going to find the right girl.  What would she be like?  Would she like her?  Would she be my daughter?  Would she love my son enough?"

Today I met her, Joyce, and I liked her.  No, I don't know anything about her, but she made a great first impression; a little shy, but charmingly so.  I liked her.

As I walked to the car, I told my husband that I just wanted to tell Joyce that everything turned out fine.  No way to do that, but I can write it down.

Maybe we (I) should stop trying to figure out the future, and concentrate on the here and now.  Everything will be okay.

I wish you could have met her, Joyce.  You would be proud.  She's okay.   I liked her.

I love you.

Road Trip

Good afternoon everybody.

Welcome to the Petrified Forest.

Can you say Road Trip?

We just got home from our Grand Canyon trip with Blaine, 13 years old, and what a trip.  I will be writing about it for the next few days.

Today I want to write about days gone by.  Look at the old car above.  Just beyond the car are the telephone lines that ran along Route 66, the ROAD, the mother ROAD.  From Chicago to LA.  We can only imagine what a journey people had making that long, hot trip in most dessert without air conditioning.  The hubby shared with Blaine some about his trip when he was 12, just about the same age as Blaine is now.  In a station wagon without air conditioning there were five adults, two 12 year-olds, and a baby, making their way from the middle of Arkansas to LA.  Coming back they added another adult and another baby.  Would you consider making a trip like that today?  I can answer that!  NO!  He said they planned their timing to cross the desert in the middle of the night.

Times are different these days....air conditioned cars, expensive, repeat, expensive hotel rooms, expensive gas, more expensive food.......or so it seems.........compared to the days when we were first married and taking road trips.

Johnny and I and our kids made a lot of trips over the years.  We saved and saved for these trips and thought they were important for the culture of our children.  We set aside our money each month, scrimping by just to make those trips.  (In fact, it was kind of amusing how I managed our money back then, but worthy of its own blog post so I will save that memory for another time.)

We looked for inexpensive hotels (motels as we knew them back in the day) and often we would find one for less than $30--remember this was in the 70s and 80s.  I'd fry chicken before we left and we'd have a picnic everyday along our route.  When the chicken ran out, we'd grab some luncheon meats and bread.  Those picnics gave the kids a chance to run and burn off a little energy before hitting the road again.  If it was too hot for a picnic at noon, then we'd hit up a restaurant and save our "picnic" for our evening meal (spreading out the tablecloth {oh yes, I packed a tablecloth} on the bed, piling on and enjoying the Olympics or a political convention on TV--they always seemed to be on at the time we were traveling.)

We traveled but on a thin dime, but nonetheless, the trips are etched forever in our memories and hopefully in our children.  Times were simpler back then or so it seems.  Maybe our expectations were less and our wonder greater. 

Take a road trip....they are the greatest............

I love you.



Cheers Everyone

Cheers Everyone.  Happy Tuesday to each and everyone of you out there in cyberland.  Just had my first half cup of coffee and I now have one eye open regardless of the fact that I have been up for over an hour.  Speaking of coffee..........did you see the news last night?  Just one cup of coffee helps you live longer and three cups helps by 18%..............so today I will have three cups, please.  Don't quote me on the statistics.  Go look it up.  Oops, my other eye just opened.


I've been told I don't write in my blog anymore so I am going to try to remedy that so I can go on to become the Pulitzer prize winner that I am destined to be.  (And yes, it can be awarded for online journalism.)


So.........this summer has been a very, very busy one for me and I am enjoying it to the fullest.  Soon I will be on my fourth trip (or vacations as my grandchildren like to call them) in as many weeks.  Been so many places, even the credit card folks are calling.  When will this fun ever end?  Never, I hope. 


One thing I have noticed after these trips is how much better I feel physically.  Seriously.....I can walk better, my aches and pains have subsided, and certainly my mental health is way better.  For a few years I have been giving in to a certain kind of depression (I guess you could call it depression.....not a psychologist).  I could only see the disadvantages of getting older.  I assumed we couldn't do anything or travel because we had these ailments and maladies that come to us all.  Well, guess what?  I am seeing the light. 


I have many blessings that I had NOT been counting.  The ability to travel is one of them so with that, get in the car!


There's a commercial that runs on TV that says "a body in motion, stays in motion".  There's truth in that statement.  So here's to another trip..........Cheers everyone.


I love you and thank you for letting me just chatter away on this blog 

Sunshine on My Shoulder

Good morning everyone.  I am up a tad bit early and enjoying a cup.....maybe two......maybe three......okay, three cups of coffee in my sunroom.  It is quiet and the sun hasn't even made its appearance, but I feel a glorious day ahead.  Right now I see flowers that need to be potted so that will be my goal.  Tomorrow it is suppose to rain and rain the rest of the week............so no better time than now to pot them.


I hear the hubby rustling around so my "quiet" time won't be long, but really, I don't want it to be.  My three......count them.......three....... grandkids will be here in less than an hour so they will have me busy.  I told them yesterday that I would take them to the grocery store to stock up on snacks so they will be chomping at the bit (when's the last time you heard that?) to do just that.  Those flowers can wait for a couple hours.........


There's lots to do this summer with these kids.............and it is my pleasure to do lots of things with them.  I am blessed.


I love you and hope you have a beautiful day soaking up all the blessings bestowed upon you.


"Sunshine.........
on my shoulder..........
makes me happy........."

Stand By Me

Good evening.  It's been a rather quiet evening.  A perfect evening to listen to Pandora. I happen to choose John Denver Radio. Oh man!!  I have forgotten what a unique voice he had.  "Rocky Mountain High", "Country Roads Take Me Home", and the list goes on and on.  And then there is Elton John, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel............

I hope your evening is as mellow as mine.  I hope you are having a good life.  It has been a longtime time since I have blogged, but I hope to turn this around even if it's only to say hello--like tonight.  Hello!!

Do you miss John Denver like I do?  Time waits for no one.

I love you.

Now for a little "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King.......they don't write them like they used to.

45th Anniversary

Yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary.  No, we didn't go on a trip, but then again maybe we did.  We took a long ride down memory lane.  We drove down May Avenue.............just drove down May Avenue and talked about some of the great places we shopped or ate back in the day.  I am sure the memories are much sweeter than the actuality at the time, but isn't that what memories are for............sweet memories--isn't that the name of the song?


As far back as our dating, we had fun exploring places. Saturdays were almost always out seeing what OKC had to offer.  Sadly, a lot of these places are no longer; French Market Mall, Continental Theater--actually almost all theaters have closed, Enchanted Doll, Glen's Hickory Inn, Tony's Via Roma, Captains Table, Shepherd Mall.......the list could go on and on.


Yesterday, we even walked through the old Crossroads Mall building.  We could spend hours there and not spend one dime.  Our babies turned to toddlers to children to teens there.  What fun............visiting Santa, window shopping...........people watching............enjoying our lives.  And did I mention, we didn't have to spend one dime there.


Sometime during our nostalgic day, I started second guessing our decision to stay at home for our celebration rather than go on a fantastic trip.  Were we making it special enough?  I even started worrying that the restaurant we chose for this special day wasn't going to be memorable enough.........."was it something to remember?" and that's when the hubby turned to be and said..............


"It's about us.  It's not about the restaurant.  It's not what we do on this day.  It's about us.  We are all we need--each other."  Oh he has a way of keeping me grounded.  I love him.  Happy 45th!


That's all I have.  I love you.

March 7, 1939 Diary

Monday, March 7, 1938 -- Knitted on skirt this morning.  went to classes this afternoon.  Went to town at 4 o'clock.  Got reprints of Kodak pictures at studio.  Came home - played piano, knitted, helped Mother with dishes, put pictures in album.


Tuesday, March 7, 1939 --  Had my P.M.  Went over to see Grace 3 times today.  She seems much better.  Finished letter to Mother & Dad & mailed it.  Mailed baby set to Morton's.  Washed and set hair.  Tried on ne crocheted hat.  Really like it with my hair this way.  Class 12:30-1:30.  Study hall tonite.  Listened to radio.


Those are two entries on a diary I have just finished reading.  I found this diary about 3 years ago at a flea market, put it in a drawer and forgot about it.  While I was cleaning closets a couple weeks ago, I came across it and started thumbing through it.  It was so intriguing that I couldn't put it down.  Last Sunday night I finished it and must say, I was sorry it ended.  I learned so much about the time and what it was like during those two years for a young girl.  My mother was a year older than this young woman so I made lots of mental comparisons and wondered if Mother's life was anything like Cherrie's (diary writer). 


But that's not the end of the story.  We live in internet times and if you dig a little you can be your own sleuth.  We found that she went on to become a nurse at St. Anthony's, right here in the city.  In fact, St. Anthony's published an essay she wrote and it is on Ancestry.com. 


My plan is to transcribe this little diary for my own rereading, but to find her relatives to see if they might be interested in having the diary back.  I'm not sure if her own sons want it back, but I am hoping her niece does, the one who put information about her on the site.


In the next few days, I hope to tell you a few things I learned about how wonderful a simple life can be in a much simpler times........a time when setting out on the lawn visiting can be the highlight of one's week.


I love you.


As a bit of fun, I thought I'd tell you what it was like on:


March 7, 1963.  Dear Diary.  I - dishes.  Went to school.  We had National Honor Society practice last hour.  Cut some more on my dress.  Walked back.


March 7, 1964.  We worked today.  Saturday


March 7, 1965.  Went to church.  Went to Aunt Geneva's for dinner.  Dad let me take car to Prague.  Nancy, Joyce, Karen S. & I went.  Joyce was washing her car.  Nancy was helping.


I had first hand knowledge of these events.  Wink - wink!

My Style

Again with the style............


Been looking for new spring style ideas for a woman my age and no place better than Pinterest.  I love to look at all the styles that folks have posted............some cute.............and some others, not so cute!  Nonetheless, a great place to get inspired.


I now realize that my style reflects the person I am around the most at the time.  For instance, if I am around my daughter, then I tend to dress as she does.  Jeans and a cute tee-shirt.  If I'm around one of my sisters, then I tend to wear or buy something they would like.  I think it all comes down to wanting someone to like what I wear and/or make a comment about the outfit, but a good comment.


After seeing what I like and pin on my Pinterest board, I see a common thread.  1) The model is thin.  2) The model is younger than me.  3) They are wearing high heels even with jeans or wearing really, really, really cute shoes.  4)  The handbag is very cute and most often a larger bag than I carry.  The bags look more high end.  5)  The jewelry is most often costume jewelry and on a larger scale than I wear.  6) They have a cute hair style and their makeup is impeccable.


Now some of these looks I can pull off by making certain modifications; i.e. lose weight, wearing cuter shoes, wearing costume jewelry.  I cannot make myself younger and I dare not tempt gravity by wearing high heels although if I have someone to take my arm, I might give it a go.  Still, after all these years, for my own personal well-being, I have to try to look good.  Still I am discovering my style.


That's all the news from the arm chair.  Hope you have a beautiful day.  Suppose to be 79 degrees in OKC.  Let's make that happen!


I love you.  

Off to See My Aunt

Good morning everybody.  Had my coffee and raring (is that the correct spelling?  No red underline so I guess it is.) to go. 


Have you ever had your day planned and suddenly realized you need to do something much more important.............that you'd (ok, I) forgotten?  Well seriously, I just realized that it is my aunt's birthday and not just any birthday........HER 102nd BIRTHDAY.  I doubt many of us will celebrate our own 102nd birthday so today I am going to celebrate hers.  My day has completely changed course, but without a doubt in my mind, it is going to be a much better day than I had planned at 8:00 this morning.  Yes, 15 minutes ago my plan was to work outside, BUT.....................


sometimes you just gotta (I got the red underline so I do know that gotta is not a word, but it fits my mood) change courses.


I love you and am off to see my aunt.

Rowenta Iron

I got something new yesterday.  A Rowenta Professional 1800 Watt Iron and I LOVE IT!  I've been ironing ever since. 


If you know me, you know that I love to iron especially if the iron is working perfectly; i.e. steaming and not leaking.  Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have to tell you that this iron STEAMS.  REALLY STEAMS.  In fact, so much steam that my glasses fog over.  An annoyance at times, but well worth the fog to have an iron that puts out STEAM.  This is one of the best QVC purchases I have ever made.  Although it is a little heavier than my old iron, I still give it 5 stars.


I have written about my ironing obsession several times in this blog.  It is a very calming task for me.  Today the house was cool so the steam from the iron was comforting and helped put a little moisture into this dry house.  I was so relaxed..............ironing, remembering back in the day, music playing from Pandora (have you tried Pandora OR Spotify?).  There is such satisfaction in freshly pressed garments and the smell is divine. 


Here's another ironing post.  Hope you enjoy it.


I love you.

An Afternoon at Sears

Hi friends,


The other day we had occasion to visit our local Sears store.  Wow, what a shock!  The Sears store remained open after the mall closed years ago.................but it DID hold on.  Even though it is still open today, the merchandise seems to slowly dwindling away.......the TVs had been moved to another store.  By the number of customers in the store today, they are slowly dwindling away, too.


Hand in hand, we were exploring the store when suddenly a lump formed in my throat.  We looked at each other and just smiled.  So many things are disappearing from our life.  We talked about a few; Service Merchandise--gone, Montgomery Ward--gone, Dillard's in the mall--gone, the whole mall--gone, Street's--gone, Across The Street--gone, Kip's--gone, Girlie Pancake House--gone, Trade--gone, Safeway--gone, Albertson's--gone--gone--gone--so many gone that it would take an hour to type them all, and now it looks like Sears may be going, going, gone soon, too. 


As we were remembering all the choices that have gone away, my hubby asks me if we have had a net gain or a net loss.  The stores and the restaurants we enjoyed together when our family was young are slowing dwindling away.  Trickling away so that we only have pleasant vague memories.  Still we have each other, holding hands, and remembering.  BUT the good news--we're still making memories.


I love you.   

A Day Too Late

Have you ever had money burning a hole in your pocket?  My grandsons sure do, but even their Nana does once in a while especially when I have a coupon.  Well..............I had a coupon!  A $10 off on a purchase of $10 or more.


So I put a reminder on my phone every hour on the hour last Sunday so that I don't miss the last day of the offer.  Finally after putting it off for three hours, off to the store I go..........feeling all giddy about finding something for nothing.  I even called my daughter on the way to see if she might join me, but alas.........she had other things to do...........can you believe she had better things to do?


Oh, I'm so happy, this is exciting..........shopping knowing my purchase would be free.  I had been in the store about 15 minutes when I realized I left the coupon in the car.  No biggie.  I will just make my selection, set it aside and run to the car to get it.  So I search...........but that watch is too much.  I look at the earrings, but do I really need another pair of earring?  Off to the clothes.........nothing that fit the price.  Let me explain what runs through my mind when I search for the perfect point between price and value.  You see, I don't want to spend more than $25 because there's also a $10 off a $25 purchase.  Using that coupon would mean I would still have the $10 off $10.  Not a good choice.........so I continue looking for that ideal purchase, trying to stay as close as $10 as possible.


Gosh, after 30 minutes in the store my mind begins to scramble.  What am I going to get?   And there is a chance I am a cheap snob, because nothing in that store was tempting me at any price.  Still I look....at the shoes...20 minutes in the men's department....in the boys aisle..........FINALLY after one solid hour, I find something.........not spectacular, but a little top for my granddaughter.......AND without her mother along to give me any advice.


So off I go, depositing my desired item on the counter explaining to the clerk I needed to get my coupon in the car.  Back to the clerk I went and we began our transaction.  AND THEN I SEE IT, right there on her computer.  COUPON REJECTED.  WHA??????  I spare her and ask her if the top was omitted from the coupon.  "No", she said, "it's out of date."  "Is today not the 28th"? I ask.  "No", she said.  Oh........................  I slink out of the store without a thing. 


That coupon was burning a hole in my pocket..........a day TOO late.


I love you. 

IF

We took a very impromptu trip yesterday and spent the night in Bartlesville, OK.  I needed to get out of town, to shake off winter, to get a breath of fresh air.  Back home tonight, but what a refreshing trip it was. 


As we were leaving Bartlesville this morning, someone told us to go to Dewey for a little antiquing---------a little was no lie.  There was very little, but we did find one little shop that peaked our interest--------something more than hoarded junk.  I looked over and saw a framed poem.  I'm always intrigued by framed words.  Well, I started to read it and was totally blown away.  For some reason this poem by Rudyard Kipling seemed to hit home.  There's a lot going on in this world that I am very unhappy and even sad about..............but these words written in 1895, first published in 1910 "Rewards and Fairies" (I assume that to be a magazine) seemed to ease me.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

If

by Rudyard Kipling, 1895

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;

If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch - and - toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them:  "Hold On!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kinds - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And which is more -- you'll be a Man, by Son!  

Just a little side note:  45 years ago when we were dating, my husband quoted me poetry under the stars on my back stoop of my duplex.  Today, he quoted the first few lines of this poem................He's still got it!  And, by the way, that framed poem is now in my possession.  Now I have to find just the place for it.

I love you.

 

Fruit Salad Pie

Good morning folks.

This morning I received a little surprise.  A pie recipe from way back...........a much simpler time or so it seems to me.  It is my grandmother's recipe for a Fruit Salad Pie.  She had shared the recipe with Toots Wyatt so the recipe card is in Toots' handwriting.  I love that Toots wrote a note that it was from her aunt, and the note about the ice box is precious.  I heard that term much more than refrigerator back in the day.

In the future I'm not sure how many of us will have a connection to our mothers/fathers in this visual way...their handwriting.  We get most of our recipes off the internet in one fashion or another.  I can't remember the last time I shared a handwritten recipe.  Just sent them the link.  We hardly ever send cards, and if we do they often have an imprinted name instead of a signature.  When was the last time we/our younger generation even wrote out a check?  If I do happen to see a note that my daughter has written, it is most often printed............certainly not cursive.   

Cursive.....another subject.  Nowadays cursive is only taught as an option.  Back in my day, (I hate to keep using this term because it defines me as elderly, but "back in my day") we couldn't wait to learn cursive because it was another step to being a grownup.  Big people wrote in cursive and once we decoded that secret writing, we could be privy to all sorts of things............like Santa's list.  And at 8 years old, who doesn't want to see Santa's list?

So Bob, thanks for sharing your mother's handwriting, thank you for Grandma's pie recipe, but most importantly, thank you for a quiet memory of them both this morning.  One thing I remember about this pie is how fast it can get "yucky".  Better eat it fast because those bananas are not a pretty sight the next day.

Enjoy your day, folks.

Handwriting must be an issue close to my heart because I have written several posts about it.  Here are a couple.

http://retirementthegoodlife.blogspot.com/2012/10/gone.html

http://retirementthegoodlife.blogspot.com/2012/05/to-cursive-or-not-to-cursive.html





Peaceful Rest Tonight

Have you ever wanted to move somewhere where one couldn't get internet service?  Do you ever find yourself just fed up with the whole internet/social media process?  Do you ever want to never see a newscast again?


Just the other day I saw a picture of a long, long road in the middle of Somewhere, USA.  You could tell it was summer, and there were mountains in the background so it must have been taken in Colorado or New Mexico.  I have been on many isolated, lonely roads in both states and often wondered what it would be like to live out there; no internet service.  Lonely?  Maybe.  I would like to try though.  I would like to be away from the chaotic clutter of all the discord out there in the world today; the discord that clutters my mind.  Yeah, I'd like to try for one full year...............away....................


Okay, I might not build a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but there are times when I go back.............back to the middle of mom and dad's pasture where the only thing I had to worry about were the stinging nettles.  No noise except a cow mooing or the caw of a blackbird.  Back when times were gentler and people were nicer.  You knew your neighbors were not much different from you.  You knew they had the same values.  We could relate.  We could leave our doors unlocked and each night was filled with peaceful rest, not worrying about what is going on in the world.  Good night my sweet dreams.  I am going to try and capture peaceful rest tonight.


I love you.

We'll Run Away Tomorrow

Good Saturday evening to you all.


Just this last week someone put a little meme on Facebook and asked if anybody ever wanted to just get in the car and drive away and start over.  I didn't hesitate even a second over replying that yes, I have.


Some may question my answer.  Even I questioned myself after I saw someone else say they never ever thought about doing that.  It was so spontaneous for me to say yes, but now I wonder why.  I am definitely NOT unhappy. 


But I'd be lying if I said that I'd never wanted to run away.  There are times when things are going a little crazy or something is off track and I just want to get in the car and drive and drive and drive........over the rainbow or at least the river............finding a place where my troubles seems so far away (I think there's a song there).  Keep going..............


There are also times when the hubby and I are in the car after a wonderful day out and we just look at each other and one of us will say "let's keep going", but we always wind up here............at home.......in our comfort zone.


So even though I say I want to just drive away........it is only for a little while..............and then it's home sweet home.  We'll run away tomorrow.


I love you.

The Ones That Can Get Things Done

Hi there.  It is a bitterly cold day here in Oklahoma.  22 degrees and exactly the same as it was at 9:00 a.m.  I am sort of taking the day off today because I am taking a on-line photography class which is a lot of fun, but does require one to stay awake......maybe this IS work???? Pretty hard thing for me to do since when I sit, I sleep.  None of that "a body in motion stays in motion" for me.


The class is in a lunch break now so I took the opportunity to run check on my husband.....the only person that does any real work around here.  I opened the building door to see his jeans-clad legs on top of the truck engine.  Yes, there he was in some sort of ballet pose try to repair nasty mice damage.  Can your 75-year old guy do that? 


My class is about to resume so I will let you go.  I am eternally grateful that my husband can still make those beautiful poses--the ones that can get things done. 


I love you.

Still Got That Joyous Feeling

Good evening everybody.


Have you ever had such a joyous feeling you wanted to shout or sing or dance?  Last night and today I've had a feeling of exuberance.  Maybe 2017 will be a wonderful year for me and my family. 


Despite that exuberance, we have our fair share of issues today.  I guess it is all a matter of perspective.  You see, the little mice have made havoc of two of our cars that are kept outside.  I guess the little critters are cold and hungry.  Again, it is all a matter of perspective. 


So today the hubby has been fixing vehicle wiring and other problems these little menacing creatures have made.  I am so grateful that my husband is 1) smart enough to know how to fix problems 2) well enough to get out and perform these repairs and 3) a kind and very knowledgeable person.  He's got one car fixed.  YES!  We went for parts for the other tonight so tomorrow we should have the truck ready to go and not a moment too soon if we have that big snow.  (Insert skepticism.)


Still got that joyous feeling.


I love you. 

I am Just Talking

Just talking tonight friends.


1.  Went to the mall by myself today.  I had forgotten that I could be alone and enjoy it.  Browsing around.  Me, myself, and I had a wonderful time.


2.  Just because you return something for a bigger size, does NOT mean you can get an even exchange.  I had bought some black tights at Steinmart before Christmas and realized I had gotten the wrong size.  No problem, I will just exchange for the right size.  Problem is they were on sale when I bought them so in order to get them exchanged I would have to pay an extra $2.50 (now not on sale).  So I decided to NOT return them.  I perhaps could have argued the point with the manager, but I just didn't want the hassle.  Oh well...............perhaps in my old age I am realizing that me causing a conflict wouldn't gain me $2.50 worth of satisfaction.


3.  A local TV news story tugged at my heart tonight and tears sprang up quite unexpectedly.  You see a 6 year old little girl and her 13 year-old learning disabled brother were in separate foster homes.  They were meeting today for the story of adoption; you could definitely tell that they missed one another.  These precious babes have no control over what happens to them.   They need to have a home together; parents that are special because these two little ones are special.  Tonight they will be in my prayers. 


4.  The hubby and I have turned off the TV tonight and are listening to Pandora; some oldies--Floyd Cramer's "Last Date".  Now when is the last time you heard that song.  Gosh, there was excellent music back in the 70s if you knew where to look and my sweet hubby knew where to look.  I wish you could see his personal music collection.


5.  As I set here typing away, I see one more Christmas item that needs to be put away.  Before I go to bed, that will be put away.............


6.  Speaking of Christmas, I was able to put away all my Christmas items BEFORE New Years Eve.  That's a goal every year.  Would you believe I have nine Christmas themed pillows?   Where, girls, am I going to store nine pillows?  Don't let me buy another pillow next Christmas, please.  Please remind me!!


7.  The hubby is cleaning out one of his drawers tonight and finding all sorts of interesting tidbits.  Like his zero defects pin from Tinker.  "Can't make mistakes if you don't do anything."  His quote.


8.  Kids tomorrow................ YES!  One last visit to Grandma's before heading back to finish up another year of school.  They don't realize it, but time moves so fast!!


9.  I'm not going to tell everyone this, but I am getting really bored with Facebook.  I don't really know why, but I am.  I see people fasting from various things; perhaps I can fast from Facebook.  After all, if anybody really wants to get in touch with me, they have my number.  Besides, if I am ever tagged in FB, I will get email notice.  My life was perfectly fine BEFORE FB!  Wish me luck on that............


10.  This sweet evening with my hubby at my side and the music is bringing back such wonderful memories.  My cup runneth over with love to all of you, my sweet friends.




See, I told you I was just talking.  "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" by Mantovani.  "Till" by Midnight String Quartet  Music to sleep by.  I love it. 


I love you.


Speaking of music to sleep by, Aunt Norma's family went to bed at the same time.  Before heading off to bed, she'd put on a couple of albums on the stereo.  So relaxing.  I loved spending the night with them and I love her dearly, even now.    

Where's My Puzzle Book?

Does anyone out there think today seems like Saturday?  I am all mixed up with all these bowl games, the Rose Bowl Parade on the 2nd instead of the 1st, black-eyed peas yesterday even though the parade was today, etc.  I will go to sleep thinking tomorrow is Sunday.  I think we need to go for breakfast to get us back on track...............  And then I will go to the outlet mall to make sure we know it is Saturday.................  Huh?  That's exactly how mixed up I am. 


I want to make it known right now that I am a fair weather fan of the University of Oklahoma.  If the going is good, then I am good and can watch.  If the going is bad, then I am busy doing other things like working crossword puzzles...........anything to keep my mind off the game.  I have been known to be a little off-kilter, insane to some when my boys are not playing as I taught them.  You do know that I am the coach, don't you?  At times someone, and I won't mention who, has been known to knock the chimes to the top of the house............just one good hit and those puppies soared. 


Right now, despite the hubby's tense jerks, OU is winning so I think I will watch this game.  No chimes to hit over the house.  But they blew that last field goal............where's my puzzle book?


I love you.  See you tomorrow no matter what day it turns out to be and no matter who wins this stupid game.

Happy 2017

Hello and happy new year wherever you are.


I haven't posted much this last year, but here I am tonight saying hello.  I hope to write more in 2017.  Notice that I don't say resolve.  I am not going to have any resolutions this year.  Nope, none!  2017 shall be a year of freedom for me, maybe, unless I am hindered otherwise.  Got you confused?  Me, too. 


So...........did you eat your black-eyed peas today?  We certainly did, so our year should be a very prosperous one............a girl can dream...........!  I made Pioneer Woman's recipe for Hoppin' John and it was the best I have ever made.  But probably I said the same things last year. 


I've been reflecting this evening on all the previous years' New Years Days (man I've had a LOT of them).........filled with all sorts of memories....................ROSE BOWL PARADE.................momma.................bowl games........................family..................onion dip...................family games............food.................black-eyed peas...................FOOTBALL....................chip and ONION DIP..............ROSE BOWL PARADE...............Aunt Wilma's house in Shawnee....................cards.............family...................family........................family............LAUGHTER!

There's probably a little story in each of the above points, especially the ONION DIP, but most memorable point is LAUGHTER because each of those points resulted in laughter.  So I raise my imaginary glass to LAUGHTER.  (and here's to you Mindy.  Thanks for reading.)


Laughing together, I love you.  Happy 2017.  Again, I love you.