Many experiences...some good, some bad.
Like all old years.
and probably like all "new" years, but we continue to be enthusiastic about the change that we will see.
Lord, preserve our country in the face of those who would destroy it for their own selfish ambitions!
Help me to do what I need to do to inform myself and my associates, that we may work for the reestablishment of a republic in these United States of America.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Boxing Day
This has never been a special day to me. Our Canadian friends, and others in the Commonwealth, apparently have more use for it. It is a bank holiday there every December 26th. In the United States, it is just "the day after Christmas". This year, the banks were closed, but it was only to give the financial institutions a longer holiday, since Christmas was on Sunday.
I read in Wikkipedia that this day was celebrated more in earlier days than now. Apparently it has been the custom to give gifts to those who deliver goods to businesses. In England, it was the day when the wealthy gave gifts to their servants.
For me, today was the only day in the year when I could have pecan pie for breakfast. I've just started this tradition, but I think it's a good one!
I read in Wikkipedia that this day was celebrated more in earlier days than now. Apparently it has been the custom to give gifts to those who deliver goods to businesses. In England, it was the day when the wealthy gave gifts to their servants.
For me, today was the only day in the year when I could have pecan pie for breakfast. I've just started this tradition, but I think it's a good one!
Friday, December 23, 2011
December 23rd
My Mom's birthday is today. She would have been 94. She was born way out in the sticks and the doctor had to fight a blizzard to be there for her birth. She was the youngest of four children. She was named "Carol", I'm guessing because of her arrival at the Christmas season. She learned to play piano from her mother, who had been schooled in Boston. She sang, played, led choirs, and encouraged her children's musical careers, such as they were.
Of course, music was just a part of her life. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class, and then stayed on for a "post-graduate" year. She knew there was no chance of her attending college, and there were still courses she wanted to take. She lived in the town where the school was for that year, in a room or boarding house. Travel between her home and the town was difficult; there weren't many automobiles around, and certainly none in her parents' rugged farm lives.
After she finished school, she became the private secretary for the vice president of the local knitting mill. He had asked her to join the staff after her graduation, but she put him off for a year. How many young ladies would have the nerve to turn down a good job like that? But she did, because her education was more important to her.
During her post-graduate year, one of the things she studied was business law. That would serve her well after she married and became the (unpaid) clerk-of- the-works for the joint farm venture of her husband and his two brothers. She kept track of all the income and outgo of three farms and was the paymaster for the hired men.
In the meantime, she raised three children, kept the local Baptist church running from the laity's point of view, and grew and harvested gardens for the benefit of her family. She also was the sponsor for the Kids for Christ Club, and planned many activities for these youngsters aged 8-12. Many times the activities involved going on hikes in the great outdoors, since there was a lot of that around and it didn't cost anything and it helped the kids use up their surplus energy. As you can probably surmise, I loved and respected my mother. She was one of a kind.
Of course, music was just a part of her life. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class, and then stayed on for a "post-graduate" year. She knew there was no chance of her attending college, and there were still courses she wanted to take. She lived in the town where the school was for that year, in a room or boarding house. Travel between her home and the town was difficult; there weren't many automobiles around, and certainly none in her parents' rugged farm lives.
After she finished school, she became the private secretary for the vice president of the local knitting mill. He had asked her to join the staff after her graduation, but she put him off for a year. How many young ladies would have the nerve to turn down a good job like that? But she did, because her education was more important to her.
During her post-graduate year, one of the things she studied was business law. That would serve her well after she married and became the (unpaid) clerk-of- the-works for the joint farm venture of her husband and his two brothers. She kept track of all the income and outgo of three farms and was the paymaster for the hired men.
In the meantime, she raised three children, kept the local Baptist church running from the laity's point of view, and grew and harvested gardens for the benefit of her family. She also was the sponsor for the Kids for Christ Club, and planned many activities for these youngsters aged 8-12. Many times the activities involved going on hikes in the great outdoors, since there was a lot of that around and it didn't cost anything and it helped the kids use up their surplus energy. As you can probably surmise, I loved and respected my mother. She was one of a kind.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Blast from the Past
In looking through a very dusty box of cassette tapes, I found one that I had prepared with my children to send to their grandparents for Valentine's Day, 1982! I had sent it to Grandpa and Grandma at their winter home in Florida. Obviously, they had brought it home. When I was packing up Mom's "stuff" after she passed in 2006, I brought it home. Homemade tapes are sometimes fragile, but I couldn't just throw it away. At the time, my son was 8 or 9 and his sister was 3. We talked about making popcorn, read "Green Eggs and Ham", listened to the kids play music (recorder?) and sing "Mary Had a Little Lamb", discussed brother's misfortunes of stepping on tacks two mornings in a row, etc. etc. I don't know if my parents were impressed, but it's sure brought back memories for this Mommy!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Found....
Xanthan gum, tapioca flour, sorghum flour, cocoanut milk AND parchment paper were all located--after several false leads--and employed in the manufacture of "gluten-free zucchini bread". Despite the warnings to not use too much xanthan gum or the product could become either slimy or gummy, I believe we succeeded.
Of course, this did not taste like any other zucchini bread I have ever eaten.
It was rather dry and mealy. But it had cinnamon for spice, and was palatable.
We'll see if the recipient thinks it was worth the effort.
Of course, this did not taste like any other zucchini bread I have ever eaten.
It was rather dry and mealy. But it had cinnamon for spice, and was palatable.
We'll see if the recipient thinks it was worth the effort.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
More Gifts
I have never made anything "gluten free".
But a close relative seems to have this need, so I will try.
First of all, I need to assemble the ingredients.
Needless to say, these are not items I usually have in the pantry.
In fact, some of them I never heard of.
I've sent the husband out to forage for them.
After all, he's the "hunter/gatherer", right?
SORGHUM FLOUR
TAPIOCA STARCH
XANTHAN GUM
COCOANUT MILK
In the meantime, I need to shred a zucchini.
Of course, I don't have a shredder.
We'll see how that comes out.
Then I will need to blot out the moisture of said veggie.
Oh, the recipe said to use "parchment paper" in the bottom of the pan.
Do you suppose it will be ok to skip that?
I mean, I don't have any parchment paper either.
I have waxed paper.
I have copy paper.
I have tissue paper.
I have toilet paper.
I have freezer paper.
Hmmmmm.....
Now to google "parchment paper".
But a close relative seems to have this need, so I will try.
First of all, I need to assemble the ingredients.
Needless to say, these are not items I usually have in the pantry.
In fact, some of them I never heard of.
I've sent the husband out to forage for them.
After all, he's the "hunter/gatherer", right?
SORGHUM FLOUR
TAPIOCA STARCH
XANTHAN GUM
COCOANUT MILK
In the meantime, I need to shred a zucchini.
Of course, I don't have a shredder.
We'll see how that comes out.
Then I will need to blot out the moisture of said veggie.
Oh, the recipe said to use "parchment paper" in the bottom of the pan.
Do you suppose it will be ok to skip that?
I mean, I don't have any parchment paper either.
I have waxed paper.
I have copy paper.
I have tissue paper.
I have toilet paper.
I have freezer paper.
Hmmmmm.....
Now to google "parchment paper".
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
December
It's the most wonderful time of the year, so they say.
They also say that we should mortgage our lives to give gifts to casual acquaintances, in the name of the season.
"They" are not always right, but "they" are very persuasive.
After all, "50 million people can't be wrong."
Oh, really?
Who says?
They also say that we should mortgage our lives to give gifts to casual acquaintances, in the name of the season.
"They" are not always right, but "they" are very persuasive.
After all, "50 million people can't be wrong."
Oh, really?
Who says?
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