Happy New Year

The visitors left after helping us do many things.

Wish the other family could have been here too!

Visitors

This morning started with doughnuts from the new doughnut shop. Somebody said get two dozen. We overruled that order and got one dozen plus a cinnamon roll. I think next time I'll just get cinnamon rolls. It was really good!

Lots of coffee and we were ready to watch the Cowboys. Dang, it was a nail biter. Even the Chief's fan in New Jersey was a wreck.

Another visitor arrived from the east this time. It was so good to have cousins meet again.  Our family is not large and we're spread out, coast to coast with a few in the middle.

Wish we were geographically closer.

We were happy to see the Chiefs win and set some records! Amazing, but the defense needs some work.
However, the long run by the large lineman was a miracle. Too bad he couldn't get into the end zone but it was close!

A Daughter and Her Dad

I've tried everything to turn this photo.  The little rotating arrow only makes it grow so large that it won't display. So, please tilt your head to the right.

This is our oldest granddaughter on the left and her dad at about the same age. 

I see a strong family resemblance.

This is a Hat

Yesterday I saw a free pattern for a hat on the internet. The claim for the easy peasy project was that it could be made in thirty minutes.
 Since I was going to be at the hospital for about four hours, I grabbed some yarn, a hook one size smaller than they suggested and stashed them in a bag. My gauge is usually larger than it should be using the hook that they suggest.
At one o'clock I arrived for my infusion. After I was hooked up and there was no blood to mess up the yarn, I started the hat. It kept getting bigger and flatter. When it was time to leave, it was the size of a large pizza pan. I don't know what in the H E double toothpicks went wrong but I know that I was frustrated. After whining to my sister-in-law, I started doing the frog stitch - rip it, rip it. In my dismay, I forgot to take a photo of the large circle!
So this morning I started over. This time it went more smoothly but the designer's estimate on the time for this project is not correct for me. I have always said that I was one of the slowest knitters in the world. Not to brag. Just to state a fact. Crocheting has always been speedier. Well, I started in about 5:00 a.m. and with only a few interruptions, I finished about 8:45. Using a double strand slowed me down (excuses, excuses.)
In addition, the pattern called for one more row. I tried it on and one more row meant that it would have been down over my eyes in front and over my collar in the back.
So this is one of a kind. I doubt if ANY of the grands would wear this one.

I think I'm stuck with it.

A Chiefs Fan

This is my dear sister-in-law who lives in a far away land called New Jersey. She loves the Chiefs and got several gifts with that theme.

This one was a special surprise from her nephew in Texas who had a hat autographed by Ken Jolly. She wore it everywhere yesterday and today. She and I talk and share our loot on Skype every day. When my husband and I were married, she was only eleven so I have watched her grow up!

We love Skype. Now if we could just figure out why I can't call anyone, but they can call me!

Merry Christmas, Judy.

MN Second Christmas

This was the last Christmas on Harrison Street. As I remember, MN really liked riding that horse.

We moved the next February to a larger house that we bought for $12,788.  We stayed there for 45 years.

 I think this is the last Christmas memory for this year! MN and PN with lots of packages.

MN's first Christmas, 1959

Mike and  his mom in 1959. We were more excited than he was.

This was our Christmas card in 1960.

In 1961 PN had arrived. He was four months old and not looking too happy. A dear friend, Jack Reed took this picture for our Christmas card.

Christmas 2000 on Wheatland

Two little granddaughters were there for this one.

And their mom and dad, of course with Chip looking on.

Christmas, 1931

This is my husband with Santa. He would have been one year and one month old. I imagine his pick of the toys would have been that snazzy race car.

Christmas 1969

Back when I could get down on my knees, I must have been thinking about picking up the wrapping papers.

Another Christmas Photo of Joy

I'm not sure of the year (maybe 2006) but it was the year of the pink pajamas and an excited MLN.
(We like those initials. Four of us have those initials but none are "juniors."

When I used to "Dress Up"

That is a Christmas photo of mln and MLN. I am wearing a skirt with wreaths all over except they were not traditional Christmas colors. PN would have been in the photo if his dad had not taken such an excellent picture of the front door.

Christmas Memories

This was a year when I got knives and a new phone with ear buds.  I notice that Santa has very thin legs.

Sparkly Scrubber

Yesterday the mail brought several Christmas cards but one envelope was extra thick and artistically decorated.
What I found inside was a scrubber, (or scrungy)  that is too pretty to use!

For the photo, I threaded Santa's hanger through the center and placed it back where Santa, from the same blogger friend, hangs all year long - in my line of sight when I am at the computer.

 I may give in and use it. I have never seen that type of yarn, thread or fiber here. It has much more sparkle than the picture shows.  Thanks, Far Side!

Christmas 1967?

 Do these boys
looked thrilled over the robe and pj's their mother made them for Christmas?

I don't think so.

Christmas 3 about 1977

 

HHS in 1947

Gone but not forgotten.

Christmas - 1969

Knit dress, crocheted vest. I was at it even 49 years ago.

Cookies are not in at Aldi's

These are our second favorite cookies for Christmas. Aldi's tells me they are waiting for them to come in.

So I saw these and they are completely different - very thin and with a hint of anise. They do not come as pictured with a filling but they are good with a little Happy Cow cream cheese spread on them!

Christmas in Kentucky

This was 1997 ( I think! )  You can't see them, but the yard was full of trees. That is our second granddaughter on the steps.

The only place I ever saw a drive-through where you could purchase alcoholic drinks. Don't drink and drive?   Never heard of it.

Figi's Free Fudge

When a customer places an order with Figi's that is more than a certain amount, they can receive free fudge.  I chose the fudge to come to our house instead of the house of the receiver of the gift.

It is tasty. This container is four inches across. You can't go wrong with fudge!

Weird Wednesday

I woke up early so I knew that there would be a nap in my future.

After lunch of delicious German potato pancakes with fish sticks and a vegetable, I had to take a nap.

It seems to me that the last time I ate those pancakes, I had a long nap.

Better than sleeping pills.

German potato pancakes

Ingredients:

2 eggs
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1⁄4 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp black pepper
6 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded
1⁄2 cup onions, finely chopped
1⁄4 cup vegetable oil

Preparation:

1.    In a large bowl, beat together eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Mix in potatoes and onions.

2.    Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the potato mixture into the skillet. Press to flatten. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side until browned and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

From 1982

This is a photo of our two sons, age 21 and 23 while they were enrolled in ROTC at Kansas State.

The guy on the left decided computers were for him and he became one of only a few who were qualified in a certain section of that science! (I wish I could remember what it is.)

They guy on the right went on to join the air force and served in Desert Storm. We in the family are now fans of the A-10. We were so glad when that war was over.

You  can imagine that we are proud of both of them. Each of them married great women who gave  us four granddaughters - two in each family.

The only draw back is that they live far, far away!

Thought for the Day

I was looking through a drawer today and found a small clipping with that title: Thought for the Day.

It was from the Hutchinson News in an unknown year. On the back was a list of their subscription prices.  Three months delivered to your home cost $39.42. Now that charge is $85.10. Is that inflation?

But back to the thought.  It is a quote from Joyce Cary, an English author who lived from 1888 to1957.

"It is the tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know - and the less a man knows, the more sure he is that he knows everything."


A very interesting thought.

Peppernuts

About a week ago our younger son and his wife sent us a large box of peppernuts. These are made from a recipe my aunt in Halstead, KS, gave to me. They have been made and eaten for at least eighty years around our house. The recipe is huge - twelve cups of flour, anise oil and other spices. You can imagine the labor involved in changing all that dough into small cookies the size of a large marble.
We rolled them out in long "snakes" and then cut them. It's an all day process.

They were disappearing at an alarming rate, sitting on the dining room table, so I moved them to the china closet. We both knew where they were but I stupidly thought, "Out of sight, out of mind."

Today  I went to get one after only eating a couple the day they arrived. There were thirteen left in the large bowl.

I took one out, ate it.  Let's just say I was a little ticked.

Merry Christmas!

Chili

With high temperatures in the low 30's and today it's 23 so far, we thought chili sounded good.
I made the grocery list and took off. Among other things we needed I got all the chili fixins - tomatoes, celery, onion, green pepper, kidney beans and hamburger.

It was not a good experience at check-out. I still let the cashiers ring me up instead of all that self-service they provide. I unloaded the cart and the last item I took out was a large jar of dill pickles. I didn't make it onto the belt. It hit the edge and then hit the floor. Glass, pickles and juice were all over.

I was embarrassed. The bag girl told me that yesterday somebody dropped her bottle of tea. "It happens."

After I got home, I started the chili. No McCormick packet of chili powder and no chili powder on the spice shelf. BUT, there was a packet of Taco Mix.

Someone said the chili was good. I asked if it was too hot. "No, it was good."

He'll never know because he doesn't read this blog.

Pearl Harbor Day

I remembered it is Pearl Harbor Day after I wrote the previous post. Since I have missed a few days, I guess it is ok to have two posts on one day.

I remember listening to the radio with my folks. We did that a lot back then to hear the "soaps."  One Man's Family, Lux Radio Theater, Ma Perkins, Aunt Jennie's Real Life Stories, The Guiding Light, Fibber McGee and Molly, Red Skelton, Bob Hope,  Inner Sanctum, Major Bowes Amateur Hour.
Those are the ones I remember.

However on one Sunday we heard a news bulletin. These were rare then - not "Breaking News" every hour. The Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. Ships destroyed and hundreds of service men killed.

It was very scary for a ten year old. My folks remained calm but I knew it was very serious. I wondered if they would bomb our country, state or town.

The next morning at school we heard President Roosevelt speak to Congress. (Each room had a small radio that was usually used to hear an educational program.) I do not remember if there was any discussion. We were in a room that was split down the middle - half fifth grade and half sixth grade.

Later there were paper drives, metal drives, saving grease and buying war stamps at school every week. My folks wanted to buy bonds so they let me bring $18.75 to school to purchase a book of stamps. Then I licked them, filled the book and they took it to the bank to get a regular certificate. In ten years that would return $25.00. I've forgotten how to figure interest, but it sounds like a pretty good deal. And we felt we were helping the war effort!

Our janitor at Roosevelt Grade School was Mr. Welles. We bought him a money belt as a gift when he entered the army. Sadly, he was one who did not return. Everybody had a relative or close friend in the service. Women went to work in the factories building planes, tanks and jeeps.

In less that four years it was over. Britain, Russia, Canada, called the Allies, managed to defeat the Axis: Germany, Japan and Italy, in a truly world wide war.

When it was over, I was fourteen, had my driver's license and we drove up and down Main Street, Hutchinson, KS, honking and cheering. It was the closest thing we ever had to a traffic jam.

Fur Coat Weather

I think this was three year old me in my white fur coat, muff and boots. Mom had a black fur coat and I thought it was called seal skin. Is that even possible?

Such incorrect items for today's world. I guess I was thinking about the weird stuff going on with "Baby It's Cold Outside" and "Santa Baby."  We were so innocent.

I know times change and we need to make progress but some changes are very strange.

Memories

Our oldest granddaughter has asked me join a site that suggests subjects to write about - memories from your childhood or just life in general. They send a topic every week. You can write about it, choose from their library or pick your own subject. Then your kids or grandkids or relatives can read it if they want to.

The emails are supposed to arrive once a week but in a week and three days, I've had three  topics! I think it will slow down because they promise the next one won't be until Monday, the 10th!

One of them was about favorite toys from your childhood. This was not one of my favorites but it is the only one I have left! Obviously it is for a baby. Can you imagine turning a baby loose with those strings, collapsible celluloid and tiny bells? Safety, people!

Obviously I survived it. Wonder who made the dent.

43

Today there was coverage of honoring George H. W. Bush. There is something calming about seeing the respect shown to him. RIP, President Bush.

December has Arrived

We haven't been doing much. Eating some leftovers and throwing some out.

At the store I saw these boxes of Ritz crackers. Cute with the little design. I need to remember there is no truth in advertising. On social media there were several photos showing how they manage to photograph ice cream without it melting. (It's not ice cream.) They separate the pancakes with card board circles so the pancakes won't sink down. Then they apply motor oil for syrup because it won't soak in to the pancakes.

I should have known those crackers wouldn't look like the photo. Their press must have been worn out by the time they made this box.