Daughters Are A Mom's Best Friend

This is a scrapbook page I made of my daughter, Denny.  Her name is Melinda Denise, and she was the fourth child of four, the oldest being just four, so none of them could pronounce either Melinda or Denise!!   Their dad and I tried Melinda first and none of them could master that, so after about a week we decided Denise might be a little easier for them.  Her brothers and sister tried so hard, but the name of the new little one was a bit more than they could master.  She became simply "Sissy" until one day, they were gathered around, showing their new little sister to an aunt and out of the chaos, one word stood out ... "Denny"!!!  That did it.  She has been "Denny" from that moment on.  Even her drivers license has Denny on it, I believe.  Many of our own relatives don't have a clue it isn't her real name and have wondered aloud why on earth I would give a boy's name to such a cute, sweet little girl!!  I just smile, remembering ...

Be sweet!

Save Our Rural Schools

What are the advantages of closing a school in small towns where everyone knows everyone else, where teachers are trained exactly the same as in a larger school?  They must pass the same stringent requirements as those in a larger school, they have a greater opportunity to learn that what works with this student will not work with that one and teach accordingly.  They are much more attuned to the individual students' needs.  Smaller schools are much more personal, much less intimidating to a shy or insecure child.  I remember my own experience, attending a large school in Flint, Michigan.  I was so scared, hiding under my beds at times, crying and begging to stay home!  The halls were filled with shoving, pushing kids trying to get from one class to another or, sometimes, for the pure enjoyment of it.  I am not saying all large schools are bad.  Quite the contrary.  I am saying a small school offers an education equal to that of a larger one with the added advantage of a parent teacher relationship unmatched in a school with large numbers of students.
We must fight to keep our small schools and for our rural communities, which are quickly becoming ghost towns.
Please. please don't let this happen..  It is too important for our heritage.  We have to preserve as much of the old ways as possible for the sake of our ancestors.  We can live side by side with progress, but we simply cannot disappear.  It is too important for posterity!

Be sweet

How Not To Make Homemade Noodles

Grandmothers of America, I have let you down!!  Though I delight in my culinary skills, I have NEVER made homemade noodles ... dumplings so many times I can't count, but never noodles.  Today I decided my pantry was beginning to resemble Mother Hubbard's, so I thought, "Not to fret ... I will simply add some delicious homemade noodles to whatever kind of meat I could dig out of the freezer, add a salad or green vegetable, perhaps a pan of cornbread and have a meal suitable for a king!!

Everything went as planned as I merrily dug out bowls, rolling pin, pans, waxed paper to roll out the noodles  and, well you get the idea.  Things went downhill from that moment on.  Those darn eggs would not mix up in the flour as I thought they would, so I just added some more!!  My waxed paper was heavily floured when it began to roll up and, trying to straighten it, I slid it right off in the floor,  covering most of my kitchen with a white substance resembling snow!!  Not to be outdone, I grabbed another sheet of waxed paper and started again, threatening horrible things to it if it dared to slide one inch!!!  Much to my surprise, it stayed perfectly in place as I rolled out my noodles.  Oh, they were a sight to see, paper thin, just as they were supposed to be.  I had been so distracted by the spilled flour, I had not taken the time to clean as I went and floury footprints were everywhere, along with doughy, floury bowls, spoons and an assortment of pots and pans as I had trouble finding one they would fit in.  I grated cabbage and carrots for cole slaw, with little shreds of green and orange flying everywhere (actually looking quite colorful on the flour) as my noodles were drying, cut the beef into chunks, dropped it back into the simmering broth, seasoned to perfection!!  By this time, the noodles were ready to cut.  I have always cut dumplings with a pizza cutter and it was sooo easy, but these babies had to be rolled up and then cut.  They turned out to be every conceivable width and length.  I had skinny noodles, wide noodles, some that looked like a ribbon that had been left wadded in a drawer for years, but I gritted my teeth and threw them in the pot anyway!!!

Dinner was almost on time, but as I stood in the middle of all the chaos, it looked as if the 3rd World War had been fought in there!!  I seriously considered putting in a call to the governor to ask if he perhaps had the time to fly in and take a look at my kitchen.  No doubt it would be declared a disaster area and I possibly would be eligible for federal aid to assist in hiring a cleaning lady.
I only hoped the Health Department was not out and about for they surely would condemn my kitchen!!

A lesson learned the hard way is a lesson well learned and I have certainly learned this - Betty Crocker I am not and I will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER make homemade noodles again!!!

Be sweet everyone, just don't go making any noodles!!

My Little Prince

Is this not the cutest little guy you ever saw?! I know we all think that about our babies and grand children, but, come on now ... this is a great grand child!!! Christian is my first great grand son. He has a big sister, Anna, who is all of 3 and I have 2 more great grand daughters, Abigail and Carlee. I tell you, they light up my life like you wouldn't believe. My grand daughter, Brittany will have a baby daughter in about 4 weeks. My goodness, that will make FIVE great grand children!!!! I can hardly believe it. I can barely wait till Britti's little baby makes her grand entrance into the world. When she is big enough, we will play with dolls all day and have the best tea parties. It will be so wonderful to have one who lives close enough to spend a lot of time with. When Abigail lived close we had so much fun. We did whatever she wanted. We sat on the hearth when logs were burning and roasted marshmallows and hot dogs, pretending we were on a camping trip in the middle of nowhere. We had every pot and pan I owned out pretending to cook. When she went home, I sadly put everything away. I still have little scraps of paper that she scribbled her "recipes" on. I will always have them and everything else she did, like trying to draw a star and her water color "art".
Oh, I do love those babies!!!!!!
Be sweet and good!!!

Awards and Gift in a Jar

I am posting these awards which should have been done as they were received by my good friends and blogging pals. I am the world's worst at this!! Forgive?
The awards were given to me by Sara of The Breathing Post and Loree of Stories and Scribbles. I loved receiving them and am so very honored. Loree and Sara have been there since the very beginning of my little ole' blog and I love and appreciate them and so much. Everyone needs an "atta boy" and a pat on the back now and then!! It lifts our spirits, encourages us to do more and better. I have so many sweet blogging buddies it is too difficult to choose some to pass these awards to, so I choose to pass them to all. If you are reading this, please post these awards on your blog, for they are for you.
Both Sara and Loree are amazing!! I love reading their blogs. It is like a visit with an old friend and I leave with a renewed zest for living and giving. If you have not stopped by, please do. You will be happy you did and I am sure you will drop in often as I do.

Now I want to give you another wonderful gift in a jar idea. These make great gifts, especially in a pinch. We usually have everything necessary already on hand, especially if we keep a few pretty jars or even some plain mason canning jars. Home made gifts are special anyway and most appreciate the thoughtfulness more than an expensive gift that they probably didn't need anyway. Keep a stash of pretty ribbon, cords, tags etc. You can decorate the jar and attach the directions any way you like. Make it your own. The recipient will adore you for such a special gift made just for them!

Cobbler Mix in a Jar

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
dash of salt
1 cup sugar

Blend ingredients in a small bowl and place in an airtight container.

ATTACH THIS TO THE JAR:

Berry Cobbler

4 cups blueberries or strawberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 jar Cobbler Mix
1 cup melted butter
1 egg

Mix together together berries with orange juice and sugar. Pour this
mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. In a separate bowl combine Cobbler
Mix with melted butter and egg. Mix till everything sticks together and
drop by spoonfuls over the top of the berry mixture. Bake at 375 degrees
for 35 - 45 minutes. Cool about 15 minutes, This will serve 8 to 10.

There we have it!!! An absolutely lovely delicious homemade cobbler.
Comfort food at its best, a lingering aroma throughout the whole house
and all from a little decorated container given by a friend!!!
Be sweet, loveys!!

I Can Live Without Sex But Not My Glasses

My little daughter in law's sister (who is like one of my own daughters) sent this to me and it is just hilarious. It happens to be true, but when you actually put it into words, it is funnier somehow. No matter what your age, I think you will get a kick out of reading this!!!

Perks of reaching 50 or being over 60 and heading towards 70!

01. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

02.. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

03. No one expects you to run--anywhere...

04. People call at 9 pm and ask, did I wake you?

05. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

06. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

07. Things you buy now won't wear out.

08. You can eat supper at 4 pm.

09. You can live without sex but not your glasses.

10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

13. You sing along with elevator music.

14.. Your eyes won't get much worse.

15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off..

16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.

17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

19. You can't remember who sent you this list.

And you notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience.

AND TRY TO ALWAYS REMEMBER ...

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Now, is that not just funny?!! Laughter is good for the soul, so I hope this has made you laugh and, remember to be sweet!!!!!

Gift in a Jar, a Gift From the Heart

Almond Joy Brownie Gift Mix in a Jar

2-1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1-1/4 cups flaked coconut, sprinkled

With 1 tsp. Almond extract and tossed to blend

3/4 cup coarsely chopped whole almonds

1-1/4 cups flour mixed with 1 tsp. Baking powder and 1 tsp. Salt

Layer ingredients in order given in a 1-qt. Wide mouth jar.

Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Be sure to use a wide mouth jar because it is a very tight fit

to get all ingredients into jar.

Attach recipe to the jar:

Almond Joy Brownies

1. Empty jar of brownie mix into a large mixing bowl. Use your hands

To thoroughly blend mix.

Add: 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, not diet,

Mix until completely blended. Spread batter in a

Sprayed 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30

Minutes. Cool completely in pan. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Makes 2 dozen brownies.

A great way to attach instructions is to write them on a brown paper bag, cut with shaped scissors or pinking shears, fold and punch a hole large enough for a length of cord or fiber to fit around neck of jar. Also, jar may be decorated in numerous ways, including cutting a round piece of country print fabric to fit under lid and jar ring. Ideas are endless for this type of gift that comes straight from the heart! It is one we took time to make and put together ourselves and that is the very best, for in so doing, we give of ourselves.

Be sweet!!!

Ugly Shoes and Clothes That Don't Match

Though growing old ain't what it's cracked up to be, it does have its perks. I can wear ugly shoes and clothes that don't match and no one gives it a second thought! I no longer try to impress anyone, nor am I easily impressed by others. I wrap up in a horrible leopard print coat that once was very stylish!! I LOVE that coat!! It is sooo warm and I could never part with it. When I get out in the snow, it looks like a leopard has escaped from the zoo, but I am so warm and snug, then people get a good look at me and just silently say, "Oh, that explains it." How happy I am that I no longer have to explain anything to anyone. "Oh, she's just old".
I can watch the Soap Opera channel, sit in my rocking chair and eat chocolates all day long if I choose! I can even be fat and shop in the Big Mama section of a store without feeling one bit conspicuous!!
If I don't want to answer a question, I can pretend I didn't hear it and no one is the wiser!! People hurry to open doors for me and help me cross the street.
Young boys carry my groceries to the car, smiling like they have just won the lottery. "Where do you want this, Maam, in the trunk or the back seat?"
I guess the greatest perk would be learning to accept yourself and realize it is okay to be exactly who you are.
Be sweet!!