West Texas Sand Storm

2012-01-27T22:27:00.000-06:00

Just a quick blog before I hit the hay. My dear friend, Jackie Hahn, came over last Saturday, and I made her a black fur vest. Just what she needs for Lady Raider basketball games. So, here she is in Andrews, Texas out in front of Buddy's Drive In, which is famous for their steak fingers.

The vest has a red lining, so it will go with Texas Tech colors.

And, if you don't already know it--Lamesa gals do love to doll up. Jackie's fingernails prove it. I am jealous, of course, because I can't grow fingernails like this.

I finally finished my vest (after I finished Jackie's) and wore it to school. Mrs. Franco took this picture in her room. She teaches Spanish, and let the kids decorate the bulletin board last fall for Dia de los Muertos!

I ended up cutting about 6 inches off the bottom before I was happy with it. I couldn't believe how comfortable it was--not too hot and not cold. Sewing, blogging, exercising, and all the fun stuff is hard to work in now that we have started a new semester.

2012-01-05T22:13:00.000-06:00

"Sometimes I feel so uninspired." These lyrics from a song by Traffic describe me this fall, and I just don't know why I have been in such a blah mood. Anyway, I shall try to get back in the game of life with a few pictures. I finally did a vest out of crocheted doilies--easy to do if you can find the stuff. The big piece in back came from an antique store in Abilene called Rust and Roses (very interesting), and the two front pieces are ones I made back when I could get something done. I tea dyed them so they would be almost the same color.

Then I decided to make up a piece of fake fur I got in Wal Mart a couple of years ago (I don't get in any hurry). The hair is pretty thick so I cut all I could out of the seam allowances. That was fun!

Those Gingher applique scissors worked nicely for the trim.

Then I pulled all that hair back away from the seam when I sewed the pieces together, and seam hardly shows (scissors are pointing to the seam).

It is nearly done. I will cut about 4 inches off the bottom, because it just doesn't "feel right" the way it is now.
Now, about food. We had Christmas dinner at our house, for part of the dessert I made banana pudding--Nannie's Banana Pudding. My mother-in-law rarely measured anything, so she had no recipes for these old time favorites. I got her to make a batch of banana pudding and we measured as she went.
7 cups milk
1 cup canned milk
4 whole eggs
1 tsp. salt
2 C sugar
1 heaping tsp. flour for each cup of milk, which amounted to a little less than 2/3 C flour
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
butter

Blend the sugar and flour and add the milk.
Beat the eggs until blended nicely and add them to the milk, and cook until thickened.
Add the vanilla and butter.
Pour over the vanilla wafers and the sliced bananas.
Put some wafers on top. These wafers in the pudding thicken it so don't cook the pudding until is is "stiff".

I used too many wafers, so cut back when you make it (and I don't know why the dumb thing is sideways). I am going to change the recipe just a little. Instead of whole eggs, I am going to use about 6 egg yolks.
Some folks say they are book snobs, and one of my friends says she is a sheet snob, but me--I am a "nanner puddin' snob." If I can't have the cooked from scratch, old fashion pudding, just give me the banana and a cookie!

And then there is my little helper, who keeps me and Papaw entertained.

He had fun getting into things at our house.

LOVE THOSE LAMESA GALS!

2011-12-11T10:09:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday I had a "Girls' Day Out" with six women from Lamesa. It had been so long since I had done something as frivolous as going shopping, that I was in culture shock for at least an hour.

I met the ladies at Jackie's house, and we headed out to Post.

Two of the gals were in the back seat talking non-stop about all the stuff they had bought, and then one pipes up and says, "Who is the best hair dresser in Lamesa?" That's when I realized that I had come to a new world--the world of Lamesa. Lamesa has a culture all its own--one that I dearly love and miss so much. I had so much fun in Lamesa when I taught ten miles down the road. I just love their glitz! The ladies doll up more in Lamesa, Texas, than anywhere in the world. They get their nails done whether they need it or not.

These ladies know how to shop and they do it on a regular basis--purses, shoes, clothes. You name it they have it.

We had a fabulous time looking, eating, looking, buying. I found a neat bookstore at the end of the tour, and was talking to a country lawyer, ex-district attorney, turned author when they called and said, "Time was up. We are heading to Rag Town Theater." I had to leave the author, without a book or pictures. I was all set to take a picture of the resident Siamese cat, when she jumped down, and I didn't have time to make her pose (against her will) for a picture to go with the story.

Here we are with friends from Post from left to right starting with the front row:

Maria Aguirre, Dorothy Evans, Rosie. Back row: Pam Vogler, Jackie Hahn, Jackie Calhoun, Janelise Bowman, Carol and Wayne McDonald. We met Carol and Wayne at the restaurant, and then went to see them perform in Bethlehem at Rag Town Theater.

After last Saturday, I realized that my life has dwindled into a very boring routine--go to school, stay after school, go home and do it all over again, day after day. I am resolved to go back to Post with the crew and take care of unfinished business; so that cat had better be ready to cooperate because here I come!

Fashionistas at AHS

2011-11-25T12:08:00.000-06:00

Boots! Boots with skirts and dresses are the thing here at AHS.

Some guys like the boots from the South, South of the Border, that is.

Some of these Mexican boots are really fancy.

The kid that owned these boots says they portray his life. He's into rodeo, which is one big gamble.

Hope his rodeo life is as good as the hand on his boots.

Anyway, the four aces are made by a boot company called Tin Haul out of Las Vegas. So, Cowboy, if you really want to dress up, check it out on line.

Homecoming was a parade of fashion!

Lots of fancy mums.

The bigger the better. One mum I saw was so big it had to have a strap around the neck for support.

Belts are glitzy with lots of shiny stones of all colors.

Shiny, and colorful stones are everywhere, including purses.

And then there are feathers in your hair that are attached with some sort of clip so they stay put, and you just shampoo them with the rest of your locks.

Honestly, I am not sure what the rest of the world is doing as far as fashion--but here where I reside--gaudy is good!

Hope y'all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Entertaining Papaw

2011-07-05T18:20:00.000-05:00

Bob was so amazed at how fast Rhys could scamper up the slide. He said, "He just climbed up that slide like a little monkey, and I held my hand out, and he took hold of it and climbed the rest of the way up!"

Feet first, Rhys!

Down you go!

Now, turn around, and do it all over it again. And, so it goes with grandparents as babysitters! We never tire of games the babes want to play, and are just so amazed and delighted with their antics.

We miss you and love you Rhys!

Three Boys Shopping

2011-07-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

You know that shopping is not exactly a man's delight, but Marina and I managed to get these three in DSW in Lubbock. Inside the store were chairs for people who were tired of shoe shopping (how can that be?).

Rhys found his monkey/leash, so Marina put it on him. He loves it! I think it gives him a sense of freedom or something. So he enjoyed the shopping immensleym especially when a three year old boy came along and wanted the reins. Bob actually found a pair of shoes, and then we wrapped up our shopping. Here are the guys walking to the car (111 degrees), and little Rhys is helping all he can.

Watch your step (little boy is still holding on to the bag)!

Grandbabies are just grand.

And they make grandparents so proud, fill our hearts to the brim with joy, and we just love all the cute things they do. Rhys, you are just so fun. Just look at you--I kneeled down to get a better picture, and so you did the same.

Thank you Robert and Marina; you are doing a great job.

Bob, Rosie, and Rhys outside Lujan's Restaurant, Lubbock, Texas on June 26, 2011.

Happy Birthday Beto!

2011-06-28T05:21:00.000-05:00

It doesn't seem long ago you were playing all over the neighborhood in Rankin with your little buddies.

Those days were filled with Cub Scouts, 4H, football, basketball, and homework. You were a joy to raise and I miss it! I hope you have a blessed day, and the most spectacular year ever. Happy birthday from your Mom and Dad.

BURNED UP AND BLOWN AWAY

2011-06-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

This weather isn't so bad if the air conditioner is working, and you don't think about what is happening outside your four walls. Temperatures have been over a 100 for quite some time, and we have wind nearly every day. I took a few pictures hoping to show some of the damage this drouth, heat, fire and wind has done. This pasture is between Midland and Andrews County. The mesquites are burned and the charred vegetation on the ground has been blown out. I saw a roustabout crew working on a cattle guard while it was about 105, and those boys sure looked hot!

Since all the grass and brush are gone, the pastures are blowing.

In some pastures the mesquites are coming up from the roots--fire doesn't kill them.

We had a promising looking cloud the other evening, and I was so hoping and praying for rain. There were a few drops of rain, and a whole lot of sand. This is a picture of the water tower during that sandstorm. If you look closely you can see the mustang on the tower!

I took this picture of the street just a few minutes before taking the shot of the water tower.

As a result of all this dirt and smoke we do have spectacular sunsets out here in this burned off desert. I tried to capture some of the color, but my camera just doesn't do the job. The sun was going down like a huge red-orange ball, and the sky was red-orange and violet--absolutely beautiful.

When we get rain I will be sure to send pictures!

One week later--look at all this green! Fooled Ya! This isn't West Texas. I took this through the window of the pickup as Bob and I were whizzing through the southern part of Nebraska heading for home. He had a bid meeting in Beatrice, Nebraska and I tagged along.

I just want to do a contrast here for you--Andrews County and Beatrice, Nebraska. So, when you say your prayers don't forget to ask for rain for us, because we are burned up and blowing away (it will be 105+ today, again).

A Grandparent's Dream

2011-06-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

I have had the most exciting four days you can imagine--well, all grandparents will know exactly what I am talking about. I am taking care of our grandson while Mom and Dad are gone to a conference. He is so much fun, and inspires me to act so silly. We play ball, slide on the slide, play in the water, and read books. Rhys is almost 19 months old, and doesn't walk; he runs.

When we were on our morning walk, I caught a baby horned toad for him to inspect.

He loved watering the plants in the backyard. His Papaw let him work on his laptop, and saved Rhys' first document. As you can see, Rhys loves to push buttons.

Papaw had to inspect the automatic watering system, and Rhys checked out the water output.

Alas, his parents will be back today, and they will take over the raising of Rhys. It has been so much fun, and I hope I get another chance to babysit very soon.

STUCO PREZ

2011-06-06T09:36:00.000-05:00

This year I was the advisor to Student Council, which gave me access to all the previous records that are stored in a file cabinet in my office. At the beginning of the year I casually browsed through a binder that looked old and interesting. Now, I finally have time to write about the minutes I found.
"The first meeting of the 1972-1973 Student Council was called to order by Max Lucado, the president. After introducing the officers, the minutes were read and approved, and the roll was called." Imagine that--Max Lucado's name on those pages just as "matter-of-factly" as Victoria Chavez! I was amazed.
Bobby and I went to one of his church services with Robert and Marina when they were living in San Antonio. I still have the bulletin from Oak Hills Church, with the notes I took about "Facing Giants." We all have to face giants from time to; some have bigger ones to face than others. The lesson was about David and Goliath and the five stones David chose to defeat the monster. Lucado said that "giants" dominate the landscape, intimidate, and contaminate our hope, and when this happens we need to choose the five stones for strength (use your hand to remember them). The thumb is our past--remember all your prayers that God has answered, and the victories you have had that seemed impossible at the time. The index finger reminds us to pray, even when the situation looks hopeless. The middle finger is tallest and stands for our highest priority--God. Look at the situation as a chance for God to show you His strength. The ring finger is for the right passion--we should run toward the problem just as David ran toward the giant--"I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back until they were destroyed (2 Samuel 22:38). Most of the time we try to run away from our problem, while telling ourselves we are a victim. The little finger is for persistence--keep praying, pray long and hard.
The bulletin from March 26, 2005 is still in my Bible, and from time to time I pull it out to read again, and remember all the giants that God has defeated for me, and to remind myself He is in charge. All is well. I hope you have a blessed day.

YAHOO!!!!! I MADE IT!!!!!!

2011-05-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

Hi ya'll,
I made it to the end of the school year! I have had no life, not even able to read your blogs, or call or do Face Book, during the last semester. I have no idea if any of you have won the lottery, had another baby, went on a cruise or flew to the moon. In fact, I feel like I have been on the moon since being separated from you like this. At times I felt like I could not go another step, but God pulled me through, and here I am six hours and 30 minutes after the last bell rang still at school. I am heading home, even though I have a few papers to grade and get in the gradebook--to heck with it. Well, it has been a test of endurance for this "Old School" home economics teacher here at this AAA high school, and it has been a year of rebuilding, but it has been worth it. Next year will be easier. My next project is to get my home computer fixed. It crashed Monday, but soon I will be checking up on everyone. Later.

OUT OF THIS WORLD FUDGE TOPPING!

2011-03-09T12:11:00.000-06:00

I am home recovering from the flu, and am barely able to do anything. I feel like my brain hurts right above my right eye. It is all I can do to type up the next set of lessons for the school urchins; it looks like I will be out all week. The only other time I was out of school a week was when Dad passed away. I should be getting started on the next battery of questions for the kids, but I want to tell you about this fantastic fudge sauce. We, meaning Student Council, owed one of the classes a reward for turning in the most aluminum. I guess we are promoting obesity too--food rewards do that you know. Anyway we made sundaes with hot fudge, and strawberries (if they wanted them). Here it is!
OUT OF THIS WORLD FUDGE TOPPING
1 C sugar (if you really want it sweet, use 1 1/2 C)
1/2 C butter
3/4 C cocoa
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 C evaporated milk
7 oz. marshmallow cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C chopped nuts

METHOD OF PREPARATION
1. Use a 4 qt. saucepan sprayed with vegetable spray.
2. Melt butter over low heat.
3. Sift the cocoa into the pan, and then add the sugar, salt and milk.
4. Add the marshmallow cream and bring to a boil.
5. Cook and stir about 5 minutes.
6. Add the vanilla and the nuts.
That is how the recipe reads. I didn't exactly follow the recipe, but waited until the mixture boiled about 3 minutes, stirred in the marshmallow cream. And then took it off the heat, added the vanilla.
We put it on the ice cream while it was still pretty warm, and the kids loved it. In fact I saw some of them up there at the counter, just scooping out chocolate topping.
I wish I could say this was my invention, but I copied it out of a cookbook in a house I was renting at Alpine the summer Mom and I went down there for a week. Enjoy!

The Best Whole Wheat Bread--ever!

2011-01-15T16:21:00.000-06:00

Mom sent me this recipe years ago, and her hand written, plain, index card is stained with much use and yellowing with age. Maybe some of you would like to have some healthy, tastey, whole wheat bread for a change. Here goes!
WHOLE WHEAT BREAD submitted to some paper that Mom read by Victoia Seitz--Roundup, Montana
10 cups whole wheat flour      or      2 1/2 C
1 C oil                                   or       1/4 C
1 Tblsp. salt                           or       1 1/2 tsp.
8 C warm water                     or        2 C
5 Tblsp yeast                           or        1 Tblsp. and 1 tsp.
10 C white flour                      or        2 1/2
2 C honey                               or        1/2 C

1. Put whole wheat flour into a big bowl, a dishpan if you are making the full recipe!
2. Pour the warm water over the flour.
3. Drizzle the honey over all this.
4. Sprinkle the yeast on top of the honey, and DO NOT STIR.
5. Place in a warm spot and cover with a moist dish towel.
     In 15 minutes to an hour many bubbles will appear as the yeast goes to work on the honey, and begins to
     grow and produce carbon dioxide, which is the leavening agent in bread.

6. Now, stir and mix thoroughly; add the oil and mix some more.

7. Begin adding the white flour and mix. It will probably take more than 2 1/2 C.

8. Knead for about 10 minutes.

9. Let rise.

I like to put the dough in a Tupperware bowl, because it seems to act like a proofing oven of sorts.

10. Make into loaves--two for the small recipe, and who knows for the full recipe.

I noted with a purple marker on the card to add pecans and raisins before mixing in the white flour--makes it great for toast.

I also made pizza crust for the "lock-in" tonight. STUCO officers decided that they needed to get their reports done, and they wanted to do it all tonight, so I am fixing supper for us. This will really be a test for me, because staying up most of the night is not my idea of FUN! The only reason I said, "Yes," is because there seems to be no time to do reports during the day. Pray for me, and the girls.

Forty Years Ago

2010-12-25T21:17:00.000-06:00

Christmas Day has always been wonderful--sort of sad in a way, because I never wanted the decorations to go in a box, never wanted the preparations to end, or the anticipation to be over. When I went off to college, I always made it home for Christmas with my folks on the Big Dry. The last one I spent in Montana was forty years ago, and it is still special to me. We all got up Christmas morning; Mom started handing the gifts out to everyone, and she handed me one that wasn't marked. I eventually opened it up not really suspecting anything, and was stunned when I found a diamond ring inside! Bob mailed an engagement ring to my parents with a little note written on spiral notebook paper saying, "I would like for you to put this under the tree for Christmas morning and not let Rosie know about it until then. I like to give her surprises, and I'm sure this will be the last thing she ever expects to get for Christmas, especially in Montana." Well, we all know that girls love diamonds, and I was thrilled with this surprise! Forty years later, I still have the ring, the note to my parents, and Bobby. Today he and I celebrated Christmas with Robert, Marina, and little Rhys, who just turned one in November. I can't think of a better way to celebrate a forty year anniversary. Have a blessed day, and a wonderful new year!

DELUXE...

2010-11-23T20:21:00.000-06:00

..How Luxury Lost Its Luster, by Dana Thomas. Yes, I finally finished it. Last year I read books like this to my homebound student--even read Atlas Shrugged to him. Well, not all of it--there were parts I read only to myself. Anyway, since moving up to the bigger 3A version of school, reading for pleasure has come to a grinding crawl, and that is one thing I do regret. Paris Breakfasts (see Farmer's Wife's blog) mentioned Deluxe, so I took a chance and ordered it. I loved Deluxe because it was such a revelation, such a peek inside the name-brand industry from the perfume to the purses, and how it has evolved from a small exclusive, elite industry to a mega bucks, mass production, money generating machine. All of us who love to sport that designer logo make the industry what it is today. I have made up my mind to never buy another "knock-off" because I do not want to help this counterfeit industry in any way. Lots of little kids are used, yes, used to build the fakes. Thomas interviewed someone who said, "I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags. The owner had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend. He did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play." Now, whether this is true, I can't say. I don't see how they could work with such pain, but even if it isn't, there are many kids, who are working in terrible conditions to produce a cheap version with a logo that people want. Things do seem to make a full circle, and at the end of the book she tells about a couple of designers that haven't gone mass. Christian Louboutin, a Parisian shoe designer (I love shoes) is one who has not sold out, and gone mega-mass. Stilettos, with his signature red soles are, are his trademark, and they are gorgeous. Take a look for yourself at his own site (get ready for sticker shock if you want to buy). http://www.christianlouboutin.com/

I like what he said about his industry, "I did not do a company to make money. I made shoes and it became a company." Something to think about in the age of the government trying to dream up "stuff" to stimulate the economy.

Another designer, who has remained exclusive, is Alice Cadolle in Paris, who specialize in luxury lingerie. "The experience of having a custom-made bra at Cadolle is luxury in the old-fashioned sense of the term: genuine personal attention, exquisite materials, beautiful handcraftsmanship, all to create something just for you." A basic bra requires three fittings, and will set you back about $800! Have a look for yourself at

http://www.cadolle.com/ where there are no prices, but if you are interested you can probably arrange for your own personal fitting. Let me know how it goes, because your description is about as close as I will ever get to this luxury. School teachers' paychecks don't have enough lycra to stretch this far! P.S. I should be grading papers.

Chocolate Stout Cake

2010-11-20T14:16:00.000-06:00

Finally, I had time to make a cake. This recipe is from Bon Appetit--not anything I invented. This is called Chocolate Stout Cake from the Barrington Brewery, Great Barrington, MA. Here's how it went. Since my county is dry, and no alcoholic beverages are sold here, I had to make a run to Midland for this dark, nasty beer. It makes you wonder how a cake could be a cake with this stuff in it.

Sift the lumps out of the cocoa.

I added the cocoa to the beer and butter before the butter was completely melted.

Here it is--two cups of Guinness stout beer and two cups of butter heating with the cocoa. It is pretty frothy, because the beer really foamed with the low heat.

While the beer mixture is cooling, beat the eggs with the sour cream until it looks like this.

Here is one layer, bubbles and all. This looks different than any chocolate cake I have ever baked.

And here is the Stout cake with the ganache icing. You can see how thick the icing is, and it is delicious. I am not sold on the cake. It is dense, and not overly sweet--that is good, but it has a course texture, sort of rubbery and not tender. I think there is way too much soda in this cake. The next time I bake it I will use about half the soda, or maybe just one teaspoon, and see how it turns out. The recipe called for three 8" cake pans that were 2 inches deep. My pans were only8 x 1 1/2 inches. You will need at least 2 inches because there was lots of batter left over.

Here is the recipe, just the way it was printed in Bon Appetit. This will serve about 16 or more people. If you ate 1/12 of this three layer delight your beta cells would be in shock! This is good for a leisure cup of coffee and good conversation.

CHOCOLATE STOUT CAKE

2 C stout beer

2 C butter

1 1/2 C unsweetend cocoa

4 C flour

4 C sugar

1 T soda (I think 2 tsp. would do it, and maybe one, after all the beer has plenty of bubbles for leavening)

1 1/2 tsp. salt if using unsalted butter

4 jumbo eggs

1 1/3 C sour cream

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Preheat the oven 350

2. Prepare the three cake pans.

3. Measure the beer into a sauce pan.

4. Add the butter, and heat on low until the butter begins to melt.

5. Sift the cocoa into the beer and blend.

6. When butter melts remove from heat and cool slightly.

7. Beat the eggs and sour cream until light and fluffy.

8. Measure the flour, soda, sugar and salt into a bowl and blend thoroughly.

9. Add the stout mixture to the egg mixture and beat just enough to combine the two.

10. Add the flour mixture until it begins to blend.

11. Get rid of the mixer and fold the batter until blended and no more--don't overmix.

12. Bake about 30 minutes.

ICING

2 C whipping cream

1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened or semisweet) chocolate

1. Heat the cream in a heavy saucepan.

2. Remove from heat and add the chocolate.

3. Stir until the chocolate is blended, which doesn't take very long.

4. Refrigerate, and stir from time to time.

5. Ice the cake when the icing is thick enough to spread.

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-10T10:09:00.000-05:00

Homecoming pep rally was on the football field with all the elementary kids and parents. What a week!!!! We had open house, with Student Council in charge of registration, and guiding parents to the classes. This is a first for me. None of the other schools I have taught in needed guide services to find the rooms. You just headed down the two halls and found the room yourself, or just asked the person walking around with punch and cookies where they got them. Then the next day Student Council put on a feed for the Lions Club in my room. We met on Sunday to do some of the fixings. It took all afternoon to clean up, but at least the kids had to do it. I did have to wash, dry, and fold all the napkins, and place mats, which amounted to about three loads. Do the aprons and chef hats for all these classes is a pretty big job. Now, I know how the coaches feel washing all those uniforms. It was also six-weeks test week (I invent and type my own), and then the Student Council was in charge of the coronation ceremony for the homecoming queen. After all that stress, I managed to get some sort of respiratory virus the kids drug in. All I can say is--next year will be a piece of cake, and to top it off this is just one more virus I am immune to. The year is flying by, and I am glad to be in this new school.

Here are the cheerleaders and football players doing "Mustang Muscle." It scares me half to death when they do these basket tosses, and it is even more dangerous when the football players help throw the girls up in the air.

Here is an indoor pep rally in "The Dome." This just about sums it up--all I do is school and more school. Except today, I get to take care of the grand baby. Have a good week. May the Lord bless and keep you.

SIN CITY...

2010-09-20T21:58:00.000-05:00

Nope, not Vegas--Austin! Weekend before last I went to Austin for the State Student Council Advisors meeting. The conference was good, and I met people who had lots of ideas, got telephone numbers in case I need to talk. At least half the state of Wyoming was there to support the "'Pokes,'" who were playing UT Saturday night. I even met a couple from Chester, Montana on the elevator who flew in for the game. They had UT apparel on (traitors). One of the surprises was taking a rickshaw ride down town. There were a lot of these contraptions on the street Saturday, before and after the game. I was on the twelfth floor of the hotel, and could see them wending their way from all the hotels to the stadium. How these boys kept from being dehydrated, is more than I will ever know. Most of them pulled with a bicycle, but a few did it the old fashioned way--on foot. Another lady and I rode one down to 6th street, and that boy's clothes were soaked through, because Austin was hot and sultry.

As you can imagine, there wasn't a chunky rickshaw puller in the bunch. We ate at the Thai Passion--first time for Thai food, and it was really good! Sixth street is the old part of Austin, and has been renovated for noisy, rowdy entertainment, and it is only a hop-skip-and jump from the capitol, where even more roudy, noisy stuff goes on.

There is live music every where, which is just one of Austin's many boasts, so on the way back we did stop at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar to listen to some music. The piano playing was good, but their singing was pretty bad. It was fun to watch the two piano players work the crowd, trying to manipulate more money for a song.

Amongst all of the entertainment spots sits the Driscoll Hotel, all sedate and beautiful. It was built in 1886, back when they knew how to build beautiful buildings, and it is open for business.

I took this while I was in the rickshaw.

I didn't go to the capitol building , but here it is covered in scaffolding. It is beautiful, and taller than the U.S. capitol building. I think each capitol building I have seen is beautiful and special in their own way.

The only souvenir I brought back was a card advertising Coyote Ugly, which I will send to Cactis Lily as soon as I can find an envelope for it. Some college girls were handing them out to anyone and everyone on the street.

The t-shirts in the airport either have a long horn on them, or "Keep Austin weird." It was a pleasant visit, but I am glad to be back where weird is not normal, and there is a little less burnt orange in the environment!

Once more--a Mustang!

2010-09-04T18:46:00.000-05:00

I went to Garfield County High School in Jordan, Montana many years ago, and our mascot was the Mustang; our colors were black and orange. The school was small--maybe there were 30 who graduated with me; every one knew each other. I lived in the dorm part of the time, with all the other country kids; it was a fun time, and I bawled after graduation. It was Gloria Rath's fault. She was standing beside me in the line as people came by to congratulate us, and hug us, or shake our hand. It wasn't long before Gloria started blubbering and I broke down with her. I became a teacher and my entire teaching career has been in three small towns about like Jordan. Well, here I am, a Mustang once more. Our colors are black and gold, not too different.

However, the school population is a lot different. At this point we have 850 enrolled in high school! Heck, that is more than dwell in the entire city of Rankin, or Jordan, Montana. I am in culture shock with 131 students, seven classes, and student council. STUCO is a BIG DEAL here, and I am just praying every day that God tips me off before I make a mistake. We are finished with the first two weeks of school, and what a workout it was--7 classes, and one conference, 131 students! Luckily, I have a class period for student council with only the officers. Somehow I have got to get FCCLA going, because there are kids in my classes who could really benefit from this organization. I am still on a learning curve here, so I won't try FCCLA right away. I am glad I have the opportunity to work here, because the people are great, and the kids are good kids. It is nice living in a town with a full-fledged grocery store and a couple of Dollar Stores. The best part is being 37 miles from my cute, and amazing grandson! Have a blessed week.

So Long, Rankin--

2010-08-12T08:31:00.000-05:00

it's been good to know you. After a total of 18 years I am going to move on up the road to a 3-A high school.

I will miss the hills, and the little main street going through the middle of the town--a town where you really don't have to lock the doors when you leave the house.

In this desert the mesquites are short, and

and the cacs are tall, and vicious;

the agave blooms are 20 feet tall,

and Pepe` greets us when Rita and I walk. I will miss basket ball games in the new gym, and in

the old gym, and shoot I may even miss doing concession stands and proms!

I'll miss seeing the kids on the elementary playground, and

how could I ever forget the time I spent at Gossett Elementary?

I will remember the track meets where Roberto threw the shot, and

Rankin High School, where I learned how to teach home economics, special ed., and enjoyed the day to day activities of Roberto and his friends when they were scholars there. It was a magical time in our lives!

There are many special memories about Red Devil Stadium, where Bob and I watched Roberto play some great 11-man football, and the boys put lots of points on the scoreboard (Roberto was named All State his senior year).

Yes, there are many wonderful memories for us at Rankin. I will especially miss my daily walks with Rita (she kept me going when I would have rather done something else) and talked me through some pretty tough stuff. To my prayer partners, Jennifer, Anita, Evelynn, and Jo Beth--keep praying, and say some prayers for me. Paula, I will miss our Emmaus reunion meetings.
We are only 100 miles away from each other, and that is not far at all. So, I will just say--thanks for the wonderful memories! I love each and every one of you who have been a part of our lives. May God bless you, protect you, and make you prosper.

Living in Chaos!

2010-07-16T07:41:00.000-05:00

No, chaos is not a small village west of Alpine or somewhere on the Mexican border. It is in the newly remodled house I moved to, and now all my possessions are boxed and ready to move again. After 18 years, I am going on to another adventure???? Only time will tell whether it was a smart thing to do. One thing about it, I have cleaned out, thrown away, given away a lot of junk at school and here at the house.

We have had a lot of rain from the hurricane, and the tarantulas, millipedes and turtles are on the move because of it. I love to see the tarantulas walking in their mechanical gait across the highways, and I cheer them on, hoping they won't get squashed. This one on the toe of my shoe was marching across the drive way at school. Here he is trying to escape.

At least I have had a little time this summer to enjoy the grandbaby, who is nearly crawling and loves to eat peas!

More later, and until then let God lead your life. You will be in for excitement!

Germany Sent Us Their Best!

2010-06-13T18:02:00.000-05:00

Just for the school year 2009-2010, though. Miss Lena Burbach, our exchange student from Germany, made her way to West Texas for climate and culture shock! It was August; the kids were running cross country in desert heat, and they had been in training for several weeks when Lena got here. She opted out of cross country, but dived into basket ball and track. She is an amazing student--speaks and reads, and understands English at an amazing level . I had the pleasure of having Lena in Apparel, and also Nutrition and Food Science. During the spring semester she a a couple of other girls tackled a design project for Texas Technology Student Association, something none of us had ever done. The theme was business attire, and here she is in the pants and blouse. We took a blouse, and suit pattern that fit Lena, cut them to pieces in order to move darts, change the shape of darts. This was a button up the front blouse.

Then we made a yoke, moved all the front darts into tucks attached to the yoke. One of the girls sewed the

fluffy, gathered strips of bias cut chiffon on the yoke.

We made the plain cap sleeves into short puffed sleeves, and made it open in the back with a tie at the waist line.

Then we made a flared peplum for the back, and changed the princess darts into a semi-circle on the front.

You can barely see the semi-circular dart, but it ties in to the peplum. We were disqualified at the gate, because the girls weren't wearing the TTSA uniform--my fault totally. I don't know about you but when it's my first time out of the chute, I really don't know what to expect. But the process was great, and getting to work with a smart girl like Lena was priceless. Lena is on her way back to Germany as I write this. God bless you!

Cowboy! I Found the Pictures!

2010-06-10T11:39:00.000-05:00

Cowboy as a kid, about 17 probably, and here he is a young soldier boy in the mid-60s.

Happy Birthday, Cowboy!

2010-06-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday Cowboy (on the left and Vern Pluhar on the right, summer '09). There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about you, and breathe a prayer for you. You were my best friend while we were growing up, and I guess we sort of kept each other alive during those years. After all, we did have some close calls. I just wish we weren't so far apart, but until the distance gets closer, just know that I love you, and care for you just as much as ever. Have a good day, and a utterly fantastic, and exciting year. See you when I get there. Your sister. Rosie

P.S. I couldn't find the picture I really wanted to put on here. Things are chaos. I am moving next door.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

2010-06-08T21:36:00.000-05:00

Here is the birthday girl! Always doing, always in the middle of the action having fun, helping, giving her time and energy to make others feel welcomed and loved. Happy birthday. May the Lord bless you with great health and many more birthdays. Just in case you don't know--Sweetheart is the one in the red. Farmer's Wife is in pink and her sister, Jen, is in black. The picture was taken spring break '09.

OOPS! Now I Have Done It!

2010-06-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

I have committed myself to an impossible task, just in hopes that I will get some of it done. I found this cute blog on Sew Retro. The English girl (http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/2010/05/join-me-self-stitched-september.html) is forming a group of seamstresses who will get serious, and really try to make what they wear. My theory is--if my name is on the dotted line, I am at least semi-committed and might even get something done! So, I have taken the following vow (not in blood, mind you).

I, Rosie O'Grady, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavour to wear as many handmade (at least one piece of clothing, preferably a whole outfit) every day for the duration of September 2010'. If I can just finish what I have started, the challenge will probably have been accomplished. First, I will attack my Koos Van Den Akker skirt, even though I don't like the fabric I bought (choices are limited in Midland). I am going to do it!!!!

And now I just have to tell you about the fashion world that Mark Twain described when he went ashore to visit Constantinople. "Ashore it was--well, it was an eternal circus. People were thicker than bees in those narrow streets, and the men were dressed in all the outrageous, outlandish, idolatrous, extravagant, thunder-and-lightning costumes that ever a tailor with the delirium tremens and seven devils could conceive of. There was no freak in dress too crazy to be indulged in, no diabolism too fantastic to be attempted. No two men were dressed alike. It was a wild masquerade of all imaginable costumes--every struggling throng in every street was a dissolving view of stunning contrasts.Some patriarchs wore awful turbans, but the grand mass of the infidel horde wore the fiery red skullcap they call a fez. All the remainder of the raiment they indulged in was utterly indescribable." The Innocents Abroad

I just hope that we can produce clothing that is just half as exciting as this!

The Cactus is Nearly Done Blooming, and School is ...

2010-06-06T17:27:00.000-05:00

OUT..! The seniors graduated from high school Friday night , and are now part of the real world! Welcome! I hope they find love, adventure, success and security in our Lord.

I monogrammed towels for seniors that I had in class. I don't have a monogram machine like Marina, but just do it the old fashioned way. It's my tradition. In fact, a couple of them asked me if I was going to give them something, "Like last year. You gave them towels," (they have no raising).

I have so many projects going that I can't calm down and get a good night's sleep. Thank God for air conditioning. It was 111 degrees yesterday.

And the Winner is....

2010-05-30T17:04:00.000-05:00

...not anyone in the Two Bit Pit bunch placed in the top three in this year's Barbado cook off.

Folks doing a little bit of Latin dancing before the awards ceremony. Cumbia is better with beer!

I made Cheese Herb Rolls and placed 7th. Bummer! Oh well, better luck next year. Here is the recipe in case you want to try.

CHEESE HERB ROLLS

2 Tbs. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. oregano

3/4 tsp. basil

I add a shake of chipped red pepper, too.

2 pkg. yeast

1 C milk or potato water

1/4 C oil

1 C mashed potatoes

2 eggs

2 C shredded cheese

1. Combine yeast, salt, sugar, herbs with milk. Stir to dissolve the yeast.

2. Add the oil, eggs, mashed potatoes, and the cheese and stir until blended.

3. Add 2 C of flour and begin mixing. I use bread flour.

4. Add enough flour to make a dough that can be kneaded.

5. Knead for about 10 minutes. Let rise. Make into rolls. Let rise.

6. Bake in 400 degree oven.

Roberto's chili was absolutely the best--spicey, hot with amazing flavor. The judges just don't know what is good. Back to the drawing board to study for better results. It was fun.

World Championship Barbado Cookoff...

2010-05-29T22:15:00.000-05:00

is being held in Rankin, Texas right now. So if you hurry on down you can join the fun. Roberto cooks chili, and has won in the past. Check out the pictures.

Cookers come from all over, and have various types of pits. Some of them are pretty fancy, because they compete for the showmanship prize. The amount of teams doubled this year.

Here is Two Bit Pit (computer talk). Roberto cooks with these folks; he is always in charge of the chili

and has not won in several years. I say he makes the chili too hot for the average gringo who judges for beer or wine. Dang! Leave the Maria Sharp's habanero sauce in the pantry.

Here is some of the Two Bit Pit crew staying cool after all the food was turned in to the judges. The work is done and now for the fun!

That's a pit up under the porch.

Lots of flags flying for Memorial Day.

And live music.

Good luck tomorrow with the chili Roberto. It is not too hot for me and has a wonderful spicey flavor. I just hope the judges like it warm! I will post results tomorrow.

The Joys of Teaching High School...

2010-05-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

with a full moon and 3 and a half days to go! Today was wild. We are having a three day weekend, and the kids are tired of school, have no intentions of working, aren't going to work and that is that. I have my sources, and today one of the teachers was reviewing, and of course these two boys were talking, so the teacher chewed them out and went on reviewing. Later one of the same boys, we will call him Johnny, was sprawled out in his chair, turned completely around--talking. Teacher called him on it, and the kid says, "I'm looking at you," meaning he really wasn't turned--the teacher was imagining things. So then one of the other boys, says "Johnny is gay," and then one of his buddies says, "Literally, and then Johnny responds that he totally is (gay). The kids reported that these three upstarts went to the office. Then I saw two of the same in the office again a couple of hours later because they had their belts off swatting each other. Some folks think that teachers get paid too much. I would love to trade places with them the last week of school so they could get a taste of this high paid junket. I would especially like a few congressmen and women to sub in some of these schools.
P.S. This may be a risky thing to talk about, but to my knowledge only one person from "my town" knows this blog exists, and she is a teacher, and she ain't talkin'. Three and a half more day!!!!!!!!!

Pet Peeve #1

2010-05-11T19:21:00.000-05:00

I come home from a day at school with only four weeks left (that ought to tell you what the days are like) only to find that the well meaning maintenance men had pruned the beautiful fruitless mulberry tree in my front yard. Well, I don't call it pruning. Butchering trees is one of my most passionate pet peeves, and a lot of well meaning, industrious people do it. For instance, they saw a huge limb off leaving a two or three inch stump sticking out, which will rot, harbor bugs and invite disease (see picture #1), or they saw a limb off in the middle (see picture #2) which will sprout all kinds of little sucker limbs if it doesn't die from disease and insects. I am almost devastated. That tree was like a huge green umbrella, with limbs and leaves shading the whole front yard and the entire house from the pounding, scorching sun coming up in the East; it was handsome. As Mark Twain would say, "It looks like something that Congress got ahold of." Oh well, soon I will move next door to a China berry tree that they practically decimated. I could go on and on, but I won't, because I am almost embarrassed, but not quite; it seems that all I do is gripe. Forgive me I just had to get it off my chest.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T07:42:00.000-05:00

Here is my Mom when she was about 18, wearing the Canadian maple leaf necklace my dad sent her when he was working for the airlines in Alaska during the war. She got married at 18 and became a mother when she was 21. That was back in the day when she had to heat the water on the wood and coal range to wash and rinse the diapers, then hang them on the line to dry. She said they had a clothes line rigged in the attic of the house so she could hang clothes to dry up there in the winter. Washing in the winter in Montana was not easy, because, you see, clothes freeze solid as a board as soon as you pin them to the clothes line. She baked all our bread, and we rarely had store bought bread. Mom likes cake, and when I read Roberto pages from her diary, he decided they were rich because she baked so many cakes! Mom did a lot of sewing, and was pretty good at it, and she cut my dad's hair for as long as he was alive. Growing up during the depression left a permanent mark on her and many others; she is very frugal, and has always been an example of my dad's favorite saying, "Eat it up; wear it out; make it do or do without." Mom still lives in her own little house on her ranch in Garfield County, Montana where my brother and I grew up. At this age she likes to work crossword puzzles, watch her favorite shows, and read. She loves history, and if she reads a novel she wants it to be historically correct. She doesn't make bread much anymore, and is downright extravagant in this area. When she came to visit this winter, I told her she could make the bread. She said she would just buy it! Happy Mother's Day to all. And thanks Mom for all you have done for me.

Why Do I Procrastinate?

2010-05-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

I am going to move next door because the school maintenance people have done a fantastic job of refurbishing the place--painted the brown paneling white, put tile in the kitchen, living room, bath room and hall, recarpeted the bedrooms, new counter tops, and put new windows in. It seems that I have been procrastinating, though, and this evening I realized why. Contact paper--that marvelous stuff that makes every cabinet clean, (and must have been invented by the devil). I forced myself to go over to that "new" kitchen, and begin the task of lining shelves. I measured and cut that treacherous stuff. Then wedged my shoulders, and then the rest of my torso through cabinet doors while holding a piece of the sticky stuff, trying to keep it from sticking to itself, and no sooner than I was inside that hot, dark cabinet with my glasses sliding down my nose-- it did it. Yep, two adhesive sides were stuck fast. I worked my way back out, unstuck the cursed, plastic paper, and did it all over again, and again and again. I will get this dreadful chore all done tomorrow, and I do hope that there is enough of this maddening stuff to do all the cabinets. Of course, there may not be enough, because I did finally break down and have a tantrum fit, and wad one length up and throw it, and it felt good! This is the worst job lining cabinets I have ever done, and I don't even care. So, as Larry the Cable Guy say, "Git R Done." Tomorrow is a new day, and after a good bit of coffee I will persevere.

Home on the Range

2010-05-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

Bobby was down on the farm checking the deer feeders, and lo and behold there's a buffalo looking at him.

This beast was all alone--no cows with him. A surprise to say the least!

Don't know where he came from or where he is headed. The last buffalo in Stonewall County was over a hundred years ago. I think he came from Guthrie. Someone from that area brought a lot of them in, and in fact there was a suit in court not too long ago. Seems this fellow wouldn't keep his buffs at home and one of the rancher shot a bunch of them. Of course, Cactus Lil can tell you more about that since it all happened in her neck of the woods. Happy Hunting!

Abilene, Texas

2010-04-26T20:41:00.000-05:00

During spring break I spent some time in a little town that has plenty of interesting places--Abilene. The city has preserved a lot of their old buildings that are light years ahead of these modern "piles", as Mark Twain would call them. The historic district is down town.

The Grace is a museum.

Just look at the fancy work on the outside of this building.

You can still see movies in the Paramount.

I think this is the tallest building in Abilene--and it is old.

The beautiful depot is preserved and made into shops--one features chocolates.

A fine gift shop if ever I saw one.

And would you believe that little old Abilene is the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature?

This is a pop-up display of Alice in Wonderland at the NCCIL. The curator wouldn't let me crawl under the ropes for a better shot, so this is as good as I could do.

"The NCCIL recognizes the artists achievements by curating original gallery exhibitions of their works." These exhibits travel throughout the US. At this time, the exhibit was The Berenstain Bears Out West.

The exhibit showed each step in making the illustrations for this popular book. I had no idea what went into these pictures that I took for granted when reading the book to Baby Roberto! They had the story that was scratched onto a yellow legal pad, colored overlays by the pages, and even showed how the book was bound. And to think schools can haul bus loads of kids there to see the actual work.

A bit of whimsy down town.

Abilene came into being because of the Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1883.

It has three church schools--Hardin-Simmons, McMurry, and Abilene Christian University. Yes, Abilene is in the Bible Belt of Texas. It is a pretty town, with lots of trees, and some of the biggest and prettiest mesquites growing in yards you would ever hope to see. Bobby is working here every day, so I plan to spend lots of time in Abilene.

18.75 on Concrete

2010-04-18T09:57:00.000-05:00

It's been a while! The last month has been a meat grinder--sometimes it's that way, maybe Pluto and Jupiter are lined up, or it's just spring. First, my router crashed from lightening, and it took a while to get another, and get it installed, and by that time everything just happened. I am one of three junior class sponsors, and as you all know, juniors (their sponsors) do the prom. I haven't done one since Roberto was a junior in '97, and I felt like I was working with two left hands. Now days we give prizes and gifts
during the prom, and guess who got to do all that? I beat the bushes and shook the trees, agonized over the amount of money coming in, ordered prom supplies, shopped for food and prizes. It's too much to tell about. During this month and a half I have only checked in on the blog about the grandson, and then logged out . There just wasn't any time for anything except prom, design project, and TAKS prep, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Last night it all happened, and the kids loved it. The DJ--Luis Ibarra, was not bad at all. Left to his own devices he would have played nothing but cumbias, and other Mexican music, but he complied with requests for country, rap, and "Stanky Leg." There were four boys who really got in to that dance! Every hour we had drawings, and the kids won everything from a big screen TV, lap top, ipods, itouches down to gift cards.

Here we have the senior boys.

The entire senior class.

The junior class (feather boas were a gift).

"Midnight in Paris" was the theme. The kits from Stumps and Andersons are exasperating to assemble--a piece of cake for The Farmer, I am sure, but not for me. This Eiffel Tower was 16 feet high, and all made of cardboard. When I finally got home, I looked at my pedometer--18.75 miles, all on concrete and terrazzo floors. I took two aspirins and slept in the recliner!

One last look...

2010-03-08T19:35:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures from a neighbor's branding that my Dad took. I am copying what he had written on the back of these old pictures, and I cannot swear to the spelling of Ward Haislett's name, because Dad was a worse speller than I am, but he always got the facts straight. Picture #1: "Tom Hovland branding at Joe Clark's. Ritter and Coty Meserve holding. Ward Haislett going over to cut one held down behind Tom. Donald Weeding roping."
Picture #2: "John Hooker and Gene Riley holding the calf. Bill Dutton with the K.R.S."

I copied my Dad's writing from the back of this last picture; here is what it says, just in case you can't read it. Irv (Pollard) coming with the vaccine, Hooker and Gene Riley holding, Haislett cutting, Tom Hovland branding, and Billy (Dutton) standing by with the K.R.S. June 8, '57.

Tom Hovland was an interesting character. He was born Tobias Hovland on June 20, 1890 somewhere in Norway. He came to the US in 1907, herded sheep and then homesteaded near Brusett. He married May Hage and they lived about a mile up the creek from us along with her son Miles Phalen. When he was old he got Lou Gehrig's disease. It was a terrible thing, and Geri took him back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota on the train. He was already suffering a good bit of paralysis, and couldn't get around very well at all. Geri had a terrible time trying to get him where they needed to go, and to make matters worse the railroad people were rude, abusive, and disrespectful to them. This was in the 60s before any disability acts had been passed, so I suppose even if they had a wheelchair there would have been very few ramps to use. Geri took care of Tom at the house as long as she could, but eventually she had to take him to Miles City. The day they were to leave for Miles, she called my Dad to drive them in to town. So, they all loaded up in the Buick, and took off. On the way out Tom asked if Dad could turn the car around so he could have one last look at the place. From the hill, he could see their white house, the white garage, hay bottoms, and tall cottonwood trees growing along the Big Dry, and remember the good times he had there. Tom died February 24, 1967 in Miles City, Montana.

SPRING IS HERE...WANTED!!!!

2010-02-28T09:58:00.000-06:00

I love winter flowers! The paper whites and amaryllis are a relief from the barren branches and bare dirt we have at this time of year. I think spring is here, though, because the wind is blowing (I can hear the dirt hitting the window), and it is warming up; the little cardinal birds are here on their way to a summer spot. I heard a meadow lark the other day, but he won't be here for long, because very soon he will fly all the way to Montana! Our neighbor, Tom Hovland, always wanted to be the first one to hear the meadow lark sing. It was an undeclared contest between him and my Dad.

WANTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want this book! If you ever go to a library sale or a garage sale, grab it for me, or if you have it, and are cleaning house, let me know. It is out of print now, and these two authors are the best in the art of pattern making. Right now, I am riding herd on some girls who are supposed to design something to wear in the business world for a state technology contest. I do have my flat pattern design manual from Tech, but am drooling over this one by Hillhouse and Mansfield. Right now, we are coming up with a design, and believe me it is not easy to keep them from wanting something appropriate for a tattoo parlor or for a salesgirl in Abercrombie. I am not sure they are ready for all the work it entails either, but I will keep you posted! In the meantime, keep your eyes open for this book.

Flying High

2010-02-21T20:19:00.001-06:00

Here she is packed and rearing to go back to the tundra of Montana! After two months of being away from home, and her cats, Mom was ready to get back, and there really isn't anything better than your own little bed, and home. I am sure she will miss the weather down here; it was nearly 70 today, and I need to spray winter weeds. I miss her, and hope she will make the trip again next year. I do regret that Maya Angelou got sick and canceled her appearance at UTPB, but Mom was not sorry at all. Everytime I go to the airport I feel like throwing a fit over the condition of our country. Sending someone home is so sterilized, now. You might be able to stand there and watch them take their shoes off, then go through the scanner, then they disappear. I liked it better in the old days when you could follow them to the boarding gate, hug and kiss, and say good-bye. I started flying back in the 60s, because the parents were smart enough to keep me from having a car, and I had to fly back and forth from Lubbock to Billings. I shudder when I think of the first time I flew from Lubbock. I knew nothing, and it didn't help that the speaker system at the Lubbock airport was worse than the speakers at Sonic. I was walking around in that tiny airport, and suddenly realized that garbled message coming over the intercom was my flight! They were about to taxi to the runway, so I went running out on to the tarmac waving my ticket and yelling at them to wait. Luckily the pilot was awake and saw me, so they let the steps down and I climbed aboard (Roberto, you would have been proud of me). When I moved off campus to go to grad school, my Dad gave me a .38 to put under my pillow, and of course, I tucked it neatly in my purse when I flew back and forth. Well, don't worry about grad students packing heat on the plane nowdays. No siree! Today, you are totally safe in a plane, unless there is a terrorist aboard who has a bomb in a private place! My goodness, haven't we come a long way.

Cupids, The Tin Man, and Little Mr.

2010-02-14T21:13:00.000-06:00

First of all, happy Valentine's Day. Bob sent me roses on Friday! It's always a delightful surprise to get flowers, and it was a perfect way to end the week.

Then, that evening Mom and I went to Midland, and I got Roberto to take her to see Wizard of Oz at the Midland Theater. I think she liked it, however, I am not too sure about Roberto. All he said was the Tin Man wore silver tights and had a wedgie! I stayed with Marina and little Mr., and it was all fun.

Today, after church, we went to UTPB in Odessa to get tickets to see Maya Angelou. The tickets are free, but everyone had to appear in person to get them. Dr. Angelou will speak on Wednesday night in the gym there at the university, so off we will go again. Then bright and early, about 6:00 am, on Saturday morning, we will tear off to the airport so Mom can wing her way back to Montana, and wade through the snow drifts while she waits for a chinook. I will crash, momentarily, and then find things to do to fill the void she will leave. It has been good having her here for two months. I just hope she wasn't too bored, and that she will come back for another extended stay.

Chocolate Gravy, and a Fantastic Saturday!!

2010-02-07T14:26:00.000-06:00

I have been looking forward to Saturday all week, and counting Weight Watcher points, ignoring hunger, just so I could have chocolate gravy and biscuits. It was worth the wait. Mom managed to make it through one serving , and said it was just too "different;" she wanted no more, and so ended her experience with a true Southern dish. Some people in Texas, and the South grew up on this, but a lot didn't. My mother-in-law never mentioned it, and I never heard of it until I was teaching in Welch, Texas. One of the dad's brought my class chocolate gravy and the kids did the biscuits. I am not going to put the recipe here, because all you have to do is go to The Homesick Texan blog and download hers. This is one of the blogs I follow, and find a lot of interesting things to cook. She suggested adding a little cayenne pepper to it, and that sounds good, but I haven't tried it. I do recommend the chopped pecans, though.

The highlight of Saturday was Roberto, Marina, and Rhys here for dinner and football. Great Grandma got to hold him.

After dinner, we went to Crane to watch the Alumni Football game between Rankin and Wink, old time rivals. Little Rhys watched, and then tried to sleep. Just about the time he relaxed, and started into a deep sleep, the crowd broke out in yelling and screaming, and he would jolt back awake.

Here are just some of the football players, and as you can see they range in age, some with salt and pepper hair, even. All are former Red Devil football players, and proud of it. Spring has not really arrived! Crane has new artificial turf, and it looks good doesn't it?

After the game I got to keep little grandbaby while Mom and Dad went to a party for the Alumni. I loved it, so my advice is make some biscuits, chocolate gravy, and play with the kids. Have a blessed week.

Texas in a Thousand Pieces, and Lemon Curd

2010-01-31T21:01:00.000-06:00

Mom got her puzzle put together--all 1000 pieces. It looked impossible when I dumped all them out on the card table, but it is amazing how a person can gradually find pieces that fit. Down toward the last I swore some of the pieces had to have been lost, because there was no way the rest could fit.

I had Saturday School for boys who had missed too many days. Six hours of solid teaching with a 30 minute break at lunch, wore me out, and I only managed to try out one new recipe--Lemon Curd. I have never sampled it, not even when I had a chance way back in the day. One of the Home Demonstration members made me a batch, and foolish me I was too picky to try it. She was English and from Canada, and Lemon Curd was a family favorite of hers, and I know it was good. All you need is sugar, egg yolks, fresh lemons, and butter, of course. I think one tablespoon is worth two Weight Watcher points. I didn't think it would ever thicken up, but it does very quickly. I cooked mine too much to suit me, so, remember, it sets up when it cools, and if it is going in the refrigerator, it sets up even more. This is really good in tarts, or on slices of pound cake--anything that goes with a good lemon sauce.

This is the make-shift double boiler I had to use, because I have yet to see one in the stores I prowl on a regular basis. Here is the recipe.

Lemon Curd

5 egg yolks

1 Cup sugar

pinch of salt

4 lemons, zested and juiced to make 1/3 C.

1 stick butter, cut into pats and chilled

Method of Preparation

1. Add enough water to a medium saucepan to come about an inch up the side of the pan. Bring to a simmer over mdium-high heat.

2. While the water is heating, mix the yolks, salt, and sugar with a whisk until smooth.

3. Add the 1/3 cup juice (you can add water if there isn't enough juice in the lemons). Whisk until smooth.

4. Put the mixture in the top of a double boiler, or an oven proof bowl. Do not allow the bowl to touch the water.

5. Whisk while cooking, for about 8 minutes or until thickened.

6. Add the pats of butter one at a time and whisk until each pat is blended.

7. Pour into a clean container, and put a layer of plastic wrap on the surface of the curd. This can be refrigerated for 2 weeks.

One of My Favorite Authors...

2010-01-21T21:40:00.000-06:00

is Mark Twain. At the moment I am reading Innocents Abroad to my home bound student, and there are times I am laughing so much reading is impossible. Twain is so politically incorrect that he is just plain refreshing, and his descriptions of people and the things they do are hilarious. So far the group of Americans have landed in Tangier, and traveled to Paris. Everywhere he goes he studies people and comes to his own conclusions. He made this comment about the Moors in North Africa. "Spain is the only nation the Moors fear. The reason is that Spain sends her heaviest ships of war and her loudest guns to astonish these Muslims, while America and other nations send only a little contemptible tub of a gunboat occasionally. The Moors, like other savages, learn by what they see, not what they hear or read." Hmmmm, maybe I need to send a copy of this book to our dear president. While Twain and his side kicks were in Paris they had a chance to watch Napoleon III and Abdul Aziz, lord of the Ottoman Empire, in a parade. After his observation, Twain had the nerve to write this comment. "Napoleon III, the representative of the highest modern civilization, progress, and refinement; Abdul-Aziz, the representative of a people by nature and training filthy, brutish, ignorant, unprogressive, superstitious--and a government whose Three Graces are Tyranny, Rapacity, Blood." I do believe if Abdul's name had been left off I would think someone on the left was trying to describe George Bush.
I just finished Borderline by Nevada Barr, and it was her best. Blind Descent is a close second. Borderline was about murder and intrigue in Big Bend and Terlingua while Blind Descent all happened in a deep cavern near Carlsbad. I was nearly claustrophobic reading parts of it. If you like outdoor thrillers, I recommend these two because you won't be able to put them down. More about Innocents Abroad later; it's time for bed, because tomorrow is Friday.

Sharing the World with Bugs!

2010-01-14T18:28:00.003-06:00

No pictures this time! I didn't feel like cooking tonight so Mom and I headed for the only cafe in town--a good Mexican place, with the best hot sauce around. We were in the mood for a burger, though. We had no sooner sat down than Mom started pointing at something. I couldn't figure out what her sign language meant, so I just ignored her. She kept on pointing, sort of inconspicuously, and then said, "Look," a low, almost inaudible tone. Finally, I figured out what all these antics were about--a bug. It scurried up on the window and disappeared. For some unknown reason it didn't even bother me--hunger does that, and the thought of going back home to cook does it too. I noticed he wasn't very big at all, and so I said, "He isn't going to eat much," trying to calm Mom down, because I knew who would do the cooking if we left. Thankfully the waitress came up, and overwhelmed us with the menu, and talk; Mom was distracted, and we ordered. The hamburgers were the best, fries were the best, and I think Mom forgot all about the bug. Now, if that had been a full grown roach I would had to leave, but a little bug on the window--no problem tonight. I think it is because I know the cafe, and know that they are clean, and it was a just a little bug! I guess my standards are slipping, depending on my mood.

Home of Two Presidents, Two Governors, and One First Lady

2010-01-10T17:12:00.028-06:00

Saturday was a beautiful day, so Mom and I visited the boyhood home of George Bush in Midland.

George H. and Barbara moved from New England to the Midland-Odessa area in 1948. This was the second home they owned in their early married life--hard wood floors, gas heaters, small closets, nice light fixtures....

Does anyone remember these phones? There was even a little, thin phone book from the '50s with the Bush listing--MU4-4380; it was not a party line.

The Bushes were a pretty typical family moving up in the oil business in Midland. Young George was in baseball, and among other things, the Roy Rogers Riders Club, along with about 2 million other American kids.

Roy Rogers Riders Club had the following rules:

1. Be neat and clean.

2. Be courteous and polite.

3. Always obey your parents.

4. Protect the weak and always help them.

5. Be brave, but never take chances.

6. Study hard and learn all you can.

7. Be kind to animals and care for them.

8. Eat all your food and never waste any.

9. Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.

10. Always respect our flag and our country.

Hmmm...this is surely different from the wanton standards set by the fallen Hollywood stars of today. G.W. had his own room, with a desk, and a wall of shelves. There is a lot of knotty pine paneling in the house; this paneling is really amazing--over 1/2 inch thick. We had the same thing in the den of our house at Jayton.

The bed is a built in, and the Prez said it looked just like this back in the day.

I loved the kitchen! This ivy china is exactly what Mrs. Bush had, even though this isn't hers.

The ivy wallpaper is the same. The turquoise refrigerator was donated by Laura Bush's mother, and it still works.

No dishwasher, and cabinets on one wall.

Really cool tins! I remember getting Peter Pan peanut butter in a can, and I wish I had a can of Donald Duck coffee. Midland had a homecoming for W. and Laura after they left Washington, and in his speech he said, "It seems improbable in that little house on Ohio Street that there would be two presidents and a governor of Florida." And a first lady, I would like to add. Ordinary people can, and do become president--if God wants them to. We stopped at Wal Mart on the way home, and Mom watched the Wal Martians part of the time. She saw one woman with a T-shirt and black pantyhose and that is all! Dang! I should have left my camera with Mom! She could have gathered material for the Master of the Universe to publish. Of course, the big mama with the pantyhose might have wallowed her to the ground, and tore my camera to pieces, so it's probably just as well she didn't have this responsibility. I had the pleasure of checking out behind a couple who had burgundy hair, and the man had a T-shirt with the sleeves cut out so the whole world could see his flab (and tattoos). I was more interested in what they were buying for their three kids--3 liters of Coke, and a stack of TV dinners, pot pies (the real nutritious stuff). There was not a pound of hamburger (and believe me--I was looking), no potatoes, cans of tomatoes, spaghetti or dried pintos. Do some people really not know how to cook? I guess it is just too much trouble for them.

Time is Up!

2010-01-02T09:07:00.007-06:00

Alas, the blue moon is waning, and so is my Christmas break. We will be back at it on Monday; two more weeks in the semester, and then the wild spring semester will begin. Kids will be going every direction--basketball, UIL academics, One Act Play, track, and every other conceivable outing. The sky was beautiful this morning--no wind to stir up the dust. There was a cool layer of blue on the horizon with a layer of rose between it and the light blue sky, and the moon was bright and big. I just wonder what that old water tower has seen down through the years?

Here is the only thing I made during the break--a tree skirt. Bob asked me, "Aren't you a little late?" "You, might look at it that way, but actually I am really ahead of the game for next year, and besides, the only time you can see the thing is before and after the presents, so I timed it just right." I have a stack on my sewing machine, and if I will just allocate 15 minutes a day, it will be done. That is my resolution--develop a new habit of using bits of time instead of putting things off until I have half a day (which never happens). I hope everyone made a resolution; it's good for us to set goals even if we don't reach them all.

Rummy, what a game!

2009-12-31T19:36:00.006-06:00

After my mother arrived I dug out the cards so we could play rummy, a game that she dearly loves...and I don't. There was a time when I thought I must have some sort of deficiency, because I just really don't like rummy. It irritates me most of the time; I feel like a praying mantis sitting there waiting for the right card, drawing one at a time, looking all over the table to see if I can play a card on something, hoping that the queen of diamonds will show up, because I have the king and the ace. Then Mom eases THREE QUEENS (including the queen of diamonds) onto the table, and there goes my plan. I am sitting there with a fifteen cent ace and a worthless king, so then I have to hope the 2 of diamonds will show. Of course, it doesn't, and I have to come up with another plan with a 6 of spades, 4 of hearts, 9 of clubs, 8 of hearts, jack of clubs, and so on. This is just way too SLOW for me; it reminds me of shelling black-eyed peas--the world is spinning off without me, leaving me sitting there doing one pea at a time. I like action--spades, hearts, something fast. Today I decided not loving rummy has something to do with personality types--maybe there isn't something terribly wrong with me after all. Even though I can't find anything about personality and card games, it makes sense that there is something to it. This is a good project for the government to use some of their stimulus money for, and why hasn't that illustrious bunch of bureaucrats we have in Washington thought of it? On a more sensible note, I do think rummy is for the high green and gold personalities, and that is not me. Happy New Year, and may the effects of the blue moon on students have waned by Monday.

Christmas happenings.

2009-12-27T14:21:00.019-06:00

Merry Christmas, ya'll! I really love Christmas, and feel a little sad when it is over. My tree, with all sorts of ornaments, will stay up for a while. This tree would never be found in the pages of "one of those magazines;" it's a hodge-podge of everything. Here is a decoration that son Roberto made when he was in the third grade, and a little memento that the Farmer's Wife sent for Valentine's Day one year. Memories are what are hanging on my tree.

Mom got a new pair of fleece lined slippers. She was surprised, so apparently she didn't peek. I don't remember how old I was--probably about a fifth grader, when I slipped out of bed undetected, and opened every present under the tree. Somehow I managed to get them all wrapped up again, taped back together well enough so no one suspected a thing the next morning. It must have taken great skill in stealth and small motor skills, because we lived in a small house with squeaky floors making it hard to slip anything past my folks, who seemed to be awake 24/7, with eyes in the back of their heads. The next morning wasn't any fun for me, and I have never peeked in another present since that day.

My tree skirt will be ready for next year. It was a mess up that I just didn't want to tackle until I had time. I saw something similar in a pricey catalog, and decided, "I can do that!" Just remember the points have to have the curve cut inward so it will fit the circle.

I tried my hand at a new Mexican dish called, "asado." One of my students wrote a recipe for me several years ago, and then I got another one from somewhere, so between Jacoby and the other recipe, I got it done. You start with about a 3 pound pork roast, and cube it.

One recipe called for 10 cloves of garlic. Jacoby says you need a sack of peppers, and the other recipe called for ancho peppers, but I just used the long red ones that are in nearly every grocery store. Rehydrate the peppers by soaking them in boiling water, then blend the devil out of them with a cup of hot water (or more, depending on how many pepper you use). Here is how the pepper paste looked.

You brown the meat with the crushed garlic, and other spices, then simmer the meat with the pepper paste for a couple of hours until the meat is tender. Make some tortillas, salad, and if you put the beans on early you should have a nice, interesting, early supper ready to enjoy! These peppers are spicy, but not hot. If you want to heat the dish up, add the chipped red pepper or just eat some jalapeno with the dish.

So here you can see how supper looked--gringo style!

ASADO

16 dried ancho chilies

10 cloves of garlic, crushed

3 pounds of pork roast cubed

3 T lard or olive oil

1/2 medium onion, diced

1/2 C cilantro

2 tsp. Mexican oregano (or regular)

salt and pepper

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Take the chilies and remove stems and seeds (can reserve seeds to spice up the asado later). Place chilies in a large bowl, pour warm water over them, and then add two crushed cloves of garlic, and 1 tsp. salt. Soak for 8 hours or overnight.

2. Throw the soaking water away (it will be bitter), and blend with 1/2 C water. Puree until a thick paste is formed. It should be about 4 C thick paste.

3. In a saucepan, saute on medium heat the diced onion until they start to almost brown. Add the remaining 8 cloves of crushed garlic, and cook for one more minute. Add the chili paste, 1 C of water, the cilantro, oregano, salt and pepper.

4. Cook chili sauce on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not be upset if it heaves and bubbles violently.

5. Generously salt and pepper the pork, and brown in olive oil on all sides. You may have to do it in batches.

6. Add the chili sauce, and cook on low heat (covered) for about 2 hours, adding water if necessary.

Choosing dried chilies. They should be pliable like raisins. If they are brittle and crumbly, they are old and not worth anything. Happy cooking!

My exercise program has gone out the window. Would you believe that in the past three or four days I have averaged about 3 miles a day, even though I have worked like I was fighting fire to get all the cooking done. Just goes to show that doing dishes and stirring pots doesn't take many steps!

La Esparanza and more

2009-12-20T16:45:00.006-06:00

Last week I took my shopping day in Odessa. That's right, a shopping day on Monday--a school day. Our superintendent, bless her heart, understands how crowded the stores are on the weekends, and that is the only time school people have to shop, since we live a "fer piece" from Midland or Odessa, so she came up with the idea of a "shopping day." We trade days with someone who is not in the classroom. I traded with the librarian, and my kids just went to the library to work on their assignments. I had lunch with my son, Roberto, and of course, we ate at a Mexican cafe he has discovered--La Esparanza. It has some really good hot sauce, just the left side of painful with really good flavor. Odessa has some real good Tex-Mex, and they don't cut the heat!

My mother arrived yesterday (Saturday), in fine shape, no worse for wear. In fact she enjoyed her flight, and talked to some interesting people on the way. One young man was going home to McCamey, Texas from his job with wind turbines. He said he was ready for some good Mexican food. After church today, we decided we would try a little McCamey Mexican fare. Everything starts with chips and hot sauce. The cook must not have been very mad today, because it was rather mild. The madder the cook, the hotter the sauce!
Mom ordered enchiladas with red sauce, and said they were good, but it was more than she could eat! That cafe is used to feeding men, and men want lots of food for their money. It is Christmas break, and I am looking forward to reading, cooking some healthy low-calorie food, and throwing in a few new recipes, which I will be sure to blog. So, tune in again. Maybe you will see something unusual. I hope your week before Christmas is filled with joy, and lots of friends and family.

Helen Corbitt and Fit or Fat?

2009-12-12T06:08:00.003-06:00

It has been a week of losing ground. I have now successfully gained another pound after starting a conservative jogging program, and completing The New Fit or Fat book! It has also been a week of sitting on my rump doing lots of school work. I have a student who is taking biology via Odyssey Ware, and the counselor informed me that he had to been done with it by the end of the semester, because he has to take speech in the classroom. This is good news and bad news! Pushing a special ed. kid through a year's course in one semester requires lots of work on my part, but next semester he will be in the speech teacher's room having fun giving speeches about whatever he likes, and they won't be about biology! I have about a ream of paper sitting over on the counter waiting for me to read, highlight and write the page where the answers can be found, but instead I am telling you about the fun I am having. I ordered a new cookbook--The Best from Helen Corbitt's Kitchens, and did manage to read a little in it last night. I have three of her cookbooks now, and love to read the recipes--in fact she is my cooking hero. I have even bought the brandy for some of the recipes, so when Grandma gets here, occasionally I will try out a special dish, or maybe we will just drink the brandy. Helen Corbitt, a red headed Irish girl, was born in New York in 1906, graduated Skidmore College, B.S. Home Economics and worked as a hospital dietitian. She quit the job eventually and started looking for a more creative outlet. This was during the depression; jobs were scarce, and the only thing she could find was teaching quantity cooking and tea room management in Austin, Texas! Helen said,"Who the hell wants to go to Texas? 'Only I didn't say hell in those day. I learned to swear in Texas, and to tell a cockroach from a scorpion.'" As soon as I get this biology over with I am going to try some of her recipes, and tell you more. It's time for breakfast. I am starving.

Desert Snow

2009-12-04T10:36:00.005-06:00

I got up at 4:45 a.m. to jog. That's right, Rosie is planning to start a new fat burning program. I am re-reading Covert Bailey's book called The New Fit or Fat, and have decided that all my fat burning enzymes have gone to sleep or have shrunk to the point that I will continue to gain even by looking at a pie (of course, I rarely just look), so I am going to follow Mr. Bailey's advice to get 12 minutes of aerobic exercise, which is supposed to enhance the development of fat burning enzymes in my bloated cells. He says you have to have at least 12 minutes of exercise at the target heart rate in order to stimulate the growth of these enzymes. Here is how to calculate the target--220 minus your age multiplied by .65 to .8. When I went out at 5:00, I was so surprised to see about 1 1/2 inches of fresh snow on the ground. About 6:15 the recorded call from the superintendent came through--no school! Yes, I know, you Montana people are stunned, but this district will not take a chance on running a bus on snow pack. If the bus kids aren't here our average daily attendance is hurt terribly, money is lost, so we just don't have school. Anyway, I have walked three times today, and am going to get the Christmas tree up as soon as I get off the computer. It is amazing how fast time evaporates--and I thought I had "all day" to get everything done! Actually, it's time for coffee now, and do the tree later. Wish you were all here so we could have a cup together. Have a blessed day!

Thanksgiving Cookin'

2009-11-27T18:11:00.001-06:00

I usually end up making some cream pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so here's my stuff all ready to go. It's really easy.

In the oven you go!

About 30 minutes later out you come.

I learned the cream pie technique from Eurena Koonce, my little neighbor across the street in Jayton, Texas. She cooked for cowboys, probably on some of the big ranches in Kent and maybe Garza County, where her husband worked during her early marriage, and at the same time she took care of babies, washed diapers, and hung the laundry on the line to dry, and maintained the home. She was a wonderful, Christian lady, and one of the best cooks I have ever known. She taught me things that Texas Tech didn’t. One summer I made pies for the Jayton Cafe, and used her recipes for the coconut and chocolate versions--they were a big hit. Men love the coconut pie for some reason, and the ladies went for the chocolate.

Coconut Pie

3 T flour

1/2 C (rounded) sugar

1 C milk

1 C evaporated milk

3 egg yolks (I use jumbos)

1/4 C butter

1 tsp. vanilla (I'm using Mexican vanilla)

3/4 C coconut

Method of Preparation

1. Mix the flour and sugar in a heavy sauce pan. The heavier the better.

2. Separate the eggs, being very careful not to break a yolk in the white.

3. Whisk the egg yolks with the milk, and add to the flour and sugar.

4. Cook over medium heat until the mixture gets hot, and reduce the heat to avoid scorching. After this mixture gets hot, whisk constantly and don't ever let it boil.

5. Cook until thickened, but not too thick (nothing worse than a stiff filling--my opinion only).

6. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla and the butter.

7. Stir until the butter is melted; stir in the coconut, and quickly pour into a baked 9" crust.

8. Put the already prepared meringue on as quickly as possible. Sprinkle with coconut.

9. Bake in a 300 to 325 degree oven for about 25 or 30 minutes.

Meringue

3 egg whites

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 C sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 C coconut for the top

Method of Preparation

1. Make the meringue while the filling is heating up. This is easy if you have a Kitchen Aide mixer. If you have a hand held mixer, which I did when I cooked for the cafe, start the filling at a lower temperature so you have time to get the meringue done first.

2. Beat the egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar until stiff.

3. Gradually add the sugar 1 T at a time and beat the devil out of the meringue.

Mrs. Koonce said it is important to get that meringue on while the filling is hot so it will start cooking from the underside. That is why I make the meringue first, and then bake the meringue in a slow oven so it will heat through and through and get cooked. This keeps the meringue from weeping or shrinking after it cools. Just forget the 400 degree oven advice! I make over 300 pies for the cafe and people that summer, and this worked for me every time. I have mixed feeling about Mexican vanilla--love the flavor, but am a little scared of it. Someone said they heard the scientist guy on Good Eats say that some of these vanillas are made from tonka beans, which are a carcinogen. I guess after I use this quart I'll figure out how to make my own--darn, I sure do like the taste of Mexican vanilla. Well, the pie turned out good; I am still miserable from dinner, and I can hear the din of the Aggie/UT game, so I guess I will waddle into the living room and see how they are doing. Hope you had a great Turkey Day.

Christmas Shopping

2009-11-26T07:10:00.000-06:00

Guess what? I went shopping down town Rankin, a small West Texas town in Upton County, and found these darling Frankoma boot bookends. Are they so cute, or what? I know you have seen this pottery back in the day. It was usually green, and had this frosty look. You may have had a baking dish or a flower vase shaped like wagon wheels. The business was founded in 1933 (at the beginning of the depression) near Norman, Oklahoma by a man named John Frank. He designed functional pieces of Western art from the red clay found in Oklahoma. The business is still alive, and is one of the oldest U.S. potteries in operation today. I hope the new owner can make Frankoma thrive. After all, the U.S. needs to produce something, and this is really old West Americana, a real treasure . Back to businesses--I hope that cute little shop, called Teddy J's Emporium, in down town Rankin will get a website, and open her doors to the world, because it is a shopping oasis in the desert with antiques, and unusual finds!

November 17, 2009...

2009-11-24T02:21:00.011-06:00

will always be a special day for us--our first grandbaby arrived that morning in Odessa. He is just amazing, and even though he was big (8' 2"), he is so small! We finally had to tear ourselves away and go eat. China-Mex is good! Odessa has some really good places to eat, and if you are hungry for Mexican food, go to Odessa. It was a beautiful fall day. I took this from the 7th floor of the hospital as we were leaving.

Here I am with the baby when he got to his home. Isn't he little?

This is me and our Baby Robert when he was about two weeks old. Mom took this picture the first part of July in 1980 in Jayton when she and my dad were down to see their new grandson. We have come a full circle--our son is now a dad!

Friends will have to go to my Face Book page to see the rest of the pictures. We are very blessed to have a healthy grandchild with healthy, loving parents, and that is what I am most thankful for this year (along with about a million other things). I am off the entire week, and loving every second of it. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Summer is Over...

2009-11-14T20:18:00.004-06:00

but wasn't it good while it lasted? Today, I pulled up all the grass burrs I could find, mowed the last of the green grass, and ran the weed eater. It's time to put away the garden tools for this year, and make plans for another spring. I painted these handles this summer, just for fun, and to keep them from weathering. My two favorites aren't shown--Roundup and two-four-d! What would we do without them--organic is not all it's cracked up to be. I am just about done with a book called The Help, and it is so funny. I hope you can read it. Gotta get back to the game.

Pink Giraffe, Purple Leopard, and Zebra Stripes.....

2009-11-11T12:58:00.002-06:00

Here is the quilt that Cowboy's Sweetheart gave me several years ago, perfectly stitched, corners that match, and beautiful colors of violet, red-violets, greens, blue-greens, and different whites. I will treasure it always, and it's on the bed winter and summer. I don't have any other color in the room, other than brown, so I decided to add some color, and here it is all complete--inside and out.

There are a few other colors besides what is in the quilt, but I think the violets, pinks and greens stand out, so it should fit right in with the quilt. I put the final coat of clear acrylic on it this morning, and was nearly late to Sunday School because of putting the old, original 1950s hardware on the drawers. I can't believe I am really finished with it--not that I have been toiling over it every day (there were many days I was uninspired, and didn't dare work on it). Then, when I decided to finish it there was always something else that needed to be added, fixed, or done to it, and it seemed that I would never get done. I got pretty detailed in places, which takes a lot more time, but details are fun, and I am happy with the way it turned out. I wanted you to see it before I move it to the bedroom where I will fill each drawer with "stuff." Sewing is the next thing on my list, and it needs to be--the machine has a stack sitting there waiting for me. When I was in the extension service, one of the agents told me that a person can sew for themselves if they average 15 minutes a day. Sounds easy doesn't it? That's what I thought, and vowed, that come rain or shine, I would do just that. So far this fall, I haven't averaged 15 minutes a week. My excuse? I didn't want to start anything until the dresser was done. No more excuses. Maybe I can show you some sewing in the next blog. Thanks for the inspiration Sweetheart!

P.S. I kind of regret not tying in some blue-green, but I am already thinking about the pine bench in the bedroom that my friend Jackie rescued from the Big Lake Elementary. Maybe it ought to be blue-green! I have to think about it.

This and That....

2009-11-07T19:06:00.012-06:00

I just love fall! The cotton is ready and the gins are running. Most of the cotton I see is loaded from top to bottom. It takes a long time to get a killing frost around here, so just about everyone defoliates to kill the leaves, then they can strip, and get it to the gin as early as possible. This is just one of the pretty fields south of Midland.

Last night was the last football game for us. We played our rival, Garden City (Glasscock County), and they beat us pretty badly. I left at the half because I couldn't stand it any more.

I had some tomatillas in the refrigerator, and a couple of long chilis that needed to be used, so I decided to make some "experimental" hotsauce. I cut the tomatillas in half, placed cut side down on a broiler pan, and roasted them. You can see they squished when I started to peel them, but I think it was necessary to take that peeling off. Their little peelings are tougher than tomato peelings.

I learned from the carne guisada experiment that chilis need to be peeled, because their skin is tough. This is a roasted and a peeled chili. Peel from the bottom up--it's a lot easier. I blended the chilis, tomatillos, about 5 cloves of garlic, onion, 3 jalapenos, and tomatoes, a tsp. of salt and cooked it just a little. Nice, but not hot enough for that kid of mine. If you want it hotter, add more jalapenos (or habaneros).

Tailgating, Beer, Short Skirts, and Pirates....

2009-10-27T18:12:00.030-05:00

I just couldn't get all the pictures in with the last post, so here is the rest of the story! Mike Leach is fascinated with pirates, and now the pirate has emerged as a symbol for Tech fans, along with the Matador, and double T. This skull is painted on the street by the southeast stadium entrance. Someone said that one time Leach lectured the team for about an hour (after losing a game). The lecture had nothing to do with football, but was all about pirates! After that set to, the boys went out and won the next game, because they didn't want any more pirate lectures. I have no idea if this is true; it may be a legend.

Here are some of the students waiting to go in to the stadium.

Tailgaters are all around the stadium and down on the campus too. They drag their cookers and coolers in, and have a party. There is some good food turned out in these spots.

Here I am, ready to go to my first Tech homecoming game in the fall of 1966. No, I was not overdressed--maybe a little underdressed for that time. Some of the girls with money really dressed to the nines with heels and clothes from Neiman's. Me? A country girl fresh from Montana just settled for a suit I made--not even red or black, and my little leather gloves.

This was taken in West Hall, the first dorm I lived in at Tech. Actually, during the first week or so I lived with Dr. Sheldon, who was head of the Home Ec. Dept, because all the dorms were "full." After about a week of classes, the dorms figured out all the cancelations, and shuffled kids here and there, and I got to move into West. I don't remember who I went to the game with, but I did get a mum to wear--a real one, white with a black and red double T on it made out of pipe cleaners. That's how the Lubbock florist did the mums, and they had plenty of business.

Well, hello ladies! Times have changed haven't they? These two graciously posed for me as we were about to cross the skywalk.

Here is an Aggie....

and here is her Raider counterpart. The little strapless dresses are in.

Short skirts--they got this short back in the 60's--there really is nothing new under the sun.

The beer and mixed drinks (see the red Solo cups) are all over the place, but not in the stadium. Bobby was enjoying a beer, when he noticed a cop. His heart turned flips, and he put the beer on someones tailgate hoping he hadn't been caught. It's legal if you are 21 and behaving yourself. Robert added good comments about about the horse, and I want to add one more thing.

Tech Beauty, a mare that was foaled on the Tech farm, was the horse the Masked Rider was using in 1963. She was stolen just before the Tech -A&M game, and wasn't found for three days. She had been hobbled and left in a shed near Idalou without feed and water for the three days. Someone had sprayed AMC (maybe A&M College--A&M Corp)on her with aluminum paint. It's hard to believe that anyone would be so stupid and cruel as to take their hatred out on an animal that just happens to be a mascot. I have other words for people who do things like this, but I won't put them here.

There is a lot more I could say about Tech, but I will leave that for another time (I hope Cactus adds a few comments). Maybe Bob and I will get back to another game within the next ten years, and that is when I'll tell more stories. Until then--Guns Up!

Texas Tech Football...

2009-10-25T08:28:00.015-05:00

I haven't been in Jones Stadium since June 2003 when the Farmer's Wife, Jennifer, and myself found a gate open, and slipped in for a few pictures. Well, let me tell you, things have changed since that last visit! I felt like Rudy's mother when she finally got to go to the Notre Dame stadium in that famous movie. The "Goin' Band from Raiderland" is still flashy, and the best in the Southwest (if not the whole USA). That hasn't changed. The Masked Rider doesn't turn the black horse loose anymore. Back "in the day" that horse galloped around the field as fast as he dared go. Now, there is so much stuff on the side line there is no room to run, but the black horse and Masked Rider are still our pride.Here is the tunnel where the Tech players enter the field.

There were over 57,000 fans in the stadium (and no telling how many outside sitting by their coolers).

Lots of cheer leading going on.

The big screen on the north end shows the re-plays, announcements, advertisements, and yell leaders giving the crowd the cue for noise.

GUNS UP!

This is the south end of the stadium where the band sits, the Double T scoreboard, and the dome of the athletic complex is in the background.

Here is the west end of the stadium, and the sky walk over Marsha Sharp Freeway. Parking for the games is a big deal, now; we parked on the north side of the freeway for $25, and took the walk way to get to the stadium. Other people parked and walked 45 minutes, or if they could, took a bus to the stadium. Tech has had a major rebuilding project going since we were there in 2003, and they are still not done with the stadium. The east end is under construction, and if the Farmer's Wife, and Jennifer could see it now, they would swear it looks like the United Spirit Arena on the inside-- TV monitors everywhere in the covered area beside the stadium. Tech played terrible, and let the Aggies beat us (a terrible let down because the Aggies haven't beat us in years). I am not going to make excuses--A&M showed up to play and Tech didn't! Next, I will give you a glimpse of the tail gating that goes on everywhere outside, so get ready.

Meeting the Lord....

2009-10-16T22:02:00.004-05:00

Cactus sent me this one, and I just had to post it for everyone! The e-mail said it was from Nye, Montana. I am winding down after the ball game--56 to 8, us, by half-time. In six-man football, the game is over if one of the teams has a 45 point lead, but you can't quit before half-time, no matter how many points you are ahead. Hope you can be in church on Sunday, and have a blessed weekend.

Carne Guisada..

2009-10-14T05:10:00.000-05:00

It was in the 50's all day Sunday, and this cool weather really does make me want to cook and eat! So long diet! I used about a pound and a half of rump roast for this Tex-Mex dish. It really is good, and I hope all of you will try it. Here are the main players in the whole recipe. Beef broth, I used Knorr Caldo bullion, and

improvised by using chipped pepper, because the chilis weren't hot at all. Cumin, black pepper, salt and chili powder. I was being lazy, and didn't feel like processing those, long, dried red peppers.

Here are the peppers. I asked the lady at the Iraan grocery store if they were hot, and she said some of them had been, so I didn't bother to pick up any jalapenos. Actually, I think the chipped, red chili is really good. It has a pleasant flavor, and a comforting heat, that doesn't just kill your mouth.

Then I cubed the roast, and floured the meat with just enough flour to coat the cubes. Don't add any salt at this time, because it draws the moisture out, and the meat won't brown.

Next, brown the meat in some olive oil. You can see that this old Le Creuset has had plenty of experience cooking! It is funny how I don't notice how beat up, and used my utensils look until I see the picture. Oh well, they cook better than that new stuff!

When the meat was browned, I removed it from the Dutch oven, put it in the crock pot, then added the broth to the drippings, simmered it on low so all that browned flour that had stuck would loosen, and add to the flavor of the gravy.
This meat was nice and tender after cooking iall afternoon, the gravy was juicy, but thickened, and the flavor was worth the wait. You can see I still have flour on my fingers from mixing up the tortillas! I think this would be good on rice, or just eat it!

One thing I did learn--roast the peppers and peel them first. Here is the recipe, as best I remember.

Carne Guisada

1 1/2 lb. roast, cubed

2 long chilies (roasted and peeled) and enough jalapenoes to warm you up, or

use chipped red chili like I did.

1 onion chopped

1-1 1/2 tsp. cumin

1 -2 tsp. chili powder

about 6 to 7 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 to 1/2 tsp. salt

1 C. chopped tomatoes, canned work well

1 1/2 C beef broth

2 T flour

1. Roast the peppers and peel, then chop.

2. Chop the onion.

3. Flour the meat, and let it set just long enough to stick.

4. Add a couple of T. of olive oil to the Duth oven, and brown the meat. When you add the meat to the hot oil, let it stick a little so you can have that nice, crusty stuff on the bottom of the pan for the gravy.

5. Take the meat out of the pot, and add the broth. Let it simmer to loosen the browned flour.

6. Put the meat, tomatoes, seasonings, onions and peppers along with the broth to the crock pot, and cook all afternoon. Enjoy!

Kids on the Warpath!

2009-10-12T04:36:00.008-05:00

Way out there in West Texas, among the mesquites and greasewood, there is a little town, named Iraan, and Iraan has a pretty nice golf course, considering obstacles like rocks and dry heat, drouth and more drouth.

Every year the school has a cross country meet on the golf course, and schools from as far as Presidio come to run the course. Boys participate in this athletic event (3 mile run), but it is mainly a girl sport, designed to get them in shape for basket ball. Here they are starting on their 2 mile journey.

Iraan's mascots are the Braves, and Bravettes, so the name of the trackmeet is the.....

The weather was in the 50's that morning, but the kids were still sweating when they came across the finish line. Our girls won the whole thing, and that is pretty darned good for a "little six-man school!" Way to go girls!

Look real close....

2009-10-07T21:47:00.007-05:00

and I hope you can see the monarch butterflies clustered in the tree. This was about 10 or 11 o'clock so most of them were out fluttering around looking for blooms. They go to sleep in the trees at the rodeo arena, and early in the morning there are hundreds clustered together on the branches.

They come through here about this time every year on their way to Mexico. What beautiful little creatures they are! This is our shop teacher, Robbie. He brought his trophies to school so the kids could see them. He shot this buck at a place very near Midland.
This is some sort of antelope that he got on another hunt. These animals crawl the fences and get away from the exotic ranches, and populate the surrounding areas. Robbie does enjoy hunting, and he is a wonderful shop teacher. I will post some of the kids' projects this year so you can see what fine work they do. Tonight it is raining just a little, and kids are already being diagnosed with flu, and upper respiratory infections. Our principal went home yesterday with a fever. It seems when we move to a new school there are new bugs! I am getting a flu shot tomorrow. Blessings to you.

Purple Passion with Leopard

2009-10-02T18:48:00.004-05:00

This is my least favorite. The background color is a darker raspberry than this picture shows, and it was really hard to find colors that went with it, and didn't make it look dull. Can't do leopard spots the way I want, but, "Oh well," this will be packed full before I know it, and it won't matter. On to the next one!

A Weekend of Showers

2009-10-02T15:52:00.010-05:00

Marina had a shower at Monahans on Saturday, and the food was a wonderful brunch!

Marina also had a shower in Midland, and eventually Bobby and Robert had to quit their football watching, and come help load. Here we are in living color.

Little grandson doesn't stand a chance. He is a Red Raider even before he is born!

MORE FOOD! No time to be on Weight Watchers here with sandwiches, and sherbet punch. This is Marina's mom, Kathy, and her grandmother, Ruth. Brenda from Jayton is in the background.

Marina loves lime green and aqua, so the hostess obliged with a diaper cake in all the right colors. The gifts were wrapped so beautifully, and here we have a Raider onesie, shoes, and a little tiny toboggan cap in black with the red double T on all three pieces.

We have completed our first six weeks of school, and I am nearly all graded, and ready to post. I called the tech support for the new router, and actually got a person to talk to. He was wonderful, walked me through all the steps, and now I can upload pictures and not go off line. I hope to get some rest so I am not so cranky, and exasperated with every little quirk that goes haywire. The dresser is coming along very slowly, and the next drawer is my least favorite, but I have to get it done.

Sand Dunes

2009-10-01T22:09:00.003-05:00

I am having H-E double hockey sticks with my computer. The wireless router went down last Thursday, finally get everything hooked back up on Tuesday, and since I couldn't sleep I decided to do a blog. Now, it has decided to go off line every time I try to upload a picture. When I finally get this idiotic thing working I will tell you about all the baby showers I have been to, and have nice pictures to boot. For now, just take a look at the sand dunes of Monahans, where one of the showers was hosted! Got to go to sleep so I can get up and go to school! Good Night!

Who is John Galt?

2009-09-20T08:05:00.005-05:00

I finished Atlas Shrugged on Friday--all 1168 pages of it, and loved it. It is so relevant today, more so than in 1957 when it was first released. Anyone who can read, and values freedom, prosperity, and free enterprise should read it just to help solidify their ideas. The story has it all, especially characters that you just love to despise, and good guys that win. So, get the book and find out-- "Who is John Galt?"

I finished another drawer while I watched the Tech v. Texas game. There were enough adveritsements woven in to give me time to paint, and relieve stress. I am sorry Tech didn't win, but playing in Sin City is very hard, especially when too many have been wounded, and had to sit on the side line. I have got to go check the pumpkin bread! Have a blessed Sunday.

Homecoming Week Festivities

2009-09-17T23:12:00.011-05:00

The day ended with a red sky, and one heck of a bonfire. Cheerleaders, a community band, football players, and lots of fans all gathered together on Knob Hill to see it burn, and get fired up for Friday night.

Kids gather all sorts of wood for the fire, and the county boys helped out by piling dead trees on the stack. The boys stay up at night to guard the wood just in case a neighboring rival decides to slip in to town and burn it before Wednesday night. The volunteer fire department is always on hand when the fire is lit, and they stay until it burns down.

The cheerleaders always plan "theme" days during homecoming week, and this is "my hero"day. Bible Girl runs track and plays basketball, and

this is one of the senior football players, and
there were several supermen and supergirls running around school. This one is a cheerleader and basketball player. Each class has part of the school to decorate. Tomorrow kids have signed up to beat the drum continuously until time for the game. Lots of tradition--that's what makes homecoming special. We play 6 man football now, because our population has dwindled since Roberto was in school. It is a fast and exciting game, and we have won all our games this year.
Today was "your favorite team" day, and I just had to get a shot of this jersey. This is one junior that knows how to pick a team. Of course, her dad and mom graduated from Tech, so naturally she is a Raider fan. The weather is just beautiful now--perfect for football. We have two exchange students enrolled for the year. One girl from Germany and one girl from Sweden, both juniors. They don't have all this football, and bonfire stuff at their school, but they like it. Man, what a culture shock to come to the West Texas desert. Won't they have some stories to tell when they get back!

Red orange, and aqua on hot red violet..

2009-09-11T20:54:00.007-05:00

Progress is slow!!!!!!! I have put more coats of paint on this drawer than I care to remember, just to cover up ideas that didn't work. Tonight I decided to do bubbles as a last resort, hoping to cover up purple leopard spots that showed through that hot pink paint. When I got done it looked so....unfinished. In desperation I got out the black paint, and did the little curls inside the bubbles. Actually, I am OK with it, and that is a good feeling. Now, on to the next one! This is the end of the first three weeks of school, grades go out to parents next week, and the principal is going to start his informal walk throughs! We have had about 2 1/2 inches of rain, and it has started to cool off. Today, I thought about what I was doing eight years ago, and have been praying it never happens again. Have a good weekend.

My Drawers....

2009-09-08T18:10:00.000-05:00

Remember the dresser I bought at the church rummage sale? Progress is slow, so I am going to show you one drawer at a time as I finish. It has taken lots of sanding, priming, and several top coats for this one drawer--black background with flowers and aqua dots! It is getting fun.

PESTO FRENCH BREAD

2009-09-08T15:25:00.001-05:00

This weekend I just felt like trying out some recipes that have been on my list. Everything else will just have to wait.

This is the basil, garlic and parsley in the chopping process. That's my dad's French knife that he got when he worked in the Gem Cafe in Lewistown, Montana in the 40's. I used a real course grater for the Parmesan, and then put it in the blender to get it finer.

The pesto is ready. Refrigerate until the dough has risen.

I actually misread the recipe and put 1/3 C of olive oil in the dough. The crust is sort of crisp, but the inside is tender. Not a bad mistake. This is ready to rise.

Here is the finished product. I think it will be good for sandwiches. If you like pesto, try it. This recipe is from Fleischmann's Best-Ever Breads booklet.

PESTO FRENCH BREAD

2 C warm water

1 pkg. dry yeast

2 t. salt

1/3 C olive oil plus 2 T.

6 to 6 1/2 C flour

1 C finely chopped fresh parsley (mine was flat leaf)

2/3 C grated Parmesan cheese

2 T dried sweet basil (I used a handful of fresh)

1 to 2 cloves of minced garlic

cornmeal

1 egg white, beaten with 1 T water

1. Put the water, salt, and yeast in the mixing bowl, and let the yeast dissolve.

2. Add the 2 T oil (I accidentally put the 1/3 C in), and 3 C flour. Mix.

3. Add more flour and continue mixing until the dough is soft.

4. Turn out on a floured board, knead for about 5 minutes , add flour to keep the dough from sticking.

5. Put dough in a covered bowl and let rise until double.

Pesto--Mix 1/3 C olive oil, chopped parsley, basil and garlic, and refrigerate until ready to use.

6. Divide the dough in half. Roll each piece into a rectangle, spread half of pesto on it and roll up just like a cinnamon roll or jelly roll. Pinch to seal the edges.

7. Place each loaf on a greased cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.

8. Let rise until double, brush with egg white mixture (optional).

9. Bake at 400 until browned.

Cooking is relaxing to me, and after a second week of school I am already looking for a diversion. We are having pep rallies every Friday afternoon, and the football team has won all two of their games. One of the team members is following a tradition from way back of eating a grasshopper during the pep rally. He nearly gagged this last time, in fact I am surprised he kept it down. I think I will offer to chocolate coat the thing for him. Someone found a small rattlesnake in the auditorium, and killed it. We have had a full moon, but other than that things have been quiet, and school is going right along.

Pep Rally--cheerleaders, football boys, lots of proud parents, fans, and of course, faculty and student body get together every Friday afternoon in the gym to get fired up for the action at 7:30 pm.

I have got to get off this computer and go mop the kitchen!

Pizza

2009-09-05T14:29:00.011-05:00

I finally got around to trying this new pizza crust recipe. To me, baking the crust a little at first keeps it from being "doughy" after adding the toppings.

I used a little rosemary, along with fresh onions, chopped garlic and sliced tomatoes. Next time, I am leaving the rosemary off.

Brush the crust with some olive oil, then add the sauce, chopped veggies, cheese, and last the pepperoni. Next time I'll put the veggies on top of the pepperoni.

The crust was crisp, and yet tender. Add lots of chipped pepper, and enjoy! So this is my new pizza crust for a while--not my invention, but Williams-Sonoma's.

1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

3/4 C warm water

1 C cake flour

1 C or more all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

2 T olive oil

1. Mix the yeast, sugar, and salt in the water, and let stand until the yeast is dissolved.

2. Add the oil, and cake flour, and mix with the dough hook.

3. Gradually add the all purpose flour, and continue mixing and adding flour until a soft dough is formed.

4. Turn out on a floured board and knead thoroughly.

5. I put the dough in a Tupperware covered bowl to rise; the bowl acts like a proofing oven.

6. After it has doubled, put the ball of dough in a greased pizza pan, and press it to cover the bottom and form "sideboard." Bake at 425 until lightly browned.

7. Add your favorite sauce, and toppings. Bake again until done.

I like it!

Zebra Stripes and Leopard Print.......Not!

2009-09-04T02:08:00.004-05:00

My husband has turned interior decorator! He has gone on a tear, and is fixing up his Mother's house, but don't get your hopes up. I don't think he will go this far with the new "do" (probably a good thing). He doesn't know about zebra, and leopard print. I can say this with confidence, because I told him I wanted to reupholster some chairs I bought at the school auction in zebra. He was incredulous, like I was asking him to go hunting for one, tan the hide and let me have it! No, this overhaul is not going to be radical, but it will be nice. All this started when he came back from Illinois, and he sat down in the recliner (a man essential), and was settling in to his favorite John Wayne movie, when, all of a sudden he felt a board sticking him in the back, and that was it! He went to the nearest furniture store and started picking out what he liked--recliner, couch, refrigerator, dishwasher......next, is the paint, and then who knows. After 38 years I have learned to just turn the boy loose, and let him do his thing. More about the re-vamp later.

Triple Chocolate Biscotti

2009-08-30T16:55:00.018-05:00

I have a dear friend who has a birthday on August 30, and I make her biscotti every year, because she loves coffee, and has everything else. So I decided to photograph the process, even though everyone knows how to make the stuff.

Crisco is the shortening I use for it. You can use butter, but the flavor would be lost with all this chocolate, and since I am Irish (that country is not too far from Scotland) I like to savc a little money when it won't compromise the flavor.

Add the eggs one at at time (I use jumbos for cooking), and beat the devil out of the eggs, sugar and shortening.

Cocoa is lumpy so I sift it with the flour.

Just barely mix the dry ingredients with the egg mixture, and then add the

chocolate chips. Here I used milk chocolate; semi-sweet are good too.

I use whole pecans, but if you like to work go ahead and chop them. I do chop the almonds.

Form the batch of dough into a log, and bake. Cool completely, slice and bake again. My dad made this cutting board out of a huge cotton wood log, and it has had the wear!

I decorate mine with royal icing--egg whites, vanilla and enough powdered sugar to make an icing. Yes, I know all about salmonella, but this dries, and no one has ever been poisoned with my royal icing! These got a little crispier than I like, and after looking at this photo I am almost tempted to go buy a couple of new cookie sheet. "Almost."

Double Chocolate Biscotti

5 C flour

1 1/2 C cocoa

2 T baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 C shortening

2 C sugar

6 eggs

1 T vanilla

2 C chocolate chips

3 C pecans, walnut, almonds or raisins if you like. Just suit yourself here.

1. Cream shortening, vanilla, and sugar, then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

2. Sift the cocoa with the unsifted flour, baking powder and salt, and add to the creamed mixture, and mix.

3. Add the nuts.

4. Form into a log on a greased cookie sheet, and bake at 375 for about 20 to 25 minutes.

5. Cool completely, and slice in 3/4 inch slices.

6. Bake 10 minutes at 350, turn over and bake on the other side.

You don't have to ice them if you don't want to. These are great to dunk in coffee.

P.S. Happy birthday, Rita!

Sewing bee...

2009-08-30T12:45:00.014-05:00

Yesterday I went to my son and daughter-in-law's house to help sew nursery things. Here is Marina hard at it. Marina, Kathy (her mom), and I were the team, and we worked all day until we got it done--bumper pads, curtain, bed skirt. Now, that may not sound like a whole lot, but just wait until you see what it involved.
Kathy and I are working out our strategy for the bed skirt. It takes lots of figuring and experimenting when there is no pattern.
Kathy has the bed skirt under control.
Marina is really good at using the rotary cutter.
Kathy and I wrestled with the bumper pad. Did you know that they have pre-made bumper pads? All you do is make the covering. We did one contiuous tube instead of making it in sections, and that meant a lot of work getting six sections poked down into the casing.

Marina is very relieved that we got it done, and that the nursery is nearly ready. Hope you like it, Marina, because you will be spending a lot of time in this room!

Kathy and I were amazed it came together in one day. It was lots of fun, and I am so happy we can sew. There is a little business in town that custom makes bumper pads, sheets, and the works (you pick the fabric) for about $800! We had a blast and saved a ton of money. So the moral of this story is--learn to sew, and then be creative.

Hable Espanol?

2009-08-27T19:55:00.004-05:00

Here I am back in Odessa! This is one West Texas village that is bi-lingual. I starved all morning so I could get blood drawn for cholesterol, and when I walked out of the lab this is what I saw just across the street, so naturally I went over and ordered a plate of enchiladas--not good. If you get a chance to go here, order the fajitas, fajita burrito, or probably any other burrito, because that is their specialty!
This was my next stop to get a "mamografia" (high-light of the year, as all you ladies know)! Last of all was the sleep doctor, who is Indian, and did not have anything written in Espanol for me. After an afternoon of all this, I went to my son and daughter-in-law's for supper. I wonder why I haven't lost any weight? School is in full swing, feet aren't hurting, and the week is nearly over. Saturday I go to help Marina make bumper pads for the baby bed. Two more months, and grandson will be here! I will be sure and take pictures on Saturday. More later.

School has kicked off, and summer is still here!

2009-08-25T18:41:00.006-05:00

There were at least three of these beautiful butterflies on the Mexican Sunflower when I got home today. They are frantic for the nectar, and don't seem to notice me. Their numbers have increased, too.

We have had two days of school--assemblies, schedule changes, computer problems, but we are up and running. Yesterday my feet hurt too badly to do anything but crash in the recliner when I got home. Today is better, and tomorrow we will all be in the groove. I am going to oversee two dual credit courses from Midland College, and am actually looking forward to English 1301, and history 1301. These are juniors who have not had college classes yet, so I am taking notes and preparing study questions for them. I also have two special ed. math classes with kids to prepare for the state assemssment so they can graduate, and textiles and apparel (the easiest one for me). More about school later.

Sacked Out (I wish)!

2009-08-22T04:37:00.005-05:00

Saturday, and I thought I would be just like Tommy T., all sacked out sleeping, resting, dreaming, but, "No." At 3:00 a.m. I am awake! It is because we spent all day yesterday with the new high school principal discussing dress code, cell phone, food and drink, duties, deadlines, PDAS (teacher evaluation), and I can't even think of the rest, and we are not done! It is hard to break in a new principal, but after we get in the groove it will be alright (it always is). We went to Cluster In Service in Odessa, and got to hear a very inspirational teacher from Atlanta talk about helping found the Ron Clark Academy, a very successful private school in one of the toughest parts of Atlanta. The Academy is giving a teacher award, and the deadline is September 1, so if you know of a teacher you want to submit, you need to go to http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/great-american-teachers-awards.aspx and fill out the paper work. Hurry! Today, I am going to do the washing and ironing, straighten up around the house a little, and then go live at school the rest of the day. I will let you know how the first day goes.
I also want to bless one of my former students, who lived next door to me last year. She is off to college, now, and I pray that she will go with God every step of the way. Stay the course, Lauren! I am proud of you.

Red Shoes!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-20T18:45:00.006-05:00

The Farmer's Wife sent me the cutest pair of red satin shoes I have ever laid my eyes on, and so far they have been to church, although, there is a pair of cushions in the box that are supposed to be put in the shoes to keep them from slipping when you go dancing. I think I will stick with church. I measured the heels on the inside, and they are 3"; the school secretary insisted that they should be measured on the outside (4.5"). At any rate I feel like I am touring over everyone when I am wearing them. Thanks, dear neice.

Rummage Sale Treasures!

2009-08-18T09:02:00.006-05:00

It is true--I am the one who suggested that it was time for the church to have a rummage sale, because it had been five or six years since the last one, and if everyone collects as much junk as I do, we could have gobs of stuff, and make a fortune! People gladly dropped off their donations all summer long. I was overwhelmed by the massive piles of clothes, this and that stuff, appliances, dishes, and pure junk. It took a lot of time and effort to sort, and set up, but we made over $700. I told the ladies if I ever suggested doing it again, just shoot me! Amazingly, I scored three outstanding items.

The bean pot looking piece has: Coors, Rosebud, USA on the bottom, and is from the '30s. In 1910 Adolph Coors invested in the Herold China and Pottery Factory in Golden, Colorado (same place the beer is produced, and same Coors company). The company has evolved into Coors TEK, a manufacturer of technology that "serves every industry with advanced products." The ash tray is hollow, and it has the signature, Anthony, and 273. USA on the bottom. Come to find out a company called Freeman-McFarlin manufactured these ashtrays during the 50s and 60s. It was bought out in the 80s. So, if you have any "Anthony" ashtrays, keep them.
And last, but not least, is this dresser. I got the boys to put it under the car port for me so I can work on it. Come to find out, under that blonde, 1950 style finish, is solid oak, and it is heavy as lead! The sides of the drawers are oak and dove tailed. More about the dresser when I get done fixing it. Just in case your wondering, the cookbook in the other picture was a gift, and it is written by Joyce Wilde, owner of the store. I even saw her cookbooks in a shop in Illinois! Now it is time to get ready to go to school, and do bulletin boards (and visit). Have a great day!

Sassy Fox--where Roudy Rockstars, Crazy Cowgirls, and Sassy Shoppers all go!

2009-08-15T18:30:00.002-05:00

Sassy Fox has pressed tin ceilings, a mosaic floor, and the owner likes Bohemian chandeliers, and fabric along with beads draped from the ceiling. Spot lights give the store a mysterious atmosphere, as opposed to glaring fluorescent lighting that murders color and mystique. It's sort of like walking into a night club.Owner of Sassy Fox, Barbara, is a busy lady, and is on the move, on the telephone or helping customers every second of the day. She also makes a great milkshake! Sassy has a soda fountain where bored husbands can enjoy their visit while wives and daughters shop.

Barbara said she and her family rescued the store, which had been condemned, and turned it into this showplace. They are obviously talented artists with great vision, because they put this mosaic floor in themselves. Here is Barbara, red hair, fancy earrings and manicured nails inlaid in the floor.

The entire floor downstairs is mosaic. Even the family cat has been included in the design.

The store lives up to it's name with the most sassy clothes, shoes, and jewelry you can imagine!

The posh dressing rooms are located on another level with a chaise and coffee table for adoring mothers to patiently wait for their daughters, or just take time out from trying on. No mothers waiting while I was prowling around. They were all trying on clothes themselves!
This is the dressing area, and I am telling you it is fancy! Pictures just cannot create the atmosphere that you will experience when you walk in the door. What a place! Come and visit 34 East Concho Avenue the next chance you get.

J. Wilde's--a walk on the wild side!

2009-08-14T06:02:00.035-05:00

J. Wilde's Boutique specializes in the unusual. She has the latest fashions in clothing, shoes, and purses. If you are looking for something unusual go here. Along side the fashion items you will find retro bags, decorator fabrics, furniture and accessories for your home from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Just one example of the newest bag, and any of you Texas ladies that were into fashion during the 60s will remember the Collins bags. Wilde has a collection of them!The latest in the peasant tops are here in full color.

Winter clothes are also on display.

Boots of all kinds are ready to walk out the door!
I didn't see many heels that were lower than 3 inches unless they were flats.All the shoes are unusual.
Retro lighting, anyone?

I just had to have a picture of this cute orange lamp. It reminds me of Saturn with its ring. This is called a Bohemian chandelier, and it seems to be a favorite of Wilde's and Sassy Fox.

One section of the store was devoted to Mexican things, and this is a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe (also on the lamp shade). Here is a purple Christmas tree all lit up in the Mexican section of the store.
There are lots of painted items to buy, and here is a mirror with leopard spots and jewelry chests all painted up.

Fabric covered chests!

More fabric covered chests, and animal print is still in!

It seems like everything is displayed in a most unusual way, with lots of fabrics draped on the walls and ceilings. The store is over 7000 square feet, and the fabric pulls things together.The colors are bright, flamboyant, and wild--not for the cautious minded person! If you need some unusual upholstery fabric, she has it (this is only a small sample).
If you need something, and can't seem to find it, call Joyce Wilde in San Angelo. She probably has it at 325.655.0878. I have got to get going. We are having a rummage sale at church, and there is one more day of it. What torture, and to think it was my idea!

San Angelo, Texas

2009-08-13T08:27:00.016-05:00

This is my last morning of leisure, and I wasted half of it in bed. My dad would never have slept this late, but here I am just listening for the beeper on the coffee pot at 8:28 am. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I drove to San Angelo for my last three workshops. On Wednesday I didn't take the loop, and instead drove through town just to see what was happening. Looks like this hand is ready to go to work!

We are required to get six or seven days of inservice in the summer so we can have the entire week of Thanksgiving out of school. Believe me--we are ready for a week when it gets here. It is a long haul from August 24 to Thanksgiving! And this year our first grand boy is supposed to arrive on November 21, so I am already looking forward to it! The Education Service Center is located near the Concho River, and all I had to do was get in the car, drive down Rio Concho Drive, and in two minutes I was in the San Angelo Historic District. FUN! You can see these sheep in various places, because San Angelo is sheep country.

I spent all my time on one block, because there is a lot to see, and not much time for looking.

Leddy Boots are still being made downtown San Angelo. The Leddy's moved their business from Brady to San Angelo in 1936, and by 1941 they opened a second business at the Ft. Worth Stock yards. Wish I had had the time to go in and visit.

I did take time for lunch one day in Sealy Flats Shana's Cafe and Bakery. They had the best chicken salad sandwich I have had in a long time.

Eggemyer's General Store is one of the most fantastic places I have been. It has showcases of jack knives, cookbooks of all kinds, kitchen wares, toy tractors--John Deere and IH, fudge and truffles, Spode China, jams, jelly's, and more. They did not allow picture taking, so you will just have to go there yourself.
This is an iteresting bookstore--no time to go in.
Miss Hattie's Cafe and Saloon. And....
the Sassy Fox, where I spent all lunch hour, tried on clothes and took pictures. The next day I spent lunch hour in J. Wilde's
This is the sidewalk display of J. Wilde's. I will do a blog on Sassy and Wilde's because they let me take pictures. Pictures just can't convey the atmosphere, but maybe you will get the idea. San Angelo is a very interesting small town (a little over 88,000), and has a culture all it's own. Wish everyone could visit there just once.

PePe` ......

2009-08-08T08:26:00.006-05:00

...the tuxedo cat came out to meet me, and demand attention while I was on my morning walk. I haven't seen him all summer, and he is just so cute with his white gloves, and white shirt. He wouldn't leave me alone long enough to pose. You can tell he is in the mood for a good head scratchin' this morning!

Yesterday I got in a bidding war on e-bay. Don't ever do that! Cowboy Sweetheart introduced me to the neatest gadget--granted I am not much on gadgets, but this is the best, and I just had to have one. You know what a pain spaghetti straps are! Well, the Fasturn makes them fast, neat, perfect and best of all, painless, so I looked on e-bay. Sure enough there it was, and I lost the bid. Tight old me, I just wouldn't go high enough, but I didn't really care, because I knew I would get another shot at it. Not to fear! The next day or so there were FOUR on the auction block, so I patiently waited for the days to run out, and for the last minutes to countdown, then I started raising the bid. I conservatively posted each bid, going only as high as necessary, trying my best to get it as cheaply as possible only to find out I had been out bid. Then something in my brain kicked in--meanness, actually. I decided, "OK, if that's how you want to be, I'll just make you pay, and pay dearly for this little apparatus, and then I will drop out and leave you holding the bag." Well, "Hello!" I won the thing! It's probably a good thing, now I can get on with my life, and not be tied down to waiting, and hoping I don't forget to bid, except that I won't have the fun of bidding someone up on those other three Fasturns. I did learn a lesson--patience is a virtue that I need more of, and being mean doesn't pay!

Grasshoppers!!!!!!!!!! and hot weather

2009-08-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

I am furious! The grasshoppers are eating the petals off of my Mexican Sunflowers. At least this butterfly is able to find one that is altogether. He stayed here a long time, fanning his wings in and out, and doing what butterflies do. I never could see how they got any necter out of a flower.

We have had a lot of these black butterflies lately. The bottoms of their wings fade into a beautiful blue. Wonder what kind of caterpillar they make?

It is cooler today--98 compared to 101 yesterday. Dog days are here; the cicadas are in a constant chattering-buzz, and the boys are doing two-a-days up on the hill, and I am sure their little tongues are sticking to the roofs of their mouths, and the sweat is pouring off of them. I don't know if they are working out in pads yet. Just glad it's them and not me.

The Count Down for School is On!

2009-08-06T10:26:00.004-05:00

Good Morning! I am out as early as possible to walk off a little blubber. I haven't been on the scales since I got back from Montana, just can't face the truth right now. After the walk I pulled grass burrs in the back yard so I can mow. T. Tom (cat) competed with noxious plants for attention, by flopping down in front of me every few steps. Have you ever noticed how cats love to have a person work in the yard? In just a little bit it will be time to go read to one of the students who is home bound, and then I am going to use the big tables in the home ec. room to cut out the back to that quilt. Yesterday was a bust, because I spent most of the time talking to teachers who were also supposed to be getting things shaped up for the new year. That's the fun part of getting ready!

I am thankful that the full moon will be over by the first day of school! I think the kids are wilder, talk more, and don't focus as well during this phase of the moon! Some say, "It ain't so," but I know differently.

Time is running out!

2009-08-04T13:25:00.012-05:00

As I came to the school marquee during my morning walk, reality hit. Teachers, and or course, students have only a few days of leisure left (actually teachers go back the 17th). When I went to the Big Dry School I would actually get sick at the thoughts of going back. At least it isn't that bad anymore. I spent the weekend "dogsitting" Lola and Snoopy while my son and daughter-in-law went to visit family. Here is Lola bringing me her "baby." She looks sort of mean, but she is very loving, and sort of a chicken. I didn't a good picture of the Chihuahua named Snoopy, but he is very dear, and likes to sleep with you. Then on Monday, I spent all day running around Odessa going to all the doctors. Odessa is quite different from Midland; some parts make me think I am South of the Border. It has better Mexican food than Midland; I am sure you already had that figured out!

This grocery store advertises that it will also wire money, and take food stamps.

Pinkies sign in Odessa.Here is a pasture south of Midland. This picture just doesn't do it justice, because the amount of cactus is amazing! The good thing is, cactus doesn't take much water, and the grass is green after the late rains we have had. You don't see many mesquites in this pasture, so I think maybe they tree plowed it years ago, and in the process scattered prickly pear all over it, and here it is--cactus everywhere. Now I am going to school to see what kind of mess my room is in.

Critters ...

2009-08-01T08:59:00.000-05:00

This interesting creature is called a vinegar roan--big and ugly. They have pinchers similar to a crab, and give off a vinegar oder when they get upset. He was in the highschool hall, so I took this just before I put him outside. I hope my neice, Jen looks at this!

Odessa Trip

2009-07-31T19:32:00.015-05:00

I went to Odessa last night for the second phase of my sleep study, met with the doctor this morning, and yes, I have sleep apnea, so now I have a CPAP machine. While I was waiting to see the doctor, I took some pictures of just, some of the neat signs in town. For some reason Odessa has quite a few 1950ish signs, and I just love them! This is St. Luke's Methodist Church on 42nd street. The pipes look like something straight out of the oil field, which is quite fitting.

This is the Sherwood Shopping Center sign on 42nd.

Scott Theater downtown.

Ector Theater, just down the street from the Scott Theater.

One of the little stores down town.
Lassa Optical Company, downtown.
A beat up, old motel over near the hospital.
Drugs and alcohol near the hospital.
Desert landscaping at a spa downtown.

I also went to a cute little restaurant near the hospital on Sam Houston Street called Yana. It is owned by a German woman who stays in Europe most of the time; she has a good manager running the place, and they claim to specialize in European cuisine. I had baked potato soup and creme brulee. Shopping in Wal Mart and the mall was very exasperating. I swear there were screaming, bawling kids in every nook and cranny in Odessa, worse than Midland. To top it all off, I got a bad shopping cart in Wal Mart. It would have been perfect if all I wanted to do was go in a circle, so here I was fighting it every step of the way, and trying to ignore all the noise. I am ready for a night of rest!

2009-07-29T09:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I flew home to West Texas. Have you ever wished you could be in two places at the same time? That's how I feel--torn between Texas and Montana. Flying was an all day affair, and I was glad when we finally got to Midland. We have actually had some rain here, and some of the wild flowers are still blooming. This one was beside the street, and I took the picture when I walked this morning. I have no idea what it is called, but some of these wild flowers are just goregeous. I have much to do to get ready for school, and there is a quilt top that needs to be finished, plus a pile of fabric calling to me. I guess I had better get off this computer and get busy!

1964 was a very good year....

2009-07-29T09:37:00.001-05:00

...for dandelion wine. Here it is in living color--dandelion wine that I made when still in high school, and it hasn't even turned to vinegar. Amazing! It is still in my mother's basement, and I drug it out after all these years just to see what it was like. If I had the recipe I would post it.