Sneakers1957

  I love the idea of a perfect Christmas...especially vintage.  

  Cream together: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 eggs Then add: 1 1/2 cups flour 2/3 cups cocoa 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking powder  1/4 baking soda 1 tsp vanilla 2 tsp cherry juice  1 maraschino cherry per cookie Use 1" cookie scoop or roll into balls, put one cherry on top & bake 10 minutes. I think I officially have a new favorite cookie.

I technically should be embarrassed because I saw the Clydesdales were going to be at my United Supermarket. I wasn't sure what to expect but, like an excited little kid, I went to see.  We had to stand in line for a few minutes & then we got our picture made.  Today, there was one handsome guy but at the football game on Saturday, they'll have a  team hitched up.  Sadly, I'm not going to the game.   The Budweiser Clydesdales are an American icon and one of the world’s most recognized brand symbols. Beginning this summer, they are traveling to communities across the country to military events and venues in support of Anheuser-Busch’s partnership with Folds of Honor. Through its scholarship program, Folds of Honor ensures that families of fallen or disabled U.S. service members and families of first responders receive educational opportunities and support. Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approxi...

Art Deco Mailbox (Letter Box) French Building, 551 Fifth Avenue, NYC, 1927 by Sloan and Robertson and H. Douglas Ives. Entrance door in Art Nouveau House on Rue du Lac,6. Brussels   ALOHA” PRIVATE HOUSE, Art Deco Revival from 1920s, Melbourne, Australia Dalcrombie House, Olinda,Victoria, Austrailia Car is 1937 Cord 812 Westchester Sedan   Lopez Boathouse, 1936, Iloilo City, Philippines Robert Hosmer Morse House, Lake Forest, IL Art Nouveau Building, Cannes, France 1930's Moon Lamp   Just a beautiful green clock.. Spiral Staircase Glass House Peacock Gate, 4 Seasons, Budapest,Hungary Front door in a building in Prague

This post will be endless.  I'll be updating... Daddy was born in 1914, the second oldest of 6 kids. My Uncle Raymond was first, in 1912.  Then Uncle Dub, Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Jiggs & Aunt Allene.  Their dad died in 1924, in a fire. My grand parents lived on a share farm & my Granny didn't work or drive.  They moved in with one of my granddads uncle but all of the boys had to leave school early to support their family. My Uncle Raymond was the oldest son, caring for a widowed mother & did not go to WWII.  All 3 of the others did.  Uncle never married & cared for his mom til she passed away. He was 74 when she died. He was always a lovable old grump but he never got to have his own life so I get it. To be fair, all the siblings contributed to Granny's care. My dad would tell you he was a farmer from 1931-1932. He was a cow man.  He started cowboying at 17, working for several ranches. He did that solely til he got drafted in 1942. He said...

 

 

We ask your blessing, Lord, on this gathering We whom you’ve already blessed so lavishly, With friendship, health,children,,comfort & love If we knew nothing of your works except for the faces around this table, Our feeling of gratitude would far exceed our power to express it. For loved ones near & far we ask your protection. We humbly honor you on this the day of your miracle We are ever mindful & thankful that every day we live w e’ll somehow be surprised by Grace. 

So 23 years ago I was at work & our office went oddly silent. My friend Jason came in & told us about the 1st plane. Our entire office was in break room, watching TV when 2nd plane hit. We were stunned. The rest of the day, the rest of week is kind of a blur. It was heartbreaking but in the days that followed we saw a unity & patriotism in this country that sadly we may never see again. In spite of today's canvas, we are still the best country in the world. We went to NYC in September of 2019 & visited ground zero. It was eerie & everyone around was very respectful. The only other time I had that feeling was at Pearl Harbor. I could feel the souls in both places.

  This is my Butter Pecan Bundt cake that I made today.  I'm not posting the recipe because while it's tastes good the recipe is not worth the trouble.  It's not something I'll make again.  Here are this cake's facts: 1. The recipe is just weird.  Starts off like a normal cake, then had me adding milk & vanilla in the middle of the flour adds & then sour cream.  I followed exactly but it could have been done easier. 2. Cake is pretty dry, expecially for a cake with 4 eggs, milk & sour cream.  Recipe says to cook 60-70 minutes. I cooked 60, too much apparently.  Doesn't matter...won't make again. 3. This is my 2nd Bundt cake I've made in the last of months & they came out perfect.  I'm so proud.  I love Baker's Joy.  I might be ready for a fancy Bundt pan.  Next year. 4. My first glaze didn't work.  I know what I did wrong now. 5. I toasted pecans for the first time ever. 6. I'm unclear how exactly my kitche...

Actor James Darren died yesterday. He was born in Philadelphia in 1936 & was part of the "Philly" teens that emerged in the 1950s. He did some acting, some singing, later some directing. He wasn't a superstar but he did ok in Hollywood.  I don't remember reading about tantrums or scandals.  Just a working guy. I first remember him as 'Moondoggie' in 'Gidget'.  He was the college surfer dude who fell in love with Sandra Dee.  It wasn't Shakespeare but it was fun. He was dreamy.😍 Later he was in a series called 'Time Tunnel'.  I didn't watch that one. He came in the last 3 seasons of 'TJ Hooker' & was the best thing on the show.  He did some one shot things til he retired in 2017. In a show called 'One Day At a Time', mom Nanette Fabrey met him on a cruise & brought him home.  I could see bring him home. Even then he was dreamy. 😍 He was even immortalized on 'Flintstones' as singer 'James Darrock...

  I've been watching the Food Network cooking baking championship & have saved a ton of recipes to try someday.   Today is Cherry Almond Cookie Day! 1 jar maraschino cherries, 10 oz, chopped up. Save juice 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted 3/4 cups sugar 1/4 cups brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp almond extract 2 tsp cherry juice 1 tsp vinegar 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 3/4 cups of flour  Cream butter & sugars. mix in egg, almond extract, cherry juice & vinegar. Sprinkle salt & soda over dough. Not sure what this step is about but I did it anyway.  Mix in flour till all combined, stir in cherries. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

 

 

  Just over 2 years ago & I broke my right wrist, my dominant hand.  Gradually, a little arthritis has settled in & I've lost nimbleness in my fingers.  I used to crochet a scarf a week but I have not been able to crochet at all since my hospital stay in December.  It's part mental & part physical.  I had a yarn buildup (23 skeins) on Facebook Market place for $30.  I just need them gone. Mentally & physically.   I had several inquiries but no one had committed yet but one woman, Debbie, said she wanted & she'd pay $40 but she could not come til today.  I trusted my gut & decided to wait. She came this morning & picked up.  (And paid $50!).  And stayed & talked for 2 hours. She talked about crocheting, her husband, kids & grandkids. She is retired & 69 & "didn't have much to do" so clearly she just needed someone to listen to her.  She was making a Chiefs pillow & I said, send me ...

One of the restaurants we used to go to occasionally before Covid was Cheddars.  They have burgers, salads & general dinner-y things.  It basically tasted ok but nothing special.   One thing they did well was onion rings.  ORs are my favorite thing in the world & I try them everywhere.  Some come out of bags like I'm sitting at Sonic so they are pre-fabbed.  But if they are hand breaded with or without a beer batter, I'm usually a fan.   So we went one day in 2021 & they told us there were no onion rings because they were short staffed & could not batter things.  I kid you not.  So we just left...no point in paying their prices if no ORs.  When I got home I dropped them a note on their customer support sight nicely pointing out that that was a stupid policy.  I don't remember if I got a response. So, last week, I got an email from Cheddar's customer support telling me onion rings were back!  3 years la...

Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results I'm officially textbook insane. I was supposed to go with my nephew's wife,son & mother in law to a nearby historic town tomorrow. We made arrangements last week. I texted them today to make sure we were still on but, sadly no. They suddenly have other things to do. Maybe in a "couple of weeks".  But then again, in reality, probably not.  Just more people I'm not a priority for.  It hurts my feelings.  Lots of things hurt my feelings. When will I learn there is no one in my life anymore I can can't on.  No one.  I won't ask again.  And embarrassingly, if they ask I'll say yes because sometimes I get so lonely that my pride doesn't even exist anymore.  But I'm still insane.

  8 cups corn .   I've used fresh, used frozen this time. Don't believe the servings on bag...I needed 5 bags when I should have needed 4. 3 cups bell peppers.   I mixed red & yellow. Green would have added to color but I don't like them.  2 small onions 3 stalks celery 2 cups water 2 1/2 cups white vinegar 1 3/4 cups sugar 4 tsp dry mustard 2 tsp black pepper 2 tsp pickling salt 3 Tbsp corn starch 2 Tbsp water Mix everything together in a large pan.  I actually used my Instapot on saute setting.  Bring to a gentle  boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Mix together water & cornstarch, add to relish mixture to thicken. Boil for 2 more minutes.  Ladle into sterilized jars. Put lid & ring on, put in water bath for 15 minutes.  Hot jars, hot contents.  Wait to hear pop & seal to go down on jars.  Let cool. To sterilize jars, use canning wrack, put in hot (not boiling) water, cover at least 1" above cans with ...

 

▢ Ingredients  Ingredients  Ingredients  1  can  peaches or 2 fresh peaches  ▢ 2   cans   crescent rolls (8 rolls each) ▢ 1   cup   packed brown sugar ▢ 1½   cups   unsalted butter ▢ 1   teaspoon   ground cinnamon ▢ 1   teaspoon   vanilla extract ▢ Pinch   salt ▢ 8   ounces  lemon lime soda   i.e. Mountain Dew or 7up      Directions     Preheat oven to 350.   Pam a 9x13 pan.     Drain & pat peaches dry     Unroll crescent rolls & divide at perforation.  Place a peach slice        into a crescent triangle.  Sprinkle with brown sugar. Roll into                crescent, place in pan.    In sauce pan, melt butter & brown sugar, Bring to boil. Remove              from heat, add cinnamon, vanilla & salt. ...

Back in the dark ages, I worked for Southwestern Bell & we always had sales promotions.  We had one where we would get tickets for a drawing & there were some good prizes but the consolation prize was a "round rubber gripper" & I got a bunch of them.  This had to be prior to 1995 because that was the year Southwestern Bell morphed into SBC Corporation.  And I retired in 2010.  Now, I'm in the middle of summer cleaning & found 3 in a box,plus I had 2 in cabinet drawer.  Basically I'm a little panicked to find I only have 5 left. 😂  Maybe they'll last me for the rest of my jar opening life.    And my boss Cathy built a new house that year.  My friend Virginia made her a blue round rubber gripper flower arrangement for her as a housewarming gift.