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.
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 approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.
I have never seen the official Clydesdales but remember being down in the Weatherford area & saw a field that had about half a dozen colts. Beautiful.
Art Deco Mailbox (Letter Box) French Building, 551 Fifth Avenue, NYC, 1927 by Sloan and Robertson and H. Douglas Ives.
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| Entrance door in Art Nouveau House on Rue du Lac,6. Brussels |
ALOHA” PRIVATE HOUSE, Art Deco Revival from 1920s, Melbourne, Australia
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 those days were the best of his life. Sleeping under the stars, eating off a chuck wagon.living what he thought was the good life.
When he came home from WWII he met & married my mom. 2 years later they had 2 little girls, my sisters Cathy & Jo. (I came along in 1957) And they all lived on various ranches til 1960 when we all moved to Arizona & my dad went to work in an open pit copper mine with my Uncle Dub. He worked on a ranch on the weekends & in 1970, went to work for ranch solely.
In 1971, we moved home to Texas where he worked for ranches,the last one for 25 years til his retirement at age 82.
After retirement one of the things he did was care for calves who were sick or having pregnancy issues. The large animal vet would refer people to him because he knew everything.
He moved up to Lubbock with me at age 93 & passed away in 2009 at age 95.
I miss him greatly.
But that wasn't all of him.
He always had a job & that allowed my mom to stay home with us. She wasn't forced. She wanted to do it. She did drive school van for awhile & later worked in a sewing factory & a charity office. I'll write about her later.
Daddy's job cowboying usually came with a house & beef & pork & chickens & a garden. We weren't ever rich but we were also never poor. There were always people with less than us. They managed to send us all to college, at least for a little while. 😅
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I haven't mentioned that they raised my sister's Jo after she passed away in 1970.
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Daddy killed all the snakes. One time we were at a town festival & my friend & I were walking through an alley & there was a man laying in a doorway. I didn't look for a cop...I found my daddy. (The guy was just passed out drunk).
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The deal is, he was a man. He'd been a soldier. He adored his wife. He loved his little girls & his grandson. He loved his grandchildren. And he was a cowboy.
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If we had a stopped up drain he'd try the normal stuff but then tell us to call a plumber if it didn't work. He was not a car mechanic. He was a "cow puncher" according to his army induction papers though I never personally saw him punch a cow.
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When he retired from his last job his boss got him an expensive black felt Stetson hat. When it was time to bury him, I was going to send it with him but my niece wanted it so I sent him to Heaven without a hat. He didn't go to the mailbox without a hat.
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I 100% got my sense of humor & a genial attitude from him. He found joy & humor in everything.
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I think about everything he saw in is 95 years. I remember showing him pictures my niece sent of her children. He asked "How did they get in there?" and I had to admit I don't know.
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For the 58 years my parents were married before we lost mom, he brought home his paycheck every week & gave it to her. He got $20 & 1 check & if he couldn't account for the check, he couldn't have another. Well, more if he came to Lubbock but he brought home receipts on paper, paper bags & napkins. He never paid a bill as long as she was here. I paid them later. For the record, my mom could have balanced the federal budget in 2 weeks flat.
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He lived in our small town & his brother Raymond & sister Dorothy lived in same town. They'd get into spats but he saw them every day.
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He was a social butterfly & that's something I did not necessarily inherit from him. His day was coffee at the co-op gin in the morning, then coffee at the bank, then home for a nap & then coffee with the boys at the Dairy Queen about 2. He had a full day!
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My friend Deb called him "cute" & he rode that wave for the last years of his life.
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A couple of months ago I went to Spur to take flowers down to graves. I stopped to visit with a dear friend of my dad's. Eric gave the eulogy at Daddy's funeral. He is a lawyer & a very good storyteller.
He was talking about daddy's blue heeler dog, Pup. Eric's father-in-law was JB, my dad's boss for the last 25 years he worked. Eric told a story when Daddy, JB & Eric were trying to get 3 bulls into a trailer. The first 2 just went right in. The trailer had a divider & that divider was closed. The last bull was fighting til the end. Eric said they were all really hot & they were ready to give up for awhile. Daddy said they needed to let Pup get him in. Daddy told him to get the bull into the trailer. Pup got in front of the bull & bit him on the nose & ran into the trailer & the ticked off bull followed him in & Pup slid under the divider & Daddy closed the back gate. Daddy & Pup were a great team. He loved that dog.
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Another dog story. My nephew had Pomeranians & he had a litter of puppies & one was a big time runt & only one eye. Steve brought her to mom. Mom named her Sissy but Daddy called her Pup. Not a lot of dog name imagination. 😀 My dad never was one for a dog in the house--all of the others slept in boxed in porch or sometimes in the backyard in their doghouse. But Daddy loved that dog too. I went in one day & the 2 of them were asleep in the chair. The foot part was up & Pup was laying beside him. Daddy heard me come in & he put the foot down & pushed Pup out of the chair. Pup barked & barked at him. Daddy said "I don't know what she's so upset about"....I asked him how he'd feel if he was sound asleep & someone pushed him out of a chair. He allowed that he might be upset too.
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One Sunday morning, Daddy went with neighbor to look at show pigs for his girls. While he was gone, I made a cake & left it on the counter & went to take a shower. When I got back into the kitchen, I looked at my cake & told Daddy that I think we had a rat! He asked what I was talking about. I told I'm something had eaten a corner off my cake! He told me it was a rat...he'd seen it!!
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Did I mention I miss him?
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 we’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.
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 kitchen looks like a tornado hit it when I cook but luckily I can clean up my kitchen like a tornado too.
7. I like baking
Another cake story: Back in the early 1970s I was 13 & we lived in the cookhouse at the Pitchfork Ranch. My mom cooked 3 meals a day for the single cowboys in the bunkhouse. The married guys lived in the ranch houses & the company provided groceries. Part of the duties of the cookhouse were ordering groceries, stocking the commissary & then once a week, filling orders from the ranch houses. There was one of the wives who made a cake every week & bragged that she was such a good cook & only made her cakes from scratch. She publicly turned up her nose at cake mixes. But the truth is she ordered one every week! She'd order a strawberry mix & like magic, she'd make a strawberry cake. My dad & I would laugh about it every week but we never snitched her off.
Ok, one more. I was probably about 11 when my favorite aunt & uncle came to visit. Uncle's birthday was in the middle of the visit. I made his cake. I don't remember what kind of cake but his favorite color was green so I made green icing. And I don't remember how many candles but I put one on for each year. When we lit the candles it looked like a big green porcupine on fire. He either really loved it or he was a really good sport. I so adored him.
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'.
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| James Darrock |
He was married to his wife for 64 years. He had 3 sons & a few grandchildren. That says a lot about a man to me. Family man, good husband, good dad. It sounds like a good life.
RIP Moondoggie
I've been watching the Food Network cooking baking championship & have saved a ton of recipes to try someday.
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 a picture! She sent several of her projects. And right before she left she said "now that we're friends" & I'm not sure about that but it was a fine encounter.
I learned at a school I used to work at that everyone needs someone to listen to them sometimes. I'm certainly that way. Like Debbie, if I find someone who will listen to me I'll talk on & on. Sometimes I don't talk to anyone for a solid week, sometimes it's public people--cashiers,bank--but no "conversation". I know when I'm talking too much & try to temper it but sadly it doesn't always work.
Debbie & I are probably not going to be friends. She lives in a small town about 15 miles away We have nothing in common. But, sure...maybe
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 later. I then posted it on Twitter & they responded with the above picture. It's way cool!! I wish they'd have responded with a gift card but that was a no. They also said their Monte Cristo which is pretty good was never off the menu but it indeed was at our restaurant because I asked. It's a battered thing too.
My Tweet:
We used to go to #Cheddars a couple of times a year because they had great onion rings. They went away during pandemic. I'd sent an email to website in 2021 voicing disappointment. Got email today from them telling me they are back starting today. #Bumfuzzled 3 years later!
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 water, boil for 10 minutes. I did not do this but will next time. Vinegar keeps film off jars, leaves them nice & shiny.
I ordered a Ball canning book from Amazon but it was damaged when it arrived. Ordered another. Next stop: Tomato-Bacon jam.
I could possibly be out of control.
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.
