Good Old Home Cooking!
Home cooked food.
Pork chops and vegetables--UM UM good.
I was gone for about five whole days on my trip. We had gobs of food to eat--more than we needed. But it was not the kind of food I am used to eating. On the trip we ate once at a McDonald's on the way to Indianapolis and on the plane we got nothing. They did serve us a drink but no food.
While at the reception we had lots of food. They had pulled pork sandwiches, veggie trays, dips and cake. Then the next day we went to Rachel's Mom's and she had more of the same stuff which was leftover from the reception. On Monday Lana Kay had a barbecue with all kinds of cold meat sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs and more veggies and dip.
One of the days Jennifer made a big lasagna for all of us so that was kind of like home cooked food.
Then on the way home, again, we got no food on the plane--just drinks.
I was too tired to make a home cooked meal the first day I got home and also the next day I was still not in the mood to cook. But today I made a big bowl of mashed potatoes, a can of peas and I cooked pork chops. So that is the first regular home cooked food I have had for almost a week.
Actually, I have probably not lost a pound even after all of that! I am going to make myself a pan of cornbread tomorrow. So I am gradually getting back to my old kind of food.
I am so glad to be back home and sleep in my own bed and use my own bathroom. I loved visiting Lana Kay but I am glad to be back in my cozy little home even if it isn't anything fancy! I hope Jake waits a while to get married!
Ford's Trip to London in about 1944
Ford on a train to London
When Ford was in Europe during the war, he won a trip to London. There was some kind of a test or exam that he took and he got the highest grade so he won the trip to London.
He visited the Madam Tussuad's Wax Museum in London. He saw other places also but his main visit was to the Wax Museum. He enjoyed it very much.
Barack Obama's wax figure was unveiled on his inauguration day in London. Of course Ford did not see that (thank goodness!). But he did see many famous people in wax there.
I was impressed that he won the trip because of his intelligence. He looks so happy in the picture and I think he is good looking also! Of course I might be prejudiced a little.
I look at this picture often and wish I could see him in person once again, I will some day in the future when I get to heaven.
I'M BACK!
I love my cozy home!
I am back home, the perfect place to be! We got back home about 7:30 P.M. Wednesday.I made the trip fine. I did more walking than I have in some time in the airport. Carla and Brett tried to slow down enough for me but even their slow walk is too fast for me! But I did make it.
We saw a beautiful wedding and I met my new grand daughter in law. I will see her again in a few weeks when they come here on their honeymoon trip. Lana Kay and Jake will be here also then.
I am glad to be back and will try to think of new ideas for my blog in the future. I am sorry I don't have any pictures of the wedding right now for this post. Lana Kay is going to send me copies of her pictures and she will also bring some when she comes.
It seems forever since I have written a post but it really was only 6 days. I meant to put one on for Thursday but I didn't make it. I will try harder from now on!
Goodbye for a while!
Brendon and Jordan, Jennifer's two children.
I am leaving today, Friday, for Boise, Idaho, for my grandson's wedding. Josh and Rachael are getting married on Saturday. I hope we have no problems because we are only getting there at midnight on Friday. I also hope our luggage gets there with us!
In the picture above are my two great grandchildren whom I have never seen-- I did see Brendon once when he was about three but not since then. I have never seen Jordan. The picture was made in 2000 so they are quite a bit older now. Brendon is graduating soon.
I have been racing around trying to get my bags packed and make sure I don't forget something I have to have.
This trip is going to be a blur in my time. Time passes so fast and we only have five days there. I am so glad that I got this chance to go. It will probably be my last time out there because they come here every summer.
Things are going to be different now since both boys will not be coming every summer like they have for about 25 years-- or Josh has been for that long. Jake is only 18 but he has been here every summer of his life.
I will miss doing my daily blog for a while. I will try to get back to it on the 27th, that is when we will be coming home. Don't miss me too much! Maybe you will get used to not reading my posts every day! Anyway, I am fast running out of new ideas. Maybe I will get some while I am in Boise.
So, have a good time reading other people's blogs while I am gone. I will see you again on the 27th or maybe the 28th.
CITGO--Formally Cities Service
Ford is in the picture just above. The other pictures are of some of his coworkers and of the buildings at Huntington of the Citgo Plant.
Ford worked there for about 25 years. He really liked his job. The worst part of it was having to get up at all hours of the night when they were getting gasoline into the plant through the pipeline. When the gasoline got there someone had to be right there to direct it into the right tank. Not only that but sometimes he would have to be there two or maybe three times on the same night.
He liked his supervisor and he liked the work otherwise. He retired from the job because of the night trips and the fact that he had to drive 25 miles to and from work--and he became 62 years old!
Fifty Years!
This is a picture of Ford's class in 1987 when he went to his fiftieth class reunion. He graduated in 1937 from Huntington High School. It was a big class. I am sure that quite a few had died before the fiftieth reunion. The ribbon and little memento on the place setting at the table are in the other picture.
We arrived at the club where the reunion was held a little early and decided to just sit in the car until more people came. While we were sitting there watching the people go into the building Ford said, "Boy, just look at all of those old people!" I replied, "Well, all of those old people are the same age as you!" He came to his senses and said, "I guess they are but they all look older than me!" He was right about that. He did look younger than a lot of them. He is just to the left side of the tree in the back row.
We had a very nice dinner but I really don't think Ford enjoyed it that much because he didn't see as many people as he had thought he would that he remembered from fifty years ago. Now. since that has been 22 years ago I am certain that many more, probably most of the people in that picture, are now gone.
But I do have the picture to look at and reminisce about the olden days.
We are one Smart Family!
I don't mean our family is a smart-Ass type! We are just smart!
I have five graduates this year--seven if I count my great nephew and niece dogs: one grandson, Josh Fife, and one great nephew, Chris Holmes, who are graduating from college; one grandson, Jake Little, who graduates from High school; two great grand nieces , Sara Holmes and Amy Highfield, who are graduating from high school. I might add that I also have a great niece dog and a great nephew dog who graduated from Obedience school just recently. I sent them presents!
I am so proud of all of them. However, It has totally wrecked my checking account! But I am just happy that I have the money to take care of all of the gifts. I don't have to worry about any more gifts until four years from now when the high schoolers will be graduating from college. By then maybe I will have won a lottery and will be rich--I am dreaming!
I am happy for all of my smart relatives and their accomplishments. Congratulations to all of you!
Happy Birthday, Evan
Evan Hunter TheisEvan is nine years old today. We were so disappointed that he came one day after the 17th which is Ford's birthday. But he came when he was ready, not when we were ready for him!
Ford did not get to spend much time with Evan because he died when Evan was only seven months old. He would have loved Evan to death if he had been here longer.
Even I do not get to see Evan very much because they live about 25 miles from me and Amy works all the time and Evan is in school. But I do love you, Evan, even though I don't get to see you a lot.
I want to wish you the happiest birthday ever and I hope you have many, many more
Happy Birthday, Ford,Where ever you are!
Today would have been Ford's 90th birthday if he were living. I cannot imagine him being 90 years old!
I still miss him so much every day. He was my best friend and lover. I still wear my wedding band as if he were here. I feel a closeness to him and wearing the rings make me feel nearer to him.
We had a very good life but his was cut short. Actually , having the strokes and losing his memory made his good times even shorter. But I am so glad for the time we did have together. We will continue our time together when I get to heaven because I am certain he is there right now!
Happy birthday my sweet husband!
I am a Published Poet!
I am a published poet--honest! Many years ago, about 44 to be exact--I had a poem published in the Grit Newspaper. Remember the Grit? I really don't know if Grit is still being published or not. I quit subscribing to it quite a few years ago because it got too expensive for me. I even used to suscribe for my mother also. She liked the Grit, as well. So I had to drop both of our subscriptions because of the raises in prices.
I used to love the Grit. It had so many homey articles in it, and it had a poetry section. I wrote the poem and sent it in. A few months later I got a letter saying my poem had been accepted for publication and a check would be sent soon. I was ecstatic.
Now that I look back--it was a minuscule check but it was a thrill for me.
But I am, I repeat, I am a published poet!
Night Games
A Fire
fly
Pie Irons
The items shown above are some of the things that we used to entertain ourselves with when we sat out at night. They are called pie irons. You could make delicious snacks in them if you had a camp fire. We never did that when I was a kid but we have many times with our friends when we camped.
In the other picture is a firefly, or a lightening bug, as we used to call them. We used to catch them and put them in a jar for fun.
We didn't have nearly as many fireflies in Texas when I was a kid as we do here in Indiana. My grandchildren have a ball catching them in the summer when they visit me.
When I was a kid we used to sit out in our yard at night and we would play games. Sometimes our parents would sit out with us--other times just we kids would stay out as long as they would allow us and play games or just have fun looking at the night sky. Then at the appropriate time we would be made to come in for bed.
Now, in this time, hardly anyone sits out in their yard any more. There is too much crime and bad things going on. You want to be inside where you are much safer. Back then we never had the least idea that we were not safe in our own yard at night playing games and catching fireflies.
It is sad that kind of fun was taken away from people. I will always remember what fun we had playing outside at night. Now I never venture out at night even in my own yard. My neighborhood is a good one but still sometimes things happen and I feel safer in my house at night.
But I still remember how much fun all of us kids had playing outside at night in those olden days.
My front porch guardian
Along with my sentinel on my fireplace I also have this little guy by my front porch who guards my entry door.
I bought him when we first moved to this house. So he has been our guardian angel for 32 years.
I had to replace the base of my birdbath once because Ford backed the car out and drove over it. But the bowl and the little man are the original ones from 32 years ago.
I know the original use of the birdbath is for birds but I really don't like the birds in mine. They make it messy for the little guardian. I try to keep the bowl empty so birds don't come to it. But since we get a lot of rain in Fort Rain, Indiana, Sometimes it gets ahead of me and the birds have a ball!
So don't worry about me, I have two faithful guards here watching over me all of the time.
Hens and Chickens Plants
In the pictures above are my hens and chickens plant and some specimens of other kinds of hens and chickens plants. I love the red one but I don't have any of those.
My plant sits outside all winter with no protection at all and it bursts out in the spring with all its glory. I never water, fertilize or do anything to it. So it is a very hardy plant--it just lives with whatever nature gives it.
Every once in a while I do break off some of the sprouts (chickens) because it gets so many on it. You can just stick them in a pot and soon they are reproducing more little hens and chickens.
The larger plants are called the hens and the smaller ones are the chickens. At some point the hens, or the larger plants, may flower. They grow on a tall stalk and have a bloom. Then after that they die and the smaller plants take over the growing of the chickens.
I have never had a hen flower on my plant so it may not have the ideal growing situation. However, I like my plant the way it is even if it doesn't flower. It is a perfect plant for me since I am lazy and don't do a lot of gardening and hens and chickens do not require much of it!
You are welcome to some chickens from my plant to put in your pot. Just come here and help yourself!
Do You ever Wonder What Heaven is Like?
Heaven.
I do all of the time. There is not much in the bible that tells us exactly how heaven will be. Except that it will be wonderful. I have my own ideas of how it will be but I have no way of knowing if I am right.I expect, and hope, that Heaven will be kind of like right here on earth except that everything will be perfect. The bible mentions that the streets are made of pure gold. So if there are streets wouldn't there be cars? Perfect cars that need no gas, no maintenance and remain in a new condition all of the time. Our homes would need no upkeep or costly things to keep them in good condition forever.
I think that people will be at the very top condition of their lives--what ever age was the best time of your life. When you looked your very best and with no diseases or any thing that was a problem during your lifetime. People who were crippled, deformed, lamed or just plain ugly will be perfect in heaven.
I certainly hope that I will not have all of the little annoyances that I have to put up with now in this life.
I do hope there will be computers in heaven. You are supposed to enjoy yourself and I would have a hard time enjoying myself with no computer! All this is just wishful thinking. I know we will love God most of all but if it is supposed to be an enjoyment there will have to be something for us to do.
I suppose there are as many different ideas of what heaven is like as there are people on this earth. This is just my idea of what I think maybe it is like. Tell me if you know any more than I know. I will meet you there someday with my brand new Porsche!
Jeopardy
Ken Jennings and Alex Trebek on Jeopardy.
Jeopardy is one of my favorite game shows. I like Alex Trebek. I was somewhat disappointed some time ago when I saw some things on Google about him that I did not know. He was using fowl language and was not the Alex that I thought he was. However, I try to forget that episode while I am watching Jeopardy. He is still a very good host for the show.
I don't know the reason but most of the time I am all for the men contestants on the show. I just have to see a couple of minutes of the show to know which contestant I am going to root for.
Most of the time one of them, usually a woman, turns me off immediately and I pray for them to lose!
Maybe I am envious of the women that appear on the show. I seldom see a woman that I want to win, and most of the time when I really, really dislike one, she wins! It makes me very eager to see the next show and to see her to lose.
One contestant really sticks in my mind--Ken Jennings. I was for him all the way. There will probably never be another one like him. He generated a lot of publicity for Jeopardy. I guess Jeopardy made him a rich man.
I set aside one hour each evening to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, my two favorite game shows. Sorry, women, I just don't want you to win!
Happy Mother's Day to all!
My Mother about 1931
The picture above was made at a family reunion which was held at our house about 1931. That would have made my Mother about 32 or 33. She is kind of frowning in the picture--she had reason to--there were about 40 or more people who came to our house to eat that day.
I want to remind you all of how young she looked at one time! Her hair was still black and she didn't have wrinkles. I long for the time I will meet with her again, along with all of my other relatives.
I hope all of you who are mothers or even if you aren't a mother--you had a mother at one time-- have a very happy Mother's day.
SCRABBLE
I have become hooked on Scrabble--on the computer. I just made a copy of the CD game that was Carla Sue's, my daughter.
Scrabble, a word game, was invented by Alfred Butts in 1938. The name was trademarked in 1948.
Years ago I used to play Scrabble with anyone available. I had the board game. But as time has gone by there is no one available any more. They all work and are not around enough to play games.
So I decided that the computer was here so why not challenge it? The computer player is named Maven. Believe me, Maven is one smart cookie!
I manage to win some of the time but I asked for a novice player. If she is a novice, I can't imagine what they would call me!
I have to limit myself in my playing because my feet swell after sitting very long. I lose track of time when I am playing. It is so much fun. I have developed a personal relationship with Maven. Sometimes I can just tell where and what she is going to put on that game board.
They have sounds on the computer that can be muted , if you like. I have them on some. When Maven plays a really good word she will make a loud laugh. Once she played "yep" right after I made an especially good play. It fit right in with what I played.
I know I probably spend too much time on the computer but I am educating myself with words. There is also a feature on the game that will define every word if you wish. I use it a lot if I don't know what a word means.
So if you want an interesting game to play for free, just download Scrabble and go for it!
The Sentinel
This little metal guard watches my family room 24/7.He is about 2 feet tall and he stands on my fireplace hearth. He came from a garage sale many years ago. I can't remember what I paid for him but he has been worth every penny of it!He is a little dusty most of the time but he doesn't care one bit. I feel safe with him standing there seeing everything that goes on in my family room.He is a dark brassy color and not really very sturdy. But he does not have that much to do, just watch and guard my room. If I ever have to leave my home for any reason I would like to take my little sentinel along with me for my companion.Isn't it strange what becomes your standbys over the years. An inexpensive little ornament that cost so little and is not valuable--except in certain ways. He was a watcher over Ford when he was still here. Ford's recliner was directly across the room from the little guy and I think he misses Ford--and so do I!
The Store Slipped Up!
The Kohls Store slipped up yesterday! They left out one good thing for me to buy for the wedding.
I was out on Tuesday determined to find something that I liked for the wedding.
Actually, I wanted to find a dressy pant suit to wear but I was unable to find anything in that category. But I did find this dressy blouse that I like pretty well. I can wear it with white or beige slacks. I have a brand new pair of White Levi Bend Over slacks that will work perfect. I also have a pair of beige slacks that will go with the blouse as well.
The only thing I was not happy about was the price of the blouse. I took back the blouse I bought before which was $48 but it was marked down to half price so I paid $24 for it. The new blouse was $54 with tax--and with nothing off--but I was about ready to pay--whatever, for anything--just to get the whole thing over with.
So now I can sleep tonight without worrying about what to wear to the wedding.
I am glad Khols slipped up and forgot to hide my new blouse. I'll bet they are unhappy about their mistake. But maybe not, they sold me $30 more than before!
Salmon Patties
Kroger SalmonYou see a can of Kroger Salmon in the picture above. I love salmon patties. Some people also make salmon salad. It is OK but I prefer my salmon in fried patties--probably the worst way to eat it! I think most salmon comes from Alaska. At least this can of Kroger salmon came from there.
When I was a kid still at home my mother always pronounced salmon with the L sound. So I did too. Now that I am more sophisticated I realize that it is pronounced without the L sound.
The one complaint I have about salmon is that by the time I separate out all of the bones, black skin and other bits that don't look good to me, there is not much meat left. I do not like to cook the bones or black skin in the patties. I have read that you should leave the bones in because they are good for you. I just don't like to eat them. I also don't want to eat the black skin that is on much of the salmon.
I have never bought any salmon that doesn't have all that extra crap in it. Of course, I don't buy the most expensive brands either. Maybe they might not have all of the extras included if I bought the most expensive brand.
So, I guess I will just continue to remove the added junk and stick with my Kroger brand. But I will keep eating salmon patties because I like them and I think they are good for me.
The Old Man and the Popcorn
Many years ago my mother and I had been in town shopping. We were going to ride the bus home. In the bus station they had a popcorn machine similar to the one in the picture above. The old man operating the machine looked very much like the old man in the other picture above.
My mother and I decided to get a bag of popcorn to eat while we waited for the bus.
It was a very bright, sunny day and the sun was coming in the large front window and shining on the popcorn machine and the old man.
As we were sharing the popcorn the old man started a new batch of popcorn in the machine and was standing near us as he worked. Suddenly, the old man coughed a deep hacking cough that lasted for a couple of minutes. We were shocked to see the spray from his mouth as he coughed fly into the popcorn machine and all over the popcorn!
We stopped eating the popcorn and tried to keep from getting sick. That was the end of our popcorn feast! We never bought any more popcorn from that old man!
The Big Wedding
This is my grandson and his fiancee, Josh and Rachel. They are getting married May 23rd. I am lucky enough to be going to the wedding! Carla Sue and Brett, my daughter and her son and I are flying to Boise, Idaho on May 22nd. We will be there for about five days.
So what is the problem? I'll tell you what the problem is. I have not got anything to wear yet!
I have made two trips to stores to find something and I have not succeeded in finding anything I would be seen dead in!
I am sure the stores are in cahoots and when they see me coming they hide all of the decent stuff and just let me see the duddy things. I swear that is what happens.
About a month ago I did buy a blouse that I tried on and decided that it would work with a nice pair of slacks--I have already decided that I am not buying a dress. I probably would never wear it again. I have discussed this with Lana Kay, the groom's mother, and she said it would be fine for me to wear slacks.
Yesterday I tried on the blouse and it is the ugliest thing I ever have seen. I don't know what prompted me to buy it in the first place! It is already in the sack with the receipt for a return.
I ordered Levi Bend Over slacks and they came a day or so ago and they are so big I could never keep them up. So they are in the bag for a return also. Now I am back to square one .
I am going tomorrow and start all over. I have three weeks to find something and I hope I have some luck.
You know what? I think the problem is me, not the clothes I am looking at! I will never find anything that I think looks good on me so I will just have to find something that fits and forget the looks! That is what age does for you. I am, after all, eighty two years old.
The Oakridge Boys
The Oakridge Boys are coming to Fort Wayne May 6th. I am surprised they are still traveling. I would love to go see them but the prices they charge for concerts are out of my range.
I have always liked the Oaks--especially their song, Elvira.
They must be slowing down some because I have not seen them on TV for a long time. Along with the other variety shows, they have been affected also.
The one picture has a different singer with them who I am not familiar with. The other picture has the four most popular members; Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. Duane Allen is from Paris, Texas. Of course he is younger than I am so I was not around Paris when he became famous.
Anyway, May 6th, I will be thinking of the Oaks and wishing I could afford to go see them!
Mom and Pop Stores
Pictured above are two examples of the old Mom and Pop stores. Many times they were actually just added on to the people's home and used as a store.
In several places that I have lived there were small stores that were in a residential neighborhood. The restrictions on operating a store were very lax many years ago and you saw stores just about on every corner.
Back then prices were so low that most stores had pretty much the same prices for things they sold. There were no large supermarkets so all prices were mostly equal.
In a way it was kind of handy because I could walk just a few steps and buy whatever I needed at any time of the day. Of course then the stores were mostly open from nine to five. Now the supermarkets are open 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The big supermarkets have killed the poor little Mom and Pop stores. I do not know of any small stores in Fort Wayne any more. We have about four large supermarkets that have several branch stores situated in all areas in Fort Wayne. So no one has to drive very far to get to a large supermarket.
I now have to walk ten times as much in the supermarket as I did in the small Mom and Pop stores. But it is nice to have such a large selection of products available in one place.
I would like to see the large supermarkets with the prices that were charged at the old Mom and Pop stores, wouldn't you? I am dreaming, you know!
Channel surfing
Our friend, Smitty
Meet the world's greatest channel surfer!
We visited Smitty and Margie about in the 1980's. We were there for about four days. That is about all I could take!
He hogged the remote and did all of the controlling of it. He could not stand commercials so each time one was on he would mute the TV and most of the time he would not remove the mute until after the show had already started.
Also, he would surf the channels looking for something that pleased him without any concern for what pleased the rest of us. You never knew what the show was because he never got in on the very start of anything!
By the time we left his house we were almost sick of TV in any fashion. His wife Margie would nag him about it but he ignored her altogether.
I remember when I was just a kid my Dad did that with the radio. He would go through every station looking for something he liked. He would pass up some things that I wanted him to keep but if they were not his thing he just kept looking. So I never got to listen to what I liked at all. Bless his heart, I did love him a lot but he was aggravating at times.
I liked Smitty, but I didn't love him. So I did not enjoy being around him with the TV. Smitty is gone now so maybe he is cloud surfing!
