The Event ~ The Cedar Chest Revisited

In looking ahead to hosting the Christmas celebration in my home for 26 people for two days, I had to figure out how to make space in my living room.  The solution:  move the cedar chest into the back bedroom and put the loveseat in that space, opening up the entire room.  I like it, it looks nice. I also had to move the decorative exercise bike out of the bedroom.  But that's not what this is about.

In order to move my cedar chest, which is filled with all sorts of memorbilia, I had to empty most of it, put a rug under it and drag it to the bedroom.  Then put everything back.  This was an opportunity to see just what I had stored away.  I don't save alot of stuff, but I do get nostalgic about little things from the past.

Some of the items still stored:  Cash's baptism outfit; a couple cute baby dresses that were Janel's & Alexis;  baby quilts I made for the kids, family history/geneology books,  Terry Tribune (my hometown) newspapers reporting the assasination of JFJK in 1963; Newsweek magazines and books reporting the 9/11 events;
stories and elementary art work done by the kids; nearly every card from our children for Mother's Day, Father's Day and birthdays, especially if they had nice sentimental words from their own heart written in them, which most of them did.  The kids have always been so good expressing their love and appreciation with written words.  My set of three confirmation books; a pair of beautiful crocheted something or other made by a special Grandma neighbor lady and given to me either on my confirmation or my high school graduation (always too pretty to use, so put away all these years!);  calendars ( why??); mementos that may have monetary value at an auction, like a few glass enclosed collector baseball cards, some Beatle cards found in bubble gum wrappers 40 years ago,  Farmall tractor cufflinks that belonged to my Dad, collector stamp blocks, autographed replica of Rockies opening day game ball and miniature collector tractor replicas,  a couple collector toys still in the box, laminated obituaries of loved ones.  Tim's satin snow suit he wore as a baby (we took a picture of one of the grandson's in it - so cute); and also a satin western black jacket with white fringe that Tim wore when he must have been 1-2 years old; baby books, high school and college diplomas, newspaper clippings, the kid's wedding invitations & programs; high school letter jacket insignias; a Woman's World magazine featuring an article about my Mom and her metal detecting; and a stack of old letters that Janel and Alexis wrote home when they were in college!  That was before email!  And they were good about writing.  I had to stop and read some of them. It was interesting to note that Janel always wrote on lined school paper, and Alexis always wrote on pretty colored stationary!   Included in the stack were even some letters I wrote home  when I was in college (on colored onion paper, which I thought was so cool!).  My mom must have given them to me when she was cleaning house.  There was even a letter I wrote home when I was a junior in high school and I flew to California for the National FHA convention.  I started that letter on the plane, and wrote about the fabulous three-course meal we were served on the plane.  Those days of meals served on a plane are long gone.  How funny.  I also found a letter my dad wrote to me when we were going through rough times back in the 80's.  I can't forget to mention three cassette tapes:  one when Janel was two and saying her bedtime prayers and reciting her alphabet & stuff; a similar one when Alexis was about that same age; and the infamous accidental tape recording of Janel, Alexis, & Cash in the kitchen in about 1983 which has provided hilarious laughter everytime we listen to it.  We just played it again a couple weeks ago when Cash and Annie were home.  I have a feeling Janel and Alexis would like me to destroy that tape!!  The above is all just a partial list.  .  .

This bottom picture is when it is all put back.  I actually discarded some stuff finally.    Kind of a nostaglic trip back in time ~ an eventful couple of hours.  I wonder why we keep some of the stuff we do.  I think it is so our kids have something to remember and then throw away when we relocate to our final home and can't take any of this clutter with us!   Look, I still have room to add more!! 



The Event ~ A Shared Birthday

A week ago today, November 10, was  Tim's birthday.  He is 63 years.   He doesn't look 63 and he says he feels like he is in the prime of his life!  We went to lunch together at Taco John's for super potatoe ole's, and then went to his mom's house for dinner.  Tim's mom is always so good about fixing birthday dinners for whoever happens to be around when it's their birthday.  That is usually just me and Tim and Tom as there is no one else around.

An event that has  been repeated year after year for about 40 years is getting together with our friends, Doug and Lorraine Kizzire from Bayard for a birthday dinner because Lorraine shares the same birthday as Tim.   We became neighbors east of Bayard shortly after we were married when Doug and Lorraine moved to farm across the county road from us.  They still live there today.  Even though we moved from the neighborhood twice since then, the first time to a farm on the west side of Bayard, and the second time to Scottsbluff, we have remained very close friends.  I would like to say we have never missed a year getting together for dinner in November, but in reality, I think we did miss one or two years in the last 40. 

This year Tim and I went to their house the following evening for a meal of blackberry dumplings. I shared the traditional German chocolate cake.  Most years we go out to a restaurant, but occasionally we have  enjoyed home cooked meals at home.  Lorraine tells me that last year we hosted the dinner and Tim cooked lamb on the Traeger grill.  I'll take her word for it. 

It's nice to share birthdays with dear friends, especially when it becomes a tradition that we don't want to miss.   Happy birthday to two special people in my life!  An event to celebrate for sure!

The Event ~ Making Lefsa

Lefsa is a treat from my Norwegian heritage on my dad's side.  I grew up with lefsa ~ always available at Grandma Corneliusen's house whenever we went to visit, which was often because they only lived 45 miles away ~ and always on every table at every family gathering.

I have learned to make lefsa through the years.  It requires the right tools, such as a lefsa rolling pin, a lefsa sock to put on the rolling pin, a lefsa griddle, a lefsa stick, and a heavy cloth to roll it out on.    A few days ago, while on a vacation day from work, I rolled  about 44 rounds of lefsa and put 38 in the freezer for our upcoming family Christmas gathering. 

The recipe:  Boil, drain and rinse red potatoes, but be very careful not to over cook them. That’s the key for perfect rolling.   Mash the warm potatoes though a ricer.  Mix together 4 cups riced potatoes, ½ cup cream, 1/3 cup soft butter, 1 Tble sugar, 1 tsp salt with electric mixer.  Refrigerate over nite, covered loosely with a paper towel to evaporate some of the moisture.   The next day, add 2 1/2 cups flour.   Knead to soft dough.

Roll dough into a  2" rope, long enough to slice about 14 slices.  Put the slices in  the fridge, taking them out two at a time to roll them out thin. Cold potatoes are easier to roll than room temp. Pat a slice on generous floured surface with fingers to about 4"  in diameter.   Then finish rolling out  to a  thin 10" circle, on well floured surface.  Using lefsa stick start on one side and work the stick under the circle all the way to other side of circle to make sure none is stuck to the cloth.  Pick up in center with the lefsa stick and transfer it to lefas griddle set at  400 degrees. (don’t grease the griddle!) Use the lefse stick to flip on the grill.  Grill the first side till bubbles appear.  Flip and grill the second side.  Both sides should have light brown spots.

7-8# of potatoes will make about 3 batches of 4 cups of riced potatoes.  Do not double the recipe.  Instead make two or three separate batches of 4 cups of mashed potatoes in each batch.

When removing lefsa from the grill, place them on a tea towel and cover them with a tea towel.   Enjoy warm with butter.  Once cooled, store in zip lock bag in the fridge, or freeze in freezer bags. Warm in the microwave, butter and enjoy!

Eating lefsa is a really wonderful event!  Dat is so-o-o-o goot!  Yah?

The Event ~ Veteran's Day

Today is a day that too many people take lightly, but many do take it seriously.  Veteran's Day.

Thank you to all the men and women who serve in the U S armed forces, fight in wars, lose their lives, are separated from their families for months or years, for me and the people of America, so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms of this country.  Sadly, many of the freedoms on which this country was founded on are slowly being eradicated (to do away with as if being pulled up by the roots).

My father served in World War II in the Army.  Here is his picture. 

My oldest brother, Allen,  served in Viet Nam in the Army.  My youngest brother, Kelly,  served in the Navy.   Thank you to my family members for their service.  I love you all! 

The Event ~ Mystery Solved

July 2nd I wrote about participating in a mystery quilt project, where I was given an instruction clue once a week for seven weeks for the making of a quilt, but had no idea what the quilt would look like until completion.  It is now completed, and the mystery is solved. 

It's perfect for a twin size bed.  Have no idea what I am going to do with it, but alot of quilters have no idea what they are going to do with their stack of quilts.  Quilters quilt for the relaxation or therapy of the activity.

Currently I am in the process of binding several baby and/or crib or nap quilts for the Linus Project.  The Linus Project disperses quilts to children in hospitals.  The local Linus Project shares children's quilts with the valley and region hospitals, so our contributions pretty much stay  local in the valley.

I am sure it is a happy event for the child receiving a warm, cuddly quilt of their own when in the hospital.  For many children, this could be the only warm blanket they have.  I'm glad to share in this eventful project.

The Event ~ Blues and Bowls

So I said to stay tuned for more hang ups.  The dictionary does have an entry for "hang up".  In addition to the usual obvious definitions, it does state "to become stuck or snagged. . . "

So what are my hang-ups that I'm stuck or snagged on?   The last blog entry reflected my hang-up about eating off plates with pictures on them and writing on checks with pictures on them.

Another hang up?  I don't like the color blue.  Except in the eyes of my husband and son and the beautiful sky.  HOWEVER, in my senior moments, I am coming around and actually indulging in a little blue here and there.  At last Saturday's auction, I actually bought (yes, I bid on it, it was not a leftover!) some blue dishes.  Just a small set of two Frankoma soup mugs and platters.  I wanted them because I have several other sets of these mugs/platters that are perfect and fun to use when serving tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, or chili and cinnamin rolls, or noodle soup and creamed chicken.  And often we share soup supper with family or friends.  They are kind of mix and match, but at least they have NO pictures on them!!

Tim commented he couldn't believe I put blue dishes in my cupboard! Yikes, that is hard to believe!

Another hang-up:  I like bowls, all kinds of fancy or unique bowls.  I like to serve out of fancy and unique bowls, mis-matched serving bowls, maybe even bowls with pictures on them!  Yikes, did I say that??  I can't resist a unique bowl at a garage sale.  My cupboard is overflowing with bowls.  But I seem to use them all.  I don't necessarily collect them, as a collection is usually something one doesn't use. 

I guess I am at my wit's end trying to think up creative things to blog about.  My life must be really boring right now, or maybe it's just that I am hung up on living the simple, uncomplicated life with nothing exciting or demanding going on, so I blog about bowls and blue dishes.  I can't really call this an eventful event!

The Event ~ The China Trade Out!

Everyone has a hang-up, and mine is stuff with pictures on it.  Specifically, checks, dishes, t-shirts!

I do not like to eat off of plates with designs, flowers, picures, borders, etc.  I do not like to write on checks that have pictures on them, especially over the center of the check where I have to write on.  And I don't like to wear t-shirt with pictures.  Plain jane, simplicity.  That's me! 

When I was young and engaged to be married,  living and working in Denver, I succumbed to the ever popular door-to-door salesman pedaling his new-bride wares of silver, crystal, china, pots and pans, etc.  That was indeed the beginning of the end of the era of door-to-door salesmen.  I only bought china.  Good girl!  Even then, all the china had silly colored flowers or other such stuff on it.  But one set had only a few small white roses on white, and that is the set I bought.  White on white - the most plain set available.  For the first 35 years my china was carefully stored and displayed in a corner china cabinet that Grandpa Grabe built for me.  Only taken out two or three times a year for holidays or special company meals.

About five years ago, I put my "fine china" in the kitchen cupboard to be used nearly on a daily basis.  I did this because I discovered from the many auctions that we do, that china has no value,  nobody wants someone else's old china, and children definitely do not want to "inherit" it!  So why do we save nice dishes for special occasions??   So now I use it often.

HOWEVER, it has tiny little white roses on it, and whenever I use it, I am bothered by the roses when I set the plates on a patterned tablecloth - like a fall foliage tablecloth, or a red Christmas tablecloth with red poinsettias on it.  The roses don't go with fall leaves or Christmas poinsettias or spring bouquets, etc.  (By the way, I don't mind tablecloths with pictures or designs!)

From our auction activity and buying a houseful of personal property to feed into auctions, I ended up with a complete set of china that has been stored in my garage for two years, serving accessories and all.  It is almost identical to mine, except it is PLAIN white - no flowers, no design, no rim.  And it was just sitting in boxes in the garage.  I was going to give the set to Cash and Annie, but they got nice plain white dishes as a wedding gift.  So last week I got the brilliant idea to trade out dishes; put my "fine china"  with pretty (nasty) little roses on it in the garage, and bring in the plain white "fine china". 

I made the china trade-out with no regrets, no remorse over getting rid of "my" dishes.  Now I can feel good about setting a table with plain white dishes that go with anything!  How lovely!  Anybody want a nice, lovely set of beautiful white china with pretty little white roses on it? 

Now I can  enjoy using nice, unique tablecloths - simple or wild.  I seem to have a hang up with table cloths.  I like them.  A nice gift idea! A special event for sure - setting a nice table to share with family and friends.   Stay tuned for my next hang up!