Happy New Year

It's holiday time
with bells and good cheer
We sing Christmas songs
And ring in the New Year.
Parties abound
with presents galore,
We remember our friends
And toast days of yore.
Old resolves vanish
And leave not a trace,
But with the best
of intentions,
New ones replace.
Precisely at midnight
When the old year is gone,
In comes a number
For the new year begun.
Our hopes for the future
Oft repeated, and said once again,
Peace on earth, good will to all men.


!! Happy 2011 !!

Whispering Room by KimB

Whispering Room

From the darkness of the gloom
Hear the whispers in the room
Darkness hides the forms of past
And only fading echos last

No shapes to see, No forms to view
No colors bright or of faded hue
Emptiness is all that's there
No matter where you look or stare

Echos faintly from the haze
Remind us of by-gone days
When colors, life and hopes rang true
With nothing hidden from your view


KimB
July 2010

Christmas Trees

Wooden Tree
Kalamaria Greece

Happy Holidays To All



Modern Tree
Puerta Del Sol
Madrid Spain

Sao Paulo Brazil



Dublin Ireland

Tokyo Japan



Antler Tree
New Mexico

Lighted Tree
Poland

Woodland Tree

The Cat and the Quilt by KimB

[Editor's note: This story was written by KimB]

We have a lovely gray tabby cat we call "Princess Zazu" or "Zazu" for short. She came to us about 10 years ago via an animal shelter event at Pet Smart in Monterey, CA. She is a bit different from other cats we've had and that says a lot because as Cat People will tell you, "Cats Are Just Different".

Zazu picked my husband Allen from all the people checking out the animals that day. I say she picked him because when he went to her cage, she immediately came forward to be petted thru the bars. When he moved on to look at the other cats, she retreated to the back of her cage and I watched as other potential owners looked in on her but she stayed in the back. Each time Allen returned to her cage she came forward again. We continued our shopping and returned to the rescue area and she was still there. I told Allen to go see her by himself and see if she reacted the same way. Sure enough, as soon as Allen approached her cage she came forward again and our fates have been linked ever since.

Zazu has been a wonderful and unusual addition to the house and continues to surprise us every day. Like many cats she is a unique individual and has her own way of doing things and getting things done for her. One thing that is constant, is her attachment to Allen. She likes me too of course but if she has a choice, Allen will be it. And if truth be told, Allen is very flattered by her cat-winning-ways, even when she's in a "mood" and "wants to be left alone", she will curl up near Allen and "complain" (meows) if he moves too far away from her.

Allen and Zazu napping on the
Holiday Quilt @2001

About the same time we acquired Zazu, my mother sent me a Christmas quilt. It is a charming simple quilt with holiday motifs on both sides. When Allen took a nap, Zazu would follow suit and would curl up with him and they would have their siesta time together.

For many years I had the quilt on the bed at holiday time and would change it for other quilts as the seasons passed. A few years back, I purchased a bedding set from a department store, one of those high fashion decorator sets with matching sheets and comforter top. The holiday quilt was put away in favor of the store bought set which I thought would be more durable for daily use.

It wasn't long after that we noticed that Zazu didn't sleep or nap on the bed anymore. On a rare occasion she would get on the bed but she preferred to sleep in other areas of the house. As with many cats, she had her napping zones in many places: the left-side of the couch, the window sill, the cat-perch, on the floor near Allen when he's working on the PC and she even comes to snooze with me when I'm upstairs on my PC but she rarely got on the bed. Being humans and not speaking CAT, we decided that she had just found other places she preferred

Zazu on the Holiday Quilt 2010

This year I decided to put the Holiday quilt on the bed again. As soon as I got the quilt out of the chest where it was kept, Zazu came to watch. Allen helped me, as we put away the Industrial Strength Quilt and placed the Holiday quilt on the bed. As soon as it was it in place, Zazu jumped on the bed and plopped down in the middle! She gave us one long look each, as if to say, "Gosh, humans are dumb! Took you long enough to get this back where it belongs!" Then she rolled on to her side and fell asleep.

Zazu on her Holiday Quilt 2010

Now when we look for Zazu, the first place we check is the bed with the Holiday quilt on it and 9 times out of 10, she will be curled up on it fast asleep. She has resumed taking naps with Allen and at bedtime, she leads the way so she can sleep on the quilt with her two humans.

Zazu and her Holiday Quilt 2010

I don't know why Zazu likes this quilt above all others but I think it is because this quilt was made with love. The quilt radiates the good cheer and happiness that were put into it when it was created. I think Zazu has a special ability to detect this "quilt happiness aura" and in her own way tried to tell us this. She enjoys sharing it with her humans and I'm glad that we finally understood what she wanted to tell us.

Zazu and the Holiday Quilt 2010

Zazu and the Holiday Quilt 2010

To My Chess Friends

Holdiay Bell

To My Chess Friends

Chess Knights



I wish you good Christmas
I wish you good cheer
I wish you good luck
In your chess games Next Year
When we meet on the server
I'll do my best
to give you a run for your money
If I can't win the test
As your pieces come calling
And mine start to fall
I'll fight to the finish
And hope for a draw
When the game's over
We'll politely say thanks
And the loser will wonder
In what part of the game he
Missed the win chance



Chess Kings

Merry Christmas

Mom and Dad by Loretta

[Editor's Note: This story was written by Loretta]

In growing up, I’ve always wondered how Mom a Dad ever got together. Their personalities were completely different. I guess, opposites do attract.

Mom was easily angered but once it was over, it was forgotten. Dad was, to my way of thinking, a pacifist or buffer.

“Family is important,” he would say. “You never close the door.”

I guess, you can say, I have a little of both. I'm stubborn, like my mother. Caring and loving as she was, she didn’t like falling into the same hole twice. I too, stay away from the same holes.

Mom and I were both born in May - the month of the Bull and Dad in January – month of the twins: Aquarius. It's become a habit with me, I’ll ask what month someone was born and compare them to others that I know. You’d be surprised how alike some folks are.

Mom and I were looking at some pictures and one was of two nuns. I asked her, who they were and that they looked mean. Mom's reply was that they were the most caring two people she ever knew. And that was one of the few times I can remember when she talked about her childhood.

Before mom was 21 she ran off and got married. My grandmother found her and had the marriage annulled then sent her to a convent. She also sent aunt Louise (my mother's sister) to the convent.

One of the requirements at the convent was daily mass. Well, mom had always gone to church on Sundays when she lived at home but apparently she didn’t pay attention to the sermon in Latin. One day, at the convent, she was sitting in church and thought she heard the priest say: “Damn it, give me a biscuit!” She couldn’t contain her laughter and had to leave the church.

Other than that, she never really talked to us very much about living at the convent or how long she lived there. I do know my mother had her name changed from Orilla Sophrona Fleener to Rita Marie Fleener when grandma no longer had control of her.

When mom was around 26 or 27 she ran off again this time to marry my dad. Grandma was furious and said it wouldn’t last and no good would come of it.

Well, it lasted for five kids, 35 years and lots of ups and downs until her death in 1967.

Orion and Taurus

Coats

My sister, Esther and I were chatting about how difficult it will be this year for the many unemployed to have a merry Christmas when they are facing loss of benefits and possible home foreclosure.

One of the charities that Esther gives donations to is Coats For Kids¹. When she was telling me about the program, I thought of the many coats I've had over the years, including a coat I got when I was about 4 years old. The memory has never left me and I believe it was the first time that I exhibited a strong feeling of color preference. Or it might have been sibling rivalry and not color consciousness.

My mother and aunt Pearl had taken my sister, Adeline, who was three years old and me to a store to buy coats for the winter. As the clerk brought coats of various sizes for us to try on, we stood in front of a three way mirror and turned this way and that so Mom and Pearl could judge the fit and style.

The coats brought for Adeline to try on were a perfect fit for her and both Mom and Pearl commented on how sweet Adeline looked in them. The choice was a toss up between a navy blue sailor coat with brass buttons and one that was fire engine red.  Mom and Pearl both seemed to like the red one best, but the decision was put off until one was selected for me.  I liked both the sailor coat with it's big collar and brass buttons, but the red coat was by far the most exquisite coat I had ever seen and I wanted one like it.

When it was my turn to try on coats, the clerk had only one coat in my size and it was a brown one. Not only was it brown but had tiny white hairs woven into the fabric and in my opinion, the coat looked like it had dog hairs on it. I let Mom know that I didn't like it and would like a red one.

Mom made the remark that it was just as well that there wasn't a red coat in my size since the red color did not go with my red hair. The clerk searched further and came up with a green one, but it was a tad too small. The brown coat was the only one available and when Mom said she would buy it, I threw a tantrum.  I did not want to wear the brown coat.  I cried and carried on to the point that Mom and Pearl thought it best to leave the store. They put off buying Adeline a coat and after paying for mine, they hurried me out to the street.  I cried and pouted all the way home but I could not make Mom change her mind.

The coat I bought with my first earnings was a source of pride for me as long as I wore it. It was a tan camels hair coat suitable for the bitter cold Iowa winters.

Among my favorites was a coat designed for me by a couturier in Paris when I lived there. It was dark forest green with a small red checked wool lining designed for the coldest winters. I wore it for years until I moved to a warm climate and gave the coat to Mom to tear up and weave into a hand woven rug on the loom Dad made for her.

I've had fabric and leather coats but never one of fur. Presently, I have a beautiful natural gray alpaca cape my daughter gave me, and I wrap it around me when the Texas winters vie for the worlds coldest record.

¹ Check your local area for a Coats for Kids donation drive.

Gray Alpaca Cape

The Christmas Lights of Mexico City by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

Our friends, Lou and Paula had a house on the outskirts of Mexico City. As they were far from a bus stop, Paula had learned how to drive and used her 1939 Packard to make the rounds of friends to take them to the parties that where held at their home on the weekends.

They were wonderful people and I enjoyed being with them. Paula spoke excellent English and didn't scold me too often about my Spanish. She was very patient and kind. And while I was very young they didn't exclude me too often from their parties or gatherings. It was always a treat when Mom would say, “We're going to Lou and Paula's this weekend.”

Paula would wield this giant car around Mexico City and thru the narrow side streets to pick up friends. After the party was over, Paula would drive everyone home again. It was a team effort: Lou and Paula always together. Paula would drive, Lou sat “shotgun” and everyone else would be piled into the back seat which could easily handle the crowd and then some.

There had been an enormous highway project to put an expressway around all of Mexico City. It had taken years to make the “ring” but at last it was finished. It was called the “Periférico” and Paula soon learned that it was faster to drive the Ring around the city than to drive across it.

It was during the holiday season and late at night when Lou and Paula took us home after a party. As usual, we sat in the back while Paula guided the Tank along the high speed expressway. We were chatting about what a lovely evening it was and about other holiday events coming up. Paula noted that even the City had gotten into the holiday spirit by putting up wonderful Christmas lights.

Neither my Mom nor I had seen these lights, so we asked Paula where we could go to see them? She replied that they were everywhere! So we looked out the windows and tried to spot these holiday decorations but to no avail.

“Paula, where are these lights?” Mom asked. “I don't see them.”

“Why right there!” She replied. “Right in front of us. See: Red and Green. They are all along the highway! So festive! It's lovely that they decorated the road for Christmas!”

Even Lou sputtered a bit, as Paula was pointing to the Stop Lights that marked the infrequent intersections.

Lou, patient as always, explained that stop lights weren't decorations and if she saw a green light she could go thru the intersection and if she saw a red light she was to stop until it turned green. Paula thought we were pulling her leg! But Lou finally convinced her that she should stop for the Red Lights.

Ever since, I cannot look at Stop Lights without thinking about what wonderful Christmas Decorations they are: even in July.

Holiday Fun

Theater: Backwards in High Heels by Richard

[Editor's Note: We want to introduce a new poster to the blog: Richard. Richard is MrsB's brother. Richard and his wife Frances are avid theater goers and have agreed to share some of their theater experiences with us. We hope that everyone will enjoy his posts as much as we do. There are more details about Richard at the bottom of the posting for those interested in family ties.]

My wife, Frances, and I belong to San Jose Repertory Theatre and for many years have enjoyed going to the theater.

Recently we enjoyed seeing Backwards in High Heels a story about Ginger Rogers life and how she became star. The stage, the costumes, the actors the dancing and the music was wonderful to watch. The song and dances just kept coming for 2 hours.

They included the following:

• Lets call the whole thing off
• Shall we dance
• Fascinating rhythm
• They all laughed
• I got rhythm
• Embraceable you
• We're in money
• Lets face the music and dance
• Change partners
• Fine romance
• Pick your self up
• Baby face

These are the songs I enjoyed the most. If you get a chance to see it, I know you will enjoy it as much as we did.


[Who is Richard? Richard is one of MrsB's brothers. MrsB's other brothers and sisters are Esther, Adeline, Jerry, Elbert, Charles and Mickey. Richard is uncle to all of their children.]

New Quicker Links to MrsB's Blog

[Editor's post]

We now have 3 new and faster ways for you to get to MrsB's Blog! You can use any of the following URLs to access the latest postings.

• mrsbizzyb.com

• mrsbizzyb.net

• mrsbizzybsayshello.com

Of course the original link works too.

• mrsbizzybsayshello.blogspot.com

It's My Side of the Road! by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

We had many friends in Mexico and Lou and Paula were some of our closest. When Lou retired, he and Paula had moved from the East Coast to her native Mexico and had a house built on what was then the outskirts of Mexico City. They were wonderful people and we often went to their house for parties and gatherings.

Prior to having the house built, they used the public bus system, as did everyone else. But as their house was now far from a bus stop, they decided it would be a good idea for Paula to learn to drive. This would enable them to pick up friends from various parts of the city and bring them to their home for the parties which they hosted almost every weekend.

To this end, a 1939 Packard was acquired for Paula to drive. Even though this was in the 1960's, what we now call "vintage" cars were common throughout Mexico. They had wonderful mechanics who could fix or make anything needed for these cars and this one was in first class shape. But it was HUGE! It was a TANK! A Hummer would have looked like a shrimp next to it.

Lou was teaching Paula how to drive as she made the rounds of friends to pick them up for the evening's activities. It was something exciting to see Paula, who was not even 5 feet tall, peering over the large steering wheel and directing this behemoth to the curb to pick us up. In we clambered and sat in the back seat with our other friends. It was almost like a limo! We could have just about seated a soccer team in the back!

One day, Lou and Paula came to pick us up. The small street we lived on connected to a large 4 lane boulevard and had a convenient stoplight where Paula could turn to head on to the next stop on the list. We got into the back seat and proceeded down the street to the large intersection. The light changed and Paula made a right turn on the the boulevard BUT she did not pull into the right lane! Instead, she swung all the way to the left side of the street facing the on-coming traffic! There were gasps from us in the back seat!

Lou, calmly said “Paula move to the right side of the road.”

Paula protested, “But this is MY side of the road! All those cars are on MY SIDE!”

Lou, again calmly said “Paula move to the right side of the road.”

Paula protested, “But this is MY side of the road! This is where I am and they should be the ones to move somewhere else!”

But she slowly swung the big car over to the right side of the road and everyone in the back seat heaved a big sigh of relief as we watched the barreling on-coming traffic miss us by just a few feet.

The party was a big success as it always was. But on that night, Paula described over and and over how all those cars were on “Her side of the road!”

Winter

Cold winter days and hard freeze nights are here while December days count down the last of 2010. Orion, a winter constellation in the northern hemisphere, was announced back in November when Cassiopeia, (the Queen) alerted Orion's arrival as it came into view rotating around Polaris, (the North Star).

Diagram of Orion Constellation

The Orion constellation, called the Hunter from Greek mythology, is the most conspicuous and most easily recognizable in the night sky by the three bright stars known as Orion's Belt, and the three smaller stars underneath called the Sword.

Depending on which hemisphere Orion is seen, the Belt goes by other names such as the Three Sisters, the Three Marys, the Magi, or the Three Kings.  The Belt and Sword of Orion has been adapted as the shoulder patch insignia of the 27th Infantry Division of the United States Army thru both world wars as a pun on the Division's first Commander, John F O'Ryan's name. In Lord of the Rings, the elves called Orion, 'Menelvagor'. Orion is also the name used for three US Navy ships.

Orion Nebula

Years ago when I was in high school, one of the teachers would hold a star gazing session on a winter night and tell us about the various stars and how to recognize them. Orion's Belt is just about the only thing I can truthfully say I know it when I see it. I know the big dipper of course and the North star but most of my knowledge about the night sky comes from information gleaned from the internet or science programs on television, and I wonder if the Magi of Christmas stories and songs refer to stars and not three wise men traveling the desert.

Detail of Orion's Belt


[Editor's addition: Many years ago I wrote a poem about this constellation.]

Where ever I go,

I look in the sky,

And the first thing I see is Orion.

KimB

Gadgets

I recently spent time in the hospital and while there, took note of all the little gadgets used by the doctors and nurses. Electronic gadgets attached to tubes, machines and switches, constantly measuring, counting and recording.

I adapted quickly to the nurse's routine, and was given a labor saving device resembling a TV remote with nine rows of three buttons that allowed the patient to control a myriad of things just by pressing a button. A transceiver permitted talking and listening thru the same small slotted area at the top of the device.

When I pressed the button, which turned the TV on and off, it didn't work. I pressed the button for the nurse and I heard a voice asking me how they could help. I replied that I couldn't get the TV turned on and would like someone to help me.

In a moment or two, a nurse came and replaced the device with another which was in good working order and I settled down with the TV running in the background while I read a book. I was able to listen for any news alerts and still concentrate on my paperback mystery in the genre of an Agatha Christie.

Not long after I started reading, my phone rang. I picked up the device and was going to press the answer button, but before I could, the caller hung up. I glanced thru the rows of buttons to see which one to press for answering the phone and didn't see one. There were several buttons that could have served , but I was unsure and pressed the nurse's button and asked how to answer the phone. She said to just pick it up.

I replied that I had done that but didn't see which button to press for answering a phone call. She repeated the instruction to just pick it up. I asked her to please send a nurse to show me. In a moment two nurses came and I held the device up so they could see that I WAS HOLDING IT. I laughed with them when they pointed to the phone sitting on the seat of the the chair next to me. I had been trying to answer the phone with the nurse's call gadget.

The comedian Wanda Sykes does a routine where she thinks she's lost her cell phone. She tells her friend to hold for a second while she looks in her purse. But when she can't locate it, her friend tells her to call back when she's found it.

On occasion I have clicked a TV channel on my house phone, or started pressing the numbers of a TV remote when I wanted to make a phone call. I'm certain there are lots of stories like these making the rounds, similar to stories 'computer support' published a few years ago when 'help calls' from new computer owners circled the globe. [no, that's not a coffee holder, that's a DVD player]

Wanda Sykes: Lost cell phone routine

Circuses

As I follow the Circus series on PBS, I am reminded of the excitement my brothers and sisters and I experienced when the circus came to town. The air became electric with anticipation when we discovered a circus unloading in the pasture at the bottom of the hill behind out house.


Jumbo the Elephant

I don't remember advanced billing or notification of a circus coming to town, although there might have been. Our first inkling of such an event came because Mom and the neighbors were standing in a group in the back yard, using binoculars to watch activity in a field below. When it was determined the hustle and bustle indicated the arrival of a circus, Mickey, Charles and Elbert thought they might get a free ticket to the circus if they helped the circus unload or carried water for the elephants. Mickey was about 8 years old, Charles 7 and Elbert 6 and they went racing down the path to the field where the circus wagons were. They actually did get jobs although from the description of what they had done indicated they might have been given busy work to keep them out of he way.


Barnum 3 Ring Circus

Townspeople were treated to the blare of a calliope as gaily decorated elephants with pretty girl riders paraded downtown promoting afternoon and evening performances.

I remember moseying along the midway with Adeline taking in all the sights and sounds of side show barkers inviting the public to come witness the wold's most exotic phenomena. Some of the enticing acts on improvised stages would last only long enough to gather a large crowd then disappear inside the side show tent while those in the crowd lined up to buy tickets to see the promised titillating view of the extraordinary and forbidden. Since Adeline and I never had the money for the side shows, I assume those who bought tickets got their money's worth.



Circus Horse Act

Main performances of the circus always exceeded one's expectations. The famous Three Ring Circuses were alive with breathtaking and daring feats of wire walking, trapeze acts and men being shot from canons. Dog acts, horse acts, jugglers, and clowns were everywhere. Animal trainers entered cages with ferocious wild lions and tigers while trick riders circled the big top on horses and elephants. Beautiful girls would swing from ropes while holding their life line in their mouths.

Circuses were always on the move. They came one day and left the next, but strange animals, calliope music, acts of bravery and daring do and the satiety of color stayed in one's mind long after departure.

Circus Trapeze Act

November

November is the birth month of my brother Richard, the 23rd of the month to be exact. He was born at home when we lived on Bliss Blvd, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, I always think of him in relation to Thanksgiving and often wonder if Mom and Dad thought of his birth as a special Thanksgiving present to the family.

Several days after Richard's birth, when Dr. Wray asked what name he should put on the birth certificate, Grandma A, who was in the room, quickly piped up and said there would be no Johns in the family. Her comment took Mom by surprise.. The first three boys, had family names from Dad's side of the family and they planned to name the baby John after her father.  Dad was at the office and unable to discuss the matter, but Mom, ever ready to handle a crises, thought of the honorable character in the novel she was reading and promptly said the name would be Richard Lee. We usually called him Dick in those growing up years.

Being the oldest child in the family, I remember my younger siblings from their earliest years. By the time Richard came along, Adeline and I were both experienced in minor ways of helping Mom and we often changed wet diapers, including Richard's.

One afternoon when I came home from school, I sensed something was wrong the moment I opened the front door. There was a medicinal odor and Dad quickly came to the door and told me to be very quiet and to make certain when the other kids came from school, they too had to be very quiet. He said Dick had had an accident early that morning and the Dr was still in the bedroom with him and Mom.

Richard had gotten his arm caught in the wringer of the washing machine as it was running. When Mom had gone upstairs to gather the bed linens for laundering, Richard had managed to climb up on a chair to see the machine and that's when the accident occurred. When Mom heard the screams she came running and was horrified to see what had happened.

Fortunately the soft tissues of the underarm were injured but not the muscles. Richard was sedated and his arm and shoulder carefully bandaged but it would be a long time before he was well enough to be allowed out of bed. A number of days passed before we children were allowed to go in to see him, and when he was allowed out of bed, he had to learn to walk all over again. All of us took turns walking with him as he recuperated. Dick was a handsome baby with blond hair and as he grew, he and Charles resembled each other in their good looks and personality.

I have many wonderful memories of my childhood with all my brothers and sisters, but as the years passed and husbands and wives joined the family, work and careers took us in different directions. The family ranged from Los Angeles to San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia, Tucson and Mexico City, Florida and Kentucky and all points between.  Wars like WWII, Korea, and Vietnam came and went. One by one we grieved for lost family members as our numbers diminished. Age and health problems kept the few of us remaining isolated from each other with less and less contact as the months passed.

You can imagine my surprise when I got a phone call while in the hospital a few days after surgery for a broken hip, to hear Richards voice asking how I was! That phone call came when I was just beginning to realize the enormity of my accident and on the verge of feeling sorry for myself. I was even more surprised when Richard continued phoning me every evening and sharing his experience of having hip replacement, not once but three times!!!

Richard will never know how he kept my spirits up and how thankful I was to hear his voice encouraging and prompting me to do the rehabilitation exercises. I don't think he knew how I looked forward to his phone calls in the evening when hours drag the most between supper and bedtime. During those 4 weeks in the hospital, and three weeks in the rehab center, he was my only visitor except when my son was able to visit every 2 or 3 days. Even after I went home, he phoned several times a week to see how I was.

I call him Richard but in my fondest memories I think of him as Dick and wish I could find the words to let him know how much I love him and how grateful that he got bunched in with my siblings. He has enriched my life. His thoughtfulness when I need a kind word the most, has earned him a place in heaven with the angels.

bandage rolls

Thanksgiving

Our annual day of thanksgiving has universally come to mean a day of feasting on turkey with all the trimmings. The traditional menu is roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing or sage dressing, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, candied yams, a selection of vegetables such as peas and carrots, green beans, squash, various relishes, fruit salad, hot rolls and a choice of several pies, the most popular being Pumpkin, Apple, Mince, Pecan and Chocolate Meringue. Apple cider is often served.

In homes across America the women who prepare these holiday dinners give a great deal of time and thought in planning and cooking these turkey dinners which is similar to the dinners served on Christmas day. The difference being the gifts given and received on Christmas while on Thanksgiving, football games dominate.

It is not the custom in the states to carve fruits and vegetables, although attractive arrangements of foods being serving on a plate are made more appetizing using color, shape and design. The craft of carving fruits and vegetables started in China then found it's way to Thailand. Japan also developed an art form called, Mukimono which is the carving of vegetables such as daikon, carrot and eggplant into shapes of flowers, twists and fans and served as garnishes.

The intermingling of cultures has brought the art of carving fruits and vegetables to the U S and many chefs are learning and demonstrating the techniques. There are excellent videos on the internet showcasing Thai women creating flowers and birds using only a sharp paring knife. Other vegetables can be carved too, like a potato or turnip into a white rose, a squash into a vase holding tulips, watermelons into beautiful flowers or an apple slice into a leaf, is an amazing achievement and done with great dexterity.

Because the craft is so appealing to the eye, and relative easy to learn, requiring only a sharp paring knife and lots of practice, I have a hunch that in years to come, holiday dinner tables will be decorated with fruit and vegetable carvings.

10 Examples of Carved Vegetables

10 Examples of Carved Vegetables

California Bound by Loretta

[Editor's Note: This story was written by Loretta]

Well, mom didn’t get her wish to stay and live in Iowa. Dad convinced her the grass was greener in California, so we packed up the 1949 Plymouth car and trailer. The only one who refused to pack and was holding out was Louise, my older sister. The last hour before we left, mom finally talked her into it.

Now remember in the 50s, speeds on the highway weren’t super sonic. Off we went, at turtle speed, down the road. After a few hours of just setting with no radio in the car we were getting restless. Dad decided to serenade us with old songs and had us sing along on some of the tunes we knew. Today, to interest kids, we watch for license plates from different states, but in those days, Burma Shave signs were the ticket. Nothing lasted for long. Around lunch time, mom had brought the makings for sandwiches. Dad drove while mom made and distributed them.

Dad drove through the night while we slept. By mid morning, he had to stop. We found a town in Nebraska with a park. Dad took mom to the store and bought more food; then headed back to the park. He spread a blanket under a tree and out like a light he went. We played while he slept. By late afternoon he woke up, ate and off we went again.

Dad used to smoke in those days, so when he’d light up, Louise got on the floor boards, covered herself up with a blanket and lit up as well. Blowing her smoke through the holes in the bottom of the car. We of course kept our mouths shut, sticking together with threats from her.

The second night, dad had to stop at a motel. We had the treat of taking a bath and sleeping in a bed. By morning we were on the road again. When we made it to Wyoming, we saw Little America. Mom went to the souvenir store and looked around while Dad gassed up and then, onward we went.

By now, we had started to reach the mountain range which had rocks that over hung along the roads and signs like “Beware of falling rock”. Dad told us that “Falling Rock” was an Indian and to keep a look out for him, 'cause he was a bad one. I think he had us looking all day for him. Anything to keep us quiet. Later we found out he was joking about it.

As California loomed closer, the car started rebelling: it kept heating up but we actually made it to Pomona, California. Uncle Chester rescued us when our car finally gave out. We stayed at their house until mom and dad rented a house.

Now wasn’t that an exciting journey? It took me 48 years to leave California and make a home in Arizona.

Watch for Falling Rock

Teal Segments

Teal Segments by Marion 2010

Molly and Tenbrooks

There are many songs about horses and horse races such as Camp Town Races, but the one about Molly and Tenbrooks, arranged by Bill Monroe as a vehicle for Earl Scrubbs and his banjo in 1937 has become one of the most popular. First published in1947, but not recorded until later, it was in his concert repertoire and in radio broadcasts.

The song tells of a race between a Kentucky thoroughbred, Ten Broeck, and Molly McCarty, a California based mare. The song is called Molly and Tenbrooks, but is also called, Run Molly Run. There are many versions, some have Molly winning the race and others Tenbrooks. New verses are constantly being added, changed around and new threads started.


Ten Broeck Grave Marker

Records show that the race was on the 4th of July at Churchill Downs in 1878. The purse was for $5000 a side for a three-heat race, all heats to be four miles each. If either horse was distanced in a heat, the other horse was to be declared automatically the winner. Ten Broeck won the race and was ridden by William Walker, an ex-slave who said it was the best race he ever rode. Unlike the verses in the song, Molly McCarty did not die and won many races after this one and produced several foals.

The race between Molly McCarty and Ten Broeck was the last four mile race in American turf history.

Lyrics to Molly and Tenbrooks

Run oh Molly run, run oh Molly run

Ten-Brooks gonna beat you to the bright and shining sun

To the bright and shining sun oh Lord

To the bright and shining sun

Ten-Brooks was a big bay horse, he wore a shaggy mane

He run all 'round Memphis, and he beat the Memphis train

Beat the Memphis train oh Lord

Beat the Memphis train

Ten-Brooks said to Molly, what makes your head so red

Running in the hot sun with a fever in my head

Fever in my head oh Lord

Fever in my head

Molly said to Ten-Brooks you're looking mighty squirrel

Ten-Brooks said to Molly I'm leaving this old world

Leaving this old world oh Lord

Leaving this old world

Out in California where Molly done as she pleased

She come back to old Kentucky, got beat with all ease

Beat with all ease oh Lord

Beat with all ease

The women's all a-laughing, the children all a-crying

Men all a-hollering old Ten-Brooks a- flying

Old Ten-Brooks a- flying oh Lord

Old Ten-Brooks a- flying



Kiper, Kiper, you're not riding right

Molly's a beating old Ten-Brooks clear out of sight

Clear out of sigh oh Lord

Clear out of sight

Kiper, Kiper, Kiper my son

Give old Ten-Brooks the bridle and let old Ten-Brooks run

Let old Ten-Brooks run oh Lord

Let old Ten-Brooks run

Go and catch old Ten-Brooks and hitch him in the shade

We're gonna bury old Molly in a coffin ready made

In a coffin ready made oh Lord

In a coffin ready made

The Stanley Brothers @1948 rendition of Molly and Tenbrooks

Golden Rings

Golden Rings by Marion 2010



Of Transoms and Traverses Part 2 of 2 by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

Pátzcuaro is a beautiful town and has many unique features. Things have undoubtedly changed in the 45+ years since I was there, but I remember the beautiful flower boxes that were everywhere. The city has historical significance but at my age I didn't really pay much attention. The country side is a contrast of hills surrounding the huge lake. Everywhere you look there is something different to be seen.

During the day, Mom painted. She painted everything and anything she could. She would pick a location and I would help shuttle her easel, paints and canvases to the location. Then I would go off to play with some local children or explore on my own until evening when I helped her pack up her gear for the night.

After everything was safely stored we would go to the town for dinner at any of several restaurants. Always a high-light for me. More often than not, our dorm friends would come along and we would have a great gathering for dinner. Singing, conversation and stories would be passed around the table. There was no television or even radio so our entertainment was whatever we could make up ourselves.

There was one movie house in town but it was only open a few days a week and had one showing per evening. One fortunate thing for me was that I loved the movies and almost always the movies were American ones with Spanish sub-titles. I didn't have to struggle with the language when I went to the movies and Mom and I went often, even if we had seen the movie many many times. For everyone, the movies were very cheap entertainment and regardless of what was showing, they were extremely popular and the tiny theaters would fill up in no time at all.

One evening, we met up with a dorm friend for dinner. He was at the end of his monthly budget and could not afford to eat at the normal restaurants we attended. He convinced us to try one of the semi-permanent street restaurants in the Plaza. These restaurants where just slightly better than the ubiquitous street vendors, in that they had a permanent overhang, kitchen and benches. But they didn't quite qualify under Rule 1. Our friend however vouched for the safety of the cuisine and we settled down for a very nice dinner.

I knew that night a new movie was opening up at the theater; a spy story called “Doctor No” with a hero “007”. I'd heard about it from my friends and was anxious to see this film. After dinner, I asked if we could go to the movies and Mom and our friend agreed. We went to the movie house to check it out. There were still tickets but the show got out at 8:35pm. We would have to hustle to get back to the dorms before the gatekeeper locked the gates but that was ample time to get there. Tickets were purchased. popcorn acquired and we settled down for a wonderful time.

If you are wanting something to run on-time, do not go to Mexico or anywhere else for that matter. The only thing that ever runs on-time are British trains. No where else does anything run on-time, and that movie was no exception. It did not get out at 8:35pm, it ended at 8:55pm! There was only 5 minutes to get to the gate! We ran to the gate like we were all doing a sub-4 minute mile!

Alas, the gates where locked when we arrived. Our dorms where only 50 feet in front of us but there was a very high chain-link fence between us and our comfy beds. We called out to see if the gatekeeper was still nearby but there was no answer. Our friend said there was only one thing left to do: Climb The Fence. It was easy he said, the fence is sturdy and will not break. Just climb up and over and all would be well. He climbed the fence to show us how. After a few misgivings, Mom and I started up the fence. Things were OK until Mom got near the top when she got stuck.  She couldn't go up and she couldn't go down and there she was, hanging 10 feet off the ground. She was just stuck on the fence. Things started to go downhill in a hurry after that.

I clambered down the fence and our friend nearly vaulted over it to rescue Mom. There was a fair bit of yelling and panicked conversation as instructions were passed over and between them: move your foot here, move your hand there, grab that link etc. I was milling down below acting like I was some kind of safety net in case she fell off. It seemed like Mom was never gonna get off the fence!

Just then, the gatekeeper came running around the corner, attracted no doubt by the commotion and our frantic cries and panicked voices. He quickly opened the gates and came to assist in the rescue. It wasn't easy. By this time, Mom was very tired and had lost the energy to move along the fence. The two men, tried to heave her over the fence but the Rock of Gibraltar would have been easier to move. A lot of pushing and shoving continued until at last she was freed and able to climb down the fence on her own. We thanked our rescuers: the gatekeeper for getting up to open the gate for us and our friend for standing by when things were looking glum. Then, sedately as if nothing had happened, Mom walked thru the gates to to our dorm.

Needless to say, after that, no matter what was happening, at 8:45 pm we turned into pumpkins and ran for the dorms!

Of Transoms and Traverses Part 1 of 2 by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

Adventures happened to us whether we were looking for them or not. We loved our adventures and always marveled at how they came about and how they lead from one to another.

One summer, my mother and I went to the town of Pátzcuaro, Mexico so she could paint there. Pátzcuaro is a famous town with the most churches of any town in Mexico. There are 2 or 3 churches on every street. Some are large and some are tiny. There are special dishes like atole and many regional traditions. The streets and balconies have flowers everywhere. There is also a beautiful lake: Lake Pátzcuaro. The fishermen there catch a special tiny fish which is a delicacy throughout Mexico. They use special "butterfly" nets to catch these fish and there are many famous paintings of the lake and fishermen. We rented a dorm room at the UNESCO Campus Center which was on summer holiday and just a short walk from the town.

The room had twin beds and was neat and clean. There was a shared bathroom with the dorm room next to it with inside locks on the doors for privacy. We had several neighbors who were spending their summers studying there. Everyone was very friendly and we soon had a group of folks that we could hang out with in the evenings when Mom had finished painting for the day and they had finished their studies for the day too.

The campus was large and surrounded by high fences. There was a main gate that opened to the outside and remained open during the day. At about 9 pm the gate was locked and it was a challenge to get back to the dorms before the gatekeeper locked the doors! It was sort of a contest: who could squeak in the latest. If you got locked out the only way was to climb over the very tall fence and many of the students regularly had to climb the fence and had it down to a science.

On our first night there as we were settling into the room, Mom decided to check out the door locks in the bathroom. So, she went in locked both doors – all was very satisfactory. When she left, the room she wanted to know how the locked worked from the outside: Would the handle turn? Could it be opened anyway? So, she locked both doors as she exited and closed them. She turned the handle from the room side and sure enough: it was locked. Triumph!

Triumph soon turned to horror when she realized she had locked us out of the bathroom! It was already evening and the staff had gone home for the day. There was no one who could unlock the door for us. Things suddenly looked very grim as there were no open restrooms anywhere nearby. Just then some of our new neighbors came back from their day of study and saw us standing outside the room looking rather frazzled. Explanations were given and we were told that it wasn't uncommon for that to happen but as it was summer and the staff was on holiday it might be several days before a staff person could come. Devastation!

The men however, stepped up and valiantly agreed to help us open the door. It was all rather simple they said; at the top of the door was an open transom and it was a matter of being boosted up there and crawling through just enough to reach the doorknob to turn it. A circus then developed. They each tried to reach the knob but could not. After several failed attempts, the only path was to boost me up to the transom, hold my feet as I slid over the top of the door to turn the doorknob from the other side. As I was only about 11 or 12 years old at the time, I was a lot easier to boost than the other fellows. So up I went and over the door! I could just barely reach the knob but Presto! It opened! Triumph Returned!

We all celebrated our good luck and the men said goodby and headed to their rooms for the evening. Mom was very relieved and said she never would Do THAT Again! Then she closed the door to the bathroom and “click” it locked. She had forgotten to unlock the door before she closed it and we were locked out again! HORRORS!

We ran next door to our neighbor and our tale of woe was repeated. He looked rather puzzled at my Mom, but he again boosted me over the door and I was able to open it. This time my Mom with great flourish UNLOCKED it and it remained unlocked for the duration of our stay.

Keyboards

I just purchased a wireless keyboard and number pad. I've been told they will make playing the game, Lord of the Rings Online easier and more fun. So far, I think I will like using it, but I have to say going thru the connection to the computer process has left me a little frazzled! For some reason it took several hours yesterday of 'help' coming into my computer to install drivers and other such utilities, but it only took 10 minutes or less on my son's computer.

This morning when I wanted to try out the new keyboard, I had to try several times to get the keyboard and the computer connected. With a 'walk thru' over the phone, I finally got the two devices working together and low and behold, I can now practice using the new keyboard and mouse. I have not played Lord of the Rings yet, but will start playing the game later today with my son and daughter.

The three of us used to play a very nice game called A Tale In The Desert, but after 3 or 4 years playing the game each time it upgraded, we decided to try another game. The three of us live in different states and it's a nice way to spend an hour or two during the week, sharing the game as we chat with each other on a conference call.


MS Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000



Easter Egg

Easter Egg by Marion 2010



Grandmothers

Cousin Loretta's story about her maternal grandmother made me think of mine. Her name was Elizabeth Ellen, but Grandpa called her Liz or Lizzie, my aunts and uncles called her Ma or Mom, and we grandchildren called her Grandma W.

Grandma was a force to reckon with, and sooner or later, she becomes the topic of conversation. When two or more members of the family are together for any length of time they often recount stories and share memories about her, although it has been many years since she passed away.

Grandma held a reverential distinction apart from our other relatives; she was part American Indian. We all take great pride in that jewel of kinship, although its importance fades as new generations come along.

My family lived some distance from Grandma and since we did not own a car, we rarely had the opportunity of visiting her. One rare visit came about during the great depression when Uncle Matt and Aunt Nettie, who had purchased a used auto, came to see us. They offered to drive us all to Grandma's for a visit. It was dark by the time we started the trip. Traffic was light and there were long stretches of highway between seeing the headlights of other vehicles coming or going. We eight children ranged in age from 1 to 11, and being small, Mom and Dad and Aunt Nettie held the youngest on their laps and the rest of us squeezed into niches between the adults. In those days the vehicles had mechanical brakes and no one had ever heard of seat belts. Uncle Matt drove at what was considered a fast speed and as we drove over the low rolling hills, my stomach would do a flip. In all probability, the speed was not excessive, but we children felt like we were flying, and the adult comments of 'making good time', added to the impression. I don't remember our arrival nor how long the visit was.

One year during the great depression we eight children went to spend the summer with Grandma. I remember the rooms of the two story house built into the side of a hill. A kitchen, dining room and a day room was down stairs and opened out onto a level area which was the back yard. The house entrance was on the street level and was the upper story where the front room, grandma's bedroom, bathroom and 4 more bedrooms were.

There was always a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and we children ate our meals at a round oak table in the kitchen. The adults ate at the long dining table in the dining room. I helped Elizabeth set the table and serve the pitchers of iced tea. Grandma had cut glass bowls and pitchers and each place had a cut glass salt cellar.

On summer nights, after all the little children were in bed asleep, Grandma would take a chair and sit on the front porch in the cool of the evening while Adeline and I sat on the steps to keep her company. Sometimes we could prevail upon her to sing for us. She sang hymns like Rock of Ages and Little Brown Church in the Vale, and folk songs. Our favorite was Jessie James; she knew all the verses.

Thinking back on those days, I wonder how Grandma managed to run the house and care for us. She had given birth to 16 children so she knew how to supervise our eight. One of her secrets was that the older children helped to look after the younger ones. I remember always playing in a group. If we went to the empty stadium to play among the bleachers and run the track or sat on the floor and played card games like Fish and Michigan Rummy, we always played in a group. Even when we walked across town to see Aunt Rita and her new baby, we went as a group.

Being at Grandma's house was always exciting. We admired her two colorful love birds and loved her dog Penny, an American Spitz. We liked running errands to the post office or the day old bakery for loaves of bread. We liked playing in the park where a large statue of Chief Mahaska stood. We especially liked it when she made home made peach ice cream in the old hand cranked freezer. Best of all, we liked seeing cousins and Aunts and Uncles when they stopped by or came for a visit.


peach ice cream