The Far Horizon

[Editor's Post]

Take me to the fair!

A Memory of the Fair by Esther
[Editor's note: This story was written by Esther]
Thursday, June 11, 2009

Art!!!

Golden Rings by Marion 2010
[Editor's note: Art: Golden Rings by Marion 2010]
Saturday, November 06, 2010

The Far Horizon

[Editor's Post]

Our first featured article reprint for February 2018, was originally published Tuesday, October 19, 2010. A wonderful story about living in the mountains above Redwood City, California.

You can re-read and enjoy this article again here:

At The Sky Ranch by Esther
[Editor's note: This story was written by Esther]
Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Our March 2018 reprint is a terrific story originally published May 31, 2005. It still rings with the warmth of family, love and laughter!

Telephone Chat with Elizabeth
[Editor's note: This story was written by MrsB]
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Esther Smith - 05/14/2015

[Note: Editor's Post]

Esther Smith passed 05/14/2015

She died peacefully at her home. Her memory remains with all who read her stories on the blog and download her cookbook.

Her contribution to the lives and well being of all around her, those who had the pleasure of meeting her in real life and those that knew her from her writings, cannot be measured except in the vast space of time.

We can morn the loss of her wisdom; just as we can celebrate her life. We have been blessed by her presence and wit.

For those who did not have the pleasure of meeting her, her writings here on the blog remain a gateway to a time that is fading with the passing of her generation. At time when Love was the only thing one needed in Life; when Trust was the only Lock on the Door and a time when Family, Friends and Neighbors were The Entire World.

KimB Editor


note: You can find the link to all her posts on the side bar along with her cookbook which is located in the download section.

The Recipe Box: White Yeast Bread

White Yeast Bread

From the recipe box of MrsB/Esther

I baked bread the other day using a two loaf recipe my sister sent me.

Instead of making two loaves, I made one loaf and a pan of rolls. After baking, they looked like a magazine picture and tasted as good.

A few days before I had experienced a miserable failure with a recipe for cinnamon-raisin bread. Using the mixer to knead the dough was a technique in bread making that I had never used before and I hadn't used enough flour. The concoction I ended up with had to be tossed.

Now that I've had some success, I'll try the raisin bread recipes again. Using the mixer is a lot less work than the old fashioned way of kneading dough on a floured board.

Ingredients:

1 pkg active dry yeast
1/2cup warm water
2 tablespoons melted shortening
1tsp salt
2cups warm water
5 ¾ to 6 ½ cups all purpose flour
Note: milk instead of water may be used.
If powdered milk is used mix with flour.

Preparation:

1. Soften yeast in ½ cup warm water.
2. Using a mixer, keep adding flour until dough is smooth and elastic.
3. Place dough in a greased bowl, and grease top of dough.
   Let rise until doubled in bulk.
4. Punch down and shape into loaves. Recipe makes two loaves.
5. Bake @ 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: using the mixer eliminates kneading the dough on a floured board.



Finished Bread

MrsB's PDF Book for 2011

[Note: Editor's Post]

MrsB's blog stories from 2011 are now available for download!  Click the link in the download section to get your own copy of all the wonderful posts made by her and other members of the MrsB's blog circle!

While you're over there, you can get some of the other books and copies of the fabulous cookbooks made by MrsB and Esther too!

Hope you enjoy all the stories and memories.

Always To Be Remembered by Esther

My sister Marion, sent me an E-mail she received from a cousin, it was so much history I was not aware of, and it remind me of a time I went to see where my brother Charles was buried.

All my brothers and sisters served in the military. Most of them served in the Marine Corp, one in the Navy and one in the Air Force. Charles was in the Marines and served mostly in China.

That trip was a very emotional one, for we were a very close family. My daughter and her husband Arthur, drove me to Marion’s house. Together we went on to Houston, Texas, and spent the day visiting Marion’s son Bob.

It was a nice day to go out to the Military Cemetery where Charles wanted to be buried. It was a long trip and both Marion and I were remembering stories about how we use to play and little events we did as children growing up back in Iowa. The eight of us children made for some stories and we had to laugh at most of the tales.

We arrived at the entrance to the Cemetery and Bob drove around to where we wanted to go. I had never been to a large town where the larger cemeteries were, and I was surprise to see how large this one was. It reminded me of my third grade teacher who asked the class if they could visualize how much a pile one thousand pennies would look like and how many one dollar bills would it take to make an inch high stack. I was never so impressed, as seeing how far to look in any direction, to know I could not fathom what I was seeing in front of me today.

Through the years, I have watched on TV, when the news would show those who gave the ultimate price returning home in honor and I would give a silent prayer for their family.

As we walked to where Charles' marker was, we read the names, and there was so many and so young. I will always know I could not see the whole cemetery, nor know how many was the count of all who rest there or in all the other cemeteries there are. It is a great price to pay for our freedom. Since then I have a better idea of how to think of what "big" means.

Our family has one Marine and one Air Force member still living today, and I hope it will be quite a while for them before they to will be gone.

I will always think of how a pile of pennies look and how many one dollar bills it takes to make a one inch stack. And how many are at rest in all the Military Cemeteries. Which I still can not imagine how huge it is.

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

ABBOTT, CHARLES H
PFC US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/16/1927
DATE OF DEATH: 12/21/1998

BURIED AT: SECTION M2 SITE 841
HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
10410 VETERANS MEMORIAL DRIVE HOUSTON, TX 77038

USA Veterans Nationwide Gravesite Locator

Houston National Cemetary

The Recipe Box: Harvard Beets

Harvard Beets
From the recipe box of Esther

This recipe is the one that Mom used to fix beets and that I liked so well. It was a favorite of every one I think.

When I think of the big gardens we use to have when we lived on the acerage and the cost of buying veggies today, it reminds me of how far we have come from the good old days. Life was much more simple then but look how much the new gadgets have saved us from the hard labor---like the old scrub board!!!

Harvard Beets

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup beet liquid
2 1/2 cups cooked beets, cubed or sliced (I use canned beets)
1 tablespoon butter

1. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a one quart sauce pan.
2. Add vinegar. stir untill smooth. Add beet liquid.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring till liquid just begins to thicken.
4. Add cube or sliced beets and cook for four more minutes
   or till beets are hot.
5. Add butter.

Harvard Beets

The Recipe Box: Angel Macaroons

Angel Macaroons

From the recipe box of Esther
Original recipe by Betty Crocker

This recipe makes both regular and chocolate macaroons.

1 box Betty Crocker’s white angel food cake mix
½ cup water
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 package (7 oz) flaked coconut (2 cups)
1 tablespoon unsweetened baking cocoa
4 teaspoon butter or margarine
4 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
4 teaspoons water
⅔ cup powdered sugar


Macaroon Cookies

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cover cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
3. In large (4 quart) glass or metal bowl, beat cake mix, ½ cup water and the almond extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds.
4. On medium speed, beat one minute, scraping bowl occasionally.
5. Fold in coconut.
6. Drop half the mixture by teaspoonfuls about 4 inched apart onto the lined cookie sheets.
7. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or till light golden brown around edges.
8. Cool macaroons completely before removing from parchment paper.
9. Meanwhile, stir 1 tablespoon cocoa into remaining mixture.
10. Bake and cool the chocolate macaroons. (repeat as above)

Cookie Glaze

1. In quart sauce pan, heat butter, 4 teaspoons cocoa and 4 teaspoons of water over low heat, stirring constantly until butter is melted.
2. Stir in powdered sugar.
3. Drizzle small amounts of glaze over each cookie.

Angel Macaroons

The Recipe Box: Creamy Pasta Sauce

Creamy Pasta Sauce

From the recipe box of Esther

1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup of small curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 can petite diced tomatoes with liquid
Add seasoning to your taste: Parsley, Italian seasoning etc

Your choice of pasta

Add everythihg to a sauce pot and gently heat up while stirring to keep it smooth.
Serve over hot cooked pasta and enjoy.

You can improve on this by adding chicken or shrimp, they will add another flavor level.

Creamy Pasta Sauce

Vernon Loved to Hunt and Fish by Esther

He was a man who was born too late. He would have been great as an early American when this country was being settled many years ago. He was happy to wander every where and could of lived off the land. All he needed was a place to bed down, cook his meals over a fire and a pond big enough to bathe and have the equipment to hunt and to fish.

I met him when he was stationed at San Bruno. He was a sailor and would be going over seas soon. We dated and then wrote letters while he was stationed on Guam. When he was discharged from the Navy in San Diego, he came to Redwood City and we were married in little ceremony in my sister Marion's home.

He loved to hunt deer as often as he could, and with my brother Abby, they always came home with one dressed and ready to cook. It was Mom who knew how to season it and have it tender and delicious. Vernon was a good cook him self, and he learned a few tricks from her. One thing he did like was having the whole family together to eat, and we never failed to send out the call, “come eat” .

Vernon enjoyed being outside hunting or fishing. I learned to enjoy surf fishing with him. I did go with him when he hunted for deer but it was not my thing; fishing though was really great. When we moved to make our home in Baton Rouge, I did not like to go fishing as there were too many critters crawling and bugs that bite or sting. They never seemed to bother Vernon.

One of his favorite hunts was to gather up frogs to eat for supper. When my brother Charles came to spend a few days with us, Vernon took him hunting with him. Vernon outfitted him with a head light and battery, and a gig pole to catch the frogs with and a gunny sack to keep them in while they continued on to look for more frogs.

They started out late in the evening as the best time to catch frogs is in the night time. Frogs love swampy watery places to live in but so do snakes and other critters, not to mention the bugs, some of them are very large but the tiny bugs are the worst: they bite.  I can still imagine Charles out there in the swamp with Vernon. Charles did not like bugs or snakes and to add the dark of night and swampy waters to wade through would have made it even worse for him.

As they walked along they would see a frog, they would grab it with the gig pole and get it in to the gunny sack. They did not have to wade into deep water. The gig pole was as long as they needed. Any thing farther wasn't safe. They had good luck and there were enough frogs to have a nice meal of frog legs for all of us.

Charles was not too sure if he would ever go hunting for frogs again, as there were too many snakes and other critters to worry with, but he did love eating frog legs.

It was my Mother that show me how to make hush puppies. I loved them and they were a hit with the whole family. She learned them when they had a fishing camp in Florida. Hush puppies are small balls of corn bread batter fried in hot grease. We would fry the frog or fish and then the French fried potatoes and last the hush puppies. That is a great meal.

The name “hush puppies” comes from the story that these would be given to dogs when they would bark to quiet them and that was where the name came from: "hush puppy". Anyone would hush up and enjoy them.

I have five brothers. They all loved fishing and some of them did hunt. I know Abby was always with Vernon when in California. When they came to Louisiana, Mickey, Charles, and Jerry would go out with Vernon. The three of them found work in the gulf of Mexico and settled in Texas and when they had time, they came to visit.

My brother Richard, used to go fishing. Richard was more of a student. He was always in class and after graduation he went on to college. He did what he said he would do, and he worked to get there. He followed his dream.

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

Hush Puppies

So How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

MrsB

My kitchen counter in back of the water faucets and along the side of my microwave is filled to capacity with tiny containers of water with avocado seeds punctured with toothpicks to keep the upper half of the seed above water.

My penchant for saving seeds and trying to propagate them has to end! To tell the truth, I really don't have any intention of planting them because it would mean 'work'. I'm against that word and try not to use it. I will, in all probability, try to give the rooted seeds away, or barring that, just toss them.

The outdoor spider plants are thriving and looking good despite the 100 (and plus) degree days we have been having . The Christmas cactus is also flourishing.

Esther

In My Garden

I have read with interest the way some people tend to their gardens. For many years, I have helped to plant and weed in them, since I was old enough to know the difference between a vegetable plant and a common weed. Also, to know a weed can grow much faster than most of the plants we put into the garden.

The first I can remember was when we lived in Iowa Falls. My Grandfather A took over the job of the garden when he and Grandmother A came to live with us. He had a wonderful garden with everything that made our meals so very good. He would have us help to weed out the rows and there was one year I can remember, where he promised we could pick out the cantaloupe we wanted. We just had to weed out one row when ever it was needed. And he always kept each row neat and clean so there was not too much to do when he said he needed us to get the weeds out. With the eight of us children it did not take long to do the weeding and most of the time it was a game to see who could get done first or who had the most weeds to throw on the compost pile.

I also remember when it came time to pick the cantaloupe, every one of us could not eat it at the Sunday dinner Mom had. That night we ate fried chicken, mash potatoes, green peas, buttered carrots, hot biscuits and gravy. Then came the desert which was strawberry cake with real whip cream. All the cantaloupes were still in their serving dish on the counter in the kitchen.

I think of all the gardens and how much work they needed brings back some good memories. When I had some time to enjoy having nice veggies to eat. They were all so good to have when the weather was great.

Today, I spend most of my time looking at catalogs of flowers and vegetables. The pictures all look perfect. When I go to the store, I pick the ones I want to eat for supper. I just love to eat fresh corn cooked with baby butter beans. Finding the "just right" tomatoes, selecting the cucumbers and bell peppers, is so nice. It is a plus to have any vegetable I want in a nice clean area and in a comfortable place, summer or winter.

It is really my age that tells me I have to have my garden delivered to me. I do miss having one to work in.

Children Bathing The Birds by Esther

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

It was a hot sunny day. The temperature was in the low 90’s and the four children were playing out side in the back yard. Jerry was living next door and the two oldest children and my three girls were in school. That left the three youngest of Jerry’s children home with me to keep till he and his first wife got home from work. They both worked at the university and it was easy to keep the children. They were good to mind me and never gave a problem. They were really lovely children. Always wanted to help and would do any thing I asked.

My son, Vernon Jr. and Jerry’s two daughters, Alise and Denise were about five years old, and Jerry’s son, Jerry Jr. was four. Very smart and they all were super active. They never walked, they ran here or there and Alise is the one who could climb the tree to the smallest limb and not fall.

It was the day for washing the bed clothes and between hanging them up to dry on the clothes line or bring them in to fold, I kept an eye on the children often to see they were doing OK.

We had a bird house to keep the parakeets I was raising. Vernon built it for me when I started to raise them to sell. He made it so I had to go through two doors to get to the main room just a small area to I could get in and close the first door and then was safe to go through the next door in to the nesting area. I had quite a few nesting pairs and it required a lot of time to clean and feed them every day.

It was close to noon time and I fixed the children a sandwich and some chips with a glass of cool aid. Was almost ready to call them when I looked out the window, and what I saw was the children holding the garden hose and was going in to the bird house and hosing them down.

I gathered them up got the doors closed and looked at the children. They had bird dropping from the top of their heads to their shoes, along with seed hulls and feathers clinging to their clothes.

Alise told me they just wanted to bath them. It broke my heart to see how many I lost. I did get a couple back by putting a cage out with water and seed in it. One even came to sit on my shoulder.

I bathed them and got them all clean up. Then we had lunch. Then it was off to take a nap. They were really beautiful gentle children. So happy and ready to go run where there was something to do.

They did make some wonderful memories we can laugh about now.

Empty Cage

My New Sweater by Esther

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

My sister Marion Elizabeth and I would chat every week day in the mornings on Yahoo IM. We would chat about what everyone was doing, who was coming, and what we would be planning to make next after we finish a project.

I had been sewing some day dresses and working some beads, but wanted to try to knit a sweater. When I mention it to Marion Elizabeth, she thought she would like to make one too. She was very good at knitting and also she was good at crocheting. She loved just about anything that required a needle of some kind. All us girls were able to knit and crochet.

I learned when I was about nine years old. My Mother made arrangements for a neighbor to teach cousin Etta and myself how to knit. We did practice to get a good grade, but I did not at the time make any thing. Did learn enough to say I could knit. It was crocheting that my Grandmother A taught me and I loved making dollies and the large ruffle ones were favorites.

It was after I married and had Taffy, that I made baby dresses. Grandmother made her a white nylon crochet baby dress and it was done in a pineapple pattern. I use it to make her one in cotton. Even made the slips to wear under the dresses in different color satin material. She looked so lovely in them.

Marion Elizabeth had made my Grandchildren Heather and Heidi a raglan pull over sweater and around the waist she knitted some paper dolls. The boys and girls were in a light color yarn and ever since then I had wanted a raglan sweater. I knew enough to think I could do it myself, but did not feel confident that it was even fit.

About eight years ago while shopping at Wal-Mart, I found two white sweaters. One was a raglan pull over in a plain knit style with short sleeves. It was just the right size and so soft and loved it. The second one was done in a rib from the neck to the waist and it was almost as nice, but a heavier yarn was used to make it. Which made it nice to wear on colder days.

When telling Her how much I loved the sweaters she made for the girls, she offered to help me, and assured me she could teach me and together we would each make a cardigan sweater. It did not take long for me to accept her offer. When I could get out to see about the yarn, what color, size of needles and marker she had told me to get.

The next trip to the clinic was my first chance to shop. Cindy took me and help me find what I needed and back to the house and I started to cast on stitches to the size eight needles I would be using. It did not take too long to get my tension adjusted and the next step was to chat Marion Elizabeth and she started to teach me. What to measure, and how to add the count to learn how many stitches I would need, which made me realize how easy it was to make me a sweater. That bit of info was a surprise and so very much solved a lot of problems for me.

It was a good thing Marion Elizabeth knew her stuff, as I did not know how to increased stitches to add new ones to the needles, I just could not understand how to add them till she said the magic word, do it again in the same stitch but in the back!!! It was the video she found for me to see and have to say I have had no more since.

What a joy it was to really know I could knit myself or any one a sweater. My sister is really a jewel. I have only the sleeves left to do. Then the final test will be to see if it fits. I do want a sweater that looks good and looks good on me. It does look like it will be a close fit. Even if it is not a good fit, I am so pleased Marion Elizabeth has taught me so I can do another one that just may be my best work to date. Now I want her to teach me how to make the paper dolls. I know she can teach me how that is done.

I have loved the computer to keep in touch with her and enjoy chatting with her. Never realize I could learn while chatting with her, and to tell you the truth, she is remarkable to even find videos to show me how a stitch is done, that is another eye opener, and a bigger lesson to aid me. So a big thank you to my sister Marion Elizabeth.

Yarn and Knitting Needles

He’s My Grandfather by Esther

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

Taffy was about two and maybe three years old and she was an easy going child when she had company come to spend time with her. She loved to share all her toys with them. Her favorite toy was the set of poker chips her Uncle Jerry gave her. He had come to spend several days with us. And Taffy would watch him and her father Vernon, play cards and she wanted to play with them. It was not long before Jerry knew he had lost them and gave them to her.

Of course he also knew he had to leave some of his stuff with me as he wanted to make several trips he had plans for and when he was ready to head back home he could collect everything and head out for other parts of the country. He did like to travel Loved seeing other places, and why not , as he was foot loose and free to go. As long as the money held out.

Taffy treasured her poker chips. She would roll them, stack them, and put them back in the tote tray they came in. She was so fascinated with them and spent hours with them. She learn to count with them.

Taffy loved to go places too. One of her favorite places, was going to see her Grand Parents at the Sky Ranch. She was going to stay with Grandma while Vernon and I went shopping.

Mom loved having the grandchildren. And seeing Marion there and found out she was leaving Skippy there too, made it quite nice for Taffy, as she had her play mate to spend the day with her too.

Skippy was Marion’s son. He was about four and maybe a bit more, and I loved that child as if he was my own. When ever Marion would let me keep him , I would bundle him up and head for home and he was a wonderful child to have. He had red hair and was a happy baby. Even Vernon liked having him around and loved having them walk up and down his back.

When Vernon and I got back to pick up Taffy, it was a shock to know Taffy had taken a two by four length of wood and hit Skippy over the head and knock him out. I just could not believe Taffy ever could be that angry to any one. But Dad and Mom both assured me she had done it. Taffy did not deny it.

Dad had said he heard the children arguing over his hat in the front room The hat was the source of the problem. It seems the hat started the argument. Taffy or Skippy made the statement, “ that hat belongs to my Grandfather “ and Taffy said, “ No that is “ My Grandfather’s hat. “ And to this day, I am not too sure either one of them have changed their mind.

Where did Taffy get the two by four? This was the time Dad was building a new floor under the house which sat on top of the mountain and the back side was built over the ground on stilts and the front of the house was set on the top of the ground. So Dad and the boys were helping him do the work.

Skippy got the worse of the deal, and I was so sorry he was hurt. The Sky Ranch did hold so many good memories of good times, and this was one that every one remembers and can smile about today. Even today if I could, I would gather up Skippy and bundle him up and carry him home to spend several days of just enjoying him play and learning new games.


Poker Chips



Halloween Time by Esther

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

Vernon and I finally moved to Baton Rouge and stayed at his parents home in the country. It was a lovely place and his Father raised cattle. The house was set a ways back from the road. It had a long driveway to the house and on both sides were Pecan trees, which were so lovely to drive under with their long limbs reaching over the drive way.

The house area was fenced off to keep the cattle off the lawn, till they needed the space to work on the cattle. The lawn was kept neat and trimmed with a bush hog. The Saint Augustine grass was so thick and the only time it was different, was during the winter, when they planted rye grass to help feed the cattle.

I would watch Vernon with his brothers and Father working the cattle in a coral with a long chute to separate the calves. Vernon would throw a rope and put the calf down, so it could be branded. It was for sure a rodeo and Vernon was a cowboy. The brothers knew their way raising cattle. It was a family working together.

There was BC, the oldest, then came Buddy, Bruce and Vernon. They had three sisters.

One was dating and the man came to the house to meet her parents. As they were in the house, the boys were out side and they picked up the little car the man drove and set over into the flower bed. They'd laugh when that story was told but while their Father was not pleased, he did smile.

Another time the boy’s remembered when their Grandfather had just bought a new Deluxe Buggy to get around to Church and town, and this was close to Halloween time. There must have been a good moon to have enough light to dismantle the four wheel enclosed buggy and to put it on top the two story barn. Vernon did say, it took them two days to dismantle it and get it down and back together again.

Once, not to long ago, while Vernon and I were living at the lake, we were driving down high way 87 to Orange, Texas. It was after Halloween time and someone had spent a lot of time throwing rolls of bathroom tissue over a pine tree. They (or he or she) must have been a good pitcher as they covered that tree every which way. I have no idea how many rolls it had on it and can only imagine the time it took to get the tree covered but it was there most of two years.

The good news: it was a sight to see on the long miles in between towns and Forestry did not make a complaint.

Phaeton: 4 wheeled buggy

At The Sky Ranch by Esther

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

Skyline Boulevard Redwood City CA

Mom and Dad bought a place on top of the mountain near Redwood City, California about year after I was married to Vernon. They called it The Sky Ranch. It was always a place where the family could gather and spend time visiting. We helped Mom do work around the house or helped Dad as he added on to the building.
Dad was going to build under the house. Part of the house was on top of the mountain and the rest of it was over lapping down the side of the hill. They thought it would help to have more rooms when they had company over.

At that time Marion, Robert and son were staying in the cabin. Vernon and I were camping in a chuck wagon on the property, which was fine for us. Marion was able to cook in her cabin. It was nice for the baby too, as there was so much activity going on, it provided some quite at nap time.

Vernon started to look for work but there were not many jobs available. World War II was over and jobs were not easy to get. So he was able to help with all the different jobs needed to keep things running well.

Skyline Boulevard Redwood City CA

The first thing he and Dad did was to trim some redwood trees so the sun would shine and help to dry the fog when it was so thick and it was great to have the sun shinning to keep it warmer in the cold damp weather

When it was warmer, Dad started removing the dirt to begin working on the new rooms. As that job was getting done, Dad started doing the fittings for the water pipes and the plumbing for the bathroom fixtures. Sometimes I would help or some of the boys would have free time and were there to grab a shovel or hammer or even a saw to work with us while Dad told them what to do. There was five brothers plus Robert and Vernon.

There was Mickey, Charles, Elbert, Richard and Jerry. It was Elbert and Vernon that always had the notion to get a deer and have a great feast and get everyone over to eat and to spend the day helping Dad.  Mom would work right along with them and they may not have worked fast, but they did have a great time doing it.

That year was a memorable Christmas. By this time, Marion and Robert had moved to a nice home just short distant from the Sky Ranch and Vernon and I moved in to the cabin. I loved having a bath room. Marion would make lovely decorations to trim the tree and make a scene of an old fashion country house with Christmas holiday trim. She had the small trees to fit the size of the log house and it look like a picture post card. Marion invited everyone to celebrate Christmas dinner at her house, and she was a wonderful hostess. Robert carved the turkey.

It was along this time that Mom and Dad bought another house in Redwood City. Vernon found a job at Bethlehem steel in South San Francisco. And I found a job at a nursing home. We rented a room from a wonderful lady and we struck out on our own.

We spent every day we had free at the Sky Ranch. 'Till we left and moved to Baton Rouge where Vernon was raised in an old country house. The old country house in Baton Rouge had some huge very old Oak Trees planted along both sides of the drive way to the house.

I never knew what home sickness was like till I moved there. I really liked it there but I missed Mom so much. Vernon and his family were very good to me but I would wake up crying. After several times, Vernon said he would take me home. It was good to get back home.

After that I never was home sick again. It was not too long when Vernon said he was going back and I was ready to go with him. It was after we went back to Baton Rouge that we heard from the family that an earthquake had disturbed water well and the well had gone dry.

I loved that place and remember so many good days that we spent there with everyone having a great time.


Skyline Boulevard Redwood City CA



Memories of Jerry by Esther

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

We have lost another member of our family. Jerry was a favorite Uncle to my children, as all my brothers were. Jerry, Charles, and Mickey were the three that spent time with us when they worked in the Gulf Of Mexico. They were cooks aboard the oil rigs and when they came ashore on their time off, it was spent at our house.

At first we lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when the children were well in to school. The oldest was Taffy; then Marion who was three years behind her. Next is Cindy another two years back and last is Vern Jr. was also two years back.

The children were always waiting for them when it was their time to come in and we would drive down to pick up who ever was coming in. Some times only one would come or maybe two could make it. But it was a merry time if all three of them were in at the same time.

Mickey might make a fast trip to California to see family out there and be back to spend time with his friends here and us before he had to go back. Charles was one to stay close and he like to have his beer and talk about old times. And Jerry was one to keep the children active doing crafts and staying busy out doors playing games with lots of actions. He loved baseball and football and jumping rope.

Of course, the best was they all could cook and each had a totally different cooking style. If they needed any thing, the children would help them. They were great at teaching meal planning and preparing special favorite dishes. We had lots of outdoor cooking on the bar-b-que pit and all the gang would be sure to know about it and show up to eat with us.

Jerry was one to show the children some easy crafts to make from recycle cans and containers. With an oat meal carton and some rolls from bath tissue he showed how to make log planters and to take dish washing bottles and make lovely door stoppers. He made some to look like dolls and also to warp yarn around a can to make good pencil holders. He was always reusing cans and what ever was handy to good advantage. And hey! It kept the children busy and happy doing it.

Vernon Sr. and Jerry used to play monopoly with Jr.. The game helped to teach Jr. math, which he really needed to learn. They played almost every night after home work and on the weekends; it would last for several hours. Yes, it did work and it was so nice to see Jr. work a math problem just by looking at it, without paper or pencil and to get the correct total.

And we can’t forget the card games! Vernon, Jerry, Charles and Mickey would have a game going and it would most often be Cribbage. Jerry loved playing cards. Any game was his favorite. When he would win it was a “Jolly Jerry” and he was just as happy when others would win too. He just love playing with others. He made losing fun and that was a treasure to hear my children laugh and to have them know it was just a game and if it makes you happy it is worth playing.

Jerry loved to sing. He came often to help take care of Mom and Dad and when my sister Marion and I would have Mom sing songs after supper. Jerry would sing with us. He love to sing the good Hymns we had learned in Sunday School. He had a wonderful voice and it was a joy hearing him sing with us.

I still have one brother and he is always calling or emailing news to keep in touch and I love to hear from him. And of course, there is my sister Marion. There are just the three of us now and we are still a family.

I know I will be thinking of all the good times we had growing up and I can recall how close we were to each other all those long years ago. Good memories are great to have now. How wonderful it is to have them when I look back.

A Wonderful Memory by Esther

[Editor's note: This story is by my Aunt Esther]

We had a good place in Toledo Bend Lake, where we moved to when Vernon retired to his fishing hole, when the doctor told him to find a place he could live comfortably. It was a great place to be and I have never regretted it. I fell in love with all the dogwood trees among the pine tree forest. The dogwood trees were all in bloom at the time we bought the acreage. They were so lovely. I felt a sense of peace when I first saw the area. I knew it was the right place for us.

It was not long before we had company to come and we loved every one who came, if they stayed one day or several days. They made the days so much nicer and yet when it was just Vernon and me, it was still very good.

Our children were able to come often and the Grandchildren were my best company. They loved the outdoors and it was often my Brothers were there and they really made it like a special party for them. Children don’t need a reason to have a party. They just love parties and it works for me too.

I had not done too much fishing after leaving California. We did a lot of surf fishing along the Pacific Ocean when Taffy was the only baby. With the second child, Marion, it was too hard to watch both and to make sure they were not into any problems, which was my big concern. It was better for me to keep the children at home so I could be sure they were safe.

It was at the lake when I was back to fishing. It was so easy to sit in the back seat behind Vernon and cast my rod out and reel it back in and if I had a fish, great. If not, still it was OK. It was more to me to be out enjoying the view, meeting others on the lake fishing and Vernon did all the work driving the boat.

I tried several times to start a business with out too much luck. First time it was the Ceramic Shop. Vernon and Dad together with our son, Vernon Jr. and neighbor Hoy, helped build me a Ceramic Shop. It did not work out too good. It was about this time I had thought I would like to work with Dad and learn to refinish furniture. Dad and Charles were the two who taught me to strip and sand and repair and finish the project till I had a lovely nice dresser or table or a cabinet etc.

Vernon was able to help me and he enjoyed helping Dad when we visited Mom and Dad in Orange, Texas. Dad had a Shopsmith and that is why we ended up turning the Ceramic Shop into Vernon’s Wood Shop. Which made my day ever so good. I spent many hours in that wood shop with Vernon. But only when the weather was not good for fishing or it was to cold to go out on the lake or it was too windy for the boat on the lake, if you get my meaning.

Vernon really loved working on wood projects in his spare time. I was able to barter my ham radio for a drill press and we bought some good wood tools, which were a must, if we wanted to do any serious work in the shop. Which we did. One of the items we made was a pendulum rocking cradle for our second daughter Marion Marie. She had a daughter, Kathie, in high school and a son, Timmy, and he would start kindergarten when school started that year.

Marion told us she was going to present us with another grand child. The best thing she could of told me. I loved each of the new babies. I could love and hold and spoil and not worry about them , as Mothers all know, they have to put up with Grandmothers.

Vernon looked in his magazines and found a cradle to show me. He was thinking of making one if I liked it enough, which I did it was lovely. While we were in Orange. Texas, we shopped at a lumber shed and found some White Ash lumber and we purchased enough to build it. It was the only time he skipped fishing when the weather was nice, so he could work on the cradle. He made spindles and more spindles. The pattern called for both sides to be spindles, which made it look so lovely,

As he finish each part of the cradle I would sand it and then stain it with Golden Oak, by Minwax. Together we worked at and hoped it would work out OK. I did not do any of the lathe work. Mostly I did the finishing work, and worked on other projects I wanted to make like nicknacks to give as gifts.

There was one last thing for Vernon to make to finish the cradle. It was the support to hold the mattress on. I made the mattress to fit the inside of the cradle bed. And this was the only thing Vernon was unable to do.

Then we had a severe freezing rain/ice storm and the weather was very bad. We lost power outage and often Vernon would go out to check the water well to be sure the well did not freeze. He caught a cold but he seemed to be doing OK. I had planned a trip to spend time with Cindy, our youngest daughter in Baton Rouge. Said he was good and for me to keep my plans.

The weather remain cold but not below freezing while I was gone. Cindy and I did some shopping that I needed to do, and then we found some sewing supplies I wanted and I planned to spend one more day before going home. But as things happens, we got a phone call from Vernon; he was in the hospital with a bad chest cold. It did not take us long to pack and we headed home.

We arrived at the hospital four hours after the phone call and Vernon looked good, but the report was not favorable. Cindy and I took him home on a Saturday morning and it was not long till she had to leave. Vernon seem to be doing great. Sunday morning he went up the road to see Hoy and they both went to visit Tom. Vernon came back and he laid down for a short nap. He even helped me to fix a light supper.

I lost my Vernon. He passed a way in his sleep.

I asked a dear friend to please help me finish the cradle. Tom and his wife were good friends in the neighborhood. Tom had his wood shop and I knew he would be able to help me. Which he did. Then I stained it and it was all ready for the polyurethane work. I put on the first coat, let it dry over night. I was able to start a fire in the wood stove and it dried over night. Then I sanded it lightly. Wiped it down and applied the second coat of clear satin matte polyurethane. It was dry the next morning, and it was the last coat of the glaze to be done. It was finished. It looked just great.

I was proud to show it to Marion Marie. I knew Charles, Marion’s husband, would know how to set it up and they warped it in blankets and took it home. Several of the others have use the cradle in the family. I know many years from now other grand children will use it. It’s a good feeling to know things can be useful in the future.

Frog Legs Story [story 3] by Esther

[Editor's note: This story was written by my Aunt Esther]

When Vernon came home from serving in the Navy after the WWII, we were married and we made the trip to his home in Baton Rouge. The difference in foods was a big change for me. He never once asked for a special dish and he would eat everything I cook. He may not of wanted it again, but was always ready to try a new dish. His Mother was one to teach me some if his favorite dishes. I did love her Jambalaya and her corn soup.

One thing Vernon did was to hunt game. In California, he loved to hunt deer. We lived on the mountain top and in the Red Wood trees. He went hunting when he wanted some deer. My brother Abby and him would take several sandwiches and a thermal bottle of hot coffee and off they would go to satisfy their desire for venison. If they came back with good luck, Mom would call every one to come and eat with us. I only wish I had known how to make Jambalaya with the left over venison then!

Back in Baton Rouge, I learned rice was the first thing on the plate. Then the meat and most often the beans were on top and I can tell you it was very good to eat. The only thing I ever added to the plate was corn bread, hot out of the oven. The only vegetable served was fresh tomatoes and sliced cucumbers.

Vernon also like to eat frog legs. Since I had never eaten any before, I was not too eager to try them, but you can’t be in the kitchen, smelling them frying and then not try a bite, as they are so very good. Served with French Fries and Hush Puppies, it's a meal you won’t forget.

I can’t say I wanted to go out to catch them with Vernon. He went in the night time with a head light and a battery and a gig to grab the frog with and put them in the gunny sack, till he had enough to have a good meal.

It so happened that my Mom and Dad and brother Abby came by from Florida on their way back to California. I had just started to fry the frog legs and I told Mom the supper would be ready soon. Vernon told her the meat was chicken and I got worried, as Mom did not like to be told one thing and then find out it was something else.

All went well and Mom asked if she could make some Hush Puppies, and that sounded good to me but I wasn't sure what they were. Mom said they are like corn bread. To this day, I have loved her Hush Puppies and added them to any fish fry we served since. And Mom did not get too upset when she found out they were frog legs instead of chicken legs.

To prepare the frog legs to fry I would mix fish fry, which is corn ground to a fine flour like meal. I found this to be better than just cornmeal as it picks up less oil while frying and it would seal to the meat faster then just plain cornmeal. I then added salt, pepper and onion powder with some hot red pepper. Then you start heating the oil and when it’s ready, add the frog legs and cook till nicely brown. Next do batches of French Fry potatoes and batches of Hush Puppies 'till you have enough to start eating.

We did not have too many frog leg dinners. But we sure did enjoy the ones we had. They were not something we could freeze. They were better when they were fresh.

I also love to eat fresh filet of fish. When I cooked it myself, I only used boneless filets from fish that Vernon caught. Boneless filets are also better for young children. If Vernon didn't catch it, we would eat it at a restaurant.

Wash and dry the fish. Rub a little dill mustard over both sides of the fish. Season to taste. Dip in to Butter milk. Roll in fish fry and pecans, chopped fine. Fry in hot oil and serve with French Fries and Hush Puppies, along with corn cooked with strips of bell peppers. To increase the flavor of the Hush Puppies, add some finely chopped onions to the batter.

Another variation is to bake the fish. Prepare the fish as above, and spray Pam on a pan and with the oven heated to 375 bake the fish till it is nicely browned , turn over and brown the other side. The fish will almost have a good crunchy crust like it was fried.
A baked potato is great, plus a good salad will make a great meal but if French Fried potatoes are what you really want, the frozen ones will be good in the oven also.

Thinking about how good the fish was, I am ready to go find a good restaurant to eat some good fried fish and French Fries with some Hush Puppies. If I ever get back to Houston, I know my Sister Marion will tell her son, we want to go to a sea food house and off we will go to enjoy the best the house can offer.

My Nana's Cookbook [Esther's Surprise]

[Editor's post]

Last winter (2009) my Aunt Esther created a cookbook of her own favorite recipes for her family. She called it "My Nana's Cookbook" and gave it to selected family members as a Christmas present.

Esther did it all herself (of course with some help from her son and daughters) – she printed out each recipe on the printer and hand collated it and then took it to the print shop to have it put into binders. She created 20 books to give away. It was a tremendous work!

I was fortunate enough to receive one these hard copy books and I was totally astonished at the extensive listing of recipes. It was completely different from my mother's cookbook. This was a no-nonsense-get-in-there-and-make-it cook book.

A bit of negotiating with my Aunt took place and I convinced her to let me convert the hard copy to an electronic copy to share with everyone on the blog. My Aunt was exhausted from all the hard work on the original book but she readily agreed to the project.

I explained that a hard-copy book is not the same as an electronic copy and that I would do all the work to make the electronic copy but she would have to do the proof-reading as the project progressed. I explained it would take a lot of work and it would take a lot of time to do. However, in the end I felt we would both be happy with the out come.

Esther sent me copies of her original recipe documents and away we went. First, I converted her MS-Works documents to OpenOffice documents where I would have more control over the format. Next I created a Master Document and began to add the recipes to it. After every few entries I sent her a copy to proof-read and she sent back corrections. We exchanged copies several times a week. I want to give my Aunt Esther a BIG HUG AND A LUG for hanging in there when it seemed like we would never get to the end.

After we got all the original recipes into the electronic copy, I prevailed on my Aunt to add some new ones. Special recipes that I remember her making when I first met her as a teenager visiting her and Uncle Vernon in Baton Rouge. We call these Vernon's Recipes and I am so grateful that she included them!

Next I asked my Aunt to send some photos to add to the book. Color hard-copy is expensive but color in an electronic book is not – so after a bit of gentle pushing on my side, Esther got her daughter Cindy to take a bunch of photos. Esther selected the ones she liked best and her family were champs at figuring out how to email me the photos! The photos where the final touch needed to complete the book.

Well it's time to unveil Aunt Esther's Surprise!

On the left panel there is a download link to My Nana's Cookbook!

Kim