Radio Listening

I haven't listened to the radio in quite a while. I have several that can be used with electricity and/or batteries if a hurricane causes a power outage, but until then, they are gathering dust on a book shelf.

Radio used to play a big part in the family's entertainment. Years ago we school children and Dad came home for lunch every day. If we wanted a ride back to school with Dad, we had to wait until the noon news was over and Dutch Reagan, (later President Reagan), had given the sports scores.

After school was out, we listened to Jack Armstrong, the all American Boy and Little Orphan Annie before we went out to roller skate or ride the bike. I don't know if Mom listened to the soap operas, but the whole family would gather around the radio in the evening and listen to programs like Fibber Magee and Molly, and Jack Benny. On Saturday nights, The Barn Dance Frolic in Des Moines, Iowa broadcast live western and cowboy music similar to the Grand Ole Opery in Nashville, Tenn.

Long before transistor radios, my husband and I had a battery operated radio that we could play when we went to the beach. It was so heavy my husband carried it and it only played for a very short time before the batteries gave out. Transistor radios solved that problem and you could carry them in a pocket.

Listening to the car radio on a long trip across the country was both enjoyable and frustrating. Stations faded in and out. One would suddenly pick up broadcasts from Salt Lake City or big band music from New York as you turned the dial trying to get back a frequency that had drifted.

Radio is often used as background sound and every category of music can be heard.

One evening, while my sister, Adeline and my son were playing her favorite card game, Spite and Malice, a local Tucson, Ariz. radio station played a song that caught their attention. They phoned the station and requested the song several times. The disk jockey always obliged and played, “You Got The Right String, Baby, But The Wrong Yo Yo by Piano Red”.

Right string, baby
But the wrong yo-yo
Somebody knockin' on yo' do'
I passed this mo'nin' by the hardware sto'
I bought a brand new string
To fit in my yo-yo

Went on down to the doctor
To get this string put on
He turned around
And put the string on wrong
No need a-knockin' on nobody's do'
You got the right string, baby
But the wrong yo-yo
(piano)

Mama tol' me, papa did, too
'Some-a these here women
Gonna be the death of you'
'Better find out which 'un you crave, son
Some a-these here women'll
Take you to yo grave'!

See me comin', baby
Put yo' man outdo's
I ain't no stranger
I been here, befo'

No need a-knockin' on nobody's do'
The right string, baby
But the wrong yo-yo

The Recipe Box: Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese

from the recipe box of MrsB

Someone told me Thomas Jefferson had a pasta machine and made his own macaroni. I Googled for more information and discovered that it was true. He also served it at state dinners when he was president.

Macaroni and cheese has long been an American favorite and there are many ways of preparing and serving it. It was one of my childhood favorites and when my sister and I reminisce over our family recipes, we always mention mac and cheese.

It is still one of my favorites but I am a lazy cook these days and make something I call 'mac and cheese' because that's what it is. Just cooked macaroni topped with a slab of cheddar cheese and quickly heated in the microwave. I am an expert at timing the microwave so the cheese is not melted but only softened enough to mix.

Mom always baked the macaroni with milk and diced cheese but it's often served with a rich cheesy sauce. Fabulous variations of macaroni and cheese can be found on the internet and it seems everyone has their special twist on the old tried and true.

Browsing recipes on the internet can be quite enjoyable since many are demonstrated on YouTube. The following is an excellent YouTube video address from foodwishes.com showing steps to each stage of a mac and cheese recipe.

Foodwishes.com
Thomas Jefferson Style
Mac and Cheese

1 lb elbow macaroni
3-4 cups of grated sharp Cheddar cheese, or whatever
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/8 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp Dijon mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs plus 1 tbsp butter

MrsB Goes Walk-About!

It's been a while since we did an update on MrsB's recovery from a broken hip back in May 2010. Since then she's been making excellent progress. She has resumed many of her regular activities although marathon running isn't on the list at the moment.

Here's a recent video of her going walk-about near her home and sending hi-fives to all!

Happy Birthday George!

On August 22nd you will be 90!!!  E gads, those years rolled by mighty fast! It seems only yesterday that you and I, along with my younger brothers and sisters, spent summer days, barefoot and fancy free with not a care in sight. Those days are among my fondest memories.

Do you remember sitting in the branches of Grandmother's apple tree after it had been knocked down during the storm the night before and eating green apples? Between bites of sour green apples we ate salty crackers.

Remember going to the empty stadium to run the track? Being barefoot, the cinders hurt my feet and I never made it all the way around, but that didn't stop us from going back to the stadium often to climb the bleachers and count them when we were tired of running.

Remember the territorial war we had with the neighbor kids on the hill in back of Grandmother's house? Both sides spent hours making mud balls to throw at each other. We spent hours making marble size mud balls and laid them out in the sun to dry for ammunition, but the war fizzled out about three days later. It was a good thing too, since the weapons we had made would have killed someone if we had ever hit a target.

Remember the evening when Penny, the dog thought he was jumping into his favorite chair and landed splat on the floor instead? The room was dark and Penny forgot that Grandmother had moved the chair from the usual place.

Remember the peach ice cream Grandmother made in the old hand crank freezer and carefully packed in ice to keep until time to serve. You and I took teaspoons and sneaked into the cellar room and stole tastes. We took so many that when Grandmother discovered what we had done, she made us take the little red wagon to town and bring back enough ice to make more.

Remember the Michigan Rummy games we played sitting on the floor of the front room at Grandmother's. She let us play with the bicycle decks of cards, but frequently told us she would not allow Euchre played in her house.

Remember the New Years Eve we went sledding down the hill and rammed into the telephone pole at the bottom? I still have a scar on my leg where it got caught between the pole and the sled.

Remember when you and our friend Doyle and I went to the movies together and sang "Over the Rainbow" on the way home?

Remember the errands to the day old bakery Grandmother would send us on and we always walked thru the park so we could see the statue of Chief Mahaska?

Those were the days! We both have had many twists and turnings with experiences taking us to strange and far away places during our years, but I like to browse these memories from time to time and remember the loved ones that shared our lives back then.

May your day be the best of birthdays. And may tigers never knock at your door.



Flamenco

On the few occasions that I have watched flamenco dancers perform, I marveled at their ability to maintain and change rhythms so spectacularly. Flamenco music and dance did not play a big part in the culture in which I was raised, so the history of the guitar music and steps of the dance are foreign to me.

The other evening I watched the movie, Around The World In 80 Days (1956_film), a plot of trials and tribulations endured as characters in the story try to win a bet based on the novel by Jules Verne Around_the_World_in_80_Days (book). One of the many adventures the characters experience happens in Spain, in a Café Cantante. There is a choreographed scene of flamenco dancers,with José Greco. The famous actor, Cantinflas, in the role of Passepartout, gives a delightful dance exhibition.

After watching the movie, I googled for history of flamenco music and dance, and was surprised to find lessons on 'how to' as well. One can become mesmerized watching the many videos. The following is the dance scene from Around The World In 80 Days.

Mother's Day 2011

On many long ago Mother's Day mornings, my children would surprise me with breakfast in bed. They came bearing a tray with enough food to feed a lumberjack; sometimes the cereal would be soggy, and the toast slightly burnt, but with great expectations they waited breathlessly for me to take my first bite then pass judgment on their cooking.

Of course I always managed to express my amazement at such a wonderful breakfast tray, all the while wondering just what kind of mess the kitchen might be in. Those lovely memories are locked away in my heart forever and sometimes I take them out and pass them in review.

As the years passed we celebrated Mother's Day in many ways, often going out for brunch at a popular eatery. When Mom and Dad were still with us, I often served a large family dinner with brothers and sisters and their spouses attending. Those too are memories precious to me and I often share them with my sister Esther, when we reminisce about days gone by.

I'm celebrating this year with gifts of two new hobbies. One is played on the computer, a membership in the game: Lord Of The Rings Online; the other: a cage with three beautiful baby parakeets which I have named Tic, Tac and Toe. I have been assured that the birds will not only talk but will sing or whistle tunes so I have been playing canary songs I found on YouTube. As for playing in LOTRO, I am a Hobbit Minstrel and learning how to ride my pony around The Shire.



At the Brandywine Bridge

Canary Song



Credibility

News of how Japan is coping with the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami is beginning to come to us in bits and pieces. Photos and videos are broadcast via television. Added to the enormity of the disaster, are reports of explosions in Japanese nuclear plants.

As the world struggles with the bewilderment of such a biblical act of nature, suddenly the realization of the hazards of nuclear radiation is seeping into our consciousness as insidiously as radiation particles seep into the atmosphere when the nuclear plants vent steam. The only reference we have is the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the disaster at Chernobyl.

One hears conflicting explanations of Japan's report that 'partial meltdowns' may be taking place. The press is understandably as confused as the listening audience, so they call on 'experts' to tell us in plain English what 'meltdown' means.

The word Credibility, is being banded about suggesting Japan may not be forthcoming in telling us all, or that our own 'experts' are reluctant to say how dangerous the scale of radiation has been.

Obviously in days to come we will know the true nature of the situation but I, personally have already formed the opinion that all nuclear energy plants should be shut down.

Fukushima Daiichi No.3 "Hydrogen" explosion March 13, 2011

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

Horse Racing

Ben Hur Chariot Race

I watched the movie, Ben Hur for the n^th time last night. The chariot race in this movie is awesome! The horses are beautiful and the camera shots of them are marvelous. I have no idea how the camera was rigged to get such incredible close ups of the horses as they raced.

The choreography of the accident scenes leave one stunned and gasping for breath as the chariots careen and break apart while the race continues at break neck speed. One couldn't help but wonder if any of the actors were injured or killed during filming.

The beauty of horses captivate us and they deserve the attention and adulation we lavish on them. As much as I like horses, I am a bit afraid of them. I admire jockeys who seem to be fearless as they sit on a postage stamp saddle and ride hell bent for leather in a race to the finish line.

Some race horses have become legends with books and movies about them. Their names spark memories of their exploits, Man o' War and Seabiscuit.


Seabiscuit with George Woolf Up

Man O'War

Most of my knowledge of horse racing comes from watching the Kentucky Derby on TV, which is to say I don't know very much. I just pick out a horse as they parade in front of the stands and root for it. If my selection wins, I begin to think I'm a good judge of horse flesh, but if my selection comes in last, I face reality and admit I was only guessing.

Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral - 1938 Match Race (Pimlico Special)

Memorial Day 2010

I grew up calling this Decoration Day. As a child I didn’t know anyone who was a veteran, although I knew about the father of a school mate who was permanently hospitalized with ‘Shell Shock’ from the First World War. Currently I think every man, woman and child in this country knows a veteran.

One of the movie channels has been running classic WWII movies the last several days and I watched Battle of the Bulge the other evening. I was curious about the Panzer song in the movie and Googled for information about it.

While checking out the history of the song on YouTube, I watched another clip that readers might be interested in watching:

MrsB is Heading Home Soon

[Editor's Posting]

MrsB will soon be heading to her own home. She's made fantastic progress and wants to thank everyone for their support and warm wishes!

Mrs B Walking!