An In Honor Of MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffienatin’ on a cold mornin’ in south Jawja.

Nava that’s the way we are supposed to by TP! :stuck_out_tongue:

BooFae leave the house? That’s crazy talk. Snap outta it already! :stuck_out_tongue:

I only knew one of my grandparents. The grandmother with the spider in cans fear. My mother’s father died from the flu in 1940. Oh, spider fearin’ grandmother was mom’s mom. My dad’s mother died of tuberculosis in 1929. I’ve read letters she wrote to her mother about being sick and have even seen the obituary. Dad’s dad died right after mom and dad married in 1946 from cancer. ACK! My grandparents died of icky stuff!

I took stock of da freezer. I’ve got plenty of chicken soup, beef veggie soup, beast stew and chili, so I don’t need to make any of that. Mayhaps I’ll do a pot roast in the slow cooker and boil a chicken for some chicken 'n dumplin’s later on this week. Dindin tonight shall be leftovers from Sattidy cause they need to be eaten up.

Oh, OYKWs bday is this Sattidy. Since I have to work Firday (New Year’s Day) he has decided that for his bday dindin, we should have traditional New Year’s food then instead of the actual day. It’s his bday so he gets to choose what he wants. Thus, we shall have fried chicken, blackeyed peas, collard greens, rice and cornbread a day later than usual. I can actually cook the peas and greens the night before which works cause Sattidy is also a work day for me. Fried chicken, cornbread and rice will be easy enough to do. We will be havin’ two other couples over to eat which will be good. Especially since one of 'em has volunteered to get bday boy’s favorite DQ ice cream cake.

Ok, time for more caffiene.

Later Y’all!

{{{Hazle}}} that’s awful! I’m so sorry for your loss. Prayers and good thoughts headed out to your friend’s family and you.

22

No! Don’t do it! It’s a trap!

23

Hey, all. I’m a bad MMPer. Sorry. Hope all your holidays were good or at least bearable.

Sorry to hear your news,** Dotty.** :frowning:

How awful, Hazel. Are you in the states now? :frowning: :confused:

Off to work, so more later. Nice MMP, Tarragon. I still miss my sister after 6 years.

24

I have a pot roast a roastin’ in the slow cooker and chicken thighs and boneless chicken boobs simmerin’ away to be made into chicken 'n dumplin’s. I figure a pot roast tomorrow and some chicken 'n dumplin’s on Wednesday will be nice since it’s a week of colder weather. Plus, there will be leftovers for dindins later in the week too. It’s all win-win!

Oh and I showered. I knew y’all would want to know.

Howdy rigs!

25

{{{Hazle}}}

I’m hungry! And I just ate lunch. Ok, so I never did have breakfast and the micro-sized tv dinner that I found in the freezer just didn’t cut it. Off to forage for MORE FOOD!

26

Thanks for the hugs! I live in St. Louis.

27

CutiePie the hunt for the fried apple pie recipe continues. I have emailed sis to see if she has it just in case I don’t. I should probably rearrange those two drawers in my kitchen that are stuffed full of recipes one of these days. However, if I did, the thrill of the hunt would then be gone! :smiley:

28

hugs sent to St. Louis, care of Hazle

I did go out (the snow is crunchy, would have been perfect for skiing), but it was to see Nine, so I think I can get a note from Sampiro saying that’s allowed, being a movie made from a musical and all that.

29

My grandparents raised me. My grandfather was my hero. he committed suicide in 1969. I still miss him. My son was another hero, who couldn’t stay in this life. He’s been gone since 2000. I miss him every day.

2009 has been one of the worst years of my life. I’m so glad it’s nearly over.
Here’s hoping for a truly HAPPY New Year to everyone.

30

I’m hoping that everyone can recall the happy times and how much they care for their loved ones–I did not intend for anyone to feel sorrow.

I was very close to my maternal grandparents, who partially raised me during my first couple of years. I was the first child, and my parents didn’t have much; my dad had just graduated from seminary and the church who hired him didn’t have much money to pay him. So Dad was working a couple of jobs and my Mom was working too, and they didn’t have enough money to pay for coal to heat the house in the winter. Half of the week, I would be at my grandparents, the other half with my parents. It was during this time that I came to love pears and cottage cheese - my Mom told me that was what she gave me nearly every day for lunch as it was relatively inexpensive. It is a great comfort food for me to this day. My grandparents, though, treated me like a little princess I think. laughs My vocabulary consisted of just three word when I was a little over two: hi, boy, and bye! My Mom told me that I didn’t have to ask for anything, just point! My Dad’s parents, on the other hand, we only visited once or twice a year, if that. I don’t recall my Pappy very much at all (that’s what the grandkids called him); he passed away in 1961, when I was 9. I recall Grandma had a chihuahua that didn’t much like kids (lol I remember him nipping at me, I guess!). She passed away in 1966; by that time, she was an alcoholic and relations with my Dad were very strained. I’m sorry that I didn’t know the paternal grandparents better. My Mom’s mother and I remained close, to the point that I was obviously her favorite grandchild. She fell ill when I was a sophomore in HS, though, and passed away suddenly (within a month of us finding out she was ill) in March 1968. My maternal grandfather, who at one point in his life had studied to be a homeopathic physician (my Mom was born in a homopathic hospital even), remained alive until he was 80; he passed away in 1987 just a month after my son was born. We all loved to go for rides with him and he loved to take us to see the boats and trains along the Delaware river.

{{{{{{{{Hazle}}}}}}}}} and {{{{{{{{{{{{Picu}}}}}}}}}}}}}}. Good thoughts and prayers are with you as well, Dotty.

31

Both my parents passed in 2007. My dad died in January at the age of 91. My mother followed six months later at the age of 82. My dad declined very rapidly the last year of his life. The holidays were very stressful that year. There were so many issues about his care. With all of that, he passed peacefully. Mom just couldn’t live without him as happens with so many elderly married couples. She died on my 59th birthday. We all joke now that she wanted to make sure I remembered her. Oddly, she is the one I dream about the most now.

Hazle, I am sorry for your loss.

The Princess[sup]TM[/sup] and I tried to see Avatar on Saturday but the theater was sold out. My brother saw it last week and he is still raving about it. I’ve wanted to see it since the first trailers cam out. We’re going to try again on Thursday.

I’m back to work and my cow-orker is off this week and next. Much to do.

Toodles,

Tupug

32

I watched the latest Star Trek movie this afternoon - I had no idea it was a comedy.

33

On Christmas, I was trying to untangle some of the family for my daughter and son in law. She never knew most of my family because we lived so far away. But it got me to realize that my Uncle Mike is the last of that generation on my dad’s side of the family. He was married to the youngest of Dad’s sisters. Dad had 3 older sisters, two of whom died before he did. And two of the uncles are gone also. Uncle Mike will be 87 in March, and although he can’t polka any longer, his mind is still as sharp as ever. And he’s as full of bull as ever! :smiley:

I lost my dad in 2002, two months after he and Mom celebrated their 50th. I was like him in a lot of ways. I learned accordion because he played. I was the only kid he allowed to use his tools because I was careful and I put them away. He was completely behind me when I joined the Navy, even tho he never understood what I did. For being an old Republican, he was much more tolerant of a lot of things than some more liberal relatives. He was only 72. I was angry at him for not taking better care of himself and his health. As if I do any better…

In other news, it’s freekin’ cold out there!!! I had to run to the ATM after lunch, and it was colder than when I got to work in the dark of the morning. I shoulda had a hat!

In still more news, we’re going out for supper because I just don’t feel like cooking. I was going to do a stir fry, but I can’t make myself care about doing it. So out we go.

Happy Monday!

Hugs to **Hazle **- that’s so sad.

34

{{Hazel}}

Psst, rigs… are you thinking of **Haze **instead of Hazel? **Haze **is still in Korea.

Dotty, I’m another only child here to chime in that only children don’t have to be lonely. I always had lots of friends and much better “family” than most people’s real family. Even though our families are still around, we’ve sometimes had to find non-family to spend the holidays with (See my post-Thanksgiving post this year where we had to find friends to spend the day with because KT’s dad got sick last minute and couldn’t make it.), and those times are great. HRH will have a great life. It’ll be different than if she had siblings, but in this only child’s opinion, it’s a lot better than having to share your parents’ attention (not to mention all your toys!) with other kids! :smiley:

My parents are still alive, thankfully. My mom’s mother died before I was born, possibly of multiple sclerosis, but it was the '60s and diagnoses weren’t as good as they are now. It might have been Parkinsons. Who knows. She was sick for most of Mom’s life, although they didn’t know it until Mom was a teen when she (mom’s mom) had to go into a nursing home. Mom ended up taking care of her dad and brother until she finished college and moved away.

Mom’s dad died in 2005 on my first visit out to see KT. (We’d met here on the 'Dope. He’d been to my place but I hadn’t been to his.) I had to cut my visit short and fly home. And I got stuck on the plane on the runway at O’Hare for 3 hours trying to get home. It was memorable, that’s for sure! I wasn’t particularly close to Grandpa so I don’t have a lot of memories other than that.

Dad’s dad was an abusive jerk and we had no contact with him before he died so I really didn’t even know when he did die. Eventually my parents mentioned it, and it was sort of ::shrug::

Dad’s mother (She was always called “Mother” by her kids, not “Mom.”) lived down the street from us for most of my childhood so I have lots of memories of her. She was a wonderful grandma when I was a little kid, but she didn’t know what to do with teens/young adults so we drifted apart as I got older. She’s still alive but has Alzheimer’s badly and doesn’t recognize any of the family.

Since I’m just coming back from Christmas, a quick recap: good visit with my parents. We cooked the whole time they were here, which was fun mostly 'cause we had a chance to show off a bit. But they didn’t seem to mind eating all the good food! :smiley:

I came down with a sinus-congestion-type cold on Xmas Eve, which made for a less-than-thrilling Xmas Day of snuffling. But other than that it was a good time and a really good visit with Mom and Dad.

I’m working from home today 'cause I didn’t want to share germs with the whole office. And I’m still grumpy enough that I just didn’t want to have to talk to anyone.

35

December 28th is our wedding anniversary. 7 years ago today. My parents have Nat overnight :wink: and we’ve spent today clothes shopping, food shopping, and hanging around at home.

Dotty, I’m an only child, and aside from being insufferably spoiled I’m fine- I have amazing friends and extended family. I’m really sorry about the surgery, but HRH will be okay with siblings.

36

Ok, after much searchin’ and a [del]naggin’ and beggin email[/del] polite inquiry to my dear sis via electronic mail, I have procured the much sought after Fried Pie recipe. To wit:

FRIED APPLE PIES

PASTRY:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening (preferably trans-fat-free), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
4 to 5 tablespoons ice water

FILLING:

4 1/2 ounces dried apples (2 cups)
2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

FOR FRYING

Vegetable Oil

MAKE PASTRY:

Blend together flour, butter, shortening, baking powder, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture just resembles coarse meal. Whisk egg with 1/4 cup ice water, then drizzle evenly over flour mixture and gently stir with a fork until incorporated.
Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn’t hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated.
Gather dough and knead just until smooth, 3 or 4 times, on a lightly floured surface (do not overwork, or pastry will be tough). Form dough into 2 (5-inch) disks and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

MAKE FILLING:

Simmer all filling ingredients and a pinch of salt in a heavy medium saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally and mashing apples with a potato masher as they soften, until a thick purée forms, about 20 minutes. Cool completely.

MAKE PIES:

Divide 1 disk of dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 6-inch round, then put 2 heaping tablespoons of filling in center. Lightly moisten edge with water and fold dough over to form a half-circle, pressing out air around filling, then pressing edge to seal Press floured tines of a fork around edge. Make more pies with remaining dough and filling (you may have some filling left over).

FRY PIES:

Set a cooling rack on a large baking sheet or tray. Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat until it registers 360 to 370°F. Fry pies, 3 or 4 at a time, turning occasionally, until deep golden-brown, 7 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to rack to drain. Return oil to 360 to 370°F between batches.
Ummm… after readin’ all that I remember now that I decided that’s too much trouble no matter how nummy the effort turns out. Have fun CutiePie and all you other adventuresome souls!

37

My kitchen is almost organized to the point where I might even try out a recipe or two

38

We went to D. B. McMillan’sfor a fine pub dinner. I had shepherd pie and **FCD **had corned beef and cabbage. They make really good calamari there, too, but we weren’t that hungry.

I’s tahred - had a rough night last night - I don’t think I got more than 5 hours uninterrupted. I may crash early today. Or knit. Or both.

39

An added benefit to Christmas without the family (which I’d already observed the other two years I had one): the solstice has passed and I’m already well on my way out of hybernation.

Back home, between the stress and the food I’d be so busy digesting and burping that I wouldn’t start to recover until late January.

40

I worked, walked the dog, now I’m listening to the Canes game on the radio.

{{{{Hazel}}}}

I’m an only child too. The Voices In My Head kept me company.:eek::wink:

Happy 7th, LiLi!

{{{{picu}}}}

BooFae hasn’t posted in 12 hours. You don’t suppose she went outside and got eaten by zombies, do you?:eek: