Day 103 is a day late. We got home last night about 9, and I curled up on the sofa with the computer only to have Del wake me about 10:30 to send me to bed. You would have thought I was drugged or something. I did brush my teeth and put on sweat pants, sweat shirt and socks, because for some reason the house was freezing. It's funny that all winter we never even got out a blanket and now that it's warmer weather, we sometimes get really cold. I think the heat is turned off a good part of the day by the heat master, whoever and wherever he/she is. I'm just thankful that we don't have to pay extra for the heat. We hear it is awful. A couple that has been here for nine years is moving out of a house they really love, with a yard and apple trees, etc. because it's not well insulated and they have paid a fortune to not be warm.
Anyhow, we went to our last Lithuanian class. Lillija gave the boys an exam and then we had tea and a special cake she brought and pecan pastries I made. I need to take a picture of this cake and describe how it is made. I was touched and a little worried that she said when she met us that she thought she had met the typical American couple. Now that she said that, I suppose that most of the people we meet here think that. Gosh, Uncle Sam, I hope we haven't let you down. Except for that whole not studying as much as we should have for her classes thing.
After class we had an hour before we were to meet the librarians at a hotel restaurant so they could talk about library curriculum. I got off the bus early and walked along to visit the shops. Del went home to get what he needed for the meeting.
I usually avoid those meetings unless they promise to feed me, and this time there was the added incentive of the 12th floor view of the gates to the Baltic and the promise of an amazing bathroom. After I made them all visit the bathroom at Stora Antis the other night, they told me I had to see the one at this restaurant. And me without my camera. I entered the bathroom which is a glass box on the side of the restaurant, not the floor but the walls. The side walls were frosted, but the wall across from the toilet had a frosted strip across the bottom, a clear strip at eye level when doing what most people go to a bathroom for, another privacy strip and then a clear strip so you could see when standing. Del said he thought it sort of swayed in the wind, but I didn't notice.
Our friends Bill and Mary Anne sent us a picture of a bear from their BIF in Canada, but this is fun without the fear factor. By the way, what do the actual letters in BIF stand for?
Anyhow, they have wonderful mojitos at the restaurant, so we will be back, and I'll take a picture of the WC.
(I have reverted to my every sentence is its own paragraph mode. I really do need to study up on the paragraph.)
Poor Uncle Sam, and poor Senator Fulbright. Maybe this whole bathroom fascination is not the type of cultural exchange he had in mind when he set up the Fulbright program and allowed spouses to go along.
The meeting ended just in time for us to get home, leave our stuff and head out to the puppet festival at 7. The performer was an older man from France. He had the most beautiful homely face I ever saw, with deep and long expression lines. We only saw him in white face, but it would have been wonderful to see him without. I should say that I have always had mixed feelings about mimes. I always admired their contrtol over their bodies, but for some reason, they also sort of creep me out- all that rope pulling, stair climbing, getting stuck in boxes with expressions of horror on their faces.
This man was billed as a pantomime artist, but based on my limited experience with street performers, he seemed so much more than that. He seemed like an actor who spoke only with his body, face and eyes. It was a lovely evening.
The festival goes on all day for 3 days, and there were stations for children to do various things in the garden of the building. One of the first things I saw was a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, attached to a bench by a cord, with a little chair in front of it. Did my heart good!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Day 102 So Why Do We Say Fifteen, Not Fiveteen?
Today was shopping day. I needed to go to the old market to see if the sock lady had gotten back from Minsk. She hadn't. I also went to all the vegetable stands. And since I was right there, I checked out the Humana. They made an announcement, but I didn't pay any attention, because I knew I wouldn't understand it. Some little fat lady had dropped off some things, so I had 2 skirts in my hands and was admiring the shawls. A young woman from the store came up to me and said, "Excuse, 40% fiveteen minutes." I was not sure whether she meant in or for fiveteen minutes, but she was able to understand my production of the Lithuanian word for now and my hand gestures enough to know what I meant, and I went out happy that once again I had gotten a bargain, even though the money would have gone to a good cause. One of these days I need to give that some real thought. It seems a bit chincy, or a lot.
My next stop was at the puppet theater to get tickets for tomorrow and Sat. nights. There is some sort of festival this weekend with childrens shows during the day and adult ones at night. We can't go on Sunday night because we want to be able to say goodbye to more of our LCC friends at church. One of the librarians had sent me a 20% off coupon for the tickets, so it was bargain day all around.
After a stop at the bakery for a couple of chicken pastries for our lunch, I headed home.
Hearing fiveteen did make me wonder why we sandwich fifteen in between fourteen and sixteen with seventeen, eighteen and nineteen trailing behind. Do any of you guys know?
Today was teaching day for Del, so after he got off I want to Iki to get the light weight groceries, and he stopped for the all important liquid refreshments on his way home. I need to get one of those grocery carriers on wheels, but I think that will require a trip to Hyper Maxima, and I haven't had time.
Tomorrow is drink coffee while the young guys take their exam, and I wanted to bring a treat, so I needed to get a package of puff pastry dough. Lillija is not familiar with pecans, even by their Lithuanian name, so when I found some at Hyper Maxima a couple of weeks ago, I put them aside for this occasion. I used a modified version of the ever popular favorite of all Southerners, pecan tassies. I couldn't find US style brown sugar, so I substituted granulated Demerara. It looked sort of light brown. Wikipedia told me that it partially refined, naturally brown sugar while typical brown sugar which is refined white sugar with molasses. I knew that last part. The consistency of the filling was drier than with packed brown sugar, but that worked okay. It also has a milder flavor, I think. I also had to substitute vanilla sugar for vanilla extract, because I can't find it here. It seems to work. Since I had neither tassie pans nor pie crust, I cut squares of rolled puff pastry, put in a dab of filling and pinched 2 diagonal corners together, leaving the other 2 open. They taste okay, but you don't get the full flavor because there is not as much filling.
It was a beautiful, though chilly day today. It felt good to get out and wander around in the fresh air.
I'm still waiting for food peculiarities. Hint, hint.
My next stop was at the puppet theater to get tickets for tomorrow and Sat. nights. There is some sort of festival this weekend with childrens shows during the day and adult ones at night. We can't go on Sunday night because we want to be able to say goodbye to more of our LCC friends at church. One of the librarians had sent me a 20% off coupon for the tickets, so it was bargain day all around.
After a stop at the bakery for a couple of chicken pastries for our lunch, I headed home.
Hearing fiveteen did make me wonder why we sandwich fifteen in between fourteen and sixteen with seventeen, eighteen and nineteen trailing behind. Do any of you guys know?
Today was teaching day for Del, so after he got off I want to Iki to get the light weight groceries, and he stopped for the all important liquid refreshments on his way home. I need to get one of those grocery carriers on wheels, but I think that will require a trip to Hyper Maxima, and I haven't had time.
Tomorrow is drink coffee while the young guys take their exam, and I wanted to bring a treat, so I needed to get a package of puff pastry dough. Lillija is not familiar with pecans, even by their Lithuanian name, so when I found some at Hyper Maxima a couple of weeks ago, I put them aside for this occasion. I used a modified version of the ever popular favorite of all Southerners, pecan tassies. I couldn't find US style brown sugar, so I substituted granulated Demerara. It looked sort of light brown. Wikipedia told me that it partially refined, naturally brown sugar while typical brown sugar which is refined white sugar with molasses. I knew that last part. The consistency of the filling was drier than with packed brown sugar, but that worked okay. It also has a milder flavor, I think. I also had to substitute vanilla sugar for vanilla extract, because I can't find it here. It seems to work. Since I had neither tassie pans nor pie crust, I cut squares of rolled puff pastry, put in a dab of filling and pinched 2 diagonal corners together, leaving the other 2 open. They taste okay, but you don't get the full flavor because there is not as much filling.
It was a beautiful, though chilly day today. It felt good to get out and wander around in the fresh air.
I'm still waiting for food peculiarities. Hint, hint.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Day 101 Day of Celebration in Many Primary Schools
Since the '80s many primary schools have celebrated either 100th day or 101st day. It usually involves bringing in that number of items, counting, measuring, a party and all sorts of fun things. They work up to it all year with activities, so the kids are awfully excited.
My kid story does not really relate to that day, but rather to the 101 part. My first year at East Clinton in Huntsville, there was a kindergarten teacher who chose the whole 101 Dalmations theme for her class. The movie was big that year, so I figure she probably had to win the theme lottery or something to get that priviledge. Anyhow, her mother made her a black and white polka dot dress, the room had everything 101 Dalmation and each child had a dalmation name tag. When the afternoon bell rang, all the teachers who did not have homerooms were in the hall to help the little punkins get where they belonged. I heard two little girls talking. One girl asked the other what her teacher's name was. The second girl answered that she didn't know, but she was in that Damnation room. Yes, read that word carefully, it's funny. I assume she went to a rather fundamental church, or had a parent who used that word a lot. Art Linkletter certainly had it right when he said "Kids say the Darndest Things." I really miss that now that I am retired.
Speaking of stories, where are you people with your food quirks? I'm almost ready to believe you are boring eaters, but that can't be true, can it?
Today was English class after a two week hiatus, one for break and one so people could attend Del's conference. My advanced class stayed away in droves, I think because Daiva had assigned them a rather heavy assignment of translating one of their favorite legends, myths or fairy tales in to English to share with the class. I would have skipped, too. The ones who had prepared something did a great job. I'm not so sure the beginning class knew what to make of the hokey pokey, but I'll bet they won't forget shoulder and elbow from now on.
My kid story does not really relate to that day, but rather to the 101 part. My first year at East Clinton in Huntsville, there was a kindergarten teacher who chose the whole 101 Dalmations theme for her class. The movie was big that year, so I figure she probably had to win the theme lottery or something to get that priviledge. Anyhow, her mother made her a black and white polka dot dress, the room had everything 101 Dalmation and each child had a dalmation name tag. When the afternoon bell rang, all the teachers who did not have homerooms were in the hall to help the little punkins get where they belonged. I heard two little girls talking. One girl asked the other what her teacher's name was. The second girl answered that she didn't know, but she was in that Damnation room. Yes, read that word carefully, it's funny. I assume she went to a rather fundamental church, or had a parent who used that word a lot. Art Linkletter certainly had it right when he said "Kids say the Darndest Things." I really miss that now that I am retired.
Speaking of stories, where are you people with your food quirks? I'm almost ready to believe you are boring eaters, but that can't be true, can it?
Today was English class after a two week hiatus, one for break and one so people could attend Del's conference. My advanced class stayed away in droves, I think because Daiva had assigned them a rather heavy assignment of translating one of their favorite legends, myths or fairy tales in to English to share with the class. I would have skipped, too. The ones who had prepared something did a great job. I'm not so sure the beginning class knew what to make of the hokey pokey, but I'll bet they won't forget shoulder and elbow from now on.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Day 100 That's a Long, Long Time,
Now don't get me wrong, I've had a wonderful time and recognize how blessed we are to have this opportunity, but it's beginning to feel like a long, long time. I think a good part of that feeling comes from the fact that I am not allowed to carry anything and so don't feel very independent right now. I'm grateful to have Del to tote and carry, but I wish I didn't have to depend on him to tote and carry. Well, boo hoo hoo. Aren't I just something?
Moving on...
We had our last official Lithuanian class today. The guys have to take an exam, so Lillija reviewed and gave us an oral practice exam. What a humiliating experience that was. I had sweat rings down to my waist. I knew I was not studying as I should, but it is pretty embarrassing to do so poorly and be aware that for the vocabulary part, it was pure triffliness. Grammar is so difficult that I can sort of continue to hold my head up, but anybody can learn vocabulary if they want to. Oh, well, I did learn to recognize many of the words I need to get around from day to day, and I can ask how much things cost, etc, so all is not wasted. We will go to the exam and drink tea. I will make some sort of treat, maybe with pecans because Lillija did not recognize them in either English or Lithuanian. I even said both pecans and pecahns to see if that would help. I think it is sort of silly that I say pecans and pecan pie but butter pecahn ice cream. I think because I never had it until I was at college and that's what the other women called it.
It was kind of funny at the bus stop today. A lady spoke to me in Lithuanian and I responded in Lithuanian that I do not understand Lithuanian. She smiled and corrected my pronounciation and told me in perfectly correct, barely accented English that she does not speak English, only German. I get so tickled.
We stopped on the way home from class at our favorite pizza place to have pizza and hot chocolate with nuts. I felt much better after a glass of wine and that yummy chocolate. The pizza is so/so, but our favorite server was there, and we like her. Besides, there is half left over, so no cooking tomorrow.
My tip for today really comes from the late Elizabeth Edwards. And it does not relate to choosing husbands. I did like his political views, however. Thinking about that makes me realize just how much I have changed since I was a very young woman so horrified by Teddy Kennedy's actions that I knew I could certainly never vote for him to the older me who has learned to hold her nose and vote for the person I think will be best for the country, no matter how disgusted I am by personal failings between husband and wife. I still have trouble with Teddy, seeing as how he left a woman to drown, but that's different.
But I digress- the tip. Elizabeth Edwards gave her daughter a piece of advice I wish I had followed. She said that you will never regret choosing solids, and boy is she right! I brought a couple of Chico knit tops that are patterned, and I can no longer stand to put them on my body. I will wash twice as often to avoid them. I plan to leave them here at the Humana when I leave, because it's pretty definite that this aversion is not going to go away.
Tomorrow is 101 day, and have I got a great kid story to tell you!
Moving on...
We had our last official Lithuanian class today. The guys have to take an exam, so Lillija reviewed and gave us an oral practice exam. What a humiliating experience that was. I had sweat rings down to my waist. I knew I was not studying as I should, but it is pretty embarrassing to do so poorly and be aware that for the vocabulary part, it was pure triffliness. Grammar is so difficult that I can sort of continue to hold my head up, but anybody can learn vocabulary if they want to. Oh, well, I did learn to recognize many of the words I need to get around from day to day, and I can ask how much things cost, etc, so all is not wasted. We will go to the exam and drink tea. I will make some sort of treat, maybe with pecans because Lillija did not recognize them in either English or Lithuanian. I even said both pecans and pecahns to see if that would help. I think it is sort of silly that I say pecans and pecan pie but butter pecahn ice cream. I think because I never had it until I was at college and that's what the other women called it.
It was kind of funny at the bus stop today. A lady spoke to me in Lithuanian and I responded in Lithuanian that I do not understand Lithuanian. She smiled and corrected my pronounciation and told me in perfectly correct, barely accented English that she does not speak English, only German. I get so tickled.
We stopped on the way home from class at our favorite pizza place to have pizza and hot chocolate with nuts. I felt much better after a glass of wine and that yummy chocolate. The pizza is so/so, but our favorite server was there, and we like her. Besides, there is half left over, so no cooking tomorrow.
My tip for today really comes from the late Elizabeth Edwards. And it does not relate to choosing husbands. I did like his political views, however. Thinking about that makes me realize just how much I have changed since I was a very young woman so horrified by Teddy Kennedy's actions that I knew I could certainly never vote for him to the older me who has learned to hold her nose and vote for the person I think will be best for the country, no matter how disgusted I am by personal failings between husband and wife. I still have trouble with Teddy, seeing as how he left a woman to drown, but that's different.
But I digress- the tip. Elizabeth Edwards gave her daughter a piece of advice I wish I had followed. She said that you will never regret choosing solids, and boy is she right! I brought a couple of Chico knit tops that are patterned, and I can no longer stand to put them on my body. I will wash twice as often to avoid them. I plan to leave them here at the Humana when I leave, because it's pretty definite that this aversion is not going to go away.
Tomorrow is 101 day, and have I got a great kid story to tell you!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Pictures From Prague part 2 of post 99
https://picasaweb.google.com/Williams.BMR/Prague03?authkey=Gv1sRgCNa4sqTAzO7LYg
Well here they are, finally. I was particularly taken with the story of the measuring stick on the door jam. Apparently, in the olden days, the measure of cloth, etc. was from the elbow to the finger tip, and to keep people honest, measurers were placed around the city on door jams so you could go and measure to see that you had not been cheated. remember that Mother estimated a yard as the distance from nose to fingers. Del said it was the length of some king's nose to fingers.
I also liked the WC on the street that looked like an oversized coke can. I'm pretty sure I would have to be desperate to go inside it and close the door, but you gotta do what you gotta do in an emergency.
Perhaps I will learn to actually post pictures after I get home and put up some of our favorites with some commentary. I should have learned how to do a blog instead of just starting to blog, but probably if I had waited until I knew how, I would have never started.
Well here they are, finally. I was particularly taken with the story of the measuring stick on the door jam. Apparently, in the olden days, the measure of cloth, etc. was from the elbow to the finger tip, and to keep people honest, measurers were placed around the city on door jams so you could go and measure to see that you had not been cheated. remember that Mother estimated a yard as the distance from nose to fingers. Del said it was the length of some king's nose to fingers.
I also liked the WC on the street that looked like an oversized coke can. I'm pretty sure I would have to be desperate to go inside it and close the door, but you gotta do what you gotta do in an emergency.
Perhaps I will learn to actually post pictures after I get home and put up some of our favorites with some commentary. I should have learned how to do a blog instead of just starting to blog, but probably if I had waited until I knew how, I would have never started.
Day 99 All CNN All The Time
We haven't had tv on for about a month. The reception has been really bad, so it just hasn't been worth it. Plus, the remote fell down into the sofa and we just didn't bother to look for it. Turns out there is a storage space under there. The last night the electricity on our street went out and when it came back , the tv came back on to CNN with the sound muted. Turning it on and off has to be done in a very specific way, so I did not try without the remote, and it was too late to mess with looking for it. We just went to bed and left it on. This morning when I got up, I noticed the banner saying Bin Laden was dead. We took the sofa apart and found the remote so we could unmute and hear the news.
I guess I can understand why some people feel so jubilant, but I figure we haven't heard the end of him yet, even though he is dead. I thought Pres. Obama and SOS Clinton spoke well. Sometimes I think it is often difficult for him to demonstrate the depth of his feeling, but when he does, it is quite effective.
Del has spent the day working. I worked a little, but mostly did some laundry and read. I'm off the Naprosen now and doing well as far as pain goes, but I still don[t feel awfully energetic.
The Prague pictures will eventually get to you. My computer never did really like Prague, and we ended up downloading Picaso to Del's computer, but it did not function in the same way mine does, and we never did get them so we could upload them to the web, so today I started over and put them on my computer. When Del gets a chance, he will label the ones I can't remember, or did not see, and then we will put them up. Please put Prague on your list. If anyone is going anytime soon, you can get a discount at the hotel where we stayed, so let me know.
I decided that when I have nothing much to blog about, I will begin talking about some of the things I have found most helpful in our travels. I don't claim to be an expert, but that never stopped me before. I hope I don't repeat myself, but that never bothered me before, either, did it?
Now it goes without saying that Earl Hamner, Jr., my Kindle is top of the list, but y'all have heard that until your eyes are rolling back in your heads, so first would be my ever present shawl. It is a little taller than me and 62 inches wide, because that's how wide it came off the bolt. It is a thin black wool jersey fabric. I rounded the ends to neaten it up and then folded it lengthwise and made a cut along the fold that went several inches less than halfway down the length. I thought that would make it fit across my shoulders and stay on better. I can also fold back the wings to make it look a little different. Because the jersey does not ravel or stretch out of shape, I didn't do any stitching. This is not the most beautiful shawl I have, but it is big enough to go over a heavy down coat or serve as a wrap on its own. The other things it does are ball up to go behind my head as a pillow on planes, trains and buses, serve as a blanket and fold up to fit into my ever present tote or day pack with never a wrinkle.
The origin of the fabric is a good memory on its own. When PROOF opened on Broadway, Del and I went up to see it. Our friend Miss Annetta happened to be landing in NY after one of her round the world trips, so she stayed over and went with us. She is also a friend of the parents Auburn, so was also eager to see the play. She had lived in NY for many years until her first husband died, so she was an excellent tour guide. We went past a funky fabric store, and I had to go in. I bought this piece of fabric and a piece of paisley wool challis. It was an early October day that took a cold turn while we were out, so Miss Annetta and I wrapped up in my fabric. Del just had to stay cold. I bought a large square of the paisley and spent a month of evenings pulling threads to make a self fringe. It has also enjoyed its trip to Lithuania. My theory that shawls would serve as sweaters without taking up so much space in the luggage has proved correct. I just wish I wore them with the same style the Lithuanians do. They always look so elegant in their scarves and shawls. I need lessons.
Well, that's more than you needed to know on the subject of shawls, so I'll say "Goodnight."
I guess I can understand why some people feel so jubilant, but I figure we haven't heard the end of him yet, even though he is dead. I thought Pres. Obama and SOS Clinton spoke well. Sometimes I think it is often difficult for him to demonstrate the depth of his feeling, but when he does, it is quite effective.
Del has spent the day working. I worked a little, but mostly did some laundry and read. I'm off the Naprosen now and doing well as far as pain goes, but I still don[t feel awfully energetic.
The Prague pictures will eventually get to you. My computer never did really like Prague, and we ended up downloading Picaso to Del's computer, but it did not function in the same way mine does, and we never did get them so we could upload them to the web, so today I started over and put them on my computer. When Del gets a chance, he will label the ones I can't remember, or did not see, and then we will put them up. Please put Prague on your list. If anyone is going anytime soon, you can get a discount at the hotel where we stayed, so let me know.
I decided that when I have nothing much to blog about, I will begin talking about some of the things I have found most helpful in our travels. I don't claim to be an expert, but that never stopped me before. I hope I don't repeat myself, but that never bothered me before, either, did it?
Now it goes without saying that Earl Hamner, Jr., my Kindle is top of the list, but y'all have heard that until your eyes are rolling back in your heads, so first would be my ever present shawl. It is a little taller than me and 62 inches wide, because that's how wide it came off the bolt. It is a thin black wool jersey fabric. I rounded the ends to neaten it up and then folded it lengthwise and made a cut along the fold that went several inches less than halfway down the length. I thought that would make it fit across my shoulders and stay on better. I can also fold back the wings to make it look a little different. Because the jersey does not ravel or stretch out of shape, I didn't do any stitching. This is not the most beautiful shawl I have, but it is big enough to go over a heavy down coat or serve as a wrap on its own. The other things it does are ball up to go behind my head as a pillow on planes, trains and buses, serve as a blanket and fold up to fit into my ever present tote or day pack with never a wrinkle.
The origin of the fabric is a good memory on its own. When PROOF opened on Broadway, Del and I went up to see it. Our friend Miss Annetta happened to be landing in NY after one of her round the world trips, so she stayed over and went with us. She is also a friend of the parents Auburn, so was also eager to see the play. She had lived in NY for many years until her first husband died, so she was an excellent tour guide. We went past a funky fabric store, and I had to go in. I bought this piece of fabric and a piece of paisley wool challis. It was an early October day that took a cold turn while we were out, so Miss Annetta and I wrapped up in my fabric. Del just had to stay cold. I bought a large square of the paisley and spent a month of evenings pulling threads to make a self fringe. It has also enjoyed its trip to Lithuania. My theory that shawls would serve as sweaters without taking up so much space in the luggage has proved correct. I just wish I wore them with the same style the Lithuanians do. They always look so elegant in their scarves and shawls. I need lessons.
Well, that's more than you needed to know on the subject of shawls, so I'll say "Goodnight."
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Day 98 /Chilly, Rainy Day
We were both glad to have a day to stay home. Last week wore me out. I spent some time working on my classes for Wed. I'm trying to think of some fun things to do for the last couple of weeks. Maybe some songs and games, though those of you who have heard me sing might not think it would be fun for them.
Years ago at Medina County, I had a 2 year old in the early intervention class who took offense to my singing. She was one of those kids who understand what is said to them but was completely non verbal. The first two times I sang, she put her finger to her lips. I tried again, thinking I might be able to torture her into some vocalization. This time she put her finger over my lips. On the next try, she took her little thumb and pointer finger and pinched my lips together. I felt it best not to try again that day in case she went for the teacher's staple gun. From that day on, she skipped the warnings and went directly to the pinching action. She was non verbal, but she certainly could communicate. She moved away after only a couple of months, so I don't know whether she began to vocalize or to talk.
Del spent the day at the computer. He did go out to take the trash and stop by the Iki to get some ground beef and cilantro. I made meatloaf for the first time since we've been here. It really did taste good, I had planned to make scalloped potatoes since I had the very tempermental oven running, but Iki was out of potatoes. I can't imagine such a thing. It would be like being out of bread in the US or rice in Thailand. We had salad and fresh pineapple. One of the neighbors brought it down. Del really loves fresh pineapple, and this one was really juicy.
I'm always interested that some people we know make scalloped potatoes one way one time and another way the next time. While I enjoy them all fancied up, they don't actually count as scalloped potatoes unless they are made as Mother made them. Slice the potatoes thin, shake a little flour, salt and lots of black pepper on them, put in dish with milk to almost cover and dot with butter or margarine. Bake until tender. Yum. I don't make them often, but have discovered that if I start them in the microwave it doesn't take as long. We also pronounced it, and I still do, as though the /a/ was /ah/ rather than /a/ in at.
Of course, Del says that for a person who will eat things the dog won't eat, (A quote from our son) I have very strict rules about how things should be eaten. I can only think of a few:
Meat and eggs should be cooked so done that no one else would eat them.
The only soup to be served with a grilled cheese sandwich is cream of tomato soup.
Crackers should always be eaten so that the salty side touches your tongue. Try it, you will be surprised.
Oyster crackers should be put into soup one or two crackers at a time.
When ordering a two dip ice cream cone, have your favorite kind placed on the bottom so it will be the taste you enjoy last.
Cottage cheese should be eaten with green pepper, tomato and black pepper, not fruit.
Watermelon and cantelope should be eaten with salt and black pepper.
Hot dogs should be served with mustard, onions, chili and cole slaw.
Never eat a corn dog. Who knows what they are hiding? At least with souse, you know what you are getting.
If you are going to eat a bologna sandwich, it should be sliced thin, fried until almost crunchy and served on squishy white bread with french's mustard and iceberg lettuce.
S'mores should have peanut butter on them.
Hot dogs should be fried in a dry skillet until almost black, not boiled or microwaved.
Marshmallows should be burned.
Anything you can eat for dinner can be eaten cold for breakfast the next morning - unless you are under 16. Then this rule applies only on Saturday mornings.
After holiday meals, a small plate of saltyVa. ham slivers is passed around after dessert to "take the sweet taste out of your mouth." I inherited this one.
Gravy should be a beverage.
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners should be identical except for the centerpiece.
Weddings in the South where there are no pecan tarts or ham biscuits probably aren' legal.
Butter beans (baby limas) should be cooked in lots of liquid and should be eaten in a bowl with green pepper and diced tomato. Use a spoon to get the juice.
Okay, so there are more than a few, but don't sit there and pretend you don't have a few rules of your own. And I want to hear them! I know one person in the famly who likes to eat pie in a bowl with milk poured over it and another who peels all the steamed shrimp before eating even one.
Years ago at Medina County, I had a 2 year old in the early intervention class who took offense to my singing. She was one of those kids who understand what is said to them but was completely non verbal. The first two times I sang, she put her finger to her lips. I tried again, thinking I might be able to torture her into some vocalization. This time she put her finger over my lips. On the next try, she took her little thumb and pointer finger and pinched my lips together. I felt it best not to try again that day in case she went for the teacher's staple gun. From that day on, she skipped the warnings and went directly to the pinching action. She was non verbal, but she certainly could communicate. She moved away after only a couple of months, so I don't know whether she began to vocalize or to talk.
Del spent the day at the computer. He did go out to take the trash and stop by the Iki to get some ground beef and cilantro. I made meatloaf for the first time since we've been here. It really did taste good, I had planned to make scalloped potatoes since I had the very tempermental oven running, but Iki was out of potatoes. I can't imagine such a thing. It would be like being out of bread in the US or rice in Thailand. We had salad and fresh pineapple. One of the neighbors brought it down. Del really loves fresh pineapple, and this one was really juicy.
I'm always interested that some people we know make scalloped potatoes one way one time and another way the next time. While I enjoy them all fancied up, they don't actually count as scalloped potatoes unless they are made as Mother made them. Slice the potatoes thin, shake a little flour, salt and lots of black pepper on them, put in dish with milk to almost cover and dot with butter or margarine. Bake until tender. Yum. I don't make them often, but have discovered that if I start them in the microwave it doesn't take as long. We also pronounced it, and I still do, as though the /a/ was /ah/ rather than /a/ in at.
Of course, Del says that for a person who will eat things the dog won't eat, (A quote from our son) I have very strict rules about how things should be eaten. I can only think of a few:
Meat and eggs should be cooked so done that no one else would eat them.
The only soup to be served with a grilled cheese sandwich is cream of tomato soup.
Crackers should always be eaten so that the salty side touches your tongue. Try it, you will be surprised.
Oyster crackers should be put into soup one or two crackers at a time.
When ordering a two dip ice cream cone, have your favorite kind placed on the bottom so it will be the taste you enjoy last.
Cottage cheese should be eaten with green pepper, tomato and black pepper, not fruit.
Watermelon and cantelope should be eaten with salt and black pepper.
Hot dogs should be served with mustard, onions, chili and cole slaw.
Never eat a corn dog. Who knows what they are hiding? At least with souse, you know what you are getting.
If you are going to eat a bologna sandwich, it should be sliced thin, fried until almost crunchy and served on squishy white bread with french's mustard and iceberg lettuce.
S'mores should have peanut butter on them.
Hot dogs should be fried in a dry skillet until almost black, not boiled or microwaved.
Marshmallows should be burned.
Anything you can eat for dinner can be eaten cold for breakfast the next morning - unless you are under 16. Then this rule applies only on Saturday mornings.
After holiday meals, a small plate of saltyVa. ham slivers is passed around after dessert to "take the sweet taste out of your mouth." I inherited this one.
Gravy should be a beverage.
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners should be identical except for the centerpiece.
Weddings in the South where there are no pecan tarts or ham biscuits probably aren' legal.
Butter beans (baby limas) should be cooked in lots of liquid and should be eaten in a bowl with green pepper and diced tomato. Use a spoon to get the juice.
Okay, so there are more than a few, but don't sit there and pretend you don't have a few rules of your own. And I want to hear them! I know one person in the famly who likes to eat pie in a bowl with milk poured over it and another who peels all the steamed shrimp before eating even one.
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