Saturday, April 30, 2011

Weddings, Hats and History

My uncle and aunt, Joe and Marjory Vitale. For other interesting old photographs, visit Sepia Saturday.

Somehow I came to have a photo of my aunt Margie and Uncle Joe's wedding photo. It was during the war years so she wore a suit for her wedding. I always thought I resembled my father's side of the family (not entirely in a good way). And I always thought Aunt Margie somewhat resembled Queen Elizabeth. Perhaps the wrong side of the blanket somewhere back in the family's history??? Anyway, the hats at the Royal Wedding yesterday made me think of this photo. My Aunt Margie met and married an Italian man and converted from Jehova's Witness to the Catholic religion.

This brings up questions in my mind since I never saw or even thought to ask about a picture of my parents' wedding. My mother lost a whole trunk of photos when I was a teenager. A rather wild kitten that I brought home from my Aunt Esther's farm decided to pee all over the garage including the trunk. I wonder what was in there? My mother turned out to be very mysterious person even though I always thought of her as open and friendly. My father never even knew that she and her sister lost their mother as young children and were raised in a children's home in North Carolina.

As far as my father's family, there were eight living children in an Oklahoma farm family. But I have heard that my great grandmother was a stiff English woman whom my grandmother did not like very much. I have a little glass dish that my Aunt Esther said came from my great grandfather's glass factory in England. She said they lost a child on the ship to America, but the little glass dish survived. I have seen only one photo of my grandmother in her later years. It was not very pretty. Her short, dark hair needed washing and she wore heavy black glasses. On her head was a pillbox hat. When I commented on the picture, my Aunt Esther related that my grandmother always said nobody noticed what you were wearing as long as you had a new hat.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Pantry Potato Salad (Onion Dill)

Photo from photobucket.com
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I'm sure I am not the first one to think of this, but it was easy and very good. I wanted to make potato salad for Easter at the last minute, but I only had potatoes, mayonnaise and hard boiled eggs. In my family we add chopped onion and celery (or celery salt) and sometimes sweet pickle relish.
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I didn't have celery or onion which is what makes potato salad for me so I added what was in my spice rack. I added minced onion and lots of dried dill weed to the warm potatoes, chopped egg and mayonnaise plus some salt and pepper. Onion Dill Potato Salad. Delicious! I will make it again on purpose next time.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Kaleidoscope - Magpie #63

Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.
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The universe spins and galaxies collide. Here on our little planet, seasons change, mountains erupt, seas rage and recede. Birth and life, suffering and death continue on. Elements split apart and recombine in endless repetition. Another turn and look, something beautiful is born.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Pretty Party Serving Dishes

Bunny cupcake

Plastic Pitcher

Plastic serving tray and dinner plate

Plastic stemmed glass

Plastic Serving Bowl


I am a big fan of plastic serving dishes especially for parties and by the pool. They make such pretty ones now -- very festive and practical. Jaime bought some of these for herself and then I found dishes, cups and serving platters for $1.00 a piece at the grocery store. I couldn't resist them. The only caution is that you are not supposed to put them in the microwave.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Emergency! - Magpie #62


Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.

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Something happened only a moment ago. See the egg yolk hasn't even dried on the plate. Something interrupted a peaceful breakfast. The scream of a child? Fire on the stove? A screech of brakes on the street outside? Or was it just a knock on the door? A neighbor with a coffee cake or a pitcher of fresh squeezed orange juice, perhaps?

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Quiche


A great supper. Quiche, salad, wine and ripe watermelon. Ymmm

I made my first quiche yesterday and it was awesome. Jaime's new mother-in-law to be was my inspiration. Here is Irma's quick explanation of how she makes quiche:

I pretty much use the recipe from the Fannie Farmer cookbook. I use frozen pie crusts or refrigerated pie crusts. Put cooked crumbled bacon in the bottom of the crust. Add whatever vegetables you want and a cup of grated Swiss cheese (or more if you want it extra cheesy). Beat 4 eggs and add 2 cups light cream (I have used low-fat milk instead to lower the fat content, and it works well, but I used half and half yesterday). Add 1/2 tsp salt, a pinch of cayenne pepper and 1/8tsp nutmeg. Pour the egg mixture over the other ingredients in the pie crust. Bake 15 min at 425 then lower the heat to 350 and bake another 30 min. until knfe inserted in the center comes out clean. I added green pepper, onion and tomato to mine. I also prebaked the pie crust for a few minutes to make sure the bottom was done. I need much more practice, but my husband and I loved it and I will be making this again.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Wine on the Porch - Magpie #61


Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.


The thing I missed the most when I was alone -- a glass of wine on the porch, quiet conversation. I've learned to do without the after dinner cigarette. Maybe the wine could be a cup of coffee or a glass of tea. But I need the companianship. . . After thinking about it, maybe any two out of three would suffice.

Eggy Craving

I can't wait to try making a quiche like the ones Aaron's mother, Irma, brought to Jaime and Aaron's Double Birthday and Housewarming party. I have never made quiche but hers was SO GOOD. It was full of peppers and, I think, onions. So what did I make for breakfast to cater to my eggy cravings? An egg sandwich on a bun. A gently fried egg with a hard yoke - no crispy edges, please, mayonnaise and a slice of tomato just because it is so good. Sorry, no picture and it is already gone. I'll document the quiche when I make it.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Rainy Morning - Magpie #60


Magpie Tales is a creative writing blog by Willow at Life at Willow Manor. Click on the link to see the other entries.
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A rainy spring morning. Cool and wet and gray. Falling like a veil over the world, softening the view, drowning out the clamor. Private and quiet. A day to sleep late wrapped in the cool sheets, or to make love, or to get up early and have a cup of tea. Or to bake. Or to make soup. Or, if you have to go somewhere, to dash to the car and be so glad to be inside and shake off the rain when you get to work feeling energized and proud just to have arrived.