Every afternoon about 4 o'clock I retreat to my second floor deck in the shade of my beautiful Maple tree. It reminds me of my forth grade experience. My family moved around a lot when I was in elementary school. I went to kindergarten in Gravity, Iowa-the nearest school to our farm. My dad was elected to the state legislature so during the time when legislature was in session I went to school for first grade in Des Moines. When legislature was dismissed we came back to our farm for a short time when my dad became seriously ill with asthma- an illness he had off and on all his life. He and my mother traveled to Los Angeles where my uncle ran a large medical lab for tests. I was left with my grandmother in the town of Bedford, Iowa near our farm and went to school there for awhile. Meanwhile my parents decided our family would move to L.A. I was now to go to Commonwealth Elementary School for forth grade. In the Spring, my school- Commonwealth Elementary- was given a tree to plant on the grounds. It was Arbor Day. I was chosen to recite Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" for the dedication ceremony. I was to memorize the poem and my mother was invited to attend. The school was dismissed to the grounds for the planting and I was I to give my recital without notes in front of a microphone before the croud. I was so nervous (scared- really) as I had never done this before. I got through it to my great releaf!

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast

A tree that looks at God all day

and lift's her leafy arms to pray

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 

Who intimatelly lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me

But only God can make a tree.  

  

                                                         

    

 

An Independence Day Story from the Past 

Edgar King was the doctor for most residents of Blockton, Iowa in the year 1908.   He was known affectionately as "Doc" by most who lived in Blockton.   He had two children, Cecil and Ruth.  Independence Day was a day he dreaded.  He had treated many (mostly children) from injuries that occured on the Forth of July.  Often these injuries were caused by fireworks that resulted in a maimed hand or arm.  How could he protect his own children from setting off fireworks when it was a anccepted and legal way of celebrating our countries independence from England?  

He devised a plan.  He told Cecil and Ruth that if they agreed not to take part in playing with fireworks he would open a charge account for each of them at the local ice cream store for all day on the Forth of July.  They both agreed.  Cecil charge and ate 49 ice cream cones that day and Ruth ate 24.  

Ruth was my mother.  She was never very fond of ice cream after that day.  Uncle Cecil, however was often heard saying, "You always have room for ice cream because it runs through the cracks in your body.  

A Visit to Escondido

Last week I had a ride from Tim down to Escondido to visit my two other sons- Dave and Keith.  

My son Dave and his wife Anne are my current location.  They have a home with a lovely back yard.

 

         

   

             

I also had a chance to see my son Keith, his wife Linda and grandson Gavin. My granddaughter, 

Savannah has recently graduated from high school and is getting ready to go to New York for college.

I am very lucky to have a great family and the visit south from Mammoth Lakes was a treat.   

        

 

 

                                                

                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

    

 

 

 

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Summer in Mammoth Lakes 

Summer seems to be here at last!  We had one last snowfall in May but June brought milder weather and it was welcomed- at least by me.  Memorial Day brought heavy traffic but now we are back to normal.  I am ready for summer salads and this one is my favorites.  It came from Lawry's California Center - one of my favorite places when I was teaching foods at Roosevelt Middle School in Glendale.  I worked there in their gift shop during the summer.  Lawry's has been closed now for several years.  They packed their bags and moved back East.  It was a loss for Californians for sure.  

This is great tasting and can be made ahead of serving making it easy for the one making it.  

Cold Italian Pasta Salad

1/2 pound cooked spinach Pasta

1 (16-ounce) can Great White Northern beans- rinsed well

2 large tomatoes- or grape tomatoes (amount - to taste)

1/2 cup Pesto Sauce- (recipe follows)

Parmesan cheese to taste

Pesto Sauce

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (more needed for topping)

1 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese- topping

Mix garlic in food processor.  Add next three ingredients.  Blend well. 

Makes 1 1/4 cups sauce.  

YUM!!!!

 

The Masked Man in the Kitchen 

In January 2021 a masked man came to town.  It wasn't the Lone Ranger.  I wish it had been!  The bad guy was the Corona Virus.  The victems were, of course all of us.  But again the mask became a symbol of goodness protecting us from the Corona virus enemy.  My mask is my best friend and this last week I gained another friend- my vaccination.  Tonto can now rear up on his hind legs and the Lone Ranger can tip his hat and wave goodbye.there I live. 

For 3 days it snowed and blowed.  Highway 395 closed down yesterday..   I have no garage here so my car was completely covered and became a white blob.  The snow was over my head and too deep to get in from the driver's side so I got in from the passenger side and slid across.  The snow plow was on the way and I wanted my parking place cleared. 

I went to the kitchen and made cookies.  I made Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Chambord Jam that I had made some time ago.  The cookie dough was rolled thin and cut out.  I cut out 2 heart shapes for each cookie.  One was to have a smaller heart cut in the center.  My jam went on the solid one and the cut-out one on the top.  

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon dried, diced lemon peel (William Sonoma)

1 egg

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup or so of homemade Raspberry/Chambord Jam 

Powdered sugar for garnishUsing my stand mixer- I mixed the first 8 ingredients- then divided the dough into 2 parts and placed each part betweeen 2 sheets of waxed paper- flattening each part into a thin sheet.  Each part was frozen for 8 minutes.  Then each part was rolled out and cut in heart shapes- large and small.  The cookies were cut out and baked for 8 minutes.  When done and cooled a few minutes they were put together- the solid heart covered with the jam - then the cut-out cookie was place  on top. 

This morning the snow finally took a break and the sun came out. I will try to share the cookies with my neighbors (if they last long enough).

    

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December Blog

It's December now and I am settled in to my Mammoth condo.We had snow last week and again today.  Tim is here to help bringing me a new, larger TV and I have done my decorating and most of my cookies.  

My trees are up (I call them Ikibana trees since they have no leaves and the branches are fake).  

                                                                           

Some packages are wrapped and cookies have been made.  My family favorites are Black Eyed Susans (peanut butter with chocolate chips), Holly Leaves (corn flakes with green, marshmallow topping and Egg Nog Spritz.  It's so much fun and brightens the dark Mammoth nights. 

 

Tim is up from LA this week for a short visit.  It's a strange holiday this year with the Covid virus changing our usual traditions somewhat.  My family is large enough that we try to carry on only minimal traditiions.  Grandchildren are out of school.   Keith and Gaven were up for Thanksgiving and Gavin did his homework on his computer communicating with his teacher on line doing his math assignment.

My spa has mini lights on small trees which are not only pretsty but are decorated with hand made snowflaked from my friend, Lynn in Arizona.  She makes a new one every year to send.to her friends.

  

Rudolf is indoors this year but he has his red nose as always.  My former Home Arts class made Rudolfs from fallen palm fronds when I was teaching middle school.  

Merry Christmas and stay well to all my readers. 

    

 

 

Black Magic

Black Magic is for the true chocolate lover.  It is a Brownie decorated with edible gold crumbs which are available on line.  I ordered the gold crumbs from Jane's Create-a-Cake in Montrose, CA on-line.  They are edible and can be used for any special occasion. The order came the following day after I placed the order. 

The gold crumbs can be used for any dessert. My grandson is away from home at college and I send him cookies once a month (for which he is very appreciative).  This month I am sending him Black Magic. 

Make your favorite recipe for Brownies and sprinkle the top with the edible gold leaf.