Dreams can come true.

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On the 50th anniversary of an amazing speech by a visionary, much more than a dreamer, I offer an encore post with a dream of my own.

A Mother’s Dream

I dream that differences will be valued, not disdained.

Eye color, hair color, body shapes, and skin shades will be appreciated for their beauty and variety.

Cultural traditions will not disappear, but will thrive and grow together into a rich and fascinating sharing of knowledge and beliefs.
I dream that blindness will be merely a different way of seeing, and deafness impair only the quantity, not the quality of the language ‘heard’.
Children will matter because they own the future. Their education, academic and social, will become and remain of utmost importance.
The mediators and the peacemakers will be recognized as the strongest leaders.
Questions will come from curiosity, not ignorance, and the answers will breed respect.

Knowing each other, knowing ourselves, will lead to knowing that fights and conflicts, wars of all kinds, will cease to be of value.

 

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Wandering Thoughts and Smoothies

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The theme ingredient was “Wet”. All those who walked or biked to our school-year-opening assembly were wet with sweat. The temperature and humidity did not feel like a Wisconsin day. Not even close.

So we dragged our sweaty selves into the auditorium that usually has its A/C pumping. It didn’t. We kept dripping.

So as my mind wandered away from the, ahem, important speakers on the stage, I was thinking, I am craving a smoothie. A cold, refreshing, smoothie from the place downtown, a few blocks from our office. I need fluids.

The presentation picked up with a video from high school students in the arts – a video that featured students and adults talking about the impact of the arts in their lives. I didn’t get distracted this time; two former classmates from my college days were interviewed and featured!  But I was still thirsty. I was envisioning a Pomegranate Plunge. 

Teaching awards, community awards, and the 30 Year Pin awards flew by. So few educators stay in the field for thirty years. Since the current state government began treating us like Thugs…. well, that’s another post. No smoothie for you, gov’nuh.

One of the few 30 year people was another college classmate. Thirty years? I was distracted by doing the math in my head because he’s my age, but has taught longer. He dove in immediately after graduation and never stopped. Maybe he knew of a smoothie place closer to the high school. 

But my wandering thoughts got me through what is normally an okay, but not great, presentation. Watching the Teacher of the Year awardees — we should nominate one of our virtual people. There are some awesome teachers on our staff. Watching the younger of two doctors handing the awards to the winners – hey, I knew that guy! We went to high school together! Right here! I wonder if he’s still married to the one who shared a locker with me our sophomore year? I bet she’d go for a smoothie with me.

Back to the theme ingredient: Wet. We left the auditorium and found rain pouring down! I caught a ride with another teacher so I didn’t get too wet. At that point, I welcomed the shower. Ha. Ha. 

It might sound like I was a little ADD during the whole event. In reality, I heard and remembered enough to start the school year with a positive attitude.

And if you’re wondering, I did get that smoothie for lunch.

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To Discount or not to Discount?

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This is an encore post appropriate for the back to school season. I might print the flyer sent out through school email and try for the discount again this year. 

I noticed a Walgreens store across town with a sign advertising teacher discounts on Wednesdays in August. I had a shopping list ready, so I decided to try out the store closest to my home, conveniently located on my route to and from school. First, I looked at their sign to see if they were advertising the discount deal.

Hmmm. Maybe not. Is this the advertising equivalent of the blank stare? So I waited a moment, and the sign changed – to this.


I took a chance, went in anyway, and filled my cart. Discount or not, there were many good advertised deals on my list. With a cart full of contact solutions, shampoos, hearing aid batteries, and buy-one get-one vitamins, I proceeded to the checkout with my teacher ID in hand and a question on the tip of my tongue: “I saw the sign on another store in town. Are you also offering the teacher discount?”
Remember the blank stare in the first picture? It was mirrored on her face. “Uh– I don’t know. I’ll call the manager.” She did, the manager said yes, so the clerk sent me to the correct register for specials like this and paged the other clerk, who joined the Blank Face Brigade as she started up her register. “Uh – I don’t know. I’ll call the manager.” This call included, “How do I ring this up?”
In the end, I did get the discount. Lack of knowledge aside, the store clerks were helpful and willing to ask, and the manager was willing to guide them through the process.
I didn’t mention the signs. I thought they had enough on their minds.
Update: This year, Walgreen’s might be targeting a different crowd. As seen on Facebook:
'Nuff said.

‘Nuff said.

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Sale here!

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Rummage!

Rummage!

Some signs are simple. Rummage Sale! We rummaged through our belongings so you can rummage through everything we don’t want!

Garage!

Garage!

Don’t be fooled, folks. In our part of the country, this sign doesn’t mean the garage is for sale; it means everything IN the garage is for sale.

Details! Details!

Details! Details!

This sign hopes to attract people who need to buy clothes for their daughters and granddaughters and friends’ daughters. When La Petite was young, I would have gone directly to this sale and left the others for later.

This one, however, says it best.

Now that's a lot of rummage!

Now that’s a lot of rummage!

Folks, one reason I’ve been away is that we are having our own sale through the weekend. The weather forecast threatens to put our sale into the No Power Zone, but we’re ready. Heck, if the neighbors will make coffee on the camp stove again, life will be just fine.

 

 

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Apple Butter Time!

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I looked through all of my apple butter options and decided this was the best. It’s a combination  of two different recipes, with the lemon juice adjusted to keep the acidity in the right range.

part I:

Ingredients

  • Apples, 12-14 medium or 10-12 large (fill crockpot about 3/4 full)
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla

Directions

Core and quarter apples. Let sit in a big bowl with a little citric acid to prevent browning Since apple butter turns out a lovely deep shade of brown, you might skip the citric acid. I keep it in for its acidity. In the past I’ve had a hard time taking out the peels because the finished product was so thick. This time around, I’m going to use my food mill. I anticipate good results.

Place apples and vanilla in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until apples are very soft.

After cooking, mash apples with fork or potato masher.

Part II:

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 Tablespoon molasses (optional)
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice

Directions

Add second ingredient list. Cover apple mix (now sauce-like) again and cook on low for 4-6 hours. If you like your apple butter smooth (I do), blend with an immersion blender.

This is very thick and flavorful and ideal for gift-giving. Serve on bread, graham crackers, or in place of the jelly on a PBJ. More ideas? Add comments, please! I’d love to hear them.

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Art in the Park and the Garden

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We are fortunate to live near a sizable park in the center of our fair city. This park plays host to a number of events, public and private. Family picnics, outdoor church services, 5K run-walks, and more take place here, about half a mile from our home.

One such event is Art in the Park. Participating artists show and sell their pieces all day. Food trucks set themselves up nearby and prepare for hungry crowds. Every year we go, and every year we see something wonderful. This year was no different.

This year's theme: ceramics

This year’s theme: ceramics

Art has value as art, and art can be practical and useful, too. I treated myself to a spoon rest for the stove – blue like my kitchen, and decorated with daisies, of course. Of course! The other pieces are ceramic stakes to label my herbs. “Chuck” has been asking me to label them for years because he gets rosemary and thyme mixed up (parsley and sage he can handle). These little stakes are beautiful, practical, and add a little art to the herb pots on the deck.

Oregano!

Oregano!

Rosemary!

Rosemary!

Thyme in a bottle!

Thyme!

The final purchase was, typical of my shopping prowess, a purse with Hmong needlework. It sort of matches my wallet. Well, maybe I should just say it coordinates with my wallet, another needlework piece.  Hmong work is detailed and colorful with repeated shapes and patterns. I wanted this one on sight.

So folks, here it is: Daisy’s visit to Art in the Park. Not shown: lunch, snacks, and gift(s) for family members who may read the blog. Giggle. 

Art in the Park goodies

Art in the Park goodies

The kettle corn in the back was fabulous. Nothing from the microwave can even come close. Even the foodstuffs were works of art.

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When the going gets tough —

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When the going gets tough, the tough

  • go shopping
  • get going
  • take naps
  • get frugal
  • get on Pinterest

Lately, I feel like when the going gets tough, I get cooking. Or baking. Or preserving, canning, freezing, drying.

My minivan threw us another curve this week. After a second estimate, a compromise on the paint job, and a little readjusting of schedules, we had a plan.

And I went outside, cut a big batch of chives, and put them in the oven on low heat to dry.

Coping skills vary from one person to the next, one family to the next, even from one region to the next. If I’m preserving some of what I’ve grown, it means cooking from scratch will be easy and inexpensive come winter. Chives may not seem like a big deal, but putting them up for the winter makes me feel like I’m making a contribution.

Next up: oregano.

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Curb Pickers in Minivans

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Topped with a basket ($1) at a rummage sale and a hanging pot from a previous year, you see my garden table. We, and by we I mean me and my dear darling husband “Chuck”, found the table at curbside after someone moved out. Yep: a curb picked gem.

Handy Dandy planting table

Handy Dandy planting table

Sometimes I resist. I left a stool that almost matched one in our basement and didn’t pick it up. I did stop, I admit it. The stool stood on the curb with a pile of scrap wood. On one piece of wood was a sign saying, “FREE: Measured once, cut twice.”

Right now, the only things turning up curbside are branches. I think I’ll stay home.

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Neighbors

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The Living Room

The Living Room

They called it their temporary living room.

Chairs, table, phone

Chairs, table, phone

Really, what more did they need?

Ye Olde Rotary Phone

Ye Olde Rotary Phone

Someone discovered that a rotary phone worked while the up to date touch tones didn’t. Without Internet access, the old fashioned phone book came in handy.

Camp stove and tea kettle

Camp stove and tea kettle

Camp stove plus tea kettle for boiling water equals coffee and social time!

It wasn’t the most beautiful day in the neighborhood, though. At the other end of the driveway, the next door neighbors’ house looked like this. They were still gracious and friendly shared their hot water with me every morning. Thank heavens for good neighbors.

'Nuff said.

‘Nuff said.

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Coping and Cooking

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One of the challenges of living without power was cooking. We stayed fed without visiting any restaurants outside the storm zone. Thanks to Chuck’s creativity and a charcoal grill, we could have scored well on Master Chef – Storm Aftermath, if there were such a contest. “Shrimp is expensive, and it thaws quickly. Let’s make shrimp tonight before the freezer quits.” – Chuck, Grillmaster of the O.K. Chorale.

He didn’t stop there. I’d bought carrots at the farmers’ market, the market that went on despite the damage to the store in whose parking lot the market took place. Most vendors were there and well stocked with fresh produce. Chuck sliced the carrots thin, gave the leafy tops to Buttercup Bunny, and grilled the vegetables with the shrimp.

Points for Presentation!

Points for Presentation!

The next night, he was running a little later. I started the chicken in the oven, thanks to a late afternoon power restoration, and then he finished the job on the already hot grill. I created a lovely salad and boiled three ears of sweet corn. The salad was almost as nice as this one, the chef’s salad with chicken that I had for lunch. chef salad lunch In a way, it was the ultimate pantry raid. Use up as much as possible before it goes bad! But don’t cook on the stove or expect to use the microwave.

Thank goodness for the charcoal grill. And thank goodness for cooks who can take the creativity outside of the kitchen.

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