What have you read lately?

Reading is the greatest gift you can have, and enjoy. I recently read Jeffrey Archer's book called "As the Crow Flies", it is not new - published in l991, but if you can find it, by all means it is well worth reading.

It takes place in London's East End at White Chapel and the main character is Charlie Trumper and it progresses along from 1900 - 1970 as the generations evolve. I love this kind of book because you get such a wonderful look at the family , as a whole, and all the things that affect it and push it along. It is the story of a young man who starts out with a "barrow"(sort of like a modified wheelbarrow with items in it for sale) and gradually progresses to the World's largest store and it crosses several continents and spans lots of generations.

Well, worth reading, as are all of Archer's books and a great look into England life and society. There are many things in the electronic world now that may destroy books, per se, but it will never destroy reading or the enjoyment to be had from it. Pick up a book and let me know what you are reading and why.

Olympics 2010

I am an avid follower of Winter Olympics because I lived just 9 miles from Lake Placid.N.Y. where the l932 and 1980 Olympics were held. Many of the venues still exist there and are used constantly for World Championships and training future contenders. Recently on PBS a great show on these very Olympics was shown and can be obtained from PBS . I recommend them to you. When you see the present Olympics with its size, gorgeous venues, 2 weeks of entertainment and thrills, you would be amazed at how small they used to be. But they were the forerunners and the hopes of all those who loved to enjoy Winter to its fullest.

My children have been fortunate to also see all of the Placid venues, both Summer and Winter so they know what goes into these wonderful events. Many of the young people in the North Country are in this Olympics and it is like they are our special envoys. Watch them and cheer. As children we loved skiing, skating, sledding, ski joring,etc. and we weren't even contestants. Give your children these thrills when ever you can. You just may have a Gold Medal Winner in the future but even if you don't, they will know the thrill of Winter and sports.

People Watching

A grocery store is the greatest place to "people watch. You can see the whole world and all its levels pass through a market. You will also find complete strangers asking you questions about products, or offering you unsolicited advice. I must have "employee" written on my forehead because everyone asks me where to find products and whether it's a good buy,etc.

Most women are good shoppers. I don't get upset when their kids are crying and hungry. I'm even tolerant when they hold up the express line while they search for 2 cents in change.

Men, on the other hand, are the most interesting specimens. You can tell a lot about them by what is in their cart. Interesting choices speak volumes. Some have lists (from wife) but now and then you'll see a man who knows exactly what he is doing. This man can cook and shop and budget. How do I know? Well, I have 3 sons and they all know how to cook, shop and budget. Yes, I know it is rare but I started teaching them these things early, along with my dau.-and I've never been sorry, nor have they.

You may or may not marry, but you always have to eat and keep up an apt. or house, Knowing how makes you 3 steps ahead in the game. So, smile at the next man you pass in the market, who knows what he is doing. He may be the "catch of the day."

Tea Party

I hoped and prayed that the good, old American people would see what is going on in America right now, and rise up and make themselves heard. It is happening and I am sitting here cheering loudly. I had about given up hope that there was something we could do, collectively, to make a difference. Well, I should have trusted in the "common man and woman" in America.

Incidentally, they are the ones getting up and going to work everyday and paying mortgages, kids tuitions, taxes, taxes,taxes. It is their money that pays for the GOVERNMENT. It is their GOVERNMENT, or at least , it was meant to be.

Rise up my dear Americans and don't stop until you have made things right. Yes, I am a long time doubter, but I would dearly love to be made wrong. Show me what you have and I will stand by your shoulder all the way. America belongs to US AND OURS, and we paid for it and we will be paying for it for generations to come. Go Tea Party, go Palin, go Americans, all the way.

Comfort Food

This AM we were greeted with about an inch of fluffy(clean) snow and the landscape looks lovely. It remains cold so ,of course, our thoughts turn to comfort food and warmth. How about some Molasses Baked Beans and corn bread. My mother always used to say "Pea Soup and Johnny Cake makes a Frenchman's belly ache." Well, I no longer make pea soup but I still make Johnny Cake. As for the Baked Beans, that is a long story. Many people have asked me for my recipe and I can never give it. I have none. I did show a neighbor of mine how to make it and her husband, who had never been satisfied with the beans he got - not like his Mom's - was tickled pink and to this day he does not know how she did it - but he loves them.

On a day like this, when I was a child, I bundled up in WOOL snowsuit and spent the day outdoors - only giving in when my suit was so wet I could hardly walk. Then Mom would hang it on a bar in front of our Big Bertha stove (always on) and you could smell the wool as it dried out. No TV,no radio, but lots of books, warmth and that wonderful tired feeling you get from being outdoors and enjoying yourself. Try it sometime.

Heavenly Aroma

When I make French Goulash the whole house is filled with a delicious aroma and my kids can smell it miles away and come running. Never fails.

Goulash is supposed to be a stew, with meat and vegetables and gravy, but Fr.Goulash is more like spaghetti with meat sauce. Give it a try and let me know how you like it:

Brown one pound of ground beef in a deep skillet, with chopped onion. Drain off fat.

Add: one lg. can of Puree, or Chrushed Tomatoes, one can of tom.sauce (Ital.Flavor) and one can of Tomato Paste (also Ital.Flavor). Stir thouroughly and simmer on low for about l5 min.

Serve over macaroni, any kind of pasta, noodles, rice, even biscuits (homemade,of course).

This produces enough for about 4 people, if they eat like my men do. Keep left overs in the fridge and it gets better as a left-over. P.S. Flavor to taste with Ital.spices, or whatever.

Tomorrow it will be corn bread, corn muffins (filled with rasp.jam) and a warm house in this bitter weather. Yum.

WISE SHOPPER: there are 4 big groc.chains in my area and they are in the throes of a competition race and I am going to be the winner. I pick out the item (only sale items) I want or need and make the rounds. Not necessarily all in one day. I steel myself not to be tempted to buy other items as I pick up my goodies, and by week's end I have a goodly stock on my shelves and have cut my groc. bill almost in half. Sounds impossible? It isn't. However, it helps a great deal if you have stock shelves in your home and that you keep them current. This allows you to shop ONLY at sales and not be seduced into buying items you should be considering to be "extras". This week alone I saved $17.45 in one store, $6.86 in another, and $12.32 in a third and got 30cents off on my gasoline bill to boot. Shop wisely and you are the one to profit from this competition of stores. PS> I even allowed myself a treat on the way home.