Monday, February 24, 2014

LAUGH

it's amazing how one phone call from an old and dear friend can make the day so very much better. Sue Maddock called this morning to check in with me." I have a dental appointment today and am going to hopefully get cortisone shots for my hands on Wednesday. We weren't able to attend two social events over the weekend because I didn't want to transfer my cold to anyone (however, if I knew from whom it originally came from I would gladly return it!)  I'm over medicated etc. Isn't life wonderful!" "So, how are you doing? Sue responds that since she has gone gluten free she feels ever so much better. Her tummy isn't acting up! (We stopped at Costco on the way home from the dentist and I bought a loaf of gluten free bread. It was over $6.00 a loaf! Also bought chewable probiotic gummies at $19.98. At this rate I am going to have to give up Ebay!) We compared ailments, prescriptions and as always ended up laughing hysterically. We talked about our kids, our previous adventures and everything else under the sun. We have always been terrific friends and a lot of that is based on our senses of humor. We have fifty years of memorable times and we just love to reminisce. Our pal Vivadiddle is going through some health issues but we know she will be just fine. We all met in our early twenties when our only health issues were minor colds and the occasional "tummy ache". What happened we ask one another? Viv and Ed love cruising and go on them every chance they get. Good for them! I think they have the right idea.

Speaking of phone calls, my Sister just called and we also laughed! Laughing is good! It's the best antidote for everything. She and I and our Mom used to go on wonderful adventures. Hopefully, I will be seeing C.A. real soon. In the meantime, her adorable Grandson, Jack is growing up so fast.

Also my friend June M. can make me laugh as we watch the same programs - which shall remain nameless - and catch up on them and other stuff. She is the only other person I know that enjoys the shows that I like. She too, is a wonderful friend. I miss seeing her and John every year when they used to stop by. Y'all come back.

Carol Light and I just talk and it always helps!

One of the terrific things about our family is that we can laugh. All of our daughters have great senses of humor and Greg and Lee do too. I guess it's a family trait! Sometimes, however, it can be my particular downfall because if I get nervous, I giggle and not always appropriately. I will never forgive myself when at a party a woman started singing in a very serious way. It took me off guard and I started giggling uncontrollably. I was sitting on a sofa and was trapped in the middle and had no place to go. I am not even going to mention in detail - the funeral!

The bottom line is, that I love to laugh! A laugh a day or more may just keep the doctor away. Have a great week. I will let you know all about our upcoming visit to Charlotte. Hugs and Love, Arlene

Haven't a book to recommend as we have been glued to the TV as I recently posted.

BROCCOLI PUFF
Two packages of cooked broccoli (I use steam in the bag)
One cup Bisquick
One cup milk
Two eggs
One cup cheddar
salt and pepper to taste
fresh herbs and/or spices (optional)
Can also use spinach, asparagus  etc.

Beat Bisquick, milk and egg with hand beater until smooth. Stir in broccoli and cheese and put in to a baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.






Saturday, February 22, 2014

OLYMPICS ETC.

Call me a couch potato or a lazy boy recliner because I have been an avid observer of the Olympics. My bottom has  expanded from sitting days on end and believe me that is not a good thing. I think my next purchase will be Spanx!  But, the bottom line is that the winter games have captured our attention. If an ice skater falls we want he or she to rally and do well no matter their country of origin. But I have to say we were delighted that White and Davis won the gold medal. They deserved it! I have always thought Bode Miller positively adorable even though he fathered two children out of wedlock - shame on him - but I was happy he shared in winning a bronze medal. Besides he finally found his "soul mate" in his twenty-six year old wife. It's amazing the time, money and years that go into making it to the big event and then a tumble on a ski slope ends the quest for the medal, at least for now. What troopers one and all.

I have a quest of my own right now. I am on the hunt for blue and white Asian etc. porcelain. I am back on Ebay and having such a good time. Today, Leland, Greg and I went antiquing and out to lunch. I found the cutest ginger jar! All my green stuff is tucked away and the cupboard Dad made is now filled with my newest "can't live without" blue and white STUFF! You know I am better because I am rearranging. That's a good thing! I just love our home and am glad I can make periodic small changes. Don't you just love the homey English style, the French country look or that Tuscan look that makes you want to cook pasta? I have never been a big believer in horoscopes but I am a Scorpio and do have Scorpio tendencies. Maybe there is something in those signs after all! All I know that it makes me happy to find things I like to look at.

I am ready for spring and looking forward to seeing buds on the bare trees and little daffodils popping up. This winter has been a wee on the cold side and Atlanta got hit with snow that literally threw the city into a tizzy. We just stayed home all snuggled up. We had plenty of food and our electricity stayed on. And, we had each other. What more could one ask for? My heart went out to those that had difficulties. I hope our Governor learned a BIG lesson!

My Sister is coming to visit in the spring and we will go galavanting. She and I are great galivantors. We even like getting lost! I miss her so much! I need a Sister fix!

I read somewhere that instead of living a day at a time one should live a moment at a time. Just take a moment to think of someone who is ailing, or to count your blessings or to say thank you to everyone that has shown you a kindness,  I am going to concentrate on the positives and not on the negatives. I need to remember how lucky I am to have come this far. I want to continue on my quests. I want to be here for my family and friends so keep me in your prayers. They have brought me this far. Thank you!

Our Son, Gregory has been so good at keeping my spirits up and putting everything in perspective for me. He has always been there for us in time of need. I told him today that when he was young and not feeling well I would sleep on the floor next to his bed in case he needed me in the middle of the night. And, if he really didn't feel well I would sit in the wing chair in the living room holding him through the night. Now at fifty he is a man that I am extremely proud of. Thanks Greg, for listening to me whine and picking my spirits up. Love you lots, Mom

SIMPLE ARTICHOKE DIP

One 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
One cup mayonaise
One cup grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Combine artichoke hearts, mayo and parmesan cheese and mix well.Spread into 9 x 13 baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly and brown. Serve with sliced baguettes or pita chips.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE PROPOSAL

I recently realized that I neglected the most important part of Leland's and my love story - the proposal. As I have already chronicled, Leland and I renewed our friendship on September 19th, 1982 and married on March 5th, 1983. What I haven't mentioned is the most important turning point in our relationship; the day Leland proposed. Sadly, Leland nor I remember the exact date but we do recall where. We were standing in the tiny hallway of my rented cottage in Armonk, New York shortly after my Dad passed away. "Out of the blue" Leland said "will you marry me"? With absolutely no hesitation, I replied "YES".  There was no engagement ring involved then or later but just the happiness of knowing we were in love and would be spending the rest of our lives together made it particularly poignant.  A kiss cemented our intent - that was enough! And, as you all know by now the past thirty years have been the happiest of my entire life. We have shared the joys and sorrows of life together and faced challenges as a team intent on besting those challenges. It was always my dream to marry Leland and my dream came true. I am the luckiest woman in the world.

Ours is a wonderful love story and I know that there are many more tales of love worthy of passing on.. Let your families know yours. My Parents' shared their love story with my Sister and I and we are fortunate enough to pass their history on to our children. I hope that generations from now somehow, somewhere our story will be filed away for reference.  A family tree with all its branches with names are really a summarization of love stories. I just bet that our ancestors could tell us many a tale if we could only ask.

My Cousin, John Lyons and his Wife, Fran found the documentation of our Grandparents' arrival at Ellis Island. Their romance started on the voyage from England to the United States and culminated in a marriage producing five children! I wonder how many other immigrants met their spouse (s) on their journey to the United States seeking a better way of life?  See, we must ask, to get the answers to these questions before it is too late. Go forth and discover. Love, Arlene

Today I want to recommend a CD to you: EDDI READER - The songs of Robert Burns. The song I adore is "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose. It is quite simply, beautiful!

SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD
1 1/2 cup sifted flour
1/4 confectioners sugar
1/4 TSP salt
1/2 pound butter softened to room temperature
Can add raisins or chopped nuts (1/4 cup)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix all ingredients together. Knead thoroughly until the consistency becomes doughy. Press into a shortbread mold. Bake in preheated oven approximately 45 minutes or until shortbread is slightly brown and still somewhat springy to the touch. Let cool in mold and run knife around the perimeter of the shortbread to loosen it from mold. Remove to rack.



Monday, February 3, 2014

RYE RIDGE

When Gregory was nine months old, we moved to the Rye Ridge garden apartments in Port Chester, N.Y. The complex was basically filled with young couples and their young children. Most of our husbands commuted to New York City and most of us were on a slow track to buying our first homes. Bill, (now deceased) my first Husband and I made wonderful friends: Vivien and Bill (deceased)  Cord and their two children, Kenny and Curtis, Sue and Jim Maddock and their children, Greg and Lori, Faith and Jim Morrow (now residing in Palos Verdes, CA. and their two children (a third would be born in CA}. Fifty years later we are still friends! There were many other young couples with whom we lost touch.  None of us had a lot of money, so we made our own fun. Every weekend there would be fun themed parties some of which were spontaneous such as movie parties, costume and"come as you are". We had a ball! We would go camping at Cape Ann or in Vermont and to Bucks County, PA where we stayed at Sue's Parents' second home and went jet skiing. Our years at Rye Ridge were fabulous! We would pop-in to one anothers' homes' for coffee or take our babies' in strollers to Woolworths' and treat ourselves. Life was fun and for the most part uncomplicated. Things changed as gradually couples moved on, on their upward climb to success. I am indeed lucky to be in touch with Sue, Vivadiddle and Faith. We all remember those fabulous parties and sitting at the pool, chatting away.

I was fortunate that my Parents lived close-by. Mom loved to go to B. Altmans, a department store for lunch so off we would go. Later we would go to Bloomingdales for our outings because we loved their menu. Dad was also a big fan so would often join us along with my Sister. It was a wonderful and care-free few years there until we moved to Armonk. Happily, Sue and Jim became neighbors and Sue and I still laugh over some of our antics; our antique hunting, our luncheon in a hardware store that we happened upon, our trip to Nantucket with Carey where we stayed at that seedy hotel (we changed locations) and selling real estate together. Viv, now lives in Armonk. I see another visit in my future.

When we first arrived at Rye Ridge our downstairs neighbor was a widow and her two young children. Midge Parsons lost her Husband on the "THRESHER", a nuclear-powerd attack submarine in 1963. Midge later remarried and moved to Ohio. As sad as she was, she carried on with dignity and faith that all will be well.

Today I had the most touching experience at the Barnes & Noble Starbucks. I was there to get my daily addiction and to greet the very BEST Starbucks staff. Linda the leader handed me a card. The entire staff had written a personal message to me. I cried! It meant the world to me. They have all witnessed my struggle this past year and have been staunch supporters. They are dear to me and I wish them all well on their paths to success.  Thank you all and love, Arlene

I accidentally discovered a new author: G.  M. MALLIET and the Max Tudor mystery series. They are set in a small English village.  I completed the first in the series and on to the second. Great!!!

MUD PIE

i cup finely crushed chocolate wafers
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1 quart coffee ice cream
1/ cup canned hot fudge (chilled)
whipped cream
Combine crushed wafers and butter (oleo). Press into a 9 inch pie plate. Pat mixture halfway up sides. Put into the freezer until firm, about 15 minute. Remove and spread ice cream on top of frozen mixture, smoothing ice cream to form a rounded top. Place in freezer at least four hours. Before serving, spread chilled hot fudge over pie to 1/4 inch of edge of pie. Top with whipped cream.