Getting Ready for May

One of my sweet, childhood memories is making May Day baskets, filling them with flowers from Mom's garden and then with great sneakiness we would creep up to neighbors and loop a basket on the door knob. I can't remember if we knocked on the door before we ran away. It seemed this event had to be kept secret. The flowers were given anonymously. I think I neglected to instill this little gem in my children but maybe some will want to do it with my grands.

Here are some cute images for inspiration with a link below.

And if you don't have flowers just make some with construction or scrape book paper and candy centers.

Oh I love the fragrance of lily of the valley.

Doesn't get more simple than this.

Flowers and a kiss!

Go here for the free download to make the basket above.

Would you like to share with me your May Day basket memories...please.

Would you let me know if you share May Day flowers this year...please.

Wishing you a . . .

Happy day, msk

I thought I'd share a holiday memory that I had with

my daughter Trevlyn and grand Tessa last month.

We attended the Nutcracker Ballet at the beautiful Orpheum Theater.

Here we are just before we go inside.

This very old theater was originally a burlesque theater and

the craftsmanship is remarkable.

The carvings are just grand and very ornate.

Here are Trevlyn and Tessa ascending the elegant spiral staircase.

A better view of the spiral staircase.

The ceiling lighting changes; the blue in more spectacular

but I captured it in the pink stage.

I love the murals and carvings. Even without the ballet I felt I'd had

a wonderful evening visually and architecturally.

Thanks sweet girls for my wonderful memory with you both.

Happy day, msk

Fun Friday

With my awesome year pass to the Desert Botanical Gardens I was able to take Trevlyn and 3 of the grands for a fun tour yesterday. The Chahuly glass exhibit is still great as are the gardens the second time around. When I went a few weeks ago with my 3 musketeers I thought it couldn't get any better but it has. There are still all the desert annuals, flowers in bloom, maybe more and now some of the cactus is also blooming.

The grands seemed to really enjoy the native village settings. I'm so thankful that our great tour director from our first trip, Jackie imparted so much information to us....it made me look like I knew a little something to the grands when I shared with them.
The line to the butterfly exhibit was waaaaaaay too long so we passed that up. Here I'm telling the grands about the cactus buds that just a tablespoon of have as much calcium as a glass of milk and as much potassium as a banana.

We only spent about an hour and a half at the gardens, compared to four hours in our first visit with just adults, and then headed off to my old neighborhood. We ate lunch at Pete's Fish and Chips. Trevlyn has heard me mention loving that restaurant as a girl and was glad she finally got to share a plate of fish and chips with me. Pete's serves red sauce instead of tarter sauce. As much as I like tarter sauce, this red sauce is good.

The grands opted for hamburgers and fries. I offered fish for any that would share but got no takers.

The grands liked the fishy mural and were art appreciators.

We also drove by a couple of my childhood homes. I don't think that means much to young kids but Trevlyn had not seen the homes so she liked it.

Much to do. Hope your Saturday is splendid. 3

Oops

One of my treasures from the Oregon garage sale this summer was the purchase of two little A&W rootbeer mugs, the baby size. This was a treasure and memory maker. How I loved it when Mom and Dad took us to get a frosty mug of rootbeer...and the baby size was free to little children. We'd drive up, park and the attendant would bring our order to the driver's side window and brace the tray right on the window. What a treat. It didn't take much to treat we three little girls. Here's a photo of Tessa with a bowl of oatmeal, optional blueberries that she wasn't quite brave enough to try and the little mug full of cold milk. Now the oops part, I washed the mugs in the dishwasher and washed the A&W logo right off. A disappointment but I still love the little mugs.

Noodles Romano ala Tyler

Like I've said before, when one of you darlings calls for a recipe, I know it belongs at Knight's In The Kitchen. Dori called for this yummy pasta dish today so here goes. -I'll post it today and in a short time get it over to KITK for easier access. Most of you know the story behind this familly favorite...when Tyler was in his very early teens at the most he decided to find a recipe and make it. He did an awesome job and it's been a favorite ever since. I just know any of you who aren't familiar with this will find it yummy too. Thanks again Tyler for the great memory too. Enjoy with love.

Noodles Romano

1/4 c butter softened
2 T dried parsley
1 t dried basil
1 8 oz cream cheese softened
1/8 t pepper
2/3 c boiling water
8 oz fettuccine noodles
1 clove garlic minced
1/4 c butter
3/4 c grated Romano (or Parmesan cheese)

Cream cheese sauce:
Combine butter, parsley, basil and cream cheese. Add boiling water and blend mixture well, keep warm.

Cook noodles till tender, drain well.

Cook garlic in 1/4 c. butter 1 to 2 min. Pour over butter/garlic mixture over noodles; toss lightly to coat well. Sprinkle with 1/2 c. Romano cheese & toss again. Pile noodles on warm platter and pour cream sauce over and then the remaining 1/4 c. of Romano cheese. serves 6

Celebration

What a great couple and reason to celebrate and rejoice. This is also the last time we were all together with the kiddos. Happy Anniversary and life to Andy and Annette!! Loads of love.

38 Years Ago

This is what I looked like 38 years ago. Big (frosted) hair, always I fear, maternity clad in clothes from dear, generous Mom who never thought I bought clothes for myself. On the back of the photo I've written my name then "feeding ducks at Utah Lake Park". I was feeling really good and glad to be over the yucky, yucky morning sickness from the first trimester where cooking meat or brushing my teeth were automatic barf triggers. No ultra sound (not for any of the 6) so I'd bought very little baby clothes and they were mint green and yellow to be ready for either gender. We had just gotten thee most economical crib we could find in all of Provo assembled, a hand-me-down dresser from Mom and Dad and my joy was complete with a changing table!! Sparse but everything we needed if not everything wanted. Loved, loved my changing table for it's convenience and storage. Call me old fashioned but I always thought diaper changes needed to be in the nursery/bedroom and keeping the stink confined.

Do you think my love for birds and all critters generally affected the incubating dear baby that ended up loving birds and critters?

I'll Have A Reuben Please

One of favorite "good old days" memories was going to Miracle Mile Deli at Park Central Mall for lunch. It seemed somewhat foreign to me and there was always a big, big crowd - usually adults. I guess as a naive, gentile girl a Jewish deli could seem a bit foreign couldn't it?
I don't remember what or who originally took me there, but it is definitely one place then or now I'd head to for a fantastic sandwich. Well, not just a sandwich but a Reuben (above on marbeled rye) or second choice would be a "Straw" aka pastrami on rye (below). Hot. Grilled. Melted Swiss cheese on corned beef or pastrami. Fattening. Satisfying. Great side of fries and kosher (duh) dill pickle.

I took SLK to a MMD when we were here in AZ on a little undeserved vacation. He told me prior to marrying me he only knew about hamburgers and didn't know anything about other sandwiches. I opened the world of French dip and Rubens to him and I think it was a good thing.

SLK and I took D & L to Miracle Mile at The Camelback Colonnade during last Christmas vacation. What a great meal still and the best way to top off a morning at Last Chance!!! Wait, just think, Last Chance and Miracle Mile Deli. Do you know how powerful that is. And I feel guilty since I've never mentioned it before and all those trips that MTN, ASK and JCK have made there and I haven't treated them to the deli. Well, just let me know when you want me to take you and I/we will. It's also fun to watch the senior citizen crowd having lunch.


Do you want to share a food memory?

Thanks to Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen for this recipe!!

Oven Grilled Reuben Sandwiches

The store-bought sauerkraut often used in this classic deli sandwich can be bland and less than palatable. Our surprising solution is to simmer bagged coleslaw with vinegar and sugar to produce a great-tasting sauerkraut.

Serves 4

Sweet-and-sour cabbage and a zesty mustard-flavored mayonnaise transform this deli classic into something special. "Oven-grilling" allows you to cook the sandwiches all at once (and without turning them) rather than cooking in batches on the stove top.

1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 (16-ounce) bag coleslaw mix
Table salt and ground black pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
8 slices hearty rye bread
8 slices Swiss cheese (about 1/2 pound)
1 pound thinly sliced corned beef
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position, place baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Bring vinegar and sugar to boil in large skillet over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar, add coleslaw, cover, and cook, tossing occasionally, until coleslaw is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove lid and simmer until liquid has evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Combine mayonnaise and mustard in small bowl. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture on each bread slice.

4. Layer 1 slice cheese, 1/2 cup coleslaw, 1/4 pound corned beef, and 1 more slice cheese on top of 1 bread slice. Top with second slice of bread and compress sandwich with your hands. Repeat to make 3 more sandwiches.

5. Brush tops and bottoms of sandwiches with melted butter.
Transfer sandwiches to preheated baking sheet. Bake until toasted, about 10 minutes.

I Love My Dutch Oven

My dutch oven has been a very, very good friend to me. With a little effort on a Sunday morning I could have a delicious dinner ready for the starving hordes when we walked through the door after 3 hours of church. A pot roast so tender it fell apart, carrots, potatoes and onions soft and enough juice in the bottom of the pan to make a wonderful gravy without having to add any boosters like Kitchen Bouquet because of good browning first. The fact that some of my kin do not appreciate or eat gravy has been difficult to handle at times but I'm okay with it now. To each his or her own. More gravy for the gravy lovers. I just thought being able to make a good gravy was a real accomplishment in my younger days but again, I'm okay with it now. I have also taken my responsibility as a cook seriously.

My preference is for a heavy, waterless cookware. Here are examples of heavy ovens:

This looks way too flimsy to do a good job.

Though I have a cast iron dutch oven like the one below (which I usually consider a camping oven) I have brought more than one smile to faces with an enormous loaf of Basque Sheepherders Bread baked in it. That is an upcoming blog you won't want to miss. I've never used it for anything else. Maybe I'm really missing out on something.

I've always admired the Le Creuset brand but even when shopping at their "outlets" I've figured one of their dutch ovens would never make it to my kitchen - $$$$.

Look what I found at - are you ready - WalMart - this week : Enameled, cast iron and $39.86. I wonder about the quality. It did mention a lifetime warranty and when I picked it up it was weighty. And what is with the $.86. I can understand $39.99 but $39.86??? Funny Wally's. Funny me taking cell phone pictures of d.o.'s in the store.

It's a good color on the order of a green Bell pepper. Are you tempted to purchase one? If I didn't already have a good d.o. I'd go right out and buy it. I'd also save all the wrapping and my receipt because Wally's has such a great return policy and I would take it back if I didn't love it.

If you get one, please also pick up that pot roast, potatoes, carrots and onions. Speaking of carrots, I have used the little baby carrots in a pot roast but really prefer the big ole ones you need to peel and then cut up. They have a better taste. Mom made a delicious pot roast but she didn't put onions in it. Dorinne's mom Veryl put onions in hers and that's where I got the idea. Onions it is now here. I recall Dorinne (not to be confused with Dori) commenting on Sunday dinner always seemed to be pot roasts. Maybe those are some good old days. Thanks Mom and Veryl for many delicious Sunday dinners.

Brrrrrrrrrr

Yep, you heard the desert dweller . . . brrrrrr. I know my cold doesn't compare to your cold but for me this is nippy!! Last year we had a really late and bad freeze in February with alot of damage to my frost sensitive plants and here we go again. Take a look at this ice from off a patio chair this morning.

Last evening I pulled out the extra sheets to cover as many of the plants as possible.

I was so hoping they would stay cozy and safe. After this mornings survey I think most are okay but some didn't make it. I take this so personally. Oh the burden when you love plants.

Plants uncovered and most of the sheets had to be hung up on my solar drier they were so drenched. Kirby and I had a good 2 miler and the frost was thick throughout the neighborhood with many roofs snow-white, and lawns white and crunchy looking-ours included.

How nice to get into a warm house with all the sun now streaming into those south windows. The sky is brilliant Arizona blue and by Friday we are to be basking in 70* weather. Poor Super Bowl fans who got less than our usual sunny, winter weather .

A bowl of hot oatmeal with "bugs" and drizzled with honey is just the thing to completely warm me. Bugs (raisins) are a tribute to Mom who regularly put them in my cream of wheat or cream of rice cereal for breakfast as I was growing up. I'm glad I carried on that healthy, iron-rich tradition from the time you kiddos were babies.

Thanks Mom for all the hot breaksfasts and even hot lunches at times you made for Cindy, Jode and me. In my "good old days" in Lewiston, ID and Webster Elementary school, it wasn't unusual to walk home for a lunch prepared by Mom who was an excellent cook. I also have treasured memories of purchasing lunch at school that was all made from scratch, hot, yummy and you could go back for seconds if you cleared your plate. Also fun memories of taking my lunch to school and in winter it would include a thermos of hot Campbells soup, usually chicken noodle. I love that memory. I love thermos' of hot soup or cocoa. Doesn't take much to get me smiling here. Oh, it is only partially related to food.

As you can see, I'm prepared for at least a little outing in the cold. Soup and cocoa or maybe herb tea. I'm such a scout.

Do you have school lunch memories you would share please. I'd love to hear what you recall . . . hopefully with fondness.

I can't leave without doing my patriotic duty. Here's my shirt today. Proudly displaying my sticker...I'm one of those early voters by mail.

Happy 50th Anniversary Phoenix North Stake

Saturday was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Phoenix North Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. SLK and I got to the celebration at the Sunnyslope building close to the starting time of 3 pm. It was a gorgeous day, 69* and very sunny and warm...not too warm but just-right-warm. As I was leaving the house the thought came to me, should I take my camera and I decided no, I wouldn't want to take pictures of the vintage cars on display - sorry Kent and Russell! The cars were impressive and I'll share more about one in particular later.

Almost as soon as I got there I saw an adorable gal and fellow blogger who I've known since she was just a girl. Nancy is now a beautiful wife and mother of 2 cutie kids. It was so fun to chat, see her kiddies and husband in person and I admitted to her that through her blog I feel I know her better than when she was growing up with my own precious kiddos. I could also have told her I admire her and feel rather close to her but didn't want to scare her. Sounds kind of psycho doesn't it. I was also so very pleased to see her parents Laurie and Pam who came down from UT for the event. Laurie was one of our dear stake presidents and that entire family was practically Jesse's second family-seriously. They are also blogger's and yes, I feel very connected to them through their family blog which I now no longer stalk but actually comment on occasionally when feeling brave. Later, if not mistaken, I think I caught of glimpse of Becky looking just beautiful but unfortunately I didn't get over for a visit. Would my gushing have scared her. I think I'm a little too enthusiastic at times but can't imagine chillin'.

We also got to see H. Burke Peterson and younger brother John Peterson who were both stake presidents of this illustrious stake of good people. Then we saw dear friend John Jenson who we were lead to by angels when we came down here to buy a house. Doug Baker was there and we had a nice but short visit. Then I heard that high school friend Tim Hoyt was there and since he missed this fun reunion I had to find him for a visit. He and his wife Chris were so fun and I just love reconnecting with friends.

We really enjoyed the historic displays, dinner and must admit to the joy of knowing and feeling grateful for so many great people we call friends. As we left we went by the vintage cars again and I saw a sight I recall from my childhood but never, ever thought I'd see again. I remember when I was a very young little girl our family having an evaporative cooler attached to the front, passenger car window. When I've told people about this memory no one else has ever heard of such a thing. Well, there was a car with just such a cooler attached to the car. I so wanted my camera to take a picture and then finally remembered my cell phone and took a picture with it. Now you can see it too - one of my good old days moments!

Here's a couple pictures of Kent and Noelene that Dori and I took last Christmas when we found them cruising around their neighborhood in their vintage car...I don't know what it is so I'll just call it a vintage car. I'm bad.

Now I'm wishing I snapped a little photo of fellow blogger's at this gathering with my cell phone camera but I blew it. All in all, a fun afternoon. Feeling blessed. P.S. I'm actually typing this on Saturday while the memories are fresh and will post tomorrow. In the background is the Paula Deen tv show where she and her husband are in Paris and London and I keep jumping up to get a close look at the sights and food. It's such a fun episode. The ending has me in tears. Her husband surprises her with a dinner on top of the Four Seasons restaurant/building overlooking Paris and she is so touched when around the corner her two sons and one daughter-in-law come and surprise her further. She is speechless and crying and I so completely can identify with this. Not that I've ever done the Paris scene but I would always want you with me there or anywhere. Loves.

The Future & The Past

If 20 years from now, this is someones "good old days", what will life be like? I am amazed and thrilled at so much technology today. If we can only remember to harness and use it for all-things-good.

In the 1960's Dad started a new company that would put car dealership parts on computer inventory. So advanced. So new. Ended up being so successful. A computer took up an entire room and had to be climate-controlled. I was one of the original key punch operators for Dad's business. We are light years from that.

Above, an IBM Keypunch machine like the one I'd work at- below are keypunch cards. This brings up many memories of my parents hard work and sacrifice and my opportunity to earn money and help in a very small way to build something good. I must not omit saying my dear sisters were very involved too. It was certainly an entire family effort and is what caused the family move from AZ to OR.

Parada del Sol

Oh the memories of yearly attending the Parada del Sol parade and rodeo. As a girl I loved all-things-horse. I had dreams of growing up to be a great horsewoman. My window ledge was lined with horse figurines and what a loving thing Mom did in getting me a subscription to Quarter Horse Magazine. I'm sure there was drool on every page. At recess my little group of friends would check out the jump rope then put it in our mouths while another held the rope as reins and we'd gallop around the playground. Oh, do you think your mom was a total nerd...the jump rope crowd did. We even perfected the whinny sound! The parade was an almost endless procession of horse-flesh which I loved but I'll admit the bigger excitement was when the ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL pom pom girls and marching band appeared. Big sister Cindy was the cutest pom girl, marched so smartly and always made the family proud. Back in the days, the pom girls had to hand make their own set of pom poms. I recall the endless flat packages of scarlet red and royal blue crepe paper. Cindy would carefully cut off very thin sections of the paper on our treasured paper cutter that we would tightly twist and then put in brown grocery bags where they stayed several days for the twist to really "set". Later each was tenderly unrolled and laided out in small bunches and taped together. Several small bunches were then put together and taped into one large bunch. Cindy expertly trimmed to exact proportions and we all shared in the end result. Now days the girls shake store bought plastic poms that really are rather disappointing. Do we all love our own good-old-days with accompaniments best? I think so. Well, the parade and rodeo will be here again the end of February and first part of March. Wouldn't it be fun to attend together. How many takers are there?

1997 Poster-So cool.

Hey there, hi there, ho there.

Memory lane with some of my favorite children's television shows. What would it be like for you young mom's to let your kids watch anything on TV and feel safe. That's the way it was for my mom. Good old days.

I could hardly wait to watch the Mickey Mouse Club Show daily. Fun music, skits, serials and just so squeaky clean. Looking back I still give it an A+ grade.

Can you pick out Annette. She was every boys heart throb. These kids were talented, dancing and singing.

Spin and Marty - click for show

They've aged pretty well don't you think.

The Hardy Boy's Mysteries! Didn't all the girls think these guys were so cute.

Mr. Disney himself with the Mouseketeers. I cried at the news announcement of Walt's death. I really did. I even ran and threw myself on my bed and cried. Just a tad sad, not dramatic but very sincere little girls heart.

Didn't have one of these but wish I did have all my old lunch boxes....what, to store in the pathetic garage! I still love old lunch boxes. Oh, and I love thermos' too. I used my thermos regularly.

"Hey there, hi there, ho there, you're as welcomed as came be." Well I did feel welcomed and was a faithful watcher. When I got a bit older it was Bandstand with Dick Clark. That's another post. Did I just love Bandstand and the music because I loved to emulated Cindy?

The wonderful adventures Lassie always had. Such a brave and smart dog. Looking back, I think Timmy was too much a wimp.

What time is it boys and girls? IT'S HOWDY DOODY TIME!!! Good old Buffalo Bob. I cried when they went off the air too and the last episode the always mute clown Clarabell said "good bye boys and girls". I really did cry!

And you know Clarabell went on to even bigger accomplishments as Captain Kangaroo!

Well that was fun for me. Would you please share your memories? I'd love it. I won't cry though. At least I don't think I will.