Antique, Vintage, Yummy

For Fran's comfort the last two weeks he needs softer food than normal. Therefore, we have been having pancakes for breakfast and soft sandwiches for lunch.
The maple syrup bottles get so sticky. Yesterday I was washing off the sticky syrup and a thought went through my mind. My mom made her own maple syrup about ninety percent of the time. She served it in a cut glass "syrup pitcher." I never gave it a thought at the time, but that pitcher never got sticky.
Then I had another thought. On the off days, mom would serve maple syrup out of a can. Yeah, out of a can. Funny she didn't have ants all over the place. The can was about the size of a can of shortning. I looked and looked in the history of Karo and they don't show cans, but huge bottles.
I went to E-Bay for vintage. I just hate that word, but, oh well, I guess that includes me too.
They showed several kinds of syrup cans, only one that resembled the kind that mom had. I just had a feeling that she made way too much and stored her left over in the can and may have put it in the ice box. To make a very short story shorter, it was so very very yummy!

Middle Of The Night "Guest"

As you know Fran is a master gardner. Having a beautiful garden to him is a dream come true. Well last year we had armadillos that came to visit, not only in the garden, but under the house, in the flower gardens and digging holes in the yard so deep I was afraid to walk out there for fear of falling.
This year I haven't seen tracks of armadillos, but Fran's garden has slowly but surely started to disappear. First the green beans. We were able to get a huge "crop" to can, but still all of a sudden the plants had had a hair cut. All the plants had their tops chewed off. So Fran pulled all the plants up, pulled the beans that remained and gave them away.
This morning he came in with a mixture of anger and discouragement. He said that the deer had been eating the huge tomatos that were on the plants. Not only that, but they also ate the tops of the plants. Of course, that will stunt the growth of future tomatos. The plants may die or the deer have probably told all the relatives about what wonderful tomatos those people on the hill have!
I think what is interesting is that the huge crop of cucumbers remain untouched. I wonder why that is.  Well I have researched and researched what to do to keep deer out of your garden. Oh good grief. There are so many things; rotten eggs, pie tins, ivory soap, and purchased stuff that costs a fortune. Our luck it would rain right after we put that stuff out.
We would give up and buy canned tomatos but they just aren't as good. Do any of you have sure fire things that prevent those pesky beautiful brown eyed guests to eat somewhere else?

It Is So Hot...

I am from South Dakota and Iowa. They make little jokes all the time about it is so cold that your words freeze in the winter and thaw out in the spring. "That's why we have spring showers!"
Well a long time ago I moved to Missouri. The humidity is high here and most of the time we have very warm  hot summers. However, this year it is so hot that something very interesting is happening. The flys don't fly. I kid you not. The flys walk. Yup! I can sit in my chair and watch Maggie pounce on a fly and actually get it. I can slap at a fly and kill it when it "walks" on my arm.  Now I think that that is really hot. If I listen really close, I think I can hear the fly gasp with exhaustion from the crawl/walk. Poor thing, ahem I think not.

Stress Headache

Have you ever had a stress headache. Over the years I have had many many of those. When I have those evil things if I rub my temples, it helps some until I quit, then the pounding begins again.
I often think what could be causing this "thing." Is there any one thing that could be causing it?
This morning I knew I was tired; I had had a headache all night. That is so miserable. When I finally gave up and got up. Fran showed up at just the right time. I was attempting to brush my hair with my toothbrush in my hand. I didn't make it, but Fran did grin and ask me if I was alright.
Ok, I will tell you why I was all stressed out. About sixteen years ago my daughter-in-law had given me a pint of multi-colored pear shaped tomatos. In another post I said that I have moved those with me every where I go. They mean so much to  me and many people ask me about them because I have them on display in the kitchen.
Yesterday the pretty jar was gone. I was frantic. I had Fran looking high and low and so did I. I wanted to cry. I thought they may have gotten moved to the fridge, or broken, or whatever!!!
This afternoon, Fran and I were making ourselves a softdrink today. There was my jar of tomatos on a shelf under my papertowels surrounded by little ducks. Don't ask!!  I have no clue, but my headache was instantly gone.

96 And Counting!!

Nobody likes a party better than Marie!  Every year like clock work she has  another birthday, a pretty cake, company and presents!!
This year was no different. The only thing different was it wasn't as big. Last year she had several grandchildren and children at her party and lots and lots of gifts.
As people get older people don't know what to get them because for the most part they already have what they need. This year she had no problem telling her son from Texas exactly what she wanted, a new electric can opener. When she opened it she told me, "Oh this is just what I wanted, mine is so slow I was afraid it was going to quit someday."

She loved her cake. It was a yellow cake decorated with orange roses. She announced to the group that she did not want any of us to eat at the end where the roses were because she was going to take it home. I begged and pleaded with her to have a bite of roses and then she laughed and said, "Of course you can." She took the lions share of the cake home, a rose bush, a can opener and fresh catfish that her two sons caught for her at our lake. I would personally hate to choose which gift she liked the best. I would bet on the catfish! She got money and cards in the mail and phone calls as well. For the majority of the day she wore a smile.

The pictures show what a good time she was having even though it was a small party. I think the whole thing is that when people come to your very special party that love you, it makes a wonderful party, don't you agree?  Even great grandchildren, grandchildren and children, Oh and don't forget the daughter-in-law!

Have You Ever Done Something Stupid?

And the answer to that question is  "of course,  I have." There isn't a person alive that has not  done something dumb. The next thing I want you to do is do a rerun in your mind, kind of like a video of the things that make you smile, make you grimace, make you angry and on you go with the memories of the dumb things you have done in your life.
Years ago I added the checks instead of subtracting them. I often slammed into doors that opened the opposite direction. I have written some of the crazy things in this blog. I have done my share. I have driven at crazy speed, I have had to much to drink, I have smoked to much.
But tonight you might not think what I did was stupid, but I do. It is a strict rule in my mind not to watch scary movies. It has been fifty two years since I watched a scary movie. I watched it with my oldest son. We were holding on to each other and yelling and right then I vowed, that my children and I did not need to watch what I called "crap."  The name of the movie was "Cujo" This movie I am sure, compared to the modern movies is nothing, but it was really scary to me, because it could have been real, not make believe junk.
Tonight I broke my promise to myself and watched a scary movie called War of the Worlds. I know, I know. Not scary, but to this old grandma, yup, it was. So once again, No more scary movies! I much prefer Chick Flicks and detective movies.

About My Dad

The last time my brother visited, he said that every time he looked in the mirror he saw our dad.
Dad didn't have a beard, but both of them had/have very little hair. Both of them don't have dimples, but laugh lines where the dimples should be. Both have wonderful senses of humor.Both my father and brother love/loved their children with all their heart.
Both had/have a strong faith in God.
My father was very quiet and loved soft music. My brother is not particularly quiet, but not noisey either. This picture shows his daughter, Jenna, how a turkey should be gotten ready for the table. My dad knew better than to do that. Mom would have kicked him out as fast as she could!
Looking at this last picture, I can just smell the turkey and the fresh baked pies.   Umm.

Happy Father's Day, Guys!!