the meat grinder

No, this isn't a post on Lady Gaga's putrid meat dress from the VMA. But rather, a post on recess. Didn't you just love recess as a kid?!? Our school playground did not resemble the razzle dazzle playscapes of today. No wood chips or squishy surfaces to cushion our fall. No brightly colored plastic equipment to prevent small hands from burning on hot days. Our playground consisted of a metal jungle gym, a bank of swings and the meat grinder. The meat grinder was a slab of black asphalt - the site for red rover, jump rope and all manner of horseplay. It was accurately dubbed the meat grinder because it literally shredded your tender young skin on contact. Hico Elementary recess wasn't for wimps! Aren't you just wild about this incredible swing for 12 made from recycled tires constructed by Jan Korbes in South Africa? Can you even imagine the fun?!? I want one now!

golden tan of a lifetime

Have you listened to the Summer Job Series on NPR's All Things Considered? Listeners are invited to share their stories of memorable summer jobs. Have you ever heard of corn tasseling or wondered about the people who play your favorite characters at Disneyland? There are some great story tellers out there! Click here to read the transcripts. Here's the story I submitted this morning. I would love to read it on air!

Golden Tan of a Lifetime

When I was growing up in Hico, Texas, where the population was only about a thousand at the time, high school kids could either haul hay or work at the Koffee Kup Kafe, which is what I did. Once I mastered the mile high meringue and discovered the perfect ratio of vanilla syrup to Coke and perfected the precise art of cutting a multi-tiered club sandwich, I decided I needed a change of scenery. I found it one summer, along with the golden tan of a lifetime, at a tree nursery just outside of town. Five mornings a week, our rag tag crew piled into the back of a beat up Chevy pickup at crack thirty, a.k.a. 6 am, and our supervisor, Leon, drove us out to the fields. It was a scene straight out of Cool Hand Luke. He dropped us off at the end of a mile long row of pecan trees and picked us up at the other end in the afternoon. Each of us had a spool of twine we fashioned as belts and all day we trudged down the row, tying each tiny pecan tree to a wooden stake, in three places, to help it grow straight and strong for selling.

Did I mention that summer was a record breaking scorcher?!? 100, 101, 102 degree days. Consistently. Once I forgot my thermos of ice water, but thankfully, Leon always left a big orange water cooler in a central place for anyone who needed it. Anyone ended up being one person, my crew mate Cecil, who treated the jug like his personal hydrating station. With filthy hands, he dipped in his tin cup and chugged it right over the open top of the cooler. I watched in horror as the water dripped down his face, through his grizzled beard and back into the jug, brown as lake water. I never forgot my thermos again.

There was romance in the field too. The highlight of my day was catching a glimpse of Scott, a football playing college boy home for the summer. That fall, I went on to accompany his parents to watch him play in West Texas, stopping at every Wendy's from central to West Texas. But that's another story for another day.

Even though the work was monotonous, the camaraderie was enjoyable. A friend and I always worked one row apart, facing each other, and tied at the same pace so that we could chat the day away.

As it turned out, that camaraderie was the most productive thing about the job. Right at the end of summer, as we finished our work day, a fierce Texas thunderstorm blew in. Sheets of rain and buckets of hail battered our little saplings, and our summer of work was torn to bits.

some women just can't take it

My nephew Tyson graduates from high school tomorrow. There are sure to be tears. A toast to my brother and sister in law for raising such a wonderful guy. We're having a little family party in his honor. I was looking through some old recipes for a nice kid friendly punch. Kids love a good punch after sitting still for so long! I ran across this recipe from my Aunt Shirley who just died a couple of months ago at 97. Shirley was very social. She enjoyed having the ladies over for an afternoon of bridge. I got tickled when I read her personal note: Here's a recipe I use sometimes - but I leave out the Ginger Ale. It's good but some women can't take the carbonated water.....

If you're so inclined, by all means, add the ginger ale! Here's the recipe if you have a little shin dig coming up and you want a special drink for the little guys.

2 packages Kool Aid - Keep in mind, this was before they had Kool Aid with sugar added.

1 can 6 oz. frozen orange juice

1 1/2 pints pineapple juice

2 qts. water

2/3 c. sugar

bottle of ginger ale

You can add to or take from. Mix and it's better to set awhile. This makes about 18 glasses. Shirley probably meant punch cups.

roid rage 2005

Polaroid rage, that is.

In the summer of 2005 our family took a Polaroid every single day.

The girls or I would tape it in the notebook and write a brief journal entry of the days events. It's fun to try and decode the invented spelling of the day.

It's sweet little time capsule. Here are a few pages from our book.

Translation: Today Sadie thought she was in a tornado in her box/house.....

Everyone thought it was so funny that Alan chose a Dyson vacuum cleaner as his birthday gift. He really did! As a matter of fact, he's vacuuming right now as I write this post. The man loves a clean floor.

Lots of people have blogs and sites devoted to Polaroid love. This one is plain creative fun. Here's a site dedicated to the new generation of Polaroid film. Have a great day and feel free to share your Polaroids with me!

eighteen

18 years.

A beautiful life.

Happy Anniversary Alan!

Here's a random little assortment of songs I love about love.

Our engagement photo was taken by Scogin Mayo, spring 1992

old guys are cool

I've had these gents in my inspiration folder for awhile now. I love old guys. When I heard 60's t.v. personality Art Linkletter died today at 97, I thought about these guys again. They are still making cool stuff in their 90's. Irving Harper, above, designed some of the most recognizable housewares of the 50's and 60's. Today, at 93, he makes intricate paper sculptures. Read about his genius right here.

This is Vollis Simpson, a retired farm equipment repairman. Vollis uses scrap metal and junk yard parts to create enormous metal sculptures he calls Whirligigs. A mere 91, he lives and works in Lucama, North Carolina. Read more about Vollis here.

Don't his Whirligigs look oddly perfect in this holiday window for Bergdorf Goodman?

And if you aren't familiar with Mr. Linkletter, take a look at this clip back when television shows were sweet. I vaguely recall...

photos from NY Times, Design Sponge and American Visionary Art Museum

sooner or later...they break everything

I laughed to the point of tears

this morning. All thanks to Shit My Kids Ruined, a hilarious site where people send in photos of the destruction wrought by their offspring. We're well beyond this stage (unless you count that fingernail polish remover eating off the surface of the table top incident?! well, maybe we're not past this stage)..

...maybe that's why it's so stinkin' funny.

I actually had my eye poked by both daughters. Once with a paintbrush and once a fingernail. The pain brought me to my knees. But the patch is so becoming.

The old pepper in the fish tank trick. Good one.

So many great ideas. Tough to pick my favorite.

Today's fun via Alan and Eric Lidji

friday night lights

Ready?!? Okay!!!

Tomorrow night my very favorite show, Friday Night Lights,

returns to NBC.

It has everything and nothing to do with football.

The reviews are stellar going into season 4.

I love this show so much because it reminds me of growing up. We lived in a small Texas town a lot like the one on the show. My dad was the football coach there. When we were tiny, Dad would take us kids to the locker room and toss us in a big shower with multiple heads. Presto! Five kids bathed and ready for bed and a brief break for Mom. Here I am with Dad around 1980 when both of us had darker hair. Long retired from the game, he is still greeted warmly about town as "Coach."

Set your Tivos. You'll be a fan.

Here's the finale from last season to get you caught up.

this land is my land

I think it's really cool when people name

and identify their places with signage.

Here are just a few signs that Mom and

I found in and around Hico.

Sign from above:

AEIOU

Sinterra? Santerra? Senterra?

Sunterra? I think it's Sonterra!

What sounds right to you?

Don't you like the off center placement of the letters?!

Very hip.

I'd like to see the house this road leads to....

Choice font. Love it!

Say hello to Bonnie, aka Bon Bon. She sure did enjoy the ride.

She enjoys anywhere my Mom is.

I think Keno enjoyed it too. Unfortunately, he was banished

to the back seat. He has boundary issues.

One of the many, many, many kitties we fed on mom's"rounds".

She's a one woman humane society. But I won't go on and on

about her devotion to animals or how awesome she is.

She doesn't like that sort of thing.

My Uncle Robert's handiwork. He went for a more primitive look.

R.I.P. Pearl and Louise. Salt of the earth.

What would you name your spread?

star gazing

I love movies. I love sitting in a dark theatre with Twizzlers and popcorn watching endless trailers. I'm just wild about the whole experience. I enjoy going with others or by myself. I'm game for most any genre except horror. I'm a scaredy cat from way back. I also love celebrity trivia. My head is filled to the brim with useless facts. My mom, siblings and pal Sue are the same way. Warning: Do not engage in celebrity trivia with my family unless you're bringing your "a"-game. You will be trounced. It's not pretty. Mommy Elta, my grandmother, always had celebrity mags around her home. Long before the Star, Enquirer or People, she was reading Screen Play and Modern Screen. I'll credit her (blame her?!?) for these mad trivia/trivial skills.

That said, I'm super excited about watching the Oscars tonight and the red carpet chatter that precedes it. I've seen only half of the nominated films this year. Enough to be somewhat in the know.

I've actually had some memorable brushes with celebrities. In the 90's I worked part time in Los Angeles. It was paradise. The work was fun and the nightlife was a blast. I had many fun celebrity sightings. Absolute most thrilling??

Robert Redford, hands down. I ran straight to the pay phone to call Mom. He was magnificent. I even shared a moment in Spago with Veronica Hamel a fine actress from Hill Street Blues fame. She spoke to me like I was a trained therapist. She spoke of aging in Hollywood and what a curse it was. Shortly after her confessional, Wolfgang Puck sat down at the bar with us. My moment with Veronica over, Wolfgang signed a cookbook for me and bought a round for the bar.

Another restaurant, another night, all the patrons were being rushed through dinner. The place had to be cleared for a private party. My big ears heard something about Sylvester Stallone and a premiere party. That sounded like fun. My friend Colleen and I ducked into the bathroom and pulled a stunt from the Lucy and Ethel playbook. We stood on top of the toilets and waited quietly for the place to clear out. When the crowds arrived, we left our porcelain perch and went out to mingle. Although Sylvester never showed, we did chit chat with an actor who had an unusual name. Keanu.

Any fun stories from you? Do tell. In the meantime, be glamourous dear readers and enjoy the Oscars!

shari cherries

When I was a kid, this was the only cherry I knew. The magnificent high fructose corn syrup infused maraschino! When I see a jar of these red babies, I always think of my grandmother, Mommy Elta. Because she knew I loved them, her Thanksgiving fruit salad always included a portion for me with lots and lots of extra maraschino cherries added. This small gesture made me feel special. Do you have similar memories associated with certain foods? Do tell...

three generations of tiny

So, lots of you love your boots! Thanks for the all comments and emails following my best boot post. These little dandies are from Cheryl over at Double Talk. Three generations of tiny have loved these boots. Doesn't the worn leather look nice and comfy?

neighborhood hero

Because it's Veteran's Day and because I'm lucky enough to live just 3 doors down from a true American hero, I decided to rerun my very first post that features this incredible World War II veteran.

Three rotten bananas sit on my kitchen counter. The perfect number for a loaf of banana bread. I decide to share this loaf with some of my neighbors, reserving the ends for me and Sadie. We wrapped each slice simply in wax paper and set out. A centenarian known affectionately as Dr. Gene, is our first delivery. He's a busy guy with a great disposition. He was a music professor at a local university. In an earlier life he stormed the beaches of Normandy and loved his wife Dorothy. He plays his piano and walks our neighborhood every day. He is a talented and noble man who elevates our neighborhood.

Lila, Tom, Lori, Joy, Geneva. Five more deliveries. Kind phone calls within the hour. "A little banana bread fairy left something on my porch!"

Veteran, caregiver, teacher, widow, retiree, young woman.

Three rotten bananas = six happy neighbors.

Here is my favorite banana bread recipe, courtesy of Anne Besser

Moist and Delicious Banana Bread

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. flour

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. sour cream

1 c. overly ripe bananas (approximately 2-3)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and mix until combined. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture. Add sour cream, vanilla and smashed bananas; mix thoroughly. Grease either one large or two small loaf pans. Fill pans and bake for approximately 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

40 years of sunny days

Thank you Sesame Street for all the years of fun, great music, lovable muppets and respite for parents across the globe, one hour at a time. All the little Lidji's loved Sesame Street. Happy 40th! And many more.

You're never too young to enjoy Sesame Street.

Here are just a few classic moments good for a smile this Tuesday morning.

sentimental soup

As the State Fair wraps up this week, I thought this post was worth repeating.
The only ribbon I've ever won in The State Fair of Texas cooking contest was in 1998 for Chick pea, swiss chard and porcini mushroom soup. It was a proud moment. With my mason jar, red ribbon and two curly top daughters we slurped the prize winning contents under the blue October sky alongside Big Tex.

My ribbon hangs in the kitchen over the top of a cocktail shaker, between a silver pitcher badly in need of polishing and the tiny milk frother I use to attempt a Starbucks experience. It's the perfect spot.

Chick pea, swiss chard and porcini soup - by Viana la Place

1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms

1 bunch Swiss chard, about 1 pound

Salt to taste

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 14-oz can chick peas

4 canned imported Italian tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped

2 1/2 cups water

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Freshly grated imported Parmesan cheese

Place the porcini mushrooms in a small bowl with enough hot water to cover. After 20 minutes, carefully lift the mushrooms out of the water and place in a fine-mesh sieve. Run cold water over the mushrooms, carefully feeling for any remaining sand. Strain the soaking liquid through several layers of paper towels or cheesecloth. Cut the mushrooms into strips.

Strip the leaves of the Swiss chard from the stalks. Reserve the stalks for another use. Put water to measure 1/2 inch in the bottom of a medium braising pan. Add the Swiss chard leaves and a little salt to taste. Cover and cook over high heat until the chard is tender. Drain and chop coarsely.

Place the olive oil, butter, and onion in a soup pot. Cook over low heat until the onion is tender and golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking.

Add the mushrooms and saute them for a few minutes. Add the chard, stir well, and let cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chick peas and let them absorb the flavors for a few minutes. Add the tomatoes and raise the heat to high. Add the water and the porcini soaking liquid. Bring to a boil, then simmer the soup for 40 minutes with the lid partly on.

Before serving, grind black pepper over the top and stir. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on the side.

legendary encounter

I went for a run yesterday while the girls were with Kelly, our beloved math tutor. In a neighborhood far from my own, I sized up the options. Path A would lead me to sketchy territory in a hurry, while path B offered a radical change of scenery with views of estates and perfect lawns, fountains and swans and bronze sculptures of children chasing butterflies with nets. B it is. Plodding along, slack jawed at the sights, I spied Dallas Cowboy legend Roger Staubach wheeling out his garbage bin. First of all, don't you just love him for wheeling his own garbage? And he recycles! I smiled and kept going, but quickly turned around to say hello. This friendly gene often induces eye rolling from my kids. Just as I imagined, he was friendly and polite, even to a sweaty babbling stranger. Dad, how cool is that!?!

As a kid, I loved watching football. In hindsight, maybe I loved spending Sunday afternoons with the McCormick sisters, eating queso and taco salad drenched in catalina, light on the greens and heavy on the fritos.

Smiling, I made my way back to reality.

Note to Mike W. - Don't take me off your list!

main meal

We had a picnic in our front yard over the weekend. A common activity on a pretty day. Glancing next door at Homer and Gaga's house I half expect her to emerge from the front door and join us, like she always did.

Sadly, Homer has been gone almost 2 years and Gaga moved to be nearer her family. I'm reminded of our sweet friendship and the indelible influence they had on our family and neighborhood. They were funny, open minded, dear people. They loved skip-bo, watching sports, their church, the public school system and having their "main meal" at lunch. They would like the young couple living there now. And they would love knowing the couple has a baby on the way.

Gaga's Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Cookies

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 c. peanut butter

1 c. white Karo syrup

4 c. Rice Krispies

Bring sugar and Karo to a boil. Remove from heat.

Add vanilla, Rice Krispies and peanut butter. Drop

on wax paper by the teaspoon. Gaga made these cookies

often.....and she always shared.