From the book: Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never,
Remember the Fun We Had Together
Doubt the sun is afire,
Doubt that the moon is above,
Doubt that the truth is a liar,
But never doubt my love.
Maude Hays
January 20, 1906
Happy Anniversary to my husband Jimbo.
Love you, Kathy-lu
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Bullies and Original Sin
Thinking recently on vacation about "Bullies." These people always seem out of control with their own lives which is why they want to control everyone Else's lives. It's a control thing. One lesson I have learned this year is: One can only control one's own behavior, not someone Else's behavior. If one never says anything negative, no one can truthfully repeat anything negative said. Just breath deeply, rise above the fray and keep on going in a positive direction. Work on this task every day. It's not easy, but it's healthy and right.
From Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never book:
You ask for something original,
I scarcely know how to begin,
For there is nothing original in me,
Unless 'tis original sin.
Miss Elizabeth "Elsie" Schaefer
June 24, 1906
From Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never book:
You ask for something original,
I scarcely know how to begin,
For there is nothing original in me,
Unless 'tis original sin.
Miss Elizabeth "Elsie" Schaefer
June 24, 1906
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Valentine's Day "After School Special" story
Being in First Grade, I thought Valentine's Day at a girl's school was kind of silly but figured we would pass out friendship cards and maybe get some candy.
First thing in the morning, Mrs. Kirk, our kind teacher, passed out plain brown paper bags. We were instructed to put our first names on the front and decorate the bags appropriately for the holiday. Then, alphabetically, we filed up to the wall and taped them underneath the chalkboard. open the bags up, and throughout the day, place the Valentine cards we had previously made for our friends.
All day long, when leaving the room for morning milk and cookie break, lunch, recess, and P.E. class at the Gym, in alphabetical order, we passed by , in alphabetical order of course, all those Valentine's Day bags. Some girls would lean over and try to peak into their bag, but would slow up the line and have to resort to keep on going. The pink and red anticipation grew. How many Valentine cards would we each get from our class of 20 girls? Would we be happy with only a few. Who would get the most valentine cards? Who would get the least. Who really cared so long as we were happy.
At three o'clock, our school day was finally over and as we leave for the day, we were instructed to pluck our full bags from the wall underneath the chalkboard. As a "B", my bag was on the top row. As I plucked it off of the wall, my hand hit the metal chalk tray and some chalk dust fell through the air and onto the floor like cement dust. I automatically stopped yelped "Ouch"and grabbed my hand, so the teacher said I could go to my desk for a minute and rest.
As I sat at my desk in the now quiet room, and glanced up to see that Mrs. Kirk's slip was showing and her butt was wiggling as she was reaching up to heartily erase and clean the black chalkboard. My left hand suddenly stopped smarting, as my right hand had pulled out the 4 Valentine cards I had received. They said the following: "You are stupid", "You are dumb", "You are nice", "You are ugly".
I remember telling Mrs. Kirk my hand was fine and saying goodbye. I remember silently and numbly walking the 6 blocks home as if on automatic pilot. I remember my Mother's words: "How could a bunch of First Graders be so mean." I do not remember crying and crying, but I do remember I did not want to go to school the next day. I returned to school the next day anyway.
A better Valentines Day to all y'all readers !!
First thing in the morning, Mrs. Kirk, our kind teacher, passed out plain brown paper bags. We were instructed to put our first names on the front and decorate the bags appropriately for the holiday. Then, alphabetically, we filed up to the wall and taped them underneath the chalkboard. open the bags up, and throughout the day, place the Valentine cards we had previously made for our friends.
All day long, when leaving the room for morning milk and cookie break, lunch, recess, and P.E. class at the Gym, in alphabetical order, we passed by , in alphabetical order of course, all those Valentine's Day bags. Some girls would lean over and try to peak into their bag, but would slow up the line and have to resort to keep on going. The pink and red anticipation grew. How many Valentine cards would we each get from our class of 20 girls? Would we be happy with only a few. Who would get the most valentine cards? Who would get the least. Who really cared so long as we were happy.
At three o'clock, our school day was finally over and as we leave for the day, we were instructed to pluck our full bags from the wall underneath the chalkboard. As a "B", my bag was on the top row. As I plucked it off of the wall, my hand hit the metal chalk tray and some chalk dust fell through the air and onto the floor like cement dust. I automatically stopped yelped "Ouch"and grabbed my hand, so the teacher said I could go to my desk for a minute and rest.
As I sat at my desk in the now quiet room, and glanced up to see that Mrs. Kirk's slip was showing and her butt was wiggling as she was reaching up to heartily erase and clean the black chalkboard. My left hand suddenly stopped smarting, as my right hand had pulled out the 4 Valentine cards I had received. They said the following: "You are stupid", "You are dumb", "You are nice", "You are ugly".
I remember telling Mrs. Kirk my hand was fine and saying goodbye. I remember silently and numbly walking the 6 blocks home as if on automatic pilot. I remember my Mother's words: "How could a bunch of First Graders be so mean." I do not remember crying and crying, but I do remember I did not want to go to school the next day. I returned to school the next day anyway.
A better Valentines Day to all y'all readers !!
3 Poems for Valentine's Week
Happy Valentine's Day to All !
From my book: Forget-Me-Not, Forget Me Never, Remember the Fun We Had Together
A Poem from the wife's BFF:
When you are married,
And hubby is cross,
Come over to my house,
And eat applesauce.
Judith S. Russell
June 21,1906
Another poem from the wife's BFF:
When you are married,
And your husband is cross,
Take hold of the broom,
And say you're the boss.
Emma Campbell
December 29, 1905
A poem from the Dog:
I love you little,
I love you big,
I love you like
a little pig.
Edith Pratz
June 29, 1906
Au Revoir y' all!
From my book: Forget-Me-Not, Forget Me Never, Remember the Fun We Had Together
A Poem from the wife's BFF:
When you are married,
And hubby is cross,
Come over to my house,
And eat applesauce.
Judith S. Russell
June 21,1906
Another poem from the wife's BFF:
When you are married,
And your husband is cross,
Take hold of the broom,
And say you're the boss.
Emma Campbell
December 29, 1905
A poem from the Dog:
I love you little,
I love you big,
I love you like
a little pig.
Edith Pratz
June 29, 1906
Au Revoir y' all!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Preserving the shine and gold of your fine china and crystal.
My Antique Rose Medallion from the 1800's goes in the dishwasher. Yes. I put old china, and my grandmother's' sterling flat silver and antique crystal with the wide gold rim in the dishwasher. Shocked? Why? Because, who wants to hand wash all the dishes and glasses after a dinner party for 18 persons?
Here are some industry secrets:
1. Load and unload the dishwasher nicely. Spacing is key. Do not crowd. Do not put pots and pans in with the sterling, or gold rim (it's a metallurgy thing). I do not put pots or pans ever in the dish washer.
2. Use only 1 teaspoon of plain dish washing detergent. Do not use the detergent with the lemon. The plain detergent is hard to find. Hunt it out anyway.
Lemon is for pots and pans. Lemon is acidic. Lemon eats the glaze and the gold off of your china and crystal. Hand washing and soaking, or not soaking and running through the dishwasher, lemon detergent any where near your china and crystal will eat the glaze off of it and ruin your beautiful, fine wedding china. Lemon will also ruin every day china too. Over time the acid from the lemon ruins the glaze. Lemon also will eat the color and design off of your china whether it is hand painted or transfer ware.
3. Always, always, always use the gentle cycle and never, ever turn on the heat. Always air dry. Air dry, then wipe dry the china and sterling flatware if needed. The heat will weaken your china and crystal and will eventually melt off all the gold. Your home is not a hospital. The dishes do not need to be sterilized. It is your families' normal flora (familial, shared, good bacteria).
By using air dry and running the dishwasher (and washing machine/dryer) at night, you are also saving energy.
Tell your friends. They will, once again, think you are thrifty and smart !! Enjoy!
Here are some industry secrets:
1. Load and unload the dishwasher nicely. Spacing is key. Do not crowd. Do not put pots and pans in with the sterling, or gold rim (it's a metallurgy thing). I do not put pots or pans ever in the dish washer.
2. Use only 1 teaspoon of plain dish washing detergent. Do not use the detergent with the lemon. The plain detergent is hard to find. Hunt it out anyway.
Lemon is for pots and pans. Lemon is acidic. Lemon eats the glaze and the gold off of your china and crystal. Hand washing and soaking, or not soaking and running through the dishwasher, lemon detergent any where near your china and crystal will eat the glaze off of it and ruin your beautiful, fine wedding china. Lemon will also ruin every day china too. Over time the acid from the lemon ruins the glaze. Lemon also will eat the color and design off of your china whether it is hand painted or transfer ware.
3. Always, always, always use the gentle cycle and never, ever turn on the heat. Always air dry. Air dry, then wipe dry the china and sterling flatware if needed. The heat will weaken your china and crystal and will eventually melt off all the gold. Your home is not a hospital. The dishes do not need to be sterilized. It is your families' normal flora (familial, shared, good bacteria).
By using air dry and running the dishwasher (and washing machine/dryer) at night, you are also saving energy.
Tell your friends. They will, once again, think you are thrifty and smart !! Enjoy!
Tabletop Tip for the Week - Crisp Napkins
Dining at a very fancy traditional dinner party this weekend, I noticed very crisp, lovely linen, monogrammed dinner napkins. I have not seen linen napkins this crisp and able to stand upright, by themselves in a corner since I was a child.
As a child, I'd go the fridge for something to eat, and while standing with the door open, and my Mother saying "Get what you want out of the fridge and shut the door," I would then weed through all the rolled linen tablecloths and napkins in separate plastic bags to find a descent snack. I always knew when we were getting ready to have company or a party.
In order to have perfectly pressed linens without using spray starch, which breaks down the fibers, wash them in a gentle soap, (baby soap) then gently wring, lay the linen out flat, fold, and roll. Place the rolled up linen in a plastic bag and cool in the fridge overnight. The fridge cools and drys out the linen. Take out of the fridge the next day, (or soon after) unroll, and iron with a hot iron. The linen will sizzle and steam. Don't fret. It will iron out so nicely and so utterly crisp without damaging the threads. No starch ever necessary. Saves lots of money on Dry cleaning too.
Tell your friends, and they will think you are thrifty and smart. Try it and enjoy!
As a child, I'd go the fridge for something to eat, and while standing with the door open, and my Mother saying "Get what you want out of the fridge and shut the door," I would then weed through all the rolled linen tablecloths and napkins in separate plastic bags to find a descent snack. I always knew when we were getting ready to have company or a party.
In order to have perfectly pressed linens without using spray starch, which breaks down the fibers, wash them in a gentle soap, (baby soap) then gently wring, lay the linen out flat, fold, and roll. Place the rolled up linen in a plastic bag and cool in the fridge overnight. The fridge cools and drys out the linen. Take out of the fridge the next day, (or soon after) unroll, and iron with a hot iron. The linen will sizzle and steam. Don't fret. It will iron out so nicely and so utterly crisp without damaging the threads. No starch ever necessary. Saves lots of money on Dry cleaning too.
Tell your friends, and they will think you are thrifty and smart. Try it and enjoy!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Forget-Me-Not Quote for the Week and Dining Like A Diplomat
Quote of the week
"May you through life be blessed,
With friends selected from the best,
And in return may you extend,
That gem of love to every friend."
Minnie Hannah Schaefer
December 26, 1905
From the book: Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never, Remember the Fun We Had Together: Reminiscences and Memories of New York, collected by Katherine Barrett Baker
Dine Like a Diplomat, please!
Friday night, my husband and I went out for a casual dinner at a small, long time restaurant in Richmond. Charming old mahogany bar, mahogany booths, and the best fried chicken livers one has ever tasted. The place was packed. We were invited by the hostess to wait at the bar for our table ans asked if we wanted a drink. My husband nodded "yes", and we sat down at the bar.
The woman seated next to me, clearly on a first date, had her huge, overnight sized, duffel bag style black leather "purse" plopped all over the bar. It took up my whole place. We said nothing, and waited. When the busy waitress served our drinks 5-10 minutes later, my husband finally had to interrupt this woman, still consumed talking at her date, and ask her to please move her purse. She looked up as if there was no one else in the bar and we were interrupting her and invading her space. She then begrudgingly placed her bag at her feet.
Tip: Please ladies, mind your purse. If you can "clutch" it in one hand, it may be placed in front of you at the bar or on a table. If it is the size of a small suitcase, please place it at your feet or on your lap. Try also to be aware of others, and what is going on around you, especially in a crowded bar.
"May you through life be blessed,
With friends selected from the best,
And in return may you extend,
That gem of love to every friend."
Minnie Hannah Schaefer
December 26, 1905
From the book: Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never, Remember the Fun We Had Together: Reminiscences and Memories of New York, collected by Katherine Barrett Baker
Dine Like a Diplomat, please!
Friday night, my husband and I went out for a casual dinner at a small, long time restaurant in Richmond. Charming old mahogany bar, mahogany booths, and the best fried chicken livers one has ever tasted. The place was packed. We were invited by the hostess to wait at the bar for our table ans asked if we wanted a drink. My husband nodded "yes", and we sat down at the bar.
The woman seated next to me, clearly on a first date, had her huge, overnight sized, duffel bag style black leather "purse" plopped all over the bar. It took up my whole place. We said nothing, and waited. When the busy waitress served our drinks 5-10 minutes later, my husband finally had to interrupt this woman, still consumed talking at her date, and ask her to please move her purse. She looked up as if there was no one else in the bar and we were interrupting her and invading her space. She then begrudgingly placed her bag at her feet.
Tip: Please ladies, mind your purse. If you can "clutch" it in one hand, it may be placed in front of you at the bar or on a table. If it is the size of a small suitcase, please place it at your feet or on your lap. Try also to be aware of others, and what is going on around you, especially in a crowded bar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
