Stuff continued

 A week or so ago Amanda asked me for handwritten recipes from my mother. I went through my recipes and sent her a few and then yesterday I happened onto Mom's recipe boxes and I spent far too much time taking a walk down memory lane. I picked a few to send to Amanda. The craft project she is starting has to do with handwritten recipes and I assume white dishcloths. I am anxious to see the result.

In my perusing, I found this article from a newspaper. I am guessing it is the Fort Dodge IA paper. It may be a bit hard to read. (Later) I decided it was too difficult to read so I took what I thought might be a better picture of it and when I started to enhance it Google asked me if I wanted to "Copy Text?" and even though I was dumbfounded I said yes!

So here is the text of the article above! Thanks, Google!

Rhubarb, a versatile plant food

Rhubarb, a plentiful plant this time of year, can be canned or frozen. Freezing rhubarb is easy-no blanching or adding sugar. Just trim the stalks, wash, cut to fit the container, and freeze. What could be easier for winter pies and cobblers, says Martha Jacobson, Webster County extension home economist.

Ben Vance, the extension specialist at Iowa State University, says to keep those rhubarb plants healthy; pull the stalks-don't cut them. When stalks are cut, the base often rots causing decline or death of the plant. For a better rhubarb crop, grasp the base of the stalk and pull, don't cut.

A Hamilton County homemaker shares this rhubarb cake recipe with you: 

RHUBARB CAKE

(or cupcakes)

Beat together: 1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup shortening

1egg 

Add:

1 cup buttermilk (or 1-2 tablespoons vinegar with sweet milk to fill cup let stand 5 minutes)

1  tsp. soda 

2 cups flour

1 tsp. vanilla

 1½ cups rhubarb (cut fine) 

Pour ingredients into a 9½ x 13-inch cake pan or 24-26 cupcake fillers. Before baking, sprinkle with: ½ cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes; cupcakes at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

RHUBARB JAM 

Mix together 3 cups of rhubarb and 1 heaping cup of sugar. Cook until rhubarb is done. Add 1 small package of strawberry raspberry or gelatine. Mix well and pour in small glass or jars.

And then... chit chat

The weather has quickly changed to be on the cool side. What is wrong with MEDIUM, Mother Nature? I know you are ticked off at what we have been doing with your favorite planet. I will try to do my part to make it better. Still, we are grateful we are not dealing with the messes they have in other places.

The situation does turn our thoughts southward but it is still more than a month before take-off.

Stuff's been a-happening...

 We bought an 8-foot pool table from friend and classmate Jan Durlam Mitchell. Butch and I spent part of a day getting it disassembled as much as we could before calling in the strong arms of Jason and Zach who will be helping us shortly to bring the rest of it home. Then we will be doing the reassembly. Not nearly as scary this time as last.

We sold our extra lot that Butch bought to keep the alley open. The irony is we sold it to the guy who was plugging it up! For more than we paid for it AND he has promised to keep the alley open. Butch made friends with him and we think he will abide. We received the check today. Bottom line: Butch can get out with the motorhome if it is blocked, it is just more work.

We took the demo hearing aids back today and decided not to use them. Butch did not like them nearly as much as he does the ones he has had for the past 6 years. And when he replaces will probably go with the same brand he has had.

Continued tomorrow.

Trivia Replay

 

So,we are back to trivia. In the pool hall on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm. I am taking it easy on myself by using questions I have put together in the past. It has been close to two years since we have done any trivia. I am finding that it is still being enjoyed by most of us. Last night it fell into place that it was the guys against the girls. And I was feeling sorry for the guys because they were way behind in points and it looked for sure that they were going to lose. But then the 4th round is double down round and the guys came roaring back to win by answering the last two questions correctly. A Big surprise to us all.

Come join the fun on Tuesday night in the pool hall. Teams are put together by drawing numbers, odds and evens. So far we have had two teams.

Read Where's Eldo

 If you are reading this on your computer look to the left and see where it says "Links". The top one is a blog titled "Where's Eldo". Sparky is a friend of mine I met in Michigan for 15 minutes and we have stayed in touch, so to speak, ever since. All RVers should read her latest entry.

The RV industry is not what it used to be. If there is a well-built RV anywhere, I would be very surprised. Unfortunately, what Eldo discovered is not at all uncommon. They are shelling out new RV's as fast as they can. This has been true for a few years now. Look at RV lots that have them for sale and you will find they are 'short of product'. You might see ones that look well stocked but if you asked the dealer many of them might be waiting for a part! A part that is unattainable.

Not a good time to buy a NEW RV.

Yup!

 “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sherri was telling me

 ...about her drive up from Atlantic. She said this big truck came up behind her and she wanted it to pass her but it didn't, so finally she slowed way up so they would pass her and finally they did, and as they went around her they waved and flashed their lights. She was puzzled by that and then in the telling of it, she said they had Texas plates. I said, OOOOH, they were thanking you! In Texas, they have Texas pullovers and if you are going slow or slower than the folks behind you expect, they want you to get over ASAP and let them by. It is considered a courtesy. 

This is something many Iowans might not know about.

And Then...

 Yes, it has been one of those weeks. Busy as can be but having fun throughout. Sunday morning Keri and I finally got a walk in, and that felt very good and we had lots to catch up on. I came home to Jason being here and then shortly my friend from Atlantic, Sherri Clark, arrived as well. We had an exceedingly fun day talking, playing pool and more talking. The guys went to play golf in there too. Sherri's husband Randy passed away a year ago( not Covid) and with that and the pandemic we had not been able to spend much time together. She just might come to Texas and spend some time with us this winter. I certainly hope so. We miss them both.