A Deer in the Headlights

It’s not bad enough that my Texas trip was cancelled at the last minute.  Or that I haven’t seen the sun since before Thanksgiving and that Kansas City is experiencing it’s fifth consecutive day of rain and drizzle (more rain today as it’s slightly above freezing).  Or that I gave up my day off to voluntarily drive the vanpool to work because I believed both my back drivers had requested this Monday after Thanksgiving off.  Surprise!  Both of them rode in the van this morning.

Nope, it couldn’t possibly get any worse, right?  Until I remembered as I got off the parking garage elevator and walked to the building elevators and saw this:

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A Cold Dark Oven

I’m thankful for many things this Thanksgiving.  Oddly, I’m somewhat thankful even for my cold, dark oven.

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I’m thankful that I won’t be on my feet for hours today prepping and baking for a family gathering.  For the first time in I don’t know how many years, I will not be basting and roasting a turkey.  I won’t be making more stuffing (I already succumbed last week and made a huge batch of stuffing because I couldn’t help myself). I might not escape baking entirely today, though, as I may break down and make Sticky Buns because it’s a TRADITION!

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The Thing All Women Do That You Don’t Know About | Drifting Through My Open Mind

http://driftingthrough.com/2015/11/20/the-thing-all-women-do-that-you-dont-know-about/

The next time you read about or hear a woman call out sexist language, don’t belittle her for doing so. Listen.

I don’t go through life terrified of anything. You’re not ‘living’ if you’re ‘living scared.’ But I don’t trust and am wary of men I don’t know. The axiom ‘Actions speak louder than words’ applies here.

This article hits home and resonates.  I have done many of these defense mechanisms subconsciously most of my life.  The older I get though the less I care about the consequences to myself.  Awareness so that future generations of women can live without these ingrained defenses becomes my goal.

Posted from WordPress for Android via my Samsung smartphone. Please excuse any misspellings. Ciao, Jon

Doomed to Repeat Alternate History?

Why You Should Be Watching The Man in the High Castle – http://www.kameronhurley.com/why-you-should-be-watching-the-man-in-the-high-castle/

Meeting violence with violence doesn’t show strength: it inspires more violence.

I’ve been reading a lot if World War One and Two books lately, most recently The Seamstress.  It reminds me we must never forget and never repeat the evils of yesteryear. 

And yes I’ve read PKD’s Man in the High Castle. I wish I could watch the series but I’m not a subscriber of that ‘evil’ empire. 🙂

Somber thoughts today. 

Posted from WordPress for Android via my Samsung smartphone. Please excuse any misspellings. Ciao, Jon

Family Recipes: Grandma Marie’s German Potato Soup

We made a double batch of this wonderful potato soup on Sunday. I had both grandchildren of Marie Hodge present as taste testers to confirm the authenticity of the recipe.

Back in 2001, I contacted my then living grandmother, Doris Andrea, for recipes and stories to be included in a local church anniversary cookbook. This was one of the recipes she provided me. The story she told me to accompany this soup hailed back to the hard days of the Great Depression and making simple hearty meals that stretched ingredients.

Addendum (updated 8:15 am 11/09/2015):  Some specifics on the double batch version of this recipe we created in my kitchen yesterday morning include using two 3-pound bags of organic russet potatoes, about half of an organic yellow onion and a few stalks of organic celery.  The rest of the ingredients, with the exception of the bacon, were non-organic.  Instead of a quart of milk, we used a quart of half-and-half (store brand).

The bacon was an uncured natural version from Farmland.  To bake bacon in the oven, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil (makes cleanup easy) and place the strips of bacon so they just barely touch.  I can usually get an entire 12 ounce package of bacon on my largest baking sheet.  Place the sheet in a cold oven and set the temperature for 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Set the timer for 20 minutes and check the doneness of the bacon when it dings, adding more time if you want it more done and/or crispier.

Lansing Community Library Snack & Chat Tonight

http://www.lansing.ks.us/CivicAlerts/#1331_SingleEntryView

The Lansing Community Library is hosting its first “Snack and Chat” on Tues., Nov.3 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Library, 730 1st Terr. This new quarterly event gives community members an opportunity to meet with the Library Board and Director. Patrons can share thoughts, suggestions and ideas.

For more information, contact Lansing Community Library Director Terri Wojtalewicz at 913-727-2929 or by email at twojo@lansing.ks.us.

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I made chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin bread.

Hope to see you there.

Posted from WordPress for Android via my Samsung smartphone. Please excuse any misspellings. Ciao, Jon