HALLOWEEN and CURRENT AFFAIRS

 This morning I was digging through old postcards in preparation for a Thanksgiving blog post and came across a few postcards that seem to fit into our current times.  See if you agree.

The first two postcards are ideas for your holiday entertaining (even if only for you and your immediate family).  The first is the "Turtle Trivet" which, according to the printing on the back, has many uses - it can hang on the wall as a decoration, it can be used as a trivet, and it can be used with toothpicks for finger foods.  

The next postcard shows the "Snack-A-Roo" which is made of seeds.  "He's a cunning, decorative centerpiece that quickly becomes the most unusual snack server imaginable.  Really something to crow about... ."  

Aren't these hilarious?!?  Imagine buying these?!?  Imagine using them?!?

Amazon has really benefited from Covid-19.  But buying things to be delivered to your home has been going on...forever!  See the many listed products that you could get just by checking the little boxes and mailing the postcard.  How about pie fillings (flavor?), Eau de Cologne (scent?), or greeting cards (Christmas?).  

Speaking of greeting cards, pretty soon we'll need to get busy making, buying, addressing and mailing them.  See this sampling of Christmas cards that you could order.

The following two postcards show movies playing at the time the postcards were printed.  The first was issued by Durand Theatre, in Durand, Wisconsin.  The movie, "Stranger At My Door" could be a good movie for tonight, Halloween.  Of course, it won't be showing at the theatre, but perhaps we could find it on AMC, Hulu, Peacock, or Netflix.  

This next postcard was issued by Rivoli Theatre, Cedarburg, Wisconsin.  The movie I'd like to see is "Are Husbands Necessary?" starring Ray Milland and Betty Field!  

On a serious note, we have a critical election in process.  This next postcard speaks to one of the issues.  It was postmarked April 24, 1989 - 31 years ago.  Still controversial today.

I think I love old postcards because they are so interesting - historical, funny, beautiful, and topical.  Check back soon for another round!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.  STAY SAFE.  FIND BEAUTY IN THE EVERYDAY.

TINY KITCHEN - Macaroni and Cheese

We are just back from a delightful Christmas - New Years trip to England. Now to make up for eating all of those "chips" by going on a diet! Perhaps if I can limit my food intake to this recipe I will be successful. Check it out!

ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN - IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!

Awhile ago I posted a different version of this video but it's time to get excited about Spring and the coming of our beautiful flowers.

Enjoy!

LEAP YEAR - LEAP DAY - FEBRUARY 29, 2016

Remember as a child learning the verse:

Thirty days hath September,

April, June, and November

All the rest have 31,

Except for February.

What about February?  Well, in three out of four February’s there are 28 days, but in a Leap Year there are 29 days.  This year is a Leap Year and, accordingly, this February 29 is Leap Day.  Why is this necessary?

At the decree of Julius Caesar in 46 B.C., one day was added to the calendar in order to synchronize our calendar with the Earth’s orbit around the sun.  To simplify, the Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to orbit the sun every year.  It’s that .25 of a day that creates the need for a leap year every four years.

Like many astrological events, Leap Day has a tradition.  In Ireland and England tradition allows women to propose marriage to a man on that day.  It is questionable how this tradition came to be.  One belief is that in 5^th century Ireland St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long to be asked to marry, and St. Patrick decided that on Leap Day it should be allowed.  Another belief is that the five-year-old Queen Margaret of Scotland enacted a law setting fines for men who turned down marriage proposals from women during leap year.  Regardless of when or how this tradition came to be, it appears from a quick review of YouTube videos that this tradition continues throughout the world.  Fortunately, in our modern age, it is now okay for women to propose marriage on any day of the year.

Of course, the tradition was captured on postcards during the Postcard Era in the early 1900’s.  Here are two examples from my collection.  The first card is quite serious, a direct request for marriage.  This postcard was sent to Mr. Chas. P. Arthur, Hampton, Iowa.  The sender wrote:  "Wish I was with you or you were with me... either one would be all right.  Don't you think?  Lovingly, Alethie".

"My dear and much respected sir, I send you this your love to stir; I ask your heart not in a jest, and hope you'll grant my fond request.  I'll be your wife until you die.  And now await your prompt reply."

The postcard above was postmarked April 8, 1909, and mailed to Miss Etta Tohd (?!?), Maiden Rock, Wisconsin.

Celebrate this Leap Day by watching the delightful rom-com, "Leap Year."  Spoiler Alert:  If you haven't seen the movie, don't watch this film clip!

SAVANNAH - CREAMY SHRIMP AND GRITS

Once a year for the past 14 years a group of eight friends (including us!) have been going on a weekend trip together.  We cook, we shop, there may be golf, there may be a dinner game mystery; but we have really enjoyed the fun time together.  The location has typically been within a two hour drive of our homes, to a VRBO, a bed and breakfast, or to a lake cabin or lake home.  Since this year we are celebrating our 15th get together, we decided to do something special.  After a lot of thought, we decided to spend four (or more!) days together in Savannah, Georgia.  Although we are all well traveled, we found that this is one of the places that none of us had been to previously.  More on that in a later blog post.

We needed to get together to do some advance planning, so I decided to host a potluck "Southern Dinner" to include us watching the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" which takes place in Savannah.   For the dinner I decided to prepare Shrimp and Grits.  You can immediately tell that I am a northerner since southerners will tell you that Shrimp and Grits is a breakfast entree, not a dinner entree.  Oh well...

CREAMY SHRIMP AND GRITS.  Serves 8.
GRITS:
*  4-1/4 cups low-salt chicken broth
*  3/4 cup whipping cream
*  6 tablespoons butter
*  2 garlic cloves, minced
*  1 cup corn grits (or corn meal)
In a large heavy saucepan, bring broth, cream, butter and garlic to boil.  Gradually whisk in corn grits.  Return to a boil, whisking constantly.  Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, whisking often, until grits thicken - about 15 minutes.
SHRIMP:
*  4 ounces of bacon, cut into thin strips
*  1/2 cup butter
*  1 whole fresh red pepper, seeded and cut into pieces
*  2/3 cup finely chopped shallots
*  2 large garlic cloves, minced
*  4 pounds uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
*  1 cup dry white wine
*  28 ounces canned, diced tomatoes in juice, drained (juice reserved)
*  1 teaspoon seasoning such as Penzeys "Ozark"
*  1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
*  1/2 cup chopped green onions

In a large, heavy skillet, fry the bacon; then remove the bacon and most of the bacon grease.  Add 1/4 cup butter to the skillet.  Saute red pepper, shallots and garlic for about 2 minutes.  Add the shrimp and saute another two minutes.  Using a slotted spoon, remove the shrimp to a bowl.  Add white wine to the skillet and boil until reduced to a glaze, about 5 minutes.  Add the drained tomatoes, the Ozark seasoning, and half of the fried bacon; simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.  Add parsley, green onions, and cooked shrimp and simmer until the shrimp are warmed through, about 2 minutes.  If desired, thin the sauce with the reserved tomato juice.  Test and add salt and pepper to taste.
TO SERVE:
Spoon corn grits into shallow bowls.  Top with shrimp mixture, and garnish with the remaining fried bacon.  Serve immediately.