Where Are the 'Mingos?

Which Sister?

This picture speaks to me because these are the names of my two youngest sisters.

Change is Good

Today I changed the name of this blog.  For lack of a better title, I named it Nancy's Stuff when I first started it 10 1/2 years ago.  And while that description was appropriate for the miscellaneous remnants that I posted, I never really liked it, probably because it wasn't very "catchy."

The new title came to me while on my morning walk at the rec center.  I think about a lot of things while putting in my 60-70 minute circular trudge 6 days a week.  Quite a variation of topics pass through my thoughts -- most are quickly forgotten while some are replayed back on occasions.

My blog's new title, Wisdom or Foolishness, pays homage to my dad.  It was the title of his weekly email post that he shared with all of his cyber buddies.  He picked up quite a few email contacts over the years ranging from close family to distant family, former co-workers, neighbors and friends, and he even reconnected with high school classmates whom he hadn't seen in many, many years.

Over the years, Dad collected "sayings" from a variety of sources.  Just about any little ditty he might come across would be saved in some form in a folder in his file cabinet.  He would sometimes include these bits and pieces in his weekly memos to his faculty/staff at the Grade School.  But once he had a captive audience of email friends, he started compiling these proverbs and apothegms into lists which he shared on Thursdays.

The WOF lists are numbered.  I still have two in my work email: #305 from 2004 and #326 from six months later (see below).  Based on these numbers, he was well into his 6th year of disseminating his WOF newsletter.  It is a bulleted list using Dad's unique symbol [}.  He signs off 73, which is ham radio code for "best regards."  You might think the B in the signature is for Bob.  But it's actually for his last name.  Most of his faculty/staff called him Mr. B and, sometimes, just B.

RJB's "Wisdom or Foolishness" newsletter

I enjoyed reading these through the years.  I was especially fond of challenging my dad when some of the "facts" were not accurate.  And I took glee when I could prove that information incorrect.  

You might notice that the "to" recipient in the image is The News-Gazette.  Dad was a faithful contributor to the "joke" section of the entertainment supplement of the local newspaper.  I suspect he routinely emailed jokes and his WOF newsletter to them, and they occasionally selected some of his foolishness when they needed filler.  I think he would have been amused to see his submissions included in two editions of the newspaper's supplements after he died in 2007. 

"Smile when picking up the phone."  I know this piece of wisdom is something that Dad followed.

December 2015

Chicago

Our December festivities began with a visit to Chicago’s famed Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza.  Patrick had mentioned it to us a year ago – friends had told him it was fun and interesting.  It is modeled after the Christmas markets in Germany and has a definite German characteristic to it. 

We met P. at his apartment – my chance to see where he lived, I liked it.  We walked north to Wrigley Field to get a picture under the famous marquee.  Unfortunately the stadium is undergoing major renovations and the whole area is enclosed with construction barricades.  We settled on pictures in front of the “official” Cubs Store.

Patrick and John with a snowman made from baseballs

We then took the “el” train to downtown Chicago.  It was after 11 o’clock so we decided to have some lunch first.  We’d chosen The Berghoff Restaurant in keeping with the German theme of the day.  The Berghoff has been family-run since 1898.  My meal choice was Rahm Schnitzel.  John and Patrick chose the Berghoff Burger and a tortellini dish.  We all enjoyed our food.

We then walked a few blocks to Daley Plaza.  The Christkindlmarket was packed to the point of not being able to walk around freely.  I knew it would be crowded, but this was way beyond anything I’d imagined.  You simply were not able to walk comfortably anywhere.  We soon gave up, but lucky for me, I did get to hear a German oompah band play “Christmas in Killarney.” 

We discussed a couple museums to visit and settled on the The Field Museum because none of us had been there.  We took a cab.  We got lucky – it turned out to be reduced admission prices for Illinois residents.  While I wasn’t terribly interested in the displays, the Field Museum is a nicely designed building and the exhibits were superb especially for anyone interested in the topics.

The Field Museum, Chicago

We left the museum shortly before 5:00 and went to the supper destination that Patrick had chosen: Tango Sur, an Argentinian steakhouse.  We all had steak, and for reasons unknown to us, we were also served a complimentary dessert flan with 3 spoons to share.

Following our supper we took a cab back to Patrick’s apartment and prepared to leave.  John took Lake Shore Drive to I-55.  We seemed to be driving an exceptionally long time on I-55 looking for the intersection with I-57.  John finally said “Do you think we missed it?”  I checked our GPS location on the cellphone and discovered that we had indeed missed the connection and were headed off into unknown cornfields.  We mentally updated our route and exited I-55 onto Illinois 47 at Dwight.

Christmas with Family

Patrick arrived in town via Amtrak on the 24th.  I picked him up shortly after 11:00, and we decided since we were so close to the newly opened Black Dog location, we’d have lunch there.  Patrick phoned John, and he came and met us.  I branched out and ordered a chicken salad sandwich with twice-baked potato casserole.  John and Patrick chose traditional BBQ: pulled pork and burnt end sandwiches.

Our Christmas Eve supper was a crockpot recipe: Red Pepper Chicken.

Patrick found a couple presents to open on Christmas Day.  Christmas Day lunch was a new recipe: Oven Beef and Noodles.

That afternoon Patrick made Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin Cookies.  I've had this recipe for years, and it's one of his favorites.  Some were taken to each of the family gatherings, and there were plenty for Patrick to take into work with him on Monday.

Patrick makes delicious cookies

Saturday, the 26th, was a day with Benefiels in SB.  Then on Sunday, we were with the Bodes in GC.  Patrick headed back north on the train Sunday evening.  He toted home a Grammie-bag of goodies: his gifts, a balsam fir-scented Yankee Candle gift set with a shade that I'd been given at work, and the remaining cookies for his co-workers.

After 4 days, John and I finally finished off all the leftovers yesterday.  In addition to the leftovers from the previously mentioned recipes, there were also egg salad and potato salad that were our contributions to the family gatherings.

Another pleasant holiday.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Red Pepper Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz. each)
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Mexican stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 jar (12 oz.) roasted sweet red peppers, drained and cut into strips
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
Pepper to taste
Hot cooked rice 

Place the chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, red peppers, onion, salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until chicken is tender. Serve with rice.  4 servings.  (Taste of Home)

Oven Beef and Noodles

1 pkg. (1-1/2 oz.) onion soup mix    

4 C. water
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup
3 lb. boneless beef chuck roast
1 pkg. (12-oz.) kluski egg noodles, uncooked
2 Tbsp. dried parsley

Combine onion soup mix and water in a covered roasting pan; stir in mushroom soup. Place roast in pan on top of soup mixture. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 4 hours, or until meat is very tender. 

Remove roast from pan and shred; return to pan. Add noodles to pan; reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, checking and stirring every 15 minutes, until noodles are tender. Add water if necessary to prevent drying out. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.  6 to 8 servings.  (Gooseberry Patch)

Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin Cookies

2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. cooked pumpkin
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. oil
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1 teaspoon milk
1 C. semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 C. chopped nuts (optional)

Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.  Combine pumpkin, sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture along with dissolved soda; mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop by teaspoonfuls on lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 10 to 12 minutes.  Makes about 5 dozen.

Our yule log - "Merry Christmas" from Fluffy and Spike

Thanksgiving 2014

Our latest “girls gone wild” weekend had a twist.  This time our husbands accompanied us!  We’d tossed around this idea for a couple years, and this year we decided to take the plunge.

The first step was to find a house/cabin/lodge with 5 bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and somewhat centrally located to our respective homes.  A loghome that fit our criteria was found near Nancy, Kentucky, and arrangements to rent for Thanksgiving 2014 were made.

   

Tuesday, November 25

-  John and I traveled with Amy and Jerry
-  we encountered Martha and Steve at a rest area east of Indianapolis and got the traditional bathroom photo
-  lunch: brown bag in a gas station parking lot – John and I feasted on chicken tenders, grapes, and Oreos
-  break time at Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea – enjoyed looking at the crafts from talented Kentucky people
-  supper: pulled pork BBQ, potato salad, cookies

the traditional restroom photo
Martha and Amy, near Indianapolis

Wednesday, November 26

-  breakfast: Sharon’s Mill Springs Restaurant in Nancy – great service, good food
-  gals went grocery shopping at Kroger in Somerset
-  guys toured Mill Springs Battlefield
-  afternoon snack: home-baked Rhodes cinnamon rolls
-  supper: cheeseburger soup, chicken taco soup, fresh baked bread, cheesecake
-  game: Awkward Family Photos

breakfast at Sharon's

Thursday, Thanksgiving

-  breakfast: sausage breakfast casserole, vegetarian breakfast casserole, fruit, monkey bread
-  Thanksgiving meal: ham, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, dressing, Beef House rolls, pumpkin pie, apple pie
-  football: Bears vs. Lions – Lions won, 34-17
-  craft: ribbon wreaths
-  drinking game: Prairie Dog Woman

Friday, November 28

-  breakfast: oatmeal
-  roadtrip: antiques mall in Somerset; Haney’s Appledale Farm in Nancy
-  lunch: leftovers plus apple turnovers from the apple farm
-  supper: leftovers
-  sister gifts Christmas exchange
-  game: Cards Against Humanity

"Sinkie Day," the day after Thanksgiving when people eat leftovers
while standing over the kitchen sink to catch the crumbs

Saturday, November 29

-  departed around 6:30 central time
-  lunch: Cracker Barrel, Crawfordsville, IN
-  arrived home around 2:15 central time
-  approximately 388 miles

We sisters had a wonderful time.  The husbands survived, and I believed enjoyed most of this adventure.  Jane summed up our vacation when she said "our long national nightmare has ended."

Prairie Dog Woman Cooks

During our latest Girls Gone Wild vacation in Kentucky our talk turned to a well-known show on Food Network.  Somehow the title of that show skewed into "Prairie Dog Woman."  We proceeded to demonstrate that we five sisters also had the right stuff to make us great cooks, too.

Our pre-Thanksgiving supper consisted of a choice of two soups: Cheeseburger Potato Soup and 8-Can Taco Soup.  Both were rated "delicious."

Cheeseburger Potato Soup Serves:   8 1/2 to 1 lb. ground beef 3/4 C. chopped onion 3/4 C. chopped carrots 3/4 C. diced celery 1 tsp. dried basil (no substitutions) 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes 4 Tbsp. butter or margarine, divided 3 C. chicken broth 4 C. cubed peeled potatoes 1/4 C. flour 8 oz. cheddar cheese or American cheese, cubed 1 1/2 C. milk 3/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper In a Dutch oven, brown beef; drain and set aside. In the same pan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.  Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, in a small pan, melt remaining butter.  Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes until bubbly.  Add to soup; bring to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes.  Reduce heat to low.  Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. ~.~.~.~.~ 8-Can Taco Soup Serves:   8 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 oz.)  pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained 1 can (15 oz.) sweet corn, drained 1 can (12.5 oz.) chicken breast, drained 1 can (10.75 oz.) cream of chicken soup 1 can (10 oz.) green enchilada sauce 1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth 1 packet (1 oz.) taco seasoning Shredded cheese Tortilla chips Sour cream Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Dump all the ingredients into slow cooker and stir together. Cook on Low heat for 2-3 hours. Serve with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and a dollop of sour cream. Note: Can also be prepared on the stovetop.

left: Susan prepares Cheeseburger Potato Soup
right: Nancy stirs together 8-Can Taco Soup

Thanksgiving morning began with two breakfast casseroles.

Cheese-Spinach Breakfast Casserole Serves:   8+ 1 lb. (16 oz.) shredded hash browns, well thawed 8 or 9 eggs, beaten 16 oz. (2 C.) cottage cheese, small curd, drain if extra wet 10-12 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed 1/3 C. melted margarine 1/3 C. grated parmesan cheese Pepper, to taste 2/3 C. chopped onions 2/3 C. chopped bell peppers 2 3/4 C. finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese Place hash browns in a Pam-sprayed pan.  Bake at 350-degreese for 10 minutes.  (If assembling the night before, skip the pre-baking step.) Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Pour egg mixture over potato base.  Bake 40-45 minutes or until set.  Let sit 5 minutes before cutting. Optional ingredients can be added: feta cheese crumbles, well-drained petite diced tomatoes, capers (to taste). ~.~.~.~.~ Sausage and Egg Casserole 1 stick margarine 1 lb. hash browns 1 small onion, chopped 2 C. (1 lb.) sausage, browned 2 C. shredded cheddar cheese 1 dozen eggs 2 C. milk 1 tsp. salt Melt margarine. Place hash browns and onion in greased 9x13 baking dish. Drizzle margarine over top. Salt and pepper lightly. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350-degrees. Remove from oven and cool if not using right away. Layer sausage and cheese on the potatoes. Beat together eggs, milk and 1 teaspoon salt. Pour over top. Bake at 350-degrees for 40-45 minutes. Can be prepared the night before and baked the following day.

Left: our two breakfast casseroles
Right: Rod and Jerry on KP duty

Later in the day we feasted on our Thanksgiving dinner: ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, can o' cranberry sauce, and Beef House rolls.  The meal concluded with pumpkin pie and apple pie.

Crumb-Topped Apple Pie 1 pie crust 1/3 to 2/3 C. granulated sugar      (depends on how sweet your apples are) 1/3 C. flour 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon Dash of salt 2 Tbsp. butter 10 C. thinly sliced pared apples      (Martha says: 10 cups sounds like a lot to me) Heat oven 425 degrees and prepare pastry. Mix together all of the ingredients and put into pie crust. It will be very full. Crumb topping: 1 C. flour 1/2 C. brown sugar 1/2 C. firm butter or margarine (1 stick) Mix flour and brown sugar in bowl. Cut in butter. Mound over the top of the pie. It will appear to be really full but it will sink as it cooks. Bake 40 to 50 minutes.

left: Jane preps our Thanksgiving ham
right: Martha adds the topping to the apple pie

It's important to note that not all the kitchen duties were handled by the sisters.  An occasional brother-in-law stepped in to help speed things along.

Left: Amy relaxes after dictating to Jerry
Right: Jim avoids dishpan hands by offering to dry the dishes

Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny

This year’s Cousin Reunion was hosted by cousins who live in the Charlottesville, Virginia area.  It’s quite a journey by car.  But we tacked on two days at my sister and brother-in-law’s near Appomattox.  Other visiting cousins planned to arrive early in C-ville or stay later and take in the many historical sites.  In fact, cousin Jane who works at Jefferson’s Monticello arranged a tour on Friday afternoon just for family members.  I did not take advantage of this tour – would have liked to – but I was still in West Virginia, and I’ve already seen TJ’s home 3 times before.

Friday, June 20

Travel:   12 hours
Supper:  Sticks Kebob Shop, Charlottesville
Motel:    English Inn, Charlottesville

Saturday, June 21

Breakfast:  the motel has a nice buffet
Lunch:       potluck picnic at Mint Springs Valley Park, Albemarle County
Supper:      catered meal at White Hall Ruritan Club building near Crozet
                  fried chicken, roast pork, fresh vegetables, salads, macaroni and cheese, cupcakes

The sacred Newel Post Ceremony

Sunday, June 22

Breakfast:   buffet at motel
Goodbyes
Drove to Jane and Rod’s log home in rural Appomattox
Martha, Steve and Dawn arrived
Skipped lunch because I was stuffed from breakfast
Supper:   grilled hamburgers, potato salads, coleslaw and Ramen noodle coleslaw, leftover cupcakes (with Jane’s fist print where she smashed them)

Monday, June 23

Jane and Rod had to work their shifts at Holliday Lake State Park
John and I went to the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.  We then traveled to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Lunch:   Peaks of Otter Lodge Restaurant
               me: chicken club wrap with clam chowder soup
               J: pulled pork BBQ sandwich with apple slices
               we shared a blackberry cobbler with ice cream ….. yum
We drove along the BRP stopped a couple time.  We walked across a pedestrian bridge over the James River.  J. went the whole way across and looked at a canal lock.
Supper:   Charley’s Waterfront Café, Farmville – inside an old warehouse
                me: taco salad (not that good)
                J:  Chicken fingers

Tuesday, June 24

Rod had to work at the state park.  But Jane had the day off.
Breakfast:   cinnamon rolls from WalMart – couldn’t find the Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls that I looked all over for
We took our time getting organized, then we girls – Nancy, Martha, Jane, and Dawn – headed to Lynchburg.  We discussed a variety of restaurants to eat lunch, and settled on Olive Garden-- We had coupons!
me:  Chicken Parmigiana with Zuppa Toscana soup
        I had a taste of Martha’s Chicken Gnocchi soup and liked it so much that I requested my own bowl.
We went to Kohl’s because they were having a good sale.  I found a new purse that was 50% off and ended up costing around $19 after Jane used a coupon and her Kohl’s card.
Went to happy hour at Sonic.  Had a half-price cherry slushy.

Meanwhile, John explored the Appomattox area including "the surrender grounds"
Supper:   Rod grilled vegetable skewers (veggies from his garden) and chicken breasts.
               We also had leftover salads and a chocolate ice cream pie from Kroger.

Wednesday, June 25

J. and I departed around 5 a.m. before anyone else was up.  We struggled through Appomattox, but finally found ourselves over the Blue Ridge Mountains and onto the interstate.  A mere 12.5 hours later we were back home.  Roughly 725 miles one way.  With all of our running around (as well as mix-ups finding our way along unfamiliar territory), we added 1770 miles to the odometer.