Memorial Day Memories

I do recall from years of the long ago past, participating in what our family considered the "Proper" memorial day celebrations...  Now, as a young pup, playing in a cemetary for a few hours, while the adult folk went about their business, was not exactly at the top of my "to do" list!

The day would begin with a trip to a nursery, picking up a few assorted flowers of whatever variety were available.  The planting tools were already in the trunk of the car, and once checked out, we'd pile into the Ford and head "up north."  My family (apparently) is from the Greenville area of Michigan.  While dad had moved to the big city (tongue in cheed, Lansing's NOT that big!) his brother remained in the boonies and raised two daughters as dad began his own family.

The trip from Lansing to Sheridan (where uncle Mort lived) would take about an hour, perhaps a little longer.  For me, it was simply forever!  I always enjoyed visiting our country family... they grew their own veggies every summer, many of which aunt Donna would can towards the end of the season, to avoid spoilage/loss, and to provide produce into the winter months.

From here, it was another trip...  Grandpa's house (farm) was in Greenville.  I do have very vague memories of the old place, but as grandpa died when I was young, 4 perhaps, I recall very little - except the old hand pump at the kitchen sink!  Did they have a wood burning stove in the kitchen - I do not recall! 

The cemetary was somewhere in that vacinity of small towns, clustered in the Michigan countryside.  As the day progressed, we'd plant flowers on the graves of those family members who had passed.  Stories would be shared of "the old days," mosquitos would be swatted right left and center, and if we were lucky we'd have a tree to offer shade, and perhaps ice water, or lemonade to keep the thirst in check. 

Of course, long before the adults were ready to call it "done," I'd be aching to head back to uncle's, to play in the barn - often we'd uncover a brood of feral kittens, though I knew well enough to leave the little babies be...  Once weaned, they might allow a scratch on the head or such, but if mama showed up, it was time to let them all be! 

The day might end up having a light meal with the family, before we piled back into the Ford to return to Lansing.  I dare say that I'd nap all the way home - if my big sis would stop picking on me long enough! 

Dad and Mort are now dead... I would guess that Mort is buried somewhere in that neck of the woods, but have little clue as to what became of dad.  Per his wishes, he was cremated, and his remains presented to my step-mother in a very plain, brown tin!  If I'm not mistaken, he's somewhere in TX now, with my sis...  I guess the days of planting flowers at the graves is lost, unless my aunt and her first born continue the tradition.  Fran has only recently returned to MI from somewhere in the Carolinas, Wendy (my sis) in TX, Linda (the next in line) is busy with her family...  That leaves little ol' me here in AZ with friends as family substitutes.  Mom is now 92 and living near Wendy, losing a few more marbles daily (I mean MOM, but dare say she's draining Wendy's supply of sanity also!) 

So, there are my memories of Memorial Day from the ancient past.  Did we ever bbq?  I have no idea - if so, it was the anti-climax of the weekend! 

Be safe, be well!

Welcome back to "Life, Lemons, and Things!"  Indeed, the past few days have handed me a few lemons, but there has also been quite a bit of "life" mixed into the works!

With the holiday weekend looming just days ahead, I chose to spend a day in the "crazy kitchen" preparing for Monday, though as far as I know, we have NO plans for any festivities!  I guess I'll have to make my own...

Two days ago, I spent a MANIC day in the kitchen cooking.  I decided that I needed mashed spuds for dinner, but also had been wanting to make some potato salad, so I peeled extra 'taters and tossed them into the stock pot.  (No, I didn't NEED that big of a pot, but the others were dirty!)  Once cooked, I divided, and made both mashed and the salad.  It was during this effort that I learned a very important lesson...  A vegetable peeler will most definately take a thin layer of skin off any nearby finger! 
Yesterday, I pulled out the pressure canner, and put up 8 pints of homemade "pork and beans" which I'd made a few days prior.  I let these slow cook in the ol' crock pot, and tossed the pot and all into the "spare" frige, once suitably cooled - I didn't want the glass shelf to shatter from the heat of the pot! 

Today caught me totally off guard!  I'd been wanting to sort out the linen cupboard in the my bathroom, that my "winter" bedding might be stuffed into it.  I did manage to sort it all out in pretty short order, but I also pulled out my spring/summer bedding and window treatments, giving the bedroom a "fresh & clean" look.  (I also dusted the furniture which was rather gross!)  Spice kitty didn't seem to mind the new bedcover at all, so I guess I've her approval! 

While taking a break this afternoon, my worst fear (for my patio umbrella) came true, and the darn thing lifted 3' off the ground, and out of the holder, sailing into the back wall of the yard!  I managed to run out and crank the darn thing shut, but have yet to completely survey the damage...  Were I Mary Poppins, I might have enjoyed this! 

For now, that's where life and lemons have taken me.  Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Enter "Crazycook's" alternate world

While continuing with my subscription at allrecipes.com (which was recently renewed - though that could have been months ago the way time is flying by!)  I've chosen to return here to LIFE,LEMONS, AND THINGS to see just what might be going on...  I had a bit of trouble accessing this account, but after a few attempts, adding some security stuff to my account and changing my password, I do indeed seem to be back!

Welcome all, especially my friends from "Stevie's Crazykitchen!"  Navigating around this site has me a bit confused, but I'm confident that with a little time, I'll be right at home here!

To update from my last post of NINE MONTHS ago, I do seem to have some news to share!  My meds all seem to have balanced out finally, that I'm able to function for the most part (lol) and the desire to actually get up and do stuff has returned somewhat... I'd been a total couch potato for many months!

Razzle, the greyhound survived the valley fever, and was off all meds for a couple of months, when sadly, he took a turn for the worse.  He began having trouble getting up and down from his bed, and at times simply paced the house for hours.  Then I noticed that he could no longer stand for any amount of time, before his hind legs sort of folded up under him...  We had dinner that night, and gave the "boys" their cookies, after which we loaded Raz into the Edge and trundled off to a 24 hour Emergency, to say farewell to our dear, sweet friend.  We have all missed him daily, even the Afghan hound, who is now left at home alone (well, with cats...) when we both have to leave.  He's now doing better, as am I, but there is not a day passes, that I don't miss my friend! 

So, here I am once again, at this blog which I started some time ago but have ignored for far too long, wondering just how long my allrecipes blog will continue.  I'm sure it will, at least until my "dues" need to paid again... 

Since this is not a "food" website, I feel more comfortable chatting about "not-food" topics, but if I am to transition at some point from allrecipes to here, I can guarantee that most posts will be food/cooking/recipe oriented, but when I get a wild hair as they say, I can now chat about "toothpaste," if that's my whim of the moment!  Hell, I'm crazy, remember? 

For now, be CRAZY, but don't suck on the lemons.... unless you've got a shot of tequila at hand!