Grandma’s Stories

Feb 11th “It is TIME to wake up – MR WONDERFUL, TOM”

            “It’s NOT…the 13th…yet…”  – – “BUT”- – “GET UP!”

“HOW… can I get my  “beauty” sleep…If you keep waking me…before the 13th???”

“Some times a “guy” does have to get his rest…and that is what I would like to do!”

“WELL……….”

I hate to say…but if we do not wake you…. NOW… Your “BIRTHDAY” – – will be gone…over…all gone…it is NOW or never.  It is a little early…but you are too tired and  – – for your information – – just too  – –  too hard to wake up…especially…  when we have so many things for you to do  – – on your BIRTHDAY!

“and… What is a BIRTHDAY PARTY – – with out the “BIRTHDAY  PERSON” – – that we all call… “MR WONDERFUL” – – We all think that you have  had enough  ‘beauty’ sleep!”

Feb 10th “Operator – Dial up TOM’s PHONE NUMBER, PLEASE”

“Long Distance” – Calling for a   “Mr. Tom McClarren”  – “Is he available?”  “If he is busy…  Is there a better time for our PARTY to call?  Thank you… we will call  for  Tom – at the time you suggest…  which will be later   today!”  “Our party does  want  to leave a  ‘phone -gram’  – Happy Birthday to you – Happy Birthday dear Tommy – Happy Birthday and many more!”

                  “Everybody is  on the  “PHONE”  and  “Calling Tom”

Feb 9th “TUESDAY the 13th” is on its way”

                                        “ME***** TOM*****DENNY”

(DENNY – – (TOM) – – (ME)    *******  (DENNY – (ME) – (TOM)

                                Happy Birthday “Tom”

Happy Birthday “Mr. Wonderful” – Tom McClarren!   Since  Tom is the  ‘baby  senior citizen’  in our FAMILY  – if you  take a look   back  –  in TIME   – you will find pictures of the  “golden oldie trio” – at their finest hour  – by the edge  of  “Fairground Park Lake,  in North Saint Louis.”

Today  as  Tom  is now  pushing  the years  gone by… up to    “78”  – it is like going up the steps  – each  child  is just a year apart.  This will  last only till September when everyone  will  start to get a year older?  Maybe even a little better  –  with each additional  year  added on   – to all those  that we are hanging on to  for  “DEAR LIFE”  –  we are getting  a  little  “old” – “ER” and  “short-er”  and good  “look-ers” for something exciting and special  to happen, NOW!

So…  here is a wish for all  those who are so  “Lucky”  to have a  “Birthday”  on the  “13th”  – this month  and or any month  –   as you are just so extra special  and  “Lucky to be You!”

Let me explain the “Luck” one may and or may not have.   “YOUR”  Good Fortune is the amount of  “Prayers”   – that  – someone has put  into  the  “Bank of Life”  for  those near and dear to them   –  for their    “Love Ones.”   The best thing in “Life”  is to be  “Loved” – and  by someone near  and  dear to you!

May Almighty  Yahweh  richly bless  “Tom” and all  of his family  –  today  – tomorrow  –  and always  –  for ever more!

Just have to add this old PHOTO from  August 1971 – –  may be at this TIME we called  “TOM”  – – the “GREAT WHITE HUNTER” – – just the way he looks – – what do YOU think?

Feb 8th “In the 1950’s – a very young – Mr. Wonderful”

When you go back in “TIME”…

Where do we find the beginning of a  “Mr. Wonderful” – –  sometimes the answer can only be found after a very long LIFE — and many PHOTOS along the  way – – that catch  a second of  TIME  – – and only  for  that  instance – – and holds it – – in black and white… forever!These were the days when good ole TOM was working for “McDonald  Air-Craft”  – – so… while TOM would be ready and waiting for his ride – – I would try to get a few PHOTOS with my new camera – – never did think about all  of  these old PHOTOS  – – taken so many years ago – – but nothing like remembering the “good ole” days and with PHOTOS – – so we know exactly how we looked!

This PHOTO of  “TOM” – – – is of the same time frame – – but…  what I wanted to see  or try to figure out  – – a little better  on this  – – is the  “PICTURE”  hanging on the wall. From what I remember this was a special scene of some “GREEK  Mythology”  and something very  special to my MOTHER.

The reason I was trying to figure this  out – – is what ever became of this  wonderful piece of art – – which was  a  real treasure. When my MOTHER moved away from here – –  and since this was  extra special – – can not remember ever seeing it in any other home that my MOTHER moved to – – so today – – am wondering if it was left behind – –  – – or if the “MOVERS”  had it on their  truck in a safe place – – but was not  taken off the truck – – and no one thought about it – – as in moving from – –   one place to another – – I often heard my MOTHER tell us – – that so many things were lost or stolen – – and  can only be chalked up to the fact – – that – –  someone else needed  them more than she did!

This PHOTO taken at the same time… and one thing that I may not have thought about – – TOMMY   has a cigarette in almost every PHOTO of  him – – can not imagine any one smoking that much — – other than my FATHER – – and he smoked that “CAMEL”  cigarette – – too strong and he lost one lung from  smoking it – – and did have to quit… or die.

That is a  “Davenport – Sofa Bed”  that TOMMY is sitting on – – so comfortable  as either a bed or sofa.  Remembering back to to 1940’s   when relatives from  “OHIO”  would come for a week or two – this is  where they would sleep at night –  – and in the morning put it  back into the “SOFA” sitting  arrangement  area – –  for so many  of us…  in a small house.

Remembering  brother  “TOM” – –  will be having a “BIRTHDAY”    in  “FIVE DAYS” – – so hope that I am the first to remember and send “BIG  BIRTHDAY  GREETINGS” – –  – It is “WONDERFUL” – – to wish  the – –  for sure and only “MR.  WONDERFUL” – – many  wonderful greetings!     D.V.

Feb 7th “Cold Weather TODAY: Requires HOME BAKE COOKIES”

On a  “COLD WINTER DAY”  – – – what makes for a warmer home – – than a pan of fresh  baked cookies and from scratch!”

                     “Grandma makes “Cookies”

Cookie making Day!   In the  last  week  I’ve read more recipes for cookies and  set several that I have never made before aside to try out   –  and Today –I made cookies! I have several packages of  Toll House  – Nestle semi-sweet chips  and with it being a dreary day outside – dark and raining  – thought  –  if I can’t  try something new – – –  may as well go with an old  “favorites”  maybe chocolate chip recipe  on the package?

When you are thinking of making cookies and want several  – for the taste buds to feel like something special is going on  – here’s what I did.

The recipe does not call for the flour to be sifted, so that is what I did and I did sift the flour three times. Also, I used  one (1) cup  cake flour  to see if I get a better taste? The recipes calls for two (2) eggs so I used  three (3) eggs, because  I was going to add almost a cup of flake coconut – did not really measure  – just eye ball  – like mother used to do!  Also, to give the cookie some  extra body  –  something good for the system  – almost a cup of quick oats  – since they are what every body needs   –  and I can really justify my eating an extra cookie  –  “big laugh – little joke”  – –  when I can say  “I’m having my  ‘oats’ today!” And I was more than generous when adding the nuts! It calls for a cup  chopped nuts and I put in almost two (2) cups.

Rather than chop the nuts, I put them in after the eggs were added with the the coconut and oats so the mixer could do the chopping. Ten minutes per tray  and (16) cookies per tray and I was baking up plenty! I have two containers full of cookies and really feel good.

Best part of baking cookies   – I sampled (1) one cookie from each tray full   –   and they were really  “Good!”   “WOW” – – if   say so myself!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts