Movie Marathon Suggestion #1 - Clue, Murder by Death, And Then There Were None

So, it's the holidays.
Normally, I don't watch much tv and definitely not many movies but I had some extra time on my hands and ended up watching one or two of my fave movies.

Yeah, I rarely watch new ones cause my favorites are so much fun.

Anyhoo, I started thinking about movies that go together and decided to put up a few movie marathon suggestions. (Yep, I apparently have nothing better to do)

Why do I think these movies go together?

Because in all of these films, there are a group of people who mysteriously come together at some creepy house and suddenly folks start dying.
(...and what do we learn from this? If you're invited for a weekend at a creepy house and you don't know why, heck, even if you do know why ....DON'T GO!!)

All three movies are mysteries. The first two are comedies and the last is a drama. You may have guessed that I really like mysteries, yep, and I definitely prefer comedies.

Movie #1
Clue  a 1985 Comedy/Mystery about Six guests who are invited to a strange house and must cooperate to solve a murder mystery. Loosely, based on the game Clue.

This guy put together a youtube vid called Clue the Movie in 5.5 Minutes. I must say he did a good job. My only complaint is the horrible background music he added. Very annoying.
 

 Movie #2
Murder by Death

 a 1976 Comedy/Mystery written by Niel Simon about Five famous literary detective characters and their sidekicks who are invited to a bizarre mansion to solve an even stranger mystery.
I loved this one because of the parody of some of my favorite detectives....Sam Spade, Nick Charles, Miss Marple, Hercule Piorot and okay the last guy confuses me. Not sure if he's supposed to be Charlie Chan or what???












Movie #3
And Then There Were None, a 1945 movie, based on a novel by Agatha Christie, about a group of ten people who are invited to an isolated island, only to be killed one-by-one.

Omg! Here's the whole flippin' movie!


Hope you decide to watch a few of these. They're lots of fun! Tootles!

What are you gonna be for Halloween???

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, May luck be yours on Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Yep, it's almost here again. Soooo, what or rather who are you gonna be this Halloween? 

I've decided to go with my usual fall back out fit and dress as a fortuneteller. Or rather what we've come to think a fortune teller should look like. Basically, a boho lagenlook kind of out fit. 

(What? Never heard of Lagenlook? Hmmm, I'll have to do a little blog about it.)

 Anyhoo, I'll actually be telling fortunes! What fun!

So, since I know I'll be telling some fortunes I decided to look up some interesting and fun ones. I also thought about making Halloween Fortune Cookies but that was waaaaay too much like work! :-P

Here are some of the fortunes I found and a recipe for Halloween Fortune Cookies if you're interested.

Classic Dark & Scary Halloween Quotes & Fortune Cookie Sayings:

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,

Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"

At first cock-crow the ghosts must go

back to their quiet graves below.

~Theodosia Garrison

'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn

and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world.

~William Shakespeare

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties

and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!

~Scottish Proverb

Double, double toil and trouble;

fire burn and cauldron bubble.

~Shakespeare

The witches fly across the sky, The owls go:

"Who? Who? Who?" The black cats yowl

and green ghosts howl: "Scary Halloween to you!"

Halloween wraps fear in innocence,

as though it were a slightly sour sweet.

Let terror, then, be turned into a treat.

One need not be a chamber to be haunted;

One need not be a house;

The brain has corridors surpassing material place.

~Emily Dickinson

You wouldn't believe On All Hallows Eve

what lots of fun we can make, with apples to bob

and nuts on the hob and a ring-and-thimble cake.

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.  ~George Carlin

There is something haunting in the light of the moon; it has all the dispassionateness of a disembodied soul, and something of its inconceivable mystery.  ~Joseph Conrad

'Tis the night of the grave's delight, and the warlocks

are at their play; Ye think that without

the wild winds shout, but no, it is they, it is they.

If a man harbors any sort of fear,

it makes him landlord to a ghost. 

~Lloyd Douglas

 Halloween Jokes

How do witches keep their hair in place when flying?

They use ‘scare-spray’.

How do monsters tell their fortune?

They read the ‘horrorscopes’.

Do zombies eat popcorn with their fingers?

No. They eat the fingers separately.

Where does a witch park after flying?

In the broom closet

What does a child monster call his parents?

Mummy and Deady.

What fairy tale do ghosts like best?

Sleeping Boo-ty.

Why do vampires need mouthwash?

They have bat breath.

What do ghosts eat for breakfast?

Ghost Toasties and evaporated milk.

What doesn’t a vampire order at a restaurant?

A stake sandwich.

What is a vampire’s favorite holiday?

Fangs-giving.

What is a baby ghost’s favorite game?

Peek-a-Boo.

Adult Themed Halloween Fortune Cookie Sayings:

I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.

Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight

make me a child again just for tonight!

True love is like a ghost, which everyone talks about but few have seen. 

Clothes make a statement. 

Costumes tell a story.

There is nothing that gives

more assurance than a mask.  

Fortunes/Sayings found here

Eat, Drink and be Scary!!!

 

Halloween Fortune Cookies

By The Paula Deen Test Kitchen

 (check out the link at the bottom to see the cookies being made)

Here’s what you’ll need:

Nonstick spray

2 egg whites

1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

1/2 cup superfine sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons water

Pinch salt

Fortunes written on strips of colored paper

6 drops orange food coloring

Special equipment: Silpat, coffee mug, and muffin tin.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. On a half sheet tray, spray a silpat with nonstick spray. 

2. In a medium bowl whisk egg whites until foamy. Whisk in 6 drops orange food coloring. Add the flour, sugar, almond extract, water, and salt to the egg whites and beat until smooth, about 30 seconds.

3. Pour or spoon 1 tablespoon of batter onto prepared silpat and spread with the back of a spoon into a very thin 4-inch circle. Repeat on the other half of the sheet, making only 2 cookies per sheet tray. 

4. Bake the cookies on middle rack of oven until golden brown around edges, about 8 minutes. 

5. Remove from oven and working very quickly, with an offset spatula, remove cookie from baking sheet and place a fortune in the center of the round. 

6. Fold to create a half circle. 

7. Using the rim of a coffee mug, bend pointed edges of cookie toward each other. This should be done quickly since the cookie will become hard and brittle within 10 seconds. 

8. Let cookies cool in the wells of a muffin tin.

MAKES 16 COOKIES

To see pictures of the cookies being made go to  <http://www.pauladeen.com/article_view/halloween_fortune_cookies/>

Drink Your Big Black Cow.....

"Drink your big black cow and get out of here." from Steely Dan's Black Cow
Today is National Black Cow Day. Whooohoo!

Hmmm.... I bet some of you are wondering.."What is a Black Cow?"

Okay, I kinda wondered that myself. I figured it wasn't an actual black cow 'cause why would we have a holiday for it. Then I thought, well , maybe a black cow is a ice cream float made with coke instead of ginger ale. Don't know why that came to me. Turns out I'm almost right.

According to my friends at Wiki:

The origin of the name "black cow" has always been of interest to food and beverage experts and allegedly dates to August 1893 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The only source of this story is the great-grand-nephew of Frank J. Wisner, who has popularized it through advertising on his soft drink products and website. Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, had been producing a line of soda waters for the citizens of the then-booming Cripple Creek gold mining district. He had been trying to create a special drink for the children of Cripple Creek and came up with an idea while staring out at his properties on Cow Mountain on a moonlit night.
The full moon's glow on the snow capped Cow Mountain reminded him of a dollop of vanilla ice cream floating on top of his blackened Cow Mountain. As he told the story later, he was inspired by this view to hurry back to his bar and add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to the one soda water he produced that the children of Cripple Creek seemed to like best - Myers Avenue Red root beer - and served it the very next day. The drink was an instant hit. Originally named "Black Cow Mountain", the local children shortened this to "black cow". Wisner was known to say many times in his later years that if he had a nickel for every time someone ordered a black cow, he'd have been a rich man.

Sooo, apparently a Black Cow is what most of refer to as a Root Beer Float which is basically root beer and vanilla ice cream. I have also heard a root beer float referred to as a Brown Cow.
While surfing the net for info on the Black Cow I found lots of different recipes. The one below sounds delicious! Think I'll go make one.

TTFN, I have to go buy ice cream....yum!!


A Black Cow Float

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
10 oz coke
1 tbsp chocolate syrup
1 1/2 oz whipped cream
maraschino cherry

Pour coke over ice cream and chocolate syrup in a fountain glass.
Garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.
Serve with a straw and a long spoon.

Variation: For a Brown Cow, use root beer in the place of coke.
recipe found at homebakedmemories.com

June is National Ice Tea Month

June is National Ice Tea Month and today, June 10th, is Ice Tea Day.

Although tea had been served for years both hot and cold it did not become commercially popular until 1904. At the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis, the summer was so hot that people went in search of cold drinks. For some reason the popularity of iced tea was sealed that summer. There are many stories of iced tea being "invented" that summer but the drink is mentioned in cookbooks before that time.

According to WhatsCookingAmerica.net

1879 - The oldest sweet tea recipe (ice tea) in print comes from a community cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia, by Marion Cabell Tyree, published in 1879:

"Ice Tea. - After scalding the teapot, put into it one quart of boiling water and two teaspoonfuls green tea. If wanted for supper, do this at breakfast. At dinner time, strain, without stirring, through a tea strainer into a pitcher. Let it stand till tea time and pour into decanters, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the pitcher. Fill the goblets with ice, put two teaspoonfuls granulated sugar in each, and pour the tea over the ice and sugar. A squeeze of lemon will make this delicious and healthful, as it will correct the astringent tendency."

 If Ms. Tyree's recipe doesn't appeal to you try this simple ice tea recipe....


Easy Lemonade Ice Tea

6 small tea bags
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 quart boiling water
1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate


Directions:
1 Let tea bags steep in boiling water (approx. 5 minutes).

2 Remove tea bags and add sugar.

3 Add frozen juices and enough water to make 1 gallon.

4 Pour into glasses over ice.

recipe found at http://www.food.com/

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mother, My Friend
( by anonymous)

You were my fairy tale princess,
So much larger than life.
You were my angel and my witness
Through all my pain and strife.

At times you made me angry,
Great words I would proclaim
How someday you'd be sorry.
You were the one to blame.

 

 

But when I needed comforting
You always found the time.
Your words were more soothing
Than days of childhood sublime.

Now the distance holds us apart,
The boundaries have no end.
I'll hold the memories in my heart.
You're my mother, my best friend

Old Lang Syne

The following is a repost from my TheStoriesLaTells blog

No, it's not a story but it's a song that is sung each year and yet most of us know nothing about it.

The song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung by most of us on the stroke of midnight each New Years Eve however in Scotland, where Auld Lang Syne originates it is also sung on Burns Night, January 25th, to celebrate the life of the author and famous poet Robert Burns.

Auld Lang Syne is also said to be used as a graduation and funeral song in Tiawan and Hong Kong and as a graduation song in Japan and Hungary.

The song/poem has been found in earlier forms in 15th and 17th century volumes by anonymous authors.
But Robert Burns found a song ,

which never was in print, nor even in manuscript, until he took it down
from an old man singing,—adding that the poetry was enough to recommend any air.
About the same time he sent another copy to James Johnson for the now celebrated
Standard Collection of Scottish Songs, the "Scots Musical Museum;" and it was
printed and published for the first time in December 1796, in the fifth volume
of that work, about five months after Burns died.

Check this website for more complete information on Robert Burns and Auld Lang Syne:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/langsyne.htm

THe song is about love and friendship in times past. The lyrics in the song Auld Lang Syne referring to 'We'll take a Cup of Kindness yet' relate to a drink shared by men and women to symbolize friendship.

It is bandleader Guy Lombardo that popularized the song and made it a New Years tradition.
Lombardo first heard "Auld Lang Syne" in his hometown of London, Ontario, where it was sung by Scottish immigrants. The song became a part of his bands repetoire. Lombardo played the song at midnight at a New Year's eve party at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City in 1929, and thus a New Year's tradition was born.

AULD LANG SYNE
Words adapted from a traditional song
by Robert Burns (1759-96)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Chorus

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Chorus

Meanings
auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two

Same Auld Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year!

Try this slightly different new years drink.....

 Apple Cider Sparkle
•6 cups apple cider

•2 cups cranberry/raspberry cocktail (orange juice, orange-mango or your favorite juice blend)

•1 bottle (750 mL) champagne (or sparkling wine)

•1/2 cup lemon juice

1)In punch bowl, large pitcher, or even several pitchers, combine apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice. 2)Just before your guests arrive, slowly add champagne or sparkling wine.
3)Serve immediately or keep chilled with large ice blocks.
4)Makes approximately 15 servings.

*For a non-alcoholic punch, use chilled sparkling grape juice in place of the wine or champagne.

Spunky Old Broads Month!!

OMGosh!! I almost missed it!
February is (almost was) Spunky Old Broads Month!
What is a Spunky Old Broad?
Basically a SOB (oooo... I wonder if they did that on purpose???) is woman 50 and over who is living life to the fullest. Age does not define her.

So all of you Spunky Old Broads out there.....stand up and be counted!

Shout out loud..."I'm an SOB and I'm proud!!" (hmmm...maybe not)

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

By Jenny Joseph

(personally, I've decided to wear tie dye and lots of orange!)

Just a few of my Favorite Love Songs....Happy Valentine's Day!!

In no particular order...(I'm sure that there are many that I have forgotten)

Alright y'all let's just....Try A Little Tenderness with Otis Redding.....hmm might even work with men


Miss Etta James singing the haunting At Last...


Uh, uh, uh.....the Jackson 5 singing I'll Be There....a classic!


No one sings it like Stevie....I Just Called to Say I Love You, I just called to say how much I care...if only


I just love this song... I Hate You then I Love You.... waaay too many relationships are like that...


Lovin' You...is easy 'cause you're beautiful.....the great Minnie Ripperton


Some maynot think this is a love song but it is about love.....Queen singing Somebody to Love


OMG! Unchained Melody used in the movie Ghost....am I the only one that just wants to cry when they see this????


Sing it Percy! When a Man Loves a Woman.... what you say???


What a wonderful performance....Joe Crocker, Patti Labelle and Billy Preston...You Are So Beautiful


A great scene and a greater song....I Will Always Love You sung by Dolly Parton (I probably would have stayed)


Whitney did a pretty good job too....


Like Paul says you'd think that people would have had enough of Silly Love Songs....

Happy National Coffee Day!!

Dang! I can't believe I almost missed this!
Yep, today is the day to celebrate the joys of drinking coffee.

I personally celebrate coffee everyday but today I've been drinking my favorite chicory coffee. I made it so strong that I swear it's starting to fight back.

In celebration of the day, why not read up on the history of coffee or check out the National Coffee Day info on Facebook.

National Nanny Recognition Week 2010 ......September 19 - 25

 

 Happy National Nanny Recognition Week! I received this via email today. I love their description of a Nanny! Read it carefully.......

 

To all the wonderful nannies out there who are so much more than "just a nanny".

 

 All the best during this wonderful week of National Nanny Recognition!

PROUD TO BE A NANNY!!!

Nanny (nah-nee) n. childcare provider, activities director, teacher, dresser, beautician, nutritionist, chef, hygienist, janitor, nurse, dramatic reader, performer, entertainer, costume-maker, arts-and-crafts instructor, dance partner, chauffeur and stroller pusher, personal shopper, secretary, historian, detective, confidant, companion, counselor, coach, body-guard, self-defense instructor, tutor, cheerleader, appreciative audience, hugger, boo-boo kisser, potty trainer, learner, listener, helper, arbiter, peace-keeper, honorary extended-family member, life-long influence, shaper of the future. 

 

From,

The Central Florida Nannies Support Group

 

 

 If you need any ideas, here are a few.....

Ways to Appreciate Your Nanny

♥ Say Thank You ♥ Tell your friends good things about her knowing she will hear them back ♥ a surprise day off ♥ Have the children say Thank You ♥ Treat your nanny to breakfast or dinner made by the family ♥ a card and framed photo of the family ♥ Membership fees to a local nanny support group or other Professional Organization ♥ Pay for conference fees to Nannypalooza or INA with paid professional days to attend the event ♥ Tuition for college courses ♥ CPR Training ♥ Pay for dinner out with friends ♥ a raise ♥ an IRA ♥ gift basket of favorite treats ♥ gift certificates to favorite stores ♥ movie tickets ♥ gift certificate for manicure/pedicure or massage ♥ gym membership ♥ handmade card or gift from the child/children ♥ frequent flier miles to travel home ♥ 

 

 

 

August is National Panini Month!

 Soooo....some folks might be saying to themselves, "what is a Panini? "

A panini is basically a grilled sandwich made on Italian bread.
A traditional panini is made with two slices of dense bread filled with meat, cheese and vegetables. The outsides of the bread are usually  brushed with extra virgin olive oil to give it a crispier texture and then the sandwich is grilled on a two sided panini/sandwich grill. Paninis are usually made with a Panini Press but if you don't have one, you can get around it.
You can place the sandwich in a pan and cook it like you would any "grilled" cheese sandwich, using a spatula to press down on the sandwich , of course you won't get those lovely grilled lines, but the sandwich will still be good.
Both  How to Make a Panini without a Panini Press from eHow  and,  PaniniHappy.com  have good suggestions on making paninis without a press.

Types of bread that work well for paninis: foccacia, ciabatta, sourdough also thick cut italian or  french

All types of meats are good on a panini but they have to be cooked before you put them in the sandwich.

Feel free to experiment with your cheeses...try mozzarella, asiago, provolone, brie, goat cheese, cheddar, etc.

And don't forget the veggies! Roasted peppers, tomatoes, basil, spinach, red onions, eggplant....whatever comes to mind. Oh, you can also try fruit...some sliced apples, pears or strawberries might be delicious.

Oooooo.....I almost forgot the absolutely fabulous dessert panini. A Chocolate Strawberry Panini made with pound cake for bread and using nutella as the chocolate....yummy! The video on how to make this treat is at the end of the blog.

For some interesting ideas for paninis, check out this Page A Day Recipe Calendar that Sargento cheese put out in 2009 to honor August as Panini Month. It's packed with 31 yummy recipes.


Okay, I am soooooo hungry! I guess I'll go make something to eat.......hmmm I wonder what??


This is a fab video from Food Network. Giada makes a couple of delicious looking Paninis.



And here is Giada's yummy Chocolate Strawberry Panini.

Celebrate National Drive Thru Day!

July 25th is National Drive Thru Day. 
I have absolutely no idea who proclaimed this to be a holiday but who cares?! Let's admit it.....we love drive thrus. You can find drive thru liquor stores, coffee shops and even a drive thru wedding chapel (Las Vegas, of course). 

According to Wiki:

A drive-through, or drive-thru, is a type of service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. The format was first pioneered in the United States in the 1930s but has since spread to other countries.
Drive-throughs have generally replaced drive-ins in popular culture, and are now found in the vast majority of modern American fast-food chains.

 I just found this great vid about National Drive Thru Day......

Happy Independence Day!!

Which Chicken Wing Day do you celebrate?

Did you know that there are two holidays celebrating the chicken wing?

Yep, there's International Chicken Wing Day which is July 2nd and National Chicken Wing Day which is July 25th. I figure since both days are celebrated in July, it doesn't matter which day you celebrate.

Anyhoo, what really matters it that these holidays are the perfect excuse for cooking and eating a whole mess of chicken wings!! (as if we really need an excuse)

To help some of y'all come with a few new recipes I've found 6 really fun ones. Enjoy!!!





Caramelized Baked Chicken Wings
* 3 pounds chicken wings
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/2 cup soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons ketchup
* 1 cup honey
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix together the oil, soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken.
3. Bake in preheated oven for one hour, or until sauce is caramelized.






Cranberry Barbecued Chicken Wings
Ingredients -
18 Chicken Wings
1 can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons packed Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Prepared Mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Preparation:
1. Place chicken wings in casserole dish or medium mixing bowl
2. In medium saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
3. Stirring constantly, heat over low, until smooth. Allow sauce to cool.
4. Pour over chicken wings.
5. Cover and refrigerate several hours.
6. Remove chicken from marinade and grill directly over medium heat, until chicken is cooked through.




Taco Chicken Wings
Ingredients -
1/2 cup Flour
1 package Taco Seasoning Mix
3 pounds Chicken Wings
6 tablespoons Butter
1 cup crushed Corn Chips

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In medium mixing bowl, combine flour and taco seasoning.
3. Toss wings in seasoning mixture to coat.
4. In shallow bowl, place crushed corn chips. Toss wings in corn chips to coat.
5. Melt butter in large non-stick baking dish or casserole dish.
6. Spread wings evenly in dish.
7. Bake 45 minutes.

May 23 is National Taffy Day

Does anyone remember taffy pulls? No? Actually I don't remember having any either. But I do remember reading about them and thinking how fun they sounded. My most vivid memory is the Taffy Pulling story from a Raggedy Ann and Andy story book. Boy did that sound like fun!

Well, here's your chance to make a few fun taffy pulling memories of your own.. May 23 is National Taffy day. 
What is taffy? According to Wikipedia:
"Taffy is a type of chewy candy. Taffy is made by stretching or pulling a sticky mass of boiled sugar, butter or vegetable oil, flavorings, and coloring until fluffy. When this process is complete, the taffy is rolled, cut into small pastel-colored pieces and wrapped in wax paper to keep it soft."

An interesting video about taffy making and pulling.



Try this old-fashioned taffy recipe from the 1920's

• Two cups granulated sugar
• one-half cup water
• two tablespoonfuls vinegar
• one tablespoonful butter
• one teaspoonful vanilla
• one-half teaspoonful cream of tartar
• Cup of cold water for testing the candy
• Well buttered cookie sheet or platter
• Wax paper
• Scissors

Directions:

1. In a medium sized saucepan with a heavy bottom, cook the first 5 ingredients.
2. Stir with a wooden spoon over a low heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Increase the heat, and cook without stirring until the mixture begins to boil.
4. Watch carefully so that it does not burn.
5. Test readiness by dropping a few drops of the mixture in cold water.
6. If the drops crack then the mixture is ready.
7. Take the taffy off the heat add the cream of tartar and pour onto the buttered cookie sheet.
8. Let the mixture cool before you start pulling.
9. When the taffy is cool enough, grease the your hands with butter.
10. Give each child a lump of taffy to pull or they can pull a piece between them.
11. Pull and stretch the taffy until it is light and slightly firm.
12. Using scissors, cut stretched candy into bite-size pieces.
13. When completely cool, wrap each piece in waxed paper.

Hmm....a recipe for Salt Water Taffy

May 14 is National Chicken Dance Day!!!

"There ain't nobody here but us chickens....."


I'll bet you didn't know this.....May 14th is National Chicken Dance Day!
That's right! It's the day officially, well maybe unofficially, put aside to do that ever popular at weddings dance... The Chicken Dance.

You say you've never done or seen the chicken dance??? Wow! Well, it's obvious that your dance education is sorely lacking. Never fear, I am here (ooo that rhymes) to help you! Well, okay, not just me. I have found a fabulous video made ages ago by , surprise, surprise....Lawrence Welks!
Yep, Lawrence and the gang show you how to do this marvelous dance so that you'll be ready for that next wedding or any other classy occasion!
Happy Dancing....cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck!

Happy Mothers Day and Happy Lost Sock Memorial Day, too

I hope everyone has a Happy Mother's Day!!
And, no, I did not make up the Lost Sock Memorial Day....it was probably made up by a group of Mother;s who were annoyed by all of the socks that get lost in the washer and the dryer. I'm not sure which machine actually eats them.
Anyway, y'all have a good day!!

May 1st is Beltane, May Day, Lei Day and Mother Goose Day

According to Wiki:

Beltane or Beltaine (pronounced /ˈbɛltən/, origin Old Irish) is the anglicised spelling of Bealtaine (Irish pronunciation: [ˈbʲal̪ˠt̪ˠənʲə]) or Bealltainn ([ˈbʲal̪ˠt̪ˠənʲ]), the Gaelic names for either the month of May or the festival that takes place on the first day of May.

In Irish Gaelic, the month of May is known as Mí Bhealtaine or Bealtaine, and the festival as Lá Bealtaine ('day of Bealtaine' or, 'May Day'). In Scottish Gaelic, the month is known as either (An) Cèitean or a' Mhàigh, and the festival is known as Latha Bealltainn or simply Bealltainn. The feast was also known as Céad Shamhain or Cétshamhainin from which the word Céitean derives.

As an ancient Gaelic festival, Bealtaine was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, though there were similar festivals held at the same time in the other Celtic countries of Wales, Cornovii areas of England, Brittany and Cornwall. Bealtaine and Samhain were the leading terminal dates of the civil year in Ireland though the latter festival was the more important. The festival survives in folkloric practices in the Celtic Nations and the Irish diaspora, and has experienced a degree of revival in recent decades.

For information on Mother Goose Day click here

Hawaiian Lei Day Info

Wiki May Day Info

Have a Happy Beltane, May Day, Lei Day and Mother Goose Day!!!!!

Barbershop Quartet Day

Apr 11th is Barbershop Quartet Day! Yea!!!
Yep I actually like Barbershop Quartets and the choruses.
I used to sing in a Sweet Adeline Chorus (in Vienna, Va) a few years back. That was FUN!!

Just for a little history of the holiday....it commemorates the gathering of 26 persons at Tulsa, OK, Apr 11, 1938, and the founding there of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.

I know y'all wanted to know that:-P

Sweet Adeline Chorus



Who says you need for people for a quartet?


I love this movie! Buffalo Bills from the Music Man