Stephanie’s Blog

Potato Salad and Ground Hogs. Is it Spring yet?

February 2nd, 2010 by stephanie

I remember one of the first first times I saw mustard and pickle relish in my potato salad. “Certainly,” I thought, “someone got this wrong”. In our family, the recipe that’s been handed down from my Pennsylvania Dutch
Great-Grandmother, is considered the one and only way to eat potatoes as a salad side dish. Let’s see: potatoes, white vinegar, boiled eggs, mayonaise, salt and pepper. Yep. That’s it. And I have to admit, I still think it is the best I’ve ever eaten. “Sprinkle white vinegar on the potatoes first,” my grandmother or mother reminds me. “It removes the bitterness.” And so it does.

But winter isn’t usually a time when people ponder a summer or spring dish like Potato Salad. Although, I have to admit, folks in the northern regions about now are longing for that first sight of Spring. Maybe that’s why Ground Hog Day managed to find its way to “holiday” status. When you crave something so desperately, it suddenly becomes very important.

But where, exactly, the day got it’s start, I truly didn’t know. A little time at the laptop uncovered Ground Hog Day as a Pennyslvania German custom dating back to the 1700s. Our European ancestors it seems brought the tradition with them to the new world. Apparently, in the “old country”, a badger or “sacred bear” was the original prognosticator of the weather.

Interestingly, February 2nd coincides with what the religious sect celebrates as Candlemas, and, it once also marked a Celtic holiday by the name of Imbolc. But back to our burrowing critter…

Punxsutawney Phil, as he is endearingly referred to these days, has been elevated to superstar status. His appearance from his hole now involves social events, food, speeches and entertainment. Crowds of up to 40,000 in attendance have been known to gather in his home of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, since 1886.

The earliest American reference to the celebration has been found in the diary of storekeeper James Morris (Berks County, Pennsylvania) :
February 5, 1841
“Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.”

We, here in the South, are currently surrounded by a lovely layer of temporary winter white. But I can only imagine that our friends above the Mason Dixon (who dwell in snow for months at a time) are hoping that our little hog avoids his nap and, rather, foreshadows a sweet sight of Spring. And that, none too soon.

Just my thoughts,

S.
HAPPY GROUND HOG DAY!

Filed under: History, Holidays, Pets | No Comments »

Boston, Paul Revere, and a Horse Named… “Brown”?

January 24th, 2010 by stephanie

Most Americans are aware that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in Massachusetts.

And who doesn’t remember learning about that famous revolutionary rebellion in Massachusetts–the Boston Tea Party.

Some might even recall the story about Col. Knox transporting the guns (canons) from Ticonderoga over ice and snow on sleds and how the Patriots took Dorchester Heights in the middle of the night shocking the British the next morning (who’d been sleeping at Boston’s harbor below). That is a story made for movies.

And who doesn’t enjoy the historic tale of Paul Revere and his amazing Boston ride. In our minds we see him swinging the lantern and calling out as he dashes through the countryside, through the creeks and down the village streets. “The Red Coats are coming!” Or,maybe we remember it as, “The British are coming!” Whatever the case, the ride was immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem titled Paul Revere’s Ride. The poem has become one of the best known in American history and was memorized by generations of schoolchildren.

There is no actual record of Mr. Revere’s words or message as he rode, but apparently, there is tell of the horse upon which he rode that went by the name of Brown Beauty.

Last week, another “Brown” rode through the streets of the Bay State. But this time, it wasn’t a horse. It was a man, with a dream, and a truck, in a race that would lead to a U.S. Senate seat. Just like the small, unruly band of farmers, fishermen and store owners that were determined to take on the Super Power of the world, Scott Brown accomplished nothing short of a miraculous ride himself that ended not in Lexington, but the Capitol building in Washington D.C.

In truth, the state of Massachusetts continues to play a dramatic role in America’s history and her politics. With voters numbering one Republican for every three Democrats, what happened on January 20th came as quite a shock. To not only our nation, but to the world.

I hope that these stories will help you take a fresh look at whatever great power or unthinkable odds you might be facing today. If folks who took the challenge 200 years ago (let alone last week) could beat the odds, so can you. The journey will not be easy. It usually isn’t lined with gold or convenient refreshment stands to greet you every mile, but if you just hold on, and fight to the end, the victory can be yours.

Just my thoughts.
S.
clips that received over 500,000 views the week of this particular election
It’s the People’s Seat
other clips…
New York Times clip
Chris Matthews clip

Filed under: Career/Job, History, Pets, Politics | No Comments »

Nothing like a lab…

October 9th, 2009 by stephanie

There truly is nothing like a Labrador Retriever. Well, to us lab owners anyway. But it may be your precious pup, or kitty, or bird, or bunny. Whatever the creature, at some point we all find ourselves asking, “Just who owns who around here anyway? And who runs this house? Wait, don’t answer that!” We wail as we stare them down with a smirk.

As many of you know. I am a proud owner of a very lab mix. Judge has provided numerous stories for my new book, and that book and those stories prompts others to write to me and share their’s.

So today, I couldn’t resist sharing this story that was sent to me about “Molly.” It’s a great way to say “Happy Friday.

I slept in after working a very late night and came around the corner to find my most precious Lab sprawled out on MY couch! Our eyes locking–we both froze. At this point not knowing what the other would do or what could happen next, Molly slowly moved towards the direction of the FLOOR. While I slowly walked behind her asking….”What Were You Thinking?”

After NO answer to that question, the only response I did receive was the gaze of those most adorable brown eyes. At which point the matter was completely dropped. No need to go on….Her Actions upon retreat back to HER BED in the bedroom said it all.

I still couldn’t help but laugh after it was all over. I don’t think I saw those pretty brown eyes until about 1pm again that afternoon! Every little moment writes a new memory! The Joys of owning a Labrador!

No matter what your precious pet. We can all relate. They simply are gifts to us for sure while we have them. Enjoy yours this weekend.

Ciao.

Stephanie

Filed under: Pets | No Comments »

Our Furry Friends.

September 14th, 2009 by stephanie

Pets for some folks are like family. And, for many of us singles who don’t have kids, we have dogs. Or cats. Or bunnies. Or birds….If you have not personally as yet found that quintessential quadruped of choice, you really should think about it.

I was shocked when a friend of mine called at the end of August. She’d been gone for a few weeks. When she came home, though she’d hired someone to care for her sweet cat, she arrived to find that her precious critter of 15 years was dying. The night she returned home, she found herself in the emergency pet hospital making the decision to put the beloved friend to its final rest.

When I picked up the phone today to retrieve my voicemail, I would never have dreamed that another gal, a mutual friend of myself and the girl who lost her cat, was calling to say she, now, was on her way to put down her chocolate Laborador Retriever, “Happy.”

Needless to say, I was speechless. These gals, like me, have not-yet-married. And those furry friends can become quite a part of your life. They bring incredible joy. They comfort you when you’re blue and they make you laugh. They are there when we come home to a cold dark house at the end of a long trip, or day. And they are there to greet us when we awake in the morning.

Those who have never experienced that special, amazing bond with a pet may not be able to relate to today’s thoughts. But for those of you that have, your heart I am sure goes out to my two friends.

If you have a pet, may I suggest you pat on them them a tad more tonight, walk them a bit longer and buy that bag of treats you’ve been thinking about next time you are at the store. They are worth the vet bills and the food bags and the flea and tick repellant that they cost.

So here’s to our Furry Friends. The ones God created just for us. I, for one, am so glad that He did.

Just my thoughts.
S.

Filed under: Death/Mourning, Not-Yet-Married, Pets | No Comments »

Be Careful What You Ask for.

July 18th, 2009 by stephanie

It was a gorgeous day and I knew my dog needed to be outside. I did too, but circumstances kept preventing. At one point, I saw a squirrel on the ground by the side yard, so I hurriedly let the pup out in hopes he’d get a little exercise.

When nothing came of the chase, he wandered back in, as lethargic as before and returned to his afternoon nap.

Some time later I noticed something move by the fence again. So out the dog went as I chided, “Get it, Judge. Get it.” I was half way joking, but, this time, before I knew it, my adorable lab had a huge furry creature clenched in his jaws and was not letting loose. Screaming like a banshee, I ran toward them and hoped to part the two. I felt terrible for the trapped ground hog and was hoping to prevent the dog from the retaliation of razor sharp claws or rabies both.

Unfortunately, the ground hog did not survive the ordeal, and my dog earned a new name: killer.

As my neighbor, who graciously came to my rescue rounded up the ruined rodent, he asked how big the dog was. I opened the screen door and out walked Judge. Staring down my hound, the man quietly spoke, “Good dog.” Then, picking up the trash bag he swaggered off and back down the drive.

If only I’d have looked twice, I said to myself. If I wouldn’t have provoked the dog until I did some closer research. I probably would have gone out back, realized a huge critter was stuck and opened the gate to let the him out. But alas, I spoke too soon. My dog, to my amazement, rose to the challenge and obeyed my command without question.

It made me wonder, how many times do we inadvertently provoke someone to respond or react to a situation a certain way. Or, we instruct them to do something that results in serious consequences. Before we truly get the facts.

It’s something to ponder.

Just my thoughts and may the ground hog rest in peace. Poor thing.

Filed under: Career/Job, Pets | 1 Comment »

JUST HORSING AROUND.

April 29th, 2009 by stephanie

For those of you in need of a bit of levity today.

Here’s Oh No…it’s my mother-in-law

1 minute 20 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuE1wHIVFX8

And for those of you into Pirates. (The Johnn Depp, Carribean-kind, not the Somali breed.)

1 min. 34 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVifEvlIBBo&feature=related

Enjoy.

Filed under: Pets | No Comments »

PIONEER SPIRIT AT THE O.K. CORRAL.

January 31st, 2009 by stephanie

So some of you have been wondering how my wilderness skills are holding out during my back to basics experiment. If Ma and Pa Kettle could do it, my motto this week had become “So Can I!” As you may know, I have attempted to try out my “worst case” scenario motif, to a certain degree of late. It was inspired by my friends and their current ice storm dilemma. (That darn global warming. At it again!)

All I can say is, boy am I glad there was a guy at the propane tank when I pulled in to fill up my little blue container before I headed home to pour it into my portable heater. (Those of you who know about these things already see where this is going.) Anyway, I had decided to dig out my kerosene heater and was ready for action. So you can imagine my surprise when the attendant at the KOA put his hands in his pocket and just shook his head. “Ma’am.” He said calmly. “Propane won’t fit in that kerosene container.” Gulp. I was so into my new challenge I had completely forgotten that “blue” meant kerosene! Since my friends from the north (that had taken refuge in my home) were on the hunt for propane, in my mind I said, “And me too!” And off I went with my little blue container.

Thank the Lord for propane men and people who speak “Container. (By the way, the red ones are for gasoline. I have no idea what propane is. Maybe it’s Green? But I digress…)

With a flushed face and a heart full of gratitude I scampered off to find a gas station that sold my much needed kerosene. Ironically, it was the Asian 20 something behind the counter, whose owner/father explained to me how to get the heater back into working condition. I had placed it in my storage area and had completely forgotten how to even make it work. A few English translations by the son and wild arm swingings from the father later I got the message. Clean it out first.

At home, I googled the model number and did some research just to be sure. Why was I surprised they didn’t even make this little gem anymore? Hmmm. Just my luck. The guy up near the Catskills convinced me in his review that I would blow my house up within the first 5 minutes of my attempts, while Mr. Maine assured me that I was the smartest girl alive below the Mason Dixon line.

So, funnel in hand, I poured the greasy fluid into the well and waited for the magic to begin. Within minutes the kitchen warmed up and there was a happy, fiery glow. My dog of course decided to head out to the back 40. (Never can be too safe when ole Steph is up to a new project is his M.O.). Having done a bit more research, I’d learned from Wise in Wisconsin that if you put a whistling tea kettle on top of the heater, you’d always have hot water ready to brew. Who knew!

It was then I wondered how we, the people, ever decided modern technology was the only way to go. Now all I need is a pot bellied stove and a cold frame out back and I should be able to weather out the winter just fine. Anybody out there got any extra mason jars?

Toasty in Nashville.

Filed under: Not-Yet-Married, Pets | 3 Comments »

Let’s Hear it for The Boy.

January 14th, 2009 by stephanie

There was actually one particular time that I can look back on as a rather defining moment. And it is that experience that finally led me to stand up and holler at the top of my lungs, “All ye single and heavy laden, paddle in my direction!”

It was as if I was in search of like minds in the sea of singleness to whom I could say, “Please. I need to know that I am not a mutation or accident that somewhere went awry in the evolutional relationship chain.” I simply needed to know that others like me, out there somewhere, had woken up one morning and found that they too had grown up, and gotten single. Ugh. There. I said it.

If you are reading this, chances are pretty good, that you, too, have finally hit that point. And if not, you probably will. Think about it. Whether you have not-yet-married, have recently divorced, or have found your self an unsuspecting widow/er, unless you beat the odds, it will happen. You will one day realize that you, too, have grown up and gotten single.

So, for now. There are no children or posterity in my life. I have a dog to fill that void.
You know how it is. We singles and our dogs. Or cats. Or birds. Or Geckos. Our parents have even succomed to calling them Granddogs, etc.. My mother has, at least. She is such a trooper. My grandmother has taken to calling him “old faithful”. He is the closest thing to a grandchild my mother and grandmother have ever had from me. This dog is my pride and joy and brings hours of smiles and laughter. He is my gift from above, and I am praying he lives to be 50.

I refer to my dog as, “The Boy”. So does my mother. If I disappear at some point, and fall off the face of the earth for a few weeks, chances are good that Judge has gone on to his eternal reward and that I am in deep seclusion somewhere undergoing “healing” or have checked myself into the nearest monastic retreat for seclusion. Sad, but true.

If you are a single, with a beloved pet, you totally get it. But enough for now. We’ll revisit this topic again– later. Stay tuned.

Filed under: Not-Yet-Married, Pets | 1 Comment »

Daisy does the Hilton.

November 26th, 2008 by stephanie

If you are traveling today over the rivers and through the wood to perhaps Grandmother’s house as you go, you will appreciate this little tail, or tale I should say of sorts.

In my family, we come from different states to gather in Texas for the holidays. I come from Tennessee and my cousins come in from Kansas. The Kansan Clan has mom, dad, two girls under the age of 5 and then there is Daisy the Basset Hound. The pets in our family are just that, family members. And are treated as such.

The trek to grandma’s, for this particular crew, used to be accomplished in a 12 hour day. Yet due to circumstances and such, it has evolved into quite a process. It now requires preparing and packing for days, and a reservation at the Hilton Inn if you can find it cheap enough on Hotwire.com. (Thank the Lord for the internet!)

With only five hours left for the journey, the exhausted brood tumbled out of said family van, eyes heavy with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads as they longed for the soft mattresses awaiting them.

With one child in the arms of each parent, various and sundry paraphernalia strapped from stem to stern, the remaining question of the overloaded pair was simply, “What to do with Daisy?” Ever the resourceful father, my cousin proceeded to stuff Daisy into a sports bag, zipped it up, and slung it over his shoulder. (Yes, I said a Basset Hound.)

To the amazement of our family when he relayed the tale to us at dinner, Daisy fussed but only for a few seconds. It was when the master slapped the bag lightly in assurance to let the pure bred know all was well, that the dog literally went into a coma of sorts. And never moved! They could have taken that dog to the opera, and probably wouldn’t have seen movement or heard a peep until the soprano’s aria.

It wasn’t until they reached their room, unloaded the bags, and the children, that Daisy was finally released from her dark cocoon. But only to emerge as calm and cool as a cucumber ready for her evening snack.

Now, this divulgence of sorts is not to encourage you to sneak the family dog into the next luxury hotel, however, holidays can be a time of survivial. And for this troupe, it was just a necessity. Daisy is a dream, and as my cousin said, “…a better guest than most adults at these places!” Sad, but true.

So, for all of you traveling with your beloved pet this holiday, remember that there are many kindred spirits out there joining you in empathy on the journey. And please don’t ask me how I managed to get my 110 pound Labrador Retriever into the Hampton Inn. During the holidays, there are just some things that are best left to the mind, and not the tongue.

Filed under: Family, Holidays, Pets, Travel | 1 Comment »

Didn’t I just put Christmas Away?

November 16th, 2008 by stephanie

If feels like just a bit ago that I pulled off the freeway in Arkansas to get that much needed Starbucks fix. I was traveling home from my holiday visit with the family when that very cool home store also caught my eye. As a female who likes to live up to that part of the species, I just had to go in. I was not disappointed. Crossing the threshold of the retail center I was welcomed by those wonderful 75% off sale signs and well, you know, as a girl, there’s something genetic about a price tag that low. You just have to respond. So I dutifully did.

A few moments later I was hauling two 4-foot, silk Amaryllis plants to my car. When I reached the already overstuffed vehicle I was greeted by my very pitiful dog who was peering at me through the back seat window. At this point, there had been very little room if any left for him when we began the journey. And now, I was going to try to put eight more feet of whatever it was into the car with him. The look on his face was, “So, are you planning on tying me to the roof, because as of now, my back right leg is already in my left ear.”

I stood there a moment wondering if that wasn’t such a bad idea, but then I knew a better solution was in order. Just what, I wasn’t exactly sure. Nine hours later we pulled into the driveway. My hairy hound unfolded his furry body and limped out of the car while I began to strategize the unloading procedures.

After 45 minutes, the deed was done. The boxes and bags now waiting my attention at the doorway loomed ever larger. It took about a month, but I finally succeeded in finding room for each of the precious items I had hauled all the way from Texas. (Along with the very pliable pooch, of course.)

Then, this morning, I found myself back in that same storage area thinking, “I just got these in here, and now I have to take them out?” It was quite a stressful moment. But is quickly passed. When I pictured the house in full regalia, and the counter tops full of wonderful ingredients awaiting those precious recipes, the pain disolved into peace and contentment.

Yes, it truly is the most wonderful time of year. And that is exactly what I plan to do. I will create Thanksgiving and Christmas in my home and make it special. It’s up to me. No one will arrive on my doorstep, decorations in tow, and set up the house. That’s my job. And a welcomed one at that.

With that, during this next week, all of the stash will make its way up the stairs and into the living areas of my home. A job I certainly will enjoy, to be sure.

So here’s to thankfulness and merriness for at least the next 40 or so days.

Chat soon.

Stephanie

Filed under: Entertaining, Not-Yet-Married, Pets, Travel, Vacations | 2 Comments »

IStephanie’s Blog

Everyday Thoughts for Your
Everyday Life.