I was searching for something on the computer and came across Vern's recipe for bread. I told you some time back that Mother had taught Vern how to make Pizza and through years of practice this is what he perfected.
BREAD
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon oregano (for pizza)
1 3/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 package dry yeast
2 tablespoons oil
Bake 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
The recipe says nothing about mixing what together, I think he just dumped everything into the bowl. I'm really not sure because home made bread was his bailiwick. I do know that the recipe made two full size loafs or a large pizza (we made pizza on a cookie sheet). Keep in mind - No oregano in the bread recipe.
For a lot of years when we had retreats at St. Patricks Parish in Washington, Vern would make the bread for the Women's weekend Agape meal. The women loved the idea of fresh baked bread and especially the fact that it was made by one of the husbands. (Note to fellows who read this: Women love men who make home baked bread - and then clean up the kitchen.) Vern would from time to time make a loaf of bread and deliver it to someone who was going through a tough time. The bonus for me, was when he made a loaf to give away, we got to eat the other one, unless there were two people who needed a little extra attention - and that was known to happen. Also, for at least three of the parish auctions, he offered to bake pizza for the highest bidder. They won two pizzas of their choice plus a dessert pizza. Bidding was usually pretty heated.
The rest of the story: He had pasted this recipe inside one of the cabinet doors in the house on Cruger Road. After we had moved, one of the daughters remembered that it was there and stopped at the house and asked the present owners if she could have it. I don't know which daughter but one of them has the recipe in Vern's handwriting.
.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Dining Room Table
Except for when I was very young and we lived on George, Hurlburt and Smith Streets on the southside, we always lived in a house with a formal dining room. I thought about this recently when I read that a lot of new homes cease to have dining rooms as they are thought to be a wasted space. The trend is towards kitchen, family room combinations, aka the great room, with an area set aside for a large table of some sort.
When we were growing up, the dining room was the center of the house. We always lived in houses with big kitchens that had a kitchen table in the center of the room and we ate most of our meals there. As far as I can remember we even ate in the kitchen on Sunday except when we had company - and we had a lot of company.
There was always a lace tablecloth on the table that my mother washed and stretched on the curtain stretchers which adjusted to the necessary size. (Curtain stretchers were a rectangular wood frame with a lot of little sharp tacks around the edges - and they hurt when you were putting curtains or tablecloth on - to hold the curtains/tablecloth while they dried . This was before permanent press and the table cloths/curtains were made of cotton and the stretcher held them tight so there was no need for ironing. Lace can be tricky to iron. The stretcher had a stand and you set it up in the backyard or basement depending on the weather).
Our dining room table was the gathering place for us kids. Pushing the lace tablecloth aside, this is where we did our homework, and before television, this is where we sat and quizzed each other on things we learned from the World Book Encyclopedias. All of us knew the States and their Capitals. One of us would read something in the WBE and impart that info to the others and we used the World Books for school reports. David as early as three would join us and ask us to "make me some adds" - easy additions. There was a radio in the kitchen, that we turned up and listened to Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King (and his niece, Penny) and assorted other radio serials while we did homework or sat around the table.
In the middle of the table was usually the laundry that Mother had washed and dried and put there that we pushed aside while we did homework but while we listened to the serials we folded clothes that we then put away. I just remember there was always a pile of socks - I hated folding socks, because most of us wore white ones and it was a real headache trying to figure out whose were whose (and listen to the radio) and of course, there always seemed to be some left over that didn't have mates.
When we did have company and ate in the dining room - if there were a lot of people, we kids still ate in the kitchen and after the meal was over, it was time to clean off the table as soon as possible, don't put the lace tablecloth back on - Mother had put a white one on for the meal - because the men - my dad and the uncles - gathered around the table to play poker while the women did the dishes and when that was done they sat around the kitchen table and talked.
When we lived on Howett Street, Ernie Scherer lived with us while he was going to Bradley and slept in a small room off the dining room. There were two bedrooms upstairs - Mom and Dad had one and the oldest five slept in the other. When Ernie got married, Mom and Dad moved their bedroom to the little room and the girls had one upstairs room and the boys the other. They sometimes used the summer kitchen behind the kitchen - A room with a lot of windows and a door of its own - as a bedroom but often one of my Dad's brothers and sisters lived there and during WWII, they rented that room out to a friend and his family when housing was scarce.
I remember being eight or ten, and on winter days, taking the clothes pins and books of various sizes and making roads and bridges around and under the dining room table. If our brothers would let us, we 'played cars' with their toy cars but if not we used tinker toys or blocks as cars. The dining room table - lots of good memories.
When we were growing up, the dining room was the center of the house. We always lived in houses with big kitchens that had a kitchen table in the center of the room and we ate most of our meals there. As far as I can remember we even ate in the kitchen on Sunday except when we had company - and we had a lot of company.
There was always a lace tablecloth on the table that my mother washed and stretched on the curtain stretchers which adjusted to the necessary size. (Curtain stretchers were a rectangular wood frame with a lot of little sharp tacks around the edges - and they hurt when you were putting curtains or tablecloth on - to hold the curtains/tablecloth while they dried . This was before permanent press and the table cloths/curtains were made of cotton and the stretcher held them tight so there was no need for ironing. Lace can be tricky to iron. The stretcher had a stand and you set it up in the backyard or basement depending on the weather).
Our dining room table was the gathering place for us kids. Pushing the lace tablecloth aside, this is where we did our homework, and before television, this is where we sat and quizzed each other on things we learned from the World Book Encyclopedias. All of us knew the States and their Capitals. One of us would read something in the WBE and impart that info to the others and we used the World Books for school reports. David as early as three would join us and ask us to "make me some adds" - easy additions. There was a radio in the kitchen, that we turned up and listened to Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King (and his niece, Penny) and assorted other radio serials while we did homework or sat around the table.
In the middle of the table was usually the laundry that Mother had washed and dried and put there that we pushed aside while we did homework but while we listened to the serials we folded clothes that we then put away. I just remember there was always a pile of socks - I hated folding socks, because most of us wore white ones and it was a real headache trying to figure out whose were whose (and listen to the radio) and of course, there always seemed to be some left over that didn't have mates.
When we did have company and ate in the dining room - if there were a lot of people, we kids still ate in the kitchen and after the meal was over, it was time to clean off the table as soon as possible, don't put the lace tablecloth back on - Mother had put a white one on for the meal - because the men - my dad and the uncles - gathered around the table to play poker while the women did the dishes and when that was done they sat around the kitchen table and talked.
When we lived on Howett Street, Ernie Scherer lived with us while he was going to Bradley and slept in a small room off the dining room. There were two bedrooms upstairs - Mom and Dad had one and the oldest five slept in the other. When Ernie got married, Mom and Dad moved their bedroom to the little room and the girls had one upstairs room and the boys the other. They sometimes used the summer kitchen behind the kitchen - A room with a lot of windows and a door of its own - as a bedroom but often one of my Dad's brothers and sisters lived there and during WWII, they rented that room out to a friend and his family when housing was scarce.
I remember being eight or ten, and on winter days, taking the clothes pins and books of various sizes and making roads and bridges around and under the dining room table. If our brothers would let us, we 'played cars' with their toy cars but if not we used tinker toys or blocks as cars. The dining room table - lots of good memories.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Gallimaufry
Karen, who is the best half of my brother Dick's life, comes to my house every other day in this immense heat and waters the pots. Those on the patio and around the house and the ones with cucumbers and tomatoes - and there are baby tomatoes. Don't I keep telling you God puts good people in your life?
* * * * * * * * *
Last year, nephew Justin told us that he was going to be an extra in a movie called Gellhorn and Hemingway. It stars Nicole Kidman and Clive Owens. He showed us some still pictures, dressed in 30's garb and wearing a brown Fedora. We had a free HBO weekend recently and I downloaded the movie - a lot of sex and violence so I fast forwarded through a lot of it - but kept looking for a fellow in a Fedora. When Lora was here, she checked out the movie and spotted him, sans hat. He is only in a very short scene but it was neat seeing him looking very Scovil - drink in hand and the infamous Scovil smirk.
I want to send kudos to our niece, Angela, Carol's daughter, who was her mother's primary care giver until the end. Besides taking care of her mother, she ferried her children around - to school and dance class, etc. - as if things were normal. Part of the time her husband was away on business. She is an amazing woman and I hope now she will take time for herself. She needs to remember how precious she is.
Last Sunday, the phone rang and the caller ID said it was an out of state call and I thought it must be a salesman until I heard nephew Mike's voice. I picked up. He was driving from Tucson to Phoenix to do some work for ESPN and decided to call his old Aunt. We had a great conversation, catching up on him and his family. What a treat.
We saw on Facebook, that niece Debra got an internship to HawkWatch International, which I assume from the title has something to do with birds. Deb has always been in love with the outdoors and wild life so this is a big feather in her cap (did not intend to make a pun) and we are proud of her and congratulations!
Most of the people who read this blog are family, so this is a way to let you know what everyone is doing. By the way, did I mention that grandson, Joel, not only graduated from UW, Milwaukee but he has a job - yea, Joel. His mom, Lora was just named buyer for all the fabrics for the Nancy's Notions Catalog and our youngest daughter, Maureen just started her Masters Program in Business Law. Is it okay to brag on this interesting, busy second generation?
* * * * * * * * *
Because of the free premium channel's weekends, I have downloaded some pretty cool movies, In and Out, which just has great dialog. Kevin Kline has to be one of the most underrated actors and Joan Cusack is so good in this movie. Also downloaded Secondhand Lions - one of Vern's favorites - just a fun movie to watch and Colin Firth in The King's Speech. I have watched it several times and kept thinking that the actress who plays Lionel Logue's wife looked familiar. About the third time watching it, it dawned on me that it is Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet to Colin's Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
* * * * * * * * *
One of the ladies I take the Eucharist to a couple times a month, said to me on Sunday that she was going to pray that God would "lay off" me for awhile, as I've had too many trials in my life recently. I was surprised when she said that, I really hadn't thought about it in that way. It's just 'Real Life 101' and you tend to take each day as it comes. Life is what it is and I keep in mind one of my favorite quotes from Phillipians: "I am content in whatever state I'm in". And I truly am.
* * * * * * * * *
Last year, nephew Justin told us that he was going to be an extra in a movie called Gellhorn and Hemingway. It stars Nicole Kidman and Clive Owens. He showed us some still pictures, dressed in 30's garb and wearing a brown Fedora. We had a free HBO weekend recently and I downloaded the movie - a lot of sex and violence so I fast forwarded through a lot of it - but kept looking for a fellow in a Fedora. When Lora was here, she checked out the movie and spotted him, sans hat. He is only in a very short scene but it was neat seeing him looking very Scovil - drink in hand and the infamous Scovil smirk.
I want to send kudos to our niece, Angela, Carol's daughter, who was her mother's primary care giver until the end. Besides taking care of her mother, she ferried her children around - to school and dance class, etc. - as if things were normal. Part of the time her husband was away on business. She is an amazing woman and I hope now she will take time for herself. She needs to remember how precious she is.
Last Sunday, the phone rang and the caller ID said it was an out of state call and I thought it must be a salesman until I heard nephew Mike's voice. I picked up. He was driving from Tucson to Phoenix to do some work for ESPN and decided to call his old Aunt. We had a great conversation, catching up on him and his family. What a treat.
We saw on Facebook, that niece Debra got an internship to HawkWatch International, which I assume from the title has something to do with birds. Deb has always been in love with the outdoors and wild life so this is a big feather in her cap (did not intend to make a pun) and we are proud of her and congratulations!
Most of the people who read this blog are family, so this is a way to let you know what everyone is doing. By the way, did I mention that grandson, Joel, not only graduated from UW, Milwaukee but he has a job - yea, Joel. His mom, Lora was just named buyer for all the fabrics for the Nancy's Notions Catalog and our youngest daughter, Maureen just started her Masters Program in Business Law. Is it okay to brag on this interesting, busy second generation?
* * * * * * * * *
Because of the free premium channel's weekends, I have downloaded some pretty cool movies, In and Out, which just has great dialog. Kevin Kline has to be one of the most underrated actors and Joan Cusack is so good in this movie. Also downloaded Secondhand Lions - one of Vern's favorites - just a fun movie to watch and Colin Firth in The King's Speech. I have watched it several times and kept thinking that the actress who plays Lionel Logue's wife looked familiar. About the third time watching it, it dawned on me that it is Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet to Colin's Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
* * * * * * * * *
One of the ladies I take the Eucharist to a couple times a month, said to me on Sunday that she was going to pray that God would "lay off" me for awhile, as I've had too many trials in my life recently. I was surprised when she said that, I really hadn't thought about it in that way. It's just 'Real Life 101' and you tend to take each day as it comes. Life is what it is and I keep in mind one of my favorite quotes from Phillipians: "I am content in whatever state I'm in". And I truly am.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Carol Scovil Berardo
She attended the Academy of our Lady as a freshman and then decided to go to Manual High. When Judy's husband was transferred to Pittsburgh in 1967, Carol went along. She met Don Berardo and had three children, Angela - her primary care giver the last few months - Dan and Donna.
Carol did for others. She was an excellent cook and was an expert at making the Italian dishes she learned from her mother-in-law. When she lived at home, she took care of Dave and Sue, she babysit for Vern and I on occasion, and how she loved her own children. When her mother-in-law had a stroke, it was Carol who took care of her and at Mrytle's death, her father-in-law moved in with them. Everyone was welcome at Carol's house. That is probably her legacy, she always treated everyone like family. She inherited Mother's gift as a storyteller, she remembered everything and I can't recollect her saying anything bad about anyone else. Carol was a heavy smoker and she didn't take care of her health as she should have - she inherited that from our mother as well.
It's a strange thing going to the funeral of a sibling, especially someone younger. You feel as though you are on borrowed time. At the funeral Mass, the priest pointed out the Easter candle that is always lit at Catholic funerals. He said, that it is lit the first time at the Easter Vigil and it denotes new life as in Jesus' Resurrection and at funerals it symbolizes a new life in heaven. That's what I hope for our sister. A new life, where she will be cared for and she has no more pain. Rest in peace, little sister.
The rest of the story.....The hearse that carried Carol from the funeral home to the Church and then to the cemetery was made by the Sayres/Scovill Company. A neat coincidence.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Macaroni and Shrimp Salad
I was looking for something and came across this salad. It's been awhile since I have blogged a recipe and this is great for this time of year for picnics and potlucks. I got it from Janet Thomas. Her husband worked with Vern years ago and they eventually moved to York, Pennsylvania and we lost track of them.
Macaroni and Shrimp Salad
1 16 oz pkg small shell macaroni
1 small - 6 0z - can of shrimp drained and rinsed
1 chopped small onion - probably about 1/3 cup
10 sliced radishes
3 sliced stalks of celery
1 chopped green pepper
1 small jar stuffed olives sliced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup catsup
s & p to taste
Boil macaroni, drain, rinse and chill.
Add next six ingredients
Mix dressing and catsup and pour over mixture and toss.
Chill until time to serve.
I really like this salad, the saltiness of the olives - if you can't find a small jar of olives, use probably about 15 smaller olives, the crunch of the radishes and the catsup/mayo combination. Also consider a bunch of green onions sliced instead of a small onion. And red or yellow pepper if you don't like the strong taste of a green one.
Macaroni and Shrimp Salad
1 16 oz pkg small shell macaroni
1 small - 6 0z - can of shrimp drained and rinsed
1 chopped small onion - probably about 1/3 cup
10 sliced radishes
3 sliced stalks of celery
1 chopped green pepper
1 small jar stuffed olives sliced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup catsup
s & p to taste
Boil macaroni, drain, rinse and chill.
Add next six ingredients
Mix dressing and catsup and pour over mixture and toss.
Chill until time to serve.
I really like this salad, the saltiness of the olives - if you can't find a small jar of olives, use probably about 15 smaller olives, the crunch of the radishes and the catsup/mayo combination. Also consider a bunch of green onions sliced instead of a small onion. And red or yellow pepper if you don't like the strong taste of a green one.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Four Broads in a Buick 9-29
Our trip out West in 1978
9-29-1978: First stop today is at Lake Havasu and the London Bridge. We ate breakfast at the Village Pub at the English Village by the bridge. (I googled the Bridge site and it said that most of the shops were boarded up now)
Our next stop was at the Grand Canyon. Marge and Berta had never seen it. It was awe inspiring as usual. We ate lunch at Bright Angel Lodge. (The Lodge overlooks the Canyon. My belief is that whatever natural phenomena you see first becomes your favorite. Mine is the Grand Canyon. I have seen it at all different times of day and it is always beautiful)
We stopped at Flagstaff for gas and as we pulled out of the station the muffler fell off again. So around two blocks and back to the gas station to get it wired up. An Indian couple with five little children were having the tire on their pick up changed. We struck up a conversation with the kids, Pauline, Barney, Emerson, Amanda and Christine.
We elected to drive all night so we could be home by Sunday, Judy has to go to work on Monday.
We stopped about 11:30 p.m. at Gallop, New Mexico for supper. Everyone had hamburgers and they sure tasted good. As we drove out of the mountains down to Albequerque, the city below was one of the most beautiful sights we've seen, about a mile of lights, row after row. Marge was asleep but the rest of us woke her and she agreed it was a sight worth waking up for.
At Adrian, Texas, we stopped for gas and coffee. While the others went inside, Norma slept in the car. Marge was driving and was going along at a nice pace when she noticed everyone else was on another road. She was tooling along the access road instead of the highway. Five miles later she got back on the interstate.
2:30 in the afternoon and we have stopped at a motel in Chandler, Oklahoma to get some much needed sleep.
10-1: We left Chandler at 5:30 a.m. heading home and got to Springfield, Missouri at about 10:30. We spent a couple of hours visiting with Norma's in-laws and on the way North we drove through downtown St. Louis so that Berta could see the Gateway Arch.
We've met some nice truckers on the CB this trip, especially on the night drives. We've seen so many interesting and beautiful sights it will be months to sort them out. We've driven over 5000 miles and everyone is still friends. We've laughed so much our sides literally ache and one word or phrase of something that happened will start us off again (some things are better not to mention here) All that we've seen, it is wonderful, though, to see these Illinois flatlands again! (I love to travel and see new sites and sights, but nothing looks as good to me as driving through these Illinois corridors of corn.)
(I have a friend who calls God the 'Lone Arranger' and it was certainly true in Berta's case. She decided to come back with us on a whim. Unbeknown to any of us, she had MS and within a year was dead. This trip gave her parents and siblings the last chance to visit with her).
9-29-1978: First stop today is at Lake Havasu and the London Bridge. We ate breakfast at the Village Pub at the English Village by the bridge. (I googled the Bridge site and it said that most of the shops were boarded up now)
Our next stop was at the Grand Canyon. Marge and Berta had never seen it. It was awe inspiring as usual. We ate lunch at Bright Angel Lodge. (The Lodge overlooks the Canyon. My belief is that whatever natural phenomena you see first becomes your favorite. Mine is the Grand Canyon. I have seen it at all different times of day and it is always beautiful)
We stopped at Flagstaff for gas and as we pulled out of the station the muffler fell off again. So around two blocks and back to the gas station to get it wired up. An Indian couple with five little children were having the tire on their pick up changed. We struck up a conversation with the kids, Pauline, Barney, Emerson, Amanda and Christine.
We elected to drive all night so we could be home by Sunday, Judy has to go to work on Monday.
We stopped about 11:30 p.m. at Gallop, New Mexico for supper. Everyone had hamburgers and they sure tasted good. As we drove out of the mountains down to Albequerque, the city below was one of the most beautiful sights we've seen, about a mile of lights, row after row. Marge was asleep but the rest of us woke her and she agreed it was a sight worth waking up for.
At Adrian, Texas, we stopped for gas and coffee. While the others went inside, Norma slept in the car. Marge was driving and was going along at a nice pace when she noticed everyone else was on another road. She was tooling along the access road instead of the highway. Five miles later she got back on the interstate.
2:30 in the afternoon and we have stopped at a motel in Chandler, Oklahoma to get some much needed sleep.
10-1: We left Chandler at 5:30 a.m. heading home and got to Springfield, Missouri at about 10:30. We spent a couple of hours visiting with Norma's in-laws and on the way North we drove through downtown St. Louis so that Berta could see the Gateway Arch.
We've met some nice truckers on the CB this trip, especially on the night drives. We've seen so many interesting and beautiful sights it will be months to sort them out. We've driven over 5000 miles and everyone is still friends. We've laughed so much our sides literally ache and one word or phrase of something that happened will start us off again (some things are better not to mention here) All that we've seen, it is wonderful, though, to see these Illinois flatlands again! (I love to travel and see new sites and sights, but nothing looks as good to me as driving through these Illinois corridors of corn.)
(I have a friend who calls God the 'Lone Arranger' and it was certainly true in Berta's case. She decided to come back with us on a whim. Unbeknown to any of us, she had MS and within a year was dead. This trip gave her parents and siblings the last chance to visit with her).
Five Broads in a Buick 9-26
A trip we made out West in 1978
9-26-78: Today we were up early and headed down to old Mexico (Mary and Russ Epperly lived in San Diego) It wasn't as dirty as everyone has always led us to believe. We got some good bargains we felt and ate lunch at a restaurant with loads of atmosphere. It was downstairs, a fountain in the foyer. Paper flowers decorated the ceiling and old photographs in gorgeous frames decorated the walls. It even had strolling musicians.
Back to Mary's in the early afternoon where we again lazed around. After supper, we dressed up a little and went to the Harbor Island Sheraton to hear the Guadalahara National Philharmonic, a tremendously good all girl band. They had an excellent banjo player.
9-27: We left Mary Lou's at 7:30 a.m. on our way to Blythe and Mary came with us. We stopped at El Centro, California for breakfast. Judy and Norma had a Mexican breakfast while the other Gringos ate American food.
Our parents had bought a motor home when Dad retired after traveling around for a couple of years, they bought a mobile home and settled at a place out in the desert on the Colorado River called Lost Lake Mobile Home Park) We arrived at Mother and Dad's a little before 1:00. They have done a lot of work on their trailer and it is really lovely. Aunt Liz came down and shortly thereafter Russ Epperly, who had been in Yuma, came in. The party started and never stopped. One of the neighbors had caught some catfish and we had a fish fry.
Judy, Norma, Berta and Marge all stayed at Aunt Marys mobile home and its really nice - very spacious (Aunt Mary and Uncle Ed lived in San Clemente and had this place at Lost Lake)
We went over to 'our place' about 7:30 and Mom and Dad and the Epperlys followed us over and the party continued. (Russ and Mother were great story tellers and they kept telling one story after another) Everyone left about 10:00 and the four of us went immediately to sleep.
9-28: Marge got up about 7, and she and Dad went into Blythe to have the car worked on. It's been missing. The problem was points and plugs and a cracked distributor cap. While they were waiting, Dad took Marge out for breakfast and while they were eating a friend came over and talked to them. Dad never introduced them so the words probably out that he was having lunch with some young chick.
Mary Lou and Russ left about 10:30. She was really a good hostess and we had a good time.
Judy and Mother went into Parker to the store and while they were gone, Georgie Molloy, a friend of Carol and Don's from Pittsburgh came by. He had been visiting a girl friend in Phoenix and came over to see the folks. Dad took Georgie down to Vidal Junction where there is a real Western saloon owned by an Indian Princess. He had taken us there the night before.
In the evening we went to a pot luck that the park has monthly and it was very humid. About 105 degrees and we all thought the humidity was the same.
9-29: We left Lost Lake at 8:00 a.m. heading home. Berta called home last night and Henri couldn't believe she'd been gone five days and only got to Blythe. (Berta lived in San Bernadino)
9-26-78: Today we were up early and headed down to old Mexico (Mary and Russ Epperly lived in San Diego) It wasn't as dirty as everyone has always led us to believe. We got some good bargains we felt and ate lunch at a restaurant with loads of atmosphere. It was downstairs, a fountain in the foyer. Paper flowers decorated the ceiling and old photographs in gorgeous frames decorated the walls. It even had strolling musicians.
Back to Mary's in the early afternoon where we again lazed around. After supper, we dressed up a little and went to the Harbor Island Sheraton to hear the Guadalahara National Philharmonic, a tremendously good all girl band. They had an excellent banjo player.
9-27: We left Mary Lou's at 7:30 a.m. on our way to Blythe and Mary came with us. We stopped at El Centro, California for breakfast. Judy and Norma had a Mexican breakfast while the other Gringos ate American food.
Our parents had bought a motor home when Dad retired after traveling around for a couple of years, they bought a mobile home and settled at a place out in the desert on the Colorado River called Lost Lake Mobile Home Park) We arrived at Mother and Dad's a little before 1:00. They have done a lot of work on their trailer and it is really lovely. Aunt Liz came down and shortly thereafter Russ Epperly, who had been in Yuma, came in. The party started and never stopped. One of the neighbors had caught some catfish and we had a fish fry.
Judy, Norma, Berta and Marge all stayed at Aunt Marys mobile home and its really nice - very spacious (Aunt Mary and Uncle Ed lived in San Clemente and had this place at Lost Lake)
We went over to 'our place' about 7:30 and Mom and Dad and the Epperlys followed us over and the party continued. (Russ and Mother were great story tellers and they kept telling one story after another) Everyone left about 10:00 and the four of us went immediately to sleep.
9-28: Marge got up about 7, and she and Dad went into Blythe to have the car worked on. It's been missing. The problem was points and plugs and a cracked distributor cap. While they were waiting, Dad took Marge out for breakfast and while they were eating a friend came over and talked to them. Dad never introduced them so the words probably out that he was having lunch with some young chick.
Mary Lou and Russ left about 10:30. She was really a good hostess and we had a good time.
Judy and Mother went into Parker to the store and while they were gone, Georgie Molloy, a friend of Carol and Don's from Pittsburgh came by. He had been visiting a girl friend in Phoenix and came over to see the folks. Dad took Georgie down to Vidal Junction where there is a real Western saloon owned by an Indian Princess. He had taken us there the night before.
In the evening we went to a pot luck that the park has monthly and it was very humid. About 105 degrees and we all thought the humidity was the same.
9-29: We left Lost Lake at 8:00 a.m. heading home. Berta called home last night and Henri couldn't believe she'd been gone five days and only got to Blythe. (Berta lived in San Bernadino)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Three Broads in a Buick 9-23
Our first trip to the West in 1978.
9-23-78: Everyone slept until about 8:00 a.m and we got ready and "left our hearts in San Francisco" but took everything else we had brought or bought from this pretty city.
We headed down Route 1 along the coast. The ocean is beautiful. Just before Santa Cruz we got out and walked out on a beach and waded and took pictures. We drove Route 1 for awhile but everyone was driving slow, slow, so we headed over to 101 where it was four lane. (Judy wad driving, Judy does not have a lot of patience with slow drivers. Thirty four years later, when I was in Florida in February, Judy still does not have patience with other drivers, period. I love my sister, Judy) We stayed on there until the road for San Simeon, the Hearst Castle. When we got there, they were not taking any more tours for the day. It really looks impressive up on that hill - maybe next time. (I toured it many years later with daughter, Mary. Very impressive inside as well). We spent the night in Thousand Oaks.
The road along the ocean is interesting as there's quite a few farms along the way and a lot of vegetable fields. It is not uncommon to see cattle grazing along the oceans edge.
9-24: Up early this morning. We drove to Los Angeles, got off at Beverly Hills and drove through and looked at some of the beautiful homes. Then on to Disneyland. We all enjoyed it - very well kept and lots of things to see and do.
Judy liked the Haunted House best. Marge says it's a toss up between the Haunted House and Small World. Norma like the whole thing. We saw several shows. Not many lines. Altogether a nice experience.
I forgot to mention we stopped yesterday at two missions. Soledad which had the most magnificent
roses. Later we stopped at San Luis Obispo, which was beautiful. There was an art show in the mission plaza. We really liked it. Pretty gardens, just a nice place.
We arrived at Marge's sister, Berta's home about 4:00. We visited with her and her husband, Henri, and during our conversations, she decided to come back to Illinois with us. So while Berta got ready to go, Henri, told us about his importing business. Very interesting. (Henri, was a very charming Frenchman, who kissed our hands when we were introduced. He spoke with a charming French accent, and we were mesmerized. Did I say he was charming?)
We got to Aunt Mary's about 8:00 that evening and we all went up to the San Clemente Inn for drinks and to listen to their friend and favorite singer, Denny Tyrone. While we were there a Mexican fellow asked Berta to dance and while they were dancing he fell down. Needless to say, Berta was quite shocked and everyone at the table nearly collapsed laughing. (Berta was a pretty, tiny blonde)
9-25: The next morning we drove down to the Capistrano Mission which is lovely and has such a peacefulness about it. (In 2001, when we were stranded in California because of 9-11, a visit to sit in front of the tabernacle at San Juan Capistrano, was where I found peace) We ate lunch at Capistrano and headed down to San Diego to visit our friend, Mary Lou Epperly.
Mary's house is really pretty. All of the California house we've been in are nice, Berta's, Aunt Mary's and Mary Lou's. We really just relaxed and stayed home. It was a pleasant experience to be in a house instead of a motel.
9-23-78: Everyone slept until about 8:00 a.m and we got ready and "left our hearts in San Francisco" but took everything else we had brought or bought from this pretty city.
We headed down Route 1 along the coast. The ocean is beautiful. Just before Santa Cruz we got out and walked out on a beach and waded and took pictures. We drove Route 1 for awhile but everyone was driving slow, slow, so we headed over to 101 where it was four lane. (Judy wad driving, Judy does not have a lot of patience with slow drivers. Thirty four years later, when I was in Florida in February, Judy still does not have patience with other drivers, period. I love my sister, Judy) We stayed on there until the road for San Simeon, the Hearst Castle. When we got there, they were not taking any more tours for the day. It really looks impressive up on that hill - maybe next time. (I toured it many years later with daughter, Mary. Very impressive inside as well). We spent the night in Thousand Oaks.
The road along the ocean is interesting as there's quite a few farms along the way and a lot of vegetable fields. It is not uncommon to see cattle grazing along the oceans edge.
9-24: Up early this morning. We drove to Los Angeles, got off at Beverly Hills and drove through and looked at some of the beautiful homes. Then on to Disneyland. We all enjoyed it - very well kept and lots of things to see and do.
Judy liked the Haunted House best. Marge says it's a toss up between the Haunted House and Small World. Norma like the whole thing. We saw several shows. Not many lines. Altogether a nice experience.
I forgot to mention we stopped yesterday at two missions. Soledad which had the most magnificent
roses. Later we stopped at San Luis Obispo, which was beautiful. There was an art show in the mission plaza. We really liked it. Pretty gardens, just a nice place.
We arrived at Marge's sister, Berta's home about 4:00. We visited with her and her husband, Henri, and during our conversations, she decided to come back to Illinois with us. So while Berta got ready to go, Henri, told us about his importing business. Very interesting. (Henri, was a very charming Frenchman, who kissed our hands when we were introduced. He spoke with a charming French accent, and we were mesmerized. Did I say he was charming?)
We got to Aunt Mary's about 8:00 that evening and we all went up to the San Clemente Inn for drinks and to listen to their friend and favorite singer, Denny Tyrone. While we were there a Mexican fellow asked Berta to dance and while they were dancing he fell down. Needless to say, Berta was quite shocked and everyone at the table nearly collapsed laughing. (Berta was a pretty, tiny blonde)
9-25: The next morning we drove down to the Capistrano Mission which is lovely and has such a peacefulness about it. (In 2001, when we were stranded in California because of 9-11, a visit to sit in front of the tabernacle at San Juan Capistrano, was where I found peace) We ate lunch at Capistrano and headed down to San Diego to visit our friend, Mary Lou Epperly.
Mary's house is really pretty. All of the California house we've been in are nice, Berta's, Aunt Mary's and Mary Lou's. We really just relaxed and stayed home. It was a pleasant experience to be in a house instead of a motel.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Three Broads in a Buick 9-22
Our first time in San Francisco - one of my favorite cities. When Mary and Gregg lived in San Jose years later, we had opportunities to go many times.
9-22-1978: This town is too much! We really crowded a lot into one day. We went first over the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a beautiful day in San Francisco but hazy. Took some pictures and drove downtown. Parked down by Pier 1 - The Embarkation Center. Walked across a beautiful plaza with a big sculpture fountain. People sitting around the plaza eating lunch and enjoying the beautiful day.
We walked over to Market St. and got on at the beginning of the cable car line and started for Fisherman's Wharf. We had parked our car in a two hour limit parking meter space and decided to risk a ticket for over parking. The cable car was exciting, up and down hills. A young man on his way back from a job interview, told us which car to transfer to and a little about the city as we rode along.
At Fisherman's Wharf we went first to the Maritime Museum and went aboard a Clipper Ship. It was a log carrying ship and very interesting. We then walked towards the Cannery. The wharf area is just one street stall after another and shops and restaurants. You could spend a week here going through everything. We ate in a restaurant in the Cannery - Ben Johnson's - that reeked of atmosphere. William Randolph Hearst bought a building built in 1609 in England that was a favorite meeting place of Ben Johnson, the English playwright and his friend, Will Shakespeare. It sat in a warehouse for thirty years until the Cannery on the wharf opened and they moved it in and put it together piece by piece. It is really unique. (several times when we returned to the area, I tried to find the place and never could).
After lunch we bought Tee shirts for the kids and looked around then headed to the car by cable car. We got off and walked through Chinatown and when we headed back for our cable car we got turned around and got lost. Finally someone told us to walk to California Street and get on it there. California Street was two blocks away straight up. Marge and Norma decided that walking in San Francisco is not for heavy smokers and fat people unless you can always go down hill. We waited quite a while for a cable car but it never came, so we hailed a cab and headed back to the car.
Back to Emoryville and our motel and changed and then back to San Francisco for our Nightclub Tour. While waiting for our escort, we struck up a conversation with a nice young woman from Washington State. She ate supper with us at the Gazebo Room at the Hilton and on the bus to the Purple Onion, she met a single fellow so along the way we lost Laura. The show at the Onion presented Rebecca Reardon and Chuck Cline, both pretty good singers. Then they took us to Treasure Island and we could look back at the city by night. It was breathtaking and , of course, none of us remembered to bring a camera.
Next stop, was Finochios, where every act was a female impersonator. All three agreed it make us feel uncomfortable, but it was interesting.
We got home about 1:30 and everyone was tired. We decided we had seen quite a lot of San Francisco.
I forgot to mention that from Fisherman's Wharf to Chinatown we rode on the back of the cable car. Marge and Judy loved it. Norma had reservations!
I googled the singers at the Purple Onion, neither of them are still singing. Ben Johnson's is no longer in business, not sure about Finochios, the Purple Onion still exists.
9-22-1978: This town is too much! We really crowded a lot into one day. We went first over the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a beautiful day in San Francisco but hazy. Took some pictures and drove downtown. Parked down by Pier 1 - The Embarkation Center. Walked across a beautiful plaza with a big sculpture fountain. People sitting around the plaza eating lunch and enjoying the beautiful day.
We walked over to Market St. and got on at the beginning of the cable car line and started for Fisherman's Wharf. We had parked our car in a two hour limit parking meter space and decided to risk a ticket for over parking. The cable car was exciting, up and down hills. A young man on his way back from a job interview, told us which car to transfer to and a little about the city as we rode along.
At Fisherman's Wharf we went first to the Maritime Museum and went aboard a Clipper Ship. It was a log carrying ship and very interesting. We then walked towards the Cannery. The wharf area is just one street stall after another and shops and restaurants. You could spend a week here going through everything. We ate in a restaurant in the Cannery - Ben Johnson's - that reeked of atmosphere. William Randolph Hearst bought a building built in 1609 in England that was a favorite meeting place of Ben Johnson, the English playwright and his friend, Will Shakespeare. It sat in a warehouse for thirty years until the Cannery on the wharf opened and they moved it in and put it together piece by piece. It is really unique. (several times when we returned to the area, I tried to find the place and never could).
After lunch we bought Tee shirts for the kids and looked around then headed to the car by cable car. We got off and walked through Chinatown and when we headed back for our cable car we got turned around and got lost. Finally someone told us to walk to California Street and get on it there. California Street was two blocks away straight up. Marge and Norma decided that walking in San Francisco is not for heavy smokers and fat people unless you can always go down hill. We waited quite a while for a cable car but it never came, so we hailed a cab and headed back to the car.
Back to Emoryville and our motel and changed and then back to San Francisco for our Nightclub Tour. While waiting for our escort, we struck up a conversation with a nice young woman from Washington State. She ate supper with us at the Gazebo Room at the Hilton and on the bus to the Purple Onion, she met a single fellow so along the way we lost Laura. The show at the Onion presented Rebecca Reardon and Chuck Cline, both pretty good singers. Then they took us to Treasure Island and we could look back at the city by night. It was breathtaking and , of course, none of us remembered to bring a camera.
Next stop, was Finochios, where every act was a female impersonator. All three agreed it make us feel uncomfortable, but it was interesting.
We got home about 1:30 and everyone was tired. We decided we had seen quite a lot of San Francisco.
I forgot to mention that from Fisherman's Wharf to Chinatown we rode on the back of the cable car. Marge and Judy loved it. Norma had reservations!
I googled the singers at the Purple Onion, neither of them are still singing. Ben Johnson's is no longer in business, not sure about Finochios, the Purple Onion still exists.
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