Notice the similiarity?

I Did Not Know This...Interesting

 The True Story of Rudolph

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter, Barbara, sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer. Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed  to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one...a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about?

The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, 'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer' and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946, Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph.

 That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to B ob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter.

But the story doesn't end there either. Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend, Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad.

 In fact, being diff erent can be a blessing.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

Another year, another Santa Breakfast

This is the infamous "Christmas Letter/List". 

Yep, right up there on the top is the request for

"Super Powers".

A smile for my birthday

This is the Christmas Tree.  A new to us tree, a gift from Aunt Mation who stated it was just too big for her to handle by herself!  Well, it was not too big for Sarah to handle with a tiny bit of help from me.  I was so weak from the illness, I was of little or no help.  She put our white lights on it, was not satisfied with the effect and went out and shopped until she brought back five strings of 200 lights each and put them methodically on the tree.  Each section of the artificial tree has it's own lights, so dismantling the tree means we don't have to remove the lights.  The lights go all the way inward on the branches to the trunk.  Kelsey and Daniel completely decorated it on Saturday with all the toys, garlands, bulbs and icicles.  I think is it absolutely beautiful! 

 Sarah said "I want it when you're done with it Mom"!  It is a beauty!

Some nice news for a change

A 98-year-old hospice patient took a lap around the arena on horseback Friday as her family applauded her spunk.

Gladys McLarnon, of Laurel, a plucky great-great-grandmother, sat proudly in the saddle. She made the brief loop with one helper leading the horse, another gripping a belt around her waist as he walked beside her and a third with his arm beside her opposite leg.

"I practically lived on a horse until I got into high school," said McLarnon, who grew up on a homestead north of Terry.

Before she took to the saddle Friday, she hadn't been on a horse in 15 years.

She made her way determinedly from the car to a mounting block with the aid of a walker. Beneath a vest and parka, she wore a beaded necklace around her bright red turtleneck. McLarnon regularly navigates a flight of stairs at her home in Laurel and has always kept physically active, said her daughter, Marilee Wold.

"She thought she could still do it, so we went for it," Marilee Wold said. "Mother was always game for pretty near anything."

A social worker at Rocky Mountain Hospice heard that McLarnon was eager to ride from McLarnon's granddaughter and live-in caregiver, Renee Wold.

The social worker contacted Jonnie Jonckowski, who runs Angel Horses, a program that provides therapy for youths and seniors with horses rescued from slaughter. Jonckowski has no indoor arena but organized the ride at her friend's arena, the Rimrock Equestrian Center on Shorey Road.

On Friday, Jonckowski trailered her 29-year-old Arabian, Jesse James, to the arena. Jesse, a steadfast rescue horse, is more of a trooper than an outlaw and "loves to be loved on," she said.
Over the years, Jonckowski has fielded other requests from old-timers who want to swing into the saddle once more.
"It's pretty hard to say no," Jonckowski said. "I hope somebody tries it for me when I'm old."

An old cowboy will sometimes ride 50 yards, then sit and reminisce for hours, she said.
"Just the view from the saddle and looking between those ears, it's a pretty precious moment for them," she said. Jonckowski once saw a cowgirl who had turned 100 get on a horse. The woman climbed into the saddle from a pickup truck's tailgate. "We've had people with dementia get back on horseback and you'd be amazed. They give the horse the right cues to get 'em going," she said.

Jonckowski regularly handles requests from nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to bring groups of seniors to her arena just to hang out with the horses, sing campfire songs and toast marshmallows.
When McLarnon's ride ended, the family's matriarch sat in the saddle as she posed for photos with several generations of her family. "Have you done your Christmas cards yet? Because this would be perfect for them," Megan Tenney, a dressage instructor at the arena, shouted out as relatives snapped photos.
McLarnon has nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She often went on trail rides with her husband, Paul, who was a longtime member of the Sheriff's Posse Cowboy Polo team.
The couple, who were married in 1935, also enjoyed bowling. Gladys picked up her first bowling ball in 1948 and went on to compete in 50 state tournaments. For more than 10 years they both bowled in the Senior Sports and Arts Festival. Gladys also competed as a golfer.
Her husband, who had retired from the railroad, died on Christmas Eve in 2005 at the age of 95.
After Friday's ride around the arena, McLarnon registered some discomfort during her assisted dismount.
"I'm just so old and stiff that it isn't any fun like it was when I was younger," she said afterward.
Asked if she would be sore in the morning, she smiled before she answered.

"I won't be sore," she said, "I'll just be lame."

The Phone

Yesterday morning proved me right.  There was no phone delivered by USPS or anybody for that matter.
I don't give a rat's behind at this point whether I have a cell phone or not.  But, it is the number posted on the electronic sign in the middle of Brunswick busy four corner intersection, and it has been published in the newspapers as well.  Help Ring the Bell, call 330-760-1623 Red Kettle.  It doesn't ring, it doesn't churp, it doesn't burp.  It does nothing!

Back to the AT&T store in Medina.  Head scratching, finally they dialed the number for customer service.
I spoke with "Jenny".  "Peggy" of Capitol One's TV commercial's sister.  Could not understand her.  Did not care to understand her, just went through the motions of the call.  Then she wanted a phone number at which she could contact me.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,,,,,,,,All to no avail. (Jenny, Peggy's sister said I should have it by Tuesday the 20th)  There is no service center near Medina, so I  could not drive somewhere and pick up a phone.  Sigh!

Wait a minute.  Leslie, the gal that was helping me this time said "there is a service center on Mayfield Road".  They opened up a magical drawer and pulled a paper with the address on it, out of said drawer.

I programed the address into my GPS  started out and said to myself "I just don't care anymore, I feel like crap and I am going home to lie down".  I stopped at our mail box and voila, there it was.  Turned around and went back to the store.  Leslie transferred all the data, phone stuff and photos.  Only, the photos would not transfer.  Not the first time, not the second time, not the third time. 

Thanks Leslie, give me the damn phone and I'm out of here.

P.S.  the battery that was in the old phone looks like it has water damage.

Ya' think!

The Christmas Card List!

Just finished addressing the Christmas Card/Letter Envelopes.  It is amazing how many names are marked "Deceased" in the book.

That is just wrong, wrong, wrong!

Seriously?

...So a sick woman walks into an AT&T phone store to report that her cell phone is out of order.  It does not ring.

She was greeted by a thirteen year old clerk with natural red hair (I just had to mention this fact as there are so few of them out there in the world today).  "May I help you" says the clerk.
"Yes", says the woman "my phone doesn't ring".

"Let me take a look" says the clerk.  She starts fingering the face pad with both thumbs, moving them  in unison like the director of a hristmas choir.  The touch screen is unresponsive to her wishes.  "I did that" says the lady.  "Hmmm"says the clerk, again moving her thumbs across the touch screen faster this time.  "I did that" says the lady.  The clerk looks up and says "It doesn't ring"!  I did not reach across the counter and grab her by the throat.  Obviously the clerk did not notice the dark circles and dishelved hair on the sick lady.  "Yes, I said,  it doesn't ring". (didn't I say that already?)

"Let me pull your account up on the screen".  ??? Why, I wondered.
"Do you know how long you've had this phone?" says she
"No, can't you look on the computer screen and find that out?" says I.

"Well, we are going to have to send you out a new phone".  "You should have it in 2 to 5 days".
"Then what?" says the sick, sick lady.
"Then come back and we will change out all of your data and info for you". says she.

"What is your work schedule for the rest of the week?" says the sick lady.

GRRRRRRR!

They Sold Trigger!

Saturday mornings growing up in Cleveland found me in front of the Black and White TV watching Western Seriels.  Sunday afternoons found me at the local movie theater watching Cowboy Movies.  I longed for the chance to own a horse.  Trigger was my favorrite movie horse of all time!

THE END OF AN ERA....
The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever.
The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.
Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it

and sell the contents. He complied.
One of many pairs of Roy 's boots sold for $21,250.

Trigger sold for $266,500.

In the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robinhood, with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland; Olivia rode Trigger in that film.

Trigger was bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby. Roy bought Trigger on a time payment plan for $2,500. Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together.
Trigger even outdid Bob Hope by winning an Oscar in the movie Son of Paleface in 1953.
It is extremely sad to see this era lost forever. These were the great heroes of our childhood, and they did teach us right from wrong, and how to have and to show respect for each other and the animals we share this earth with.
You and I were able to grow up with these great people even if we never met them. In their own ways they taught us patriotism and honor. We learned that lying and cheating were bad, and that sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through them. Our lives were drug free.
So it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy, The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Farewell to Sky King and Superman and Sgt. Friday. Thanks to Capt.. Kangaroo,
Mr. Rogers and Buffalo Bob, and all those people whose lives touched ours, and made them better.
It was a great ride through childhood.
HAPPY TRAILS, MY FRIENDS

Fixed...all better now!

"Hello Armstrong, I would like to speak to customer service".

Takes awhile to get through and they finally called back at 10:15 this morning.

"We can be there around 11:00 a.m. if that would be okay".  "You bet it will be okay"!

And at 11:00 they (two trucks, two technicians, one of which was supervisor arrived on the dot!)

"Oh my" said the supervisor.  "We will fix this problem ma'm".  And they did.

They took every inch of cable down, went up in the attic (multiple times) and I now
have no cables showing, no ugly mess, no, no, no and...they are sending an electrician
out tomorrow to find my electrical problem!

"We will deal with the technician when we get back to the office".  "Don't fire him" I said.

"No, but we don't do installation like that". 

Merry Christmas to all And to all a goodnight!

A Quiz: What's wrong with this picture?

Hmmm. a professional technician installation of cable wire today.

NOT!

The dentist is your friend...

...if you would believe the half page ad in the telephone book yellow pages.  I tried to get a call back from the local dentist.  I called at 10:00 a.m."We will get right back to you".  What in space travel time?  I called at noon.  "We will get right back to you, the person who can handle this call is with a customer".    At 2:30 I got a call back, I could go Tuesday afternoon to their office in Avon, or I could wait until Wednesday afternoon to come to the office in town.  

"Thanks for the return call, I have an appointment Tuesday afternoon at another location". 

The new dentist is a woman with an office in Brunswick.  The receptionist said they specialize in "Scaredy Cats and cowards, and are patient and kind".   I guess she must know me.  We will see.

Also, the receptionist at the office that I am going to today said "Are you the Judy Von Duyke who had horses?"  "Yes I am, still do in fact".   "My friend Mary was in your 4H club, she lives in Texas now".

Small world, or six degrees...or six teeth!

What the heck!

I have a dilemma.  I have three broken teeth, molars no less (with old, old fillings) that went on the same day after crunching a nut on Tuesday.

Medicare won't help with my teeth, I am in a great deal of pain, and I have to wait until tomorrow to call a dentist.

However, Tim was just reading his Medicare supplement booklet looking for information about my teeth when he discovered that Medicare will indeed spring for the cost of Viagra for him.

Who the heck makes up these rules?

Relatives both close and not so close

Marilu Laubenthal was married to Tim's older brother David.  I don't remember for how long, but they went separate ways.  They had a son, Andrew who is married to Betsy and Andy and Betsy have two daughters.
Her former husband David passed away 12-23-2009.

I was close to Marilu when she was married, the way sisters-in-law are close.  She went on to get a law degree, and practiced law in several areas of the country until her retirement a few years ago.  I think she is a year or two younger than me.

When I last saw Marilu, she was living in Marin County, California and Sarah and I visited with her on the College Graduation Gift trip that Sarah and I took to San Francisco.  Previously, I had seen her at Andy and Betsy's wedding 15 or so years ago, in Minnesota.

We are older, but we still connected.  How strange life can be.  We get more and more focused on our own families and somehow other relatives slip away.

I will make a conscious effort to stay in touch this time.  I don't know how many more Thanksgivings we have left to share, but we started with this one.

Good to see you Marilu!

Tough as a Rutabaga!

Rutabaga is a tough root vegetable. In the turnip family it is the biggest of the bunch. It is an intimidating looking vegetable displayed on the produce shelf, and at close inspection you see that the entire surface of the veggie is coated with wax.

Many Christmas's ago, Tim gave me a cookbook entitled "Greene on Greens". (He always gives me the gift of a new cookbook, one of his liking, not necessarily one that is practical to use)

A vegetable cookbook authored by Bert Greene. As with most gifts for cooking, I browsed each page, looking for something that sounds like fun to make with only a few ingredients. One year just before Thanksgiving I pulled the book down and started browsing for an "earthy" side dish, something "Harvesty" for the Thanksgiving table. I came across this recipe and tried it. It was a big hit, especially with my husband, so I have endeavored to make it simple for myself over the years, and I am passing in on to all of you to take a stab at.
Last night was the "Let's get those rutabagas peeled, sliced and diced for the comfort food casserole that will be put together on Thanksgiving Day. The process is tedious to me as I started with seven rutabagas last night. This job usually falls on Tim's plate as he is stronger and has a tougher grip than I do, however he was in Illinois on his way home and the task had to be done in advance of the feast, so it was up to me.

You can't peel a rutabaga, you have to cut it in half, slice each half into even slices, then peel each slice removing the waxed coating and peel then dice it...in my case times 7!

Here is the recipe. It is very easy to make and so, so delicious!

Braised Rutabaga (the Judy Von Duyke adaptation)
1 or 2 rutabagas peeled and diced into 1-1/2 dice (don't get carried away it's not rocket science)

1 large yellow onion peeled and diced

4 strips of bacon cooked crisp (save the drippings for the roux)

2 cups chicken stock (you may need more if your roux is too thick, but then thick is like beauty, in the eye of the beholder)

10 leaves of chopped sage ( have sage growing in my herb garden that I have transplanted from two other homes we have had before this one) (if dry ground is all you have, only use 1/2 teaspoon)

3 tbls flour (again, you may need a little more flour if you have lots of drippings along with the melted butter)

1/2 stick butter

salt and pepper to taste (after you have made the dish, then season)

Cover the diced rutabaga with water and cook until fork tender
Drain completely
In a large heavy skillet, saute the onion with the butter and drippings from the bacon
until tender
add the flour to make a roux
when the roux has cooked over low/medium heat for a couple of minutes, add the chicken broth/stock (I have used canned, and also "box" broth and stock)

stir until thickened.

Crumble the bacon and add to the thickened sauce
Add the rutabaga and toss in pan until coated

stir in the sage at the last minute before serving

No need to cook further, just place into a serving dish and voila'
This may become a staple at your Holiday table because you will
have forgotten from one holiday to the next year's holiday what
a pain in the ass it is to prepare the rutabaga!

After 36 hours - give or take

See the blank spaces? They are the ones that are "gold" in color. Those are the blanks where chocolate candy used to live.

Friday night was the Grand Opening of the 40 oz. box of Whitman's Sampler Chocolates. Sarah could not wait another minute. I said I was keeping it for the Holidays. She said "It is the Holidays"!

I think it is just a matter of hours now!

My old - all time love (besides the obvious that is)

My all time love is Chocolate!

Not just all chocolate, which of course is a given, but the yellow box labeled Whitman's Sampler in it's familiar old fashioned script is the best.

As a child, a box of chocolates held a magic spell for me. Little did I know about too much sugar, too much candy, too much indulgence and too too much. I would sneak a peek and just marvel at the separate little paper crinkles holding a wonderous array of my favorite things. I don't just eat a piece of candy and pass it on...I eat it until I can't eat any more, then I take one more piece. I love all chocolate, Russell Stover, Godiva, Giardelli, Queen Ann Cordial Cherries, you name it, and I crave and covet it.

No one in my family ever buys me a box of chocolates. I don't know why, that is just an easy pleezey gift for me. Maybe because they know I will eat it until it's gone. I have been known to eat a 40 oz. bag of Hershey's Kisses in one day. I could enter a contest!

My friend Joanne came up from Wooster yesterday to attend the annual Holiday Auction for the Women's Council of Realtors luncheon held at Fox Meadows Country Club. We gabbed a bit, ate lunch and then got down to the auction. Jim Blair of Seville was the auctioneer and when this item above came up for bid I shouted "Don't anyone else dare to bid on this" and opened the bidding at $50! Immediately, my friend Joanne bid! She bid until she won the item (she leaned over and whispered, "Don't bid, I'll buy it and give it to you"!

What a woman! She in fact did give me the goods and they are thus far happily stored in a safe place, known only to me. Ha!

p.s. She also gave me a very, very large check for the Salvation Army Christmas Stockings Program that I manage. You are a good woman Joanne, a good woman, and a five-star chocolate covered friend!

"Anyone want to borrow my Tee Shirt"?

My favorite salad, from a favorite friend!

Dee Donnelly makes this beautiful salad and it is awesome!
I hope she brings it to Thanksgiving Dinner to share!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1 (8 oz) container whipped topping
2 (3 oz ) packages strawberry jello mix
2 cups boiling water
2 (10 oz) packages frozen strawberries
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple
whipped topping or whipped cream, to garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
For the crust, mix the pretzels, butter and 3 tablespoons of sugar.
Press the mixture into a 9x13 inch pan and bake for 7 minutes.
Set aside and allow to cool.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar.
Fold in the whipped topping and spread over the cooled crust.
Refrigerate until well chilled.
In a small bowl, dissolve the jello in the boiling water and allow to cool slightly.
Add the strawberries and pineapple, and pour over the cream cheese mixture.
Refridgerate until serving time.
To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping or whipped cream!

It will make your "Happy Thanksgiving" happier!

Say it isn't so

I can't believe my ears. I was just watching the morning News on Channel 8.

The announcer was reporting on "health" or what appeared to be health statistics.

In the infinite wisdom of the people we all elected (because they are wise and wonderful) the U. S. Congress has declared a statement about "The School Lunch Program" Pizza is a vegetable!

Go figure!

p.s. Daniel is allowed to purchase lunch at school one day a week. The school lunch is now

$3.00!

But at least he is getting his vegetables!

Ring in the Season

The Salvation Army's red kettles help provide much-needed assistance to the poor and homeless. Now in today's economy, people are struggling to not only put food on their tables, but they are struggling to keep their homes and keep their families together. Here in Medina County, the Northern Service Unit will start their "volunteer" bell ringing campaign on Thanksgiving Eve. Won't you donate one hour of your time to ring the bell? What goes in the kettle stays here in Valley City, Brunswick, Brunswick Hills and Hinckley.

We don't think of these communities as needing any assistance, but they certainly do. In addition, I am accepting donations for the Annual Christmas Stocking Campaign. This year, Tim Rhodes of Howard Hanna Mortgage is purchasing 150 Christmas Stockings for us to fill for the needy children in this Northern part of the county. Also, Buehler's in Brunswick will have an Angel Tree. Children in need who will have no Christmas without our help have their "Angel" on the tree. Please take an angel representing a child and purchase a gift.

Can you help provide something to fill the stockings with? Or, can you send me a tax-deductible check for $10, made out to the Salvation Army for me to purchase stocking stuffers?

My address: Judy Von Duyke, 7240 West Law Road, Valley City, Ohio 44280. Call my cell:

330-760-1623

Thank you for your one hour of time, and thank you for thinking of today's children.

The stories thait are heard from people dropping coins or dollars into the kettle are always heart warming. Solders needs have been met, disaster victims helped and families everywhere are given hope and help. What is the price? Nothing. What is the cost? Great.

Won't you help this year?

Here is a brief history of the Kettle.

The Salvation Army's red kettles have become a Christmas tradition in nearly every part of the world, but the idea for the little collection pots was born over a century ago, from prayer and desperation.
The red kettle story goes back to 1891, when Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco, California, was overwhelmed with the number of poor in that city. McFee had a simple idea. He wanted to provide free Christmas dinners to 1,000 of the poorest of those people, to give them some holiday hope. Sadly, he had no money for the meals.
McFee tossed and turned at night, praying and thinking about the problem. Slowly, a solution came. He recalled his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England. At Stage Landing, where the ships docked, a large iron kettle called "Simpson's Pot" had been placed. People walking by would toss in a coin or two for the needy.
Finding a pot, Captain McFee put it at the Oakland Ferry Landing, by the foot of San Francisco's busy Market Street. He placed a sign next to it that read, "Keep the Pot Boiling." Word got around quickly, and by Christmas the kettle had raised enough money to feed the poor.

Over the decades, the Salvation Army's red kettle collections have raised millions of dollars for the organization's work. Each year, the Salvation Army serves more than 4.5 million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Veteran's Day

I was always able to remember that Veteran's Day came on November 11. The lady that took me in to her home when I was 17 was a retired Army Wac, Women's Army Core. I had never met a woman who had been in the military so I was facinated by the stories that she told about being in World War II. I remember the November 11 date each year because it also was "Neta's" birthday.

(Photos to the right: Nathan at age 2 visiting with Grandma Neta before Sarah was born)

(photo at left is Nathan and "Grandma Neta", she was well into her eighties at this point, and a widow)

Worneta Stringer Koons, my cousin William's wife was born in Union, Maine and lived a very strict life filled with a huge work ethic. She was no nonsense, no emotion demonstrated ever, cynical and matter of fact. She ran her household like the ranking sargent in charge, but she was kind to me. She was a tough bird, but she told you the rules of the house, the rules of acceptable behavior and way things were according to her thinking.

When I arrived home from work, I was expected to do a chore while I was in the process of removing my coat. Like grabbing a kettle from the cupboard and filling it with water to cook noodles in before the coat came off. She was the Queen of multi-task and by golly, you had better toe the line. She had saved me from a life of abuse so I am forever grateful to her.

Everything in her life had a purpose, a time allowed to achieve that task that would achieve her goal and she was neat, neat, neat. She never had children of her own, so I am surprised she took on a head-strong teen aged girl.

I learned a lot from her, some good habits and some habits that drive my family nuts. Now that I am so much older (not wiser) I look around and wonder how people get things done doing them carefully, one thing at a time. I hate wasted time. She ingrained that into me...time is money and you don't waste it. She was the most frugal person I ever met. I think that lesson fell on deaf ears where I was concerned. I made $50 a week at my first real job working at American Greetings (they got me the job, they both worked there too) and I had to put $15 in the savings account, $15 room and board and the rest I could use for my expenses. Gas for my junker car and insurance pretty much used up the rest leaving me with $5. Those were the days!

I heard stories of betrayal and atrocities about her years in the service, the insult and sexual harrassment focused against the WACS. She was in Guam and some other islands and took it and never complained. She never told those stories of the war if she was sober. I don't mean to make her out as a drunk or anything, far from it, but drink they did, that was the social event of the week, going out on Friday or Saturday night. So, if I was around when she was a little tipsy, she sometimes would talk about her years in the service.

She thought it was too expensive to fly or drive up to Ohio for my wedding, so instead we spoke on the phone after the ceremony. After I was married for a short while I got a call from her husband Bill one Saturday morning. "Neta should be arriving at the airport by now, so you better go over and pick her up". Huh, I didn't know she was coming to visit. Her appearances were always like a surprise inspection. I didn't know whether to "fish or cut bait". Tim went to the airport to pick her up, while I raced around the apartment trying to make it ship/shape and spotless. I think I may have hidden dirty dishes in the oven. When she arrived she did her walk through, touching things as she went looking for dirt and dust. I almost passed the inspection until she looked into the oven. I spent years seeking her white glove inspection stamp of approval. The funny thing about that first visit to the newlywed apartment was this...Tim took me aside and said "I don't know what she's got in this suitcase, but it is heavier than Hell"!

Come to find out she had brought her silver dollar collection from home so Bill wouldn't find it and spend it.

She loved to gamble and play bingo, so their retirement move to Florida gave her opportunities to do both.

Veteran's Day means a little something extra for me each. It gives me time to reflect on this woman who reached out to me when I was a teenager and said "If you ever need a place to stay, just call us, we'll be there to get you, no matter what time or when".

She and Bill came to Valley City the year Nathan turned five, to spend Christmas. She, cynic that she was, brought lots of cute, but cheap presents for the kids. She knew full well that my children would just rip and tear open the packages as she had imagined all children did. Well, I still remember this scene in my mind's eye as if it were yesterday. She and Bill were sitting on the sofa and she handed Nathan a present. A small box in a little boy's hands. Nathan touched and fondeled the box, turning it over and over in his hands. "Is this for me Grandma"? he asked.

"Sure, it's your present from me" said she. "Can I open it Grandma"? (she was getting a little uncomfortable by then and was starting to fidget on the couch. "Of course you can open it, it's your Christmas present"! Little Nathan sat on the floor and carefully and slowly took the tape off the paper, opening it up slowly. Inside the box was a little boy's character watch. Nathan just sat there and looked at the watch for a second "Oh Grandma, a watch...just what I always wanted"! and he threw his arms around her neck.

So there Mrs. Cynic!, so there!

Thoughout her entire life, her motto was just like the Army...We will come get you out of the enemy's hands, but we won't show any emotion.

p.s. The $15 room and board that I paid her every week while I lived with them...she gave us a check for all those weeks of board as a wedding gift.

I can see clearly now

The stars at night are big and bright, but not like the song "Deep In The Heart of Texas".

With the visiting dog belonging to Heather Raw, I am out later at night than normal. While I wait for "Anna" to "get busy" as her owner says I should tell her if she seems to be not attending to the task of "potty", I have been looking up at the sky.

I think we forget to look up. Our lives are purposefull and on target most of the time, but I think our vision gets narrower and narrower. We seem to have lost the habit of looking up and instead we look ahead, or we look back. The other night the stars were so bright and the sky was so clear that it seemed as if I were viewing the sky from a movie or from the seating in the planeterium at the History Museum.

I saw the dippers and all the other bright lights of constellations not to mention the moon full and shiny.

The air was still and the night was quiet. I actually stayed out much longer than it took Anna to "get busy". Quite enjoyable actually, I was surprised that I did not rush back into the warmth of the house.

This morning at 5:00 a.m (really 6:00 a.m. if it weren't daylight savings time), again I caught myself looking up. It's a vast universe out there and we are such little specks.

"Come on Anna, get busy"!

It almost feels like I am passing the torch

My daughter-in-law Traci said something that made me catch my breath yesterday at breakfast.

We had been invited by her to join her and Nathan in North Ridgeville for a Sunday morning breakfast. We had already eaten due to the "fall back Daylight Savings Time" but we said we would love to join them for coffee.

And so we drove up to North Ridgeville to the "City Diner" for coffee. Well, I can't be exposed to food for any prolonged period of time before I want to eat, so I had two blueberry pancakes and syrup. During breakfast, the Thanksgiving meal prep came up in the conversation. Traci has been coming the day before Thanksgiving to prepare pies for the feast. I can't remember how many years it has been, but a few anyway. She learned how to "crimp" crust edges, mix the fillings, how to make fresh from scratch whipped cream etc.

But this year, she wants to be in on the turkey prep. "Wow" ! I was so excited. She is the only person in the family who has expressed any interest in preparing a holiday meal, so I am very excited. Also, Tim told Nathan "this year you can carve the turkey". And he actually meant it.

It is bittersweet.

How many more holiday meals will I be able to preapre?

How many more will I be the director.

When will I become the audience?

Kind of a dark and moody forecast don't you think.

Well shake it off Von Duyke, and get on with the joy of teaching someone who is actually interested in cooking, how to get ready for the task of cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

Then as if watching a young child after learning a lesson, I shall sit back and glow with pride.

Yes, I think I will dwell on that thought today!

Wonderful food...a thing of beauty! Bistro 87, a work of art

My friend Michelle Gaw, actually "Chef" Michelle is the new teacher for the Hospitality class at Tri-C. Outstanding, outragious, presentation, quality, good, good and more good. A joyful afternoon for me and my friend Shirley. I had Tortellini in a Bechamel Sauce sauce that was made with pureed parsnips, milk, garlic and onions sauteed with mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, mixed with the Tortellina and then sprinkled with Parmesan and broiled for a few, until golden served with a side Ceasar Salad. Focacia (sp?) bread and carrot rasin nut muffins all scratch made, iced tea, frest lemon, Italian Wedding soup with at least 40 baby meatballs, and dessert for me was Cannoli parfait and I will tell you details if you email me! Shirley had the pork saltimbaca with pasta primavera, (portion to big to eat it all) soup and a baked apple dumpling with vanilla ice cream (warm of course). Other entrees included: grilled boneless porkchop with parsnip mashed potatoes; tilapia; specialty salads including the rib steak salad, Ratatoille, grilled veggie sandwich, etc, etc!

Service was excellent, Lashanda was our server, she was beautiful and had the most gorgeous teeth and smile. Believe me, a sincere smile and genuine concern for our dining pleasure goes a hell of a long way folks. I could not expect more in Manhattan! My price was $13.15.

I mean to tell you the day was delightful and then Chef Michelle gave us a tour of the kitchen and we met the individual students who each had prepared part of the meal. We saw the fresh carrots being diced, the croutons be prepped in butter, the chef d'cuisine, was super and he explained how he made the crust for the apple dumpling and the process. Flour/salt/butter/water, core the Granny Smith, roll it in brown sugar and cinnamon then fill the cavity with butter.

I could go on and on, and needless to say, we are going back the second Thursday in May.

If you want to join me, let me know, we can go together and we will let Michelle know how many and at what seating.

Go folks, run don't walk to this one.

Bravo Chef Michelle and Bravo to the students. You all restored my faith in food!

Reservations are required and can be made by calling (216) 987-4080. The latest lunch seating is at 12:45 p.m.

Visit Metro’s Bistro 87 For Some Gourmet Cuisine


biography MICHELE GAW Cleveland/Northeast Ohio
MICHELE GAW’S (right) passion for food and the hospitality industry polevaulted
her career as an executive chef, award winner, consultant, and
business owner. She is a member and Past President of the American
Culinary Federation-Cleveland Chapter, a member of the Cleveland
Restaurant Association, a founding member of Cleveland LDEI, and a
media favorite on the Cleveland scene. It was this passion that drew
her to share her talents at Cuyahoga Community College as a part-time
instructor for the past 20 years. As she added knowledge and experiences
to her personal resume, she shared it with students and influenced
the curriculum to better prepare students for success in the Hospitality
Michelle Gaw (left, with customer Pahy Moran) "It's all about quality of life," Gaw says while showing us around her spotless commercial kitchen. A working woman herself, the chef is hip to the challenges of putting a home-cooked dinner on the table each night. "What I'm trying to do here is give clients the time to create that family meal without all the hassle of doing everything themselves."
The chef, meantime, is reveling in her newfound freedom. "I loved working at the Watermark," ( exec. chef for 18 years) she says. "And I never even thought about the long hours and the stress. But this is so much better. I'm working with food, I'm teaching skills and I'm having fun!" Industry. Michele expects her students to have the highest standards of
work ethics as well as skills to present quality products. Michele’s achievements,
her passion, and her giving nature have earned her the respect of
students and the hospitality and academic community.
Michele received her Associate Degree from Cuyahoga Community
College, and her BA in Business from Tiffin University. She teaches both
culinary preparation and management courses. She serves on the advisory
committees at Cuyahoga and several high schools, and also does
American Culinary Federation accreditations.

Are you ever downtown and are looking for a great place for lunch? Many Tri-C employees would recommend the scrumptious dishes served at Bistro 87, Metro’s restaurant operated by students in their dining room, restaurant operation and restaurant management classes. On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in November and December, the Bistro serves sit-down lunches with gourmet food at affordable prices, making it an ideal lunch spot.
Bistro 87 offers a variety of foods, drawing on many culinary traditions from around the world.

Restaurant Review

My friend Jo Ann blogs restaurant reviews when she and her husband Michael try a "new" one.

Last night, I went with neighbors Bruce and Linda to attend the dinner/meeting of the Buckeye Walking Horse Association in Fairlawn.

Yellowtail Japanese Seafood Restaurant is located on Rt. 18, just east of the Rt. 77 interchange in a strip shopping center which contains Home Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, and an assortment of some open or closed restaurants, and some smaller shops.

The feeling was "cool" as I walked in. Lots of glass, natural wood, clean lines and contemporary sublety. The rear of the restaurant in an "open bar" effect with a very large, large buffet.

Included is a "Hibachi" section with lots of raw foods to be cooked to order, an appetizer section, salad section, sushi/sashimi section and a dessert section.

No mounds of food at each station, just enough to let you know that "fresh or hot/cold" is more important that quantity. Lots of subtle refilling of tasteful trays of food. I thought it was very tasty, clean and plentiful. Ceramic trays/plates were placed on ice and the food was artistically arranged. I took much longer to fill my plate than it normally would because I was looking and admiring the "art". Shredded cabbage lay on platters and the item was placed on top of the cabbage. Lots of steamed seafood, shellfish and mussells.

Although I am not a seafood fan, I was almost tempted to try it. It was so beautiful. The names were intriguing and the colors and sights were like entering a modern museum.

I would go back again and take my family.

Dinner buffet was $15.99. Clams, mussels, oysters on the half shell, crab legs and shrimp.

I was Bruce and Linda's guest, so the meal was complimentary, but it was worth the money.

Green tea served in a large handle-less mug was very good and we had a private room in the front of the restaurant with lots of light, and clean tables, chairs and floors.

A waitress that hustled and was quite quiet and demure completed the picture.

Yellow Tail Inc
4054 Medina Road, Akron, OH 44333
(330) 666-9988 () ‎

Farewell to a grand old gentleman

Born: 4-1978- Laid to rest 10-31-2011.
A bay Arabian Gelding last owned and loved by photographer Michelle Zuzalak.
Formerly owned by Bob and Jan Cutting, Lodi, Ohio before they retired and moved to Tennessee.
He survived colic surgery at the Equine Specialty Hospital under the skilled hands of Dr. Melissa Milligan.

God's Speed dear one, God's Speed.

Satire (Horizon Solano (Ivanhoe Tsatan) X Petite Gem (Petit Jean) out of a Gage daughter.

Bloodlines to be seen no more.

To be owned by an Arabian is a priceless experience and one of God's wonderful gifts!

Need I Say More?

A movie for grown-ups too!

Wow! Daniel and I had a movie Sunday afternoon and it was just wonderful!
Hickory Ridge Cinema in Brunswick, $5 for Daniel and $5 for his "senior" Nana along with
the "Kids pack" at $4.50 of popcorn, candy and a soda.

I love it when there are only a few folks in the audience, so there are way less
distractions than normal. We shared the popcorn, and I was delighted at his
very mature comments about the story and the action.

This story has lots of twists and curves and the animation is superior and fast, fast, fast.
Voices of the two main characters are Antonio (Puss)and Salma (Soft Paws).
Tommy Lee Jones was "Humpty Alfonzo Dumpty" too.

Lovely way to spend the day, and not one F _ _ _ word!

Daniel and I highly recommend it to our grown-up friends!

A second opinion

I got a second opinion regarding my broken finger...it's not!

The radiologist report came back to my Dr.'s office. Seems there is so much arthritis and previous injuries, it just looked broken, Now I am wearing a different splint, one that protects the top of my finger and is way more comfortable to wear. (I already banged it on a two x four in the barn) so in about ten days I can probably expect the "blow exhibiting blunt force trauma" (I always wanted to say that phrase) pain and swelling along with the bruising, to start to subside.

Well that's is a better opinion than the first one.

So now I feel better about the whole healing process.

But I still look like I am flipping everyone the "bird"!

How Many fingers am I holding up?

One...just one. It looks like I am permanently flipping the bird!

Seriously, how much do you take for granted by having the use of all your digits?

I know I have taken them for granted. Never again...who will help this old bird stuff the Thanksgiving bird???

Seriously, volunteers gratefully accepted!

The Thrill of Victory

After three weeks, I am finally able to download
this photo. Some tasks take me longer to do or to
figure out than others.

I purchased this "win" photo from the show photographer
Don Stine, and I didn't know I would be receiving it
"electronically". I kept going to the mail box expecting
to find a large envelope, fortified with still cardboard and
addressed to me.

Little did I know that the show photographer would also
be well into the age of technology, way ahead of me and
my skills.

Anyway, here is the win shot of Sarah, Daniel, Canadian Justina
and all of her supporters who traveled to Kentucky to support
them.

It was nerve-wracking yet thrilling to watch the culmination of so much work. As you may recall,
Justina was the #2 horse in the show string, and Whizkid was the #1 horse. Justina had to step in and fill some pretty big shoes when Whiz's leg injury forced him to be in stall rest for an extended period of time.

As you can see, she certainly stepped up to the plate!

Gobaldegook!

I have been watching the commercials for and against Issue 2.

I am now going to delve into the supplement section provided by my local newspaper. Then I will delve into the "abbreviated" supplement

provided by my local newspaper.

Then I will be confused.

It is not only an issue regarding "bargaining". As it has become habit for legislature, it is filled with bull doo doo!

Sigh!

If only they had the opportunity to describe new law in 1000 words or less

like any good magazine article.

It is almost like the riddle

"How much wood could the woodchuck chuck, if the woodchuck could chuck wood?"

...can't break the habit!

Sister Mary Katherine entered the Monastery of Silence.

The Priest said, "Sister, this is a silent monastery. You are welcome here as long as you like, but you may not speak until directed to do so"

.

Sister Mary Katherine lived in the monastery for 5 years before the Priest said to her, "Sister Mary Katherine, you have been here for 5 years.

You may speak two words."...

Sister Mary Katherine said, "Hard bed".

''I'm sorry to hear that," the Priest said, "We will get you a better bed".

After another 5 years, Sister Mary Katherine was summoned by the Priest. "You may say another two words, Sister Mary Katherine".

''Cold food," said Sister Mary Katherine,

and the Priest assured her that the food would be better in the future.

On her 15th anniversary at the monastery, the Priest again called Sister Mary Katherine into his office. "You may say two words today".

''I quit," said Sister Mary Katherine.

'It's probably best," said the Priest,

'You've done nothing but bitch since you got here"!

Thank you facebook, I needed this today!

And the winner is.....

...the folks who made the "Venison" chili for the Chilly, Chilly, Chili-Cookoff that was hosted by Sarah and Kevin Saturday, October 15, 2011 at their barn.

My chili was voted No. 2, out of 11.

Was I disappointed...no, not really. My chili was good, especially since it is served over steamy warm and buttery mashed potatoes! Not Cincinnati Chili, but more like "West Side of Cleveland" chili.

I choose not to cook venison anymore. When times were lean, that was the meat on the table. Meatballs, meatloaf, chili, spaghetti sauce, you name it, it was made with venison.

I hated the fact I could not buy beef, or steaks or roasts, even chicken was out of the question one year. (that was the year the dog ate cooked potato skins)

I just can't wrap my brain around sauteing venison. Not in any shape or form. Plus the fact that the latest deer photo on the winner's facebook page showed the six point buck staring back at the camera.

Shudder! I can't do it anymore.

I think next time I'll go for vegetable chunks in a spicy tomato based sauce.

Stranger than Fiction

I had a small home listed about 15 years ago in our county. The lovely owner, an older lady had decided she had met the man of her dreams, (a previous client of mine, so I was a "referral"). She was not going to waste any more of her life living in the snowy, cold winters of Ohio, so she called me, listed her house, packed a suitcase and moved to Florida with her new love. They did not marry, but lived blissfully ever after.

Here is the glitch. She left everything she had owned over 45 years and everything her late husband (the hoarder) had collected for 50 years and just got in her car and drove off into the sunset. The property consisted of 17 acres, a ramshackle barn which was only being held up by the abandoned school bus that was inside and a small little house that still had the kitchen trash can under the sink filled with trash.

How can I sell this house which was filled with a nightmare of stuff? I had a brilliant idea. It was not a good idea, just a brilliant one. At least I thought so at the time.
I held a"garage/estate/yard/barn sale/come and get it while it's free sale!"

Here was the twist. You could have whatever you wanted for free. But...you had to haul a bag of trash off with you when you left! I provided the big black trash bags, they folks just had to fill them. No joke folks, this was the real deal. I placed the ad in the newspaper, put a sign in the yard and stood back. I served coffee and cider, and laughed all day.

One memorable bit of "treasure" makes me laugh still today! A man came wandering up from the barn carrying a motheaten Deer Head on a wooden mount. The Deer Head had long given way from the mount, so it was hanging from the bottom of the mount board at a right angle. On the flat spot of the base of the deer's neck was a bird's nest. Quite a large bird's nest too!!

The comment the man made about his treasure was so profound, I can close my eyes and see the story unfold in my head.

"I am so excited to get this birds' nest. My mother- in -law collects birds' nests and I can hardly wait to give her this one to add to her collection"! That's right, you heard me...he took the whole thing, deer head and all and gave it to his mother -in -law. This was one of those "when you just wanted to be a little mouse in the corner" moments!

There must be a mixed message here somewhere.

The house got picked clean like the Thanksgiving turkey, only needing a few broom strokes to neaten it up. I sold successfully sold it with the help of a cooperating brokerage, and the people have been living there ever since.

Who knew?

I can't look a birds' nest without smiling!

Happy Birthday to my Son

(photo the right is one of my favorites...Nathan with "Grandma" Neta Koons)

October 13, 1970 was the day this baby boy entered into the world. I was a "first time" mother to be when I entered Berea Hospital the night of September 30, 1970. I had labor for almost 13 hours by the time he was born. I knew nothing, I didn't know what to expect, the doctor Myron Welty, MD was my family doctor and OB.

Labor pains are not comfortable. No one taught me how to breathe. No one taught me to relax. No one told me my husband would stand outside the labor room leaning up against the wall, fall asleep, then ultimately go home from there leaving me alone in the hospital.

I guess those were the days of blind faith, and no questions asked.

I remember sweating my ass off during the contractions, and Tim asking me, bending low so he could whisper in my ear "can I turn the air conditioner off? It's cold in here"! Ya' think!

They brought the baby into my room during the wee hours of the morning so I could see he was physically perfect...all his fingers and toes, all his little arms and legs. 8 lbs. O oz. 20' long.

I remember like it was yesterday. The nurse had taken him from the incubator (he needed to be quiet and warm, no oxygen needed as he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his throat).

I was grateful for her bringing him to me so I could touch him and kiss his little face.

There were some other things I remember...I remember standing in the hallway of the hospital, longingly peering through the glass window of the isolet room wanting to hold my baby and not being able to do so for four days.

When the nurse came into the hospital room that I shared with another new mother, speaking to Tim and me she brought in the "regulation birth forms" that had to be filled out. She asked "what is the name of the baby boy?"

Tim and I had decided on a name for the baby. We had chosen "Peter Winfield Von Duyke" (Winfield was Tim's father Lee Von Duyke's middle name) if it was a boy. Back in those days, no sex was ever revealed to the "to be Moms and Dads". I don't even know if an ultrasound was ever performed during my pregnancy. "Sarah Elizabeth Von Duyke" was the name we chose if it was a girl.

You can imagine the shock on my face when Tim replied:

"His name is Nathan Winfield Von Duyke".

And so it is.

Love you baby boy!

Another day in paradise

Truly, I am in paradise. I am here at the Kentucky Horse Park, enjoying beautiful weather, sunny days and cool nights. Living in and old (1987) "Georgie Boy" RV and loving every minute. Georgie squeeks and groans, rattles and rolls, much like me. I am able to cook on a tiny teeny four burner stove, wash up in a tiny kitchen sink, cook for Sarah and her two students, Katie and Kelsey, shower in a tiny space, conserve water, and have a ball. I am sittng at the dinette, looking out at an arena with horses warming up for their Dressage tests, sun streaming through the window, enjoying a hot cup of coffee and listening to a distant announcer call for classes. All is right with the world.

For me, this is heaven.

"And God took a handful of southerly wind and blew his breath over it and created the horse". ...Bedouin legend

Since the day many years ago that I used to sit on the curb with a carrot in my hand (circa 1945) and wait for the Producer's Milk Wagon to stop and deliver milk to our house, and the driver would allow me to pet the horse and feed him the carrot, I have been "horse crazy". I am old now, but I would still wait for the horse to come to give him a carrot.

It certainly works for me!

Tackle Adversity, Hoda style

Four years after mastectomy and divorce, TV's Hoda Kotb, 47 says life is "great again"

Copied in part from the USA Weekend Magazine, Sept. 23-25, 2011.

1. Surround yourself only with people who fill you up. Get rid of the toxic ones.

2. Don't sweat the little stuff--90% of what you worry about won't happen.

3. If you're still standing after surviving an illness or death of a loved one or whatever your cross to bear is, you get the four words: You Can't Scare Me. Use them!

4. Don't hog your journey; share it to help others.

5. Allow yourself dark days to stay under the covers watching Law & Order reruns and eating junk food.