Stephen Colbert = Funny

My First Crush

I was surfing around the Internet and found a picture of my first crush, the guy that I thought was the most handsome man I had ever seen. I think I was 6, watching television at my grandparents, the first time I saw him.

It was love at first sight. He was tall, I could tell, and all the men in my life that I loved were tall. My grandfather and his sons were over 6 ft. My dad had been around 6 ft tall. Yes, tall men were where it was at. Here he is. Yep, Jimmy Stewart. Wasn't he gorgeous? My grandparents had a black and white TV and I had no idea the movie I was watching was from almost 30 years earlier. Can you tell I lived a sheltered life? Everyone else at the time was crazy for Elvis or I guess, The Beatles by this time and I'm in love with Jimmy Stewart.

I was in love with Mr. Jimmy Stewart for several years actually. I was around 9 before I found out that he was actually my grandmother's age! I was so heartbroken! Why, oh why wasn't I born just 30, well....actually about 50 years earlier? I was destined to live my life with an unrequited love, and Jimmy, poor thing, he never knew what he missed.

Dancing Cadet Rocks!

I don't know how I missed this video up until now. I love it! This guy is so cute! The video reminds me of the dance sessions my kids have. I should get some video of that and put it up. They probably won't let me if they know I'll post it. Anyway, enjoy this guy breaking it down!

Use it Up Poster

Meredith had a link to Frugal For Life where there are some great WWII posters. I'm posting my favorite, which happens to bear my personal motto. I love it. Do you think we could all pull together and sacrifice today the way they did back then?

Thrifting Again

I had few minutes after an appointment so I stopped in my favorite thrift store and look what I found! This P. Buckley Moss Christmas plate was only $4. It goes perfectly on my shelf that holds an iron that belonged to my Grandmother, a mini quilt, also thrifted, and a little Amish doll I bought in Lancaster Pa.

I can't remember where the little bowl came from but it was probably a yard sale or thrift store. I think I'll leave the plate out all year because it isn't really obvious that it is a Christmas plate unless you look closely. I love a great find!

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave. ~Joseph Drake

Sunday Musings

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have. Doris Mortman

Bear Wallow Church near Bat Cave N.C.

WFMW

While reading WFMW post over at Shannon's Blog I read this post by Heather about Post it Notes for your computer. I've used these and they are great.

The post reminded me about other online tools I use. One of my favorites are the Flickr Toys. There are lots of neat, very easy to use, tools to create fun pictures. One of my fave, that works well with the Post it notes, is the calendar.

I'm not a person who has ever gotten the swing of using a planner. So I have recently started making a calendar with my fave pic of the moment and using it as a wallpaper on my computer. I find this, used along with the post it notes, a great way to keep up with important dates.

There are other fun toys over there to make things like a Magazine cover, CD covers, special effects for pictures and other goodies. Check it out and check out Rocks in my Dryer for other tips.

What I Saw

Pepper the Wonder Dog

Frugal Friday- Cast Iron Cookware

Sometimes old fashioned things are the best things. Cast Iron cookware is one of those old fashioned good things.

When I first got married I wanted a fancy new set of T-Fal cookware. I was so excited when I got the set I wanted and started using them. I was also given a couple of cast iron skillets that sat in the back of my cabinet unused and dusty.

I knew my grandmother and mom used cast iron cookware but I thought that the cast iron was something old fashioned and wouldn't be nearly as nice as my modern cookware.

I sure had a lot to learn back then! My fancy cookware bit the dust long ago but my cast iron skillets are still going strong. As a matter of fact, so are my mom's and grandmother's after almost 70 years of use!

Cast iron cookware is still the cookware of choice of many professional chefs because it heats evenly and consistently with no hot spots and it is inexpensive. When seasoned properly, food slides out as easy as Teflon coated cookware.

There are a few rules to remember with cast iron:

1. Don't ever put cool water into a hot cast iron pan. It could result in a nasty crack in the pan.

2. Don't store food in cast iron. The acids and moisture aren't good for the finish.

3. Never put cast iron in the dishwasher. Always dry throughly before storing. I put a couple of paper towels in my dutch oven when I store it to absorb any moisture.

4. Heat cast iron cookware up slowly if you use an electric stove and keep heat to medium and lower. Cast iron can't be used on some of the flat glass topped stoves.

It is very easy to pick up cast iron pieces at yard sales or flea markets for just a few dollars. Don't worry what they look like if the price is right. Unless a piece is cracked, with proper treatment you can salvage almost any piece regardless of condition.

I got the Dutch oven pictured below for only $8. The after picture is a little dark but you can tell the difference. This is now one of my favorite pieces of cookware.

So if you don't own any cast iron , keep an eye out at the thrift store and yard sales or beg a piece off your mom or grandmother. I was lucky to have inherited a couple of my grandmother's skillets and a corn dodger pan that my grandmother used most of her adult life. With proper care they will be something I can pass on down to my children.

Before seasoning

After seasoning

A Favorite Family Recipe: Tomato Gravy

Sometimes you just want something comforting to eat. Something that reminds you of when you were a little kid and your mom, or in my case grandmother, used to make you something yummy to eat that was filled with not only good taste but lots of love.

One of my very favorite meals growing up was also one of the easiest to prepare. Old fashioned tomato gravy.

I didn't realize growing up that tomato gravy must be a regional food, at least the way we ate it. All the tomato gravy I ate growing up was served over homemade buttermilk biscuits fresh and hot from the oven. Another peculiarity in our family was sprinkling a teaspoon of sugar over the gravy. My husband, who also ate tomato gravy growing up, would never do that. He just doesn't know what's good!

Before posting this recipe I did a quick Google search to check other recipes. I found many different recipes that included items such as garlic, onions and herbs or spices.

Those recipes are better suited to being served over a meat or pasta. This recipe I'm posting could be served over grits or maybe mashed potatoes, but my serving suggestion is the traditional way we served it, over biscuits.

Carrie's Tomato Gravy.

Ingredients:.

3-4 tablespoons oil (butter, cooking oil of choice, or bacon fat, which is what Grannie used).

About 4 tablespoons flour.

One 28 ounce can diced tomatoes (no spices added, plain tomatoes).

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, add the flour 1 tablespoon at a time until all is mixed in. Lower heat until mixture is just simmering. This forms a roux that you cook, stirring constantly, until it is the color of milk chocolate.

If you haven't made a roux before the main thing to remember is watch it very carefully so it doesn't burn. Stir constantly and as soon as it reaches the correct color remove from the heat.

Add your can of tomatoes to the roux and stir well. Return the mixture to heat and continuing to stir well, cook until thickened. About 3-5 minutes. At this point taste for seasoning. I usually add about a half teaspoon of salt. It really depends on your tomatoes. Also a small amount of sugar(also about a half teaspoon) added compliments the tomatoes well.

This gravy served over biscuits can be served for any meal. We have had it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but most often serve it as an evening meal. If you try it be sure to let me know what you think.

All I want for Mother's Day

We are all together. A perfect Mother's Day. Wishing all you Moms a Happy Mother's Day too.