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Sunday, February 25, 2007

Did You Know?

When you switch to the new Blogger, your email address disappears and you show up in the email copy of the comments as "soandso@anonymous blogger" (or something like that) instead of "soandso@your email.com". That's fine if you don't want me to have your email address but I have most of yours already.

In order to reply, I have to find your email address, erase the "anonymous" in the "reply" part of the email, and copy and paste the email address in.

To fix it (if you want to).

Go into your Profile
It gives you options - check the show email address box
Save changes.

Your email address will never show up in the comments; only in the email copy.

I just fixed mine. Didn't know it needed fixing until a couple of friends mentioned it. Thanks to friend Emma at Fueled by Coffee for the heads up. It would never have occurred to me to look in the Profile.

It's around 10 on Sunday morning and it's raining with more expected. The girls are all lazing around except for Rochelle who is really lazing around. She's still asleep. So is Ray. Rebecca is about to make blueberry chocolate muffins (from a box). She tried blueberry yesterday and somehow ended up with far too much liquid. I suggested converting them to pancakes but we finally settled for adding a little self-rising flour. They turned out fine - just a little "wetter" than your usual muffin. I'm quite creative when if comes to salvaging cooking disasters. I've had lots of practice. This time around I made sure she understood the fractions.

Yesterday, she managed to use 3 wire whisks, one egg beater, and two bowls for one package of muffin mix. Today, I set out the utensils for her under pretext of "helping".

And me? I'm doing laundry including two pair of filthy shoes that somehow have to be in shape for school tomorrow. I bought a couple more pair of slipper socks for Elcie. Her feet are almost healed and I want to keep them that way until I can figure out a shoe that won't rub the tops of her toes raw.

My friend, Wandering Dave, has started his cross country journey. He traveled from here (Merced, CA) to Lodi (without getting stuck but did have a slight, no injury accident when another car sideswiped him), then to Auburn, and by now should be in Reno. (He is, I just checked). From there he'll head to the Pacific Northwest and then I think Alberta. I know he'd welcome comments on the blog which will lead you to his Forum, Podcast, etc. He and his son put a lot of time and effort into setting it up.

Yesterday was beautiful and some of our fruit trees have now joined the almonds in blooming (along with several magnolias). I never knew the magnolia grew this far north until I moved here. They're all over town. Our daffodils should be poking their heads up soon and spring will be here. I took Elcie and Rebecca shopping with me while Rochelle was at the park with friends and then to the cafe for a treat.

My online friend Diane and I were just reminiscing about barbecue. I'd fixed some for dinner last night and there's plenty left over for today. It got me to wondering about a hole in the wall place in Jonesboro, AR where I lived for several years in the 70's. It had the best barbecue I've ever tasted. We used to buy it by the pint (or quart sometimes) along with the buns and coleslaw to go with. We put the coleslaw on top of the "loose meat" pork barbecue. I don't know if anyone outside of Arkansas does that but it's good. It works on a Reuben, why not on barbecue? Diane and her sisters, Donna and Cecil, still live very close to there and I asked them if it was still around. It is and it's expanded to several locations. Good for them. I like to see a family business succeed in the midst of all the franchises. It's possible to drive from one end of the country to the other these days, never leave the freeway and never stop in a privately owned restaurant. I think we lost something that can never be replaced. Or maybe I'm getting old and cranky. I don't long for the days of the washboard, believe me, but I miss the Burma Shave signs. Anyone except me remember them? Four signs, always poetry of sorts, with Burma Shave on the final sign. The kids of my generation were easily amused on car trips and we loved them.

Train approaching
Whistle squealing
Pause, avoid that rundown feeling
Burma Shave

or

Spring Is Here
The Grass Has Riz
Where Last Year's Careless Drivers Is.
Burma Shave.

Aren't you glad those are the only two I still remember?

For any of you who don't know Diane, she writes a family blog full of cooking, pictures, and lots of love. She has to be one of the kindest, gentlest, people I've met online and I've met many wonderful people. She'll be a first time granny soon. Her sisters are great too and both are bloggers. I won't post all the links but if you get to Diane's blog, I'm pretty sure she has links to the others.

Arkansas had a series of tornados over the last couple of days. I know her family is okay and I hope so is everyone else. It's tornado alley there. I remember well, having been in one of them in 1973.

I think Rebecca may have forgotten the muffins. Perhaps I should either find her or check to see if smoke is billowing from the kitchen?

She arrived in the kitchen just as I was opening the oven door and was appalled that I thought she'd forget. Silly me. They still need about five more minutes but they smell wonderful. Nothing worse than an appalled Rebecca.

Carol is about the same but hasn't been readmitted to the hospital which means her fever is either gone or low enough to not be a worry. We weren't sure what would happen. Ray's doing okay, no more falls so far.

The muffins are safely out of the oven and look delicious.

Anyhow, I promised Elcie a game of cards. She's doing crossword puzzles while tapping her fingers on the table and saying "are you done yet". I guess I'm done, at least for now.

Thanks for all the comments and the love. It should be a quiet day if I can get away from Elcie and the card table. Perhaps I can get around to catching up with my friends.

Take care everyone.

21 comments:

Granny said...

Testing to see if my email address shows up as it should.

Granny said...

Yep, it does.

Susie said...

Lovely to see your nice newsy post!
I had read about the email thing. It's good you're helping get the word out on that!
We've got the rain, hail and snow on nearby peaks! We've also got a very cold wind blowing, but the flowers are blooming and hopefully can hang in there!
I remember the Burma Shave signs, but didn't remember what they actually said!!
((hugs))

Unknown said...

Thank you. I'll have to check my profile and see what it has for an email address.

Hootin Anni said...

Hi Ann....Am I mistaken, or wasn't your blog template darker? Did you change it? I think I like this a whole lot better. Perhaps it's my own computer...who knows. *giggles*

I had to laugh at the amount of stuff she used to make muffins. That's so typical. But, I recall I did the same thing when I first started cooking. After I learned I had to clean my own cooking mess, I soon learned to go sparingly!!

But, anyWHOO--thanks for the laugh.

Hope your Sunday is now a bit more relaxed and your laundry is done.

Arwen said...

I am working in Atlanta right now just a few miles form a place called Hickory House and they have the best brunswick stew I have ever had. I am not sure what goes into brunswick stew (I am not sure I want to know) but the hickory house has the memory for me that I think your quarts of pork bb que have for you.
I loved learning to bake as a kid.

Carmen San Diego said...

Man now I want blueberry muffins and chocolate. Thanks alot. Just kidding. Good thing we have birthday cake here at the house.

Anvilcloud said...

This guy also tends to use a lot of implements and dishes when he's cooking.

Gina said...

Glad to hear things are going relatively smoothly! Sometimes we take "smooth" for granted!

JunieRose2005 said...

Hi Ann,

Just stopping by to see how you are all doing !

Sounds like things are ok there-and spring is coming on.

Junie

Carole Burant said...

Well geez...I didn't know about the email thingie...I checked my profile and yup, my email was gone! lol Thanks, Ann, for the heads up about it!! Sounds like everything is fairly quiet for you at the moment...you even have a budding baker around:-) xox

Jo said...

It is spring there? Ohhh I am sooo jealous. We are still locked in snow and winter. Cold. Dang. Sometimes I really miss Cali. Like now.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I'll have to check my profile for my email address. I don't remember changing it since I made the switch to New Blogger. Thanks for the heads-up.

Thanks too for the the sweet words, Ann. It's been great getting to know you, and it's a bonus that we share a knowledge of Northeast Arkansas in common.

I've been reading some of my friends' blogs tonight, but not doing much commenting. I've got to get ready to go to the hospital in Jonesboro tomorrow. Mikki is being induced to have her baby so I'll be a great-aunt again. I'll post about that in a little while, before I go to bed.

Hope you have a great week, Ann.

Love and hugs,

Diane

lushgurl said...

AWWW, Granny, I am right this minute packing my bags to come live with you!!! I woulda done it sooner but didn't want to impose...but then you said you had blooming fruit and almond trees AND magnolia's ??? Here I was perfectly content to think that spring would come eventually, as our snow has started to melt...
Anyways...I wonder if somehow I can figure out how to get there from here and using your newly fixed e-mail thingy? LOL *HUGS*

mreddie said...

My Spice does mention to me on occasion that I use a lot of stuff when I cook - in a loving way of course. :) I agree about those family owned eateries being the best ones. And I remember those Burma Shave signs - long time ago. ec

Merle said...

Dear Ann ~~ Nice newsy post. I loved the "appalled Rebecca" bit, but it is nice she is taking an interest in cooking. Great to see signs of Spring with the fruit trees and magnolias
starting to bloom. And I hope I won't
complain too much this year when the
Autumn (Fall) leaves start to fall.
They haven't yet. Thanks for your visit and good wishes for my problem
which I hope will not be too bad.
Take care, Love, Merle.

HORIZON said...

Thanks for the info on our email add's. Will go and fix mine now.
Love that pic of the girls on your blog- nice:)
Raining here today and hubby has the car so am stuck in- will make the most of it to get cleaned up around the house.
Hugs and keep well
x

Pat said...

Ann I also Will check my profile - where's my mirror?
Just kidding! I am hopeless with anything remotely techy so have a young man round from time to time.
I'll bet you are the best kind of cook!

*Tanyetta* said...

please let me know if my email works. :)

granny! darrin LOVES crossword puzzles too. I honestly can't get thru one. :)

Jo said...

Ann, I'm so glad you found my blog again. I got a new computer, and I had everyone set up as a "favorite" and lost them all, so I have slowly been rebuilding.

Save me a chocolate muffin, if you have any left. Yum!

Cheers,
Josie

Janice Seagraves said...

Hi Ann,

My daffydills are bloomsing, and so are the almond trees amung other things as well. As of this writting it's raining here pretty well too.

I'm glad to hear everyone seems to be doing as well as can be expected so far.

Hang in there, you and yours are still in my nightly praryers.

enjoy your muffins.
Janice~