VBP (Shoofly Pie)

On my birthday, one of the letters that made me cry came from my friend Kathy. (to be honest, I cried when I read just about EVERY letter that day...it was that kind of a melt-down)...

You've met Kathy many times.  We've been friends for 40+ years.  Her family took Ross in when he was offered a job in Pennsylvania.  My mission this morning was to find a picture of the two of us that might be NEW TO HER...

Remember this day, Kath?  We were at that flea market on Hwy. #61...

And IN THIS PICTURE -- we were, no doubt, about to EAT something delicious that you cooked.

Because cooking is Kathy's SuperPower.  In 1973, we were neighbors.  We'd be playing cards at her house late into the night, and Kathy would make toast.  I'm telling you -- it was the VERY BEST TOAST I ever ate...

Whenever I'm in the mood for coleslaw -- it's Kathy's recipe I turn to...

One of her signature dishes is Shoofly Pie.  Years ago -- when Ross was living with the Keefer's in Pennsylvania -- he became addicted to this unique delicacy. 

Kathy -- you should be SO PROUD!  Ross makes shoofly pie to take to potluck dinners -- so I think it's becoming HIS SIGNATURE DISH, too.

Kathy Keefer is one of the BEST COOK'S I KNOW -- and she is famous for her shoo-fly pies!!

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Unbaked Pastry for 10-inch one crust pie

 Dry:
3 tablespoon butter
1  cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup firmly-packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet:
3/4 cup hot water
1 cup dark molasses
1 egg
Mix:  1/4 cup boiling water with 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, then stir into wet mixture

Preparation:

Dry:  In a large bowl, using a pastry blender, cut shortening or butter into flour, brown sugar, and salt until mixture is the size of small peas; set aside. (reserve 1/2 cup for topping)

Wet: In a large bowl, mix molasses and egg and 3/4 cup hot water. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 c. water with baking soda. Combine all wet ingredients and whisk until soda quits foaming.

Gently stir wet into the dry. Pour mixture into unbaked pie crust, sprinkle reserved crumbs on top.

Bake 10 minutes and then reduce oven to 350 degrees F. Bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

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Like all the strong women in my life -- Kathy is getting through this crisis by using her SuperPower.

SHE IS COOKING HER WAY THROUGH IT -- day by day.  She bakes bread every other day, makes big dinners each day for her family, including pies, cakes, all her home-canned fruits and vegetables...

AND -- Kathy told me to watch this video.  Andra Day....I loved it, Kathy...but shoulda been warned about the Kleenex...this is our new national anthem...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwgr_IMeEgA

VBP: PICTURES..!!

One of the BEST gifts I received for my VBP was a photo album from Rhonda Pierce.

Oh, My Soul...!!   We have done some REALLY GOOD WORK together over the years...

And that involved many exciting trips.  This album reminded me of some of those wonderful times...

Yes, I am a lucky, lucky girl..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RH1r1cvnJRxmPbQ7A

Rhonda's album was a very special gift for me.  Especially right now, when we're all feeling so imprisoned.  It was wonderful to look back at all the places we've been...I have looked at it many times, and it brings such joy to my brain...

And here's the thing.

YOU CAN DO THIS, TOO. How many pictures do you currently have on your phone?  Or, like me, on your laptop?  Take a look -- then SEND THEM to the people who are in those pictures.

Hey, I don't understand the technology of doing a Google Album -- but I'm pretty sure YouTube will help you figure it out.

And chances are -- you have the time...

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P.S. If you don't have those Google skills -- my advice is to go to Walgreen's.com.  

Walgreen's does a great job with digital photos.  You can upload an "album" -- and use their software to put together an entire book.  Maybe a look back on a vacation -- your last visit to New York City -- or that Alaska cruise you took five years ago.  Or, you can go OLD SCHOOL -- and just print the pictures.  Send a big package to somebody you love -- reminding them of better times.  (yes, we're talking snail mail here.)

My WEIGHT and the Quarantine

Sorry -- but here we go again!!

Me and my WEIGHT. Which, as you know, I consider the most BORING TOPIC in the world. It's right up there with cleaning closets...

To review....I took you along on my journey to lose over 100 pounds (2016/2017 Fat Camp)...

Me, at 304 pounds in November 2016

November 2017, I weighed 220

I was feeling good....relaxed.  I enjoyed life. I did weekly weigh-ins and got down to 215.

THEN -- I quit worrying about my weight.  I was going to the pool five or six times a week...I'VE GOT THIS...was my new attitude. 

I was happy....and I quit weighing myself every week -- because I have never wanted my life to be about that number.

So -- life went on...but I should have known better.

.....a cupcake here, a lunch with a friend there, weekend restaurant meals with the kids...some days I just deserved a little tiramisu, and when life gets busy, there's nothing like a drive-through burger and fries....And, HEY -- it's practically a law that you must eat cheesecake if you're in New York City!! My weight started creeping back up

For me, gaining weight is like filling a bucket with water, one teaspoon at a time. It's easy and effortless...and you don't see the difference until the bucket is overflowing....AND THEN ITS HARD TO CARRY...

And, even though I love to say I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE NUMBER...because my LIFE IS NOT A DRESS SIZE...the truth is -- my right knee was sending me messages -- random shooting pains....I was having trouble going up and down stairs.

And -- ugh -- I hadn't worn jeans for over a year.

Last November,  when I finally stepped on the scale -- it said 253 pounds.

So, yes -- IT'S TIME.

Unfortunately, for me -- LOSING weight is like trying to suck a golf ball uphill through a 50 ft.length of garden hose...IT IS SLOW, AND for every inch of progress, you suffer a foot of backsliding..

And my progress was s....l....o.....w......

On February 22, when I went to the weight-loss hypnosis session, I weighed 243 pounds.

I'd lost 10 pounds in four months....and I was very discouraged.

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So -- during this terrifying time -- when SO MANY THINGS ARE OUT OF MY CONTROL...I've decided my weight is the one thing I can actually do something about. And I really need to feel like I am doing something worthwhile during this time.

For starters -- I cleared off my treadmill. (it was buried under bushels of clothes, fabric, blankets, UFO's) Apparently, my thinking was out of sight out of mind -- and THAT TACTIC WORKED GREAT.

Is this where I left the treadmill?

So...right now...instead of focusing on what I cannot do -- I'm going to focus on what I CAN DO.

• I will walk on my treadmill every day.
• I will plan my meals.
• I will weigh myself every Monday -- and REPORT on this blog how I'm doing...

Next Monday -- I'll give you the official Hypnosis Report...because it plays into this...And it's time to reinstate the MMWI (Monday Morning Weigh In).

********************* 

MMWI:  229.6  WHICH MEANS...I've lost 10 pounds since the Hypnosis Session....

Rita's VBP: Free Classes

Patty in Beaumont, California sent me some special birthday wishes -- and this priceless tidbit of information.

UNTIL APRIL 16th, all Craftsy classes are FREE...

(Craftsy is now known as Blueprint)

NO KIDDING -- TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW...

What new thing would you like to learn? There are cooking classes, quilting classes, serger classes, you can learn hand embroidery, watercolor painting, knitting, cake decorating...WOW.

How about a class called "structured free-motion quilting"...or mastering paper piecing.

How about Coverstitch Basics and Beyond with my girl Gail Yellen?

THANKS, Patty!! This is a wonderful birthday gift. I'm definitely going to sign up for some classes...and try to learn something new.

P.S. Patty -- I'm on the second lesson of the Marti Michell Quilt As You Go class (which she calls Quilt As You Piece) -- and I AM LOVING IT...she is a wonderful teacher, and I've already learned two new things!!

Thanks, Gail, for attending my VBP...I am still working on answering every single email!!  Hey -- YOUR CRAFTSY CLASSES LOOK GREAT...I might finally figure out how to use my serger!!

Rita's VBP (Virtual Birthday Party)

My Virtual Birthday Party lifted me up out of a very sad place -- I want to share as much as I can with you.

Because at this juncture -- maybe we all need a little lifting..and ya'll are pretty good at it.

So I won't be writing about the Coronavirus.  That's not my job.

I'll be writing about YOU. My people. Because the thing that became crystal clear to me after reading all your emails is that nobody is handling this better than WOMEN WHO SEW.

We are strong...smart...focused...kind...generous...productive...calm...and easily entertained.

I cannot imagine going through this without SEWING...

Besides sewing projects and pictures that were a BLAST FROM MY PAST...I also received a lot of recipes.

So -- I'll start with this one, from my young friend Anne...

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Anne sent me pictures throughout the day -- letting me know what she was doing INSTEAD OF ATTENDING my birthday party. We shared a virtual coffee in the morning....and cheerful updates throughout the day...

She sent this recipe -- for a crustless potato quiche. I LOVED that Anne sent me a picture of the actual recipe card from her Aunt Linda...

Can you read it? The ingredients are:

5 eggs beaten
12 oz.hash browns (thawed)
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1 large green onion
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Dash or two of hot pepper sauce
paprika
6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Combine everything except bacon and paprika. Pour into greased 9" pie shell, sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until set.

Remove from oven, sprinkle bacon on top, bake another 5 minutes.

Let set for 5 minutes before serving
.

Anne's family had the quiche for supper -- and it looks DELICIOUS.

I made it yesterday for lunch, Anne. It was DELICIOUS!!

BEST VIRTUAL PARTY EVER..!!

Dear Friends,

So, Saturday was full-on Grandma Camp...with all parties being just as pissy as they could possibly be. Ugh.

Saturday was ALSO the day I blogged about my birthday party being canceled.

I was sad when I wrote that post -- but I had no way of knowing I would be having a melt-down the night before my birthday...complete with a non-stop crying jag...

Sunday morning, my usual habit is to watch the CBS Morning show, and write a weekly update email to my cousin Jackie, who lives in North Carolina.

However, when I turned on the show, I decided I didn't want to listen to more Covid 19 updates...the death toll in New York City...

Then, I realized I had a lot of new emails....

WHA???

I MEAN -- DOZENS OF NEW EMAILS...!!

I cannot tell you how surprised I was -- no, make that -- D.E.L.I.G.H.T.E.D...!!! to hear from so many of you. You actually did it!! YOU SENT ME REPORTS ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE DOING ON MY BIRTHDAY.

I got recipes, pictures of quilts, book recommendations, library advice, projects, grandkids, games to play with kids, possible art projects...

And -- updates from so many people I've met over the years -- many of whom I haven't seen for a very long time...from Seattle, California, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Canada, Alaska, Nebraska...HONESTLY...I'm still working on my responses...

And I just found out -- THESE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY READING MY BLOG...!!

WHA???

So, for the next coupla weeks -- I am going to share some of these emails with you.

BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETELY UPLIFTED...and I think everybody could use a dose of that right now.

I was so impressed with the attitudes of the women who wrote to me. They are sewing, cooking, spending time with their families. They are making the best of a bad situation...they have heart and compassion...and COMMON SENSE...

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To kick off my new Birthday Email Series --

From Roberta in Seattle...

...thought I would share with you a photo of the strangest thing I have ever sewn - tree netting to protect our apple tree from coddling months and apple maggots. You will find these nets on trees all over the Seattle area as a non-profit fruit tree group has been testing various methods to stop the spread of these invasive and destructive bugs. I had to piece together yards and yards of netting and my trusty Pffaf was up to the task. I had to bring my sewing machine upstairs to my dining room table (vs my sewing room downstairs) to have enough room to spread the netting out, hence I had to sit on books to get me properly aligned with the dinning room table.

...here are photos of our tree wearing it's wedding veil. Most people leave theirs draped to the ground but we want to tuck it up so that the grass under the tree gets mowed etc. The net isn't put on until after the tree has blossomed and the bees have done their thing. And then we remove it each fall to pick the apples. As it is made out of plastic material at the end of the season it is shaken out and rolled up to store.

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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

You saved me from a terrible pity party.

I appreciated every single email.  I've read every one (many times) -- and will reply to each of you who took the time to write to me.

Although it was the strangest birthday party I've ever had... in many ways, it was the most wonderful...full of the greatest gifts.

And I am grateful. YOU DID IT...!!  YOU BROUGHT ME OUT OF MY FUNK...!!

GOOD JOB, LADIES..!!  (not a single man sent me a birthday email...and I'm okay with that..).

Social Distancing +Crying= The New Normal

Dear Readers,

Wow.  It's April 1st -- AND I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD JUMP UP AND SAY THE CORONAVIRUS IS A GIGANTIC APRIL FOOL'S JOKE...

But, no such luck.  I'm afraid this is our New Normal...

In the interest of full disclosure -- what you read in this blog is a sanitized version of my life.

So maybe you are under the impression that I am hop-scotch-skipping through this Coronavirus situation...making jokes about toilet paper and playing endless joyful games with my grandkids...

But, like all of you -- I am horrified by what's happening.   And terrified about how this thing is going to play out....And trying to figure out what I should be doing...to protect myself, to protect others...yet, still HAVE A LIFE...

So, this blog is about the day I started to cry...and could not stop....

Last week, I was worried about having the kids come to the house.

Mostly because after watching non-stop coverage of the pandemic, John believes children are radioactive...

Clearly,  this thing isn't going to be over any time soon.  My fear is that whatever I do AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME -- will become our new reality.  If I say "I can't have the kids this weekend" -- when will Lilly and Warren come back?  In a month?  Three months?...

Who am I kidding?  That will be the end of Grandma Camp.  The kids will establish new habits and patterns...and we'll never be able to turn back the clock.

So, instead, I called Emily and said if the kids are not sick, no fever, sneezing, coughing or sore throat -- I would pick them up at the usual time.

Then, when the kids got in the car, I told them we would have some new procedures from now on.

They came into the house -- walked to the Lego Room,  put the clothes they had been wearing down the chute...they took showers, washed their hair, and put on different clothes.

While they were here, John practiced social distancing (translation= he did what he usually does).

Obviously, our activities are very limited...no restaurants, no museums, no movies...as you well know.

John was not happy with ongoing Grandma Camp.  And, the kids weren't that thrilled, either (no where to go, and NO SCREENS??)

Saturday was full of bickering, bad attitude and rolling of the eyes...(by the children AND the adults)...

oh, yeah -- we ALL felt that way, buddy...

UGH.  (did I already say that?)

By the time I took the kids home, I was spent.  Really tired...and very, very sad.  AND -- I was SUPPOSED TO BE getting ready for my big birthday party on Sunday.  I'd pictured it in my head a hundred times....and who knew when or if it was going to happen?

In the car, driving home, I started to cry...and I couldn't stop.  Several hours later, I went to bed...but, ugh -- more crying.  I got up three times...finally, at 4:00, after CLEANING THE KITCHEN FOR AN HOUR...I was able to fall asleep.

Then, Sunday morning -- I opened my email...

What a difference a day makes...

Tomorrow -- I'll be sharing my Happy Dance...