February 29, 2008

Easter memories

Do you have special family traditions for Easter? I’m not talking about the religious traditions - those tend to be shared among many people. What I’m asking about is the secular traditions that come with most religious holidays and tend to become an engrained part of our family history. While I no longer have distinct memories for each Easter that I celebrated with my family as a child, I have clear recall of the things that we “always” did.

My mother made a lot of our clothing when we were kids. At Easter she made matching dresses for my sister and I. They were always very girly creations in soft pastels with flounces and ruffles and lace. I’ve been searching for a picture of Sis and I in our matching Easter finery. I’ve seen it in the not too distant past, but I can’t find it now so I’ll try my best to describe it. The photo is black and white, but I remember the dresses well. They were pale pink with white lace trim. They had dainty little cap sleeves set into the bodices which fitted to the waist. Like all of our dresses they had full, gathered skirts. The dresses in the picture were special, though. The skirts had either two or three layers, with a short one on top and a knee-length one as the bottom layer, each layer trimmed in white lace, of course. Beneath them we wore several nylon net petticoats which Mom had starched so stiffly that they stood up on their own. We wore cotton slips under the petticoats, but that didn’t help at all with the itchiness. Tiny white straw hats, pink, lace-trimmed socks and white, patent leather shoes and purses completed our matching ensembles. We were adorable, of course. Other than the color and detailing, any Easter outfit during our girlhoods would fit the same description (including the adorableness.)

There are other traditions we enacted each year. The four of us each used the same Easter baskets each year throughout most of our childhood. I thought everyone did, but somewhere along the line I’ve discovered that many children play with their baskets after Easter until they fall apart, and that they get new ones each year. That seems a little strange to me, but I suppose that’s just because it wasn’t the way we did things. Our baskets contained what I realize now was entirely too much candy to entrust to children. There were jelly beans and malted eggs and those nasty marshmallow eggs with colored sugar coatings. We each got a molded sugar egg with a picture inside, and Elmer’s Gold Brick and Heavenly Hash Eggs, Southern treats that I really miss. A chocolate bunny stood front and center and sometimes the whole basket was wrapped in colored cellophane gathered up in a big bow. My parents always overindulged us for all of the holidays. It’s a fine family tradition that I carried on with my own son.

We always had our Easter egg hunt shortly after we got out of bed. The New Orleans area gets a lot of rain this time of year. Our first Easter after we moved there from Texas included an indoor egg hunt, as did many others that followed. One boiled egg didn’t get found that year. After a while - days? a week? - we located it by its smell. It had slipped down into the sofa bed that was rarely opened. None of us really liked the couch after that, with its faint hint of rotten egg odor that you only noticed if you sat on it for a while.

After the hunt was over we had our breakfast, donned our new clothes and went to church. The holiday dinner that followed varied in menu from year to year, but usually featured ham. The Easter breakfast menu never varied. Each year we had Eggs Goldenrod, one of the few traditions that I’ve maintained in the years since I became an empty-nester. The link includes the recipe, a tasty way to start using up the boiled eggs that get found in time to still be edible. I’ll make Eggs Goldenrod again this year, though the eggs may or may not be dyed the day beforehand. Some of my family’s traditions have remained a part of my life. Others I savor as memories but have no real desire to revive.

[tags]Easter, family traditions, holidays, memories, traditions[/tags]

The Postie Carnival is coming!

The Postie Carnival runs on the first of each month and will be hosted here at skeet’s stuff tomorrow. There’s still time to submit your post, but the deadline is this evening, so today is your last chance. Just fill in the blanks on the carnival submission form to be included. Blogs registered with PPP/Izea are eligible and the theme this month is Spring or Easter. Make sure you come back for some great reading when the Postie Carnival goes live!

Oooops! The Blog Carnival site is down this morning. If it’s still unavailable when you’re ready to submit you can either email me or contact me via private message in the PPP forums.

[tags]blog carnivals, Postie Carnival[/tags]

Tuesday Teaser photo verification

Oh my goodness! This post has been in draft since Tuesday! I’m so sorry. There must have been an interruption while I was composing it, but I just don’t remember now.

Wow! This is the first time I’ve had to face a dilemma in identifying the correct answer. I’ve tried to be logical and fair, though, so follow along with me. Answers that did not include the theme could not considered, since the contest calls for identification of the theme as well as the items pictured. The answer which identified the crayons as “an 8 pack” had the wrong count. Since the respondent chose to include a count, the count needed to be correct. It would have been a correct answer if no count had been included. Thus Whim was the first to identify all six photos and include the theme. Congratulations to everyone’s favorite Whimsical Brainpan for continuing to play week after week and finally prevailing. She’s won two reviews of her blog (since there was no winner last week) and will be entered into the gift card drawing along with the rest of the February winners. February is almost over, so watch for the winner’s announcement soon. Someone will be ten bucks richer and can make a downpayment on their Las Vegas hotel reservations (or they can take a Starbucks or Amazon gift card if they prefer.)

It’s time to take our pulse again. Is the new format for Tuesday Teasers an improvement over the old, or should I go back to the tried and true? Are you comfortable with the logic I used in naming the winner? I could fall back on the stipulation in the rules about my decisions being inarguable, but I want to know if you feel that I’ve been fair. When I do hidden object game reviews I’m quite harsh on game creators that I feel have not respected the spirit of fair play. It’s only right to apply the same standards to myself. Do you think accomplished that goal?

Mahalo to you all for playing. I hope to see you back here next week for the first Tuesday Teaser in March!

[tags]contest, games, kitchen utensils, photo puzzle, photos[/tags]

Four Foods on Friday #19

If it’s Friday it must be time for my weekly visit to Val’s place, where we all talk about food and share some kitchen fun for Four Foods on Friday. There’s still time for you to join us. Just answer the questions on your own blog, then post a link to the comments on Val’s post. Watch for her comments on each entry late today.

#1. Do you ever use scissors to cut any foods? Which? Raw or cooked?

I’ve misplaced my kitchen shears. The last time I remember using them was a few weeks ago when I took them out to the herb garden to cut some rosemary and garlic chives. I use them to open packages and cut all kinds of food. They’re really handy for cutting raw meat into small pieces for stir fry, jambalaya and other dishes (but remember to sanitize after cutting raw meat!) I guess I’ll be buying some new ones soon if they don’t turn up.

#2. Popcorn. Homemade, microwave, bagged, hot, cold. How do you like it?

What I prefer is the buttery-flavored microwave variety. What I usually “allow” myself to have is the plain, unbuttered type. I like it just-popped hot, but would eat cold leftovers if I ever left any!

#3. Sushi. Love it or hate it?

Sushi is very popular in Hawaii. You can even buy trays or bento boxes of it at the convenience stores. I’m not crazy about it. I’ve never eaten the raw fish variety, and prefer a bigger ratio of meat or veggies to rice than sushi offers.

#4. Share a dessert recipe.

As you can see from the photo, this is an old favorite recipe. I got it from a lady who used to bring it to church dinners way back when I lived near New Orleans - over twenty years ago! It’s about time to preserve it before it crumbles away, don’t you agree? If you can’t read the original, here’s how to make Pink Lemonade Pie. It’s super-easy and tastes like a dreamsicle! I’ve developed an allergy to citrus and can’t eat it anymore. I’ve tried with other, non-citrus juices, but it doesn’t set up well.

1 6 ounce can of frozen lemonade (pink)
1 can Eagle Brand Milk (condensed - not evaporated!)
1 8 ounce tub of Cool Whip

Mix together, add a few drops of red food color and pour into a pie crust (I prefer a graham crust.) Refrigerate to set. Think of me when you enjoy that first slice!

[tags]food, meme, recipes[/tags]

Share Some Good Stuff

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the bad news that we forget that there are good things going on around us all the time. We can’t change the headlines, but we can seek out that which is good, that which is uplifting, that which shines with a positive radiance - the good stuff. Here are some recent feel-great stories:

Lisa, aka: Laughin, The Queen of Pith, found a fun story that will make us all go “Ahhhhh!” The story could have had a crappy ending, but somehow things worked out.

Two weeks ago Val shared some Good Stuff about a teen who was participating in the Polar Bear Plunge to help raise funds for Special Olympics. Now the event has been held and Val wants us all to know how well all of those who took the plunge did. Read the story over at I know everything - just ask my hubby.

I find Good Stuff almost every time I make the rounds visiting blogs. Two stories caught my attention in recent days:

Laurie over at La Vie de Laurie has just started her fundraising efforts for the Breast Cancer 3-Day and has already raised over $700. She has more plans in the works that are guaranteed to up that total.

Lisa Marie Mary has a great new feature on Bookworm Broadcasts. She does video read-alouds of some books that you can share with your own children. Pull a kid up in your lap, hop over to Lisa’s place and enjoy her Bookworm Storytime together!

If you’re as tired as I am of seeing graffiti in all the wrong places you’ll love learning about some innovative programs going on in my own neck of the woods. Young aerosol artists are being redirected to creative and legal outlets for their colorful designs.

Have you checked the back pages of your local paper lately? Do yourself a favor and make it a point to find the good news that never gets the bold headlines. Pick a news source anywhere in the world or something great you’ve found on the web. Better yet, share a heart-warming first-person moment that made you smile. Did your youngest just bake a cake without parental interference? Did the smelly guy on the bus finally get a clue and clean up his act? Maybe your neighbor’s nut tree is hanging over your back fence and giving you all the free pecans you could ever want. Those little day-to-day moments that make us smile are the stuff of a happy life and worthy of sharing. Here’s your chance to recognize them for what they are and spread a little sunshine in the process. Make sure you send me a link when you’re moved to blog about something good going on. I’ll hook you up the next time we Share Some Good Stuff and then we can all feel a little better about what this world is coming to!

[tags]good news, current events, local stories, meme[/tags]

February 28, 2008

Have you gathered some Good Stuff?

Have you got some good news you’d like to share? Have you recently come across a feel-good story in the news or while surfing around the blogosphere? Write it up in a blog post and send me the link. I’ll hook you up this evening when we Share Some Good Stuff. It’s our weekly escape from the dreary headlines that overwhelm us on a daily basis. You can put your link into a comment below or email it to me by using the contact button in my right sidebar. Make sure you come back later for a refreshing look at what’s right with our world!

[tags]current events, good news, Good Stuff, meme[/tags]

An artistic outlet for kids

Young Leeward Coast graffiti artists are being encouraged to express themselves through programs that allow them to showcase their art in ways that won’t get them arrested. Graffiti has long been a blight on our urban and suburban landscapes, though we’ve all seen some that we would have admired if it hadn’t been scrawled on the side of a bus or a freeway sound wall.

“It’s all about re-educating the kids and changing their thought process to create artwork instead of destroying public property,” says John Hina, originator of one of the prgrams. He invests his time and money into providing them with legal outlets for their work and encouraging them to develop their art in ways that might one day provide them with careers.

Vivian Ahsam is the prime motivator behind another progam, Youth Explosion. She’s recruited area businesses and commnunity groups to support an upcoming competition among local aerosol artists. “It’s really to help these kids turn something negative into something positive, and help them to see that this is destructive behavior that costs people a lot of money,” Ahsam said.

In times past most of these kids would have kept doing what they’re doing until they were arrested for defacing public property. I, for one, am glad to see a more positive approach that will challenge them to express their creativity in more socially acceptable ways. Their parents must surely appreciate it too, as they can quit worrying about late-night phone calls that jerk them from their pillows with pleas to rescue their children from central lockup.

source: HonoluluAdvertiser.com

[tags]graffiti, graffiti artists, Hawaii[/tags]

February 26, 2008

Jenn Cooks

It’s hard to believe, but just a few months ago my friend Jenn confessed that she can’t cook. Nah, it wasn’t hard to believe that she couldn’t cook then - people aren’t born knowing how to saute and braise, after all. What’s hard to believe is that that was just a few months ago. See, Jenn is a pretty determined gal, and she made up her mind that she was going to learn how to fend for herself in the kitchen. She started Jenn Cooks less than six months ago, inviting us to share her learning-to-cook experience. The progress she’s made in that short time is what’s so amazing.

One of the earliest recipes she shared was for The Best Lasagna Ever. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I were advising a new-ish cook, lasagna would not be near the top of my list for recipes to try. I haven’t made a lasagna myself in quite a few years, just because it’s so complicated. Jenn didn’t ask for my advice though and that’s a good thing. She served up a successful lasagna (well, it had a few problems, but was successful by the time it got to the table) and got some well-earned compliments. Don’t listen to old fogies who say “you can’t, Jenn.” They’d be wrong. You can!

She’s mastered quite a few recipes since those early days, including a White Chicken Parmesan and a Turtle Pumpkin Pie, both of which I plan on trying out in my own kitchen sometime soon. She’s got more than just recipes on her blog, though. I really enjoy her bento posts. Bentos are a part of everyday life in Hawaii and have become trendy on the mainland in recent years. Don’t let the trendiness fool you - they’re a fun and practical way to pack and transport meals. Jenn has a cute collection of bento boxes and has some fun putting together creative lunches for work.

Go visit Jenn. You’ll find some great recipes, a few that didn’t work out so well, and a gal who knows how to have fun with food. If you have a recipe you think she should try, submit it to her Recipe Challenge and she just might take you up on it!

[tags]blogs, cookings, food, recipes[/tags]

Tuesday Teaser for February 26, 2008

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

Can you identify the items depicted above? Take your best shot and answer in the comments below. If your answer wins, you’ll get a nifty prize.

These are new instructions, so read the following paragraph carefully. Here’s how it works:

1. Write a comment giving your guess as to what each item is. The photo clues are labelled from top to bottom with the letters A through F. Use these designations in order in your answer. You must also provide answer G: what is the common theme that unites the items?
2. First person to identify all of the items wins.
3. The author of this blog will be the sole judge as to what constitutes a correct answer.

What will you win?

1. The author of this blog will write a LINKY LOVE POST (review) about the winner’s blog (commercial sites ineligible.) The LLP will contain the url for your blog plus at least two deep links and will be posted here on Skeet’s Stuff, a PR4 PR2 PR0 (bah google!) blog. Skeet writes good reviews.
2. The winner’s name will be entered into a drawing for a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks or Amazon.
3. Drawing for the gift card will be held on or about March 1, 2008, and will include all weekly winners for the month. There are four Tuesdays in February, thus the maximum number of people who will be eligble is four.

Other stuff -EDITED - PLEASE READ!

1. All comments to this blog are time and date stamped. The winner will be the first person (according to time and date stamp) to provide the correct answer. Guess as many times as you please, but please place each guess in a separate comment.
2. No hints will be given.
3. Answers must specifically identify the item. For instance, if the item depicted were to be a button on a remote control, the answer “something electronic” would not suffice.
4. Decisions of the judge are final. Don’t argue with me. I won’t answer.
5. I will attempt to post every few hours as to whether or not a winner has been declared, but I am not continuously at the keyboard so please be patient.
6. Entries must be posted before 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 28th, Hawaii time (GMT -10, approximately forty-eight hours from now.)
7. This is intended to be an ongoing feature at Skeet’s Stuff. If you or I lose interest it will cease to exist, but all qualified winners will get their prizes.
8. Skeet’s Stuff is a do-follow blog, so you get some link value just for commenting.
9. You do not have to have a blog to enter. Your review can be donated to a charitable or non-profit site if you don’t have a blog or just want to share the love. Sites to be reviewed are subject to my approval. I’m not harsh, but I’m also not interested in donating space to a radical political non-profit site or a blog that is dedicated to porn. Commercial sites are ineligible and comments with commercial links will be deleted. If you would like to advertise on my site I’ll be happy to discuss your needs and my fees.

Additional Notes:

10. Let the fun begin!

[tags]contests, photos, photo contest, blog contest[/tags]

February 25, 2008

Making wishes come true

Thirteen years ago the fates flipped a coin and I found myself living in paradise. It was truely a mixed blessing those first few years. The company that moved me to Hawaii had some financial difficulties and was several months behind on payroll when it finally folded. If I’d still been living “down South” I’d probably have turned to family and friends while I searched for a new job and got back on my feet. I didn’t have the price of a ticket home in my pocket, though, and foolish pride kept me from allowing my family to know that I was facing eviction. The coin was flipped again and came up in my favor. A friend came to my rescue and invited my son and I to live, rent-free, in a shabby-chic, ocean-front cottage that was ususally rented to tourists. Within a couple of months we were in our own place again.

As I leave my home each day and pass the homeless encampments on the beach beside the highway I’m reminded of just how close I came to joining them. It’s heartbreaking to see families who have been squeezed out of the housing market by our high cost of living, though many of the parents have worked all of their lives and continue to work. Each morning they get their children to school, then make their way to jobs that just don’t pay enough to put a roof back over their heads. Many of them put as much as they can from every paycheck into savings that they hope will eventually swell to the point where they’ll have enough for a security deposit, first and last months’ rent. It can take years to accumulate enough - years of doing without things that most of us consider necessities. It’s not possible to see their plight on a daily basis and not want to help. During the recent holiday season I was fortunate enough to become involved a project that was intended to bring shoes to barefoot children in one neighborhood. It’s evolved into so much more.

The The Keiki Slippah Wish Project originated with one woman’s simple wish. Auntie Pupule lives in a public housing project in Honolulu. Back in 2005 she answered a question about Christmas wishes on a local online message board. Her wish was that all of the children in the project could have slippahs - those rubber sandals that most of us here wear year round. The online community started a grassroots effort that made Auntie Pupule’s wish come true. She threw a Christmas party for the keiki (children) and all of them got slippahs and other Christmas gifts. In 2006 they did it again. By the time the 2007 holiday season rolled around the project had gotten some publicity and residents in other housing projects asked if their children could be included. That’s where things stood when I first heard of the The Keiki Slippah Wish Fund and decided to ask my readers if they would help. The results of that one blog post were nothing short of amazing.

A week or so before Christmas I got some astounding news. Contributors to the project had been so generous that there was money left over after the expenses were budgeted for the keiki in the housing projects. The decision was made to use the excess funds to bring slippahs and Christmas cheer to the children living on the beaches in my own community. Why? Because it was contributions from my readers that had put the fund over the top and Auntie Pupule knew that I was an advocate for our local homeless population. I was invited to participate in the rolling Chirstmas party that resulted. We loaded up a truck and visited homeless encampments from one end of the Waianae coast to the other, yet still had slippahs and gifts left over. We ended our day at a newly-opened transitional center that was serving as temporary housing for some of the families who had been living on the beach only a few months before. We were able to provide slippahs, books, clothes, toys and snacks to families who had little or nothing to give their keiki for Christmas. My readers made that happen!

Auntie Pupule has been asked to bring the Keiki Slippah Wish Project to the outer islands next year. She thinks it would be best to teach others what she’s learned and let them manage their own projects in their own communities. I like the way her mind works! I’ll be asking my readers to help again when the 2008 project starts up and I know they will respond. We don’t have to wait for Christmas, though. There are people in dire need living in almost every community year-round. Take a look around you. Find a need or a project that you can help with, then do it. Give your money, your time, your labor and your skills. Think about all of the blessings in your own life, then find a way to pay it forward.

Make a wish … then find a way to make it come true!

[tags]bloggers, charities, generosity, Hawaii, homelessness, Keiki Slippah Wish Project[/tags]