Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 14 May 09 - 06:29 PM

I forgot about that Pete, thanks for reminding me!.

Jerry, Sheila has arrived safely in the UK so I should be getting my hands on your book in a few days time!.

So, Jerry's book, a pack of raspberry jam doughnuts and a pot of tea - sounds good to me. :-)

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 17 May 09 - 09:18 AM

Well, I see I've missed some good topics here.   Don't tell Jan I'm here now--I should be actually clearing out what she calls the "shed room"--since it's where all the stuff which might go in a shed --if we had one--would go. Of course there are lots of papers in there, and I've tried to clear up--but I just get involved in reading the old papers, going through old articles I've saved, trying to decide if I ever can get any of the old electronic gear in there repaired, etc.   And not much cleaning out gets done. I've got to bite the bullet and actually do it soon.   Particularly since Jan says that if I don't, she will--and she'll toss out everything.

But anyway, I was real interested to see the talk about rhubarb.   There's the great parody about rhubarb by the Kipper Family--I can't even remember what it was a parody of but I do intend to learn it--rhubarb is a double entendre in it, and I love that sort of song.   It's totally clean, of course--which makes it even better.

But about rhubarb.   I used to put rhubarb on my cereal when it was available.   Problem was I just loved the rhubarb, didn't want to eat the cereal.   So I'd just put more rhubarb on and not eat much of the cereal. So the cereal would just stay there.   And eventually I'd have to eat the cereal anyway.   But by then the dominant flavor would be rhubarb--at least I hoped so.

Last night I sang and played at the retirement community where my mother and stepfather now live.   I tried to get Jan to come--the leader of the band says she could sing the phone book out of tune and they'd still love her.   But she says she can't learn any new duets--her back is really going downhill--and she's ignoring the problem by gardening all the time she's not working.   Which puts her in even more pain--so she can't concentrate on things like learning new songs--even though we have a long list of songs we could do.

And the group has lost 2 of its members--we have no idea how it happened--we only sing with them at the retirement community, and that's every 2 months or so.   And we're mystified, and wish the other members would come back. Now the group has changed its name. And the old name was really good--much better than the new name.   Old name was "The No-Hope Riverboat Ramblers".   New name is "Lonesome Pine"---which is just a standard generic bluegrass band name--I'm pretty sure I've heard of another one called that. So Jan is not at all happy about that either. (Well at least it gives us incentive to learn "On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine"--which is one I've been meaning to learn.

Well, Jan said she didn't want to do some of our old stuff, since they had heard it before. I told her they just wanted to hear us do our close-harmony duets--it wouldn't matter if they were new or not. and they wanted to see her. And I told her before I went last night that they'd all be asking about her.   And it happened exactly that way. When I came back I told her we almost cancelled the gig, since all anybody wanted to know is where she was.   I got asked that everywhere I went up there.

Ah well, at least she knows for sure they really want to see her again. And at least there's no more pressure on her to have anything new to sing til September. So she can take her time--though time sure slips away fast.

Anyway, I sang 2 songs last night, in addition to playing guitar-- (badly--but there were plenty of good guitarists)-- and playing viola--making up harmonies and playing double-fiddle breaks with the dynamite fiddler the group has.

I sang "I'm Sending You a Big Bouquet of Roses" and "There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere".   It went amazing well--especially considering that it was a near disaster on "Banner".   The group never rehearses--at least Jan and I, and other "guests" don't rehearse with them.   I just e-mail them what we're going to do, and the keys. And get there early, to try to work out arrangements on breaks etc.   But the band itself doesn't always get there early. And they're always sure they know what to do anyway.

Last night the bass player was real late. She said she had left at 6:30, but realized she actually wanted to get there at 6:30. Watching too much Star Trek lately--must be. Then she couldn't find a place to park. But we really need a bass--so we were 15 minutes late starting. And it turned out I was SO glad she made it.   When I started "Banner" one of the really strong guitarists backing me started a really powerful 3-beat. But the song is in 2 (or 4). Sure not in 3.   But after about 2 lines the bass started up, since she knew the song and realized it was in 4--and finally got the song on track.   I told her afterwards she had rescued me. I just kept singing the whole time--I bet most of the audience didn't even notice the problem.

"Banner" is just a really great song--especially with Memorial Day coming up.   But it's fascinating how reputations change. In early 1942, when the song was written, and was a hit, Custer was considered a big hero--"I see Lincoln, Custer, Washington and Perry".   But now it seems clear his massacre was totally a needless sacrifice of troops--he only had to wait for the other regiments to arrive, as was planned. And Grant said so soon after. And of course the slaughter and general mistreatment of the American Indians--which Custer had been deeply involved in up to that time--is not anything Americans in general are proud of now.

And the song goes on "Nathan Hale and Colin Kelly too".   I'd never heard of Colin Kelly before I heard the song. It turns out he was one of the first heroes of World War II from the US perspective (not joining the war til 7 December 1941).   He was one of the men who bombed Tokyo on 10 December--just 3 days after Pearl Harbor. His plane was shot down, but he stayed on board til all his crew members had left. Then he bailed out--but his parachute never opened.

When I started telling this story, several members of the audience started nodding in recognition.   I was really impressed--they definitely remembered reading about this at the time. And several told me afterwards they really appreciated hearing the song.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 17 May 09 - 06:17 PM

Ron, it's great to see you back here at the table. We could try rhubarb doughnuts! Sorry to hear that Jan's back is still bad. Let's hope she can get back to singing soon.

I now have Jerry's book here in my hands and I'm looking forward to sitting one evening with a suitable beverage and plenty of time to savour it.

I think I'll go put the kettle on again..........help yourself to biscuits.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 May 09 - 04:20 PM

"Back again, back again, Franklin D. Roosevelt's back again". And so am I. You know what it's like when you get back from vacation... a mountain of mail and a lawn a Giraffe could hide in. It'll take some time to get on top of things but I had to stop by the kitchen table for a minute. How nice to see you here, Ron. I have some comments to make on your post when I get the time. Forget people needing to hear new material in a nursing home. If anything, they probably want to hear old material. Besides, their memories are such that they may not even remember what you sang a month or two ago. Mostly, music wonderfully breaks the ordinariness of their days. Singing in a nursing home isn't a performance thing. It's a caring thing.

Rhubarb donuts... sonds good to me. I have a request in for another batch of the oatmeal raisin donuts made with Splenda. I felt a little guilty on our cruise of the islands. The demand for sugar has dropped and it's hurt the economy. They should be planting Splendacane.

It's good to be home.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: frogprince
Date: 18 May 09 - 09:21 PM

Jerry, I owe you one. I hadn't had strawberry rhubarb pie myself in gosh-knows-how-long. You got my wife in the notion of making one, with Splenda. Gooood! She has the 75th anniversay edition Joy of Cooking, and she just substituted for the sugar in their receipe.
                           
                           Dean

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 18 May 09 - 10:19 PM

I would certainly agree people in the retirement community we sing at would not mind if we repeat some songs.   But I'll tell you, it sure doesn't seem like a nursing home.   These people are sharp.   Every time the band plays there's a fiddler who lives there who comes up on stage and does Ragtime Annie, Cripple Creek ,or something like that. And he's amazing. I can't do what he does. Only possible indication of a complication is that he sometimes loses the beat--drops a beat--which makes it hard for the group to stay with him.

Admittedly nobody I know--there or anywhere--can top my stepfather who lives there now with my mother. He does a crossword puzzle every day, has a great sense of humor, loves music--even sings a World War I parody. Makes birdhouses and 18th and 19th century toys. And recites bilingual limericks--clean even.

And he turns 95 this month.

If at 95 I can do half what he does, I will be, as Jan says, "over the moon".

Jan and I didn't see any reason why they moved into the retirement community--but they do have some medical issues--so I suppose that's a good reason.   And they do seem to have settled in pretty well. It's a done deal now.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 May 09 - 04:28 PM

Hey, Dean: The only thing that stands between me and a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie is being able to get some rhubarb. I'm keeping my eye out for it at the suppermarket.

You realize fo course that rhubarb never tastes the same if you haven't pulled it out of the ground and rubbed the dirt off on your pants before eating it. I must have had a high fiber diet when I was a kid, pulling carrots, rhubarb, radishes and the rest out of the dirt and wipeing most of the dirt off. There's a growth industry for you. Sprinklers of dirt as a garnish on your vegetables. It improves the flavor and adds fiber.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 19 May 09 - 05:17 PM

We've all got to eat a peck of dirt or more
Before we die, it's a wise old saw,
I guess I've had my share, what's more!
I was teethed on the boots my father wore.

Jerry, I put some virtual rhubarb on your doorstep!

I loved your posts Ron. What's singing for if not bringing pleasure to others?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 May 09 - 11:27 AM

Buon Giorno, Colagero! Come sta?"

I'd been waiting a year to say that. Colagero is the short, rugged-faced man I helped last year when his car wouldn't start as I wrote about in The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Christians. I only saw him one more time last summer after that happened, and I was concerned for him. In our halting coversations he'd said that his doctor had told him to walk because he has heart problems. Even though I've been walking regularly again this spring and at all hours of the morning, Colagero has been nowhere to be seen. And then I saw him coming toward us when Ruth and I were out for our morning walk. As he approached us I called out my long-rehearsed, "Buon Giorno, Colagero! Come sta!" He had a big grin on his face and we ended up saying "Come sta" in unison.

In all the time that Ruth and I have walked together, Colagero had never responded to our greetings with anything more than a wave of his hand and an inaudible welcome recognized only by the movement of his lips. Not so this morning. He was very excited to see me and was chattering away, thoughts forming faster than words. I told him that he was walking so fast this morning that we couldn't catch up with him, and he grinned broadly. Last year, he was just slouching along at a slow pace. He seemed bursting with energy this morning. He thumped his chest and said, "I'm feeling a lot stronger now," and I answered, "I can see that! We couldn't keep up with you." The conversation was brief, talking most about what a beautiful morning it was. But it was a conversation. Ruth had never heard him talk before, and he was very animated. As we parted he called back to us, "Have a beautiful-a day!"

And we have.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 22 May 09 - 11:16 PM

Another great story, Jerry. And you're a multilinguist on top of it.

Ain't there some way we can get you down here to a Getaway?    I still want to hear the master sing "Living on the River" and so many more.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 23 May 09 - 04:59 AM

Good morning from England,
it is a beautiful morning, blue sky, hot sun, lots of smiley people walking past on their way to the beach, I am working today but never mind we are off to Kent tomorrow to a bar b q to remember 2 departed friends Pete Hicks, one of the best guitarists ( 12 string Martin)I have seen,he could sing for hours and never repeat a song.The other we are remembering is Dave Bryant, a well known mudcatter. I used to sing with David in the 70's, he had a powerful voice and could always be heard singing a chorus over the top of an audience of hundreds.My favourite memory is going to the last night of the proms at The Royal Albert Hall with Dave dressed in a jesters outfit!
It should be a lovely day, meeting lots of old friends, good food and, more important, wonderful music.
coffe is on
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 23 May 09 - 04:47 PM

Thanks for the story, Jerry. Another good one with a good ending.

Ah yes, Wendy......Dave Bryant! A character to the nth degree and sadly missed.

Thanks for the coffee!

We planted our beans today and the courgettes are nearly ready to plant.

Did you get the virtual rhubarb, Jerry? or did somebody hornswoggle it?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 May 09 - 05:10 PM

Hey, Peter:

Two days ago I made a batch of strawberry/rhubarb cobbler. My wife doesn't like rhubarb, so I thought it would last a while. It was all gone within 14 hours. My wife has discovered that strawberry rhubarb cobbler with a coop of vanilla icecream is the cat's whiskers. Even better than cat's whiskers.

This afternoon I was out weeding in the jungle I affectionately call our yard and struck up a conversation with "Poppa" George over our barberry hedge. I mentioned that I'd had a hankerin' for strawberry rhubarb and wouldn't you know, he'd just picked a big batch so that his asparagus could get a little sunlight, and brought several thick stems of rhubarb for me. Tonight I'm going to make some rhubarb cobbler, and take a couple of pieces over to George and Maria. Despite Ruth's protestations, I don't think the rhubarb cobbler will make it long enough to get i over onto the kitchen table. I may have to make a double batch next time.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 23 May 09 - 05:17 PM

Hello Jerry,

That sounds delicious. Can you post the recipe?

Best wishes,


Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 May 09 - 07:32 PM

Here you go Peter and all:

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

Serves 6

3 cups chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb, thawed
3 cups frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed
1 ¼ cups Splenda Grandular
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup reduced-calorie margarine
½ cup fat-free half & half
1 cup + 2 tablespoons reduced-fat biscuit baking mix
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 by 8 inch baking dish with butter-flavored cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine rhubarb, strawberries, 1 cup Splenda, and cornstarch. Spoon mixture evenly into prepared baking dish. In a large bowl, combine margarine, 2 tablespoons Splenda and half & half using a wire whisk. In a small bowl, combine baking mix and baking powder. Add baking mix mixture to margarine mixture. Mix well using a sturdy spoon. Drop dough by tablespoon to form 6 mounds. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining 2 tablespoons Splenda. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon mixture over top. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until filling is hot and bubbly and topping is baked through. Place baking dish on a wire rack and let set for at least 5 minutes. Divide into 6 servings.

You'll have to convert this into the metric system, and probably substitute sugar for Splenda. I don't know if you have something similar to half and half over your way, either.

Half the fun of baking is tinkering with the recipe.

If anyone stateside tries this with Splenda, I've found that immediately after baking the pastries and cookies taste much sweeter than they do after they've cooled.

Enjoy.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 May 09 - 09:42 PM

I'm just taking a pan of rhubarb cobbler out of the oven. It feeds 12. As soon as it cools, dig in!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 May 09 - 10:46 PM

I just finished baking five dozen oatmeal raisin walnut cookies for our family gathering tomorrow. There'll be plenty left over tomorrow for the kitchen table.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 25 May 09 - 05:46 AM

Thanks Jerry,

I'll give that a try!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 25 May 09 - 11:33 AM

I look for Woody every day I go on the Riverwalk. He's a short, thin man who walks with a slight list to the left and he's there every day. It doesn't make any difference whether it's raining or snowing, bitter cold or blistering hot. You can count on Woody.

Today is Memorial Day and while I was on my walk, I called my friend Joe Evans to thank him for serving our country. Joe was in the Navy during the second World War. Not surprisingly, Joe wasn't home. Even though he'll turn 85 the day after tomorrow, you can't keep him down. He's probably driving someone to the airport.

When I saw Woody coming toward me motoring along the Riverwalk, I called out a greeting to him. "Hey, Woody! How you doin' today?" "I'm doing fine," he said. Woody is always doing fine. "Hey Woody, were you in the service?" "Yes I was. I was in Korea," he responded. "I'm thanking everyone who has served our country, I said. "I just want people to know that I appreciate what they did." And the floodgates opened.

Woody is usually a man of few words. While we've come to know each other a little when we meet on our morning walk, the conversations are always brief and sunny. This morning it wasn't just the dark clouds overhead that dampened the spirits of the day. It was old memories, restoked.

"I was in Korea for 12 months." Woody said. "Most of the other guys were sent home after ten months, but I never complained so they kept me there a couple extra months. I was pissed off, but I never said anything." Woody is still pissed off. As he talked he became very agitated. "It was hard staying alive, just because of the weather," He said. "It was winter and it was freezing cold. We like to froze to death." I told him about my friend, Jerry Rau, who served in Korea and brought it home with him. I met Jerry many years after the war, and he was still fighting it. He wrote a powerful song, and a book of the same title: "Knocking on the Devil's Door." When I told Woody, he understood what Jerry was talking about. Jerry was a young, idealistic kid, probably much like Woody was back in those days. The war knocked the stuffings out of Jerry, along with most of his idealism.

"I watch on the news how stressed out the soldiers are in Iraq and Afghanistan," I said. And Woody got angrier. "They never should send those guys back for a second tour of duty, he said," his voice rising. "Do they have any idea what they've gone through?" I had clearly touched an old wound, and Woody was back remembering how he felt after he came home from Korea.

As I told Woody, My father was too young for the First World War and too old for the Second. I was too young for the Korean War and too old for the Vietnam War. My sons were too old for the Middle East War, and even though my oldest son Gideon was in the Air Force for two years, he never left the country. We've been pacifists by coincidence. We don't know the pain that people carry deep in their hearts from their action in past wars, but for me, I am thankful for the sacrifice they've made. You don't have to understand something to appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 25 May 09 - 01:59 PM

Hi Jerry,

I'll have to ask Sheila what "half & half" is - I don't have a clue!. I love rhubarb but find it too acidic these days. Maybe pairing it up with strawberries or another fruit will make it palatable for me again.

And I've read your book - in one sitting!. It is a terrific book and it looks like you are getting plenty of material lined up for the sequel!.

Any of that strawberry and rhubarb cobbler left, please?.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 25 May 09 - 02:56 PM

Thanks, Deirdre:

Half and half is half cream and half milk.

This morning I had a couple of pieces of toast with the pineapple rhubarb jam my neighbor gave me. It was delicious, but the sweetness so overwhelmed the tartness of the rhubarb that I couldn't even taste a hint of it.

I'm glad you enjoyed my book. People read it in ever imaginable way, which is kinda nice. I talked to a woman at church yesterday who said she loves the book, but hasn't finished it yet, even though she's had it for a couple of months. She enjoyes reading a chapter every few days. Whatever works. And yes, many of the stories we share
as we sit here around the kitchen table are likely to become chapters. I know the one about Elizabeth Cotton will.

Thanks again,

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 27 May 09 - 09:59 AM

So much wonderful food at this table
Peter, the bar b q in Kent was great fun, lots of mudcatters there. When it got dark we sent 6 beautiful chinese lanterns up to remember the six friends who have passed on including Dave Bryant, Pete Hicks
( The crayfolk and Skinners Rats) and Viva.A beautiful end to a lovely day spent with good friends and lots of wonderful singing .
Oh and The Red Arrows flew over in the afternoon!!
wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 27 May 09 - 10:36 AM

Hello Wendy,

It sounds like a very worthwhile occasion. But, were there no cold non-return inlet valves or exploding biscuit tin ovens to be enjoyed?

Dave is always just around the next corner! I'll tell you what he told me..... when we get that house concert organised!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 27 May 09 - 11:39 AM

there were some biscuit tins on the barby but I stood well clear!
I will get a date for the house concert.....want to know what he told you! Linda played a recording of Dave singing Grey Funnel line, made the hairs go up on all our necks, what a voice.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 28 May 09 - 09:36 AM

House concert, Peter, John Barden has said he is free Sat. July 18th, how is that date for you? I will start a thread when we can confirm a date!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 28 May 09 - 03:24 PM

Hello Wendy,

Thanks for the thought.......sadly, the 18th is otherwise committed ...what about the 25th?

I've left some virtual rhubarb on your doorstep!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 May 09 - 05:21 PM

Hi Wendy

Lovely to meet you at the Wake in Upper Stoke last weekend. Hope your house party in July is perfect.

Now I have some really good news re my first post to this thread (see below).

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: VirginiaTam - PM
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 02:49 PM

I was going to start sharing some of the stories I took down from my Mom and Aunt Dot (octogenarians) we (thier kids) call The Twins. They were hilarious. But somehow when I was copying them off of floppy disk onto external harddrive.. they disappeared. Floppies are gone and so are the stories. And so are my university papers, and children stories and plays I have written and poems. I have printed copies of some early drafts. Some stuff is gone gone gone.

My honey found the CD I copied all my stuff to. And another one of stuff I had in the US. So it was a windfall day for me. I am so happy and relieved.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 30 May 09 - 07:47 PM

That's TERRIFIC news, VT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hallelujah!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 31 May 09 - 07:05 AM

Great news, VT!.

I'm just cruising past the the table to swipe a "Jerry-bake" on my way through :-).

My family have just departed after their weekend visit and the house is beginning to get back some semblance of normality...just. I'm off out to enjoy the sunshine and then off to a 50th birthday bash about 70 miles away.

I'll stop by later and do some washing up!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 31 May 09 - 08:24 PM

Hey, all:

It's been a tiring last few days, so I made myself a cup of tea (brought over from Engaland by Colin Kemp when he visited here) and made a couple of pieces of orange/cranberry toast. It just feels good to sit here at the table for a couple of minutes. This last week has been busy, but I mostly do "busy" pretty well. It's trying to be there for others when they are struggling that is hard. Last Thursday, Ruth and I went down to Brooklyn to the funeral of my brother-in-law's step-daughter. It was all hard. I didn't know the woman, but she was in her early 50's and left a slew of children and grandchildren. The whole day was exhausting. It's just a little over 80 miles from our house to the funeral home, but it was raining off and on the whole way and it took 3 hours to get there. We probably covered the first 60 miles in not much more than an hour before we got into Brooklyn traffic. Do the math. 60 miles an hour for the first hour and less than 20 miles an hour for the last two. I was driving into an area of Brooklyn I've never been in before and it is very depressed, and depressing. We stayed for the wake and funeral and then faced the long ride home. It was almost midnight by the time we got back. It took a whole day to recover emotionally and physically from the trip, and now we have another funeral tomorrow, an hour's drive away.

I may have to bake some more rhubarb cobbler if this keeps up. And then today I was talking with my check out clerk friend I wrote about in my book. She was widowed ten years ago and without any education or training ended up as a checkout clerk at Walmart. Walmart has a terrible reputation about how they treat their employees. When I talked with her today, she'd worked 20 hours in the last two days from noon to ten one day, and then from 7 the next morning to 5 in the afternoon. She was very stressed out, because all she sees is Walmart on her bed.

But ya know, there is goodness too. Her birthday is next Saturday and she was able to get the day off to go on a bus trip up to Quincy Market in Boston, and she's really looking forward to getting away.
At least it's not Walmart. I've been wishing her a Happy birthday every time I've seen her this last week, and did again today. I told her that my mother celebrated her birthday for at least two weeks and when my sons were little, we did something special every day for their birthday week. As I told her, I don't celebrate "little." That's not how my family does it.

So, there will be celebrating this week, and the following Saturday I'm performing gospel at Lordship Trolley Days... an all-day festival with trolleys providing the transportantion from one place to the next. It should be fun and uplifting. I've got two more bookings to play music and do book signings in the next month, and I always enjoy meeting new people.

I left the last of the oatmeal/raisin cookies for the next person who drops by.

This week I think I'm going to make peach cobbler, which my wife near-adores.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 04:52 PM

Mmmmm....good oatmeal/raisin cookies.....thanks Jerry!

Now, you are going to have to explain a little about the trolleys! This side of the herring pond we think of a trolley in three distinct ways. Firstly, the trolley that brings light snacks and refreshments to you when seated in a train or an aircraft. These are usually pushed by a trolley dolly. Then there is the shopping trolley, constructed of wire. I have visions of you being pushed around in one of these trying to sing at the same time. The last is a flat bedded low truck. This looks much like a table top on very small wheels and trundles. If the latter is the trolley you mean, then you could quite happily sit on a chair and strum whist being towed along by a market porter! :o)

Sorry to hear that you have had a demanding time, but I'm guessing that everyone was gad you came.

VTam......good to hear you have found those missing stories!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:59 PM

Ya want to know what a trolley is, Pete, watch Mee Me In St. Louis and watch Judy Garland singing the Trolley Song. Trolleys were like a railroad car on a track and ran on electricity from an overhead power line. Most major (and even smaller) cities had trolley lines through town. The tracks were like a narrow gauge train track. More recently, they've built buses that have the general appearance of the old turn of the century trolley cars, but run on wheels, like any other bus. That's what they have in the town where I'll be singing. They'll be used to transport people from one site to another, with entertainment, crafts and food booths scattered throughout the town. Lordship, where they're having the Trolley Festival is on the north shore of Long Island Sound and it's quite beautiful there. It should be great fun.

Now maybe we can talk about knickers. Over here, kids wore knickers when I was a kid... short (usually corduroy) pants that came down just below the kneed, which were worn with high boots that came most of the way up the calf. The prestigious boots were the ones that had a leather pouch on the side that came with a jack knife in the pouch.
My friend Janie over your way had to do some explaining for the lines
"It's a long way from knickers and high-cut boots
To a part down the middle and a brand new suit"
from Old Blue Suit.

Over your way it sounds downright kinky.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 09:25 PM

Just wanted to pop in and see how things were going. I'm going to have rotator cuff surgery on July 22 and I'm trying to get a load of stuff done before than.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 10:48 PM

Ruth and I will keep you in prayer, Rap. Wow! a sports injury!!!!!!!
I get a back injury from getting up from the couch too quickly. Nice to see you, Rap. Stop in more often. We miss you.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 05:01 AM

Yes....be thinking of you, Rapaire.....

Jerry,

Oh.....you mean a tram! Or a trolley bus as it might be if'n it has no rails!

I had a wonderful opportunity to drive a tram for a round trip a few years ago. One of the highlights of a very memorable experience was the opportunity to set the traffic lights to read and stop all the traffic while we had priority and trundled on our merry way! Took me back to the time when I was just about knee high and we spent our summers near a railway level crossing with gates. These were operated by a very large wheel in the nearby signal box. If you arrived at the right time, the signalman would let you turn the wheel to close the crossing gates. Wonderful! Thant was in the days before Health and Safety, of course!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 11:08 AM

need coffee, really strong please, I have just wasted another 2 hours on the phone, listening to music, wanting to speak to anyone at the tax office as they want money that I do not owe!! How come when they make a mistake they are impossible to get but if I do it wrong they are on my case asap!!
Never mind it is a beautiful sunny day here,so I took my lunch down to the beach to clear my head.
VT it was lovely to see you at the bar b q. John Barden is doing a Saturday evening concert on July 18th, can you come as you know we are not too far away?I will put a thread on soon to invite mudcatters and the crowd from Val's rewake. Then I have to get together with Peter and find a date for him too.Maybe after all the summer festivals eh Pete?
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 12:26 PM

sorry that was me, lost my cookie....blame the tax office!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 12:36 PM

You can have one of my cookies, Wendy.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 01:03 PM

Hi Wendy. We are in glorious Scotland from 16 - 24 July. So sorry have to decline. But we will get together some other time.

Will you be at Knockholt or the Leigh Festival?

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 01:05 PM

Oops! Where are my manners? Evening folks. I'll just drop off this Almond Toffee Bark. Be careful. It can do some dental damage. Gotta bolt now.

Ta

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 08:58 AM

Coffee on, will drink it slowly and then attempt to get onto the tax office website to ammend my annual return, this saga just goes on and on!
Sorry Tam cannot do knockholt but maybe we might get to Leigh?
Thanks for the cookie Jerry, just what I needed!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 03:13 PM

Miscellaneous good stuff.

One of the last mornings when we were on our cruise of the southern Caribbean, Ruth and I were having breakfast in the port of St. Kitts.
Looking out the large windows on the side of the ship I could see where a rainbow was ending in the water about fifteen or twenty feet from the ship. I've always heard about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but the only pots I saw were on the men who'd been enjoying a week of all the food they could eat. I didn't even think it was possible to see the end of the rainbow. Scientifically, you see a rainbow at an 180 degree angle from an area where rain is falling, if the sun is shing where you are. I didn't see any rain around us... certainly I would have noticed if it was fifteen feet off the starboard side. When I think of rainbows, I think of them not just as a weather phenomenon, but as a covenant. God put a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his promise to man. I'm not so sure this was one, though.

Back in the early 60's I spent a summer as the navigator on a floating ice station in the Arctic Ocean. We were closer to Russia than the United States. I couldn't steer the iceberg. I just plotted its location. It was a very strange summer. Among other other things, there were occasional fog bows. It didn't rain in the Arctic but if the weather conditions were right, we'd see fog bows. Fog bows are just gray. No need for a full box of freshly sharpened crayons to draw a fog bow. We also saw false suns directly above and below the sun and on each side, horizontal to the sun. I'd never seen that before.

Yesterday on our river walk, Ruth and I saw several otters apparently cavorting in the river. Actually, they were catching fish. Cavorting came later on a full stomach. The Cottonwood trees are in bloom now and the soft fluffy seed cases were floating across the walkway, gathering in snowy, lightly shifting piles along the edge of the sidewalk. In some places, they collected in tree branches and we saw a pair of Cedar Waxwings gather the seeds for a soft, fluffy nest. I've only seen Cedar Waxwings aa couple of times so it was a real treat. And then, munching away on the lawn a few feet away from the walkway was a young, rather slim groundhog. He'd look around every few chews just to make sure the coast was clear. There are Red Tail Hawks that cruise the skies in the area, and he would have made a nice feast for one of them.

And rather unexpectedly, I'm getting more requests for book signings, concerts and odds and ends of stuff, like performing at the Trolley Day. Some are folk concerts, some are gospel concerts, some are as part of a church service and some are just for plain old entertainment. It's nice to be asked.

The cupboard is bare. I'd better do some baking, soon.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 02:11 PM

Jerry,

Having read your book, I'm not at all surprised about the book signings and so on.

Just get out there and enjoy it - and collect more material for that sequel!

*BG* Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 02:28 PM

Jerry, the things you get up to never cease to amaze me! Did you apply for that volunteer post? I can see the advert now! Wanted, Navigator for Ice Berg.....

Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction!

Have left you the last of the virtual rhubarb.....enjoy.


Best wishes,



Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 Jun 09 - 12:35 PM

NOw I see why they call them Mo' Dumbs. My modem went belly up last week (not that it really had a belly. I went a week without access to the internet, and ended up spending my computer time cleaning the garage. And other stuff. I've had three funerals to attend in the last couple of weeks, and have been singing almost every day this week. After a stretch of intense weeks, I notice that I'm getting very irritable. Will sometime tell that Dmaned cat to stop walking around stomping it's feet! So today, I'm taking it easy. Sometimes this getting old gets old. I have to remember, I'm not seventy any more...

But, life is good and I miss hearing what's going on in all of your lives. No baking this last week, so it'll have to be store-boughts, I'm afraid.

Tomorrow I have another book signing/singing. This time it's outdoors, so I'll see how that goes. I'm just making it up as I go along.

So, what's up, Doc? I miss Elmer Fudd.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 12 Jun 09 - 05:06 PM

Welcome back Jerry! I'd poked my head round the door a couple of times but no-one was home.

Strange how we get so used to using the internet, cursing it on occasion but we feel so lost without it and our real "virtual" friends.

And it looks like I'll be "exiled" for a few days as I'm off to look after Mum and then have a few days on the south coast. I don't know if I'll have any internet access, so this might prove to be quite liberating. :-)

Enjoy the book signing - will you need to take an umbrella, just in case?.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 13 Jun 09 - 04:00 PM

Yes Jerry,

It's good to hear you back on the world wide web again. Hope the book signing was good and that everyone bought a copy!

It's good to hear you are singing, even though some of the occasions might be sad. I had a good experience last week-end, which you can read all about on "my" thread. There are cucumber sandwiches as well as strawberries and cream to tempt you!

It always fascinates me the add-on adverts that the Mudcat seems to try and put with this thread. At the moment there is an advert for a Rhubarb Forcer and rhubarb pie! I'm a little puzzled that the advert engine hasn't flagged up Cafe Lena or the Penguin Cafe Orchestra yet!

BTW I've left you some virtual freshly grown peas from the garden.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 08:33 PM

Just stopping by while I can. My computer is on its last legs and I have no idea whether I'll be able to get back on again once I turn it off. I've had a weird string of crashing electronics that started with Ruth's camera when we were in the Caribbean, followed by my scanner, my printer and my modem all crashing over a period of a few days. Now, my computer is barely working. I can't believe I've been able to get on to post this. I've paid for a new computer which I'll get on Tuesday or at the latest, Wednesday.

Through all of this, the only thing that hasn't crashed is the kitchen table.

Fooey on electronics!

I'll be baaaaaaack....

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 04:27 PM

Jerry,

We'll all be glad to see you back soon!.

Coffee is keeping warm on the stove, scones in the oven.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jun 09 - 12:21 PM

Hey, Hey!!!!!!!! I'm baaaaack! New Computer, new scanner, new modem, new printer (all successfully installed) and 74 year old head. That said, my head works a lot better than all this electronics. I don't have to replace it every two years. Got a nice story about the guy who helped me with the installation titled The Graciousness of Strangers. It's mostly written in long hand. I'll type it up on Word, do a little edditing and post it on here.

Nice to be back...

Jerry