It’s a delight to find personal mail in the mailbox. Thanks to friends and family for mailing these thoughtful birthday cards. H
ow about the 3-D stove my sister sent?
Happy to celebrate my birthday today.
LBJ is the last president printed on it.
My friend Joanne give me teapot.
Monday February 15 is Presidents Day-clickHistory here
The date imprinted on the bottom of the teapot is 1966. Not sure if newer versions of Presidents on a teapot exist.
Virtual this year @ 6:30 AM EST
https://www.groundhog.org/
Groundhog Day Traditions casts a shadow back to Medieval Europe –
Candian Press article
Joanne baked a Groundhog Day cake with Shadow Feb 2020
My sister photographed a groundhog puppet I gave her
and here is a reblog of our February 2014 PUNXSUTAWNEY ADVENTURE
Groundhog’s Day 2014-
We were there to see Phil the Groundhog rousted out of his slumber, and taken out from his cozy stump to see his shadow amidst the brotherhood of the Inner Circle of Gobbler’s Knob. The men were all dressed in top hats and formal attire.
Twenty four years ago (before the 1993 movie) my sister Mary and I drove in the middle of a foggy night to see the groundhog. I can tell you that it was a much different this trip. Last time we just parked on the side of the road and walked up the hill to Gobbler’s Knob. The whole event was well orchestrated and incredibly efficient, especially with the number of people coming to town. Lots of dedicated people making a concerted effort to insure everyone’s safe and happy experience! Everyone pleasant and a festive atmosphere. We had fun and were really glad it was rain rain and more rain instead of ice and snow snow snow!
Laura thought she’d like to go last year since it was on a weekend but it was super cold and I had an photography show opening that weekend and it didn’t work out. “Next year”, I said. “Next year.” Laura wanted to cross it off her Bucket List.
Mary came out from NYC on the train Thursday night and Laura drove in Saturday morning from Columbus OH.
We went to bed at 8:30 PM Saturday night and got up at 2:40 AM.
Pulled out of the driveway around 3:20AM and drove the 74 miles to Punxsutawney PA. Not to0 much traffic but when we got there the Wal-Mart parking lot was already filled up. We were able to find a spot behind the County Market in Groundhog Plaza and walked two blocks to a McDonald’s where we got $5 round trip tickets for the bus to Gobbler’s Knob.
Just like Shuey had told us (he went last year in the bitter cold, driving his MOTORCYCLE from Niceville, Florida) it was “easy peasy.” The crowd was estimated at 30,000 and yes, it rained on us the entire time but the temp was about 37 so no ice, no snow and none of us felt cold or miserable. I’d wrapped the camera in a couple of plastic bags and rubber bands on the end of the lens. At one point we were asked to all pull out our cell phones an light the place like a concert with a lighter. A fellow art teacher plays the bass fiddle in a band The Beagle Brothers and they played a few sets starting at 3AM. Oh, the Star Spangled Banner, too.
We stopped in at County Market to buy a couple of magnets and use their nice restroom. The clerk had been there since the night before at 10:30 and her shift ended at 6AM.
School buses lined up to take Groundhog Fans to Gobbler’s Knob
On our way to the buses we saw this Groundhog Bride. Groundhog Weddings were available but no “walk-ins”
Laura at Gobbler’s Knob
Cell phones light Gobbler’s Knob
Thirty minutes of Zambelli Fireworks in the woods was an unexpected delight.
The Beagle Brothers band
The Beagle Brothers played a few sets and the National Anthem. Fellow art teacher Kyle on the Bass Fiddle. Nice job!
Piles of snow and Television Trucks
Phil’s handlers belong to the Inner Circle.
Uh oh. He saw his shadow. SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER!!!
Six more weeks of winter, he predicts. The crowd let out a collective groan.
A fellow groundhog fan took our photo on Gobbler’s Knob
Josh (dogmatic liveart) painted Groundhog Day right on the spot!
his palette
Groundhog fans checking their photos and messages.
Headed for the buses at Gobbler’s Knob
Groundhog Fan with Groundhog Hat
Another shot as the light increases in the sky- Laura at Gobbler’s Knob
Photographer on Gobbler’s Knob
After the Prognostication
Getting on the bus for downtown
Kids playing on piles of dirty snow
Necessary facilities
Groundhog Statues all over town!
Celebration Tent
Downtown Punxsutawney
Mr. Tom Uberti shook my hand and welcomed me to Punxsutawney. AKA Big Windmaker. He graciously allowed me to “shoot him.”
This page is from the January 1, 1977 New York Times Magazine.
My sister sent me the photos of the clipping today as Epiphany or Three Kings Day is January 6th. This day is the traditional day families would take down their Christmas decorations when I was growing up .
One side of the magazine page is Three Kings’ Cake recipe article by Mimi Sheraton. This recipe makes two Loaves of sweet bread with yeast and lemon and orange rind, currants and mixed fruits. Almonds are hidden in the dough to be discovered by one lucky eater .
On the reverse side of the paper is an ad to order seeds for Spring planting. Park Seed is celebrating 150 years of being in the gardening business.
(This is not the same king cake of February’s Mardi Gras.)
My friend Roberta sent me an email this evening with a video from the University of Pittsburgh French Nationality Room Galette Des Rois (click the name of cake to watch) see how to make another type of Kings’ Cake with Almond paste and puff pastry. The French version.
Two kinds of onions and NOT a family recipe! The onion marmalade was included in a Christmas goody box sent from Massachusetts made by Eileen. Linda was on fruitcake production. That ones a recipe held close. See the loaf wrapped in a rum soaked cloth. Homemade gifts are the best.
I had to write to ask the best way to use the onion marmalade as it was new to me. When my sister read the proposed list, she suggested The chips and dip option. I had a vat of sour cream on hand, can always count on Steve to provide the chips and couldn’t have been easier! Or tastier!
Method? Stir in. Eat. If you have leftover, it’s even better the next day.
No questions necessary to inquire how to savor the fruitcake. Thank you friends.
My mother (from Illinois) always made a Christmas JELL-O with the juice of a fresh lemon added. I made it on Christmas Eve but forgot it on Christmas Day and it’s still in the fridge. Maybe we’ll eat some tomorrow. Her other concoction was lemon jello with crushed pineapple and shredded carrots with fresh lemon a pinch of salt. Oh and one made with the little packet of plain gelatin, fresh limes’ juice and sliced green grapes. My childhood memories of JELL-O(click for history as it all started in 1897) my sense is that it’s just not as popular anymore.
So JELL-O, yes or no?
Christmas JELL-O preparation on Christmas Eve
My sister gave me this cookbook
Perhaps your remember my Rainbow JELL-O post which was more of an art project.
Fruitcake Part 2
Tuesday’s post was Joanne’s Fruitcake recipe and a photo of a few ingredients. i asked people if they were fruitcake fans.
Monday night I’d texted Joanne, asked if she had a photo of her fruitcake cookies I could include in the post. She responded after I went to bed and said if I’d wait a day she bake them.
I woke up this morning, saw her response and here are her photos. Thank you, Joanne.
Eggnog, egg nog or egg-nog, historically also known as milk punch or egg milk punch, is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage. It is traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, and egg yolks.” Wikipedia
Eggnog, yes or no?
And if yes, spiked or non-alcoholic? And if spiked, what alcohol do you add? Rum, bourbon, whiskey?
A rich and creamy adult milkshake it was called in one recipe I read. I think it’s a love it or hate it but we’ll see what response we get.
My mother made it with raw eggs when I was a kid and sprinkled nutmeg on top. She used a hand held egg beater, a rotary one, non-electric, to whip the egg whites into froth. There was no cooking involved that I remember but there is definitely cooking in Alton Brown’s recipe.
Here’s an article from Wired Magazine How to Use Science to Make Safe Eggnog with Raw Eggs
There is an Eggnog Pound Cake Recipe here
You definitely do not want to make anyone sick with raw eggs. Not that anyone is entertaining and serving eggnog this holiday season.
