May Celebrations, Aunt Flossie, Wild Turkey,& Birthdays

In the month of May we celebrate

many people and occasions

We start with wishing

our friends a

"Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!"

***

On the 10th of this month we celebrate

our Mothers...

the women , who cradled us, fed us and nurtured us,

the ones that dried our tears and kissed our wounds..

the ones that watched us grow,

held their breaths as we tried new things,

and cheered when we succeeded..

the same ones that threw open their arms

when we failed..

the Mothers that silently cried ,

when as babies we stepped on their toes,

and as fledgling teens..

tried our wings

and stepped all over their hearts...

The mothers that filled with pride

when we "made it to" adulthood

and had children of our own.

We celebrate our Mothers who still

pray each night...

for our continued safety and happiness...

and we celebrate the new Mom's

that are just learning all about

feeling the mothers side of love!

To my Mother & all the

other mothers that have graced my life,

I want to send my love

and say Thank You !

***

May 6th- May 12th

Nurses Week

Florence Nightingale
Born: 12 May 1820
Died: 13 August 1910 (natural causes)
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Best known as: British nursing hero of the Crimean War
Florence Nightingale earned the nickname "The Lady With the Lamp"
for her tireless nursing of British soldiers during the Crimean War.
Nightingale was born to wealthy English parents
and proved to be a quick-witted and independent child.
In 1837 she felt she heard a call from God,
though the nature of the calling was unclear.
She became interested in nursing and,
despite opposition from her parents,
trained as a nurse and began work in a London clinic.
When the Crimean War broke out in 1854,
she led a group of three dozen nurses to Constantinople
to serve in British military hospitals there.
(This was controversial:
female nurses had not served in such wartime field hospitals before.)
No shrinking violet,
she cajoled army officials to change terrible conditions in the hospitals,
thus earning the gratitude
of soldiers and a measure of public fame.
When the war ended in 1856 she returned to
London and continued her reform campaign there.
Her outspoken Notes on Matters Affecting the Health,
Efficiency and Hospital Administration of the British Army (1857)
and Notes on Hospitals (1859)
helped create changes in hygiene and overall treatment of patients.
She also founded the groundbreaking Nightingale Training School for nurses,
and in later years published dozens of books and pamphlets on public health.
Nightingale was awarded
the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria in 1883, and in 1907
became the first woman to receive the Order of Merit.



Happy Nurses Week
to all my
compadres !!!

***



This past month I have received several emails
with Wonderful pictures of family..
Let me share.


Randall & Zackery Slaten
at Matthews ball game!

Matthew

Zack sends Matthew a signal

Stephen Biddle & family

at Easter

Molly

I really like this picture of Molly painting!

Meg & Dalton

Prom 2009

AHS

Megan Biddle

***

Wild Turkey

chase
Boo boo wants to join in on the chase!

The other morning Chloe sent up

a warning bark...

It sounded like the ever

elusive moose

must have been climbing

over her fence!!!

She was SERIOUS!!

I ran to the window and there saw

crossing the yard

a wild turkey..

Well, who could resist..

I snatched up my camera and jumped into

the first pair of shoes by the door,

(Michael's short boots)

and tore..clomping out the door..

aah...

dreaming of the prize ,

it would be candid pictures of

wildlife in nature..

they would be glorious!!

Chloe spied me bounding

(More like bumbling and lurching)

around the corner..

causing her to turn on her heels

elevating the pursuit to a higher level..

Barking and growling , grass flying under her paws..

she became the one thing that old turkey

wanted nothing to do with!

...

Do you know turkeys can really RUN!

That turkey shifted into overdrive!

It was across the yard

over the fence and into the woods

in a split second...

no pictures were obtained ,

this time,

but,

never fear,

we remain here..

if not very stealthy..

ever vigilant.

***

Spring continues to peek

at us and smile!

***

May Birthdays

Scott Poe May 3rd

(pictured on the right)

Graham Ryan May 4th
Susanne Slaten May 7th

Doyle Slaten May 9th

Matthew Ryan May 15th

***

A last word to the wise...

Daffodils to Rum Sauce

Spring is beginning to wake up

in New Hampshire In this past week the daffodils have begun to bloom,

other tender young green vegetation is beginning

to show the tops of their heads...

I think the rain is about over for a few days...

If we are to believe WMURs weatherman.

and I look forward to some warmer

sunny days for the weekend!

At the beginning of the week

the blues tried their darnedest

to drape heavily across my shoulders

But, I "cowgirled" up...

pulled up on my boots straps

and showed the "moody blues" the door!

Using a little craft therapy

followed by

baking of the ultimate comfort food,

and a wonderful "prize" from Michael,

the clouds have dissipated and a sunny disposition

has come to visit once more!

Crafting a new spring wreath

to take place of the Easter egg wreath..

next to go will be the bunny

or as our youngest Michael would say

"Rabbit"

***

Through the years I have cultivated

a love affair with bread pudding..

the original bread pudding with a whiskey sauce...

Over time it has been made a multitude of ways ..

with different fruits, berries, meats or vegetables...

but, I always long for the basic original...

So what else was a woman to do..

well, yeah..

besides take a trip to

New Orleans

but, gather the ingredients and make

a bread pudding...

As I plundered Michael's private stock

and finally put through a call

to the "one that knows", asking if

"this or that"

could be construed as the same thing

as "something" called by an entirely different

name...

O.K. so there was NO plain old

Kentucky bourbon whiskey

in the house...

How can you make whiskey sauce without whiskey?

Not wanting to venture forth,

with my recipe book in tow under my arm,

not looking forward to meeting and interviewing

a stranger at a liquor store

about the contents, sizes and best buys

of some kind of "whiskey"

I set about pondering...

what to do..

I have found over our extended stay

in New Hampshire that I most

thoroughly enjoy the taste of

"Rum raisin " ice cream...

Now, did I not see some rum in that mans cabinet?

So forging ahead

and substituting rum for whiskey,

and nutmeg for allspice...

the

"Rum Raisin Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce"

was an absolute winner!!!

Michael has begun to query out loud about

what all he could cover with

or dip into the sauce!

in case you are interested...

"Rum Raisin Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce"

Bread pudding

• 1 loaf french bread, cut into 1 inch -1 1/2 pieces, (about 6 or 7 cups)
  
• 1 qt. milk (whole milk)
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• 2 Tbsp vanilla
  
• 1 cup raisins (soaked over night in about 1/4c of rum)
  
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg..(there about)
  
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  
• 3 Tbsp butter, melted

Rum Sauce

• 1/2 cup butter (melted)
  
• 1cup sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1/2 cup rum...(add enough to what is left over from soaking the raisins)
  

1. Preheat oven to 350
   
2. In a large bowl ,soak bread in milk.
3. push up you sleeves and put your hands in there..
4. "Moosh"up all the bread until well mixed and all the milk is absorbed..

In a separate bowl, beat eggs ,sugar, vanilla, and spices together.

Gently stir into bread mixture..
Gently stir in raisins..
reserving the left over rum

with melted butter coat inside of a

9x13 baking pan...

(here I decided on ramekins)

coat bottom and sides bake 35-45 minutes,

or until set.

The pudding is done when the edges

start getting a bit brown and begin

to pull away from the pan.

(took 52 minutes in ramekins & this oven)

Rum Sauce

In a sauce pan melt butter;

add sugar and egg, whisking constantly

over low heat,

until mixture thickens.

Whisk in rum , to taste...

(it smelled like plenty at 1/2c..and was good)

Remove from heat and let cool.

Whisk again before serving.

Plate pudding,

drizzle with sauce,

and let a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream

share the limelight.

this recipe comes with warnings..

• your eyes may roll back in your head
• involuntary moaning has been exhibited
• uncontrollable lip smacking can pursue
• down in the dump blues may be thwarted

Also not at all suggested for those that

show evidence of a weak pancreas

***

This weeks biggest and "bestest" blues buster is still to

be unveiled..

o keep this in mind when in a couple of weeks

new pictures are posted

with results of Michael's therapy program!!!!

***

Why is it when you are driving and looking for an address,

you turn the radio down?