Spring is here (in most places) and it’s time to open the windows and doors.
Fresh air is essential for your health and house. Most of us with old-fashioned windows don’t have the time, knowledge or desire to fix the internal pulleys that keep a window open. We prop them open with whatever is at hand: books, a stick, or anything that’s the right height.
Sure, you can use an old coffee can. Instead, why not use old shelf brackets? They’re beautiful, decorative and easy to find. You probably have some lying around in the basement or garage.
My friend, Shelley, suggested a sweet, little movie titled “The Hollars”. All year I’ve checked both Amazon Prime and Netflix with hopes for a freebie with no luck. We decided to rent, then sat back to watch.
The main character’s mother has a brain tumor, so he returns to his childhood home in Middle America from New York City. While “home” he learns his mother is borderline diabetic and the family plumbing business is failing. When he expresses shock and dismay to his brother, the reply is, “You need to call home more.”
This reminded me of a conversation my sister and I had last June.
Sandy mentioned that I haven’t participated in annual outings that we’ve always done together. Instead of hearing her say, “I miss you”, I became defensive, as usual, (insert loud and accusatory voice) by pointing out that she travels extensively. She’s been away anywhere from a weekend to an entire month, sometimes completely unreachable. Adding to that, she’s so busy, then “exhausted” after rattling off all that she’s done that day, that week, that month. I feel like I’m interrupting something important.
Somehow, and almost without my noticing, we’ve drifted apart.
I WILL MAKE AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE OUR ANNUAL OUTINGS
We can’t grow apart! I need her — not only for big things like love, honesty, and support but for the little things, as well: to teach me how to make gravy; repair a complex spreadsheet; hand sew my sweater; organize Christmas decorations and, as I like to say, use her “magic” to publish this post.
So, what happened? It’s not physical distance. We’ve survived my moving five hours away. It’s not a lack of time. She’s retired and I’m semi-retired. Earlier in our relationship, we both worked, managed households, had spouses and children, but every Thursday night at 11 pm her phone or mine would ring. We’d share our excitement, disbelief and sometimes anger with the latest Knot’s Landing episode.
WELL, I CAN CERTAINLY CALL ON A REGULAR BASIS!
There’s less meaningful items on my calendar that trigger me to act. I water my plants on payday; I plant seeds on St. Joseph’s Feast Day; I have a cocktail at 4:00 pm. Calling regularly will not be a hardship.
I have noticed, though, that when we are together we work. Even fun things turn into a chore. We shop—for items to re-sell; we share a cocktail (or two)–only to take photos and write a blog post; we laugh—then create a Facebook post. Instead of seeing the Nutcracker, we spent six days together working on producing eighteen tee shirts for our family Christmas celebration. Perhaps this is part of the problem?
WE WILL HAVE FUN!
We’re not the mani-pedi type, but we do like to eat, drink and shop. Here are some suggestions for the next time she visits.
Fort Thomas Antique and Design Center, suggested by my friend, Natasha, has everything we enjoy—antiques, bourbon, wine, and coffee.
Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub where servers wear kilts. On the menu is Scottish-American fare that Sandy is allowed to eat! Scotch egg anyone?
Sweet Buy and Buy in Dry Ridge, KY is another suggestion from Natasha. You have to pass chickens to get to this farmhouse and barn that is chock full of antiques and vintage items that will satisfy tastes from cottage to industrial decor.
16-Bit Bar+Arcade where you can enjoy a whimsical drink and classic arcade games are free to play.
Sugar Whiskey Sis (fitting, right?) Moonshine Room was described by friends, Teresa and Lindsey. Opened at the end of 2018, it’s a coffee and moonshine bar. Along with the extensive moonshine menu, you can enjoy a snack or dessert while playing games (including Monday Night Bingo).
AND…WE’LL HAVE FUN IN GLENDALE, AS WELL.
When I visit, I will be less noncommital when asked, “What would you like to do?” Well, I can suggest a visit to Morton Salt River Ranch, discover a new town or add another stamp to my Bourbon Trail Passport.
WE’LL MEET HALFWAY TWICE A MONTH.
We can have lunch and resume our knitting lessons in LaGrange, KY.
All of this is to say, “I’m going to be a better sister”.
I know some of you are cringing at the word “Sauerkraut”, but wait! Have you ever enjoyed a Reuben or a New York-style hot dog? It’s the kraut that makes it special.
Maybe you’ve even enjoyed brats, pork ribs or kielbasa with kraut. Kraut is deliciously sweet, sour, briny and crunchy – and it’s good for you! It’s jam-packed with probiotics, fiber and vitamins (vitamins B, C and K, potassium, calcium and phosphorus), so you can chuck the ho-hum yogurt and instead, add only one spoonful of delicious kraut to your daily meal for a ton of health benefits. Not only is it good for your gut (reducing gas, bloating and constipation), research indicates that kraut helps reduce the risk of depression and Alzheimer’s and can help with weight loss.
Sounds like a miracle food, doesn’t it? To make kraut even more attractive (as if!) it only requires 2 ingredients to make: salt and cabbage.
We’ve always made a huge crock of kraut in October, when cabbage is plentiful and cheap. More recently, we’ve started making it in smaller batches and much more frequently. Anytime is a good time.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT
It only takes 4 steps to make delicious, crispy sauerkraut:
Shred the cabbage.
Add salt.
Beat the cabbage to release the juice.
Let it ferment.
That’s all it takes!
STEP 1: SHRED THE CABBAGE
Cut the cabbage into halves or quarters. Remove the coarse outer leaves and core.
Shred. We have my parent’s cabbage shredder, which quickly does 2 whole cabbages at a time, but a knife works just as well.
STEP 2: ADD SALT
We use Kosher Salt, but any salt will work EXCEPT IODIZED SALT. Put a layer of cabbage in an enamel canning pot. NEVER use metal! The chemicals from metal will ruin the cabbage. Sprinkle a little salt over it and mash it a bit. Repeat, alternating the cabbage and a sprinkle of salt until all the cabbage has been added.
NOTE: For a 1-gallon container of kraut, use about 5 pounds of cabbage and 3 tablespoons of salt.
STEP 3: BEAT THE CABBAGE TO RELEASE THE JUICE
Beat the cabbage, mash it, squeeze it, and get the juices (brine) flowing. Again, NEVER use metal. Wooden spoons or cabbage tampers are great, but your hands do the best job. Many people believe hands in the kraut will ruin it, but we have never had an issue.
STEP 4: LET IT FERMENT
Put the juicy cabbage into a crock or large mouth glass jar.
Place a plate or bowl over it.
Weigh it down (a plastic jug of water works) making sure the juice completely covers the cabbage. Remember, “If it’s under the brine, everything’s fine!”
Keep it in a consistently cool spot (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit). This can be in the root cellar, basement or refrigerator. The darker the better, but definitely not in direct sunlight. Keep in mind that the warmer it is, the faster it will ferment.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE KRAUT!
Regularly check the kraut to make sure it’s still under the brine. If there is a foam or scum on the top, no worries. That’s just a “quick ferment”. The kraut is fine. In about 2-3 weeks, you will have sauerkraut. We generally put a few wood sticks into the kraut at this point to remove the “bitter” and leave it an additional 2-3 weeks longer. It’s not necessary. Taste it and see if it’s the right texture for you.
Transfer the sauerkraut to clean jars and refrigerate or can.
Enjoy the sauerkraut as is, or add it to a salad, hot dog, or sandwich. Fry it with onions and black pepper and serve with potatoes or noodles. Kraut is delicious, healthy and versatile. Give it a go!
When Irene’s oldest son, Bryce, read her recent post Not The Beaver’s Mom, he decided to share his thoughts on “raising” his middle-aged parents by keeping them up-to-date with the latest technology.
When you’re a child, you rely on your parents to teach you every skill you lack. In early childhood this includes everything from feeding yourself to using the bathroom. As you grow up, and your paths diverge, so do your skill sets. Before you realize it, you’re suddenly teaching your aging parents skills so that they don’t have to rely on you as much. It’s good that they learn some independence, right?
One such skill is how to use the latest smart device.
I know that Amazon’s Echo has a plethora of useful commands to assist you, similar to how Mickey commands the mops in Fantasia. But just like in the movie, not knowing the power you wield can lead to disaster.
I recently tried to set up motion detectors in the living room of my parent’s house so that they wouldn’t have to fumble in the dark to find a light when they woke up before the sun rose. However, my best intentions were rewarded with the opposite expected behavior from my dad. He turned the motion detector to face the wall so that he could still control which lights were on by using (gasp) a switch.
Instead of trying to train my father to rely on the motion detector, I experimented with a variety of controls until I found the right combination where he was excited to use the smart home features I was introducing to him. And I hit a home run with Mom in the basement by repurposing the motion detector to turn on the basement lights that were traditionally controlled by fumbling for a pull string in the dark. When it comes to baby boomers, I’ve learned that isn’t about teaching them new skills as much as showing them the benefits of the new approach.
One area of technology that they firmly have adopted (and refused to let go) is the use of their iPads and iPhones. I know I was an early adopter, and I was able to get them on the train as it was still picking up speed out of the station.
Now they are totally reliant on their Apple gadgets. This not only helps me by giving them things with which to entertain themselves, but by making them adopt the same devices and services as I do. That makes it easy for me to guide them on operating these Space-Aged gizmos. Just as I can call up my Dad to troubleshoot my air conditioning, he can just as easily FaceTime me and get step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Weather Channel on TV and browse www.theweatherchannel.com simultaneously on his iPad. You have to fact check right?
Now comes the part of this tale where I’ve taken a risk. Mom has been clamoring for a dual lens iPhone ever since she saw the photos I’ve taken with mine featuring the bokeh effect. You know, those pictures where the subject is crystal clear, but the background is blurred and oftentimes balls of light? That’s the bokeh effect.
She has waited patiently for 2 years now, and even though I might regret it, I recently ordered her an iPhone XS. This new phone will arrive soon and just like Mickey in Fantasia, I may be drowned by waves and waves of questions about how to operate this new companion that’s missing the tried and true Home Button.
This change, including the disappearance of fingerprint authentication, has been the reason that I, an IT professional and Apple aficionado, have yet to jump on board with the future of smartphones. But, hopefully, she’ll adapt to unlocking her phone with a smile and taking bokeh photos with minimal fuss. Just like I once had to adapt. When I had to actually sort the darks and lights when doing laundry.
