The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. Dad earned his United States citizenship while serving in the Army during the Korean War. That makes me a 1st generation American. I also spent 10 years in the US Army. So the 4th of July means freedom to me - not just BBQ's and fireworks. But 10 years ago this July, Dad passed away. Yesterday, recalling some fond memories with my Mom, we both agreed that the past 10 years has flown by. Yet, it seems like so long since we got to see Dad. The 4th of July is bittersweet for me now. Time has a way of doing that.... The older we get, every holiday has more meanings to it. Every relationship does too. What used to seem like big things, seem to mean so little. And the little things in life tend to mean much ... View Post
Lacing Up My Combat Boots
When I was young, trying new and exciting things was fun for me. That's why joining the Army at age 18 was not a surprise to anyone who knew me. I wanted to see the world, and see the world I did! There were no wars going on when I served. My job? Always administrative support to different kinds of units, most often of which were military police. And in some of those units, that meant taking my administrative skills out to the field. It meant carrying an M16 while lugging my typewriter and files out to my tent. It meant knowing how to don a gas mask in seconds if need be. You see, regardless of what "job title" anyone enlists in, there are some very basic combat skills ALL soldiers must have. Because regardless of the particular area of expertise (finance, accounting, medic, ... View Post
My Dad – “Peter Little Allan”
It's the day after Father's Day, and the bright sun beaming down on my face through the window woke me up. I wanted to write about Dad this morning, and all of the reasons why he was the best, but I wanted to sleep in and do it a little later in the day! But I'm reminded...... My dad never slept in. Never. He worked until he was in his mid 70's, despite having a blood disease that for most of my life tried to kill him. He never missed a day of work even though there were times when he could hardly walk. When he was very, very sick, and he was home unable to work for months, I don't recall him EVER complaining, except if someone bumped his sore foot. Then, he would yell out in pain, and forgive whoever bumped him. Even while dad was going through chemotherapy for his cancer, every ... View Post
A Nova Scotia Kitchen Party
Today is July 2, 2012. Eight years ago today, my father passed away. Anticipating today while I was working over this past weekend, I couldn't help but think about what I was doing 8 years ago on June 29, 30, and July 1st of 2004. I was enjoying the last of my Dad's days with him, getting in my last giggles between us, enjoying tapping our toes in perfect timing together to Cape Breton tunes playing on a CD next to his bed, taking shifts with my mom and sister spending time in the room with him, and spending time with each other in Mum's kitchen. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or ... View Post
PorcuPine MeatBalls, by Claudette
Ingredients: 1 pound of hamburger 1 egg ½ cup finely chopped onion ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1-¾ cups cooked Rice or ½ c of uncooked instant rice (that’s what I use.) 2 Tbls Oil 2 cups tomato sauce ¼ cup bread crumbs (or more, to make it stick together) Directions: Mix ½ cup of tomato sauce into the rice and mix into the meat. Mix together and set aside to pour over the lightly fried meatballs. Dry ingredients: 1 ½ cups tomato sauce PLUS 1/8 cup water (You may need more water to spread the sauce, but not much. Eyeball it.) 1 teaspoon Parsley ¼ teaspoon Basil ¼ teaspoon Garlic Salt Mix the egg, onion, salt, pepper, rice, breadcrumbs, into the meat, together and form meatballs. Fry on all sides. Then set aside. Spray with PAM a 9x13 glass dish or baking ... View Post
Claudette’s Pecan Pie Bars
Ingredients: 1 ¼ c all-purpose flour ½ c plus 3 Tbls. Brown sugar, packed and divided ½ c butter 2 eggs 2 Tbls. Butter melted ½ c light corn syrup 1 tea. Vanilla extract ½ c chopped pecans or walnuts Directions: Combine the flour with 3 T brown sugar. Cut in ½ c of butter until coarse crumbs form. (I microwave it until soft enough to work with). Press into an 11x7 baking pan. I spray the pan with PAM. Bake at 375 degrees in preheated oven for 20 minutes. While the crust is baking, beat eggs in a large bowl, and add the remaining brown sugar, melted butter, corn syrup and vanilla. Blend in the pecans and pour mixture into the hot crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Makes 2 dozen. ... View Post
S*P*A*R*K*L*E W*A*T*E*R – Through The Eyes of Mikaela
Nine holes of golf between two silly girlfriends who call each other "dude" and giggle would have been enough fun. But, adding an adorable 4-year-old granddaughter to our day, and letting her enjoy the ride from the middle of the golf cart seat, safely tucked in between Mary and I, was more fun than the game itself. With each bump,we were careful to hold Mikaela as she came up off the seat and laughed out loud. And she really thought she was the cat's meow when her Grandma let her sit on her lap and steer the cart. I wasn't sure what I enjoyed more - spending the afternoon with my friend Mary, or enjoying the sweetness of a child's innocence. As we drove over the bridge to hole #9, there on the other side appeared a small pond we would have to hit our golf balls over. Mary and ... View Post
Never Bitter
This morning, a fully functioning, very independent 90-year-old woman died, on Thanksgiving Day, of all days. Those who loved her smiled and said, "She lived a good long life." I asked them to tell me something about her. They smiled once more and said, "She was never bitter about anything in life. Never!" And that would have been all I would ever know about her - She was never bitter. Never. Webster's Dictionary defines Bitter as: Angry and unhappy because of unfair treatment, exhibiting intense animosity, reproachful, hard, resentful, sore, harsh, cruel. But thankfully.......... Webster's Dictionary also gives ANTONYMS for the word "bitter:" Caring, forgiving, gentle, kind, kind-hearted, loving, sweet, sympathetic, tender, warm. Thanks to Webster's Dictionary including ... View Post