blog #241 >> I Heart Meringue Cookies

If I were feeling better, I would have dyed them pink, and drizzled melted chocolate on them. And I would have shaped them better and been more careful about letting the batter rest before baking, etc. etc. etc. But I'm not feeling better and I really wanted to eat some cookies, but didn't want to go up to the store. So, Fix-It and Forget-It Cookies it was. They're pretty tasty.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat 2 egg whites (old eggs work best) until stiff.
Add a dash of salt
Gradually add a scant 3/4 cup sugar to egg whites.
Fold in 1 cup mini chocolate chips (I just chopped up regular chocolate chips.)
and 1 cup chopped nuts (which I left out entirely.)
Do not over mix.

Spoon, or pipe batter onto cookie sheet covered in foil.
I wish I had covered the top with foil as well to prevent cracking.
As soon as you put the cookies in the oven, leave the heat on only 2 minutes then turn the oven off. Best to leave in closed oven overnight. But then can be eaten in 3 hours, but best to leave overnight. From the kitchen of: Betty Jo Champion Simpkins

T

blog #240 >> Leave it to Beaver Letter

I slept last night from 8pm to 8:30am this morning. I can't talk today, and I sound like a frog when I try to laugh. I'm also getting very bored. I've watched nearly every episode of "The Outer Limits" and I still feel too crummy to actually do anything. I took out the trash yesterday and had to take a nap afterwords. So, I've been just wasting as much time as possible online this morning... wait... I have to go blow my nose again... Alrighty, what was I saying? Oh yes, I'm still sick today. And I found this super funny post on Shorpy that made me laugh, I mean croak, 'til I cried. It's a freeze frame of a letter on "Leave it to Beaver"... hold on... Where did I put the Kleenex?... Here it is... So, I find it really really funny, because I can't say how many times I've written things like this on projects I know will never print. In fact, I think I've used some of those exact lines. Or I'll write, "If you're reading this... DON'T PRINT!" We even have our own fictional characters like "Fred Jarvis" "Realtor Extraordinaire" or I'll name everyone after presidents, or just type whatever random thing comes into my head. They're a lot like my blog posts actually. Anyhow... here it is and the link back to the original posting, the comments there alone are worth a visit.
Okay, now maybe I should take a nap,
T

Mr. Ward Cleaver
485 Mapleton Drive
Mayfield, State

My Dear Mr. Cleaver:

This paragraph has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
It is here merely to fill up space. Still, it is words,
rather than repeated letters, since the latter might not
give the proper appearance, namely, that of an actual note.

For that matter, all of this is nonsense, and the only
part of this that is to be read is the last paragraph,
which part is the inspired creation of the producers of
this very fine series.

Another paragraph of stuff. Now is the time for all good
men to come to the aid of their party. The quick brown
fox jumped over the lazy dog. My typing is lousy, but the
typewriter isn’t so hot either. After all, why should I
take the blame for these mechanical imperfections, with
which all of us must contend. Lew Burdette just hit a
home run and Milwaukee leads seven to one in the series.
This is the last line of the filler material of the note.
No, my mistake, that was only the next to last. This is last.

I hope you can find a suitable explanation for Theodore’s
unusual conduct.

Yours truly,
Cornelia Rayburn

blog #239 >> Updated Etsy

I actually updated the Etsy shop last week, but due to my runny nose I haven't actually posted an updated blog post yet. I guess now is the time for that.
Here's what's up so far:
flower pin

poppy pins (well, I guess they're hair clips really.)

pig potholders

cork message boards



...and there will be more to come!
T

blog #238 >> There's nothing wrong with your television set...

As before mentioned, I've watched a great deal of "The Outer Limits" this weekend. Not so much because it's such a swell show, but more because there was nothing on t.v. and I was too tired to read. Anyhow, I also got started on them because of these monster cards sitting on my desk. They were my uncle's and growing up they were always at my grandparent's house, so I have rather fond memories of looking through them and making monster masks of them and such. I remember I always like the red one best, "Fearful Foe" and it was really easy to make a monster mask like him. I'd just color a brown paper bag red and poke an eye hole in. I had an instant "Fearful Foe." Anyways it's been fun to see the shows that my monster cards were based on. Although the stories on the backs of the cards have NOTHING to do with the show.
Enjoy!
T

blog #237 >> So sick

This weekend I spent most of my time nursing a cold.
At last I gave up the fighting and let it catch me. I suppose it was only a matter of time before it caught me. It seems like nearly everyone I know has got one right now. It must be the fashion to have a cold this season, but I would prefer to not "go with the crowd." Anyhow, I've been drinking lots of tea, I've watched an absurd amount of "The Outer Limits" on YouTube, and I built a tower of the Airborne, Zicam, Breath Right Strips, Aspirin, and Ricola on my desk. I hardly slept last night, I was hot and then cold, and could breathe through half my nose but not the other half etc. etc. etc. And this morning I woke up with a sinus headache, a sore throat, and I seem to have lost my voice. So, here I am looking forward to yet another day of YouTube, Sudafed, tea and reading. I hope I get well soon!
T

blog #236 >> Plum Pie

Here's the delicious plum pie I made last night from canned Oregon plums. It's really tasty. I love pie. Recipe: 2 cans Oregon plums (drained), 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and a dash of cinnamon. Dot with butter. Bake 425 degrees for 30 minutes.
T

blog #235 >> New Hat

Anyone here?


Here are some pictures of my new hat and my favorite coat that I get relined. I haven't quite mastered the photo timer yet, and then it got dark... but here they are.
T