If only... Happy 50th Mom and Dad

Today, March 13, 2010 would have been my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. You might not know, but my parents were married twice. Lester, “L. C” and Gloria, “Glo” grew up in the same town, Ringgold Louisiana. They knew each other, but didn’t date. When mom finished high school at 16 years old (ahead of dad because she had skipped two grades), she moved to Los Angeles to join her mother and a host of other relatives that had left Louisiana. When dad graduated, he went to Kansas City to be with his brother, Joe. He joined the Marine Corp and was sent to boot camp at Camp Pendleton. Through some mutual friends, they reconnected and began dating.
Mom and Dad were married the first time in Tijuana, Mexico, January 9th. The Marine Corps said the union was not legal. The attached picture is from the “legal” ceremony, March 13, 1960.
Happy 50th Mom and Dad!

A little baking goin' on

I had the bakin' bug yesterday. I found my Mom's recipe for Poor Boy Cookies. My house smelled like Mom was visiting. I kept thinking the batter didn't look right, but then realized I was using the golden raisins I had on hand and not regular raisins. The recipe, of course, didn't have exact measurements for the powdered sugar icing. I could hardly wait for the icing to thicken to cut them.
They turned out pretty good, if I say so myself. Each bite brought back so many memories of her late-night-forgot-I-needed-something-sweet-for-tomorrow-baking. Does anyone know why, they're "cookies" when they are actually bars. I even made Banana Bread. I got to share some cookies with a neighbor. I know Mom was smiling. She loved feeding other people. Joe is hoping that I'll find my way to the kitchen more often. We'll see... maybe the new year will bring a joy of cooking.

Poor Boy Cookies
Oven: 375 degrees for 15 minutes

Boil together for 20 minutes:
1 cup raisins
1 ½ cup water
½ cup shortening (I used Crisco’s Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Sticks)

Mix together:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 egg
½ cup nuts

Combine dry ingredients. Add in the “boiling” mixture. Pour on to a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Apply icing while it is still hot.
Icing:
Powdered sugar and milk


Banana Bread
Oven: 350 degrees for 50 minutes

1 cup sugar
1 cup banana (thinly sliced)
½ shortening (I used Crisco’s Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Sticks)
2 eggs
1 ½ cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ nuts.

Blend the first four ingredients. Beat for 2 minutes. Add the dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes. Stir in the nuts. Pour into a prepared loaf pan.

Houston "Blizzard" Dec. 2009

Hair Thoughts

There are many expectations of what an appropriate hairstyle should be for a Black woman. The times in which you were raised influence your thinking. When I was a little girl, the length and texture of your hair determined your hairstyle, not what you could purchase.
I have fond childhood memories of my Mom, Mama (maternal grandmother) or Auntie Pat doing my hair for special occasions. I've shared with co-workers the thrill of little Black girls wearing their hair "down" after Easter, only to have it back to the routine style after a day or two (if you were lucky). My hair timeline has been... getting it pressed... getting a relaxer... or getting freestyle braids. But this year, turning 50, I just wanted a break. Since having the braids over the pass 11 years, all of the relaxer had grown out of my hair. It was freeing. I did not want to get back into that 4-6 cycle. I felt pressure to have a "style". Whenever I searched the web, the "natural" styles were either very short or very long afros or braids of many beautiful designs. None of them seemed right for me. I purchased a "Chi", but couldn't get hair really straight. It yielded the same frustrations I remember from getting my hair pressed... barely sweat, or step out into the Houston humidity and be napped up again.

So today, after almost 9 months in hair limbo...I'm happy.

Guess who else is happy? He was quite surprised when I met him for lunch. I told him I was attending an inservice.

Joe's Graduation

Here are my two favorite pics from the graduation: a kiss for the graduate and a close-up of the "hood". I'm glad the colors for the School of Education are colors I love. ;-) He has worked so hard during the pass two years. I'm impressed with his writing skills. Additionally, Joe has also been working on a teacher endorsement for the Visually Impaired online from Texas Tech. Due to his hard work, he has one more semester. He will be doing his internship with the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in January. About three months ago, I thought we might be moving to Tacoma, Washington because of a Blind Rehabilitation Internship with the Veteran Administration. After several interviews, he found out that he was the number two applicant. The VA has plans to open more facilities in 2010 and will need more interns, so we will see what happens. Growing up in the Marine Corps, my family moved every 3-4 years so I'm okay about moving. I've been in Houston longer than any other place in my life. I would miss Auntie Pat and family and Lakewood.

Just call him "Master Joey"

Joe's graduation with a Masters of Science in Education Management on December 19, 2009 from University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Christmas Day

My day was filled with hot tea, kleenex and the warmest afghan in the world made by "Dearie",my mother-in-law. Joe and I both have colds. What timing, you're not suppose to be sick over vacation. We fixed breakfast, opened gifts and went back to sleep. In the afternoon, Joe felt up to joining some neighbors at an open house, but crashed when he returned home. I'm grateful for the plates of goodies they sent him home with, thanks Beverly. Praise God, that Christmas is not about how you feel, but God's gift of his Son, Jesus. I hope your Christmas day was wonderful and filled with love.