Thanksgiving shots

I'm getting started with iWeb, a Mac software and service to host family pictures. First up: Thanksgiving shots.

The Making of "Charlie Brown's Christmas"

NPR's Morning Edition ran the story "Behind Vince Guaraldi's Timeless Holiday Soundtrack." The Charlie Brown Christmas special aired tonight. John watched it, but the rest of us were off doing things. The story refreshed my memory. The show was yet another of an example of a classic not recognized in its own time. It barely made it on to the air for 1965 debut. Naysayers didn't like mixing jazz with Christmas music and the adult message of faith and materialism.

Old Family Recipe

We were making cookies when Clare remembered an old family recipe tucked away in Mom's recipe box. It's labeled "Ruth's Grandmother Miller's 'Indian Pudding.'" Looking back at the family tree, this would be Sarah Maria Read's (b 1846, d 1906) recipe. Likely older than 1846, I'd guess. Clare says it's not very specific; you were just supposed to know how to do it. Here it is.

Ruth's Grandmother Miller's "Indian Pudding"

1 pt. milk scalded; 2 heaping tbsp corn meal, 1 heaping tbsp flour, wet in a little cold milk, stir into the hot milk and cook until it thickens. When cool add 1 egg, 1/2 c sugar, 1 tbsp molasses, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, small piece of butter, salt to taste, raisins if wished, 2/3 c cold milk. Stir twice while in the oven. Bake slowly 2 hours.

If you make it, let us know how it comes out.

Preliminary plans

We've had preliminary drawings for our addition since late August. We've had trouble getting time together to review them. I took off work a couple days this week. Chris and I worked Tuesday morning and all day Friday. We're almost there. We went to a television store Friday and were overwhelmed. We were like a couple Rip van Winkles. We thought we should take a look to help us decide where to place the TV. Besides, a store was in the same strip mall as the Pella shop. Wow! Our salesperson quickly became annoyed with our questions. We went on to a Bose store with a friendlier salesperson and viewed their home theater movie demo. With today's technology, surely it would be a crime to buy a small TV and stick it in the corner. I hope to get an email off to our architect Monday to wrap up our review.

Family night at The Seasons

The kids and I went to family night at the Seasons, where we were joined by Margaret Ann, Mary, Jane, and Will. The theme was Western / cowboy. The staff and residents wore brightly colored foam cowboy hats. Dad made sure that we got them too, though I thought they might be intended only for residents. I noticed that my peers weren't wearing cowboy hats. A guitarist entertained us with cowboy songs. He was good. Even in a big city like Chicago, square dancing is a standard unit in elementary school physical education. Regrettably, the kids have few opportunities to practice, so I was pushing this as one of them. You need six to square dance, and I was willing to join the five kids. As Clare informed me, you also need a caller. So no dice. Mary took photographs with her cell phone and sent them to friends. Now that Kathleen is suggesting Brian entertain, I couldn't help imagine him playing cowboy songs too. I asked Mary about Brian entertaining (not cowboy songs), assuring her that he is a "professional musician." She said she could make the arrangements. Kathleen, Margaret can give you contact info. The family is abundant in musical talent. Will, who has the lead in the school play, "High School Play," sang a couple songs for us afterwards.

Dad hasn't been feeling so well and is low in energy. It's about all he can do to walk down the hall for an event like this. I think that he enjoyed it though and was glad to have family join him.

Dawn Spacecraft

Me and Clare recently put our names on a microchip that is going to the Asteroid Belt aboard the Dawn Spacecraft. There was a website where you could type in your name and then it would be sent to a microchip that is traveling on the spacecraft. You can access the site here, although the deadline for putting in your name is already past. I found out about the website in an email from Aunt Kathleen.

No Hogan Halloween Pix

Margaret sent this shot of Will, which I modified in iPhoto. Surely, Halloween is Will's favorite holiday. Our kids are almost outgrowing Halloween. John might have gone trick or treating, and some of his friends did. Chris and I said ixnay. Clare went with a couple friends dressed together in pajamas as girls at a sleepover. I asked if she wanted me to take a picture for the blog, but she wasn't interested. No bother, our digital camera is in the shop anyway. Chris and I were alone with homemade pizza. We didn't get many trick or treaters at the house. Is Halloween becoming a memory? Here are pix from Halloweens past.