Beautiful Dew of Youth

My love affair with perfume began waaay back. My Grandmother A wore Chanel No. 5 exclusively and my Grandmother B wore Emeraude...from the moment I realized that the stuff in the bottle smelled good, I couldn't get enough. Grandmother A even amassed the most beautiful antique perfume bottle collection I have ever seen.

In my hometown, it wasn't easy to get the "big city" scents, so we settled for Windsong, Shalimar, Rive Guache, Fabrege's Woodhue, Tabu and Charlie. As soon as I left for college I made it my mission to move up the list...White Shoulders, Joy by Jean Paton and Youth Dew by Estee Lauder. Once I smelled Youth Dew, I was hooked for the next three decades.

As I aged, I exchanged Youth Dew for Estee Lauder's Beautiful and stayed with it for years. As a matter of fact, once someone came up to me and said, "Were you at the church this morning?" As a matter of fact I was. "Yes, why?" I inquired. "I went in the kitchen," she continued, " and it smelled like you." Now I'm not sure if she was referring to my Beautiful or the bacon that the deacons cooked for the men's Saturday breakfast, but I knew I had OD'd on the scent that particular morning.

Payday was Friday and I always buy myself a little treat on payday. Maybe a Snappy Turtle at Bop's or a new magazine at WM, but this time, I went all out. Estee Lauder has reintroduced the 1950's blue bottled spray Youth Dew and guess what I have on right now? (Beside the ratty housecoat, I mean....) Yes! Youth Dew from my college days! It's wonderful and I am so happy I went a little over the top and purchased it. What great memories it brings back. What scents do you like and do you wear? I'd like to hear! Anyone remember Ambush (for girls) & Canoe (for the guys)?!

Happy October 30-31st!

I know, I know, I am an old fuddy duddy. My whole family thinks so, but I just have never liked Halloween. It's now a hugely popular holiday, but I am still sticking to my guns.

I do, however, remember fun Halloween nights growing up in Grenada, Mississippi. We'd all dress up (I was a gypsy every year) and go up and down Line Street knocking on doors. There were just innocent homemade costumes. We'd be invited in for punch and the ladies of the street would always make popcorn balls and candy for us. Can you imagine that nowadays? We'd go home, look at our loot and go to bed. End of story, end of holiday. Not really a big deal.

Now I know there are many of you who will disagree, but I think Halloween was a day that started out not so good and has deteriorated into something really not so good. Of course, it's a BIG money maker for merchants. People in Wal Mart at 5:30 P.M. were buying like there was going to be a candy famine beginning very shortly.

While in WM, we purchased some mini Butterfingers but they are really for us...nobody knocks on our door out here. So as soon as we are sure nobody will come, we will eat them ourselves. I feel sort of "Scroogish" about this and hope you don't hold it against me. We can disagree and still be friends, I hope! Anyway, I enjoy seeing your little people dressed up as ladybugs and little bears and dinosaurs...so I hope you post those pictures on FB tonight. Happy Oct. 30-31st!

(Oh, yes, if you haven't read my August post "Petey the Parakeet vs. the Little Gypsy"...it's about Halloween and may be the reason I am not such a fan.) It's archived on the right of the blog.

* Cat Woman Unleashed On An Unsuspecting World

For years my family has tried to keep this picture "under wraps." It surfaced last evening as I was searching for a new Facebook profile picture. I passed by it once and as I flipped back through, it came up like a family skeleton rattling her bones in the closet. Yes, there I was...double bubble hair style with angel bangs, black cat-eyed glasses with rhinestones. I looked like a young version of Miss Jane on the Beverly Hillbillies. I was quite a dish.

Ah, the "awkward" stages of life. The sad part of this one is that I probably pretended that I thought I looked pretty hip. What else could I do? My vision wasn't worth a flip and since contacts were out of the question at this stage in history, I thought I was doomed to look like Cat Woman forever. My father thought he'd prove how really lovely I was, hence the "portrait" setting for the picture. When I saw this for the first time, I was devastated.

My granddaughter is still in shock over the picture. "Who is that person?" she asked. "Well, dear, that's me when I was in the 7th or 8th grade. I was in an awkward time of life," I responded. "How awkward?" she persisted. "Very."

Isn't it nice what a few years will do? It softens the blow of growing pains. It's funny how we stagger between awkward "times" and nice plateaus. I'm in one of the staggering times right now. Not really the oldest stage, but certainly no spring chicken anymore...maybe sort of "oldish". But there is something I can tell you about being "oldish", it's not nearly as bad as I make it out to be. There are some great parts of being old. Now let me think. What are some of those great things? Well, nevermind, you get my drift.

It is ironic though that we make a complete circle from birth until death. Awkwardness begins with the birth process...things rock along and then comes sitting up and standing and trying to walk...speaking of awkward! Walking in big ole diapers is tough. Then we are ok until around the age of 12. Now I don't know about you, but from 7-9th grade was just torture for me. (As witnessed by the above picture.) Thank goodness we weather that storm and stay the course for the next couple of decades. The 40's aren't bad, but the wind begins to rock the boat a little by the late forties. The fifties are a prelude to what's coming....storm clouds gather and then there we are...back to trying to keep our balance and stay away from Depends if possible. There you have it....the complete circle..almost.

My point here is that awkwardness is just one of those hurdles in life that we all have to jump. So no matter where you are in the "circle" we are all in it together. We need to be mindful of each others' positions along the way. That way we can help each other along from one stage to another. So wherever you are, my friends, know that somebody has either been there or will be there soon. Be kind.

* The Fairy Godmother & Hot Chili

Holy cow! Ask for a little help from your friends and MINE respond pronto. I have so many chili recipes in my email and on the blog, that I'll be testing all week getting ready for the big day next Friday! Thank you one and all! I can't wait to try all the advice on for size...speaking of which, if we eat all this, those polyester pants from Bon Worth will get a real workout.

I am hesitant to repeat this, but now that it's been a few hours since it was said, I can smile. Teacher sends student to the library to give me something...student asks which librarian I am...the one with the bun that looks like a fairy godmother? Oh, heaven help me....first it was Aunt Bea now the Fairy Godmother...I think it was the cartoon one that is popular now...hope not Cinderella's ...dumpy little thing...should I laugh or cry?

Going to read more recipes... will post later this weekend. Thank goodness it's almost Friday.

Chili Season Anyone?

As some of you may know, I taught Foods and Nutrition classes at our local high school for a number of years before I became a librarian. Now, just because my major was Home Economics does NOT mean that I am a great cook. (Similar to the adage "because you are standing in the garage does not mean you are a car".) When I was in high school, I had a wonderful Home Ec teacher, Mrs. Davis. I LOVED her classes and took all three years of Home Ec.

I liked everything she taught, even sewing. (I was a pretty bad seamstress...bad as in bad, not bad as in good like they say today.) Once I had a school annual deadline to meet and a sewing project to complete on the same night. I had to turn in the sports section of the annual and make a lined vest in Home Ec. My father (who being a professional photographer would have been the logical one to take on the annual task) decided he'd help me out and complete the vest. He did and it was the best grade I ever made in a sewing class...

I only had to teach high school sewing class one year and they all made boxer shorts. Even the girls loved wearing them at that time, so you'd think we could have done a pretty fair job at it. Wrong! One of my former students (who now teaches with me) was in that class and to this day, her father laughs at the memory of those horrible shorts...one leg much shorter than the other. I probably discouraged the entire female population of the Ross Barnett Reservoir area from ever tackling such a project again.

Back to subject at hand. One of the great things about my teacher, Mrs. Davis is how she taught us to really take care of our homes and our families. (She always wore the June Cleaver shirtwaist dresses with an apron.) I loved how much she loved her family. She genuinely enjoyed making her home a haven. That made a tremendous impression on my young mind. She was one of the main reasons I majored in Home Economics.

All that being said, today I signed up to enter a crock pot full of chili for our school's Chili Cook Off. (Why do I volunteer to do things like this?) If all goes as planned, 12-15 people will cook and be judged by the Administrators. Faculty will eat what isn't consumed by the judges.

If you'd be so kind, would you comment and let me know any little tips that may help my dish? The last time I tried a new chili recipe, I didn't wear my glasses and added 20 chipolte chilies instead of 2 and permanently scarred my esophagus. I am slightly frantic and need the help by next Friday. Thank you for any tips you might have that might at least help me not come in 15th.