What are Ya At Now* 3

February 22, 2018 | Author: Judy

…..or Still Makin’ Stuff

Last year I posted pictures of two stained glass panels I did. They were of two corners of my Grandmother’s kitchen; a place very near and dear to my heart (oh dear, that’s so cliché); a place where I never felt anything but loved. This winter I completed the other two corners:

Doo doo doo, lookin’ out Granny’s back door.

The wash-stand by the pantry.

 

Here’s the quick message my sister sent after I showed her the panels:

“This piece makes me feel all warm and cozy – life out the bay – Newfoundlandy – non-stressful  way of life. Visiting Granny: always seemed to be sunny and soft there, bright sun rays glinting off the water in your eyes, rocks to climb over, bluebells to pick, birds always singing up in the hill where the well was, Grandfather and his Orange Crush, Granny always busy inside, or sitting in her rocker with those bowed legs crossed at the ankles, a welcoming place, best salt water view from the house on the rock, bowls of brown and white eggs (one staler, one fresh), smiling granddad who came and went so quietly to the “Kwap Store” (co-op) I remember Grandfather washing his face in a pan of stale water on the washstand. How often was it changed I wonder. Can still smell it. And in the tiny pantry there was a bin which fascinated me. I always thought she kept flour in it but that’s probably wrong.  You pulled the handle towards you and it just pulled forward right from the floor in a V shape.”

Thanks Sissy. For the record I think the funky smell came from the shaving brush. I vaguely recall that v-shaped cupboard but not what was in it. My favourite thing was the wooden box on the wall with the little drawers and the pincushion on top. I know she kept her post office key in one drawer and I always longed to see what was in the others but was too short to reach them and look. Bet I’m tall enough now but the house is long gone.

As a reminder here are the two panels I did last winter:

So now that Granny’s kitchen is complete I’ll have to move on to other things but I am reluctant to leave that place – I could write a book about those memories. Hey, maybe I will some day.

© Judy Parsons 2018

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Happy Valentine’s Day 2018

February 14, 2018 | Author: Judy

..from the South.

 

Judith: I’m so excited, I haven’t been to a fair in years.
Lancelot: Me neither. Wonder if you can still win a Kewpie doll.

Lancelot: Dang it, should have known better than to buy a used car from “Mostly Good Cars”. She’s not gettin’ her gas. Must be the solenoid.
Judith: Oh dear, and on Valentine’s of all days. Do you need a hair pin or a nail file this time?
Lancelot: It’s okay, I think I got her now.

Judith: Thank goodness. I’m not too sure about this neighbourhood.

Judith: The fair was such a great idea.
Lancelot: Wish we could do this every evening.  Happy Valentine’s dear.

Judith: Ooh thank you Lancelot; this was the best Valentine’s day ever!!

Meanwhile down at the trailer park:

Joodles: What are we doin’ fer Valentime’s?

Lannie: Aw Crikey. I was just about to lift the engine in our new car. I would never have bought a car at Mostly Good Cars if yer brother didn’t own it.
Joodles: Well I wants to go to the fair.
Lannie: How we gonna get there?
Joodles: We can hitch-hike.

Joodles: Wheehee, ride ’em cowboy. This is the best time ever!
Lannie: It’s all rigged I tells ya, the games is all rigged.

Joodles: That was so awesome! I won a horse, a bear and a toilet plunger. Best Valentime’s ever.
Lannie: Only cause your other brudder runs the games. It’s all rigged I tells ya.

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day wherever it finds you. ♥

© Judy Parsons 2018

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What Are Ya At Now* 2

January 31, 2018 | Author: Judy

……or W’as Goin’ On Now? #2

To which I reply “Same ole t’ing, maid, same ole t’ing. Makin’ stuff and den eatin’ some of it. Eatin’ a lot of it, to be shore.” Like these Coconut Milk Sweet buns I made yesterday in my thrift store breadmaker using my thrift store breadmaker cookbook.  Big buns. I had to rush most of them into the freezer so I wouldn’t eat them all before I went to bed.

Also working on my drawing skills. This is a colour pencil sketch from my sketch a day journal although it was not drawn on the day I saw it, but more recently from a photo I took with my phone at a Saturday afternoon session at a Cape Cod pub on my way down here in the late fall. I call it “Margaret’s Drink.”

That’s our friend Bill playing a pocket-sized banjo. I guess they are trying to make them small enough to hide now, but do what you might, you can’t hide the sound of a banjo of any size. It would have been a lot easier to draw IF THEY WEREN’T ALL WEARING PLAID! Just sayin’.

* “What are ya at?” is a Newfoundlander’s way of asking “What are you doing?” Not to be confused with “Where’s ya to?” which means “Where are you?”

© Judy Parsons 2018

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What Are Ya At Now?*

January 29, 2018 | Author: Judy

…..or Anyt’ing Goin’ on, or What?

So what am I at? Depends on when you ask. If I started listing it could seem like I am doing a lot but if you were to poke your head in the front door, chances are you would find me playing Scrabble on my phone. By the way, phone Scrabble is the best because the phone plays it’s word instantly but you can take as long as you like with yours. The downside is that it ruins you for playing with real humans because it will let you guess at a word without penalty. That makes it a good practice tool if you learn from your mistakes. Sadly, I can’t recall from one game to the next which two letter words are real or not so no benefit to me. The other downside is that it won’t acknowledge many Newfoundland words, like, hmmmm, there goes my memory again, I can’t recall a single example even though I encountered two incidents just hours ago. Sigh. What was I talking about anyway? Oh, what I’m at…

Well, mostly buying things and making things. Sometimes the two go together. Like this example:

I bought this Lodge cast iron pan at the thrift store so had to make cornbread to justify the purchase. We needed something good to go with the cornbread so I made rouladen.

Turned out tasty but tough. More often Lance makes the stuff and I eat it. He made roast duck.

I needed something for dessert so I made one of my new favourites, baked pears with Amaretto and Amaretti. (Amaretti are little Italian almond cookies. I found them at Winners) I’ll give you the recipe at the end. (I found the recipe in an old thrift store magazine – hope I’m not infringing by passing it on)

But I was talking about buying stuff. I buy way more stuff than a person needs but it keeps me out of trouble. Like this picture which cost me all of $4.50 at a thrift store.

If you know me, you know I don’t do beige so I painted the mat and the frame and now it is hanging in by bathroom.

I bought a lifetime supply of embroidery cotton for four bucks and a book by Jimmy Buffett about a pig; priceless (I say that without having read it yet.) When I’m not buying stuff or making stuff I’m thinking about making stuff, like knots and boats and slipways. If I were to have made a New Year’s resolution it would have been to spend more time making and less time thinking. But anyway, here’s a recipe:

3 TBLSP Amaretto liqueur
1 TBLSP balsamic vinegar
4 pears halved lengthwise and cored (I used 2 and a smaller pan, and a little less water)
1/3 cup water
4 amaretti cookies
Preheat oven to 425°. Put vinegar and liqueur in 9×13 baking dish and add pears cut side down. Bake for 15 minutes then add the water (I don’t know if you can do this with a glass dish without breaking it – I used metal pan) and bake for another 10 minutes. Arrange pears on plate cut side up. Crumble half the cookies over the pears then spoon pan juices over them. Crumble remaining cookies on top and serve. If you are worried it doesn’t have enough calories, add a knob of good quality vanilla ice cream.

© Judy Parsons 2018

* “What are ya at?” is a Newfoundlander’s way of asking “What are you doing?” Not to be confused with “Where’s ya to?” which means “Where are you?”

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Sigh

January 13, 2018 | Author: Judy

…..or Siiiiigh (which is a prolonged sigh)

I have on my kitchen wall a small decorative light to remind me of where I am from.

After the shenannigans of the American president started to become more and more outrageous I decided that every time Donald Duck did or said something heinous, or ignoble or outrageous, I would turn on the light to remind myself that he is not “my people”.  I call it my Trumpicator.

Lately there has not been no opportunity to turn it off and since Thursday it has been burning a friggin’ hole my wall!

All I can do is sigh. Last evening I watched the new Netflix show “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” with David Letterman and got a little emotional. At least we know they are still out there. Sigh.

© Judy Parsons 2018

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On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

January 5, 2018 | Author: Judy

…My True Love Gave to Me….

Down at Florida Seaside Villa

Lancelot: Come on down honey, I got just the thing for your headache. (Heh, heh, this twelve pack ‘ll fix her right up.)

Judith: Is it individually packaged? Expired? From the flea market? Made in a third world country by child labourers?
Lancelot: Yes, no, no, and no my lovie.

Judith: That hit the spot.
Lancelot: Nothing like a little hair of the dog.
Judith: Oh sweetheart, you know me so well. But just for the record, I really don’t want a gift for Valentine’s Day.

Meanwhile over at the Trailer Park

Lannie: How’s the head, ducky?
Joodles: Not good.
Lannie: Well here, I got these off the internet. “Giant sized pills for giant sized headaches” they promised.
Joodles: I’ll take two right now.

 

 

 

 

Blue: Man, this place gets stranger ever’ day. I gotta be movin’ on.

Lannie: How’d they work out?
Joodles: Well the headache’s gone but I just had the weirdest dream!!
Lannie: Anyone seen Blue?

On the twelfth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me
Twelve “Best” Medicines

© Judy Parsons 2018

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On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

January 4, 2018 | Author: Judy

…My True Love Gave to Me

Down at Florida Seaside Villa

Lancelot: Come on down honey, I got you a special treat.
Judith: Is is animal, vegetable, or mineral?
Lancelot: Hmmm, I’d categorize it as confectionary.
Judith: Put the kettle on, I’ll grab my Tender Tootsies.

Judith: Mmm, rumballs, my favourite. Pass me a serviette please.
Lancelot: Not just any rumballs. They’re from Vermont – “double the rum for twice the fun.”

Judith: Oh my, I don’t know if it was the rum or the balls that didn’t agree with me! Where did you get them?
Lancelot: At the flea market.
Judith: Unnngh, grooooan. The flea market! What was the expiry date on them?
Lancelot: Expiry date? I dunno, they were loose in a box.
Judith: Unnnnnnngh.

Lancelot: Sorry sweetie, let me draw you a bath. You’ll feel better after a good soak.

Judith: What’s that racket? Did you leave the radio on?

Penguin 2: Hey Bud, did anyone tell those couple of chicks from the yard about the show?
Doggie 1: Yeah, they’re not coming, they’re not much into opera.
Angel: Sssshhhh; Hunding is just laying down the law to Siegmund.
Bass Singer: For one night my house shall be thy refuge, but – tomorrow see to thy weapon, for thou shalt pay with thy life for the dead….

Meanwhile over at the Trailer Park

Lannie: Joodles, come on out an give me hand with this delivery.
Joodles: DELIVERY! No way. No more decorations.
Lannie: Naw, this one is edible. It’s chooo-co-late.
Joodles: Chocolate? Where’s me Crocs?

Lannie: Okay Blue, when I says “haul”, give ‘er.
Joodles: Wow. Listen, let’s send that wild hog over to the food bank to make room in the freezer.

Joodles: Aaaaah, this is the life.

Lannie: Hey, git that fudge away from Blue. Chocolate is like arsenic for hounds.

Joodles: Ooooh Lordie, I think I’m dying. Where’d ya git that fudge anyhow?
Lannie: Over at the flea market. The fella says it the best fudge. Made by nuns up in Mississippi.
Joodles: In what century?
Lannie: Sorry, I’ll bury what’s left. Listen, can ya take that hurlin’ inside? You’re startin’ to attract wildlife.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me
Eleven Chunks of Chocolate Confection.  

© Judy Parsons 2017
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On the Tenth Day of Christmas

January 3, 2018 | Author: Judy

…My True Love Gave to Me….

Down at Florida Seaside Villa

Lancelot: Honey, I’m done chopping up all the Christmas trees.

Judith: What’s all that tweeting about, dear?

Lancelot: Those trees were full of stray birds!

Judith: Hello? Hello? Animal Control….

Mexican Bird: Hey, they give you guys any hassle at the border? We had to sneak over in a shipment of fake trees.
Chickadee: Naw, they just wave us snowbirds through.
Mexican Bird: You’re lucky. Hey, ye know the way to Key West? I hear Jimmy Buffit is lookin’ for back-up singers.
Chickadee: Not really, but you can follow us as far as Miami tomorrow, we’re heading over to Ikea. Only place in Florida you can get lingonberries.
Mexican bird: What’s a lingonberry?

Penguin: We’re headin’ North tomorrow. Supposed to be a delicious cold snap in South Carolina.
Doggie 1: Hey dude, stick around another day. That funky angel is directing Das Rheingold in the living room tomorrow night.
Penguin: Do I smell fish?

Meanwhile, over at the Trailer Park

Lannie: That’s the last o’ the stinkin’ trees cut up.
Joodles: What’s all that tweetin’?

Lannie: They was a whole flock ‘a birds nestin’ in those trees.


Joodles: They any good ta eat? They’re pretty big an’ all.

Angel 2: Kind of sad about the snowmen. If they’d waited another day or two for the cold snap they probably would have made it.

On the Tenth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me
Ten Stray Birdies 

© 2018 Judy Parsons. 2018!!!!!!

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On The Ninth Day of Christmas

January 2, 2018 | Author: Judy

…My True Love Gave to Me…

Down at Florida Seaside Villa

Judith: What’s that strong fishy smell dear?

Lancelot: Well now, it just happens to be fish. These little flippers were just about to hit their best before date so I picked them up for a song.

Lancelot: You ever see a prettier bunch of fish?
Judith: Well, all I can say is they’d be a heck of a lot prettier if they were gutted, cleaned, and lying in bags in the icebox.

Meanwhile over at the Trailer Park

Joodles: Dagnabbit, this is the last straw.
Lannie: But it was lookin’ so bare after I got the trees chopped up and you put the fruit away. These fellas was just pinin’ for a home.
Joodles: This is the last straw. One more lawn decoration and I’m moving into the camper.
Orange fish: I’d like to be….
Blue fish: Under the sea……
Yellow fish: In an octopus’s garden in the shade……

On the Ninth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me
Nine Funky Fishes.

© Judy Parsons 2017

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On the Eighth Day of Christmas

January 1, 2018 | Author: Judy

…My True Love Gave to Me

Down at Florida Seaside Villa

Lancelot: Honey, is there any room in the icebox?

Judith: Room for what, dear?
Lancelot: Fruit, sweetie, I got fruit.

Judith: And it’s not even from the discount bin! It looks delicious dear.

Lancelot: Happy New Year, my sweet.
Judith: And you. Now, can I peel you a grape?

Meanwhile down at the Trailer Park

Joodles: Where in the name of Father Time did this gynormous fruit come from?
Lannie: Down at the experimental farm. Genetically modified it said.

Joodles: No more I says. Tis the new year. We should make a resolution to stop getting more stuff.
Lannie: Sure we can freeze some and you can bottle some. Maybe make us some pineapple grunt.
Joodles: You come down here an’ I’ll give you pineapple grunt. Nutting but a make work project, all dat fruit. I swear, I’m gonna hide your wallet til the Christmas sales are over.
Lannie: An’ a Happy New Year to you too!!

On the Eighth Say of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me
Eight Fresh Fruits (GMO and otherwise)

© Judy Parsons 2017

Comments:
Lance – An’ a Happy New Year to you too!!
Judy – Thanks for the good wishes and for your patience!!

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