Postcard Friendship Friday #11

Downtown Lewiston, Michigan

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It's time for another Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Marie at Voila! Vintage Postcards!

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Today's postcard is dated July 22 - probably 1959 - and was sent from Lewiston, Michigan to Oxford, Michigan. Lewiston was a logging town in the late 1800's, and by 1959 was a place for summer vacations at cabins and cottages that surrounded the nearby lakes. Lewiston is located between east East and West Twin Lakes and is about 182 miles NNW of Oxford. Today the year round population is 900, and the summer population swells to 14,000.
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Oxford was first settled in the early 1800's but, being a vast area of swamp land, was largely ignored until the first of 5 gravel mines were opened in 1912. It is still a small village of about 3,500 residents. It's the Sister City of Oxford , England and the address on the postcard, 35 Park Street, still exists.

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The postcard was mailed to Mrs. Preston Yost, and reads:

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Tue.

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Hi

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Lots of laughs - Bee stings etc. We have honey bees in the John. I really got stung you can imagine where. No fish. Kenny is going out for a while too hot for us,

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Love

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Ruth and Kenny

The Back Story:

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The brochure read luxurious cabin on East Twin Lake with private bathroom. Ruthie will call ahead next time and ask questions. Perhaps the unbelievable $10.00 a day rates should have been a clue.

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Turned out the constant buzzing was not in her head as Ken had suggested.

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After a trip to Emergency for the bee stings and a few Manhattans to ease the pain, Ruthie had a prime opportunity to say "I told you so!"
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During the long summer days, Ruthie made friends and had a gay time dipping her toes in the water.

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While Ken and his new found pals went into town on "fishing" expeditions.

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The vacation was much more enjoyable after Ken sprayed the outhouse inside and out with DDT. Ruthie made light meals of salads and sandwiches. She whipped up some marshmallow kabobs and cherry Jello for deserts. Ken's favorite was the elbow noodle salad with Spam cubes that Ruthie made for lunch on alternate days. At night they played records on the wind-up Victrola and sat at the picnic table by the light of the citronella candle, watching the stars.

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Swimming was fun if you didn't mind the leeches. Fishing was fun if you didn't mind not catching any. Sleeping was good if you didn't mind the cloud of mosquito's that buzzed about. Ken and Ruthie didn't mind at all. They were much too in love to notice.

Rude Awakening

Tuesday morning, at 6:15, I was awakened by the little man who lives inside of our weather radio. First he pushed the alarm button for a while. Then he started talking in his best computerized voice. As I shuffled my way to the living room, in the dark, I'm thinking "Is the thing broken?" Has the little guy gone starkers?" The only word I heard him say was "Pinellas." So I'm thinking WHAT? Everything but Pinellas? Pinellas only? We're kind of wedged in between several other counties here, and we hardly ever get anything that we don't share with Pasco and Hillsborough. By the time I stubbed my toe and got my PJ's caught on a doorknob he'd gone on the the nautical weather "Do I need to build an ark? Is there a ship coming? What? Not being able to see anything but the orange WATCH alert light I tried to get him to quit talking by pushing all the buttons - except for the right one. I probably reprogrammed the thing for weather reports from Mauritania.

I looked outside and saw lightening far off in the distance. Haven't seen any of that in months. I guessed the little guy was on to something, so I turned on the Bay News 9. Our eternal news station. Nothing there about weather, but after a few minutes the little alert strip lit up and the news person shared the screen with the weather guy. Severe storm warnings and a tornado watch until 2:00 PM.

Around 9:00 things started to darken up outside and the wind picked up. The little radio man pushed his siren button again and the WARNING light went on. Meantime, the weather lady is finally getting an opportunity to show off the new Klystron 9 radar. High def - 3D colors. Graphs and charts. What a show.

I'm thinking there's no basement in the entire county. I have 20 tons of tree branches hanging over my house at all angles. Where could I possibly go? By this time it looks like midnight outside, the rain is blowing sideways and the 20 ton's of trees are bowing at odd angles. My little white dog, Layla has become magnetized. She will not leave my person. We are one. I toddled off to the bedroom - it would be nice to let the mister know that we're in mortal danger. I poke him in the shoulder - he opens his eyes, says he's been listening to the news and sirens and closes his eyes again. The bed looks very warm and inviting, so I lay down with my magnetized dog and we all promptly fall asleep.

I wake up two hours later to the sound of 2 snoring dogs plus the Mister, a nice rainfall and no tree branches sticking through the roof. Well done!

And A Big Thank YOU!

My dear bloggyfriend Soulbrush annointed my person with this beautiful sparkly Certified Queen of Blogs award! It is stunning, I love it, and I will wear it with pride. Thank you Soulbrush! I will award it to bloggyfriends a little later this week! Soulbrush recieved this award last week - well deserved for such an artful and wonderful blog.

Something Amazing

Let us not be too hasty in judging people: Here's a perfect example of why we should not.

Last Dinner on the Titanic

A surprisingly large number of people around the world will gather together for dinner tonight to share the re-creation of the last dinner served aboard the Titanic, Sunday April 14, 1912, just hours before the Titanic hit an iceberg.

The Mister and I shared such a dinner 10 years ago at a St. Petersburg restaurant. It was a private dinner, and each guest was given the identity of a First Class passenger. We wore formal dress and stayed in character during the sumptuous meal. The meal included several, but not all of the 9 courses served in 1912.

Just prior to dinner, in 1912, the elegantly dressed ladies and men walked down the grand staircase. The women wore spring gowns of the very latest fashion purchased in Paris. As opposed to the Third Class, who for the most part were emigrating from Europe, the wealthy First Class were returning from trips abroad. For many, the trip home was a reunion of sorts. The passengers knew each other from society. A list of passengers was provided to each stateroom so they could seek each other out and spend their leisure time enjoying each other's company.

Dinnner clothing was chosen by personal maids from the many trunks and hatboxes each passenger brought with them. A good portion of each day was spent changing clothing - as often as 5 times a day - to meet society's rigorous Edwardian dress codes. What one wore to breakfast, or lunch or tea or to promenade on deck was not acceptable at dinner.

The tables were set with elegant china, dazzling silverware and cut crystal. Fresh flowers and candles adorned each table. Impeccable waitstaff saw to their every need. The needs of First Class were very great.

The 1912 menu listed the following delicacies:

Hors d'Oeuvre Varies
Oysters
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Consomme Olga
Cream of Barley
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Salmon
Mousseline Sauce
Cucumber
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Filet Mignons Lili
Saute of Chicken Lyonnaise
Vegetable Marrow Farci
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Lamb with Mint Sauce
Roast Duckling with Applesauce
Sirloin of Beef
Chateau Potatoes
Green Peas
Creamed Carrots
Boiled Rice
Parmentier of New Potatoes
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Punch Romaine
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Roasted Squab on Cress
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Cold Asparagus Vinaigrette
Pate de Foi Gras
Celery
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Waldorf Pudding
Peaches in Chartreuse Jelly
Chocolate and Vanilla Eclairs


Second Class dinners, although not as elegant and not offering as many courses, were better than most of the passengers were used to. They were offered a soup or consomme, a main course with several choices of meats and vegetables, and puddings, ice creams and fruit and cheese for desert.

Being Third Class on the Titanic was by far a better experience than on most ships of the time. Many ships that carried steerage passengers were not passenger ships at all, but cargo ships that included humans. Many ships required steerage to supply and prepare their own food and bring their own bedding. Sleeping areas were often large cavernous areas offering no privacy.

The Titanic dazzled 3rd Class passengers with the privacy of cabins and spacious dining rooms that included a serving staff. Midday dinner was the main meal served on Sunday, and a version of the English savory tea was the last meal of the day. A light meal of cheese and biscuits and fresh fruit was offered late in the evening.

Each meal was hearty and offered several choices. The Sunday "Tea" included Ragout of Beef, potatoes and pickles, apricots, fresh bread and butter and currant buns. The Titanic offered Kosher meat for Jewish passengers. Many of the passengers lived far better aboard the Titanic than they did at home.

Easter Brunch Recipes For You!

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Easter Brunch is one of my favorite meals of the year. I made two of our traditional Easter brunch treats this year, Apple Pancake and Easter "Cheese". I've been making, and enjoying both for more than 30 years. That's how good they are. The apple pancake is as impressive to serve as it is delicious.
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The Easter cheese - which can be served anytime, really - is not really cheese at all. It's a very sturdy firm sweet custard that just happens to look like a cheese. It's delicious with fresh fruit and sweet rolls or coffee cake and would be a delightful addition to a tea.
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Easter Cheese
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1 Quart whole milk
1 Dozen large eggs
3/4 up sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
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You will need cheesecloth and a colander
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Line colander with 3 or 4 layers of cheesecloth and set over a bowl.
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In large saucepan, heat milk on medium high almost to boiling. While milk is heating, break eggs into a medium sized bowl. Add sugar, vanilla and salt and using a fork or a whisk, mix well. Stirring constantly, slowly pour egg mixture into the milk. Continue stirring and cooking. Egg mixture will begin to look like scrambled eggs. Continue cooking, and egg mixture will separate from the water in the milk. Remove from heat, and pour mixture into cloth lined colander. Carefully draw up sides of cheesecloth and twist top so that mixture gathers into a ball. Use strip of cheesecloth or a large rubber band to secure cheesecloth as tightly as you can around egg mixture. The idea is to end up with a firm ball of cheese. Leave to drain in for one hour. Remove cheesecloth, set "cheese", smooth side up, on plate and refrigerate overnight. Slice and serve. Refrigerate leftovers - good for 3 - 4 days.
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Eggs look like scrambled eggs, and have separated from the water in the milk.

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Pour mixture in cheesecloth lined colander
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Twist and secure cheesecloth so you have a firm ball of "cheese"

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Invert drained mixture on a plate - smooth side up. Refrigerate overnight and slice and serve. As the picture shows, I slice it about 1/2 half inch thick and cut the slices in half.

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Apple Pancake

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For Pancake:

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp butter melted

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2 tblsp butter

2 pie plates

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For Filling:

6 golden delicious apples

3 tbsp butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon - or pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice

1/4 cup golden raisins (optional)

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Filling directions: peel, pare and slice apples about 1/4 inch thick or more. Place in large skillet with butter and heat. Add sugar spices and golden raisins. Saute on med heat until apples are soft, but still firm. When done, lower heat and keep warm until pancakes are ready.

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Pancake directions:

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Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In medium bowl, mix all pancake ingredients together with spoon or whisk just until smooth. Place a tablespoon of butter in each pie plate and place them in the oven until butter melts and is bubbly. Carefully remove pie plates and swirl to coat bottom and sides with the melted butter. Pour 1/2 of the batter into each of the hot pie plates and place in the 450 degree oven for 15 minutes. Lower heat to 350 and continue to bake for about 10 more minutes until pancakes are puffed and beginning to brown on top. Remove from oven, and shake each pie plate just enough to loosen pancakes. They should slide out easily.

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To serve

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On large plate or platter: Remove 1 pancake from pie plate and set on platter. Fill with warm apple mixture. Invert 2nd pancake on top of mixture. Sprinkle with sugar or powdered sugar for presentation then and serve. Makes 6 generous servings.

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Pancake is done when it is puffed and begins to brown.

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I like to sprinkle Florida natural sugar demurera crystals on mine before serving.

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The pie plates I use are 12 inch - for these I increase the batter by 1 third and use 8 apples for 8 servings.

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Refrigerate leftovers (if there is such a thing) re-heat for a minute in microwave to serve.

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I hope you all had a lovely Easter Sunday!

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I'm going over to Mt. Dora today to meet up with my sisters, Mary and Janet. We'll spend the day browsing the wonderful shops , have tea at the English Rose Tea Room and perhaps stop at a nearby orchid greenhouse to see about adding to our collections. We'll also be celebrating Mary's Big Five-Oh Birthday!

He Has Risen! He is not here.

He is like the light of the morning at sunrise

2Sa 23:4 NIV

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go to annoint Jesus' body.Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, " Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

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But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.


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"Don't be alarmed,"he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified."


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"He has risen! He is not here."

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Mark 16 2:6 NIV

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Have a blessed Easter!

Saturday Salubrious Signs - Libra

LIBRA

Official Horoscope for Libra: Try to stay quiet and relaxed on Monday -- there's nothing really going on that can't wait for at least a day, and your energy isn't quite in sync with the rest of the world. Things start to pick up in a big way on Tuesday, especially as far as your love life is concerned. You ought to be able to get your crush to at least look your way, or your sweetie to agree to that trip or big step together. Your energy is perfect! Watch out for little changes that start to add up to something really big this weekend. They may be positive, but only if you're fully aware of them.
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Get Real Horoscope:
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So, Libra, where do you get off having a pleasant little happy go lucky horoscope. Everything's all balancy-walancy for you, while the rest of us are just hanging by a thread here. Get to take a nappy-wappy on Monday, lucky you. Everyone else has to prepare a Power Point presentation with pie charts and graphs for the Monday morning meeting.
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How'd that happen anyway? It was your turn in the hot seat. Is that why we saw you hanging out with the boss last week? Sharing your tuna on rye with his admin? Well, besides making sure the elevator and the Ladies Room is empty before use them, here are a few suggestions to make your pleasant little weeky-deaky all sunshine and roses:

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Watch out for scaly skin, Libra

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But especially watch out for scaly people

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Quit showing off and put everything back where it belongs so the rest of us don't trip over it.

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When the instructions say balance your checkbook, it doesn't mean this!

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Don't forget to use your training wheels for extra balancey-walancey