The Tipton County Pork Festival Parade

Dear Mom,

That sounds like a book title, doesn't it? Could be a murder mystery with Indiana's version of Miss Marple solving the crime behind the scenes.....hmmmmm.....

I thought I would share pictures and recap Saturday's afternoon at the Tipton Pork Festival. This being our first year to attend in the afternoon, rather than the evening, we were treated to a wholesome slice of Americana- the local parade. This was the kind of parade that, as Will's Lady pointed out, if you have it in your barn and it moves, put it in the parade.

In addition to everybody's tractors, there were the obligatory 2009 Pork Festival Princesses,

and the 4-H Queen,

and Princesses from last year,

And a Princess from yesteryear.
There was even a Prince.

I didn't even know there was an Indiana's Hottest Farmer Pageant.

It has been a long time since I have seen a Baton Twirler. I think they may be an endangered species.

In fact, just seeing those batons brought back a flood of memories: twirling away in the back yard, twirling away in the driveway, bruising my forearms, throwing the baton up high and trying to catch it, and then ducking so I wouldn't be clobbered in the head. You just don't see girls having that kind of fun anymore. My twirling career ended at age 6, when, in what I look back on as an obvious Desperate Measure, you called my baton into action to repair the clothes line. Just as well, I suppose.


This parade was healthy with Marching Bands,


and "floats". This one from the local Beauty Shop, wins my prize for most original. There is a real live pedicure happening on this one.




There were patriotic displays,

sleeping kids,

and creepy clowns.

And my vote for Most Important Person In A Parade goes to:

This guy.

Love,

Kim

Happy Days

Dear Mom,
If I had a list of Happiest Days, yesterday would be on it. And I wasn't even knitting.
One of my most favorite people is in town visiting her parents and we spent 8 hours together. It felt like about 8 minutes.

Jill and I have been friends since 9th grade, and we probably haven't seen each other for about 10 years, I think. We write, email, exchange birthday and Christmas cards and read each other's blogs, but those things pale in the bright light of sitting across a table, talking and sharing laughter.

We were 17 again, trapped in bodies that were 30 years older. And despite those 30 years, both of us proclaimed the other to have not changed a bit. That is looking through the eyes of friendship love, I tell you. We reminisced about high school days, and looked through our senior yearbook, at pictures of the two of us when we each had one chin and smooth, skinny necks. We are glad that big eyeglasses are out of style. (Jill, who is now a Lasik Miracle, was relieved that her senior picture was taken without her glasses, and laments the fact that she was wearing them in her wedding pictures. But hey, she had to actually see to get down the aisle.)

We shared High School P.E. Class outrages, and the fact that one cannot do "Swivel Hips" on the trampoline should really not cause one to be Scarred For Life. And personally, unlike the pain of childbirth, I will never forget the pain of struggling to do a somersault on the balance beam with the snaps of my gym uniform digging into my shoulder. This was back in the day of polyester one-piece gym uniforms that you stepped into and snapped at the shoulders, leaving you both prone to the aforementioned shoulder pain and the fear that if you stretched yourself up too tall, your whole uniform would pop open and fall off.


We revealed scandalous secrets- dare I mention a beaded Indian belt and a pair of underpants? I hope Jill will share that story on her blog, or in a book someday. And we confessed childhood injuries never reported to our mothers, things that occurred when we were Breaking The Rules, and thus must be dealt with in secret. Like the time I rode my bike barefoot! and in an attempt to perform a "stunt", stuck my feet into the spokes of my back wheel.


We mourned the loss of the day when kids waited for their mothers, not the other way around. Because back in our day, You had better be out there waiting for your ride, young lady, when so and so's mother came to pick you up. I remember thinking Sue's mom the "coolest" because she drove a VW bug and squeezed in a bunch of us to take to the mall. But we still would not have dared to make her wait.


The weather was perfect. We spent several of those hours together outside, sipping iced tea, and later, wine.




For lunch, I fixed that yummy salad you and I had in Cicero, which I have cleverly named Cicero Salad.

We laughed, HARD, at each other as we staged and photographed our lunches for the blogs before we took our first bites.




We talked of marriage, husbands, motherhood and our kids, parents and siblings, of politics and blogging (do we abuse the use of commas, italics, parenthesis and quotations marks?).... it was a full day. One that I think both of us were reluctant to see end, but 2 glasses of wine was the limit and my family had returned and were starting to ask what the dinner plans were.

This is my favorite picture of the day, because when I look at this, I can hear Jill laughing.





When you are blessed with a friend like this, you just KNOW that somewhere along the way, you did something right.

Love,
Kim

The BEST Salsa....ever!

Dear Mom,

Last summer, I tasted the best salsa ever...at Wendy's house. Of course, it was her salsa recipe. All of my best recipes come from Wendy. In fact, if I need a recipe, I call Wendy because she always has somethin' good! So this summer, I made the salsa with tomatoes, green pepper and garlic from my own garden and jalapeno peppers and onions from the farmers market. I wanted to pass the goodness along, so I shared a small jar of the salsa with my neighbor. I wasn't surprised when she complimented the wonderful flavor and asked for the recipe!

Wendy's Salsa

3 fresh tomatoes, chopped

1 sweet onion, chopped fine

1 green pepper, chopped

1 Tbsp. lime juice

1 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder (or 2-3 cloves fresh garlic)

1 jalapeno pepper (use pickled if fresh is not available)

1 Tbsp. jalapeno juice (from pickled jalapenos)

Chop all together. Adjust quantities to taste (if a stronger or milder flavor is desired).

Wendy gave me permission to share it with the world, and I am proud to do so. Oh, and by the way, Kim's Tomato Basil Cheese Pie was...EXCELLENT, and is another special recipe I will be making every summer!

Love, Bonnie Jo

Dear Mom,

Okay, so here's what has been going on around here lately. While the Young Lady continues to fish, the Young Man plays tennis, and Wendy bakes like Julia Child, (can you bring some of those cupcakes next time you visit, please?) I have made a bit of knitting progress. On Monday, I received the exciting news that another knitting design has been accepted for publication bringing with it a mid-October deadline, so until the yarn arrives for this project I will be doing my darnedest to finish the Young Lady's jacket and make some serious progress on my lace design. Here's what I have so far:

The body of the jacket is nearly complete. I started the border/button bands last night. I had to make a run to the yarn shop yesterday for a 40 inch circular needle to accommodate the bazillion stitches involved. The sleeves are worked last after picking up raw stitches and working down from elbow to cuff, so it shouldn't take too long to finish this. I meant to measure the Young Lady's arms before she left for school this morning, but in the midst of fixing her Toaster Strudel and checking the weather, I forgot. Oh well. It's not like I don't have other stuff to knit.

The black lace is moving along, too. Even with its daylight only limitation. I am definitely going to be calling the Ott light into action to get more knitting time on this one. Yesterday, I spent the morning cleaning, ran to purchase the knitting needle, came home and sat down to start knitting, and dozed off. DRAT! I was just too comfy and relaxed out there on the porch.

And in the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" category:

I learned yesterday that I can give Claritin to the dog. This must be a bad year for allergies and Bumper Joseph's paws are nearly raw. So now in the morning, I take a Claritin for me and give one to him, take an Aleve for me and give a Canine Aspirin to him. I swallow my pills with my tea. He gets his wrapped up in cheese. Makes me feel like an Old Dog.

And one last thing-

Can you guess what My Hero gets to do tomorrow?

Love,

Kim

Cupcakes and a little bit of WOW

Dear Mom,

I have a new favorite cookbook. Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. I have baked several cupcake recipes so far and LOVE every bit and morsel of cupcake I eat --- er, um bake, I mean!!

Upon special request from a neighbor, this weekend I baked the Jumbo Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes. These cupcakes are WOW!

I whisked my dry ingredients and fell in love with the beautiful chocolate color. mmmmm

I mixed and beat my dry ingredients with my wet ingredients. And yes, I beat with a rubber spatula instead of a mixer. I just like the feeling . . . . crazy, I know. More love.

Bake for 25 minutes. Let it cool on the rack for 5 minutes. Baking chocolate smells love.


Turn cupcakes out onto the wire rack and let them cool completely. Almost can't stand it love.

Okay, Mom, ready for the WOW factor?!?! I cut the bottoms out of the cupcake and filled them with a heavenly, divine marshmallow cream filling!! After filling, I replaced the bottoms and . . . .


decorated the tops. WOW!!

The cupcakes were fun to bake. The recipe may seem labor intenstive, but not really. And in today's world, it feels so nice to share a little WOW with friends and family!

I think the only thing left to really say is . . . . . . mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm WOW!

Love,

Wendy

Last Days of Summer

Dear Mom,

We are squeezing out every last drop of summer left . . . enjoying all of the carefree that we can get!!! I set up my sewing machine outside and did some sewing on the back porch. Keeper dozed in the patches of sunshine. And Pipsqueak worked very hard on getting bubbles!

I will keep you posted on our weekend activities and my sewing adventures! Enjoy your long weekend . . . .

Love,

Wendy

What I am working on

Dear Mom,

There has been an explosion of knitting activity here. Last week, I started 3 new projects. We will not speak of the projects already in progress. It might shock and shame me to actually list them all.

The smallest of the (new) projects is a gift- a pair of socks. Nothing exciting. We'll move on.

The second is a design idea I have, coming to fruition. Much more exciting. For me, at least.

This is the first all-over lace design I have done and would be moving along at a much quicker pace if:

1) It were the ONLY thing I had on my knitting needles,

2) The lace pattern didn't require my full attention,

and

3) It weren't black, which limits my time with it to daylight hours. Pretend not to notice that I am blaming the yarn color and not my 48 year old eyes. I may have to move to my winter knitting spot under the Ott lamp to get some after dark knitting time on this one.

I am really excited about this project and as long as it turns out, I will post pictures of its progress.

The last of my (new) projects is a jacket for the Young Lady. This one requires only an occasional glance an needs my attention at only a few strategic points, so it is a perfect tv, evening, and/or social knitting project.

The premature coolish weather, which I am thrilled about, by the way, and a too small fleece jacket are to blame for this project. This is the Child's Surprise Jacket, based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket. The surprise in the name comes from the fact that this thing looks nothing like, well, anything until you are almost done and with a clever fold or two, turns itself into a jacket. I have no idea how EZ came up with this one. That woman was a Genius.

Breath held, I asked the Young Lady if she would like me to knit her this jacket to replace the outgrown fleece. She agreed, as long as it "wasn't too scratchy", and I told her that she could choose all the yarns. Even better- we wouldn't have to leave the house! We could go upstairs and spend as much time as we needed sorting through my stash. Win-win. She feels good about the yarns she picked and the fact that she is helping me to put so much of it to good use. I am thrilled to be knitting something for her and to be reducing the (or making more room for) stash. The jacket is moving along at a pretty good clip and as there is an almost urgent need for it, I am motivated! Although, without doubt, the weather will turn unseasonably warm as soon as the jacket is finished.

You raised me right, so I am off to finish today's allotment of housework before I sit down to knit. Better get a move on. I've the daylight hours are getting shorter and I have a lot of knitting to do....

Love,

Kim

Tennis

Dear Mom,

With the school year well underway, we are slowly working our way around meet the teaacher nights and school open houses, becoming familiar with the homework hotline and study websites. In some ways the routines are familiar and in others we are not quite there yet. Part of the hindrance to our establishing any kind of pattern to our evenings is the excitement of High School Tennis.

Practices and meets challenge the dinner hour around here. I am building a repertoire of meals that can be prepared in the afternoon and reheated later in the evening, but we've also been bringing pizza home.

This is the Young Man's second year on the team. Last week he and his doubles partner, by challenging higher ranking teammates, earned their way to the JV second doubles position. Last night's was a particularly exciting match. At one point they were down 4 games but kept their composure and smiles on their faces to battle back and win 6 straight games and the match.

I keep knitting in the car for these events. I turn my nervous energy into something productive. The project is a mindless one that requires nothing more than muscle memory to accomplish. I am using up all those leftover little bits of sock yarn and knitting them into one big colorful blanket. I am calling it Joseph (aka the Amazing Technicolor blanket). Maybe I should call it "Memories" because I think a little bit about all the places it has gone with me, all the car pool lines and piano lesson time we've spent together and all the different socks given as gifts that the sock yarn scraps came from.

The tennis season isn't a long one; we'll be done in October. And the weather this time of year makes it no hardship to sit outside while watching the matches.

Love,

Kim

Book Review

Dear Mom,

I just finished the best book. Ever. I only get books from the library but this is worthy of a bookstore buy. To have on the shelf. Forever.

It is called, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. The book is written from the dog's perspective. It is absolutely and utterly charming. Sweet. Touching. Funny. A 27 (at least!)-hankie book. It has also given me an entirely new appreciation for Keeper. I am her dog whisperer. She whispers to me as well.

Find the book. Consume it and let it seep into your soul.

Love,

Wendy

A Fish Tale

Dear Mom,

I suppose every generation worries that their children's childhood is not as rich as their own. I don't know if it is just a worry that emerges when you become a parent or if it just a symptom of not wanting to give up your own youth and trying to keep things as much the same as you can so you don't feel so old. I hate it, though, that kids aren't able to go out and get lost in the fields like we did, disappearing until the church bells told us it was time to come home. Nowadays you feel like you need to know where they are at all times so you don't have to go issuing Amber Alerts when they aren't home exactly on time. Too much Play is Planned leaving little time for adventure, discovery and imagination.


Last week, the Young Lady grabbed her fishing pole, and after we untangled the knot in the line, she hopped on her bike and pedaled over to the nearest neighborhood lake. She wasn't gone too long when the phone rang. It was the Young Lady calling on her friend's cell phone to inform me that a fish had been caught. (The kids with cell phones thing is a topic for another day, but let's just leave it that if carrying the cell phone allows the child a little opportunity for adventure and discovery then so be it.)



Back to the story...

"You caught a FISH!?!", I cheer into the phone.




"Yeah and we called Boy to come and get it off the hook."

note the hook removal technique

"Wait for me," I shout, "I am bringing the camera."

As I round the corner, camera in tow, I see Boy pedaling furiously on his way to perform the Hook Removal. I could feel the energy. This was an Event worthy of taking the short-cut on your bike. (The Boy rushing to the scene reminded me of the time I stepped on the mouse in Julianne's backyard and the psychic alarm that reverberated through the neighborhood, attracting every neighbor kid to witness the slow and torturous mouse death; compounding my guilt with each new arrival was the inevitable "Who did it?" and fingers pointed in my direction.)

It surprised and cheered me to see a cluster of kids beside the lake, fussing over fishing poles, sharing bait, spying turtles and fish in the water.

I took my photos, started to warn them to be careful and not fall in ..... and then I stopped myself. This was their time to be lost in the fields. No planning and no parents. I quickly and quietly got back in my car and headed for home.

Love,

Kim

p.s. Yes, those are dangly feather earrings on the Young Lady. They are not lures. Let's just say it was not worth the battle and leave it at that. She loves them.