Her car finally back home after a month of waiting on parts for repair.
She will tell you about "her car" without you asking. "No bells, no whistles, buttons and knobs, easy to park and get in and out of places, no electronics navigating and so forth. Same with her cell phone. "It is just a phone." Well, she fudges from time to time with sharing a photo. But no email or any of that interweb nonsense. Just a phone, thank-you.
Her car was dirty and in need of in-and-out detailing. I helped her get the washing stuff ready, hooked up the small electric pressure washer and told her I would wash and she should rinse and do all the interior work. She was happy with that and an hour later, her car looked all "pretty in black."
I have been washing and loving automobiles since I was very young. I was always helping dad with the family car and his old DeSoto work car. Both mom and dad worked in those early days and two cars were as necessary then as they are now in the family fabric.
The DeSoto had a unique gear-shifting concept. Take your foot quickly off the gas peddle and it would automatically shift to the next gear. It was called "Fluid coupling." It worked well. The old DeSoto was one of the first of the family cars I got to drive after getting my drivers license. Big like a truck but the ride was smooth and it was easy/fun to drive. Video does a good job of showing how this worked and felt while driving.
I still get the same feelings of a job well done from washing and cleaning cars as in those early days of the 1950's. I still turn around to look at the car after parking it at 80 years old. Now days, thoughk I ache more through the process.
I often look back on all the years now and having lived and grown up in the era of wonderful cars was a treat.
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While drilling through the sites I visit daily, I came across another singer giving his interpretation of this original song. Not for me. This original song was, and still is, one of the songs that is woven in my DNA through high school, Vietnam and ever year since. Iconic, sign of the times and a song I always wanted to dance to during my teen years.
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN original by The Animals released June 19, 1964. From the first time I heard it until today, it still stirs emotions in me. Emotions of times passed.
I did find this piano version that commanded my attention through the rendition. She captures the simple power of this song.
If you are interested. Volume up.
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TEN DINNERS for lower middle class families.
Found this on a click-bait site and just had to see for myself. I never ever saw or thought of how our family was classified. Mom and dad both worked, the meals were never lacking and always a meat, a starch and a vegetable at minimum for every dinner
1. Spaghetti with jarred sauce. Yep, check. Add a few herbs, properly prepare the pasta and cover with Parmesan cheese. Still eat this and has nothing to do with class.
2. Meatloaf was a treat and still is to this day. Just had one last week. The trick is knowing how to make it. Mom knew and passed down the recipes. The cold meatloaf sandwich with salt, mayonnaise, fresh bread and sliced on a diagonal was reason enough for having it for dinner the night before.
3. Breakfast for dinner. Eggs, hash browns from shredded potatoes, bacon/sausage/ham and pan cakes. Absolutely a winner.
4. Tuna Noodle Casserole. I never ever did or will turn down this dish. Again, the cook has to have some skills and a hand-me-down recipe. And, canned mushroom soup is still magic sauce. This is one dish that the gals had to learn to make in their high school home education class.
5. Hamburger helper. Mom never used this. She always cooked with "fresh" ingredients, but Hamburger Helper has come through my kitchen for years. I think I was the only one who truly enjoyed the mixed goo. And today, when no one else is around and I have the lunch duty for me only, Hamburger Helper may be a go-to meal.
6. Hot dogs and boxed Mac and cheese. Hot dogs still rock here quite often. Boxed Mac and cheese, though, are history. Improved by homemade with lots of cheese and baked in the oven. Hot dogs, mom's apple pie, family and friends at a get together. Grilled hot dogs on a toasted buttered bun with your choice of spread has never failed.
7. Frozen Pizza. Anyone who has and still eats frozen pizza has learned how "add on ingredients" make the pizza. It is not unusual for a frozen pizza with "added stuff" to be better than delivery.
8. Chicken and rice casserole. Again, this meal is dependent on someone who knows there way around a kitchen. I will never turn this down!!
9. Sloppy Joes. I have always had these at get togethers and made by someone who has a good recipe. Packing a toasted hamburger bun with a tasty hamburger mixture and sauce is a meal in and of itself. I have always been to lazy to do the work of making the mixture.
10. Toasted cheese and bowl of tomato soup. Making a good cup of tomato soup with cream added is a skill-set. Making a good toasted cheese sandwich is also a skill-set. My wife and I talk of this meal quite often. She just commented on this one, "there is nothing better than a toasted cheese and a bowl of tomato soup, that is for sure."
And this list can go on. For years, mothers across this country have had to figure out how to feed a family on a budget and make meals that appealed to kids. If the kids would eat the meal, the father would too.
*Peanut butter with potato chip sandwich.
*Fresh sliced tomatoes, salt/pepper and mayonnaise on fresh bread.
*Frito and baloney sandwich. The list goes on!!
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HOTEL COSTIERA on Amazon Prime
Light-hearted comedy/drama. The filming along the Italian coast line is worth tuning in. Six episodes, for us two nights entertainment. The cast was new for both my wife and me and the story was not steeped in constant battles. Great cars, boats and street scenes, both day and night. Relaxed viewing.
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JIBBER JABBER
Locals call this September/October dry and warm spell a second Texas summer. Apparently not unusual, but lawns and most things green are browning. There will not be any lawn mowing till some rain sets in. We are able to work outside during the days now and are finally getting to "put off" chores.
Fresh out of the oven this morning. I have tested a corner bite and leave the rest for "ya'll" to enjoy.
Thanks for the visit this week.
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