Our 2010 Auto Trip; Part III, Day 7

On the Road Again; Tuesday 29 June 2010 --

We departed our lush quarters in the Sheep Shedde at a reasonably civilized hour on Tuesday, 29 June this week, for the 300 mile trip down through the heart of Iowa. Our first visit was with Mother's first cousin, Edythe, who lives on the farmstead she and her husband, Clem, operated for 30-40 years. The place is a typical Iowa farmstead, with huge (~100 year-old) American Elm trees hiding the farmhouse and shading a goodly portion of the yard.

Edythe greeted us as we drove in (she has an electronic device that rings a bell when someone crosses the beam along the 100 yard driveway in from the road), and invited us in for a visit and lunch. We had called several days before to arrange to meet her and she had suggested lunch at that time. Again, typical old-time farmhouse hospitality!

The lunch was a delicious taco salad containing lettuce, tomatoes, celery, onion, green pepper, taco-flavored ground beef, and topped with sliced avacado. 

After lunch, we drove on down to Des Moines, encountering a few detours where the high water from recent rains had either washed out bridges or had overflowed them.

In the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, we stopped at Harry Kunkle, another cousin of Mother's; Harry is Edythe's brother.

We visited with Harry for an hour and a half, then drove on down south of Des Moines to Indianola, where we had reservations at the Apple Tree Inn for our visit with Hazel, Grumpy's younger sister.

Grumpy had called his sister a few days before to let her know our planned schedule and the day we planned to be at her home. The day we arrived at the Sheep Shedde, Grumpy had called again to firm up the day: Tuesday, 29 June. But this time, Paul answered instead of Hazel; I gave Paul the message that we would be there Tuesday evening. Now, as we neared Des Moines, Grumpy again called to let Hazel know more precisely the hour that we would be there. Hazel answered the phone and said, "Oh, I thought you were going to be here yesterday! The lemon meringue pie that I baked is all gone now."

Much disturbed I stammered something about feeling sure I had told Paul "Tuesday" -- not "Monday". Then Hazel said, "Paul gave me the message that you would be here on Monday."

It was at about that point that I realized the my Nephew Paul had said it would be "Monday", so he would not have to compete with his Uncle Grumpy for some of that pie! However, when we arrived that evening, a newly-baked lemon meringue pie was introduced into the after-dinner competition that ensued when Paul and his Uncle argued over who got the biggest piece. It was worth the worry!!

This visit story will have to continue tomorrow; bedtime calls.

Our 2010 Auto Trip; Part II, Days 4, 5, & 6

Corn Capital of the World; 28 June 2010 --

General Introduction: First, Grumpy wants to assure all readers that the Grand Mother and he have not been on any wild binge, or wrecked in some nondescript ditch along the way! No, instead we experienced our first violent Midwest electrical storm late Saturday afternoon after we arrived here in this beautifully-green part of Minnesota. Immediately after arriving, we spent several hours visiting Margaret at her apartment. When it came time for the evening meal, the Grand Mother and Grumpy left for our motel at (where else?) the Sheep Shedde! Upon getting to our room and turning on the laptop to begin the reporting of our trip thus far, Grumpy discovered that the INTERNET was unavailable! The electrical storm had knocked out this vital link in communicating our adventures. Since the next day was Sunday, the INTERNET remained unavailable at Margaret's apartment as well as at the Sheep Shedde until sometime late Monday afternoon (Day 6).

Day 4: Today, Saturday, was a short travel day, involving about 200 miles from Moorhead MN down to Olivia. We arrived at Margaret's at about 1100, in time to have lunch with her. We were happy to note that she was able to walk (with the steadying support of a wheeled walker) from her room to the dining area. Naturally, a few sisterly hugs were in order when the two "girls" saw each other after a separation of about two years.

Day 5: After an early breakfast at our motel, the Grand Mother and Grumpy attended a church service at Emden Christian Reformed Church, where we met three families with the common ancestral name of Groen (Roger, Harold and ??). The service included congregational singing of long familiar tunes, such as Shine Jeus Shine. Although the liturgy was not formal, like the Anglican or Lutheran services with which we were both familiar, but the Biblical foundation was there in both the readings and the sermon. And the services were held in English, although it was apparent that most of the members were of Swedish descent.

 

After church services, we went back to Margaret's apartment and spent the rest of the day visiting and taking more photographs, as well as showing off photos of our Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Day 6: Today being Monday, Grumpy was looking forward to finally being able to access the INTERNET so he could post to his BLOG! Alas, several tries at Margaret's apartment revealed that it was still not available.

But the sisterly visiting was not hindered in the least! Meanwhile, Grumpy persevered with occasional cat naps and exploring the facility where Margaret lived -- he "discovered" all of the men's restrooms!!

For lunch, the Grand Mother and Grumpy drove back to Olivia to eat at the Chatterbox Cafe -- Garrison Keillor fans will recollect the stories about the Chatterbox, with the Norwegian bachelor farmers sitting around drinking coffee and chewing "snoose" -- Grumpy is here to let you all know that nothing has changed!

After many tearful and lingering "goodbyes", we returned to the Sheep Shedde for a good night's sleep before venturing forth early the next morning for Day 7 of our 2010 travels.

Watch this space for the next chapter in the travels and travails of the Grand Mother and her post-juvenile delinquent escort, Grumpy.

Our 2010 Auto Trip; Part I, Days 1, 2 & 3

Across the USA (or at least part-way!); 26 June 2010 –

Day One: Starting out early on Wednesday morning, our first pleasant surprise was meeting our Un-Blief-able bicycling Grandson at the first major intersection. He had to stop for the red light that allowed our left-turning traffic to cross in front of him. Grumpy spotted him in time to honk the car horn and wave – and Blief waved back. Of course, this “Kodak” moment was lost to posterity because Grumpy was ill-prepared, having the camera stowed in the “boot” (trunk).

After a diversion (about 40 miles added to the previously-planned route on I-90) through Wenatchee, where treats were purchased for some of the people we would be visiting over the next weekend and early next week, and a total of about 9 hours of fairly steady driving at the Grand Mother’s proscribed 65 mile-per-hour cruise speed, we arrived at our destination for the first day: Ekstrom’s Stage Station.


Ekstrom’s is a rustic site with multiple campsites for tents, trailers and motorhomes. It also included two log cabins available for rent by the night or by the week. We got the larger cabin. It comprised two rooms, the main room encompassing the log building, had two convertible couches which could have slept two adults, and the large, attached bedroom that contained a monster bed made of pine logs, but with a very comfortable mattress.


The cabin was rustic and romantic, but luxurious it was not! There was a newly-installed lavatory sink – but no water plumbed in. This was fortunate because the drain from the sink as also not installed! A rough plank had been laid across the sink to discourage someone from carrying some water in and washing up, then pulling the sink plug – the waste water would have immediately appeared on the floor at the feet of the surprised guest!

Day Two: Again starting out early (five o’clock in the morning is not considered “early” now that we are in Mountain Daylight Time zone!), we drove steadily at our ponderous pace all the way the Miles City. In one full day of driving we still had not made it all the way across Montana! And we started the day about 120 miles into the western edge!

Our accommodations here were nothing special; a Super 8, but very convenient to a good restaurant for supper (and breakfast) and two or three choices of gas stations all selling regular for $2.659.

Day Three: This “early morning” stuff was getting “tire-some” to the old Codger doing the driving, so we did not break any records getting up and dressed to begin another long day driving the remaining 100 miles of Montana plus the ~400 miles across North Dakota to Moorhead MN where we would stop for our third night on the road.

Early in the way across North Dakota, we encountered the southern portion of the North Dakota Badlands (Theodore Roosevelt National Monument). “Beware of Buffalo”, read the signs beside the viewpoints overlooking the Little Missouri valley. Grumpy and the Grand Mother laughingly reminisced about their experience three years before when they became “trapped” behind a slowly moving herd of 100-plus buffalo who insisted in using the scenic highway right-of-way as their personal walk-way rather than taking the bee-line route to their pasture of choice. Especially comical was the footrace participated by the desperate occupants of the 20 or 30 cars, who were backed up behind us and buffalo herd, and all tried to be the first ones into the restrooms at the visitor center when we finally were able to pass the buffalo (after two hours!) and reach what became a small emergency.

Our accommodations in Moorhead were by far the most dismal of our trip so far. Another Super 8, our bed was smallish and very firm; the “Handicap Capable” room, which Grumpy had reserved, was so poorly designed that a contortionist was required to access the toilet paper while seated on the “throne”, and the grab bar to supposedly help the disabled to stand, was positioned such that it was useful only if the handicapped person was using it to push back from the “throne” after having lowered his face into it to dispose of a rejected meal or too many stout drinks (i.e., calling salmon and such)!

Despite some INconveniences at the first stop (Ekstrom’s) and poor accommodations at this final stop before our destination, Grumpy and the Grand Mother chalked these first three days of our Summer 2010 Auto Trip as “Just another chapter in our 62-year journey through life together; never a dull moment! Another day, another surprise that we should have seen coming – or maybe not!”

Upside-Down Tomatoes; Year Two, June Update

First Day of Summer; Grumpy's Castle --

I guess I haven't been as boastful about the Upside-Down tomatoes as I was last year. Perhaps that is because of the rather poor results experienced last year. So this year by waiting a month or so, a little boastful documentation may be in order. 

The first photo shows the row of four (the fourth one, Sun Gold) is partially hidden behind the third plant on the right (Fantastic).

Each variety planted this year is characterized by a unique purpose or growth tendency. Early Girl, shown here, is prized as producing the earliest crop, especially on this the Wet Side of the Cascades.

The Beefsteak variety is one I picked up from Carpinito's; the Grand Mother and I bought some of these tomatoes late last Summer and liked their flavor and firmness. One slice covered a whole slice of bread for a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich.

Fantastic is the Grand Mother's favorite tomato. She used to buy a hundred pounds or so of this variety from a farmer near Wenatchee every Summer to can (when she was younger!).

This last tomato, Sun Gold, is a "cherry" type. When ripe it is yellow-gold in color. Last year one of these shared a planter with another variety of cherry tomato. My experience last year, fortified by me examination of the soil removed from the upside-down planters last Fall, convinced me that one tomato plant needs all of the soil, nourishment and water that one planter can provide. This is contrary to the promotional advertising for these planters that "two tomatoes can grow in each planter!" Sure, "two tomato plants can grow ...", but I now believe that only one can succeed!

As the reader may discern, plenty of promise in the form of many flowers showing on each plant. When Grumpy and the Grand Mother return from their well-deserved trip in Mid-July, we will be looking forward to some fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes!

A Memorable Father's Day -- 20 June 2010

Around and About; First Day of Summer 2010 --

On this, the first day of Summer (or is it the first day of Fall -- or maybe Spring??), Grumpy was treated royally as a Father, with greetings from his children and grandchildren, as well as being served breakfast by the Grand Mother. We went to church as usual and then out for a mid-day breakfast at a new restaurant we had researched on the Internet: The Varsity Inn in the Wallingford area.

In the early evening, Mother and I went out to "dinnah" at HDHotspurs in Kent, for barbeque.

Mother had to examine the menu carefully, as she claims that she doesn't like "smokey" flavored meats. [Alligator was not on the menu, Susan!] 

She was finally content as she found her choice of barbequed pork.

Grumpy was easy to please as he found that he could get the beef brisket with a special Puyallup sauce instead of the standard Southern gravy-like sauce. 

After these critical decisions, the Grand Mother and Grumpy settled down to a bottomless bowl of tossed salad and an appetizer of "Flowered Onion". Oh, and not to forget the delicious corn bread with whipped butter and a "drop" of Fireweed honey. 

 

The "drop" of honey came from an ice-cream dipper-sized spoon dropped by an extremely talented and steady handed waiter who climbed up on a step ladder so his head was almost touching the 10-foot ceiling, then dropping the honey with the spoon held backwards over his shoulder. Believe it or not, all of the honey found its way into the three-inch diameter bowl on the table six feet below the spoon from which it fell!

After cleaning our plates, both the Grand Mother and Grumpy were too full to sample any of the good-sounding desserts.
Next time, we will order our dessert first and think about a main course afterwards!

First Ripe Raspberries!!

Grumpy's Castle; Friday 18 June 2010 --

Well, the Raspberries finally showed their color; and the rejuvenated row shows lots of promise, as these two pictures illustrate. 

The first berry picked was given to the Grand Mother, along with this entire handful that Grumpy found on this first foray along the row. Grumpy had tasted a later pick while he was gathering the remainder of the handful.

The astute reader may wonder about the small size of these examples; Grumpy believes that their diminutive size is a result of having no Orchard (Mason) bees present to pollinate the flowers when they began blooming a couple weeks ago. 

All of the pollination so far has been accomplished by a crew of what Grumpy calls "Bumble Bees"; these bees are nearly twice (or three times!) as big as the Orchard bees that Grumpy has had in past years. Grumpy observed as many as two dozen flitting from flower to flower on a warm summer day a week or so ago.

Orchard bees are much more industrious than any other bee (including Honey bees!) at the job of pollinating fruits. Grumpy recommends that any gardener who is serious about growing fruit crops such as apples or raspberries, invest in a small package of Orchard bees -- about 20-25 cocoons, each of which houses a fully pupated, but dormant bee. When the cocoons are exposed to warm weather (about 59 degrees and above) they will chew their way out of the cocoon and immediately go about their business. It is therefore very important to keep the package of cocoons in a refrigerator -- NOT FREEZING!! -- until you are assured that the daytime temperatures are going to remain in the 60-plus degree temperature range AND that there are flowers -- not necessarily fruit flowers -- for the bees to feed on.

Later, Grumpy will post a description of the Orchard bee "home" he has prepared so he can rehabilitate his "lost" colony.

Continuing Saga of the Lemon Meringue Pie -- Episode III

Grumpy's Castle; 7 June 2010 --

As all regular readers of this BLOG already know, Grumpy has (from time to time) grumbled about his deprivation of his favorite after-dinner (or before dinner, or between meals -- even lieu of breakfast!!) treat: the Grand Mother's unequalled, delectably-delicious Lemon Meringue Pie. You also recall Grumpy's earlier attempts at convincing his eternal Wife of her need to let Grumpy transcribe her recipe -- and her Norwegianly- stubborn refusal to do so as far as Grumpy was concerned. Her infamous excuse? That Grumpy would simply have it for his mythical next wife (Red-Headed, of course).

Well, today marks a turning point: Today, the 7th day of June, in the year of our Lord 2010, the Grand Mother finally conceded to let Grumpy observe the whole process of making this famously delicious concoction! Grumpy was ecstatic! Now the recipe would finally be immortalized for posterity!!

The first step in the process involves the "zesting" of the lemons. This is a tedious task that Grumpy typically does to help her with the time- and utensil-consuming process. Grumpy enjoys this job, primarily because the thought of the climax to this process causes his salivary glands to start aching with joyous anticipation!

The entire process of making the crust is not shown, simply because it is the very simple procedure of making a soft dough of water and flour and then, after working it thoroughly to ensure it is well mixed together, roll it firmly out onto a flour-covered cloth to make a suitably-sized layer, as shown here, into (or maybe onto?) which to pour the lemon-pie filling.

Again, the procedure for making the filling involves dirtying at least 52 utensils such as bowls, spoons, forks and knives, not to mention a candy thermometer, the KitchenAid mixer and the ceiling (Grumpy's certain result). Besides, the filling is well-documented elsewhere (here and here). So no need to repeat it again.

And this is what the final result is supposed to look like this (a previously photographed pie):

Grumpy's elation at being finally allowed to witness the whole process and thereby be able to replicate this delicacy, in the unfortunate event that the Grand Mother becomes incapacitated to do it herself, was quickly deflated when the Grand Mother commented: "I'm not worried about you watching me make a Lemon Meringue Pie; you are so forgetful that you won't remember it anyway!"

She didn't have to say that!!

Lemon Pie, Recipe for [Per the Eldest Son of the Grand Mother]

Something Old; Something Stolen --

(The following is excerpted from another BLOG; see NOTE 2.)
"There is nothing finer than an old fashioned homemade lemon pie. I know of only a handful of individuals who can create the masterpiece as it was intended. For those who have never savored the pie, it is something you would never forget.

"Over time, I have been able to deduce some of the recipe and I will try to recreate it here:

• Buy a large bag of lemons. This will encourage the use before they begin to rot.
• Prepare many pie shells. 4-8 may be enough, provided either or both of certain lemon meringue pie aficionados, such as the two persons known as the Big Z and the Great Grumpy Z are NOT present. Lemon meringue pies should never be baked if any of said Great Grumpy's Grandsons are expected to be within five miles downwind (or upwind) of the site of said pie preparations. (See NOTE 1)
• Per pie: Heat 1 cup of water (eventually to boiling); add enough corn starch to make the bottom of the pan become opaque. Add 1 cup of sugar. Add cayenne pepper to taste and the juice and rind from a lemon or 2. 3 TBSP peanut butter, 1/2 handful of coconut. Carefully crush 3 sage leaves with 1/4 cup caraway seeds. Set aside for later use. Now add the yolks from 2 eggs with a pinch of clove.
• When the mixture becomes stiff, pour into the pie shell. In another bowl, beat the egg whites you saved (you did save them, didn't you?) until they fluff. Add some tartar sauce and sugar. Apply to top of pie, using your spatula to make peaks. Sprinkle set-aside leaves and seeds on top of the meringue. Finally, place into oven and bake until a knife cleanly passes through the pie.

"Voilla! enjoy your treat!" (See NOTE 3)

Next week

"Next week we will discover the recipe for Apple Pie. We will also search the picture for the sage/caraway. I think I may have been confused when I wrote the instructions."

NOTES:

1. Bold text added at the request of the consumer of the pie in the picture.
2. The editor of this BLOG is not responsible for the accuracy of the above recipe.
3. The reader/user of this recipe shall hold the editor totally blameless for any side effects(front or rear effects, too!) of consuming potential results from said recipe.
4. The editor of this BLOG did not post this page; a mysterious virus must have invaded his computer.