Category Archives: Blogging

Rupert Bear’s open letter to Google

Blogging, Humor, Rant, , , ,

I’ve been busy trying to learn how to make PDF files accessible, so I’ve recruited a guest blogger today. He’s in a foul mood though… Sorry about that.

He wanted send a message to Google about today’s Google Doodle.

I give you, Rupert the Bear.

Dear Google,

This morning when I logged onto my computer home page I couldn’t help but notice that you are paying homage to Paddington Bear on the anniversary of his 50th year. While I don’t mean to take away from Paddington’s celebrations, I must admit to feeling a little left out. Only three years ago I celebrated my 85th anniversary, and did anyone at Google make me a Google Doodle? Nope. Not even a sketch. I mean, 85 is awfully old for a bear.

You may or may not know, but Paddington and I have a long-time rivalry. Here in the States, where I’m now staying with Dona and her family, no one knows who I am. Everyone thinks I’m Paddington. They don’t even know I was around first!

Dona tried a website about my adventures, but the rhyming scheme just got too much for her.

But I digress.  Google, I’m fully expecting that in the year 2020, on 8 November, you will dedicate a Google Doodle to me for my 100th anniversary. I even made one for you, so you don’t have to do any work. Just put it on your Google calendar. Or send yourself a Gmail.

Sincerely,

Rupert Bear
Formally of Nutwood.

PS I’m not that other bear either — the one that cannot spell and who lives in the Hundred Acre Woods.

Oh no — not another one…

Blogging, Food

So yesterday I wanted to make an apple cake that I’d made before. It wasn’t in any of our dozens of cookbooks — I’d gotten the recipe from a Penzey’s spice catalog a few years ago. I misplaced the catalog but found the recipe online the last time I needed it. This time, however, Penzey’s no longer had the recipe online. I ended up finding it, using the Internet Wayback Machine, but it took a freaking long time.

This kind of thing has happened before. Whenever I want to make my mother-in-law’s cole slaw or cucumber salad I have to email my sister-in-law for the recipes. I’m pretty sure she’s tired of sending them to me. (although I may need to ask her one last time).

pile of recipes

My cookbook recipes are safe (except for the ones that I use a lot and are falling out of the books) but my other recipes — the ones that I’ve either cut out of the newspaper or people have given me — are a mess as you can see in the illustration on this entry. Yes, that’s my recipe pile.

So, I thought, how can I keep a database of these recipes in a place that will be safe and tidy and be fun to update.

A blog of course!

Presenting Recipes our Family Loves Although I may change the name to Recipes that at least one member of our family has eaten and not said “Oh Gross!” because we don’t all love the same recipes.