Category Archives: Things

Typed Note from Frances

Friends, Memories, Photographs, Things, ,

I’ve written about Frances a lot here. She was our next-door neighbor when we moved to the DC area in 1985. She and I became fast friends, even though she was forty-seven years older than I when we first met. We only lived next door to each other for a year while we rented a house in Alexandria, but we continued our friendship after that.

She sent me this typed post card in 1990. I guess I sent her a couple of photos of her back yard. I’ll have to find them someday. She mentions physical therapy and insurance. I think that was due to an accident we were in a few months before that — we were rear ended at a stop light. The truck behind us thought we were turning right on red but I knew that intersection and didn’t turn right. The driver got out and screamed at me. Frances ended up with whiplash — which at 81 wasn’t a good thing to have.

June 10 Dear Dona, I’ve been trying to write this card to you ever since you sent me the photos…I love the one of you and Dean — and even like mine a lot….And it’s nice to have a good shot of my azaleas! Thanks…you are a fine photographer.

I’m glad your school is practically over and I can expect to see you sometime…Am also eager to know if you have any definite plans for next year.

I’ve had an awful lot to do lately…Finished my physical therapy about 2 weeks ago and am hoping I won’t have to fool with many more papers for the insurance co…Lots of other types of business to take care of also.

Call me! Love, Frances

My Japanese Scarf

Photographs, Things,

In August of 2007 my daughter’s girl scout troop hosted a Japanese girl scout troop. The leaders stayed with us and gave us many gifts. My favorite was a beautiful silk scarf. It was accompanied by photos showing how it was dyed.

Here are the leaders, my daughter, a Japanese girl scout wearing Kimonos. They brought one for both Clare and me — including shoes! I’m still in contact with Yuko, the woman on the far left.

And here is my scarf.

The Westinghouse Kitchen-Proved Refrigerator Book

Food, Things, , ,

I’m not sure what literature we get with refrigerators nowadays, but back in the days when a freezer was called an evaporator, refrigerators came with handy kitchen-proved refrigerator books that explained that mold and bacteria could be prevented by COLD. Plus! Recipes!

If you need a beverage that makes 50 servings, look no further than the Westinghouse Kitchen-Proved Refrigerator Book:

Country Club Punch

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 3 quarts water
  • 1 cup strong tea
  • 12 lemons
  • 12 oranges
  • 1 quart grape juice
  • 1 small can crushed pineapple
  • 2 quarts ginger ale

Boil the sugar and water together for eight minutes, add the tea, then chill. Add oranges, lemons, grape juice, and pineapple. Place in refrigerator to mellow for about two hours. Before serving, add 2 quarts of ginger ale and ice cubes.

For small parties this recipe may be divided into thirds. If served in a punch bowl, add quarter slices of orange and lemon and one small bottle of maraschino cherries. Serves about 50.

Okay, I have some questions. Do you cut up the oranges and lemons? Or do you use their juice? I’m assuming the latter based on the second paragraph. And where’s the alcohol? (none of the “cocktails” contain alcohol).

I’m hanging on to this booklet for a while. I might like to try one or two of the better sounding recipes.