Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary Anne Fellows on December 25, 2013 at 6:51am

Oh Jeanne, I love that!  What fun!  It gave me a giggle on this Christmas Eve day!

Permalink Reply by Robin Monsees on November 23, 2013 at 3:43pm

Very pretty tree!

Permalink Reply by Anne Powell on November 20, 2013 at 12:28am

SILLIEST GIFT???

 

My Mom had ESP. It was almost impossible to surprise her at Christmas, because she always seemed to ‘know’ (without peeking) what she was getting. It was so bad, that we would ask her to identify contents before she unwrapped each gift, and usually she was right. (Knowing never seemed to dampen her enjoyment though).

One year, Dad and I decided to give her a ‘pole lamp’ (anyone here old enough to remember when those were in vogue?). We wrapped it and hid it well at the back of a closet.

After all the other gifts were opened, Mom announced that there was still one more for her, and wanted to know where it was. Before we brought it out, we asked her what she thought it was, but all she knew was that it was a long skinny parcel, and she wondered why we would give her a broom or a fishing pole.

She didn’t quite guess that it was a lamp, but we all had a good chuckle, and gave up trying to fool her from then on.

Observation - growing up with a mother with ESP is a challenge. You don’t get away with much!

Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on November 20, 2013 at 4:06am

I remember pole lamps...we had one that went floor to ceiling with two curved arms about half way up and suspended on chains from those shortish "arms" were two vertical cylindrical hanging wrought iron lampshades with lightbulbs inside. I remember the pole was black, the center bit "gold" and the cylinder lamp covers were translucent white plastic with blue and green pieces scattered through them.  Mum loved that lamp pole.  Every year I'd decorate it for Christmas for her, putting greenery and fake red cherries on the lamp shades, which had swirly wrought iron cases around them, and putting some garlands taped around the top half of the pole.  (the bottom half was a cat access zone, so tinsel free)

I could draw a picture of that spring loaded lamp pole to this day. It was bought in the 1960's and I think we tossed it out just a few years ago...I think. You know I'd better go double check...it could still be floating around my house somewhere!!!

Permalink Reply by Anne Powell on November 20, 2013 at 5:15am

I think perhaps that pole lamps were NOT the zenith of interior design.  Looking back, many of them were downright hideous, even thoght they were a practical lighing solution.  The most garish (and hilarious) one I ever saw was in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  Of course the whole house was garish and hilarious, but when I saw that pole lamp, I laughed so hard, I almost wet my pants.  If you are ever watching a re-run, check out that pole lamp.

Permalink Reply by Gloria Grandy on November 20, 2013 at 7:31am

Oh, my goodness, may I weigh in on the pole lamp discussion ??? LOL  I've never seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding but I certainly have seen some garish and hilarious pole lamps

However, I still have one that I use and love.  It was a gift from one of my brothers in 1968 and I wouldn't part with it for the world.  I was video-chatting with my youngest son in Alberta, Canada just a few months ago and he saw it in the background and commented on how much he loved that lamp.  One of his great childhood memories :))) 

I've had some oohs and aahs over it ... also some ughs and yuks over it.  But none of those bother me ... ha ha ha

So here, my friends, is my pole lamp.  It sheds light on the chair where, with a cup of coffee to my right, I do some of my best knitting and crocheting. xo

Permalink Reply by Anne Powell on November 20, 2013 at 10:38am

No wonder your squares and other work turn out so well, Gloria, when you make them under such a pretty lamp!  If the one we gave my Mom had looked like that, I would still have it.  Alas, ours had horrid plastic shades, with stripes, I think, and at arm level, a little round table top for your cup of coffee.  If memory serves me, the one in MBFGW had shades festooned with huge bunches of purple glass grapes - totally 'over the top'.

Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on December 7, 2013 at 8:10am

Anne I absolutely am going to look for that lamp next time I watch that movie!

Permalink Reply by Barb Beattie on November 20, 2013 at 3:16pm

Oh my gosh, Gloria. I love your lamp!

Permalink Reply by Robin Monsees on November 23, 2013 at 3:48pm

Wow!

Permalink Reply by Bev Jeffery on December 7, 2013 at 10:00am

Definitely an ooh and an aah from me, Gloria...its a pretty lamp.  :))

Permalink Reply by Gloria Grandy on November 20, 2013 at 2:53am

Anne, I just read your poem for the first time.  It's beautiful.  Thank you xo 

This is my first Christmas with KAS.  What a wonderful discussion this will be.  I'm sure it will be absolutely filled with memories, ideas, photos, recipes, and love.

I would like to share a recipe here that my Dad always made.  He said he received it from a Scottish woman who insisted it was the only way to make shortbread.  I would love to see other recipes since shortbread is a traditional Christmas treat in our home.

This recipe must be mixed or kneaded with your hands.  For this reason, my mother never made it.  I never minded getting my hands into things, so I took over making it in later years.  However, my hands are too arthritic now to be able to mix this enough so my grandson Damon has taken over the tradition.  I will mention that I tried once to use my mixer with a dough hook and it was a total disaster.  The shortbread was much too tough.

Also, the butter must be cold and hard, otherwise it will be greasy.  The flour we always used was Monarch Pastry Flour, but we are unable to buy it here in Nova Scotia anymore.  I now use just cake and pastry flour, but the result is not as good as it was with the Monarch.

I won't complain, though, because we still LOVE this shortbread :)))  So without further rambling, here is the recipe.

1/2 cup fruit sugar

3 cups pastry flour

1/2 pound cold, hard butter

Mix sugar and flour thoroughly.  Rub in butter until like stiff putty.  Place on pan.  Flatten to desired thickness and, with fork, put holes all the way through and all over to prevent rising.  Bake at not over 300 until dull brown at edges.  Approximately 35 minutes.

Cut shortbread while still hot, but remove from pan only after it has cooled completely.

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