NATIONAL "GOOF OFF DAY" - March 22nd

Everyone talks about the Ides of March on the 15^th, but did you know that March 22^nd is “National and International Goof Off Day”? Now here’s a celebration we can all get behind and participate in. And to make matters ever better, it’s on Friday of this year! 

What do I plan to do? Glad you asked. I’m goofing off. 

I plan to leave all my writer obligations, ideas, and tasks that are always hammering at me in the back of my brain and find activities that qualify as fun, not difficult, deemed enjoyable—and which are mindless.  So that leaves out the frustrating game of golf. It also leaves out reading since I get carried away to a new world when I read, and often I find myself plowing through the book, reading nonstop, to find out how the story ends. Thus, reading is hardly mindless in my way of thinking.

I could clean the house. That’s as mindless as it gets, but it certainly isn’t enjoyable. Someone suggested sitting quietly in a chair in a Zen-like state and meditating. It would only be a possibility if I could sit still that long. Over an hour of a vacuum-like state, and I’d need anti-anxiety medication to deal with the inactivity and silence. 

Someone suggested relaxing and making a to-do list. Are you kidding me? What a way to go bonkers. What part of that activity is relaxing? I’d sit in nervous anxiety, chewing the eraser off my pencil, as the list grows and the urge to be knocking off some of the tasks on the stupid list grows exponentially. 

I could try driving aimlessly around the town, but every time I do that, I see new things. Then, I have the impulse to want to take careful note of the scene and stuff my mind with details for possible use in my writing.  And, the idea is to leave the writing world behind for a day, shut down the brain, and goof off.

If you have any thoughts and opinions for goofing off on March 22nd, I’m open to suggestions. Leave a comment and I’ll consider them. Oh, wait—if I have to analyze  your comments, that is not goofing off.

COMING SOON IN APRIL - "Willie, My Love," a historical romantic mystery 

about the logging industry in 1856 in Central Pennsylvania. 

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Remembering Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder

Born February 7, 1867

Died February 10, 1957

Long before Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books became part of the Little House on the Prairie television series, the Little House books were a favorite of mine as a child, starting with the Little House in the Big Woods, published by Harper in 1932. It was Wilder’s first book and was based on memories of her early childhood in the big woods near Pepin, Wisconsin, in the early 1870s. It propelled her Little House series consisting of eight more books which recorded pioneer life late in the 19^th century based on her family’s experiences on the American frontier.

I was an avid reader of all the Little House books. I remember taking one of them outside on my swing during the summer and devouring it as quickly as possible. There was something magical about the big woods, the prairie, the unsettled Dakota Territory, the farm, the banks of a Plum Creek and life during a blizzard.

Laura Ingalls was the second child of five children to Charles and Caroline Ingalls. During her childhood, her father moved the family many times, but over the winter of 1879-1880, he filed for a formal homestead in De Smet, South Dakota, which became her parents’ and her older sister’s (Mary) home for the remainder of their lives.

Two months before her 16^th birthday, Laura Ingalls accepted her first teaching position. In order to help her family financially, she taught three terms in one-room school houses between 1883 and 1885, worked for the local dressmaker, and attend high school in De Smet, although she didn’t graduate. Her teaching career and studies ended when Laura married 28-year-old Almanzo Wilder on August 25, 1885. She was eighteen years old.

Wilder House in De Smet, SD

Although there is much controversy over some works, which Laura Ingalls Wilder’s daughter, Rose, supposedly claimed to collaborate on with her mother, the brilliance and importance of the books far outweigh second guessing what might be truthful or false claims.

Laura Ingalls Wilder is considered a literary legend. School-age children have been enthralled with the series for decades. I was one of them.

 

National Pie Day - January 23rd - Let the Celebration Begin!

According to the American Pie Council, National Pie Day is January 23th. Although pies have been around in various forms since the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks, the early meat pies (pyes) appeared in England as early as the twelfth century. The crust of the pie was referred to as “coffyn”. It’s amusing to note that these pies were made using fowl, and the legs were left to hang over the side the dish to be used as handles.

It’s speculated that in the 1500s, fruit pies or pasties were made, and the first cherry pie was presented to Queen Elizabeth I.

The first English settlers brought pie to America, but the pies were actually cooked in long narrow pans which they called “coffins” like the crust in England. As in the Roman times, the early America pie crusts were not always eaten, but simply designed to hold the filling while the pie baked.  During the American Revolution, the term crust originated instead of “coffin”.

Over the years, pie has become part of the American culture and is considered one of the most favorite and traditional desserts in America—from the delicious cherry to the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, to the apple pie which boasts the saying, “as American as apple pie.”

What’s your favorite type of pie? Mine is toss-up between coconut crème and pumpkin.

But here is a really delicious pecan pie that I won’t pass up!

Pecan Pie

4 eggs

2/3 cup sugar

l cup light corn syrup

½ teaspoonsalt

3 tablesppons melted butter (or

         margarine)

2 ½ tablespoons dark rum

1 cup (about 7 ounces) shelled

         pecans

1.    Prepare unbaked 9-inch pastry shell, following the recipe.

2.    Beat eggs lightly in a large bowl. Stir in sugar, corn syrup, salt, and butter, missing just to blend. (Do NOT over beat.) Stir in rum and pecans. Pour into a prepared pastry shell.

3.    Bake in moderate over (375 degrees) for 40 minutes or until filling is golden brown and firm to the light touch.  Serve at room temperature with a bowl of whipped cream, Kool Whip, or vanilla ice cream.

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This month I have several ebooks on sale for $0.99 or a reduced rate.  

Please visit my "Amazon Author Page" to choose:

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Happy, Happy New Year!

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         Happy, Happy New Year!
         We wish you all the best,
         Great work to reach your fondest goals,
         And when you’re done, sweet rest.
         We hope for your fulfillment,
         Contentment, peace and more,
         A brighter, better new year than
         You’ve ever had before.
                           --Author Unknown     

      Looking back over the year 2018, I have to much to be thankful for. Both my husband and I had health issues that were solved. I finished writing a historical novel...and then spent the last three months rewriting it. 
     In the summer, we were able to visit Anchorage for a month and meet our new six-month-old grandson. 
     My very favorite time of the year in Pennsylvania is its beautiful summers, and this year, despite the rains, was an interesting one. We had backyard visitors--three bears who spent their time trying to destroy my bird feeders. 
     Later, in the fall, we were able to visit Benezette where we saw a herd of 60+ elk. A magnificent sight. 
     Lastly, we were able to travel to sunny Florida and enjoy the warm weather. 
     It was a difficult year in some respects, but a good one! 

TO EVERYONE, I WISH A HEALTHY

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

WELCOME 2019!