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Pumpkin Butter

It is the time of year people start to crave pumpkin: pumpkin coffee, pumpkin coffee creamer, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie. I didn’t realize until a few years ago that decorative pumpkins, the kind used for jack-o-lanterns weren’t intended for cooking. Canned pumpkin is much better in recipes.

I made pumpkin butter today for Mother and her friends at her independent living facility. I found it rather endearing that one of the lovely ladies asked me to make some, knowing I love to can. It is a very simple recipe.

Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter

4 29 oz. cans pumpkin

2 lbs. light brown sugar

4 tbs. Pumpkin Pie Spice

Mix all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on high 3-4 hours till flavors blend. You may add more pumpkin pie spice if desired. Put in clean pint jars with clean flats and rings. To process, put in rack in deep pot. Cover tops with at least 1 inch water. Bring to a full boil and process at least 15 minutes. Put jars to cool on rack or cutting board. Tops should pop and depression in lid should snap down as they cool. Makes 8 pints.

This makes a wonderful gift!

Dear Auntie Linda, September 9 2015

I am reblogging an old post from 2015 when I used to do an advice column. I enjoyed it very much. Please address any questions or concerns you’d like addressed in comments or to my email Lbeth1950@hotmail.com Thanks

Dear Auntie Linda,  My mother is seventy-four and moved in with me and my husband four years ago.  She is in good health, still drives, and is active…

Dear Auntie Linda, September 9 2015

Favorite Food

Crisp, golden brown, fried chicken! There was nothing so delicious as Mother’s fried chicken. Fortunately for her family, Mother loved chicken and the price was right. Sometimes she could get it for Twenty-five cents a pound, so we got lots of fried chicken. Paired with mashed potatoes , gravy, and biscuits, it was a mouth watering meal. With five kids around the table, that chicken disappeared in a heartbeat. The added treat was the scrambles left on the platter. Thanks Mother!

Reel Recovery

Reel Recovery provides an incredible opportunity for men with cancer of any stage to enjoy a weekend fly-fishing, spend time with companions who understand the struggles they face, and the joy of being in nature, while learning a new skill, or perfecting an old one.  All equipment, meals, and accommodations are provided at no cost to participants. They are free to choose the location of their choice, but must provide their own transportation to site.

Retreats are lead by professional facilitators and expert fly-fishing instructors.  A maximum of twelve to fourteen men are in cited to ensure the quality of instruction and create a powerful small-group dynamic.

Goals: Provides a safe,reflective environment for the participants to discuss their disease and recovery with other men with shared experiences, providing support to help in their recovery.

Provide expert fly-fishing instruction instruction enabling participants to learn a new skill, form a connection with nature, and participate in a sport they can continue throughout their recovery and lifetime.

imageProvide participants about cancer-related resources in the local community and nationally to facilitate networking and enhanced management of their recovery.

each participant is paired with a fishing biddy to assist them during their workshop.  If you would like to be a participant,volunteer or make a donation please contact us: National: toll Free 800-699-4490   info@reelrecovery.org

Texas: Mike Emerson: 817-894-7832   mgemerson1944@gmail.com

Oklahoma:  Martin Weaver 405-808-7116.   okieflier@att.net

If you want to donate to a designated retreat, please designate that on your donation form.

You Never Know

Battered shoes

Many years ago, I was on an hospital elevator with a minister I knew.  A somber man got on with us.  He looked straight ahead, deep in thought. Attempting to make conversation, the minister said, “Smile, it can’t be that bad.”

The man’s expression never changed.  In a low voice he remarked, “My son just died.”

The minister and I were both shocked.  As he stammered an apology, all three of us burst in to tears.  We hugged the man, offered shocked condolences, and offered to make phone calls for him.  The minister got off and went with him.

I’ve never forgotten, and suspect neither of them has either.  You just never know what a person is dealing with.

Epiphany on Retirement

We’ve been married more than forty years, but we both just retired.  It’s like getting married, except no honeymoon.  I get up early to write and make coffee.  Bud gets up, fixes our coffee and we drink coffee for a while.  I cook breakfast and tidy up a bit while Bud checks the history channel to see what Hitler is up to today or to see which Global Continue reading →

Dear Carlos

Dear Carlos,

Upon hearing that I have been married for forty-seven years to a loving man, your friend asked if I had any advice for a young person considering marriage.  I have no special expertise or qualification for counseling, except forty-seven years’ experience in my own marriage, but I will share that with you.

  1. Respect is imperative. Take the time to see how he/she treats parents and siblings. If a person is not respectful to their family, take your cue from that. Definitely meet their family. That alone will answer a lot of questions about your possible future together. Remember, any children you have may be more like either of your family members than they are like either of you.
  2. Shared values. Discuss your values and expectations. Religion? How will you manage your money? Will you have children? Will you both work outside the home? How will you share responsibility? These factors end relationships every day.
  3. Don’t expect marriage to be 50/50. You will both have to give 100% to make it work. It took me a while to figure out my husband didn’t want to talk things out once a conflict was over. It’s okay to say, “Give me a little time. I am still mad.” It’s not okay to punish or be mean-spirited. Let go of your anger as soon as you can, then put it in the past.
  4. Loyalty. You have to put each other first. We have each other’s back. We trust each other, not wasting time on jealousy and games. We are together because we want to be, not because we have to be.
  5. Make sure the person you love will be your friend forever. You have to be comfortable together, not forever trying to meet their expectations.  You need to be able to laugh and cry together to get through the good times and the hard times.

Best of luck.

Linda