Hi Janis,

>> There was nothing wrong with these two :) :) Seriously, they were
>> healthy normal-term babies.. though they were mom's last two and I
>> think that is why she spoiled them ;)

 JK> > Could be, how far apart were they in age?

 JK> Four years apart IIRC... Then Mom had to have an Hysterectomy because
 JK> of compliations from fibroids.  That probably also played a part in
 JK> her spoiling of the two of them.  That proceedure made it quite
 JK> definitive that she'd not be having more children.

My mom had the same surgery after the 5th. She'd had placenta previa
with that one so was told another pregnancy would be too risky so.....
As is, she was on bed rest for several months, had to have a C-section,
baby was born early and had some issues that kept her in the hospital a
bit longer than normal. So, very understandable why the last one was
somewhat spoiled.

 JK> > I did supper when Mom was going to night classes, all the meals when
 JK> she > was in summer school at SUC-Geneseo. It was 3 nights a week
 JK> supper
 JK> > dishes I should have said, that I dried when she was home.

 JK> What kinds of food did you cook then for your family?  Did your mom
 JK> have cookbooks around, that kind of thing?

Mom had cook books around but the main one she used was the first
edition Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook her mom gave her as a wedding
present. She got married the year that one came out so her mom got one
for herself as well. I inherited that one, in much better condition than
my mom's. Mom also had a cook book she'd put together of various recipes
clipped or copied; our favorite chocolate cake was one that was used
quite often. Other than that, she might have used a recipe or two from
some, but not all of the othe cook books she had. Some were gifts,
others I've no idea why or how she acquired them.

 JK> I remember mom's cookbook always being there, in such a state because
 JK> of reading and rereading and use.  The binding was broken, the covers
 JK> gone.. but it was still readable :)  It was something like the 1940's
 JK> version of The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer and it enthralled me..

That was like Mom's Betty Crocker.

 JK> I read that book from cover to cover as a kid in middle school
 JK> (probably in about 6th or 7th grade).  I started experimenting with
 JK> cakes and pies then and had some funny results (disasters (grin)).. I
 JK> remember my eldest sister making really bad jokes about some of my
 JK> attempts LOL.  For example, one of my pies ended up with the filling
 JK> on _top_ of the crust, but live and learn :) :)

OOPS!

My older brother gave Mom a copy of it one year, don't know which
edition. She used it for her red cabbage recipe (Mine is from a Bavarian
cook book Steve was given to give to me when he was TDY in Augsburg the
year before we moved to Germany.) but I don't know of any other uses. I
picked up a double paperback--2 books--edition (1960, I think) in a used
book store some years ago. I've used it a few times for specific
recipies, a lot of times for reference.

 JK> daughter was part of the family written cookbook) the first thing I
 JK> did was read that one cover to cover again.. such a great cookbook
 JK> with a real human touch to the recipes and stories they told.  I
 JK> remember asking Mom where she'd heard about that cookbook and she told
 JK> me that one of her patients had given it to her with the statement
 JK> that "This is the only cookbook you will ever need" :)  She was mostly
 JK> right about that.

Mom thought the same of Betty Crocker. (G)


>> > Sounds like my youngest sister. (G)

>> I guess most families have one who runs off when given the chance :)

 JK> > Something about running water....................

 JK> hahaha  that was all the excuse she needed :)

That, or the thought of warm water.

>> Yes ... and seriously so for her general health, no doubt. Before the
>> surgery she was warned about cardiac problems and had some serious
>> symptoms.

 JK> > Probably has them again, only more so.

 JK> No doubt.  and nothing anyone can do about it.  She has to come to
 JK> terms with it herself if she wants to survive I'm afraid.

Nobody can do it for her.

>> body is.. my pulse is normally really high compared to 'normal'
>> people.  I burn up food really fast generally speaking. I had an aunt
>> who was built just like me on dad's side so it makes sense somewhat :)

 JK> > Runs in the family I guess. But, you can eat a lot more pasta and
 JK> burn > it off faster than I can. (G)

 JK> Probably.. :) Though I generally just don't care to pile a plate high
 JK> with pasta... never have.  I'm just not that hungry enough to do that.

It was normal for you to have pasta instead of something like potatoes.
We didn't have it as often so when we did, I think we ate more of it. I
used to eat a lot more per serving than I do now; I've cut my serving
probably by 2/3 or more.

 JK> And while this may not be true for you with your blood sugar levels,
 JK> etc., (you have to look at everything in other words) pasta generally
 JK> isn't the problem some people think it is.. especially if you make or
 JK> buy whole wheat pasta. Over here at least, it's eating habits and
 JK> 'treats' I expect that make a difference.. I remember telling my
 JK> daughter early on, when things like that were a problem for her, "If
 JK> you feel like eating two, try eating one and drink some water".. that
 JK> helped her.  I saw this week that some studies were done regarding
 JK> pasta that said the same thing pretty much as far as amounts of pasta
 JK> go, but I didn't read the original study... Maybe later this week I'll
 JK> look for it.

Interesting; we use whole wheat as our default pasta.

>> > My brothers put on quite a bit; we suspect that the
>> > younger one is now having some health issues related to it. Sisters
>> have > put on some, but not as bad as my brothers.
>> Hopefully they will be able to keep that under control.  It's not
>> always easy.

 JK> > I don't know about the sisters--one might be able to easier than the
 JK> > other. One is a civil engineer--designs roads in the winter, goes
 JK> out > and builds them in the summer--in AZ. That might help her burn
 JK> off extra > weight.

 JK> True... There are so many variables involved as well.  What kind of
 JK> liquids do people drink, etc.  Ron noticed a big difference when he
 JK> started drinking plain water like I do rather than "diet drinks".

I'm drinking a lot more water than diet drinks. Doctor noticed my sodium
was a bit high yesterday, probably not enough water and a lot more salt
to my foods the past couple of weeks than I usually use. He wasn't
worried about it; it should straighten out by the time he has me do more
blood testing.

 JK> > I'm pretty well cleared now, with an occaisonal cough but part of it
 JK> is > from the catch-up/run around work I'm doing.

 JK> Understand :)

And that is slowing, now that VBS is winding up. Tonight was the last
night of crafts; I just have to make sure the craft stuff is ready to go
to VT next month.


>> That inhaler would definitely work faster and better than any tea or
>> coffee I expect.  :)

 JK> > I refer to it as my "American Express"; I don't leave home without
 JK> it.

 JK> Good thing, I'm sure :)

Made the mistake of doing so once, and had an attack. Was able to work
it out but it took a while. Since then an inhaler has gone with me
everywhere.


>> Yes, Ron's mom was literally one such smoker.. I remember riding in
>> the car with her to a doctor in NYC, it was put one out, light one
>> up..  and everytime she lit one she'd ask me if I wanted one :( ..  no
>> thanks, I'm fine I'd say.

 JK> > Sounds like my sister but she knew better than to offer me one.

 JK> Sure.. I can understand that.

And she's still going, even after needing to have a pacemaker put in.


>> I try to keep things open here like when you came to the picnic here
>> and I don't smoke in the house generally..all that smoke is no good
>> for anybody (people or pets), I know it.

 JK> > I did well, no problems. We were all in and out so the air
 JK> circulation


>> CONTINUED IN NEXT MESSAGE <<

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


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