Even when compared to Ebenezer Scrooge, the Puritans who ruled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1600s were downright Grinchian. Not only were the Puritans contemptuous of Christmas, they outlawed public celebration of the Yuletide holiday for an entire generation.
Every region of this country has customs and traditions that are unique, especially when it comes to food. But you would be hard pressed to find any that would be more delicious than a New Orleans Christmas Dinner. Read more
This Thursday night, millions of little girls and boys, before they get tucked into bed, will go to the fridge and pour a glass of milk and then find some cookies to put on a plate. Read more
You may need a fun and easy little bite of something sweet to make this holiday season. We’ve got just the thing for you…some little acorns 🙂 Read more
You may not recognize the person in this photo, but if you cook at all, or know someone who does, you have no doubt visited one of his shops. Read more
Last night was the second night of the 8 day celebration of Hanukkah. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas with my family. Read more
If you have not yet got your Christmas tree, here are some really useful points to consider. They are in an article by Lizbeth Scordo of Yahoo Parenting and we felt sure you would appreciate it. Read more
In the midst of some of the busy-ness and craziness of the holiday season, with so much to do, take a minute to remember your most important job is how you interact with the young ones in your life. Read more
Our gratitude continues into this week (and forever, for that matter) and, today being the day that Sir Winston Churchill was born, 141 years ago, we are celebrating his life and feeling immensely grateful for all that he did for the world. Read more
They come from all different places don’t they? They come in relationships, as experiences, sometimes as a word from a friend, or reading something that strikes us from someone we may never meet. Our chum Wendy, shared this list of anecdotes about some of life’s most valuable lessons and we wanted to share them with you:
1. Today, I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I’m working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said, “Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.”
2.Today, I asked my mentor – a very successful business man in his 70s- what his top 3 tips are for success. He smiled and said, “Read something no one else is reading, think something no one else is thinking, and do something no one else is doing.”
3.Today, after a 72 hour shift at the fire station, a woman ran up to me at the grocery store and gave me a hug. When I tensed up, she realized I didn’t recognize her. She let go with tears of joy in her eyes and the most sincere smile and said, “On 9-11-2001, you carried me out of the World Trade Center.”
4.Today, after I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying. And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face.
5. Today at 7AM, I woke up feeling ill, but decided I needed the money, so I went into work. At 3PM I got laid off. On my drive home I got a flat tire. When I went into the trunk for the spare, it was flat too. A man in a BMW pulled over, gave me a ride, we chatted, and then he offered me a job. I start tomorrow.
6.Today, as my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mother’s hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simply said, “I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this more often.”
7. Today, I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had given him a kiss since I was a little boy.
8. Today, in the cutest voice, my 8-year-old daughter asked me to start recycling. I chuckled and asked, “Why?” She replied, “So you can help me save the planet.” I chuckled again and asked, “And why do you want to save the planet?” Because that’s where I keep all my stuff,” she said.
9. Today, when I witnessed a 27-year-old breast cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughter’s antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again.
10.Today, a boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, “I hope you feel better soon.”
11. Today, I was feeling down because the results of a biopsy came back malignant. When I got home, I opened an e-mail that said, “Thinking of you today. If you need me, I’m a phone call away.” It was from a high school friend I hadn’t seen in 10 years.
12. Today, I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn’t eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, “We can share it.
Whether it is understanding what real success is, or experiencing the love of a true friend, or appreciating the family God gave us, or being willing to share whatever it is we have, or recognizing God’s provision for us, we all need to be taught these life lessons, sometimes again and again. Each person in them learned something different but really they can all be summed up in what the Bible calls the two most important lessons or commandments:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
Your chums are grateful to be learning right along with you. What we want most of all, for each of you and ourselves, are lives very abundant with love and joy!
The holidays are upon us and one of the fun aspects is the company we have. Maybe more than any other time of the year we have friends or family in our homes. Sometimes we are expecting them and sometimes they just drop in 🙂 Read more
We could not let this week go by without mentioning that both of our dear fathers served in the armed forces, Robin’s father in The United States Marine and Jackie’s father in The Royal Canadian Air Force. We are so grateful to them both for having served ….
This is a tale (albeit a short but sweet one) of how my clever grandson, Jeremy, who it just so happens came to make a cake that tastes like s’mores. Read more
Now that the evenings are beginning to have a bit of a chill, what better to serve your family than a hot bowl of home made French onion soup? This recipe is sooo easy and quite delicious.
Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is coming quickly. But before you throw out those pumpkins you used for decorating we have an idea for you. Read more
Our greatest job is loving and nurturing the little people God has entrusted to us. Nothing is more important or has more significance than the mark we leave on another human being. Read more
With all this talk about Queen Elizabeth II now being the longest reigning monarch in the United Kingdom, having just surpassed the length of Queen Victoria’s reign, we thought it might be fun to look at some facts about Queen Victoria. Besides the fact that hers was a love affair with her husband, Albert, which is what we often hear of this Queen, she accomplished a great deal in her lengthy reign. Read more
Halloween is just a week away. My granddaughter Sadie loves to write. Though she is almost 10 years old now, she was only 7 years old when she wrote her Halloween poe. We think it’s a special one and bears repeating 🙂 Read more
There are few people who do “pomp” better than the British and this was proved, yet again, yesterday when the Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in London. He and his wife were met by the Queen and apparently taken to their suite at the Palace by Queen Elizabeth herself. Read more
On seeing this DIY post from Tess Panser and Yahoo, your Two Chums were reminded of a time when one of our daughters was getting married and we could not find the right colored shoes to match the bridesmaids outfits. Read more
Just over 60 years ago, on September 30, 1955, budding movie star James Dean died at age 24 when his sports car slammed into a Ford sedan near Bakersfield, California—just prior to the release of his signature film, “Rebel Without a Cause.” Six decades later, we explore some surprising facts about the persistent cultural icon, who’s sometimes referred to as “the first American teenager.”
1. He was largely raised by his aunt and uncle.
Born in a small city in Indiana, Dean soon moved with his parents to Santa Monica, California, when his father, a dental technician, was transferred to a hospital there. But at age 9 his mother died of cancer, and he was sent back to Indiana to live on his aunt and uncle’s farm. From that point on, he would rarely see —or even talk—to his father, other than a brief spell in which he stayed in his father’s home while attending Santa Monica City College.
2. Thanks to a childhood accident, his front teeth were fake.
Described by his cousin as “never one to sit still,” a young Dean had his two front teeth knocked out while swinging on a trapeze in his aunt and uncle’s barn. (Dean later embellished the story, saying he lost them in a motorcycle accident.) As an adult, he purportedly enjoyed surprising acquaintances by casually removing his false teeth mid-conversation.
3. He set a local pole vault record.
Despite being nearsighted, short and skinny, Dean was a standout athlete at his Indiana high school, playing baseball and basketball and running track. “He was a heady player and a good competitor,” his basketball coach once told a reporter. “He was what you would call a clean-cut, All-American type boy.” Dean particularly excelled at the pole vault, breaking the county record by the time he graduated in 1949.
James Dean poses for Rebel Without A Cause(Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
4. His first professional gig was a soft-drink commercial.
Dean performed in several high school plays and continued acting in college, especially after transferring from Santa Monica City College to UCLA in the fall of 1950. Shortly after winning a role in a UCLA production of “Macbeth,” a well-connected fraternity brother brought him along to serve as an extra in a Pepsi-Cola commercial. The next day, Dean filmed a second spot, in which he danced around a jukebox while singing a Pepsi jingle. Having made a favorable impression, the same producer then hired him to play John the Apostle in “Hill Number One,” a TV special that aired on Easter 1951. Though he had only a few lines, it was apparently enough for some girls at a Los Angeles parochial high school to form his first fan club: the Immaculate Heart James Dean Appreciation Society.
5. Dean starred in only three movies.
Dropping out of college to focus full time on acting, Dean landed bit roles in a few Hollywood films before moving to New York City in October 1951. While there, he appeared in two Broadway plays and numerous TV shows. Yet he did not catch his big break until 1954, when his portrayal of a gay houseboy in the play “The Immoralist” brought him to the attention of director Elia Kazan. With John Steinbeck’s approval, Kazan cast Dean in a screen adaptation of Steinbeck’s epic novel “East of Eden.” Thus propelled to stardom, Dean next filmed “Rebel Without a Cause,” the only movie in which he received top billing, and “Giant,” which co-starred Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. More movies were in the works, but Dean died before he could make them.
6. Dean was the first actor to receive an Academy Award nomination posthumously.
Cinematographers, composers, writers, an actress and a costume designer had all received posthumous Oscar nominations, but never a male actor until 1956, when Dean’s portrayal of troubled teenager Cal Trask in “East of Eden” won him a best actor nod. The next year, he was nominated again for best actor, this time for playing ranch hand Jett Rink in “Giant.” He didn’t win either year, however, losing out to Ernest Borgnine and Yul Brynner, respectively. Since then, several other stars have likewise earned best actor or best supporting actor nominations after their deaths, including Spencer Tracy and Heath Ledger, but Dean remains the only one with two posthumous nominations.
7. He was a racecar enthusiast.
A lover of speed, Dean reportedly used part of his “East of Eden” advance to purchase a red convertible and a motorcycle. By March 1955, he had begun competing in road races, guiding a white Porsche Super Speedster to a second-place finish at his debut in Palm Springs, California. While working on “Giant,” the studio contractually barred him from racing. But upon finishing the film, he traded in the Speedster for an even more powerful Porsche 550 Spyder, which he nicknamed “Little Bastard.”
8. He was ticketed for speeding two hours before his death.
On the afternoon of September 30, 1955, as Dean drove his brand-new Porsche Spyder to a road race in Salinas, California, a police officer ticketed him for going 65 mph in a 55-mph zone. Just over two hours later, a Ford Tudor sedan collided with Dean at the junction of present-day Highway 46 and Highway 41, about 80 miles from Bakersfield. Dean, who broke his neck and suffered severe internal injuries, was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. To this day, it’s unclear whether he was speeding at the time. A coroner’s jury found the crash to be accidental “with no criminal intent.”
9. His car is said to be cursed.
George Barris, a famous auto customizer who worked on Dean’s Porsche Spyder, claimed to have purchased the car after the actor’s death. He later said that when it arrived at his shop, it rolled off a trailer and crushed an employee’s legs, and that mayhem and mystery continued to follow it for years thereafter. Barris asserted, for instance, that a thief slipped and broke his arm while trying to make off with the steering wheel, and that those who bought the Porsche’s parts ended up in fatal crashes. Meanwhile, Dean’s mechanic, who was sitting next to him at the time of the accident, died in a 1981 drunk-driving mishap following multiple suicide attempts. Though the legend of the curse lives on, most Dean experts doubt the veracity of Barris’ statements. The car’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
10. He briefly dated a ‘Seinfeld’ actress.
In the years since his death, many men and women alike have professed to being in romantic relationships with Dean. One such claim came courtesy of Liz Sheridan, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld’s mother on the TV show “Seinfeld,” who wrote a 2000 memoir entitled, “Dizzy & Jimmy: My Life with James Dean: A Love Story.” According to the book, Sheridan and Dean met in New York in 1951, soon moved in together and were at one point engaged to be married.
Thanks to History.com, we were able to share these facts about James Dean with you. He was a huge, gigantic, star at a very young age and left us prematurely. He continues to reverberate as a household name in the eyes of movie lovers everywhere.
It’s Fall and that means apples are in abundance. What could be a better way to use them all than to make tasty apple pastries that look like roses? Read more
If you Google “Woodchuck Sandwich” and look at images, you will see a plethora of photos that look nothing alike. It would almost seem that any sandwich could have the label Woodchuck. Read more
With Halloween just month away, the discussion about possible costumes has begun. Most children have some thought about what it is they want to be as they Trick or Treat on October 31st. But what costume should we put together for our littlest ones, our babies? Read more
Though we are now officially in to Fall, we are having an Indian Summer, at least here in Southern California, where your Two Chums call home. So it is still a great time for a great salad. Actually we think any time is “salad weather”:-) Read more
There are more than a few people in California, and also other parts of the US, who would agree with us that there is no candy like See’s Candies! Read more
We have just learned that today is National Butterscotch Pudding Day….sooooo this just seemed a good time so share this post with you again 🙂 Read more
We ended last week with one of our Well Done posts. We like the idea of enjoying another one this week. As our chum Todd, who shared this with us says, if you can watch this and not cry (happy tears) you are stronger than we are. Read more
It is easy to remember what happened on this day 14 years ago and feel sadness or anger or fear. All those emotions can paralyze us. Our memories of the past, and what we see daily on the news, can make us think that things are bad enough in the world that maybe we won’t ever achieve our dreams … that we can’t overcome those difficult circumstances in life over which we seem to have no control. So we thought it was important on this day to bring a story of triumph and hope, and a story that has a twist that will again remind us that there is a bigger story, a bigger plan going on that we are all a part of. Though it has no direct correlation to the 911 tragedy, it has everything to do with triumph, everything to do with outlook, everything to do with hope and always having a “never say can’t” attitude. So in that sense it has EVERYTHING to do with this day. Read more
A few years ago we did apost on varieties of hog dogsand how they are served regionally. It turned out to be one of the most popular and viewed posts we have ever done! Apparently you all love hot dogs as much as we do 🙂 So today we have some more hot dog ideas for you just in time for your Labor Day celebrations. Read more
Last week we gave you a simple and delicious recipe for coffee ice cream. With the end of summer quickly approaching we wanted to give you another delicious way to enjoy that yummy coffee ice cream. One that even those who don’t particularly like coffee find really delicious! Read more
If you’ve ever owned a handmade quilt you will understand firsthand the nurture and comfort it can bring. Regardless what color or pattern it is, if someone you love took the time to make something to keep you warm, it becomes much more than just a “blanket” to you. Read more
It isn’t just good hot or iced. It is perfectly delicious frozen too. And this method is so simple you’ll be enjoying it any time you want! They say that coffee is addictive. This form of coffee certainly is. Once you’ve had this coffee ice cream you’ll be hooked! Read more
Maybe your weekend needs something special. If so, we have just the thing for you. And it is easier than you might think! I have always assumed that good Danish pastry would involve a yeast dough filled with butter and that it took hours to make. Not this version. This is simple and quite delicious….good to the very last crumb 🙂
Simple Danish Pastry
This pastry is made in two stages and then baked to golden brown perfection!
First layer:
1 cup pf flour
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 tablespoons water
Cut butter into the flour using a pastry blender. Mix in water and combine being careful not to over mix. You just want to moisten the flour until it mostly holds together. Form it into a ball. Use you finger tips to pat the dough into a circle.
Second layer:
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick)
1 cup of water
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
This layer of pastry is also known by it’s French name – pate choux. It is basically the same recipe used to make the pastry for eclairs.
Bring butter, water, and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add in almond extract. Stir in flour and salt stirring quickly so that the flour doesn’t clump up. Mix well. Add in the eggs one at a time being sure to beat the mixture really hard after each egg is added, until it is completely smooth. Spread this over the top of the first layer and use a spoon to make indentations or put the dough in a piping bag and pipe it out making “rings” to hold the pastry cream filling.
Pastry cream filling:
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Stir milk and flour together well, and cook in a saucepan until thickened and bubbly. Reduce the heat and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and cool without stirring. Cover the top of this mixture with plastic wrap so it doesn’t form a film or “skin” while cooling. Set aside. While this mixture is cooling, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla and almond extracts until light and fluffy. Slowly mix in half of the cooled mixture beating on very low speed, then beat in the second half of it until very smooth. Spoon the pastry cream into the circles or indentations in the second layer of pastry.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze and top with slivered almonds. Cut into wedges and serve 🙂
After losing both his parent, this little 6 year old boy has a goal of making 33,000 people smile. After seeing this you are bound to be one of them. Read more
In 1994, Mississippi couple Sherry and Craig Blackledge, adoptive parents to a little boy, adopted an 18-month-old girl named Brooke. It was then that Sherry decided to write a simple but sweet letter she would give to Brooke, on her wedding day. Now, more than 20 years later, right before Brooke walked down the aisle to marry boyfriend Tyler Zugg, she finally read the letter.
Some pies are associated with a particular season or holiday. People just naturally think of pumpkin pie in the Fall or around the holidays for example. And fresh fruit pies seem to be naturally associated with summer. But chocolate cream pie? …. it’s just plain delicious any time of year 🙂 Read more