Woodsie

So on the way to St Louis, The Husband tells me we are stopping in Terra Haute to break up the trip. I'm thinking, "Why does that sound familiar?"

Well... considering my niece Megan has been going to school near there for three years perhaps it should!

Lucky me! I gave her a call when we rolled into town and she came to pick me up and gave me a tour of the St. Mary of the Woods campus - plus I got to take a ride in her shiny new car!

She told me the legend of the bridge - which I cannot remember too clearly. Something about if the bells from the tower ring while you are crossing headed one direction your true calling is to become a nun of the order there - if it catches you crossing the other way you are soon to meet your true love.

Lucky for me the bells didn't ring - so no career change is in store!

It was great to see her and her school even if it was too dark to capture too many images.

I'm special

Apparently, if you request cinnamon toast and coffee for breakfast on Mother's Day from your son you get it.

...along with flowers and a card.

Outside of card: "Mom, I planned to send you on an exotic cruise for Mother's Day."

Inside of card: "But I knew you'd miss me too much. That's the kind of mom you are."

He knows me well!

...and you also get a special lunch prepared for you by all of your menfolk.

Why didn't I think of asking for stuff years ago?

I must be special!

Confection Connection

Well the family has made the big time!

My Mom and Sister Diana have been having a Christmas Cookie exchange party for the last ten years. I drive to Toleod over for it when I can - when blizzards or other events do not prevent it! It is always quite a good time.

Last Sunday they were featured in The Toledo Blade, which is after all "One of America's Great Newspapers" it says so right on the Masthead! The article told of how they began the tradition and how they keep it going.

Here is a snap of one of the three tables of cookies that the revelers brought to share!

One of the best things is seeing the houses decorated for Christmas. My nieces counted 23 trees in Diana's house, but I think they were low... They are many and they are themed: snowmen, bears, Santas, gingerbread folk, Suessical, Ohio State buckeyes, frogs, and Noah's ark are the first that come to mind.

If they weren't all in the storage unit, mine would be legion as well. I collect ornaments of snowmen, owls, Curious George, shoes, and a few others. I started a collection of bear ornaments for The Boy his first Christmas - and get him a new one every year. The tree I've building for The husband is, of course, Hot Wheels themed - with an emphasis on Redlines! I miss decorating for the holidays and am going rogue and putting up an unauthorized tree this year. It's not that the Macko's are anti-holidays by any means, just different than the Carpenter's that's all.

We have always been big cookie makers - I'd guess Mom and we girls used to make maybe thirty different kinds each year?

Anyway... Just in case you need a new recipe for holiday cookies, may I recommend one of these? The first one, the chocolate shortbread, has cayenne pepper in it - which always reminds me of the "know-it-all" in the Polar Express. Remember?

You know, Montezuma, the king of the Aztecs...

...would drink quarts of hot chocolate every day.

It was thick as mud and red. He put chili pepper in instead of sugar.

- Get it? Hot chocolate?

CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD OLÉ

Ingredients:

· 8 oz. NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™ 53% Cacao Dark Chocolate Baking Bar(s), broken into small pieces

· 2 cups all-purpose flour

· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

· 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

· 1 cup packed light brown sugar

· 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened

· 1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 325º F.

*Microwave small chocolate pieces in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; stir. If pieces retain some of their original shape, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted. Cool to room temperature.

*Combine flour, cinnamon and cayenne in medium bowl. Beat brown sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Stir in pecans.

*Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.

*Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

This one is just because my Mom can't have chocolate, so I replaced the mini morsels with fruit and nuts. Frankly it is good for almost any addition - sweet or savory. I also use it for Christmas morning with sausage... I don't add the sugar of course! Let me know what you add!

CRANBERRY AND WALNUT CREAM CHEESE PASTRY COOKIES

Ingredients:

· 2 sheets (17.25-ounce package) frozen puff pastry, thawed

· 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

· 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

· 1 cup cranberries

· 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

*Unfold 1 puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll out to make 14 x 10-inch rectangle.

*Combine cream cheese and sugar in small bowl until smooth.

*Spread half cream cheese mixture over puff pastry, leaving 1-inch border on one long side. Sprinkle with half morsels.

*Roll up starting at long side covered with cream cheese. Seal end by moistening with water. Repeat steps with remaining ingredients.

*Refrigerate for 1 hour.

*Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

*Cut rolls crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Place cut-side-down on prepared baking sheets.

*Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

*Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Here's to a tasty holiday.

If you see any chocolate spritz camel cookies... send them my way!

A Close Shave

Last week I had the pleasure of listening to a very special guy talk about a hobby he enjoys... My Dad!

He has collected razors and shaving tools for many years...

Some items have special histories

and many of them were given to him by friends from all over.

Some of his artifacts cover all the mysteries of grooming!

He demonstrated the idiosyncrasies of the straight razor - safety first!

Discussed how the razors were sharpened

and told how the Gillette Company wanted to increase sales by switching to a new kind of razor with a replaceable blade... why sell one straight razor when you can sell blades over and over again!

So many styles of shaver were born once the blades were invented...

...and new ways to sharpen the blades for the frugal!

a plethora of honing devices!

(And did I mention my Mom dressed him and added the fake mustache to complete the ensemble? He's a good sport my Dad - ever ready to play along with the theme dressing!)

Know those fancy vibrating Fusion Razors that are all the rage? Here's an old school one that plugged in. Some where in the display is a wind-up one that is even older! Every thing old is new again...

Every Christmas we bought Dad a new bottle of Mennen aftershave - each year a new design some were pretty cool!

And here is a photo of a real live barber shop belonging to a cousin from Southern Ohio.

Hope you enjoyed our little tour through shaving history! Wish you could have heard it first hand!

Saturday Night with the Boys

Spent last Saturday night with my family and friends in downtown Cleveland. We started off at the Rockbottom Brewery where The Boy and I both tried the beer sampler. Pretty interesting trying each one and seeing how the flavors change.

From lightest to darkest we have Cleveland American Light, Walleye Wheat, Powerhouse Pale Ale, Riverbend Red, Dawg Pound Brown, and Terminal Stout. To my surprise, I enjoyed the stout quite a bit.

Now if I could just get someone to provide me with a sampler of fine whiskeys... a bourbon, scotch, single malt, double malt, Kentucky, Irish - I am serious - what does it all mean?

Then it was off to see the show on the Nautica Stage. A very excellent place to see a concert. An outdoor venue with the river backing the stage and the city just beyond.

The opening bands were actually very easy to listen to. Often the bands are of the "growler" type with too much bass, poser guitars, and singers who don't sing. This time we were treated to Icarus Witch and Coheed & Cambria. The latter broke out into a bit of Iron Maden's the Trooper which was well recieved, and they also did a tune with a theremin. I spent most of the evening trying to remember the name of that instrument I kept thinking "therm, therm, what!?!?" Remembered it driving down the expressway the next day. Just popped into my head.

And then came: Heaven and Hell

Here we have Tony Iommi, otherwise known as The Master... ruler of the guitar.

and the whole gang: Geezer Butler on bass, Ronnie James Dio vocals, and Vinne Appice on drums.

Dio singing the penultimate "Heaven and Hell" watch out for those flames!

It was a good night. The Indians won and so did the Browns. Some might even consider it a miracle.

I love this city at night... someday I'm going to take a thousand pictures of the lights and the energy.

I love my boy too.

Life is just a carousel, spinning fast you've got to ride it well, it's heaven and hell...

Great Strides 2009

It was time again for the Great Strides Walk to Support Cystic Fibrosis research back on May 2, 2009.

Went to Toledo again to walk with Breanna and her sister Mandi pictured above, and many friends shown below! Thanks to Mandi's Alpha Phi sisters and other friends from BGSU who came to support her as well as Bre's gang from Sylvania.

Mom and Dad were there too.

I did not send out any emails asking for donations this year... But I believe you can still support the cause of you're interested. Follow this link.

NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION? CHECK OUT THESE FAST FACTS ABOUT CYSTIC FIBROSIS FROM THE DETROIT CHAPTER WEBSITE AND REMEMBER YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

About 1000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.

Of the 30,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis over 900 live in the state of Michigan.

Currently, there are more than 30 potential CF therapies in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s drug discovery and development pipeline; 50 years ago there were none.

Today, more than 45 percent of all people with CF in this country are 18 years or older.

In the 1950’s, few children with CF lived to attend elementary school. Now, due to advances in research, many people with CF expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Everyone is important - So support your own causes however you can!

For an Alpha Phi Girl!

My Niece Mandi went off to Bowling Green State University last fall and I was so excited that she decided to participate in Sorority Recruitment!

Now I've mostly talked your ear off about Chi Omega around here - but I am all about the Panhellenic Sisterhood in every way.

Although her mother, who is my sister Diana, and I both pledged Chi Omega, everyone finds her own place in the Greek system.

And Amanda pledged Alpha Phi!

I wanted to show her how excited I was not to have to share any of my owl beads (just kidding!) so I whipped up this bracelet with some of the Alpha Phi symbols. Can you see the ivy leaves, forget-me-nots, and lily of the valley? Their colors are silver and bordeax, so they are in there too!

I'm very proud of you Miss Mandi and all you are doing to contribute to your chapter and Greek Life on Campus!

Graduation

So yes! The Boy did graduate - cum laude as a matter of fact! With praise indeed.

He earned a bachelor of fine art in the fine arts, with a minor in art history.

Do you suppose we have to stop calling him The Boy now?

Two hundred forty nine students received their diplomas.

For those who could not attend - here are some images of the day...

The official announcements (yes I bought them - no they're not mailed yet! any other silly questions?)

The marquee at the beautiful Ohio Theater in downtown Columbus, Ohio

These next three are lifted from the CCAD web site...

Inside the theater, an amazingly beautiful place

Commencement speaker Ed Razek, president and chief marketing officer, brand & creative services for Limited Brands - Gloria gave him an "A", John an "F" so that's about right for our family!

It's art school - you should have seen the "amendments" to the regalia!

Walking across the stage to accept his diploma (the out of focus shot should lead you back to where I'm taking the photos!)

The students are ready to be presented

Proud Mommy and The Boy

Gramma Gloria and Grampa Bill are here. So are John, Aunt Diana, Mandi, Aunt Debbie, Megan, and Morgan - but we did not take nearly enough pictures!

A quick stop at The Show where Ian's "In Her Blue Chair Rocking" was one of the senior pieces selected for display.

Then we're off to Buca di Beppo for a grand luncheon

A wonderful, happy day!

Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances

A flash back for you to March 20, 2009: The Boy's Senior Thesis Exhibit.

Come along and check it out...

here we are on the campus of Columbus College of Art and Design in the Canzani Center

the name of the exhibit: Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances

the scene inside the gallery

our first piece: "Boccioni On My Bike"

a study of motion and the world viewed through it

some views of the detail...

The Boy poses with his proud grandparents, Bill and Gloria Carpenter

on to the next piece: "Ketchup and Mustard"

(not actually painted with ketchup and mustard - just saying)

now comes "Roundabout"

it doesn't move - but you do!

my favorite "In Her Blue Chair Rocking"

go ahead, give it a push... it rocks

check out the detail

Aunt Diana, Aunt Debbie, Breanna, and Morgan are checking things out - where did Uncle Chris go?

a piece which needs you: "Human Operation"

go ahead and turn the crank - see yourself in the mirror? the piece isn't complete without you

Marshall is checking things out

another movement study: "Moderate"

swing the pendulum

how many Ians can you count in this photo?

a portrait of the artist by Marshall

CCAD pebbles made my me to decorate the appetizer table

I suspect the pieces are available for purchase - contact his proud mother for more information!