Cookie Baking Day at Grandma's

When my grandchildren were infants we started our annual tradition of cookie baking day at grandma's house. The day before I  get out my collection of cookie cutters and mix the cookie dough. I have tried several recipes over the years, but this rolled sugar cookie recipe has become my favorite, it is easy to work with and I love that it calls for 3 teaspoons of vanilla...the cookies smell wonderful while they are baking and  the taste is delightful.  This day is easily my best baking moment of the year!

Rolled Sugar Cookies

yields: about 4 dozen cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

3 teaspoons Rodelle vanilla

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Prepare cookies: In a mixing bowl,cream the butter with an electric mixer. Add sugar and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and beat until incorporated.

2.Sift together the remaining ingredients: stir them into the creamed mixture and mix well. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

3.On a lightly floured surface roll dough out to about a 1/4 inch thick. Cut out cookies with cookie cutters. Place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approx. 8 minutes or until just golden. Cool before decorating.

Springtime trip down through Alabama and Tennessee

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taipei

TCM consists of several different modalities, including massage, acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qigong. TCM practionioners look for signs of disharmony to understand, and help prevent illness and disease.

 The following photos were taken in 1996 in Taipei at various clinics, hospitals and phamacies.

  checking pulses

TDP lamp treatment

steam treatment

TDP lamp treatment and cupping

 Tui na

 acupuncture and moxibustion

 drawers full of herbs in the pharmacy

herbs at the market 

 

Ferry Across the Mississippi

 My very excited 4 year old grandson and I went on an adventure in 2007 and crossed the Mississippi River on the ferry at Canton, MO. just below Lock and Dam No.20 

an excited little boy

The Canton Ferry is the longest continually operating ferry service on the Mississippi River.
The first known ferry service began in 1844. This ferry  provided not only local transportation, but also served as a gateway to the west for many covered wagon caravans and gold seeking forty-niners.

Early Canton ferries were powered by two horses walking on treadmills connected to paddlewheels. Today the Canton ferry is powered by two 195 horsepower V-6 diesel engines. 

It carried us across the mighty Mississippi for a $5 fee.

our Jeep looked pretty little next to the big trucks!

 looking out at Lock and dam No. 20

Loading up to go back across

Cemeteries in Europe

Maybe it's because I grew up across the street from a cemetery, and the vacant cemetery field was my playground for flying kites and picking wild aspargus and daisies. I learned to ride my bike on the quiet cemetery lanes. 

 That may be the reason I feel at home in cemeteries here and abroad and often find myself stopping along the road during my travels to take photos.

This is near the mountain village of Castans, France.

This is a cemetery in Greece, in the Peloponese.

And this is in Northern Italy

 This is a cemetery in Portugal

 

and in Cardona, Spain

and in London I unexpectedly came across Captain Blighs tombstone

Lima Cemetery

I was visiting a friend near Clermont, Iowa in 2007 and we went out to the Lima Cemetery and I wanted to share this amazing tombstone with you.........