Yesterday was nisu baking day! For those of you who don't know what nisu is, it is a traditional Finnish sweet biscuit that takes a long time and a lot of muscle to make. I started baking this delicious biscuit when I was about 16 years old. My aunt gave me a copy of my mumma's (grandmother to those non-Finns out there) recipe. My mother, a non-Finn herself, had never made this traditional biscuit, but encouraged me to try, because my father, and the rest of my family, loved it. And so a tradition was born.
I know there are people out there who bake nisu (also called pulla) on a regular basis, maybe even as much as once a week; but that is not in my nature. For one thing, it is hard to make; and if I made it all the time, it wouldn't seem as special. Besides, I can go to the Finnish Heritage Museum on any Saturday and get a cup of coffee and a slice of nisu for $2. Or buy a biscuit at the Finnish Treasures gift shop, also in Fairport Harbor. But back to yesterday.
My daughter-in-law and granddaughter came over yesterday morning (not too early; they know my habits), and we started right in. Someone had to watch my two great-grandsons, so I just gave directions and played with the boys while Beth and Heather did all the work. How special is that? While the dough was rising near the wood burner, the girls even decorated the Christmas tree that Den had put up the night before, and got out all the Christmas objects, articles, artifacts, or whatever you want to call them, and decorated the house.
Just as the first hot biscuits were coming out of the oven, my son, grandson, and grandson's girlfriend showed up at the door for coffee and nisu. So now you can see how special yesterday was. I hope you all have a day like that in your Christmas season.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who may read this post. I hope your day was wonderful, filled with friends and family and good food.
We spent the day at my nephew's house; he and his wife put on quite a dinner. Turkey, ham (Dan's secret recipe), stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, corn, rolls, and appetizers, too. Then came coffee and dessert for those who could still manage a bite or two. But the best part was spending the day with people we don't get to see as often as we would like. It's a time to catch up, to talk about our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids; to find out what's new in their world.
After clearing off the table, the younger, more energetic family members spread out several newspapers on the smooth surface and plan their attack on Black Friday. We older family members, just shake our heads, get another piece of pie, and continue our catching up. We are much too worldly-wise to go out to the stores on Black Friday. Or maybe we're just getting too old.
We spent the day at my nephew's house; he and his wife put on quite a dinner. Turkey, ham (Dan's secret recipe), stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, corn, rolls, and appetizers, too. Then came coffee and dessert for those who could still manage a bite or two. But the best part was spending the day with people we don't get to see as often as we would like. It's a time to catch up, to talk about our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids; to find out what's new in their world.
After clearing off the table, the younger, more energetic family members spread out several newspapers on the smooth surface and plan their attack on Black Friday. We older family members, just shake our heads, get another piece of pie, and continue our catching up. We are much too worldly-wise to go out to the stores on Black Friday. Or maybe we're just getting too old.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Politics as Usual
Too many people are passing on emails that have very misleading and downright untrue contents. We are all upset with what is going on politically in this country, and everyone thinks they have the answer, including me. But when false, or even semi-false, emails make the rounds, it hurts everyone and only contributes to the hatred one group may have for another.
The American people have been criticizing our government from the day it was formally established. Before that, there were arguments as to what kind of government we should have. I, for one, think the founding fathers did a heck of a good job; after all, we are still one nation 200+ years later. Just think of all the advancements, inventions, changes in the world that have happened since we first became the United States of America until now. What foresight those men had. Of course, if women had been involved 230 years ago, it would probably have been an even better place to live. But that's not the point of this blog. All the current, untrue, or semi-true emails that are making the rounds are.
Too many people think they know what is true because they saw it on the internet. And if you dig deep enough, the truth is probably out there. The problem is, not many people care about the truth. This country, and the rest of the world, are in a deep economic hurt, and we want to blame someone. Because some right wingers now have the loudest voices, we overlook what has happened in the past and listen to the rhetoric of hatred. I am very disheartened by what I hear and see going on all around me; I just want to step back and close my eyes and ears to what is going on.
Why can't we see that we have to be generous and kind to all people, not just the ones who think like us? Why do we spew the rhetoric of hate? And who do we hate? Evidently not the Wall Street fat cats and bankers, but the little guy trying to make a living, even if he has to step over a line in the sand to do it. We all need to take a step back and look at our priorities, look at our emotions and see if they are getting in the way of what is right. We need to start caring about people, and not about the almighty dollar. Maybe the OWS movement shows that we are slowly starting to care again.
"There's not a single example on our planet, not one, where an anti-government strategy has produced a vibrant economy with strong and broad-based growth and prosperity." - Bill Clinton
"What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents." -Robert F. Kennedy
The American people have been criticizing our government from the day it was formally established. Before that, there were arguments as to what kind of government we should have. I, for one, think the founding fathers did a heck of a good job; after all, we are still one nation 200+ years later. Just think of all the advancements, inventions, changes in the world that have happened since we first became the United States of America until now. What foresight those men had. Of course, if women had been involved 230 years ago, it would probably have been an even better place to live. But that's not the point of this blog. All the current, untrue, or semi-true emails that are making the rounds are.
Too many people think they know what is true because they saw it on the internet. And if you dig deep enough, the truth is probably out there. The problem is, not many people care about the truth. This country, and the rest of the world, are in a deep economic hurt, and we want to blame someone. Because some right wingers now have the loudest voices, we overlook what has happened in the past and listen to the rhetoric of hatred. I am very disheartened by what I hear and see going on all around me; I just want to step back and close my eyes and ears to what is going on.
Why can't we see that we have to be generous and kind to all people, not just the ones who think like us? Why do we spew the rhetoric of hate? And who do we hate? Evidently not the Wall Street fat cats and bankers, but the little guy trying to make a living, even if he has to step over a line in the sand to do it. We all need to take a step back and look at our priorities, look at our emotions and see if they are getting in the way of what is right. We need to start caring about people, and not about the almighty dollar. Maybe the OWS movement shows that we are slowly starting to care again.
"There's not a single example on our planet, not one, where an anti-government strategy has produced a vibrant economy with strong and broad-based growth and prosperity." - Bill Clinton
"What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents." -Robert F. Kennedy
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Winter Clothes
It's that time of year again, when I reluctantly put my summer clothes away for the winter and bring out the turtlenecks and long underwear. Every year, I know I am going to get rid of a whole stack of clothes that I haven't worn for months, or even years. And every year, I don't. I know all the magazines say that if you haven't worn something in a year, you should pitch it. So why can't I do that? I haven't the foggiest. Maybe because I was raised a dark Lutheran? Maybe because my parents lived during the Great Depression? Because I didn't have a lot of money growing up?Whatever the reason, I started out with high hopes this year. I actually got rid of a pair of sandals when I went through my shoes. Oh, this was going to be a good year! Then, I added a pair of jeans to the "pile!" Can you believe it? And I hadn't even started on the dresser or the closet.
Well, I've gone through them now, and all I managed to add was a top that I bought five years ago. At one point, I had chosen two dresses to give to the Salvation Army, but then had second thoughts and put them back in the closet. No matter that I hadn't worn them since I retired (six years ago); I might need them someday.
I think I will let my "pile" of rejects sit in plain sight for a day or two. Who knows—I may just decide to add more, maybe even a dress or two.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Depressing Day
This is one of those days that are depressing and heavy. Please don't ask me why, I couldn't give you an answer. I thought I just wanted to go back to bed and sleep, but even that is too hard right now. Instead, I swept the floors, did some laundry, cleaned out the kitchen sink, did dishes, and now I am going to iron.
Yes, you saw that right—I am going to iron. I know several women who do not even own an iron, much less use one. But I iron. I iron shirts, slacks, shorts, blouses, tablecloths, napkins, and anything else that could possibly need to be ironed. My usual time to iron is Monday evening, after dinner, while listening to WCSB (a college radio station) play the blues. There is no way you can remain down in the dumps while listening to the blues. Most of the music has such an upbeat tempo that you just want to move your feet, and your body. Think John Hammond or John Lee Hooker. But that's neither here nor there right now.
Right now I am just going to iron and feel sorry for myself. I know the weather here (cold, rainy, gray, windy) has a lot to do with the mood I'm in, but it doesn't matter. I can't talk myself up, so I may just as well iron. At least I'll accomplish something.
Yes, you saw that right—I am going to iron. I know several women who do not even own an iron, much less use one. But I iron. I iron shirts, slacks, shorts, blouses, tablecloths, napkins, and anything else that could possibly need to be ironed. My usual time to iron is Monday evening, after dinner, while listening to WCSB (a college radio station) play the blues. There is no way you can remain down in the dumps while listening to the blues. Most of the music has such an upbeat tempo that you just want to move your feet, and your body. Think John Hammond or John Lee Hooker. But that's neither here nor there right now.
Right now I am just going to iron and feel sorry for myself. I know the weather here (cold, rainy, gray, windy) has a lot to do with the mood I'm in, but it doesn't matter. I can't talk myself up, so I may just as well iron. At least I'll accomplish something.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Race (?) to the Presidency
And the Presidential race is on! How stupid is it that the potential Presidential candidates are already holding televised debates, challenging each other, and hoping to make the other candidates look stupid. I think they all look stupid, for a couple of reasons.
First, there are several current officeholders in the race - governors, congressmen, etc. If they have to campaign nonstop for the next 14 months, who is doing their job? They can't possibly do justice to what they were elected to do—govern. I think campaigning has become a full time, year-round job. Who cares about passing laws, or governing the country, all they have to do is campaign from the time they are first elected until they finally die. Job description—no governing needed.
Second, with today's technology, a candidate could announce his or her candidacy a month before the election and still become well known enough to get elected. In fact, that might not be a bad idea. By that time, all the candidates who started campaigning early would be nothing but noise. We would have heard their ideas, or lack of ideas, a million times, and have gotten so bored with their rhetoric that most of the electorate would have shut their ears and eyes to them. Someone who comes in just before election day would get noticed a lot, especially if they had at least one new idea.
Where has common sense gone? And what is wrong with the American people that we put up with such idiocy?
First, there are several current officeholders in the race - governors, congressmen, etc. If they have to campaign nonstop for the next 14 months, who is doing their job? They can't possibly do justice to what they were elected to do—govern. I think campaigning has become a full time, year-round job. Who cares about passing laws, or governing the country, all they have to do is campaign from the time they are first elected until they finally die. Job description—no governing needed.
Second, with today's technology, a candidate could announce his or her candidacy a month before the election and still become well known enough to get elected. In fact, that might not be a bad idea. By that time, all the candidates who started campaigning early would be nothing but noise. We would have heard their ideas, or lack of ideas, a million times, and have gotten so bored with their rhetoric that most of the electorate would have shut their ears and eyes to them. Someone who comes in just before election day would get noticed a lot, especially if they had at least one new idea.
Where has common sense gone? And what is wrong with the American people that we put up with such idiocy?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Public Education
We can all lament how public education isn't what it used to be—it isn't. We can say that the parents need to be more involved with the schools; that the teachers need to use more discipline; and that the schools need more money to keep up with the latest technology. But no matter how many times, or how many ways, we say it, it isn't going to happen.
A lot of parents who care about their children's education are using vouchers to send their kids to private schools. This takes dollars away from the public schools, leaving poor schools for poor kids. A lot of kids, and not just the poorer ones, come from families who don't care whether or not their children get qualified instruction, and this is not going to change just because they are told they must take a greater interest in the child's education.
The United States no longer ranks first, or even second or third, in the quality of the education provided to its students. China is ranked tops in reading, math, and science; and Finland, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and New Zealand all rank better than the U.S. I don't know the answer to make our system better, and I certainly can't suggest how to make it the best in the world.
I do know that we need to look at innovative ideas for keeping kids in school, for keeping them interested in learning, so that we may once more become a country who emphasizes education. I believe that the answer does not involve throwing more money at the problem, or reducing Thomas Jefferson's contribution to the founding of this nation to a footnote. We need to look at how teachers are trained, how effective they are in teaching (and not just in "teaching to a test"), the hours students spend in school, maybe even year-round classes. Making our schools better will not be an easy sell to people in the U.S., but not making our schools better will have an even worse outcome. Jobs will continue to move overseas as companies want to hire the best and brightest; and we will have increasing numbers of people on welfare roles as these jobs are lost. What should we do? I don't know. But I think a good start would be to vow to make our public school system once more the best in the world, and to look for people who can help do this.
A lot of parents who care about their children's education are using vouchers to send their kids to private schools. This takes dollars away from the public schools, leaving poor schools for poor kids. A lot of kids, and not just the poorer ones, come from families who don't care whether or not their children get qualified instruction, and this is not going to change just because they are told they must take a greater interest in the child's education.
The United States no longer ranks first, or even second or third, in the quality of the education provided to its students. China is ranked tops in reading, math, and science; and Finland, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and New Zealand all rank better than the U.S. I don't know the answer to make our system better, and I certainly can't suggest how to make it the best in the world.
I do know that we need to look at innovative ideas for keeping kids in school, for keeping them interested in learning, so that we may once more become a country who emphasizes education. I believe that the answer does not involve throwing more money at the problem, or reducing Thomas Jefferson's contribution to the founding of this nation to a footnote. We need to look at how teachers are trained, how effective they are in teaching (and not just in "teaching to a test"), the hours students spend in school, maybe even year-round classes. Making our schools better will not be an easy sell to people in the U.S., but not making our schools better will have an even worse outcome. Jobs will continue to move overseas as companies want to hire the best and brightest; and we will have increasing numbers of people on welfare roles as these jobs are lost. What should we do? I don't know. But I think a good start would be to vow to make our public school system once more the best in the world, and to look for people who can help do this.
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