My Momma.....

I hadn't planned on blogging today, but I woke up with this song in my head.

I haven't heard this song in years. It was one I heard often as a child, and it always made me sad.

As an adult it makes me cry like a baby....ugly cry, snot, sob, boo-hoo....until five minutes ago I had never read the lyrics. In the song her mama makes her a coat from a box of multi colored rags and tells her the story of Joseph then she says "Perhaps the coat will bring you good luck and happiness" and she blesses it with a kiss. OK tears start flowing here......then the other kids make fun of her coat made of rags....snot flying.....the little girl tells them of the love her momma sewed in every stitch and told them the story of Joseph from the Bible. It's the last line that really gets me howlin'........

"Now I know we had no money but I was rich as I cold be in my coat of many colors my momma made for me.....just for me."

This is my Momma winter of 1968, pregnant with me. Poor dear she looks so happy...she had no idea what she was in for after the fruit of her womb was brought into the world.

Growing up in a "tiny town" in the Mid-West...we had a lot of NOTHIN'. More than alot of nothing......I was always wanting something, and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get it. Oh I was a brat. I am sure I gave my Mom fits. She has never said that....but I know I did. My Momma sewed too. She sewed me many outfits...polyester outfits. In High School she sewed my formals for me, they were gorgeous....no one ever made fun of me like in the song. I just never fully appreciated all my Momma did for me, until I was a momma.

I wish I would have realized earlier in life the truth of this line in Dolly's song....

"But they didn't understand it and I tried to make them see that one is only poor if they choose to be."

I wish I would have been more appreciative of my momma, how hard she worked to make things good for my sister and I. My Mom now lives hundreds of miles away and it's been a long time since we spent Mothers Day together. I'll call her, and see what she's up to today...so far away...then tell her to read my blog. I don't like to get all weepy and sappy over the phone.

I love you Mom...you're the best!

Happy Mothers Day!

reluctant entertainer WINNER!

Heather Nesbit is the winner of a signed copy of the Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin. I am so excited for you to get this book in your hands! My contact information is in my profile shoot me an email Heather, my frand, with your mailing address and I will send you your copy faster than you can say Ojibwa! (Sorry it's late...I'm tired stuff like indian tribes start popping into my head.)

I have to say all your comments affected me ALOT. So much so that I just want to hug all of you who find entertaining so stressful, and even painful. I guess now you know you are not alone. There are definitely more of you that are reluctant entertainers than fearless.

I hafta fess up a bit. And tell you some of the things that freak me out about entertaining. First I should say that I am a people person, I love having people around so I think that helps me push my fears aside and invite regardless of how much I may be stressing out, on the inside.

Here is what I worry about. Not enough food....too much food....somebody finding one of my hairs in their food...the timing of the food....the pairing of the food. Good Golly Miss Molly...FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!

It's really ridiculous, because I think I only ran out of food once and it was after everyone had seconds. If I do have too much I always pawn it off on people or we just eat the leftovers in various versions of the original anyway. And I don't think anyone has ever found a hair in their food, if they have they were very kind and never said a thing. I think for the most part people are so glad that they are at my house enjoying themselves and not at theirs stressing out over the details, that I could probably feed them Spam on Toast and they would be happy....OK maybe not, but you get my point.

I pray this whole discussion challenges you to dig deep and find the courage to invite, to reach out. Getting around a table with people and breaking bread , can be life changing. To my friend who commented about meeting in a hall every year...first hugs to you the sadness in your comment gave me a poopy lip and got me all misty eyed. Start small, don't overwhelm yourself. And to the person who commented about a family member making a rude comment about your hostessing skills, next time give them a nuggie! From ME!

This won't be the last copy of Sandy's book I give away. But in the meantime, please check out her website it will give you many of the helpful tips you find in the book.

Hugs! Luv Ya,

Random.org was my helper in selecting a winner this time....thank you Random.

the Schnitzelbank

In the Fall of 2006 one of my most beloved restaurants closed....sniffle...deep sigh. I took these pictures the day before they demolished the building. The Schnitzelbank was an institution in Grand Rapids, it served authentic German food for over 75 years. As someone of German decent, and one who also lived in Germany for nearly a year the food of Germany is comforting to me. German food is nothing fancy, but it is hearty. Meat, beer, potatoes, beer, bread, beer, oh and don't forget the cheese. I had been reared on Velveeta, the discovery of real cheeses was heavenly.

My first Sunday dinner, at home with my Germany Family, was Gruenkohl with Speck. Green slimy kale with salty ham and pilsner to wash it down. "You will learn to like it.", Oma said. I never really learned to like it. I did learn to like plenty of other German delicacies, resulting in my returning to the USA with 25 extra pounds in my "hosen". (pants)

My first trip to the Schnitzelbank was with my German class in high school, escorted by our very lovable but wacko teacher, Herr "whip gummi bears at your students" Haan.

The waitress were all in there 70's with healthy bosoms, wearing the traditional German waitress attire. That was in 1985, and in 2005 the same waitress were still working there and had not aged a day. Must have been the beer and sauerkraut.


It makes my heart ache that I am unable to bring my kids to this restaurant and let them experience the great food and atmosphere that brought back so many memories for me. I lived on the Northern most border of Germany....so any of my Germany Family might take offense that I am comparing this very Bavarian Restaurant to Flensburg. Because if you are familiar with Germany you will know there is a North and South thing that goes on there too. But despite the decor, the food at the Schnitz was very similar to food I ate during my stay in Deutschland.

The closing of the Schnitzelbank forced me to get out the recipes that my friends wrote down for me before I returned home and to use the German cookbooks that I had received as gifts.

In the Fall and Winter I make my favorite German meal, saurerbraten, with spaetzle, rotkohl, and gravy.


I am so glad that I made the trip downtown and snapped these shots of our local history before it was torn down to build a much needed parking garage......that was sarcasm, if you didn't get it.

What is this fair madchen doing?

That is what my butt and legs looked like when I returned home. And it wasn't from climbing mountains with my lederhosen clad boyfriend...it was from eating too much cheese and bread slathered with real butter, I had also learned that Blue Bonnet, is not real butter!

I plan on sharing a few of my favorite German recipes...until then!

Liebe,