I have just spent the evening watching an old movie about the Australian opera singer Marjorie Lawrence. Marjorie was born on a farm in 1907 and somehow managed to go from distant Australia to France to study and then onto New York to rise in the operatic ranks. Being an Australian girl she was very physical and she was the first soprano to perform the immolation scene in Götterdämmerung by riding her horse into the flames as Wagner had intended. Good old Marjorie also performed the Dance of the seven veils in Richard Strauss's Salome[1] "more convincingly" than most other sopranos!
Not long after she married she contracted polio and was left confined to a wheelchair. She managed to resume her career and sang for some time afterwards. She even travelled overseas to entertain the troops after WWII and I think even during the Vietnam War. Marjorie died in 1979.
The movie starred Eleanor Parker as Marjorie. Dear Eleanor I believe was nominated for an Academy Award. I can only think that it was either in the category of "most overacting actress" or "worst lip synching by an actress in a muscial". Hey Brittany Spears wasn't born yet! [In case you missed it in other parts of the world, little Brit is in Australia and audiences are walking out because she is lip synching her way through the concerts and badly at that!]
Anyway, the movie was the usual Hollywood bad retelling of a great story. Marjorie was disappointed with the result saying that it did not represent her life at all. Bad movie, as it may have been, the subject, Marjorie Lawrence, really interests me. I want to know more about her now.
I went online and was able to track down a 2nd edition copy of her autobiography "Interrupted Melody" which is what the movie was called also. The blurb says it is a little damaged, but heck it was published in 1949! It claims to have been signed by the author also, so I am a little chuffed. I don't usually buy second hand books as I love the feel and smell of new books, and I worry about introducing book worm into my own library, but in this case there was no choice, To get a copy reproduced through a library would be more expensive.
So, I hope all goes well, and hopefully the book will arrive in a week or so. I hope Marjorie told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth....more than what can be said for the movie!
I took time to make a cake this morning using one of the new kits we received yesterday. This is one of the kits for Princess Tiana. Our store is in a culturally diverse area, so it will be interesting to see how well these kits sell.
I usually try to avoid doing cakes in whipped icing, especially chocolate whipped. This order called for lots of flowers. I didn't leave too much open space!
Here's a close-up of the border of flowers.
I thought we had most of the Friday cakes done when I went home yesterday, but I spent most of the day today working on cakes for today. I only had time to make two cakes for tomorrow. We really needed a third person doing cakes today.
I left work an hour early today because I had already worked four days this week. I got home before the sun went down for the first time in ages!
I made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner. I hit hubby's with the blender. Worked great. Much healthier than the creamy soups I have been making. This whole soft food diet is going to take some getting used to.
I go to work late tomorrow and Sunday. I'll have to try to get something else made before I leave in the morning. I baked a custard pie tonight while the soup was cooking.
We will have lots of deer hunters here tomorrow. May not be able to get to the computer!
Well, Lizzie's school report came home today.
And before I start I just have to point out that she did lose her mojo this year. I dunno what happened. Friends, boyfriend, parties, turning 17. Shit happens.
But it came back, so she told me we have to ignore this report.
So the first subject I came to was Maths.
And I really didn't get past that because it was the funniest Teacher Comment I think I've ever read on a report.
it said.
Lizzie is a student with the ability required to do the work but finds it very difficult to fully concentrate on a task and is always talking with peers and occasionally eating.
I said to her - what are you occasionally eating?
But he is a bit of a nutter. One day there was a girl in the class using one of those vicks inhalers. You know the white sticks you put up your nose and inhale to clear your nose when you have a cold?
Anyway he rang up the girls mother and told her that she was sticking tampons up her nose during class.
Now I must admit that Lizzie did tell him that it was a tampon. But she was joking. And you'd think he would check before he rang and told the girls mother.
Son has just driven off to his univeristy exam. I am more nervous than when I go to exams myself. I guess that a parent always wants the best for their child and even if they are 24 and a big hairy man! I kept a low profile until Son left so that my nervousness wouldn't freak him out.
Daughter2 ran a 5.2km marathon after work last night. It was a twilight marathon. This is the same girl who climbed two of the Glass House Mts last weekend. [When we say mountain in Australia, take it with a little grain of salt. Our Mountains are sometimes more a description than an actuality]. This is the same girl who spent her 15th year horizontal in her bed, with severe chronic fatigue. She is 28 years old now and doing things we never dared hope for her. This weekend she is buying a bike so she can go riding with Daughter1 and The Boy. I can't believe these are my daughters. It has been a long road for her, but damn, nothing is going to stop her. I am in awe!
Mr FD is on the road in his new car. He keeps phoning me and singing me "I'm driving in my car". Springsteen has nothing to worry about. I would still be his in a blink. I am happy that Mr FD is enjoying the thrill of a new car ...before they repossess it at least! Hopefully he is doing more than just drinving in his car, but making some money as well!
I am feeling a strong desire to start baking again. My nesting instinct is coming back. Damn. First I have to rediscover my house under the filth and dust of the past 12 months. I was going to take before and after photos to show on my blog to motivate me into action, but I fear you would all tell me to change my name to Pig in Mud instead of Flamingo Dancer! You will just have to be content with my written crowing about my domestic superiority instead.
Daytime television viewing is really bad. Well the advertising is really bad. I think I missed out on the Snuggies as it is now summer, but I can still get in on the shamwow offer. I can't help wondering how one washes a shamwow if they absorb all the water? I can also buy life insurance before my medical results come back from the doctor to make my husband happy, and buy funeral insurance so that my children don't have to worry about throwing me in a hole. Then I can lemon detox and shed a dress size [and my health] in two days. After that I can buy Nude cosmetics and hide all the ugly bits - does it come in a drum? I won't mention the range of sports equipment that I can have delivered to my door either. It is a full regime being made dissatisfied with myself and fearful of life in general.
The crow has left his post. I started lying on my bed with a pile of pillows blocking its view of my face. I did hear a noise at the bathroom window early last night, like a bird clawing against the screen, but I didn't investigate. I am starting to feel like I am in a remake of The Birds! Between magpie season and being told to walk around with an ice cream container with eyes drawn on the back of it, on my head to avoid a pecking attack and now the Crow Stalker , I feel like I am an endangered species.
Isn't Al Gore looking good these days? Lost weight, better haircut. Does he have a girlfriend?
My mother phones to say that her sister, my aunt, is to have chemo after her bowel cancer surgery. At least that is what I think she said. She told me "you know those tablets you have after you have an operation". Chemo, Mum? "I don't know, I don't ask questions!" Then she proceeds to make all sorts of wild claims and predictions based on no information and no fact. I guess it should be no surprise to anyone that I have a mother who is rampant, but it still surprises me. Was she like this when we were growing up? Surely not. Yeah, probably. Explains a lot doesn't it?
I have spoken to my sister 3 times by phone this week. I love my sister. She doesn't understand me at all, but she loves me. What more can you ask from a big sister? I on the other hand understand her too well, but I still love her. That is what younger sisters are for.
Another niece engaged. Two family weddings planned for next year. We are expecting at least one more yet - wedding that is. The changing of the guard generation wise. We are becoming the elder statesmen/women. It is a nice thing. I am ready to hand over and be dotty and allow them to take the pressure.
I think I will lie here in bed a little longer and think about house cleaning and baking. It is a life and someone has to live it. I sacrifice myself for you!
I worked today, so no time for pictures. I did make a unique cake this afternoon, but I had forgotten to take my camera with me today. I'll have to make another one tomorrow. We received three new kits in today for new Disney designs. I'll have to try them out to see if I like them or not. One of them is iCarly which we have gotten several requests for.
No real news on the medical front, but it looks like my hubby is leaning toward keeping the quality of life that he has now and taking a chance on living for at least a few more years. He read a lot of information today that our daughter had given him, and all of it regarding the operation was depressing.
Since I didn't take any photos today, I decided to go back to this time last year and see what I was doing. In addition to making pot holders and table runners, I was still outside taking pictures. This is an edited version of a spider's egg sack. Last year I took lots of pictures of spiders and praying mantis, but I hardly saw any of them this year.
It's in to work early again tomorrow morning, so I'd best get myself off to bed. 5:30 comes early for me. There should be three of us, but I think someone is going to have to help the donut people, so that will slow us down. We made most of the Friday cakes today, so we should be able to make a big dent in the Saturday orders tomorrow. I'll still try to get a couple of pictures. Toodles!
You can find the entire recipe for Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats here. Start by buttering an 8x8 inch pan or you can do like I did and line the entire pan with aluminum foil and spray with Pam for super easy cleanup. Set the pan aside.
In a large pot melt a stick of butter on medium-low heat stirring frequently making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. The butter will become foamy and then start to get golden brown. Watch the butter carefully and stir constantly because it goes from golden to burned quickly! When the butter looks nice and golden brown remove from the heat and quickly stir in the 10 oz. of marshmallows until they become all melted and smooth. Add in 6 cups of Rice Krispies Cereal and 1/4 tsp. of sea salt or you can use coarse kosher salt like I did. Mix well to coat and spoon the mixture into the prepared pan.
There is a need to scratch that itch! I wanna travel but not just like road trip travel but like european hiking travel...
Not feeling altogether healthy today, so have been lying a little upon my bed. I have the blinds open and a crow is spending large amounts of time sitting on the lamp post outside my bedroom window and looking in at me. It flies away and then returns to take up its post again. I am not overly superstitious, but I am starting to get a little spooked out by the damn crow. I would indeed like to stone the damn thing.
Look you saggy bag of black feathers take your business somewhere else! SHOO!
What was your favorite class in high school? (And no, lunch doesn't count.)
Geometry. DUH!! 8:-)
Geek points for the measure of angle F.
No time for photographs today. This is my leaves in the bird bath from last week with a couple of filters applied. It makes it look like an abstract painting.
I went to the city with my hubby today. I watched the grandkids so our daughter who is a doctor could go with her dad to his doctor's appointment with his surgeon. They didn't get good news. He has had esophageal achalasia for more than 20 years. At it's basic level, it means that the lower esophageal sphincter (muscle) fails to relax and allow food to pass into the stomach in response to swallowing. He has had various proceedures over the years, but now his choices are down to just two: an espophagectomy (removal of the esophagus) or just living like he is now and waiting to see what will happen. Both have disadvantages and no advantages. If he does nothing, he risks cancer or a complete blockage and emergency surgery on an older and weaker body. If he opts for the surgery, there are all the complications from the proceedure itself, then a complete change in lifestyle. There are no good choices.
If I were in his shoes, I think I would opt to keep living with the quality of life that I have until something changes. He is getting along pretty good right now. He has more energy. He has gained a couple of pounds. He is sleeping good a night. So far, the food that I have been fixing has been really good. The only down side for me is that it is more time consuming. I make almost everything from scratch. I will try to share some of my ideas and recipes as we go along.
Being gone all day wears me out. And I have to get up early in the morning. I need to put some stuff away before I go to bed tonight, too. Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern for us. It won't be an easy decision for him to make. I'll keep you posted.
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