Greetings, Ladies…
September 2021
Hope you’re all beginning to settle in for our upcoming long winter nap. I’m not too excited about the prospect of it, but I guess we Midwesterners are stuck with it…
My garden is still cranking out tomatoes, eggplants, parsley, basil, chives, hot red peppers, Hungarian black peppers, and the occasional strawberry, so it hasn’t yet starting thinking seriously about closing up shop for fall. I’m still waiting breathlessly for the Brussels sprouts, but I’ve compensated for the lack of them by making so many gallons of tomato sauce that I literally had to order a new chest freezer in which to store it all. Along that note, I found it on a website called “crowdfused.com” for an exceptionally low price and free immediate delivery. It’s the perfect size for one person - 5 cu.’ - and it doesn’t take up much space at all. I’m kind of in love with it. It’s called an “Arctic King”…
I’ve been having a marvelous time on my Keto diet. However, as much as I love all of the butter, cheese, and whipping cream that I’ve been eating this summer - while miraculously losing pounds - my doctor noticed that my cholesterol level is higher than usual! Well, duh!!! How NOT fun is that???
Also have been writing some grant proposals for my new non-profit, but it’s a long process and very time-consuming. Every possible funding source requires nearly a full-time commitment to the process, since each one has different requirements, forms, etc. - so my eyes have been glued to my screen pretty much nonstop since returning from Oregon.
My super-talented webmaster Hannah has been working on our website, and thankfully she’s making more progress than I am. So that’s a good thing… It’s quite complicated since it includes an online “classroom” portal, a self-scheduling calendar for students to use, a volunteer and donor form, and an online payment portal, so I’m very grateful that she’s so smart and capable. Here’s a bit of info for anyone who’s not yet had his or her ear bent about this non-profit venture…
English International Services, Inc. (EISI), is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing no-cost, online job-focused ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction for non-English-speaking legal permanent residents and conditional residents. Our goal is to improve the communication skills of non-native English speakers-in-progress so that they can more effectively perform at their jobs.
In the past I’ve taught adults from Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Slovakia, Somalia, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Recently, the majority of my students have been Hispanic, but I’ve also had students this summer from China, Russia, Poland, and Germany.
I focus on non-English speakers’ understanding and use of English grammar, vocabulary, and writing principles, as well as their ability to read, listen to, pronounce, and comprehend English information – particularly as it is essential and relevant to their jobs. I’ve found that holding classes online has been quite successful, and the students seem to like it as well, although past in-person classes were always fun for all of us. The website is: englishinternationalservices.org, but it’s still under construction…
EISI has also been recruiting volunteer “Conversation Mentors” who are willing to have a friendly online conversation with a student who is beginning to become more verbal in English. So far we’ve had several responses, so that effort will kick off a bit down the road. The purpose of this volunteer program is to encourage students’ confidence in using English outside of the classroom environment.
If anyone has the desire to contribute to the support of this organization, refer adult students our direction, or would like to become a Conversation Mentor, you can contact us at: English International Services, Inc., P.O. Box 445, Mound, MN 55364, or by e-mail at: englishintlservices@gmail.com. All contributions are fully tax-deductible. We are currently seeking funding for technology development and ongoing performance, as well as for administrative costs and the development of customized learning materials geared to specific occupations (particularly those in the fields of healthcare, home services, construction, hospitality, and agriculture.).
Speaking of immigrants, my French son-in-law will officially become an American citizen on October 14th! Congratulations, Julien!!!
Your Secret Recipe That Grandkids Will Make Forever….
As much as I hate to do it, I’m sending you a recipe this month that is not full of fat (my favorite food group). It’s quite good, though it would of course be much better with a giant blob of cream cheese-sour cream-mayo-dill on it… Sigh…
Smoked Salmon Salad
8 oz. sweet-smoked salmon (or 4 oz. sweet-smoked salmon plus 4 oz. of fresh or frozen salmon), cooked, and broken into med.-sized pieces (Don’t forget to remove the skin!)
1 c. fresh asparagus tips, quickly braised and cooled (steamed for no longer than 2 min.)
1 c. cherry or grape tomatoes
1 1/2 T minced red onion
1 medium-sized red bell pepper, chopped into small to medium-sized pieces
1 lg. avocado or 2 medium-sized avocados, cut into medium-sized pieces
1/3 to 1/2 bag romaine pieces
Toss everything together in a salad bowl.
Dressing
Mix together in a small bowl:
1 1/2 T. fresh lemon juice
1/2 c. olive oil
I T finely minced fresh parsley
1 T minced fresh chives
1 t. minced fresh dill
1 medium-sized clove of garlic, finely minced
1/2 T sugar or sugar substitute
freshly ground black pepper
Pore over salad in salad bowl and toss lightly.
Cool Looks for Hot Grannies…
I just bought this “maxi-coat” (which I’m sure is actually a sleeping bag with sleeves) online. (I hate going to stores these days; Amazon, the pandemic, and my cozy house have completely spoiled me.) I chose it because 1) I am sick and tired of having ice-cold legs all winter, and 2) it doesn’t have one of those horrible fake fur collars. It just arrived, and so far it looks pretty good.
In addition to avoiding stores, I also made the decision many years ago to buy nothing but down-filled winter coats. I’ve had several of them (one which I especially loved and then accidentally left on a plane on the way back from Europe). Because I am so boring, I once again bought a black coat, although this one does come in several cuter colors…
Ingenious Inventions…
Well, this isn’t really an invention - but actually a creation…and so cool that I had to share it. Last spring my daughter gave me a Variegated Pink Eureka Lemon plant, which I only recently brought inside. Supposedly the lemons have a beautiful pale pink color inside - perfect for pink lemonade! Anyway, it’s such a pretty plant, and LOOK!!! - A tiny Barbie-sized lemon is already growing! It actually has many more little teeny ones, so I’m already thinking about opening a lemonade stand next summer! Just kidding, but the fragrance from the flowers is absolutely divine, and the leaves are a very beautiful green with yellow markings. I’m excited that it’s inside now so I can chat with it each day…
Best Cool-Rockin’ Tune in a Long Time…
My musical soulmate Betsy sent me a great video of a performer that she likes a lot. This was my first time hearing Billy Strings (awesome name!), but I loved his voice and his extraordinary picking style is reminiscent of Norman Blake. Very, very nice cover… plus he’s young, cute, and reminds me of my musician nephew Jerome!
”I Laugh So That I Do Not Weep” - Abraham Lincoln
I’ve been just dying to go back to Springfield, Illinois, before too much more time goes by. Hopefully I can do it before the snow flies. My intrepid granny-pal Mickie and I drove down there a few years ago, stayed in a great hotel next to the old State Capitol building, and spent a few days exploring the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Presidential Library, his home, law office, train station where he had made his last speech before heading to the White House, and his monument and tomb. We also spent a day in New Salem, where the great man was postmaster, storekeeper, flatboat pilot, candidate for the State legislature, militia captain in the Black Hawk War, self-taught legal scholar, close friend of Ann Rutledge, rail splitter, crop harvester, mill worker, spinner of yarns and unceasing humor, and all-around well-loved resident. It was the best short trip I’ve ever taken, and we loved every minute of it. I’m seriously craving a return, so I’ll keep you posted…
On our way back to Minnesota we stayed a couple of nights in a “haunted” bed-and-breakfast in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, an old mining town. Our rooms were great but also a bit creepy. We were the ONLY guests in the huge place (not even the staff was there!) - and neither of us dared venture out into the hallway without the other one hanging on! In the interesting old town’s center we explored gift shops, a couple of art galleries, and ate homemade pasties while visiting with an old Cornish granny from one of the mining families that had originally settled the town.
Speaking of my hero Mr. Lincoln, I recently watched an online documentary that had been produced on the Discovery Channel called “The Lost Lincoln.” This was an extensive investigation done a few years ago by authenticator Dr. Whitny Braun, who claimed that a formerly unknown photo of the President on his deathbed in the Petersen House is the last photo of the great man the morning after his assassination. Her evidence was quite extensive, but there are many online folks who don’t accept her findings. Regardless, I found it to be compelling, and yet one more piece of Lincolnalia to experience if you’re as interested as I am in “everything Lincoln.”
So…other than craving a trip to Illinois, I’m pretty well set for the change of seasons here. Last night I turned the heat on for the first time, added a thick comforter to my bed, and pulled out my “Apple Crisp” recipe. My granny friend Karen and I are looking forward to our annual fall drive on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River next Sunday, which is always a high point for us this time of year. Last year we missed it due to the infernal pandemic, but now vaccinated and feeling peppy, we’re getting very excited. One of our destinations on this journey is the beautiful old country church and sweet neighborhood of her grandparents - whom Karen often visited as a child - and other favorite sites including apple orchards, winemakers, small yummy places to eat, and galleries filled with beautiful handicrafts and artwork. It’s traditions like these that make the ending of beautiful summertime not quite as painful. I hope that all of you too have traditions that you look forward to this time of year…
Until next month…
♥ Gramma Jamie
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