TELL ME A STORY

TELL ME A STORY
"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3

Friday, December 29, 2017

MY RED WOOD SUIT

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking




Link: 
 https://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-red-wood-suit.html





My Red Wool Suit 

My mother made a red wool suit for me in1967.
My red suit looked very much like
red wool suits worn by 
First Lady, Jackie Kennedy 
and actress, Lucille Ball. 


CLICK on image to enlarge. 

CLICK on image to enlarge. 




My grandson, Joshua
asked me to tell him a story 
that taught me a life lesson.  

It was an assignment 
from his high school English teacher for students 
to ask their grandparents about a life lesson.  

I told Joshua about my red wool suit.

CLICK on image to enlarge.  My grandson, Joshua    Copyright 2016 Kristin Stovall


My Red Wool Suit 









Mom made a double-breasted, red wool suit (skirt and jacket) for me to wear to my Homecoming Dance in 1967.  I was 17, and a senior at Liberty High School, in Liberty, Missouri.  Mom hated to shop, but she went with me, and let me pick out the fabric.  We found the perfect red wool fabric at the Jones’ Store in Independence.  I loved it…at first.



Mom was an excellent seamstress, and the red wool suit was beautifully  tailored.  All my friends at LHS talked about what they were wearing to Homecoming.  I was a bit embarrassed that my mom was sewing my homemade outfit.  Most of my friends had plenty of money, and shopped on the Country Club Plaza, or downtown Kansas City.  My friends bragged that they would be wearing the hottest color that year: maroon….a deep burgundy.  I never had a maroon/burgundy outfit, and I wanted one.



I pouted:  “Mom, all the girls are wearing burgundy outfits to Homecoming – except for me.  It’s not fair.

MOM: “I made you a beautiful red wool suit.  I’m not going shopping again.”

I kept up the “poor me” barrage until Mom relented.  She gave me cash, and asked our neighbor, Fran, to take me shopping in Kansas City.    Fran helped me pick out a gorgeous maroon/burgundy dress.  It was double-breasted  with a unique, diagonal criss-cross in the back. 

I walked into the '67 Homecoming dance, and felt on top of the world in my trendy burgundy wool, tea-length dress.  All was wonderful until I spotted my friend, Irene, walking toward me wearing the exact same burgundy wool, tea-length dress.  She was just as appalled as I was.

Later that evening at home, I threw myself on the bed, and cried.

I wish I’d worn the red wool suit that you made for me,” I said to Mom.

You looked beautiful tonight, Marcia.  You’ll be able to wear the red wool suit another time.”

I did.  I wore the red wool suit to my first “real” job interview.  I got the job, and later my boss told me one of the reasons he hired me as a bond underwriter was my professional appearance. He specifically mentioned the red wool suit.

The day before Mom went to Heaven, in 2003, we said things to each other for the last time on this side of eternity.

Im sorry if I hurt your feelings about the red wool suit you made for me in high school,” I said.  “I loved that suit, and I’ve worn it so many times.  I was embarrassed back-in-the-day (36 years earlier) that you sewed it for me, but now that I’m older, and a mother myself, I realize what a precious gift you gave to me.”

Mom cried.

I never told you...” she said.  “I never told you that I saved money from the jar I kept my grocery money in to buy the red wool fabric.  You complained there was no Coke or potato chips that week, but it was because I saved the money for your red wool suit.  When you changed your mind, and wanted a burgundy dress, I took money out of the grocery jar again.  Your dad and I went without meat for a month to pay for the $35 dress from Harzfelds.”

Why didn’t you tell me?”

I cried.

I didn’t want you to think we were poor.  We were rich in so many other ways.”


CLICK on image to enlarge.  Natalie Bush (Marcia's Mom) and Marcia.  Copyright 1970


CLICK on image to enlarge.  Marcia's Daughter, Kristin & Marcia.  Copyright 1992 Marcia Norwood

   

CLICK on image to enlarge.  Marcia's Mom Natalie (Left); Marcia (Center Back); Marcia's Granny Lucille (Right); Marcia's Daughter Kristin (Center Front).  Copyright 1970 Marcia Norwood


   Joshua remembers my mother, his great-grandmother,
who he called Mema.

Joshua was mom's first great-grandchild.
Josh was five years old when  Mema went to heaven.
CLICK on image to enlarge.  Marcia's  Grandson, Joshua (1997)  Copyright 1997 Marcia Norwood

      Joshua's birth in 1997, made me a grandmother, and my mother a  great-grandmother.   Joshua is the son of my first-born daughter, Kristin. The first night he came home from the hospital, I stayed at Kristin's house and slept on the sofa to help if I was needed. Sometime in the middle of the night Kristin brought Joshua to me, and he spent the night sleeping on my chest. 

      Joshua was just a toddler when I held him in my arms and he looked up at the ceiling fan - and then looked down at the pull string hanging from the fan. He looked up and down and up and down. Even then his brain was taking in information and processing it. 

      He has wisdom beyond the straight A's he has earned. Josh is smart without being haughty. He has a wicked sense of humor without being mean. 
CLICK on image to enlarge.  My grandson, Joshua    Copyright 2016 Kristin Stovall
    
     I am proud, in a godly way of my grandson, who now attends the University of Missouri on a full scholarship.  Joshua earned  an Air Force ROTC scholarship to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.  This scholarship is extremely difficult to qualify for.  The Air Force officer who presented Joshua with the scholarship said that it is as difficult to get as an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.  The four year scholarship is estimated to be well over $100,000.  


CLICK on image to enlarge.  Emily, Dave, Kristin, Joshua and Caleb    Copyright 2016 Kristin Stovall

     My beautiful daughter, Kristin, and son-in-law, Dave, are amazing parents to my grandchildren:  Joshua Taylor, Emily Grace, and Caleb Edward. 


Thank you to all the mothers and fathers
who sacrifice and love their children 
even when they are unlovely. 


Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!


CLICK on image to enlarge. 



Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


Click on image to enlarge.





 
CLICK on image to enlarge. 

RECIPE: The BEST Apple Cake You Will Ever Make

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


Permalink:
https://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2017/12/recipe-best-apple-cake-you-will-ever.html



I didn't do well getting the cake out of the bundt pan, but it's still delicious! 
 
 RECIPE
The BEST Apple Cake 
You Will Ever Make 
 
 


My friend, Joy Lewis, gave me this recipe for Apple Cake when we were teachers in the 80's at Independence Christian School. This cake is still one of my favorites.  It's just so MOIST and delicious. 


You will notice from my photo that I did not do a good job of getting the cake out of the bundt pan.  I think it's because I didn't grease the pan well enough, and I tried to get the cake out of the pan as soon as I took it out of the oven, and my new clay bundt pan is SO heavy...I almost dropped the entire cake.

Still - the cake was delicious.  I LOVE the parts that caramelized.  I  think this apple cake will become one of your family favorites!!!




The BEST Apple Cake 
You Will Ever Make 


  
 PREHEAT oven to 350 Degrees


GREASE a Tube or Bundt Pan. 


 
Combine the FIRST Mixture:
1 and 1/2 Cups Wesson Oil
2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs

Combine in a separate bowl the SECOND Mixture:
2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon   




COMBINE first and second mixtures together...
And then ADD:
2 teaspoons Vanilla
3 Cups SMALL CUBED (Green) Apples
1 Cup CHOPPED Nuts (your choice)    




MIX all ingredients together...

and then POUR into Tube or Bundt Pan.   

BAKE at 350 Degrees for 1 and 1/2 HOURS





I used the same recipe to make Apple Muffins for my daughter, Sarah's birthday. 


My daughter, Sarah.  Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood



I baked apple muffins for Sarah's party in large, Texas-size muffin tins.  I found the large Wilton muffin pans (normally $29 each pan) on sale at Gordman's for $4.99 each pan. 
 

I prefer to use green apples. 




I didn't  have cupcake liners big enough for the large muffin tins,
so I made my own liners with parchment paper.  I drew around a large bowl on the parchment paper, and cut out circles to use as liners.

Some of the muffins fell in the center during baking time.    Maybe it's because I didn't fill them full enough.  Also - someone came in the kitchen while they were baking, and slammed a door shut...making a LOUD NOISE.    The muffins were still delicious.

 



Enjoy your 
Texas-size Muffins or
your Apple Cake! 
I think you will agree that it's
the BEST Apple Cake 
You Will Ever Make !







Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!


Permalink:
https://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2017/12/recipe-best-apple-cake-you-will-ever.html




Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking




RECIPES: CROCK POT FIESTA CHICKEN and QUESO BLANCO SPINACH DIP

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking




Permalink
https://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2017/12/recipes-crock-pot-fiesta-chicken-and.html












RECIPES

Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken
and
Queso Blanco Spinach Dip


  

My daughter, Kristin, posted a recipe for chicken cooked in a crock pot/slow cooker on her facebook page.  



Daughter Kristin.  COpyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
 
I made Kristin's chicken recipe.  It's delicious, and I named it Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken.  Trust me,  it tastes a lot better than it looks in my photographs.

Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood


Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken

  • 4 Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Packet Fiesta Ranch Mix
  • 1 Can Black Beans
  • 1 Can Rotel
  • 1 Can Corn (Do not drain)
  • 1 Block Cream Cheese
  • Cilantro

Sprinkle packet of Fiesta Ranch Mix on raw chicken breasts.
Add all ingredients to crock pot/slow cooker.
Cook for 4 to 6 hours on low.   
Eat over rice or with tortillas.
Garnish with cilantro.

 


Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood

 Mother's Day, my daughters, Faith and Sarah and I enjoyed a delicious dip made with white cheese and spinach with our meal at Chili's restaurant.



I tried to recreate the white cheese dip to go along with the chicken dish.    I named it Queso Blanco Spinach Dip. Don't tell your children it has spinach in it, and they will love it.


P.S.  I love cheese, but until today, I never knew there was such a product as Velveeta's Queso Blanco.  

 
Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood
  
Queso Blanco Spinach Dip

  • 1 Pound (16 ounces) Queso Blanco Velveeta (cut in cubes)
  • 2-3 Tablespoons Spinach from a can (drained)
  • 1 Can Rotel (diced tomatoes)
  • 1 Can Corn (drained)
  • Fresh Cilantro

Mix together in a saucepan until cheese is melted.
Garnish with cilantro.
Serve with tortilla chips




Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2015 Marcia Norwood



After the girls and I made up our own recipe....I noticed there is a recipe on the side of the Velveeta box for Velveeta Queso Blanco Spinach & Artichoke Dip.  (The dip at Chili's restaurant also had artichokes in it, but my girls liked it better without the artichokes.)

Here's the recipe on the side of the box:

Velveeta Queso Blanco Spinach & Artichoke Dip

  • 1 Pound (16 ounces) Queso Blanco Velveeta (cut in 1/2 inch cubes)
  • 1 Package (10 ounce) frozen chopped Spinach (thawed and well drained)
  • 1 Can (14 ounce) artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • Fresh Cilantro

Combine ingredients in microwavable bowl.
Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes (Stir after 3 minutes) or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended. 
Garnish with cilantro.
Serve with tortilla chips.

My Beautiful Daughters:  Sarah, Kristin and Faith.  Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

GOD gave me Kristin and Benjamin  
through the miracle of birth,
and Sarah and Faith 
through the miracle of adoption,
and four beautiful grandchildren:
Joshua, Megan, Emily and Caleb.

Handsome Son:  Benjamin and Granddaughter Megan Jewell.    Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood



Daughters Faith and Sarah; Grandsons Caleb and Joshua, Granddaughters Megan and Emily.  Copyright 2008 Marcia Norwood

  I am grateful for the each one GOD trusts me with.





Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!




Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking