Sharing Creations

Boo Boo's Bargain Basement Band-Randi and Jack

Well, we've done it. 
We have an online InfoHub for our Boo Boo's Bargain Basement Band things, so I might as well post the info here, too.

Some folks might think it tacky, to be advertising like that...but hey!  The artist has to send their work out to the universe...why?  Who knows!  I used to think it was just about the ego, some kind of self-serving thing, but have come to some different conclusions as I stopped letting distractions come between me and my creativity.

The first thing is that there is a hunger inside and it cannot be satisfied by anything other than using the creative energy to create something.   Be it artwork, music, writing, dancing, public speaking, building a structure....whatever....there is a need that's as important as breathing, and anybody who's involved in their passion can attest to this.

The other funny thing is that anybody can create things all day long, filling their house with what it is that they do....and for some folks, that's enough.  For others, there's a need to get it out there, "the artist struggling to be heard," Bro Jud used to say...maybe.  But maybe it's just more of that same energy that makes universes and black holes happen...just more creation being sent out across the canvas of space/time....to be seen as a glimmer of light on some far distant shore.  Who knows?

But anyway, here's the information on the InfoHub:
http://www.booboosbargainbasementband.weebly.com

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Sharing Creations....because that's what artists do.

Birthson Birthday

Mirror, Mirror  by rcw

Happy Birthday Mark!
Back in the '70s I was not permitted to even acknowledge that I had a child, let alone that he had a birthday.

Of course, that was back when it was still considered a "bad" thing to have a child out of wedlock.  It was amazing to me to watch how people scrambled about to keep this aspect of nature hidden from society.

God forbid anyone's girlchild get "caught" showing an inflated belly and a motherly glow!

Well that was then!  These days, all kinds of women are getting pregnant without even having sex!  They select the genetic make-up, go to an appointment for an implant and there ya go!

Isn't it amazing how things change?

In truth, I never kept my birthmotherhood a secret...other than not talking about it with family members and my parents' neighbors, after all they went through so much trouble to conceal everything.  And considering the era, how they themselves were raised and the type of neighborhood we lived in, they weren't capable of making any other decision.  I've learned to accept it without bitterness...although it did take a few years. Somewhere inside, I knew we'd meet.  I prayed we'd have some sort of ongoing communication....I lived in hope no matter what people said....and believe me, they said a lot! But my true friends believed, like me, that someday we'd meet.

It was really amazing when Mark found me....out of the blue one morning I got a life-changing and faith-fulfilling phone call.  Suddenly everybody in the family knew there was an extra grandchild in the world, but even more important....I knew that Mark was okay and had a fairly good life. 

I'd have loved to have given him a childhood with me, but was and am pleased with how things turned out. In a sense, giving him up for adoption assured he had what he needed most; a family.  At the time, I didn't know what I'd have been able to offer him...so figured a good start was the best I could do.

So at 2:30 a.m., December 10th 1973 my birthson was born. I called him David Christopher meaning  "Beloved, Bearing Christ." I had no fantasies about his adoptive parents keeping his name, mind you.

I named him for my heart's sake, and hoped that one day I'd be able to tell him how much I love him.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Birthson Birthday....because it really did happen and I'm so very blessed to have him in my life again.

Thanks Mark, for looking for your birthfather and me....I love you beyond words.

Day Dawning

Woke up fairly early, considering how late it was when I got to sleep; but that's the way things go for me.  Sleep is something to do when there's nothing to do....at least for me.

Some folks, even some doctors, think I'm from another planet or something because of my sleep pattern. Hey! It doesn't bother me any!  I get a lot done.

The kitchen's a wreck and needs a heavy cleaning.  Jack is real good at helping with that sort of thing....bless him. And he encourages me too, which is very special and good.  Everybody needs a little of that; not necessarily the "atta boy" stuff, more inspiration than ego feed. That's what I appreciate.

Growing up, we kids didn't get a lot of that.  My folks wanted us to succeed, but their idea of it was to ignore.  The girls were supposed to get "little jobs,"  just something to hold them over 'til marriage set in.

UGH!  Our family was chock-full of talent and I believe we could have gotten somewhere musically if there's been encouragement and direction from a young age.  We had five part harmony, talented instrumentalists and even song writers all under one roof!  I wonder what would have happened if we'd received the proper guidance.

Oh well.....that was then, this is now. One can't turn back the hands of time....not yet, at any rate.
But there's a valuable lesson to be learned from this....parents should encourage children to be themselves.  If talents are made known, they should be inspired not condemned to the hobby segment of life.  It's too damaging to the child's self esteem, and stifles their creativity....effecting their entire lives.

Ultimately the decisions each person makes regarding their future is their own doing. That includes me.
I can "blame" my upbringing for only so much, the rest....the majority of it....has been up to me.  I'm not rich and famous, but I'm not living on the streets either. Not bad for a crazy baby boomer, eh?

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Day Dawning....each one a new opportunity to meet up with one's destiny.

Cookie Time

It's Cookie Time again! That winter holiday season, when kitchen windows steam up from oven's spice-laden warmth...it's  upon us once more, and I for one couldn't be happier!  We need a little something, right about now to help get us through the hard times....just a couple of days where we can sit with family and friends, or at least raise a glass of something special against the evening's chill.

 In keeping with this sense of yuletide bacchanalia, I decided to create a cookie with a kick....the Bourbon Pinwheel Cookie.  This one is loaded, and gives one the opportunity to get loaded while cooking the cookies.
The recipe takes a bit of time, but the results are well worth the work!

Randi and Bourbon Cookies

The filling can be made with any dried fruit in combination with chopped nuts, apples (or pears), orange slices (seeded) brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, butter and a dash of either bran, corn starch or just make a real thick reduction out of the "fruit boil."

There's a separate dough, which is made with bourbon as well, and it has to be chilled for an hour before assembling the cookie rolls.  Then the cookie rolls have to be chilled 4 hours.

The dough is kinda sticky, but is easy to chill and because it has booze in it, you can put the completed cookie rolls in the freezer and they don't freeze...they just chill.

After about 4 hours, the cookie rolls are taken from the freezer, sliced into pinwheels and put in a 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes..... then take them out, let them sit and cool on a rack.
 They are GOOOOOOOOO!

So for today, Fifty Five is the New Cookie Time!  You're never too old for a good cookie!

December Dreamin'

December.....back east the trees are looking like boney fingers against the backdrop of a greying sky.  There's a special smell to the air when snow is eminent....I remember it, and remember waiting to see if I could spot the very first snowflake of the season.

It was a chance to make wishes; like on dandelion puffs with summer breezes....only these were winter wishes.

Once or twice, I swear I saw it....from my bedroom window the first time and the second while standing on our front porch. I made the mandatory wish each time although I don't remember now what I wished. 

I miss the snow; parts of it at any rate.  Even the shoveling once in a while....hey it was a way to earn some extra money for presents-that's how we kids did it back then.  Shoveling, pushing cars, running errands, baby sitting and of course Christmas Caroling.   I did Halloween Caroling one year too, but that's a different story.

Anyway, I'm going through my recipe files for holiday baking right now....lots to do this year, because we're going to be with Jack's family!  Lots to do, so little time.

So for right now, Fifty Five Is the New December Dreamin'.....snowflakes, cookies and memories.

Season of Light

Everyone is caught up in getting ready for the holidays, and it's important. Especially when times are tough, we need an opportunity to put on some extra lights and make the place warm, cozy...a little fuzzy even.

I'm doing my part, too.  Already started on the holiday cookies, planning for the breads and side dish for dinner with Jack's family.

Of course this is a sharp contrast to one of my recent entries, bemoaning the economic fate of  our country and so on. But I believe that if we want to survive, if we want to win we have to envision that we are capable of winning and that we do want to survive.  And what better way than decorating the house, burning a bright lamp or two against winter's cold nights, and making specially baked gifts for friends and family.

I am amazed that even in our economy there are commercials on television showing people getting bow wrapped cars in their driveways....but what ever floats yer boat, eh?

What would be most wonderful for a gift this holiday season?   A nice big dose of compassionate common sense, neatly installed within the hearts and minds of our leaders and the leaders of the world.

And let there be peace, lasting peace....not a loss of autonomy, but a true renewal of the human species....so that we can become the best us possible, instead of always trying to kill each other.

Okay...okay....now, back to cookies. Gotta get more in the oven!
Bourbon oatmeal chocolate chip, bourbon balls.....which?  Hmmm.  Choices Choices!  Perhaps I better try a sip of the bourbon to figure out which one IT wants to be!  :)

So for today, Fifty Five is the new Season of light-a time to burn bright against the cold winds that blow against our backs.