Jane Russell

Jane Russell

1921-2011

She was a classy dame. A broad in the best sense. And my favorite character in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes".

Talk Derby to Me!

I am thinking Derby. And these Pomegranate linens will be on my table. We are having another Derby Party as one of our Auction Donation for school. I can't to pick out my new hat.

My Mom

Things about my mother:

1. She told me to buy angel hair pasta, it's just prettier than other spaghetti's.

2. She would get dressed up, put on Bing Crosby albums, make special appetizers, and make it a special occasion to decorate the Christmas tree.

3. She thought the rise in divorce could be contributed to what women slept in. She said, "Who wants to go to bed with a woman in a t-shirt and boxers?!" She slept in a negligee every night of her married life... almost 45 years.

4. She would change her clothes, put fresh lipstick and a spray of perfume on every night about 15 minutes before my Dad came home from work. She said she was getting gussied up to impress the love of her life.

5. After dating someone for many years, she asked, casually, if I truly loved him, or I was just comfortable, and unwilling to take a chance by being alone. I broke up with my then boyfriend about a week later.

6. She told me you can never go wrong with cashmere.

7. She told me buy classic pieces, take care of them, and you'll have them forever.

8. She told me to sit up straight, shoulders back, head high.

9. She never would have allowed a plastic tablecloth on her table.

10. She loved Frank Lloyd Wright design.

11. She loved Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

12. She worked for civil rights as a young woman in Milwaukee.

13. She met Hank Aaron.

14. She saw the Beatles walking into a hotel, and didn't think it was any big deal.

15. She couldn't do toast when she married Dad, but ended up being a fabulous cook.

16. She always said she loved Dad best.

17. She always made us go to Mass on July 4, no matter the day of the week, because we should remember how fortunate we were to live in this country.

18. She cried every time the hymns "Let There Be Peace on Earth" and "On Eagles Wings" were sung at Mass.

19. She had no voice the day after the US beat the USSR in the 1980 Olympics, from screaming so much at the TV.

20. She read everything, always. There was always a book by her side.

21. She loved answering the questions on Jeopardy. She was incredibly smart.

22. She taught me how to do the twist, "Pretend you're putting out a cigarette with one foot and drying off your bum with a towel at the same time." I was ten.

23. She made the BEST Thanksgiving dressing and potato salad. Period.

24. She always made all holidays special.

25. She always said "Put on some lipstick, you'll feel better."

My mom died suddenly on Valentine's Day night. She was a wonderful, complex woman. She was deeply in love with my Dad, and said on every anniversary that she loved him more than she did the year before. She will be missed.

Out of the Mouths of a Tween

Today my in-laws came for a soup and salad lunch, and my 12 year old niece has a salad that consisted of lettuce, carrots and cheese, all in little neat piles, with nothing touching each other. I took one look and said, "Ah, M is having a deconstructed salad." She looked puzzled, and left the room, then telling her mother I said she had a decomposed salad. While her eating habits sort of drive me nuts, she herself completely cracks me up.

It really was a good, good night!

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers!!!

And MVP Aaron Rodgers!!!

Both are VERY happy about green and gold day at school.

GO PACKERS!!!!
I even sent them a green and gold lunch!

Thinking Auction

It is getting to be auction time at the kids school and now is when I think about what to donate. Two years ago we donated a Low Country Boil at our home, which was so popular that we did two dinners. Last year we had a Kentucky Derby Party. So what do I do this year? I loved doing the Derby party, but will it seen lame if I do it twice? I thought about doing a Sunday Dinner, you know... baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green vegetable, chocolate cake. It wouldn't be a special thing for my husband, but for some people gravy is not a common occurrence. I am already donating a Fancy Nancy party for 10 little girls, for which I have been stock piling all kinds of goodies. Any ideas? What kinds of things are donated to your school's auction? Any corporate connections that you can pass this way?

Blizzard in Wisconsin

What do you do when you can't go anywhere because of a blizzard? Well, I:

did 6 loads of laundry

baked a batch of peanut butter cookies

made bbq pulled pork

vacuumed the entire house, okay well just the first floor

dusted the first floor

polished a silver punch bowl and 8 silver trays (to be used at an event at school on Friday)

baked a two layer cake, with chocolate frosting

cleaned the fish tank

printed out valentine cards

took the dogs for a walk

Gosh I hope they have school tomorrow... I'm pooped!