Dang its hot!

Dang its hot! Nuff said. Relief is a day closer. We managed to finish our 4.2 mile paving project and are gearing up for our next one. We have two short stretches on the drawin board right now with a few others in mind.
We had our State of the County meeting on Tuesday. Things are looking very good financially. Our General Fund Reserves are up to just under 16 million dollars. Our Tax Rate has gone down from .5517 cents per hunnerd dollar valuation in 2016-19 to .5473 in 2020 to .5223 for 2021. What does this mean?
With a reduction in the Tax Rate, taxes should go down, right? Wrong. Property Appraisals have gone through the roof and we are paying more even with the reduced Tax Rate. I am sure that everyone has gotten their Property Appraisals by now and have cussed a little.
The increase would not bother those with a 7 figure bank account or a 6 figure annual income but, those who are working for the magical $15 an hour and have saved enough to buy a small home will be on the verge of being taxed out of it if something is not done with taxes. With the increase in everything else (and I do mean everything) $15 an hour don’t go very far.
Historically, we have budgeted more expenses than revenue but, through conservative spending by all departments, our General Fund Revenue has been increased each year for the last 12 years due to our Revenue coming in more than our budgeted expenses.
I will have more on the Appraisal District Budget, employee salaries, requested raises and whether or not there is support enough (I am all for this) for us to adopt the Effective Tax Rate instead of the smoke and mirrors of lowering the Tax Rate on the increased Appraisal figures. The Effective Tax Rate is the rate that would bring in the same amount of revenue as last year.
The County voted to purchase a couple bank buildings in Hondo for future office space for bout 2.1 million dollars. One is next to the Courthouse Annex and the other is several blocks away, facing the tracks. In my opinion, one was needed and the other was not.
With all this prosperity in County government, I think that we could pull in the reins a little and give some relief to the local taxpaying citizens for a change. The process has to start somewhere. Why not at the local level? Counties, Cities, Schools and ESD’s should join the effort…just my opinion. There are four other folks that sit at the Commissioners Court table and contribute to the decision making so, contact one of the other 4.
Believe it or not, there is a run-off election going on this next Tuesday the 24th. So far, the turnout has been embarrassingly low countywide. Voting is being held at the Community Center in Devine for those of us what live in Devine and Natalia. If you are serious about changing things, practice voting. It don’t hurt.

National Night Out

Last week at Lytle PD …. We had 66 calls for service and conducted 77 traffic stops. Those traffic stops resulted in 58 citations and 19 warnings.
Officers made 5 arrests last week, and all of them were from traffic stops. #1 – The driver stopped on Main St. had an active felony warrant for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Bexar Co.). He was transported to the Atascosa Co. Jail. #2 – A traffic stop on Lytle-Somerset St. resulted in a “cite and release” for possession of drug paraphernalia. #3 – A traffic stop on Main St. resulted in the arrest of a male for possession of a controlled substance (meth). He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #4 – A traffic stop on Wisdom Rd. resulted in a “cite and release” for possession of drug paraphernalia. #5 – A traffic stop on Lytle-Somerset resulted in an arrest for Driving While License Invalid w/a prior conviction. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail.
Officers took reports of 3 property crimes last week. #1 – A victim reported that their mini-storage unit was forcibly entered, and two baby crib mattresses valued at $60 were missing. I would classify that as an “odd” theft for sure. #2 – A N. Prairie St. resident reported that the back window of her vehicle had been “busted” out. It looks as if someone hit it with a bat or pipe. #3 – While on patrol, officers noticed that paintballs had struck the glass storefront windows of Little Caesars, Sun Loan, Twin Liquors, and Lytle Nail and Spa (they are all next to each other in the same shopping strip). There was no damage to the windows.
If you have been down Somerset St., you might notice the new 25 MPH signs. Public Works recently completed the installation. Diaz St., N. Prairie, and N. Benton are scheduled to have signs installed in the future as well. Please keep an eye out and watch your speed.
Lytle-Somerset St. was the first to have the 25 MPH signs installed. We compared the old and the new data from our speed trailer, and it shows that reducing the speed limit from 30 MPH to 25 MPH resulted in the average speed being reduced by 5 MPH. So that is good news if it works on all the other streets targeted for 25 MPH limits.
What else is happening? A big fireworks show is planned for Monday, July 4th. The event will be held at John Lott Park, it has been two years since we put on a show. It is one of the most popular events the city host.
We are also looking forward to our first National Night Out event since 2019! It will be on the first Tuesday in Oct. (the 4th). Yes, I know it is still a long way off. I am already preparing the menu. We usually provide hotdogs and soft drinks at our NNO event, but with the rising cost of food I may be reduced to serving just crackers and water and the water wouldn’t even be bottled.

Wind in our hair, bugs in our mouth

I finally found a good old golf cart that’s raggedy enough that I got it for $1,100. I’ve been looking for many months, because golf carts these days cost more like a small car. I learned how to drive in a golf cart, and I thought it would be good practice for A’Dell, too.
The best part is, golf carts, at least old golf carts, only go about 10 MPH at most, and that’s really pushing it. My dad bought me and my siblings a golf cart to drive around the ranch for that very reason. My golf cart was really slow though, topped out around 5 MPH, but I loved it none the less. We got a little battery charged radio and cruised around the ranch at 5 MPH all day long, wind in our hair, hands on the steering wheel.
One of my funniest memories was with my cousin, Cindy. We were cruising around one day, feeling cool, singing along to our little radio that was duct taped to the dash. Only problem was, bugs kept flying into our mouths (along with the wind in our hair)! So we got the ingenious idea to wrap several rounds of seran wrap around the two front posts of the golf cart like a windshield. I don’t think that get-up would have passed inspection, but we were sure proud of ourselves for coming up with that idea. We were always doing something crazy to “fix up” our golf cart and make it more like the cool vehicle we were dreaming of.
The new golf cart that I bought this weekend has a little bed in the back of the cart. My teenage daughter was so happy about getting a golf cart that she solemnly swore she would take out the trash every day now, because she can drive it to the dumpster instead of carrying it. I wanted to make sure to put that in writing!
Yep, I think this old golf cart is going to be worth every penny. We got her a little battery-operated radio, too, so I have a feeling … it’s only a matter of time before my daughter breaks out the seran wrap!

A Day of Remembrance

Last week, I told you about our 100th year celebration of our local hospital and said that I was excited to be going to the culmination of that week’s celebration, which would be a dressy party. It was a wonderful party with many of the Hospital Foundation donors, members of the Hospital Board, our doctors, the hospital staff, and last but by no means least about twenty or more of our auxiliary members.
When you walked into our local Community Center, the first thing you saw was an antique crib or isolette with a small doll dressed as a baby would have been, with a little jacket and diaper. As you checked in a found your table, the true decorations from the past 100 years were shown. There was an entire wall dedicated to photos of past doctors and nurses, newspaper articles about the hospital, that have been preserved, and the list goes on! Some of the older ladies in attendance were telling us about some of the Nuns who were nurses back in those days and how strict everything was, and how hard everyone worked.
There were also photos of Auxiliary members at various times, and a shadow box with pins and bars from the ladies, denoting the amount of hours donated to the Hospital by these members, It is a total of over 70,000 hours. I am not sure of the number of years that is included here. It is really a beautiful display and as I understand, it will be on display at our local museum until September.
The evening began with a cocktail reception, with drinks and any type of fruit, cheese, and cold cuts you can imagine for snacking, and lots of socializing, as everyone seemed to enjoy seeing old friends and former co-workers.
This was followed by welcome from our Hospital CEO, and an invocation by the Mr. Leck, Chair of the Hospital Board of Trustees.
Then came a marvelous dinner with a salad and a choice of entrée, that was steak medallions or salmon, followed by a choice of grilled vegetables, and was prepared and served by a restaurant from a nearby town, and the food and service was all awesome!
The meal was followed by a program of Personal and Oral History Interviews, including patients, our local Doctors, department heads, members of the Hospital board, a member of the Auxiliary. There are really too many to mention here, but it was a wonderful evening that culminated with the the unveling of a painting, called “A Century of Memories”. It will be on display at the hospital on our history wall at the hospital. The Hospital is shown in each of its re-buildings and growth through the past century.
Monday, May 30 is Memorial Day. What does it mean to you? Do you celebrate it, or is it just a neat day to have off work for a long weekend? Do you fly the flag? It is mainly a day of remembrance, of all the veterans of all the wars and is one of the holidays that are celebrated on the last Monday of the month that it is in. We will have a program at the Fire Station, with a part of the high school band playing for us, and also a really nice program. There are usually speakers, and wreaths are placed as memorials from many organizations.
Memorial Day was formerly called Decoration Day and was celebrated on May 30th. General John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic originated this day to honor the war dead.
It is a legal holiday in almost all the fifty states. In some places, the observance consists of civic parades and the placing of flowers on veteran’s graves. In San Antonio, there is usually a special service at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. This very impressive ceremony, with taps and a 21-gun salute, always reduces even the strongest to tears as they realize that these men who are buried here gave there all for their country.
There are services in foreign cemeteries honoring the graves of American servicemen who are buried on foreign soil. There are water services for those who died at sea, and there are ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It has been the custom to fly the flag at half-mast until noon in the United States.
The verse that follows is one of the best known and is written about the Buddy Poppy. Everyone is familiar with this little red flower that is offered for a donation either at Memorial Day or in time for Veteran’s Day in November. John McCrae (1872-1918) is the author of this famous poem. He is remembered for what is probably the single best-known and popular poem from WWI. He was a Canadian physician and fought on the Western Front in 1914, but was then transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on active duty in 1918. His volume of poetry, “In Flanders Fields and Other Poems, was published in 1919. It is said that John McCrae was standing in the cemetery and saw the beautiful red poppies growing over the area, that he was so impressed and moved that he wrote the poem.
In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae (1872-1918)
In Flanders fields the
Poppies blow
Between the cross, row on row
That mark our place;
And in the sky
The larks, still bravely
Singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the
Guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw
Sunset glow
Loved and were loved,
And now we lie
In Flanders fields. Take
Up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing
Hands we throw
The torch’ be yours to
Hold it high.
If ye break faith with us
Who die
We shall not sleep,
Though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

IHOP

We caught a little break this week, only 47 calls! Officers conducted 38 traffic stops. Those stops resulted in 24 citations and 14 warnings.
We had three arrests last week: #1 – A traffic stop on Main St. resulted in a “cite and release” for possession of drug paraphernalia. #2 – A traffic stop on Main St. resulted in the arrest of a male that had an active family violence warrant out of Harris Co. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #3 – A roadside disturbance on Main St. resulted in the arrest of a male for assaulting his common-law wife. He also had three active warrants out of Frio Co. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail.
We also had three property crimes reported last week. A First St. resident reported that a residence had been burglarized. So far, we haven’t been able to contact the victim to confirm the burglary. #2 – The toilet paper holder in the men’s room at John Lott Park was damaged. #3 – A sink was damaged in the men’s room at John Lott Park. We are working on the vandalism at the restroom, this week the damage was more minor. We welcome any information you can provide as to who may be responsible. It’s very frustrating and makes no sense.
Overall, last week was not that bad. Hopefully, we will see a slow down this summer; maybe the heat will keep the crooks at home.
What else is new? It appears we will be getting an IHOP at the planned truck stop on FM 3175 @ IH-35 Access Rd. This location is not yet under construction, but it is in the planning phases, I believe it will be a Road Ranger. I think this will be a terrific addition to our city. We can solve a lot of problems by the strategic use of a blueberry pancake eating contest.
Lt. Matthew Dear is headed down to city hall. He will be the interim City Administrator for 6 months, if all goes well the position will be permanent. If he is successful, I will take full credit for his advancement. If it doesn’t work out, I will tell the mayor and city council “What were you thinking.”
Don’t forget the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Food Truck Rally and a market at the Lytle High School this Saturday. It will run from 11 AM – 7 PM, at the event last year I ate too much and spent too much money (Which sounds like the story of my life).

Where I am vs. Where am I

Have you ever noticed how a change in the order of just one word can make all the difference?
Many times in my life I have asked Where Am I? Lost in a big city or in the thick brush of La Brasada. Awakened from a disturbing dream or in the storm of a personal crisis. A feeling of anxiety and fear can come tumbling down. A lack of balance and stability. Off course and uncertain.
But when I think or say Where I Am, that most often reflects a feeling of awareness and understanding. And often a feeling of comfort and contentment.
And that is what this gift from me to you this day is about.
An acknowledgment that our “fit” together brings me much joy and security.
In fact, of the many blessings that have come my way, so many more than could ever be counted, knowing you and understanding that I belong with you in my life is one of the very best I have known.
So today, I want you to know that at it relates to my contentment in Life’s Journey…Where I Am with You is where I want to be.

Busy Days

This week has been busy, which is nothing unusual, and it will continue into this coming week. Due to the fact that we have many of our auxiliary members who, due to Covid are not ready to be out in public, we are shorthanded in our gift shop. Working in the shop is almost always interesting; especially on the days the visiting doctors are on hand. You get to meet people, try to help them find something to purchase or they just look around. At any rate, there is something going on.
In addition to keeping the gift shop open all the needed shifts, we are also selling tickets for our annual spring drawing and celebrating 100 years of having a hospital in our small town.
There is a special display at the local museum honoring the hospital and our auxiliary, with a display of a shadow box containing the pins and bars showing how many hours the ladies have worked over a period of time. At last count, there were over 70K hours. There are mannequins dressed in uniforms of different types that have been worn over time. I did not get to attend the opening Thursday evening, due to a previous commitment, but from what I understand, it was awesome! I remember that when my Mother first joined in the 80s, they wore white uniforms of the same type that nurses wore, including white caps and looked extremely professional. Those days are long gone, and now our uniform is much more casual.
Friday morning, we had a dedication ceremony of the oak tree that the auxiliary purchased and had planted at the hospital in memory of this 100th anniversary occasion, with a reception following and members serving the cookies, punch and coffee! Everyone seemed to enjoy getting to visit and work with one another and it was great seeing the different departments working together.
Tonight, Saturday, there will be a very large, very dressy dinner as part of the celebration that I will be able to attend, it sounds awesome and I am excited to get to go.
This week, we’re going to learn a little bit about a vegetable called “Jicama” or ‘yam bean’. Several years ago, at bunco, our hostess served Jicama on the beautiful vegetable tray that she brought. I had heard of it before, but hadn’t really tasted it. In taste, it reminds me of the water chestnuts that are used in Oriental cooking, which means crunchy and a little starchy tasting. In fact, the first place that I ever read about it was in my Sunset Mexican Cook Book with a publishing date of 1970! They also compare it to the water chestnut as well as to a potato. In fact they state “It tastes so much like fresh water chestnuts that Chinese cooks often use it as a substitute”. I would see it in the grocery store and wonder “what in the world is that”, but I never tried it.
Jicama, which is pronounced “hee-cama”, grows on vines, with underground tubers, just as potatoes do, and is native to the warm climates of Central America, as well as the Caribbean, the Andes Mountain region and Southern Asia. It is a member of the bean family. As well as its formal name of Jicama, it is called “Mexican water chestnut”, and also “Mexican yam bean”, with a genus name of Pachyrhizus erosus. The skin is nothing like the edible skin of a yam, but is considered an organic toxin, as are the vines and leaves. In fact, the name “rotenone” is the same as a chemical used to bring fish to the surface so a stock tank or pond can be cleaned out.
Jicama are sold in most grocery stores in the produce section and they are round, and shaped similar to a turnip, with a texture similar to either an apple or a turnip. There are several varieties, but the most common in our stores is the one mentioned above.
To use, wash the tuber just as you would a potato, cut off each end to make a flat surface and then peel. In the articles I found, one sounds as if you need a sturdy paring knife to peel it and the other sounds as if you can use your regular potato peeler.
It is a very versatile vegetable, as it can be used in stir-fries, salads, slaw, soup and with other vegetables or fruits, as well as meats and seafood. A favorite Mexican recipe is to have it cut into slices and served with chili powder, salt and lime juice. In fact, that recipe is in the Sunset Cook Book and will be further down in the column.
It is low in calories and an aid to weight loss programs, is an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C, and a powerful antioxidant. It also has a healthy amount of potassium and vitamins like folates, riboflavin, and thiamin among others. Also it has the minerals of magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese, so these weird looking vegetables seem to be pretty healthy. (What I noticed on the vegetable tray, they did not darken as a potato or apple would, and stayed nice and crisp).
As far as I can tell, most people cut the jicama into sticks as you would a potato to make French fries, sprinkle it with salt and nibble away. However, our hostess served it with dip and it was great. (I wonder how it would taste if it was dipped into salsa?). For more information, “Google” the word Jicama, and enjoy the articles.
The article that I have been working from also has the following recipe for a salad using jicama, and just recently, when I received my Food Network Magazine, The Tex/Mex Issue, there was a salad recipe in the magazine!
Jicama Salad
1¼ pounds jicama
4 radishes
1 sliced scallion
2 tablespoons each, chopped cilantro and mint
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons agave syrup
½ teaspoon salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper

Peel Jicama and cut into thin matchsticks; cut the radishes into matchsticks, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, agave syrup, salt and cayenne in a large bowl, add the jicama, radishes, scallion, cilantro and mint. Toss together, season with additional salt if necessary.
Jicama Appetizer
1 tablespoon salt
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1 to 2 pounds jicama, peeled
1 lime, cut into wedges

Blend salt and chili powder and place in a small bowl. Slice the jicama into ¼ to ½-inch thick slices and arrange on a serving tray with the bowl of seasoned salt and lime wedges. To eat, rub lime over jicama, and then dip in the salt. Serves 6 to 8. (The photo with the recipe shows that the jicama has been cut into quarters or so and then sliced).

Nothing says I love you mom like stolen flowers

Lytle PD officers handled 69 calls for service last week, it was another busy week. There were 42 traffic stops. Those stops resulted in 33 citations and 9 warnings.
I will start off with arrests from last week (we had three): On May 3rd, a traffic stop resulted in the driver being cited and released for possession of drug paraphernalia. On May 4th, a father and son duo were both arrested for reckless driving, the father also had an assault warrant out of Bexar Co. Both were booked into the Medina Co. Jail. They each were in their own vehicles and the road rage disturbance started up in Bexar Co. They were headed south on Main St. and the officer observed them trying to run each other off the road. Hopefully, they can resolve their problems by Father’s Day.
Property crimes ranged from $15 to $20K (we had four reported). A construction company doing work on the city water system had a 25 ft. PJ gooseneck trailer taken from water tower #2 (FM 2790 @ FM 463). The theft occurred between 4/28 and 5/2. The trailer was valued at $20K. Officers took a report of graffiti at the John Lott Park, both the concession stand restrooms were “tagged”. An Oak St. resident reported that her trash can was missing.
The 4th and final property crime deserves a paragraph to itself. On Sunday night (Mother’s Day), officers responded to the H.E.B. Plus for a theft. Our suspect had already departed with a floral arrangement valued at $15. He fled when confronted by a manager as he tried to exit the store. I have said it before, and I will say it again “Nothing says I love you mom like stolen flowers.” But our story doesn’t end there. In his haste to escape our suspect left behind his dog in a shopping cart! So, did he steal the flowers or just trade his dog for them? Animal control was contacted and took custody of the dog (a small Shih Tzu). The dog isn’t facing any charges, as we can’t prove he engaged in the theft. But the story doesn’t end there either. Animal Control checked the dog for a “chip” and found it had been missing from a residence in Bexar Co. for 2 years. It was released to the original owner. So, our dog is back home safe. Hopefully, the dog hasn’t been on 2-year crime spree and picked up bad habits.
The city election has come and gone, Ruben Gonzalez was re-elected as Mayor and Michael Rodriguez will fill the Alderman District 4 Seat (the incumbent Jerry Stone is retiring and did not seek re-election). Be it Mayor, City Council, or city staff with all the growth our hands will be full. Before you know it, we will be rid of all those political signs, at least for a few months.

Hallylouya! An of inch of rain.

Last Monday, we got bout 2 tenths of an inch of rain. On Wednesday, we got the rest, another inch. Hallylouya! And as usual, we ask for more. The weather was cooperative in the sense that it did not rain while we were fixin up the road that we are paving. As a result, Ron Outlaw was dissatisfied with the dust that was created by traffic until we got the paving done. Then he was ok with it. Got his truck all dusty. It was coming up on his annual washing anyway.
There were a couple of vacant seats at Commissioners Court with the Judge and Commissioner Sittre missing. For some reason, the meeting went faster. There was an item on the Agenda concerning the purchase of the Community National Bank and Hondo National Bank properties but, I suggested that we wait until the entire Court was present to vote on this item.
We were introduced to our new Medina County Ag Agent. His name is Taryn Titsworth and he hails from Angelo State…not A&M.
Did more vacating and replatting and found out that the new subdivision that was supposed to go in north of Hondo (in their ETJ) was denied. In many ways, this is a good thing.
There was also some speed limit adjustments made and an area of CR 446 was voted to have “No Through Truck” signs posted to keep 18 wheel trucks off that section of roadway.
By this Thursday, we should be finished with our 4.2 mile paving project and will move on to another smaller section of road that we need to resurface out towards Great Oaks off of CR 7711.
I see that Devine has a new Councilman and both Propositions passed as a result of the latest election. Very poor showing in both instances. We have another election coming up soon…a State Senator runoff on May 24th. I hope we show up in better numbers. Satisfied with your government’s efforts to build back better yet? If not, show up and change the players….specially at the National level.
We will start our 2022-23 Budget preparations on May the 17th at 9 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom in the Medina County Courthouse Annex. This is open to the public and basically is just a “State of the County” informational meeting.
Keep praying for rain. Only 229 days till Christmas and 236 until there is a new Commissioner for Pct 4.

Times flying by

This month, so far has been a busy one. Like always the first week of the month was full of meetings, both in the day time and also in the evenings. I only missed one, so that’s pretty good. It was one of those things; I just didn’t feel like getting dressed and going out that evening. Last week Tuesday, we had our monthly Auxiliary meeting, after that, several of us went to our work shop and began working on tray favors for Father’s Day. As usual, it was a great group and we got a lot done, and when finished, we had lunch and it was my afternoon to work in our Gift Shop which was not busy at all. Since we’re having all sorts of interesting things going on with celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Hospital, I was asked if I minded stuffing envelopes, so I spent the rest of the afternoon doing just that, as well as part of Wednesday morning finishing up. When I got home and was cleaning house and doing laundry, my washer quit, so the blanket I was washing went to my sweet sister to finish getting clean, and being the honey she is, it came home Thursday, washed, dried and folded. The washer repairman came, as did a plumber and it was all straightened out. Saturday, my daughter and her little granddaughter came to visit me, brought me beautiful cards, plants and a wind chime. We had lunch and then went outdoors and played with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, (always bubbles at Granny’s house), and then went across the pasture to my brother’s stock pond (tank!) to go fishing, lots of giggles and laughter as two small catfish were caught and then back home for ice cream…this little great-granddaughter runs true to form…loves her ice cream, just like her late Papaw and all of her cousins! It was a totally awesome day for me and I think also for her. She has grown so much in the past three or four months, and chatters like a little magpie.
This coming week will be busy also, as Thursday evening, there is a big program at our museum to celebrate 100 years of Healthcare in Yoakum, with live music, etc. Friday morning, the 13th we will be dedicating an oak tree that the Auxiliary has donated and planted in celebration of the anniversary. It will be a great program, with various speakers and City dignitaries being present. The hospital employees will be wearing special yellow t-shirts and all Auxiliary members are supposed to be present wearing our dress uniforms, with our pink jackets, white blouses, white pants and shoes. I think it will be pretty awesome! Afterwards, we will be serving cookies, punch and coffee, inside, by the gift shop. My only hope is that the weather will cooperate and be as beautiful as it has been all weekend.
Sunday was a beautiful Mother’s Day, I went to early church as usual and came home, my friend came by bringing treats, and so, we had several different types of kolaches and doughnuts for breakfast and then got busy with a lot of book work pertaining to the 100th anniversary. She left; I heated up some leftovers for my lunch and then had a nice, long, nap! Now it’s time to get to work.
It’s a little late to tell you much about Mother’s Day celebrations, because last week, I was so concentrated on Cinco de Mayo, that I didn’t realize that this Sunday was Mother’s Day, and it’s much earlier than usual this year. I hope as many as possible of you had a truly beautiful Mother’s Day with your loved ones. I’ve talked to several of my children, and received cards from several of the others, and of course that wonderful visit with that little great-granddaughter on Saturday.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May each year and had its beginnings in Grafton, W. VA., and in the churches in Philadelphia the first time on May 10, 1908.
This day, set aside for our Mothers, was started in response to a suggestion by Miss Anna Jarvis. By 1911, there was not a state in the nation that did not observe Mother’s Day. Leaflets were printed in ten different languages for use in various countries.
In 1913, by a unanimous vote, The House of Representatives passed a resolution commending the observance of Mother’s Day and calling upon the President, his Cabinet, the Senators and Representatives and all officials of the Federal Government to wear a white carnation on the second Sunday of the month to observe Mother’s Day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson, issued a proclamation officially designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, and also directed that the U. S. Flag should be displayed on all public buildings on that day.
Since that time, it has become a custom to wear white flowers (usually carnations) if your mother is deceased and red flowers if she is still living.
It will soon be time to start thinking about salads and other lighter foods, so today here are a couple of really delicious chicken salads.
Light Chicken Salad
3 or 4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped*
2/3 cup finely diced celery
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons sunflower seeds
Enough light mayonnaise to moisten
Cook chicken breasts in water seasoned with salt and a small amount of onion and celery, cool until you can handle the meat, remove skin and bones and cut into small pieces.
Wash the apple, and cut it up, and add to the chicken, add remaining ingredients along with enough light mayonnaise to moisten. Serve with crackers, Melba toast or bread rounds. Cut the apple into small pieces and place them in some 7UP to keep them from darkening. Lightly Spicy Chicken Salad 3 cups cooked, diced chicken, 4 sliced green onions, including tops ½ cup diced green bell pepper
1 avocado diced and tossed with lemon juice to prevent discoloration
½ cup bottled chili sauce (Hunt’s, DelMonte)**
4 tablespoons mild picante sauce
½ teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
Combine chicken, onions, bell pepper and avocado in mixing bowl. Combine chili sauce, picante sauce, dry mustard, black pepper and chili powder in a bowl and mix well. Pour over chicken mixture until coated thoroughly. Serve with tortilla chips. Garnish with additional avocados if desired.*Instead of all green bell pepper, you could use a combination, of bell pepper and mild fresh jalapeño peppers, this would make for a spicy dish. **This is found in the aisle with the ketchup and the store brand (if they have one) is OK also.