Questions?
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baby painted turtle
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Basil and Josephine recommend
these maroon spats to protect your shoes
this winter.
Worn by the most stylish women.
these maroon spats to protect your shoes
this winter.
Worn by the most stylish women.
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To brighten pale winter complexions..
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Send a cheery greeting to a friend
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GROUP OF FUN GIFTS CARDS!
 NEW PAINTING EXHIBIT IN THE LOUVRE
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Toolkit For Life - a developing essay.. Included: snappy comeback answers memorized, just in case strategies for dealing with jerks, incompetents, cruel family members, former lovers, bullies Learn how to give and how to receive from others Be kind to animals Practice empathy Grandparents aren't just for weekends Dance Sing Seek out live music or create your own Make art. That ain't as hard as it sounds: got any colored pencils? Laugh. A lot. Say your prayers Weed out, farrow out and purge out all the scapegoating agendas that you have created and inherited and supported all your life. Or all someone else's life, and stop. Forgive yourself for this. And begin again. Try to understand how incredible you are Remember kindness and gentleness. Try to realize how amazing you are Spend time outside surrounded by green growing things Slow down and love Love Learn to love even when you are afraid Don't be afraid to cry Your tears will give you a gift, a present, that you will discover later, after you are done crying. I promise you this, but you have to be a good observer to find it. Sometimes these gifts are hiding. But they are there. Talk to your ancestors. Listen sincerely. If you encounter a ghost, ask what it wants and see if the two of you can help each other.. Learn and practice the art of the decoy - useful in many circumstances (to be continued..) |
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Awkins the Parrot
~things I like to share with my friends,
presented by a parrot with very discriminating tastes.
questions? queries? quotes? qualms? Use the contact form above and let's chat!
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ROSCOE ARBUCKLE
MAKING PANCAKES
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Favorite Cocoa cookie recipe
Cream together 3/4 cup butter and 1 cup sugar (don't the best cookie recipes begin just like that?!)
Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla & 1 beaten egg (we can be gentle, can we not?)
Add alternately:
blend in sifted 2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 or 2/3 or 3/4 cup cocoa...depends how much you like cocoa....
Here's the alternating part:
1/4 cup milk Ta Da!
Let the dough rest in the refrigerator while you prepare lunch for the family, catch up on your dusting, or iron those curtains...(in the spirit of the old cookbook)
Now for the fun! Your favorite cookie cutter shapes will work out well with this recipe.
Roll out a good handful of dough at a time on the old cutting board, that you've dusted with flour
Bake at 325 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes,
you'll get the hang of it,
and you get to eat any overdone cookies, so relax
mint icing: powdered sugar, turned into icing with your preferred icing maker: half n half, or butter, or milk or oleo (again, using an old cookbook term here) green food coloring, (if you must) and 1/8 or less peppermint extract
*what we did: For the cocoa ingredient we just melted some chocolate squares we happened to have on hand, and for the frosting we casually tossed some crushed up peppermint candy into the frosting. Simply and utterly DELICIOUS!
vintage cookie cutters jerry mouse and droopy dawg
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Dear Awkins,
What do you think of politics? signed birdie, hilary or trump... Well, that is something we all are thinking about, isn't it? I think the main thing is to keep working to improve your life, and the lives of others around you. Happier people don't start wars, or make animals miserable. Did you make someone's day better today? Sincerely, Awkins Dear Awkins, How have you been? You haven't written anything in a while. What's new? Signed, Eager to know... Dear Eager, I've been baking, and going out into the woods for hikes, and watching for Nature's awakenings. Methinks it's time to get published, and for a new recipe. Any suggestions? What are people eating these days? (Surely not just casseroles or bruised bananas...) Musingly, Awkins Dear Awkins,
I made your scone recipe last night and they turned out so well that I received a marriage proposal! Signed, Copasetically Elated Dear Elated, I'm glad the recipe was such a success for you, and, let me guess, your calendar word-a-day word for the day was copasetic. When I tried to look up copasetically, google asked if i meant spastically.. In any event, I wish you an elated, copasetic and occasional spastic marital bliss. Signed, Awkins |
Dear Awkins,
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Dear Awkins,
I got some fresh sweet corn and tomatoes from my friends who live out in the country. Any recipe ideas? Signed, hungry Dear Hungry, Did you ever try the sweet corn fresh and raw, right off the ear? Maybe it's just a parrot thing, but, YUM! Tomatoes, tomatoes, we're putting them in everything right now, aren't we? And, I can't help it, but I'm thinking APPLES..... Signed, recently hungry Awkins... |
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Dear Awkins;
What would be the best drink to serve with delicious scones? Sincerely, Pollyfuji Dear Polly, I think the proper question is what drink would not go with these delicious scones! And the only thing I can think of is something exotic native tribes create in the far corners of the earth that you would never ever want to drink with anything, let alone the world's best scones! Otherwise, pair the scones with hot or cold, alcoholic or non alcoholic, caffeinated or non caffeinated drink, you get the idea.. (My personal favorite: Veuve Clicquot champagne) Most sincerely, Awkins |
Dear Awkins,
I love your column and I've been so eager to read another letter to you. When will you be posting a new one? Sincerely, A Fond Admirer On Tenterhooks Dear Tent, Here is your new posted letter. Now please get off those tenterhooks and do some baking! Sincerely, A Fond admirer of the calendar-word-a-day crowd, Awkins |
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Dear Awkins,
Who do you think was the best movie pirate, Johnny Depp or Jason Isaacs? Signed, Inquisitive Dear Inquisitive, Errol Flynn. Let me elaborate: he was extremely kind to parrots and that's important to me. I have it on good authority, as we parrots live a long time... Wisely, Awkins Dear Awkins, Where is a good place to meet men these days? Sincerely, Shy and Inquisitive Dear Shy... I've always had good luck meeting female parrots in aviaries and pet shops. I realize this advice may not be that helpful for you, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I have it on good authority that men lurk in such places as hardware stores, sporting goods stores and archery shops. I like that last idea, find the nearest archery shop and see if you can take some lessons. Have fun while you are hunting, and good luck, Your Inquisitive Awkins~ |
Dear Awkins,
Help! I burned my carrots when I was making dinner. Any ideas what I can do with them? Sadly, Scorched Dear Scorched, Sunflower and thistle seeds will cover up that burned taste! Or you can scrape off the burned parts and feed them to your turtles. If you are not a big seed eater or you don't have any turtles handy, I think the squirrels might like them.. 'Elpful 'Ints Awkins Dear Awkins, I have two questions. First - what's the difference between hardtack and scones? Which is better for a long ocean voyage? Secondly, can you give me your favorite soy sauce recipe? Signed, Fun in the Kitchen Dear Fun, Hardtack is like a crunchy biscuit, very suitable for long ocean voyages because it keeps well. Scones are scones... See above for my favorite soy sauce recipe. Kitchen Fun, Awkins |
Dear Awkins,
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Save us from these monsters of the deep!
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