Edna's Fun Friday

Once again, it's time for Fun Friday here at the Basement.

Big-screen flibbertigibbet Carole Lombard with William Powell in "My Man Godfrey"

Edna: This may surprise some of you readers out there, but in my younger days I was a bit of a feather-brained flibbertigibbet. I simply had a lot of thoughts to express, so I talked--a lot--to everyone. (Well, Margie still complains that I talk too much, but then she's usually complaining about something so I barely even listen to her anymore. I'd advise you all to do the same). I've mellowed some in my old age, but I still have some days where the thoughts get to a-whirlin' around in my head. When that happens, I've just got to do something to calm down, or "center" myself (as those new-agey hipsters like to say).

When I get so that I can't even hear myself think, I sit down, close my eyes, and take a listen to this song. It never fails to remind me of who I really and truly am, deep down inside. I wanted to share it with you all today, I surely do hope that when you listen to it, it calms and soothes you as much as it does me.

Have a fun Friday!

*image property of Universal Studios

The Secret's in the Sauce

Image courtesy of Duke University Libraries Digital Collections

Edna: Margie, with Thanksgiving coming up, people's minds seem to be on what they're going to serve for dinner. Why, just the other day, Darcy Hawkins asked me for my cranberry sauce recipe.

Margie: Edna, I hope you didn't give it to her since you're no cook. If you made cranberry sauce you'd only do it to spite me. I hate that stuff.

Edna: More for me, then. And you can just hush up about my cranberry sauce, I'll have you know that it's always in demand at church suppers.

It did give me pause when she asked for the recipe though, since I never wrote it down. I cook like Mama did, from memory and by improvising. Here's what I came up with for Darcy, I hope it turns out well for her.

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Edna's Cranberry Sauce

1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar (more or less to taste)
1 cup grated apple
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
orange zest (if desired)

In Corningware or enamel saucepan, combine the water and OJ. Using medium heat, stir the sugar into the liquid until it's dissolved. Add the washed cranberries to the mixture and turn heat on high. Stirring the berries occasionally, listen for the berries to start popping--this should take about 10 minutes or so. Once the berries begin to pop, stir the mixture occasionally and cook for about 5-10 minutes over high heat. (Cook for longer if you want the berries to break down more and your sauce to be thicker; the less you cook them, the more the berries keep their shape and consistency and the thinner your sauce is. However, if you are going to cook the sauce for more than 10 minutes, reduce the heat to medium to prevent scorching.) After you have cooked the cranberries as long as you want, remove from heat and add the apples and the walnuts (and orange zest, if desired). Let the sauce stand for about an hour before putting it in the refrigerator to chill, preferably overnight. Do not store in a metal container due to the high acid content of the sauce.

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Margie: Edna, you sully Mama's memory because she was a wonderful cook. What you call cooking would only be fit for pig slop.

You know what? It's not in demand at church suppers. People are just being mannerly to an old lady by taking some.

Edna: I suppose they were being mannerly by eating it all and coming back for seconds, too? Well that's just fine Margie, you don't have to eat any of my cranberry sauce when I make it for Thanksgiving dinner. Cousin T and will eat it all ourselves. Don't you think I'll share any of that pecan pie I'm making, either.

Margie: Thank you, Edna. That's right kindly of you.

Moving Pictures

Image property of The Walt Disney Co.

Margie: Edna, remember what fun we had when Daddy would take us to the moving pictures?

Mama wasn't so sure young ladies belonged there but Daddy overruled that notion.

Edna: Well, I've always thought that those Saturday afternoons at the picture show was what started my life-long love of movies, and television later. There's nothing like a good story to take you away, and that is the truth.

My lands, the things they'd show in those days! Newsreels, cartoons, such like you'd never seen before. What a wonder it all was.

Margie: It sure was a wonder. Daddy would explain why the newsreels were important and I still love watching the news.

The cartoons were the best. They don't make them like that anymore. Which was your favorite, Edna?

Edna: Well, I always did think that Betty Boop had style, she sure was fun to watch and she always made me giggle. What about you Margie, which one was your favorite?

Margie: I always loved Mickey Mouse. I met him once when I went to Disney World. Very sweet mouse.

Edna, I bet you don't know what happened on this date in 1928?

Edna: Well, since we're talking about the moving pictures, I bet it has something to do with them. Am I right? And what do I get if I am?

Margie: You're right, Edna. You win a prize! You get to do dishes and laundry for a week. Aren't you happy?

Mickey Mouse debuted in Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theater in New York on Nov. 18, 1928.

You can watch it here, Edna.

Edna: Okay, I'll go watch it, but I'm not doing the dishes or the laundry.

Margie: Tell me something I don't know, lazy tushie.

Family and Sacrifice

Image courtesy of Ohio History Central

Edna: Margie, I've been thinking a lot lately about the girl that Mama used to have come watch us when we were little, when she'd go to to Bible study or to her lady's group. Her name was Sylvia, do you remember?

Margie: Yes, I remember. I haven't thought of her in years. What makes you ask?

Edna: Maybe it's because of the holiday season and all the talk of families and such. I remember that she was just out of high school when the Great Depression started, and although she'd been talking about going to college to get her teaching degree, she went to work in a factory instead to make money for her older brothers to continue their schooling. I've often thought about how selfless that sacrifice was. I wonder how many young people today would do that for their siblings?

Margie: Times were sure different then. People had manners and they were caring and gracious. Family was the most important thing in the world. There weren't a lot of women who made it to college. Women were expected to help the menfolk.

I'm not sure how many young women would do that today. People think about me, me, me nowadays.

Edna: Margie, I would like to think that if times got really tough again like they were back then, young women (and young men!) would step up to do what they had to do to help their families out.

You know, I asked Mama about Sylvia after we were grown. She told me she'd heard that Sylvia never did get to go back to school like she'd wanted to. Sylvia's brothers all dropped out of school, but she never ever complained about having made a wasted sacrifice. Mama said she got married and had two girls (just like Mama!) and lots of wonderful grandchildren, and she was happy with the path she chose.

I guess what it all comes down to is being happy with the life you have. And that's a lesson you can take to the bank.

Margie: I agree, Edna. Be happy with the life we have. I have the utmost respect for Sylvia for being happy with her path. She certainly deserved happiness.

Edna: Yes, she did. And she got it too.


This one's for you, Grandma.

Changes coming to the Basement...

Dear Readers,

We're announcing a bit of a change in schedule here at the Basement. Due to real life issues (work-related, health-related, family-related...heck, you name it, it's going on), we need to change the way things are done around here for the time being. We wanted to let you all know that we will still be posting as regularly as we can. However, in addition to taking the weekends off as we've been doing, we will now be taking Wednesdays off as well. Rest assured, this blog isn't going anywhere; this is simply a temporary measure until things in real life simmer down a bit.

We love Margie and Edna, and blogging as them is like a balm for the soul, especially when the going gets tough. We will return to our usual 5-times-per-week posting schedule as soon as we can. Thank you all for being regular readers here at the blog. We really do appreciate all the love and support you've given the ladies this past year, just like we appreciate your patience with us now.

Love, Jane ("Margie") and Beth ("Edna")