Sunday at Home

Well... my foot is a little better, but still painful and swollen. So.. unable to get a a shoe on, for the first time in a long time MrD and I missed church. Luckily though, our church broadcasts the Sunday service so we were able to listen at home. Not quite the same as being there.. but hopefully next week we will be back

It was lovely to get a couple of phone calls.. one from our pastors wife.. and another from our dear friend Joy enquiring if we were ok. It is nice to be missed

Today was also Flag Day, an American "holiday" celebrated annually on June 14 that commemorates the adoption of the "Stars and Stripes" as the official flag of the United States. It marks the anniversary of the 1777 resolution passed by the Second Continental Congress. 

In 1942 it was a major patriotic milestone during World War II and was also widely referred to as "United Flag Day" to honor the allied forces of the United Nations. The President,  Franklin D, Roosevelt addressed the nation reading the beautiful poem "Prayer for Brotherhood" by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Stephen Vincent Benét and written at the request of the Librarian of Congress.  Part of it is written below.

"The Spirit of man has awakened

The Soul of man has gone forth 

Grant us the wisdom and the vision 

to comprehend the greatness of man's Spirit,

that suffers and endures so hugely for a goal 

beyond his own brief span 

We are all of us children of Earth 

Grant us that simple knowledge 

If our brothers are oppressed, then we are oppressed 

If they hunger, we hunger 

If their freedom is taken away, our freedom is not secure 

Grant us a common faith, 

that man shall know bread and peace

 

That he shall know justice and righteousness, 

Freedom and security, 

an equal opportunity, 

and an equal chance to do his best, 

not only in our own lands, 

but throughout the world. 

And in that faith, let us march, 

march toward the clean world, our hands can make. 

Amen "

-Franklin D. Roosevelt, June 14,1942

Ouch!!

I’m such an idiot. Growing up my dear mother used to say I could “trip over the pattern in the carpet” and today she was right.. well almost. Our daft dog helped!

I was vacuuming this morning and Prince heard MrD outside and as he made a dash for the door he barged through me and knocked me flying. I was stopped mid flight by the door opening and my head made contact. My head is quite hard so not much damage.. but I badly sprained my ankle. My concerned husband strapped it well but it’s quite painful and I spent the day either hobbling around or sitting with my foot elevated. Hopefully it will be a bit better tomorrow. 

So I spent the rest of the day listening to the radio, reading and knitting... and.. feeling a bit useless. MrD was a complete sweetheart looking after my needs... and even made dinner. Well.. he is the Hot Dog King!!

The Whistler "The Shrunken Head"

13 June 1942

Later we both settled down to listen to The Whistler on the radio. I don't think I will be able to hobble to church tomorrow.. so another easy day is on the cards

Eggs Benedict with Easy Hollandaise Sauce

It was a busy Saturday... To beat the heat we headed out early to our friends Ginny and Michael's house to help cut down an old dangerous looking tree in the garden and help to haul some logs

Ginny made us a delicious breakfast of eggs Benedict using some of the eggs our generous girls had gifted.. although she used ham in her recipe.. different to the bacon I use in mine. I must say.. either way its one of my favourite breakfasts.

Ginny is almost at the end of her pregnancy now and is looking so well after the spell in hospital earlier this year. Michael is on the mend too.. though he has been told he will always have limp.. but knowing him... I wouldn't put any bets on that either. So while Ginny and I sat in the garden sipping iced tea.. the men did a great job getting rid of that old eyesore.. and stacking some of the logs in their log store and filling our truck bed with the rest.

When we got home we started the task of stacking it all with what we have remaining form last year. Its quite a haul The warmth of day making it hard to imagine that the cold weather is only a few short months away.. so it makes me feel better that we are getting prepared

This year is just flying by!

So, although Ginnys breakfast was delicious... here's my recipe for Eggs Benedict and its from  "300 Ways to Serve Eggs", published by the Culinary Arts Institute in 1940. And I use either ham or bacon for the meat.

3 English muffins
6 slices broiled ham or

6 slices of bacon halved
6 poached eggs
Hollandaise Sauce

• Split and toast English muffins.
• Cut ham same size as muffin; 
• Place on muffin, 
• Slip egg on ham 
• Cover with hollandaise sauce.
• Serve hot. Serves 6.

Toast may be used in place of English muffins.
Use Cheese Sauce instead of Hollandaise Sauce.

Easy Hollandaise Sauce

1 cup White Sauce

2 egg yolks, beaten

3 tablespoons lemon juice

Few grains cayenne

• Add hot sauce to yolks, beating constantly. 
• Remove from heat
• Add lemon juice and cayenne. 
• Makes about 1 cup.

"300 Ways to Serve Eggs",

the Culinary Arts Institute 1940.

Hospital Visit...

Shopping day... and amongst other things a trip to the butchers was on the cards. 

In May 1942, meat prices in the United States were beginning to be regulated by the Office of Price Administration (OPA), which froze prices at their highest March 1942 levels to combat rapid increases. I guess price increases are inevitable...and as yet there are no shortages and meat rationing.. But who knows what will happen in the future.

I also called into the florist and bought some flowers for my beautiful friend Ginny and after dropping the shopping a home I popped round to the hospital just in time for visiting hour. Ginny is on bed rest having very high blood pressure and putting her pregnancy at risk. She has had a very stressful couple of months, what with Michael getting hurt so badly at Pearl Harbour, and her travelling to and fro to San Francisco to visit him in hospital. But it it wont be long before he's home again

It did my heart good to see that after being so poorly she was sitting up in bed and was a little more like her old self. She said its surprising what a hairwash and a bit of lipstick can do for a girl. That's my Ginny! We chatted for the whole hour and time went so fast. She will be in hospital for a little while longer and seeing as the hospital is only a 15 minute walk from the house... I promised I would visit again before she goes home.

Tonights dinner was one of our favourites.... the oddly named Victory Medley, a tasty pasta casserole from Coupon Cookery by Prudence Penny, 1943.