Red Sour Balls

I loved red sour balls when I was a little girl, and yet,
I never bought one. Never once.
I remember walking on Brighton Beach Avenue with my Grandpa, and stopping in a store that
sold appetizers. Even now, I can almost smell the pickles; I can see the olives.
But I was a little girl. Pickles and olives didn't really interest me.
What interested me? The candy. The bins and bins of cellophane-wrapped candy. Round, flat peppermints. Lemon-drops. Caramels. And sour balls of various colors: orange, yellow, green, purple, and, of course, red!
And other candies, too many for me to remember.
And always, there were several candies in the wrong bins. And always, I would put them
back where they belonged. And always, the owner of the store would let me have a piece of
candy for "helping out".
And always, I chose a red sour ball.
It's been years since I've had a red sour ball. From time to time I've thought about buying some.
But would they taste the same?

More "Betsy-Tacy" Elements in "The Black Angels"

Yesterday I mentioned the presence of goldenrod in Maud Hart Lovelace's first novel, "The Black Angels". Goldenrod, as I said then, is a recurring element in the author's "Betsy-Tacy" books.
Now that I've read further, I've found other familiar items.
The "Cat Duet", which was introduced in "Betsy and Tacy Go Over The Big Hill"
Alex, in "The Black Angels", and Uncle Keith, in the "Betsy-Tacy" books, were both based on MHL's Uncle Frank, who left home to go onstage because of an overly-strict stepfather.
Also mentioned in "The Black Angels" are:
Fried potatoes. Remember how Mrs. Ray was always frying potatoes?
A pill-box with hair in it. THAT made me chuckle, remembering the pill-boxes in the "Red Hair, Yellow Hair, and Brown" chapter in "Betsy-Tacy and Tib".

What Not To Read To Your First Grader (from someone else's blog)

I just had to respond to, and share,
this post.

Here, for quick reference, is my comment.
If I had seen this horrific, totally unsuitable earlier version in the first grade, I would have been traumatized!
SHAME on whoever wrote such a story for
first graders! SHAME on the teachers who
assigned this story!
The new version, which can be found by going
HERE
is MUCH more suitable, because only the ham gets eaten!

Looking For Goldenrod

I was looking for goldenrod today, and I found it. No, not out of doors, but in a book.
I'm reading a recent reprint of Maud Hart Lovelace's first novel, "The Black Angels", originally published in 1926! And, knowing how the author almost always put goldenrod into her books, I had my eye out for goldenrod!

To be honest, I hadn't really been thought about the goldenrod in these books until I read "The Betsy-Tacy Companion" by Sharla Scannell Whalen. It was just there, so familiar as to be almost unnoticed.

Fr. Joseph Mary's Homily for 11/14/2011

Fr. Joseph shares some great anecdotes in this homily.

Expanding My Collection, Again

Once again, I've expanded my Rosary Art Collection.
It will now include pictures of stained glass windows. So far, I've added
two.
I have always loved stained glass windows; it's about time I included some in
my collection!

Hair Ribbons

I wear my hair in a simple ponytail with a ribbon.
I choose each day's ribbons according to that day's commemoration.
Weekdays, optional memorials, and memorials rate a grosgrain or cotton ribbon (mostly
grosgrain.)
Most of my ribbons are grosgrain.
Feasts and solemnities are celebrated with a satin ribbon. (I have several, but could use
a couple more.)
On Saturdays and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I wear a light blue hair ribbon.
I have only one ribbon for Sunday; a gold gauze ribbon with gold trim.