Cranberry - Yum and Ugh!!

It's cranberry time. Yes, what is Thanksgiving without the cranberry ? A lonely turkey ( whose white meat is usually dry and needs that cranberry desperately). So everything you ever wanted to know about the cranberry and more.
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines. They are found in acidic( surprised? nope!) bogs throughout the cooler regions of the United States and Canada. The flowers are dark pink . They are pollinated by bees ( so no spraying those honey bees). The fruit is a berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant. It is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. They are edible but have an acidic taste ( hence no surprise about the acidic soil)
About 95% of cranberries are processed into products like juice drinks, sauce and my favorite craisins( dried cranberries).Only 5% are sold fresh to consumers. OK if your cranberry sauce is in the shape of a can - we need to talk. You can make fresh cranberry sauce. Trust me -it is easy. And if you are addicted to the can shape jelly - well with a little more time and effort - you can do that too. Why you would want to - I don't know - because fresh whole cranberry sauce is amazing. ( at the bottom I'll give the recipe)
The name cranberry comes from "craneberry". Apparently our forefathers thought the flowers, petals and stems reminded them of the head of a crane. In the early 17th century New England cranberries were sometimes called "bearberries" because bears were often seen feeding on them. Native Americans were the first to use cranberries as food. They also used cranberries for wound medicine and dye. The Indians called the berries " sassamanah" and introduced the berries to the starving English settlers in Massachusetts. And thus the tradition of cranberries at Thanksgiving was born.
Cranberries are harvested in the fall when the fruit takes on its distinctive red color. This is in September through November. "So what about that white cranberry juice?" you say. Well , white cranberry juice is made from regular cranberries that have been harvested after the fruits are mature, but before they have turned dark red. So all cranberries are alike.
In 1816, American Revolutionary War veteran, Henry Hall started the first cranberry farm in Cape Cod town of Dennis , Massachusetts. Until 1930 most of the crop was sold fresh to consumers. In 1930 a cooperative of farmers was formed called "Ocean Spray" Today Ocean spray has about 65% of the cranberry market.
So what has this to do with cleaning? Cranberries can be used as a natural dye. So, needless to say, the stain is difficult (not impossible) to remove. Ugh! But that's why I'm here - to remove those tough stains. So if you or your tablecloth get cranberried - leave it alone and bring it in - we'll take care of it. But if you want to use your cranberries for dye - here's how :

Cranberry Dye


2 cups fresh cranberries
1 quart water
! cup salt

You will need :
Large enamel or stainless steel ( no aluminum ) pot
wood or plastic spoon ( remember the wood will turn red)
cheesecloth
Large bowl
Natural fiber material ( silk, cotton, linen etc)
gloves - unless you like red hands

The fabric must be submerged in the dye - so the larger the fabric the more dye you will need - be prepared to make a few batches.

1. Put cranberries and water in (non-aluminum pot) and place on stove over medium heat. Simmer 15 minutes.
2. Crush berries with spoon and simmer another 15 minutes.
3. strain mixture through cheesecloth into bowl and discard berries. Allow to cool.
4. Add salt to strained mixture ( because all of you faithful readers know that this will .....set the dye.
5. Store the dye in a non -reactive container or add the material to be dyed ( if its is a large piece of material I recommend a storage tub)
6. Let the material soak in the dye, remove and allow to dry for about 10 minutes. If you want a more intense color - repeat the soaking and drying process until you get the color you want.
7. Now completely dry ( and if you are going to wear it - wash it)

Vicky's Cranberry Sauce (easy)

1 bag cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
pinch of salt

Put sugar and water in to large sauce pan and stir to combine. Over medium heat get the water and sugar heated ( should be clear). Add cranberries. Cook about 15- 20 minutes . The water will will turn red and thicken like jelly. Cranberries will split and you will hear them pop. If you want whole cranberries - don't stir often. I prefer to stir every 3-4 minutes and keep pushing the cranberries into the water with back of my spoon the rest of the time. So you have the best of both worlds - some whole berries and some of that can -shaped jelly (without the can shape).
But for you can shaped jelly folks - strain the cooled cranberry mixture through cheesecloth and pour into a can. Cool in the refrigerator and wallah can shaped jelly! But for me too much work and the whole berries are sweet and tasty - so just pour your cooled mixture into a bowl or glass jar and refrigerate. It will last about 2 weeks. Any leftovers( surely not) can be made into bread or muffins - Yum!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

99% Pure Manure

Normally, I don't comment on politics - but what is normal about this occupy wall street crap? You have every freak and loser stinking up lower Manhattan. They are joined by rich kids whose parents apparently abdicated the ability to teach their kids common sense. Let me just say - right here -right now - if I was paying 100k for my kid to attend a university they had better have their butts in the desk and be studying- not hanging around loonies. But 1. I don't have 100k to send my kids to those bastions of liberal lunacy and 2. my kids have enough sense and fear of mom to never do anything that stupid 3. my kids know they would not be going back to the 100k school and would learn what it actually takes to make a buck.
Then in swoops the "I know your pain" liberals. I call Bulls*#^!!!! Do you own a $1000 pair of jeans? Did you even know $1000 jeans existed? Well, apparently Balmain jeans are $1000. What the hell make a jean worth $1000? Denim is denim is denim...... I'll tell you what makes a jean worth $1000 - Kayne West is stupid enough to be pay it.Yep , that fine example of intelligence went to occupy wall street wearing those $1000 jeans, a $355 Givenchy plaid shirt ( looks a lot like the Lamar Alexander $25 one), $500 shoes and enough gold to choke a leprechaun. And that fool acts like he is part of the 99%. Once again , I call Bulls*#@!!!!!!!
And lets talk about the top 1% and the 99%. Is there anyone out there who doesn't want to be part of the top 1%? Anyone not want to be a billionaire? Well ? If you are honest ( and not part of the 1%) - yes!!! I don't want to work those long hours - I like my husband and kids. So yeah I'm happy being a 99%er. I am not however a bottom 50% er who pays no taxes at all. You. I suspect are not either - or you'd be occupying something asking for - oh wait we don't know what they want. You are like me - regular tax-paying folks. I like billionaires - Steve Jobs made "Cars and Toy Story" and my apple computer. OK George Soros isn't on my list of likable billionaires but that's because he is funding this crap ( literal if you watch the news).
And comparing these losers, anti-Semites, druggies and nuts to the Tea Party? That is just more - well I call Bulls*#@!!!! Tea party was polite, cleaned after themselves, and had clear issues - quit spending and follow the Constitution. These crazy stinky lazy asses - they have no goals -oh DUH!!!!! Why would useless people have a goal in protesting when they don't have a goal in life?
So I am not a 1%er or 99%er - I am a 49%er!!! Yep, I care about my country. I go to work everyday and pay way too much in taxes. I think the government spends too much. I own guns, read the Constitution and even own a Bible. I am tired of being told I cannot pray in public - too damn bad - sometimes you just need God. I won't shoot you for no reason - but come near my husband, kids or pets ( in Texas they are considered property) - then Castle Law it is!!! I expect to be treated fairly and treat others the same. I haven't created anything that changed the world - but I do make clothes look good. So should I be paid the same as Steve Jobs - hell no !!!
And get this -- the anti-capitalism wall street stinkers - have over 1200 items listed on E-bay . Yep, can't take a bath but complain about capitalism while loading items on E-bay from their laptops and I-phones.$ 30 t-shirts and $3.50 buttons - what a rip -off ? oh wait isn't that what they are protesting? being ripped off !!! So I call bulls*@^!!!!!!!!.

Don't Forget

I remember listening to the radio when I heard a plane hit the World Trade Center. That was all that was said. The announcer didn't know what kind of plane or exactly what happened. I thought "oh my". Then minutes later, the same announcer said the second tower was hit by another plane. It was then that "oh my" turned into "oh God, what is happening?". We had no t.v in my office - so we ran out to get one. We knew when the second plane hit - this was a nightmare, an act of war, and a day that will forever be etched into our minds.
I will not forget watching those brave firefighters and policeman running into a building while others were running out. I will not forget the faces of family members looking and praying for their loved ones. I will not forget the towers collapsing. I will not forget those brave and patriotic Americans on Flight 93 and their sacrifice. Ordinary folks who chose to down the plane rather than allow the terrorists to kill others. I will not forget the Pentagon, the headquarters of our military, hit by yet another plane.
And then the silence. No planes flying - just silence. The background noise we have all become so used to , we no longer notice it. But when it was gone the silence was deafening. I remember looking up to the sky - waiting just waiting to hear that sound again. When the planes began to fly again - I stood in the street - just to watch them and silently pray.
Ten years have passed since that day. Ten years. Much has changed. We know the enemy has not given up. But neither have we. We stood together. We showed those cowards - those radical Islamic terrorists - we do not give in, we do not act them , we help one another and we stand together and we will not be victims. WE ARE AMERICANS!!! We are the greatest nation on the earth, we are the greatest people on the earth , and WE WILL NOT ALLOW CRAZY COWARDLY TERRORISTS TO DEFEAT US! And yes, WE ARE BETTER THAN THEM - IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE.
So this Sunday, September 11th, I will pray for those who lost their lives ( I will not do that for the terrorists - they can ask their own vindictive god to do that for them). I will thank God ( the kind, just and merciful one we believe in) for those firefighters and policeman who thought of others before themselves. I will thank God for the heroes of Flight 93. I will thank God ( despite that idiot Mayor Bloomberg's objection) for this country and for our people. WE ARE AMERICANS. I WILL NOT FORGET. YOU WILL NOT FORGET. We will make sure our children, grandchildren, and every future generation remembers. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

The FTC Wants You

It's the 100th day of over 100 degrees in San Antonio. ( well maybe not 100 days but darn close). So as I wither here, I was wondering what I could possible write about. My brain is fried and I could be an ad for any antiperspirant - even though I haven't worked out. So what does my whining have to do with the Federal Trade Commission? Not a darn thing. But I just figured it's my blog and I can whine if I want to ( or it's my party and I can cry if I want to). But onto the actual topic of this blog.

The FTC wants you ( well sorta)! Every now and then the Federal Trade Commission decides to review some of their laws. This year they are reviewing the care label law. This could be a cause for celebration but it's government - so I'm going to go out on a limb here - this will probably be a total screw -up. But this is your chance to tell them what you think about the care labels. I did!!!!!

They are actually pondering if care labels are necessary. Yep, you read that right . The Federal Trade Commission wants to know if you want to know how to safely clean your clothes. ( did you just mutter "that's government for you".) And that my dear readers is just one of the thirty or so questions they have listed. You can go to htttp://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/carelabelinganpr/ to read the whole questionnaire and voice your opinion. Please do .....

Since I have spent the last year whining about care labels - those that are wrong, stupid and just plain outlandish -WE NEED TO COMPLAIN!!!!! Aren't you tired of the " Do Not Dry Clean Do Not Wash Spot Clean Only" label? Tell the FTC. Wouldn't you like to know all the methods that are safe to clean your clothes? Right now the manufacturer only has to give you one method.But most of the time the garment can be either wet cleaned or dry cleaned. But you the consumer, the owner of the garment will never know. FAIR? HARDLY!!!!!

This is your chance to tell the FTC what you want - do you want the care labels in English? Is that a big DUH!!!! Do you prefer written instructions to the fun and funky symbols? It's your clothes - it's your chance - don't let it pass you by - write the FTC.

So once again - here's the link:
http://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/carelalinganpr/

Frankly,my dear I give a damn

Yes, I know I have changed the iconic line from "Gone With The Wind". But I do give a damn about the dresses worn by Vivien Leigh in the Oscar- winning movie. Now, you Rhett Butler's out there will care less - unless one of us Scarlett's show up wearing the drapes. But we gals, we remember all those beautiful gowns and if asked we all have a favorite. So southern belles - this column is for you.

Restoration has started to preserve and restore the dresses from "Gone With The Wind." The bad news is - some of the gowns cannot be made to look like they did on screen. The holes, and dropped stitches can be repaired. Feathers added to the Burgundy ball gown removed. But, the dresses are old, badly faded in spots and one is too fragile to handle.

In 2014 an exhibit will mark the 75th anniversary of the film. The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas acquired five of the dresses from the collection of David O. Selznick in the 1980's. The center will spend $30,000 to preserve the five dresses. The five dresses are Scarlett O'Hara's green curtain dress, her velvet gown, a burgundy ball gown, a blue velvet night gown and Scarlett's wedding dress.

Cara Varnell, an art conservator who specializes in Hollywood film costumes is doing the restoration work. Varnell has studied the dresses. The waistline of the green curtain dress has been altered several times and extra feathers were sewn on the ball gown. The dresses are in rough shape. The reason was David O. Selznick realized the value of the dresses and put them on tour. They went through decades of traveling displays and were even loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City ( fell free to utter the Pace Picante sauce line from the their commercial here) Plus, costumes were never made for everyday use- they were made to wear for the filming of movie and then be discarded.

But thankfully, since 1980 the Ransom Center has has kept them in a properly temperature and light controlled storage environment. Sadly, the the curtain dress has long faded streaks that have turned the fabric an ugly brown mustard color. Ms. Varnell does not believe this was caused by light fading because the fabric is not dried out or fragile in those areas that would be typical of light fading. Records show the dress was likely sprayed with Sudol, a disinfectant similar to Lysol, which may have affected the rate and nature of the discoloration. ( note to selves - never spray disinfectant on your clothes)

So the curtain dress will not be restored to it's original shade of green. Ms Varnell said her job is to keep the dresses sturdy enough to endure in as close to original form as possible, not to recreate their precise look in the movie. ( so disappointing but hey - it's going to be 75 years old - none of us look as good as we use to)

Varnell believes the dresses travels and faded spots are " part of it's history".( kinda like my wrinkles, grey hair and a few extra pounds) She believes she should "honor the history and honor the piece."( ha- take that husbands - honor the history - honor the wrinkles) The Burgundy ball gown, however, is still it's same vibrant color. Scarlett's silk wedding dress veil cannot be restored. It was brittle and lined with permanent creases when it was acquired and is now so fragile that it will likely disintegrate if handled. But Ms. Varnell said " we are all organic material ans when a costume has come to the end of its life, it is no different than we are.

So in 2014 - head to Austin to see Scarlett's dresses. But use what happened to them to as a reminder to be careful with your clothes. Proper care and storage would have kept Scarlett's dresses in better condition. Proper care and storage will do the same for yours. But no matter the condition, aren't you thrilled to know the dresses are still here? Can't you still picture Clark Gable looking up the staircase - when Scarlett asks who is that man ? Don't you still wonder why she preferred Ashley Wilkes over Rhett Butler? And don't ya just feel like saying "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn?"

We're Having a heat Wave

Some of you will remember the song "We're Having a Heat Wave." If you are not old enough to have heard it on the radio , watch re-runs of "M.A.S.H." But, if you are living in San Antonio - we are having a heat wave. Heck we are frying. Yesterday it was 104. Today it's 104. Tomorrow- who knows. We need rain. My lawn is a lovely shade of brown and plants are dying. So simple reminder - drink a lot of water, stay indoors if you can, and try to keep cool.

I know I talked about this before - but it really needs to be said again - perspiration can damage clothes. It can change the color of the dyes used in making your clothes. It is important with days like these to make sure that anything you wear - is immediately cleaned to remove perspiration. Don't leave damp clothes in your hamper - one garment can fade unto another. So if your garment is damp from perspiration -hang it up to dry (if dry clean only) or wash immediately if you can. Don't put these garments back into the closet until it's cleaned.

Also remember to clean to clean stains and soil as soon as possible. Any stains or soil left on a garment can become impossible to remove. Studies by the Dry Cleaning And Laundry Institute show after aging for only one week,20% of stains cannot be removed satisfactorily. After three weeks , this increases to 47%.

Always allow lotions, antiperspirants, perfumes, and toiletries to dry before you get dressed.These products can contain ingredients that can cause color loss or color changes in your garments. We all know we are not supposed to sit in the sun - ( yeah that summer tan can kill ya) so if you use a sunless tanner - be sure you give it enough time to dry.

Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or strong artificial lights can affect the color in your garments. The light can fade the color. If the garment is white -it can cause the white to yellow or gray. I have always wondered what crazy architect thought putting a window in a closet is a good idea.

Always clean and wear matching items together.

So while you're roasting here - remember your clothes. This is that time of year to pay special attention to your clothes. The deodorant and perspiration that isn't immediately removed from those garments can leave lasting damage. Oh joy - as if you didn't have enough to worry about. But think of it this way - there are 3 things you have the largest investment in - house, car and wardrobe. So don't forget to protect your investment.

May 1961

I cannot say I really remember May 1961. Let's just say I was very young ( a lady never tells her age). But apparently, even though I don't recall all of this - 1961 was a very good year.

On January 20,1961 John F. Kennedy was sworn into the office of the president. But it was Jacqueline Kennedy who changed fashion. The pill box hat was the fashion must have. Oleg Cassini, who designed her inaugural dress was "the" designer.

If you were watching t.v. in 1961 - and weren't we all. You had a choice of 3, yes count'em on one hand, 3 channels. your favorite shows were "Wagon Train", "Bonanza", Gunsmoke", "The Twilight Zone" and my personal favorite ( back then) "Mr. Ed." Clearly, mom and dad must have been into pop culture - top shows = westerns - cleaners name = cowboy. Do you remember this - "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat"? That was the opening for the new Saturday afternoon show with Jim McKay - "The Wide World Of Sports".

The movies that year included " The Absent -minded Professor","101 Dalmatians "( still my husband's favorite dog) "Breakfast at Tiffany's","judgement at Nuremberg", The Guns of Navarone" and "The Pit and the Pendulum". The Broadway musical "West Side Story" was made into a film this year starring Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno. ( the American Romeo and Juliette) .Are you humming "We want to live in America?" or "Tonight"?

On the radio , you were listening to "Moon River" by Henry Mancini ( the theme song from "Breakfast at Tiffany's).Pete Seeger sang "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", Roy Orbison recorded "Crying". And my two all time favorite songs "Crazy" recorded by Patsy Cline and written by Willie Nelson ( yep the same Willie Nelson) and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" recorded by the Shirelles - Thankfully re-recorded by the song writer in the 70's , Carole King.

In 1961 construction began on the Berlin Wall. (amazing some young folks never saw it in their lifetime). Texas introduced the state sales tax. (oops) The first Six Flags was opened in Arlington. Proctor and Gamble introduced and test marketed Pampers in Peoria,Illinois. Coca-Cola had a brand new soft drink - they called it Sprite. TWA showed the first in-flight movie. Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space. ray Kroc had bought the rights to McDonalds and had opened 230 stores.

The average cost of a new home $12,500.00
The average income $5315.00
Gas per gallon $0 .27
The average cost of a new car $2850.00
Pound of bacon $0.67
Dozen eggs $0.30

This was when Mom and Dad decided to open the first Cowboy Cleaners. Fifty years later McDonald's is world wide ( to some the scourge of America - to the rest of us a quick, tasty burger and dang good fries). If there hadn't been pampers -millions of kids would literally have been butt-naked.( no way was I going to use a cloth diaper)."West Side Story" is a classic. And Cowboy Cleaners is still here . The company has grown but we still follow the same ideals that dad started. We do the best job. We take the the time and care to make the clothes we are entrusted with look their best. So if you look at the picture on the home page and think who are those folks? That would be us - Dad, Shannon and I and the next generation of Cowboys and Cowgirls.