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The Bald Kid’s Friend…

In Remembrance

Bishop Dolegiewicz

A man I met only once, and that was from afar. I watched as he laughed, joked, taught, and mentored my youngest brother and realized that he was giving Rhen the gift of seeing his own potential. “Bish” (the name he went by) coached my brother in shot put, and Rhen loved learning from him. He was a world class athlete, competed in the ’76, ’80, and ’84 Olympic Games, and was also the “World’s Strongest Man.” He taught Rhen about throwing with better form, being strong, and about the trajectory his shot put would take. Sadly, he won’t witness Rhen’s trajectory as he moves ahead with his training, but I know that he had a profound influence for good. If that’s all someone could say about me when I passed on, it would be more than enough. Onward and upward, Bish, to that place where you won’t be in pain. We’ll be thinking about you.

~April~

Bish Dolegiewicz

Bish Dolegiewicz

(1953-2008)

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The Bald Kid’s Severed Hand…

Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to tell you a gruesome campfire story or anything.  It’s like this…

Every year, my sister has a Halloween party on the Monday before trick or treats. Every year, before we leave the party she pulls out a huge basket with fun prizes and lets us choose from the basket. So you sort of want to pack up before all the good stuff is gone. I think that must be how she gets us all to go home. Ha.

ANYWAY… For my prize, I chose an adorable shelf-sitting witch with a green face and purple and pink hair. Lyndi chose some really cute, transparent skeleton stickers. Nate chose a jointed snake–not incredibly into snakes, but it was ok. So here comes Rhen. Yeah, he chooses a rubber, severed hand that you soak in water and it grows. I guess somebody didn’t think it was disgusting enough–and it needed to be BIGGER.

So this nasty piece of work is sitting on my kitchen counter…all day…all night…Feel free to gag.

I must admit that there are some parts of Halloween that I could do without…mostly severed body parts.

Blaugh!

 

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Brownie Sandwich Cookies

Brownie cookies 004

Brownie Sandwich Cookies

1-1/4 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients slowly. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees fro 8 minutes. Allow to rest on pan for a minute or two before removing to cool.

When completely cool, spoon about 1-2 tsp. of filling on back side of one cookie and press another cookie to form a sandwich.  Note: Add a few drops of color to filling for a holiday touch.

Cream Cheese Filling

1 c. powdered sugar

4 tbsp. butter

6 oz. cream cheese

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix filling ingredients together till smooth.

Brownie Sandwich Cookies
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 cup butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • ¾ cup cocoa
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
Instructions
  1. Cream butter and sugar.
  2. Add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Add dry ingredients slowly.
  4. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees fro 8 minutes.
  5. Allow to rest on pan for a minute or two before removing to cool.
  6. When completely cool, spoon about 1-2 tsp. of filling on back side of one cookie and press another cookie to form a sandwich.
  7. Add a few drops of color to filling for a holiday touch.
Notes
Cream Cheese Filling 1 c. powdered sugar 4 tbsp. butter 6 oz. cream cheese ½ tsp. vanilla Mix filling ingredients together till smooth.

 

 

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10 Seriously Last Minute Costume Ideas…

Happy Halloween!!

Ok, here’s the deal. We’ve collected some of the easiest costume ideas–some we’ve used, some we’ll save for next year. But don’t worry…these are so clever and simple you don’t even need a picture. Trust me…

Posterboard tombstone hanging from your neck that says, “R. I. P.” with a letter C below it…Dead Sea

Plain white T-shirt with a red, paper letter C taped or sewn on…Red Sea

Plain white T-shirt with a green, paper letter T taped or sewn on…Green Tea

Plain dark T-shirt with a blue paper cutout of a quarter moon taped or sewn on…Blue moon

Crumble about ten pieces of different shades of green construction paper. I took a long piece of yarn and strung them on like popcorn garlands at Christmas time. Tie a knot in both ends so the paper doesn’t slide off. Wear this around your waist like a belt…Green Waste

Being fully dressed–of course, hang a sign around your neck that reads, “Nudist on Strike.” Nudist on Strike

Tape newspaper around your body and write “BAD” across the middle…Bad News

Cut a huge letter C out of craft foam and pin it to your shirt…Sea Foam

Cut out 5 o 6 small letter C’s out of different colored construction paper. Tape or pin them to one side of your clothing…Sea Side

Draw a large quarter and pin it on your back…Quarterback

Here’s a good one from the Pittsburg Tribune-Review:

Dress conservatively like a teacher (hair in a bun, skirt and sweater, glasses on a chain). Then stick a paper airplane in the back of your hair, tape a “Kick Me” sign on your back, cover your hands, face and clothes with chalk prints, and attach staples and paper clips to your clothes. Substitute Teacher

I hope you’ll show us what you come up with. Have a great day!

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World’s Best Caramel Popcorn Balls

So, have you been on the lookout for an incredibly good caramel popcorn recipe? This one is gonna knock you over…

No…really. These are that good. And if they were that good and a pain to make—it would still be worth the trouble. But the good news is that they are chewy and soft and have the best flavor I’ve ever tasted–for a popcorn ball–and they are fast and EASY. I’m serious.  I promise I wouldn’t make them otherwise. Are you ready?

Caramel Popcorn Balls

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 cups corn syrup

1 cup butter

2 tsp. salt

Large bowl of popcorn (about 6 quarts)

Heat brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt to simmering. Boil rapidly for 2 minutes.

Pour over popcorn and stir until all the popcorn is covered.

Allow to rest until cool enough to handle.

Cover hands with sandwich bags and form into balls. Cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic bags.

I always plan to give these away at the door to trick or treaters that I know–but it never happens. We usually don’t have any left! So I say…just eat them…

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What are YOU passing out for Halloween treats tomorrow?

5.0 from 1 reviews
World's Best Caramel Popcorn Balls
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 cups corn syrup
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • Large bowl of popcorn (about 6-8 quarts)
Instructions
  1. Heat brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt to simmering.
  2. Boil rapidly for 2 minutes.
  3. Pour over popcorn and stir until all the popcorn is covered.
  4. Allow to rest until cool enough to handle.
  5. Cover hands with sandwich bags and form into balls.
  6. Cool completely.
  7. Wrap individually in plastic bags.