By Dotha Schaefer

Note: Our “Spice Girl,” Dortha Schaefer, is out of commission for awhile due to a broken arm. For your enjoyment, we are reprinting this Spice Rack:

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Mary Lou claims this is her favorite quote: “All a girl really needs is the right pair of shoes!” Who says so? Cinderella.

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Are you a pizza lover? Does it look less than appetizing if a piece is left over the next day? Try heating the bit in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. It really works.

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By Dortha Schaefer

Note: Our “Spice Girl,” Dortha Schaefer, is out of commission for awhile due to a broken arm. She writes this to us:

“Tomorrow they start therapy on my banged-up left upper arm. It is nearly four weeks so hopefully I can use my arm again. This may be the last Rack as it seems too hard to compose it anymore. It even appears I have lost a portion of my sense of humor, something badly needed in this business.

“I really appreciate the letters and cards as well as phone calls so many of you have sent. It is good to know you want the Rack to keep on appearing in the Progress. Our address is 1717 Maplecrest Road Apt. 132, Fort Wayne IN 46815.”

We hope she gets well soon. For your enjoyment, we are reprinting this Spice Rack:

By Nancy Whitaker

PICKIN’ DANDELIONS

A lot of people who know me are familiar with my love of food. I love to shop, look at, take pictures of, cook, and eat food.

I would not call myself a gourmet by any means, but I do like to think of myself as “adventurous” in the kitchen. I certainly have had my share of “kitchen horror” stories, but all in all, through the years, I have learned how to whip up a good meal.

While shopping for food this week in a large retail store, I was enthralled with their produce department. I noticed the different kinds of tomatoes. There was a type I had never tried before called a mandarin tomato.

I’LL KEEP MY HABITS

A new year, a new you? So many of us have the best intentions at the beginning of the year to either lose weight, quit smoking or to live a healthier life style.

I always want to do better in the new year, but, I, too, look at my habits and although I want to change them, I lose interest before the end of year. I think I usually just say, “Hmmmm. If I haven’t changed myself so far in  my lifetime, it is getting a little late to do it now.”

Don’t get me wrong. We are never too old for New Year’s resolutions, however it is often said, “promises are made to be broken.”

According to a report there is a list of the most common New Year’s goals and resolutions that people make, but fail to achieve. Then there are also some resolutions that deals with habits we want to stop doing.

Note: Our “Spice Girl,” Dortha Schaefer, is out of commission for awhile due to a broken arm. We hope she gets well soon. For your enjoyment, we are reprinting this Spice Rack.

Emma likes to watch her cat, Rusty, at play since it is a little unusual. She owns one of those fish that swim around in a large urn-type container. Said to be Russian, the fish is large and what you might call “fluffy” and quick of movement, so that it attracts Rusty. Emma stands the fish bowl on the floor and the two creatures actually chase each other around, although the fish never leaves the bowl. It is a good thing he can’t since the cat would surely win the game if he did.

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By Jim Langham

For Gimpy, 2011 has been a matter of survival. Several months ago, a young man in the area sensing danger for the young turtle, rescued Gimpy, took him to his room, created a suitable environment and adopted the turtle as a special friend. Gimpy was well taken care of and loved as a special pet.

All was well for Gimpy for several months, but that all changed a few weeks ago when a devastating fire destroyed part of the home in which Gimpy was living. The upper and rear parts of the home were completely destroyed, including the room in which Gimpy lived. Unfortunately, when family members were hurriedly trying to remove all belongings they could, no one thought of Gimpy.

That afternoon, when Gimpy's special friend arrived from school, the first thing he asked his father was whether or not anyone had rescued Gimpy. Sadly, the father admitted that no one had thought of Gimpy. To make things worse, the father knew that the ceiling of Gimpy's room had collapsed. Nevertheless, the father climbed to his son's room. Sure enough, he found what he suspected. The ceiling had collapsed on Gimpy's home and the turtle was nowhere to be seen. A dismal day had become even darker.

By Nancy Whitaker

HOT MILK TOAST

Everyone has a bad day once in a while or they get sick occasionally. While some like to drink their problems away, others just light up a cigarette to calm them down. When I have a bad day one thing that I turn to is food. I call it my “comfort food.”

Sometimes, I love to think back to my childhood and remember some of the foods my mom cooked. That always brings a touch of nostalgia and triggers  my memories of growing up. Some of those are my comfort foods.

Growing up in the 1950s and living in the country, our food was simple fare, but it was really tasty. A group of friends were talking the other night about the various foods  they ate when they were growing up.

By Nancy Whitaker

WHERE DID THAT WORD COME FROM?

Have you ever wondered where some of our old beloved sayings originated? For instance when someone says, “God willing and the Creek don’t rise,” I always thought a creek to be a body of water.

However, that is not what the writer was referring to. The story goes, that the saying “God willing and the Creek don’t rise” was in reference to the Creek Indians. It was written by Benjamin Hawkins who was a politician and an Indian diplomat in the late 18th century.

By Dortha Schaefer

It won’t be long now. In just about no time at all, Christmas will be here. Church events have been going on at a great rate already and most of the shopping is done. It isn’t time yet to thaw the turkey, but don’t forget to do it as I once did many seasons ago.

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The following story happened to a woman of the county while she was shopping at the Last Minute. She was buying gifts for her grandchildren.

Finding an inviting display of children’s books, she picked one up and was examining to see if it would be the proper sort she needed for a little girl.

By Jim Langham

“And you are to them like a love song by one who has a beautiful voice.”

Those words, hidden deep in the book of Ezekiel (33:32) open the chorus books of heaven to a fact closest to the musical heart of God. Everyone has a song within, if they will allow it to flow and fill out the chords of the heart.

Oh, it may not come out in literal musical scores, but the lyrics may express themselves through a well-timed hug, an appropriate word of encouragement at just the right time, or a silent prayer known only to God.

It may reflect personal traits that are meaningful to others or an unsuspected talent just waiting to develop. It’s what makes you “you” and it can often be heard more clearly by others than by self.