Put your money where your mouth is. Talk is cheap, but it takes money to buy whiskey! Being Irish, my favorite of the former sayings is the last one, and I don’t even like whiskey. All of these sayings are talking about “actions speaking louder than words.” I believe this. Since I have talked about appreciating others in recent columns, I have made a resolution to do just that. I plan on sending a written thank-you note on stationary that comes with an envelope and needs a stamp to 12 people in the next 12 months.
Perhaps some readers are too young to remember “snail mail,” so I have decided to send my first thank-you publicly. Yes, I will also save a stamp this way and give an example of how to perform this quaint custom. So here goes.
Dear Shirley Johnson,
I first knew you as a dealer of antiques. You and Roger sold Norwegian, primitives, Red Wing crocks, and other miscellaneous antiques and collectables out of the basement of your home between Houston and Money Creek. Your prices were fair and you and Roger very hospitable. Soon my mother and sisters shopped with me there. You invited us up to your living quarters for coffee and to see your very special Norwegian antiques.
Once when we all visited you and your shop in the winter, my little car couldn’t make it up your steep, icy drive way. You volunteered to lay on your stomach on the roof of my car to give us extra traction. We made it up the hill. My mother there after referred to you as our “car roof guardian angel,” She never forgot that experience or you.
Thank you also for your years of work with the Houston County Historical Society! I remember that you loaned your antique Norwegian Christmas decorations to be used during the holidays at the museum in Decorah, Iowa. You were so generous to share them with others.
Thank you again for your service to the historical society, your always fair prices on antiques, your friendship and the memories of my family visiting your shop so many times!
Sincerely,
Kathy Little
See, that wasn’t so hard. Anyone can do this. Yes, I know it is not as fast, and you have to buy a stamp. However, there are still many of us who remember this custom and still value and appreciate a handwritten note. Since penmanship is no longer taught in schools, and most students print or have tablets; only we older people will still be able to read cursive in the future! Expect to pay exorbitant prices for this service.
Cold Weather Bacon-Tater Snacks
(When air-popped popcorn just isn’t satisfying.)
24 potato puffs
12 slices bacon, halved
1/2 cup onion and chive sour cream
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On 2 separate, foil-lined baking sheets, bake the puffs on one and the bacon on the other for 15 minutes. Using toothpicks, wrap bacon around puffs. Then bake them until bacon is crispy. Check often, because this will not take long!
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