first line: no one is more surprised by my life than i am.

[please click on the title to read the full post] 

Happy New Year! I am excited to be participating in the Think Kit project again this year. 

Today's prompt: First Line: Pretend you're writing your autobiography. Give us your first line, a first chapter, or even just an image. What's the story of you?

I'm sure the first like of my autobiography would be: No one is more surprised by my life than I am. 

Seriously. I have an amazing life - an awesome job, loving family and friends, and I'm smitten with my community. 

I always joke that everyday is a new day for me. But it's true. If I go to bed angry or disappointed or feeling like something is impossible, it's all forgotten by morning. Which has worked in the favor of family members and boyfriends and co-workers over the years. 

So, I've got the first few lines and recapping the last 54 years seems daunting...how 'bout a little slice of last year? 

In 2015 I got to throw out the ceremonial pitch at in Indianapolis Indians game and drive an official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car for two laps around the famed track. 

 Not too bad for an nonathletic chickie who drives-like-an-old-woman lady. 

For the record, the pitch made it to the plate and I used the turn-signals as I drove around the track. 

This year I also celebrated 10 years at Second Helpings, met (and maintained) my Weight Watchers goal, continued to write a column for the Broad Ripple Gazette, attended all 17 days of the Indiana State Fair and blogged about it for NUVO, and kept my two part-time jobs. Oh, and I'm on the boards of School On Wheels and the Indianapolis City Market. 

It's late and I'm ready for bed - and to wake up to a new day of what is sure to be great fun. 

See you tomorrow! 

Nora at the Indiana State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day Four

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/11/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-four

Nora at the State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day Three

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

 Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/10/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-three

Nora at the Indiana State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day Two

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/09/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-two

Nora at the Indiana State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day One

First published in NUVO newsweekly: 

Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/08/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-one

Nora at the Indiana State Fair: Year of the Farmer - Eve

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

Click here for the first installment: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/07/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-eve

think kit day one - your year in photos

[click on the title for the full post]

Today's Think Kit blogging prompt: Document your year in photos. Did one photo encapsulate your year? Maybe it takes a gallery. And don't forget to caption, describe, or or document what made an image so important. Let's see those photos!

Uh oh. I panicked when I saw the prompt - how in the world could I whittle it down to just a few photos? Hell, I have seventeen days worth photos of me and the giant popcorn ball at the Indiana State Fair this summer.

I'm a seriously crazy picture taker. I take a ton of photos. I'm never far from either my Canon SLR or my iPhone - I think of the phone as a camera first and telephone second. Confession: I sleep next to both of them. Not in the bed of course, that would just be obsessively crazy. They have a nice little spot within reach on the nightstand. 

As I was flipping through the thousands of photos that I've taken in 2013 something quickly became apparent.  I was in them. And not just my feet.

Not only have I lost 20 pounds since Saint Patrick's Day, I've grown more comfortable with my looks. I have the Spitznogle nose and the Gremelspacher chin and I'm finally okay with that.

And losing weight has been the biggest news of 2013 for me.  Apparently if  you eat less and exercise the pounds melt off! Who knew? Being accountable to Weight Watchers and an activity monitor have helped. The biggest motivation has come from being involved in a message board on the Weight Watchers site. There is a group of us all born in the same year that chat daily. I hate to miss checking in each day and I was thrilled to meet some of them in person in October.

The photo I choose for this prompt was taken in Boulder this summer. I was with part of my family and visiting with college friends. I like how healthy and relaxed I look - it made me smile when I saw it.

I can't resist leaving you with a giant popcorn ball picture from the State Fair this year....

.

water anyone?

 500 Festival Princesses on the right, me (wearing three shirts mind you) on the left

As I said, I love participating in the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon. But this year I made a last minute decision to volunteer at a water station instead. It was a blast, although a long day. We started the morning at 5:30 setting up thousands of cups of water and ended around noon. I loved seeing friends run, or in a few cases limp by. It was fun to hang out at the Speedway, which might be the closest I get to it this month.


One of the big factors in my decision not to walk was that we were invited to the wedding reception of my friends Alan and Heidi and that I had to work at the Red Key later that evening.

The reception was lovely. It was held in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. They first saw the space during the Farm to Fair exhibit. I loved all of the personal touches - the table decorations all had meaning. My favorite part of the centerpiece were the balls of white string made from the string that bundle the Broad Ripple Gazette - the paper that I write for and Alan publishes (and edits, sells ads for, and delivers).

All and all a lovely day in May.

foreign state fairs and snickerdoodles

Me as Martha Midway, the Arizona State Fair mascot 

I couldn't believe my luck. The Arizona State Fair was happening in Phoenix while I was in town!

My conference ended after lunch so Annie and I spent the afternoon running errands, baking cookies, and taking a necessary nap.

I don't want to say that I was disappointed, because I have a special place in my heart for State Fairs and the states that still have them. But there's no place like home, really.

The open class culinary depart consisted of three lonely cases tucked in the corner of the commercial building. The other open class division had more entries. Like Indiana quilts were popular. There were other interesting entries that you don't see in Indiana- gemstones and Native American crafts.

The 4-H projects had a little bigger presence, although this is THE culinary display. I comforted myself with the fact that Arizona only has 15 counties vs. Indiana's 92, although I'm not sure if the State Fair 4-H projects funnels through the counties like Indiana's does.

There were several cool exhibits. One to fallen Arizona soldiers that was sad and lovely and a whole space dedicated to an exhibit of giant electronic bugs with the requisite photo opportunity.

I'm not a corn dog eater, but the addition of bacon does make it more appealing. The usual Fair foods were represented with some ethic twists.

Indian Fry Bread tastes suspiciously like an Elephant Ear. The Indiana State Fair is 'dry.' It was odd to walk by tents selling Bud Light.

And there was a rocking face painter somewhere on the grounds.

I'm glad that we went and I loved spending time with Ann and Tim. And it's always nice to return home feeling smug about something about your home state, especially when you're leaving sunny Arizona and fly into cold and dreary Indiana.

snickerdoodle dandy

After twenty years of entering cookies in the Indiana State Fair I finally got the first place ribbon. The snickerdoodle category is typically hotly-contested, with many entries.

My English Toffee also got a ribbon - fourth place, and my dairy contest entry got second place.

I decided that for any sort of pitch-in/bring a dish event in the next year, I'll bring snickerdoodles. I've made twelve batches in the last two months - which could have something to do with my lack of weight loss...

They are super easy to make. If I can do, so can you. 

Snickerdoodles

1-cup soft shortening
1 ½ - cup sugar
2 – eggs

2 ¾ - cup flour
2 t. cream of tarter
1 t. soda
½ t. salt

4 T. sugar
2 T. cinnamon

Mix the shortening, 1 ½ cup sugar, and eggs together; mixing until smooth.

Sift together the flour, cream of tarter, soda, and salt. Stir into batter.

Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls.

Mix the 4 T. sugar and cinnamon together in shallow bowl.

Roll the dough into the sugar/cinnamon mix.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 – 10 minutes.

Nora hints: Make the dough ahead, you can refrigerate for a couple of days. You can also roll the dough in the the balls and refrigerate or freeze. Wait to roll in the cinnamon/sugar mix until you're ready to bake. Make sure not to overbake - the cookies should be pale or very light brown on the bottom. 

Happy baking! 

dr. drake to the psych ward, stat!

Rick Springfield, Indiana State Fair 2010, photographed by me

Last night I had one of those anxiety dreams where you are lost and seem to never get to where you're going. 

In this dream I couldn't find my car in a parking garage and I kept walking in to strange situations like craft fairs and church picnics, while worrying about being late for something important. 

Guess who appeared from around the corner to help me?

Mr. Rick Springfield (Dr. Noah Drake to you General Hospital fans) himself. And he was wearing a sweater with butterflies. 

I wish I could remember more.

fabulous jane

Jamie Ridpath, Nora, Jane Rulon

 

Jane Rulon was fabulous. 

Truly and genuinely fabulous. 

In the fifteen years or so that I had the honor of knowing her, my family always referred to her as “Fabulous Jane.” She had that certain flair that is hard to describe, but you know when someone has it.  I was shocked when I found photos of her that she was not wearing a scarf. In my mind she always had one draped around her beautiful neck. I even imagined her at home with stylish silk scarf over her bathrobe. She wore her gorgeous grey hair with aplomb, making me wish that I had enough nerve to do the same. All of her accessories had a lovely story. One of my favorite pieces was the glass ring that she purchased in France. She could make something funky sparkle.

Jane was a familiar face at art, film, and music events. She and I had the same habit of dropping in on multiple events in the same evening. I was delighted when I’d see her twice in one night without making a plan. She was a marvelous conversationalist, I loved looking over at parties and seeing her deep in conversation with one of my siblings or neighbors. 

She made everyone feel special. 

Jane made everything seem like an event, whether she was popping in to my yard sale, celebrating a birthday, or bumping into her at the State Fair.

She was a thoughtful gift giver and occasion-maker. When CATH coffeehouse closed, a group of regular customers put together a lovely celebration. Others provided the cake and food and keg. Jane arraigned with the Mayor’s Office to decree it CATH Day and listed all of the things the coffeehouse added to the community, which helped soften the blow of the café closing. 

She made a fabulous toast at fortieth birthday, and I was thrilled to celebrate my fiftieth with her. One of my favorite moments of that party was running into Jane and some other women in the washroom and having a great conversation. In case you’ve ever wondered what the inside of the ladies room at the Jazz Kitchen looks like, this photo was snapped there.

She once gave me a gorgeous paper crown made of sheet music and glitter labeled Queen Bee, just because it reminded her of me. Her gift for my fiftieth birthday was a shiny plastic Academy Award with an “envelope please” listing why I’d won. Both the crown and the statute reside in places of honor in my home.

Fabulous Jane died August 22, after a short illness. Her friends and family are hosting a Celebration of Jane at the Jazz Kitchen on Sunday, September 23. There will be music and food and everything Jane. Wear a scarf, bring a dish (something French would be fabulous), and share your Jane stories.

I’ll see you there.

Celebration of Jane
Sunday, September 23, 2012
The Jazz Kitchen
5377 N. College Avenue
3:00 – 7:00 pm

Indiana State Fair 2012 - a few of my favorite things

Here are some of the things I've seen so far at the Indiana State Fair.
Click here for the photo essay: http://www.punchnels.com/visuals/a-year-at-the-fair/

Indiana State Fair Punchlist

I was lucky enough to write about my favorite event, the Indiana State Fair, in my favorite magazine, Punchnel's.

You can read it here: http://www.punchnels.com/punchlist/punchlist-week-of-8612/

 

It's been a good day! 

indiana state fair 2012 - day three

Second Helpings had a table at the Fair as part of Elanco’s Hunger Relief Day. 

My first goal for the day was to get the display materials to the table by 9:30. Typically an easy task but the scary early-morning storms that passed through the neighborhood had knocked down trees and my power was out. I had a hard time just making it to the Fairgrounds.

Once that was done I decided on an Elephant Ear for breakfast – after all I had no power at home….

I swung by Pioneer Village to check on everyone. Most of the folks that take part in the activities sleep on the Fairgrounds, above one of the barns, I think. I’ve never heard exactly where they bunk – I have a feeling that they might thinking I’m stalking them anyway. I don’t want to freak them out by asking where they sleep. Anyway, they were all fine, and except for some downed branches the Fairgrounds were unscathed.

I got there just in time to see a demonstration on shaving benches – sort of a combination of vice and workbench. Dick Reel did a great job of explaining how they are used and how to make them, with a few groaner jokes thrown in - something about not using it properly and now having a half brother (or two). 

I went home for a few hours to write and submit an article. Difficult without electricity – I should have stayed in Pioneer Village – more amenities then home!

Dad and I met at the Fairgrounds around suppertime. We took our traditional look at the woodworking in the 4-H Building. Dad likes to look at the types of wood, the finishes, and design. I like to count how many kids made gun cabinets and gun racks. We also thoroughly examine the cakes and home furnishing projects. Next stop was the Home and Family Arts Building to look at the project there. I especially enjoyed showing Dad the twig plant stand that came from his side of the family.

It was time for my volunteer shift at the Second Helpings table. Dad gathered a wonderful feast or us of pork chop sandwiches and spiral cut potato chips.

Another fabulous day at the Fair. Going home to no power, not so great. 

indianapolis state fair 2012 - day two

This was to be a quick visit to the Fair. I worked at Second Helpings until almost 3:00 and had to be at the Red Key at 5:00 for my waitressing shift.

My goal was no only to visit the Fair, but to get a new chef’s hat to Second Helpings Chef Sam Brown. He’d given a cooking demonstration earlier and it was so hot that his hat wasn’t looking so fresh. He was being interviewed for book, Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest, and wanted to look crisp.

 It started raining just as I pulled into the Fairgrounds. And trust me, no one was complaining about it - woo hoo glorious rain! I stuck the toque (chefs hat) in a cooler in an attempt to keep it dry. The rain turned into a thunderstorm as I was walking and an announcement was made for us all to seek shelter in a permanent structure building.  

Look at all of those interesting things tucked away. 

I was lucky enough to get hustled into a space that isn’t usually open to the public – the workshop for Pioneer Village AND the State Fair Queen and her court were there. Jackpot!

I'm soaked and showing the Queen my dairy cow ring. 

We waited about 20 minutes or so for the ‘All Clear’ announcement. By the time I made my way around the Fair, I burst into the end of Sam’s interview. I had just enough time to make my way back to the car and head to work.

It was a short but very sweet visit to the Fair. 

indiana state fair 2012 - day one

I’m going to try to keep my streak of attending the Indiana State Fair each day alive.

This is the year of the Dairy Cow and of course I have a fabulous dairy cow ring combining my love of themes and accessories. You too can have an original ring made by the talented Jenny Elkins. You can purchase one in the Gazebo in the Fairgrounds or directly from Jenny on her esty page. 

I haven’t entered any open-judging competitions since I gave up on the Spam contest years ago. In honor of the Dairy Cow theme I decided to try again and threw my cheese in the ring for the Special Agriculture contest in the appetizer category. The criteria included using at least 8 ounces of dairy products and yielding at least four servings.

my recipe being judged

I entered “Easy Cheesy Mini Roll Ups” and got second place! It was all very exciting. 

Gold, Silver, Bronze...I mean, Blue, Red, White

I also did very well on the baked goods that I entered. My Snickerdoodles got first place – I was thrilled. There are lots of entries in that category. My toffee got third place, which is the highest I’ve ever placed.   

I met the Lieber twins and their mama for a quick spin around the Home and Family Arts building. 

We looked at my other entries – first place ribbon on the “tramp art” plant stand that my Great-Aunt Theresa bought from a “hobo” during the Depression, and my 1952 4-H postage stamps also got a blue ribbon.

I entered a Spaceman PEZ that got second place in the Baby Boomer toys division. My Lebanon 1902 toothpick holder got fourth place in that division.

We walked around for a bit and jumped on my favorite ride – the tractor tram. Tammy and the twins headed home for a nap, and I explored Pioneer Village. 

Pioneer Village and I have something in common. 

I’m always happy to catch up with Dick Reel - he’s doing well and looks great.

I was just in time for the threshing ring demonstration in the Village.

I got to chat with Mauri Williamson for a minute. I always get a little bumbly and tongue-tied around him. He started Pioneer Village as a display under the Grandstand and has grown into an awesome interactive part of the Fairgrounds.

All and all a great first day at the Fair!