100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote

Ritts Family Reunion Circa 1927

This photo popped up on my Facebook timeline today. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment, I reflect on what a difference the suffrage movement had on the women in this picture. My Great Grandma, Lizzie Hudson Ritts [1866-1947] was a grandmother many times over before casting her first ballot. While my Nana, Mary Ritts Burket [1893-1981] was married and had a daughter before gaining the right to vote. My Aunt Maybelle Burket Gillespie [1917-1992] age three 100 years ago was part of the first generation of women to grow up with the right to vote. #WomensVote100

Mary Ritts Burket and Lizzie Hudson Ritts

Maybelle Burket Gillespie with her parents and childern

Chicken & Dumplings

How do you organize your recipes? Are you old school and keep a paper file or do you have electronic files, or do you use a website or social media site? I LOVE Pinterest for pinning recipes. I often scan the web looking for interesting dinner ideas, then pin them for future reference. Some of my friends like to use Facebook for recipes that interest them.. and their picks look yummy... but its on Facebook. As you may know Facebook won't allow Pinterest pins. While my cousin and I have similar taste I can't save the recipe or find it on the web. So I'm making a blog with the recipe and picture, just so I can save it to Pinterest for future dining. Happy eats!

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients:
4 skinless chicken cutlets
2 tablespoons butter
2 cans condensed Cream of Chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough 

Directions

Put chicken, butter, onion, and Cream of Chicken soup in slow cooker. Add water until all ingredients are covered. Cook for 5-6 hours on High. 30 minutes before serving add torn pieces of biscuit dough to pot.

The Brownies are Coming, The Brownies are Coming!

Today is National Cookie Day a fact that went un-noticed by many. In fact I didn't know what I was missing until a Facebook friend post alerted me at 8pm. Unfortunately, the kitchen is closed up and the dishwasher is running so it is to late now to make a quick batch to celebrate the day. The FB poster asked for an alert so as not to miss it next year. That sent me to the web and what a delicious treasure trove I discovered. So yes as mentioned Dec 4th is National Cookie Day; it turns out however certain types of cookies get their own day too so for the record, July 1st is National Gingersnap Day and July 9 is National Sugar Cookie Day. What the heck are Hermit Spice cookies? Well they've got their own day too on November 15.

I know, you're reading all about cookies and going, where are the brownies? Well National Brownie day is fast approaching on December 8th. So stock up on supplies now or order a box of brownies for a friend!

Writing Skills

I have not done any consistent writing since college. In today’s world it is becoming more imperative that I hone my writing skills. Social Media such as, Facebook, Twitter and blogs are becoming critical venues for any marketing plan.  The ability to communicate in a concise, informative and engaging way will be determining factors in how well a marketing plan succeeds.

So the question is – can I write for the new media world we now live in?  I have been working on a number of events for the Friends of the Roxbury Library. I will be tweeting and blogging about these events in the next few months. How well I succeed has yet to be seen.

Energy Art

I had never heard of Energy Art before. Then I saw an ad on Facebook which included a painting by Julia Watkins. The ads on Facebook cycle pretty quickly so the image appeared frequently. Every time the ad appeared I would pause to gaze at the picture. It resonated with me, lightening my spirit. Finally I actually clicked on the ad and learned about Energy Art.

Energy Art is a new movement with old roots. Impressionists, Expressionist and Futurists all tried to capture energy forms in their art. The Energy Art Movement officially began a couple of years ago. Their explanation of Energy Art is ‘the depiction of energy using color, form, and composition to create inventive and expressive works of art that resonate with impact and feeling.” Well it resonates with me. And apparently I’m not alone. Deepak Chopra recently bought a paining from Ms Watkins dolphin series. I hope this picture of my favorite 

the "Peacock” speaks to you as well.