Category Archives: Family

Homemade salt clay

November 20, 2020art, Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

I have not made this recipe in ages, so I checked it on the internet and found it hasn’t changed.

This seems like a good project for a family when everyone is stuck indoors.

Cooked Salt Clay Recipe

2 Cups of Flour

2 Cups of water

1 Cup of salt

2 Tablespoon vegetable oil — The oil will make the dough a little easier to knead and work with but some recipes omit it.

1 Tablespoon cream of tartar — The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist omitting it. But if you are making ornaments that you are going to dry right away, the cream of tartar isn’t needed.

Food coloring

Directions:

In a large saucepan mix the flour, cream of tartar, and salt; add oil and water.

Cook over medium heat five minutes, stirring constantly. Your arm may tire as mixture thickens—having a helper is nice.

It is finished when the dough clings to the spoon and refuses to be moved. Take care not to scorch.

Remove from heat and cool a bit. Divide into fourths and add food coloring. Knead.

After play period, roll dough in a large ball, or in four balls if you have colored them, place them in plastic bags, and store them in the refrigerator. If sticky when removed, add a little flour.

If you made cookie cutter ornaments, let them air dry for 1 to 3 days then they can be painted.

Good luck.

Halloween ghosts still haunt

November 19, 2020Family, Storiessusanmanzke

Most of my Dad’s stories were funny, even those surrounding the cemetery near his house. Here are two today.

I also adapted the story of dad falling into the grave in Chicken Charlie’s Year. Research had me looking up the Latin phrases used in the Catholic mass before it changed to English. I remember my prayer book had both, but that book is long gone, so I borrowed one from our priest.

I hope you enjoy these retellings.

Brotherly love

November 18, 2020Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

Did you have to share a room with your sibling? Did you always agree?

My sister and I often divided the room in half. This side of the bedroom is yours, that is mine. Our arrangement was difficult to keep as we shared a double bed and the door was on one side of the room.

As children, Rob and Russ shared a room. This column is an account of actions and reactions when big brother Rob found little brother Russell’s dirty socks on his bed.

I know windows rattled whenever issues like this occurred between any of the siblings.

What I really love is the ending and how the problem disappeared. You’ll have to listen to get the whole picture of brotherly love.

Mutiny!

November 16, 2020Columns, Familysusanmanzke

Rebecca (Becky) was right when she said she did more around the house than her siblings. She started helping when she was a toddler and never stopped.

Months ago, when I started my column recordings I did one about Becky not wanting to go to school. She wasn’t afraid of school. Becky just didn’t want to leave me home. She said that I might need her help with Baby Rachel and toddler Russell–she was right, but I sent her off to school with a hug.

Too bad for Rebecca we never could afford to pay her what she was worth. But I sure appreciated her help through all the years….and even today.

My dad writes about his mother

November 15, 2020Family, Memoriessusanmanzke

This is probably the earliest memory of my dad’s, except for a tiny memory of standing next to his father’s coffin at age 4 and being afraid of the priest.

I also adapted this memory for my novel, Chicken Charlie’s Year, though I did change his age in the book to ten years old.

This short account tells a lot about his mother and his relationship with her.

I hope you enjoyed this reading.

BTW: Mary Jane is an old-fashioned peanut butter- and molasses-flavored taffy-type candy. You can still buy this candy today. I’m not sure about Soldier candy. It might have been chocolates in the shape of soldiers.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person