Letters from Roa S - Feb. 6, 1992

You know, when BOTH of your grandmothers start telling you not to work so hard and not to "burn your self out," you would think I would listen!

During a certain point in college I had a fascination with calligraphy pens, and used the various inks to illustrate letters, draw on envelopes, and to procrastinate when I should have been working or studying. That's what Grandma is referring to here.

Even though Grandma "just hate[d] to try & write so you have to understand," it's wonderful to look back through the binders I have of her letters and appreciate how many I actually do have, and have saved. More than the birthday check that probably came with this correspondence, these are the actual presents that withstand the test of time.

Feb 6 1992

Ogden, Utah

Dear [Granddaughter],

I’m real proud of you doing so good in school. Keep it up but don’t burn your self out. You have a while yet to go. Try to have a little fun out of it to[sic]. I’m sure it comes to you quiet[sic] easy because you read so much. Are you taking a writing class? The envalope[sic] looks real neat.

I haven’t been working but 1 day a week for the last 3 weeks. But I guess that is OK every little bit helps.

Cora has had the flu but she went to work today. We have had so much junk in the air you could get any thing. Cora says its from dirty money maybe so.

Everyone else is OK just the everyday things. Kids fall down & mothers take care of them. Aren’t you glad you don’t have to worry about that sort of thing. I sure am.

… you know I just hate to try & write so you have to understand I don’t make much since[sic] & I don’t think I’ll try much more.

I’m going to send this with your Card. Dad said to send it to their address so I will. I hope you have a good birthday. The older you kids get the older I do to[sic] but I guess that’s the way things are & it won’t change.

Lots of Love

Grandma

Recipes from Grandmary/Roa -- Red Velvet (Cup)Cake

Since is is so close to Valentine's Day, I thought I would try out some Red Velvet cupcakes to show my love, once again, for the I.T. boys.

This is also a two-pronged Grandma recipe: Grandma Roa loved Red Velvet Cake. I remember that Grandmary/Mom always seemed to make one for Roa's birthday, back when we still lived in Utah.

Here's the recipe from Grandmary's box:

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 tblspn cocoa
2 oz. red food coloring
1 tspn salt
1 tspn vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 shifted flour
1 tsp vinegar

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs. Made this paste of cocoa and food coloring. Add to cream mixture. Mix salt and vanilla in buttermilk. Add flour to cream mixture. Mix soda in vinegar. Alternate with flour. Fold in soda and vinegar to mixture.

38 inch cake pans. [three 8 inch pans]
30 minutes at 350 degrees.

After working my way through recipes for a year, I could tell just by looking at this that there are some things seriously mixed up in the directions. Plus, I think it should read three 8 inch pans, because it was always a layer cake. We lived at a much higher elevation in Utah -- and this recipe does not note that on the card.

So, I consulted some other cookbooks and internet sites to double check things. I also don't own circular cake pans, so from the outset these were destined to be cupcakes.

The closest recipe to the one above is the Joy of Baking Red Velvet Cake (found here).
Here's my/their edits to the above:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cocoa
2 1/2 shifted flour
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

In separate bowl, shift together salt, flour, and cocoa until well mixed. Set aside.
Cream butter until soft. Add in sugar, beat until well mixed. Add in eggs, beat well, and then add vanilla.

Mix buttermilk and food coloring.

Alternately add milk/food coloring and flour to sugar mixture, until well combined.

In separate bowl, add soda and vinegar and allow to fizz. Then beat into cake batter.

350 degrees for about 20-23 minutes.
About 2 dozen cupcakes.

After well cooled, frost with white buttercream or cream cheese frosting.

Another note: I used some of the ancient food coloring that I got from Grandmary's move - and I mean ancient. Glass jars, vintage labels, companies that don't exist anymore, the food coloring in the jars had evaporated into bricks at the bottle of the glass, kind of ancient. I added water to the jars and let them sit for a bit. Aside from getting food coloring everywhere, this method of salvaging the dye didn't seem to harm the batter (or me) any.

Letters from Ollie J - Feb. 4, 1984

Apparently the trend towards accidents runs in the family, skipping a generation or two along the way. I hope that means that Amber and Elle drive like Grandmary and not like their Auntie Nettie.

4 Feb 1984

[The Farm
Pikeville, NC]

Dear [Auntie Nettie],

Here goes your long awaited letter. I did appreciate the one you sent me. Thanks so much-

Grandma hasn’t been her self in a few months. Just felt bad (cold) then the accident – So please forgive me for not writting[sic].

I am here at home all alone now. All are gone to town or to Carl’s house. Don’t think they will do much there as it is raining.

My ribs are too sore for me to do much so don’t go down there – only to look.

Uncle Hyrum lets me keep his car but haven’t used it must. Just plain haven’t felt like it.

Hope you are fealing[sic] good. Cheerfull[sic] and Happy. Smile and the world smiles with you.

Grandma loves you

Thanks for the gifts you made and sent me

Went by and looked at my car yesterday. Yes it is in the shop. Took broken pieces off and wating for new parts to come. Looks bad but hope it will soon be OK again.

Tell boys I love them too.

By[sic] for now

Grandma [Ollie]

Photo of the Day: Vintage Snaps

Saint George, Utah; December 2010

presented with this comment: too meta?

Letters from Roa S - Feb. 2, 1993

This is actually a really chatty letter from Grandma Roa. So much news about my aunts and cousins. Aunt Jerry pulled through and hasn't had a recurrence, as far as I know. Aunt Cora is also around and kicking, though has had back issues. I think all of the cousins got their GEDs, eventually.

Feb 2 1993

[Ogden, Utah]

Dear [Granddaughter],

The rison[sic] I’m doing this so early is I’m going on a little trip next week & wont be back until the 12th so I have to send this before I go. I’m going on a bus trip with my Sister in Law & senior citizens to Death Valley & back down through Las Vages[sic] back home in 5 days. I didn’t think I should go I had a little pressure so I’m going. They had a storm down that way last week end In fact they are still digging out. We only had a little this time we still have it pilled[sic] up. We have had more snow this year than we have for a long time & its cold on top of it.

Jerry is doing pretty good she is still having Kemo[sic] once a week & will until May. Then she has to have 5 weeks of Radition[sic] every day. She is losing some of her hair but she says she can handle that.

Cora got over her galblader[sic] operation pretty good She had to have a tooth pulled last week & she is going for a mammogram[sic] Friday Jerry has been after her every since she had to have her operation. I sure hope she doesn’t have anything else.

Clint has gone back to school trying to get his G.E.D. Ray never did anything about school. Cindy has to take the GED Test. She doesn’t seem to be able to settle down. She has moved so I don’t see the kids very much I miss them but I’m sure I’ll be OK after awhile & they will be to[sic]. I talked to your mom & she said you are doing good & like you job but you wouldn’t be home for your birthday so I’ll send it to school.

Have a good birthday

Love

Grandma

Letters from Ollie J - Feb. 1, 1991

The night before I took my first college exams, the U.S. decided to start bombing -- what would become known as the first Gulf War aka Desert Storm. Needless to say, not much studying took place that night as we were all running around trying to get information. Remember, there was no Internet/Twitter/cell phones - so the lines for the land-line payphones were long and speculation ran rampant. Only a few people had tvs in their rooms, and even fewer had tvs with access to new fangled shows like CNN, so we were crammed into spaces glued to the tube, or running around the halls.

On top of that, a winter storm passed over Westchester, not with winter snows, but with freaky blue lightening and loud, scarey thunderstorms. (And I love thunderstorms, but these were creepy). Watching bombs fly on the tvs, illuminated via the eerie green light of nightscopes, along with a blue lightening crashing outside, will make anyone a little disconcerted. As college freshmen we were also young enough to start worrying about a draft ... and/or the end of the world.

20 years later. More unrest in the Middle East. How much, and yet how little, things have changed.

1 Feb 1991

The Farm
Pikeville, NC

Dear [Granddaughter],

Thanks so much for Birthday Card and a Note leting[sic] me know what you think and are doing.

You are right things have a eary[sic] fealing[sic]. War isn’t Pretty anytime. Then there is so much talk and show on TV. Keeps every one uneasy and sad.

I had intended to write earler[sic]. Had a cold and all wanted to do was sleep. Its cold here today.

Hope you can get your working hours changed. We all should be at church on Sunday. The Spirit of Gods love and our knowledge of Gospel will help take some of Gloom away.

Glad you got a good roommate Found other friends too.

Be careful driving around. Choose company carefully. Where you go is important too. Could cause trouble. No disgrace to say No - when you are prompted to do so. You will never really loose frinds[sic] by being honest.

So glad you are loving Collage[sic] and hope you can make good use of it. Makes a big difference being away from Home. Yes I know Parents can seem uncaring at time but really they are thinking of your good.

Honey I am glad I can help you fiance[sic] and the rest is up to with the Lords Help you can make it. Try to look on the bright side of Life.

This is something I want you to remember your grandpa Loved you. So I am sure he will be prompting you if he Can. This may sound weared[sic]. But could be comforting too. So Listen to good Promptings. And don’t Forget to pray especially when you are in doubt.

We all need to Thank our Blessing.

I have a new G-nephew He’s a cutie.

I have a Baby Shower gift to Finish. Put a cute hem in a receiving Blanket – a sister at church.

Write me your thoughts often that might help to decide what way to take.

I Love you and wish you will[sic] in all you choices in life.

Be Careful in your driving No law says you got to speed.

Share a Happiness
And it is doubled
Share a sorrow
And it Lessons[sic].

Love and God Bless you

GrandMa

YouTube Tuesday: Uplifting

Found here: