Have you ever heard of aluminum wiring in a house? No? There was a time just after World War II when copper became so expensive that home builders cut costs by using aluminum wiring. It was single strand #12 and #16 aluminum.

We bought a house in a Jackson, Michigan subdivision called Birdland. That was because most of the streets were named after birds, such as Cardinal Crest and Oriole. The houses were contractor built in the early 1960's. To cut cost, they used the cheaper aluminum wiring. Some of the houses had aluminum studding as well. We didn't know about the aluminum wiring when we bought the house on McConnell Street in Birdland. We soon found out.

Mix chicken broth with enough water to equal 2 1/2 cups. Reserve.

In large skillet, heat butter and oil over medium high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until softened, 5 minutes. Add mushrooms,1/4 teaspoons each of salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 5 minutes. Add garlic during last 30 seconds of cooking time. Transfer 1/3 cup of the mixture to small bowl. Reserve.

As the Detroit auto plants instated "just-in-time" parts delivery, parts manufacturers were hit hard. Imports from Japan hurt the local parts makers, too. In 1980, unemployment in Michigan hit double digits and kept going higher.

The laid-off workers soon exhausted their unemployment benefits. Most had little savings to tide them over to another job. Unless one had a special skill, jobs were hard to find.

In skillet, heat 1/2 cup oil over medium-high heat. In bowl, whisk remaining oil and eggs. Mix in cornmeal, corn, tomatoes, green onions, 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Spoon 1/3 cupful batter into skillet. Fry, flipping once until golden, about 30 seconds per side. If desired, serve with lettuce, sliced avocado and more chopped tomatoes. Makes 6 servings

It was no fun being poor during the Great Depression. I learned to "make do." That meant being a saver, but not a hoarder. There is a difference. A saver might have a need to an item in the future. A hoarder just kept an item rather than throw it away. Dented pots and pans, a wash tub with a hole in it or a broken leg on a stool, etc. That's hoarding in my book.

In food processor, pulse cauliflower in 3 to 4 batches until rice forms. The key to proper rice texture is not overcrowding processor. Transfer to medium bowl. Reserve.

Rick was a blonde curly-headed baby. No problem there, just beautiful curls. Anne did present a problem. She had beautiful curly locks as well, but she couldn't tolerate heat. Anne would turn red as a cherry when she became overheated.

Most everyone can regulate their body temperature by sweating. Not Anne. She just got redder as her temperature rose. I would sponge her off with a cool washcloth and move her to a shady location. The problem seemed unsolvable. Summer would be unbearable for her. We never found a solution.

You could use seedless strawberry preserves instead of strawberry jam, but you are more likely to have strawberry jam in your pantry. In small bowl combine crumbs and sugar. Add melted margarine. Toss until combined. Press into bottom of 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Evenly drizzle condensed milk over crumbs. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set. Lightly press in place. Spoon strawberry preserves over top. Sprinkle with coconut and nuts. Bake at 350 F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut into bars. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

There is a nursery in New Tazewell that sold lawn ornaments as well as regular nursery items like potted flowers and vegetable flats. I saw the cement alligator there when I bought some vegetable plants. I wanted that gater. It would be perfect to sit atop the snake pit down by the lower driveway.

This salad goes together quickly. Just chill 2 hours before serving time for the best flavor. In large bowl combine all ingredients with soy sauce and mayonnaise. Mix well. Chill 2 hours before serving. Place individual servings on shredded lettuce.