Years ago I wrote a Christmas play for small children at our church. Since my name is McMurtrie, I wrote about the adventures of the McMouse family at Christmas time. We had a lot of fun with the concept of mice celebrating Christmas. Why not? Sometimes the easiest way to get an important meaning across to children is through cartoon characters. It works for adults as well.

When I roast a turkey, everyone in my family goes for the white meat. I am the only one opting for the drumstick or thigh. That is, until I fix Turkey Legs and Gravy. Years ago in the 60s, turkey legs in the meat case at the store went for thirty-nine cents a pound. I could afford that. The problem was to figure out a recipe that my family would eat.

We have gotten away from the club sandwich. McDonald's and Burger King have spoiled us with their tasty hamburgers and fries. I remember seeing my first Mickey D's. There was no going back to just plain sandwiches, or even club sandwiches. Back in the day, every lunch counter had their specialty club sandwich. They were made fresh as you watched the counter girl pile on the goodies. Most homes didn't have fresh tomatoes or lettuce out of season. What a treat!

This is a good dish to make at Easter time when you have an abundance of decorated hard boiled eggs. Don't use any that have been out of the fridge over a few hours. This is a good dish to serve on toast or hot biscuits for lunch. Sometimes we forget how versatile eggs can be. Don't let hard boiled eggs go uneaten. Fancy them up either as Deviled Eggs or Creamed Eggs.

These days, there are a number of types of chocolate to use in our dessert making. For instance, we use Baker's Sweet Chocolate for making German Chocolate Cakes. A variety of chocolate chips find their way into our candy and cookie recipes. But I like baking with cocoa.

Back in the day, cocoa was cheaper than chocolate baking squares. On a limited budget, cost was everything: almost. I could get more mileage from a box of cocoa than I could from those skimpy chocolate squares. It had a longer shelf life as well. That made cocoa a winner for me.

What a difference a generation makes. I grew up thinking of November 11th as Armistice Day. After all, it celebrated the end of the Great War, World War 1, as signed on that date at Versailles in that boxcar in France. I still think of it that way.

Back before television, when you only needed your ears and imagination to follow a story on the radio, there were card games. Some were played alone, but others needed more players. I remember when we were first married in the late forties, when my husband and I were part of a Pinochle Card Club. There were six couples in our club. We met once a month on a Friday night at one of the group member's home. We were all young couples, most newly married, trying to get started in life. Money was in short supply. We needed a way to entertain ourselves that we could afford.

I was looking for an old Halloween postcard from my stash of early 1900s postcards. I didn't have even one. I guess Halloween wasn't a big deal back then, but I did find a couple turkey post cards. The one I chose has a very apprehensive turkey eyeing a basket of cranberries. That ole Tom sized up the situation pretty well. The postcard got me thinking about our national holiday, Thanksgiving Day.

I remember lots of things that happened when I was seven or eight years old. I do not remember celebrating Halloween during those years on the farm. We had no close neighbors. Halloween wasn't mentioned in school either.

All Saints Day on November 1st is celebrated in the Catholic church. Masses are offered to shorten their departed ones' time in Purgatory. October 31 is All Hallows Eve. We know it as Halloween. Ghosts and goblins supposedly roam the earth causing trouble. Do Trick or Treaters cause trouble? We did.

When the heat source is wood or coal embers, use a long-handled wire popper. Put only enough corn in popper to cover bottom. Shake gently to get tender puffy kernels.

When popping on your kitchen range, use a large kettle or deep skillet. Add about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or shortening. Don't use butter or margarine. Add ½ cup popcorn to hot skillet. Cover and shake gently and constantly over medium heat. You can hear when the popping stops. Remove from heat to a large bowl and add salt. 1 cup unpopped corn makes about 5 cups when popped.