April 17 - a date to remember years ago
By LOU GREENHAW
Contributing writer
April is an irritating month. First there is April 1 which finds people trying to play tricks. Then there is April 15 when the IRS tries to play tricks. Finally for me, there is April 17, my birthday, where mother nature tries to play tricks.
I'm trying to take it in stride. In fact, I found several facts that surprised me. I realized I share a birthday with some well known people. For example, Cathy Davis of the Star Journal staff — who is younger than I, I might add, and Nikita Khrushchev of the former Soviet Union. Unless you are at least my age, you probably have never heard of him.
Marlin Buchholz, a pharmacist in Marion, shares the same birthday though he's a hair older than I. In fact, we've joked that the reason it is hard to get a pharmacist to move to Marion county is finding one that is qualified and born on April 17.
I heard on public radio this week that the Ford Mustang was "born" on April 17, 1964. I always thought that was a pretty sporty car so maybe there is hope for me. In fact, my husband Steve drove a 1967 Mustang when we met. He used to jokingly say I was the best wife he could get for the car he had at the time. With a new Mustang, I think that makes me a top notch catch!
The week preceding Easter had lots of television commentaries about the life of Jesus. One that I heard talked about Jesus' birth and the star that appeared. It said that the planets aligned that would have made a brilliant star on April 17 in A.D. 03. The April 17 caught my ear. Wow, to think I might share my birthday with Jesus! That makes me feel like I have an even bigger purpose here on earth.
Our church has been studying purpose and talking about the fact that we were each put where we are and when in time for a specific reason. I think it is awesome that God would even allow anyone, least of all me, to share the birthday of His Son. I know why he picked the time. He knew I wasn't cut out to be a pioneer woman. So maybe having a birthday isn't so bad anymore.
I'm trying to keep my birthdays from showing with a Swiss formula skin care line that we sell at the pharmacy. I must admit, it has reduced the fine wrinkle lines on my face. Plus it has smoothed my arms enough from the little bumps I have had since I was a child till I think I might even be able to wear short sleeves without embarrassment this year.
I plan to spend my birthday at the MCC sale in Hutchinson. I'm going to eat New Year's cookies and bid on quilts and who knows what else. I'm going to have a great time.
Then next week, I plan to get down to serious gardening. We are a little late, but I do have a plan this year. We don't do potatoes or peas so I'm not as far behind as some people think.
I tried a new recipe that used new potatoes. I bought them at the local grocery store, and it was easier than digging them anyway. This is a potato salad that roasts the potatoes first. It is yummy. God knows that I belonged in a time when you could just run to the grocery store.
Thank you, God!
Roasted New Potato Salad
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds small red new potatoes, cut in quarters
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
10 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled
1 bunch green onions, chopped
3/4 cup Ranch dressing
Place oil on a 10 by 15 inch jelly roll pan. Add potatoes, and the next 4 ingredients-onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss to coat with oil and mix well. Arrange in a single layer on pan. Bake at 425 degrees of 30-35 minutes or until potatoes are tender and starting to brown. Stir occasionally. Toss potatoes with bacon, green onions and dressing. Serve immediately as a hot salad or chill and eat cold. Add additional dressing to moisten before serving if needed.
