For what it's worth: Snowbound in Kansas
By MARCELLA BRUCE
Contributing writer
Ever engage in fantasies?
I was recently reminded of one I had as a high school teen-ager in Clovis, N.M. The fantasy was born after my parents sent my cousin-sister and I plus another classmate and an adult chaperone to the mountain town of Ruidoso, N.M. for a week's summer vacation. We stayed in a log cabin close to a busy, beautiful stream and had plenty of things to do and enjoy. From that experience the fantasy came about.
I thought it would be wonderful to spend a month in that type of setting
What reminded me of that long-ago pipe-dream was the recent snowbound experience a few weeks ago when friend Gwydotta Herbel and I spent a weekend in Pratt with son Skip and wife Lois.
Our Friday and Saturday saw beautiful weather, but when we awoke Sunday with plans to return to Hillsboro, we also awoke to the most generous snowfall I had seen in years. It resulted in an extension of our stay through Sunday night. On Monday there was an approximate 10 inches on the ground, the temperature dropped to four degrees, and we received a call from a friend of the family who had been out on the road from Arlington to Pratt. Suffice it to say that his words were "You two women (he didn't include "old," but it was implied I'm sure) have no business being on the road
On Tuesday, after we got to the highway, the roads were completely clear, and we sailed on home without problems. That is as close as I want to get to my fantasy!
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"We are happier in many ways when we are old than when we were young. The young sow wild oats. The old grow sage." — Winston Churchill.
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If you haven't traveled to the "Gyp Hills" in south central Kansas, you've missed a scenic pleasure. We had that scenic treat (before the big snowfall). The break in the landscape is so surprising! And be sure to visit Sun City. There the big attraction is Buster's where the hamburgers are notably big and tasty, and the onion rings are superb! We also visited Belvidere which features the Trails End Antiques and assorted other stuff of the past in a variety of rooms.
As you come out of Sun City, there's a gypsum mining operation and in Medicine Lodge it becomes wall board.
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Our state representative Don Dahl and state senator Jay Emler were in town Saturday morning for a Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce-sponsored legislative get together.
I was only able to attend the last part of the meeting, but I came away with sincere sympathy for the two men as they explained and discussed the very real financial problems of Kansas. Where to cut and what to tax to remedy the tremendous shortfall of revenue are questions as yet unanswered with the current legislative session winding down.
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I tried a dessert recipe this past week that had been given me quite a while ago by Evelyn Schmidt. When I told Evelyn about it, she said she didn't remember that particular one, but I assured her it was very tasty.
Turn the oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour a 9x13 pan. Using either a white or yellow Jiffy cake mix, mix according to directions. Spread in the 9x13 pan (it will be thin so bake a shorter period of time). Remove and cool thoroughly.
While the cake cools, combine 1 3/4 cups of milk with a package of instant vanilla pudding. Beat two minutes then add an eight ounce package of cream cheese, softened. Beat until well-blended and smooth. Smooth on the Jiffy cake.
Combine 1 cup well-drained crushed pineapple and an eight ounce carton of Cool Whip. Spread over pudding mixture. Sprinkle with chopped nuts (optional but adds to taste and attractiveness).
Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Better yet, make it the day before.
