- Frankly, My Dear . . .

SUMMER VACATION TIME: Get Your Kicks and A Route 66 Gift Pack Giveaway!

Jul 4, 2012 | 76 comments

It’s summer! Time to bring out the sunscreen and road maps and take a drive.

One of the most favorite drives in America is “The Mother Road”.

From Los Angeles to Chicago. And it runs right through the middle of my town.

Nearly 17 years ago, the Route 66 Museum opened in Old Town Victorville, CA. Run purely by volunteers, this great little place has a plethora of displays that send you back into an era of carefree travels, bobby-socks and malteds, and adventure.

I fell in love with this TearDrop Trailer. It’s the original RV!

Just past this display is a Diner booth and a refurbished jukebox. For a quarter, we picked three songs! Dot loves Brenda Lee so we heard “I Want to Be Wanted”. I picked Dinah Washington’s “What A Difference A Day Makes”. I don’t remember the third song we chose; but later I was bopping to Elvis and Sinatra. I was just thrilled to use the Ol’ Jukebox. What great tones old 45’s have!

I’ve recently rediscovered reruns of the the old TV Show as well. What great drama. ROUTE 66 was the first and only television fiction series that was filmed all over North America. There was this great display dedicated to the show. The photos were provided by someone associated with the show. I was a bit overwhelmed with all the details, so I neglected to get the personal information.

Of course, I was thrilled with the old communications “technology”.

Other great displays include the Hula Ville display, the Model-T Ford, and other various blasts from the past.

Tucked into the Gift Shop Corner is this great selection of books and media that range from the simple and inexpensive to collectors’ editions.

While at the Museum, I put together this collection of Route 66 Memorabilia.

Would you like to win it? You would? I was hoping you’d say that! Well, then. Here’s what you need to do:

1. MANDATORY ENTRY: Leave a comment on this post: What was the best summer trip you had? This entry is mandatory. If you don’t answer this question, all other entries are void. [Canadian entries only: Since I’m opening this giveaway to my Canadian friends as well, if you live in Canada your rules state you must answer a skills test in order to enter. So if you live in Canada and want to enter, you must correctly answer this question in your mandatory comment/entry: If I start the day with ten apples and eat three, then later buy seven at the store, and the next day eat half, how many apples do I have at the end of the second day?]

2. ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: You can earn up to four additional entries (for five entries total) by doing each of the following then leaving a comment here telling me you’ve done so. If you already do any of these things, that counts as an entry only if you post it in the comments. (Additional entries will be verified):
a. Follow me on Facebook and share this giveaway.
b. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway.
c. Follow me on Pinterest and pin this giveaway.
d. Share this giveaway on your own blog and leave the link in the comments below.
If you earn any additional entries, please leave a comment so I can verify.

Here’s the fine print:

SUMMER VACATION TIME: Get Your Kicks and A Route 66 Gift Pack Giveaway!

This giveaway is solely through Molly Jo and the blog Frankly, My Dear…. There are no corporate sponsors and is in no way endorsed by any other person, business or entity.
Persons affiliated with New Inklings Press, Frankly, My Dear…, or the Route 66 Museum in Victorville are ineligible.
Only legal citizens of the United States and Canada aged 18 years and older are eligible to win.
This giveaway begins at 5:30 a.m. PST on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, July 17, 2012.
Winner will be selected from all eligible comments on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 through Random.org.
One prize pack [$20.00 value] consisting of an historic map of US Route 66, a 2013 Calendar, three postcards, a coin purse, deck of cards, and pen, plus a pamphlet and brochures about Route 66 and Hula Ville will be given. No substitutions or transfers allowed.
Molly Jo and Frankly, My Dear… are not responsible for any damages that may occur during shipping.
You may comment as much as you like, but any comment that does not meet the requirements will not be considered for this Giveaway.
By leaving your comment on this post, you agree to be bound by the rules of this giveaway in their entirety.

Ready to get YOUR kicks? Enter to win with Route 66!

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

Sweeten my tea and share:

“What’s the Word?” Wednesday [Blog Hop]: July 4, 2012

Jul 4, 2012 | 1 comment

Happy Independence Day! It’s time to celebrate!

What does Independence really mean? Well, for America, today, it means we stand on our own.

But in general terms, “Independence” means freedom, liberty, self-reliance.
It can also mean ability, qualification, aptitude. I like that! I like that freedom doesn’t necessarily mean being separate from others; it just means being an individual.

For me, today is about creativity, learning to make-do with what I have. Being able to take care of myself and my family without wholly relying on others to do so.

There’s no shame in needing other people. But there’s a great satisfaction in being Independent.

There’s a certain pride in being able to say, “Look what I did!” and “See how far I’ve come!”
There’s also a joy in being able to pay it forward.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the support of my family, friends and readers. And while collectively I love you all, I appreciate each of you Independently.

Have your own stories to tell? Leave a comment or link up your blog posts and share!

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

What’s the Word? Wednesdays is a linky that allows other bloggers to share whatever is on their minds that they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!

A few things to remember:

Each week’s linky is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow!
If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.

So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?

Sweeten my tea and share:

Do You See What I See (in my Garden)?

Jul 3, 2012 | 0 comments

Remember about six weeks ago when I brought home some vegetation that looked promising? And then it didn’t?

Well, with some hard work, cooperating weather (less heat), and some Miracle-Gro and water, my crops are starting to, well, crop.

It took a full month of delicate, tedious care and prayer, and now my three plants are beginning to bear food. The tomato plant already blessed us with two beefsteak tomatoes last week, but I thought that would be all for this year.

Until this morning. I went out to diligently water, and in my pruning, peeking, and pouring, I found all these glorious new beginnings.

Fred the Tomato

Edgar the Eggplant

Gigi the Green Pepper Plant

I’m thinking in about a month, I should be enjoying some really wonderful Ratatouille from The Unemployment Cookbook.

Next year I’m going to invest in a raised-bed garden and plant some other types of produce like maybe potatoes and lettuce and zucchini. I’ll also try my hand at more upside-down planting with berries and grapes and such.

My mouth’s watering just thinking about it.

Do you like to garden? What are some of your gardening tips?

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she ~~ate~~ wrote!

Sweeten my tea and share:

This Week’s Theme

Jul 2, 2012 | 4 comments

I’ve decided to adopt a new theme/idea/mantra for each week. Some positivity is what’s needed around here!

And since I’m getting to be oh-so-creative on Photobucket, this will be oh-so-fun to share!

First up, and oh-so-appropriately for this desert I live in, this week’s theme is

I’m gonna take what I have available, and work with it. I’m gonna cultivate what’s at my disposal, and make something great out of it. I’m gonna be a shooting star, a shining light, a… Beacon of Positivity.

How ’bout you? How will you bloom this week?

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

Sweeten my tea and share:

Chicken Soup with Rice

Jul 1, 2012 | 0 comments

I love chicken soup. I love chicken soup plain. I love chicken soup with noodles. But mostly, I love chicken soup with rice.

So after I made my chicken stock, I knew exactly what my first recipe was going to be. Starting with the base recipe in yesterday’s post, today I made Chicken Soup With Rice.

2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
2 cups vegetable solids
2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup rice

I heated the ingredients on medium heat for five minutes.

And the result is 8 cups of a hearty, delicious soup. I froze 4 cups for later, and put 4 cups in the fridge for tomorrow’s lunch. I just need to reheat on the stove or in the microwave and serve with either a salad or bread or both.