HARVEST DAYS

Clare's cover design for the class cookbook

Tuesday was my cooking day so I decided to make meat loaf.  The guys are working close by and days are shorter so they come in to eat at the end of the work day.  I don't really have a favourite meatloaf recipe so I went looking for one.  The other day I came across a recipe book that Clare's class had made when Mrs. Ruby Steinke was their teacher in grades five and six.  Jason Stepp's recipe was for meatloaf.  It seemed a good one to use since Jason and his dad, Ray, would be coming for supper. Jason and Teresa's nephew Mike was here too and his mom Shelley also had a recipe in the book, as did Clare.

The recipes were copied using the method of that day, a spirit duplicator, or "ditto machine" as they were sometimes called.  The print was usually a purple colour, which faded when exposed to sunlight, or even over time.  I tried to copy the recipe, but the printing was too light so I'll add it here, as it was printed.

Meat Loaf

1 1/2 or 2 lbs. beef hamburger                      1/4 cup chopped onion

1 cup raw oatmeal                                         2 beaten eggs

1 cup milk                                                     2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper                                               1 tsp. prepared mustard

Mix well and bake for 1/2 hour at 375º, then pour 1/2 can of tomato soup over and bake for another 1/2 hour.                                                           

                                                               Jason Stepp

The recipe is a keeper!  It was tasty and held together well.  I used leftover slices to put in Clare's buns for his lunch today.  Next time I'll add the other half can of soup to the meat loaf mixture in place of some of the milk.  I made twice baked potatoes and green bean casserole to go with it, along with rhubarb and strawberry sauce for dessert (with a scoop of ice cream added).  Now, what will I make for Friday?

Clare is enjoying harvesting flax as it isn't dusty like the durum crop.  The price is good too and the flax is dry.  He also seeded some yellow flax so that will be next to combine, then the soy beans.

On Thursday I spent part of the day in Estevan doing errands and getting my hair cut.  My hairdresser is on maternity leave so I wasn't sure who to ask for when I phoned in to Platinum.  I was told that Tanya Tosczak is back so that solved the problem.  She lives north of Weyburn and works Tuesdays and Thursdays plus one Saturday a month.  I was happy with the cut so I'll know who to book now!

I was looking for a winter jacket and found a Helly Hansen one at Mark's on a good sale, a leftover from last year's stock no doubt.  I'm partial to anything with a Norwegian connection!

Lindsay had another race yesterday, a district one in Carnduff.  She phoned in the afternoon and wanted me to guess how she made out.  I guessed right - number one again!

Runners from Weyburn, Redvers, Carnduff, Estevan, Bienfait, Arcola,
Wawota, Stoughton and Lampman - around fifty in all

Here comes number one - Lindsay!

A very happy girl

with another red ribbon

Shauna and Carter made an early trip to Regina today for a checkup on Carter's arm.  He got his cast off so is one happy boy.  Grandpa Ralph is in the hospital there and they were hoping to take him home today.  His regular doctor wasn't available to discharge him so another checked to see if Ralph was well enough to come home.  Ralph still has severe back pains, says he'd call it a 10 out of 10.  This doctor was very concerned about that and ordered more tests so no going home today.  Shauna was glad it worked out that way so Ralph finally got some attention for his back problem.

Carter's arm without the cast - healing well

Well, that's about all I have to write about tonight.  I picked in most of the tomatoes in case of frost.  There is no rain in the forecast for the next week at least so that's what the harvesters need!  Carter is anxious to get back on the combine so the kids will be coming out on Saturday while Kirk and Shauna are in Minot for Host Fest's "Alabama".

I'll close with Happy Birthday wishes to my sister Sandra who will be celebrating on Saturday, October 5.  We can both have birthday coffee in our Norsk mugs even if we aren't together!