Rosie's BAAAACKKKKK!!!!!

It's Wednesday evening and Mr. Hawthorne and I are back after driving HOURS. We left last Sunday afternoon. Sunday morning, I got up early and made two small birthday cheesecakes - one for xmaskatie and one for Daughter Hawthorne. Daughter Hawthorne complained that she really didn't like my creamy cheesy cheesecakes. She didn't like the texture of my cheesecakes. So, I decided to re-invent my cheesecake. Here's my revised recipe for the filling: 2 pkg. cream cheese 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 egg yolks (since I had them left over in the fridge) 3 TB corn starch juice of 1 lemon 4 TB melted butter 1/2 cup sour cream I used my regular crust recipe with ginger snaps, graham crackers, brown sugar, and melted butter. I mixed all the filling ingredients together, then baked in a preheated 400-degree oven for 15 minutes, then turned it down to 300 degrees for 30 minutes, and checked it. OOOPS. Still jiggly. So I turned the oven up to 350 and cooked it 30 minutes longer. Then I cut off the oven, and let it set for 2-3 hours.

Here's the batter ready to go into the oven.

I had some homemade chocolate sauce leftover in the fridge, so I made designs on top of the cheesecake.

Daughter Hawthorne wanted a blueberry topping. Here are fresh blueberries and some sugar.

Then I decided to add some frozen strawberries to the mix.

Ummmm. Houston? We have a problem. After 3 hours in the TURNED OFF oven, I opened the oven and the cheesecakes were a bit ... overdone. I forgot to leave the door AJAR. Well, Daughter Hawthorne, not to worry about the creamy texture anymore.

This topping is looking good. And tasting delicious.

I poured the strawberry/blueberry topping onto the cheesecakes. Then we left for Greenville, then Greensboro, and then Danville, and Mr. Hawthorne went on to Bassett. First, we stopped at xmaskatie's to visit and deliver her birthday cheesecake.

Here's poor Katie, Dixie's cousin. She was attacked by a neighbor dog and Niece Hawthorne had to take her to the vet where her wounds were cleaned up, stitched up, and wrapped up. Poor Katie.

Poor, pitiful Katie.

When I got to xmaskatie's, I started to make the spun sugar for her cheesecake.

Notice the color. When it turns to a nice amber, it's time to remove from heat.

And here, Mr. H. and I are spinning the strands of sugar.

Wallah! Cheesecake with a texture like you've never had. And spun sugar.

Isn't xmaskatie's deck lovely?

View of the sound.

Lovely flowers.

Poor Katie, hobbling through the yard.

After a nice visit with xmaskatie and Mr. xmaskatie, we left for Greenville, to visit with Daughter Hawthorne, whose birthday was Monday.

Here's lovely Giada with Daughter H.

Daughter Hawthorne's artwork.

Mr. Hawthorne took Daughter Hawthorne, her friend Sarah, and me out to Olive Garden for the birthday dinner. We left the next morning for Greensboro, took care of Middle Hawthorne's needs, then left for Danville, where I was dropped off.

I visited a bit with Mama Hawthorne, then went to my dear friend Maxine's for dinner and the night. The next morning, Maxine, her sister-in-law, Tallulah, and I went for our RiverWalk.

We paid our respects at the Veterans Memorial.

Here's our last visit to the Memorial.

WHOOT! Look whose brick I found!

This is the view from the memorial, looking down to Danville Braves field.

By coinkidinky, Maxine's nephew was practicing at the field this morning. That's him scratching his leg.

Here he is, waiting for his turn to pitch.

This is Tommy Bear Jr. winding up. Heyyyyyyy...batterbatterbatterbatterbatter!!!!!!

TommyBearJr. lets loose and it's STIR-RIKE!!!!! Nice pitch.

Trestle.

Other side of trestle.

Looking down from bridge.

Baby duckies.

Turtles. Mr. Hawthorne and I are finally home, after a long, for us, trip. We're tired. And Dixie was very happy to see us.

Danville, Virginia's Veterans Memorial

On my recent visit to my hometown of Danville, Virginia, dear Maxine took me to the
Veteran's Memorial
at Dan Daniel Memorial Park.
I had no idea this place was here.

In the 11th or 12th grade, I was vice president of the Civics Club.
I invited the wife of a VietNam POW to speak at one of our monthly meetings.
I was so impressed and filled with juvenile pride and love of America that
I organized a school assembly in 1969-70 (?) with Dan Daniel as the speaker.
I believe I had letters to our Congressmen for students to sign and send, pleading for the release of POW's in VietNam. I remember I had to give a speech and I remember sitting in my chair on stage still tweaking my speech.
And I remember being proud.
Of my country.
And what little bit I was doing.
I remember watching TV in 1973 in Greensboro and seeing Dr. Kushner, former POW, walking down the steps of a plane, on American soil.
I remember crying.

I left the Veterans Memorial feeling humbled and all a-tingly.

Talk about your hallowed ground.

This was a very humbling experience.

God Bless America.