Margie's Fun Friday

Margie: Today is Black Friday which means all the folks will be out looking for sales. Not this girl. People go crazy on this day every year which is why you won't find me leaving the house!

Besides, nobody has given me a bailout so I can't even afford a sale this year. For those of you who do plan to shop today, here's something to think about before you go.

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!!

Love, Margie and Edna

Margie and Edna's Thanks

Margie: Edna, I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as I'm sure most people do. I hope our readers will share with us some of the things they're thankful for this holiday.

I am most thankful for my health. Having good health at our age might be considered a miracle. I try to eat healthy and drink my Special tea. That surely fights the germs.

I'm also grateful that I have a roof over my head and food to eat. I'm grateful for all my dear friends and everyone who visits us in the Basement.

What are you thankful for, Edna?

Edna: Well sister, I'm also thankful for all of our friends and family, and all of our lovely visitors here at the basement. You all keep two old ladies happy, so thank you.

I'm also thankful that as many bad things in this world that I've seen, I can still laugh. Laughter is the best medicine, you know, and it's kept me healthy and young at heart all these years.

Qualities of A Gentleman

Image Courtesy the NYPL Digital Gallery

Margie: I know a lot about gentlemen and I'm here to tell you what to look for if you want a real man.


1. A gentleman has honor. He is honest and his word is his bond. He doesn't lie, cheat, or steal and he's certainly not a criminal.

2. A gentleman has self control. He isn't abusive and he doesn't fly off the handle at the drop of a hat. He doesn't drink to excess or partake of any other vices.

3. A gentleman is kind, mannerly, and compassionate. He has a good upbringing and respects all humans and creatures. He never raises his voice and is comfortable in any situation.

4. A gentleman is chivalrous. He treats everyone with respect. He holds the door for a lady, never walks ahead of her, and is concerned for her feelings. If he says she's the only one for him then he means it.

5. A gentleman has a delightful sense of humor. He does not, however, tell vulgar jokes especially in mixed company. He laughs with you and not at you.

Edna, do you have anything to add? I doubt you've ever known a gentleman.

Edna: Margie, I suppose you're right. Folks, she's known more gentlemen than I have, so I suppose you'd best listen to her.

Edna's Fun Friday

Once again, it's time for Fun Friday here at the Basement.

Big-screen flibbertigibbet Carole Lombard with William Powell in "My Man Godfrey"

Edna: This may surprise some of you readers out there, but in my younger days I was a bit of a feather-brained flibbertigibbet. I simply had a lot of thoughts to express, so I talked--a lot--to everyone. (Well, Margie still complains that I talk too much, but then she's usually complaining about something so I barely even listen to her anymore. I'd advise you all to do the same). I've mellowed some in my old age, but I still have some days where the thoughts get to a-whirlin' around in my head. When that happens, I've just got to do something to calm down, or "center" myself (as those new-agey hipsters like to say).

When I get so that I can't even hear myself think, I sit down, close my eyes, and take a listen to this song. It never fails to remind me of who I really and truly am, deep down inside. I wanted to share it with you all today, I surely do hope that when you listen to it, it calms and soothes you as much as it does me.

Have a fun Friday!

*image property of Universal Studios

The Secret's in the Sauce

Image courtesy of Duke University Libraries Digital Collections

Edna: Margie, with Thanksgiving coming up, people's minds seem to be on what they're going to serve for dinner. Why, just the other day, Darcy Hawkins asked me for my cranberry sauce recipe.

Margie: Edna, I hope you didn't give it to her since you're no cook. If you made cranberry sauce you'd only do it to spite me. I hate that stuff.

Edna: More for me, then. And you can just hush up about my cranberry sauce, I'll have you know that it's always in demand at church suppers.

It did give me pause when she asked for the recipe though, since I never wrote it down. I cook like Mama did, from memory and by improvising. Here's what I came up with for Darcy, I hope it turns out well for her.

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Edna's Cranberry Sauce

1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar (more or less to taste)
1 cup grated apple
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
orange zest (if desired)

In Corningware or enamel saucepan, combine the water and OJ. Using medium heat, stir the sugar into the liquid until it's dissolved. Add the washed cranberries to the mixture and turn heat on high. Stirring the berries occasionally, listen for the berries to start popping--this should take about 10 minutes or so. Once the berries begin to pop, stir the mixture occasionally and cook for about 5-10 minutes over high heat. (Cook for longer if you want the berries to break down more and your sauce to be thicker; the less you cook them, the more the berries keep their shape and consistency and the thinner your sauce is. However, if you are going to cook the sauce for more than 10 minutes, reduce the heat to medium to prevent scorching.) After you have cooked the cranberries as long as you want, remove from heat and add the apples and the walnuts (and orange zest, if desired). Let the sauce stand for about an hour before putting it in the refrigerator to chill, preferably overnight. Do not store in a metal container due to the high acid content of the sauce.

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Margie: Edna, you sully Mama's memory because she was a wonderful cook. What you call cooking would only be fit for pig slop.

You know what? It's not in demand at church suppers. People are just being mannerly to an old lady by taking some.

Edna: I suppose they were being mannerly by eating it all and coming back for seconds, too? Well that's just fine Margie, you don't have to eat any of my cranberry sauce when I make it for Thanksgiving dinner. Cousin T and will eat it all ourselves. Don't you think I'll share any of that pecan pie I'm making, either.

Margie: Thank you, Edna. That's right kindly of you.

Moving Pictures

Image property of The Walt Disney Co.

Margie: Edna, remember what fun we had when Daddy would take us to the moving pictures?

Mama wasn't so sure young ladies belonged there but Daddy overruled that notion.

Edna: Well, I've always thought that those Saturday afternoons at the picture show was what started my life-long love of movies, and television later. There's nothing like a good story to take you away, and that is the truth.

My lands, the things they'd show in those days! Newsreels, cartoons, such like you'd never seen before. What a wonder it all was.

Margie: It sure was a wonder. Daddy would explain why the newsreels were important and I still love watching the news.

The cartoons were the best. They don't make them like that anymore. Which was your favorite, Edna?

Edna: Well, I always did think that Betty Boop had style, she sure was fun to watch and she always made me giggle. What about you Margie, which one was your favorite?

Margie: I always loved Mickey Mouse. I met him once when I went to Disney World. Very sweet mouse.

Edna, I bet you don't know what happened on this date in 1928?

Edna: Well, since we're talking about the moving pictures, I bet it has something to do with them. Am I right? And what do I get if I am?

Margie: You're right, Edna. You win a prize! You get to do dishes and laundry for a week. Aren't you happy?

Mickey Mouse debuted in Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theater in New York on Nov. 18, 1928.

You can watch it here, Edna.

Edna: Okay, I'll go watch it, but I'm not doing the dishes or the laundry.

Margie: Tell me something I don't know, lazy tushie.