Here we are in the middle of another western summer. After spending a week in alternating blazing heat and spectacular desert thunderstorms in St. George and Las Vegas it feels relatively calm (for the time being) here in the mountains near Salt Lake City. This last week we celebrated my Mom’s birthday, swapped stories with Dad and explored the Hoover Dam with my BFF Mary and husband Brad.
This is how Mormons do Vegas – we went to church Sunday, napped and ate Cowan’s famous tacos, no one does tacos like the Cowans. We played a board game Trek to Zion, made homemade ice cream and played a few other games. Monday we explored the Hoover Dam complex – fascinating technology, visited the Primm outlet mall so Newell could buy his annual (under $10) pair of jeans, shopped at Target for banana split ingredients, cruised the Strip to see the fountain show at Belaggio, the volcano eruption at Mirage and the art galleries at Caesar’s Palace Forum.
The next day we saw Incredibles 2 (I enjoyed it more than I thought I would – really well done.) Made the obligatory stop at Fry’s Electronics superstore. Had lunch, more games and ice cream and headed home so Newell could get to work. The only time we stepped into a casino was to take a shortcut to somewhere else and escape the heat. We didn’t even drop a quarter in the slots. Sorry LV, but we had lots of fun, Mormon-style. Which leads me to the feature of this post.
British-born Pioneer Christopher Layton
In a few days we will be celebrating the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley of the Rocky Mountains. Our great…great grandparents Chauncey Webb who owned the Webb blacksmith shop in Nauvoo, Illinois (which you can visit today) came west with Brigham Young’s party and entered the valley on July 24th, 1847. Another ancestor, Christopher Layton, was toiling with the Mormon Battalion on his way to fight in the Mexican-American War and would join the pioneers when they were released from military service. Ancestors such as the Holladays, Ogdens, Fifes and others would live in Utah or be assigned to settle Arizona.
Outside the Webb blacksmith shop in Nauvoo Illinois.
We celebrate these intrepid empire-builders with games and stories, meals and adventures designed to pay homage to their foresight and sacrifice.
First you need pioneer wear. I made bonnets from a McCalls pattern
Plaid bonnets, I couldn’t resist.
You can also buy bonnets at Deseret Book. I made a complete pioneer outfit with a long skirt and apron that I wear on special pioneer occasions. Newell wears jeans, a bandana and a cowboy hat; and boots, McMurtrys know how to do “western.” Ask Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove and other western novels; he’s my husband’s 2nd cousin.
Then you are going to need some Pioneer-style victuals – here are 3 recipes in the Deseret News for beans, beef jerky and marinated vegetables, updated for modern palates.
We play games with our grandchildren or the children at church, and visit Pioneer-era landmarks in Utah like Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Art and History Museum and the state capitol in Salt Lake City. There’s also a Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Salt Lake City and This is the Place Park.
Children learn through doing and having fun; this is especially true of history. A few of our favorite activities include a Pioneer scavenger hunt that we hide the items and have the children find or do them – this is a link for a downloadable version on Etsy .
One of the favorite activities of the children I teach is making native American-style pictographs on faux skins (brown kraft paper torn in the shape of a small pelt.) Also downloadable on Etsy:
Pioneer children enjoyed a good beanbag toss!
Bean bag toss
I saved the best for last. Round up a few stick horses, squirt guns, a bucket of water and blackboards or signs that you can make wildfire and buffalo targets on. Make a racing area outside for the little buckaroos to run around squirting buffaloes and putting out wildfires!
Need a little more pioneer eye candy? Stop by my Pinterest board and give it a look-see.
Happy Independence Day and happy birthday America!
After touring 6 European countries last year and enjoying the amazing history and art, I came home with a greater appreciation for this heaven-inspired nation and our meteoric rise in only 2 1/2 centuries. We truly have been blessed as a people and, I believe, have been beneficial to the world.
French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville said of our country, “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”
Photo by Julius Drost@julesdrost
We here at McMurtry Creative Media send up a cheer for America and those who fight and work to preserve our freedoms: thank you and God bless America!
Photo by Gabby Orcutt@monroefiles
We are not naive about the struggles that face our culture, but we hold out hope for a future that is bright and intelligent, safe and sane.
Our 4th will be low-key this year with our families spread across the world and Newell working at the University of Utah Hospital that day, we plan to celebrate the birth of our great nation with a “new” menu.
Our Unorthodox Independence Day Menu
Newell has instituted a summer challenge – no meat until fall! As a Registered Dietitian and seeker of truth, he decided to cut out all warm-blooded animals from his diet; meaning fish is still in. He read a promise in modern revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants 89 that said:
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
So we are going to take this literally and try a different tack on our holiday dinner.
Our classic Independence Day celebration
Instead of the traditional American barbecue, we are going to grill some flounder and add our favorite sides
Grilled Flounder
Baked Beans
Dilled Potato Salad
Corn on the cob
Crudites
Watermelon
Homemade coconut ice cream in white chocolate-dipped cones
Fresh lemonade
Framed Mary Engelbreit print with patchwork scrapbook paper mat
Dilled Potato Salad
This is the recipe my grandmother Vada Webb Layton used to make for us. We have never had one we like better!
Place in large bowl
6 large potatoes, cooked, cooled and diced
2 whole Clussen kosher dill pickles, finely diced
3 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
Dressing
1 C. low fat mayonnaise
1 C. low fat sour cream
1/3 C. pickle brine
3 TBSP. prepared mustard
2 tsp. dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste
Blend dressing, gently fold into vegetables. Refrigerate until serving. Taste improves if allowed to blend overnight, adjust seasoning before serving. Makes 10 – 12 servings.
I’d like to share one of my favorite patriotic stories about a heroine of the American Revolution and my great…great grandmother Elizabeth Duncan Porter.
ELIZABETH DUNCAN PORTER – Heroine of the American Revolution
Elizabeth was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Duncan at Lancaster Pennsylvania in 1750. The Duncans were born in Scotland, moved to Ireland and then to the British colonies in America. They settled in Lancaster, which is known in modern times for the Amish community and lush green farms and hillsides.
Elizabeth enjoyed growing up in the beautiful countryside of Pennsylvania. In the spring she played with the lambs and picked flowers. But childhood ended early for Elizabeth; her father died when she was six years old and her help was needed on the farm. She grew to be a strong and lovely woman.
At twenty-five she met a man who would sweep her off her feet ; she married her beloved Samuel Porter. Samuel, who had moved to America from Ireland with his brothers, was a member of the Virginia militia. He was one of the men responsible for patrolling the roads and trails to keep travelers safe from Indian raids. The British had enlisted the Indians to attack settlers on the western frontiers of the colonies. Samuel, Elizabeth, her widowed mother and their families settled in a valley in Virginia (now part of Kentucky.)
The winds of war began to blow across America.
Samuel, Elizabeth, their two children, her mother, brother and other family members were captured by Indians in 1780. It is thought that British soldiers were with them because they were not scalped. The attackers took all of their stock and possessions.
They were marched and carried over 600 miles to Detroit. Elizabeth had to work hard to keep her little children quiet so they would not be killed by their captors, the Indians would “dash out the brains” of children they considered a nuisance. She was pregnant with her third child. Sometimes she was permitted to ride in a canoe, she sat with her feet in water for hours and hours. Samuel was sentenced to die. The men were placed in stockades and pens and nearly starved to death.
Elizabeth was put to work cooking for the British officers. After preparing a meal, she saved scraps of bread and meat and smuggled them out in the dishwater. She placed the tub of water near Samuel’s prison. He was able to reach through the bars and get the food. Her act of courage probably kept him alive.
Later Elizabeth, her children Margaret and Hugh and her mother were marched as a prisoners of war another 700 miles from Detroit to Quebec, Canada.
On January 7th, in the bitter cold of a winter that would become known as the “little Ice Age,” when the New York Harbor froze over and ships were unable to enter or leave; far from her home, Elizabeth gave birth to baby Samuel. She was a captive of the British and Shawnee Indians because she believed in freedom.
Her husband Samuel suffered as well in the confinement of the prison camp. 8 of 10 other American prisoners of war died in the hulls of British warships. He did not know what had become of Elizabeth, their baby or their other two young children.
Many people sacrificed much for the cause of independence. Some sacrificed everything.
Elizabeth took care of baby Samuel and little Margaret and Hugh the best she could. She sang to them the Celtic lullabies her mother had sung to her.
She told them the Bible stories she had learned as a child. Tales of Moses leading Israel to freedom; of brave Joseph and how Daniel’s life was spared.
She would have loved to have been home when Spring came. She would have loved to have worked in her garden with her children and enjoyed outings with her friends. Because the cause of freedom had meant so much to Elizabeth and Samuel; she had no home to return to.
Samuel was a hard worker and tried to be helpful. His execution was stayed by a British commander who took a liking to him.
The price of independence was very high. When the war ended and freedom was won, Elizabeth and the others were released and somehow made their way back to Virginia and to Samuel.
Samuel’s trials did not end with the war. An American officer accused him of treason because the British did not execute him. Tried again, he was cleared of wrongdoing by another officer who vouched for his character. Elizabeth and Samuel had three more children. Their lives were filled with joy and sorrow and their sacrifice blessed their family for generations.
Elizabeth lived 95 years. She died and was buried in Jackson County, Missouri where a marker and plaque were placed to honor the memory of this heroine of the American Revolutionary War. Elizabeth’s legacy is celebrated today by the Daughters of the American Revolution organization with chapters that have been named for her.
During Elizabeth’s lifetime, the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Revolutionary War fought, the Constitution was written and ratified, Joseph Smith was born, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized and Joseph Smith was martyred. It was a most important era in the history of the world.
Make this an easy dish with instant wild rice mix, bagged salad and rotisserie chicken. Top with a yogurt lime cilantro dressing and serve it with a frosty limeade .
2 – 3 limes, 1 sliced and one juiced
Prepare according to directions, sprinkle with the juice of ½ lime and set aside. Reserve the remaining lime juice for the street corn.
1 box instant wild rice mix, prepared according to the package
Divide among 4 – 6 dinner plates
1 bag of spring greens salad mix
Sprinkle over the salad
½ of one bunch cilantro, washed and leaves removed from stems. Discard stems, reserve the other half of the leaves for salad garnish
Shred and remove the bones from
1 deli rotisserie chicken
Divide among the salad plates
the cooked wild rice
1 – 15 oz. can black beans, drained
1 – 15 oz. can sliced olives, drained
2 avocados, pitted, peeled and sliced, sprinkled with the other half of the lime juice
1 pkg. heirloom tomatoes, washed with leaves removed
1 pkg. crumbled Cotija cheese
Pour over
Bolthouse Farms Lime Cilantro Yogurt Dressing
Serve with frozen limeade
FROZEN LIMEADE
Juice
8 key limes (1/2 C lime juice)
Set aside. In a sauce pan, stir together
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C water
Simmer until sugar dissolves, stir in lime juice, let cool.
I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the men and women that stand between us and danger, evil and the powers that destroy.
Last October we stood on Omaha Beach in France, the site of one of the D-Day landings.
In its current tranquility, it’s hard to image the carnage that took place on June 6, 1944 when the liberation of Europe began. In the conflict 100 German soldiers killed 2499 Americans and 1915 of their allies.
www.ddaybattletours.com
The Battle of Normandy lasted from June through August 1944 with over 425,000 Allied and German troops killed, wounded or missing. Even the son of President Teddy Roosevelt was not exempt, General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. died of a heart attack after fighting and is buried in Normandy next to his brother Quentin who died in WWI.
Alamy
83,045 of the casualties were from 21st Army Group: British, Canadian and Polish ground forces. 125,847 from the US ground forces. About 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included in the 425,000). During the fighting around the Falaise in August 1944, the Germans suffered losses of around 90,000, including prisoners. This was the beginning of the liberation of Europe.
One battle of one war of far too many. War is hell; some march bravely into the valley of the shadow of death never to return.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 Holy Bible, KJV
McMurtry Creative Media is hosting a fine art sale of handmade paintings and drawings by artist Pam Layton McMurtry. These works of art have been featured on design websites such as Behance and Dribble. Pam’s A Harvest and Halloween Handbookwon a “Hot New Picks in Design award” on Amazon.com.
“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.” John Lubbock (1834-1913).
Buy affordable art from an emerging artist and enjoy supporting the arts and creative minds. Enjoy this original fine art in your home, workplace, classroom or gallery with free shipping.
“Shepherdess”
This 14″ x 11″ watercolor on paper was inspired the pastoral art of French artist William Bouguereau. Over a dozen watercolor techniques were employed in the creation of this painting.
Price $75
Mirror
This colorful collaboration by 2 artists depicts a still life positioned in front of a mirror. 16″ x 20″, it is an oil painting on canvas.
Price $300
A graceful Japanese Noh mask is draped with pearls and nestled in chiffon in this 19.5″ x 25.5″ pencil and Conte crayon drawing on gray paper.
Price $75
The Attic
A collection of vintage items are artfully arranged in the 24″ x 20″ oil painting on canvas.
Price $300
Vintage Toys
Old-school favorites are affectionately remembered in this 24″ x 19″ charcoal drawing on paper. Stuffed Raggedy Ann and Andy are poised for adventure on a vintage wooden rocking duck.
Price $45
Peppers
This cheerful still life would look amazing in a Tuscan-inspired kitchen. A 24″ x 18″ oil painting on canvas was one of the first paintings by the artist.
Price $350
Old Ugly
This charcoal drawing on paper features an antique chair affectionately known as “Old Ugly.” The sketch is 23.5″ x 18″.
Price $35
Here are just a few pieces, there is plenty of fresh art where these came from! Check out my gallery on Deviantart and email me for prices and availability. Free “regular” shipping available; rush orders have a premium added.
Thank you for supporting the arts!
P.S. Here is a fun little summer story for the mermaid-lovers in your family. It is an ebook available on Amazon and BN.com.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is world-renown for its, ahem, engineering challenges, but also its translucent beauty. On a clear autumn day, it nearly glowed against the brilliant Tuscan sky.
I know everyone does it, but this was not the worst tourist shot we saw…The Dome too…
and the Fallen Angel; what’s a bruh for?
Tim opted to climb the winding stairs in the tower interior, still nursing a wounded foot, I stayed below and waited while he photographed his ascent.
Construction on the Tower began in 1173, it is 8 stories high and is actually a bell tower. The well-worn steps present a challenge while climbing.
A view of Pisa from the top.
The bellsSomeone’s Mom on the ground taking photos.
The next day Tim took a dip in the Mediterranean and met some unexpected flora and fauna (mostly fauna.) Apparently the retired populace of Livorno spend their days sunning on docks.
Tim took off across the bay and as he was swimming, something slippery brushed his arm. Remembering the texture of the sting rays at Sea World, he hopped out of the water onto the nearest dock. I watched from across the bay as an Italian lifeguard lectured him in Italian and gestured that he was on private property and needed to leave NOW. Tim looked down into the water he had climbed out of and saw hundreds or thousands of jellyfish in clusters. Not knowing if they were dangerous it took him a minute to find a safe place to dive in to swim back across the bay.
Good job Tim , I think you lost them!
We looked them up when we got home and found they were a non-lethal variety; however the hugely dangerous Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish are in the Mediterranean, hopefully far away.
Andrew and Annie treated us to homemade pear pasta at a to-die-for Italian restaurant near the beach
We visited an Italian market and saw the beginning of the Halloween season. We hugged and kissed our family, Andrew drove us to Florence and we headed back to the United States.
Icebergs near Greenland; Iceland was green and Greenland was white with snow.The flight was rerouted further north because there was a hurricane in Ireland.
Back in the US in time for Halloween, Batman on our minds. Arrivederci Italia!
Things I learned from my visit to 6 countries; the history of and artifacts in Europe are amazing. But looking at the rise of the United States of America in just over 200 years, with all of its success and world-changing innovations is nothing short of a miracle. God bless the U.S.A.
On this Thursday evening, I am thinking about the Last Supper, Christ’s agony in Gethsemane, the trials and the final walk to Golgotha on Friday. I am so very grateful for the atonement; that God would offer to spare his loved ones from the demands of justice, gifting us instead with the gentler law of mercy.
I’m impressed that we worship a God so understanding and magnanimous that He doesn’t seem to mind that we celebrate the most sacred day of the year with symbols adapted from secular, even pagan sources. If the children are happy, it is all right.
So in honor of His return of life, the renewal of Spring, the happiness of Easter and all things bright and beautiful, here are a few Easter favorites.
Easy and fun dessert butterscotch nests with personalized eggs
BUTTERSCOTCH BIRD NESTS WITH PERSONALIZED EGGS
Melt in a large saucepan
12 oz butterscotch chips
Add and stir until blended
1 C peanut butter
Fold in
10 – 12 oz. chow mein noodles
Drop by large spoonfuls onto wax paper, shape into nests. Using a food marker pen, write names on
large candy-coated malted eggs
Place in nest with a few jellybeans. Yields 15 small nests.
Sunny daffodils brighten the gardenEaster Miracle Eggs
EASTER STORY EGGS
This sweet little activity teaches small children about the miracle of Easter. A basket is filled with colored plastic Easter eggs containing scripture verses and objects that represent Christ’s experience.
You will need
12 medium to large plastic Easter eggs that open and the objects below.
With a fine point permanent marker write the numbers 1 – 12 on the ends of the plastic eggs. Copy and cut apart the scriptures of the Easter story and place in the numbered eggs with the following:
1. A small cup or wooden thimble (from craft store)
2. Three dimes
3. A 4″ piece of twine
4. A small piece of soap
5. A small robe cut from red felt
6. A small wooden cross or brown card stock cross
7. Two dice
8. A small square of white fabric torn almost in half
9. A square of white fabric
10. A small stone
11. A few cloves, a piece of cinnamon stick, bay leaf
12. Nothing – this represents the empty tomb
Have the children open the eggs in order to read the Easter story.
The Earth laughs in flowers!A French flower basket is a beautiful and inexpensive centerpiece that is easy to make.
French Flower Baskets
This is a lovely, long-lasting arrangement of living flowers and plants in a basket or container. You can buy the flowers at a nursery or home improvement store; it can be an inexpensive centerpiece if you use a container you already own, and transplant the flowers to the garden afterwards.
You will need
A basket or waterproof container
Heavy plastic to line the basket
Potted living flowers and/or plants
Potting soil
Moss, excelsior or dry filler
Ribbon, decorative figures or other items, if desired
Line the basket with the heavy plastic, cut away excess. Place a few inches of potting soil in the bottom of the basket. Tip the flowers to the side and remove carefully from their pots. Set the entire plant on top of the soil in the basket intact, taking care not to disturb the root balls or break the stems. Repeat with remaining plants. Fill any gaps with additional potting soil and water well. Tuck moss or other filler around base of plants to hide the soil. If desired, add items, such as small clay pots, willow twigs or figures to complement the theme. Water carefully, mist occasionally, keep out of direct sunlight.
A tea to welcome the return of spring
FUN EASTER BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
The Country Bunny and The Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward
A sweet mother rabbit wants to be an Easter Bunny. She can do it with her family’s cooperation, but needs a little more help to take a special treat to a child in need.
Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells
Ruby teaches Max the intricate finesse of Easter egg hunting.
Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells
Ruby and Max shop for a present for Grandma.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
The classic adventure of a mischievous Peter Rabbit in Mr. McGregor’s garden.
Your local book store and online book sellers have lots of beautifully illustrated sacred and secular Easter books.
Andrew; how I miss my son. Andrew, the perpetually happy boy who continually taught me lessons about forgiving and sharing.
The one person who could get his little brother Tim to do about anything during his petulant phases. Andrew, all grown up now and serving his country in the army. After 3 year-long deployments to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; he was now a father and assigned to Italy for 3 years with his good wife and little Ender who was born just a few months before they were deployed. Visiting Andrew and his family was the catalyst that spurred the visit to Europe.
My cuddle bear who is so respectful and strong and protective; I consider myself fortunate to have him as a son. And especially lucky to get to see him in conjunction with a visit to the historical landmarks and canonized art of the western world. Because he is in the military, as much as I would like to, for security reasons, I won’t be putting his photo on this blog.
But the best, most satisfying part of our month in Europe was the time spent with Andrew, Annie and Ender. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for our military and first responders; especially those that are far from home.
On a day that Annie had to study, we invited Andrew and Ender to go with us on a train ride to Lucca.
The ancient walled city of Lucca, translation: Light.Newell’s cousin author Larry McMurtry beat us to Italy!Our granddaughters love this cartoon set in Paris, apparently Lucca’s girls like it too!Lots of antique shops and a huge flea market – it was Sunday, so we just looked around.A beautiful old church in Lucca.
American tourists do well to keep their presence understated, but a little personal expression can’t be helped.I was happy to see plaid in Italy.Lucca is known for bicycle paths on the exterior wall. This bike sported cute handmade baskets front and back.
We had seen Florence and Lucca and would soon go to Pisa. Newell had a flight home to get back to work in Salt Lake City and the flight was cancelled because of fog; Newell was sent to Rome to wait for the next flight. When Tim heard this, he hopped on a train and met his father in the Eternal City.
Tim and Newell toured Rome.
Tim had seen much of the art of Europe, castles, museums and cathedrals but what he saw at the Vatican blew him away.
Tim was impressed with the beauty of the art and architecture of the Vatican and Rome.
Ender had come down with a sore throat and wasn’t feeling well so I had stayed home to care for him. After a couple of days we bought him a gelato hoping it would feel good to his sore throat. He hadn’t eaten much and was having a hard time sleeping.
Andrew took Ender to an Italian pediatrician and I rode along. The medical interpreter met us to accompany Ender into the examination room; Ender had a sore throat and fever. The pediatrician was kind but did not swab his throat as is routine with American pediatricians. The doctor spoke no English and we were not able to talk to her in Italian without the interpreter. He cried and we were glad to be finished and get him settled down. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic or medicine I didn’t recognize and an over-the-counter pain reliever, the clinic brought both meds to the exam room and the interpreter wrote the dosage directions down for us in English. Getting a 2 year-old with a sore throat to take oral meds is challenging at best; I was glad he didn’t have an allergic reaction – something we have experienced with other family members.
The reason I am writing this is that there is talk of a decision-maker in another country considering cutting the medical liason/interpreter program at Camp Darby to save money. This small base has very few services available to the families stationed there, with the next American military base being several hours away. To send American families overseas and not provide adequate medical care is potentially a serious problem. There is a campaign on Change.org requesting that the interpreter program be left in place; if you have a moment, we would appreciate your signing the petition, the link is below.
Ender after a faceplant on the rooftop playground of his home. Cute little guy, we want what’s best for him.
To the Command Teams of Regional Health Command Europe and Vicenza MEDCOM,
We, the undersigned members of the Darby Military Community (DMC), friends and family members of the DMC, and supporters from around the world urgently request MEDCOM leadership to reconsider the dissolution of services by the TRICARE POC and the three Host Nation Patient Liaisons. Camp Darby is home to over 400 Active Duty Service Members command sponsored family members. Additionally, our community supports a small Retiree population as well as the DoD civilians and contractors that support the DMC missions. The community depends on the services provided by Michelle Cyr, the TRICARE POC, and the Patient Liaisons, Micaela Ballucchi, Ilaria Guerrini, and Barbara Lama for host nation care coordination, language and document translation and navigation of the various facilities and providers within our host nation healthcare network.
Camp Darby does have a small Medical Aid Station staffed by two Active Duty U.S. Air Force Independent Medical Technicians available to provide limited care but to Active Duty only. For the rest of our community we rely entirely on the Italian healthcare system for all our medical needs.
We understand the proposed solution for the elimination of the liaisons is for those enrolled and eligible for TRICARE Prime Remote to rely on International SOS for all referrals, authorizations, appointment scheduling, medical document translation and telephonic language assistance. Unfortunately, communication and language assistance is not always readily accessible. Most areas within the hospital have dead spots, limited or spotty cell service and exam rooms with landlines that cannot dial to 800 or foreign numbers. Therefore, given these obstacles, ISOS is not an acceptable solution.
Not having reliable, clear, and consistent communication to bridge the language barrier puts our Soldiers, Airmen and their families at risk for a potential medical crisis. Many of the host nation providers currently used regularly by DMC patients have already begun to voice concern about seeing us in the absence of the liaison staff referencing legal liability and safety concerns. Our host nation providers deliver quality care but that care is only as good as it is understood. If we do not have the valuable and dedicated liaisons present to assist with the delivery of this quality care, treatments, procedures, and medication information is not going to fully be understood and therefore undermines the quality of that care.
The size of the Camp Darby Military may be small, but that fact should not be used to take away the basic necessity which is access to quality medical care. While this action may support budget cuts, it could very well endanger the lives of Soldiers, Airmen, DOD civilians, and their families.
My sister recently ordered a DNA test and the results came back that our predominant genetic/cultural matches were Ireland and Scotland. I was excited, even though we always thought we were more British Isles (this, however explains my obsession with all things plaid.)
We visited Ireland for the first time in October of 2017. Although I’ve posted about our trip there, I thought it would be fun to do a little bit of of a retrospective of the Emerald Isle.
First stop, the Blarney Castle for the kissing of the stone.
Video by Tim McMurtry
Blarney CastleThe tree sweaters at Blarney CastleGotta love those tree sweaters.Interior of the castleAcquiring the gift of blarney. The green you see is the meadow and trees several hundred feet below.
Blarney Castle battlements. Photo by Tim McMurtry
The difference between baloney and blarney was described to us this way; if a man approaches a mature woman and asks her age, he might say “I wanted to know because I thought you were 16” (baloney. ) Blarney would be, “I wanted to know at what age women achieve perfection.” I could go with that.
What we didn’t know about the castle was that the Blarney Stone is at the top of several AWFUL upward winding stairways. Steep, narrow and uneven, they were part of the castle’s defense system. Enjoy the photos, I will never climb up there again.
Another part of the defense system, the Poison Gardens.
Oh oh, Irish weed. Poison in Ireland and legal in California.
A more pleasant surprise was the beautiful estate surrounding the castle that included grottos and waterfalls.
It was enchanting, speaking of which (witch?)…
We didn’t see any leprechauns until we reached the gift shop. There they were, caught and canned by the dozens.
On to Waterford…
In Waterford you would find crystal… and Vikings.
Then a stop in Kilkenny where the guys became captives. Blarney? You decide.
CAPTIVES OF CASTLE KILLKENNY by Newell McMurtry
“After having a great time in Waterford and heading towards Dublin we saw a sign indicating Killkenny was not far away. Having ancestors from County Killkenny and it wasn’t dark yet, we decided to go.
The town center was old, medieval with very narrow streets. Driving is difficult on the opposite side of the street than what you’re used to. Add in the narrow streets with cars parked on both sides with barely enough space for one car to get through (yet it’s a two lane road.) I didn’t get to see much, because I was so focused on driving. When we found a place to park by a large department store I was ready to get out an explore.
Pam’s foot still hurt so she didn’t want to explore, but Tim and I wandered around city center heading towards the castle. There were neat old churches, cobblestone streets, narrow alleyways you could only walk through and lots of people with interesting accents.
We got to the castle and checked, but we were too late to take a tour. It was an interesting castle surrounded by a 12 foot stone wall and a very large lawn that lots of people were playing on or walking their dogs or just strolling around. Here is what it looked like from the castle. Notice all the people walking around and there are even more in the distance. I thought it would be cool to take a picture from the hill you see it the distance.
We got there and took a picture as most of the people were clearing out. There was this one man in the yard…” here the story stops, I will add the basics and hope Newell will finish his narrative later.
Tim shares that they were about here when they heard a bell ring. Not knowing what it was for, they started for the castle to find out.
When they arrived, to their chagrin, they discovered that the bell signaled that the castle was closing and they were locked in! The beautiful 12 foot stone walls defied their attempts to exit. Finally they found a tree that they could climb up, then get on the wall and jump off the other side. Imagine their astonishment when they discovered they were in a private yard, also with a locked gate! Somehow they figured out an escape route and got out. And there I was blithely shopping and wondering what had taken them so long.
Climbing over the wall here to exit the castle was not a viable option.
The escapees found this route back to town.
We love Ireland.
We usually do a roasted corned beef for St. Patrick’s Day but our trip there inspired me to try an authentic Irish meal.
Truly Irish Cuisine
Photo by Yummy Mummy Kitchen
SPLIT PEA SOUP
Wash and pick over
1 lb. split peas
Place in a large pot and cover with 2 quarts of cold water. Simmer gently 2 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Add
1 meaty ham bone, about 1 1/2 lbs.
2 tsp. ham-flavored soup base or 2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 1/2 C diced onion
1/4 tsp marjoram
1 tsp thyme
2 potatoes, diced
1 C celery, sliced
1 C carrots, sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove ham bone, cut off meat and return to soup.
Adjust seasonings; serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
Photo by Recipe This
ROAST PORK
For bone-in pork roast, plan 1 lb. per serving; for boneless buy 1/2 lb. per serving. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a baking pan, place on a rack
3 – 5 lb. pork roast
rub with oil, sprinkle on salt and pepper. Bake uncovered 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Test for doneness with meat thermometer, should register at least 170 degrees.
Photo by Chowhound
CARAMELIZED ONIONS
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt
2 TBSP butter
Add
3 medium to large onions, sliced thinly
1 tsp sugar
Cook, stirring frequently about 30 minutes. Reduce heat and continue cooking until onions are golden brown and soft, about an hour. Add
1 – 2 TBSP water if needed to reduce sticking.
Season with salt and pepper, serve hot with pork roast.
Photo by Irish Central
COLCANNON
Scrub thoroughly
8 medium potatoes
Place in a tall pot and cover with water. Add
1 onion, diced
1 tsp. salt
Over medium-high heat, boil 7 minutes. Add
1/4 cabbage or a handful of kale, thinly sliced
Continue boiling until potatoes are tender, about 7 minutes. Drain.
Mash and add
2 Tbsp butter
milk to desired consistency
Serve with butter, salt and pepper
STEAMED ASPARAGUS
Thoroughly wash and snap off stalk ends from
2 lbs. asparagus
Place in a large skillet with lid, cover with water and add
1 tsp. salt
Cover and cook until tender, about 10 minutes
Photo by RecipeOfHealth
OATMEAL MOLASSES BREAD
In a small saucepan melt over medium heat
1 TBSP butter
Stir in
1/2 C milk
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 C dark molasses
Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine and stir until dissolved
1/4 C very warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
3 TBSP brown sugar, firmly packed
Let stand until bubbly, 5 – 15 min. Add milk mixture,
3/4 C bran cereal
1 1/2 C oat flour (grind oats in blender until powdery)
1 C whole wheat flour
Beat until well-blended, add
3/4 C all-purpose flour
Knead or beat until smooth. Place dough in greased bowl, turn over to grease top. Cover and place in a draft -free area to rise until doubled, about 1 – 1/2 hours. Punch dough down, knead briefly then shape into ball and place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled about 40 minutes. With a sharp knife or razor, cut a tic-tac-toe design in the top of the loaf. Bake at 350 until browned and hollow-sounding when thumped 30 – 35 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Photo by Storyblocks
APPLE CAKE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together
2 eggs
2 C sugar
1/4 C oil
1/2 C applesauce
1 can apples packed in water, drained
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 C nuts, chopped (optional)
Place in greased and floured 9″ x 13″ pan, bake for 1 hour. Cool. Frost with
2 C powdered sugar
2 TBSP lemon juice
Irish blessings for you in the coming year! And enjoy the story of the man who inspired the holiday – Saint Patrick.
The train station in Munich was vast and interesting. We quickly learned the difference between a first class ticket; lounge with restrooms and snacks – and everyone else (restrooms in the basement.) Newell dropped Tim and me off at the station with luggage so he could return the rental car and catch a bus back to meet us. As we waited on the platform, we endulged in some serious people and pigeon-watching. (Note from Tim: vegan yogurt – just say no.)
The 8-hour train ride took us through the Alps and into Tuscany; a lovely journey for an autumn day.
Photo by Tim McMurtry
We had bought books to read and shopped for lunch on the way to the station. I thought I would get bored, but I was wrong. Watching the variety of landscape and quaint villages as we sped past was anything but boring. We met other travelers and shared their stories; like the elderly Englishwoman who had been visiting her brother in Germany and was on her way to see Venice for the first time. Her husband was worried that she couldn’t manage her luggage, but Tim stepped up and gave her a hand.
Photo by Tim McMurtry
We arrived in Florence and took another train to Pisa where we were met with a familiar and family face; our Andrew! It had been a year and a half since we saw him before he and his family deployed to Italy. After 2 1/2 weeks of travel it was wonderful to be greeted in a faraway land by a loved one. Props to Annie for making room for the in-laws for 10 days!
We arrived at the Chaddock’s house late in the evening, but 1 1/2 year-old Ender was awake to greet us. Tired from the train ride, we were glad to be there with 2 of our sons and family.
The next day we went onto base with Andrew to meet his “family” at work. The US Army shares a base with the Italian military, it was an interesting arrangement. The sacrifice our soldiers and their families make takes many forms; besides the dangers they face, for some its being so far from family during holidays and special times.
Americans abroad have to dress unobtrusively to not draw attention; soldiers have to change on base, no uniforms in public.
This American baby won’t see his homeland until he’s almost 3 1/2.
After watching for terrorist attacks throughout the trip, I naively thought we would be safe in Italy (ahem; the Cosa Nostra…) Wrong. We were informed that Rome was one of the top potential targets and it was suggested we avoid going into the Eternal City.
Rome at night by Tim McMurtry
The following day we took a train to Florence to see the artistic treasures there.
Tuscany on an October morning; view from the train. Photo by Tim McMurtryIl Duomo in Florence; photo by Tim McMurtry
The first thing we saw in Florence was Il Duomo, a cathedral built over several centuries ( exterior 1296 -1436.) The facade features multiple colors of marble, statues of apostles, saints and Biblical personages.
Andrew had suggested we make reservations for Galleria dell’Accademia to view Michelangelo’s David. A very wise move for a Saturday visit. We had heard and verified that David would be taken off display for a while due of stress fractures developing in the statue’s ankles . A trip to Italy without viewing David? Inconceivable. There was a very long line to get tickets. People were hawking tour packages to get you into the building faster, at a fairly expensive price. Reservations in hand, we skipped the long line.
Viewing the gorgeous marble statue so elegantly crafted, one could almost forget the Biblical story of the young shepherd about to face the giant impugning the armies of Israel and their God. One look at that attitude and posture and you know how that battle is going to turn out. See 1 Samuel Chapter 17 in the Old Testament of the Bible for a great tale of faith and fortitude.
After the Galleria’s collection of Michelangelo’s art, my favorite exhibit was the cemetery art. Young sculptors could get commissions for statues and memorials for wealthy families.
The hall was filled with hundreds of busts and statuary that patrons could reference to create memorials for loved ones. After altering the dimensions of facial features, the piece would look the the intended.
I also appreciated the gilded altar piece collection. In addition to representing the value the church placed on holy items, the gold would glow in the candlelight of the often dark chapels, illuminating the images.
From there, we went out into the afternoon Florence streets to explore. We had some serious souvenir hunting to do for the grandchildrens’ Christmas gifts. We found a gelato shop that was calling our name and a pizza place that wasn’t. Not a fan of Italian pizza.
I love good display and marketing and one shop nailed it. Each flavor of gelato had large slices or chunks of representative fruit or chocolate embedded in the creamy mounds. You can see berry, honeydew and cantaloupe in the front of the case. Did I mention they had coconut? I was a happy camper; we shared a large coconut gelato – my first ever. It was worth the wait.
Photo by Tim McMurtry
We discovered a Jewish synagogue that had a distinctive Middle-eastern style.
A Lindt chocolate shop and a fun gift shop with Danish products, I was tempted to buy but was informed that the gift items we buy in Italy should be Italian. So leather it was. Florence is known for their diverse and beautiful leather products; we bought wallets for the older grandchildren.
Photo by Ciao – Travel Like a Local
The evening was coming and it was time to bid arrivederci to Firenze, the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Endnote: Check the Galleria’s website for open days and hours and try to get your reservations at least 4 days ahead off-season. If the lines are too long, you will not be able to get tickets.
