Debra LaValley's Blog

Blackwater River – Webster, NH

The leaves were flying today. The rain and wind we have been having is not being gentle to the trees and foliage. I love October though! I have been decorating my apartment for Halloween. I still have a few more things to get out of storage and put them out.

October is also a season of delicious apples – fresh from the orchards. I figured I would share my mom’s favorite Applesauce Cake.

Applesauce Cake

Mix:
1 cup applesauce
7/8 cup (little less) brown sugar
1/2 cup liquid shortening (aka – oil)

Then add:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 cup nuts & raisins

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

The colors of fall are starting to emerge from the greens of summer. I love the fall. Unfortunately, it has been raining for days – so I haven’t had any good photo opportunities. I am hoping for better weather in the next few days. Uncle Ralph is arriving early next week. He is looking forward to seeing the fall foliage. Hopefully, the rain will stop and the leaves will still be on the trees.

I came across this recipe of my Grammy LaValley that I thought I would share on this rainy day:

Scalloped Potatoes

3 cups sliced raw potatoes
onion
1 can cream of celery soup (or cream of mushroom)
(Mix soup with one can milk, layer potatoes, onion, and soup mixture in casserole dish)
Salt and pepper

Last add 1/2 cup grated cheese

Cover with aluminum foil and poke a couple of holes. Bake one hour – 1/2 hrs . . . in a 350 degree oven – uncover and then bake for 15 minutes.

Ken Ross 1936

Today would have been my Grampa Ross’s 103 birthday. Unfortunately – he died Christmas Eve 1958. I turned 1 year old on December 26, 1958. I was the only grandchild he ever knew. Unfortunately, I was so young that I don’t remember him.

Tonight, my Mom, sister Jackie, and I stopped by Blossom Hill Cemetery and wished him a Happy Birthday. From all that I have heard about him from family and friends – he was a wonderful man.

Happy Birthday, Grampa Ross!

Tom’s Team 2011

The 2012 Out of the Darkness Community Walk is in Portsmouth this Saturday (9/29). Tom’s Team is getting ready for the event. If you have not donated yet, and would like to click on My Fundraising Page.

The entire La Valley family thanks everyone for your support over the years.

Thanks again!

June 15, 2011 Sighting at my Folks’ House

I heard very disturbing news today. Someone who lives at Penwood Apartments (where the Albino squirrel has been staying around for many months) SHOT the albino squirrel! Penwood is right in the middle of a very urban area. The person must have used a BB gun! Who would KILL such a beautiful and rare creature?

It sickens me! I hope it is just a rumor – but I fear it probably is not so. There was another albino squirrel that visited my folks’ yard all summer one year – many years ago, and we heard that poor thing was shot by a kid with a BB gun!

Bad Karma – I am sure to kill such a rare and beautiful creature.

The poor wee thing! I just saw it run across the street last week and run up an oak tree. It was almost 7:00 PM and too dark to try and get a good photo. The last halfway decent shot I got of it was June 28, 2012. It was late afternoon and in the shade.

June 28, 2012 Albino Squirrel Sighting

😦

There are only a few more days of Summer left! Time flies when you are having fun! The weather this summer has been very nice overall – especially the past couple weeks. I really need to get the kayak out before it starts getting too cold! Tonight it is raining – but we really need the rain. It is better to rain during the week than the weekend! Have a great night everyone!

Debbie 🙂

Blue Moon 08/31/12

Click Blue Moon

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of August and tomorrow is the start of Labor Day Weekend! Where does the time go! Summer still has a bit of a kick left though. Tonight is also a blue moon (I took the above photo around 8:00 PM. It isn’t really blue – I tinted it blue) – the second full moon in a month. August 1st also had a full moon. There will not be another blue moon until July 2015.

Enjoy the evening and the rest of the summer!

I need to watch GREASE this weekend! That movie is the perfect summer movie! Click Summer Nights

Sunset Valley Quartet (circa 1950-2):
Betty Ross – Red Perkins – Tom La Valley, Ralph Spencer

Last night, I was up too late and caught a segment of Community Auditions (I didn’t know it was still on – but I am not usually watching tv after midnight on a Sunday). It reminded me of a story that my parents told me years ago. They were almost on Community Auditions in the early 1950s when they were in the group The Mello-Tones. The Mello-Tones were my parents (Tom & Betty), Francis aka Frank Nadeau, Ralph Spencer, Red Perkins, and Paul Tousignant. They were all set to be on the show when Frank who was their drummer was drafted (Korean War).

The photo above was of the Sunset Valley Quartet that my parents were in along with Red and Ralph. They sang at the Princess which was a dance hall. It then became the Princess Carpets building and it still a rug store today . . . Concord Carpet – I believe. It is near Cumberland Farms on Fisherville Road. My dad played the bass and the two other guys played guitar. Ralph and my mom were the main singers. My mom told me today that they also sang on WKXL. The Harmonettes – a group of 3 or 4 girls – also sang on WKXL around the same time.

I have an old scratched 45 that I believe one of my uncles gave me. It was supposed to be of The Sunset Valley Quartets or The Mello-Tones. It is very scratched – I don’t know if it would play. I have to find someone with a turntable that will play 45s and has one of those thing-a-ma-jigs that go in the middle so you can play them on the turntable.

Have a great evening!

2/19/1952 Ralph Spencer, Dad (Tom La Valley), Red Perkins

Jackie, Bill, and Matt

I can’t think of much to say today, so I decided to share some photos that my parents took yesterday. They drove Jackie and Bill to Portland, Maine to visit their son Matt. They had not seen him in about two years. They spent a very nice afternoon with Matt. They had a tasty meal at the Olive Garden too.

Dad, Jackie, Bill, Matt

Bill, Jackie, Matt, Mom

Bill & Matt

Frog Bellies

Frog Bellies

I wonder how many people are out there teaching the younger generations about Frog Bellies?

My mother taught us when we were very young. First you pull a leaf off of the Frog Belly plant. After that, you carefully pinch the leaf until it looks “wet.” Once you finish this step, you make a small tear at the base of the leaf and then put it up to your mouth and blow into it. It may take a few tries or more pinching of the leaf.

Frog Belly Leaf (already pinched – and blown up)

A Successful Frog Belly 🙂

Side View of an Inflated Frog Belly

You have to wonder – who originally thought of doing this . . . and how many years ago?

Enjoy the rest of the summer!