Debra LaValley's Blog

Uncle Leo and Aunt Cookie 2002

Today, Aunt Cookie (aka Aunt Aurora) passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was quite the character. I remember staying overnight with them when I was younger. I stayed up late and watched some movie where there were giant bees and the main characters riding large ostrich like birds. A strange thing to remember, but I remember that I had a great time. Uncle Leo and Aunt Cookie loved the beach, and I remember many a family outing at the beach. Highland Lake, now private, was also a favorite spot for us to go to together when I was growing up. I have many memories of both Uncle Leo and Aunt Cookie. I remember being told that she was called Cookie by Nana (Alba, her sister) because she loved cookies. I don’t remember who told me this. Her real name was Aurora. She was born July 6, 1917 in Mount Airy, North Carolina (Andy Griffiths’ hometown). Aunt Cookie love getting together with family. She made the best chocolate cake (Aunt Cookie’s Secret Chocolate Cake that Aunt MaryJane “snuck” the recipe and shared to all of us 🙂 and a great lemon meringue pie – my favorite dessert. She always was offering to make me one. I remember being told that she could pull a tablecloth out from under a set table – I never witnessed it. She may have juggled too.

She never liked her photo taken and would often hide from the camera. I took this photo at the 2002 Mastrioanni Family Reunion. It is my favorite photo of her and Uncle Leo. I am glad that I was able to visit her twice in the past couple weeks. They were nice visits. At one of the visits she told me that she would be seeing her mamma and papa and “Her Leo.” Her son Paul was with her for the past couple weeks. She was 93 years old. She lived a full life. We will all miss her – but are blessed that we knew her and shared time with her. Rest in Peace, Aunt Cookie!

Aunt Cookie’s Secret Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar
1 t. salt
2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
2 t. soda
2 eggs
1 cup Wesson oil
2 t. vanilla
1 cup milk
2 T. vinegar to sour milk
1 cup hot water

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

This cake is great = even without frosting!

I had supper at my folk’s tonight with Joseph. He was heading out around 6:30 to spend the evening with his sisters. He is leaving for West Virginia tomorrow morning – early! He has been at my parents’ since the second week of May, and we have been enjoying having him spend time with the family. We have seen him more this visit than we have in 6 years. July 1st, he will begin his new adventure as an engineer for Schlumberger in Saudi Arabia (first he is going to Dubai, UAE for training). We are excited for him – but will miss him being so far away – however, with the internet the world is much smaller than it used to be. Joseph will be keeping in touch with everyone via the internet and his blog. If you are interested in following him in his new adventure sign on to the RSS feed on his blog or Favorite his blog address. You can also get to his Flickr photostream from his blog as well. He enjoys taking photos like someone else we know (I wonder who that can be?) Best wishes, Joseph! Stay and touch and don’t forget to come visit every once in a while – when you can. It was great being able to spend time with you during your visit. You are all grown up! I still remember that cute little boy in the dragon Halloween costume that your mother made for you and the tail that was as big as you were. Be safe and enjoy! We all look forward to following your travels!

Joe at the Nubble Light - York, Maine

Have a Great Adventure - Joseph!

Joseph with his sisters Danielle and Melissa

Yesterday, we had a wonderful family cookout celebrating my nephew’s (Joseph) Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He has been living in Oklahoma for about 6 years and graduated from Oklahoma State. We also enjoyed the company of cousin Kathy from Virginia and her friend Vicki who drove up with her. It was an old fashion cookout with plenty of food and conversation. We were lucky the rain held off – the black flies were not so polite. A great time was had by all – and the happy graduate was basking in the love of his family. Congratulations, Joseph on a job well done!

When, I arrived home, I had a voicemail from an elderly gentleman who left his name and phone number and asked if I was the Debbie La Valley whose photos are in The Insider. I returned his call and had a nice conversation with this gentleman who told me that he saw my photo of the turtle and how he loves turtles too. He went on to tell me about a time he helped a snapping turtle out of the road that turned around and tried to get him. We chatted a little bit about how we liked turtles. He added that he was 88 years old but still active and lived in the “Firehouse Block” but that he didn’t like it much there because it was filled with “old people.” I chuckled. He said he called to “lift my spirits” by telling me he liked my turtle photo in the paper. We wished each other a nice day. After the call – I had a big smile on my face. I hope that me returning his call – also put a smile on his face.

Painted Turtle Basking on a Log

Remember it is the little things in life that are important – like helping a turtle out of the road, talking to someone on the phone and wishing him/her a great day, holding the door open for someone and smiling, or spending time with friends and family! The best things in life really are Free! Have a great day everyone!

Happy Mother's Day

I know . . . I know! I am a little LATE to say Happy Mother’s Day! I have been a bit lazy with my posting, and it has been much longer than I thought it was since my last post. Sunday – all my siblings gathered at our folks’ house and celebrated Mother’s Day! Christie and Melissa stopped by as well. There was laughter and lots of food! There seems to always be a lot of food when we all get together – and good food. When I think of my mother – I think of good food and laughter. She has always been a terrific cook. Growing up – we always had homemade desserts. We would come home from school and there would be homemade cookies or something for us to grab to “keep us” until supper time. My mother has also given us more than a few laughs through the years as well – usually doing something a little silly like wearing a dryer softener sheet on top of her head (and putting one on the dog’s collar too) to keep away the bugs or plunging into the icy Atlantic ocean and tasting the salt water with her tongue because she liked the taste. I consider myself very fortunate that we have a large and close family that regularly gets together to celebrate occasions, like Mother’s Day! Thanks for being such a great Mother – Mom! I know that you enjoyed your special day!

Below is one of my favorite cookies made by my Mother. They are called Split Seconds. They are quick to make and are so delicious they are eaten quickly as well!

Split Seconds

2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup margarine
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
jelly or jam

Cream sugar and margarine together. Add the egg (beaten). Add rest of ingredients, except jam/jelly. Roll dough and make canal down the middle. Spoon in jelly or jam. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Let cool and then cut diagonally.

*I love the ends the best 🙂

Easter Memories

Today is Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is only a week away. Easter brings so many memories for me. My mother always baked a ham pierced with cloves and pineapple. The house was full of relatives – almost like Thanksgiving. Growing up, we would leave a raw carrot and sometimes some grass from outside (if the snow was gone) for the Easter Bunny. We had no doubt that there was an Easter Bunny. My mother showed us the large rabbit claw marks on the wooden floors (turned out to be hammer marks left in the wood when the floors were put in . . . or were they?) and then there were the large bunny bites out of the carrots and the grass was eaten too! Of course, there was an Easter Bunny!

Our Easter baskets were filled with a chocolate or white chocolate rabbit (depending on our preferences – the Easter Bunny always knew our favorites), jelly beans (my favorite are black jelly beans), marshmallow Peeps, and always a toy. We would get a jump rope, or ball, marbles, stuffed animal, or jacks along with the candy. The Easter Bunny also hid jelly beans all over the house. My siblings and I would scramble about the house looking for the sneaky places the Easter Bunny hid jelly beans. Sometimes, we would find a jelly bean we missed, weeks later!

One Easter, my mother had made me, my sisters, and herself a very groovy Easter dress with a matching 70s hat. I know there is a photo somewhere … but I wouldn’t want anyone to squirt any liquids they may be drinking out his/her nose while viewing it. Simpler times – for sure – but thinking about them still makes me smile.

Have a wonderful Easter everyone! Also, join me in taking some time to reflect on what Jesus did for us over 2,000 years ago and the beauty of spring!

Peace to all!
Debbie 🙂

Ahhh, April is here! Spring is in the air and Easter is a few weeks away. April is both my sister Jackie’s and my Aunt MaryJane’s birthday month. My Aunt MaryJane is quite the character and always gets us laughing. Year’s ago, she “stole” our Aunt Cookie’s chocolate cake recipe. Aunt Cookie was famous for her “famous” chocolate cake that was so moist that you really didn’t need to put frosting on it. Of course, it is better with frosting 🙂 She would not give out the recipe because she said if she did – she wouldn’t be able to make it as well any more. Well, the story goes that my Aunt MaryJane was visiting Aunt Cookie one day and copied the recipe without Aunt Cookie knowing. Aunt MaryJane then spread the famous “Aunt Cookie’s Secret Chocolate Cake” recipe to everyone and even sent it to the Concord Monitor to print. It is a delicious cake.

Aunt Cookie’s Secret Chocolate Cake

2 c sugar
1 tsp salt
2 c flour
1 c cocoa
2 tsp soda
2 eggs
1 c Wesson oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 c milk
2 Tbsp vinegar to sour milk
1 c hot water

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 13×9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy and have a Happy Spring!

Bluebird - Boscawen 03/26/11

Spring is officially here – even though the temperature lately has been more like December. I saw this bluebird yesterday on River Road in Boscawen. It caught me totally by surprise.

I can’t think of anything to write today – so I will share a old family recipe. Below is from my Grammy La Valley. It was her mother’s (Mary Lambert Merchant) recipe. If you love corn bread – you will love this!

Mamma’s Johnny Cake

1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 cups corn meal
Add 1 T lard – melted
3 T molasses
3/4 cup water or milk

Bake in 2 layer cake pans.

She didn’t note any temperature or time, but noted on another corn bread recipe bake at 425 for 20 minutes. Most folks don’t use lard any more – you can substitute shortening.

Today would have been my Nana’s (Alba Ross) 101st birthday. It seems strange that today we won’t be standing around the kitchen table singing Happy Birthday as she stood by the cake mouthing the words as we sang. She had one hundred birthdays and a long and full life. Last year, to the day – about 100 family members and friends gathered at the local Masonic Hall to celebrate her 100th Birthday. She was like a queen that day. She was always in her glory surrounded by friends and family. I hope today, she is surrounded by her friends and family who went before her celebrating her life, as we do today. Happy Birthday, Nana!

Click Here to see birthday video.

Spring Thaw

Spring Thaw
Bare arms
wave in time
to a wind symphony.
Ice crackles its applause
while the sun conducts above.
Wires weep over
the snow’s soft staccato song.
A stream of consciousness
—appears—
A chorus of crocus
paints the earth.

(dlv 02/98)

We are in a spring thaw this week! Just a few days ago we were below zero – that is New Hampshire for you. The past couple days have been well above freezing and there is a “whole lot of melting goin’ on!” The snowbanks that was level with my window is now considerably shorter and the rooftops are shedding their ice and snow. Yesterday – I came across MUD! Yes, spring is coming – even if we can barely see over the snowbanks! Enjoy your day!

The Simple Things in Life

The Simple Things in Life

New Hampshire is having one heck of a winter. The ground cover of snow is about 3 feet. The snowbanks tower even higher. This winter reminds me of the winters we had when I was young. My dad would pile the snow up in the back and make us a little “hill” to slide our silver saucers on. One winter, he made us a giant snow fort made with huge snowballs. Out the back of the snow fort was an incline of snow that we could slide down. It was great fun, and we would play for hours out in the snow. Our mittens and hats were knitted by our mother (she still makes me mittens). She made us neat “Tuke” hats one year with tassels on the end. I wish I had one of them now! Maybe, I should ask for one 🙂 One is never to old to wear a “Tuke!”

I loved to go sliding with friends. Rolfe Park had the old ski trail that was quite the rush on a toboggan! It is now all grown over with trees.

Sometimes the back yard at my folks would be a sheet of ice. We would use the back yard as our own private skating rink. After we would come in from the cold – one of our favorite treats was buttered toast with cocoa. We would make little “soldiers” (strips) out of toast and dip them in the cocoa. It is delicious! If you haven’t tried it – you should. It is delicious!

We didn’t spend our winter vacation in the mountains skiing or escaping to some tropical paradise. We stayed at home and enjoyed the simple things in life.