Pork and Saurkraut

On New Year's Eve Mom and I decided to be traditional for once. We prepared pork chops, mashed potatoes, and Saurkraut. This was the first time I ever mashed potatoes. Usually we whip them with the mixer. In all, I will say it was good, but I'm not a great Saurkraut fan. It needs to be served in small doses and cut with some shredded apple. 

Anyway, this was in Pennsylvania where I always spend Christmas. When I move to Paris full time I don't expect to fly home every year. One reason for moving to Texas was so I could work at a job that would allow me to drive home or fly home for the holidays. And I have. And I'm not sorry. 

Only time will tell. 

Footsteps

These footprints can be found on Butler's Main Street from the courthouse to Penn Street. Then they continue up Penn into Alameda Park. It's for the annual Butler 5k (or is it 10k) race.

I don't know how long Butler has been doing this but I do know that my cousin Brad (hello) asked what they were back in 1989 when our grandmother, Nanna, died.

Another abnormality on Main Street is the crosswalks. All traffic stops for pedestrians. Pedestrians cross with the lights and a bell (ok, now it's a tone) meant for the blind. It took me years to relearn how to walk across a street. Seems in every other town and city on the planet that traffic stops on one road but continues AND TURNS on the cross roads.

The Best People In The World Pass Through These Doors, Our Customers

In an earlier post I wrote of the saddest sight in Slippery Rock- the vacation notice of Bob’s Subs. Luckily for us that closing is only temporary. Roast beef subs with secret recipe mayo are once again available to all.


However, in the town of Butler the saddest sign is the ‘For Sale’ sign in the window of The Hot Dog Shop.

I’ve read of people crying because their favorite restaurant in all of Butler closed and they were not aware of it. It closed a few years ago. If a kind soul redirects them to a nearby restaurant with similar ingredients, the citizen is grateful yet aware that it is JUST NOT THE SAME.

Let me explain. The Hot Dog Shop did not just sell hot dogs. One could get a hamburger, or strawberry pie, or a fish sandwich. But the dogs were special. It was the chili sauce. Mmmm. Recipe? If one searches the internet for ‘Butler Hot Dog Sauce Recipe’ several will appear. (It makes a gallon of sauce so use an 1/8th of a CUP of salt.) The best dog followed these steps: steamed bun, then grilled hot dog, chili sauce, diced onion, and pickle spear. Served with French fries with gravy and whipped chocolate milk (I hate milk but I drank this!) And the ambiance of the restaurant cannot be duplicated. To some, it looked dirty. On closer inspection, it was just dingy. The place had been in operation since before WWII. The waitresses never wrote anything down. They yelled to the grill, which was in the front window, whatever the order was. “Two hots, everything and pickle, fries gravy.” That’s right. Like a diner. And everything did not include mustard, ketchup or pickle.

Did I say fries with gravy? Yep. (Obviously not the healthiest meals I’ve ever eaten.) It wasn’t beef gravy (I think) or chicken gravy (I think). It did have paprika in it.

Now, for the locals there is some salvation; the chili recipe and the gravy recipe are sold at the same meat market that prepared them for the shop. The recipe belongs to the family that owned The Hot Dog Shop. So, it is the SAME. The chili sauce is also available in the grocery stores. (It must be kept refrigerated.)

PS You might ask why such a popular old restaurant closed. Money. Let’s leave it at that.

One Ride I Will Never Ride Again

This ride has been a staple at the Big Butler Fair since my childhool. I finally rode it in graduate school with my roommate Becky (1991). Never again! Those little cabins go upside down as does the wheel they are attached to and one can very easily get bruised! I did. I don't mind being  frightened but I draw the line at being damaged.
I will ride a rollercoaster and such but I haven't tried since the heart scare 3 years ago. Seems I have coronary artery disease (folks, whatever your age, now is the time to start eating right and exercising.)

Big Butler Fair- I was there!

This meal cost me $12; the gyro was $7 and the lemonade was $5 and they were worth it! The sandwich is a lamb/beef mix with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a cucumber sauce on a pita. The lemonade has actual lemon halves in the cup. Hey, it's fair food. I didn't ride any of the rides. I walked around and took pictures of some of the exhibits and rides. It's a large fair, one of the largest in the state.

(I also went to Doo Dah Days, the Stephen Foster Music and Heritage Festival. Pictures to come.)

History, not a mystery

When my parents returned to Butler in the early 1970s I discovered mind-numbing sameness. Almost everyone I met was born in Butler and their father worked at one of two places: Pullman or Armco. (Ok, *some* parents worked at other places. But 9 out of 10 worked at one or the other of these two places.)  I was secretly happy that my father had worked at Pullman for a short time but he hated it.

I was only 11 when we moved to Butler. By that time I had lived on three continents, in four countries, and in three states. I had a Louisiana accent that I quickly lost by copying others; a skill I retain to this day. To this day I am glad my parents chose to take their children everywhere they possibly could. When Dad got orders Mom was as eager as he was to see this new place. I am my father's daughter, and my mother's daughter. My love of travel is inborn.

(I found this picture on the internet. I'm guessing Armco made ashtrays. And I had an uncle who worked at Armco for many years until he could retire to Florida where he and my aunt live till this day.)

Once upon a time

I have worked in far too many jobs to try and remember them all now. Teaching is the best one; it's the only one I didn't enjoy in Pennsylvania. I got to sub which is a step above begging. I've said I'll never sub again as long as there is Unemployment and people to scam. (Not that I'm good at that. ;))
But one job that stands out is working at the movie theatre. I began at the drive-in as a summer worker, then manager, then part-time at this two screen indoor theatre. It was built back in the 30s I believe. After decades of showing great and sometimes weird movies, it has closed. I wish I could say I miss it, but I don't.
(It is located on Main Street and pretty much looks like this right now. I got the picture from a Google search.)

I'm tired of waiting for tires

My brother drove me past this car. He once lived nearby and tells me it looked like this 2 years ago!
It does NOT represent Butler but it is in the city, down by the new bridge.
No one else has old cars sitting around, do they?

(BTW it is too hot here- 90s! I'm burining up. Or as the witch says "I'm melting!")

the old and the new

I noticed this wall in Butler, on the side of the Ford Garage. The windows are painted on and the lower painting is of cars over the years. I don't know who painted it or when, but I liked it and knew it belonged in the Butler Daily Photo series.

Thank you Dad

On this, the 4th of July 2010, I remember my father.

My father served three years in the navy after World War II and 18 years in the air force during the 50s and 60s. He was very proud of serving our country and is buried in his air force uniform.  Dad retired in 1968 at 39 (almost 40) after over 20 years of service. He had three children then, all in or about to be in school. He wanted to be there for us. He did not want to be just a picture or a name we recognized. So, for the next 22 years, I had my father in my life. Just a month and a half before his 62nd birthday, he died of lung cancer.

Thank you, Dad, for serving our country and being my dad. I never say the pledge of allegence without thinking of you. I love you.

Aged About 59 Y'rs

Mom wanted to plant some flowers on Dad's grave and I went with her. Actually, Nanna and I went with her. While Mom planted flowers and pulled weeds, we took a walk and I took pictures.
This is an old cemetery. Among the interesting stones was this one on a little tower (I don't know what they are called but it was maybe 6 feet tall.) The 'aged about 59 y'rs' seemed strange. Was her exact age really unknown? No proof? Never asked, never said? Was she like cheese or wine- better with age?
I like cemeteries. The scary rep doesn't make sense. This one is open and green with lots of curious stones. Once, we talked to the guy who runs it, sorta, and did he have stories! He knew which men would lay alone in perpetuity because the wife married again and was buried with husband number two. Which deaths were mysteries? (Murder, suicide, accident.)
Not the least bit morbid.

Saddest Sign in Slippery Rock

In older days, the 1980's, the best sub shop in my college town of Slippery Rock was Bob's Subs. I lived only 20 minutes away and wanted a sub during the summer. However, THEY CLOSED FOR THE SUMMER!
Later, they moved to the old post office. And they no longer closed for the summer. :) But I graduated and moved away.
Now I am visiting for the summer. Several times a week I get to go to the college and swim in their wonderful indoor pool. ahhh. Then we (Mom and Karl) go to Bob's for dinner.
BUT,  not today. Because they posted this sign:

However, they were already closed on the evening of the 2nd. (And why are they closed until Bastille Day? Do they like the French, too?)

(This is a reprint of an article that would not post- to show my desperation.)
The saddest sign I've seen is this one posted in my favorite Slippery Rock Sub Shop. Back in the 80's, when I attended college there, the store closed for much of the summer. Most of the students left town and they could survive without being open for a while.
Now, they close and I don't think *I* can survive! No roast beef subs with Bob's special mayo! (sniff, sniff pardon me while I cry!)
I must be strong. I will eat at home (Mom's house) after swimming at the college pool. And I will allow the hard working people at Bob's Subs to have the time off from just before American Independence until Bastille Day.
I will return, smaller no doubt, but eager for a junior or senior roast beef sub. I can wait.
(Yep, but my summer is quickly going by.)

Big Butler Fair

The Big Butler Fair (http://www.bigbutlerfair.com/) is a tradition dating back to the Civil War. In recent years it has expanded to nine days (9) and always includes the 4th of July. My mother is in the grange (see http://www.pagrange.org/ ). This farm based organization has its own permanent building where members sell food and raffle off quilts (I won one once!) and assorted prizes. Several days her grange is assigned to work selling  food and she helps. I do NOT help. Once was enough and most people have forgotten that event (I say as I look around innocently.)This fair has animals to be judged, rides to get spun on, and talent (?) to enjoy. I'm not a big fair person but I do like to go for the fireworks and a gyro, lamb/beef mix on pita bread with cucumber sauce. Mmmm.

Anyway, I will be there on Sunday and will take a few pictures.