Grandma Honeywell's Fudge

I have been trying for YEARS to make this fudge, just like my Grandma Honeywell did. No success, no matter what I did. My mother hasn't had any luck, and neither have my sisters. With a snow day today, I decided I would try something I have learned from making my own penuche fudge, an equally touchy sort of recipe. I wondered if what I had learned from making that fudge would work on Grandma's fudge.

Well, it did! I am sitting here nibbling on some, and being transported back in time to my grandmother's porch on Salisbury Street, sitting in a glider with my siblings and enjoying her delicious fudge.

Here's the recipe and how I made it (I did not change any ingredients, just how I cooked it.)

Grandma Honeywell's Fudge

1/2 square baking chocolate

1 T. butter

1/2 c. milk

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

Melt butter and chocolate in small sauce pot over medium heat along with the milk. Add sugar, and stir. Bring to a rolling boil, then lower heat (keep it boiling, though) and stir constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Add vanilla and stir. Pour quickly into a small mixing bowl and beat until you see small bubbles beginning to rise. (Think of bubbles in mollasus, slowly rising and popping; it should be like that.) The mixture should be a little thicker (but still very pourable) and may have lightened in color. (Mine did.) It took me 12 minutes of beating to get to this point (although I began by hand for the first few minutes. If you use a mixer the whole time, it may take less time.) Pour into a small buttered dish and let cool. Finished fudge should be slightly grainy. 

Odd, but I sort of feel like Grandma is here in my kitchen with me. :) 

Sweetness at Hershey

Yesterday, a girl came to me in tears after receiving a poor grade on a geography assignment. But she wasn't crying because of her grade.

"Mrs. I.," she began, "I thought I understood the concept on the Daily Geography assignment, so I explained to ****** how I understood it when she asked me for help. I understand why I got a D, but I don't think it's fair that she did, too, because I explained it to her wrong. It's my fault she missed those questions."

Well. How do you respond to that?? 

I gave this gal a big hug, told her I was proud of her for letting me know and for being so concerned about her friend and that it said a lot about her to come to me like that. Later in the morning I spoke to the other girl, asked her to explain the concept to me, and she did correctly, so I gave her the points she had missed on that portion of the assignment and changed the grade in the grade book.

Then I called up the first girl. I asked her to explain the concept, which she could as she now understood it. I then changed her grade as well. She was surprised, but had a big smile as she went back to her seat.

I am blessed to work with kids like this!!

Sadness at Yankee Ridge

How much can a small staff at one school endure?? I just got word that my principal at Yankee Ridge, Mary Beth, has colon cancer. Two other teachers there are battling breast cancer, and another one lost her son a couple of weeks ago. This is a SMALL school with only two teachers per grade level, yet such an inordinately high rate of sorrows and trials right now.

I wish I could go over there and hug them all.

Feeling Young! (I Think)

It makes you feel good when one of your former students (from quite a few years ago) finds you on Facebook and thinks your profile picture was taken when she was in your class! 

(Either that, or I need to update my hair and clothes....)

Hershey School...

...is a lovely place to work. I found out yet again today how the people there, regardless of their role within the building, are just good people and watch out for each other.

I discovered today that, while school was out for 5 days due to weather, the weekend, and MLK Day, the custodians made sure Pigita, my guinea pig, had fresh food and water! Concerned that I might not be able to come in, they took the initiative and checked on her, gave her food, and changed her water bottle.

I did get there to feed her (and the hermit crab), but it is still nice to know they were aware of her and made sure she was okay.

Is it any wonder I love Hershey??

An Urbana Experience in Lafayette!

One of the things I miss most about Urbana is running into people I knew wherever I went. Students, church friends, school friends, neighbors... we'd lived there so long that almost every time we went somewhere, we saw not one but several people we knew. I had not realized how connected to the community that could make you feel until we moved here and discovered I was anonymous as I ran errands, went to restaurants. etc.  I have really missed stopping to chat with friends as I am out and about. It's a pretty lonely feeling at times.

Finally, yesterday, I had the "Urbana experience"! Due to frigid temperatures, school had been canceled. I worked at Hershey during the morning, then called my friend, Lisa, and asked if she wanted to eat lunch. We met at Camille's in Lafayete. 

While walking to my table, I heard someone calling my name. Shae Richert (who worked at Cumberland the three weeks I was there and now teaches at Woodland) came running over and gave me a big hug. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I sat down to eat.

In walked my friend Bryn, with whom I also serve in the Relief Society presidency! She sat down with us to talk and waited for her hubby while Lisa and I ate. 

Lisa and I were midway through our lunches when I realized that Dusti Chase, the miracle-working physical therapist who has made me feel so much better, was seated at the next table over. Another big hug and chat, and then just before leaving she came back over to update me on her daughter's eye issues.

While I don't know that anywhere else besides Urbana will ever truly feel like home (when you raise your kids with friends raising their kids at the same time for 26 years, you forge deep connections and roots) I did feel .... not at home, but at least more a part of the community as I walked out of Camille's with Lisa.

Another Loss

Another friend of mine has just lost a child. Since we have moved here to Indiana, six families we know, our own contemporaries, have lost an adult child. Those who have passed away have been my kids' ages; all but one has been a friend/aquaintance of my children. 

This sobers me; makes me feel mortal and want to grab my kids and hold them close. To me, it is unthinkable to lose a child - parents are supposed to go first. To have friends lose one that is my children's ages.... I cannot imagine the grief. 

My heart goes out today to my friend, Lorna Mesri, with whom I taught at Yankee Ridge School in Urbana. Her son, Cyrus, was Curt's age and died of a seizure Friday. A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday evening; if the weather is good, I will go over for it.

In memory of:

Ian Follis

Catherine Springer

Matt Busey

Ian Spencer

Kristin McCartney

Cyrus Mesri