The Ched Curtain: 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

New Year Say Cheese! Linky

Happy New Year everyone.
Christmas was enough to take off but I'm back spreading the cheese for the New Year.

CHEESE!

This Christmas will be remembered for my mother giving us winning (three out of four) scratchers. I won $90 bucks, the most I've ever won unless you count that time my dad rigged a used car drawing.

One of my favorite photos of me and the old man

Here's a picture of middle nephew Christopher with his Christmas scratchers (he won $50 bucks).

My nephew Chris is growing up (and going bald?)

Here's one of my favorite photos of him and his brothers. He didn't like Andy being born on B.J. Surhoff's birthday, a fact he reminded us of repeatedly.

"But it's B.J. Surhoff's birthday!"

Ahhhaaaa, the boys are afraid it's out with the old and in with the new. And now it's time to see your photos or recipes, old or new. Yes, it's time for the Say Cheese! link up.

P.S. Looking at the beach photo on My Corner Of The World's link up inspired me to post a few photos I took this morning with my purse camera. This is the first real snow of the season.

Do you have a lovely photo with well-mannered subjects you're anxious to share? Don't link it here because this is the place for the waggish, unwieldy and unwilling. And as always, for recipes made with cheese. Shouldn't every recipe be made with cheese?
My apologies to the lactose intolerant, all are welcome. It's a bit of a free for all really.

This link-up is open until midnight Friday.

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Christmas Cheer

We lost some incredible people over the last few years and most of them left us around the holidays.

May the seven in heaven keep the pasta hot, the finocchi cool and the wine room temperature

I know most of them would like to be remembered with mirth and song and a tip of the glass.

I say most because I remember old school Italians wringing their hands while wearing black and saying the rosary until it's been long enough (a year or to a real Italian OG, "There is no such thing").

Aunt Ginny and Andy, always up for a song, a dance and a seltzer down your pants followed by a shot of Jameson

But I've also seen these people spear spiedini with one hand while rolling a cigarette and drinking wine with the other.

My dad, Clarence Francis, holding his Fantasy Football prize, crackers and a hunk of Irish Cheddar

That may explain some skills I developed in my twenties.

Merry Christmas to all and to all, Cheers, Sláinte, Salute

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

I Used To Hate AC/DC

We had a wrap party last night, no not that kind of wrap party or this kind either. It was in preparation for a raucous game we tried at the Dempsey Christmas party last year. You use big balls (ha) of plastic-wrapped treats which someone unwraps while the person to their right rolls dice until they get doubles.

Go Susie go

The Irish Aunts oversee the proceedings with a wee bit of cheesecake

Danny had a wee bit of cheesecake too

We had more than just batteries and booze. There were five party balls for three different age groups. The elders (us) got two. What happened to party balls anyway? "No Party Balls" was actually written into my lease in the 90s.

Tis herself, Aunt Sara

Ta da. Cousin Nanci, our host

Cousin Rusty, our other host, on the hunt for fallen scraps of pizza

The best camera is the one you have and all I had was my little PNS

Stories were told, delicious food was consumed and balls were wrapped. That's me in the reflection, full of Starbursts and Tootsie Rolls

Finally, a good photo of our big balls by Nanci along with the insane hoop hats which I broke while trying to put together. Notice the tape. (That last Big Balls link is a cover sung by chipmunks.)

NOTE: The administrator apologizes for any Bears logos spotted during the reading of this blog. Because despite recent events, the Bears, as always, still suck.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Say Cheese! Tuesday Linky

Let's try this again, this time using Linky Tools. The theme is still cheesy because this is Wisconsin. Notice the Lake Effect t-shirt he's wearing at Irish Fest in Milwaukee. So link up anything fun, funny or corny, especially candid photos of people or pets. Bonus points if they don't want their photo taken. And of course, cheesy recipes are always a delight. In reality, you can link up pretty much anything, but the cheesier the better.

Hey, don't—shite, I have a full beer why am I talking?

Here's a quick cream CHEESE frosting recipe from Betty Crocker since a lot of people are in full cookie mode now. I usually just cream butter and powdered sugar with and without cocoa powder together and call it frosting. Although I often cheat with the small store-bought frosting for more detailed work because I don't feel like digging out my pastry bag and the million little scattered tips, but this simple recipe is a nice addition to my seasonal cookie crop.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1/2 cup softened butter (the recipe says unsalted I always use salted)
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
-Beat the butter and cream cheese with mixer 2 to 3 minutes until smooth
-Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar until frosting is thick and spreadable
-A drop or two of food coloring or extract if desired
-Frost after cookies have cooled
-Use colored sugars or your favorite baking decorations

My favorite cookie decorations are colored sugars, pull apart licorice strands, heath pieces, coconut flakes, milk chocolate chips and chocolate Jimmies. Dots work well cut in two for large cookies but I'm afraid to use Red Hots anymore because some of us don't have the unbreakable choppers we used to.

Although the Say Cheese! link up is about candid photos and yummy recipes, all are welcome.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Cheesy Weekend LinkUp

There's something cheesy going on. I'm trying out a weekend linky party since one of my favorite Brit bloggers is ending his this month. As always, the more ridiculous the better.

This is where curdesy will get you

I'm preparing myself for some marathon baking by watching as many Christmas specials as possible. The kitchen seems to be shuddering at the thought, or maybe it's an unstable stack of dishes.
Speaking of Christmas ghosts if I can't find the 1951 Scrooge I might eat candy canes and watch the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina holiday special tonight, but the question is, which is more cheesy?

Cloudy with a chance of cheese

So hey der, anything cheesy going on over der by you? Link up your cheesy photos, images, recipes, what have you. They can be funny, corny or involve actual cheese. Nothing too grotesque or obscene, please. The LinkUp is open until Tuesday.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Merry Catsmiss

Brian and the gang had a great idea about making Christmas cards for blog buds so here's mine. Feel free to copy and post it in your sidebar.

Merry Christmas from The Ched Curtain.

♬ Mine, mine, mine all mine and then there's mine and mine and mine ♪

Monday, December 10, 2018

Maybe This Will Help

An art installation on this year's Farm/Art DTour called Sentinels of the Hills by Madeline Straka was the subject of my last post, "What The Hell Is that?" It was more of an excuse to use an old SNL clip than a legitimate question.

What the hell is that?

What the hell is that?

How did that dang deal get here?

Hey, come over here and look at this deal.

What the hell is that?

I don't know what the hell that is.

What in the hell is that?

An explanation from the Fest's artist page:

The farmland of Sauk County is watched over by a heard of monolithic beasts—elusive creatures born from the hills are finally revealing themselves. Fascinated by creatures of myth, emerging artist Madeline Straka seeks to bring impossible beasts to life on a large scale. Straka's practice employs animalistic forms inspired by folklore while exploring mythologies of monsters in contemporary contexts.

Saturday, December 8, 2018

What The Hell Is That?

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Words, Words, Words

In my experience, it's more like Be Silly & Get Looks.

But be silly anyway.

Monday, December 3, 2018

Not So Stormy Weather

Although I woke up to a frozen smattering of snow today it was pretty skimpy and no kind of open floor plan can help with the lack of sun. Although this murky weather is better than one of those Illinois tornadoes, I'm hoping that something breaks up this streak of gloom.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Not More Hay Bales

Yes, more hay bales.

I am the god of cold weather and cloudy skies. I eat your tiny flurries for breakfast and belch them out by lunch. Your ground shall remain green with ugly brown spots and windblown litter until my head blows off or birds steal my beard.

Friday, November 30, 2018

Home Grown

Although the last few months have been a Lifetime movie directed by Iwin Allen co-opted by Michael Bay with a Roger Corman budget, November did have one high note.

The midterm elections were a sunny blue in Wisconsin (Governor, US Senate, Attorney General, Secretary of State) and emphatically green in 16 counties.
Let's hear it for those incredibly high numbers. Hip hip hoo—cough—ray.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Hay There (If You Knew What Was Good For You You'd Keep On Walking)

It's so cold I stood in the meat locker to warm up.
If you shook me you'd get a milkshake.
If you tipped me I'd be lean beef.
If I got off this platform I'd be ground beef.
Hey, wait, did you hear the one about the cow who grazed in the weed patch? The steaks have never been so high.

Their act could use a couple horns.

Am I keeping you up, I know it's pasture bedtime.

My herd has a great sense of humor so we're considered a laughing stock.

Mostly and shamelessly taken from Cow Jokes

Saturday, November 24, 2018

You Can't Dance Among The Cheese

This guy is just showing off tuning up with gloves on. Not being able to tune my violin without breaking strings or getting the dreaded string slack after fiddling (yup) endlessly with the stupid pegs even if you put rosin on them why oh why would it never work for me the horror—was the real reason I quit playing as a kid. That plus the battered case was forever spilling the thing into the aisles of the Park Sreet bus.

Ach, it sits in the upstairs closet and like Charlie Brown and the football, I keep trying to tune it with the same result every time.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Swingin' Into Heaven

I wasn't thinking of Louis Prima but why not? Swing, Hulk or drive through those pearly gates my friend, our imaginations thank you.

Stan Lee

1922-2018

Swing on.

Nowhere Radio

I was Looking for voices on a cloudy day amidst this outdoor artwork by David Sanchez Burr. Locals record their stories on the white platform which broadcasts (along with sound art ) over solar receivers attached to weather balloons. Listen closely, do you hear "decay as necessary for sociopolitical change" or weird music?

Sniff, sniff, I smell hippies

Friday, November 16, 2018

Magic Bus

I thought black and white might make this busy bus easier to sort out the way black and white is supposed to make comedy funnier. But cutting out the distractions of color like that nacho sign my gawd doesn't that sound good right now delicately spiced hot cheese lusciously poured over a pile of fresh crispy chips—doesn't seem to help. I want to run to that food stand with my mouth open and get everything.

I want it I want it I want it I want it

You cannnn't have it

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Hey, Dragon

This is the dragon guarding the marshmallows from the last post. He also goes by Stop #22.

Two more ingredients and I can make s'mores

Right on cue

Friday, November 9, 2018

Marshmallow Hay Bales

Walking on marshmallows on a cloudy day.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Because Forgetting The Brats Will Make Life Jolly Rotten

Thanks for that Susie now I can't get this song out of my head so might as well go round the bend full throttle and embrace the madness because...
Press Play Now (I highly recommend playing the video while navigating this post).

Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the beeest
Annd always look on the bright side of life

Da da, I think his hat has lice

Always look on the light side of life, da da, this thing is full of mice

If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten

And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing

When you're feelin' in the dumps, don't be silly, chumps

Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing

And always look on the bright side of life

Da da, my neighbor has pet geese

Always look on the bright side of life,

Da da I think they're ducks oh jeez

For life is quite absurd and death's the final word

You must always face the curtain with a bow

Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin

Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow

So always look on the bright side of death

Da da, too morbid for a kid?

Ah, just before you draw your terminal breath
Da da got away from me this did
Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you

And always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
Happy Election Day everybody!
Always look on the bright side of life
Da da, the lines were pretty long
Always look on the bright side of life

My dad said grandpa would vote for the devil if he were a Democrat
Always look on the bright side of life
I mean whaddaya gotta lose ya know you come from nothing, you're going back to nothing
Whaddaya lost, nothing!
Always look on the right side of life
Nothing good will come from not voting, look at what happened last time
Cheer up you old bugger, c'mon give us a grin

There ya are, see, it's the end of the post
Incidentally, this blog is available in the foyer
Always look on the bright side of life
I hope you voted today because it can always get worse

Always look on the bright side of life
And Ian's is giving away free pizza if you show your I Voted Today sticker
Always look on the bright side of life
I told them, I said to him, Bernie, I said, they'll never make their money back
Always look on the bright side of life
Da da thank you Su-sieee! Mac

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