Penny Loafers for a Dime

This past week I was reminded by a friend that I don't know the meaning of vacation or rest. That is not totally true...we just have different perceptions. I do rest, although probably not enough and I do take vacations, although probably not enough. I enjoy being busy...well, maybe enjoy is a strong word, but I do like to be busy. You know, idle hands is the devil's workshop. I don't want to have anything to do with him. I am not a loafer of any kind.

When I was young, I thought I was so special when I was old enough to have penny loafers...a little brown slip on shoe with a little slot in the band across the toe just large enough to hold a penny. I couldn't understand why teenagers had penny loafers that were for a dime. Why would anyone put a dime in a penny loafer? Didn't make sense to me until I found out that the dime was for emergency phone calls. That was the day when pay phones took a dime and cell phones were futuristic....wow, how things change.

After returning from a short trip earlier this week, I didn't want to get caught loafing around, so we did a little yard work yesterday. Take a look...

Before....



After....



Loafing? Not me! Except for Sunday Dinner recipes that are loafers of a sort, not the penny or dime kind, but don't require much work. I have better fish to fry than to be in the kitchen for long.

Grandma Miller's Moist Meatloaf

2 lb. lean ground beef
1 large egg
20-25 Saltine crackers, crushed
1 onion, chopped or 1 tsp. onion powder
1 small can tomato sauce + 1/2 can of water
2 tsp. salt
dash of Tabasco sauce

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. This recipe can also be used to stuff bell peppers.

Hobo Dinner

1/4 lb ground beef
1 potato, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
1 thick slice of onion
salt and pepper to taste

Shape beef into a patty and place on large square of heavy duty foil. Place vegetables on top of patty. Salt and pepper. Wrap and seal all ingredients in foil. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. This is for one serving, so you better make more.

After keeping our hands busy in the front flowerbeds, we did enjoy a little idleness as we watched this robin taking a bath...



after all it was Saturday evening!

If the shoe fits, wear it well!