A Re-Bloomer

This is "Autumn Circus" one of the Iris plants I purchased in Cathey's Valley last year. I don't have many re-bloomers, but I am happy with this one , it's very pretty and different.
Today, September 1st (the first Tuesday of the month) was the Winton Historical Society meeting.
Ten people signed up for the cookbook committee. I'm excited about that, things will really begin to happen now!
We will probably use the same publisher that we used last time. I just sent for their cookbook kit; can't wait to check it out and see what's new.
We have collected 424 recipes so far. I hope we get a lot more at the Winton Old Timers on September 27.
All of you Wintonites who haven't sent in your favorite recipes, there's no time like the present.
Send to Winton Historical Society, PO Box 554, Winton, CA 95388 or email wintoncookbook@aol.com
Please include your name and contact information. Thanks.

Overgrown

I never thought all the plants in the raised bed would get so big! Some of them will have to be removed. Joe the gardener will be here Saturday to work up the ground around the patio. Maybe this fall (or winter) a couple of the plants will be transferred there.
I'm still looking for the Red Coreopsis. I should have bought the sorry-looking plant I saw last winter! Oh well. I can always take a chance on that online nursery.
The newly planted Irises still look good, but I will be glad when new leaves start to grow, then I won't worry about them anymore.

The recipe book project is coming along nicely. We now have 410 recipes and I am getting anxious to look into publishing details. It's about time to form a cookbook committee to hash over the many options and make decisions. I'm ready!!
But we did give everyone until the end of December to submit their recipes and there are a lot of people who haven't sent in their favorites yet. We need a minimum of 500 and more would be better. So, send your favorite recipes to wintoncookbook@aol.com

I have another project going. I borrowed all the original newsletters from Andrea and I'm scanning them, making a jpeg out of each page; then insert them into WordPerfect so the pages in each newsletter will be in order and each newsletter will be one document. (And not each page a separate document) After that, each newsletter is made into the PDF format. I'm going to put them on CDs. Sometimes a new member of the Winton Historical Society wants all the back issues of the newsletter and we don't have copies left over. We will have these CDs available at the Winton Old Timers for $5.00 each. They can print out a hardcopy if they want or just read it on their computer.

Winton Grange Hall Dances

This picture of Merle Haggard was on the May 6, 1974 cover of "Time" magazine.

Merle Haggard played at the Winton Grange Hall in the late 1960s. His hit record of "Swinging Doors" was out in 1966 and it was after that. Does anyone remember seeing him there? Did you take pictures?
Leanna is going to write an article for the "Winton Hometown News" about the dances at the Winton Grange Hall. Merle Haggard was her favorite and so she would especially like to hear your memories of that New Year's Eve dance.
Your memories of other Saturday night dances would be appreciated also and pictures of the hall itself, inside or out.
The Winton Historical Society is always looking for nice vintage pictures of Winton. If you have a scanner, they can be sent to me in the jpeg format, (600 dpi is usually what I use for scanning). If you would email your memories of the dances at the Winton Grange Hall or pictures of Winton for the Winton Historical Society, I will pass them on to Leanna.
Thank you so much, we appreciate your input. Lorraine
e-mail: WintonCA@aol.com
Merle Haggard is going to appear at the Gallo Center in Modesto in January.

Irises and Other Stuff

Isn't it amazing how Irises can multiply! I dug up 28 clumps from around the patio and had a carload to give away. Joe the gardener came Saturday and got the ground ready for my new Iris bed. I had room for 39 plants. I don't think I will have to dig them up again for about 3 years. Each little plant is so small and I worry that some won't make it, so then I want to keep duplicates, just in case. They are very hardy though and it's rare to lose any. But still,I need to find another spot for some left-overs. Those will be my give-aways next year.

The other day I was sitting on the patio and looking at the white tree rose and wondered about the black rope hanging from it. I didn't remember using a black rope when tying the trunk to the stake.
Finally decided to get up and go investigate, just in time to see this black and white stray cat jump out of the rose tree!! I've seen him in there now 3 days in a row. Wonder why he likes to get up there. There is no bird nest in it.
He sure likes to hang around here. I think Maggie's been bragging to the neighbor cats about how good she has it. She LOVES her canned cat food and as soon as she is through eating it, she wants to go outside. She's either bragging or it runs right through her.

I received 6 delicious recipes in the mail today from one of our Winton Historical Society members. I have to say, this centennial recipe book is looking like a real winner!! So many good recipes from our good cooks. We have 404 recipes now and we're hoping a lot more will be turned in at the Winton Old Timers next month.

Don't miss this chance to have your favorite recipes and your name included in this recipe book that is sure to be a collectors item in years to come. It will be a popular souvenir of Winton's Centennial celebration in 2011. Many people will want to buy this book for Christmas and birthday gifts as well.