Lucy Renee

Welcome to the family, Lucy!

10/10/74

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Ok Grandpa, here's something for you.
Some of my best memories are of sleeping over Grandpa and Cathy's with Alex and Katherine and Lisa and Amy. We were allowed to do ANYTHING. Sometimes we'd take down Grandma Cathy's flower arrangements to play with. Other times we'd spend hours inventing and perfecting our own version of pool. Often times we would enter "upside down world," flinging ourselves upside down over the furniture until all the blood rushed to our heads. There were cupcakes to be eaten right before dinner and artifacts to poke through in the upstairs crawlspace (home to our parents old text books and the famed accordian). We tested our strength in the back room by hanging from the bar in the ceiling and beating up the punching bag.
A bedtime? Well, we'd retire to the upstairs bedroom at a certain time and then precede to play cards by flashlight until the early morning hours. Or we'd leaf through Grandpa's Mad Magazine collection. How Grandpa and Cathy slept over the ruckus of our laughing and yelling I'll never know. And in the morning there were pancakes in the shapes of our initials.
Thank you to my grandparents for allowing us all to be kids and to my cousins for making those times so much fun.

On a Hike with Grandpa

This Labor Day Mike and I went up to visit Grandpa and Cathy upstate at the farm. It was a great trip down memory lane. This is a picture of us on the traditional hike. We didn't have a tripod or know how to use the timer on our camera so Mike had to hold it while we crowded in. I think it turned out ok!

Happy Birthday Howie

No one has written in this blog for some time. I know we have a story or two out there. I don't have one, but I have some thoughts. I just read all my ganddaughters. I love your blogs guys. I think I have learned more about you from the writings, than from all the experiences we've shared. Most of all I have come to realize how important you are to me. And how much I love you all. Today being my birthday I have spent some time reflecting. While there were times of trials, troubles, tribulations, trepidations, tempations, and tediousness, I have somehow escaped unscathed. This is without a doubt, the happiest era of my 78 years. I have recieved calls, cards, and even one happy birthday sung over my cell phone. Cathy has made me a cake, and we are going out for dinner. Charley Browns. I will not tell them what day it is. I'd be too embarassed. On September 25Th 2009, I am throwing a wing ding. You are all invited. I don't want it to be a surprise. I was suprised on my 70th, and never got over it. I am going to invite 80 people. If I can find that many. The invitation will read, no gifts please. But we have time to discuss that. Next time I'll have a story.

Pay Attention

Pay attention to episodes in nature that kindle an inner spark of awe and admiration. You don't have to discuss it with another being. If it has meaning to you, it's valid. Listen to the wind, the critters, the rain, and the ocean. Listen to it all.
~Wayne Dyer

Up at the Farm

When I was but a wee lass Michele and I would go Upstate NY for two weeks every summer with Noni and Grandpa. We would fish at Chick's lake (something I personally always found terribly boring) play ancient board games when it would rain, and almost everyday we would take a hike. We would start out along a road and at a certain point we would turn into the woods. Because it was August, it was blackberry season. Grandpa would point out the bushes with the berries and try to make them accessible to my sister and me. Blackberry bushes are very thorny although to be honest, a few thorns were worth it. We would fill a bag with berries and continue to hike along (well mostly in) a stream back to the house. Whatever berries were left Noni would take and make into a bisquick cobbler. Yum! In the evening Noni would heat water for our bath on a stove, we would climb into the claw foot tub and get clean. If we were lucky there would be a campfire with marshmallows (are they done yet?!) and then off to bed. In the morning we would start all over again.

Another Recipe

Peanut Butter Coconut Blondies



These are a very rich and sweet blondie packed full of everything I find delicious. This came from a recipe I found that was similar but used butterscotch chips and was baked in a pie plate. I made it a little different and, like I said, added all the things I love! Let me know if you make them and how they come out since no one has yet tried my recipes.





1/2 Cup (1 stick) Room Temperature Butter
1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
4 Tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Large Egg
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Peanut Butter Chips
1/3 Cup Slivered or Chopped Almonds
1/2 Cup Sweetened Shredded Coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease the bottom and sides of a 8x8 baking pan.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

With an electric mixer (stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer) beat the butter until smooth. Add sugars and beat until combined. Add the egg, peanut butter, and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Slowly add the flour mixture until dough forms. With a wooden spoon stir in peanut butter chips, almonds and coconut. Scrape dough into baking pan and smooth top with a spatula.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean but still with a few crumbs sticking to it. Cool completely on wire rack and cut into squares.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Here is my newly invented recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. I came up with this recipe because I had left over rhubarb and strawberries from making a pie and not being a big fan of pie I came up with this instead. It's sweet but also a little tangy. A summery take on the classic Apple Crisp!

Filling
3 Cups Chopped Fresh Rhubarb
3 Cups Chopped Fresh Strawberries
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Flour
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Topping
1/2 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Packed Dark Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Oats
5 Tablespoons Cold Butter (cut into 5 pieces)

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees and set aside a 9in x 11in baking pan.

Chop rhubarb and strawberries into bite size pieces and place in large bowl. Add sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg and toss till fruit is coated. Place fruit into baking pan.

For the topping mix together sugars, flour and oats. With a pastry blender, or two knives, cut in butter until the size of large peas. Sprinkle topping onto fruit and add additional cinnamon and nutmeg to top if desired.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until fruit is bubbling and top is browned. Let cool for 30minutes to 1 hour.

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream!

Note: If you don't have dark brown sugar just use 3/4 cup light brown sugar. Also, my oven is generally very hot but if your oven tends to be more on target or a little cooler up the temp 25 degrees.

My Hero

My first recollection of my uncle Heinie was my Mother telling every one he was her favorite Brother. he was very out going, and always seemed to be happy. I was probably seven or eight years old when i was visiting my grand mother. Heinie lived with her. He said " come on kid, were going to work" He drove a truck for the local creamery. He liked to show me around, and tell me all about how butter was made etc. I think I liked him from the very start. He never made fun of the way I stuttered. Once on the truck and out on the road he would light a cigarette on give it to me. The first stop would be the first tavern we came to. Uncle Heinie let me sit at the bar and drink a beer with him. I'm beginning to like him more all the time. It always came with the same admonishment.{Don't tell your mother!!} He needen have told me that. I would have died first. Besides, I never told her anything.
I had very little contact with him, until I was seventeen. I was in the Air Force. When I came home to Davenport my first stop would be the Homestead Tavern. Uncle Heinie was the bar tender. Driving a truck interfered with his drinking. He always was so glad to see me. He told me jokes, and stories, and let me drink free beer. I never forgot how much I liked Heinie.
It was about this period that I decided I wanted to be just like him. I thought he was what every man should be. He was single, but had a nice girl friend. On his day off he went to the ball game. He loved the St' Louis Cards. He could drink all day long for free. He lived in a hotel. Not a rooming house, or a boarding place. When he returned home at night the bed was made and his room was clean. He dressed up in a white shirt and tie every day. When he went out he wore a suit. When I thought about it I realized, He was my Hero. Looking back he was probably the first man I ever liked.

Thank you

Everyone and everything around you is your teacher.
~Ken Keyes Jr
Handbook to Higher Consciousness

Thank you all for being a teacher to me!

Love from Santa Fe

A Very Young Howie and his Brother Dick

Two very dapper looking young men but Grandpa, why are you sticking out your tongue? And why are your pants so short?

Be Prepared

I'm think I'm known as a pocket stuffer. I carry items I think I might use. Someday. Somewhere.When in the post office last week, the long line had come to a stop. The patron at the window had three large packages which required to be measured. Both clerks were trying to find a tape measure. Each one accusing the other of having lost it. Feeling the anger rising in the line, I decided to act before someone went "postal". I pulled my six foot tape from my pocket and told the clerk, " you can use mine". Which he did. A few chuckles came from the line. The lady behind me was amazed. Imagine she thought "that I should carry a tape". And as I considered the remark I took a mental inventory of my pockets. Left hip. 1 -small bill fold, 2- pill box{aspirin, vitimin "C", gout pills,tums 3 -box of matches....Right hip 1- flash light 2- two pencils with erasers 3 -28 year medallion from AA 4- six foot tape 5- retractable exacto blade {for opening those plastic bags} Rear pockets, wallet and hankerchief . On my belt my multi-tool {knife, pliers, can opener,saw, file, and a few others} I guess I like to be prepared. And in case all else fails, I can call for help on my cell phone. I may call you... Be prepared!

Some more sayings

Well after reading Aunt Mary's post about Stoltenberg children sayings I felt as if there were two that came to mind that were left out. Of course they were both said by me, so I would pick up on the fact that they were missing from the list.
"Baby Soup" (this is what I said when I was referring to a bathing suit)
"Black Soda" (this is what I said when I was referring to soda such as Coke, or Pepsi, or Rootbeer, and so on...)

Its Just a Little Powder

I am going to try and tell the story of the powder incident to the best of my ability, although I don't actually remember the incident, I have heard the story many times. When Michele and I were little, Aunt Mary would come and watch us. Michele was very good at getting into things like locked cabinets to get cookies by piling chairs with books... well you get the picture. She was unstoppable when she wanted something. Believe me, I tried to stop her. This particular time poor Aunt Mary was woken up by the sound of the vacuum. Now neither Michele or I was of the age that it seemed like a natural thing for us to go ahead and vacuum the house so of course Aunt Mary had to see what was up. There was me, in the middle of living which was now white with powder, trying to clean it up. I did my best to assure Aunt Mary that it was just a little powder, but I don't think she bought it.

Famous Sayings by Stoltenberg Children

These are some of the best sayings ever spoken by Stoltenberg children.

Remember the time
You give love a band-aid
Wait a minute, I have to get my prarire shoes
Just a little powder spilled, Aunt Mare
I amn't
It's mean and nasty day
I want a stick out bathing suit
I'm aggressive
HV... dangerous
She can't see the fish, her eyes are too small
Wow! A bass fiddle!
Hi Aunt Airme
.....and the ever famous......
CHOBBY NEIGHBORS

Spidini

I have been going through Aunt Angie's papers
and I found her spidini recipe.

1 or 2 lbs of beef (top round) or veal, cut thin (I believe she used beef)
Light olive oil—100% pure
Breadcrumbs (plain)—15 ozs
Parmigiana cheese—5-6 ozs
Parsley flakes—to taste
Black pepper—1/4 teaspoon
Garlic powder—not too much

Mix all dry ingredients—do not salt
Cut beef/veal—2"x2" or 3"x3"
Put oil in a deep dish
Dip meat in oil then into breadcrumb mix
Roll up—close with toothpick
Bake at 350 degrees for 26 minutes—13 minutes on each side
Do not cook to long

1 lb makes about 20 pieces

Second base Grandpa

Hey, playing short stop must run in the family. I sent the Katherine article to Mark in Texas. He said his brother craig was the best short stop his high school ever had. As for myself I played second base. We had a team in the Air Force that went to the base finals. I played second because my throwing arm was so slow, I had to be close to first to make an out. I can still hear the coach yelling at me" for crying out load throw the ball, you're not a pitcher, don't wind up" actually he he used a few different adjectives, but I can't use them here. The biggest thrill I had was I hit a home run. I played for the Hercules Powder Co. team. Left field. I for got my spikes one game. I chased a fly ball over my head and ran and caught it "see Howie run, run Howie run"The hitter asked how I could run that fast in loafers. I guess all hitters get mad when they get caught. Even Joe "D" got angry.

KB in the news

From the Courier News

BASICS

NAME: Katherine Stoltenberg

SCHOOL: Montgomery

YEAR: Senior

SPORT: Softball

POSITION: Shortstop

HIGHLIGHTS: A four-year starter for the Cougars, Stoltenberg has played 103 straight games at shortstop. Her 85 career hits puts her seven away from the all-time school record, and she's scored 52 runs and made just 22 errors in her four years. This year, she's hitting just under .350 for Montgomery, which is the top seed and defending Somerset County Tournament champion. The Cougars will face Hillsborough at 8 tonight in the county semifinals.

COACH'S COMMENTS: "Since she's walked on the field as a freshman, she's played every single game as our shortstop and our No. 2 hitter," Montgomery coach Johnny Rooney said. "She's a winner, a clutch player and a team-first player. She's dedicated to the program, and her accomplishments speak for themselves. She's brought a lot of expectations to the team and put them on herself."

FAVORITES

MUSICAL ARTIST: Justin Timberlake.

MOVIE: "Music and Lyrics."

SCHOOL SUBJECTS: Math.

ATHLETE I'D MOST LIKE TO MEET: Mia Hamm.

WHAT I'D SAY TO HIM/HER: "I would tell her how much she influenced me, personally, and all the young female athletes. I would just say, 'Thank you.' "

UPDATE!!
Courier News, Saturday, May 26
MONTGOMERY 8 HILLSBOROUGH 2

MONTGOMERY -- Senior shortstop Katherine Stoltenberg went 3-for-4 with three
RBIs and posted the 100th hit of her varsity career in her 100th game for
second-ranked Montgomery.

Three Great Catches

I have always loved playing baseball and softball, both as a kid and an adult. One thing for sure, I have always been an outfielder. I tried playing infield, as I suppose all kids do at one time or another, but I never got along with ground balls. Since I'm fairly small I've always been pretty fast, which made it easy to cover lots of ground. I found myself in left field in most games I played, even the pick-up games I played as a kid. My first great catch came when I was eleven years old. We were playing at the field in front of Guardian Angels Church in Edison, near where I grew up. I remember that an older kid, Ralph, was up and he hit a long fly ball over my head. I immediately took off, losing site of the ball. Suddenly, as I looked up, I spotted the ball sailing away from me. I kept running, see Carl run, I raised my glove as the ball began to drop and BANG! It landed squarely in my mitt. I was so excited and when I turned I realize that the big kid who hit it was now running toward me. He was so mad that I made the catch he was going to extract his vengeance. But fortunately for me his older brother had been a witness to the hit and the catch and he was following close behind. The older brother tackled his sibling and proceeded to sit on him and calm him down and said to him "don't be mad at Carl, he just made one of the great catches of his life"—my first to be exact.

The second catch came a number of years later. I was playing for Peterson's Guides' coed softball team. I was around 28 years old. It was a play off game and it was hotly contested. We were behind at this particular point in the game and one of their best hitters was up with one out and a runner on second. Early in the count he hit a foul ball toward the left side that easily went 300 feet. Needless to say, it went well past me so his at bat continued. But now I was prepared. I moved back a good bit in preparation for his next attempt. Sure enough, he hit the next pitch, but to my surprise it was well over my head. Just as 17 years earlier, I took off. I kept running as fast as I could. Run Carl run. I was on a full sprint, I raised my head and glove and, fortunately for me, the ball was in my view heading right toward me. Without slowing, I extended my arm fully and BANG. I remember jumping in the air. It seemed like I went a mile up. I let out a yell and when I came down I had the sense to turn and throw the ball toward second. The runner who had been occupying the base had touched home and was heading toward the bench. He felt the ball would never be caught. Double play—number two was in the book.

Some years later, I was playing softball for another coed team, The cool thing about this catch was that it was witnessed by the center fielder from the Peterson's team. He was playing on another field for another team and was just a few feet from me. He got a chance to see two of my great catches. Basically, the catch resembled the other two. One thing that made it interesting was that the field, at Rider University, was cut out of very tall grasses in the back of the campus. The catch was made just before I reached the edge of the field so my momentum carried me into grasses over my head. When I emerged, I had the ball in my hand. I could still hear the BANG when it hit my glove—number three.

One thing I can safely say is I'm confident that number four is out there waiting for me.

The stuttering Grampa

When I was very young I stuttered. I recall a teacher saying to me " Howard, do you always stutter like that"? I replied "N-n-n-n-oo, only when I t-t-t-t-t-t-alk" I also liked to steal the neighbors cherries. I would climb his tree after dark to avoid getting caught. One night he hollered out his window "Whose that in my tree"? Being a fast thinker, I answered in the highest pitch voice I could muster "It's m-m-m-m-m-me, S-s-s-s-s-s-shirley" The next day he told my Mother. To this day I don't know why he didn't believe it wasn't Shirley. Maybe my pitch wasn't high enough.

Water at the Farm

The first few times I remember going Upstate to the Farm water was a little bit of an issue. If I remember correctly, it came from the spring house down by the stream and I guess the pump had to be primed before it would start flowing up to the house.

Getting the water going was a process and Grandpa made sure we were all involved. Cathy was stationed with a timer by an open window to yell down to the stream where Grandpa was at the pump. Lisa, Amy, Katherine, Alex, and myself were positioned at various locations-- exposed pipes, the toilet, the kitchen sink-- to listen for the water. The timer was set and we waited. As soon as we heard water we'd shout to Cathy, who'd yell down to Grandpa, who'd inevitably end up screaming unintelligible and angry things at the pump. Eventually the water would start properly and we'd be in fits of giggles.

It still meant baths in four inches of water, rules about when to flush the toilet, and even once a quick swim and shampoo in the pond at Uncle Joe's request. I love the luxury of fresh hot water on demand when I go to the Farm now, but it was a lot of fun then.

My Mustache

I first grew my Mustache when I was so young, my peach fuzz under my nose was light, and no one could see any thing. So I colored it with a dark pencil. Vola!! Instant Mustache! I've had it ever since. One time it was a handle bar. Some times like Clark Gable. Once even a Groucho Marx type. I shaved it off only once. But no one knew who I was. Not even me!

grandpa's in the news

This is my first letter to the editor.

The state ought to hoist a cold one
Home News Tribune Online 04/27/07

Concerning our state budget deficit and the never-ending search for new sources of revenue, why is one category never explored? That is the tax collected from the sale of beer. Presently it amounted to 15 cents per six pack. It was last raised in 1992. Why is it we rank No. in projected per capita budget deficit but near the bottom regarding beer tax?
New Jersey is No. 7 from the top in major breweries. It has one of the highest per capita beer consumption rates. No one in Trenton ever mentions raising the tax. Is it cast in stone? Local jurisdictions don't have the authority to levy a local tax. It seems the breweries have covered all their bases. It takes 20-some six packs to get the same revenue from one pack of cigarettes.
All Jerseyans ever hear is property tax, income tax, sales tax increases, etc., etc. But no one even knows what the tax on beer is.
The money collected from beer sales is earmarked for three purposes: education, rehabilitation and enforcement. Are we to believe they are adequately funded? Evidently our lawmakers do.
The benefits of a large increase in the beer tax would be enormous. What are we waiting for? Does anyone know? Or does everyone know?

Howie Stoltenberg
EDISON

Grandma Cathy's 7up Cake

In our family, a get together will hopefully mean Cathy will make her delicious 7 up cake. The cake part is so moist and the icing is not too sweet. Yum! It is just delicious. I managed to grab the recipe last time I was visiting and wanted to share.

2 Sticks Butter room temp
1/2 cup Shortening
5 eggs
1tsp Vanilla
3 cups Sugar
3 cups Flour
1 cup room temperature 7up

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together butter, shortening, eggs and vanilla.
Once uniform, add sugar. Mix well.
Add flour. Mix well.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Dark pan 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Cool and frost.

Icing
4 tbsp Flour
1 cup Milk
1 cup Butter
1 cup Sugar
s tsp Vanilla

Combine the flour and milk and heat until thick. Set aside and let cool completely.
Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Mix in cooled flour and milk mixture until forms peaks.

Mustache

I love how sometimes I think about Grandpa and I go "Oh my gosh! Grandpa has a mustache!" And I do that often. In fact I did it earlier this week.

Tuesdays

When I was little I used to spend after school time with my grandmothers. Tuesday was my day at Noni and Grandpa's house. Noni would pick us up from St. Matthias and drive us to ballet. My favorite part was tap. The click click of tap shoes on wood is the best sound, especially when you are 8 years old. After dance she would take us to Krausers for a magazine, a candy bar to eat in the car home and a pint of Häagen-Dazs for after dinner. For me it was always the same. Teen Beat (or which ever magazine featured Kirk Cameron), a Whatchamacallit and vanilla swiss almond. We would watch the soaps with Noni got home or maybe stand on the trailer while Harvey ran around us like a lunatic. Michele and I would fight and Noni would have to threaten us with the wooden spoon. I don't remember if she ever used it, but it was sure scary to see her whip it out.

Grandpa would get home and we would have dinner. Kentucky Fried Chicken was a pretty regular thing for us to have. After dinner was ice cream (the full pint!) and TV. Grandpa liked to watch Uncle Floyd so we would too. Then it was home and to bed.