Question of the Day Late Edition Saturday the 7th of January, 2023

[iPappy]

One Christmas when I was 15 or 16 my sister gave me a bright purple velvet mini dress. I dressed very conservatively and didn’t like attention and no way on earth would I or did I ever wear it.

Did your sister wear things like the mini dress?

 

[Margot Lane]

I remember someone gave us one of those dopey glass ‘dipping birds,’ that constantly nod into a glass of water. It irritated my sister so much that when she was babysitting me, she whacked it across the room and it shattered into a million pieces. I was so proud of her, and so stunned. My cool Big Sister.

 

[susanm9006]

Did your sister wear things like the mini dress?

Yes, it was so her.

 

[Margot Lane]

Did your sister wear things like the mini dress?

My sister did. AND gogo boots. AND she saw Jimi HENDRIX. (I had to put that in caps b/c my apparently whitey spellcheck has no idea who JimI HENDRIX is).

 

[iPappy]

Yes, it was so her.

She probably saw it, thought "I like that" and bought it for you (either innocently, or hoping you'd give it to her!)

 

[lizzie]

I honestly do not recall an awful gift right off the top of my head.

 

[susanm9006]

She probably saw it, thought "I like that" and bought it for you (either innocently, or hoping you'd give it to her!)

Or she bought it because she knew it would make me uncomfortable…

 

[iPappy]

Or she bought it because she knew it would make me uncomfortable…

I didn't even think about that.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

For my wedding I received a set of old, worn pillowcases embroidered with farm animals on the edges. There was no explanation; like if they were made by say my great-grandmother or something. They came from my great-uncle’s widow; who I never met. I don’t even know how she knew of my wedding unless my Grandmother wrote to her. The thought was appreciated. I think I still have them in a box somewhere.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Some anonymous person at work gave me one of those mounted fish that turned and sang some awful song. Can't remember the song. I was totally perplexed as to who would give me such a thing. I threw it out without telling anyone about it.

My granpa had one my aunt and uncle had given him. It scared the kids! It was so loud too!

 

[DreamerRose]

My granpa had one my aunt and uncle had given him. It scared the kids! It was so loud too!

I wish I could remember what it sang, but it was obnoxious like ay-ay-ay-ay to a somewhat familiar tune and very loud. It was an in-your-face song. The ones on Google now have pop tunes that aren't so bad. Google also says it was a Billy Bass.

At least we got a good laugh out of it. At the time, it wasn't so funny.

 

[gilmargl]

gilmargl Have you ever baked a jelly roll? Sponge cake in a jelly roll pan, as soon as out of oven roll up in a damp cotton kitchen towel. When cool, gently unroll, spread with jam or jelly (beat with a fork to loosen up before spreading) and then roll up again. If that's too much trouble just cut the sponge cake in thirds and use the preserves as filling between layers.

I live on my own and hardly eat any sweet things anymore! Even jogurt has to be natural. But you are right - when I baked for a family, school functions, coffee mornings.... I would use up preserves, improving the flavor of fruit pies, trifles etc. But, since COVID-19 there hasn't even been a charity summer fair selling homebaked cakes and pastries. (Oh, I remember now, I did make one trifle in 2022 for a hospice buffet but my last plum, apricot, strawberry, rhubarb and apple tray bakes enhanced when possible with homemade preserves were baked in the summer before Corona appeared on the horizon.