Hump Day

Halfway through the week, and hopefully pop will be home by week's end. Today 400cc's were drained from chest tube and he's running a slight fever which isn't that unusual when getting chemo. Pop has made the decision to keep fighting and receiving chemo treatments instead of going into hospice.

A hospital bed will be delivered to the house and set up in the master bedroom next to the regular bed to make it easier for his 3 "fur boys" to visit and snuggle. Lindsay's coming in on Friday from New Jersey to visit, snuggling will be optional for her. Neighbors Jim and Ron are helping out around the house, cutting down and disposing of tree limbs on mom's birch (mom says thanks!) and maybe even doing a bit of heavy lifting later so pop can have his TV in the master bedroom.

And to continue sharing a bit of "pop's world", Vicki and I thought you might enjoy his recipe for fried potatoes as printed in our family cookbook.

FRIED POTATOES A LA POP

• Some Potatoes--any kind, just as long as they're potatoes
  
• Recycled Shortening--the more it's been used, the better it is, add bacon grease and it gets even better
  
• Salt and Pepper--to taste

1. Peel and slice potatoes, the thinner the slices the better. Heat shortening in cast iron skillet on ma's freshly cleaned stovetop.
2. Add potatoes to hot shortening, they should sizzle and splatter.
   
3. Leave them be until the bottom gets crispy, then turn over.
   
4. It's okay if grease splatters and drips, ma will clean it up.
   
5. Use a spatula to continually splash grease from side of pan over top of potatoes, if any grease goes over side of skillet, refer to #4 above.
   
6. Stand over pan and pull a crispy potato flake out of hot grease, shake flake next to stovetop to get off hot grease (refer to #4 above) and taste to see if they need salt and pepper.
7. When potatoes are brown on each side, remove from pan with spatula and place on paper towel covered plate to drain.
8. Pour hot grease back in Crisco can so it can be used again, if grease spills down side of can, once again, refer to #4 above.

This recipe makes--a whole mess.

And once again, our continuing thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers sent pop's way.

Love Kat and Vicki