Dec 8, 1982, Mom's letter . . . and an easy, pleasing Appetizer

Dec 8^th 1982

Received your most welcome letter yesterday.   We been killing bantys today, now while they are soaking I am writing letters, don’t know when they be mailed as it’s so cold no one goes to town only Matt but most of the time I don’t know where he’s going.

It’s so very cold today that been starting the truck for hours, he had to plug in.  He got it started at last.

Tomorrow I will can the bantys, that’s what Dad wants. 

I still didn’t wash the kitchen, perhaps Friday if I am feeling well. 

We will kill the rest of geese Monday and Tuesday we will take them to auction mart. 

I wrote the cousins in Ukraine yesterday. 

Aline did the appliques on Diana’s cushions, I still got to sew them up but I have to get the backing on Tuesday and make the pillows for them. 

George is very sick, he was supposed to see a specialist today, I will phone soon and I will write what he said.

I am happy for you with your news, but the baby is still small but you will manage, we all do. 

I phoned George and it’s not today he was supposed to go but tomorrow so I still don’t know much, I asked how he is, George said sometimes he’s better, then he’s sick again.  It’s his lungs, Dr. Lu didn’t know what it is.

I phoned Diana on Sunday, she’s very happy.

I didn’t sell many plant, only 6, but that’s that many less, but I thought I would sell more and I sold 3 rugs, still got one.  But I will use it myself. 

I am sending Bryan a birthday card this year, I forgot his birthday last year. Give the baby a hug from me.

********

Mom canned chickens!   I, on the other hand, have never canned anything, much less meat, but  Nestor and Kathy used to,  for sailing trips.  

Canned meat certainly would be helpful for camping, too.   

 And Michael Smith’s The Afternoon Tea Book suggests potted meat in  finger sandwiches for an appetizer.  J 

Potted Deviled Ham

½ pound ham   (I used salami)

½ cup butter

1 rounded teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ tsp Tabasco

¼ tsp cayenne

¼ tsp salt

4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Blend all ingredients in a food processor.

Make sandwiches and cut into fingers.   (We used white bread.)

*******
P. S.  Can anyone tell me anything about the Ukrainian relatives in that picture?  Mom wrote on the back of the picture these names:  Ablunia and her husband, Sam.  The girls are Luda (born 1961) and Maria, born 1971

Serg said the people on the picture are: the woman, her name is Evgenia, and she's his 

mom's first cousin (Maria's daughter). Currently, she lives in Italy. the man is her husband 

Samko, and he passed away a long time ago. The girls are: the younger one is Maria, 

whose daughter Victoria, is Vern's god-daughter. The older one is Luda, both sisters still 

live in Hanusivka, Ukraine..