~YOU NO LIKA SPAGHET?~

 ~CELEBRATING with SPAGHET!~

Bixby Elementary School PTA FUNDRAISER

(January 1964)

Last Sunday was my Mr. AGPMan's birthday and we had a great time celebrating his life.  We love getting together with our children and their families and doing what we all seem to do best, EAT!  Now,  I like to think I'm a DECENT cook although I readily admit to you I'm not great at it!  For me to try out a new recipe is a big thing because both my children are incredible in the kitchen and they will certainly critique everything I place in front of them!  If they don't like something they will tell me!

They must take after their Grandpa...

(That would be my Daddy!)

 ~MY NON-ITALIAN FATHER~

(Irish and Native American)

My family loves Italian food so this year I served homemade Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti (Angel Hair) and it was fabulous!  (Yes!  Yes it was!)  It's hard to go wrong when you follow a proven recipe to a T!

 ~FAUX MUSTACHE and ALL~

(He Reminded Me of Chef Boyardee)
In The Center

When I was a child (and well beyond!) it was no secret that my father did not like what he called 'fancy food'.  He wanted meat and potatoes and not much else.  Oh~he would eat what my mother's hands prepared, but he did whine and complain a little bit make life miserable if she served him spaghetti...

 ~My DADDY~

aka:  William Elliott

My Father hated pasta dishes of all kinds (who doesn't like pasta????) but he especially hated Spaghetti!  And I promise you he would eat only a tiny little portion of what she had prepared so as not to insult her and her cooking.  Then would fill himself up with bread and butter to keep the hunger pangs at bay...

 ~PROMOTING BIXBY'S PTA SPAGHETTI DINNER~

My Mother is on the Left

(With My Grandfather's Hand Painted Sign)

So you can probably imagine how supporting my school (and mother) by attending our PTA SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER thrilled him!  I remember it being a big deal that he agreed to even go!  I was pretty little in 1964 (I was 5) but I recall the day very well!  Can you imagine how we laughed when he was asked to help serve the Spaghetti to all the parents and their children?  Just the sight of it made him sick!  :)  Now...of all the men in the photograph who were trying their best to look (and act) like Italian Waiters (including my Uncle who is to the left of my father) my Dad did the best job and played his part to the nines!  I remember their scarves were red and white checkered cotton gingham and they wore black garters are their arms...

Such precious memories~

~JUST BEFORE BAKING~

I couldn't help but reminisce a little last Sunday morning as I worked to prepare the spaghetti-laden dinner for my family in honor of my Mr. AGPMan.  Thankfully he loves my cooking and will try most anything!

 ~MY Mr. AGPMan~

Food For The Soul

Had my Father been able to attend our family gathering he surely would have hated the entire meal (save for the cheese bread) and quite possibly would have told me so.

And just like I did when I was five I would have giggled at his words while slapping a pair of serving tongs into his big, strong hands...

"Plate it up, Daddy!  Plate it up!"

Hope your day is awesome!

Love to you...