Hey Mr. Postman-Post cards shine in home decor

I think post cards were the original Tweet. Trying to fit my squirmy, cursive sentiments on a tiny square is just like trying to Tweet in 140 characters. Impossible! You have to choose your words wisely. I used to collect postcards as a child and still have some from Vermont,  Upstate New York and North Carolina. I snagged a few in Spain, too. All retro of course. The Spanish varieties involved bullfights or spirits or festivals with a gorgeous gal.  I kept more than I sent, and framed a few. Most of them were in my classroom when I taught Spanish.

No matter where I go, I love to twirl the heavy metal postcard displays and pluck a favorite to send my parents on my travels. Aside from wanting to share my trip, their address is the only one I have memorized. 

   My Mom snagged a great deal when she bought some vintage Jacksonville post cards a few years back. These beauties are of the fold-out variety popular in the 1950s and they are in perfect condition. They arrived in plastic and the colors are so vibrant!

Each city letter hosts a point of interest in our fair city. And if you open it up, the landmarks spill open like a G-rated centerfold.

There's Memorial Park, where my husband proposed, and the Naval Air Station. I'm not quite sure where the Oriental Gardens were... Perhaps where the zoo is now? You have renderings of places now overrun with homeless and crime. Anyone who has walked through Hemming Plaza downtown would never imagine it used to look like Busch Gardens.

For the 20 pictures in this accordion fold, it only cost 1 and a half cents way back when. It would have been the perfect gift to share with someone who didn't get to share your travels. There is even a glorious description of Jacksonville inside. "There is pleasure and profit awaiting all visitors to Jacksonville," the flyer says. "It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Southeast, piquant and serious, modern as New York, with a background of ancient America." Wait. What?? "Everywhere one turns is a note of tropical loveliness, the verdant charm of Florida." That's some good writing right there. The blurb mentions our factories, bustling ports and fine homes. It would have been nice to see shoppers and workers buzzing around downtown Jacksonville in the 1950s. For now, we have our theaters and the occasional hip bar and restaurant there. It's not a place for getting dressed in your best clothes to take a Sunday stroll. No way. But all cities change. I know my hometown of DeLand, FL has. Just a little. But in a small town like DeLand, the charm of homecoming parades, small businesses and Mainstreet run deep. That's why I couldn't resist this magnet from my new favorite DeLand store, Pretty Little Things. A couple of academic types at Stetson chat under the city's name. And now it sits happily on my fridge, right under another vintage picture of my husband and me when we were college kids.

A tailgate must have! Devilishly good eggs!

Deviled eggs=fall football to me. They are a must have for watching the Florida Georgia game. I love making these salty indulgent snacks ahead of time, then unveiling them in my retro dish at the tailgate. 

This year, I'm headed to a party rather than the tailgate, my first time not going to the game in many years. But the eggs must be made! And eaten! There are so many ways to make deviled eggs, but I'm kind of a purist when it comes to the recipe. Mayo, yellow cheapo mustard, sweet relish, pepper and a whole egg get smashed together as the filling. Paprika must be sprinkled over top. That's it! 

I used to be terrified to boil eggs. But you really can't ruin them... Unless you really forget about them and you scorch the pan. In a saucepan with a lid, carefully place your eggs, then fill with cool water until the eggs are just covered. I always add a dash of white vinegar because I swear it makes them easier to peel. Some say it prevents a creepy green ring from coloring the yolk... But luckily I've never seen that. Set the water to boil, lid off. Boil the eggs for about a minute or so, then cover and switch the heat off. The residual heat will completely cook the eggs. After about 15 minutes, shock the eggs in an icebath. 

Peel carefully and dry completely. I say this because I have to peel eggs under running cool water or else it looks like Frankenstein peeled them for me.

I make the filling as described above and scoop the filling into a Ziplock bag. With the filling all in one corner, I snip the tip and make my own piping bag. 

The eggs aren't pretty, but I haven't cared to perfect the aesthetic, just the flavor. 

I love deviled eggs for Easter, but for football, it's an easy, inexpensive dish. What else am I lugging to the party? Buffalo chicken dip made with ranch, cream cheese, celery and cheddar and pimento cheese, of course☺️ Go Gators!