Monster Cookies

We just completed a sharp Rural Carrier Academy class. They were first rate particpants and will make excellent rural carriers. I made Monster cookies and promised to post the recipe here. Warning: this recipe will make a tub of cookies--post office tub that is!

Monster Cookies
12 eggs
2 lbs brown sugar
4 cups white sugar
1 T. vanilla
1 T. syrup
8 teaspoons soda
1 lb. butter
3lbs. peanut butter (crunchy)
18 cups oatmeal
1 lb. chocolate chips
1 lb M & Ms
Note: I add about three cups flour. You might want to experiment with this a little.

Mix in order given in large dish pan. Bake 350 7 to 10 minutes for a medium size cookie or longer for a ice cream scoop size cookie.

How do they get there?

By LindaK
It is always a surprise when a bright spring flower shows up all by itself along a gravel road on my route. My guess is a squirrel. Or, maybe a lone bulb fell out of the sack. It doesn't matter as I enjoy their cheery nod the short while they come out of hiding.

Wildlife Count

Midway through my route today, I spotted something, or more specifically some things, on the road. I immediately slowed down because, as I moved closer, it obviously was a covey of quail.

I am excited as around this part of Kansas, we don’t see as many quail as in years past. Also, it was a particularly hard winter, with several severe ice storms. It is a good sign the birds are out on the road, perhaps enjoying bits of salt.

The quail prompted me to remember my early days as a carrier when we conducted wildlife counts twice a year. Management brought each carrier a list of animals with columns for each day of the week. The list included rabbits, squirrel, quail, and pheasant. Deer might have also been on the list. Let's see, were box turtles on the list? I don’t think so, I added them at the bottom just so I had more things to count.

The rural carrier wildlife count was an important measurement for the Kansas Wildlife and Parks (probably then Kansas Fish and Game). I wonder why we are no longer asked to do this task.

Probably someone thought it is not part of our job description or could be a safety hazard. It is too bad because I was conscientious and considered it a fun assignment.

A Sad Goodbye

By LindaK

I am going to miss Sonoma, always dependable, hardly ever disagreeable and my best friend in the post office. However, it is time for her to have less stress and hard work. Lately, she has developed several illnesses that could be considered terminal unless she retires and takes it easy. Hopefully, she will find a new home, living out her days carrying fishing gear.

The replacement 2000 S10 is not nearly as nice looking and has a bad complexion (a few minor dents). He will be OK, but I am loyal to my old friends. He will have to earn my respect.

Berryton Rural Carrier Blazes Trail

By LindaK
Well, I was the first down this road anyway.

One of those mail delivery moments

Mail delivery sometimes has little embarrassing moments. Fleeting times of flushed face. Things quickly forgotten. Like forgetting a customer's name or needing a signature without a pen in sight. Earlier this week I had one of those

First, I have to say that when the roads are bad with snow or ice, I drive a Beater, or in other words a 1987 Oldsmobile front wheel drive. It’s a jewel. Everything works except the radio. With studded front tires, it gets me around the route in fine shape most Kansas winters.

It wasn’t entirely the car’s fault. We knew the muffler was loose. It wasn’t too bad and my husband had the parts. I didn’t anticipate two things. First, the trash truck making its rounds when the roads were soft creating deep ruts. Second, the temperature dropping and those ruts freezing.

After about the third time the Olds high centered on a frozen mud rut, the muffler fell off. Now I am delivering mail sounding like an old dump truck. It was near the end of the route. However, I did have to make one stop at a residence for a carrier pickup. I no sooner pulled up when the customer came running out to see who was taking their stuff. They saw it was me and looked bewildered as I started the car.

Only slightly red faced, I waved and roared away.

Frosty morning

By LindaK

Anyone having thoughts like this?