My Favorite Recipies: Meet Barbara Morgan, Colfax

When Barbara Morgan retired after a 40-year career as a health care provider, she discovered she could share her knowledge by writing. For the past two years, Barbara has been writing her book, “Going Down Screaming.” This book includes many stories from Barbara’s career of caring for the elderly in the nursing homes as a nurse and administrator. She said she has a great love for the elderly.

“My first day working in a nursing home, I had decided that it wasn’t for me. Then, I met a patient who took my hand and said to me, ‘I’m so glad you’re here Miss Morgan, we have been waiting a long time for you.’ I stayed,” Barbara said. “I committed my whole life to nursing home patients.”

Barbara said she worked hard to improve the lives of the nursing home residents. When she was 57, she went back to school to earn a degree in social services, which qualified her to upgrade the nursing home environment. Barbara said some of her ideas pushed the boundaries.

“One time, I had pigmy goats in the fenced lawn of a nursing home. The patients just loved them and their grandchildren would come to visit more often, because of the goats,” Barbara said. “It was illegal, of course. I always got caught, but it was so good for the patients and really brightened their day.”

Barbara also brought in pet cats and dogs to visit the patients before it was acknowledged as pet therapy. Everything she did was to improve the quality of life for patients. It also included improving the quality of life for her five children.

“All my kids worked in the nursing homes. The patients loved it,” Barbara said. “They really learned compassion and loved the patients.”

Now that her book is published, Barbara has begun work on a children’s book which was inspired by her grandchildren. She and her husband, Ed, have 18 grandchildren. Their photographs adorn the walls and refrigerator of the Morgan’s home in Colfax.

“Ed really believes a kid needs a letter every month addressed to each child. So I started writing letters to three of my grandchildren that lived far away from us,” Barbara said.

Most months, Barbara wrote one story for each grandchild. She said her first stories were inspired by watching a magpie torture her “ornery cat.” Each story includes characters right out of nature and a moral.

“I wanted to teach them something: laws, manners, compassion. Most of my stories are to teach them to be good citizens.” Barbara said. “They get a kick out of them.”

As her family grew, Barbara could no longer keep up with a new story each month for each grandchild. She resorted to writing a few stories at a time and sending them out. Her stories have become popular among family members. Nieces and nephews have also been added to the list. She is now compiling the letters along with illustrations into a children’s book she hopes to publish.

This December, they had opportunity to visit family in West Virginia and Georgia. This was mostly related to attending family funerals. They returned home on Christmas Eve. After Christmas, they went on a well-deserved vacation to the coast with their son Eddie and his wife. Barbara plans on working hard this next year promoting her book and publishing her children’s book.

“I have had a great life, and I don’t plan on slowing down yet,” Barbara said with a smile. “I love my life span and my memories. I feel truly blessed.”

Recipes:

HILL BILLY FRIED RICE

Named because real pork drippings (grease) is used.

3 cups rice, cooked and set aside.

Fry 4-6 slices bacon chopped and set aside leave drippings in skillet and add the rice to it

Cook 6 eggs to hard, cut up in bite size pieces, set aside

Drain 3 cans small shrimp, set aside

Chop one bunch (6) fresh green onions, set aside.

Stir rice in the skillet with the bacon drippings, stir and add soy sauce to taste, Add all ingredients, stir and let set on warm for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Extra as desired: bamboo shoots and bean sprouts.

CRISPIX TREATS

Mix and place in a large flat pan:

1 regular, or 3/4 large box of crispix cereal

2 handfulls of stick pretzels

2 handfulls of nuts

Boil and stir for 3 minutes and pour over crispix mix:

1 cup (2 cubes) butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup clear Karo syrup

Stir the mixture, place in oven at 170, and warm for 15 minutes, stir again and back to the oven - repeat X6

Warning: This is delicious, and addictive.