Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 27, 2022

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 27, 2022 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

 by Deanne Davis

REMEMBRANCE

MAE J. DAHLSTROM-PUTERBAUGH

Mae, known to family & friends as 
“Mama Mae” 94, passed away Sunday, 
August 7, 2022. 

Mae was born on the family farm 
in Alvarado, Minnesota July 13, 
1928. Her family moved to California 
when she was a teenager. She 
met her future husband Bennett D. 
Puterbaugh in Pasadena when she 
worked as a waitress at the “Pantry 
Coffee Shop”. They married Jan. 16, 
1950.

In 1953, together they built a house 
in the mountains of Altadena. Bennett 
worked as a Pressman for the 
Pasadena Star-News and had five 
children. Several years later, Mae 
became a Special Ed teacher in the Pasadena City Schools. 

During the school years she volunteered in the PTA, Girl Scouts, Indian 
Guides and the Altadena Junior Women’s Club. After all those years of volunteering 
she joined “Jazzercise”. She loved this group & made many life-time 
friends. 

Proud of being Swedish, her talents included loving animals, embroidering, 
knitting, and baking cakes & cookies. Every Christmas she gave 100’s 
of cookies away to neighbors, friends & family. Because of where our family 
home was located in the hills, she really appreciated all of the Los Angeles 
County Firemen. She had a wonderful life. 

She is survived by her 5 children & partners: Julie & Jeff, Dextra & Robert (his 
sister Leslie), Claudia, Bennett & Jose, Tommy & Cris, grandchildren Daniel, 
Carolyn & spouse Danny and great-grandchildren Leo & Gavin. Mae will 
always be in our hearts and missed.

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit 
the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Maya 
Angelou

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just 
beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may 
alight upon you.” Nathaniel Hawthorne

The most exciting thing going on in my life right now is observing 
my daughter, Leah, with her Monarch butterfly farm 
right here in Sierra Madre. She sends daily pictures of her 
soon-to-be butterflies as they chew on milkweed and live a 
safe and comfortable life inside tall cube cages of fine mesh on 
all sides and one clear side where she can record their progress. 
She has named them all: Lorenzo, Linda, Lucille, Leo 
and Lucas. The picture this week is Lorraine and Lorenzo. She 
was concerned about Lorenzo’s safety as, apparently, he looks 
good enough to eat. You’re going to have to look closely, but 
they’re there. She has been nurturing them from tiny eggs to 
larvae and she’s eagerly awaiting metamorphosis. She has gotten 
us so involved with her butterfly farm that we can’t wait 
to see emerging, home-grown, Monarch butterflies. Linda 
stopped moving yesterday and we were wringing our hands. 
This morning, however, she is moving her antennae again and 
we are relieved. Who knew planting milkweed in pots on her 
patio would provide so much drama and tragedy!

“If a book is well written, I always find it too short.” Jane Austen

“Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.”

Yes, it’s still hot and humid and aside from a little floor cleaning, I’ve been between the pages of a trilogy by 
Elin Hilderbrand, “Winter in Paradise,” “What Happens in Paradise,” and “Troubles in Paradise.” I’ve completed 
the first two and just started “Troubles in Paradise.”

Friends and neighbors, there is more drama going on in these books than in a month of “Game of Thrones.” 
There’s currently very little excitement on TV, except American Ninja Warrior, which has been beyond 
exciting for weeks as these unbelievable athletes come together, first at Universal Studios and now for the 
finale in Las Vegas. They are competing for a million dollars and the course is horrendous; filled with the 
competitors leaping from one tiny spot to another, trying to grab some ridiculously small thing, hang on 
and swing to an equally horrendous tiny spot. It’s breathtaking to say the least. Next Monday night, the 29th 
will be the show where we see who wins the million. The best competitors seem to be teen-age boys and girls 
and if you’re not watching this, you’re missing out!

Well, there is something really cool on Hulu TV: “Only Murders in The Building,” with Steve Martin, Martin 
Short and Selena Gomez. This is funny, suspenseful, and, as these guys know everybody, loaded with guest 
stars you wouldn’t expect and a plot twist every few minutes. The finale of Season 2 was last Tuesday and 
Season 3 is on tap sometime in the future. If you haven’t watched this, take a look.

With all this reading and TV stuff, I found myself wanting something to eat that was quick, easy, and portable. 
Cheese Toasties came immediately to mind. This is one of those recipes that you can make five million 
times and nobody gets tired of it. Kids love it and you can eat it while you read. The friend who gave me this 
recipe, Joyce Forsee, called it Pizza Party Snacks, but our kids called it Cheese Toasties and that seems to fit.

1 lb. shredded cheese, Tillamook, pepper jack, Mexican blend, whatever you like and now that you can buy 
it nicely shredded in a plastic bag, this recipe is even more attractive as you don’t have to grate the cheese 
(and usually your knuckles).

2 cans chopped black olives (small cans)

1 can chopped green Ortega chiles (small can, unless you really really love chiles)

2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

1 TB vinegar

Garlic salt if you like it, just a bit.

Mix all this together, spread on sourdough bread, put under the broiler till it’s melted and slightly browned. 
Devour while enjoying your book or favorite show.

Ideally, it should chill for a couple of hours or so but we always wanted it NOW and it works just fine on 
that basis. Don’t think too much about calories, just enjoy it. Remember, life is short and dessert should be 
eaten first…or cheese toasties.

The following really inspirational quote was posted by my friend, Denise Larocque, who decorates her Facebook 
page with incredible pictures of clouds, birds, mountains, rainbows, and uplifting thoughts like this. 

“You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it 
to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs 
to you.” Josh Shipp

Remember: Celebrate Everything! Especially Butterflies!

“Sunrises & Sunflowers Speak Hope” 

Supplies a little hope on every page. 

Look for it on my book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis 

“Star of Wonder” is now on TuneCore! Take a look!

It’s the fabulous music from “Star of Wonder – A Christmas Musical”

Lyrics by me, Music by David Wheatley


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com