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Celeste Cirinna collects Snow Babies
Celeste Cirinna of Montrose is a native of Bossier City, La. She married Steve Cirinna nearly 32 years ago, while he was in the Coast Guard. She has worked for the City of Montrose for the past 10 years - the last six years as city clerk and treasurer.
Her favorite flower is the rose.
“I enjoy living in Montrose because it's closer to home and I love having four distinct seasons (usually!),” she said. “In fact, when we moved here, I immediately felt at home. Montrose has undergone many changes in the last three years and it truly is a beautiful place to live.”
She attends Keokuk Church of the Nazarene and teaches teen Sunday School.
“They are the best class!” she said.
What food are you most famous for? Sweet mint tea and cajun food.
What kind of music do you enjoy? Actually, I'd rather listen to talk radio; though I do like the sound of K.T. Tunstall.
What are your hobbies? Reading, cross-stitching and people-watching.
Do you have a favorite pet (present or past)? Our Siberian Husky, Diefenbaker. He was named for the dog in the TV show, “Due South.” He's almost 13 years old and he's our third child. He is so sweet and I can't imagine life without him.
Where would you go if you won a trip anywhere in the world and why? The Caribbean. The fragrance of fresh air, salt water and Coppertone; beautiful azure waters; sea breezes; bright colors; calypso music; and the slow pace of life.
What has been life's most rewarding experience for you? Remembering daily to hold on to Jesus with all my strength!
How many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren do you have? Jen, 28, lives in Virginia with my sister and her family. Jen is nanny to my nieces Genevieve and Natalie. Dan, 24, works at the Keokuk Wal-Mart. We don't have grandchildren but I dote on my nieces like I was their grandmother. I love doing it.
What book are you currently reading? Sally John's “Moment of Truth.” It's about a Chicago police officer who grew up homeless.
What is your least favorite food? Anything spicy.
What is your favorite food? Dark chocolate. It's loaded with antioxidants.
What makes a perfect summer day and how would you spend it if you could, anyway you wanted? Temperature in the low to mid-70s with a light breeze, sunny and not a cloud in the sky. I would spend it on the deck reading a book and/or magazine and sipping a homemade cherry limeade.
Have a favorite sport to do or watch? LSU Tigers and Green Bay Packers football.
Favorite childhood, teen and adult book? Childhood-the “Happy Hollister” series; teen-"Brian's Song”; adult-the “Chick-Lit” genre. They are hilarious stories and make me laugh out loud.
Most memorable moment. Saying “I do” to Steve and our children's births.
Most famous person(s) you've met? Dallas Cowboys Walt Garrison, Charlie Waters and Chuck Howley. I might have met Roger Staubach, but my memory is fuzzy on this.
What do you do for fun? Watch chick flicks and read. I also like to go to Hair-n-Now Reflections to get my hair colored and change my hairstyle, it's like playing Barbie. It's one of the rare times I allow myself to feel like a kid! I also love to get a massage and pedicure at Hair-n-Now, but that's more relaxing than fun; unless you count chatting and laughing with other women.
What do you like most about yourself? I have patience, strength, empathy and I'm an encourager.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Wife, mom and teacher; in that order.
What do you collect? Precious Moments, Snow Babies and candles. I could open my own store.
Where would you live if you had a choice? Somewhere in Virginia to be closer to my nieces, daughter, sister and her husband.
What is your favorite TV show and actor/actress? Favorite TV show is “What Not To Wear.” Favorite actor - Denzel Washington. Favorite actress-Meryl Streep.
If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead) who would they be? Andy Griffith, Lucille Ball and Red Skelton. They have wonderful stories to tell and we would laugh all night!
What was your favorite subject in school? Language/lit and history.
What was your first job? Working (for nothing) in my Daddy's furniture store. I was there every Saturday and it was there that I learned how to treat people with respect, no matter how they treated me and I learned to do that with a smile on my face.
What was/is your favorite style/piece of clothing? My high-heel shoes. Though now I'm buying lower heels.
Best word(s) of advice you've received? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Don't wear panty hose darker than your shoes.” “Let go and let God.”
Favorite movie of all time? It's a three-way tie between “Princess Bride, “The Devil Wears Prada” and “A Christmas Story.”
What is your favorite ethnic food? Mexican.
How did you meet your spouse (if married)? On a Continental Trailways bus going from Shreveport to Lafayette, La. My friends and I were on our way to a pep squad clinic at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Steve was already in the Coast Guard and I remembered him from high school. My best friend called him over to our seats. Then she got up and he sat next to me. We talked non-stop all the way to Lafayette, and that's about a four-hour ride. We married over a year later.
Person you admire most and why? My daddy, David Lay. He's 90 years old, still lives at home and goes to mass every day. While he's a quiet man, he's loving, wise, empathetic, funny, and he has character and integrity. He gave up smoking after I was born because he knew it was bad for him and me. And this was in the late 50s! He flew for the first time when he was 87. He flew to Virginia for my niece Genevieve's birthday. He took wonderful care of my mother before she died of breast cancer six years ago.
If you had a motto, what would it be? “Whatever"; meaning I have no control over this situation. I keep saying I should have a T-shirt made with that word on it.
What is your most memorable and/or embarrassing food experience? Not too long after I started working for the city, one of the employees said something funny just as I took a sip of coffee. I couldn't help but laugh and I spewed coffee all over the place.
What is your favorite recipe (list directions and ingredients)? I have many favorites, but chicken salad is my current and there are no measurements. The only time I measure is the first few times I cook a recipe.
Ingredients:
4 cooked chicken breasts, chopped and cooled. If you have a large family use large chicken breasts.
A bunch of green or red grapes, cut in half.
Two green or red apples, chopped. If I'm using green grapes, I get red apples and vice versa.
About three handfuls of coarsely chopped walnuts.
Two celery ribs, chopped.
About half a jar of Miracle Whip Light.
Curry powder.
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Add the Miracle Whip Light and curry powder to taste; and stir well. Refrigerate for at least one-half hour to blend the flavors, but it tastes okay if you serve it immediately. I eat it by itself, but Steve and Dan eat it as a chicken salad sandwich. I also have used dried cherries in place of the grapes and it tasted wonderful.
Boil about two cups of water in a small pot. Remove from heat and add six regular tea bags (or three family size bags (I like Luzianne) and four Bigelow's Plantation Mint Tea bags. You can use decaf tea as well. Let it steep for 25 minutes. In a gallon pitcher, add about three quarters to one cup of sugar. Pour in steeped tea and stir until sugar dissolves.
Add cold water to make one gallon and stir again.
People who would like to be included in an upcoming Accent Page feature should contact the paper by mail at the Daily Gate City, P.O. Box 430, Keokuk, IA 52632; by phone at 524-8300, ext. 106, or by fax at 524-4363.
Her favorite flower is the rose.
“I enjoy living in Montrose because it's closer to home and I love having four distinct seasons (usually!),” she said. “In fact, when we moved here, I immediately felt at home. Montrose has undergone many changes in the last three years and it truly is a beautiful place to live.”
She attends Keokuk Church of the Nazarene and teaches teen Sunday School.
“They are the best class!” she said.
What food are you most famous for? Sweet mint tea and cajun food.
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What are your hobbies? Reading, cross-stitching and people-watching.
Do you have a favorite pet (present or past)? Our Siberian Husky, Diefenbaker. He was named for the dog in the TV show, “Due South.” He's almost 13 years old and he's our third child. He is so sweet and I can't imagine life without him.
Where would you go if you won a trip anywhere in the world and why? The Caribbean. The fragrance of fresh air, salt water and Coppertone; beautiful azure waters; sea breezes; bright colors; calypso music; and the slow pace of life.
What has been life's most rewarding experience for you? Remembering daily to hold on to Jesus with all my strength!
How many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren do you have? Jen, 28, lives in Virginia with my sister and her family. Jen is nanny to my nieces Genevieve and Natalie. Dan, 24, works at the Keokuk Wal-Mart. We don't have grandchildren but I dote on my nieces like I was their grandmother. I love doing it.
What book are you currently reading? Sally John's “Moment of Truth.” It's about a Chicago police officer who grew up homeless.
What is your least favorite food? Anything spicy.
What is your favorite food? Dark chocolate. It's loaded with antioxidants.
What makes a perfect summer day and how would you spend it if you could, anyway you wanted? Temperature in the low to mid-70s with a light breeze, sunny and not a cloud in the sky. I would spend it on the deck reading a book and/or magazine and sipping a homemade cherry limeade.
Have a favorite sport to do or watch? LSU Tigers and Green Bay Packers football.
Favorite childhood, teen and adult book? Childhood-the “Happy Hollister” series; teen-"Brian's Song”; adult-the “Chick-Lit” genre. They are hilarious stories and make me laugh out loud.
Most memorable moment. Saying “I do” to Steve and our children's births.
Most famous person(s) you've met? Dallas Cowboys Walt Garrison, Charlie Waters and Chuck Howley. I might have met Roger Staubach, but my memory is fuzzy on this.
What do you do for fun? Watch chick flicks and read. I also like to go to Hair-n-Now Reflections to get my hair colored and change my hairstyle, it's like playing Barbie. It's one of the rare times I allow myself to feel like a kid! I also love to get a massage and pedicure at Hair-n-Now, but that's more relaxing than fun; unless you count chatting and laughing with other women.
What do you like most about yourself? I have patience, strength, empathy and I'm an encourager.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Wife, mom and teacher; in that order.
What do you collect? Precious Moments, Snow Babies and candles. I could open my own store.
Where would you live if you had a choice? Somewhere in Virginia to be closer to my nieces, daughter, sister and her husband.
What is your favorite TV show and actor/actress? Favorite TV show is “What Not To Wear.” Favorite actor - Denzel Washington. Favorite actress-Meryl Streep.
If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead) who would they be? Andy Griffith, Lucille Ball and Red Skelton. They have wonderful stories to tell and we would laugh all night!
What was your favorite subject in school? Language/lit and history.
What was your first job? Working (for nothing) in my Daddy's furniture store. I was there every Saturday and it was there that I learned how to treat people with respect, no matter how they treated me and I learned to do that with a smile on my face.
What was/is your favorite style/piece of clothing? My high-heel shoes. Though now I'm buying lower heels.
Best word(s) of advice you've received? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Don't wear panty hose darker than your shoes.” “Let go and let God.”
Favorite movie of all time? It's a three-way tie between “Princess Bride, “The Devil Wears Prada” and “A Christmas Story.”
What is your favorite ethnic food? Mexican.
How did you meet your spouse (if married)? On a Continental Trailways bus going from Shreveport to Lafayette, La. My friends and I were on our way to a pep squad clinic at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Steve was already in the Coast Guard and I remembered him from high school. My best friend called him over to our seats. Then she got up and he sat next to me. We talked non-stop all the way to Lafayette, and that's about a four-hour ride. We married over a year later.
Person you admire most and why? My daddy, David Lay. He's 90 years old, still lives at home and goes to mass every day. While he's a quiet man, he's loving, wise, empathetic, funny, and he has character and integrity. He gave up smoking after I was born because he knew it was bad for him and me. And this was in the late 50s! He flew for the first time when he was 87. He flew to Virginia for my niece Genevieve's birthday. He took wonderful care of my mother before she died of breast cancer six years ago.
If you had a motto, what would it be? “Whatever"; meaning I have no control over this situation. I keep saying I should have a T-shirt made with that word on it.
What is your most memorable and/or embarrassing food experience? Not too long after I started working for the city, one of the employees said something funny just as I took a sip of coffee. I couldn't help but laugh and I spewed coffee all over the place.
What is your favorite recipe (list directions and ingredients)? I have many favorites, but chicken salad is my current and there are no measurements. The only time I measure is the first few times I cook a recipe.
Ingredients:
4 cooked chicken breasts, chopped and cooled. If you have a large family use large chicken breasts.
A bunch of green or red grapes, cut in half.
Two green or red apples, chopped. If I'm using green grapes, I get red apples and vice versa.
About three handfuls of coarsely chopped walnuts.
Two celery ribs, chopped.
About half a jar of Miracle Whip Light.
Curry powder.
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Add the Miracle Whip Light and curry powder to taste; and stir well. Refrigerate for at least one-half hour to blend the flavors, but it tastes okay if you serve it immediately. I eat it by itself, but Steve and Dan eat it as a chicken salad sandwich. I also have used dried cherries in place of the grapes and it tasted wonderful.
Boil about two cups of water in a small pot. Remove from heat and add six regular tea bags (or three family size bags (I like Luzianne) and four Bigelow's Plantation Mint Tea bags. You can use decaf tea as well. Let it steep for 25 minutes. In a gallon pitcher, add about three quarters to one cup of sugar. Pour in steeped tea and stir until sugar dissolves.
Add cold water to make one gallon and stir again.
People who would like to be included in an upcoming Accent Page feature should contact the paper by mail at the Daily Gate City, P.O. Box 430, Keokuk, IA 52632; by phone at 524-8300, ext. 106, or by fax at 524-4363.
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