Friday the 13th.

Yup it is Friday the 13th, but by any other day it is still Friday!!!! 

Started a rug with my other batch of Pendleton Wool selvage.  I really like this one.  I have black, gray and tan for my warp.  Wish I had ordered more black now.  But next time.  It is working really nice.  This one is going to get finished tonite so I can take it to the Fiber Guild mgt Sunday.  Will be doing my show and tell.

Message to my big brother,  I love the blue grass radio station you sent me.     http://tunein.com/tuner/?StationId=55092  Great music. 

Thought for the day:  Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans... John Lennon
(do you really think he was the first one to say that??) 

A brief look at the past

In my walking about town last week I took a picture of this old barn.  I have added it to my folder of "old places"  I like old buildings, barns, windmills, and such.  Alot of character with the weathered boards and the attempt to paint this one sometime in the past to help hold it up longer.  I always wonder about how many years ago it might have been built and what it looked like then. I have thought it would be fun to drive around the country and take pictures of unusual buildings.  You know get off that freeway and actually see what America looks like. I know its been done already but still think it would be awesome

Thought for the day: It is as hard to see one's self as to look backwards without turning around... Thoreau

Cinnamon Bread: This is tough on my diet!

Last pm I baked up my last loaf of Artisan Bread from the batch I stirred up Tuesday.  A word of caution, if you try to hold your bread in the refrig for a few days, be sure to wrap the bowl tight with saran wrap.  The first time I did it I didn't have it sealed and it ran all over the refrig shelf.  It looked sort of like the Blob,  (remember that movie?)   Anyway I did this loaf with olive oil, then brown sugar and cinnamon.  The loaf comes out with very mild cinnamon to me, but it is so darn good toasted!

Wanted to add a comment for anyone reading this that if you want to try your regular bread using this method to get a nice crusty bread you can try it.  And in place of the clay cloche, you can use a dutch oven.  The secret is to raise the bread on a piece of parchment paper in a bowl, don't get to big a loaf,  then get the dutch oven hot in the oven at 425 degrees.  Slip the bread into the hot pan, put the lid on and bake for about 35 min.  Would love to hear if any of my readers try this. 

I know you are out there,  my counter tells me someone is reading this.  If so thanks for the interest. 

And I know my big brother reads this, as he says its the only way he knows what I am up to.

Sorry Ray, I can't bring you a nice warm loaf of this!!!

Thought for the day::  "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy;  it's inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

- Winston Churchill -

My Artisan Bread Making

This is my story of my Artisan bread making.  While I was in Iowa in Sept. My good friend gave me a lesson along with a jar of sourdough starter to get me started.  The story about Artisan bread comes from the word artisan, meaning "use your artistic talents to do your own thing"  This bread is awesome and you can do all kinds of stuff to it and it comes out wonderful every time.  There is minimal kneading,  in fact Betty has a dough bucket that looks like a stainless steel milk bucket with a detachable stirring paddle.  She uses the dump method of adding the ingredients.  The only secret is getting the water and flour in proportion to create this soft dough and of course the sourdough starter.  It can be stored in the refrigerate for several days then baked later. You save back some starter and feed it with water and flour a couple times a week and it gets this great sourdough smell.   I mix a batch that will do 4 of these loaves and only bake one or 2 at a time.

Here is one loaf coming out of the oven.  This bread is baked on a clay stone with a clay cloche cover.  That is what gives it the nice crusty crust that is awesome.  Betty makes these in her pottery shop and also gives lessons in her turn of the century home as part of the county's "Folk School" classes.This is a very healthy bread as you can add what ever you want.  Betty likes to  pat out a loaf and add asiago cheese, hot peppers, diced sweet peppers, or cinnamon and sugar, or a combination of what ever she feels. For this batch I added the cooked wheat berries that I put in the blender for a few min. to break up, lightly ground flax, some dry 8 grain cereal, wheat flour (only a cup or so as bread flour is a must to be over half of the flour) and honey. I have made the cinnamon version, by patting out the dough, splashing on olive oil, then cinnamon and sugar, and maybe walnuts.  Awesome stuff!

Here is Betty's web site if you want to look,  she has an awesome shop in Bentonsport Iowa, (she grew up across the river) She is a potter, weaver, and so much more.  Her husband is a black smith.  Betty and I grew up together and when I need my "Iowa Fix"  I always go there and we have a great time.  She taught me to weave and sold me my first baby loom.  Now I have one of her bread cloches and my sourdough starter.  What a friend. Here is her web site.        http://ironandlace.com/index.htm        

Challenge for New Year. Buy Made in USA

I borrowed this from a friend and you may have seen it, but I think we need reminded again!


I DIDN'T KNOW HALLMARK CARDS WERE MADE IN CHINA!That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore, They are made in China and are more expensive! I buy them at Dollar Tree - 50 cents each and made in USA


I have been looking at the blenders available on the Internet. Kitchen Aid is MADE IN the US. Top of my list already...

Yesterday I was in Wal Mart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made in China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some at 2.50 made in USA. They are just as good.

Same as a kitchen rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA - what a concept! - and they were 3.00 cheaper.

We are being brainwashed to believe that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not so.

One Light Bulb at a Time...I was in Lowe's the other day and just out of curiosity, I looked at the hose attachments. They were all made in China.

The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA.

Start looking, people . . ...In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - most often, their job.

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is now marked "made in Mexico." I don't buy it anymore.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico... now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger . . . I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets.
I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy -- was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared them: they were the same except for the price . . .the GE bulbs cost more than the Everyday Value brand, but the thing that surprised me the most was that that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - you guessed it - the USA at a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

It's Way past time to start finding and buying products you use every day that are made right here.

So, on to the next aisle: Bounce Dryer Sheets... yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand cost less, and was MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years, at almost half the price.

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies - you're sending the jobs there. (We should have awakened a decade ago....)

The gift of sharing

http://www.raptitude.com/  This is a web site I hope someone might see and check out.  This guy is really a writer and has such insight into what makes the world go around.  I find him very interesting to read from time to time.  I especially like this last posting about our riches.  Very eye opening.
So this is my gift to you today! 

Happy New Year

Get out of the box

I was looking back at my first year of blogging on this site.  Dec 2005!  Can't believe I have hung in there this long.  Lots of words typed and thoughts shared.  I found this cute little joke and wanted to resuscitate it and see if anyone gets it.

See if you can read this.  Don't try too hard as it is really very simple.

*MRDUCKIES
*MRNOTDUCKIES
*OSMRDUCKIES
*CMETBTWINGS
*YLBMRDUCKIES

This always quacks me up when I read it!!

Family trait!

This is my Great Grand Daughter, she loves her silly hat I gave her and insisted on wearing it to Walmart with her winter coat yesterday.

This is me taken about 3 weeks ago.  I think I see a family resemblance,  Just didn't have my hat on.  Dang!   Maybe there is a silly gene!

Here'ssss your sign

My sister and I have a new take on the well known "Here's your sign" made famous by Mr. Foxworthy.
A few weeks ago we went shopping and I bought all the fabric I needed to make my first quilted wall hanging from a pattern in a quilting magazine.  I finally got around to looking at the directions and sort of got a little lost, and didn't want to start cutting fabric till I was sure.  So my sister was at my house one day and I got the magazine out and asked her to help me figure it out.  She studied the page then turned the page over and there was the rest of the directions that made it all clear.  So Turn the Page!
Well yesterday she was making fudge and she called me because she had a 15 ounce can of canned milk and the receipt called for 6 oz.  How was she going to figure out the correct amount.  I had her get her measuring cup and look at the side of it for the ounces!  Then I said just Turn the Page!  And we cracked up. 
I have a feeling as we age we are going to have alot of these Turn the Page moments.  Thanks big sister!

Makin the treadmill smoke

Literally!  I think my treadmill that I bought in 2003 is about to poop out on me.  If I stay on it for over a mile or if I go to fast (like that will happen right?)  it starts to smell like the motor is going to burn up.  Guess one day it will.  So maybe that's my excuse to not go more than a mile at a time.  When it starts to smell funny I shut it down.  I hate to call the Sears repair man, as I know it will cost an arm and a leg to have it looked at.  Who knows it may last along time it I am careful.  Anyone have this problem with treadmills?  I paid about $800 for it, hoping that I got one to last forever.  And its not anyone has ever RUN on it. Heaven forbid!  But it has been moved a number of times and of course it has had its periods of hibernation, when it has been buried under coats and such.

Thought for the day:  If after 60 you don't wake up aching in every joint, you're probably dead.

My casting call

I think I mentioned that I have been reading Janet Evanovich's books, the Stephanie Plun series while I walk on the treadmill.  I know they are going to start the series on TV soon, or have they already and I missed it?  Anyway, as I read I have a picture in my mind of which actors should play the characters.  So I did a little copy/paste here of actual pictures of who will be who and tell you who I think they should have been.

This is Stephanie ( Katherine Heigle) and Lulu ( Sherri Shepard)
Now I think they should have used Sandra Bullock and Wanda Sykes (might be to skinny) or Niecy Nash should have played Lulu.  Actually Niecy would be a perfect match.

Then this is Debbie Reynolds playing Grandma Mazur,  She will prob be OK  but wouldn't Betty White have been perfect.  OR better yet if she were alive, Estelle Getty.  Now she would have been perfect.
As for the guys, I don't really have an opinion,  other than maybe a younger Tom Selleck for Morelli.

Oh, well that's my two cents worth.  Anyone have any other ideas?  Or maybe you really don't give a dang!  You old grouch YOU.
PS  I found a nugget of info.  Since Stephanie Plum smokes, they are using one of those electronic cigarettes since the actress doesn't smoke.  So if you watch the series you are one up on that trick.

Favorite songs take on new meaning!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE DISTURBED ~


* 1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

* 2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are ... ...

* 3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

* 4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

A borrowed story is twice as good when shared again.

Parable of the twins...


Once upon a time, there were twin babies that were conceived in the same womb; weeks passed and the twins developed into what they were suppose to be. As their awareness grew, they smiled and laughed for joy - "Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it great that we are alive?! Together the twins explored their small world; finding their mother's cord that gave them life, they sang and leaped for joy again! "How great is our mother's love, that she shares her own life with us!" they sang...

As weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed however that each was changing, growing, getting bigger - "What does this mean?" said one. "I think it means our life in this world is drawing to an end" said the other.

"But I don't want to go, I want to stay here always!!!"

"We have no choice...but maybe there is a life after birth?" said the other. "How can that be?" responded the one." if we shed our life cord how is life possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others have been here before us and none of them have returned to tell us there is life after birth! No, this is the end!!!"

And so they fell into deep despair, both thinking out loud, "If conception ends in birth, what is the purpose of life in the womb? It is meaningless. Maybe there is no mother after all..."

"But there has to be a mother," protested the other. "How else did we get here? How do we remain alive?

But the one could not be consoled, defeatedly whispering "Have you ever seen our Mother? Maybe she only lives in our minds. Maybe we made her up because the idea made us feel good..."

And so their last days in the small womb were filled with deep questioning, and fear.

But soon, the moment they had dreaded finally arrived... And when the twins passed from their small world into the unknown, they opened their eyes and cried -

for what they saw exceeded their greatest dreams...


~Author unknown~

Two days in a row!

I had forgotten how a little exercise can make you feel so much better.  Oh, and I put a Janet Evonivich book on the treadmill to read while I walk.  She is so silly it makes the time fly.  I know if I can walk and read at the same time I am probably not walking fast enough, but you get good at these things, sort of like mulit-tasking.

About a year ago this week we had that huge snow storm that dumped on us.  Hope we don't get one like that this year.  I remember using the snow blower on the deck!

Thought for the day: From a church bulletin;  Weight Watchers will meet at 7PM at the First Presbyterian Church.  Please use large double door at the side entrance......... huh?

Dusted off the treadmill

So last pm I did a bunch of rearranging.  Seems I managed to stack a bunch of my weaving stuff behind the treadmill (in its folded up position) which is next to my big loom.  I got everything neatly stacked on the other side of the loom. I actually did have to dust it off.  Don't think I have used it since last winter. That is sad. I actually did 1/2 mile this morning.  Feel terrific.  This may be the elixir of life,  LOL.  I am thinking of calling this area my studio, sounds good huh?  See we have a family room joined open to the eat in kitchen, (This is where we live) so the living room never gets used except for the one end that is sort of a dining room, since the house has no dining room. I have converted the far end of the room into my "studio", little by little moving more stuff there and hanging some of my stuff on the wall. No one needs a formal living room anymore anyway! Now if I could just sell that big sofa, I could move my sewing machine in there.

I like.

Thought for the day:  Instead of complaining that a rose is full of thorns, be happy that a thorn bush has roses....a proverb

Dead in the water

Please don't tell me I am getting the Christmas/winter Blahs already!  I said DON'T TELL ME THAT!
Maybe I can blame it on the little head cold I had a week or so ago.  Then maybe not.  I always get this way in Dec.  I think I will pull up my big girl panties and make a conscious decision to NOT let it all get me down this year.  Yes, that is what I will do.  Maybe if I move a few things so I can unfold my treadmill and start hopping on it every morning for a few minutes that will perk me up.  Don't really have anything to be feeling bad about.  I just hate to see all the leaves gone off the trees.

Maybe I could just hibernate for about 6 weeks and wake up to a new year, heck make that 12 weeks!

Giving from the heart or Random act of kindness!

We have heard many stories of love and caring that have come out of the tornado in Joplin May 22nd. Sometimes when a story is told it touches someones heart and they feel they need to do something.  My sister and her daughter heard such a story from a lady recently.  I will retell it as best I can.  This guy 86 years old lived in a rented home in Joplin,  when the tornado hit he was in the shower.  He had time to grab his boxer shorts and hang onto his bath towel.  When it was over, the only wall left was the one next to his tub.  A lady and her husband and son were on a mission of their own to find her father who had gone to the hospital for his dialysis and after many detours found out finally that he had headed back home safely.  They saw this elderly man on the corner with hardly any cloths and stopped to offer to take him somewhere.  He said he had no one, no family at all.  So they took him home.  Over the summer he lived in their camper in the back yard and has recently been relocated into an apartment. 

When my sister and her daughter heard this story they wanted to do something for this guy that they never met.  Being quilters they knew what that would be.  So they combined all their flannel fabric and started cutting blocks.  They did random blocks that turned out beautiful and backed it with a smooth piece of fabric that looks like lining to a sleeping bag.  It will be a cozy quilt. 

Yesterday my sister and I went to Joplin to shop and delivered the quilt to the lady that rescued this man and she was so happy to get it and knew he would love it.  She promised to send a picture of him with his quilt soon.  So here is a pic of my sister with the quilt, front and back.

This is rather long, but I think very important!!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high

gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --

Merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This

year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine

concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift

giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes

there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in

a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates

from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some

health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned

detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a

book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down

the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift

receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or

driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift

certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about

a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this

isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town

Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or

motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a

local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is

struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin

their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery

and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave

your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at

your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese

lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about

fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to

burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that

China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about

US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow

their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our

communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

The last rose of summer

Hubby cut these roses yesterday after it stopped raining.  They are from a rose bush that belonged to my sister, Marge, who passed away 4 years ago.  I have move it 4 times now, even across country, and it still thrives.  We got about 5 1/2 inches of rain in 2 days.  Most of it slow rain and soaked in good.  Will be good to go into winter with the moisture.

I felt the earthquake Sat night just before 11 pm.  Was just dozing up and then heard this weird sound in the attic like the wind was blowing real hard, and heard the sewing machine at the other end of the room vibrate like it was sitting on a washing machine in the spin cycle.  I got up and looked out the window and there was no wind.  Also no more sound or vibrations.  Just as I got in bed, my daughter sent a text message that they had been shook with an earthquake!  Well I hadn't figured that out yet, but I finally realized that what I felt was an earthquake.  See here in the Midwest we don't feel them like some folks out west do.  The next day on the news found out it was a 5.6 quake about 150 miles away so thats why we felt it and alot of folks in Ok. had damage.

Thought for the day: We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing.


~Oliver Wendell Holmes~

Love those giggles

On my recent trip to Iowa I taped this little 30 seconds video of my friends grandson getting his toe nails painted by Grandma.  I just love to hear toddlers giggle!

Why I can't go to Target anymore!

RETIRED HUSBAND



After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target.

Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse.

Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target:

Dear Ms. Cliff,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Harris, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras:

1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
intervals.
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.
9.. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of the clerks passed out.

These options just showed up on my computer.

Got my Iowa FIX!

I went to Van Buren County, Iowa, last Saturday.  Intended to stay 3 nites but the weather was wonderful and I was enjoying myself I ended up staying one more day.  This is the old Manning Hotel B&B that I stayed at one nite.  My room was right above the T in Hotel.  Was a good experience.

Of course the room was a small bedroom with this antique furniture and bathroom, complete with creaky floors and an all night light shining in thru the door transom.  No TV, phone, frig, or dryer. Working at the hotel coffee shop when I was about 15 was one of my very first jobs.  So I thought I should spend one night there.  After that I stayed with friends.

This is the Bentonsport bridge on the Des Moines River.  As you can see the river was very low.  We were looking for steel spikes that loosen up from the old timbers that are visible only when the water is low.  There used to be a dam across the river many years ago.  The guy is Bill Printy who is a black smith and makes beautiful things from the spikes.

This is Betty Printy "whipping" up a challis for a church that needed to be done ASAP.  She is the partner of Iron and Lace.  The lace being the queen anne's lace flower that is fired into her pottery. She and I go back to our growing up years in that area.   http://ironandlace.com/index.htm  Her website if anyone wants to learn more about the area.

This is April, their daughter (who I happened to help deliver 30 years ago)  I got to work with her to pick up some skills of wrapping warp on a huge 60 inch loom.

This was one of the best things about the trip.  I got to have a REAL pork tenderloin sandwich as only VB County can make.  It was awesome!!
I have more pictures to share but that's it for now.

Thought for the day:  It is good to have an end to journey toward: but it is the journey that matters, in the end.... Ursula K LeGuin

Reincarnation

REINCARNATION



by Wally McRae


What is reincarnation? The Cowpoke asked his friend

His pal replied it happens when your life has reached its end

They comb your hair and wash your neck and clean your fingernails

And lay you in a padded box away from life's travails

And the box then goes in a hole that's been dug in the ground

And reincarnation starts in when your're planted neath the mound

Then clods melt down, just like the box, and you who is inside

And then you're just beginning on your transformation ride

Meanwhile the grass will grow upon your rendered mound

And soon upon your lonely grave a single flower is found

And then a horse will wonder by and graze upon flower

That once was you and now become your vegetated bower

The posie that the horse done eat along with his other feed

Makes bone and fat and muscle essential to the steed

But some is left that he can't use and so it passes thru

And finally lays upon the ground this thing that once was you

And say by chance I wanders by, and sees this on the ground

And I ponders and wonders at this object that I've found

And I thinks of reincarnation and life and death and such

And I come away concluding you ain't changed all that much.

Gotta love Maxine

So after landing my new job as a Wal-Mart greeter,


a good find for many retirees, I lasted less than a day....



About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud,

unattractive, mean-acting woman walked into the store with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.

I said pleasantly, 'Good morning and welcome to Wal-Mart.

Nice children you have there. Are they twins?'

The ugly woman stopped yelling long enough to say,

'Hell no, they ain't twins. The oldest one's 9, and the other one's 7.

Why the hell would you think they're twins? Are you blind, or stupid?'

So I replied,

'I'm neither blind nor stupid, Ma'am, I just couldn't believe someone slept with you twice. Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.'

My supervisor said I probably wasn't cut out for this line of work.

Just a tidbid from my trip

I drive an 89 Toyota 4Runner and while on my trip this week it turned over the big one.  So I pulled right over on the interstate and took a pic of the dial!

This is a picture of an Iowa port tenderloin!!  They know how to do it right up there! Went back to my roots for a few days.  The weather was awesome!  I just sucked in that Iowa air and enjoyed every minute of it.  I feel like my cup runneth over.  Well after eating this tenderloin, something is runnething over!

Yup, frost is on the pumpkin

Got our first frost this week, 2 nites in a row.  Had to put the winter blanket on the bed, and we have fired up the fireplace.  Feels and looks good even if it is gas.

OK so I am a quilter

My first blocks.  My sister spend a day with me this week and taught me how to cut and stitch the blocks.  Please take note of the perfect corners that meet!!!!  The sign of a real Quilter!   LOL  The second one is to take to the quilt club. (Both blocks are made from the same fabric, the color of the top is sharper because of the lighting.)
We are bringing a 12 in. block in red, white, and blue then will join them all together to make a quilt to raffle off next 4th of July!!!  Make money for the club.
Been a quiet week at the store.  Have a couple here today set up to buy gold.  We been advertising all week but so far no takers.  They offered my 80$ for my class ring, but I think not.

Thought for the day:  Women will never be equal to men.  Only men can walk down the sidewalk with a bald head and beer gut and still think they are sexy!

I think I am a junk yard junky!

Don't know if there is a cure for this but I think I have had it all my life.  I love a bargain, I hate waste, & I like to recycle stuff.  I see something and always think, "what could I make out of that?" I don't have the skills to do the heavy duty stuff like welding axles and lawn mower handles together, but that sounds like fun.
Here is a picture of a little footstool that I got at a garage sale for $1 and painted it. I made a crazy quilt top from some yard sale fabric samples and used my handy dandy electric staple gun and Walla! Here is the stool.  Ready to give to my 3 year old great grand daughter.

I like a bargain so much that my husband says "you are so cheap, you screw your shoes on!"

Five steps of Grief

I copied this from the internet when I looked it up.  This is to share with a special person and you know who you are.  I was taking a psyc class way back when, during the time that I was separating from my first husband.  As it says at the end of this list, it was originally developed to stage the steps of grief when one finds they have a terminal disease.  But the steps also follow along with any great loss in your life.  I remember feeling that I went thru every step here.  I have read that sometimes you don't go thru them in order or you may bounce between one or the other, but eventually you end up at the same place and that is acceptance.  And that is what we have to do when we are overwhelmed with a loss.
So to that special person, know you are not alone, not the first, even though it may feel like it. No loss should ever be minimized as we each have to deal with it in our own time and way.  So read this, it is for you and for the other one.

1.Denial — "I feel fine."; "This can't be happening, not to me."


Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of possessions and individuals that will be left behind after death.

2.Anger — "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"

Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy.

3.Bargaining — "I'll do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."

The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, "I understand I will die, but if I could just do something to buy more time..."

4.Depression — "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point... What's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"

During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.

5.Acceptance — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."

In this last stage, individuals begin to come to terms with their mortality, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event.

Kübler-Ross originally applied these stages to people suffering from terminal illness, later to any form of catastrophic personal loss (job, income, freedom). This may also include significant life events such as the death of a loved one, major rejection, end of a relationship or divorce, drug addiction, incarceration, the onset of a disease or chronic illness, an infertility diagnosis, as well many tragedies and disasters

What if you knew when your death would come?

Would you live your daily life differently? 
I laid in bed last night thinking about this.  Would we waste our last days doing the same old thing, day in and day out?  Or would we try to look at each day as a gift to be lived to the fullest?
And what does that really mean when the end will still be the same?  In the afterlive will we remember how we lived this life?  I believe this life is a stepping stone for further spiritual growth and we will come back to learn more lessons as we grow in our spirit (soul)  choose your own word there.
It only makes sense to me that when we see suffering or experience it ourselves it is for a purpose.
All that we experience, good and bad is what makes us who we are at any given time in our life.
I am not the same person I was when I was 20, 30, 40, or 50.  I guess actually I am not the same person I was yesterday.  Each day changes who we are. We are the sum total of all our life experiences. 
And you know when you are young you don't know this stuff! We waste so much of our time because we think we have SO much time that we don't even think of it.
OK enough philosophy for today.  Just some things I ponder.  I have lost a brother and a sister this last decade, and it does make you realize that our days really are numbered, wheather we know it or not.

We are in trouble here.

Over five thousand years ago,

Moses said to the children of Israel "Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land."

Nearly 75 years ago, (when Welfare was introduced),
Roosevelt said "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel.
This is the Promised Land."

Today,
Congress has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels, and mortgaged the Promised Land!

I was so depressed last night thinking about Health Care Plans, the economy, multiple wars, lost jobs and savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc.,

I called a Suicide Hotline. I had to press "1" for English.

I was connected to a Call Center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal.

They got excited, and asked if I could drive a truck!


Folks, we're in trouble!

My old college

Went out to the college this morning to find a guy who teaches weaving.  I am hoping he can help me with my problems with my floor loom. Still having trouble getting treddles adjusted.
This is the college that I graduated from for my LPN nursing program back in 1973.  It has changed so much,  The old building on the right and way back one on the left were the main buildings when I went there.  Now there are so many more buildings, I think it is awesome. Alot of this lawn was parking lot I believe.  I would have liked to be a college student forever.  Could a person make a career out of going to college?  I went back to school in 1986 to finish up for my RN degree in Carson City Nv.  Have been back to that campus a few years ago and it has changed alot too.

Thought for the day:  If it happens twice, its not a fluke___ but it could be 2 flukes. 

copy-paste, copy-paste! Hey!!

Three friends from a local congregation were asked, 'when you're in your casket, and friends are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?


Artie said: 'I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.'

Eugene commented: 'I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and a servant of God who made a huge difference in people's lives.'

Tom said: 'I'd like them to say, 'Look, he's moving!'
 
This was in some e-mail sent to me.  I am just so dang happy that I can copy and paste onto my blog now it is hard to tell what might show up here.  Look Out CoffeePot!
 

It has been great to be back in my little book store after our vacation.  Sometimes togetherness just gets to be a little much and you need some space.  But have to say the store has been pretty busy.  Don't know if its the cooler weather or what.  But I will take it!
Been working most of the day off and on to get my Oct. column done for the newspaper.  I read the trilogy by Steig Larsson this last month: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. That was quite a feat to get all three of them done on time.  What happened to the time I just read for the fun???
 
Thought for the day:
The reason Politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would 'hate' to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.

Out of the mouth of babes

Subject: Truth

I was eating lunch on the 20th of February with my 7 year-old granddaughter and I asked her, "What day is tomorrow?"

She said, "It's President's Day!" (She is a smart kid.)

I asked, "What does President's Day mean?" I was waiting for something about Washington or Lincoln... etc.

She replied, "President's Day is when President Obama steps out of the White House, and if he sees his shadow we have one more year of unemployment."


You know, it hurts when hot coffee spurts out your nose...

Wyoming trip

Been gone for a week.  Hubby and I took his sister with us on a trip to Wyoming.  We had a good cloudy day to start with, then second day headed north from Limon Co. and drove many miles in heavy fog and drizzle.  It was my turn to be driving.  Hubby didn't like me following a truck and I know he wanted me to go around but I liked following something to look at and not stare at that fog.  Anyway that was the only bad weather. Got to Saratoga on Thurs evening and stayed till Mon AM. 

The picture is of the Platte River at Saratoga.  On Sat. we did a float trip with a guide down 6 miles of the river, it was 37 degrees when we started.  Caught quite a few fish.  Hubby caught all German Brown Trout and I caught the Rainbows.  BUT, they were all over 16 inches so were released back to the river.  (POUT)  The guide said we might have to go to the lake to "kill" some fish.  We did try that the next day (twice) but only "killed" one nice big rainbow.  So didn't have to worry about how to get "all" the fish home.   We were watch by 4 young bald eagles as they circled above us, then we say a mature one in a tree with his beautiful white head.  I took some video but with my little camera it left alot to be desired.

We drove up into the Medicine Bow forest in the Snowy Mountain range east of Saratoga.  It is awesome up there.  It was a clear beautiful day.  I took this picture from up near the top.

I just did Blogger's update and I think I am liking it.  I see I can now add pictures in the middle of my text instead of all of them being stacked together.  Always wondered how other folks did that.  LOL
I don't think that you will find these heads in your local grocery store, unless you are in Wyoming!

We toured the museum at Encampment, south of Saratoga and were treated with this 2 story outhouse.

Of course the guy told the story of how it was used.  See when the snow gets deep in the winter they closed off the lower level, (after raising the seats). Then you had to go up the stairs and use the upper level.  Now how cleaver was that?                                                                                                      

Thought for the day:  The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Men!

Can't live with them, can't live without them. Right? At least that is how the old saying goes. Oh, I think the rest of it is that you can't shoot them either.

I think men really are from Mars. How can we say something and have it so distorted in their minds that what they end up thinking is not at all what we said or meant. An example that I can use is one of my own.

Me: Honey we are about out of milk.

He hears: Why didn't you buy milk today instead of sitting on your butt watching TV all day.

And the other thing, they are supposed to be so tough and macho. But if that is the case why do we have to be so careful about their feelings? We try to avoid saying things that might let them think they are not manly. My hubby thinks that only woosies take a nap. So he tries real hard to not take a "nap" when I am around. I try to tell him that at his age it is actually good for him to take a little nap after lunch. All the Dr. reports say it is. But he grew up tough and was taught that you didn't cry, nap, or let your shoes go unshined.

So tell me do men really come from Mars?

Who is blond?

My friend Llynn and I were doing some carpenter work on a Habitat for Humanity House.

Lynn was nailing down house siding, she would reach into her nail pouch, pull out a nail and either toss it over her shoulder or nail it in.

I figured this was worth looking into, so asked "why are you throwing those nails away?"

Lynn explained, "when I pull a nail out of my pouch, about half of them have the head on the wrong end and I throw them away." (dumb blond)

I got upset and yelled, "you moron! Those nails aren't defective? They're for the other side of the house!"

thought for the day: The statics on sanity in America is that 1 out of every 4 suffer from some form of mental illness. Think of your 3 best friends, if they are OK then it's YOU.

A good haul

Looks like we are finally going to get some cooler weather and maybe get into fall without dehydrating ourselves down to one of those dried apple people that you see in the fall.

Stopped at 2 garage sales this morning on way to store, after I made a trip to the recycle center to leave off all our "stuff". Got a new leather purse for $2. Then used a Walmart bag for the "fill your bag for $3" Got 2 pair of jeans, a new pair of cool shoes for grand daughter that are high top with lots of those silver studs all up the sides, plus 2 large items that I loved the color and will cut up for my crafting. So I think I did pretty dang good.

I will post a picture of what I do with alot of my fabric. I really enjoy making these bowls on the sewing machine. Must have about 30 of them now. When my sister tries to get me to quilt, I say I need projects where I get instant gratification. I am just that way!

Thought for the day: Our life is frittered away by detail..... Simplify, simplify--- Thoreau