Last one......maybe

As you can see, they are all beady eyed now and getting feathered out.  Will be gone a few days so they may be gone when I get back.  Next year we will put a basket under the nest right off and let them have at it.  Our little house wren is back and has decided to nest in the gourd that I hung just inside the carport.  They are happy as can be, and singing up a storm.  Have another one hanging in the tree, but I think we just have the one pair so far.  I sat on the deck last pm and let him/her sing to me from across the deck.  

One last picture till later........

23 Adult Truths

(Just a little something I sort of borrowed from a friend)

1 Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How on earth are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind-of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Ladies.....Quit Laughing.

Their nest runneth over!

We got 3 inches of rain over the weekend and as a result the back side of the robin nest was sagging badly and the kids are getting pretty big, so of course we had to mess with Mother Nature.  I used a bag that avocados came in and we pinned it up behind the nest, then pulled the back down under the nest and tied it off.  Hopefully this will help.  Someone told me that they helped their robins by actually using a small basket and putting the nest in it and fastened  the basket to the tree and the Momma didn't mind at all.  Ours are working hard to feed the 4 babies.

Been keeping an eye on a the pair of crows that live nearby.  We have seen them carrying baby birds in their beak with a flock of robins squawking their heads off, chasing the crow.  And you know they weren't taking the baby birds to adopt! DANG Crows!

When you look do you really see?

This is a video site that I wish to share.  I was very moved by it and hope others will take a few minutes and watch it.  The photography is beautiful and the message is timeless!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&vq=medium

Oh, babies outgrow things so fast

They are either 4 or 5 days old here.  All mouth!  Mom and Dad are hard at work now trying to keep them full.

Are you bored yet?  Sort of like watching cement dry huh? 

We have babies!

Just hatched baby robins!  Mom and Dad are staying close by and feeding these little babies.  So guess you will have to see pictures of them as they grow up.  Won't take long!

Look Hard!

See anything about in the middle?  Look hard now!

I bet you see now!

Awesome huh?  This nest if just off my front porch.  Since I didn't lay the eggs you have my permission to take this picture.  If you enter a contest with it and win lots of money I strongly encourage you to share,  it would be the right thing to do!

Out of body experience

Thought I would share this bit of info that I read recently and I felt I could relate to it.  Maybe you will see yourself here too. The following paragraph is copied from the article.

Ever get the bizarre feeling that you're floating out of your skin?  It can happen as your brain is transitioning to sleep and the temporal-parietal junction (area responsible for synthesizing a sensation of position, gravity, motion,k and vision) turns off while you're still conscious.  Without all that information, a person can feel as  if she's detached from her body, looking back at her physical self.

I don't exactly feel detached, but often just as I start to doze off I do get a strange sensation of floating or detachment.  Sort of like when you are given that injection that sends you into sleep when you have a procedure or surgery.

Thought for the day:  If you are never the lead dog, the scenery never changes!

More serendipity!

Looks like Spring/Summer is here to stay.  Lots of mowing and gardening going on!

I just finished a very good book that I will do a review on for my newspaper column but just wanted to mention it here. 

You know that I believe in serendipity! (An apparent aptitude for making accidentally fortunate discoveries)  Or coincidences (  An accidental occurrence of related or identical events, ideas, etc. at the same time)   Actually I don't really think there are coincidences.  I think that is just our higher self guiding us to see things that will help make us more aware.   All that said, the book that I just finished is called: Those Who Save Us, by Jenna Blum. 
For some reason I have been drawn to read historical fiction this past year or so.  I like a good book with some sustenance to it that actually make me think.  I frequently find my self going to my Atlas to see just where the story setting is located, or to the Internet to learn more about a real person who was mentioned in the story.  This book goes back and forth from the mother in the late 30's and early 40's during WW 11.  And her daughter in a more modern time of the 90's.  The mother is a young 18 year old in Germany during the uprising of Hitler.  She falls in love with a Jewish veterinarian and ends up hiding him in her attic, till months later her father finds out and turns him to go to one of the "camps"  She runs away and finds refuge with a Jewish woman who is a baker and stays with her and delivers a baby girl.  Fast forward to the 90's and this girl is a professor of German history at a university and gets involved in a study of how the German population dealt with all that happened in Germany during these years.  Over the years her mother has very closed mouth about how she survived.  Toward the end of the book there is a quote with the title of : those who saved us, (those who shamed us).
I found this to be a wonderful read, and recommend it to others of my age who were born just after this war and really don't have a very good understanding about what all has happened.
Now for the serendipity part.  Just as I finished the book, I got an e-mail from a friend and it was a commentary (to long to post here) I did a copy/paste of the heading, so maybe you can google the article.

(ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish writer Sebastian Vilar Rodriguez and published in a Spanish newspaper on Jan.15, 2008. It doesn't take much imagination to extrapolate the message to the rest of Europe - and possibly to the rest of the world.)

It is very good reading and compares what happened with the Jewish population and with all the political correctness now, the Muslim population is exploding in Europe and it compares the accomplishments of the 2 nationalities. 

So that's my story for today. I don't really intend this all to sound political, but just stuff to ponder. If you need some deep thoughts I offer these things to read.  Will copy this for my other blog too.

Afternoon sex

Afternoon Sex




The only way to pull off a Sunday afternoon 'quickie' with their 8-year old son in the apartment
Was to send him out on the balcony with a Popsicle and tell him to report on all the neighborhood activities.
He began his commentary as his parents put their plan into operation:

- 'There's a car being towed from the parking lot,' he shouted.

- 'An ambulance just drove by!'

- 'Looks like the Anderson 's have company,' he called out.

- 'Matt's riding a new bike!'

- 'Looks like the Sanders are moving!'

- 'Jason is on his skate board!'

- After a few moments he announced, 'The Coopers are having sex!'



Startled, his mother and dad shot up in bed! Dad cautiously called out..

'How do you know they're having sex?'



'Cause Jimmy Cooper is standing on his balcony with a Popsicle.'

Stop, Stop I can't take it any more!

No good reason to use this picture, but it just makes me laugh every time I see it in my file, so here it is. Got nothing interesting today so just leaving for "my" weekend and wanted to leave a few parting words.


Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly widow and asked, 'How old was your husband?'

'98,' she replied..
'Two years older than me'
'So you're 96,' the undertaker commented..

She responded, 'Hardly worth going home, is it?

Lets think healthy this spring.

I like these 10 rules!

For your Health:


> 1. Drink plenty of water.

> 2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

> 3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

> 4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

> 5. Make time to pray.

> 6. Play more games

> 7. Read more books than you did in 2011 .

> 8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

> 9. Sleep for 7 hours.

> 10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Do taxes make you mad?

I am so dang mad!  Last year we got talked into investing some money in the stock market.  So of course we bought local stuff that we were sure was secure, our local Electric company that has been around for ever.  I always heard that you invest in what you use alot.  Sounded smart.  The dumb thing was to put a stop/sell flag on it. (we were sort of talked into this)  That made sense in case Obama did something really weird and the market crashed.  At least we wouldn't lose all of it.  Well about 2 months later the Joplin tornado hit and guess what happened to the stock market value of the electric company?  It dropped like a hot potato!  So guess what?  Of course it sold with out us even having a chance to say, whoa, we will ride this one out. Done, done, to bad. Gone.  Lost almost 3,000$.  Now I went to have my taxes done and find out, you guessed it, now I have to claim this sale of stock as income for 2011!!!!  Dang, this was money that was in the bank the first of the year and had already been taxed before it got there.  Now all of a sudden it is income and we get taxed again.   All seems very unfair, except we can take the amount lost as a loss.  Whoopi!  Won't know till next week when taxes are finalized how it will come out.  So just beware, if you have stock and you have a stop/sell on it you could get into trouble.  Heck look at Martha Stewart!  Except she got in trouble cause the stock sold when it got HIGH, not low.  We are to stupid for the stock market.

PS: just found out this is my 700th post!

The other me

If you haven't checked out my other blog site, here it is. It started out to be all about my book store, then it sort of just morphed into a site for me to document alot of my crafts and stuff that I do at the store to entertain myself.  Thought I would share this site with anyone out there who reads this one.  I know you are there somewhere in the world as I have a stat counter.  Gotcha!
http://readagainbooks.blogspot.com/

Please drive carefully!

For some reason I have been addicted to looking at the accident reports in the local paper.  There may be 4 or 5 listed daily and over half are single car accidents and they say the driver ran off the road, of course then many times they either hit a tree or roll over several times.  Sometimes there are fatalities or just that routine care flight to the hospital.  What the heck are these people doing that they drive off the road!.  Then the other half of the accidents are one car crossing the line and hitting another car.  Same thing, what are these people doing??  I have a guess.  Bet you can't guess what it is!  Could it be the cell phone?  Or the meal they are eating while driving?  Or all the other personal things that are going on that distract the driver?
I just think we forget that we are driving a heavy piece of machinery here that requires our attention and respect.
In central Mo. about a week ago was a tragic accident of a gal crossing the center line and hitting a car head on.  Killed the father, 3 year old, and mother.  They were on way home from the hospital with a newborn baby!  The baby was ejected in its car seat and survived!  What a tragedy!  The other odd thing was that the new mother and the young girl driver worked together!
So look at your paper and tell me what you think.  Just for one day!  DRIVE CAREFULLY!

Thought for the day:  Life is just one damn thing after another....  Winston Churchill

Spring has sprung

Couldn't believe it when I looked closer to this huge tree in our front yard.  It is popping out with blooms and I took this on the first day of March, 73degrees!  The tornadoes that swept thru a couple nites ago missed us by at least 35 miles.  Scary things.  My elderly sister in law lives on the lower level of our house and I heard her alert radio go off a couple times during the nite.  She is obsessed with the weather!  Listens to her weather radio several times a day, cuts the weather deal out of the paper and keeps track of them.  Not sure if this is healthy but guess it gives her something to be doing.  But on the other hand she sure makes good chocolate chip cookies and pies for my hubby.  I hardly ever bake!

Spam in my Box!

OK  call me stupid but I can't find my blogger spam box!!  I have seen that some of my fellow bloggers are having their comments blocked because our big brother at Blogspot has decided to protect us from "bad" comments.  Well I just can't find the spam box so I can OK comments from folks that it is OK to leave comments.  I know you would help me out here but probably your comment will just get sent to the comment spam box and I won't be able to read it.  I did a copy and paste of the instructions.  Any ideas and if you have my e-mail address, at least a couple of you do.  Then send me info.  Thank you very much!

Blogger now filters comments that are likely spam comments to a Spam Inbox, much like the spam folder in your email. When someone leaves a comment on your blog, it will be reviewed against our spam detector, and comments that are identified as possible spam will be sent to your blog’s Spam Inbox, found at Comments
Spam.

You can help improve our ability to automatically detect spam comments by checking your Spam Inbox and deleting spam comments and marking real comments that may have been flagged as spam as Not Spam.

We are always seeking feedback on how to improve this feature, so please share your feedback with us by clicking on the Report Spam Filtering Issues.


LMAO:   Just as I posted this I was on the site that showed all my posts and to the left was "comments"  I clicked on it and there were all the comments and I couldn't believe the ton of anonymous SPAM comments that had been filtered out.  So I have to eat my words and I unspammed you coffeepot! 
Live and Learn huh?

It's me God

Subject: Fw: Eve chats with God - (You will enjoy this one)

"Lord, I have a problem."

"What is it, Eve?"

"I know that you created me and provided this beautiful garden and all of these wonderful animals, especially that hilarious snake, but I'm just not happy."

"And why is that Eve?"

"Lord, I'm lonely, and I'm sick to death of apples."

"Well, Eve, in that case I have a solution. I shall create a man for you."

"Man? What is that Lord?"

"A flawed creature with many bad traits. He'll lie, cheat and be vain. All in all he'll give you a hard time, but he'll be bigger and faster and will like to hunt and kill things. I'll create him in such a way that he will satisfy your physical needs. He will be witless and will revel in childish things like fighting and kicking a ball about. He won't be as smart as you, so he will also need your advice to think properly."

"Sounds great," says Eve, with ironically raised eyebrows, " but what's the catch?"

"Well,.....you can have him on one condition."

"And what's that Lord? "

"Well, since he'll be proud, arrogant and self-admiring, you'll have to let him believe that I made him first. And it will have to be our little secret .. you know, woman to woman."

 

My Angel

Ok I need to quit with the silly joke stuff or no one will read my blog!  Besides I think I have 15 peeps so far!
Today I want to chat about that Angel on your shoulder!  You know what I mean, that little voice that tells you something if you will just listen to it.  Sometimes it feels like intuition but I feel it is something more.  I had a friend in the store yesterday and we were chatting away and the conversation came around to this subject and I was telling my thoughts on it.  I like to think of it as my "higher self" since were were made in God's imagine why wouldn't we have these kinds of insight or power if we would just listen for it.  Anyway  I have to digress to something so that this all ties together.
About 3 months ago I was driving along and something nudged me to think about a house. It was probably 20 years ago when I first noticed this house.  I could see this house in my minds eye, see how it set off the highway in a little low area, and had willow trees growing around it.  I remembered seeing the house being built and the trees small.  It was one of those add on jobs, as you could tell that rooms were built a little at a time and it has strange turrets and a second story was added.  Well for some reason it really bugged me that I couldn't remember where the heck this house was located.  I could see it but not where it was.  So I tried real hard to think of all the little towns I had driven thru in my area, and I had taken that trip to Iowa last fall and wondered if it was up there.  So had to let it rest as I couldn't remember.
Well yesterday after my conversation with this friend, I was driving home and for the first time in several weeks that house popped into my mind and again I wondered where it was, and about a mile down the highway, I looked over to the left and there it was!!!  Only about 3 miles from my home.  It sat there in the willow trees, but sadly it has burned down!!! This was a shock as I just don't remember seeing a burned home along there so now I have to see if I can find out how long ago it burned down.
Cross my heart this is all true, and I do believe my little Angel on my shoulder wanted me to think about this and look over and put it all to rest, well at least till I find out how long ago it burned down.  Wonder if a neighbor would think I was nuts if I stopped one day? Think I will stop in the AM and take a picture to post.
So there you have it,  I am just a little weird huh?  Anyone else got an Angel on their shoulder?

PS.  Here is a picture of the site that I took this morning. If you click on the picture you can see the stone wall.  It is curved and has a sort of medieval look to it. Just wanted to share it along with my story.

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my husband purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
________________________________

MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines... I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!! ________________________________

TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
_______________________________

WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.
_______________________________

THURSDAY:
Butt hole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank. ________________________________

FRIDAY:
I hate that *%!@# Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
________________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
_______________________________

SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Love this gum!

I dropped into a discount grocery store a couple weeks ago, looking for old bread for hubby to feed the blue jays.  I saw this gum at the checkout for 33 cents so bought one.  It is coffee flavored.  Wonderful stuff.  Stays soft a long time too.  So went back next day and bought the rest that they had, about 8 packs.  I have never seen it in regular stores.  Made in USA too.

The Very Best Birthday Gift Ever

My daughter has been planning for several weeks for this day!  I was very proud that she set my birthday as her new day of no smoking.  She told everyone and prepared herself for success!                                                                                                        

I AM SO PROUD OF HER!

This is the best gift she could give her mother.

Besides I tell her I have to have her around for when I get old and senile.  No pressure there!

Love you baby girl!

I really do have one! Or maybe more!

My son called this morning and in our conversation I was talking to him about a procedure that I had heard of that I thought would help his health.  I do worry about him.  Then I very proudly mentioned that his sister was giving me the best gift of all for my birthday (next week).  She has been setting up a support system and telling everyone that she will have her last cigarette the night before my birthday.  How awesome is that.  Of course I mentioned to my son (he is a smoker,,,, again,,,) about how I worry about their health and would like to see them all quit!   In a laughing voice (I think)  my son said," you must have a row of soap boxes to step from one to the other". 
I think that was a compliment.  Maybe?

Land Ho!

I just got this from my big brother and had to share it around.  Gotta love a good excuse.  This one about takes the cake.

Blue mug rug

I recycled granny's night gown for this little rug! 

Thinking to hard

http://www.raptitude.com/  This is an interesting blog that I follow.  The last post is quite interesting.  It is about how this younger generation is having their life "recorded" for them unlike any time before.  You will have to just read it to get his thoughts.  I found it interesting.

As for my own thoughts for the day.  As I was driving to the store I was thinking about how it is that you can't be born with the same "smarts" that you have when you are older.  Mainly I was thinking about what we eat.  I think of how I ate when I was in my 20's and 30's and I wish I had made better choices and knew about the better choices.  Maybe there are just stages in life that you have to go thru to get to that place where it all clicks.  I work hard to avoid sugars now and even use artificial sugar to a minimum. I am a big fiber nut.  I try to use whole grain products and read labels alot.  Not only to make sure that what's in it is stuff I can read and understand but that if at all possible it comes from USA.  Sorry but I just can't eat fish from Thialand or Shrimp from there or China.  Look at whats happened to our orange juice for crying out loud!  Thank God we have been drinking Florida Naturals all this time.  But what about our little ones that drink all this cheaper OJ that is being shipped in, diluted, and adulterated in all sorts of ways?  Then there is the issue of all the chemicals that kids are consuming now.  There is no end is there till WE ALL get smart.  $$$$$$  that is the big issue as it is in alot of things.  Don't get me started on the medical stuff.

I like the saying/prayer:  "Lord keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth"

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.