I read several blogs and find a number of them filled with doom and gloom ,yet each has something of value to say and share. I hope mine does, too.

I live a quiet life and I guess I may be classified as one of the sheeple the other blogers write about. Sometimes we have limited choices in life when it comes to finances, homes , jobs, location, famlilies and lots of trivia. I would like to be a "prepper," but S.S benifits limit what I can buy and accumulate in the way stocking up and/or being ready. I know Treesong does well on a limited income, but remember that old saying: "Two can live cheaper than one?" It does ring true.

I have worked for a non-profit nursing home for a long time. You don't make big bucks in a non- profit institution, but I have done OK. What aggrivates me is that I have paid into the S.S. for 40 yrs. and note that I am not getting much bang for my bucks. If I had been on welfare I would have had nearly free housing, nearly free medical care, help with heating and utilities and food stamps. However, in spite of poor health I stayed off the gove. dole and am happy that I could do so. I take pride in it.

What makes me mad is what butt-smart critics who refer to people recieving "entitements" as a strain and drain on the govenment treasury. I worked and payed into a corrupt system that has "borrowed" social security funds to shore up a govenment that never has had to budget because they have access to OUR money.

Well, things are gonna change and it will be the poor and near poor and middle class that will pay for changes that will remain the same.

Welfare should not be for people who will not work, but for people in true need. Down the street from me is govenment housing. The kids have cell phones, Ipods, roam the streets smoking and who knows what. They have cable and nice cars. Young grils that look like they should be in grade school trape up and down the center of the street with street with strollers and babies. Someone forgot to tell them not to screw around, get pregnant and live off the sytem.

My views date me. I am from a generation that is fading into oblivian, but I am like Old Glory, fading with pride and integrity. meb

This day started out with a bang...this morning as I poured freshly brewed coffee into my cup, the cup literley exploded. Good thing I was wearing my "warmies," fleece shirt, pants and socks or I would have been badly scallded. As it was the top of my foot was slightly burned and I did a little dance. I was so surprised that I didn't even yelp. I never had that happen before.

The bottom of the cup blew out leaving a perfect round ring. I guess I could use it for a Chrismas decoration. Very interesting way to start the day.

It has rained all day and has been very chilly and gloomy. Not a day for shopping so I didn't 'though I had intended to. Intended to get lots done, but didn't do that either. I need to go to the store 'cause I am digging into my "hoard" of stocked up food.

The gove.says to stock up so I have..or tried to. Need to try harder and do a better job at it because the way I eat I would run out of food in about 4 days if we had a storm or anything.

Tommorow the sun is supposed to shine a little so maybe I will shine, too. meb

winterizing

I know it's time to winterize the house and get ready for what may come. I haven't done it yet. Lack of ambition on my part. I need to cover the window air conditioners because wasps are finding sanctuary in the kitchen. I need to repair the door threshold because the crickets are dancing in under the door and singing their songs at night. I haven't done any of that yet. I have a big roll of plastic just waiting to do what it is supposed to do..but my ambition is on vacation. I haven't even turned the heat on yet.

Maybe it's because I am getting older, my bones creak and joints ach..maybe. Or maybe I am just lazy..you think?

This coming week is supposed to be pretty chilly and rainy, so I'd better get on the ball. I read other blogs and wonder how thoses people get so much done in the space fo a day. I guess I just sit and read too many blogs.

I pulled everything out of a closet in hopes of putting up shelves and turning it into a pantry. Now I have all this stuff in the middle of the floor and no shelves..yet.

But I'm gonna. I am gonna get all these things done. Yes..stay tuned. MEB

BREAD MAKING

I recently bought a bread maker at The Goodwill Store for $5 bucks. I always wanted one and now I have one. I put it to use and it works well. When your making your own without a loan you know what goes in it. There are no hormones, chemicals, preseratives, insects or "droppings." It taste better and is better for you. None of that glue ball stuff that sticks to the roof of your mouth.

I use a big meat slicer to slice the bread when it is cool. I make sure the meat slicer is very clean and sanitary. Adjust the blade to about the width of a store bought slice of bread. It looks just like store bought bread when your done. If you make more than 1 loaf wrap it and freez it as there are no preservitives in it.

Take a deep breath and smell the bread baking. Snif, Snif, smells good doesn'it? MEB

Take a deep breath. Winter is coming. The higher gas bills will blow in with the cold winds from the frozen north and it won't be Jolly St. Nick exhaling. Preditions are that it will be a cold winter. The utility companies have told us we will pay more(what else is new) to heat our homes.
year
I have an old home, not well built andnowt well thought out. I have improved on over the years and it is paid for, so here I stay.

However, I am trying to butten it up for the expected cold weather and higher bills.

I went to the utility company and got on the budget plan. They average your bill/usage for the year and bill you accordinly. I am single and conservative, so my bill is only $124.00 per month. This includes gas, electric, water and sewer, scool tax and library tax. Don't think that I am scrimping or doing without. I am not. But, I am not wastefull.

I also went back and set up an automatic bill pay plan. It saves me from going out in the winter weather and saves on gas and time. And I neverhave to pay late fees.

Anyone can do this. Even if you are on S.S as I am it will work out well and save time and money, wear and tear on car and body and car.

Also, I have found a new or better use for plastic bags. I stuff ever little crack or cravise I can find. Tacky, you say? Not really because after you seal it you can caulk it and it looks perfeckly normal..part of the construction. And the house is warmer.

Take sheets of bubble wrap and cut to size to cover windows. Wet windows and stick the boublle wrap to the windows. I am short and I like to look out the windows so I only cover the upper half of the window. Heat rises so that will keep the warm air from escaping out the upper half of the windows.

LivingLessons

Waiting to exhale? Don't hold your breath. You'll turn purple. Your alive..or will be if you exhale and breath deep. Ahh, just smell that polluted air!

Every blog I read is fraught with doom and gloom. I'm poor so I have no money to lose..unless the government defaults and keeps my Social Security check.

But be happy!! I have good cheer brewing away in the back room, food in the pantry, gas in the tank and plenty of toilet paper.

The government wouldn't have to default to take my s.s. check..or yours. They have been doing it for years. You know, borrowing against it, like every thing else they have siphoned off .

Back to the Home Brew. My grape vine was very productive this summer. I called 2 different charities to see if they wanted to come pick them.

"Oh Yes!" they say. No one called back. No one came to pick them. These charities must be getting government bailouts or big donations so they did't need to expand their energies.

So I am making wine. I should have 6 or 7 bottles by Christmas. When I have it strained and bottled I will take some over to the residents that I used to take care of.

Wine is so easy to make.
I pureed grapes in the blender.
Strained it 3 times
Put it in gallon jugs
Put in 5 or 6 of cups sugar
Put in plain old bread yeast
Capped it with balloons and rubber bands
and watched it bubble merrily away!

That Little Old Wine Maker-MEB