Slow progression

From this... to this...

I am slowly making a "new" chair out of an old, worn, beaten and battered maple chair. This poor old chair has been sitting on my back porch for ages. It has been rained on and been a handy "junk"chair, with everything tossed on it. It is a tribute to the makers of this old chair that it is still serviceable and to my mind, worth saving. I don't know how old it is, bu I have had it for about 25 years or more. It was used when I got it . So, that says something about it's maker; they just don't make furniture to last anymore.

I gave the chair a second coat of paint this afternoon. I want to give to give it one more coat tomorrow. I will look for the little "buttons" that hide the screws and appliques' or stencils to finish it off with...but not tomorrow. The paint that I used didn't show up well. It looks gray or even purple in the picture; it is actually an odd shade of brown. I like the shade.

I mowed the front yard this afternoon. It was looking sad and ratty. The dust was thick and flying from all the dry weather we have had. I had to flood my eyes with Natural Tear Drops to get the crud out of my eyes.

Tomorrow, being Friday, all the checks...SS...SSI..Welfare...Disability and regular paychecks of the working poor, will be in the mailboxes. That means that I will not be out and about, shopping or anything else. It will be a dangerous week-end. The stores started stocking shelves last week and the price of gas rose right in sync. The price of everything rose...right in sync. We are...so manipulated. What else is new.

****

THE OLD WHITE HOUSE

WHERE I WAS BORN

WHOSE WALLS WERE BARE

AND WINDOWS WORN

WAS SMALL IN SIZE

AND DIDN'T MAKE

A PICTURE THAT FOLKS

WANT TO TAKE

IT MUST HAVE HAD

THREE ROOMS AT BEST

AND LOOKED EXACTLY

LIKE THE REST

BUT THERE I WAS THE HAPPIEST

....FOR IT WAS HOME

****

Even though I walk through the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou are with me...

Psalm 23:4

END

Work in progress

This the chair I'm working on. I started painting it white this afternoon. I didn't really care for the way it was turning out so I got an old can of brownish acrylic paint out and started using that. I got the underside covered fairly well, but it will need some touch-up work here and there. I'll paint the seat and back tomorrow and do the touch-up painting later. I have lots of time so I am not in a hurry.

Acrylic paint goes on OK, but doesn't really like pre-finished...painted objects, such as lacquer or enameled surface's. The paint drys quickly and the brush is easy to wash out with soap and water. I started out with a foam brush, but little pieces of foam were sticking to the paint, so I reverted to a small paint brush. It may take me a few days to complete this project, but my time is my own.

I have in mind a couple other painting or re-purposing projects, but I will see how this one goes first and how long this beautiful weather holds out. And I will try to get more pictures of the chair up as I progress.

I was hungry for something good, but didn't know what I wanted. I fried up a pan full of sliced potatoes, onions and bacon...it was an old fashioned, satisfying meal.

Last year I had to turn the heat on early in September. I think even 'though the nights are cooler, the days are superb. I can live with that. September of 2010 is almost a memory, going...going...

****

A CHEERFUL LOOK BRINGS JOY

TO THE HEART, AND GOOD NEWS

GIVES HEALTH TO THE BONES.

Proverbs 15:30

****

END

Maple Chair

I started working on the Maple chair today. I am using steel wool to get all the loose finish off. It is almost ready to paint. I went to Big Lots and got a couple cans of white spray paint. There wasn't a big selection on paint. I looked for stencils or decals to put on the chair. I didn't find either one. I will go ahead and paint it and look for the stencils or decals later. It will have to dry well anyway. I should have taken a "before" picture, but still can do so tomorrow.

I watched the last "Colony" episode this evening. I enjoyed watching each of the eight shows. I think they ended it too early with the conclusion hanging just a little bit.

Anyway, Judy called me(several) times today. I only answered once. She is ticked off because an elderly lady called her this morning around 8 A.M. Well, she started ringing my phone at 8:45 A.M., I suppose, to tell me all about it. She made this old lady promises and she is now reneging on her word because there is work involved. When I finally did answer her late this afternoon she managed to find fault with what I was trying to do with the chair. "Oh, I never use spray paint. I use a brush because I don't want to have drips and runs." Yeah, well I am about to use spray paint. I am not going to spend a lot of time on that old chair. It's my chair and my decision. So there. I am not in a very charitable mood.

****

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

AS YOURSELF

Matthew 22:39

****

It is hard to practice what you preach.

END

Things to go

Now you see it

Now you don't

The Salvation Army truck finally came and picked up the table and chairs from the front porch. I added some other things to go. They are not in the picture. Lots of leaves to sweep off. The furniture has been waiting for pick up for a good week now and I am glad it is gone now. People have been driving by and staring at the porch. The batteries in the camera are getting low and a couple pictures were fuzzy.

"You Know Who came by last evening to pick up a big bag of plastic bags to use in her yard sale. She also promised to bring me some apples which she didn't do. She is not very good at keeping her word. I didn't expect her to. I don't believe in making promises or commitments that can not be kept or even intended to be fulfilled. It is what politicians do and people with low standards of ethics...lip service and or lies. Good thing I can buy my own apples.

While she and her husband were here, they were craning their necks to see what they could see. Judy spotted a beautiful, new lamp and said she wanted it "further down the road." I guess she thinks when I am no longer mortal and walking the earth...she will get it. Nah. I did give her a few odds 'n ends for her yard sale. I was going to take them to the drop box anyway. Now I won't have to make the trip. I still need to gather up some more things to take to the Salvation Army, but I will give myself a few days off.

I went to the store to get a couple items and looked for some paint to spray on the old maple chair that I am keeping. I didn't find the color I wanted at the "cheap" store, but the chair is in need of refinishing.

****

GOD, GRANT ME

THE SERENITY

TO ACCEPT

THE THINGS I

CANNOT CHANGE

COURAGE TO

CHANGE THE THE

THINGS I CAN

AND WISDOM

TO KNOW THE

DIFFERENCE

****

Serenity prayer of St. Francis

END

MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

HOT WATER

1/2 CUP OF BARLEY

1 LB. MUSHROOMS, THINLY SLICED

6 LARGE CARROTS, THINLY SLICED

1/2 CUP CUP CHOPPED ONIONS

2 TABLESPOONS OF BUTTER

1 TABLESPOON VEGETABLE OIL

6 CUPS CHICKEN BROTH

1 1/2 TEASPOON DILLWEED

1/2 TEASPOON PEPPER

2 TABLESPOONS LEMON JUICE

***

Pour enough hot water to cover barley and let stand for 20 minutes. drain and set aside. Saute onions, mushrooms and carrots in butter and oil for 5 minutes. Add barley, broth, 3/4 teaspoon Dillweed and pepper. Bring to a boil. cover and let simmer for about 45 minutes Stir in lemon juice and remaining 3/4 teaspoon of Dillweed. This makes about 2 1/2 quarts.

****

The flowers appear on the earth

time of singing of the birds has come

Song 2:12

****

The words of wise men

are heard in quiet

Eccl. 9:17

****

The summer has drifted into beauty. Most of the trees are still green which surprises me. Some leaves are falling, but not as many as you would expect for late September. When Mother Nature weaves her blanket she will hopefully color her bed of earth with a quilt of of many hues of paint. It may be this will be a year for dry, lifeless looking patches in our autumn canvas due to to the long, continuing drought. All things end, even droughts, but the parched season has taken it's toll on gardens all around .

Lazy me. Only got a few things done this day. As LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE said, "The sun will come up tomorrow."

END

Crickets

The crickets are coming in. They are everywhere. They come in every fall and chirp all night. I often have the back door open and they come right in and make themselves at home. I guess they are looking for cool place out of the sun. Even though it is autumn we have had some record breaking heat this past week. So, who can blame Jiminy Cricket for wanting to share a little air conditioning. I would rather they checked into another hotel, but there they are.

When I was small my mother used to go out and turn over rocks to catch crickets and grab fireflies at night to put in a jar... supposedly make me go to sleep while listening to the crickets and watching the lightning bugs. Did it work? I will have to ask Beverly.

I only got a few things accomplished today. Maybe a little more tomorrow; a little each day. After all, it did take me a while to accumulate all this stuff. It is taking me a while to get rid of it. The earth wasn't formed in a day and neither was all this "junk" gathered that I managed to "hoard." When I say "hoard" I don't mean it in the true sense of the word. You can get through my house and the trash is always put out and the dishes washed. I just have too much/ many material blessing. Now I am blessing the Salvation Army with what ever I don't need. Maybe someone else has a greater need.

I have been sleepy all day. Anytime I eat-I get sleepy. I have really enjoyed my Bean Soup. I put a coupe qts. in the freezer as I said I would. I tried Creekmore's remedy for gas and it seems to work. He says that if you put one potato into your Bean Soup when you cook it...It will absorb the "gas." Either he is right or my stomach is used to Bean Soup.I hope to be more ambitious tomorrow...Saturday...but I won't write that on ice. And that is because my arm was hurting of and on this day, but tomorrow I may be able to lift bricks, stones or be like Atlas who carried the world on his shoulders.

****

LOOK AT THE BIRDS THEY DO NOT PLANT SEEDS

GATHER A HARVEST AND PUT IT IN BARNS

YET YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN TAKES CARE OF THEM

AREN'T YOU WORTH MUCH MORE THAN BIRDS?

MATTHEW 6:22

****

END

Tea Party Night

Tonight was a Tea Party meeting night. It was pretty interesting. A couple of older fellows got kind of rowdy and hostile toward one of the candidates, a doctor who said we didn't belong in Iraq and said he liked Obama's health plan. The moderator had to go and speak to them. Anyway, Dr. Watkins started out on the wrong foot and lost most of the support of the people there...and he knew he had stepped into a pile of goo.

Someone woke me up around 7:30 A.M.-ringing the door bell several times. I am not going to the door in all my resplendent glory or lack thereof. Nope.

The Bean Soup turned out well and I just had a portion. The one thing about Bean Soup and all that fiber is that it will "eliminate" all your problems and give all those nasty toxins that accumulate in your system...the old "heave ho."

I'm not writing much tonight because I m tired. "You know who" has called me several times today right in the middle of some activities during the day and even while I was out.

****

NO MAN WHEN HE LIGHTS A

CANDLE COVERS IT, BUT SETS

IT ON A CANDLESTICK SO

THAT WHO ENTERS MIGHT

SEE THE LIGHT

****

Luke 8:16

END

Fun with beans

I have a Crock Pot of Bean Soup simmering away and it smells so good. When I was a kid I didn't like any thing associated with beans. We had beans for appetizers, beans for the main meal and umm...beans for desert. Oh, I take that back. We seldom had desert. It has taken me many years to get over my aversion to beans. Now I do like beans to some extent. I especially like bean soup.

Most bean soup recipes are pretty basic, but you can tweak them according to your taste. You need to soak them over night-every one knows that-right? Of course, you can buy canned beans, but that is "cheating" and more expensive. So, if you soak your hard Navy beans overnight you get about double/triple the amount for less money. I did use a half can of Spam chopped up with one whole , chopped onion(love onions) and added a half can of diced tomatoes. Chopped up some celery and shaved a carrot. Looking good! I also added some bacon, salt and pepper to the mix. Yup, I tweaked it up pretty good. It has been in the Crock Pot several hours now on low. I will leave it on low overnight. Oh, it does smell ever so yummy. I will freeze some of it. After all I can't eat a whole Crock Pot full of Bean Soup too quickly. You know what that would do to the environment...and my house...and my tummy.

I didn't get much work done today, but the dishes are washed and the trash is out for pickup in the morning. I was going to take more odds 'n ends to The Salvation Army, but didn't do that either. I went to the store and got all of $10.00 worth of groceries because I didn't have carrots or celery on hand. I really don't need much as I am well stocked up with canned goods, dry beans and split peas. I hope to save a little now.

I have had so much trouble with Insight that I called Dish Network today and they will re-install my TV service in Oct. I am not sure which Internet service I will go with. I have a cell phone so I can go without a land line for a few days while I "scout" around for a company. If I don't have a land line for a few days...then a certain pest can not call me several times a day, every day. That might be the final resolution to a long time aggravation!!

****

TO YOU BEFORE THE CLOSE OF DAY

CREATOR OF THE WORLD WE PRAY

THAT WITH YOUR WONTED FAVOR THOU

WOULD BE OUR GUARD AND KEEPER NOW

****

End

Gone for a Song

I sold my antique radio today. I paid $50.00 for it about 30 years ago. I got $40.00 dollars for it. It is just like the one pictured above and had a "green eye" that lit up when you turned it on. I let it go in order to have more room and less clutter. I also took a back full of old jogger shoes to the Salvation Army drop box. I'm thinking of getting rid of most of my canning jars, but haven't made up my mind yet. Getting rid of clutter is a good time to get rid if spider webs and dust bunnies that lurk behind furniture and even sometimes hang from the ceiling. The more that is cleared out the better I like it. It gives me a more "open space" feel in this small house. Yes, yes, yes, I have a lot to do yet.

There was a big flurry over Obama attending Mass. I think he wants to be a big hit with the great, unwashed masses of America...a political ploy, to be sure. Anyway, it probably didn't him a bit. Next thing you know he will be carrying a Papal Crosier(staff) and wearing a tall pointy hat on his tall pointy head, saying "Bless you my minions, I bring you change you can count on."

Today we broke a 55 year old record; 98 degrees...very hot and very dry. If we are breaking records now, what will the weather later in the fall and winter season?

I finish with this:

THE MOUTH OF THE JUST MAN TELLS OF WISDOM

AND HIS TONGUE UTTERS WHAT IS RIGHT

AND THE LAW OF HIS GOD IS IN HIS HEART

AND HIS STEPS DO NOT FALTER

Part of Psalm 36

END

Less is more...more or less

On the bottom of my bed there is the dark green quilt that my niece made and sent to me. On the reverse side is a Christmas motif. It is heavy and warm. On the floor is...junk. LOL! I am still going through stuff and getting rid of a 25 year accumulation. Today I took a stack of Mother Earth magazines to the Salvation Army.

Last evening some friends called to let me know they were bringing more country eggs. I took about 25 dozen over to the nursing home. I kept two dozen for me. I asked first before I kept them.

Tomorrow I will pack up some more things to take to The Salvation Army. I can't believe all the odds and ends I have. The Salvation Army will come pick up a kitchen table and four chairs next Monday. They are about 50 years old, but are solid. I had used the table for the to put the big computer on for a long time. The chairs go with the table and I could still use them, but there is only so much room in this small house. I don't really need eight chairs: I can only sit in one at a time. I have four in the kitchen, and an old, wooden maple chair on the back porch. Way too much in the way and to clean around and under. Bye bye to more items that have found a cramped place in this house...Less is more.

I don't know who wrote this.

"Life is real; Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

is our destined end or way;

But to act that each to-morrow

Find us further than today."

End

Dust Bowl

I spent most of the day doing yard work. I mowed the grass; I should say I "dusted" the lawn. The mower kicked up more dust and dirt than the DUST BOWL of the 30's. It is so dry. Some weeds don't know that and continue to grow anyway. I also bagged more garden residue and the brush I left to dry out. Dry residue takes up less room when you bag it.

I am pretty tired after a day in the hot sun. It is still in the 90's here...in the middle of September. It is supposed to be in the 90's next week, too. Too warm while October lurks just on the next page of the calender. I wonder what surprises November and winter has up it's cold, cold sleeve.

I am going to change Internet providers because of all the trouble I have with trying to post/write anything. There is never ending interference with this provider. I know that they will not own up to this problem, but it is due to insufficient security on their end, not mine. It is just a question of enough money to switch over.

I was tired enough to take a nap at 7:30 PM. Now I am hungry. Got to go find something good to eat...bye.

END

Just so

RICE STUFFED PEPPERS

4 bell peppers

1 small onion, chopped

a few stalks celery, chopped

10 mushrooms, sliced

2 Tbs. of oil

2 cups cooked rice

1 cup tomato sauce

1 cup cheese, grated

Wash peppers, remove stems and inside seeds. In large pot par boil peppers, remove from pot and allow peppers to dry. In large skillet saute' onions, mushrooms and celery in oil. Add rice, tomato sauce, and cheese to skillet and simmer for a few minutes. Fill peppers with rice stuffing and place them on a cookie sheet. Place in oven and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Good with a salad. You have a balanced meal-rice, a carbohydrate, peppers and tomato sauce for vegetables and fiber. You may add cooked crumbled hamburger meat or chopped chicken to the stuffing mix, if you wish. However, you can count the cheese a a protein. Makes about 4 servings.

I love stuffed peppers 'though I don't make them often for just myself. If you still have a garden this is a yummy way use up your green peppers.

****

BEATITUDES

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit;

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

2. Blessed are the meek;

for the shall posses the land

3 Blessed are those that mourn;

for they shall be comforted

4. Blessed are those that hunger

and thirst after justice;

for they shall have their full

5. Blessed are the merciful;

for they shall obtain mercy

6. Blessed are the clean of heat;

for they shall see God

7. Blessed are the peacemakers;

for they shall be called the children of God

8. Blessed are they that suffer prosecution

for justice sake;

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

****

Just a reminder to myself and to anyone that is interested. I know I often take these truths for

granted and that all the world abides by the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes. Not so.

Anyway, I continue my endeavors to de-junk and made more progress today 'though it is slow going for me. My arm doesn't want to do everything I tell it...when I tell it. Sometimes I forget and try to bend it too far and then say &*%$. Shame on me!

This afternoon I stepped out the back door and something shot away from my feet and hid under the smoker. It was a dark gray salamander/lizard. I waited to see if it would change colors and blend into the concrete which is lighter, but I guess it was happy with itself as it was. Which is more than you can say about a lot of bi-pedal people I know. The salamander is supposed to be an amphibian; the little lizard was way out of it's element.

END

Woe to the computer

I am not going to post much this evening, mostly because it has been a quite, uneventful day. We had some rain yesterday which we needed and could use more of the same. I noticed a small cantaloupe growing in what is left of the weeds in the garden. I will let it grow and see how big it might get. I ate the other one. It didn't get very large either, but it did get ripe.



I ate an early supper of bacon and eggs around 3:30 this afternoon. It just seemed to appeal to me and I have been hungry all day and stuffing my face accordingly. After that I was semi- satisfied. I think I need to go to The Golden Corral and stuff myself and let them do the dishes.



Another good reason for not offering of a post is that the computer has been naughty and letters, word and sentences have been all over the page. I edit constantly in order to make sense of what I write. So, this is it for tonight.



END

Music Makes The World A Better Place

Dance Softly To The Music

*

*

DANCE SOFTLY TO THE MUSIC

WAFTING GENTLY DOWN THE YEARS

LET PEACE BILLOW THE PAGES

AGAINST INNER EYES AND EARS

*

TOUCH TENDERLY THE PASSING THOUGHTS

FOR THEY ARE BUTTERFLIES

HOURS ARE ONLY SECONDS

AND MOMENTS ONLY SIGHS

*

BUT SILENTLY THE HANDS OF GOD

ARE HOLDING, STILLED IN LIGHT

THE TIMELESS NOTES OF MEMORY

LIKE CANVASSED BIRDS IN FLIGHT

*

AND SOMEHOW ALL THE SIGHT AND SOUNDS

AND SENSE AND TASTE AND SENSE AND FEEL

OF THE LIFE WE THOUGHT WE THOUGHT WAS GONE

MORE PRECIOUS, SWEET AND REAL

*

THEN ORCHESTRATED WELL FOR ME

IS THE SONG I CAN NOT SING

BUT ONLY KNOW: THAT ALL OF LIFE

IS LOVE AND MEMORY

*

by Frankie Davis Oviatt

*

Oh sing to the Lord a new song

and all the earth, and bless his name

Psalms 96:1,2

*

I've been busy this day. I made some progress with getting rid of more junk and empty boxes from the front entry foyer. I have to admit my shame in finding unopened boxes from QVC and not even remembering what I had ordered; it was that long ago. In one box there was a beautiful lamp and also a night light. In another box is a really nice bedspread. What that tells me about myself is that I have more than I need. We need three things in this life. We need food, shelter, and family/love. Anything else is generally gravy. I want...but do I need. No.

In my endeavor to get rid of "stuff" I started to feel like a "hoarder" again. And it was starting to look that way, too. My house is much to small for any accumulations, so I did give some books away. Next to go are a bunch of magazines. I moved one piece of furniture to the very back room. It was leaking. Some tools a trip to the back, too. It sounds like I did a lot and I did. I have a lot to go and a lot to get rid of. It is an accumulation of over 20 years of thinking, "Oh, I think I may be able to use that." I don't want my house to look like the houses you see on TV, like the show "HOARDERS." After all; Cleanliness is next to Godliness, is it not?

While I was having a de-junking frenzy I found a bottle of transmission oil had spilled out onto the floor. It has stained and left a residue. When the guy was bringing in the freezer he was moving stuff around and was truly being helpful, but I didn't see the container spill out onto the linoleum. I wonder if I will ever get it clean...sigh.

I can get a lot done when I don't answer the phone...how 'bout you? Hee Hee!

END

SEABURGERS

SEABURGERS

1 can of Mackerel, drained and flaked

2 eggs beaten slightly

1/3 cup of saltine cracker crumbs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

Cornmeal

Combine Mackerel, eggs, crumbs, onion, pepper and salt: mix well. Shape into four patties. Coat with Cornmeal. Brown in hot oil on both sides 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Makes about four servings. You may add a slice of cheese in the last minute of cooking. Enjoy as is or on a bun with all your favorites amenities. I gave my Mackerel Cakes a fancy name.

****

I added this simple recipe because a while back I found Mackerel on sale for $1.00 per can. It makes an inexpensive meal and you can tweak it in many ways.

Speaking of tweaking: I continue to make little changes to this site. I hope to make it more eye appealing, but it is by trial and error as I am not an expert.

I didn't get much done today. The phone has kept me running. I was tired and slept late, besides. I went to bed fairly early(for me), but didn't sleep well. I was awake off and on through out the night.

Do you remember the very first prayer you learned as a child? If we and life could be as simple and uncomplicated as it was when we were small.

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SEEP

I PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO KEEP

IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE

I PRAY THE LORD

MY SOUL TO TAKE

Does anyone teach their children this little verse any more??

END

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN VERSE

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

IN VERSE

1. THOU SHALL HAVE NO GODS BUT ME

2. BEFORE NO IDOL BOW THY KNEE

3. TAKE NOT THE NAME OF GOD IN VAIN

4. NOR DARE THE SABBATH DAY PROFANE

5. GIVE BOTH THY PARENTS HONOR DUE

6. TAKE HEED THAT NO MURDER DO

7. ABSTAIN FROM WORDS AND DEED UNCLEAN

8. NOR STEAL THOUGH ART POOR AND MEAN

9. NOR MAKE A WILLFUL LIE, NOR LOVE IT

10. WHAT IS THY NEIGHBOR'S-DARE NOT COVET

BY WATTS

I found this in a book that I have that was printed in1862, which makes it over 148 years old. It was probably written to teach young people. There are several inscriptions in the front of the book; it was given as a Christmas gift from an aunt in the same year. Some of the words are archaic, but the meaning is clear other than the word "mean," which indicates an impoverished spirit or a person of little value.

I took some books over to the nursing home for one of the residents who loves to read. I hope she enjoys them.

I made the liver patae' which turned out pretty good. I added some relish to the mayonnaise for a little extra zing. It made a good sandwich spread and there is some left over for tomorrow.

END

Sister Alexi's Fudge

SISTER ALEXI'S FUDGE

1 1/2 sticks of butter or margarine

3 cups sugar

2/3 cups evaporated milk

1 seven oz.jar of Marshmallow creme

1 twelve oz. jar Peanut Butter

2 tsp. Vanilla

Combine butter, sugar, and evaporated milk in a sauce pan. On med. heat stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Cook approximately five minutes until mixture comes to a soft boil stage(234 degrees on candy thermometer).

Remove from heat. Stir in Peanut Butter, then Marshmallow Creme. Add vanilla last. Stir until well blended.

Pour into buttered 10x16 inch foil lined pan. Let fudge cool. Cut into squares. A Pizza wheel works works well for cutting fudge.

****

This afternoon I gave myself a "left handed haircut." I can't get my right hand/arm high enough and behind my head, to call it a anything else. I did OK and it doesn't look bad at at all. The right backside is not perfect, but all things considered it is "purty dern good." In other words, the little flaws are not very noticeable.

The reason I didn't go to the beauty shop is because she always, always, goes up the side of my face with clippers. I have asked her not to, but she does anyway. She also cut the sides very short. So, I did it myself and am pleased with the results. This is my first attempt to do my own hair two years....yea!

I went to Wal Mart to exchange my new Go Phone. I was talking with Debbie and the phone went black; now warning; not nothing. I forgot to put the user manual back in the box...so now

I have to make another trip. Waa!

END

Liver 'n onions

I pulled some liver out of the freezer earlier this afternoon to thaw out. You really don't need a recipe for liver and onions. I sliced an onion and put it on to fry over med. heat while I rinsed the liver and dredged the pieces in flour. You can use salt and pepper to taste. I used some left over bacon grease in the pan to caramelize the onions and a bit more to fry the liver in. The important thing to remember is that liver cooks very quickly. I used med. heat and watched it pretty carefully. If you overcook the liver it will be tough-like chewing shoe leather. As soon as the juices stop flowing the liver is done. The two pieces left in the pan I will reheat slightly and then chop and grind into "Liver Patae'." It will be better than what you buy in the store. The reason you do not see the fried onions in the pan is-well, I love fried onions. How is your X-Ray vision? Can you see into my tummy? Anyway, I paid $00.99 cents each for two packages about a ago months. Not every one is fond of liver, but it packs a healthy punch of iron.

I found a good use for the can of "ruined" canning salt that I wrote about a couple months back. I cleaned the stove and the sinks with it. I also added a heaping tablespoons to the washer when I was washing cloths this morning. It did a good job of softening the water. The water here comes from the Ohio and is heavy in Lime. I have about a half a can left. I will use it up in cleaning and washing cloths.

I have a really tasty recipe for fudge that was given to me by Sister Alexis. She made fudge every year for the Christmas Boutique...at the nursing home where I worked. Now, she is quite elderly and is in very poor health. Her fudge always sold out. I will post it tomorrow.

I am making some changes to the appearance of this blog...I hope...so don't be surprised.

END

What flower is this

These small, delicate flowers are all over the vines that grow along and on the fence. They have a nice fragrance. I know they are not Morning Glories, yet I don't know what they are. I almost hate to tear them off they fence. Yes, I got too close with the camera.

I tried to take some shots of the flocks of birds that seem to make my yard their own personal "bird port," but my camera didn't show them well enough and they were too fast for me. They were too fast for a pure black cat that was stealthily creeping up on them as they were enjoying the grapes that fell to the ground under the Grape Vine. Just as Cat was ready to pounce the birds took off. They didn't come back for quiet some time.

The birds seem to have their own kind of security. Finally, one will land in the yard and hang out without moving, then fly away. Then another bird will immediately take its place and hang out and be still. Finally, they will all come back and start to feed. They are wary of a Cat Attack.

I chose to do very little today. Oh, tired me. I found a good movie on TV and watched it most of the afternoon. Of course, the phone started ringing. Oops, no one's home. Leave a message. The phone is in another room, in the middle of the house. I have to go from one area to another area to answer it.

The A/C in the living room was off all night and today. The unit in the kitchen was off all night and most of the day, as well. I did turn it on around 5:30 P.M. because it was getting humid and stuffy ahead of a predicted storm. Where the storm went, I can not say. So far as I can tell, "It went that away."

END

Always work to do

All this growth needs to removed from the fence.

These two piles were larger, but I have been cutting the branches even shorter with the loppers. The pile of Morning Glory vines in the bag at the bottom right, along with other debre', was set out for pick up in the morning. I have more to trim back in the upper left corner. It progresses slowly.

Most of the garden is cleaned out. I still need to get rid of the tomato plants, and bag the leavings and rake off the garden. You can see how dry the yard is. At the very end of the fence is a bush/brush that has over grown through the the fence and into the yard.

Some things take time to do. I wound the trimmer string on the trimmer. Then I had to sweep some little leaves off the back patio, put tools away and lock everything up. The little things eat into your time and you get less done than you hoped for.

I did do other things today; such as wash and dry cloths and feed myself. Also, the regular trash had to be taken out for pick up. I might get more done if I could just yank the phone off the wall. I am starting to hate that phone. I still won't answer it when I am trying to eat a meal.

I have not planned for tomorrow. I have let the kitchen go in order to work outside. That, and washing more cloths, may be my agenda for tomorrow. I will decide tomorrow.

END

Pruning brush

VIRGINIA CREEPER

I've been outside working and continue to "clean" out the fence line. I have a good pile of brush that I trimmed back this afternoon. I noticed that some of it is engulfing the chain link fence and pulling up the bricks that line the ally. The tree is on the other side of the fence, but is doing damage on my side. I did a fair amount, but did stop as the temperature was 97 degrees. I will do some more "removal" tomorrow. I need to bag up as much as I can for pick up on Thursday morning.

I took some books back to the library today. Now that school is back in secession there isn't any place to park near the library. I did a lop-sided park and just dropped the book in the drop off box. I didn't stay long at all, parked as I was.

W actually got rain this afternoon. A whole whopping 2/10 of an inch. At least it will dampen the dust down a little. There is a burn ban up now; I don't know why they didn't have it up earlier. The ground is so dry that the worms are carrying canteens. The grass is dry and brittle. The only thing growing and green, is the Morning Glories and Virgina Creeper vines along the fence. Both these vines, 'though pretty, are very invasive and will ruin a chain link fence. Then they will take over your yard and garden.

I don't think I will bother with a garden next year. For all the work, time and money I put into it, I got very poor results. I picked off a few Roma Tomatoes today, enough for a salad. The tomatoes are really done for. They are not even putting off blossoms. They are ready to be pulled up or mowed under.

I "talked" a little bit with Patsy on Face Book this eve. She says Aunt Alma has been in the hospital and about to go home. She is getting up in age and has been on dialysis for a while. And she met Uncle Derby. We have so many relatives that we don't even know who they are.

Anyway, that's all I know. What do you know?

SHORT POST

It has been a quite Labor Day. I did some yard work, but not too much. The neighbors were having a barbecue next door and I didn't want to disturb them. I did run the mower for a short time, maybe 15 minutes or so, and the trimmer until it ran out of line. The trimmer doesn't make that much noise and I was working on the other side of the yard. I did a little pruning the day and that is just about noiseless. I didn't want to disturb anyone out in their yards enjoying the day.

I am looking for a recipe for flat bread. If can find one I will try it out and see if I like it. What I find in the stores is the thin, round, tortilla bread. I want something something square and a little thicker.

Because there isn't much to write about-this a short post.

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PEANUT BRITTLE

Here is a recipe that is quick and easy and taste good, too. You can do it in your microwave. Total cooking time is about 12 to 15 minutes.

PEANUT BRITTLE

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 3/4 cups dry-roasted

unsalted peanuts

1 tablespoon butter
or margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Generously grease a baking sheet. In a two quart mirco-proof bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Use COOK cycle and cook for 6 - 7 minutes or until mixture reaches 300 degrees F. on a micro-proof candy thermometer or a small amount separates into hard, brittle threads when dropped in cold water. Stir in butter and vanilla. Blend in baking soda and stir until mixture becomes lite and foamy. Pour on to prepared sheet and spread quickly. As the candy cools stretch into a thin sheet using buttered hands. Cool completely. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Save some for me.

I cooked Chicken and Rice in my digital-electric pressure cooker. It only took five minutes to cook. I don't remember if I have posted that recipe or not, but I may post it again or a version of it.

The temperature is predicted to go down to 54 degrees tonight...good sleeping weather. It will be in the 70's or low 80's tomorrow. A very fine Labor Day Week-End. Next week it will get back up in the low 90's, but don't expect it to last long.

For some reason I have been very sleepy today. I finished all my reading, so it wasn't that keeping me awakeat night. I slept very well, but I putter around too long before gong to bed. I guess my clock is still set on the old work schedule and it won't reset. Sigh.

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Zippo

I have been visiting some of the pawn shops today. I didn't find anything that I really needed, but did happen upon two Zippo lighters. One had a small wire holding the hinge in place. The other Zippo Lighter was in good condition. It was priced for $20.00, but I offered $15.00 for it and got it. I am sure I could have spent my money more wisely, but what the heck. A Zippo Lighter has a lifetime warranty/ guarantee. It will outlast me.

I am not the only person having trouble with my wireless Internet provider Insight. Really strange noise(s) come through my computer and television. It sounds like some type of radio interference, similar to some one with a ham radio, but not quite the same. I can type a word into this post and it comes out all scrambled, in another sentence or paragraph.

Today was a really pretty day and the temperature is supposed to drop to about 58 degrees tonight. I can live with that.

Where I had the root canal done-it has been very sore all along the gum line. I hope it goes away soon.

I stopped at the Golden Corral for supper. The place was packed. All the checks were out and every one was out spending their money, including me.

I bought some cookies to put into the freezer: some will never make It into the freezer.

End

Nothing to blog about

Oh darn. I went to the bank this afternoon to deposit my pension. I forget the check. I remembered my deposit slip, though. I wanted to beat the rush as all the checks come out tomorrow on the third. I guess I get to go back to the bank on Friday after all.

I am at a loss of what to write about tonight. I did a couple recipes last night, so I don't want to do that. I could expound about herbal medicines, but no, I don't wanna. I thought about doing an analyses on the 23 Palsm, but I am to lazy. I may do that yet, but not tonight.

I did finish the book I was reading, ATLAS SHRUGGED by Anyn Rand. That was a major endeavor on my part, but I got it done. That would be a good book for the younger generation to read. If I were a college teacher I would make it a mandatory reading for English. Only most collage students today just couldn't digest it. It is some heavy duty philosophy in novel form.
I have started a new book, but it is light, easy reading. I needed to give my brain a rest.

Not much going on or anything interesting to write bout. When I started this blog I promised myself I would post something every day except Sunday. I have, boring though it maybe.


END

CROCK POT BAKED BEANS

CROCK POT BAKED BEANS

3 cans vegetarian beans, drained

1 medium onion, chopped

2/3 cup barbecue sauce

1/cup brown sugar

2 Tbs. of ground mustard

stir all ingredients together

place in Crock Pot

cook in low for 4 to 5 hours

or

cook on high for 2 -2/1 hours.

I prefer some meat in my baked beans so you can add several slices of cooked bacon, ham or chunky stew meat to my baked beans. You may prefer to fry our onion before adding to the crock pot.

I am including a recipe that i have posted a long time before, should anyone new happen by. Both dishes will help feed on the "cheap" during these days of budget watching.

**

CORN CASSEROLE

1 stick of butter or margarine

1 can of corn, drained

1 can of creamed corn

1 box Jiffy Muffin mix

1 container sour cream

mix well

add any meat of your choice

chopped hot dogs

cooked slice bacon

any left over meat

or no meat at all

grease a bread pan

or smething simalar

and add mixture

bake 1 hour at 350 degrees

With either recipe you can improvise or change it according to your taste. You need three things: protein, carbohydrates and some fats.

END