Preparing

Ol' Glenn Beck says you better take a page outta the history books about the Great Depression of the 30's. He says you better you better prepare for hard, leaner times and bone up on your skills. You better learn to mend and do without, and make do. The only thing I fault ol' Glenn with is that he should have been preaching to his flock months and months ago. When the wolf is already at the door it is hard to keep him out.



What ol' Glenn is advocating now is not new to a Survialist or country minded people. He is just way, way behind the curve, that's all. We will credit him for trying to get your attention even if it is late...late in the game.

For myself, I am trying to decide if I will try to have a garden in the spring or if I can...can. It is hard to lug a big canner and fill it with water or empty and clean the same with one bad arm. And the gardens didn't do will here during the past summer. I will concede that seeds are cheaper than hunger and I may yet give it a whirl. I do have all the equipment necessary and it may be a far better spring season in 2011. We will see and time will tell, but if YOU are able and willing, put in the big garden and can the proceeds. Do you know what I would really love to have in my pantry? Canned venison, once agan. I have not had canned venisen in probably 50 years. Funny what you desire in your old age.



Today was my birthday-I won't say how old I am, but I am old enough. Debbie and I ate out at the Chinese resturant in Evansvile. It was windy and cold. The storm door on the back porch really steamed up which means I am losing heat. I'll have to attend to that. There are several items that need some TLC.

Two years ago tomorrow, Wednsday, I fell and all but disroyed my elbow. A bad memory or anniversery. We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and go on from there.

*

ENVY AND ANGER

SHORTENS ONE'S LIFE,

WORRY BRINGS ON

PREMATURE OLD AGE.

ONE WHO IS CHEERFUL

AND GAY WHILE

AT THE TABLE

BENIFITS FROM HIS FOOD.

*

Sirach 30, vs. 24-25

*

IN SEEDTIME THE SLUGGARD PLOWS NOT;

WHEN HE LOOKS FOR THE HARVEST

IT IS NOT THERE.

*

Provergs 20, vs. 4

The Heavens poured forth...rain

I went to the Dollar Tree this afternoon even 'though I didn't really want to, but I have run out of dryer sheets for the cloths dryer. I also wanted crackers to have in the morning when I take my B/P medicine. Never take medicine without food to buffer it. I couldn't find the crackers that I usually buy and I forgot the dryer sheets. Like darn! That means I will have to go back.

I will be out much of the day tomorrow and part of the afternoon on Wednesday. My crown is ready for my tooth. I have lost track: Is this my third crown?

We have had a thunder storm and the power went off for just a couple minutes, but long enough that I have to reset my clock. We are supposed to have more rain through the night, tapering off and then possibly snow flurries tomorrow evening. I hope to be back home before it does anything unwelcome. Rain-OK, Snow-No, not yet, please.

Gas is $2.66 for now. I hope it goes down some.

I tried to go to the library this afternoon. "They" have the streets in front of the library all torn up again. The streets here were pretty decent; now the streets downtown in the business district are like the proverbial washboard of yore.

There isn't much to write about unless you are interested in that the commode is leaking and one tile is coming up. I can fix it if I can find the part for it. There is always something to fix...in every household.

*

Pater noster, qui es in

coelis santificetur nosmen tuum:

adveniat regnum tuum:

fiet volantas tua, sicut in terra.

Panum nostrum quotidianum

da nobis hodie: et dimitte

nobis debita nostra, sicut et

nos dimittimus debitoribus

nostris. Et ne nos inducas

in tentationem: sed libera

nos a malo. Amen.

*

How is your Latin? Here is something the spellchecker can't handle and I am not sure of my own spelling. In case you may be wondering, it goes something like this:

Our Father, Who art in Heaven...

you know the rest,

you finish it.

*

To walk alone takes courage.

To bend to life's needs

takes patience.

To carry one's sorrow

takes strength.

To live one's life

takes faith.

*

To find one's courage

takes bearing.

To find one's patience

takes caring.

To find one's faith

takes deep inner

searching.

To find one's faith

takes God's love.

*

by Diana Crawford.

*

END

Can the can openers

These past few days made me realize that the can openers that I have are just not very serviceable. I have two electric can openers, too, and they are just about worthless, also. It is time to get a new tool that works. The two on the right side of the picture are without merit. The one on the left and simple looking, actually works...and was made in China. I bought it at the Dollar Tree for $1.00 some time ago. The metal finish on it was never right
and spotted, therefore, a second or a reject. So, they sold it to us Americans because they know we will buy their junk. For a $1.00 piece of junk it works a lot better than my expensive junk. I need to look for a new can opener; nothing last forever.


The crock pot of soup that I started last night has turned out pretty good. Today I added a few more veggies and tomatoes to the pot. It is simmering away and my whole house smells yummy; makes you want to holler, "um um good."


I have books to take to the library on Monday. I will add a few of my own books to the bag and they can sell them on their book table with all the other books they have taken out of circulation. The library makes a few cent off donated books and my house is a little neater(but not by much).

It has been a peaceful, restful day. Just the way I like it.

*

O GOD OF TRUTH,

O LORD OF LIGHT,

DISPOSING TIME

AND CHANGE ARIGHT,

WHO CLOTHES

THE SPLENDID

MORNING RAY

AND GIVE THE HEAT

AT NOON EACH DAY:

EXTINGUISH THOU

EACH SINFUL FIRE

AND BANISH EVERY

ILL DESIRE;

AND WHILE THOU

KEEPEST THE BODY WHOLE

SHED FORTH THY PEACE

UPON THE SOUL.

*

Part of a Hymn from a Prayer book.

*

The cup of blessing we bless

is it not the sharing

of the blood of Christ?

And the bread that we break

Is it not the partaking

of the body of the Lord?

Because the bread is One,

we, though many,

are one body,

all of us who partake

of the one bread.

*

1 Cor. 10, vs. 16-17

*

End

wind and rain

Look what the wind blew over.

I did say it was windy yesterday. Also, we broke a record: five inches of rain. We went most of the summer without rain and now we are getting it in buckets. It is supposed to rain on Monday and through part of the week. Let it come. I prefer lots of rain to lots of snow.

If you look at the bottom right side of the storm door above you will see a

dark area just below the glass. When I took a closer look, I discovered it was painted card/past board. We are becoming like the Chinese; shoddy workmanship and shoddy material. Or maybe the storm door was made in China...I don't know.

I just put lots of leftovers into the crock pot. Me..is making soup. "Waste not...want not." Who said that? Was it your new bf? Or Benjamin One Dollar...I don't remember.

It is cold. I turned up the heat a little and plugged in the oil filled heater. I looked at the weather map and it is colder here than in upstate NY.

I stayed in and finished off a book from the library. No more books to read for now. That is good; I need to do some cleaning and putting things away until the next holidays. Drag stuff out...put it back. The kitchen is too small for storage. You get what you get.

*

THE NIGHT IS FAR ADVANCED;

THE DAY IS AT HAND.

LET US THEREFORE

LAY ASIDE THE WORKS

OF DARKNESS,

AND PUT ON THE ARMOUR

OF LIGHT.

LET US WALK BECOMINGLY

AS IN THE LIGHT OF DAY.

*

Romans 13, vs. 12-13

*

A CHILD'S PRAYER

*

"O SWEET SHEPHERD

GENTLY LEAD ME,

LEST I FALL OR GO ASTRAY;

WITH THE BREAD;

OF HEAVEN FEED ME,

THAT I FAINT NOT

BY THE WAY."

*

by writer unknown

from STREAKS OF LIGHT

payer book of 1862

*

END

Turkey got his tail feathers wet

I won't write much tonight. I got up early and now I am tired. I ate well, but tried not to eat too much. I had a piece of Pecan Pie which was a real treat for me as I never cook pies for myself. I can't remember when I had a piece of home made Pecan Pie.
We have had over three inches of rain and it continues off and on. Some of the lower places are "ponding" and some low streets are flooding. I am "up" so I don't really have that particular problem. With the rain came the wind and cold air.
The deviled eggs were and always, are a big hit. I don't know about the other stuff I took over as there was wall to wall people and wall to wall food.
I am going to bed soon and am not doing this post justice. Happy Holi(Holy)days.

END

NOTHING FANCY HERE

JUST TASTES GOOD

OYSTER DRESSING

CHOCOLATE COOKIES

DEVILED EGGS

BARBECUED LITTLE SMOKEY LINKS

Nothing is in fancy dishes because I don't want to drag stuff back home with me. I do want to retrieve my glass Pyrex bowl and the big plastic mixing dish that the Smokey Links are in. The deviled eggs are in an empty egg carton that can be disposed of and so can the one aluminum dish. I have used the aluminum pan several times now and now it can get tossed out because it is worn out.

COOKIES: The cookies were made from a boxed cake mix. They are really good. Use one box of cake mix, two eggs, 1/4 cup of oil, and 1/4 cup of water. Mix well and spoon drop on greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes at 325 degrees. You need to watch your time as they can burn pretty fast. I used a bigger boxed cake mix so I needed to add a little bit more oil and water to the mix.

DEVILED EGGS: I used Buttermilk Dressing instead of a salad dressing. I added a whopping tablespoon of relish to the dish, salt and pepper, and used the electric beater to make the fillings creamy. A dash of red Paprika for color and into the empty, washed egg carton.

OYSTER DRESSING: 1 can of oysters, 1 can of Chinese Water Chestnuts, I can of Mushrooms, 1 stick of butter, and two boxes of stuffing mix. In general, follow the directions on the box(es) of stuffing. Use all the liquid from each can...I do. Pretty good even if most of it did come from cans.

BARBECUED LITTLE SMOKEY LINKS: Pretty easy. Add barbecue sauce to taste. I did add about 1/4 cup of honey. Let it marinate over night. Yum.

Where I will be tomorrow there will be wall to wall food. For that reason I did not fix a lot or in large quantities. No one will leave hungry.

A sad note...sort of. My small hand mixer burned out tonight. It started smelling and then smoking badly. I have had it for a lot of years so I can't complain. It went into the trash...I hate to throw anything away, but when I do you know it is done for.

RAIN: Yes, that is another ingredient in this year's Thanks Giving. It has rained over an inch in the past few days. We are to get more tomorrow evening, possibly a mixture of different moistures; rain, sleet and/or snow. As we need the rain we will not will it away.

*

Don't tell your friends

about your indigestion;

"How are you!"

is a greeting, not a question.

*

by Arthur Guiterman

*

I AM THE TRUE VINE,

AND MY FATHER

IS THE VINE-DRESSER.

EVERY BRANCH IN ME

THAT BEARS NO FRUIT

HE WILL TAKE AWAY;

AND EVERY BRANCH

THAT BEARS FRUIT

HE WILL CLEANSE,

THAT IT MAY BEAR

MORE FRUIT.

*

John 15, vs. 1 & 2

*

END

All right then. I got the hair cut and it would look OK, if not for a lot of the silver present and noticeable. Then I went and got the van registered along with the 1960 Rambler and the 1976 RV. Now someone else has my money-I don't. Before December is at it's end all three must have the insurance paid and up to date. Does it ever end? I will have to get the plates for the RV and Rambler later...much later. To reward myself...or console myself... I stopped at Captain D's for gumbo, hot chocolate and Key lime Pie, spending less than $ 5.00.

It has turned cold. I left the house with just a sweater on and now it is getting back into a November mode. On Thanksgiving Day the lower and mid-Ohio valley may have rain, sleet or snow...or all of it. Mother Nature, take a brake for a few days and stay away...OK?

Today I got a "little" gas. Yesterday it was $2.67, today it jumped ten cents and tomorrow it will probably jump another ten cents. I suppose that is free enterprise at work right around the holidays....I guess. I "tanked up" with about 5-1/2 gallons of gas. With about a $.50 cent tax on each gallon of gas I could of gotten about two more gallons of gas for my money. Remember the movie THE POSTMAN where he says, "Stuff is getting better." Well, is it? Doesn't really feel like it to me.

Tomorrow-Wednesday-I will be cooking a few things to take to a friend's house; deviled eggs, oyster dressing and barbecued Little Smokies Links are on my list, and I am thinking of Applesauce Cookies to add to the list. I know I will eat too much on Thursday. I hope all of us will remember what the day really signifies.

*

THE LAW OF THE LORD

IS PERFECT,

REFRESHING THE SOUL;

THE DECREES OF THE LORD

IS TRUSTWORTHY,

GIVING WISDOM

TO THE SIMPLE.

*

Psalm 18, vs. 8-9

*

PECAN BALLS

*

1 can Eagle Brand Milk

2 lbs. powered sugar

1/4 lb of butter

1 lb. pecans

1 tsp. vanilla

1 can of coconut(bag)

12 oz. chocolate chips

6 oz. butterscotch chips

1/4 lb. para wax

*

Mix milk, sugar, butter, vanilla, nuts and coconut together, rolling into balls. Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips with para wax in a double boiler. Coat preceding balls. Place on a buttered pan and chill.

*

I bought a bag of pecans a couple of months ago and put them in the refrigerator. Now they are a bit more "pricey. You might try using another kind of nut such as Walnuts if you can find some that are not too expensive. I have never found coconut in a can.

This is just an after thought. As I was putting the new sticker on the licence plate of the van, I heard a growing behind me, The "dawg" from next door had slipped it's leash and was making like a nasty dog. I know that you are not supposed to show fear or look an aggressive dog in the eye...so I didn't. Dog would not go away and was doing his best to be a dog. The man across the street came running over with a golf club and chased the "said" dog off. Mr. Goldsberry said he has to carry a club now when he walks his little dog. I have something to carry, too. It is a .38 and I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Bang, dang dog ! It isn't only the two legged dogs that you need to be wary off!

*

END

Food & thought

A pretty good roast.

The picture below is nothing special.

It just shows the sun

streaming in through the window

blinds in the late afternoon.

Yesterday-Sunday-I cooked a nice little Cornish Hen in the oven with potatoes, carrots and celery. Because I had some left-over rice, a little bit of Okra and a small piece of roast...I tossed all of that in the pan as well. I just didn't want to waste any food. Although it wasn't a stellar photo I did take a shot of the conglomeration. The dish tasted pretty good even if it didn't qualify for any photo awards. Something I learned yesterday; Aluminum pans don't really make the best roasters. I should have used my big cast iron pan and or my enamel roasting pan. It would have cooked in half the time. I just didn't want to bother with scrubbing out the pan later. Aluminum is good for some things, but not for everything.

It has been warm everywhere, but it won't last much longer. We have had rain and a lot of wind. The dog next door has tangled his leash and can't get in out of the wind and rain. I wonder if they even remember that they have a dog.

Tomorrow I hope to get out and get my hair cut. I am starting to look like poor ol' shaggy dawg next door. I hope I am more ambitious tomorrow than I have been today. I started a new book and that is my demise.

*

LOVE JUSTICE,

YOU WHO JUDGE

THE EARTH;

THINK OF THE LORD

IN GOODNESS,

AND SEEK HIM

IN INTEGRITY

OF THE HEART.

*

Wisdom, Ch. 1, vs.1

*

THE HOUR OF PRIME

gets us ready for labor

in God's vineyard.

END

EASY OYSTER DRESSING

*

1 BOX OF PREPARED STUFFING MIX

1 CAN OF OYSTERS

(KEEP THE LIQUID)

1 CUP OF BOILING WATER AND

THE LIQUID FROM THE

CANNED OYSTERS

1/2 STICK OF BUTTER

*

BRING THE LIQUIDS

TO A BOIL.

STIR IN CONTENTS

OF STUFFING MIX POUCH.

LET STAND FOR 5 MINUTES.

*

I like to add 1/2 cup of chopped onion, 1/2 cup of chopped celery, 1/2 cup of cooked rice. Add about another 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper, more butter and 1/2 teaspoon of poultry seasoning. You can use Oatmeal instead of rice or both. Remember that you are extending the recipe so you need to add extra liquid and another can of oysters. You need to be sure to taste the dressing to ensure it isn't too dry. You can stuff your poultry with the dressing or cook it to the side in the roasting pan. I like it both ways. It is all a matter of preference. 50% of Americans like their turkey stuffed.

I went back to the store and got another package of bathroom tissues with another Thrifty Savers Card. I now have 38 rolls of TP. That may sound like a lot, but the rolls are skimpy compared to what used to be available on the store shelves. I bought more $00.99 cent Applesauce, more boxed dressing, and a 10 lb. bag of potatoes. Some things I brought in and some things are still in the van.

A woman ahead of me bought over $100.00 worth of groceries and didn't want her stamps; the cashier gave them to me. I can fill up several more cards now.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I am staying home and taking the day off from shopping and frugality.

*

HOW LOVELY IS

YOUR DWELLING PLACE,

O LORD OF HOSTS!

MY SOUL YEARNS AND PINES

FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD.

MY HEART AND MY FLESH

CRY OUT FOR THE LIVING LORD.

*

Psalm 83, vs.2-4

*

"THE HOUR OF COMPLINE

cast its aura of calm

and tranquility

over tired bodies.

The eye of God

watches over his beloved ones

and His angels

are present to guard."

*

from Catholic Breviary

*

END

I went shopping this afternoon at Wal-Mart, braving the crowds on a Friday. I found bread at $00.85 cents a loaf. I got two loaves and would have gotten more except I think I just about got the last loaf. I did see one more loaf, but it was way in the back of the bottom shelf. I also got celery for $00.84 cents a bunch and mushroom soup for $00.67 cents a can. And I finally found Barley so I got two boxes of Barely.

At the Sureway(Food Giant) I picked up 16 rolls of bathroom tissue for $5.98 and a Thrifty Savers card. These are price leaders at the stores; to get you in so you will buy more and things you may not need.

After I got home a gathered up some more Thrifty Savers Stamps and glued them to a card. It is always good to save a little money here and there and I want to get another package of TP. That would give me about 32 roll pulse the six that I have. That should last the Winter of Inflation.

Tomorrow I hope to go to another store and get some regular milk and some dry-powdered milk. Then I will be done...I think.

Gas is $2.67 and I hope it stays that price or continues to drop overnight. I need gas.

I generally listen to Glenn Beck, but have been disappointed in his show for the last couple days. He urges people to "stock up or prepare" for hard times, but falls short of giving out any pertinent information. So..I will try to help out by listing a couple blog sites that may be helpful to us poor peons.

http://survival-spot.com/

http://thesurvivalistblog.net/

The second-bottom site-is the best one for people on a budget. All you need to do is click on the blue address. If you like either one you can bookmark or add to your favorites list.

*

The one red leaf,

the last of its clan,

Hanging so light,

and hanging so high,

On the topmost twig

that looks up to the sky.

*

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

*

A GOOD NAME IS

MORE DESIRABLE

THAN GREAT RICHES,

AND HIGH ESTEEM,

THAN GOLD OR SILVER.

RICH AND POOR

HAVE A COMMON BOND:

THE LORD IS MAKER

OF THEM ALL.

*

Proverbs 22, vs.1-2

*

END

4

TREES OF LIFE AND KNOWLLEDGE

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE
CELTIC TREE OF LIFE

It's been a gray day, cold and damp with rain this morning. I stayed in close to the fire. I got a couple loads of cloths washed and dried and spent most of my time being lazy. I got some shrimp out of the freezer and cooked it. It needed to be used up as it has been in the freezer for a while. I hate to peel shrimp. There just isn't much going on other an looking at the new seed catalog that came the other day.

*

BLESSED DAY BY DAY

BE THE LORD,

WHO BEARS OUR

BURDENS;

GOD WHO IS

OUR SALVATION.

*

Psalm 67, vs. 20

*

If we do not plant knowledge

when young,

it will give us not shade

when we are old.

*

LORD CHESTERFIELD

*

END

Food

The best meal I have had this week is the one I cooked myself this evening. I pulled a steak out of the freezer this afternoon to let it thaw out and be ready t cook for supper. Around 4:30 I sliced onions and peeled a potato, set it to fry over medium heat in about 4 tbs. of butter and added salt and pepper. Then I added the steak to the frying potatoes, more salt and pepper for the meat; potatoes and onions were almost already done. Everything cooked in butter over medium heat; 3 minutes on each side for the steak. I can not show you a picture of the finished dish because...I ate it. All.

I don't know why it turned out so very good. Maybe it was the butter or the medium heat. I only know it was a very satisfying meal and relived my craving for "something good." There is nothing quite as good as home cooked steak and potatoes smothered in onion. Name something if you can.



Often, if I am out and about, I will buy fast food to calm the animal that growls in my stomach. Fast food will tame the tiger in my tummy for a while, but I am always hungry later.



Thank you Lord, for making the earth that grows the grass, that feeds the cattle, that farmers nature, that goes to markets, that feeds the nation and provides the steak that I enjoyed tonight. Whew, that was a mouthful!
I can enjoy some steaks every so often, but I am well aware that steaks will not be in my freezer forever. They are getting low and I just can't eat them all that frequently. They are a treat, even now. I am afraid they may become a rarity in the average American diet in the near future...unless you work for the government. There is also an alluded prediction that even chocolate may become a scarce commodity. What isn't becoming scarce or expensive. Name it if you can.

*

Spinach Nuggets

*

2 packages of frozen chopped spinach,

cook and drain

2 teaspoons of minced onion

2 cups of herbed stuffing mix

1-1/2 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup of grated Parmesan Cheese

1 stick of butter

3 eggs

*

Mix spinach, onion,stuffing mix, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, butter and eggs in a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.***You can use boxed dressing mix for this and it is a good Thanksgiving recipe.

*

HE WHO CULTIVATES HIS LAND

WILL HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD,

BUT FROM IDLE PURSUITS

A MAN HAS HIS FILL OF POVERTY.

*

Proverbs 29, vs. 19

*

MAY THE GLORY OF THE LORD

ENDURE FOREVER;

MAY THE LORD BE GLAD

IN HIS WORKS.

*

Psalm 103, vs. 31

*

END

This picture reminds me that the gutter is coming loose from the front of the porch and needs some TLC.

We got a really needed rain. It was a cold and rainy kind of day. I wouldn't complain a bit except I had to drive home from the eye doctors office and I couldn't focus all that well. I got out of the office after 4 P. M. I was tired and very hungry and my stomach was doing flips and growling for food. Of course, I stopped at Taco Bell's and got something to eat. Ahh.

Most of the test on my eyes were fairly good except the pressure is high. 28 in the right eye and 24 in the left. I have a blind spot where the Dr. did the

laser surgery to seal that leaky spot. I can't tell the difference. Anyway, the computer that takes pictures of the back of the eye froze after the right eye was done and they had to fiddle with it before they could do the the left eye. I have to go back in three months and be checked again because of the increased pressure. This day is done and I am tired. I think I am going to bed very soon.

*

MY EYES HAVE GROWN DIM

THROUGH AFFLICTION;

DAILY I CALL UPON YOU, O LORD

TO YOU I STRETCH OUT MY HANDS.

*

END

Celtic - Irish Cross

Tomorrow, Tuesday, I have to get up early and do all the things I gotta do and then be in Evansville by 12:00. It is my eye Dr. appointment day. The Doctor flies his own plane in from Louisville and brings his staff with him. He is a specialist who also has big hands. I will be there all afternoon while the run every conceivable test on my eyes. If your not visually impaired when you go in...you will be when you go out! This something I have to go through every year since I had that little stroke in my left eye. The funny thing is...I see better with my left eye than I do with my right eye. I can't really tell the difference and I read everything as well as I think I ever did. The bad thing about all theses test is that they will have to dilate my eyes and I will have to drive pretty carefully coming home. I don't enjoy this, but I must go through it. That will pretty much take care of Tuesday.

We are supposed to have a cold rain tomorrow-not snow, but an unpleasant kind of day. Well, it is November.

Looking online at the grocery ads I found another store that has cut the price of turkey down to $.57 cents a pound. If I can see where I am going I want to get a turkey to put into the freezer. I may have to wait and go buy one on Wednesday. The store is on a very busy street. With early macular degeneration, early cataracts, glaucoma, diluted eyes and heavy traffic...whew! I think I will just get myself home.

The furnace has been running a lot, even though I have it down on low. I don't think I will be happy with the next utility bill. No one will dancing joyfully or singing in the rain.

*

O GOD, YOU HAVE TAUGHT

ME FROM MY YOUTH,

AND TILL THE PRESENT

I PROCLAIM

YOUR WONDROUS DEEDS;

AND NOW THAT I AM OLD AND GRAY,

O GOD, FORSAKE ME NOT

TILL I PROCLAIM

YOUR STRENGTH

TO EVERY GENERATION

THAT IS TO COME.

*

Psalm 71 vs. 17-18

*

END

Blame the rain

I hope you can read the little poem in the box above. Click it to make it larger.

I didn't go shopping. When I got up this morning it was raining. It was supposed to be warm and semi-sunny. It has been raining and dreary all day. The weather man called for rain in the P. M. When is he ever right. ALL the weather forecasters were off...and wrong by several hours.

I couldn't find my thrifty saver's stamps/cards. Because I couldn't find them I missed several good grocery deals. So, it made no difference that I didn't go shopping. Like my antique book, maybe they will turn up and I can get to use them later. Like the book, I have searched everywhere. I have been shredding a lot of stuff; I hope I didn't toss them out, too. Maybe I have early dementia...LOL!

As I didn't go out I have been watching a video and reading. I also cooked up a pretty good meal in the pressure cooker. I cooked another pork roast along with the regular accompanying vegetables. The pork roast kind of shrunk in size, was slightly tough, but had good flavor. I have lots of veggies for a few other meals, but the roast won't last long because of the shrinkage. That's OK; I eat too much meat, anyway. As was said, " Man does not live by bread alone." I am a real carnivore, as I have said before.

*

ALL WISDOM COMES

FROM THE LORD

AND WITH HIM

IT REMAINS FOREVER.

THE SANDS OF THE SEASHORE

THE DROPS OF RAIN,

THE DAYS OF ETERNITY:

WHO CAN NUMBER THESES?

*

Sirach vs. 1-2

*

THE HOUR OF VESPERS

The hour of Vespers is in late afternoon or evening, the six of the canonical hours, a religious service of thanksgiving and a reflection of the Last Supper.

"THIS DAY GOD MADE, A GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY." I wish every day were like the day we just had; a beautiful day. I got out into the yard and went over it with the mower and bagger. Most of the leaves in the front are "swept up" and in a yard bag now. I took my pruner out and cut up some of the small limbs and branches and bagged them, too. The front yard looks much better. The bag is so full and heavy that it is still there 'though I will drag it out to the back tomorrow. If we were to have another fall day like the one we had today I would start on the back yard and get that done, also. I made the dust fly. We are still under a burn ban and the ground is so dry.

I hope to go to the store tomorrow and get a few "stocking up" items for the freezer and extra T. P. for the bathroom. I have a couple saving stamp cards that I want to use up.

The news says that the price of Turkey is up 30%. So, if you buy a 10 lb. turkey at say...30 extra cents on the dollar...at say...$1.00 a lb...you will pay through the beak...err...nose. You would be super-lucky to find Turkey for $1.00 a lb. The meat counter is place for heart attacks, strokes and fainting spells. Take your smelling salts to the store with you.

Lesson-Learned. Never fill out online surveys. Your phone will never stop ringing and you will never get the gift card or lap top computer that lures you in. Your phone will become an instrument of torture...all day long and into the evening.

*

I WANT TO BE AN ANGLE,

AND WITH THE ANGELS STAND,

A CROWN UPON MY FOREHEAD,

A HARP WITHIN MY HAND;

THERE, RIGHT BEFORE MY SAVIOR.

SO GLORIOUS AND BRIGHT.

I'D MAKE THE SWEETEST MUSIC.

AND PRAISE HIM DAY AND NIGHT.

*

partial poem

writer unknown

*

FOR TO HIS ANGELS

HE HAS GIVEN COMMAND

ABOUT YOU

THAT THEY GUARD YOU

IN ALL YOUR WAYS.

*

Psalm 90 vs. 11

*

END

Books 'n Stuff

I found my very old book today. I had put it into a plastic baggie to protect it because it is very worn and fragile. It had slipped down behind some other books because it was in the slippery plastic baggie. So, now I have it. I was going to take a picture of it, but the batteries in the camera are dead and are now in the re-charger.

Very little going on. The price of gas was $2.91 yesterday. Ha! It dropped two pennies today. Gee Whiz, I could have saved 4.5...four 1/2 cents if I had just waited a day. When gas drops 2 or 3 cents everyone makes a run on the gas stations. If I were to get 15 gallons of gas I might save, oh, maybe 45 cents or so. Not worth it to run out to the gas station. I would burn more energy just getting there.

Have you noticed that I am lazy tonight? Numbers from One to Ten should be written. Anything above Ten can be of shown as regular numbers...such as 11. Lazy me. However, you can express money either way...Nine dollars, ninety nine cents...or $9.99. Fun huh? No wonder the English language is so hard!

We broke another record today. It got up to 79 degrees. It was around 78 degrees in 1927. We are in a cycle of changing weather patterns that are "normal and natural" for the planet. In the time of Adam and Eve the earth was a lush garden of plants and fruits. That reminds me; I have a couple of apples on the table that I should take a few bites of.

*

God created man

in his image.

In the image of God

he created him.

Male and female

he created them.

*

Genesis 1 vs. 27

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GOD THE LORD HAS SPOKEN

AND SUMMONED THE EARTH

FROM THE RAISING OF THE SUN

TO ITS SETTING.

*

Psalm 49 vs. 1

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I know that you know that there are two different versions of creation in the book of Genesis. Does it matter? We're here..

*

Monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey.

by Malcolm De Chazal.

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END

NO LONGER THE LARGEST

BUT STILL IMPRESSIVE

Today was a hurry up and wait day, but the furnace is fixed and running. The guy found several problems. The tree next door was growing into the outside exhaust chimney cap and cutting off the draft. It also dislodged the brackets that held the chimney pipes in place and pulled them loose from the house. He had to take a saw and remove several limbs, and secure the pipes and brackets. He also cleaned the furnace and replaced the thermo- regulator. Now I have heat. He really went above and beyond his duty and job. I do appreciate it. He only charged $138.00 for all that work. I was expecting it to be a whole lot higher.

There were several errands I intended to do today, but didn't get any of them done. I did shred a lot of old mail while I was waiting for the furnace man to come. I really hate junk mail and all the coupons coming out are pretty much excess weight for the mail carrier to drag around. The ads for Wal-Mart were really a thick booklet for ...toys. That went into the shredder, too. And that was the pretty much how the day faded into evening.

*

HAPPY IS HE WHO HAS REGARD

FOR THE LOWLY AND THE POOR;

IN THE DAY OF MISFORTUNE

THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIM.

*

Psalm 40 vs.2

*

I had a book in hand today

I laid it down some where;

A book of hymns

and children's prayers,

a book from olden-years

I'll look for that book

another day

it's very, very old

I had that book in hand

this day

a priceless book of gold.

*

Yes, I mislaid a very old book that is over 150 years old. It's here somewhere....

END

EGGS!

NOT AS MANY AS USUAL

THE GUYS LOADING UP VAN WITH EGGS

I am a little tired. I visited with some of the residents after I delivered the eggs. One of the ladies wanted me to take her outside to sit in the sun in the Rose Garden at the home, which I did, and it was really pleasant. A couple of resident also came out to the Rose Garden, along with a friendly cat that jumped up and sat beside me on the bench. Cat hung around for a bit, which surprised me.

I had not had anything to eat since about 8:30 A. M. On the way back I stopped at Taco Bell and got some take out food. I made it into the house just in time to watch Glenn Beck, ate ALL my take out food and promptly fell asleep on the couch-sitting up. Only I can do that.

This going to be a short post and I am going to bed fairly early. Tomorrow the furnace man comes so I need to get up early. I don't know exactly when he will show, but I will be ready for his presence.

*

HAPPY IS HE WHOSE FAULT

IS TAKEN AWAY;

WHOSE SIN IS COVERED

HAPPY THE MAN TO WHOM

THE LORD IMPUTES NOT GUILT,

IN WHOSE SPIRIT THERE

IS NO GUILE.

*

Psalm 31 vs. 1-2

*

Time once so slow

Now goes too fast

Children that only

yesterday crawled

Now go running by

I would not stop time

only slow it down

*

by Genevieve White

from the Pillars 1976

*

END

Last night, Sunday, I went to bed at 9:30 P.M. I guess it still felt like 10:30 P.M. I slept well even though I kept waking up, turning over and going back to sleep.

I was going to install the AT&T Internet today, but found that I need an other phone jack. My computer is not near a phone jack. I could get another phone jack installed for...$89.00. I called AT&T and cancelled the order. I will send the box that has all the components in it, back to AT&T. Of course, they do not want you to cancel, but I just can't afford an extra outlay of fiat paper money.

T0morrow friends are bring eggs for me to take over to the Sisters. They can always use eggs. I want to take some pictures of all those eggs and post them here. They wanted to bring them tonight, but the kitchen closes at 7 P. M and there would not be anyone to help me unload them. I had already taken a shower and in my "warmies."

It has started to warm up and we may break a record; into the 70's. Then it is supposed to rain the week-end and get cooler again. Most of the leaves are off my tree in the front yard, but a lot of trees have not shed yet. Rain will bring all those that are clinging, holding on, down, down, down.

*

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES;

HIS PRAISE SHALL BE EVER IN MY MOUTH.

LET MY SOUL GLORY IN THE LORD;

THE LOWLY WILL HEAR ME AND BE GLAD.

*

Psalm 33 vs. 2-4

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I never had a piece of toast

Particularly long and wide

But fell upon a sandy floor

And always on the

buttered side.

*

by John Payn

*

P.S. Be sure to watch Glenn Beck this week.

END

Everything is rigged

Lovely
I went shopping at the Big Lots store for what was supposed to be big bargains. They were "sold out" which is what they often claim. The items I wanted did not have a "limited amt." in the ad and they don't give out rain checks. I came out with some paper plates.

I went to the Family Dollar store and had better luck there. The have a whole shelf line where every thing is a dollar. I got some Instant Oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, prunes, and a few other items, all for $11.00. Some of these items will got into my "prep" closet, in preparation for a hard/unpredictable winter.

The temperature went down to 23 degrees last night and broke a long time record of 24 degrees. I still think it is too cool for early Nove. I read that the Atlantic Ocean has reversed currants. That can't be good. That kind of reversal could and has brought about little and big ice ages in geological history. So get your "warmies and fluffies" out... just in case. I have an electric blanket somewhere...hmm.

I went by the library and the Good Will store again. Both places were packed with shoppers. I guess they haven't heard about the reversal of fortunes and that the recession/depression is over. Nancy Pol-bossy thinks she and Obama have saved the nation and all their manipulations were right for the country. Well, I don't know about that, Nancy, old girl! Now Obama is about to drain our our life blood just a little bit more. Mark my words...more jobs will go over to India.

Tomorrow I take the "day off."

Anyway, I don't know of anything exciting or interesting.

****

HOW LOVELY

IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE,

O LORD OF HOSTS!

MY SOUL YEARNS AND PINES

FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD.

MY HEART AND MY FLESH

CRY OUT TO THE LIVING GOD.

EVEN THE SPARROW FINDS

A HOME AND THE SWALLOW

A NEST

IN WHICH SHE PUTS HER YOUNG-

YOUR ALTERS, O LORD OF HOST,

MY KING AND MY GOD!

*

Psalm 83(84) vs 2-5

*

Here, my Bible isn't sure if this is Psalm 83 or 84. I found this same question mark with the 23/24 Psalm. It really doesn't matter; it is the message-song-prayer that is relevant.

*

Good-night, good-night!

Parting is such sweet sorrow

that I shall say good-night

til it be the morrow.

*

by William Shakespeare

*

Remember when we had to read Hamlet by Shakespeare...in the 7th grade?

*

END

In from the wind

I'm in for the day. There is a cold wind blowing and the sky is cloudy. The red line is sliding down on the thermo-jigger thing. It looks like snow. It is supposed to be down to 26 degrees tonight.

I went shopping this afternoon and bought another can of coffee for $2.99. I noticed that it was selling out fast and probably won't be there tomorrow. I got a jar of applesauce for $.99 cents. Another brand right beside it was priced at $1.79. Guess which one I bought. I never buy store pies, but I did today. It is a sweet potato pie. I put it into the freezer where I can't be easily tempted. Another loaf of bread for the freezer, also. The price of food, esp. meats is really going up with the space shuttle. I have spent about $39.00 this past weeks and that is about all I need to spend. The one thing I did not get is the spaghetti sauce for $1.00 a can. I might go and get some tomorrow if the sky doesn't fly with snow flurries.

Gas was down to $2.65 for a few days, but now is right back up to what it was before the elections, the day everyone got out and voted for one's favorite crook.

I have one electric heater in the bath room, one in the living room and one in this room. I have one more in storage that I may dig out, but they say it will be right back up into the 70's this coming week-then look out, thereafter. By then the furnace should be fixed. I am comfortable as I am, right now, without a sweater on.

I wanted something good to eat and was tempted to go to the Golden Corral. As money is getting tighter and it is being throttled off as a wrestler in a choke hold, I opted for cooking a pretty good meal. I cooked potatoes, carrots, celery, onions and a small roast in my QVC pressure cooker. I do love that thing. Anyway, the roast is about half gone now because I am a true carnivore. I need meat or I don't feel like I have had a meal. If the country goes to h**l in a hand basket, I would have to eat the dog next door: it barks too much, anyway. I could swallow it's bark...yum.

I went past the library and the parking was not attainable. I just kept on going. The same thing with the Good Will store; no room in the Inn. I suppose you have heard rumors and pronouncements, that the recession/depression was over as of 2009...really?..no one around here seems to have been notified. Hey Obama, you forgot to tell almost everyone!

****

WONDERFUL ARE YOUR DECREES;

THEREFORE I OBSERVE THEM

THE REVELATION OF YOUR WORDS

SHEDS LIGHT,

GIVING UNDERSTANDING

TO THE SIMPLE.

*

Psalm 129-130

*

They also serve who only stand and wait.

*

by John Milton

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END

Face ache

Yes, I have a"face ache." The moral of this story is find a dentist with smaller hands. I had the impression and a temporary filling done today. I am losing count on how many crowns I have now. I hope I don't need any more.

I don't have heat. The guy from the gas company couldn't get the furnace to lite. He thinks the thermo coupler is not working. The heat and cooling guy will come on Wednesday. What's a thermo-coupler, anyway? In the meantime I dug out a couple electric oil filled heaters-I am not freezing. I'm glad I hung on to those little heaters. If I have to, I can bring in my kerosene heater. However, with 3 little heaters and wearing my "warmies"-fleece top and bottoms, I will make out just fine.

Well, I need a new TV, a new computer and a good lottery number. I can live without any of them, but it makes life much more fun. I do have an older Dell tower that works, but it is a little slow. The TV had a funky power surge, thanks to the city, and only has about 3/4 of a picture, so I have to look at it sort of cross-eyed! It's a good thing I like to read!

****

POTATO CHEESE BAKE

1/2 SMALL ONION-

FINALLY CHOPPED,

3 EGGS, BEATEN

1/4 CUP MILK

3 CUPS SMASHED POTATOES-

SEASONED

2 CUPS CHEDDAR CHEESE-

COARSELY SHREDDED

*

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients. Pour into baking pan. Bake about 50 minutes or until the blade of a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve while hot/immediately. You may add chunks of ham, cooked, crumbled hamburger or cooked bacon as you prepare the mix. Should serve about six. In my case...it will only serve one...me! You can use already shredded cheese from the dairy deptpartment, if you don't want to shred the cheese yourself.

Most of us know that the PSALMS are biblical. They are the PSALTER, a collection of religious songs. The Psalms had an important place in the Temple. They were in existence from the beginning of of Israelite worship.

****

WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O GOD,

WE GIVE THANKS

AND INVOKE YOUR NAME;

WE DECLARE YOUR

WONDROUS DEEDS

****

Psalms 74-vs. 2

END

Easy Solutions

I'm always looking for easy ways to do stuff or a lazy way to get thing done. I have been "buttoning" up my house with just that in mind . I covered the air conditioner with a large, black garbage bag and Duct tape. It is easier than measuring, cutting and finding a way to keep the plastic in place; cheaper too. I use the $1.00 garbage bags from the Dollar Store/Everything for a Dollar Store. That gives me a large, double-sided piece of plastic that I don't have to waste time with, cutting, measuring, hope that it fits/do it over, and tack it up. Then, with my Handy Dandy Duct Tape, tape it in place. No one knows what I have used once I lower the blinds. In the spring time I can pull it off and throw it away. If it pulls away intact I get to use it over again for garbage or trash.


Today I have been cleaning another fan. The one I tackled today was a big, wire caged floor fan. This fan was harder to do and manipulate. I had to remove one side of the wire cage and clean the blades. The one side of the cage I couldn't get off, but I did a fairly good job of cleaning, nonetheless. I used an old paint brush to brush out as much dirt out of the motor as I could, then used the vacuum to suck out as much as possible. It is not a perfect job, but its a lot better/cleaner than it was before I started. I didn't get to clean this particular fan last year due to a faulty arm, so it had a lot of grime to be removed. You may say, "why bother," but things electrical and mechanical last a lot longer when they are clean and oiled-no crude in the motor and not excess dust/dirt circulating in the air. Ah-one more big fan to go, then into the back store room and out of the way.

APPLESAUCE COOKIES

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsweetened Applesauce

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dark, seedless rains

1/2 cup chopped pecans

*

Cream butter, add sugar, cream again. Add applesauce, stir until blended.

Add sifted dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in raisins and pecans. Drop by teaspoons 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes. Remove from sheet and cool on rack. YUM!

****

SHOUT JOYFULLY TO GOD;

ALL YOU ON EARTH.

SING PRAISE TO THE GLORY

OF HIS NAME;

PROCLAIM HIS GLORIOUS PRAISE.

****

Psalm 65-66 vs. 1-2

***

END

Internet Explorer vs. Foxfire

No, I didn't post last night 'though I tried. I kept getting bumped off Internet Explorer, getting error messages or just couldn't get connected. I tried until midnight. I finally reverted to my alternate Foxfire web browser. I don't know why I didn't think to do that in the first place. Foxfire is a better, safer browser and easily down-loadable. It is faster, too, because not everyone and his brother and 5000,000.000 Facebook users are jamming it up. Don't tell them about it,either. Lets keep good browser a secret.

By pulling up my Foxfire I was finally able to check my e-mail and send some out. Today my Internet and Internet Explorer are back to(ab)normal. Blame it on politics!

I did get out to vote this afternoon. I won't say who I voted for as my ballet is a "secret ballet." As I filled in the little boxes I noticed that close to half the seats had no competition-no one was running in opposition of the present incumbents. There are NO WOMAN candidates running against the "Good Old Boys." A few women who did try to run locally, were put down very fast and a little bit on the prejudices side. I know this for a fact because I saw it. Sometimes KY. is a little backward about moving forward.

I am glad to see some of the Rats getting voted out of office, However, if you don't keep a lid on the garbage can...the Rats will be back. It is hard to eradicate all the vermin. There may be a few that hide in the walls and like all undesirable Rats...they will multiply. Politicians no longer serve the people...they serve themselves. It's all about money and power. I am glad it is over...for now

***

ONLY IN GOD IS MY SOUL AT REST;

FROM HIM COMES MY SALVATION

HE ONLY IS MY ROCK AND

MY SALVATION, MY STRONGHOLD;

I SHALL NOT BE DISTURBED AT ALL.

****

Psalm 61: 1-3

****

We could not lead a pleasant life

And t'would be finished soon

If peas were eaten with a knife

And gravy with the spoon

Eat slowly: only men in rags

And gluttons old in sin

Make themselves for carpet bags

And tumble victuals in.

*

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

*

END