Holy-ween

I went out for a short time this afternoon. I should have taken my camera. There was one house that was super-decorated for Halloween. However, the batteries are very low and need to be recharged



Halloween is an ancient Celt tradition/practice. The Church has tried to avert the practice by naming this day as Holy Eve. or Evening and the next day as All Souls Day. Anyway, the Church was not very successful in eradicating the devils and demons from the minds of man steeped in ancient memories.



We really have not progressed very far up the ladder of civilization and easily revert back to our lesser qualities...trying to scare people and demanding tummy yummies. We are base, vampiring creatures and characters.

I started to read a paperback last night, but lost interest in it right away. It is a fantasy, but too fantastical for me. I will try to get into it tonight, but prefer a fantasy with some reality in it. I did finish one good book entitled THE TREASURE OF ST. WOODY by I. J. Farnham. I think
it would be a good, lite-hearted movie.

i moped the kitchen floor today using my one dollar mop. It did OK, but I thought the floor would never dry. It is a cheap mop from the Dollar Store, but it is lite weight and easier for me to handle. For $1.00 I can't complain, but next time I will use a small fan to make it dry faster.


Anyway, I have run out of ammunition and will shut my little gun down for the eve.

END
P. S. FALL BACK...DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCK BACK ONE HOUR.

Bugs 'n Viruses

It's coming. It's on the way. It's traversing up through the South American countries. Arriving soon in a place near you. If you think H1N1 is a poor house guest just wait until the H3N2 Virus comes knocking on your door. It is more virulent and deadly than what is skipping through the country right now. Whereas H1N1 has targeted the young... pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems..this unwelcome relative wants to visit the older generation, unpack its lethal bag and stay a while. Gee, a virus that targets the young and another virus that wants to vacation with the elderly, the weak and ill and anyone over 50. A designer bug....population control?



I tried to get a regular flu shot and there are none to be had here where I live. I did post that. I can't get the H1N1 shot, either. Too bad, so sad.



My "weather arm" has been telling me to stay home, dry and warm. It kept me awake most of the night. It is a bit puffy and sensitive just where the plates are, my hand is stiff and some of my fingers are numb. Think it might rain...again?



When I was planning to retire I thought I might start painting again. Now, I don't have the fine motor control in my hand. Sometimes when I try to lift something as small as a cup of coffee my whole arm and hand will become tremulous. I wanted to drive my Motor Home into the west and pan for gold. Every since I was a little kid I have wanted to pan for gold. I don't know why, but I know now I can't...so I blog. Oh Well.

I didn't go out the door today as the rain was coming down and the wind was blowing. I do want to get out and about, but I will wait. I am good at waiting. I am still waiting to win the lottery, waiting to lose a few pounds, waiting for my hair to turn back from silver to black...and stuff like that. Good thing I am the patient sort as I may have a long wait.

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I am one of those people that likes to be prepared. Of course, you can't be prepared for everything, but you can have on hand some of the ordinary items needed if a storm comes up, the lights go out, a blizzard blows in or the winds howl at your door and rattle your windows. In the years that I have lived in Kentucky all of these weather events have happened here. So I have what I need, in the short term, at least.

I have a box full of candles, flashlights, a wind-up weather radio with it's own lite and kerosene. In the back storage room I have a kerosene heater and on the front porch I have hanging lanterns. All are usable, working and I have had to use them in the past. The silver flashlight I hung around my neck while taking care of residents(the home generator did not work). I have more candles than in the pictures and when the power went down during a summer storm my neighbors came over because I had a crank-up radio with a light in it.

Contrary to some opinions, Kentucky is not a bit backward in culture and modern technology. However, geographically, this state is in the cross hairs of unpredictable weather patterns and vagaries and the grass isn't blue either. Parts of Kentucky are poor, but so are parts of every state in the Union. As it says in the Bible, "The Poor are always with us." For the most part Kentucky is a rich state and diversified-like the weather.

Speaking of weather, it continues to rain..and rain..and rain some more. The air is damp and chilly and I have cold toes. I turned the heat up.

There is nothing on TV and I finished off all the books I got from the library. I guess I will maybe look for some more books to read tomorrow and take myself out to eat...maybe.

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Bathroom Humor

I have these cute little pictures on my bathroom wall. They are slightly blurry because I have to get up close to get the shot: I hope you can make them out.

There isn't much going on in these dreary, rainy days. We are well past the normal rainfall for this time of the year, for this area. The farmers are having a hard time getting the soybeans in from the fields and the winter wheat planted. The ground is just too soft and muddy.

I walked out to the garden this afternoon. I saw a couple green tomatoes that I hope to get tomorrow. There are some greens left, as I have mentioned. There are some second growth cabbages waiting for a dryer day for harvesting and the radishes that have re-seeded. Some really hot peppers are hanging on the vines, but they can stay there. Too hot for me.

My niece called me and said they are getting ready to put their house on the market. She is thinking of moving to upstate N. Y. where there are no jobs, no money, long, cold winters and high taxes. N. Y. State is bankrupt and if it were me I would be moving south where the taxes are lower, utilities are cheaper and land and houses are more reasonable. But that's just me...my way of thinking.

A friend of mine is buying a smaller house and says she will give me her console TV and a really nice computer desk. She will be getting new stuff for her new house. Experience tell me not to hold my breath in anticipation. We will see.

There just isn't much to write about when I can't get out and about.

Radishes

In the late season of gardening you may find some odd produce that you have missed, become to large or have reseeded without help from any green thumbs. One plant that can and will do that is little radish that you consider a spring delicacies or a salad garnish. When a radish gets bigger or "too big" it gets hot, something like a hot pepper and you can be breathing fire out your nostrils, like a little bi-pedaled dragon....hot, hot, hot! I have been telling a friend all summer that when a radish gets too big or too hot, you can fry it or them. She says "I have never heard of such a thing!" Well, you can and I have. Frying a radish takes the heat out of the radish and it has a good flavor. Here is the recipe.

FRIED RADISHES

3 BUNCHES OF RADISHES

2 TABLESPOONS OF FAT, BUTTER OR OLIVE OIL

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1/8 TEASPOON PEEPER

Wash radishes and slice

Fry in fat, butter or Olive Oil for 15 minutes

stirring frequently

Season. Serves around 8

I prefer to fry radishes in butter. You do not have to have 3 bunches if you are only cooking for yourself. Use less. If you decide to use a deep fryer they will come out like little chips. There are other ways to cook radishes and if anyone happens to show interest I will post them.

It is a cold, deary, rainy day and I cant' really get into the garden without getting into mud. I want to cover my big, ol' smoker and firewood with a tarp, but just don't want to get wet. Sissy me.

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Salad and Food

Here is my masterful salad. It contains lettuce, spinach, Swiss Chard, baby dandelion greens, cherry tomatoes, baby radishes, a boiled egg and lots of bacon, with dressing. The picture is just a bit blurry; I must have been too close. It was compiled from what is still growing in the garden and was very filling. Some things simply re-seeded themselves. Yum.

Gumbo is a more southern dish, than a Kentucky dish, but I happen to love good gumbo, so I am including a recipe for anyone that enjoys a good, rich "soup."

CRAB AND SHRIMP GUMBO

1. 3. qts thinly slice Okra
2. 1. qt. peeled, deveined shrimp
3. 2 cans whole tomatoes
4. 2 lbs. claw crab meat
5. lb. gumbo crabs
6. i bell pepper, chopped
7. 2 bunches green onions, chopped
8. 1 bunch of parsley, chopped
9. 3 cups celery, chopped
10. Salt, Tabasco, Lea & Perrine's, Thyme and Kitchen Bouquet for color

Fry Okra until not ropey. Sprinkle with flour lightly. Brown. Add tomatoes with 1 t. spoon of sugar. Cook again, then add onions and other seasonings. Cook 1/2 hour , stirring frequently. Add crab meat and shrimp and simmer 1/2 hour more. Serve over cooked rice.

I have and use frozen Okra, and left over fish if I have some. I also use an envelope of gravy mix in my gumbo toward the end of cooking. This a recipe you can deviate or change, according to what you have on hand.

Reg. gas went down .10 cents from $2.59 to $2.49. The newscaster on the radio said "analyst's don't know why" the price of oil and gas has that jumped again. I am sure most of us can guess. Winter is coming and profiteering is viable for the cold season. There is a glut of gas right now and the consumer has cut back, so the oil companies need to pay the shareholders...right?

I bought some real butter today. It was said by the all knowing government, nutritionist and scientists, that butter was bad for you...or your cholesterol. Now they say that it isn't the case after all. Just in case you want to know, I don't really care. I wanted it for cooking and because it is good.

JOKE: The Sunday School teacher asked; "Now Johnny, did you say a prayer before eating?" Little Johnny replied, "No Mame, I don't need to, my Mom is a good cook."

And that's the way to cook...maybe...

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Coffee Tips and Information

1. Four Catholic ladies were having coffee. The first Catholic lady tells her friends, "My son is a priest. When he walks into a room everyone calls him "Father."

The second Catholic lady chirps, "My son is a Bishop. When he enters a room everyone calls him "Your Grace."



The third Catholic lady speaks up and says, "My son is a Cardinal. When he walk into a room everyone defers to him as "Your Eminence."



The fourth Catholic lady quietly sips her coffee as the first three Catholic ladies give' her that subtle "Well?" look.



She replies, "My son is a gorgeous 6 ' 2" hard bodied dancer. When he walks in the room people say "Oh My God!"




For best brewing results always brew a pot of coffee t its fullest capacity.

1. Never leave coffee in an open container longer than 1/2 hour.


2. Don't re-heat brewed coffee. It is never as delicious as fresh made.


3. Each pound of coffee when properly brewed yields around 52 cups.


4. Non-dairy creamers should be in the cup before the coffee, so the coffee will not cool down below 160 degrees, when the creamer will not dissolve properly.

It is cool today. I went out into the garden to check to see what is still growing besides mud. Chuck came and mowed and planted my Blueberry plants for me, so that is done. Maybe I will have some Blueberries next year. Until Monday....

The End