HERE AND THERE--BITS AND PIECES

Minnie

2011-06-13T17:08:00.001-05:00

I lost Minnie today. She was 13 years and 7 months as that is as close to what the vet figured out her age when she came into the auction house all those years ago.
She slept under my left arm every night and would 'chirp' instead of meow everytime I entered the bedroom. I will fill you in on more about my beloved Minnie later.
Since I was with a heavy heart last night knowing what I had to do this morning, I just held her as much as I could without hurting her as much of the night as she would let me. She was in a lot of pain.
So will write more later.

Back

2011-06-12T14:43:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm back after the virus left me without the laptop for nearly 2 weeks. DH had a notebook that I jury-rigged and had to use ethernet cable for, but it was a distinct pain and sooooo slow.

Now have to figure out which stitching sites I was following. Everything was wiped off the desktop with the exception of my photos. He put them in a folder on the desktop for me so I have them.

Glad to be back.

Have a very sick 13 yr old cat and am so torn and saddened. May not be on for a bit.

Huggs, to all.

Cait

Thanks

2011-05-31T00:03:00.001-05:00

Meari,
Thank you for your kind words on Dovey.
I still expect her to come into the bathroom in the morning and meow her 'Good Morning, Mommy'.
It is lonesome without her and her siblings and I are still in blue.
Thanks again,
Cait

The measure of love....

2011-05-14T18:50:00.005-05:00

It is a measure of love to know how we are missed.
All last night they were walking around the house and calling to her.
Their agitation and confusion was palpable.
It didn't stop with last night. This morning they were doing the same.
Dovey's sisters don't understand where she is.
I brought her back in the house after I took her home from the vet's clinic.
I laid her down on the floor for them. Both sniffed and walked away.
But they wouldn't or couldn't accept that Dovey was gone.
Their missing her equates to the love they had for this little, grey being.
That my talking to them and petting them had some effect, don't tell me that her siblings aren't mourning the loss of their sister.
I can see her grave markers out under the Haraldson apple tree from my eastern facing windows, and I also grieve.
Talking softly to Cinders and Cuddles helps them, just slightly, but they still call for her.
To those that insist that animals are just that, without thought and feeling, and haven't seen this phenomenon of their grieving for Dovey, well, I don't think I ever want to meet these people. I would just appreciate that they never come into my life for me to feel sorry for their lack of knowledge and compassion.
Little Dovey, Thank You for gracing my life for the last decade plus. For teaching me to appreciate all of God's gifts to us.
Your life was a great joy to me.
I grieve for you also.

Dovey

2011-05-13T22:37:00.005-05:00

Today was a hard day for me.
For the last week I have been trying to get one of my little cats to eat. She wouldn't and couldn't.
Today the hard decision was made to let Dovey go.
She wouldn't eat anything and all she wanted to do was drink.
She was so weak, I didn't have much choice.
Dovey was the best mouser, the best I ever had. Dovey would hear a mouse in this 96 year old house and she sat there in the kitchen until she got it.
She was a small dove-grey cat, only 11-12 years old.
Dovey was a feisty one, and if you invaded her space, most likely you were told by her to back away. It was only in the last few years that she tolerated you to pet her. Never on her head, but from the shoulders on back you could touch and stroke her body down to the end of her tail.
And she was a talker! If you were in the kitchen having a meal, or anywhere she saw you, she would just let loose with one of her outlandishly loud meows. You could literally hold a conversation with her. Dovey would 'say something', you would answer and she would respond.
Dovey wasn't one of the most cuddly cats, and I regret not being able to sit with her in my lap to pet and cuddle with her.
This last week was hard for both of us, and her sister, Cinders, never left her side. When Dovey went to drink, Cinders was with her.
She asked for so little, but gave so much even though she did it on her terms.
I will miss you little girl, wait for me when it is my time to cross our rainbow bridge...............

Been a while..

2011-04-15T18:24:00.002-05:00

Well, it has been a while. Lost our furnace about a month ago, and I sure do wish it would warm up a bit. Good thing is that they aren't delivering any more fuel oil, bad thing is that the cold floors are getting to me. The atomic clock receptor outside says that it is 39* and it is 67* inside the bedroom. Guess I need to bake something

Common courtesy

2010-11-06T13:38:00.004-05:00

Have you come out of a store or warehouse facility and had to lift that 42 pounds of litter up into your car or truck? Or that very heavy, bulky, unwieldly case of bottled water?
I did the other day.
Now getting it into the cart isn't as bad, as you are usually dropping it into the cart as opposed to lifting it up out of the high walled/sided cart into the vehicle.
Imagine my surprise while at the Coon Rapids, MN, Costco this past week and I heard a shout from the cart corral asking me if I wanted help to get the litter into my truck.
I turned around and here was a young man, Sam by name, and he was asking ME the question. At first instinct I thought no. Then as instantly as that thought came to mind, I turned to him and said that I would love some help.
Sam easily hefted both into the truck cab and I told him I could take care of the rest. And Thank You! He gave me a look that said that he was more than willing to finish the rest, but acquiesced nobly and went back to his work.
While getting into the truck after all was said and done, I dug out the cell phone and dialed Free411 to get the phone number of that particular Costco.
I called and mentioned what just had happened to me. I told the lady that answered that Sam was a great help to a 5'2.5" 68-year old woman. She was so surprised and asked me if I wanted to talk to his manager. I said that I definitely would and did so. He mentioned that the young man was standing right in front of him and I repeated that I was so grateful for that bit of common courtesy and to please Thank him again.
Sam, you will go far in your career, simply because your work ethic has allowed you to see beyond corralling carts. Your parents raised you very well. I am pleased to have been part of your life, you certainly lifted my day to the best quality for that particular incident.
Thank You.

Angel food cakes

2010-11-06T12:20:00.005-05:00

When I was a youngster, I would ask my Mom to make angel food cakes for special occasions. Angel food cakes with berries, whether those were fresh or not, didn't matter. It was the cake, pure and simple. Now don't get me wrong, I love a chocolate cake or white cake with lemon filling along with the best of them, but the angel food cake had a special appeal for this kid.
When the cake was resting on that pop bottle, I called for dibs on the pan. Now my next youngest sibling didn't have a clue. Dee was all for the cake, berries and whipped cream. I, on the other hand couldn't wait for the pan, and I wasn't about to share that secret.
All this is brought back by today's program on PBS"s 'Cook's Country', the sister program of 'America's Test Kitchen'.
Now these two programs are the best thing to watch and learn by if you want to know the reasons why your food/meal comes out, or not, the way you want it to. Really an important method of schooling for all of us that have leanings to being called a 'foodie'. They also publish a magazine that solve all sorts of really terrific and important cooking issues, solved and perfected. Their equipment corner is a marvelous way to find equipment that will work in your kitchen, and not fall apart with usage, the best of the best. Look for it and see if you aren't intrigued by it and will buy it. A good read for any cook or budding culinary scientist.
Today's program, you guessed it, the seven rules to make a perfect angel food cake.
All said and done, for me, it is still about the dibs on the ooey, gooey remnants in the pan. The one I got dibs on. I don't know what it was and is about that part of the cake, but the cake runs a close second to the absolute delight to a child to get that part left on the pan.
Really!
Next time you make an angel food cake, snitch a bit of my childhood and sample that ooey, gooey remnant left in the pan. I still like it even when you buy an angel food from the store. Sometimes you will get lucky and that remnant left on the carton bottom is there.
You might just agree with me and bring back a wonderful memory of childhood....or create your own good memory for your adulthood.

All in a day's work

2010-11-03T15:53:00.004-05:00

While in the Twin Cities the other day, I saw the cutest thing.
A lady was out jogging with her fairly large dog along side her on its leash.
What made it so memorable was that the dog had a water bottle in its mouth, and carrying it very proudly with its head up. AND there was water in the bottle. Now I am not sure if the bottle was for the dog or the lady jogger. Unfortunately, I was in a stream of traffic so that I wasn't able to pull over and ask.
The sight of the two of them out for a wonderful days jog made my day. It wasn't much, and I am not rubber-necking as I drive, I was stopped at a light and that's when the observance took place. I see so many things when I am out and about. It just takes a bit of time to absorb the world around you. Keep your eye on the traffic, mind you, but when you have the time, watch the Good Lord's world around you. You might be surprised at what you see and can learn.

Carolyn NC

2010-09-23T11:33:00.003-05:00

Hi Carolyn,
I just looked around the page and saw the 'comments' on the tab under title on the compose page. I can view your comments there.
Daughter and husband were over yesterday to deliver some of her fabulous bean soup and I showed her the prayer shawl. That may have been a mistake. She commented on how well it would go with all her colors and that more importantly, she is always so cold now since her Rouen-Wye (?) surgery when she sits and watches tv.
I hadn't thought of giving it to her, as I was looking at it as a comfort for me. I knit it as I do my devotions, and every stitch is wrapped in an Apostle's Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, St. Bridget's twelve year devotions from Our Lord, St. Bridget's Seven Sorrows from Mary, my Universal Living Rosary decade, and the daily devotions interspersed within all of these.
I mentioned it to Hubby, and he chuckled. His solution, give it to her and knit yourself another! O.k., I guess he had better consider how long it takes me to knit. I started it at my Dad's side knowing how long it takes me to do anything, as well as wanting to do something while sitting with him, So, I guess I had better put off that bib, burp and change pad for Dottie's baby. Which is OK, I really wasn't into doing that anyway. That was another of husband's suggestions.
Maybe I will remember to talk over these suggestions with hubby before he has me committed, like doing Pooh for her sister's baby. If you have ever done Pooh Patterns, you will know why I am sparse-haired on the head. Comes from pulling out hair while doing a Pooh pattern with all those white spaces. And I am a pretty darned good stitcher!!!!
Oh well, time to get ready for Dad's Memorial service.
Thanks for the comments, and hopefully I will enable them sometime to show to all.
Huggs everyone.

The first day of fall

2010-09-23T11:19:00.000-05:00

Today is our Anniversary.
We were married 32 years ago (in 1978) on a bright, beautiful, sunshine-y day. I made my dress and bought dresses for our two daughters in shades of pink. Our son disappeared for the entire ceremony and never did find out where he went. He did show up for the food, however, he was twelve and always hungry.
Today as I woke up, my DH wished me a Happy Anniversary, grabbed his watch, phone, wallet and a couple of waters from the fridge and headed down to the cities to see what treasures he could find today.
I have a memorial to go to for my Dad at the residence chapel where he had lived for the last year, this afternoon.
Somehow it seems rather fitting.
It is raining today, and I will not complain about the rain. It makes me want to just sit and stitch or knit. Both are constructive and calming.
To say that I need it is an understatement.
But life goes on and so will I.
Happy Anniversary dear Husband.

Comments

2010-09-16T14:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I think I screwed up.
Carolyn, you have graciously posted twice now, and I can't read them. Somehow I have figured out how to disable something without knowing. I published an answer to your invisible post, and that didn't come up either. May have to take this out of RSS feed. That is the only thing I know I deliberately did. Will see.
Am slowly re-joining the human race, and have forgone the cross stitching for a bit in choosing to knit myself a prayer/comfort shawl in Homespun yarn. It is easy, just knit, knit, knit. No purling required, and my concentration level is so out of whack and continuing with counted cross stitch while riding in hubby's little truck, that it is not an activity that works. There is more 'jounce to the bounce' in his little Colorado than is conducive to counted cross stitch needles and I can handle at this point.
Hopefully I can figure out how the comment form works and who knows, I may have to shut down the computer and restart to get it to work. But not right now. Have to get some food in the body.

new color backgrond

2010-08-26T15:13:00.003-05:00

In case you are wondering, I signed up for an RSS feed and yellow print doesn't show up well, sigh. So will opt for a lighter background so I can either leave it black or dk green. Took me forever to figure out where I accidently stumbled on it last week. Hmmph! Got to get more computer savvy here!

Missed the monarch's flight

2010-08-26T14:57:00.001-05:00

Well, saw hundreds and hundreds of Monarch butterflies landing in the trees last night before the cool temp didn't allow them to fly anymore. Set the alarm for 8:30 in hopes of hearing them fly off this morning. 8:30 was too late. Once the sun started hitting those tree tops this morning and warming up their tiny bodies, they were off. By the time I got out there with the binoculars, there was only one I could see on the tree top and two others flying around. When I looked back, the one on the tree was also gone and flying around.
I wished all of them a safe journey to Mexico.
This hasn't happened for several years now, and wasn't sure we were still on the flyway for them. I think I just missed the night gathering by being in the house and didn't see them each year they came.
I still remember when they all started flying away that morning after they warmed up that first time. It was the softest swishing sound you ever heard.....like angel's wings.
I so wanted to hear it again, but wasn't able to. At least I got to wish the few remaining to take off, a safe trip. 'God speed ye' little ones. Safe journey.

Back to normal

2010-08-20T13:29:00.004-05:00

Ok, I went back and fixed all the screwed up posts. So all the 'complaining' I did (keeping in mind how crappy I am feeling) can be taken with a grain of salt at this point. Got my MOJO back and it's working!
Oh if life were that simple......

I think I figured out this thingee....

2010-08-20T13:15:00.002-05:00

Well, let's see if this works. It seems that the compose button lets me get back to what I want and love on my site. That edit HTML crapola is just that. Why would anyone ever choose that? What purpose does it serve?
OK, I am not a computer geek and have tons of things to learn. But at least I have my preferred font back and I will be able to get the color I want back. I see that there are a few new settings on the task bar, but I am only going to choose those I know!!!!!
Not feeling the best today, think it may be a bad mouse (in not-cat owners vernacular, I think I may have eaten something not good and it is rolling around and out in the gut....'nuf said). But just in case, am not going in to see if I can get Dad to eat.
With that said, perhaps I should stop making words here, I seem to be getting a bit 'T.M.I.'
Hope everyone is having a good day and is experiencing what we are not....sun, cooler weather out of the upper 90's and beyond.

new blog style

2010-08-20T12:45:00.002-05:00

OK. It is official. Someone messed up my blog settings. It may have beeen me, but the jury is out on that one yet. I can't get the beautiful golden color to publish the words anymore, just a pale, icky yellow. I do hate the HTML and would never choose it. I can't choose the font any more, and I love trebuchet font. My apologies.

FLOSS BOXES

2010-08-20T11:43:00.007-05:00

Well it started when I was packing the carry-on for the plane and was pulling the floss for the Danish Country Christmas.
Instead of being filled numerically, from box one to box two etc., I was literally checking 6 floss boxes with floss in numerical order, and each box was in order but having different floss colors in each, and having to check each box over and over to see if the color wanted was in any of them as I went down the list of floss.
I got frustrated.
Now mind you, when the tree came down on the bedroom and kitchen, Hubby put all my stitching and floss in one area of the living room, or maybe it was put in the barn, so I could find it. Anyway, all my DMC floss, and I had all the colors, are not found yet, admittedly, I am slow. So I start with new floss whenever I get a new pattern.
But I had 5 or 6 boxes of new floss to go through to see if I had all the floss for the two patterns.
So when we got home, the plan was to combine all the floss from the various boxes and put them in numerical order to flow from box one to eventually now to box three.
I finished this morning after working on it off and on for the last three days.
What a feeling of accomplishment! And what a timesaver it will be!
For those of you that don't stitch, it is like trying to find your new toothbrush in your linen closet, in one or the other places you place new toothbrushes in the linen closet drawers.
Or, like trying to find that spatula for cleaning out that bowl of potato salad and having to go through all of your kitchen drawers. Frustration level------inordinately high.
So the job on Monday's 'ToDo' list is finally done and back in the bookcase ready to be used when needed again. I even have two extra boxes to expand now. Although I just thought of something, I didn't leave room for the Danish Country Christmas floss and the new floss I bought for the Gnomes to be put back into the three boxes! LOL
Good thing I have an extra, empty box. 'Tis a tedious job to move 6 skeins of floss into the next compartment. Guess I am not done yet.
Isn't there a saying of "The best laid plans of mice and men...."?
Will take the Scarlett O'Hara of Tara approach...."I'll think of that, tomorrow..."

Vegas

2010-08-18T19:19:00.002-05:00

Well, I did the annual trek to Vegas. Why I go in the summer is beyond me. I know, there is a screw loose in the thinking department.

But I did make my annual trip to Stitcher's Paradise and spent some to help keep a LNS store going.

I got three patterns from Imaginating. The first is "We Thank Thee Lord" which is a beautiful sampler type with a marvelous basket of fall fruits and vegetables. It is #1298 if you want to look it up. (www.imaginating.com)

The second is "Halloween Delusion" #SG-43. I got it because I thought it was part of the 'Kelly's Cats' series. It looks like it, but after careful scrutiny, didn't see any mention of her at all, as this was designed by Holly Gordon and Judy VonStein.

The third was "Tricky Treat Cats" #SG-23, designed by Holly Gordon. Of the two cat offerings, hubby liked Halloween Delusion best. It was also the one stitched and framed next to the register counter and caught my eye.

The fourth pattern is one I saw on Mary Salvi's blog and fell in love with, and is called "Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings". Of course, having pumpkins on the top kind of cinched the favor, and I am going to have to contact Mary to get particulars from her. I agree with her and will do it in DMC, as that is what I have most available, not to mention the cost. It calls for 60 colors, and sorry, I will keep the silks called for, for for a smaller project at $6.00/skein. I can hardly wait to start this one, and will have to figure out if I can do some type of rotation to get all the projects worked on and still keep going on all that I want to stitch. Maybe that is the secret to keeping things fresh and not stagnating on a project. Yes?

Let me know how all of you do it with multiple projects going.

I brought out only one leaflet and floss with me so I could start on Jeremiah Junction's Danish Country Christmas, leaflet # JL117, 1991. I picked it up during an early spring garage saling venture for 50 cents. I liked the sampler aspect of the two pieces, and it had two gnomes! While in Vegas, I bought 18ct Aida to work on it. I had fabric, but wasn't comfortable with the shortage on the width, I was one inch short. (I know, a bit 'anal retentive' here). However, in buying the piece of fabric for $22.00, not only did I get both patterns pieces cut, but I have a large hunk leftover to do other things with. WooHoo!

I did spend .70/ per skein for DMC, but it only came to $12.00, and I really wanted to get both pieces started, and didn't have the floss for the Gnomes. I had all the floss for the skating winter sampler though.

All in all, Hubby let me stay in the hotel room and stitch for two days before I was required to help pack. I was in heaven. It is a good thing we only eat twice a day there, it left me more time in the middle to start things.

Well, that is the report on my stitching for now.

Would love to hear your comments if you have time.

Stitchings I have actually done

2010-07-07T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is just a small floral motif I did on a towel. A bit small for the towel, but I guess I could call it 'delicate and feminine' instead.

This little ornament is one of my favourites. I can just hear him laughing with glee as he is scooting down that slope on that saucer sled. It was a small DMC chartpak bought at least 18 years ago.

A strawberry fingertip towel that was a super easy pattern to stitch and a bright cheery spot in the bathroom towel bar.

Probably one of my favourites. Verse reads: "Take one can of biscuits. Twock on edge of counter. Bake in a 400* oven. Serve in a fancy basket."

Well that is about all for tonight. Still have devotions to do so I can watch Poker After Dark!

A/C!

2010-07-07T00:40:00.000-05:00

What would we ever do without air conditioning in the house?
We live in a 94-95 year old farmhouse. Yup, the house was born the same year as my Dad.
So, that being said, we do not have whole house air as there just is no way to install it without gutting the entire house.
We have a room a/c in the north window of the bedroom.
I can stitch again.
I have a magnifying lamp with a regular light bulb.
My beloved Daylight magnifier light died.
Well, the metal parts did, totally made a noise like a gunshot when the metal parts stripped and quit. The magnifier was still working as well as the light. But it just wouldn't stay up to swivel, nor stay put in the right spot, so it had to go.
The one I am currently using was a gift from the auction house. Bless that auction house. Bless The Lord. I needed a stitching light, and He provided. But in the summer, we have to have the a/c going because it is just too darned hot to stitch without it. Those little lamps do put out a lot of heat.
Not to mention not being able to sleep in this hot, humid weather. Hubby works very hard in this hot, humid weather and he really needs to be able to sleep. I also have a problem in that I simply have a problem breathing if it is too hot and humid. Plus being older, well, I thank The Lord for a/c and the ingenuity He gave to the person that invented it!

Giving up part 2

2010-06-25T11:24:00.000-05:00

I give up 'part 2'.
Feeling really icky today so I am going to do what I feel like doing.
If I don't get the clutter done today, guess what? It will still be there tomorrow.
Am watching Martha Stewart and her guest is making wallets! Am going to download pattern. I can NEVER find a wallet that works! They never are big enough to let you put a checkbook in. The wallets from China or Taiwan or where ever, must think our checkbook blanks are a lot smaller than they actually are.
The guest is using Martha Stewart's scrap booking paper as the decorative part of the wallet, but I think I would rather use a thin cloth. Or a cross stitched pattern! Woo Hoo! Great idea there!
Her next guest went to Tuscany! Oh, be still my heart. I want to poke around the Tuscany region for a month or two. Want to join me?

2010-06-25T10:38:00.000-05:00

I gave up.
We are starting to smell lake shore.
Wouldn't it just be like Murphy's Law.
Put up clothes line and all it has done is rain.
So brought them in and since most of them dragged on the ground, will give up and re-wash. (oh to have a regular clothes line 't' bar to run the lines on.)
Bonnie Hunt's Mom, Alice, is just a hoot.
Her joke today was:
'What did one mountain say to the other mountain after an earthquake?
Answer: 'It wasn't my fault'.
Get it?
I just did after I typed it!
FAULT as in the famous San Andreas Fault where all the earthquakes are! LOL, no one said that I was the brightest bulb today.
Tune in that show if you can get it, we get it on our local Fox station. She is the most gentle woman host for a talk show. Loves her Mom, and her crew is 'unique'. I have mentioned her before and try to check her out for a week.
She genuinely likes people and isn't mean like Leno and Letterman. Her jokes are usually self-effacing, and that is such a relief.

Hubby at home

2010-06-17T00:58:00.000-05:00

I love my husband.
I love my husband.
I love my husband.
But, there are days when he is home all day, and my normal routine and schedule gets disrupted.
I now know how wives feel when their husbands retire and say that they seem to be 'underfoot' all day.
This is hardly ever a problem, except when my mind is concentrating and in 'running mode' with the bib I really need to get stitching on. The baby isn't due until the time around the Thanksgiving holiday, but with my stitching speed, I find that I am not what is called a 'fast' stitcher.
I am constantly amazed at the speed and amount of projects that some of my stitching friends can accomplish.
When he is home I tend to stay in whichever room he is in. I feel guilty if I sit in the bedroom and stitch.
He did however, mention last night that if we go out for breakfast in the next town over, we could go to the German bakery in that town and load up on our favourite bread. Sounded like a marvelous idea.
So what happens when I know we are going to do something special the next day? I can't sleep. He is up and ready to go at 8. I have finally gotten to sleep at 5.
Did I mention that I am rather grumpy when I first get up. He is so cheerful, it stinks!
That started the day. The breakfast was marvelous, they cooked the veggies before they filled my omelet, just the way I like them.
After we got home, I started a load of bleach laundry.
In between checking on him as he watched his Judge shows in the bedroom, two loads were all I got done.
It is amazing at the mentality of the people on the many 'judge' shows.
I finally gave up, sat and asked him if he minded if I stitched a bit. Still felt guilty about it, but he said he didn't mind. I did manage to pull out some floss as I wasn't fond of the way the accent color was going in this large weave. In total, I think I got around 1/2 hour of stitching, let me rephrase that, ripping out floss.
He has sales tomorrow.
I will get a lot more done and will feed myself.
I love my husband.
I love my husband.
I love my husband.

Wildlife

2010-06-10T20:56:00.000-05:00

This year is an interesting year for wildlife on this small farm.
As I looked out the front door today while on the phone, I saw a chipmunk just whizzing around under my parked truck. We seem to have a small flock of goldfinches that have flown onto the farm this week. It is sure a bright spot to see them here with their bright gold bodies flitting around the yard.
As I was watching, I saw a movement about 25' to the south of the robin's bathing puddles. I spotted a very young bunny just venturing out of the grainery. He was no longer than 7 inches as he sat on his haunches an chewing on the young, grass leaves.
Then as I got home and was pulling the key out of the ignition, I noticed a movement in the grainery window directly across from the truck parking area. There was a chipmunk just pulling an pulling some soft fiber from the corner of the window. Once he freed it, he took off back into the grainery like a shot. Of course, since he was most likely using the puffy stuff for a nest, it was most likely a she instead of a he.
I also have been noticing that we have a small flock of four crows inhabiting the trees of the farmyard. This is the first time since we moved here that we have had resident crows.
When we moved here, we used to be in the shop/barn until about 4 a.m. Working at night was better suited to the using of the kilns. It simply was cooler. In the winter, it simply made sense so the clay and glaze didn't freeze.
Anyway, one fine spring morning we had just gotten to bed and about two hours later were awakened by a raucous 'cackling' of a whole bunch of trees inhabited by crows. Noisy crows. Bobby and I looked at each other and wondered if this was going to be the pattern here. I was a city girl and he came from the north woods. He usually had song birds and fish outside his cabin window on the lake to listen to. Not raucous crows.
They left in about a week, and this is the first time that I have heard any crows within our yard since then.
I still keep sleeping hours from about 3 a.m. to 11, but lately have been getting up at 9:55 so I can listen to Father Corapi on our Catholic Relevant Radio station out of St. Cloud. The crows are still vocal. But not to the extent of a replay of the Birds movie of old.
We also have a very vocal something or other around the pump house. I have seen opossums on the road just south of our barn, and am wondering if that is what I am hearing. I like the little buggers, but, and this is a very respectful but, they have a mouth full of very sharp, little teeth. I don't think I want to tangle with any of them.

MURPHY'S LAW!

2010-06-08T13:03:00.000-05:00

Murphy's Law hit again.
Got a clothes line up between a couple of trees and have been hanging clothes out. At least the sheets. The small dryers in house are just that, too small. Needed a clothes line.
So hung out some towels etc., yesterday, and it was a load of whites to sun bleach over the night/morning.
Can you guess what happened?
Right.
It is raining. Not just a gentle, spurty rain, but a long, drawn-out rain. Instead of the three puddles in the circle, I now have enlarged the three and am working on the fourth.
I am watching the load on the line sag.
I will, however, not take these in and rewash. I am going to just let the rain soften them up and forget about that molecule of dirt in each raindrop.
Hmph!

2010-06-04T09:25:00.000-05:00

I was driving home from town yesterday.
Since we live in an agricultural area, new home construction in the last 10 or so years has greatly increased and farmland has alarmingly decreased as more and more farms have gone up for sale as the farmers retired and their youngsters have decided that farming is not for them.
As I was driving home, I noticed that the first cutting of hay has occurred on one of the farmlands outside of town.
I was overjoyed.
It also brings a certain amount of sadness that the summer, even though it technically still spring, is quickly passing by with that occurrence of the first cutting. (I know....as I get older, it seems like the years passing gets quicker and quicker.)
But in observing that first cut hay field, I can't tell you how sweet that smells.
It is like being in the haymow with all the new 'squares' of hay that were loaded up there. There is nothing else like it. Yes, 'haying' is an itchy, really itchy, hot, dirty job, but when you are done, there is really nothing else like it. The aroma is comforting and sweet smelling.
I remember climbing up into my grandparents large barn and scrambling up the vertical ladder attached to the wall and being in that wonderful sweet smelling world. Grandma was always worried that a bale or two would fall on me and smother me being such a small person. But when it was recently filled, the bales were solid and stacked well. As the season progressed, the stacks might have gotten a little less solid as they were pulled and dropped for the cows to eat or use as bedding for the new calves. I still like to cling to the thought that my no-nonsense grandma would sneak up there occasionally to have a special bit of aromatic peace.
If you were lucky, a momma cat had her babies up there in a special little nest. If you were quiet enough while climbing the ladder, you could hear the babies and pinpoint where they were. Nothing better on a summer afternoon than to be playing with baby kittens in the haymow.
That memory was precipitated by the cutting of a field. Judging by the amount in the ground rows, it was a pretty generous cutting.
I woke up last night and listened to the gentle rain falling and thinking that it was good that the cutting was yesterday or the day before while the cutting was still green. If the cutting had been earlier and the cutting drier, that wouldn't have been good to get rain on it.
I think that dried hay is why I enjoy the fields in winter when there is snow on the fields and you have these beautiful golden stalks above it. It brings back the beauty of all that golden stacks of hay bales in the haymow.
I would like to make a suggestion.....instead of just rushing around from point A to point B, when you can do so safely, slow down a little and observe the country where you are.
Is that a kestrel hawk on that telephone pole?
Are there geese flying around and testing their adolescents how to form a 'v'?
Do you have an area where you have redwing blackbirds nesting? Pull over and listen to their song.
Do you have any farmland near? Take the country side roads instead of the interstate and just leisurely drive along with the windows open to take in the lovely smell of our rural areas. Yes, even manure has a good smell to it when you get receptive to it.
Before I met husband-to-be Bobby, I used to have a boyfriend that had a Harley. On our trips around on Sundays, we seldom took the highways, we used to weave in and out of the countryside. You got the beautiful scents of our wonderful country the best that way. I always appreciated the drive through the country with him.
I am so glad that Bobby loves it as much as I do. He will always point out a hawk or deer or fox or geese flying as we drive our country roads if I should miss it. It is amazing, even in the areas surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul, the abundance of wildlife out there.
Sometime during this summer, take your little ones on a Sunday country drive and see if you can't slow down a little and open the windows and really 'smell' our country. Sometimes if you happen upon a skunk that has unfortunately gotten hit by a car, the smell is pungent, but really not so bad. But the smell of earth and growing things is the best. It is like going into a greenhouse in the dead of winter. Nothing else like it.
I hope, even if you haven't any little ones anymore, that you give yourself that gift of driving around farmland and slowing down. I guarantee that gift will be a treasure. Stop in a small town and see if you can't have a burger and an iced tea or malt or shake at one of the little cafes there. Or try one of their specials of the day.
Build up your your own memory to treasure when you need to pull it out on a particularly bad day. And the best tip, take a special journal along, stop every once in a while and write down what you smelled, saw, and enjoyed. One of the cheapest, most durable and yet nicest journals to buy is one of those black and white print-covered notebooks you can get at Walmart, Target and just about anywhere. They are found in the shool supplies department. Leave it in your vehicle with a pen clipped to it.
You are ready to record the treasures of your life as you pass through it.
Sometimes we forget to give ourselves a gift. We need to be mentally and spiritually healthy to be able to give continually to others. This will do so.
Huggs, and enjoy.
Cait

Sense of boredom and loss

2010-05-31T12:56:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a long one, so get that cuppa and sit and sip with me....
Well, I finished Caleb John's bib, burp and change pad. Yesterday, in fact. I put in the last stitch, signed and dated, bathed, and pressed them. They didn't get the boxed, papered and ribboned gift, they ended up in the proverbial ziplock bag. (Where would stitchers be without that gem of a tool?)
Then off to Margaret and Jack's for a Memorial Day lunch with Kory, Ady, Caleb and Aaron. Met Hubby at the auction house, and both drove to lunch. Bobby wanted to drive as he didn't think he should stay long since he was in the middle of a nasty cold. So, got there and was treated to some marvelous Margaret-prepared food.
Saw Caleb for the first time, in person, and was granted this marvelous sense of peace looking at this little one.
I watched as he was passed from Mom to Dad and back and forth and to Grandpa and Grandma with such ease and love.
The gift I stitched was received with graciousness and I hope with gladness. It was only 5 months, 11 & 21/31 days late. (He will be 6 months on the 8th of June. I really had to work hard on that one and probably got it figured wrong or theoretically wrong, anyway....)
Caleb is at the stage where he is drooling and blowing bubbles. Dad grabbed the burp towel and mopped up. So it got used. Will see if I can get the pictures in here somewhere. I seem to have a problem with finding my pictures once I get them in the computer. And Today is Computer Problem Day evidently. I think it is either the battery cord, or the connection port on the back of this laptop. It kept closing down. Finally after trying several things, I noticed that when the cord is pushed in one certain way, I have the lightning bolt indicating power comes on, stays on, and is charging the laptop. Hmmmph, don't need problems with this, and Hubby will come home and have a problem and be unhappy camper in the house.
Getting back to last night after arriving home.........
I sat in my chair by the bed, hubby was on the computer, I was watching what little programming on the boob tube I could find. I didn't scroll between stations to see what was offered, just watched what Hubby pulled up before the computer went on.
I had this sense of boredom and loss.
I sat there and felt rather crabby and out of sorts.
I finally figured it out.
I didn't have any stitching to get done and look forward to as Hubby was on the computer and I was ensconced in my stitching/devotional chair.
I had completed all three of Caleb's gifts.
The pattern book, corresponding floss and needle had been put away.
I didn't know what to do.
Sure, I have UFO's to do, but where to start? What do I pull out to do for me? I have Chat Noir from Mystic Stitch, Tracy Horner's BoInk, Dimension's Walking to Town, The Witch's House, Alex's ABC Sampler, etc., etc., etc..
I have also received a couple of marvelous patterns from a dear friend in on of the stitching groups I belong to. One is of a Norwegian angel. I might get all the things ready for that one, as I think I remember that it was stitched on Monaco. I have several tubes and packages of that fabric available as it is my favourite stitching fabric.
I really don't have any stitchings that are to go to anyone to do any more, and sometimes when we have the ability and time to do things for ourselves, isn't it funny that we put them off?
Will let it float around in the subconscious today and hopefully I will figure out something to stitch by tonight's boob tube adventures with Hubby.
By the way, today is Memorial Day and he is at the auction house, working. He called the auction early on Saturday, he doesn't usually have an auction on Memorial Day Saturday, but decided to try it. He might not do that next year.
But I had dinner all ready, so he had a good mac and turkey cold salad to enjoy. What is with it with macaroni salads? I absolutely love them and so does he. To us it is one of those comfort foods from our childhood. Thanks Moms, you gave us the best you knew how with your minimal budgets, and we still love those foods.
Well time to sign off. got the computer working and we are currently at 93% of full charge. Hubby will be happy. That's about all I want.....a happy Hubby and macaroni salad for breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner.
Have a great day everyone, stay safe, and remember the reason for this holiday.
Huggs, Cait
(P.S. I still prefer tuna mac salad, but Hubby wanted canned turkey......not much flavour there.)

2010-05-17T14:31:00.001-05:00

Living in Minnesota, you get to appreciate the small things in our 'spring'.
This year the spring evolved slowly, tantalizingly, with a summer snap, and then back to our normal cold and rainy spring. But that is OK, as I would prefer that than to the normal two day spring and the third and following days are right out of a New Jersey summer! (Hot and with our abundant lakes, humid.)
While gathering courage to get out of a cozy truck one day after a rainy spell, I noticed the robins in our farm yard. We know we have a decent rain when we have puddles, three in fact, in the center of our drive-around.
Have you ever watched a robin's legs when that robin wants to get somewhere? Those beautiful songsters can really get their mojo on when they want that bath in the center of our yard! Their legs move at warp speed as they move to that desired spot. (O.K. I am an adult child of Star Trek.)
'Tis a beautiful thing, that tiny bird with a mission.
They do not waste any time.
Huggs,
Cait

Truly spring

2010-04-30T14:59:00.000-05:00

It truly must be spring here in our northern climes.
I had no decaf green tea yesterday at 9:25 p.m. last night, and didn't want to consume any more regular caffeinated tea that late at night. So off to the grocery, 7 or so miles away.
On the way there, I wasn't paying too much attention to the roadside things, which is what I normally do, such as looking for deer, but was more concentrated on the time as the grocery store closes at 10 p.m. now that the new owners took over.
But on the way back, I noticed the first night-flying insects. Then came the thoughts of how do they 'see' at night? Their eyes are so small! With most 'night' animals, their eyes are just huge!
Then the thought was that it must be heaven to just fly around the farm communities with nothing to obstruct their flight
It was then that it became a realization that spring is finally here and the bugs are out, even in this cooler weather. When I got home and ensconced myself in the bedroom again, I could hear the bugs hitting the screens and windows. I don't like that, as I don't like hurting any living thing, even bugs. No matter the season, if I encounter a spider or bug that I can trap, it goes outside to live. I have my Cool-Whip container at the ready. I can't quite trap them in a hanky or tissue as the Navajo or Hopi do (just not that adept), but they get caught in a Cool-Whip container and are encouraged to live outside.
Mice on the other hand........I have an electronic mouse 'zapper', and am up to about 20+ so far this winter........cats have 3. Problem is that they like to get in the drawer of the stove and the cats can't open the drawer. Don't know why not, they can open my cupboard drawers to climb on the counter!
But a cool spring finally has arrived and we will be seeing May soon!
Huggs to all.

Jobs

2010-04-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

Good Morning,
Watching the local cities news shows and wondering if the anchors get assignments based on nerves, guts or a combination of the two. Or just plain stupidity. Nah, these people are smart.
Alix Kendall on our channel 9's Fox affiliate morning show is doing gymnastics on a trampoline in a controlled environment with a trainer to the side. It looks like she is flying at times.
She is now on a bar, one of a set of parallel bars.
We all watch them on the Summer Olympics and now I can see how much training is involved.
We all know that they have intense training, but to take a young news anchor-woman-wife-mother to try to do just some general moves has my admiration level at the max.
I am sure Alix said "What!?" when the assignment presented itself.
Then we have had Hoda and Kathie Lee doing rodeo.
Maybe I have had the wrong job all my life.
Not that I would trade the life I have had, but inside each one of us is that secret, phantom desire to try a dangerous, scintillating, risky 'something-out-of-the-ordinary'.
I have always wanted to be a dancer.
I remember twirling, hopping, stretching arms and legs in our tiny bungalow house as a kid.
Not a lot of room, but did I ever take this activity outside to the backyard where I had an acre of grass to do this. Uh, uh. Nope. Neighbors too close.
That would have been toooo embarassing for a pre teen. Even my frenzied hopping around resulted in an activity done in private when everyone else was OUT of the house.
I admire those news anchors that bite the bullet and show us their willing-ness to get 'outside themselves' and allow us to dream again.
Or, Maybe Alix said "Yeah, let's do it!" and allowed her secret phantom desire to come to the outside and then she thought "And I get Paid for this!"
Maybe I should think of taking up courses in broadcasting.........hmmmmm.

CMA

2010-04-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

I am watching the Country Music Awards, set in Vegas! (We all know my love affair with Vegas....)
I have forgotten how much I love country music.
It is at the end of the show and Darius Rucker(?) is now singing. He is the one that sang the solos for Hootie and the Blowfish in case you don't remember. Made the transition to country absolutely beautifully!
I haven't listened to country in a while, and there are some wonderful new singers I have yet to discover. I am the 'old' school, Willie, Dolly, Waylon, George Jones, Hank Williams, Sr., etc..
However Josh Nichols is one of the newer gentlemen I adore. On my way to mass in Grand Rapids, my sister-in-law loaned me her car and had his CD in the player.
Mind you, I was on my way to church and wondering if Pat would notice if I 'borrowed' the CD. (Guess that old 'evil one' will creep into the mind at any time he can sniggle in. We have to be careful of that one.)
Anyway, when I got back to her house, I asked her the singer, album's name and where she got it (I was not about to take a CD out of the player in an unfamiliar car and especially since I noticed that there were 5 Cd's in her player!). Took me a while, but I finally found it, and he and his songs are among my favourites. How that face can come out with that voice is amazing, it is something you really don't expect.
OK, well I guess I am getting a bit too over the top here.
I will scour the country radio waves and start listening again. I will have a lot of good listening to go through and learn the new people and their songs.
Rock 'N Roll of the 50's-70's, I haven't forgotten you and will always be a dyed in the wool Hippie (if only in my mind), but Good-Golly Molly, country is so dog-gone comforting at times.
Hope your day went well, take care of yourselves and your loved ones.

2010-04-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

Finally got the bib done, and now on to the burp.

See, I still do stitch!

This is by designer Susan Winget, in her 'Changing Season's' book published by Vannessa Ann Collections.

2010-04-06T15:21:00.000-05:00

There are a couple of days that I absolutely love on our farm.
First of all, let me tell you that we live out in the country on the top of the highest hill around. It is a non-animal farm, and we have a gentleman that does the crops..this year it most likely will be corn. Hubby and I like it better when it is in alfalfa. We love the smell when it is cut and it is easier to walk the field in the summer with alfalfa.
Every spring and fall I wait for the redwing blackbirds to come. With us being on top of the hill, when they come, the ladies and some gents congregate in the tallest trees on top of the hill, which happens to be on our farm.
For about an hour, they sing, cackle, whistle, and just generally seem to gossip before they disperse to their chosen spots around the area.
I knew they were coming because the first male scouts have appeared in the area the last few weeks down at the four corners 1/4 mile south of us. We look for them every spring as we drive around the country side to and from town on the countryside around.
This year we seemed to have had two waves so far of the ladies. They came first yesterday, Easter Sunday. This morning as I went out to check the mail, I heard them in the trees again.
They were not as plentiful as in previous years, but maybe that was explained by the two waves of redwing blackbirds.
The second time they appear 'en masse' is in the fall when they gather again before they start their journey south for the winter.
These are the two days I am just beside myself with joy. I love their 'kong-a-rhee' song.
They usually congregate where there is water, and to have them here on top of the hill for that brief time before they settle in down in the swampy area to the south is just a joy. I know I have mentioned them before, but it is such a rite of spring for me to experience their tweetings, songs, cacklings and general gossip of these lovely birds.
So, they are finally here safely from their trip from the south.
I have been known to stop at the four corners to the south, roll down the windows and just listen for a while. I have had lovely people stop and ask me if I need help, so I usually try to do this when I can see no other cars coming because to give them an answer that I was just listening to the birds can be somewhat embarassing.
My two favourite days in the year. I hope when you see the redwing blackbirds in your area, stop and listen to them. Robins have a beautiful song, so add the redwing blackbird to your list of birds to listen to and enjoy.

Auction house kitchen & Carol's comments on it

2010-03-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Carol, for your comments.

I have a few pics in some older posts if you would like to look at them.

I see your picture came with a ribbon for your sampler!

Congratulations on the ribbon!

It is a passing thought each year when I attend the MN State Fair that I should try and enter a piece. The trouble is that there are so many extraordinary pieces submitted. I don't know if I would have a chance. BUT just seeing a piece behind that glass display would be an enormous thrill.

Again, hearty and sincere congratulations on the ribbon.

What is the piece's name and designer?

I am toying with samplers as stitching since completing The Hen Sampler by Bent Creek. She was such a joy to do and she is a hoot! Check out Bent Creek's catalog to see her other patterns.

Roxy seemed appreciative when she got it at the Auction House.

Found her and posted her picture at the start and now you see why I got such a chuckle over the pattern at the store in Las Vegas. The rule is: that if I chuckle, smile or laugh at a pattern, it gets purchased. I laughed out loud in this tiny Las Vegas Stitcher's Paradise store.

I am getting more content to stay at home on Saturday nights now, and the "Lost" feeling is getting lessened more and more.

Sorry it took so long to review your comment and publish it. Your kind words mean so much.

Huggs, Cait

Internet in the morning and farm yards

2010-03-26T13:22:00.000-05:00

Good mid afternoon all!
I haven't posted in a long while and for that I apologize. Life happens to get in the way.
Plus getting on the net in the morning is trouble.
The trouble is that when I am on the net, I get sucked into this site and then into that site leads to another and repeat that forever! Most of the time it is time wasted, do you know what I mean????
I have two cross stitch projects going and I really have to get that bib, burp and changer done before Caleb starts on steak! I switched from the elephants I was doing as the pattern just didn't seem to have ANY appeal to me and was a drudge to get stitching on.
This set of patterns is going to be animal pull-toys and found them in a Vanessa~Ann Collection 'An American Sampler', 1992 book. The Book is by designer Susan Winget and called 'Susan Winget's "The Changing Seasons".
The second project is a weather vane for a friend to make into a luggage tag with her name on the back second piece fabric. Since most luggage is black, we have found these little stitched luggage tags identify your bag at once coming around the baggage carousel.
I was in the second hand book store here in town by the name of 'Cover 2 Cover' and was going through their stitching magazine and leaflet area and found the weather vane pattern I have, but can't find. For a quarter I now have it again. It is simple and can change the colourways so easily as it is only four colors of DMC.
Huggs to all, hope your weather is good, our farm yard has most of the frost out and I DIDN'T GET STUCK ONCE! In fact the ground is almost all dried up with those marvelous March winds this week. Yaaaay! In case most of you don't know, I live on a 40 acre non-animal farm and we have the typical farm yard drive. We have had gravel added to the dirt, but most of it has disappeared into the dirt. The last time we added gravel was 20? yrs ago? Guess it is time. I need to get the number again and size and grade of gravel, but as with life happening, something else will come up to gobble up that funding. Makes life interesting, yes?
Mary W. will know what farm yards are like, I think. I think years ago she mentioned what farm yards are like.
I love farm yards, everyone is different and has it's own individuality. I still remember getting up in the middle of the night and looking at my grandparent's farmyard lit by the center pole light. Theirs was three times the size of mine. It is a comforting thought to look out at your barn in the middle of the night with your yard light lit and look for a bunny or two or three.
I don't throw my produce away when it has gone that one day over the time for human consumption anymore. I have a patch dedicated just outside the kitchen door where I put it for the bunnies. I found that they don't like herbed stuffing mix much, but will eat the cranberries that are in it first. It takes them a while, but the stuffing mix eventually disappeared. They had the same reaction to some very, very stale rye crackers. But they get fed and it stays out of filling up the dumpster. All my potato peelings, tops and bottoms of radishes, tomato cores, old, wrinkled apples from the apple bin in the fridge, even banana skins get made into bunny muscle, blood and bone. Good for them, good for me. It all started when I was re-arranging the kitchen and found a whole Tupperware container of stale peanuts in the shell. It went out in a pile out on the snow and it took them a while, but they ate them. Was a lot of fun to see them put the peanut in their mouth and work it around until they extracted the peanut and then spit the shell out. My German Shepherd, Molly Brown did the same thing. Brought back memories of her.
I get such great delight in seeing them in the middle of the night, just outside my kitchen door by about 20 feet away when I can't sleep. Thank you, Lord, for whispering the idea into my head. They even ate a mango, but left the seed. I can see the teeth marks on the pit. Guess I will have to put that part of the mango in the dumpster. But it is a nice reminder of what my bunnies will eat. I think we throw away so much and it could be fed to the bunnies. Well, guess I am through ruminating for the morning, have some computer chores to do as well as eat breakfast. (Well I guess I could term it brunch since it is now after 12.) Going to have leftover brown rice with pork and pork gravy with added broccoli and carrots and serve it with some lemon soy sauce. Kikkoman brand, Ponzu Citrus Seasoned Soy Sauce & Dressing. Good stuff. It has natural lemon and orange flavours in it, and the sodium is 400 mg for 1 tbsp!!!!!
Well, guess that is all for now. Hope to post a pic or two of projects going on.
Huggs to all, Cait

Auction house kitchen

2010-02-01T12:46:00.000-06:00

Last night I started to clean out the auction house kitchen.
I will no longer be there in the kitchen.
I have retired, so to speak and have turned over the reigns to a couple that does catering.
In order to have food at the auction house, it has to be catered.
So, last nite was a closing of a part of my life that was a great part of my weekends.
I had many of the customers come to tell me that they will miss me, and I am sure a great deal more glad that I will no longer be there so they can have hot food again.
Either way, it is a sadness of note, but also one of happiness.
Even though I only served pop, candy bars and chips, it gave me a way to connect with humanity.
I listened to a lot of woes, shared a ton of happiness and learned about their lives. I made a lot of friends, and tried to remember the names of all the regulars.
In each transaction, or connection, you realize that we are all a part of a skein of life that interweaves with others. We can no longer be a hermit and live a life of seclusion. Each person leaves a mark on our life and we can only hope that we leave a good mark on someone else's life.
I will miss the kitchen, but it is time to move on.
Maybe next week, after 5:00 mass, I will be lodged in the corner in Bob's old desk chair and will be finally finishing the bib, burp and changing pad that should have been done before Christmas. I do want to get it to Caleb to use before he starts on that steak!
Thanks to all that were part of my life in that kitchen, even though most, if not all, will never know of this posting.
I will miss serving you in that small way of a life connection.
But stop in at the other side of the auction house and visit for a bit.

Expired

2010-02-01T09:30:00.000-06:00

Good morning All!
I guess I made myself pretty clear on the Grammys that aired last nite. I am sorry that I missed Andreas Bocelli and Mary Blige and their song. I love that man's voice with anything he sings.
But O.K., I admit I am old.
Most likely as old as dirt in my kid's eyes.
But I am still alive!
And with that said, I still believe that proper behaviour is how our society will continue to function and go on.
Like trying to access my old Twitter account.
I evidently hadn't used it for a period of time, and it was deleted!
Can you believe that? I have an expiration date, and my account expired!
Ouch!
Then I tried to rejoin. Used an old email address. Guess what? That expired because of non-use too! Second swing at the bat?
Trying to tell me something?
O.K. I guess I will just have to think of a new name and address, don't know if I can do it, but that may be my only option.
I hate to think that I may be 'expired' without my knowing it! But isn't that the way life sometimes manifests itself?
I know I was very sick the past two weeks (read that as flat on my back in bed for fourteen days), and really thought that I really wanted to 'expire', but I didn't, and have regained some of the ten pounds that I lost.
Let me tell you that this is not the way I envisioned losing weight.
But I must be on the mend, I am actually thinking of food in a good way the last few days, and have actually been hungry. For me not to be hungry means something drastic is going on. My life revolves around food.
Being a diabetic makes me look at food differently, but I still enjoy good food. My cooking is a pretty poor substitute for what I want to cook. Just need to update my skills. At least while I am still alive, and not expired. I did get a good chuckle out of it, but not being so computer literate as I would like to be, am at a loss as to how to do some things. Ohhhwelllll, sigh, back to my mundane world and the need to feed the belly with breakfast-type foods. Hmmmm, do have some pancakes in the freezer. Off to the kitchen!!!!!
Enjoy your day. Look forward to each minute. It can never be recovered. Life your life with honor.
CJ

2010-02-01T09:22:00.000-06:00

I clicked on the Grammys last night briefly to see Taylor Swift receive one of the Grammys, and then Beyonce came on with her military-style take on a song.
I watched and saw her grab her crotch.
We tell our little ones that no one is supposed to touch them there, but it evidently doesn't equate to 'touching yourself' there in public.
As far as I know, only toddlers, and young children up to the age of 6 do that when they have to 'go'.
I lost any respect I had for the young woman at that 'gesture'.
When did it become acceptable for performers to grab their crotches?
Oh, yes, Michael Jackson started it.
Well, I guess that explains it.
The fallen 'hero' started it. That makes it acceptable.
Sorry, not in my book.
It is still a private area that should be kept and honored that way.
How can we tell our youngsters that this practice is such a second-hand way to grab unwanted and negative attention, and no pun intended.

Tiger

2009-12-14T04:14:00.000-06:00

I do not condone marital infidelity.
However, my dear husband made a comment today that got me to thinking.
Tiger is being destroyed by all the media and public's condemnation as well as losing mega-money endorsements.
But what happened in the case of our dear Mr. Clinton?
His 'activities' were swept under the rug.
Slapped on the wrist.
Wink. Wink. Wink.
This man continues to generate large amounts of income from appearances.
I cannot even come near an acceptance of this activity, but in reality, aren't we lashing out at infidelity at this sports figure because he is so vulnerable and accessible?
Yes, he makes an obscene amount of money, and, as it was mentioned, "Why can't these ridiculously rich young men keep their pants zipped?"
But what about our former President?
This leaves me so puzzled.
It is like the old 'notch on the bed post' mentality in reverse.
Tiger is an equal partner in this, but the women also deserve to be vilified.
Kathy Lee Gifford said it very nicely as she 'talked out of school' about the one young woman that had been interviewed earlier in the morning on the Today show. The mentality of these young women leave a great deal to be desired.
It is also the fault of the women that pursue such men. I have no sympathy for them. I should, but I can't. I ask for the Lord's help in forgiveness.
I do hope that all this media attention will go away. I am tired of hearing it 'ad nauseam'.
I am sorry if I step on toes and I hope I haven't bored you with this, I just need to vent.
Let us get back to stories about this beautiful season of the year.

Moderation

2009-12-14T03:52:00.000-06:00

I apologize for not realizing that I had comments to moderate on. I haven't been on the computer much lately and I guess it shows. The comments have been read and posted.
Thank you so much for all your kind comments.
I tried stitching today and after finding an error after 15 stitches, I decided it might be best to stop and put it away for the day. I should have just turned on the football game for hubby instead of watching two Christmas movies. I am a sucker for Christmas movies and went on a 'Santa Clause' marathon last month. I stitch very well to football games, lol.
It is now after four in the morning on Monday, and I guess I should just go to bed. My nap must have been too long this afternoon. Trouble is, I needed that nap, however it seems to be redundant when I can't go to bed at bedtime. Right?
I will try to add more photos to my blog, as I do love stitching and I do a good job on the backs. Even son has made comment on that. Got a large 'vest button-popping' on that comment.
I am hoping to sign in in the near future, but in case I don't, I wish everyone out there a safe, safe driving season for the holidays. I would hate to lose any of you out there.
Have a marvelous holiday season, enjoy it with family and friends, and enjoy all those special meals with all those good, traditional recipes.
Huggs to all.

heat

2009-10-07T02:24:00.000-05:00

Just looked at another post I made and am happy to report that after surviving two to four nites of being miserably cold in bed, I turned the heat on along with a prayer on October 2 this year. a whole 21 days before last year!
Hubby didn't say anything when he came home, but must have remembered that I was in fleece pj's and socks with the addition of a fleece jacket and blankets pulled up to the nose the nite before. He did turn the heat down from 65 to 60 today, but he was in the bedroom where the lights and tv make it warm in there.
So, I is happy as clam. A warm, cozy clam.

Patrick Swayze/Johnny Castle,"Time Of My Life'

2009-09-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Last night as my husband was logging in to his email site, the Yahoo blurb had a picture of Patrick Swayze and the headline that he had passed away at 57. He said "OHHH, Patrick Swayze died." It sounded as though he felt the loss also.
I am weeping as I type, as this is the ONE man that made me feel like I could have been a beautiful dancer.
This man and the movie 'Dirty Dancing' is such a part of every woman's love life out here.
Patrick Swayze/Johnny Castle will be the dance partner I never had with my big, 6'3" football husband to my tiny stature of 5' 2.5".
It is so terribly sad that the men in our lives don't understand that 'Pounding the Ground' with our feet with the swaying and moving our bodies in ancestral/tribal dancing gets our libido/juices moving.
Have they ever wondered why men and women come off the dance floor with these huge grins on their faces?
There is nothing sissy, homophobic or wrong with tribal dancing, yes even the slow dances......It is their big loss.
And, unfortunately, ours.
Patrick, God's Peace to you.
Thank You for being my Heart's Dancing Partner.
I will miss your flying feet, lithe body, and killer smile forever. You fought long and hard, and now you deserve to rest in God's Peace forever.
Lisa Niemi, "Thank You" for sharing your husband with us, our hearts are grieving along with you. Don't ever stop dancing.
I woke up this morning wth the song in my mind and heart, "The Time of My Life" with Bill Medley and Jennifer Warne. It is a beautiful song, and the lyrics are a tribute to Patrick Swayze, his dancing partner Jennifer Grey, and to all of us out here that love "Dirty Dancing".

I always wanted to be a dancer.

In my heart I am.

My Dad

2009-09-04T02:56:00.000-05:00

It's been a while.
My Dad is in the Elim Care and Rehab here in town because he fell in the bathroom at his apartment. He wasn't using his walker and fell, and wanted to go to the hospital a couple of weeks ago. We don't know why he wanted to go, but I have a feeling that it is perhaps the suggestion of the nurse at his residence.
At 94, my siblings and I have conferred that it is a good possibility that he will be unable to return to his apartment. Dad doesn't know this yet. He may have an inkling, but nothing has been mentioned to him by our daughter Margaret or myself. Hopefully the staff there has not said anything.
We are still in the process of finding him a residence that will give him his meds and supervise his activities and so that he has better supervision.
Margaret has taken over the basic care of shaving him, actively supervising his showers oce a week and doing his laundry and when he was at his apartment, going down about three days a week in order to change the dressing to keep his legs healed. He had a pretty big hole in the skin from bumping the shin and washing his skin too hard.
We did go to Cambridge, but the facility that was recommended did not have an opening for a male resident at this time.
There is a facility in Milaca other than the Elim residence, and we will go again to see if they have a room available and check cost again.
This is very hard to do.
I hope that he doesn't miss his friends too much from the apartment/senior residence he was living in. He cannot go back. They have already told the woman in charge of admissions at the Elim Care and Rehab that he will have to be put on their special program if he comes back. That means at least a start of $150.00 for an assessment, and the charge to join it is $85.00 per month, each month to give him his meds and check on him 2-3 times per day. I don't know if this will include all he needs, such as therapy and getting him ready for bed. I am sure that it will cost extra for each service he will need.
I am trying to keep him safe, and living on his own is not safe any longer.
I ask for your prayers to help us find a good facility for him to live that he can afford close to us, and for the strength we will need to continue with this. I also ask for prayers for Margaret who has been relieving me of all the chores. Ask in your prayers for strength for her.
God Bless....

Some of the stitched gifts and WIP projects I am currently or have worked on.

2009-08-01T13:44:00.000-05:00

This is a set of a bib, burp and changing pad that I stitched for a friend's grand-daughter. I loved that lamb, and most likely will do the three again for another baby-to-be soon. I will delete the fur splotches on the rabbit next time though. I added those to the pattern, and did not like the finished results. All had balloons attached and I think the balloons did nothing for the animals, so will delete those also. All in all, I loved stitching the lamb the most. The pattern is by Lorri Birmingham in a Leisure Arts hardcover book called "Quick as a Wink".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is one of my favourite violet patterns.

I have just recently 're-discovered' this pattern. I am putting all my violet patterns in one loose-leaf notebook. I find that I enjoy stitching these little purple harbingers of spring the most of all flowers.

I stitched this as a vinyl mug insert for a stitching group's mug insert exchange. I never heard back from her if she liked it or not. I think I got a gingerbread insert back. I don't know, she never signed it. I guess I am not into 'cutesy' patterns, but that is most likely what she likes. It is on my bedroom table next to the bed to hold hair clips, pencils, etc..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a work in progress. I need to get it done. It has not been worked on for a while because of other pressing stitchings that have popped up for other people. I have just a few more flowers to outline and the center words to put in. It is a Dimensions pattern and found the Dimensions conversion chart to DMC. I prefer the DMC floss as it is a much brighter, cleaner floss. Time to find it and put it back in the Q-Snaps to work on. I kind of got tired of it, if you will.....it is a lot of 'puttsy' color changes. But I do need to finish it and go on.

I do have more stitchings to post, and will do so when I have more time.

Counted cross stitch is an enduring passion that I have and I did take two years off from doing any stitching to learn how to knit. I am more than ready to get back to stitching.

I have learned the basics of knitting, and know where to find help if a pattern really 'grabs' me, but don't hold your breath. I really prefer counted cross stitch. BUT, as I said, I will wait for a pattern to really grab me in order to pick up those needles again. There is the felted, knitted bag that I do want to try though. Hey I am a 'Bag Lady' par excellence, if you will.

The one nice thing about knitting, is that I don't have to go 'cross-eyed' trying to get that needle tip into the hole in the cross stitch fabric in a bouncing truck. The Cadillac we owned on the trip to California allowed for marvelous cross stitching time. Nice and smooooooth.

Webshots concerns

2009-07-29T16:11:00.000-05:00

There seems to be a lot of Webshots usage. Here is part of a posting to a couple of people in a stitching group, but think everyone else should be aware of it.
Here it is:

"By the way, did you know that the company 'Webshots' uses your photos without asking your permission?
I saw an ad for the company recently, totally out of the blue on the net, and was surprised to see and recognize a gift towel that 'I' had stitched for a friend for an exchange, in another stitching club.
I was never notified, nor more importantly, even asked, if I minded that they used my photo as part of their ads.
I had recognized it because I couldn't figure out what it (the pattern) was and what pattern I had used before in one of my albums. I had to ask the lady I stitched it for what it was.
You might want to reconsider putting photos in there, and placing them on your own blog with your blog address if you want to point people to your works..... You will never know how Webshots will use your work without your permission."
Blogs are easy to find and to start your own is easy. Hey, if this old lady can do it, anyone can, believe me.....try "blogspot.com" for one....a wonderful place to be. That is where I have mine and it is free.
Huggs,
Cait

Twitter-ing

2009-06-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

I just tried to access Twitter.
I am not fond of all this twittering going on (even though I signed on early in the Twitter opening), especially since they limit the length of the message.
You can't really get into the 'meat' of any thought with such little space to do it in.
But I think that is all related to our 'young' society.
Hop here, hop there, hop somewhere else. Not giving time and length to anything substantial.
Does anyone out there remember having to memorize poetry in school? Wanna bet that it is only us 'older' generation that had to do that? I am waiting for all this twittering nonsense to run it's course and something more enjoyable for us 'older, saner' generation to be able converse in. But, I love emails, so that doesn't count. You can hold conversations, back and forth, on those.
I couldn't get in, by the way, because I couldn't remember my user name and or password. Arrrgh!

Bea Arthur

2009-04-27T10:05:00.001-05:00

I am a child of the 50's and 60's, being born in the early 40's.
Growing old has never been a looking-forward-to occupation. All my female elders looked 'so old' at 50, like my grandmother looked.
We were the generation that enjoyed rock 'n roll at its birth. Elvis, The Beatles, the Hippie phenomena with the peace 'explosion' at Haight Ashbury in San Francisco, Woodstock, and all the rest. I yearned to be involved, but missed being actively involved with the last two.
We owned a big, boxy motor home in the late 60's and I remember driving it and a 'youngster' drove by and flashed me the 'peace' sign. That was a monumental day. A mother with three little ones getting flashed the peace sign and an approval vote for driving the humongous motor home down the road.
Then reality set in. I was getting old. I didn't like how I looked. The hair was allowed to grow and got parted down the middle. I sought out books that allowed me to make clothing in the 'hippie' style. Loved those tops and shirts.
As I aged, resistance was a great part of my life.
Then Golden Girls became a program of 'Life'.
I watched and absolutely loved Bea Arthur's role. Here was a 'with-it', sassy, spoke-out-for-what-she-felt attitude woman and the took-no-prisoners type of character.
She had grey hair, was tall and dressed in flowing garments with those marvelous tall, suede desert boots. She had issues with her tiny mother and still loved her for all of it.
She showed me how to live gracefully and graciously with age.
Yes, I do know it was just a figment of a writer's imagination brought to life by an actress....but oh, how she brought it to life. With grace and graciousness and wonderful 'verve'. Maude was another of the shows she starred in. Same premise, but different situations and relationships and done equally as well as 'Golden Girls'.
I found my leader of sorts. Bea made all her roles 'believable', acted in and showed situations that were similar to real life and did it with the loveliness of age and wisdom. Giving us a road map to follow.
I may not have wisdom in abundance, but remembering this lovely woman with a great deal of sadness in the announcement this morning of her passing away.
Thank you Bea. You made 'getting old' something to attain with a generous dose of grace and love, but most importantly - humour.
I will miss you greatly.
Love and Huggs, Cait

2009-04-24T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hubby is down in the cities doing his thing of 'garage saling'.
I do not go with.
Let me qualify.
First of all, if he left from home, and I was going along, it would mean that I would have to get up at 2 in order to be coherent enought to leave at 4.
That.
Is.
4 A.M., people.
Four!
Do I look nuts?
Did I also mention that I am NOT a morning person?
I need caffeinated beverages in order to not show fangs and snarl and attack with claws.
I am not a particularly good caffeine person.
It is called a 'sensitivity' to caffeine. Took 100 cups of coffee/day while in college with three babies to get that way.
Sensitivity, not babies.
So he is off doing his thing and loving every minute of it. It is very similar to the cave man going out and hunting for the survival of his family. Gets very hairy out there for the 'beast' in the hunt. He does very well at it, and he has a group out there with him that love it just as much.
MY problem is that when I do go, I 'shop' for me or the house. Love knitting and especially my passion of 30+ years, counted cross stitch supplies. I bought the best, partially-completed leaf tablecloth that I finished and cannot tell where the old stitching ended and mine started.
I do not go to buy to resell. Part of my problem. I see things for me, not to sell and make money.
First of all, I do not have 'The Eye'. Which in transation, means, you know what you can buy for little or less money and sell for much more of the stuff.
Second, did I mention that you have to get up VERY early to do so. Yes, I know you are usually done by ten, and then you get to take a very satisfying nap around 10:45 after a very good breakfast, but you need to get up early! While it is still dark! Hmmpf.
I guess I will be satisfied to stay warm, comfy and cozy in my bed and do some stitching.
Or blogging.
Let me know if you see my husband 'sail' on by and where he is at.
Take care everyone.

2009-04-21T11:41:00.000-05:00

While going through my email, I somehow stumbled upon a lady's blog that mentioned her grand mom visiting them in the depraved, outlandish area of Oklahoma from civilized Chicago and showing us the fabric she 'leaped over two old ladies pawing through the poly knit fabric' or something to that effect and showed us the purse she had made with a vivid thought of her grand mom in dresses with similar fabric. That brought to mind my own memory of a fabric so very, very similar to the one she showed.
This is the memory.
When my two girls were about to make their First Communions in the 60's, 'Moi', always yearning to be a San Francisco 'Hippie', but never attaining that status being a northern, mid-western-stated wife, divorced, then the pariah single mom back then in the 60's, made my two adorable girls their First Communion dresses. White on white printed fabric, empire style, with orange and pink floral panel 'aprons' attached to the front empire seam. No veils, no headdresses. Just clean, glowingly shining, parted down the middle Hippie Hair. Totally and innocently beautiful! I am sure all the other mothers were totally outraged that these two little 'Brides of Christ' were outfitted thusly. But you know what, that fabric eased the sting of being the 'pariah single mom' in those years. I was the first single, divorced woman in that neighborhood of 'couples' in suburbia.
Her purse floral fabric is blue, now imagine it in outrageous oranges and pinks with a splash of yellow thrown in and you have my precious two daughters First Communion 'aprons'!

still have some fauna around

2009-04-15T09:54:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,
well at 9:30 this morning while I was setting up the laptop on the desk, I observed my woodchuck and my wild rabbit in the yard. Took too much time to get the binoculars on the woodchuck, but my bunny seems to be well and sassy.
The original thought was what do woodchucks do? Haven't the foggiest, but it is nice to see that this one survived our particularly nasty winter. I knew the rabbit was around in the winter, and frequently threw out bread and tortillas for the bunny population, mainly to keep it away from hubby's, young Father's Day gift from daughter and son-in-law of a Norwegian Maple. Somewhere along the line, I failed and part of the maple's trunk was chewed, or blistered from the extreme cold we had this winter. Will have to see if it survived.
For those of you that don't know what a Norwegian Maple is, it is a maple tree, engineered here at the University of Minnesota, with lighter, creamier-green edges. If you see just all green leaves on the tree, you need to clip those off or the tree will revert to all green leaves. We have two and they are a delightful light green bright spot in the yard. There is a full grown Norwegian Maple in the Roseville, Minnesota, area and it is spectacular!

SETTING BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS

2009-04-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

Good Morning everyone.....
It is Monday, April 13, 2009, and it is 11:30 in the morning.
My thermometer outside reads 52 degrees. I am sooo ready for spring-ier weather and warmth. I don't generally mind winter, well, except when you are the recipient of the unexpected 'black ice' swishy-swerve across a small bridge covering a branch of the Rum River.
Most of the time I look upon winter as a time of re-grouping, nesting in, cozy times with a blanket and a stash of knitting, my passion of 30+ years in counted cross stitch, reading which is a life-long passion, etc., and in hubby's case, American Idol (Yuck-o) and not necessarily in that order.
After years of dreading the winter when having to work out in the unheated (except for the kilns) and uninsulated barn with our pottery, we no longer have to. Bobby's hands going through icy glaze or near ice clay has been a painful experience. So Winter has become a time of reflection for me.
I have cancelled many an appointment in the cities, 65 + miles to the south, this past winter. Not because I am a wimp, but because many of the cancellations have included my 93 year old Father in the blend of things. I will not put him at risk (more than the normal amount of risk required for transporting him in regular, maniac, stupid kids AND ADULTS comprising of and in general population of driving traffic) in extremely bad weather.
I have a small 'chick-pickup'...a 2000 Ford Ranger. I dearly love that little pickup and am constantly surprised to see men driving one. I will go on record here that it is the perfect truck for a female. Even a short little turd like me. The only thing that I am not fond of is the fact that the tail end is 'swishy' in icy or snowy conditions. But with the 4-wheel drive, and slower, reasonable speeds, I have made it home safely. The book says to not go faster than 45 mph when in 4-wheel and there have been speeds much, much lower in really bad weather for this driver.
Now with all this preamble, coming to the subject listed in the title.
On Hoda and Kathie Lee's program this morning, I caught a blurb from them of researchers trying to re-set a woman's biological clock so that women would be able to have children in her 70's and 80's.
Not that there haven't been times when I yearned for a fourth child with all the marvelous help and doulas and such, people out there now, I really think I object to that procedure.
I am 66, soon to be 67. My Mother has passed away at the age of 83, but my Father is still with us, as mentioned - 93. I call him every day to make sure he counts out the right number of meds and takes them at 7 p.m. to make sure he isn't getting too close to the morning meds, or gets confused as to take the morning meds again. My sister Dee has lovingly taken over the morning shift, as I simply cannot be a morning person, no matter how hard I try. He and I are conversing more now than in the previous 65 years. It isn't much, just what ever he wants to share of his day. Some days he rambles, some days he is still very clear. He mourned for the people in the Red River Valley between Minnesota and the Dakotas this spring. He remembers when his brother Hank and his wife (also named Helen) were living in Rochester, MN, and the floods would yearly flood his little doughnut store. Hank and Helen finally had enough and moved back to the cities.
If my Mother had the option of having myself (the oldest child of six) in her 70's or 80's, I would not be fortunate to have had the opportunity of coming to know my Father in his 90's. He can be exasperating at times, don't get me wrong, but most times lately since I have included him in my daily prayers, he is a delight. I can hear him 'toootlin' to the bedroom to retrieve his meds. He talks to the wall or doorway and telling it to 'stay' there, or he whistles (something that he is fairly good at), talks to me on the phone even though he has put the phone down on the table, or he sings and talks nonsense much like a mother does for her child. He comes back with the proper box and counts out the meds. He is always surprised that there are only four. He has ten in the mornings meds. Quite a feat for a 93 year old person. A lot of his meds are just 'fluff'....eye vitamins, calcium, senior vitamin, 81 mg aspirin, etc. Very few are for medical issues.
If he and my mother had had me, the first born, when they were in their 70's and 80's, I would have been robbed of the rich times they had when they were both young.....the few memories I have of my youth as in traveling with my Dad to deliver my Mother's apple tea rings for example. Watching my Mother make bread weekly. Mom struggling with the bills for a family of eight. She and I were not very close, and I sincerely regret that, but she tried her very best to make me an independent woman. My daughter-in-law Beth has a marvelous relationship with her Mom. She has often said that her Mom "Rocks". Sometimes the whole scenario of who your parents are is a big, if you will, crap-shoot. Parents do their best to raise their children as they were taught. My parents were brought up by very "Old World" parents. Dad was born in 1915 and Mom in 1917 to give you the timeline.
I think that science is making a big mistake here in extending the reproductive years for a woman. Sometimes scientists are superior in book-learnin', but not so much in common sense.
I am going on record here for people to object to this method of biological clock reversals. It just wouldn't be right nor fair for the child to be robbed of a steadying influence of a parent. I know there are parents out there that are nuts and really do not know how to parent a child, but so much more do. Leave it at that.
Huggs to all, CJ

BIRDS, ETC.

2009-04-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

I am at my computer desk in front of the south window next to the door. I am watching an awful lot of birdies out in the lawn and front drive.
I am watching the robins do an aerobatic fly-up off the ground with each other and when they got tired of that, a super-sonic fly-by that equals the Air Force's Thunderbird's speed. I guess it is just the season. Winter coldness giving way to springier temperatures. They feel it in the air and are rejoicing in it.
I also have a 'flock' of dark-eyed juncos on our lawn area. They are funny little birds. It is hard to describe the dance they do while hunting for seeds and such to eat off in the grass. It is sort of a little hop up with a back and forth scratch motion with the one foot which makes their little bodies move back and forth and up.
As much as I like watching them, I do wish they would go away. for if you still have dark-eyed juncos in the yard, it is still the weather for snow. Evidently they like cool temps and the cooler the better.
Fly away little birds.
I haven't seen the Northern Cardinals yet.
The poor female just about knocked herself out last year. They nest about 6' off the ground and are very territorial. I finally had to cover the mirrors on my little chick pick-up Ford Ranger last year because she would perch on the door by the side windows and launch herself at the mirror to try and get that other female northern cardinal out of her territory. I had female bird snot all over both rear view side mirrors like you wouldn't believe! She also started to attack the west windows of the house and even traveled to the north bedroom window while perching on top of the air conditioner.
That action drove our male cat, Silver, absolutely bonkers.
Now this is a 13.5# cat.
You DO NOT want a 13.5# cat hurling himself at an air conditioner off the bed in a humongous leap. Wonder what the impact of a cat that large over three feet of space and with 'velocity' would be. Thirty miles an hour? Close?
Every spring we get my favourite bird, the Red Winged Blackbird, in our trees. They stay just briefly in the scheme of things. We are the highest point around, being on top of the highest hill in the area. So after the male scouts have been here for a week or two, the females and the rest of the flock arrive.
Our trees, being the highest point around, gets the whole flock that nest in our area, to stop and reconnoiter for an hour or two. Then the whole flock disperses to their nesting areas in the surrounding areas.
This year it was April 1st. I happened to walk out to the truck to leave and they were doing their thing in the trees. Chattering, chittering, warbling, whoopin' and a hollerin'.
There are two days in the year when I am smiling like an idiot with a grin and tears flowing down my face as fast as they can go. The first is the day they arrive and the second is the day they all congregate in the trees before their arduous task of flying to their southern homes for the winter.
Most years I get to see both times, and both times I cry, laugh, grin for hours. Some years I miss them. Either I am in the house and don't hear them or I am gone already in my chick pick-up.
I love their song. It is like 'Kong-a-rrhheee' with a lower tone on the kong and a higher tone on the rrheee. I frequently stop at the four corners, south of us by a half mile, and just open the windows and listen. I have had people stop and ask if I need help and am all right, much to my embarrassment. How do you answer? "No, I am all right, but thanks for asking, I just stopped to listen to my favourite birds sing their songs."
I mean I am already pegged for a loony, and that observed action would just about bring the men in white jackets to me. I have since learned to check the roads all four ways to make sure that there are no cars approaching.
Our son Peter and his lovely wife Beth, have no such problem. All they have to do is open their windows and patio door. They are fortunate to have them in the cat tails around the catch basin pond the builders planned in the community.
Daughter Margaret and husband Jack also have them in their trees, but I don't know where the cat tails and water source are in their area, but they have them. I am not so sure Tracy and Tad have them in their area.
It is a joy for me to visit the two homes in the summer so I can get my fill of bird song.
Wild life is abounding in the yard this morning. Along with the birds, I have noticed a squirrel, and a feral cat. So far no fox nor the woodchuck that makes its home in the woods. I have seen an opossum south of our buildings on the road-side, so I imagine there are one or two roosting around somewhere. So far no raccoons. I am grateful for not having those around. They make me nervous. I had enough with a pride (?) (just looked it up and the term is 'gaze' of raccoons) of them living in the granary for years. They got mad at me for locking down the cat food bin in a metal garbage can and took it out on my clean laundry getting an overnight sun-bleach out on the clothes line. I had muddy paw prints all over the sheets and towels, just to let me know that they were not happy at not getting their dinner in the middle of the night.
Well, time to check email and addresses. I finished a counted cross stitched gift last night, bathed it, hung it to dry and pressed it this morning, and need to photograph it before I send it on to Donna, (Hi Donna M!) so finding where I stashed the camera is also in order.
Enjoy your day where ever you are. Warmer weather is almost here in the northern climes of the United States. It will get better.

Spring

2009-03-24T11:58:00.000-05:00

Spring is here.
All the weather people say it is here.
The calendar says it is here.
Lately we have had some pretty stiff March winds out there in Mother Nature's attempt to dry up the ground for the sprouting of the green everywhere.
It is pretty awesome to listen to the wind in the trees and watch the 'invisible dance' the wind and trees do together.
Sometimes they are stiff and 'courtly'.
Other times the two are bending together with the dance of wild abandonment.
Sometimes they are gently swaying together as in an old couple moving slowly with the rhythm of complete satisfaction and trust with the other.
Today I don't have the wild, gyrating gusts of new love.
Just the steady, gentle swaying of an old love....completely at ease with each other.

Rain

2009-03-24T11:47:00.000-05:00

We have had a ton of rain here in the middle of Minnesota. And that is not even close to what the Red River Valley is getting.
I am saying a prayer that everyone will be all right out there.
That is all I can do from here.
Huggs to everyone
cj

Back, sort of

2009-03-23T10:45:00.000-05:00

Well, since late Thursday and early Friday, I have been battling the flu bug or food poisoning. Most likely the latter. No vomiting but a lot of dry heaves.
Did I mention that I am not the best person to be sick?
I hate being sick.
When coherent (not sleeping), there are rumblings of snappishness, rudeness, growliness, and down and out feral behaviour.
No church on Sunday and I intensely dislike missing Mass (no guilt here, I just dislike missing Mass). Did work the auction kitchen (just pop, candy bars and pop, people.....no prepared food) on Saturday with the aid of two Tylenol, but was still under the radar on Sunday. Good thing I didn't go, because as soon as hubby left for the auction house on Sunday a.m. pickups, dry heaves hit again. Somehow, even when you are sick, you feel cheated when there is no product to accompany the action. The body is not able to rid itself of what is making you feel 'ucky'. Don't you feel just grand now?
Finally feeling a bit better today.
Well enough to start some laundry. 'Smeller' told me that the not so nice smellies accumulating in the hamper area had to get done. So loaded the small apartment sized Maytag washing machine in my kitchen, next to the fridge, and started it up.
Ok, Maybe not so up to par yet. Caught myself, sitting on my kitchen stool, looking at the load going round and around in the window and literally started to count the revolutions it made around before stopping and reversing itself. Yah! Doesn't take much to entertain myself, I guess.
So I thought I might be up to something to eat.
I'm Tellin' Ya'! Stephanie is my name! When in crisis, EAT! Of course, it wasn't chocolate or pineapple upside down cake (with sour cream, skip the whipped cream please), but it was close.
I have been able to keep down the Anoka, MN, Rice Box Thai restaurant dinner I got on Friday. Had to eat it today because today is day three. We all know that food prepared and not eaten by day three gets thrown out because of bacteria multiplying in it. It just isn't safe to eat any longer. Didn't eat a lot of the remaining dinner, but was able to throw it away without compunction. I did find out something, though. I don't like peanuts in my food. I am not fond of the crunch. Go Figure?! I love the peanut sauce in the Thai Spring rolls, and they have fantastic spring rolls at the Rice Box (just the right amount of cilantro) and the sauce has smaller peanut chunks, so that is OK.
But I am on the mend. Thank goodness. I don't much like myself when I get sick. I am thankful that my husband overlooks my crankiness and crappiness when I get sick. He is an absolute angel, even when he had a ton of nastiness going on with his business yesterday. He was still tender and solicitous for me. I appreciate that. My wish for you today is that you all have a hubby nor partner that is concerned for you when you are ill. If you don't have either, I wish you friends that will care for you, pets are included in this.
My 13.5# male cat, Silver, kept trying to get close to Mom to cuddle. Minnie (quite a bit smaller), kept trying to do the same. Minnie kept getting put back on her director's chair, and the big guy got pushed down by the feet to watch out for intruders coming in the bedroom door. Well, that's his job!
Now that I have written the book for the week, I wish you a good Monday. Now I am off to read my Monday installment of Nordic Needle's weekly newsletter for an uplifting chat with a favourite part of my stitching family.
Take care all.

2009-03-16T17:09:00.000-05:00

I have become 'Stephanie Plum'.
No two ways about it.
My name is now 'Stephanie Plum'.
Or at least it should be.
She and I are having issues today.
Stephanie's issues currently are in the book To The Nines by Janet Evanovich, just in case you were unaware of who Stephanie Plum is.
Mine are with the A. T. & T. people.
Stephanie has this wonderful 'feelings' for TastyKakes when things go wrong, a kind of reconciliation substitution when dealing with idiot people.
Mine, today, is with the DQ Pecan Waffle Bowl, dipped, thank you.
For me, it's gonna be 5 hours on the treadmill, I know, and the waffle bowl isn't that good! Shouldn't have given in to it. The blood sugar is going to be off the wall.
Back to the issues. I am trying to find out how much our phone bill is for the house. Our land line. I don't have the bill for the house phone, just the current bills for the wireless accounts. I call that number. I was informed that they don't have those records in front of them.
O. K., give me the number for the land line. Got it. Called it and the number they said that I was calling from was a 203 area code? Same numbers, just turned around. And the actual seven digit number wasn't even close.
So I hung up and tried again.
Over a half hour later, I get Leon on the phone.
My luck, he is East Indian.
My sincerest apologies to every one that is of that descent.
My 66 year old ears simply cannot decipher your accent.
I have tried. I have asked that you speak slowly, even that doesn't help. I can understand English spoken with a Chinese accent, Irish accent, New England accent, Southern U.S.A. accent, Somali accent..........I just cannot bend my ear around the East Indian accent.
I have tried, and tried, and tried.
Then he asked me for the last four digits of the social security number for the account.
I am so very ashamed to say that I blew my temper, sky high.
I had to get into town before a certain time and I just wanted the current amount to send a check in, and the address of where to send it.
I don't have my husband's social security number, and even if I did, I wouldn't be giving it out. Even if it is just the last four numbers. It was never meant to be used as an ID and every one seems to need those last four digits. I guarantee that someone, somewhere, will have had a 'code program' that will run all the possible combinations at high speed until the name and the last four numbers agree. Bingo! My account will have been breached.
This is why we set up a password, or pass code, numbers if you will. Didn't want that, had to be the four numbers of his soc. sec. number. I hung up,
Went to town, paid those bills, and will look up the bill online, At least I won't have to encounter an accent I have tried for years to understand or give out the soc. sec. numbers.
I have tried, honestly.
Move over Steph, I am claiming your couch.

Thank You Vonna

2009-03-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

Hello Vonna and welcome. Thank you for leaving a comment. I do so appreciate it.
I cherish Erma and am so glad that you do also.
I am also a devout Roman Catholic and wonder if you can see my email addy. I checked and it is supposed to be visible, but don't know. Let me know.
Cait

WATER DAY - DAY 2

2009-03-12T11:36:00.000-05:00

Some times people yearn to live in the country.
Sometimes people that live in the country yearn to live in a city.
I may belong to the second today.
Today is the 'second day' of trying to get a running, babbling brook to stop coming out of our chicken coop hydrant, the back, most eastern building of our farm yard collection in buildings.
After getting a new well-head installed this summer, the problem stopped, or so we thought. (At least that alleviated the three foot, black-ant nest in the well head. Gross to say the least)
Today I will get to get my yard dug up for the second time with a back-hoe. I also have the well guy that installed the new well-head, back and try to fix our 'babbling brook'. Johnson Lake on top of our hill is not what I want.
Yesterday we had two friends and hubby digging around in a 40' well, thinking that by installing a valve and turn-off inside the well, would stop the water. Hubby went out this morning and saw steam and as he got closer, still heard the babbling brook. So whatever they did yesterday, didn't work.
'Tis the luck of the country livin', I'm tellin' ya!
Our friend with the backhoe just came in to turn on the water briefly to see where the line is, evidently and said that there wasn't much left of our chicken coop. Hmmm, O.K.
Guess when you have below zero weather and are behind a backhoe, everything goes.
Oh well, enough. Can't go to the bathroom, do dishes, laundry for at least another two hours, however, I can finish making the bed and comb/brush my hair as well as post and check email as well as knit.
I have been trying to finish our last granddaughter's scarf and hat set since December 14, 2008. That's another story there.
"Signing off of WKRP in Cincinnati......." oh wait, just our Fever Mug made it on the show, not me. Good Golly Miss Molly, not coherent today. Must be the nails that have been put off being fixed for a month now. Called for an appointment today, and cancelled all within 5 minutes. Arrrrgh!

Cats

2009-03-09T15:16:00.001-05:00

I have cats.
In my house.
I rescued the 'old' ladies from outside because one year I was going to be gone for a week, and knew they wouldn't have survived that severe winter for a week. I have since lost three of my babies and I still grieve for them.
I won't tell you the number, as it is manageable, the house large enough and not like the houses you hear about on the news.
So don't even think of it.
I don't want to hear it.
And, if you persist, thinking that you are holier than thou, don't bother talking to me. I have already eliminated an old friendship because she told me that more than one cat was 'so very, very unhealthy'.....of course she has a 'suposed' allergy to cats and wouldn't think of having them in her home, For Heaven's Sake! By the way, she now has an inside house cat. Hmmmmm
They are my children, now that my own three have 'grown and flown'.
In some ways they are nicer to me than my three as they like to cuddle, a lot.
With me, on the bed, sometimes all at once. That makes for an interesting night's sleep. Never realized how stiff one can get when you have kitties fighting for territory with Mom and Mom sleeps in ONE position all night for fear of disrupting the ladies.
Dear Hubby has his own side of the bed, and they DO NOT try to compete with him for any of that bed surface, let me tell you!
I follow a lady in another blog that has her two babies, Chief and Bert, that make for such an interesting read. So I know she would understand. Hello Jill!
Anyway, two of my ladies are now in 'that' condition.
For the most part, I have tuned the yeowling out. But just in the last five minutes or so, have really 'listened' to it. The one making a fuss, and the Mother of the younger, answering. Such intonations! My Goodness! They do indeed have their own language! Highs and lows, sharps and shrills, gutteral and clear. It is like they are telling each other...the younger...'it is so annoying, I don't like it, when will it end, etc..' The older...'it won't take much longer, it is just part of our life, just let it go......' And on and on.
There is a marvelous series written by Shirley Rousseau Murphy that should be on every cat lover's list of reading. It centers around 'a big, powerful, gray feline, Joe Grey'. If you pick up one of the books find book one. Look at the publishing dates to find it. Even those of us with cats will find the way Shirley presents them, an eye-opener. I don't have them all and do need to keep the reading going. They are such fun books. I hope you will all go out to the library and read from book one on.
I am sorry for those of the world with just one cat or none. It is us with 'multiples' sharing our homes, that we can experience a phenomenon that is very, very interesting. And 'they' say cats can't talk.
Hmmmph. Little do they know, LOL.

Erma Bombeck's Words of Wisdom

2009-03-09T13:44:00.000-05:00

When I was a young mother in the 60's and 70's, Erma Bombeck was the last word in understanding all of us out there with kids that had terminal snot noses, sludgy septic tanks, issues of body image, in short--really one of 'us'.
When she was on Good Morning America, I didn't miss watching her if I could help it.
Her wit was something I greatly admired, as I knew I had none of that marvelous gift.
I was too sober, too serious, and I still am.
I apologize for not showing the two graphics that was supposed to come to me. All I got is the tri-color symbol and no pic. So I deleted them. It doesn't matter anyway, Erma's wisdom will stand on it's own without the pics.
Enjoy her, and scout out one of her books again for a refreshing look at 'womanhood', and learn to laugh at yourself, 'just a little'.
In Memory Of and To Erma, with all my love, Cait

IN honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.

"IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute. Look at it and really see it . . live it and never give it back.
STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships
we have with those who do love us."

Erma, you may be gone from our earthly plane, but there will always be a part of me that will know that you are giving God some chuckles up there.
God Bless you and most of all 'Thank You' for lightening up our days in suburbia and beyond.
Your Friend,
Cait

2009-02-15T21:07:00.000-06:00

I am so very happy.
Friday I went to our local hardware store, and, as I paid for my replacement pot knobs, I looked up and there was a 5-6' tall circular display of DMC Floss! I am so happy to have DMC floss back in the environs of Milaca. Princeton's Pamida used to carry floss, but got rid of it years ago.
I will no longer have to drive an hour one way to the Coon Rapids, MN, Jo Ann's or Michael's for floss. That is the closest. Even St. Cloud is an hour away for Michael's or Crafts Direct.
True, each skein is 39 cents as opposed to 27-33 cents per skein, but just think of the gas and time saved! That in itself means more stitching time, WooHoo!
Thank You Koch's Hardware.

OUR ANNIVERSARY

2009-02-10T10:56:00.000-06:00

It was 32 years ago today that Bobby asked me to marry him.
On the driveway exiting IHOP restaurant in Crystal, MN.
Totally unexpected, and so totally joyous. It was a good thing he was driving. I think he was so nervous.
It has been a marvelous 32 years since the asking and the 31 years since the wedding.
Thank You Bobby. I feel as treasured today as I did that day 32 years ago.

Jeff Gordon on 2.10.9, Rachael Ray's program

2009-02-10T10:29:00.002-06:00

O.k. The man is supposed to be a learned man, or so they say.
But on the blurb Rachael Ray's people put out so you will watch the show, with his speech, sure doesn't seem like it.
His words are:
"My Mother, she knows how to drive."

O.K. Jeff, let's break it down.
"My Mother". Got it.....a female member of your family.

"SHE knows....." Why do you have to hit us over the head with a gender designation when you have already established it?

It drives me nutso to hear supposedly intelligent, educated sports people use the same double 'branding' if you will.
"Kent Hrbek, he really knows how to cover his post and he is a good first baseman."
"Tiger Woods, he is recuperating from surgery this golf season."
It goes on and on. It is perpetuated by general usage, especially by sports commentators, and when it comes within my sphere of listening, I generally try to correct it. It is so common, people do not realize what they are doing. Because they have heard it, they think it is acceptable.
It isn't.
Drives me nuts.
Listen to people and then gently correct them.
"Did you hear that Mrs. Preston, she is giving a tea for all the young girls in the church?"
"Excuse me, (chuckle here) you have already identified Mrs. Preston, your Pastor's wife's 'gender', no need to tell me that Mrs. Preston is a 'she'. Now continue, if you will, and Thank You."
Or, do it in your own inimitable way, YOU ARE ALL smart enough to figure out a way to tell people that they do not have to double the gender in the same sentence, especially if they are referring to only one person. They have already established it.
Errrgghh!

I have a new obsession

2009-02-06T11:10:00.000-06:00

I have a new obsession.
Cinnamon graham crackers with 'Nutella'! (pronounced "new-tell-uh"),
If you haven't had Nutella, boy, are you ever missing a joy in this world.
It is when you really need chocolate and don't have any chocolate bars in those favourite hiding spots in the house, and do not want to open that bag of 'designated cookie' chocolate chips.
Plus it is spreadable! How great is that!?
I have known about Nutella for years, but was introduced to it by a young East Indian couple at the Maple Grove WalMart last year. I saw that they had it in their cart and stopped to ask about it. She told me about it and said that there was a stand in the front of the store with a dollar off coupon. She told me where it was in the store, and I went and got a jar. She met up with me a few aisles away and asked if I had gotten a coupon, and I said that I hadn't (I'm not really a coupon shopper, but will change now after getting some very good advice on how to really save money). She graciously gave me two of her coupons to use.
For those not in the know, Nutella is a hazelnut spread with skim milk and cocoa. A 13 ounce jar is made with over 50 hazelnuts per jar. You do not have to refrigerate it or microwave it to get it soft. It already is. For a 2 tbsp serving the total fat is 11g, 0 cholesterol, 15 mg sodium, 22g total carb (mind you, it is for TWO tablespoons, that's a humongous amount!), 1 gr fiber and 3 gr protein. No vitamin A, no vitamin C, but calcium is 4% and iron is 4%.
The jar said it is delicious on whole wheat, multigrain and bakery breads, bagels, English muffins, waffles, toast, croissants........add cinnamon grahams!
I am going to go to http://www.nutellausa.com/ to see what else is in there.
Got the cinnamon grahams earlier this week at Aldi's grocery (first time in there, ever, was pleased with my $10.00 shopping spree), and mentioned to Margaret that I hadn't had graham crackers in the house forever because dear hubby would sniff and snuff them out. Am re-looking at the foods I need to eat to stay healthy. Graham is back on the horizon, even though the fiber is listed as less than 1 gram, but protein is 2 gr. The numbers are interesting.
calories 130 calories from fat 25
total fat 3 gr
cholesterol 0mg
sodium 105 mg
total carbohydrates 25 gr
sugars 10g
Iron 6%
So in the general scheme of things, it isn't raw veggies, BUT, when that chocolate craving rears its ugly head, grahams and Nutella.
Thank you, Lord, for a small blessing.

SOUNDS

2009-02-06T09:02:00.000-06:00

Has it ever occurred to anyone how hearing is 'different' between men and women?
The classic in my life was when a former relative was told of an 'non-before' noise in a car, and his response was "Turn Up The Radio!"
I don't know what it is between men and women on hearing noises that weren't there before.
Perhaps it is because we, as women and mothers, have to listen for the smallest, tiniest sound emanating from the smaller members of the human race in our domiciles in order to keep them safe.
Our children.
While men blithely drive or sleep on and on and on.
We can hear the slightest change in pitch of the furnace, car engine, refrigerator, ANY mechanical device.
Ask the man in your immediate relationship to identify the problem and you get the 'You have got to be kidding' look.
Or, as in the former relative, "TURN THE RADIO UP!"
But...........get them out hunting, and they can hear mouse footfalls in the woods 30 feet away.
Get them out in a male dominated area such as the Indy 500 and they can tell if an engine is the smallest micro-meter off.
I find that so funny.
Yet, they constantly put us down for that ability to say "the furnace isn't running right, would you check on it for me, please?"
Maybe we should retaliate and get that same, mirroring look on our faces when they ask us what is wrong.......Ooooh, wouldn't that be the best 'backatcha' ever?
Don't get me wrong, MOST men are deserving of our praise and trust. However, there are those few that are spoiling it for the 'gems' we have found to live with daily. Is it in how we raise our male offspring?
I tried to raise my male offspring to respect the female in his life. I don't really know if I succeeded, I hope so, his spouse is just the cutest little bug. She is so smart and loves to teach those small kids in her charge.
But.......
There are women out there that raise their male offspring to believe differently, and that any woman in his life is secondary to him.
We all have different ways to raise our children.
As to which is best, I don't know.
I do know that my Mother-in-law raised my husband beautifully. I am truly blessed to have him in my life.
My father-in-law is the most gentle man and had a lot to contribute in the raising of this man and a lot for Bobby to emulate. He does so continually.
There are a lot of things in life I don't know.
But, I am willing to learn.....and listen.

American Idol

2009-01-28T11:46:00.000-06:00

I really don't understand the American Idol tryouts and the airing of these tryouts. They are demeaning, self-serving to the "hosts/judges" and just downright awful. Not-withstanding that 'Simon Cruel' has enough money, does he have to perpetuate the people he and the other 'judges' makes laughing-stock out of? And get that new female off the show.....talk about a sad concept of a 'judge'.
There is even a "Rewind" American Idol aired late-night where you can make fun of the contestant AGAIN.
My suggestion is for them to sift through all those contestants privately- non taped, only show those winners, and then on to the contest.
Save us hours and hours of mindless, boring, shabby tabloid viewings of those hapless people trying and thinking they are good.
My second request is that while briefly in the bedroom where hubby was watching, they had one girl singing one of Karen Carpenter's lovely songs. She however, hacked it up in the 'rap manner of singing' with the singing of all the notes available in the musical scale in trying to find the one note that Karen Carpenter sang so beautifully.
Arrrrrgggghhh.
A POX on all the American Idol people!
OR, maybe it is because I have a quality discerning ear, and know good music when I hear it, and Baby, American Idol Isn't It!

Comments

2009-01-23T13:02:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was enough to make me want to crawl into a hole and not want to come back out.
How can another person's view of me want to make me just hide from humanity?
I have done nothing wrong.
Nothing a decent, caring person has reason to hide.
It is amazing how this other person's view of me is so slanted. But then I have to consider the mental state of that other person.
On another level, I find it interesting that there are no comments shared on any of these posts.
Hmmm.
Perhaps I should just close the public view and keep it for my own private self.
Obviously having a bad day here.This has nothing to do with the comments that people would share with me, just some 'rambling'.

When did I get old?

2009-01-19T13:22:00.000-06:00

When did I get old?
I find myself making noises when I move.
Grunting when I bend over, and making a whooshing sound when I reach for something. There are other sounds, but these two are the most prevalent.
These are sounds that old people make.
I am not old.
Why, in my mind I am still that sassy 35 year old, moving with the grace of a dancer and with the speed of light and just as bright.
Thirty five year olds do not grunt and whoosh.
When did this happen?

Walking in the snow

2009-01-19T10:03:00.000-06:00

I was walking to the Foreston convenience store yesterday. I was at the auction house, and decided to walk the block and a half.
No one was out and about, Sundays being a slow traffic zone in Foreston. It was after mass, and all the mass go-ers had already driven off, and everyone else was in their homes settling down to breakfast.
As I walked back to the auction house, I was reminded of the winter night I spent with Lynn Sullivan at her house around 42nd and Fremont North in Minneapolis. My Mother had allowed me to go on a 'sleep-over' at Lynn's house. I was attending Patrick Henry, so it was during early high school years.
I don't remember the downstairs, but Lynn's bedroom was on the second floor at the front of this huge, square brick house on Fremont Avenue. Her bedroom was 'half' of the upstairs. It was marvelous.
It was when I was trying to find what they call now a 'forever-friend'. As with most sleep-overs, neither one of us could settle down and sleep. So we ended up sitting on the window seat looking out her front windows onto Fremont Avenue. Fremont Avenue is a bus route straight to downtown Minneapolis, that enviable 50's 'Mall of America' shopping district.
It was snowing, the street lights were on and the whole world outside her window was bathed in a comforting golden light. No one was about, with the exception of an occasional car and bus, and we were the only kids to view this beautiful, quiet snowy night from that great vantage point of a second story window. Her house was also 'up' from the street level, their lawn included a 5-7 foot bank of grass, so it was quite a height with the ground height and the two story house.
There were no night plows in the late 50's. Everyone semed to have had a day job in the city works department. They got up very early to move the snow around, but I rather like the idea of men manning those plows during the night as we sleep, as we have them now. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe there are no night shifts to move the snow. It doesn't matter, as I have this beautiful memory of Lynn and I in the cocoon of a heavy snowfall outside her window. I don't remember her Mom or Dad, I do remember she had a brother, and that is where this memory ends.
Just that 'after midnight' coziness of two early teen-aged girls whispering in a sleep-quieted house, exchanging giggles, dreams, talking about our communal friends, our hopes and wishes for our futures.
I remember that experience with great fondness. Lynn and I never really connected as that 'Best Friends Forever', but we enjoyed a wonderful, after midnight view of a quiet, snowy city street.
Sunday's walk in the snow was just as fulfilling, even though the walk was solitary. There were big, fat, lazy snowflakes drifting down, and the quiet was marvelously comforting. I found myself walking slower to enjoy this quiet, 'private' time.
When the shop was going, just as we were going in to bed around 2 or 3 in the morning, Bobby and I would often walk out to the middle of the road, before 'people' moved into our quiet, isolated neighborhood. On winter nights, we could faintly hear the traffic on hwy 169. It was a quiet cocoon. An occasional farm dog bark, but rarely anything else. On foggy nights, the cotton-wrapped night was even more special.
It is one of the memories I had to log.
"Memories lost are memories not written down."
Once in a while I will be in a situation that will dredge up a long-forgotten memory that I had truly forgotten.
Yesterday's softly falling snow brought up this one. I hope you enjoyed my word-pictures as much as I have in bringing it up to 'write it down'.

The second time I heard Angels

2009-01-13T02:22:00.001-06:00

Hanging clothes outside in the backyard lets me 'see' many things.
I hear wonderful things also.
One early morning, I could hear them before I saw them.
Those great 'V's' of Canadian Geese. I could hear them 'talking and singing' to each other one morning. I swiveled until I could spot them. I had a hard time in that and they were getting close. I could hear them coming from the east.
And then they were here.
Right above me.
The reason I couldn't see them was that they were just barely above the tree tops, 50 feet high at the most. As they came to the trees on the top of our hill, they quieted. But I could see them so clearly. Closer than I ever had before.
As they passed over my head, they were no longer 'talking', just flyng.
I heard the swish of their pin feathers on their wings as they flew over.
It is a marvelous thing to hear Canadian Geese fly over you.
You will never forget the sound of Angel's wings.
It will warm your soul for years to come.

2009-01-13T01:57:00.000-06:00

Have you ever heard Angels?
I have.
Twice.
The first was years ago when we were on the flyway for Monarch butterflies.
I was hanging clothes outside on the lines and saw this incredible sight of these beautiful 'beings' swarming the yard and hanging from the trees ringing the yard. It was amazing seeing them fly to the branches, and effortlessly 'snuggle' between those that had come to rest first.
I know that Monarchs need to find somewhere to rest when the evening temperatures cool, and it was incredible to see these beautiful orange and black 'beings' on my tree branches, ALL over the back yard.
I stayed outside for a long time watching them quiver as they settled in for the night.
The next morning, I watched them slowly warm as the temperatures increased. They were all quivering to wakefulness, or maybe they don't sleep, but just rest. That is something we just don't know.
Then it happened. The temperature reached that necessary point.
As ONE, they all left the branches of the shrubs and trees.
That is when I heard the Angel's wings.
It is a soft sound, almost not even there, but it is.
Almost like a swishing of a silk material, but so very, very soft.
And then they were gone.
Their journey to Mexico one day closer.
I was so grateful to our Lord for that experience.
You never, ever 'hear' one Monarch fly, but in the thousands, you are given a gift and my heart swelled with the beauty of it.

Driving or not in snow

2009-01-13T01:34:00.000-06:00

Well I don't know what is going on with the roads, but with the snow coming down this year, the roads are 'slipperier' than I ever remember.
I didn't attempt the drive down to the cities today, cancelled both appointments. One in Clearwater, the other New Brighton.
Just the drive to the Milaca outskirts was enough to tell me it wasn't a good idea. I just didn't want to add to the congestion and waste time in slow moving traffic. When Bobby came home and said that there were people in spin-outs everywhere, I knew I had made a good decision. His main comment was that people just don't know how to enter or exit a roadway. I agree, and have had to be behind someone that actually stopped on the bottom of an entry to the freeway. Just stopped to look and see what the traffic was. Now that's cautious. Meanwhile, the rest of us behind him are braking suddenly at this abnormal driving behaviour.
People can be soooo interesting.
The rest of my day was uneventful. Grocery shopping, stamp buying, then home to do laundry. Am almost caught up. I do love that little apartment-sized washing machine. Well, want to bring up another post subject, so will end this one. Huggs to all..

Sister Dee's 15 Minute Tex-Mex Rice Casserole

2009-01-04T14:09:00.000-06:00

15 Minute Tex-Mex Rice Casserole
(Many grateful 'thanks' to my sister Dee for sharing this marvelous recipe)
2 c cooked brown rice
[I used one pkg Uncle Ben's 8.8 oz package of microwavable brown rice, marvelous stuff that package--just right for two people. Otherwise I make rice in my rice cooker for 15!]
1 1/2 c tomato salsa
[I used one-10 ounce 283 gr can of the RoTel 'Medium' variety w/diced tomatoes and green chilis, and they are NOT the hot chilis]
1 tsp chili powder
15 oz can black beans not drained
[I would drain the can if using just the one package of rice]
7 oz can or 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
[I used 1 cup of canned corn]
2 oz reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, sliced 1/4 in thick
(Dee uses the shredded kind in the bag)

Optional: 2 Tbsp chopped black or green olives
[Put these under the cheese. I used black olives and could have used green also since I saved on the sodium with the RoTel, and next time I will add about 1/2 to 1c of diced onions for more flavour and crunch]

Combine first 5 ingredients. Spoon into a 6" x 6" shallow casserole. Top with sliced cheese, then olives. Microwave on high for 12 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
[I baked it at 325 for about 35-45 minutes and it was smelling soooo good! I opened the oven door and actually took a soul-satisfying whiff! Brown rice is marvelous, dahling!]
Now you have the recipe for all that posting I did. I hope you enjoy this, microwaving it is also easy, but I wanted the heat from the oven and that also mainly delayed me from hitting it with the spoon and eating it ALL before hubby got home, lol!

Serves 4
Per serving: 289 cal
4.6g fat (2g saturated)
13,7g protein
49g carb
8g fiber
1,150 mg sodium

2009-01-04T13:26:00.000-06:00

There was an ingredient missing from the 15 Minute Tex-Mex Casserole. It was a can of corn.
Since I got the recipe, I have been enjoying it very, very much. I have been doling it out here and there and am having the last 1/2 cup now.
This morning was supposed to be brunch 'out', but since I didn't make it to church because of our hazardous roads, I didn't think that going out to brunch would be too 'kosher'. I did make a pretty darned good breakfast though. Shoot, just remembered that I have a couple of tubes of biscuits in the fridge and I was going to bake one. Didn't get to bake any yesterday morning since hubby got a call from Sheila saying that Dustin didn't make it home to help her load/unload the truck as he was supposed to do. Dustin got paid for it ahead of time. Bobby called him and said he wanted money back because he was up fishing and drinking and didn't make it back to help his mother.
[Bobby said that is was because he is 18 and just a kid....I am not buying it. I admittedly have a problem with people that drink too much so that they get drunk and pass out, and then laugh about it!
I went through enough hell with a person that I loved very much that did that, and I have no more patience for people that drink.]

We had a good amount of time when it rained and then froze on our vehicles and roads and yard last night, then it snowed about an inch and a half over that.
I have already been pulled out of the ditch once this winter, and am not willing to repeat it. I lost my beloved fog light bumper and lights with that one, and am not willing to play 'swing the chick-pickup around' on ice again. I was the second vehicle off that bridge that day, and not one police car was stationed there at the bridge to warn us. Hmmph.
So I stayed home this morning. Will do my prayers in a bit. I have some serious praying to do to make up for not going to church. I hate missing church. I am honored in receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
I missed it for over 30 years, and it left a big hole in my life. I am a 'cradle' Roman Catholic, and missing those 30+ years is a huge black stain in my life.
Thank You Dear 'Holy Spirit' through Father Charlie. I have the gift of receiving the Eucharist and Blood of Christ back that means an awful lot to me.
I hope everyone is driving safely and watches out for the other drivers, and remember those black ice bridges and on/off ramps.
Huggs to all.

Chores

2008-12-30T12:58:00.001-06:00

I am supposed to be doing chores. Or calling Dad to see how he is doing. I don't think I will be traveling down to the cities today, so hope he is feeling better.
We have 9 inches as of an hour and a half ago, and it is still coming down, sometimes in big flakes and other times those nasty little ones that seem to fill up the yard and roads faster.
Measured the 9 inches on my top step where the wind hasn't gotten to it. Pretty safe place to measure. Metal yardstick does wonders.
The garbage pickup truck was just here, so I guess there are others out and about, although I haven't heard the snowplow yet. I shouldn't complain, Manistitque, MI, has tons of snow compared to our measly 9 inches. Ach! I need to get out of my jammies, comfortable as they are...they are the blue ones this time. I really love the fleece jammies and should toss all the other sleep shirts out....except when it gets warmer and I can't wear these any more. The horns of a dilemma! Well, need to call my sister, she sent me the most marvelous recipe for 15 Minute Tex-Mex Rice Casserole. Gotta make sure there isn't one ingredient missing though.
Huggs to all, and safe driving, ya hear!

2008-12-27T20:56:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all,
We spent a quiet Christmas Eve and went up to Grand Rapids, MN, to spend Christmas Day with my in-laws. Arrived around four p.m. and only an hour late. Roads were fine, after my mishap with my little pick-up on the bridge leading out of town towards Foreston. I was thankful to the good Lord that there weren't any vehicles heading east. I landed in the ditch just past Cemetery road, about 20 feet in. Blasted through one heck of a hard, ice-packed drift, went airborne a bit and 'drove' the last 10 or so feet when I stopped. Not a pleasant experience.
Evidently I wasn't the only one that hit the black ice on the bridge that day. A lady with a wheelchair equipped vehicle was the first. Why wasn't there a police car stationed at the side by the bridge? Good question.
Got home after the tow with a ride from a very good friend, and called 911 to mention that the bridge was slippery.
She told me she knew, that they had put in three calls to the highway department for sanding the bridge and were ignored. Go figure.
Took two days for the engine compartment to melt of snow. Only damage is the bumper where my beloved fog lights are, is not attached any longer. Will have to go somewhere for body work to get it re-attached. Except for a small power steering leak, everything seems to be running fine.
I am driving with four-wheel drive if it is the slightest bit icy...doesn't stop me from fish-tailing, but at least I have four wheels pulling at a slow speed. If they want to pass, I will wave to them as I pass when they land in the ditch.
Went to the Nosbusch Christmas Party today, and started out slipping and sliding just off our hill. Really didn't want to experience another ditch episode, but made it to the highway all right and proceeded to the party. It was nice, and nice to spend time with friends. (Forgot how squealey children under four can be.) But it was a good time spent.
Have other things going on, but don't really want to talk about it as I don't need to bring anyone else down for the holidays.
Have a good holiday season, and be careful for the New Year's driving. I don't want to lose anyone this year.
Huggs, to all,
CJ

Just for today...

2008-12-10T19:25:00.000-06:00

Just for today I want all the problems I have to be put on hold.
Isn't that what we all would like in this holiday time?
Then we tell ourselves that we can enjoy the season and not be hurried and rushed and cranky because we feel that we can't get every thing done that we think we should be doing?
I don't decorate the house for the holidays, I guess I lost my passion for it when the kids all left the house, but I will say that I didn't do much while they were little either. That must be a fault of mine as one daughter loves to decorate her house. Even the bathroom is displaying decorations for each holiday in turn.
Sometimes I look at all the decorations and think that I should and would love to decorate. But I never do. It isn't that I don't have the decorations, I do, but the thought of dragging them all down and then having to find room and displacing the things that I do have out, gets to be a large issue with me and time.
So to all of those of you that do decorate, a big Thank You! I envy you your passion and energy to do that. Please add a little 'extra' for me.
A little "lagniappe".
For the rest of us, just take each day a little slower in your mind. Savor all that comes your way.
When the cards come, look at each one, remember the sender, and if you are of the propensity, say a small prayer for them. Then go on to the next card.
Cherish and relish each day. We only have so many days in our life, try to enjoy each one to the fullest. Most times, it just takes a little slowing down mentally to get the job done.
My best to all this Holy Season.

my letter to Jill

2008-12-09T14:06:00.000-06:00

Yikes Jill!
Please, please, please don't let Chief CHEW on them. Those bits could get caught in his intestines and kill him! You wouldn't know the symptoms until way too late.
It is like my friend's dauschhound that ate some tinsel. He had been around it for years and years and never bothered with it. By the time he was ill enough to show symptoms, the run to the vet was too late. She lost her beloved little dog.
It is the same with people giving their dogs those DAMMNED rawhide bones. Two of my friend's basset hounds had to have emergency surgery and almost didn't make it because the rawhide had become caught in their intestine and had to be surgically removed. $300.00 each dog later, they were allowed to go home with the proviso that Betty would get rid of all rawhide 'treats' in the house. The best present to give a dog owner is a "Nylabone", bought at any good pet store. It is all nylon, an inert material and dissolves in the dog's stomach acid when the dog chews on it to keep it's teeth and gums healthy.
Please try to keep the bags away from Chief. I kind of like that guy, my Silver thinks he is as handsome as he is, and Minnie is just over the moon for both Chief and Bert.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 1:38:00 PM CST
CeeJay said...
P. S. The $300.00 quote was for surgery about ten years ago.
$600.00 for two dogs surgery now days is just for the anaesthesia?
Betty still gets the shakes when she thinks how close she came to losing her best buds back then.
There are specially made 'tunnels' that are plastic bags from the pet stores to make 'crinkly' sounds encased in fabric so the cat can't get to the bag, but still make the 'sound'.
I personally think he likes the 'warmth' radiating back up to his body from the plastic. It would be better to get a hunk of Fleece, cut into a generous square of about 15"x15", doubled over and hem-stitched a couple of times at the edge, into a nice pad for each cat to warm themselves on. Fleece is not that expensive for a good heavy weight fleece to make a cat pad. I have a child's small carry-blankie made by "Boo" (a company no longer available to the general public) and my cats love it. Thanks again for the YouTube flashback in memory.Cait
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 1:51:00 PM CST
CeeJay said...
PPS
Chief looks to be a long haired Siamese. Siamese are notorious to love to chew on wool and yarn products. My Siamese Sampson had that habit. The vet's solution was to remove his back teeth, which is guess is the way to stop them from chewing yarn products. I couldn't afford the surgery, so Sampson had to go to a better home than mine. We had many years of 'talking' together though. He knew in the morning when he would talk to me and I fumbled with the coffee pot and said "Sam, give me a couple of minutes to wake up, will you?" He would literally sit at the kitchen table and wait for the coffee to get done, then continue his 'conversation' with me. I hated to give him away, but I simply could not afford the surgery, but know that he went to the best home I could have found him.
He went to two elderly people that lived in an apartment building that had lost their first Siamese when someone let him out of the building. They took wonderfully good and marvelous care of Sam, and loved him as much as I would have until he passed on to the Cat Heaven to be with Jesus....and to wait for us when we got there.

What happened to the Lotus?

2008-12-09T11:52:00.001-06:00

What happened to the Lotus?
We were anticipating a wonderful lunch with friends yesterday, and when we drove by, it wasn't there!
They were tearing down the building!
We drove in from over 2 hours away, and were so disappointed that it wasn't there.
What Happened?
Did they move somewhere else?
We had to settle for a Thai restaurant a few blocks north, on the corner of the east side of Hennepin, closest to Hennepin/Lake intersection.
Was not pleased with the waitress as we were preparing to leave.
She WOULD NOT allow ME to box my own lunch, saying she didn't want ME to MESS HER TABLE, and after four or five requests and attempts to grab my plate from her to box my own lunch, she proceeded to mix in the rice with my entire meal.
#1. I didn't want her hands touching my plate after observing she had her hands on other multiple plates with other people's saliva and germs on their plates transferring to her hands. I know she didn't take time to wash her hands between taking other people's plates into the back and coming back with the box and bag to my lunch.
#2. I had the rice in one corner so it could be plated separately from my mock duck on reheating, and she proceeded to MIX it ALL in with the rest of my entree. I need to control how much carbohydrate I consume as a leftover as I am a diabetic. It is now mixed totally, hopelessly and completely in with the mock duck entree. I unfortunately do not remember the name of the restaurant since we live over two hour's north and it was our first time there, but it is on the south-east corner of the block on Hennepin Avenue, a block or two north of Lake St.
I would have recommended the restaurant, but for her attitude in making me feel as though I was a child and would mess her table.
Heaven Forbid!
Her actions, unclean hands are enough of a turn-off that I would never eat there again.
You make your own choice....I prefer not to get sick from other people in this cold and flu season because of her unsanitary actions.

'Chemotherapy'

2008-12-08T01:16:00.000-06:00

I have a friend that lives in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Her name is Sue D.
Sue is a very lovely, stubborn, feisty, independent, woman that does some of the most beautiful Hardanger stitching I have ever seen and is not afraid to tackle Hardanger in a table-sized piece.
She is a generous and loving friend and I love her very, very dearly.
Years ago she and her doctor discovered she had cancer.
While I don't really know exactly where her cancer was located, she told me her Mom died from cancer. Her Dad was unable to go with her to her chemo treatments because he was afraid she would die from the same cancer that took his wife.
She told me the story of when she was about to undergo chemo for the first time. Being apprehensive of the treatment, and who wouldn't be, she hired a lady clown to come in and 'entertain' her and the people undergoing treatment the same time Sue was.
While Sue was starting her treatment, she heard a voice outside the door.
"This must be the place...any place with the word "MOTHER'' in the middle of it, has to be the right place!''
With that, the lady clown came in and lessened the worry for a bit for the chemotherapy patients that day.
Years and years later, I had a dear cross stitching friend that was diagnosed with breast cancer. I asked Sue if I could relay the story to her, ironically another lady named Sue, and my Suzie said 'that it would absolutely be all right!'
I did, and my cross stitcher stitcher friend, Sue M. emailed me back.
The story I had related had touched her.
It seems that her Mother was known for her frugal methods in bringing up several children and getting the most for her money. They all called her their ''cheapy'' Mom. She said that the story particularly hit home with her because if you combine the remaining letters after you take 'Mother' out, you are left with the word 'Cheapy', and that is what they all called their dear Mother.
Sue M. did, unfortunately, pass away from the disease, but her gentleness, grace, humor, passion for counted cross stitching, and love for her fellow stitchers still live on.
My heart aches.
I miss her still.

New clothes for Dad

2008-12-06T11:13:00.000-06:00

I bought three new shirts, two new pair of slacks and eight more pair of the knit boxer briefs for Dad yesterday.
Two of the shirts were the brushed variety and xl in size, so he can wear them over another shirt if he desires. He was putting his arm in the 'red garnet' brushed cotton shirt and said 'Ohh, nice and warm.' So I think that was a good purchase. It is an imitation of a chamois shirt, and is just what he needs. He is wearing his sweaters out. The other just like it is a 'smoky olive' in color, both by Faded Glory brand.
The third shirt is a Puritan brand, a dress shirt, ''barley' in color, and think I should have gotten him a large instead of the xl. He said that the sleeves were just right, even though the shoulder seam is way past his shoulder. I guess it doesn't matter, it will most likely reside under a sweater also.
Then came the two pair of pants by Wrangler. I originally got him a 36 waist x 30 leg. He stood up and struggled to get the button closed, finally laughing and said that it wasn't going to get there. I looked and sure enough, quite a bit of space there. I took the measurements off of another pair of his old pants he wears. I got tired of seeing his pants leg turned up in a cuff, and thought maybe we should get a shorter leg.
He said that the length was just fine, but couldn't get his fingers to work that darned waist button. He said that he would rather get a bigger waist and then use his belt to tighten than struggle with those darned buttons.
Then he mentioned that he put the new webbed belt away and got out his old leather one.
It seems that he almost 'lost' his pants while downstairs in the common room! He is laughing as he says this, and so it must have been pretty funny. Those 'peers' of his in the building are quick to see something funny in someone's 'drawers' falling off! I teased him about losing his drawers in front of the ladies, and I meant 'mooning' them, not the other meaning, but I think he got my meaning.
So I accused him of getting 'chubby' and said I would return the slacks and get him a 38x30 size. He is trying to keep that 'manly figure' and so I am surprised he didn't comment on the larger size. But then different manufacturers cut for 'size' but are different from another brand.
He said that that would be ok and I didn't have to hurry back, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday would be all right.
I got him the same Wrangler brand in a khaki and black, both with a pleated front. Very nice slacks.
This way I am also not going down there every week and wasting gas for that hour down and hour back to collect laundry. I should be checking in on him every week though. At 93, he could fluctuate so quickly in health. Maybe I will still go down, but not to collect laundry and just to check in and see how he is doing. Then treat myself to a Thai lunch.
I have a fresh basil plant growing now and will use that in my noodle soups along with a dab of fish sauce. Don't know if that will duplicate the 'Pho' noodle soups, but am willing to give it a good try.
I almost lost the plant a few days ago, as it got so dry in the plastic sleeve, and I forgot to water it......Ooops. I have to get it planted in a pot today. I may have to ring it with chicken wire though, as I put it in the bedroom to keep it safe from the other cats, and Silver ZONED in on it on the bookcase top. He never learns. Thought he would have had enough with the stomach pumping he had when a kitten eating the poisonous azalea buds, flowers and leaves. Silly boy. Well, think I will shower and then take a nap after baking the bread for the crew dinner.
Still bummed out about my large baking circle cracking in half. I think I can still use it, but it isn't whole any more.

2008-12-06T10:59:00.000-06:00

I posted these on a 'Little House Neighborhood' blog.
With all that has gone on since 9:30 p.m. on last Sunday nite, November 30th, my world has been turned rather upside down and rolled over.
I may get the courage to post what happened later.
Just don't want to 'skew' the results by posting now.
It will have to be after the morning of December 24th, and I may not know the results until after the HolyDay.

CeeJay said...
There is a saying that "a memory is never fogotten onece written down."I have started to do that on my blog, because at 66, I am afraid my memories are already gone.Very nice idea of the addresses.
December 6, 2008 8:18 AM
CeeJay said...
How about a chuckle for today? Posts to 'myself' and thought I would share with you. It is now around ten to eleven in my morning here in east-central Mnnesota, have been up and baked two mini quiches and one apple pie, frozen, that CRACKED MY PAMPERED CHEF BAKING TILE CIRCLE IN HALF!!! I am heartbroken, it was just starting the journey to being a mahogany color...but anyway here are my two posts.

"Can't even spell forgotten! Sheesh, did I miss out on the sleep I needed or what! No coffee, just a decaf sugar-free mocha with decaf Senseo coffee. Hmmm, something is out of place here. I know what it is! I am trying to do the 'nicey-nicey' typing as they suggest....fingers curved over the keyboard instead of the 'pounding method' I usually use. Gonna quit that curved finger scrap!

On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 10:31 AM, Cait wrote;obviously the memory has gone, I can't even spell once."
December 6, 2008 8:58 AM

FLEECE FABRIC

2008-11-28T09:55:00.000-06:00

O.K.
I want to find the person that created fleece fabric for jackets and now pajamas and other clothing items.
I want to bow to that person in homage and kiss their feet.
I am not kidding!
I live in a 93 year-old farm house. The field-stone basement gives new meaning to 'ankle-biters'.
But Margaret discovered fleece pajamas for me one day at K Mart while I drove her down for her therapy appointment.
I bought TWO pair, one a pretty pink and one a medium, comforting blue in a large. They were exchanged the next day for an xl as the arms were just too tight. Can't stand tight fabric around my upper arms.
I had to hem the pants up two inches on the bottom of those legs, and I might just take that out and put in elastic. It will not keep the legs warm if the pant legs are constantly roaming up to the kneecaps. Plus, in dire coldness, I could snuggle the feet past the elastic to keep those blocks-of-ice 'foofies' warm.
I hate shopping for clothes, did I mention that? That is the reason I bought two pair, or as ever practical daughter mentioned, one to wash, one to wear. And they air dry beautifully!
I reiterate, I want to kiss the feet of the person that invented fleece!

MOM'S DELIGHTS

2008-11-28T09:03:00.000-06:00

My mother didn't have much education in the school room sense. But she was an avid reader, as in prolific. She loved to read....loved to learn.
Born in 1917, her journey in life saw so much.
Phones, television, rockets to the moon, men walking on the moon, microwave ovens, automatic bread makers, stoves that didn't use wood to create heat, cell phones, computers, laptop computers, radios and music that can be housed in a shirt pocket, fleece jackets to keep you warm, jet planes, planes period. Cars that went faster than 10-20 miles per hour, automatic HEAT in those cars. Beds that didn't have to hold more than one child each. Heat in your homes that you didn't have to cut the wood for. The list could go on and on. She loved them all.
When you think on it, the journey from 1917 to 2001 holds a world of miracles.
Things we take for granted.
Our children and grandchildren have grown up in a world that is so consumer friendly. Some children don't know what to do to open a car window when there isn't a button to push. They don't know what a window-crank-handle is. And vanity mirrors on the passenger side. One gal we know will get into a vehicle on the passenger side and immediately fold the visor down so she can check her image in the mirror. When she got into a commercial truck, she did the routine and was surprised that it didn't have a vanity mirror on the passenger visor.
We get used to so much.
This morning I received an email from an author that was sent from her Blackberry. That brings up 'texting'. Another phenomenon that I personally, absolutely abhor......
My Mother would have loved it all. She got to see a lot of it, but with all the new things coming up, she would have reveled in all that knowledge floating around out there just waiting to be processed into her hands and most importantly, her mind.
My mother was an extremely precocious and very smart woman.
I miss her.
I love you Mom.

Memories

2008-11-28T06:08:00.000-06:00

There is a saying that 'memories written down are never forgotten'.
One of the current Kay Jewelers commercials on for the Christmas season, prodded a memory to resurface.
It is the one where a young couple are at a city 'tree lot' picking out a tree for the Christmas holidays. Underneath one particular tree is a small box. A ring is presented.
My memory is of the lighted tree lot.
I remember going with Mom and Dad to a city tree lot. I was fascinated by the lighted wires overhead. Oh sure, I was excited about getting 'the tree', but the lights overhead held a fascination for me.
Mind you, I was a small child, about the age of three. My sister Dee was born December 20, 1946 when I was four. There are four years separating us.
Lights were on a table or sprouted from the ceiling or wall. Never just a wire with a lightbulb dangling from it.
These lit the entire city tree lot. People were bustling all around in the night, in that bulb-lit tree lot, trying to find that perfect tree, just like we were doing. I was along and I don't remember any other siblings at that point, and since I can pinpoint that, I must have been three.
Dad had come home from the war in the Phillipines, so that really dated the time.
He came home on Christmas Eve day, 1945.
All I remember about that was that there was a knock on the apartment door, and this man in a green suit handed me this little cloth horse, told me its name was Skeezix and then he enfolded my Mom in for a hug. She was crying.
I didn't know this man.
I got in between them to try and keep her from crying. I didn't know why she was crying, but she was. In my child's mind, when I cried, she held and comforted me. I didn't like that she was crying and this man in the green suit had made her cry.
So the first Christmas memory I had was going shopping for a Christmas tree in a city of Minneapolis tree lot, lit by these fascinating lightbulbs overhead on wires.
Department 56 has a lighted tree lot in their product line. I do want to get that piece, as it is so reminiscent of that compelling memory. That is a real heart tug for me at this time of year.
When I go by the Boy Scouts tree lot in one of the parking lots in Elk River on Highway 10, I get that same smile on my face as I remember the lights.
Thank you Kay Jewelers for that wonderful resurfacing of my memory.

2008-11-26T23:08:00.000-06:00

I brought clean clothes to Dad tonight, and he is doing pretty good for being 93.
There are days when he is on top of it, and days where he seems to be confused. It is the confusing days that bother him, and he tries to compensate. Sometimes it is with a corny joke, other times it is is with anger and trying to pick a fight.
It must be frustrating for him when he can't remember things.
We all thought it would be Mom who would outlive him. It wasn't to be.
He has friends at the residence he lives at, but it isn't the same as having a spouse.
There are so many times he is alone. The building is full of people, yet I can tell that he is lonely.
When I come to change his meds, he normally would have stayed downstairs to visit or just sit after his meal. The days I come, he scoots up to the apartment, and will just start talking. It doesn't seem to connect, like it is just prattle, but it actually has a pattern. Loneliness. Just to talk to someone in his 'home', no matter what the subject, but to just talk so I won't leave so quickly, hoping that I will find a subject to comment on and have a discussion.
He is lonely. But I don't want to take him from that residence to come live up here where he is closer to me. The few friends he has there are a pseudo-family. He cares for them, and they care for him.
One particular gentleman seems to be the 'fixer'. When Dad has things that don't work well, or he can't seem to figure them out with his diminished eyesight, he calls for Orville. Orville comes and fixes.
The people that live there take care of each other.
I am heartbroken that he has lived so long and has to live in anonymity. Because of what the oldest son has done, what the youngest daughter's propensity for taking things, and her constant requests for money, he has to live in fear that they will find him. One of his grandchildren did, by fluke, by accident. So far we don't seem to have trouble with the children, so the granddaughter may have honored his request and not told them. We continually hold our breath that a problem will occur. So far it hasn't happened. It isn't good to live in constant fear.
So even though I am in contact with Dad almost every week, I don't spend enough time with him. I am not happy with that. I need to spend more time with him. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so busy. I do need to think some things with a rearrangement of priorities. I wish I could take him places that he would enjoy, even with his diminished sight. Macular degeneration is a nasty bit for people to experience. So there isn't a lot he could do simply because of his vision. I really need to think of some things that he would enjoy.
On Thursday, Mike will be picking him up to take him to Fern's for dinner. He is looking forward to that very much, even though it is with reluctance that Mike is doing that.
I hope he has a Happy Thanksgiving with all those people around. Enough to stave off the loneliness for a while.
We are going to a local restaurant for our dinner. It doesn't compete with a homemade meal, but we have so many people coming from so many directions, that having it at someones home is just not logistically efficient.
I hope Dad will have a good day.
Well, it is time to say my prayers for those on my prayer list and then go to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

herbs

2008-11-25T09:46:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I drove Margaret down to the hospital to have labs done and it was a 12 hour fast. For a diabetic, this can be an issue. When we left her blood sugar was down to 88. So after labs, we headed to the McDonald's on the corner.
She got a barbeque Snack Wrap, tore off about 1/3 of the tortilla and was able to get that chicken down because it was moist with the sauce. I tasted it and found that it was a marvelous blending of flavours. My choice is usually the grilled chicken with Ranch. With the chipotle barbeque, the sauce is over the entire chicken instead of just in spots with the ranch. I may have to switch.
So then we were down to the physical therapist in Elk River. Waited in the truck while she was in getting tugged and pulled and prodded. It was a good thing she took her pain pills after her 'breakfast' and before therapy, as she was definitely 'peaked' looking when she came out.
Went to Target and bought one of those living basil plants. Brought in my pots from outside and plan to plant it. Miss the basil for my oriental noodle soups.
I plant herbs in the spring and summer. I don't use most of them, but love to see how they grow and mostly how wonderful the aroma is when you brush against them.
This year I thought I would garden again. Started with herbs and pansies after Bobby's wonderful girl helper cleared out a lot of the small trees and weeds in my herb garden after three or so years of neglect. I found that my arthritis and strength has diminished my ability to pull weeds and condition the soil. I am a bit upset with that.
I may have to find exercises to do this winter to alleviate this problem. I am starting with counted cross stitch again. So that is helping to get the fingers nimble again, as well as this blog. I find that typing on my laptop on my little wooden tv table is just the right height and it helps to keep those fingers nimble.
Now to just find exercises to strengthen my upper arms and back. Dad has some papers from the Elim Home he was at this summer that I may be able to copy. He uses a rubber band-type of strech strap that helps him stay strong. Sounds like a good idea.
Well, I got the potting soil with Miracle Grow in it to use in the pot, so my basil should have some good nutrients. I wish I had thought ahead to bring in some of the herbs from outside before the ground froze, but I didn't. Now to find seeds......hmmmmm.

2008-11-22T10:09:00.000-06:00

I just looked up Justin Wilson III, and found out he passed away on Sept. 5, 2001.
I am sorry he is gone, but his humor and liveliness while cooking on that PBS program endeared the man to me. Also to our son.
Our son is a good cook. Read that as 'very good'. He is not afraid to try new things, and I love him for his eccentricities in food. He even conned me out of my set of Graham Kerr cookbooks. (Well, conning isn't the right word. I finally gave in to his hints and gave them to him as a present.)
His coffee however, is another thing. If the spoon doesn't stand straight up and slowly sink as it is dissolving, it is not strong enough. But he has an esspresso machine now, and I love the decaf beans he forages around for me. I am the only one that drinks decaf and that he thinks to provide me with that is very special. Thanks Pete.

Cinderella

2008-11-22T09:52:00.000-06:00

On one of my various needlework sites that I have subscribed to in my inbox came this quote out of no where.
I thought on it and think who ever thought it up should get the Pulitzer Prize for everything!
Here it is:

"Cinderella is proof that a new pair of Shoes can change your life! "

Think about it.
We don't live in a fairy tale, but can we apply the references they allude to in our life?
You Bet!
In this case, go out and get a new pair of shoes for Thanksgiving! It will change your life!
"I Gar - own - tee!"
(Thanks to Justin Wilson for the parody on his pronunciation of the word.)
When I find it again, I will give credit to the person that included it in her post.
*****I just found her posting. It is from Vickie in Arkansas on the Mystic Stitch stitching SAL club. Thanks Vickie. It is the loveliest sentiment around.

2008-11-20T17:41:00.000-06:00

Today I spent time in the library in our town.
I am a volunteer and mostly what I do is shelve books.
I have a marvelous time because I am a cross stitcher, everything has to be in its place.
It probably takes me longer to shelve than any other volunteer because I am constantly 'reading' the shelves.
Translation of 'reading': Putting books in the correct numerical or alphabetical order.
I'm tellin' ya! Libraries need to only get cross-stitchers as volunteers. We will put them back in order!
I have snizzle-fits when I find whole sections backwards or out of order.
But Sharon doesn't mind, she can't or won't fire me for being slow in shelving. One of the ladies that worked there told Sharon she could tell when I was in to work. The shelves just made more sense. She could find things for people.
I enjoy it.
It is quiet, no one bothers me and most questions I can answer.
I am even learning to love shelve the 'Easy' books for the little ones (pre-grade one or grade two). I am so fascinated by the artwork on these books. If you never have seen the artwork for these books, visit your local library or go to the book store and just delve and immerse yourself in the children's sections. You will come away smiling and wistful for those books. I guarantee it!
(P.S. I have been known to secretly take out some of them or read them in the back of the stacks while shelving adult books if I have some on my cart. Oh for the innocence of life again!)
Libraries are great places. I have been tempted to take my stitching and sit by the fireplace and just forget about the time for a half day or so. Wouldn't that be grand!

Surgery Day

2008-11-19T20:18:00.000-06:00

Today my husband had surgery on the back of his head for the removal of a sebaceous cyst which was about the size of a small, exercise handball. The surgery took an hour or so, and when he came out, he was a little shaky on his feet.
The only other surgery he has ever had in his life was a tonsillectomy as a child.
Norwegian males and doctors and hospitals/clinics are really not on speaking terms. Especially North Dakota Norwegians. There are a lot of 'jokes' about the sanity of North Dakota people because of the whiteouts in winter.
I have experienced a North Dakota whiteout. We were traveling north on 29 for our annual set-up for the Christmas show at the mall in Grand Forks. Husband was ahead of me in one vehicle, I took the follow-up behind him. I just concentrated on his tail lights and nothing else. When we got to the mall and I backed up our pickup, I had to sit in the cab for about 5 minutes because my legs simply wouldn't work.
My opinion of the people of North Dakota is that they are very smart, most of them did not join us in the foray up 29 from Fargo to Grand Forks. They were all most likely hunkered up in their cozy homes with hot chocolate, popcorn and movies.
So the North Dakota people are very hardy, stalwart people. Hard-working and very generous, and understandable when a born and bred Minnesotan will brave their wondrous world of snow.
I remember the first time I rode with my husband through his native state. We were zipping westward on 90 and I was doing something and not paying attention to the landscape. All of a sudden, Bobby slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. I looked at him questioningly, and he said "Look out your window."
What I saw absolutely took my breath away.
There was a North Dakota flax field in bloom.
There is no more beautiful sight on this God's green earth than the flax field in bloom. It is an incredible periwinkle blue and it went on forever, as far as the eye could see. I really cannot say that I have ever seen such a beautiful sight, ever. I am sure that there are pictures, but nothing compares with the sight first-hand.
But back to the surgery. His sister was there and did the major part of the hand holding while he was having it done. I was out in the waiting room with my Father-in-law.
He came, ostensibly, to keep me company, but I think it was more for him. He NEEDED to be there. He loves my husband very much. There were tears in his eyes, along with genuine love. You can't get much better than that. Sheila called on Sunday morning and said that Bobby didn't need to be at the Auction House on Sunday, but he told Sheila that he wanted and needed to sit and just talk with his Dad. And that is what he did.
We all know our parents love us, but rarely does it get shown. I saw pure love today. I am completely happy.
Husband has a slight burning where the incision is, and a slight dullness in the back of his head, but otherwise, seems to be fine.
My sister-in-law told me to drive home so he could just kick back.
Chortle, chuckle, snort, LOL.
She doesn't realize that Bobby needed to be in control again, and needed to take back possession of his life. He drove all the way home and was actually quite happy to be driving. Once I felt he was in complete control, I am afraid that I napped a bit. I had a fairly rough night and got maybe 3 hours of sleep. I was afraid I would oversleep.
Everything is fine.
Love your spouses, that is THE number one rule in life.

Rough day

2008-11-14T15:48:00.000-06:00

It's been a rough day for me. I was silently accused of setting something up that I had nothing to do with.
I do wish people would leave my affairs alone. Or at least when they do meddle, own up to it, immediately, when you cause the action, instead of leaving me take the flak and fallout by their omission of ownership.
That is a problem with us all. We don't want to admit when we have been wrong. 'We' know it all. 'We' think 'we' can fix everything. They don't reailze that certain people are stubborn, won't listen to anyone, and their heritage makes them feel they are invincible. We aren't. None of us are. We all have the same foibles everyone else has. It is all in how we are brought up.
I was brought up to care for people, not to hurt anyone by mouth or deed. So therefore, I don't say things to people that would hurt them. I believe I am allowed to employ a little white lie for that.
But, in my upbringing, this trait has brought me much grief.
No one out there can fix anyone else's life. It must come from within the person.
Let me paraphrase....'If you wish to take the twig out of my eye, start with the plank in thine own.'
However, no matter how bad this day has been, I will carry on. Try to put it past myself and, eventually, try to work on it to let the incredibly immense hurt go.

Mom's 'snow'

2008-11-14T00:07:00.000-06:00

With the small snow storm we had recently, it started out with coating the branches of the pine trees, just slightly. It looked like you had taken a sifter with powdered sugar and had gently shook it over the trees. It wasn't windy, so it stayed for a while.
It brought to mind the 'snow' my Mom used to put on our tree after it was brought into the house and set up, but before the ornaments were put on.
She got a big box of Ivory Flakes and somehow mixed them with water to make this 'snow' to put on the tree. It was marvelous! Talk about magic for a kid to see. We weren't allowed to help, and she was so smart in that, and it fell to her to do this every year.
The snow was so much better than that tinsel stuff.
Eventually we discovered that Mom had an allergy to pine pitch so no more fragrant pines brought into the house. We got one of those 'fake' trees. This was when they were still new on the market and no one looked down on you for having a fake tree. The one thing I am grateful for was that it wasn't one of those aluminum trees. I love the smell of pines. Even if we couldn't have a real one anymore, you could still see the green and imagine.
We never had a star for the top as I was given a post board image of Jesus as a young boy with a pine tree over his shoulder in chatechism. That was our tree topper every year from then on.
When Dad's house burned, we were all afraid of what we wouldn't find. My brother handed me an envelope while we cleaned the house out for inventory for the insurance co..
I opened it and there was my tree topper. I started to cry. I was so grateful that Mom had thought to put it in an evelope instead of with all the other ornaments. I still have it and will continue the tradition.
Thanks Mom for the marvelous, wonderful memory.
Wonder if Ivory flakes are still available.

Willow coloring

2008-11-12T19:48:00.000-06:00

During the time I was along with Hubby on the trip down to the cities, I was noticing how beautiful the willows were this fall.
Most of them were this beatiful gold color. A few were still green and gold in combination. I really don't remember this beautiful gold color before.
Isn't is strange how things seem to 'pop' at you when you probably have driven by them many times before and never noticed?
One of the things I love about my dear hubby is that he is always looking and seeing things to take joy in while he is driving the same old route to the cities. We have seen hawks of different varieties, eagles, deer, and a lot of things we wonder if other people take the time to notice.
Even though he is so busy, he takes the time to notice things. That is what makes it a joy to drive cross country with him.
On earlier trips from Las Vegas, there is a place in New Mexico called Laguna. Just off the road is a place where old homes in the Mexican/southwest pueblo-style were built. It is right on the freeway and is one of the oldest, unspoiled places where people had lived. A treat to see. We stopped and I took pictures.
As we were traveling through Arizona and New Mexico, it was the old 'shoot-em-ups' personified. I can remember watching those on tv when I was a kid and the buttes and bluffs were still there. I kept expecting cowboys riding around the corner chasing the bad guys. It was that powerful. Nice to know that they are still there for kids to 'believe' in.
And aren't we all kids at heart. I still like shoot-em-ups.

Lagniappe

2008-11-12T12:29:00.000-06:00

'Lagniappe' (lan'-yap) in Cajun country means 'something a little extra'.
I was talking with a gentleman the other day and he mentioned that it was his Mother's birthday that day. I asked him if he was sending her flowers. His head came up and he looked me in the eye and said that 'he hadn't thought of it'.
I mentioned that if he wasn't going to send her flowers, maybe a gift with 'Lagniappe' would be nice.
He didn't know what it was.
I explained that in Louisiana Cajun country it meant 'a little something extra' like buying twelve beignets (fried dough with powdered sugar eaten with Louisiana coffee!) and the shop keeper throwing in the thirteenth beignet. A little something extra.
Like buying a jewelry box and filling it with Godiva Chocolates. A little something extra.
His eyes took on a far away look and I think his Mom got some graciously bestowed 'lagniappe' that day.
We could all do with some lagniappe in our daily lives. Whether it is to give to someone else, or to give to ourselves.
A small bit of time carved out for ourselves to pray, meditate, look at the snow falling and 'Thank' the Lord for it, or to give someone else a special something 'little extra'.
Try it.
(and let me know how it worked)

Veteran's Day

2008-11-12T04:40:00.000-06:00

Well, Veteran's Day brings tears to my eyes.
Always has, always will.
I was teased terribly in high school when we would go to the auditorium and they started playing 'Taps'. I always started to cry.
That song played on a trumpet will always generate tears.
Peers can be a taunting pack.
The notes of that song soar and are so lingering in the heart. I have heard it so many times, that each note is special.
My Dad was a cook on Leyte in the Phillippines.
He saw his best buddy die.
He doesn't talk about it much.
I understand.
This is a man that would take an hour to pick out just the right card for your birthday, because he had to read each one to make sure it was just the right card for you.
He would always say that he had an eyelash in his eye when caught wiping away a tear when watching a sorrowful part in a movie.
He is 93 and the VFW doesn't charge him yearly dues. The post commander feels that anyone that served in WWII paid their dues.
The American Legion charges dues.
Thank you for that VFW post.

2008-11-10T01:30:00.000-06:00

One fall day a couple of years ago, I was headed to the cities and drove by this enchanting field. I didn't have the time then, but on my way back I stopped and shot a couple of pictures. I think it loses something in the translation from eyewitness to photo, but it is still pretty. I have a few other views and I still enjoy them as they come up on my screensaver.

See, I can post photos other than my cross stitch.

I love the Minnesota countryside in all seasons. I love seeing the golden corn stalks bending with the wind over a snow field. That 'old gold' has a softness and mellowness that just tweaks my eye and gives joy to my heart.

I am a frustrated painter, never having done any, but would love to get the whole Bob Ross video set and just Play, Play, Play at being an artist.

I was watching another water color painter's show on PBS one day and he mentioned that Bob Ross had passed away.

I never knew.

To this day, I don't remember what the man was painting because I started to cry.

A heart-wrenching cry from the bottom of my soul for a man I never knew or met other than through his PBS television show.

My very 'dear friend' who got me through another week when I was experiencing such 'down-ness'.

Some weeks he was the only thing that seemed to keep me going from one week to the next to be able to look forward to his half-hour program.

The gentleness of his voice and his gentle, hypnotic soothing ways were a balm to my battered soul and psyche. Who is to say what will trigger a slide down a slope where we don't know how to climb out of?

All I know is that I love Bob Ross, his critters, his painting, his belief that we are all painters in our souls, and will love that gentle man for the rest of my life. His gentle manner and love for the people in this world made it a priveledge to know him, if only through a PBS program. With tears in my eyes and a hurting heart, I miss you Bob, and 'God Bless'.

The 'variance' of holiday meals

2008-11-10T01:04:00.000-06:00

I read a lot, and throughout my reading, I keep hearing about having mac and cheese for special dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas. That just blows my mind, because my Minnesota heritage doesn't acknowledge that at all. It sounds like instead of having breads in various forms like we do, other people view mac and cheese in that vein. I have come to the conclusion that it is a regional dish like having Brussels sprouts in casserole form (eastern coast) for the holiday meals. We don't have those either. For other meals, yes, but it isn't one of our mandatory dishes for the holidays.
Isn't this just too intriguing???
Our holidays have stuffing (with or without apples, nuts and our personal favourite- with smoked oysters and onions and celery), corn or corn pudding, green beans in a casserole or alone, squash with all its various additions such as brown sugar or marshmallows (we like it just plain with butter, salt and pepper), mashed potatoes, cranberries, relishes, crescent rolls, apple , mince or pumpkin pies.
A lot of us also have wild rice, either plain with butter, salt and pepper or paired with white rice in a creamed casserole dish.
Moms all around Minnesota always tried to get veggies in us with a salad, but most of us opted for just the celery sticks, carrot sticks and those most loved veggies, green olives. Black olives were tolerated for color contrast, but they didn't have the addictive saltiness of those lovely, pimientoed greens.
Of course the appetizer course always included herring, but my husband is Norwegian and can't stand those lovely pickled fish. I can and do. I'm not Norwegian...and of course, I love lutefisk, he doesn't. I 'fight' with his brother for a good chunk at dinner and my father-in-law just chuckles as he eats his portion. My sister-in-law makes it but refuses to eat it.
I came upon lutefisk late in life, around fifteen or so years ago, and have loved it ever since. I don't have it every holiday, but as often as I can. I even go to one of our local restaurants to have it...alone. It is a staple for our area's Scandanavian heritage to have various churches in our town to make and serve lutefisk dinners for the holidays. Haven't gone there as the restaurant in town serves an enormous plate of it to you.
But making mac and cheese, God's gift to us, our most loving comfort food, a specialty item on a holiday table has me just bamboozled to say the least.
But hey, I'm willing to join the bandwagon.

having trouble finding this site

2008-11-08T12:47:00.001-06:00

I am having trouble finding this site, so am trying to distinguish between the site with capital headings and the site with lowercase headings. I am not so fond of the one with the red in it. So if that is the one you signed onto, contact me, I will try to re-direct you to the correct one with the current posts.