WELL!

AND AGAIN I SAY WELL! It was supposed to rain yesterday. It did rain... someplace. I am told that it rained where MC's hubby works. That is about 30-35 miles away. Downpour. Not here. It waited until just after 6 a.m. today, THANKSGIVING! And we planed a BBQ. No traditionalist we. BBQ. Well, it may end up being a Burger Fry. Whatever, most of us will be together, all except those traditional Tennessee people. Hey you TN people. Enjoy your turkey! I really mean it. Enjoy. Then see how long it takes you to clean up all that tradition.

HAVE A WONDERFUL, THANKFUL DAY.

Plagerism

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I believe it may rain.

Click on the picture and you can more easily see what caught my attention enough to grab my camera and rush to the front porch. See that bright patch of sunlight to the right? It was a nice sight and gone forever within minutes.

We have a promise of rain. 60%! Wow. A nice promise down here in my desert.

Fog? No, not fog

Early this a.m. I looked outside and it looked like fog. Reminded me of the 29 years I spent in San Jose, CA. Often we had fog in the a.m. and I hated it. Dress for a cold morning and by 10 a.m. - 12 noon, it would be hot because all the fog and damp had burned off. I still hate fog. I love my desert but this a.m. I was reminded of the fog. What you are seeing, especially in the second picture is the dust in the air left by all the working people heading off out the dirt, washboard road that runs behind my house (it is a main road). I had my house set so that it faced Picacho Peak and the main road behind the house. The dust is hanging around and hanging low to the ground because it was so still. No breeze at all.

The Redneck is Back

The natural born Redneck in me keeps creeping out. With just a hint to BB the siding on my chicken coup happened. When I arrived home from my trip to TN and IN, my chicken coup had been sided with............defunct, therefore, no longer useful POLITICAL SIGNS.

QUESTION: Were they ever useful in the first place?

Slow Burn

This is a picture of "Da Boys" down on Cannery Row of John Steinbeck fame. This is one of the few pictures I took while in CA. Even though the people behind them look real to me, it is a sign board advertising the shop where the main thing for sale is hot pepper sauce.

Quiz.

I am too sick to think. Caught cold from BB on CA trip. Thanks BB. So, the following is something I stole from "Shut Up I'm Counting" with my answers and not hers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where is your mobile phone?
In my pocket. It is never far from me because I don't have a land line anymore.

Where is your significant other?
Heaven. Right now, with this chest cold, I wish I were with him.

Your hair colour?
Light brown and grey. Used to be dark brown. Where oh where has the color gone?

Your mother?
Same place as my significant other

Your father?
Ditto for hubby and mom

Your favourite thing?
Just about my whole life. Thank you God

Your dream last night?
I seldom ever remember my dreams

Your dream goal?
I am living my goals. Living, every day, just living and lovin' living

The room you’re in?
Kitchen/eating area. It was supposed to be a family room. Silly, Living room is right over the little wall. Why have two. Now I have a very large kitchen and it gets a whole lot of use.

Your hobby?
Anything involving yarn

Your fear?
I can't think of anything that I am afraid of

Where do you want to be in 6 years?
right here in Beautiful Marana, AZ. Love my desert

Where were you last night?
slogging around being sick and coughing

What you’re not?
Fearful, depressed, unhappy, and...........well

One of your wish-list items?
I don't have a wish list. I think I have everything I need and more

Where you grew up?
San Jose, CA

The last thing you did?
Try to take a deep breath w/out coughing

What are you wearing?
Denim skirt and flowered top

Your TV?
Soon to be gone. I don't believe I will persue TV after the FEB date it dies

Your pets?
Nice clean white puffy cat/Kat. She made the mistake of getting up on a cabinate yesterday. When she does that, I catch her, walk into the shower fully clothed, close shower door, disrobe and then we shower together. Pretty kitty.

Your computer?
Older than I am and often just as crippled

Your mood?
Wishing I were well.

Missing someone?
Only my Tennessee family.

Your car?
Nissan Maxima. Great car

Something you’re not wearing?
Shoes and makeup, but that is not unusual

Favourite shop?
Costco. the place where I spend most of my money

Your summer?
Busy. Now for some home time

Love someone?
Many

Your favourite colour?
Pale dusty coral

When is the last time you laughed?
Probably last night when BB was here.

When is the last time you cried?
I don't remember. I almost never, ever cry.

Santa Cruz?

This is one of a few pictures I took before the batteries died in my camera on our trip to California. We did a bit of sight seeing 'round and about Santa Cruz, CA. I don't remember for sure if this was in Santa Cruz or 'round and about, but it is a nice picture and memory

Oh what a mess I am in!

I should be cleaning house. I could say that almost every day. I SHOULD! But I am adding to the mess and having a good time. I always do. Have a good time. That is me. Below is a picture of a bunch of Christmas gifts. Last year, in lieu of Christmas cards for people at my church I made MANY 1/2 pint jars of Apple Butter, one for each family in my little church. Lots of work. Getting lazy I guess and don't want to do that again. A friend of mine in CA said I "might be creating a monster" because she made jam/jelly one year for neighbors and they let her know they were disappointed when the next year rolled around and there was no jam/jelly to be had. The picture you see is the result of bringing home a Craft 'n Things magazine from the library. These are cookies in a jar and the parishable ingredients are to be added by the recipient of the gift when they get ready to have some quick cookies. Of course, the recipe is not EXACTLY as printed in the magazine. Never is out here where I live. No store close by. And then, of course, I couldn't gift these cookies in a jar without trying the recipe. One banana and four cookies later, I deem these cookies in a jar worth gifting. They will have a Christmas patterned cloth w/ribbon round the top. These cookies in a jar is intended for each family in my choir. You choir members who follow my blog will need to act surprised when you receive them!

Black Bean Soup recipe

http://shutupimcounting.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/black-bean-soup/

The above is to copy and paste onto your browser/address line/whatever you call it, to get you to the recipe for the BB soup. It is a great recipe and very easy to throw together. As with other recipes that has lots of spice in it, the heat/spice grows while it is hanging out in the fridge. We enjoy it very much. Thanks Cass. As I told you, I don't know this lady, just found her following Knitting interest. She is an avid knitter and knits things to be admired, good job! Enjoy the soup.

Garage Sale Friday

Today MC and I went garage sale-ing. It is something we enjoy doing together. Sometimes we find nothing, sometimes the car is so full that there is no room to put the kids on the way home from school. Today was a case of no room, so, I dropped by the church building, just about 1/4 mile from where we pick up the kids, dropped off a small shelf I bought for my sewing room (to stack more yarn on)rearranged the stuff into the trunk and VOILA, we found room for the kids. I thought we might have to make the 22 mile round trip to drop off some stuff and go back for the kids, or...leave the kids. Good news, the kids are home safe, happy and by now, in bed.

This is a test, this is only a test.

My friend and excellent blogger told me the way to do something. I will try it now.
I made a yummy Black Bean Soup for tonight. I found the recipe on the blog of someone I don't even know but visit often. Her blog is http://www.shutupimcounting.blogspot.com She posted the recipe a few days ago and I have been anxious to try it. It is GOOD. Two bowls good.

Now to see if I have done this correct

Nope. Not correct. I will work on it later. For now, just copy and paste the URL (see how much I am learning?) in the address line and it will take you there. Or, click on the blogs I read (I just put those on there today) and it will take you there also. This woman is an accident waiting to happen (she would probably agree). I read her often because she is so good with words and obviously laughs at herself... when it is not November. You will have to read her to find out what that means.

Doin' whatever

I guess I must be bored today. Why? It is the most beautiful day, it is supposed to be about 80 degrees today and here I sit, messing with my blog. I did learn a little more about it (way to go huh? Charlotte.) I think after spending time on this site, I had better get back to my yarn.

Someone someplace

Someone someplace wanted the recipe for Orange Slice Cake and typically, I can't remember who it was so...here 'tis. Hope the ones who wanted it sees it here. I often use this instead of the ordinary Fruit Cake on holidays.

ORANGE SLICE CAKE

1 cup solid type margarine or butter (sub. butter flavored Crisco shortening?)
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs (large)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 1/2 cups unsifted flour
1 lb. chopped dates
1 lb. jellied/candy orange slices (diced small. I find that if I dice the candy in the flour it is easier to dice)
2 cups chopped pecans or English walnuts
1 can Bakers flaked coconut.
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The next ingredients are for top of cake after baking.

2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 cup orange juice
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Let margarine warm to room temperature then cream with sugar until smooth.
Add eggs, one at a time and beat well.
Disolve soda in buttermilk and add to creamed mixture
Place flour in large bowl, add dates, diced orange slices and nuts.
Dredge with hands to coat.
Add flour mixture and coconut to creamed mixture.
Mix with large spoon as the mixture is too heavy to use the mixer. (I have a large KitchenAid and it is OK to use)
Pour into 10" tube pan that has been greased well and floured.
Bake at 250 to 275 degrees for 2 hours or until well done.

Leave cake in pan & pour the powdered sugar/orange juice mixture on top while cake is hot. Leave in pan all day or over night. Remove & refrigerate or can be frozen. I RECOMEND EATING IT! YUM!

Home again, home again, JIGGITY JIG

Gotta come up with a new title if I keep vacationing.

We Three Musketeers (home again where my little electronic dictionary ((very important)) is, tells me how to spell Musketeers, I knew it was not correct in my last blog) arrived home last night about 9 p.m. after a 13-14 hour drive and oh so very grateful to be out of the car and JIGGITY JIG...home again.

The day after the celebration we did some sight seeing along Hwy 1 along the ocean and then over to OB's home for a few hours visit and the night. OB and wife were leaving the next morning for CO to see a brand new grand baby that was going to be born...TODAY come to think of it. Baby was to be induced last night about 8 p.m. CO time.

The celebration of the marriage of my BB's oldest daughter was not w/out problems, but what occasion is w/out flaws? One of the problems was that the batteries died in my camera and I forgot to take new ones with me!! But, as the saying goes: "A good time was had by all". Said Oldest Daughter is a whiz at planning a wonderful party. The celebration included a sitdown dinner in an upstairs private room in a restaurant. Three choices of either a salad (No ordinary salad, unh un, so siree, my salad included Scallops!) or an absolutely humdinger of a butternut squash soup, YUM! A choice of a duck dish, a beef dish or fish. 'Nother YUM. and of course the desserts were unique and YUM! You don't need to see the descriptions of the deserts. That would be just too cruel.

#1S, BB and I walked to and from the celebration restaurant. It was about 1/2 mile. We arrived FIRST, before all the others traveling in auto's. The weather was perfect, the walk was wonderful, the food was perfect. GREAT PLANNING, and plaudits to BB's oldest daughter. Thank you for including OA, That is me OL' AUNT. We Two Odd Musketeers were very happy to be included and we thank you.

One Day in California

We three Muscateers drove to N. CA in one day. It would have taken me two and I would have spent the night in Buttonwillow, CA. BB drove and drive us he did. We made it in appx. 12 1/2 hours. We were happy to see The Courtyard all alight when we arrived. They left the light on for us. It was a long day but we enjoyed the drive and each other.

Yesterday, pre-celebration, we went to the beach (a must do for us desert rats) cigar stores and memory lane. I spent 29 years in San Jose, CA. Married a 30 year career IBM'er and started the moving bit. We moved from San Jose when my 3 children we 5,11 & 13 or appx. those ages. #1 son didn't have the memory's BB and I had. We didn't actually get to SJ but BB lived in the area in which we spent most of our time yesterday. He drove us all around memory lane.

The weather could not have possibly been more perfect for November & near the ocean. The area is heavily farmed. I tried to identify all the things growing (from a moving car) but failed for the most part. We made our memory trip most of the time with the car windows down. I told "Da Boys" the the day was an Olafactory (can't spell that word) Treat! For us ol' desert rats all the smells of the fresh ground being turned over, the smells of GREEN things growing was just wonderful.

I will write more later, 2 of the Muscateers are packing and getting ready to head over the mountains to OB's (oldest brother)
home and then on to the desert on Sunday.

November 4th

I guess everyone all over the U.S. was thinking about voting yesterday. Even the grammer schools took part in their own way. In TN the little kids voted as did the little kids in AZ. Yesterday Beth ask Lily who she voted for and she answered Obama. When ask why she voted for Obama she answered: "Because he is brown like me".

Fun picture

This is a picture of Kala, my oldest grand. I can't remember where this boneyard of cars is, someplace in TX or OK. I have seen it in the past. This picture was taken on her way home from AZ to TN. when she was leaving me. Sob! I haven't anything else to share this a.m. so grandkids always is a top topic with me.

Gonna lay off BB for a while

Enough about BB even though he makes such a good subject. Yesterday I had such a clever blog post and now it is gone. Should have entered it when it was on my mind. As my dad used to say when ask something, "Can't remember, I've slept since then".

My baby daughter has set me up on a Facebook page so that we can play Scrabble long distance. I am playing several games at a time and also with Rini, a lady whom I met in TN several years ago when visiting BD. I keep telling myself it is not a waste of time but a mind builder. I think that is simply an excuse but I have been enjoying it.




Here three pictures I took at Homecoming while in Tennessee. The first one is of Spencer after the game talking with his baby sis, my little China Doll, Lily.








Kala came home this weekend. Saw many friends and had a great time.



My grandkids have always been great posers. They have somehow been in front of a camera since they were born.