Thanksgiving weekend

OK, OK. I know my limitations. I am not a pro with this handy dandy little camera. BB is/was a pro. photog. and would have known what to do but he and #1S were no where to be found to provide help. So, if you click on the dark pictures I believe you will be able to see them a little better. I did that this a.m. and couldn't find my way back and lost an almost complete blog!!! Won't do that again today.

The Seven of us left on Friday for Bisbee, AZ about 10 a.m. for the weekend. We got ourselves situated in a very nice hotel in Sierra Vista, AZ, which #1S provided for us all, then we headed for Bisbee. They touted a Christmas lite celebration in which the town was to be lighted at 6 p.m. We were there for the ceremony. Afterwards they had a program which involved a former mayor of Bisbee and the current mayor. Yawn! Then they had 13 acts. There were tiny tots in Christmas outfits doing dances and were adorable. There were also dancers from Naco, MX. I don't think that is the whole name of the area in Mexico but I do at least remember that much. Some very colorful costumes and enjoyable dances.


Below, the first two pictures are of the Somethingorother Queen Hotel. Can't remember the whole name right now. It has been renovated in the last 10-15 years. I was told that my late hubby, his sis and hubby and I ate in the dining room some years ago but don't remember that either. I may have to be commited soon.






The next two pictures are of some of the adorable tiny tots in costume So sorry you can hardly see them. Remember to click on the picture. Makes them larger and a bit more visible.




After the "show" and being thankful we were in the middle of the three tiered bleachers (we were kept reasonably warm by bodies that surrounded us) we went to "The Texas Outhouse". When that establishment first came to town I couldn't remember the correct name, "Texas.........."HUMMM, the name is gone again. You probably know what it is. (While proof reading this I remembered, "Texas Roadhouse") Anyway, we went to that place to have dinner. The following is a picture of Danny Girl aka. Danica. MC's daughter


Mike........MC's son, not quite ready for the picture to be taken.



MC's sweet hubby


MC


BB


#1S Humm again. Do you suppose they practiced those wonderful smiles?



And then there is that OLD lady that keeps showing up in family pictures. Looks as if she was not quite ready for the picture to be taken either.



Last but not least is the lady who waited on us. What a special person. She and #1S sparred the whole time. She did a great job of keeping up with his teasing. He is a pro at giving people a run for their money, all in fun, and she kept up with him very well.

And a good time was had by all.

On Sat. Bisbee had a craft fair. Another Yawn. It was OK. We had a good time just all being there together but the fair at Bisbee was less than I expected. We wore me out. I was so exhausted that I didn't sleep well the whole time I was there and the hip joints and one knee kept protesting. Today, I am OK. I think I have survived and will recover. A little more slowly than in years past. I must be as old as that OLD lady that keeps showing up in our family pictures.

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.
----------------------------------------------------
The next ingredients are for top of cake after baking.

2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 cup orange juice
----------------------------------------------------------
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.

Honest to goodness goblin

BB is both a coomputer tech and an artist. He has an artist imagination. The header is BB face under all the "artistic" arrangement especially for Halloween. I just had to do it.

How could I not?

BB works as a computer tech at a grammer school. Halloween costumes are, if not required, are at least expected. How is this for a fellow born in 1950? He is such a self proclaimed Hippy. This is SO him.

Forgiven

It is good to have a BB. He forgave me for putting his picture on yesterday in the coat. He even laughed about it and showed the blog to a couple of people where he works. It is good to be loved.

I should entitle the pictures below: PERPETUAL MOTION! When you see the pictures you will see why. I don't believe I got a clear shot. The pictures are of my China Doll, aka Lily Bird and her brother Sam. I believe the items I made for them will keep the chill off for a while. I have request for other things also. Right now it is a MAYBE.

Carl: SO SORRY

This is a very DIRTY thing to do to a loved Baby Brother. I am so sorry BB but I have tried and tried to send these pictures to Beca via e-mail and can't get it done. I simply don't know how. This is the only way I know to do it.

To all you out there in cyberland, I knitted this coat for me, can't wear it for various reasons, one being that it is a very heavy coat, knitted out of 4 strands of yarn at once and it will never, ever, ever, ever be cold enough to wear here in my desert. Carl's daughter lives in Baltimore and I am hoping the coat is "her" and I will take it to CA next month when we go to her wedding and she can lug it home.

Again Carl, thanks for being willing to try it on, sorry I couldn't not find another way to send the pictures.

HOME COMING DAY AFTERNOON

Finally. I brought my camera in from the car, got the pictures all downloaded and then had to find them. They were there all the time but I couldn't see them.

The afternoon of the Homecoming game at my grandson's high school, a longtime friend of Grand daughter came over and brought her sister's PUPPY! This PUPPY! is only a few weeks old. It is a St. Barnard and such a gentle giant. Lily played and played with it, pulling it around (when the PUPPY was willing to be pulled around) closed it's mouth time after time on Lily's arm and it was so gentle that Lily didn't even have a thought that her arm might be threatened. AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

















Kala drove home for Homecoming and GRAMMY! Thank you Kala. It was a long drive from her school. We were all happy to see her.











Kala's mom (my baby daughter) found Kala a pretty dress for a wonderful price and brought it home to her. Who knows when and where she will wear but by golly, she has a great dress for a wonderful evening, whatever it might be.








MORE TOMORROW

This and That

I don't have much of anything to share so I will just share a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I am catching up on my blog list. It is taking me a while because I was away from home for about 2 weeks. I just checked up on my friend and former pastors blog. I like the one he posted yesterday and the one on Oct. 23rd. The one yesterday gave me hope of a new romance in my life HAHAHA! and the one on the 23rd made me laugh. I love laughing above most anything. His blog address is www.clifditmoresblog.blogspot.com

I have not even brought my camera in from my car since vacation. I took a few pictures. I will share them when I finally remember to get the camera into the house.

BB, MD, and I went as vendors at a new street fair yesterday. I DON'T BELIEVE I WILL EVER, EVER, EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!! We were there about 7 a.m., the recommended time to be there to set up. Unnecessery. It probably reached almot 90 degrees before we three called it quits. No one was really interested in shopping. Most were just out for a nice, free from any charges, get the family out of the house day. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN EVEN LOOKING AT ALL MY WINTER WEAR!!! BB had both origional artwork and artwork he had collected over the years. He got his entrance fee back. $5. Becky sold one pair of bead earring for $2 and NOTHING for me. NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER AGAIN!. Lesson learned.

This week, I need to clean the house. It was ignored before I left and being away for two weeks gave the cat a chance to spread more JOY! Kat Hair, to be exact. No way out. Gotta do it.

I will see ya' all later, after I get the cat hair under control and the camera in the house.

Facebook

OK. I tried. To make a link to my Facebook page so you could see my grandson of whom I am very proud. Of course. I don't know what I am doing but here it how you get there. Copy and paste the Facebook address in the http:// line from whatever I did and it will take you right there. I tried it and it worked. To the right of the page, there is a little box that says, "Pictures", "Videos" and I don't know what else. Click on the "Videos", then click on the one of the long tall skinny boy standing in front of the blackboard. That is my wonderful, clever, grandson. Enjoy. I have listened to his pitch several times and still enjoy it. Naturally.

Down on the Farm: Down on the Farm: Home again

http://www.facebook.com/home.php

Down on the Farm: Home again

Down on the Farm: Home again

Home again

I have been far, far away but close to the ones I love. I was in TN with youngest baby and her babies and hubby. Loved being there. On up to IN for a short visit with my late hubby's family. Loved being there but...I love being home again. THANK YOU GOD FOR A SAFE TRIP.

I have been trying and trying to put a short video clip on here so that you can see it. It is my oldest grandson, Spencer, filling an assignment for school. He is a senior in high school this year. His assignment was to sell a muffin. What a great job he did. If any of you can tell me how to get a video clip from Facebook to here I would greatly appreciate the advice. Connie

Tonight is the night

Tonight is the night I came to Tennessee at this time of the year for. Tonight is Homecoming for the high school Spencer and Kala attends and attended and the two little ones, with God's grace, will also attend. Kala will be coming home from college to be at homecoming and to visit with me (and of course the rest of the family and her many old friends). I am looking forward to the BIG EVENT! Beth told me to bring warm clothes because is had been cold here (my idea of cold at any rate) but I haven't seen (felt) the cold weather at all. Hopefully it will hold on through tonight.

I tried to attach a picture of The Football Hero but can't. I am using Beth's computer which probably has many pictures of said Hero but I can't find them nor can I pull in my own pictures while on her computer. I will have to show you the pictures I take tonight when I arrive home.

I am struggling with a laptop, which I hate. I don't believe I will ever be interested in owning one BUT... my mama told me, "Don't ever say never", so I will leave a tiny opening. Most of the places I stay when traveling have computers available for my use.

I have been prayed here, pray me home please.

Also, remember? I mentioned a week ago or so that my friend Roy A. was having problems and the problems looked like heart problems. From what I understand, he came through the test with flying colors. Thank you for the prayers. Now, his wife is going through a whole lot of stress. Her sister is in the hospital failing fast. Claudia is my friends name, her sis is named Rosie. Please pray for healing and comfort for all in this situation. God answers prayer, perhaps not the way we wish it to be answered, but HE always knows best.

Don't forget to pray me home and thank you to those who said you would pray for me. You know who you are.......................Connie

Fly Away with me

Hello from Tennessee:

I am away from home and will not be home until near the end of the month. I am visiting family here and in Indiana. I love to travel and enjoy traveling by myself. Stop when I want, eat when I want or not, make all my decisions w/out having to make an agreement with anyone. If I can't have my hubby I am happy traveling by myself.

It has been raining here off and on very hard since yesterday. For an ol' desert rat, it is a very nice change.

It is so nice to have a family who loves me and love to have me around. That also goes for my AZ. family. I am blessed.

I may not blog again until I get home. In the meantime, I wish you many blessings.

OBSERVATION: Stupid chickens!

This picture is just because I have no other picture to share. I have entitled it: :Enough Already".

OK. Here 'tis. BB was not hungry tonight. Didn't cook the fish I had thawed out. Middle child invited me to dinner. Declined. Came home and filled plate with Smoked Almonds, Mozzerelle Cheese Sticks & dehydrated Blueberrys. Very satifying. Sat and watched the STUPID CHICKENS!

OBSERVATION:
The Rooster and the largest hen rule the roost. I decided this a.m. that the chickens WOULD enjoy the new chicken house. I distroyed all the options they had for roosting.

OBSERVATION:
The rooster and the largest hen rule the roost. The rooster and the largest hen decided tha the TOP of the new chicken pen would be the place where they would spend the night, contrary to the wonderful upstairs BB built for them. I sat and watched the biggins run the smaller ones off the top of the chicken house again and again. The poor chickens that were the smaller ones frantically ran around the chicken yard looking for a place to spend the night. One even found a break in the top of the netting and gained the top and had decided to spend the night there. WRONG! I decided that was not a good idea and moved the chicken into the yard again and closed the breach. It finally got too dark to see. I don't know who won. I guess they will work it out. Meantime, I have a Southern Gospel Netflix to watch. See you tomorrow.

PTL

Just a little thanks for your prayers for my friend Roy A. His beautiful wife called yesterday and told me that there is no blockage to the heart. PTL. Now, I am already praying my thanks that they will find no further problems. God made him, God can make him all over again.

Just me and God

Sometimes I am up and about so early there is no one but God about with me at that time. All is quiet. No rumbling on the dirt, washboard road. Sane people are still in bed. Since I was in bed with lights out last night at 9 p.m. I was up this a.m. at 4. Seven hours of good sleep is a very nice accomplishment for an old lady. The rooster has not even made a peep yet.

I have a fan going, bringing in the outside air and it is COOL! Note that word: COOL. I think cool weather is actually going to happen. So nice.

Yesterday, when I got home from church, I met "Da Boys" here in my house. They had installed my new Sony DVD, video player. (HEY, I JUST HEARD THE ROOSTER!) I am so grateful with my very own little support group here in my commune.

BB built a chicken coop for me on Saturday. I helped a little. Sometimes it took four hands. BB & I are such rednecks. True Jeff Foxworthy people. We love to make something out of nothing. BB says there are a group of people who are called "Makers". They even have a magazine. They are people like us who take discarded items and make new, useful items from trash. That is what we did to make my chicken coop. BB brought home some discarded framework, I don't know what it was used for, and the framework was about 4 1/2' - 5' square. He brought home several of those squares. He/we put them together to form a chicken coop. I had some old sheets and curtains that I had made for my patio up in Scottsdale that I had used down here to cover my garden plants in the winter to keep them from freezing (it DOES freeze here in the winter nights) and we used them to make walls for the chickn coop. Note: right now, the only reason the chickens need walls is for shade in the daytime. BB said he will find something more substantual sometime. The roof is made from a huge blackboard. (the roof had not been installed yet when this picture was taken) Schools no longer use blackboards/chalkboards. They use Smartboards. If you don't know what those are, you are in for an education as far as the modern education technology is concerned. Smartboards are wonderful.
So, hopefully the pictures of my redneck chicken coop are still on my camera. I tried to get them on here yesterday and the pictures disappeared. I have taken some old, very large clay flower pots, filled them with dry burmuda grass and made nest for the chickens. BB even affixed an upstairs for the chickens to roost in at night. Now, if the stupid chickens can just find their new home. Chickens are so stupid and such instinct creatures that they just keep scrunching up against the weeds in the puny shade they provide. I guess with such tiny heads one cannot expect much more.

BEHOLD!! THE NEW HOME FOR MY CHICKENS!!

Header picture

Friend Charlotte commented: "Interesting header picture". That picture was taken of me in downtown Tucson about two years ago. My sweet, wonderful, artistic,no-on-else-like-her grand daughter took it along with over 100 other pictures for a project she had for college. When I don't have other things and pictures to share I will post a few other ones.

Dog bed padding

Well! I finished my crocheted sweater of many colors. I am not sure that even if I had a dog it would sleep on it. Sad little thing. I don't have it blocked yet. Perhaps when I get it blocked it will look more appealing. I will still take a picture of it when I get it blocked and have a model available. I promise, even though it will show up my inabilities. It was fun to make though.

Prayer request

Please ask God for the healing of the heart of a very dear friend of mine. His name is Roy A. God know the rest of his name. The bottom of his heart is beating faster then the top of his heart...or the opposite, I can't remember which. He and his wife are servants of our God and very much deserving of a longer life with each other. Please pray with me that God make a miracle and make Roy's heart as new as it was when God make it in the first place.

Y-A-R-G-G-H & JGIDNTKSNG;

All that in the title line is my way of swearing, Christian like. I am making those words and noises because of the computer reception way out here in my desert!!! NO, IT IS NOT THE COMPUTER! contrary to those of you who have advised me to get a new computer. My son-in-law who lives next door and whom I piggy back the internet from cannot get online either and he has a very nice, expensive computer. He pays $??.?? a month for internet service and he cannot get online a good share of the time either.

I no longer have a land line (telephone). I use only my cell phone. Didn't need the land line, or so I thought. Now I almost wish that I was back on the very slow phone line for the sake of the computer because it was always available even though it was very slow. So...if you wonder why you don't see me on my blog very often, it is bacause I can't get online, AND I AM TOO CHEAP TO PAY FOR A DISH!

Hope to see you on a day when I have more success, until then, back to the yarn I go.

Y-U-M-M-M

Last night when I posted something new, I had full intentions of passing on a great recipe and forgot! Here 'tis.

Chile Rellenos Casserole

15-ounce can whole green chiles
(I used all of a 24 ounce can. YUMMMMM)
1 pound Monterey Jack
(I had on hand shredded Jack and Chedder....'Nother YUMMM)
2 tablespoons flour
(Makes it really good. A must use.)
4 tablespoons butter

1 dozen eggs
(I am a chicken farmer now and have them on hand. Gotta use them somehow.)
12-ounce can evaporated milk

Grease a 9X11 inch casserole dish.
(Mine was a bit smaller. I think I will use that from now on,
I liked the way it puffed up and was thicker than in the past)
Remove the seeds
(un-necessary. Green chiles are not hot to begin with and we
never even noticed the seeds at all)

Slice the cheese (if you are not using the grated kind)into 1/4 inch slices. Layer the green chiles, then the cheese in the casserole dish. Sprinkle flour and butter on top then add another layer of green chiles and cheese. (No more flour)

In a large mixing bowl, (I used my blender) mix the eggs and the evaporated milk. Pour this mixture over the casserole.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 1 hour. Top with olives, green onions or avocado slices. Can be served with sour cream, salsa or enchilada sauce. Makes 12 servings. HA!
#1 Child and I were the only ones at my dinner table (A couple of sickies in the family right now) and we ate HALF of the whole thing. Of course, we didn't eat any salad or anything else. Just UMMMed and YUMMed over the whole thing. Little Piggies Us.

I have put this on my table many times and it is alway a hit. When the rest of the gang are here and the egg supply builds up again, I will make two casseroles.

Did I say YUMMMM? Love that stuff.

We are on the other side....of Summer

We are over the hump! We made it through another Summer. We have been having cool mornings and almost cool evenings. Nice.

I was just sitting on my back porch and thinking about you. I have not had anything to share for several days. I have been busy working on a sweater I am going to name: IMAGINATION GONE AMUCK. I have a large wicker basket into which I throw various balls of yarn left after finishing projects and I decided to make a crocheted sweater out of those many colors. It makes me thing of Joseph's Coat of Many Colors or Dolly Parton's coat of the same name. I have had so much fun with it, it is a riot of colors. When one ball of yarn runs out, I simply attach another color, helter skelter. I will take a picture and share it when it is finished. I have enough (more than enough) to make another one and may do that very thing.

While sitting on my back porch thinking of you, I was listening to people come home from work. Living on a dirt, washboard road, I first hear a rumble. Makes me think of the song, "Wabash Cannonball" I hear the melody in my head. I believe the first line of the song goes, "Listen to the whistle, the rumble and the roar". I hear those, mostly pickups, coming nearer and then I can see them over the Creosote bushes and cactus. There are a greater percentage of pickup truck out here than than auto's. It is so nice to think that I also am on the other side of the hump. I don't have to do that commute and seldom ever have to have done it. I have been blessed with a husband who, through God, has allowed me to stay home and just be a home maker. I have always and always will love that title. Home maker. That is me!

OH NO! RATS! STUPID AGAIN!!

My son has at least one day a week off from work. He works at a Marriott Resort and is usually working nights. On the day he has off, I usually have all my family (except the Tennessee family) here at my house for dinner. I like for all of us to keep in touch and we all enjoy each others company.




This is a picture of Bob & Becky who live on the next lot. Becky is my Middle Child. The picture was taken last Christmas.



Michael and Danica. DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO MAKE THEM BIGGER AND EASIER TO SEE.


Baby Brother Carl (at the airport in N.C. We were on our way home from vacation in June). I cut "Da Boy's" hair (Carl and Boyd) He ask for it to be cut really short. Funny thing, he has not ask me to cut it "really short" since then. Hummmmm.

And then there is me...and BB. That is the seven of us.


Now, on with my story. Last night, as I was preparing dinner. I was making broth from two already baked chickens that we purchased at Costco. We had eaten off them a couple of times and now it was time to finish them off. Make broth for the freezer for future meals, pick the chicken off the bones to make enchiladas for last nights dinner & I thought of a funny story on myself that you might enjoy and laugh at me also.

Quite some time ago I was going through the same process. Making broth for the freezer. I put the chicken under water in the pot, added all the things to make really good broth. Black peppercorns, celery, carrots, onions. All the yummy things for good broth. I simmered it for a couple of hours. Took the lid off the broth. Oh did it ever smell good. Look good. Gonna make some really good meal in the future. Put cheese cloth in the colander AND POURED THE WONDERFUL BROTH RIGHT DOWN THE DRAIN!!!!! I forgot to put the bowl under the colander! Even as I did it I laughed at myself.

Hope you got your chuckle of the day.

HERE I GROW AGAIN

A friend of mine sent me a message this a.m. via e-mail, of course, that tells about two coral beds. One was alive and bright with color, the other dull and hardly any life. She was told that the one that was a bright and living coral bed was on the side of the ocean where it was open to much buffeting by the ocean itself. The bed that had almost no life was where it received no stimulus by the ocean. This dear lady has had much buffeting by life in the last 2 or 3 years, both by loss of a husband and health issues. The comment that caught my attention (hers? or someone else's? don't know, don't care) was this: HERE I GROW AGAIN. If only all of us could face the problems of life as the person that made that quote.

Grateful to be an O.L.

I saw a few minutes of an interview yesterday featuring Jamie Lee Curtis who will be turning 50 y/o soon. She quoted someone else (I don't know who) who said:
"OLD AGE IS NATURE'S WAY OF TELLING YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE!"
I feel that way these days and will carry that quote around with me in my Bible so that I can share it at the appropriate times.

Beached Whale

There is a rumor going 'round that I am growing more like my mother every day. (R.B., I know what you are saying about me!!!!) It all, at least I think it all, has to do with my addiction to yarn. So...I decided to plagiarize once again. Almost a plagiarist. My little electric pocket dictionary defines the word as "use of words or ideas of another as if your own" I ask permission of the author of the following words to use them on this blog. He gave me permission. I added a couple of pictures. One is of him that I took from Facebook. The other is of him blowing out candles during his last birthday celebration while two of his four children are sitting on his lap. Even having been described as a "beached whale" (his own description) he would have a hard time putting his other two children on his lap. The other two are a girl who will be 21 y/o on the 18th of this month and a son who just celebrated his 18th birthday on the 3rd of this month. The daughter may be about 5/8" and the son may be about 6'4", maybe, and still growing. He may have topped his dad by now.

In case you might be wondering, this is the family of my youngest daughter. The wonderful "beached whale" is my son-in-law who loves me. I am blessed



FISH TACOS
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 8:31am
You have no idea of the depth of my addiction. It was

Summer 1994 with a handful of pesos bouncing around

in my working pants' pocket. A warm, sunny day at a

tiny white taco stand during a mission trip. Etched in

the deepest recesses of my mind... this glorious white

shack rocked gently on a small hill at the back of it so

it leaned toward me diagonally caddy-corner on a quiet

dirt yet paradoxically noisy alleyway (as barefoot kids

kicked up dust with a soccer-ball in background) in

Ensenada, Baja. That angle may have called me or

possibly fish sizzling on a skillet with a light white

smoky aroma; I'm not sure, through counseling I now

know that the absolute addictive lock has something to

do with a magic chemical reaction between green lime

juice and a super secret tangy white sauce; it alters the

taste-bud brain-cells permanently. Anyway, nineteen

pesos later into the dusk of that fateful evening the

locals tagged me with a nickname that I'm pretty sure

loosely translated is "beached whale." I was thereby

doomed forever to never have spare change or a

skinny waist again.

I am a plagiarist

Well, not really, but there are several blog that I check almost every day. the name of the one below is "Born to read and knit". I didn't know until today that that name is not the blog address until I copied it to send on to you. Anyway, this lovely lady lives in New Zealand. I believe she may have more of a reason to knit than I do. I am a dunce about geography but my guess that us desert dwellers are much less likely to be amenable to knitted garmets than N.Z. Anyway, this is a good read for those of us who love all things yarn.

http://heygoodbooking.blogspot.com/