When you lose someone, it is devastating. Their absence is so poignant that you live with it every day. You never forget them, but that sharp, knife edge is always with you. That is the way it is with my cousin Bernadette. Long time readers of this blog know that my cousin left this world in May of this year. It's been more than three months now, and life has resumed it's rhythm the best it can.
And then, I get bludgeoned with her loss again when I look on the back of the current Woman's World magazine and see that one of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber had just published another book in her Cedar Cove series. Previously, my cousin Bernadette would know way before the rest of us that there was a new book in the series or in the Blossom Street series and tell us. Often, she bought the book in hardcover first, and then we would pass it through our family to Debbie Macomber's other fans. Finding out about the new book just brought it home again, Bernadette is gone.
I bought the book a few days later when I conveniently, accidentally on purpose was near a book store. Buying the book was bittersweet, since usually my copy was my cousin's hand-me-down. Reading it is both enjoyable, and re-uniting me with the past. I love the Cedar Cove books, and I love Cedar Cove even though it is a fictional place. This is the tenth book in the series, and over the span of five years (I played catch up in 2005) I've come to know and care for the characters. I'm not done with the book yet, which is pretty unbelievable , since I usually read these books in two days at the very most. Right now, Rachel is newly married and pregnant. She's having such a tough time with her teenage step daughter Joleen, that she is afraid to tell her husband about the pregnancy. While at another address, MaryJo has found WWII love letters under the floor boards in her bedroom.
So, I'm going to stop blogging, and go back to reading. If you have never read the Cedar Cove series, there's no better time to start!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Scary Monday - From The Haunted Bookstore
Taking them to the Haunted Bookstore was a last resort, but ultimately it had worked. The Twins didn't seem to be bored any longer.
"Is it haunted really, or is that just it's name, Aunt Mary?"
"I really don't know Misty. I know it's name is The Haunted Bookstore, and I know it looks like this year round, but, if it is haunted, I don't know."
"There are a lot of black cats around." Misty observed.
"Yes, they lounge all over the place."
"I see a Witches hat." Colby observed. "It's just decoration."
"Maybe not." Aunt Mary replied. "May-be it's just to high for her to wear comfortably inside the shop, so she left it out here."
"That means she might still be in the Shop!" Misty answered with a shivering thrill.
"Oh bro-ther!" Colby said with disdain. "I'm not afraid to go in!" But even with all her bravery, Colby's feet weren't heading toward the Shop all that quickly, and it was actually Aunt Mary who led the way.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Cleaning Up The House
At the moment, I'm watching Sunday Morning on CBS. The subject is, the dreaded bedbug! Apparently, and I'm not sure why, bedbugs are becoming an epidemic at hotels (luxury or economy), clothing stores (Victoria's Secret was one shown on CBS), and - gulp! - our homes!
For people who have a can-do, entrepreneurial spirit, bedbugs have even become a business. Believe it or not, there are dogs that can sniff out the location of bedbugs, and people that train dogs on how to sniff out bedbugs.
When people hear bedbugs, they often think "ugh! dirty house!" But this is a common misconception, because bedbugs can be carried in on furniture, upholstery or cushions; or they can crawl from one infected room or apartment to another. There isn't much that you can do about bedbugs once you get them, it seems. Aside from hiring an exterminator that is. Prevention though is the key.
Dirty house got my attention though, so I surfed the internet after the bedbug report, and came across this wonderful quick article about cleansers that are both organic, and probably already in your home, things like white vinegar, lemon, baking soda and borax among others. Here's the link:
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Shelter/Organizing-Cleaning/10-Alternative-Household-Cleansers.html?cid=yhoo
Homemade Cleaners
For people who have a can-do, entrepreneurial spirit, bedbugs have even become a business. Believe it or not, there are dogs that can sniff out the location of bedbugs, and people that train dogs on how to sniff out bedbugs.
When people hear bedbugs, they often think "ugh! dirty house!" But this is a common misconception, because bedbugs can be carried in on furniture, upholstery or cushions; or they can crawl from one infected room or apartment to another. There isn't much that you can do about bedbugs once you get them, it seems. Aside from hiring an exterminator that is. Prevention though is the key.
Dirty house got my attention though, so I surfed the internet after the bedbug report, and came across this wonderful quick article about cleansers that are both organic, and probably already in your home, things like white vinegar, lemon, baking soda and borax among others. Here's the link:
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Shelter/Organizing-Cleaning/10-Alternative-Household-Cleansers.html?cid=yhoo
Homemade Cleaners
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A Day that Will Live in Infany
America has had some days that "will live in infamy." Luckily for me, for most of them, I have only known about them through word of mouth and studying history.
Remember the Maine! Only learned of that tragedy through history classes, and I have no idea when the memorial day for that is.
Pearl Harbor. V-J and V-E Day Learned because of history. My parents were both children/older teen during that time, but neither spoke about it.
The assassination of President Kennedy. I was alive, but too young to know anything.
Challenger Disaster - Sadly old enough to have full knowledge. But after the disaster. I heard it on the noon news.
The bombing of the World Trade Center was a whole different event. Perhaps because I saw the whole event practically from the beginning.....
It was a beautiful, September day. Really one of the nicest. The sky was just a gorgeous blue, and today there was no need to have the air conditioner on. All of my children were living at home, and meals were a wonderful family affair.
Breakfast had gone without a hitch, and the younger children were loading the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher, while the older sons were bringing a lumber delivery from outside to downstairs in the basement in case of rain later on in the day. Soon they left to catch the bus to college and the younger children gathered around the table to start their schooling. Everyone was perfectly settled, instructions not only given, but understood when my telephone began to ring. I didn't want to interrupt the flow, so I let the phone go to my answering machine figuring that I would collect messages and return any needed calls at lunch break. The caller was my mother, and she insisted, absolutely insisted, that I put on ABC RIGHT NOW!
I didn't. Things were going so well that it would take more than something on television to make me interrupt it. The phone began ringing again. When the caller was again my mother, I was mightily annoyed. What was with her today? She knew how busy I was!
I answered the phone this time, feeling pretty irritated, when my mom demanded "Have you put on the news?"
"Why?"
"Just put it on, you'll see!!"
I turned the television on, just in time to see what had to be a film clip of one of the new adventure movies.
"You interrupted schooling for me to see a clip from a movie?" now I was really, mightily annoyed at my mom. It had to be a movie. The plane had just flown into a building in New York City.
That's right, even with the evidence right in front of me, I couldn't believe that America was under attack. I was sure it was just Hollywood doing it's thing.
Of course, I did get it eventually and the older boys were still around. I called all of the children in front of the television, and they all saw the second plane hit the second tower.
School that day was over. My son made it to college, which was closed, and he almost didn't make it home, because the buses were all taken off-line. He caught the last one, and I had to drive a town over to pick him up.
A day that will never be forgotten.
Read other memories of this day at
http://www.mommymoment.ca/2010/09/never-forget.html
Remember the Maine! Only learned of that tragedy through history classes, and I have no idea when the memorial day for that is.
Pearl Harbor. V-J and V-E Day Learned because of history. My parents were both children/older teen during that time, but neither spoke about it.
The assassination of President Kennedy. I was alive, but too young to know anything.
Challenger Disaster - Sadly old enough to have full knowledge. But after the disaster. I heard it on the noon news.
The bombing of the World Trade Center was a whole different event. Perhaps because I saw the whole event practically from the beginning.....
It was a beautiful, September day. Really one of the nicest. The sky was just a gorgeous blue, and today there was no need to have the air conditioner on. All of my children were living at home, and meals were a wonderful family affair.
Breakfast had gone without a hitch, and the younger children were loading the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher, while the older sons were bringing a lumber delivery from outside to downstairs in the basement in case of rain later on in the day. Soon they left to catch the bus to college and the younger children gathered around the table to start their schooling. Everyone was perfectly settled, instructions not only given, but understood when my telephone began to ring. I didn't want to interrupt the flow, so I let the phone go to my answering machine figuring that I would collect messages and return any needed calls at lunch break. The caller was my mother, and she insisted, absolutely insisted, that I put on ABC RIGHT NOW!
I didn't. Things were going so well that it would take more than something on television to make me interrupt it. The phone began ringing again. When the caller was again my mother, I was mightily annoyed. What was with her today? She knew how busy I was!
I answered the phone this time, feeling pretty irritated, when my mom demanded "Have you put on the news?"
"Why?"
"Just put it on, you'll see!!"
I turned the television on, just in time to see what had to be a film clip of one of the new adventure movies.
"You interrupted schooling for me to see a clip from a movie?" now I was really, mightily annoyed at my mom. It had to be a movie. The plane had just flown into a building in New York City.
That's right, even with the evidence right in front of me, I couldn't believe that America was under attack. I was sure it was just Hollywood doing it's thing.
Of course, I did get it eventually and the older boys were still around. I called all of the children in front of the television, and they all saw the second plane hit the second tower.
School that day was over. My son made it to college, which was closed, and he almost didn't make it home, because the buses were all taken off-line. He caught the last one, and I had to drive a town over to pick him up.
A day that will never be forgotten.
Read other memories of this day at
http://www.mommymoment.ca/2010/09/never-forget.html
Spotlight Saturday
First, I'd like to thank Lily from Never Fading Wood for spotlighting me this week. She has a wonderful blog that when you read it, you instantly realize how well educated, and yet readable her writing is. She reviews books that you have no idea ever existed. She tells us all kinds of library secrets. But it's her thoughts that draw me in the most. She makes you think, without making your brain hurt.
But I'm not spotlighting Lily this week.
This week, I am SPOTLIGHTING Katlupe from Homesteading on the Internet This is another of my favorite blogs. This blog is both artistic and informative. The photographs are genuinely beautiful. Kat's thoughts are both introspective and informative. Kat sees things that we all should be seeing, but don't because we are too busy. I hope you will visit her blog soon. You'll mark her as a favorite once you do.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Some Knicker in a Twist Posts
My knickers are in a twist. I admit it. It's just one of those days. Of the children that I have left home, the majority are sick. I had the d#*^l of a time trying to get out of bed, and I'm still tired. My computer is just lagggging as I try to read my e-mail and blog mail.
More things that get my knickers in a twist:
Having to type in CAPTCHA letters to comment on a blog. When your computer is grinding as it tries to change windows, or renew windows, this just adds to the pain. If you are going to review your comments before posting them to your blog, how about removing the CAPTCHA?
More Knicker Twisters, I have CAPTCHA and with the grinding of the computer, I can't find where to remove it, because I do read my comments before posting them. I apologise here to my readers.
What gets your knickers in a twist?
More things that get my knickers in a twist:
Having to type in CAPTCHA letters to comment on a blog. When your computer is grinding as it tries to change windows, or renew windows, this just adds to the pain. If you are going to review your comments before posting them to your blog, how about removing the CAPTCHA?
More Knicker Twisters, I have CAPTCHA and with the grinding of the computer, I can't find where to remove it, because I do read my comments before posting them. I apologise here to my readers.
What gets your knickers in a twist?
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Diamondearrings.org
A wonderful thing came in the mail a few days ago, a pair of free diamond earrings! The owner of Diamondearrings.org had written to me about a week ago and asked if I would like a free sample of their earrings to review on my blog. Of course I said yes!!!
Well, a few days ago they came. Of course they aren't real diamond earrings, but the case they came in was crushed velvety and nice. In fact, that is what has taken me soo long to write this post. I wanted to take a picture of them and show how sparkly and pretty they are, but not one of my photo's did them justice! I think this blogger needs to go to photographer's school.
I want to give these earrings to one of my blog readers. This is where I really, really need your input. How should I decide who gets the brand new earrings? I really haven't a clue! So please comment, and give me some ideas!
Well, a few days ago they came. Of course they aren't real diamond earrings, but the case they came in was crushed velvety and nice. In fact, that is what has taken me soo long to write this post. I wanted to take a picture of them and show how sparkly and pretty they are, but not one of my photo's did them justice! I think this blogger needs to go to photographer's school.
I want to give these earrings to one of my blog readers. This is where I really, really need your input. How should I decide who gets the brand new earrings? I really haven't a clue! So please comment, and give me some ideas!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
September 8th
Today is a very special day for my family and I. It is the day that my Church has set aside to celebrate the birth of the mother of our Savior. It isn't celebrated like the day of the Savior's birth, nor should it be, although it could be argued that without Mary, there would be no Jesus. Think about it. If at any time Mary wasn't careful while carrying the child Jesus in pregnancy ..... Pretty deep thinking, and not what I want to do on a birthday.
Today is beautiful, bright, sunny, not too hot. I'm tempted to bake a birthday cake, but wonder if that is really a good idea any more? When our house was filled with children, a cake slice was pretty thin, and the cake didn't last too long. Now, we must consider blood sugar numbers. I think, we will celebrate today with a good dinner, not one of my every day recipes.
In a short amount of time, we will have the full moon back. I have the moon chart on my blog if anyone would like to take a peek. And if you'd like a moon chart of your own, just click on it, and then follow the easy directions, and you can have one too. You can put it on your FaceBook or My Space account, or your blog if you have one.
Then comes the start of my favorite season, autumn. To temper that though, is the 20th anniversary of my brother Michael's death. Just nine days after that is the Feast Of Saint Michael the Arch Angel, and the flowers known as Michaelmass Daisies usually bloom shortly before or on that day. Seeing them usually cheers me up. Now, I just have to hope that the deer don't use them as a salad bar!
Today is beautiful, bright, sunny, not too hot. I'm tempted to bake a birthday cake, but wonder if that is really a good idea any more? When our house was filled with children, a cake slice was pretty thin, and the cake didn't last too long. Now, we must consider blood sugar numbers. I think, we will celebrate today with a good dinner, not one of my every day recipes.
In a short amount of time, we will have the full moon back. I have the moon chart on my blog if anyone would like to take a peek. And if you'd like a moon chart of your own, just click on it, and then follow the easy directions, and you can have one too. You can put it on your FaceBook or My Space account, or your blog if you have one.
Then comes the start of my favorite season, autumn. To temper that though, is the 20th anniversary of my brother Michael's death. Just nine days after that is the Feast Of Saint Michael the Arch Angel, and the flowers known as Michaelmass Daisies usually bloom shortly before or on that day. Seeing them usually cheers me up. Now, I just have to hope that the deer don't use them as a salad bar!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Deadly Gift by Heather Graham
Labor Day weekend is over, and summer has about two weeks left to run before the coming of my favorite season, Autumn. It's time to get out the sweaters and jackets again, and before long, it will be time for the heavy duty clothes.
Now is the time to start piling up some really good reads for the darkening, more chilly days.
Deadly Gift is a book that I really recommend, but since it takes place in December, if you are a "season reader" you might want to buy this book now and stash it away for December.
Now, how do I tell you enough about this book so that you will want to read it, but not enough about this book that you know so much that you don't need to read it?
Hmmmm.......
Let's start with Eddie, he took one of the company boats out. The boat was found, anchored. Eddie was no where to be found.
Let's add to the mix Sean. He's old, and he's worked hard all of his life. He has money. And a young trophy wife. His daughter Kat is sure that Amanda only married her Dad for his money. Until Sean becomes deathly ill on a flight from NY to Ireland. Then Kat is sure that Amanda is ready to kill her father for his money.
Add an old Irish aunt that lives with Sean, Amanda and Kat in Rhode Island and believes in banshees, an Irish nurse who isn't being quite honest about her duties toward Sean, a suspicious PI family friend named Zach, a mysterious man named Michael, partnerships and betrayals that you would never expect and you have a real page turner!
Have I convinced you?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Scary Monday 9-6
I made this pillow around 2005. I drew the inside panel, and then hand embroidered it. Yes, it is terribly stained, but that is common for the Prim style. Is anything more Halloween - ish than a full moon, a black cat, a crow and a pumpkin?Go see some more scary Mondays!
http://candydelane.typepad.com/
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Photo Challenge - Begin the story
Begin the story - I was starting the laundry, when I got the uneasy feeling of "I'm not alone. Something is watching me!" I soldiered on, putting in the clothing, starting the hot water, when with a little purr, Jack jumped onto the edge of the washer, braving the hot water cascading in, just to be pet by me!
For more Begin the story
http://www.homeiswhereyoustartfrom.com/2010/09/lens-photo-challenge-begin-story.html
Friday, September 3, 2010
Because I can't seem to blog enough today ...
Are you interested at all in who you descended from? Do you know all about your family history, or is there more for you to learn? Well if you would like to learn more, but the price has put you off, Ancestry.com is free for this Labor Day Weekend. Don't miss your chance!
And we'll just hope that Hurricane Earl keeps degrading to a tropical depression instead of a Hurricane or Tropical Storm!!!
Bag it Forward
This opportunity came to me through Lily at Never Fading Wood. I encourage you to visit her blog also!! (I do, often!)
This is the site http://bagitforward.org/donate-a-bag/
Expires : September 10th
HOW CAN YOU JOIN?
It’s easy.
Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post or Facebook note with specific rules described below.
Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 11:59 PM EST on September 10, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.
In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:
ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES
Copy and paste these rules into your blog post or Facebook note.
Create a post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by September 10,2010).
Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.
I am bagging
Sister Mary Martha http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/
Sunny's Day http://sunnysday1941.blogspot.com/
Wendy http://candydelane.typepad.com/
Stacy http://moderatemeans.blogspot.com/
Please make sure you visit their wonderful blogs! I'm sure you WILL enjoy them as much as I do!
This is the site http://bagitforward.org/donate-a-bag/
Expires : September 10th
HOW CAN YOU JOIN?
It’s easy.
Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post or Facebook note with specific rules described below.
Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 11:59 PM EST on September 10, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.
In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:
ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES
Copy and paste these rules into your blog post or Facebook note.
Create a post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by September 10,2010).
Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.
I am bagging
Sister Mary Martha http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/
Sunny's Day http://sunnysday1941.blogspot.com/
Wendy http://candydelane.typepad.com/
Stacy http://moderatemeans.blogspot.com/
Please make sure you visit their wonderful blogs! I'm sure you WILL enjoy them as much as I do!
Monday, August 30, 2010
SpookyMondayAug30
Jack is my daughter's black cat. For Halloween in 2006, I made a "Jack O'Lantern" in his honor. It's made of papier mache and is painted in the Primitive style. He has a just handle. His eyes glow in the dark for a spooky affect.
Do you see the resemblance?
Go see some more scary Mondays!
http://candydelane.typepad.com/curiosities/2010/08/spooky-mondaywhimsical-spooky-house.html
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Where the Red Fern Grows
A daughter and son like to haunt used book stores in search of a good read, so I'm never surprised when one of them is reading a book that looks vaguely familiar. Such was the case of "Where The Red Fern Grows."
I thought the title was familiar. Had I read it way back when I was still in school? As I looked the book over, the plot seemed familiar, but I still wasn't sure if I had read it or not. A little research showed that in the 1970's the book was made into a movie. Was I thinking of that?
So I asked my daughter if I could read the book after she was done with it?
"No." she replied. "It's too sad for you, I think." Well, that is what happens as one ages and your children grow older than you; they start making decisions for you regarding your welfare. They do it to protect you, because they love you. Sounds vaguely like something I've said in the past, and while the sentiment is appreciated, it's about as welcomed as it was originally received.
So, after thanking my daughter for her kind care and concern, I began to read the book. It was a bit tainted for me though, as I turned every page wondering if this is where I would be hit with the sadness my daughter had sought to protect me from?
There are reasons that some books are considered a classic; quality of writing, how interesting the story is, the theme that flows through it. This book is a classic, and if you haven't been required to read it while you were in school, or if you only saw the movie, I really encourage you to read it.
I won't reveal anything of the story, except to tell you that a red fern has nothing to do with the story at all, until the last few pages. Then you will realize that the red fern has been in the story since almost the very start.
Back to School
Everyone with kids is either already back to school or thinking about school. If you aren't entirely happy with your child's school situation, I am listing a link that might intrest you. Tell Lori that I sent you!
http://www.lorislolz.org/2010/08/awareness-wednesday-hop.html#disqus_thread
http://www.lorislolz.org/2010/08/awareness-wednesday-hop.html#disqus_thread
There's Still A Bag In Our Front Yard
Son #2 came to visit this passed week. He doesn't read my blog (neither does son #1, son#3, daughter #1, husband, or daughter#2 for that matter), so he had no idea why there is a SunChips bag on our front lawn, but he never said a word. Do you think it's because he is just used to his mom and her eccentric ways?Anyway, the picture you see at the top of this blog, is a picture of the inside of the SunChip bag. The bag itself doesn't look any different than when I first put it outside. That bag has been through horrible heat (over 90 degrees at some points) torrential rains, humidity, dry, hot winds and now cool mornings and evenings.
But if you look on the inside, you can start to see the outside of the bag, through the inside of the bag. So it is starting to break down, just not the way that you would think.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Spooky Mondays
I didn't really have enough time to do anything too Halloween scary.
This week I am posting some handmade Halloween decorations that I made and sold on Ebay a few years back.
They are made of papier mache and twigs from South Carolina. They have dried beans in them, so they make a shaking sound, but they are not 'rattles' for a baby's use. They are called "Prim Halloween Shakers." Mine are not made in the usually accepted form which is a acrylic paint on muslin that is then baked and sanded.
I am a "Primitive" artist, a genre that not all people can appreciate. In fact, most people wonder "why?"
Why would anyone buy this kind of art?
Why would anyone like this kind of art?
Why would anyone admit to making this kind of art.
The bells on these shakers were first soaked in
vinegar to remove the 'safety' coating, then
rinsed, covered with a coat of glue, and then
rolled in cinnamon
while the glue was
tacky. This is a "faux"
rust, that makes the
shakers smell like the
autumn season. Well
vinegar to remove the 'safety' coating, then
rinsed, covered with a coat of glue, and then
rolled in cinnamon
while the glue wastacky. This is a "faux"
rust, that makes the
shakers smell like the
autumn season. Well
at least to me. I hope you enjoyed this little tour!
You Are Invited To A
Boo Bash!!!!
When: Every Monday from now until the last Monday of November
What: Scary Halloween Stories, Halloween Decorations (scary or not scary, handmade or commercial) and anything ORANGE!
Where: on my blog, if you are a blogger and would like to join, here is the link
http://candydelane.typepad.com/curiosities/2010/08/rednesday-and-a-new-idea.html
And of course, if you are a reader follow the links to Wendy's blog and follow the bloggers there! It sounds like A LOT of fun. I'm not sure that I am ready to give up the summer already, but for one Monday a week? I'm there!
When: Every Monday from now until the last Monday of November
What: Scary Halloween Stories, Halloween Decorations (scary or not scary, handmade or commercial) and anything ORANGE!
Where: on my blog, if you are a blogger and would like to join, here is the link
http://candydelane.typepad.com/curiosities/2010/08/rednesday-and-a-new-idea.html
And of course, if you are a reader follow the links to Wendy's blog and follow the bloggers there! It sounds like A LOT of fun. I'm not sure that I am ready to give up the summer already, but for one Monday a week? I'm there!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
New Cancer Blog post, The Stalker
If you might be interested, here is the link http://cancerstagefour.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/the-stalker/
If you know anyone who m ight be newly diagnosed with stage four cancer, please share this blog with them.
If you know anyone who m ight be newly diagnosed with stage four cancer, please share this blog with them.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Things are Getting Ugly
Oh yea, things are definitely getting ugly on FaceBook, but I'm sure they are getting ugly on other social networking sites too. "What is getting ugly?" you might ask. "The mood? Posts?"No, the pictures!
Now you might wonder, how is this in the least bit something I am interested in? Well look through the pictures your family, friends and may-be even worse, your co workers have posted on any of the social networking sites. These are people that you see everyday, and you at least thought that they liked you. Well, that illusion is over! It seems everyone has a camera now a days. They are on most cell phones and on a few of the hand held gaming systems. Everyone seems to know how to use them and how to send the pictures to e-mail or directly to the Internet. What people don't seem to know how to do is use discretion, charity, empathy in their postings and how to crop a picture. Case in point, how do you like the puss above? Think the 'delete' button should have been used, may-be?
Some pictures are a unflattering portrait of a person (again, notice the picture above. Which on second thought actually is very flattering!!). These kind of pictures, if taken at all, should be deleted. So should the picture of someone who is chewing, getting ready to yell, wiping their nose, picking their teeth ... the list goes on. In fact, I'd like to read some of the ones you think should never be taken.
Then, there are the pictures where the main subject is posed and beautiful, but someone to the left is scratching their groin, bent over with their but in the air, or taking a bite of food like a great white shark. The only kind thing to do, is to crop these images out and only post the posed, pretty person.
Does this happen in real life though? Nooooooo! What happens is the picture is posted, and tagged. For example Mary and Nate on their 30th anniversary. Lenny shotgunning not one but two beers, Uncle Ruf dancing on the picnic table, Aunt Bev after a few too many losing her coconut bra, Denny staring at June's cleavage.
Is anyone looking at the picture of the prettily posed Anniversary couple? Noooooo! They are staring at the tagged shenanigans and seeing if they can spot any more untagged ones.
Oh, and the shenanigan people? Well the picture goes over to their FaceBook page, with their shenanigans tagged for all to see. Even Denny staring at June's cleavage, so that Denny's girlfriend Marge can wonder why she wasn't invited to the picnic and is anything more than Denny's rude gawking going on between Denny and June? Because she wasn't invited to the picnic.
In conclusion, before you post a picture to the Internet, ask yourself, What would Jesus do?
Monday, August 16, 2010
I didn't know we still lived in the 1970's!
Wow, just when I thought I was living technology wise just like everyone else, I find out, that I don't. We were watching Rob Reiner, Meathead on All in The Family. He was talking about the popularity of the show, and the numbers of people who watched it.
He reminded us that there was no recording it for watching it later, in those days. No dvd's, no dvdr's, no Tivo. If you wanted to watch a show back in the 1970's, you had to physically sit in front of the television, and watch it. You had to make arrangements before the show, to make sure that you would be able to be in front of the television at that time. Or you didn't get to see it. You got to hear about it later from friends or co workers.
"Ha!" said number three son joining us. "I don't use Tivo or recording and I get to watch my shows when I want to."
"How?" I asked him.
"With my computer. There are a bunch of different websites you can go to to watch television when you want."
"Yeah, but how much does it cost?" my husband asked.
"Nothing. Free. As long as you have a decent Internet connection, you don't need cable or satellite to watch television shows."
Wow, I didn't know that. I began thinking about our way-too-high cable bill. And we don't have anything special, just basic.
We never realized it, but the hubby and I have been living in the 1970's. If we miss a television show when it's scheduled, we don't get to see it until it shows again in reruns. This used to be really an annoying prospect when you used to have to wait at least until the summer seasons for reruns to start. Not any more. Reruns are everywhere, and rather quickly. We never realized how low tech we were.
Someone pass me a Fanta please!
This site was recommended to me by my son. http://www.hulu.com/ There are many, many others, but I haven't checked them so I won't vouch for them. If I may suggest, before you try any sites, make sure your anti-virus and anti-malware is up to date and make sure your settings don't allow any sites to start running scripts or other programs without your permission. Why? Check out my blog "attack of the malware"
He reminded us that there was no recording it for watching it later, in those days. No dvd's, no dvdr's, no Tivo. If you wanted to watch a show back in the 1970's, you had to physically sit in front of the television, and watch it. You had to make arrangements before the show, to make sure that you would be able to be in front of the television at that time. Or you didn't get to see it. You got to hear about it later from friends or co workers.
"Ha!" said number three son joining us. "I don't use Tivo or recording and I get to watch my shows when I want to."
"How?" I asked him.
"With my computer. There are a bunch of different websites you can go to to watch television when you want."
"Yeah, but how much does it cost?" my husband asked.
"Nothing. Free. As long as you have a decent Internet connection, you don't need cable or satellite to watch television shows."
Wow, I didn't know that. I began thinking about our way-too-high cable bill. And we don't have anything special, just basic.
We never realized it, but the hubby and I have been living in the 1970's. If we miss a television show when it's scheduled, we don't get to see it until it shows again in reruns. This used to be really an annoying prospect when you used to have to wait at least until the summer seasons for reruns to start. Not any more. Reruns are everywhere, and rather quickly. We never realized how low tech we were.
Someone pass me a Fanta please!
This site was recommended to me by my son. http://www.hulu.com/ There are many, many others, but I haven't checked them so I won't vouch for them. If I may suggest, before you try any sites, make sure your anti-virus and anti-malware is up to date and make sure your settings don't allow any sites to start running scripts or other programs without your permission. Why? Check out my blog "attack of the malware"
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Tears of St Lawrence and Other Roman Musings
I can hardly believe that we are in the middle of August already! How can that be? Somehow, it feels as though we should still be in July and yet.... My Morning Glories are finally established and
greeting us every morning with these gorgeous blue blooms! On a day, where the sun shines as it only can in summer,
the combination of golden yellow summer sun and blue Morning Glory makes me feel happy. I don't think anyone could feel any other way!
This variety of Morning Glory is called "Heavenly Blue." What a perfect name, don't you think? I always thought that this color blue, must be the color of Mary, Mother of Jesus, mantle.
The weather for the beginning of this week kept threatening rain, and even when it didn't rain, the sky was cloudy, so that I couldn't see the sky that important night of August 12th, so we couldn't watch the "Tears of Saint Lawrence," also known as Perseid meteor shower. The reason this meteor show is called The Tears of Saint Lawrence is because they usually occur on, or very close to the Feast of Saint Lawrence which is August 10th.
I guess I have to accept that summer is just about over, even though the majority of my tomatoes are green. The dog days of summer, according to the
Farmer's Almanac extend from July 3 to August 11
We are now a few days past that. Obviously, despite the heat and despite my own desire for summer to continue....
Actually, what I am wishing for, I suddenly
realize, is not for the actual continuance of summer. My favorite time of year is Autumn, the season that directly follows Summer. What I wish to have continue is the lifestyle of Summer. It must be a throw back to my schooldays (who would think I could remember back that far?) when summer meant no school. No alarm clocks to get you up on time, no jumping out of bed to start the day, no living by the clock.
No matter my commitments of the day, if it's summer, I somehow feel freer than the I do during the rest of the days of the year. Does it make any sense what-so-ever? No. Having to be at a certain place, at a certain time means that you are living by the clock, no matter the season, no matter your state of mind.
The calendar says that we still have a good month left of the summer season, but it's not the same summer of July and not the same summer that we enjoyed, or tried to enjoy, during the dog days of summer. I should have realised that when I went out to go lightning bug hunting with my favorite little, and saw the amount of flashes decline day after day until soon, we saw none.
Now when I get up with my husband on his early mornings, it is no longer sunny like it was only a few weeks ago. It's not until he's left a little while, and I'm watching HLN with Robin Meade that the morning starts to get lighter. Why didn't I notice this sooner?
The curse of seeing, but not noticing!
Interested in reading more? Try these links:
Dog Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Days
St Lawrence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_of_Rome
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Why There's a Bag in Our Front Yard
"Why do we have an empty bag in the front yard?" my husband asked resignedly. You know that he is pretty used to my recyclable ways when he doesn't ask if I realize that there is garbage on our front yard.
"Because I'm waiting for it to rot away." I answer him with the bare facts.
"Will it?"
Now that is the big question, will it? I don't know. It's supposed to, after being exposed to the elements for a while. So far, it's been a week. I have it weighed down with potting soil on the inside, and the bag itself is located in the sunniest part of our yard. I know that, because that is where all of our grass has died.
So we'll see how the compostable bag does. If it does perform as promised, we might never eat any chips except SUN CHIPS in the compostable bag ever again.
On the subject of my blog not accepting comments, I've tried to follow the advice that a reader, Sherri, e-mailed me. So if you still have trouble with leaving comments, will you please e-mail me at momsince1980@yahoo.com and put BLOG in the subject line? Much thanks to Sherri for her advice.
More Mary Bennett blog Here http://www.connect.faithandfamilylive.com/profiles/blogs/in-search-of-peace
"Because I'm waiting for it to rot away." I answer him with the bare facts."Will it?"
Now that is the big question, will it? I don't know. It's supposed to, after being exposed to the elements for a while. So far, it's been a week. I have it weighed down with potting soil on the inside, and the bag itself is located in the sunniest part of our yard. I know that, because that is where all of our grass has died.
So we'll see how the compostable bag does. If it does perform as promised, we might never eat any chips except SUN CHIPS in the compostable bag ever again.
On the subject of my blog not accepting comments, I've tried to follow the advice that a reader, Sherri, e-mailed me. So if you still have trouble with leaving comments, will you please e-mail me at momsince1980@yahoo.com and put BLOG in the subject line? Much thanks to Sherri for her advice.
More Mary Bennett blog Here http://www.connect.faithandfamilylive.com/profiles/blogs/in-search-of-peace
Friday, August 6, 2010
Missing comments
I've just gotten a letter telling me that the person has tried to comment on my blog a number of times, but has been unable.
If this has happened to you also, please e-mail me at momsince1980@yahoo.com and put "BLOG" in the subject line.
I am so sorry if this has happened to you. I LOVE getting comments. And I'm at a loss for what to do to fix it?
If this has happened to you also, please e-mail me at momsince1980@yahoo.com and put "BLOG" in the subject line.
I am so sorry if this has happened to you. I LOVE getting comments. And I'm at a loss for what to do to fix it?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Movies Based on Real Life
Lately I've had a yen for watching movies based on real life. Regular readers of my blog know that my usual Netflix choices are documentaries, so watching movies based on real life isn't really much of a stretch for me.
I hate to say it, but I've been so disappointed! In the past few weeks, I've watched "American Gangster" and "Rescuing Dawn," two movies based on real life. Well, kind of sorta, which means actually, not really.
It's kind of hard to figure out what part is the real life? For American Gangster, for instance, there was a Frank Lucas, and he was married. His testimony did help bring down a corrupt faction of the NYC police, and a few criminals. He did go to jail, and his wife (who was not a Miss Puerto Rico, by the way) did leave the continental USA (with a daughter who is never mentioned in the movie) for Puerto Rico to get help from her family to be a single mom. It doesn't mention that Frank and Julie's marriage never dissolved because of the drug conviction, or any other convictions that Lucas had afterward. That's right, Lucas didn't go straight, although the movie sure makes it seem that way. Oh, and Julie? She was recently arrested in Puerto Rico on drug charges. Why Denzel Washington ever bought Lucas a Rolls Royce, I'll never know.
And then, there is the true story of Deiter Dengler in "Rescuing Dawn." Well, true....ish. This movie strays so far from the book (Escaping From Laos) and the truth, that the (at that time) only living survivors actually made videos on YouTube to tell the truth. YouTubeLink
The biggest divide between truth and fiction, one that is unforgivable, in my opinion, is the slandering of the name of a man, who very likely spent his dying day in a POW camp, well into the 1990's. This man is Eugene DeBruin, who was depicted in the movie as a space case, someone who folded under pressure and looked out only for himself; a sort of POW hippy. The truth was that DeBruin looked after his fellow POW's, shared his food, shared his blanket, and sacrificed his chance for freedom when a fellow POW was too sick to go on. His thanks for his humanitarianism is to spend his dying day as a POW (likely well into the 1990's, so well over 30 years) separated from his family forever, and to be portrayed as someone contemptible in a movie. Hardly fair.
My advice is to read the book, instead of watching "Rescuing Dawn." Regarding "American Gangster?" Just skip it!
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/352/what-happened-to-gene-debruin-how-hollywood-robbed-an-american-hero/
http://www.rescuedawnthetruth.com/
http://www.newcriminologist.com/article.asp?nid=2019
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1574283/20071114/story.jhtml
I hate to say it, but I've been so disappointed! In the past few weeks, I've watched "American Gangster" and "Rescuing Dawn," two movies based on real life. Well, kind of sorta, which means actually, not really.
It's kind of hard to figure out what part is the real life? For American Gangster, for instance, there was a Frank Lucas, and he was married. His testimony did help bring down a corrupt faction of the NYC police, and a few criminals. He did go to jail, and his wife (who was not a Miss Puerto Rico, by the way) did leave the continental USA (with a daughter who is never mentioned in the movie) for Puerto Rico to get help from her family to be a single mom. It doesn't mention that Frank and Julie's marriage never dissolved because of the drug conviction, or any other convictions that Lucas had afterward. That's right, Lucas didn't go straight, although the movie sure makes it seem that way. Oh, and Julie? She was recently arrested in Puerto Rico on drug charges. Why Denzel Washington ever bought Lucas a Rolls Royce, I'll never know.
And then, there is the true story of Deiter Dengler in "Rescuing Dawn." Well, true....ish. This movie strays so far from the book (Escaping From Laos) and the truth, that the (at that time) only living survivors actually made videos on YouTube to tell the truth. YouTubeLink
The biggest divide between truth and fiction, one that is unforgivable, in my opinion, is the slandering of the name of a man, who very likely spent his dying day in a POW camp, well into the 1990's. This man is Eugene DeBruin, who was depicted in the movie as a space case, someone who folded under pressure and looked out only for himself; a sort of POW hippy. The truth was that DeBruin looked after his fellow POW's, shared his food, shared his blanket, and sacrificed his chance for freedom when a fellow POW was too sick to go on. His thanks for his humanitarianism is to spend his dying day as a POW (likely well into the 1990's, so well over 30 years) separated from his family forever, and to be portrayed as someone contemptible in a movie. Hardly fair.
My advice is to read the book, instead of watching "Rescuing Dawn." Regarding "American Gangster?" Just skip it!
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/352/what-happened-to-gene-debruin-how-hollywood-robbed-an-american-hero/
http://www.rescuedawnthetruth.com/
http://www.newcriminologist.com/article.asp?nid=2019
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1574283/20071114/story.jhtml
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
When I feel .....nostalgic
Some catalogues arrive at your doorstep, just sooo beautiful
that I knew that the items inside were "good stuff." In fact I thought the catalogue was sooo pretty, that I copied it over for my blog so you could see it.
Sometimes, on a bright autumn day that can seem so lonely, or on a dark winter's day, I feel a little nostalgic for the family members that I know through the stories of other family members who have also since passed on.
I think about the Victorian and early turn of the century days (turn of the 20th century that is) that they lived in. I've been exposed to many of the items that were once theirs. I've heard the stories of the simpler, and yet just as fulfilling days, that they lived in.
I wonder, if I was alive then, what would my life be like? Would I be married, or would I be a spinster woman? Would I live in a Victorian house, or what my Grandfather used to call "a little bungalow?" If I was a spinster, would I live with my family? Or would I have been able to follow my dream of being a teacher, and I'd live in a few rooms of a Victorian rooming house? Would I live in town, or out?
Apparently, these musings are not unique to me, although may-be the way these musings come about might be. One day though, I was talking to some friends online, and they were gushing about a catalogue that some of them had just received, and some were still waiting for. The "haves" were raving, the "have-nots" were impatient. I just had to see this catalogue, and they gave me the website to go to where I could order my own catalogue for free. (The link is at the bottom of this page, so that you can order yours for free too)
I waited for what seemed like forever for the Victorian Trading Company to arrive. Before it arrived however, I warned my family that when it did arrive, I would be taking the afternoon off to browse through it's luscious pages. I even bought a family sized, frozen dinner for supper the night of it's arrival.
And then the big day came! The catalogue cover was sooo pretty; it could have been a piece of art! The paper was glossy and substantial, good thing, because I paged through it often. On the walk from the mailbox to my living room, I wouldn't let myself open the catalogue; I wanted everything to be just perfect. I started water in my electric kettle and rinsed out my teapot. I took the phone off the hook. And I got out my favorite indulgence,
my Stella Dora Anisette Sponge cookies. When everything was set out next to my camel -back, love seat, I opened the catalogue.
Ooohs! Aaahs! issued unconsciously from my lips. I was transported back in time to clothing that was beautiful, and simple enough that I would wear it today. I began to decorate two different living spaces in my imagination; one was the little cottage my husband and I will someday occupy, the other was the room I would occupy in a Victorian house if I was a spinster lady at the turn of the century.
This chair would definitely be in my room if I was a Spinster Lady at the turn of the century. What luxury to return home to! A chair during the day, and a comfy bed at night!
This comfy floral chair would be mine in our little cottage in the future, while the more substantial looking leather, wing back chair would be my husbands. He'd
sit in his chair and do crossword puzzles and I'd crochet
while we listened to the radio.
This lamp reminds me of one of the favorite animals in my son's childhood stories, and the acorn reminds me of my favorite season of the year, autumn. So this lamp would be on a table next to my comfy chair.
While this lamp for reading would stand by my husband's chair to shed light on those tricky crossword puzzles, or as he read a book to me while I crocheted.
Sometimes I would want to write in my journal or a letter to my favorite cousin, so I'd pick a dip pen and appropriate nib from this wood pen case. What a luxurious feeling to be picking the size of my pen nib, and the color of the ink.
I would write my thoughts and impressions in this clever little journal with my dip pen. I don't have this book, but from the quality of things that I have ordered, I am sure this book is well bound, and the paper creamy, soft and a joy to write in!
This trash can is so beautiful, that I'd have it in my living room just as an accent piece. It reminds me of the hamper that my grandmother used to have. A pretty trash can is hard to find nowadays, where trashcans are usually plastic, utilitarian and ugly.
A glance at this imaginative clock, would warn me that it is time to turn in since we aren't "night owls" ourselves. I would remember the stories my mother told me about her youth, and the owls that would fly out from the abandoned barn from the property behind her family home.
So you see now, just from these few examples I've shown you what a dreamy, wonderful catalog this is! Just looking at it on my tea break makes me feel more calm after a crazy morning.
Permission:
Hi Mary,
Thank you for your inquiry. You are welcome to feature our company in your blog.
Thanks for your interest!
Kind Regards,
Sarah E. Rouchka
Marketing Director
Victorian Trading Company
15600 W. 99th Street
Lenexa, Kansas 66219
913-438-3995, x 124
sarah@victorianpaperco.com
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Bloggers beware!
There is a rumor going around the net. Like all rumors, I don't know if it is entirely true, a little bit true, or a whole lot of urban legend - entirely NOT true and designed to either scare or make conversation.
About a week ago, a bunch of blogs were closed down, wiped right off the web without any warning. Supposedly, these blogs were doing naughty things like offering down loads of music, movies, tv shows and more that they didn't have permission to do. Observers thought, hmmm, that is a lot of blogs ......
And then came the ominous words, copyrighted materials. What were these copyrighted materials? Movies, songs, videos. Books? Pictures?
Aw c'mon! You might say. Pictures, on my little blog?
Well, if you look at my blog, and at a lot of other blogs, you'll see a copyright notice that warns you not to use my writing or my pictures without asking my permission first. I'm serious. I put time and effort into my writing, into the pictures I take and how I edit them. I don't do this for my living (yet), but I can really imagine how those who do, feel.
On my blogs about pollution, I used pictures of the Great Pacific Trash Patch because I don't have those pictures myself. I made sure that I credited where I got the pictures, and under the post I added, "If you own these pictures, and you want them removed, please contact me and they will be removed immediately." Good enough? May-be not.
So should bloggers be scared to death and start removing pictures from their blogs if they don't have permission? I don't think so, but I do think that bloggers need to be more careful about their pictures. I know that there are places like Big Stock Photo's where you can get free images if you join their site, and other pictures for $1 or less. If you only use one paid picture per month, that is a measly $12 per year.
Or you could contact me, and ask if you can use mine.
About a week ago, a bunch of blogs were closed down, wiped right off the web without any warning. Supposedly, these blogs were doing naughty things like offering down loads of music, movies, tv shows and more that they didn't have permission to do. Observers thought, hmmm, that is a lot of blogs ......
And then came the ominous words, copyrighted materials. What were these copyrighted materials? Movies, songs, videos. Books? Pictures?
Aw c'mon! You might say. Pictures, on my little blog?
Well, if you look at my blog, and at a lot of other blogs, you'll see a copyright notice that warns you not to use my writing or my pictures without asking my permission first. I'm serious. I put time and effort into my writing, into the pictures I take and how I edit them. I don't do this for my living (yet), but I can really imagine how those who do, feel.
On my blogs about pollution, I used pictures of the Great Pacific Trash Patch because I don't have those pictures myself. I made sure that I credited where I got the pictures, and under the post I added, "If you own these pictures, and you want them removed, please contact me and they will be removed immediately." Good enough? May-be not.
So should bloggers be scared to death and start removing pictures from their blogs if they don't have permission? I don't think so, but I do think that bloggers need to be more careful about their pictures. I know that there are places like Big Stock Photo's where you can get free images if you join their site, and other pictures for $1 or less. If you only use one paid picture per month, that is a measly $12 per year.
Or you could contact me, and ask if you can use mine.
Monday, July 26, 2010
On a good day
One of the biggest problems I have trying to be frugal is the annoying time of day, that most women know as "supper," or if you are trying to be fancy, "dinner." I think you can ask any mother, and the question she most dreads, and is most consistently asked is "What's for supper Mom?"
There is probably only one question that we dread more, which is "Guess what fell out of my mouth today?" Thankfully, that question isn't asked all that often, and not by every kid.
Thank God for small favors!
Back to dinner, or if you rather, supper. Two names, same dilemma. On a good day, I will have gotten a piece of meat out the day before, actually two. When I'm being really conscientious, I get out a piece of beef and chicken out every morning, so that every day there is already a piece of meat thawed and ready to be cooked that night. Now the key word there you'll notice is, "good" day. On a good day. Not "every" day, not even "most" day or "some" days. I said on a good day.
On a sort of good day, the meat will be kind of thawed and can be popped into the microwave to get rid of the last vestiges of crunchiness, also known as ice.
On a bad day, that meat is still frozen so hard, I could use it to drive nails! With a little fore thought, I could have thrown it into the slow cooker that morning. That is, if I had a little fore thought. On a bad day, I have no thought, never mind fore thought.
That is when my determination to stay frugal goes right out the window. Usually, the first resolution to the problem is the most expensive because the result is instant; we go out for fast food. Yes, unlike a great majority of the population, we don't go out to eat. I refuse to ever be that un-frugal. When we go to a restaurant, it is after we have planned the when and the where, never a quick fix. Although getting fast food or take out is never, in my opinion, frugal.
Our family loves Chinese take out. When we get take out, and determine to be frugal, the bill is never below $50.
The tab for McDonalds and Burger King, always just this side of $50.
It doesn't take an economist to realize that not having only a few dinners ready can really shoot a hole into ones financial boat, and sink it!
So, I've thought of some remedies:
1. I have a slow cooker, I need to find some recipes that everyone likes. My pot roast recipe is a thumbs down for my family, so if anyone has a recipe for using in the crock pot, please share!
2. I need to once again remember the law of two, that is, when I cook a meal, make enough for two meals, and freeze one for later use. I have the vacuum sealer, what I need is the magic marker, and find a place that I can put it so no one "borrows" -imagine air quotes there - it.
There is probably only one question that we dread more, which is "Guess what fell out of my mouth today?" Thankfully, that question isn't asked all that often, and not by every kid.
Thank God for small favors!
Back to dinner, or if you rather, supper. Two names, same dilemma. On a good day, I will have gotten a piece of meat out the day before, actually two. When I'm being really conscientious, I get out a piece of beef and chicken out every morning, so that every day there is already a piece of meat thawed and ready to be cooked that night. Now the key word there you'll notice is, "good" day. On a good day. Not "every" day, not even "most" day or "some" days. I said on a good day.
On a sort of good day, the meat will be kind of thawed and can be popped into the microwave to get rid of the last vestiges of crunchiness, also known as ice.
On a bad day, that meat is still frozen so hard, I could use it to drive nails! With a little fore thought, I could have thrown it into the slow cooker that morning. That is, if I had a little fore thought. On a bad day, I have no thought, never mind fore thought.
That is when my determination to stay frugal goes right out the window. Usually, the first resolution to the problem is the most expensive because the result is instant; we go out for fast food. Yes, unlike a great majority of the population, we don't go out to eat. I refuse to ever be that un-frugal. When we go to a restaurant, it is after we have planned the when and the where, never a quick fix. Although getting fast food or take out is never, in my opinion, frugal.
Our family loves Chinese take out. When we get take out, and determine to be frugal, the bill is never below $50.
The tab for McDonalds and Burger King, always just this side of $50.
It doesn't take an economist to realize that not having only a few dinners ready can really shoot a hole into ones financial boat, and sink it!
So, I've thought of some remedies:
1. I have a slow cooker, I need to find some recipes that everyone likes. My pot roast recipe is a thumbs down for my family, so if anyone has a recipe for using in the crock pot, please share!
2. I need to once again remember the law of two, that is, when I cook a meal, make enough for two meals, and freeze one for later use. I have the vacuum sealer, what I need is the magic marker, and find a place that I can put it so no one "borrows" -imagine air quotes there - it.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The X-Shot, camera on a stick!
This may be my first paid post, the key word being may-be. May-be ..if I make sure that you understand that if you click on my link and buy an XShot, I will make a commission. If you go to the X Shot site without using my link, I will not make a commission.
If you haven't read my Product Disclaimer link, please read it now. If you don't feel like clicking on it, here is my disclaimer, I will never say that I own or have used a product it I haven't. And I will never say that I like a product or think it's a good idea if I really don't think it's such a good deal.
Which brings us to the X Shot. I'm blogging about it because I went to the products website not knowing the first thing about it, and was impressed.
The site had a ton of written testimonials from users that loved it, and had video testimonials from customers using it to make their testimonials! That was a good first step.
So what is the X Shot? Well, if you've been on FaceBook or any of the other social media sites that are so popular, have you noticed all the Profile Pics of people that have them looking into the camera, and to the side of the picture, you see their arm? They try to hide it, but unless they take the time to crop or edit the pic, the arm is there. The reason is because they are holding the camera at arm's length away from them to take their picture.
And that is where the X Shot comes in. The X-Shot is a sturdy, reinforced metal rod that attaches securely to your camera. It telescopes out to 37 inches (collapses to a compact 9 inches so it's pretty easy to stick in most pockets or purses) so you can hold your camera far enough away to take either a group shot (up to 5 people) or one of you with scenery behind you. And you're not extending your arm out, so there is no arm to try to hide in the picture.
Need more specifics, like will it work with your camera? The answer is most probably, as long as your camera is a digital. Your camera can't weigh more than a pound and a quarter. Most Point and Shoot digitals don't. Now a DSLR, you'd really have to check, especially if you think about the weight of some of the lenses. There has to be a tripod mount on the camera and you have to have a self-timing mode.
Did you check your camera for these specifics? Okay, attach your camera to the XShot using the tripod mount. Set your camera for auto-focus. Set the camera to self-timer. Extend the camera out so you get an idea of what you want to take the picture of. Activate the self timer, extend the camera in front of you and wait for the camera to take the picture. Now review the picture on your camera. You can make adjustments to where you are standing and what background you want in the picture, if needed.
The more I think about the X-Shot, the more I think I like it!! You can take a picture of the rare time the whole family is together, without relying on a stranger to 1 happen by and agree to take your picture and 2 rely on him to be able to take a decent picture with your camera. From experience, I've learned there are a lot of people who do not understand any camera except may-be, their own.
There are a few different models of the X Shot, some even for use with your phone! So if you're interested, make sure you go to their site by clicking on my link, and check them out!
If you haven't read my Product Disclaimer link, please read it now. If you don't feel like clicking on it, here is my disclaimer, I will never say that I own or have used a product it I haven't. And I will never say that I like a product or think it's a good idea if I really don't think it's such a good deal.
Which brings us to the X Shot. I'm blogging about it because I went to the products website not knowing the first thing about it, and was impressed.
The site had a ton of written testimonials from users that loved it, and had video testimonials from customers using it to make their testimonials! That was a good first step.
So what is the X Shot? Well, if you've been on FaceBook or any of the other social media sites that are so popular, have you noticed all the Profile Pics of people that have them looking into the camera, and to the side of the picture, you see their arm? They try to hide it, but unless they take the time to crop or edit the pic, the arm is there. The reason is because they are holding the camera at arm's length away from them to take their picture.
And that is where the X Shot comes in. The X-Shot is a sturdy, reinforced metal rod that attaches securely to your camera. It telescopes out to 37 inches (collapses to a compact 9 inches so it's pretty easy to stick in most pockets or purses) so you can hold your camera far enough away to take either a group shot (up to 5 people) or one of you with scenery behind you. And you're not extending your arm out, so there is no arm to try to hide in the picture.
Need more specifics, like will it work with your camera? The answer is most probably, as long as your camera is a digital. Your camera can't weigh more than a pound and a quarter. Most Point and Shoot digitals don't. Now a DSLR, you'd really have to check, especially if you think about the weight of some of the lenses. There has to be a tripod mount on the camera and you have to have a self-timing mode.
Did you check your camera for these specifics? Okay, attach your camera to the XShot using the tripod mount. Set your camera for auto-focus. Set the camera to self-timer. Extend the camera out so you get an idea of what you want to take the picture of. Activate the self timer, extend the camera in front of you and wait for the camera to take the picture. Now review the picture on your camera. You can make adjustments to where you are standing and what background you want in the picture, if needed.
The more I think about the X-Shot, the more I think I like it!! You can take a picture of the rare time the whole family is together, without relying on a stranger to 1 happen by and agree to take your picture and 2 rely on him to be able to take a decent picture with your camera. From experience, I've learned there are a lot of people who do not understand any camera except may-be, their own.
There are a few different models of the X Shot, some even for use with your phone! So if you're interested, make sure you go to their site by clicking on my link, and check them out!
Annon
Whenever I get a comment that is from Anonymous, I always wonder. Most times, Anonymous simply means that someone has something nasty to say, but they don't want to take responsibility for it so they don't sign their real name. I guess if I really cared, I could trace back their DNS and find out who they are. But I'd have to care enough, which I don't.
Most the time, their comments are just nasty and undirected toward any of my posts. The person just feels like saying something nasty or profane.
My advice to other blog masters that get these remarks is to just not worry about them. It's the reason why we have our blogs set to moderation, to keep out the riffraff. It truly isn't a response to what you've written. In Internet parlance, these people are known as trolls. Don't feed them.
Then there are the other letters that are signed by Anonymous. They are written by people that have interesting things to say, but don't want to use their names because the subject or comment is too personal. It might hurt someone if names are used. I prefer to have people use their name, but I do understand.
I guess that is the lot of having many readers.
Most the time, their comments are just nasty and undirected toward any of my posts. The person just feels like saying something nasty or profane.
My advice to other blog masters that get these remarks is to just not worry about them. It's the reason why we have our blogs set to moderation, to keep out the riffraff. It truly isn't a response to what you've written. In Internet parlance, these people are known as trolls. Don't feed them.
Then there are the other letters that are signed by Anonymous. They are written by people that have interesting things to say, but don't want to use their names because the subject or comment is too personal. It might hurt someone if names are used. I prefer to have people use their name, but I do understand.
I guess that is the lot of having many readers.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
How To Write To Me
I don't mind people e-mailing me, as long as they put "Blog" in the message space, so I know where the e-mail is coming from and don't dismiss it as spam. And I don't mind people who write to me using my blog. I have it on moderation, so I have to approve the message before it goes on my blog. That protects my readers from nastiness and spam.
And if someone asks me to please, not publish their post on my blog, I listen.
I really love the complimentary letters I get. :)
I really love the ones that agree with me, up to a point, and then ask me to think further than I might find comfortable. I like looking at things from a new perspective, even if I might still not agree.
I really love the letters that suggest a new topic. Who doesn't hit a dry spell now and then?
I even like the letters that don't agree with me in the least, because 1. the person is still reading my blog, 2. I get to look at something from a totally new perspective that I might never have looked at it from, 3. they bothered to write instead of swearing off my blog forever.
But when you write to me, I expect you to follow a few simple rules:
1. When you don't agree with my opinion or view, no matter how strongly, please don't call me names.
I would find this a totally acceptable letter:
Dear Mary,
I totally disagree with your opinion. I think you are being a stupid socialist. Do you realize .........blah blah.
2. Please do not use profanity, cuss words and more than anything else, blasphemy. "You are so totally stupid about ........" is a lot more acceptable than "You are so f++**ing stupid about..."
3. If you didn't like the subject of my post, a simple "I hated this post." works fine, and then you could suggest a topic you'd like better. Okay?
Thanks!
And if someone asks me to please, not publish their post on my blog, I listen.
I really love the complimentary letters I get. :)
I really love the ones that agree with me, up to a point, and then ask me to think further than I might find comfortable. I like looking at things from a new perspective, even if I might still not agree.
I really love the letters that suggest a new topic. Who doesn't hit a dry spell now and then?
I even like the letters that don't agree with me in the least, because 1. the person is still reading my blog, 2. I get to look at something from a totally new perspective that I might never have looked at it from, 3. they bothered to write instead of swearing off my blog forever.
But when you write to me, I expect you to follow a few simple rules:
1. When you don't agree with my opinion or view, no matter how strongly, please don't call me names.
I would find this a totally acceptable letter:
Dear Mary,
I totally disagree with your opinion. I think you are being a stupid socialist. Do you realize .........blah blah.
2. Please do not use profanity, cuss words and more than anything else, blasphemy. "You are so totally stupid about ........" is a lot more acceptable than "You are so f++**ing stupid about..."
3. If you didn't like the subject of my post, a simple "I hated this post." works fine, and then you could suggest a topic you'd like better. Okay?
Thanks!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Blur
At first, I thought it was just the tv set having an interruption in it's reception. Then I thought it was my eyesight. After all, I am over 30, well over. But I am persistent, so I asked those viewing the television with me. They assured me, it wasn't my eyes. It really was there.
The blurrr.
You might not know off hand what the blurr is, but I'm sure you've seen it. Watch your television programing for a group of teens together and try to read the logos on their t-shirts. Most probably you'll be able to read the saying on the t-shirts, but you won't be able to read any of the logos or emblems. They'll be blurred out.
It's a copyright thing.
So even if you paid the money to have the famous Coca Cola script on your clothing, if you are on camera, on television, the script will be blurred out. A bit silly, I think.
Of course, if you happen to be a famous movie director, companies will pay good money for their product to show up unobtrusively in the movie. Reese's Pieces in the movie ET comes to mind for me, but their are others. For example, if the characters are drinking Pepsi, no one else will be drinking Mountain Dew.
I can understand that if there is a picture of someone in a car crash, auto companies wouldn't want their car logos to show. Unless of course the car shows extra safety in a crash. Or you wouldn't want the picture of a drunk on the street, and the logo of your brewery clearly visible. But for other benign situations? In my opinion, if I've paid for your company logo on my clothing, that should show up in any pictures of me wearing it.
Now that I've told you about the blurr, have you noticed it? I bet you will now.
The blurrr.
You might not know off hand what the blurr is, but I'm sure you've seen it. Watch your television programing for a group of teens together and try to read the logos on their t-shirts. Most probably you'll be able to read the saying on the t-shirts, but you won't be able to read any of the logos or emblems. They'll be blurred out.
It's a copyright thing.
So even if you paid the money to have the famous Coca Cola script on your clothing, if you are on camera, on television, the script will be blurred out. A bit silly, I think.
Of course, if you happen to be a famous movie director, companies will pay good money for their product to show up unobtrusively in the movie. Reese's Pieces in the movie ET comes to mind for me, but their are others. For example, if the characters are drinking Pepsi, no one else will be drinking Mountain Dew.
I can understand that if there is a picture of someone in a car crash, auto companies wouldn't want their car logos to show. Unless of course the car shows extra safety in a crash. Or you wouldn't want the picture of a drunk on the street, and the logo of your brewery clearly visible. But for other benign situations? In my opinion, if I've paid for your company logo on my clothing, that should show up in any pictures of me wearing it.
Now that I've told you about the blurr, have you noticed it? I bet you will now.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Ice Tea and Lemonade
phosphoric acid benzdate potassium sorbate EDTA
It is a hot, hot, hot day, so I made home made iced tea and lemonade. I can hear everyone groan, but really, it is hardly harder than mixing up a pitcher of Crystal Lite, Kool-Aide or any other number of commercial drinks. Above are some of the chemicals that you will avoid.
First - you will need two separate pitchers that hold a half gallon
Ingredients: tea (decaffeinated, caffeinated or both), water, sugar (honey, no artificial unless you are diabetic or hypoglycemic), lemon juice (check the bottle, I was appalled to learn that mine had Benzate in it. I won't be buying it again)
For lemonade, I mix a third of a cup of lemon juice to a scant third of a cup of sugar in the bottom of the pitcher until the sugar is dissolved. Then fill the pitcher with water and mix again. Taste it. You might like yours more tart or sweeter, so you have to adjust your measurements. Refrigerate, serve in a glass with ice, if you like. And feel virtuous thinking of all the chemicals and packaging that you have avoided.
Iced Tea - In a large tea pot, (holds about a quart) put in five tea bags and pour boiling hot water over the bags. Let steep about a half an hour. Later, you can get creative about what you brew, but for now, keep it simple with black tea, caffeinateted or decaffeinated. Pour the tea into the bottom of the pitcher and add a scant third cup of sugar and a scant third cup of lemon juice (if desired) to the tea, and mix until the sugar is dissolved. Then add ice cubes to the tea mixture up to the brim. When tea is cooled, serve.
The fun thing with ice tea is that you can make your own brew. Try green tea. Try replacing one of the black tea bags with a lemon balm tea bag. Add a mint tea bag. Replace all the black tea bags with lemon balm tea and one peppermint tea bag.
Finish by feeling virtuous about all the chemicals you have avoided, the extra packaging that you have avoided and making something from scratch!
It is a hot, hot, hot day, so I made home made iced tea and lemonade. I can hear everyone groan, but really, it is hardly harder than mixing up a pitcher of Crystal Lite, Kool-Aide or any other number of commercial drinks. Above are some of the chemicals that you will avoid.
First - you will need two separate pitchers that hold a half gallon
Ingredients: tea (decaffeinated, caffeinated or both), water, sugar (honey, no artificial unless you are diabetic or hypoglycemic), lemon juice (check the bottle, I was appalled to learn that mine had Benzate in it. I won't be buying it again)
For lemonade, I mix a third of a cup of lemon juice to a scant third of a cup of sugar in the bottom of the pitcher until the sugar is dissolved. Then fill the pitcher with water and mix again. Taste it. You might like yours more tart or sweeter, so you have to adjust your measurements. Refrigerate, serve in a glass with ice, if you like. And feel virtuous thinking of all the chemicals and packaging that you have avoided.
Iced Tea - In a large tea pot, (holds about a quart) put in five tea bags and pour boiling hot water over the bags. Let steep about a half an hour. Later, you can get creative about what you brew, but for now, keep it simple with black tea, caffeinateted or decaffeinated. Pour the tea into the bottom of the pitcher and add a scant third cup of sugar and a scant third cup of lemon juice (if desired) to the tea, and mix until the sugar is dissolved. Then add ice cubes to the tea mixture up to the brim. When tea is cooled, serve.
The fun thing with ice tea is that you can make your own brew. Try green tea. Try replacing one of the black tea bags with a lemon balm tea bag. Add a mint tea bag. Replace all the black tea bags with lemon balm tea and one peppermint tea bag.
Finish by feeling virtuous about all the chemicals you have avoided, the extra packaging that you have avoided and making something from scratch!
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