Waiting for an Answer.....

Kathy's Musings and Frugal Trenches

I have tried to reach you both by email, but as of yet, have been unable to do so.
I'm looking forward to your responses to my emails. Thanks.

A Fun Way to Start the Day!

I still cannot get the right procedure down to add a link to my blog. Sometimes it works,sometimes not. Let's hope it works today.You may need to copy and paste it into your browser.
I ran across this clip from an email I received,from UTube, and thought it was the cutest thing.And the little guy doing the talking is so funny with it all. Check it out.



http://algonquincanoeing.blogspot.com/2009/03/rick-mercer-visits-algonquin-park.html

Count Me In!

http://notesfromthefrugaltrenches.com/2010/10/29/help-a-family-friday-china-kidz-a-christmas-project/#comment-14284


I just added my name to the list of folks who are willing to help out with the Christmas Project offered through Frugal Trenches.It is a good feeling knowing you are helping a child who desperately needs it.I sponsored an Indian child for many years through another program. Writing letters and sending little gifts.I know I enjoy getting some little something in the mail on occasion,whether it be a letter or gift. These children may be too small now, but they will grow and hopefully, one day soon,will know how you cared about them.

Wood Cutting Time!

There's been lots of wood cutting going on around our place lately,too.Pop usually cuts the bad trees on a neighbor's farm. The two of them share the work, and the wood. That works out good for both, since we have no trees on our little piece of ground,and the neighbor doesn't get around as good as he once did,plus he has lots of woods on his property. Another neighbor gave us all the old lumber from his wind damaged barn.It was really dry and cured,so it is excellent for quick fires these chilly mornings. Wood is one thing we never run short of.Pop sees to that. We have electric heat and AC, but we use the furnace very little during the cold winter months, unless the fire goes out during the night,but that's rare. Pop has the fire building down to a science. He knows his wood.He was a logger at one time. He knows which wood holds better than others.Some burn quick and don't keep fire all night. Others smolder along slowly.There is an art to controlling the dampers,too. He has tried teaching me. I try,but I still have a lot to learn. Hopefully, I won't have to take care of the fire building any ways soon.Now that we have a basement, it works out much better.The block walls retain heat all day, and when the fire goes out during the day,with these warmer evenings we are having now,the house stays warm until he can build another fire,when and if it's needed.Soon we will be keeping fire around the clock.But we're ready for it.Pop has enough wood piled on the carport to last a while, if it gets very rough this winter.Let's hope we don't have any more ice storms,but then we're ready for that,too. We have a nice big generator, ready and waiting.So bring it on,Mother Nature.Meals cooked on the wood stove ain't half bad!

Too Little,Too Late?

I am 62 years old and have grown up composting and recycling. It is second nature, like breathing, to me. After reading some of the posts, to my husband this morning, we got in a huge discussion on the fact that it's almost too little, too late. The recycling done by the few folks who are doing so, is not a drop in the bucket, compared to the huge factories that send tons of materials to the land fills on a daily basis, instead of being sent to be recycled. My husband worked for many years for companies where he saw it first hand, and even participated in the bulldozing which covered the dump sites. He feels the small amount of recycling I do in our home is worthless, on account of seeing the things he has. He feels my efforts are in vain, and are a waste of time.I wash and bag every piece of recyclable material that comes through our home and deliver it 25-30 miles to what I feel is a reputable recycling organization.They meet me at the door and take my materials inside where they have a crew waiting to sort it and send it on big trucks to larger towns where they have the set up to better utilize it.So many folks in our country are too lazy to bother with recycling.
And, yes,I do agree with one of the comments to my previous post, in that the products we buy are "junk". Years ago, you could buy an appliance and have it for twenty years. My parents had a refrigerator which they purchased in about 1950, and when I left home and got a job,and married in 1966, I thought they needed a nice, new, prettier one, so I talked Mom into getting rid of the "old" refrigerator,which was still in good working order,at the time, to make room for the newer,prettier one. The new one lasted only 4 years.The older one continued working for several more years. My home burned 3 years ago,and we installed all new appliances. Within 2 years, the microwave went out, and the cost of repairing it was nearly as much as a new one. We bought a new one to go in it's place. The old one sits on the porch,looks like new, but is worthless.Why is this allowed to happen?Hopefully, I can donate it to an appliance repair school for training purposes.I feel the marketing people figured out that if they make appliances that solid and sound, they would not get enough resells from these poor folks.That spells greed to me.They could care less if already struggling families can or cannot afford a new fridge in 4-5 years. All they care about is the almighty dollar they're putting in their pocket.Now many of our tools,appliances,clothing,etc. are made in other countries.Cheaper labor is a big reason for moving our factories to other countries.Again,greed enters into the equation, but much of the reason,too,I feel, is because so many American people have become to lazy and complacent to work.Good jobs are hard to find nowadays, but folks who really want to work, will find work. It may not be the ideal job they once had, but they will find work of some kind to carry them over until,hopefully,the economy bounces back, if it ever does.
The politicians in Washington can bicker and squabble to the end of time, as I'm sure they will, but the problems in our country, are not going to be solved during the four year tenure of any one man.Especially since that one man does not have the power the world thinks he has. In many cases, his wishes,whether they be favorable or not, are overruled by Congress, in one way or another.Congress,as is most of our government, is a complicated thing, and made more so by the dishonesty of so many folks in powerful places.It seems we are at their mercy, and becoming more so, day by day.Our need to be more self sufficient and self reliant is of utmost importance.More now than at any other time.I, for one, am working harder, toward that very goal.I think we all need to wake up and take heed, before it's too late, although it may be too late already, to turn things around.We need to spend less,make more of what we need and use,utilize what we already have,recycle more,find more wholesome and less expensive entertainment,help our neighbors by bartering and sharing more.These are only a few ways we can begin to make things better.It's a long hard road, but our once great nation was built by hard working folks,rolling up their sleeves and doing these same things. They struggled and survived and built a strong nation.Surely we can do the same,once again.

These are my opinions only. I don't claim to know much about politics, but I am smart enough to know things are not going well, and we each need to do what we can to change it.

This verse may not be worded accurately,but you get the idea.

If you always do,what you've always done,You'll always get what you've always had.

Living With Less!

Every since I began blogging, this has been the underlying goal for most bloggers in other countries. Tonight is the first time I have heard it mentioned in the news media in my country. Many of the folks I know,have been living pretty close to the bone all their life, while others don't have a clue as to how to live with less.I think more folks in the USA need to take this challenge and hopefully it will catch on and start a wave as it has in other countries.It is my opinion that the USA is one of the most wasteful countries on the planet.You can drive down the road, city or country, on garbage collection day, and see what others are discarding. Lots of times it's things that are better than what I have been using on a daily basis.It makes one sick to think people are so wasteful.And many times, these are the folks who are getting government checks of some sort, in the mail each month. I think they need to be held accountable to someone for their wasteful ways.Maybe the news folks could travel around with a camera,and expose these folks by showing them on their news program. Maybe by embarrassing them in front of the world,it would help to wake them up.We are burying ourselves in our own garbage.These same folks,too,are the ones who refuse to recycle.For those of us who are living on less,recycling,and conserving,it seems as though we are just spinning our wheels, trying to make this a better world to live in.Unless more people start pulling in the same direction, we will all lose.

Another Long Day!

Today was a very long day. The time change was not the only hurtle. We had both grandchildren.They were on their best behavior today, since their Dad had come down on them pretty hard about all the sibling fighting. I worry they will cripple each other at times, but I know it is mostly just something they do.They do hurt one another at times, but I tell them not to come crying when it happens, since they won't listen when I tell them not to do it.They get such pleasure out of "picking" at each other.Nevertheless,we had a very busy day.

First off we went to the local restaurant for breakfast with friends. I had bought some little turkeys at the auction, and I wanted to share a few with the restaurant folks. They fit on a little stick and go in the flower arrangements on each table. They gobble occasionally. There was no way to control their gobble either. They just gobble whenever. We have yet to figure out how.No batteries needed. I broke one open and only found a few little wires and such.There was a paper pull tab that had to be removed in order for them to gobble, but then they were on their own. They are so cute. I bought 48 of them with the plan to use them in my little Fall centerpieces I am making. I can't wait to get to that.

We got the kids at 10:00. First off the bat,Leah wanted to make a cake for when the coffee drinkers dropped by. She loves to have get togethers. She is old enough to make the coffee now, and sometimes they tip her.I found out today, that is part of the reason she wants to wait on them.We called the good friends with whom we had just eaten breakfast, and told them we would be having a little gathering at 4:00.They come by for coffee now and then anyway, but Leah like to call folks and announce "our party".She had her Aunt Rhonda thinking we really were having a party, and she was getting upset that she had not been invited. Once that was cleared up and the cake was baked, she had to put sprinkles on it. She sprinkles everything possible when we cook.We have all the special colored sprinkles for every holiday.I figure if that helps her take interest in cooking, I'm for it.Oh yes, and we cooked spaghetti. That's her favorite food when visiting us.She could care less if anything else is cooked,but she does prefer Prego Spaghetti sauce.She did try chocolate pudding today, but decided it wasn't her favorite food.I didn't have instant on hand today, and I think that's what she's use to..

Leah and I cleaned Pop's "pouting room" getting it ready for company. It is never presentable when company drops in, and I am so embarrassed for him, although he could care less. He offered to have the company in the house today,AFTER we cleaned his garage,when he never wants company to come in the house. It's always,Bring coffee to the garage,so, today, it's coffee in the clean garage. (He likes being amongst his "stuff",but I'd like company to come into the house, once in a while, so we can sit amongst my pretty "stuff".)

Five year old John did his usual things while Leah and I were about our girlish duties.He watches SpongeBob, plays his games on the computer, eats an occasional bowl of cereal, runs circles around the farm,plays on the rock pile, then on the dirt pile,plays with the cats.I think he's outgrown his nap. It was never mentioned today.And when the cake was done, he sneaked in the kitchen and ate the entire heart out of one layer.It was a good thing we baked two layers. Company would have had coffee with strawberries, but no cake.

We spent some time today,with Ellie Mae, the pet chicken. We have been trying to get her use to the other chickens, so we can put her in the pen with them. We don't want them pecking her to death after raising her like we have.She is such a pet. She'll follow me forever hoping I'll break over and give her a pouch of her favorite kitten food, and I usually do.Our pets are all so spoiled. It's a good thing we only have a few.The new Beagle,Fred,wasn't working out, so Pop gave him to a good friend who is much younger.Hopefully Fred will get to do some rabbit hunting after all.The wood cutting has worn Pop down a bit this year,and he felt he couldn't handle all the walking involved when hunting rabbits.We know our friend will give Fred a good home.

Pop's fell asleep in front of the TV, and I am beat, so it's off to beddy bye for me. I hope all had an equally enjoyable and relaxing Sunday.Good Night All!

My Friend Is Home.

My friend called me this morning. She was about 50 miles from her destination, at that time. She should be home by now. Her faith has gotten her home safely. I wouldn't dare make that trip alone, much less under the conditions she had to endure. She is an amazing lady. I wish her well in getting settled there once more. She had lived there for eight years before, so possibly she has some friends and connections with the right folks who can help her to get things set up once again. It has to be hard being a widow, having to make so many decisions alone.She is very confident her faith will carry her through,and I am convinced it will,indeed.

The Home Stretch!

My new friend, the one tough lady I've been blogging about, is in Arizona now.She called Thursday night to check in with us. Hopefully she will make it home this weekend. She says she is getting really tired and weary. I can only imagine. At 73 years of age, pulling an older,overloaded truck and trailer for 2200 miles through that rugged country,fromCentral Kentucky to Southern California.She needs an award of some kind. She is amazing for tackling that trip to begin with. She did say the roads were much better than she remembered, but the hills were worse than she remembered. I don't doubt the load she was hauling this trip,would make it seem a lot worse.Hopefully, she will find a place to live in the next few days. I feel she will keep in touch, so I'll post any news as I hear it. May God watch over her and keep her safe, as her faith is strong and it has supported her thus far.

In Response to Terry's post

http://uraniasinspiration.blogspot.com/
Sad,Terry, but true.It happens a lot, at the auctions we attend on a regular basis. Many times, the folks who rent those storage units,lose their "stuff" for whatever reason, and whoever ends up with their "stuff" does not treasure it as the owner once did.Death of the owner is the cause, in some cases, but occasionally, it might be for non payment of the monthly rent.After so long, and the rent is not paid on the unit, the owner takes possession of the "stuff" in the unit to do with as he wishes.He has buyers come in and bid on the "stuff", and whoever gets it,they resell it at auctions,yard sales, or consignment shops,for a profit. Nevertheless, the "stuff" goes cheap. I helped the little lady I speak of in my posts, this past week or so, and she had a lot of really expensive "stuff" that went for a song.But there you go again, she HAD to move her "stuff" in a hurry ,so therefore had to take a loss on a lot of things.It was really hard to watch it sell so cheap. She had to leave the room on occasion,just because it was so hard for her to watch it sell that cheap.As I am learning from my Mom and many others I know,it is a good idea to begin narrowing down your inventory as you get older. Or this will be your plight. Lots of your "stuff" will be clumped together in boxes, and sold for 50 cents a box,if you're lucky. In the little ladies case, they put up 2 or 3 boxes toward the end for a mere fifty cents. Now that was sad, but she had so much, and most folks must watch what they spend these days,with the economy being as it is.And then, too, everyone has "So Much Stuff"at home already.

We Visited Mattie and Josie

The black goat,Josie, and the one in the front with the brown head,Mattie, are the two we sold.Josie was never really lovey dovey, like Mattie, and she was a bit of a rouge. She was constantly getting out of the pen.

The grandchildren were a wee bit saddened when I told them that I had sold Mattie and Josie,so we promised them a visit to their present home. When they got there and saw they had 25 to 30 other goats to play with,and many acres to play on and graze, they felt much better.The goats remembered us and come right up to us once again. If only we had remembered to bring crackers.Maybe next time. There were many goats,of all sizes there.Even several new babies.When I told the children that we might have new babies around March, they were satisfied.The owner of all the goats had loaned us his male to breed Katlyn once more. The grandchildren are getting older now, and don't spend as much time with the animals as they once did, and since we don't really have the acreage or the fencing,we felt it was best to let them go. And the price of goats is really good right now.I guess the children are O K with it for now,since they have the two cats, the pet chicken, and a new beagle hound to occupy their time.

One Tough Lady

I have been away from my computer for a week or so, for the most part, helping one tough lady. It is a long story, but one I will remember the rest of my life. I have always had a soft heart for folks in need, and this lady was definitely in need.
What she needed at the time I met her was a helping hand or two. I will probably never know the whole story of what brought her to my area, but I did get to meet her and work with her for about a week and a half.
It seems she has been a widow for about eight years and her home in California had been foreclosed on.She has three daughters,and one of them had moved to Kentucky in hopes of purchasing some ground and building a house. Nevertheless,this lady had relocated to Elizabethtown,I would guess, to be near her daughter,about the time of the ice storm.There she lived in an apartment until a few weeks ago. Her daughter and son-in-law were unable to get a clear title to the property they were trying to purchase,at least that's what I've heard.Something regarding liens and the nursing home and the previous owners.Nevertheless, they were having to move,and the mother would be going,too.The couple would be going back to Arizona, and the mother to California.The mother had accumulated quite a bit of "stuff" in the last 35 years, so she had it stored in several storage units in town.Now that the plan was in motion to go back out West,the mother took her possessions out of storage and embarked on narrowing it down to fit in the truck and trailer she would be driving back to California.This is where I get involved. She had everything she owned set out on the adjoining property of her daughter's neighbor.Another soft hearted person.Thus she was not on the daughters property, but the entire family had been told they MUST be off the property by Tuesday night or the law might be brought in.The electric was to be cut off Tuesday, also.
Anyway,a young friend of mine, had stopped by her yard sale,as did a few others we know from the auction.Between these few folks, they relieved her of a lot of her belongings, but she still had way too much "stuff" to fit on the truck and trailer she would be driving to make the trip back to California.The young friend of mine stopped by my house to offer me some of the books and things she had given him. I was astounded. Every book he had of hers, was the same or similar to the ones I have collected for years myself.It was eery.How could anyone have that many interests in as many things as myself.I suddenly felt compelled to meet her before she left the area.I jumped in my truck to go and meet her. I drove about 2 miles up the road, and talked myself out of the visit. I felt I had way too much to do to involve myself in something else.When I returned home , my Mother and Sister had dropped by for a visit. I told them the story about starting to go visit, but then,decided against it.My sister said that was the Lord telling me to go, but I had chose not to go. That really upset me, so we three, all went to visit the lady together.We visited and talked with her for several minutes. I told her that I would come and help her the next day to set up a yard sale in hopes of thinning down some of her possessions.Little did I know, I was committed for the next week or so. The longer I worked with her, the more details I learned, and the more I felt I needed to help her to the end.That would be Tuesday week,on the 26th.The daughter and son-in-law packed their things in the trailer, and left on their way back to Arizona, after the first day of meeting them.That left the mother, living in the yard with her possessions,and sleeping in her truck.The house was still open, but for the most part, it was unlivable.How the daughter lived there for the 3 years, is beyond me.Nevertheless, the mother and me,sorted, boxed, and taped for several days.We had a yard sale set up, but being on an off the main drag road, we had hardly no one to speak of stopping to buy. A few stopped mainly,I think, to be nosey.Then we had a pile just for the auction.I had told her I thought she would make more at the auction, than the yard sale.She did make more, but still very little, considering she had some nice pieces that went for a song.
I spent every spare minute with her for the next week and a half.Sorting,boxing,culling out her favorite possessions to take back to California. For the most of that time the weather was great for what we were doing, but the last two or three days, the wind and rain really made a mess of things. It was a struggle to keep things dry and covered until they were packed. To top that off, the young man that was helping, had taken her trailor to have better tires put on it, and found both wheel barrings were bad. That was fixed and she got loaded and all sealed up with tarps,tape,ropes, and tarp straps, and headed out to California bright and early on Wednesday morning.She has called and checked in with us several times since she left.She stopped once, but didn't call,but the second night she called from West Memphis,Arkansas. The next call,she was on the Oklahoma line. The next call, she was 20 miles short of Amarillo,Texas. She hasn't called since. She'll probably call tonight.One cannot help but be impressed by this 73 year old lady to tackle such a trip,driving an older overloaded truck,pulling a huge overloaded trailer,through all of the construction zones of Interstate 40.That is one gutsy lady. We wish her good weather and lots of kind folks along the way to help her when she needs help. Several have already been gracious enough to assist her when she needed it.May God be with her.

I Met Me!

This is a post I started, but never completed. I decided to post it, even though it is running a little behind the news I have already posted regarding my One Tough Lady.

I have met a new lady in my neighboring community through an unusual set of circumstances. She has been in Kentucky for nearly 3 years,but I only met her this past week. Another good friend of mine dropped by one day last week, with a precious cargo(a truck load of yard sale items he had just acquired from helping this new found friend, I speak of). He knows me well, so he knows that I let very little go to the trash pick up folks.I can see potential in everything. He has that fault,too.Nevertheless, he thought of me.He had several items that he thought I might be interested in, and of course, he knows me well, and he was right. He left me with 8 small boxes of books and magazines, a couple of homemade book shelves, a mirror, and a few other assorted items.I am refinishing the mirror to match some Victorian items I already have and cherish. I used one of the shelves to mount my chop saw on. It works great for that.The other, I put on my porch. I had been wanting some storage of some kind for my seasonal flower pots and the like.And the books and magazines?That is where the story begins.As I began to sort through the books and magazines, I found there were many of them that were identical to some I had of my own. Many of which I lost in the house fire of 07.This really peaked my interest as to who this lady was. The more I went through the boxes of books, the more eager I was to meet her.Since I was home alone,I got the urge to go meet her. I jumped in my truck and headed down the road towards her place, but for some strange reason, I talked myself out of the visit,and returned home.It bared on my mind so, that I had turned back and returned home, I called and discussed the story with my Mom and Sister. They said that was God telling me to go, and Satan telling me not to go. At the time, I thought it was because I simply had enough on my plate without adding another job to my list of "Things to Do".However,we,my Mom,my Sister,and Myself,decided to take a trip to this lady's home and meet her.We visited her that day, and found she was having to return to her home state of California, due an unusual set of circumstances,regarding the property her family had assumed they were purchasing for the last few years.Nevertheless, the entire family,Mother,Daughter and SIL, was having to move back to their previous locations,California, and Arizona.Their dream of owning a piece of ground had been lost(for now,at this location anyway).

The reason I say I met Me, is because this tough little lady is a pack rat,like myself. Most of the things we spent so much time packing, over the week and a half I spent with her,were the same type of things I collect.Most were related to her various crafts, and since she is a widow, and crafts make up a huge part of her life.There is no way I could fit all of my collection of "stuff" into the truck and trailer she is using. It would take a Tractor trailer type truck to haul my precious possessions. Let's hope I never have the need to move and transport my "stuff".Life takes a lot of unforeseen twists and turns, and one should never say "Never", but for my sake, I hope I never find myself in her situation or anything similar.I doubt I could be that strong.

She calls every night or at least every other night to let me know her progress. She was 20 miles short of the Arizona/New Mexico line,last night.She sleeps in her truck, usually at truck stops or any large parking area where there are other travelers, stopping for the night. That is good to know. There is more safety in numbers.She has been on her journey since Wednesday morning of the 27th of October.That's one week today. Hopefully, she will be in her home state and find an apartment in three or four days. Cold weather is closing in, and she says it does get a bit chilly in her truck, before she awakens each morning, and starts the engine to get warm.Her faith is strong, and I am sure it will carry her through to her destination,safely.I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet her. Going through all that she's going through at 73,is an inspiration to me.I only hope I can be that strong,when I'm her age.

Chickens Make Good Pets

Then...



Now...



Actually, this was taken a couple of weeks ago, so she has grown a bit more. Yes, we think now, she is a hen.We were not real sure for a while there.She's too big for the cookie jar these days, so we keep her in one of the garages at night, and outside in the sun,during the day.We'll need to gradually introduce her to the rest of the flock. You know they can get a bit ugly to new comers at first.Hopefully, she will be use to the rest of the chickens in time to spend the winter out in the hen house, but I hope she still remembers the special raising she had. I guess if we continue to spoil her with the cat food she loves so, or the hot dogs she's learned to eat when we're out of her special cat food,we'll continue to be close friends.We haven't really given her a name yet, but I'm considering Ellie Mae.We've had a Henrietta and an Esmerelda at one time.Those older names are cute for chickens. Maybe she'll like to be called Gertrude or Genaveve. We'll just have to see what feels right for her!

Brendie's Christmas Swap

http://bregleestate.blogspot.com/2010/10/swap-handmade-christmas-decoration-and.html

This is the link to Brendie's Christmas swap. Stop by Brendie's blog and get registered. Sounds like fun. Although I have never been part of a swap before, I think I'll give this one a try.Everyone is invited to participate.Let's help Brendie have a great first swap.

Hop on over for another drawing.

Oh, and by the way! Hop on over to Mountain Home Quilts to enter the drawing for the fat quarter of fabulous fall fabric.(Whoooh!That was a mouthful.)

I hope this link below gets you to the right site. I had a lot of trouble getting the link to work properly. I don't think I know enough about computering to get it right. I hope it gets you to the right place to enter the drawing.You will need to copy and paste it in your browser.


http://mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/o

Is Your Money Going Down the Drain?

While browsing through blog after blog, I ran across this clip from Walletpop.It really got me to thinking about the way I wash my clothes. Most of us look at washing clothes as another dreaded chore that must be done. We never really stop and think about all the different aspects of the cleaning process. Oh,yes, sometimes, I'll spray a stain or two with some type of highly advertised stain remover,and pour in a little extra detergent.If it comes out,fine,if it doesn't.Oh,well.
There are a lot more concerns to clothes washing then we realize. The fellow in the clip listed below,talks about some of them.It made me take a second look at the laundry procedures I was using. Hopefully, it will enlighten some of you,as it did me.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/09/28/savings-experiment-coming-clean-with-the-truth-about-the-best-d/

I Love a Challenge!

While answering a few of my comments today,I got an idea for a post.
My Challenge For Today! I realize there are some that cannot be completed in a day, but maybe the challenge for the day could be to complete a certain project. That might give me enough incentive to finish several projects that I've already started.It seems when I have someone waiting to see the finished product, I try harder to complete the project.

Today, I have several WIP projects out and waiting. I will attempt to finish at least one of them today. We'll see how that goes.

The picture above is just showing how I take a lot of little bits and pieces of things most folks would throw out, and make something pretty and usable with it. I love doing that.I do accumulate a lot of "stuff" that way, but on rainy or snowy days when I must stay in, I can pull out my scrap box and go to work creating something pretty at no cost at all.If I don't need it for myself, I always keep a box of little last minute gifts for whatever occasion might arise.

Double Duty!

Guess what! I woke up early and sought out something quiet to do while Pop was still snoozing.I had been working on a set of coaster/hot pads until midnight last night,so I proceeded with them. That was a nice calming and quiet project.The fabric I was using was a bit wrinkled, so I proceeded to pull out the iron and board. That was going to make a lot of noise, so I reconsidered and found something to use as an ironing pad on the counter top. Wallah! My newly made dish draining pads will be perfect. Just the right size for ironing small pieces on the counter top.

My Bird Seed Gets A New Home!

From this......



To this....





I take my recyclables to the neighboring county once a week. Some times when I do, I find something,others have taken in for recycling, that I just can't resist bringing home. It's kinda like dumpster diving, only everything in the recycle bins are clean.They won't take them, if they're not.
Well, on this particular day, I spotted this amazing jug. It is made of plastic, and had a hairline crack. I really didn't know what it was until I got it home and began to investigate.I soon figured out it was a pet watering jug, but was no longer usable for that purpose. It wouldn't hold liquid any longer.Now,the hard part. What can I do with it.My first thought was using it for storage for something dry.That's what I'll do. So I proceeded to cut the neck off, and locate a lid that would fit the new mouth of the jug.Wallah!I found a lid that fits just perfect(after I did a little whittling on it).I got out my can of Barn Red paint.You remember,my new favorite color,and began painting. I am so happy with it now. I think I might use it to store my bird seed.And I think I'll like the lid painted black. What a nice find.

Pumpkin Time!

From this:



To This:



I got this pattern from my Mom a few years ago. We made several for her to use in her Fall Decor. She loves to decorate her yard for any and every occasion.She grew up in South Louisiana, so she is use to things being very lit up.I guess the Mardi Gras celebrations are what comes to my mine, even though I have never been there to see it first hand.I figure that must be part of their culture. With lots of lights and glitter and bright colors everywhere.Mom definitely loves those things.Even in the clothes she wears.She should have been a Rock Star.But back to the little pumpkin...You can probably see just how it was made. Take a short length of a clothes dryer duct works, and cup it around to where you can tie the two ends together with some type of inconspicuous thread or tiny wire.Whatever it takes to tie it securely.You can always cover it with leaves or whatever else you might be using in your arrangement.Then we painted them orange.Added a leaf or two. I made the stems from a piece of corrugated cardboard. The middle layer of cardboard.Dampen the cardboard, and the three layers will separate easily.Let it dry, then cut and roll your stems to suit yourself. I hot glued mine together.One tip when cutting your duct works. Don't cut it too short. Cut one and try it. If it is not long enough to cup around and tie, make your second one a bit longer. If you precut them all,and they are too short, you'll have to come up with another plan on using the shorter pieces.I plan to make a half pumpkin on a board to utilize a couple of my mistakes.Most creative folks will think of some way to use their mistakes.I hate to waste anything.

So Many Projects,So Little Time!

With Summer coming to an end, and the days are getting shorter and cooler,I find myself staying in a lot more. I love working outdoors, when the grass is green and needs mowing every few days,and there's a constant parade of different flowers blooming day after day, but when the leaves begin to fall, and the grass turns brown, and flowers begin to fade,I am just as content in my home, puttering through my many collections of crafting supplies,trying to decide what I will tackle today.The choices are endless. Today I took on a project that may seem silly to many, but I found it most satisfying.I have so many "rags" in the laundry at all times. I decided I wanted to do away with some of them. Some were cheap wash cloths that were too small and scratchy for bathing.Some were simply tea towels that were wearing thin.Some were bath towels I had torn up to use for cleaning cloths.No matter,there were lots of them. I got this hair brained idea to make drip pads for my dishes while they drain, so I have made a couple of those. I lay them in a cookie sheet pan beside my sink when I am doing my dishes with my homemade dish cloth and my home made dish liquid. It is so gratifying to use these "things I have made", rather than bought.Then I decided to put two of the scratchy wash cloths together, with a pretty top and bottom piece of cloth and make hot pads. I made a few of those.I find the need to stretch my legs on occasion, so I went to the basement and painted a few pieces.I had been gathering in all of the pieces of cans of paint,getting ready for my winter crafts.I stumbled across a can of Barn Red paint. I find I love that color.I was so happy to find it. It was a can from way back when T.G.& Y. was in business.It had their label. They have been out of business forever.However, I began painting everything I could find that needed painting. I think that is my new favorite color.I have painted quite a collection of Barn Red items, which I will show at a later date. The little pumpkin pin cushions in the picture,I made while watching Mrs. DoubtFire, a night or two ago. I can't believe I had never seen that movie before.I used some remnants of felt to piece together the little pumpkins, and the stuffing was made from strips of rolled up wool fabric, that no one uses any more to make winter suits.I inherited a huge amount of it from the librarian at the school where I worked. She use to wear a lot of those wool suits.It works great in the cute little pin cushions.I love doing all of these things, but these small projects don't move many of my supplies along fast enough.I need some relief from my collections of supplies. Hopefully, this winter, I will make more quilts and move some fabric that way.I'm not holding my breath on that idea though.You know,"The best made plans of mice and men....."

Here's our typical breakfast foods list,Brendie.

Pop started eating cereal for the first time in our 33 years together, this summer. His cousin works away, and he visits him once in a while.That's where he learned to eat cereal. We have that some,but rarely.We eat oats some,for our cholesterol.Pop is not suppose to have the biscuits, but he cheats a lot and eats them more often than he should. He loves meat, so we have sausage,bacon,fried bologna,or pork tenderloin or country ham at times. We rotate about on the meats. Some times we have only toast and jam, but that is rare, since Pop is not wild about toast. We have eggs quite often, since we have chickens.We are both retired now, so we try to eat a hearty breakfast. We snack at lunch, and eat a very small meal later in the evening.We really eat too much for our age and activity.We are not obese, but we are both rather healthy.I am 5'9" and he is 6'.We both weigh a little over 200 pounds.I don't feel we are that big,since we are both so tall, but doctors say you need to be skin and bones to be healthy. (Sorry, Doc.) We try to loose,but it's nearly impossible to diet and keep your strength up to do your work. At least we haven't had any luck there.If we were getting a grade on our meal plan for each day, we would fail miserably. We eat very few fruits and veggies.Please don't tell Dr. Oz.

My Craft Of Choice!

These are a few pictures of some of the pumpkins I am making. I will make many different variations, and possibly many different finishes. I love trying new things, and maybe I will hit on some styles that appeal to others.I love making the leaves and the curly-ques. I think it adds a nice touch to the pumpkins, although it looks more like an ivy leaf.Some folks may notice that, but I just haven't taken the time to examine a pumpkin leaf that close, to see if it would be easily cut from tin.





As for my craft of choice,it depends on what day it is,how much energy I have today, have I eat too much salt, have I drank enough water,have I eat too many sweets, have I had a good solid breakfast,but not too heavy,is the weather too hot, or is it too cold,and what about the humidity and the barometric pressure.What other jobs are waiting on me and must get done today.And I mustn't forget my biorhythm.I'll need to check on that.
I must take all of this into consideration, on any given day, as to what craft I will throw myself into, head on.If I am feeling really good,I may tackle 3 or 4 crafts at once.

I made the round through the yard this a.m.and I think that helps to get the oxygen to my brain,after a good breakfast. Pop helped me to fix breakfast this morning. We had pork tenderloin,eggs,biscuits,with jelly, and coffee, so I'm good in that department.I let the chickens out into the bigger pen,fed the cats and dogs,and baby chicken in the cookie jar.It has almost outgrown the 3 gallon cookie jar, so I only leave it in there at night. During the day, he goes outside in a bigger cage.Yes,we think it is a HE.We didn't really need another rooster, but he will be such a pet after raising him with the cats, and in a cookie jar, we will have to keep him,somehow.
But back to my craft of choice. For a few days now, all I have wanted to do is make pumpkins. I guess it's the season. I really get in the mood to make crafts for whatever holiday is at hand. That's almost too late to get started, unless I am preparing them for next year.I don't understand why I do that, but I only get excited about seasonal or specific holiday crafts, during that season.

Everyone wins!

These are a few of the projects I worked on yesterday.


These are pumpkins I am making from the pile of old discarded lumber the neighbor brought over after the storm took the roof off his barn.He knows I use a lot of wood.


This is a drain cloth I made from a receiving blanket and an old worn out tea towel. I have been using my home made dish soap, and staying away from the dishwasher as much as possible, so I found the need to drain my few hand washed dishes on something.I generally use several thicknesses of old tea towels, but since I had several of the blankets which I buy at yard sales,for tea towels, I got the idea to use up some of the older towels as batting inside the newer, prettier cloths.So I have made a few and enjoy making them and it uses up a lot of old raggedy towels.



These are dish washing cloths I have been making using up some small remnants of thread. I use whatever thread I have on hand. I don't buy any certain kind of thread.That would defeat my purpose of using up the thread I have. So far, the type of thread I have used, is working great.I love making them.



These are pumpkins I have been making from the old roofing we took off our hen house this Spring. It is aluminum and lightweight, making it easier to cut. I have learned I could make the numerous curly-ques easily by cutting a very narrow strip of the aluminum. It curls as I cut. Then I paint them to match my project at hand.I find it to be a very calming project.

And I might add, I cooked a pot of dried beans and made a skillet of cornbread, while I was working on my crafts.Not bad for a day of playing.

This is a comment I left on Ms.Lottie's post today. It gave me an idea for a post of my own. At least I will try to post, if the Internet stays up long enough.

(Ms.Lottie,I love your plan "not to buy" for a year.I need to make myself a similar challenge on not buying anything(other than food, and even that would be a good challenge)for a year. I bring home so many things to use in my crafting, it gets overwhelming at times.I spent the day yesterday working on half a dozen different projects trying to use up a few of my collection of supplies,but it seems the rate I bring them into the house is much faster than the rate I move them out.I suppose I could offer a craft workshop and invite folks over to use their imaginations on new projects and to help me to move my collections along.We could all contribute a pot luck dish and make a fun day of it.Everyone wins!)

I think that is a really good idea on the craft workshop.It is so hard to get my family together, and they are mostly all crafters of one sort or another. I have craft tools and supplies for any craft known to man, so surely they could find their medium to work with in one of my sheds or my basement, or one of the closets.They are stashed away in every nook and cranny.These are just a sample of my crafts. I could list 500 others I have lying around if only I had the time.Don't you agree, I need to start a Crafters Workshop? After all these years of wondering, that could be my niche.

Frustrated!

I am very frustrated, upset, mad, disillusioned,and down right pissed off at my phone and Internet service. I pay dearly for their service, and this past few months, it has been ridiculous.

I had a whole page typed up on my frustrations, and the service conveniently went down again and I lost it all.

That will not stop me.

We had the phone company come to the house, and look things over. They say it was a broken line here in my yard. They replaced that, and the service still has not improved.The Internet keeps going down when I am trying to use it. Thank God, I don't earn my living with the Internet. We would starve.It amazes me how they can go to the moon, but they cannot install decent phone service that works.It appears I will need to stop blogging for awhile, in hopes they will get the problem resolved.I am not holding my breath. I only wish we had a second choice in phone service providers in my area. I would gladly give them a try.Maybe if I withhold my payment for a few months,that would get their attention, but then maybe they would disconnect me entirely from any service at all. I don't have a lot of choices, do I?Maybe they have Satellite Telehone and Internet Service in my area. I guess I'll need to do some investigating.

A New Day! A New Project!

This is my latest project. I have no clue as to why I latch onto certain projects and go at them with a vengeance, but this has been one of those projects.While visiting the auction this past week end, they offered this box. No one was interested.I got it for 50 cents. Rest assured ,it did not look like it does now in it's present state.(I can never remember to take a "before" picture of my projects.)I decided to see what I could do with the box. I had been to one of the consignment shops, or perhaps a yard sale, and saw some quaint wooden boxes that caught my eye. I figured I would try my hand at making one similar,but ended up using up a few pieces of cans of varnish/stain instead. The boxes I had seen were stained, but not varnished.I think they were black or brown. Some drab color. Most of the Primitive wood crafts are very plain and simple.I suppose that's why they're called Primitive.Pop and I went to the basement to drink our morning coffee while I continued to work on my box.I knew the question was coming. I just didn't know when. Then it came out. "What are you going to do with that box?"I have no idea. I thought it might be a good "catch all" for magazines,crafts in progress,toys.The list is endless.Everyone can use an extra "catch all".It's neat.It's quaint. It's functional.I'll bet if I get tired of it, I can take it back to the auction and get at least $5. for it.

Clarkson's 16th Annual Honeyfest!

September 22-25,2010

Saturday,9-18 Beauty Contest noon
Tuesday 9-21 Decorating Contest Judging (local yards)4-6 p.pm.
Wednesday 9-22 Carnival ($10. armband) 5 p.m.
Honeyfest 5K Race and Walk 6 p.m.
Thursday 9-23 Amateur Pet show 4:45 p.m.
Carnival ($12. armband) 5 p.m.
Food Booths open at 5 p.m.
Gospel Singing 6 p.m.
Cooking contest 6 p.m.
Friday 9-24 Bed turning at Sew Much More 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carnival ($12. armband) 5 p.m.
Food Booths open at 5 p.m.
Run for the Honey Fun Run 5:30 p.m.
Hat show for kids and adults 6 p.m.
Silent Auction at City Hall 6-9 p.m.
Live Music and Dance (Easy Street Band) 7-10:30 p.m.

Saturday 9-25 Craft Booths set up at 6 a.m.
15-30 Mile Bike Ride (starts at City Park) 6:30 a.m.
Craft Booths (open all day) 8 a.m.
Parade Judging 8 a.m.
Annual Clarkson Honeyfest Parade 9 a.m.
After the Parade
Tae-Kwon-Do Martial Arts Demonstration(bank parking lot)
Carnival open
Line Dancing
Car Show
Antique Tractor Show
Silent Auction
Bluegrass Music in Craft area
Dinner at St. Elizabeth's Church
Karaoke sign-up 10:30 a.m. to noon
Karaoke contest 1 p.m.
Bed Turning at Sew Much More 2 p.m.
Pedal Tractor 3 p.m.
Live Music and Dance (Bobby Joe Bratcher Band)7-11 p.m.
Other events on Friday and Saturday:
Hay Rides by Clarkson Fire Department,
Food Booths,Games,Carriage Rides

For more infmation go to www.clarksonhoneyfest.com

Fall Rocks!

This is some of the aluminum roofing that I begged Pop to let me keep, when he was taking a load of metals to the recyclers. I had an idea I could find some way to use it in my crafts.This is not the greatest creation, but, it's a start.Hopefully as I use my creativeness more and more, it will improve. It's kinda like a sponge that has been allowed to dry out.It can be revived to it's former state with a little help.I hope that's true with my creative abilities. They have appeared to have dried up.

This is the type of thing I use to do with my many bulletin boards when I worked with the Food Service. I would use lots of cut outs and pictures to promote our meals and good nutrition habits. It was one of my favorite elements of my job, along with the bread making and experimenting with various dishes,but as time went by, there was not enough hours in the day to do all the paperwork and all the things which I had enjoyed for so many years.I do miss that, so I thought I would bring some of my tools back out and use some of my ideas on my blog.

I know there are laws against cruelty to animals,but

what about grasshoppers. If they are protected, we're in a world of trouble. I had left the door ajar to the back porch this morning,while we drink our morning cup of coffee. Minnie and Lucky have so much fun running in and out and all around the porches,I couldn't bring myself to shut the door too soon.I got busy with my morning ritual of this and that, and forgot the door. The next thing I knew, Minnie had a new playmate. I don't think she wanted to eat him, as much as she wanted to play with him. It was so cute watching her catch and release him, just so she could chase him again, I never give it a thought as to how the poor grasshopper might feel.I guess it could have been worse. Minnie could have eaten him.I never thought they would be that tasty, since I remember as a child, that they would eat big holes in our tobacco crop. I remember them spitting the tobacco juice on us. I just figured from that point on that all grasshoppers spit tobacco, but then I guess it has to do with what they eat. Hopefully,Minnie will tire of his company, before she gets that hungry.

Australia,Get Ready for Oprah!

This December Oprah will be sending her entire audience to Australia as part of her Grand Finale.She will be winding up her show after 25 years.She's not leaving TV, but she will have her (OWN)Oprah Winfrey Network featuring a different kind of talk from her present show.

This information was taken from the popeater.com website.

The Lion lays down with the Lamb!

Well, it's not exactly a lion and a lamb, but close. Not the best shot,either, but I wanted to get them in the act. The chick raised it's head up as I came close enough to snap the picture, but it had been sleeping, too.



I keep the chick in a terrarium of sorts till it is big enough to put outdoors in a cage,although I did have it outside in a cage for awhile today.The chick and the cats are good friends as long as the glass wall is between them. I saw Lucky and Minnie sleeping next to the chick, so I put them each something soft there for their nap. They use them quite often.I don't want to try removing the wall dividing them just yet, but I'll bet as the chick grows into a big chicken, they will still be friends.At least, that's what I'm hoping.You never know. They might be the best of Bed Fellows even then. Strange things have happened with the animal world.I had a newborn pig once that we raised on a Beagle hound who was nursing her young at that time. I have a picture some where still.I haven't thought of it for years though, so it would take me awhile to locate the picture.

The grandchildren were both here today, so I know the chick and both cats are ready for a nice long nap, as am I.

Our Worries Are Endless!

Thanks, Sara for the information on BPA. I have always been so proud of my preserving, since it was nearing on a dying art there for awhile.Now we are to learn of BPA. There is no end to such things that we are breathing or ingesting that we know nothing about.Then we wonder why we are all dying of so many strange diseases.I don't suppose it was meant for us to live forever, but to have these things thrust upon us, without our knowledge,by companies who know the truth, but would rather reap the harvest,being our money, rather than inform us of these health related concerns.Then let us decide whether we want to use this product or wait for a safer alternative.

I, like many others, have canned my family's food for years, and take great pride in doing so,all the while, thinking we were much safer by doing so.I have just recently converted to the Tattler lifetime plastic lids with rubber rings, thinking I would save a little money,not even knowing of the BPA risk with the metal lids.Tattler lids are BPA free.

I have become more concerned lately about the plastic containers I have been storing my foods in. Plastic containers are getting so much bad press,one doesn't know what to believe. I am beginning to be very worried about using it for storing anything we are to eat.The folks across the big water seem to be trying more and more to eliminate lots of these products, and I feel they are on the right track. It will be rough at first, but as time goes by, hopefully it will be like recycling. It is like second nature to me. I would not be afraid to say I recycle 90%of my total household garbage.

Any time one has to change the way they do things,especially as we get older, it is difficult, but most usually, after the change has been made, and you grow accustom to doing things in the new way, you wonder why you resisted the change so adamantly, in the first place.Change usually makes things better, in more ways than we want to admit.I suppose resisting change is our nature. We are creatures of habit.

A Tiny Peek into Brendie's World!

I heard from, one of my blogger friends, Brendie from Bregle Estate,and it is so nice to get a glimpse into her world. It helps to understand a lot of what she is describing in her posts when you have a tiny idea of how things look in her part of the world.I live in the rural part of my county. I try not to go into town that often.Most usually,I end up going once a week,but if I have an appointment of some kind, or Mom needs something right away,I will go more often. It is 25 miles to the closest towns, where we shop.Since I am retired,there is not that much need for me to leave the home property each day.Now with Pop, that is a different story. He has to be around people. He wants his home life nestled away in the country, but he loves to be where the people are.I think that's a bit strange,but like they say,"Different Strokes for Different Folks!"I am more of a home body myself, and I spend quite a bit of my time alone, at home,at which time I am free to work at whatever my heart desires.My yard, my garden, my house,my crafts.Whatever makes me happy that day.If Pop has a job to do, like repairing some of his equipment that he uses,he will work in one of our garages,but he still, takes lots of breaks, and visits around the community, where ever he can find people to talk to.Local garages,restaurants,the Flea Market, Walmart,etc., and he has many friends that he'll visit at their homes.I love to talk to folks, too, but I won't leave home, countless times a day to do so.If they drop by to visit, or I run into them in town,I am quite a talker myself.We go the auction thing on Friday and Saturdays,sometimes one or maybe even both nights, just to mingle and visit with our type of folks from the surrounding areas. I say our type, because we all come from similar backgrounds, and share similar interest. There are few, if any, of the high society types there.You know the kind that think they are better than everyone else. I guess that kind of people are everywhere.We try to avoid them, if at all possible.We are what we are,rural country folks, or Rednecks, like some prefer to call us, and we are proud of it. I think Rednecks are smart and creative people,with a lot more common sense than others give us credit for.We can find ways of getting something accomplished, even if the end product looks a little strange. We are the butt of millions of jokes for that reason. I think Kentucky folks get this, more than most, but here is an email I recall when I hear others downing us Kentucky folks.


FRIENDS VS KENTUCKY FRIENDS

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Always bring the food.

FRIENDS: Will say 'hello'.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' back-ends that left you.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, 'I'm home!'.

FRIENDS: will visit you in jail.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS:will spend the night in jail with you.

FRIENDS: will visit you in the hospital when you're sick
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: will cut your grass and clean your house then come spend
the night with you in the hospital and cook for you when you come home

FRIENDS: have you on speed dial
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: have your number memorized.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
KENTUCKY FRIENDS: Are for life.

Bread Making!

I am now retired, but worked for the School Food Service in my county for 27 years. I will admit, that experimenting with the recipes and various foods we served, was one of my favorite reasons for enjoying my work as I did. There was no one telling us we had to do this or that. We were free to experiment with the numerous products furnished by the government, to come up with whatever we could, to get the children to eat the products furnished to us.That was my job as a child growing up in a fairly poor family of nine hungry kids.To come up with something good from whatever was available.My mother always told us, we could mix up anything we had available for us to snack on, but no mater how it turned out, it must be ate. No wasting anything. I loved doing just that. I would experiment with whatever we had on hand to make cookies, candies, cakes,pies, anything sweet. We bought very little extras from the grocery stores. Dad would give Mom $20. to shop for groceries each week. Money was worth a lot more then, than now, but still, that wasn't much to feed 11 people for 1 week.Mom would complain on occasion, but Dad would reply,"Money doesn't grow on trees."Mom did an excellent job of getting what we needed to get from Friday to Friday, even though that money was to supply us kids with an occasional pack of pencils, paper, or whatever else we needed for school, that was found at the grocery store. And,too, she would always slip out a dime,each week, to put in her tithing envelope for church on Sunday(until later years, when she would take in ironing to supply money for her church tithe).We always had boxes of home canned foods stashed away in every nook and cranny of the old two story houses where we lived.We could have made the Guinness World Book of Records for coming up with the most interesting and tasty ways to cook squash and pumpkin.Mom grew up in South Louisiana,a very poor region anyway, so she had to make do with very little all during her lifetime, so it was "get creative" or else.I guess that's where I got the experimenting gene.
But back to the bread making, our school was the smallest school in the county at the time, and we had very few luxuries that the other larger schools had. A Mixer was one thing we did not have.Not until we got a used one from one of the larger schools,after they got a newer, more modern one.Nevertheless, we mixed our yeast breads by hand in a large dish pan of sorts. My helper and I would take turns making the yeast rolls for the day. I loved making the yeast dough. Sometimes we would make it up into cinnamon rolls, and sometimes we would incorporate some of the huge amounts of cheddar cheese we would get from the government.You can really get creative with the basic yeast dough recipe. My sister,Vicki,loves making her own bread,also.I feel it is extremely calming and gratifying to make yeast bread, and I am sure she feels the same way.Bread is one thing we must limit around our home, with Pop's sugar problem, and both of our weight problems, therefore, I don't make yeast breads much anymore, but I still love making it whenever I can. I hope to begin making my yeast breads again in the winter months.

The Amish Fascinate Me!

http://amishamerica.com/new-york-amish-book-giveaway-and-interview-with-karen-johnson-weiner/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AmishAmerica+%28Amish+America%29
This is a link to the book giveaway on the Amish of New York studies by Karen Johnson Weiner.
The Amish way of life fascinates me because.......
I grew up very simple. We lived a lot like the Amish of today live. It fascinates me that they have so much willpower to continue in such a way, when the rest of the world is going on around them in our modern ways. You have to respect anyone who has that much willpower, and accomplishes as much as they do.I guess they have their family problems the same as everyone else, but the families all work together for a common cause whether it be for work or to help a fellow Amish out in time of sickness. We have heard from some of our Amish friends that when one member of the group has a huge hospital bill to pay, many of them chip in to pay the bill. Now how many families do you know of our regular "English" people,would do that?They have some ways that are definitely different from ours,but over all, you have to admire and respect them.

My Latest Recycled Project

Pop and I had an eyeglass appointment and a luncheon to attend in town last night, so while we were killing a little time, I persuaded him to stop by the Peddler's Mall.He hardly ever goes into those kind of places, unless it is with some of the fellows. I always thought it would be nice if he would go with me sometime, so I have got him to visit 2 with me in the last month or so. Maybe there's hope of him going back again soon.Nevertheless, I browsed through a few booths.There were too many to see during the time we had to kill, but I got a few ideas of things I would like to make. Don't tell anyone, but that is the main reason I like to go. To Get Ideas.I had found a cloth napkin during one of my visits,that was made of the type of fabric folks are using for the Primitive pieces,I think.I thought I might find some way to use it.I had an 8 X 10 frame, made of barn lumber, which I had tried to use in a project, but turned out, I wasn't satisfied with it.So I pulled both pieces out and proceeded to make a framed verse. I didn't have the right material to finish up the wording for it, but I went ahead and fixed a verse on paper just to see if I would like it.I think I will like it fine once I have the material and lettering I want to use for the finished product.I had an old letter and key holder, that wasn't suiting me any longer, so I took the little hooks off of it and used them on my frame. Now I have a nice versed piece and a key holder combination. I like it much better than the 2 previous items I began with.Now that's what I call recycling!

My New Zealand Friends

I just heard from both Ms. Lottie and Brendie in regards to their safety, and they are both safe. I posted a map of their country, and their flag on a previous post.The quake did not affect them. They are both further north. Glad to hear from both of them. It is so nice having friends across the globe. I'll never travel to other parts of the world, so I can visit it through the eyes of my blogger friends. That is one of the great things about blogging.
I had an exchange student for 4 weeks during the summer of 89, and I thought that was a great way to learn about the world, and even though I enjoyed it tremendously, I think this is a better way to learn of the life and ways of folks in other countries.

New Zealand Earthquake

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our New Zealand Friends today. I am not that familiar with New Zealand, but I know we have several blogger friends from there or who have family there.I hope the quake has not touched those family. Hopefully we will hear from someone from that area today, to let us know they are alright.


(These pictures were copied from the Internet.)

Vicki over at "My Favorite Things"

I got an email from my sister, Vicki,over at "My Favorite Things" last night saying that her Internet was down. I sure have been missing her posts, as have many others,I'm sure. Hope she gets it up and running soon

What Do Kids Know?

This is a picture of our family in 1972. Dad had just sold our 120 acre farm in Kentucky, and moved to St. Simon's Island,Georgia. This was one of only three time we were all together at one time, from that point on.

The first four children had already married and left home when Dad made the move to Georgia.The five remaining children grew up in Georgia, with a totally different lifestyle than what the first four had on the farm in Kentucky.

There were nine kids in my family.Five girls and four boys.I am the second child of the nine. I had already married and left home two years prior, when Mom had her last child.Our childhood was typical of these parts, as far as we knew. I suppose we were considered poor by lots of folks, but only poor in matters that involved money. My Dad was a farmer/bull dozer owner/operator.I think it was around 1954 when Dad got his first bull dozer. He had several different pieces of equipment after that. The only trouble was getting good dependable help. He worked his brother from time to time, but the brother had a drinking problem,as did many of Dad's family, so as soon as the brother would get his pay,he would not return to work until the money was drank up and he sobered up.So that left Dad to struggle keeping jobs going and bills paid.But as kids go, we knew nothing of all that until years later.Dad always seen to it that we had a house that was ours and no one could force us out for lack of rent money. The houses were never real nice houses, but they kept us all together,in a home that was our own. We always had land. We always kept a few animals. Not sure if Dad kept them for food later, or to keep us kids occupied, but nevertheless it worked on both counts. We always had eggs,milk,meat,and a huge garden at all times. Not to mention the fruit trees and wild berries. We could have easily passed for Amish, if we had worn those type of clothing. We were always barefooted. Shoes were saved for school and church. Dad never attended church that much when we were kids. He did go to a revival with the family,when I was about 12 years old, and was saved, along with his father,a brother, a sister of mine, and myself.We were all baptised during that revival. Dad continued to go to church with our family, for awhile, until there was a big blow up in the church.For what, us kids never knew for sure, but the church split, and Dad stopped going.Mom had seen to it that us children were in church from the time we were born until we left home.No matter what the occasion. If the church doors were open, we were there. Mom never learned to drive,only the farm tractor, then not that good,but she always made sure we had a ride to church. She still attends church every time the doors are open, and she is 84 years old.Many of us kids have fallen by the way side and stopped going, but Mom prays for our souls daily.
There was never a dull moment around our house. We didn't have a lot of free time to play, but when we did, we always had lots of neighbor kids coming to visit, and on occasion, we would go to their homes to visit and play. There were several farm families in the surrounding area. All of our farms joined at some point, and we knew our way around the country pretty good.We had picked berries and played over all of our 120 acre farm.We all knew the farm like the back of our hand.
We never had new clothes like some kids did, but we always had lots of clothes. Different folks we knew would always remember us, and bring us their children's outgrown things. That worked well for us, and we hardly knew the difference. We always had nice enough clothes for church and school.
Some of the kids, especially the older 3,which were girls,helped Mom tremendously in whatever needed to be done. We participated in every aspect of raising the family. Most of us know how to can and preserve food. Not all of the kids do today, but we do know how.We had so many mouths to feed, we were never short on canned goods. Every nook and cranny in the big old houses where we lived would be filled with boxes of canned squash,pumpkin,apples,green beans,tomatoes,and jellies and jams of all kinds. Mom was raised in South Louisiana.Her childhood was not good at all, but that's another story, for another day.She grew up really hard, but I have tremendous respect for my Mother and Father for keeping us together and fed and clothed as they did, during the rough times we had.As far as we knew, we were just an ordinary family doing ordinary things, but the truth would all be known later, as to how Mom and Dad struggled to keep thing that way.
This is only a slight glimpse into my childhood. I could write for days on the life and times of our family,as could most folks, but I agree with you,Brendie. I thought we were as normal as any family we knew, and I guess during those times, we were.Thanks for sharing and listening!

A Wonderful Snack!

My sister, Mary(of Nails in My Pocket)brought my newest sister-in-law,Kim, by for a trim yesterday,since I do most of the hair cutting in our family. While they were here,we gathered the most of my remaining apples.We shook the tree, and took down the remainder of what grew this year(which was very few). I had harvested a couple of gallon bags for myself,for fried apples, but didn't need too many, since I had several left from last year.I hope Kim has good luck with hers. I cooked a skillet of them today for Pop. He has sugar problems, so he has to limit this kind of thing,but he loves them so with a fresh slice of hot cornbread. Guess what we had for our noon snack today.

We had visited the Amish Produce Auction again on Wednesday,after my family left, and we picked up a peck of slightly turning yellow tomatoes in hopes that they would taste better when fried.The Mountain Spring had no taste when fried, and we didn't care for them when they ripened either. They were too firm and tasteless.We stopped by an Amish home, on our way home,who had a sign hanging out that said "Tomatoes".We had hoped they had some regular tomatoes,but they didn't.Only Mountain Spring and Mountain Fresh.We talked to the Amish lady about the type of tomatoes they were all growing nowadays, and she said they grow that kind because they ship better.That is good and well,for that purpose, but we feel they never ripen into a good mellow tomato with flavor.I lucked up on a peck of nice tender young okra while at the auction,too. I love okra.It made 2 gallon bags.Mary and I plan to go back to the Auction again Friday, in hopes of finding more okra. She loves it, too.I hope they have at least two pecks. I could use some more myself.