Wymzie

A New Life on The Left Coast

2011-07-31T15:19:00.001-04:00

Yes it's been a while... a long while.

I have a different life now. A life that is completely opposite of what I have lived for the last 23 years. It took me a long time to come to the place that I am now, the place that I feel comfortable enough writing and sharing my life.

Traumatic is the only word I know to use in describing the past few years of my life, but now it is time to move on.

To trust, and to live again, to live without fear.

Living without fear is truly living, for fear kills one from within and keeps us from doing things that we would naturally be inclined to do, and that my friends is not living.

How does one get past the fear? I took Baby Steps.

Baby steps into a new world, new relationships, and a new self.

At some point one has to shake off the things of the past that make one fearful while not forgeting them so as not to make the same mistakes and end up in the same situations, but never letting these things shackle us into a paralyzed state again.

I have learned that I must be steadfast in my knowledge of who I truly am.

I posess talent and intellect and am equipped with the skills that I need to live this life, and not only live, but to thrive.

Even as we as a nation stand on the verge of economic collapse, and me as an individual having lost all material possessions, we cannot allow ourselves to be manipulated by fear.

It's all just stuff.

Yes, there are memories attached to the stuff, but even if we no longer have the stuff, we have the memories. Memories don't weigh anything. Memories don't cost money to store. Memories in themselves are enough, and they are easily shared.

As a nation we now look at all we have to lose, and act in fear. We must stop.

Fear does not bring out our highest and best self. Instead, it causes us to second guess our thoughts and actions and seals away our bravery into the depths of our beings until we can no longer find it.

They say the bravest people of all are those with nothing left to lose, losing stuff is hard, but it's not losing a loved one, and it's not losing ones freedoms.

Freedom is what we must be brave enough to fight for. Without freedom, nothing else matters, because life without freedom is no life at all.

Thank you friends, for all of your support, kindness, love and understanding over these last few trying years, I have cherished each drop.

Today, I am taking much bigger and bolder steps now, and want to encourage each of you, that you also are equipped to not only to live this life but thrive as well.

I must make a commitment to myself everyday, sometimes several times a day, that I will not allow my circumstances dictate how I feel or think about myself.

Likewise, we as a people need to do the same, and not let fear of our circumstances make us cower in impotence and keep us from changing our world.

If we lose our jobs, our benefits, our homes, or any of the 'stuff'... then we need to reach down deeper inside and find that which is already there... humanity at it's best! And share what we have with those that do not, and ask for help when we need some too.

Let this time of crisis, be a time to prove to ourselves and future generations that we can and will be all that we can be, and do what is right in the face of all that is wrong.

A Time for Mourning...John Samuel Nevin 7/20/1916 to 11/25/2009

2010-02-18T16:29:00.002-05:00

I haven't written in quite a while and today I realized why...I am in a time of mourning. Mourning over the impending loss and finally the loss of not only one the worlds most remarkable people but also one of the most important people in my life; my Grandfather.

John Samuel Nevin met his maker and was reunited with his wife Letha, and brothers and sister and Mother and Father on the 25th of November 2009.
This day was also my Grandmothers Birthday. What better birthday present for her to recieve then to be reunited with the love of her life.

Since her passing in 2001, life for Granddaddy had very much changed but also very much stayed the same.
He bought a new house by the shore to be closer to me and the kids his Great grandchildren, but he retained the house that he built for my grandmother and their family all the while.
He still ate the same raisin bran every morning for breakfast and had the same peaunut butter and crackers dunked in two glasses of whole milk that he had been eating for as long as I can remember, but rarely made himself a real dinner. Dinner in the last eight years have consisted of our leftovers, meals that I specifically prepared for him, or covered dishes from his kindly neighbors. He hated to go out to eat and never did unless he was absolutely forced to do so.
Grandaddy was a child of the Great Depression and had experienced so much lack in his life he refused to pay restaraunt prices for food that he could easily afford any time that he wanted it.
I was able on occaison to talk him into frozen dinners which only served to make me feel better, because he would buy them upon my insistence when I would take him to the grocery but when I would go by at a later date there in the freezer they remained.
Dinner was always my Grans rhelm and she was a wonderful cook. Born and reared in Savannah, GA she knew what to do with a refrigerator full of groceries or a pantry with just the bare minimum in them. She made everything she cooked special and Granddaddy praised everyone of them with "That was the best ......... I have ever tasted! Why, it's better than my sugar baby up the road could ever make!" This comment would always incite a hurt and dejected look that were so honest and true, that they brought him to his feet and he would walk to the other side of the table and lean down and kiss her and pat and rub her back. Every singe meal that I ever had the pleasure of sharing with them ended like this; every one.
I know that he missed her terribly, but there was also another side that none of us had ever seen that he began doing and that was staying up late, eating lots of junk food and courting lots of little old ladies!
He was very funny about it. He was on the prowl, and he would get himself all cleaned up and go visiting. One summer my Aunt came up from Florida to spend a week with him and he got ill and it turned into a month that she stayed. On the day that her plane was to leave Hubby and I went to pick her up to drive her to the airport. When we arrived at Grandaddy's house not only was my Aunt dressed and ready to go, but so was he. We were delighted at the thought he would want to come to the airport with us. But he had other plans. He said a friend of his was picking him up and he was going to Miss .......'s house to visit her. He was soooo cute dressed in his best pants and shirt with purple stripes (my grandmothers favorite) a pair of purple suspenders and a straw hat. He was so dapper.
As time went by his illness's became more frequent and his doctors had nothing to offer him except comfort.
He was too old for all of the treatments designed for a young man but as the cardiologist told him ''Mr Nevin, we are all trying to get to where you are".
I'll never forget this wonderful man.
He formed and shaped me into the strong person I am today. It is his voice that I hear in my head if I feel I am not doing enough with my life.
I count myself lucky to have had the amount of time that I had with him, and that my children were able to share too. What a wonderful man, of such gentleness and kindness but with an added dose of firmness and correction when needed.
Oh God how I will miss him. At this point I cry little bits at a time. When someone says something about him, or does something like him, but true grieving, well I think that will be for the rest of my life.
I love you Granddaddy!

Thinkin About the Miracle that is Christmas

2009-12-28T22:12:00.002-05:00

I wanted to write a post consecutively chronicling the actual miracles that my family and I experienced over this last couple of weeks.
Yet, it is so extensive, I just don't know if I actually have the energy. I am in fact wishing I had chronicled them as they occurred as retelling them just isn't as compelling.
I will be working on this and I promise a full accounting.
Just know that this has been one of my most wonderful Christmas' ever, and not because of any one gift that I recieved but because of the obediance of friends to listen to their hearts and move and sowing seeds that changed our lives, and gave me a renewed faith in humanity.
I'll talk with you soon!

Home School Terrorist?

2009-11-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

Today was our Home Schooler's Science Co-Op Day. This is the day once per month where we come together with pre - determined lesson plans on a particular subject and teach 4 classes on the same subject to 4 different age groups of children.
This years topic is called 'De Mystifying the Periodic Table of Elements'. Pretty cool topic in my opinion especially since many people go through life and don't have a clue as to what that table is about, why we have, or let alone how to read and understand it.
It is to many just a chart that they saw hanging in their science classes, and was understood by only the smart kids.
It is really a very simple chart, and shows all of the elements on the earth. What their atomic weight is and how many molecules they are composed of.
I also think that it is really cool that we are exposing children as young as 5 to the periodic table so that they will grow up with a familiarity with it, instead of being intimidated by it.
We are exploring the periodic table very simply by starting from left to right and incorporating as much about an element into the different classes as we can including our snacks.
Last months element was potassium so we had foods rich in potassium.
This month was Magnesium, and hubby and I were asked to teach a class, so I didn't have to bring a snack.
Magnesium, is a really cool element that burns under water. It is used as flares by divers and for roadside flares as well, and is the white stuff on the top of 'Strike anywhere' matches. It is also used in medicine, such as 'Milk of Magnesia'. It is very good for irregularity.
Hubby downloaded some YouTube vids of people making fireworks, so we of course taught the kids how to make their own too.
For the little kids we took caps for toy guns and cut the rolls up into pieces, put the pieces onto a piece of tape and folded it up into a little bindle and taped the bindle to the head of a hammer. After all the children had made their bindles we ventured outside and the children took turns banging the hammer with their bindle attached onto the asphalt parking lot. It made quite a loud bang and the kids loved it.
For the older children we scraped the magnesium off of sparklers and placed them in a bindle with a firecracker inside as a fuse. The magnesium flared bright white as the firecracker exploded.
This was quite a popular class.
But as I am watching the kids have such a great time and putting what they have learned into practical application, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the kids in public school who would be expelled if caught making the things that we were teaching them to make.
Our country is crying out for science and math scholars, but these subjects aren't interesting if they are only learned in a book. They are interesting when you apply them to real life applications and have fun with them.
Every time I take my son to this co-op it reinforces to me why I choose to homeschool my kids.

I Feel Like a Big Girl

2009-07-24T22:26:00.004-04:00

Wow, this is so strange. I'm home almost alone. Hubby and the Princess are off on business today.

I saw a friends status on Facebook today saying that her husband was going to be home for a month and she was hoping that they didn't kill each other. One of her friends responded and said that she should be grateful because she hadn't seen her husband in nine months and he was schedualed to come home for just two weeks and then back to Afganistan again.

Boy, that sure puts it all in perspective doesn't it.

I am the wife of a serial entrepenuer who loves me more than I can even describe. Ever since I got sick he has nearly outright refused to leave me side for almost four years. His business requires him to travel quite a bit, but he has since insisted that I come along. It has been really exciting and we get to see soooo much and experience so many different things together, so I am certainly not complaining.

We are completely co-dependant upon each other, but you know, I just don't think that is such a bad thing.

Everybody needs someone to love them unconditionally, and while I sometimes put some conditions on my affection like..."you gotta pluck your nose hair", or "your shirt is on inside out". The fact of the matter is I love him, and don't know what I would do without him.

Yet, I am home alone (still have the 10 year old) and it has been such a long time I feel so grown up!
It's funny how when we were younger he was gone all the time on business trips, and I was alone for nearly two years, only seeing him on the weekends. I hated it at first, but then found I really liked it. I found an independance I didn't know that I had .

But it has been since 02 since he has worked away from the house far enough that he had to get into a car and drive. Having a home office is wonderful, or working 50 feet from the back porch is remarkable.
Its great having him home for our family meals (which he often cooks) and having him here for a hand on heavy things that I can't do myself.

One of the most wonderful things about having him home is that since the 10 year olds birth he took more of an active role in the day to day life of raising this child. With our two eldest, we were younger, and it was harder to make ends meet and he had to be gone so much that most of the child rearing was my responsibilty but with the youngest he has been a literal Mr. Mom. So much so, I think the older two are often times jealous.

Time is something that we can't buy. Health is marginally available for purchase, and the time that we have spent together has been priceless.
While there are material things that we all would have liked, persuing ones dreams is far more valuable and satisfying.
I'm grateful to the husband that chases his dreams from his home office, and takes such wonderful care of me. I'm grateful for the sacrafices that he has made to spend the time with me and our children.
It takes a brave man to persue his dreams and rely on only God, himself and his talents to put his face to the wind and keep pushing on in no matter the conditions or enviroment. It has never been easy, sometimes it is really really hard, and sometimes it's sooo sweet and perfect that I wouldn't trade it for all the hard times.

Thank you Honey, I miss you already!

There is Simply Nothing Like a Fresh Peach

2009-07-24T11:53:00.001-04:00

The other day Tide and Thyme had a recipe for Peach and Berry Crumble. The recipe looks divine and I plan on making it, the problem is....can I keep the peaches long enough!?!?!

I have a passion for a fresh tree ripened peach. There is nothing like the taste, the warm juice running down your chin when, the fuzzy's prickleing your lips, the pain in the back of your jaw as your taste buds are overwhelmed with both sweet and tart, and pure taste of glorious summer sunshine all in your mouth at one time.

I know, I know, I sound like I could be writing an adult novel, but peaches are truly a very sensational fruit.

This particular peach was so perfect I had to place it on my stand and photograph it.

Here's your food porno for the day!

Check Out These Roses!!!!

2009-07-14T00:03:00.003-04:00

This year I was completely stupified by these roses granduer.
I mean all of this from a cheap rose bush from Walmart 6 years ago.
They are 'Queen Elizabeth' Roses, and I simply find it unbelievable that this cheap Walmart bush would produce such reliable beautiful blooms year after year.
Much earlier this last year, a Nor'easter knocked down their faithful trellis that held them up since they were purchased.
On Birthday's Mother's Day and Easter, my children always buy me a rose bush or another type of perennial for me to plant in our extensive garden. They know how cheap I am and would never go and spend the money that I know is essential to spend on a good rose, from somewhere like Thomases or other reputile nurseries.
However, this beaty, I picked up on clearance at Walmart when I was their shopping for something else one day. I didn't give it a lot of thought after I purchased it. As a matter of fact, I left it on the porch for several weeks un planted before I walked outside and uncerimoniously planted the poor dry thing.
But low and behold just a few day's later the previously pasty white stems were now green and it was growing more!
I will never again judge a book by it's cover, and it was grown in the US, so despite it's meager beginings this rose has turned out to be a such the head turner!

Dorsey's Aloha Cheese Cake

2009-07-04T10:06:00.002-04:00

ALOHA CHEESECAKE
• 1 c Vanilla Wafer Crumbs
• ½ c Macadamia Nuts, Crushed
• ½ stick Butter, Melted
• 1lb. Cream Cheese
• 1 c. Sugar
• 2 T. Milk
• 3 Large Eggs
• ½ t. Vanilla
• ½ t. Lemon juice

• 8 ½ oz Crushed Pineapple, thickened with corn starch & cooled
• Whipped Cream (Stabilized)
• 2 Med Kiwi Peeled, Sliced
• Maraschino Cherries or Fresh Strawberries

Directions:
1. Combine crumbs, butter and toasted nuts; press onto bottom of Pam-sprayed 9-inch spring form pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 10 minutes.
2. Combine cream cheese, sugar, milk, vanilla and lemon juice, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. DO NOT OVERBEAT OR TOO FAST!
3. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees F. 45 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan.
4. Chill. Before serving, top with pineapple, whipped cream and garnish with kiwi fruit.

Stabilized Whipped Cream
• ½ cup cold water
• 2 t. (1 pkg.) unflavored Gelatin

• 1 pt. heavy whipping cream
• 2 T. white sugar
• 1 t. vanilla extract

Whipped cream has a tendency to soften and weep upon standing. The only way to prevent whipped cream topped desserts from looking a runny by the time you serve them is by stabilizing the cream with added ingredients. One tried and true method is to stiffen the cream with GELATIN. It works well and does not affect the flavor of the whipped cream.

1. Chill mixing bowl and beaters for at least 15 minutes before using. Place water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over water and allow softening 5 minutes.
2. Dissolve gelatin by microwaving for 2 minutes, stirring after every minute. Remove from microwave and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes; gelatin must be liquid, but not warm when added to cream.
3. Remove bowl and beaters from refrigerator and pour in cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat together just until beater marks begin to show distinctly.
4. Add gelatin mixture to cream, pouring in a steady stream while beating constantly. Beat until stiff peaks form. Use immediately.
5. Pipe over chilled cheesecake and garnish with fruit

The Simple Things In Life

2009-07-01T23:56:00.004-04:00

Today was one of those hot June days that was sooo hot that we were actually uncomfortable, knowing it's going to be at least this hot from here on out.
Once again we were working on the house and everything was going beautifully. The subfloor is down.
The new tile is down.
The paint is all fresh, and all the fixtures were put back in with very little problem. (well a few).
Raleigh turned on the water, and every thing worked!
We all rejoiced and patted each other on the back for a job well done.
Then we went downstairs....the ceiling was dripping in the corner under the tub!
Dale was here, and he cut it open and found the problem. He gave us specific instructions on what to do, and we have a full day ahead of us again tomorrow.
Raleigh turned the water back off and we made a wonderful dinner of roasted vegetables straight from the garden over rice. It was so delish....we all just loved it!
I noticed while picking some zucks for dinner that the sky was looking pretty ominous over the bay, and seeing the dryness of the garden I really hoped that we would get some rain.
After our delicious meal we all noticed a lot of lightning we always called it heat lightning growing up. But soon the wind began as did the rain.
What a rockin storm we had tonight! It was so intense at times I wondered if there were a funnel cloud in the mix but it didn't get too crazy.
For 22 years our family has sat on the front porch of our Market Street home and watched the storms roll by.
It's funny....not one of us says anything to each other about but by the time the storm is in full swing, the entire family is always present, enjoying the moment together.
One day Raleigh called me from college and was telling me about sitting out under a walkway at her dorm with a couple of her friends enjoying a storm. She concluded she never wanted to live in a home that did not have a front porch for storm watching as it is one of her favorite things to do.
Which makes me realize once again...it truly is the simple things in life that bring us the most pleasure, and create the memories that our children charish the most.

Friends and Neighbors with Skills and Big Toys

2009-06-30T23:13:00.006-04:00

What a day! First thing today, my friend and neighbor came over and showed me what I needed to do to replace some rotten spots in the sub-flooring in the upstairs bath. Well, as he was showing me he ended up doing more than I wanted him to, and it's a good thing, because when he left me on my own with specific instructions on how to cut around the flange on the commode and water pipes...
let's say I was off a tad.

He left me his jigsaw to use even though I insisted that I had one, and when I showed him mine, he smiled and said "you better just use mine". Wow! There is a big difference in the newer jigsaws!

I'll wrap up with my good neighbor fixed my sub-floor and I am very thankful to him for it. He's self admittedly anal about it being just right, and it is.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, my bush beans that I originally thought were pole beans, and my pole beans that I originally thought were bush beans are growing like crazy.
Hubby tried to do a little trellis for them, but they're outta control.
The couple that owns the Bridal Shop have been invaded by a bamboo forest. I called and asked if they would mind if I came and cut a few pieces. They said I could take all I wanted. I got into the beast with my new bow saw and went and cut 12 canes. I stuck them in the back door of the beast and brought them home hanging out of the back the 6 blocks home.
While I was on my way Hubby called and said that Dale was at the house with his JohnDeere and was flattening out the sand!
I am soooo tickled!
Everything on the house is coming together and it is looking beautiful!
No more open pit outside my door!
No more ruts to break ones leg, no more standing water in puddles up to one's knees.
We now have a level surface on which we can now order topsoil and then plant grass!
Dale and his John Deere rock! What we were doing shovel by shovel he took and scraped the entire yard with the front end loader and made it all smooth.
Smiling the entire time, he looked like a little kid playing in a big sandbox. After he was finished he said "I can't call that work"...
Boys and their Toys

Granddaddy is Really Sick and the Garden is Full of Weeds

2009-06-23T23:33:00.003-04:00

Funny how you can tell how things are going in your life by the condition of the things that you love.
My beloved 94 year old Granddad is very ill. He is not bed ridden mind you, as a matter of fact he won't go to bed. He has congestive heart failure and the pressure that laying down puts on his chest is so great, he won't sleep in his bed, but instead, in his kitchen chair.

I find this so very upsetting, and even after a hospital bed has been provided for him, just laying back the littlest bit puts too much pressure on his chest.

I feel absolutely helpless to help him, because even though the smallest tasks are becoming impossible for him, I'm still a child in his eyes, and can only make him do so much.

I garden because of him. He taught me how at a very young age, and my first driving experience was on his old McCormick Farmall Tractor. It is a passion of his, and he has passed it onto me. Now when I go to the garden, I cry. I half heartedly pull the weeds, and I still have to transplant peppers, but I find myself avoiding the garden because my thoughts immediately go to him, and as of right now he will never have another garden, and he has said so.

Oh how these threads that sew the fabric of our lives connect. I know that Granddaddy is in God's hands and all will be in His time, just as I know that I will work my garden until I can no longer do so, and the passion for cultivating ones food has been passed to my children.

No, it's not fun. It's hard dirty work, but when you put up 20 jars of jelly from the strawberries you have grown, or cut up cucumbers in order to make 5 gallons of pickles, or when your making soup and you can go out into your own yard and pull up enough potatoes, onions, and carrots to fill your pot....you have done something real.

It is a basic and wonderfully rich experience, and a gift from my Granddad that I am so grateful to for giving me.

Thank you Granddaddy, I'll get to those weeds.

The Garden is Coming Right Along!

2009-06-06T22:56:00.003-04:00

Everything except for the okra is doing well. I planted 8 seeds and 8 plants came up. They go about 4 inches tall and one day I came out and 1 was completely gone. The next day I came out, and another was gone, and on and on. I now have 3 okra plants as of 5 o'clock this evening we shall see what we have tomorrow. I think some sort of critter is eating them as they didn't die over night they are completely gone. I should run and get more seeds as they are my all time favorite veggie. Perhaps I will place little cages around them.

Also my Lima, Green (two types) and Kidneys are all coming up very nicely too. I do believe that this same critter is ripping these legumes up as well. However, said critter must not care for legumes, or green onions. because I find bean sprouts and onions out of their planting hole laying on the ground every morning.

I have no natural wild rabbits, as the Cat population has wiped them out. I have done my best about informing my neighbors about their cats and asking them to keep them up, and they have, but I believe the damage has been done and it is too late. When I was a girl there were tons of rabbits here in the yard, but that time is gone.

This year I caught 6 cats in the trap that the county brings to me each year. They were all farral and nasty mangy looking things. The attraction to my house is something I simply don't understand.

I will be transplanting all of the pepper plants tomorrow, and am looking forward to tons of green peppers this summer, I am going to find a many recipes and possible and I will share them hear on canning as many things as possible instead of freezing them. I have such fond memories of the wonderul things my grandmother would can every season, they were so delicious and there was always something fabulous to eat.

With the prices of everthing including energy, I think that canning will be the most efficient and cheapest way of storing food, and if done without additives at home in glass jars not aluminum cans the food tastes extrordinary.

What I find so incredible during this time as opposed to the last time our boys were ate war in a variety of theaters, and our economy was doing so poorly our government encouraged us to plant what they called "Victory Gardens" . This is simply not the case this time,and as a matter of fact there is a bill in congross that will eliminate all backyard food production and limit food production, to liscened corporate farmers only. Call me paranoind if you must, but something is up! Gardening is the very first thing that we did as per God's instructions. I just don't know how well this legislation would go if in fact passed.

Automatic Fertilizer Machines

2009-05-31T23:03:00.006-04:00

Yes, this is what they are, and their names are Alice and Maxie.
One of my readers remembered that last year I was giving away Monticello Fig cuttings to anyone who was interested. Well they contacted me and offered me these adorable things in exchange for a few cuttings!
How cool is that?

Serendipitously, Billy and I were at a Craig's List appointment picking up some furniture when our hosts sister said she loved Craigs list so much that she was going to try and sell her daughters hutch on it, because the kids couldn't stand looking at it anymore without crying. Knowing of my impending delivery I told her I in fact needed one and she hardley able to believe her good fortune nor mine for that matter came to an extremely fair agreement on price and we were able to bring it home with us that very day!

My daughter is in love, Gunner the Beagle is beside himself. He actually jumps into the cage and licks them all over, and now I have an automatic composting/fertilizer machine that happens to have a very cute house.

I love life, and the seredipity of it all!

Thank you to my new Parksley friend!

The Garden is IN!!!

2009-05-31T22:28:00.005-04:00

And the Angels rejoice and soooo do I!

Finally, after one set back after another, we now have a garden.
I'm sorry I haven't posted pictures and updates sooner, but I have been working my butt off trying to get not only the garden done, but get my house painted as well.

We finally did the last tilling of the garden last weekend and I have spent the week planting and transplanting from a nursery bed that I started most of the plants in.

We successfully transplanted all of those yesterday and today, and we also got the watermelons and beans in the ground too!

While we were waiting for the ground to dry out enough to till last week, we installed a gate around the garden to keep kid, kritters, and karacters out.
My daughter painted a sign expressing our wishes, and it seems to rather effective. As foot traffic has decreased substantially.

Donna, I hope we did everything right. I can't wait to eat some beans! We planted the limas and both types of green beans and the kidneys.

Tomorrow, or Tuesday I am hoping that my baby Bell Pepper plants are big enough to go out into the big garden so I can have the pepper bed filled.

Thanks to all who have participated in tilling, hoeing, listening, and advising. I couldn't have done it with out you!

Let's pray for a healthy garden this summer, and a wonderful bounty to can for the winter.

It's Raining, It's Pouring and Still Not Finished Tilling

2009-05-17T14:11:00.002-04:00

Himself went fishing yesterday in the warm sunny weather, and told me that he would be available today to till the garden....

Beggars can't be choosers.

I did get some seeds planted in the nursery bed, and I did get some work done on the fence. I don't want to finish the fence until I get the bed tilled so that Himself can have room to turn around with the tiller.

Donna has been so kind as to reassure me that 'late' is better than never, and I can spend this untilled time adding to the soil to enrich it more.

I have have bag of horse poo from last year that I added water to under the instruction of my Grandfather who calls it 'Stinky Juice'. I found it yesterday behind a bush where I had tucked it last year to fester, and promtly forgot about.

This should be a wonderful addition to the soil! I also emptied all of my pots from last years annuals into the garden soil.
Donna, has stated that she uses straw, which adds loft to the dirt. I am going to ask my equestrian friends if I can come clean the stables one day and get some.

In the mean time I will relax and know that the garden will be tilled in good time, and I will find something else to obsess about.

Tilling Concrete

2009-05-05T23:45:00.003-04:00

Yes, that is what it felt like Himself and I were doing on Saturday afternoon.
I knew the area had never been tilled, but what I failed to remember was for years the man who used to own the house had parked his cars, trucks and boats in the same area, and it was packed as hard as concrete.
Himself took four passes across it just to cut the sod off of the top.
He then asked if I had a 'pick ax'. I have 3. So to work we went.
We busted up each end of the garden with the pick axes, then he started the tiller again, this time since the tiller was already deep in the dirt it was easier for it to continue cutting into the dirt at the deeper level.
Every time he stopped to rest I handed him a beer (which the next day he informed me that during those breaks he would happilly accept a gatorade) so he wouldn't get dehydrated.
I also wanted to keep him happy cause I knew this wasn't turning out to be a whole lotta fun.
A job that I thought would take anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes ended up taking 6 hours!
We ran the tiller out of gas 3 times and on the last time we were done.
But there is still more to do.
I am particulary happy that it is raining as it is going places that it hasn't been in a long time and thus softening the dirt.
The dirt that feels like concrete, is once tilled, beautiful rich dark almost black dirt, and I am excited for the next clear day that Himself will come till it the final time.
I currently have plants waiting in nursery beds to be placed in the big plot, and I just can't wait.
Thank you to good neighbors with cool toys, that can be used to create so much.
I found out that Himselfs favorite vegetable is peppers....all kinds, and you better believe this man will have peppers coming out of his ears this summer.

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CAKE

2009-05-03T17:04:00.003-04:00

Here is yet another delectable delight from Dorsey's kitchen!

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CAKE
2 cups sugar
1 ¾ cups flour
¾ cup Cocoa
1 ½ t. baking powder
1 ½ t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 t. vanilla
1 cup boiling water
1 cup Hershey's Chocolate Mini-morsals

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans. This is where I add 1/3 cup of mini-morsals to each pan
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely! Frost your cake! 10 to 12 servings.

Variations:
1. ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.
2. THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 9-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
3. BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
4. CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
2 sticks butter
1 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1 box powdered sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 t. vanilla
Fresh Strawberries for garnish

Directions:
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting. I also like to garnish this cake with fresh strawberries on the top and around the sides of the cake.

I Caught a Swarm!!!...and then they left...and Now They're Back!!

2009-04-25T11:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, the 10 year old and I cracked open the bee hives to remove the Queen boxes from within and place the brood frame back in.

When we opened it, there were two veils of wild comb hanging from the lid.
I find it so amazing how obsessive compulsive the bees are, that they fill in a void in the hive to make sure that everything is consistant and complete.

I was surprised how much wild comb they had already constructed given they have only been here for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, in order to place the brood frame in the hive I had to remove the wild comb.

When I broke off the biggest draping veil of comb, I found that it was full of brood at all different stages of development. I felt so guilty that I took out a brood frame from one of the ends and placed the wild veil into an end slot. This way, I won't loose the brood that is already laid but I can also work the hive if it is just one end that is wild.

After removing the Queen boxes and getting everything settled, the 10 year old and I were sitting in the garden talking about what we had found, and eating some of the fresh uncapped honey that was on the wild comb. It was delicious, and we enjoyed every bite.

While enjoying one of the last bites, my phone rang, and it was a neighbor about 8 blocks away who said they had a swarm in their bushes. They knew to call me because of a previous conversation that we had had when they told me that they had a swarm in their eaves, and wanted me to remove it. But that is another story...
Anyway, I told them I would be right there.
The 10 year old and I loaded up the jeep with all of our equipment and were on our way.

We found the swarm in a hedge about 4ft off of the ground. I took my big plastic storage box and cut the branch. The bees fell in the box and I put the lid on it. Easy as pie!

We brought them home and I went scrounging for an extra hive.
In about 15 minutes I had a piecemeal hive put together and we sprayed the swarm with some sugar water and dumped them in the hive.
I couldn't believe how easy it was!

About 5 minutes later there were bees all over the backyard. Just as if they were about to swarm again. I wasn't sure what to do, I was pretty sure I had gotten the Queen, but in reality there was really nothing I could do.

Hubby convinced me to go to the store with him, saying they would be here when we got back or they wouldn't. He was right, so we went to the store.

Low and behold when we got back, they were gone. RATS!!

After unloading the car, I told hubby I wanted to go back to the neighbors and see if there were any stragglers on their hedge.

We cruised down (box in the back) and sure enough there were some bees on the hedge.

I clipped the branch dropped them into the box and brought them home and dumped them into the hive box.

By the time the sun set I wasn't real hopeful that I had the Queen in either bunch, and chalked it all up to an interesting day.

This morning after I came down for my second cup of coffee, I thought I would go and check out the hive. As I approached the box I saw lots of activity and when I got around to the front with much joy I discovered dozens of bee's going in and out of the entrance!!!! YIPPEEE!!

I really don't know what happened. I don't know when I actually got the Queen, I don't whether she left and came back, I just don't know.

What I do know was that with all of that drama, and a little effort, I now have a new colony!

Mud, Mud, Go Away!

2009-04-24T00:51:00.004-04:00

I don't think the carrots, collards, peas or spinach are going to make it.
I think that they drowned.
After days upon days of rain, I can only see mud.
I think I will try again, while it is still cool.
I have never had luck with the early spring stuff, or the fall stuff, and for some reason I thought this year would be different.

Himself, informed me that the tiller is still broken, and I am hoping that he works on it this weekend so we can get the bigger stuff in the ground.

Hopefully, I won't slip and fall in the mud as I go into the bee hives tomorrow!

Mud, Mud, Go Away!

2009-04-24T00:51:00.000-04:00

These Will Make Ya Fat, But You'll Enjoy Every Bit of Em'!

2009-04-14T00:06:00.003-04:00

An Old Friend; Dorsey Marshall was the Pastor of a church I once attended. Dorsey is a great speaker, and motivator. His sermons can bring a tear to your eye, or have you rolling on the floor with laughter, but always have everyone in the room reflect on the Gods Love and how important God is in your life.

However, Dorsey has been known to be long winded on occasion, but he would often make it up to those who regularly attended a wonderful treat of an invitation to dinner at his and his lovely family's home.

Not only can Dorsey make you cry during his orations but he is one of the best cooks that I know, and I'm sure his wonderful culinary creations have brought many to tears they are sooo delicious.

He has been making contributions on Facebook and offering a Bi-Weekly Article in his Notes called the 'Success Minute'. These little nuggets of truth and motivation are always a word in time and I enjoy them.
However, when Dorsey posted a pie recipe last week I asked him if he would consider writing his recipes on a regular basis...he never answered, but low and behold the following recipe was up on Facebook this morning.

Thanks Dorsey, I can't wait to try the recipe this Sunday. Billy's sister is coming with her husband and children, this will be a recipe they will all enjoy!
Happy Easter!

DORSEY'S SLIPPERY DUMPLINGS

This is a recipe I have used that was created by my Mother when I was a kid. We had Chicken & Dumplings for every Sunday Dinner. I like to use a fresh "old hen" for the best broth.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Cups All-purpose Flour
• 2 T. Crisco Shortening
• 1 t. Salt
• 1/2 Cup Hot Tap Water

DIRECTIONS:
1. Blend flour, salt & shortening until the mix looks "mealy"
2. Slowly add water and mix until dough forms a soft ball. (I use a food processor)
3. Empty onto a well-floured board and roll out until about 1/8 inch thick. Sprinkle flour over strips to prevent sticking. Then, cut into 2-inch strips and cut again into 2-inch squares
4. Drop squares into hot boiling broth and cover and cook about 15 minutes on top stove or 30 minutes in 350 degree oven. Broth should make nice smooth gravy. These dumplings are great for chicken, beef and pork chops
5. This recipe will feed about 4 people, unless they are real “dumpling-maniacs” like me. ENJOY!!!!

It Was a Blustery Day in Poohville Today!!

2009-04-13T00:17:00.004-04:00

Today was a beautiful day! What a wonderful time we had as a family.

We sat together as a family and shared a meal that I learned every step of from my Grandmother who is now passed.

My Grandaddy ate more than I've seen him eat in a long time. He's 94 and always says he's not hungry, but he ate today.

On the menu was Ham, Home Made Macaroni and Cheese with extra sharp cheddar, Cole Slaw, and Collard Greens that were cooked with some Ham bits, garlic, onions and a bit of red pepper.

Last but not least were the biscuits.

My Aunt, my deceased mothers sister was here too. I love seeing her.

Her mannerisms, some of her voice fluctuations and her beauty remind me of my mom, and I feel I get glimpses of her, here and there.

Funny how it is those bittersweet things, that bring us the most joy, yet make us feel so hopeless and helpless.

On this day of our Risen Lord, I enjoyed and am thankful for spending time with my family who is still here and who isn't.

What does the title have to do with this story? Not much, I thought when I titled it, I would talk about the constant wind and blue skys at my Granddads, but I got led in an other direction.

But it was really windy at Grandaddy's and pretty chilly.

I Finally Get to Dig!!!

2009-04-08T00:46:00.005-04:00

Sunday was such a glorious day, and with all of my energy being focused on the City Council Elections I have been mourning the loss of my time that I so easily could have spent in the garden.
Yet, with Sunday's glory, I made up for lost time; and boy am I sore!

The kitchen garden bed is weeded and hoed, and ready for seeds.
One my readers was so | Direct Links | Movies world | Software world | Download PC Games | Mediafire Links | Celebrity Picturesthoughtful she sent me an express mail package filled with open pollenated seeds. I cant' wait to get in them and see what's there!

My Bee's arrive on the 11th, and I hope to have Himself's Troy Built Horse over here by then to turn this earth so we can get busy!

Thank you sooooo much for the seeds!

I'll keep you posted on what kind they are and what their progress is.

Toodles!

I'm calling it a night...

One Day Till Spring Yippee!

2009-03-19T12:15:00.005-04:00

This was written in an email to me this morning.

Yes spring is here and all us who love the warmth and sunshine are rejoicing.

I have been busy campaigning for office. I am running for a Council Seat in our town and this campaign is consuming huge blocks of my time.

I am hoping that I will get the garden tilled and ready for planting in the next week. I know, I know it should have already been done, but it's not. However, I do have a new plot to work, and am very excited as it is twice as large with twice as much sunshine!!!

Now I will be able to dedicate the garden right outside my back door to herbs, and the much larger plot to real veggies!

Oh Joy!!!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Spring Fever Hits the Slackers

2009-03-01T09:57:00.005-05:00

Friday morning was so warm and sunny, I looked forward to a wonderful day. It exceeded all expectations!
Hubby went downstairs and got us a cup of coffee and when he came back up he said that #1 Son was in the backyard.
I asked what #1 was doing and he said he had a hoe in his hand was cleaning the sod overgrowth off of the brick path! What?
I asked him if he said anything to him and hubby replied 'Good Morning'. He said he didn't want to rock the boat.
I agreed and relished in the thought of someone else actually working in the back yard.

A few minutes later I was dressed and went down stairs and #1 announced that he was going to build a new arbor for the wisteria vine that has eaten the shed and demolished the old arbor.
I quickly replied, "Okay, do you need me to do anything"? He said he didn't he just wanted to hang out and play in the dirt.
I think he must have fallen and bumped his head!
Soon after his sister woke up and joined him in building the arbor. They trimmed limbs from the cedar tree to use in their construction of the arbor, and it has turned out to be quite sturdy.
This is their first attempt at cooperatively building anything, and while it is certainly not perfect, I am so happy with the thought and the attempt.
I love the crude twig furniture style, and I think that the arbor will look beautiful when everything starts greening and the wisteria comes into bloom.

It's Time to Order Bee's!

2009-02-15T14:14:00.004-05:00

I purchased new Bee's yesterday.
Two colonies with one queen each to be exact.
I ordered them from the Walter T. Kelley Company in Kentucky.
They were very reasonable in today's market, and they will be shipping them out on April 11th.

This year I ordered Italian Bees.
When I first started beekeeping my first bee's were Italians, and they were very gentle and very good producers. They kept the hives extremely clean, and I was very pleased with them. After the third year the queen got tired and they started swarming. I caught two of the swarms, but they never did as well as the original colony.

Two seasons ago Karol and I purchased new queens. These were Russian queens.

These girls started swarming immediately. It seemed like that was all that they would do. While they were pretty docile and easy to work with, they were messy and didn't fill up one honey box at a time. They would work different boxes all at the same time leaving honey here and there within the hive. Additionally, I don't think the queen was quite as busy laying eggs as her Italian predecessor, although I could be wrong as it was a little hard to tell when they were constantly swarming.

Watercolor Classes at Worcester County Arts Council

2009-02-05T15:28:00.001-05:00

For Immediate Release

Worcester County Arts Council is pleased to offer the following watercolor classes instructed by an award winning local artist, Barbara Doyle Schmid.

Still Life – Friday, February 13

Values and Landscapes – Friday, March 13

Flowers – Friday, April 10

Each class will meet from 9:30 – 2:30 pm. at the Worcester County Arts Council’s Arts & Education Center located at 6 Jefferson Street in downtown Berlin.

Award winning artist, Barbara Doyle Schmid, takes you on a watercolor adventure where you learn watercolor techniques which will help you on the journey to beautiful watercolor paintings.

Step-by-step demonstrations and a relaxing style promise you a fun learning experience in an encouraging and supporting atmosphere.

Come and enjoy this class and let your creativity soar!

Space is limited so please call the Arts Council to enroll: 410-641-0809

Cost of each class: $30.00 Members of WCAC receive 10% discount.

Supply list will be provided upon registration.

For more information about classes and workshops, please visit our website at www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org

Delmarva Photographers Interpret Their World

2009-02-04T08:58:00.001-05:00

The Worcester County Arts Council is pleased to announce the February and March Visual Arts exhibit, featuring photographs by the members of the Ocean Pines Camera Club.
Examples of work by 13 local photographers, whose creative and sensitive eyes capture and speak of their personal view of the world, will be on display.
Among these artists are:
Cathy Halligan,
George Hawkins,
Marcia Hirsch,
Antonio Russo,
Robin Harrison,
Betty Green,
John Logis,
Jan Grady,
Jack Andrews,
George Eitel,
Gail Philippi,
Steve Franklin and
Walt Schumacher.
Established in 2004, the Ocean Pines Camera Club is an active group of individuals who share a common interest in photography. Although their name was selected as the “Ocean Pines Camera Club,” the group has always welcomed photography enthusiasts from the greater eastern shore area.
Their activities include field trips, workshops, and numerous other photography related activities.For more information about the Ocean Pines Camera Club please visit their website www.oceanpinescameraclub.org
The opening reception of the exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be on Friday, February 13, 2009, from 6-8 p.m., at the Arts Council Gallery located at
6 Jefferson Street in Berlin.
The exhibit will be on display through March 31, 2009.
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, and on the occasional Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm. For more information call the Arts Council at 410-641-0809 or visit their website:
www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org

Learn to Paint on Porcelain Tiles

2009-01-28T14:48:00.003-05:00

The Worcester County Arts Council is pleased to offer a Painting on Porcelain Tiles Classes on Tuesdays, March 24, March 31, and April 7 from 10 am – 12 noon at the WCAC’s Arts & Education Center located at 6 Jefferson Street in Berlin, MD.

Instructor, Jayne Collinge, will demonstrate the techniques required to transfer a design onto a blank porcelain tile and apply paint to add color and depth. Participants will choose to paint from the following designs: fruit, flower, beach scene or a seascape to be transfer on the piece of porcelain tile. The piece will then be fired in Jayne’s kiln and set in frame to be used either as a wall hanging or a trivet.

Step-by-step demonstrations and a relaxing style promises you a fun learning experience in an encouraging and supporting atmosphere. No previous experience necessary.

The cost for each class is $25.00 or $60.00 for all three classes. All supplies are included. Members of the WCAC Arts Council receive 10% discount upon registration.

Jayne Collinge has been teaching porcelain art since 1973 and has won many awards for her work. She has ornaments in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection and has been commissioned to custom paint pieces for many that include Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton.

Space is limited, so please call the Arts Council to register 410-641-0809.

Registration deadline is March 18, 2009.

Random Stuff

2009-01-24T01:24:00.003-05:00

It's late Friday night early Saturday morning and I just got home from playing Bunko with the girls.
On the way home I stopped to see a friend at a local Real Estate office who is burning the Midnight Oil working on marketing strategies in this impossible market.
It was nice to see her and catch up on each others lives, I haven't seen her since before the holidays.
When I got home the 9 year old had two of his buddies over to spend the night.
They are hard at playing 'Rock Band', and doing really well.
I find it so funny that they all run around singing songs that I grew up listening to.
However, it was hard to find out all of the lyrics to many of the songs when I was growing up, now with games like this the lyrics fly across the screen, and what I have quickly realized is how suggestive so many of these are.
I had just not ever really ever given any thought to Journey's 'Anyway you Want It' until I heard the 9 year old singing it!

I was checking my email and a friend that we met in Jackson Hole sent us a link to his new website. His name is Grover Radcliffe and he lives in Jackson and is a retired fellow who spends his time out in nature taking photographs of what he sees. Which is always absolutely beautiful.
When he is not out roaming the wild blue yonder he is warming himself by the fire in the lobby of the Trapper Inn on Cache Street in Downtown Jackson. From his leather chair he offers touring advice to hikers and photographers, tells great stories of his adventures and befriends everyone who walks through the door.
Dressed in Safari garb with a big camera around his neck he totally fits the part, and if the Trapper Inn doesn't have him on staff, they should.
Yes, he enjoys the free coffee and breakfast the Inn provides to his guests every morn, but he offers the warmth and fellowship that so many Inn's lack.
Anyway here is the link to his website http://www.mywyhomingpics.com/about.html
If you have never been to Wyoming or Jackson Hole you have to put it on your 'bucket list'. It is the place where everything you have ever seen in western wilderness is. I hope you enjoy Grover as much as we did.

Well it is really too late for decent people to be up, so I'm calling it a night.

I Know I Know, It's only 25 Degrees Outside, But....

2009-01-15T00:51:00.004-05:00

I'm already getting Spring Fever!

I found some garlic in the fridge the other day that had started to sprout, and I want to plant it.
I am already starting to take inventory of my seeds and I am looking for the most logical place to put grow lights to get my peppers, and tomatoes started not to mention my broccoli, cabbage, leeks, spinach, Brussels sprouts and onions.

I am going to have 3 plots this year.
My kitchen garden for my | Direct Links | Movies world | Software world | Download PC Games | Mediafire Links | Celebrity Picturesherbs and a few tomatoes and peppers, onions and garlic.
Then a cool garden for my spinach, cabbage, lettuces and tender things.
The Big One. This will be my big patch, for my beans, taters, melons, cukes, squash, corn and pumpkins.

I will go over and visit Himself this weekend and make an appointment with his tiller for a first run through the dirt. This activity always serves to motivate me to get even more things in the garden accomplished.

Oh, I can't wait for the dirt to get crammed under my fingernails!

Is It Just Me, or is there a lot in the Media About the End of the World?

2009-01-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

Is it just me, or have you noticed it too?
Every time I turn on the Discovery Channel, the Learning Channel or the History Channel, there is yet another show being promoted about the end of the world?

Last weekends lineup was enough to scare anyone to death. There were shows about 2012 and the end of the Aztec calendar.
There was a show about Nostradamus, and his prophesy about 2012.
Then there were the ‘Bible Code’ guys who believe that the past present and future are hidden in some sort of mathematical code within the letters of the words in the text.
Last but not least there was the show about a giant asteroid plowing into the earth, they have an exact one in mind, named ‘Wormwood’ (isn’t that a word in the Bible too?) that is set to make a pass by the Earth in ….2012!

Ooh, and I almost forgot!

The biggest most active Volcano on the planet that just happens to be called Yellowstone National Park has experienced over 500 earthquakes since December 26th 2008. It is estimated to go off every 65,000,000 years and that should be around….2012!
I am starting to wonder about all of the media around many of the things that we find important.
Are they trying to scare us to death?
It reminds of the movie ‘Wag the Dog’.
Keep the public focused on one thing while ‘We’ do another.

So what do you think?

Is this coincedence?

Is this misinformation, meant to scare us?

Or do you think it’s real?

I’m going to take the position, that there are a lot of valid points brought forth in many of these therories, but, I am very suspicious as to why there is so much attention brought to it now?

Remember, Y2K? Nothing ever happened with that, and look how many millions of dollars changed hands because of the fear instilled in the unknown.

Baltimore is Beyond...

2009-01-09T21:13:00.004-05:00

My fathers parents are from Baltimore and I remember going there when I was little and it looking like a pretty okay place.
But since becoming an adult and going to Baltimore the few times I have had too, my grandparents words whirl through my head because I can't comprehend the vast difference between what my family told me and what I presently see.
What happened to this town?
Right along the water front where the Chesapeake Bay comes into Baltimore is the Inner Harbor. Which is a beautiful. National restaurants have come in and brought life back into an area that was all but dead save a few working docks. After the death of the industrial revolution companies like Bethlehem Steel, and McCormick Spice Company, Bromo Seltzer, and many many more, all ceased operations in Baltimore and over the years until present, blue collar neighborhoods have turned into absolute squalor.
Now streets that were once filled with families, and children playing hopscotch, are now empty and bleak, where gangs run the neighborhood, and it takes nerves of steel to ride down it's streets.
One tenth of the particular block that we were on was actually legitimately occupied. By that I mean they had a mail box outside, there were lights on, and they had a real door. The rest of the Town houses had boarded or cement block covered windows and doors. Many of which had been torn down and broken into where one can only imagine what for.
I witnessed at least a 1/2 a dozen drug deals being conducted yesterday, and the man who lived in the house next to the one which we have up for auction was standing on his front stoop talking on a two way radio.
As I got out to take pictures, I could feel the unseen eyes from all directions peering at me out of blackened windows.
I went about my business calmly and coolly so as not show any weakness.
The empty oppressive feeling of this place is enough to push one over the edge to become a 'gang banger' or to simply slit ones wrists. The buildings are grey, the sky was grey, and not a tree or shrub on the entire street.
Once hubby hung up the signs and 'take one' box our work was done.
I got back into the car and the 9 year old was beside himself.
He was aghast at the condition of the neighborhood. He said he had never seen anything so sad, so ugly, and horrible. He couldn't believe that these conditions existed in our country, let alone our state. He said that the very worst neighborhoods in our town were a hundred times better than these, and he was so grateful for what he has.
I like to take our kids to other cities to see the way other people live. It is an education that really doesn't take too much explaining. They learn much through observing lifestyle differences.
It is very rare that we have a property in a neighborhood such as this, most of the properties that we have auctioned are more often than not 'McMansions' that the person can no longer afford and they need to sell it immediately.
The kids are always impressed by the beauty of most of these homes but, see the bittersweet reality, that the family purchased something that they really couldn't afford and have had to move on to something much smaller, and their hopes and dreams dashed.
The other thing about Baltimore, is it is a victim of the late 20th Century idea of
"Since all of the industry has left, let's make it a tourist destination!". Many cities across the country have fallen into this trap set for them by ill-equipped leaders that went to a convention and heard how great one town did by trying this, and thought it would be a great idea for their town.
The problem with this concept is very few cities are equipped to be tourist destinations, and what often ends up happening is that everything around the tourist area is beautiful and pristine, but go two blocks away from it and the contrast is astounding. Tourism is not an industry that produces anything tangible, and without real and tangible industry the city is simply not healthy and can't survive.
Very few of the residents even go to the tourists attractions, and jobs in these areas are mostly minimum wage retail, or service jobs, that are now filled with many foreign students on work visa's.
Where do the people who actually live here work? In the area we were in, it looked like they worked the block. In better neighborhoods it looked like they worked in the service industry; probably holding down two or more jobs. The really high end stuff is right next to the stadiums and hospitals or completely out of downtown. These folks work in theses places as the prices are so rediculous it would take a doctors salary to pay for them.
Yes, of course there are the universities and the hospitals. But there is no longer anything for the average person without a Degree to earn a living that will support a family. Service Industry jobs aren't Bread Winner jobs, and with out those jobs the people leave.
What is left?
Degreed Professionals who work at the Universities, Hospitals, and other high level jobs but there is nothing left for the average Joe, and the city is dying.
How sad.
My Grandparents spoke so fondly of the old Baltimore that was so safe, so friendly, such a prosperous city...

It's a New Year and What are We Gonna Do?

2009-01-01T13:48:00.003-05:00

Now is the time to turn the tide of our lives and set sail in the direction that we have been promising ourselves we would do for a long time.
I know, I know, we get off to a great start and by the second week of February, were sunk.
Wouldn't it be great if we were more self disiplined to keep those goals and dreams alive and see them to fruition?

I don't think we should be so hard on ourselves though. There are many many areas of our lives that we do well in, and we need to look at those areas and find out what it is about those places that we are able to be successfull and try to apply the same actions to places where we aren't so successful.

I really believe it is a matter of breaking it down and getting to the crux of it. We make things so difficult for ourselves, beat ourselves up, and then have a low outlook of our being.

We better raise our heads and start respecting, and taking care of us. We spend so much time on taking care of others that we don't take aside the 'MY' time.

I am determind this year not to focus on the usual, diet, exersice, and usual resolutions. Instead, I am going to focus on what is really just plain 'Good' for me, what's 'Right' for me, what's the 'Best' for me. Kinda like what we do for our kids.

Why is that so hard for us to do for ourselves?

I am not going to go on a diet. I am going to take each meal and break it into every morsel and do what is right, what is good and what is best.

I am excited by this. I know how to judge these things for my kids, so I know I can do this for myself.

What a relief, the pressure of imminent failure isn't there. I'm just going to take care of me! The great thing is that if I take care of me, like I take care of my family, then I will be better equipped to be an even better wife and mother, and hence be a better friend, a better citizen, a better person.

Happy New Year Everyone!
Remember, don't be hard on yourself, rather simply just take care of yourself!

It's not only a New Year, but it's a New Day!

God Bless!

The Most Satisfying of All Cookies!

2008-12-14T20:28:00.008-05:00

This is undoubtedly my most very favorite cookie!
It is sweet, it is salty, it's texture is perfect, and....it's Chocolate!

Chocolate Thumbprints

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of confectioners sugar
6 sticks of butter
8 cups of flour
Sprinkles
Fudge Icing (I use pre-made)

Cut butter into pats
Mix sugars
Cut butter into the sugars
Mix in flour until batter holds shape.
The only way to really do this is by hand as I have KILLED 6 food processors trying to make it easier.

Take a big handful of dough, roll it into a ball.
Roll into cylindrical shape about 6-8 inches long.
Roll log into a plate (oval platters work best) of sprinkles and press firmly so that they stick.
Cut log into 1/2 - 3/4 in slices (I like mine thick)
Place cut pieces onto a parchment lined cookie sheet about 1 inch apart and stick your thumb in each cookie to make a nice indentation.
Bake for 45 to 1 hour on 275
Cool completely!
Fill pastry bag with fudge icing and liberally fill in your thumbprint with a nice swirl of icing.
Let set completly before storing, as fudge will become firm and store and ship very nicely if left overnight uncovered.

You will have dozens of cookies that you can give as gifts and will become a family favorite!

Being Sick Really Sucks

2008-12-13T00:20:00.002-05:00

You know last week I wrote how sorry I was was that I wasn't keeping up to date my blog and I that I would get back into the swing of things.

So Much for that Intention....it's almost as bad as me not going to church for six months.

Earlier this week, my daughter and I started preparing to make Christmas cookies.
It took us nearly a day to procure all of the ingredients, but by the time we finally did, we were beat.
I then became ill, and she ended up doing most of them alone, and she did a beautiful job I might add, all with tips and advise from me from my room.

I promise that I will take pictures of the delectable creations and provided recipes for anyone interested.

They turned out really beautiful, and I am very proud of her for going through with this huge project and getting so many done.

I'll keep you posted

It's Been a Long Long Time...

2008-12-01T23:22:00.004-05:00

I just couldn't get it together. The fam and I went away on a working vacation to Wyoming in September and were gone for the entire month.
Wyoming is a place that I could stay forever.
It is the Wild West alive and well. The mountains are so incredibly large and majestic that cause one to pause to just take it in. Just going to the grocery store can be a majic moment. especially, when a group of hangliders were cruizing over the parking lot of the store heading to their landing field.
It is so busy with interesting things that people engage in. People walk a lot, or they ride a bicycle, and in the winter, they cross country ski, every where they go that they go on their bikes in the summer they ski to in the winter.
There is a buzz of energy there, that inspires one to take part in all of the outdoor activities.

The sky is almost always blue, and when there are clouds they are large and volumonous, but the sky is so much larger than the sky that we se here, as we just can't see it all. With such low elevation, one doesn't get the sense of openeness that one gets in the mountains and on the plains.

The town where we stayed has a beautiful community center that boasts a 12 lane Olympic size pool that is also equipped with the diving platforms and low and high diving boards. They also have a water park inside as well it has 8 different slides and play areas for all ages including adults.
The Community Center also has a sauna and steam room, full gymnasium for all gym sports, a couple of racket ball and squash courts, and a full weight room and palates room.
Why am I telling you this? Because I was stunned when my son wanted to go and I took him in to get him signed up. I asked how much it would be for him to hang out in the pool and use the diving boards and water park and play in the gym if he wanted.
The Grand total.....$2.00 per day for out of towners! $12. per year per person if you ar a resident!
This is absolutely unreal. The place is beautifully kept, it is open every day all day long and close at 9 every evening.
We were staying about 1 mile from the center and with town being so pedestrian and bicycle friendly I allowed the 9 year old to ride his bike to and from the the Communtiy Center. Usually, his ride home pushed him over the edge as he played hard all day long that he didn't have much energy to attack the hill that our home was on. But he insisited on riding the bike and getting home on his own. He really enjoyed the leverage we gave him there, and liked his independance. He met some skate kids and they taught him how to skate hills. He also hooked up with some kids who are on the swim team and we hung out with them and he did the things that they did to train.
It was a beautiful time. In a place where I feel a huge sense of personal safety, and excitement to do more.

I would like to go back and make a home there. At lease a part time home.

Something Beautiful Emerges

2008-09-04T02:20:00.003-04:00

I often ask myself 'How can anyone every question the realness of God'?
Everywhere I look; especially during the spring and the summer, I see his work at every turn! The other day, God was busy on my back porch bringing forth a new butterly from it's pupa.
The chrysalis must have been there for quite some time and I hadn't paid any attention to it. But then the other day when I witnessed the emergence of this beautiful creature, it brightened my day. It gave me assurance, that God was near, and hsi handiwork was so beautiful I found myself smiling outwardly.
It reminded me I need to slow down and look at all of the things that I am surrounded by. Even my old beatup Hoosier Cabinet, on your back porch that's just there.
Check it out you never know what you'll find!

They're Off!

2008-08-31T09:01:00.001-04:00

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

2008-08-30T02:23:00.001-04:00

Sorry for not having made any updates in sooo long, but I have been a little preoccupied. So much so I couldn't even come up with anything to write.
You know your tired when your just brain dead before you go to bed.

Billy and I have a big auction in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in September, and we are sponsors of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. This sponsorship requires us to place banners promoting the event, while also being able to plug our event, in front of 36 participating Art Galleries in Jackson Hole.
Previous sponsors had silk screened duck cloth banners mass produced and hung, but the galleries nor the chamber really liked them. I decided I would go with something completely different. Cow Hide! Billy found an Auctioneer in the Midwest that was liquidating a gun holster factory, and we bought 37 of them. I am using the entire shoulder (which ways close to 20lbs). I designed several stencils and had them made and have spent the last week in production.
For those of you who have never been to Jackson, it is about 30 miles south of Yellowstone and the entire town has an 'Old West' theme that is carried continuously in everything. All buildings are either brick or log, the sidewalks are wood plank and the town square has four Elk Antler Arches surrounding the square. With this in mind I wanted to create a truly unique piece that would fit with surroundings but also last for years to come.
So here's my design, and this is what I have been doing. Thirty six of them! All by hand individually made with the extra added touch of a little gold leafing.
At this point I don't know whether I will be able to blog again, as my hand are sooo stiff, I can barely type.

Musical Revue at The Marva!

2008-08-13T21:38:00.001-04:00

Don't Miss:

August 15, 16, & 17th: MUSICAL REVUE

A benefit performance, presented by The Community Players of Salisbury and directed by Lisa Robbins Moore. An all youth chorus featuring 30 musical numbers and skits of the 1950s era. The program will include a silent auction before and after the show and home made desserts will be sold during the intermission.

Tickets: $15, $12 Students & Seniors- available at the door or : Pocomoke City Hall and Chamber of Commerce, Country Blossoms and T's Corner in VA,
Performance schedule: Friday the 15th, Saturday, 16th at 8:00 PM Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM.

Life Go's On...

2008-08-09T19:40:00.003-04:00

Wow, what a hectic few days! Sorry for no updates.
The cukes are pickled,
The honey is almost all put in jars
The puppy is now suffering from my neurotic obsession with fleas,
The grapes have been weeded,
The marketing letter is written,
The 9 year old has finished Vacation Bible School,
The hedge is trimmed,
The fish tank is clean, and
my hair is blond. Too Blond for my taste, and I'm going for a touch up in the morning.
My mother had a saying... 'You can never be too rich, too thin, or too blond' but I'm thinking I can be too blond. I spent the entire day in the hairdressers chair yesterday. I just wanted to have my color touched up, but I waited far to long. My stylist thought it was soo beyond that she would cover my entire head in bleach, then paint in dark streaks. Didn't work out.
She has been doing my hair for almost 20 years and hasn't screwed it up, so I am definitely going to give her grace. She blew it dry and painted in more dark. Didn't work.
Maybe it's me; but it just looks too blond. I will be in the chair again tomorrow morning to add more brown and hopefully when I'm done I will look like my naturally blond self.

The Pickles are Pickling!

2008-08-05T09:44:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I sliced up all of the cukes and put them in a large pot and started the pickling process.
I mixed the lime in the water, and dumped in the cukes.
They will be ready to be rinsed shortly.
If you are going to use this recipe be sure to rinse the cukes really really well. I suggest rinsing and dumping the fresh water at least 3 times and then filling the pot back up once more for the final soak.
The lime is so strong, that after handling it yesterday my hands are extremely smooth as it removed the top layer of skin on my palms.
Hmm, maybe I could work on a 'Summer Feet' foot soak. Mine feel like leather by this time of year between barefoot gardening and going to the beach, I need some emergency moisturizing.

Pickle Rescue

2008-08-03T13:11:00.005-04:00

Thanks to my neighbor who knows how to grow cucumbers, I will be able to make my Grandmothers Sweet Lime Pickles this summer. After much lesson learning on how not to grow a cucumber, and Hubby throwing the Death Blow to my last remaining plant, I had nearly given up. But I was rescued yesterday when my neighbor met me in Southern Maryland with a case of cuc's that he successfully grew.

I'm going to get the lime today and start the pickles tomorrow.
Thanks Neighbor!
Here's Gran's recipe, it super simple and simply delicious...Enjoy!

Gran's Sweet Lime Pickles Recipe

2 c. hydrated lime
2 gallons water
7 lb. sliced cucumbers, 1/4 inch thick
4 1/2 lb. sugar
1 1/2 tbsp. salt
1 1/2 qt. cider vinegar
2-3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. whole cloves
1 tsp. pickling spice

Mix and stir lime in water. Add cucumbers and let soak for 24 hours. Stir often. Drain. Wash well in clear cold water. Soak 3 hours in clear water and drain.

Make syrup with sugar, salt, vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and pickling spice. (Take bay leaves and red peppers out of pickling spice.) Add green food coloring (1 drop). Put cucumbers in syrup and let stand overnight. The next morning, put on stove and bring to a boil for 40 minutes. Put in hot jars and seal.

The Dog Days of Summer

2008-08-01T10:05:00.003-04:00

Seems like just yesterday we were eagerly anticipating the coming summer. We were getting our seeds started on our window sills, and we just couldn't wait to get outside and feel the warm sunshine.
Not anymore!
The last few days have been stiflingly hot. With the humidity at 100% it's impossible to stay dry and functional unless your inside in the air conditioning.
I know, I know, quit complaining, but it's really hot.
I have plans of taking the decimated corn patch and transplanting the pathetic pepper plants into the area as it has more sun than where they are presently, but the heat is taking away my enthusiasm.
Heat makes me cranky too.
The other night one of my sunflowers was listing and I had been propping it up with a broken shovel, but I wasn't able to get the shovel deep enough into the ground so the plant wasn't pushing the shovel over too. I asked Hubby for some help, and he sweetly said that he would.
He took the shovel out of my hands and dug it deep into the ground, I was sooo happy. However, the bottom of the shovel was not visible to me through the leaves of the sunflower. I lifted them up to see how deep it was then I discovered that not only had he propped my sunflower but he had also severed the main stem of my ONLY producing cucumber! I snapped!
I had 4 cukes on the vine now the vine is dead.
Cukes have been the hardest thing that I have had to deal with this growing season. I started some from seed in the garden and just as they were coming up we had day after day of rain and they washed away. I did this twice. Then the fellow gardeners bought some that were in cups which I transplanted and they died ( they hate to be transplanted). Then a neighbor gave me another two cups of the cuke plants. I placed these in a little nursery bed right next to the back porch and it was here that one of them was thriving. One little plant that was going to town making cucumbers. Maybe I'm taking this far to seriously...but you know a lot of time goes into this stuff.
Anyway, my part time neighbor stopped by after I was done screaming at poor hubby and he heard my tale.
He sent me an email when he got back to his full time home, and said that he was overrun with cukes and that he would meet me at the auction we are having this weekend on the other side of the Bay and give them to me. He knew I really wanted to make some pickles so he took pity on my circumstances. Thanks Neighbor!

So Much for the Sweet Corn!

2008-07-28T00:44:00.003-04:00

As you may have read a couple of weeks ago, I broke down and got a puppy. As you also know I am trying to grow a garden. The two don't necessarily go hand in hand.

The other day after being down at my grandddads I came home and as ususal upon arrival home I give the garden a once over to see how it is doing. But what do I find in the corn???

The Puppy of coarse and he was laying amongst a pile of torn down corn plants from the 4 rows that we had growing. My yard has tons of trees and there were corn stalks everywhere.
I screamed at the dog, I screamed at my kd, I screamed at my darling hubby. Neighbors came by to see what I was screaming about and I told them all that the dog was damned and for them to look at the terrible damage he had done.

Just at that point out of the corner of my eye I noticed something flutterng in one of my tall pines trees...it was a corn stalk!

How did the corn stalk get in the tree? Those very bad Squirrels did it! The squirrel town that lives in the parrell universe next to ours had crossed over into our realm and stolen the corn.

Poor Gunner. Poor Child. Poor Hubby. I had been so nasty to them about letting the Gunner get into the corn, and all along it was the squirrels. I couldn't believe it!

I went inside to get the camera so I could take a picture of the corn stalk in the pine tree. It took me as few minutes as I got waylay ed with my obsessive compulsive behavior. When I got back outside about 10 minutes later, the corn stalk was GONE!

They had taken the evidence so now I cannot even show you what these monsters did.

I will be borrowing the tiller from himself and transplanting some peppers that I have in spot that is a little too shady and they will be nice late peppers.

I'm also going to sow some collards and more onions, and possibly some turnips and rutabagas.

Granddad is Home from the Hospital

2008-07-23T01:31:00.003-04:00

The prognosis isn't good. His will is strong and his spirit even stronger. I don't know how he will deal with this.
He has had 100% clogging of his curated artery for over 20 years and they told him years ago that he wouldn't last long.
He is going to have to take a lot more meds to keep the fluid from building up, and he's gotta keep lots of water in him to keep his kidneys working.
His biggest fear was kidney failure, and now the docs are saying that is what is eventually will happen.
He's always said that he was gonna die with his boots on, and I have always believed him.
My Aunt doesn't live here and doesnt' see him like I do.
If he can he's gonna get up and do what he wants, or he will just roll over and die.
I won't know until I see him tomorrow.
Hopefully the kids will be able to come as well, if not we will still bring the puppy.
He loves Beagles, and Gunner is so sweet he will cuddle right up with him.
To all of you Readers who are Believers; Please send up a few for my Granddad. He's been through soooo much, and while I might not be ready for him to go, I certainly don't want him to be ready yet either, I want him to put his boots back on for a long time.

The Harvest is Coming In!

2008-07-21T15:17:00.003-04:00

After being busy with the bees last week I wasn't paying as much attention to the garden that I had in previous days. When my neighbor arrived home he said "Steph, your not watching your tomatoes the way I am" (He has been watching very closely waiting for a ripe tomatoe to sink his teeth into since his garden drowned in early spring). I grabbed my old wash pan and went out into the garden to check it out.
To my amazement not only did I have tomatoes, but also eggplant, onions and ton's of basil!
I planted two different varieties of eggplant a Chinese white, and a regular purple both of which have turned out beautifully.

I'm so excited with the harvest thus far with the small kitchen garden. The garden in the back however isn't making me so proud. My corn is only about chest high with tiny cobs, my cucs and zuc's have tons of blooms but no veggies yet. Then the peppers! Oh, I'm beside myself with my peppers. All of the hot peppers are going great, yet I have not had one single sweet pepper. I do as of this afternoon have a tiny little sweet pepper about as big as a marble on one plant, so it doesn't look like were going to have many stuffed peppers to eat.

Anyway, I will be grateful for what has come to fruition, and thought I would share the pictures of the garden and the harvest with you.

I can't wait to see the results of the artichoke plants!

Happy Bittersweet Birthday Granddaddy

2008-07-20T23:47:00.003-04:00

Today certainly didn't turn out the way I had pictured it.
I got a call from my Aunt who is visiting my Granddad from Florida this week and she said that Grandaddy had gone to the hospital earlier in the morning for congestive heart failure.
I'm so beside myself. She gave me his number and I called him.
He sounded in really good spirits. He even sounded better than the last time I spoke with him.
I told him this was a heck of a way to spend his birthday and I wasn't going to be able to make fried chicken as I had planned but we bring him a cake and celebrate anyway.
I was sooo proud of all my kids, each of them came to see him and we had a wonderful visit. My Aunt was their, with her granddaughter and we spent a few hours with him just being silly and telling old stories.
I picked up a bouquet of flowers for him, Billy and the kids got cards and we stopped at Food Lion and got a cake. The cake decorating person wasn't there and I had to write Happy Birthday on the cake myself.
He was really surprised to see us all and I think everyone was relieved to see him in such good spirits.
I'm not ready to lose him. I need him too much in my life, and I don't want to go through yet anohter grieving process. I'm scared for him and the things he has to deal with. I wish he would be honest in his communcations with the ones he loves and not let them think that they are getting over on him. It saddens me to think that he looks death in the eye everyday yet hee continues to allow things that make him nuts to continue.

It's Birthday Month!

2008-07-19T22:50:00.005-04:00

Yours truly celebrated my birthday with my family at Seacrets on the 17th. I'm getting old, and not liking it one bit.
It was my daughters suggestion to go to Seacrets as she was already in OC for the day. She promptly encouraged me to imbibe in their signature drink the 'Pain in the Ass' which is a Frozen concoction of Pina Colada layered on a frozen Rum Runner with a Myers Rum floater on top.
After two I couldn't feel the sunburn that I had incurred the day before.
Number 1 Son wasn't able to join us in the celebration as he was working and running around the nightclub keeping the club sounding great. He did stop by the table several times, but it wasn't the same.
We met there at about 5:30 and the 9 year old was having a great time exploring the grounds, although because of the state laws he wasn't allowed to go into the water or on the dock.

July is a big month in our home as Number 1 and my daughter were born 10 and 1/2 months apart. My son was born on July 29 of 85 and my daughter was born on July 9th of 86. Subsequently, they are the same age for 20 days every year. Funny thing is as much as they don't get along on a day to day basis they have become very very close over the last couple of years and it is a wonderful thing to see the love that they have for each other and for the nine year old.

I was out boating today with Himself and Himself's Herself on Himselfs new boat, when I received a call from my daughter telling me she was dropping by but wouldn't be able to stay long. I told her I probably would miss her as we were going to be a couple of hours. When I got home my dining room table was covered with presents. She bought me the most beautiful things. This from the daughter who we have always bought the presents and put her name on the tags for her family. Kids never cease to amaze me. She knows me so well as she bought me things that I would definitely buy for myself.

Tomorrow is my Grandfathers Birthday. We will be going to visit and make him dinner and a cake, and spend time with him. He is so independent, and so strong willed. He doesn't want or need anything, just time well spent with those he loves and those who love him. He will be 94 and he is absolutely amazing. I want to be like him when I grow up!

Sorry I haven't posted any pictures, my husband has had custody of the camera for the last few days, but I have lots to share.

Honey Day Was Huge Success!

2008-07-12T11:02:00.003-04:00

Out of 3 honey boxes with 9 honey frames each (not all had honey) I was able to harvest 5 gallons of honey from the one established hive!

This great news, as last year I only got about a gallon from the same hive.

I didn't rob the new colony as I am letting them get established and let the Queen lay lots of worker brood to collect honey for the hive.

Remember every third bite that you eat comes from a Bee.

If you can and are interested in beekeeping please go buy the equipment and establish a hive.
If you care about your fellow man and yourself and your ability to continue to eat but don't want to personally keep bees; then sponsor a beekeeper.

Two Years ago 50% of the Honey Bee's Worldwide Dissapeared. Last year they are estimating about a 30% loss.

Each and every one of us has to do something to find a way to save the Bees, so please support your local beekeeper.

You can even buy a hive and give it to a beekeeper, they will take care of the bees and work them, and then they will give you 1/2 of the honey from it as an incentive to help.

Albert Einstein said that if the Bees ever dissapeared, mankind would only have approximately 5 years left.

Do your part!
Don't buy hybrid flowers and vegetables.
Don't use pesticides.
Plant lots of Sunflowers and open pollinated vegetables and fruits and let the clover spread through your lawn!
All of this will feed the bee's

Robbing The Bees In The Morning

2008-07-10T00:18:00.003-04:00

I talked to Karole today and she is getting the honey room ready for us for the morning.
I have 3 honey boxes that are brimming. The last time I had that many I had nearly 100 pounds of honey! I'm sooooo excited!
Karole didn't get such a good report as I from Dean. She has three hives with Colony Collapse Disorder.
While we rob honey from her healthy hives, I think that we are going to combine the three sick hives and see if they can get better. Feed them, and cover them in powdered sugar so that the mites won't stick to them as easy.

I'm going make my fabulous chicken taco's and my friend Judy's homemade Pork Tamales.
I spent the afternoon with Judy and her beautiful daughters yesterday.
We haven't seen each other in 30 years, and it was so cool, we just picked up where we left off.
My kids and darling hubby all insisted on coming with, and they all had a good time.
We had crabs and corn on the cob on the deck with entirely tooo much to drink. Later after the crabs wore off Judy pulled out these homemade tamales that she and her daughter Alexandra made, and they were out of this world! They were the best damn tamales I have ever tasted.

So busy busy day tomorow, I'll take pictures and let everyone know how it went.

Good night!

I Think Pack Ratting is an Illness...

2008-07-07T22:30:00.003-04:00

Insomnia crept into my bed the other night and I found myself watching 'Clean House- America's Messiest House' at 2 in the morning.

The featured house and owners were absolutely beyond. Their entire lives were wrapped around what they had and not what they did and who they were. As a matter of fact what they had was who they were.

Why, in the name of all that is sane would someone call a TV show that does what they do, and invite them into their lives and home and want a makeover but not really want to change?
These people didn't want to get rid of anything!!
There house was nearly as bad as the womans house I have linked called 'My Mothers House' (Not mine) it was disgraceful.

The saddest part was that all of this stuff kept them from living an even remotely normal life. They just went out and bought more stuff thinking they were going to feel better and it never did.

I really wish they would do follow ups to these shows. I want to see this couple a year from now.
The entire design team were beside themselves because these people were sooo beyond comprehension. It is amazing they were able to do anything with there house at all yet they did a beautiful job! Yet in my heart of hearts, I don't think these two are gonna be able to handle living in a clutter free world. I just know they're gonna junk it up again.

It's funny, I think about why people would do things like this, and I think back on my own life.
When I was a kid and lived with my parents, my dad was a total neat freak. I even had drawer inspections once a week to make sure all my clothes were folded correctly. As an adult; I refuse to fold my underwear and pj's. It's like my little rebellion.
I have found as I get older I like to have less things. I used to have sooooo much stuff, but stuff is work, and I don't want to take care of it. I hate to dust, and clean!

So my solution has been to have as little clutter as possible thus giving the appearance of a neat house but not always clean house.

The good thing about less clutter when you don't like to clean is that when you do get around to cleaning, you have a lot less to move and deal with and it makes it much easier.

I really hope those people were able to get it together

The Almost Finished Mural

2008-07-04T09:03:00.006-04:00

As I mentioned last week I rescued a friend who got over her head with a mural she was volunteered into doing. The Mural is on the side of a cinder block garage, that has window and a door on the side of it. Originally the Mural only contained a beach. During one of my dips in the pool to cool off and get a faraway perspective of the painting it was bothering me that there was window floating in the middle of a beach scene.
So being my bossy self, I told Kathy I was going to paint a Tiki Hut around the window. Thank goodness she liked the idea. Actually the homeowner is going to turn part of the garage into a pool house, so if they put a counter under the window both inside and out they could actually use it as a bar window. I hope the homeowner takes the suggestion and puts a couple of stools in front, and make use of it.

I'm Such a Sucker!!

2008-07-02T23:22:00.004-04:00

I did it, I finally did it. I gave in, I said yes, I so totally caved. I was completely manipulated into saying YES!

I told the 9 year old man child he could have a puppy.

His evil manipulative 21 year old sister took him to a friends house who had a mother dog with a litter and took pictures of the 9 year old with this puppy; named the puppy and sent the picture to me saying 'Mommy I need a Puppy'!

Is it wrong to call her a B**ch? In this case, I'm not sure it is.

I have successfully been able to ward off the Puppy agenda, by saying things like..."It's a lot of work", or "What will we do if we have to go away again"? And lots of other assorted reasons and sometimes simply resorting to just NO.

But they worked me over and I finally gave in.

Last night was the night. We went and got the dog. He was finally old enough, had been weaned had shot's and wormed the whole bit.
The creature is 'Cuteness in a Can', it is really adorable, but a feel like such a sucker.

The 9 year old was told that he was completely responsible for this animal. The animal is his and he is to take care of him. He is to read dog training books; take him outside every 15 minutes (because I'm completely neurotic about puppy pee on the floor)

The puppy's name is Gunner, he is a Beagle Terrier mix, with short fat legs and a Beagle face. White hair with brown spots and a squishy wet black nose.

The 9 year old stayed up almost all night with the Pup last night, and this afternoon I found him on the couch snoring, with his hand hanging off of the couch into the puppy's bed with puppy asleep on his hand. He was so exhausted!
He came up to me after dinner and thanked me for letting him have the puppy and also thanked me for saying no until now, because he said it was way to much work for him to do before.

I think we are going to do the crate thing so he can gets some rest. I'll go to Wally World in the morning to get one. We put the puppy monster in a box in the kitchen tonight and he yellped for a little while but finally got over it.

I just can't believe I said yes. I know he will grow up and be house broken and all that good stuff, but I avoided it for so long I almost feel like I had another baby.

Pray for me!

Painting Murals

2008-06-28T23:08:00.004-04:00

Kathy called me frantic saying she wasn't able to get a handle on this mural that Alwyn had kinda talked her into. Being that it was Thursday, it was Farmer Girl Day, I couldn't say no!
The Mural is out by an in the ground pool and we painted the garage wall that faces the pool in a beach scene complete with tiki hut and palm trees.
It was perfect work for the week as the temperatures were high and it was a great reason to bring the 9 year old with me to hang out and swim.

Kathy doesn't like to work around people, her creativity flows when she is alone or with one or two other people, but the first day we were there I think I counted 15 most of them being kids.
The second day was better only Kathy the 9 year old and myself.

We hit a few stubling blocks, but overcame them and the mural actually turned out quite good.

The bad news is that now the 9 year old is really sick with a temp of 102.5 this afternoon and 102.1 tonight. After doses and doses of tylenol, motrin and lots of ginger ale he spent the night puking his guts up.

I'm really hoping he's better tomorrow, and he doesn't get the swimmers ears started, I remember when I was a kid it would start like his is then I'd be a mess a few days and ready to get back in the pool again as soon as I could.

I'll show pictures of the mural when Billy get back from CA, he took the pics before he left but didn't download them for before he left.

Painting big stuff like a mural is sooo much fun. I hope the owners will love it when they get back from vacation.

My Bee's Are Doing Great!!

2008-06-26T00:08:00.004-04:00

Maryland Department of Agriculture Apiary Inspector and Master Beekeeper Dean Burroughs came and inspected my hives yesterday.
My 6 year old colony with a 1 year old queen is brimming with honey and Dean says they are doing great.
As I told you in an earlier story, my other colony which I had kept out at my Granddads in Stockton, had died last year. I didn't want to purchase another colony, I wanted to try to start a hive on my own so this is what I did.

I went into my old hive and looked in the brood boxes and found a frame that had two queen brood sacs attached to it. I took this frame which was also filled with dozens of worker bees and placed it in hive in which the former colony had died. I then took two more brood frames out of the old hive; knocked off the bee's and then placed those frames in the new hive as well.

My hope was that the worker bees would feed and take care of the queen sacs and hatch them, then also take care of the brood that I had transferred over from the other hive as well. And it worked!

This is totally amazing to me. From what I have been told this is very iffy and unreliable, but it worked for me and I am stoked!

Dean recommended I feed them immediately as since they are so young there are not yet enough workers to provide enough food for them all yet and the queen will lay more eggs if there is a consistent food source.

Honey robbing time is quickly approaching. Karole and I usually do it the week after 4th of July.
She has a spinner and I help her with her hives and she lets me spin my honey.

I'll keep you posted on how much honey I get.

For all of you who are interested in seeing the robbing and spinning process, email me and I'll be happy to make arrangements so you can come down and be a part. It is an all day event, that involves eating, laughing, maybe getting stung once or twice and at least one bottle of wine.
If your interested in coming let me know and I let you know whats on the menu and you can bring a side. It will be a blast.
With all of the honey we ingest on this day, I don't know what really gives us the buzz, the wine or the honey!

The Older You Get...

2008-06-23T23:25:00.003-04:00

The more involved everything becomes. I had to have a CAT scan earlier this week because I have been experiencing great pain in my abdomen where I had a hernia and surgery to repair it several years ago. Recently the pain has been so bad I went to see the doctor once again, turn out the cat scan didn't show anything and he believes it to be some sort of neuropathology, so he's sending me to some sort of pain manager. What does that mean? Can they fix it or not? I don't want to manage anything else, let alone my side pain.
On another note another doc wanted to do some other things but because of my heart issues I have to have cardiac clearance.
Good grief I have to go to two docs to have who knows how many tests just to see if I am a candidate for such treatment.
I'm coming to believe that getting old really does suck.
Nothing is simple anymore.
Before you go somewhere you have to be sure you have all of your meds, when planning a trip you have to count your meds and possibly order more. These are things that we never thought of when we were young and beautiful and free of such maladies.
Do you think that we get used to being old? I don't want to ... I want to fight it, I'm not ready to be old yet.
My poor Granddad is having such a hard time. He's not feeling good and he is getting injections in his knees that is supposed to re-create cartilage for him. Tomorrow is his last treatment, and so far he says it's not helping.
This year he will be 94, and I am awed by his perseverance, I don't know if I could have gone what he has been through, I'm not even halfway there yet and I'm freakin out.

One of the Best Art Camps Yet!

2008-06-20T23:59:00.006-04:00

As I told you earlier in the week the Worcester County Arts Council was holding their annual Arts Camp.
Each year the week after school is out about one dozen Artists of all kinds, and talents come to Berlin Intermediate School for the week to teach our children who have signed up to participate in the program a bit of their craft.
This year we had a Scupture class, Abrstract Painting, Art of the Islands, Drama, Dancing, Printmaking and Bookmaking, Pencil Drawing, Native American Arts, Leathermaking, Jewelery making, Paper Mache, basket weaving and loom Weaving.
Each child participates in three sessions per day where they work on one or several projects they have chosen in each craft.
This years work was a stunning, as we had so many talented children to work and share with.
On Friday the final day of camp we usually have the children who participated in drama and dance camps do a performance for all of the campers and their parents. We did this again this year, with the added bonus of a wonderful musical group that is from the US but have traveled and lived all over the world studying music and different cultures musical instruments all of which they brought with them today to share with us.
The Group goes by the name of Nada Bhrama (don't know what it means) and they performed great interactive musical numbers utilizing all of these strange instruments from alll over the world and getting our kids to play with them and actually sound good.
Needless to say every child and every adult had a great time with Nada Bhrama as our grand finale they were truly exceptional.
So don't forget next year when this time rolls around again, I have a link on this site to the WCAC, and get your kids enrolled in a great time!
You can also become a member of the Arts Council and when you do you will be included on our mailing list of featured artists who will be on display at the Galleries in Snow Hill and Berlin it is a wonderful organization and one that you can be proud of being a part of .

Fried Green Tomatoes

2008-06-19T22:48:00.005-04:00

My absolute favorite summer treat...Fried Green Tomatoes!

If you have never had this Southern Delicacy; you absolutely must try it.

Super Simple to make, and delicious enough to make you talk to yourself.

I pick the larger of the tomatoes that I have to fry as you get more for your efforts.

Slice the tomatoes between a 1/4 and & 1/2 inch thick and set aside and sprinkle with a little bit of Sea Salt
Prepare two large shallow bowls:
1 with a couple of eggs lightly beaten and
2 Italian Bread Crumbs

Preheat a skillet with the bottom covered in olive oil

Using a fork (or else your hands will be a mess) dredge a tomato into the egg, and then into the bread crumbs, liberally coating both sides.
Place in the hot oil.
You can get about 5 or 6 going at the same time and let them cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side before turning (if you don't you will loose your coating). Once turned cook another 3 to 4 minutes until dark brown, not burned, but close.

Remove from pan and place on platter lined with paper towels. Make a tower of them, as they will be the most popular dish on the table that evening.

I always have to cook twice what I am expecting as I can't keep them on the platter, so now I put the platter in the oven on 'warm' that way passersby don't see them and can't get as easily.

You may need a little more salt and some black pepper, and you want to add this right after you pull them out of the pan.

Sometimes, I sprinkle Parm on them.

These are great served with any summer meal that your making. Sometimes I make them a meal all in themselves with some watermelon for dessert.

This is a must try!!

First Day of Arts Camp

2008-06-16T08:52:00.003-04:00

I'm writing this as I'm riding the bus to Berlin Intermediate School. Today is the first day of Arts Camp, sponsored by the Worcester County Arts Council.
This year we have 18 kids attending from Pocomoke and Snow Hill. Almost double what we had last year.

Grayson is really excited about his pottery class that he has signed up for, and also his cartooning class.

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, and keep you posted as the week progresses.

Happy Day Everyone!

From My Friend Who Can't Have Enough of Them...Dogs

2008-06-13T15:25:00.002-04:00

If I Didn't Have a Dog
I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.
When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.
When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.
I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.
I would have money .....and no guilt to go on a real vacation.
I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.
The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.
My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.
My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.
My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.
I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L,, F-R-I-S-B-E- E,,

W-A-L-K,, T-R-E-A-T,, B-I-K-E,, G-O,, R-I-D-E
I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.
I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.
I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading 'mud' season.
I would not have to answer the question 'Why do you have so many animals?' from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.
How EMPTY my life would be!

Great Past Salad Recipe

2008-06-12T22:53:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine turned me on to a great pasta salad that she said that kids really liked a few years ago. It's true they do like her original recipe.
However, I'm a little bit of a Control Freak and can't follow recipes obediantly and I have added a few things here and there over the years.
I think it's a nice twice to the usual Macaroni Salad, with lots of protien and flavor that can be served as a main dish dolloped on green salad for easy summer dinners.

Steph's Tuna Mac Special

1 lb cooked pasta I like to use bowties or ziti
1 handful of chopped red onion
1 handful of chopped celery
1 can of tuna
3 pinches of fresh dill from the garden chopped up fine
3 big pinches of fresh lemon basil from the garden, chopped up fine
1 can of pineapple pieces or 1/3 of a fresh pineapple cut to bite size pieces
Too much cracked black pepper the bigger the bigger the pieces the better
2 good size pinches of 'Old Bay Seasoning' to taste
Pinch of salt if you must, but it you want more flavor add another dash of the Old Bay

Combine all of the ingredients together, and place in the fridge to chill. This will bring all the flavors together. If it still needs just a little something add a dash of cayenne pepper.

If you don't have the Lemon Basil, and Dill substitute Lemon Pepper instead.
If you add regular Basil, it will change the flavor and essence completely and the dish will head down a more Italian road.

This is a great summer dish on those nights it's just too hot to cook, but you know you and your family needs some sustenance.

Sweat Equity

2008-06-09T17:24:00.002-04:00

I don't think anyone really expected the heat that came on Saturday. Maybe it's going to take me some getting used to but I was absolutely miserable!

I felt suffocated it was so hot.

My friend Carol had a beautiful Belmont Stakes Party at her house with a whole Pig and fabulous sides, and a delightful drink called a Belmont Breeze. I don't know all that was in it, but it was very punchy and fruity not too sweet, and the moment I felt as if the drink was going to my head, I prespired the very thought out of my mind.

After allllllllll of the rain we have had the garden plants didn't know what to do with themselves on Saturday either.
Once Sunday morning arrived the poor Brussell Sprouts were wilted, and droopy. They looked like they wanted a drink of water, but the ground had more than adequate moisture.
Thankfully, the temperature didn't feel quite as hot on Sunday as Saturday's oppression, and by day's end they looked like they felt much better.

I did have lots of weeding to do. As I mentioned last week, when I stepped in to pull a weed my foot sunk in almost to my knee!

I went through with the hoe and cultivated everything and it looks once again like a cared for garden. I am having some concerns for the leeks however, I think the rain was too hard on them as they were all fallen over and looking pretty sad. I took dirt and propped around them, and now today they look a little better.

I still have to cut the grass, as I have been cutting at it, and have yet to complete it.

It's just toooo darn hot.

Maybe after the sun goes down tonight I wack at it some more.

I So Totally Caved In :(

2008-06-07T08:56:00.003-04:00

So after eons of rain, sinking to my knees in my fabulously tilled earth, diligently picking and squishing worms & eggs I find on the Brussel Sprouts, and those pesky little flea beetles that have set up a small country on the Baby Eggplants; I found that I was fighting a loosing battle.

I sprinkled Sevin Dust on them...

I'm an organic failure!

I'm so disappointed in myself.

I'm sorry to my faithfull readers who I know were pulling for me every step of the organic way.

I was simply at wit's end and even with the suggestions from Swampy, my neighbor caught me at a week moment and waived the bag of Sevin in front of me and told how simple it would be, and I So Totally Caved :(

Mental Health Day

2008-06-05T21:33:00.002-04:00

Nothing went as planned today. Karole got called away to the beach by her boys and we weren't able to get together and make scrubs.
Having my plans cancelled allowed me to focus on things that I have been putting off here at home.
Only problem is every time I start one thing it seems to always be connected with another and task that requires my attention and I get frustrated and often end up neglecting the original task.
I have wanted to rearrange the studio for quite some time and as I had told you earlier I was embarking on the 9 year old's room who wanted the Harelequins.

None of this has gotten accomplished because I need to get his old loft bed out of his room. However the plan was to bring the 4 poster out of the studio to replace the loft bed. But I haven't been able to do this because my Granddad has been spending the night with us about once a week because he has had doctor appointments for his knee and at his age it is getting to be too much on him to go to the Dr., and the grocery store and back and forth from his house to mine in one day.
So, I have been picking him up the night before his appointments and he is having dinner with us, which we all have been loving, and he spends the night on the 4 poster in the studio (he doesn't do stairs) and in the morning after breakfast we go to the Docs.
This has been working out well, but has been impeding my renovations. Which is completely fine, as I enjoy the time we are able to spend together and the time my kids gets to spend with his Great Granddad.
With the oldest having flown the coup I'm looking at replacing the studio bed with his bed, but as earlier stated leads me into a whole other project.
Well I did get the studio rearranged and I got some other piddly stuff done. Maybe next week I will tackle the bedrooms.

It's Time to Break Out the Ark Building Kit

2008-06-04T23:03:00.003-04:00

Three nights in a row, and we have received over an inch of rain each night.
The Lettuces are digging it. The Radishes are splitting open. The Tomato's are hanging in there.
The Eggplants are have more flea beetles on them then I can smush. The Onions are doing OK.
The Leeks were laying on their sides today and needed propping. The Beans are poppin, and with all this rain the lawn needs a choppin.

As I was proppin the leeks today I sunk into the mud. I know our groundwater levels were dangerously low this last year, but I'm thinking they are probably OK by now.

Lets hope for a few days of dry weather, without much humidity so we can dry up.

Why Does This Work?

2008-06-02T23:23:00.000-04:00

This is pretty neat
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!

It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read .
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50 <>
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758...
If you haven't, add 1757.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
You should have a three digit number
The first digit of this was your original number. (I.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)
The next two numbers are
YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2008) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

Crazy for Edamame!

2008-06-02T22:47:00.006-04:00

I just love Japanese food and love the ritual of eating edemame.
I'm going to visit the Southern States store and see if I can purchase some that aren't 'Frankenberries'.

I hope I can. They are so fun sit with a table of friends and enjoy!

I Finally Got My Seeds!

2008-06-02T16:04:00.004-04:00

When I first started this Blog a couple of months ago, one of my readers referred me to The Great Sunflower Project
If you go to their site and register they will send you a pack of Sunflower seeds and a form for you to document Honey Bee Activity in your yard after your Sunflowers bloom.

According to their site they were overwhelmed with requests and people who wanted to participate, so it took them a little while to get everyones seeds out to them.

There is still time to take part in this project; especially if you have already started your own sunflowers.

Just click on the link above and print the form and conduct your own study and send it in to them so that they can calculate the data.

Remember... Bees: Responsible for Every Third Bite of Food

Farmer Girl Day

2008-05-30T23:04:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, we ventured to Chincoteague to Danni's house where her daughter Molly taught us how to make sugar scrubs.
Sugar Scrubs are my latest obsession.
We all made our own flavors. Dani made a Rosemary Citrus, Karole made Rosemary Citrus Mint, and I made a cucumber melon, and another one of Gardenia.
I'm going to experiment with them some more this week and see what other concoctions I can come up with.
I made a couple of extra jars and am considery offering for special order sales, with my honey orders.
I have a super busy weekend but I will get busy on lables this week and if I come up with an label that inspires me, I will probably start a line of these products.
I just love them. They smell absolutely devine, make your skin soft and are simply fabulous.

Giving Up Wine...

2008-05-29T18:08:00.002-04:00

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.

I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?"

"No, I had to stop drinking years ago", the homeless woman told me.

Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?" I asked.

"No, I don't waste time shopping," the homeless woman said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive."

Will you spend this on a beauty salon, instead of food?" I asked.
"Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless woman. I haven't had my hair don e in 20 years!"
"Well," I said, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight."

The homeless Woman was shocked. "Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty and I probably smell pretty disgusting."

I said, "That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments and wine."

Flea Beatles....Fiesty Little Things!

2008-05-29T09:02:00.002-04:00

For the last week I have gone out to the garden every day to smush the little black Flea Beatles that have taken residence on the eggplants.
These little things must live in the ground and then jump back up on the plant after I leave.
Each time I go on my killing rampage, I'm able to anihalate about a dozen or so, but if I come back an hour or two later there are just as many back on them.
I have resigned myself to this being my lot in life until the eggplants come off.
Organic gardening takes much more effort than simply spraying the plant with a chemical to kill the pests.
As I'm out there squishing these damned tiny little things two or three times a day.
They are in a way easier to deal with than the cabbage worms. As the cabbage worms are the exact same color as the cabbage plant, and they look like the ribbing in the plants leaf.
I don't have a butterfly net, or else I would catch the little white butterfly's that lay the eggs that turn into the evil cabbage worm, so until I get one of those I have resigned myself to smooshing worms while I'm squishing beetles.
Oh what a glamorous life!

No Left Turns

2008-05-27T12:28:00.002-04:00

I received this in my 'Inbox' today from a friend; I like it because of banter and familiarity it displays amongst family members, and I like it because it portrays the silly things we do to cope in our lives and how through the use of those coping mechanisms we get by, and we get by pretty well.

Hope you enjoy ...

NO LEFT TURNS

by Michael Gartner

This is a wonderful piece by Michael Gartner, president of NBC News.

In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. It is well worth reading, and a few good chuckles are guaranteed.

'My father never drove a car. Well, that's not quite right. I should say I never saw him drive a car. He quit driving in 1927, when he was 25 years old, and the last car he drove was a 1926 Whippet.

'In those days,' he told me when he was in his 90s, 'to drive a car you had to do things with your hands, and do things with your feet, and look every which way, and I decided you could walk through life and enjoy it, or drive through life and miss it.'
At which point my mother, a sometimes salty Irish woman, chimed in: 'Oh, bullshit!' she said. 'He hit a horse.'

'Well,’ my father said, 'there was that, too.'

So my brother and I grew up in a household without a car.

The neighbors all had cars -- the Kollingses next door had a green 1941 Dodge; the Van Laninghams across the street a gray 1936 Plymouth ; the Hopsons two doors down a black 1941 Ford -- but we had none.

My father, a newspaperman in Des Moines , would take the streetcar to work and, often as not, walk the 3 miles home.

If he took the streetcar home, my mother and brother and I would walk the three blocks to the streetcar stop, meet him and walk home together.

My brother, David, was born in 1935, and I was born in 1938, and sometimes, at dinner, we'd ask how come all the neighbors had cars but we had none.

'No one in the family drives,' my mother would explain, and that was that. But, sometimes, my father would say, 'But as soon as one of you boys turns 16, we'll get one.'

It was as if he wasn't sure which one of us would turn 16 first.

But, sure enough, my brother turned 16 before I did, so in 1951 my parents bought a used 1950 Chevrolet from a friend who ran the parts department at a Chevy dealership downtown.
It was a four-door, white model, stick-shift, fender skirts, loaded with everything, and since my parents didn't drive, it more or less became my brother's car. Having a car but not being able to drive didn’t bother my father, but it didn't make sense to my mother.

So in 1952, when she was 43 years old, she asked a friend to teach her to drive.

She learned in a nearby cemetery, the place where I learned to drive the following year, and where, a generation later, I took my two sons to practice driving.

The cemetery probably was my father's idea.
'Who can your mother hurt in the cemetery?' I remember him saying more than once.

For the next 45 years or so, until she was 90, my mother was the driver in the family.

Neither she nor my father had any sense of direction, but he loaded up on maps -- though they seldom left the city limits -- and appointed
himself navigator. It seemed to work.

Still, they both continued to walk a lot. My mother was a devout Catholic, and my father an equally devout agnostic, an arrangement that didn't seem to bother either of them through their 75 years of marriage.

(Yes, 75 years, and they were deeply in love the entire time.)

He retired when he was 70, and nearly every morning for the next 20 years or so, he would walk with her the mile to St. Augustin's Church. She would walk down and sit in the front pew, and he would wait in the back until he saw which of the parish's two priests was on duty that morning.

If it was the pastor, my father then would go out and take a 2-mile walk, meeting my mother at the end of the service and walking her home.

If it was the assistant pastor, he'd take just a 1-mile walk and then head back to the church.

He called the priests 'Father Fast' and 'Father Slow.'
After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along.
If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll, or if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio.
In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: 'The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored.' (a la Carte the Detroit Tigers-Ken)

If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out -- and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream.
As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, 'Do you want to know the secret of a long life?'

'I guess so,' I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre.
'No left turns he said.
'What?' I asked.
'No left turns,’ he repeated.
'Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of on-coming traffic. As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, he said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn.'

'What?' I said again.

'No left turns,' he said. 'Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer.

So we always make three rights.'

'You're kidding!' I said, and I turned to my mother for support. ’No,’ she said, ‘your father is right. We make three rights. It works.' But then she added: 'Except when your father loses count.' I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing. 'Loses count?' I asked. ’Yes,’ my father admitted, ‘that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again.'

I couldn't resist. 'Do you ever go for 11?' I asked.

’No,’ he said. 'If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week.'

My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90.

She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102.

They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000.

(Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom --the house had never had one. My father would
have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.)

He continued to walk daily -- he had me get him a treadmill when he was101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalk s but wanted to keep exercising -- and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died.

One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news.

A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, ‘you know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred.'

At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, ‘You know, I’m probably not going to live much longer.' 'You're probably right,' I said. 'Why would you say that?' He countered, somewhat irritated. 'Because you're 102 years old,’ I said.
’Yes,’ he said, ‘you’re right.' He stayed in bed all the next day.

That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night.

He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: ' I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet'

An hour or so later, he spoke his last words:
'I want you to know,’ he said, clearly and lucidly, ‘that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have.'
A short time later, he died.
I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot.
I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long.
I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life ... or because he quit taking left turns.'
Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the one's who don't.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy;
they just promised it would most likely be worth it.'

Today Was ForePlay Day....

2008-05-25T22:41:00.002-04:00

My husband is a salesman. He doesn't do stuff around the house. If something needs doing. I either do it, or ask my son to do it. If the two of us are clueless, we have a certain few that we will call and ask for help, and if they can't do it then we call in the professionals. I never like to get to that point.
I like it when I can do it myself.
The few very good friends I call in case of an emergency are always gallant in their efforts and are rewarded with good food and the beverages of their choice.
But today as he does on rare occasions Billy came out of the office and began doing yard work. He cut the hedge that runs the length of the driveway. Then cut the bushes on the other side. He also cut back a big holly tree that was hanging over the back porch roof. He used the ladder and got himself up there and had at it.
I alwasys tease him when he does these things for me because I get so happy that he is helping me with these tasks I know he despises, I go as far as telling him it's like foreplay. I find myself jealous of my other friends that their husbands have yard skills, building skills, plumbing skills, electric skills or autorepair skills.
And they all look at me with the same look on their face and say "Your husband brings you breakfast in bed every morning, Shut Up".
I then realize I have nothing to be jealous of and find when he does these manly things it is kinda like foreplay.

Sick Squash and Cukes, But Fabulous Artichokes!

2008-05-23T00:17:00.003-04:00

I think it must be the rain, but my squash and cukes are absolutely pathetic! I'm so disgusted with them that I went out and purchased new ones today.
I have worked so hard on this garden that I just don't see the point of keeping these sickly looking things and possibly waiting too late to plant new ones and miss a great squash and cuke harvest.
Himself's Herself wants to make Lyme and Bread and Butter Pickles.
I made a couple of hundred thousand jars of them about 10 years ago and ate my last jar a couple of months ago. So I am willing to torture myself once again and make them.
Another, thing that we made all those years ago was Watermelon Rind pickles. These are made from the white part of the melon rind. They were soooo good that my daughter Raleigh entered them into the Worcester County Fair and won first prize for them.
I got the recipe from a neighbor of mine when I lived on Dividing Creek Road and decided I wanted to be an Organic Farmer.
Once I moved to town, I joined a CSA Coop in DE and had a wonderful time planting and growing sharing and eating the wonderful things that came from the garden their.
However with the price of gas these days, we are keeping the garden small and have several beds throughout the neighborhood where we are all growing something different.
Back to the squash... You know the weird thing about them is that they have blossoms on them but almost all of the leaves have died. They look mutated. I'm planting the new ones.
Meanwhile, this bottom picture is a pic of one of the Artichoke Plants, and I must say they are doing absolutely beautifully. I can't wait to harvest those babies!

New Colony, Calling Second Hive Home!

2008-05-21T13:41:00.006-04:00

On April 15th I ventured into the beehive to check on their health, switch the positions of the brood boxes, and add honey boxes to the hive.
While investigating, I found a brood frame that had three Queen cells attached to the bottom of it. I thought "what the heck, I'll stick this into the empty hive, and see what happens".
I opened the empty hive box next door and stuck this frame into it.
I then went back into the full hive and took out two brood frames; knocked the bees off of them into the full hive and stuck the brood frames into the empty hive.
My thoughts were that the Bee's who were on the frame that held the Queen Cells were placed into a Queenless empty hive, they may get busy and groom one of the Queen Cells to be their new Queen and taking care of the brood that was in the cells of the other frame, thus creating a new colony.
Apparently, this has worked!
I looked into the formerly empty hive today and much to my surprise they are 'Busy as Bee's in there.
If they were not able to raise a Queen on their own they probably would have gone back into the old hive, but with a month having past and there still being activity within, I am guessing that my plan was sucessful.
This is Great if they continue. The empty hive was the victim of Colony Collapse Syndrome last year and they all dissapeared.
I am very hopeful for this emerging hive, and look forward to a full colony of brood and hopefully some honey stores by summers end.
If they don't have enough honey, then I will feed them over the winter, and if they winter over in good shape then we may have surplus honey next spring.
What an amazing process this is. If anyone would like to visit the Apiary let me know.

Don't Wash Your Car!

2008-05-18T19:35:00.005-04:00

The Sun was out, bright and shiny this morning and I went out to piddle in the patch.
The other week, I found some grass seed and some lime that I had left over from last spring and I had left it right in the middle of the front of the garage so that I would deal with it.
Not having my own spreader I went and visited Himself to borrow his spreader to make the make the job easier. Himself informed me that Herself would be entertaining this afternoon to use her tax stimulus grill, and that I could return the spreader when I came back later with my hubby and kid, for burgers and dogs.
I thanked him and went on my way.
Back at the Ranch...
I fill the bin with the lime first and begin the process; figure out just what setting it should be on walked every walkable square inch of my property.
As came back around to the backyard to refill the bin for round two, I see my neighbor in his backyard doing the most obnoxious thing...
He was washing his wife's van!!!!
I yelled at him "Don't Wash Your Car!!! Haven't you had enough rain yet"?
Apparently, more people than my poor neighbor have simply not had enough yet, because as I was returning Himself's spreader, and bringing goodies from our house, I could feel a fine mist on my face. As the burgers and dogs were being pulled off of the stimulus grill, the rain started down in buckets.
I hope you all are happy!

Bunko Night

2008-05-16T14:51:00.001-04:00

Tonight, I was host of the Bunko Girls. Karol was the Big Bunco winner. This was her first win in 2 1/2 years. Heidi and Alwyn played for the first time tonight and had a blast. Heidi even won Little Bunco.
As usual we all had a great time and we laughed till our sides hurt.
I have been tasked with creating a 'Biggest Bunco Loser' sign that the loser has to keep in their front yard for the month and now the girls want me to make a 'Biggest Bunco Winner' sign for the winner.
This should be fun!

Rain Rain Go Away!!!!!!

2008-05-16T09:20:00.001-04:00

No such luck!
I woke up to coughing my head off and the rain coming down on my roof.
Our poor Garden!

I'm hosting Bunko tonight, so at least I wont get distracted doing outside work, and I'll just focus on cooking.

Sinking Into the Mud!

2008-05-15T23:58:00.002-04:00

Today, I ventured into the garden it actually looked like I could walk into it without drowning.
Although I can't say that about my neighbors.
I thought I would thin out the baby corn plants again, and pass off the extras to the waterlogged neighbor.
I successfully pulled out about 25 plants and took them to the garden next door. Bending over and planting them (I'm a bender, not a squatter or kneeler) I suddenly feel one side of my body sinking.
I look at my right foot and it is completely covered in mud, and I continue sinking to my mid calf.
I couldn't believe it!
After digging my foot out, I continued my transplanting and they now have two rows of corn that hopefully will stay above water, unlike the last two rows I planted.

My bush beans are coming up sporadically, and I'm a bit disappointed in them.
Additionally, the squash and cukes are looking really bad. The squash had blossoms, but the stems are nearly as yellow as the blossoms.
We desperately need some sun for a few days to dry this ground up a little bit.
I'm really hoping that the rain predicted for tomorrow doesn't come.

The Most Beautiful Roses I've Had...

2008-05-12T17:18:00.003-04:00

Every year for the last ten years it seems that when the Peonies are blooming we have a storm that tears them up.
The house across the street from me has the most beautiful Peonies bed, and each year it gets wiped out.
For two years the house was empty, and during those years I would harvest a couple vases to make a fragrant arrangement. When the house was purchased a few years back I told my new neighbors about the plight of the Peonies, and that I had been harvesting them so that they would be appreciated for years. I asked if I could continue to save them from their springtime peril if they weren't going to be home, and they said yes.

So yesterday the wind as the winds are whipping and the rain is pelting I looked at my husband and said "I bet the Peonies are blooming".
Sure enough I look across the street and many of them were in full bloom, so as usual in the rain I made my way across the street to cut wet Peonies in the whipping rain.
This year my darling husband followed.
As I am cutting he is taking pictures of me, and singing the tune 'Singing in the Rain', except he changed the words to 'She's Stealing in the Rain Stealing Flowers in the Rain'. You gotta love a smart ass.
So after my bountiful harvest we made our way back home and as I approached my arbor entrance to my front walk Billy told me to turn around so he could get a picture of me with the Peonies under the arbor that has more Roses on it this year than it has ever had.
I am so glad he took the picture, because at midnight I get a call from my son who said his friend had just driven by our house and saw the arbor laying in the street!
Billy went out and tried to put it back up but the wind was blowing so hard, as he was putting it up it blew down the other way. He decided it would probably be better to wait to put it back up tomorrow when the storm is over. He gave it a valiant effort, but it may need a little more work than just re-setting it. Fortunately, the Rose bush didn't break but because the ground was sooo saturated that it just came up out of the ground in a clump.
Thank you for the Peonies D & B they are beautiful, the purple ones haven't started blooming yet, so hopefully you will get to enjoy those.

Is it Time to Build an Ark?

2008-05-11T20:29:00.001-04:00

Good Grief! This is a lot of rain. Thank God that I made mounded rows in the garden. My neighbors garden is under water with the baby corn plants just barely poking their little stems out of the water.
I have a separate bed for my cucumbers next to the porch and it has rained so much in the last hour, that I'm feeling guilty that I'm not out there trenching an escape for the water that is flooding them.
I hope everything makes it and if it doesn't stop raining tomorrow I will be cutting in a trench.
Good Luck everybody, I hope all your green babies survive!

A Mothers Day Tribute

2008-05-10T14:12:00.003-04:00

I have to say that I had a Mom that was unlike anyother mother I have ever met.
She was way before her time, and so misunderstood. She had me when she was 18 after being married for one year. She had been brought up to be a proper Southern Lady, yet lived in the tumultuous 60's that began to challenge everything she knew.
Fortunately she gleaned much from her parents, and took to heart her own life experiences and diligently shared them with me. Below are a few of the things that my Mother taught me.

She taught me to be brave.
She taught me to trust my instincts.
She taught me to believe in myself, and the God given talents that I had been given.
She taught me that my greatest job in life was to at all times possess integrity.
She taught me that if I did make a mistake to admit it and go on. Not to try to cover it up. Things covered up stay moist and fester, things uncovered dry up and blow away.
She taught me do my very best at whatever I did.
She taught me that mediocrity was not an option.
She taught me that the things that people don't want to talk about are always the most interesting and usually the most important.
She taught me it was always better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Begging for forgiveness, meant that I had tried to do something and failed. Asking for permission meant I was second guessing myself and if I had to do that then the internal answer should always be NO!
She taught me that you don't have to be rich to be clean.
She taught me that to have a beautiful home was stimulating to your mind and to that of your family.
She taught me to surround myself with beautiful things even if it is simply a dandelion flower in a simple clear glass. It is good for the soul and makes you appreciate the littlest things.
She taught me that less really is more. As it leaves room for the really important and beautiful.
She taught me to find a partner who made me laugh, who made me smile and who loved me more than any other woman he had ever known. No matter what he looked like, no matter what he did for a living (as long as he was of honest means and integrity) that nothing matters more in a relationship than complete devotion and joy.
She taught me to love deeply with complete abandon.
She taught me to tell my family and friends how much they mean to me as often as possible.
She taught me to never be satisfied with all that I know.
She taught me to pursue new things each and every day.
She taught me to develop a broad vocabulary, so that I would always be able to effectively communicate my thoughts.
She taught me constantly question authority, because we can't trust someone just because they hold a certain title.
She taught me to ask as many questions as it takes to come to full understanding of any situation.
She taught me that stupid people always think every one else is stupid.
She taught me that while I may have many friends throughout my life, that my standards of loyalty would be so high that at the end of my life I would be able to count my true friends on the fingers of one hand.
She taught me to live my life like it was going be printed on the front page of the New York Times tomorrow and if I could live with that headline then I was alright.
She taught me that a mothers love is unconditional, just like Gods and that the day that she dies, you better know who you are and be good with it because there would never be another person on the face of the earth who loved you like she did.

I lost my Mom in 1986. She was 42 years old. She had a congenital heart defect which I apparently have inhereted from her. When I found her lying in her apartment I knew in an instant what she had said was true. I felt the void of that mothers love it was gone with her last breathe.
I married the man who made me happy and made me laugh and still does to this day.
I have taught my children all that my mother taught me, and I pray that they engrave it in their hearts as I have. Not all the lessons are easy, not all the lessons make you popular, but all of the lessons leave me with the ability to lay my head down every night and know that I have lived my life to it's fullest. That I have done everything that I know to do to make my world and my surroundings the very best that it can be, with the resources that I have available to me.

This being Mothers Day weekend take the time to remember the things your Mother taught you, and if you still have her thank her for these timeless lessons.

I would love to hear from you the things that your Mother taught you

I Picked about a Quart of Strawberries today!

2008-05-10T01:12:00.004-04:00

As you know I spent the night at my Granddads last night. It was really nice. I love talking with him and learning from him.
This morning I woke up at 5 to the sound of the massive storm that came through, and I called Billy to tell him to shut the windows (he always sleeps through the storms) Grayson, had already done so. That's my boy!
I couldn't get back to sleep until about 7 and then ended up sleeping till 9. I jumped up and Granddaddy was already dressed, and told me that one of the women from the senior center was coming and he was going to spend the day with her. HMMM
So I had a cup of coffee, and told him we better do his pedicure before he left. I soaked his feet, and while they were soaking I heated the coffee. He makes cowboy coffee in a percolator on the stove. It is soooo good it tastes better than Starbucks. It is so thick and dark and rich, it's yummy.
After I did his pedicure and manicure the woman came and he went on his way.
So having the house alone, I went out to the strawberry beds and picked what I could the dry weather really got to them last year, and the frosts this year. There are simply just that many berry's. I weeded a bit while I was picking and only got a little over a quart. But boy are they good! If they last through tomorrow I will make a shortcake. YUMMHH
I toured the property and pulled weeds around the grapes that he has started and propped them up on their climbing trellis. I ended up pulling a ton of weeds along the back of the house too and they were sooooo thick, and I ended up really hurting my back.
After ward I went inside exhausted and rested for a bit.
Then I thought I would take on the house. I got the vacuum out and all of his filters where full and I washed and dried them and began the vacuuming process.
Bless his heart but he had cobwebs everywhere, but I made short work of them.
Before I knew it the phone was ringing and Billy was calling to say that Grayson was home
So I finished up and came on home.
I was completely exhausted, so I took a shower and layed down, I was so done!

A Night at Grandaddys

2008-05-08T22:38:00.002-04:00

Tonight I write to you from the upstairs bedroom of my Grandfathers house in George Island Landing.
I promised him last year that I would come and spend one night a week with him when he got back from FLA. So I am now keeping my promise.
I hope to not only keep him company and cook for him but do somethings that he is not able to do for himself anymore.
We have a pedicure lined up for in the morning after his shower.
He is going visiting with some of the ladies that he has met at the Senior Center, and I am going to stay here and get some work done while he is gone.
He is very independent and doesn't want me to go out of my way to do things for him, but he's not able to do them anymore and I love him soo much I want to be able to do these things for him.
I'm going to try and get the porch floor scraped and shellacked before I have to go home, it definitely needs it.
Anyway it is wonderful spending time with him, and these nights I hope to be able to do all summer.

Marva News!

2008-05-07T23:13:00.005-04:00

Irish Breakfast Band
Comes to the Mar-Va Theater

Saturday, May 10 - 7pm at the Mar-Va Theater
Tickets: $10 per person
FREE for ages 12 and under

With their fun-filled, family oriented program

of Celtic music and dance, the award-winning

Irish Breakfast Band has performed

extensively in the Washington metropolitan

area and has published several CD's of their

music.
This is a children friendly concert!

June 20 & 21 - The New Company Theatre from

New York City returns for two performances of

"Driving Miss Daisy".

July 31 - Neon Swing X-perience
a 9 piece swing band from Pittsburgh, PA

Keep in touch with what going on at

the Mar-Va Theater
Visit www.mar-vatheater.org

Southern Living Party

2008-05-07T03:18:00.005-04:00

So I go to a Southern Living Party the other night. What beautiful things they have! I wanted one of everything.
They had the coolest 'Garden Cloches' and I wanted 20 of them! They are soooo French.
I want to start Roses in February under them and want to experiment with all kinds of cuttings.
Seeing all that I wanted I told Robin the Hostess that I would have a party next month.
I will be hosting the party on Friday the 13th!
So I am sending an invitation to all of my readers to please come and enjoy. If you have never seen Southern Living's Products you will be pleasantly surprised. Of course tons of ideas for entertaining with the goodies to facilitate a great party.
Weather permitting, I will be holding mine in the garden which I have segemented into different rooms.
I think I will be going with a Mexican theme so I can serve Margeritas.
But by all means please come.
I will be posting a link to Robins sight, so that if you can't make it personally and you see something that you absolutely must have you can order right from here.
I would love it you were able to come. It is sure to be a beautiful evening.

Wymzie

Iris Society to Show at the Center at Salisbury

2008-05-07T03:04:00.005-04:00

Saturday at the Center at Salisbury the Iris Society will be conducting their annual show.
If you have never had the chance to see this, and really like Iris' you will be amazed.
I personally never knew that there were so many different colors and varieties of this beautiful plant.
It is a worthwhile show that displays some of the finest specimens one would ever have the chance to see.
I hear tell worm castings will also be available for purchase as well!
So go on and get out and get some culture this weekend, and while your at pick up some worm castings for your garden!

Wymzie

Baby Transplants

2008-05-06T02:50:00.003-04:00

Today I transplanted baby plants, that I had sown too closely together. What I had thought were only two rows corn are now four.
I separated lettuces, radishes and cabbages as well.
The only thing that I have planted that I am not seeing come up is my spinach seeds. I planted them on the shady side of the garden as I know they don't like the heat, but maybe they don't like me either.
The brussel sprouts are beautiful, as are the artichokes. The artichokes are what I am really excited about. I cant wait to see them come to fruition!
My cucumbers and yellow squash aren't doing so hot! The leaves are yellowing from the ground up by the day, and I have lost two of the pickle cucumber plants. Chris gave me three more of the store bought cuckes that I planted in another bed, so hopefully these will take and stay green.
Oh the Joy!

Mothers Day Today

2008-05-04T10:53:00.004-04:00

As I have mentioned before, I have this insomnia problem...probably because my dear hubby snores louder than I can even describe. I do know that raising the volume of the TV to 22, doesn't wake him up, nor disturb in the slightest his repetitious onslaught of gurgling and snorting.
Knowing this, he is very kind to me in the mornings and lets me sleep so that I get my time in. This is especially true on weekends. Being the ditsy family that we are, everyone thought that today was mothers day. This being the case Billy made a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and bacon with heated maple syrup, too much butter, a cold glass of orange juice and my favorite mug of hot coffee. This he delivered to me in bed after letting me sleep until almost 9.
It was fabulous. Heidi called to ask if I still wanted a dresser that she had for #3's room. I bragged and told her how sweet and wonderful hubby was being and she dropped the bomb...'Today is not Mothers Day'!
I giggled and tried not to tell him, but couldn't help myself. Hubby was quite delighted he said it would give him an opportunity to plan even better for next week! I think I won't complain so much about the snoring.
What a sweetie!

Stinky Juice

2008-05-03T22:45:00.003-04:00

Today Grayson wanted to go to Toy's R Us and use his birthday money, a gift card plus a coupon to purchase a skate board and helmet to use at the new skate park.
We had to pick up a few things as well, and as high as gas is we try to get done everything we can whenever we go anywhere especially in the Conastoga Wagon of the New Millenium which we drive.
Anyway, while we were in the Bury, our friend Joe called and said he heard I needed horse manure. He has a couple of the beasts that produce such stuff and told us to come on over and pick some up.
We did. Thankfully, Billy and Joe sealed it in bags and taped them shut, but when I got home and opened them they were hot and stinkin.
My grandfather told me to soak it and let turn into Stinky Juice and then put it on my plants.
So with one bag I spread over the ground and with the other, I did as my Grandfather suggested and filled it with water to let it set for a few days and make some Stinky Juice.
We'll experiement and see which one works best.
Thanks Joe! I'll let you know how it goes!

2008-05-02T12:58:00.001-04:00

Worcester County Arts Council is pleased to offer one day watercolor class on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 from 9:30 to 2:30 pm at the Snow Hill Gallery located at 218 North Washington Street.

The class will be conducted by an award winning local artist, Barbara Doyle Schmid.

The cost is $30.00

Supply list will be available upon registration.

Award winning artist, Barbara Doyle Schmid, takes you on a watercolor adventure where you learn watercolor techniques which will help you on the journey to beautiful watercolor paintings.

Step-by-step demonstrations and a relaxing style promise you a fun learning experience in an encouraging and supporting atmosphere.

Barbara hopes to transfer her joy and excitement in watercolor painting to each student. Come and let your creativity soar!

Space is limited. To register, please call 410-641-0809.

The Farmer Girl Day That Almost Didn't Happen..

2008-05-01T20:37:00.006-04:00

Kathy was scheduled to host and she was freakin out. Karol is hosting a party tomorrow night and said she had too much to do. Herself wanted to partake and was disappointed that every wussed out. So she invited me to a lovely lunch on her back deck.
Afterward, I arrive home to find Kathy in my driveway, with deviled eggs and she said let's go help Karol. So we jumped in her truck and went to the farm. The Hussy wasn't even there!
So I called her and she was on her way to Lowe's to pick up the essentials for upside down tomato's.
I chastised her that engaging in such activities would not prepare her home for all of the ladies who are not Farmer Girls that would be coming on Friday night. She whined a little but came right home.
Kathy emptied the bathroom, I started with the Kitchen then we both decided that the living room need rearranging!
Karole freaked but agreed that it would be wonderful. We edited big time, hurt her feelings by making fun of her in the process. We love her, but she had some outdated stuff that we had to poke her about.
We completely flipped her living room around, vacuumed the cobwebs, dusted and de-cluttered; it was a beautiful thing.
The we went back to the kitchen and did the same thing.
All in all it was such a productive day...so tomorrow she will only have to have the grass cut and do some final straightening Oh, and get the baby chickens outside.... Remember we're Farmer Girls, so we do chickens; fancy ones, but baby chicks stay in the house until they are old enough to be outside...in a box of course. but inside nonetheless.
So the party tomorrow night is sure to be a blast and the house will look fabulous.
Too bad, I won't even be able to be there.
Have fun Girls!

We Have Sprouts!

2008-04-30T09:03:00.002-04:00

We have bean sprouts, we have broccoli sprouts, we have beet sprouts, we have cabbage sprouts, and we have lettuce sprouts! We have Sprooouuuttttsss!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!

All of the baby plants are doing well and look to have taken hold and are actually starting to grow.
I'm so excited!!

Berlin is the Place Where It is At This Weekend!

2008-04-29T22:03:00.004-04:00

Friday, May 2^nd: Spring Arts Night in Berlin

View local artist’s works and enjoy complementary refreshments in many of the downtown shops, galleries and restaurants. Live Jazz and Blues music will fill the air with street musicians at various locations. See the Acoustic Blues of Jon Roling in front of Victorian Charm located on the corner of Main and Commerce Streets. Victorian Charm is hosting a Vera Bradley Pre-View Sale that night where customers who make a $10 cash donation to the Berlin Jazz and Blues Bash will get an opportunity to shop before the general public the next day.

Also that night, Raquel Orsini and Phil Knight will perform on the porch of the Atlantic Hotel from 6-8pm and then host a jam from 8-10pm. Jazz and Blues musicians are welcome to sit in or perform on their own. A silent auction of several local merchant’s items will also be held at that location to benefit the event.

Saturday, May 3^rd: Berlin Jazz and Blues Bash

The all day event will feature 6 live bands performing on two stages on Main Street in Historic Berlin, Maryland. Rain or Shine! All entertainment is free to the public and they are encouraged to bring a chair to add to the limited seating being provided. The entertainment stages will be located at the intersection of Pitts and Main Street and Jefferson and Main Street. Jazz and Blues bands will perform one hour sets on alternate stages throughout the day. (See schedule) Sponsors include: The Globe, Victorian Charm, Smooth Jazz 97.1, Solstice Grill, Barrett Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE:

Time/ Stage Location

10am- 11am: Pitt St.: Stephen Decatur Middle School Jazz Band

11am-Noon: Jefferson St.: Stephen Decatur High School Jazz Combo

Noon-1pm: Pitt St.: UMES Jazz Band, Sponsored by Victorian Charm

1-2pm-: Jefferson St.: Tom Larsen Blues Band

2-3pm: Pitt St.: Lower Case Blues Band

3:30-5pm: Jefferson St.: Smooth Play, Sponsored by Solstice Grill & Smooth Jazz 97.1

7-10pm: The Globe: Chris English

7-10pm: Solstice Grill: TBA

In the case of rain, entertainment will be inside the Globe located at 12 Broad St.

Beautiful Women Throughout the Ages...

2008-04-29T17:36:00.004-04:00

Here is a link to site that I was directed to today with the most fascinating video. Click Here
It is a video of portraits of beautiful woman over the last 500 years. I was watching it with my 9 year old son and he said "Mommy all of the woman look the same, but they were all painted by different people"! I told him I think the common denominator in all of the images is that we have historically perceived beauty with symmetry, and all of these beautiful woman have nearly perfectly symmetrical faces

Bee Fact of the Day...

2008-04-28T22:23:00.002-04:00

*A bee travels an average of 1600 round trips in order to produce one ounce of honey; up to 6 miles per trip. To produce 2 pounds of honey, bees travel a distance equal to 4 times around the earth.

Do You Know the Difference Between Hybrid and Heirloom Open Pollenated Plants?

2008-04-28T21:55:00.003-04:00

What do you know about Hybrid plants vs Heirloom Open Pollinated plants?
Here’s the long and short of it:

An open pollinated plant has 1 parent; a hybrid has 2 parents.
Hybrid seed are seeds that result from the cross pollination of two inbred parent plants.
Open pollinated plants by contrast have only one parent line.
Many seeds offered for sale in packets, mail order and at nurseries are F1 hybrids, but there are many times that these plants won’t work. New varieties are created by a plant breeder, when they have uniform genetically stable inbred plants, they can consider creating new hybrids. To do so, pollen is moved usually by hand from the anthers of one inbred plant (male) to the stigmas of the second inbred plant (female). The seed will grow and as a result of this pollination is the ‘hybrid seed’. They are often preferred over open pollinators for a number of reasons. The parents were chosen for their strengths and to compensate for each others weaknesess, hopefully creating a new variety that is better than the best qualities of its parents.

Hybrids tend to be vigorous growers, uniformity of shape and earlier more sustained flowering., larger flowers or vegetables, or larger fruits.

Heirloom or Open Pollinated (OP) plants are simply varieties that are capable of producing seeds that will produce seedlings just like the parent plant. Not all plants do this.

Plant breeders cross breed compatible types of plants in an effort to create a plant with the best features of both parents. These are called hybrids and many of our modern plants are the results of these crosses.

While plants can cross-pollinate in nature and hybrids repeatedly selected and grown may eventually stabilize, many hybrid seeds are relatively new crosses and seed from these hybrids will not produce plants with identical qualities.

For example, each year new hybrid tomato varieties are offered. You may see them labeled as hybrids or F1, first filial generation (first-generation hybrid), or F2. These may eventually stabilize, but for the moment a tomato like the popular 'Early Girl' does not produce seeds that reliably have the features you expect in an ‘Early Girl’ tomato. Seed from hybridized plants tends to revert to the qualities of the parents, so tomatoes grown from seeds saved from your 'Early Girl' tomatoes might still be tasty, but not so early.

Anyone can select and eventually stabilize their own seed or even hybridize new plants, but plant and seed companies have recently begun patenting their crosses so that only have the right to reproduce the hybrids they’ve developed.

Hybrids should not be confused with Genetically Modified Organisms or (GMOs) which, can be any plant, animal or microorganism which have been genetically altered using molecular genetics techniques such as gene cloning and protein engineering. Plants like corn that has the pesticide Bt engineered into its genetic makeup to make it resistant to certain pests are GMO crops. Bt is a natural pesticide, but it would never naturally find its way into corn seed.

I personally like open pollinated plants. I like the idea of purchasing a package of seeds growing the plant, saving the seed from it’s fruit or veggie and then growing them again.

This provides my bee’s the work God made them to do, and I’m not playing God. I don’t want to be beholden to a chemical giant who might be the patent holder of a seed that I bought 20 years ago

Since the origins of Colony Collapse Syndrome has not been discovered yet, I think it best to go back to the old ways of doing many of the things of the past when it comes to gardening, and give our bee’s plenty of things to pollinate so they don’t wander into the Franken Fields of Corn.

To find out where you can order heirloom seeds that will produce year after year go to http://forums.seedsavers.org/ to learn about the importance of saving the seeds that we have for our future.

Happy Gardening!

What a Day!

2008-04-26T22:10:00.006-04:00

Today was a day that I accomplished much. It was one of those days that I can be proud of and I am. I was feeling so awful in the morning it took me a while to get started, but before I knew it, I was fully committed to my tasks.
I had wanted to get the yard cut, kill the weeds and put honey supers on the bee hives.
When I came downstairs the kitchen was a mess so I cleaned that first.
Afterward, I went out side and got the lawnmower from the garden shed. I checked the gas and the oil and both were fine, and after priming I pulled the rope to crank it. It started right away but then it stopped. I pulled again, it started then stopped. I went through this several times when I realized I was getting no where. So I resigned myself to be being a woman and not knowing what to do with it, and being a woman who doesn't know what to do, does know to push it to the people who do.
Himself and the Rocket Scientist had it started again and running 10 minutes. We talked for a bit and I invited everyone to dinner, and left with my quest to finish my internal list.
It was wonderful the guys totally fixed it and I was able to get the grass cut rather quickly.
Billy decided it would be a good day to clean an area of the garage that he wants to use so he wasn't bothering me. Life was good.
Then I got my bottle of roundup and went around the property spraying along the walk and driveway it. In the process my neighbor and I found a huge bunch of poison ivy so I pulled out my handy dandy Brush Killer and took care of that.
It was after this chore that I walked past the beehive and decided I was going to deal with the girls. I was really calm, my chi was good so I put on my bonnet and lit the smoker. I pulled the tops off of the hive and it was really full the Queen had laid a lot of brood up in the honey boxes. I scraped off the wild comb, and inspected the hive to see if there were any sub-queen sacs that the girls may be raising and sure enough there were. So I took out the frames with the sub- queen sacs on them, and put them in my other hive box . I also took out a few frames of workers from the old hive and added them to the new to help build the colony. I really don't have anything to lose, since I lost last years colony from 'Colony Collapse Syndrome' so its worth a try and if she doesn't emerge with in a few day they will all go back to the old hive.
I added four empty honey boxes to the old hive. The two brood boxes and the one honey box were absolutely stuffed, and the colony was completely out of room.
To encourage them fill in the new comb. I placed the full honey box on the top and the empty honey boxes between them and my brood boxes.
It will be interesting to see how they do.
I am very optimistic regarding this years harvest as the bees looked so great. I did find mites on them so I will make up some sugar and crisco patties for them and see what happens... this is the only thing I can do for them at this point as if I put chemicals on them now the honey from the fourth of July flow wont be right as I don't want any chemicals in my honey. The instructions say that you can, I prefer to use the chemicals if I have to, during the winter so that we don't ingest the chemical that we are giving them.
Say a few prayers for the bees this year... they need our help to save them and if we don't we won't be here to notice.
Remember...every third bite that you eat comes from something that a bee pollenated.