tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61364568836245241212024-02-19T10:40:58.072-05:00Less is moreI have been exposed to both privation and luxury in my life and now in my "declining years" I find I like to live simply. Material goods require not only the initial expense but also upkeep. I have not found that they help me be more popular and a self-image based on what we own is fragile indeed. So I give away what i don't need and buy as little as I can-what I call a spending diet.Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-60739787290736518712013-12-22T15:44:00.000-05:002013-12-22T15:44:30.059-05:00I'm baaaack!<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's been a long time since I posted. It's been a hard year but I'm better now, as Stan says to Ollie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This Christmas I'm embarking the long-planned and still very exciting doll project. . . I'm making a long winter scene from Laura Ingalls Wilder's writings. There has been a flurry of collecting and making and assembling things. The bespoke dolls are being bespoke, as we speak! Today I have pictures of Ma, still in her underwear and that only partially finished but you'll get to make her acquaintance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">She is wearing a petticoat made of fine linen and hemstitched but old and worn. Remember the brown and red shawl she got at the Christmas party at the church the year before? I haven't hemmed it yet. Note the lovely dresser, restored by the resident restorer, Bill. All the items are quarter size, that is 1/4 our size.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">On the dresser is Ma's knitting basket. Don't you think her hands are beautiful?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> And on the bed is the fabric for her dress, ready to be cut out. On the dresser are some quilt squares. Note the chamber pot under the bed!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ1FF4zuJZb0tNOUifQYbr_uBbXGmEeI_efG1t4SW57Pnzznxsqt98cNl-1Hh8K_41ulSx9uIN9QVE7qOWGPUi85rEd9205MA2srYv7DqCNejo7C2U5AnNFXNtjFCNJFU9asSGYNDnCQ/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ1FF4zuJZb0tNOUifQYbr_uBbXGmEeI_efG1t4SW57Pnzznxsqt98cNl-1Hh8K_41ulSx9uIN9QVE7qOWGPUi85rEd9205MA2srYv7DqCNejo7C2U5AnNFXNtjFCNJFU9asSGYNDnCQ/s320/IMG_0889.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Here are the packing case kitchen shelves, with their dishes, jars and pans. See the coffee grinder on the top?</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Ma's and Mary's rocking chairs stand ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I plan to make a new what-not but this little one is making do right now. The clock works, the little flowered box is not really right but the spotted dog is exactly right! Leaning against the bottom shelf is an 1881 calendar which is actually a trade card from 1881.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Stay tuned for more progress reports!</span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-5573220631355414482013-08-24T15:35:00.001-04:002013-08-24T15:56:51.737-04:00I saved us $600! <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We've had our little settee for 13 years, sat on it almost every
night to watch tv, slept on it some nights, restless. We wore it out!
So, for Christmas, we decided to get it reupholstered. We called a
place we knew. They said "Sure, we'll call when we're ready for you".
That was at the end of January. I did call and plead at one point. In
May they said we could pick out the fabric. That was hard, though they
had so many fabrics, they didn't look like I had imagined. Eventually I
picked one out. If they had started then, I would have gone with it.
But they didn't call back until July. By then I had only a vague memory of
the fabric and a certain aversion. Then too came the estimate: $650. .
. We had chosen them because they had a reputation for being a little
cheaper than some other places. I realized that we could probably buy a
second-hand one for half that, maybe even a new one for less. Of
course, I had long since spent the money we had budgeted for it. It
didn't take me long to decide. I'd make a slipcover for it myself! A
few decorating magazines showed a clear trend towards muslin, or even
natural canvas. I got my coupons together. My daughter sent me a gift
certificate too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I confess that I didn't buy enough fabric
the first day, but as soon as I figured it out, I went back and was able
to buy more from the same bolt. 14 yards, about $50. I hemmed the ends and washed it. Then I started.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I made 19 yards of cording, using a vintage cording foot on my vintage Kenmore sewing machine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">First I made the cushion cover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Each piece was pinned to the settee to cut. A couple of times I had to pick out and resew parts but I persevered!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We are quite satisfied with it. And it comes off to be washed. It took me about a week. And wasn't such a chore that I wouldn't do it again. I am afraid I am quite pleased with myself!</span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-50011476009028563812013-06-30T11:56:00.000-04:002013-07-03T19:47:22.410-04:00Menus and a Comment<span style="font-size: x-large;">I know it looks bad for Paula and I make no defense nor do I wish to add to the criticisms already out there in spades. But Paula Dean showed me how to make nice drop biscuits!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">You just use an ice cream scoop!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now for the menus. I know how hard it is to keep thinking of lovely meals 24/7. So here are my successes this week starting yesterday and going back. Several weeks ago at the Cloverleaf Cafe, one of our favorite eateries, which has had to move out Second street by the Big Red (past 37) we had an item listed I think as a snack, Chili cheese sauce on baked potato. It was yummy! So after a few weeks of thinking how I wanted to make it, and had a chance to go to the store for our monthly groceries, last night I tackled it. I browned half a pound of 90% lean ground beef in a skillet and when it was done but not overcooked, I added a cupful of water and about 3 ounces of Velveeta in slices and turned it down low. In a few minutes it stirred into a thin sauce. I added one of those packets of hot sauce from some Mexican restaurant (theirs always seems to have a better flavor than my purchased hot sauce) and half a cup of salsa. It was still a bit thin so I added 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch mixed into 1/4 cup of cold water and stirred until it was just starting to bubble. Then I got out the baked potatoes, micro-waved this time but I really prefer oven-baked, smacked them open and poured the sauce over them. This was served with a chef's salad with sliced cold chicken, hard-boiled egg and grated Cheddar cheese. We had Breyer's low carb vanilla ice cream for dessert. This morning I dabbled a little of the sauce over the scramble eggs next to our waffles and it was again a big success. No doubt we'll have it at least once a month henceforth!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Several weeks ago I bought a little pamphlet full of Pet Recipes at an Antique store in Mitchell. In it was a recipe for Meatloaf which had in it: 2 pounds ground beef, 1 can Pet milk, 1 packet onion soup mix. Period. I didn't have any soup mix but I substituted 2 teaspoons of beef boullion and 2 teaspoons of dehydrated onion. No additional salt. Baked at 350 for 1 and 1/2 hours. No carbs. and delicious.With it we had Potatoes and onions Au Gratin ( I was reading Julia Child) and home-canned green beans cooked with onions and a little chopped bacon. The meatloaf is a recipe we will have often. The left-overs are good too, either heated or made into sandwiches.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I saw an ad for Arby's, I think it was, showing a chicken salad sandwich, with grapes and pecans. That sounded good to me, although my Hubby doesn't like anything with mayo in it. But when I had a friend for lunch I deemed it a good time to make it. The night before I poached three chicken breasts in water flavored with celery leaves and dehydrated onion and smoked sea salt for about 40 minutes. It cooled during supper and in the morning I skinned and boned the chicken. One breast I saved back for the Chef's salad later and the other two I chopped up with the red seedless grapes, celery chopped fine, pecans, one tiny green onion and some mayo and sour cream. Just a little pepper too. With this I served two tiny 4 ounce custard cups of the left-over Potatoes Au Gratin and some sliced tomatoes, the first I've been able to buy at my favorite farm stand in Ellettsville. I put out Low carb bread, Kroger brand, which I've found to be quite good.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The chicken broth I simmered until it was reduced to a nice chickeny flavor, added some of the chopped chicken and the next day made it into an Oriental soup with lemon, ginger, soy sauce, a little rice and some edible pod peas. With that we had ham and cheese sandwiches with lettuce and tomato, and applesauce for dessert.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">As usual, on Wednesday we had hamburgers, this time with Swiss cheese and lightly toasted mushrooms, always a favorite. With them I made tiny straw potatoes cooked in about an inch of canola oil in a small stew pot. and a green salad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tonight, for our special Sunday night supper in front of the TV we'll have French bread Pizza. Easy peezy. I think I've mentioned this before. And some salad. And vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate syrup that I make with little sugar. Yumola! A week of favorites!</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Best wishes with your meals this week.</span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-62437161493752318802013-05-29T13:39:00.000-04:002013-05-29T13:39:26.401-04:00Canning in May?<span style="font-size: x-large;">This week some of the loss leaders at Kroger were Corn, 10 ears for $2, Green beans, $1 a pound, and Pork Roasts, $1.77 a pound. The corn and beans were from Florida. Usually I try to buy locally to can and freeze but last year, because of the drought, I did almost no canning. There was no produce to buy! When I got to the store I observed that the corn and green beans looked fresh and unblemished so I bought a lot! Likewise the pork roasts were the large ones with little fat. I bought lots of that too. Then I took them home and began processing them for storage. I cut the pork roasts into tenderloins, enough for 17 meals. I parboiled the corn, froze it on cookie sheets and made about 30 meals worth of corn on the cob. Then I broke and canned the green beans in a pressure canner. Now breaking 7 pounds of beans is a fairly long job but in my childhood this job was done on the cool front porch, sitting in a rocking chair if possible and chatting with a handy child or neighbor. This time I did it watching Dr Phil and other shows and it passed as effortlessly. The beans were so young and tender that I didn't tail them, just took the stems off and broke them in half. It's only long tough runner beans that one tails in order to get the last string off. I canned them in two batches for an hour each at 10 pounds pressure. Two jars didn't seal, I used one piece lids on those and it was the second use so no surprise there and we've eaten one already and will eat the other before the end of the week. No harm done!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There was only one thing I didn't plan for. Remember all those chicken breasts I froze? And there were about 6 loaves of bread, extra ice cream bought on sale. My freezer is very small. I could only just cram all my frozen goods in by starting on the ice cream early. And taking out a half-gallon of milk a few days early, also some bread. The little freezer is full to the very top! But that's the way I like it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I would like to report that the miniature rose bush my daughter gave me last Mother's day has outdone itself this year!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And now a word from my colleague Elyah </span><br />
. <br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a picture of me and my classmates presenting an afghan to our teachers. We made the whole thing. The purple square next to the left was made by Ana and me. Ana and Bill and Steve came to see me graduate and eat cookies in the gym. After it was over my Mom and I went home and watched the new Star Trek movie.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> It was very good.</span><br />
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<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-31298406105834678032013-05-22T20:52:00.000-04:002013-05-22T20:52:33.187-04:00A Happy Mother's Day<span style="font-size: x-large;">I decided to have a happy Mother's day by making a big deal over the things that Mothers do. Like cooking, cleaning up the kitchen and straightening up. Accordingly I asked my Husband to take me out to dinner on Saturday evening, which he did. We went to Outback and ordered the small sirloin. It was delicious! It was only when the check came that we realized that we had been eating the Filet Mignon! They admitted they had made a mistake and only charged us for the little sirloins which was very satisfactory to us! So on Mother's day I made a lovely breakfast, omelettes full of cream cheese and mushrooms and the wicked and forbidden buttermilk biscuits. Note my lovely Mother's Day flowers on the table!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then I made a cream sponge cake. I had saved up extra eggs. The recipe was in one of my favorite cookbooks. I carefully followed all the directions (not something I always do).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It is a cream sponge, one whips up the eggs, adds the flour and sugar, but just half as much as the other recipes. It ends with boiling water and is then so done that it only requires 15 minutes in the oven and consequently is not dry like most sponge cakes. The flavorings were ground nutmeg and lemon peel!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I had never used ungreased waxed paper before in the pan but I suppose that since it was only in the oven 15 minutes not too much wax ended up on our stomachs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a-R2XnfUwP5FU_eD9bIagAw6NbbzeQkEyYrHIl17vrBcYFpBTTXl2hh_thhEMKchAskXiBlLoe3VipYCfBDFEei8UtNJHJDUv1ZEYSNHnYzWm_Sl29Ql8LaPIMpGmNmqy4BYxUWawqI/s1600/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a-R2XnfUwP5FU_eD9bIagAw6NbbzeQkEyYrHIl17vrBcYFpBTTXl2hh_thhEMKchAskXiBlLoe3VipYCfBDFEei8UtNJHJDUv1ZEYSNHnYzWm_Sl29Ql8LaPIMpGmNmqy4BYxUWawqI/s320/IMG_0791.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The paper peeled right off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tH2yArTxFElcqMovJNS60Jg3e2c20D0dWh-LYhL7mkCVmvPyf7RDVvOR0uRQ2eVhHHwknXBkXsvpQvjFwGntR3DKOmMchjDdYXU0TMzZORHGW_4LaJlSpg9mT12pkeLt_4OhyprbJTY/s1600/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tH2yArTxFElcqMovJNS60Jg3e2c20D0dWh-LYhL7mkCVmvPyf7RDVvOR0uRQ2eVhHHwknXBkXsvpQvjFwGntR3DKOmMchjDdYXU0TMzZORHGW_4LaJlSpg9mT12pkeLt_4OhyprbJTY/s320/IMG_0792.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It was presented on a pretty little tray perfectly plain. At the table I spooned the vanilla flavored custard over each piece. It was absolutely delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The supper was Martha Stewart's Mother's Day luncheon, Shrimp Stew with flower bedecked salad on the side and wine to drink. I am afraid however that after all that glorification of Mother's work, I left the dishes in the sink until Monday!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">All day I chatted on the phone with my children and friends, received gifts of flowers, gift certificates, a lovely bowl for Mary Lincoln's what-not, Oh just a host of lovely things, Thank you all, It was a pleasure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A beautiful horn bowl sits on top of Mary's what-not. Note that the plate is in a rack for better display.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Today I made a table-topper out of a sample I got in one of my gift boxes and picked the finally blooming iris in my yard. The Mother's Day flowers lasted a week and a half!</span><br /><br />
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<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-70959341375431851062013-04-24T20:22:00.001-04:002013-04-24T20:55:53.366-04:00Food From Pern!<span style="font-size: x-large;">For the last year, Eliyah and I have been reading aloud the series "The Dragons of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey. I've made the popular hot drink described in the first book and referred to throughout the series as Klah by infusing decaffeinated tea bags with oil of cinnamon, then making the tea in a drip coffee maker.. Eliyah liked it. I love it and may become addicted to it Then he found a recipe on Facebook that he wanted us to try using biscuit dough stuffed with red sauce, Italian cheese and Peperoni. We had made other meatrolls but these were the best by far. Eliyah and Bill disappeared a whole pile of them in record time. Recipe follows:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dough: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2 cups Self-rising flour </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup red sauce, any brand</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">3/4 cup buttermilk </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1/4 cup olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Preheat the oven to 425.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mix the soda with the flour in a bowl and the butter milk with the olive oil in a cup. Pour the liquid into the flour and stir just until it forms a ball in the bowl. Flour a dough board or the counter and set the dough in the midst of the flour (use plenty) and gently pat out into a circle about 10 inches across. Fold into thirds and pat out again. Repeat a time or two, just until the dough seems smooth. If it begins to shrink back, stop immediately, it's getting tough. Now roll the dough out into a big circle, 12 or 14 inches across and cut into rounds with a jar lid, about 3 inches across. Flatten each round. Place a slice of peperoni in the center of each, a teaspoon of red sauce, a cube of mozzarella cheese and another slice of peperoni. Gather the edges together and pinch into a ball. Bake at 425 degrees for about 12 minutes, or just until tanning and brown on the bottom. Serve hot or cold.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We served a salad and hot klah with ours. Lovely!</span><br />
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<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-70788568066113487312013-04-21T13:17:00.000-04:002013-04-21T13:17:53.843-04:00Making Laundry Soap!<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the past, my daughter Rose and her husband, Matt made laundry soap for me and gave it to me as a gift, in a fancy jar with a ribbon and label and scoop. I enjoyed using it for that reason alone. But in time I found it does a better job than detergents, smells better, and I know it <i>is</i> better for the septic system. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The people across the street seem to have had a disaster in their house involving water or worse and have gone to stay somewhere else while the Fire and Water Restoration people work daily at drying out the house.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">It's been more than a week and still the house is deserted.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> It's true that I don't actually know that their septic system is at fault but seeing a workman wandering around their yard looking down was maybe a clue . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have always been an advocate of septic systems because back in the 50's when the idea was new, my architect Dad touted them as a low-cost, efficient and permanent solution to household waste</span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;">He went on to be a designer of malls, schools and</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">nursing homes all over the Eastern half of the United States.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">And back then, no one thought</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">of pumping septic systems out. The worst thing we put in them was a little chlorine bleach for the wash.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now we pour noxious chemicals down our drains routinely, as well as sanitizers to kill bacteria, and bacteria is what makes a septic system work.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Not to mention ultra soft toilet paper! I'm dedicated to keeping ours going as long as possible!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I use 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda and 1/3 of a bar of Fels Naptha soap, finely grated and some drops of a scented oil like lavender. I made a big batch so now it lives in a big plastic container with a lid. In a few days it will be time to hang the laundry outside, for the benefits of the sunlight (the best bleach you could want and a bactericide as well)</span>.<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I forsee some clear-starching in my future too!</span><br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-8629516344290264722013-03-16T15:11:00.002-04:002013-03-16T15:11:20.455-04:00Birthday party for a secretary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Tim Puro invited us over to see a beautiful secretary he's been working on, the one Bill worked on the locks for. I say Birthday because someone gave "birth" to it nearly 200 years ago and Tim restored it for another long segment of time. A rebirth, if you will. I had seen it before but never in so polished and beautified condition.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">While I was there he showed me a chair wholly decorated with faux graining to look like rosewood. A comb was used on the legs but the back was done with brushes by hand and a lovely job they did too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I can't wait to try this out on something, as soon as it gets warm enough to work in the garage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">While we were out running errands Thursdays we accidentally stopped at Blue Moon Consignment Shop. There I found a quarter size dresser just right for Ma in the long winter. We brought it home and found that the backsplash was loose. So great was my enthusiasm that we commenced to fix it right on the breakfast table, even in the kitchen amongst the dirty dishes. A few tense moments when the tiny clamps slipped and we resorted to giant rubber bands. Whew! There's never a dull moment around here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwZi24jKVmHbDJLLd9rZPun-jP-jc3LoFEnz5sTu5va_bJKNxVJ8Q157DOrNYoYxrIN-52hOWOkMC42IzuJZTe_YQqkE8nznBhOwB4bW2no_hCbMA4UdkmcYbsFxNA3wHS3vtfNe5IF8/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwZi24jKVmHbDJLLd9rZPun-jP-jc3LoFEnz5sTu5va_bJKNxVJ8Q157DOrNYoYxrIN-52hOWOkMC42IzuJZTe_YQqkE8nznBhOwB4bW2no_hCbMA4UdkmcYbsFxNA3wHS3vtfNe5IF8/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's just the right size for Ma and I am already thinking of the things I need to make to put in the drawers. Red flannel long underwear, bloomers, stockings, night gowns and bed caps, for starters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is an item from my able assistant: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> "Today me and Ana went to Spring Mill Park and walked in the woods. It was a very lovely day and the birds were out and we walked all the way to the road on trail number three which was a long way for Ana to walk. Then we walked back to the car to have a little snack before heading into the village. We noticed a cave that was not mentioned in the map so we thought maybe it had not been discovered yet. Or it might have been a small crack, (sigh). This is my report, Eliyah"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Last thing, I want to show you the orchid, which has four flowers open now and three more to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This has cheered me up no end!</span><br />
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<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-27742404596598667122013-03-04T13:25:00.000-05:002013-03-04T13:25:56.554-05:00Bright Ideas <span style="font-size: x-large;"> It turns out that I am allergic to carpet beetles. Nobody else here is, just me. And how allergic! Big red welts and how it itches! But we have learned that a thorough cleaning and vacuuming reduces the chances of my having a new crop of welts considerably. So once a month now, I deep clean. Move all the furniture, vacuum all the carpet, mop all the floors. Fresh sheets every few days. The Victorians would consider that the bare minimum<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">of house cleaning, I'm sure.</span></span> Last week I did all that. I was a cleaning fiend. And afterward, I got my self a prize. Some "Nick and Nora" Pajamas. Extra Large, but of course they lied. They almost fit but were too tight in places. I was undismayed. I added large white gussets where space was needed and now they fit perfectly. These are really Spring time pajamas. Notice that some of the birds are reading books, t<span style="font-size: x-large;">ru<span style="font-size: x-large;">ely these are Ana Pjs.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> At Christmas, the people who supply me wit<span style="font-size: x-large;">h eggs </span>gave me a sweet squash, which I kept on the counter as a decorative element. Then I decided to use it. I baked it whole, cut it in half, cleared out the seeds and mashed up the pulp. I was surprised how sweet i<span style="font-size: x-large;">t </span>was. Some I ate on t<span style="font-size: x-large;">he spot. The rest</span> was made into a curried soup with some chicken and broth and served with chicken salad with grapes and pecans. What a lovely lunch to have in winter with a friend. Afterward we went to Spring Mill Park for an early look around. Luckily it was almost warm that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Bill and I often talk about Little House subjects, especially when we are working on a project or reading a related book. Right now I'm reading <b>Little House, Long Shadow </b>by Anita Clair Fellman. Such analytical books often bring out my most argumentative side, believe me! I am loath that any criticism be leveled at my heroine Laura. So it is not surprising perhaps, that Bill has dreamed about the Ingalls. He woke up this morning talking about a restaurant dedicated to the Little House Books. So I got busy and made up a menu. It was a good excuse to make biscuits for breakfast too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Now all I have to do i<span style="font-size: x-large;">s</span> win the lottery to open a half dozen or so Restaur<span style="font-size: x-large;">ants</span>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The last bright thing is this, after all these weeks, the orchid is finally beginning to bloom! One wouldn't have thought it would stay in the bud so long! The last picture I took for you was a month ago!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am so happy it's March and almost not Winter any more!</span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-42829477370961297272013-02-11T14:30:00.000-05:002013-02-11T14:30:21.733-05:00February! <span style="font-size: x-large;">I always hate February, it seems the dreariest month of the year. And I've had my s<span style="font-size: x-large;">hare of dreary events in February. This is not the first death. For Eliyah's<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Father has died mysteriously </span></span>at the age of 60. I felt helpless watching the family grieve. Of course, eve<span style="font-size: x-large;">rything is the same here on the days he comes and I <span style="font-size: x-large;">think that is what I can do. Just be the same.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Even my new teapot candle-holder seems sad!</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Of course th<span style="font-size: x-large;">at's only from one point of v<span style="font-size: x-large;">iew<span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A couple of weeks ago some juicy oranges <span style="font-size: x-large;">arrived by UPS, a to<span style="font-size: x-large;">tal su<span style="font-size: x-large;">rp<span style="font-size: x-large;">rise to me. With them came t<span style="font-size: x-large;">wo large plastic bibs! And believe me you <span style="font-size: x-large;">need them when you eat<span style="font-size: x-large;"> these ora<span style="font-size: x-large;">nges!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span>I have finally put away almost all things Christmas and made a matching brown tablecloth for the dining table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I like to put spring flowers out in the midst of winter! But I'm sorry to say that the tablecloth is now obliterated by the work on the "Long Winter" scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> First I tried to corral everything in the new orange box.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> But that soon proved inadequate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> These chairs have been rejected on the basis of style and also being a little bit too large. We are using <span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span>/4 scale</span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;">If you look carefully in the large basket you <span style="font-size: x-large;">will see the knitting needles Bill has made for Ma to knit with. I am looking for very fine yarn to start the knitting with.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My daughter Jude has offered to make the heads for each of the characters. Samples and photos and measurements are being gathered to mail to her. Looks like I might need that Zen book too!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am anxiously watching to see if my orchid, which my daughter-in-law gave me two years ago is going to bloom by Valentine's Day. It didn't bloom at all last year. Then when we went to May's Green house the clerk there advised me to use more water. And not ice cubes at all. Three cubes melted down to 1/3 cup so I increased to 1/2 cup once a week,(on Sundays) and now it has some 7 or 8 buds. I am ridiculously excited. I don't have a green thumb and having something bloom seems like an unexpected gift!</span><br />
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<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-12546650819738308392013-01-21T15:57:00.000-05:002013-01-21T15:57:26.317-05:00 <span style="font-size: x-large;">This is the</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">coldest weather we<span style="font-size: x-large;">'ve had since the demise of the furnace. It has become hard to keep warm, unless one hugs the stove. <span style="font-size: x-large;">The laundry room and the work room are running about 50 degrees, which seems very cool to my shoeless feet<span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">h</span>eavy socks not-withstanding.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Even the kitchen is chilly. <span style="font-size: x-large;">It is true we are currently burning the scrap wood and saving the dry oak for later, but it is al<span style="font-size: x-large;">so true that we will start the last truck-load of wood sometime this wee<span style="font-size: x-large;">k.</span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ertainly hope our wood man will be able to get out and chop some more wood<span style="font-size: x-large;"> for us!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Friday we drove t<span style="font-size: x-large;">o Pla<span style="font-size: x-large;">infield to shop at Gilly's Antiques. I found a treasure trove of miniatures for Ma<span style="font-size: x-large;">ry Lincoln: A lovely glass<span style="font-size: x-large;">-walled what-not.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is the tea set o<span style="font-size: x-large;">n top:</span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ77ax3jILzqauq5fJuEc6aeMQmeEOjwLr9zn9CsRZb5n_HotMGzsYKNbD-Jg9F1ERMSskLnAbgs1mjfM1JrWzkUrjWFlY4M4oO3k__6SYYt2mUHzyDaS6O2hNFmS4-eMFfYNZFoBazw/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ77ax3jILzqauq5fJuEc6aeMQmeEOjwLr9zn9CsRZb5n_HotMGzsYKNbD-Jg9F1ERMSskLnAbgs1mjfM1JrWzkUrjWFlY4M4oO3k__6SYYt2mUHzyDaS6O2hNFmS4-eMFfYNZFoBazw/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_ILoZFN1Ls3MfhyphenhyphenXifQZtoQr85Own63DWWp1fWka59qhiU6nwaqqCbb2SOyLH7ObKyQ4nTMTbqXfyWCLt6F-vIqEe5cFZkZ-azdWbypyxAjr654kor6LmP5mKgWbei8meTl55wDuBfo/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_ILoZFN1Ls3MfhyphenhyphenXifQZtoQr85Own63DWWp1fWka59qhiU6nwaqqCbb2SOyLH7ObKyQ4nTMTbqXfyWCLt6F-vIqEe5cFZkZ-azdWbypyxAjr654kor6LmP5mKgWbei8meTl55wDuBfo/s320/IMG_0731.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And then with the carved box on t<span style="font-size: x-large;">op, which do you like best?</span></span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_mMSYLbesli0fyLETeXGqlAN95iGrdo7lxCaHP-i5Kt5F26bl0yhECGb5lVUbVNQ63cW8OnBRpSjkt5xtbXvGgfcTHWoC28NkzaNc1V4PM3pb061xcVrDPso4_oY1CZ7MSPOPWoM9J8/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_mMSYLbesli0fyLETeXGqlAN95iGrdo7lxCaHP-i5Kt5F26bl0yhECGb5lVUbVNQ63cW8OnBRpSjkt5xtbXvGgfcTHWoC28NkzaNc1V4PM3pb061xcVrDPso4_oY1CZ7MSPOPWoM9J8/s320/IMG_0732.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And finally with the tiny glass doors closed. Look carefully to <span style="font-size: x-large;">see the tiny latch. I'm thinking the tiny Noritak<span style="font-size: x-large;">i oval dish shou<span style="font-size: x-large;">ld have a little rack to make it easier to s<span style="font-size: x-large;">ee.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then I found some items in a larger size that I think would make a scene from Laura In<span style="font-size: x-large;">galls Wilder's "<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Long Winter<span style="font-size: x-large;">" :</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjnbjdMymswoJFZzNSN5vh0cEj-UbuuZdttddR1anVZcZ5gYnjt9w9bl1ugvEJJssU_lGcP-Cf9cK6XCCpZ00eFQ6qt0qz6OTHNmfyPd7MapXN8CZCjvXtg7Xc9vtOsurNnoc1nOZCe4/s1600/IMG_0729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjnbjdMymswoJFZzNSN5vh0cEj-UbuuZdttddR1anVZcZ5gYnjt9w9bl1ugvEJJssU_lGcP-Cf9cK6XCCpZ00eFQ6qt0qz6OTHNmfyPd7MapXN8CZCjvXtg7Xc9vtOsurNnoc1nOZCe4/s640/IMG_0729.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> See the coffee grinder, in which they ground the wheat all win<span style="font-size: x-large;">ter? The kerosen<span style="font-size: x-large;">e la<span style="font-size: x-large;">mp which ran out of kerosene? The tiny clothespins w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ith which Ma hung out the laundry to free<span style="font-size: x-large;">ze dry? There<span style="font-size: x-large;">'s a coffee pot, a tea pot and a b<span style="font-size: x-large;">aking tin, even a sifter. However these are not the same size <span style="font-size: x-large;">as doll house items. They will require made<span style="font-size: x-large;">-</span>to<span style="font-size: x-large;">-</span>order dolls. And a much <span style="font-size: x-large;">taller room. I suspect it will take me <span style="font-size: x-large;">nearly a year to get it all together. It w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ould be fun to have for next Christmas.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Last week, after the monthly shopping trip, Chic<span style="font-size: x-large;">ken breasts <span style="font-size: x-large;">went <span style="font-size: x-large;">on sale for <span style="font-size: x-large;">.88 cents a pound. So, though I am not yet completely out of chicken, I had to go and buy some. There wa<span style="font-size: x-large;">s a limit of two packages<span style="font-size: x-large;"> and each package was about 5 p<span style="font-size: x-large;">ounds so I bone<span style="font-size: x-large;">d 10 breasts and ma<span style="font-size: x-large;">de 11 packets of whi<span style="font-size: x-large;">te meat. We had some fresh, cooked in wine and mu<span style="font-size: x-large;">shrooms for <span style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday night dinner. The pot of broth I made from the carcasses is stored in the garage un<span style="font-size: x-large;">til I get all the bones out and boil it down just a little more. I notice that now one can buy little <span style="font-size: x-large;">thin plastic bags to wrap individual pieces in but I just wrapped them in waxed paper, <span style="font-size: x-large;">like I have always done<span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio53Io1VhDuKvqDekzSRHmMv45B2XUPeIxeO8b69I-mfXeMRyoyrLU-bhN0a1mJzJNq2llS7u9wgC5P52oNojilDICZ2t2soOYoC_-NC2C8UmMHfy7EXFE9N3TL1N9GK0cFsa9-dSLDvo/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio53Io1VhDuKvqDekzSRHmMv45B2XUPeIxeO8b69I-mfXeMRyoyrLU-bhN0a1mJzJNq2llS7u9wgC5P52oNojilDICZ2t2soOYoC_-NC2C8UmMHfy7EXFE9N3TL1N9GK0cFsa9-dSLDvo/s640/IMG_0725.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Five just fit in a one gallon resealable bag. No<span style="font-size: x-large;">w the li<span style="font-size: x-large;">ttle freezer is quite full. Something that always makes me feel rich.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Last week I got the idea to bake the tortillas in mixing bowls so we could have a sort of faji<span style="font-size: x-large;">ta salad. I sprayed the b<span style="font-size: x-large;">owls with Pam and <span style="font-size: x-large;">baked them for about 12 minutes in a 400 degree oven. We loved this variation and have already had it aga<span style="font-size: x-large;">in!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KZepmw0QYXvGPkIiuKZyhSC1ELhvW_X5TkThX3SFdQcahUUgVHvq1gJKDpW0pSikMzdHw4v0nQwenBX0Z0QfAhTKIlXsDtQs9LqiTR5Jy2drttljiufEJXT9kl7Wp5SIEmVBlkNQOJc/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KZepmw0QYXvGPkIiuKZyhSC1ELhvW_X5TkThX3SFdQcahUUgVHvq1gJKDpW0pSikMzdHw4v0nQwenBX0Z0QfAhTKIlXsDtQs9LqiTR5Jy2drttljiufEJXT9kl7Wp5SIEmVBlkNQOJc/s640/IMG_0723.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fajita salad in tortilla bow<span style="font-size: x-large;">l with beans and rice on the side. Covered with cheese, sour cream and salsa. And <span style="font-size: x-large;">French Dressing too.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> We ha<span style="font-size: x-large;">ve spent this day watching the Inauguration<span style="font-size: x-large;">, tissu<span style="font-size: x-large;">es <span style="font-size: x-large;">at hand because we were </span></span>tearing up <span style="font-size: x-large;">from time to time. I am still waiting to see the gown Michelle has <span style="font-size: x-large;">picked to wear to the dances</span></span></span></span></span> tonight.</span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-58209086048943051382013-01-06T16:17:00.000-05:002013-01-06T16:17:17.582-05:00After Christmas<span style="font-size: x-large;">I've studied a lot of books on English life<span style="font-size: x-large;">-</span>style, from housekeeping to fashions to needlework and read lots of English Village Mysteries. I do enjoy the English <span style="font-size: x-large;">way of life. <span style="font-size: x-large;">An<span style="font-size: x-large;">d I'm looking <span style="font-size: x-large;">for<span style="font-size: x-large;">ward to tonight's Dow<span style="font-size: x-large;">nton Abby. But I've been thinking ......<span style="font-size: x-large;">how much of <span style="font-size: x-large;">our lifestyle here in the states reflects English antece<span style="font-size: x-large;">d<span style="font-size: x-large;">ents? <span style="font-size: x-large;">Aren't we, the "melting pot" strongly influenced by English c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ustoms? Clothing, well, though we are always buying "new", there is really nothing much new<span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> suits, ties and shirts, sweaters, even overalls and</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">work shir<span style="font-size: x-large;">ts<span style="font-size: x-large;"> haven't changed much in hundreds of years. Women wearing pants may be considered new but <span style="font-size: x-large;"> jodhp<span style="font-size: x-large;">u<span style="font-size: x-large;">rs have been <span style="font-size: x-large;">worn for horse-rid<span style="font-size: x-large;">ing</span> by women</span> for a long while. And the<span style="font-size: x-large;">n we have the manicured lawns like English Estates. The large houses with lots of room for entertaining, thoug<span style="font-size: x-large;">h<span style="font-size: x-large;"> most people don't en<span style="font-size: x-large;">tertain much anymore. It is frequently mentioned in ads for new houses We like t<span style="font-size: x-large;">o<span style="font-size: x-large;"> see ourselves as the "getters" rather<span style="font-size: x-large;"> than the servers in life, <span style="font-size: x-large;">at</span> all eco<span style="font-size: x-large;">nomi<span style="font-size: x-large;">c levels</span></span></span></span></span>. In fact, isn't entitlement rampant today in our socie<span style="font-size: x-large;">ty?</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>I would love to hear your arguments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> On Christmas, I got out the one tablecloth we only use once a year, because it sports bells on the crocheted lace around the edges. Here is our Candle-lit Christmas scene. There's a glimmer on top of the little tree too but <span style="font-size: x-large;">I <span style="font-size: x-large;">assure you i<span style="font-size: x-large;">t's just a reflection!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC0b9hQcKv68mfIbUCKsFxUi3btqynCctCkl3HI82voICQFew5E79L7ltOjPFprf_wlh3S4EP7nPfsL7NI0St9vmYE2GKN6A192aP9LXysBgDIneTqRgRxz0BARzZCoXSQ6_92dxKPkI/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC0b9hQcKv68mfIbUCKsFxUi3btqynCctCkl3HI82voICQFew5E79L7ltOjPFprf_wlh3S4EP7nPfsL7NI0St9vmYE2GKN6A192aP9LXysBgDIneTqRgRxz0BARzZCoXSQ6_92dxKPkI/s640/IMG_0705.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> In the center of the ta<span style="font-size: x-large;">ble I placed another crocheted doily.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglabCRSzU6MxXq_kQ0Q4HWkZaKDAygWErbmef8er4hiQpMuV8Q1Ch0_BtlGHSU5BtKYWoCuXk-yx-7FpIjKlZCo569ADLUMBtJEHSQiO23ILlGtvl-Ya_b99z6z8FFh1wkiUE2e7s1NH4/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglabCRSzU6MxXq_kQ0Q4HWkZaKDAygWErbmef8er4hiQpMuV8Q1Ch0_BtlGHSU5BtKYWoCuXk-yx-7FpIjKlZCo569ADLUMBtJEHSQiO23ILlGtvl-Ya_b99z6z8FFh1wkiUE2e7s1NH4/s320/IMG_0702.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Because I always like to have biscuits on my table!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Since the holidays, Bill and I have been very busy on our many projects. Bill has been working at a job repairing six locks for a large p<span style="font-size: x-large;">iece of f<span style="font-size: x-large;">urniture being restored by Tim Puro. I have found him at all hours, sitting o<span style="font-size: x-large;">n the floor near some outlet, happily grin<span style="font-size: x-large;">ding something metal. Now they are all working beautifully.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hdTtgB9reTWMRAt6lVt8t2FGMwfWtasC-SJJUFS1YwGOjUwKb8P_4z3b04juYPYEVQuoGoQFmseGQPDS3k-wS4zcmhHs5RbqJ_za40KrTktGdegNhipU-P71uOHUqAOItM8XgCpyZk8/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hdTtgB9reTWMRAt6lVt8t2FGMwfWtasC-SJJUFS1YwGOjUwKb8P_4z3b04juYPYEVQuoGoQFmseGQPDS3k-wS4zcmhHs5RbqJ_za40KrTktGdegNhipU-P71uOHUqAOItM8XgCpyZk8/s640/IMG_0721.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>And between us, we redesigned Miss Hick<span style="font-size: x-large;">ory's room. Now it has windo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ws with lace curtains! I<span style="font-size: x-large;">'ve added things and sub<span style="font-size: x-large;">tracted th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ings. My head is taken up with the tasks she mu<span style="font-size: x-large;">st be prepar<span style="font-size: x-large;">ed to do. Bill has ordered her a <span style="font-size: x-large;">dish pan<span style="font-size: x-large;">! Note the new flo<span style="font-size: x-large;">oring.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W8bfOsy09KtIRVAFvuWlHEOOxCB_AceE6iZaRXUIwwXrrrSwz4DrqBoXFAwYLqZLLu4NEqtw2sBxaQti4ycPl_FcZEMmIUbu7xfB8PsSYOHBIOlQ1jnReJEA4-ljyOKW_Q60BpHlX0M/s1600/IMG_0709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W8bfOsy09KtIRVAFvuWlHEOOxCB_AceE6iZaRXUIwwXrrrSwz4DrqBoXFAwYLqZLLu4NEqtw2sBxaQti4ycPl_FcZEMmIUbu7xfB8PsSYOHBIOlQ1jnReJEA4-ljyOKW_Q60BpHlX0M/s640/IMG_0709.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Since she is an ongo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ing project, more photos of her<span style="font-size: x-large;"> later.</span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-527239821504780812012-12-23T16:03:00.000-05:002012-12-23T16:03:13.956-05:00Cliff Hanger <span style="font-size: x-large;">I've been thinking all along, "W<span style="font-size: x-large;">hy would the Co<span style="font-size: x-large;">ngress or the President <u>want</u> to lo<span style="font-size: x-large;">wer <span style="font-size: x-large;">our taxes<span style="font-size: x-large;">? Or reduce spending? Is<span style="font-size: x-large;">n<span style="font-size: x-large;">'t the whol<span style="font-size: x-large;">e point to grease the government with some f<span style="font-size: x-large;">resh cash<span style="font-size: x-large;">? Why would they care if the ones w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ho pay the tax<span style="font-size: x-large;">es are the poor? Governments <span style="font-size: x-large;">have always lived off the backs of the poor." But I wanted to believe that somebody was going to look out <span style="font-size: x-large;">for the poor guys, the 99%, in other wor<span style="font-size: x-large;">ds, us. Now it seems <span style="font-size: x-large;">that is just a myth, a fair<span style="font-size: x-large;">y tale.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">We'll see . . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Christmas this year has been a bit hard for me. La<span style="font-size: x-large;">st child has gone, y<span style="font-size: x-large;">ou know. I have had to relinquish a lot of traditions. I did get into some lovely holiday <span style="font-size: x-large;">cooking though. I felt inspired to whip up some low carbohydrate goodies.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> For Thanksgiving we had a large baking chicken with dressing and lovely gravy. I tried </span></span></span> to eat only token portions of dressing and potatoes. There were fresh green beans. We had spark<span style="font-size: x-large;">ling pear juice with ou<span style="font-size: x-large;">r dinner. And ate</span></span> by the lig<span style="font-size: x-large;">ht of the oil la<span style="font-size: x-large;">mp.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6aame0PzPt30jBBrvgH8PHMI32L6LQghEuFEQWmQsFdgxOZkjUz8wUJwcfyxMVtOloGUl486cPq_d-EaM3O6kEvD8jlCDFbq7NZS6GCzIcXyqf2tZhjIe9DLAcTduNI9p1bsADJLwuA/s1600/IMG_0696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6aame0PzPt30jBBrvgH8PHMI32L6LQghEuFEQWmQsFdgxOZkjUz8wUJwcfyxMVtOloGUl486cPq_d-EaM3O6kEvD8jlCDFbq7NZS6GCzIcXyqf2tZhjIe9DLAcTduNI9p1bsADJLwuA/s320/IMG_0696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Other yummy treats were <span style="font-size: x-large;">Fajitas with baked chips of <span style="font-size: x-large;">c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ut up tortillas and mashed av<span style="font-size: x-large;">ocados<span style="font-size: x-large;"> and sour cr<span style="font-size: x-large;">eam. Then sliced spiced chic<span style="font-size: x-large;">k<span style="font-size: x-large;">en<span style="font-size: x-large;">, cheese and bacon club sandwiches with Clam chowder.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5kgFwopo8PXNoOgmGcdjHIHgfk6voNePoGpP8etRCM_zzXs-VjKT_TD6QWXrVsVyfAmDBz8PDnNS5lqybfuXpPmTefUA59CuqlpLTEU-snYqE5pgicEb2Krq6DT9A8hIyQNxIObiDI4/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5kgFwopo8PXNoOgmGcdjHIHgfk6voNePoGpP8etRCM_zzXs-VjKT_TD6QWXrVsVyfAmDBz8PDnNS5lqybfuXpPmTefUA59CuqlpLTEU-snYqE5pgicEb2Krq6DT9A8hIyQNxIObiDI4/s640/IMG_0698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Then on Thursday w<span style="font-size: x-large;">e had "Little bits and pieces", meatballs simmered in mushroom soup, skewers of ch<span style="font-size: x-large;">erry tomatoes, cheese and cockta<span style="font-size: x-large;">il <span style="font-size: x-large;">o<span style="font-size: x-large;">nions. . .</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and nut and rais<span style="font-size: x-large;">in bon bons. Note my Br<span style="font-size: x-large;">other<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Larry's</span> hand-made card as decoration on the table.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-R0wBMHB9PFH_77mQfsrkVLeUCacGvW9rnT4bxGCr-7fL0g4-TDX0g312VRuFAGEeNdnX2up4Zjn_FrOIzNkY6OqL4XHeAKRw-A9-lxIyqtVSTKMyyasUe_Q7MXU0yTbCfdza7IQnTg/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-R0wBMHB9PFH_77mQfsrkVLeUCacGvW9rnT4bxGCr-7fL0g4-TDX0g312VRuFAGEeNdnX2up4Zjn_FrOIzNkY6OqL4XHeAKRw-A9-lxIyqtVSTKMyyasUe_Q7MXU0yTbCfdza7IQnTg/s640/IMG_0699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span>This was a<span style="font-size: x-large;"> new me<span style="font-size: x-large;">nu and it was so successful we are planning to have it again tomorrow night. Christmas night we're going Mexican!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the last things Eliyah and I cooked before his <span style="font-size: x-large;">Christmas vacation started </span>was Tuscan Bean <span style="font-size: x-large;">Stew. W<span style="font-size: x-large;">hite beans <span style="font-size: x-large;">cooked in the crockpot with tom<span style="font-size: x-large;">ato bits, lots of garlic, some carrots and celery, sm<span style="font-size: x-large;">oked sea salt and at the end, half a <span style="font-size: x-large;">pound of thin sl<span style="font-size: x-large;">iced peperoni. That was yummy in<span style="font-size: x-large;">deed<span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now I must go in the kitchen and bake a pineapple pi<span style="font-size: x-large;">e</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">for Bill.</span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">And a few Mincemeat tarts for me!</span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-32980638322028090322012-11-20T11:06:00.000-05:002012-11-20T11:06:33.785-05:00Black Friday <span style="font-size: x-large;"> "Why is it called Black Friday?" my husband asked. "Is it that miserable?" He was contemplating buying frenzies at Big Box stores. He only likes Antique Malls. There he is an indefatigable shopper. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> "No," I replied, "It's about being in the black, financially." And I thought about what I had said. The stores would be in the black, making a profit, but what about us, the buyers? Would we be in the black?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> According to the early morning National news (3:30 am) credit card debt is up and so are defaults on credit card payments. So no, we wouldn't necessarily be in the black. More likely in the red, trying to right the economy on borrowed money. Then I saw an item on the computer, spam most likely, saying "boycott shopping on Black Friday.<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Instead, make it a no-buy day." And I thought, "That would keep us in the black!" I really like the idea. It fits right in with my buying diet. Not that I'm so good at it. We went to the Southport Antique Mall last week. I didn't spend much but I did buy. Not new stuff but that doesn't really get me off the hook does it?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sEoQRbLoFDDWChEhYKAJLr9ihOLi5As5_IcvaQMVxZvz3_WzM_2UGQCWRUdHKP-QSuDh8x709D5ovYtiM0pQWu9nOuGJq-rgX70BLO9b03nHZlhrIviNgBJmgY03dPfLRqJcyZuV5tQ/s1600/IMG_0690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sEoQRbLoFDDWChEhYKAJLr9ihOLi5As5_IcvaQMVxZvz3_WzM_2UGQCWRUdHKP-QSuDh8x709D5ovYtiM0pQWu9nOuGJq-rgX70BLO9b03nHZlhrIviNgBJmgY03dPfLRqJcyZuV5tQ/s320/IMG_0690.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Character Doll, Old woman with glass eyes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1EWyZM-SPh5na5EvZtjutuE719l8BZQuemQS2W-qzvTn0RVDPM_JLNCoT5Qpm9mwZiwaGM3LBdWzuzxpWAF8G15IqtVHYyEHL0lmF7hSSVm2LAjaPzqKhCmMc9TRvyw_1bCUQPbNy80/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1EWyZM-SPh5na5EvZtjutuE719l8BZQuemQS2W-qzvTn0RVDPM_JLNCoT5Qpm9mwZiwaGM3LBdWzuzxpWAF8G15IqtVHYyEHL0lmF7hSSVm2LAjaPzqKhCmMc9TRvyw_1bCUQPbNy80/s320/IMG_0691.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basket Seller</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I can't make out why the old Woman is dressed in a pinafore like a little girl. Of course, she is <span style="font-size: x-large;">naked at the moment and I have done major surg<span style="font-size: x-large;">ery on her, giving her el<span style="font-size: x-large;">bows, kn<span style="font-size: x-large;">ees and <span style="font-size: x-large;">wrists, so that she can be posed. I've been to Joanne's and gotten sni<span style="font-size: x-large;">ppets of purple and red to make her a dress and hat. The basket lad<span style="font-size: x-large;">y's face is faded but I don't inten<span style="font-size: x-large;">d to str<span style="font-size: x-large;">ip her down. Maybe a little judi<span style="font-size: x-large;">c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ious face painting<span style="font-size: x-large;"> is in her fu<span style="font-size: x-large;">ture. What fun!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> As I mentioned previously, we are back on the once a month <span style="font-size: x-large;">grocery shopping schedule. Last month I bragged that we had saved $50 doing that but now I have to report that I spen<span style="font-size: x-large;">t that money on sale meat and things we ran out of, such as butter, white bread and soft drinks for my Husband.</span></span> This month I spent <i>over</i> the allotment but after all it is Thanksgiving. And C<span style="font-size: x-large;">hristmas is comin<span style="font-size: x-large;">g up. The <span style="font-size: x-large;">little house is full of <span style="font-size: x-large;">fo<span style="font-size: x-large;">od and goodies. One of the things I did was to buy bones and make beef broth. I saw it done on the Victorian cooking videos I saw on youtube.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I<span style="font-size: x-large;">t wasn't a short task<span style="font-size: x-large;">, in fact it took two days to finish. The meat and vegetables were first roasted in the oven, then cooked all day, co<span style="font-size: x-large;">oled and skimmed, then, the next day reduced a bit. I got 4 pin<span style="font-size: x-large;">ts of pretty but rather carrot flavored beef broth. For what I spent, I <span style="font-size: x-large;">could have bou<span style="font-size: x-large;">ght the most expensive bouillon available!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvnacfZR2o43cgxoVpJo_tjrTHTP1JHqVO6F-CjuVCi2RKUNvLVGCVCxm_TigscSl2WZ3EN2pxBFtfCdS0dKufLKfzhMcxG9dZ3wTxPXqVLdTGolr76jfwtg4wQCn8wfysmOgmGUvYOk/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvnacfZR2o43cgxoVpJo_tjrTHTP1JHqVO6F-CjuVCi2RKUNvLVGCVCxm_TigscSl2WZ3EN2pxBFtfCdS0dKufLKfzhMcxG9dZ3wTxPXqVLdTGolr76jfwtg4wQCn8wfysmOgmGUvYOk/s640/IMG_0694.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The recipe recommended throwing the meat and vegetables away but I could<span style="font-size: x-large;">n't bring myself to do that, but minced up the meat and using some of t<span style="font-size: x-large;">he broth made an excellent <span style="font-size: x-large;">Strogonoff</span></span></span> for Sunday <span style="font-size: x-large;">dinner. On Monday I had not planned anything nor taken something out of the <span style="font-size: x-large;">freezer so I hurr<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ied to</span> </span></span></span>ma<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">k</span>e some tomato soup (tomato sauce, canned milk, some tomato paste, dill weed) and grilled <span style="font-size: x-large;">some</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">cheese sandwiches. I felt <span style="font-size: x-large;">gui<span style="font-size: x-large;">l<span style="font-size: x-large;">ty about it just <span style="font-size: x-large;">until Bill sat <span style="font-size: x-large;">down and <span style="font-size: x-large;">rub<span style="font-size: x-large;">bed his hands and said "<span style="font-size: x-large;">Oh, good, one of my favorite meals."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Eliyah and I w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ent to May<span style="font-size: x-large;">'s greenhouse to look for min<span style="font-size: x-large;">iature plants and found many to choose from. They didn't cost much e<span style="font-size: x-large;">ither. So we chose <span style="font-size: x-large;">miniature palms, frittaria and a <span style="font-size: x-large;">small fern. Here are the <span style="font-size: x-large;">terrariums we made"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnWucEImwYHu0_dRGdWA_9GmVXpinZzbhJp8dT4DGhqR6-_QcmrvUibkur-WKEG-Jyhj6R3knqIK-vHQqWrlPPPEcsun8aNWmISvvRvPrduywstDQh5SxuFgOOMSw3n71BrDEIsTqC9Y/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnWucEImwYHu0_dRGdWA_9GmVXpinZzbhJp8dT4DGhqR6-_QcmrvUibkur-WKEG-Jyhj6R3knqIK-vHQqWrlPPPEcsun8aNWmISvvRvPrduywstDQh5SxuFgOOMSw3n71BrDEIsTqC9Y/s640/IMG_0689.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>We are cooking at home alone for Thanksgiving. A difficult choice but <span style="font-size: x-large;">we plan to eat out for Christmas. We did the same th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ing for our Birthday and <span style="font-size: x-large;">Anniversary, ate out <span style="font-size: x-large;">on one and at home the other. After all, I make good feasts. In fact, Bill insists that my food is better than any restaurant'<span style="font-size: x-large;">s, although he loves to e<span style="font-size: x-large;">at out. My menu is entirely predictable, though I won't be eating the mashed potat<span style="font-size: x-large;">oes, I'll have a dab of sweet potato plain. Also only a dab of stuffing. No cranber<span style="font-size: x-large;">ry sauce but I'll be making a cheesecake out of Victoria Magazine with a gla<span style="font-size: x-large;">ze of <span style="font-size: x-large;">cranberry juice <span style="font-size: x-large;"> thickened </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">with gelet<span style="font-size: x-large;">in </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>and</span> using sweetner<span style="font-size: x-large;"> rather than sugar.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">So carbs but not unlimited carbs. Now that I limit carbs, I find not mu<span style="font-size: x-large;">ch<span style="font-size: x-large;"> need for sugar</span></span></span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">it's far too expensive in carbohydrates! That surprised me but I co<span style="font-size: x-large;">n<span style="font-size: x-large;">fess that there are many proteins that I ac<span style="font-size: x-large;">tuall<span style="font-size: x-large;">y like better than sweets. This week I made Pate<span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span> or chopped liver, if you will<span style="font-size: x-large;">. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Flavored with sour cream<span style="font-size: x-large;">, dill and spring onions, it is a delicious s<span style="font-size: x-large;">n<span style="font-size: x-large;">ack.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I am reading a <span style="font-size: x-large;">book, "Disaster" about the history of Ea<span style="font-size: x-large;">rthquakes, floods, plagues and et<span style="font-size: x-large;">c. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have to say, it is making me very thankful this <span style="font-size: x-large;">week. My petty complaints don't mean much beside catastrophes which do away with 90% of the population! Nothing like being put in one<span style="font-size: x-large;">'s place. A very H<span style="font-size: x-large;">appy Thanksgiving to you all!</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-32560590910359372192012-11-07T11:35:00.000-05:002012-11-07T11:35:37.344-05:00The Birthday Week<span style="font-size: x-large;"> It's not just the <span style="font-size: x-large;">Birthday Week, it's also the <span style="font-size: x-large;">Anniversary <span style="font-size: x-large;">Week<span style="font-size: x-large;">, the part of the year we c<span style="font-size: x-large;">elebrate most seriously<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> We were married 11 years ago <span style="font-size: x-large;">just a week before our Birthdays. Th<span style="font-size: x-large;">is year we had a l<span style="font-size: x-large;">o<span style="font-size: x-large;">vely week indeed. On <span style="font-size: x-large;">our Anniversary we ate a nice Stir-fry at <span style="font-size: x-large;">home</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">after spending the day out shopping, reading at <span style="font-size: x-large;">our favorite Non-lending <span style="font-size: x-large;">Library, Barnes<span style="font-size: x-large;"> and Noble, and having a quick lunch at McDonal<span style="font-size: x-large;">d's.</span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">On our <span style="font-size: x-large;">Birthday we opened presents at breakfast</span></span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Then we had a qui<span style="font-size: x-large;">et day r<span style="font-size: x-large;">eading and went out to Outback for a festive <span style="font-size: x-large;">dinner. There were lot<span style="font-size: x-large;">s of calls and e-mails and Happy Birthdays on Faceboo<span style="font-size: x-large;">k. I wore all b<span style="font-size: x-large;">lack with Mother's jade necklace shining on my neck. Even on Sunday we went to a party, <span style="font-size: x-large;">a Christmas event at Elegant <span style="font-size: x-large;">Options<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Antiques.<span style="font-size: x-large;"> They</span></span> were swamped with people, eating their elegant snacks and <span style="font-size: x-large;">standing in line to bu<span style="font-size: x-large;">y Christmas ornaments and presents. We chatted with frien<span style="font-size: x-large;">ds and <span style="font-size: x-large;">a</span>cquantances<span style="font-size: x-large;">. </span></span><u>Not</u> too early for a Chris<span style="font-size: x-large;">tmas even<span style="font-size: x-large;">t ev<span style="font-size: x-large;">idently!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV0TLmdlpFMyVJFc-2B_ouzLvqQn1W6Q46jmx55A9Y_sI6IO0agxMOIoNAsgscgoYDZBd4WTrDBu9dh62ZsKbDHq2NvRM9U4AatCVWedZZ73yzVKq_Yf_Q319rvqim2NFr-ElaOpM9NA/s1600/IMG_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV0TLmdlpFMyVJFc-2B_ouzLvqQn1W6Q46jmx55A9Y_sI6IO0agxMOIoNAsgscgoYDZBd4WTrDBu9dh62ZsKbDHq2NvRM9U4AatCVWedZZ73yzVKq_Yf_Q319rvqim2NFr-ElaOpM9NA/s640/IMG_0676.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Here are some of the gifts I recei<span style="font-size: x-large;">ved. The <span style="font-size: x-large;">little jew<span style="font-size: x-large;">el box i<span style="font-size: x-large;">s reminisc<span style="font-size: x-large;">en<span style="font-size: x-large;">t of Laura's box and I was overcome to get it. Not<span style="font-size: x-large;">e the tiny book for <span style="font-size: x-large;">Abe L<span style="font-size: x-large;">incoln. I loved the lazer cut card from Bill and the pr<span style="font-size: x-large;">eying <span style="font-size: x-large;">mantis one</span></span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Another favorite is belo<span style="font-size: x-large;">w:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DjrS2rvvmCXr1jPqWQhyjhg9FXr0SYPsGVHy3QnAYAGxfr84ny3k8lc6nNveNNhFqQPwTE2gCW7_dnguPjzIkxWiN2f9xTwktPgn7T1GBxMMm2GMuMkrz1divXP2_cgZBGvHbdB3Vj8/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DjrS2rvvmCXr1jPqWQhyjhg9FXr0SYPsGVHy3QnAYAGxfr84ny3k8lc6nNveNNhFqQPwTE2gCW7_dnguPjzIkxWiN2f9xTwktPgn7T1GBxMMm2GMuMkrz1divXP2_cgZBGvHbdB3Vj8/s320/IMG_0687.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> From <span style="font-size: x-large;">my Daughter in Seattle and her Husband. Who wouldn't want to be addressed as Super-Mom?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh469rNJpMMxqfC3_9PGviQZc8XvQLCtc25pD16YphMDFXPBR4J1Vj6rxjjKOcTlyaEMdRM5yGoPxrtVuyoElT8Z6YQk3Gosrf-_SFzLoDshBX75_EVAjicbaqOLpf4rt31wf-04BW1eD4/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh469rNJpMMxqfC3_9PGviQZc8XvQLCtc25pD16YphMDFXPBR4J1Vj6rxjjKOcTlyaEMdRM5yGoPxrtVuyoElT8Z6YQk3Gosrf-_SFzLoDshBX75_EVAjicbaqOLpf4rt31wf-04BW1eD4/s320/IMG_0678.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is how the boo<span style="font-size: x-large;">k looks on Abe'<span style="font-size: x-large;">s desk. It is beautif<span style="font-size: x-large;">ully bound.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr-U-6VHfvaTRKrEP_tsPQ8CqKyGxwctrWq5DVw2BQ9VIP-84I0nSVGgecWvkH1AHlaDginhf8X1NERELHw9r_StGcCRX-k1-_Tkn7ttmH_R213W4EXWDg_LLa7H5XQodpsEbIKHC66w/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr-U-6VHfvaTRKrEP_tsPQ8CqKyGxwctrWq5DVw2BQ9VIP-84I0nSVGgecWvkH1AHlaDginhf8X1NERELHw9r_StGcCRX-k1-_Tkn7ttmH_R213W4EXWDg_LLa7H5XQodpsEbIKHC66w/s640/IMG_0685.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You <span style="font-size: x-large;">remember how I longed for a fan for Mary. We found this one at Oolitic Antique Mall. It was a c<span style="font-size: x-large;">harm from a necklace. Bill cut off the little loop.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> On Monday we were quite un<span style="font-size: x-large;">re<span style="font-size: x-large;">ady to resume <span style="font-size: x-large;">normal duties. But on Tuesday I mopped the floors and straighten<span style="font-size: x-large;">ed up for Eliyah's usual visit.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> We read the last Chapter of <span style="font-size: x-large;">The Long Winter on <span style="font-size: x-large;">our Birthday. And nei<span style="font-size: x-large;">ther of us could resist a few tears<span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The table looks some different from what it did a few days ago" Pa said as he heaped Mrs. Boast's <span style="font-size: x-large;">plate with turkey and stuffing and potatoes and a large spoonful of <span style="font-size: x-large;">cra<span style="font-size: x-large;">n</span>berries. And as he went on filling the plates he added, "It has been a long winter."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> "And a hard one," said Mr. Boast.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> "It is a wonder how we all kept well and came through it," <span style="font-size: x-large;">Mrs. Boast said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> While Mr. and Mrs<span style="font-size: x-large;">. Boast told how they had worked and contrived through that long winter, all alone in the blizzard-bound shanty<span style="font-size: x-large;"> on their c<span style="font-size: x-large;">lai<span style="font-size: x-large;">m, Ma poured the coffee and Pa's tea. She passed the bread and the butter and the gravy and reminded Pa to refill the plates.</span></span></span></span></i> </span><br />From "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-81743038771916470262012-10-21T15:10:00.001-04:002012-10-21T18:07:31.709-04:00Putting up food for the Winter<span style="font-size: x-large;">"They were all dressed and washed when Pa came in with the milk half frozen in the pail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> After he had got his breath and melted the frost and snow from his <span style="font-size: x-large;">mustaches, he said, "Well, the hard winter's begun"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Why<span style="font-size: x-large;">, Charles," Ma said, "It isn't like you to <span style="font-size: x-large;">wo<span style="font-size: x-large;">rry about winter weather."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> "<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not worrying," Pa replied, "But it's going to be a hard winter."</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">From "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> It's turned warm now, for a week or two but I'm still expecting a<span style="font-size: x-large;">nother load of wood any day now. It's better to be prepared . . . Perhaps this is "Indian Summer".</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Last week I bragged about saving $50 on th<span style="font-size: x-large;">is month<span style="font-size: x-large;">'s groceries. Then the next week's grocery store flyers came out. What's this, chicken breasts for <span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span>77</span></span></span> </span></span>a <span style="font-size: x-large;">pound! And pork roast for $1.78 a pound! I did read a prediction that meat would go <span style="font-size: x-large;">down <span style="font-size: x-large;">before it went up, the supposition being that farmers would first but<span style="font-size: x-large;">cher a little early rather than buy the more expensive feed this fall. Later the price wi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ll go up to pay for the feed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span> So I bit and s<span style="font-size: x-large;">pen<span style="font-size: x-large;">t ano<span style="font-size: x-large;">ther $25<span style="font-size: x-large;">. Then I went home and bone<span style="font-size: x-large;">d 15 chicken breasts and froze them, and with what we already had that's 25, c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ount 'em 25 approximately 1 p<span style="font-size: x-large;">ound chicken breasts in the free<span style="font-size: x-large;">zer. As well as 4 pints of chicken broth with chicken bits in, ready to make soup. That<span style="font-size: x-large;"> is kind of a big pro<span style="font-size: x-large;">duction, and one needs to plan to take off the trash afterwar<span style="font-size: x-large;">ds before it begins to stink!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrEw4we2xSaNRSJeT8ATHeua-v0CaSsuvSHdCyeDcUQ0Y-azUjAni-J4le165yrjFo2Cg17wH1LJXk8lV6jaVFQFEO3BdweP9NRpHcBhSMeGRTlpUTI9lmtB82u0pcTAGySQGmZrSCIo/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrEw4we2xSaNRSJeT8ATHeua-v0CaSsuvSHdCyeDcUQ0Y-azUjAni-J4le165yrjFo2Cg17wH1LJXk8lV6jaVFQFEO3BdweP9NRpHcBhSMeGRTlpUTI9lmtB82u0pcTAGySQGmZrSCIo/s640/IMG_0665.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">See the pile of bones and skin on the left?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I8nmEtFqHQ9MfGZzNkYTS_6H_WaaJBRhc_kLLDIUMZS69Vh7FZeUiJMaiJG_tGI0CSRMIQYKPIxo42bATVr6OAM1HX64FChTccQaO1EqledyFB38utKxOdqGI_-0g_rag78FXUDW1dQ/s1600/IMG_0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I8nmEtFqHQ9MfGZzNkYTS_6H_WaaJBRhc_kLLDIUMZS69Vh7FZeUiJMaiJG_tGI0CSRMIQYKPIxo42bATVr6OAM1HX64FChTccQaO1EqledyFB38utKxOdqGI_-0g_rag78FXUDW1dQ/s640/IMG_0666.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Note the wax paper instead of li<span style="font-size: x-large;">ds. That way the jars won't break when the broth free<span style="font-size: x-large;">zes. After it's frozen, you may replace the paper with lids, providing that the jar wa<span style="font-size: x-large;">sn't o<span style="font-size: x-large;">ver-filled and conse<span style="font-size: x-large;">qently bulging from the top! If you're going to use the<span style="font-size: x-large;">m soo<span style="font-size: x-large;">n<span style="font-size: x-large;">, the wa<span style="font-size: x-large;">xed paper will do fine. Because I poured rather t<span style="font-size: x-large;">han ladle<span style="font-size: x-large;">d, most <span style="font-size: x-large;">of the fat i<span style="font-size: x-large;">s</span> in one jar, but that's all right, I'll use that one to make a cream soup or sauce, <span style="font-size: x-large;">adding the flour shaken in a jar with some liquid, broth, milk or water, depending on what I'm mak<span style="font-size: x-large;">ing, instead of mixing it with butter to make a roux. I bo<span style="font-size: x-large;">iled this broth down to make it flavorful and rich. I <span style="font-size: x-large;">added celery leaves and smoked salt and <span style="font-size: x-large;">freshly ground pepper for flavor. As a diabetic, <span style="font-size: x-large;">noodles are not such a desirable addition but I was thinking of beaten egg to make those thin shre<span style="font-size: x-large;">ds such as in some Greek soups.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">While I was at the store, I looked at <span style="font-size: x-large;">.17 a pound potatoes. Two decades ago I liked to buy potatoes for .20 a pound, in 50-pound <span style="font-size: x-large;">bags. <span style="font-size: x-large;">So I looked at th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ese sale potatoes. But they were spotty and shriveled. La<span style="font-size: x-large;">st years potatoes, the last stored ones before the new crop comes in. I'll wait. I may pay more but I will have fresh potatoes, thank you very much!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My daughter in Seattle is missing th<span style="font-size: x-large;">e <span style="font-size: x-large;">mid<span style="font-size: x-large;">-west autum<span style="font-size: x-large;">n. We've already had three frosts and windy days and rain so we're a little past the pea<span style="font-size: x-large;">k but here is a picture of our back yard. I do love the fall!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxiH5annks9_DRdMESI_izgrPwntTa47fvnGxVrkgOeaIpU8Zfem9czdzLT-pMCqqs9S-1P32qhj77zLcblT21xr6yOhTnOd4GjfJPosx1SKIToxqu3DuJWyja3b9wSp-n2RsziGYYmA/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxiH5annks9_DRdMESI_izgrPwntTa47fvnGxVrkgOeaIpU8Zfem9czdzLT-pMCqqs9S-1P32qhj77zLcblT21xr6yOhTnOd4GjfJPosx1SKIToxqu3DuJWyja3b9wSp-n2RsziGYYmA/s640/IMG_0674.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I've had request<span style="font-size: x-large;">s for the Beef and Barley stew from last week. It's very simple:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 # stew beef or chuck, cu<span style="font-size: x-large;">bed</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 medium oni<span style="font-size: x-large;">on, minced</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2 ribs celery, thinly sliced</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 can minced tomatoes</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 t Worcestershire sauce</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 t s<span style="font-size: x-large;">moked salt</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1/2 t <span style="font-size: x-large;">freshly ground pepper</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1/2 cup whole barley. I had to buy Bob's Red Mill this time and it wasn't precooked like Quaker, but it was lovely after cooking all afternoon in the crockpot.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1/2 package of mushrooms, ab<span style="font-size: x-large;">out</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">About 2 quarts of water, home<span style="font-size: x-large;">-made stock or <span style="font-size: x-large;">boullion.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I don't brown the meat. I just put everything in the crockpot and turn it on<span style="font-size: x-large;">. Wait, I don't put the mush<span style="font-size: x-large;">room<span style="font-size: x-large;">s in until an hour before we eat. I did this at 10 am and by 6 pm it was delic<span style="font-size: x-large;">ious. <span style="font-size: x-large;">We a<span style="font-size: x-large;">te it with rye toast and butter on the side.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been watching Victorian Cooking on youtube and they recommend browning shin bones in the oven and then<span style="font-size: x-large;"> simmering them in water with unpeeled onions and carrots, salt an<span style="font-size: x-large;">d pepper, all day for a lovely broth. <span style="font-size: x-large;">And I will try that just as soon as shin bones go on sale, but a quality boullion is quite acce<span style="font-size: x-large;">ptable to my way of thinking.</span></span></span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> </span> </span> </span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-53231012925792057852012-10-14T13:34:00.000-04:002012-10-14T13:34:47.082-04:00A Windy Day <span style="font-size: x-large;"> "Now Laura," Ma said kindly, "You must not be so easily discouraged. A few blizzards more or less can make no great difference."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wi<span style="font-size: x-large;">lder</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">On Wednesday<span style="font-size: x-large;"> we went to the stores and bou<span style="font-size: x-large;">g<span style="font-size: x-large;">h<span style="font-size: x-large;">t 5 weeks worth of grocer<span style="font-size: x-large;">ies.</span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">That includes the But<span style="font-size: x-large;">cher store, the Health food store and two grocery stores. It took us about 2 1/2 hours.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzw9G0r2jHwdrTdORyy_fVICyVHkRkFveJKIQJYVeZ-AN10gPMGVfDqI42Xr6haas4B06Zd3UrhYtSu37acZ9SE_RV8gQlF_JMlwUxzdzIMDcHv9miDEP2AjWntXJCys8BNjo0z3xLHk/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzw9G0r2jHwdrTdORyy_fVICyVHkRkFveJKIQJYVeZ-AN10gPMGVfDqI42Xr6haas4B06Zd3UrhYtSu37acZ9SE_RV8gQlF_JMlwUxzdzIMDcHv9miDEP2AjWntXJCys8BNjo0z3xLHk/s640/IMG_0657.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the Health food store, </span>I bought bulk molasses and maple syrup, T<span style="font-size: x-large;">ibetian Pink ro<span style="font-size: x-large;">ck salt and Applewood smoked salt, chili powder and decafe Earl Grey Tea, and a dozen lovely red p<span style="font-size: x-large;">eppers on sale for .33 apiece. Th<span style="font-size: x-large;">es<span style="font-size: x-large;">e define the tastes of this month's cooking, <span style="font-size: x-large;">to some extent. The peppers are frozen, nearly a gallon of them for fajitas, salads and omeletes, Eliyah will make pancakes after school to eat with maple syrup, and the salts, well, nothing tastes better for me <span style="font-size: x-large;">than scra<span style="font-size: x-large;">m<span style="font-size: x-large;">ble<span style="font-size: x-large;">d eggs with smoked salt and ground pepper for breakfast<span style="font-size: x-large;">! The total was $24.80 and constitu<span style="font-size: x-large;">t<span style="font-size: x-large;">es my quarterly tr<span style="font-size: x-large;">ip to the Health food store. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Counting that and the other<span style="font-size: x-large;">s, my total for 5 weeks was $300.75. We saved $50. Of course, as they <span style="font-size: x-large;">say, the proof of the pudding is <span style="font-size: x-large;">in the eating. If <span style="font-size: x-large;">we find ou<span style="font-size: x-large;">rsel<span style="font-size: x-large;">ves jaunting to the store in less <span style="font-size: x-large;">t<span style="font-size: x-large;">han a month to get some goodie we're out of, well, that would be <span style="font-size: x-large;">a failure</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">of the<span style="font-size: x-large;"> budget, wouldn't it<span style="font-size: x-large;">?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">M<span style="font-size: x-large;">y menus for t<span style="font-size: x-large;">his week include <span style="font-size: x-large;">Pasta, which will make three meals, Beef stew with barley and mushrooms, <span style="font-size: x-large;">Pork tenderl<span style="font-size: x-large;">oin sandwi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ches and Clam chowder with toasted cheese <span style="font-size: x-large;">sandwi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ches. We<span style="font-size: x-large;"> bought</span> plenty of ice cream, fruit and chocolate for desserts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This week I ma<span style="font-size: x-large;">de Rye bread for a change, using the mo<span style="font-size: x-large;">l<span style="font-size: x-large;">asses and some cocoa pow<span style="font-size: x-large;">der to impart some color and flavor. I rolled the loaves in chopped sunflower seeds too. It is yummy. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T<span style="font-size: x-large;">oday is a very windy day. The air is like, buoyant, as I noticed when I went out to rescu<span style="font-size: x-large;">e two t-shirts left out to bleach in the sun. So I left the garage door up and the do<span style="font-size: x-large;">or into the house open, to bring in that leafy air. When I went out to get <span style="font-size: x-large;">something in the garage, I found a <span style="font-size: x-large;">wre<span style="font-size: x-large;">n trembli<span style="font-size: x-large;">ng on the work ta<span style="font-size: x-large;">ble. <span style="font-size: x-large;">She was so afraid of me sh<span style="font-size: x-large;">e wouldn't shoo out, <span style="font-size: x-large;">she just couldn't mo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ve with fear. I put up the second door and left her alone and no<span style="font-size: x-large;">w she has gone. It is <u>so</u> windy, the garage must have seemed l<span style="font-size: x-large;">ike calm from the <span style="font-size: x-large;">storm.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Eliyah made breakfast Pizzas Thur<span style="font-size: x-large;">sday, biscuit dough with eggs, cheese, bacon and a slice of tomato. They were <span style="font-size: x-large;">very good and he has written down the recipe for his box. We used lard in the biscuit dough, which gives it a special flavor.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vhn0DhEKP8VYq05957kHHkDyv_eeqTCy_AXc9SE0KUQaAX-jIagtU4QBWCyVdAI4aDwsQxrtYPCe1f9Wqaqh3NKsqBGBNZ7czTUVxuUqFsLq3n8IJh_RIITxR_gPfa3G6-gFdZA4-XA/s1600/IMG_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vhn0DhEKP8VYq05957kHHkDyv_eeqTCy_AXc9SE0KUQaAX-jIagtU4QBWCyVdAI4aDwsQxrtYPCe1f9Wqaqh3NKsqBGBNZ7czTUVxuUqFsLq3n8IJh_RIITxR_gPfa3G6-gFdZA4-XA/s640/IMG_0658.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Some ha<span style="font-size: x-large;">v<span style="font-size: x-large;">e mushrooms on them.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My sole d<span style="font-size: x-large;">ecoration for Halloween is the wi<span style="font-size: x-large;">tch in our kitchen, brought all the way from Yu<span style="font-size: x-large;">goslavia.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been making lists at the dining room table by lamplight<span style="font-size: x-large;">, even <span style="font-size: x-large;">though it's the mi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ddle of the day. I f<span style="font-size: x-large;">ind it makes the list<span style="font-size: x-large;">s go better, and now I think I'll add a cup of Earl Gr<span style="font-size: x-large;">ey tea too.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyvLQb6lWvJcltYY2BQOjDV4EOaE0IzEWrkNzH_UcqZJiMXF1-hxX52Ylt677wsfO1Lk4C06AIKD6PuoVzaX9Wc6S9_Sv9pnUoWjPX7-GOvF-bFPINnUlezH3W-j8ihaCFFqJijhunGk/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyvLQb6lWvJcltYY2BQOjDV4EOaE0IzEWrkNzH_UcqZJiMXF1-hxX52Ylt677wsfO1Lk4C06AIKD6PuoVzaX9Wc6S9_Sv9pnUoWjPX7-GOvF-bFPINnUlezH3W-j8ihaCFFqJijhunGk/s640/IMG_0664.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-25565520170520266842012-10-07T19:01:00.000-04:002012-10-07T19:01:47.409-04:00Cozy Winter Days are Coming Again!<span style="font-size: x-large;">"A b-b-b-blizzard<span style="font-size: x-large;">" Ma chattered. "In Oc-October. I n-<span style="font-size: x-large;">n-never heard of . .. "</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Q<span style="font-size: x-large;">uote from <span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Long Winter" by Laura In<span style="font-size: x-large;">galls Wi<span style="font-size: x-large;">lder</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She originally <span style="font-size: x-large;">called it "The Long Hard Winter" and so it w<span style="font-size: x-large;">as. But her publisher felt that was too frank for her <span style="font-size: x-large;">audience of chil<span style="font-size: x-large;">dren so it was shortened.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And no, ther<span style="font-size: x-large;">e has been no blizzard here, just some cool weather. But I love the thought of snowy cold weather. Now that I'm retired and don't <span style="font-size: x-large;">have to go out to work every day<span style="font-size: x-large;">! I have already moved the table close to the stove for warm cozy meals. Eliyah and I have brou<span style="font-size: x-large;">ght in wood and stacked it on the hearth. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Every morning I read a ch<span style="font-size: x-large;">apter from <span style="font-size: x-large;">"<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Long Winter" after breakfast. Not that we are having fire in the stove yet. The Chi<span style="font-size: x-large;">mney Sweep hasn't even been here yet. I am just anticipating!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I brought <span style="font-size: x-large;">home some souvenirs from Florida. A lovely little Nocturn, a little night painting:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwn9uB4CSdw2LimP19_J2wT6iyoaaOrg5CraJUtS1vSnnusk6oPHFevLBHV1yWUt5qg1_ca7j4NwLLvRP4AnvDAJA2vmMbCBTMlTJvY5FTvljJDn9JDuU1XoplmMyE-c4Skjh7YFokIo/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwn9uB4CSdw2LimP19_J2wT6iyoaaOrg5CraJUtS1vSnnusk6oPHFevLBHV1yWUt5qg1_ca7j4NwLLvRP4AnvDAJA2vmMbCBTMlTJvY5FTvljJDn9JDuU1XoplmMyE-c4Skjh7YFokIo/s400/IMG_0651.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> And a reprodu<span style="font-size: x-large;">ction s<span style="font-size: x-large;">ewing bird. <span style="font-size: x-large;">It is impossible to act<span style="font-size: x-large;">uall<span style="font-size: x-large;">y stick a pin in the bright red cushion and I don't know how they mana<span style="font-size: x-large;">ged that!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvtxdi6uN52eUvPQt2g87aFuYMWcBLFAckXNFBX9Wma0LSdnpc7HIhw9cjczQe7JTEhjz-XXi603O1x2p2gO_SstBk8Oc3hzzl-T6gSMwZxGPyDdp2I0MFEmZtlBhAu3mi0o1BF3mfSA/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvtxdi6uN52eUvPQt2g87aFuYMWcBLFAckXNFBX9Wma0LSdnpc7HIhw9cjczQe7JTEhjz-XXi603O1x2p2gO_SstBk8Oc3hzzl-T6gSMwZxGPyDdp2I0MFEmZtlBhAu3mi0o1BF3mfSA/s400/IMG_0649.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Also a set of Majolica canisters that are actually worth something. You will see them in the backgro<span style="font-size: x-large;">und of this next picture. The picture is of a bo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ttle <span style="font-size: x-large;">of oil<span style="font-size: x-large;">. The plastic bo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ttle was <u><span style="font-size: x-large;">so</span></u><span style="font-size: x-large;"> thin that it crumpled and spilled o<span style="font-size: x-large;">i<span style="font-size: x-large;">l on the counter when I gra<span style="font-size: x-large;">bbed it to pour in the skillet. I foun<span style="font-size: x-large;">d a nice whi<span style="font-size: x-large;">s<span style="font-size: x-large;">key bottle to put it into and <span style="font-size: x-large;">I like it very much, easy to hold and to pour.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8-dwL849mX6xix4e6lfD7gyUtb3-z5FngcNYkuvnO6b71lanG8hwmgHQJ8oCUOz22sXBAfXduukaIiOGqy-NgQ_oKBKSF-vI97uYvDfgGBRjlGuMKid4Awox527EsRqZkGdAbqBoGVU/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8-dwL849mX6xix4e6lfD7gyUtb3-z5FngcNYkuvnO6b71lanG8hwmgHQJ8oCUOz22sXBAfXduukaIiOGqy-NgQ_oKBKSF-vI97uYvDfgGBRjlGuMKid4Awox527EsRqZkGdAbqBoGVU/s640/IMG_0652.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span>In line with being cozy for winter, I am <span style="font-size: x-large;">cooking beans for the next month or so:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda5Sdi0UIwlydtRK-hMzwctFpKfS9Cl77qdnzxG4l6HuAGe4oBm5BQNiyduG8ifWVhkXtq76udKCvNVj4tSjtlDzbx-t7yyO03iJTdcW0RYiLWtXgO0CtFKpLzDRMdiwKaI1HXYOYWrc/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda5Sdi0UIwlydtRK-hMzwctFpKfS9Cl77qdnzxG4l6HuAGe4oBm5BQNiyduG8ifWVhkXtq76udKCvNVj4tSjtlDzbx-t7yyO03iJTdcW0RYiLWtXgO0CtFKpLzDRMdiwKaI1HXYOYWrc/s640/IMG_0654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>I will put them in the jars, cover them with wax<span style="font-size: x-large;"> paper and canning rings and <span style="font-size: x-large;">freeze them. Beans<span style="font-size: x-large;">, it turns out, are a proper carb for a di<span style="font-size: x-large;">abetic.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's almost time for our show so I'll stop <span style="font-size: x-large;">now except to note I have gone back to month<span style="font-size: x-large;">ly grocery buying. It seems to save me about $50 a month. More on this later.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-89645605547969516422012-09-27T11:09:00.002-04:002012-09-27T11:09:36.787-04:00Home again, home again, jiggity jog<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have been gone on an extended trip, a working trip and come home thinner and very grateful for my life here. <span style="font-size: x-large;">We saw sever<span style="font-size: x-large;">al accidents, which were horrifying, found that the c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ottage we were to stay in had been burgle<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">d and even the bedroom furniture taken<span style="font-size: x-large;"> so that I slept on a couch with a throw pillow the whole time we were there. We e<span style="font-size: x-large;">mptied the house and cleaned it up as best we could and there was no time for fun in sunny Florida. I would<span style="font-size: x-large;">n<span style="font-size: x-large;">'t go back for a mint of money!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Florida was interesting t<span style="font-size: x-large;">hough, as it always it. It seemed to me that the Spanish Moss was thi<span style="font-size: x-large;">cker than I remember.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn4HOM5Un66QdDB5vuS9CRTc4fKoViiYtfcyaUCZcbbPH2tDkaWjjRVew6GSTx7tOmXQHdrN3MMPlpc3OOIInjYfzybFkvwUmoTpr3LLi4FZl3c3WdFXWeB-SchOLZ79wAiAs8OHGoDg/s1600/IMG_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn4HOM5Un66QdDB5vuS9CRTc4fKoViiYtfcyaUCZcbbPH2tDkaWjjRVew6GSTx7tOmXQHdrN3MMPlpc3OOIInjYfzybFkvwUmoTpr3LLi4FZl3c3WdFXWeB-SchOLZ79wAiAs8OHGoDg/s640/IMG_0639.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span>If you look closely, upper third, left of ce<span style="font-size: x-large;">nter, you can see an o<span style="font-size: x-large;">pportunistic moss attached to the phone wire where it is looped!</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lcFygwinI3HzFSK_oINy1Adml6z4V3R5GMzwFNLlNOUORJ4WyzhPo3fn17px56x9b7q_4hP1VN5T34LOOvDui2F5PTPfxuvj4F04zvsLD3-0H1Vl1h_2ERlnwEPppz8-IPFIsNuHHW8/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lcFygwinI3HzFSK_oINy1Adml6z4V3R5GMzwFNLlNOUORJ4WyzhPo3fn17px56x9b7q_4hP1VN5T34LOOvDui2F5PTPfxuvj4F04zvsLD3-0H1Vl1h_2ERlnwEPppz8-IPFIsNuHHW8/s320/IMG_0642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We loaded the car to cap<span style="font-size: x-large;">a</span>city and beyond. I loved this picture <span style="font-size: x-large;">because if you look at the window you see a <span style="font-size: x-large;">reflection of me, taking the picture!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> The trip was a good distraction <span style="font-size: x-large;">from the sadness of finding out my old friend Ida had left this earth for <span style="font-size: x-large;">Heavenly pleasures, (no<span style="font-size: x-large;"> doubt about that, none).</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And another sadness, <span style="font-size: x-large;">my youngest daughter has <span style="font-size: x-large;">moved across the country to Seattle. I have had the p<span style="font-size: x-large;">leasure of her company all<span style="font-size: x-large;"> these years and now she has gone away to have adventures apart from me. I miss her<span style="font-size: x-large;"> more than I can s<span style="font-size: x-large;">ay. I helped <span style="font-size: x-large;">her pack and mo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ve and in cleaning out the house, brought many things back to my own house. When I realized that she was really gone, I got some of th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ose thi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ngs out and sp<span style="font-size: x-large;">read them aro<span style="font-size: x-large;">und, to use and to think of her and be grateful that she has been so near all these years.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdu8UUehMLhJ51tkYKX-vI3W27_IqMo2RpoK5Gy_9Q2ghL8QLsEnQIzzuODENew5a5jaXZ3ZlaHTc6pOKlPXOFXgOhMpIcQLV3iFroO2eRvHwaVA9ue-ylcRGUhsDylQ4JeB8CPlFu5s/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdu8UUehMLhJ51tkYKX-vI3W27_IqMo2RpoK5Gy_9Q2ghL8QLsEnQIzzuODENew5a5jaXZ3ZlaHTc6pOKlPXOFXgOhMpIcQLV3iFroO2eRvHwaVA9ue-ylcRGUhsDylQ4JeB8CPlFu5s/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Her parasol is awaiting repair to the handle.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTT5Z5mR1MBNvWxDIp8KEKO3C1lW22d5NJyvOdt6lRVio6XYR24HYqa0FUAQuAqGy1Vn-MOJtEaWCJxIb8KywypHlCwzpKGQsAqEE0vfnc1-G3uN1rkrWig2-3aivbMStyPy4MTZOSQ8/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTT5Z5mR1MBNvWxDIp8KEKO3C1lW22d5NJyvOdt6lRVio6XYR24HYqa0FUAQuAqGy1Vn-MOJtEaWCJxIb8KywypHlCwzpKGQsAqEE0vfnc1-G3uN1rkrWig2-3aivbMStyPy4MTZOSQ8/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The pantry is full of a motly assortment of new stu<span style="font-size: x-large;">ff.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51Bw1jLt9UapCK9Znf6fNF0c5FhVFLwIFVq30ykC4wMYHVWUjT-cDOCfEycYzrNej7Hsvvx-qVE-M63HeGogPhsrKChd5EvDQO8p01zXeJoSE5pd1dOVnznvG8ZgC2ESVtbnrjR8RuwY/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51Bw1jLt9UapCK9Znf6fNF0c5FhVFLwIFVq30ykC4wMYHVWUjT-cDOCfEycYzrNej7Hsvvx-qVE-M63HeGogPhsrKChd5EvDQO8p01zXeJoSE5pd1dOVnznvG8ZgC2ESVtbnrjR8RuwY/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The cloth<span style="font-size: x-large;">es pins I fasten plastic bags shut with have a new contain<span style="font-size: x-large;">er.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gzP38gfKdJuKOwaQh7YCtgMD7unZmIsJrLvJSwBMpe3IEFALYi2CEt0XzJP_wc3uG5VmgzY_55AZhOGmwYOrs6qOw7Qh27TKe4efwPc7t8_93r0Xw5qZpZShbcRBPBEiwEr8NNZGcXo/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gzP38gfKdJuKOwaQh7YCtgMD7unZmIsJrLvJSwBMpe3IEFALYi2CEt0XzJP_wc3uG5VmgzY_55AZhOGmwYOrs6qOw7Qh27TKe4efwPc7t8_93r0Xw5qZpZShbcRBPBEiwEr8NNZGcXo/s320/IMG_0635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My hair clips now reside in the <span style="font-size: x-large;">box she used to use.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnFd_n4rgDO2V3KACXajdkaKXnGXpJCYVewiAIR2WuDpFidNcTojqrBYm5Vb1wgiUn7wVvFvL-yjhZLBZtLVbFTV5G27q7MxggQxtGcjBMQmb90TGx222sP4DO5c9Ors4e6sTY34aagQ/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnFd_n4rgDO2V3KACXajdkaKXnGXpJCYVewiAIR2WuDpFidNcTojqrBYm5Vb1wgiUn7wVvFvL-yjhZLBZtLVbFTV5G27q7MxggQxtGcjBMQmb90TGx222sP4DO5c9Ors4e6sTY34aagQ/s320/IMG_0636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This tiny cup was detached from a tea ball to become a companion to an Indi<span style="font-size: x-large;">a silver teapot. The dolls will have a teaparty for Christmas, of course.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGTpBq0yugc4GdcJsQWfDpzBL7zC73Yh0VvFNERkQJ-eNzubXU_8mup0gdmTGZ_999Uyo2bO2RzqwGeN27_WgSX0dz7sIQgY2F0WzCOXoiik5-bUajd0N5wNRHclqT5Ml-OrgyvstZU8/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGTpBq0yugc4GdcJsQWfDpzBL7zC73Yh0VvFNERkQJ-eNzubXU_8mup0gdmTGZ_999Uyo2bO2RzqwGeN27_WgSX0dz7sIQgY2F0WzCOXoiik5-bUajd0N5wNRHclqT5Ml-OrgyvstZU8/s320/IMG_0637.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This stone sculpture by ano<span style="font-size: x-large;">ther daughter, Jude, now lives <span style="font-size: x-large;">on the hearth.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhtADrp80AbDgVlgudrZxnnIXLgbWBSxFZgmT0hpd_S7lQUFptkzxVvXQQrE_WVbFlfCT2FXp9l_fRIzUkooMWudUfWimTuxDoU8GBwkquUMuK3asAxT7S_C4E0R0ThWmp9hhgREbglI/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhtADrp80AbDgVlgudrZxnnIXLgbWBSxFZgmT0hpd_S7lQUFptkzxVvXQQrE_WVbFlfCT2FXp9l_fRIzUkooMWudUfWimTuxDoU8GBwkquUMuK3asAxT7S_C4E0R0ThWmp9hhgREbglI/s320/IMG_0638.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span>This <span style="font-size: x-large;">Norfolk <span style="font-size: x-large;">pine has pride of place in the window of the bird room. Though th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ese days there aren't many birds feeding. You can see the pan of water I've been keeping out for the deer.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> This morning during breakfast I<span style="font-size: x-large;"> was staring out the window in a vac<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">a</span>nt way and noticed something on the screen.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FaREZW50Qhb-UFvCy6ijelI-O_EOs3oo70FcX_7MJwgNYKJX1pV4dx3_xLCRD7MtU3zp4YmE4d4CuyJqGSD5cirTz0144g5OH9JEPT1JYCjVVjsNaITg1U7madVEA1ktBBTgWMsgE-8/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FaREZW50Qhb-UFvCy6ijelI-O_EOs3oo70FcX_7MJwgNYKJX1pV4dx3_xLCRD7MtU3zp4YmE4d4CuyJqGSD5cirTz0144g5OH9JEPT1JYCjVVjsNaITg1U7madVEA1ktBBTgWMsgE-8/s320/IMG_0648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I went out into the rain to take it's picture. It's a <span style="font-size: x-large;">Preying Mantis, her ab<span style="font-size: x-large;">domen swollen by eggs, I suppose. I will recognise the egg casing when she is finished, because we had one in a vase of dried flowers for several months, in our old house down south, until they hatched and when I looked, the wall app<span style="font-size: x-large;">eared to be waving like a flag, as a sheet o<span style="font-size: x-large;">f</span> hu<span style="font-size: x-large;">ndreds of tiny white babies climbed upward in search of sunlight. I opened the door and the cat and I watched as they gravitated out, turning pale green as we watched the<span style="font-size: x-large;">m surge towards the light. I can't even estimate how many hundred there were. But lately, I haven't been seeing very many adult Preying Mantis<span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span> I would have liked to keep her<span style="font-size: x-large;"> in a j<span style="font-size: x-large;">ar for Eliyah to see but I didn't want to endanger her health or her babies' either and nei<span style="font-size: x-large;">ther would Eliyah</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-90716824384664659172012-08-31T16:13:00.000-04:002012-08-31T16:13:12.216-04:00NIB <span style="font-size: x-large;">So often when I am trolling e-bay for treasures, NIB appears. It means <span style="font-size: x-large;">"new in box". <span style="font-size: x-large;">Everything is worth more if it's new in the b<span style="font-size: x-large;">ox, the original box, mind you<span style="font-size: x-large;">, not some Jo<span style="font-size: x-large;">hnny<span style="font-size: x-large;">-</span>come<span style="font-size: x-large;">-</span>lately replacement box. Now I have been looking for furniture for Mary<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Lincoln's room for some time. She is taller<span style="font-size: x-large;"> t<span style="font-size: x-large;">han doll house dolls. 1/6, in fact, not 1/12. That's Barbie <span style="font-size: x-large;">size however<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">most Barbie items are not old fashioned enough to suit Mary<span style="font-size: x-large;">'s taste!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">But Bi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ll has foun<span style="font-size: x-large;">d something New-in-box!</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19xqLNjOH5TfFJM4Kq4CW9K3JddrdafSQPUwoN9-Zskor5KRHgP_h8KmlWJFA4a-DbbifbutxPU5gf7hUuMcqn-RdzlVVIJHyIfJIevdIgEZstnPoLKvef_9xfJknZ5P1vXrXc-bKT0k/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19xqLNjOH5TfFJM4Kq4CW9K3JddrdafSQPUwoN9-Zskor5KRHgP_h8KmlWJFA4a-DbbifbutxPU5gf7hUuMcqn-RdzlVVIJHyIfJIevdIgEZstnPoLKvef_9xfJknZ5P1vXrXc-bKT0k/s640/IMG_0629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span>As you can see by the label, "Wood Dresser with M<span style="font-size: x-large;">irror" Made in Japan, not occupi<span style="font-size: x-large;">ed Japan so pre<span style="font-size: x-large;">-Worl<span style="font-size: x-large;">d w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ar II. About the 1930's. The style is just exactly Civil war era, called Jenny Lind, after the singer. I was so pleased and I <span style="font-size: x-large;">co<span style="font-size: x-large;">n</span>fess, happy to spend the grocery money this week on it! We have installed the new window, the wall paper and the dresser but not the curtains and the scenery outside the window yet.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHnPzUUBkpEaF7-4kVH-yzEOey-WbtzAYZ44KkvA3xJjfWEnMp6divZLJDfhull3pT_exxNtQNHendHC55R1OXXkURbG2W300RrgQDKp5RFgMjrxMtJa-X1y3WzxzwtH34ITe4YX-o60/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHnPzUUBkpEaF7-4kVH-yzEOey-WbtzAYZ44KkvA3xJjfWEnMp6divZLJDfhull3pT_exxNtQNHendHC55R1OXXkURbG2W300RrgQDKp5RFgMjrxMtJa-X1y3WzxzwtH34ITe4YX-o60/s640/Copy+of+IMG_0622.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Note the tiny soap on a tiny doily. Hand-m<span style="font-size: x-large;">ade lace decorates the mirr<span style="font-size: x-large;">or and lies under the <span style="font-size: x-large;">bowl. </span></span></span> Each drawer opens and I no<span style="font-size: x-large;">w lust after tiny gloves, hankies, a <span style="font-size: x-large;">fan, and comb and <span style="font-size: x-large;">hand-mirr<span style="font-size: x-large;">or to put in them. Some people are never satisfied!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Last week the most successful dinner menu was lamb stew. I<span style="font-size: x-large;"> wasn't sure Bill would like it. There was some ground lamb left in Rose's fridge when she mo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ved. I carefully added garlic, <span style="font-size: x-large;">finely minced red onion and smoked sea salt and pepp<span style="font-size: x-large;">er and made large meatballs of the mixture, then simmered <span style="font-size: x-large;">them in beef broth, with carrots, celery and mu<span style="font-size: x-large;">shrooms and a c<span style="font-size: x-large;">ouple of tab<span style="font-size: x-large;">lespoons of barley. It was a big hi<span style="font-size: x-large;">t and made enough for two meals for us<span style="font-size: x-large;">, just with salad and toasted rye bread. Yum-o-la!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">More about our diet next <span style="font-size: x-large;">time.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-46588635756156289212012-08-19T18:41:00.000-04:002012-08-19T18:41:47.071-04:00Art Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I've been to the Waldron Art Gallery twice this month. I went to see a 40 year retrospective show of the employees and former owner of Pygmalion's Art Store. The store always advertised itself as the Art store owned, run and staffed by artists. My Daughter worked there for years. So two of her pieces are in the show. It was a lovely show but I hadn't taken my camera and the place was really too packed to make picture taking feasible. So Eliyah and I went after school. However, my photography leaves a lot to be desired!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FzwmjGdQaTwYA5n06vO4C_f6WnAIEaFC_byTzbelts7pYMy9lFW4kDgijVMBZNUT3ijECxqu2chxszK8Tl1jwpfwFNVkMrJIBvCAXvqj87oXD0w8IdhD7JKK0LU2SCjSGTxN9IX2K00/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FzwmjGdQaTwYA5n06vO4C_f6WnAIEaFC_byTzbelts7pYMy9lFW4kDgijVMBZNUT3ijECxqu2chxszK8Tl1jwpfwFNVkMrJIBvCAXvqj87oXD0w8IdhD7JKK0LU2SCjSGTxN9IX2K00/s640/IMG_0604.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tree" by Jude Heichelbech</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBEta8Urbitas40BFUHFu44czGzvha9_zarujy8VFjZ3CO16e3UQQdDBVRBeWXRQ28czj7x9W8JO4TFuOvnRz6V3i8ZIdpZLi2cL6arXGdZAtycY7ymWXAH8QzC_1RLymnIKILvTSS0E/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBEta8Urbitas40BFUHFu44czGzvha9_zarujy8VFjZ3CO16e3UQQdDBVRBeWXRQ28czj7x9W8JO4TFuOvnRz6V3i8ZIdpZLi2cL6arXGdZAtycY7ymWXAH8QzC_1RLymnIKILvTSS0E/s640/IMG_0607.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist - Jude Heichelbech</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXKcfs-ywNqooWL176lWu5kP_c49AsI9NY14bREQrDKPXhVDmQu-pAIFh7av91Ru0goSsx55KWjS7YXtt3SLnxbkw8wAAM3eBt9QIFTfSE02Gd3SUFjHxnrXJLbY4e5VmzmpW_nhiB1E/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXKcfs-ywNqooWL176lWu5kP_c49AsI9NY14bREQrDKPXhVDmQu-pAIFh7av91Ru0goSsx55KWjS7YXtt3SLnxbkw8wAAM3eBt9QIFTfSE02Gd3SUFjHxnrXJLbY4e5VmzmpW_nhiB1E/s320/IMG_0608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-large;">This wet-sculpted cement dog was the work of Tom Zeta, I just love the look this dog gives you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">All in all, a very successful show!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have put my sewing in the downstairs closet. I confess the picture makes it look cluttered but I feel very comfortable in there. My projects are lined up in hanging shelves on the right.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlfDzvSSaZ8P7Kmhc7TamcfUY9H5VX326A-8tJVoddBhdj1UNuA5tuYBN9vFhZyGP74gB_6DlO6zvDvjpXWKGiKve7WZ4u3TdPsBbt4Be0UhWS44Ky1cYanLobi9IvgQyTWgH80gnMg4/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlfDzvSSaZ8P7Kmhc7TamcfUY9H5VX326A-8tJVoddBhdj1UNuA5tuYBN9vFhZyGP74gB_6DlO6zvDvjpXWKGiKve7WZ4u3TdPsBbt4Be0UhWS44Ky1cYanLobi9IvgQyTWgH80gnMg4/s320/IMG_0603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have cut out a pink dress to sew. I'd like to finish it this week. I have a pink and white shawl I want to wear with it. It's a very simple pattern with only three pieces.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-grJsqdo_WgJ6WPzYo_lSp4v0MNzANYkV0dKvqOD7NQftfVDvESPv0PygfsM9-wc94qDdvTQmn6es58OB5NN8AHjvWF0yGsrvzwk2XsgdrshH967FjFDXQbYSKCzUayWpnSOxAzAbGQ/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-grJsqdo_WgJ6WPzYo_lSp4v0MNzANYkV0dKvqOD7NQftfVDvESPv0PygfsM9-wc94qDdvTQmn6es58OB5NN8AHjvWF0yGsrvzwk2XsgdrshH967FjFDXQbYSKCzUayWpnSOxAzAbGQ/s320/IMG_0601.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-16954058460425281302012-08-12T16:54:00.000-04:002012-08-12T16:54:04.002-04:00Feeling grateful<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I don't know why but as I age, I don't s<span style="font-size: x-large;">leep as well as I used to. After two nights of interrupted sleep<span style="font-size: x-large;">, I wo<span style="font-size: x-large;">ke up grumpy at 3:30 in the morning and couldn't get back to sleep. A<span style="font-size: x-large;">f<span style="font-size: x-large;">ter several hou<span style="font-size: x-large;">rs of trying I gave up and got up to get breakfast. Padding around the house i<span style="font-size: x-large;">n bare feet, I went t<span style="font-size: x-large;">owards the dining room to get the big teapot and at the window<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I stopped, ent<span style="font-size: x-large;">ranced. T<span style="font-size: x-large;">hree deer, two does and a yearling w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ere drinking out of the tub I've put out so that <span style="font-size: x-large;">the birds could have water. They were hardly 8 feet from me and with the room darker than the dawn beginning outside, they couldn't see me and I was able to watch them for about ten minutes. Immedia<span style="font-size: x-large;">t<span style="font-size: x-large;">ely I felt different, I felt grateful for t<span style="font-size: x-large;">he many <span style="font-size: x-large;">good th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ings, the birds at the birdfeeder, the sturdy wildflowers that bloom in spite of t<span style="font-size: x-large;">he drought<span style="font-size: x-large;"> and <span style="font-size: x-large;">now a few deer. I watched them until they moved on and then fixed breakfast with a different attitude.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Still feeling grateful, I w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ent out in the evening to see the <span style="font-size: x-large;">meteor shower though we are so close to t<span style="font-size: x-large;">own I usually don't see much but this year was different. At 11pm I saw two but when I woke up again at 3:30 I saw 4 or 5, three b<span style="font-size: x-large;">ig <span style="font-size: x-large;">bright ones and two so faint I wasn't sure. Then I came in, thoughly c<span style="font-size: x-large;">hilled and snuggled under the cover and went back to sleep again.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Last week I showed you a p<span style="font-size: x-large;">icture of a<span style="font-size: x-large;">n <span style="font-size: x-large;">inexpensive contempory doll (19<span style="font-size: x-large;">89), cheap and not worth much <span style="font-size: x-large;">h<span style="font-size: x-large;">e nevertheless intrigued me and I have been working on him this week. Not <span style="font-size: x-large;">entirely finished but here he is today:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FT9I0qN_E3dv551G-Wygl2SNCJEGhW26vtQmkm_Z40XlhK7rddKIeTYcThkPpeSieJlXvstQzh3aD0vtRltSxZWkvcFnB73cNa2Oku5oOwBqM9sl36OMY-taes-wKB_TXwX4IGvEWcY/s1600/IMG_0600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FT9I0qN_E3dv551G-Wygl2SNCJEGhW26vtQmkm_Z40XlhK7rddKIeTYcThkPpeSieJlXvstQzh3aD0vtRltSxZWkvcFnB73cNa2Oku5oOwBqM9sl36OMY-taes-wKB_TXwX4IGvEWcY/s400/IMG_0600.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>That's a cashmere sweater I've cut <span style="font-size: x-large;">down for him, nickers and a newsboy hat, made from the material I've bought to make my fall suit. Here's hoping I haven't cut off too much! He still needs shoes, a <span style="font-size: x-large;">bag for his papers and a white shirt. Bill is looking for proper sized newsp<span style="font-size: x-large;">apers too. I am <span style="font-size: x-large;">very happy with how he is looking.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> For breakfast this morning I made an Italian omelette, w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ith</span> mushrooms, mo<span style="font-size: x-large;">zzerel<span style="font-size: x-large;">li and leftover spaghetti sauce. I liked it very much!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuyI0OwfIt0HFpDc-40lD23kHf-ASNMZ0dPSPxk2Nj040itgFeSpvCVm1BghKVpnz4c4svtpoYsavI82r8K84YnZ_leP9RDgzAsx1BnrMVI4-BBAsexshg90vvRMsu-QrQU-wru1EYgQ/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuyI0OwfIt0HFpDc-40lD23kHf-ASNMZ0dPSPxk2Nj040itgFeSpvCVm1BghKVpnz4c4svtpoYsavI82r8K84YnZ_leP9RDgzAsx1BnrMVI4-BBAsexshg90vvRMsu-QrQU-wru1EYgQ/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xD49MBy0AU710KGQ5vNMIHcdKG7ld5SENjmrF2XTv6e1UXpNg5dGncc5rtu8eyAtH5DmS6oEYKQ8aiYaTSRFUsk-siRmT3YhpgZydFWjCyTv9CQw2Yg2L4RBhxhQDS-lq98RZWGW1nc/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xD49MBy0AU710KGQ5vNMIHcdKG7ld5SENjmrF2XTv6e1UXpNg5dGncc5rtu8eyAtH5DmS6oEYKQ8aiYaTSRFUsk-siRmT3YhpgZydFWjCyTv9CQw2Yg2L4RBhxhQDS-lq98RZWGW1nc/s400/IMG_0599.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Pork fajitas tonight at 7pm, to watch "<span style="font-size: x-large;">New Tr<span style="font-size: x-large;">icks" and eat in fro<span style="font-size: x-large;">nt of the tv. We only do this on Sunday nights<span style="font-size: x-large;"> as a treat.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have been looking at my stats and was astonished at the number of <span style="font-size: x-large;">people from other countries who read my blog<span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span> Welcome to Russia, France, UK, Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, Viet<span style="font-size: x-large;">nam, Canada, Sweden and Australia<span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span>And anyone else who's interested<span style="font-size: x-large;">!</span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-58253267820982806752012-08-05T12:12:00.001-04:002012-08-05T12:12:44.314-04:00New things <span style="font-size: x-large;"> In spite of my buying diet, things do come into my house. People send me things, or give them to me when I help them move, or I just break down and buy them anyway. La<span style="font-size: x-large;">st month my sister<span style="font-size: x-large;">-in-law came to visit me and I joyfully took her to all the <span style="font-size: x-large;">antique malls, and of course, in the sp<span style="font-size: x-large;">irit of companionship, I bou<span style="font-size: x-large;">ght a couple of things<span style="font-size: x-large;">, <span style="font-size: x-large;">noteably this mincey purse, so called because carrying it <span style="font-size: x-large;">absolutely forces one to mince slightly wi<span style="font-size: x-large;">th each st<span style="font-size: x-large;">ep, it's so girly. Saks Fifth Aven<span style="font-size: x-large;">ue too, so it's marked!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p74Sbdfg_OHXvXVIbhxmiYF3BCmXNMZwHSqn4UmS9RSJo5dm2YI9ctF8BkeAaDS6KUHFrJdBXJUFCfZisuewatJV-lIIHsdFiukcH_6YSPSObwMm5Y0ogswhq7xsYpt9Y6WSzg-S39c/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p74Sbdfg_OHXvXVIbhxmiYF3BCmXNMZwHSqn4UmS9RSJo5dm2YI9ctF8BkeAaDS6KUHFrJdBXJUFCfZisuewatJV-lIIHsdFiukcH_6YSPSObwMm5Y0ogswhq7xsYpt9Y6WSzg-S39c/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> And then my best friend sent me some Hollyhock seeds, in <span style="font-size: x-large;">time for fall planting. Thank you Ida!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhJqCurB0BweAAGaQ9fK2a3bxzLzIrIaGdgVz8Iy8MsL-L3kO4718OVvRCQfKdU4dpgRmBCey38KQ5FHyDMUpAqqIT98LDxHoCJhWrRv_VM37Zu6uAKlqhNmyYBHLWCIV1jbYMyU1-Dw/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhJqCurB0BweAAGaQ9fK2a3bxzLzIrIaGdgVz8Iy8MsL-L3kO4718OVvRCQfKdU4dpgRmBCey38KQ5FHyDMUpAqqIT98LDxHoCJhWrRv_VM37Zu6uAKlqhNmyYBHLWCIV1jbYMyU1-Dw/s320/IMG_0589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> And th<span style="font-size: x-large;">ese aren't new, I've had them for 50 years. I asked my <span style="font-size: x-large;">then new husband to get the<span style="font-size: x-large;">m for me when we were newly married and had bought a s<span style="font-size: x-large;">ewing machine for me to use. <span style="font-size: x-large;">"A good pair of scissor<span style="font-size: x-large;">s" I said as I sent him off to the store. He bought the best, some Ging<span style="font-size: x-large;">her shears. I used them for decades, having them sharpened every so often, until they no longer worked, having been sharpened too many times. We sent them back to the factory last month to be refurbished and for $7.50 they were fixed, sha<span style="font-size: x-large;">rpened and in<span style="font-size: x-large;">se<span style="font-size: x-large;">rted into a new sheath and mailed back to me, good as new! I was most delighted to have them back, like old friends.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kraQVuy07uL6e_tclte0FA9jOx2Uu_gXTWoNWjG_MXIrWQjoxgekNhHlyKIyucJAhvEcNoLFVgkXHRrR5-Ovpn1NKmux0pek4Oq0EJgabvDqzE4t1fzvqqdCd2ge4ioNADASha4yrfA/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kraQVuy07uL6e_tclte0FA9jOx2Uu_gXTWoNWjG_MXIrWQjoxgekNhHlyKIyucJAhvEcNoLFVgkXHRrR5-Ovpn1NKmux0pek4Oq0EJgabvDqzE4t1fzvqqdCd2ge4ioNADASha4yrfA/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> When I w<span style="font-size: x-large;">ent to drop off stuff at <span style="font-size: x-large;">Good Will, I could not resist going in. I found a little china "trug" style basket for <span style="font-size: x-large;">Mary Lin<span style="font-size: x-large;">coln.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J_MbqEaT6A7jFDWtb4Emk2Npc2zUgjKLxH6DmydS5khsSuAoSD9PTeEZX2JioEhCXzDRdRc90LPcOOJS0rEZ286DmWT-SaXrUEFUSf63zgzMKL25IuFfBildl9n_yCsCgzTFm-V8vXU/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J_MbqEaT6A7jFDWtb4Emk2Npc2zUgjKLxH6DmydS5khsSuAoSD9PTeEZX2JioEhCXzDRdRc90LPcOOJS0rEZ286DmWT-SaXrUEFUSf63zgzMKL25IuFfBildl9n_yCsCgzTFm-V8vXU/s320/IMG_0593.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now for some cut flowers to put <span style="font-size: x-large;">in it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But these last two I shamelessly shopped for and, thoug<span style="font-size: x-large;">h I put off buying the head for a month, eventually I caved in and went to the Seventh Street Mall and bou<span style="font-size: x-large;">ght her!</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKZGHHjX5z1-L3yExdMM4RrcPSVPA7OouLKerrQ0IKENSxdYE2ErzGAntpcpfvcvgLV0gUSAEtX3NSylWRMUwyQYHbKjUXPbu_SW1ptwMpL7FJ6sNSP4Fv-emleQP4dcItDdt9LK7bVw/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKZGHHjX5z1-L3yExdMM4RrcPSVPA7OouLKerrQ0IKENSxdYE2ErzGAntpcpfvcvgLV0gUSAEtX3NSylWRMUwyQYHbKjUXPbu_SW1ptwMpL7FJ6sNSP4Fv-emleQP4dcItDdt9LK7bVw/s320/IMG_0590.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She is only a head but I am getting ready to make her into a whole doll.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0FAVLBFVLKLBow733ooqpWagMxFKY6cYu57fnVdURVgNo6INAqs72lpsDpQ5Si5ppRooliKIshM9VPR8Ip-NGilYNmrfOgoK1Syjyi7ox2YwIofBWwzp_xLr-jkM7Du_Ha51ICyvvIw/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0FAVLBFVLKLBow733ooqpWagMxFKY6cYu57fnVdURVgNo6INAqs72lpsDpQ5Si5ppRooliKIshM9VPR8Ip-NGilYNmrfOgoK1Syjyi7ox2YwIofBWwzp_xLr-jkM7Du_Ha51ICyvvIw/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span> </span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> This co<span style="font-size: x-large;">ntemporary boy doll and L<span style="font-size: x-large;">imoges tea or soup cup with miss-matched sauce<span style="font-size: x-large;">r just came along with. The to<span style="font-size: x-large;">ta<span style="font-size: x-large;">l was $21.50 so not a se<span style="font-size: x-large;">rious budget deficit!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R0P2mRgqRP6bPULeMIiJQmjZorqIez3w4nB6XiLeEEUsZxOgApaN-fB4NCK7yeQltrnfOm55_YZy5P1cYVInc7V0wdWejjHEKoJtI1qJwriD709W7JzkuJovXVrPQSLnX-kludeIzdA/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R0P2mRgqRP6bPULeMIiJQmjZorqIez3w4nB6XiLeEEUsZxOgApaN-fB4NCK7yeQltrnfOm55_YZy5P1cYVInc7V0wdWejjHEKoJtI1qJwriD709W7JzkuJovXVrPQSLnX-kludeIzdA/s320/IMG_0588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been keeping the food budget at $7<span style="font-size: x-large;">0 or below each week though and it <span style="font-size: x-large;">has so far worked out. <span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm worried that price<span style="font-size: x-large;">s will surge when it becomes apparent that the harvest has failed because of the drought. <span style="font-size: x-large;">We are in the mi<span style="font-size: x-large;">dst of it here. Last night it r<span style="font-size: x-large;">ained all over the state but only a few dr<span style="font-size: x-large;">ops fell here.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Here are my suggested menus:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today, b<span style="font-size: x-large;">ig meatballs, <span style="font-size: x-large;">small tomato sauce and miniscule pasta. I will have as an appet<span style="font-size: x-large;">izer hot spinach</span></span> </span>and artich<span style="font-size: x-large;">oke and cheese dip with french bread slices for the others. I'll just eat mine with a spoon! And a big tossed salad and canteloup and blue<span style="font-size: x-large;">berries for dessert.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tomorrow <span style="font-size: x-large;">salmon, roasted ve<span style="font-size: x-large;">getables, salad and <span style="font-size: x-large;">low carb ice cream.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tuesday hamburgers and salad and chocolate square.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wed<span style="font-size: x-large;">nesday the second salmon dinner, about the same <span style="font-size: x-large;">though I might just fix steamed broccoli in<span style="font-size: x-large;">stead <span style="font-size: x-large;">of the roasted veggies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thursday Lamb patties with sour cream and cucumber sauce and a salad enriched with herbs and lots of cheese.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Friday an old favorite<span style="font-size: x-large;">. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Chicken Fajitas with <span style="font-size: x-large;">ref<span style="font-size: x-large;">ried beans but no rice.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Saturday we<span style="font-size: x-large;">'ll have chicken and herbed cream cheese sandwiches on low carb bread and pu<span style="font-size: x-large;">mpkin and pe<span style="font-size: x-large;">anut butter soup.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> This is not all the stuff that has come into my house this month but I'll save some for later! </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-60725813528502923312012-07-04T09:38:00.000-04:002012-07-04T09:38:14.155-04:00Of skunks and dresses<span style="font-size: large;"> It has been 8 months since I showed you the picture of Mary Lincoln in her new skin. Since I suggested she would have a new dress by Christmas. I am a little late!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9tl0_c5zSF77GIRnXigyB_VjbZboD-azAuX2qMW0hbrvsu29GGp2iGj-JT391opLOetphukv_guFgmm0Q1jhAc0bzTcidrVPDbtJs2MiOyFvny7mvSMlFqusvdJdw23B50UMdzVpNDQ/s1600/IMG_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9tl0_c5zSF77GIRnXigyB_VjbZboD-azAuX2qMW0hbrvsu29GGp2iGj-JT391opLOetphukv_guFgmm0Q1jhAc0bzTcidrVPDbtJs2MiOyFvny7mvSMlFqusvdJdw23B50UMdzVpNDQ/s320/IMG_0582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> I had asked The Book Corner to order a Dover book with pictures of the Lincolns in their clothes. Here are the men in their underwear.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0oBev0VuBWfoDuthVJRFbV2hs-eierEWf0pFS8dopUTfjc1JT_apE3CABwN26pbBybpFjUxMLf1aELyl0bjzuc5eVRcRo9eJEOZRsxoA9ug-LRS2RCbR74BTyAEVs9x3k1y6fYTtTGU/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0oBev0VuBWfoDuthVJRFbV2hs-eierEWf0pFS8dopUTfjc1JT_apE3CABwN26pbBybpFjUxMLf1aELyl0bjzuc5eVRcRo9eJEOZRsxoA9ug-LRS2RCbR74BTyAEVs9x3k1y6fYTtTGU/s320/IMG_0583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITQ7Hy0JhiYZsgNEcIcyE1NlfaRnrC22n7Fe0k5sawke8mHyTpgpqJyq96S8j5yreXLNkbCff_kdTKIGXZEnYIEAL_4aCEMjMF03r-HlIgGlDeamgwsH17jp-BZ4yIhztD9HSeWd8BNY/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITQ7Hy0JhiYZsgNEcIcyE1NlfaRnrC22n7Fe0k5sawke8mHyTpgpqJyq96S8j5yreXLNkbCff_kdTKIGXZEnYIEAL_4aCEMjMF03r-HlIgGlDeamgwsH17jp-BZ4yIhztD9HSeWd8BNY/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <span style="font-size: large;">Here are their dress clothes. This dress was a "back-up" dress for the Inauguration. She never actually wore it but it is often pictured because it was very expensive. Here is my version as well as the "new" pitcher and bowl I got at the Kokomo Antique sale. Mary now has a room of her own as it has gotten too crowded in Abe's room. Abe himself is being fitted for a new white shirt upstairs in the sewing room. I am very happy with Mary's dress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> It has been so awful hot here that I am in danger of becoming an indoor pet. My trips to the backyard are just short jaunts to turn on the hose. I have been watering the garden though it doesn't seem to help much. On one of these trips, I spied a slip of peppermint in the north-side shade of the house. Leaning over to pick it, I saw a snip of long black and white fur down in the window-well. It was small, flattish and didn't move. "Oh, poor thing, some little skunk has gotten trapped in the window-well and died and now I'll have to pick it up and put it in the trash" I said to myself. But first I went to water the garden. And I forgot all about it until later that night at supper. My Husband talked about when to do it and since he seemed to think it would be his responsibility, I was happy to dismiss the whole thing. We watched some television and went to get ready for bed. While I was lying in bed, propped up on pillows, reading a murder mystery, some small knocking sounds caught my attention. Whaaaat?, I pulled the shade aside and there was a little black face looking in at me, it's nose pressed up against the glass! A baby skunk!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I made some phone calls. Then people called me. We got dressed again. Here came the wild life rehabilitators. With a long handled net. Better her than me!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> But the little skunk was gone. Not trapped at all, just happily living in my window-well. And I've a pretty good idea why it was gone. While we were waiting, I tried to take some pictures of the little skunk through the window. Of course the camera flashed, it must have frightened the little thing. The wild-life rehab left the net with me in case the little one came back though I think I would as soon climb into a garbage can as brave the skunk spray! The pictures do show me one thing though, Little Skunk has chewed my window screen to bits! That's how the little nose could be pressed up against the glass!</span>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6136456883624524121.post-37965923892876157172012-06-16T14:02:00.000-04:002012-06-16T14:02:26.526-04:00Soothing an irritation <span style="font-size: x-large;">For the past month the phone has worked only spasmodically. The phone guys were here 5 or 6 times, all nice guys but our wiring was old and funky. I was very irritated. In fact, that hardly seems a strong enough word though it wasn't</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">a crises, really. I guess I just hate to miss a call.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Now I'm not a person who displays anger and irritation very well. I found it very tempting to eat. Food has always been my great panacea for emotion. Biscuits mostly, tempted me. In fact several times I planned to make biscuits for breakfast</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">and only squeaked by with tiny toast instead. I could hardly think of anything to sooth myself. Eventually I fell to organizing my clothes. They are all hung in matching sets, color coordinated in my closet. I did a lot of laundry while I was doing that. Then I undertook to re-read all my Victoria Magazines, which I love devotedly. I have 46 and now they are all catalogued and Bill is ordering the ones I don't have. All except the first one, which seems to be going for $125. I have some early ones though and could sell them on E-bay if I could bear to part with them. When I explained to a daughter about all this she said "OCD as a calmer of emotions"? But of course that's exactly right! At least order is a desirable effect, in this case!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lywoEGL_kzm-VhpqGK1U_H8_yw1zFVaQ6fyHYEP7aSX9f6v1oOpRDRtLG5R_yzpD9cvbMBueFzw2DVk2Q1NmTN1aYVmdgVjv2hQzKyMtXZEuYOOqsOa23lRJHDuyb4yiA-W-LOOf9qU/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lywoEGL_kzm-VhpqGK1U_H8_yw1zFVaQ6fyHYEP7aSX9f6v1oOpRDRtLG5R_yzpD9cvbMBueFzw2DVk2Q1NmTN1aYVmdgVjv2hQzKyMtXZEuYOOqsOa23lRJHDuyb4yiA-W-LOOf9qU/s200/IMG_0563.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LrZxOwGHvFL6PJsT2_AVzzUWJLr51CZ_T0aVNGIPK1YtU9HWA4dQsecQHgizS1uPzBiRvYoqAh2nZrkFpoAEgn387qZAJtu-VAcEDRt0oZ6B8zpyRfBxp7HO1p1nAGXeoG6Ef1OjYl0/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LrZxOwGHvFL6PJsT2_AVzzUWJLr51CZ_T0aVNGIPK1YtU9HWA4dQsecQHgizS1uPzBiRvYoqAh2nZrkFpoAEgn387qZAJtu-VAcEDRt0oZ6B8zpyRfBxp7HO1p1nAGXeoG6Ef1OjYl0/s320/IMG_0564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-large;">While I was rearranging magazines, I got out some other of my favorites and among them was a volume of poetry written by another daughter and given to me as a present. This is a treasured gift! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Here is one of my favorites:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Little Deaths </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The trails of moths in velvet cloaks</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Grow scarce in October's funeral rain;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The frost that fringes the shawls of oaks</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Will hem my Mother's windowpane.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For little deaths she will not grieve,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But occupies these last warm hours</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Simply; pulls her heart from her sleeve</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Look: her arms, full of flowers! </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Elizabeth Heichelbech</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Eliyah went with us to Spring Mill Park last week and we had a grand time. We cooked Southwestern on the grill and he doused his with hot sauce.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I didn't use the ice chest as I thought it wouldn't fit in his Mother's car. Instead I used an insulated bag that came from Kroger years ago. Despite being full of holes, it did the job but I thought I would buy some new ones when we went to the store. However, I came in $2 over budget as it was and declined to spend any more. Rather I came home and found that I could mend the two bags. Even the one with the broken zipper allowed itself to be pieced together. Bill went through the house singing "Mighty Ana with her needle, here she comes to save the day"!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn1lal7j9LBMyzs7toT4E87heNPqp5rZjJhrAnFNz8t66ooXem3ZjzNZtgg04wJ-MypE3B8my_M2zYoP8Z66uq1nUMfk7hmXROFJ_DiP-Re-64HFFM1uetV2nLiNov9Z311tXEdKM97w/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn1lal7j9LBMyzs7toT4E87heNPqp5rZjJhrAnFNz8t66ooXem3ZjzNZtgg04wJ-MypE3B8my_M2zYoP8Z66uq1nUMfk7hmXROFJ_DiP-Re-64HFFM1uetV2nLiNov9Z311tXEdKM97w/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm afraid all our menus are very monotonous these days, although the shish-ke-babs with pineapple, onions, green peppers, mushrooms and chicken chunks went over big last night. I am continuing to spend about $70 a week on this low carb diet and we are not hungry and I have my old energy back, for which I am very grateful.</span></div>Anahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328022001283745241noreply@blogger.com1