FOX

Do you get to hear Fox News where you live?
Do you think they are honest and above-board?
Or do you believe they are grinding axes and scewing their reports?
There seems to be a lot of controversy concerning their coverage and statements.
I just read an editorial that accuses those who listen to/watch Fox News as being less intelligent.
Those, of course, are fighting words.
And they were meant to be, I'm sure.
In order to appear more intelligent, I need to tune in to CNN or MSNBC or something.
Interesting!
Your responses?

OCD?

You know those folks who can't stand to see pencils lying every-which-way, when they "should" be lying straight and side by side? The ones who will clean every fingerprint off a mirror or doorknob? The ones who can't eat their parsnips if the gravy is touching them?

Well, my hangup is ..... the wise men at the stable.
It really irritates my sense of order and rightness when I see those guys kneeling down in the cow plop or sheep poop. They don't belong there. And they weren't there.

I know, I know. It makes the idea of presents for Christmas more understandable.

But anyone who has read Matthew 2 can see that the wise men/magi didn't get to see the baby Jesus until he was a "young child" in a "house". Because of what the king did after they stopped in at his place in Jerusalem, we presume Jesus might have been at least a year old, and possibly closer to two.

So, when you send Christmas cards, please pick out ones that do NOT show the wise men at the stable!

I know I'm fighting against centuries of "pretty thoughts" and "way it should be", but the WISE MEN ARE NOT AT THE STABLE!

Let's spread the word. Just like the proper usage of "it's", "its", "your", and "you're". When you know it, flaunt it.

Well, we can try.

a little Greek

Or is it Hebrew? Immanuel. God with us.
Emmanuel. God with us.
Jesus. Savior.
Christ. Messiah.
All of these we celebrate tonight. We're pretty sure it's not the historic date of His coming, but we need a time. And this is the one we use.

I have a friend on facebook who was enlightening for me the dates and why this one (December 25) is wrong. Her reasoning came from biblical information. I thanked her for her theories. I think she took some issue with that. And her reasoning is probably close to correct. It's just not "written in the Word", so I have to take it with a grain or two of salt.

There is enough written down for us to celebrate. The miraculous occurred; there was no magic involved.
God is With US!

silly me

Wow. Whoever wrote the previous blog was really not in touch with reality, was she?
"Christmas", of course, is all about the baby Who came from the best place in the whole universe to possibly the worst place, relationally-speaking.
He was cute and innocent and all that babies are, despite His part in the decision to do all that.
The miracles that surrounded His birth included angels talking to commonplace folks like you and me....written prophecies that all pointed to His arrival.... fulfilled sayings....and many more questions than answers.
Why would I say "Christmas is over for me"? When I know all of the above? It's one more example of the very thing He came to deal with...."me-ism". When we focus on our own little pity party and forget the world that is waiting to hear HIS good news.
Please know, kind reader, that Jesus came to forgive my sin of "me-ism". and yours. and everyone's.
Let's get our focus back on the Real Meaning of CHRISTmas!

The Day After

There's always a let-down after something you've planned so long for. Nothing lasts forever, and of course you wouldn't want it to. But....maybe just a little longer. We get greedy. Wanting just a little bit more time with family. Just a little bit more pie. Just a little bit more of everything. So today I read a whole book and part of another one. I did some laundry. I warmed up some leftovers. I didn't start any new projects. MY Christmas is over! (Well, practically speaking. There are still some presents under the tree. And I may be surprised by the 25th. That will be fine!)

Family Christmas

Is it a "family Christmas" if all the family isn't here? Well, of course it is. We had a great weekend with the daughter and son-in-law and their dogs. The roast beef turned out good, as did the pecan pie and all the other foodstuffs. Presents were fun. And Dad and daughter played several games of chess on his new glass board. And we went to church Sunday and she got to play the piano for our worship service. And Sunday's "ribs to go" heated up well. So, it was a grand Family Christmas!

The Dash

A friend emailed me " http://www.thedashmovie.com/walkthetalk "
It was so appropriate, in view of my last blog, that I wanted to quote some of it here.
It deals with a pastor who mentioned that his friend's date of birth and date of death were known to all. What mattered most was the dash in between.
The whole article was written by Linda Ellis and Mac Anderson, and it is subtitled "Making a difference in your life."

He said "that dash represents all the time she spent alive on earth and now only her friends know what the little dash was worth.....
"What matters most is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.....
"Try to understand the way the other person feels and be less quick to anger....
"Show appreciation more....
"If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile
"Remembering that the little dash may only last a little while....."

There was much more in the same vein. Ruth's dash was spent living fully.
She was a nurse, graduating in 1941. I know this because she told me many times.
She had the picture of her nursing school graduating class on her wall, so it was available to her memory.

She was married twice and widowed twice. She liked to fish. She liked to cook and entertain visitors. She often took in our church's "summer missionaries", for a week or a summer, or at least for a home-cooked meal.

As an oldster, she was always pleasant and understanding. She wanted things done, but she always used "please" and "thank you". And she smiled, even after most of her teeth were gone. She complimented the kitchen of each place she lived, always finding the food "good" and the care "good".

She remembered her youth much better than last night's meal or this morning's activities. She read her hometown paper and remembered the parents or grand-parents of the officials.

She spent her dash well.

Funny?

Funny, isn't it? Most of the oldsters who left our local care facility have since died.
I know. No one can say that was the reason; old folks die all the time.
But I'm convinced that the care they got here...as if they were all "family"...contributed to their long life.
The care they got at the receiving facilities was, at best, "adequate".
And, if no one visited them regularly, their care was minimal.
My friend passed away yesterday.
The last three times I had visited her, I felt she was being drugged. I had seen some of that in my mother's case, several years ago. It's not pretty. But, it does guarantee that the recipient is "quiet".
When you're so busy keeping things in order, I'm guessing that can be a good reason for using medication.
Sad.
But now she's in a much happier place, for all eternity.

Needed....

In case you were wondering, the following are some of the articles needed for making honey taffy.
Large (preferably heavy) saucepan
Long kitchen spoon
Candy thermometer
Kitchen shears
Honey
Corn starch
Sugar
Water
Cup of cold water for testing
Platter or tray big enough to hold the product when hot
Butter for tray and hands
Muscles

It is really not possible to do this operation without all of the above, but if you have to be missing only one, please make that one the candy thermometer.
Back in the "good old days", they didn't have candy thermometers. They had ways to know when the candy was "ready". That included the cup of cold water, into which you drip some boiling sweet stuff periodically, to see if it forms a hard thread. Until the Hard Thread is formed, do NOT stop the boiling/cooking process. If you do, you will never have taffy. Just some super sweet stuff that might or might not harden into "candy". Christmas Candy.

And, of course, that is our goal. CANDY. The traditional treat that is wrapped in squares of waxed paper and included in Christmas boxes, along with the cookies and the sweet breads. Oh, in the above list, I forgot waxed paper. That is also essential, or you will just have a sweet glob in the bottom of your Christmas box.

Make very sure you have a supply of muscles available. It is preferable that you have teenagers. They always like to show their physical prowess, and this is one of the best times, in my humble opinion. Lacking teenagers, you will have to make do with your own somewhat-over-the-hill muscles. This takes a lot longer and stretches the love and good will associated with Christmas and candy making. Of course, since you're stretching the candy, I guess it's all okay.

When the rope in "milky-looking", you have stretched enough. Please do not try to get it white. That is not what is meant. My interpretation has always been "a little lighter in color than when you started". Depending on how long my muscles hold out, sometimes the honey taffy is pretty dark. But, still tasty.

If you feel the need to embark on such an adventure for this holiday season, I'd be glad to share the recipe I found long ago in a hard-cover cookbook. PEACE!

K K

Cookies! Cocoa! Crafts! It's Kris Kringle Mart in the 1000 Islands.
We give away the foodstuffs. Others sell them.
The true spirit of Christmas is the giving.
We had peanut butter, snickerdoodles, crescents, frosted and boughten cookies.
The kids liked them all, as did their elders.
Actually, we noticed the youngsters went for the boughten ones.
Sad commentary on the old after-school routine of cookies and milk, isn't it?
They don't know how to act when they're confronted with something that doesn't look like the other 20 in the box.
Poor kids.
We oldsters snacked all day on the imperfect cookies and the memories.

It's Time

The snow has snowed.
The tree has been rescued from its annual abode in the attic.
The trimmings are residing on couches and floors.
It's Time to Trim the Tree!

We have no pets to disturb it.
We have no kiddos who will be rummaging.
We have no excuse for not completing the season today.

Well, except for the gifts yet to be purchased and wrapped.
And the energy funneled from some other likely activity.

Hurray, it's December!

POGO

As we drove into the driveway last night after a movie, we saw a possum on our lawn! I've lived in New York all my life, and never saw a possum blissfully making itself at home in my yard. Once I saw a possum up a tree, at the post office in town. And I've seen possum roadkill. But never one so up close and local.

When I was a kid, I read something about possums, and then I wrote a story about one. It was called "The Little Possum That Couldn't Hang On". I'm sure you're running to the bookstore right now to pick up a copy. It was full of suspense and scariness and intrigue. Let's just say that the little possum made it alive and well to the end of the story.

Anyway, I did all that without actually meeting a possum. Think of all I could have done if I'd had some actual personal experience.

Gratitude

We had Thanksgiving at our daughter's home, with her husband, dogs, and in-laws. It was very appreciated, even though we had way too many desserts. Of course, what is Thanksgiving without many desserts? I rermember family festivities when I was a kid. Mom made everything. Then, as we grew and moved out, we women brought stuff...like fruit salad, veggie trays, sometimes pies. But it was still basically Mom's show. Her last one, we again congregated, but it was in the family room at the housing unit. And it was the day after Thanksgiving, so we could get more family there. One of my brothers got there; the other lives too far away. At least my cousin lives in the area, so he showed up. Some things about growing up are very sad. But we have our memories.

Homemade

Oh, yeah...it's gonna be soo good.
I've got oatmeal bread rising....a double batch.
There will be two regular loaves and probably 24 rolls.
I've never done a double batch before, of this recipe.
I was thinking of making a long "french bread" type loaf, but I'm afraid this wouldn't work well. Don't know why, but never did it before.
Maybe I'll try a little one, just to see if it holds its shape, etc.
I love the smell of rising/baking/just baked bread.
At least this is a bit more healthy than plain old white bread.
They all taste and smell good.
I will take some of this to my class tomorrow in Foundations of Liberty.
Eli engineered a "potluck" lunch, so I will also bring a crock pot of "cowboy stew".
I love to try out new recipes on unsuspecting hungry people.
That way, if I don't like it, at least I won't have to eat the whole thing myself.
We do NOT throw good food away in this house!

angelfood

Have you heard of "angelfood ministries"? It's a great way to save money and get good nutritious food for your family. I first learned about it from a friend who had been in other Army towns. She had first gotten it in Texas. If you google "angelfoodministries.com", you should be able to find something in your area. They are branching out this year, offering both Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes. In the Thanksgiving Box is a 7.5 pound roasting hen, a 3 pound boneless ham, 12 ounces of corn bread stuffing mix, 1 pound of frozen cranberries, 12 mini corn cobbettes, 2 pounds of green beans, 2 pounds of diced sweet potatoes, 12 whole wheat dinner rolls, and 1.7 ounces of brown gravy mix. Recipes and cooking instrucitons are also included. And you get all this food for the grand total of only $36! It's too late to order a Thanksgiving box, but you can get the Christmas one if you order by December 1.

TheTopic

Are you tiring of hearing about applesauce?
Just one more blog. I have a container of applesauce picked out and ready to go.
Also an applesauce cake. Today is my big day in TheCity.
I am taking applesauce to my friend of the previous blog, as well as some of the cake. She told me she used to make applesauce cake, so we need to see if it is anything like hers and can evoke memories.
After we chat for a while, I will be going to a book study with several 912 friends. We are reading "The Roots of American Order" by Russell Kirk. It is a very long book, with lots of historical and philosophical references. I'm not too bad with the history, but philosophy has never been my forte. I think I understand one idea, then I'm presented with another one and am back to square one.
Hopefully I'll get a little more insight into the roots of our American governmental order.
Looks like a lovely day for such adventures!

100 and holding...

I visited a friend yesterday. She lives in one of those apartment buildings where you punch her number and then speak with her on the speaker phone. She didn't recognize me or my voice or whatever, at first. Finally, she pushed the button to allow me entrance to the facility, and she was standing outside her door when I came down her hall.
She hasn't changed in the years since I'd seen her. Still the pristine white hair; the almond-shaped eyes; no glasses. She had a book, hard cover, on her desk, as well as the newspaper. Obviously still in touch with the world around her and the world of ideas.
She asked about mutual friends, and I was able to fill her in about some of their activities or addresses. She mentioned her son, who usually stops in every month or so, but "he's in Florida now for the winter". Her daughter still lives in "the City". That's New York City, where she worked and has friends and activities, many more than she could find in Watertown.
I asked if she liked "homemade applesauce", and her eyes brightened. "I get Meals on Wheels, you know. It's okay....." I asked if she had any dietary restrictions, and she said "No." So the next time I go, you can guess what I'm taking her!
She will have a birthday "the end of the month". When I asked the date, she said, "The 30th. It's the end of the month." Well, yeah.....guess that's right!
She will be 101.

Seasons

Since I last blogged, I have gone through an election, my husband's surgery, tooth repair, and a killing frost. It seems like our lives get all muddled up like that. Each day is not just "happy, happy, joy, joy". It usually has some sadness or melancholy mixed in, for whatever reason. As well as uncertainty, stress, and downright irritation. Of course, maybe I'm the only one to experiences this type of life, but I doubt it. I guess God gives us a little of everything to help keep us humble and relying on Him. At any rate, all is well and warm in NNY. PEACE to all.

Red Mashems

Have I mentioned my backyard apple tree? And how blessed I am? Yeah, I thought so.

Well, it had lovely pink/white blooms in the spring, emitting the most wonderful fragrance. Then the flowers fell, and the tiny green orbs began their growth.

All summer long, the fruit grew and changed color. Some fell to the ground, their mission accomplished long before necessary. The worms and bugs had done their destruction. Other apples swelled with the good rains and warm sunshine.

The tree was beautiful! Branches hung heavy with plump red offerings. Each day some of them dropped and I, because I am here instead of traveling this autumn, picked them up. Each day since the middle of September, with a few exceptions, I made a "mess" of applesauce. It's really not a "mess". More of a "nectar". Have you ever had warm applesauce, pink and fragrant from the food mill? It's "to die for". As long as the preparer has used enough sugar, which I always do.

So, now I have disposable dishes with snap tops full of pink applesauce adorning my freezer. I have also used some this year for applesauce cake and applesauce bread and applesauce crisp. I wouldn't recommend the crisp. It's too mushy. But it is pink and tasty.

Now the tree has about 4 apples left on it. And all its leaves. I wonder if, as long as there are apples to nurture, the tree keeps all its life systems intact. And finally, after all the apples have fallen, it then shuts down and lets its leaves drop and gets ready to hibernate for the winter. I should find out in a few more days!

sshhh

"Mom".
He whispered and nudged her. She turned her big eyes on him. "What?"
"What are those noises? It's still dark out."
She whispered back, moving very slightly. "It's the Two Legs. This is the time they come to our woods. They have long noise sticks and they are trying to find us. If they find us, the noise sticks 'blam'. Sometimes one of us doesn't get up again. Don't stir. Stay where you are."
He wanted to ask "But WHY?"....but he didn't. He had learned well to obey his mother implicitly in every situation. It would serve him well this day.

"thunk.......creeeeeeeak"

Last night I heard a door creak.
I was just doing stuff around the house. Funny thing is, we don't have a creaky door.
I called my husband in his meeting that was already over just to let him check the basement door whe he came home. I wasn't going to do it, at 10:30pm.
And, of course, there was nothing amiss. I got to thinking after I went to bed....it sounded like the outside door to Grandma's cellar. I could almost smell the old potatoes and apples and dusty, musty aroma.
That got me to thinking about my dad. He always seemed to have the job in the spring of "rooting" the taters...taking the long shoots that had grown from them off. Grandma always used up her old potatoes before she would eat new ones. We had a lot of little fried potatoes when we stayed overnight at Grandma's!
Good memories. Wonder if that's why I "heard" the creaking door.

Cold Sparkles

"brrrr"
He picked his front foot up, hating to put it back into the print on the frost-encrusted grass. Summer was on its way out, whether the little deer knew it or not.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the grass became green again and the apples regained their distinctive aroma and taste. But the mother knew the signs, and she encouraged her children to eat much and play less. They needed to be in good physical shape for the days of leanness to come.
They also needed to learn about the different gun sounds. The ones they'd grown up with, living close to the shooting range, were harmless. It would be the sharper cracks of the hunting guns that the deer should fear.
A hard time for all was soon to come.

What?

"What's that?"
Mom looked up from the lush green grass.
"What?'
She nervously glanced to the right and left.
"The hummng sort of thing that's over there."
He indicated across the hard path.
"Oh, that's a Mover. When Two Legs want to go a long distance, they get in a Mover and it hums and takes them."
They both watched as the conveyance flashed a light and turned down the hard path.
"Wow! Does that mean we can go get apples, now that Two Legs has gone away?"
"We'll watch and wait. Sometimes there is another one left after one goes in the Mover."
They continued to graze, keeping close watch during chewing stints.
Moving toward the apple tree, they finally arrived at the tree.
"Yummmm!"

mmmmmmmm

"mmmmmmmmmmm
mmmmmmmMOMmmmmmm
I can smell them again.
Can we go get some? Pleeeez?"
Mom raised her head from her lunch, testing the wind and scanning the scene.
She started a slow journey toward the goal, stopping often and looking.
He cavorted around her, hoping to hurry her progress.
"C'mon. The crows will have them all gone."
She was not to be hurried.
Bite. Glance. Munch. Sniff. Chew. Listen.
Finally, she deemed safety to be assured, and set off toward the apple tree.
Despite her leisurely fashion, they arrived at the fruit soon.
He bit into another apple, now knowing what they were and how good they tasted.
"Yummm....."
He raised his head to chew and saw the Two Legs come around the side of the barn.
With no thought, he flagged his white tail and took off for the Big Woods, his mother in his wake.

Tag!

"Tag! You're It."
He jumped straight up into the air, landing on the leap around the meadow.
His sister restrained herself for only a second, before she, too, bounced after him.
Twisting, turning, obvious joy in their capabilities, the youngsters rode with the wind. Their mother raised her head from her grazing and watched them placidly. They were young, free, and alive. They had no worries or cares. She knew she was their lookout and protector, and she continued her watchfulness.
Mom is on Guard.

But....

He bumped his big sister with his shoulder as they grazed on the sweet grass.
"Why? Why did Mom make us run to the woods and leave those juicy apples? Why?"
She looked at him contemptuously from her yearling height.
"Didn't you see the Two Legs? Don't you remember you are to RUN whenever you see one of those?"
She tossed her head and lowered it to munch once more on the vegetation.
He hit her shoulder with his head. "No, I didn't see anything like that."
"Well, you'd better be learning this stuff. Mom has been telling you every since you were born."
"Why do we run from Two Legs?"
Her eyes got big and round.
"Because sometimes Two Legs have noisy sticks and they hurt us. You are such a baby....don't you remember anything?"
"Well, I've heard about that...but I never saw it. I just ran because Mom gave the signal. I wasn't scared. I'm not scared of anything."
He reached up into the tree and chose a few delectable leaves.
"Did that Two Legs have a noisy stick? Huh? Did it?"
"I'm not sure, but you have to obey the signal. It's how you can stay alive."
They lowered their heads and got back the the important business of feeding themselves.

Elusive

"Smell them? Over there, in that grove of trees."
She raised her head and pointed daintily with her nose.
The Little One tried to do the same thing, in the same direction.
"All I can smell is the grass. Oh, and tree smells."
He sniffed again.
They walked warily toward the grove.
He gradually became aware of a new hint of something.
They arrived at the trees, and there on the ground were big roundish lumps of something. Something smelling very good.
She took a tiny bite of one of the lumps.
"Mmmmmm"
He licked the spot where she had broken the skin.
"ooohhh...yummy"
He found his own apple and took tiny bites of it.
His mother flipped her white tail and signaled "Run".
With no question, he followed her back to the Big Woods.

Truth is Stranger....

Nobody would make this up. The Republican candidate for governor who won the primary will not be joined by his choice of Lt. Governor. Seems people voted for "the other guy's" Lt. Gov. They are both from "upstate", so it should be interesting. The other party's opponent is the son of a former governor and is from the NYC area. A classic example of "upstate" vs "downstate".

"Take Out the Trash"

We now have a candidate in New York who has promised to go to Albany, the capital city, to clean it up and take out the trash. He promises to serve only one term (4 years) and lower our taxes by 10%. He pledges to get the legislature to pass an on-time (April 1) budget. He plans to fire many government workers and set up a Dignity Corps, where out-of-work citizens could receive training in basic humanity and learn to work.
Watch this coming campaign. It should be at least as interesting as "Survivor" or "Celebrity Dance". Perhaps even something permanent could come from it!

Primarily

Today is our state's primary election. One of my political information sites called it the "Primarily Election". I'm sure it was just a typo, but at least, first and foremost, we will be voting. We get to choose who will be our party's representative in November. In a normal year, there would be relatively few people going to the polls. I'm thinking this may not be considered a "normal" year. With all the Tea Party activity that is going on, this may be considered an extraordinary year. The polls don't open upstate until noon. I'm hoping to see landslide statements for the conservative candidates. Should be interesting!

Dust

What is it?
Why does it keep accumulating?
I would really be in favor of a device to remove all the dust from the air, so I wouldn't be forced/encouraged/required to remove it from the books and the desk and the top of all the junk just sitting there.
We don't have a dog, so we can't blame an animal.
Our wood stove isn't in operation at this time of year.
So....why do we have dust?
I guess it's sort of like mosquitos....a penalty for the fall.
Of course, Eve probably didn't worry about dust, in her arboreal atrium.
If I didn't have a house, I wouldn't worry about dust.
But...I don't think I'll become an outdoor dweller.
Especially with winter coming on.
So, get out the Swiffer and hope it does the job!

How Sweet it IS!!

One of the best things about this time of year, gustatorially speaking, is sweet corn. Our local farmer and corn grower plants every three days in the spring, so that he can keep his large clientele happy in the fall. And THIS client is very happy. Guests from Plattsburgh and Virginia took corn home with them. I put some in the freezer. It will be even more appreciated in November and December!

Diversity

It really wasn't a boring week. Just lots of different activities and emotions. Daughter and dog visited Thursday-Friday. We had a chance to stop and see one of her high school friends and 3 sons. They are a busy family, but seem happy.
I received word of the death of a long-time church friend. I had visited her twice at the hospital, and I'm really glad I took the opportunity to do so. Her condition didn't appear that serious, but she had told her doctor, "Make me better or euthanize me!" I don't think he did that, but apparently God had decided it was time for her to come home. Her memorial service will be this Tuesday.
I had the job of telling another friend in the nursing home about her death. I was somewhat worried about doing that, but she was resigned. I guess when you get to be over 80, "surprise" is not an option about a friend's death. I remember my grandmother and later my dad both said, "All my friends are gone and I'm the only one left here."
I also spent some time trying to arrange openings for musical friends who were planning to be in the area. Thank goodness I couldn't do so, since they never got here. The people in the area they were serving wanted them to stay and help work out some problems.
I attended a ladies' mission meeting yesterday, at which a husband and wife team reported on the maternity home they manage. It's a Christian option to abortion, and the mothers and babies are allowed to stay for a year after the child's birth. During the time there, the ladies learn housekeeping, parenting, personal finance, etc. I found their report interesting. They work in unision with the local Care Net organization.
Last night we tried out a new cafe with another couple who wanted to treat us because my husband had spent several hours finding an item for them out in a hay field!
And on that note of mystery, I will close this post.

It's Official

He's gone.
On his way to Afghanistan.
Wearing Army drab, not Air Force blue.
His parents don't understand that.
None of us do.
But it's what it is.

His tour is slated to be six months.
We hope by March he's on his way home, hale and hearty.
We pray.
Just like millions of other families.

We wonder why.
But we know.
"Freedom and liberty".
The United States shouldn't have a monopoly.
We share.
It hurts to share.

God Bless the American Soldier.

Apple Time

It's also the time of year when the trees bring forth their annual harves of nuts and fruits. In my backyard there is an apple tree that has been here since before we came 40 years ago. It has never had any care, and it used to have the smallest knotty-looking apples. Since my husband cut off a few dead and dying branches, it seems to have gotten new life. The last two or three years we've had almost "normal" looking apples. Of course, they still have little bugs or worms in them, so you don't want to use them as eating apples.
I have a call in to the local extension office, so I can learn if there are things we should do to eliminate the pests. According to an old fellow at the local "Adult Care", the tree was purchased in Vermont and is an Ida Red. He is a relative of the people who lived here before we bought it, and he sounds believeable.
If these really are Ida Reds, they are good for eating and cooking. I can attest to the fact that they make the most wonderful PINK applesauce!
Anyway, the apples are beginning to ripen and fall to the ground. I have already picked up several offerings and made applesauce. Now I am offering them to my friends. There seems to be enough for all!

annual gut-wrench

This time of the year gives me the feeeling of trying to hold on to something infinitely beautiful and desirable, with no success.
Summer is ending; autumn and its responsibilities looms before me.
The weather has just turned liveable, with pleasant days and cool nights.
The garden is being harvested and stored.
And....it's school time again.
I spent 26 years in school myself, plus the years of my children.
While they were beneficial and educational, they were also grindingly required.
There was a schedule and an expectation of activity.
As I mentioned the other day, this time of year I have an impending sense of doom in the depth of my being!
Maybe this is why, in our retirement, we chose this time of year to head out and live a life of unfettered movement and relaxation, free as the wind that mumurs in the trees.
Hurray for changes of seasons!

Training?

If you have a dog that is very smart, congratulations.
If you have a dog that likes to chase birds, squirrels, and other wildlife, what do you do? I mean, it's a dog. That's what dogs (would like to) do!
If you have a 7-year-old kid, hooray.
If you have a kid who inadvertently lets go of the dog's leash, what do you do?
The kid knows he will be in trouble for letting the dog go, so he chases the dog.
The dog likes to run.
So the two of them end up at a park 3 blocks away.
What do you do?
I'm not going to give you any options.
Just tell me what You would do.

hmmm....

Going to "meet and greets" is fun, if you're otherwise unemployed and can spare the time and travel. You get to see who else is in the same mindset. Most of us are not "supporting" the candidate as yet; we're just seeing what he/she has to offer as far as ideas.
Yesterday I went to meet Jay Townsend, a Conservative candidate for US Senate. Taking Chuck Schumer's place would be a daunting task, but for some of us, it's a necessary event. Chuck has been around too long; he's practically a barnacle on the ship of state. So, he's said "yes" to most all of the current administration's ideas....for over 20 years!
I'm not sure Jay is the one to replace him, but at least I've met the fellow up close and personal. When I asked "income tax, flat tax, fair tax?", he allowed as how he needs to study up on that. Well, yeah, I think he needs to!

Of course the barn isn't sided yet. It's a BIG barn!
Did I mention my husband is a perfectionist?
Of course, he has every right to be.
If you don't do something right, it'll be staring you in the face for the rest of your life.
It's the same thing, in a smaller sense, with wallpaper.
Did you ever put wallpaper up?
Was it all straight?
If it wasn't, you'll be looking at it until you change it--or until you move.
(Well, you'll be looking at it anyway. But you will notice the imperfections.)
My mom was great at wallpapering.
I never am, because I get in a hurry and want it "done".
So....I have to live with my impatience.
I don't generally put wallpaper where people can see it.
It's hidden away in my bedroom closet...but it's still not straight!

Siding

The latest project is siding the big old barn. The siding is steel and painted brown. It's easily scratched, so we have several places that are painted with spray paint of a similar color. (Because they got scratched)
My boss and husband is very particular, so he's put on and removed several pieces. The hardest part, of course, is getting the pieces from the ground to the higher climes. We have a nifty machine for that. I'm not sure of its name, but it's one you see on construction sites so workers can walk around way up there.
My job has been the running of this machine. It's really easy, but nerve-wracking. Just push the yellow button so the little lights flash. Then grab the stick and squeeze the handle and either push ahead (for "up") or pull back (for "down"). The major problem that I seem to have is releasing the squeeze in a smooth way, so we don't have dramatic STOPS.
Oh, well. I never said I was an expert.
And, so far we're still speaking.
That should count for something.

Amuse

Facebook has a site "Learn you're your too to two its it's". I've offered to teach a course, but no one has taken me up on it yet. It's so distracting when people employ the wrong usage. But it's also habit-forming. The more I read facebook, the more I feel my standards slipping. Sloppy speech/writing is easy to fall into. It's good that we have blogs, where we can vent in standard English. If I misspell something, or employ improper usage, please understand that is is my typing at fault, not my knowledge of grammar!

Just so

Just so proud of my Dad for memorizing all those poems and remembering most of them for, oh, like maybe 60 years. That was back in the day when teachers expected kids to memorize...and when kids did what they were told. The first one is "Nobility" by Alice Cary, and the second one, of course, is "O Captain! My Captain" by Walt Whitman.

Dad went to a one-room school for all his elementary years. He walked up a small hill, then down, then up a BIG hill to get to the schoolhouse on the top. What a view they had! It looked out over the 9-Mile Swamp and was gorgeous in the fall. Of course, in the winter, it was a bit more of a problem getting there. But...they took their sleds.....so the ride home was stupendous!

The schoolhouse was abandoned before I started school, but I had trespassed inside it. Nothing exciting. A blackboard on the wall. The desks had been pillaged. I don't remember if the wood-burning stove was there or not, but it surely was in the days of the school's use.

This is one of the benefits of growing up across the road from where my Dad grew up. We had a lot of similar memories. Of course, his were much earlier than mine, but the geography didn't change. And I did attend the same school building that he did when he was in high school.

By the time I came along, it was a two-room elementary school. So I had "Miss Oaks" for first and second grade, and Miss Oaks taught grades one through three. So I learned some things from the students in the grades above me; and I think I may have taught a few things to the students in the grade below me.

True Worth

True worth is in being not seeming
In doing each day that goes by
Some little good: Not in dreaming of great things to do by in by.
For whatever a man sayeth in blindness in spite of his fancies or youth
There is nothing as kingly as kindess, and nothing as royal as truth
We get back our mite as we measure we cannot do wrong and feel right
No(r) can we give pain and gain pleasure for justice avenges each ----
The air for the wing of the sparrow, the bush for the robin and wren
But always the path is straight and narrow for that of children of men.

Assanation of Lincoln
Ah: Captain my captain our fearful trip is done
The ship has weathered every rock, the prize we sought is won
The port is near the bells I hear with people all exhaulting
With following eyes and stead keel the vessle grim and daring
But ah Heart, Heart oh the bleeding drops fo red
Where on the deck my Captain lies, fallen cold and dead.

as I rember from grade school
CDH

(The above was found in my Dad's Bible after his passing.)

PAEAN

Tomorrow will be my Dad's 100th birthday. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 92+. He had seen many new inventions and lived through WWII, the Korean conflict, the Viet Nam war, and saw 9-11 on TV.
He learned to fly a Piper cub plane and even bought one. Landed it "up on the hill" on his farm. I remember his giving me a ride when I was a mere child.
He was a pitcher on local baseball teams for many years. The last church pastor remembered coming as a young pastor to the Sunday School picnic and playing in the obligatory softball game. When he saw Dad was the pitcher, he was sure he was in for an easy run, or at least getting on base. Dad's first ball was a scorcher; Pastor swung after the ball was already in the catcher's mitt. Of course, the next two were so slow he didn't have the patience to wait for them to clear the plate, and the young preacher was struck O-U-T.
Dad was good in that kind of psychology. He was about 5'7" and weighed the most when he graduated from high school, a whooping 128. So he had to make up in brains what he didn't have in brawn.
He enjoyed the Roaring 20's well into the 30's, before he finally settled down with the shy young miss from Tinker Hollow. She kept him on the straight and narrow from then on.
Dad was an innovator and an inventor. He figured on things to make his farm work easier and quicker. Of course, he never got around to getting patents for his inventions, but several of them later appeared for sale in machinery shops.
He worked to improve his farm and his cattle. He was one of the first to go to the added trouble and expense to register his Holstein cattle and keep records of milk production for each cow. I joined in this endeavor in my 4-H years, owning and showing several registered Holsteins.
In later years he took up bowling, and then even later, golf. He was always a competitor, but a gentle one. He and a long-time friend also had an annual competition to see who could shoot the most woodchucks. They had to actually pick the chuck up by the tail in order to count it.
Fishing was another lifelong passion. Our family vacations were almost always spent beside a lake where he could take his fishpole and his boat out to troll for bass. That was his relaxation, after months of farm work.
I miss him a lot, but I know he's in a better place and I will get to spend eternity with him and a lot of others who have gone on before.
Happy 100th, Dad!

Legal

Well, That was enlightening!
I just watched a political video put out by Kristin Davis for Governor of NYS.
She's apparently running on the libertarian party platform.
She's for legalizing marijuana, prostitution, and gay marriage.
She's the madam who got in trouble when former governor Spitzer went down.
She was valedictorian of her graduating class.
She has a degree in business.
She's worked for a hedge fund.
She's run her own escort businesses.
I agree that our state is in deep doo-doo.......but, I will not be voting for Kristin Davis.

"1776"

I attended the first-ever performance of the North Country Players. They chose the musical play "1776" as their initial event, and it was well worth the price. Seeing so many men on stage was a blessing, since musical theatre seems to be more interesting to women for some reason. The actors and singers presented their historical characters well, showing foibles and frustrations as well as high moments in their lives. John Adams appeared to be a definite "A-Personality", as he tried to convince his peers of the importance of complete independence from Great Britain. The doubts and fears of the colonists were portrayed most clearly in the person of the South Carolina representative. The argument about slavery was the climax of the show, and Ben Franklin's diplomacy was seen as a necessary foil to the actual agreement. Thomas Jefferson's writing was impeded until he had opportunity to reunite with his lovely wife. A friend who attended with me was upset with the use of God's name in vain and said, "I don't think the fathers of our country talked like that." I'm not sure if they did or not, but as I told her, it was a men's group and tensions were running high. It was an educational and enjoyable evening.

beautiful

Beautiful evening.
Great music.
Energetic NNY912 introduction.
Entertaining and knowledgeable NYS presentation.
No mosquitoes.
Lots of hot dogs.
Excess lemonade.
Oddles of cupcakes.
Interested audience.
Friendly atmosphere.
Light all turned off in the hall.
Day is done.

annual?

Well, ya see, the party is the second annual lawn party featuring my friends Howie and Debbie Campbell.
They are "musicianaries" who have been around the country again this summer, singing and relating to those they meet about the King of Kings.
They entertained and inspired my friends, neighbors, and I last summer.
I baked a couple pans of lasagna and the rest is history.
When they told me July 29 was the date they had planned for us this summer, I began looking forward to it.
Then I read that the only Christian lobbyist in our state capital was making himself available to educate the Christian populace, and the wheels started turning.
It turned out that July 29 was a date he also had available.
BINGO!
Added to that, our local 912 organization is looking to put out the word about its organization and about its next patriotic project.
So....we have a star-studded evening planned!
I'm not sure how many will come, but it has been advertised in the local papers and on facebook and by word-of-mouth.

If you can't come, I hope you'll at least be thinking of us.

...dogs...

Well, I picked up the hot dogs for Thursday's party today.
As expected, they are Hebrew National, reduced fat.
Two cases. 12 packages in a case; 7 hot dogs in a package.
I don't expect to need 168 hot dogs, but I have them if I need them!
I also got hot dog buns, wheat version.
And I have 2 gigantic canisters of Country Time lemonade mix.
Yeah, I know.
Not much natural stuff there.
This is a low-maintenance party.
I also have Veggie Sticks.
Real potato, spinach, and tomato powders formed into crunchy sticks.
They may be habit forming.
I like them a lot.
Some of my friends are bringing homemade cupcakes for the sweet-of-tooth.
So hopefully we'll have a good time and not go away hungry.
You're invited, if you can be in the area at 6pm on July 29th.

Need Amway?

My youngest nephew will be in the area this Friday morning at 10am.
He is wanting to demonstrate cleaning products, face cream (especially the vanishing wrinkle type) and any other product Amway sells.
So, let me know if you'd like to learn about/see anything in particular.
My place, 10am.
Contact me in "comments" if you have further questions.
He's a college student.
You know the spiel.
But he really does need help working his way through, so any orders you can give him would be much appreciated.

Comments

OK, I went to my account settings and changed the "comment" section.
Now anyone can add comments, even if they are not registered on this site.
I hope that will help all those millions of "viewers" who silently read and then fade away into the night.
Feel free to add your comments.
We'll see if this adds any excitement or enthusiasm to the blog.
Of course, I should attempt to say something worthy of comment.

I think Hebrew National hotdogs are the best ever.
They have no artificial color added, no fillers, no artificial flavors and they are made of premium cuts of 100% kosher beef.
And they offer regular, reduced fat, or 97% fat-free options!

TV

Hey...I have a friend who will be appearing on Glenn Beck this afternoon!
According to her, it will be a 45-second spot concerning ReValue America NY.
If you have Fox News, you might want to give the program a look-see.
It's at 5pm eastern standard time.

And, she will be at BEDROCK next Thursday.
That's the event focused on foundational values and principles.
I'm hoping it will be a lot of fun and education for us voters.

How far?

How far should we go to "protect" children?
I'm talking here about those from ages 10-17.
Do we continue to drive them to school, because of possible kidnappers?
Do we allow them to ride their bicycles just on our street?
Do we let them attend "R" rated movies?
Do we give them a curfew, or keep them with us 24/7?

Each parent has to make these and many other decisions.
It "depends".
On the kid, on the situation, on the parent, on the activity.

If your child were in a group that would be helping with a function at a local meeting hall, would you expect that he could participate in the function?
If the "function" involved listening to guitar music, listening to a speaker from the state congressional offices, listening to someone telling about the founding principles of America?
Which part of this does the child need protection from, assuming that his physical safety were guaranteed?

I guess, again, it depends on the kid, the situation, the activity.
Personally, I would think since the youth are the voters of tomorrow, any contact they could have with first-hand information on their state's leaders would be worth the whole evening.

Parents will have to make this a possibility, since the group the kids belong to will not.

Complain....

OK....so I haven't written anything that "floats your boat" lately.
It's my blog, after all. And I write what I'm thinking.
So, my thoughts haven't moved you in any way.
Oh, well.
I should think more worthy thoughts.
But then, would it be my blog? Or yours?
I live a quiet and basically happy life.
So, complaining doesn't become me.
I like what I see when I look out my window.
I like what I do with my 24 hours of the day.
I'm pleased with the people who surround me.
I enjoy my comfortable home.
I even appreciate the books I've been reading and the activities in which I've engaged.
The only problem, from my point of view, is all the "I's" in this entry.
But, this is where it is....Me Land.

Something About....

Oyr family/friend get-to-gethers generally have at least one or two moments of silliness and unbridled guffaws. It's usually at night, when our inhibitions, such as they are, have been dulled by tiredness.
Last night it had to do with a "joke" someone told. I'll try to repeat it here, and you can decide if it's funny.
Two muffins were baking in the oven. One says, "It's getting really hot in here." The other one says, "Wow! A talking muffin." (This later evolved to "Crap, a talking muffin".)
ha. ha.
Well, then there is the torque wrench and the fact that sil needed to borrow one. Seems the husband gave sil an extra one, so now sil can torque whenever he want to. And whatever he wants to.
To add to the mix, the friend brought radishes and proceeded to induct us all in the glories of COOKED radishes. Hey, if you haven't tried them, don't knock them. They're really tasty, especially with a little brown sugar and butter.
By the time bedtime came around, the catch phrase was "Holy muffin! A talking crap!"
"Have you torqued your radish today?"
And such blather.

92%

Humidity!
Don't you just love it?
Of course, it IS raining.
Maybe when it stops, we'll be back to 79%?
At least I don't have to water my garden this morning.
The corn needs to be fertilized, according to my experts.
There is some question as to whether it needs "10-10-10" or "urea".
I'd like to try some of both on different rows, just to see who was more right.
Of course, if it doesn't grow anyway, I guess it will be a draw.
Big weekend, with church homecoming and relatives and friends here.
Then H&H concert Sunday evening.
Hope the humidity has receded by then...it's a very small venue!

Green

Porch steps,
grass,
corn,
butternut squash leaves,
carrot tops,
chives,
peony plants,
clover,
wild geranium,
sunflower stems,
house roof,
dandelions,
milk weed,
blueberry bushes---
how many shades of green can you see in your mind's eye?

The Family

Remember our eggs of a few weeks/months back?
Well, I think the family has stayed in the area.
Several times recently I've seen four killdeer birds in the same general vicinity.
I never knew that they might do that.
When I talk to them, they seem to listen and then dip their heads in acknowledgement.
Of course, I may be hallucinating.
But it's kind of neat.

sshhhh....

Today he buried the "dead man".
I had nothing to do with it, except for providing a little liquid refreshment.
So my hands are clean...and blisterless.
But the pole that holds the wires will stand better because of the new burial spot.
At least, that's what I've been told.
It certainly took a long time to dig in the old spot and exhume and then make a new hole...manual labor.
It's a very deep hole...made with post-hole digger.
Glad I'm not a man!

Helper

So, now I'm an electrician's helper.
I helped pull the string that the vacuum sucked through the underground pipe to the place where we want the new wiring to be, on the other side of the driveway.
I know this is very important stuff, because I was given a special invitation to be of assistance.
The string was made out of some sort of poly-something, so it was very strong.
I was glad the Chief Electrician was on the other end, feeding the three-ply wire into the tube.
I was Very Glad when friend Henry stopped by, with his 70+ year-old-hands, which were still stronger than mine.
I got only one blister, so I guess that's a good thing.
And....the wire is where it's supposed to be.
Thomas Edison never knew what he was getting us into!

Breeze

It's a perfect July 5, for those who are at the beach.
Here inland, it's just plain HOT.
But, there is a breeze.
What a wonderful invention to help cool us from the summer heat.
It helps to evaporate the perspiration from our bodies and it cools our brows.
My husband has been working outside all day.
He is a glutton for punishment...."but there's a breeze".
I thought when people retired, they just got to sit around in the air conditioning.
Apparently different people have different ideas.
I'm glad for all the work he gets done, but I feel guilty for not helping.
Oh, well.
"That's man's work."
SWEAT!

Grand Old

"She's a grand old flag
A high-flyin' flag
And forever in peace may she wave
She's the emblem of
the land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Every heart beats true
for the red, white, and blue
- - - - - - - - - -
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag!

F-L-A-G

"F" is for the Freedoms that we cherish;
"L" is for the Land we stand upon;
"A" is All the patriots who perished;
"G" is Government 'of the people, by the people, for the people'.

Yes, I made that up;
No, I am not claiming any poetic talent.

But let us cherish ("hold dear, treat with tenderness and affection, nurture with care) our freedoms of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Let us boldly proclaim our affinity to the land, ground, dirt we call home.
Let us never forget the price that was paid for us to have these blessings.
And let us be continually involved in educating ourselves and all those we care for about the wonderful governmental processes that our founding fathers crafted for us and all future generations...and let us be aware when false prophets try to change this model for something more akin to anarchy or despotism. Being aware, let us reject that type of change with all that we have, including the time, money, and intelligence that we have accrued in this great land.

Rendezvous

She lowered her body apprehensively on to the chaise longue, her heart palpitating wildly. The day and the hour had finally arrived. The last time they had been together, they had agreed upon it. Now she was having second thoughts.

It was so foreign to her. He had tried to ease her misgivings, telling her it wouldn't hurt and that it would soon be over. And that she would be pleased with the effect, once she got used to the idea and the activity.

He entered, his manner easy and soothing. He looked down at her and murmured comfortable sounds. As he bent over her, she tentatively opened her tremulous lips. He responded. She felt her pulse quicken. His brown eyes shone with points of light. His capable hands efficiently achieved the expected and desired results. Their time together melted into a blur, as she compared her past fears and the present euphoria. How silly she had been! This is exactly what she had needed....

He withdrew from her immediate presence, and said, with some pride in his voice, "That crown should last you for a good long time."

LONGEST

The longest day of the year illustrated the poem "What is so rare as a day in June?" Low humidity, sunshine, temperatures in the 70's, all growing things acting according to plan. Beautiful! And, of course, it was the first day of summer, the season we look forward to all winter.

Brass

"The King's Brass" was another of our pleasures on our mini-trip. I had heard about them for a long time, but their concerts were always too far away for my practical side to allow my artistic side to attend. This year and this month they were again to perform at the North Syracuse Baptist Church--and that was right on our way home. How perfect!
When we stopped at the church at 5pm, no one was around. It is a big church and, more importantly, it has a lot of parking space. I finally ran into a guy who told us we could park our bus in the back lot, and we could stay there overnight.
I guess he was somebody important, because no one ever asked us who we were or why we were there.
The concert was attended principally by Sr. citizens. They were all congenial and enthusiastic, even my husband. (We have a tubist in the family, so he has heard a lot of them.)
The group consists of 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, a tuba, and a keyboardist. Tim Zimmerman is the sole remaining member of the band; the rest have moved out and others have moved in. Their repertoire is Christian, patriotic, and big band sound. They do well at all of them.
If you ever get a chance, attend a (free, donation only) concert by "The King's Brass"! You'll get more than your money's worth.

liftoff

Haven't seen my little garden creature, but I noticed he posted here a while ago. The eggs have disappeared, so I'm assuming the babies have taken off. The encyclopedia said that they are "precocial".

Loong Weekend

We returned from our trip to the southern area of NYS--not as far as "The City".
We renewed acquaintances with our nephew and niece and their two kiddos.
Jake is two now, and still has longish curly hair.
He and his right thumb have a close relationship, but he will pause for grins and laughter.
His little sister's name is Kaylie.
She is six months old and a good smiler too.
She is "sorta kinda" named after me, and another aunt on her mother's side.
My pastor brother and his wife caught us up to date on the church doings.
Our youngest nephew is a college student, so he is living away from home this summer as he works near his college home.
He is a "sundae technician" for Coldstone Creameries.
Tough job, but someone has to do it!
We both enjoyed our time with the extended family.

On The Scene...

Large Moving Legs are very active this rainy day.
Two sets of them are climbing into and out of and around and underneath the Gigantic Silver Wheeled One.
I have seen cartons of food carried to it by Reaching Hands.
I have seen clothing in piles and on hangars.
I have seen containers of refuse removed.
I have seen green water carrier inserted.
I have seen green water snake removed.
I have seen bags of intriguing shapes.
I know not what this may mean for our kind, but I hope it means peace and quiet.