Corgi Dog News...musings of a menopausal dog mama.

Seasonal Crafts from the trusty ol' Farmer's Almanac!

2012-02-15T15:15:00.002-05:00

Here's how to make homemade note cards using potatoes; you can also make journal or book covers, checkbook covers, and wrapping paper!

Potato Art

In these days of e-mail, faxes, and texting, communication may be instant, but not necessarily thoughtful. These potato-printed cards are easy and fun, and something that the children can do with you, too.

First, you'll need a few potatoes, white or colored note-card paper, and paint (poster paint, acrylic paint, or water-based inks).

Cut a large, clean potato in half. Put one half in a plastic bag while you work on the other half.
Dry the surface with a paper towel then use a paring knife to cut out a relief design, cutting down about 1/4 inch (try heart shapes for Valentines). Dry off any excess moisture.
Dip the potato in a shallow dish of the paint. Test the design on a piece of paper before printing on your cards.
Try using different designs and colors on the same card.
A potato stamp can be kept for several days wrapped in plastic and refrigerated.

Text borrowed from F.A. I love that website!

THIS IS WHAT CUPID CAN BRING THIS YEAR....

2012-02-13T18:23:00.003-05:00

Thank you...thank you very much!

~Retro Nostalgia~

2012-02-11T09:53:00.019-05:00

Are you like me...someone who finds comfort in the past...comfort in a slower paced world? This high-tech decade is not my world. I-pods/pads, Droids, smart phones, blackberry's, do not interest me. I yearn for heavy dial faced phones, matches in folded packets, front porches with swings and legs covered in pantyhose. What is this with the bare-legged look anyway?

Two inch thick catalogs from Sears, and Montgomery Wards marked the seasons.
They came late in October for the holidays and July for the autumn school fashions. What a delight they arrived in our mailbox! Spiegel was the catalog we really yearned for though. Those clothes had an edge, were more fashionable and reflected a "big city" influence.

Remember wearing "can-cans" under a dress when young? We wanted all that fullness in those days. It's funny how fashions change, go to the extreme, then slowly return.
Maybe we'll see this style again.

Remember letters with rural route addresses? Mail postage in single digits? A sixteen year old could have a great time on the two bucks earned from babysitting. A cherry coke was a nickle, a pretzel rod was two cents. The adult price for a movie was sixty-five cents. A gallon of gas was thirty-two cents. Fast cars, drag racing, and a beer on a back road was really the worst of it when I was a teen. Drugs missed me totally...thank heavens!

Most girls owned a jewelry box. Most girls had a dressing table in her room of some sort with a large mirror. Mine had a huge circle centered mirror, with drawers on both sides. Makeup, hair rollers (dog food and juice cans because my hair was curly), and a bottle of Evening in Paris, Tabu, or Chantilly made me feel womanly.
Most of us slept on curlers every night. Wore girdles, and hose requiring garters. Would we do that now??? Heck no!

Daughters dried dishes every night, and that's when moms and daughters talked about things. Daughters helped clean the house on Saturday, with her washed hair up in rollers, anticipating a fun Saturday night. Sunday, the entire family went to church.
We stopped at the newstand to pick up the Sunday paper. There was no shopping on a Sunday in those days. Sunday was family time. Period.
I do admit to enjoying a more "relaxed" way of dressing now. Thank God for Land's End! It's handy to shop online when one lives in small town USA. No spanx (today's girdle) for me. I bulge freely here and there, so be it. Unless I spot myself in a window or a mirror somewhere, I don't have to see it!

I do miss how close family used to be. All of our kids, with the exception of Josh, live now in other states. We only see our grandkids once or twice a year. Computers do help in that area too. Skype, online viewing of photos, blogs, and Facebook, keep us connected. Weekly Sunday family gatherings were darn nice though; or at least getting together for every holiday. That does not happen anymore, darn it.

1986 Farmer's Almanac suggestions ...

2012-02-07T19:35:00.005-05:00

Herewith, from science and folklore, are over 20 surefire techniques for finding, attracting, and wedding the person you will love forever.

Roast hummingbird hearts, grind them into a powder, and sprinkle it on your beloved.
Kiss as many people as possible. Dr. Bubba Nicholson of Tampa, Florida, says that kissing is a way for us to taste semiochemicals on another's skin. Semiochemicals transmit biological signals of compatability and attraction.
Pluck a stalk of yarrow and stick it up your nose. If a drop of blood appears, your love is true.
Australian aborigines prepare a love potion from the testicles of kangaroos.
Think of the one you love while you swallow a four-leaf clover, and your love will be returned.
Upon hearing the first coo of a dove in the spring, take off your left stocking and look in the heel of it. You will find a hair the color of your true love's hair.
Swallow the heart of a wild duck.
On New Year's Eve, walk from one room to another while throwing a shoe over your shoulder, then look in a mirror and your mate's face will be there.
Place a snail in a pan of cornmeal, and the tracks it makes will spell your true love's initials.
Hide the dried tongue of a turtledove in a girl's room; she will love you forever.
In 18th-century France, a man told a woman three times that she was beautiful. The first time she was required to thank him, the second time to believe him, and the third time to reward him.
If you touch your little finger and forefinger behind your two middle fingers, you can have any sweetheart you like.
Swallow a white dove's heart, point downward, while resting your hand on the shoulder of one you love.
Hardboil an egg, cut it in half, discard the yolk, and fill the egg halves with salt. Sit on something you've never sat on before, eat the egg, and walk to bed backwards. You will dream of your future mate.
Walk around the block with your mouth full of water; if you don't swallow it, you will marry within the year.
Pull a hair from the head of a girl you like, and she will love you.
Pick an apple, prick it fll of holes, carry it for a while under your left arm, then give it to your lover.
If you stub your toe, kiss your thumb and you'll see your beau.
Cut your nails on nine Sundays in a row.

I don't think that I'd try any of these things to find someone, would you?

2012-02-01T16:03:00.002-05:00

My mom will be 95 on April 4th. Who else is lucky enough to still have their mom?

2012-01-30T17:44:00.000-05:00

'Tis Friday the 13th...

2012-01-13T13:26:00.021-05:00

It's a windy, snowy day in northeast Indiana, and our high is currently at 19 degrees. I love Fridays, as each and every one of them is the beginning of my weekend. I'm blessed to work Monday through Thursdays, surrounded by books, and the friendly town folk of small town USA.
Our library is the hub of the town. You want action? Then head toward our library! To visit our site go here. Books have always turned me on, and I'm sure that most of you reading this silly little menopausal crazed blog are affected the same way by reading.

Here's a goodie that I'm currently reading; it's a blast back to your granny's era. It's full of sage wisdom, and common sense. The darn thing makes you laugh out loud. How to Sew a Button and other nifty things your grandmother knew by Erin Bried.A money-saving, heartwarming, life-simplifying guide. Man, it's a hoot!

2012-01-09T18:02:00.002-05:00

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors....but
they all exist very nicely in the same box.

(edited from an email)

O' Happy Day...

2012-01-05T17:14:00.001-05:00

I wish you a day of ordinary miracles-

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.

An unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.

I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...

The fastest line at the grocery store.

A good sing along song on the radio.

Your keys right where you look.

I wish you a day of happiness and perfection-little bite-size pieces of
perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on
you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.

I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.

(edited from an email)

No explanation necessary....

2011-12-29T14:38:00.003-05:00

A Prayer.......

Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him; And Patience for his moods;
Because Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death, because I don't have time for his nonsense.

(Inspired from an email)

2011-12-27T13:54:00.003-05:00

Sadly, this is the time of year that takes a toll on our little old lady bodies.
Okay...I won't group us all together using that phrase...old lady.
The Farmer's Almanac is so much fun to read, and there is a wealth of info in them that I find fascinating. The website, too, is full of good, old-fashioned, grandma wisdom. Love it, love it, love it~
Here's an article that is worth sharing:

Take steps to prevent winter illness! Here are three commonsense reminders:

1. Wash your hands! The #1 defense requires 20 seconds of rigorous rubbing.
2. Humidify inside and out. Keep your body well hydrated and your indoor air humidified. Add moisture to the air of your wood-heated home by hanging laundry indoors, keeping a lot of houseplants, and setting steamers on the stoves that release moisture gradually into the surrounding air.
3. Eat your vegetables. Increase your daily intake of green, red, yellow, and white vegetables.

2011-12-22T15:47:00.001-05:00

Just a quick blessing and a hug to each and all this Christmas season. Indiana, it appears, will have a green Christmas this year. Josh and I had our cookie baking session. He went caroling with the church group, and had his Christmas date with Jenny last week. He made her an absolutely darling pair of Christmas tree earrings from tiny beads that she was so happy with, she immediately jumped up at Bob Evans and ran to the bathroom to put them on! We're having a very quiet Christmas. No yelps of joy from the grandkids, or hustle bustle. It's always so much more fun when all are home, isn't it?
May your family be near and dear. May happiness renew your heart. May the true spirit of Christmas open us to what's real. Life is fragile. We are all dear in HIS eyes. Bless us everyone!

Time for Tea Thoughts...

2011-12-02T21:51:00.008-05:00

We have a covered bridge in town that looks amazingly like this; at least it does in my retro little head.
I was born in '51, was a teen toward the end of the sixties, was a mama of two from the mid-seventies through the mid-nineties. I was set free, cut adrift from the secure anchoring job of mama hood on to the sea of finding self hood by 1996.
I had no one to nurture for the first time in decades. It was scary, lonely, freeing, liberating and manic all at the same time. I sold our family home and moved to a new small town similar to the town I was a child in and began again.
I was perky, zany and bold and walked for three hours a day. Following a painful, grueling divorce in '82, and hiding under a rock and behind my children for fifteen years...it was fun to unfurl, and open up facing the sun again.
I need to experience that feeling again. The fearlessness.
Anybody know what I mean?

2011-11-27T19:17:00.004-05:00

Sad, isn't it when the four day Thanksgiving holiday comes to an end. I collected all the fall foliage decor, bittersweet and anything orange today inside and out. Bagging up autumn for another year...
Our company will leave when we do in the morning as we head back to work. No one felt like turkey yesterday, and there is still an amazing amount left. Making me think that more should have been sent home with Josh and Jim's mom. "Three day rule" in our household made me pitch pies and dressing. Tomorrow the rest will go.

We, as a family, and, as a nation have much to be thankful for. More so than in other countries I believe. Things aren't perfect...and lots needs fixing. An entire new congress would be a real gift to us all, but one we won't get. But, overall, most of us, are lucky ducks. For that, I am thankful.
I am not going to be feeling thankful on Monday night when I have the guts and an empty house to enable me to step on the scale following an orgy of gluttony over the weekend.
That's all I'm saying....

TGIF

2011-11-11T08:20:00.004-05:00

I woke up early and began the process of washing windows and taking down screens by 6:30 a.m. This is my day off, the one day I don't set the alarm. Sheesh!

Coffee deprived, these thoughts popped into my head.....
Watched toast does not pop.....a cup of tea is more than a hot beverage......vinegar really does work on windows.....one should consume at least four Hershey kisses a day.

Have a great weekend. We got our first snow yesterday. Flurries but enough to cover decks and rooftops. It's too early for this nonsense!

Boyz to Men...

2011-11-04T20:17:00.009-04:00

The female body is a marvelous machine...that is until you're on the wrong side of fifty."I am Woman, hear me roar" was the theme for women our age back in the day. Not only did we bring home the bacon but we put it in a pan.
These days, a few weeks following my sixth decade celebration, I find odd things happening that are vexing. Menopause is robbing me of my femininity. When ones ovaries sputter and begin to spit cotton do we become men? If not, then WHY do chin hairs sprout? What the devil is all this loose skin? Why do I have inch long hair on the back of my legs? Why do urinals suddenly make sense to me?

I had to plunge the toity in the library men's room the other day and while "in" there, I had a good looksee at the two urinals. They make perfect sense for use by women as long as we turned around to use them. We hardly sit on toilets anyway...we all do the squat in these germ infested days, right? Thoughts like these are disturbing.

When the estrogen flowed freely and rampantly I would NEVER have had these thoughts. I took collagen and plump lips for granted. Perky boobs that pointed out not down were the norm. Sigh....I feel the need to wear plaid oxford shirts and watch This Old House. I want to hold the remote and scratch. If I get a hankering for Skoal, I'm going to visit the Ob-Gyn and get back on hormones!

Hump Day "Therapy" Soup...

2011-10-26T21:21:00.004-04:00

I don't know about you, but by five o'clock on a dark, windy Wednesday, I'm hankering for the end of the work week. Tonight, I resisted the temptation to just run through McD's for a daily double. Instead, I came home to a pair of bouncing corgi kids, and began chopping veggies.
In a pot, I emptied a can of low-sodium chicken broth, added in leftover chicken breast and ham, perhaps a half cup of meat. While that simmered, I chopped three green onions, a heaping handful of chopped celery, a small bunch of broccoli, and a handful of fresh spinach. It needed color, so in went one large carrot, farmer chopped. Thinking of Hungry Girl creations, I threw in two wedges of Laughing Cow reduced fat swiss cheese. The lid was put on, and the heat lowered. When the bright orange carrots were just tender, I stirred in a tablespoon of Wondra, the miracle flour. Presto, chango, lo' and behold...supper! This made a one and a half serving in my jumbo Starbuck's mug. Delish, fast, and the crankies flew out the window.
Soup....it's what's for dinner and soothes the soul.

2011-10-26T13:31:00.002-04:00

I'm so disgusted with Blogger. For months now, I've not been able to make comments on many of my dashboard/followed blogs. I still sign in the same...nothing has changed...well, except for Blogger that is.
Makes me cranky...and y'all know, THAT, is not a good thing!

Hump Day Chuckle...

2011-10-18T21:00:00.001-04:00

So...it's Autumn, and I'm jumping back in!

2011-10-16T21:30:00.003-04:00

Greetings and Salutations dear bloggie buds...How was your summer? I've read, while lurking, and kept up with most of you. Blogger wouldn't allow me to comment many times as some sort of penance or just plain aggravation for some reason. Sorry about that. I've missed you gals.

So what's happened in our neck of the woods? Well...last weekend the North Carolina kids were here. Emmy is four and a half, and a loving older sis to lil' Liam. I saw him at five weeks, then not again until he was five months. Believe me, there are many big changes in the little fella.
I had a corgi-themed sixtieth birthday on the 9th; with corgi cake, corgi gifts and corgis underfoot at our hot dog/chili bonfire. It was great, making leaving the fifties behind not all that painful.
We sold the RV on October 3rd. Jim's driving truck again for a much better company after being home all summer getting honey-do's done. I got a small promotion at the library, gaining hours and a tad more pay.
That's our time apart pretty much in a nutshell.
Hope to jump back in once in a while and catch up.
Take care, and hugs to all.
Susan

Summer Sabbatical

2011-05-19T03:24:00.004-04:00

Due to living an uneventful life and mood in the pits, I shall say adieu for the summertime. I'll be reading your blogs; carry on and be happy. TTFN!

2011-05-07T08:35:00.001-04:00

Not all mothers are female. Jim lost his first wife to breast cancer. She was 27. He raised their son alone. He did a darn good job. The very first thing I noticed about Jim on the day we met was his sensitive side. I realized that men were vulnerable. Before that, I had NO idea!
Happy Mother's Day to all who have had the gift of raising their young, and lived through it! Blessings and Hugs to those doing so in today's rough world. Grandparents help soothe the hurts that both their children and grandchildren experience. God bless 'em too!

New Kid in town...

2011-05-06T05:48:00.003-04:00

Chapel Hill has a new resident, and we have a new grandson!
Liam is his name, and big sis Emmy Lulu counted all his toes and fingers.
He's no corgi....but he'll do!
I fly down in a few weeks.
Yahoo!

Dear Easter Bunny....

2011-04-14T18:16:00.002-04:00

If you could please fit any or all of these into my basket this year, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you from your good friend,
Corgidogmama

Prayer Changes Things...

2011-04-05T13:29:00.002-04:00

Friday, is World Cancer day.
Be a dear, and say a prayer, so simple and easy.
Dear God, I pray for a cure for cancer. Amen

This would be funny....if it wasn't so TRUE!

2011-03-28T11:23:00.001-04:00

Questionnaire from the American Association Of Retired People

Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger, sexy women who
are interested in them?

A: Try a bookstore, under fiction.

Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?

A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finish the
basement.

When you're done you'll have a place to live.

Q: Someone has told me that menopause is mentioned in the Bible.
Is that true? Where can it be found?

A: Yes. Matthew 14:92: "And Mary rode Joseph's ass all the way
to Egypt ...."

Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your 60+-year-old
husband?

A: Tell him you're pregnant.

Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly
wrinkles?

A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Seriously! What can I do for these crow's feet and all those
wrinkles on my face?

A: Go braless. It will usually pull them out.

Q: Why should 60+-year-old people use valet parking?

A: Valets don't forget where they park your car.

Q: Is it common for 60-plus year olds to have problems with
short-term memory storage?

A: Storing memory is not a problem. Retrieving it is the
problem.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?

A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.

Q: Where should 60-plus year olds look for eye glasses?

A: On their foreheads.

Q: What is the most common remark made by 60-plus year olds when
They enter antique stores?

A: "Gosh, I remember these!"

SMILE!! You've still got your sense of humor, RIGHT?

The calendar says Spring, but 'tis it?

2011-03-22T00:22:00.008-04:00

Surely others out there experience this: When you feel a spurt of energy, you take advantage of it. The other day the sun was shining, the sky was blue and life felt pretty good. Since the arthritis wasn't at scream level, getting a head start on spring cleaning felt like the thing to do. Down came the curtains, out came the windex, and the washing machine was busy all afternoon. Cobwebs that decorated corners all winter were annihilated. It felt good to kick butt on a sleepy house that had become cluttered and dust filled. Getting one's house in order, mentally and physically. Just another way for women to express themselves...there's no changing a man, but by golly give us a house to rearrange, and we're happy!

The local retired state rep had his pasture full of spring sheep. Their tails hadn't been docked and it was an interesting sight. I pulled to the shoulder of the highway, and Addie popped her head out to say hello, startling the entire flock into a stampede. Sigh....I think she's menopausal. Do corgis become menopausal? She has all the signs. Snapping, snarling, moodiness, water retention.....
We went to see horses, enjoying the sun's warmth, lazily rolled over onto their sides. Boom! Addie did her glass breaking yip hello, and they jumped up and tore to the other end of the field. Sheesh...she needs to work on socialization skills.

If you know anything about Indiana, you most likely have heard of Shipshewana, in the heart of Amish country. It's full of interesting shops, the sound of clip clops, horse turds in the street, and good food. There's a terrific place to get warm, soft pretzels and cherry cokes and people don't mind standing in line with twenty people in front of them. Anyway, a friend and I are driving up on Thursday. It's about 60 miles north of us, and a pretty drive. The corgi kids will go along and we'll make a day of it. Sort of a girls-dogs day out. Is that legal in all states?

Major projects need to be worked on here. A serious clean up in the garage and organization. The RV needs to be cleaned inside again from our hurried emergency trip to Florida this winter, and put up for sale. I'll be fermenting two straw bales again, getting them ready for garden plants. It worked great last year, no getting down on knees to harvest and a friend who has horses is giving me a couple of bales. Painting...yeah, that's on the list as well, two rooms at least before fall.
Now...where did that energy spurt go? Dang it! The TO DO list is growing. It's no wonder that Jim is on the road all the time...it's an evasive action!

Anyone else thinking about spring projects? Beaches? New book titles? Running away with the UPS man? Hee hee, got 'cha with that one, didn't I?

Feeling naughty...blaming Spring...

2011-03-16T16:16:00.003-04:00

Is it just me, or have you EVER just ached to say this to someone? (Not neccessarily your husband...this time!)

2011-03-14T09:41:00.002-04:00

Some people try to turn back their odometers.
Not me; I want people to know 'why' I look this way.
I've traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren't paved.
~Will Rogers

Memories...

2011-03-06T22:29:00.006-05:00

When we were kids growing up in Hillsdale, Michigan, we always tapped our trees.
I remember buckets hanging from them, and I think it was a common sight to see in the late fifties. My mom would boil down the collected sap and we'd pour it over french toast and her homemade pancakes.

Not so common now, however, here in rural Indiana, I was happy to see this familiar sight again. The family is Old Brethren, which is very similar in lifestyle to the Mennonite. The corgis love to stick their heads out to spook their goats and shiny hens, as we drive by. The goats are often in the barn doorway, deciding whether to come out or not. The hens are bolder, when the weather is fair. There is a Fresh Brown Eggs sign tacked to one of the big trees at the edge of the gravel drive.
I'd move there in a minute. But the hens and goats would have to be part of the deal. The buckets too. I want to collect syrup again. What fun. It makes me feel all sappy inside just thinking about it!

Shits and Giggles...

2011-02-24T20:28:00.003-05:00

This, is a wild turkey. This, crossed the country road in front of us this morning.
Why does the wild turkey cross the road you ask?
Well...it stopped in the middle of the road. It did not cross.
It was less than a foot away from the car. The corgis and I got up close and personal. Addie popped her head out the back window, and barked her itty bitty head off as she always does. Jake hid. As he always does. The bird didn't flinch.
Nobody blinked. I was imagining bloody scenes in my head...thinking,"do turkey birds attack?" I rolled up the back window and slowly pulled away.
The darn thing chased us.
For twenty five feet.
Addie looked out the back window, paws on the back seat, looking as if she couldn't believe the crazy sight.
Jake kept his head down, hoping it was all a bad nightmare.

Years ago, Jim and I camped at a northern state park in Indiana, called Chain-O-Lakes. We were surrounded by wild turkey creatures there while in our little red tracker. Seven or eight of them, looked inside our car windows, thinking we were the biggest red berry they had ever seen. These things were nearly as tall as our car windows. I have photos.

It was like that day all over again. Same red car. Same boldness. Either turkeys are really, really dumb.....or really, really scary.

Alone, without Supervision...

2011-02-13T18:45:00.006-05:00

Bet you're thinking uh-huh...she's being naughty! Well, sort of I guess. Let's set the scene. Winter...doldrums...long, dark nights...Jim out on the road...two weeks alone without any one telling me I can't do something. Perfect setup for trouble, right?

Well...I don't know what YOU'D be up to, but I've been sorting closets, drawers, tossing papers, moving entire rooms of furniture. My sis-in-law and I are infamous for moving furniture when we have emotional upsets. Cleaning is cathartic when your innards aren't happy. There's just too much winter to cope with!

Jim's "big man's" recliner wasn't too bad to push around, but the corgi/mama chair and a half was awful, weighing twice as much.
Several herniated discs unpleasantly wake me up during the night when these shifting urges strike. The ol' gal still feels like superwoman in her head...forgetting (or denying) that the body isn't what it used to be. I always pay for it, but it's SO rewarding to see the results of one's efforts.

Jim'll be mad. He always is, but phhhttt,when the urge strikes to get something done, it's very hard to wait around for two weeks for a tired, grumpy man to get home, who will just crab about moving furniture. So...why not just get 'er done?

Being alone has never bothered me. Luckily, since Jim has been gone most of our thirteen year marriage. Luckily, since I was single for fifteen years...while working, raising two kids,going to school after divorcing in '82. I even liked it as a kid. Boredom has never been a problem for me. Is it something that any of you have trouble dealing with?

Is it a woman thing... this need to change/clean/clear...or am I just plain weird? Surely, there are a lot of "us" out there.......right? Peck, peck....hello? Anyone going to jump on this rebellious wagon of hormones?

Is it Spring yet?

2011-02-02T12:35:00.003-05:00

Groundhog Day, a Germanic holiday that uses a furry prognosticator to foretell the coming of spring, depends on the presence (or not) of sunshine for its forecast.
Many of you know that most of America is being hit by the Blast of '11 this week.
I'm thinking, that NO groundhog in their right mind will pop his little furry head out of a nice, warm burrow.
Oh well....in the meantime, we're under a Level One snow emergency, meaning that only emergency vehicles can be on the road.
We have over a foot. The wind was blasting so hard last night the windows rattled.
Jim is home this week with a bad cold, and it's a lucky break for him.
The corgis are not enjoying the snow as they have in past years. There's just too much of the stuff.
We put a small turkey in the oven last night, and were carving/deboning after 9p.m., in anticipation of a quiet, snow day today. The library director called with the delightful news of being closed today. She just became one of my favorite people on earth!
Luckily I brought home movies and books from work yesterday. The trees were loaded with fat, perky robins when I got off at one. I've never seen such a sight in early February. Somehow, they made a wrong turn, and landed right in the thick of a pending blizzard.
Last week, we got an emergency call from Florida, stating that my mom had fallen, face-first onto concrete, and ended up spending a few days in ICU. We went down to see her; spending two days in Largo. The rv needed a tiny little valve, so we spent an entire day sitting at a repair shop, and the next morning. She's doing better, and the rv made it home after a bumpy beginning. Both intact.
We spotted ten armadillos, sunning along the Florida interstate. A site that always delights me. We took a shower at a truck stop, and slept in Cracker Barrel parking lots at night. We listened to "Murder on the Orient Express" on the way home. We stopped at a Waffle House for a pecan waffle fix. The corgis ate some green grass at the rest areas. A treat for them. While in Florida though, we had sweaters and jackets on. I think the temps ranged from 40 at night to maybe 60 during the day.
It wasn't a pleasure trip, but it was a change of scene, once the anxiety of mom's accident passed.
Spring can't come soon enough. Time to go shovel....again!

Refinement...

2011-01-19T18:22:00.004-05:00

Back in the day I was a hot head, well sorta.
Today I don't get into much of a hullabaloo over anything.
Am I passionless these days? Or...am I finally, at pushin' 60,
becoming somewhat "refined?" Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket!

Don't get me wrong...Jim can trip my trigger, and the fire-breathing
dragon comes out for about thirty seconds, then I'm over it. I'll say
words that would make my mother clutch her chest, and sigh in despair.
I flare, then I'm done. He, will carry it around for days.....like most
men, I think. Sheesh, life's short I tell him, "get over yourself!"

He says I'm hard to live with. How, I wonder. I'm clean, neat, and tidy.
I like to cook, and am VERY undemanding of his time. When he's home, I back up
and give him space so that he can destress. ( Gee, wouldn't you like to live
with somebody like this?) HA!

However....if there are many chores that need to be caught up on, and he's the
only one to able to do them, and he's home for more than two nights...it ain't
pretty. I do believe that we "radiate" emotion sometimes. That, or else Jim
is very sensitive to my radioactivity! He gets the creeps being around me at
times like this. ( I seem so normal....but, in his eyes, I become the demon wife.)
Hmrph, go figure!

We're all odd somewhat, don't you think? We all have certain quirks, that only our
spouse sees,that most undoubtedly drive them NuTs. I'm not alone here, am I?
Peck, peck....uh....hello??? Anyone out there?

Anyhooo...

Have you tried McDonald's new oatmeal yet? Well, I did today, only because it was free. First of all...it must "sit" for at least 15 minutes to somewhat thicken.
It's a rather watery mess that looks extremely disappointing initially. Trust me.
Back away slowly, and leave it alone for fifteen minutes.
It's rather bland. I didn't get the brown sugar, thinking that the apple chunks/raisins/cranberries would sweeten and flavor it up. Wrong.
It would have been worth it to spend those extra thirty calories for the boost in wow factor. Trust me here. It cost six WW points to eat this. I will not waste six perfectly good WW points again on this wall papery paste mess.
Actually, wallpaper paste isn't too shabby.

Any differing opinions or personality confessions you want to share?
Don't leave me hangin' here girls....

Snowy, but not sleepy here.

2011-01-15T15:34:00.002-05:00

This is a tiny town, but it always seems to be a bustle. Josh and I got up early to go Squirrel Creek, an Amish-type bulk food shop, way out in the country where one can stock up. We always get our spices there, salad fixin's, cheeses, etc. It's a cool place and we love to go. When folks visit, we always make a trip out there. It's fifteen minutes from our door.
Today we saw four, young white-tailed deer hop across the ditches and head across an open field, tails up. A beautiful sight on a blowy morning. The country roads were drifting, so I shifted to four wheel drive.

I dropped Josh off at the library upon our return to town, and drove past the town park across the street from it. Parents and young children all dressed in snow gear were sliding down the hills to the gazebo; making the most of our "local slopes."

Just down a half block from that happy place, I noticed that the old pool building built in 1962, has been completely demolished, making room for the new six million dollar complex soon to be built. We're still $500K short, but this community works wonders, and I have no doubt that the money will come from somewhere.
The town library was a gift to the town from several generous benefactors. It's a fantastic building, and a real community asset.
Things happen here. I don't know if it's the combination of it being home to a small liberal arts college, the educated retirement communities, but the people here are civic minded, caring, and things get done. We have a community owned coffee house which bakes rustic bread daily, and during summer/fall months, hosts live bands on Friday nights on the front porch of the restored l880's brick home.

We have our problems. Not everyone is nice. We have a drug problem. Troubles get swept under the rug sometimes. For the most part, I'm extremely satisfied with living in small town USA. If we had a local hospital, I'd be thrilled.

We stopped at the high school before going home,so the corgis could do their sniffs and bunny hops in the snow. Corgi people never tire of that silly sight. Corgis and snow are a natural combination.

What's new??

2011-01-13T21:35:00.005-05:00

So....on someone's blog I read that every state in America currently has snow, except Florida. What...is everybody doing, while home, surrounded by snow, is what inquiring minds want to know! Want to share?

I've planted some paperwhite bulbs, and they're up to almost four inches. You can see daily growth, and the green is a sight for sore eyes!
I'm currently listening to Patricia Cornwell's newest book on audio. Port Mortuary. I miss her earlier work. (Scarpetta, the main character, has become very guarded and jaded, and I miss the team thinking and amity of the characters in earlier stories.) Life is complex enough, and these days, getting along appeals to me, even in books!

I ordered Red Rose Tea online, and got a sampler box. A nice mix of decaf/Irish/Earl Grey/and the regular (which one can find at Walmart, but not the other types.) The corgis highly approve, as we share a mug of decaf in the evenings. They ARE Welsh, afterall! Even a corgi likes their cuppa!

There's a pile of books...fiction/yoga/what not to eat/and Land's End Sale catalog beside my bed. I've shoveled EIGHT times since Monday. Once at the library! And, readily counted that as exercise on my WW tracker!

The excitement just never stops around here as you can see! SnOrT! Comment, and let me see what you're doing during this silly winter of 2011 to fill these snowy evenings. Until the weather pattern changes, hang in, and hang on!

Cabin Fever Anyone?

2011-01-11T10:59:00.005-05:00

In many areas, the U.S. is fighting ice and snow. This is the time of year, to just give up, sit back, grab an afghan, that is if you don't have a nice, warm corgi, and begin looking through seed catalogs and recipe books!

From the Farmer's Almanac:

Healthy Pork Chop Casserole This is a "wonderful" comfort dish! Children LOVE it, and do NOT even know they are eating their veggies, unless you tell them. You will have very tender chops, that can be cut with a fork! Also, a great dish for any type of large function.

Yield: Can serve 4 to 12

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Start to Finish Time: 2 to 2-1/2 hours

•4-8 bone-in or boneless pork chops
•6-10 Russet potatoes, peeled and sliced
•1 large head cabbage, sliced
•1-2 large onions, peeled and sliced
•1 can cream of mushroom soup
•1 can cream of chicken soup
•Foil
•Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and pat dry chops with paper towels. Season each with a little Kosher/sea-salt/no-salt, and fresh ground pepper to taste.

In a non-stick frying pan, drizzle a little olive oil. On high heat when oil is rippling, lay each chop in pan, only browning each side! When browned on both sides, take out of pan and lay on paper towels to drain any fat or oil off.

In a large deep casserole dish, lightly spray with olive oil/Pam/or using butter, oil dish lightly for non-stick.
1. Lay your medium-thin sliced potatoes, 1-2 layers making sure to cover the bottom of the dish.
2. Cover with a layer or two of sliced cabbage.
3. Next layer add sliced onions.
4. On top of onions, lay "browned only" chops.
In a medium bowl, mix together cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups, then spread evenly on top of your casserole. Making sure everything is covered.
Tightly cover the dish with the shiny side of the foil down. Place in preheated oven and cook 1-1/2-2 hours. When finished, let rest for at least 20 minutes before removing foil.

Flurries look as if they are out there for the entire day. I will be loading up my trusty broom to sweep off the car at quitting time tonight! The tracker is already in the four-wheel drive position. If you're out there, be careful will ya? Wintry hugs to all my bloggie sista's!

Can you believe it?

2010-12-29T22:04:00.013-05:00

How...in the world...can it nearly be 2011? I keep writing October, 1998, on my checks. Why is that? Denial, or just really, really hate change? Yep, 'fraid so.

I plan to do more and do less in the coming year.
I plan to pray more, move more, and try to understand my spouse more.
I plan to eat less, be crabby less, and require less to be happy.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

How do you gals feel about the ending of a year, and entering another? Does it make you sad, or invigorate you to new meet new challenges and goals?
We're another year older, another year wiser...surely that counts for something!?
Best wishes to all as we enter 2011.

Blessings and Hugs....

2010-12-23T23:38:00.000-05:00

Wishin'...

2010-12-22T07:40:00.008-05:00

Jim and I haven't exchanged gifts for years, we just find a few things to drop into our stockings. We speak on the phone each evening while he's on the road. Last night, I asked him NOT to get the annual Skor bar for mine, as I want to begin Diet #4002 the day after Christmas. "So, what do you want? You have to give me some ideas," he said. I couldn't come up with a thing...which got me thinking at midnight, then again at 6 a.m. What, is my true, heart of hearts Christmas list? Well, there are two lists.

The Unselfish List:
1) Peace~worldwide and "inner" for all.
2) A blanket of kindness across the land that touches everyone.
3) Good health, joy, contentment for all family and friends, and everyone else.
4) America, back on track.
5) A full time job with benefits for anyone who wants it.

The Selfish List:
1) A day at the Ocean; from sunrise to sunset. An entire day to soak up the sand, surf, smells and sounds of the beach.
2) A day of Romance. From the butterflies in the belly, to the hand holding, eye gazing, feeling that sense of new excitement...and oh, yeah...a good necking session!
3) To be rid of my turkey neck.
4) A canister of guilt-free Almond Roca!
5) A longer lifespan for the corgi kids.
6) A winning lotto ticket for just enough, not millions, so Jim could quit driving truck and have time (for that necking session!).

Give yourself a little gift of nostalgia, frivolity, and nonsense. Dream up your own Christmas wish list. Just for shits and giggles if not for anything else.

Birthday Princess...

2010-12-18T22:53:00.004-05:00

Addie was born on Christmas Eve. She'll be nine. She and Jake attended her birthday party. Since next Friday will be a tad busy in the kitchen, we celebrated today. They share a plain McDouble on their birthdays and get a nice run behind the high school on the prairie. I want to come back as a pampered corgi.....wouldn't you?
They ran amok in the field sniffing rabbit tracks while I gathered fresh pine boughs loaded with pine cones to decorate the bird feeders. Even the birds like a little holiday in their domain. Peace on Earth!

If only I had a brain...

2010-12-18T04:58:00.014-05:00

Yesterday, Josh and I had our annual cookie baking day. In the background, we had National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation playing on the small kitchen tv. It's the classic movie for the quirky population. Some warm moments, but mostly wacko, out there scenes that each and every family can relate to.

We yukked it up, while both of us pre-quoted many of the nutty lines as we created Christmas shaped sugar cookies, using the famous family recipe. The corgi kids were underfoot, sniffing the butter scented air. They are "dog-logs" and truly can be hazardous, lying in wait, making moving about in the kitchen...dangerous!

Did I catch any of the decorating efforts of Josh's as he created a holly decked stocking cookie for his lady love on film? Nooooo....duh! It just never occurred to me to do so...being so distracted by the homemade pizza lunch...then the rolling, the baking, the laughing over the "shitter was full" line....sheesh!

Josh also had his Christmas date with Jenny at Applebee's last night.
We meet in a town 26 miles away for them both...meeting in the middle, in a town with several chain restaurants, about once a month, long enough for them to share a meal together. It's so sweet...we've talked about this before.
This year, he did a phone interview, asking her what her favorite color was, favorite candy, hobbies, etc. He wrote each answer down. Then, he filled a plush red stocking full of the answers. This guy is so romantic and sweet, it really does bring a tear to the eye.
Here's an old pic, since brain farts are happening left and right, and taking a picture of current events just ain't happenin' around here!

Pat it, and roll it, and put it in a pan!

2010-12-15T18:17:00.010-05:00

We are so nuts. We thought that we followed the recipe, but nope..we doubled everything but the flour. That's what happens when you get three gals in the kitchen, yukking it up and trying to keep eyes and hands on the butter-sugar-egg concoction being flung out of the bowl by Emmy left and right. Sheesh! Let us just say, that stirring, is not her forte'! So...we had to knead more flour in before we could roll it out and cut out from a mega pile of cookie cutters.

That little Emmy had flour from her nose to her waist! She really enjoyed the whole process and need I say...clean up took a while!

April has a nice little baby bump, and that bump gave a terrific kick, startling us all!
She's a tired, but very patient mommie to her little kitchen helper.

It was a fun few days in North Carolina. The kids had a lovely, fragrant, Frasier fir tree this year. I haven't been near a real tree since the nineties! Also, I was surprised how cold it was there! The kids had a movie night out, while Em and I had a jammie/popcorn/Bernstein bears moviethon of our own. We saw the Disney Toy Story 3 ice show which was very entertaining for all.
The planes were all on time, and not as scary as feared. A good trip. It's always good to be back home, but the missing begins at the airport....sigh.
Jim picked me up and we hit a Cracker Barrel on the way home which took longer than the flights! Went back to work today. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the season in your own way.

All ready...

2010-12-09T08:35:00.005-05:00

Snowman apron...packed.
Santa turtlenecks....packed.
Cookie cutters and mini wooden rolling pin...mailed and delivered.
Yep...tomorrow, is the long awaited day.
Flying out of Indy, a three hour trip from our NE Indiana home tomorrow.
Hubby dropping me off at the door, and scooting home before the snow hits.
Will return Tuesday with a boatload of memories I hope.
Going to NC to bake cookies with my girl and grand girl.
And check out the new baby bump.
Oh, and to see a Toy Story Ice Show in Raleigh on Sunday.
Oh boy, oh boy!

...willing to share this~

2010-12-04T16:33:00.001-05:00

"Lord, I love you
and I need you,
Come into my heart,
and bless me,
My
family, my home, my
finances,
And all of my
friends,
In
Jesus' name.
Amen."

Sometimes we just need to say a prayer...and this is a good one. Short and Sweet, and covers all bases. I need it today....do you?

A lesson learned...

2010-11-29T23:59:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving is normally a day of excess. Excess in football, excess in grub. I was a bad corgidogmama. Little Addie ate way too much turkey. She upchucked and groaned all evening. She had the dry heaves. Finally, after several hours her belly emptied, she licked a rolaid, and all was quiet at the front.
The next day, Jim dug out the carpet cleaner machine that has been living in our cellar for ten years. Unused. Until Black Friday. The bedroom, and living room was a puked on zone, and had to be cleaned.
Jim groaned and needed a rolaid of his own after that ordeal.
I swear, on my two corgi kids heads, that I will never, ever, feed them human food to such excess again.
The problem was this. They had about a half cup of turkey/gravy when we had our meal. Oh...and then the dogs helped with the dishes.
Then....stupidly, I fed them their regular amount of chow at their normal supper time. BIG MISTAKE.
I was in a turkey induced coma. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

An Alternative?

2010-11-22T00:42:00.005-05:00

Following the roasting of, and deboning of, and the clean-up of a twenty-one pounder last night for the soup supper use....it all came back to me, just how much work this whole turkey thing is.
Not sure doing it again on Thursday is so appealing.
However, it did make the house smell great.
It did drive the corgi kids nuts.
Oops, several pieces did fall on the floor for them.
And, my mom and I had to taste it as well. One bite....honest!
Needed salt. Have never made a fresh turkey before.
Where were the salty additives that give so much flavor and tasty chemical zip?
First they take away our red dye and msg. Sheesh....it's a commie plot!

Give a dog a bone...

2010-11-18T19:03:00.010-05:00

One of my favorite places to monitor shop on Etsy, is High Priestess of Chaos. She's from Maine, and speaks my language. She's a sick and twisted sista. And, doggone it, I like twisted people! Go visit and see her wares if you'd like.

Got a chuckle last night. Jim called to say that he was pulling a load of 44,000 pounds of Milk Bone dog biscuits. Isn't that a hoot? Bet dogs had their noses up all along the Indiana/Illinois toll road! They are faves of our two piglets...I mean corgis.

Josh and I are working at the fellowship of churches soup supper Tuesday night. Only they won't be serving soup that night. It's going to be a full-fledged turkey extravaganza. Will roast a twenty one pounder, fresh turkey this weekend, to deliver deboned, for the dinner. Our church had a freezer full of donated birds to prepare for the dinner. We'll go help serve and clean up. Should be a fun way to contribute to our little community.

Today, a 68 year old fella, came to the library to work on his resume' and send it to job prospects he found on craigslist. He said that he still owes 80,000 on his home, and at 68, he's trying to figure out the workings of a computer. He needed a LOT of help. Times are really bad. We're living in situations that at 40, we never dreamed we'd be in. All we can do I guess, is to be thankful, and pray a lot, and try to help each other through this rotten time.

Sure hope that we'll come out of it. More households have been touched by this down turn than we realize. What do you think? Will 2011 be our bouncing back year, or another year of depressed finances and futures? Does anyone have full time work with benefits any more? Not in our neck of the woods. Very slim pickings and at minimum wages.
Still...we have more than other countries.
Still, the majority of us have family and friends to brighten our days.
We need to reach out, and touch some lives if we are living in blessings.
Spread it all around.
I'm not talking money, guess I'm talking time, kindness, maybe a bag of food, a ride to the store. Making ourselves slow down enough to notice if someone is having a bad day, or is experiencing pain of some kind. Two minutes to stop and speak and pat an arm.
Actions truly do speak louder than words. Let's all give it a whirl. I double dog dare ya!

~Dumb Broads~

2010-11-15T23:13:00.002-05:00

Egad.........I'm not ready! Are you? Found a Butterball for a buck a pound at Aldi's and made room in the freezer. Want gravy, want sweet taters with that crunchy good topping, dressing, and real whipped cream for the pie.

There's a whole lot of cleaning to be done. Did the pilgrims get this excited and stressed on that very first T-day? Did they sweep their dirt floors with a corn husk broom? Sheesh, why do we women do this to ourselves?

We're nuts that's why. Sermon over. Amen. Really..........!

Newsy November...

2010-11-10T17:48:00.005-05:00

The eleventh month seems to be flying by. Somehow, a turkey needs to fit into cramped freezer space in the bottom of the fridge. Family is coming which means deep cleaning. Mama, bro and sis-in-law head south the day after turkey day so time needs to be spent together to say goodbyes. Sigh...when, and how does all this get done?

Emmy Lulu had a nice surprise the other day. Those of you who are regulars know that in Chapel Hill my grand baby resides, and she'll be four in early February. She found out that she'll be a big sister in May. Lord willin' and the creek don't rise that is. My own baby-girl isn't so lucky at pregnancy. She's had her share of heartbreak. Too many times. We are all cautiously hopeful.
She's three months now. Em told her parents that she wanted a girl...no boys! Frankly, she'll be thrilled to have a baby in the house as she loves dolls.

Jim's brother from Texas, and his sis from Colorado will be visiting the first weekend in December. His cousin will join us from North Carolina on turkey day as will my MIL. Son Josh and his dad will fly down to NC to be with my daughter and family T-day. The second weekend in December, I fly with cookie cutters and apron packed in my carry on to bake cookies with April and Emmy over a long weekend.
Lots to do in the next few weeks. Why does it seem that November and December are always in fast forward mode?

First Snow!

2010-11-06T05:33:00.002-04:00

Each year we mark the calendar to commemorate the first snow of the season. Yesterday was the day. Yikers....totally unexpected! It was enough to cover rooftops and the ground in a matter of minutes. Luckily, it didn't take long to melt, but it entertained the dogs, and a few stunned humans in the household. I covered the roses, thinking that Mother Nature was sending a kick in butt reminder to do so.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Thanks to Penniwig for this timely jpg offering today!

Growing Pains?

2010-11-01T00:47:00.007-04:00

We all have a favorite month, or season. October is mine. Today we said goodbye. November has arrived. Earlier this month, I became 59. Somehow, saying "pushin' 60" sounds more vibrant and zesty, don't you think?
It took this long, it seems, for me to finally figure out...that happiness comes from within, and if mama ain't happy, then SHE better do something about it. Many of us wait...and wait, on others, to complete us. Trust me...it's not gonna happen! Do you feel that acceptance of people or a situation is resignation, giving up... or growth?

Many of you are smarter than the old dog mama writing this. It hit me, this month, that life was passing by, and my wait and see attitude, was ridiculous. I was waiting...waiting for the right time to act, or for people to change, or was blaming, and often practiced other unattractive, negative, passive-aggressive behaviors. While the true way to create change was... Duh... to change myself!

Today, after attending church with Josh, I made dinner for the family members who live in town...because I like to cook. Then, I raked the yard, smelling the autumn scents and listening to the rustle of leaves. The sky was the exact same color as a blue jay. The sun shone, the corgi kids and my MIL's golden retriever were all outside enjoying the day with me.
The air was crisp. I was getting exercise, and it felt good. The dogs and I circled a cedar-scented fire in the fire pit as we relaxed and soaked in the soft afternoon rays. The fire's heat on my knees and feet felt wonderful.
The bird feeders were filled again after a summer of the birds fending for themselves. Three pairs of cardinals and a dozen wrens celebrated the banquet. It was a darn nice day.

Contentment goes a long way.I gave it to myself. No demands were put upon
on anyone else by going outside, and entertaining myself, There is a danger to this... this going your own way, and not being demanding. People do require a certain amount of attention in a relationship. Over time, that lack can chip away at feelings. But...I'll think about that later, fiddle dee dee. For now, letting go is very freeing. I think, that now, at pushin' 60....this old gal, just might be growing up. Consider me, these days, a work in progress. Baby steps.

Not moon over Miami....but close!

2010-10-19T14:11:00.002-04:00

An email pic from Chatty!

Greetings from Possumville...

2010-10-16T18:59:00.004-04:00

This little bugger was in our garage....it was dead....but there it was. We're thinking that there is a family of these guys living under our deck. We're thinking that these are the guys who gathered all the corgi fur from the yard to make their beds snug and warm. The dogs always sniff the floor of the deck, and all around the steps when we're outside. To tell the truth, until a few days ago, we thought it was rabbits under there....nope....it's Possumville. Ugh. I'm repeating myself. Ugh.

On a lighter note....just enjoyed another fire outside. We burned a piece of cedar which made the air so fragrant. The leaves are at their peak color, the sky was blue, and the air was crisp enough to want the fire. Sitting in a swing, enjoying the day, dogs getting belly rubs, meatballs in the crock pot simmering away....does it get any better? I think not. A darn nice afternoon. Little gifts come to us in many ways. I told Jim that Halloween came early this week and his gift was in the garage....and I wasn't playing possum, either!

2010-10-10T16:53:00.024-04:00

It was the perfect autumn weekend in small town Indiana, weather wise.

It seems as if the farmer's market vendors bring more and more each Saturday morning to sell. It's obviously been a bountiful harvest for them.Most of the fields have been combined, and the grain trucks, full of yellow corn and soybeans lumber down the two lane highways. The dust the combines create makes us close the vents as we drive through the cloud. It was a good weekend to work outside. Jim winterized the motor home, took it for a run to charge the batteries, and put it to bed for the winter.

Stuffy noses happen this time of year for many reasons. Things are coming to a close.
I closed up the back porch, and tore down the flower beds. My bra filled with morning glory seeds as I tore the vines off the arbor out front.

The flower beds are decorated for fall, and the scarecrow is bunge corded to the arbor, with his arm up, waving to passersby.

I've been hankering big time for a bonfire, and last night was the night.

The corgi kids came out and sat on the deck swing with me as we gazed deeply into the flickering flames. If the fire snapped, Addie quickly turned her back to it, and snugged her nose into my armpit.(?)Is there safety in there, do you suppose?

The color of the tree across the street, and the bright stars were the perfect background as evening slipped into night.

It was my 59th yesterday, and by gum, I was determined to make myself happy, and a fire always seems to be able to do that.
What better gift for a pyromaniac? (heehee).
Pushing 60 makes one have some thoughts about mortality, happiness, and peppermint ice-cream!

Spoils of War (?)

2010-09-19T17:52:00.009-04:00

It looks as if a massacre had happened in our back yard....
or, perhaps, the lawnmower ran over a rabbit, or even a corgi.
How horrid the headlines would be....how tragic.

Of course, none of those things occurred...

It was a common, everyday thing...happening across America.

Just the simple act of Saturday night baths in a (corgi) kid household. It wasn't pretty. Oh my land...it was a hairy experience indeed!

The snapping, the snarling...from Jim and I, hee hee.

The dogs, mildly, gave up the battle, and meekly accepted their fate.
Suds, towel rubbing and worst of all...the dreaded b-r-u-s-h-i-n-g.

But....we're all the better for the experience. Amen.

Fall Antics...

2010-09-17T21:49:00.005-04:00

Do you explore Etsy? I visit that site daily. It's just amazing, how talented women are, across the country, creating and selling their wares. It's brought the idea of the cottage industry back. highpriestesschaos is a favorite stop on Etsy, and she is so creative, and sarcastic, that you just have to love her stuff. Go take a peek. The photo is one of her works, and she never fails to make me snicker.

I've decided that I'm a glutton for punishment. Tomorrow is the annual Yard Sale in our front lawn. Josh is my right hand for this event, and I ply him with diet cherry cokes in payment, to keep him happy. What mother in their right mind would condone rat poison down their son's gullet? Sigh....he's 36, and it's his worst vice, so be it. Amen....and, a mama's gotta use what works!

Still trying to figure out if all the work involved, readying for a YaRd SaLe is worth all the trouble...financially, that is. What you do gain, is space. That is about the only plus in this venture I fear.

My MIL filled about eight boxes of baskets, craft supplies, measured material from her stash. It'll go like hotcakes. Melody, who hosts the Herbfest booth with me will bring antiques, linens, quilts, and primitive items. Her stuff sells like hotcakes.
Josh said he will be contributing to our sale as well. Last year he made necklaces using a wide array of beads in glorious colors and played salesmen, selling many at two dollars each. I never know what he's been creating in his secret laboratory.

Most of our items are out of the rv. The rv is listed on Craig's list, and while many ask for photos and email questions, no nibbles yet. We went back to work, and a perfectly wonderful diesel motorhome is sitting in our driveway, aching for a road trip. We plan to take a four day get-a-way the second weekend in October. We're going to run amok, and head up the west coast of Michigan. (Monica...look out, we may stop and see you!) There are lighthouses to see, and the waves on Lake Michigan. It's a favorite trip of mine, taken in previous years with my Mom, and once with Mom and Josh. We'll have to clean out the motorhome again, but who cares. We're treating ourselves to this for our fall birthdays. Forget the cake, we just wanted to escape in the corgi doghouse on wheels just once more.
Anyhoo, TMI, I'm sure.

Stopped on a country road this morning to pick some bittersweet. The fence row was up a hill. There was a ditch in front of the hill. I grabbed the twined branches and hung on for dear life, straddling the ditch, and tore off a few precious pieces of orangey prettiness. Made me think of Holly (Penniwig) who loves this stuff. Must find more.....it's the mantra in my brain now....must find more....

Wishing you all a pleasant, perfectly wonderful nearly Autumn weekend. It's a wonderful time of the year, ain't it so?
Hugs, Corgidogmama

2010-09-09T19:12:00.002-04:00

There are flowers enough in the summertime,
More flowers than I can remember—
But none with the purple, gold, and red
That dyes the flowers of September!

–Mary Howitt (1799–1888)

Adventures of "CoRg-ZiLLa"...a short story (of nonsense).

2010-09-07T18:00:00.019-04:00

This week I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and join in on Angela's meme.
We call Jake, our male corgi, who will be eleven next March, "the normal one."
He's laid back, has good manners, is active, doesn't bark, and is even tempered. He's a coward, but he's lovable.

Then....there's Addie. Addie was two when she came to us, and she was packing lots of baggage. Both in mind, and on her hips. She was pushing forty pounds, and was a snarling hunk of corgi. She grew up in horse stalls, and didn't socialize much. Her world opened up a great deal after coming to us. She became a traveling dog in the corgidoghouse on wheels, and met many folks and their pups in campgrounds. She's mellowed a great deal, in the six and a half years we've had her...however, she's still a snarly, bossy, demanding, barky female with attitude. At least she's down to thirty pounds now, but I digress...

When we visit our animal friends on our country road runs, she becomes the dreaded CoRg-Zilla. In five seconds, she can empty several fields full of bleating sheep. With one high pitched bark and a pop up stunt like a jack in the box, she can set off a crowd of woolly four legged creatures into a unit of fleeting fluff. It's incredible to watch. Sheep mentality amazes me! One yip, and ZoOm...they're gone!

She was SO proud of herself, and seemed to say, "OK Mom, my work is done here, let's move it along!"
She looks so sweet, doesn't she? Underneath that corgi fuzz is an alpha monster.
She's all bluff, and now, we realize it. We both thought that we had made a huge mistake the night we brought her home. Luckily, she's our little girl...but a mouthy one.

Saw this on Facebook today....

2010-09-02T12:28:00.000-04:00

A short tour...

2010-08-27T20:32:00.017-04:00

Today was almost a perfect fall day. On our sheep run this afternoon, the corgi kids and I spotted an entire yellowed tree. The emerald green cornfields are fading to beige now too. Oh yeah, it's coming...summer is on its way out.

Decided to show you my favorite room in our 720 square foot cottage. It's the craft/guest room, right off our front door. The room is tiny...TiNy! Possibly 9x7 feet. This will give you a 360 view.

The narrow dresser was my payment in lieu of $$ for our booth space in last week's disastrous festival. I love it, more storage too! I saved the top drawer for company to use, the rest are filled with scrappin' junk!

The quilt on the wall, was my second attempt at quilting. I made it in 1988.
Thank heavens you can't see it close up!

You may remember that Jim built this storage wall unit for me several Christmas' ago. It's perfect for my stash, and he really listened to how I wanted it. April, my crafty daughter, sighs and drools when she visits, and asks that it come to her when her mama kicks the bucket. Is that rude or what?

The little green desk with side shelves was a terrific find several years ago. One buck at a yard sale. Thank heavens I have a large car trunk and bungees at the ready!

No craft room is complete without a corgi mascot. Jake keeps my feet warm while I snip and glue. It's nice to have the company.

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign....

2010-08-23T20:47:00.003-04:00

Do you remember that song? If you are over 55, then no doubt that you do.
"Do this, don't do that, can't you read the signs?"

Leaves are changing colors. The apple fruit is beginning to get a blush. Caterpillars, are woolly, dark, and crossing country roads. School starts tomorrow here. There were hardly any kids at the library today, wasting their last day of freedom InSiDe. Holly, at Bannerhaus, formerly Penniwig, has been saying that Autumn has been knocking at the door, and it's true.

Hollyhock gals...your seeds were mailed out today. Expect a lumpy package! The mailman was scratching his head as he weighed them this morning, hee hee!

Herb Fest on Saturday was a nightmare. It rained when we set up and tore down. It rained inbetween. We were soaked, froze, and got wet again. Sales were slow and spotty. Ugh, whatta day. A hot mug of soup and a super hot shower almost made it all go away!
Hope all are doing well. It's almost September! I'm ready to kiss summer goodbye...who's with me?

Everybody wins!!

2010-08-18T21:03:00.009-04:00

I've been harvesting hollyhock seeds this evening. Murder on arthritic thumbs and fingers is all I'm gonna say about it! There's plenty, in a variety of colors. Wine (nearly black), magenta, yellow with peach centers, lavender rimmed in white, and pink. It's a real hodgepodge in my little garden basket!

The corgi kids are lazy bums. They rolled in the grass and sniffed, and ate grass, and watched hummers, and sat at the gates to see the street action, while their mama did yard work. They're exhausted, and they are most likely holding out for biskeys. Phooey on 'em.
I've made an executive decision...not getting that experience often....
Anyone who commented...there are ten of you bloggie sista's out there...and you know who you are....can follow these instructions if you'd like to claim your seeds and generic directions on the care/planting of these here seeds.

Email me at retrosue@gmail.com, give me your addy, and a packet full of bumpy seeds will arrive post haste to thee from me!
I'm not a stalker, or weird.....OK, OK, Jim thinks I'm weird, AND OK, a little scary, (just because I pointed a few pointy objects at him)...but really, it'll be fine......snicker, snicker.....

The shapes of these birdhouses are exactly like the ones I've been embellishing and painting for Herb Fest this Saturday. Will take photos of our booth. Josh has his cinnamon hummingbirds made. His apartment must smell divine. My fingers, tonight, are covered in modge podge...oh these last minute projects. A job SO gets in the way here, with our little crafty projects!

Anyhoo....send me your addy, and little packages will come your way.
Darn corgis.....oh, wouldn't you like to come back as a short, pudgy, high maintenance, noisy little much loved corgi? Sheesh....but, I'm the only one here who can reach the biskey jar!! So much power.........

3~3~3 Thinking in threes....

2010-08-15T17:53:00.012-04:00

Hollyhocks...the skyscraper, higher than a cat's back, heady flower that can enhance your domicile by waving its stately blooms on a current of air.

Ok, because I've begun gathering seeds...and because I'm the third and youngest in my childhood family...and Jim's third wife....and if something happens to him,(snicker) I would replace him with a third corgi.....I want to give away three packages of home grown hollyhock seeds.

Leave a comment about some kind of nonsense...such as....using three little words to describe this blog. Flattering or not, I don't care. The two corgi kids will select the winners in three days.
I'll get back to y'all!

Three Bucks!

2010-08-10T18:22:00.009-04:00

Last weekend was the town's first annual town-wide yard sale.
It was a real hit, and lordy-lordy, there was plenty to choose from.
My sweet deals totaled fourteen dollars. They included a jar full of cookie cutters which are headed to NC for lil' Emmy Lulu and her mommy to use; several nice primitive type pictures (one with sheep which I adore as you may remember); a stretched doily in a small old window frame, a virtually new Vera Bradley handbag and matching wallet (50cents), a turquoise cross pendant and earrings...perfect for my friend Mel who does HerbFest with me, and a darling little wicker chair.

The wicker chair was three bucks. It had a loose rocker arm which I glued, and had been painted several colors, all nicked off, but mostly was a faded white. The cushion that came with it though was in terrific shape.

Think butterscotch....that's the color I spray painted it. Warm, not too orangey. The cushion was covered with a quilt that was stacked in a pile on top of the clothes dryer. Today, it was all put together and placed in our living room. It's smaller in size and is a better fit than the chair previously there.

Don't you just love it when you find a little something to zing up a room, and it costs next to nothing? What kind of items have you found this summer and made your own with a few changes?

2010-08-08T08:23:00.002-04:00

Important Women's Health Issue:

* Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
* Do you suffer from shyness?
* Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
* Do you suffer exhaustion from the day to day grind?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident
about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of
your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing
to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas
almost immediately and with a regiment of regular doses you can
overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want
to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will
discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start
living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or
nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind
nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Incarceration
- Erotic lustfulness
- Loss of motor control
- Loss of clothing
- Loss of money
- Loss of virginity
- Table dancing
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNINGS:
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering
when you are not.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over
and over again that you love them.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically
converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

August is flying by....

2010-08-06T20:28:00.011-04:00

The garden never lies, and out there in our flower beds, the look of Fall has begun.
I picked a basketful of italian tomatoes from the straw bale patch today and cooked them down to make a veggie lentil soup. Wonderful stuff, full of garlic...oops Jim will be home late tonight...what was I thinkin'? He hee.

It's almost Herb Fest time, in two more weeks, and the group who shared a booth last
year are going for it again. Everything is supposed to slant towards a garden theme.

I've been busy painting up little birdhouses. Not sure if I'll do cards this year or not. Here's a sample of what has been done so far. Three dollars each is what I had in mind for these. Josh made hummingbird cinnamon ornies to hang in cars last year, and plans to make them a few days before the event to keep the scent strong.
He sold them all. You never know what he's making in his little craft corner in his bedroom. It's like the Keebler cookie factory in there!

Josh and Jen had a supper date at Bob Evans in the next town East, a nice mid-way point to meet. Jen's parents brought her, so it was nice to meet them, and we all took pics of our 'special couple' and swapped phone numbers.

School registration is next week. Classes begin again the following week. Summer took flight and Autumn is waiting in the wings to take over.
Wishing you all well, and hope you enjoy these starry nights, lit by fireflies and the restful, sleepy sound of voices in the dark.

~Fourteen People~

2010-07-29T20:09:00.022-04:00

Hello blog friends, how are you?
This has been a full week...activity wise, and yep, people wise. Last night we hosted fourteen family members, on Jim's side, in our 720 square foot abode. Are you thinking sardines?

Actually, it wasn't all that bad. Jim got busy 'ciphering' and arranged the seating so that it lined the walls of the living room, utilizing lap trays, tray top tables, side tables on lawn chairs and a foot stool! The back room where the computer desk is, and our two seater table/chairs, sat six.

It was the grand finale activity to celebrate my MIL's 85th birthday.
One of our grandsons, age 8, sang Amazing Grace with his mother in the background.
The corgi kids spent the evening in our bedroom so they wouldn't be trampled. The food was delish and picnic fare, only eaten inside, red checked napkins and all.

The relatives and family friends traveled from Florida, Texas, and North Carolina.
The week was hot, and the 100 degree heat index yesterday warned to be careful.
Jim's brother from Texas hosted a gathering at our local downtown restaurant,

served family style, then they all drove to the next lake town to ride the Dixie Queen paddleboat.

The grandsons and their parents attended the Reptile show at the library and throughly enjoyed it! It's part of the Summer reading programming offered each Wednesday after a picnic lunch on the library lawn under a huge shade tree.

John, Jim's brother, played golf every morning at the nice golf course five miles east of town. The family friends visited the shops and coffeehouses, and took pictures of the covered bridge and gleaned as much as they could from their Indiana visit. Something for everyone. Jim was off all week to enjoy spending time with his favorite cousin, son and grand-boys. It was nice.

Life returns to normal tomorrow. I'm sleeping in since it's my day off! Nitey night!

One batch gone...another one coming...

2010-07-21T19:25:00.012-04:00

Well...July is a busy month...family wise. The North Carolina kids were here early in July, and the Florida kids will be here next week.

Lil' Emmy Lulu, our three year old bundle of fun, loves her 93-yr. old "GG" (Great Gram), her mommy, and to swing. She's a big kid now, and no longer the toddler. She's little Miss I-will-do-it, and fiercely opinionated, hard headed and determined. Hmmm, just like her mama was! I miss my daughter even before she leaves. She's such a calm, successful person. So, NOT, like her own mama.
Sigh...it was great while it lasted.

Why, do kids grow up, leave home, and have their own lives? HOW DARE THEY!!
Only kidding, well sorta, anyway.
Josh came over for the two "big feeds" and to visit with his little Em and his sis.
We caught this updated family photo before the gang took off.

So, next week is Jim's turn. His son and family, including the two grandsons...Jim's cousin, Jim's brother, uncle and wife will all be here for my MIL's 85th b-day party.
Lots of cooking and cleaning to be done! Oh my!

Summer, family gatherings, food, all seem to go together...aren't we lucky to experience such things? It's nice to cross paths for a few days, catch up, have mini-reunions.
The dogs will be grazing under tables I'm sure, trying to get samples and crumbs, and lick bare toes. Why do they do that, anyway?
Let's hope the "fam" will be understanding....cold noses, and warm tongues....could be not to every one's liking.
Oh well, this corgi cottage comes with a warning label. Beware, corgis inside, and they are very, very hungry!

Are you a Hungry Girl?

2010-07-10T17:23:00.004-04:00

The Hungry Girl site is awesome. I receive their daily newsletter. It's full of tips on what to buy, recipes, and lots of info and ideas. The subject is how to lower fat/sugar and calories in your diet...in a tasty and satisfying way. When girls are HUNGRY...it ain't pretty, and we all know that!

Here's a sample of what they offer...

Cake Mix + Canned Pure Pumpkin
PER SERVING (1 piece, 1/12th of cake): 183 calories, 3.5g fat, 301mg sodium, 37g carbs, 1.25g fiber, 20.5g sugars, 2g protein -- POINTS® value 4*

Ingredients:
One 18.25-oz. box moist-style cake mix
One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly -- batter will be VERY thick -- and transfer to a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray; bake in the oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (Refer to cake-mix box for pan size and approximate bake time.)

MAKES 12 SERVINGS

Best Flavor: Devil's food cake mix is CLEARLY a classic choice. (Hello?! Yum Yum Brownie Muffins!) But spice cake mix... WOW. Yellow and white cake mixes, sadly, do not work as well.

The Texture: Thick and dense in the BEST possible way. Brownie-like, in the case of the devil's food; the spice cake reminded us of pumpkin bread!

The Taste: No one would ever guess this is guilt-free in any way. It's delicious!

Today...

2010-07-07T17:49:00.002-04:00

Worked from 9 to 1 at the library.
Check.
Took dogs to vet for their annual shots, Addie's fat tumor thingie got checked, Jake needs his teeth cleaned sez doc.
Grocery store for MIL and myself.
Check.
Stirred up a big meat loaf, made up a lemonade pie, slid into freezer. Whipped up a bowl of baked spaghetti, all to go into oven tomorrow with a pan of bbq ribs, and hash brown casserole. Cole slaw to be made up in the a.m.
Done.
Company's coming tomorrow for a couple of days. The North Carolina kids are in Indiana, making the rounds to both sides of family, seeing parents, grandparents, aunts/unks, cousins, college pals, and Emmy's great grandparents. It's hard on them to try to give everyone equal time for a few days. Very stressful I would think.
Thursday and Friday are MY days with them. I'm hoping that Emmy Lulu will spend a night here. I'll read her juvenile corgi fiction, what else? We'll look at scrapbooks.

Josh will be here to see his sis and his dear little niece, oh, and his bro-in-law.
Wonder if I made enough food....tried to make every one's favorites.
They don't come for the food...or do they?

Mental Misfires....

2010-06-29T22:53:00.004-04:00

Call me crazy, but lately, I'm thinkin', that the US of A would be much better off if D.C., would blow up, disappear, and all who held an office would be stripped of their fine lifestyle and insurance coverage, and we were all equal again, like way back when. I do realize, having a bit of college, and just plain natural smarts, he hee, that the world if full of the haves and the have nots. But, things are just going crazy....nutso....fast forwarding into a black hole of stupidness.
Ooops, maybe this week is hormonal surge week, but truly, does anyone else out there think we're in serious trouble here? I'm not bashing Obama...or the Republicans...I think they're all cuckoo! It's as if, we the American people, have thrown up our hands and said..."oh, whatever!" That isn't who we are....that is NOT our history! When, did we become so uninterested...so apathetic....so overwhelmingly, blase'?
Two nights of not sleeping well takes it toll on old women pushing fifty-nine.
It makes us think for God's sake.....and write entries into their blogs that are better left unwritten! Sigh...getting old sucks. Men are poopy. Knitting is hard to learn. Friends are wonderful. Holding a cup of hot tea early in the morning is so enjoyable. The shine of your grandchild's hair and eyes is breathtaking. The trill of birdsong is awesome, okay, it's irritatin' after too long a time, but still, it's pretty cool. And, the cuttlefish, what an amazing thing that lives on the sea floor!
Thank you PBS for Lawrence Welk reruns, and Nova.
OK, I'm outta here. I refuse to be held responsible for this post.
Somebody else did it.
Somebody short and furry...yeah, yeah, that's the ticket....a corgi did it!
Little buggers.

This week in review...

2010-06-24T20:56:00.006-04:00

Joshie boy became 36 this week. Here he is pictured with his ninety-three year old Gram. She was a big part of his life, growing up in a single parent household, and is very dear to him. ( I keep asking, HOW, he can be 36, when I still feel 39 inside.) Yeah, yeah, the outside is pushing 59, but baby, on the inside, I'm a perpetual 3-9!

Mom visited for a few days and Addie got some Gram time as well. She was a lap full but very content. Why are Grandma's laps the best?
(Addie wants to know if the plaid slipcover makes her butt look big?)

We've had stormy nights here in NE Indiana. The hollyhocks have suffered and I'm hacking them down, stems loaded with blossoms, sigh...
Twisters and downpours, and broken trees, and power outs. We were lucky here, but others were not. It's cooler this evening; birds are singing. My neighbor had a fire in her fire pit so we gathered buns and hot dogs to roast. Even the mosquitoes gave us a little reprieve.

A nice gal, who is quirky and artsy, and a soul sista, (whom I met since working at the library) has begun teaching me how to knit. So many novels are being written lately involving knitting as part of the plot, there has been a resurgence in interest in it. It was fun this morning to visit her horses, and watch the barn swallows swoop through her open barn. Their muddy nests were above the doors. She's a saint to do this, as I'm dumber than a box of rocks and stiff fingered. We'll see who ends up with the most hair in a week or so....and who has handfuls, yanked out in frustration!

Little blessings everywhere....if we just open our eyes and see them.

Mommy's in the doghouse...

2010-06-15T17:34:00.003-04:00

This is not a photo of Addie today.
Today, she had her long awaited and dreaded dental work done.
They pulled a broken tooth, and cleaned her blackened teeth.
It was a long, long day for ol' Addie.
She's still dopey.
She's awfully mopey.
She's frightfully quiet, and occasionally whimpers.
Mommy is feeling very guilty, but is relieved to be this far.
Jake keeps staring at her, as if she's an alien.
The alien with vet smells all over her, and blood, most likely.
She's a mess.
Bathtime maybe tomorrow.
Tonight, we're going to be very, very, still....and she's plotting....
you can see it in her squinty little eyes....
and hear it in her shuddering sighs....
Mommy is dead meat!

Coffee thoughts...

2010-06-13T13:56:00.011-04:00

Rolling the grass probably feels pretty good. Maybe we should all give it a whirl.

Why do dogs graze? Is it a latent bovine gene? Or do they just feel a yen for salad?

It's hollyhock time. They surround our cottage on a hill. Do you have them in your yard?

This is one reason why living in Indiana is nice. Scenery like this is everywhere. I never get tired of seeing it. Although a beach scene a couple times a year, would be good. Sandy feet, and coconut oil in the air....hmmmm...

(pay no nevermind to that darn date stamp on the photos...sheesh, they were taken today, but my camera is happiest when back in the day in 2004!)

You decide...

2010-06-09T21:58:00.004-04:00

What's your favorite way to eat strawberries?

• In strawberry pie
• On pancakes
• In jam
• On shortcake
• In homemade ice cream
• While picking them

I'll take mine with Emmy Lulu any ol' time!

Dreamin'....everyone has their own...

2010-06-06T12:27:00.011-04:00

This is Jake, getting his kicks looking at the sheep. His ears go up when he's excited. How he'd love getting in that field....herding up the gang. In his dreams...

This is Addie, wanting to see the sheep, but has already barked at them then dive bombed to the car floor. "Are they still out there, mama?"

This is the property I'd like to buy after winning the lottery! It's heaven on earth, and has horses, sheep and chickens in the field. Pastoral Bliss!

Do you wish you could light up your butt?

2010-06-04T12:00:00.002-04:00

The lightning bugs have arrived. Even THEY are early this year!
Childhood wonderment over these little bugs has been going on for eons. Nothing is more peaceful than sitting around a campfire, and seeing a field lit up with the yellowish glow of the fireflies...or do you call them lightning bugs?
It depends, I suppose, where you hail from.
Here's a dang interesting site all about Lightning bugs; explaining just how they get their hineys to glow!

On a sadder note...the mosquitoes have also arrived, buzzing and biting.
Dad burn things!

Outside Tour...Summer is here!

2010-06-03T11:18:00.008-04:00

Early rains and even earlier bouts of extreme heat has blessed local gardens with lush roses, and day lilies blooming several weeks early in NE Indiana.

We have eight long-stemmed roses blooming out our back door. "That's okay Jim, don't bring any home, just pick one as you walk in, the next time you're in the doghouse."

Jake is ten but still a pup in his mind....just throw him a ball and he'll fetch and retrieve, endlessly!

Carrots and yellow squash are planted in an old enamel pan. The green beans have done nothing in the old wash tub. I've done two plantings, and only one seed has sprouted! Can't imagine why!

An update on how the bale gardening is going...plants have tripled in size, and are fed with manure. The zukes are blooming, and so are the roma tomatoes.

Today, the orange corn lilies have opened for the first time.
The corgi kids and I saw a blue heron and a chubby groundhog sunning itself on our country road tour. None of the sheep were out, and ponies were all in the barn, staying in the shade. New batteries are in the camera so am hoping to catch the lamb twins soon to post a pic of them.

Summer and all its busyness is right around the corner. Time seems to go on fast forward. The summer reading program at the library opened this week, and folks flocked the desk to sign up for it. The birds seem to empty the feeders daily.
Roofers are next door, hammering away. Addie won't come outside with them near. Making it frustrating at potty time!
What do you like best of this season? I like having daylight until 9 p.m., and seeing things bloom. School's out for the summer, and it's totally a frame of mind for us all, not just something that happens for the kids.

The Apple Dumpling Gang...

2010-05-28T21:18:00.004-04:00

These two are the reason that I flew down to Chapel Hill following a twelve year lapse in air travel.
These two make me smile and feel whole. We giggle, and play, and just hang out.
April understands that a drive-through is necessary for her mama to have her coffee fix. Emmy is a real hoot, and is going to have an outrageous sense of humor. She loves books, "snacks" (all from Trader Joe's and healthy), swinging at the park, anything pink, ruffly skirts and Dora. She yells for her Daddy when she sees a bug.
She begins every sentence with "Oh Mommy...". I really love that kid, and her mama.
North Carolina is entirely too far away from Indiana. Maybe the Army Corps of Engineers can do something about that...?

From my friend Karen, in Illinois...

2010-05-26T16:09:00.003-04:00

You've heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys
removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to
sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The
replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these
and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my
thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in
jeans.
And then the thieves struck again.

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to
match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my
new butt was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I
realized
I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was
fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to
and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my
body was being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to me
next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey
neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world, wake up and smell the
coffee! Those "plastic" surgeons are using REAL replacement body
parts -stolen
from you and me! The next time someone you know has something
"lifted", look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere every night.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P.S. Last year I thought some one had stolen my Boobs. I was lying in bed
and they were gone! But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see
that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them
hidden in my waistband.

Leaving on a jet plane....

2010-05-19T14:34:00.005-04:00

Hello, and Goodbye.
Around 530a.m., tomorrow, this Grammy will head out for the Indy airport and fly down to Durham, North Carolina. There, waiting for her cheesy broccoli soup at Panera Bread, will be little Emmy and her mama, April. We're having a girls lunch out, to chat each other up, and catch up. We haven't seen each other since they were in Indiana last Labor Day. We're overdue. I can't wait!
The hard part will be the trip down. This Grammy hates to fly and has not done so in twelve years. Pre-9/11. It will take longer to get to the airport in Indy then the non-stop flight to N.C. It's just a short visit since I'm a working girl now. A friend will drop me off and pick me up Sunday night. (She's a saint to do this.)
This is also the first time that Addie, our female corgi, will be without her mama. I've never left her before. In the past, she has made the roadtrip with me to NC. My MIL will come and stay with the doggies at night, and let them out during the day. She lives right across the alley from us, so thankfully, a familiar face, Addie will see.
Jim has been training another driver this week, so I'm praying he'll make it back to rub tummies, and play ball with the furkids. Their tummies, not mine.
( I sort of resent never getting my tummy rubbed.....but, that's a whole different story!) He hee!

Women...an explanation

2010-05-12T19:48:00.004-04:00

Men just don't get us. Heck, most of the time, I don't get us either!
When we get quiet, introspective, and go into our turtle shell a bit; men automatically think we are being moody, cranky, and even bitchy! Well!
Many of us have admitted to being in a mood lately. Tired, out of sorts, and somewhat in a fog. My haze has lasted nearly three weeks now, and I'm convinced that Spring has something to do with it. Spring = Change. Change is not easy for the menopausal, post-menopausal, and yeah....even the pre-menopausal. Let's just throw in the whole female lot of us!

Rather than the term "bitchy"...I prefer adjectives such as, contemplative, solitariness and unrivaled. Being in an unrivaled state, I can mentally veg, and just be. Once the work bell rings 'quittin' time' my brain goes to mush mode. I hate it. Anybody with me here? Puttering in the yard, selecting annuals and a few new perennials, sipping an ambrosial mocha frappe', minus the whipped cream of course, gladdens my heart. Who knows what's causing this funk, and really, who cares? It's here, and we'll just ride the wave to shore. Are you with me girls? Find something that soothes you during these days of insulated nothingness.

The big black horse had her colt, and it's a clone of her. There are twin lambs in the field of the log cabin farm. A field of nearly one hundred sheep came up to the fence, about five feet away from the car, to see what the bouncing, yipping corgi was all about. Jake ducked his head in humiliation. Addie is SO strange!
These, are the things that make me smile, and keep me going. Conversation doesn't do it. Company doesn't either. Animals and country life, a good book, and quiet. It doesn't take much really; but it's enough. How do you cope when "the fog" hits?

Happy Birfday Boo Boo!

2010-05-08T19:37:00.001-04:00

My baby girl is 34 today....in less than two weeks, we girls will all be eating cheesy broccoli soup at Panera Bread! Yahoo!

Backyard Follies...

2010-05-02T17:32:00.025-04:00

Luckily, before a rainy weekend, I got my straw bale garden planted. Roma tomatoes, broccoli, green peppers, zucchini and marigolds (for bug control) were stuck in my conditioned bales.

Parsley and rosemary are planted in the old bucket. I gather rocks nearly everyday. Yeah, yeah, strange habits, but it's like a fever after a while! These rocks were collected today, and God is washing them for me. They'll be placed around the beds either in front or back, we'll see.

These peonies were taken from our old home place, the house that my folks built in 1960. We all have a rose of sharon bush, or iris, or an old rambler, from home to grace our yards, and remind us of our childhood home.

The St. Francis statue was given to me from my MIL. It went from home to home, beginning in Illinois, then Florida, then Virginia and Colorado. It went where she did. Now it lives in our yard, and I love it!

This is an awkward corner in back of the house. It holds the a/c and my clothesline. It's shady so it's great for ivy, but a wet corner, so I laid river rock to help keep water away from the a/c.

The Florida kids gave us the Grandpa/Grandma sign the last time they were in Indiana, in 2004. They're coming up again in July. We'll see if they remember the sign!

We'll be planting green bean seeds into an old tub on the deck. Carrots were planted in an old enamel wash pan. Pics on that later.

The backyard is full of birds, and with the windows open it's such a joy to hear all of the birdsong. The dove is still living in the planter above the mailbox on the front porch. Her young one is gone, but she remains, and looks me eye to eye, as we chat each day. It's so uncanny...maybe she's roosting on another egg already. Who knows. Only Jim is tall enough to check! Nature, rocks and gardens really trip my trigger and soothe...does it do that for you too?

2010-04-26T11:09:00.005-04:00

For the perfect garden...

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1.. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
NOT BAD, HUH?!

FYI~Dog chew info

2010-04-23T15:44:00.006-04:00

Several of you doggie mamas have asked about the teeth cleaner chews that Dozer and Coop's mommy shared with me...
http://www.healthypets.com/cetheprchwic.html
This is the place. Addie's teeth do need to be professionally cleaned, they are very dark on the sides and back. But...I do feel these chews would help keep them clean once they are white again!
I inspected Ad's toofies tonight only to find that she has broken a front fang! Her gums are red and slightly puffy. Good heavens. And she has some fatty tumors. Off to the vet we go!

2010-04-20T07:38:00.010-04:00

Well, gardening season is on the nigh. Preparations have to be made. It's still too early to set out plants, without taking the risk that a frosty night will kill 'em dead, that is. I've been hauling out my pots and containers out of shed and getting the soil ready for flowers, and green beans. Hammer and long nail have made some drainage holes. Something I forgot to do last year, with dire results!

A new project, one that I have high hopes for is straw bale gardening. I lugged home two bales of straw in the trunk of the Malibu, and have been conditioning them for a week now. They've been staked, plastic was placed underneath them, and they require daily watering. I hung around the farm service place, where all the farmers go to get their lime, fertilizer, seeds on Saturday. Even had my bib overalls on!
The farm lingo may as well have been Latin to me though...I could not understand one word they were saying. Who knew that farmerese was such a complex language? The two office gals, both older than my 58 years, were twittering and giggling like high school girls. Men were plentiful in there. (Next time I'm single, I'll know where to go to cruise!)
Oh yeah, yeah...we're talking about straw here.....

Conditioning involves a layer of manure....and high strength nitrogen. Nitrogen is hard to find...that's why I donned bibs, and went farm girl to Custom Farm Service!
Miracle Grow, a gardener's standby, has only a smattering of nitrogen...this is the stuff the farm boys use in the field. Every other day, I sprinkle the bales with these granules, then wet down the bales. This encourages the breakdown of the bales, into a compost, which will be a more conducive soil home for planting. By the time this twelve day process 'happens' it'll be near time to plant.

As you can see, the gathered field stones will enhance my water drainage, and makes the garden prettier. I call the scarecrow, 'Dirty Dan' in honor of my ex. 'Nuff said. I can poke him, and spray him with the hose, whenever the mood strikes, he hee.

Ok....that's my farm entry for today.
There's more than corn in Indiana, y'know!

Farm girl antics...

2010-04-18T17:30:00.009-04:00

Glorious weekend weather wise here...a bit on the chilly side, but perfect.
Jim made it home for a twenty hour lay over. Just enough time for me to make him a tasty, home cooked, supper and breakfast, do his laundry, pack up food and water for the week. He's on his way to Houston. Look out Holly...Texas has become a weekly trip!
(This majestic flowering crab is right outside our living room window!)

I packed up the corgi kids, went to our local hardware store and bought a light weight electric weed eater, luckily, on sale. Got my senior java, then set off to visit the sheep field. The herd of thirty or so were right up to fence, less than five feet away from the open car windows. They were enchanted/entranced by one calm corgi and one bouncing, yipping, frenetic female, Addie, not me! They don't blink, it's eerie...they just stare, twitching their tagged ears, en masse. Herd mentality is alive and well in sheep. If one runs, they all run. If one stares, they all stare.

Remember the old folks out for a Sunday drive when you were a kid sitting in the back seat, begging the old coots to hurry up and get to nowhere? Lordy...I've become one of them~the old coots, sigh.
I hunt for turtles on logs in swamps, Canadian geese, wild turkey...so many things trip my trigger these days. Today, it was a field stone hunt. The fields are getting plowed in these parts, unearthing these treasures. I keep gloves, buckets, a blanket in the trunk, and wear old shoes...all at the ready, for collection purposes. It's a spring thing...I love 'em...my brother loves 'em, we're just rock people...it's in the genes. Two hours after arriving home, the weed eater was totally broken in, and tired. Me too! Will share with you all tomorrow about my straw bale garden venture this year.

On another note, thank you to Dozer and Coop's mommy, I ordered the C.E.T.Xtra chews that clean teeth, as she recommended, and they are working out very well! The medicinal smell is high, so I banish them to the back yard when they do their chew therapy. Even then, the house smells like a vet's office, as it's on their front paws. I have high hopes for the outcome, and can tell that Addie is chewing away...a rare thing...so it's getting the job done!

I take no credit...but wanted to share!

2010-04-16T15:44:00.002-04:00

CLEVER IDEAS WORTH KNOWING:

Bananas
Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster..
I didn't know that!

Cheese
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Bumps
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Frying
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

Eggs
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of
Spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

Brownies
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Garlic
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste
Of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Candy
Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!

Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm.
This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up.
Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg.
Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size.
You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in
A microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food
Moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers,
Put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and for-
Get about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not
Get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-t ip t o pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it. (Wonder if this works with rabbits? Sure gonna give it a try)

Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... At DA! ... Static is gone.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such
As peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Re opening envelopes
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include s om ething inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup an d gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
(This will definitely try!!!)

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material .. I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well .... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit.You can't SEE the film, but it's there.

Sunday Scenes...

2010-04-11T11:32:00.010-04:00

This is how I got religion today...didn't feel like congregating.
With senior coffee in hand, a slow foot on the gas pedal, and camera at the ready, the corgis and I did our daily jaunt in the country.

The paints on the highway, across from the college..down our street.

A beaver dam...

A favorite barn...

Corgi Tooth care Question...

2010-04-11T07:47:00.006-04:00

Addie isn't a chewer...she doesn't go for toys, or hedgies, or nylabones. Jake's teeth are white as snow because he does all these things...but Addie's mouth is a nightmare. She had her teeth'professionally' cleaned several years ago. I hate to have her put to sleep to have it done as her heartbeat is irregular occasionally.
But....her teeth are so awful...so discolored...nasty. Ahem, a mama hates to admit this about one of her furkids....but....believe me, the corgi dog tooth fairy would skip our house if she ever lost a tooth!

Anyhoo....what do you other corgi moms do about your kids teeth? Do you brush them?
Something has to be done, her gums are starting to look bad. Am I going to have to bite the bullet and take her in again and let the vet tech do a serious cleaning and them go from there? Please comment and let me know what you'd do.
Here's the face I get when I trim her dewclaws. Since she was going to be used for breeding from her previous owner, but never went into heat, which is why she was given to us....they did not remove her dewclaws. It's a bother I must say to keep them trimmed.
(My photo date thingie is off by six years for some reason. It happened when I changed the batteries in the camera. Anyone know how to totally remove the date from photos?)

Yesterday Jim and I trimmed back a couple of trees in the back yard. A redbud and maple were trimmed, and an annoying, bird planted six foot cedar tree was removed totally. Ahhh more sunshine in the flower beds and room now to do my straw bale gardening. More on that later. We added new river rock on each side of the back door, and stocked up on my gardening needs at Menard's. We were SO pleased to see the little American flag on many, many packages there. Menard's is trying to stock as many American made products as possible, we were 'totally' impressed! It's a huge store in the next town eighteen miles away. Jim put a doorbell up last night and fixed the latch on the front door. His honey-do list is shrinking! What a good boy!

Sorting, scrubbing screens and finding shorts!

2010-04-08T05:55:00.006-04:00

Well gals, it's that time of year....time to open up the house, let in the birdsong, and shake off the dust that settled over winter.
What is it about a change of season that makes us want to clean, sort, and make room?
It's a real need...it festers....and it HAS to be done!
Yep...the fire has been lit inside ol' Corgidogmama, and the corgi kids are running from room to room, to escape the dreaded Oreck!

Yesterday, I went shopping....in my basement! Ever do that? I rotate clothes and bag them as our little Hollyhock Cottage on the hill only has two dinky closets. Not much room in 720 square feet! A big bag is going to Goodwill, and a big bag is getting washed. I fit in clothes that haven't been worn in five or six years. The much beloved red pantsuit that I wore to my daughter's wedding shower fits again! Okay...these clothes are a tad out of style, but I've never been trendy, so "oh well." Anyway...my choices are plentiful, and I feel rich! Eighteen pounds gone makes me feel positively skinny! Just so I don't look in a mirror....my self image can remain intact! Denial, is a wonderful thing!

Dust is not our friend. Clutter is cruel. Maybe a husband will be swept out in the mix....nah....only kidding.....or am I? Depends which day it is, and if he's cranky!
Okay, too much information...no dirty laundry aired today, he hee!
Hugs~

Soulful sightings...

2010-04-01T17:52:00.006-04:00

Happy April Fool's Day ladies...

Today, before going into work at one, the corgi kids and I did our daily country road therapy. The sun was so warm, and the sky blue, we were all grinning and panting with our tongues out. A turtle was crossing the road from a marshy area. The radius of its shell was like the size of a ten inch pizza. His head and tail were WAY out...catching rays possibly. As we turned the corner, up on the hill the red horses were out, switching tails and heads were down, chomping on warm new grass peeking through the ground. A young mallard sat on a sunny log as his mate swam in the shallow marsh, surrounded by woods. Turtles line up on that same log later on in the summer, so I always peek in through the trees as we go by. The three sheep are still woolly, as they haven't been sheared yet. One is a little more roly poly than the others and I'm wondering if she's with lambkin. The big black horse is ready to have her baby any time now. She's wide and full, and it looks a little ouchy. The old mare, pushing 28 years old, still looks good, and was busy ripping up the grass along with her buddies in the field. We saw a blue heron in someones pond. I did the window down, and Addie yipped. It took off in flight of course at our intrusion. Their shades of blue and gray are so, so pretty. Their wide wingspan and long legs makes me think that they are prehistoric. Have always loved herons.
I hope, that for your own sanity, and mental respite; you have your own way to reconnect with nature in order to soothe your soul. Life is tough these days. Marriage isn't easy. Financial worries plague many. We all need to find "something" that basks us in peace and quietude. This is what I do. Want to share what you do?

Birthday Bash....corgi style

2010-03-31T17:35:00.007-04:00

Well, the big boy was TEN today. Our boy Jake is still loving life. He's getting some white on his muzzle and in his eyebrows and such, but he's peppy and loves to play.
Going to the high school field is always a treat. I throw the ball, and Jake will chase and retrieve over and over. Addie doesn't play but she chews grass, and stalks birds. She'll chase Jake, chasing the ball. Odd little kid.

The corgi kids always have a plain double cheeseburger as their birthday cake. Jake got two-thirds of it, and Addie, his one and only guest, greedily gobbled her morsel.
He had a perfect, sunny, seventy degree day. He ran, sniffed, lifted his leg, and chased his ball. He got belly rubs and sweet words. Yep, old Jake had a great birthday. Here's to many more little buddy!
Love, Mom

Are you a Hungry Girl?

2010-03-30T18:04:00.006-04:00

A galpal turned me on to the Hungry Girl site a little over a year ago, and I get daily emails from them. This is a terrific way to lower the fat/carb/calorie content of many a dish. They offer reviews on new diet friendly foods too. Go visit if you'd like to get more ideas on healthier eating.
Here's a sample from the site.

Chunky Veggie Pumpkin Chili
Our friend canned pumpkin is at it again, adding fun, fiber, and flavor to this incredible chili. The taste is mellow but can easily be spiced up with extra cayenne or some hot sauce.

Ingredients
(Makes 6 Servings)
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
½ tablespoon cayenne pepper, or
more to taste
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
½ teaspoon ground cumin One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
One 15-ounce can chili beans (pinto beans
in chili sauce), not drained
One 15-ounce can black beans, drained
and rinsed
½ cup canned diced green chiles
2 cups chopped portabella mushrooms
1½ cups chopped zucchini
1½ cups chopped onion
Directions
Add crushed tomatoes, pumpkin, garlic, and all the seasonings to the crock pot. Mix well.

Add diced tomatoes, both types of beans, diced green chiles, and all the veggies.
Stir thoroughly. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Dear Mother Nature....

2010-03-28T13:30:00.013-04:00

Although snow, I hope, like this is behind us...I just want to say to MS. Nature:

"No more of this kind of crap for at least a year please!
It's time for nesting birds, and daffodils.
No more wild hairs....no more bad moods....
It's SpRiNg....you hear????"

This....is what we have more in mind please~

Inquiring minds....want to know...

2010-03-24T20:31:00.004-04:00

Visit http://www.etsy.highprietesschoas.etsy.com on etsy to see other "quirky" things...he hee.

...darn dogs~

2010-03-22T10:44:00.007-04:00

Those little devil dogs of mine are rebelling....
They were in a mood.....

They wouldn't pick the name of the giveaway winner....
they'd sniff and walk away....

Bribery didn't work.....
Cursing didn't work.....
Threats of no walks, or car rides didn't work....

So, their daddy did it.
He chose the name of the winner....
He was walking out the back door enroute to the post office to apply for a passport..........
He fluffed up all the names that were on the floor, pre-sniffed and ignored by the corgi kids......
and drew.....

this gal, that we all know, who resides deep in the heart of.....
Texas!

Holly, the old western gal, formally Penniwig....

Now, I'm off to kick some corgi butt!
.....not!

A donkey fren...in honor of Holly...

2010-03-19T15:10:00.002-04:00

This is,
Without
A doubt,
The cutest
Little ass
You will
Ever see