Friday, September 26, 2003
No Yams For Me!
I have heard both ways that there is/is not a difference between sweet potatoes and yams. My personal preference is sweet potatoes, but yams are the easiest to find. Yesterday I went to a roadside market, that we visit during the summer, and picked up forty lbs. of sweet potatoes.
This morning was spent roasting, peeling, and mashing them for freezing. We came up with 38 one lbs. packages that are tuck safely in the freezer. WE are going to eat well this winter!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Next Spring
Each Spring I look at my four tulip plants in a clump, the grape hyacinth that migrated to the grass and I swear next fall I’m going to plant bulbs.
Each fall comes I see bulbs on sale and I never get around to buying them until snow has fallen. Consequently the following spring the same desolate crop greets me.
But this year in two afternoons I proudly say I have planted approximately 150 bulbs. I have tulip, daffodils, and hyacinths all around the house. Of course I have a blister in the palm of my hand from the bulb planter the size of two half dollars.
Next Spring ,by golly, I will not be disappointed at the displayof color. As long as the wild things don’t dig them up they should last for several Springs
Monday, September 22, 2003
MERRIBELL
I first met Merribell when I was going on fifty.
She was clever, witty, and really seemed quite nifty.
She was also rough and brash and loud from the beginning,
But experience and training made her ways much more winning.
Her dress a flower print of red, pink, and green.
Her hair was pink, long, and curly; a little obscene.
Her stockings were long and striped to the knees.
Her shoes, big and red with purple palm trees.
Her hat was green with jingle bells and leaves.
Her colorful dress had big, puffy sleeves.
Her skirt was full with petticoats galore.
Her pantaloons were long--halfway to the floor.
She learned balloon animals and how to do tricks.
How to tell jokes and perform silly skits.
How to juggle water, though she did spill a bit.
But when she tried to juggle balls she’d just throw a fit.
Her voice would change when the big, red nose she’d don.
Her brown eyes would light up when she waved her magic wand.
But she always had the freedom to be someone else.
To laugh and be laughed at, not just yourself.
She did picnics, parties and parades, she worked at her play,
She took others, made their costumes, and taught them what to say.
I kinda miss being with her and the fun we always had.
Always it was good times, never was it sad.
But time goes on, age changes the things we do.
Commitments are different, forcing our life to review.
But check under that costume and make-up and you will see.
That the person smiling back at you is actually just me.
Monday, September 15, 2003
Off The Wagon Big Time
The EVil ONE and his family came to visit this weekend. We watched two movies, shot the shit , and basically enjoyed each other’s company.. But at Saturday dinner the food piranha grabbed me by the hand and danced me through corn on the cob, steak, baked potato, and finally Boston Cream Pie ala mode. Man when I fall in the mud it is up to my neck!! I will be a few days getting over this one I’ll tell you. Oh well like I said how can you recognize sucess if you don’t fail???
Seasons
And once again it begins for the 68th time I’ve seen.
The reds, rusts, and yellows where there once was greens.
It is fall again and a time to remember all the things undone
And recount the things accomplished, and smile at all the fun.
It will soon be ghost and goblin time and pumpkins in the patch.
Then snow, and ice, and gusty winds blowing through the latch.
And we my friends will sit bundled up and waiting for the spring
We will wonder how much longer until the summer thing!
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Social Life At 68
I can only agree with my pillow. The Golden Years Suck! Big time this week. Monday to the eye doctor to check hubby’s webs of blood in his eye. Tuesday take Molly to the Vet’s for her booster. Wednesday the sleep lab calls to say they have a cancellation can the hubby come in that evening and I can pick him up at 6 a.m. on Thursday morning. No problem except for the Foot doctor’s appointment at 1 p.m. to get the feet turned back into American Feet. Friday we get to go to the other eye doctor to check my eyes. So far (knock on wood or my empty head) no doctor needs to see us Saturday!!! I sometimes think that longevity might not be the ideal situation if this is a sample of the beginning of it!!!!
But at least I don’t have to worry about going on vacation-- what would all those doctors do to buy those fur coats if I didn’t show up?????
Monday, September 08, 2003
American Feet
Well life has taken another twist and the hubby has partially lost his sight again. We see his Doctor tomorrow to see what can be done this time. This is a problem that comes and goes with no warning so we are never prepared. But thus far we have come out of it OK.
We now have 51 1/2 pints of red raspberry jam. This should satisfy even the most ardent jam fan. I haven’t gotten the sewing started yet and my dining room is still stocked with baby things, but as children get time this too shall pass.
For four days now my feet have been taped to see if support is the main problem with the pain. This has meant sponge baths and the wearing of socks to keep the tape clean. So now I have had just a small taste of Chinese culture. I sure pity those kids in the old days who had to have bound feet. I prefer American Feet!!
Saturday, September 06, 2003
I’m A You Know What Again
Yesterday was a take down two sapling and trim some low branches in the front yard day. Which leaves me with some more shredding to do next week. We also canned 11 more pints of tomatoes.
This morning early we went raspberry picking. We meaning my daughter-in-law, granddaughter, her friend, and I. We picked about 16 lbs. and then blueberry picking just to show them the plantation near us and came home with almost 6 lbs. of them. Now it is jam making time. Oh boy great fun!! Not!
So I’m just waiting for the jars to be washed and clean to help the hubby start the procedure.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
The Beginning
This picture had a lot to do with sticking to a decision I had already made. It was drawn about a week ago and is complimentary in that the wrinkles aren’t there. But the distortion of the facial lines are my own fault.
Abuse of food, smoking, and no exercise boils down to this. Well the smoking is gone and the other two I begin to tackle now. I don’t want to look this way a year from today!!
Update # 1
The pears (19 pints) got canned along with tomatoes from the neighbor’s garden (7 pints). The food piranha has not raised his /her ugly head yet but drinking water seems to resort back to --water—you wash your feet in it right?? So I have to work on changing that mindset!!
I went shopping today, buying fresh fruit and vegetables so now all I have to do is devour them in a sane and timely manner. I didn’t realize you could spend $ 59. on apples, plums, peaches, oranges, broccoli, carrots, and etc. Must have been the etc. that was so expensive.
Speaking of expensive gasing up the truck took a promise of turning over my second born. Can’t use the first born because he was promised to Consumers Energy. I’m runing out of children quickly!!