WOW.. THAT WENT FAST…

WOW.. THAT WENT FAST…

Is this going to be another fast year?  As this month is just a day away from being over..   I am not going to chance bad karma by saying anything about winter… as we know anything is possible with the weather.. 

But February is just a mere double breathe away.. and dare we say that Spring isn’t far behind?  Oh, no no, I am NOT getting my garden hopes up..  I will just let everything sit there like it has for the past 4 or 5 months..  See a few years ago, it was mid March..and we had weather of sunshine and 50’s.. and my heart skipped a beat.. as I thought.. maybe.. maybe an early spring? So

I went out and I cut down the dead leaves and limbs of my clematis. I took them down to 2 feet.. I took the limbs and threw them away..  I clean out the leaves all over the place.. I redid my fencing wire that I keep them up on the garage wall.. Oh, it looked so fine. The garden floor under, looks so CLEAN..

AND THEN IT SNOWED 5 INCHES.!!!    My CLEMATIS.. my 20 year old and the 15 year old.. that I got so many comments for.. where covered with SNOW. So… no no. no..  I learn my lesson… it will be garden time in April and May.. and not before..

I lucked out.. the clematis came back just fine..  whew.!!!

The money pit… called hunting..

The money pit… called hunting..

You might have seen that video of Jeff Foxworthy about hunting.. He goes on and on over the hardship of being a hunter.  He tells of the expenses of bullets, guns,  4wheelers (for those who don’t know, it is a 4  wheel bike like.. that men ride in the woods)  The truck that HAS to be a 4 wheel drive… and if you really do it right.. you have to have a camper at least …if not a camp trailer..  What he did forget was gas.. so much gas… about 200 gals at least for the 4 days Elk hunt…  (for those who don’t know… elk is a very large deer like wild game).  Then there is enough groceries in that camper.. for an Army… say nothing of the cases of beer.  He goes on how hard it is.. such a sacrifices  for his family.. So they can have the prime of prime meat. 

The truth of the matter is.. this man … the hunter.. is like an 8 year kid going camping with all of his friends..  He is so excited that he starts gathering his hunting items weeks before hunting even starts..  He is out there shooting his gun to make sure it is lined up, so he doesn’t miss the wild life.  He talks to his buddy nightly to get the latest on the prep work.  They go up 8 days before hunting starts so they can have their favorite camp site. And scout the area..

He demands his favor, good luck shirt is ready to go..  even though he has enough clothes packed, you will know he won’t change his clothes while gone..  Because they almost walk back into the house after hunting season, by themselves. Smelling of your husband.. camp smoke and God only knows what else.

And then the big day comes..  but actually it starts at 9pm the night before he leaves..  he is nervous as a bride the night before he leaves.. Because they go up 3 days early.. to be sure to have their site set up.   They check and double check all of the supplies.. runs to the store for last minutes stuff… and then lays there away until 2am..   the same man who drags out of the bed at 6am to go to work, will jump out of bed like he has springs on his feet.  Last minute check and out the door to meet with buddies at 4am..

So don’t let them tell you..what a hardship it is..  it is pure adulterated pleasure. The thrill of a life time.  EVERY YEAR… And what a hardship it is…  no wife.. no kids.. no job.. just his buddies and the tall tales they tell each other..  No shaving, no baths, just fire smoke and beer and high tales..

And IF THE WIFE IS SMART… she uses this time very well.. as he has no husband to fix dinner for..  kids are pliable… she and her girlfriends can get together at one of the houses, group babysitting..  and then if it is Friday night.. it is party time..  pool playing.. drinking cocktails and stores about their men…  Oh, yeah.. it is a great time of the year…  you just have to know how to do it..    And for those who aren’t into partying any more?  And your kids have grown….  Well, it is still a great time.. of NO SCHEDULE.. NO MEALS TO COOK,  and best of all.. SILENCE.  Turn on the music of your youth..  do your pet project…  go to bed when you want.. and get up when you want..  it is surreal…   So let him blab about his hardship.. we know.. the truth.. and we have learn we don’t care.. let them THINK.. what they want..    

Oh, by the way the meat averages out to be about  $200 a pound but your sanity is worth it.  So let him complain about the hardship. 

Bears repeating...

 I have been thinking a lot about this of late..  since our country seems to be hating more and more..   I heard that we hate what we don't understand... and we seem to not understand a lot and a lot of people.  I thought about this years and years ago... and this post is almost 20 years ago..   Why can't we have these classes in the schools.. starting out in First grade?   Why can't we/?   As  Robert Kennedy said.. if not why not....

, OCTOBER 16, 2006

Tolerance, Compromise, Anger Management

Tolerance, Compromise, Anger management...
all buzz words of our society... but I think they
should turn them into classes...

Maybe..just maybe we won't have children
shooting people at school...

Maybe...just maybe we won't have spousal
abuse...

Maybe...just maybe we won't have child abuse.

Maybe...just maybe we won't have road rage.

We seem to have a lot of that, even in the early
ages of our children. After all, see what they see...
angry adults...

There is an open door, open window of ideas
that maybe solved with classes in these 3 subjects.

We should start children at the level of second
grade. First with subtle hints thru out the class.
Then in fifth grade, working with more ideas and
examples.
Then in freshman high school, heavier classes.
Talking out problems the students see and feel.
Then a refresher course as a senior.

Who knows if we were to have this world wide,
maybe... just maybe we may not have wars. Just
discussions about differences. Tolerance,
Compromises, and less anger.

But then again, I have been accused of looking
at the world thru rose colored glasses

WE HAVE SURVIVED… and we didn’t kill each other…

WE HAVE SURVIVED… and we didn’t kill each other…

The past week and half has been a usual Idaho winter..   That means if you are lucky, you get quite bit of snow and then it hits the deep freeze..  the deep freeze last a week and the other part last 3 months. 

We want quite bit of snow, so we can shovel or snow blow the snow on to the foundation of the house.  It helps with insulation…..  keeping the house warmer..  if you are lucky the floors will only be cool.   Not frozen.    So you want enough to keep the foundation covered.    Then when the deep freezes comes, the house isn’t so bad. 

You make sure your sink cabinets are open, so the warmth of the house keeps it warm under there, so the pipes don’t freeze..   And if it gets below -0 then you want to keep the faucet dripping thru out the night and probably the day as well.

Our usual routine is .. to get up and assess the amount of snow you got while you were sleeping..   Do you go straight out and start.. or do you have time for a cup of coffee.

If you shoveled the night before.. it might not be too bad… only like 2 or 3 inches. So you can get that cup of coffee.

We gave gotten 8 to 9 inches over night… and still coming down..  and if it is wet.. then you want to get a jump start to get rid of it.  Before too much more comes. And it will.

I have the job of keeping the deck clear…  For us as well as the dog.   So when I get ready to go to bed..  and she has already went out for the last run…  I check and see what the snow level is..  If it is a skip of snow… I go to bed.. If it is an inch and half.. I go out and remove it all..   as I know there is going to be a lot more before I get up.  So if I get it before I go to bed..  then I have a head start..  Also it might be a little bit lighter to move when it is 2 inches … 

So for the past week and half.   King has seen all 74 episodes of Games of Thrones..  I have caught up on 8 of my magazines,  and 2 Kindle books and two regular books..  Not bad..   We have taken turns cooking dinner.. and snacking during the day. As we haven’t been in the mood for food.  And when there has been a problem, work together to get it fixed.  So it has gone pretty good..  and the King has been the one who has gone shopping .. which was only twice.

On Saturday, the King must have been bored at he went out and snowplowed the driveway.. with the 4x4 first and then the little tractor with the scoop on the front and the plow on the back.. and then the walk behind snowblower.. for the paths in the yard to feed the birds and a run for the dog for pee times..    I told him . enough is enough.. after all our driveway looks like airstrip.  

So now we look forward to the January thaw, and then the Feb. snowstorms.. and then of course March has to let us know that Spring is not quite here yet.

And amazingly, we haven’t tried to kill each other..  we actually have been getting along.  We don’t argue, we just heavily discuss things…  And the KING has stayed home..  see he is a social butterfly…  he goes to the Hoot Owl (a mom and pop restaurant ) and then he goes sees this buddy..  help another one, and then over to see another person..    but he has stayed home.. and I was flabbergasted when I got our gas card bill. It was over $400 cheaper.. WOW..

My circle of friends is getting shrunk down…..

My circle of friends is getting shrunk down….. 

Was thinking of how I would go to friend’s houses for coffee.. They would come over my house.  For years…  But now?  I am sad to say, that I occasionally go over to my one friend’s house for coffee.. seems like every 6 months or so.   I felt bad at first..  after all she lives about 2 miles from our house..  I drive by the road she lives on and I can see her home as I go by… to go to the store.  But then I got to thinking.. the road goes both ways…  and she knows where I live.   She is a little more active than I.. she is active in her church… she also volunteers for Ancestry dept of her church.  And she visits her sister. Her mom just past away a couple months ago. 

My other friend.. who lives in the next town… maybe 6 miles away from our home..  is in poor health.. trying to get surgery done.  They won’t let her because… get this folks… SHE SMOKES…  and she has smoked since she was a teenager, and she is 70 something.  She has tried and tried..  and when she had quit for 3 weeks, they loused up her test.  So she had to go back again 4 days later..  They said she didn’t pass.. it was close but not good enough..  She was so disappointed .. she started to smoke again..  Not as heavy as she use to.. but enough not to make the test.   Then she went in for dental.. which is weird, as they did not have the no nicotine test… so she got that done.. and found out her jaw has some problems.  She is still waiting (it is almost 2 years) because appt, get cancelled,  she didn’t make the test good enough again.. She has a problem with her back and her left leg.  She had surgery years ago on her shoulder.   She totally amazes me because in the summer, she is always out in the yard doing yard work..  cleaning out her flower beds..  she did hire a young man the past summer to mow and do some other work, but she still is out there..  limping along.. pulling weeds, and other things.

But I find it cruel that they won’t let her have the surgery.  She is trying again.. to quit, enough to pass the test..  I hope she makes it this time..    but I don’t go over, because I don’t want to disturb her, when she gets to lay down for a short time..  As standing hurts.. sitting in a chair hurts.. and even laying down gets to her.. So I am afraid if I come knocking she will be sleeping and I woke her.

A lot of my friend have moved away after they retired.  And even more… have… died.  We use to get together once a month for lunch.. but there is only a few of us left.  Use to be about 11 of us. Now I think maybe 4 or 5? 

Yep the circle is getting smaller and smaller..

 Happy 112 birthday dad

 

Recipes…. They lost me at….

Recipes….  They lost me at…..

I decided over the weekend to cook a leg of lamb..  Two good friends of ours gave us some lamb meat..  Among them. was a leg of lamb.

My only knowledge of a leg of lamb was the fact my uncle LOVED LEG OF LAMB…  He was a cook for many years in the Navy.  But the bragged about  LEG OF LAMB…  I was in my 20’s or so.. and to that date, I had never ate lamb in any shape or form.   I knew people raised lamb… those cute little lambs…  and figured without really thinking about it.. that it is meat and the farmer must eat them… but that was the total thought of lamb.. 

Jump forward about 20 more years.. and some one gave us some lamb meat.  I was told to just cook it like any other meat.. I think it was chops or steaks..  Not sure.  All I remember was how horrible it smelt.  To the point of me questioning if it wasn’t rotten.  I would have thrown it out, if it wasn’t for a friend coming in the door as I was cooking it..  He said no it isn’t REALLY ROTTEN..  it is poorly taken care of.  He explained that who ever slaughtered the lamb, had let the wool touch the meat… which made it sour.  OH YEA.. it was sour alright.   I am pretty sure my husband and this friend came to the census that we would feed it to the dogs  I knew there was no way in hell, I was going to be able to sell this dinner to the kids..  Not after they walked by and smelt it.. making face of throwing up…. And that was my take on lamb for the next 40 years.

I had mention it to a friend of ours who raises lambs about 8 months or so ago.. and she gave me a taste…  it wasn’t’ bad.. Nowhere as bad as the one I had gotten.  

So here we are… our friend has been nice enough to gift us several types of lamb meat.   I said hamburger, but he quickly reminded me that it was LAMBURGER.. lol.    I made meat loaf out of it. After finding out how to cook lamb..  Answer was… just like beef.. but it is a little bit greasier than beef.   Ok..   Used her meat loaf recipe, as I did not want to fail.  And it came out pretty good.   Not as good as beef for me.. but it as a  taste.  It was ok..   So …I figured..  being I am trapped in the house due to lousy weather..   let’s try leg of lamb.

I googled with BEST LEG OF LAMB RECIPES.   And got about 1000 of them.  There was the British leg of lamb…  there was the party leg of lamb.. (I chose not to go there)   And one of them had a hoyty toyty chef recipe….  But he lost me with….  pomegranate molasses and Aleppo Pepper  and dried mint…… NEXT!!

Luckily, I came across one with .. olive oil rub… then sprinkle a dash of rosemary,  some mince garlic, and salt and pepper..   That is my kind of recipe..  Short order of ingredients..  And cook it much like a prime rib…  hot oven…  and let rest under a foil tent for 25 minutes.  To save the juices, it said…

AND IT WAS GOOD TASTING..  I would do leg of lamb again..  now I got to try the chops. 

 

 

 

some stories are worth repeating..

 Some stories are worth repeating... so doing that to day as the main mill of the news is about the BIG STORM COMING...  and I thought walking down the lane of Nov. 2016 would be appealing..  

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2016

Mother Nature is rarely wrong....

There was a man, named Harold McWilliams, who

lived in Cle Elum, Washington. His profession was

that of a packer for the government.. He told of his

4 times around Mt. Rainier with his mules. Wenatchee

forest and Cle Elum area was also his work place.  He did this for over 40 years.. before getting another profession

of being a scrap iron hauler, in his mid 70’s. to his 80’s.

Everyone knew Harold, but they didn’t know him by

that name.. they knew him as “MAC the PACKER”.

He was known as that, far and wide, as many tourist

were taken thru the forest with him.  He had many

tales of fun times, sad times and times he wasn’t

happy with the way the public treated nature.

Mac passed away at the mere age of 95, I say

mere, because he was ageless.  He had a sense

of humor but also could be very serious.

Thru all those years of packing he came away

with a great understanding of mother earth.

One of which was, telling what kind of winters

we were going to get.  3 signs that I remember,

(there were more, but I only remember these

3’s)….   1. was the caterpillar…. The orange

one with a strip across the back. If that stripe

was wide .. it was going to be a bad winter.

2. The bees and hornets…  They would make

their beds/nest in the ground.. deep in the ground.

3. and the one he said was the most telling…

Was the twins and triplets of the deer and

moose.  He said it was like Mother Nature knew

not all of them would survive, so she product

more than one, which was the norm for the year.

So if he saw in his travels, multiple births,

He knew it was really going to be bad..

What brought all this to mind is.. as my husband

was hunting this year, he talked about twins, a lot…

and pictures in the newspaper, of the moose who

are moving back to town to feast on the apple

trees, and etc… are pictures of twins and even

triplets.   Also I notice the bees are in the grassy

area of my yard.. almost stepped on a few.

To me.. mother nature is rarely wrong.. so I

am going with the idea…it might be a late

Winter.. but it is going to be a doozy.

Thanks, Mac…..   

Raising kids is not for sissy..

Raising kids is not for sissy..

I did the best I could with the knowledge I had..  which wasn’t much. No real books .. don’t count Dr. Spock… No examples until I was in my 20’s. More like how not to be.

Children are a challenge to everything you know.  Starting out isn’t too bad, as it is basic.  And the first year is a sweetheart honeymoon time.    As the child grows it becomes more challenging.   I always kept in mind, not to raise my children like I was raised..   Whether they listened or not..  I did love them so… and told them so daily.

Even when I got the every child remark…  I don’t love you anymore, mom,  when they were angry…  my reply was …  gosh, I am sorry to hear that.. but I LOVE YOU… so much…   and walk away.  So I am pretty sure my kids always knew I loved them. 

Some times that love is challenged by outside forces..  Starting with school, where the kids learn not only the ABC’S of school but the school yard education.   I am sure you all heard..  well, Jimmy’s mom would let him do…  (what ever the thing of the days was) and I would tell them.. I am not Jimmy’s mom… and I have to do what it takes to keep you safe and healthy.  And I love you enough to do that.

Now matter the age, I tried to make life fun.  To make memories of camping. And etc   Working hard together, yet we laughed a lot.  It also gives them the understanding that working hard produces a life style but also there is a time for fun.. to just be loose… laid back.. and not take life so seriously.

When they reach teens then it really gets hairy.  The child that was such a good kid from 1 to 13, suddenly doesn’t think you know anything.. and you are not up with the world.. That there is better ways of doing things.. some times.. getting things without working hard for it.   My kids had learn over the years, that there is consequences for bad behavior.  There is accountable for bad choices.  Lesson’s learn hard. 

Then there is the late teens..  where they start to remember that you do have some intelligence .. you and your husband.  But they still think they know best.  Some times you just have to let them learn their lessons the hard way..  

Once they make it to their 20’s you are getting more intelligent.  But still you have old fashion ways.  And on the rare times they do ask you,……  what would you do if you were me?    I tried not to tell them what to do..  that usually comes back to bite you..  so I learn to give options..    So they would think about the option and how they think that might work out. 

When my child got their own houses…  my thoughts are.. their house, their rules..  When they become parents.. their children… their rules. And that part is fun to watch as you see your grandchildren become the best revenge you have on your own child.   At that time, you become the support part of their lives.  Never doing for them.. but backing them up.. AND not financially..   Remember when you were getting older.. no one financed you.. (unless you were from a very wealthy family).. so give them the same chances.  If you LOAN them money… make sure it is understood it is a LOAN.. and accept the repayment.   If they don’t.. chalk it up to a learn lesson and never have money available for the child again..  they will have to learn on their own.. And it will be rough.. even might be rough to watch. But they learn just as you did.

And the disclaimer for here is…  DRUGS…  I was blessed.. my children did not have a turn at drugs..  Oh, I am sure there was a few who tried it at one time or the other.. but they soon learn it interfered with what they wanted in life..   THIS IS A BLESSING… for those of you out there that have children who fell down into the drug hole of life.. my heart breaks for you… I have no answers for you.

Looking back 60+ years later.. I did the best I could. Others might not agree, but didn’t walk in my shoes. I did the best I could..  with love and hope for the best..  judging by the person in the mirror..  making sure it was right.  And mostly with God’s help.  I was not their best friend..   I was and AM their MOM.... after they turn 21, we came to be more friends... 

This is the way I was raised…. And so were my kids..

This is the way I was raised…. And so were my kids..     

I read this somewhere..  and I copied it…  and changed out the city and state, as it applied to my hometown as well..   Those of you over the age of 60 remember this well..

 

I grew up in a little town in Rhode Island called Middletown… . It was during a time, when everyone treated each other like Family. We went outside to play, we got dirty.... We bought chips & candy from the corner store. We played Red Light, Green Light, Kick the Can, Simon Says, Hide and Seek, Dodge Ball, Red Rover, Baseball, Softball and Football. We could ride our bikes to the store, or the park, or down a country road and stay all day. We even swam in the pond or lake when we had the chance. We ate beans & hot dogs, mac and cheese & peanut butter sandwiches. We walked or rode a bikes everywhere and never worried about safety. We never thought to lock our windows or doors at night. We had chores to do around the house, We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING, 'cept our parents. If you fell down you would just get back up. We challenged each other everywhere...King of the hill. If someone had a fight, that's what it was...a fight. Kids weren't afraid of fake guns when I grew up. Real guns were just a part of life and we respected them as well as our parents, our teachers, the American flag, the principal AND God. We said the Pledge of Allegiance every time we went to school. We left our houses as soon as we could in the morning and right after school till our neighbors would yell out for their children as a reminder to get in the house for the night. If one kid was called for dinner then we all knew to go home. We watched our mouths around our elders because we knew If we DISRESPECTED any adult there would be a price to pay and we had manners and respect otherwise someone else's parents put you in your place. I would not trade anything for the childhood we had, for we had enough and we had love and all that made us the adults we are today.

I will never forget where I came from in R.I.  but most of all I am glad I grew up in the 1940’s and 1950/s

HAPPY NEW YEAR....2024

      HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ONE AND ALL... 

MAY THE YEAR BE KIND TO US ALL...

MAY THE WORLD FIND SOME KIND OF PEACE

AND MAY OUR COUNTRY FIND THAT PEACE AS WELL