Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The setting sun has gone away the day has turned to night

And now Dear Lord to you I pray for tomorrows morning light

Goodnight Dear Lord I thank you for today

I pray Dear Lord give me another day

The day you gave me today was bright showed me the way to do what's right

Goodnight Dear Lord let me see a new day dawning

Goodnight Dear Lord, let me see you in the morning goodnight.

(the picture put me in mind of an old Johnny Mathis song)

Monday, January 29, 2007

Baby's Boat

Baby's boat's a silver moon,
sailing in the sky;
Sailing o'er a sea of sleep,
while stars float slowly by.

Sail, baby, sail,
out upon that sea.
Only don't forget to sail
back again to me.

Baby's fishing for a dream,
fishing near and far;
His line a silver moonbeam is,
His bait's a silver star.

Sail, baby, sail,
out upon that sea.
Only don't forget to sail
back again to me.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Palm in bloom right on schedule.  A mid winter treat.

 

a good tasting salad

Broccoli Waldorf Salad

 

2 Cups chopped fresh broccoli

1 apple chopped

2 T raisins

2 T low fat mayonnaise

1 T white balsamic vinegar

2 T chopped toasted walnuts

Combine all ingredients, toss with Vinegar and Mayonnaise to coat. Serve at once or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Sprinkle with the walnuts just before serving

1 3/4 Cups = 1 point

This is CORE if you substitute Fat Free Mayo and no raisins

Enjoy a great Salad!!

 

 

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Played in the snow with Owen for about an hour today.  He wanted to go shopping of all things but it was easy to talk him into playing outside instead.  Took him home about five, a pretty tired boy.  Dan gave me some garden seeds, about twenty packs of them.  When I left Owen wanted to come back with me, but he was tired and almost asleep.  Hali just woke up and was happy and smiling.  Didn't make it to Winter Fest.

Friday, January 26, 2007

37 degrees and cloudy, sleet and snow showers predicted

sleet and snow showers cancelled for tonight...few scattered flurries and colder tomorrow, high near 17.  Furnace stopped working not sure why.  Reset the breaker and now it's working again, also changed the filter but it didn't really need that.  Owen is here so I hope it keeps working.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Re-usable is better

An easy way to help our land is to stop using plastic bags...instead, bring along your own re-usable containers when you go shopping.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

a good day

Went to the library today to return books, didn't get any.  Just a note, I don't recommend Lovely Bones.  While it was a great story it had a quick and weird ending.  I hadn't read a mystery in a while so I thought I'd give it a try...pass this one up.  Also went to KMart to look at their exercise equipment, but I decided looking was exercise enough for me, it just tired me out so.  I restocked my supply of vitamins and Tootsie Roll Pops instead.  I got some Dove moisturizer and when I got home I noticed that it had something in it that also gives a subtle tan.  So if I look like I've been in the sun, don't be fooled, thanks Dove.

 

Sunday, January 21, 2007

snow

Just finished shoveling and filling the feeders...now back to my book The Lovely Bones.  It's so different that's it's hard to put down.  My son Dan bought me some garden seeds today...Morning Glories, Zinnias, Marigolds, Peas, Beans, Sunflowers, carrots and tomatoes.  He knows how to cheer me up.  He got me some fresh soil too so I can start some of the seeds indoors.  I have received 7 gardening catalogs so far and have only had the time to look at 2 of them.  I circled what I want and will double check to make sure before I order anything.  I found three nice big buckets at the thrift store that I plan to plant some anuuals in.  I was thinking the new varieties of petunias.  Maybe Pansies too.  I want to put them by the side door next to my bench or by the front stoop.  Of course the front has more sun, so maybe that will be better for this type of flower.  CC just jumped onto the scanner next to me and is making those blinky eyes and purring...must be nap time.

Friday, January 19, 2007

A Very Cold Winter's Day

I was chatting with a woman that has more than five hundred cook books.  I asked her if she had a favorite and she said yes, The Betty Furness Westinghouse Cookbook.  I have that book.  It was published in 1954.  In fact I have two of them.  One has a green cover and one has a yellow cover.  I decided to see if I could find something for supper in it today and I came upon a recipe for meatloaf.  It's cooking now and it's smells maaaarvelous!  Here's the recipe:

Meat Loaf

Bread pan or flat utility pan...Cold or preheated over--375 degrees F....baking time--1 1/2 hours.

1 pound ground beef

1/2 pound ground pork

1/2 pound ground veal

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup celery, finely chopped

1/4 cup butter, margarine or drippings

1/2 cup tomato soup

1 egg

1 cup soft bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons salt

Have meat ground twice.  Brown onions and celery in butter or margarine, or drippings.  Add tomato soup to onion mixture, then beat egg into mixture.  Add bread crumbs and seasonings to meat, then add onion mixture.  Work well with hands until ingredients are thoroughly blended.  Pack in greased bread pan or form into a loaf.  This meat loaf is excellent when served cold, and wonderful for sandwhiches.  Serves 5--6

I'm looking forward to having a sandwhich a little later for my supper.

I'm starting a new book, the name of it is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  It seems to be a comical scary book.  I got it yesterday at the Salvation Army Store Library for 50 cents.  They have re-done their store and I found an old fifties table cloth for spring there too.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Mourning Doves

I noticed the Mourning Doves were having a hard time finding food on the ground with the snow cover.  I guess they must be mostly babies and this is their first year with snow.  I put together this flat wooden feeder for them and they sure came flocking.  They were so nice to each other too.  One group would be on the feeder and the next group would be waiting on the clothes pole and another group waiting on the Morning Glory Arbor.  When the group on the feeder got full they would fly off or over to the water and the group on the pole would land on the feeder...and so on.  I had to fill the feeder twice.  There are two Mourning Doves sleeping on the feeder now but the rest have left.  Still plenty of seed for morning. 

 

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

PBS

I watched PBS tonight.  A program was on called the Hand Of God.  It was pretty interesting.  I guess there is a discussion about it at http://pbs.org .  It's so cold I just sat under one of the throws my sister Cathy made, drinking my tea and watching TV.  This is an old house and the cold seems to come right through the walls.  I had a vaporizer running but it didn't seem to do the job as well as usual.  The cats gathered around me and all were sleeping.  I just came to the computer to shut it off as I never leave it on overnight.  I wonder what the weather will be tomorrow.  My guess is wintery.

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Monday, January 15, 2007

Owen has his birthday on MLK day

Owen is afraid of touching the snow...so I'm going to take him sledding and have him help me shovel.  He didn't know it was going to be cold.

 

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Jack Frost

The door was shut, as doors should be,
  Before you went to bed last night;
Yet Jack Frost has got in, you see,
  And left your window silver white.

He must have waited till you slept;
  And not a single word he spoke,
But pencilled o’er the panes and crept
  Away again before you woke.

And now you cannot see the hills
  Nor fields that stretch beyond the lane;
But there are fairer things than these
  His fingers traced on every pane.

Rocks and castles towering high;
  Hills and dales, and streams and fields;
And knights in armor riding by,
  With nodding plumes and shining shields.

And here are little boats, and there
  Big ships with sails spread to the breeze;
And yonder, palm trees waving fair
  On islands set in silver seas,

And butterflies with gauzy wings;
  And herds of cows and flocks of sheep;
And fruit and flowers and all the things
  You see when you are sound asleep.

For, creeping softly underneath
  The door when all the lights are out,
Jack Frost takes every breath you breathe,
  And knows the things you think about.

He paints them on the window-pane
  In fairy lines with frozen steam;
And when you wake you see again
  The lovely things you saw in dream.
        ...Gabriel Setoun

 

Friday, January 12, 2007

Shopko

They had a sale today and since I do most of my general shopping at the little Shopko on Military, I knew what merchandise they had for the most part.  The sale was a good one with 50 to 75 per cent off on many things.  I got some clothes, a number of storage bins for the attic toy area I'm starting to clean out.  I also got a TV and DVD player.  The store was almost empty when I went there late this morning.  A lot of people missed a good sale but I suppose other people got what they wanted for Christmas.  On the way home it was freezing rain and the car in front of me spun out, so instead of stopping at the grocer as I intended, I came home.  I was supposed to go out for 'supper' tonight at Grazies and although I wasn't going to be the driver, I cancelled.   Anyway, I'm still sick...I guess sitting in the cold reading the other day wasn't in my best interest.  Still sneezing and coughing and achy...the after affects of the Rono Virus...it's a nasty one but I'm close to better.  It's cold in my house...well no wonder, I checked the thermostat and I still have it on 58 degrees from this morning.  I'm off to clip coupons and then I think I'll go to bed a little early.  Goodnight....sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.  If they do take a shoe and knock them black and blue...LOL.

 

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

I enjoyed this day

My journey today took me near this park.  It is Pamperin Park and it holds a lot of memories for me.  I parked the car and got out and took a few pictures.  This bridge swings back and forth and the Creek was open and running down there by the little falls, making a wonderful sound.  I noticed when I was out in the cold my coughing stopped so I got out my book (I always have a book) and I stayed and read for a while.  I was the only one there and it was so peaceful.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

I'm sick now too...

Was thinking I was safe now that I'm not at the hospital anymore...forgot the obvious...grandchildren.  I'm taking Vicks Formula 44 Cold Medicine, soda crackers, and  Sierra Mist.  Although the Cold Medicine says non-drowsy, I sleep for a couple hours after I take it.  The crackers keep my stomach settled and the pop keeps me from being dehydrated.  And my Nintendo DS keeps my brain active.  Have to get better enough to get to a couple stores before the storms hit, which they said is going to start happening on Friday so have a couple days yet. 

Monday, January 8, 2007

Sooo...granmaw, when do I get my own blog?

Owen and Hali over briefly today, both sick.

They took Hali to the doctor when she left and got her on antibiotics.  Ear infection and a lot of wheezes.   Owen seems to be getting better so they're waiting a day.

He spent the time playing computer games, reading books and having a chat about birthdays.

Hali having some Applestars

All gone

Hey Nana, Hali's banana pudding was deee li cious

I hope they are both feeling all better the next time they come over.


 

Saturday, January 6, 2007

The Last Day Of Christmas

Owen was here with his Dad today and while he was here he helped bring the three kings from afar to the Christ child with their gifts...he wanted to give a gift too and so he gave the baby Jesus his little yellow car.  He circled them around to keep the baby safe and warm.

 

The twelve days of Christmas end with the Feast of Epiphany also called "The Adoration of the Magi" or "The Manifestation of God." Celebrated on January 6, it is known as the day of the Three Kings (or wise men/magi): Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. According to an old legend based on a Bible story, these three kings saw, on the night when Christ was born, a bright star, followed it to Bethlehem and found there the Christchild and presented it with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard,
Through the silent street, till their horses turned
And neighed as they entered the great inn-yard;
But the windows were closed, and the doors were barred,
And only a light in the stable burned.

And cradled there in the scented hay,
In the air made sweet by the breath of kine,
The little child in the manger lay,
The child, that would be king one day
Of a kingdom not human, but divine.

His mother Mary of Nazareth
Sat watching beside his place of rest,
Watching the even flow of his breath,
For the joy of life and the terror of death
Were mingled together in her breast.

They laid their offerings at his feet:
The gold was their tribute to a King,
The frankincense, with its odor sweet,
Was for the Priest, the Paraclete,
The myrrh for the body's burying.

                       H.W.Longfellow

Thursday, January 4, 2007

A sunset and a bumper sticker

The bumper sticker said The only thing I do that's domestic, is live in a house.

Green Bay set a new high temperature for today 45 degrees...and we still have no snow.  I did a little yard walk when I went out to fill the bird feeders.  The Crocus are up about two inches and there are buds on the Magnolia.  Of course there are supposed to be buds on the Magnolia this time of year because it blooms early.  Notice the pretty sunset too. 

When I was leaving a store today a man walked up and asked me for 75 cents for the bus.  I opened my purse and opened my wallet to look and all I had was a dollar so I gave him that.  I said God bless you and be well and watched him walk right into a liquor store.  Of course that isn't any of my business how he spends the dollar.  My business is treating my fellow man with respect and I believe I did that.

I watched on the news while a man on the other side of town said he was approached by a woman who asked for some money and he said he didn't have that much.  She pulled a knife and robbed him of the contents of his wallet.  I probably should have run back in the store or screamed or something, but I remember when I didn't have money for the bus.

I've been fixing the bulliten board for Owen as his birthday is the 15th, I put on a lot of pictures.  His Dad was telling me that someone came to their house today and Owen wished them Happy Holidays...they told him the holidays were over and he started to cry.  He's coming here tomorrow and I want to show him what comes next.

The world is a crazy place.  Did you hear on the news the letter that the Mom of the 3,000th American killed in the war wrote to her son upon his death.  It was so heartbreaking.

 

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day

Chocolate Covered Cherries
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar 
1/4 cup margarine, softened 
1 tablespoons milk 
1/2 teaspoons almond extract 
2, 8 oz. jars maraschino cherries, well-drained 
12 oz. dark chocolate chips 
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening 

Combine sugar, butter, milk and almond extract. Mix well and knead into a large ball.
Roll into 1-inch balls, flatten each into a 2-inch circle.
Wrap around cherries and lightly roll in hands.
Place on baking sheet lined with waxed paper.
Cover loosely and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Melt chocolate and shortening in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl.
Dip cherries in chocolate. Set on waxed paper to harden.
Store in covered container in refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.


Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Oh, by the way, Happy New Year...still no snow Woo-Hoo!!

 

 

My resolve, as always, is to live simply, so others can simply live.