Boring Posts for Saturday

Here it is Saturday again.  Time to sharpen up that subtle wit or just let go and say what is on your mind.  If you want to, no pressure.  Boring Posts for Saturday is a way to join together on this slow blogging day.

I have to admit that I have been a fan of the Pioneer Woman for a long long time.  I haven't been reading since the very beginning, but I joined her during her first year.  I almost always enter the contests.  I came in fourth in a picture naming contest once.  My caption was Hasty Puddin'. (Have I mentioned that a few times this week already?) I didn't get anything except a lot of hits on the blog, but it was a thrill in my little bloggy life.

I don't do photography or cooking like Ree and I would never want to live on the ranch.  But I do like books.  So when Ree was having a little cookbook produced, I was excited.  I went out and bought two of Rees cookbooks the first week.  Unfortunately, I don't cook like that anymore.  I feed two people at this house and we don't work off all that butter and cream and red meat like the ranch hands or punks would.  I decided to give away the cookbooks after I looked through them.

My review is--a truly beautiful cookbook.  Ree's Pioneer Woman Cooks is a visual treat.  The recipes looked interesting and I have to admit I was tempted to keep a cookbook for myself.  In the end I decided that I had to let them go.  So I packed mine up in boxes and sent one to Australia and one back to Oklahoma. Ree is from Oklahoma.  This little cookbook makes a great gift because it is such a visual delight.

Isn't she the cutest little blogger you've ever seen?  Congratulations, Ree!  I hope your little cookbook is a best seller. Ree was in the Lou this week and it broke my heart not to go see her, but it was Tuesday and she was downtown after dark.  I have a Tuesday commitment (prayer group) and I don't go downtown after dark.  I hope that lots of people showed up. She stayed atop a gambling establishment, but don't tell anyone that. I figure squeezing one last post out of the Pioneer Woman truly qualifies this as a boring post.

If you have a boring post, leave a comment and we will come visit you.

Quick Takes, Vol 43

Here are my Quick Takes sponsored by Jen at Conversion Diary.

1. Didn't get to see Pioneer Woman when she was in town on Tuesday. But I reflected on fame and celebrity. Now Pioneer Woman is a very minor celebrity in the broad scheme of things. But she would have been big to me. Still, I feel closer to her than she ever would to me. I read her blog and she doesn't read mine.
2. Less than a week until Thanksgiving. I really had intended to have the pictures rehung (taken down for painting in the summer). I intended to have new curtains up, or at least purchased. I intended to have the floors done, they are a mess. I intended to have this guest/office room cleaned. I intended... Well, you get the idea. I am not going to reach all of those intentions. I had better pick one and get cracking!
3. And perhaps while I'm at it, I should go over the menu and figure out exactly what I will be serving this crowd for Thanksgiving. It was last year at Thanksgiving when I posted pictures of my sister and her family and said I didn't do that kind of thing, that ABM asked why not? So I started to do that more and now I guess that is what I do. Instead of writing long winded pieces on various subjects. (Haven't given that up entirely.)
4. This week in the middle school library where I work I have had some interesting encounters. One sweet faced little sixth grade girl came asking for mature books. I asked what she meant. She said, "Ones with provocative language." I asked what she meant by that because one of my strategies is to play dumb.  Playing dumb doesn't require much acting on my part. She said, "You know, 4 letter words." Unfortunately, I was unable to help her with the mature book thing, but I did restrain myself from laughing at her and helped her to find an age appropriate book. Another girl came in asking for true stories where people died. (Wouldn't that include most of the biographies?)  And then there was the boy who wants to start a school club to remove the para-normal. Essentially, ghostbusters. Middle school is an interesting age. I pray for these kids.
5. I encouraged my library volunteer to apply to substitute because when I am out it would be convenient to have her sub for me. So this year she did. Since her daughter started college this year and she hoped to make a little bit of money, she also did some subbing at other buildings. And less than one month into subbing, she was offered a full time job as an aide. So, there goes my library sub. Oh well. I am happy for her.
6. I have a leaf mold allergy. My sinuses feel so much better after we finally have a good hard freeze. The wet, mild fall has been killing my sinuses. I hate to say this, but right now I look forward to some cold, cold weather. Blow it to us Minnesota.  I am ready!
7. If you you think this was boring drivel, just think of what you could enjoy tomorrow for Boring Posts for Saturday. Join us and leave a comment if you would like us to visit your Boring Post.

Love, Love, Love

If you are old enough to remember the Beatles (and since they aren't all dead yet, most of us can remember some of them at least) you may hear the song in that post title. All You Need Is Love. In the 60s and 70s love in the media mostly referred to sex.  There was a kind of brotherly love, against war love, but that seemed to lead to sex as well.  Make love, not war. Not that everybody was having sex, but there was a lot of singing and talking about it.  It was a way of renouncing the prudish past when supposedly sex wasn't talked about or recognized at all, but if you listen to old songs or read old books or even watch old movies, you would have to ask when that was because there has always been a lot of sex out there in the media.

But this is the thing.  Love is not sex.  And sex is not love.  There can be a relationship between the two, but it isn't a given.  There is a lot of unloving sex.  And a lot of love that doesn't involve sex.  And that is what I'm talking about.  True love, love that forgives, love that lasts, love that doesn't wait for love in return.  Love that doesn't control, love that honors a person.  Love that builds up.  That was the love that Christ talked about.

That is the love we are supposed to have.  It is hard love.  I struggle with that love sometimes.  Some people are easy to love, and some aren't.  Loving them all is the challenge and sometimes I fail in that.  But, I keep asking for the grace to try again. Love, love, love.  All you need is love.

Thanks on Thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for the nature and wildlife that I can still find in my urban/ suburban neighborhood.  This is a rabbit's den in my rose garden.  For some reason they like the yarrow.  I am still a country girl at heart and I like to find the wildlife and feed the birds.  Thank You, God, for natural things.

The Alligator Thing

The alligator thing or problem is no closer to a solution, but it is coming to a point where I may be able and willing and even need to go public about it.  But, as it has played out lately, I feel safe in recapping this way.  On July 11 of this year a neighbor of ours had something constructed or placed something near or on or in our backyard.  At first this neighbor refused to speak with us, but finally agreed after we brought in the advice of an attorney.  At the meeting we may have been bullied and threatened and I may have left in tears and my hubby may have been asked to leave.

This one neighbor contends that we don't own our property or part of our property and since our other neighbor won't join us in complaining, the first neighbor can do whatever he pleases with our yard.  Our attorney has advised moving our fence to block part of the alligator.  This is complicated because it involves a city permit which the neighbor who placed or built the alligator did not get for his own construction.  Our fence will not remove the alligator, but may remove our liability in the matter and restore our property.

We tried getting in touch with the true owner of our neighbor's property and at first we were hopeful that this person or persons would help us, but now it looks as though they have circled the wagons and will do nothing. 

It is tough when you live next to a church sometimes. I bet this doesn't clear things up a bit, but it makes me feel better to put it out there even in the veiled way that I have chosen to do so.

Computer Quilting

I like to write.  That is my favorite part of blogging.  Not that I write well, I just enjoy doing it.  I also like to take digital pictures.  I don't have goats and my cats have long since ceased to do anything remotely interesting since they mostly sleep.  I don't have any boys to build go carts or girls to dress up.  No cute babies or even grandkids to show off.  So I do mostly flowers and old stuff and scan old pictures.

I am fascinated by Dawn's love of designing.  I don't really care about design, but I think it is interesting that she enjoys it so much.  For me it is sort of like people who like math (And isn't Dawn one of those people too?  What say you, Dawn?)  If you want to see some neat designs, you should go visit Dawn at Always Undecided.

As I said, playing with the computer and designing things is not my thing. But I was trying to pick a new picture for the top of the blog and I accidently started this thing up above. As I tried to correct it, it got worse and worse.  Until I finally decided that it wasn't worse and worse, it was better and better.  Quilting on the computer.  It won't replace real quilting and I don't really intend to do it again, but I thought I would share it with you.  (Should have saved it for Saturday though.)

Pioneer Woman, Welcome

Welcome to the St Louie, Ree Drummond, Pioneer Woman!  When I first started reading your blog you were still pretty small time and I thought, I could do that.  Only without the cooking, the photography, the horses, the punks, the dogs, well, okay, I couldn't do that.  But, I could blog.  You made it seem easy.

Then you got bigger and better and did a calendar and a remodeled a Lodge and told the story of your romance and finally wrote a cookbook.  And I knew I could never do any of those things.  I have entered your contests relentlessly.  I did come in 4th on a give that photo a name.  Hasty Puddin'.  Remember that one, Pioneer Woman?  That was me in the Lou.

I have bought 2 of your cookbooks and already given them away in the Pioneer Woman tradition.  I even looked for some more to buy and give away.  Sort of celebrating a blogger makes good story.  But, you were sold out.  Sold Out.  I looked 3 places.  I'm sure I could order from Amazon, but what would be the fun in that?  Ordering a web bloggers cookbook on the web?  Naw.

And tonight, even as this appears, you are appearing at some bookstore in downtown St Louis.  You are probably staying at the Adams Mark.  I was there at a meeting once. It is an impressive hotel, but not as nice as some you have shown on the tour.  But I have a little prayer group on Tuesday and I don't go downtown after dark.  So, there you have it.  I am missing you.  I hope you enjoyed St. Louis.  I am sure you would have been just as fun in person as you are on your blog.  I await your blog entry about the time you had in my fair city. 

But, if you come back, could you pick a mall in the 'burbs or the Wals Mart?  'Cause I really wanted to buy a cookbook and have you sign it. (Or hear your Ethel Merman impression.)

Tuesday Treasures--Grandma

I am the big girl in white, the rest of the kids are my siblings and the laughing woman is my grandma Mayme. I am sure this was Easter. Because we didn't carry baskets most of the year and we always spent Easter at Grandma's house. Such a good picture to illustrate her personality. She found joy even through the poverty, the sickness, the loss, and the distance from her children. She found joy in the everyday miracles of her life. She always planned for the next bit of fun she could make, she could create.

She once told me that it cost nothing to play a game of cards. Food was cheap back in those days. Everyday could be a party. That is the way Mayme lived. Everyday was a party. Somedays I think I am not enough like my grandma was.

For Dandelionmom, Tami, and anybody else who likes old recipes and recipes containing coffee here is my grandma's recipe for--
English Cookies
1 cup lard (or shortening) {I am thinking butter might work?}
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup cold coffee
3 cups flour plus 1/2 to 3/4 cup, as needed
2 eggs beaten well
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups of raisins
Cream sugars and lard well.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop by spoonfuls on slightly greased cookie pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes. Frost with thin powdered sugar icing while cookies are slightly warm. (My mom added that she always makes 1/2 the recipe and never ices them.) {I remember that sometimes my grandma would substitute chocolate chips for the raisins.}

Monday Memories--Old Car, Young Me

So here I am at 2 or 3 coming home from a long day's work in my snazzy car.  Or just posing out there perhaps for my daddy who liked to take my picture.  I can remeber riding in that car and hearing the purple people eater song.  There were no seat belts in cars like that.  My family drove all over the place like to Oklahoma and out west in this car.  Cars were built solid back in the day.  They were like tanks.  I think this one may have been an army green color.  The front isn't totally visable but if you could see it you would understand why cartoon artists in the 1950s illustrated vehicles with faces.

We moved away from this small Illinois town when I was 4 years old but I can close my eyes and still see it all.  I think there is a part of me that will always consider this place "home."  I haven't been there in at least 40 years.  But, it still looks like "home" in my memory.

Imagine my shock when I read in the newspaper that they are thinking of putting the Gitmo prisoners in a prison near my old hometown.

(Apologies for all the boring pictures.  I figured out the scanner. When I have a new skill, I find I have to play with it.)

Applesauce Coffeecake for Dawn

Because Dawn asked--
Applesauce Coffeecake
1 1/2 c whole wheat or unbleached flour (regular flour wouldn't kill you and would turn out the same)
1/3 c sugar or honey
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg (skip if you don't have it)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c oil or melted butter
1/2 c water
3/4 c applesauce
either--1/2 c chopped nuts and 1/2 c raisins or a chopped apple (I usually peel it first.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and get out an 8 inch square pan.  Here is the lovely part--mix dry ingredients in the pan.  Then add the wet ingredients to the pan, except the chopped apple or the raisin/ nuts.  Use a fork and mix thoroughly, scraping the sides of the pan several times to be sure that it is all mixed up. Stir in the raisin  and nuts or the chopped apple.  If you are fancy you can top it with a sugar cinnamon mixture before you bake it, but I usually don't bother.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool it and enjoy. This is one of the recipes from the Mary's easy collection. (If you are really fancy you could put whipped cream or ice cream on top, but then it is dessert and not coffeecake.) 

This makes a dark moist cake that seems rich, but it isn't really too bad when you consider the small amount of oil and no eggs.

But repeat after me, this is not becoming a cooking blog, reading recipes is boring. (To me)

Capping the Weekend

No surprise parties on Friday, praise God.  Except for the visual delight of the Shoe family wishes, which was lovely.  My son came over and we all went to Applebees. My hubby said it wasn't even too bad.

Because at our house birthdays are all about what you "got," I will have to admit that I got a few things.  Bananagrams which somebody had posted about on some blog (was it you?) and I had added it to my Amazon wish list and forgotten about.  I got a new thermos for my tea which I really needed.  I got a camera memory card and a new camera.  I haven't been brave enough to get it out and charge it up yet.  It wasn't the one I saw on Pioneer Woman's blog and put on my wishlist.  My husband assures me that it is better. It has better reviews.  He can't understand the desire to have the one I saw on the Pioneer Woman's blog anyway.

But, I didn't need the stuff.  At least there were no books which is a very good thing.  I had a little time to talk to my son and I avoided the angst filled subjects of--when are you finding a nice girl, getting married and giving me grandchild, and why don't you go to this prayer group for young adults.  Instead we spoke of cats and his cousins, and Thanksgiving plans.  So all in all it was a very nice birthday on Friday.

Saturday we met with a man about fencing out the "alligator."  It looks like soon I will be able to spill the whole alligator saga, because we haven't received the help we hoped for, so we owe no one silence on the subject.  At least so far.  Maybe the alligator posse will show up tomorrow and I will have to eat these words.  Our meeting brought fresh feelings about the whole situation out and so hubby and I spent most of Saturday evening at a nearby parish (not our own) in the Adoration Chapel.

Sunday morning one of our favorite people in the whole world who happens also to be an 80 year old priest celebrated 10:30 mass at our church so we had that to attend that one. He came over and ate applesauce coffeecake and blessed our house to help us with the alligator situation. (Surprisingly enough, who would have thought alligators would have involved priests?) I have been suffering a sinus infection for a week or so and I hope that it is coming to the end without resorting to antibiotics.  Go immune system!

Since September I have had endlessly busy weeks which is what happens when I am doing faith formation for an ACTS team and trying to live real life as well.  The end of all that is near.  I have the last teaming on Thursday this week and then the retreat in two weeks.  We aren't meeting Thanksgiving week.  I look forward to the days to come with more time to write blog pieces with more thought and comment on some neat things I read and perhaps work on something crafty and read a book or two or six, but the reality is that the retreat happens in the second week of Advent and by the time it is over I will be well on the way toward Christmas preparation. Not that I am a big shopper, but I do a lot of Christmas cards. (And cleaning should find a place in there somewhere.)

(Recipe surprise coming on Tuesday. Not the applesauce coffeecake, but I will do that one sometime. If you beg. If you care.)

Sunday Prayers

O, God, King of Creation, Lord of Israel and Father of us all, who gave us a Savior for all generations and sent Your Spirit to live in us when we accept Him.  Be with us, lead us, guide us, rescue us in our troubles and teach us to rejoice in Your mercy and Your love.  We ask in the name of Jesus, Our Lord. Amen

 

If you have needs this day, leave a comment and I will add you to my prayers.