I'm not trustworthy ... LOL

All the times I've said I am ready to post on a regular basis I've fallen by the wayside almost immediately ... not on purpose but I just get wrapped up in something else and I forget about blogging.  If I put a note on my calendar to blog, I just say "Ya, ya, ya ... tomorrow"  and we all knows what happens then - I forget.  The last post I made was in September 2018 and I guarantee that lots of stuff has happened since then.

I'm again going to try to remember to post and not about everything in the same post ... one or two happenings per post - do you think I can do that on a steady basis, maybe once a week to start?  I hope so, so don't write me off yet ... LOL ...

I hope my followers are still around and that includes family ... and maybe if I can post interesting enough things I can get a few more ... I'm hoping for that ... so I'll see you next week ... I hope!

I'm still around ... really!

I always seem to be busy in one way or the other ... but when I look back, I can't see one darn thing that was accomplished!  I'm retired so there's always time to get things done, except it just never seems to get done no matter what.

My procrastinating has got to STOP!!  I don't know how to schedule things that needs to get done so they get done ... I schedule my grocery shopping trips on things I'm running out of, like milk or coffee, but that doesn't help setting up a schedule.  When I do need to shop I gather several places that I need to go, but nothing gets scheduled ...

I have to see the doctor regularly to refill my prescriptions so that scheduling is on the calendar and I have no problem keeping the appointments.  I have Arthritis and terrible pain in hands and basic joints so I HAVE to have the pain meds.  Now why can't cleaning house be like that?  I like a clean house, but it so often looks like I picked up the house and shook it vigorously.  Then I complain about it for a month until I get sick of looking at it and things start to get done, but somehow I run out of steam ... I really run out of pain-free time and it takes several days for me to get the umph to continue.

I sure hope some one can come up with a schedule I can keep ... some way, some how! 


The first weekend of May I went camping with my friends to a Black Powder Shoot.  People in costumes from the mountain man era competing for prizes in a variety of activities representing that time.  A lot of fun!!  There are also raffles for different items and I won one this year!!!  A hand carved fish with lure on line in its mouth in a mountain stream with rocks and weeds.  It is about 10-11" long, 8-9" tall and 5-6" front to back.  ALL hand carved and painted.  It is a wonderful piece of art that the carver donates to a drawing every year.  I gave it to one of my best friends for his birthday ... he's more into fishing than I am, but I can see it anytime I visit him and his wife.  Looks wonderful sitting on top of a gun cabinet!

Another camping trip for my birthday was fun but pretty uneventful ... We just got back last Sunday from another birthday trip.  We spent almost 5 days in the woods.  I spent time reading and knitting; not too much fishing since it was lousy.  The weather was warm to hot during the day, but it did cool down at night so I could sleep.

See, I need to get on a schedule so I post more often ... April 5, 2015 is waayyy too long between posts.

Have a great day! 

Silence ...

I've been silent on sooo many things since I last posted ...

I've gone camping several times and have had a blast!  Now our group is preparing for Deer Camp starting on Sept. 30.  Opening day is Oct 4, but due to many people having discovered our campground, we need to get there almost a week early.  It is a small campground run by the BLM and it has the friendliest Hosts I've ever run across. 

The Michael Brown case is a joke.  MY belief is that a punk got what he deserved.  I don't care what color he is!!

Two beheaded journalists, and the Obamination has no respect ...

9/11 is on Thursday of this week ... I wonder how prepared the govt is to prevent anything from happening ... I bet, not much!  I don't want anything to happen, but if it did, I really don't think the govt would wake up ... nor care ...

I've been following too many news stories lately, but I am scared of my govt and what it won't do to save America and her people.  The world doesn't trust the admin and are laughing at us ...

Hopefully I can get back into my crafts; knitting, beading and sewing and stop this incessant "watching the news".  In one way I wish I could be a bit more oblivious to world events, but I can't let myself ignore the facts ... I am scared!

Next time I'll be in a better frame of mind and promise to have more fun!
Blessed Be

God Bless Boston

I didn't have anything specific to post today, but the Bombings in Boston at the Marathon made me angry, very, very angry.  What kind of people do this to other people?  Sick and deprave people with a mental problem.  I've seen heroes in action, I've seen the stunned faces of the victims ... I have trouble watching TV anymore.  May God bless and heal the participants in this tragedy, and may he put a foot up the butt of the guilty ... all the way so that the brain oozes out their ears.  Don't chastise me for this; God knows who did this and is not happy.

Bless you all muchly!
(((Hugs)))

More snowy pictures ...

I just love freshly fallen snow. Not all snow is light and fluffy, sometimes it has a high water content and can be very heavy to shovel. I take my time no matter what kind of snow I'm given; no over exertion for me! In my time frame there is no rush either.

I love impressions in the snow and tire tracks makes me wonder what kind of vehicle, where are they going, and why are they going there? Silly, I know, but my curious mind asks none the less.



Then there are footprints. My own this time. One simple footprint shows the tread on your shoe or boot. The little bit of snow at the toe of the boot shows that I was moving forward, but not in a hurry. As a matter of fact, I was on my way to photograph the tire track. I also like to stomp the snow down and have gazillion impressions. It looks like lacework.


This poor old lady is sooo lonely! She would make beautiful tire tracks as her tires are almost new. The tires may have been on her for 3-4 years, but she is used mostly for our summer and fall camping. I always wanted to try winter camping, but this camper is just not made for it. Plus, I really can't see myself sitting in the snow freezing by butt of and calling it fun, and I know that is what would happen!! LOL


So now that I've mentioned camping, I'll sit here and long for late spring. Our first camping trip is usually always the weekend after Memorial Day, the closest weekend to my birthday. It can still be a bit cool, but at least I won't have to be bundled up like 'Nanook of the North'!

I have a few more light hearted picture to show you, then I'll quit boring you with snowy pictures! LOL

Hugs

Tidbits . . .

I never got to post more pictures of the Lilacs and Iris. We have had horrendous thunderstorms for the last week, and they beat my flowers all to bits.

We went camping last weekend and took up almost half the campground with friends and family. It is a small campground - only about 11-12 spaces - but it is so perfect for us. There are pit toilets, fishing dock and boat dock. That's it, no more. The road and spaces are paved, but the rest is left natural. There are picnic tables and fire pits at each campsite. They are dog friendly and there is an area outside the fence for doggy duty.

My dog, SueAnn, is the biggest "fraidy cat" when it comes to thunderstorms and she did pretty well. There were so many people milling around and we all ignored her, so her wigging out was ignored even though I did keep an eye on her. Aside from the bit of thunder and rain in the late afternoons, the weather was nice - in the 70's during the day and around 35-40 at night.

After we got home the storms continued and got a lot worse. Monday night I literally had to hold SueAnn by the collar to keep her from tearing up my house. She wants to hide in the smallest nook or cranny she can find. Well that just doesn't work when you weigh 60 lbs.! I finally had a "duh" moment - go get the kennel! I brought it in and when she started to feel the storm, I led her to the kennel and she went right in. I have put it in my soon-to-be craft room and drawn the curtains so it's dark, closed the door to kitty width, and left her alone. When the storm is over she comes out with her tail wagging and all is good!

I went to get my driver's license renewed on Tuesday and you now have to have a ton of proof of who you are, where you live and that you are in the US legally. I am a legal permanent resident and have a "green card". Well, the green card is no good any more. Huh?? There is no expiration date on it as it is one of the older versions. OK, but I thought that it was fine . . . laws have passed that you need to renew every ten years. Great, OK I will do that. What a shock - $370. to renew and I have to go to Portland, 300 miles away, to have my fingerprints taken and a picture! That's it, they don't need me for anything else. I don't have a rig that I feel comfortable driving that many miles over the Cascades and up I-5. I will find a way to get there.

I submitted the application on Wednesday and in 4-6 weeks they will let me know when I have to be there. I have absolutely no say in the date and time. I have no idea how much lead time I will get. So in essence I drop what I'm doing and go. What a great use of my time and money . . . It will be an overnight trip, so there is gas, food and a motel room to pay for, to have my fingerprints and photo taken.... go figure.

I realize this is to thin out the illegal population, but I have been here since 1956, and they know it! Oh well, go with the flow . . . but why can't they accept certified fingerprints and a photo taken by the local Police, Sheriff or State Patrol? These departments are not in cahoots with the illegal population!

OK, I'm done ranting. I know I am feeling sorry for myself over these expenses, but I am a 62 year old grandmother on Social Security and this money could cover a lot of other expenses during a month . . .

Next time I post it will be a happy post - I promise! I just needed to sniffle a bit.

I should take my own advice - Life is a journey, enjoy the ride.

Hugs to all.

Don't forget your girlfriends

Today this popped into my brain. Some one sent this to me quite a while ago, just thought I'd pass it on - it makes you stop and think . . . it is a bit long, but worth reading.

"Don't forget your Girlfriends"

I sat on a summer day, drinking iced tea and visiting with my mother.

"Don't forget your girlfriends," Mother advised, clinking the ice cubes in her glass.
No matter how much you love your husband, you are still going to need girlfriends.

Remember to go places with them now and then;
and do things with them, even when you don't necessarily want to.

And remember that girlfriends are not only friends, but sisters, daughters, mothers, grandmothers and other relatives too.
Women supporting and relating to other women is our responsibility and our gift.

"What a funny piece of advice," I thought.
"Hadn't I just gotten married?
Hadn't I just joined the couple-world?
I was now a married woman, for goodness sake, not some young girl who needed friends!"

But I listened to my Mom. I kept in contact with my girlfriends and even found some
new ones along the way. As the years tumbled by, one after another, I gradually came to understand that Mom really knew what she was talking about!

Here is what I know:
Girl friends bring casseroles and scrub your bathroom when you need help;
Girlfriends keep your children and your secrets.
Girlfriends give advice when you ask, sometimes you take it and sometimes you don't.
Girlfriends don't always tell you you're right, but they usually tell the truth.
Girlfriends still love you, even when they disagree with your choices.
Girlfriends laugh with you and don't need canned jokes to start the laughter.
Girlfriends pull you out of jams.
Girlfriends don't keep a calendar of who hosted the other's last big party.
Girlfriends will celebrate for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby, in whichever order that happens.
Girlfriends are there for you in an instant, and when the hard times come.
Girlfriends will drive through blizzards, rainstorms, hail, heat, and gloom of night to get to you when your hour of need is desperate.
Girlfriends listen when you lose a job or a friend.
Girlfriends listen when your children break your heart.
Girlfriends listen when your parents' minds and bodies fail.
Girlfriends cry with you when someone you loved dies.
Girlfriends support you when the men in your life let you down.
Girlfriends help you pick up the pieces when men pack up and go.
Girlfriends rejoice at what makes you happy, and are ready to go out and kill what makes you unhappy.

Times passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up.
Marriages fail. Love waxes and wanes. Hearts break. Careers end.
Jobs come and go. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors.
Men don't call when they say they will.

But girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.

A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, your girlfriends will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out. My daughters, sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, nieces, cousins, extended family,
and friends bless my life.

The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead, nor did we know how much we would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still.

Hugs to all my girlfriends!!!

It's been a long time

I've been reading blogs, but have been a bit lazy when it comes to posting on my own. I will try to do better! There is stuff going on, but I don't necessarily think most of it has been post worthy. . . I've helping my room mate pack for his move - only 26 days left, boo hoo, and I think most of it is under control now. Of course, there is always last minute stuff and going through our Christmas decorations. We have sooo many outside lights that we just don't use any more - he will take them.

I've been futzing here at home, doing mindless stuff. I decided not to go through any more boxes of fabric until my room mate is moved out, that way I can spread out a bit more to really see what I have out in the shed. I know there are pillow forms, lots of fleece, not large pieces, but enough to warm up several people and kids! Hats, scarves, and I might even try to make some mittens. This would be for next year, since by the time I get to making them it will be warm enough to not need them.

I'm also trying to get the camper ready for a trip on April 24, 25 & 26. We will be camping at a higher elevation than I live, so I'll need plenty of warm fuzzies of all kinds. My friend Dale belongs to a Black Powder group, and they are having their first "Camping Shoot" this month. A lot of the group members dress in period clothing, have old guns, and have a ball doing this! I'm going to go for the camping. I have to leave my dog at home because she is terrified of guns and rifles. I can leave her with my room mate this time, but at the "Shoot" in June, I either have to find someone to watch her or not go.

Well, back to real life.

Back soon!

Well, ain't that something

It started the day before yesterday with some rain and flurries. OK, I'm fine with that. (remember my previous post - "a slight dusting") Overnight and yesterday morning it continued to rain a bit and flurry a lot. Hmmm . . .

This picture from yesterday, shows a little bit of snow on the tree (far left branches)by my back door. You can see it just coming down in the distance.


And it snowed, and it snowed, and we got some more snow! You can see the same tree, as previous picture (far left) with heavy snow on the branches - that was this morning!

(that little building in the background - it is my well pump shed, not an out door pottie, we are a bit more civilized than that!!!)

I had left my Jeep out so it would get washed off by the rain, yeah, right! See what happened because I didn't jump right out there and put it in the car port!!!

This was yesterday morning -


. . . and this was first thing this morning . . .


If you look closely at the fence behind the vehicles, you can see the snow on each and every little metal strand. It is just beautiful and looks like lace.

Would you believe it - it is snowing a bit right now as I type!

This is not a ginormous, heavy snowfall type storm, but it sure is more than a slight dusting. Not really that much snow for us, but there is about 4-6 inches out there!

With all the snow having melted, I was starting to look forward to cleaning and stocking the camper, ha, ha, ha! I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer.

You know, with my saying that we will only get a dusting now and again, do you think that if I say I will only get a little bit of money, that it will grow in comparison to the snow? One flat $100 bill is a slight dusting, and can you imagine 4-6 inches worth of $100 bills . . . Yahooooooooooo! "I'm in the money, I',m in the money . . . well, I can dream, can't I??

Hugs to you all
(and I am staying warm!!)

happy dance, happy dance . . .

We got SNOW!!! It's only about 6 inches total in the last 3-4 days, but it is sticking around! I love watching the snow fall. It doesn't matter if I'm inside or out. I usually go outside if the wind is NOT blowing, that wind chill just kills me, but sitting in the living room and watching is terrific too. We didn't get as much snow as Ravenhill up in Norway though!

My room mate has not made up his mind, nor has he looked real hard for another vehicle. He has been driving my truck, but that GMC is a gas hog, I was going to say that he can use it until he leaves, but depending on his move date, maybe not. We start camping in mid May and I will camp. He can then drive my Jeep, but with his height, 6'4", it is a tight fit even with the seat all the way back.

D, my room mate, picked up some deals on meat a couple of days ago. Tonight we had a cross rib roast. I had never heard of this kind of cut, but did the Google thing for a recipe. Found tons!!! Looked at half a dozen and just combined them with the ingredients I had on hand - came out yummy, yummy, yummy. Cooked it on the stove top, like a pot roast, but cooked it in beef broth and red cooking wine. OMG!!! The gravy was heavenly. The roast, fried potatoes, and corn. I'll do this again - I have another one in the freezer.

I've been watching the tornado damage in Oklahoma and the wild fires in Australia - WOW, my heart and prayers go out to every one affected. I cannot reasonably understand what would make anyone set fires during a heavy duty wind storm. Makes you wonder what trips these peoples buttons...

I wish for all of you health and happiness.
(((Hugs)))

The next step . . .

My room mate now has to decide what kind of car he wants. Of course he'd like the exact same car - 40 mpg - but I wonder how many are out there? He's also a bit interested in a truck since he will be moving to Texas this June. There are lots of pickups available since they don't get the best mileage, but, things are up in the air.

We have not had any more snow even though for the last couple of weeks, the weatherman has promised a few inches. As long as the snow falls in the higher elevations, I'm not that concerned, but I sure really would like at least one more big storm before Spring.

I need to get myself into the crafting mode - even my shopping bags have fallen by the wayside. I have 6 completed, but there are still 4 more to go.

I have one more month and I can sign up for Social Security. I will find out what kind of income I will get - not enough to live on I'm sure, but I will then have an idea of what to do. Medicare is still 4 years off, but I have good insurance right now. I've known all my working life that I need to save for retirement, but that was hard when you're always in the "low income range". Well, time to get my butt in gear to make up the difference - but only time will tell what I'll do.

I wish everyone a happy weekend, no matter the weather.

Warm (relative) spell

Last Saturday it was nice enough during the afternoon that we barbecued. Love barbecued chicken!

It is 18 degrees outside as I type this. It should warm up to about 48 today. The gravel in the driveway is frozen.

When I let the dog out this morning, I saw a herd of deer running through the neighbors yard. This always makes me smile.

I sure hope we, here in Southern Oregon, get a lot more snow this season. What's left on the ground is dirty and not looking good any more. I love a bright, clean layer of snow.

No matter how much more snow I'd like to still see this season, I'm already thinking of Spring.

These are just a few thoughts in my mind this morning.

Camera, camera where are you ? ? ?

I need to dig out some new batteries for my camera so I can post some pictures. It's getting boring without pictures. Though all you would get is snow, snow and some more snow. I could always show you how low the temperature is on my thermometer . . . It is suppose to go down to 8 degrees over night.

I've had the wood stove going for the last month. I need to gather the ash bucket and go dump it. The snow isn't that deep right now, so I can make my way down to the burn pile and gently toss them there. When there's 3 feet on the ground, it is a bit hard to get down there, but I should just bundle up and go for it . . . yup, I will . . . tomorrow! It's dark out now and trying to get down the hill with an ash bucket and a flashlight is not my idea of fun. I'd end up on my butt in the snow, covered with ash and the dog licking my face. Ummm, NO.

Tonight I started making a small grocery bag. I will finish tomorrow and get a picture of it. It is a bit too small, but will work for a short trip. I found some denim and feel good about the fabric strength, but it is stiff and not quite what I want. I will have to dig out the older sheets and some fabric for lining. I think that will be easier and I will be able to make them bigger without the weight.

I just know that I need to make at least 10-12 of them. I usually only shop once every 2 weeks, but Donavan is coming home from his sister's and I've depleted a lot of our stock. It needed to be used since the 'stale' date was approaching, but now the cupboard looks empty. Ahhh, can't have it all, now can we??? LOL


The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

a whole new year!

in which to mess up something!!! LOL

We have had some warming, up to 38 degrees. We have had some rain, the snow is melting. Also some wind. The snow will return, but at least I don't have to worry about my roof for a while - thank goodness - I hate crawling up there to shovel!

I need to stop looking for craft ideas and start to "do". I have a list of things I want to make that is sooo long that in order to make every thing, I will live to be 250 or older! I have lots of beading thingies I want to make, Valentine's Day is coming up, then St. Patrick's Day, and before you know it Easter will be around the corner! That's just the beading . . .

Now I also want to sew. I really need to make some shopping bags for myself since Wal-Mart (the place we love to hate!) is going to be charging for their lousy plastic bags. 25 cents each! I have some older sheets that I will use, and maybe some of my t-shirts . . . I found instructions for both on the net, several for each in fact.

Like I said I need to stop looking for more patterns after I find what I need, but there always seems to be better things just around the corner, so to speak. I have a folder that is bulging and that is hard to do with the "Favorites". Well, maybe for you, but I seem to have pages and pages of Favorites. I think I need to make sub-folders. Yup, more new year cleaning up. Does it ever stop? Nooo, I don't think so, but I will take it one day at a time, and try to get a few things done this year.

I will leave you with the thought all crafters have:

Creative clutter is better than idle neatness.

on this last day of 2008

I wish everyone the very best in 2009. May all your hopes, wishes and dreams come to pass, and may you soar with happiness.

I want to thank every one who has commented and to let you know that it means a lot to me. If I cannot thank you individually, please know that you are still very much appreciated. All the best in 2009!

Not to back step, but I have added a button to my site to "Save Handmade". The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act will go into effect on February 10, 2009 and will keep small handmade toy businesses from operating any more. Each product needs to be tested for all sorts of safe features, costing these business hundreds of dollars per product. They cannot continue in business with this kind of cost in their budget. Please check out Cool Mom Picks and contact any one and every one listed and linked on her site. This could affect you, let's all help each other.

Wow . . .

I went back and looked at my post from yesterday, phew, I sounded really, really bad - nothing nice to say about anything! I can usually let things go, just attribute it to the times we live in, but since my trip to the market came out of my pocket, I just let it all out! I need to calm down. LOL

Lets see what I can do today . . . I 'met' another blogger, Betty of Joy in Our Lives. She left a very nice comment on my blog a few days ago, and I thought that she sounded like a wonderful and fun person. I checked out her blog and Boy, was I right. She has a house full of fur children, a great husband and a family that won't quit! I will be following her, and I have listed her in my sidebar, check it out.

My fur kids might not be rescue animals, but they've come to me - I did not look for them, so in a way I did rescue them. I have also had many that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and I know we will make quite a commotion when we all meet again.

This post wasn't meant to be sad . . . (as I sniffle at all the memories) but a celebration of all the varied lives that have touched mine. I've had a huge volume of cats through the years, but only 2 dogs. I had Tramp when I was 12 or so. He was literally a Heinz 57. Happy, fun and very lovable. When we moved from the house we lived in, we gave Tramp to our neighbors so he could have a yard and family full of kids. We moved to a small apartment and Tramp would not have been either happy or welcome there.

SueAnn is my current dog type companion. She is now 7. I got her 2 months after moving here to Oregon. At best we figure her birthday as 9-11, and the birth year was 2001. I needed a 'good' memory of that day, and SueAnn has been GREAT! She is part Lab and part Hound. Her nose and voice are Hound, the rest is small black Lab. She has the most expressive face and ears. The ears are floppy, but when she is really listening to something they sort of come up.

She is medium-large at 56 lbs, has a long tail like a whip and smiles and 'talks' to me. She has left bruises on my legs from her tail - I can't believe it doesn't hurt her when she hits anything with that tail! When I say she 'talks', she really does! Not words, but kind of low noises - not barks, she's been told to use her "inside voice" and will kind of "woo,woo". You have to hear her to believe it. And she can keep it up until she gets what she wants (mostly). There are times when I tell her "NO", and she will walk away totally deflated. Makes me laugh, but then she'll get her treat anyway - I'm well trained to follow orders!

She is very afraid of gunfire and thunder storms. Living here in the Southern Oregon Cascades, there is some sort of hunting season going on for most of the year, and SueAnn does NOT like it one bit. If it is off in the distance and only makes a 'pop' she will look to me to see if she should panic or not, but if it is loud and close by, she will come running to be let in, or try to climb on my shoulders! I can sometimes diffuse the fear by asking her "Did they get it?" with an excited tone to my voice, but that doesn't always work. She also dislikes/fears thunderstorms and the summer is fun here - we get our share of them too.

She is on medication to help calm her, but she is still not happy with the sounds. She does not go ballistic like she use to, but she still wants to hide and be in a safe place. I've got a kennel that we tried using, but she doesn't like to be confined either. Aarrrggghhh! I take each incident of gunfire and thunderstorms as they come, but I never know how bad she will get. Desensitizing has been tried and doesn't work - the sounds are not normal, they are recorded and she knows the difference. She "feels" thunderstorms hours before they get here - atmospheric pressure and all that stuff. She will start walking around with her tail sooo tucked that she looks like she doesn't have one, and will stay so close to me that if I stop she will either step on me or I on her! I wish I could help her deal with this, but I don't know what else to try besides more medication and I don't want a doped up dog. Any one have any other ideas?

Sorry this got so long, but that's my SueAnn . . . well, parts of her anyway.

. . . and Christmas is only 14 days away, yup 14 days, two weeks away, that's it. Then you can breathe for a while and start on next year!!!! LOL

I will leave you with this: I try to be the kind of human my dog thinks I am.

(((Hugs))) everyone!

Boy, am I angry . . .

I went to Wal-Mart today - the store we all love to hate! I know the prices of everything I purchase and I can't believe that what I bought today cost $20 MORE than what I got two weeks ago! There are a few prices that have gone down, but most have gone up by at least 10 cents! In two weeks??? How do families do it? I know that I'm ready to cut a few things out, but good gracious, this is ridiculous. I could stand to loose a few pounds, but I prefer to do it myself, not dictated to by what I can afford or not!

I think next time I go to town, I will try a discount market just to see what I end up paying. Probably more, since I won't be going in for another two weeks. I HATE going to town to shop! Don't get me wrong, I like to eat, but, phew!! I do use some packaged, easy to fix meals, but if you compare the ingredients to fresh, I wonder if you come out ahead? Probably not. I also buy a lot of brand name products instead of generic - I tried the generic stuff and found the flavors greatly lacking. Why should I buy cheap and not like the taste, to purchasing brand name and enjoying my own cooking? And I do like my own cooking - LOL . . .

We don't eat a lot of meat, but when we do, I want the leanest and tastiest I can get. Why spend less money on meat that is full of fat and have lots less when done cooking? I want flavorful foods that taste good and fill me up.

Ahhh, why am I ranting? I guess because I can. And, how good for us is the food that we buy? Most has too much fat and too many chemicals. I don't care how good the food producers are at advertising, most skirt the health issue. The FDA needs to really, really check into the claims that are made. Yeah, sure.

Last night I watched a news report on the elderly in Okinawa, Japan. They have a major population OVER 100 years of age. Cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease are almost unheard of in Okinawa. They eat low fat, low sodium and low chemical content foods. And their portions are not "Super Sized"! We, even I, could learn a lot from these people. Neither do we exercise like we should. I am guilty too. Most of us say we have no time - turn off the TV, computer and all other electronic gadgets, and take a walk each night after dinner. The WHOLE family! Kids and all. Take the dog, it probably needs exercise too!

All this as I just finished two small pork chops with spinach on the side. LOL The chops were cooked in margarine, with Worcesteshire Sauce and water to steam. Worcestershire Sauce - the king of sodium! Not the healthiest, but . . .better than a lot of meals I've cooked. Like lots of mashed potatoes with butter and gravy!

I guess I can only do the best for me, but people need to really look at what they fix and eat. Just my opinion, but shared by many I know.

As a footnote to this - I eat my share of crap too, I love garlic Triscuits and can eat a box in one sitting if I don't watch myself!

I think I should end this - I'm just getting more and more frustrated at the treatment of the people by large corporations. No more than I use to, but shopping today just brought it out in the open.

Speaking of food - here is some 'food' for thought:
How we live our days is how we live our lives.

Hugs to every one. Really! LOL

19

Not that I'm counting or anything - but the days are starting to go faster and faster . . . and on the 26th they will come to a complete stop. No more, nada, ziltch, over, done . . . that is for another year. Phew.

Every year I keep saying, a few weeks after Christmas, that I will start on the next year. Uh, huh, yup, right!!! I want to, well part of me wants to, the other just sticks its tongue out at me. Well this coming year it will happen. You just watch and see!

Once in a while, I have the tv on in the background of my day, just for some movement and a little noise. There are two sentences that I hear over and over and over again. And I HATE them.

"If I (he, she) can do it, you can do it" or some verbal equivalent. It has been sooo over used that I want to puke!!! Of course the other one (to me) is no better. Ever since Shaker design and/or Minimalism was discovered (?) I have heard the term "Less is more." Aarrrggghhhh! I also HATE that statement. I swear I have heard it forever! less of what? furniture, decorations, dust bunnies, dog hair?????? less what?

These two statements can drive me up a wall, and that's not a pretty sight!

"If I can do it, you can do it" I DON'T WANT TO! How's that? "Less is more." Less is BORING!!!!!

OK, now that I've gotten that said, I feel great! I need to leave to go work out and I can stomp the rest of my aggravation out to my hearts content on the treadmill!!! Works every time! I may not be loosing weight, which I need to, but I'm toning and starting to feel a lot better. I guess the weight will come off eventually??

Oops, just looked at the clock - I'm out of here . . .

Fog

It has come and gone all day, just like the cat . . .


FOG

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg

relax? who me? I've got work to do . . .

I've been working hard at getting the website put together, but it seems the harder I work on it the more there is to do! I'm not complaining because I need this to work for me, but the more I do, the more I learn that I don't know much! Hmmm! I've always done my own kind of beading, but even I need to learn how to do it correctly.

I asked my daughter "Gee hon, don't you need some craft or beading supplies?" Sure, she said, but I can't figure out how to buy from your site. Well, let me tell you - if she can't figure out how to purchase from my site then I KNEW no one else could. That set my teeth on edge and I've been furiously trying to get it together ever since. I need to have her look at my site again . . . and to see if she can figure out how to buy something now that I've made some changes!

The site is all about Beading for Beginners. There is lots of information about starting beading, there will be TONS of information as time goes by! There are links to buy supplies, tools, beads, etc., etc. There will be recommendations, patterns and ideas for projects. I have a huge list of beading societies from across the country and world wide, but if you know of a group that would like to be represented, please email me and I will add the group to the list. Also, if you see, or know of an error that I've made, again, please let me know and it will be corrected.

I take a break once in a while to get a bite to eat, but most of the day is spent doing a bit of research on the various aspects of beading, writing about beading and fixing the links so my visitors can get more information and supplies. I have to watch myself so that I don't get ridiculous with the research - like a major overload of information! I've done it before and all I want to do is cry and whine about how much info there is out there, and that I will never know it all. Well, it is my goal to have a very informative web site with all the 'stuff' that is needed to know what you're doing, and to teach you how to grow and develop your beading.

I just re-read everything, changed some, and figured out that I want the world at my feet... Really tall order for a new website, huh? Just smile, nod and tell me I can do it and I will love you forever!

I think I'll take a break now and catch my breath, and leave you with a crafting thought:

Creative clutter is better than idle neatness.