It is almost Christmas. Less than a week away in fact. Since it is really cold outside I have decided to spent the day inside, tending the fire to keep the house warm and keep the heater from coming on again. I have the History channel on, but I’m not really paying attention to it. I am letting my mind wonder a bit to Christmases’ past. Several I remember happened in the sixties. One Christmas day it was so hot out, that we all had shorts on! I can still hear my one Uncle kidding my Dad about having to cut the grass.
But just a few years latter, we had a very unexpected snow storm. That one I remember with more detail. The whole family decided to go to the store to get those last minute things that always come up. When we left the house, it was cool out, 50’s, and no storm was expected at all. We were in the store about an hour or so when people started to make a mass exit from the building. We looked out and were surprised to nothing but white. Time to head for the car and home. Didn’t make the car, to many accidents on the ice and snow! So we walked home, about 2 miles. None of us were dressed for a winter storm at all. That was one long, cold, slippery walk. I think we ended up with about a foot and a half of snow that year for Christmas.
Another one that I will never forget was the year I made and gave my older brother a quilt for Christmas. I worked on it after school and weekends. It was started in October and the last stitch was put in on Christmas eve. I used pieces of material from clothing that any member of the family would recognize. My Grandmother apron, my grandfather’s shirt, Dad’s pajamas, etc, etc. the backing was fake fur of a reddish color. The quilt was knotted using a gray yarn. The colors were chosen because of his school colors, high school and college.
Christmas morning, everyone is opening their presents. My brother, not finding anything from me under the tree, jokingly (?) said something about me being to cheap to get him something. With that I reach behind the sofa and grab the quilt which I then throw at him. He slowly opens it out to see that it is queen size and that he knew where each piece of material came from. With a tear in his eye, he asks if it is for him and did I make it.
A few years later, my brother married and a few years after that they started their family. I can remember visiting them one fall and hearing my niece ask my Mother to “read” the quilt to her. The quilt was made at least forty years ago, so I don’t think it is still around. But that year, the year of the quilt, I got the present of a life time. I made my brother cry and I caused him to be speechless at the same time.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wringer Washer
This past week my hubby and I went looking for a new washing machine. The one I have been using is an old wringer washer. I had bought it about 20 years ago because my Mother wanted one. It was used when I got it, just refurbished. When the washer before the wringer went, my hubby thought I was totally insane when I told him to bring the wringer up from my Dad’s house.
This wasn’t the first time I used a wringer to do all my laundry wasn’t the second or third time either. I think I first learned to do laundry using a wringer. That was way back when I was in junior high. Before I was in high school, both hands had gone through the wringer (not at the same time of course) and my then long hair had gotten cough in it at least twice. I don’t know which hurt most, the hands or the pulling of my hair. At least nothing got broken and there was no bleeding.
When I was married to my first husband, we (I) had a wringer also. Both when we lived in Italy and when we lived with his father. Nothing exciting about the wringer in Italy, it was in the kitchen of the apartment we were renting. But the one at his father’s house was really interesting. We had only cold running water, no hot water heater. And the wringer was on the back porch year round. We lived in the mountains outside of Bloomsburg, PA. My daughter was about three and my son was one. So I had diapers to do. And it was cold in the winter, and the water was even colder. I usually had to get the blow torch to thaw the water pipe so the cold water would flow in the winter.
I know if I had had a choice when my kids were little, I would not have had a wringer. But the choice was not mine to make. The choice was my ex-mother-in-laws. She may not have lived there in that house, but she ruled it. What she said is what you did. No ands ifs or buts about it.
I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way, but I’m glad that there is automatic washers now. And that they don’t have to be that expensive, unless you want one with a lot of bells and whistles. Me, I’m happy getting a used washer. Hubby wanted to go a regular store and look into getting a new washer. And he dangled the idea of getting a stackable washer/dryer unit. I wanted to go to the Rescue Mission (everything id donated and the monies made from selling goes to help the needy) to see what they had.
At the Mission, they didn’t have one I wanted, but they were expecting one. And they were sure that I would be very happy with it. How did they know that I would like the one coming in next week? We deal with the Mission a lot. During the summer, my hubby’s garden keeps them in fresh veggies. Anyway, we left a deposit and are now waiting for them to call us. I don’t mind using the wringer I have, but it will be so nice to have an automatic again.
This wasn’t the first time I used a wringer to do all my laundry wasn’t the second or third time either. I think I first learned to do laundry using a wringer. That was way back when I was in junior high. Before I was in high school, both hands had gone through the wringer (not at the same time of course) and my then long hair had gotten cough in it at least twice. I don’t know which hurt most, the hands or the pulling of my hair. At least nothing got broken and there was no bleeding.
When I was married to my first husband, we (I) had a wringer also. Both when we lived in Italy and when we lived with his father. Nothing exciting about the wringer in Italy, it was in the kitchen of the apartment we were renting. But the one at his father’s house was really interesting. We had only cold running water, no hot water heater. And the wringer was on the back porch year round. We lived in the mountains outside of Bloomsburg, PA. My daughter was about three and my son was one. So I had diapers to do. And it was cold in the winter, and the water was even colder. I usually had to get the blow torch to thaw the water pipe so the cold water would flow in the winter.
I know if I had had a choice when my kids were little, I would not have had a wringer. But the choice was not mine to make. The choice was my ex-mother-in-laws. She may not have lived there in that house, but she ruled it. What she said is what you did. No ands ifs or buts about it.
I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way, but I’m glad that there is automatic washers now. And that they don’t have to be that expensive, unless you want one with a lot of bells and whistles. Me, I’m happy getting a used washer. Hubby wanted to go a regular store and look into getting a new washer. And he dangled the idea of getting a stackable washer/dryer unit. I wanted to go to the Rescue Mission (everything id donated and the monies made from selling goes to help the needy) to see what they had.
At the Mission, they didn’t have one I wanted, but they were expecting one. And they were sure that I would be very happy with it. How did they know that I would like the one coming in next week? We deal with the Mission a lot. During the summer, my hubby’s garden keeps them in fresh veggies. Anyway, we left a deposit and are now waiting for them to call us. I don’t mind using the wringer I have, but it will be so nice to have an automatic again.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Help Posting Pictures
I was told that I needed to add some visual to this blog that I am attempting to do. And they are right. I have tons of pictures I could be using. If I only knew how to get it done, but nothing I do works. Pictures that I have saved on my computer have disappeared when I have attempted to incorporate them into a posting or article or whatever you call each one of these that I‘m writing and you are reading. And by disappear, I mean just that. They are no where to be found, not on the computer or in my postings. Don’t ask me what I’m doing because I have no idea.
It took me a while to figure out how to do a link, and that was easy for me to get the hang of. It only took a week or two. So, until I can figure out the picture thing, you will be stuck with links. And I can do a lot of links if I wanted to. I have kind of gotten used to the idea of searching the web for things. Well, that is now that I think I have hang of that.
My granddaughter is always putting pictures on MySpace. Okay, some of them are side ways. But she is doing it! And from her cell phone no less! Me, I can’t the pictures off my phone no matter what I do. And for me to try to text, well, lets just say there isn’t enough time, either on the phone or in a day, for me to even get started. Besides, I can probably talk faster than I could text. I know I can talk faster than I can type and I type about 70 words per minute.
So if anyone out there wants pictures, I will need a lot of help. Start sending me your instructions and I will try them. And if someone does send instructions and they work, I’ll give you credit for it in the posting that has my first picture in it. But you had better hurry, I’ve been searching the web for answers.
But I seriously believe the I will be the one to finally gets the answers needed while searching the web. Why? Because I don’t really believe anyone out there reads these things. And if someone is reading this, it is because they can’t sleep and are bored out of their minds. It would be nice to know that I am wrong though.
It took me a while to figure out how to do a link, and that was easy for me to get the hang of. It only took a week or two. So, until I can figure out the picture thing, you will be stuck with links. And I can do a lot of links if I wanted to. I have kind of gotten used to the idea of searching the web for things. Well, that is now that I think I have hang of that.
My granddaughter is always putting pictures on MySpace. Okay, some of them are side ways. But she is doing it! And from her cell phone no less! Me, I can’t the pictures off my phone no matter what I do. And for me to try to text, well, lets just say there isn’t enough time, either on the phone or in a day, for me to even get started. Besides, I can probably talk faster than I could text. I know I can talk faster than I can type and I type about 70 words per minute.
So if anyone out there wants pictures, I will need a lot of help. Start sending me your instructions and I will try them. And if someone does send instructions and they work, I’ll give you credit for it in the posting that has my first picture in it. But you had better hurry, I’ve been searching the web for answers.
But I seriously believe the I will be the one to finally gets the answers needed while searching the web. Why? Because I don’t really believe anyone out there reads these things. And if someone is reading this, it is because they can’t sleep and are bored out of their minds. It would be nice to know that I am wrong though.
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Knox Verdict
I am very deeply saddened by Amada Knox’s verdict. But I shouldn’t be surprised by it. Italy, and its people, are not true friends of the United States or its citizens. I can say that because I lived there for two and one half years. And if you do not agree, then you have not lived there among its people.
The people there were very eager to condemn all Americans for any and all actions committed by others. They were also very eager to take whatever the could from us by any means necessary.
They have three prices for everything. The lowest is for its citizens, the middle is for the rest of the Europeans (tourist, is what they are called), and the highest is for all Americans. And the difference between the lowest and the highest can be as little as $5, or as much as $300 and sometimes even higher. That is true in rent, utilities, food and anything else you would want to, or need to buy there. And being able to speak the language won’t help you at all either.
One of the “sports” over there is to see if they, the Italians, can frighten the Americans enough to make them leave their apartment so that they can go in and trash it. And once they get into it, they trash everything. Not steal anything, just trash and destroy everything in it. By trash and destroy I mean just that. Smash all the food jars, puncture cans, tip the refrigerator over, rip up all the clothing and shits, urinate anywhere they can, and the list goes on and on.
No, this did not happen to me over there. But then we put extra locks on all the doors and no one else had the keys. Our landlady was not very happy about that at all, but we did it anyway. And I believe that is the main reason we were spared. But I do know several people that it did happen to while I was living there. One was less than a block away, and it happened while they were visiting us and in broad daylight!
From everything I have been able to read about Knox’s trial, the only thing that Amanda did was go to Italy to study. Everything that the prosecution brought forward was fabricated. Either in their own minds or someone else’s. Probably the police, they were of no help to us Americans when I was living there and I don’t think they have changed at all since I left there. If anything they have gotten worse.
My heart goes out to Amanda and her family and friends. I will pray for them each and every day, just as I have been since I first heard about the case. May God give you the strength to get through the days, weeks, months and years to come.
The people there were very eager to condemn all Americans for any and all actions committed by others. They were also very eager to take whatever the could from us by any means necessary.
They have three prices for everything. The lowest is for its citizens, the middle is for the rest of the Europeans (tourist, is what they are called), and the highest is for all Americans. And the difference between the lowest and the highest can be as little as $5, or as much as $300 and sometimes even higher. That is true in rent, utilities, food and anything else you would want to, or need to buy there. And being able to speak the language won’t help you at all either.
One of the “sports” over there is to see if they, the Italians, can frighten the Americans enough to make them leave their apartment so that they can go in and trash it. And once they get into it, they trash everything. Not steal anything, just trash and destroy everything in it. By trash and destroy I mean just that. Smash all the food jars, puncture cans, tip the refrigerator over, rip up all the clothing and shits, urinate anywhere they can, and the list goes on and on.
No, this did not happen to me over there. But then we put extra locks on all the doors and no one else had the keys. Our landlady was not very happy about that at all, but we did it anyway. And I believe that is the main reason we were spared. But I do know several people that it did happen to while I was living there. One was less than a block away, and it happened while they were visiting us and in broad daylight!
From everything I have been able to read about Knox’s trial, the only thing that Amanda did was go to Italy to study. Everything that the prosecution brought forward was fabricated. Either in their own minds or someone else’s. Probably the police, they were of no help to us Americans when I was living there and I don’t think they have changed at all since I left there. If anything they have gotten worse.
My heart goes out to Amanda and her family and friends. I will pray for them each and every day, just as I have been since I first heard about the case. May God give you the strength to get through the days, weeks, months and years to come.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Statue Garden
There is a house not to far from us that has a nice size statue garden. By that I mean a garden of nothing but all kinds and sizes of statues. No plants, just statues. I have never stopped to take a really close look, but I would have to say that none of the statues are over 2 feet tall.
It sits right by the side of the road on a little embankment. The whole thing is outlined with landscaping timbers and the owner or caretaker has put down landscaping fabric to keep the weeds at bay. I do have to admit that it is very well cared for.
During the summer when ever we would drive by, I would try to see what all was in there. I do know that there is a statue of Snow White, some animals, and a lot of gnomes. And I noticed that the caretaker changes thing every now and then. They get moved and changed several times during the summer months. I think the caretaker has more gnomes hidden someplace and swaps them out every now and then.
I’m not sure which house owns that little bit of land but one day I will find out and get permission to really have a good look at things. Stopping on the road isn’t to safe, it’s narrow, it’s on a curve, and there is no place to really pull over. So closer inspection will have to wait for warmer weather.
For some reason I am fascinated by gnomes lately. Well, ever since I went to Ireland about 12 years ago. Gnomes remind me of “Wee Folk”, leprechauns. Both are mythological beings that have millions of people fascinated with the thought of them having actually existed. Authors have included them as characters in books, plays and movies. Books have been written about finding and caring for them. I have even found web sites dedicated to them. And I have even found a web site that is trying to free gnomes from their “oppressive” owners.
I don’t want the gnome police coming to my door, but I do have several picked out that I want for my garden. Grandpa gnome looks so sweet and loving holding his grandchild, and the lawn mowing gnome just looks so content mowing away. Oh, how I wish that one was for real! There are times that I want to be the on strike gnome, and do nothing but lay in a hammock and sleep, just like another gnome I saw. But to show my support to all our brave men and women in all branches of the military, there is a military gnome.
Yes, I know the ones I want to start my collection with, the only problem I am having is trying to decide where in the garden they will be placed. I want them to be seen, but I have been told that they are very shy beings and I don’t want to upset them. If I am really good to them, maybe they will bring a leprechaun to my garden and I can get the pot of gold!
It sits right by the side of the road on a little embankment. The whole thing is outlined with landscaping timbers and the owner or caretaker has put down landscaping fabric to keep the weeds at bay. I do have to admit that it is very well cared for.
During the summer when ever we would drive by, I would try to see what all was in there. I do know that there is a statue of Snow White, some animals, and a lot of gnomes. And I noticed that the caretaker changes thing every now and then. They get moved and changed several times during the summer months. I think the caretaker has more gnomes hidden someplace and swaps them out every now and then.
I’m not sure which house owns that little bit of land but one day I will find out and get permission to really have a good look at things. Stopping on the road isn’t to safe, it’s narrow, it’s on a curve, and there is no place to really pull over. So closer inspection will have to wait for warmer weather.
For some reason I am fascinated by gnomes lately. Well, ever since I went to Ireland about 12 years ago. Gnomes remind me of “Wee Folk”, leprechauns. Both are mythological beings that have millions of people fascinated with the thought of them having actually existed. Authors have included them as characters in books, plays and movies. Books have been written about finding and caring for them. I have even found web sites dedicated to them. And I have even found a web site that is trying to free gnomes from their “oppressive” owners.
I don’t want the gnome police coming to my door, but I do have several picked out that I want for my garden. Grandpa gnome looks so sweet and loving holding his grandchild, and the lawn mowing gnome just looks so content mowing away. Oh, how I wish that one was for real! There are times that I want to be the on strike gnome, and do nothing but lay in a hammock and sleep, just like another gnome I saw. But to show my support to all our brave men and women in all branches of the military, there is a military gnome.
Yes, I know the ones I want to start my collection with, the only problem I am having is trying to decide where in the garden they will be placed. I want them to be seen, but I have been told that they are very shy beings and I don’t want to upset them. If I am really good to them, maybe they will bring a leprechaun to my garden and I can get the pot of gold!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Mickey Mouse
I have a friend who loves Mickey Mouse. Every summer the family vacation was a two week long trip to Disney World. The planning for the next trip would start before the even arrived back home. So I was not surprised when my friend told me they were moving to Florida. And I was not surprised when I got a call to tell me she had gotten a job at Disney World. What did surprise me was the fact that her entire family was working there.
I remember watching “The Mickey Mouse Club” on TV growing up. And I remember having my own set of “ears”. So I guess I was a little jealous of her and the rest of her family. Just the trips alone were enough to bring out that green eyed monster in me. I had only been to a Disney park once, and she was going every year!
The only time I was lucky enough to go to Disney World was in the 80’s. The ex husband had family living in Florida and we were living in Louisiana at that time. We were going to be driving up to PA to visit our parents anyway, so he decided to stop in Florida. We had the car packed and were ready to go as soon as the kids got out of school. The drive was uneventful and so was visiting his Aunts and Uncles.
But I remember the side trip to Disney World. Not many visitor to the park before Memorial Day, and that is when we were there. We hit every ride, and I do mean every ride, at least once, Space Mountain got us three times! My son got lost on Main Street. My daughter drooling over Cinderella’s Castle. We meet Minnie, Donald, Goofy and the rest of the gang, except for Mickey. I was heart broken.
On our way to the gates to leave the park, we all just had to sit and try to catch our breaths. We were among the first people in the park that day and we were going to one of the last ones to leave. One of the kids asked me a question and as I turned to answer, I saw him. The tears started to roll down my cheeks and the kids started to get upset because I was crying. Then his white gloved hand was on my shoulder and the kids knew everything was okay. He sat down next to me and held me for a while. The tears stopped and everything was perfect. I had finally met Mickey.
I had told my girlfriend about my meeting Mickey. And she never forgot it either. Every year I get a picture of her with Mickey. And she sends me little gifts with Mickey on it. One year I got a new pair of ears. Another time I got a Christmas tree ball. Several tee shirts have found their way to my doorway also. But I think one of my favorite gifts came just this year. A kitchen timer. Red bottom, just like his shorts, with a black top that has his ears. That is the gift that I will get a lot of use out of.
Incase you were wondering, Mickey gets that kind of reaction a lot. The tears and all. Seems he has meant a lot to a lot of people, not just women, but men also, for a long time.
I remember watching “The Mickey Mouse Club” on TV growing up. And I remember having my own set of “ears”. So I guess I was a little jealous of her and the rest of her family. Just the trips alone were enough to bring out that green eyed monster in me. I had only been to a Disney park once, and she was going every year!
The only time I was lucky enough to go to Disney World was in the 80’s. The ex husband had family living in Florida and we were living in Louisiana at that time. We were going to be driving up to PA to visit our parents anyway, so he decided to stop in Florida. We had the car packed and were ready to go as soon as the kids got out of school. The drive was uneventful and so was visiting his Aunts and Uncles.
But I remember the side trip to Disney World. Not many visitor to the park before Memorial Day, and that is when we were there. We hit every ride, and I do mean every ride, at least once, Space Mountain got us three times! My son got lost on Main Street. My daughter drooling over Cinderella’s Castle. We meet Minnie, Donald, Goofy and the rest of the gang, except for Mickey. I was heart broken.
On our way to the gates to leave the park, we all just had to sit and try to catch our breaths. We were among the first people in the park that day and we were going to one of the last ones to leave. One of the kids asked me a question and as I turned to answer, I saw him. The tears started to roll down my cheeks and the kids started to get upset because I was crying. Then his white gloved hand was on my shoulder and the kids knew everything was okay. He sat down next to me and held me for a while. The tears stopped and everything was perfect. I had finally met Mickey.
I had told my girlfriend about my meeting Mickey. And she never forgot it either. Every year I get a picture of her with Mickey. And she sends me little gifts with Mickey on it. One year I got a new pair of ears. Another time I got a Christmas tree ball. Several tee shirts have found their way to my doorway also. But I think one of my favorite gifts came just this year. A kitchen timer. Red bottom, just like his shorts, with a black top that has his ears. That is the gift that I will get a lot of use out of.
Incase you were wondering, Mickey gets that kind of reaction a lot. The tears and all. Seems he has meant a lot to a lot of people, not just women, but men also, for a long time.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Metal Detector
Friends of ours have a medal detector. They have a lot of fun with it. Their grandkids love visiting and going on “hunts”. They make it sound like tons of fun and laughter. They haven’t found any thing of value yet, unless you count time spent with the kids, grandkids and even each other.
My hubby and I have discussed the possibility of getting a metal detector. Of course he wants to find a treasure worth a lot of money, while I just want to find some Indian (Native American) and Civil War artifacts for myself. And then there is the fact that we, hubby and I, would be doing something together.
Now don’t get me wrong, we do a lot of things together. We go to the stables to get manure, work in the garden, cut, split and stack fire wood. We also go grocery shopping together, to the bank, and the hardware store. So as you can see, we do a lot together. And I wouldn’t want to do any of that stuff without my hubby. But I just thought it would be nice to do something fun together. Not that all the other things can’t fun. They are, but they are also necessary too.
I thought if we got a metal detector, we could go for a walk in the woods together with the hopes of finding something other than fire wood. We could walk around our property with the hopes of finding something other than a lost whatever thingy that came off something-or-other.
Well, I did some hunting and checking on-line. There are a lot of metal detectors out there. Some have all kinds of bells and whistles and doodads, with prices to match. And then there are some that have nothing extra built in but still have nice price tags. Then there are some that have really nice little price tags but are made really cheaply.
So I started asking around. You know, my friends and people I know from church and all. And everyone said the same thing. Bounty Hunter was the best. Not only that, the price wasn’t bad either. So I let my fingers do the checking, I went on-line. Then I did some reading, on-line. And I think I found the metal detector for us.
It’s a Bounty Hunter. The model is called Gold Digger. There are some bells and whistles, but the price isn’t bad at all. It can detect gold, silver, and a lot of other metals. And what I like best is that it comes with a head set so no one else can hear it pinging when you come across something. It also has some kind of stabilizing thingy that makes it easier for the detection devices to detect while you are “gently swinging” it back and forth just inches off the ground.
From the way things read about the Bounty Hunter metal detector, it sounds perfect for us. I will start talking about it, and before next summer gets here, I will just about have my hubby convinced it was his idea to get it. Its either that or I write a letter to Santa!
My hubby and I have discussed the possibility of getting a metal detector. Of course he wants to find a treasure worth a lot of money, while I just want to find some Indian (Native American) and Civil War artifacts for myself. And then there is the fact that we, hubby and I, would be doing something together.
Now don’t get me wrong, we do a lot of things together. We go to the stables to get manure, work in the garden, cut, split and stack fire wood. We also go grocery shopping together, to the bank, and the hardware store. So as you can see, we do a lot together. And I wouldn’t want to do any of that stuff without my hubby. But I just thought it would be nice to do something fun together. Not that all the other things can’t fun. They are, but they are also necessary too.
I thought if we got a metal detector, we could go for a walk in the woods together with the hopes of finding something other than fire wood. We could walk around our property with the hopes of finding something other than a lost whatever thingy that came off something-or-other.
Well, I did some hunting and checking on-line. There are a lot of metal detectors out there. Some have all kinds of bells and whistles and doodads, with prices to match. And then there are some that have nothing extra built in but still have nice price tags. Then there are some that have really nice little price tags but are made really cheaply.
So I started asking around. You know, my friends and people I know from church and all. And everyone said the same thing. Bounty Hunter was the best. Not only that, the price wasn’t bad either. So I let my fingers do the checking, I went on-line. Then I did some reading, on-line. And I think I found the metal detector for us.
It’s a Bounty Hunter. The model is called Gold Digger. There are some bells and whistles, but the price isn’t bad at all. It can detect gold, silver, and a lot of other metals. And what I like best is that it comes with a head set so no one else can hear it pinging when you come across something. It also has some kind of stabilizing thingy that makes it easier for the detection devices to detect while you are “gently swinging” it back and forth just inches off the ground.
From the way things read about the Bounty Hunter metal detector, it sounds perfect for us. I will start talking about it, and before next summer gets here, I will just about have my hubby convinced it was his idea to get it. Its either that or I write a letter to Santa!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Water Fountains
There is a commercial on TV right now with the line “Ah, the relaxing sound of nature.” Yes nature does have a relaxing sound. But which one sound in nature is the most relaxing? To me that would have to be a small water fall. Just thinking about one helps to relax me. I guess that is why water fountains have become so popular. Its either that or the fact that they can help mask the unwanted noise of city life.
No matter what the reason, water fountains have become all the rage. And not only with city dwellers, but those in the suburbs and even rural folks as well. Why people in country feel the need to mask noise, I’ll never know, but they do. The only problem I find with water fountains is that they make me want to run to the bathroom ( Oh give me a break, I’m almost social security age, and if I can find humor in that so can you!).
No matter the reason for the popularity of water fountains, they are a big business. The less room the bigger the water fountain, or so it seems, according to the gentleman (I’ll call him Mr. Z) that I was talking to at a home improvement super store. He told me that his store put in at least 25 water ponds with nice size water fountains this past summer year. And all of them were for people that lived in town. Mr. Z thought it was amazing that the smallest yards had the biggest ones.
Now I happen to like the sounds of nature, so I have no trouble picturing a pond with a water fountain in my yard. And we have a lot of room to support one too. But according to Mr. Z, people who have land usually go for the table top or wall mounted water fountains. What kind? The most popular one is a lion head water fountain.
Ponds do require some work. Cleaning and keeping clean can be a hassle. Then you also have to mess around with chemicals, for the ph, killing larvae from all types of bugs, and keeping the moss and scum at bay. And if you want fish in your pond, you really have to be careful, to much chemical can kill and so can not enough. Then if you add plants, it can get even more confusing. I think I just talked myself out of the pond I wanted in the back yard!
Yes, I think a table top or wall mounted water fountain would be best. Less work, no chemicals and the soothing sound of running water. If I get one for inside, the cat could use it as a water bowl. If I get on for outside, it could be another bird bath, a source of entertainment for both of us and the cat. Yes, I am really considering getting one. I’ve even started checking them out, both on line and in stores. And the more I see of the lion head water fountains, the more I like them.
No matter what the reason, water fountains have become all the rage. And not only with city dwellers, but those in the suburbs and even rural folks as well. Why people in country feel the need to mask noise, I’ll never know, but they do. The only problem I find with water fountains is that they make me want to run to the bathroom ( Oh give me a break, I’m almost social security age, and if I can find humor in that so can you!).
No matter the reason for the popularity of water fountains, they are a big business. The less room the bigger the water fountain, or so it seems, according to the gentleman (I’ll call him Mr. Z) that I was talking to at a home improvement super store. He told me that his store put in at least 25 water ponds with nice size water fountains this past summer year. And all of them were for people that lived in town. Mr. Z thought it was amazing that the smallest yards had the biggest ones.
Now I happen to like the sounds of nature, so I have no trouble picturing a pond with a water fountain in my yard. And we have a lot of room to support one too. But according to Mr. Z, people who have land usually go for the table top or wall mounted water fountains. What kind? The most popular one is a lion head water fountain.
Ponds do require some work. Cleaning and keeping clean can be a hassle. Then you also have to mess around with chemicals, for the ph, killing larvae from all types of bugs, and keeping the moss and scum at bay. And if you want fish in your pond, you really have to be careful, to much chemical can kill and so can not enough. Then if you add plants, it can get even more confusing. I think I just talked myself out of the pond I wanted in the back yard!
Yes, I think a table top or wall mounted water fountain would be best. Less work, no chemicals and the soothing sound of running water. If I get one for inside, the cat could use it as a water bowl. If I get on for outside, it could be another bird bath, a source of entertainment for both of us and the cat. Yes, I am really considering getting one. I’ve even started checking them out, both on line and in stores. And the more I see of the lion head water fountains, the more I like them.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
I Love the Outdoors!
I love the outdoors. To me, that is the next best thing to heaven. No place else can I feel as close to my Lord as I do when I am either in the woods, or playing in the dirt in my garden. And I try to respect nature and help it when I can. I don’t let my hubby take down all the dead trees in our woods. We need to leave some for the birds and other creatures that live there. In that way I am respecting nature.
By helping nature, we feed the birds and whatever other creatures happen to come into our yard. We also try to put back whatever we have taken. We have planted several trees on our property. And we have also tried to prevent some trees from dying, by cutting any vines that happen to be growing up them. That alone is no small task. In our woods we have wild grape, poison ivy and oak, honey suckle, and several others I have not identified as of yet. Some of the vines are bigger around than my fist!
In my flower beds I try to plant things that are non evasive and that all winged creatures like to eat or suck the nectar out of. I even have broken pots for frogs and other insects to hide or nest in. Not all my plants get dead-headed in the fall either. That way the birds that stay here year round will have some seeds to eat when we don’t get to the feeders as fast as they thing we should. It can be very entertaining to watch a bird land on the dead flower and it slowly droop to the ground.
I also have a lot of birdhouses all over the yard and even into the woods. Most of them were unfinished wood birdhouses that I painted and some are store bought. I have a lot of fun buying the unfinished ones and doing them myself. It is a great way to pass the winter months when I can’t go outside because of the weather. I have downloaded some plans so that hopefully the hubby and I can build some birdhouses in the spring. The internet has also provided me with ideas on using everyday “trash” and turning it into birdhouses. It should be fun to try doing it, and it is recycling.
Yesterday afternoon my hubby hung up my newest store bought birdhouse. It looks like an old canteen! And this morning while I was eating my breakfast, I was watching Mr. Wren inspect it. I am sure it passed his inspection because I latter watched him take some dried grass and small twigs into it. Now I can’t wait for spring to arrive and eggs to be laid in it. The activity of the wrens is fascinating to watch. For some reason our wrens prefer the southwestern side of our house. While the sparrows like the northeastern side. But I have seen them living in houses next to each other in the southeastern side of the yard. Go figure.
By helping nature, we feed the birds and whatever other creatures happen to come into our yard. We also try to put back whatever we have taken. We have planted several trees on our property. And we have also tried to prevent some trees from dying, by cutting any vines that happen to be growing up them. That alone is no small task. In our woods we have wild grape, poison ivy and oak, honey suckle, and several others I have not identified as of yet. Some of the vines are bigger around than my fist!
In my flower beds I try to plant things that are non evasive and that all winged creatures like to eat or suck the nectar out of. I even have broken pots for frogs and other insects to hide or nest in. Not all my plants get dead-headed in the fall either. That way the birds that stay here year round will have some seeds to eat when we don’t get to the feeders as fast as they thing we should. It can be very entertaining to watch a bird land on the dead flower and it slowly droop to the ground.
I also have a lot of birdhouses all over the yard and even into the woods. Most of them were unfinished wood birdhouses that I painted and some are store bought. I have a lot of fun buying the unfinished ones and doing them myself. It is a great way to pass the winter months when I can’t go outside because of the weather. I have downloaded some plans so that hopefully the hubby and I can build some birdhouses in the spring. The internet has also provided me with ideas on using everyday “trash” and turning it into birdhouses. It should be fun to try doing it, and it is recycling.
Yesterday afternoon my hubby hung up my newest store bought birdhouse. It looks like an old canteen! And this morning while I was eating my breakfast, I was watching Mr. Wren inspect it. I am sure it passed his inspection because I latter watched him take some dried grass and small twigs into it. Now I can’t wait for spring to arrive and eggs to be laid in it. The activity of the wrens is fascinating to watch. For some reason our wrens prefer the southwestern side of our house. While the sparrows like the northeastern side. But I have seen them living in houses next to each other in the southeastern side of the yard. Go figure.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Our Binoculars
If you enjoy the outdoors, you more than likely have a pair of binoculars. We have three pairs, one is always on the back porch, one by the kitchen table, and one pair in my car. I also have a monocular that I keep in my bag. We aren’t nosey, we just like looking at what ever wildlife we happen to see. Birds are a big favorite here right now.
I first learned how to use binoculars when I was much younger. My Dad used to go hunting a lot and liked to “check out” an area before hand. Believe it or not, he wasn’t looking for prey, it was the lay out of the land that he was interested in. You know, where roads, paths and buildings are. My Dad has always been and will always be a true Boy Scout, he believes in being prepared for any situation.
There are so many different types of binoculars it can be difficult to decide which ones are right for you. First you have to decide what you are going to be using them for. Then you need to know who will be using them the most. Does the main user have any special needs? Or if it one pair for the entire family. Are there any children who will be using the binoculars?
The numbers, 10x40, can determine what the binoculars are best suited for. The first number is how many times the subject is magnified. The second number is the width of the front lens measured in millimeters. Usually the higher the second number, the sharper and brighter the image. But the first number is the one that can throw you off. I highly recommend that you do not go with any number higher then a 10x if you will at anytime use the binoculars as hand held ones. The higher the first number, the more shaking from hand holding is visible. The shaking is from a number of possibilities, the weight of the binoculars, your blood rushing throw your veins, or just unsteady hands. Unless you spend the extra money to get a pair that has image stabilizing.
If you are looking for kid binoculars, you need to keep in mind that a child’s eyes are not the same as an adults. What I mean is that they are not done “growing” or maturing. And also the child’s face is smaller so the eye pieces may not match up with the child’s eyes. I have found that light weight, compact or semi-compact work best for the younger set. Also, get waterproof, not sealed binoculars. I’ve heard the “sealed” will allow more dust inside of them.
When my son was young, I bought a pair of Vivitar binoculars for him. They were semi-compact and lightweight. Both he and I used them as our birding binoculars. It took a very short time for him to understand how they worked and what he needed to do to enable himself to see clearly. To me, they were the ideal kids binoculars. But to my son, they were our bird watching binoculars.
I still have those Vivitar binoculars, they are kept by the kitchen table now. Look almost new and get used almost daily. I couldn’t have made a better purchase.
I first learned how to use binoculars when I was much younger. My Dad used to go hunting a lot and liked to “check out” an area before hand. Believe it or not, he wasn’t looking for prey, it was the lay out of the land that he was interested in. You know, where roads, paths and buildings are. My Dad has always been and will always be a true Boy Scout, he believes in being prepared for any situation.
There are so many different types of binoculars it can be difficult to decide which ones are right for you. First you have to decide what you are going to be using them for. Then you need to know who will be using them the most. Does the main user have any special needs? Or if it one pair for the entire family. Are there any children who will be using the binoculars?
The numbers, 10x40, can determine what the binoculars are best suited for. The first number is how many times the subject is magnified. The second number is the width of the front lens measured in millimeters. Usually the higher the second number, the sharper and brighter the image. But the first number is the one that can throw you off. I highly recommend that you do not go with any number higher then a 10x if you will at anytime use the binoculars as hand held ones. The higher the first number, the more shaking from hand holding is visible. The shaking is from a number of possibilities, the weight of the binoculars, your blood rushing throw your veins, or just unsteady hands. Unless you spend the extra money to get a pair that has image stabilizing.
If you are looking for kid binoculars, you need to keep in mind that a child’s eyes are not the same as an adults. What I mean is that they are not done “growing” or maturing. And also the child’s face is smaller so the eye pieces may not match up with the child’s eyes. I have found that light weight, compact or semi-compact work best for the younger set. Also, get waterproof, not sealed binoculars. I’ve heard the “sealed” will allow more dust inside of them.
When my son was young, I bought a pair of Vivitar binoculars for him. They were semi-compact and lightweight. Both he and I used them as our birding binoculars. It took a very short time for him to understand how they worked and what he needed to do to enable himself to see clearly. To me, they were the ideal kids binoculars. But to my son, they were our bird watching binoculars.
I still have those Vivitar binoculars, they are kept by the kitchen table now. Look almost new and get used almost daily. I couldn’t have made a better purchase.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Illegal Aliens
I just had an idea. Why don’t we, this country, help to make all people feel more welcome? We can give them free medical care. Give them money to live off of. Provide them with housing. And make sure all government agencies (federal, state and more importantly local) have or have access to translators so they will understand all that we offer them. We have to make sure that they know they are welcome here, so we will not make them pay taxes either.
Oh, wait. We do that already don’t we. We give it all away to illegal immigrants. Not to those who have come here openly and honestly. But to those who sneak into this country. I am starting to wonder if I would be better off being an illegal. If I was, I would not have to worry about getting sick. I would just walk into any hospital get the best medical attention possible, get whatever was needed and leave. No bill to worry about. The government will pay it.
If I was an illegal, I wouldn’t have to worry about heating, electric, water or anything in the house either. All the utility companies have programs that will help me pay for all of that. I have yet to meet one U.S. citizen that makes under $1,000 a month (before taxes) get that kind of help. And there are hundreds of thousands of them. Maybe they would like to become illegal’s with me.
If I were an illegal, I could work at my job and have more money in my pocket. I would say I have more dependents then I actually do, and I would not bother filling any tax returns. Why should I? I used either a made up social security or someone else’s. So how are they going to find me? I won’t stay in one job longer than two years, three at the most. Besides, the documentation I am using belongs to someone you has already left this county, and there are at least three other people using it also.
Want to become an illegal with me? You can perform all kinds of petty crimes, and what is the worse that will happen. They catch you, put you in a detention center - heated in the winter and air conditioned in summer, plenty of food to eat, TV and radio in your own language, a bed, and nothing that you have to do - then after about three months they deport you - put me on a bus, train or plane so you can go “home“ for a visit, and then you sneak back here when you are ready to go back to work.
If you want to make sure that you can’t be deported, have a baby in this country. The government can not and will not send you back to wherever it is that you came from. Why? Because the baby is a U.S. citizen. Not dual citizenship, but a full pledged, 100%, U.S. citizen. The mother and child get the best medical care that money can buy, and they don’t have to pay one penny for it. The bleeding hearts in this country will not split up a family.
The few times I had the opportunity to travel to other countries, no one went out of there way understand me. If I got lost or needed any kind of assistance, the police did not have translators or access to them. I was a visitor in their country, there for I needed to learn their language. I wasn’t trying to take anyone’s job or anything close to that. I was a tourist, and I didn’t plan on staying to help deplete the national resources of the country. And most of the time they let me know that they would be more than happy to see me, and all Americans leave their county.
You know, I wouldn’t mind if we gave more to the tourists, or even the legal aliens, but we don’t. We give it all to the illegal aliens. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m tired of it. Either treat us, the U.S. citizens better than illegal’s, or maybe we should all become illegal aliens.
Oh, wait. We do that already don’t we. We give it all away to illegal immigrants. Not to those who have come here openly and honestly. But to those who sneak into this country. I am starting to wonder if I would be better off being an illegal. If I was, I would not have to worry about getting sick. I would just walk into any hospital get the best medical attention possible, get whatever was needed and leave. No bill to worry about. The government will pay it.
If I was an illegal, I wouldn’t have to worry about heating, electric, water or anything in the house either. All the utility companies have programs that will help me pay for all of that. I have yet to meet one U.S. citizen that makes under $1,000 a month (before taxes) get that kind of help. And there are hundreds of thousands of them. Maybe they would like to become illegal’s with me.
If I were an illegal, I could work at my job and have more money in my pocket. I would say I have more dependents then I actually do, and I would not bother filling any tax returns. Why should I? I used either a made up social security or someone else’s. So how are they going to find me? I won’t stay in one job longer than two years, three at the most. Besides, the documentation I am using belongs to someone you has already left this county, and there are at least three other people using it also.
Want to become an illegal with me? You can perform all kinds of petty crimes, and what is the worse that will happen. They catch you, put you in a detention center - heated in the winter and air conditioned in summer, plenty of food to eat, TV and radio in your own language, a bed, and nothing that you have to do - then after about three months they deport you - put me on a bus, train or plane so you can go “home“ for a visit, and then you sneak back here when you are ready to go back to work.
If you want to make sure that you can’t be deported, have a baby in this country. The government can not and will not send you back to wherever it is that you came from. Why? Because the baby is a U.S. citizen. Not dual citizenship, but a full pledged, 100%, U.S. citizen. The mother and child get the best medical care that money can buy, and they don’t have to pay one penny for it. The bleeding hearts in this country will not split up a family.
The few times I had the opportunity to travel to other countries, no one went out of there way understand me. If I got lost or needed any kind of assistance, the police did not have translators or access to them. I was a visitor in their country, there for I needed to learn their language. I wasn’t trying to take anyone’s job or anything close to that. I was a tourist, and I didn’t plan on staying to help deplete the national resources of the country. And most of the time they let me know that they would be more than happy to see me, and all Americans leave their county.
You know, I wouldn’t mind if we gave more to the tourists, or even the legal aliens, but we don’t. We give it all to the illegal aliens. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m tired of it. Either treat us, the U.S. citizens better than illegal’s, or maybe we should all become illegal aliens.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Memories
There are so many memories in this house. Some of the memories are so sad and heart breaking I cry as if that event just happened and I‘m reliving it all over again. But there are a lot that bring a smile and of then end with side splitting laughter as if it too had just happened.
One on those memories happened bout 4 years after we moved into this house. I don’t remember what started it but it ended in a water fight in the kitchen. My cousin was here after she had had a “fight” with her mother, my older brother was involved and so was I. Like I said, I don’t recall how it started, but it was a big water fight. The spray hose thingy at the kitchen sink got used and then the garden hose was brought in! We were laughing and spraying each other and everything else that got in the way. By the time my Mother walked in everything and everyone was drenched. Mom didn’t act mad or upset or even surprised. She just told us to cleaning things up when we were done and then she left the room.
I can also remember my Dad painting the front porch. Battle ship gray was the color he always used. The porch was a wrap around one and Dad started at the point furthest from the front door. He was just about done when the neighbors cat, Tux, came walking around the side of the porch. As Tux picked up each paw, he shook it and placed it back down. Dad just watched. When Tux got to the bench by the door, he jumped up onto it, walked across it, leaving gray paw prints on the white bench. Dad just calmly watched Tux, knowing that he would more than likely have to do the whole thing over again next weekend.
My sister was acting out all the parts in everything she was reading at one time. Romeo and Juliet, the dagger seen, at the top of the steps. She calmly closed the book and set it down before she came tumbling down the steps. Before Mom and I could react to the noise, She was heading back up the steps to finish the scene! All Mom told her was to be more careful with the books she was reading.
One of the more recent side splitting memories happened about ten years ago. Mom decided that it was time to redo the kitchen. And being a do-it-yourself type of family, that is how we did it. We went to the home improvement store and bought the cabinets, sink, paint, and everything else needed. We did 95% of it ourselves. We did call in a plumber to hook up the sink and put the new dish washer in. Long story short, everything is done except for the painting. My son, my daughter, my one niece, and I were doing that when it ended up as a paint fight. Thank goodness for latex paint. We were covered in paint. There are pictures to prove that this actually happened. But I don’t know how to import them, so you will just have to take my word for it. The kitchen didn’t look half bad when we were done cleaning everything up.
One on those memories happened bout 4 years after we moved into this house. I don’t remember what started it but it ended in a water fight in the kitchen. My cousin was here after she had had a “fight” with her mother, my older brother was involved and so was I. Like I said, I don’t recall how it started, but it was a big water fight. The spray hose thingy at the kitchen sink got used and then the garden hose was brought in! We were laughing and spraying each other and everything else that got in the way. By the time my Mother walked in everything and everyone was drenched. Mom didn’t act mad or upset or even surprised. She just told us to cleaning things up when we were done and then she left the room.
I can also remember my Dad painting the front porch. Battle ship gray was the color he always used. The porch was a wrap around one and Dad started at the point furthest from the front door. He was just about done when the neighbors cat, Tux, came walking around the side of the porch. As Tux picked up each paw, he shook it and placed it back down. Dad just watched. When Tux got to the bench by the door, he jumped up onto it, walked across it, leaving gray paw prints on the white bench. Dad just calmly watched Tux, knowing that he would more than likely have to do the whole thing over again next weekend.
My sister was acting out all the parts in everything she was reading at one time. Romeo and Juliet, the dagger seen, at the top of the steps. She calmly closed the book and set it down before she came tumbling down the steps. Before Mom and I could react to the noise, She was heading back up the steps to finish the scene! All Mom told her was to be more careful with the books she was reading.
One of the more recent side splitting memories happened about ten years ago. Mom decided that it was time to redo the kitchen. And being a do-it-yourself type of family, that is how we did it. We went to the home improvement store and bought the cabinets, sink, paint, and everything else needed. We did 95% of it ourselves. We did call in a plumber to hook up the sink and put the new dish washer in. Long story short, everything is done except for the painting. My son, my daughter, my one niece, and I were doing that when it ended up as a paint fight. Thank goodness for latex paint. We were covered in paint. There are pictures to prove that this actually happened. But I don’t know how to import them, so you will just have to take my word for it. The kitchen didn’t look half bad when we were done cleaning everything up.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Moving
I am at my Dad's place right now. I have a lot of memories here. As well I should, we moved in this place in 1961. Before that we lived about 4 blocks away on a street that was only two blocks long, but had over 250 kids living on it. Always someone to play with and something to do. But this house was different. Located on one of the busiest streets in the bourgh, hardly any kids, and nothing to do. One good thing about the house, we were less than a block from the elementary school we went to.
We moved here because my Dad's mother was very sick and dying from cancer. She really couldn't do to much for herself or her youngest son (who still lived with her, never married and in his thirty's). The doctors had done all they could at that time, and besides, my grandmother decided that it was time to die. She believed that a person only lived so long and then they were on borrowed time and she was afraid she was using the time that belonged to one of us four grandkids.
When the house was purchased, a lot of work had to done on it. It was a 5 bedroom with one bath. We needed another bedroom and another bath. The breakfast room was to be converted into the extra bedroom and bath for my grandmother. The kitchen and the existing bath both need a major renovation. Neither one had any updating since probably the 30's. And of course we needed to paint, sand the hard wood floors and get them refinished.
It was a lot of work, but I think we all pulled our own weight. We spent weeks not only working on the house along with the contractors, but also packing things up. We did have two homes to move into one, so everything had to be gone through, checked and double checked. Then the two old homes had to be made ready for the new owners. It seemed like years before we were ready to actually move in. I know it took about three months for the “new” house to be ready, but for us kids it was the longest wait we had ever experienced.
I can remember the Saturday we finally made the move. My Uncle was over for breakfast and in the back of his car was filled to the very top with boxes. We were so excited. I'm not sure what we thought would happen with this move. Did we expect to see some magic or something? To be honest with you, I don't remember being that excited before that day. Christmas didn't even come close. You can imagine how disappointed we were when we were told that we would not be there for the big move!
We were being sent to the movies! Instead of moving, we went to the movies! I'm sure someone out there has heard that saying,”Move while they are at the movies.” Well that is what happened to us. Our parents moved while we were at the movies! We all laugh about it now. But it was quite an experience.
We moved here because my Dad's mother was very sick and dying from cancer. She really couldn't do to much for herself or her youngest son (who still lived with her, never married and in his thirty's). The doctors had done all they could at that time, and besides, my grandmother decided that it was time to die. She believed that a person only lived so long and then they were on borrowed time and she was afraid she was using the time that belonged to one of us four grandkids.
When the house was purchased, a lot of work had to done on it. It was a 5 bedroom with one bath. We needed another bedroom and another bath. The breakfast room was to be converted into the extra bedroom and bath for my grandmother. The kitchen and the existing bath both need a major renovation. Neither one had any updating since probably the 30's. And of course we needed to paint, sand the hard wood floors and get them refinished.
It was a lot of work, but I think we all pulled our own weight. We spent weeks not only working on the house along with the contractors, but also packing things up. We did have two homes to move into one, so everything had to be gone through, checked and double checked. Then the two old homes had to be made ready for the new owners. It seemed like years before we were ready to actually move in. I know it took about three months for the “new” house to be ready, but for us kids it was the longest wait we had ever experienced.
I can remember the Saturday we finally made the move. My Uncle was over for breakfast and in the back of his car was filled to the very top with boxes. We were so excited. I'm not sure what we thought would happen with this move. Did we expect to see some magic or something? To be honest with you, I don't remember being that excited before that day. Christmas didn't even come close. You can imagine how disappointed we were when we were told that we would not be there for the big move!
We were being sent to the movies! Instead of moving, we went to the movies! I'm sure someone out there has heard that saying,”Move while they are at the movies.” Well that is what happened to us. Our parents moved while we were at the movies! We all laugh about it now. But it was quite an experience.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Candle Lanterns
Candle lanterns are one of the safest ways to use a candle. You put a candle into a lantern, light it and you don’t have to worry about the wind, if you are outdoors, or the dog wagging his tail, if you are inside. And lanterns can be so stylish and decorative today. You can find just about any design or color to match you own taste, décor or mood. For your own safety and peace of mind, never leave the room when the candle is lit.
My favorite candle lantern is a white Moroccan lantern I got recently. I used it on the back porch during the summer with a citronella candle to help deter the bugs, and put just a little light on things. It is fancy, but not overly so, and it blends in nicely with the white wicker furniture we have. I can hang it up or set it on the table. It can be used either indoors or out. I really do love my white Moroccan lantern.
Lanterns are not a new idea. They have been around for centuries. In days long gone, before electric lights, lanterns and candles were the only source of light that people had. In movies and TV shows that take place in the “old west”, you can see them being carried out to the barns to check on the live stock, and used in the cabins to light up the room. It was usually more practical, and cheaper, for people to use candle lanterns than to use oil burning ones.
Back during the revolutionary war, it was considered a waste of material to use any good metal to make lanterns, that was needed to make guns and such. So back then, not to many people had good sturdy lanterns. And street lights when used, were usually buckets of pine pitch hanging from poles. They weren’t on every corner as we have today, just the busiest cross roads. So candle lanterns were very valuable and prized possessions.
Lanterns can have a bad rap though. They say it was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who knocked over a lantern and started the Chicago fire. But I believe it was actually sparks from a chimney that started it. And besides, if a candle is contained in a lantern, the flame can’t come in contact with anything! Now I don’t recommend that try to start a fire by knocking a lantern over so please do not try it. But just think about it.
My favorite candle lantern is a white Moroccan lantern I got recently. I used it on the back porch during the summer with a citronella candle to help deter the bugs, and put just a little light on things. It is fancy, but not overly so, and it blends in nicely with the white wicker furniture we have. I can hang it up or set it on the table. It can be used either indoors or out. I really do love my white Moroccan lantern.
Lanterns are not a new idea. They have been around for centuries. In days long gone, before electric lights, lanterns and candles were the only source of light that people had. In movies and TV shows that take place in the “old west”, you can see them being carried out to the barns to check on the live stock, and used in the cabins to light up the room. It was usually more practical, and cheaper, for people to use candle lanterns than to use oil burning ones.
Back during the revolutionary war, it was considered a waste of material to use any good metal to make lanterns, that was needed to make guns and such. So back then, not to many people had good sturdy lanterns. And street lights when used, were usually buckets of pine pitch hanging from poles. They weren’t on every corner as we have today, just the busiest cross roads. So candle lanterns were very valuable and prized possessions.
Lanterns can have a bad rap though. They say it was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who knocked over a lantern and started the Chicago fire. But I believe it was actually sparks from a chimney that started it. And besides, if a candle is contained in a lantern, the flame can’t come in contact with anything! Now I don’t recommend that try to start a fire by knocking a lantern over so please do not try it. But just think about it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wrought Iron Candle Holders
Wrought iron candle holders can be decorative while being very functional. They can be used both indoors and out. Whether you are trying to set a romantic mood or just trying to have some light when the electric goes out. They can blend into you décor, or they can stand out. The size of the candle and candle holder can make a very dramatic statement or be almost unnoticeable. You can get them in black or painted any color you wish. And cleaning is fairly easy. Wrought iron candle holders are very versatile and practical.
Candles and candle holders are almost a staple for anyone who is setting up a home, whether it is a first apartment or a house. And it doesn’t matter if you ever plan to light the candle or not. It seems a house is just not a home without candles and candle holders on display. Some people prefer to have them in the living room, while others like the bedroom or even the bathroom. It really doesn’t matter because candles go anywhere.
Wrought iron candle holders are slightly heaver than some other candle holders which makes them perfect for use outdoors. They don’t tip over as easily and are able to handle the temperature changes and higher humidity easier. Having wrought iron means you don’t have to worry about the candle burning all the way down and catching the candle holder on fire. So if you want to have them on the porch, or on the patio it really doesn’t matter.
If you would feel safer with a glass globe over the candle, don’t worry. Wrought iron candle holders look marvelous that way also. Whether you have mission style or modern, wrought iron candle holders will fit into any décor.
I happen to have several different pair myself. And like everyone else, my favorite pair depends on my mood at the time. But I do keep candle holders all over the house. Some have globes or chimneys and some don’t. Some are tall while others are short. Right now I am using a pair that is of Spanish mission styling. Not tall by any means, but not really short either. They are fancy, but not overly so. They don’t look out of place in our small country farm house. But they did fit in beautifully in our big house in the city.
Now that you know how I feel about wrought iron candle holders, let me say one more thing. Please do not leave any candles burning unattended. That is a big fire hazard just waiting to happen. No matter what kind of candle holder you use, or if it has a globe or chimney, accidents do happen.
Candles and candle holders are almost a staple for anyone who is setting up a home, whether it is a first apartment or a house. And it doesn’t matter if you ever plan to light the candle or not. It seems a house is just not a home without candles and candle holders on display. Some people prefer to have them in the living room, while others like the bedroom or even the bathroom. It really doesn’t matter because candles go anywhere.
Wrought iron candle holders are slightly heaver than some other candle holders which makes them perfect for use outdoors. They don’t tip over as easily and are able to handle the temperature changes and higher humidity easier. Having wrought iron means you don’t have to worry about the candle burning all the way down and catching the candle holder on fire. So if you want to have them on the porch, or on the patio it really doesn’t matter.
If you would feel safer with a glass globe over the candle, don’t worry. Wrought iron candle holders look marvelous that way also. Whether you have mission style or modern, wrought iron candle holders will fit into any décor.
I happen to have several different pair myself. And like everyone else, my favorite pair depends on my mood at the time. But I do keep candle holders all over the house. Some have globes or chimneys and some don’t. Some are tall while others are short. Right now I am using a pair that is of Spanish mission styling. Not tall by any means, but not really short either. They are fancy, but not overly so. They don’t look out of place in our small country farm house. But they did fit in beautifully in our big house in the city.
Now that you know how I feel about wrought iron candle holders, let me say one more thing. Please do not leave any candles burning unattended. That is a big fire hazard just waiting to happen. No matter what kind of candle holder you use, or if it has a globe or chimney, accidents do happen.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Beatle Concert
It wasn’t that long ago, only back in the 60’s. The Beatles were going to be in Philadelphia. How I wanted to go! But I couldn’t go get the tickets because I had to be in school. So I asked, really begged my Mother to go get me two tickets. She had no trouble with that, since I had the money and was gladly handing it over to her. Only thing Mom said was that both she and Dad would have to approve of who I was going to go with to the concert.
Don’t know how my Mother did it, but when I got home from school that day, she handed me my two tickets. And asked who I would be going with. I had no idea at that time so I just smiled and said that she would be happy to see the person who would using the other ticket.
Long story short…Night of the Beatle concert… The whole family is just finishing up eating dinner. My turn to clear the table, but my sisters turn to wash the dishes.
As I am all but taking plates before anyone is done eating, I’m asked by my Dad, “So who are you going with?” I have no idea! So I pretend not to hear. Then I get a great idea! Although, I think I was thinking it all along. I head into the closet after taking a load of dirty dishes into the kitchen. I hear my Mother voice asking who I was taking to the concert. I return from the closet with my jacket and my Mother’s coat and purse. Hand her things to her and say, “Come on, we can’t be late!” “But who is using the other ticket?” “You are! Lets go!” And I gently but excitedly start pulling Mom to the door.
Yes, I took my Mother to see the Beatles! It was the only way I could go and I knew it. That’s okay though. The concert was fantastic and I can relive it anytime I want to. I may not remember the date, but I remember the look on Mom’s face both before and after the concert. And I remember hearing her tell her friends about it. I think she was as excited as I was!
Mom and I may not have stayed together during the concert, she at our “seats”, and I was as close to the stage as you could get. Neither one of may have heard the words to any songs, but Mom bobbed to the beat and I screamed my lungs out. Mom may not have known my location, but I knew where she was. And that seemed to be fine with both of us.
When the concert was over, before the last note finished ringing, I had Mom by the hand and we were headed for the car. In my mad dash to beat traffic and hurry Mom along, I almost got hit by a car speeding away from the concert. Guess who was seated in the back of that limo? You got it; John, Paul, George and Ringo.
But we make it home safe and sound in time for the eleven o’clock news. Top story that night was the concert naturally. And believe it or not, you could hear one voice over all the others. Dad and Mom both said it was my voice. Maybe it was and maybe it wasn’t. All I know is that I had no voice for several days after that concert.
I wish my Mom was still with us, I miss her so. I would love to go to another concert with her.
Don’t know how my Mother did it, but when I got home from school that day, she handed me my two tickets. And asked who I would be going with. I had no idea at that time so I just smiled and said that she would be happy to see the person who would using the other ticket.
Long story short…Night of the Beatle concert… The whole family is just finishing up eating dinner. My turn to clear the table, but my sisters turn to wash the dishes.
As I am all but taking plates before anyone is done eating, I’m asked by my Dad, “So who are you going with?” I have no idea! So I pretend not to hear. Then I get a great idea! Although, I think I was thinking it all along. I head into the closet after taking a load of dirty dishes into the kitchen. I hear my Mother voice asking who I was taking to the concert. I return from the closet with my jacket and my Mother’s coat and purse. Hand her things to her and say, “Come on, we can’t be late!” “But who is using the other ticket?” “You are! Lets go!” And I gently but excitedly start pulling Mom to the door.
Yes, I took my Mother to see the Beatles! It was the only way I could go and I knew it. That’s okay though. The concert was fantastic and I can relive it anytime I want to. I may not remember the date, but I remember the look on Mom’s face both before and after the concert. And I remember hearing her tell her friends about it. I think she was as excited as I was!
Mom and I may not have stayed together during the concert, she at our “seats”, and I was as close to the stage as you could get. Neither one of may have heard the words to any songs, but Mom bobbed to the beat and I screamed my lungs out. Mom may not have known my location, but I knew where she was. And that seemed to be fine with both of us.
When the concert was over, before the last note finished ringing, I had Mom by the hand and we were headed for the car. In my mad dash to beat traffic and hurry Mom along, I almost got hit by a car speeding away from the concert. Guess who was seated in the back of that limo? You got it; John, Paul, George and Ringo.
But we make it home safe and sound in time for the eleven o’clock news. Top story that night was the concert naturally. And believe it or not, you could hear one voice over all the others. Dad and Mom both said it was my voice. Maybe it was and maybe it wasn’t. All I know is that I had no voice for several days after that concert.
I wish my Mom was still with us, I miss her so. I would love to go to another concert with her.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Holiday Stepping Stones
While looking around as my hubby was driving to the store, I saw the cutest holiday yard décor. Almost made me want to move back to the old house so I could delight all the neighbor hood kids. What got me excited? Stepping stones. Holiday stepping stones. Stepping stones that look like Christmas lights! In different colors no less.
You could tell that kids lived in the house, with all the toys scattered around outside. And I’ll bet those kids were thrilled to death when the saw those stepping stones. I could almost picture the kids. While Dad was hanging the lights outside, they were arguing as to where to but their stepping stones. I could picture the older kids wanting to put them where the grandparents and other relatives could use them. While the younger ones wanted to put them where Santa could use them, on the roof.
Later that day I got to thinking about those stepping stones. After all I do have grandkids, a great-grandson, and several great-nieces, all young enough to really enjoy those stepping stones. So as usual I did some hunting and pecking around on-line. And I found several sites that will tell you how to make your own stepping stones, and several more that sell some very nice stepping stones for the flower garden. But finding ready made novelty stepping stones is hard, unless you want to make them yourself.
It took a while, but I did find some just like the ones I saw. And as usual, I found a lot of other things also. I wrote all the other address down so I can go back and really check them out. But the stepping stones that I found can also be hung up on a wall! What a cleaver idea! Now instead of just walking on them, they can be wall art too. I’ll bet that kids really enjoy that. And probably some adults too.
Now I have nothing against making my own stepping stones. That can be a lot of fun. What am I saying! I know it is a lot of fun. Timing is very important though and in my section of the country, it isn’t really the best time to be playing in concrete. The weather is to unpredictable, with both the temperature and moisture. If you want to know how to make your own stepping stones, just type that into your search engine and half a million sites will appear for you to chose from.
But if you don’t have the time or the desire to make your own, you can search all you want and check out twenty million sites. But if you want a cute novelty set of holiday stepping stones, just check out the ones I found.
You could tell that kids lived in the house, with all the toys scattered around outside. And I’ll bet those kids were thrilled to death when the saw those stepping stones. I could almost picture the kids. While Dad was hanging the lights outside, they were arguing as to where to but their stepping stones. I could picture the older kids wanting to put them where the grandparents and other relatives could use them. While the younger ones wanted to put them where Santa could use them, on the roof.
Later that day I got to thinking about those stepping stones. After all I do have grandkids, a great-grandson, and several great-nieces, all young enough to really enjoy those stepping stones. So as usual I did some hunting and pecking around on-line. And I found several sites that will tell you how to make your own stepping stones, and several more that sell some very nice stepping stones for the flower garden. But finding ready made novelty stepping stones is hard, unless you want to make them yourself.
It took a while, but I did find some just like the ones I saw. And as usual, I found a lot of other things also. I wrote all the other address down so I can go back and really check them out. But the stepping stones that I found can also be hung up on a wall! What a cleaver idea! Now instead of just walking on them, they can be wall art too. I’ll bet that kids really enjoy that. And probably some adults too.
Now I have nothing against making my own stepping stones. That can be a lot of fun. What am I saying! I know it is a lot of fun. Timing is very important though and in my section of the country, it isn’t really the best time to be playing in concrete. The weather is to unpredictable, with both the temperature and moisture. If you want to know how to make your own stepping stones, just type that into your search engine and half a million sites will appear for you to chose from.
But if you don’t have the time or the desire to make your own, you can search all you want and check out twenty million sites. But if you want a cute novelty set of holiday stepping stones, just check out the ones I found.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Cookie Jars
I don’t know about others, but I have some very fond memories involving cookie jars. They just seem to bring a smile and loads of thoughts of the cookies I used to “sneak”. I can all but smell them baking and taste them now!
Growing up we had several different cookie jars. Ones we were not allowed to touch, and the one we could. I think everyone had at least one cookie jar that was kept on top of the refrigerator. That one was for looks, and would hold things that our Mothers didn’t want us to get hold of or know about.
The cookie jar that we were able to get hold of was one of Davy Crockett. I remember that cookie jar as if it was sitting in front of me. Don’t know what ever happened to it. But if that cookie jar could talk, I’m sure I’m not the only one in the family that would be in trouble. I did find a cookie jar in one of the many antique shops around here that was (or at least looked like) our Davy Crockett cookie jar. It cost over $700! I wish I had our old cookie jar.
Our one neighbors used to do a lot of ceramics. She had the clay ( I think that is what the stuff was called), the molds, a kiln, and tons of paints. She was really into ceramics. Mrs. Roberts taught my Mother how to do a lot of ceramic things. One of things Mrs. Roberts did make a lot of were cookie jars.
I always thought the Cow Cookie Jar was really neat and different and would be a great whatnot holder, if you didn‘t use it for cookies. And the Santa Claus one always make me hungry. It reminded me of sugar cookies and all the other holiday treats you can make. And that Santa Claus Cookie Jar that Mrs. Roberts made was classic and I always thought that if and when I ever got married, I would have one.
Of Corse that was back in the 50’s, I was just a kid then. But when I did get married and had kids, there was no need for a cookie jar. No cookie lasted longer than a day in my house. My kids are not now and have never been heavy or even close to it. But cookies never lasted long enough to really cool down if we made them.
To this day I still have a little thing for cookie jars. Must be the memories they stir up. And I still don’t own one. But that doesn’t stop me from looking at them. Or even thinking about them at times. And as usual, I found a really unique one. I don’t think to many people in the north east would appreciate it, unless they have spent time living in the south west. It is a Cactus Cookie Jar. To be more precise, a Holiday Cactus Cookie Jar. Its really cute! A green cactus with a red hat and Christmas lights on it.
Growing up we had several different cookie jars. Ones we were not allowed to touch, and the one we could. I think everyone had at least one cookie jar that was kept on top of the refrigerator. That one was for looks, and would hold things that our Mothers didn’t want us to get hold of or know about.
The cookie jar that we were able to get hold of was one of Davy Crockett. I remember that cookie jar as if it was sitting in front of me. Don’t know what ever happened to it. But if that cookie jar could talk, I’m sure I’m not the only one in the family that would be in trouble. I did find a cookie jar in one of the many antique shops around here that was (or at least looked like) our Davy Crockett cookie jar. It cost over $700! I wish I had our old cookie jar.
Our one neighbors used to do a lot of ceramics. She had the clay ( I think that is what the stuff was called), the molds, a kiln, and tons of paints. She was really into ceramics. Mrs. Roberts taught my Mother how to do a lot of ceramic things. One of things Mrs. Roberts did make a lot of were cookie jars.
I always thought the Cow Cookie Jar was really neat and different and would be a great whatnot holder, if you didn‘t use it for cookies. And the Santa Claus one always make me hungry. It reminded me of sugar cookies and all the other holiday treats you can make. And that Santa Claus Cookie Jar that Mrs. Roberts made was classic and I always thought that if and when I ever got married, I would have one.
Of Corse that was back in the 50’s, I was just a kid then. But when I did get married and had kids, there was no need for a cookie jar. No cookie lasted longer than a day in my house. My kids are not now and have never been heavy or even close to it. But cookies never lasted long enough to really cool down if we made them.
To this day I still have a little thing for cookie jars. Must be the memories they stir up. And I still don’t own one. But that doesn’t stop me from looking at them. Or even thinking about them at times. And as usual, I found a really unique one. I don’t think to many people in the north east would appreciate it, unless they have spent time living in the south west. It is a Cactus Cookie Jar. To be more precise, a Holiday Cactus Cookie Jar. Its really cute! A green cactus with a red hat and Christmas lights on it.
Monday, November 16, 2009
So Much More to Learn
I was asked recently why I seem to be “selling” things on-line. I see something I like or would like to have and I write about them. If a friend has the product and bought it on-line I get the address and pass it on. If the friend bought the item in a store, I hunt and peck my way around on-line until I find the exact same product and then I pass that address on. Why? Because I am trying to learn how things work on-line. And the only way I seem to be getting any answers is if I try to do it myself.
I have emailed questions to different “help” programs. And so far to date, I have not gotten one answer to any question. Try the library! I have. It seems that all the books out there on internet programs and help, are all written for the computer literate. Not one book that I have been able to place my grubby little hands on is in a language I can understand. And no, I haven’t been able to find the “For Dummies” books on the internet in any of the stores I’ve been to or at my local library. What “Dummies” books I have been able to find leave me tearing my hair out after two sentences!
I asked for help before and got no replies. So let me ask again in a different way. Does any one know of a book written by dummies for dummies about the internet and different internet programs? The cheaper the better, but at this point I will not be to picky.
I’m sure I have “links” down pat. And I am having a blast putting them in my posts. But I would like to try putting in a picture and don’t have a clue how. But you may not to see half the pictures I have and I may not want to show you the other half.
I have also figured out how to have two “windows” open at the same time. And how to go back and forth between them. I think that is called toggling, but I’m not sure. Poor hubby had to listen to me talk about that achievement for three days! Which was better then the one week talk about links he endured. And to think the dear man doesn’t even know how to turn on my computer!
I have learned how to fully back up everything on this machine. It took awhile, but I did it. Don’t know if it is right or not and I hope to never find out. The one crash I had since starting to blog didn’t require me to use those back up disks. Just a lot of cursing (and I do mean a lot!) and hunting, and pecking around till I got things back. In fact, that is when I started backing up all my “work” along with a full back up.
There is so much I would like to learn about. And I’m doing the best I can with what little I do know. But I would love to know and understand so much more.
I have emailed questions to different “help” programs. And so far to date, I have not gotten one answer to any question. Try the library! I have. It seems that all the books out there on internet programs and help, are all written for the computer literate. Not one book that I have been able to place my grubby little hands on is in a language I can understand. And no, I haven’t been able to find the “For Dummies” books on the internet in any of the stores I’ve been to or at my local library. What “Dummies” books I have been able to find leave me tearing my hair out after two sentences!
I asked for help before and got no replies. So let me ask again in a different way. Does any one know of a book written by dummies for dummies about the internet and different internet programs? The cheaper the better, but at this point I will not be to picky.
I’m sure I have “links” down pat. And I am having a blast putting them in my posts. But I would like to try putting in a picture and don’t have a clue how. But you may not to see half the pictures I have and I may not want to show you the other half.
I have also figured out how to have two “windows” open at the same time. And how to go back and forth between them. I think that is called toggling, but I’m not sure. Poor hubby had to listen to me talk about that achievement for three days! Which was better then the one week talk about links he endured. And to think the dear man doesn’t even know how to turn on my computer!
I have learned how to fully back up everything on this machine. It took awhile, but I did it. Don’t know if it is right or not and I hope to never find out. The one crash I had since starting to blog didn’t require me to use those back up disks. Just a lot of cursing (and I do mean a lot!) and hunting, and pecking around till I got things back. In fact, that is when I started backing up all my “work” along with a full back up.
There is so much I would like to learn about. And I’m doing the best I can with what little I do know. But I would love to know and understand so much more.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
A Mugaholics almost Perfect Mug
Now, you all know I’m a Phillies Phan. Yes, I am disappointed that we didn’t win the World Series. I watched every game. It was a hard pill to swallow, but the better team did win. And I congratulate the Yankees on their win.
Between games I was looking on line for some Phillies items. Thought they would be good Christmas presents. But since they didn’t go all the way this year, I decided that it just wouldn’t be right to give the gifts I was thinking about. Instead, I went looking for Yankee items. No, not for me to give, but I’m sure someone out there is a Yankee fan and would like to know where to look for something that is “Yankees”.
I have to be honest, I didn’t look to hard. It was hard for me not being a fan and all. Then too, my computer skills are getting better, but it still takes me for ever to do anything like that. But I really did look. And I found tons of sites that have jerseys, hats and tee shirts. You can find pictures, banners, flags and pennants. Not good enough I thought, you can get that in any store right about now. So I kept looking.
Then I found it. A coffee (or tea if you prefer) mug. But not just any mug. This one has that nostalgic look and feel to it. And the color! A beautiful, and I do mean a rich blue. Just looking at it makes me almost wish I was a Yankee fan. I have to confess, I really do love the look of that mug. Well, everything except the New York Yankee logo that is.
I will tell you right now, if it had a Phillie logo, I would have had my coffee in it this morning. But the Phillies color is red, and I am not really a red person. But I do love the color blue. And I guess that is why I like this mug so much, the color. Just look at it, and tell me that isn’t the most beautiful color blue mug you have ever seen. Okay, I know you have to click on the link and all, so do it and then tell me that is not a beautiful mug!
My hubby says I’m a mugaholic. I have more mugs than you can shake a stick at. When ever I go away on vacation, I buy a mug. Every time my Dad goes away, he brings me a mug. If I see a mug that really catches my eye and won’t let go, I get it. And I am having a hard time not getting this mug. But it is the Yankees and not the Phillies. And that is the only reason I’m not drinking out of it right now.
Between games I was looking on line for some Phillies items. Thought they would be good Christmas presents. But since they didn’t go all the way this year, I decided that it just wouldn’t be right to give the gifts I was thinking about. Instead, I went looking for Yankee items. No, not for me to give, but I’m sure someone out there is a Yankee fan and would like to know where to look for something that is “Yankees”.
I have to be honest, I didn’t look to hard. It was hard for me not being a fan and all. Then too, my computer skills are getting better, but it still takes me for ever to do anything like that. But I really did look. And I found tons of sites that have jerseys, hats and tee shirts. You can find pictures, banners, flags and pennants. Not good enough I thought, you can get that in any store right about now. So I kept looking.
Then I found it. A coffee (or tea if you prefer) mug. But not just any mug. This one has that nostalgic look and feel to it. And the color! A beautiful, and I do mean a rich blue. Just looking at it makes me almost wish I was a Yankee fan. I have to confess, I really do love the look of that mug. Well, everything except the New York Yankee logo that is.
I will tell you right now, if it had a Phillie logo, I would have had my coffee in it this morning. But the Phillies color is red, and I am not really a red person. But I do love the color blue. And I guess that is why I like this mug so much, the color. Just look at it, and tell me that isn’t the most beautiful color blue mug you have ever seen. Okay, I know you have to click on the link and all, so do it and then tell me that is not a beautiful mug!
My hubby says I’m a mugaholic. I have more mugs than you can shake a stick at. When ever I go away on vacation, I buy a mug. Every time my Dad goes away, he brings me a mug. If I see a mug that really catches my eye and won’t let go, I get it. And I am having a hard time not getting this mug. But it is the Yankees and not the Phillies. And that is the only reason I’m not drinking out of it right now.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Perfect Gift for my Nephew
I was playing around on-line and I found a Pittsburgh Steelers thermometer and a Steelers rain gauge. They are two different yard stakes, but they would be perfect for a Steelers fan. I happen to know someone who would love to have those yard stakes too. The only problem is that he lives in an apartment!
Around here, there seems to be a mixture of fans. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., are the ones that people root for in football and baseball. And you had better know who is a fan of what team before you start talking any sports with them. People around here take their sports very, very seriously.
Now, the Steelers fan I know happens to a very nice kid (he happens to be my nephew). He was born and raised around the D.C. area, went to in college Pittsburgh, and now lives in Florida. Why this Virginia transplant is so crazy about the Steelers, I don’t know. But he is. And I love him to death (as I do all my nieces and nephews). But the Steelers? Okay, they did win the Super Bowl last year, so they have to be good, right?
If this good looking young man had a yard, I would get him those yard stakes. And once again I would be his favorite Aunt. But since he has no yard, only a balcony covered by the balcony above, they would be of little use to him. What a shame! With the thermometer, he would know how to dress, dark shorts or light colored ones. And with the rain gauge he would know whether or not he needed to get a boat, or just to water the lawn.
My hubby and I already have two outdoor thermometers and two rain gauges, so we couldn’t even begin to use them even if we were Steelers fans. My next best idea is to try and talk my brother and his wife into getting them so that my nephew could see them whenever he visits them. But they live in a town house and I don’t think they are permitted to have any yard décor like these yard stakes. Talking my Dad into getting them is out of the question, he roots for the other PA. football team.
Oh, nephew, I finally find the perfect gift for you and I can’t get it! I couldn’t find them for other teams, just yours. Why oh why can’t you be living in a house?
Around here, there seems to be a mixture of fans. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., are the ones that people root for in football and baseball. And you had better know who is a fan of what team before you start talking any sports with them. People around here take their sports very, very seriously.
Now, the Steelers fan I know happens to a very nice kid (he happens to be my nephew). He was born and raised around the D.C. area, went to in college Pittsburgh, and now lives in Florida. Why this Virginia transplant is so crazy about the Steelers, I don’t know. But he is. And I love him to death (as I do all my nieces and nephews). But the Steelers? Okay, they did win the Super Bowl last year, so they have to be good, right?
If this good looking young man had a yard, I would get him those yard stakes. And once again I would be his favorite Aunt. But since he has no yard, only a balcony covered by the balcony above, they would be of little use to him. What a shame! With the thermometer, he would know how to dress, dark shorts or light colored ones. And with the rain gauge he would know whether or not he needed to get a boat, or just to water the lawn.
My hubby and I already have two outdoor thermometers and two rain gauges, so we couldn’t even begin to use them even if we were Steelers fans. My next best idea is to try and talk my brother and his wife into getting them so that my nephew could see them whenever he visits them. But they live in a town house and I don’t think they are permitted to have any yard décor like these yard stakes. Talking my Dad into getting them is out of the question, he roots for the other PA. football team.
Oh, nephew, I finally find the perfect gift for you and I can’t get it! I couldn’t find them for other teams, just yours. Why oh why can’t you be living in a house?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Health Care
You will never guess what I did. I crashed my computer again. How, you ask? It is simple really. I tried to download the governments bill on health reform. At least I had back up disks so I could be up and running again in a relativity short time (12 hours). I should have know better then to “spy” on what our elected officials.
So I can’t get my hands on that bill that the Senate voted on. But I was able to get some information. I kind of wished I hadn’t. It scares me half to death to think about what they are going to do. I don’t mind that one of things tacked on to that bill will be tougher restriction on abortion. Don’t know how they will make it tougher, but they will. Which is okay with me. I mean, they pass out condoms to just about everyone now-a-days. And anyone can get an abortion. No reason is needed really. So fine, make it a little tougher. But I think that the government will make it harder for doctors and clinics’ to get any money.
That is good. Because this health reform is going to cost us, you and me the tax payer, over 1.2 trillion dollars. For them, the government, to come up with that kind of money a lot of other things will have to be cut out of the budgets. One thing that I was able to get from one government web site before my crash, was that there will be big cuts in Medicare. The number that I saw was $400 billion. I don’t know about anyone else, but that is scary. Our seniors have worked all there lives and paid into this for what? And what help will I be able to get when my time comes?
I also heard on the radio that there would be cuts to the V.A. How dare they cut any of those benefits! Those veterans were willing to put their lives on the line for this country, whether they enlisted or were drafted. They all did a very valuable service for this country, and now there benefits will be cut? That is so wrong.
Let me tell you what else I did find. All persons will have to have medical insurance. And large companies will have to offer it to their employee. If not you will be slapped with “penalties”. Now to me, a penalty is a fine that must be paid or else you go to jail. Of Corse, the government will subsidize the payments for those unable to come up with the money for their premiums. That sounds like half of the population right now. Do our elected officials really believe that people don’t have medical insurance by choice? If I could afford it, I’d have it.
The bill also states that it will be illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage because you have hit you limit. Which is good. But then it also makes it illegal to charge a higher premium for a pre-existing condition. And that is also good I believe. I know when I did have medical insurance the premiums were so high that I couldn’t afford to go to the doctor. So meeting my deductible was impossible.
An article I read somewhere on line while trying to find that health reform bill said that the “public option” would be more expensive than getting insurance through a regular company. That also has a good side and a bad side. The good first, your premiums will never raise. They, the government, can however call it a cost of living increase to get you to pay more. And the bad? The government writes the policy. Just one policy for everyone. The government will decide what benefits we should have. No custom policies or benefits for anyone, unless you go with a private company.
To my untrained ear, this sounds worse than social medicine policies that some other countries have.
So I can’t get my hands on that bill that the Senate voted on. But I was able to get some information. I kind of wished I hadn’t. It scares me half to death to think about what they are going to do. I don’t mind that one of things tacked on to that bill will be tougher restriction on abortion. Don’t know how they will make it tougher, but they will. Which is okay with me. I mean, they pass out condoms to just about everyone now-a-days. And anyone can get an abortion. No reason is needed really. So fine, make it a little tougher. But I think that the government will make it harder for doctors and clinics’ to get any money.
That is good. Because this health reform is going to cost us, you and me the tax payer, over 1.2 trillion dollars. For them, the government, to come up with that kind of money a lot of other things will have to be cut out of the budgets. One thing that I was able to get from one government web site before my crash, was that there will be big cuts in Medicare. The number that I saw was $400 billion. I don’t know about anyone else, but that is scary. Our seniors have worked all there lives and paid into this for what? And what help will I be able to get when my time comes?
I also heard on the radio that there would be cuts to the V.A. How dare they cut any of those benefits! Those veterans were willing to put their lives on the line for this country, whether they enlisted or were drafted. They all did a very valuable service for this country, and now there benefits will be cut? That is so wrong.
Let me tell you what else I did find. All persons will have to have medical insurance. And large companies will have to offer it to their employee. If not you will be slapped with “penalties”. Now to me, a penalty is a fine that must be paid or else you go to jail. Of Corse, the government will subsidize the payments for those unable to come up with the money for their premiums. That sounds like half of the population right now. Do our elected officials really believe that people don’t have medical insurance by choice? If I could afford it, I’d have it.
The bill also states that it will be illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage because you have hit you limit. Which is good. But then it also makes it illegal to charge a higher premium for a pre-existing condition. And that is also good I believe. I know when I did have medical insurance the premiums were so high that I couldn’t afford to go to the doctor. So meeting my deductible was impossible.
An article I read somewhere on line while trying to find that health reform bill said that the “public option” would be more expensive than getting insurance through a regular company. That also has a good side and a bad side. The good first, your premiums will never raise. They, the government, can however call it a cost of living increase to get you to pay more. And the bad? The government writes the policy. Just one policy for everyone. The government will decide what benefits we should have. No custom policies or benefits for anyone, unless you go with a private company.
To my untrained ear, this sounds worse than social medicine policies that some other countries have.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Our Barska Binoculars
When my husband and I moved to the country, we decided that we need a new pair of binoculars. Just one pair wasn’t cutting it for us. So we started looking, hunting would be a better word for it. It took a while, but we finally found a pair that both of us liked. And they fit very nicely on our old camera tripod so I have no trouble when my arthritic joints are acting up and I have trouble holding a piece of paper.
Barska binoculars are an excellent value for your money in my opinion. We got more bang for our buck and a much better view of all the wildlife that passes through our back yard and our woods. I’m sure they have some form of image stabled built in because the image I see doesn’t “shake” at all even when I not using the tripod.
As birding binoculars, they are fantastic. We are now naming different species of sparrows, and noticing different markings on the robins’ breast. Naturally, our bird identification books are always close by to help us. No longer do we argue over what the bird is thanks to our Barska binoculars.
Binoculars have become a very important part of our décor. We have several pairs in different places, just incase. Since we left the city life, we have discovered the true beauty of nature. The wildlife on the hill side, the birds flying over head and even the activity of the dragon flies. We would not see half of it if not for binoculars.
If you are interested in any form of wildlife, you need a good pair of binoculars. My father always keeps a pair in his car. So do I , and my son does also. You never know when you will need them. The Barska binoculars we have are not compact binoculars. But they are ideal for birding watching, hunting, or just enjoying the wildlife of the area.
Barska binoculars are an excellent value for your money in my opinion. We got more bang for our buck and a much better view of all the wildlife that passes through our back yard and our woods. I’m sure they have some form of image stabled built in because the image I see doesn’t “shake” at all even when I not using the tripod.
As birding binoculars, they are fantastic. We are now naming different species of sparrows, and noticing different markings on the robins’ breast. Naturally, our bird identification books are always close by to help us. No longer do we argue over what the bird is thanks to our Barska binoculars.
Binoculars have become a very important part of our décor. We have several pairs in different places, just incase. Since we left the city life, we have discovered the true beauty of nature. The wildlife on the hill side, the birds flying over head and even the activity of the dragon flies. We would not see half of it if not for binoculars.
If you are interested in any form of wildlife, you need a good pair of binoculars. My father always keeps a pair in his car. So do I , and my son does also. You never know when you will need them. The Barska binoculars we have are not compact binoculars. But they are ideal for birding watching, hunting, or just enjoying the wildlife of the area.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Stimulus and Bailouts
I don’t know about anyone else, but the “stimulus package” is a big joke. All I have seen it do is give the people with the big paychecks a bonus, and cost me more money. How many people do you know personally, that it has helped? Has it put anyone you know back to work full time? Has it helped anyone you know from losing their home? The only people I have seen it “put back to work” are the road crews and they are never completely out of work anyway. Lets face it, fixing the roads will take place no matter what. So who benefits? Not you, because you are the one who is stuck in traffic, and using up all your time and gas to go nowhere in a real big hurry.
From where I sit, it will only cost me more money I don’t have. My taxes will go sky high, and the chance of me finding a job is getting farther and father away. To pay for all the “bail outs” you know everyone’s taxes will become unbelievable high. Everyone that is except for the very rich. They have all the loop holes to help them keep their big houses and fancy cars. Where us little people have nothing to protect us. We are the ones who will be paying the most. And we all know who benefit’s the most there.
Incase you don’t pay attention, the unemployment numbers are going down. But those numbers are based only on the number of people who can collect unemployment. They have nothing to do with the self employed, the part time workers, the seasonal workers, or those whose unemployment benefits have run out. And there are a lot of people who do not qualify for unemployment benefits. And who benefits from leaving out half the unemployed in the statistics? Not the little guy.
The contractors who do all the little jobs, and some not so little jobs, for all of us who can’t do it ourselves, they are self employed. And most of them are out of work because of the economy. Or the new laws requiring them to be licensed to continue to be able to work has forced them out of work. And that is not because they were no good at their jobs, but because it is to expensive to get the license. Did you know that in some places it is illegal for a contractor to do any kind of repair work unless he is licensed? Who benefits from that? Not the little guy that’s for sure.
And with the economy the way it is, I’ll bet you know a lot of people who have taken a cut in pay. At least those who do take the cut are trying to do something. Or are they? A lot of companies are trying to make it mandatory. They say that they are trying to keep people working and keep there product prices low so that people can buy it. Are they really? We hear a lot about pay cuts for the working stiff. But what about the big wigs in those companies? Have they “down sized” their lifestyle, or tightened their belts?
So tell me, who is benefiting from the “bail outs” and the “stimulus package”?
From where I sit, it will only cost me more money I don’t have. My taxes will go sky high, and the chance of me finding a job is getting farther and father away. To pay for all the “bail outs” you know everyone’s taxes will become unbelievable high. Everyone that is except for the very rich. They have all the loop holes to help them keep their big houses and fancy cars. Where us little people have nothing to protect us. We are the ones who will be paying the most. And we all know who benefit’s the most there.
Incase you don’t pay attention, the unemployment numbers are going down. But those numbers are based only on the number of people who can collect unemployment. They have nothing to do with the self employed, the part time workers, the seasonal workers, or those whose unemployment benefits have run out. And there are a lot of people who do not qualify for unemployment benefits. And who benefits from leaving out half the unemployed in the statistics? Not the little guy.
The contractors who do all the little jobs, and some not so little jobs, for all of us who can’t do it ourselves, they are self employed. And most of them are out of work because of the economy. Or the new laws requiring them to be licensed to continue to be able to work has forced them out of work. And that is not because they were no good at their jobs, but because it is to expensive to get the license. Did you know that in some places it is illegal for a contractor to do any kind of repair work unless he is licensed? Who benefits from that? Not the little guy that’s for sure.
And with the economy the way it is, I’ll bet you know a lot of people who have taken a cut in pay. At least those who do take the cut are trying to do something. Or are they? A lot of companies are trying to make it mandatory. They say that they are trying to keep people working and keep there product prices low so that people can buy it. Are they really? We hear a lot about pay cuts for the working stiff. But what about the big wigs in those companies? Have they “down sized” their lifestyle, or tightened their belts?
So tell me, who is benefiting from the “bail outs” and the “stimulus package”?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hand Cranked Radios
When I lived in the south, I discovered how important a radio could be. We had a few hurricane scares and several tropical storms that did “hit” our area. In New Orleans, you are never above water level and just an inch of rain can cause flooding. And believe it or not, Houston isn’t much better at times.
Just after one tropical storm, all the batteries were being used in our one flash light, so there were none for the portable radio. If I had had a hand cranked radio I would have know that the worst was over and to just stay put, the water levels were going down. Since we had no electricity and the kids school was across the street, I knew that was closed. But I had no way of knowing what was happening in the surrounding area. My husband was at work, and I couldn’t help but worry if that area was hit harder than we were or had they been spared. And our neighbors were in the same boat as I was.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have been better prepared. But hind sight is 20/20. So now I keep an emergency kit ready at all times. Two hand cranked radios, one flash light with two sets of batteries, three candles, matches, the usual first aid kit, blankets, water, and a can opener. And it is all kept together in a plastic tub. I check it, and change the batteries twice a year and it is never put in the basement or the attic.
Why two hand cranked radios? Simple, one person can be listening to the emergency broadcast station while the other is listening to the local news and weather. That way you know exactly what is going on in the area. And the hand cranked radios today, do not need that much cranking for them to work. And I have found the younger children will all but fight over who gets to crank the hand cranked radio.
Today, you can find hand cranked radios almost anyplace. They are portable radios not much larger than most wallets. I have seen some that are just AM, and some that are just FM. I prefer the AM/FM hand cranked radios, you have a much better chance of picking up a radio station no matter where you are.
Hand cranked radios should not be considered just emergency radios. They are great to have whenever you are away from an electrical source. Take it hiking or camping. You never know when the weather may change and you will need to know what to expect from dear Mother Nature to keep yourself and those with you safe.
Just after one tropical storm, all the batteries were being used in our one flash light, so there were none for the portable radio. If I had had a hand cranked radio I would have know that the worst was over and to just stay put, the water levels were going down. Since we had no electricity and the kids school was across the street, I knew that was closed. But I had no way of knowing what was happening in the surrounding area. My husband was at work, and I couldn’t help but worry if that area was hit harder than we were or had they been spared. And our neighbors were in the same boat as I was.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have been better prepared. But hind sight is 20/20. So now I keep an emergency kit ready at all times. Two hand cranked radios, one flash light with two sets of batteries, three candles, matches, the usual first aid kit, blankets, water, and a can opener. And it is all kept together in a plastic tub. I check it, and change the batteries twice a year and it is never put in the basement or the attic.
Why two hand cranked radios? Simple, one person can be listening to the emergency broadcast station while the other is listening to the local news and weather. That way you know exactly what is going on in the area. And the hand cranked radios today, do not need that much cranking for them to work. And I have found the younger children will all but fight over who gets to crank the hand cranked radio.
Today, you can find hand cranked radios almost anyplace. They are portable radios not much larger than most wallets. I have seen some that are just AM, and some that are just FM. I prefer the AM/FM hand cranked radios, you have a much better chance of picking up a radio station no matter where you are.
Hand cranked radios should not be considered just emergency radios. They are great to have whenever you are away from an electrical source. Take it hiking or camping. You never know when the weather may change and you will need to know what to expect from dear Mother Nature to keep yourself and those with you safe.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Bald Eagle
You will never guess what we saw the other day. A bald eagle! Just sitting in a tree! What makes it so unusual is that we are not that close to a river at all. The nearest river that could support the eagle’s fishing habits is the Susquehanna. And that is about 50 miles away.
Who hasn’t been awed by seeing the eagle in its natural habitat. Wither sitting on a branch or watching a soaring eagle in the sky. I’ve been lucky that way. I have seen three eagles in my life so far. Two about twenty years ago and one just the other day. All three of my sightings were of the bald eagle.
There are only two eagles that are native to America. The bald eagle and the golden eagle. The bald eagle is the one that fascinates me the most. I guess that is because of its coloring. It seems to be very dignified, almost the proper English gentlemen, but with wings.
This eagle is also known as the sea eagle because its main diet is fish. The bald eagles body can be up to 40 inches in length with a wing span of up to 96 inches. And the eagle can weigh in at any were from 6 to 15 pounds. And if you think that is amazing, wait till I tell you about its nest. Up to 13 feet deep and up to 8 feet across, and weight up to 1 ton!
The bald eagle is thought to mate for life. But if one either dies or disappears, the remaining one will find a new mate. If at all possible, the eagle will use the same nest year after year, just adding new material to it. Which is why the eagle has such a large nest.
The Native Americans’ consider both the bald eagle and the golden eagle sacred. Their feathers were often used as symbols of honor. And the eagle is considered a spiritual messenger between the gods and man.
While the bald eagle eats mainly fish, the golden eagle eats mainly small mammals and rodents. Both eagles are about the same size and weight, but the golden eagles nest is about half the size of the bald eagles. I find that very interesting. And from what I can find, the biologists are not sure why.
I am fascinated with the American eagles. I have several pictures of them. My screen saver is of a soaring eagle. And I found an eagle statue that I will one day purchase. As soon as find a place for it, that is. I am really glad that the American (Bald and Golden) eagle are making a comeback. It was rather scary to think of our national symbol going extinct. Now if we can either teach the eagles to stay clear of electrical lines, or teach man how not to poison water ways and other living creatures. May the American eagles be around for a long, long time.
Who hasn’t been awed by seeing the eagle in its natural habitat. Wither sitting on a branch or watching a soaring eagle in the sky. I’ve been lucky that way. I have seen three eagles in my life so far. Two about twenty years ago and one just the other day. All three of my sightings were of the bald eagle.
There are only two eagles that are native to America. The bald eagle and the golden eagle. The bald eagle is the one that fascinates me the most. I guess that is because of its coloring. It seems to be very dignified, almost the proper English gentlemen, but with wings.
This eagle is also known as the sea eagle because its main diet is fish. The bald eagles body can be up to 40 inches in length with a wing span of up to 96 inches. And the eagle can weigh in at any were from 6 to 15 pounds. And if you think that is amazing, wait till I tell you about its nest. Up to 13 feet deep and up to 8 feet across, and weight up to 1 ton!
The bald eagle is thought to mate for life. But if one either dies or disappears, the remaining one will find a new mate. If at all possible, the eagle will use the same nest year after year, just adding new material to it. Which is why the eagle has such a large nest.
The Native Americans’ consider both the bald eagle and the golden eagle sacred. Their feathers were often used as symbols of honor. And the eagle is considered a spiritual messenger between the gods and man.
While the bald eagle eats mainly fish, the golden eagle eats mainly small mammals and rodents. Both eagles are about the same size and weight, but the golden eagles nest is about half the size of the bald eagles. I find that very interesting. And from what I can find, the biologists are not sure why.
I am fascinated with the American eagles. I have several pictures of them. My screen saver is of a soaring eagle. And I found an eagle statue that I will one day purchase. As soon as find a place for it, that is. I am really glad that the American (Bald and Golden) eagle are making a comeback. It was rather scary to think of our national symbol going extinct. Now if we can either teach the eagles to stay clear of electrical lines, or teach man how not to poison water ways and other living creatures. May the American eagles be around for a long, long time.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Phillie Phans
I can’t really say I’m a sports fan. Know just enough about different sports to be able to watch a game and understand 90-95% of what happens and why. Do I watch a lot of games? No. Do I have favorite teams? Yes.
I was born and raised within spitting distance of Philadelphia. But I have also lived in both New Orleans and Houston. Now, when I lived in those other cities, I paid attention to and rutted for their teams. That is, in everything except baseball.
Jimmy, Shane, and Chase are three of the best baseball players of all times as far as I’m concerned. Yes, I’m a Phillie Phan and proud of it. I watched Tug McGraw throw the last pitch back in the 70’s , and Brad Lidge do it last year. And I will be watching to the last pitch this year. Win or lose, that is my team out there and I am very proud of them.
I heard talk when I lived down south about the Philadelphia fan. About how tough we are. Yes we are very tough. Why? In my opinion, it is because the rest of the country see us as a second class city. We aren’t as big mile wise as Houston or Dallas, we don’t have the population that New York has, and we don’t get the extra large tourist crowd like New Orleans or Los Angeles. We do however have more history here than in any other part of this country. And we do know what we want. And we feel that out teams should be winners. Or at the very least, treated like winners in the news media. We pay good money to see our teams in action and we feel that gives us the right to let that team, and everyone else in ear shot, know how we feel about the game.
So if you don’t think that Phillie Phans have the right to voice there opinion, come to our city and we will show you what gives us the right. It all has to do with history really. And it all started with some men over two hundred years ago. They were loud, voice tress and demanding too. They knew what they wanted and let people know! And what did they end up with? A new nation. A Declaration of Independence. The Constitution. And The Bill of Rights.
Yes, the fans in Philadelphia are loud and demanding. But we are so very proud of our teams that it physically hurts us to see them do anything but win. And if they don’t win, we all know in our hearts that there will always be another game, another season, or a new player that can make it happen.
Go Phillies!
I was born and raised within spitting distance of Philadelphia. But I have also lived in both New Orleans and Houston. Now, when I lived in those other cities, I paid attention to and rutted for their teams. That is, in everything except baseball.
Jimmy, Shane, and Chase are three of the best baseball players of all times as far as I’m concerned. Yes, I’m a Phillie Phan and proud of it. I watched Tug McGraw throw the last pitch back in the 70’s , and Brad Lidge do it last year. And I will be watching to the last pitch this year. Win or lose, that is my team out there and I am very proud of them.
I heard talk when I lived down south about the Philadelphia fan. About how tough we are. Yes we are very tough. Why? In my opinion, it is because the rest of the country see us as a second class city. We aren’t as big mile wise as Houston or Dallas, we don’t have the population that New York has, and we don’t get the extra large tourist crowd like New Orleans or Los Angeles. We do however have more history here than in any other part of this country. And we do know what we want. And we feel that out teams should be winners. Or at the very least, treated like winners in the news media. We pay good money to see our teams in action and we feel that gives us the right to let that team, and everyone else in ear shot, know how we feel about the game.
So if you don’t think that Phillie Phans have the right to voice there opinion, come to our city and we will show you what gives us the right. It all has to do with history really. And it all started with some men over two hundred years ago. They were loud, voice tress and demanding too. They knew what they wanted and let people know! And what did they end up with? A new nation. A Declaration of Independence. The Constitution. And The Bill of Rights.
Yes, the fans in Philadelphia are loud and demanding. But we are so very proud of our teams that it physically hurts us to see them do anything but win. And if they don’t win, we all know in our hearts that there will always be another game, another season, or a new player that can make it happen.
Go Phillies!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Bamboo Wind Chimes
Bamboo wind chimes are by far the best as far as I am concerned. Wind chimes are a very popular yard decoration. But to me, bamboo wind chimes are by far the best. They are unique wind chimes because the blend into the scenery in more ways then one. And they don’t clang like the metal ones do.
Bamboo wind chimes listen to the breezes and then repeat it back to the listener. They all but disappear into their surroundings, and their sounds are very natural. I mean after all, they are made of bamboo. Whereas the metal ones stand out, make an unnatural man made sound, and they tend to chase the birds and other wild life away.
Wind chimes should enhance the pleasures of your yard, not distract from them. Bamboo wind chimes seem to do just that. These unique wind chimes are not man made substances, but natural material. They do not rust, but given time, and I do mean lot of time, they will decay. But I ask you, which is better for your yard? Rust, and possible broken jagged pipes, or slowly decaying bamboo.
I have seen some very nice metal wind chimes, and if I lived in or close to a big city, I would more than likely get them. You need the metal wind chimes there to be heard over the noise of the traffic. But out here in the country, bamboo wind chimes are perfect. You hear them without them standing out. And they don’t chase anything away.
Bamboo is a very interesting plant. They are very fast growing, in fact, it reaches its full height in just one growing season. And can be harvested within 3 years. Most bamboo is of the true grass family. But, the “Lucky Bamboo” plant isn’t a true bamboo, but of the lily family.
Bamboo can be used as food, and not only for the Lemur, Giant Panda, Red Panda and Mountain Gorilla. But be careful. The bamboo that the lemur eats has cyanide in it. And the Mountain Gorilla goes for the sap that has fermented and is alcoholic. But some bamboo when prepared right becomes a low cal source of potassium. You can find new, young bamboo shoots in several Asian dishes.
Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine to help heal infection. It is also used in construction, textiles, and of coarse for musical instruments of all kinds. But my favorite way to use bamboo is for wind chimes.
Bamboo wind chimes listen to the breezes and then repeat it back to the listener. They all but disappear into their surroundings, and their sounds are very natural. I mean after all, they are made of bamboo. Whereas the metal ones stand out, make an unnatural man made sound, and they tend to chase the birds and other wild life away.
Wind chimes should enhance the pleasures of your yard, not distract from them. Bamboo wind chimes seem to do just that. These unique wind chimes are not man made substances, but natural material. They do not rust, but given time, and I do mean lot of time, they will decay. But I ask you, which is better for your yard? Rust, and possible broken jagged pipes, or slowly decaying bamboo.
I have seen some very nice metal wind chimes, and if I lived in or close to a big city, I would more than likely get them. You need the metal wind chimes there to be heard over the noise of the traffic. But out here in the country, bamboo wind chimes are perfect. You hear them without them standing out. And they don’t chase anything away.
Bamboo is a very interesting plant. They are very fast growing, in fact, it reaches its full height in just one growing season. And can be harvested within 3 years. Most bamboo is of the true grass family. But, the “Lucky Bamboo” plant isn’t a true bamboo, but of the lily family.
Bamboo can be used as food, and not only for the Lemur, Giant Panda, Red Panda and Mountain Gorilla. But be careful. The bamboo that the lemur eats has cyanide in it. And the Mountain Gorilla goes for the sap that has fermented and is alcoholic. But some bamboo when prepared right becomes a low cal source of potassium. You can find new, young bamboo shoots in several Asian dishes.
Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine to help heal infection. It is also used in construction, textiles, and of coarse for musical instruments of all kinds. But my favorite way to use bamboo is for wind chimes.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
VISITING ANOTHER YARD
This afternoon my hubby and I went over to visit some friends. The people we went to visit have a lot of land, mainly woods. Their yard is full of flower beds, bird feeders, and naturally bird houses. (Gee, that sounds a lot like our backyard!) Sitting on the back porch, I happened to notice several wind chimes hanging from different trees that line the yard. When the men went to “check out a chain saw“, I asked about all the wind chimes. And the answer surprised me. Their kids keep giving them to them for gifts.
Seems their daughter gives them bamboo while the sons give them metal ones. Now our friends like things quiet and relaxing, as do we. So they prefer the bamboo. They don’t stand out at all, in fact you have to really look to see them. Where the metal ones really stick out. When you think about it, yeah, metal against the woods would kind of stand out. But the bamboo wind chimes did really blend in. And the noise the metal ones make kept chasing the birds away! That was why all the metal wind chimes were closer to their vegetable garden. They not only chased birds but other creatures well.
All the bamboo wind chimes were closer to the house and mixed in among the feeders and bird houses. I noticed that even when the wind blow, the birds didn’t take off. And you really had to listen for the sound of the bamboo wind chimes. The sound was there, but it sounded so natural. Not man made. It was a very pleasant sound, relaxing and refreshing.
While us gals were talking about wind chimes, the guys were actually talking about metal detectors. Seems you can get a really nice one and they aren’t that expensive. My hubby was shown a lot of trinkets: old keys, some old car parts, a jar filed with coins (both new and not so new), and even some broken jewelry. All of it gotten with the metal detector. My hubby now wants one. And he got very specific with the kind he plans to get. Our friends have a Bounty Hunter metal detector, so my hubby has to have one just like it. At least until he gets the hang of using one, then he will want a bigger more expansive one.
All in all, we had a nice visit. It was nice to get away from the house for a while. But I am glad to be back home. Funny isn’t it, you can’t wait to go out, to get away, to be somewhere different. But once you are there, you can’t wait to get home again. I guess that old saying is true, “Home is where the heart is.” I love living in the country and this house is home.
Seems their daughter gives them bamboo while the sons give them metal ones. Now our friends like things quiet and relaxing, as do we. So they prefer the bamboo. They don’t stand out at all, in fact you have to really look to see them. Where the metal ones really stick out. When you think about it, yeah, metal against the woods would kind of stand out. But the bamboo wind chimes did really blend in. And the noise the metal ones make kept chasing the birds away! That was why all the metal wind chimes were closer to their vegetable garden. They not only chased birds but other creatures well.
All the bamboo wind chimes were closer to the house and mixed in among the feeders and bird houses. I noticed that even when the wind blow, the birds didn’t take off. And you really had to listen for the sound of the bamboo wind chimes. The sound was there, but it sounded so natural. Not man made. It was a very pleasant sound, relaxing and refreshing.
While us gals were talking about wind chimes, the guys were actually talking about metal detectors. Seems you can get a really nice one and they aren’t that expensive. My hubby was shown a lot of trinkets: old keys, some old car parts, a jar filed with coins (both new and not so new), and even some broken jewelry. All of it gotten with the metal detector. My hubby now wants one. And he got very specific with the kind he plans to get. Our friends have a Bounty Hunter metal detector, so my hubby has to have one just like it. At least until he gets the hang of using one, then he will want a bigger more expansive one.
All in all, we had a nice visit. It was nice to get away from the house for a while. But I am glad to be back home. Funny isn’t it, you can’t wait to go out, to get away, to be somewhere different. But once you are there, you can’t wait to get home again. I guess that old saying is true, “Home is where the heart is.” I love living in the country and this house is home.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Questions, I need some answers!
Okay, I have some questions. Well, actully a lot of questions. But first things first.
First, on the page where you write your new posts, under the title bar, there is a link bar. What do I put in there? I have read every artical, and watched every video that they have in Help. I can't find out what to do with it, or about that link bar. Can some one help me?
Second, just below the links bar is "Add enclosure link". What is that? Is that what I would click on if I wanted to put a link in one of my posts? Or is that the one on the tool bar?
Where is spell check? Or doesn't this have it? Oh Lord. If this doesn't have spell check, I am in for one bumpy ride. And you the reader, if I have any, will be going crazy trying to understand what I'm saying. So far I have been typing my blogs out in another program and copying and pasting them. But I may not to want to do that all the time. What do I do? How do I get spell check?
Third, I think I understand "Post Options" and have them set right. Then there is "Lables:" In my last posting, I put the title in there because that is what that post was about. Did I do Right? And what is the "show all" click on thingie about?
And one last question for now, if some kind person does answer my questions, how will I know? Will they show on the blog page? Or do I have to go somewhere else to see them? If so where?
Like I said before, I learning and trying to figure it all out. Thanks in advance for your help.
First, on the page where you write your new posts, under the title bar, there is a link bar. What do I put in there? I have read every artical, and watched every video that they have in Help. I can't find out what to do with it, or about that link bar. Can some one help me?
Second, just below the links bar is "Add enclosure link". What is that? Is that what I would click on if I wanted to put a link in one of my posts? Or is that the one on the tool bar?
Where is spell check? Or doesn't this have it? Oh Lord. If this doesn't have spell check, I am in for one bumpy ride. And you the reader, if I have any, will be going crazy trying to understand what I'm saying. So far I have been typing my blogs out in another program and copying and pasting them. But I may not to want to do that all the time. What do I do? How do I get spell check?
Third, I think I understand "Post Options" and have them set right. Then there is "Lables:" In my last posting, I put the title in there because that is what that post was about. Did I do Right? And what is the "show all" click on thingie about?
And one last question for now, if some kind person does answer my questions, how will I know? Will they show on the blog page? Or do I have to go somewhere else to see them? If so where?
Like I said before, I learning and trying to figure it all out. Thanks in advance for your help.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dyslexia
I am dyslexic. It is no easy task to read the instructions for any new gadget or gizmo or even new programs. I have learned to try and find someone who knows all the ins and outs and whatnots of things. And try to befriend them. With the hopes that they will be kind enough to help me understand whatever it is I am trying to learn.
I had a really terrible time in school. First they told my parents I was lazy. Then they said I was stupid. Then it was that I had a developmental problem. I had to do all kinds of exercises to improve my brain function. And every summer for several years, I was in reading improvement courses. Needless to say, none of that worked.
Can you imagine being told all the time that you are stupid and dumb? And all the other kids had a ball making fun of me, including my brothers. Today, we call that abuse and bullying. But back in the fifties, it happened all the time and nothing was done about it. In some ways I think that helped make me a stronger person mentally. But in others I can see it only served to stunt me somewhat emotionally.
For me, I had to memorize every word I wanted to spell or be able to read. Why? Because for me the letters on the pages did not stay still. For a lack of a better word, they roamed. Not only that, they morphed into other letters and if I was really tired, into some weird shapes. Do you have any idea how many three, four, and five letter words a second or third grader needs to learn?
Just to let know how difficult it can be, try and read this next sentence. “Post, meco eerh.” That should read “Spot, come here.” to someone who is not dyslexic. But that is not how I would see most the time. And that was on a good day. Some days I would have to chase the letters all over the page provided they didn’t turn into something else. It was, and still is very frustrating and tiring, both mentally and emotionally.
I was never able to learn to read by sounding out letters. I had to memorize. I also had to be a mind reader. Just to follow a story I had to be able to figure out what the author was saying with out knowing the words that he used. It wasn’t easy for anyone back then if they had dyslexia. I’m sure a lot of kids gave up on school long before I did.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to read. And I love learning. It is just harder for me with some of it, that’s all. I may have to go over something four or five times before it starts to make sense. But I do what I can by myself and when I can’t go any farther, I find someone to can help me. That is what I did after I got my G.E.D. and started going to college. I didn’t graduate, no degrees of any kind. But every semester I attended, no matter how many classed I took, I made the deans list. Not bad for a kid with developmental problems that is lazy, dumb, and just plan stupid, is it.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Please be patient, I'm just learning
I was looking for a program that would help me with my typing and maybe help improve my computer skills. I have never been very good at finding my way around on the internet. In fact, the very first coarse I ever took involving a computer was back in the 80’s. I was so bad, I crashed the schools entire system. And all I was trying to do was log on! I’m a little better now. Things don’t crash as much for me, and when they do, I have some friends who can and will help me out.
Anyway, I mentioned to my neighbor that I was hoping to improve my skills so that I just might get lucky and find a job. She told me to try blogging. I thought she was totally insane. I just wanted to improve some skills, not kill my computer. But she kept talking about it and about how much you can learn and what others can teach you. So here I am. Just starting to learn about blogging. I’m sorry that you will be my guinea pig, but I feel I have to learn how to do this.
When asked what I was supposed to write about, I was told to just write whatever I felt like. That didn’t make sense to me and I told my neighbor that. She said to write what we talked about, what my hubby and I talk about. Just typing instead of talking. Oh, and keep it clean she said. If I see something that makes me mad, type it. Or if something upsets me, type it. And if I have an opinion on something, blog it. So that is what I will be doing. And I’m hoping you will be helping me.
A little background on me might help you to get to know me a little better. I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother for all of two months now. So I guess that makes me official old. That’s okay, I’ve had gray hair since I was in my late 20’s. I don’t dye it, I figure I earned every one of them. Hey, at least I didn’t start going bold like my younger brother did. My husband doesn’t mind the gray and neither do I. My hubby does have slightly longer hair than I do. If I were in the military, no one could tell me my hair was to long. Had it down past my waist for a long time, but I got tired of it so I cut off, and I don‘t think I ever want to go back to long hair. I am very happy in my old holy kneed jeans and a ratty old tee shirt. I will wear sneakers if I have to have something on my feet, other wise I’m bare foot.
We lived near a major city until we sold that house and moved to the country. It is so quiet out here it is unbelievable. We went from busy highways to crickets, birds, and frogs. From city lights at night to starry nights. From triple locking up of everything to forgetting to lock. It is a big change and we are loving it. Been here a little over two years now and I hate having to go back even for a visit.
Anyway, I mentioned to my neighbor that I was hoping to improve my skills so that I just might get lucky and find a job. She told me to try blogging. I thought she was totally insane. I just wanted to improve some skills, not kill my computer. But she kept talking about it and about how much you can learn and what others can teach you. So here I am. Just starting to learn about blogging. I’m sorry that you will be my guinea pig, but I feel I have to learn how to do this.
When asked what I was supposed to write about, I was told to just write whatever I felt like. That didn’t make sense to me and I told my neighbor that. She said to write what we talked about, what my hubby and I talk about. Just typing instead of talking. Oh, and keep it clean she said. If I see something that makes me mad, type it. Or if something upsets me, type it. And if I have an opinion on something, blog it. So that is what I will be doing. And I’m hoping you will be helping me.
A little background on me might help you to get to know me a little better. I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother for all of two months now. So I guess that makes me official old. That’s okay, I’ve had gray hair since I was in my late 20’s. I don’t dye it, I figure I earned every one of them. Hey, at least I didn’t start going bold like my younger brother did. My husband doesn’t mind the gray and neither do I. My hubby does have slightly longer hair than I do. If I were in the military, no one could tell me my hair was to long. Had it down past my waist for a long time, but I got tired of it so I cut off, and I don‘t think I ever want to go back to long hair. I am very happy in my old holy kneed jeans and a ratty old tee shirt. I will wear sneakers if I have to have something on my feet, other wise I’m bare foot.
We lived near a major city until we sold that house and moved to the country. It is so quiet out here it is unbelievable. We went from busy highways to crickets, birds, and frogs. From city lights at night to starry nights. From triple locking up of everything to forgetting to lock. It is a big change and we are loving it. Been here a little over two years now and I hate having to go back even for a visit.
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