Holy Tornado

2006-11-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

A BEAUTIFUL TRUE STORY
I don't know when this happened but I just saw it in an e-mail today.

"If you read the front page of the SF Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines.

She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, and a line tugging from her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help.
Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her.
A very dangerous proposition. One slap of her tail could kill a rescuer.
They worked for hours and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushing them gently around, she thanked them.
Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.
The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same."

The following was added to this e-mail ,
and I pray it for my readers:
May you, and all those you love,
be so blessed and fortunate...
to be surrounded by people
who will help you get untangled
from the things that are binding you,

And may you always know the joy
of giving and receiving gratitude.

MOVING DAY HAS ARRIVED!!!

2006-09-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed this blogspot for a year and a half, thanks to my grandson, Jeremy at The American Warmonger, now it's time to move on to the new blog created for me by Ken over at The Squamata Report.
Thank you guys for all your hard work. You are treasures!

So come on over and see me at Mountain Mama,

and if you haven't already made a reservation for your 'Forever After' get to it!
It's high time!

Now We Know WHY He Was General

2006-09-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

In a recent interview, General Norman Schwartzkopf was asked if he thought there was room for forgiveness toward the people who have harbored and abetted the terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks on America.
His answer was classic Schwartzkopf.
The General said,
"I believe that forgiving is God's function. Our job is to arrange the meeting."

A friend sent me this, and although I have to admit I do admire the General, and found his statement highly amusing, as a Christian I know it is necessary for us to forgive those who have trespassed against us. We cannot forgive their sin, only God can do that, but we must forgive the person, because we "All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God."
Romans 3:23

Another VERY good reason to forgive is,:
Matthew 6"15 says, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

I have stumbled many times with the 'forgiveness' issue but have learned that when I have no forgiveness to give, I only need to ask Heavenly Father for his. He always comes through.

May He who was and is and will always be, bless your day of worship, and bring you love, forgiveness and peace.

A BLESSING

2006-09-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

Lord bless the ones I hold most dear, with health and happiness,
with love and peace, and dreams come true,
Contentment and success.
Then Lord please send these blessings that I have asked for my own,
to all my friends and neighbors and everyone I have known.
Then one step nearer to a peace flag yet unfurled,
please stretch this little blessing God, till it reaches round the world.

author unknown

THERE'S A NEW BLOG IN TOWN!

2006-08-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Ken, from Squamata Report has gifted me with a new blog.
He has worked hard and done a beautiful job, with lots of flowers and a lovely mountain banner. We are still ironing out a few wrinkles, but she's up and running.
I will try to maintain both blogs for a while but will eventually phase out The Holy Tornado.
Come on over and take a look,
http://mountainmama-new.blogspot.com
And be sure to check out Ken's blog's while your at it. He has some incredible insight concerning political issues, and shares his heart on his second blog, Carpenter's Bluff.

MY MINI AUTOBIOGRAPHY CHALLENGE

2006-08-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

1942

The purpose of this post is so you can know me better. The challenge is for you to do a similar post so we can know you better too.

I was born January 22, 1939 in Bellingham, WA., the oldest of three
daughters. I have lived my entire life in Bellingham.
I was born into a Christian family and when I was fourteen I was Baptized into the Christian faith. In the years since then, my faith in Jehovah God has grown as he has worked miracle after miracle in my life.
In September of 1955 I married a neighbor boy. He was almost twenty , I was sixteen. To this marriage were born my greatest blessings.

Patty-Jo was born September 1956, Kathy-Sue on September 1957, I lost a baby in 1958, Cyndi-Lynn was born in 1959, Michael was born in January 1961, I lost a baby girl I named Angie in January 1962, and Shawn was born in August 1969

1969

Jerry and I separated in 1970, just after the baby's first birthday and were divorced a year later.
I married a second time about two years later and stuck it out for nine years. That marriage also ended in divorce about twenty-five years ago.
(Don't condemn me for divorce. Only God knows the circumstances)
I have not been in a relationship since then. Either I am not a good wife or I just don't know how to pick husbands!
Sometimes it's lonely, but I have my precious Lord God, my loving children and my dear little Yorkie's to hug. And there are my sweet blog friends too.

I lost my oldest son Michael, September of 1991, due to an auto accident. He left a lovely wife and three beautiful children. I miss him always, and I know we will be together again.
I have always loved plants and have a large yard full of flowers. As I have gotten older and the upkeep gets more difficult, I have been filling my back deck with several flowering plants. My latest love is Epiphyllum's (Orchid Cactus) Check them out on the Internet and you will see why.

I used to have veggie gardens and did a lot of canning and freezing, but this year I stopped and only have my green beans. I just want to have some fun now and not work so hard.

1948

I have loved photography since I was around nine, when my folks gave me my first camera. This is the very first picture I ever took. The little dolly is Betsy and she is wearing a jacket and bonnet that my mother crocheted for her. I have had many camera's since this one and have a collection of thousands of pictures to prove it.
Now I have a Fugi FinePix S602Zoom digital and oh boy am I ever having a good time!

1966

More to follow

MY MINI AUTOBIOGRAPHY CHALLENGE PART II

2006-08-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here I am today, without my glasses. My hair is actually more silver not blonde. Lighting was bad.
I like to paint with oils, and make quilts. I have always done a lot of sewing and made many of my children's and my own clothes.
I am not a hoity-toity person, I'm just a plain old gal who loves everyone, even if I don't like some of the things they do.
I am still trying to learn not to throw stones or pick the sliver from my neighbors eye. I know I have a pile of lumber in my own.

I have fought a weight problem since my first pregnancy, but am learning to love myself anyway.
I have a skin problem and skinny hair (at least something about me is skinny).
I'm a sugaraholic, especially if it comes in the form of chocolate, which partly accounts for the weight problem.

Occassionally I tend to use some unacceptable words, like when I stubbed my toe and it felt like I ripped it off.
I love Double-Bubble Bubble gum and can blow bubbles inside bubbles.
I also love soap bubbles and have some on my back deck at all times.
I wear my hair in a pony-tail when no one can see me.
My body is sixty-seven and a half years old but my spirit is still fourteen.
I have twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren with two more in the oven.
I am blessed.

Well, thats about it. The facts, the descriptions and the confessions.
Now you know me a little better.
I CHALLENGE YOU to do your own mini autobiography and let us all get to know you better too.

REMEMBER OUR BRAVE TROOPS

2006-08-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Please remember and keep in your prayers
all of the brave men and women who are serving in our military.

Each time you sit down at the dinner table with your family, remember there are many tables with an empty chair. Some will be occupied again, some will not.

I urge you to pray from the very depths of your heart, not just your brain or your mouth.
When You pray for these men and women, pray as though he/she were your very own child.
Let your heart remember
The tiny infant you held to your breast, the toddler you chased endlessly, the child in school who brought you dozens of pictures, the teenager who nearly drove you nuts, and possibly the young adult who has chosen to serve in our military in order to make our world a safer place.

For each member of our military there is a parent who's heart is both breaking and also filled with pride and wonder at the incredibly unselfish child they have raised and love so well.

Dear Lord in Heaven, We ask you to walk beside our brave Troops, send your angels to do battle with them and send your Holy Spirit to give them peace, and to comfort their souls.
Father, bring them home safely to the arms of their loved ones, and Lord please especially remember your sweet Texas boy.
In Jesus name, Amen

RETARDED GRANDPARENTS

2006-08-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

(This was actually reported by a teacher)
After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their holiday away from school. One child wrote the following:

We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida. Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass. They ride around on their bicycles and wear name tags because they don't know who they are anymore.

They go to a building called a wrecked center, but they must have got it fixed because it's ok now, and do exercises there. But they don't do them very well. There is a swimmng pool too but in it all they do is jump up and down with hats on. At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can sneak out. They go cruising in their golf carts. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And they eat the same thing every night, Early Birds.

Some of the people can't get past the man in the doll house. The ones who do get out bring food back to the wrecked center and call it pot luck. My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his Retardment and says that I should work hard so I can be retarded someday too. When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out so they can visit their grandchildren.

INVITATION

2006-08-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

I posted this invitiaion exactly one year ago. Itt's still good today.

"For quite some time I have thought about doing a post for the unbelievers or those who simply have not taken time to commit to Almighty God.
I realize this is a touchy subject, so have put it off. Many people say that their intelligence just won’t let them accept the idea.
They don’t understand that it takes more than intelligence to understand my God. It takes spiritual revelation.

Every one is born with a knowledge of right and wrong. The times we do wrong and feel that awful heaviness deep inside our heart, That is from the Holy Spirit of God.
You can be offended if you want to, you can quickly exit my blog because you are turned off or afraid because you are powerfully convicted, but the following words must be written.
If they help lead just one to an everlasting life it is worth the flack I may receive.

Or you can be brave, and read, not with just your eyes and brain, but invite the Holy Spirit to show you truth. It is not my responsibility to make anyone a believer in God or his son Jesus. It is only my mission to introduce you.
I am not receiving a salary and will most likely never know what decision you have made.I t is because I love you with the pure love God has given me that I want to share what I believe is true and a most incredible gift. It is so simple many overlook it, or simply don’t believe it can be true.

What if there is an omnipotent God? What if He did send His son to be a sacrifice in our place, to pay for the wrong we do? What if there is a heaven? What if there is a hell?
FACT:
God loves the drug addict unconditionally.
God loves the alcoholic unconditionally.
God loves the murder unconditionally.
God loves the rapist unconditionally.
God loves the liar, thief and fornicator unconditionally.
No matter who you are or what you have done, God loves you.

God promises a life after physical death with one condition: John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Q. How can I have a life if my body is dead?
A. You are not a body. You are a spirit dwelling in a body. Your body dies, your spirit never dies.
Q. What do I have to do to accept the Lord?
A. Read about Him in the New Testament of the Bible, Especially the first book, written by John. It is only when you know someone you can choose them for your friend . Then when you are ready, ask him to come into your heart.
Q. So if I accept Jesus as my Lord and savior, do I have to be perfect the rest of my life?
A. Of course not. That is impossible. After you know Jesus you will love him and want to do what pleases Him. When we do wrong, we are sorry and ask Him to forgive us, and try to do better.
Q. How can I be sure the Bible is true?
A. Read it for yourself and ask the Lord to give you wisdom. Ask for His Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to the truth.

What Have you got to lose? YOUR ETERNITY.
Please don’t put this off any longer. Make a decision soon. No one is promised tomorrow.
If you have questions, I will do my best to answer them.

THREE HILARIOUSLY SHOCKING GENERATIONS

2006-08-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

This little sweetheart is my third daughter, miss Cyndra Ellen. When she was around three, as she is in this picture, I asked her and her two older sisters what they wanted to be when they grew up. Patty-Jo wanted to be a teacher, Kathy-Sue wanted to be a mommie and Cyndi Lynn calmly announced, I'm going to be the queen."
She was a very shy and quiet child, so when she crawled beneath my mother's kitchen table where mom and my aunt were having coffee, and bit my aunt's hand bloody and made her scream and cry, I was absolutely mortified.
When I asked Cyndi why she did that, she replied, "I don't like that lady."
It is sometimes difficult to teach our children that just because we don't like someone we don't have the right to bite them, although I have to admit there have been a few times.......
When Cyndi became the mother of a darling daughter, we saw history repeating itself.
Meet Ramblin Rose. Actually Miranda Rose. She is one of the sweetest children imaginable. However like the little girl in the poem, when she was good she was very, very good, and when she was, shall we say unusual, well,.... sometimes I laughed harder than ever! She grew up in Southern California and sometimes her parents flew her and her brother to spend summers with me in Northwest Washington.
One day when she was around four, I was in my yard, on my knees, pulling weeds. Miranda came up beside me and for a time was silent. Then she whispered, "Grandma, I think I see your brain." The dear child could see my scalp through my thinning hair. I nearly made a mudpie out of my self from laughing so hard.
Another time when she was around five, I was visiting them in California. Their mommie told them that grandma didn't have very much money so they were going to give me a wonderful time.
One evening we went out to eat and after a lovely meal, as we were exiting the restaurant, we found Miranda standing in front of the building, arms out in front of her, hands cupped, chanting, "money for the poor, money for the poor." I thought my horrified daughter was going to blow a gasket!
I am still laughing over that one.
My Cyndi is now a grandma and this little tease is her granddaughter Hailee.
One day last spring while Cyndi was bending over, pulling weeds, this precious little girl, was looking up at her grandma and saw the folds of loose skin that tend to droop as we age. She sadly announced to her "Grandma, I think you are growing another face."

Actually Cyndi is a very beautiful grandma. I will post a new picture of her soon.
I have a whole book full of funnies that my family have said or done. Maybe I'll post a few now and then.
I hope my tales have given you a laugh and lightened your load a bit.
Blessings

101 Years Ago

2006-08-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three minute call from Denver to New York cost eleven dollars.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in mose cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa and Tennessee were each more populated than California.
With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eifel Tower.
The average wage in the U.S. was .22 cents per hour.
The average U.S. worker made between $200. and $400. per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000. per year, a dentist, $2,500 per year, a Veterinarian between $1,500. and $4,000. per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,ooo. per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.
Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had no college education, instead they attended a so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were
1. Pneumonia
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart Disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.
Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the union yet.
The population of LasVegas, Nevada was only 30!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer and ice tea had not been invented yet.
There was no Mother's or Father's day.
Two out of every ten adults could not read or write.

Only six percent of all Anericans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter at local corner drugstores.
Back then the pharmacist said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind and regulated the stomach and bowels and is, in fact a perfect guardian to health."
Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

(the car is a 1906 Cadillac)

SOME BEAN SAVVY

2006-08-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

ETYMOLOGY: Old English "bean" from Germanic, a legume picked when immature.

DESCRIPTION: Bean refers to the fruit, the pod and seeds.

The bean was born in the hot regions of the Americas, India and China. It was introduced to France by Conquistidors about 1597. For a long time rare and expensive, this vegetable became widespread only in the 19th century. The French were first to put green beans on their menus.

They were my mothers favorite vegetable. She always had them in her garden and usually cooked them with pre-fried bacon just until they were tender.
My mother-in-law just tossed her snipped and snapped beans together with raw bacon and started cooking them in the morning, letting them simmer until suppertime. By then they resembled a pot of green mush. This was the Colonial way to cook them.

I like mine freshly picked from my own back yard, no chemicals, and only well composted grass clippings for fertilizer.
I like knowing that my hands are the only ones that have touched them.
For many years I cooked mine just like Mom did hers, but I have learned a few new ways that I like.
I think my favorite at the present time is to steam them for about five minutes, then stirfry them with a little olive oil and minced fresh garlic (also from my garden) Yes there is a difference in flavor. I like them crunchy with a little salt and freshly ground pepper.

I think I will have some for supper.

What is your favorite way to cook green beans?

2006-08-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Do you know what this is?
Yep, I re-decorated my kitchen range today.
Well at least now I know what these burner covers are for.
"So I can burn them!"

Hot Summer

2006-08-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

You know you are having a hot summer when a moose borrows your pool.

2006-08-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Dude, need a hand, uh...er...hoof?

WANTED: YOUR COMMENTS

2006-08-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

According to my site meter, I am getting an average of 40 visitors a day. Thats really nice, however very few are leaving comments.
You do not have to have a blog to leave a comment.
You do not have to be an expert on the subject I posted.
You do not even have to like what I posted.
Just oil up your typing fingers and say hello, OK?
Thank-you

Orchid & Christmas Cactus

2006-08-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

The hanging plant with long stems and blossoms on the ends is an Orchid Cactus. The plant to the right of it with white buds is a christmas cactus.
Because the leaves/stems are somewhat similar they are often misidentified. But when we see them side by side we can easily see the differences.
Both are lovely plants, but as you can see, the Orchid cactus is just much larger, and has a huge selection of colors to choose from.

THE ORCHID CACTUS

2006-08-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Certainly not the prettiest plant I've ever had, in fact when it isn't blooming it is probably the ugliest. The long stems stretch out in every direction as if trying to grab you.
But when it blooms, you forgive all it's faults.

The Orchid Cactus is actually of the epiphyllum, a species native to the jungles of Central and South America, as well as Mexico. The word epiphyllium in Greek means "upon the leaf' and the flowers appear to bloom directly in the leaves. Jungle Cacti, however, have no leaves; their leaf like parts are actually thickened stems or branches. These stems are typically flat but often grow in a triangular shape.
Unlike most desert cacti, epiphylliums are not covered with hard spines. They do, however have hair bristles or tiny spines in the areolas. Some can poke into your skin.

In their native habitat, the epiphytic species often grow in forks of trees or in rock crevases where their small roots take hold in decaying vegetative matter. Some are rooted in the ground and use aerial roots to climb up tree trunks. They draw moisture from humid air and tropical rains.

My Orchis Cactus was started from a 8inch long flat piece of stem/leaf, about 10 years ago. They are easy to grow, but mine would not bloom until it became rootbound.
They are hybridized now and there are many colors to choose from.

white trash tag

2006-08-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged for another Meme by Bonnie

1. the book nearest me-
strongs bible concordance

2. stretch out your left arm; what do you touch?
a phone

3. last thing watched on television
news

4. without looking, what time is it?
1pm

5. what is the actual time?
1:10 pm

6. with the exception of the computer, what do you hear?
my ears ringing

7. when did you last step outside?
around 12:30 pm

8. Before this survey what did you look at?
Bonnie's blog

9. What are you wearing?
black jeans, yellow t-shirt & slippers

10.What did you dream last night.
about blowing bubbles

11. When did you last laugh?
When I was reminded that I had forgotten to answer this question.

12. What is on the walls in the room?
Pictures of family, old & new

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Yes, a very strange spider web in my bedroom. Made by a drunken spider I think.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
sort of strange

15.
What is the last film you saw?
Narnia

16. Tell me something we don't know
The word Scone is pronounced like bone, with a long 'o' in England but the Scottish pronounce it with a short 'o'. like bun, and my grandma called skawn.

17. If you could change just one thing in the world, what would you do?
We would all be Christian conservatives and the baby killing would stop along with a lot of other junk.

18. Do you like to dance?
absolutely! Thats what happy feet do.

19. George bush
I appreciate this man for all he is doing to try and stop terrorism.
Complaining about our world leaders never accomplished a thing, but praying for them does.

20. Imagine your first child is a girl
She is and the second and the third and the fifth. ok, now what?

21. Imagine your first child is a boy
no, the fourth and the seventh, thank you.

22. Would you consider living abroad.
no

23. What would God say to you at the pearly gates?
I don't know but I sure hope it's something I want to hear!

Ok I have done my two memes for the season. I am done.

I am tagging
pea,----------- and Leesa
Go for it girls.

ANOTHER MEME ON THE SCENE

2006-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by MugWumpMom, to participate in an interesting meme.

A Novel Idea:
If you could write a novel about any subject, what would it be? (Just the
subject–don’t give away your plot idea!)

subject–don’t give away your plot idea!)
Or, if just the thought of having to write anything gives you hives, what would you like to read about in a novel that you’ve never seen done before?
Or if you hate reading fiction (you can get counseling for that, you know), what subject might make you change your mind or try it anyway?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I did write sort of a novel. Actually it is the story of my paternal grandmother's life. Not in book form but on CD's which I gave to all my family.
I gathered all of the info I could about Grandma and kicked my own rear for not listening more carefully to the many stories she told about her life while she was still with us.

With grandma gone I had to question aunties and cousins.
I nearly drove my old auntie Pauline whacky with all the questions I asked her. One day I had a tape recorder running and was tossing out questions miles and hour. Finally at the end of her wits, dear old auntie shouted, "Thats enough! No more questions."
In my story I used every fact I could remember and all I could glean from every one who knew her, and added enough fiction to bring it all together.

I wrote about the places grandma lived and the people she loved. It sounds rather dull when I see it written this way, but actually she lived a very interesting life, with good and bad, happy and sad, and lots of spice & hot peppers thrown in. Oh yes, and there was some manure too.

She was born in Bethany, MO, and later moved to Spring Ranch Nebraska, then with her family traveled in a covered wagon to Whatcom county, WA.
My grandma Lucy lived and Loved, she laughed and cried and she cussed. I mean really cussed. She could embarass the roughest talking man in town. I never discovered where she learned to talk like that but as a child I learned that if I did, I got soap in my mouth or a fat lip.
She was tough as nails, taking care of her farm animals and chores into her sixties. She cut down trees in her woods, bucked them up, split it into firewood and hauled it to her house in a wheelbarrow.

When her hogs got too greedy she stabbed them bloody with her pitchfork, while calling them some of those names I mentioned earlier.
When her grown son complained about having lima beans she whacked him over the head with a hunk of firewood and told him, if you don't like my cookin jest get the he-- out if here."
She smoked butt end Camels or a corncob pipe if she ran out of cigg's. She liked a beer or a glass of whiskey once in a while. Yep, grandma was tough.
But she had a soft side too. She could be so soft spoken and sweet, cuddling the little ones and petting and pampering them. I loved her dearly, but she scared the dickens out of me just the same. I guess thats called 'respect. BIG respect.

When a scraggly and nearly toothless old bear started hanging around her farm house, she took pity on him and fed him a nice big bowl of warm oatmeal each morning because as she put it, "Poor ole thang caint fend fer hisself nomore." Yes grandma was very compassionate at times.
A person would have to write a book to tell Lucy's story, and that's just what I did."

Ok now I did my part. so I am tagging Lucy, Bonnie and Diane.

Now, here’s the rules–if you get tagged (or if you just want to play anyway), you should
Answer one of the above questions on your blog,
Link back to whoever tagged you (or wherever you found the idea)
Tag 5 (or so) other bloggers.
Plus, check out previous responses, and if you know of a novel that pertains to the subject someone wishes they could write or would like to read about, suggest the novel to them in a comment.
One more thing–to make it fit within one of my blog categories (Women’s Voices) , women bloggers only. Sorry guys, catch you next time!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

2006-08-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

A country curtsy to East Texas Rancher, Bev Gunn for sending me this interesting tidbit.

Recently someone was browsing through the 40th Anniversary Issue of Reader's Digest (dated Feb. 1962), and came across this reprint from the Washington News, and found it quite interesting considering our current debates!

The Quote:
"Vice President Lyndon Johnson received the following message from an Indian (Native American) on a reservation:

'Be careful with your immigration laws. We were careless with ours.'

IRIS, THE FLEUR-DE-LIS

2006-08-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

The iris, (Fleur-de-lis) long predates its association with the Kings of France. There are various legends of how the iris came to represent the French monarchy but most center around two historical incidents separated in time by six hundred years.
Clovis, who in 496 A.D. is said to have abandoned the three toads on his banner in favor of the Fleur-de-lis. His Christian Queen Clothilda, had long sought to convert her heathen husband but he always ignored her plea.

Then faced with a formidable army of Alamanni, the Germanic tribe invading his kingdom, he told his wife that if he won the coming battle he would admit her God was strongest and be baptized.
He did win and the toads whose symbolism woutd be most interesting to know disappeared.
He was converted to Christianity and was baptized.

The second incident occurred in 1147. Louis VII King of France had a dream that convinced him to adopt the purple iris as his device shortly before setting out for his ill-fated crusade. Thus the fleur-de-lis became the symbol on the banner of France for the next six hundred years. Or twelve hundred years if we take it from the time of Clovis that the iris became the symbol for a great nation.

The Iris was so powerful a symbol of the French kings that the Revolutionaries in 1789 set out to totally obliterate the symbol of the hated monarchy. It was chipped off buildings and torn from draperies. Men were guillotined for wearing a fleur-de-lis on their clothes or as jewelry. The revolution succeeded and the symbol of the fleur-de-lis is only a memory now and is considered merely a conventionalized ornament or decoration.

When Heavenly Father created this lovely flower he knew it would be admired and pleasure his children. It certainly has made a place for itself in our world.

COMPUTERITIS

2006-08-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

Are you 'THIS" addicted to your computer?

HELP!

2006-08-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

I need to get more memory and hard drive for my computer. Does anyone know a good place to purchase these?

2006-08-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

This recipe is for a spicy, low fat, guacamole.

½ cup low-fat plain yogurt
2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 white onion, chopped
2 Tbs. minced cilantro (I prefer half celery leaves)
½ tsp. salt
½ cup nonfat sour cream
2 avacados, halved, pitted and peeled
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
Line a strainer with a coffee filter and set over bowl. Spoon in yogurt, cover, refrigerate 8 hours. Mix next five ingredients. FOld in yogurt and sour cream. Mash avacados with potato masher; sprinkle with lime juice. Fold into tomato mixture.
Serve with baked tortilla chips.

Some Funnies

2006-08-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

I found these in readers Digest.

At the end of the day I parled my police van in front of the station house. My K-9 partner Jake, was in the back barking, which caught the attention of a boy who was passing by.
"Is that a dog you have back there?" he asked.
"It sure is," I said to him.
"What did he do?"
Submitted by Clint Forward

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Widowed for the second time, my grandmother told me she probably would not remarry.
"You're still young" I said. "Why not?"
"When I married your dad's father, I became a Smith. Then I married your grandpa Ernie and became a Schmidt. I'm afraid of what'll happen next."
Submitted by Sara Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WATCHING THE HAYER

2006-08-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

In the Spring of 1963 we moved from town to our little farm in the country. We had fifteen acres of fields, woods and a creek for the kids to play in. I let them have all the fun they could find, and oh boy did they ever find it!

They got wet and muddy in the creek, and they climbed the huge evergreens which nearly scared the life out of me.
They ran through the fields of buttercups and daisies, and picked wild mushrooms and tiny wild blackberries with me.

They went barefoot a lot of the time and they got so dirty you couldn't see the suntans, but they loved it there and they thrived.

In this picture there was a hayer working the field. The kids climbed onto the coral fence to watch, but baby Mikey, who was just a year and a half old, didn't have long enough legs so sister Kathy lifted him.

Mikey's pants were always sort of dragging as you can see.
I have always loved this picture, dirty clothes, messy hair, buttocks and all!
It reminds me of a happy time when things were simpler.

(The four on the right are mine. I don't have a clue who the other one is)

NEVER GIVE UP

2006-07-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

I bought this Azalea last summer, but didn't get it planted. It sat beside the house with a three others through the long cold winter and this spring. When I remembered them, the others were still green, but all of the leaves on this one had turned brown and the branches were dry and brittle like dead wood.

I brought them all to my back deck which has a northern exposure, and began watering and fertilizing them. The three survivors thrived and are ready to be planted in the garden. But this one just stayed dead looking and I was sure it was lost. But hoping there was still a spark of life in the roots, I continued to care for it.

Then one day a few weeks ago, I looked at it through very guilty eyes, and prayed, "Lord, this is your creation, and you gave it life once. Please revive it.
That was all, and I actually didn't expect anything. After all, it was dead.
I think I prayed as a last resort before tossing it.

Today as I was watering them, I had to look several times to believe my eyes. The dead, dried up branches are growing lush green leaves. This plant is alive.

Now I am thinking of the times I thought a situation was hopeless, stopped praying, and just gave up.
With God, nothing is impossible.
I believe in miracles!

TOUR OF HOMES

2006-07-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

I am participating in BooMama's Tour Of Homes. You will find my contribution in the two previous posts. Picasa wouldn't let me put it all in one post.
Thanks for coming by.

WELCOME TO MY WEE BONNIE BLUE

2006-07-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is my happy little home, filled with the love of the Lord, and lots of kisses from my two little Yorkie's.

Come on in and sit a while, Coffee's hot.

Soup's on too with fry bread (which we call Skawns) and a fresh loaf.

This is my office, where I spend way too much time.
What you can't see are the two walls filled with cupboards which hold loads of genealogy files, books, pictures, and heaven only knows what else. I even found a tiny heart shaped box with a few pussy-willows inside, which my dear mother collected. I just can't toss it.
The pictures on the shelves above my computer are of some of my ancestors. One was born in 1792.
Genealogy is great fun!

2006-07-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

A special corner of my bedroom. Can you tell I like dolls?

A few more dolls, some of which belonged to my mother.

It was so nice of you to stop by for a visit.

Come back soon!

A WHALE OF A TALE

2006-07-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

This info was taken from a book called "Shocking Facts."

The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill in Alaska was $80,000.00.
At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers.
A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both.

TIDBITS

2006-07-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm cleaning out files today and decided to post a few titbits I found.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us, and new beauty waiting to be born. "
~Dale E. Turner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Go often to the house of a friend; for weeds soon choke up the unused path. Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. "
~Swedish Proverb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls".
~ Charles H. Spurgeon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"When you're down to nothing, God is up to something."
~Author unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY SMILE

2006-07-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, " What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied,

"Then you ask him".

A ROSE IS A ROSE

2006-07-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

I don't know what this one is called, but it's fragrance is intoxicating. A combination of essence of rose mixed with fruity fragrances, and undertones of English Violets. You can smell it from several yards away.
It is fantastic! This delightful pink rose came from a start I got from a very old German woman, Martha, who is near 100 years old now. She didn't know anything about the rose except that it has lots of flowers. One year there was a picture of her in our newspaper, standing beside her rose, which had over 60 blossoms on one stem which she had propped up with branches that had broken off one of her her trees.This little beauty is another I started from a single rose. I have no idea what it's name is, but as it ages it turns from this lovely golden shade to a deep pink, then a brilliant red. Not as fragrant as the orange but so gorgeous to look at!
I hope you enjoy seeing my flowers as much as I enjoy posting them.

2006-07-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

These cute little Coton de Tulear puppies were born to Miss Molly, one of my daughter, Patty-Jo's dogs. They are so sweet and hugable!
A rare breed, they are very much in demand. They have an excellent temperment, are small, (under 10 pounds), and are totally devoted to their owner.
Patty-Jo is in the process of setting up a new website for her dogs. When it is complete I will post the URL for anyone interested in learning more about these little cuties.

CAN OF WORMS?

2006-07-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

I don't know where this came from. I just found it in one of my files this morning.

21 Ways to be a Good Democrat
(Wait. Is that an oxymoron?)

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression, and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV’s.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teachers who cannot teach 4th-graders how to read and write are somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters do not care about nature, but activists, who have never been outside of San Francisco, do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it. 11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, General Robert E. Lee, and Thomas Edison.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism has not worked anywhere it has been tried is because the right people have not been in charge.
18. You have to believe that conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag queens, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and that manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that Democratic Party funding by the Chinese government is somehow in the best interest to the United States.
21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, Right-Wing conspiracy.

MORE ON THE MYSTERY CAR

2006-07-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

I got a few more pictures today. In this one we can see there are two chrome strips running the length of the hood and two shorter. In this shot the divider in the front and back window can be seen, as well as the chrome ornament on the car's nose. (well I'm not sure what it's called)

In this one we can see the placement and shape of the headlights. Also notice that the upper grill frame is shaped like an eyebrow.
Ok, back to the net to try to find a match!

What Kind Of Car?

2006-07-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

This rusty, old two door car has been sitting in the same place, about two blocks from my house, since the 50's. Back then it was a dark color, black I think. Over the years it has rusted. The windows are gone and as you can see the fender is crunched. It doesn't have a hood ornament now, and I'm not sure if it ever did.
I've always wondered what kind it is. Anyone out there have an idea?

Time To Laugh!

2006-07-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my embarassing moments.
I dare you to share yours!

A few years back there was a lot of talk on TV about some new medications. I never listen carefully to commercials and have learned I shouldn't talk about them either.

It was around this time that my daughter Patty-Jo had most of the family to her home for Thanksgiving Dinner. There must have been about 25 of us.

Five of my teen aged grandsons were there, and after dinner as we sat around the table talking, one of the boys, around 19 at that time told me that he was going bald, then pulled his hair off of his forehead to show me.

I didn't know what to say, but remembered something about a commercial I heard, so I said, "you don't need to worry about it. There are new medications to make your hair grow now. I think one is called Viagra."

At this, the five boys eyes nearly popped out of their heads as they tried to stifle their mirth. They were making a variety of unpleasant raspberry sounds as well.

I was perplexed at their odd behavior until Patty-Jo leaned toward me and said, "Mother, Viagra is used for penile dysfunction."
I squawked, "WHAT?"

Then in my embarassment, my brain shut down and I replied, "well I knew it was used to make something grow!"

At this, the boys left the house, and I went to the kitchen for some water.
As I looked out the kitchen window, there were the boys standing on the lawn in five different stages of hysteria.

I no longer give medical advice.

THE VIETNAM WALL ARRIVES

2006-07-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

Patty and I bought a bunch of American flags and she passed them out as we waited on the overpass for the 2,000 member motorcycle motorcade on I-5 which came to town with the Vietnam Wall. This man held two large flag's during the entire time. I kept my camera very busy! The overpass we were on, as well as all the others in town, were loaded with people waving their flags. Cars and trucks honked, yelled and waved their support from the street behind us as well as the highway. The city closed all of the on-ramps in town so the motorcade would not be disturbed.
When they crested the hill, led by the state patrol, also on motorcycles people were screaming, crying, shouting and frantically waving all those flags. It was an awesome thing to see and hear. The motorcycles just kept coming and coming. Everyone needs to be involved in something like this to rejuvinate their patriotic cells!
This gentleman was crying when we arrived at the overpass and continued to do so the entire time. There is healing in things of this sort where people care enough to gather and SHOW their love and support. Especially in the Vietnam situation where they were treated so horrible. Any way we can support our military has my vote.

Over 2000 years ago, one man was willing to lay down His life so that all the people of the world could have eternal life. He was perfect and holy.
I love and rever this man Jesus.

There are thousands in our world who have also been Willing to lay down their life so we can live in a free country.
They are the Military of the United States Of America.

VIETNAM WALL

2006-07-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

I have heard of the Vietnam Wall over the years, and saw pictures of it, but there is no way we can imagine something like this. We need to stand before it to actually realize the enormity of it all.
To take a quick glance, they are just names. When you let your heart see, they are some mother's son, some father's pride. Each one precious.
Many flowers and small personal items were left by family & friends. Flags, flowers and such. One had a Baby Ruth Candy bar laying among the flowers. A way of reaching out across the years and beyond death to say I haven't forgotten you. I will always love you.

This elderly Gent in a wheelchair, came from a resthome to pay his respects. He was not well, and seemed barely able to sit in the chair, but as they neared the flag, he raised up his head, and the love in his eyes as he honored the flag would have melted your heart.
We have a memorial park here, with large markers, naming the fallen Military people from the wars.
This man was oblivious to anyone as he knelt before the Vietnam memorial. His heart was in a different place. My heart cried for him.

WATER LILY

2006-07-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

I found this beautiful lily in my upper pond yesterday.
I had a potted lily in the pond a few years ago, but it was dumpped to the bottom when a neighbors dog took a swim. I assumed the lily was lost, but much to my delight, it is thriving, as you can see.

MORE NEWS ON THE VIETNAM WALL

2006-07-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

The following was sent to my daughter from Shelley Prentice,who has worked so hard to bring the Wall to Bellingham:

"I just got a phone call from the Washington State Patrol. The Traveling Wall will get an escort into Bellingham from Smokey Point. The WSP will be closing down the onramps all through Bellingham until we pass safely to the Sunset exit where the Bellingham PD will help us off the freeway. So that will put us here a bit earlier I'm hoping. Now I can almost guarantee a 7:20- 7:30 PM arrival.
Bellingham Harley will be staying open until 9:00 PM for all riders to stop by and enjoy some cookies and shopping.
Thanks,
Shelley Prentice, Traveling Wall Coordinator"

Thank you Shelley, you have done a great job!!!

It is interesting that many Veterans with Motorcycles who heard of this, have joined in the motorcade, raising the number from 1,000 to 2,000.
God Bless Them!

SQUEAKY WHEELS

2006-07-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my earlier post, the 80% replica of the Vietnam Memorial wall is coming to town.
My daughter, Patty-Jo told me about it. I believe she saw it mentioned in the Newspaper of a nearby town.
The town I live in used to be a good place to live, filled with God loving families and patriotic citizens.
Then the Liberals came....

There had been no mention of the arrival of the Vietnam Wall in our local newspapers or on the radio, let alone TV.
We were told that Bellingham refused any kind of support to bring the wall here, and the police wouldn't even direct traffic.
Patty-Jo and I were too darn mad to just sit back and take it. (I'm sure there are others who felt the same)

We called all the radio stations and newspapers in Whatcom County and asked why they weren't printing or broadcasting about it. We learned that some didn't know about it, others simply did not feel it deserved coverage.
I have to admit that I did a little rump chewing and I know Patty did too.

Now, the news of the Vietnam Wall is being broadcast several times a day on at least five local radio stations, the newspapers are finally catching up too. Even our largest local paper printed the following today: (in part)

"Vietnam veterans memorial wheeling into city

The names of more than 58,000 people who died while serving in the U.S. military will be on display in Bellingham this week as the American Veterans Traveling Tribute comes to Whatcom County.

The nearly 400-foot-long replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial arrives Wednesday evening and will remain on display until Sunday evening.
This is the third time since 2000 that a traveling replica of the D.C. memorial has stopped in Whatcom County.

The wall will be open for viewing 24 hours a day and "Taps" will be played every night at 8.
Wednesday: The wall is expected to arrive at Sunset Square in pieces about 7:15 p.m., escorted by up to 2,000 motorcycles, according to organizers.
· Thursday: Three aircraft from the Heritage Flight Museum will perform a fly-over about 1 p.m.
· Friday afternoon: Senior Citizens Day runs from 1 to 3 p.m. The wall will be wheelchair accessible.
· Friday evening: The opening ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast by KGMI radio. There will be musical performances and speakers, including three-time war veteran Glen Douglas.
· Saturday afternoon: Classic vehicles on display from 4 to 6 p.m.
· Saturday evening: A candlelight prayer vigil with live gospel singing performed by Anointed 2 Praise will start at 8:30 p.m. Organizers suggest bringing blankets and lawn chairs.
· Sunday: The closing ceremony starts at 5 p.m. and will include speakers, the short film "The Corporal's Boots" featuring Whatcom County's Cpl. Jonathan Santos, who was killed in the war in Iraq, musical performances and a 21-gun salute."

SQUEAK! ALL YOU WONDERFUL CONSERVATIVES, SQUEAK REAL LOUD!"

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

2006-07-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

Look what’s coming to my town this week!
Am I going to be there? You bet your britches I am. Patty-Jo is taking me, and all my family who can, will go.
So if you are there too and you see a gray haired lady waving old glory, with her hand over her heart, and singing “AMERICA" at the top of her lungs, and pledging allegiance to the flag “UNDER GOD,” it’s me.
Ok Patty-Jo, so I will try to be less conspicuous. But can I please have a flag?

Excerpt from the Lynden Tribune:
"An 80 percent to scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. will be on display in Bellingham next week. The wall is the larger of two replicas and is part of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, which pays homage to American war veterans.

The wall will arrive in Bellingham accompanied by approximately 1,000 volunteer escorts on motorcycles Wednesday, July 12 at 7:15 p.m., said Shelly Prentice, Bellingham resident and organizer of the visit.
Prentice said she was passionate about bringing the wall to Bellingham, despite the city's liberal reputation, because she does not feel veterans receive enough honor or respect in America.
"There is more support for sports than for veterans in the United States," she said. "There's something wrong with that."
The wall is not about politics or supporting or not supporting the president, Prentice said. It is about honoring the veterans who fought in American wars."

PIN MY GUEST MAP

2006-07-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

If you haven't pinned my Guestmap, please do it now. This is a fun way for me to see where my blog friends are located.
Just click in the box on the right side of the page saying, "view guestmap," and follow directions from there.
You can also get a guestmap for your own blog.
Thank you.

NEW TEETHING DEVICE

2006-07-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

POSY HODGE-PODGE

2006-07-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is a macro shot of the center of a huge purple clematis. The blossoms are about eight inches in diameter.

When I first got my digital camera, I went crazy, taking pictures of anything and everything! This is a close-up shot of a large burl, with moss & lichen that is sitting beside my lower pond.
I think this is one of the most interesting plants I have. I rescued it from my daughters place when they landscaped. I believe it is a type of Sea Holly.

This Dianthus is one of the brightest colored plants I have. This is the second year it has bloomed for me in a pot on the back deck.
I love color, and the brighter the better!

PERPLEXITY

2006-07-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

After shopping today I came to a very busy intersection, where I had a wait for the light to change. There were probably around 24 or so cars gathered , all waiting to be on their way.

Two women standing at the side of the street held a large white banner, and written in red it said, "get the hell out of Iraq."
A man standing beside them held a cardboard sign saying "Honk to impeach."

We have freedom of speech, and actions too it seems. They wanted to make a statement.
What I am wondering about is the 'Honk to impeach" sign. What good would a honk do?

It's interesting that the entire time I was at that intersection with all those cars, only one driver honked, and because there were so many cars there was no way to know which one it was.

It seems to me that praying for our country's leaders would do a lot more good than honking a horn.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

2006-07-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her, and guide her,
through the night with the light from above,
From the mountains, to the prairies,
to the ocean, white with foam,
God bless America, my home sweet home.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND?

2006-06-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

I found these pictures in an e-mail today and thought I'd share them. Incase you can't see it, a tiny fawn has come to visit.
I don't know where these pictures were taken.
When the horses wandered away, the doe came for her brave infant.

GOT A CAPTION?

2006-06-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS THIS PLANT?

2006-06-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

This was taken a few weeks ago at my great granddaughter's 8th birthday. (Julia is in the pink skirt)
I would like to know what the gigantic leafed plant behind her is called.
I thought it was Elephant Ear, because of the size and shape, however I found a completely different plant when I looked up "Elephant Ear" on the Internet.
Can anyone out there help me?

Mother's Day Rose

2006-06-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, my son took me out for Pizza on Mother's day. The Pizza Parlor was giving all the mothers a red rose.
After my son left that day, I chopped the flower blossom off the stem, cut about one inch from the base of the stem, and dipped it in water, then in rooting hormone. I planted it behind my house where the soil stays damp and there is no direct sun, making sure it never dried out.
The next spring, it leafed out nicely, and grew to about eighteen inches tall.

It's second year I transplanted it into my rose garden, and look what I got.
This is a very fragrant rose, a little fruity but with the deep rose scent we all love so well.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2006-06-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

To all the dad's and also to the many grandpa's who have been placed in the father role, and are raising their grandchildren.

And to the many fathers who have chosen to 'dump' their children in order to please their 'free spirit,' I pray the 'Holy Spirit' of Almighty God grabs hold of you, tenderizes your selfish heart, and causes you to fall so deeply in love with your children, that your selfishness is totally dissolved.

HONOR

2006-06-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

I love old vacant homes. I can't explain how they make me feel. It's something deeper than words can express. A feeling that is part of my soul.

I can imagine the family who lived there. I visualize the father, in the fields, working from sun-up to sundown. I see the mother shoving wood into her cook stove, wiping her hands on her apron and punching down the bread dough rising in the blue enamel pan.
I see the children running in the large yard, tall grass whipping at their legs, shooting marbles in the powdery dirt, and climbing trees. I see the clothes hanging on the line, long pant legs waving joyfully in the gentle wind as the baby's diapers flutter like a flock of white doves.

In the country here, many times the farmers don't tear or burn down the old farm homes. They build new ones close by, and they allow the dear old family homes decompose according to the years and the elements.
They show honor and respect for the shelter and warmth she has provided her family.
These old homes were generally well built and can remain standing for many years.

But I think that sometimes, in the cool of the evening when the sun begins to fade, if we wait at the end of the long lane leading to the old place, and we listen carefully, we can still hear the voices of her family.
Mother calls, "come children, time for bed." Then the laughing of the children as they plead for just ten more minutes, and the squeals as one more game of hide and seek is begun. And eventually father's gruff voice calls and then, silence as the family sleeps.

And now when she is old and her family has grown and gone, the mice burrow into their soft nests against her walls, and the birds safely sleep in the attic.
She may be old and decrepit, most of her windows gone, and the floor rotted through, but she is still standing and sheltering life.

OLD FENCE POST

2006-06-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

Last summer Patty and I took a ride out to Ferndale, which is an old farming town about thirty minutes from my house. I took lots of pictures but this one with the old fence post half rotted away and the overgrown field is special to me.

The sun was shining hot that day and the tall dry grass shimmered golden as the breeze gently bent the tall slender stems, heavy with seed.
The swishing sound of the breeze, the crickets, and an occassional honeybee, searching for pollen, were the only sounds we heard.
This kind of silence is beautiful. It leaves a golden glow in your spirit.
It makes a memory.

A ROSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR

2006-06-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is actually a yellow rose. I put in in Photoshop and played with it.
I wish you could enlarge it so you could see the sparkling colors of the highlights.
When I see something like this I wonder if there will be colors and fragrances, etc., in Heaven that we don't have here on earth.
I think there will be, and probably lots of flowers we have never seen before too.

Have you got your reservation made yet?

LIGHTEN UP MAMA

2006-06-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my blog tends to get a little bogged down with some of lifes more serious issues. Helen has asked for some pictures of my flower gardens which seems like the best way I know to lighten things up, so here we go.
This is my upper pond, which USED to have fish in it until a Blue Heron made that discovery. I'm sure glad that long legged cannibal doesn't like my flowers!
I call this my Patty Rose. My daughter with that name, snagged (with permission) a twig from a beautiful plant we saw as we were driving one day. I managed to get it started and it has grown quite large and blooms profusely. The incredible fragrance is a big bonus! I love Canterbury Bells. Unfortunately they are a biennial, getting the growth the first year and blooming the second. I prefer perennials but once in a while it's worth the extra fuss to have something I really enjoy. This little area was so full of color that I took a picture from inside the house as well as this one. The double yellow Hollyhocks looked good enough to eat. I called them Lemon Chiffon.
The purple Clematis , pink roses and lavender Mallow made for a lovely color combination.

GOD BLESS THE USA

2006-06-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

This is where I live. In a woodsy valley, high above the city below.
In five minutes I can be at the salt water, or a lake. In 25 minutes I can be at the rushing Nooksack River. Out my back door I can be in the woods, infested with snakes, raccoons, deer, cougars and probably bear too.

I am free to drive, or walk anywhere I please.
I can attend any church I choose.
I can vote for whom ever I wish.
I can go to the mall and not be afraid of being attacked by terrorists.
I can tell my President what I think and I can tell Hillary to go suck an egg.
We have freedom here in the United States Of America, because there are brave men and women who have chosen to fight for that freedom.
We also have honor.

You see I have Old Glory proudly waving from my front porch. I didn't ask my neighbors if they approve. It doesn't matter. I am free to show respect for what I believe in.
Do I worship the flag? Gosh no! I do honor her and what she stands for.

If you don't like our flag, it's ok. You have that right, but I wouldn't try urinating on it if I were you. You see we have a strange wind here. It comes off the water and would blow your urine right back at ya.

Honor our country, display your flag.
Happy Flag Day!
See post below

OLD GLORY RESPECT

2006-06-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Ken over at Squamata Report has an important post up. In fact he has inspired me to post my two cents worth as well.

Disrespect for our flag has been a pretty hot issue for a while now.
I don't see why there ever should have been any question.
The flag of ones country is a symbol what that country stands for
Myself, I have always though it meant FREEDOM.
Freedom to worship as I please
Freedom to own a piece of land and farm it if I choose.
Freedom from slavery.
Freedom to vote.
And many more.
(These are all reasons my ancestors left their homelands, and came to America).
Many of my forefathers went to war and died so that I can have these rights.
All the freedoms we have are God given, and backed up by the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

When I was a child we always sang the song, “America” in school. Even as a six year old, when we sang the last line of the first verse, “LET FREEDOM RING.” It totally thrilled my soul. I thought it meant that when the bell rang I would have FREEDOM OF RECESS.

But I also remembered this song being sung when we heard that the war was over, as my family and neighbors gathered outside their homes, laughing and crying, shouting and singing. I knew then, without a doubt that it was an honorable song.

I learned a new kind of reverence as my teacher taught us the pledge of allegiance, standing with our hand over our heart. She was serious and there was no fooling around or you got the ruler. Her firmness added to my respect for our flag and country.

At parades and other places our flag was displayed, we ALWAYS placed our hand over our heart until it had passed. It was showing respect and allegiance. This was not unusual, it was the norm. If someone didn’t show respect for our flag, we knew they were a ‘commie.’
This may seem brash, but I do believe the first time an American flag was shown disrespect in any way, the perpetrator should have been severely disciplined as the traitor they are.

However, If burning the flag, or urinating on it is considered freedom of speech, even though it is a physical act and no spoken word did the damage, then it seems any physical act I perform can be considered freedom of speech.
Hmmmm, so does that mean I can legally go slap the stuffing out of the ACLU members, or urinate on them?
Or, does that mean that the terrorist acts we are seeing are also legal, and considered ‘freedom of speech? I think you get my drift.

Our country’s leaders have forgotten a important word. “UNITED.” When they begin to dissect the constitution of the United States of America, and allow each individual state make their own ‘amendments’ to our Constitution, we are no longer united. We have simply become States of America.
Isn’t there something important about being united?
In the New Testament of the Holy Bible Luke 11:17…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
Abraham Lincoln Quoted this verse in his House Divided Speech.

GOD SAVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Good Poem

2006-06-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know how long this has been around, but I saw it for the first time today and believe it deserves sharing.

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama.
Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama. The judge's poem sums it up quite well

"America the Beautiful, or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride; I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters, abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty; your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine,
Choosing to indulge their lusts, when God has said abstain.
From sea to shining sea, our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love and a need to always pray.

We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool, and Heaven is His throne.
We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges, who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God, from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful, if you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from Thee.

~Judge Roy Moore
Let's lift Judge Moore up in prayer. He has stood firm and needs our support.
IN GOD WE TRUST

CALORIES THAT DON'T COUNT

2006-06-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

More misinformation from the book I previously mentioned:

1. All food eaten while standing has no calories. Exactly why is not clear, but the current theory relates to gravity. The calories apparently bypass the stomach flowing directly down the legs, and through the soles of the feet into the floor, like electricity. Walking appears to accelerate this process, so that an ice cream bar or hot dog eaten at the state fair actually has a calorie deficit.

2. Anything eaten in front of the TV has no calories. This may have something to do with the radiation leakage, which negates not only the calories in the food but all recollections of having eaten it.

3. Pies and cakes should be cut neatly, in even wedges or slices. If not, the responsibility falls on the person putting them away to 'straighten up the edges' by slicing away the offending irregularities, which have no calories when eaten.

4. If you drink a diet soda while eating a candy bar, they cancel each other out.

5. If you have a glass of punch in your left hand, anything eaten with the other hand has no calories. Several principals are at work here. First of all, you're probably standing up at a wedding reception, (see #1) then there's the electronic field: A wet glass in one hand forms a negative charge to reverse the polarity of the calories attracted to the other hand. It's not quite known how it works, but it's reversable if you're left handed.

BAD CANDY

2006-06-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

A friend in Canada sent me this. She didn't find it on TruthorFiction so It may be true.
"A woman was sitting beside her daughter Kylin, and her daughters friend while the little girls were having the candy in the picture, which you spray into your mouth. This one is called "BIG MOUTH CANDY SPRAY' AND SAYS 'SOUR' AT THE TOP. This one is sour green apple but there are other flavors.

The kids wondered what it would be like if they took the top off and had a sip instead of spraying it.
(This is a very typical thing for a kid to do. The FDA knows it.)

Kylin began gasping for air and was not breathing. She was having Laryngospasm, which is a 'sudden, accute spasm of the vocal cords (and epiglottis)' that can result in occlusion of the airway and death.
Kylin's airways closed and for a time she was not able to breathe. An ambulance was called, and she was able to breathe again but it took two hours before her throat was back to normal.

There are other brands of this type of candy. I don't know if they all have the same hazzards. I'd play it safe and not allow the children to buy any of it. Make sure they know the danger.

I have always been amazed at how many poisonous and or dangerous items the FDA allows on the grocery shelves.
It's all about the bucks!

If only all the candy makers could be as conscientious as the makers of Lifesavers, who deliberately make a hole in the center of their hard candies incase one is stuck in the airway.

FUNNY BOOK

2006-06-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

Copyright 1992, this book has been shuffled around my house from room to room for several years. It finally picked it up today.
The author writes about the miseries of dieting and adds a poem by the late Victor Buono. I hope it makes you smile as it did me.

"Lord my soul is ripped with riot,
Incited by my wicked diet.
"We are what we eat," said a wise old man.
Lord if that's true, I'm a garbage can.

I want to rise on judgement day, thats plain,
But at my present weight I'll need a crane.
So grant me strength that I may not fall
Into the clutches of cholesterol.

My flesh with carrot curls be sated,
That my soul may be polyunsaturated.
And show me the light that I may bear witness
To the president's council on physical fitness.

And Oleo margerine I'll never mutter,
The road to hell is spread with butter.
And cream is cursed, and cake is awful,
And Satan is hiding in every waffle.

Mephistopheles lurks in provolone,
The devil is in each slice of bologna.
Beezlebub is a chocolate drop
And Lucifer is a lollypop.

Give me this day, my daily slice
But cut it thin and toast it twice.
I beg upon my dimpled knees,
Deliver me from Ju Jubees.

And when my days of trial are done,
And my war with malted milk is won
Let me stand with the saints in heaven,
In a shining robe size thirty-seven!

I can do it, Lord, if you'll show to me
The virtues of lettuce and celery
If you'll teach me the evils of mayonnaise
The sinfulness of Hollandaise

And Pasta Milanese
And potatoes a la Lyonnaise,
And crisp fried chicken from the South.
Lord, if you love me, SHUT MY MOUTH!

Next post will cover CALORIES THAT DON'T COUNT.

COMPUTER TREE

2006-06-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Driving to town yesterday I noticed this strangely decorated tree in a front yard.
Maybe he just got fed up with all the broken electronic's in the garage, or perhaps it is a new art form.
My cousin thinks he got really mad at his computer.
Whatever the reason, it sure makes an interesting picture.

FOUND IT!

2006-06-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who tried to find the 1955 movie, Many Rivers To Cross, for me. My niece Teresa and Jim both found it on E-bay.
I ordered my DVD today and wish you could all come watch it with me.

2006-06-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

Dear God:

Why didn't you save the school children at :

Moses Lake, Washington 2/2/96

Bethel, Alaska 2/19/97

Pearl, Mississippi 10/1/97

West Paducah, Kentucky 12/1/97

Stamp, Arkansas 12/15/97

Jonesboro, Arkansas 3/24/98

Edinboro, Pennsylvania 4/24/98

Fayetteville, Tennessee 5/19/98

Springfield, Oregon 5/21/98

Richmond, Virginia 6/15/98

Littleton, Colorado 4/20/99

Taber, Alberta, Canada 5/28/99

Conyers, Georgia 5/20/99

Deming, New Mexico 11/19/99

Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 12/6/99

Santee, California 3/ 5/01

andEl Cajon, California 3/22/01?

Sincerely,

Concerned Student---------------------------

Reply:

Dear Concerned Student:

I am not allowed in schools.

Sincerely,

God

DVD or Video Wanted

2006-06-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

I have been searching for a 1955 movie called "MANY RIVERS TO CROSS' with Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker.
If anyone knows where I can get a copy, please let me know. I have been told it is not on DVD or Video, but someone may have made a copy from TV.
I realize it is against the law to sell home copys, so I won't buy it, but I will make a 'donation' to you for being so nice.
I think that is legal. :)

2006-06-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

This has been going around in e-mails.
there were a few more words which I removed, without changing the meaning.
It certainly says it all!
Is this the United States Of America or The United States Of Mexico?
In Mexico do they press 1 for Spanish?
And another thing.................
I'm hearing that they are saying that we stole the USA from them. We all know that is not true, but if it had been theirs to begin with, maybe we should have taken it from them since they made such a rotten mess of Mexico that they are running to our good old USA by the hoards!

A FEW MORE POSY'S

2006-06-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

Columbine is the common name for the genus Aquilegia, a perennial belonging to the buttercup family. They can grow 2-3' tall, and as you can see are a very pretty flower.
I started with two, one pale pink and one purple. Now I have every shade in between because they cross polinate and produce many delightful surprises. They are easy to grow and re-seed beautifully.

This Iris was a pleasant surprise in my garden.
I am one of the gardners who buys bulbs and tubers, roots and seeds, plant them then forget about them. Eventually they grow and bloom, as did this gorgeous Iris.
Looks good enough to eat!

The Dog Whisperer

2006-05-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

Patty-Jo sent me an e-mail concerning this man. I did a little research and came up with the following about The Dog Whisperer.
Check it out.
I didn't know that he came to the USA illegally.
Now he is a wealthy man, popular with the Hollywood crowd and it seems no one cares that he came here illegally.
He married an American citizen (green card situation?) and plans to apply for citizenship.
What do you think about this guy?
Do we give him a pat on the back for his accomplishment and forget that he was an illegal alien?
Do we send him packing?
Should he be expected to repay society for whatever of the taxpayers money that was gifted to him?

Share your thoughts.

2006-05-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

Mailbox design for some of my Texas blog friends who would like to make a statement.
A very clear statement.

THIS JUST MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!

2006-05-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

THE FOLLOWING WAS IN MY NEWSPAPER THIS MORNING. THIS ISN'T NEW, BUT IS BECOMING MUCH MORE FREQUENT.

PUBLIC SAFETY
Sex offenders move in county

Two registered sex offenders have moved in Whatcom County, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
Martin Camacho, 41, moved to the 3600 block of Lummi Shore Road. He pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in October 2002. He entered the home of a 30-year-old woman he knew, strangled her and raped her.
Camacho also was arrested for alleged rape in 1993, but no charges were filed. HE REFUSED sexual deviancy treatment.
Camacho is 5 feet 9 inches, 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

ANOTHER

Jack Kyle Smith Jr., 56, moved to the 2700 block of Dawn Lane in Custer.
He was convicted in December 1983 of two counts of statutory rape. His victims were a 6-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. He was also convicted of indecent liberties for having sexual intercourse with a 7-year-old boy.
Smith is 5 feet 7 inches, 150 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes.
Both men are registered Level III sex offenders, which are those deemed most likely to re-offend.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS GOOD, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM THESE PERVERTS! WHY DO WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THEM?
WHY ARE THEY GIVEN A CHOICE OF TREATMENT OR NOT?
WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED FREEDOM TO OFFEND AGAIN AND AGAIN?
THESE MEN AND THOUSANDS LIKE THEM HAVE DESTROYED, YES DESTROYED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THEY HAVE STOLEN THEIR INNOCENCE AND THEIR CHILDHOOD. MOST WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SLEEP AGAIN WITHOUT NIGHTMARES, AND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE AWAKE THEY ARE TORMENTED WITH THE HATEFUL MEMORY OF THAT TIME WHEN THEIR WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN AROUND THEM AND FEAR AND TERROR REPLACED THE HAPPY, SINGING CHILD THEY ONCE WERE.

OUR COUNTRY HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT DISCIPLINE AND PUNISHMENT ARE. WE DESPERATELY NEED TO GET BACK TO THE BIBLE TEACHINGS ON THIS SUBJECT, AND A FEW MORE.

DO I BELIEVE IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?
WHEN I READ ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT BABIES AND CHILDREN WHO ARE VIOLATED, AND KILLED BY THESE SELF SERVING MOLESTERS AND RAPISTS, MOST OF WHOM ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS, YOU JUST BET YOUR BUTTOCKS I DO!

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IF YOUR CHILD WERE RAPED OR MURDERED BY ONE OF THESE PERVERTS?
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS SUBJECT.

my flowers

2006-05-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

This interesting cluster of blossoms is a super Macro shot from a Laurel. When my son married in 1995, there were small twigs of Laurel in the floral arrangements. I snagged one, treated it with rooting hormone and planted it. Today it is about sixteen foot tall and blooms in early spring. Last fall I took advantage of fome flower bulb sales. This one bloomed beautifully last month, but I forgot what it is.
The King Alfred
My mother had the mother plant of this rhody growing beside her house for years. I managed to layer a small branch and got this.

MY FLOWERS

2006-05-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

My mother gave me this Tree Peony many years ago when it was about eighteen inches tall. Now it is about seven foot tall and the blossoms are at least nine inches in diameter.
About three years ago my daughter Patty-Jo, dug out an ancient lilac bush from her yard. She gets a little ruthless at times. This lilac happens to be one of the heirloom plants. Probably like the ones your grandma and great grandma had in their yards, and not like the hybridized versions sold now. I brought home a piece but the roots had been severly cut back. I planted it in faith and this year it bloomed. The fragrance is intoxicating! What can I say? I believe God loves tulips. Especially those with the sun shining on them, or with glistening rain drops clinging to the smooth satin petals, or dancing in the wind, or bravely looking a storm straight in the face as the thunder roars and lightning illuminates it's petals.
Yep, we'll take em' any old way!

THE ELM'S

2006-05-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

My Paternal grandparents met and married in 1904 in a little town nearby. Grandfather and his father-in-law built this little house there.
Four of Waldo and Lucy's children were born here, including their youngest, Kenny, who was my father.

In the front of the house, they planted two small elm trees. One for him and one for her.
They took good care of them over the years and the trees thrived as did their five children.
Waldo and Lucy planted a nice orchard and had big gardens every year. Grandma would can everything she could get her hands on to feed her family. She was a tiny lady under five foot and never weighed over a hundred pounds. Waldo was tall, about six foot and very slender. They made quite a pair.

As the years passed, Waldo became tired of being tied down and left his family. He went on to marry eight more times. Lucy did not marry again but worked hard to provide for her family.

Grandma was a very social lady and loved to go visiting, but she never drove a car, (just horses in her younger years) so she depended on family for transportation.
She smoked butt end Camel's or Lucky Strikes, (sometimes a corncob pipe), had her coffee loaded with sugar and cream, enjoyed a cold beer and on occassion a shot or two of something with more of a kick. She could out cuss any logger and was as strong as an ox. She could be as sweet and cuddly as a kitten and as terrifying as a grizzly bear.
I had a LOT of respect for this little lady.

When they were in their seventies, Waldo began to visit Lucy frequently. He was no longer married and no doubt lonely. Lucy had a nice little house and still kept a small garden and many flowers.
She and Waldo became an 'item.' He drove her everywhere. I never saw one without the other and wondered if they were getting back together after all those years, but would never have asked.

On Lucy's last day she asked Waldo to take her to see each of her children.
So off they went, and spent the whole day enjoying the company of their family. Waldo took her home late in the afternoon then left to run an errand. When he returned he found her on the floor. She had passed away from a stroke.

Grandfather was lost a lost soul after Lucy passed away. He visited his children and grandchildren but he was not a happy man.
It is so sad that he didn't learn until it was too late how much his first wife actually meant to him. He died about ten years later and is buried beside Lucy. He won't be leaving her again. And the two Elms still stand tall and proud in front of the little homestead where Waldo and Lucy lived and loved and where they parted, for a time.

(note: My granddaughter, on the right, and I are in front of the Elm's which are still standing today at one hundred two years old)

He's Baaaack!

2006-05-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

The alien returned last night but didn't stay long. He ate several mouthfuls of my Louisanna Red Hot Special and left so fast he knocked over a chair, and a few other things that were in his way.
I didn't go down to check yet, but I suspect the pond has been drained.

So if you see a raccoon with his eyes popped out and the fur on his hiney all singed black, you will know where he had supper.

Illegal Alien Special

2006-05-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I did a little research today concerning my nocturnal visitor and decided I have to discourage it from returning.
Raccoon's and other animals carry a very nasty, contageous disease called Leptospirosis. There is more than one strain of this disease and all are very dangerous to dogs and humans. They can result in chronic liver and kidney disease which can be fatal to the dogs.

Over the past thirty years there have been vaccines used, (my dogs were vaccinated against it last year), but now even the vaccinated dogs are getting Lepto. This may be caused by a new strain of the disease.

Today I made a 'special' treat for this fence climbing illegal alien. I made a gravy of Louisanna Hot Sauce and Crushed Red Peppers & seeds. To this I added some left over chicken and rice with vegetables. It is sitting on the back deck waiting for tonights reservation.

Hopefully he will not be pleased with Mountain Mama's menu and never come back.

THE NOCTURNAL VISITOR

2006-05-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

At twelve-thirty this morning my dogs woke me up with a chorus of ear shattering barking. When all attempts to quiet them failed, I went to the back door (a slider) to see what had caused all the ruckus.
There, sitting on the deck rail was the biggest raccoon I have ever seen. It was more like the size of a small bear. (we grow em big around these parts)
Actually it just looked that big because it was at eye level.

Between the dogs barking and seeing me through the glass it very slowly climbed down and I thought it had left. I went back to bed and had just begun to drift off, when once again the dogs loud barking brought me back to reality. By this time I am very short of patience so yelled at the dogs to shut up, and then opened the door a crack and yelled at the raccoon too. Once again it left.

I am very ready for sleep by now, and barely pull the blanket over me when the dogs are at it again.
By now I am just plain mad. I put them in their kennels (in the house). grab my broom and go out to the deck and beat the living daylights out of that dang raccoon! Boy was I ever mad. It left in a hurry this time, probably terror stricken. It did not come back.

I had a problem with raccoons about a year and a half ago, so I borrowed a box trap and caught one. Unfortunately it was on Thanksgiving morning when I discovered a baby coon inside, scratching it's paws bloody trying to get out. And on the outside was it's mama also scratching her paws bloody trying to get to it's baby. Shucks! Whats a body to do.
Yes I let it go, and now it's probably the one that is causing me to suffer from sleep deprivation now. Lord have mercy!

Raccoons look so cute and cuddly, especially the babies. But remember they are a wild animal and have the instincts of one. And besides, they stink.
I know a man who fed one on his back porch regularly from the time it was a baby. The coon would take food right from his hand. This went on for several months. Then one night the coon, then full grown, grabbed his arm with it's claws and ripped the muscle from his forearm. I guess it wanted some fresh meat.

Raccoons carry many diseases including rabies. They harbor roundworm in their intestines which can be picked up by humans through raccoon feces left in your yard. Roundworms burrow into the brain. Not a nice ending.

Observe from a distance, keep pet food inside and trash locked up tight.
If all else fails grab your broom.
If you want to see a raccoon, go to a zoo or see them in the internet.

COTTONWOOD COTTAGE

2006-05-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

Sweet Lorainne is a one year old cotton de tulear, and is owned by my daughter, Patty-Jo. I am puppysitting Raine for a few weeks because Patty's other dog, 'Good Golly Miss Molly' has puppies and the two females don't get along very well right now, because Raine want the puppies.
Coton de Tulear's are a rare breed of dog from Madagascar.
They are a very loving and cuddly dog with fur as soft as cotton and usually weigh under ten pounds.
Here are Mollies puppies at about two weeks old. By the time they are a year old the color will be gone and they will be all white.
Patty has a web page up. This is what she wrote about ther dogs:

"At Cottonwood Cottage we breed happy, well adjusted dogs from champion bloodlines with an emphasis on temperment and conformation.
Our dogs are valued as loving and affectionate companions and live under our feet and in our hearts.

They are registered with the AKC(FSS) and USACTC and have excellent pedigrees.
Our puppies are raised with cats, kids and kisses. They receive a vet check, worming, their first shots and are micro chipped before they go to their forever homes

Our males sell for $2000. to $2200. and females from $3000 to $3200.
Shipping is available

(I took the picture of Raine and Patty-Jo took the picture of the puppies. aren't they cute!)

ONE BRAVE LADY!

2006-05-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

The sign says LOOK FOR RATTLESNAKES

Beverly Gunn is a blog friend who sent me this photo and an e-mail from which I have copied the following.

"I am a Chaplain, not yet ordained, but I was conducting a memorial service for an old friend of ours. He had been in Viet Nam and was a helicopter pilot. The funeral was in Tulia, Texas, between Childress and Plainview.
Here is the sign we saw when we entered the cemetery. It got my attention.
I told the gathered audience that if they saw me drop my Bible and use my cane to beat something, that it would be their clue to run, as it meant I had found a rattlesnake!"

This lady is sooooo brave! I would have been the first one out of there.

Beverly Gunn is an East Texas Rancher and Military Mom.

A country curtsy to you Beverly.

2006-05-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

Julia Ashley

Flowers and curled toes, sweet Julia.

2006-05-16T23:02:00.000-07:00

Hailee Michelle

The little Ballerina in Great Grandma's Flower Garden.

THE DANDELION

2006-05-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

Madalyn Faith

I wonder how many hundreds of years children have found pleasure in re-seeding dandelion's in this delightful way?

Enjoy Your Music, Carefully

2006-05-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

BRACKEN FERN & BUTTERCUPS

2006-05-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Duracell Gas Solution

2006-05-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is especially for BigDadGib and all of his Trucker friends.
Gib has a hillarious Trucker story posted. I'm still laughing!

ABOUT CORSETS

2006-05-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

This picture is from an old catalog advertising their leading value. It says, "Designed to improve the slender figure, medium high bust, rather short hips, made of good quality coutil, well boned throughout with non rusting tipped steels incased in satin finished sterling cloth. Has five hook front clasp and front hose supporters.

Top is trimmed with dainty lace drawn with baby ribbon.
Colors, white or drab. Size 18 to 30.
Be sure to give us your size and color wanted.
Price .47 cents
Postage extra, .16 cents."

I could do another post about the corset price and the postage but what I am focusing on today is how anyone could have thought that maiming and crippling are beautiful. The Chinese bound their baby's feet, Ubanges slit open their lip and insert a wooden plate, increasing the size until I can't imagine how they can talk and I'm certain they can't kiss without getting slivers and bruised.

It seems that every culture has some devilish torture they practice in the name of 'beauty.'
Then there were the Victorian ladies who thought they had to rearrange their internal and external organs, as well as their bone structure. by wearing tight lacing corsets which were lined with steel or whale bone stays.
Their rib cages became so horribly deformed that many times their lungs, heart and liver were severly damaged sometimes causing death, and frequently causing fainting. Do you know what lack of oxygen does to the brain?
I have seen pictures of women who have had their breasts shoved up so high under their chin that it looked like they had a double goiter.

I'm thankful that we civilized people don't do these things anymore.
I did see an ad for modern day corsets which are a far cry from the old ones. I wouldn't post a picture of one. They are not exactly modest, and I doubt they are used to make a 35 inch waist a 20 inch.

PRAYERS

2006-05-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

God Bless my good old dog.
God Bless my dear little master.

(I didn't take this picture and don't know who did. I love it)

Common Sense

2006-05-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is from a cousin in Nebraska. Thanks Loretta!

A retired border patrol agent shows some common sense.
This letter was sent to Tennessee Senator Bill Frist from a retired border patrol agent, and it has more common sense than all the bull being spewed from the Senate, with the exception of a few sensible representatives.

Dear Senator Frist: There is a huge amount of propaganda and myths circulating about illegal aliens, particularly illegal Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Honduran aliens.

#1. Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities want to remain citizens of their home countries while obtaining the benefits offered by the United States such as employment, medical care, in-state tuition, government subsidized housing and free education for their offspring. Their main attraction is employment and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of American residence without paying the price.

#2.There are no jobs that Americans won't do. Illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans can't take and still support their families. Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a single residence home, share expenses and send money to their home country. There are no jobs that Americans won't do for a decent wage.

#3.Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home. They are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs in their home countries. They come to send money to their real home as evidenced by the more than 20 billion dollars sent out of the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the law and therefore assumed the risk of detection and deportation. Those who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility and risk on behalf of their children.

#4. Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal aliens constituteless than 5% of the workforce. However, they reduce wages and benefits for lawful U.S. residents.

#5.This is NOT an immigrant nation. There are 280 million native born Americans. While it is true that this nation was settled and founded by immigrants (LEGAL) immigrants), it is also true that there is not a nation on this planet that was not settled by immigrants at one time or another.

#6.The United States is welcoming to legal immigrants. Illegal aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.

#7 There is no such thing as the "Hispanic vote". Hispanics are white, brown, black and every shade in between. Hispanics are Republicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists, Marxists and Independents. The so-called "Hispanic vote" is a myth. Pandering to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a dead end.

#8.Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848 Mexicans have resented the United States. During World War I Mexico allowed German Spiesto operate freely in Mexico to spy on the U.S. During World War II Mexico allowed the Axis powers to spy on the U.S. from Mexico . During the ColdWar Mexico allowed spies hostile to the U.S. to operate freely. The attack on the Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered and applauded all across Mexico. Today Mexican school children are taught that the U.S. stole California, Arizona, new Mexico and Texas. If you don't believe it, check out some Mexican textbooks written for their schoolchildren.

#9.Although some illegal aliens enter this country for a better life, there are 6 billion people on this planet. At least 1 billion of those live onless than one dollar a day. If wanting a better life is a valid excuse tobreak the law and sneak into America, then let's allow those one billion to come to America and we'll turn the USA into a Third World nation overnight. Besides, there are 280 million native born Americans who want a betterlife. I'll bet Bill Gates and Donald Trump want a better life. When will the USA lifeboat be full? Since when is wanting a better life a good reason to trash another nation?

#10.There is a labor shortage in this country. This is a lie. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American housewives, senior citizens, students, unemployed and underemployed who would gladly take jobs at a decent wage.

#11. It is racist to want secure borders. What is racist about wanting secure borders and a secure America? What is racist about not wanting people to sneak into America and steal benefits we have set aside for legal aliens, senior citizens, children and other legal residents? What is it about race that entitles people to violate our laws, steal identities, and take the American Dream without paying the price? For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans. These politicians have been of both parties. A huge debt to American society has resulted. This debt will be satisfied and the interest will be high. There has already been riots in the streets by illegal aliens and their supporters. There will be more.

You, as a politician, have a choice to offend the illegal aliens who have stolen into this country and demanded the rights afforded to U.S. citizens or to offend those of us who are stakeholders in this country. The interest will be steep either way. There will be civil unrest. There will be a reckoning.

Do you have the courage to do what is right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of those who don't even have the right to remain here? There will be a reckoning. It will come in November of this year, again in 2008 and yet again in 2010. We will not allow America to be stolen by third world agitators and thieves.

David J. Stoddard U.S. Border Patrol (RET)Hereford, Arizona

THEN & NOW

2006-05-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

The black shoes are from the 1920's and were the popular design for men's athletic wear of that time.
The pink ones I bought my great granddaughter early this year. I tried to interest her in what I thought were more suitable play shoes, and even tried to entice her with sandals that sparkled as if they were covered in diamonds, but no. This is the pair she wanted and I couldn't change her mind.
Are they cute? You should see her wearing them with her little blue jeans and hoodie. She's a living doll!

THREE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

2006-05-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

1. COWS
2. THE CONSTITUTION
3. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

TEN COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse........you cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians........it creates a hostile work environment.

2006-05-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

One-two-three-up, one-two-three-up, one-two-three-up.
If you exercise daily you may grow up to be a frog.

2006-05-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

FIRST LOVE

2006-04-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

Long green legs, spindly, yet strong,
Bending in the April breeze.
Whilst feet cling tightly to the soil,
Toes drink deeply of earth's wine.

She grows tall and lean,
Her arms reach to the sun.
Her small green head grows daily,
And begins to show a hint of red.

The brazen sun kisses her passionately,
She turns her face eagerly to receive his warm embrace
Then turns bright crimson in pure delight.
She whispers, "Today I am a woman...er...Tulip."

(this is without a doubt the most ridiculous poem I have ever written. I worked too hard today. Thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it!)

2006-04-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hey you guys, that's illegal. You're supposed to go through customs!

2006-04-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Count your garden by the flowers
Never by the leaves that fall,
Count your days by golden hours
Don't remember clouds at all.

Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your life by smiles, not tears.
And with joy on every birthday,
Count your age by friends, not years.