December 28, 2013. A Bit of News.

Saturday, December 28,  2013.

Suddenly it's almost New Year's Eve! Where did all that time go, since it was New Year's Eve of 2012?

We shall welcome The New Year, with open arms. We shall welcome more regular weather, won't we? The weather of 2013 was rather strange in many areas.

Swimming, sun bathing, playing and running in the sand, listening to the ocean, filling your bucket with sand, swimming again, playing volleyball on the beach, one doesn't even need a sweater on ~ what more can anyone ask, for a very warm Christmas?

That was what southern California residents had, this past week!

Up in New England, there were very cold temperatures; thick ice on the trees, branches, fences, walks, bushes, back yards, telephone and power lines; PLUS no electricity for thousands and thousands of homes. No showers for days and days, no laundry done, getting sick of peanut butter sandwiches ~ where is a luscious fried egg?

The northern part of this country really suffered with such rainy, cold, freezing rain, sleet, snow, and the outage of power was the worst after so many days of it.

Your friend or relative gets word to you that their power is on, so you quickly go there to take a shower and shampoo as invited. "Ahhhhh, at last," you say over and over. They invite you to stay for a piece of toast and an over-easy egg. Bliss.

CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME!         ...      oh, yeah   ...


I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

We Have a Cold Day; Thinking of Cooking.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

There have been many cold days in probably every state in the union these past weeks, and more cold is still coming. Have you been cold? What do you do when you are cold? Sometimes I don't like to step out the door, and I'll stay inside and put a sweater on.

Sometimes when it gets cold, we think of soup, don't we? Making a delicious warm soup always gives us comfort on a cold day. One day in 1986 I made some soup with chicken skin and juice from turkey sausage, adding a potato, garlic, carrot, celery and bay leaf. It certainly did warm me up. I had cooked some skinned chicken legs for a few meals the week before and froze the skin. How lucky I was that day to have it in the freezer. Bay leaf makes a soup tasty, and we can also find this and that in our refrigerators, for making soup on a cold day.

It is cold here today, about thirty-five degrees, but sunny. It will probably rain by the end of the week. The eastern part of the country is getting ready today for some rain, snow, and sleet before mid-afternoon. Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, and much of New York are having bad weather already.

It's quite amazing how excited we can get with making certain foods! Late this morning I thought of the acorn squash that I had in the fridge. I wanted to see how it would cook in the crock pot. I washed and cut it in half horizontally, scooped out the seeds, then the stringiness, and put half of it in my one-quart crock pot to cook. This crock pot is so small, it has only low temperature, so I must wait another few hours for that half to be cooked.  

With the other half, I scooped out the lovely seeds first, then the strings (to keep them separate from the seeds). I turned on the oven to 400 ˚ and put a bit of olive oil in the squash on a small pan. The seeds stirred it up and patted it all down. The seeds were ready to come out in about nine or ten minutes, and
turned out to be such a lovely shade of tan / brown, crispy, and very delicious (and very good for you). The oven half is still in the oven, with a little added honey. I am eager to taste it.

Then I thought that while I'm at it, I may as well take out one of the medium turnips from the fridge and cook it in a frying pan. A little olive oil goes a long way, to gently fry some half-inch strips of peeled turnip. Yummy is all I can say! Sometimes I plan what I shall have for a meal. At other times I have impulses and good ideas that are not planned, which turn out to be quite interesting and tasty.

I hope you are using your cold day to make some soup...


I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Over the River and Through the Woods ...

Sunday, November 24, 2013.

"Over the River and Through the Woods ...
To Grandmother's house we go ~ 
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh 
Through white and drifted snow ..."

When I was in elementary grades at school, we would sing it when Thanksgiving Day was approaching. What fun that was! It is so interesting to envision these lyrics of the olden days. Somewhere there is Grandmother's house, and there's always a wood to gallop through before you can see her house. The woods are 'dark and deep' and covered with snow on the pathway through. These lyrics weren't written to describe any place in southern California, were they? Unless there was a mountain or two that would be gifted with snow and cold air, like Old Baldy.  

There might be very few woods without snow in Canada, don't you think? It's rather cold up there, much colder than down here in the United States. I wonder if they have their own special song for Thanksgiving Day. If so, I would like to hear it. 

No matter where we live, it is good to have a Day of Thanksgiving for the many gifts bestowed upon us.  

The pumpkin pie is mentioned in the lyrics of Over the River and Through the Woods, and some people must have pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. It is a very old tradition. 

Can you smell the satisfying aroma of Roast Turkey? By Thursday, you will definitely know that turkey meat is roasting everywhere. Sweet potatoes are often served with dinner, mashed potatoes, and many more different kinds of food. Oh, the stuffing for the turkey is very important, so do not forget to make it. 

To everyone who sees this bit of writing, Happy Thanksgiving! May you enjoy being with your families, relatives, friends, and neighbors at this time of year. If you must be alone, have a wonderful day, as you are being thought of by many people.  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

My Name; When I Was A Child.

November 16, 2013.

By the way, my name ~ every time I hear someone else say my name, 'Anna Mae', I think I am hearing someone saying 'animation' or 'animate'.  I now think that 'anime' is such a nice short-cut for people who are very busy! You can make your phone show simpler things so you wouldn't have to type so much? Someone sent me an email, and that is what they called me. They told me that it is from their phone. I don't know what kind of phone, iPhone, Smart Phone, or Genius Phone? It sure does save time. 

When I was just a kid, my mother would call out in the neighborhood in the coal mining town where we lived near Wilkes-Barre, PA., when it was time to come home, 'Anna Maeeeeeee, but it sounded like 'ENNNNNA meeeeeeeeee'. An older kid, teen maybe, would call me 'Enemy' until she learned my name is 'Anna Mae'.

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As I remember, it was so much fun when I was growing up: there were the coal-dusty alleys to run through, a large open area to play in, and down the alley was another group of kids who would play kick-the-can (a kind of hide and seek game), and "Mother, May I?" (a game in which you ask the leader of the game if you could take a baby step, a medium step or a giant step, to reach 'home'). I would have to look it up on the internet to know the exact way to play that game.  

There also were games of hop scotch, and a very small ball with 'jacks', which I dearly loved.  

Sometimes when you got bored, you'd go to the lower parts of a culm bank and walk around on those rocks and coal pieces, to find some good coal to take home to Mommy and Daddy. Everyone in the coal towns burned coal in those days in their furnaces. 

All of the kids played outdoors. I definitely do not remember any chubby kids! Running and playing keeps the fat on our bodies from settling down somewhere inside our skin. Riding our tricycles and little red wagons up and down the dusty street was one of our favorite things to do. 

Oh, yes, we also played in the small gutter in front or our homes. Many streets weren't paved yet, and the trickle of household sink water would come down the street in the little ditch. I remember playing there, it was like a baby creek, and all kids love to play in water, don't they? I think I caught pneumonia one year by playing in the ditch. 

Another great pastime is gathering those prickly little burdocks from the weeds, and making little pieces of furniture. I would often do that, and visually remember making a little sofa with those round little burdocks. The couch had three rows of burdocks for the seats, and three burdocks for each of the arms, one little ball for each of the four feet, and then you have to work on the back of the sofa to make it look like a sofa. That was truly great fun! 

One more weedy game is looking for plaintain weeds with the long oval leaves, and the spike in the center that carries the seeds for future plaintain weeds. I would almost fill up a cigar box with those seeds. You have to wait until they are tall enough and the seeds become mature, for them to come off easily. I realize now that these plaintain weeds are healthful and medicinal for us to use. The pioneers took them on their trips across the plains to find a new place to live. 

Mother Nature was so good to us little kids! Just think of an empty lot across the street where the Buttonwood School was! When I'd go home for lunch, I'd stop (of course!) on my way home to pick a fistful of purple violets. That lot had so very many! Oh, what we are missing today! I can still see this in my mind, a house on one side, and on the other side of the lot, a small hill with little bushes on it. There was a house on that little hill. The empty lot would be full of purple violets when they began to bloom, and it was a free place to pick the violets for Mommy. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Did You Watch the World Series? The Doggies Did.

Thursday, November 7, 2013.

Did you watch the World Series this year? I did, at the home of my son and his lovely wife, and loved every minute of it. It was so exciting to watch the game without thinking about getting to my long list of chores I left at my place.

I hadn't seen much of the pre-series games, but I was eager to watch The World Series! When I was in high school, in a rural area, the school bus would take us to baseball games, but I really didn't know a lot about the rules in baseball. I just enjoyed being 'out', and on the bus, and being with an exciting group watching the players out on the field.

I didn't even play many sports, because I was not athletically inclined. If I did play softball, I would get those 'shin splints' when I ran from base to base. Or I'd get a pain in my side. I would even get those 'shin splints' when I would roller skate on the old-fashioned ones, down the street. Were those skates  too heavy for my feet, or was I scared to skate, or was it because I was a bookworm instead of an athlete?

But during the times of those upcoming Series, I would be happy and excited like my schoolmates. I had always liked the Yankees, by the way, because that's all they talked about. The Yankees!

Nowadays, I don't usually watch baseball games, but somehow I was eager to see the World Series
this year. Oh, I know why, now! My son used to live in the Boston area, and liked the Boston Red Sox. He was now thrilled that they would be playing in the World Series. So I guess this contagious disease infected me in a hurry.

I was truly excited to be able to go to their house to see the games, because I do not have a TV hook-up yet. I know that I would be addicted to TV and I don't want that to happen now because of all the 'chores', 'projects', and necessary things I must do.

There are three almost BIG house dogs in their home, and these dogs feel they must be present if the family goes to the living room. Sometimes the family has a music jam, or something on TV is very interesting, or they have a family dinner and everyone goes to the living room after dishes are done.

Anyway, these lovable/loving doggies will lie at your feet if you are sitting on the couch, or will lie  near your shoes so they can rest their heads on/in them when they close their eyes to nap. In other words, they are very much under-foot and loving it. And so, there they were, in the living room with us, so happy to be 'watching' the Series with us, even if their eyes were closed.

Cheering? Of course, cheering! We would scream instantly if there was a run or a really lucky happening! As we did so, the three big dogs who think they are humans, would quickly get up from their lying position. Princess would nervously look for her ball so someone would throw it so she could run after it. All three would be ready to have some excitement!

It happened each time we all would piercingly shriek, yell, shout-out at our team, and some of us would stand up and begin to dance some 'hurrah' steps, throwing our arms up and moving in frenzy and getting that exquisite happy face! The dogs knew immediately that 'all hell' broke loose! They'd mingle so quickly with us, but of course, we had to pay attention to the next play, so the excitement would slow down again for a little while.

The dogs slowed down, too, muttering "DOG-done it, folks, we thought there was going to be a big celebration!" And the same thing would happen each time a player made a run, or better yet, a HOME run, and the dogs just loved every minute of it, too. Lily would always want to be as near as possible, with her head and feet on your shoes. Lucky would almost insist that he had to sit on your lap; he rarely gets that chance, and you have to steel yourself against that beautiful pleading in his big eyes. Princess is the oldest and has an obsession with her ball, always.

And this took place each night of the Series. The shepherd and two labs had a blast, and I did, too. I am so grateful for that opportunity to join in the fun of The World Series!


I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

A Prelude to Hibernation.

November 5, 2013.

Good evening, each and every one of you.

It is 5:06 pm, but it feels like evening. It is so strange to me, these last few days since the time change took place ~ "Fall back one hour" doesn't seem like much time, but actually with our human bodies pretending to be bears, bees, and birds, it feels like a whole evening.  

Each day I have been munching a lot of food during the morning and afternoon, preparing to go to bed when late evening comes, as in hibernation. I don't like to eat before I go to bed, because of the G.E.R.D. situation. I become too uncomfortable to sleep peacefully, so I like to stop eating around four or five o'clock. 

But lately, it feels to me that I should be going to bed between five and six o'clock. The outdoors is suddenly getting so dusky earlier, and quite soon it IS dark out there. I am not enthusiastic to do much, then, and would like to go to bed for the night.  

In the morning, if I wake up around four o'clock, it feels as if it is five or six o'clock, and I'm ready to spring out of bed to begin the day. But after the regular trip to the little room, I get back into bed and may sleep about ninety minutes more. 

And it is getting cooler on some nights, so I must put my flannel blankie over the regular covers. I wonder just when winter will come ~ it has been balking for quite a while now. There are so many warm days, and-not-so-cool nights, that it gets a little confusing. Is this autumn, or is this already winter?

With such strange changes of weather during the last year, or year and a half, we wonder what kind of winter we will have this time. I truly miss the snow very much because I used to live in northern New York and northern Pennsylvania, but I wouldn't want the people of the south to bear very harsh winters. Does anyone know what kind of weather is coming for the next few months?  

Brace yourselves for the 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, the 6th of November. 

It is very dark outdoors now, so I think I shall practice getting into my cave for the real hibernation.

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

A Few Items to Share.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013.

Hello, you all, y'all, darlings, folks, sweethearts, 

Do you remember when I found a four-leaf clover near the foot of my lovely concrete bench? It was only a couple of months ago, or maybe more. Well, each time that I sit there, to wait for the senior bus, or Bill and Jen, or just to sit and relax for a while, I look around my feet to see if there are any more four-leaf clovers. There are small clover plants that come up and show their pretty 'wings', and I adore them. I look all around my feet, and can never find any. Well, yesterday when I was waiting for the senior bus to take me to the grocery, I suddenly saw a four-leaf clover! I took note of exactly where it was, because the house door was locked and the bus was coming. 

When I returned from my grocery trip and got the bags of groceries into the house, I went out to pick that wonderful four-leaf clover. It was still there, almost smiling at me, and I picked it up, took it into the house, put it between two sheets of paper, and this evening it is dry. I'm quite proud, I yam. Gram B used to find them every time she would look for them. That is one thing I didn't quite inherit from her ...  or did I? Maybe my finding them is just beginning! 

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Another item: I've been using a certain brand of butter ever since I came here to this area. I like to cook my egg in a dab of butter in a small frying pan, cook it just two minutes over low heat, sunny side up/no turning over, and it's always good. Well, there was only one pound of butter left in the freezer and it was four long sticks in the pound of butter, unsalted. I noticed that the butter would make a loud sizzle, as if there was water in the pan. I began to notice it every time. The box said "butter", and the ingredients underneath said "milk, cream". I didn't like that at all. I want BUTTER in my pound of butter. Why do they have to add these other liquids to BUTTER? To make more money, that's why! 

I used up two sticks because I didn't have any other butter and wasn't going shopping much because of all the doctor appointments taking  up so much of my time. Finally, yesterday I went to the grocery by senior bus, and took along my little box of butter with two sticks in it, and went to the service counter. "I would like to return this butter." The girl didn't hesitate a bit about taking the butter, wouldn't even look at the register tape I had, and gave me three dollars and some change. The cost of the butter was $2.88, on sale; I am wondering if other people had returned this kind of butter, to make her ask no questions. While shopping, I bought a pound of butter, proudly; no liquids added. 

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A few days ago, I went to sit down on my lil bench, and there were several pieces of butternut shells on the ground, right where I would be putting my feet. I bent down to see what it was. I don't know butternuts very well, and two were not broken open yet. I brought one into the house to take a knife and see if I could open it. Never got to it, yet. I thought that the outer rough shell was off. I wonder if that falls off automatically when they mature and dry. I wondered if a child came and sat there with the nuts, or did a squirrel. There didn't seem to be any tooth marks from a squirrel, and I kept wondering about it. 

Well, after I had come home yesterday from the grocery store, it hadn't rained yet. We were supposed to be getting rain all day. After I got most of the purchases put away, the rain began to sprinkle down. I went to the bathroom in the back of the house, looked out the window to see what's what, and there was a squirrel hurrying across on the top of the fence. He looked perky and eager, and it had been sprinkling   already. I wondered why he was out in the rain. He went along the top of the fence about fifteen feet, suddenly stopped so he could jump down to the ground (I think they sort of use their claws on their way down to the ground) and as he had stopped at the top of the fence I noticed that he had something in his mouth. One butternut stuck forward out of his mouth, and he had one in each cheek, sticking outward, and I wished with all my heart that I could have clicked my camera! But the camera was still in my purse/bag. I kept watching him. It was such a cute sight to see, this little squirrel with such a funny triangle on his tiny face! 

He clambered down to the ground, gingerly leapt across the pebbles and then the lawn. He stopped about a foot across the lawn, laid the nuts down onto the grass, put one in his mouth and leapt a few happy leaps farther toward the house, and stopped. He looked around, then quickly dug a hole in the lawn as his little front paws worked so fast. He bent his head and put the nut in that hole, pulled dirt over it, and grass, and his paws went this way and that, patting the debris over his buried treasure. What a whimsical sight that was! It was raining a little heavier then, and he went back to find his little pile of nuts. I had to leave the window, and yearned to see him bury the other two. 

Then I pondered, and wondered if he was the little guy who sat on my lil bench gathering butternuts. 

So there you have it! Three little items making a short story long! 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Columbus Day; Somewhat Down in the Dumps...

October 14, 2013.

Hello, y'all. I hope you had a lovely day today ~ coming home from wherever you were; from the beach; from your quilting session; from your Oh, Caramba! Mexican Dinner; from the pizza place; from your gallery; from your classes; from the grocery store; from the dentist; from work in the office; from your department at the shipping firm; from your interview; from making cupcakes; from the movies; from your doctor appointment; from the museum; from taking out the garbage; from your music lesson; from your ski trip; from band practice; from the soccer game; from your meeting with the parole officer; from your Yoga class; from teaching your class; from your art show; from the airport; from your gig; from your job; from your sewing lesson; from no matter where you were, I hope you had a wonderful day. I think that Christopher Columbus would have been happy seeing you have such a good time today. I was just joking about the parole officer!

Yes, I am sort of down in the dumps today. I don't seem to have a lot of energy. My right hip is annoying me again, too. I wonder if the 'weather' barometric pressure is doing this to me. It is forecast that we might get rain for three days in a row ~ a couple of those days definitely will have a lot of rain. 

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Several days ago I was working with some of our family slides from 1971, also from 1975. I don't remember which year there was a BIG snow storm: I think it was both of those years, in fact. The one I am describing clogged up our precious dirt road that passed by our house on Shiver Hill. When such a big storm happens, school is closed for a while. Students and teachers are usually very happy to see a snow day coming! 

Our family had such fun more than one day! Even I was out there sledding, and having a great time with such wonderful activity! I had the camera, of course, and shot a lot of pictures. Someone else took the camera, and I was in a few of the photos. Dad was out there, pulling our kids on two or three sleds; also the whole family was tobogganing down the little hill, in a heartwarming row! Everyone was so active and having such fun! The Big Rock across the field was piled with snow. The slides bring so many memories and much nostalgia. 

There was a period of time in those couple of days, that everyone had to slide down the big snow hills of plowed snow after the plow went through. The snow was piled so high on both sides of the road. Even Dad was sledding down the piled-up snow! Everyone had to take a turn doing that, and it produced so many photos! There was no travel on our road because of the bad conditions elsewhere, so we had free rein of our dear snowy road. What a glorious time we had during those snow days. The dogs were romping around us, too, enjoying it as much as we were. 

Such piled-up snow on branches of trees, especially coniferous trees! The snow piles up quite high on each branch, producing such gorgeous photos. Out beyond the house where we used to play once in a while, near the clothes line, the 'sand box' that took up quite a piece of ground, the back door, and the Purple Martin House, the snow was incredibly deep. There is one photo that shows several of the children standing on the top of all that snow, at the Purple Martin House. All you could see of the pole, was about two or three feet, and the kids were taller than the bird house! Those houses are always on quite tall poles. I think the snow was extra deep because of the snow drifting in that little spot. 

There are a few shots of a mature nanny giving birth to a kid in our barn. I don't remember if it was one kid she had, or twins. Dad was the free 'veterinarian' at hand to assist with her kidding. We also had pigs, and rabbits on that 'little farm', plus a very large vegetable garden.

I am eager to get the photos sorted and scanned and made into a computer album. 

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I'm no longer 'down in the dumps'! Just thinking of those pictures gives me a happy glow.

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Candles on A Birthday Cake; Getting 'Up There'.

October 11, 2013.

The birthday celebration last evening was for two of us having a birthday in the same week. One thing I want to talk about is that the candles on the extraordinary cheesecake were set a certain way for a reason: another member of our family is going to be thirty-one years old on his birthday tomorrow, the twelfth of October. On his half of the cake, candles were placed three plus one: three in a group and one an inch away. That designates thirty-one.

On the other half of the cake were placed six candles in one group and an inch away were another five candles. That arrangement designates sixty-five. That's my new age. Since I began to 'get up there' last year, I decided to just say that I am sixty-five. All members of my family do know how far I 'got up there' but they are accepting the sixty-five number.  

The gathering of seven of us was quite happy, as we all like to celebrate birthdays. We had a luscious dinner of chili con carne with a dish of white rice pasta, chopped onions, and grated cheddar cheese; a wholesome and hearty meal for this occasion. Then the exquisite gluten-free cheesecake made yesterday. 

After dinner, the table was cleared, and we played two rounds of Boggle. That was a lot of fun for us, and I really like that game. 

Soon, it was bedtime for a couple of the family (early to bed, early to rise), so the party broke up. We all went home and to bed, thinking about the charming Birthday Dinner. I am very grateful for it. The arrangement of the candles was very clever, in my opinion.

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Monday, September 30; Gifts to Me.

September 30, 2013.

YIKES! The last day of September !!!!!  Whoa, Time, please slow up a bit! ( How do you LIKE that? September rushing away like this? Not even a warning! ) Oh, well, I DO like October! I've always liked October; that is, once I 'got the hang' of what October was. That took place in elementary school, for me. I shall never forget ( unless I get really old ) the day we were handed a sheet with a drawing on it, to color. It was a large pumpkin that covered almost all of the 8 1/2 x 11 standard sheet of paper. I don't know if all of my classmates were given an orange crayon or not. I can't remember if we had a box of eight crayons, either. It was my first year in school, and it must have been the beginning of October.

( I was probably all agog during the first month of school, September. I recall being so entranced by the teacher's reading a story to us. I was almost sent to another dimension, concentrating so much. I think her name was Miss Stapleton. )

Oh, do I ever love the color of orange! I always have, and now I wonder if it is because I was so young and we had to color a lovely, large, orange pumpkin to celebrate the advent of October ... 

To me, that pumpkin was the most gorgeous pumpkin I ever saw. I treasured it always, to this day. I always liked school, because of the opportunity of learning. I was forever pleased to learn something. Even now I would like to attend college classes.  

I always enjoyed having poems read by the teachers in higher grades, too. I was so delighted to hear and read poems about fall, October, and plants, weather, colors, in October. Do you remember the first line "October gave a party..."? The poem was October's Party by George Cooper. I just read that one today. 

Another poem I am so fond of is September by Helen Hunt Jackson: "The golden-rod is yellow; The corn is turning brown; The trees in apple orchards With fruit are bending down,"   I do believe that I fell so deeply in love with poetry in elementary school, perhaps in fifth and sixth grades. That is another extraordinary gift to me. 

Another reason I like October is because of the Autumn Change of Color on deciduous trees in certain climate areas. I used to live in northeastern Pennsylvania, one of the places that has an awesome change of color in the fall season. The color change begins in the more northern part of the continent, and slowly makes its way to the southern areas. The South doesn't have much change of color, because there are different trees down there. I wonder if the Mason and Dixon Line might be part of the border line? Perhaps, perhaps not. 

One year about thirty or forty years ago, I visited relatives in the fall for various reasons, and it turned out that I saw the northern leaves, then the leaves somewhat south of where I lived, and then in Maryland, Virginia, and another area where I was visiting other families. When I realized what had happened, it made me doubly happy that I could see the Autumn Change of Color almost everywhere! You might say that I was on a foliage tour three or four times that fall. 

It is said that New England has the best change of color in autumn, and a few times I had the opportunity to be traveling in New England at that time. Aah, the colors are so magnificent! 

One more reason why I love October so much: it is my birthday month, in the first third of those thirty-one days! There was a gift to me one year, when my first grandchild was born on my birthday!  This is an infrequent happening, and I was almost deliriously excited! I was unable to be at her birth, which was quite a disappointment. It didn't break my heart, though, because it already was such a great gift to me.  

Happy fall, everyone! Are you happy that it is here? I am!

 

I shall see you at the Corner Post ...

Finding a coin on my walk; I love birch trees.

September 19, 2013.

Good afternoon! It is always a bit exciting for me to find a coin. I always pick up a penny, even if it is ONLY one cent. As I've said before, if you have 99 cents, you haven't got a dollar, and a single penny can MAKE it a dollar! 

I found a penny on my walk this morning. As I was walking along, the sun was shining, and there was a small bit of reflection ahead of me. I picked it up, of course! In another area, I picked up a kind of maple leaf that was on the sidewalk. It is sort of medium size, with pretty   indentations. 

I also came up on an area of a lawn that needed a little mowing; the weed grass was higher than the lawn grass, and each clump of the long leaves of grass produced a stalk of probably seeds, that looked like a corn dog at the fair. The sunlight was backlighting the whole area with those glowing little 'corn dogs', and oh, how I wished I had taken my camera!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a beautiful sight it was!  

This morning I had taken my longer route, and it was so pleasant. My regular route is upgrade at the beginning, so I must stop to catch my breath. I was eager to make my route a bit longer, so I went on one of the old routes. It is mostly flat at the first part, and I made out quite well. 

On the route that I took this morning, there was a large bushy rose bush that was probably named Seven Sisters; bunches of small roses would grow on it. Well, to my utmost surprise, the whole bush was gone! The ground underneath was grassless, and I am wondering if they are going to put something else there.  

Oh, I wish to tell you that at one little corner of this longer route, there are two tall trees of the birch family. They have a very rough bark that peels into curls all along the length of the tree and all of the limbs. The twig-like parts of the limbs do not curl yet. The color of the trunk and limbs is shades of gray-brown. I always stop to admire those two trees, and ponder about where these might be prevalent. I've been trying to look up birch trees to find this certain kind of bark. 

My "a bit longer" route is quite nice, and it took me about twenty-three minutes this morning.  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

My Monday Walk; Quiet on the Street.

September 16, 2013. 

How do you do, my loved ones, on this day, Monday, the beginning of the week? I know for a fact that by Friday, we will all be saying, "Oh, for goodness' sake, is it FRIDAY already?" 

I went for my walk just now, left the house at 8:30, and came back in at 8:45. It was pleasant, being out there in the fresh(?) air. I mean that when I stepped outdoors, it smelled like laundry soap, and petrol, and other chemicals. I didn't know where they were coming from. The breezes hadn't arrived yet, to carry them away from my route. A gorgeous sunny day awaited me, as I walked out to the driveway, and some wispy white brush strokes joyfully painted some parts of the handsome azure sky. The wisps had been made by jet vapor trails in the beginning, and the upper air currents scattered them into brush strokes, nothing wild, just a pretty picture. Almost like going to the museum to look at lovely paintings. 

There were just a few birds that I saw today. Most of those other birds are gone to another area, since summer is just about over, and autumn is soon beginning. Three days ago, on my walk, I could hear a short chirp, and wondered what kind of bird it was, and where it was. I kept walking toward home, and the chirping became clearer and I stopped to look around. I finally found the bird  across the street! It was on a tall, quite round tree, at the very top, on one of the short branches, almost like the star on a Christmas Tree, half hidden by a leaf or two. I could see its head and shoulders, and it would look around and chirp. I couldn't identify what kind of bird it was, in size a bit smaller than a robin. I watched it for a few minutes, and could hardly take my eyes off it.

I did have to stop several times to catch my breath, and my hips weren't too eager to move the way I expected. This problem is quite difficult for me to solve. Is it something I ate yesterday that makes me stop for breath? Is it the way I slept during the night that makes my hips not peppy? To tell the truth, I think 't is a mystery! 

Things were very quiet on my walk, there were no students walking to school, hardly any motor traffic at all, just once or twice I heard someone's car door shut, and there was only one dog barking in the neighborhood today. This little doggie sounds like a small white poodle, and he/she usually barks behind the closed window where the thin curtains are drawn. He/she can see through the curtain, any movement. I wonder if the poor lil doggie doesn't go out much. 

Since I am usually on the opposite side of the street from this doggie's abode, I sometimes stop when I hear the barking, and look at that window, and wave my arm enthusiastically.  The other day, the thin curtain was open, and I could vaguely see the little  pet. I waved my arm vigorously to give my greeting, and he turned his head toward the inner part of the room, and told the master about me, then turned his head back to me. I waved goodbye as I began walking again. It is difficult to make a solid connection with this lil doggie, because I walk at different times for my exercise. I don't even know his/her name! 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

 

Friday the 13th; My Walk; and Other Things.

Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Good morning, did you all get through Friday the 13th well and happy? Some people are always frightened and apprehensive when Friday the 13th comes around. 

It was a good day for me, I was working on the computer Album # 2, having fun putting information and a few comments under those precious photos. The ones showing this bridge, or that monument, aren't that precious, but they're in the album. Our Josephine shot a lot of photos, and had many pictures from other relatives. They're in these albums that are going to be available to my family and relatives. I am so grateful that my Mom Josephine shot so many photos during her lifetime. 

Yesterday I also made a tasty (in my opinion, of course) baked concoction of Lazy-Daisy Cabbage and Ground Beef. Of course, it can be a vegetarian or vegan dish if you wish. Just substitute a different protein. I remember during the past year or two, that I would make a vegetarian dish of stuffed cabbage leaves. The first one wasn't so great, but one of the next two was good. (Now, where did I put that recipe?) 

This morning I took a walk just after eight o'clock. I checked the air outside with my hand, and it was quite cool. The computer said it was 62˚ in the local area. So I put my babushka on to keep my hair from being blown-apart from the breeze, and my very handy sweat jacket. By the time I came back, I had built up enough heat from the exercise that made it warm enough for me. 

On a Saturday morning, it was very quiet, not much auto traffic, hardly any birds flitting hither and thither, no one outdoors or getting into their cars in the driveways. AND, there was such a lovely azure sky. The breeze wasn't brisk, just very gentle now and then. As I went on my way, I noticed some small birds having a conference on the telephone lines about four houses up the street. I stopped to look at them from a few houses away, counted about eleven. They were all perched in the same direction, quite close together with a few inches between them. Then another bird came and perched two lines away, facing them. "All right, the meeting begins," I thought I heard him chirp. After another ninety seconds, about four birds suddenly flew away. "Uh, oh, a disagreement has arisen," I said to myself. Then as I walked on, they suddenly flew away. So much for THAT conference! 

It was so very pleasant to be walking in such great weather, with almost no one around. When I got back to my driveway, I decided to sit on the cute little concrete bench (it is so well-loved), and had some relaxation. I spied a group of some kind of sparrow in the second driveway away from mine; they were flittering from the ground to the slanted rooftop and back, then running under the car, hurrying to and fro, some would fly across the street to the trees, then fly back to their friends. Now I wonder if someone sprinkled some crumbs or seeds on that driveway. They were such a happy and busy mini-flock of birds! 

Well, it's time to start preparing my breakfast. I'm looking forward to my regular week-end "PolkA to Z radio program" from Claremont, CA, that I can hear on my computer. Just in case you would like to hear it, it is on the college radio station KSPC ~~  "KSPC.org" 88.7fm. I am so happy that the program is three hours long, on Saturday morning from 8 am to 11 am Pacific time. There is usually a repeat on Sunday morning from 6 am to 9 am, Pacific time. You won't be disappointed if you listen to it. The DJ is so good.  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Another Walk Is Taken; We Need More Rain; A New 'Dish'.

September 13, 2013.

Hello, Everyone: 

I did take another walk this morning, that's three in a row, isn't it? or what is the count right now? I don't quite remember. I went out the door at 8 o'clock, and there were older school kids walking to school. I talked with a couple of them. One young male probably in seventh grade, said when I asked him what his favorite subject this year was ~ "math". That made me feel so good for him. I also met a man from up near the other end of my route; he said he walks just before the sun comes up each morning. He was late this morning, and was a bit surprised at all the students walking to school. The school is around the corner, from my street to Rasco Road. This morning I saw a whole row of vehicles that were moving in a very slow pace in front of the school. Police cars are in evidence, trying to keep the whole area safe. 

I enjoyed my walk, but when I went out the door, it was a bit cool and breezy. I had warmer clothes on today than I did yesterday, so it was all right, especially as I was warming up from walking. I stopped at least four times to catch my breath. The walk was a total of eighteen minutes, because of my stopping to chat for a minute or two with the kids, and then the older gentleman. 

We need more rain. It rained yesterday afternoon, for a short while, but the grass lapped it up and needs more. We really do not want a rain storm like Boulder, Colorado, is suffering with.

For my cooking today, I made a rectangular panful of Lazy-Daisy Cabbage and Ground Beef. It smells quite good, as it is baking in the oven. I should have started it earlier in the day, but was doing other things. It doesn't have any tomato in it at all, but lots of cabbage, a cup of cut green beans, and some of that liquid, and  some sauerkraut juice on it and under it. It tastes good, too. I wrote down all the ingredients that I chose, just in case I would wish to make it again. It is a new concoction with a new name that I thought up, and I think anyone can do this type of cooking.  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Did You Ever Do Contra Dancing?

August 31, 2013.

 Yesterday my son and his wife asked if I would like to go to a contra dance class with them, and I said, "Indeed I would!" The class began at seven in the evening and the dancing would begin at seven-thirty.   I was quite happy to go with them because I like to see contra dancing. I've seen it done before, in Colorado when I visited one of my daughters. She absolutely loves contra dancing.

Last evening when we reached the class, there were just a couple of people there (plus the band), and the class began then with even a few. The teacher is very patient, knowledgeable, and sweet-tempered. I know that she also loves contra dancing. I wasn't going to try to learn, because of my injured foot which has been healing day by day.

For a couple of the 'students' it was difficult at first, but they caught on quite quickly and were enjoying all the instructions. Soon more people came in, a few more 'students' and several people who wanted to dance. Dance time came and the real fun began! The music was good, with three musicians who could play more than one instrument and were very talented.

As the dancing progressed, I could see and feel the thrill of contra dancing flowing from all twenty-some dancers, and watched their faces as they lit up with gratifying glee. Their bodies even seemed to become so relaxed that they would move arms and legs with great joy. As I was watching these dancers of all ages and status, dressed casually, I realized how deeply it was moving me to recognize the emotions they exhibited. I began to choke-up in my throat (wanting to cry but couldn't - right there in public) because of the affection and love I felt suddenly.

As I settled down, I thought of all the stress that people go through because of school, work, business, parenting, care-giving and problems, and I knew that contra dancing is a perfect way to let some of that stress drain away with every song they hear and dance to. I feel that contra dancing is much better than just going out as a couple to spend the evening couple-dancing. Even square dancing (old time barn-dancing) or showy square dancing aren't enough to make us lose stress as much as contra dancing does.

When the next contra dance comes up, I would like to attend, even just to sit and watch!

By the way, there are three ways of spelling this dance, that I know of: contra dancing, contradancing, and contra-dancing. Take your pick. The dictionary may tell you that 'contre' means 'opposite', and 'danse' means 'dance'. Contredanse is in some dictionaries.


I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Palachinky -- Slovak Food.

August 20, 2013.

I know that there are a few members of this family who would like to try to make and eat those luscious palachinky that taste so good. I have a recipe for them, and to make it easier for anyone, decided to add a lot of hints, etcetera, to it. 

   ~~~~~    So, here is the recipe and information that I prepared for the Palachinky Lovers: 

" Slovak Palachinky.  It is also spelled palacinky, with a little check over the c, to pronounce it like ‘ch’ as in chest. Many years ago my Mom Josephine, Gram B, used to make palachinky for a meal now and then, and we really loved them.

     ~   Very thin crepes, use a filling and roll them up, then heat, and eat!.  ~

These are the ingredients: 2 eggs, 1 c milk, 1 tsp sugar, 1 c flour, ½ tsp salt, 1 Tbl melted butter.

Mix dry ingredients, add eggs one at a time; beat well, and add some milk for a thin batter.

Beat until smooth. Stir in melted butter. The batter should look like heavy cream.

Pour a measured amount of batter into the well-greased pan. A small pan would need less batter than a larger one. Just experiment if this is your first attempt.  

Some people like to put only two tablespoonfuls batter in the pan to make very thin pancakes.

Pour 1/4 to ½ cup batter into heated, lightly greased medium-to-large skillet, swirl batter around to coat the bottom of the pan. Cook the palachinky for about one minute or until you see little bubbles form on the surface. Then flip and cook the other side in the same manner; watching carefully so that it doesn’t burn.

(When browned on lower side, turn over and lightly brown the other side.) Place on a flat dish. Spread your desired jam, or other fillings, and roll up the Palachinky. Some people eat them as they are rolled up, but some wait until all the thin pancakes are done, rolled up and heated. 

Repeat the process until all of the thin pancakes are done. Spread the desired filling on all of the thin pancakes, and place them in a rectangular baking dish to bake in a 350˚ oven for approximately 40-45 minutes.

Or you may place the rolled-up palachinky in the frying pan to heat.

Some of the fillings are cottage cheese mixed with egg and sugar; thick applesauce; or sour cream. You may also use dried fruit purees like apricots or prunes.

Some people like powdered sugar on the thin pancake, then rolled up. Other fillings can be pie filling, cooked fruits, jelly, or fresh fruit.

You may use apple butter or preserves, to your liking.

You might even try savory, instead of sweet, palachinky. It’s almost like putting on toppings of your desire, as in pizza.

Some people even use bananas, ice cream, strawberries, or whatever they think of. "  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Nap; Walk; Heat; Birds; One Flower.

August 4, 2013.

Hello, You over there, 

I've been on a hiatus for a few weeks, and it's good to be back here.

There's a storm coming in, we know not when, but the forecast says possibly overnight tonight, and tomorrow. Thunderstorms and rain. The skies look stormy in places, and I hope the storms bring only rain, no damage or injury. 

I was getting quite tired this afternoon, so a Power Nap was in order. I wasn't aware of falling asleep; I suddenly woke up and found that I slept twelve minutes. Aah, how refreshing these Power Naps are! Sometimes I sleep only six or seven minutes, and sometimes about eighteen. Feels so good! 

Then I suddenly had the idea of taking a walk, and did so. That took about eighteen minutes, on my usual route. I, of course, had to stop at least four or five times to catch my breath. I'm no spring chicken these days. Besides, it was quite warm outdoors, and I chose to do this in late afternoon. Early morning is better. There are some mocking birds around the neighborhood and still feeding their young, it seems. One of the adults was on a driveway as I passed, and I noticed that it had its beak open part way. "Oh, dear", I thought, "that bird is very thirsty." So, RAIN, come on down!  

A flower that I cannot identify is still blooming on a mailbox post. It has six open white petals about two inches long in a large flat circle, and the plant is a climber. The remains of the  flowers are about one-inch spirals of fibers in a circle or sphere. It is so beautiful, the flower itself, but the plant is probably approaching its end-of-summer stopping-to-grow cycle. Most of it is dried up. I stopped to visit with it a bit on the way up and also on the way back. There is a tiny bud sort of coming out from under the flower petals. I should have had my camera with me! I must remember to take it with me the next time I walk that route. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

This Is A Really Odd Day!

June 27,  2013.

Hello, family: I am sitting at the computer working on one of my projects, and the window is only 5 feet away from me, facing north. I heard some rumbling that sounded like movers, but movers "up there" somewhere. Sunny! I see sunshine on the ground, through the window. The house next door is right there, so I don't see any sky. 

Then I heard a FedEx plane go by so close, as usual because the airport is only ten minutes away, and it made a loud noise. Oh, I thought, it's the airplanes, they go by twice a day, about fifteen or twenty planes departing in early morning, and then again in the afternoon. I went back to my project. 

Again, there was that rolling sound, a little more explicit and loud. I went to the front door (west) to check out the sky, I just couldn't believe it!  It was sunny and no storm in sight. So I went to the back of the house (east) to look through the bathroom window, and sure enough, the sky was quite dark, with that stormy color of odd deep blue, and I also heard the next thunder raps. 

I came back to the computer, and the graphic picture on the weather page does not show any kind of storm! I haven't seen such a mysterious thing for a lonnnnng time.  

Ooooh, it's thundering again. I would like some rain to cool things down outdoors, but not such a thunderstorm. It seems that it's going to be a strong one. Maybe. Perhaps. I hope not. 

I just looked out the east window, and the stormy overcast sky seems to be so small, not broad and wide as most of the thunderstorms are. This one seems to be a 'skinny-ma-link' storm. But golly, it just rumbled so near and scary, I'm getting jittery. 

Okay, now, here is another mystery for me to figure out. The term 'skinny-ma-link' popped out of my brain as I was writing the previous paragraph, and I don't know from where! So I googled it and found it immediately! The first link has "Skinny Malinky Long Legs". 

I faintly remember hearing someone say, of some skinny child, "You're a skinny malink!" It could have been meant for me, because I wasn't fond of eating when I was very young. Someone said I was a picky eater and skinny. (I'm not, anymorrrrre!)

Another link is http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/to-the-gnat-a-poem-with-mp3-recording/ 

Try it, you might like it. 

Oh, now I see, the graphic on the computer is showing that the storm that just made all those rumbles is heading for Olive Branch, and several more of those smallish thunderstorms are heading southeast to Memphis, from Jonesboro, Arkansas. I'll have a little respite now. But watch out later! 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

This is for those who like kale.

June 26, 2013.

Hello, Chefs and Diners, AGAIN! 

In a cup of water, pour a tablespoon of olive oil, and half a teaspoon of butter. After you have rinsed off the leaves of kale, pulled the leaves off the stalks and broken them into bite size pieces, put them in the frying pan with the liquid I mentioned. By the way, do not discard the stalks. Cut them into three-quarter-inch pieces and use them in vegetable soup. 

Add two dashes of black pepper, a dash of dill weed, a dash or two of garlic powder, a teaspoon of dried chopped onion, a teaspoon of honey, a couple of dashes of Italian seasoning, two dashes of paprika, a dash or two of turmeric powder, and hmmm, let's see, I was staring at the spices in my little cupboard, and wondered what I could add. I probably should have quit at that point, but I was interested in adding something else. I glanced upward and spied the chili powder. I thought that a dash or two would be just fine.   NOT.

I took the chili powder and shook it not gently and there came three heavy dashes of chili powder, much more than I had wanted. Oh, dear! I was too quick in stirring and it was too late. Well, I thought, I can freeze this in small quantities and it will eventually be eaten by me. 

Simmering vegetables is one of my favorite ways to cook them. I brought it to a boil, covered it, and let it simmer away, stirring now and then and watching the amount of water that remained. I didn't want a lot of water, just enough to keep it moistened. I took a taste of it to see what it was like. Not very good, so I then added a teaspoonful of cider vinegar, and let it simmer for another fifteen minutes.

 

The kale was cooking quite well, and my next taste-testing took place. I masticated it and it really wasn't that bad, so I took another taste and said aloud, 'MMMmmm" and then "mmmMMMMMM!" What a nice surprise that was, to like the end result of the way I seasoned the kale. 

I must say that I did not freeze any of it. I ate a serving or three, and left the second half of it for tomorrow or the next day. I learned a lesson, though: we must use a measuring spoon instead of using too much muscle to shake dashes of spices out. As old as I am, sometimes I never learn. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

What Spices Go With Black Beans?

June 25, 2013.  

Good day, my dear chefs, and diners, 

I am making a meal in a frying pan, beginning with a little olive oil and butter, simmering black beans with onion, garlic, green peppers, tomato juice, a tablespoon of raw white rice, and seasonings. I went online to get an idea of what seasonings to use. This page came up, and I am sending it to you, just in case you might like to try some of these beans and seasoning combinations. (The first one is ADUKI beans. I thought they were Adzuki beans.) 

I'm getting hungry, now, just looking at this list. Can't wait to have my dinner ~ it smells so good. The  seasonings I put in are these: Dijon mustard, cumin, thyme, a little oregano, basil, a bit of cayenne pepper, rosemary, and a teaspoon of cider vinegar. I just tasted half a teaspoonful of the food. Not bad! Not bad at all. Except that perhaps I used a tad too much of cumin. I do like experimenting and exploring when I cook.  

• Aduki Beans: coriander, cumin, ginger

• Black Beans: bay leaf, chile peppers, cilantro, coriander, cumin, epazote, garlic, ginger, oregano, parsley, savory, thyme

• Black-Eyed Peas: bay leaf, cayenne, chile peppers, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric

• Cannellini Beans: parsley, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

• Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): cardamom, cilantro, coriander, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, paprika, parsley, rosemary

• Fava Beans: basil, cilantro, cumin, fennel, garlic, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme

• Flageolet Beans: parsley, savory, thyme

• Kidney Beans: bay leaf, cumin, fennel, oregano, parsley, sage, savory, thyme

• Lentils: bay leaf, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, curry, ginger, mint, parsley, oregano, thyme, turmeric

• Lima Beans: cilantro, mint, parsley, sage

• Mung Beans: cilantro, coriander, cumin, ginger

• Navy Beans: basil, bay leaf, garlic, parsley, savory, thyme

• Pinto Beans: chile peppers, cilantro, cumin, oregano, parsley, savory

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Groceries; Handicapped; Apology.

June 14, 2013.

It was quite a day today. I had an appointment with the senior bus to take me to the grocery store. Around 10:20 am, the bus driver phoned to let me know he was about ten minutes away and would pick me up. He arrived at 10:30, and I was quite pleased to get this grocery run over with.      NOT.

He dropped me off at one of the Kroger's, and I was as happy as a lark to get busy shopping. I took my time, trying to find this and that, that I needed. I hadn't been to the grocery store in a few weeks. I needed eggs, meat, greens, carrots, popcorn, Scotch tape, and ice cream. Along with other things, too. 

At almost noon, I phoned the driver to see how far away he was ~ Hernando! It would take him at least a half hour or 35 minutes to get to where I was, and besides that, he had to pick up someone and take them home, THEN come and get me. I said that I would browse a little, and then check out my groceries. I thought he'd be there by that time.      NOT. 

I decided that instead of browsing I would buy myself a lunch (it turned out to be a big lunch so I brought half of it home), and went to the little corner in Kroger's where they sell people some lunch and there are three little tables with chairs there. I had a pleasant time eating, and put the container with leftover food in my grocery cart, and checked out. 

Did that, and waited near the front door, inside the entry, and sat in one of those motorized scooter / shopping vehicles. Sat and sat, and kept looking at each person who came in or out. Ho hum. I did have a pleasant time, though, taking in all those sights of different people, different hairdos, different clothing, little kids, big kids, tall men, heavy women, over-weight men and slender women, different nationalities, watched a little girl trying to get that machine with the hook-grabber, to catch a stuffed toy inside the windows. "No soap", poor little girl. 

I was a little worried about one item I had in my shopping bag-on-wheels with a water-proof lining. The beloved item was a carton of vanilla ice cream. I succumbed again, buying dairy, but it had only four ingredients in it, and that's why I bought it. I was hoping it wouldn't melt into a smoothie before I got home. 

Suddenly the driver phoned me again, and said he'd be coming along shortly, in about ten minutes.      NOT.

It was fifteen minutes, and I eagerly got up and went outside, as he was pulling up and parking. He was gracious to put my groceries into the bus, and he even took the cart back in. Very kind, he really is. And we were on our way!        NOT. 

He drove and then went toward the out-patient door of the hospital to pick up a woman who can't walk very well. He had to help in getting her onto the pull-down lift for wheel chairs and walkers. She very slowly made her way into the bus because she cannot bend her extremely swollen and bandaged knee, and I became very empathetic about her medical difficulties. 

She finally got seated, and I kept thinking about her greatly swollen leg, with the very bad knee. I had been having trouble with my knee, and swollen leg, and wasn't happy to have that condition, but suddenly I changed my mind about myself. How painful her knee is, how handicapped she is, how sorry I feel for her and her pain and inability to do what she wishes. In other words, I feel truly blessed to be able to walk around, do my chores, shop for my groceries, and bend my knees. I shall get down on my knees this evening and thank God that I am so much more capable than I had thought! May this woman regain her ability to walk better, very soon. 

I apologize for being frustrated because I had to wait. Pooh! that was nothing.  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...  

Been Posting Family Stories; Ice Cream Van; Marching Bands.

June 7, 2013.

Hello, you sweet dears! 

I've been posting some notes that my Mom had written on various pieces of paper. Little anecdotes that she remembered from her childhood, and her youth, and some characteristics of the older members of the families. It is tedious work and a little slow. I have been at it for a few hours, and I am quitting for the day. 

She was very fortunate to obtain much information from the priest in our ancestral village in Europe, too, and I've been browsing through them. We have a large extended family, since she was one of nine children. 

My Dad's family also came from the same country. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I looked out the front door to see what kind of weather is happening, and a robin made a low flight from across the street, swooping over the street knowing just where he wanted to land, and flew about three feet above the front lawn. In the blink of an eye, as he was coming in for a landing, I just KNEW that he would sit on that little concrete bench. I figured he would poo on it too, and he DID sit on it, but no...  ahem...  poo. Imagine that, he did not. But sometimes they DO poo on my bench, because there are telltale signs of it!  

I have been so intrigued by the birds recently, as I watch them flying back and forth across  the street, as they go hunting for food to feed their babies. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday when I was going outdoors to wait for Bill and Jen picking me up for Vespers, supper, and a class by Father John (love his teaching, and his sermons), I saw with such glee, the large ice cream van stopped directly across the street where there were six kids waiting. It was so exciting to see it all. These children had shorts on, and no shoes, and  they'd been playing with the hose and water in the afternoon. I had watched them for a while, earlier. They really had so much fun!

All it took for me to get excited was a glance under the van, and I quickly got my camera out. The whole length of the van between the wheels is long enough to have room for those kids to line up on the other side of the van, with their legs showing under the van. I counted fourteen legs! All I saw of those kids standing on the other side of the van was their bare legs! I had never seen such a whimsical sight, and by the time I could get my camera out and focused, there were only about six pairs of legs. I did take a shot or two of that. Then from up the street there was a little boy about five years old, walking down to the ice cream van, barefooted, hurrying gingerly, his mother a little way behind him, walking too. 

He got his ice cream cone, and headed back home; she was waiting for him about twenty feet up the street. How cute, how cute, it was! He was little, and could get his very own ice cream cone!

A few more children came from here and there, and the music kept tinkling over and over. What a joyful moment in my day! I'll bet the ice cream man was quite happy! Even the grown-up (looking after all those kids) had some ice cream. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

By the way, The Drummers are back! The percussion departments at schools really do well in preparation for the band concerts, as they practice diligently and often. It sounds quite loud when they pass through the alleyway in back of the house, and the sound comes flowing through the two cul de sacs on the sides of the houses to the street. When I hear it, I run to see them. Last year we attended some of the concerts in the area, and it was marvelous to hear such good band music. Congratulations to all those students and their teachers!

Oh, I'd better tell you that I do not RUN to see them, because I don't want to break my promise to my 'managers' that I will not hurry too fast for fear of breaking anything, even an eyelash. 

I've just had my early dinner, and will try to relax a long while in my rocking chair, watching something from an old video. 

Love and hugs to each and every one of you! 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Another walk? Gee... more birds to watch.

June 6, 2013.

Good morning, y'all, as they say in The South. 

I went for another walk this morning, but didn't leave early enough. The humidity is not good, although there was a cool breeze now and then. I must train myself to go before 8:45 am. It seemed a little unusual, there weren't as many birds today as there were yesterday morning. My walk was a bit slower and it took twenty-one minutes, but that's all right. I always must stop to take a breath, and I make it a bit longer to watch the birds or admire flowers. Kill two birds with one stone ...   oh, no! no killing of birds!!!!!!!! 

I did see several robins here and there, and spent a couple of minutes at several stops to watch them. I love the way they stand up so tall when they stop to see what I am going to do, while studying my movements and determining if I am safe to have around or not.  

There was a shiny black bird, with a long tail, a black beak, and shiny light golden eyes. It's a bit larger than a robin. It makes me wonder what kind of bird it is, as there are quite a few blackish birds. I don't think I would have to take a college course in ornithology to find out what kind of bird that is, though. 

The vine with those star-like blossoms showed wilted blossoms this morning. It appears to be a flower that fades and dies after blooming one day and night. 

There is another one that is deep purple, across the street, that has a similar star-shaped arrangement of petals. So lovely. I did make plans to stop and look at the little lavender-colored bush that I said was a foot high. NOT. It is about sixteen inches high. This morning I made it a point to 'talk' to it, and pay homage. I feel so blessed that there are such gifts as lovely plants with astonishingly beautiful blossoms.  

Back to the shiny black bird ~  as Wikipedia says, it is a Great-tailed Grackle or Mexican Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). He's native to North and South America. I say 'he' because the female is smaller and mainly brownish-black, with a pale brown throat and belly. And there you have it: I watched a Great-tailed or Mexican Grackle hopping around as I was passing his territory where he was pecking at the lawn. Truly gorgeous with his shiny feathers that sometimes show iridescence as he moves in the sunshine.  

Y'all have a good day, and accomplish what you planned. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

On My Walk; Flowers; Happy Birds.

June 5, 2013.

Good morning, Dear Family: 

I should have gone for my walk within minutes after I woke up after a well-broken-up night. By 8:53 am when I started out, it was so humid, and the air was really 'close'. I had on a turtleneck top because I thought it would still be 'morning chill'. HAH! no way! 

As soon as I came back, I turned on the air conditioner to cool me off. My walk was all of sixteen minutes, all the way to Rasco and back, on Chesterfield. I stopped several times to catch my breath, and thought it would be longer than those few minutes. 

I stopped to admire in several places a few yellow flowers, a lawn full of beautiful white / pinkish clover blossoms, and a very lovely five-petaled lavender flower new this year. This foot-high plant grows in the same little plot that has such pretty pansies. The flower-lover at this house does a marvelous job all of the time.

 

Around a mailbox, along the street, there is a vine that has white blossoms in a sort of star shape. So pretty, it is! I thought it might be Moonflower, but I don't think so now, after I googled Moonflower images. 

There were lots of birds flitting here and there. I love those robins, they are so cautious, and keep hopping a few steps ahead of me and then to the side, to keep me off the right path to their nests. I keep wanting to say to them, I am NOT interested in where your nest is, Robbie! They are so whimsical and cute, I really enjoy watching them and having them in my neighborhood for a few months. Then I miss them when they've gone on their vacations. 

There are also a few other birds that are about the size of robins ~ some mocking birds, some darker birds, and lovely mourning doves a bit larger. Maybe those doves are just ordinary doves, but they have a long-lasting melancholy coo... coo... coo... as they sit on the top of the telephone poles. Sometimes they sit on rooftops or gables. I've seen them in the backyard from time to time, sitting on the part of the fence under a tree they call their umbrella. They shake off the raindrops from their feathery coats every once in a while, like a doggie. 

I spotted a broken robin's egg shell a couple of times this morning. Sure enough, it's hatching time for them! AGAIN! Then they are so very busy getting chopped-worm snacks for their little ones. It's quite odd how they will snatch an earthworm, and instead of just flying away with it to the nest to get out the cutting-board and chop the worms in bite-size pieces for their boys and girls, they do it on the ground. It is so interesting to watch them do this. Chop-chop, pick up the longer pieces and chop-chop again, and finally have the long earthworm in several pieces. After the food preparation, they gather it all up in their beaks and fly away with the gourmet lunch bag for their cradle-babies.  

There are several batches of baby robins throughout these long summers in Missipp, and it seems that the parents must be so tired out by Departing Time. They probably talk to each other on their way, saying, "Good grief, it's about time we can retire!" 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

My walk; young robins 'abroad'.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

Good Morning, each one and every one of you! 

I took my 20-minute walk at 7:50, while the high schoolers were still walking to school. I said hello to several groups of them. The groups were of 5, or 4, 2, and 1 boys; girls, 2, 4 or 3. I said to most of the groups I spoke to, that I LOVED school, and kinda wish I could go again, ended with "have a wonderful day". That lifted my spirits.

I walked toward Rasco, and stood there for a couple of minutes looking at the long line of vehicles passing through and having to stop. Vehicles unloading the family kids at the school. Some parents were dropping their kids off at the small intersection of Rasco and Chesterfield. Then I turned around and walked back home. 

It was a lovely morning, temp was about 54, and I was so glad that I went for a walk before all the 'possible' showers and thunderstorms would be coming. Guess what the computer forecast is??????  Day and night, possible showers and thunderstorms from today through Sunday! When it says "20 or 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms", it doesn't mean too much, but once in a while we are greatly surprised. When it says "80 or 100% chance', LOOK OUT! 

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I have been mesmerized by the robins this morning. It is time for the nest to empty itself. Poor parents, they'll suffer for a few days because of the 'empty nest syndrome'. The parents are so attentive and caring. There was a young robin with "I'm LEAVING!" on his breath, somehow he got to the middle of the street, staying right there, and ohmygosh, my heart was in my throat. One car came speeding down the middle of the street, right over the young robin. Scared, I was! I could see from near ground level that the bird wasn't squashed, and he kind of rolled over and lost his balance when the wind from the car knocked him over. What an experience for a very young robin on his way to see the world. He was all right, thank goodness! 

'T is a mystery to me how the young robins leave the nest. Do the parent robins draw straws indicating which one will push the young robin out? Do the young robins feel that wanderlust growing, and sort of lean over the edge of the nest to see what the ground level looks like? Do they get hungry and itch to go and find Mama or Papa to come back and give them lunch? Does Mother Nature indicate to the young heart that it is time to pack a suitcase and move? 

After they are out of the nest, young robins are told somehow by their parents that they mustn't move, they must sit very still. So they usually are very still, waiting for Papa or Mama to come with their lunch. After a while, the one who was blown over by the car came, in several hops, toward the driveway next door to us. He then stayed in the gutter, waiting for his lunch bag delivery. He finally decided after 4 or 5 minutes, to get close to the bush that he saw, on that lawn. 

Another young one was on the lawn across the street, and the parents would feed him after a seemingly long interludes between their finding worms. The parents are very cautious when they have been gone hunting, they want to make sure that no creeping cat would be near. It's been very moving and interesting to see all of this. 

Another surprising point ~ this Robin family home is high up on the house across the street, stuck to the little round window high above the garage door. The parent robins must have gathered and plastered a lot of 'mud cement' to keep the nest stuck to the narrow ledge and to the windowpane and frame. It is hard to believe that the high winds haven't pulled it from the window. I keep looking at that nest, wondering at the ingenuity and engineering of its manufacture.  

Love and hugs from Mom - Grannamae - Anna Mae.

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...