Farmers Markets; Bill Stanek Singing Food Songs; Children's Songs.

For Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Farmers Markets; Bill Stanek Singing Food Songs; Children's Songs.

The Memphis Farmers Market has many vendors selling their farm produce. There are also vendors of  breads of many kinds, homemade candles and soap, many pretty flowers, herb seasonings and tea blends, handmade metal decorative items; the list is very long, and it seems that more and more people are using Farmers Markets to shop.

Many of the Farmers Markets also invite singers and songwriters, and musicians, to come to entertain the shoppers while they look over the items they wish to buy. I went with my son at a very early hour as he had two Farmers Markets at which to perform.

After his show, we suddenly 'bumped into' a young dear friend, and we talked for at least an hour to catch up on news. How wonderful it was to see her again. Then on we went to Cooper-Young Farmers Market, hoping the rain would wait until the afternoon.

Bill began to sing again, at eleven o'clock and sang some 'foodie' songs: "My Lover Loves Liver", "Vicky the Vicious Vegan", a Vegetable Alphabet Song, and several more. He has written many songs about various subjects.

There were children passing by with their parents, so he would sing a children's song for them. He sang "Picking Blueberries" that is loved by all kids and many grown-ups.

Another much-loved number is "The Spider Song", and almost everyone loves that one. There were some more children around, and they really had some happy moments listening to the words, also some scary moments when the spider is getting closer and closer to Mommy!

Three happy Hispanic children liked his singing so much, they joined in on the chorus of a song about school, I think it is "School Day Blues"or something similar. Their joining in was quite delightful.

The rain did come down from time to time, and as the closing time was approaching, the vendors began to dismantle their tents and take equipment to their vehicles. It does take a lot of time to set up, and much time, too, to break it all down. And then, the rain! It came down in imaginary buckets!

It's so pleasant to go to a Farmers Market. Have you tried it recently? Besides having so much produce to choose, it is quite interesting to see the people and some of their families and pets. I enjoy seeing people and I adore children. I do get a kick out of watching the doggies when they encounter certain of their species. The dogs are always leashed, so if one decides to mess with another, the owners pull them back; the negative feelings don't happen very often. A few of the vendors also have a bowl of water on the ground so that thirsty pets may have a drink! How thoughtful...


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

At the Stove All Day! A Short Power Nap?

Saturday, August 16, 2014.

At the Stove All Day! A Short  Power Nap?

My family wonders how I am if I don't email every day or so, and to let them know that I am all right, I usually send emails of all kinds. This blog article is one of those family emails (this one I wrote on August 13, after shopping at the Mennonite Farms on the visit to my sister in Kentucky).

" Good Evening, my dears,

After buying so much produce at the Mennonite Farms and Variety Store, I am trying to prepare some of them for freezing and cooking for myself. The bags of popcorn kernels, I put in smaller containers, for the pantry. The large oval watermelon was a great challenge to me, still is, the remains are in the fridge. 

I cut into it yesterday morning (I think it was yesterday), and I've been eating it a few times each day. I put some cut-up pieces in a container in the fridge, and tested another small amount in the freezer! Yes, it is all right to freeze pieces of it, I am glad to say. There are two containers of watermelon in the freezer now, for future use.  

Probably four pounds of those very small sweet peppers has been washed today, de-stemmed and the seeds taken out, and I cut up two-thirds of the little peppers into small strips. I put much of that in the freezer, and used some today in making a Pinto Bean Stew. You should taste this stew! Very delicious, and hearty, and wholesome. I soaked the pinto beans overnight and simmered them around noontime. After that, I sauteed onions, a tomato, and the pepper strips, several seasonings, then added the soft pinto beans and cooked it for about an hour. It is something I 'invented', 'concocted', 'designed', and then called it my own recipe. Lately I've been on a binge of concocting my own recipes when I cook my meals. I might have to make a little cookbook ~ wouldn't that be a good idea?

I became so tired doing all of this until three o'clock, that I decided I must lie down to rest. (I had taken an hour to relax, while still puttering in the kitchen, to sit down now and then in front of the TV at noon-ish for two cooking programs.) I did lie down about 3:15, for a short little Power Nap. Again, this idea surprised me so much as I woke up at 4:40! Then I did up the dishes, had my dinner, and I QUIT for the evening! But I must say that it was a very successful day in the kitchen at the stove.

I've been thinking of you all day long and wish I could go to see you 'just down the street'!   


Love, Mom. " 

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

Shopping at the Mennonite Farms on A Visit with My Sister.

Published on August 15, 2014. 

I was so excited to be able to go to the Mennonite Farms, when I went to visit my sister in Kentucky. She took me to a few Farms where she buys produce. We went to four farms! It took a lot of time, naturally, and I got tired - not sadly tired, but gladly tired!! The fourth place we went to was the Mennonite Variety Store that has some vitamins and salves, and other medicinal things on the shelves. They also have dried fruits, nuts, and several different kinds of flours. I'm 'Spilling All the Beans!' because I just love to buy produce at the Mennonite Farms. 

We had many bags and boxes of purchased things in the farm produce places, Regina helping me to decide, and carrying them to the check-out counter and then to the SUV. Bags, too, from the Variety Store, like dried fruits, nuts, flours, and vitamins. 

I still haven't added up the check amounts yet, I don't want to 'get sick' until I get over the excitement of working at my place with produce here in the kitchen. I worked most of the day with these things. There are still items I probably will get done tomorrow and the day after.

I even bought a large oval watermelon! HEAVY! Son Bill had to carry it in from the car to the  counter in my kitchen, because it wouldn't have been a good idea for me to carry it! The last thing I did before I stopped 'puttering' in the kitchen, was that I cut the watermelon on one end, and have about a quart or more of watermelon pieces in a baggie in the fridge. Delicious, is what I say! I might eat some more later on this evening. I love that watermelon, and I am glad I bought a large one!

I purchased a half dozen corn-on-the-cob, microwaved four of them in the current fashion, and cut off all the kernels. I put the corn in four sandwich baggies, and they are sitting in the freezer, probably saying to each other, "Jeepers, I'm cold!"       Hahahahaha!

There are two red onions, several white onions, green beans, yellow squash, one zucchini, about a pound of small red beets, three banana peppers, corn on the cob, three large peaches, three tomatoes, watermelon, a cabbage, a couple of pounds of sweet peppers the size of golf balls. These peppers will be cut up and cleaned out, and diced, then put in baggies in the freezer.

From the Variety Store, I bought two bags of popcorn kernels (pale yellow, and the other light orange), buckwheat flour (because I am gluten sensitive), GF Bob's Red Mill baking flour, dried fruits: cranberries, raisins, dates, prunes; nuts: cashews, walnuts, almonds; Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D3, lutein, and magnesium. Four pints of different jams, one quart of raw honey, and one pint of sorghum honey. Oh, almost forgot! A bag of Adzuki beans, and a bag of black beans. I hope I'm not forgetting anything. Regina will tell me if I am, perhaps. 
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Then Regina wanted to go to Kenny's Cheese Farm to buy a few kinds of cheese. I bought Horseradish Cheddar, and haven't opened the sealed cheese yet. I'm looking forward to it, because I love horseradish. Horseradish can be strong, so we have to eat a bit at a time, but it is quite beneficial and nutritious. 

After that we went to a Greek restaurant, Anna's. We had a wonderful, delicious, long lunch. I'm not sure of the exact name of the Greek Restaurant. What a lovely day with my dear sister... ( My visit lasted two nights and one and a half days. I love being with her. )

After we got home to her place, I thought I'd take a short Power Nap on 'my' bed, but do you know what happened? I slept for one hour and fifteen minutes! That means that I MUST have been very tired!! I was very surprised that I slept so long! 

It was a most wonderful trip to the Mennonite Farms! Their gardens are so large and looking so good! It kind of makes me wish I could live on a farm again. My parents moved to a farm when I was nine and a half years old, and I lived there until I was married. I loved the farm! 


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

Two Month Hiatus; A Few Interesting Items.

July 31, 2014.

June and July were extremely busy and there was very little time for me to write. I apologize for my hiatus.

"A few interesting items"? Hmmmm... we will see.

It began this morning, when I opened the inside garage door, to file a few things in the file cabinets. As I opened the door, just three feet in front of me, on its back, lay a cockroach, about an inch long. I took a tissue out of my pocket, folded it over and laid it on the 'pain-in-the-neck', stepped gingerly on it and then picked the whole thing up and took it out to the trash cart. I didn't even want it in my kitchen wastebasket. That one was No. 2 - the No. 1 was a smaller one, a half inch, that was on the door mat in the garage, on its back, a day or two ago. 

This has been happening now and then for the last one-and-a-half or two years with smaller ones. They don't seem to be too peppy, and they might be allergic to the spray that is used once in a while. The ones I see are not moving. But two different kinds? I wasn't happy about that.  

A couple of hours later, I opened the front door to take a piece of mail out to the mailbox (the door of the mailbox isn't connected again, as the fasteners don't seem to be long enough to keep the little door on). As I was going to step out onto the porch, there right in front of me on the doorstep, was the brother of the morning cockroach. Same position, so I bent down with another tissue and collected him and took him immediately to the trash cart, then went to put the mail in the box. 

I've been wondering if the sudden changes in temperature from hot to much cooler might have something to do with these pests. There are many kinds of these vermin, and the south is well-known for them. 
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A little after noon, I was using the restroom, and as I got up, I tried to take some tissue off the holder -- this brand of TP is a bit too tough to tear -- and almost magically, the holder came off with a little bang, and I cannot put it back on. Maybe the little metal piece on the wall won't hold it anymore. Why were these things happening to me on this wonderful day? 
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About an hour ago, I was feeling peckish and looked for a snack. I thought of the little bit of Feta cheese I had in the freezer. I took it out - it's a little box with a green top, Athenos brand. There was about one-sixth of the cheese left. I thought if I'd shake it a little, it would loosen up. So with one hand I picked it up and shook it very hard in the air, and suddenly I found out that the top can be opened only half-way! (That was a BIG surprise!) There were half-inch pieces and Feta crumbs all over the floor and even a few on the counter! Oh, well, I thought, and swept it up. 
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Something tells me that I should get to bed right now (it's almost five o'clock) and sleep off this craziness. 
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"It is difficult to soar with eagles when you work with turkeys." ~  Anonymous.        
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One last item: I found a note that my Mom had written many years ago. I was delighted, of course. Today I copied that onto Word Document "Recollections of Josephine...": 
" I, Josephine, remember that when I was pregnant with Anna Mae, I ate and longed for little green apples. I also vomited for the nine months, even in labor.
When I was pregnant with Jr. [Joseph, Jr.] I ate the corner of the newspaper.
When I was pregnant with Regina, Dad vomited for the nine months instead of me. "

Were these items interesting? 


You can tell me when I will see you at the Corner Post ...

Seven Sisters; Rosemary; Squirrels; Fountain.

Monday, May 26, 2014.

I went out to the back yard to clip off many of those browned, fading rose blossoms so that more would bud. It's been said that when you clip off the dying blossoms, the bush grows some more blossoms. I don't know if that is true for all the different kinds of roses. 

This whole bush had so many blossoms a week or so ago, it was incredible! These roses have only three- or four-inch stems in the clumps of roses that bloom from one little twig on this rose bush. They call it The Seven Sisters. Several or even more sometimes, grow in a clump. Beautiful! This bush has white roses. 

I wonder how long it will take for all of those buds to develop into new visits of the seven sisters? It took me about twenty minutes to do the roses and the rosemary bush. I couldn't finish the whole rose bush, nor the rosemary bush. My back can't stand leaning over like that, even a little leaning isn't good. I can't do it by standing erect, as I can't reach down for the roses but have to bend.  

The winter was quite harsh on the rosemary bush, but it still produces more fragrant needles. Underneath all the needles are so many dead parts of the branches, tangled up under there, and bare. I really love rosemary fragrance, and use it in cooking quite often. 

    

There is a spot of the lawn in the back yard that is rather moist, and it stays moist if the rain was a very hard downpour. The lawn guy even waited a couple of days to come to mow, but that large spot in the back lawn wasn't dry yet. The drainage is not what it used to be. So when he was mowing, he went right over that area, and his lawnmower got stuck. Luckily he had a helper with him, and they did manage to get it out of the little mire.  

There are about four little ruts in that area, and it doesn't look too bad. The birds REALLY LOVE those new ruts in the slightly lower place out in the back yard. SQUIRRELS, too. The birds came in right after the lawn 'crew' left. They would peck once or twice, and seemed to get some kind of bugs or worm, didn't seem like worms though, and they'd swallow, peck again. Sometimes they would tip their heads to listen to any movement, and jab. It was very nice to watch them through the blinds in the bathroom. If I showed my head, they would go away.  

Squirrels have found that moist area, too, now, and will dig a tiny hole, and eat something. I wonder if they eat bugs, too??? Or possibly they eat little sprouts of seeds from those burrballs that cover the back lawn. Those balls are almost as large as golf balls, and have so many seeds in them. The seeds finally come out and sprout, maybe. The squirrels will dig so quickly, as if it is in a great hurry. Then it hops a couple more steps in either direction, and digs again, eats, hops, digs, eats, hops, digs, for many minutes. They are so funny to watch, and I enjoy that little 'movie'.

Anyway, I sometimes have fun looking out the back window! The birds also like the little fountain back there, when there is any rain water in it. Not many birds, but they occasionally go there.

One day, when the young robins were still a little dependent, there were about three or four young robins flying to the fountain. Then there were about five or six robins (including parents) that were sitting on the edge, and hanging around it. One or two would drink from it, or jump into it and flap their wings in it. I had such a good time watching them, but haven't seen that again.  

I get much enjoyment from looking at birds and squirrels, leaves and breezes, clouds and flowers, and azure skies. 

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

Roosters! ~ Crowing!

Saturday, May 24, 2014.

I sat down for a little while to rest, saw the TV weather report, and then I saw the same program I saw a couple of days ago. Two men were handling some roosters and hens in the first part of the program, as they were talking about the fowl.

After about ten minutes, they put the chickens and roosters back in their cages, in the little room where they were having this meeting. Then they got onto the talk of termites and how to get rid of them. 

After several minutes of the talking of the men, the ordinary, largest rooster did his crowing ~ a nice low-pitched sound that I remember so well from my childhood. A few seconds later, another rooster crowed! This time it was a quite different pitch, rather scratchy. I smiled to myself ~ I love hearing roosters! 

Then a couple of seconds later, a bantam rooster crowed his li'l heart out ~ a bit scratchy, very high pitched, and seemingly tiny. What a smile THAT  brought to my face! Then another crow sounded about seven seconds later ~ weird. These roosters that they were handling were all different. There were about five of them, none related to each other. They crowed individually, letting one neighbor have his say, and another, then the largest one crows on his turn again. At one point, one man looked at the other, smiling with a cute little quirk of his mouth, understanding that these roosters weren't going to stop crowing in turn.

So the men kept on talking about the termites, giving pictures of the waistline of the termite to differentiate from the waist-line of the ant family. Also, they informed us that the termites' antennae are straight, the ants' antennae are bent halfway to an angle.

I learned a lot with this program. I had such a marvelous time for about twenty minutes, smiling when I heard a rooster crow; then laughing every time the tiny Tim of a bantam had his turn, making his teeny-thin-sounding crow, and my big laugh involuntarily coming out of me again! 

What a time I had! And today I could hear them all over again in the repeat of the show! How lucky can I get? 

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

Belated Thoughts and Traditions; Mr/Mrs Robin With Empty Nest; A Big Catch. Traditions.

May 18, 2014.

Since Time goes by so swiftly, it was discovered that I am behind in adding thoughts to my blog. We'll go back to May First. I love that day! On May Day, when you are very young, a child in the single digits, you go out and pick a small bouquet of flowers for your Mommy; you put the bouquet on the welcome mat, ring the doorbell or knock on the door, and scoot a little behind the house out of sight so she wouldn't see you. She opens the door and discovers that beautiful little bouquet of flowers! She looks around and cannot see anyone. She gives you a hug and a kiss when she finds you.

At Pasadena Waldorf School, they have a Maypole Dance on May First. I was there and saw a few of the Maypole Dances; it filled me with joy. It was so lovely to see the eight grades of students on the lawn at the Waldorf School, and a certain grade would dance around the Maypole and intertwine the long colorful ribbons. It was so very beautiful, awesome, and a wonderful tradition.

There was also Arbor Day, a beautiful idea of planting a tree or bush in honor of someone, or just because you like that kind of tree or bush. When I was very young in elementary school, we were taught about Arbor Day. Our recent culture has done away with some of our great traditions.
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Those robin teenagers grew so big! They would stand up and preen themselves, flutter their wings that were getting close to adult size, and the nest was becoming so full of four growing youngsters. I kept thinking, "This is the day the robins will leave their home!" The real answer was no.  Each day was getting closer to Departure Time, though.

A couple of days later, when I opened the door to peek out at the Robin Nest, it was empty! There was a tinge of disappointment in my heart for a few seconds because I wouldn't see a wonderful mommy and daddy feeding their growing children. Gone, but not really, because those almost-mature birdies were hiding out in the back yard, or the neighbor's yard, and their mommy and daddy still had to feed them for a while as they recovered from the shock of leaving their nest-home.  
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Early in May, one of my sons and I were driving through a lovely green park on a side road and we saw something we never expected. There was a large hawk in the field, to me it looked very large. All of a sudden, it flew almost straight up into the sky, with a snake hanging down from its talon, and the snake made a few wiggles as it was being carried away to the hawk's nest. We were both stunned to see this happening. Quite an experience for both of us.

My sister later told me that she and her husband were riding out on a lake, when they spotted a blue heron standing on a point with a big black snake hanging from both sides of its beak. She was quite surprised to find out that those herons eat snakes.


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