HAPPY NEW YEAR

Finally, it's almost here -- 2011.
I'm so glad.
2010 wasn't really a bad year. It's just the whole month of December was frigid and went on forever.

So I'm sure January will be cold too, but it's supposed to be.

What do you have planned for 2011?
Did you make any resolutions?

I don't make resolutions anymore.
When I did make them, I broke them, usually in the first 48 hours.

Now I make a "Things To Do In 2011 List".
Last year I did this and managed to accomplish 9 out of the 11 items on my list.

I figure by doing it this way I have a whole year to try and succeed.

So what is on my list for 2011?
I have 13 items this year.
Some of the top priorities are:
Finish the course I'm presently taking.
Finish the novel I'm writing.
Find a publisher for it.
Write more short stories.
Submit, submit, submit the stories I have written and will write.
Make another a quilt.
And a few mundane things, such as doing some things around the house.

One other thing I'm going to try and do, is stick with the Weight Watchers new Points Plus program.
I did something really brave. About three weeks before Christmas I joined W.W. on-line.
I figured it would keep me somewhat on track through the holidays.
I did gain over Christmas but went right back on program and have lost what I gained.

I just don't like wasting a whole morning going to a W.W. meeting. The on-line version is much better.
I've actually been a W.W. member since it started back in the 60's. I'm even a Lifetime Member, having accomplished goal in the 80's. Sad to say I go up and down like a yo-yo.

The previous Points Program was really good. The new Points Plus Program counts most fruit and vegetables as 0 points. This is good, because if you are hungry and run out of daily points you can eat a piece of fruit and not feel guilty.

So take a few minutes write you "To Do List" for 2011.
Good luck in accomplishing your goals.
Let's help each other with encouragement and good wishes.

I wish each and everyone a healthy, joyous, and prosperous New Year.

                   THE NATIVITY

Stars sparkling like tiny diamonds against a black velvet sky.
Shepards guarded their charges of wooly sheep as usual.
Suddenly they noticed an unusually bright star in the eastern sky.
An angel appeared to them.
"Fear not for unto you is born a King," the angel told them.
"Follow the star to Bethlehem where you'll find Him in a stable."

The shepherds heeded the angel's direction. They gathered their sheep and followed the Star.
In a lowly stable in Bethlehem they found the newborn King in a manger being tended to by His mother Mary and father Joseph.

The manger is filled with sweet fresh hay and the Baby is wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The Star they followed beamed down radiant light on the Baby.
An angel stood in reverence nearby.
The cattle, donkeys and sheep laid down and were quiet.

The sheperds bowed before their King, as angels on high sang, "Glory to God in the Highest."

This Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, as you attend church services or take a few minutes in the hustle and bustle. Stop and reflect on that moment the angel appeared to the shepherds. How frightened they must have been. Would you have been startled if it had happened to you?

The shepherds obeyed the angel and worshipped their new King.
He can be your King too. Just invite Him into your heart. Then you will celebrate Christmas in your heart everyday.

When you hear the Christmas carols, "Away In a Manger", "Silent Night", "O' Little Town of Bethlehem" being sung they will take on a new meaning for you.

God Bless each and everyone of you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MY FAMILY ... CIRCA 1950's

"Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go."

In this case it's cross over the bridge across the icy river to Aunt Bell's house.

Aunt Bell was my mom's older sister. We always enjoyed visiting her and Uncle Murt and our five cousins.

That's where the above picture was taken.

Notice the Christmas light bulbs around the window.

Remember those? They were big and used to send the electric meter spinning.

I'm sure I have one or two of them among the Christmas decorations somewhere.

This picture was taken in the 1950's, I'm not sure which year.

While I'm writing this blog I'm watching/listening to PBS TV. They are broadcasting a show featuring many singing acts from the 1950's.

What is unique about it is that the singers are accompanied by a full live orchestra. What a sound. What lyrics. They really say something. The live instruments sure beat the artificially created music of today.

Singers like the McGuire Sisters singing "Sincerely".

Don Cherry and "Band of Gold", the Four Lads, "Standing on the Corner Watching All the Girls Go By."

Do you remember Gogi Grant and the "Wayward Wind". These were just a few.

These entertainers are all around our age and still look and sound pretty good.

There was also video of the late Rosemary Clooney singing "Hey There" and the late Johnny Ray singing "Cry".

How many afternoons we would run home from school to watch Dick Clark's Bandstand from Philadelphia. Most of these artists received their start on that program.

Then in our home area we had radio station WARM twenty four hours a day playing all the latest hits.

The 50's were a great era weren't they? Then we had to grow up. It's been quite a ride.

Sis and Bro, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. My wish for you both is that 2011 will be one of happiness and joy and good health.

NO ROOM

"No Room" is the title of a song sung in church this morning.
Actually it was a solo sung by my husband. I'm not biased or anything, but he sang it very well.

The song was written by John Peterson. John is a modern day writer of spiritual songs that speak to the heart.

Some of the lyrics are: No room - only a manger of hay. No room - He is a stranger today. No room - here in this world turned away. No room - here in the hearts of mankind. No room - surely the world is blind.

You might think it is all about the glorious night, our Saviour, Jesus was born.

But think about those words. They are very relevant to today.

There is no room for Him in public places. Why, because a few say He offends them.

What is so sad is that He died for them as well as those who accept Him.

Those who shun Him celebrate the holiday known the world over as "CHRISTMAS". Do you see what the first six letters spell?
Those same people that don't want Him in public places, profit from the holiday either with a paid day off or in their business.

Polls say that somewhere between 75-80 % of Americans claim they are Christians.
Imagine if all those Christians made room in their lives for the Christ of Christmas.

Perhaps if they did, He might notice, and our country would turn back to the basic values upon which it was founded.

What about your life? Do you have room for Him? Can you find a few minutes in your harried day to give Him some thought?

Take some quiet time, get to know Him again. Your life may take on a peace you don't have now.

Think about this -- if you don't make room for Him -- will He make room for you when you need Him?

God bless all of you.

CHRISTMAS PAST

Can you remember when you were a child anticipating Christmas?
The anxiety, the joy, the waiting, wondering if it would ever get here.

When my brother, sister and I were young, we waited for the Sears Roebuck Christmas catalog to arrive.
We then pored over it for days, choosing what we wanted Santa to bring us.

Of course my sister and I would pick the most beautiful dolls and my brother would opt for the flashiest truck or car.
Then we would write our letters to Santa with all of our requests.

Two weeks before Christmas my Mom would bring out her scrawny, little table tree with the pointed lights. The unique thing about these lights were if one bulb burned out the whole string went dark. What fun it was screwing and unscrewing bulb after bulb until the culprit was found. Luckily there were only about fifteen or twenty bulbs to a string.

Mom would spend those weeks baking fruitcake, assorted breads and batch after batch of cookies. We were the official tasters. We got to eat the broken ones. Yummy.

Several days before Christmas, Dad would haul in the big platform and fresh tree. He put them in place and then put up the tracks for his Lionel trains. We were kept occupied playing with the trains. I can still smell the smoke from the locomotive. Oh, wait, I think that smoke is coming from my husband's trains.

The tree wasn't decorated until Christmas Eve, while we were asleep and the Plastic-ville town appeared as well.

Christmas morning we would get up early and wake our parents, who probably just got to sleep. They went to Christmas Candlelight Service at church at 11:00 PM and then trimmed the tree and put out the gifts.

Our gifts were never wrapped in Christmas paper. Remember this was the 40's and 50's, we weren't affluent. Even though there were no tags on the gifts, somehow we knew which pile was ours.

My sister and I received dolls, a book, and clothes which included a blouse or sweater, socks and always underwear. Mom was very practical.

My brother received a car or truck, a book, and clothes also.

There was always a large box of Crayola crayons which was to be shared by the three of us. Remember those boxes of 64 crayons with all the neat exotic names?

Each of our stockings held an orange in the toe, some assorted nuts, candy and maybe small items like a toothbrush, or comb, etc.

Usually the gifts we had picked out of the Sears catalogue weren't there.
But you know, that didn't matter to us. We were thrilled with whatever we received.

What about your memories of Christmas past, were they good ones?
Are there some you can re-create for your children?

How was your Thanksgiving?
I hope full of love, warmth, family and food.
Now, take a breath, and a short rest, because the race begins anew as Christmas approaches.

Are you a last minute shopper or a buy when you see it shopper?
I'm pretty much a buy when you see it shopper. Mainly because I hate crowds, therefore I avoid days like Black Friday and Christmas Eve shopping.

Are you going to stimulate the economy this year and run up the credit cards? Or are you going to show restraint and buy less?

What about making something for your gift giving this year or give IOU'S, such as babysitting, grocery shopping for an older family member. What about maybe cleaning or doing laundry or perhaps making a meal, all in lieu of a store bought gift. I'm sure you are even more creative than I am and can think of more things to do.

What ever you choose to do, please remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. It's really all about God's gift to us, His Son.

Why not start a new tradition this year. At some point either on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, gather your children and read them the greatest story ever told, the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus, from the greatest storybook of all, the BIBLE.

Then on Christmas Eve, find a church service and this year attend it as a family.
Give thanks for having another year together as a family and say a prayer for those families that are separated for what ever reason. Pray that next year they will have the opportunity to be together again.

Okay now, take a deep breath, ready . . . set . . . go . . . run. It's time to race toward the finish line . . . December 25, 2010.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

What memories do you have of past Thanksgivings?

One I remember happened sixty four years ago.

That year my Mom's birthday fell on Thanksgiving. She didn't cook that year, and it wasn't because it was her birthday. Aunt Ethel cooked and it was a goose instead of a turkey.

My Mom had something more special to do on that day. She brought my new-born baby sister home from the hospital that Thanksgiving. Born one week before my brother and I were very excited waiting for my Dad's car to come into view. Children weren't allowed to visit in the hospitals then, so this would be the first glimpse of our sister.

I remember going upstairs after dinner to get a close up look at the sleeping baby. While I was staring at her she opened her eyes and smiled. Of course I was sure she smiled at me. What did I know, I was only four years old. I didn't know she probably couldn't focus yet, or smile, and it was probably only gas.

This Thanksgiving take some time and recall your memories of by-gone Thanksgivings.

Do you remember the aroma of turkey roasting in the oven, the candied yams, stuffing, or maybe the pumpkin pies.

Maybe just memories of family visiting. Perhaps some have passed on.

Our Mom and Dad are gone. Thanksgiving, and for that matter, all the other holidays are just not the same without them.

If your parents are still with you, count yourself blessed. Appreciate every day you can call them and say "Hi, Mom and Dad, I just wanted to call and say hello." You can't know how much that simple phone call means to them. You will when you get to walk in their shoes. . .but then it will be too late.

Thursday, give thanks to God for all He has given you.

Make a list, you might be surprised at how rich you are, and I don't mean materially.

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless all of you.

P51 C FIGHTER

A few weeks from now on December 7, will be the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

That date marked the United States' entry into World War II.

Their were many heroes in that war, actually everyone who fought in that war was a hero. Included were the men and women that worked in the factories to build the airplanes, ships, and submarines. There were many that flew support by delivering supplies to both theaters, many of whom were women.

Today the heroes noted in this blog are the Tuskegee Airmen.

They were a group of African-American pilots that withstood the adversity of segregation and showed their valor and bravery to the world.

They were the 332nd Fighter Group. They flew P51 C fighters to escort bombers in the European theater. They had an exemplary record, with the least amount of bombers lost by an escort group.

They painted the tails of their planes bright red and became known as the "Red Tails" or "Red Tail Angels".

One of those pilots was LT. Col. Lee "Buddy" Archer. He was the only Tuskegee pilot to shoot down five enemy aircraft.

The plane in the picture is on display at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.

It was meticulously restored by Kermit Weeks and his team.

It was costly to restore in time and material and is worth quite a lot in today's dollars.

It is airworthy as are all of Mr. Weeks restorations. Kermit took LT. Archer up for a ride when it was finished and he signed his name in the cockpit.

Imagine how "Buddy" must have felt to be up in the sky in that plane once again.

Two American heroes. Kermit Weeks for using his funds to restore aircraft of history and displaying it so we all can appreciate it. LT. Archer is a military hero for risking his life, along with his fellow Tuskegee Airmen, in service to their country and our freedom.

God Bless both of these heroes. Two men that young people can look up to and follow in their footsteps.

DRESS CHARIOT OWNED BY EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH OF AUSTRIA

The restored carriage, circa 1840's, can be seen at the Florida Carriage Museum It is located between Lady Lake and Weirsdale near The Villages in Florida.

Nearby is Ocala, one of the five horse capitals of the world. Many large horse farms are located in Ocala and have bred national winners.

The carriage museum sits on 400 acres of pristine pastures and paddocks.

It is the not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) Equine Heritage Institute Inc.

It is also known as an equine Bed and Barn. You can rent one of the 24 residences, bring your horse or horses and spend time riding and relaxing.

The museum houses 160 meticulously restored carriages, some have life-sized mannequin horses attached.

The museum is the work of Gloria Austin. Her life-long love of horses and carriage collection brought her to Florida after her divorce from Thomas Golisano, the founder of Paychex.

The beauty of the carriage in the above picture can only be truly appreciated seeing it close up. The hours and money, it took to restore it is mind boggling.

It reminds me of Cinderella's coach. Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale and I always pictured her coach as golden and regal as this one.

When you stop a moment and think about how our country was settled it was all about the horse and wagon.

From the urban eastern cities to the western prairies, the horse and wagon was vital to transportation.

The Conestoga wagon took the brave settlers west. The horse took the Pony Express riders from town to town delivering mail.

Doctors traveled by horseback or carriage to tend their patients.

I remember my parents talking about the produce seller, the meat-man, the rag man, junk man, and scissors and knife sharpener making the rounds of small towns plying their wares.

That is how people got services before grocery and hardware stores.

Check out the museum's web-site and watch the video.

http://www.fcmr.org/wordpress

Close your eyes and think about riding in a carriage pulled by two horses, leisurely trotting though the countryside. Do you see the horses grazing in the green pastures? They raise their heads to nod hello. Can you smell the sweet scent of grass and flowering shrubs?

Now keep your eyes closed. Think about a winter evening, riding in a horse drawn sleigh over the snow-scapes. You are bundled in a blanket, your breath is a white vapor. The moonlight casts shadows over the rolling meadows. The air is clear and crisp. You can almost reach up and catch a handful of stars. The bells on the horses' bridles jingle in the quiet night.

Store those two scenes in your memory bank and when you are having a stressful day bring one of them out and visit it again.

FRIENDSHIP

In the above picture sitting in the back seat of an open airplane are two friends.

The one grinning full faced for the camera is my husband.

He and his buddy, Bob, have been friends since childhood.

They went through high school together and both played in the band.

When they earned their drivers license they experienced a few "joy rides" together.

After high school they went in different but similar directions.

Both served their country honorably in the military.

They went on to college, and then pursued careers of choice.

Later they married the loves of their lives and have been wed for decades.

One pursued a career opportunity and moved to another city in Pennsylvania.

Years later, in the twilight of their lives, they reconnected. About once a year they and their wives got together for an adventure, a meal and update each other on their lives.

Then one of them moved a bit further, well okay, a lot further away to Florida.

Still they get together at least once a year for another adventure.

What you see in the picture are the two of them sharing their love of aircraft.

Don't they look cute in those hats and goggles?

They visited the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City, Florida for a day of extreme adventure.

They actually left the ground in that aircraft and flew around for about twenty minutes or so, in the open air plane.

Don't they look excited? Just like kids anticipating going to Disney World.

No, they didn't pilot it and yes, they landed safely.

Where were we, their wives, while they were playing the "Red Baron"?

We were adding up what they spent on the ride and figuring out what we could buy for an equal amount of money on our next shopping trip.

We are such loving wives, when they landed we tried to encourage them to go up a second time.

They declined. Do you think they knew what we were up to?

We had a great day at Fantasy of Flight and I have more pictures and stories about the museum. I'll share them in future blogs.

Remember tomorrow is Veteran's Day.

Thank a veteran for their service.

It will be a sad day for our area. We lost a Patriot this past week. A young man who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his children, family, and fellow citizens in Afghanistan.

We need to be vigilant so he will have not died in vain.

Pray for our military serving around the world and especially fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes, Iraq too. They may say it's over but our military is still in danger and dying there.

Pray for those who have come back wounded. Their lives have been changed forever.

Pray for the military families left behind that carry on day after day and a lot of them under adverse conditions.

Pray for the families who have lost their loved ones in battle. The hole in their hearts will never be filled.

Fly the flag and be proud of your country and don't apologize to anyone for being an American and living in the greatest country on earth.

HOME OF THE FREE AND THE BRAVE.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER FARMALL A TRACTOR

If you are acquainted with young boys you know the kind of toys they like.

Perhaps a tricycle or bicycle, or maybe Hot Wheels cars and trucks and the like.

Have you noticed as they grow up, their toys become larger and more expensive.

In Leesburg, Florida there is an International Harvester Tractor Museum.

Mr. Pacquette, the gentleman that owns it, has 150 restored Farmall Tractors.

Of course he had to build a very large building to house them and another building to fix and restore them and on and on it goes.

My husband had also been bitten by the tractor bug. He used to own a Farmall H and a Farmall C which he actually used on the farm. He was thrilled to see their counterparts at the museum. He sold them when he gave up farming.

But. . . he bought a Farmall A, (piece of junk) and restored it to look like the one in the picture. It starts by turning a hand crank in the front. He bought a belly-mower to put on it and uses it to cut grass.

I have to tell you he's never happier than when he's on his "A" mowing fields of grass. For some reason it's hard to get him to get on the riding mower and mow the grass around the house. His excuse is "the Wheelhorse is a lady's mower".

Now it doesn't stop there. He has restored an IH Cub with a mower, which sometimes he'll switch off and use. He also has a Ford N tractor which he uses for assorted purposes.

He also owned an International pickup truck which he restored but eventually sold. Of course he didn't get near what it cost to restore it. He said the fun was in finding the parts and watch it come together.

Do you remember, "Tim the Toolman Taylor", from the "Home Improvement" TV show? He used to like to restore cars. Well I have my own "Toolman".

So ladies remember as your husband gets older, his toys will get bigger and more expensive.

But here is a tip, try and keep a tally of what he spends. A woman could do a lot of shopping with an equal amount a money, don't you think?

Remember to turn your clocks back tonight. You deserve that extra hour of sleep.

It's here - November.

It starts the busy holiday season.

Let's start at the beginning.
Tomorrow, November 2 is Election Day.
Please, if you are legally registered get out and vote.

What I love about tomorrow is, it will be the end of those annoying political robot phone calls. Well, that is until the next election cycle.

Next weekend November 7 it will be time to turn the clocks back one hour. Yes, you will finally regain that hour you lost in the Spring.
Remember it's Spring ahead and Fall back.

November 11, is Veteran's Day. Please, remember to thank a veteran for his or her service.
Does your town still have a Veteran's Parade?

In our family it is a month of birthdays.
November 15 is our older son's birthday as well as my husband's sister's on the same day.
November 21 is my baby sister's birthday.
November 28 would have been our late mother's birthday.

November 25 is Thanksgiving Day.
Are you thinking about what you will be serving this year?
My menu has been mulling it's way through my head.

Of course November 26 is the day the shopper waits for, Black Friday.
Ladies get your lists and credit cards ready.

As for me I always avoid the malls and shopping areas on Black Friday.
Instead I start my Christmas decorating.
This plan worked well for me last year. After I had finished all my decorating I ended up in the hospital and donated my gall bladder to the bio-hazard trash heap. So I really didn't have the energy to do much decorating after that.

So I believe in the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared", and being a former Girl Scout I take it a step further, "Prepare in Advance".

So how is your October going?
Well I hope.
Mine is going much better this year than last.

Monday we celebrate Columbus Day. This means a day off from school and work for some.
I was wondering if the schools still teach what Columbus Day is all about and who Christopher Columbus was.
They have changed history so much since I went to school it wouldn't surprise me if they left old Chris out of the history books.

It feels like Indian Summer, some nice weather before the ba-a-d stuff comes.
If I'm not mistaken I think we'll get to see a Harvest moon this month.
When I worked we sort of dreaded a full moon, but the one exception is the Harvest moon, because it is so beautiful.

October is the month for major league baseball playoffs which are going on now. I wonder if they'll get to play the World Series this month or will it go into November. It's amazing that they actually used to play the World Series in September. Guess they make more money dragging it out so long.

Of course then there is Halloween. I'm not going to be liked for saying this, but Halloween is and always has been my least favorite holiday. I didn't like it when it was only about Jack-O-Lanterns, cute little goblins and witches. Now it's all about gore, gorier and goriest. I have to wonder what world some people live in.

The pre-election season is heating up to a fever pitch. I hope you are looking up and studying those who are running. Most important, is that you exercise your right to VOTE.
Remember how the Iraqis risked their lives to vote. How proud they were to show their ink stained finger proving that they voted.

As my parents used to say, frequently, "You never miss the water until the well goes dry".
The way things are going in this country we could very well lose our voting rights in not too many years to come.
So, no excuses, get out there on NOVEMBER 2 and VOTE.

Enjoy the beautiful October weather while it is here.

AUTUMN

Autumn is one of the prettiest seasons of the year.

The leaves show off their beauty in colors of red, gold, yellow to rust and burgandy.

The brilliant hues set against the clear, azure blue sky is worthy of a picture or painting.

The cool, crisp air feels like all the impurities have been cleansed and replaced with life giving oxygen.

Soon, as the leaves begin their descent to earth, the raking begins and one can smell the pungent unmistakable smell they emit when burned.

Perhaps the vistas aren't as eye popping this year due to the hot, dry summer. The tropical storm, Nicole, that sped up the east coast accompanied by another newly formed storm, deposited copious amounts of torrential, devasting rain. The swift rain drops pelted the leaves and cleared many of the trees of this year's bounty.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything and a season for activity under heaven."

So on to winter when the landscape will be cleansed with snow. The plants, trees and flowers will sleep while growing new roots under the cold hard ground to once again burst forth in beauty come spring.

So stop, take a rest from your harried day, look around and enjoy God's handiwork no matter the season.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again: there is nothing new under the sun."

Words of comfort and hope from a very wise Solomon.

USE IT OR LOSE IT

I'm talking about the brain.

Now what does the brain have to do with the pillows in the picture?

I have two throw pillows I use all the time. They're like an old pair of shoes, broken in and comfortable. The covers on these pillows were pretty ratty and had worn themselves out.

Now I always make covers for throw pillows. I make them like an envelope, with a flap in the back, to remove easily for laundering.

Being a quilter, I always have a stash of fabric, so why should I buy covers for the pillows?

Here is where the use it or lose comes in. It has been years, maybe five or more, since I made pillow covers. I don't use a pattern, because it is just straight fitting to the size of the pillow.

The problem was, it had been so long since I made the envelope it took some trial and error and seam ripping before I remembered how to do it.

On top of that it has been about twenty months since I used my sewing machine. Yep, you guessed it. I had to use some brain cells to figure out which way the bobbin fit in the shuttle. Did the thread go clockwise or counter-clockwise? After a battle with jammed thread I figured it out, it's clockwise.

It has been almost two years since I last made a quilt too. I think I'd better get back to that before I forget how to do math and paper piecing, and maybe make some cloth dolls, before I forget how to stuff them and draw their faces.

I'm happy with the pillows. I especially like the fabric, although I can't quite remember where I bought it. It may have been in the fabulous quilt store in Branson, Missouri. Mm, maybe I should go back there, just to buy some more fabric.

Okay so I'm a FABRIHOLIC, I admit it.

Well, it will be a long winter. I will have to fit in some creative sewing with creative writing of my novel.

Did I just mention that dirty word WINTER?

CROSSROADS

The United States is at a CROSSROADS.

Depending on which road her citizens take will determine if she continues to stand or falls to destruction.

Our beloved country is sliding down a slippery slope of uncontrolled corruption.
There is a saying that points out Rome burned while Nero played his fiddle.

This can be said of America. The US is about to go down in flames unless her good and loyal citizens awaken and do something.

I'm asking you to do something. It won't cost you anything but a few minutes of your time.

There is a Proclamation for 40 days 0f prayer for the restoration of America.

No matter how or where you worship God you are being asked to pray to Him everyday for the next 40 days. From Monday 9-20-10 to 10-30-10.

If you don't know exactly what to pray for, go to this web-site and click on the 40 days of prayer proclamation.

http://www.jhm.org/

Read the proclamation and if you wish you can sign up for daily email prompts for prayer, which will help you to remember to pray.

In the Old Testament, God tells His people in:

II Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.

If the United States ever turns back to the Judeo-Christian values it was founded on, it will be when His people Pray and Seek God once again.

Join me and millions of Americans as we pray for the next 40 days for God to heal our land and restore America.

Then on Nov. 2 put your prayer into action and VOTE.
But don't just go into that voting booth and vote blindly.
Study and learn about the candidates asking for your vote.
Find out what their values are and what they stand for, and how they will serve once they are in office.

From the smallest hamlet to the largest city, go out and VOTE for honesty and goodness not corrupted and self-serving politicians who care about no one but THEMSELVES and THEIR agendas.

Elect those who will serve WE THE PEOPLE.

This time choose the RIGHT ROAD before it's too late.

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA

AUTUMN JOY SEDUM

HEROES OF 9-11-2001

Out of the chaos and destruction of that horrible day, came stories of Good Samaritans, who, even though their lives were in peril, went back to help save others.

Those that were trapped, tell of calling upon God, to send help to save them. He heard their prayers and sent the help.

After they were rescued they recounted how the experience solidified their shaky faith.

Some of the heroes that went back to help, lost their lives in the endeavor. And of what were all these victims and heroes guilty? They went to work that day, like any other day.

There were many heroes that day, the ones that come to mind are the passengers on the ill-fated flight over Pennsylvania. Those brave souls overtook their captors knowing it would end in death. By doing so prevented the murderers from crashing into the Capitol or the White House.

Many in uniform also were heroes. Fireman, policemen, transit authority personnel, military members, and so many more along with just ordinary people.

Who were these people? Americans doing what Americans always do - help others in need. God fearing, God honoring citizens who practice the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Here in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, 9-11 marks another tragic anniversary. Sixty years ago, 9-11-1950, thirty-three members of the 109th Field Artillery Battalion en route to Camp Atterburg, IN for training during the Korean Conflict, were killed in Ohio. Their troop train was rear-ended by the passenger train the Spirit of St. Louis.

Each year the anniversary of these two horrendous events, cause the hearts of those left behind to rip apart once again.

The vermin that caused the destruction on 9-11-2001 have no remorse and therefore delight in the pain their victims and families suffer.

We need to pray everyday that God would protect our homeland from those who wish to destroy it from within and without.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND HER LOYAL CITIZENS.

GAILLARDIA OR BLANKET FLOWER

In Memory - 09-11-2001

Saturday marks a solemn anniversary in Unites States history.

It has been nine years since our country was violated in a most horrendous way.

Jihadist terrorists flew two planes into the World Trade Towers in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Washington DC, while brave US citizens took away another plane from the terrorists as it dove into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Over three thousand brave, innocent people lost their lives that fateful day.

It will be a day you'll remember where you were and what you were doing when those travesties happened.

It doesn't seem possible nine years have passed. For those who lost family and friends its as though it happened yesterday. It created a hurt that even time won't heal.

Since that time many more have lost their lives fighting in two wars to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent it from ever happening again.

The Pentagon has been repaired, a memorial is planned for the field in Pennsylvania and ground has been broken and work begun on the buildings that will replace those destroyed in New York.

There will be many programs on TV and the Internet this week about the event that destroyed so many lives. One caught my eye today. It was on Fox News Channel and hosted by Shepard Smith. It will be seen each evening this week at 7PM on Fox.

It is about those who lost loved ones, those who are re-building the buildings and those who managed the ones that fell on that fateful day and are instrumental in building the new ones.

God Bless those engineers and tradesman who are giving their all to restore dignity to the barren, empty hole in lower Manhattan, that was created by evil, sadistic, immoral, in-human molecules of flesh.

On this anniversary, we solemnly pray that those who gave the ultimate sacrifice didn't die in vain. We pray that their loved ones will continue their endeavors to live one day at a time.

We pray that the upstanding moral citizens of our United States of America will stand firmly together to protect our great nation, from those who wish to destroy it from without and within.

God Bless America, may she ever be a shinning star of bravery and courage, a strong bulwark against her enemies and faithful to the Constitution framed by her founders.

On Saturday, take a moment and say a prayer for all those who lost their lives and all those left behind, to face every day without them.

Pause, reflect, remember and vow it will never happen again.

HAPPY LABOR DAY

It's here, Labor Day Weekend 2010. The last hurrah of summer, at least here in the Northeast.

Sept. 1 was the beginning of meteorological summer in weather language.

Students are back in school or will be this week.
High school and college football season has begun.

The temperature dipped down here in PA, and it feels like Fall. Some of the leaves have turned color.

The summer was filled with fun and food.
Time to check your Fall wardrobe.

Oh no, nothing fits!

Better get down to business and lose those extra pounds before Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around.

For me, Weight Watchers is my go-to plan. I've tried many different programs throughout the years, but I always return to Weight Watchers because of its versatility.

If you eat out a lot because of your job, family schedules or just because you like to, a real eye opener is just how many calories are in our favorite restaurant foods.

I have found a great web-site to help in making good choices. It is "Dottie's Weight Loss Zone. It has every restaurant you can think of posted with many of their foods.

http://www.dwlz.com/restaurants.html

Weight Watchers has a free web-site too. Some great recipes are posted in the community recipe section by members.

http://weightwatchers.com/

I receive no monetary benefits from either Weight Watchers or Dottie's Weight Loss Zone, just good helpful information.

Now back to Dottie's restaurant guide. the food choices are calibrated in points, which is how Weight Watchers Points Program does it. However, as a rule of thumb 1 point = 50 calories.

So for example, let's click on Burger King and choose a common meal.

1 Whopper sandwich - 16.5 points

1 medium French Fries - 8.5 points

1 Large Coke - 4.0 points

Total is - 29 points or 1,450 calories

YIKES! That is only one meal, but actually it's a one day total for most women trying to lose weight.

Don't worry you can still eat at Burger King. Look further on the menu.

1 Jr. Whopper sandwich - 9 points

1 Side garden salad with fat free ranch dressing - 1.5 points

Any size Diet Coke - 0 points

Total of 10.5 points or 525 calories that's much better.

See how it works - choose wisely.

Dottie has a free newsletter with so much information every month. Do yourself a favor and sign up for it, she'll keep you inspired.

Think what a great feeling you'll have when you can fit into your favorite outfit again.

Let me know how you are progressing and we'll help and encourage each other.

Happy Autumn.

A NEW MALADY

I have diagnosed myself with a new malady called a "Fear of Technology".

I am able to do a lot of things with the computer, for instance setting up this blog.

I can take pictures with a digital camera, download them on my computer then upload then to email or this blog.

I can program and use a Garmin.

I can pre-program phone numbers to my cell phone or home phone.

I can't text on a cell phone only because I haven't taken the time to learn the process. Besides I don't like to massacre the English language with all the abbreviations.

Some day soon I'll probably wade into the world of Kindles or Nooks. By the time I get there they will more than likely be obsolete.

When I had to get a new laptop I worried about how I would transfer my documents from my old computer to the new one. A helpful sales person told me how to do it. Believe me I did a happy dance when I accomplished it in the first try.

The other day my son was showing me the virtues of his blackberry. He told me how it is a cell phone, a still picture camera, a video camera, and a computer.

He lost me after the first minute. First of all the keyboard is so tiny I would need a magnifying glass and stylus to type on it. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse I use with my laptop because I have problems using the one on the computer.

By the time he completed his sales pitch I was totally lost.

You see, I eventually put my toe into the sea of technological waters, it just takes me a long time to work up the nerve to jump into it.

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA

Home to the "Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame.
Die-hard fans of Notre Dame football obviously think of the team when they hear South Bend.

Notre Dame is a beautiful campus that keeps getting larger every year.

There are other famous products for which South Bend is noted.
The Studebaker Museum, J.D. Oliver Family Mansion and Gardens, Wheelhorse garden tractors and the Real "League of Their Own", women who played Hard Ball.

The Studebaker Museum is great. Having grown up in that era, it was fun to re-visit all the old models.

Behind the museum is the Oliver Mansion. The Oliver family manufactured Oliver tractors and farm equipment.

Their home and gardens are large and required an extensive roster of servants to maintain both.

I have visited many mansions from that era, but something stood out in this one. The Olivers actually enjoyed their children and spent a lot of time with them.
Their home is warm, cozy and comfortable, unlike many other mansions which are cold and ornate. Those owners kept their children in the background and brought them out for show like another possession. Not so the Olivers.

Women's baseball got it start there too. If you saw the movie "A League of Their Own", you'll know what I mean.

South Bend was a manufacturing hub with many companies providing jobs for its citizens. Unfortunately they have all gone out of business, changed names and owners or moved elsewhere.

Something else unique about South Bend is their short-line railroad. You can go to the airport, yes the airport, and take the train to Chicago for a day of shopping, sightseeing or work. Many people live in South Bend and commute to work in Chicago.

The cost of living and is less expensive than in Chicago; as are the hotels.

The airport serves as the transportation hub for air, rail and bus.

Next time you are in South Bend for a football game take some time and see the rest of it.

"Go Irish".

Because of the economy and advent of e-readers, main stream publishing houses are having a difficult time financially.

E-readers such as Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook have taken off like rockets.

I personally as yet don't own one. I met a girl, who was reading one on the beach, in bright sunlight. Hers was a Kindle, and she said she loved it. She offered it to me to hold and check out.

It was very light weight about the size of a large paperback. There was no glare from the sun, so the words were readily seen without difficulty.

This started me gazing into the future.

At the beginning of the school year, the school could issue every student an e-reader, pre-loaded with the books for the year.

Just think, no more back-packs and book bags weighing down young backs. In the long run it probably would save the school districts a lot of money. (They probably would find other places to spend it.)

Actually some schools in Florida are starting a trial program.

Eventually the libraries would all be in e-book format.

For moms, on school mornings, instead of reminding Bobby and Susie not to forget their books, she would tell them not to forget their e-readers.

Just think if Congress put the bills they write and enact on e-readers, they might even read them!

As for me, it would solve my problem of where to store the many books I buy and can't part with, because I eventually re-read them.

Then again there is something to be said for relaxing and turning the paper pages of a real book.

I will continue to learn about e-readers. I'm sure they will get better and the price will come down, as competitors come on the scene.

Now when hubby asks what I want for Christmas, and he inevitably will, maybe now I'll know what to answer!

PHLOX

First I want to welcome home our veterans of the Iraqi War.

Thank you for your courage and bravery. You did a great job and we are proud of you.

You and your families sacrifices are most appreciated.

God Bless you one and all.

Now to the picture of the Phlox. When I see it blooming it reminds me it is the beginning of the end of summer. What I like to call the waning days of summer.

Mid-August and the hustle and bustle for getting everyone ready for back to school begins.

Families hurry to get in a last minute vacation.

Moms hurry to the stores to buy school clothes and supplies.

College kids are rounding up all their dorm needs.

Dads brace themselves for the bills to roll in.

It's also fair season around here.

Tonight the Pittston Tomato Festival begins and runs through Sunday evening.

The Little League World Series begins it's festivities in South Williamsport this evening.

Next weekend it's the Kielbasa Festival in Plymouth.

The Wyoming County and Luzerne County Fairs will begin a week apart starting the end of August.

Can you smell those funnel cakes? Yum-Yum.

I'm sure high school football will be starting in a week or two.

The end of September will be the grandaddy of all them all, the Bloomsburg Fair.

Tonight I noticed the sun is setting farther away from it's maximum western site.

There is cool nip in the air in the evening.

The hummingbirds are scrapping with each other more than usual, slurping up the extra sugar water to increase their stamina for the long trek south.

The experts are saying the leaves won't be as colorful this year because of the drought. Time will tell that outcome.

The days are still warm even hot, which I like.

The sun sets earlier each evening, which I don't like.

These last days of August remind me of getting new clothes to go back to school. Inevitably they would be wool skirts and warm sweaters. September would still have warm days, but we wore the woolens anyway.

I can almost smell the oil scented floors of the classrooms.

Enjoy these days while they are here.

MARCELLUS SHALE GAS LEASES

The natural gas companies land managers have been in Northeast PA for some time signing up land owners.

The farmers were some of the first ones to sign.

Why you might ask?

The milk farmers are in a financial bind. It costs more to produce the milk than they are paid for it.

The government controls the price of milk, however they don't control the cost of producing it.

The grain and animal farmers prices are controlled by the futures market.

Our county recently did a reassessment of property values. They hit land very hard. Who has the most land -- farmers do. Even if they are in the Clean and Green program their taxes have escalated and this year our school board put their hands out again and raised school taxes one more time. No controls on them. All this after values have bottomed in the real estate market.

So the gas companies come to town and offer the farmers the opportunity to keep their farms for a few more years and not have to sell them to developers.

Everyone is happy with the lease, permits are issued and the company is approved to drill a well in Lehman Twp.

Now coming on the scene are the protesters and activists, who for the most part are professionals living in large homes built on land that once was -- you guessed it, farmland.

They threaten a lawsuit, the gas company cancels its permits and are drilling in neighboring townships where they are welcomed. The farmers in Lehman Twp. are out of luck.

The activists are worried about the water supply in the Huntsville and Ceasetown dams.

They of course don't worry about contamination of these same water supplies with the salt brine and salt that is poured on the roads by the tons in winter. After all they need clear roads to get to work. Guess where all that salt goes -- into the dams and wells.

Out here in the Back Mountain most of the properties have septic systems, including the big mansions all around the dams. It all drains into the reservoirs and wells.

All those fancy homes the activists live in have beautiful lush, green lawns and landscaping. They are created that way by fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
They all drain where -- into their own private wells and the reservoirs.

Guess what goes through the development for energy source to their homes, yup, a natural gas line. Their electricity is supplied by UGI whether or not they have a third party billing company. The lines belong to UGI. Guess what is used to produce that electricity -- natural gas.

I guess its the old saying "not in my backyard". Well I have a suggestion for the activists, if you don't want the companies to drill in Lehman Twp. then stop using natural gas and electricity in your homes. Not to do it is hypocrisy.

The next time you meet a farmer, thank them for the sacrifices they make to continue to produce the food and milk on your table, because slowly they are disappearing. If the activists have their way it will be sooner than later.

We can only hope the gas companies find an abundant supply of natural gas in this area and be able to call the activist's bluff about a lawsuit.

Gee, I wonder what "Green" organization is behind these activists in order to fund lawsuits and other activities!

Facebook is a great social medium tool for keeping up with family and friends in the neighborhood or all around the world.

When you want your family or friends to know something about you or your family, no need to write an email and forward it to three hundred or so close friends or relatives. Just post a blurb on Facebook and those that are really interested in you will read it, and perhaps make a comment.

Now Facebook has a whole new purpose.

Our local news had a story about homes that had been robbed while the owners were away. Not unusual in and of itself. But in this story the common denominator was all residents that had been robbed had posted on Facebook they were going on vacation. Duh!

So now the would-be criminal has a new tool in his arsenal of ill repute. He doesn't even have to "case the joint", so to speak. Just click on his neighborhood of friends on Facebook, and see where his next gig will be.

Who would have thought the life of crime could get easier.

So now the next thing to be wary of is, just who are your friends on Facebook!

DOLLEY MADISON

When you hear that name you probably think of ice cream.
The brand of ice cream is spelled Dolly Madison.

The Dolley Madison I'm referring to is the First Lady and wife of James Madison the fourth president of the United States.

Dolley was a gutsy lady.
During the War of 1812, knowing the British were on their way to invade Washington DC, President Madison left the city to find a place for the government to set up shop and continue on.

Dolley decided to stay as long as possible gathering artifacts from the White House.

She amassed silver, the original draft of the Declaration of Independence and Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington.

The frame of the first president's portrait was so large it was taking too long to remove and the British were literally at the doorstep of the city. She ordered the frame to be broken and the picture removed. Thus she saved it for the ages.

Dolley escaped but lost all of her own personal belongings. The British invaded the city, set fire to the Capitol building and then the White House. Eventually burning most of the government buildings.

Out of nowhere a hurricane blew up and hit Washington DC. It pummeled the British troops. The hurricane along with a tornado forced them to retreat.

After the British were gone President and Mrs. Madison and the Congress returned to the devastation. That did not deter the president. He set up the government in the Post Office, the only government building left standing.

The phenomena of the hurricane and tornado thwarting the British had to have been divine intervention.

Back in those early days of the Republic, the majority of the citizens and their leaders believed in and worshiped God. He stood by them, heard their prayers and saved their government and Capitol, devastated though it was.

This Republic was again invaded on December 7, 1941 by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor and again on September 11, 2001 by jihadist terrorists in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania.

After those events, people once again turned to God for help. Again, He listened and healed them and their land. Gold is refined by being put through the fire.

But I wonder if the same refinement would take place today. So many have turned their backs on God and care only for themselves and what is happening in their own worlds. I wonder, would they know enough to ask God's help, or is it too far gone?

We need some more Dolley Madisons, who are unafraid and will stand up and take a risk.

Oh, by the way Dolley Madison was a Quaker.

RUSSIAN SAGE WITH BUMBLE BEE

Russian Sage is one of the few variety of flowers I can raise that the deer don't like.

This one is around my water pond. It is quite lush this year. I suppose the climate and moisture were just right.

It is a variety that bees especially like. I've seen butterflies on it too.

I like to plant flowers and shrubs that are food for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Some of the flowers that go to seed are favorites of the small birds as well.

I saw something last week I never saw before. My pink magnolia tree was blooming at the very top. That is so weird, since it bloomed abundantly this spring. I hope that isn't an omen of a harsh winter!

As for the deer, the other morning when I hobbled out of bed and looked out the front window, a beautiful doe was in the front yard. She was just posing and surveying the environment and then poof, she was gone.

In a month or so I will have to put up barriers around the holly and rhododendron. The deer love to snack on them all winter. That holly must hurt their mouths.

It is still warm here in NEPA for awhile longer. I will enjoy it while I have it.

SUMMERTIME

In this picture of my water pond, the ornamental frog spews out water as part of the pump recycling water from the top level to the bottom one. He's faded a bit this summer. I think he will need a make-over for next year.

The water lily is blooming and now has two friends blooming farther out in the pond.

The Autumn Joy sedum is still green but this month will begin to turn pink, then by September a deep rose and eventually a rust color. The bees love sedum so I have a lot of it planted around my property. It is a perennial and except for cutting back once a year, takes care of itself.

Next to the sedum is ornamental grass. It too is a perennial and except for cutting back also is carefree. Soon it will push out spikes of feathery white plumes. I love watching it dance in the breeze.

There is deep lilac phlox poking its head between the sedum and grass.

Already it is August. Where did the summer fly to?

I was in Walmart the other day and saw their huge display of back to school supplies.

Yes, I indulged. Now is the time to stock up on office and writing supplies.

As the summer progresses from August to September the colors of flora will deepen and then fade and then the leaves will begin their splashy show of riotous color.

I love the color of the autumn leaves it's just what comes after they fall I could do without. Hint...the color is white.

HUMMINGBIRD

Usually I don't have a problem with my hummingbird feeder. This year I do.

The hummingbirds come in the Spring as usual. I check the hummingbird website to see how far north they have migrated. They usually arrive at my doorstep around the time the bleeding heart and cherry trees bloom.

So I put out a hanging basket of red or pink flowers and fill the feeder and hang it nearby. Voila! Hummingbirds.

This year they fed for awhile and then I noticed the feeder wasn't emptying. Upon closer inspection I found every hole was packed with mud. I suppose some bee or other insect was the culprit, but why they did it, I have no idea.

I cleaned the feeder and unplugged the holes (not an easy task) and refilled it.

I have discovered the hummingbirds don't like their feeder cleaned with soap an Clorox, even though I rinsed all traces of it.

So now I just rinse it with scalding hot water and refill it with sugar water, made from one part sugar to four parts water, nuked in the microwave for eight minutes. Let cool and fill feeder. I don't add red coloring.

Over the last few weeks I noticed the feeder was emptying at a faster rate than usual. When I was watering the nearby baskets I saw a yellow jacket at the feeder. It was slurping sugar water for at least four minutes without a break. Talk about a sugar-high!

So this time when I refilled the feeder I put vegetable oil all around the feeding holes. Bees don't like the oil but the hummingbirds don't mind it. I also have a black cup above the feeder filled with water to keep the ants away. This I bought at Walmart. Now I see they have feeders at Walmart with the black cups already attached.

I now see the bees circling the feeder but don't land.

If you look closely or enlarge the above picture you can see one of the hummingbirds getting ready to choose a feeding hole for a drink.

I had a difficult time getting that picture. The hummingbirds are camera shy, so I resorted to taking the picture through the door window.

I will leave the feeder up until the middle of September. By then they start their journey south once again.

My, my it's almost like raising children again.

TRAIN STATION AT ELKINS, WVA

"Country roads take me home . . . ". Do you remember that song John Denver sang about West Virginia?

What a beautiful state West Virginia is, lush green forests of the Appalachian Mountains.

Expansive vistas, rolling hills, deep valleys and nice, down to earth residents -- that describes Elkins, WVA. Located in Randolph County at the bend of the Tygart River at the junction of US 33 and 219.

We recently spent a few days there and found it to be a small town on the brink of something big.

Trains like the one above, leave the train station downtown and travel up the winding track to the town of Spruce. All along the way, passengers are treated to spectacular views and grazing wild life.

While aboard the longer trip you are treated to lunch and dinner. The shorter trip will get you lunch.

After the shorter ride we had dinner at the restaurant across from the station. The food was delicious and like everything in Elkins, moderately priced.

Next, we went next door to the American Mountain Theater for a "Branson" type show. The theater was started a few years ago by two sisters. Their family members are some of the professional entertainers.

The show was a wholesome, family production of comedy and music. Two hours flew by and left you wanting more.

The theater is so popular, all the Christmas shows are sold out already and it's only July.

If you are one that enjoys outdoor sports and nature hikes, you will feel right at home.

There are many new hotels and campgrounds, as well as restaurants, all of which won't break your piggy bank.

If you are tired of the rat race of theme park vacations, and want something more laid back and family oriented, try Elkins, WVa, you won't be sorry.

Did I mention how friendly everyone is!

TOMATOES

First of all, blame this blog topic on Amy. She talked about her home grown tomatoes in a BLT. So naturally, after my mouth stopped watering, I got to thinking about the round, red, juicy, luscious vegetable or fruit, whichever you prefer to call it.

No matter where you live, store bought tomatoes can't come close in taste to your own home grown ones.

I remember the years after Mt. St. Helen's erupted in Washington, the farmers realized their crops grew bigger and better than before the eruption. They attributed that to the volcanic ash supplementing the soil.

Here in the anthracite coal country of northeast Pennsylvania, our tomatoes are world famous . . . literally.

Every August, the city of Pittston, boasts to have the best tasting tomatoes in the country.
They celebrate their tomatoes every year with the Pittston Tomato Festival. People come from around the world to attend it. (Well maybe they just happened to be visiting someone locally and got to attend by default).

I grew up in the coal town of Hughestown, which abuts the city of Pittston. My Dad always planted a garden, and his tomatoes were to die for. My Mom preserved them in jars for stewed tomatoes in the winter. She made tomato juice and canned it. The tomato juice on grocery shelves doesn't come close to the taste of homemade canned tomato juice. Next came spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and chili sauce. I can still smell the aromatic, spicy aroma of chili sauce cooking on the stove.

I, like Mom, have grown many a tomato in my gardens and canned them all summer along with all the other delicious vegetables. Not to mention the jams and jellies, pears, peaches, and applesauce.

Alas, I now have an empty nest and no longer plant a garden. Once I get past that time in the spring when I should be harvesting lettuce and green onions, I pretty much am okay the rest of the summer.

Although the coal industry isn't prevalent anymore, the coal dust is still in the soil. Perhaps that, like lava ash out west, is why our area grows great tomatoes.

Besides tasting so good, tomatoes are good for you. They are high in Vitamin C,
Potassium, Lycopene, plus a lot more antioxidants . . . but don't tell the kids, they may never eat pizza again!

The tomatoes around here will keep producing abundantly until the first frost. Before that happens you have to pick all the green ones, let some ripen on a window sill, save some to fry up. Have you ever had green fried tomatoes? Oh are they good.

My personal favorite is Bruscetta. Chop up some tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese mixed with salt, pepper and some olive oil (garlic is optional). Put the mixture on toasted Italian bread. Sometimes for variety I add sliced black olives. M-M- Good.

So celebrate summer with a BLT made with home grown tomatoes.

Enjoy, enjoy.
Thanks Amy.

A person's word, what does it mean?

It once meant that a person's integrity and reputation was based on their word.

Many business deals were consummated by a person's word and a handshake.

Now a deal is solidified by any number of lawyers drawing up papers, with much fine print, that can mean anything they want it to in the future. This is commonly known as a "loophole".

A recent event comes to mind. The Congress recently passed a monumental health care bill. In order to get the support of pro-life Democrats, the President unequivocally promised them, and right-to life-clergy and all who'd listen that in no way would abortions be paid for with federal dollars. ( By the way, Congress is the body that writes the bills, the President is the one that signs them.) Madam Speaker Pelosi made the statement at the time of passage, "We have to pass the bill before we'll know what's in it." Just think about that for a minute.

Fast forward to this past week. The announcement was made that the structure was being built for federal funding of high risk insurance pools, involving billions of dollars, in Pennsylvania and New Mexico, where abortion is legal.
Apparently the "loophole" I mentioned before, will allow your federal tax dollars to pay for abortions.

Another part of the health care bill is if you don't have health insurance you will pay a fee. Now the President comes out and says it isn't a fee but a "health tax". All through his campaign he promised those earning less than $250,000 would not pay any increase in taxes. The so-called "health tax" will affect those earning way under $250,000.

Seniors on Social Security have already paid what I call a "silent tax". They did not receive a COLA this year and probably won't next year either. COLA stands for cost of living adjustment which is based on the rate of inflation. They said there was no inflation, excluding food and energy. Excuse me, aren't those the two things that continue to escalate. Talk about "fuzzy math". By the way if there was no inflation, why did Congress receive their COLA?

But never fear, the new health care bill is looking out for the health of our young people. A school in Massachusetts now includes on report cards the BMI score of every student along with the grades they make in the ABC's.

So let me get this straight, it's okay to kill off unborn babies with federal funds, but federal dollars are paying for BMI measurements, because the Federal Government is worried about the health of already born children!

Back to what it means when a person gives their word. I was always taught if you say what you don't mean it is called . . . LYING.

Sadly it's the end of an era.

We just learned that the Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, MO. has closed.

The owner, Roy's son Dusty said they had to close because they were losing too much money due to the bad economy and lack of visitors.

My husband and I have been to Branson twice and visited the museum both times.

It was an extensive overview of Roy and Dale's lives.

We spent hours in there and still didn't see everything.

Trigger, Trigger Jr., Buttermilk (Dale's horse), and their dog Bullet are all immortalized by taxidermy in life-like positions.

Nellybelle, the jeep from the TV show was there too.

There was a section showing pictures of Roy's co-stars from the many films he made.

A video of their children talking about Roy and Dale was very moving.

As you may or may not know they had both natural and adopted children.
They loved children and did a lot of charity work on their behalf.

They also had a lot of sorrow in their lives, having lost several of their precious children.

Roy's natural son Dusty, ran the museum and had a show there.
We met him when he welcomed visitors after every show in the foyer and gift shop.
He was very warm and friendly. He talked to people and had pictures taken with them; as though he was a long lost relative.

I can understand why the visitors have waned. The younger generation of today don't really know Roy and Dale, including my children.

Their popular TV show from the 50's never made it to reruns like "I Love Lucy" has.

The contents of the museum including Trigger will be auctioned off by Christie's

At least we have memories and Dale's books.

Happy Trails Roy and Dale. It was a pleasure to know you.

Saturday was quite the day.

Hubby and I arose early in the morning to go to his Uncle Charlie's funeral in NJ.

Uncle Charlie was 91 years-old and lived independently; then he fell and fractured his hip.

The hip replacement surgery was successful, but a few days after the surgery his 91 year-old body had all it could handle and shut down.

Back to the trip to NJ. When we left home at 5:30 AM it was raining gently.
This was a good thing, since the ground was parched from the previous week of ninety-plus temperatures.

We stopped in Wind Gap, PA for breakfast. When we left the car, there were only a few drops of rain. When we left the restaurant there was a deluge.

It poured like that almost all the way to our destination. The water wasn't ponding on the roadway, it was forming lakes.

We passed one accident scene in the opposite direction, where an SUV rolled over. Not a hard thing to do in that weather.

In NJ we passed a mini-van on fire. The emergency and rescue vehicles were out en masse trying to put the fire out. I sure hope everyone got out okay.

By the time we arrived at the funeral home the rain ceased and the sun came out.

Hubby enjoyed visiting with all of his cousins he hadn't seen in a long time.
It was amazing how many of them looked like their parents did at the same age.

The ride back home was enjoyable. Sunshine all the way and traffic that was tolerable.

On the news that evening, the weatherman told of the area we were in as having an enormous amount of rain in a short time.

He was absolutely correct. The good news was, we didn't see an Ark.

Narrowsburg, NY, a lovely town just across the PA border along the Delaware River.

The people who live and visit there are warm and friendly. It's a family-kind of town.

Every July 4th they have a celebration with a parade and fireworks.

The main street is lined with vendors selling all types of goodies.

The quaint shops are open for browsing and finding just the item you've been searching for.

In the evening after the fantastic fireworks display, families would slowly walk back through the maize of vendors seeking the treat they missed earlier.

However, this year's celebration was a great disappointment.

Someone had a better idea -- or so they thought.

The vendors were scattered all over town. If you were looking for your favorite food item, chances are you didn't find it.

If you were the least bit handicapped you were at a great disadvantage.

After the parade many people left. In the past years they would have stayed and yes, spent money.

This year the weather was spectacular. I suspect many who would have stayed and enjoyed the festivities went southwest to the town of Greeley, PA, and helped out the fire company by partaking of their chicken dinner.

Whoever was in charge of this year's event I would suggest they pay heed to the old adage, "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend.

There were fireworks all over our neighborhood last night.

You know, the kind that whistle then explode, in an assortment of patterns. All colors of the rainbow against and inky black sky. WOW!!

It certainly feels like July here in NEPA (Northeast PA).

The humidity and temperatures are heading upward.

Predictions are for 100' or more.
It's July after all.

It seems once the 4th of July comes and goes the remainder of the summer flies by at break-neck speed.

Remember last summer, it was cool and rainy most of the time.
So enjoy this hot weather while it is here.

Now if only we could preserve it in jars for January...sort of like tomatoes. Could you young scientists work on that please?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

A big thank you and God Bless you, to the brave men and women serving in the military on the battlefront and in support positions all over the world, for keeping us safe.

If you could talk to one of the founders or signers of the Declaration of Independence whom would you choose?

I would like to talk to Benjamin Franklin. Not to interview him but just to sit down with a cup of Earl Grey and a cherry scone and chat.

I would ask him what he thought about how far our country has strayed from the original Constitution and how he would fix it.

He was a brilliant self-educated man and was responsible for many inventions such as the lightning rod and iron furnace stove. But did you he invented swim fins and bifocals?

Learn more about our founders at www.ushistory.org

Whether you are traveling, enjoying fireworks, grilling, camping, swimming or whatever your activity this weekend remember what Sgt. Phil Esterhaus from "Hill Street Blues" told his fellow police officers, "Hey, be careful out there".

We want you back to enjoy America's next birthday. For that one I think I'll have a chat with Thomas Jefferson.

God Bless America and all her citizens. May she ever be the home of the free and the brave.

The Ocala Star Banner online had a poll posted on their web site. It asked "What childhood game do you remember most?"

It mentioned several, among which were hide and seek, tag, climbing trees, collecting fire flies, etc.

I do remember playing hide and seek. In our neighborhood you played until the street lights came on and then you headed for home.

One game mentioned is probably my favorite and that was playing pretend dress-up.

I had a friend who had a large collection of high heeled shoes, hats and purses.
Every time I hear the name Imelda Marcos I think of her.

We never had fancy shoes growing up. Plain, serviceable oxfords were the norm.
Fancy meant penny loafers with real shiny pennies in them.

My friend and I spent hours playing with her hand-me-down collections. Learning to walk in them, picking a hat and purse to match. We were the ultimate young models on our own imaginary runway.

It didn't matter that we both were a bit on the chubby side, after all we were modeling, hats and shoes.

Those were the times of our lives. No cares, no worries, the biggest decision we had to make was what game were we going to play next.

Oh, it's dark outside, let's find a mason jar with a lid, and go outside and catch some fireflies.

June, the month for weddings.

A woman mentioned to me she had attended a wedding recently.
She commented on how beautiful it was.

That statement made me think. I believe all weddings are beautiful. No matter how large and lavish or small and intimate. When two people say their vows, it is a beautiful moment.

I also believe all babies that are born are beautiful no matter their physical features. What is beautiful is the miracle of birth and all that it encompasses.

It comes down to love. The wedding couple pledge to love one another and the baby is loved at first sight.

What happens years down the road between the married couple or to the child, has nothing to do with the beginning for both.

Love means comfort and joy.

Did you ever say to yourself, "if only I had time to..."?
I have so many times I've lost count.

I came across a book I'd bought years ago called "10-20-30 minutes to Sew". It was written by Nancy Zieman, a well-know seamtress who had a sewing show on PBS and owns a successful sewing notions business.

The concept of the book is, if you find 10-20 or 30 minutes here and there, devote them to a sewing project and you'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish.

I've done that over the years with sewing, quilting, and reading. Lately I've found it useful for writing as well. Whether it is idea storming, writing notes, writing this blog, or actually getting into the bones of a story it's works.

So when you can't find time for you, or something you'd like to do, try doing it in increments of 10-20 or 30 minutes.

You'll feel more relaxed and good about you.

After all who's more important?