Seize The Season

Snowy Pictures

2012-01-25T18:44:00.001+02:00

Sweet Finnish Chili

2012-01-19T21:08:00.001+02:00

Kathy Pontinen Hagen shared this recipe with me. It is from her grandmother Pearl Niska Pontinen which is why she calls it Finnish:

1 onion
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can tomato soup (concentrated – don’t add water)
1 can tomato sauce
1 t. prepared mustard
½ t. cinnamon (or more)
½ t. nutmeg
Dash celery salt (or celery seed)
1 t. chili powder (optional!)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T. molasses and/or brown sugar
1 can kidney beans, drained

Chop onion and brown with ground meat. Drain fat off. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer.

None of these quantities are carved in stone! I like to add extra cinnamon, no chili powder, and both molasses and brown sugar to make it very sweet and unusual. Great with cornbread.

Thanks Kathy – from the other Kathie Pontinen (Hazlett)

And one more for now ...

2011-12-14T06:37:00.001+02:00

Some Extraordinary Ordinary Photos

2011-12-14T06:23:00.002+02:00

Not sure what order the pictures are in but ...

one is a picture of a building painted the exact same color as the sky (on the day we were there). Wonder how often that happens.
the other picture is Jerren with a new haircut.
two pictures are the Marilyn Monroe statue, taken from across the street which, imho, is the way it should be viewed. Upclose and personal is just way tmi.
one is a close-up of the color red.

New Pretend Flyer

2011-12-01T04:26:00.001+02:00

Now Famous Photo

2011-11-07T17:14:00.001+02:00

This photo is in the Veteran’s Center at Prairie State College and will soon be on the front page of the Galion Inquirer (w/o) the flag background.

The Galion picture has identified my dad and my two uncles by name.

Practice Blog Title

2011-11-01T00:02:00.001+02:00

This is just a place to post whatever sort of instructions you want.

American Flag

2011-11-01T00:00:00.000+02:00

O-H-I-O

2011-10-31T03:19:00.001+02:00

Celebrating with a photo.

And Then There's This Tribute to Grapes

2011-10-27T07:45:00.001+03:00

Jane Hackworth Pontinen wrote the poem. Kathie Pontinen Hazlett took the photograph.

Keeping the Grape Theme Going ...

2011-10-27T07:42:00.001+03:00

Seasons of Grapes.

Some Kind of Weird Toffee Recipe

2011-10-24T19:58:00.001+03:00

INGREDIENTS:

• 36 to 40 saltine crackers (1 sleeve)

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter

• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar

• 2 cups (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips

• 1/2 to 1 cup chopped pecans

TO PREPARE:

Line a 10x17-inch baking pan with foil and coat the foil with butter. Arrange the crackers in a single layer with sides touching in the prepared pan. Combine 1 cup butter and brown sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Pour the butter mixture over the crackers. Using a wooden spoon, spread the mixture evenly over the crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and let stand for 2 minutes or until the chocolate chips soften. Spread the chocolate evenly over the prepared layers using a knife or metal cake spatula. Sprinkle with the pecans and press lightly. Chill for 30 minutes or until set. Break into pieces and store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

NOTE: Saltine crackers may seem like an unusual ingredient to use in a toffee recipe, but do not be "fooled" into thinking this is a mistake. This secret ingredient makes the toffee much lighter and crispier than using graham crackers. Teenagers love to make this candy. Makes great gifts for teachers, coaches, or friends.

SERVES: 8 - 12

Chicago

2011-10-15T05:43:00.001+03:00

Pam Likes This Picture of Her

2011-10-14T00:36:00.001+03:00

But it’s 72 dpi … and I can’t fix it! (which is frustrating, of course.)

Instructional Blog Entry

2011-10-13T22:41:00.000+03:00

This is how easy it is to do a blog entry.

(I hope you enjoy the picture, too.)

Sunrise In The North 02

2011-10-12T17:53:00.001+03:00

Sunrise in the North

2011-10-12T01:47:00.001+03:00

Last two .. for now

2011-08-15T15:20:00.001+03:00

More Rachel

2011-08-15T15:18:00.001+03:00

Just a fun photos shoot. The light was right.

Rachel

2011-08-15T15:15:00.001+03:00

Two fun pics. Of course there is more story here. Just no time to tell it.

Lisa and Kathie with Uncle Sam

2011-08-08T15:44:00.000+03:00

Lisa and I visited the Tinley Park benches on Saturday. Too much fun!

Third Generation Dress: Rhiannon

2011-08-08T15:37:00.001+03:00

Rhiannon's school picture for First Grade.

Thoughts on Work

2011-07-07T19:26:00.001+03:00

[D]o what makes you happy! Do not choose a direction or a vocation because of money. You will only get one time around in life, and you should enjoy all of your experiences, not just your payday. Erroll B. Davis Jr.
A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do his work when he does feel like it. James Agate

Winning Photos / Winners :-)

2011-06-20T06:48:00.000+03:00

Since I can't get into my Seize the Season page, I'll post here.

Little Notes on Wisdom

2011-06-14T20:05:00.001+03:00

Clever men are impressed in their differences from their fellows. Wise men are conscious of their resemblance to them. - R.H.Tawney

It is not wise to be wiser than is necessary. - Phillippe Quinault

My Favorite Joke

2011-06-09T20:01:00.001+03:00

This is my favorite old person joke. I'm glad someone finally e-mailed it to me again. I could remember the joke, but not the punch line. Now I've posted it and all I have to do is remember where I posted it. kph

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years, they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards.

One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, "Now don't get mad at me. I know we've been friends for a long time, but I just can't think of your name! I've thought and thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is."

Her friend glared at her for at least three minutes. She just stared and glared at her. Finally she said, "How soon do you need to know ?"

Bed in Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson

2011-06-07T22:43:00.001+03:00

"In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?"

Scrumptious poem! kph

Another Delicious Quote

2011-05-10T23:14:00.001+03:00

One isn't born one's self. One is born with a mass of expectations, a mass of other people's ideas--and you have to work through it all.
V. S. Naipaula

A Little Color is Good, Once in a While

2011-05-05T01:12:00.001+03:00

We must be the First Generation to Get Old ... we wax so eloquently about it

2011-04-12T19:38:00.001+03:00

THOUGTS ON AGING
Growing old is partly an inescapable process of accommodation and adjustment.
Kathe Kollwitz

One does not get better, but different and older, and this is always a pleasure.
Gertrude Stein

Rhiannon and Bella Making a Snow Angel

2011-04-01T20:59:00.001+03:00

Found this picture on my desktop and just had to post it.

Practice Art

2011-04-01T18:56:00.002+03:00

How can I get to the Chicago Museum of Art?
Practice. Practice. Practice.

Invisible Mom

2011-03-14T16:59:00.004+02:00

[This is one of those forwards. Too good to disappear.]

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, Right around 5:30, please.'

Some days I'm a crystal ball: 'Where's my other sock? Where's my phone? What's for dinner?'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature--but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals--we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does."

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, "You're gonna love it there..."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

Point of View

2011-02-11T19:52:00.001+02:00

I picked this up from an e-mail. It didn't really happen to me. But I liked the POV kph

I picked up my nine-year-old daughter from school and asked how her day had gone. A few minutes later, I repeated the question, and again a few minutes after that. Instead of annoyed, Ariana was philosophical.

"Mom," she said, "your amnesia is my deja vu."
-- C. Aponte

Followed by:
Life begins as a quest of the child for the man (or woman) and ends as a journey by the man (or woman) to rediscover the child.
--L. van der Post

Both examples of "Seize the Season"!

Ponder This!

2011-02-03T20:42:00.001+02:00

To be seeing the world made new every morning, as if it were the morning of the first day, and then to make the most of it for the individual soul, as if it were the last day--is the daily curriculum of the mind's desire.
John H. Finley

Three Trees

2011-01-31T23:18:00.001+02:00

From an e-mail. Just read it and think about it. It is a wonderful story for children, imho.

***************
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Pessimist

2011-01-26T21:54:00.000+02:00

A pessimist, confronted with two bad choices, chooses both.
--Jewish Proverb

The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.
--George F. Will

Just an observation ...

2011-01-14T23:01:00.001+02:00

Everybody has been young before, but not everybody has been old before.
--African Proverb

Fate .. Dare I Say It?

2011-01-06T19:32:00.001+02:00

The greatest events occur without intention playing any part in them; chance makes good mistakes and undoes the most carefully planned undertaking. The worlds greatest events are not produced, they happen. G. C. Lichtenberg

How a person masters his fate is more important than what his fate is. Wilhelm von Humboldt

(I would modify the above statement to say "Some of the world's greatest events are not produced ....)

Until you have a child ...

2011-01-06T17:44:00.001+02:00

Until you have a child, you've never been certain you'd give your life for someone, you've never been so proud, you've never been so tired.
~Elizabeth Vargas

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Around the Bend- Beliefnet.com

2010-12-14T00:11:00.000+02:00

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Around the Bend- Beliefnet.com

I turned the radio on ..

2010-11-10T16:38:00.001+02:00

Three in the morning, and I'm still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I'd say
If we were face to face
I'd tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths

Chorus
Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You're gonna do great things
I already know God's got His hand on You
So don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
Love will find you where you are
I know 'cause I've already been there
So please hear these simple truths

Chorus

Say from one simple life to another
I will say come find peace in the Father
Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things I already know
God's got His hand on You
So don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
And thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say

Love in November

2010-11-02T18:36:00.001+02:00

LOVE
There is one fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. Abba Hillel Silver

Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do. David Wilkerson

Crackle Toffee

2010-10-01T19:59:00.001+03:00

INGREDIENTS:
60 to 70 saltines
1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter
1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups (24 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
2-1/2 cups chopped walnuts

TO PREPARE:
Line a 10 x 15-inch baking pan with foil. Arrange the crackers in a single layer in the prepared pan, breaking the crackers as needed to cover the entire surface. Bring the butter and brown sugar to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat. Simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Add the vanilla. Pour evenly over the crackers. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn off the oven. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and walnuts. Return to the oven. Let stand until the chocolate chips are melted. Spread evenly over the top using a knife or spatula. Let stand until cooled completely. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

YIELDS: About 5 dozen

Thoughts on Autumn

2010-09-23T19:56:00.001+03:00

I've never read these before. I like them.

AUTUMN
Autumn wins you best by this: its mute
Appeal to sympathy for its decay.
Robert Browning "Paracelcus"

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
Albert Camus

Just Plain Funny

2010-09-15T22:34:00.001+03:00

Picture Frame
My daughter loved the picture frame her five-year-old son bought her for Mother's Day. She found a photograph of him and replaced the cat photo that came with it. Landon became upset: "Why are you putting a picture of me in there when I bought you a picture of a cat?"
-- Lori Feeney

Girlfriends: With a few variations for lifestyles ... these fit.

2010-09-09T22:56:00.001+03:00

A group of 15 year-old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they should meet at the Dairy Queen next to the Ocean View restaurant because they only had $6.00 between them and Jim, that cute boy in Social Studies, lives on that street and they might see him as they ride their bikes there.

10 years later, the group of 25 year-old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the beer was cheap, they had free snacks, the band was good, there was no cover and there were lots of cute guys.

10 years later, at 35 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the cosmos were good, it was right near the gym and if they go late enough, there wouldn't be too many whiny little kids.

10 years later, at 45 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the martinis were big, and the waiters there had tight pants and nice buns.

10 years later, at 55 years of age, the group once again sediscussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the food there was reasonable, the wine list was good, they had windows that open in case of a hot flash, and fish is good for your cholesterol.

10 years later, at 65 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because lighting was good and they have an early bird special.

10 years later, at 75 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because food was not too spicy, the restaurant was handicapped accessible and they even had an elevator!

10 years later, at 85 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they had never been there before.

Rain

2010-09-08T17:54:00.003+03:00

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said,'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

A Thought To Share

2010-09-04T04:12:00.002+03:00

Note from Kathie: I just got this in an e-mail and although I can't authenticate the information, it makes sense to me (but then don't most "forwards"). Anyway, enjoy it. I did. K.
***
A friend just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection-- the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality "girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin--a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships round activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk bout how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings?--rarely. Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged--not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo ... let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good for our health.

What a Great Metaphor

2010-08-31T21:51:00.001+03:00

THE LORD'S BASEBALL GAME
Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named 'Love.'

Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because 'Love never fails.'

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now
going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, 'He sure doesn't look like much!'

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.

He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence . . for a home run!

The Lord's team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base
but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, 'If your love, faith and wisdom; had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you Home'

'For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.'
Ephesians 2:8-9

Psalm 84:11, 'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.'

Jesus' Test

This is an easy test; you score 100 or zero. It's your choice. If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'

Not ashamed!! Pass this on, if you mean it.
Yes, I do Love God. He is my Source of Existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with him: 'I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me' Phil 4:13

Critical Concepts

2010-08-12T22:09:00.000+03:00

LOVE
We function most powerfully when we are giving love. The world has led us to believe that our well-being is dependent on other people loving us. But this is the kind of upside-down thinking that has caused so many of our problems. The truth is that our well-being is dependent on our giving love. It is not about what comes back; it is about what goes out. Alan Cohen

The absolute value of love makes life worth while, and so makes Man's strange and difficult situation acceptable. Love cannot save life from death; but it can fulfill life's purpose. Arnold J. Toynbee

Age Quotes

2010-08-06T00:07:00.001+03:00

Everyone is the age of their heart.--Guatemalan Proverb

To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.--Bernard Baruch

Love these Quotes

2010-08-06T00:05:00.000+03:00

SENSITIVITY
You don't have to be tough to survive, you have to be vulnerable...it's that sensitivity that makes you know how other people feel...to reach them. Deborah Harry

Growing a family is never easy. Keeping the balance between the solidarity of the family and the individuality of its members demands sensitivity and compromise.Charles Handy

Relationships

2010-07-22T19:40:00.001+03:00

Everyone alters and is altered by everyone else. We are all the time taking in portions of one another or else reacting against them, and by these involuntary acquisitions and repulsions modifying our natures.Gerald Brenan

Paradoxically, we cannot navigate clearly within a relationship unless we can live without it. Harriet G. Lerner

Reputation vs Character

2010-07-19T19:09:00.001+03:00

Reputation is what you are in the light;
character is what you are in the dark.
--American Proverb

Character is what God and the angels know of us;
reputation is what men and women think of us.
--Horace Mann

Thought You Would Like These

2010-07-14T19:24:00.001+03:00

A good friend will fit you like ring to finger.
--Venezuelan Proverb

In my friend, I find a second self.
--Isabel Norton

Book Quotes

2010-06-23T17:19:00.001+03:00

There's no thief like a bad book.
--Italian Proverb

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
--Francis Bacon

Parenthood Jewels

2010-06-14T19:31:00.001+03:00

A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase. --French
Proverb

Perhaps parents would enjoy their children more if they stopped to
realize that the film of childhood can never be run through for a second
showing. -- Evelyn Nown

Utah's Monument Valley

2010-06-10T18:12:00.000+03:00

This is an HDR photo taken on our May trip to Arizona. The actually location was across the street from Monument Valley Park in Utah. It's a combination photo of three exposures. This topographical / natural structure was my favorite. It reminded me of a Greek temple behind a colliseum with statues. So amazing to see.

a picture for you

2010-06-02T05:12:00.005+03:00

This is an actual photo Jerry took. What more can I say?

More from Monument Valley

2010-05-30T08:57:00.001+03:00

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IMG00034-20100527-1927.jpg

2010-05-28T04:19:00.000+03:00

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2010-05-28T00:28:00.000+03:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

2010-05-27T19:09:00.001+03:00

Sunset at the Canyon

2010-05-27T19:05:00.001+03:00

Nearly full moon, sunset in the Grand Canyon and living on the edge.

Grand Canyon is Grand!

2010-05-27T07:14:00.001+03:00

Photos to followM
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Quotes

2010-05-17T19:55:00.001+03:00

Conscience is the voice of the soul.
--Polish Proverb

Shame arises from the fear of man;
conscience from the fear of God.
--Samuel Johnson

HDR and Cartooning from Tutorial

2010-04-17T01:38:00.001+03:00

This is just practice of some skills (Photoshop and Camera) that I'm
working on. It's just a project.

One of my very own photos.

2010-04-15T22:30:00.000+03:00

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Before and After PSC / Photoshop Blend

2010-04-12T21:30:00.002+03:00

HDR Photo Images

2010-04-12T21:09:00.001+03:00

This is just a sample of HDR photography. I hope to be able to do this

Sleep When the Wind Blows

2010-03-24T16:35:00.003+02:00

This story was presented at my high school graduation in May 1964

Years ago a farmer who owned land along the Atlantic seacoast constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic because of the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer.

"Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him.

"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer was well satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, the doors were barred, the shutters were tightly secured, everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away.

The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

MORAL: When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear.

Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

Another Reason to Seize the Season

2010-03-05T21:33:00.001+02:00

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
~Victor Hugo

Celebrate Vivaldi

2010-03-04T18:12:00.001+02:00

The Lord is My Shepherd

2010-03-01T17:23:00.001+02:00

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that'sRefreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's
Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me -----that'sDiscipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that'sConsecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

HER DIARY/HIS DIARY

2010-02-17T04:44:00.003+02:00

HER DIARY

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it.

Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong. He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.

On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore.

He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HIS DIARY

My Snowmobile wouldn't start today, but at least I got laid.

Great Insight

2010-02-15T20:10:00.001+02:00

Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it. -- English Proverb

The same wind snuffs candles yet kindles flames; so, where absence kills a little love, it fans a great one. -- Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Spelling City

2010-02-12T23:27:00.000+02:00

Today's feature was recommended by a subscriber who comments,
"SpellingCity is a great web site to help children learn their spelling
words. Parents can enter their child's spelling list for the week and
the child can play games using the spelling list. Games include
crossword puzzles, fill in the blank, matching, hang mouse, word search
and more. The child can even take a spelling test to check his/her
progress. This is truly a great way for children to learn while
playing." What more can be said! Try it yourself; you might be
surprised how much fun spelling can be even for us adults!
http:// www. spellingcity. com/

Words About Truth

2010-02-04T19:37:00.001+02:00

The most casual student of history knows that, as a matter of fact, truth does not necessarily vanquish….Truth does not carry within itself an antidote to falsehood. The cause of truth must be championed, and it must be championed dynamically.
William F. Buckley, Jr.

When you stretch the truth, watch out for the snap back.
Author unknown

Zach in Africa

2010-01-22T23:33:00.001+02:00

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Here's the Story for this picture

2010-01-21T23:15:00.001+02:00

Nearly 5-year old Rhn came home from and handed her mother a list she had made at school. She told her mother that she asked her instructor to tell her what kind of candy she liked so she could bring her some. Her mom looked at the note and said, "OK, Rhn I know what Licorice is but what is "manom"? She said, "No, mom, that's M and Ms (M&M)s!

Quote from Robert Frost

2010-01-20T01:03:00.001+02:00

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes
on.

photos

2010-01-08T22:25:00.001+02:00

This is my beautiful sister

Over and Done?

2009-12-09T17:18:00.000+02:00

/Forgiveness is the key that can unshackle us from a past that will not
rest in the grave of things over and done with.
~Lewis B. Smedes/

Quotes and a Link

2009-12-02T19:52:00.000+02:00

Bygone troubles are a pleasure to talk about.
-- Yiddish Proverb

Nothing lasts forever – not even your troubles.
-- Arnold H. Glasow

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/

My Coloring Book

2009-11-25T18:47:00.000+02:00

For just a second I remembered some lines to a song that was popular in
the 60s. Don't hear it much anymore, but here are the words. They have
no special meaning .. just a nice, colorful, creative word-picture.

For those who fancy colouring books
And lots of people do
Here's a new one for you
A most unusual colouring book
The kind you never see
Crayons ready
Very well
Begin to colour me

These are the eyes
That watched him
As he walked away
Colour them grey
This is the heart
That thought
He would always be true
Colour it blue

These are the arms that held him
And loved him
Then lost him somehow
Oh...
Colour them empty now

These are the beads
I wore until she came between
Colour them green

This is the room that I sleep in
And walk in, and weep in, and hide in
That nobody sees
Oh...
Colour it lonely please

This is the man
Whose love I depended upon
Colour him gone

Judgment

2009-11-24T19:55:00.000+02:00

JUDGMENT
If we had to tolerate in others all that we permit in ourselves, life
would become completely unbearable.
Georges Courteline

There should be a solemn pause before we rush to judgment.
Thomas Erskine

Whale or Mermaid?

2009-10-29T23:39:00.002+02:00

Recently, in a large city in France, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.

They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.

Whales are wonderful singers, and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans.

They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

Insights

2009-10-28T20:04:00.001+02:00

No one is rich enough to do without a neighbor.
-- Danish Proverb

The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.
-- Hubert H. Humphrey

Teed Off

2009-10-28T20:02:00.000+02:00

Fred comes home from his usual Saturday golf game. "What a terrible
day," he tells his wife. "Harry dropped dead on the tenth tee."

"Oh, that's awful!" she says.

"You're not kidding," says Fred. "For the whole back nine, it was hit
the ball, drag Harry, hit the ball, drag Harry …"

A Forward ...

2009-10-27T15:21:00.001+02:00

Let's think about this seriously. A fresh start for our country and it will let the newly elected know that we have the power to get rid of them too if they don't do what "We, the people" (the majority and working taxpayers) want done.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In November of 2010 the entire House of Representatives will have to stand for re-election; all 435 of them. One third of the Senate, a total of 33 of them, will also stand for re-election. Vote every incumbent out. And I mean every one of them. No matter their Party affiliation. Let's start all over in the House of Representatives with 435 people who have absolutely no political favors owed to anyone but their own constituents. Let's make them understand that they work for us. They are answerable to us and they simply have to run that body with some common sense.

Two years later, in 2012, vote the next third of the incumbents in the Senate out. You'll know who they are because their names will be on the ballot and, in most cases, will be shown as the Incumbent.

We, the People, have got to take this Country back and we HAVE to do it peacefully. That's what the Framers of our Constitution envisioned. Please, if you love this Country, send this (as I have done) to absolutely everyone whose email address appears in your address book. This thing can permeate this Country in no time. Let's make it happen.

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who don't. - Thomas Jefferson

Hey, Wasn't This Us?

2009-10-26T20:16:00.001+02:00

A little house with three bedrooms, one bathroom and one car on the street.
A mower that you had to push to make the grass look neat.

In the kitchen on the wall we only had one phone,
And no need for recording things, someone was always home.

We only had a living room where we would congregate,
Unless it was at mealtime in the kitchen where we ate.

We had no need for family rooms or extra rooms to dine,
When meeting as a family those two rooms would work out fine.

We only had one TV set, and channels maybe two,
But always there was one of them with something worth the view.

For snacks we had potato chips that tasted like a chip,
And if you wanted flavor there was Lipton's onion dip.

Store-bought snacks were rare because my mother liked to cook,
And nothing can compare to snacks in Betty Crocker's book.

Weekends were for family trips or staying home to play,
We all did things together -- even go to church to pray.

When we did our weekend trips depending on the weather,
No one stayed at home because we liked to be together.

Sometimes we would separate to do things on our own,
But we knew where the others were without our own cell phone.

Then there were the movies with your favorite movie star,
And nothing can compare to watching movies in your car.

Then there were the picnics at the peak of summer season,
Pack a lunch and find some trees and never need a reason.

Get a baseball game together with all the friends you know,
Have real action playing ball -- and no game video.

Remember when the doctor used to be the family friend,
And didn't need insurance or a lawyer to defend?

The way that he took care of you or what he had to do,
Because he took an oath and strived to do the best for you.

Remember going to the store and shopping casually,
And when you went to pay for it you used your own money?

Nothing that you had to swipe or punch in some amount,
Remember when the cashier person had to really count?

The milkman used to go from door to door,
And it was just a few cents more than going to the store.

There was a time when mailed letters came right to your door,
Without a lot of junk mail ads sent out by every store.

The mailman knew each house by name and knew where it was sent;
There were not loads of mail addressed to "present occupant."

There was a time when just one glance was all that it would take,
And you would know the kind of car, the model and the make.

They didn't look like turtles trying to squeeze out every mile;
They were streamlined, white walls, fins, and really had some style.

One time the music that you played whenever you would jive,
Was from a vinyl, big-holed record called a forty-five.

The record player had a post to keep them all in line,
And* *then the records would drop down and play one at a time.

Oh sure, we had our problems then, just like we do today,
And always we were striving, trying for a better way.

Oh, the simple life we lived still seems like so much fun,
How can you explain a game, just kick the can and run?

And why would boys put baseball cards between bicycle spokes,
And for a nickel red machines had little bottled Cokes?

This life seemed so much easier and slower in some ways,
I love the new technology but I sure miss those days.

So time moves on and so do we, and nothing stays the same,
But I sure love to reminisce and walk down memory lane

Where God Wants Me

2009-10-16T21:19:00.003+03:00

As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her Alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today..

Now when I am Stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...all the little things that annoy me, I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated. It may be just that God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things. And may you remember their possible purpose.

Dr. Seusisms

2009-08-01T19:38:00.002+03:00

Looking for the best Dr. Seuss quotes?
Here is a list of popular sayings or "Seuss-isms" from
Theodore Geisel "Dr. Seuss" (1904 - 1991) author and illustrator

A person's a person, no matter how small.
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.
Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.
From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.
If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent.
So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.
And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed.
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.
All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot. - Dr. Seuss
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.
Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.
I'm afraid sometimes you'll play lonely games too, games you can't win because you'll play against you
I'm sorry to say so but, sadly it's true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you
From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.
I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights.

I'm Not Sure I Should Post This but ...

2009-07-17T17:12:00.000+03:00

It's not difficult to make a woman happy.
A man only needs to be:

1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44. compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:

45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50. not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:

51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes

HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1. Show up naked
2. Bring beer

Grandparent Stories (Cute)

2009-07-16T00:57:00.000+03:00

1.   She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye...
2.   My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"
3.   After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair.. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"
4.    A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"
5.    My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.
6.    A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."
7.    I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!"
8.    When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."
9.    When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."
10.    A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting," she said, "how do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."
11.    Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant" The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."
12.    A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."
13.    A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."
14.    Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

M 'n Alice w Morse

2009-07-14T19:26:00.000+03:00

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Me and Morse

2009-07-14T19:22:00.000+03:00

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I've Tried a Lot of These

2009-06-23T00:18:00.000+03:00

DID YOU KNOW?
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!

Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm.
This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. NOTE: I learned this from Marilyn.

Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.

The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car . When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material ... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box .. well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at l east e very six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!

Note: I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!

I'm Learning New Things

2009-06-19T23:19:00.001+03:00

I am learning how to blog from e-mail. I am learning how to walk on crutches. I am learning how to use a wheelchair. I am learning how to keep all the stuff I need in one place. Now I just have to learn how to be in the same place that my stuff is in.