SEEDS AND MORE AS THEY GROW

Marigolds that sprouted from seeds stuck under the tractor.  Because of Ron's illness the tractor has been sitting there long enough to allow these lovely blossoms to grow.

This is David the mama cat.  She was named as a kitten before I knew she was a she.  Isn't she a pretty girl?

Say hello to David's son Vern.  We call him our "forever kitten".  Vern looks like a miniature of his mom and does not seem to grow.  Boomer's kittens born the same time are three times bigger than Vern.

Don't be afraid of Furbie.  This is the oldest barn cat we have.  This is the only picture of him other than pictures with his head down eating with the other cats.  Furbie will not let me touch him.  He shows up to eat then is off about the business of keeping the barn clear of mice.  Can you tell from the expression on his face that you do not want to cross Furbie?

I call this kitten Lil' Bear Junior.  His father, Lil' Bear Senior abandoned the family when LBJ was born and does not send child support.  This kitten is very soft and cuddly. He finally lets me pat him and seems to be very happy here. I will try to get a picture of his sister Patty Cake to show sometime.  

And to be fair to the chickens, here is a picture of Mr.Gibson with four of her five chicks.  I can not get a picture of them face forward because when I get near them, Mr Gibson screams "Run, run, run away!" and they do.

Goats will appear in the future along with an update on Chicklet and Little Joe.  (It is fun hearing Joe learning to crow.)  Also I will try to include the guinea fowl someday soon

QOTW 10-17-11...WHAT DID WE DO BEFORE

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 10-17-11

Do you always use the drive-thru and can you remember a time before businesses had  pick-up windows?




(My sister suggested this Question Of The Week after she had spent a day in her car going from her drive-up pharmacy window to her dry cleaner's window, to the bank's drive-thru and finally the fast food place.  She managed to run all her errands without getting out of her car. She loves drive-thru and can't imagine what she would do without it.  On the other hand, Ron and I rarely get in a drive-thru line and usually park and go inside.  However, we are retired with lots of time and my sister still manages a home and office workload)

The above picture is of a drive-up library in Arlington, IL.  What is the most unusual drive-thru you have ever found?

RE-REPORTNG THE NEWS

 Why didn't the headline read:

Hotel Casino Proudly Displays American Flag.

A Hotel Casino that shows it patriotism by a proud display of the American Flag, was recently dragged into the news and labeled un-Amercan simply for enforcing their own employee handbook regulations.

“The Casa Monica Hotel located in St. Augustine, Florida, is an American-based, homegrown historic hotel,” their email reads. “The property reflects its pride in America and great patriotism by flying the Stars and Stripes high over the hotel. The American flag greets every guest and employee with its symbolism of our belief in this great country.”

Instead the headline reads:

Hotel Fires Man Who Wore U.S. Flag Pin

One employee decided to wear an American Flag pin and was sent home for disobedience and eventually fired when he refused to remove the pin from his hotel uniform.

The employees of this hotel wear uniforms.  Their employee handbook clearly states, ‘No other buttons, badges, pins or insignias of any kind are permitted to be worn.’ No matter an individual’s national preference, political views or religious affiliation, it is a standard regulation which ensures equality for all Grand Performers (employees).”

The media is painting the hotel as evil and unpatriotic.  The stories on the internet and television show the fired hotel employee in his regular clothes (not the hotel uniform) and they play a sad tale of how he was denied his opportunity to reflect his pride in America.  Of course he is an American.  He is suing the hotel isn't he?  After all that's the American way.  And the media is helping him win his case by twisting the news in his favor.

I did not want to hear this story and I did not want to defend this hotel but it came within by line of sight completely by accident and I saw nothing else to do but try and set the record straight.  My heart simply cannot take much of this leaving out the all the truth.

Keep repeating, "I must not watch the news!    I must not watch the news! I must now watch the news!  I must not watch the news!  I must not watch the news!  I must not watch the news!........        


Here is a uniform that would allow the young man to display his pins and his patriotism.

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF FARTING

I watched a very good movie yesterday called MAO'S LAST DANCER.  It was a drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. 

At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet.  

One particular scene in the movie struck me.  Poor Li was crying loudly at bedtime because he was missing his family.  All of the children were threatened with punishment by their caretaker if the crying did not stop. The other boys were trying to cheer Li up and finally one of them stood in front of him and farted loudly.  All the boys started laughing, even Li, and the crying was over.

Why is it that such a gross act brings such laughter to boys and men all around the world?   (Okay I laughed too.)


I do recommend this movie if you're looking for a good PG 13.

CAPTURE THE FLAG

Here is Rooster Chicklet, in charge of the flock.  Notice his proud tail feather, flying like a beautiful flag unfurled.  You can see that the tail feather balances him and makes him walk proud.

Oops, what is this?  It appears to be a tail feather missing a rooster.  Something seems to have happened among our flock that caused proud Chicklet to lose his banner of rule.

Introducing "Little Joe",  Chicklet's nephew who is only six-months-old.  As you can see, Little Joe is already as big, if not slightly bigger, than his uncle.  You will also notice that Chicklet's tail feather is missing and his shoulders are slumped in shame.  It appears they had a lively game of "capture the flag" and Chicklet lost.  It wasn't very fair because Little Joe doesn't even have a tail feather yet.  He does, however, have a healthy set of spurs. It seems he just might know how to use them.  


And the rooster wars continue...




Be sure and click here if you missed the 10-10-11 QUESTION OF THE WEEK.  I know you have a story to share.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 10-10-11

Do you recall a time when you were persuaded or coerced by a friend, family member or employer to do something under false pretenses?
'

WORLD'S BEST SUGAR COOKIES

Recipe for Crisp Sugar Cookies

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

2 eggs, well beaten

1 cup margarine (or butter)

1 cup cooking oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon soda

4 1/2 cups flour

Thoroughly cream together sugar, margarine and eggs.  Stir in oil and vanilla.  Sift together dry ingredients.  Add to creamed mixture and blend well.  Refrigerate until dough is firm.  (24 hours is good)  Form into small round balls and place on cookie sheet.  Press with fork and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees until lightly brown.

Recipe makes about 10 dozen delicious cookies.


My best friend from elementary school and junior high visited this week with her 94 year old mother.  I do not get to see my friend often and I had not seen her mother in 50 years.  We had a lovely lunch and I served these cookies for dessert plus I was able to send a basket full of cookies home with them.

WHAT TO DO -- WHAT TO DO --???

Our city friends have a dilemma.  Their neighbor's dog barks all day.  These neighbors bring  the dog in at night which is  a good thing, but they leave the dog out during the day.  The neighbors are at work and are probably not aware that their dog barks all day long.  Barking dogs do not make for good neighbor relations.

My friends have just built a new patio and deck and they especially want to enjoy this lovely weather outside.  You can guess how well that is going with the constant barking of the dog next door.

How would you approach this matter without alienating the neighbor?  Anonymous calls or letters are out of the question.  They already know this will have to be handled face-to--face, but what in the world should they say?  Most of us have been on one side or the other or even both sides of this issue.  It usually never has a good outcome.  


Surely out there among my blog friends there is a perfect approach that will help our friends determine a path to follow.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 10-03-11

Which is more therapeutic -- forgiveness or revenge? 

Several months back I came across an article that stated we are healthier when we get revenge than we are offering forgiveness.  This theory came as a shock to me.  Have you ever experienced "sweet revenge" and did it make you feel better?   It seems to me that I have always been better off to "forgive and forget".

Here is another question for those of you who prefer a lighter topic.
You attend a community covered-dish dinner.  As you approach the dessert table you notice one piece of chocolate cream cheese cake is left.  
Do  you:
A. Take it and pile it on top of your already full plate of food?
B. Leave the line to get a clean plate for the cheese cake and risk someone else getting it?
or
C. Scream at the line to halt and announce that piece of cake belongs to you and they should not touch it for fear of reprisals?

THE HAPPY POLYGAMIST

Quick update for Rooster Jack Bauer fans.  We paid him a visit in his new digs and found one very happy fellow.  His new caregivers said it took him about five minutes to take over from Rusty, the resident rooster.  Obviously this was a huge boost to Jack's self esteem. 

.I must add that I have a whole new respect for our remaining rooster, Chicklet.  He's not as big as Jack Bauer but if you could have seen the size of Rusty and know how easily Jack whipped him, you have to wonder what secret powers Chicklet must have to have toppled the reign of both Daryl and Jack. 

Rooster Jack Bauer is living in the lap of luxury, surrounded by beautiful show girls in a pen separate from the working class.  He is feasting on watermelon and other treats.  Jack did not even give us a second glance.

HEAR NO EVIL

 
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Couldn't that same question be relevant to politics, the stock market, daily crime reports, etc?  If we do not hear the horror tales exhibited  on TV and radio or see it in print,  then does our worry and concern even exist?  

We know the the stock market responds to gossip and rumor.  We know officials are elected by who spins the most convincing tale.   We have learned that criminals love the limelight. So if we hear, see or speak no evil, could we possibly keep bad things from happening?

(And, if you prefer to think of something on a lighter note, how long could you function in this world without paper towels?  They are almost as important to me as toilet paper and gasoline.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 09-26-11

What or who influences your fashion choices? Who do you dress to please: yourself; your same sex peers; the opposite sex; your bosses; your mother?


(Other women seem to influence me the most. My sister and my daughter have a big impact on my clothing selection.   My mother is gone but her voice can always be heard saying, "You're not going out in that are you?"  When I worked outside the home, a compliment from another woman meant more to me than a compliment from a male coworker. Clothes selections for my spouse are mine to make. Left to make his own fashion choices, he would simply go naked.)

Thanks Elenore for suggesting this question of the week..

IT'S A WRAP

More Breaking News:  Jack Bauer the Rooster has moved across the road after all.  It seems the neighbor's new rooster is a mean fellow.  Their rooster does not fight other roosters, he fights the people.  Jack Bauer has never attacked any humans so he gets his new harem at last.  Yes, I'm okay with it and have bartered for a few fertilized Aracauna eggs to put in a cache of eggs under my next broody hen.  NOL-NOC Estates has not heard the last of the legend of Rooster Jack Bauer.

WHAT'S HAPPENIN'

Out for a drive around the lake.  This is our neighbor's dock where we can launch our boat.

Granddaughter Hope, age 9, has always loved to play in boxes.  Here she is in her recent one-room box house.  Too bad her feet had to stick out the end.

Here she is at age three in a basket.  Isn't it great to have a box full of Hope and a basket full of Hope:)

Best photo of son-in-law and daughter. It is almost the "only" picture of them together because getting SnIL to hold still for a picture is a difficult task. 

Grandson Ryan visits from college and I tell him he's old enough now to make his bed before he leaves.  And so he does...I don't think I'm eager to see his dorm room.

Ryan also brings me a gift.  The bear's name is Chompers.  Slim is hoping Chompers will be left unattended long enough for her to chomp him up. Be sure to enlarge picture to view bear's teeth.

It just seemed like there needed to be picture time from Granny Annie:)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 9-19-11

Does gender play a role in your selection of medical professionals?

First of all, is this a politically correct question? 

Our primary care physician is a woman.  Our dermatologist also is a female.  Our other specialists such as cardiologist, cancer doctors, radiologists, pulmonary physician, dentist are all male. We really did not select any of them except for our dentist and our primary care doctor.  Ron picked our PCP because her name is Lisa.  He had a previous doctor he trusted named Lisa so I'm guessing it could have been a guy named Lisa as far as he was concerned. Our dentist was an easy choice.  Our bil:) We were referred to the rest.

Thanks to Chelle for suggesting this Question Of The Week.

SHOULD THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

Breaking News:  Have you heard the expression "you snooze you lose"?  Well I snoozed and Jack Bauer lost.  Our neighbors bought an Aracauna rooster this morning.  I will never tell Jack how close he came to the life of a sheik.

You know about my rooster Jack Bauer.  He came home with us and conquered the hen house in a bloody battle with the ruling rooster, Daryl. His rule was a fairly long one until Daryl and his son Chicklet teamed up to run Jack Bauer off the roost. Then Chicklet killed Daryl and took over the reign of the hen house. Little by little Jack Bauer has gained some space for himself, but he still does not rule the roost. (You can also see Jack on my sidebar in his counter terrorist outfit.)

Friends of ours now have chickens and a large portion of their flock contains Araucauna hens. These across the road neighbors have spied our beautiful rooster Jack and would like to have him. Their granddaughter has entered 4-H and wants to raise some competition show chickens.

You all know the adventures of Rooster Jack Bauer and how very attached I am to him. However, this would be an opportunity for him to have his own flock of girls with no competition. We could still see him anytime since he would be so close.

What to do? What to do?

By the way the picture is of Mr Gibson and her five newly hatched little chicks. They arrived as scheduled on September 10, 11, and 12. One blonde and four brunettes.

"I" = INCOMPLETE

We went out for lunch and rushing around caused me to fail to put on my earrings. Looking in the car mirror to check my makeup the naked ears were glaringly obvious. I might as well have been completely naked.

Watch? -- check. Necklace? -- check. Rings? -- check. Earrings? -- OMG!

Our first stop was the drug store to pick up a prescription and right next to the checkout was the jewelry display. Silver earrings on sale. "Do you need a sack for these?" the clerk asked. But when she looked up she could see them already in my ears.

Does a forgetful lack of accessories ever make you feel incomplete?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 9-12-11

Who am I to judge?

Our world runs rampant with judging. We judge politicians, religion, family, friends, etc. We are told to judge not lest we be judged, but aren't there times when it is necessary and even courageous to make a judgement? Think of the last time you thought your judgement call was necessary and unavoidable.

(Example: My children would often bring home new friends and it was my job to pass judgement based on available research about whether my children could associate with them or not. It wasn't a pretty job but someone had to do it.)

09-11-01

WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU

Our sleepy (?) little town with a state highway running through it sits off a major interstate. We have a lot of truck traffic as semi's exit the interstate to avoid weigh stations ahead or other inconveniences that might delay their travel. Automobile traffic also exits the interstate in exchange for our highway so they too may avoid obstacles in their paths like the Highway Patrol.

Monday evening we were enjoying our meal at the local restaurant (yes we only have one) and a local police car with lights flashing came barreling down the highway, made a quick U-turn and pulled over a car. Our police officer hopped out of his car, stood behind his open car door with his weapon pointed and began issuing commands. As the man in the suspect vehicle held is hands out the car window, he slowly reached his left hand down to open the car door. By then our officer was joined by another local policeman and a third, unmarked police vehicle. As the suspect exited his vehicle the police rushed him and threw him to the ground to cuff him. Meanwhile the real entertainment was taking place in the restaurant.

Our waitress was heating up like a cheerleader at a ballgame. "Look at those dumb cops! Look what they are doing to that old man!" (This 'old man' was at least ten years younger than Ron or I). Other locals began to join her outcry. "What do they think this is, an episode of COPS?" "What are those idiots doing?"

I was interjecting "Old men can shoot guns just like young men." "They might be protecting and serving our community." "Who knows, this guy might have been on his way to our restaurant to rob and kill us all and the police stopped him."

A couple who arrived late and were passing through from Texas joined me in my defense of the police. It was an amazing exchange. I got the attention of the waitress and asked, "Why do you dislike our local police officers?" and her reply was "Oh it's not just our police I don't like, it's all police."

Meanwhile Ron was sitting quietly, probably wishing his wife would shut up, and finally he made the one statement that settled this crazy waitress down. He said "I only know that I wouldn't want to have to do their job."

Which team in the restaurant would you have been cheering with...the COPS or the Bad Boys?