I had a hard time titling this blog, and I may change it as I write more. I'm really wanting to tell of another quote, but it has to have a background or context...I'll say the quote first:
"When you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas."
I've been considering writing books and looking into digital and eBooks. In that research you come across ebook readers. Amazon just came out with one called Kindle. But I'm reading more of the drawbacks as time goes on...like there's wireless internet capabilities that can bring junk to you.
So, get the quote?
Actually eBooks aren't selling that well. Small chapter downloads are and if you're connected into a company with 'associates'. I'm still researching (actually later when I have more time...).
And too...I'm still one for the nostalgia of curling up with a book, not a computer or printer pages!
November 20, 2007
November 18, 2007
Thanksgiving Tree
I put up my Thanksgiving Tree drawing today.
I often get frustrated at the Thanksgiving table when I ask what people are thankful for. Usually someone says something silly and then everyone else does. So now on a large piece of paper I draw a tree, with lots of branches and no leaves, to hang on the wall. I cut a variety of leaves from colored construction paper and leave them sit on a counter with a pen and glue stick. If this is done a week or so before Thanksgiving everyone who comes to our house can write something they're thankful for on a leaf and glue it on the tree. Then by Thanksgiving, we've had time to think beyond tangibles like food, family, God, friends, pets etc to intangibles like Truth, Love, integrity and then beyond to firemen, police, doctors ...
Two gals had heard me talk about it several years ago at MOPS and brought examples of their trees. One gal drew the tree skeleton and they ripped brown paper bag pieces and glued them on, filling in the tree. Pieces were loose and it looked like bark. Another gal had gathered lots of colored aspen leaves and color copied them to cut out for the leaves.
This year I wrote 'gratitude' instead of 'thanks'. It's just something I've been pondering...It's an 'at the heart level' thing I think people today lack. Gratitude could change the world!
I often get frustrated at the Thanksgiving table when I ask what people are thankful for. Usually someone says something silly and then everyone else does. So now on a large piece of paper I draw a tree, with lots of branches and no leaves, to hang on the wall. I cut a variety of leaves from colored construction paper and leave them sit on a counter with a pen and glue stick. If this is done a week or so before Thanksgiving everyone who comes to our house can write something they're thankful for on a leaf and glue it on the tree. Then by Thanksgiving, we've had time to think beyond tangibles like food, family, God, friends, pets etc to intangibles like Truth, Love, integrity and then beyond to firemen, police, doctors ...Two gals had heard me talk about it several years ago at MOPS and brought examples of their trees. One gal drew the tree skeleton and they ripped brown paper bag pieces and glued them on, filling in the tree. Pieces were loose and it looked like bark. Another gal had gathered lots of colored aspen leaves and color copied them to cut out for the leaves.
This year I wrote 'gratitude' instead of 'thanks'. It's just something I've been pondering...It's an 'at the heart level' thing I think people today lack. Gratitude could change the world!
Calvin & Hobbes
This is the day of the first debut in 1985 of Calvin & Hobbes cartoon strip by Bill Watterson. We have all the books. (Except that I see a Teaching With Calvin and Hobbes, that I'd like to see if it still exists. I had a friend do a whole "Beginning Homeschooling" workshop from the cartoons. You could develop any kind of a talk from the cartoons!) We really like them.
Calvin comes from John Calvin. Most of us have heard of him and Calvinism. Him a 16th century French Reformation Theologian. Calvin in the cartoon is an extremely creative, full of energy, imaginative, intelligent, and curious 6 year-old boy.
Hobbes is portrayed as his cynical, 'adultish', large stuffed tiger. Thomas Hobbes is not so known. He created English-language philosophy - nothing had been written in English before him. His most noted book Leviathan, is the western world's political philosophy foundation. Thomas Hobbes was a 17th century philosopher, so they lived at differing times. But the cartoonist liked to use their opposite viewpoints to create the dialogue in the cartoons.
Travis took one set of books we had when he left home. I haven't looked to see if Dawson has the complete set. A hardbound set in three volumes came out in 2005 that I ought to get for ME! Dawson's books are all dog-eared! Dawson wanted a large Hobbes stuffed tiger. I couldn't find one, so we made one.
Calvin comes from John Calvin. Most of us have heard of him and Calvinism. Him a 16th century French Reformation Theologian. Calvin in the cartoon is an extremely creative, full of energy, imaginative, intelligent, and curious 6 year-old boy.
Hobbes is portrayed as his cynical, 'adultish', large stuffed tiger. Thomas Hobbes is not so known. He created English-language philosophy - nothing had been written in English before him. His most noted book Leviathan, is the western world's political philosophy foundation. Thomas Hobbes was a 17th century philosopher, so they lived at differing times. But the cartoonist liked to use their opposite viewpoints to create the dialogue in the cartoons.
Travis took one set of books we had when he left home. I haven't looked to see if Dawson has the complete set. A hardbound set in three volumes came out in 2005 that I ought to get for ME! Dawson's books are all dog-eared! Dawson wanted a large Hobbes stuffed tiger. I couldn't find one, so we made one.
November 17, 2007
Meteor Showers
I looked at my calendar. Tomorrow morning says Wild Woman Morning in 2001. I might say more about that tomorrow...
But...I remembered it's the time of year for the Leonid Meteor Showers, and just read about them in the news. Watching the showers in 2001 is connected to a special morning memory.
This year isn't supposed to be so great, but with the moon gone from the sky not long after dark, you should be able to see some. 3am is their peak. They're predicting about 15+ per hour. Some years there's been recorded 1500 per hour. Our sky might be cloudy tonight.
But...I remembered it's the time of year for the Leonid Meteor Showers, and just read about them in the news. Watching the showers in 2001 is connected to a special morning memory.
This year isn't supposed to be so great, but with the moon gone from the sky not long after dark, you should be able to see some. 3am is their peak. They're predicting about 15+ per hour. Some years there's been recorded 1500 per hour. Our sky might be cloudy tonight.
Piano Recital
Dawson had a piano recital last evening. He did great. His piece sounded so good on a Baldwin Grand Piano and in a space designed for concerts. He claims he messed up and had to improvise for 4 measures, but we couldn't tell.
That's the challenge his teacher likes. She was highly recommended and has older students. Dawson came to her in his mid teens and couldn't be started in a typical kid book with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! He had already been playing from ear in worship bands for years, and could read music, but not a lot of training there. And he'd done violin for years since really little.
She keeps picking his brain (even on general subjects of life - she likes him. I told Dawson she ought to schedule an extra 1/2 hour just for talk time.) But she really wants to learn to improvise. Another piano friend of ours has said years of piano lessons does not teach people how to improvise and he's often called upon to teach that. Well Dawson's piano teacher is forcing herself to practice it.
I'm sure she could tell where he improvised, not skipping a beat, or making the typical faces people do and you know they messed up. She said it's the best she's heard him play. Another lady said he's like John Tesh. Dawson was embarrassed about that, but I'm sure it had to make him feel good. He knows who he is since I have some of his CDs.
That's the challenge his teacher likes. She was highly recommended and has older students. Dawson came to her in his mid teens and couldn't be started in a typical kid book with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! He had already been playing from ear in worship bands for years, and could read music, but not a lot of training there. And he'd done violin for years since really little.
She keeps picking his brain (even on general subjects of life - she likes him. I told Dawson she ought to schedule an extra 1/2 hour just for talk time.) But she really wants to learn to improvise. Another piano friend of ours has said years of piano lessons does not teach people how to improvise and he's often called upon to teach that. Well Dawson's piano teacher is forcing herself to practice it.
I'm sure she could tell where he improvised, not skipping a beat, or making the typical faces people do and you know they messed up. She said it's the best she's heard him play. Another lady said he's like John Tesh. Dawson was embarrassed about that, but I'm sure it had to make him feel good. He knows who he is since I have some of his CDs.
November 15, 2007
Rhubarb Crunch
I'm taking a break before making us bean tostadas for supper, and then before cutting up veggies to go with a dip I made earlier for Monte's Geolly Boys coming for a geology meeting this evening. I just put a second rhubarb crunch in the oven since I broke into the other one and Monte's complaining about it not being enough. And besides, we hope to have some left over for us!
I made a California Dip with even amounts of sour cream and mayo. But instead of putting an onion mix in from the store, I sauted up till golden and some browning, chopped onions. They need to cool before being added. I parboil carrots, beans, and broccoli and chill. But our favorite is preboiled and cooled fingerling potatoes. Them and snow peas are the best in the dip.
I had to have this rhubarb recipe I tasted when we were at a party, and have made it several times this summer. But I've not made it with frozen rhubarb. Heather and me had harvested and froze bags of it in the quantity for this dish. Thus the piece eaten out of it. I had to see if the frozen rhubarb made it mushy, but no, as good as ever! I didn't let it thaw, but broke the pieces up in the bag, before adding.
Lightly grease a 9x9 and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
First mix together 1/2 cup butter and
1 cup brown sugar, till crumbly. Then add in
1/2 cup flour, and then
1 cup oats. I do it in my food processor.
Spread 1/2 in the dish, then layer the rhubarb, and then the other 1/2 of the mixture.
Put 1/2 cup cut up pecans (I add a bit more) on top. I press in a bit.
Bake for 45 minutes.
I made a California Dip with even amounts of sour cream and mayo. But instead of putting an onion mix in from the store, I sauted up till golden and some browning, chopped onions. They need to cool before being added. I parboil carrots, beans, and broccoli and chill. But our favorite is preboiled and cooled fingerling potatoes. Them and snow peas are the best in the dip.
I had to have this rhubarb recipe I tasted when we were at a party, and have made it several times this summer. But I've not made it with frozen rhubarb. Heather and me had harvested and froze bags of it in the quantity for this dish. Thus the piece eaten out of it. I had to see if the frozen rhubarb made it mushy, but no, as good as ever! I didn't let it thaw, but broke the pieces up in the bag, before adding.
Lightly grease a 9x9 and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
First mix together 1/2 cup butter and
1 cup brown sugar, till crumbly. Then add in
1/2 cup flour, and then
1 cup oats. I do it in my food processor.
Spread 1/2 in the dish, then layer the rhubarb, and then the other 1/2 of the mixture.
Put 1/2 cup cut up pecans (I add a bit more) on top. I press in a bit.
Bake for 45 minutes.
November 14, 2007
More...Anniversary
Just had to write, since what we did is so apropos to us...Meaning we so often go with the flow or are spur-of-the-moment...Which is what happened tonight.
We don't always do a big deal on THEE day, but spread out the celebrating. And with a group of men coming tomorrow night, the Geolly Boys, for Monte to share his geology and maps, and all in his setting...We've decided to celebrate moreso later.
I did make Monte and me a nice supper. Just when we were done, the phone rang...Friends we don't often see have the same anniversary date as us, and called to wish us happy anniversary. They were celebrating at The Bistro across the roadway from our road turnoff. So Monte said we'd come for dessert.
We changed clothes...I was sitting checking emails and Monte looked at my shoes and asked if I could walk in them..."They are comfortable"...OH...We didn't have a vehicle!! (Dawson and Monte are going to look at used vehicles Saturday.) We were going to have to walk (a little over a mile)!
It was cold. It was dark. Dogs barked, and we hoped they were contained. But it was an adventure. I have favorite foods I use in certain nationality restaurants to measure them by. In this case I had Tirimisu. It was excellent.
Great conversation, atmosphere, friends and food...AND totally spontaneous.
We don't always do a big deal on THEE day, but spread out the celebrating. And with a group of men coming tomorrow night, the Geolly Boys, for Monte to share his geology and maps, and all in his setting...We've decided to celebrate moreso later.
I did make Monte and me a nice supper. Just when we were done, the phone rang...Friends we don't often see have the same anniversary date as us, and called to wish us happy anniversary. They were celebrating at The Bistro across the roadway from our road turnoff. So Monte said we'd come for dessert.
We changed clothes...I was sitting checking emails and Monte looked at my shoes and asked if I could walk in them..."They are comfortable"...OH...We didn't have a vehicle!! (Dawson and Monte are going to look at used vehicles Saturday.) We were going to have to walk (a little over a mile)!
It was cold. It was dark. Dogs barked, and we hoped they were contained. But it was an adventure. I have favorite foods I use in certain nationality restaurants to measure them by. In this case I had Tirimisu. It was excellent.
Great conversation, atmosphere, friends and food...AND totally spontaneous.
November 13, 2007
Fulfilling Day
Finally off my feet. Been a full day of baking. Have 8 loaves of baguette bread in the freezer, 12 loaves regular bread, 4 dozen dinner rolls, and 2 dozen cinnamon rolls. Made 3 chicken pot pies, one for supper and two to freeze. It's a fulfilling feeling.
Monte and Dawson crawled into a 2 foot crawlspace under the laundry room and jacked up the floor (I'd be claustrophobic!). For a long time we had no garage, so that side of the house was never finished with siding, and being the north side, snow didn't melt, and some rotting happened.
I saw a hole in the ground in my perennial bed when I went out to fill my bird feeders. So Monte dug and followed the pocket gopher run though the bed and out into the meadow. He found 3 salamanders. I followed smoothing everything over and fixing the disrupted plants. Now we watch...
Thanksgiving is next week. My stove is failing, with 2 burners dead, and one working consistently and one iffy. We've ordered another. It'll be a glass top with a 'bridge' burner and convection oven. I'm just a bit nervous about timing, and too, a totally new kind of oven. And I've got 16 people for Thanksgiving!
So that's all for this just a 'dear diary' post...I woke up...I did laundry...
Monte and Dawson crawled into a 2 foot crawlspace under the laundry room and jacked up the floor (I'd be claustrophobic!). For a long time we had no garage, so that side of the house was never finished with siding, and being the north side, snow didn't melt, and some rotting happened.
I saw a hole in the ground in my perennial bed when I went out to fill my bird feeders. So Monte dug and followed the pocket gopher run though the bed and out into the meadow. He found 3 salamanders. I followed smoothing everything over and fixing the disrupted plants. Now we watch...
Thanksgiving is next week. My stove is failing, with 2 burners dead, and one working consistently and one iffy. We've ordered another. It'll be a glass top with a 'bridge' burner and convection oven. I'm just a bit nervous about timing, and too, a totally new kind of oven. And I've got 16 people for Thanksgiving!
So that's all for this just a 'dear diary' post...I woke up...I did laundry...
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