Don't Judge a Book, Fruit or People By Their Covers . . . . You Might Miss Out!

I'm sure that I seem to obsessed with food lately, and perhaps I am, but I have been blessed with the ability and opportunity to plan and prepare for my family in many ways these days. I had been purchasing different food stuffs that could be stored, long term, for hard times, even when the economy seemed to be tanking. I decided that it was time to focus on getting our finances in order, and though that feeling has not diminished, I have also felt like I needed to find a balance with that and the food preparation. So, I continue to fill all the empty jars that have been stored, empty, in the attic for many years.

Last time I had these urges, I was grateful for my upbringing to listen to that small voice whispering in my ear and heart. We ended up using the storage to stretch our income when my husband was transferred by his employer!

Right now, he is working week to week not sure what the next one will bring. But that is not what I wanted to share, after all that dialogue! (I just nicked my left hand in two places and need to let the "New Skin" dry with a good coat to protect them while finishing up the chicken I am canning.)

The Point of All This Verbosity:

The other night I was sorting the Mt. Rainier cherries from the Bountiful Baskets . I was removing the ones that weren't perfect and bottling the ones that had no blemishes on them. I had eaten "only" a couple of bags of cherries by that time, so of course I was munching away at the same time. I found that some of the ones that weren't so pretty were the sweetest. They would often burst with sweet, juicy flavor in my mouth.

Next, I pulled out the plums that had lots of funny leathery places on their skins. When I peeled those very unpretty parts from the fruit, there was sweet, juicy fruit in the loveliest deepshade of "plum" . . . go figure. It really was a pretty color, though.

I got to wondering what caused some of these blemishes on fruit. the cherries had been bumped, pushed, and squeezed, from what I could tell. A few had been left too long, without the cold storage condition that would have slowed down the deterioration. Using my limited experience in growing produce, I would guess that the plums might have been damaged with wind causing them to rub on the tree bark or branches or maybe some of the skin cells died in very hot conditions. In spite of these "hard " experiences, they have remained valuable. They could still "contribute" to others. They could still nourish and sweeten the life of the recipient.

How often do we look around us and think, "Eww!" I know I sure have. I remember how hard my first room mate & I laughed at the first impressions ofeach other. I thought she was a terrific snob and so many guys were friends with me, casual,that she was sure that I wasn't a "nice" girl. As we got to know each other that summer, working at a resort in Wyoming, we discovered a great friend in each other! We still stay in touch occasionally and catch up on each other's families and lives. What if we had not opened our minds? How much our lives would have been missing . . .

The same with when I met my good husband. I was not impressed, in fact, he looked so pleased when he found out that my brother was a policeman. that it scared me. What if I had followed my first impulse and avoided him at the firesides? Talk about a loss, he wouldn't be who he is now and neither would I. As I was processing the fruit, I had lots of time to ponder many memories. I have a new appreciation for the opportunities I have enjoyed in my life to meet many and varied people. To learn many lessons from working, serving, and playing beside them, in many circumstances. I am thankful for the richness of my life, for the richness of my children's lives by having these same kind of experiences.

If you don't know me personally, I can be a little rough around the edges. I get fed up and can be pretty "honest" in my opinions. I try to not be too blunt or rude, but sometimes I guess it does come out like that. To those who have been patient and accepting, I thank you. You have been a blessing in my life. I appreciate you. To those who weren't, oh well, life will go on and gee, you've missed out . . . did I mention that I am very humble? Sorry, I am also very naughty sometimes . . . .

Have a good evening and thanks for letting me ramble on while the chicken is pressuring for 90 minutes. My foot is swollen from being on it too much today, I am exhausted from only sleeping for about three hours last night and Jon is about to fall asleep sitting in front of the news. It is time to call it quits, right after I turn off the burner!!

"AFTER THOUGHTS" or perhaps I should say, "AFTERMATH":

I had two chicken thighs that just would not fit into the pressure canner. So I thought, I'll just BBQ them with the bones and scraps that I trimmed off of the breasts . . . . then the scramble started to get the canner up to the correct pressure, clean the kitchen, answer one phone call after another, and just too many other things. All of a sudden I remembered and ran out to this . . . .

Once again, our old family sayings are confirmed:

• If it aint smoking, it aint done . . . or
• Where there's smoke, there's home cooking . . . or
• Where there is smoke, there is mom !

Guest Post By Gabriel

Last night I came over to Nanny and Papa's for my sleep-over. Nanny picked me up and bringed me to her house. At night time we watched a movie and had pizza for dinner. My favorite food . . can I have a snack? . . . Nanny took off the sausage and pepperoni cause it had soy in it.

She put on bacon instead . . . can I put this on Daisy's collar (clip on the end of the rope and other end in his belt loop) . . . to be her lease (leash) . . . can I watch a movie Nanny? . . . why are they breaking his wall?!?! (make-over on HGTV) . . . then we watched a movie and readed a book and then went to sleep (NOT!) (hook rope on toy to be dragged all over the place)

Daisy sniffing out my cinnamon toast in middle of night . . . . Oops, caught! Guess I'll play like I'm asleep . . .

This morning we bwushed our teef and worked super hard cleaning the back yard. I had cantawope and toast and eggs. We made slushies (froze cantaloupe chunks for lunch time smoothies). We had cimamimim toast for breakfast.

Last night we swept on the couch bed. It's good. I swept good . . . and sweeping in the morning. (at least he got to sleep in) We made half of a summer kitchen in the back yard with some pipes. Nanny do you have another one of these? (key clip like on the sock box to keep kids out of it . . . HA!)

This morning I 'm going to the party store with my mom. We're gonna to get party stuff for my burfday. It's July twentyfurd . . I took out my invitations . . did you get one? . . . . No . . . . that's cause my dad thought you 're not invited.

I want fruit weader (leather) . . we need to eat fresh fruit, what kind to you want . . a pineapple slushie . . no fresh pineapple . . . how about cantaloupe or nectarine . . cantawope slushie!!! (big grin and huge eyes). Nanny, what can we do . . . can we tie this up? . . . no . . .why not . . . cause she (dog) wouldn't like it . . what can we do? . . . . can we water? (Now there is a big surprise, how did he come up with that idea?) Yes, We can. Find your shoes . . . Gabriel, Gabriel where are you? . . oops, I hear a front door opening, YIKES !

I seem to have a weakness for little houses, etc. I see one at a yard sale, I always hope there iis someone withme to pull in the reins! No cokmplaints from the monkey gallery!

A 30-Minute Morning

As usual, I have way too many projects going on. Garrett spent the night, so first thing this morning, I had him potty and then set the timer for 30 minutes.

First, we want the way cool seat, not the plain white one that has little boy shield on it . . and , "yes we are sure".

A little entertainment if you please . . . ah yes, and then we could use a little cleaner, "just in case" . . . tuck the shower curtain back into the tub, if you don't mind . . . leave the bath mat for a little cushioning for the story reader would be nice . . . . it can be washed and doesn't blow in the fan breeze . . .

Next, it was time to make room in the big freezer for a big cookie sheet to sit. Process the pineapples, cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap, beep, beep, beep, run Garrett to the potty & reset timer for thirty minutes, wash hands, Potty Song, cover cookie sheet with pineapple slices, put them into the freezer to set up, set the other timer for 30 min.

Next, it is time to start the Killer Coleslaw. Clear the counter again, find the cabbage, onions, drain the chicken bones that were cooked up in the little crock pot, beep, beep, beep, which timer was that anyway?!?!? Oh, time to put Garrett on the potty again . . . sing the Potty Song . . . beep, beep, beep, pineapple will have to wait, toast the almonds, . . . pull up the pants . . . awt the timer, beep, beep, beep, huh? Wash the hands . . . Potty Song, when did I set that again? Chop, chop, chop . . . . pineapple, cabbage, chicken scraps from the bones that crock potted over night . . . . pound up the ramen noodles, beep, beep, beep, OK, try to go poop in the potty . . . . wash the hands . . . set timer, mix, measure, pour, now what does it need? . . . beep, beep, beep, Potty Song . . . . don't I need to go to the store or something?

Time to taste test the coleslaw and

bag up the frozen pineapple . . .

nectarine chunks are next for

future smoothies, and to save

the fruit that is ripening too fast!

Boys (Men) Are From Mars, Girls (Women) Are From Venus . . . and it has to be born in them!

All the kids were over tonight, even the Utah kids. It is so funny to watch all the youngsters. I have always thought it is funny when people say that we train natural roles into children. Just watching them playing, it is all different, no matter what they do.

Boys already have cooties, but it is OK to hug and kiss the other little girls, on the cheek. The games they play are different, the way they play them is different, and the damage is different . . and there usually is damage. Jon just commented that after they eat, they seem determined to tear the place apart! How true, should we let them go hungry?!?!?! We wonder sometimes! :-D

Here are the little artists at work.

Someone has the magic touch with Lincoln . . and it is not one of those rowdy little boys! Poor Gabe tries so hard and usually make Lincoln cry. he'll get better at it! Don't you love little Hummell Figures? I always have, and Tati is my favorite!

We all got together to celebrate "Mentor's" Day. I have struggled with Mother's day most of my life, for one reason or another. I didn't like it when they gave the flowers or whatever to all the women when I was single and it seems to bother Sarah as well. I'm not sure how Mariah felt about it when she was single. So I have decided to have a Mentor's Day instead of Mother's or Father's Days.

There are so many who are "not parents" who do some much to teach and guide the next generation. People like Sherry Dew. I would love to have had someone like that to look up to when I was younger and not finding a husband for so-o-o-o-o long. I know it wasn't that long, from my current point of view. As it was, I did have a single Sunday school teacher who was terrific! She married years after I knew her for the first time to a widower with five kids. She was over forty at the time. I was so happy for her and grateful for what she taught all of us. So to all of you who teach through your love and example, and make this a better world . . .

HAPPY " MENTOR'S " DAY!

The Simple Pleasures of Life . . . .

The heat has been horrible, I have not been able to get ANY control of my life or my poor warehou . . I mean home . . . and just as I seem to be able to put away some of the canning STUFF, BB (bountiful baskets) come up and has Mt Rainier cherries available! I argued with myself for hours on Tuesday and more on Wednesday and finally caved in. I got some of those plus nectarines. The nectarines are hard as rocks, thank goodness! It gives me some time to get the rest of this done! . . . and the pickles . . .

I bought a big ole bunch the little mini cucumbers at Costco the other night. I got giggles , are you nuts looks, and lots of questions as I put them in the basket and checked out. I was telling them that they make excellent pickles and didn't want (more like haven't figured out how) to grow them. It was so funny. The girl at the door checking the receipts was the last to ask, I gave her the same answer, and the last think I heard was her telling the other person at the door, "she makes pickles out of . . . . ." Pretty funny that more haven't thought of it. Of course, pickles are cheap to buy, but they have so much salt that just one can get me into trouble.

So they are all done, Gabe enjoyed trying out some of my canning gadgets, the jars are cooling and Gabe is chilling next to me while I rest my feet before making Nanny's "good mac & cheese".

The simple pleasure is: Gabe sitting next to me, leaning his elbow on my arm. Makes typing a little tricky. Earlier he is leaning on me and put his hand on my arm. Sometimes he does that and gives little pats. If you look at him, he gives you the most mellow little smile. Yes, he does have those little mellow moments. One day when I was so tired I just had to close my eyes for a few minutes, usually about ten will do the trick. Gabe was here, so I put on a movie and told him to sit on the couch. I laid down with my head on a pillow up against him so that I would know if he got up. The next thing I knew, this warm little hand was on my shoulders, gently rubbing up and down, then a little pat, rub up and down, a little pat. Such a wonderful way to doze off. Right now his little hand is just laying on top of my left hand. Everything is good with the world.

My Sentiments, Exactly!

I just ran across this on the blog of a little gal I knew in Holbrook. Karolyn is all grown up now and funny as all get out. So, I totally ripped this off to put here, as it is EXACTLY how I feel every stinking summer!

Ah, Arizona!By Judy Hedding

The devil wanted a place on earth Sort of a summer home A place to spend his vacation Whenever he wanted to roam.

So he picked out Arizona A place both wretched and rough Where the climate was to his liking And the cowboys hardened and tough.

He dried up the streams in the canyons And ordered no rain to fall He dried up the lakes in the valleys Then baked and scorched it all.

Then over his barren country He transplanted shrubs from hell. The cactus, thistle and prickly pear The climate suited them well.

Now the home was much to his liking But animal life, he had none. So he created crawling creatures That all mankind would shun.

First he made the rattlesnake With it's forked poisonous tongue. Taught it to strike and rattle And how to swallow it's young.

Then he made scorpions and lizards And the ugly old horned toad. He placed spiders of every description Under rocks by the side of the road.

Then he ordered the sun to shine hotter, Hotter and hotter still. Until even the cactus wilted And the old horned lizard took ill.

Then he gazed on his earthly kingdom As any creator would He chuckled a little up his sleeve And admitted that it was good.

Twas summer now and Satan lay By a prickly pear to rest. The sweat rolled off his swarthy brow So he took off his coat and vest.

"By Golly, " he finally panted, "I did my job too well, I'm going back to where I came from, Arizona is hotter than Hell. "

Last night I was trying to get up the energy to clean some rugs. I needed to clear the dining room and then drag the rugs into there and the kitchen so that I could do the cleaning over tile, not the "wood" flooring.

It started to rain and I got to thinking , hum-m-m would that be a good way to soak the rug that used to be in the kiddy corner? So in the pouring rain, I was dragging that silly thing out onto the drive way and unrolling it. This morning I went out, sprayed it with a good cleaner from a garden sprayer, and got down on my knees scrubbing it with a hand brush. I didn't seem to be making much good so I got the hose, put on a nozzle, and got to spraying it good, to make it wetter.

AH HA!!! hit. I had a power sprayer in the back that a kind friend had loaned to me to clean the house . . . I wonder . . what the heqq! What do I have to lose, if this thing doesn't clean up BIG time, it goes to the dump. (It came from the kid's corner, but the problem was my four legged puppies, not the two legged ones!)

Out came the power sprayer, on went the hose, it started, third try, thank goodness, and WOW! So, out came the other two rugs I had planned on cleaning next week. Now you who live under HOA rules, lets see you pull this in your front driveway and get by with it! I felt a little ridiculous putting the sign out there, but it is Thursday and there will be early bird yard sale hounds driving around, and it would just be my luck for the rugs to walk off, AFTER I spent all the time and energy cleaning them up!

After I finished with the rugs, I got to thinking of how often Mariah quotes Stephen,"Work smarter, not harder." Well, I just thought, "What the heqq, what can it hurt?" I took that power sprayer to where I need to dig a trench for the pavers so that I can lay the gravel path across the front of the house. it works really well! I did about 65 feet in less than half an hour . . . and then there was the clean up . . . oops!

You can power wash the walls, but your yourself? I don't know . . . has the mud pack worked, am I beautiful yet? . . . time for a shower, the second this morning! For the record, the clean up was worth it!!!