Nature at its Best

Nature is certainly smarter than we are. We have been filling bird feeders for years, and feeding peanuts to our family of squirrels. Each year our birds bring their new babies to our yard and teach them how to feed. The Mother squirrels live in trees across the road from our yard. As soon as their babies are big enough to cross the road, she brings them to a very old nest in our giant maple tree - just a few feet from our feeders. She keeps them up in that nest until she has recovered her long spell with no food, and then she teaches them the cautious way of feeding at our yard.
But there is more to it than that, as I found out today and tonight. The mother birds brought a host of babies today and they landed on our big bird bath. The mother drank her fill and then went to the feeders. The babies sat looking at their reflections in the water, but did not drink. Why? Then the mothers returned, one at a time, with seed and fed the babies, who were waiting there. When all had been fed the mother drank again, and the babies, watching them, also learned to drink safely. In the meantime several larger birds took a bath and sprayed all over the place.
I tossed out the days ration of peanuts (not in the shell) to my squirrels and suddenly four pigeons and 2 bluejays swooped down and gathered up the peanuts before the squirrels could. I had never seen them steal the peanuts before. No wonder the squirrels remained hungry. Then tonight, around l0PM> I smelled a skunk in the area and wondered where it was. They are rare around here. Well, taking a peek out the side window ( there is a yard light that illuminates our feeders out there) I spotted the skunk digging up the peanuts the squirrels had buried. Then he wandered off down the yard, across the street, and to the yard area behind an apt. house over there. Apparently, his home is in that area and he is using our yard for feeding purposes also.
So I will switch back to peanuts in the shells and hope the squirrels take them back to their nests and not bury them in our yard. Hmmm.
My advice is never try to fool Mother Nature, or the wild animals that know her. Ha!

What is Beauty?

We often say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". What do we mean by that? Simply put, each of us sees things differently and with our eyes and our feelings we record beauty in our own way - not necessarily as others see it. On the front page of our newspaper the other day was a gorgeous picture of Keene Valley, N.Y. For those of you who do not know what, or where, that is, I will explain.
Keene Valley is a tiny hamlet nestled among many mountain ranges on one of the few roads up into the Adirondack Mountain Preserve (Forever Wild). After you leave the main highway North (Rt.87 - called the Northway) you take a side Rt 73 and begin to climb steadily up into the mountains toward Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. It is breathtaking, steep and narrow - crawling along the sides of cliffs and clinging to the earth as best it can. There are the Cascade Lakes - deep and blue - and the danger of falling rocks. This is mountain climbers heaven. But Keene Valley nestles in the middle of nowhere and the ranges are green and awesome. In the picture it is just a tiny,little opening in the greenery and it marches uphill to Keene, the on to the Olympic Complex and Lake Placid and another 9 miles to my hometown of Saranac Lake. It is then that you see the beauty of a thousand little islands in a long, long string of lakes and rivers - all green, all plush, and forever wild. Without this road - this whole area of upstate N..Y. would be cut off from the rest of the world, as if it didn't exist.
You can visit or settle in - to the perfect , ideal place to be at peace and enjoy every day without the confusion of traffic or people. You may wonder why I ever left it. Well, that is another story, but I love my mountains, and I often drive up these roads to be among them again. It always refreshes me and my spirit and no matter how far away you go, once you have lived there, you will always come back. It doesn't change much and perhaps that is what draws us back. It is forever wild, and it is THERE.

Vietnam AGAIN?

On the news today I heard that the commander over in Afghanistan is being called on the carpet for some remarks he made about the situation there, and how it is being handled. I agree with him and applaud the courage it took to say so, knowing he would probably be sent down for it.
When politicians make the decisions in a war (and this is a war) the U.S. and its troops lose. Why? Because you can't fight a war from behind a desk and when you are trying to get re-elected or playing the Washington game. Who is thinking of the lives involved here? The politicians, the Pres.,the press??? Not by a darn sight. They guy who has to order them to go to their possible death is the only one who cares or even knows what is going on. While he is sending them out on deadly missions, the Washington crowd are having Afghanistan's Pres. to dinner and patting him on the back.
Why would he want the war to go well,? If it did, and we had any idea of WINNING , he would lose all that money and status and be nothing again, just like before. This is politics. This is not war. This is not winning anything for anyone. We will not be better off, Afghanistan will not be better off, only the terrorists and the Taliban will be better off and that is exactly what they are waiting for. Vietnam all over again and with the same results.
When we go to war with no hope of winning, and all kinds of restrictions that prevent that - there can be no good outcome for anyone and a lot of decent boys and gals lives lost. What for? Politicians, that's what. Come on people, isn't it time you voted and had some say in this. Maybe your son is there and maybe not, but everyone's son is worth taking the time to undue this horrible mess we are in. REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!!!! Penmom

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Spring has sprung, the flowers has ris, I wonder where the birdies is? That is an old line used frequently by Seniors like me, but it does say it all. My flowers are indeed rising, and our feeders are full of birds and the squirrels have come to fill up on peanuts. I just love having the yard full of animals,etc. and they are so cheery. The gardens are early this year and I hope a late frost doesn't get the new buds. The lilacs are out, the lilies are up and about ready to bloom, all the perennials survived the winter and are flowering out. The Funkia grows an inch per day and that is no joke. However, no one but my brother and I seem to know what Funkia is. Well it is similar (but not exact) to Hosta. I have 5 varieties of Hosta among my Funkia, but it is easy to tell the difference. The Funkia has curly leaves and is much prettier than most Hosta plants. It came from a very old batch that grew on the stonewall of my brother's greenhouse land. When he moved South to live, he gave me a large clump of the bulbs and I planted them. They are now totally covering the garden in front of the house and I have spread them to the side and back yards as well as giving away a lot. In the old days this kind of plant was seen around old farms and houses and you didn't buy it. It had to be given to you, as was my starter bunch. So maybe that is why it is different and the name suggests "earthy smell" as described in my books.It gets the usual blue flowers in mid-summer but they are slightly different than all the other varieties.
Our feeders are emptied every single day with our Cardinals, Goldfinches, Red-headed sparrows, Red-headed woodpeckers,etc.etc. Most of our regulars spend the winter with us and don't migrate. We feed them all year long. They are so used to us they sit on top of the feeder pole while Fred fills and changes the feeder tubes. Then they feed like he hadn't even been there. If anyone has garden stories, I would like to hear them. Much of what I have planted all around the house are varieties that are very old or unknown now. Interesting.

Slavery

I'll bet the first thing that comes to your mind is the Civil War and black slaves. Well, there are many kinds of slavery, in many colors and many disguises. Be wary.
No one thinks about being a slave to computers, Black Berrys, IPods, Cell Phones, emails, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs,etc. - but how many people do you know, right now, that are slaves to most all of those. They can hardly get through a day without constantly attending to their masters (the above electronics). SLAVERY! Heavens no, I am not a slave to those - they serve me. Oh! really, think again.
If we lose our freedoms of opinion, the media, and speech (without fear) are we not slaves? You bet! Yet, we give away more of those every single day. The inroads are clever, hidden, inching along day by day. When something like the Health Care Bill scared us half to death, we began to wake up and notice - but is it too late? Have we waited to long to protect our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution?
Women, for centuries have been slaves to house work - mostly because they love their families - but when they were needed in WWII to fill in for the men who had gone off to war, they were suddenly liberated. They were productive, they learned, they were independent and making money, yet still taking care of their families. After the War they were all expected to return to the home and forget everything they had attained. Who became the slave then? But they had tasted freedom and wanted more. So they went on to combine job and home and what happened? They were soon slaves to both. They wanted it all, but couldn't balance all of it without losing something.
So when you think of slavery today, you need to remember that there are all kinds, and our Constitution can no longer protect you from any of them if you don't wake up and save it, for all of us. Congress will not help you. They are slaves to politics and its demands. Each of us must look to our own vote and use it wisely.

Health Memo

Dear Confused Readers, Just a note of warning. Please read the fine print and then read it again!! My Prescription plan said I would save $3 per month under my new c0-pay system and though it was a small gain - I will take anything I can get. Well, I received a bill for $75 in the mail to cover 3 months of my new coverage, and was advised that now (do to my low income) I now qualifed for assistance and lower co-pays. What??? After talking to a lovely young lady who was kind enough to explain it all to me, it seems that when we actually paid Income Taxes on the better income we used to have, we were forced to have a deductible plan of $1600. After we paid out that much,ourselves, we would then be entitled to a co-pay. Well, our prescriptions are not very costly so we never reached our $1600 but neither did we have to pay anything to our company.

Now we have LESS money, pay no Income Tax, and for only $75 I can get better coverage. Does any of this make sense to you? Of course not. Well, the government assures me that I am better off than I was, just in case, I get put on a prescription that costs over $20.00. What about my $75 and my Assistance??? Seems to me I am paying more, for less???? Well????

NOW YOU KNOW

NOW YOU KNOW what you voted for, or against, and how the future will go from now on. You may have thought the world was your oyster. Sorry, no pearls. You may have fought to keep your freedoms. Sorry, no luck. All in all, you lost, I lost, the US. lost, all around.

You might even conclude that the whole world has lost the last hope it had in the experiment of the U.S.A. If it can't work here, where can it work? If we can't fight to keep our hard won freedoms, who will we turn to? Some may think this is a turning point. Yes, it is. But not in the direction we needed to go. Those who fight overseas to insure the freedoms for some other lands, will not see this as a victory, but a loss. If we can't sustain freedoms here, why are we even trying to help others to take the first steps toward freedom? Those lands will also wonder and question and be afraid that the goal posts have just been torn down and they did not even get to cross the line in the game.

Politics is a dirty word and now the consequences are even dirtier. There is one last chance, America!! When you vote each November - remember this disgraceful moment and vote out anyone (no matter the party) who didn't uphold your freedoms. The freedom to vote is precious and each and everyone of us has a duty and a right to do so. If you do not - then you are part of the problem that got us to this point. Stand up and be counted, over and over.

Some New Tips

I am an old-time scratch baker, but I also love all the shortcuts I can find and use. For instance: I hate cooking macaroni or spaghetti. A waste of time standing around waiting for it to cook just right. So, I make at least a 2 lb. batch, rinse and then I separate it into several freezer storage bags. Do not freeze,however. From this I can make a tuna salad whenever I want, or a batch of goulash, or a tuna mix with Cr. of Celery Soup as the liquid.

No waste, no fuss and right at my finger tips.

I also like to prepare onions and gr. pepper (CHOPPED) AHEAD OF TIME. Then I put them in sm. individual containers,(tight tops) and put them in the fridge. Anytime I want to add onions or gr.peppers to any dish, salad,etc. it is right there and saves a lot of time.

When it comes to potatoes, everyone knows how fast they spoil if not cooked. So instead of cooking just two, I do at least 6 baked. The extras I peel when cooled, and save for potato salad or fried potatoes. Sometimes I boil them on the stoves with the skins (washed first) on. When they are done the skins slide right off and the nutrients are saved. I chill these and use for salads, mashed potatoes and any other form I happen to like. They stay for a long time in the fridge-so don't be afraid to save some for a quicky.

When it comes to baking, I like scratch methods because they are different than the pkg.ones. But there are dozens of things you can do with a cake mix beyond making a cake. Check the sides of the boxes for ideas for Google recipes. Shortcuts are neat. Makes baking fun.

Furious

Is it possible for Congress to get worse than it is right now? You bet! Now that they have debated,uselessly, for a year, they have found a way to blame it on the Republicans. It's the Rep. fault because they wouldn't compromise to get this awful Health Bill passed. Good Lord, has no one in Washington been listening to the PEOPLE shouting how they don't want this bill, they don't want government running the health programs.?

Listen, Congress, before all of you are voted out quicker than you can bat an eye, and I don't just mean Democrats, Republicans but Independents too. None of you are listening to us. None of you care about anything but yourselves and your greed. You can't see beyond your bank account while America is going dead broke. If you cared about US, you would be doing something drastic and sensible for the whole country. But no, you won't jeapardize your strangle hold - after all you have pensions, med. coverage,etc. guaranteed no matter what happens to the rest of us. Beware, Congress, we are going to vote this Nov. and you all should be shaking in your boots. penmom

What have you read lately?

Reading is the greatest gift you can have, and enjoy. I recently read Jeffrey Archer's book called "As the Crow Flies", it is not new - published in l991, but if you can find it, by all means it is well worth reading.

It takes place in London's East End at White Chapel and the main character is Charlie Trumper and it progresses along from 1900 - 1970 as the generations evolve. I love this kind of book because you get such a wonderful look at the family , as a whole, and all the things that affect it and push it along. It is the story of a young man who starts out with a "barrow"(sort of like a modified wheelbarrow with items in it for sale) and gradually progresses to the World's largest store and it crosses several continents and spans lots of generations.

Well, worth reading, as are all of Archer's books and a great look into England life and society. There are many things in the electronic world now that may destroy books, per se, but it will never destroy reading or the enjoyment to be had from it. Pick up a book and let me know what you are reading and why.

Olympics 2010

I am an avid follower of Winter Olympics because I lived just 9 miles from Lake Placid.N.Y. where the l932 and 1980 Olympics were held. Many of the venues still exist there and are used constantly for World Championships and training future contenders. Recently on PBS a great show on these very Olympics was shown and can be obtained from PBS . I recommend them to you. When you see the present Olympics with its size, gorgeous venues, 2 weeks of entertainment and thrills, you would be amazed at how small they used to be. But they were the forerunners and the hopes of all those who loved to enjoy Winter to its fullest.

My children have been fortunate to also see all of the Placid venues, both Summer and Winter so they know what goes into these wonderful events. Many of the young people in the North Country are in this Olympics and it is like they are our special envoys. Watch them and cheer. As children we loved skiing, skating, sledding, ski joring,etc. and we weren't even contestants. Give your children these thrills when ever you can. You just may have a Gold Medal Winner in the future but even if you don't, they will know the thrill of Winter and sports.

People Watching

A grocery store is the greatest place to "people watch. You can see the whole world and all its levels pass through a market. You will also find complete strangers asking you questions about products, or offering you unsolicited advice. I must have "employee" written on my forehead because everyone asks me where to find products and whether it's a good buy,etc.

Most women are good shoppers. I don't get upset when their kids are crying and hungry. I'm even tolerant when they hold up the express line while they search for 2 cents in change.

Men, on the other hand, are the most interesting specimens. You can tell a lot about them by what is in their cart. Interesting choices speak volumes. Some have lists (from wife) but now and then you'll see a man who knows exactly what he is doing. This man can cook and shop and budget. How do I know? Well, I have 3 sons and they all know how to cook, shop and budget. Yes, I know it is rare but I started teaching them these things early, along with my dau.-and I've never been sorry, nor have they.

You may or may not marry, but you always have to eat and keep up an apt. or house, Knowing how makes you 3 steps ahead in the game. So, smile at the next man you pass in the market, who knows what he is doing. He may be the "catch of the day."

Tea Party

I hoped and prayed that the good, old American people would see what is going on in America right now, and rise up and make themselves heard. It is happening and I am sitting here cheering loudly. I had about given up hope that there was something we could do, collectively, to make a difference. Well, I should have trusted in the "common man and woman" in America.

Incidentally, they are the ones getting up and going to work everyday and paying mortgages, kids tuitions, taxes, taxes,taxes. It is their money that pays for the GOVERNMENT. It is their GOVERNMENT, or at least , it was meant to be.

Rise up my dear Americans and don't stop until you have made things right. Yes, I am a long time doubter, but I would dearly love to be made wrong. Show me what you have and I will stand by your shoulder all the way. America belongs to US AND OURS, and we paid for it and we will be paying for it for generations to come. Go Tea Party, go Palin, go Americans, all the way.

Comfort Food

This AM we were greeted with about an inch of fluffy(clean) snow and the landscape looks lovely. It remains cold so ,of course, our thoughts turn to comfort food and warmth. How about some Molasses Baked Beans and corn bread. My mother always used to say "Pea Soup and Johnny Cake makes a Frenchman's belly ache." Well, I no longer make pea soup but I still make Johnny Cake. As for the Baked Beans, that is a long story. Many people have asked me for my recipe and I can never give it. I have none. I did show a neighbor of mine how to make it and her husband, who had never been satisfied with the beans he got - not like his Mom's - was tickled pink and to this day he does not know how she did it - but he loves them.

On a day like this, when I was a child, I bundled up in WOOL snowsuit and spent the day outdoors - only giving in when my suit was so wet I could hardly walk. Then Mom would hang it on a bar in front of our Big Bertha stove (always on) and you could smell the wool as it dried out. No TV,no radio, but lots of books, warmth and that wonderful tired feeling you get from being outdoors and enjoying yourself. Try it sometime.

Heavenly Aroma

When I make French Goulash the whole house is filled with a delicious aroma and my kids can smell it miles away and come running. Never fails.

Goulash is supposed to be a stew, with meat and vegetables and gravy, but Fr.Goulash is more like spaghetti with meat sauce. Give it a try and let me know how you like it:

Brown one pound of ground beef in a deep skillet, with chopped onion. Drain off fat.

Add: one lg. can of Puree, or Chrushed Tomatoes, one can of tom.sauce (Ital.Flavor) and one can of Tomato Paste (also Ital.Flavor). Stir thouroughly and simmer on low for about l5 min.

Serve over macaroni, any kind of pasta, noodles, rice, even biscuits (homemade,of course).

This produces enough for about 4 people, if they eat like my men do. Keep left overs in the fridge and it gets better as a left-over. P.S. Flavor to taste with Ital.spices, or whatever.

Tomorrow it will be corn bread, corn muffins (filled with rasp.jam) and a warm house in this bitter weather. Yum.

WISE SHOPPER: there are 4 big groc.chains in my area and they are in the throes of a competition race and I am going to be the winner. I pick out the item (only sale items) I want or need and make the rounds. Not necessarily all in one day. I steel myself not to be tempted to buy other items as I pick up my goodies, and by week's end I have a goodly stock on my shelves and have cut my groc. bill almost in half. Sounds impossible? It isn't. However, it helps a great deal if you have stock shelves in your home and that you keep them current. This allows you to shop ONLY at sales and not be seduced into buying items you should be considering to be "extras". This week alone I saved $17.45 in one store, $6.86 in another, and $12.32 in a third and got 30cents off on my gasoline bill to boot. Shop wisely and you are the one to profit from this competition of stores. PS> I even allowed myself a treat on the way home.

It is bitter tonight as we have a white-out storm and gale force winds. This is what is called a Lake Storm - and normally they do not hit us this hard. A fluke? Our whole winter has been a fluke, if that is the case.

Normally I can look out the side porch door and enjoy all the birds and squirrels at our feeders above the snow banks, but this year the snow is scant, and the flocks are many. The cardinals and Goldfinches have decided to stay over with us, along with a flock of sparrows, l3 Morning doves and 6 fat squirrels. They are adorable and go through seed at high speed in this weather. They come early in the AM. to feed and again around 3PM - just like clock work.

Will have to chip the ice off my car early AM tomorrow in order to do my errands. When you think of Sunny Calif. - think of me in Snowy Adirondack Mts. Oops. penmom

I have a bone to pick with the people who are donating, so generously, to Haiti. It is admirable and I have nothing against charity donations. It's just that there is so much need right here in my own community, and around the state, that I resent how easy it is to give to a charity event for another country and people, and so hard to get a dime for those in need that we KNOW and who live right here.

So I ask myself: Why is that? My answer is: there is publicity to be had in these country-wide appeals for other countries so the generous American people give and give and soak up the good-feelings it generates. How good would you feel if you saw and old man, riding a bicycle in 10 degree weather, only a summer cotton jacket on, sneakers (no socks) and holey jeans. No hat, no gloves and he has a little bag of groceries hanging off the handlebars, since he just came out of the nearest grocery store (one mile) in town and has very little money to even eat on, let alone clothe himself? Do I imagine you would rush right out and give him some help?Or perhaps start a rock concert to raise money for him? Or donate clothing,etc. directly to him?

What is that? You said you would! Well, why haven't you? Because no one will notice and you won't get that feel-good sensation. Well, for you information: HE WOULD NOTICE and he is the one in need-right here on every street in America. You see him, but you don't. He is invisible in his misery and it is easier to drive away in your warm car and clothing and 6 bags of groceries sitting in the back seat. Please, please, don't tell me you don't see yourself in this diatribe. Yes, you there, with the computer! You're the one I am talking to.

For your information I made and gave 40 crocheted hats and mittens to a charity here in town that gives them to these needy people. There are racks and racks of coats and clothes they can choose from also. Someone is doing things but getting no publicity at all. Do you need to have your name up in lights before you are charitable? Think about taking care of America.