How many times have we wished we had asked our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles some things about their lives or stories about ancestors that had been passed down through the generations. Some people are lucky enough to have written documents, but most are not. For Christmas we gave a daughter and SIL both journals to write down their thoughts to pass on to their kids. Kind of a diary of sorts. Their thoughts on a particular day, an argument they had, or just whatever. Since there times words will not pass from the mind to the paper, Carol this list to help with writers block and included it in the journal:
1. My first pet was____
2. My chores growing up were____
3. My favorite toy was____
4. My best surprise ever was____
5. I wanted to grow up to be____
6. Something I wish was still sold in stores is____
7. The historical moment I remember best is____
8. A person who made a big impression on me was____ and why
9. My first job was____ I got paid ____
10. My first car was____ and it cost____
11. My first home away from my parents was____
12. I met my mate when____
13. My favorite wedding memory is____
14. I’m happiest when____
15. I’m most at peace when____
16. My favorite book is____
17. My favorite movie is____
18. Things I crave are____
19. Foods I hate____ foods I love____
20. My biggest hope is____
21. I am superstitious about____
22. My religion is____
23. I think my best talent is____
24. A secret I wished I hadn’t kept is____
25. The troublemaker of the family is____
26. Once I got in trouble because____
27. I’ll always regret____
28. I’m glad that____
29. My proudest moment was____
30. I’m secretly proud that I can____
31. Today’s weather is____
I think I will maybe even start a journal for my kids. I have not really told them things a lot of things about me. I have told them the major things, but just little things. What did I do in the Navy (probably won't tell all there), where did I go, what did I see. It doesn't seem like a big deal now, but it might to them someday.
Thought for the day--"If you can't sleep, try counting your blessings."
God Bless--johnnyb
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Happy List
I am following up on a list that Astra posted on her blog called January happy list. I thought it was neat so am posting mine.
1. Waking up each morning and looking at the coming day with my wife, the love of my life and best friend forever.
2. Having our kids visit for a late Christmas.
3. Getting a new TV for Christmas from the kids.
4. Reading a book that I had been looking forward to reading.
5. Having some warm days to work outdoors on some projects.
6. Waking up after a couple of days of high winds to find the day absolutely calm.
7. Looking out over God's beauty and just being overwhelmed by it. (This happens daily).
8. Hearing the turkeys cackling down on the creek after a couple of months absence.
9. Watching new born lambs across the road running, jumping and butting heads.
10. Meeting new friends through the world of blogging and keeping up with old friends.
There are many other things that me smile. Actually it doesn't take much to amuse me! Like the humor pages on my wife's pinterest site. I like to laugh. Makes me feel good. Maybe I will just do another list next month. Kind of fun.
On the down side--Our prayers go out to Stephen for a speedy recovery and to Duke and his MIL for strength in dealing with her illness.
Today was one of those unusual spring-like days that we will probably pay dearly for one of these days. Almost 70 degrees today. We got a lot done outside. Got everything except the pack rat's hoard cleaned out of the chicken house. I have a lot of work to do to get it chick-ready and varmit-proof. Made a couple trips to the burn hole and did a little scavenging and foraging. Came home with almost more than I took. Got a bunch of rail ties from the dump and some cattle panels from the iron pile. Cattle pens had been redone and the panels tossed. All will be put to use in the garden.
God Bless all---johnnyb
1. Waking up each morning and looking at the coming day with my wife, the love of my life and best friend forever.
2. Having our kids visit for a late Christmas.
3. Getting a new TV for Christmas from the kids.
4. Reading a book that I had been looking forward to reading.
5. Having some warm days to work outdoors on some projects.
6. Waking up after a couple of days of high winds to find the day absolutely calm.
7. Looking out over God's beauty and just being overwhelmed by it. (This happens daily).
8. Hearing the turkeys cackling down on the creek after a couple of months absence.
9. Watching new born lambs across the road running, jumping and butting heads.
10. Meeting new friends through the world of blogging and keeping up with old friends.
There are many other things that me smile. Actually it doesn't take much to amuse me! Like the humor pages on my wife's pinterest site. I like to laugh. Makes me feel good. Maybe I will just do another list next month. Kind of fun.
On the down side--Our prayers go out to Stephen for a speedy recovery and to Duke and his MIL for strength in dealing with her illness.
Today was one of those unusual spring-like days that we will probably pay dearly for one of these days. Almost 70 degrees today. We got a lot done outside. Got everything except the pack rat's hoard cleaned out of the chicken house. I have a lot of work to do to get it chick-ready and varmit-proof. Made a couple trips to the burn hole and did a little scavenging and foraging. Came home with almost more than I took. Got a bunch of rail ties from the dump and some cattle panels from the iron pile. Cattle pens had been redone and the panels tossed. All will be put to use in the garden.
God Bless all---johnnyb
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Why?
As you open your pockets for the next natural disaster or Christmas gift,
please keep these facts in mind:
� The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans
salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
� The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000
base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
� UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k
per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE . Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
� The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a
salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2
billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the
cause.
� The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero
salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and
youth!
� The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a
$0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their
families and youth!
� The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a
$0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their
families and youth!
� The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander
receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and
their families and youth!
� The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives
a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their
families and youth!
I had received this from a friend. I have not verified the info, but would not be surprised if it is accurate. This has always been a burr in my butt. I realize in a capitalistic society there will always be upper crust, middle crust and lower crust. I have no problem with that. I do not have a problem with somebody working themselves to the top and becoming rich. "Working" is the key word here. I don't go with the idea that million dollar salary are needed to attract people to CEO positions in big business or in the financial world, especially the financial world. It is obvious that a lot of the time the haven't a clue as to what is going on. Billions seemed to have "disappeared" from MF Global during Jon Corzine's reign. I mean even in a business of that size, shouldn't that have raised a red flag somewhere?? I would almost bet that somewhere down the line of employees in any large company there is someone who could do a lot better job at running the company and at a lot less money. And would probably give the company a weeks work for the pay. Less time on the golf course and with the martini for lunch bunch. My thoughts are that the lowly employee would probably know a lot more about running things than the big shot.
please keep these facts in mind:
� The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans
salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
� The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000
base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
� UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k
per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE . Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
� The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a
salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2
billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the
cause.
� The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero
salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and
youth!
� The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a
$0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their
families and youth!
� The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a
$0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their
families and youth!
� The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander
receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and
their families and youth!
� The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives
a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their
families and youth!
I had received this from a friend. I have not verified the info, but would not be surprised if it is accurate. This has always been a burr in my butt. I realize in a capitalistic society there will always be upper crust, middle crust and lower crust. I have no problem with that. I do not have a problem with somebody working themselves to the top and becoming rich. "Working" is the key word here. I don't go with the idea that million dollar salary are needed to attract people to CEO positions in big business or in the financial world, especially the financial world. It is obvious that a lot of the time the haven't a clue as to what is going on. Billions seemed to have "disappeared" from MF Global during Jon Corzine's reign. I mean even in a business of that size, shouldn't that have raised a red flag somewhere?? I would almost bet that somewhere down the line of employees in any large company there is someone who could do a lot better job at running the company and at a lot less money. And would probably give the company a weeks work for the pay. Less time on the golf course and with the martini for lunch bunch. My thoughts are that the lowly employee would probably know a lot more about running things than the big shot.
Once again, I am not against the rich. I just don't think that there is anyone who is worth the amount of money that some people are paid. I love sports, but I think they could pay the athletes a lot less and cut back the cost of going to a ballgame. Especially when a lot of them can't live on 10 or 20 million+ a year anyway. They could live in less expensive houses, drive less expensive cars, spend less on nose candy and steroids.
I guess I should stop rambling here and do something. looks like it may be a halfway decent weekend. I need to haul some junk to the dump. Been too windy lately to do it.
Thought for today-- Why does a slight tax increase cost you $800, and a substantial tax cut save you $30?
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday Mumbling/Rambling
Another week is just about shot. The weather has not been too bad this week. Got a little done outside. Not as much as I should have, but there is always tomorrow, I think! The old chicken house has been used for storage for wood that I have collected. Walnut, oak, wood from an old piano, and just plain old wood. Bottom line is we would like to get chickens this year, so the wood has got to be stored somewhere else. This week I started sorting through it. Most of it doesn't need to be inside, so I have a wood rack that I am putting it on. Some is going to the wood pile. Once it is empty I will start refurbishing it.
I checked the weather rock this morning before planning the day's activities. I could see the rock, it was dry, but sticking out at 8o'clock. Clear, dry and strong north wind. No burning today. Forecasting 50mph winds. I hate to see what March is going to be like, with what the wind is now. I may have to beef up the weather rock. May become a weather boulder. No moisture in the forecast.
Just found some more "scrap lumber" at a neighboring farm. Got to go look at it before he torches it. Never know when I might find something usable. Lots of projects in the works.
Keep the powder dry--johnnyb
I checked the weather rock this morning before planning the day's activities. I could see the rock, it was dry, but sticking out at 8o'clock. Clear, dry and strong north wind. No burning today. Forecasting 50mph winds. I hate to see what March is going to be like, with what the wind is now. I may have to beef up the weather rock. May become a weather boulder. No moisture in the forecast.
Just found some more "scrap lumber" at a neighboring farm. Got to go look at it before he torches it. Never know when I might find something usable. Lots of projects in the works.
Keep the powder dry--johnnyb
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Green Tomato Chutney
Had a request for the recipe for green tomato chutney that we used last summer. Very good!
5 cups firm green tomatoes
1 seeded diced lemon
1 clove garlic, minced
2-1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1-1/2 cups seedless raisins
3 ounces crystallized ginger, cut fine
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 cups vinegar
2 seeded minced green peppers
Simmer all ingredients until the tomatoes are tender but not too soupy. Put in sterile jars and seal. (Water bath).
5 cups firm green tomatoes
1 seeded diced lemon
1 clove garlic, minced
2-1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1-1/2 cups seedless raisins
3 ounces crystallized ginger, cut fine
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 cups vinegar
2 seeded minced green peppers
Simmer all ingredients until the tomatoes are tender but not too soupy. Put in sterile jars and seal. (Water bath).
Hump Day
Happy hump day! If you are planning on doing something in the first half of the work week, you need to hurry. Depending which time zone you are in, only a couple of hours left. To those in other parts of the world, oh well, reschedule for the last half. I actually accomplished everything that I had planned for the first part of the week. I really didn't have anything planned, so it wasn't difficult. I didn't want to set my goal too high. Actually, I had checked the weather forecast and it was not favorable to do some things that are in the works.
While the kids were here last weekend, Carol fixed jalepeno popper grilled cheese sandwiches. She used jalepenos for some of the poppers and green chiles for others. Heat preference. Very good variance to a plain old grilled cheese. Definitely a keeper in my book.
Carol and her friend made more baskets this week. Kem's is posted on her blog also. (http://gypsytraveler57.blogspot.com/) They have a lot of fun doing them. Like I said before, it keeps them out of trouble for a day!
Keep up the faith and God bless.----johnnyb
Monday, January 23, 2012
Weekend
Been a busy, but very enjoyable week-end. My son came Thursday and stayed until Sunday afternoon. My daughter and boy friend came Saturday and left last night. Had not seen them for a year and two years.
They don't live that far away, but schedules make it hard to get together. Daughter from Nebraska came for a visit on Sunday afternoon. Was a very nice weekend. It is nice to have the cabin for people to stay when they come to visit. Saturday nite we had rib-eye steaks at the b & g in the small town near here. There steaks are 1 1/2 inches thick and steak plate big. Good eating. We stayed for a couple of bottles of liquid of the grain and a little shuffleboard. It will seem quiet now. The dogs will really notice the quiet. They had a lot of people to play with them for a few days and now its back to just mom and dad! How borrrring!
Looks like the weather will be up and down this week. Maybe I can get some things done outside.
Spring will be coming on in a couple of months and I will not be ready.
Thought for the day--"Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers – what you do today might burn your ass tomorrow."---Unknown
God bless all--johnnyb
They don't live that far away, but schedules make it hard to get together. Daughter from Nebraska came for a visit on Sunday afternoon. Was a very nice weekend. It is nice to have the cabin for people to stay when they come to visit. Saturday nite we had rib-eye steaks at the b & g in the small town near here. There steaks are 1 1/2 inches thick and steak plate big. Good eating. We stayed for a couple of bottles of liquid of the grain and a little shuffleboard. It will seem quiet now. The dogs will really notice the quiet. They had a lot of people to play with them for a few days and now its back to just mom and dad! How borrrring!
Looks like the weather will be up and down this week. Maybe I can get some things done outside.
Spring will be coming on in a couple of months and I will not be ready.
Thought for the day--"Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers – what you do today might burn your ass tomorrow."---Unknown
God bless all--johnnyb
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Take Peace and Joy
The following was taken from my good friend Carolyn at Take Joy Take Peace:
May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.
We have been friends for years. She has a good blog. check it out.
God Bless--johnnyb
May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.
We have been friends for years. She has a good blog. check it out.
God Bless--johnnyb
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Welcome to Mystic Mud, Leigh, and Kelly. Thanks for stopping by and pushing the button. comments are welcomed and answered.
For the man who has everything
New Nail Gun, made by DeWalt
It can drive a 16-D nail through a 2x4 at 200 yards.
This makes construction a breeze, you can sit in your lawn chair and build a fence.
Just get your wife to hold the fence boards in place while you sit back,
And relax and when she has the board in the right place, just fire away.
With the hundred round magazine, you can build the fence with a minimum of reloading. After a day of fence building with the new DeWalt Rapid fire nail gun, the wife will not ask you to build or fix anything else, probably, ever again.
Just something I ran across, and wanted to share it with others.
Welcome to Country Life. Thanks for stopping by and hitting the follow button. I always try to reply to comments.
God Bless-johnnyb
Welcome to Country Life. Thanks for stopping by and hitting the follow button. I always try to reply to comments.
God Bless-johnnyb
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The day is starting out at -0 degrees this morning. I say minus zero because it is damn damn cold. I need to go out and clean off about 2" of "very light flurries with little or no accumulation"! It only snow for a couple of hours last night, but came down pretty heavy. The moisture is nice and the temps are supposed to be in the 40's and 50's later in the week so it will melt.
Pheasant ends in a week so there will be hunters out in abundance trying to get in a last minute hunt. Our friend from Colorado is bringing some people out. They are a good bunch of people. Very conscientious about their hunting. They only hunt where they have permission and don't tear up property. Our friend SMc has a house down the road from us. I take care of it when he is not here. I need to go turn on the water, lite the hot water heater and turn up the furnace as they will be in later today. He may be bringing some pallets. We have projects in mind for them. I was telling him about these projects when he was here a couple of weeks ago. He said he knew of places that just threw them away.
Carol got a Kindel for Christmas. I finally got around to registering for her. She is reading the Patriot and really enjoying it. A lot of good ideas. Once again it shows just how unprepared we are for anything. I may get to read it if she isn't in to something else!
Time to get on with clearing off those snow flurries off the walk! Have a good week. May the Lord Bless each and every one of you. the blessings are there. You just have to ask for them.---johnnyb
Pheasant ends in a week so there will be hunters out in abundance trying to get in a last minute hunt. Our friend from Colorado is bringing some people out. They are a good bunch of people. Very conscientious about their hunting. They only hunt where they have permission and don't tear up property. Our friend SMc has a house down the road from us. I take care of it when he is not here. I need to go turn on the water, lite the hot water heater and turn up the furnace as they will be in later today. He may be bringing some pallets. We have projects in mind for them. I was telling him about these projects when he was here a couple of weeks ago. He said he knew of places that just threw them away.
Carol got a Kindel for Christmas. I finally got around to registering for her. She is reading the Patriot and really enjoying it. A lot of good ideas. Once again it shows just how unprepared we are for anything. I may get to read it if she isn't in to something else!
Time to get on with clearing off those snow flurries off the walk! Have a good week. May the Lord Bless each and every one of you. the blessings are there. You just have to ask for them.---johnnyb
Monday, January 16, 2012
Can-o-Whoopass
I received these from a friend. Most have been around, but the are kind of neat:
Bumper-Stickers Seen On Military Bases:
"When in Doubt, Empty The Magazine"
"Machine Gunners - Accuracy By Volume"
"Except For Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, WAR has Never Solved Anything."
" U.S. Marines - Certified Counselors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club."
" U.S. Air Force - Travel Agents To Allah"
"Stop Global Whining"
"Naval Corollary: Dead Men Don't Testify"
"The Marine Corps - When It Absolutely, Positively Has To Be Destroyed Overnight"
"Death Smiles At Everyone - Marines Smile Back"
"What Do I Feel When I Kill A Terrorist? A Little Recoil"
"Marines - Providing Enemies of America an Opportunity To Die For their Country Since 1775"
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Anyone Who Threatens It"
"Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weapon"
"It's God's Job to Forgive Bin Laden - It was Our Job To Arrange The Meeting"
"Artillery Brings Dignity to What Would Otherwise Be Just A Vulgar Brawl"
"One Shot, Twelve Kills - U.S. Naval Gun Fire Support "
"My Kid Fought In Iraq So Your Kid Can Party In College"
"A Dead Enemy Is A Peaceful Enemy - Blessed Be The Peacemakers"
"If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher. If You Can Read It In English, Thank A Veteran"
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Sunday evening
Another beautiful day. 60 degrees and calm wind. Next 2 days will be different. 20's and 30's. Might get a little snow. I dug some horseradish yesterday and was surprised that the ground was not frozen very deep. Only a couple inches. Most of what I dug was below the frost. A friend who cooks at a bar in a little town near where we live makes good horseradish sauce. His patch is pretty well dug through, so I gave him some of ours. No sense in me messing with it when he will grind it and give a some back. They have a prime rib night and use a lot of it.
We did our monthly major grocery shopping trip to a Wally World in a town about 20 miles north of us. Almost the national debt, but not quite. We will have some family visiting later this week, so needed to stock up on a few things.
Here are a few of the prices :
Milk-$3.62/gal
Earth grain Bread-$2.50
Cucumber-$.78 each
Bananas-$ .54/lb
Butter (real)-$2.98/box
Avocados-$.98each
Soy milk-$.2.67
Just curious on prices around the country.
I hope everyone has a good week. God bless--johnnyb
We did our monthly major grocery shopping trip to a Wally World in a town about 20 miles north of us. Almost the national debt, but not quite. We will have some family visiting later this week, so needed to stock up on a few things.
Here are a few of the prices :
Milk-$3.62/gal
Earth grain Bread-$2.50
Cucumber-$.78 each
Bananas-$ .54/lb
Butter (real)-$2.98/box
Avocados-$.98each
Soy milk-$.2.67
Just curious on prices around the country.
I hope everyone has a good week. God bless--johnnyb
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Welcome and hello
Welcome to doublehomestead. My follow list has been playing tricks on me. If I have forgotten to mention anyone I apologize. If I have mentioned you and do it again, I resort back to my best excuse, old timers disease! It is always good to see new people coming around. I appreciate all those that do stop by my blog as I'm sure everybody does. I have greatly enjoyed the friends that I have made over the past year and hope to continue to do so. I have enjoyed the many different topics that are discussed the many different ideas that are expressed, ranging from politics to gardening, to food, to prepping, to sometimes just plain old down-home humor and fun. It is nice to be able to see what people in different parts of the world are doing to improve their way of life and preparing for whatever may come in the future.
I appreciate each and everyone of you----God Bless all of you. You are the best.----johnnyb
I appreciate each and everyone of you----God Bless all of you. You are the best.----johnnyb
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Day after hump day
Nothing new to report on this Thursday morning. One request though---if anyone reading this that lives north of NW Kansas, will you please shut the North door. The cold I expect this time of year, but the wind that you are letting through is a little ridiculous. Tuesday was a beautiful day. Shirt sleeves were almost the uniform of the day. Yesterday was a little different. The rock on the string was sticking straight out. Today not much better. 10 degrees this morning with ,as the weatherman put it, just "breezy" conditions. Just seems like we have had more wind than usual. Oh well, such is life living in the "middle of somewhere".
We have been spending the last couple of days going through stuff, rearranging closets, throwing away some things we don't know why we were keeping anyway. We had a pile for the thrift store, but gave them to a friend. You know-one person's junk is anothers treasure. It's amazing how a person can collect some things. For instance--paper clips that you can never find when you need one. Pens that work, or pencils with lead in them. I must have found 50 pens. At least now I have a place to put all the pens, that is until a time down the road when I need one. I found pencils with no lead. Found lead. Wrong size. 2 containers of the wrong size. Oh yes, rubber bands. Plenty of them now. It is just nice to get things put in place. Now if I just don't get lazy and always put things away, it "should" stay that way.
Will be nice when the elections are over with this fall. (Well maybe). Seems like grown men and women should act a little more grown up. I've seen kindergarten classes with more maturity. I'm not pointing a finger at any one person. I'm talking about the whole damn bunch that are in Disneyland North, or are aspiring to be. I will stop there. Much more I could say, but it would be better if I didn't. Others can say it better than me. I get too angry to make sense, so I will just try to keep things on lighter theme.
Thought for today--"I'd rather regret the things I've done than the things that I haven't."--Lucille Ball.
God Bless all and God Bless this great country we live in.---johnnyb
We have been spending the last couple of days going through stuff, rearranging closets, throwing away some things we don't know why we were keeping anyway. We had a pile for the thrift store, but gave them to a friend. You know-one person's junk is anothers treasure. It's amazing how a person can collect some things. For instance--paper clips that you can never find when you need one. Pens that work, or pencils with lead in them. I must have found 50 pens. At least now I have a place to put all the pens, that is until a time down the road when I need one. I found pencils with no lead. Found lead. Wrong size. 2 containers of the wrong size. Oh yes, rubber bands. Plenty of them now. It is just nice to get things put in place. Now if I just don't get lazy and always put things away, it "should" stay that way.
Will be nice when the elections are over with this fall. (Well maybe). Seems like grown men and women should act a little more grown up. I've seen kindergarten classes with more maturity. I'm not pointing a finger at any one person. I'm talking about the whole damn bunch that are in Disneyland North, or are aspiring to be. I will stop there. Much more I could say, but it would be better if I didn't. Others can say it better than me. I get too angry to make sense, so I will just try to keep things on lighter theme.
Thought for today--"I'd rather regret the things I've done than the things that I haven't."--Lucille Ball.
God Bless all and God Bless this great country we live in.---johnnyb
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Welcome
Welcome to the latest to hit he follow button---Kym. Happy to see her checking me out. Well maybe. She is my daughter, so I have to watch how thick I spread BS! Not really. She always believes everything I say.....yeah right. She doesn't have a blog yet, but I am trying to talk her into it. We'll see.
Beautiful morning out so far. Calm, cold, clear. Should be nice today. 50ish. Hope it stays calm. I have some things I want to get done outside. Tomorrow is supposed to be 30 degrees and 35 MPH winds. Good day to stay in.
I was feeling pretty good about my New Years resolutions. Going on 10 days and I couldn't remember breaking any yet. Then it hit me. I didn't make any. I forgot. Got point for early dementia. (It's my story and I'm sticking to it). How many people really make New Years resolutions in earnest? I'm sure we all have things that we honestly intend on doing in the next year to improve our ways of life. There are plenty of things that I should do to improve myself, and some I may actually do. But I'm not going to put it into stone of what I'm going to do. Why add more stress. It's bad enough right now. Most of my picks on the bowl games lost. I mean, how bad can it get. I think next year after I make my picks, I should find a bookie and have him use them for his game, just go opposite of what I picked! Maybe go for a percentage and I would be ok. Good thing I didn't bet on any of them. I'd have to hock the outhouse next door and then I would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle, or anything else for that matter.
We've been getting materials together to install a wood stove in the cabin. Got some bricks last week for the base. Carol saw an ad in a local internet classified for some triple wall pipe, 6 feet for $30. I called to see if it was still available. It was and he said if I would come and get it, he would just give it to me. So another expense diverted. Got a line on pallets. We will be getting those over the next few months. Some projects on the burner for those. And the seed catalogs just keep coming. So much to do, and can't do any of it till spring. I will survive. I just know I will. I may be a blithering by April, but I WILL SURVIVE! I am confident of that.
Thought for the day---"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."---Albert Einstein.
God Bless all--johnnyb
Beautiful morning out so far. Calm, cold, clear. Should be nice today. 50ish. Hope it stays calm. I have some things I want to get done outside. Tomorrow is supposed to be 30 degrees and 35 MPH winds. Good day to stay in.
I was feeling pretty good about my New Years resolutions. Going on 10 days and I couldn't remember breaking any yet. Then it hit me. I didn't make any. I forgot. Got point for early dementia. (It's my story and I'm sticking to it). How many people really make New Years resolutions in earnest? I'm sure we all have things that we honestly intend on doing in the next year to improve our ways of life. There are plenty of things that I should do to improve myself, and some I may actually do. But I'm not going to put it into stone of what I'm going to do. Why add more stress. It's bad enough right now. Most of my picks on the bowl games lost. I mean, how bad can it get. I think next year after I make my picks, I should find a bookie and have him use them for his game, just go opposite of what I picked! Maybe go for a percentage and I would be ok. Good thing I didn't bet on any of them. I'd have to hock the outhouse next door and then I would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle, or anything else for that matter.
We've been getting materials together to install a wood stove in the cabin. Got some bricks last week for the base. Carol saw an ad in a local internet classified for some triple wall pipe, 6 feet for $30. I called to see if it was still available. It was and he said if I would come and get it, he would just give it to me. So another expense diverted. Got a line on pallets. We will be getting those over the next few months. Some projects on the burner for those. And the seed catalogs just keep coming. So much to do, and can't do any of it till spring. I will survive. I just know I will. I may be a blithering by April, but I WILL SURVIVE! I am confident of that.
Thought for the day---"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."---Albert Einstein.
God Bless all--johnnyb
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Revocation of American Independence
Just a little humor to start the week:
To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: In light of your immediate failure to financially manage yourselves and also in recent years your tendency to elect incompetent Presidents of the USA and therefore not able to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up ‘revocation’ in the Oxford English Dictionary.) Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas , which she does not fancy). Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated sometime next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect: 1. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘colour,’ ‘favour,’ ‘labour’ and ‘neighbour.’ Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters, and the suffix ‘-ize’ will be replaced by the suffix ‘-ise.’Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up ‘vocabulary’). 2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ”like’ and ‘you know’ is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter ‘u” and the elimination of ‘-ize.’ ‘ 3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. 4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can’t sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you’re not ready to shoot grouse. 5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public. 6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour. 7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly 10$/US gallon. Get used to it.) 8.You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar. 9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. New Zealand beer is also acceptable, as New Zealand is pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth – see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion. 10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one’s ears removed with a cheese grater. 11. You will cease playing American football. There are only two kinds of proper football; one you call soccer, and rugby (dominated by the New Zealanders). Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). 12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America . Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the Australians (World dominators) first to take the sting out of their deliveries. 13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us mad. 14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776). 15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season. God Save the Queen!Saturday, January 7, 2012
Off- Road Camper
The beauty of it all
The first picture was a couple of nights ago, the second being early this morning. The sunsets and sunrises have really been neat this winter. They seem to be more so this year, or else I just have my head up on top where it should be. Things look different up there!
On the serious side, there is so much of God's beauty to see and we don't always take advantage of it. Carol and I like to take little side tours in the country (not so much now with the gas prices). It is amazing what can be found if a person will just get off the interstate and take the 2- lanes. I have heard people say that traveling across the state is really boring, not just Kansas, but other states. The Interstates in this part of the country are boring to drive. Flat and miles of not a whole lot of anything. You can take some of the State or Federal highways that run parallel to I-state and see some neat things. Still a lot of flat country, but the small towns have some history, dreams, and a lot of Americana. In the very NW corner of Kansas there is a area called the breaks. Very rough country. It is said horse thieves used to hide in the area. You can see why by looking at the pics.
You can go a few miles in any direction and it is as flat as a table-top. 30-some miles NE of this in SE Nebraska there is a place the locals call the Little Grand Canyon. Very deep canyons and rough country. You have got to get lost to find it, but it is there. Some people may think I'm crazy for thinking there is beauty in this, but there is. You know, God even put thorns on roses! There is beauty wherever you look.
God Bless--johnnyb
Friday, January 6, 2012
Why?
Why, Why, Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?
Why do banks charge a fee due to insufficient funds when they already know you're broke?
Why is it that when someone tells you that there are one billion stars in the universe, you believe them but, if they tell you there is wet paint, you have to touch it to check?
Why do they use sterilized needles for lethal injections?
Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
Why did Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Whose cruel idea was it to put an "s" in the word "lisp"?
If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that, no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?
Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
Why do people run over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the first end you try?
How do those dead bugs get into enclosed light fixtures?
When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart, then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right"? Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?"
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
Why, in winter, do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
And my FAVORITE…
The statistics on sanity say that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends.
If they're OK, then it's you.
Why do banks charge a fee due to insufficient funds when they already know you're broke?
Why is it that when someone tells you that there are one billion stars in the universe, you believe them but, if they tell you there is wet paint, you have to touch it to check?
Why do they use sterilized needles for lethal injections?
Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
Why did Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Whose cruel idea was it to put an "s" in the word "lisp"?
If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that, no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?
Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
Why do people run over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the first end you try?
How do those dead bugs get into enclosed light fixtures?
When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart, then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right"? Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?"
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
Why, in winter, do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
And my FAVORITE…
The statistics on sanity say that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends.
If they're OK, then it's you.
**A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine! And a day without sunshine is, like,............. night.**
The morning report
Good Morning World. We are coming to you today from beautiful downtown *****, Kansas, and as I look out the window it looks like all seven people plus four hunters from Colorado are up and about, or else they forgot to shut the lights off when they went to bed. Our population sometimes will more than double or triple during pheasant and deer season. Jumped clear up to almost 20 last month for a couple of days. Now for the local weather--- Weather looks good for the day. It is clear and calm out, at least I can see the rock on a string out back (if I turn on the porch light), and the rock is hanging straight down. Temperatures today will not reach yesterdays high of 72. Maybe 50. This is good for the pheasant hunters as they said they may have to strip down to orange boxers for hunting clothes if it stayed in the 70's. Oh well, to each his own. I said I wouldn't point and laugh. Looks like the sun is about to pop over the hill. Always a good sign when that shows up!
Now for the local news: Obituaries--I saw everybody in town yesterday, so nothing for this section.
Other news: I noticed a couple of sheep across the road a looking a little preggies. I guess there won't be no virgin wool this year again. Damn, I wish he would leave them sheep alone. He is so damn ugly. The ram, the ram!
County was working on the roads yesterday. At least I think he was working on the roads. He kept going back and forth all afternoon, so I a ASSumed he was working the road. Never know about them guys. He may not have even had the blade down.
Saw some smoke down by the crick yesterday. Too warm for a fire. Musta had the still going or else Ol Leroy be smoking that ditchweed again. If I see him today I will be able to tell. He gets real strange when he smokes that ditchweed. I notice an area of it had been cut this fall. Nobody else touch that stuff. So he must have stocking up for the winter
Well that's about it for today, but before I turn you over to the regularly scheduled dead air, I would like to leave you with a thought for the day---"It's all shits and giggles until somebody giggles and shits".
johnnyb
Now for the local news: Obituaries--I saw everybody in town yesterday, so nothing for this section.
Other news: I noticed a couple of sheep across the road a looking a little preggies. I guess there won't be no virgin wool this year again. Damn, I wish he would leave them sheep alone. He is so damn ugly. The ram, the ram!
County was working on the roads yesterday. At least I think he was working on the roads. He kept going back and forth all afternoon, so I a ASSumed he was working the road. Never know about them guys. He may not have even had the blade down.
Saw some smoke down by the crick yesterday. Too warm for a fire. Musta had the still going or else Ol Leroy be smoking that ditchweed again. If I see him today I will be able to tell. He gets real strange when he smokes that ditchweed. I notice an area of it had been cut this fall. Nobody else touch that stuff. So he must have stocking up for the winter
Well that's about it for today, but before I turn you over to the regularly scheduled dead air, I would like to leave you with a thought for the day---"It's all shits and giggles until somebody giggles and shits".
johnnyb
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Projects and old buildings
I just got tired of looking at the picture of snow and this one just struck me as good for now. I think this house is on my profile picture if you can enlarge it. I don't know the age of the house, but it would be over 100 years old. Hasn't been lived in for 25 or 30 years. Just falling down. It is just down the hill from our place. Every time I walk by it, I just wish that I could have gotten hold of it before it started falling in. It is a shame to see it this way. Structurally, it will stand for a long time. Roof is gone. Floors are gone. It would take a fortune to do, but I don't think it would be impossible. There are a lot of big old houses around the country. Somebody's dream that faded mostly from the thirty's. All it can be for me is a dream anymore. Too old to tackle something like that and not near enough cash!
I have enough projects to do that will keep me occupied and out of trouble. A friend gave us some bricks from and old schoolhouse. I went and got them yesterday. A couple of hundred of them. Enough to do what I want to do. We will be putting a wood stove in the sleeping cabin and the bricks will be used for that project. I have the old chicken house full of re-purposed lumber. Need to get it out and the building fixed up so we can get some chickens in the spring. Need to finish my workshop in the back of the garage so I can get all my "stuff" out of a borrowed trailer in case it is needed. The only bad thing about being retired is you never get a day off.
Thought for the day (and I have used this before, so it isn't Alzheimers....yet) is : Go ahead and take that wooden nickel. It's probably worth more than our regular money.
God Bless all---johnnyb
I have enough projects to do that will keep me occupied and out of trouble. A friend gave us some bricks from and old schoolhouse. I went and got them yesterday. A couple of hundred of them. Enough to do what I want to do. We will be putting a wood stove in the sleeping cabin and the bricks will be used for that project. I have the old chicken house full of re-purposed lumber. Need to get it out and the building fixed up so we can get some chickens in the spring. Need to finish my workshop in the back of the garage so I can get all my "stuff" out of a borrowed trailer in case it is needed. The only bad thing about being retired is you never get a day off.
Thought for the day (and I have used this before, so it isn't Alzheimers....yet) is : Go ahead and take that wooden nickel. It's probably worth more than our regular money.
God Bless all---johnnyb
Welcome
I would like you all to meet my good friend the Gypsy Traveler at Prairie Pleasures and Simple Treasures. We just got her going this morning. She has just put an hello on for now, but will be adding more. Stop by and say hello.
Monday, January 2, 2012
First Ramblings of the Year
Spring is sprung,
Fall has fell.
Winter has come,
and it is colder than ......usual!
I don't know where that come from, I thought I'd throw it in anyway. Actually the weather has not been out of line cold. The old year blew away like there were no tomorrow. Sustaining winds 40-50 mph as forecast, with gusts a lot higher. At 3 PM Saturday, the temperature was 50 degrees with high winds. By 4 PM it was 34 degrees with higher wind and sleet. Miserable as all "billy hell". We just decided to stay in and greet the New Year in the warmth of the stove. Neither one of us made it. The only ball that fell around here was eyeballs. when I was young and knew it all, the big deal was to see how much I could drink and still be conscious at midnite. Now the big deal is to see how much of a "power nap" it takes to stay conscious until midnite! Funny how priorities change. I had meant to get a bottle of wine for us to toast us making it to the end of the year still kicking, but I had forgot to put it on the shopping list. Talk about priorities! Living 15-20 miles from somewhere and hurricane force winds put any idea aside of any last minute shopping trip. But it didn't make difference as we were both checking out the inside of our eyelids by midnite.
At least the days are lengthening out. A whole 2 or 3 minutes! I mean, doesn't that really put a reverse on the seasonal depression. Another week of this and my spirits are going to be so high I won't be able to stand myself, let alone the wife being able to live with me. Oh hell, its just the first of the year not the first of spring. Bring on the anti-anxiety meds. I don't know if I can handle it. And they keep sending more seed catalogs! I guess I'll just have order some seeds, and just sit and stare at them for a couple of months.
Actually this winter has been fairly busy and is moving right on. There a lot of projects on all the burners, so on warm days I can get started on them. Looking forward to all of the projects. I will talk about them later. I need to do some more R & D and F & R (foraging and requisition).
Have a good one. And if you can't have good one, at least make the best of it and "keep on keepin' on"---johnnyb
Fall has fell.
Winter has come,
and it is colder than ......usual!
I don't know where that come from, I thought I'd throw it in anyway. Actually the weather has not been out of line cold. The old year blew away like there were no tomorrow. Sustaining winds 40-50 mph as forecast, with gusts a lot higher. At 3 PM Saturday, the temperature was 50 degrees with high winds. By 4 PM it was 34 degrees with higher wind and sleet. Miserable as all "billy hell". We just decided to stay in and greet the New Year in the warmth of the stove. Neither one of us made it. The only ball that fell around here was eyeballs. when I was young and knew it all, the big deal was to see how much I could drink and still be conscious at midnite. Now the big deal is to see how much of a "power nap" it takes to stay conscious until midnite! Funny how priorities change. I had meant to get a bottle of wine for us to toast us making it to the end of the year still kicking, but I had forgot to put it on the shopping list. Talk about priorities! Living 15-20 miles from somewhere and hurricane force winds put any idea aside of any last minute shopping trip. But it didn't make difference as we were both checking out the inside of our eyelids by midnite.
At least the days are lengthening out. A whole 2 or 3 minutes! I mean, doesn't that really put a reverse on the seasonal depression. Another week of this and my spirits are going to be so high I won't be able to stand myself, let alone the wife being able to live with me. Oh hell, its just the first of the year not the first of spring. Bring on the anti-anxiety meds. I don't know if I can handle it. And they keep sending more seed catalogs! I guess I'll just have order some seeds, and just sit and stare at them for a couple of months.
Actually this winter has been fairly busy and is moving right on. There a lot of projects on all the burners, so on warm days I can get started on them. Looking forward to all of the projects. I will talk about them later. I need to do some more R & D and F & R (foraging and requisition).
Have a good one. And if you can't have good one, at least make the best of it and "keep on keepin' on"---johnnyb
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