Week in Review

Since today is the last day of November (and how exactly is that even possible??), I’m going to try to close out the month with this past week. 

First of all, I had planned every day to sit down at the computer to start writing.  And, every day, by the time I sat down, my brain said NO, NO MORE THINKING, DOING, TIME FOR JUST SITTING.  Nothing, obviously, got written.

So, this has been a full week.  Monday was the day of catch-up, errands, housework, laundry – you know – all the fun stuff.  The day ended with yoga and then I was pretty much useless for the rest of the evening.

Tuesday was, weather-wise, a terrible day.  Very warm (hot), very humid (sticky), and very windy (25mph) – all day long.  Tuesday night, however did settle down to just hot and humid.  A good thing as it was the annual Christmas parade downtown.  This year, my sister and I decided to go and see.  As it turned out, we had almost an hour wait for the actual parade.  But we watched the first “floats” , of which there were dozens, trundle by . . .

  

The Geygaw Vendors

Everything on their trolleys lit up, flashed, blinked, or twinkled.

Then, at 7pm, the courthouse square lights came on – nice!

The Color Guard marched by . . .

Then, some very nice floats.  Some were done by local small businesses, some by local politicians, some by scout troops, high school groups, fire engines (thank god there wasn’t a fire anywhere close) and a few by big name businesses.

There was royalty, of course . . .

And, the ho-ho-ho guy at the end . . .

Not a bad parade.

Wednesday I cooked – made my contributions for Thursday and Friday (I celebrated Thanksgiving twice). 

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, I celebrated with my sister’s family.  We went into Houston to my niece’s house for an afternoon of good food and lots of laughter.  And, although I did take my phone, I did not manage to take a single picture. 

On Friday, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my grandson, youngest daughter, and her new husband.  We did our usual Thanksgiving Day activity, we went to the beach.  When I was very small, we had Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house.  However when it became time to “pass the torch”, my mother refused to fix a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Her attitude was – she’d have to do it again in a month, and refused to do it twice.  We went to the beach instead.  And, that carried over to my children. 

It was a beautiful day.  Not too windy, not too cold, not too hot – nice.

One of the things I like about the beach and ocean, you never know what you’ll find or see.  I have to say, I’ve never seen a guy out walking his macaw.

There were some shells and I managed to bring home a pocketful.

Lots of solitude and quiet

The bluebells are blooming

Along with a variety of other beach flowers

Then we drove back to big W and had a wonderful lunch of fresh caught shark steaks.

30 Nov 2011

Weekend Adventures

My two San Antonio grandchildren came in for a visit and a ‘work day’.  On Saturday, between the two of them, they raked, hauled, mowed, swept, picked up, and generally put my yards (including getting leaves and branches off the house and shed roofs) in order.

 Before

After

I can’t even tell you how wonderful they are to have worked so hard all day!  I can actually see grass now, not that I think grass is all that great but it’s better than just brown leaves.

Sunday we drove to Richmond for the 4^th Annual Pecan Harvest Festival.  And, I told them – don’t know what to expect.  Could be something very cool and fun; could be not.

  

Turned out to be something cool and fun.  There were artists and crafters, food trucks and booths, a farmer’s market, pecans for sale in every form you can imagine, and a car show.  So, here we go.  First of all – I bet you can’t guess what type of building this is . .

 The really truly Richmond Police Department

lovely building

Now, just to be clear, Pecans (pronounced pi-ˈkän and not pee kan) are a buttery flavored tree nut that grows mostly in the warmer climates.  They are also terrible trash trees and I think the only reason they haven’t been placed on the “irritating plant” list is for the nuts they produce. 

 never knew there were so many different types!

Pecans are also good for you.

And you can use them in a billizion different ways.  In baked goods of all sorts, with vegetables, poultry, fish, steak, pancakes, salads, with rice and on and on.  There were all sorts of free recipe pamphlets available also.

  

There was one area dedicated to nothing but pecan sellers and growers.  This seller had  – Chile Pecans, Candied Pecans, Trail Mix Pecans, Cajun Hot Pecans, Jalapeno Pecans, and he had plain pecans too.

Of the crafters/artists, these items caught my eye –

  

Mustard Seed Farm

mustardseedfarmandmarket@gmail.org

They sold herbs of all sorts.  These were bundled herbs to be stuffed in your turkey for roasting.  This booth brought back all sorts of memories for my days of having an herb booth at a farmer’s market.

Hepplewhite Farms

Hepplewhitefarms.com

They have a bee apiary, are local and sell honey in many different forms – honey comb in/out, creamed honey, cinnamon honey, honeyed pecans, and honey sticks.

Bubble Princess

Bubbleprincesstx - Etsy

These are some of the prettiest soaps I’ve seen.  She uses a cold process soap recipe to has a variety of different shapes, designs, and colors to chose from.  I was very impressed with the quality and variety.

 Artistic Wood Craft

Erich12258@gmail.com

This man makes beautiful bowls, pens, bottle stoppers, walking sticks and more.  See those two egg shaped items in front?  Those are mini kaleidoscopes, inlayed with turquoise. 

Mercedes Yvonne Ortiz Ceramics

mercedesyortiz@yahoo.com

I love pottery.  This artist makes bowls, mugs, flower vases, jewelry, and sculpture art.  I bought something here – one for me, one for my sister –

 Yep – an itty, bitty bird skull

Then we visited the car show –

This one made me laugh!

There were all sorts of people there – older and younger - with small children, teenagers, walking dogs and 

Finally, as we left, we passed the pavilion where

The Texas Blues Brothers

were playing.  Just great!

And, then we drove back home.

25 Nov 2019

Hello!

We are back to normal (for us) Fall weather.  Yesterday was beautiful – blue sky, not a cloud anywhere, breezy all day, 80°.  Today it’s just as warm but overcast.  Beautiful sunrise though.

Tomorrow there’s rain.  And, Saturday another cool front will arrive.  In the meantime, it’s really warm in the house.  I think I’ll have to turn on the AC! 

Today is World Hello Day.  So, say Hello! to at least ten people today.  The purpose is to show the importance of personal communication for the preservation of peace. 

And, after this – I know nada much.  I haven’t felt 100% over the past several days.  Not sick.  I don’t get sick.  Just, sneezing, coughing, congested chest, no energy.  BUT, not sick. 

Okay, I’m going to close now.  I think I’ll be better when breathing doesn’t hurt.

21 Nov 2011

Chilly!

Somebody left the door open between Santa’s house and my house last night.  Dipped down into the low 30’s and tonight it is supposed to be 28°.  For any that live north of Dallas, that might not sound so bad but . . . . . I live on the TX Gulf Coast.  It’s cold for us down here.

This morning both kittens were in bed with me and under the covers.  Neither was happy with having to get up at 6am.  This is how they are currently handling the chilly day, asleep on the sofa.

Look closely and you’ll see the tip of one

little gray ear belonging to Daryl.

The curled-up lump – that’s Zack.

I’m ready for whatever comes along though.  The heater is turned on in the Greenshed (currently a toasty 50° in there).  The water pipes are all wrapped outside.  Plant cuttings have been taken (just in case).  I covered the Pereskia granifolia cactus.  Everything else has been told to “hunker down and hold on”.

Pereskia is a variety of tree or shrub in the cactus family.  They’re native to the West Indies and southeastern South America.  They like sun and can deal with water better than some.  However, they will freeze.  Also called Rose Cactus, they have true leaves and beautiful flowers.  Oh, and they have mile long, very sharp thorns.  In some places they’re cultivated as a hedge (and I’d like to see someone get through that!).  Some varieties produce an edible fruit but for the most part, they’re ornamental and unusual.  The flowers can range from white to purple to pink to red.  I want mine to bloom!

I recently tried my hand at Hot Process Soap Making.  Usually I use a cold process – similar to the way our greats and grands made soap in the way back days.

Hot process is similar but different.  Everything is measured, then mixed together in a crock pot, stirred till saponification takes place and “cooked” for an hour in the crock pot.  Then, pour into molds.  It doesn’t have to cure as long and it makes a nice hard bar of sudsy soap.  The soap turned out pretty well though the recipe I used made a small amount compared to what I’m used to.  I need different molds.

(This process is not to be confused with a “melt and pour” soap base product.  Those are premade using fatty acids, glycerin, and other stuff.  You just literally melt the thing, add in your own color, scents, whatever, pour into molds and – you have glycerin soap, ready to use.)

I met up with my friend Bobby the other day.  We walked the high school track for a mile and a half.  These guys were keeping an eye on everything -

Well, I’m going to fix a cup of hot tea, get my library book, scoot the kitties over and read!  Stay warm, y’all!

12 Nov 2019

Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour

November 11, 1918, an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect thus ending “the war to end all wars”. 

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In 1926, Armistice Day became a federal holiday to honor all those who fought in The Great War.  However, in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress amended the act by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." And on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

And, so, in my own small way, I honor the men and women in my family that have defended our country.  This isn’t a complete list – no uncles or brothers, no sisters or aunts and I’m sure there are many I haven’t included for lack of information.  But, here you go -

Edmund Scarburgh        Accomack, VA Militia     1631

Richard Walker  The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Massachusetts Militia        1638

John Wise         Accomack, VA Militia     1647

Thomas Hall      City of James, VA Militia 1668

Richard Haynie              Northumberland Co, VA Militia   1701

John Matthews              Augusta Co., VA Militia  1742

John Patterson              1st Regt, 4th Co, Farmington CT Militia   1746

Michael Woods             Virginia Militia    1754

Sampson Matthews       Virginia Provincial Militia 1754

Challis Safford  Capt Samuel Robinson Troops  1756

John George Reber       Continental Army           1775

 Thomas Posey  Provisional Rifle Corps  1775

Thomas Brown  Continental Army           1776

Thomas Oder    Continental Army           1776

Benjamin Patterson       Also acted as a spy against British         1777

James Waldrop Continental Army           1777

James Wise      NC Militia          1777

Joseph Oder     Capt Samuel Blackwell Troops   1777

Michael DeLong            5th Co, 2nd Batl, Berks, PA Militia          1777

Robert Pulliam  GA Militia          1777

William Moseley            Continental Army           1777

Gabriel Fowlkes             Virginia Militia    1778

Jones Broach    Continental Army           1778

Nathan Smith    Georgia Troops 1778

Forest Green     Continental Army           1779

James Smith     Battle of Kettle Creek, Wilkes Co, GA     1779

William W. Mitchell        Battle of Kings Mountain            1780

Jost Fickes       Continental Army           1781

Nathan Hall       Battle of Yorktown         1781

Joseph Pulliam              Ft Madison, Franklin Co, GA      1784

Nathaniel Fowlkes         VA Militia          1812

Rice Green        GA Militia          1812

Richard M. Waldrop       Williamson Co Calvary, TN         1812

Robert Pulliam, Jr          4th Regt Booths, GA Militia        1812

John H. Patrick             Georgia Militia   1824

Nathanial M. Hudson     Pontotoc MS, Anderson’s Rifles 1847

Henry Hardy Fowlkes    Mississippi Infantry        1862

James Sims      AR 31st Infantry             1862

Homer Pulliam  Mississippi Infantry        1863

Richard Waldrop           Fall of Charleston, SC    1863

Thomas Posey II           Kentucky Infantry          1863

Jones A. Broach            AR Calvary        1864

Garnet Carl Abbott        US Army           1917

Jack Pulliam Abbott      US Army           1943

Michael H. Nash            US Navy           1963

Gregory S. Hobbs         US Navy           1975

The Remembrance Day symbolism of the poppy started with a poem written by World War I brigade surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who was struck by the sight of the red flowers growing on a ravaged battlefield.  McCrae wrote a poem, “In Flanders Field,” in which he channeled the voice of the fallen soldiers buried under those hardy poppies.  And, so the red poppy became a symbol of remembrance for the fallen.

Today, November 11, at 11:00am, I will take a moment to thank those men and women, both listed and not.  You might too.

11 Nov 2019

Thursday, Friday

Yesterday was Thursday . . . . . . .

ESTATE SALE DAY!

Yesterday it started raining, the precursor, of another cold front.  Not raining too much, just a heavy drizzle.  Estate Sale Day, and the intrepid estate salers we are, my sister and I planned to investigate all the beautiful, unusual, weird, different, questionable items to be found.  As we left Ellen’s house, the rain picked up from heavy drizzle to steady rain.  And, by the time we reached the highway, heading east to Richmond, it was pouring-down-rain-can’t-see-a-car-length-in-front-of-me, rain.  Now, in the directions to this particular sale, there was mention of a “gravel road”.  Rain got harder and we decided to turn around and go home.  Try again Friday. 

So, here’s the problem with going on day #2, the really gooooood stuff is probably gone.  Nevertheless, we left this morning for Richmond.  Not too far – about 40 or so miles.  And, I will say now, I’m glad we didn’t go Thursday in the pouring down rain because (1) the road is twisty-turny and (2) the gravel road is really a dirt road. 

Boo hoo, there wasn’t too much beautiful but there was a lot of unusual, weird, questionable.

Like – purses . . . .

I mean, just how many jeweled purses can one person use???

And silver – really tarnished silver

A bunch of old, old records

THAT CHICK'S TOO YOUNG TOO FRY

Louis Jordan and His Tympany Band 1946

Hey boy don't you harm that bird don't you dare to try

Start releasin' that chicken or you'll get a lickin'

That chick's too young to fry

Hey boy better take my word here's the reason why

Ya gotta feed her up steady 'til she gets ready

That chick's too young to fry

Take her back in the barnyard let her go just turn her loose

Way out there in the barnyard she'll grow up for better use

Hey boy there'll come a time some day by and by

She'll be ready for fryin' so stop your cryin'

That chick's too young to fry

Hey boy there'll come a time some day by and by

Start releasin' that chicken or you'll get a lickin'

That chick's too young to fry

Hey boy better take my word here's the reason why

Ya gotta feed her up steady 'til she gets ready

That chick's too young to fry

Take her back in the barnyard let her go then turn her loose

Way out there in the barnyard she'll grow up for better use

Hey boy there'll come a time some day by and by

She'll be ready for fryin' so stop your cryin'

That chick's too young to fry

Get away stay away come back another day

That chick's too young to fry.

But, best of all – HATS!

Now, I like hats.  I have several.  But these hats were just great!  A couple, I’m sure, from the 1940’s, some from the 1960’s. 

This one was the by far, least attractive – purple, light pink, and hot pink with a fake pearl.

But, the Artichoke Hat, was the BEST!  (or maybe the Elf Hat).  Those are silk leaves with a band of white roses. 

And then we drove back to big W - hat less.

8 Nov 2019