Gingerbread

Gingerbread is a holiday favorite for both young and old. The ginger root has long been used to settle the stomach after a too hardy meal and these cookies will do the same. The aroma from cooking will brighten the whole house making use of its aromatherapy attributes. Gingerbread is the walls and roof of many a Christmas castle or gingerbread house which makes for a fun project for the kids. Enjoy the baking and discover the delights of gingerbread!

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, add sugar, molasses and eggs. Beat thoroughly. In a separate bowl, sift flour with soda, ginger, salt and cinnamon. Sift again. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture alternately with milk beating after each addition. Pour into a greased and floured 9" x 9" x 2" oven proof dish or pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

If making a gingerbread house, use a biscuit pan so the bread is not as thick and can be cut to size as needed. This recipe will also make soft cookies (not ginger snaps) if dropped on a greased cookie sheet and baked for approximately 15 minutes of until done.

Cherry Yum Yums

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 sticks margarine - melted
2 envelopes dream whip
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 pkg 8 oz cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
2 cans cherry pie filling (or your favorite)

Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted margarine. Line a 9" x 13" x 2" dish or pan with 1/2 of the graham mixture.

This is a 5 layer no bake dessert. A great hit at covered dish dinners.

Beat the dream whip and milk until stiff, then add vanilla. Cream the cheese (softened) and sugar until creamy, add to the dream whip, beat well. Spread 1/2 cream mixture over the graham cracker crumbs. For the third layer, spread the cherry pie filling over the dream whip/cream cheese layer. Add the remaining dream whip/cream cheese over the pie filling. Top with the remaining graham cracker crumbs. Chill several hours (best if chilled overnight).

Oatmeal Cookies

1/4 cup raisins
1/3 cup sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup quick cook oats
1/2 tbsp grated lemon rind
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
1/4 cup melted shortening


In mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. In separate large mixing bowl combine sugar, molasses, beaten egg, milk and melted shortening. Mix well. Add flour and oatmeal gradually to the liquid mixture. Mixing well. Stir in raisins and grated lemon rind. Drop from teaspoon onto greased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 12 - 15 minutes.

Jelly Roll

The secret is in the roll dough, the rest is just jam!

Tip: Cake Flour is not the same as all-purpose or plain flour. It is processed differently and has a finer consistency than plain flour.

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup sifted cake flour
1 2/3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Into a mixing bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl beat eggs until thick and lemon colored; add milk and beat thoroughly. Fold in flour into the milk and egg mixture a little at a time. Add vanilla and stir. Spread the batter in 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" x 1" oven proof pan or dish lined with greased wax paper. Bake about 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Turn cake out onto wax paper or a kitchen towel sprinkled with superfine or confectioners sugar. Remove wax paper from the back of the cake quickly. Cut off crisp edges of the cake. Roll cake with towel inside immediately, let stand 10 minutes to cool. Unroll. Spread jelly or jam, roll cake back up and dust top with confectioner's or superfine sugar. Slice into 1/2 inch sections.

Plum Pudding - from Mom's Kitchen

Pudding

3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups self rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp soda
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1 jar Baby food Junior Plums

Frosting

1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Mother cheats! She did not give me any mixing directions, so here goes from memory.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together sugar, flour, soda, allspice, and cinnamon. Mix in cooking oil, plum baby food and buttermilk, then add eggs one at a time while mixing. Mix on medium about 2 minutes. Hand blend in the pecan pieces. This is a heavy batter. Pour into a greased 13" x 9" oven proof pan or dish.

Bake in a 325 degree oven for 40 minutes.

Mix all ingredients for frosting in a 1 1/2 - 2 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil on medium heat. Pour frosting over cooked pudding.

This is a moist pudding that is plum delicious! A staple for holiday meals.

Ice Box Fruitcake

Grandmother's favorite Christmas cake - and everyone else's too! Not too sweet, tasty and easy to make.

1 1 lb box of graham crackers or 1 13.5oz box of graham crumbs
1 can Eagle Brand Milk
1 box Dark raisins
1 jar Maraschino cherries, drained
2 cups Chopped pecans

In a large mixing bowl, crush Graham Crackers into crumbs, add Eagle Brand Milk, raisins, cherries, and pecans. Mix thoroughly. Press mixture into loaf dish or pan and refrigerate for 4 hours. Cut and serve.

Angel Biscuits

This is a Martin family favorite.

TIP: The yeast in this recipe takes the place of the baking soda and baking powder normally added when using all-purpose or plain flour.

1 pkg yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 cups plain or all-purpose flour

Dissolve the package of yeast in the lukewarm water. In a large mixing bowl sift sugar, salt, flour together. Cut shortening into mixture until it looks like coarse mill. Add buttermilk, then yeast water, kneading and folding mixture until well blended. Store in refrigerator until ready to use. Remove, shape, let rise for a lest 30 minutes. Bake at 425 degrees until golden brown.

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Tip - If using all-purpose flour always add 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt for every 1 cup of flour - Self rising flour already has baking powder, baking soda and salt added.

If the recipe has a range of quantity, always start with the lesser amount and add to as needed.

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies


1 to 1 2/3 cups self-rising flour
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening or butter
1 egg
2 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

Sift together flour and sugar twice. Cut butter or shortening into the flour/sugar mixture until mixture resembles coarse mill or oatmeal. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla. Drop or shape cookies, placing on cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated to 375 degrees oven for about 8 minutes.

Note: I like to soften (not melt) the butter and cream the sugar and butter together, adding the flour slowly to the mix.

If I remember right, this recipe makes about 2 dozen large cookies and 3 dozen small cookies - it may be more or less.

This is also a basic cookie dough recipe. Adding cocoa will give you chocolate sugar cookies, but taste the batter, you may need to add more sugar a tbsp at a time. Cocoa needs sweetening, however you can use semi sweet chocolate without adding additional sugar. Most nuts used in baking can be added, if adding pecans - you now have pecan sandies. Raisins or oatmeal can also be added for a change of taste, but I have a killer oatmeal cookie recipe I will post later.

Cookies are easy to bake and an inexpensive way to experiment with baking. Make a batch with shortening and then one with butter and see which you prefer. More or less vanilla can be used, depending on taste. Experiment, eat well, but most of all have fun!

Quick Venison Cocktail Balls

2 pounds of ground venison
1 box (2 packages) Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 cup Bisquick
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
dash of cayenne pepper

Fold Onion Soup Mix, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper into venison until thoroughly mixed. Fold flour in a little at a time until thoroughly mixed. Using small amounts of venison mixture make nickel size balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake in hot oven at 350 degrees for approximately 12-15 minutes.

Serve with Ranch Dressing, Catalina Dressing, or your favorite barbecue sauce. Terrific party fare or great for a snack during those special ball games.

Mama's Homemade Rolls

1/3 cup + 1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 pkg yeast
3 cups unsifted plain flour

Cream shortening, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl. Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over mixture and continue beating. When cool, add egg and mix well. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Add to first mixture. Fold in unsifted flour about a cup at a time. Mix well folding and kneading until flour is well blended. Leave in bowl until it has doubled in size. Punch down and put in refrigerator covered loosely with wax paper until ready to use. Remove from fridge, shape into ovals, let sit until they rise, then bake at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Delicious and makes the house smell divine!

Apple Crisp

Another tasty treat from my dear sister! Crumb cake from heaven!

4 cups pared and sliced tart apples - Cherry pie filling can be used but reduce sugar to 1/2 cup.
2/3 - 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats (oatmeal - not instant)
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup butter or margarine softened

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, Grease square (8x8) oven proof pan. Place apple slices in pan. Mix remaining ingredients thoroughly. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Bake 30 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm. Delicious with light cream, whipped cream or ice cream.

Chewy Squares

This recipe is from my sister. I think she came by it from a grandmother on her husbands side. Anyway, it is delicious.

Mix 1 2/3 sticks margarine (softened) and 1 box light brown sugar in a large bowl.

Add 3 eggs, beat well.

Add 1 3/4 cups self rising flour - beat well.

Add 5 tablespoons vanilla flavoring and 1 cup chopped nuts.

Mix well. Pour into a 9 1/2" x 13" oblong greased pan or oven safe dish. Place in preheated 300 degree oven for approximately 50-60 minutes.

Try to wait until cooled to eat!

Monkey Bread

An easy and filling hot breakfast bread which the kids will love! Perfect for those coming in from the snow!

4 - 10 count cans of refrigerator biscuits
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon

Grease tube cake pan then sprinkle bottom with chopped nuts. Cut each biscuit dough section into quarters (4 pieces) placing pieces in tube cake pan. Melt butter, then mix in sugar and cinnamon. Pour butter, sugar, cinnamon mixture over the biscuit pieces making sure all is covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. When done, invert onto plate and EAT!

For extra gooey sweetness, dip monkey bread pieces in warmed syrup.

Cobblers

One of the easiest and most tasty of desserts is a cobbler. There was a time when there was always a cobbler sitting on the stove top at my Grandmother's house. Below are two variations for a good cobbler.

Old Time Peach Cobbler

2 cups fresh peaches (sliced) - or your favorite fruit
2 cups sugar (1 cup if using canned or frozen beaches)
3/4 cup flour
a Pinch of salt
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
Sift flour salt and baking powder. Mix in sugar, stir in milk. Melt butter in baking dish. Pour batter over the butter - DO NOT STIR! Pour peaches over batter - DO NOT STIR! Bake one hour at 350 degrees.

I do this recipe with 1 cup each of flour (self rising), sugar, milk - without the salt and baking powder - works great!
The batter rises through the fruit and crusts on top, infusing the fruit with a flavorful cake filling. Quick, Easy and Delicious!

Cherry Cobbler

1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 can Cherry Pie filling

Mix Bisquick and sugar. Break Egg into mixture and mix with 2 tined fork until crumbly. Pour pie filling in baking dish or pie plate, pour batter over pie filling and bake at 350 degrees until brown.

This recipe is quick and easy but yields a different texture of batter which absorbs moisture from the pie filling.

Back to the Garden

Fall is almost gone and winter is about to set in. I cannot remember such a mild Fall. Here is Central Georgia we have not even had a hard frost as yet, which is really unusual. Tonight might be the turning point though as a front is moving in with cold air and lot's of rain. It will probably finish the beautiful plants off leaving the landscape stark and desolate.

Our home is on a very old home site that was unoccupied for many many years. While clearing a path through the overgrown privet hedge, honeysuckle, and swamp briers, I found loads of shrubs and flowers from the previous inhabitants. Some I could easily identify - the Forsythia hedge that still flourishes, pomegranates, crepe myrtle and many I still have not identified - and some I could not. After realizing the treasures that lay at this old home site, the clearing and cleaning went a lot slower much to the chagrin of my spouse, who cared not a whit for plant life. I would trudge along beside him and watch carefully each stroke of the mattock, hoe or shovel and scream bloody murder if I caught a glimpse of one of these old treasures. You would have thought I have found gold and to me they were.

In my email box today was a e-newsletter from Fine Gardening that was chocked full of interesting stuff. I love the Mystery Plant section. I can recognize many plants that I have thought were weeds and pulled and plunked away that had I only known with a little nourishment and maybe relocation, they would have benefited my garden with beautiful and unusual foliage and flowers. I only wish that in 1978 this had been available in such an accommodating way. I know I have sent many a treasure to the burn pile in my ignorance and lack of resources. The newsletter is free and very informational, so check it out.

I needed to share this tidbit so maybe I could help save someone else's treasure. Seeds can lay dormant for years and pop up anywhere in the yard or garden so keep your eyes open. I have a plant in one of my terrariums that just sprouted right up this week after months of sitting in that soil. Still can't identify, but I will have a better idea in the next week or so. Some unexpected plant popping up in the garden is always worth looking into - you may have a great treasure pop into your life. Surprises are the spice of life.

Happy reading!

Belle

Aunt Kitty's French Coconut Pie

1 cup shredded coconut
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter milk
1/2 stick of butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat eggs thoroughly, mix with other ingredients. Pour into uncooked pie shell and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake until golden brown.


Can't be beat!

Dinner on the Ground

Our church would have "dinner on the ground" about once a month. The ladies Bible class that met every week at my grandmother's house was always wanting to cook and show off their skills, so they would plan a "Dinner on the Ground" or "Covered Dish Sunday". They were so funny talking about the up coming dinner. Everyone tried to keep it a secret as to what they would be bringing so the others wouldn't have a chance to show them up. They would hem haw around - maybe potato salad or fried chicken. Gimme a break - potato salad and fried chicken were a given at every dinner we ever had as were lima beans, green beans and corn.

Well some of the recipes I will be posting in the next few weeks are recipes these same women gave me at a bridal shower in 1969. Some had probably never been written down before and probably not written down after, but I was the little angel they bestowed their beloved secrets upon. I have gone back to my treasure box over and over during the past 40 years and still can't get some of them to taste like they did when made by these dear women. The funny thing - they wouldn't let each other see what they had written down at the shower, so I alone hold their secrets. These women will always be dear to me. Their devotion to God and family was astounding and if the women of today would follow in their footsteps we would have a better world. And I am talking about myself, too.

Here is a true masterpiece of a pie. Time consuming, it is rich, flavorful and just wonderful. I remember my Mother making it twice - it was too much trouble, but for those with the time to spend give it a try. This was an extra special company pie.

Peacheesy Pie

The Crust

2/3 cup Shortening
2 cups Pillsbury's Best Flour
1 tsp Salt
6-7 tbsp Peach Syrup
2 tbsp Butter

Cut shortening into flour and salt until the mixture is size of peas. Sprinkle peach syrup over mixture, stirring until dough holds together. Roll our half of the dough on flour surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Line 9 inch pie pan with dough crust. Note - this works best with a deep dish pie pan.

Peaches 'N Cheesecake Filling

1 lb 13 oz can sliced cling peaches
1/2 cup + 1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp corn syrup
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 oz package cream cheese
1/2 cup dairy sour cream

Drain peaches reserving the syrup (use syrup in pie crust). Combine peach slices, 1/2 cup sugar, corn starch, corn syrup, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.

In a small saucepan, combine eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons peach syrup. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick. In a separate bowl soften cream cheese. When soft blend in sour cream and add hot mixture slowly blending until smooth.

Fill Pie crust with peach mixture, dot with butter, then add cheesecake topping. Roll out remaining dough, cut out circles or lattice strips, brush with remaining peach syrup and place on pie.

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes then cover edge with foil and continue to bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes until deep golden brown.


Enjoy!

Mrs. Beasley's Pecan Pie

One of my favorites and a real Southern pie.

Beat 3 eggs well
Add
1 scant cup sugar
1 cup of White Karo syrup
1 cup of broken pecans
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Pour into raw (unbaked) pie crust and bake at 325 degrees until done.

This was the recipe as given to me - I like to add pecan halves to the top before baking instead of the broken pecans in the mix - either way, it is terrific!

Mrs. Biles Sweet Potato Pudding

3 cups grated sweet potatoes
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp ginger
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt

Mix all together, cook in oven at 300 degrees about 1 hour or until done.

Grandmother's Chocolate Pound Cake

This cake is so rich and so heavy and so-o-o-o good!

1/2 lb butter or margarine
1/2 cup crisco (shortening)
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup sweet milk (now known as whole milk)
3 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

Per Grandmother Harmon's directions - Mix well adding eggs one at a time to mixture of creamed butter and additional ingredients.

How to do it - cream butter, crisco, and sugar until well mixed. Slowly add flour cocoa, baking powder and vanilla. When well blended add eggs one at a time mixing well between eggs. Bake at 350 degrees until done - usually takes about an hour.

I would like to add a note - I would pull a chair up to watch Grandmother cook. She talked to me the whole time she was working and never told me I was in the way, unless I got too close to the stove. She wrote down her recipes, but she knew I would remember the steps to putting it all together and as I typed this, I realized she was right. I felt as if I was standing in that chair watching her work and talk.

Thanks Grandma, I love you!

Memorable Thanksgiving

A feast prepared by the talented and loving hands of my family was displayed and then devoured. We ate like we had not eaten all year and then ate some more. My nephew is a Paula Dean fan, so we enjoyed some of her delicious recipes. He told me all the names, but you can forget that, but the fried green tomatoes were a delight. The bread, sausage and cheese casserole was to die for. The pumpkin cheesecake was not only beautiful, but tasty too. Another nephew delighted my taste buds with a pork tenderloin and another with a delicious chocolate peanut butter pie that was not only beautiful, but delicious. The green beans, squash casserole, sweet potatoes, potato salad and macaroni and cheese balanced out the dinner.

The turkeys cooked in apple cider and beer were a real hit as was my daughters dressing as usual. My extra daughter surprised us with her cranberry congealed salad which was delicious. Thanks to my sister in law I had a slice of wonderful coconut pie and pumpkin pie. I am still enjoying the carrot cake my daughter in law brought. The children almost fought over the monkey bread which they finished just before bedtime. The boy cousins had a sleep over at Aunt Nanna Belle's house. It was a real treat for me and I hope for them.

When cousins don't get to see each other often, they have to squeeze every second from every minute they are together. Thank goodness they all get along and are not together long enough to get tired of each other. They had a great time together and built memories for their brain bank.

Mom and Dad arrived and had a great old time. Dad isn't as mobile as he once was, but still manages to get around. We even managed a family picture! It has been a while since everyone was together at one time, so Mom took advantage of it. We have such a great family!

It was a perfect day for the kids to play outside and they took advantage of every minute of daylight, which isn't much this time of year. The older boys took to the woods while our little angels stayed on the porch and did their shopping and tended their dolls. Then they all played a little baseball, but the little one's lack of abilities caused the game to fall short. Give them a few more years and we will have a heck of a ball team. We have 5 girls and 4 boys - just right for a baseball team.

And today, I am thankful for a wonderful Thanksgiving and a loving family.

Happy Reading!

Belle

Mama Cook's 1-2-3-4 Cake

Can you tell I have been cooking - or thinking about it? This is a basic cake recipe handed down for many generations.

1 cup milk
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1 cup of butter

Mix well - beat on high for about 3 minutes. Bake at 300 degrees until springs to touch.

These old recipes based "mixing" and "cooking" on common sense. Mix well means mixed until ingredients are thoroughly combined but not until the bubbles are frothing. Cook until down or springs to the touch - toothpick in center comes out clean. The women of yesteryear didn't care a whit whether the enzymes had broken down. They just tried to feed their families tasty and filling food. I don't have a clue as to the fat, sugar, protein, or cholesterol content is and really don't care. This cake is good!

Egg Custard Pie

Here is an old, old recipe that makes just about the best basic pie around. Before the advent of the cheese cake, variations of this pie was always at the Sunday table and made for special occasions.

Egg Custard Pie

3 eggs or 6 egg yokes (If you use just the yokes, save the egg whites for whipping into a meringue)
1/3 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups of milk ( I use one can of evaporated and one can of water)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Lightly beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla together (mix on medium for 2-3 minutes) or until the eggs start frothing. Pour into pie plate (I use purchased) and bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and bake until custard is firm.

If you want to add meringue - beat 3 egg whites, 3/4 cup of sugar, and 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar until egg whites are stiff. Pour onto pie and bake at 350 until meringue browns lightly.

This is a really easy pie and doesn't tie you to the kitchen all day! Delicious to boot!

ADD ON:

Add cinnamon or nutmeg a different taste. Some substitute buttermilk for a firmer consistency and slightly different flavor.

Beer Butt Turkeys

I know! I know! It is suppose to be Beer Butt Chicken, but my husband along with all his friends and some information from his cooking show has set him on fire.

We regularly cook Beer Butt Chickens - you have to try these if you haven't before. Wash chickens, fill cavity with seasoning of your choice (we love Montreal Chicken by McCormick - they have several combinations to suit your taste), season the outside of the chicken, open beer and stick can into cavity of chicken. I set mine in a small roasting pan for stability and put on grill (on low). It takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to cook. It is so moist and flavorful - no! it does not take up the taste of the beer!

So, Hubby is going to buy the tall boy beer, pour out the beer and replace the beer with Apple Cider. Season his turkey, ram the can up the rear and let her roll. It will probably take 5- 6 hours to cook. Now, I don't really know if I want him to mess up Thanksgiving dinner and me to end up with no turkey, so I bought a couple of extra turkeys to be on the safe side. I really would have preferred him to experiment before the big event. It probably wouldn't matter, as he keeps getting new tips and ideas as he goes along, so his method changes constantly as does his madness.

Before he gets in today, we may have a whole new menu. But, please, I beg you, those bringing covered dishes please don't change a thing. We must have something to eat! Wish us luck!

Blessing and happiness to all and

Happy Reading

Belle

I Feel Good

Food is cooking. the smells are divine, fire in the fireplace, the house is almost clean and family is on the way! I love Thanksgiving.

Turkey and Dressing
Venison Roast
All the good relishes
Veggies
and my oh my, pies and cakes and all the goodies!

I have so much to be thankful for this year!

Thank you sweet Jesus for all the blessing you have bestowed upon me and mine this past year. We are far from worthy of your many blessing, but we love you, Jesus, and we pray for your guiding hand in all we say and do. Amen.

Out of Pocket Part 2

I have been working in other areas this week and have ignored my readers and this post in the process! I am sorry! My creative skills are limited, but I have been diligently working on reformatting (without changing too much) and adding to my Google Site. Please check it out and tell me what you think. I would welcome some comments from my readers.

The Holiday season is fast approaching and I am far from being prepared. I will get there though and as usual it will probably be just in the nick of time. Turkey and dressing first, then tree, then on and on and on.

I am trying to remember why I needed so desperately to get my sewing machine moved. (see article ) I have managed to come up with a few ideas today, but all the great things I had planned to do has slipped away. It will come back, just had a lot on my mind today. Then hubby came in and a pair of pants needed repair. NOW I remember why it had to be moved now. I knew something was going to rip out or tear up and I would need my machine in a hurry. Stuff happens.

My garden is in limbo right now - not dead, but not doing much either. It is waiting for me to get tired of looking at the droopy flower heads (that I should have deadheaded a long time ago) or for that big frost to come that will finish them off. I have raked twice as many leaves as those that fell today and the trees are still turning loose with steady abandon. It too will wait for another day.

I am trying to decide which coupons I have printed off the web are legitimate and which are fakes. I sure don't want to get to the checkout line and some aggressive cashier handcuff me for trying to use a counterfeit coupon. Boy, life sure is getting confusing. I handed the cashier a twenty dollar bill the other day and she examined it for 3 minutes to make sure she didn't have to call the police and then explained she didn't have a "pen". Good grief I would have loaned her mine if I had known!

I normally don't cook sweets. I don't need them, but if they are here I will surely eat. I look forward to the Holiday feasts and the excuse to make yummy pies, cakes, and other goodies. Most will never see Thanksgiving Day as I will finish them off the night before the big dinner just to make room in the fridge for other stuff. I love anything with creamy chocolate, carmel and nuts - any kind - walnuts, pecans, peanuts. That combo seems to make me really smile, you know the ear to ear smile.

Have to run. I am going through all my old recipes to reminesce and then I'll something quick and easy to do. My heart is in the right place, the body is just lazy!

Happy reading!

Belle

Update: I am searching for a recipe for a Humingbird Cake. If you have said recipe I would appreciate a copy. Many thanks!

Not My Style

"Wonderful story, but not my style" - "Good story, you need a publisher" same ole story a dozen times ten. Duh!?! One publisher has held my manuscripts for 4 months. Are they lost in a stack or can they not bear to tell me my stories are no good? Maybe my stories are good, but I can't write! Oh well, on to the next group of 12. Thanks for letting me vent.

By the time I get published, I'll have a book of short stories!

Old Pictures

Nothing can take you down memory lane like old pictures. Our family had a reunion beginning with the birth of my daughter in 1974 every year until 2000. I have pictures from everyone, but for the life of me do not remember the year of each picture. The sadness here is that I can tell about when it was by those attending and have since passed on.

Family from Arizona, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and more gathered on the last weekend in September for the big get together. Oh how I miss those days!

I know I have written about the Barbecue before, but it was always so much more. There is always disagreements and strife in families, but on this weekend for 26 years, it was always put behind us and everyone remembered the good times, forged new friendships and created new memories. Most of the older group are gone and truly missed. Some of the younger group are gone and sorely missed. There are those here now that don't remember the big get together and some who would love to do it again.

Family is stretched even further out now and a few of us keep in touch, but contact information has been lost on so many. I was blessed to find a cousin this year who is dear to me even though the only part of his life I have shared is a long weekend in September. It doesn't matter, there is a molecule in the offspring of Jim Sims and Suzy Brown that draw like a magnet to each other.

It matters not the ups and downs and ends and outs of daily living that we each experience; it is not money, possessions, education, talents, or the lack of any of these things. There is something there that cannot be denied.

I love you guys! Keep reading! Until the next big get together!

Happy and Funny Memories with Cousins

Patching up Mikey after a bike accident

Plowing the garden with a Ford pickup truck pulling the plow because the tractor was down

Helping CW when she picked the beautiful fall leaves that turned out to be poison oak

Sliding on the rocks at the creek

Camping and canoeing at Lake Kerr

Checking the lines for catfish at Lake Kerr

Listening to the tall tales as told by Auntie Sue while sitting around the fire

Always watchful of T-Bow and his sneaky tricks

Deep frying chitlins in the black pot with children riding by grabbing some on the run while Moms are vowing their kids won't eat them

Watching the Superbowl with the guys against the gals

Sitting around a fire on the cool nights of fall - not talking, just sitting

CW and I curled up with a good book while the guys are hunting

Mikey's breakfast - delicious

Listening to Dad's story of Auntie singing opera - "Have a raspberry"

All the skits at the Lodge and the many hikes through the mountains

Good fun, good food, lots of laughs! Always an adventure!

Memories of Barbeques

Family reunions and Barbeque - can't beat it!

Hogs cooking over a pit of coals exuding delicious smells and brings on the anticipation!

Basting the meat to enhance the juices flowing from these delicious beasts. Sauce is home made and a little on the warm side, but oh so good.

Hog head stew is the best around, but for those with softer constitutions we use pork roast, beef roast and chickens. The combination makes the delicious base for the brunswick stew made the old fashion way; cooked over an open fire in old black iron kettles.

Good food, good friends and loving family - oh what wonderful memories!

Friends

My friends are all different personalities and display various characteristics that have drawn me to them again and again.
Some are fun loving and always happy, some are solemn and serious, some are busy and stressed, and some are laid back and easy going. I have some friends who are out to change the world. I have some friends who are thoroughly enjoying the world as it is. I have peace making friends who don't like the pot stirred, but aren't happy with the way things are but they just want to let the pot simmer. I have friends who love to keep stirring the pot and adding ingredients just to see what will happen - I call these stink stirrers because their are just some ingredients that don't mix and a stink usually follows these friends. Then there are friends who are too busy to even know what is going on unless it involves their current tasks or disaster. All of these friends make up my life! I love them all! They provide me with a variety of views that keep my mind in the right place and encourage me to view the world through other's eyes.

I was reviewing my email list this morning to determine who would enjoy an email I had received. As I came to a name I would review their personality in my mind to determine whether to forward on go on to the next name. Some were judged as suitable or not based on the content of the emails I received from them. As I sat contemplating the list, I realized that maybe I should do it different. Maybe they would enjoy something out of their ordinary. Don't we all like a change of pace as long as it doesn't offend? Who was I to judge what my friends would enjoy? There are so many facets to each and every one of us! Then I started thinking about how my friends view me. Some have told me their thoughts; others are just there, I really don't know how they "see me."

There have been many adjectives attached to me in my 58 years. What others see in me is not what I see in myself! Here are some of the words friends have used to describe me and my connotations of those words. Remember I am referring to friends, not enemies - they have other words to describe me.

Wise - I have lived a long time and learned to live by my rules and values not someone else's (I can spout off advice all day, but you have to learn your way, not mine). Tight Wad - again, what I value is not what someone else values for me. Prude - I am open minded, but refuse to give up my morals and integrity. Compassionate - I care about people, but don't like to be taken advantage of under any circumstances. Plain spoken - if I don't tell you what I think and how I feel, who will (nobody knows me better than I do)? Mean - I am very straightforward in relating what is acceptable and what is not, but if you want to push my buttons, go ahead - but remember I will fight back. Family oriented - my family is very important to me - God gave me children to instruct in his way and to become responsible adults. Don't judge, you haven't reached your end and neither have they - we are all still on the journey of life. Christian - the most important part of my being. I am far from a perfect human being, but God isn't through with me yet. I have been on some hard roads and haven't finished travelling yet, but I find if I follow rather than lead, the trip is much easier.

Now, now friends, how would you describe me? Would you be surprised if I wrote about you? What would I say? Is your life presented in a way that displays your real feelings and your true being? I love you all and you give me so much! If you get an email that doesn't sound like me, remember I am constantly expanding, learning and finding my way.

Keep reading!

Belle

My Favorite Change of Weather Dish

This week ushered in cooler temperatures and no sunshine. The leaves began to turn and the smell of fall was in the air. I hunger for something warm and comforting.


Hubby and I enjoy chicken and white beans (navy beans) over corn bread. It brings a smile to my face and a tightening my tummy just thinking about it. After cleaning the chicken and placing whole into the crock pot with enough water to come to about two inches of the top I let it cook for about 2 hours with 3 cloves of fresh crushed garlic, a teaspoon of salt, 3 stalks of celery and a large onions. This really gets the juices going. Then I add a bag of navy beans. Let it slow cook for another 2 hours and lift out the chicken and de-bone replacing the juicy meat back into the beans and broth. Add 1 cup of rice and let simmer until the rice is done. Bake a large pan of cornbread and enjoy.

For those on a salt free or low salt diet, use a tablespoon of Mrs. Dash's original blend in place of salt. The garlic melds the flavors without the use of salt, but being from the old south it is hard for me to cook with no salt at all.

This sure makes the transition into cooler weather easier to bear.

The Season

The season has started. The air must have a slight chill to it and the leaves need to be turning. A slight breeze with occasional gusting is a must. A little dampness adds just the right touch.

He has gotten out his rifle or bow and checked all the sights, gone over the barrel to make sure there is no pitting, adjusted the string. Then he sat and watched his weapon as if it were going to talk to him. He sighs or smiles and I know he is thinking of the big one - the one worthy of going on the wall, the trophy. Finally, the weapon is put away and he sleeps, dreaming of the next day's hunt. He is ready. It is the season.

Daily Devotional

I subscribe to Crosswalk .com Girlfriends in God for my daily devotional. This devotional is sent to me daily and is always inspirational. Today Sharon Jaynes wrote "We leave a fragrance, so to speak, by the words we speak." I believe this phrase will be my motto. It says so much in so few words. Thank you so much Ms. Jaynes for your thoughts and guidance.

WD-40

WD-40 - water displacement the 40th formula

Main ingredient - fish oil

What does it do? WD-40 is a miracle! It will do everything, but dance on the table and will make that easier if the table is sprayed with it before the dance.

I recently received an email extolling the virtues of this fantastic product. I decided to check out their website and found even more uses and stories. WD-40 and Avon's Skin So Soft run neck in neck for the many uses of their product.

WD-40 can be used to

Keep flies off cows (?)
Restores and cleans chalkboards
Removes lipstick stains
Untangles jewelry
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
Removes tomato stains from clothing
Lubricates tracks in windows making them easy to open and close
Spraying on an umbrella stem makes it easier to open
Removes splattered grease on stove
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
Keeps pigeons off balcony
Removes duct tape sticky
Attracts fish when sprayed on bait or lures (check rules and regs for chemical use in your state)
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
Stops sting of fire ant bites and stops the itch
Removes crayon marks from walls
Protects silver from tarnishing
Removes road tar, grime and bugs from cars
Restores the dashboard and rubber bumpers of vehicles
And - lubricates almost any moving part - metal or plastic

For more uses and additional information visit the WD-40 website at www.wd40.com and happy spraying!

Good Luck, Take Care

Good luck, take care
don't come close to what I want to say.
Stay safe, write home
are not the words to show the way.

Kevlar helmet in your hand,
Camos blend with the sand
Small in stature, but still a man
Going off to a foreign land.

A job, a dream
the one you've always had
A soldier with pride
the need to be just like your Dad.

Kevlar helmet in your hand,
Camos blend with the sand
Small in stature, but still a man
Going off to a foreign land.

Heavy heart, misty eyes
sleepless nights for the next year,
Sights unseen, horror galore
keep your Bible close to you my dear.

Kevlar helmet in your hand,
Camos blend with the sand
Small in stature, but still a man
Going off to a foreign land.

Come back, come back
that is what I want to yell,
Stay safe, take care
are the only words I tell.

Kevlar helmet in your hand,
Camos blend with the sand
Small in stature, but still a man
Going off to a foreign land.

Belle

Stupidity - Update

Well, I am sitting here contemplating what I would write about today, when low and behold the Redneck dogs start barking to beat the band. Well, I look out the window and see nothing that shouldn't be there, so I grab the handy dandy pistola and go out the back door holding the pistola at my side. Well, lookee here! Two young men are standing in my back yard just calm as you please. I walk over to the railing and still neither one turns to look so I kindly ask "What the hell are you doing in my backyard?" They look at each other and then at me and start walking toward the deck. I lay my pistola on the railing still in my hand, and repeat the question.

Well, it appears these lofty members of the Forestry Commission are doing research and the woods are part of their research. I admonish these gentlemen for not knocking on my door and letting me know they were there and then advise them of the recent burglaries in our fair county and how their actions were a prime example of ways to get shot by acting stupid.

After wishing them a good day and requesting they let me know if they came back, they returned to their research and I returned to my computer.

I guess the feds don't train their personnel to have the good sense and proper courtesy of advising property owners of their presence. And they wonder why people don't have respect for Federal Agencies!

Update! Not federal, some of my good old state employees. Hubby got into the mix and now they are in trouble with their supervisors. They were suppose to let us know they were on the property and failed to follow proper procedure. Sorry guys. Better in trouble than shot by us nervous landowners. Hope your research is important!

The Fun of Yard Sales

It has been over twenty years since I had a yard sale. I had a flea market booth at High Falls. That was my cancer recovery emotional self-treatment that lasted for about 2 years, then I decided to heck with this I will live and proceeded to get on with my life. It is really easy to languish in self pity and the compassion of others, but that in itself is debilitating.

On to the topic, I had a yard sale this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself! Yes, I was very tired at the end of the day, but it was well worth it! I believe I was made for retail sales. And my hubby - a born car salesman - no offense to you car salesman - but he has a knack for relating to any and everyone. A born conversationalist, he can talk the horns off a brass billy goat.

We met neighbors we had not met, saw neighbors that we are all too busy to stop and visit with, and then people from north and south just passing by on their way to somewhere else. Did we make any money? Yes, but not a fortune and what else would we be doing on a beautiful early fall afternoon other than sitting in front of the television letting some football team that doesn't really affect us at all get us in a dander?

People stopping at yard sales have changed though. They came later, lingered longer, and were happy to chat. But, they didn't want to haggle! That is the fun part of a yard sale and we were ready, able, and loaded for bear, but didn't have any takers. They chose what they wanted, tried to pay the price and get on their way. Didn't stop hubby - he lowered the price on loads of stuff without being asked and gave away a truck load of stuff. He really was a hoot and I probably could have sold tickets to watch him work and made more money than I did selling books, baby stuff and clothes. Maybe I will try that on the next one!

I must add here - have a yard sale with a friend. It makes the time go faster and is much more enjoyable. My friend was a fantastic partner and we had a fun day!

I felt so much livelier today - maybe there is something to this self-treatment of mine! Or maybe I just needed to interact with someone other than the world's greatest salesman! Happy reading!

Belle

New Link

I have added a new link to my list. I have been following this site for a while as it so reminds me of my Grandmother. Take the time to visit. I think you will enjoy it as much as I do. There is so much love surrounding Granny.

September

I am so glad that September comes only once a year. Hubby has been sick for 3 weeks of the month, grandbabies had the flu and now me. Just getting over a rough three days, but life does go on. Our bodies do not handle season changes as easy as they once did.

September leads to the season of dying back. The air cools, which is a blessing, which leads to the trees turning, the grass dying, and all the little varmints looking for a place to keep warm for the coming months. Soon the trees will be bare, but I will have my evergreens to give me sunshine and hope. I don't think I could make it through the winter if I didn't have my cedars. I have to have some green in my life. My house plants really get pampered during the winter, as that is all I have. I am getting back into my terrariums though and that is such a joy!

I get this from my Dad. At one time, everything he had was green - clothes and all. Every room in the house was painted some shade of green - Mom and Dad's bedroom was a awful kelly green - and they drove green cars - their old Toyota was baby poop green, can't miss that! When they attended the Governor's ball 40 years ago, Mom even wore a kelly green sheath - Yuck! Thankfully he has gotten past this and now has more color in his life.

Anyway, September brings on October and the first frost of the season and I have to wait until the end of February to see new life once again.

The good things about fall - a warm cozy fire, hot chocolate and a good book. So, I am getting ready to cozy up and talk hubby into building a fire. Everything will be winterized in another week and we can settle in to fall and getting ready for the Thanksgiving season.

Thanks for reading! Have a happy day!

Belle

The Rooster

Of course, it has rained for days, most of the chicken coop is mush, the water feeder is empty, the chicken feeder is upside down and the chickens and rooster are raising cane. I open the door to the coop to get the feeder upright and reset when the rooster spreads his wings, raises his feet and bumps his royal self at my head while his wily damsel pecked repeatedly at my helping hands. Yes, the big boy did take a tumble and looked rather surprised that his fighting abilities did not match mine nor did I cower in fear of his beautiful and majestic self! I don't want to inhibit his natural tendencies nor do I want spurs in my head. As for his little princess, if she doesn't start laying regularly, she is going in the cook pot. I am sure with all the feed she has consumed for the last 9 months, she will make a tasty pot of chicken and dumplings.

Henrietta is my best layer. She gives me an egg a day come rain or come shine and is mild mannered and would probably make a good pet if I spent some time with her. Miss Bessie lays when ready and ignores me as if I don't exist. It doesn't hurt my feelings, as long as the eggs keep coming. It is getting egg custard weather and I need more eggs than I am getting to keep a weekly custard supply.

My chickens do not get named until they start laying regularly. While I have no qualms to making dumplings out of the wily damsel, it really makes it easier if she has no name while I am in the process of wringing her beautiful neck. Raised on a farm, the processes of turning livestock into food does not bother me terribly. But I do rather treasure my pets.

I had a pet heifer (a female cow that has not had a calf) many years ago that had to be put down when injured by another cow while fighting over feed. The older and much bigger cow tipped Miss Blackie into the feed trough. No one was around during the process, but when found it was too late for Miss Blackie. Miss Blackie was stuck in the feed trough with four feet up in the air and no way to turn. After her untimely demise, she was processed (which I did not assist in) and enjoyed at many a meal by everyone except my sis. Sis did not eat beef for 6 months, afraid that she was eating Miss Blackie. As much as she was rubbed and petted, Miss Blackie had perfectly marbled meat that was full of flavor! I sure missed Miss Blackie, but I do thoroughly enjoy a good rare steak! Yeah, I know, red meat is bad for the cholesteral and when eating a rare steak, I am subjecting myself to all kind of germs.

Enough of the memories of youth. I could write all day on the adventures on a farm. Thanks for reading and have a happy week.

Belle

Something New

Daughter and I are interested in wool felting. We have run into some roadblocks but may be on the right track. It seems as if there is no longer such a thing as wool that has not been super washed, hence it cannot be felted. We drug out old sweaters, slacks, jackets that we thought were wool, not even the old black shawl. All were made with synthetic fibers or pure cotton. Cotton cannot be felted. It appears that felting can only be done on animal fibers.

I am old, but I am learning. Can't wait to get my hands on some carded wool! Watch out world, wool balls are coming!

My Girls

A sleep over with 3 girls of different ages - I could not imagine. My children had sleepovers which consisted of music playing all night, prank phone calls, science experiments conducted on the living room floor, consumption of more food than I could cook and sleeping till noon the next day.

I had the first ever sleep over for my grand daughters on Saturday - one of the quieter visits I can remember. They had a beautiful dress up session with a wedding dress, a prom dress, and a bridesmaid's dress. Each took turns with no rushing or arguing. They are all so wonderful! The three are so different in their looks, actions, and reactions, yet so alike in their love for each other and their choices of play. I can picture them now in their own prom dresses, but am not quite ready for the wedding dresses. At three, four and a half and seven, I think they have a little while to go and I can let them grow a bit before the wedding dress age.

The three year old is so solemn and serious, but a wonderful athlete. Beautiful eyes watching every move as she goes her own way, ignoring her cousins until they invade her space or intentionally leave her out. The four and a half with her petite self, quick as a sprite and so full of energy. Never still, always singing or dancing - she will be my vocalist or actress. The seven year old tall, graceful, and elegant with searching brown eyes reflecting much love and caring, yet shy on approach will probably be a designer.

They were early to bed and early up, which really surprised me. We had a good breakfast and everyone started on their separate ventures for the day. I want to do it again. They were wonderful to listen to and watch. Thanks to two great Mothers, I could just sit back and enjoy.

And, I now have six wonderful sun catchers hanging on my porch in just the right spot to glimpse as I write. My talented girls all painted them on Saturday night. It took the hummingbirds a little bit to become adjusted to the addition right above their feeder, but hunger won out and they are back. The cookie dough didn't make it to the oven, but is snug in the freezer waiting for the next visit when it can be shared with the only grandson who I missed very much this weekend.

I want to thank my children for knowing how to share their children with me and hubby. We love you guys!

Belle and her business

I am ready for some squirrel dumplings which should be really good with all the scratch feed they have consumed this summer. They are starting on their third 50 pound bag and I have given up trying to put a stop to their antics. They must have heard me load the rifle - they have started hiding from me rather than swishing their bushy tails in my face as they scamper across the yard. They are going in the stew pot, along with that chicken that isn't laying but loves to eat. She is good and fat, too and will be real good with some dumplings. Oh my, I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

Have you ever stopped to really look at a feather. Mr. Rooster lost a tail feather the other day in his prancing around and jumping at the neighbor's rooster. The feather is really beautiful and the colors are outstanding. The soft downy dark grays tipped with rust at the base give way to the shimmering greenish blues all the way to the swirling tip. Amazing! Even the hens rusty feathers are each unique in their colors and shape.

The change in the weather makes me change my cooking style - I must be from the old country. Cooler air means heavier meals. There goes our diets - it is not salad weather. Well, I take that back. I usually don't buy potatoes, but picked up a bag the other day and made potato salad. Yummy! Then I got carried away and made garlic mash potatoes. Believe it or not hubby can have a small serving of potatoes with his diet. Of course you need to use the fat free milk and the Heart Smart butter, but they were still delicious. I think I have finally figured out that I won't have to work so hard in the early spring to get the jelly rolls off if I don't stuff my face so much during those cold days of winter. But oh how I do love food.

I have started diligently working on my yard again. Fall temps do that for me along with the change in my cooking. I have pull out dead limbs and deadheaded all my flowers. Plan to do a light fertilizer today and contemplate where I am going to move some shrubs around. I am also trying to coordinate all my old scattered plants - lamb's ear, four o'clocks, mums, day lilies - and decide where they will be happiest come spring. My hostas did not get enough shade this year and I will be moving them. I have moved my elephant ear as it wasn't getting enough sun and it is doing great. It just needed some loamier ground and more sun. I have some trimming on the agenda also. I have waited too late to move the forsythia and still have it bloom next year, but may fore go the blooms to get them moved.

I have a pomegranate that I plan to move this fall also. It is surrounded with trees and not growing at all. It is from the old homestead that was once on the farm and is now overgrown, not receiving any light and is starved in its present location. The pears will be severely pruned this year as they have become misshapen with many dead limbs caught in the tops. The production was real low this year, but the fruit it produced was large and juicy. These trees were also a gift of the old homestead. I would love to add a couple of apple trees to my collection, but have been advised the cedars would gift them with disease. I will need to do more research on this. I cannot give up all my cedars, fruit or no fruit.

For those who don't know the history of my little farm - my Dad bought this property consisting of 98 +/- acres in 1948. He farmed much of the land until the mid 1980's. There is a wonderful creek and many wet springs on the property. When Dad farmed it, it was mostly pasture and field. It is now mostly wooded as a result of Dad planting pines. When Dad quit farming, he sold most of the land and it now has produced many neighbors and provided homes for some 14 families. Through the years we have been able to purchase surrounding parcels and add to our little farm. We are blessed with good neighbors and a relatively quiet neighborhood.

Till next time - keep smiling and share it with someone.

Belle

Out of Pocket

I have been tied up with a sick hubby for the last few weeks and unable or uninspired to write during this time. He is on the slow road to recovery and you can look for more stories coming soon. As always I appreciate your visit and will be back with you in no time. Keep reading and have a happy and safe Labor Day!

Belle

Ode to Oscar

Snug in the covers of sleep and dreams, I felt the warm wet spread slowly across my naked stomach. The dream being too real life, I grabbed the top of the sheet as I tried to roll over. Meeting resistant and acknowledging the weight on my chest and stomach, I slowly opened my eyes. The golden eyes staring back at me were inquisitive and demanding. Startled, I screamed, flinging the bed covers across the room. What was that? Where did it come from? Why was my stomach wet? That odor was horrible and was that poop on my bed? Where did that animal go? The demon cat had arrived and we did not start out on a good note.

I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to clear my head of sleep and get my body in motion for the day. Was that really a cat on my chest this early? Looking around at the scattered bed clothes, the stench of cat urine hit my nose along with the strong poop smell. Gathering the bed clothes, I headed to the laundry, dumping my load into the bleach filled hot water. How in the world did a cat get in the house and where did it come from? We did not have a cat. I headed for a hot shower to remove the waste from my skin, cautiously watching for the varmint that deposited its load of waste on me and the bed.

I heard a strange screech from under the bed. Yes, it was a cat. As I scrubbed from top to bottom, I remembered that Hubby and Friend were turkey hunting this morning. That meant hubby had left early and should be home around lunch. Did Friend bring a cat along this morning? Friend had several cats, but he would never part with them. Where did this cat come from?

Getting dressed and restarting the washer - I was going to make sure these sheets were clean, I started breakfast. Yep, there it was - an empty can of cat food sitting on the counter and an empty dish on the floor. So, friend had come bringing gifts this morning. I returned to the bathroom to check for a litter box. Nope food for the stomach, but no depository for the waste. I finished my breakfast and headed to the barn for a litter box.

I was still contemplating the cat under the bed, not quite ready to get down there and welcome the devil feline that had used me for its litter box this morning. I remembered seeing black and white and those beautiful gold eyes. I am a cat lover. There isn't much more I can say - I love cats. They are warm, cuddly and soothing to the mind and body. You cannot make a cat a pet, but a cat can make you his master.

I heard the car as it started up the drive and started out to meet Hubby and Friend. Friend put Hubby out way down the driveway - I wasn't aware that I was yelling like a banshee, but something must have tipped them off. Friend was gone in a minute and Hubby was walking slowly to the house with head down and shuffling feet. "I guess you found the cat?" Well, you could say that. "No, the cat found me!" That crazy grin never left his face. He had found me a present and was so proud. He just didn't think past his nose.

Hubby had told me of the cat that was found in the bath house of the park where he worked. The lights, motion activated, would come on and off at night and he went in search of the villain. It took several nights, but Hubby found the cat in the bath house and Friend took him home. Friend's other cats never accepted the new feline, so he made him a gift to Hubby.

That was just the beginning of me and the demon cat. Named Oscar, called Big O (for big old cat), this cat grew to be huge. Armed with deadly claws and long fangs, he has ruled home and hearth for many years. He lived inside for many years. When he started slapping my ankles from under the bed, bringing blood and leaving ugly gashes, we made him an outdoor cat. Weaving between your legs, Oscar would give you one chance to answer his request for a rub, if ignored, he would bite whatever was was close, fangs digging in deep with claws bared and ready for a fight. We were here for him and when he demanded attention, we were to respond. It has been a real trip for us and Oscar.

Oscar is probably the sneakiest cat that has claimed us. He can still enter the house undetected to be found curled in the closet, under a chest or out of sight in a corner upstairs. He can slip in and out quietly, quickly, and unseen.

Not long ago I opened the feed room door to find Oscar stalking a squirrel - well, the squirrel was in the feed box chowing down on the chicken scratch and Oscar was watching him intently. When the door opened, Oscar pounced, the squirrel jumped on me, I screamed and the squirrel disappeared up the wall of the barn. Oscar returned to his position of guarding the feed box as if nothing had happened, but looking at me as if I had really messed things up.

Oscar and Baby Red (our "put out" dog) got along tremendously. Oscar slept on Red's back for many years and when Red died this past Spring, Oscar mourned him greatly, going off food for more than a week and refusing to sleep at night. He roamed and screeched at night, sleeping during the day. I destroyed their pallet when Red died and replaced it with a smaller one, which Oscar refuses. Oscar still makes a morning trip to Red's grave to start his day.

Oscar and the chihuahuas do not get along at all. Zero and Sandy snap at Oscar's behind and Oscar slaps Zero and Sandy across the porch. With four years of snapping and slapping you would think they would at least learn to tolerate each other, but it hasn't happened. I think maybe there is too much age difference.

Strange as this old cat is, he is gentle as a lamb with the babies. He follows my angels around and finds a good spot to lay and watch them play, guarding them closely. He has been dressed in bonnets, socks, and shirts with no problem and seems to enjoy the attention of my angels.

We don't know Oscar's age. He was found in 1996 making him at least 13 years old. He doesn't run and leap with the same vigor, but can still catch a squirrel and once in a while brings me a bird. We know he won't be with us for many more years. The animals that have been discarded by others seem to make the better pet. No, we didn't start out on the best of terms, but we have been down a long road together. Oscar is not my favorite pet and I haven't forgotten our tumultuous start, but he has been a blessing to our family.

Bugs

For four and a half months, we have played, worked, rested and eaten on our porch with mosquitoes and flies. Here comes the middle of August and the spiders show up everywhere - inside and outside. Why? Are they getting ready for Fall. I hate walking along and having that icky web catch me across the face or arm. It gives me the hibby jibbies.

Late summer always bring the sugar ants and the spiders out. I am ready for a good frost!

The Stalker

The fear never left her. Why couldn't they go away and leave her alone?

Read a taste of a novel I am working on - click on the title.

Update on Belles Farm

I stepped out on the porch this morning and was met with a cool fresh feeling on my skin. The autumn is slowly moving on us, bringing the cool mornings and hot days. I don't know that I am ready as winter is not my favorite season. There is never enough green in the winter - the dead season. That is probably why I love my cedars - they provide the green of life and growing in the bleak cold days of winter.

I am getting the ground ready to plant my late summer garden. I am ready for the greens and I am replanting the squash. My tomatoes are looking spiny as they always do at season's end. I have pruned them and will give them a good drink with fertilizer today. I have taken several cuttings from these tomatoes and started the upside down baskets with them. The plant are a beautiful dark green with loads of blooms and several small tomatoes growing. I look forward to having tomatoes a little longer this year.

Today is shrub moving day. I have several shrubs that need to be moved and I want to do it now rather than waiting until spring so the roots can recover during the winter dormant season. I have moved my lamb's ear and tried to gather all the errant seedlings into one nice spot. Lamb's ear spreads like wild fire with all the little seeds scattered throughout the yard and small ears poking up everywhere. Hopefully I have contained most of them at least until the next breeze scatters more seeds.

My Althea has bloomed more this year than any time in memory. The violet seems to be competing with the rose colored bush and the race is neck in neck, but I do believe the rose is winning. My sunflowers are beautiful. The heads large and ready to open in the next week. I only have a few plants as I seem to be feeding all the foul in the county with every seed that goes in the ground.

My pear trees have not produced this year as well as in the past, but the fruit is still large, sweet and juicy. The squirrels love the blooms in late winter. Climbing high in the trees, they sit and crunch the center of the blooms leaving a blanket of white under the trees. I plan to have a large pot of squirrel dumplings this winter. They have ravaged my fruit trees, tomatoes, bird feeders and chicken feed. I have some expensive squirrels in my yard that will make for good eating.

I am getting an egg a day from one of my little hens. I hope that all three will be laying soon, but cooler temperatures are coming and will be lucky to continue with the one a day. The neighbors chicken has hatched two biddies, but only one lived. The tiny thing chases her around the yard, hiding in the tall grass at the edge of the wood when I go out for feeding. They are so fun to watch and the old red rooster is as protective as the mother hen. My own rooster started crowing this weekend and he sounds so funny. Rather high pitched for the first few days, he now has a strong tone. So far his clock is set right - the other starts crowing at 2:30 in the morning.

The writing is coming along, but I have been busy for a couple of weeks and not able to attend as I need. Keep me in your prayers.

Belle

Skinny Dipping

Yes my grandchildren will exclaim, "Oh Nanna, How gross!" and I will laugh because the thought of my grandparents skinny dipping is hilarious and embarrassing and sad - all at the same time. It is just one of those things that you really don't want to envision. They don't seem to understand that at one time you were not gray haired, with a jelly belly roll around your middle, you didn't always have that fat sling under your arm and, no, those blue and red broken veins did not always cover your legs. At one time you looked really good in a two piece swimsuit. Hard to believe, isn't it?

About twenty three years ago, hubby and I had the urge to ramble for a day. It was a perfect summer day and we had a few hours before we had to start our Wednesday night women's pool tournament. We headed to the Flint River at Spewell Bluff. It has always been one of our favorite spots. We enjoyed walking the woods, climbing the mountain and swimming to the boulder.

We stopped at the convenience store and got a Coke and a pack of crackers and headed up to the bluff. We stopped at the lookout enjoying the view of the river. The dark thread of water ran around and through the mountain over the rocks and disappeared into the trees. Higher than the hawks that were searching the river for food, we sat and watched - so much to see and oh so peaceful. From our viewpoint we could see no one on the river. We made our way up and down the mountain road and entered the park. There were no cars around and it looked as if we had the river and the park to ourselves. This was very unusual as the Bluff is a favorite during the summer months.

We started walking and listening. The river was beautiful and everything was so quiet. We had a favorite spot we liked to sit in the rocks and let the water rushed over and around us, but today we didn't come to swim. We just wanted a few hours of peace and quiet. We walked around the point and up the edge of the mountain. Sitting down on the rocks, we watch the river as it rushed over the rocks and around the bend. It didn't look as calm at the edge as it had from the lookout, but was still beautiful.

I was wishing I had brought my suit and so had hubby. It had really gotten warm and the water was very inviting. With no one else in the park and no fisherman on the river, we decided to sit in the rocks in the buff. Shucking off our clothes we walked across the rocks to our favorite spot and settled in. The water felt so good rushing over us, pounding our shoulders and back, giving us a good massage while calming our weary minds and bodies. Relaxed and close to sleep, we head the talking. Modest me automatically went into a panic. Hubby told me to just sit still, no one could see anything but out heads and the fishermen would just go on by. I had settled down by the time the boat rounded the bend just to really panic when a voice over my head said "Hold up there. I need to check your license." Where in the world that game warden came from, I will never know, nor how long he had stood over us waiting on the boar to appear. See, I told you we were relaxed!

The fishermen - my father-in-law and brother-in-law - instantly recognizes us and while motoring over to the game warden decided to sit and chat a while. I couldn't move. Hubby finally advised that he didn't mean to be rude, but that Dad and Brother really needed to move on down the river. Brother realized what the problem was and could not stop laughing. Dad looking hurt and confused kept repeating "okay son, okay." The game warden tipped his hat, commented on the weather, an bid us a good day. Still not sure we were alone once more, it took hubby quite a while to get me to come out of the water.

What had been one of the most peaceful days I could ever remember turned into a mass of confusion and panic. It still is fresh in my mind 23 years later and as I am sitting here writing the story my face is blushed and my heart beat accelerated. Many years later, hubby served with the same game warden. Gentleman that he is, he never mentioned the incident. Thank you, Mr. Gore!

Shirtless in the Garden

Aunt's can cause all kinds of problems, talk you into doing most anything and be proud as plum with results.



Click on the title above to read my story.

News Bulletin!!!!

That precious chicken is not a chicken - it is a rooster! No wonder he keeps getting out - everyone knows the male species has to roam!

Now I don't worry so much - he can always find a way back in the hen house!

One of my precious chickens has found an escape and will not stay in the pen. I have watched her and searched to find the loose spot to no avail. She has me whooped! I think the beautiful rooster from next door has taunted her into misbehaving and he is probably my problem. See - it is always temptation that is to blame never the guilty party. But I am not sure God gave chickens a choice - they just act on instinct. Come to think of it, a lot of humans are that way too; they have returned to their baser nature and their animalistic tendencies show themselves causing all thought or reason go out the window. Anyway the blasted chicken is out and I can't get her in. All prayers are appreciated.

My tomatoes are still going strong and the pepper plants are loaded. I hope that the rain over the earlier part of the week helped everyone else's garden as well.

I have spent the day cleaning out my book collection and trying to decide which ones to get rid of. Yes, I am selling some books. Some of you know that I never give up a book. I still have my geography book from the 4th grade that Mom and Dad had to buy because a couple of pages got torn. Well, I have it at any rate. It has been hard for me today; I can find more reasons to hang on to those books than to get rid of them. The only problem is, I can't get in my dining room with all the books on the floor, buffet, table, and anything that will hold a book. I have multiple copies of some of them, so those are easy.

I have to make a choice and that is never easy for me when it comes to books. I want them all. I do the same things with greeting cards. I have stacks of those stored away and there are days I pull them out and just let the memories flow.

Well, the waiting is killing me! The manuscripts are submitted and I am waiting. Here's to hoping it want take as long as it has in the last few months. Again, all prayers are needed. Thanks for the visit and appreciate you letting me vent. Til next time - Love to all!

Belle

In A Funk

Yeah, I am in a funk. My thoughts are a bit scrambled right now, and my energy level is at a 5 on a scale of 1-10. I think maybe the ups and downs of the heat are the major cause.

The garden is like most mid summer gardens - just growing - not anything spectacular, but still producing squash, cabbage, okra, tomatoes, and peppers. Cucumbers are not doing a thing and I blame that on the erratic rain fall. The ground is drying out too much between the showers and the sun is hot as hades. I am waiting till late afternoon to turn some dirt for the late summer greens and decide on a spot for the potatoes. It is time to get them in the ground but as we have a real late frost, it will be okay.

It is really sad that we let the joy of the first shoots breaking the ground dissipate and the garden flourishes and we become apathetic in the harvest and maintenance. Melancholy, that is what I am today. Yesterday was a day of joy and today - melancholy.

The summer flowers are beautiful and all but the weakest are blooming with gusto. I can hardly see my gazing ball as the cosmos has grown so tall and thick as to shade it from view. The sunflowers are reaching for the hot sun and getting taller and taller. I know it is not the time, but I moved 2 elephant ears to a spot in my backyard garden. They had almost died from lack of sun and are not a deep green and putting out new growth. Right time or not, that was a good move.

I dropped by a local store the other day and they have dropped the prices on all seeds to a dime a pack. Good time to pick up some, put in the freezer and have ready for that early garden next spring. There were lots of different varieties of lettuce which can be container grown throughout the winter. I have a nice section of porch on the north side of the house that is protected from blowing winds and rain. It is the perfect place to winter the plants (covered of course) and to keep some nice winter container crops. Doesn't get any sun though so I have to move them during the week to the east side to keep them going.

On another subject-
My grandchildren are growing up and developing wonderful personalities. I have had such a pleasant summer with my grandchildren. The oldest girl ask me on Saturday why they were called grand children. My reply - because you are so great! On her last visit, she kissed the top on my head and told me I was beautiful - and everyone wonders why I love having them around! Can't wait till they come back!

Belle

Memories of Bicycles

Remember the days when you ran out the back door, grabbed your bike and didn't come home until you were hungry?

Remember the feeling of the wind blowing in your face and the breeze created from you riding was enough to keep you cool?

Remember the smells as you rode - the honeysuckle blooms, the wisteria, even the wild onion in the pasture?

We never got tired, my sister and I. We rode all day and never got tired. They was always something new to find while riding, a frog trying to escape our poking and prodding, a snake skin left in the ditch, katydids hiding in the grass, and after a good rain, a turtle slowly crossing the road. There was always something to find that would hold our interest for hours.

We would race like crazy from one field road to the next. It didn't matter the type of bike or even the brand, it was always the strongest legs that won the race. The roads were dirt and there wasn't any concrete for miles. Riding on hard packed dirt and across the grassy yard built the muscles of our legs and strengthened our coordination. A stray clod of mud would throw you slap off a bike or twist the handlebars and jab them right in your stomach.

Mom and Dad didn't have many rules to our bike riding, but we couldn't ride anybody on the handle bars and we couldn't ride on the handle bars. My cousins usually spent a week or two with us in the summer. My sister and my youngest cousin were always getting into something. As the oldest, I was always held responsible for their actions. I was kept really busy during their visits. It was a little after 5:00 one afternoon and I was in the backyard. I heard my sister calling me and told her I would be there in a minute. Running and crying, sis told me I had to come now. I took off, asking as I went what had happened. Sis informed me it didn't matter, I just needed to fix Mike. When I hit the kitchen, I knew there wasn't any fixing Mike. He was skinned from forehead to feet. Blood, mud and grit in every pore, scratch, cut, and all the spaces in between. Again I ask what happened and neither would tell me. I started the cleanup process to access the damage and Sis kept yelling I had to hurry. Then I realized, it was time for Mom to come home. They didn't want to be in trouble and I was suppose to fix it. I also knew I was in a heap of trouble.

Needless to say, I did get Mike clean and patched with no serious wounds detected, but the scratches were everywhere and they would just have to heal. There was no way to hide the damage. And yes, Sis was riding Mike on the handle bars and lost control. They got a tongue lashing and Mom lit into me for letting it happen. Mike was healed before his week was up, much to his chagrin. Mike loved each and every scar he had earned. They were his badge of honor, proof he was truly a little boy. That was the only serious bike accident I can recall and it amounted to a lot of blood from a lot of scratches, but nothing life threatening.

You know it didn't cost anything to ride a bicycle. There was no gas to buy and yeah we had to patch a tire now and again, but that was nothing. We didn't buy fancy bikes, the fancy ones wouldn't make it in our neck of the woods. It was cheap entertainment that offered exercise and education.

I still get the itch to ride a bicycle. We keep bicycles at the house - just in case. I jump on and take off - the knowledge of riding never leaves you - and then I slow down and eventually stop, out of breath with legs twitching. I stand straddle that bicycle and wonder how in the world I will get back to the house. That 450 feet to the house seems like 10 miles. But I slowly make it and wonder what happened? When did I get too old to ride a bicycle?

Strawberry Flavored Crickets

We have been fishing again. One day the fish were snubbing their noses at our meal worms and red wigglers, the next we got a nibble at the crickets, and then a slam dunk - strawberry flavored crickets landed a good dozen bream and one lost huge catfish.

Didn't have an apple core handy when we came in from fishing on the second trip, and had most of the hundred crickets we had taken left over, so Hubby dropped a couple of strawberries in the cricket bucket to hold them over until the next trip to the pond. Those crickets demolished the strawberries by morning, so I dropped in a couple more. That afternoon, the bream were hitting like crazy and we had now decided to use only strawberry flavored crickets.

Fishing is not good for anything but relaxing. Don't listen to the tall tales of how much exercise you get - you don't! I know it sounds good, but it just isn't true. It is addictive though. You will forget all about walking your 2 miles or swimming for an hour or most anything else you should be doing. And that isn't all - you want to go back over and over again. Housework, yardwork, feeding the animals are just not important. The fish are calling and you have to go!

It doesn't even matter whether you catch anything (but a bite once in a while makes it real nice). Find a creek bank (next to most bridges), a pond, a lake or a river and throw a hook in the water. Thoughts ramble through your head and problems seem to take care of themselves, worries watch completely away and relaxation sneaks up on you.

If you know of a child that has never been fishing, make time to take them - heck, invite their mom and dad along. they probably have never been either. Get kids out from in front of the TV and off the streets - take them fishing!

Early Learning

Is it because spring came so early or because school started earlier? Either way, it feels like it should be late spring or early fall and it is only mid summer. The long lazy hot days of summer are not yet past. Children have been robbed of the last 4 weeks of summer only to get longer breaks in the coolness of fall and winter and the early spring. Those wonderful lethargic days, too hot to play hard, just made for lazing around and letting the body rest before reasserting the mind on it search for more nourishing fodder of which to grow. Teachers have had their vacation cut short also. Are they rested enough to tackle another year of training and educating?

Do they really feed the mind nourishing fodder in school these days or are they just teaching what is needed to pass state tests? Do teachers really enjoy teaching or is it just a way to make money? Who decides what needs to be taught in order to pass those infernal tests and who makes up those same tests? Is the creativity of the teaching professional limited by having to follow so closely the lesson plans devised by the higher ups that are focused on passing the state tests?

Elementary schools of the fifties taught first the letters, including their sounds; then the writing; then the math; then the reading. Writing over and over again, flash cards, more writing - a child would think their hands were going to fall off. Teachers came up with innovative games to help us learn and it worked. We had repetitive writing exercises and worked in groups with flash cards while the teacher worked one on one with those that were having problems. We learned and it stayed with us. We read to the class, the teacher read to the class and we learned that reading was important. The written word was important and that correct grammar mattered.

My teachers knew they were teaching the future of this great nation and what they taught governed how these future leaders would perform. They took their time and did it right. They focused on the learning not on the tests.

Today is the first day of school for a multitude of students. These children are our tomorrow. Parents, help them to understand the importance of learning and how much fun it can be. Teachers please take the time to teach and instill the joy of learning in these children. It can make all the difference in the rest of your school year(s) and theirs.

A nourished mind stays inquisitive and eager to learn.