Country Critters

My prayers this morning included this, "God, please don't let me leave any lasting scars with my attitude today."

So far so good, they all seem to be avoiding me, so that might be the reason no one has cryed yet. They've learned well.

Happy 4th of July

I do hope everyone is having a happy and safe 4th of July. Thank God for all you have today, including your freedom. I am full from bar b que and am about to go for a swim in the neighbor's pool. Have fun ......Blessings.........Kitty

The History of Aprons

Aprons

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was
to protect the dress underneath, but along with that,
it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears,
and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs,
          fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs
to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were
ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma
wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,
bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen
in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples
that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road,
it was surprising how much furniture that old apron
could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved
          her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the
         fields to dinner

It will be a long time before someone invents something that
         will replace that 'old-time apron' that served
so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know,
and love the story about Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies
on the window sill to cool.
Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.


THANKS NANCY, THIS IS TOO CUTE.

A new old cookbook, with gingerbread recipe

It has every kind of cake recipe you can need in it. I love to bake cakes, all kinds. I was looking through it yesterday afternoon I noticed that it a few recipes for gingerbread. My hubby loves gingerbread for breakfast. So this morning I got up and made him one. It wasn't untill the cake was in the oven baking that I remembered that just yesterday morning he was diagnosed with diabetes. I swear, I would forget my head on the pillow in the morning if God hadn't sewen it to my neck, lol.

The recipe called for cake flour, which I had. Does anyone else use Swans Cake flour? I made a coconut cake Sunday using which was delish, but I find it comes out like a pound cake. Does anyone know how to thin it out a bit for normal cake consistency?

Sift all dry ingredients together three times. Cream shortening and brown sugar. Add eggs and beat thoroughly. Add dry mixture in and continue to mix well. Finally add the boiling water and the molasses to the batter and mix well. The batter will be rather thin. Bake in greased 8 x 11 inch pan at 350* for 30 minutes.

My dh loves to eat it hot out of the oven dripping with butter. I have to say, it's good like that, LOL. Both of us felt guilty for eating it, but soon got over it. I am use to not eating things like that myself, but not use to not being able to cook it for him. This will take some getting use too, cuz I love to bake things all the time. Oh well, it is what it is now. Enjoy!

July

Uncle Wayne

My Uncle Wayne passed away this morning. They removed the ventilator after my Aunt Nina told the Dr not to operate to remove the damaged brain areas. This would have most likely left him in some sort of vegetative state. That was one thing Uncle Wayne adamantly did not want to happen to him. He struggled to breathe and then just passed away....

possible for the 4th....It's hard to know that we have to be picked up like this...I wish life was a bit different....but I can't dwell on what is not and just accept what is. I did check into car rentals, but with it being a holiday weekend, there's not alot left in our town. The only thing that would carry all five of us is a 4 door truck..at a cost of almost $300, plus the gas to get there. I did check into flights...how outrageous at a cost of almost $700 PER PERSON! Ouch!

Please keep us in prayer as we travel. And keep Toby in prayer as he holds down the fort here at home. It's hard to be apart during times like these. And keep my Aunt Nina and folks in prayer. My Mom has now lost both of her siblings. As much as my heart is hurting, I can't imagine the pain in their hearts.

Not so great phone call...

My SIL just called...the Dr said his best hope for survival was to remove the damaged part of his brain. My Aunt Nina said he wouldn't want that...and we all know he truly wouldn't want that. So, they are now doing only comfort measures and do not expect him to recover.

Thomas and I are fixing to leave for town. His braces' appmt is at 1 and we have several other stops to make beforehand. One of those stops will be to the thrift store to hopefully find some clothes for me. I fear I will be making a trip to NY soon and need something better than my stained house clothes...

Thank you for praying,
Laurie

what I accomplished yesterday - garlic/chive salad recipe

After that I started cleaning up a corner of the family room. Here is a picture the night before: (ds playing opposum)

And here it is finished:

I dedicated the top shelves to my mom who is in Heaven and also my sister in the other photo is in Heaven.

I have to include a picture of the baby crib better half made for Ang in early '90s. I've always loved it. There's quite a bit of stuff behind the couch but you can't really see it unless you look back there.

Then my daughter wanted me to sew these letters on the white T-shirt - seems this is the thing to do - sew name brands on t-shirts in a wacky way - sorry Walmart

I hope you don't mind.

Today so far I've accomplished taking Molly around the block, doing my Bible study in Matthew 27, putting stuff in the bread machine - love that home baked bread without the work of mixing & kneading.

The benefits of garlic are widely known. Garlic and chive flowers also add a strong savory aroma, while the pansy blossoms add a touch of blue.

2 large tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup (125 mL) chives, chopped finely
1 Tbsp (15 mL) flax seed oil
1 Tbsp (15 mL) apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
flowers for garnish: garlic, chive, pansy

Arrange sliced tomatoes on a plate and sprinkle with chives. Drizzle with flax seed oil and apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper. Garnish with flowers.

A busy day ahead

I am going to be a bit busy today, we have many errands to run. First off, I made appointments for both my dh and I for our bloodwork and checkups. We both need to get our cholesterol and my blood sugar checked. So I figured since he is on his vacation this week, we'd kill that bird. After that I have to stop by the lawyers office, who is handling mom's interdiction case, and sign some papers and drop off a key to him. That ball should start rolling soon. I think my dh wants to stop and have lunch in town while it's just the two of us, how nice of him, lol. Then I have to run to the feed store and get lay crumble and corn for the chickens. Also swing by my son's house for a minute, then back home to wait for the Hospice folks to call or come by about mom. I will have a favor to ask about mom, but I will get into more detail about that later when I know more about her condition. Then once home, do my regular house chores, oh buy wait, DH is cooking this week. HA HA Well have a blessed day everyone.

OK, we are back home now. All my blood work was good as far as my diabetes was concerned. I do however have a touch of high blood preasure now. So on the meds I go. Thank God the meds he prescribed was on the $4 list at walmart. And the hubby, who went for his BP check up, which was great, now has a touch of diabetes, LOL. So he was put on a diabetic diet, which he is not too happy about. So now I am just waiting for the Hospice nurse to arrive which will be soon. Will update on that situation later.

He called....

The brain pressure number is high....he's been between 12 and 20. He shot up to over 100, has gone down to 50 and back up again. From what I understand, this number is the pressure in his brain, the lower the better.

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